Starches offer a low-fat, simple thickening alternative for sauces that is especially suitable for beginning cooks. You can even add a dash of herbs or spices to starch slurries to make them more flavorful. Starch thickeners are mostly flavorless, but they can give sauces an artificial sheen, making them less popular for stews or meat gravies.  Cornstarch is inexpensive, readily available, and best for dairy-based sauces. Do not use cornstarch if you plan on freezing a sauce for later use, however, as cornstarch creates a spongy texture in sauce upon freezing. Combine 1 tablespoon (8 g) of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of cold water in a small bowl. With a whisk, blend them together until smooth. Gradually whisk the mixture into your cooked sauce that needs thickening. Continue stirring and cooking the sauce over medium to medium-high heat. Bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, and stir the sauce for an additional two minutes, allowing the cornstarch to completely finish cooking and thickening. If you don’t cook your starches, they can leave an aftertaste in your sauce. The longer you cook your sauce or soups, though, the better the flavor will be. Arrowroot is best for more acidic sauces, but avoid mixing arrowroot with dairy. However, you can use arrowroot when cooking with acidic dairy products like buttermilk. Arrowroot starch gives liquids a glossy appearance, making it especially desirable for dessert sauces or reductions.  In a small bowl, mix equal parts of the arrowroot starch with cold water, whisking thoroughly to beat out any lumps. Add the arrowroot mixture to the already hot liquid and cook for 30 seconds at medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Remove the sauce from the heat, and allow it to finish thickening as it stands. If you are cooking pasta, potatoes, or another type of starch to go with your meal, set aside a cup of the water that you used to cook your starch. Working a spoonful at a time, stir your starch water into your simmering sauce, soup, or other liquid. Continue this process until you get your desired thickness.
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One-sentence summary -- Use cornstarch in sauce. Use arrowroot starch to thicken liquids. Add starch water to sauces and soups.


You could get dessert at the same restaurant where you eat, or go to a different place to wind down the night. No matter what type of date you had, it's nice to incorporate something sweet at the end. It is one last thoughtful touch that shows your date you put a lot of thought into planning the evening. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to share a dessert, just like in the movies.  Going out for ice cream is a nice way to end a date during the summer. If you're cooking at home, consider serving something with chocolate. It tends to be a favorite. If your date does not have a sweet tooth, you could go to a bar to grab a nightcap instead. Of course, if you or your date do not drink or are underage, this is not a good idea. Sometimes an individual cannot have rich desserts, especially those with diabetes. Or the person may have allergies, food sensitivities, medical conditions, or whatnot. Just be flexible and understanding. The end of a date can be a little awkward if you have not thought about it beforehand. Put some forethought into your plans. Are you going home separately after dinner? Do you plan to drop your date off after you're finished with dessert? Perhaps you may like to invite the person back to your house. Think about the logistics so you avoid that awkward “what now” moment after an otherwise perfect date.  Have your house ready in case you end up there. Have it clean and presentable. A kitchen with last night's dishes stacked in the sink and your dirty laundry in a pile on the floor will likely make a negative impression. End the date at a good time. Ending a date on the right note is tricky. In general, end it at a logical moment. For example, after the late movie ends, offer to drive her back to her place. It is generally better to end the date a little on the too early side than too late. Kiss, hug, or more? At the end of a date, especially a first one, generally a gesture will effectively end the date. This is sometimes a very awkward moment. Generally in a heterosexual date, the girl should decide what she is comfortable with offering the guy as a gesture. If something goes awry, remain calm and work towards having a good date anyway. A person who is inflexible, stresses out, and becomes irritable in the face of the unexpected will not be very successful with dates. In fact, dealing with the unexpected in a creative, positive way can make a big impression.
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One-sentence summary -- Don't forget dessert. End gracefully. Go with the flow.


There are a few different reasons why an orchid might not be blooming. The most common reason is that it doesn't have the right light level, so make sure that you check that first. You can look at the color of the leaves. Leaves should be medium-green. If they are a dark, lush green,the plant is likely not getting enough light. If that isn't it, there are a few more things to consider.  The orchid might simply be too young. Plants have to be mature enough to bloom and then only during their natural cycle. Your orchid might be overpotted. For best results with orchids, you'll need to make sure that they are tight in their pots. Pots that are too big for the root mass put the orchid in danger of not growing or blooming. Another problem could be that you're using the wrong fertilizer. There could be too much nitrogen, which suppresses blooming. You want a nitrogen phosphorus potassium (or NPK) value of 10:10:10 in your fertilizer. If you're dealing with limp leaves you will want to unpot the orchid and check the root system. If the roots are mushy then a significant root loss has occurred and there are several likely culprits.  Overwatering can do this. You can safely water an orchid about once a week, depending on the type and only as long as they are healthy and potted properly. Check the mix to see if it is drying out properly before you re-water. The pot is too large. This can also cause problems with your orchid's roots, because they are expending too much energy trying to maintain their root system rather than caring for leaves and new flowers. Potting mix has degraded. Potting mixes are only good for a certain amount of time before they need to be replaced. Make sure yours hasn't gone past its deadline. While pests are less likely in an indoors orchid, you can still get them in potting mixes and just out of nowhere. Make sure you know how to deal with these nuisances so you can keep your orchid alive and healthy.  Aphids target bloom spikes and buds so if you see holes in these areas you might have aphids. Fortunately most insecticides will control these little nuisances. Snails and slugs can get into the potting mixes, so make sure you check the mixes that you're putting your orchid in. They tend to chew on the roots, or on leaves and stems. Again, insecticides can usually take care of this problem, or getting a new potting mix. If your young leaves are getting discolored, and white masses are appearing on your orchid, then you probably have mealybugs. Use insecticides or remedies that contain an oil of some sort because this coats and suffocates the bug. It's also a good idea to repot the plant once you've eradicated the menace. For a home-made insecticide you should mix 9/10 quart of warm water, 1/10 quart of rubbing alcohol, 1 tsp of lightweight oil (Neem Oil is an excellent choice), a few drops of gentle dishwashing detergent. Mix these in a spray bottle and shake vigorously (make sure the cap is on). Spray the orchids.
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One-sentence summary --
Deal with an orchid that won’t bloom. Care for an orchid with limp leaves. Deal with pests.