5 Minute Crafts Magazine - September 2019

EASY AS

A CAKE No-bake chocolate cake Notebook makeover Turning old objects to new

September 2019 $5.99 (Canada) $3.99 (US)

september 2019

CONTENTS

“I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”

– Jane Austen

9

SEPTEMBER 2019

CONTENTS

32

style

17

SMOOTH LAYERS If you want to give yourself a makeover at home, a good option can be to layer your hair, as it will add volume to it and highlight your face.

20

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EPILATION AND DEPILATION It might seem like the words “epilation” and “depilation” mean the same thing: the removal of unwanted body hair. At first glance, this is true. However, the 2 terms imply fundamentally different procedures.

27

home

23

SAVE YOUR PLANTS Much like humans, plants require special care to stay healthy. But the good news is, in most cases, when we stop watering them, when we overwater them, or when they suffer from fungus and pests, the damage can be undone if we act quickly and efficiently.

health

27

WEIGHT GAIN Regular walking is an effective and simple exercise that can help you lose weight.

37

features

32

CRAFTS TO-DO We all know how important it is to have a place where we can relax after a busy day – a place where nothing troubles us and where everything creates the impression of safety and comfort. But it's not always easy to find the things that you know will perfectly suit your needs. The good news is that there's a way to create them yourself!

food

37

A SWEET LIFE Even if you don’t have an oven, you can still treat yourself to some delicious chocolate cake. All you need is a pan, some simple ingredients, and around 15 minutes to complete everything.

10

SEPTEMBER 2019

40

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS When you’re tempted to eat something sweet but don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen, the pineapple upside-down cake is an excellent option. This dessert combines the freshness of fruit with the sweetness of caramel, and to top it all off, it’s a fluffy cake that melts in your mouth, all in one.

living

45

SCHOOL'S OUT When the school year ends, you may be left with halfused notebooks that still have plenty of blank sheets left to write on. To avoid confusion or chaos in your notes when the new year starts, you might choose to not use these perfectly fine notebooks anymore and we all know what a shame that is.

departments

14

EDITOR'S LETTER

48

TRICKS & TIPS

50

CHILL & DRAW COVER PHOTO © 5-MINUTE CRAFTS / YOUTUBE

PILAR GUZMÁN Editor In-Chief FOOD DIRECTOR Annabelle Waugh FASHION & BEAUTY DIRECTOR Julia McEwen HOME & GARDEN DIRECTOR Brett Walther MANAGING EDITOR Day Helesic TEST KITCHEN SENIOR FOOD SPECIALIST Irene Fong FOOD SPECIALISTS Jennifer Bartoli, Amanda Barnier ARTICLES EDITOR, FOOD Gilean Watts INTERN Jessica Bronstein ART CONSULTING DESIGN DIRECTOR Brendan Fisher ACTING ART DIRECTOR June F. Anderson SENIOR ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Henrietta Poon CONTRIBUTING ART DIRECTORS Lisa de Nikolits, Leanne Gilbert FEATURES HEALTH EDITOR Kate Daley CONTRIBUTING HEALTH EDITOR Tralee Pearce SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR Jill Buchner ASSOCIATE EDITOR, FASHION & BEAUTY Andrea Karr CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Jacqueline Kovacs COPY & OPERATIONS EDITORIAL OPERATIONS & ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Olga Goncalves Costa COPY EDITOR Stephanie Zolis CONTRIBUTING COPY EDITORS Ruth Hanley, Debbie Madsen Villamere ASSISTANT EDITOR Teresa Sousa INTERNS William Dixon, Thalia Gamage, Natalie Wong EDITORIAL DEPUTY EDITOR Jessica Pollack SENIOR EDITORS Ariel Brewster, Sadiya Dendar, Simone Olivero CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Claire Gagne ASSISTANT EDITOR Kevin John Siazon COPY EDITOR Kelly Jones PROOFREADER Janet Morassutti INTERNS Emily McDonald, Arisa Valyear ART CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Colleen Nicholson IN-HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHERS Carmen Cheung, Erik Putz

