Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day to all those who have served in the Armed Forces, or are family and friends of one, or have lost one in the service. Today, I was conflicted on what to post on such a historic day that truly marks the importance of those who have fought for our country. But I decided to write about an iconic American pastime, baseball. Although, many will camp, go to the pool or beach, enjoy time with friends and family, this sport is great to watch with fellow loved ones for this particular day.

Major League Baseball is very dedicated to the honoring the fallen veterans by holding moments of silence to show respect to the troops. Each of the players wear camouflage uniforms still embroidered with their team affiliated logo to represent the appreciation that Major League Baseball has for those serving in the Armed Forces. They happily show their support by having a reduced pricing for all veterans not only for Memorial Day but for all games. New York is luckily honored to have two Major League Baseball teams to represent the state with both the New York Yankees and the New York Mets.

Personally, I have went to plenty of baseball games with my family to Citi Field to watch the New York Mets and whether they win or lose, the most entertaining part of the game is being able to watch this exciting sport being played out while being surrounded with loved ones. The simple experience of cheering for your favorite team while simultaneously watching the game and having the chance to eat the concession stand food in this fantastic atmosphere, it is truly a great memory to last a lifetime.

I simply wanted to share a recipe for a concession stand food item that is commonly consumed at baseball stadiums by customers to have better experience while watching the game.  So if you cannot attend a MLB game this weekend and can only watch on television, this is an easy recipe to make the experience seem that much more connect to the game.

a tower of funnel cakes covered with powdered sugar

Image by: KirstyJoan

Funnel Cakes

makes 4, 12″ cakes

4 large eggs
2 2/3 cups milk
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
5 cups AP flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon baking powder
Powdered Sugar for dusting

Heat oil in an electric deep fryer or cast iron pan to 375°F. You will need at least an inch and a half of oil. We chose to use the electric fryer, which recycles its heat quicker and kept the fried foods smell and heat out of the house! Line plates with paper towels, the process will go fast once you start!

Mix egg and milk together with a wire whisk or fork until combined. Stir in other ingredients until batter is smooth.

Fry Tip: If you will be frying more than 4 funnel cakes or if you wish to make the batter up to an hour in advance, increase the amount of baking powder by 1 teaspoon to help give it lift during its long wait before frying.

Fill a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip and squeeze batter in a random, yet overlapping pattern. (It’s all mainly a haphazard process, but crossing the batter back over itself will help it stick together when it’s time to flip.) Once it’s floating and golden brown (usually 60 seconds in), flip using tongs, allowing the other side to cook.

Continue cooking until desired color is achieved and remove from grease and set on a paper towel lined plate. Apply powdered sugar liberally to the top, add fruit toppings if desired and enjoy!

Note: You can use an actual funnel for this process, or even a zip top bag with one corner snipped off. Just as long as the better is able to get into the oil quickly and efficiently, that’s all that really matters.

Recipe adapted from The Kitchn 

So enjoy this Memorial Day holiday weekend kick back, relax, and enjoy a baseball game. And Major League Baseball teams, batter up!!

Summer FUN!

What a relief, we have finally approached the end of the spring semester! That means no more homework, no more studying and more SLEEP! So now that Summer is here (well a month away if you want to be technical) what do you guys have in store? Having bbqs? Going to the beach/pool? Going to Six Flags? What’s something that you’re doing this summer that is BRAND NEW. Well for you I mean. Something you’ve never done before…..like going jet skiing, ziplining, or even sky diving! One of the things on my “Summer 2015” bucket list is to attend as many festivals as possible. I’ve only been to the Italian Festival so I am excited to see what these other themed festivals are about.

For those of you that may not know a festival is it is basically “an event cardinally staged by a community, centering on and celebrating some unique aspect of that community and its traditions.” There are so many types of festivals, for instance music, film and even color!

So you haven’t attended? Don’t worry, as mentioned before I’ve only been to the Italian Festival haha. Tomorrow I’ll be attending the Color Run at Citi Field for the first time and words cannot describe how excited I am!! Although tomorrow’s event is sold out, there is still a chance for you yes YOU to go. The next Color Run will be held on July 11th at Aviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn, NY!

