How to Play Badminton

Who wouldn't want to play the world's fastest racket game? Badminton can be played with two or four players. The object of the game is to score points by successfully hitting the shuttlecock over the net. Though the game has some similarities to tennis, the rules of badminton are distinct and important to know before you take a swing at your first game. If you want to be a badminton master or just impress that cute girl at the park, then let's get started.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Learning the Rules

1. Understand the object of the game. Badminton, like tennis, is a racket sport that is played by either two players or two teams of two players each. The object is for you or your team to get to 21 points first. You score a point whenever you successfully serve the shuttlecock and your opposing team commits a fault, which means that the team fails to appropriately return the shuttlecock.
   
   • To win each game, you must earn 21 points first, and win by two in the process. So, if both teams have a score of 20, one team must win by 22-20, and so on.
   • If you and your opponent cannot win by 2 and keep going until the score is 29-all, then the first team to score 30 points wins.
   • The first team to win two games wins the match. If the score is 1-1 in games, you must play a third deciding game.
2. Get familiar with the badminton court. The badminton court is long by wide. If you're playing singles, you play on the part that is long but only wide. The net should be positioned halfway across the court, made of three-quarter inch mesh at the mark ( for singles), above the ground. When you're playing doubles, the extra 1 on the left and right side of the court (the doubles sidelines) are considered fair game for serving and returning. Here's what else you need to know:^[1]
   
   • Each side of the court has a right and left service court. The server of one team must serve from one service court to the service court diagonal from it. Players must change courts after each point has been scored.
   • When serving in singles, you can serve to the opponent's diagonal service box and the back singles line on that side of the course, but not to the wider doubles sideline.
   • When serving in doubles, the player can serve to the opposing team's diagonal service box, including the doubles sideline, but not the singles long service line.
   • So, for singles service, the receiving court is longer and narrow, and in doubles service, the court is wide and short.
   • After the shuttlecock is successfully served, each team's entire court becomes fair game. The shuttlecock just has to stay within the bounds of the doubles or singles court.
   • Players can score points once a player commits a fault. If a server forces the opponent to take a fault, a point will be given to the server. If the recipient forces a fault to the server (so the server can't play it), the recipient will receive the point as well as the recipient becoming the new server for the next play.
3. Understand the basics of play. Here's what you need to know before you start your badminton game, beyond the court information and the scoring rules:
   
   • Toss a coin or have another contest to decide which team will be serving first and which side they will play on.
   • The first serve of a badminton game comes from the right half of the court to the court that is diagonally opposite that court. For the rest of the game, if you have an even number of points serve from the right, if you have an odd number of points, serve from the left.
   • If the serving side commits a fault, then the receiving side gets a point and the serve shifts to that side. If the serving team serves and the receiving side commits a fault, then the serving team moves from one service court to the other and continues to serve. There is a point scored after every serve (unlike in volleyball, for example).
   • In doubles, each team only has one "service." So, if one player on one team serves and faults, then the shuttle goes to a player on the other team, and so on.
   • When a receiving team wins a point and gets the serve, the team does not switch sides but serves from where they are standing. If they win the first service point, then the players switch positions from right to left.
   • After each game, opponents change ends of the court, and the side that won the previous game gets to serve at the start of the next game.
4. Understand how a player can get a fault. There are several reasons that a team or player can earn a fault. Here they are:
   
   • When the shuttlecock is served, the shuttlecock must be hit to a point higher or at the server's waist - otherwise it's a fault. If any part of the racket at the point of striking wasn't higher than any part of the serving player's hand, a fault can be given.
   • If the serving team fails to serve the shuttlecock over the net. The shuttlecock must be hit only once by the same player is to be considered fair in badminton. In badminton, you only get one try on each serve. The only exception is if your team gets a let, which is when the shuttlecock hits the net and falls over into the opponent's court. In that case, you get another try.
   • If you hit the shuttlecock into or under the net at any point in the game.
   • If the shuttlecock hits you.
   • If you hit the shuttlecock out of bounds or passes around or under the net to the player on the other side. Shuttlecocks falling on the line can be deemed as fair-play.
   • If you hit the shuttlecock on the ground on your side of the court or had extended beyond the longest service line, these contribute to a fault.
   • If the server fails to serve the shuttlecock into the correct opposing court.
   • If any player attempts to (successful or unsuccessful) obstruct their opponent in any way, these contribute to a fault on that player.
   • The feet of any player must be completely within the service court at the time of play - otherwise a fault will be called.
   • If the player is able to touch the badminton net with any piece of equipment including their clothes or any body part, this contributes to faults.
   • Balks contribute to a badminton fault too.
5. Learn the basic ways to strike the shuttlecock. The standard badminton racket is long and weights anywhere from 4.5-5.5 ounces. Most of them are made with metal and nylon, and you'll need to generate enough energy to effectively strike the shuttlecock with this light racket. The main strokes are the forehand and the backhand (as in tennis) and you'll need a light, quick wrist to effectively strike the shuttle. Here's what you need to know about striking the shuttlecock:
   
