INPUT ARTICLE: Article: . Fondant is a smooth, easily molded covering used to cover the whole cake or to make cake toppers. You can make it yourself or purchase ready-made fondant to save yourself the trouble.  Some brands of fondant tear more easily than others. Fondarific, Duff, and FondX are good beginner options.  Fondant dries quickly, so keep any portions you are not currently using wrapped in plastic or in the original container. Make this as smooth as possible to prevent wrinkling or tearing the fondant, which will go over the buttercream. See the icing section for tips.  Ganache can be used instead. It may be more difficult to smooth, but will provide a more stable base. Sprinkle cornstarch or spread shortening on a clean surface to prevent the fondant from sticking, then knead it for a couple minutes or until pliable. Knead by pushing with your flat palms and heel of the hand, to avoid trapping air bubbles in the fondant. Skip this step if you purchased ready-to-use rolled fondant. Use a rolling pin to roll the fondant out to a ¼ in (6 mm) thickness. Occasionally rotate the fondant by sliding your hand underneath it to the center, to make sure it hasn't stuck to the table. If you plan on covering a circular cake with fondant, you'll need a circle as wide as your cake's diameter plus twice the cake's height. Once the fondant is rolled out, roll it around the rolling pin, then unroll it again over the cake to drape it over. Use a flat tool – or your hands if necessary – to smooth the top surface and remove air bubbles. Next, smooth out a full circle around the top of the cake's sides, to make sure the fondant is firmly attached. Smooth the rest of the sides, gradually moving around the cake, until it is fully covered. Cut off the remaining fondant with a utility knife or pizza cutter. If you are covering a cake with an unusual shape, put the fondant in the same mold you used for the cake, let it harden slightly, then place it over the cake. Large cakes may need to be covered piece by piece, then repaired as described below. You can easily make two-dimensional fondant decorations by cutting shapes out with a utility knife or scissors. Use fondant in multiple colors to make faces, animals, or any shape you like. It can also be sliced into strips and arranged to form ribbons or a spiral flower. Three-dimensional shapes can be sculpted just like clay, although fondant is best suited for small cake toppers, since it dries quickly. Fondant can tear, crack, or bulge fairly easily, especially when used to cover an entire cake. Here are a few ways to repair these imperfections:  Put a small amount of new fondant into a bowl and mix in water ¼ tsp (1 mL) at a time until you get a toothpaste consistency. Spread this with a flat spatula over cracks or dents to make them smooth, then wait for them to dry. If the fondant cracks before you've started decorating, knead in some shortening or glycerin. Hairline cracks can sometimes be smoothed out with your fingertips, or disguised with a brush of shortening. A bulge is usually an air bubble. Try pricking it with a pin, then smoothing out the fondant.

SUMMARY: Make or buy fondant Start with a smooth layer of buttercream. Knead the fondant. Roll out the fondant. Cover the cake (optional). Make fondant decorations. Repair fondant. Finished.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Adults should be getting 1,000 mg of calcium every day. Calcium is the most important mineral for maintaining bone health, because bones use calcium to remain strong and prevent bones from becoming brittle. Men over 50 and women over 70 need more calcium – 1,200 mg per day.  Foods high in calcium include dairy products, broccoli, salmon, leafy green vegetables, soy products, and cheese. You should not consume more than 2000 mg of calcium a day. Side effects of calcium supplementation include constipation, indigestion, and increased risk of kidney stones. Scientists are still figuring out how much vitamin D is optimal in a diet, but you should get at least 600 international units per day. Healthy teens and adults can have up to 4,000 IU per day. The main way to do this is by getting sunlight. If you cannot get sunlight, talk to your doctor about other ways to get vitamin D. The use of vitamin D supplements is controversial, so your doctor may offer specific advice. This doesn’t mean tanning, which is quite unhealthy for your skin and can cause cancer. It only takes a short time to get enough vitamin D – as little as 15 minutes depending on your skin type and where you live. A healthy diet includes a balance of lean protein, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables. Trace amounts of these elements have been shown to be prevalent in bones. There are foods you can eat to increase your levels of manganese, zinc, and copper.  Foods high in manganese include nuts, shellfish, dark chocolate, soybeans, and sunflower seeds. Beef, shellfish, and peanuts are foods that are high in zinc. Copper is prevalent in foods like calamari, lobster, sun dried tomatoes, and oysters. The body needs to remain hydrated to be healthy. Hydration benefits your entire body, especially your organs and joints, and has been shown to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. The amount of fluids you need is based on various factors, but women should generally have nine cups per day, and men 13. Having at least eight on any given day is good, but try for more. Salt, soda, carbonated drinks, caffeine, and hydrogenated oils should be consumed in moderation. They are known to diminish calcium content in bones. They have numerous other drawbacks for your health, so it is best to avoid them in most situations. You should be consuming a maximum of 5,000 IUs (international units) of Vitamin A per day. To avoid consuming too much Vitamin A, eat fewer eggs or egg whites only, switch to non-fat or low-fat dairy products and check the concentration of Vitamin A in your multivitamin supplements. This compound is important to bone growth, but too much actually contributes to bone loss. Teenage and adult males should get about 3,000 IU of Vitamin D, and teenage and adult females around 2,310. For your reference, an ounce of cheddar cheese contains about 300 IU of Vitamin A, and a cup of whole milk 500.

SUMMARY:
Consume foods and drinks high in calcium. Get plenty of vitamin D. Eat a healthy diet rich in manganese, zinc, and copper. Drink at least eight glasses of clean water every day. Avoid excessive amounts of harmful substances. Consume the right amount of Vitamin A.