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Once a year: download or copy originals to a labeled USB — Phones tip photo

📱 Phones · Step 4/4

Once a year: download or copy originals to a labeled USB

Once a year: download or copy originals to a labeled USB — step 4 of 4 in Don't Lose Your Photos. Google Takeout or iCloud download for a year, or plug a drive into a computer signed into Photos and copy. Label the drive with the year.

From course: Don't Lose Your Photos

Wash until water runs almost clear — Food & Cooking tip photo

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 1/8

Wash until water runs almost clear

Wash until water runs almost clear — step 1 of 8 in Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri. Rice in bowl, cover, swirl, drain. Repeat 4–5 times. Soak 20 min. Cook 1:1 rice to water by weight in rice cooker or pot — lid on, low 15…

From course: Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri

Season and cool to body temperature — Food & Cooking tip photo

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 2/8

Season and cool to body temperature

Season and cool to body temperature — step 2 of 8 in Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri. Heat vinegar + sugar + salt until dissolved. Fold into rice with cutting motion — don't smash grains. Fan while mixing to glossy.

From course: Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri

Rice layer thinner than you think.

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 3/8

Set the mat and spread rice

Set the mat and spread rice — step 3 of 8 in Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri. Nori shiny side down on mat covered in plastic. Wet hands. Thin rice layer — leave 2 cm bare at top edge. Wasabi stripe optional.

From course: Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri

Roll, rest, slice — Food & Cooking tip photo

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 4/8

Roll, rest, slice

Roll, rest, slice — step 4 of 8 in Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri. Lift mat edge, roll over filling, squeeze gently into cylinder. Seam down, rest 2 min.

From course: Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri

Inside-out roll (uramaki) — Food & Cooking tip photo

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 5/8

Inside-out roll (uramaki)

Inside-out roll (uramaki) — step 5 of 8 in Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri. Plastic wrap on mat, nori down, rice on nori, flip so rice touches wrap, nori up. Fill avocado + fish. Roll. Sesame on outside.

From course: Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri

Two nigiri pieces — Food & Cooking tip photo

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 6/8

Two nigiri pieces

Two nigiri pieces — step 6 of 8 in Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri. Hand-form oval rice — 2 tbsp, gentle pressure. Slice fish 3 mm thick on bias. Wasabi dot on fish, drape over rice, one finger press on top.

From course: Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri

Sushi is a same-day food for home cooks.

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 7/8

Plate and eat same session

Plate and eat same session — step 7 of 8 in Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri. Soy sauce dish — dip fish side lightly, not rice sponge. Eat nigiri in one bite if you can. Leftover fish: cook tomorrow or freeze.

From course: Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri

Pass criteria: first sushi night — Food & Cooking tip photo

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 8/8

Pass criteria: first sushi night

Pass criteria: first sushi night — step 8 of 8 in Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri. You pass when rice seasoned correctly, 1 classic maki + 1 uramaki + 2 nigiri on the table, fish was sushi-safe source, knife cuts clean.

From course: Homemade Sushi: Your First Maki and Nigiri

Pocket phone, eyes up — first 10 minutes — Everyday Life tip photo

☀️ Everyday Life · Step 1/5

Pocket phone, eyes up — first 10 minutes

Pocket phone, eyes up — first 10 minutes — step 1 of 5 in Read the Room: Social Intelligence for Any Group. Arrive, get drink if applicable, stand where you can see the group not the corner. Notice: loud or quiet? Phones out or engaged?

From course: Read the Room: Social Intelligence for Any Group

Roles in the room — Everyday Life tip photo

☀️ Everyday Life · Step 2/5

Roles in the room

Roles in the room — step 2 of 5 in Read the Room: Social Intelligence for Any Group. Who do people look at when a decision is needed? Who tells jokes but doesn't decide? Who looks bored?

From course: Read the Room: Social Intelligence for Any Group

Smart in the room = curious, not lecturing.

☀️ Everyday Life · Step 3/5

One question, then shut up

One question, then shut up — step 3 of 5 in Read the Room: Social Intelligence for Any Group. Openers tied to context: 'How do you know the host?' 'What brought you to this project?' Follow with one dig based on their answer.