MARKETING SERVICES & CREATIVE SOLUTIONS GENERAL SALES MANAGER Caroline K. Breton CREATIVE BRAND DIRECTOR Laura Denton CONTENT DIRECTOR Kim Alison Fraser MANAGING EDITOR Renée Sylvestre-Williams MANAGER, STRATEGY AND IDEATION Stevie Gorrie STRATEGISTS Sarah Drake, Jessica Lee, Marcela Perez ART DIRECTORS Susan Jackson, Suzanne LaCorte, Peter Robertson JUNIOR COPY WRITER Victoria DiPlacibo SENIOR DIRECTOR, CLIENT DELIVERY Stefany Pierce CAMPAIGN MANAGERS Melissa Carmichael, Ivan McBurney, Rob Stephenson, Inga Terzopoulos PRODUCTION PRODUCTION TEAM LEAD Carol Zephyrine RESEARCH SENIOR RESEARCH ANALYST Eva Chau MARKETING , COMMUNICATIONS & EVENTS SENIOR DIRECTOR Tracy Finkelstein MANAGER Silvana Sciortino SENIOR SPECIALIST Erin Quinn SPECIALISTS Carlie McGhee, Summer Varty, Alyson Young SENIOR DESIGNER Colin Elliott CONSUMER MARKETING GROUP VICE-PRESIDENT, CONSUMER MARKETING Christopher Purcell GROUP CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Doris Chan PRODUCT MARKETING MANAGERS Yen Duong, Amanda Stone DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Jason Patterson DIRECTOR, NEWSSTAND SALES Pat Strangis BUSINESS BUSINESS MANAGER Nancy Baker DIGITAL SOLUTIONS GROUP GENERAL MANAGER, NATIONAL PORTALS Ray Ostor ST. JOSEPH COMMUNICATIONS CHAIRMAN & CEO Tony Gagliano VICE CHAIRMAN John Gagliano PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER Ken Hunt VICE PRESDIENT, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY Sean McCluskey EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Sarah Trimble DIRECTOR, LIFESTYLE CONTENT Sasha Emmons DIRECTOR, CONTENT OPERATIONS James Reid DIRECTOR, CIRCULATION Allan Yue MANAGER, CIRCULATION Lisa Rivers DIRECTOR, BRANDED CONTENT, AUDIENCE & EVENTS Nadine Silverthorne PROJECT MANAGER, BRANDED CONTENT Milena Boskovic EXECUTIVE EDITOR, BRANDED CONTENT Meaghan Yuen DESIGNER, BRANDED CONTENT Leo Tapel

Visit us at 5minutecrafts.site

St. Joseph Communications can be reached at 15 Benton Road, Toronto, M6M 3G2

5 Minute Crafts is published by St. Joseph Communications, 15 Benton Road, Toronto M6M 3G2. Montreal office: 249, rue Saint-Jacques, Bureau 201, Montréal H2Y 1M6.

Vancouver advertising office: 180 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver V5Y 3T9. Contents copyright 2019 by St. Joseph Communications; may not be reprinted without written permission. Article proposals and manuscripts must be accompanied by self-addressed envelopes and sufficient postage; otherwise they will not be returned or acknowledged. While the publishers will take all reasonable care, they will not be responsible for the loss of any manuscript, drawing or photograph. ISSN 0009-1995. Single copy price: $4.99 + tax. Full subscription prices: Canada, 1 year (10 issues), $15 + tax. In U.S., 1 year, $45; foreign countries, $75. Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index.

Printed in Canada by St. Joseph Communications, Print. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. 5 Minute Crafts receives unsolicited materials (including letters to the editor, press releases, promotional items and images) from time to time. 5 Minute Crafts, its affiliates and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, republish, distribute, store and archive such unsolicited submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensation of any sort. This statement does not apply to materials and/or pitches submitted by freelance writers, photographers or illustrators in accordance with known industry practices.

EDITOR'S NOTE

The day changes S

tanding there, I felt a sudden sense of surprise by a heaving darkness outside. It surprised me for the time of day. In fact, for a flash second I had an experience of being outside season, place or time- a strange and extremely fleeting sensation that perhaps some of you who have moved or travelled a lot have felt.

I checked my watch. 6 PM. I had been anticipating the dark, cold season’s approach for weeks but in this second really felt it upon us completely.

I still have not quite figured that out and am allowing myself time to explore the challenge. Meanwhile, I occupy myself with the busy season of back to school, leaves falling and people striding with more focus and thought. There is a seriousness to Autumn that I love as well as the drama that plays out in nature with all the gorgeous, shifting hues unfolding through the months.

In addition to the seriousness, I love the “busy” energy. Busy seems to be a very pedestrian word, doesn’t it? But for me, the notion of busy reminds me of the energy I had every late August as a young girl growing up, thrilled to get my notebooks in order, all my writing utensils organized and readied for a fresh new chapter of school.

