Category Archives: Food

The Reason Why We Eat!

All throughout my life I have been fascinated with cooking. I used to follow my mom around trying to help her with whatever I could. Then when I was around six or seven years old I tried my favorite dessert, tiramisu. Tiramisu is a Italian dessert, it’s name meaning pick me up. A typical tiramisu normally consists of eggs, mascarpone cheese, sugar, and coffee, and is normally shaped like a small cake which can be compared to a napoleon. Though the original shape of the tiramisu was like a ladyfinger, but luckily for us it was change for a larger portion! When you take a bite of this cake it has a nice moist, spongy chocolate taste. My favorite part of the cake is the cream that is layered in between the cake pieces. The cream is made of egg yolks, sugar, and milk to create a smooth, creamy, silky taste that is truly pleasant to eat.

When I first tasted a tiramisu I immediately wanted to try and make it myself. So I searched online for a simple recipe for tiramisu and found one recipe that was very simple and only consisted of two steps. First in a medium bowl, beat the egg yolks with sugar and vanilla until the cream is smooth and the color is light yellow. Then fold the mascarpone cheese into the egg yolk mixture and then set it aside. Next dip the  ladyfingers briefly in coffee and put 12 of them in the bottom of an 8×8 inch dish. Spread half the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers. Repeat with remaining cookies and mascarpone.Then  cover and chill the dessert for 1 hour. Then sprinkle with cocoa just before serving. Finally let yourself indulge in the delicious dessert and find out the real reason why we eat!

~Natalie

The Great Gum Wall of Seattle

Gum. The sticky, chewy, delicious substance we all know and love. It comes in many flavors and colors-  Mint, green, bubble, pink, watermelon, red, blue raspberry, blue- and comes from a variety of brands- Wrigley’s, Trident, Extra, and Big League Chew. As there are so many, it is quite difficult to find a place where all these varieties can be found. But, there is one such spot: Seattle, Washington, the home of the Seahawks, is also home to another national icon: The Gum Wall. It is exactly what is sounds like: A wall covered in gum. Over the years, beginning in the early 1990s, people coming from a nearby theater decided to begin the tradition of sticking gum, with coins imbedded in them, onto the gum wall. Later, in the late 90s, officials declared it a  landmark, and saying that people may not attempt cleaning the wall- until now. As there has been so much gum buildup, officials have decided to take down all the gum, and restick new gum on.

To me, this proves that almost anything can be art. Even if it has been chewed, blown into bubbles, and stuck on a brick wall, this is a landmark of Seattle. This is art, because according to Google, art is “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.” So if you ever are in Seattle, then head over to the gum wall, and why not leave your own mark?

~Paul

Chocolate! It Actually Helps!

Many people believe that chocolate is unhealthy for the body. It turns out, there are some benefits to this delightful candy! There are three types of chocolate: white, milk, and dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is supposedly the healthiest kind of chocolate there is. However, all three types of chocolate have their benefits for people. Some benefits of chocolate are that it strengthens the brain, improves the mood, and helps prevent illnesses.  

Eating chocolate can help the brain become stronger. Researchers at John Hopkins University found out that dark chocolate shields one’s brain cells. The chocolate also protects the cells from damage. Testing out this study on mice, the researchers found that the cells in the brains of the mice were protected from damage, especially from strokes. Epicatechin is an ingredient in chocolate. It was found that this ingredient helps improve memories. Chocolate can help make the brain stronger, and can also improve the mood of humans. A study was conducted, and this philosophy was proved right. Participants were asked to complete many tasks. Before the tasks, though, one group of the participants consumed a cocoa flavanol drink. It resulted with that group having less “mental fatigue” than the other participants. While improving the mood, chocolate helps prevent illnesses. Many studies have been conducted, some with heart attacks, cancer, or blood inflammation. It is proven that chocolate can help reduce the likelihood of these illnesses. Eating chocolate can actually benefit us. Many have never known that, but now, parents can let their children go eat their chocolate, especially on Halloween.

I personally believe that chocolate is not that all harmful. It can, in some ways, help one. It also lets one’s mind let go of all the stress they have, or their tension and worries. I eat chocolate all the time, and it calms me down. When I eat it, I forget about everything, and I just live life!

~Archisha

Life Advice from Food

Food is good.  I take advantage of every opportunity to try all types of food.  Although it sounds weird, this has taught me life lessons that many people don’t learn until much later.  I have learned about when to stay in my comfort zone, when to try new things, and lots of stereotypes that don’t apply to me.

I was practically raised on pasta, hot sauce, and tea, especially tea; those are my comfort foods.  For others, it may be mac and cheese, wonton soup, or samosas (all of which I also love).  But for me, I will return to a huge, steaming mug of tea as long as I have a heartbeat.  A few years ago, I decided that I was too centered around my tea and pasta, so I stopped eating them.  For about a month, I cut them out of my diet completely.  I concentrated on trying new foods, which is never a bad thing.  After a while, though, I realized that staying outside of my comfort zone for so long made me yearn more and more for the safety of what I knew & loved.  Comfort foods, I learned, make you feel at home, and everyone needs a home.

