Things You\’ll Need

• Coarsely ground, fresh coffee

• Boiled water

• Coffee press

Use a Coffee Press

Coffee press, French press, or press pot–call it what you will. It's a gadget that's easy to use and makes a delicious cup of rich coffee. Because there is no paper filter to absorb natural oils and flavors, pressed coffee has a more distinct flavor than drip coffee. And unlike drip coffee, a coffee press brews coffee with a more dense consistency.

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Step 1

Grind your beans if they're not already ground. While finely ground coffee beans are ideal for espresso drinks, it is much more effective to use coarsely ground beans in a French press.

Step 2

Remove the filter from the pot. Add one rounded tablespoon of ground coffee per four ounces of water to the pot.

Step 3

Boil water. Slowly pour over the coffee grounds in the pot so all the grounds are saturated. Be sure to add the right amount of water for the amount of coffee you used. You may need to stir the mixture to make sure the grounds are loose and not clumping.

Step 4

Place the filter and lid on the pot. For smaller presses, ones that make only one or two cups, allow the coffee to steep for two or three minutes. For larger presses, allow the coffee to steep about four minutes. With practice you'll be able to determine how long it will take to steep the coffee to your preference.

Step 5

Filter out the grounds. When the coffee has steeped to your liking, press the plunger down to the bottom of the pot to filter out the grounds. Use a slow, steady and straight hand. This is why you'll want the coarser grounds, fine ones will elude the filter and muck up the coffee. If the filter slips to the side it could cause coffee grounds to sneak into the brew.

Step 6

Pour and enjoy! As you're pouring your coffee, make sure to hold on to the lid to keep the grounds at the bottom of the pot in place.

Tip

If your coffee develops a bubbly foam on top it is because there is high carbon dioxide content in your beans. It may indicate that your beans are freshly roasted and haven't had the requisite few days to "cure." To avoid bitterness, don't allow coffee to steep more than 20 minutes. Coffee presses can also be used to brew loose leaf tea.

Things You\’ll Need

• Water, ginger ale or flat soda

• Bread or rice

Friends drinking together. Image Credit: Kane Skennar/Photodisc/Getty Images

There are several factors that influence the amount of time it takes for one unit of alcohol and beer to leave any person's body. These factors include a person's age, weight, the amount of food in the person's system and the strength of the alcoholic beverages consumed. A single unit of beer is roughly equal to one half pint and generally one unit will be processed and removed from the body in one hour. There are several ways to help remove the beer faster, in order for anyone to sober up a little quicker.

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Step 1

Consume water. Image Credit: Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images

Consume water, if possible. This will help flush the liquor and beer out of your system more quickly. If you are a little nauseated, skip the water and drink flat soda or ginger ale to help get liquids into your system and ease your stomach.

Step 2

Slice of bread. Image Credit: Digital Vision./Photodisc/Getty Images

Eat foods that contain complex carbohydrates, such as breads and rice. This will help absorb the liquor from your system and it will also ease any nausea or stomach ache related to the drinking.

Step 3

Consume one drink at a time. Image Credit: Digital Vision/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol at once. Consuming one alcoholic unit per hour will help you remove the liquor from your system in a more uniform fashion and help you from becoming inebriated in the first place. Drinking a glass of water between each beer will also help you prevent becoming drunk too quickly.

Step 4

Walking can help release alcohol. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Exercise. Take a walk or do a few laps around your house. This will allow you to sweat the alcohol out of your system more quickly.

Tip

Avoid drinking liquor on an empty stomach. Eat a moderate-to-large meal before drinking to help slow the absorption of liquor, which will also help prevent a sore stomach later.

Things You\’ll Need

• Fresh, whole limes

• A sharp knife a bowl or jar

• A citrus juicer (optional)

• A fine grater (optional, for making lime zest)

Fresh limes

Lime juice is an important ingredient in many southwestern, Caribbean, and Latin America dishes. You can also combine it with water and sugar to make limeade, a puckery-sweet drink that rivals lemonade. It's easy to make your own lime juice from fresh limes, and freshly squeezed lime juice is far more flavorful than the bottled concentrate from the grocery store. Read on to learn how to make lime juice.

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Step 1

Select your limes. Limes are generally small—about half the size of your fist—and should have a glossy skin that is deep, bright green with a little bit of yellow. The fruit should be firm but with a little bit of give—not too squishy but not rock hard, either.

Step 2

Fresh, whole limes can be stored at room temperature and out of direct sunlight for a week or two, and even longer in a cool root cellar. They may also be stored in the refrigerator for two weeks or more, although their pungency will diminish over time. If you refrigerate your limes, allow them to come to room temperature before juicing.

Step 3

To make lime juice, first wash and dry your limes, then slice each one in half with a sharp knife.

Step 4

If you have a citrus juicer, press or squeeze the lime halves according to the directions of your juicer.

Step 5

Otherwise, simply squeeze each lime half over a bowl or jar until all the juice is extracted. If you are squeezing limes by hand, you might need to strain or scoop out any seeds or pulp that fell into the juice. Each lime will yield 1 to 2 tbsp. of juice.

Step 6

Freshly squeezed lime juice is best used immediately, but it can be stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. You may also freeze lime juice in ice cube trays, then transfer the frozen cubes to a zipper-topped bag. Frozen lime juice can be kept for six months or more.

Step 7

Don't throw that rind away. You can use the spent lime peel to make lime zest. Gently rub the outside of the lime against a fine grater. Be sure to only grate off the very outside of the peel—the colored part—and not the bitter white pith. Fresh lime zest should be used immediately. You can also dry it in a food dehydrator or a very low-heat oven and store it for two to three months.