Category: Kitchen

Tips for Making Latte Art

  • 1 Pour enough cold milk (34 ºF or 1 ºC)for one cup into the steam pitcher. 
    How to make latte art
  • 2

    Put the steam wand at the bottom of the pitcher. Turn on the steam, and slowly raise the wand until it is near the top of the milk. Lower the pitcher as the milk rises so the steam wand stays 1 cm away from the top of the milk. The milk should not stretch too much nor should there be any big bubbles. This should create a smooth, velvety milk as opposed to the foam that sits atop most espresso drinks.

     
  • 3

    Allow the milk to reach 80 ºF (27 ºC). Then place the steam wand on the side of the pitcher, deep into the milk, positioning the pitcher to spin counterclockwise. Keep doing this motion until the milk heats to 150 ºF to 160 ºF (65 ºC – 70 ºC).

     
  • 4

    Shut the steam and remove the steam wand and thermometer from the milk. Clean the steam wand with a wet cloth.

     
  • 5

    Let the milk settle for a few seconds. This will allow a more velvety texture.

     
  • 6

    Swirl the milk vigorously. If you see any bubbles, pound the pitcher on the counter several times and go back to swirling the milk for 20 to 30 seconds.

     
  • 7
    Start pouring the milk into the espresso.

     
     

    Start pouring the milk into the espresso.

    • To create a flower pattern: pour the milk about an inch (2 cm – 3 cm) away from the bottom. Once the cup is about half filled, gently shake the pitcher back and forth while slowly moving it backwards. The flower design will move forward, filling the cup. Do this with a shaking motion originating at the wrist instead of moving your hand back and forth.
       
    • To create a heart pattern: Shake your hand as you would in making a flower. However, instead of moving backwards, keep your hand in the same general area, focusing on making a ringed circle.
       
     
  • 8

    Continue until the foam reaches the top of the cup. Then, sweep the rest of the milk up the center of the newly created pattern. Use a minimal amount to avoid sinking the pattern.

     
  • 9

    Embellish the design using stencils, powder, and milk foam. This step is optional, as many prefer to limit their latte art to “free form” methods, but you may want to experiment with the possibilities added by “etching.”

    • To write a word, such as “love” in the picture, melt milk chocolate and using a pin as a paintbrush drag the melting chocolate over the foamed milk. More commonly this is done by dipping said pointy object into the cream of the drink being decorated, and then transferring that cream stained foam to the pure white foam to ‘draw’ a design.
  • VIA

Plaster Cast Catch-All

Father's Day Crafts Gifts to Make

 
 
Total Time Needed:
Weekend Project

This casting project from familyfun.go.com may take a day or two to complete, but the end product — a pretty holder for jewelry, coins or other collectibles — will make a lasting impression on whomever your child bestows it.

 
Materials
  • An apple, a small acorn squash or an old baseball
  • 2 to 3 10-inch wooden kabob sticks
  • Plastic bucket for mixing
  • Paint stirrer
  • 2 lbs of plaster of Paris
  • Acrylic paints and paintbrushes
 

Instructions
  1. First, prepare the mold by trimming the sides of the carton or tub so that they are about 2 1/2 to 3 inches tall.
  2. Cast Catchalls - Step 2 Next, partially insert the kabob sticks into the center of the object you plan to cast, evenly spacing them around the circumference (with hard objects, you may have to hammer starter holes with a small nail). Rub Vaseline on the portion of the apple or squash that will be submerged in plaster (skip this step if you’re using a baseball). Then rest the skewers on the sides of the mold.
  3. Use the bucket and stirrer to mix the plaster according to the package directions. Slowly pour the mixture between the object and the carton walls until one third of the object is submerged (no more, or the object will be hard to remove later). Gently tap the mold on a table to release air bubbles.
  4. After one hour, lift the object from the plaster. Carefully remove the mold and let the casting cure completely (about 24 hours). Then prime the plaster with shellac or spray matte, let it dry and the casting is ready to paint. For the best effect, use a contrasting color to accent the hollowed portion. Or sponge a darker hue on the top and sides once the base coat dries.

Grilled Bacon Jalapeno Wraps

Ingredients

  • 6 fresh jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
  • 12 slices bacon
 

Directions

  1. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat.
  2. Spread cream cheese to fill jalapeno halves. Wrap with bacon. Secure with a toothpick.
  3. Place on the grill, and cook until bacon is crispy.

via allrecipes