Food has given me adventure.  I have tried some pretty weird things in my lifetime, but I have loved most of them.  For example, oysters on the half-shell.  For those who don’t know what they are, they’re raw oysters, served nice and cold in half of the shell with optional cocktail sauce.  You pick up the shell and slide the slimy meat, topped with sauce, into your mouth, chew a little (chewing is also optional), and swallow.  When I got the opportunity to have some, I wanted to be able to say I had tried it, so I did.  And I LOVED it.  My mom tried to take a video of my first time tasting oysters on the half shell, except it became my first 6 times; I inhaled them faster than she could turn the camera off.  The next time my dad asked me to try something, I didn’t hesitate, and it was arguably the best seafood I have ever tasted.  Ever heard of ceviche?  It’s just raw seafood marinated in citrus juice and hot spices, but it is absolutely amazing.  A few days later, we went out for phở, and my dad got tripe in his.  I, not knowing what tripe is, wanted to try.  Stop reading for a minute and look up tripe.  Eating that was one of the worst food-related decisions of my life.  However, I am glad that I decided to try foods like that, because now I can say things like “Hey, I’ve eaten alligator” (it’s really good, and nothing like chicken).  Food inspires me to explore both the inside and outside of my comfort zone.

Food gets rid of stereotypes, at least for me.  I am a blond teenage girl, and I love Asian food.  I get a lot of weird looks when I go into Indian snack shops and order exactly what I want.  One time, I went into A Dong Supermarket with my (blond) dad, and we split up to divide and conquer.  When I went to pick up a treat for my sister, there were two middle-aged Chinese men stocking the shelves.  When they first saw me, I could see that they thought I was lost.  I nearly laughed out loud when I picked up the few items I needed and left with no problems; they looked absolutely astonished that a young white girl knows her way around an Asian supermarket.  Later, while my dad and I were deciding which soups to get, I saw one of the aforementioned employees with another of his friends.  As soon as he recognized me, he elbowed his comrade and jerked his head toward where I was standing.  I flushed and turned around; I was both embarrassed and angry that they would stereotype me so strongly.  Things like this happen every time we go to any Asian place, but my family never fails to laugh about it in the car, but we make sure to never judge people based on what they look like.

Clearly, the two best teachers in life are experience and food.  Since you can learn so much from eating, I challenge you to try at least one new food in the next week and post it on the Internet.  Encourage others to learn from food!

~Steph

It’s the great debate: ice cream or frozen yogurt? Over the past couple years, frozen yogurt shops have been popping up all over the country, claiming to be the healthier option for frozen dessert treats. Is that really the case? Yes, a half cup of frozen yogurt does have less calories and is lower in saturated fats than a half cup of regular ice cream. But, low-fat ice cream and froyo have about the same fat content, and most froyo shops are self-serve, allowing people to decide how much yogurt and sugary toppings they get. Although shops do offer fresh fruits to accompany the frozen yogurt, most people are more likely to reach for cookie dough bites and “boba balls” over the healthier options. This leads to calorie build up, and depending on how much froyo and toppings you get, one bowl of frozen yogurt could reach 500 calories.

 

 

Personally, I don’t worry about the health benefits or drawbacks of frozen yogurt.  I don’t eat it regularly, usually for a special treat after an occasion like a school concert or sports event. . If I were to choose between ice cream and frozen yogurt, I would choose ice cream. I am not a fan of the taste of yogurt, so I normally reach for the sorbet options at frozen yogurt chains like Froyo, instead of the regular frozen yogurt options. It is all based on preferences. If you plan to choose frozen yogurt over ice cream, try fresh fruits instead of candies and baked bites to enjoy a delicious, healthy nighttime (or daytime) treat.

~Ali

 

To be Macaron or Macaroon? That is the Question

The macaron is a sweet meringue-based cookie that is able to made using the ingredients of icing, food dye, very fine sugar, and your choice of ground almonds or almond powder. These thin icing-filled cookies are extremely popular in France and have yet to have major popularity here in the United States. Though many believe that the macaron started out in France, it’s a wrong belief. The started macaron had actually started out in Italy, created by chef  Catherine de Medicis. The cookie didn’t really become a popular food choice until 1547, when her husband, Duc d’Orleans(Henry II) became the king of France. Since then, the macaron has basically become a trademark (involving food) for France.

Now that you know what a Macaron is, you are probably wondering what a macaroon is and what it has to do with anything. I have a pet peeve list and on that list is probably when people confuse the two even though they are completely different foods. If you didn’t know a macaroon is made with most of the same ingredients except it is made with one huge different ingredient. Oh yeah, coconut! It is actually impossible for me to understand how you can get foods that don’t even look remotely similar to each other. Personally, the French macaron is the better choice of the two because of the various flavors it is available in. It also looks more appetizing to eat then the macaroon which looks like a bunch of coconut flakes squished together without any effort. Don’t let me decide for you on which pastry is better, go out and buy some macaroons and macarons and see for yourself!