   • It's all about the footwork. See the shuttle and use several small steps to position yourself so that you can easily strike it instead of having to stretch too much.
   • You'll need to practice the backswing, the forward swing and hit, and the follow through in order to hit the shuttle effectively. You should hit the shuttle's round center, not the feathers of the shuttle.
   • Perfect your clear shot. This is the most common shot and the goal is to strike the shuttle in a way that moves your opponent away from the net, which gives you time to set up your next shot.
   • Practice your drop shot. To hit this shot effectively, you'll have to hit a slow, gentle shot that makes the shuttle fall just over the net, making it hard to reach for your opponent, no matter how fast he runs.
   • Smash the shuttle. This is a powerful shot that you use to hit a shuttle that is above the height of the net. You'll need to raise you're racket behind your back, as if you were going to scratch it, anticipate the shuttle coming your way, and then hit it hard, diagonally down, as if you were smashing it over a fence.
   • Drive the shuttle. This can be a forehand or a backhand shot that makes the shuttle move parallel to the ground, just barely passing over the net, making it hard for your opponent to anticipate or return your shot.
   • Recognize that servers must be able to understand when his opponents looks ready to receive the stroke. The server must not serve when the opponent doesn't seem ready to receive.
     • Both players must be standing within the confines of the court with both feet stationary in contact with the ground until the server delivers the ball to their opponent. However, players must not stand on either of any of the lines painted on the ground - for these are considered to be outside of the service court's area.

[Edit]Mastering the Strokes

1. Master the grip. The grip is how you hold your racket and it will affect every stroke that you hit. You have two basic grips in the game, one for the forehand and one for the backhand. Here's what you need to know:^[2]
   
   • The forehand grip: Hold the racket with your non-playing hand, pointing the handle toward you with your racket face perpendicular to the floor. Put your hand on the handle as if you are shaking hands with it. Look for a V shape between your thumb and index finger. Rest the handle loosely in your fingers for more flexibility. Shorten the grip and place it closer to the shaft for more control of the racket when you're hitting the shuttle from forecourt and midcourt.
   • The backhand grip: Hold the racket as if you were holding a forehand grip. Then, turn it clockwise, so that the V shape you've formed moves to the right. Put your thumb against the back bevel of the handle for more leverage and power, resting the racket loosely in your fingers. Again, use a longer grip for clears and a shorter grip for net play. Relax your thumb and use more power from your arm instead for clears because the extension of your thumb is extremely limited in the short-court backhand grip, and you have more time to prepare for a backhand clear than for a mid court block or net kill, meaning that the leverage of the thumb isn't as important.
2. Master the high and low serve. There are many ways to hit a badminton serve, from the high serve to the backhand serve. Here are a few serves you will need to know:^[3]
   
   • The high serve. This is a great serve for moving your opponent back during singles play; it's a little trickier for doubles. You have to use an underhanded forehand for this serve. Relax, bend your knees, standing behind the short service line. Lead with your non-racket leg, placing your racket leg behind it. Move your racket back almost to your shoulder, then swing it forward. Hold the shuttle by the feathers and drop it slightly in front of you. Hit the shuttle with the flat face of your racket and follow through until your racket reaches all the way to the non-racket side of your head.
   • The low serve. This serve is more commonly used during doubles. You can use the forehand or the backhand for this motion.
     • For the forehand serve, stand behind the service line, bring your racket back to your waist level and start swinging forward. Hold the shuttle by the feathers and bring it close to meet the racket instead of dropping it. Hit the shuttle at a higher point, but still below your waist, and push it with the racket face, trying to make it just skim the tape of the net.
     • For the backhand serve, just lead with your racket leg and your non-racket leg behind, with your feet pointing toward your opponent. Use a short backswing and then bring the racket forward, holding the shuttle at the tip of the feathers in front of waist level. Then, push the shuttle with the racket face and try to make it skim the tape of the net. Shorten your grip for more control.
3. Master the flick and drive serve. Here's what you need to know:^[4]
   
   • The flick serve. Use this for a quick serve but do so sparingly. Use a forehand or a backhand, acting like you're going to push the shuttle in a typical low serve, but instead, use your wrist to quickly flick the shuttle over.
   • The drive serve. This is an attacking serve perfect for singles or doubles. This will make the shuttle travel at a flatter angle and at a faster pace. Use an underarm forehand, standing a bit further from the service line, leading with your non-racket leg, placing your racket a bit below waist level, bringing it back and parallel to your waist. Swing the racket forward and follow through as you drop the shuttle slightly sideways to your body, hitting it and letting it pass the net at a flatter angle.
4. Master the forehand. Once you see that the shuttle is coming low and in front of you, you'll need to hit that forehand to beat your opponent. Here's what you have to do:
   
   • Drop the racket head down and behind you. Make sure that the racket extends out behind you.
   • Keep your knees bent and ready to move.
   • Move forward with your racket foot.
   • Keep your arm nearly straight as you swing the racket, snapping your wrist at the last possible second before you hit the shuttle.
   • Have an open racket face and swing the racket upward to generate momentum. Follow through until your racket hits near your opposing shoulder.
5. Master the backhand. To hit a backhand, you have to wait for the shuttle to approach your backhand side. Here's what you do:
   
