Delightful Desserts

Last modified on 2010-02-18 20:55:01 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

The Super-Bowl is upon us! In honor of the big game, I made these delicious snacks that are sure to please every football fan. The pretzels are really easy to make, but they taste absolutely wonderful!

Pre-Game Pretzels Recipe

Ingredients:

1 Pre-Packaged Bowl of Baker’s Dipping Chocolate (White)
1 Pre-Packaged Bowl of Baker’s Dipping Chocolate (Semi-Sweet)
2 metal spoons
Wax Paper
1 Cookie Sheet
One Bag of Large Pretzel Sticks
Sprinkles (Optional)

Directions:

1. Take the lid off of one Baker’s chocolate bowl. Place in microwave: set time for 30 seconds on high. After time is completed, stir the chocolate and place back in microwave. Repeat twice (so chocolate will be heated a total of three times).
2. Repeat chocolate heating with the other bowl
3. Spread wax paper on the cookie sheet.
4. Once chocolate is warm, use a spoon to ladle the chocolate over a pretzel rod. Make sure there are at least two inches of regular pretzel remaining at the bottom so you can grasp the rod without getting messy.
5. Once pretzel is coated in chocolate, you can drizzle the opposite flavor of chocolate on top of the rod for a two-tone design. You can also add sprinkles (I put red sugar on mine to give them a Valentine’s Day twist).
6. After all pretzels are coated, place cookie sheet outside in a protected area (I left mine out and they got snowed on!) so they harden.
7. Serve and enjoy!

Have you made these pretzels before? What’s your favorite game-day treat?

California Grill Desserts

Last modified on 2010-02-12 20:58:45 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

This past week, I had the opportunity to go on vacation with my family to Disney World for my parent’s twentieth anniversary. While there, we ate an assortment of delicious foods. On Saturday night, we dined at the Contemporary Resort’s renowned California Grill. Known for it’s exemplary sushi and market-style dining experience (the menu changes every day because everything is fresh), the California Grill was a restaurant unlike any I’ve ever eaten at. I had a grilled salmon filet with citrus couscous, but that’s not the fun part: the dessert was unreal!

My brother and mom both shared the Valrhona Chocolate Cake.

(picture)

This chocolate delight was the richest thing I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. The warm, gooey cake hid a center of thick melted chocolate. This was not a cheap lava cake with artificial chocolate sauce: this was melted chocolate that was pure bliss. A scoop of cappuccino chip sat on the side to accent the treat. They even put an anniversary decal on the meal for my parents!

Now it’s time to reveal my dessert: I had the “Sweet Celebration.” This bowl of soft warm strudel covered with fresh cinnamon apples was absolutely lovely. A handful of oatmeal topping gave each bite an extra crunch. Atop the apples was a scoop of vanilla ice cream coated with rich caramel topping. The homestyle taste of this dessert wasn’t what I would expect from such an uber modern restaurant, but I’m certainly not complaining!

What restaurant treats strike your fancy, UHS? Let us know!

Confetti Cupcakes

Last modified on 2010-02-06 20:00:22 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Hello, all! This semester I’m switching things up with my blog: instead of Recognizing Kindness, my blog (Delectable Desserts) will now focus on tasty confections. Featured treats will include my own creations, restaurant delicacies and great ideas found from other food blogs. Here’s to a brand new semester, and finding new ways to indulge our sweet side!

Confetti Cupcakes

Ever since I was a little girl, confetti cupcakes have been a staple part of our family’s birthday celebrations. They look sweet and taste delectable, but they’re very light so it’s hard to only eat one. Bake these delights to brighten your day or bring them to a party as a gift!

Ingredients:

1 Box of White Cake Mix (Read box for specific ingredients because each brand is different)
1 Large Bowl (for batter)
1 Medium Bowl (for frosting)
1 Mechanical Mixer
1 Wooden Spoon
Half Cup of Rainbow Sprinkles (Long Johns work best)
24 Cupcake/Muffin Paper Tins
3 Cups of Powdered Sugar
1 Cup Cream
1 Stick of Butter
2 Dozen-Cup Muffin Pans
Cooking Spray (I use Pam Olive Oil)
Red Food Dye (Optional)

Directions:

Cakes:

Pre-heat oven at temperature recommended on the cake mix box. Follow the directions on the back of the cake mix box to make the cake batter. Once the batter is complete, stir in the sprinkles with a wooden spoon until thoroughly distributed. Place one cupcake tin in each cup of the pans- spray lightly with cooking spray. Using the spoon, dollop batter into each tin until ¾ full. Bake the cakes according to the time estimate given on the box. To check whether the cakes are done, place a toothpick in the center of one and pull out- if the toothpick has any liquid residue on it, place cakes back in oven. Once cakes are finished, let them cool for one hour to ensure they aren’t warm when frosted.