~Brittney

Walking on a half day? Good or Bad Idea

Dodd Middle School gets a lot of half days, well at least so far in the year, and this is a problem for some people. As you might already know a large amount of the students walk around after school gets out on these days. Many of the students head to the Maplecroft Plaza in town because its so close and it has a variety of places to eat. When there are a large amount of kids all together it can’t come to a good outcome. Kids go through stores knocking things off shelves and making a giant mess within the stores and also disrupting residents. And businesses have had enough, some of the smaller stores kick kids out before they get a chance to do anything. For example last half day on the 21st of November,  I walked. Subway kicked me out when I walked in to say “Hey” to a friend. They were asking kids if they were gonna buy anything when they first walked in. If the response was no, you were out. But places like Rite-Aid and Stop and Shop can’t do anything about it, and just end up cleaning up after us.

I think that everyone’s fuss about it is legit, I’ve seen it happen, kids wrecking stores. I’ve been there when it happens and I completely understand why this is a problem. The other day I was sitting in Froyo after the rush left with two of my friends, and we were just sitting there talking, and the manager started sweeping and from under one of the tables out came a donut with one bite taken out of it. My friends and I laughed ‘cause we didn’t expect that to really be there. After we laughed the three of us started to talk to him. We asked what kinda stuff he finds and he said all types of crazy stuff. I then said “well with all the kids from the school you must do pretty well on these types of days” He then said “We always do well, these days we just need to do more clean up”. I thought that the stores might be a little happy because they make so much on those days but it seems they think of it as more work at the end of the day. I think it’s fun walking with friends but in the end it’s just stupid to go to Maplecroft because everyone goes there and you’re more likely to get in trouble there than anywhere else. So, if you’re going to walk, go somewhere else.

~Eddie

Woman Buys Groceries for Thief That stole Her Wallet?

After a man walked behind Oklahoma resident Jessica Eaves, she soon realized that her wallet was missing, and she decided to take action. In a normal situation, the police would have been notified immediately and this man would have been arrested on an account of theft, but this was not the case in this situation. Soon enough, Jessica confronted him and told him that she thought he had somethings of hers, and would give him two choices. Either to give back the wallet and she would forgive him and pay for his groceries, or she would call the police. This obviously startled him, and “He reached into his hoodie pocket and gave me my wallet. He started crying when we walked up to the front. He said he was sorry about 20 times by the time we went from the pickle aisle to the front. He told me he was desperate. The last thing he said was, ‘I’ll never forget tonight. I’m broke, I have kids, I’m embarrassed and I’m sorry.’”(Eaves) Good acts of kindness may be rare these days, but this is surely a heartwarming messaging showing what good can do.

A second chance was given that could have even changed this man’s life. Using common sense, you might assume that a woman buying groceries for a thief after he steals her wallet might not seem logical, but you would never know what he was going through until you asked him. He might be able to get help or a job after realizing what he was doing.  I can only wish more people were like Jessica Eaves, in doing the thing that is right by her own standards and not by what society thinks. Everybody should learn from this good act of kindness that she performed. Would you like to know you changed someone’s life around? I’m most definitely not saying that next time someone tries to steal from you to go ahead and hand your wallet to them, but to think before you act and remember the story of Jessica Eaves and what she did to help someone. Are you willing to make a difference as well?

~Annie

“Pop!”

Teachers may think that chewing gum in class will just be a distraction.  Actually, popping a strip of gum in your mouth can academically, physically, and mentally help students.  It helps students keep on task, and need fewer breaks, which means more learning.  It also relieves stress and anxiety.  Students who chew gum are proven to get 26% to 36% higher grades on their tests and quizzes.  Physically, it can keep them from being hungry, and chewing gum can help with your oral health.  Chewing gum will help students in many ways, so not being able to chew it in class may actually prevent students from doing better.

I believe chewing gum in school is a good thing.  It helps students to concentrate, so they can absorb more material and do better on assignments.  Chewing gum during class also prevents students from having to go to the bathroom, or get a drink.  However, if the kids are using the gum as a distraction, or not disposing of it properly, I understand teachers would get annoyed.  Having to scrape gum off of the bottom of desk wouldn’t make me happy.  If the students are capable of chewing the gum and not sound like a cow, teachers should let them chew.

~Zoe

“Food Infractions Galore”

 

Just recently in Hartford, CT, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School’s cafeteria inspection found cockroaches, mouse droppings, and even fruit fly infestations. But, this isn’t the only time. In the past 3 years, every inspection found mouse droppings in the cafeteria kitchen. The school also was noted to have other violations. It was reported that there was no soap at any of the kitchen sinks. And here’s a big one; the coolers were up to 12 degrees above what they should legally be. Does this make you wonder, what’s in your child’s cafeteria?

In my opinion, when I first read about this, I was appalled they never tried to do much to handle the issue. The food service director said she would figure out what to do, but I don’t believe one bit of that. Imagine it like this; you’re in line to get your lunch and you see a bug the size of a quarter run across the floor into a hole into a whole in the wall. There could be thousands, millions. Not to mention, they will lay eggs and create havoc across the school if the roam free. Now, it sounds like a big deal, doesn’t it?

~Jocelyn theriault