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How to Prep Fish for Baking Use these methods before starting any baked fish recipe and even if you’re baking fish without a recipe. Thawing: If fish is frozen, allow enough time for it to thaw, covered, in the refrigerator. For faster thawing, transfer fish to a resealable plastic bag and submerge in cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes to keep it cold. Continue the process until thawed. Fish skin: For fillets with skin, if desired, use a sharp fillet knife to remove the skin from the raw fish....

How to Beat Egg Whites to Soft Peaks Before the actual beating of eggs starts, there are some essential things we need to get ready for the process. 1. Separate the Eggs Here’s the thing about eggs: they separate more easily when they’re cold, but you can get to soft peak status more easily if you let them warm up first. Use an egg separator ($10, Williams Sonoma) to separate the eggs straight from the fridge....

Casters: IMPORTANT! Be sure the casters are rated for supporting the weight of the completed island with top. We used 3-inch-diameter casters, though you could use 4-inch casters if you need the additional height for achieving a finished countertop height closer to 36 inches. Step 1 Lay both sofa tables upside down on a floor, then cleanly and squarely saw off the back legs flush with the tables’ bottom frame pieces....

Delphinium plants and seeds are toxic. Plant them in a location away from children and pets. Flowers and Foliage Delphiniums are sought after and planted for their blue flowers. These beautiful blues come in a variety of shades and forms. Many feature a white center, which adds a bright contrast to the deep, rich blue. Most delphiniums are in the blue and purple range, but they can also be found in pinks and reds....

Cleaning your showerhead is also good for your family’s health. Wet environments like the one inside a showerhead are breeding grounds for bacteria. In fact, a recent study by the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences found that residential showerheads often contain abundant amounts of Mycobacterium (a genus of bacteria known to cause lung disease) growing in the slimy film that lives inside your shower nozzle. Fortunately, you can descale your showerhead using a handful of household items....

How to Clean Grout Follow our simple step-by-step instructions for cleaning grout with natural ingredients. What You Need Wet clothBaking sodaWater, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxideMixing bowlGrout brush or old toothbrushGrout sealer Step 1: Prep the Grout Area Begin by wiping down the tile with a damp cloth. Remove any visible dust, dirt, or general grime. If there is any buildup or stains, take the time to clean those, too. Step 2: Mix Cleaning Solution The best solution for cleaning grout depends on the state of your tile grout....

How to Clean Kitchen Floor Tiles Ceramic tile is easy to clean, making it a durable choice for kitchen traffic. Clean ceramic kitchen tile with a mix of warm water and mild detergent or liquid dish soap. Use a rag or chamois-type mop rather than a sponge mop, which tends to push dirty water into the grout lines, making them harder to clean. Don’t let your glazed tile floors air-dry. The sitting water will form water spots....

How to Cook Orzo Use these general orzo cooking instructions for four (¾-cup) servings of orzo: In a large saucepan ($30, Bed Bath and Beyond) bring 3 quarts lightly salted water to boiling. No need to add cooking oil to the pasta water; adding oil prevents sauces and seasonings from adhering to the orzo. Add 8 ounces (about 1¼ cup) dried orzo. Boil the orzo about 10 minutes or until it has a firm, chewy texture, stirring occasionally to prevent it from sticking together....

Wall Colors that Go with Black Sofas Because coal and charcoal-hued sofas are “go big or go home” design choices, they deserve a place in the limelight. There’s no better way to showcase their profiles than by using a high-contrast wall color. But before choosing your paint color, formulate a color palette, then carry a version of one of those shades onto the wall. Generally, laid-back paint colors, such as pearly gray, pastel peach, creamy yellow, sky blue, and lighter earth tones allow black sofas to shine, while adding hints of color and warmth to the space....

How to Decorate with Houseplants When decorating with houseplants, there are some things to keep in mind. It’s not just how they look in the room, you have to consider the plants’ care and living conditions. For example, some plants will tolerate low light and thrive in tricky areas like your bathroom, while others need a spot by the window to grow. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you bring more plants home:...

Note: Many recipes call for food to be dredged, then dipped in a liquid (such as eggs or buttermilk) followed by a seasoned coating. This process is breading—more on that below. How to Dredge Food Here’s how to dredge chicken or other food. Spread the coating in a shallow dish, such as a pie plate.Roll the food around in the coating until the food is coated on all sides. Shake off excess....

To espalier, prune to create a main vertical stem, then train the side branches to achieve the desired shape. Depending on the plant, this can take a year or two to establish and requires regular care. Thereafter, an espalier requires only light pruning to hold its shape. Instructions Step 1: Plan your pattern. Espalier fruit trees in a pattern. Fruit trees are often grown horizontally (diagram A) to maximize the fruit set....

Christmas Cactus Care Tips With a little TLC, you can easily get a Christmas cactus to thrive and bloom year after year indoors. Light and Temperature Bright but indirect light is best for a Christmas cactus. It can tolerate a little direct light, but avoid direct light during the summer, when the sun’s rays are stronger and can burn the fleshy leaves. “If the stems begin to turn a reddish-purple color, this is an indication that it is receiving too much sun,” says Alfred Palomares, Resident Plant Dad for 1-800-Flowers....

How to Grow Water Lilies You don’t necessarily need a pond for growing water lilies; they’ll also thrive in a big tub like a stock tank on your patio. They grow from tubers planted in pots beneath the water and send up stems with rounded leaves and star-shaped blossoms that float on the surface. Water lilies bloom in a variety of colors including pink, white, yellow, and red. A good choice for beginners, hardy lilies are dependable and easy to plant....

After all, it’s not just about the food. Pulling it together requires at least one trip to the store (if not more) to ensure you’ve got everything covered. Fortunately, there’s no need to lose sleep over mounting receipts. We asked the experts for the lowdown on how to make Thanksgiving memorable without draining your bank account, and the good news is, it’s easier than you think. Get Inspired When it comes to occasion planning, knowing where to begin is often the hardest part....

Here’s how it works: Organize a group video call and choose an online game to play. There are dozens of interactive games available (like virtual bingo!), and being able to see your friends’ faces as you play will make you feel like you’re right there in the room with them. Here are some of the easiest (and most fun) games our editors have been playing online, along with our recommendations for video calls....

When ordering a window be sure to specify a jamb of the correct width. If your walls have 2x4 studs and 1/2-inch exterior sheathing, the jambs should be 3 5/8 inches wide (the extra 1/8 inch allows for imperfections). For a wall with 2x6 studs, a jamb width of 5 5/8 inches is correct. Unpack the window and inspect it before installing. Make sure all the weatherstripping is in good shape and the mechanisms and sashes operate smoothly....

Fortunately, tackling true topiary on your own is easy, as long as you know the basics. And it costs relatively little. Purchase a 6-foot topiary spiral tree like the one shown and you can expect to pay about $250. But shape one yourself – it takes only an hour or two – and it’ll cost about $50. Read on to learn how. How to Make Spiral Topiaries Spiral topiaries can be large (6 feet or more) or small (just 8x10 inches)....