Frosting:

I hate store-bought frosting, so this homemade version really makes the cake!

Let a stick of butter sit at room temperature until soft (or microwave it if you’re short on time). Place the butter in a medium bowl. Put 1 cup of the powdered sugar in the bowl and ¼ cup of the cream in as well. Mix the contents on the lightest speed, adding in the rest of the powdered sugar and cream gradually. When finished, the frosting should be solid but fluffy. If you like, you can add a VERY small drop of red food dye to the frosting and mix it in, giving off a soft pink color.

Once the cakes have cooled and the frosting is finished, lightly (or generously if you love sugar) coat the cakes with the frosting. For a special touch, add extra sprinkles on top for a festive feel.

Happy Cupcake Making!

Holiday Kindness

Last modified on 2009-12-16 20:09:46 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Hi, UHS! It’s our last week of school for the year! Well, for 2009 I suppose…

This week is always one of my favorites during the school term. Maybe it’s the fact that I know I’m free for two weeks after Friday; or it could be the general excitement in the hallways as the holidays draw closer. This week, I encourage all of you to show your holiday spirit as winter break approaches.

Sometimes it can be hard to show kindness. I find myself wrapped up in my own world some days where my happiness is the only thing that matters. But no matter how bad my day is, I’ve really started trying to not focus on that. “I” am not the only person who matters. By any means. Why should I keep my energy focused on myself when there’s someone out there who needs a friend or a helping hand? The truth is, service towards another will make YOU happier- did you know that? Part of our humanity is wanting to help our fellow man; when we help someone else, we ultimately help ourselves.

This week, try to give some of your time to another. Whether it’s holding the door open for a wind-blown student or sacrificing your seat on the bus for someone who needs it more, your service could make a difference in someone’s day. Happy holidays, UHS!

Stay kind.

Advent Conspiracy

Last modified on 2009-12-11 00:30:16 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

While surfing the web (aka ignoring my homework) this week, I found a nifty little video that really had an impact on me. As a very active Christian, this video really appealed to me and made me remember what Christmas is really about. If you are not a Christian or do not believe in Jesus, I do not mean to offend you with this video. I simply thought I should share it with the students of Urbana High School to shine light on an important issue in our world (lack of clean water) and how we can help this holiday season.

The Advent Conspiracy: While there are a great amount of videos on this page, the “Enter the Story” video is my favorite (I can’t give a link to the direct video, but here is the page):http://www.adventconspiracy.org/videos/

Can you believe that? We spend 450,000,000,000 dollars on Christmas EVERY year! Dear goodness! And it would only take ten billion to stop our world’s water problem. I don’t know about you, but it seems like our world’s water is more important than an extra gift under the tree this year. Don’t get me wrong- I love the gifts on Christmas morning. But if we put this in perspective, one year of less presents is what it would take for us to solve the problem…I think we could handle it.

What do you think, UHS? Let me know!

Also: Caroling Update: I have my group of carolers and we will set off this Friday! So excited- look for us!

The Caroling Group: Part 2

Last modified on 2009-12-11 00:25:04 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Hello everybody! Hope your Thanksgiving holiday went well- I ate an outrageous amount of food and goodies and spent some quality time with my family. I love getting to see all of my relatives- we laugh and catch up and it’s a great time. How was your vacation? Too much turkey?

So this week’s post is about my caroling group. I’ve chosen some songs I want us to learn and I’m trying to choose neighborhoods to visit. Here’s what I have so far:

Song Choice:

-Silent Night: It’s a classic, it’s simple and it’s easy to remember
-Joy to the World: We all need a little joy in life, so this will be great
-Jingle Bells: If kids come to the door, I’d like if they sang along for this one
-Hark the Herald Angels Sing: This is a personal favorite and it reminds me of Charlie Brown

Neighborhoods:

-Beringer Commons- Seems like a pretty neighborhood and my grandparents live there
-Clark Lindsey Village- I think the residents there would appreciate some music and happy faces
-Winfield Village: There are lots of young families there and we’d have plenty of people to sing to

So what are your thoughts, UHS? Where should the caroling group go? What else should we sing? Do you want us to come visit you? Let me know!