Ultimately, a purposeful busy to me has a dharmic quality- a dynamic flow of activity that includes action, rest, interaction, production and reflection. It is fulfilling ones function- from deep spiritual duties to the most basic daily chores.

I founded it in a spirit of education, advocacy and awareness and it is currently not monetized. The beginnings of my media project here are run on sheer dedication and passion which is a common thread I found with many of the individuals I interviewed this month, who run non-profits or began their business with a similar motivation of advocacy and passion.

For me, the essence of the “purposeful busy” I seek to emody through all seasons is that cycle of action and rest towards meaningful work that sustains both yourself, your family and your soul.

I hope enjoy this month’s content and that, no matter where you are in the world, that you have a wonderful season.

PILAR GUZMÁN Editor In-Chief

14

SEPTEMBER 2019

style SMOOTH LAYERS If you want to give yourself a makeover at home, a good option can be to layer your hair, as it will add volume to it and highlight your face.

17

SEPTEMBER 2019

STYLE You will need:

A thick bristle comb A hair tie Scissors for cutting hair. They don’t have to be the most expensive ones on the market, it is only important that they are hairdresser’s scissors, as these are sharp and have a specific tip to ensure straight cuts

1. Straighten your hair using a thick bristle brush. It is important that it is not completely wet, as it is more difficult to manipulate it this way when it is long.

2. Part your hair as you normally wear it and gather it with a hair tie. Use your chin height as a reference.

3. Define how short you want your hair and with the opposite hand to the one using the scissors, hold your hair as straight as possible.

4. Make a straight cut above the fingers, being careful to not let the scissors slip.

5. Release the hair tie and leave the hair parted in the middle. Hold the hair with one hand and with the other hand make vertical cuts. Repeat the procedure on the other half of the hair.

6. Separate the top part of the hair, at the crown of your head, from the back part and place it forward, using as a reference the height of the nape of the neck. Hold the hair in your hand, make a horizontal cut with the scissors, and then make other vertical cuts.

7. Guided by the height of the eyebrows, gather the hair from the top of the head. You won’t touch the part at the back again. Separate it into 2 halves. Take thin strands from the gathered part, place the scissors diagonally to the strands and make cuts.

8. To complete your layered cut, cut the remaining strands of hair by holding the scissors diagonally again. This will help you to make the ends look different lengths, some short and some long, since the more diagonal the angle, the more hair is taken away.

Bonus: How to layer short hair

Wet your hair.

Separate and gather the part at the crown of your head. Leave the bottom part loose.

Place the hair toward the front of your face. You can use a mirror to make the cut.

Cut the loose ends of the hair by holding them straight, so you can make horizontal cuts.

Hold the ends of your hair and make vertical cuts.

Repeat the procedure on the part of the hair that was gathered.

STYLE The Difference Between Epilation and Depilation It might seem like the words “epilation” and “depilation” mean the same thing: the removal of unwanted body hair. At first glance, this is true. However, the 2 terms imply fundamentally different procedures.

What is epilation?

Epilation means removing hair along with the roots. This is done either physically (like with tweezers or by means of wax), or by destroying the hair follicles with a laser or electricity.

The methods of epilation include: Waxing Sugaring (removing the hair with sugar paste) Removing the hair by means of tweezers The use of mechanical devices called epilators Threading (getting rid of hair using a twisted thread) Applying intense pulsed light Laser epilation Electrology (removing the hair using electricity)

What is depilation?

Depilation implies removing the hair from the surface of the skin. The hair’s roots (hair follicles) remain undamaged.

The methods of depilation include: Shaving (manually or by means of electric shavers) Cutting and trimming hair using a trimmer Chemical depilation using cosmetic products (when applied to the skin, they break the disulfide bonds of the protein chains that give the hair strength; and after that, the hair can simply be wiped away with a napkin)

When epilation or depilation is better

The main advantage of epilation is a longer-lasting result. However, epilation procedures always cause discomfort and often lead to serious pain. In this regard, depilation is a more gentle option, but unwanted hair regrows much faster.

In general, when choosing a method of hair removal, you should consider the following: 1. Your individual pain threshold (it can be high or low) 2. Your preferences and expectations 3. The area of the body intended for hair removal 4. Your skin type (level of skin sensitivity) 5. The type of hair (soft or rigid, thick or thin) 6. Medical conditions 7. The convenience of the procedure It’s better to consult a professional before making a decision. A specialist will determine the appropriate method of hair removal and warn you about possible side effects.