   • Move on your left foot and step your right foot around in front of your body (if you are right-handed and your backhand is on your left side, that is), making sure that your right shoulder faces the net.
   • Bend your right elbow and draw your right hand across your body to get ready to swing the racket, moving your weight to your back left foot, keeping your right foot loose and limber.
   • Shift your weight to your forward foot, straightening your elbow as you swing the racket forward until the racket face connects with the shuttle, following through to move the racket forward past your right shoulder.
6. Learn to slice your shots. The slice can help slow down the shuttle or change its direction. This is a more advanced skill that will make it hard for your opponent to know where you're going or to be able to return the shuttle. Here's what you can do:^[5]
   
   • Slice your net shots. Start the forward motion as usual and then move the racket inward as you slice it perpendicular to the center of the birdie, thus slicing the shuttle and making it spin cross court instead of moving forward, as your opponent would expect it to do.
     • If service of the shuttlecock from the server's racket causes the bird to touch the net and then go over, play must stop and the play is done over. However, if the shuttlecock happens to touch the net then go over further into the play, the stroke is good and the bird can remain playable.
   • Slice your drop shots. Just slice the racket, moving it perpendicular to the center of the shuttle when it's in the air. This will slow down the shuttle, making it quickly fall on the opponent's side near the net.
7. Learn to hit an overhead shot. Also known as a smash shot, this shot allows you to use your power and to hit the shuttle at the top of its arc. To do this, aim your free hand up near the shuttle, and then swing the racket over your head with your racket hand, smashing the center of the birdie before it falls, directing it down in your opponent's court.
   
   • Aiming is important here -- try to aim the shuttle in a place that will be hard for your opponent to reach.
8. Recognize some of the obvious errors made during serving that can (and can't) be considered a fault.
   • Servers must be able to get the bird over in their hit. If the bird get's attempted to be hit but is missed, a fault can't be charged. (Things do happen to the best of all people.)
   • If the bird is held on the racket during the execution of the stroke or if the bird get's hit twice, this is a fault.

[Edit]Mastering the Strategy

1. Make sure to always return to "the stance of readiness" after each shot. After you return their shot, return to the middle of the court, so if they hit it to your left or right, you have more time to react and run to their shot, and return it back. Stay on your toes, and slightly move left and right ,so your energy and momentum is still active and you can be ready to run for the next move.
   
   • This stance means that your feet should be even with your shoulders and parallel and your toes should be pointed toward the net.
   • Keep your knees bent slightly and your racket in your hand with your arm across the front of your body.
   • Don't stand as if you were just normally standing up, or your body will be far too stiff to move well.
2. Get ready to move anywhere any time. Be prepared to run up to the net, run cross court, back up all the way to the back service line, or to reach the shuttle from any position. The element of surprise is important here, too, so watch out for your opponent's tricks.
   
3. Go for the overhead as often as you can. The overhead smash is the most powerful shot in the game because it allows you to hit the shuttle as hard and fast as you can, making it as difficult as possible for your opponent to return your shot. Look for opportunities to hit this shot when the shuttle is being returned high in the air.
   
4. Keep your opponents running around. Don't hit the shuttle right back to your opponent every time, or you'll just be making it easier for him or her to hit the shuttle right back. Your goal should be to move your opponent or opponents up and down the court or back and forth across the court so they get winded and tired and don't have the opportunity to properly return the shuttle.
   
5. Have a method to your madness. Don't just aim to hit the shuttle back and hope that your opponent messes up; have an idea of where you're going to hit it, how you're going to hit it, and why you're going to hit it a certain way. If you just blindly swing at the shuttle, you won't get very far.
   
6. Exploit your opponent's weaknesses. If you want to win, then you have to make your opponent play your game and make him as uncomfortable as possible. If your opponent has a weak backhand (as most beginners tend to have), hit the shuttle repeatedly toward his backhand. If he's slow on his feet, move him around. If he loves to play near the net, hit your shots long and hard. If your opponent loves the smash shot, don't hit the shuttle in the air. Be attuned to your opponent's strengths and weaknesses so you can win as easily as possible.
   
   • It's important to observe your opponent closely. Whether you're starting a game or just rallying for fun, be on the lookout for your opponent's strengths and weaknesses as early as possible.
7. Mix it up. Though always aiming for the overhead is nice, or hitting mostly forehands cross-court because that's your best shot is a good idea, if you do the same thing every time, your opponents will begin to catch on pretty fast. It's important to keep the element of surprise going, so your opponents are likely to be caught off guard and won't quite ever know what to expect when they play against you.
   
   • This includes where you serve, which shots you prefer, and where you tend to hit the shuttle.

[Edit]Tips

• Follow the rules and enjoy badminton.
• Keep focused when playing.
• Jump if needed!
• Learn how to do different strokes to get better at playing badminton.
• Be prepared.
• Don't let your guard down, even if you think there's no way they could return your shot, there always a chance they could turn it around.
• If you can get your opponent to be running around enough and not be able to focus on the distance of their hits you may be able to run up and tap it onto the ground on their side. Not actually hitting it but just stopping it from coming onto your side if it would hit the ground on your side right by the net. This is maybe rare but a checkmate.
• Always stay in the middle of the court
• Get a decent quality badminton racket, it will help a lot.