Happy holidays and have a wonderful season!

The Super Market Santas

Last modified on 2009-12-11 00:22:10 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

I saw my first super-market Santa this weekend. I’m excited.

I don’t know what it is, but whenever the guy in the red coat and fluffy hat shows up outside County Market or Schnuck’s, I really feel like Christmas is coming.

“Clang.” “Clang.” “Clang.” The steady beat of their jingle bell rings through the parking lots, interrupting the howling winds of winter and reminding us what Christmas is all about: Giving.

There are kids out there who are a whole lot worse off than us, UHS. We have homework, but at least we have a house to go home to and food to eat. There are children out there who don’t have anything. We are so lucky.

My proposal to you, UHS, is to give this year. Whether it’s dropping a dollar into the Salvation Army Santa’s collection bin, giving your time by volunteering or lending a hand to someone in need right here at school, please give. The holiday season isn’t about the door-buster sales or the number of gifts under the tree; it’s about the love among mankind. It’s our love that makes us give.

What do you want for Christmas? I’d like a kinder world. Help Santa out- spread the love this season and give. Happy Holidays!

Caroling for Kindness

Last modified on 2009-11-23 23:59:20 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

“I hear them J-I-N-G-L-E bells!”

That’s right- Christmas is just around the corner. I couldn’t be more pleased, seeing how it’s my favorite holiday. Despite the gifts, food and lack of school, my favorite part of the Christmas season is the overall feeling in the world. It seems people are nicer, giving is contagious and everyone wears a smile. What could be better than that?

This holiday season, I want to focus more on the holiday spirit than Santa Claus or Christmas loot. With the economy down and wallets tightly shut, many others have also adopted this approach. How will I do this, you ask? Well, I’m thinking of starting a caroling group.

When I was younger, I loved it when carolers from my church would come visit my family. They looked really cold, but their music always made me feel happy and ready for Christmas. This year, I want to spread that joy with others through free music. I’ll keep you posted on my caroling adventures as the season presses on…

So how about you, UHS? What winter celebration activities are you looking forward to? Have you ever been caroling? Do you have any song suggestions or neighborhoods where I should visit? Let’s hear it!

And as always, please feel free to share any of the kind acts YOU’VE witnessed at UHS- more stories are always welcome.

Kindness Outside UHS

Last modified on 2009-11-17 20:55:54 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Hello, UHS! This week I’ve been out of town, so I haven’t been around to observe your kind acts. However, I’d love to share some kindness I’ve witnessed during my travels. Afterall, kindness is universal.

Shout-Out : Man at the Midway Airport, Wednesday at 4:30 pm. A gruff looking college student had just settled into the table across from me at the food court. I was enjoying my meal and decided to people-watch a bit. An older lady approached his table and asked if she could sit with him (sharing tables with strangers was kind of a neccesity because of the mass of people who decided they were hungry at that moment). Not only did the man say yes, he went across the food court to get her a chair and carried it back to the table. He then preceded to make small talk with this woman. Props to you, college man for being such a gentlemen and taking time out of your day to be kind.

What kindness have you seen this week? Have you ever had a cool airport experience? Post it here!

Thanksgiving is a-Coming!

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:25:58 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Hey, everyone! First off, thanks to those of you who read this and all of the other parts of The Echo- your readership keeps us running and helps us feel like we’re not writing to our computers.

This week’s post is another Kindness Shout-Out, yay! Today I’m featuring a stranger who was kind to drivers on Lincoln Avenue. A large branch (like maybe an eighth of a tree, no kidding) had fallen into the road and was blocking traffic. She pulled over, picked up the branch and waved to everyone who sped past. In hindsight, I really hope somebody let her in on the busy road from the driveway she pulled into to help all of us…

Ok, Kindness Shout-Out over. Now I’d like to talk about something else- Thanksgiving is coming up. We’re all very lucky to live in a free country and to have the many blessings freedom brings. We are also very blessed to come to a school like UHS. Yeah, sometimes the air conditioning is on when it’s thirty degrees outside and the bathrooms on the second floor often have issues, but it’s still a great place. Think about it- our building has some amazing teachers who really care about us and where we’re going in life. We also have some super sports teams who do us proud (Girl’s Cross Country, way to rock Sectionals!), a great selection of influential clubs who do great work and hundreds of students who practice kindness everyday.

