Fresh Selections are Here!

 Lots of "How-to" articles this month!  It's going to be a creative year!  :)

Remember to read all of the selections for this month --   comments are for this latest group only (no earlier months/submissions, or last year's submissions)

http://yaletownnaturopathic.com/fresh-start/

Remember:
All Students:  Be sure to read the entries for this group  (January writers).  Everyone is required to comment on at least three different pieces of writing.  You must post the comment here on the blog (below the post is the "comments" link to click) AND cut and paste your comments, complete with dates and times, on to a Word document and turn it in to me by February 12.  You must do both to get credit for comments this month.

Remember, comments must be positive, supportive, constructive, and SPECIFIC.  No "Good Job!" comments, unless you follow that with specific things you thought were done well in the piece.  Show them you actually took the time to read and enjoy their work!

"Easy Valentine’s Crafts for Your Loved Ones!" by Alyssa S

3

Hello! I’ll be showing you how to create three simple Valentine’s Day crafts that can be used for a friend, family member, or significant other. Here’s a quick glimpse of the three different types of crafts you can choose from:

#1: Jigsaw Popsicle Stick Photo

#2: Rose Lollipops

#3: Heart-string Plate Decoration

Remember: Simple gifts can go a long way and make an ordinary day special. Don’t forget to have fun while making your unique craft!

Craft #1: Jigsaw Popsicle Stick Photo

Supplies:

-       Popsicle sticks

-       Photo of your choice

-       Mod Podge (I used the “Glossy” Mod Podge in this tutorial)

-       Paint brush

-       Xacto knife

-       Marker or Sharpie

Steps:

1.     Print out a photo on normal printer paper. Make sure that the height of your photo does not exceed the height of your popsicle stick.

2.     Place as many popsicle sticks as you need side by side in order to match the length of your photo.

3.     Once the popsicle sticks are lined up neatly, glue on the picture on top by applying Mod Podge with the brush. Afterwards, paint on a top coat with the Mod Podge to seal your picture. Try and use as minimal and quick strokes when applying the Mod Podge to prevent the picture’s ink from smearing.

4.     After the Mod Podge is completely dry, flip the popsicle sticks over and write a message on the back (it’s easier to write while the popsicle sticks are intact and not loose). Be sure to write slowly, as the gaps between the popsicle sticks can be difficult to write over. 

5.     Once you finish writing your message, carefully use the Xacto knife to cut in between each popsicle stick and separate them. Make sure you cut slowly and evenly, as having jagged, uneven cuts can affect the photo on the other side.

6.     Scramble up the popsicle sticks and let the gift receiver solve the puzzle to find the picture. If you’d like, you can give the popsicle sticks tied up with a bow and then you’re finished!

Craft #2: Rose Lollipops

Supplies:

-       Pink & Red felt (if you don’t want to use felt, you can replace this with construction paper)

-       Hot glue/glue gun

-       Scissors

-       Lollipops

Steps:

1.     Cut the pink and red felt into several hearts (sized a little bit larger than the lollipop).

2.     Start gluing the hearts around the base of the lollipop, working your way around. You can alternate the colors or use a single color. Be sure to glue onto the paper part of the lollipop and not the actual sucker so the hot glue won’t affect the candy. 

3.     Once you finish the first layer of hearts, move your way outwards to create as many layers as you’d like. This will create the “rose” or flower-like shape.

Craft #3: Heart-string Plate Decoration

Supplies:

-       One sheet of printer paper

-       Scissors

-       Pencil

-       Paper plate

-       Hole puncher (with only one hole)

-       Pink and/or Red string

-       Tape

-       Mini clothespins (optional)

Steps:

1.     Using a sheet of printer paper, fold the paper in half and sketch half a heart. When you sketch your heart, make sure it is not bigger than the paper plate. Cut your outline of the half-heart to make a perfectly symmetric heart.

2.     Press the heart from Step 1 onto the paper plate and use the shape as a stencil, tracing the outline of the heart onto the plate.

3.     Leaving about a one-inch margin outside the outline, cut out the heart. With the hole puncher, follow the line used to trace the heart and punch holes along the line.

4.     Afterwards, connect each of the holes with string (your choice of color). Then, use a criss-cross pattern and loop the strings from hole to hole across the plate. The more random, the better!

