Hate Ironing? Who Doesn’t? De-Wrinkle Your Clothes in Your Dryer Instead!

If I were to make a list of thoughts that have never and will never cross my mind, "Ironing isn't that bad." would be pretty high up there. Ironing sucks. I hate having to perfectly position the item of clothing to make sure that I'm not actually ironing more creases onto it, and don't even get me started on button-up shirts! Those things are impossible. So thankfully, for those of you out there who share my lack of ironing skills or who simply hate ironing like a normal human being, here's an awesome little trick to save you from that dangerous burning piece of metal. If you want some more laundry hacks and clothing tips, I have a lot more wisdom to share to make life easier!

Remember Kari from MythBusters? Well, she decided to do the dirty research work for us. There are quite a few non-iron de-wrinkling tricks out there, so she tested them all out and found this one to be the easiest and most efficient: the ice cubes in the dryer technique.

Video Instructions:

Lifehack idea via American Express Youtube channel.

All you need to do is toss your wrinkled clothes in the dryer, follow them up with a few ice cubes—literally two or three is enough; don't go overboard—and put your dryer on the hottest setting. After about 15 minutes your clothes will come out wrinkle-free!

So how does this work? The ice cubes melt after the first five minutes or so and then create steam. As we all know, steam gets rid of wrinkles. Take note, though, that you can't really toss in a full load – this should only be done with a few items of clothing. Also, if you add in a heavy fabric like denim, it could decrease the efficiency of this trick.

Quick and Easy Recipe for the Classic, Delicious Funnel Cake

Whenever I think of funnel cake, I'm instantly taken on a trip down memory lane of when my parents used to take me to fairs and, even better, Disney World. The outings were always marked with this classic tasty treat, so it's nice to indulge every now and then and remind myself of the fun I had when I was young, easily excited and carefree. If you're in the mood for that same feeling, or if you want your kids to experience the same yumminess of your childhood, then here's an easy recipe to make your own funnel cake.

Video Instructions:

Recipe by Divas Can Cook Youtube Channel.

You just need a few simple ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• ¾ cup whole milk
• 1 egg
• Powdered sugar for dusting

In a mixing bowl, combine your flour, baking powder and salt, and then set that aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Then, add the dry to the wet, bit by bit, and beat it together. Pour your batter into a measuring cup (one with a spout) and then just let that sit for about 10 minutes.

When it comes to the frying, you can use either shortening or regular oil. Whichever you prefer, just make sure that you heat it up to about 365°F (185°C) – too hot means burnt cake, and not hot enough means soggy cake. No one wants that! Once you've got your perfect temperature, pour your batter through a funnel in a circular motion. It should only take about one or two minutes to brown up, after which you flip it over to get the whole thing that fantastic crispy, golden brown. Be careful of splattering oil! You don't need any injuries when making this delectable treat. When it looks perfect to you, take it out and place it on some paper towel to drain the excess oil.

For the final serving, dust the whole thing with powdered sugar and then devour it as you are reminded of all those fun trips you used to have when you were a little tot. The great thing about funnel cake is the simplicity of the base – you can spice it up with a bit of whipped cream, jelly, chocolate sauce for dipping (or homemade Nutella!), or even some fresh fruit. Feel free to experiment!

If you love this doughy, fried batter recipe, then you may also find yourself drooling over these delicious fried apple rings!

Fabulous Food Art: How to Make Baked Onion Flowers

Let's be honest, onion rings are delicious – those sweet, salty, crispy fried rings are the perfect accompaniment to pretty much anything, in my opinion. These bulbs contain a great number of vitamins and minerals, but we sort of counteract that when we dunk them in floury batter and saturate them in oil. I wanted to find another interesting way to get my onion fix that both embraced the health benefits and still looked exciting to serve, and I found exactly what I was looking for! Enter: the onion flower. It's really easy to make, tastes great, and it's a real showstopper on the table!

Video instructions:

Recipe and video by  Yoyomax Youtuber.

All you need is:

• 4 red onions
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• Salt and pepper

Peel all your onions and slice off the root parts so that you can set them flat and reduce any risk of knife injuries – especially if your vision is going to get blurry from tearing up. Slice the onion in half, but not all the way through, stop when you're about ½ an inch from the bottom. Then cut in half the other way so that it's quartered, and then cut each of those in half again so that you now have eight segments but everything is still held together at the bottom.

Once you've done this to all your onions, put them in bowl, pour over the oil and vinegar and stir them up a bit to make sure that they all get properly coated. Place them in your baking dish (sliced side up, and spread them out so that they have room to bloom), pour over the rest of the liquid, sprinkle salt and pepper, and cover with tin foil. Then pop those babies in the oven at 425°F (about 220°C) and let them bake for 25 to 30 minutes.  Take off the foil to reveal the gorgeous opened flowers, and then give them another 10 minutes in the oven, uncovered.

It's actually not all that hard to make your food look interesting – you can make cute marshmallow flowers, too, and even dress up your kids' plates to get them to eat their veggies; sometimes it's all about the delivery.

That's all there is to it! Serve and wow your guests with some tasty food art!

Homemade Dole Whip Recipe – Straight out of Disneyland!

Apart from the obvious characters and rides, what else features greatly in your memories of Disneyland and Disney World? Remember the smooth, cold, pineappley deliciousness of Dole Whip? Well thanks to the fantastic web baking queen, Gemma, who brought us the luxurious red velvet lava cake, you can now recreate your own Dole Whip at home.

It's almost like cheating because you only need two ingredients, it doesn't involve any freezing, and since it's dairy-free, it's vegan-friendly!

