2nd Semester Reflection 15

This week I just spent working on my presentation and practicing. It's coming along nicely. I can't wait to present! This is seriously my last blog of the year, so it's been great. This project has really shown me that I can achieve anything I set my mind to, and for that, I am very thankful. Signing off (for real, this time). Thanks for reading!

2nd Semester Reflection 14

This week I made edamame, grilled chicken with cucumber - and - tomato salad, and nutella drop cookies.  The edamame was far too spicy for my tastes - my nose and tongue were burning for hours! The grilled chicken was light, fresh, and delicious; I can easily envision myself eating the dish in the future. The nutella drop cookies were very easy to make but still were excellent. I'm very happy with the way this project has worked out - I've learned a lot and have made culinary progress. While I am still a long way off, I've given myself a great base with which to work. I will spend the last few days preparing my 20% project, I'm not too far from finishing. Signing off of the blog for senior year - wow, what a weird thing to say. It's been great. So long!

2nd Semester Reflection 13

This week I made ham, apple, and cheese quesadillas, and I really liked them! While they weren't quite as good as my standard chicken and cheese quesadillas, there was a nice balance of savory and sweet in the dish. The importance of this week was that I am now more comfortable handling hot sizzling skillets; it was only the second or third time I had ever used a skillet in my life. While initially scary, I became comfortable with it while making the quesadillas. I'm sure to use skillets in the future. I thought I did relatively well this week; the quesadillas were not my favorite, but still tasty and definitely lighter than the normal quesadillas I eat. Seeing as my final presentation is quickly approaching, next week will be my last week cooking - meaning that it is time to try my hand out at a three course meal. I will be making spiced edamame, grilled chicken with tomato-cucumber salad, and chocolate hazelnut drop cookies. I am so excited to see how much progress I've made over the semester. Until then!

Edamame
 http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/spiced-edamame-recipe.html

Grilled Chicken
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/grilled-chicken-with-tomato-cucumber-salad-recipe.html

Drop Cookies
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/chocolate-hazelnut-drop-cookies-recipe.html

2nd Semester Reflection 12

This week I made Banana Cream Pie Smoothies, and I absolutely loved them! Not only were they delicious, but very light and refreshing. Surprisingly, this was the first week I worked with a blender; I found it to be relatively easy to use and there were no major accidents with it. I look forward to working with blenders more in the future. I am definitely more comfortable with the ingredients as the time progresses; while I am not an expert at all, I don't feel afraid to make anything anymore. I was happy with how the smoothies turned out, and am excited to make an exciting dish this upcoming week: ham, apple, and cheese quesadillas. These won't be as heavy as normal quesadillas, and should combine savory and sweet flavors nicely. Until then!

Quesadilla Recipe

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/ham-apple-and-cheese-quesadilla-recipe.html

 

2nd Semester Reflection 11

This week I made Fettuccine with Creamy Red Pepper-Feta Sauce. I found the recipe to be pretty difficult, and the dish didn't come out as great as I envisioned. However, this was a necessary experience; sometimes my dishes won't come out perfectly, and I need to accept that. Hopefully on future pasta dishes I can use my experience this week to improve the quality of my dish. While I wasn't thrilled about this week; I was happy that I can use the experience as a lesson, and can draw positives out of the experience. However, next week I am making a light, fresh, exciting dessert: Banana Cream Pie Smoothie. This recipe uses low- fat yogurt and fat-free milk, so while it should be delicious, it will also be relatively healthy for a dessert. I can't wait! Until then!



Banana Cream Pie Smoothie
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/banana-cream-pie-smoothie

2nd Semester Reflection 10

This week I made crisp mozzarella sticks. These sticks were baked instead of fried, and trust me, they were delicious. While they might not have been the healthiest snack I have ever made, it was important to know that I can make a favorite snack a bit healthier. I found the making of these pretty easy, and there were no significant road blocks to making them. I must say that I was glad I didn't have to fry; that'll be for another dish! Specifically, I thought that learning how to make homemade breadcrumbs was very cool, and will save me money later on (I can use the bread I already have instead of buying breadcrumbs specifically). Next week I will be making an entrée: Fettuccine with Creamy Red Pepper-Feta Sauce. This is exciting for me because it combines both Greek and Italian cuisine (two of my favorites) and is a lighter pasta dish. Until then!