Here are some photos of previous Color Run events:

clouds of color

Image By: Hannah E.

two young women covered in colored paint

Image By: Dana Amihere

a crowd with pink smoke

 Image By: Zachary Strain 

people in clouds of colored, smokey paintImage By: Melissa Romero

After seeing those images doesn’t it just make you want to go out and have fun!? It sure does for me!! Tomorrow I will definitely be coming back here on The Buzz to fill you guys in on the details of this festival. Hope to see you at the next one! 🙂

Amanda’s Personal Review: Hey guys! As promised, i’ve come back to inform you guys about The Color Run. First of all, let me start of by saying that this was one of the best experiences in my life! As New Yorkers, we don’t really come across “happy” people so attending an event where all you see is ear to ear smiles and everyone just wanting to have fun is simply AMAZING! For those of you whom aren’t avid runners, don’t worry, you can run, jog and even walk if you like! As I mentioned before, they will be holding this event at Aviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn, NY on July 11th so I hope you guys attend! Out of all the event’s/places I’ve reccomended to you all this is one you guys must put as #1 on your bucket list! Here’s the link for futher information https://thecolorrun.com/night/brooklyn/

Here are some photos I took:

a fake license plate on the ground

a stadium field and billboard

a crowd

people in clouds of colored, smokey paint

a package of colored paint

Why I Love Food Blogging

Wow I can’t believe the semester is coming to an end already, can you? Since the semester is coming to an end, I thought it would be appropriate to write a post about why I love to do what I do and that’s food blogging.

I started blogging when I was 14 on Xanga.com, but at that point in my life and the earlier years of my college life I wasn’t blogging about food nor did I have a niche. I would blog about my life, challenges as a freshmen, and a lot more. It wasn’t until around 2009 or 2010 I discovered I had an extreme passion for food and became very opened to trying new foods, restaurants, and cooking.

I had a growing passion for food, for writing, and for blogging so I decided to combine all three and that’s when I started blogging for food blogging communities and after learning a sufficient amount of information about how to start a food blog, what type of content I would post up, and etc. I created Ambitious Eats with the help of my boyfriend.

I’m very happy to have and write for my food blog because I love blogging and it’s just a nice feeling to be writing and sharing content with a little mystery of who will be reading or who will be finding my food blog. I like sharing my experiences, thoughts, ideas and etc. I feel there’s a lot of good food in New York City and all around, but there’s also a lot of bad food and friends shouldn’t let other friends eat bad food.

Food blogging and just blogging itself has changed my life because it’s made me become a little more opened to my friends and just people in general. I am very passionate about food and I think it shows very clearly through the series of posts I’ve published here, on my food blog, my Yelp reviews, and much more.

I hope you enjoyed reading my series of posts about food and my passion. I wish you best of luck on your finals and a great summer!

Shadow Play

It’s amazing how the things we see daily can turn into a form of art, objects, shapes and shadows. All it takes is for one to be a bit more observant. As for myself, I’m constantly seeking for objects ans shapes that may seem out of place or has interesting looks. Sometimes I get the ‘is she crazy’ stares from people; hopefully they don’t think about admitting me to the G building(now known as the Mental/Behavioral Health Center) in the near future(lol).

Shadows are created from natural and artificial light plays an important role. Without it, there wouldn’t be any shadows


 

an overhead train track“Travel light, live light, spread light, be the light.” -Unknown. Ralph and Atlantic ave, Brooklyn NY 12:32pm

 

a person walking across a street “Darkness is the absence of light. Shadow is the diminution of light.” -Leonardo Da Vinci. Tudor City, Manhattan NY 2:14pm

 

a stone wall “Give light, and darkness will disappear of itself.” -Desiderius Erasmus.Tudor City, Manhattan NY 2:24pm

 

a field  “Ours is the responsibility to keep our lights bright for others to see and follow.” -Thomas S. Monson Central Park West, Manhattan NY 6:49pm

 

a sunset behind an overhead train“Never fear shadows. They simple mean there’s a light shining somewhere nearby.” -Ruth E. Renkel. Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn NY 7:03pm

 

Finals Are Upon Us

Can you believe it? The school term is almost over! BUT before we can celebrate summer, we first have to prepare for finals.

Finals can be very hard. From the stress, to the studying, and the worrying, your body and mind sure takes a toll.
That’s why I’ve come up with a list you guys can follow to ease the stress, and focus on success.

