INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Sometimes called "lump charcoal," hardwood burns at high temperature for a short amount of time, making it ideal for cooking steaks. It's easy to light without lighter fluid, so just use a charcoal chimney and some newspaper to get it started.  Arrange a sear-side and a warm side by putting the coals to one side of the grill. This means you can cook steaks to a variety of levels of done-ness if necessary, giving you more control. If you use a gas grill, turn the flame on medium-high. You'll probably end up having to cook the steaks a little longer on gas, but it'll still be great. Prepare the steaks as if you were cooking them in any other way, bringing them to room temperature and seasoning them a bit ahead of time. Instead of greasing the skillet or the grate, though, you'll brush some cooking oil onto the meat itself.  Some people will skip this step, but it's a nice way to get a crust on your meat. Alternatively, some people like to put a dab of butter on the meat, after flipping it. Once the coals are ready, replace the grill grate and the lid of the grill, to give it enough time to come up to heat. The coals cook the grill, but the grate gives it it's tasty crust and grill-marks.  When the grill gets hot and the coals are ready, put the steaks over the hot part of the grill, so they sizzle. Some people prefer cooking the steaks over the cold part of the grill first, then searing at the end. This works fine for cold steaks. If your steak is room temperature, like it should be, sear it first. Put the steak on the grill, put the lid on the grill and let the hardwood smoke flavor the meat and cook it. Wait for about 4-5 minutes until you do anything. Nothing bad is going to happen to the steak. Just keep an eye on the timer and let the grill cook the steak.  Flip the steak to the other side and let it sear and cook for another five minutes. Depending on your cuts and the temperature of your steak, it should be done after about 10 minutes total. Lot of people like to be hands-on with a nice piece of steak. Some people swear by the "don't touch it" method, while others prefer flipping regularly to cook the steak evenly. The truth is that neither method is wrong and they're both great ways to cook steak done properly. Flip it early and often, if you want. You're not at a restaurant and you don't need to rush. After searing the steak, it should be just about done, if it's not done already. Use your thermometer or your finger to check for doneness and move the steak to a cooler part of the grill if you want to cook it longer. When the steak is done, remove from the heat, put it on a plate, and rest it covered for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.

SUMMARY: Use hard-wood coals. Brush oil and seasoning on both sides of the steaks. Let the grate heat up and put the steaks on. Cover the grill and let the meat cook. Move the steak to the cooler part of the grill.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You will be working with chemicals that you should avoid breathing in. A basement, garage or outdoor driveway will provide a good place to work and keep chemical fumes out of your living space. You can also wear a mask to avoid breathing in fumes. If you must work in your living space, open as many windows and doors as possible and run a fan to ventilate the space. Use a drop cloth to protect the surface or floor you are working on. Leather dye can stain many surfaces, so make sure your floor is covered before you begin. It's best to dye cushions separately from the couch itself, also over a drop cloth. You can also use old clothes or rags if they completely cover the space under your couch. Remove any dust or dirt that is on the leather using a cloth and soapy water. Use a mild detergent. Do not soak the couch, as this can warp the leather. Lightly rub it with a cloth that you dip in the water and wring out.  You can try to get any stains out of your leather at this point. If they are light, the dye will probably cover them up. However, dark, noticeable stains might make your final dye job look uneven. White vinegar or rubbing alcohol can get rid of most stains. If there is any part of your couch that you do not want to dye, such as wooden or metal hardware, cover it with painter's tape. Place the tape as close to the edge of the leather as possible. If you need to, cut the painter's tape to a smaller size to make it fit in any small nooks and crannies. Most leather furniture will have a protective coating to seal in dye and protect the leather. You can remove this, along with any lingering oils, by using a clean rag to rub deglazer or acetone into the surface of the couch. It will evaporate almost immediately, leaving your leather clean and ready to dye.  Some of the original dye may rub off of the leather as you deglaze it. You can buy leather deglazer online or at most hardware stores. Use acetone (not nail polish remover) for a less expensive but equally effective solution. Avoid using products with alcohol or mineral spirits, as these will dry out the leather.

SUMMARY: Carry the leather couch to a well-ventilated workspace. Place the couch on top of drop cloths and take off any cushions. Clean the entire couch with soapy water. Protect any wood or hardware with painter's tape. Deglaze the leather using a deglazer or acetone.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: When you want to frost the sides of the cake, you'll need to apply a thin crumb coat to the exposed cake, trapping any loose crumbs inside. Note that the cake will show through the crumb coating. You only want to use a thin layer of frosting to trap the loose crumbs. This layer will not be visible once the cake is complete. If your refrigerator is large enough, place the cake inside for roughly 30 minutes to help the crumb coat set.  If you cannot chill the cake in your refrigerator, you should at least let it rest in a cool room for several minutes before handling it again. Consider placing a small fan in front of it to help the frosting cool. Ideally, the frosting should become so cool that it no longer feels sticky. Apply a thicker layer of frosting over the crumb coat of the cake. Continue until all sides are thoroughly coated and smooth. Before frosting the cake, slide strips of wax paper underneath the bottom of the cake, forming a square frame. Excess frosting will get on the wax paper instead of the cake board or platter. When you finish frosting the cake, you can remove the wax paper strips and the mess all at once. From this point on, you can apply any decorations you want using additional icing, candies, or non-edible embellishments. Once you've added the finishing touches to your decorations, the cake will be complete and ready to serve.

SUMMARY:
Apply a crumb coat. Chill the cakes again, if feasible. Frost the sides of each tier. Decorate the cake as desired.