Problem: Article: The texture of your French toast will be best if you have day-old or slightly stale bread. The bread will be more firm, so it will hold up better when you dip it into the liquid mixture. Swirl the pan as the butter melts to help it spread across the pan evenly. Exactly how much butter you need will depend on the size of the skillet you're usingyou want the butter to lightly coat the bottom of the skillet when it melts. About 1/2-1 tbsp (7-14 g) of butter should be enough to cook 2 pieces of bread at a time. If you are making 8 pieces of bread, you'll need this amount of butter 4 times. French toast is best eaten right away, so once it's finished cooking, place it on a plate and add your favorite toppings. For instance, you might drizzle maple syrup over your toast, or you might add sliced fruit and powdered sugar. Other toppings might include jam, honey, caramel syrup, apple butter, or peanut butter. If you won't be serving the French toast right away, place it on a baking sheet and keep it in a 250F (121C) oven for up to 30 minutes. While your French toast will have the best texture right after it's cooked, if you have leftovers, you can place them in a sealed container or freezer bag in the refrigerator for 2 days. Reheat it in the microwave or your toaster. If you need to store the French toast longer, freeze it in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
Summary: Start with 8 slices of slightly stale or toasted bread. Melt a pat of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Serve the French toast hot with the toppings of your choice. Keep leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Problem: Article: Since your living room is big, it probably can't be lit properly with just one central light source. During the day, take advantage of windows and keep the curtains or blinds open. Use 2-3 unique lamps near the corners of the room to enhance the central light source and make the evenings feel cozy for guests. Consider keeping 2 identical table lamps on side tables located on either side of your biggest couch. Then, put a floor lamp that is made of the same materials, or contains the same colors, in a corner on the other side of the room. If you have a fireplace but don't use it, fill it with candles and light them for extra brightness and ambience. Cool colors, such as blues and greens, tend to visually expand space. Since you want to do the opposite, go with a warmer color palette that includes reds, oranges, and/or yellows. Get curtains, lamps, wall art, and throw pillows and blankets in these colors. For example, you could get a set of solid mahogany curtains and 2-3 apricot throw pillows that have mahogany appliques or tassels on them. Texture is important because it adds dimension to a space, which is especially important when you have a lot to work with. Specifically, rough textures help a room feel more intimate and grounded, so try to incorporate several rough-textured pieces into your living room. Toss a few wool throw pillows onto your couch and/or keep a tree branch candle holder centered on your coffee table to add in some rough texture. To create a focal point, choose a textured couch or a large chair paired with a jute ottoman. A large patterned rug can split up space and add personality to your room. Place it near your main sitting space underneath the coffee table and between or underneath your couches. Once again, choose patterns, textures, and colors that fit with your personal decor style, and make sure the size of the rug is proportionate to the size of the space. Consider getting a unique Persian or oriental rug, such as a Kazak rug or an Aubusson rug. These are typically very colorful and detailed.
Summary: Emphasize lighting. Use a warm color palette. Add in rough textures to warm up your large space. Lay a large patterned rug on your living room floor.

Problem: Article: Once you've installed a new catalytic converter, one thing you'll want to do immediately is double-check to make sure there aren't any leaks in the exhaust system on either side of it. Depending on where it is, an exhaust leak can cause a variety of problems for your vehicle, including reduced fuel efficiency and long-term damage. There are several ways to find an exhaust leak. One is to simply be observant while you drive if your car sounds louder than normal when it runs or seems to "rumble" more, you may have a leak. You can also check for leaks by jacking your car up, starting it in park, and carefully moving a lit candle along the length of the exhaust tubing. Leaks which are invisible to the eye should cause the flame to waver or blow out. One problem that can occur in faulty catalytic converters is that they can become "backed up" with soot, debris, and other exhaust byproducts or broken apart inside the converter. In this case, the engine's ability to rid itself of exhaust is hampered, which can cause a vehicle's fuel efficiency to plummet and can even cause the engine to stall in severe cases. Luckily, performing a backpressure test is simple just screw a pressure gauge into the oxygen sensor's hole before the converter in the exhaust manifold in most vehicles. The pressure reading should be less than 1.25 psi when the vehicle's engine is running at 2,000 RPMs. The worse the congestion is, the higher the pressure reading can be. Very bad backpressure readings can approach 3 psi. If your car's converter is old and worn, one simple test can tell whether it needs to be replaced very quickly. Simply grab a rubber mallet (or similar tool) and give the converter a firm hit. If you hear any sort of rattling, your converter needs to be replaced this indicates that the metallic catalyst within has begun to corrode and crumble. However, if you don't hear a rattle, this doesn't necessarily mean that your converter works well. There may still be other problems with it. To be clear, this test can only tell you if you have a bad converter, not if you have a good one. Catalytic converters can be tricky parts if you're in doubt about whether or not yours is functioning properly even after performing the tests above, don't hesitate to take it to a mechanic or specialist. These professionals will have access to the type of equipment that can be used to perform more advanced tests, like delta temperature tests, oxygen storage tests, and CO2 tests. Most auto shops that offer smog testing will be able to perform these sorts of emissions tests.
Summary:
Check for exhaust leaks. Measure back-pressure in the exhaust system. Perform a mallet test for old converters. Consider more advanced tests.