[Edit]Warnings

• If you are using a shuttlecock that has real feathers, be aware at the feathers might break.

[Edit]Things You'll Need

• Badminton rackets for each person
• A shuttlecock
• A court
• A badminton net

[Edit]References

• http://www.badmintoncentral.com/bc/topics/articles/techniques/
• http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton_serve.html
• http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton_grip.html
• https://sportyreview.com/best-badminton-rackets/

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton-court.html
2. ↑ http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton_grip.html
3. ↑ http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton_serve.html
4. ↑ http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton_serve.html
5. ↑ http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton_slicing_techniques.html

source How to of the Day https://ift.tt/38gfRlc

How to Be Organized at Home

If you live a busy life, it’s easy to come home one day and find that you’ve let your home become totally disorganized. However, there’s no reason to fret! Even if you don’t know where to start, you can definitely turn the place around and be more organized at home. The best way to do this is to take it 1 room at a time, removing the clutter that has built up, and reorganizing things to make your home tidier and your life easier.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Decluttering Your Home

1. Get rid of anything in your home that you haven’t used in 6 months. Generally speaking, if you haven’t used something in 6 months, you’re almost definitely never going to use it. Go through all the drawers, cabinets, and closets in your home and toss out anything that you can’t remember using in the past 6 months.^[1]
   
   • There are obviously some exceptions to this rule. If you have a costume in your closet that you only use at Halloween or decorations you only break out during the holidays, the 6-month rule doesn’t apply to these items.
   • Mementos and items with strong sentimental value, like things that your children made for you, also don’t fall under this rule. However, if the item only has a weak sentimental value, consider tossing it.
2. Throw away expired food or any kitchen items you don’t use. If there are items you’d like to keep but which you don’t use that often, move them somewhere where they’re not adding to a cluttered kitchen, such as on the top shelf of your pantry. Any items that you own but have never used and just can’t see yourself using, donate them or throw them away.^[2]
   
   • This sounds harsh, but this is the best way to keep your kitchen organized and free of clutter.
   • If there are food items that are about to expire, make a plan to use or eat them that day or the next day. If you don’t think you’ll eat them before they expire, throw them away.
3. Toss out any clothes that don’t fit you anymore. If you’re looking to make your home more organized, there’s no reason to keep clothes that you can’t physically wear anymore. Root through all the clothes in your closet and dresser drawers and donate the ones that don’t fit you to charity.^[3]
   
   • If there are clothes you come across that still fit you but that you haven’t worn in a long time, toss them out as well, unless you strongly feel that you’ll wear them again.
   • If you have younger siblings that wear the same kinds of clothes as you, consider giving them your old clothes as hand-me-downs.
4. Minimize the number of items you keep on the bathroom counter. Keeping as much open space on your counter as possible will not only make it look tidier, but will also make cleaning and reorganizing the counter in the future much easier. Remove any items that you don’t use on a daily basis and push the remaining items to the back ⅓ of the counter space.^[4]
   
   • Those items that you take off of the counter can either be stored under the sink or on the backs of the cabinet doors, or simply thrown away if they’re things that you know you won’t use.
   • Use small, rectangular trays to hold any items that you leave out on the counter and to keep them in an orderly arrangement.
5. Consider holding a garage sale and selling the things you don’t need. This is the best way to turn the clutter in your home into a little bit of pocket cash for yourself. If you come across a lot of items that you don’t use very often and can reasonably live without, sell them to both declutter your home and make money.^[5]
   
   • This method is best if you declutter your home in the spring or summer; it’ll be a lot harder to get people to come to your garage sale if you hold it during the cold weather months.

[Edit]Getting Your Stuff Organized

1. Use hooks and organizers to hang items on walls and doors. Place over-the-door organizers over the backs of your bathroom door and cabinet doors or install command hooks on your doors and walls. Then, hang items from these surfaces to clear up space in your drawers and cabinets while also utilizing this vertical storage space.^[6]
   
   • Command hooks work great for storing cloth items like hand towels and washcloths, as well as utensils and accessories that feature hanging loops, such as oven mitts and spatulas.
   • In the bathroom, store items that you only use once or twice a day on the insides of cabinet doors, such as toothpaste. This way, the rest of your bathroom looks neat and clean for most of the day!
   • You can also technically use over-the-door organizers on the back of your bathroom door, although the door may be too tall for this method of organization to be terribly useful.
2. Place items you use most often in easy-to-reach places. For example, store items you use every day in the kitchen, like your silverware and coffee mugs, in the most accessible areas of the room to emphasize ease-of-use in your kitchen organization. Do the same thing with key items in your bathroom, such as hand soap and towels.^[7]
   
   • It will also make your rooms more organized to store similar items together. For instance, place all of your bowls and plates in one cabinet and all of your cups and glasses in another.
3. Put cabinet items in easily stacked, see-through containers. These containers will allow you to use your cabinet space in the most efficient way possible, as well as make finding cabinet items much easier. For best results, opt for square or rectangle containers over circular ones.^[8]
   