  

5.     Once you are satisfied with your design, tape the excess string onto the back of the plate.

6.     Add a looped-string to the top, center-most hole to hang your heart as a decoration. Finished!

OPTIONAL STEP: Print out photos and attach them with mini clothespins to further embellish your craft. Extra points for memories!

I hope you enjoyed these little crafts, and hopefully the steps + pictures were easy enough to follow along with. Happy Valentine’s!

Alyssa ♡

"Just A Dream" by Jaedon A

I like to think of dreams as another type of life, another world. I feel these dreams are always a form of our lives because, if one can relate, everything seems so real but not out of the ordinary, as if we’ve already experienced it and we’re just coming about a thought of this world. I had a dream once, not the ideal kind where everything seems great and fun. Well, least to say is it was fun to be in, it wasn’t very fun when I started to realize its deeper meaning. In this dream if there were to be dragons I could easily come to the conclusion that I was recently watching Game of Thrones, which is why it did not seem off to me. This next part is all about the dream I had recently

In the recent dream that I had experienced had consisted of abnormalities, other dimensions, other worlds et cetera. One of these worlds happened to be an alternate reality, a bit hellish or what I would consider hell which would be life but altered and everything seems off. In fact everything seemed so off that it started to drive me crazy. These dimensions were somehow connected, and the aberrations had started to affect how I would feel in the ideal dream world I was already in. I was working with some psychologists about how I felt and they referred me to some physicists who would help me with the whole trans-dimensional problem. The physicists had told me the only way I could get rid of these feelings would be to cross into that world and rid of any contributing factors to what I would consider a problem to me now in this world. This world was so perfect, little to no conflict, I never felt attacked by anybody, no personal conflicts or drama. If I were to describe this world, it would be the entire opposite of melancholy, because there’s nothing to be super happy about, but everyone just is. The weather was ideal too, nothing too hot and during the winters, a nice cold atmosphere with a sunny skies on the good days, and a not so gloomy feeling when it rains. No anxiety, no worry because everybody was helping each other out and not selfish about themselves. This world was so nice to be in I couldn’t stand to feel connected to that other dimension that made me feel all of the opposing ways, I really felt the need to get rid of those problems but I didn’t know exactly how so, while using my “nice” words, I had considered to euthanize my doppelganger, or my other existing self. I thought, “well this would get rid of how I felt in that world right?”. After all, that wasn’t really me, just a mirror image that I thought contributed to the everlasting entropy in this universe that I was already in. I am now at the wormhole which would bring me to that other world where I would “solve my problems”. At first I was scared, but the scientists in the lab had told me I wouldn’t feel pain. It’s kind of ironic because when I entered...well I wouldn’t know because I woke up. But I have never felt a more endured pain.

"How to Make Wedding Cookies" by London A

Each Christmas, wedding cookies are always made on my mom’s side of the family. Wedding cookies are balls of dough covered in homemade glaze and sprinkles. These are extremely popular in my whole family since everyone loves them, and also because they are very meaningful to us. When I lived in Ohio, every year on Christmas Eve my family and I traveled to West Virginia where my aunt and many of my other relatives live. We celebrated the holidays by spending time with our entire Italian family (which is huge) and eating as much food as we could. My Great-Aunt, who we called Aunt DeeDee, would spend the days leading up to Christmas cooking lots of different kinds of food that my whole family loves, ranging from gnocchi to fried zucchini to fritas (which are pieces of fried dough covered in sugar; they’re absolutely delicious). In my family, food is always something that helps bring everyone together.

To make these wedding cookies, there are a few ingredients you will need:

·      ½ cup of butter

·      3 eggs

·      ½ cup of sugar

·      2 tsp of vanilla extract

·      3 cups of flour

·      3 tsp of baking powder

For the glaze:

·      ½ cup of warm milk

·      1 teaspoon of almond extract

·      1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

·      1 box (or 1 pound) of confectioners’ sugar

·      Colored sprinkles

1) First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cream the butter, adding eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Mix these ingredients together well.

2) Next, using a separate bowl, stir flour and baking powder together. After this, add flour to the butter mixture.

3) Use your hands to shape the pieces of dough into loose knots. Bake this for 8 to 10 minutes.