I for one am very thankful to be a Tiger. This Thanksgiving, I propose we (the folks at UHS) show our gratitude and give back to the people who make our school great. Whether it’s taking the time to thank a teacher, or signing up to help at UHS’ Community Thanksgiving Dinner, we have many ways to show our appreciation. This holiday season spread some love and service, UHS. You’ll be glad you did!

Halloween Kindness

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:25:28 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

Halloween Kindness

I Love Smiling

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:25:03 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

I love smiling. I love it when people smile at me. Smiles are contagious, and they’re wonderful to share. In a world where sadness and depression seem to be more commonplace than joy and contentment, I think it’s important to keep smiling. Life can be hard, but a smile could make your or someone else’s load a little lighter. Below is a link to a story about smiling that touched my heart. Keep smiling, UHS. It’s easier than frowning

http://www.helpothers.org/story.php?sid=15548

When was the last time someone smiled at you? Are you a smile-addict? Let me know!

Drive Kind

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:24:29 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

This week’s post will focus on driving kindness. As a new driver, it’s always nice to come encounter with other drivers who are considerate on the road (and safe!). Here are three of my favorite ways to be kind on the road:

1. Let That Person In! On my way to school, I often get stuck waiting to turn onto Michigan from Vine. The other day, an MTD bus stopped and let me in so I wasn’t late to school. I appreciated them allowing me to go, and thus un-blocking the traffic I was holding up behind me. It takes ten seconds to let somebody have a turn- those ten seconds could make a big difference in their day!

2. Watch for Kids! I brushed on this topic in a previous post, but I’d like to come back to it. Children sometimes don’t pay attention- you were a kid once, you know what I mean. It’s up to US to watch out for them. My cousin Molly once told me this: “When there’s a ball in the street, you have a few seconds before the kid comes too.” In residential neighborhoods, parks, etc. keep your eyes peeled off your phone and on the road. Be kind by paying attention to those who may not be looking out for you.

3. STAY OFF YOUR PHONE! Good grief, this drives me crazy. You don’t need to talk or text when you drive- you just don’t. People get in accidents all the time because they’re on their cell phones. Personally, I don’t know how any one can talk/text and drive at the same time safely. It’s AGAINST THE LAW for those of us who are under 19 anyway… UHS, do everyone a favor stay off your phones when you’re on the road.

There are many other ways to be kind when on the road. How are you kind when you drive? Let me know!

The Kindness Shout Outs

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:22:12 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Last year in Spanish class, Senora Romeu taught me a life lesson in the form of “para” and “por”. Para and por mean “for” in Spanish, but they are each used in different contexts. Por is used when you describe making a deal with someone (I’ll give you this for that), whereas para is used when you give someone a gift (this gift is for your birthday). Kindness works in much the same way. You have people out there in the world who give kindness and expect something in return. However, there are a few folks out there who are selfless- they are kind without waiting for recognition and praise. It’s those people who we can look to as great role models and examples of truly kind people.

Over the course of this blog, I’d like to take a post every month to focus on one very kind person. Welcome to the Kindness Shout Outs!

The Kindness Shout Outs Winner for September: Beyonce Knowles

This week’s winner is Beyonce Knowles. By now you’ve all probably heard about the Kanye West/Taylor Swift incident at the MTV Awards. While I commend Taylor for how she handled the situation (and her mom!), I’d really like to focus on Beyonce. When Mrs. Jay-Z got up on stage to accept the Video of The Year Award, she turned over her time to Taylor to finish her speech. Beyonce’s award was the biggest of the night, but she sacrificed her time to give it to someone else who had their’s stolen. Thanks for your always classy act, Beyonce.

*To check out a video showing Beyonce’s kind act, check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SkN1s3E0jw.

Alright UHS: who do you think should have won this month’s Shout Out? Do you agree with my choice?

Five Acts of Kindness YOU Can Do Today

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:23:49 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

For this week’s post, I’ve compiled five random acts of kindness that high school students can do for their fellow man. Choose one to focus on, or try to accomplish all five. Being kind is contagious, so who knows who you’ll inspire with your compassionate act?

1. Offer to help that kid who’s struggling in your math class: Sometimes in school, we just don’t get the lesson. If you understand what’s going on, take the time to help your peer. You’ll feel good for doing a good deed, and this kid who you helped may go on to cure cancer with this new knowledge (no kidding!).

2. Pay an expired parking meter: Whether you’re studying at the Urbana Free Library or enjoying a night out on campus, lend some change to a flashing meter and save someone the headache of retrieving a towed car. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone did this for you?