   • If you use these containers in the kitchen, make sure the containers are dishwasher safe so you can clean them before and after you store food items in them.
   • If the area under your bathroom sink has a lot of empty space, use see-through modular drawers that stack on each other to store bathroom items and add labels to the front of each to describe what they hold.
4. Store things under your bed using thin storage containers. There’s tons of tiny storage space under your bed that is hard to take advantage of without storage bins. Store bed linens and non-essential in these containers, or other items that you only use every once in a while, such as seasonal decor.^[9]
   
   • Long, thin storage containers are the best to use under the bed, since they will stretch all the way to the back of the bed while still being long enough to be easily reached.
   • If you don’t have thin containers, you can also use cubbies, baskets, or bags, or make your own containers out of repurposed dresser drawers.
5. Use drawer organizers to bring order to messy kitchen drawers. These wooden or plastic drawer inserts are pretty cheap and are very useful for organizing your drawers. Use one organizer for silverware, another for larger utensils, and another for your “junk” drawer.^[10]
   
   • If you have any items that are too big to fit in these drawer organizers, such as very long spatulas, store them separately in their own drawer or in a jar on the countertop.
   • If any of these items have hanging loops, see if you can hang them on command hooks on the walls or cabinet doors.
6. Have furniture in the living room that maximizes storage space. For example, put tall shelves with large sections in the living room (or bedroom) so you can place a variety of large and small items on them. You can also opt for a 2-tiered coffee table instead of a traditional table to double its storage space.^[11]
   
   • For added convenience, keep a collapsible stool behind the shelf or somewhere nearby so you can reach the items on the top shelf.
   • You can also go with a coffee table with drawers if you want the things you store in it to not be visible all the time.
   • If you don’t plan to keep anything on top of your coffee table, or don’t plan to use the stuff you store in it all that often, considering going with a lift-top coffee table.

[Edit]Keeping Your Home Clean and Tidy

1. Take steps every day to keep the rooms in your home organized. A big part of organizing your home is keeping it from becoming disorganized in the first place. Make keeping your home organized part of your daily routine in order to maintain a “cleaning flow” and be more organized every day.^[12]
   
   • For example, make your bed every morning or clean your kitchen counters at the end of each night.
2. Deep clean your home once a week to maintain it. This deep cleaning can involve more involved cleaning tasks like cleaning your bathtub and shower, reorganizing and cleaning your refrigerator, or vacuuming all the floors in your home. Doing this deep cleaning each week will make keeping your home clean and organized much easier in the long run.^[13]
   
   • For best results, try setting aside a particular day each weekend to devote to cleaning and organizing your home. That way, keeping your home organized will just be part of your ordinary weekly schedule.
3. Avoid leaving clothes or other items on the floor. When you step into the shower or you’re just coming home from work, it’s all too tempting to just leave your clothes, shoes, or other accessories on the floor. However, this will only lead your home to become disorganized again. Instead, always be sure to put away clothes or accessories as soon as you take them off to keep your home clean.^[14]
   
   • If you find you’re always leaving your dirty clothes on the floor when you take a shower, it might be an issue with the way your bathroom is arranged. Make sure you have a hamper for your dirty clothes and put it in a convenient location in your bathroom.
4. Keep items stored in your drawers neatly organized. If you store any clothes in dresser drawers, keep these clothes neatly folded instead of haphazardly tossed in the drawer. For smaller clothing items like socks, belts, or lingerie, use drawer dividers to keep these items in order.^[15]
   
   • Although it may seem counterintuitive, keep shirts and pants in your drawers organized horizontally instead of vertically to make them easier to sort through.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Get Monotonous Jobs Done Accurately and Quickly
• Prepare for a Perfect Day (Girls)
• Avoid Planning Too Many Tasks
• Find Time for Coffee in the Morning

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://snappyliving.com/if-you-havent-used-it-in-the-last-six-months-get-rid-of-it/
2. ↑ https://lifehacker.com/top-10-smart-ways-to-organize-your-kitchen-1744625932
3. ↑ http://www.coupons.com/thegoodstuff/tips-to-organize-your-bedroom/
4. ↑ https://www.cleanandscentsible.com/easy-tips-to-organize-the-bathroom/
5. ↑ https://www.budgetdumpster.com/resources/how-to-declutter-your-home.php
6. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/why-didnt-we-think-of-that-18-ingenious-kitchen-organizing-tips-from-our-readers-200622
7. ↑ https://www.lifestorage.com/blog/organization/small-steps-to-make-your-kitchen-less-chaotic/
8. ↑ https://lifehacker.com/top-10-smart-ways-to-organize-your-kitchen-1744625932
9. ↑ http://www.coupons.com/thegoodstuff/tips-to-organize-your-bedroom/
10. ↑ https://www.lifestorage.com/blog/organization/small-steps-to-make-your-kitchen-less-chaotic/
11. ↑ https://www.extraspace.com/blog/home-organization/room-organization/budget-friendly-storage-ideas-organizing-living-room/
12. ↑ http://www.coupons.com/thegoodstuff/tips-to-organize-your-bedroom/
13. ↑ http://www.coupons.com/thegoodstuff/tips-to-organize-your-bedroom/
14. ↑ http://www.coupons.com/thegoodstuff/tips-to-organize-your-bedroom/
15. ↑ http://www.coupons.com/thegoodstuff/tips-to-organize-your-bedroom/

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How to Make Meat Pies

Meat pies are tasty snack for all the carnivores and a great appetizer for parties and potlucks. Make a whole pie for the entire family or make individual pies, just for one! These meat pies are easy and fun to make, and create a great activity for the whole family. Using hearty ingredients such as potatoes, carrots, peas, and savory ground/minced beef to make amazing meat pies that your family and friends will love. Using a few everyday ingredients, you can create delicious meat pies for your next gathering or potluck event.