4) To make the glaze, combine the milk and both of the extracts in a large bowl. Add sugar to the mix; whisk until all lumps are dissolved and the glaze is smooth.

4) As soon as the cookies are removed from the oven, quickly immerse two or three at a time into the glaze that was previously made. Remove the cookies with a spoon or your fingers.

5) Place the cookies on wire racks to drain. Then, quickly top each with sprinkles.

6) Let them dry for 24 hours before storing them in airtight containers.

Now the cookies are done! This has always been a dessert I’ve loved making, and I hope you try this and like them as well!

Some more background information leading to the decision of writing this recipe:

After my Aunt DeeDee passed away a few years ago, my relatives kept the food tradition alive by continuing to make Christmas dinner, particularly the signature wedding cookies. Wedding cookies are a huge signature dish for our family since it reminds us so much of my aunt. The reason I chose to write about this certain cookie is that I was very close to my aunt and always looked up to her; I also wanted to choose one of my favorite desserts that she used to make.

My aunt was a prominent leader in my life who kept the entire family close. I’m extremely grateful for this because even though I have seen my relatives very few times within the last few years, nothing has changed; when we go to visit, it’s as if no time has passed at all. This meaning behind the cookies is the reason that this recipe is so important to my family and me!

“How to Make My Grandma’s Homemade Apple Pie” by: Brett D

         With the start of the new year, why not start off the year with a smile on your face that you can enjoy with your friends, family members, anyone! Enjoy some of my Grandma’s homemade apple pie and you will fall in love, crispy crust, fresh apple slices, and thoughts that will make you want more and more. What better than being able to make your homemade apple pie that will enlighten the mood at any event, whether it be Christmas, New Years, etc. Let's be honest no desert will displease anyone. With simple and ease you could have your pie hot and ready in a matter of 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours. Trust me you will have everybody coming back for more.

Ingredients needed:    

            Crust:

• One 9-inch tart crust, homemade or store bought its your preference
• 1 tablespoon butter

            Apple Filling:

• 2 pounds of apples, they can be Golden, Granny Smith, etc.
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg

Topping:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 stick butter, preferably room temperature

Step 1: You first want to begin by preheating the oven to around 350 degrees Fahrenheit. The reason due is because you want to have the oven already preheating while you’re getting the pie ready. That way once you are done you can immediately place it right in the oven without waiting. How convenient, I even recommend listening to music to allow time to pass faster.

Step 2: Next you are going to work on the crust by molding it into your pan. For starters you want to get your pan and mold the tart crust into the pan, then cover the crust with tin foil. Next place uncooked beans into the pan evenly. The beans will help give your pie the perfect mold.  Once this is completed you are going to bake your crust for around 20 minutes, just to the point where your crust is perfectly browned. After the crust is browned remove it from the oven and allow it to cool. You can now also remove the beans and the tin foil and spread butter on the interior of the crust.

Step 3: Now you are going to be working on the filling of your soon to be fantastic pie! First begin with slicing and removing the cores of your apples. Once all of your apples are cut and ready you then want to place the slices in a ring pattern. I find it easier to go from the outer edge and then work your way towards the center just because it helps with making sure they are placed evenly.

Step 4: Get your bowl, sugar, melted butter, cinnamon and nutmeg and you are then going to mix all of the them together. After you are done mixing them pour it over your arranged apples that are in the crust. However, if you feel that this isn’t a lot you can double the ingredients to fit your needs.

Step 5: In a separate bowl, take your sugar, butter and flour and blend them together. This should result in a mixture that is short of clumpy.

Step 6: Bake the tart from 30 to 35 minutes, doing this will soften your apples. When your apples are soft you then want to remove them from the oven and then use your sweet butter topping and coat the top of your pie. You can also add a little more cinnamon onto the top of your pie and egg whites which will give your crust a softer crunchy texture instead of a super soft texture. After you applied your topping place it back into the oven until the topping has crusted which should take about 15 minutes. Following you just want to take it out of the oven and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes and then you will be good to serve your delicious apple pie.

            Finally, you can now share your new skills with your family and friends at any occasion. However, you don’t just have to do apples you can use any fruit of your choosing but, the best ones to do it with are cherries, peaches, and apples because who doesn’t like those. To even add a better experience, serve this dish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to your guest and they will for sure love your pie.