INPUT ARTICLE: Article: It's unlikely following these steps will cause any problems, but if you there are instructions for your specific model printed on the cooker or accompanying booklet, follow them instead. Most long grain rice does not need to be washed and will lose nutrients in this process, but if you want to be sure it's clean, stir it as you add cold tap water, then drain. You'll usually want to use between 1.5 to 2 parts water for each part long grain rice, depending how dry you like your rice. Check the inside of your pressure cooker for "fill to here" lines labeled "long grain" and a specific amount of rice. Butter and salt are simple flavor enhancers. Bay leaf and cardamom are popular Indian rice flavorings. Don't lift the lid to check on it until its done. Most rice cookers have a small light that will go off when the rice is done. Some will automatically open the lid. Many rice cookers will keep the rice warm until its ready to eat You can eat immediately, but the rice may be more evenly cooked if you wait a short time before opening the rice cooker.

SUMMARY: Read your rice cooker's instructions. Rinse the rice (optional). Put rice and cold water into the rice cooker. Add optional ingredients. Close lid and turn on. Wait for the rice cooker to turn off. Let sit for 10 minutes (optional).

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you know how to say hello and goodbye, as well as ask some basic questions, you'll be able to have a brief conversation with anyone in Spanish. For example, start by learning "Hola! Como estas?" (OH-lah COH-moh ess-TAHS), which means "Hi! How are you?" Practice your pronunciation and use Spanish greetings instead of English when you greet friends and neighbors. If you have any friends or acquaintances who speak Spanish, ask them to only speak to you in Spanish. Try to respond to them in Spanish as well, and get their help with appropriate responses. Listening to music with Spanish lyrics is a good way to get used to the way Spanish sounds, and the repetitive nature of songs will help you learn words more quickly. Choose slower music so you can more easily understand the words. Don't worry if you don't know all the words in the lyrics right away just listen and immerse yourself in the sounds of the Spanish language. As you expand your vocabulary, you'll understand more and more. Spanish television and movies can be a good way to learn the language relatively quickly. You can find Spanish programs online for free, as well as on cable or movie providers such as Netflix. Look for shows from places where spoken Spanish tends to be slower, such as Colombia. While watching, turn on subtitles in Spanish, not English. You don't want to learn how to translate Spanish into English, you want to learn how to communicate in Spanish. Spanish subtitles on Spanish programs will help you associate the written word with the sound. To learn Spanish fast, you need to make it as much a part of your life as possible. Switching the language on your devices will help the language become more natural for you. Changing your device settings won't necessarily expose you to a significant number of new words and phrases, but it will help you start thinking more in Spanish instead of in English. You can expand this basic principle to other areas of your life as well. For example, if you go to yoga class every week, you could switch to a class that's taught in Spanish rather than in English. Start with children's books, which are written using simpler language and are designed to help children learn the language. If you read books you already know pretty well, it will help you get used to the language faster. Most classics and bestsellers have been translated into Spanish. Many of these books are available for free online in eBook format. You also may be able to find cheap copies at your local used bookstore. Try reading out loud rather than silently. It will help you develop an ear for the language, and you'll associate the written words with the sound of the words. You also might try audio books in Spanish. With digital recordings, you can slow down the speed so that you can understand the speaker better. Especially if you're a visual learner, flashcards and signs can help you start to associate things around you with Spanish words. Going through flashcards every day can help reinforce vocabulary words and concepts you've already learned. Through an online search, you may be able to find free flashcard templates that you can download and print. Label objects in your home with the Spanish word for that object. Every time you look at the object, you'll be reinforcing your Spanish-language skills. Over time, you'll come to associate the object with the Spanish word rather than the English word. If you have the means to do so, traveling to a Spanish-speaking country can be the ultimate immersive experience. When everyone around you is speaking Spanish, you find it easier to start thinking in Spanish instead of in English. If you're a student, visit your school's study abroad office to find out about opportunities to spend a semester in a Spanish-speaking country. Not only will you get course credit, but you'll also have opportunities to learn Spanish language and culture. While in the country, try to speak only in Spanish. You'll learn more quickly when you force yourself to speak the language.

SUMMARY: Learn a few basic Spanish phrases. Listen to music in Spanish. Watch Spanish movies and television. Change your applications and devices to Spanish-language settings. Read Spanish books. Make your own signs and flashcards. Travel to a Spanish-speaking country.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Calm your child down about an hour or so before dinner time. Make the switch from wild play to calming activities like reading a book or singing songs. Shut off the TV just before dinner and don't turn it on until after your toddler has gone to bed. Give your child a warm bath after dinner to help calm both their mind and body. Try adding some lavender soap or use a lavender-infused shampoo, which has calming properties. Decide on a bedtime and make sure you start your nightly routine at the same time each night. After just a week of going to bed at the same time, most children will adjust to this schedule and come to expect it each night. Signal to your child that bedtime is approaching to get them mentally prepared. Give them a bath, brush their teeth, and get out that security blanket or stuffed animal they love. Your child might experience anxiety because they feel they have no control over their bedtime routine. Give them some choices to alleviate this. Limit their options to keep their choices simple. For instance, let them decide which story to read at bedtime. Lay out two sets of pajamas on the bed and allow your toddler to choose which pair to wear each night. During bath time, ask which songs they would like to sing. Before they get into bed, be sure they don't need anything. Give them a few sips of water so they aren't thirsty and make sure they've used the bathroom. You might also give them a nighttime snack like an apple so they aren't hungry. Don't give them too much water if they are potty training. You don't want to wake up to an accident! If they keep making demands before bed, your toddler may be "fake" crying to get attention because they don't feel like going to sleep. Spending more time together before bed can help your child feel less needy as lights out approaches. Read them a story, talk about their day, and talk about what you're looking forward to for tomorrow. This can help your two year old feel secure while transitioning to sleeping on their own. Do this for a week, and then begin leaving the room as soon as they are in bed. Stay in the room and perform some simple, silent tasks while they lie in their crib or bed. Fold laundry, balance a checkbook, go through the mail or read a book. Explain to your toddler that you will remain in the room until they fall asleep, but that it's bedtime and not time to play or talk. Your child might not want to be alone because they are afraid of the dark, but this is a simple fix. Get them a night light for their room and leave it on for them so they aren't scared.

SUMMARY:
Take your toddler's activity level down a notch during early evening hours. Stick with the same bedtime each night. Go through all the steps to prepare for bed. Let your toddler make bedtime decisions each night. Make sure all of their needs are met before bed. Spend time together right before they go to sleep. Stay within your toddler's sight while they are adjusting to the new bedtime routine. Turn on their night light.