20

SEPTEMBER 2019

home SAVE YOUR PLANTS

Much like humans, plants require special care to stay healthy. But the good news is, in most cases, when we stop watering them, when we overwater them, or when they suffer from fungus and pests, the damage can be undone if we act quickly and efficiently.

23

SEPTEMBER 2019

HOME 1. Lack of water

Pull off any dry leaves and wilted stems.

Carefully remove as much soil as possible to lift the entire plant out, all the way down to the roots.

Place the plant in a container that is larger than the pot. This new container should have enough water suitable for irrigation.

Let the plant sit there for 15 minutes, then repot it.

Remember to place it in the shade whenever possible. If it’s in the sun, cover it with plastic wrap and poke a few holes for it to breathe.

2. Excess water

Tap the pot with your hands on both sides to be able to extract the roots more easily.

Take the plant out very carefully and wash it.

Check for healthy roots. If all the roots are dark and split, the plant can no longer be saved.

Plant it again, not in direct sunlight, but in a well-lit place for the first few days.

3. Fungus

Clean the leaves of the plant.

Replace the pot and the substrate, eliminating any trace of moisture.

You can use a fungicide recommended by a specialist.

4. Insects

Remove any dead or sick leaves as well as stems.

Place it in a well-lit area, but not in direct sunlight.

Increase the amount of fertilizer.

You can use an insecticide recommended by a specialist.

Bonus: how to tell if a plant can be saved

Check the stems of the plant — they should be flexible, firm, and green inside.

The roots should be firm. If they’re soft, they won’t recover.

If the roots are firm but the stems are dead, cut the stems, leaving a couple of centimeters on them for the plant to grow again.

24

SEPTEMBER 2019

health

WEIGHT GAIN Regular walking is an effective and simple exercise that can help you lose weight. 5-Minute Crafts Magazine will give you some pieces of advice on how to make walking more effective for you. ❗ Before increasing the intensity of your walking or adding weight, talk to your doctor.

27

SEPTEMBER 2019

HEALTH 1. Start slowly.

✅ Start by walking 10-15 minutes a day at a comfortable pace. ✅ Gradually increase your walking time by 1015 minutes each week until you reach 1 hour a day. ✅ Be consistent in walking, try not to skip more than one day in a row.

4. Modify your route.

✅ To keep your walking routine engaging and challenging, modify your route. You can walk on bike trails, in different neighborhoods, at your local mall, or even walk your usual route in reverse. ✅ To increase the intensity of the exercise, try walking uphill and up stairs, on uneven ground, or on soft surfaces like sand or grass, 2-3 times a week.

Tip: When walking uphill, slightly change your technique — lean forward, bend your knees, and take shorter steps.

7. Combine walking with diet.

✅ For the best results, follow a calorierestricted diet — cutting out about 100 calories a day.

2. Choose your pace.

There are 3 types of walking paces: stroll (about 3-4 points of difficulty on a scale of 1-10, similar to window shopping) brisk walk (about 4-5 points of difficulty, you should be making an effort when walking) power walk (about 5-6 points of difficulty) ✅ Warm up with a stroll for 5 minutes, then turn it into a brisk pace. ✅ Every 5 minutes, push yourself to a power walk pace for 30 seconds. ✅ Increase your power walk by a few seconds every time you go out for a walk. ⛔ If you’re new to walking, don’t overdo it — this can increase your risk of soreness, injury, and burnout.

Tip: While walking, breathe harder than usual.

You should be able to speak in full sentences, but you shouldn’t be able to sing.

5. Split your walking time.

✅ If you can’t walk continuously for a long period of time, break your walking time into 2 or 3 shorter periods with at least 10 minutes of walking at a brisk pace.

8. Hydrate yourself.

✅ Drink 2 cups of water at least 30-60 minutes before your walk to make sure that your body is hydrated. ✅ After you’ve finished your walk, drink one more glass of water to rehydrate your body.

10. Make a playlist.

✅ When walking, listen to an audiobook or podcast to keep yourself entertained. ✅ You can also make your own walking playlist to give yourself an extra boost.

28

SEPTEMBER 2019

3. Maintain the proper posture.

✅ Keep your chin up and focus your gaze on the horizon. ✅ Keep your back straight and relaxed and your shoulders neutral. ✅ While walking, tighten your abdominal muscles and glutes. ✅ Strike the ground first with your heel, then roll smoothly forward and push off of your toes.

