Graduation

This is my last full week of high school and I can't believe it. I'll be graduating May 23 and my graduation party will be May 24. I'm really excited to be ending this stage of my life and beginning a new one. Although, I will miss some things about high school, I am very excited about what college will bring. Family and friends will be coming in town for my graduation and graduation party, so this next week will be spent preparing for their arrival as well as preparing for the graduation party. Of course I looked to Pinterest for party ideas and I found this cute recipe that would be perfect for my party! Grad Caps

Pizza Pockets

I had recently attended a bonfire where they served home made pizza pockets. They were so delicious. When I tried it, I instantly knew I had to have the recipe. After a quick search I finally found it. I plan on serving these during my next get together.

Ingredients 

Original recipe makes 4 servings

• 1 (8 ounce) can Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
• 1/4 cup pizza sauce
• 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni
• 1 teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Unroll dough on cookie sheet and separate into 4 rectangles; press each into 6x4-inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations to seal.
2. Spread 1 tablespoon pizza sauce on half of each rectangle to within 1 inch of edge. Sprinkle each with 3 tablespoons cheese; top with 6 slices pepperoni. Fold dough diagonally over filling; firmly press edges with fork to seal. Sprinkle each triangle with 1/4 teaspoon grated cheese. With fork, prick top of each to allow steam to escape.
3. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until deep golden brown. Serve warm.

Tablets in Schools

If schools were to upgrade to using technology, rather than textbooks, I think they should get tables, more specifically Google or Microsoft tablets. I think these tablets are better for learning and school stuff. They have Microsoft capabilities and other features that are good for typing papers, doing school projects, doing research, etc. However, I think the school should provide these tablets, especially to the students who can't afford it. I don't think its fair to change the way class is run, and not give the students an opportunity to keep up with the change and to succeed. I do think the changes are good but I don't think it is solely up to the students to make the change. In the past, schools have always provided computers and labs and I think they should do the same with tablets. However, I do think it would be good for students to learn the new technologies and I think the schools should take this step.

NonAlcoholic Fishbowl Punch

I was searching for fun, fruity drinks on Pinterest the other day. I was looking for drinks that my friends and I could make in Myrtle Beach on Senior Beach week and this popped up. I thought it looked really cool. Unfortunately, it had alcohol. So, I looked it up on Google and found non-alcoholic recipes. I can't wait to try this new summer drink!





Ingredients:

10 

ounces coconut water

6 

ounces Blue Curacao flavored syrup

12 

ounces sweet-and-sour mix

20 

ounces pineapple juice

32 

ounces lemon- lime soda

blue 

food coloring, if desired

3 

small fishbowls (each holding 4-5 cups volume)

1 

box (6 oz) Nerds candy

12-16 

Swedish fish candies

ice

fruit 

slices (3 each, lemon, lime and orange)

9 

drinking straws

Directions: 

• Mix coconut water, syrup, sweet-and-sour mix, pineapple juice and soda in a large container. Cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to serve
• To serve, divide the Nerds candy between the three fishbowls and place at the bottom of the bowl.
• Add ice. Arrange the fish around the outside of the fishbowls - use the ice to hold them against the sides.
• Carefully add the punch mixture, dividing equally. Top with the fruit slices and straws.
• Top with a little lemon-lime soda, for bubbly-ness.
• Enjoy!                   

Hair Care

      This past week I have begun to see some breakage in my hair. I looked online at all the black hair care websites and forums to see what other African American women do about breakage. Many people talked about a good hair care regimen. I searched for good hair care regimens on Google and found one that was designed for relaxed hair. Because of this new regimen, I've had to buy a whole new brand of shampoo. I've also had to purchase coconut oil, protein treatments, deep conditioner, and heat protectants. It's only been a week since I've started using these new products and I can already see a difference in my hair. My hair has become thicker and fuller. It's also a lot softer and has more shine. My hair has also become easier to manage. It now takes me only 30 minutes to straighten my hair when it used to take 60 minutes. 

