Pumpkin Maple Flan

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logo: "IN THE KITCHEN WITH PATRICIA"

( Adapted from Tiffany’s Treats)

 

Ingredients

Syrup:

1/2 cup maple syrup

1 tsp bourbon vanilla (this is most of the natural vanilla’s at the grocery store)

1 tsp espresso powder

 

flan:

4 eggs ( or egg replacer…follow box directions for 4 eggs)

1 13.5 oz can coconut milk ( or 1 + 3/4 cup milk of choice)

1 15 oz can pumpkin

2 tsp bourbon vanilla

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp allspice

1/2 cup coconut sugar ( I get mine at the health food store)

2 packets stevia

 

Kitchen Equipment:

saucepan

disposable Foil cupcake pans ( enough to make at least 12 flan)

blender

scissors

aluminum foil

roasting pan

 

directions:cake batter

  • Heat oven to 325°. Place all syrup ingredients (maple syrup, espresso powder, vanilla)  in saucepan and bring to a boil. When mixture begins to boil, remove from heat. Keep an eye on the stove, so it boil over as it gets foamy quickly!
  • Divide the syrup 12 equal parts among the cupcake pan(s). Set pan(s) aside. Meanwhile, blend all remaining flan ingredients in a blender for 2 minutes or until completely combined.
  • Slowly, pour the flan batter into the cupcake cups over the syrup that was placed in the bottom. Fill to the top of the cups. Place the cupcake pan  into a large roasting pan.

muffin tins

  • Fill roasting pan with 2 inches of water, careful to not spill the water into the flan. You can also put the water in first if it is easier, just allow room for the water to rise when you stick your cupcake pans in the roasting pan.
  • Bake for 50 minutes at 325°. When the flan is done, you should be ale to insert a toothpick and have it come out clean. Place flan in refrigerator to cool completely before eating.

baked goods

  • When flan is completely cool, cut the foil pans so that  each flan is now separated from one another. Loosen the edges of the flan from the pan with a knife.
  • Invert flan onto a plate, gently tapping the top of the foil pan to help it release. Don’t forget to let the syrup drizzle out on top!

dessert

Makes 12 servings.

Warning Labels on Advertisements

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a cover of Glamour magazine

Today in my Graphic Arts class, we were told that legislation is trying to propose a mandate, in which all advertisements, whose images have been altered with Photoshop, bear a warning label alerting the public to the practice. The idea stems from scientific research that found that vulnerable consumers, particularly children and teens, might be fooled by the photos. That the photos might convince them that the models are really as perfect as the covers try to show, resulting in negative physical and mental health consequences.

Personally, I think if a person doesn’t have self confidence, they’ll continue to not have it, regardless of how a model or actress looks in pictures. If they are feeling this way, they should receive professional help, not take it out advertisements.

Sure beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but do you believe that people would want to buy a magazine cover if the person on the front is unattractive? And I was always under the assumption that everyone knows, regardless of a label, that editing is always done on advertisements.

No one in the world is perfect, touch ups in this type of business is a necessity, as the main goal is always to SELL, SELL, SELL.

Caffeine on Campus: A Hidden Danger

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Drinks with Caffeine

Drinks with Caffeine

It’s been a few weeks since the semester has started so everyone should have noticed the new vending machines around campus.

We traded up (in my biased opinion) to Pepsi products allowing our vending machines a delicious variety of drinks including Starbucks Frappuccinos, Cherry Pepsi and Amp energy drinks. As a student completely reliant on caffeine, I often find myself visiting vending machines to get an iced coffee, or an amp energy drink – usually without thinking about the consequences of consuming them.  To all the people drink enough coffee to bleed caffeine: you should.

 

Amp is Pepsi’s attempt to compete with RedBull and Monster and it contains around 160mg of caffeine per can. On a bad day a student can drink

2 or more per day. That’s 320 mg of caffeine. The snack foods that are available on campus like Kit Kat bars and Snickers contain chocolate – another source of chocolate that can add between 8 and 20 additional milligrams per serving. There’s caffeine in the cookies, cakes and yogurts students eat each day as well. That’s quite a bit of caffeine when you consider the normal serving for adults is about 200 mg per day.

 

For anyone who wants to argue that caffeine gives you much needed energy, you’re absolutely right. A shot of caffeine can give a tired student just the boost they need to get through an exam or a cram session. It can also give you heart palpitations, headaches, anxiety attacks, tremors, seizures, vomiting and increased blood pressure.