Video Directions:

Recipe by Gemma Stafford Youtuber.

For about three to four servings, all you need is:

• 4 cups (16oz/450g) small chunks frozen pineapple
• 1 cup (8oz/225g) low fat coconut milk – you can also use other alternatives like almond milk

As I mentioned, this trip down memory lane is a real simple one. You start by pouring your (very cold) milk in the blender, followed by the frozen pineapple pieces. Switch it on and let the machine do the work until it's creamy and chunk-free. In order to get this done right, you'll need to stop to stir it around by hand every now and then – probably about three of four times in total. Once you achieve that light, whipped consistency then it's time to dig in!

If you bought, chopped and froze your own pineapple rather than buying it like that from the store, then save your shell. You can use the hollowed out bottom half as a bowl for a real tropical serving, and if you pipe it through a piping bag then you'll get the classic swirled look.

It's best to make smaller amounts because if you freeze the leftovers it'll go solid and you'll lose that wonderful creamy texture. If you want a few more refreshing, icy treats, why not make your own ice cream or sorbet? You won't even need an ice-cream maker!

Genius BBQ Food-Hack: Spiraling Your Hot Dogs

To me, the spiral hot dog is a new concept, but after watching this, it actually makes total sense! The spiral shape gives you more surface area, so instead of that boring last bite of too much bread and not enough sausage, you get even bites all the way. The cut also results in a more even grill so you get more caramelization and can really enjoy that crispy outside. The grooves also act as little traps for your chunky relish or condiments.

Instructions:

Video by Chow Youtube Channel.

And hey, it looks fancy and cool, and is quick and easy to make. And all you really have to do is stick the sausage on a skewer and slice at an angle as you roll it, and there you have your perfect little meaty accordion! Get a little more adventurous on the grill this summer with our top 40 recipes to enjoy outdoors. And if you don't want your grill to get super sticky and dirty after trying everything out, be sure to implement this clever non-stick grill hack.

Keep it Clean: How to Remove Mineral Stains from Toilet Bowl Using Vinegar

35 Ingenious Outdoor Pallet Projects for All Types of DIYers

Patio Benches

This project is perfect for those of you who have a nice big patio area and love to entertain, since these benches offer a lot of seating space. The completed project cost just $40 and took about six hours to make, so there's really no excuse not to make these!

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – SassySparrow

Swing Bed

There's something about an outdoor swing bed – it's relaxing, luxurious, calming; the perfect way to spend a lazy, lounging summer's day, enthralled by your latest book. It's like a little slice of heaven right outside your house.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – TheMerrythought

Succulent-Center Table

What better way to decorate an outside table than with a striking nature-themed feature in the middle? The planting box in the center is just magnificent, and the use of succulent plants is very clever because not only do they look great, but their also very low-maintenance.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – FarOutFlora

Day Bed

What's better than spending a lovely day outside relaxing on your day bed, taking in the beauty of the nature around you, enjoying your solitude or perhaps watching the kids play around? This pallet day bed is perfect for this scenario. What makes this specific bed really cool, in my opinion, is the use of PVC piping as a rail.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – OndawaytoSomewhere

Gardening Organizer

I like this project because instead of disassembling the entire pallet, you're using its regular shape to your advantage and simply adding a few things to improve it. What you get is a fantastic organizer to keep all your tools safe in one place and out of the way.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – OurLittleAcre

Single Planter Box

This is such a cute little project that won't take up too much of your precious time. I picture having two of these – one on either side of the stairs leading up to the front door. It would make the perfect entrance welcome!

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – LiveLaughRowe

End Table and Planters

What I really like about this project is the simplicity of it all. If you don't have a big porch but still want a small table to rest your drinks or books on, then this small pallet end table is just the thing you need.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – Instructables

Sandbox

This is a truly innovative project – of all the things that you can make from pallet wood, a self-contained sandbox is not something I would've ever thought of myself. The closing lid ensures that it doesn't get littered with leaves or other debris, and when the lid is opened it creates a nice little seat for the playful kiddies. Absolutely brilliant!

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – Ana-White

Simple Adirondack Chair

You only need one single pallet to create this beautifully simple and rustic outdoor chair. You just need to download the model to get started, and for those of you who have concerns about dismantling the pallet properly, there tutorial features a link to some helpful tips for this important step.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – Instructables

Hanging Chair

I've seen my fair share of pallet chair tutorials, but I have honestly never seen one as awesomely creative, clever and truly unique as this one. It's almost like a hammock, but from wood. And although that may sound uncomfortable, the wood panels actually conform to your body when you sit, so it's very comfy. This one's definitely going on my 'To Do' list!

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – Instructables

Gabion Table and Bench

A gabion is like a cage that is usually filled with rocks or concrete; in this case, it's the gabion that makes this bench and table combo so unique and eye-catching. And I just love the clever, subtle pop of color.  This looks like the perfect way to enjoy your morning coffee (or tea, in my case)!

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – APieceOfRainbow

Bar with Stools

What I really like about this project is the way that the stools were constructed – I love the boxy look which deviates from the usual open-legged stools. The design is simplistic, neat and bold, and of course, a fantastic addition to any outdoor area.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – StackedDesign

Corner Lounge Suite

This finished project just oozes modern chicness; it's absolutely beautiful! And what's great is that you can rearrange the seats if you get bored. This project is ideal for any balcony or patio that you'd like to put to good use – you'll be spending a lot more time out there once you have this lovely furniture to relax on.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit – Shanty2Chic