[Edit]Ingredients

[Edit]Crust

• 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/3 cup shortening or butter
• 4 tbsp. cold water

[Edit]Filling

• 1 cup chopped potato
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 3 tbs. margarine or butter
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme or sage, crushed
• 1 1/4 cup beef broth
• 1 1/2 cup chopped carrots and peas
• 2 cups ground beef

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Making the Dough

1. Make the pie crust. Mix flour and salt into a large mixing bowl. Stir 1 1/4 cups flour and 1/4 tsp salt together in a large mixing bowl.
   
2. Cut the butter or shortening into the flour. There are many different methods of cutting the butter into the flour, but all are equally effective with the right amount of elbow grease. Keep the butter at a cool temperature and begin by cutting large chunks. Keep cutting your chunks down until the butter is mixed in thoroughly. Aim to get small and uniform pea-sized chunks.
   
   • Use a food processor. The easiest way to cut the butter is to use a food processor, pulsing the flour mixture for a minute or two, until the butter is chopped up to the appropriate size.
   • Use a pastry cutter for butter or shortening. A pastry cutter is a great way of chopping up the butter in a good uniform mixture, quickly and without much effort. Roll the pastry cutter through the flour mixture, clearing out the butter from behind the tines after you make each pass around the bowl, if necessary. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes.
   • Use a fork or two knives. If you don't have a pastry cutter or a food processor, don't worry. You can cut up the butter with the flat side of a table fork, or use two knives to slice the butter in opposite directions, or even just use the end of a metal spatula.
   • Just use your fingers with shortening. Shortening won't be greatly affected by the heat from your hands or from the room temperature, making it easy to crumble using your fingers.
3. Mix cold water into the flour mixture. Pouring cold water one tablespoon at a time into your flour will help you integrate the water gently, allowing the dough to form loosely. The mixture should just barely come together and form a loose ball, and shouldn't be damp or wet looking.
   
   • Be very gentle. The key to a flaky crust is to make sure you don't overwork the dough. If you overwork the dough, the crust will become tough and difficult to handle.
   • Your mixture will form soft lumps. These lumps should be moist enough that they will hold together if you gently press them between your fingers.
4. Use your hands to form the dough into a ball. Very gently, pull the flour into a ball and then split the ball into two equal portions. The recipe should make two portions, one will be the bottom of your pie, and the other will be the top cover.
   
   • It's usually a good idea to chill the dough in the refrigerator until you're ready to roll it out and bake with it. If you've already got the oven pre-heated and you're anxious to get started, putting it in the freezer can be a good way to get the temperature down quickly.
   • If you want to save the dough for a longer period of time, freeze it in a self-sealing freezer bag. When you're ready to use it, let it defrost in the fridge overnight and roll it out normally.
5. Roll the crust. On a lightly floured surface, flatten the dough with your hands and roll from the center to the edges with a rolling pin dusted with flour. Aim to form a circle about 12 inches in diameter.
   

[Edit]Making the Filling

1. Cook your meat. In a large skillet over medium heat, add 2 cups ground beef and 1/2 cup chopped onions. Season with thyme, cloves, chopped garlic (if desired) and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring to crumble the meat and mix in the spices, until the meat is evenly browned.^[1]
   
   • If you'd like a more flavourful pie, you can also use a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg as seasoning.
2. Discard the grease or fat. Once your meat is cooked through, use a wooden spoon or spatula to push your meat to one side of the pan and tilt the pan away, letting the grease pool on the other side. Spoon it grease out, or carefully tilt your pan over a grease safe container to dispose of it. Place your cooled grease into a sealed non-recyclable container and discard it into your regular trash can.^[2]
   
   • Do not dump grease into the kitchen sink or toilet bowl or even use hot water to wash it down the drain. This allows grease to get into the sewage system or harden in your pipes.
   • Be careful whenever handling hot grease.
3. Add the vegetables and beef broth. Chop 1 potato into small pieces and add it to the skillet with 1 1/4 cup beef broth to start. Pour in 1 1/2 cup carrots and peas. The beef broth will keep your filling moist once the grease has been drained out.
   