 

That’s not to say people should swear off caffeine – in moderation, caffeine has been proven to have many beneficial effects on health. Regular coffee drinkers have been proven to be up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. Caffeine intake can also contribute to reductions in the risk of developing cirrhosis and developing gallstones.

 

Mark Twain said “Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody “. While I’m pretty sure he was talking about drowning, his wise words can be applied to caffeine intake just the same. When you eat or drink foods that contain caffeine in moderation, it can be greatly beneficial, but overindulging is harmful. Be careful what you eat.

Sources:

 

http://www.energyfiend.com/caffeine-overdose-facts-and-fiction

 

http://science.howstuffworks.com/caffeine.htm

 

http://www.energyfiend.com/top-10-caffeine-health-benefits

 

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/821863-overview

 

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/caffeine-shockers-products-surprisingly-high-in-caffeine

 

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeine/NU00600

 

http://diet.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Foods_Containing_Caffeine

 

http://www.energyfiend.com/caffeine-content/amp-energy-drink

Image Source:

http://reachingutopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/caffeine-drinks.jpg

 

Using General Education Requirements to Further Your Career

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a cartoon strip about statistics

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/correlation.png This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License.

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/correlation.png
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License. As many of my readers know, I am graduating from my nursing program this semester. Of course, like all of the other majors in the school, in addition to Nursing and health related classes, I am required to take co-requisites. Some of them, like Anatomy and Physiology, biology, Microbiology, Psychology, and even English, are easily correlated to my career goals. The information covered in these classes are obviously required for successful integration into this field. But what about some of the other classes? When am I ever going to need to understand theories in Sociology, issues in history or economics, or even figure out a trigonometric equation?

Some of these, I honestly can’t tell you, except that one day I may have a patient who is a mathematician, and I may need to understand some basic equations to get something across to him. But, since they are required, and I will be sitting through those classes anyway, doesn’t it make sense for me to derive some benefit from these classes?

I recently discovered that most subjects can be correlated to any curriculum. For example, I took Effective Speaking last semester. Each speech that I gave was somehow connected to the material I was covering anyway. In this way, the hours spent studying, researching, and writing will hopefully be put to good use in my career.

I’d love to hear about your ways of connecting seemingly unconnected topics to benefit your total education.

Homemade Ramen Burger

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logo: "IN THE KITCHEN WITH PATRICIA"

After two attempts at getting into Smorgasburg, which is nearby City Tech, my brother and I finally got our hands on the Ramen Burger. The hype is real! The textures I experienced in my first nibble both confused and satisfied. As a foodie, I was trying to guess ingredients with every bite. Before I could decipher the sauce, the last morsel was devoured. My brother and I looked at each other; sharing mirrored expressions that said, “challenge accepted.”

Ingredients:

1 packet ramen noodles
1 egg

Burger ingredients:
burger patty
curry powder (optional)
lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, etc
bacon bits or bacon flavored Onion Crunch
cheese slice (optional)
fried egg (Optional)

Directions:

1. Cook the ramen noodles according to instructions, I significantly reduced the seasoning powder so that the “bun” would not be too salty.
2. Drain the noodles. Place noodles in a medium bowl and mix in an egg. thoroughly mix in the raw egg with the noodles so that all the noodles are coated. The egg is what is going to bind your noodle bun together.
3. Split the ramen noodles in half. Pour into 2 large cylinders/ramekins that are about the size of a hamburger bun. Wrap plastic wrap over container and press down to firmly pack noodles. Add something on top to add a little weight. I added a tupperware bottom and then put a heavy can on top of that. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes to let set.
4. Meanwhile, heat up/cook your burger patty. I made a free form patty with some ground beef, salt and curry powder to add some more Japanese flare. Heat up your frying pan with some oil. Flip over your ramen noodle container upside down so that the noodle bun slides easily into frying pan in one piece. Fry for a few minutes on both sides until noodles become slightly crispy.
5. Add in patty and additional toppings of your choice.

 

a stack of noodles

Wi-Fi service in Subway stations: A Dream Come True?

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"This subway station is now a Wi-Fi station"

Do you ever stand at the subway station, looking at your phone, bored, wanting desperately to make a phone call, or roam the internet, but can’t, due to no signal being available? Well, you might be in luck….just not anytime soon. Thomas F. Prendergast, the authority’s chairman, said that transit officials hope to add Wi-Fi, and possibly cell phone reception, aboard moving trains. The motivation behind the idea to expanded Wi-Fi and cell phone access, was actually in part, due to the demands of the growing population of young riders.

