Make a Cupcake Cone

STEPS:

1. Preheat your oven to temperature designated in recipe.
2.Make the batter for your cupcakes. Use a cake mix or your favorite scratch cake recipe. Prepare the batter as per directions.
3.Unwrap the ice cream cones slowly, being careful not to damage them as you remove any plastic coverings. Place each empty cone in a muffin tin, one per ungreased muffin cup.
4.Pick up and fill each cone. Replace each cone in its muffin cup.
#Leave a little room at the top for expansion (about ½ to ¾ inch).
#Be careful not to overfill or you will have a mess. See Warnings below. An ice cream scoop holds about the right amount and lets you do a neat and trim job of filling. Aim for cupcakes which do not overflow the cones. These will be more attractive and will be easier to frost.
5.Bake according to cake batter instructions. Bake for the same length of time you would bake regular cupcakes.
6.Prepare your icing or open up your store-bought icing.
7.Place sprinkles in a small bowl.
8.Remove cupcakes from oven and allow them to cool.
9. Frost the cupcakes using a knife or spatula. Try to let the frosting warm up a bit if you have been keeping it in the fridge, as some frostings are more difficult to manipulate when cold.
10.Dip the top of the cupcake in sprinkles. Dip fully or dip just one side for an artsy effect.
11.Place each cupcake back into muffin tin, or place in a serving dish with sides. Carry muffin tin or serving dish very carefully; these cupcakes will be top heavy and may tend to topple.
12.Serve!

TIPS:

#The same technique can be used for a treat at a graduation party. Buy sprinkles in school colors or use frosting of one school color, with sprinkles of the other school color.

Follow Table Manners

Many among us feel out of place when dining thinking how to follow table manners. Admittedly, it is difficult to learn every point of etiquette at once, but here are a few general pointers. Remember, good manners never go out of style.

Steps:

1. Observe your host. What is he or she doing? The whole point of learning table manners is to feel comfortable when dining with others, and the host is a good place to start. If you are the host, don't panic. You can usually get away with observing the guest you feel has the best manners.
2. Emulate your host. Put your napkin in your lap when you see them doing it. Match their rate of eating. (After all, no one wants to have an empty plate when their host is only halfway done with the dish.) If you see them eating finger food with a fork, you must do this also, even if it seems unreasonable. Assume that your host is always right; unless you can definitely tell that they have bad manners, in which case you may follow another guest.
3. Use the appropriate cutlery. If there are many utensils in your place setting and there is more than one course, start on the outside and work your way in. Again, observe your host if you have any doubts.
4. Be polite. Consider every action before you do it, and if you have the slightest doubt as to its rightness, don't do it! You will embarrass yourself and your host. Take small bites; do not chew with your mouth open; do not talk with food in your mouth; and do not place elbows on the table.

Tips:

• As far as wine glasses go, the rounder one is for red wine and the taller one is for white wine.
• If you are chewing gum, dispose of it before you sit down to the meal. Often, there is no place to put it, and sticking it under the table is definitely not good manners.
• Following table manners is more than knowing which fork to use and knowing how to cut up your steak without looking like a Neanderthal; most of it is about your attitude. Even if you slip up in the silverware department, you can make up for it by being polite and graceful in your conversation, which is essential to any well-mannered guest.
• If you make any loud clattering noises or drop a spoon or something, do not call attention to it. Chances are that no one noticed, or even cared.
• When it comes to bread plates, cups, etc., many people wonder which one is theirs when dining at a big table with many other people. Always go for the one on the left.
• Unless you are dining with a very close friend or group of friends, there are certain things you should not discuss while dining. Use your best judgment when it comes to this, and again remember to be polite.
• Taking small bites is very important. If you do not, you could be caught in that rather unpleasant situation in which someone asks you a question just as you are chewing that large mouthful. While this is sometimes unavoidable, you can minimize the time they wait for you to swallow the morsel by taking smaller bites to begin with.

Using a Fork and Knife Properly

It's easy to spoil your image in some social get together or party as you hack away at your food with knife and fork like a hunter. But at parties, or with 'civilised people', you'll want to use these utensils in the classical manner. These are some simple steps to follow:

Steps:

1. The form of holding cutlery is not dependent on whether you are right or left handed
2. To start with the fork is one the left side of plate and knife is on the right side.
3. Pick up and hold your knife in your right hand. The index finger is mostly straight and rests near the base of the top, blunt side of the blade. The other four fingers wrap around the handle.
4. Hold your fork in your left hand. The tines (prongs) face away (downward)from you. The index finger is straight, and rests on the back-side on the handle, not near the head of the fork. The other four fingers wrap around the handle.
5. Bend the wrists, so that your index fingers are pointing down towards your plate. This makes the tip of the knife and fork also point towards the plate somewhat.
6. Hold the food with the fork, by applying pressure through the index finger. Cut with the knife, in the same way.
7. Bring small bits of food to your mouth with the fork, repeat.( if the item is so large that you must angle the item, or lips/ teeth, to get it into your mouth it is too large)
8. Continue to use your left hand to hold the fork. Only Americans swap the fork to the right hand.
9. Rice and small items are pushed onto the back of the fork with the knife. Do not scoop, this is for French people only. It is considered very bad manners outside France.
10. When finished lay the knife and fork together on the plate, from 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock.

Tips:

• Relax the shoulders. They can get hunched up at first.
• Take your time to cut bite-size pieces.
• Bring them gently to your mouth, so as not to spill them on your front.
• Eat quickly so that you don't keep the servants waiting
• Don't stick your elbows out. Learn to keep them in against the sides of the body. Otherwise you might knock your neighbour!