Create a study guide

Outlining the important information you need to learn can be helpful, since you can refer to them during your
studies.

Prioritize

There are exams that will be more difficult than others, some you may find easier to study for. Make sure to evaluate all of your exams to consider and determine all of the involved factors, so you can study
accordingly.

Relax

Keep your stress levels low. Worrying about your finals is fine, but don’t let stress and anxiety take over. Complete all your work, and try and finish it early. The better you distribute your tasks during the weeks
before final exams, the better you will understand the material.

Take Breaks

Before hitting your breaking point, take a break. After a while of non stop studying, you begin to lose focus and the quality of your studying begins to falter. Give yourself a few minutes to stand up, stretch, go for a walk, and
heck your phone. Everyone needs a moment to catch themselves and gather their thoughts.

Haiti: The Caribbean Paradise

Finally Summer is on the horizon! It has been a long, tiring and hard working spring semester. Therefore everyone desperately needes a well-deserved summer vacation. This is the summer vacation you have been waiting long enough for it to come, thus it would be absolutely important for you to have one hell of a vacation.

The ideal place for you to spend  some vaction time is in Haiti. This is Caribbean Paradise, is one of the most awe-inspiring places on Earth; everywhere else you’ve been will pale in comparison. The charming country that is Haiti continue to be a coveted Caribbean getaway, providing for both adventurous and exotic travelers. The best thing is, you can enjoy the white beaches and clear waters without having to spend a fortune.


This tropical wonderland features diamond-smooth, brilliant turquoise-colored waters you’ll definitely want to dip into

Caribbean waterPhoto taken in Dame-Marie, Haiti

 

An escape to a sun-drenched destination with clear, turquoise-colored waters can sound enticing.

a Caribbean beachPhoto taken in Dame-Marie, Haiti

 

There’s not much to do on this paradise on Earth other than swim in the Atlantic Ocean and bask beneath the sun, but that’s kind of the point, isn’t it?

a Caribbean beachPhoto taken in Dame-Marie, Haiti

Do the things

a card that says "You must do the things you think you cannot do"

“Everyday I am afraid. I suffer from anxiety and there are moments of darkness that I fear there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes the fear and anxiety cripples me, and I forget what motivates me to continue. There’s this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt that reads “You must do the things you think you cannot do,” which encourages me to push through any obstacles. It hangs above my bed and each morning and night it reminds me to do daily what I think I cannot do— that anything and everything is possible.”

Name: J. S.
Age: N/A
Major: English

Rising Of The Fog

As she lay there enjoying the beautiful view, it silently took over the harbor and city. Then everything got white. “Rising Of The Fog.”

Fog, mist, haze are all the same words, but do you really know what it means? It’s a body of thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere at the earth’s surface, reducing visibility.

I’ve seen fog many times before, but never have I seen it take over the harbor in a matter of seconds. At first, I was literally chasing what was left of the fog. Then to my surprise, as I sat enjoying the view, it rapidly took over the harbor. To my luck, I no longer was “chasing fog.”


 

 

old pier stumps“No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress,you’re still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.” -Tony Robbins. Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn NY 8:10am

 

piers in the fog “In the mist of difficulty lies opportunity.” -Oprah Winfrey.Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn NY 8:40am

 

a colorful house on a boardwalk “Sometimes we need the fog to remind ourselves that all of life is not white and black.” -Jonathan Lockwood Huie. Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn NY 8:47am

 

fog covering a city skyline“Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” -E. L. Doctorow. Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn NY 9:27am

 

fog covering a ship sailing under a bridge“Derive happiness in oneself from a good day’s work from illuminating the fog that surrounds us.” -Henri Matisse. Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn NY 9:32am

 

fog covering skyscrapers“Faith is like radar that sees through the fog.” -Corrie Ten Boom. Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn NY 9:42am

 