   • You can peel your potato if desired.
   • If you want something different, try using a sweet potato instead.
   • You can also add more or less beef broth as needed, but don't let your filling get too soupy.
4. Thicken your pie filling (optional). You may need to thicken your filling if it gets too runny. This can be done in a number of ways. Here are some things to consider:^[3]
   
   • Mix two tsp. of flour with 1/4 cup cold water or 1 tbsp. cornstarch with 1/4 cup cold water before stirring it into your mixture
   • Thicken with flour. For each cup of filling, use about 2 tbsp. of flour. Add the flour in increments of 1 tbsp. Add the flour slowly and stir in each addition. This will help prevent lumps from forming in your filling. Cook and stir for 1 additional minute until your sauce is thickened and bubbly.
   • Thicken with cornstarch. For each cup of sauce, use 1 tbsp. of cornstarch. Add the cornstarch in increments of 1 tbsp. and stir until thickened and bubbly. Add 2 minutes to your cooking time for cornstarch.

[Edit]Making a Whole Meat Pie

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
   
2. Assemble a whole pie. Roll your pie crust around the rolling pin. Start from one edge and carefully wrap your crust around the pin. Transfer your crust to your pie dish by carefully unrolling it from your pin and laying it down into the dish.
   
   • Avoid stretching the pastry.
3. Trim the crust. Trim to about 1/2 inch beyond the edge of the pie plate and fold the extra pastry under to create a thicker crust on the rim.
   
4. Fill your pie. To assemble your pie, slowly pour the filling into the pastry-lined pie dish. Level it off and don't overfill your dish.
   
5. Cover your pie. Roll out an additional circle of dough or pastry and carefully place it over your pie. Pinch the edges of the bottom layer and top layer of dough together and create the knuckle-like pie edge ridges. Trim off any excess using a sharp knife.
   
6. Make a few slits in the top. Use a sharp knife to cut some vents into the top crust to allow the steam to escape when cooking.
   
   • Brush the top of your crust with egg or melted butter. This will help keep the crust moist and prevent cracking.
7. Bake your whole pie. Place your pie onto an oven rack in the center of your oven and cook for about 45 minutes or until the top of the pie is golden brown.^[4]
   
   • When your pie comes out of the oven, it will be hot! Make sure to let it cool on the countertop before serving.

[Edit]Making Individual Meat Pies

1. Cut your dough. Roll out your dough and cut it into 6 even pieces, about 5 ounces each.^[5] Roll the pieces into 6 individual balls
   
   • Dust your workstation with flour to prevent dough from sticking.
2. Roll out your dough. Roll your pieces into about 8-inch flat circles. If your dough is very warm, it may be difficult to handle, cool it in the refrigerator for about 5-10 minutes if necessary.
   
3. Fill your individual pies. Evenly divide your filling into about 3/4 cup per individual pie and scoop it onto half of each dough circle. Carefully fold the dough over to cover the filling and use your fingers or a fork to press the edges together.
   
4. Slice slits into the tops of each pocket. Use a sharp knife to cut a few slits into the top of your pies. This allows steam to escape when baking and helps to prevent the pie from cracking or bursting in the oven.
   
   • Brush the top of your pockets with egg or melted butter to keep the top moist.
5. Bake your pies. Bake your pies on a lightly oiled or non-stick baking sheet in the oven for about 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the crust is golden brown and flakey.
   
   • Enjoy with a side of ketchup.

[Edit]Trying Creative Variations

1. Try different types of meat. Use ground pork, chicken, turkey, or any meat you prefer. You can also mix meats for a more creative pie. Try cooking bacon and mixing it into your ground meat. Buy your favorite Italian sausage and cut it out of the casting to mix into your pie filling. You can try lamb, veal, or even tuna flakes.
   
   • Make sure your meat is fully cooked before adding it to your filling.
2. Make mincemeat sweet pie. If you are looking for a sweet and savory pie, try adding some additional ingredients to your filling recipe. Add:^[6]
   
   • 8 ounces of raisins.
   • 4 ounces of dried figs (chopped).
   • 2 ounces dried cherries (chopped)
   • 2 apples, peeled, cored, and chopped.
   • 1 lemon zested and juiced.
   • 1 orange zested and juiced.
   • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
   • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground allspice
   • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground clove
   • 6 ounces dark brown sugar
3. Make a spicy meat pie. Bring some heat to your meat pie with the addition of a few ingredients and seasonings. Try mincing 1 jalapeño  chili and 2 garlic cloves for your filling. Add 4 tsp of curry powder, 1/2 tsp turmeric and 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper. Use these seasonings when cooking your ground beef to create a delicious spicy meat pie.
   
4. Get creative. Use your favorite ingredients and flavors to influence your own version of a meat pie. For a Mexican influenced meat pie, add refried beans and cheddar cheese to your filling. If you are looking for a vegetarian meat pie, substitute 1/2 cup (90 g) brown lentils for ground meat. You can also try adding artichoke hearts. Get as creative as you'd like!
   
5. Finished.
   

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• You can bake your pastries and then freeze them if you desire. To reheat, just place a pastry on a baking sheet and cook in an oven at 300 degrees F for about 20 minutes or until warmed all the way through.
• If you have leftover dough, roll out into a thin square, spread butter on it, sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar over the butter, roll it into a log, and slice into mini rounds. When you reduce the heat while baking the pie, slip the little cinnamon treats in, and bake for about 15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
• If you don't want to make your own pie crust, you can always use a pre-made crust from your grocery store to speed up the preparation time.
• Roll dough out on parchment paper first, its easier to transfer in your pie tin.
• You can place your pie dish on a cooling rack after baking to help it cool more quickly.

