Tuesday, May 26, 2009

W.E.X.












Job

"Ring! Ring! Order Up!" I handed the cashier the greasy fries, and the saturated fat look as if it was grimacing. The cashier might as well said, "Heart attack on a tray, Order up!" I looked out the little square window, I saw our customers eating off the dirty trays. The chairs would squeak with even the slightest of movement. To top it all off, people were eating out heart attack burgers. It was nasty, people were smacking on their food and let the crumbs just fall onto the tray. I went back to my stove,waiting for the next order to arrive. I waited, and waited, and waited but no new orders. So I sat down and gazed around the kitchen. It was despicable, if a health inspector saw this kitchen, we would surely be shut down. There was dried up grease and rust all over the stove and walls. The kitchen reeked of mold and what smelled like a dead rat. For a second I concentrated on the smell for too long, and had to cover my nose from the wretched smell. The kitchen was really dark, so I turned on a few extra lights, even though my cheap penny pincher boss might have a fit. I the lights flickered on, and brighten the room. There it was in the corner, was the dead rat I had smelled.


Grocery Bag

"Clean Up on aisle four!" I heard from afar. Some teenager had thrown up all over the floor. This was the busiest tome for the Trader Joe's because it was lunch time, and all those ignorant high schoolers from High Tech High village come barging through the doors. My owner had pushed me against the wall as if I was just a regular paper bag, but I'm a sexy reusable bag. "OW!", I responded to the shove as the kids came charging down the aisles. She couldn't hear me over the roar of their feet. I could see the fear and confusion in her eyes as the kids carelessly shoved her. After the little parade of kids, she walked over to the next aisle and started feeling m up with all kinds of stuff: All natural Orange Juice, Pirate Booty, sushi, and some gum. We were waiting and we finally made it to the register. She purchased her items and she paid with these little green papers. She was about to throw me away in the trash can outside, but I reminded her that I was a re-usable bag and she just smiled and took me to the car.


WEX:Back to the Basics

The tension was building as me and my cousins were staring eye-to-eye with a wild donkey. We took the first step, slowly pacing forward. The donkey reacted and started backing up slowly. We froze as the donkey decided to move a couple steps forward. We were like 4-5 feet away from it. Then bam! Out of no where, one of my cousins took off and headed towards the campsite were all the adults were. We slowly followed in his footsteps, and backed a couple paces back. It followed us to the bridge. We thought it would stop there so we casually walked over the bridge. I turned my head, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw the donkey follow us across the bridge. My other cousins caught my gaze, and started walking faster. It ended up following us all the way back. As soon as we hit the campsite, my cousin was already next to his uncle. We turned around, and there it was... the donkey!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Mariana Sauce

Olive Oil Spray
1 cup minced yellow or white onion
2 tablespoons freshly minced garlic
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons no-salt-added tomato paste
2 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 tablespoon basil
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Salt, to taste (optional)















































































Process: Spray the medium nonstick pan with the olive oil and spray and place over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until just becoming tender. Reduce the heat to low and with a wooden spoon stir in the tomatoes, water, tomato paste, honey, oregano, basil, and pepper flakes until well combined. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for at least 1 hour. Season with salt, if needed.

Wonder: We are growing our herbs to show/promote a more sustainable living. This shows people that they don't even have to leave the home to go and shop for some herbs to cook with. They can just grow some at home and cook with those. That way not only are they living more sustainably, but they also saving gas. We cooked our herbs for fun, but you could do anything with your herbs.

Reflection: My marinara sauce actually tasted good. I actually ended up making spaghetti, but I ran out of photo's so I couldn't take pictures of that process. I got this recipe from my mom's "Biggest Loser Family Cookbook". Something I would of done differently is I would had added so much can crushed tomatoes. It looked kind of watery. But over all, it was pretty good. Cooking with my own herbs has inspired me to not only cook more, but also to make a garden with my own herbs.

Monday, May 11, 2009

This I Believe



I chosen a essay from Peter who lives in Chesterfield, MO. I really liked his essay because he was talking about the different genocides that happen and still are. For instance, Rwanda, Darfur, and the holocaust. He was trying to keep it real and show us how even though we know about it and people are crying out for help, we still don't help them until its either too late or just in time. Also that having military power is not always the best weapon. He used an example of the Vietnam military that its not always the best solution. And how we are just like them and trying to convince Iraq to live by democracy.


(Link to his essay)

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Food!




http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/smore-brownies-recipe/index.html

Marshmellow Brownies!! Food Network has TONS of different foods from breakfast to yummy chocolate desserts. Also they are made by more then one person, so you get everyone's opinion on how to make things.


http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/02/sushi-rolls-galore/


Yummy Sushi! She makes it so easy, and I like the way she has it both ways for people who either learn better by looking or reading.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Recipes



LIME-CINNAMON BASIL COOKIES

2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. soft butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tbsp. finely chopped lime peel
3 tbsp. chopped fresh cinnamon basil or 1 1/2 tbsp. dried cinnamon basil
1 c. chopped pistachio nuts

Sift dry ingredients and set aside. Beat butter and add sugar, egg, vanilla, basil and peel gradually until fluffy. Beat in dry ingredients 4 items at a time. Fold in nuts. Turn out dough on floured surface, divide into 4.

Make each roll 5 inches long and roll in plastic wrap. Chill overnight. Slice dough 1/8 inch thick and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees until lightly brown. Cool on wire racks. Store in airtight container.


CINNAMON BASIL WHOLE WHEAT PEACH BREAD

1 c. all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. chopped nuts
2 tbsp. fresh cinnamon basil
1 c. milk
1/4 c. vegetable oil
1 egg
1 tsp. peach extract
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. mashed fresh peaches

Preheat oven to 375. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir in whole wheat flour, brown sugar and nuts. Mix well. Make a well in the center and set mixture aside.

In medium bowl, mix mashed peaches, milk, oil, egg and peach extract and whisk until blended. Add to dry ingredients, pouring into the well. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in cinnamon basil. Pour mixture into 3 greased and floured loaf pans (5 1/2 x 3 x 2). Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes. Cool pans on rack for 10 minutes then remove bread from pan. Cool bread on racks.


Cinnamon Basil Cupcakes

1/4 cup fresh cinnamon basil
1/3 cup oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup sour cream or milk
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Puree cinnamon basil with oil in a blender. Combine with sugar and egg. Sift together flour and baking powder and add to oil mixture with remaining ingredients. Bake at 200C for 12 minutes.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Sustainability Visit: Farmer's Market




1. Something that struck me about the Chula Vista Farmer's Market was how many people were there selling and making food. The food smelled delicious, and there were a lot of neat things people were selling. It was different then I expected, I been there before when I was little. But now that I'm older, it wasn't as big as I thought it was last time. It actually seemed pretty petite.

2. I want to start going to the Farmer's Market more often. It seemed really neat and tons of things to buy,And everything there is grown locally. The people there and living sustainably and are setting a good example for many people.

3. These locations fit into our essential questions because they aren't 24/7 all over the place. There are only a couple and they are like once a week. So, many people don't have the time to find a opening in their schedule to visit their local farmer market, or they aren't any Farmer Market in their area. We could convince them by persuading them to find time, and come out to support their local neighborhood by buying fresh and organic fruits and vegetables.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Ecological Intelligence

Ecological intelligence is using the current information we have about how we effect the earth with out pollution, and trying to do something about it. So we create businesses and more green activist to start thinking of more ecological choices to help out earth. This article relates to our essential questions because we are trying to find ways to live more sustainable and L.U.L.S.(Lets Use Less Stuff).

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1884779_1884782_1884776,00.html