CUE Conference with “The Buzz”

a decorated cake made for "The Buzz" team

Image by: Brianna Vasquez

Last week was the Coordinated Undergraduate Education (CUE) Conference which is an annual event that was held at City College of New York this year. The theme of the event was used to show the catalyst for change to engage for impact within CUNY. The conference explores the innovations, collaborations, and actions in undergraduate education that will prepare global citizens for the 21st century. And I was gladly able to attend the conference on behalf of the Openlab “The Buzz” bloggers team. I was so honored to be chosen to represent the team since the conference conflicted with many of the other bloggers’ schedules; I felt a certain responsibility to the fellow bloggers as well as the Openlab team. The conference was amazing as we were able to share the benefits of having a internet based haven for all Citytech students to not only use academically but for recreational interests as well. Honestly, the Openlab has been a great asset to me to complete specific class projects and to be able to connect with my peers. Through the daily struggles of school and balancing it with all the other happenings in our lives, it truly allows us to connect to our peers who are experiencing similar collegiate lives.

an edible camera

Image by: Brianna Vasquez

Being a hospitality management major and my aspirations of becoming a pastry chef, I instantly felt a need to bring a dessert to the meeting which was used as a preparation to the conference. I continuously thought about what the best appropriate dessert to represent the Openlab’s success would be and I eventually decided on a cake. As always, I wanted the cake to have a certain complexity to it. So, after making the cake and decorating as well as crafting the other pieces with the help of my sisters, we delivered the cake on the day of the meeting, unfortunately, late. But the cake was an absolute hit and received such great feedback. Everyone was captivated by the realistic appearance of the cake with its added features and began taking numerous photographs with their mobile phones. As a pastry chef, that is one of the most fulfilling moments of making a dessert, is to simply see the reaction that it causes to all of you as I enter the room with this edible masterpiece. The cake took about three days to put together which was pretty short notice yet it came together really well. The cake truly evoked the sense of the Openlab’s “The Buzz” not just by the logo but by connecting to the bloggers with the camera to appeal to the photo-bloggers and the tablet to appeal to the other bloggers. The cup of coffee was originally a joke as my sisters and I were joking about how drinking coffee is almost an essential to our lives and it was simply added to the cake. And although it might sound crazy the whole cake and all of the side pieces were all entirely edible.

a themed cake with an edible coffee cup and tablet

Image by: Brianna Vasquez

I would just like to say thanks to Jill Belli, Jody Rosen, Andrew Mckinney, Scott Henkle and all of those from the Openlab for inviting me into the Openlab family. It was a pleasure to speak on behalf of “The Buzz” team and I am truly happy to have such an encouragement when it comes to my blogs as well as being truly understanding and attentive to not only my major but all of the other bloggers, it simply shows us how much you care about all of our work. And to the fellow bloggers, I appreciate how truly connected we are despite only meeting a few times; I look forward to reading your future posts and love when you comment on mine. We are all a part of a big family of something that is truly special and I am in awe of how far the outreach has been, I cannot wait to see what the future holds not only for us but for the Openlab after we graduate and others have their chance to begin sharing with the college on this amazing haven.

Zombie Run!

Now that we are approaching the end of the spring 2015’ semester, it is only right we end it with some fun. I’m sure many of you are overwhelmed with finals and getting your last few assignments in but as I mentioned in the beginning of the semester, always remember to squeeze in some fun! The brain needs a break sometime.

So you’re probably wondering “what bright idea does Amanda have this time.” Well, on May 10th,  THIS SUNDAY, the DPH 4-H Camp in Long Island will be hosting their annual Zombie Race. You will be chased by a group zombies through many miles of mud as they attempt to take your health flag (you will be given a health flag belt with three health flags). Whomever makes it to the finish line with at least one health flag is a Zombie Race Survivalist. If you don’t have any health flags before reaching the finish line don’t get discouraged, you can still finish the race and also win a Finisher Medal! So it’s a win/win situation! Can’t get better than that.

As mentioned via zombierace.co website, you are also at the advantage of getting ten cool things such as:

  • Zombie Race Sack Pack
  • $10 voucher towards Zombie Race merchandise
  • 1 free beer for all locations except Massachusetts (for runners ages 21 and older)
  • Racing Bib
  • 3 Health Flags
  • Finisher medal
  • Live entertainment
  • Party! (bbq and more beer will be for sale)
  • Tons of new friends covered in mud that are just as crazy as you are!
  • Zombie Race Trophy & Prize if you win an award

So what are you waiting for? Go grab an old pair of shorts, shirt and shoes and let’s escape from these zombies ready to eat your brains and take your health flags!

a road sign that says "Zombies: RUN!"

Image by: Supply Chain & Procurement