     The hair regimen also mentioned using less heat on your hair and it suggested heat-less hairstyles. One style I tried was Bantu knots. Bantu knots are when the hair is sectioned off in diamond, triangle or square shapes and twisted into knots. This creates heatless curls. At first I was skeptical. In the past I have done similar things and it never worked, but the Bantu knots were different. My hair was very curly and soft the next morning. The curls also looked more natural than the curls you would get when using a curling iron or wand. Needless to say, I was very happy with my new hair care regimen! I encourage everyone to find one that works best for him or her and stick to it. When it says stay away from certain products and chemicals do it because it really makes a difference. 

My Products:

Shea Moisture Retention Shampoo

Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque 

Silk Elements Heat Protection

Hollywood Beauty Coconut Oil

Aphogee Keratin 2 minute Re-constructor 

Quick and Easy Hairstyles

I don't know about you but often times I find myself hitting snooze three or four times in the morning instead of getting up and getting ready. By the time I get out of the shower and get dressed I have maybe 10 mins to do my hair. So, the other day I looked up quick and easy hairstyles for school. I thought this video was very helpful so I'm sharing it with all of you. Here you go! http://youtu.be/NxYXbPgsnz4

Lately, I have spent most of my free time binge watching a new show on Netflix. The show that has grasped my attention is Chuck.Chuck is an American action-comedy/spy-drama television series created by Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak. The series is about an "average computer-whiz-next-door" named Chuck, played by Zachary Levi, who receives an encoded e-mail from an old college friend now working for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); the message embeds the only remaining copy of a software program containing the United States' greatest spy secrets into Chuck's brain. This show is hilarious and full of action and drama! Unfortunately, it has been cancelled but you can still watch all 5 seasons on Netflix. It's by far one of my top 10 favorite shows of all time and I encourage everyone to watch!!

Apple Pie

This past weekend I went to a Black History month event. This event was held at a church in Charleston, WV. At this event, I had the worst apple pie of my life. It was dry and the crust was burnt. The apple tasted like canned apple and was very thick. So, I have decided to put this recipe up so everyone knows how to make good apple pie. Clearly, we need reminded on how to make one of America's most traditional deserts. Write it down everyone, so we don't forget :)

Ingredients 

Original recipe makes 1 - 9 inch pie

• 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup water

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add water, white sugar and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer.
2. Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off.
3. Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft.

• PREP30 mins
• COOK1 hr
• READY IN1 hr30 mins
• 
  

Caramel Corn

Given the state of the economy, prices have gone up. The increase in prices has not only affected gas stations and super markets, but movie theaters as well. I remember the price for a movie ticket, growing up, was $8 and popcorn was $4. Now tickets are $10- $12 and popcorn is $5- $7. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do about the ticket prices but I do have an easy caramel corn recipe for all you readers.  This recipe is not only simple and delicious but it's cheap too. Take to the theaters and enjoy!  

Directions: 




Original recipe makes 5 quarts

• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1/2 cup corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 quarts popped popcorn

Check All

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (95 degrees C). Place popcorn in a very large bowl.
2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla. Pour in a thin stream over popcorn, stirring to coat.
3. Place in two large shallow baking dishes and bake in preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes, for 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool completely before breaking into pieces. 
   

• PREP30 mins
• COOK1 hr
• READY IN1 hr30 mins

S'mores Brownies

I was on Pinterest looking up fun recipes this weekend and I saw a recipe for s'mores brownies. I thought they looked delicious and fun. So, I went on youtube to look up a video. I found this video and I thought it was really helpful, so I'm passing it on to you guys! Enjoy! ----> How to make s'mores brownies

America

This past Super Bowl Coca-Cola aired a commercial endorsing their drink. In this commercial, people are singing America The Beautiful in different languages. Many people were outraged by this. People felt that it was disrespectful and that America's prime language is English and the song should be sung only in English. I, however, disagree. I believe that America embodies a multitude of different people. America is one of the most diverse countries in the world and grows in diversity every year. I think in this day and age, everyone should be equally represented. America is a "melting pot" after all.

Penne with Spicy Vodka Tomato Cream Sauce

A nice change from your typical tomato sauce! It's very easy to make and serve. It's delicious and healthy. It's also very inexpensive. This recipe is top-notch and would rival any Penne a la Vodka that you'd order in an Italian restaurant. 