3. Cover the bill of the person behind you in the drive through: I love it when people do this! It’s a nice treat and it motivates the people behind you to keep the trend going!

4. Help pick up trash: Whether you’re walking down the hallway and see a lone bottle or can, or a McDonald’s bag floating down the sidewalk, lend a hand and pick it up. Throwing away garbage helps keep the earth clean- what’s better than that?

5. Take a grocery cart back for someone: Lend a hand to that busy soccer mom who’s unloading her packages- take her cart back to the return so she can move on with her day.

Thanks for being kind, UHS. Spread the love

Hazing at Homecoming

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:23:23 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Homecoming is two weeks away… girls have their dresses, dinner reservations are made, and the school spirit is at an all-time high. But as we prepare for this festive and exciting time, it’s important to keep in mind how to stay safe and refrain from hazing while having fun at Spirit Week.

For people who are new to Spirit Week, Thursday is always Class Color Day. Freshmen wear green, Sophomores wear yellow, Juniors wear red and Seniors wear blue. The goal of Class Color Day is to unite each class and show pride for your year (ex. Remember the class cheers?  “One-one!”, “Ten!” etc… this is when you yell them).  On Friday, the classes compete against one another in the Pep Assembly to find out which class has the most spirit.

One thing I’d like to point out is our school’s policy about hazing:  Folks, we don’t do it.  No hairspray, markers, silly string or anything like that.  The goal of Spirit Week is to unite the classes, not terrorize the underclassmen.  If we can’t behave during Class Color Day, this might be the last one we have.  Show class pride respectfully, not inappropriately.

All in all, have FUN during spirit week! You get to dress crazy
and show off your Tiger pride for a whole week! Let’s just keep it kind so the school can feel united in Tiger spirit, not separated by class tension. Go Tigers!

The Papa John’s Man Hero

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:23:00 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Kindness comes in many forms- it can be a small gesture of smiling at the lonely man at the bus station, or going out of your way to sit down next to him and seeing what great stories he has to tell. Regardless of how it’s given, the world really needs more kindness. I’d like to share an experience I had this week about a man who showed a really big act of kindness- he put his life on the line.

I was driving home the other night- it was a beautiful evening and I was reflecting on how happy I was to be alive in such a cool world (really!). As I came to the 4-way stop between Family Video and Osco Drug, I noticed two adorable little boys standing on the sidewalk on my side of the road waiting to cross the street. When it was my turn to go, I motioned for the boys to go after making sure the person across me wouldn’t hit them. After they passed my car and entered the other lane, a man came up on the left side of the 4-way and began to turn without stopping. This man was on his cell phone and not paying attention. Everything slowed down in that moment: I let out a scream in my own car, the boys tried to run and the Papa Johns man on that side of the road jumped out to try and catch the driver’s attention. The man slammed on his brakes just in time to avoid hitting those kids. Drivers all around me honked their horns and screamed at the man who just drove away. The boys were fine, if not a little shaken. If that Papa Johns man hadn’t have jumped out at that car, I probably would have seen two little boys lose their lives. Thank you, Papa Johns salesman for looking out for those two boys with the sacrifice of putting yourself at risk.

We all can’t be heroes like that man the other night, but we can add our contributions to the world. Ask that quiet kid in class how he’s doing or bring a spare pencil to lend to someone who forgot theirs. We’ve all felt the affects of receiving kindness, and many people out there demonstrate being kind as well. This is just a post to inspire you to be a little better today- you never know whose day you’ll make a little brighter.

Be kind, if you don’t mind!

Welcome!

Last modified on 2009-11-14 21:22:33 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

Hello! Thanks for checking out the Recognizing Kindness Blog! It’s very kind of you to drop by! The idea behind this page is to recognize the good works committed by people in the community. In a world where basic kindness is flying by the wayside, I think it’s important to promote being a nice and honorable member of society. I’m not saying we all need to be Mother Teresa, but treating your fellow man with compassion is a goal I think we should all have. This blog will highlight kind acts I witness during everyday life (like someone paying an expired parking meter or picking up the tab for a stranger at McDonalds) as well as posts on why I feel it’s important to be nice. As high schoolers, it’s easy to get lost in the “world revolves around me” mentality. However, if we can break out of our selfish bubbles for a bit and lend a helping hand, life could be better for everyone. Hopefully this blog will inspire you to commit a random act of kindness and lead a happier life. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the next kind stranger featured in a post?