Fettuccine with Creamy Red Pepper-Feta Sauce:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/fettuccine-with-creamy-red-pepper-feta-sauce-recipe.html

2nd Semester Reflection 9

This week, I must say I was shocked. I made Oatmeal-Flax Chocolate Chip Cookies, and to be honest, didn't expect much. However, I was so wrong. These cookies tasted almost identical to the original, and with basically the same consistency. I couldn't tell the difference; they were so good! What was so important about this week was that I really learned healthier alternatives can taste just as good as their unhealthier originals. In fact, I expect to make this version of Chocolate Chip Cookies constantly in the future (if you couldn't tell, they were really good). I had a little difficulty mixing the ingredients, but I put faith in the recipe and was duly rewarded. Next week I'll be making an exciting appetizer: Crisp Mozzarella Sticks, which are baked and not fried. While I won't pretend this dish is super-healthy, hopefully I can enjoy the sticks so much I won't feel the need to fry them anymore. Until then!

Mozz Sticks Recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/crisp-mozzarella-sticks-recipe.html

2nd Semester Reflection 8

This week I made a Caesar Club Sandwich. While I didn't have enough time to make all of the dish homemade (I used a Caesar salad dressing instead of making one from scratch), I still felt I did well (especially with the chicken). Honestly, this week was important because I proved to myself that I can make a delicious, healthier-than-normal sandwich that I can create at any time. I keep getting more and more comfortable with cooking and creating the dish, no longer do I get scared of any ingredients or processes. While I am no chef, I think I've been doing a good job; my food is tasty, healthier, and satisfying. Next week, I am going to make an all-time favorite dessert, with a twist. I'll be making Oatmeal-Flax Chocolate Chip Cookies. I am really excited, because if I love these cookies I'll have a much healthier alternative to my almost weekly intake of chocolate chip cookies. Until then!

Cookie Recipe
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/oatmeal-flax-chocolate-chip-cookies-recipe.html

2nd Semester Reflection 7

Over spring break I made potato chips with onion dip. I found the chips to be a lot lighter and less greasy than regular fries, and the onion dip to be a more savory and fresh alternative to ketchup. The chips and dip combined to create a really tasty appetizer. The importance of this week was that I created a healthy alternative to my absolute favorite French Fries: now I can make this delicious dish at home instead of wanting fast-food fries. Because this dish was tasty and light, I will absolutely make it again. I did well over spring break! I made time to create the dish and I thought it came out really nicely; I was surprised by how well the chips and dip went together. Next week I will be going simple: A Caesar Club Sandwich. This sandwich seems lighter and healthier than my standard roast beef sandwich or a burger. I can't wait to try it out. Until then!








Caesar Club Sandwich
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/caesar-club-sandwich-recipe.html

2nd Semester Reflection 6

This week I made Lemon Bars! I found them to be light, delicious, and relatively easy to make (I just needed my mom's help with the gelatin). The importance of this week's work is that I am continuing to grow in confidence, and am becoming more and more comfortable with cooking. Because I enjoyed the lemon bars so much, I absolutely plan on making and devouring them again. I did notice that it became easier to work with my materials; no one ingredient gave me significant trouble. I think I did great this week, simply because I loved the lemon bars so much and found a new favorite dessert. Next week I am making "Cracked Pepper Potato Chips with Onion Dip," an appetizer which requires Greek yogurt and has a healthy dose of Vitamin C. I can't wait to try, until then!




