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How to clean a stovetop: A step-by-step guide

No matter what kind of stovetop you have, we'll help you get it clean

Man cleaning his stovetop
Robert Kneschke / Adobe Stock
The Manual
The Manual is simple — we show men how to live a life that is more engaged. Whether it be fashion, food, drink, travel…
Homemade coffee creamer recipe: Plus, how to customize it to your personal taste
Avoid the additives found in many coffee creamers
Coffee with cream

When I first heard of a "homemade coffee creamer recipe," I immediately pictured a multi-step process requiring dozens of ingredients. As much as I love cooking, my hectic everyday work week doesn't allow me time to experiment with complicated recipes.

Yet, I know that many store-bought creamers today contain many additives, such as lots of sugar or high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin, and emulsifiers. Therefore, it's easy to see the appeal of trying a homemade coffee creamer. To my surprise, making coffee creamer at home is uncomplicated. It's way easier than it sounds. Many recipes, such as this homemade coffee creamer, require only four natural ingredients.
Homemade coffee creamer recipe

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How to order a martini like you know what you’re doing
Do you know the difference between martinis?
Bartender with a martini

The martini is one of the most iconic drinks in all of cocktail history, thanks in no small part to British superspy James Bond. Bond might take his martini shaken, not stirred -- but please, we're begging you, don't order a drink this way if you want to enjoy it. It's a mystery why Bond enjoys his cocktail made in what most bartenders will agree is objectively the wrong manner, but we're sure you'll have a better time drinking a martini if you have it stirred.

However, there are still a bunch of other details you can play around with when it comes to ordering a martini -- from what spirit to use and what garnish you prefer to the glass you'd like it served in. To learn about all the options, we asked New York City bartender Tom Walker about how to order a martini. Walker is a gin enthusiast and has worked at some of the best bars in America and the world, such as Attaboy in NYC, The American Bar at The Savoy in London, Bramble Bar in Edinburgh, and George Washington Bar at the Freehand Hotel. It’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about ordering a martini the right way.
How do you order a martini for the first time?

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An expert explains how to make the perfect Milk Punch
Milk Punch

The Milk Punch is one of those classic drinks which is beloved by its fans, but has a reputation of being a bit of a hassle to make at home. When working with diary you have to be careful not to split it, so some versions of the drink use milk that is clarified using heat and filtration. The classic version of the cocktail combines brandy or bourbon, rum, sugar, and vanilla alongside the milk for a creamy, boozy, comforting drink that's a little like an eggnog without the egg.

A bartending expert from BLVD Steakhouse, Kyle Davidson, has come up with his own take on the Milk Punch, which uses clarified milk for a light, clearer cocktail that incorporates flavors from the classic Arnold Palmer drink as well. Named for the golfing legend, the Arnold Palmer combines iced tea and lemonade, and sometimes has a shot of vodka, cognac, or bourbon added as well.

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