6. Add some weight.

✅ To burn more calories, try waving your arms as you walk — bend your arms at a 90° angle and wave them. They should go behind your body as far as you comfortably can and reach the level of your chest in front of your body. ✅ You can also wear a weighted vest. It will make your body work harder during a walk. ⛔ Don’t wear hand weights and don’t carry weights in your hands, as they can put too much stress on your joints.

9. Walk with a friend.

✅ To keep yourself motivated, find a friend, co-worker, or family member who will go for a walk with you.

September 31

SEPTEMBER 2019

1. A dreamy cloud lamp

Have you ever dreamt of sleeping under the clouds? Well, now your dreams can come true!

First of all, take a piece of hardboard and draw a cloud. Then cut it with the electric fret saw and polish the edges using sandpaper.

When the curves of your cloud become perfectly round, paint it with spray paint and let it dry. Now take metal brackets and attach them to the cloud. Place the cloud over a lamp, attach it to the wall, and enjoy.

You can even add some more clouds around the lamp to create the impression of a real sky.

CRAFTS TO-DO

2. A relaxing pebble rug

Have you ever noticed how relaxing it is to step onto smooth pebbles while walking around the beach? You can bring a piece of your summer sea trip home with you by making a pebble rug. It relieves your feet of fatigue and gives you a nice massage, as well.

If you want one in your home, take an old doormat, wash it, and let it dry. Then, using a glue gun, stick pebbles onto the rug. Easy!

We all know how important it is to have a place where we can relax after a busy day – a place where nothing troubles us and where everything creates the impression of safety and comfort. But it's not always easy to find the things that you know will perfectly suit your needs. The good news is that there's a way to create them yourself!

32

SEPTEMBER 2019

3. A beautiful soap dish

Talking about summer memories, how about a pebble soap dish? Take a glass bowl, cover it with a plastic bag or wrap it from the inside, and lay out some pebbles. Glue the stones together, let them dry, and take the bag off. Voilà!

4. An easy painting

If you like art, you can make a bright and colorful painting that'll have your guests wondering where you acquired such an intriguing piece of artwork.

First of all, buy a canvas, choose some tubes of acrylic paint of the colors you like, and get a wide brush.

Apply the paint color by color – several strokes of each will be enough. There shouldn't be any uncovered spots on your canvas.

Use small pieces of masking tape to create geometrical patterns on the canvas. Cover it all up and leave some space between pieces.

Apply white paint to the spaces you've left before. Then simply remove the tape and enjoy your masterpiece!

5. Funny panda cup

Hey, milk fans, here's an adorable idea for you – make yourself a cute animal cup to cheer you up every time you drink from it.

Take a plain glass cup, find a photo you like on the internet and print it out.

Attach the photo to the inner side of the cup, take some paint and a brush, and follow the lines and curves. Don't forget to use a special sort of paint that's suitable for glass and baking.

Put your paint in a cold oven for the time mentioned in the instruction – it usually takes about 20 minutes.

Enjoy your drink!

6. Amazing leaf bowls

Look at these beautiful leaves! Would you like to keep your jewelry there? Or maybe candy? What about using them as candleholders? There are so many things you can use them for and they're so easy to make that there's almost no excuse not to make one!

Take a piece of modeling clay and use a rolling pin to get a flat piece of the desired size. Then, take a large and beautiful leaf, place it on top of the clay, and roll the leaf into it until the clay acquires the same texture. Now take a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, put the clay leaf inside, and leave it overnight so that it could mold over the curved shape. Then take it out and paint it whichever color you like best!

33

SEPTEMBER 2019

8. Fairytale flower pot

Good news! There's no reason to worry if your favorite flower pot cracks or breaks!

You can actually give it a second life.

First of all, pick apart 2 big fragments.

Clean everything else, wash the pot, and dry it off.

Fill the pot with soil and insert the shards one behind another.

Then plant your cacti or succulents, so they fill the beautiful "paths" and the top of the pot.

Now add some decorations: a tiny castle, a fairytale streetlight, some beautiful mushrooms – anything your heart desires. You can even add some tiny stones on one side to create a staircase to the top.

Isn't this broken pot better than any other in your collection now?

7. Creative candle holders

Candles are so romantic, aren't they? Yet wax on the table can spoil everything, and it can be so hard to find a beautiful candle holder. Fret no more! Here's an easy solution: Take a balloon, inflate it, and put it in a cup.

Then take some cement and cover your balloon with it.

Make sure that the layer isn't too thin or too thick.

Let the cement dry overnight, then pop the balloon, and – here comes the most satisfying part - break part of the cement off until you get an asymmetric bowl.