Potato Chip Recipe

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/cracked-pepper-potato-chips-with-onion-dip-recipe2.html

2nd Semester Reflection 5

This week I made Broccoli Cheddar Pockets. While they were not my favorite, they still tasted pretty good and they definitely were a healthy alternative to burritos or calzones. The importance of this week specifically was that I learned how to work with dough (using flour, kneading it, rolling it, and applying an egg wash), with the help of my mom. Seeing as I want to be able to bake, throughout this project and in life, knowing how to handle dough will certainly be critical. I noticed that as I made each pocket, the easier it became, and the pockets I made last looked and tasted better than my initial attempts. I was content with this week's work; the pockets were not the greatest, but they had good balance and were baked perfectly. I am happy, however, that I found a healthier alternative to burritos (I do love my Chipotle, but sometimes making these pockets at home will help my health and my wallet). Next week I am going to make a dessert: Lemon Icebox Bars. I love Lemon Bars, and using low-fat cream cheese and fat-free condensed milk will make these treats healthier than the norm. I can't wait. Until then!



Lemon Icebox Bars
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/lemon-icebox-bars-recipe.html

2nd Semester Reflection 4

This week I made a spinach and artichoke dip. What was great about this dish was that one serving was only 100 calories and also very low in fat. And, of course, it was absolutely delicious! I only needed my mom to help sauté the onions and garlic. The importance of this week was just continuing to build my confidence knowing that I can really make an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. I will use the sautéing and food processing skills again in the future, so I definitely will use my newly acquired knowledge to my advantage. The pattern I recognized was that as I was cooking, I became more at ease and comfortable with the dish. This week I did awesome: I made my appetizer and picked out a new dish for next week. I choose an tasty, healthy dinner dish: Broccoli- Cheddar Pockets. Next week I will make my dish, review it, and pick out a new one. Until then!










Broccoli-Cheddar Pockets

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/broccoli-cheddar-pockets-recipe2.html

2nd Semester Reflection #3

This week I made sauteed bananas with a tangy sweet cream. I found the dish relatively easy to make, as there were few ingredients and not many steps to take. However, I felt a significant sense of accomplishment: I made the dish almost entirely by myself (my mom just guided me with the sauteing), and I made a delicious, healthy dessert! I will use my sauteing skills again, and chances are (seeing how much I loved this dish) I will be making it many times again. I did notice that as I kept cooking, the more comfortable I felt - I'll need to be at ease cooking for this project to be successful! I believe I did very well this week because my dish was excellent and was also relatively nutritious compared to many other desserts. Since I've already made dinner and dessert, next week I'll be making an appetizer: "Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip", which is made with low-fat cheese and light sour cream. After I make the dish, I'll figure out what I did well and what needs to be improved. Until then!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/warm-spinach-and-artichoke-dip-recipe.html

2nd Semester Reflection 2

This week I made pork chops with apples and onions. While the recipe I chose originally called for me to make mashed potatoes as well, I didn't have time to do so in the middle of the week (I just used store-bought mashed potatoes). However, I was still able to create the rest of the dish. Seeing as I was cooking for basically the first time in my life, I needed the help of my mom. We both diced the apples and red onions, and she gave me advice on how to cook the pork chops. I must say, the final dish was actually really good!! The pork chops had a nice sear on them, and the apples and onions created a savory and slightly sweet balance to the dish. The importance of cooking the dish this week is that I proved to myself that I actually can cook (even with a little help from my mom), and I took my first steps during this 20% journey. Having the confidence to know that I am able to make a pretty good dish will help me with my future cooking endeavors and will set the tone for the rest of the semester. I will absolutely use the skills I learned this week again. These skills include being able to cut and dice fruits and vegetables, seasoning meat, handling raw meat, and being able to determine how long to cook meat. I haven't seen any real patterns yet, but I did notice that my confidence grew as the cooking process went on, which was definitely a nice feeling! This week I did awesome; I created my first dish (which was really tasty) and I believe I made something that was a healthier alternative to my go-to meat dish (steak).  At the end of the week, I chose a dessert:  "Sautéed Bananas with Tangy Sweet Cream." I normally don't eat fruit for dessert, but this is a good start! This upcoming week I will create the dish and find a new recipe to make. Until then!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/sauteed-bananas-with-tangy-sweet-cream-recipe.html

