Embedded Files
Comic- Exxaggeration
By Nasir Watkins
0620_001.pdfMeditation for Our Stressed Minds
by Destiny Young
Did you know that anxiety is the most common mental illness today? Many people are stressed and anxious about their lives, especially young people. Anxiety and stress commonly leads to depression and depression causes lack of motivation. Depression tends to make people too tired to do what they need and want to do. Depression is personalized so whatever works for an individual to help, use it, but some people use meditation. Meditation is a technique used to create attention, awareness, and to clear the mind both mentally and emotionally. This can help how a person sees themself personally. It gives them a sense of calm and stability. With all of the negativity swirling in someone’s mind, it can cause second guessing and doubt which makes a person make small mistakes they don’t normally make. Meditation can help with that! While it is commonly used in religious traditions, it is perfectly okay for someone to do on their own time.
If you’re stressed and can’t seem to focus on your project, an article you’re supposed to write, or even an upcoming test, then start your day with about 15 minutes of meditation.
Don’t know how to start? I can help with that. First, sit down and get comfortable. After that, close your eyes and breathe; breathe as you normally would. Take deep breaths and keep up with your inhales and exhales. Focus on the repetitiveness of it. The repetitious practice will become routine for you and will begin to feel normal. It won’t cause anxiety or stress because you will become accustomed to it; the only difference is that your job during meditation is to grow aware of your breathing. If you’re not comfortable with the silence, that’s fine, listen to some calming music.
I hope this information helps you prepare for a new day, a test, or even an essay! There are many different forms of meditation, so do some research and find what method suits you best. Remember, meditation might not work for everyone, but you won’t know the potential of benefits it might have for you unless you try.
Tucker, Amber. “Mindfulness for Kids.” Mindful.org, https://www.mindful.org/mindfulness-for-kids/. Accessed 6 May 2024.
Wasmer Andrews, Linda. Meditation. Scholastic Inc., 2004.
Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Rods
by Imani Royal
Blog:
I decided to make chocolate-covered pretzel rods because they were really simple to make. The time I spent making the chocolate-covered pretzel rods was shorter than expected. Carli McMillen and David Mihal said they were great. I would say the same. Some of the sprinkles were sweet and some tasted pretty dull. The pretzels were salty and tasted like the soft pretzels you get from a movie theater. The chocolate wasn’t too overpowering and added a nice touch. One of the problems however, was that the chocolate on the pretzels almost melted because after they were done, the weather was warm. Next time I make them, I’ll add nuts. Other than that, I would rate this a 10/10!
Steps:
1.Get a baking pan, then place parchment paper on it.
2.Grab your pretzel rods, chocolate melts, and sprinkles.
3.Grab 5-10 pretzel rods and set them aside while you microwave your chocolate melts for a minute.
4.Dip one pretzel into the melted chocolate and then set it on the baking pan. Repeat this until all of your pretzels are covered in chocolate.
5.Separate your pretzels and then put your sprinkles on each pretzel rod. Be careful not to put too much sprinkles.
6.Put the pretzel rods in the fridge for 90 minutes to get a good texture of chocolate.
7. Take the pretzel rods out and serve. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
A tub of Clancy’s Pretzel Rods
Baker’s Chocolate Melts
(Microwaveable Tub)Parchment Paper
Baking Pan
Great Value Sprinkles
Chicken Alfredo
by Miranda Vargas
Making the Chicken Alfredo was pretty easy and it was quick. It took about 30-40 minutes to make it all. My dad did help me; he helped me make the Alfredo sauce. I made the pasta and chicken. My family had the Chicken Alfredo for dinner and everybody liked it. I didn’t really have any problems because it was such a simple recipe. The only tip I have for people who plan on making this recipe is take your time while preparing the sauce. If you don't take your time, the alfredo sauce will come out chunky. Don't rush and your Alfredo will come out perfectly. If you want to make the Chicken Alfredo, here's how to make it.