From course: Read the Room: Social Intelligence for Any Group

Exit without ghosting — Everyday Life tip photo

☀️ Everyday Life · Step 4/5

Exit without ghosting

Exit without ghosting — step 4 of 5 in Read the Room: Social Intelligence for Any Group. 'I'm going to grab water — great talking about [specific thing].' Use their name if you learned it.

From course: Read the Room: Social Intelligence for Any Group

Post-event 5-minute notes — Everyday Life tip photo

☀️ Everyday Life · Step 5/5

Post-event 5-minute notes

Post-event 5-minute notes — step 5 of 5 in Read the Room: Social Intelligence for Any Group. What energy was the room? Did I talk too much ratio? One moment I misread?

From course: Read the Room: Social Intelligence for Any Group

A peaked starter is bubbly and domed. Bake with it at the peak, not after it collapses.

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 1/8

A 7-day starter from nothing

A 7-day starter from nothing — step 1 of 8 in Artisan Sourdough Bread. Day 1: 50 g whole wheat flour + 50 g water in a jar, loose lid. Days 2–7: throw away half, add 50 g flour + 50 g water.

From course: Artisan Sourdough Bread

The only test that matters — Food & Cooking tip photo

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 2/8

The only test that matters

The only test that matters — step 2 of 8 in Artisan Sourdough Bread. Mark the jar with a rubber band after feeding. When the volume has roughly doubled and a spoonful looks airy, it is ready.

From course: Artisan Sourdough Bread

Weigh everything. A 'cup of flour' is not a measurement for this loaf.

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 3/8

Flour and water first

Flour and water first — step 3 of 8 in Artisan Sourdough Bread. Mix 500 g bread flour with 350 g water until no dry bits. Cover 30–45 minutes. This hydrates the flour so gluten forms with less work.

From course: Artisan Sourdough Bread

After folds the dough holds a shape. If it still pours like batter, keep folding and wait.

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 4/8

Four sets of coil folds

Four sets of coil folds — step 4 of 8 in Artisan Sourdough Bread. Every 30 minutes for 2 hours: wet your hands, lift one side of the dough, fold it over the center, turn the bowl, repeat.

From course: Artisan Sourdough Bread

A tight skin on the outside is what lets the loaf rise up instead of pancake out.

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 5/8

Preshape, rest, final shape

Preshape, rest, final shape — step 5 of 8 in Artisan Sourdough Bread. Tip the dough onto a lightly floured bench. Round it into a ball, seam down, rest 20 minutes uncovered.

From course: Artisan Sourdough Bread

Cold proof 10–16 hours — Food & Cooking tip photo

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 6/8

Cold proof 10–16 hours

Cold proof 10–16 hours — step 6 of 8 in Artisan Sourdough Bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight. The dough should feel puffy but still hold a fingerprint that springs back slowly.

From course: Artisan Sourdough Bread

The lid traps steam so the loaf can expand. Then you take the lid off so the crust can dry and darken.

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 7/8

Preheat hotter than you think

Preheat hotter than you think — step 7 of 8 in Artisan Sourdough Bread. Put the Dutch oven in the oven and heat to 245°C / 475°F for 45 minutes.

From course: Artisan Sourdough Bread

Open crumb comes from fermentation and a hot steamy start — not from slashing a pretty pattern.

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 8/8

Cool before you slice

Cool before you slice — step 8 of 8 in Artisan Sourdough Bread. The crumb is still setting. Wait at least 1 hour. If you cut early it looks gummy and you will think you failed.

From course: Artisan Sourdough Bread

Preheat and space — Food & Cooking tip photo

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 1/6

Preheat and space

Preheat and space — step 1 of 6 in Air Fryer Weeknight Dinners for Two. Run empty 3 minutes at recipe temp before food goes in. Food in one layer — second batch beats stacked soggy.

From course: Air Fryer Weeknight Dinners for Two

Rotation beats 'what's for dinner' panic.

🍳 Food & Cooking · Step 2/6

Four-night rotation

Four-night rotation — step 2 of 6 in Air Fryer Weeknight Dinners for Two. Mon: chicken thighs. Tue: salmon. Wed: fries + salad. Thu: chicken strips + veg. Fri: takeout guilt-free.

From course: Air Fryer Weeknight Dinners for Two

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