But don’t get excited just yet readers, as we don’t know how the project will be financed, or if the service will even be free.

Thankfully, there are already some subway stations that have started too offer free Wi-Fi and cell phone service. To bad these Wi-Fi ports are all in Manhattan, between 14th and 96th streets. And they only work at the actual stations, not on the trains.

Though there is no confirmed date, the MTA is hoping for this all to be done by 2017, where all 277 stations will be offered wireless coverage.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I for one can’t wait…granted of course, it’s free.

The New Food on the Block: Orange Leaf

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Orange Leaf Logo

Orange Leaf Logo

Earlier this month an Orange Leaf opened up on Adams Street. I stopped in during their grand opening, expecting mediocre, overpriced yogurt and fought my way through the crowds to emerge 20 minutes later with a grin and a new addiction. Food isn’t my usual blog topic, but Orange Leaf and its delectable selection of frozen yogurt has made enough of an impact on my taste buds (and wallet) to warrant a review.

First and foremost, I have to applaud their selection of yogurt. There are 14+ different flavors on tap at any time with seasonal and favorite flavors that rotate out. You can run around, putting one or more random flavors in a cup or you can swirl any two yogurts on the same machine. After (and sometimes even before) you take your pick of yogurts, you can add a wide variety of toppings like cookie dough, raspberries, coconut flakes, walnuts, sprinkles, chocolate sauce and hot caramel. It’s literally impossible to fit everything in the store in one cup.

I recommend the cheesecake yogurt mixed with raspberries, Nilla wafers and lots of caramel sauce. Chocolate lovers will enjoy Orange Leaf’s chocolate cake and brownie flavored yogurts. Their current seasonal flavors include gingerbread, peppermint, eggnog and pumpkin pie – on a side note, the latter two taste great swirled together. Toss in some graham crackers and wet walnuts

Probably one of the most important things I’ll cover in this review – the price. Their yogurt is only 59¢ an ounce. It sounds cheap but it’s really easy to forget about how much food weighs when confronted with a smorgasbord of yogurt, fruit, chocolates and treats. My cups of yogurt have cost me a pretty penny – often costing upwards $10. Orange Leaf is oddly addictive and I’ve shelled out no less than $70 fueling my sudden FroYo craving. Overall Orange Leaf is a welcome addition to ever growing selection of foods surrounding the campus. Somewhat nutritious and completely delicious, I look forward to spending lots of time here in the semesters to come.

Image Credits:Orange Leaf Logo:

http://www.3on3forniebs.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/orange-leaf-logo.jpg

 

 

Textbooks, Study Guides, Coffee…

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a cartoon person reading an upside-down book that says "HOW TO BE A PERFECT STUDENT"The semester is definitely underway. I know that this is so when my textbooks are more often off the shelves than on, I never leave home without some sort of study guide, and if I only have $2, chances are I’ll just buy the coffee. Notebooks, index cards, pens, and eReader are what fill my bag, even on my days off, I keep sticky notes near my bed to write down those things that I remember as I’m falling asleep, and if I eat a meal that takes more than 15 minutes to cook, I must be a guest somewhere or at a restaurant.

When my budget cuts out things like makeup, dry cleaning, and clothes to be filled with textbooks, coffee, and another school bag (because I keep buying cheap ones that rip). When I use my small makeup bag as a pencil case, and that stationery becomes a notepad. When waiting on a stalled train is a vacation, and abus even more so (because I have internet access), I know the semester’s definitely underway.

What signs tell you that it’s no longer the start of the semester?

Roasted Chickpea & Broccoli Burrito

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logo: "IN THE KITCHEN WITH PATRICIA"

Every year, right before the school year begins, my mom goes on a “meat-less” diet. Let’s just say, what mom says, goes! Don’t get me wrong, I always enjoy a savory vegetarian meal, but my mom tends to lack variety when she’s pressed for time.

I was at a design client meeting, when somehow vegetarian meals came into topic. Let me be upfront when I say I am not a fan of tofu if it looks, tastes, or smells like tofu. My client mentions how she made garbanzo beans taste like chicken! WHAT, WAIT, PAUSE! Needless to say, I had to try it. As well as give mom a break in the kitchen.