Now paint the inside part any color you like, let the paint dry, and enjoy your romantic dinner!

10. Stunning moon lamp

9. An easy-to-make vase

If you're more into bouquets, we have an idea for you too.

You can turn an ordinary glass into a beautiful vase.

To do this, you need to cover the top of the glass with a grid made of duct tape. Remember to leave enough space for flower stalks.

Now wrap a rubber band around your glass and insert some sticks in-between.

Cover the band with several layers of twine to hide it.

Stick the flowers between the strips tape. Yes, it's that easy!

34

SEPTEMBER 2019

A beautiful moon lamp is everyone's dream. Here's how to make one: First, take a balloon or a thin rubber ball and inflate it. If you choose the former, remember it should be round.

Use a marker to draw a circle around the knot – you'll need it later.

Now take some glue, dilute it with water in equal parts, and stir the mixture carefully.

Cover your ball with glue using a brush or simply dipping it into the mixture.

Take some paper towels and stick them to the ball. Use the brush to smooth any ridges as you need your moon to be perfectly round. Then add 2 more layers of glue and paper to make it hard and let it dry.

Now paint your moon. Which color do you want it to be? Cold blue or warm ochre? It's up to you, but remember that the main color should be light.

Use a porous sponge to add darker accents of the surface.

You'll need to use your imagination here. Slightly touch the ball in one place and press harder in another. To create a deeper color, you can press several times in the same place.

After you've finished, let it dry.

Now cut the circle you made in the beginning and take out the balloon.

Now you can put it on the floor or use it as a night lamp. You can even attach it to the ceiling and enjoy your very own moon inside your room!

food A SWEET LIFE Even if you don’t have an oven, you can still treat yourself to some delicious chocolate cake. All you need is a pan, some simple ingredients, and around 15 minutes to complete everything.

37

SEPTEMBER 2019

FOOD

No Bake Chocolate Cake Ingredients All purpose flour — 1.4 oz (40 grams) Sugar — 2 1/4 oz (70 grams) Cocoa powder (unsweetened) — 0.9 oz (25 grams) Baking soda — 1/4 teaspoon Milk — 2 fluid oz (60 grams) Butter — 1/4 stick (1 oz or 30 grams) Egg — 1 1. Put all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and baking soda) in a bowl.

2. Combine them together with the help of a whisk or fork.

3. Add milk, the egg, and some melted butter to the bowl with the dry mixture.

4. Mix everything thoroughly with a help of a whisk.

5. Take a pan with a thick bottom and put it on low heat. Melt a little bit of butter on it so that your cake batter doesn’t stick to it.

6. Pour your cake mixture into your pan and cover it with a lid. Let it bake for 7-10 minutes on low heat. Tip: The cooking time really depends on your pan, so from time to time, you can take the lid off and check your cake.

7. Check if your cake is ready with the help of a toothpick. If the batter doesn’t stick to it, the cake is fully cooked.

8. Once it’s ready, cover the pan with the lid and remove it from the heat. Let it rest under the lid until the ganache is ready.

9. Transfer your cake onto a plate and pour the ganache on top of it.

You can also add some berries or fruit if you want. Eat it warm or let it cool in the fridge before serving.

How to make chocolate ganache You can add some chocolate ganache to your cake to make it even more chocolatey. You will need some heavy cream and dark chocolate of your taste. The proportion needs to be 1:1 (one-part chocolate equals one-part heavy cream).

1. Put a saucepan on medium heat and pour some heavy cream into it.

2. Add some dark chocolate, and with a small rubber spatula, start slowly stirring the mixture until the chocolate melts and everything is well-combined.

38

SEPTEMBER 2019

FOOD

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS When you’re tempted to eat something sweet but don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen, the pineapple upside-down cake is an excellent option. This dessert combines the freshness of fruit with the sweetness of caramel, and to top it all off, it’s a fluffy cake that melts in your mouth, all in one.

40

SEPTEMBER 2019

FOOD

Pineapple UpsideDown Cake Ingredients 1 cup of flour 1 cup of sugar 1 teaspoon of baking powder 4 eggs 4 tablespoons of butter 1 cup of brown sugar Pineapple slices in syrup (as needed) Cherries in syrup (or maraschino) 1 pinch of salt Vanilla essence to taste 1. Place the butter in a saucepan and bring it to a simmer until it melts. Add the brown sugar.

2. Stir to integrate and dissolve. Cook until a dark caramel forms.

3. Butter a cake pan and then spread the caramel on the base.

4. Arrange the pineapple slices on top of the caramel, like a flower. In the center of each slice, place a cherry. Set aside.