Ingredients:

(Original Recipe makes 8 servings)

• 1lb uncooked penne pasta
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 2/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoon vodka
• ½ cup heavy whipping cream
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 (3.5 ounce) links sweet Italian sausage.

Directions:

1.     Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil. Then add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente, then drain.

2.   In large skillet, heat oil over moderate heat. Remove casing from sausage and add to skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat, until brown. Add garlic and red pepper and cook, stirring until garlic is golden brown.

3.     Add tomatoes and salt; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.

4.     Add vodka and cream and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and add pasta, toss for 1 minute. Stir in fresh parsley and serve!

Time:

·         Prep- 10 mins

·         Cook- 15 mins

·         Ready In- 25 mins

Valentines Day

Valentines Day is quickly approaching and what better way to show your loved one appreciation, than with a homemade sweet treat. A popular dessert this Valentines Day is Strawberry Tarts. I have been making strawberry tarts since I was young, and they have always been one of my favorite desserts. It's and easy fun dessert that looks great and tastes even better! You can also add other fruits to make it more colorful and vibrant. Fruit tarts pleases everyone with its natural colors. See below for the strawberry tart recipe. 

Strawberry Tart Recipe:

•                       1/2 (batch) Classic Sugar Cookie Dough, see below
•                 1 package(s) (8-oz.) cream cheese, softened
•                      1/3 cup(s) sugar
•                   1/2 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
•                   1 package(s) (16-oz. fresh) strawberries, hulled and sliced
•                    cup(s) white chocolate chips
•                     1/4 teaspoon(s) vegetable oil

Classic Cookie Dough Recipe

•          3 cup(s) flour
•          1/2 teaspoon(s) baking powder
•          1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
•          1 cup(s) (2 sticks unsalted) butter, softened (don't use margarine)
•           1 1/2 cup(s) sugar
•           2 large eggs
•           1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract

Directions:

1.      Prepare cookie dough in a large bowl. Then combine flour, baking powder and salt. In another large bowl, beat butter and sugar with a mixer at low speed until blended. Increase speed to high. Then beat for 5 minutes or until light. Reduce speed to low. Beat in eggs and vanilla until mixed, then beat in flour mixture just until blended. Divide dough into 4 quarters and flatten each into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate overnight.

2.      When you're ready to make the tart, remove 2 disks of dough from refrigerator. Keep remaining dough in fridge or freezer for future use.

3.      Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Mist a pizza pan or large baking sheet with cooking spray. Break up pieces of dough and press together into a 12-inch circle. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden. Let cool completely on pan.

4.      Meanwhile, in a bowl, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add sugar and vanilla, and beat until fluffy. Spread mixture over cookie crust.

5.      Arrange strawberries on tart. Microwave white chocolate chips and oil in small bowl for about 1 minute, or until chocolate can be stirred smooth. Drizzle over berries. Refrigerate tart until ready to serve.

West Virginia Water Crisis

Thursday, January 9^th Crude MCHM got into the water system last week when it leaked from a storage facility at Freedom Industries into the Elk River, about a mile and a half upstream from WVAWC’s intake. About 300,000 West Virginia residents and 9 counties have been affected by the recent water contamination.

Public officials have been cautious about casting blame until the crisis is over and there’s a full investigation, but here are some points to consider:

• Freedom Industries is responsible for the leak. It’s their tank or their property and it’s the company’s obligation to maintain the structural integrity of its facilities. The tank that leaked was more than 50 years old and the state DEP officials say the leak containment system was virtually non-existent. 

• Freedom responded too slowly to the leak. A citizen reported a strong odor to the DEP around eight o’clock Thursday morning. DEP tracked it to Freedom Industries by 11:00 a.m., where employees were apparently unaware of the leak, despite a powerful smell.

•   West Virginia American Water Company believed that its sophisticated filtration system would handle the spill, and only several hours later issued the do-not-use order after it became apparent the chemical was getting through. 

• Freedom Industries tank farm does not require any specific permitting, beyond a standard license for rainwater runoff. “There was no environmental framework in place to stop the leak in the tank or the secondary containment,” DEP Secretary Randy Huffman stated.