[Edit]Warnings

• Always use oven mitts when handling baking sheets or pie dishes directly from the oven.
• If your oven doesn't bake very evenly, rotate the pie halfway through the cooking time

[Edit]Things You'll Need

• Large bowl
• Rolling pin
• Large cutting board
• Paring knife
• Measuring cup
• Fork
• Knife
• Pie dish
• Baking sheet
• Large skillet

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Bake a Blueberry Pie
• Bake an Apple Pie from Scratch
• Make Easy Peach Cobbler
• Make Fruit Cobbler
• Make a Lemon Chiffon Pie
• Make Pumpkin Pie

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/10-inch-french-meat-pie-recipe.html?oc=linkback
2. ↑ http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/residents/congrease.shtml
3. ↑ http://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/thickening-with-cornstarch-or-flour/
4. ↑ http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/10-inch-french-meat-pie-recipe.html?oc=linkback
5. ↑ http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/michigan-pasty-meat-hand-pie.html
6. ↑ http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/mincemeat-pie-recipe2.html

source How to of the Day https://ift.tt/2TtGyxj

How to Calculate Leap Years

Leap years are a way to ensure that our calendar is on track. There are roughly 365.24 days in a year, which means that we need to add 1 extra day once every 4 years, and a year with 1 extra day is known as a leap year. We need to do this to ensure that we don't fall several hours behind each year. Calculating leap years is easy, but there are a few special rules to keep in mind as you do your calculations. If you prefer to look at a calendar instead of doing the math, then this is also an option.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Using Division

1. Identify the year you want to check. Calculating leap years requires having a year that you want to check. Use a past year, the current year, or a future year as your starting point.^[1]
   
   • For example, you could start by checking 1997 or 2012 if you want to look at a past year, or go with 2019 to check the current year, or select 2025 or 2028 to check a future year.
2. See if the number is evenly divisible by 4. Dividing the year by 4 will result in a whole number with no remainder if the number is evenly divisible. The number must be evenly divisible by 4! Otherwise, it is not a leap year.^[2]
   
   • For example, dividing 1997 by 4 gives you 499.25, which is not a whole number because it ends with a decimal. Therefore, it is not a leap year.
   • When you divide 2012 by 4, you get 503, which is a whole number. This means that 2012 is likely a leap year.
3. Confirm the number isn't evenly divisible by 100. If a year is evenly divisible by 4, but it is not evenly divisible 100, then it is a leap year. If a year is divisible by both 4 and 100, then it might not be a leap year, and you will have to perform 1 more calculation to check.^[3]
   
   • For example, 2012 is evenly divisible by 4, but not 100 since it results in a decimal answer (20.12). This means that 2012 is definitely a leap year.
   • 2000 is divisible by 4 and it is also evenly divisible by 100 since it leaves a result of 20. That means that 2000 might not be a leap year and you will have to divide it 1 more time.
4. Check if the number is evenly divisible by 400 to confirm a leap year. If a year is divisible by 100, but not 400, then it is not a leap year. If a year is divisible by both 100 and 400, then it is a leap year.^[4]
   
   • For example, 1900 is evenly divisible by 100, but not 400 since it gives you a result of 4.75. This means that 1900 is not a leap year.
   • On the other hand, 2000 is evenly divisible by 100 and 400, since it gives you a result of 5. That means that the year 2000 is a leap year.

[Edit]Checking a Calendar

1. Locate the year you want to know about in a calendar.^[5] Start by identifying the year that you want to check and then get out a physical calendar or open an online calendar to check that year. If you are using an online calendar, then you should be able to look back or ahead by at least a few years.^[6]
   
   • For example, if you want to see if 2016 was a leap year, go back to that year’s calendar.
   • If you want to check if 2021 is a leap year, go to that year online.
2. Turn to February and see if there is a 29th day. Leap years always result in 1 extra day that is placed at the end of February, since this is the shortest month in the year. Turn to that month in the calendar and check to see if there is a February 29th listed. If there is, then it is a leap year.^[7]
   
   • If February only goes through the 28th, then it is not a leap year.
3. Expect another leap year in 4 years. Each year lasts about 365 days and slightly under 6 hours. That extra 6 hours adds up to an extra day over the course of 4 years, which is why leap years occur almost every 4 years. Count ahead 4 years from the last leap year to estimate when the next leap year will be.^[8]
   
   • For example, since 2016 was a leap year, you could count ahead 4 years to 2020 as a way to predict the next leap year.

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://www.mathsisfun.com/leap-years.html
2. ↑ https://www.mathsisfun.com/leap-years.html
3. ↑ https://www.mathsisfun.com/leap-years.html
4. ↑ https://www.mathsisfun.com/leap-years.html
5. ↑ https://dinotracksdiscovery.org/static/ancillary/lessons/pdfs/calculating-leap-year.pdf
6. ↑ https://www.timeanddate.com/date/leapyear.html
7. ↑ https://www.timeanddate.com/date/leapyear.html
8. ↑ https://www.mathsisfun.com/leap-years.html

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