5. Crack the eggs into a bowl and pour the sugar in the form of rain.

6. Beat both ingredients until you have stiff peaks — that is, until the mixture increases in volume, looks fluffy, and has a soft yellow color.

7. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Finally, add a few drops of vanilla essence.

8. Mix everything very well with circling movements so as not to lower the volume created by the whipping.

9. Carefully pour the batter into the reserved pan. Even out the surface with a spatula if necessary.

10. Bake the cake at a moderate to low temperature (350°F or 175°C) for approximately 30 minutes. Once ready, let it stand for 10 to 15 minutes.

11. Run the knife around the inside edge of the pan to loosen the cake. Then cover with a plate and carefully turn the entire thing over.

12. Your pineapple upside-down cake is ready! The brown sugar caramel gives it that dark color and delicious flavor.

13. You can serve the cake warm. You can also make the same recipe with other fruits, such as apples, pears, and peaches.

42

SEPTEMBER 2019

living

SCHOOL'S OUT When the school year ends, you may be left with half-used notebooks that still have plenty of blank sheets left to write on. To avoid confusion or chaos in your notes when the new year starts, you might choose to not use these perfectly fine notebooks anymore and we all know what a shame that is.

45

SEPTEMBER 2019

LIVING

Method 1: Use any paper left from other notebooks Materials Perforated notebook sheets A needle Hemp thread, ribbon, or yarn Scissors A paper clip Adhesive tape (optional) Lining paper (optional) Stickers and other decorations you like (optional) 1. Using pliers or just your hands, unfold the wire of the spiral that keeps your notebook together. To make this easier, you can give unfold the ends.

This way, you can twist it out and completely remove it.

2. Check all the old notebooks you have (remember they should all be the same size), and after removing the spiral, put together all of the pages that are still blank.

3. Insert a thread into the needle and tie a knot. You can also use yarn or a very thin ribbon. If you choose yarn, but it is not very thick, use double yarn to strengthen it, otherwise, it might break.

Make a knot at the end of the thread that hangs over the needle.

4. To make things easier, hold the sheets together with a binder clip.

5. Insert the needle into one of the first holes.

6. When the needle comes out on the other side, pull it out, and insert it into the next hole.

7. Repeat until you reach the end of the notebook.

8. When you reach the last hole, insert the needle into the hole next to it.

9. Go all the way back using the same technique from the previous step until you reach the first hole you started sewing on.

10. To make sure the paper doesn’t fall off, tie a knot at the end of the thread. Use scissors to cut the excess thread.

11. You can use printed paper with your favorite characters on it, drawings, newspaper, pictures, or any other material you like to cover your notebook.

Method 2: Yarn knots Materials Recycled notebook paper, white or colored Yarn Scissors Hole punch Pencil Ruler 1. Use a ruler to mark the places where you want to make the holes. These will depend on how many knots you want to make. You can mark them every 1/2 an inch, and leave a little bit less than 1/2 an inch as a margin between the holes and the border of the sheets.

2. Cut out sections of yarn. The sections you cut don’t have to be the same size if you don’t want them to be. However, if you don’t want them to look uneven, you might want to cut sections that are about 4 inches in length. You have to cut one for each hole, and you can combine the colors of the yarn to your liking.

3. Make knots in each hole

46

SEPTEMBER 2019

Method 3: Bind using a ribbon Materials Recycled notebook paper, white or colored Scissors Ribbon Hole punch Pencil Ruler 1. Start by marking the places where you want to punch holes in the sheets.

There can only be 2 or 3 holes, depending on their size. Mark them with a pencil. Take into account that you should leave about 1/2 an inch as a margin. Holes can be separated by 4 or 5 inches, depending on how many holes you want to make.

2. Insert the ribbon into the holes 3. Make a nice bow

TIPS & TRICKS

How to Train a Dog

Training your dog is not only an effective way to get a more well-behaved and balanced pet but also a great bonding experience for you and your 4-legged friend. You just need to know a few proper training techniques and have a bit of patience to teach your dog some different tricks.

GENERAL RULES The basic rule of dog training is that you should reward the behavior you like and not reward the behavior you don’t like. You just need to give your dog the motivation to do the things you like and make the training fun. Remember that dogs choose a certain pattern of behavior because it helps them to get what they want.