2 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1.3 lb. total)
2 Tsp Italian seasoning
1 Tbsp cooking oil
2 Tbsp butter
4 Cloves garlic, minced
1 Cup heavy cream
¾ Cup grated parmesan
¼ Tsp salt
¼ Tsp pepper
1 Tbsp chopped parsley (optional garnish)
8 0z. Fettuccine (or any pasta of your choice)
Season both sides of the chicken breasts with Italian seasoning and a pinch of salt.
Heat a large skillet over medium, once hot, add the cooking oil and swirl to coat the surface. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook for about 7-8 minutes on each side, or until browned on the outside and cooked through.
Remove the chicken to a clean plate and turn the heat under the skillet down to medium-low.
Add the butter and minced garlic to the skillet. Stir and cook the garlic in the melted butter for about two minutes, dissolving the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet as your stir.
Add the heavy cream and whisk to combine, dissolving any remaining browned bits, allow the cream to come up to a simmer.
While waiting for the cream to simmer, bring a pot of water to boil for the fettuccine. Once boiling, add to pasta and continue to boil until tender (about 7 minutes). Reserve about ½ cup of the starchy cooking water just before draining the pasta.
Once the cream is simmering, add the grated Parmesan to the skillet. Continue to whisk and stir until the parmesan has melted into the sauce and the sauce has begun to simmer. Simmer the sauce for a few minutes, or until it becomes slightly thicker. Add salt and pepper to the sauce to taste.
Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the creamy sauce and toss to combine. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a couple of tablespoons of the reserved pasta water and toss to combine with the sauce.
Slice the cooked chicken breasts and serve it atop the creamy pasta. Garnish with chopped parsley, if desired.
Moncel, Beth. “Chicken Alfredo.” Budget Bytes, 25 July 2022,
https://www.budgetbytes.com/chicken-alfredo/. Accessed 19 April 2024.
Blondies
by David Mihal
I had an interesting experience making these Blondies for the first time. To start, I made my little brother spray the baking pan while I made sure I had all the ingredients. After ensuring I had everything I started mixing stuff. I had to find a Youtube video to figure out how to separate egg yolk and white. The sugar mixture was very heavy to mix. I made a mess making the flour mixture, but I made my brother clean it. I used a spatula to mix the two together. My arms hurt so much that I would suggest trying to use an electric mixer instead. I put it on the baking sheet before adding white chocolate chips because I thought it would look cooler. I underbaked it a little bit because I like it moist, not crunchy. Some of the newspaper writers were not fans because they wanted it more crumbly. Imani said, “It was good,but it could have been less moist.” Carli responded that, “it had the consistency of banana bread” which she liked. However, there was a big issue with Miranda’s piece. She somehow found a spaghetti noodle in hers??? I don’t know how it got there. She said it still tasted good though. When I make it again, I would cook it a little bit longer so it gets that crumbly feeling and I will double check to make sure no other foods that do not belong end up in the mixture.
Ingredients
1 cup of melted unsalted butter
1 ¼ cups of packed brown sugar
½ cup of granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 egg yolk
2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups of all purpose flour
2 teaspoon of cornstarch
½ teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
White chocolate chips
Two bowls
9 x 11 baking dish
Steps
Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit
Grease your baking pan or use parchment paper
In one bowl mix your melted butter with both granulated and brown sugar.
Then add your egg and egg yolk
In your other bowl mix flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt
Slowly pour the butter sugar mixture into your flour mixture mixing as you go
Once combined pour in vanilla extract and white chocolate chips
Spread it into a pan and let it sit to even out
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the item you insert into it comes off with crumbly pieces.
Merritt, Sam. “The Best Blondie Recipe.” Sugar Spun Run, 14 November 2018, https://sugarspunrun.com/blondies-recipe/#recipe. Accessed 17 April 2024.
Page updated
Report abuse