Ingredients:

3 cups of cooked chickpeas  (2-15 ounce cans, drained)

1 large yellow onion

1 red bell pepper

1 large crown of broccoli

4 cloves of garlic

1 lime

 

spice blend:

3 tablespoons olive oil

1-2 tablespoons soy sauce, tamari, or Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (You can usually find this near the vinegars or soy sauces)

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander or more cumin if you don’t want to go to the store

black pepper or cayenne pepper to taste

 

directions:

  • Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Chop up the onion, bell pepper, and broccoli so that all the pieces about the size of a chickpea. Chop up the garlic into small pieces, but save it until later.
  • Place all the chopped up veggies in a large bowl with the cooked chickpeas. Pour in the oil and soy sauce, stir, and then throw all the spices in there. Mix until everything is coated.
  • Put all of that on a large rimmed baking sheet (like what you would put cookies on but with an edge) and bake for 20 minutes. Take it out of the oven, add the garlic, and bake for another 15 minutes. The broccoli will look a little burnt at this point but that is the plan so  take it out of the oven.
  • Squeeze the juice of half of the lime over the pan and stir the roasted chickpeas and veggies all around. Taste some and see if it needs more spices or anything. Now here’s your filling, make a  burrito! I like mine with spinach, avocado, cilantro, and some chipotle sauce.

Notes: makes 6-8 burritos

a wrap sandwich

Photo © Deb Lindsey

Mark Your Calendars!

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a circle of calendar pages

some rights reserved from Tanakawho

I’d like to start out this post saying that the lessons that are included in this entry are thanks to my ENG 1121 professor, Dr. Monique Ferrell. I want to start by thanking her for impressing the importance of this aspect of student responsibility at such an early point in my college career because it has saved myself and many others who have benefitted from this lesson as well.

So, today is the second day of the semester, so it’s actually a little late for this.

College life is different than High School and other programs. Most students are fully aware of this. They are glad to have less hours of actual class time, be able to take classes that they want (for the most part), choose their professors, and meet other students with similar interests. One thing that students don’t count on, which is part of the more independent life of a college student, is the amount of responsibility that they have for their success or failure.

No one will be giving you detention if you don’t show up to class or come late. Most professors won’t stay on your backs about assignments, and no one at college will be monitoring the amount of time you spend on classwork outside of class. These are all actually very important skills for students to master because most workplaces are similar.

On thing that every student should become accustomed to doing before every semester, is reviewing the academic calendar. Every date on that calendar is important, but there are some dates that are so important that I think they should receive special attention.

The first group of dates are the dates that say what the refund will be if a course is dropped by that day. As the semester progresses, students have the opportunity to drop classes for 100%, 75%, 50%, or 25% refunds. Usually, in order to receive 100% refund, the class must be dropped by or before the first day of the semester. The other refund amounts are usually in decreasing amounts each week. By the fourth week of the semester you can no longer DROP the class.

You can however, WITHDRAW. The difference is, that when you DROP a class, it is removed from your transcript, and it will not affect your grades. However, although a WITHDRAWAL also won’t affect your grades, it will remain on your transcript as ATTEMPTED CREDITS. This sometimes will change financial aid status. Also, some classes or  programs allow a maximum number of attempts at passing a course, and a W grade will constitute one of your attempts.

So why does it matter? If you feel that a class won’t work for you, for whatever reason: schedule, professor, or academic, it’s best to DROP the class. However, if it’s too late to DROP, a grade of W is still better than an inferior grade. Usually, the course WITHDRAWAL period ends after mid semester grading. By then, you will have a pretty good idea of how you are doing and what you need to do to excel. At that point, if you feel that you are better off retaking the class, the best thing to do is WITHDRAW.

Every course syllabus should include a rubrik that is helpful in calculating your progress in the course. This is a great way of keeping track of what grades you can expect to achieve based on your progress in the class.

One thing to remember if you are considerring dropping or withdrawing, is that it may change your financial aid status. ALWAYS consult the financial aid office before taking these steps. In some cases, this process can change one’s status not only for the dropped or withdrawn class, but also for other classes.

Another point of caution is that not showing up to class doesn’t constitute dropping or withdrawing. The registrar has forms that must be completed in order to process these actions. If you do not follow the correct procedure, you run the risk of WU or WN which both get averaged in to your GPA as fail (0.0).

I’m looking forward to a productive, enjoyable semester. I hope that we can create a dialogue that will be helpful to all of us!

If you have any topics that you would like me to address regarding student life, CityTech, and successful transition into your career, you can send me a message or post a comment!