For example, if your dog begs for your dinner while you’re sitting at the table and at some point, you give your dog a bite, they’ll know that this is how they can get what they want. Instead, if this behavior bothers you, you should tell your dog to sit and not disturb you while you’re eating. When you’re done with your food, give them some treats to reward their patience.

Determine what you want from your dog. Decide what actions you expect from your dog so their behavior will suit your lifestyle. Your goal is to figure out what obedience and entertaining tricks your dog needs to learn to make your life together easier and more fun.

Be consistent with your responses.

Make sure that you and everyone else who interacts with the dog have the same reaction to the dog’s actions. For example, if you don’t let your dog sit on the couch most of the time, but sometimes, you allow your pet to do it and even cuddle them, your dog may become confused about the actual rule.

Be a good boss. Keep in mind that not rewarding the behavior you don’t like is different from hurting, dominating, or somehow intimidating your dog. When it comes to dog training, it’s not about showing them who the “alpha” is here, but about controlling your dog’s access to the things they like, for example, your affection, toys, and treats.

If you don’t like something your dog does, stop it immediately. Your dog won’t be able to make a connection between the event and your reaction if they’re separated in time.

For example, if you’ve been playing with your dog and they slightly bite you, say “Ouch” to show your dog that their action hurts and stop the game right away. This way, your dog will understand that this action brought no fun.

TRAINING TIPS Make your training sessions short.

Dogs aren’t particularly good at focusing on the same task for a long period of time, so try to make your training sessions last about 15 minutes or less. Mix the training tasks up so your dog won’t get bored. Make sure you stop the session while your dog is still happy and enthusiastic about the process.

Use the same words every time.

Come up with the words and word combinations you use for particular commands and stick to them. They should be short and simple, like “sit,” “come on,” “up,” “stay,” and so on. For your dog, the terms “Max, come on” and “Max, let’s go” don’t sound like the same thing, so if you use them for the same command, they’ll leave your pet confused and frustrated. You can also use your body language, like pointing at things or snapping your fingers to communicate better with your dog.

Don’t rush your dog. Training takes time and patience, so don’t expect your dog to perform the trick right away. Take baby steps, make sure the dog practices regularly with you and with other people, and be ready to take a few steps back in your training if you notice that the dog stopped making progress.

Use real rewards that truly motivate your dog. Your dog’s preferences may change from time to time, and your pet may become indifferent to the treats they used to love.

Remember that the environment in which you conduct your training also influences your dog. For example, a small and ordinary treat may be enough for your dog while you’re training at home. But you might have to go for something more impressive and unusual to make your dog perform the same trick at the park because, in this case, there will be more distracting factors.

BASIC DOG COMMANDS 1. SIT Get a treat in your hand and place it close to your dog’s nose so they can smell it.

Move your hand above the dog’s nose and slightly backward. Wait for your dog to sit because this way, it’ll be more comfortable for them to reach for the treat.

When your dog sits, say “Sit” and give them the treat.

2. COME 1. Take a treat or a toy and show it to your dog. Then take a few steps back from the dog and say with excitement in your voice, “Come.” It’s better to start the training inside the house or in a safe restricted area like your yard.

2. Wait for the dog to approach you, give them the toy or the treat, and praise them.

3. Gradually increase the distance between you and the dog.

4. If your dog performs this command confidently enough, move the training outside. Make sure that the space is safe for the dog. You can use a long training leash to make sure your dog won’t run away.

3. DOWN 1. Start with your dog in a sitting position and a treat in your hand. Move your hand, with the treat, from the dog’s nose to their chest level and then to the floor.

2. The dog should follow the treat and lie down at the end of the movement.

3. When the dog starts to lie down without any problem, add the command “Down” as your dog is getting into the down position.

4. STAY 1. Tell your dog to lie down.

2. Show your dog a “stop” hand sign. Your palm should be facing the dog.

3. Wait for a few seconds, say “Stay,” and reward the dog. Give the treat to the dog while they’re still lying down.

4. Gradually increase the distance between you and the dog, while the dog stays in the “Stay” position.

5. LEAVE IT 1. Show your dog a treat and hide it in a tight fist. Encourage your dog to take it.

2. At this point, your dog is likely to try to get the treat out of your fist.

Wait patiently and don’t say anything.

3. As soon as your dog backs off from your wrist, even for a couple of seconds, open your palm and allow the dog to take the treat. Praise your pet.

4. Practice enough so the dog constantly backs off from the treat, and start saying “Leave” every time your pet moves away. You should still give them the treat and praise them.

48

SEPTEMBER 2019

CHILL & DRAW

50

SEPTEMBER 2019