2nd Semester Reflection 1

Seeing as this was the first real week of 20%, and I wasn't in class for 20% time, the most I could do was pick a recipe that I will try to follow this upcoming week. My goal was to find an entrée to make that was both healthy and would taste fantastic. As a result, the recipe I found this week, and will be trying to produce next week, is "Pork Chops and Apples with Garlic Smashed Potatoes." Seeing as I love to eat meat, this healthier alternative should be able to satisfy my tastes! The importance of this week is that I got the ball rolling on this project; just getting started makes everything easier. I will use the recipe that I found by making the dish; hopefully if I follow the directions I'll be able to produce a great meal. I wasn't able to see any patterns this week, but as time goes on I should be able to pick up on any tendencies I have towards choosing recipes and cooking dishes. I feel like I succeeded in picking a recipe that I felt to be both health-conscious and great-tasting. Next week I will cook my dish, and will choose a new recipe. I'll let everyone know how the dish comes out. Until then!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/pork-chops-with-apples-and-garlic-smashed-potatoes-recipe.html

2nd Semester 20% Proposal

My 20% Time Project is going to be to learn how to cook delicious and healthy dishes. My final product/goal/accomplishment will be to create a three-course meal which tastes fantastic and is good for me. I've definitely been noticing that I am not the healthiest eater, so being able to eat dishes that are better for me can only be a good thing. Also, I will be spending the next four years of my life in college, so knowing how to cook nutritious meals (especially with all the food temptations that college life has to offer) will be crucial in saving money and not gaining weight. I will need to know a variety of recipes, and what exactly constitutes a healthy meal. Some links to healthy dishes that I might attempt to create are attached. The easy part about this project will be researching and discovering healthy meal options. I shouldn't have too much difficulty actually finding great dishes. The difficult part about this project will be to make each dish. I need to carve out enough time to give each dish my undivided attention, and then I need to actually follow the recipe exactly to produce the best dish possible. It won’t be easy to cook, but with enough practice I should get a knack for it. Most of this project will be done outside of class, seeing as I need materials and supplies that I can only utilize at home. In other words, the actual cooking must be done at home. During the class 20% time, I will research recipes and go over the successes and failures of last week’s dish (meaning that I will consult the internet to determine if I made common errors). Once I find a recipe, I will take it home to make the actual dish. I can't wait to lay the foundations for a healthier lifestyle, while still enjoying the food I eat. This 20% project is shaping up to be a great one! Until next time!

Sample Recipes

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/warm-spinach-and-artichoke-dip-recipe.html

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/roman-style-chicken-recipe.html

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/no-bake-peanut-butter-chocolate-bars.html

Reflection 14

This week I continued to work on my presentation and practice "Stand by Me" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." While it's unlikely that "Christmas" will be perfect for the presentation, I hope to show the class how challenging it is and the progress I've made. The importance of this week's work is that I am continuing to tailor my presentation so that it will be as effective and introspective as possible. I will use the tools I learned this week in my presentation - like playing the guitar, practicing my presentation will make perfect. Like always, the more I practiced the presentation and the songs, the more comfortable I became. I believe I did well this week - while my guitar playing skills are far from perfect, it is so clear that I've made significant progress and will continue to make progress for as long as I play this fantastic instrument. Seeing as this is the last week of this semester's 20% project, there isn't anything left to do except give my presentation to the best of my abilities. I can't wait to share what I've learned and how far I've come. Until next semester!

Reflection #13

This week I focused on the actual TED talk I will be giving in little more than a week. I constantly referred to the given rubric, and am tailoring my talk so that it will be as interesting and informative as possible. I believe I've come up with a clever introduction, that ties in nicely with my learning path from the beginning of the project to the end. The importance of this week's work is that it sets me up for the actual presentations beginning January 20th. The more I practice the presentation, just like playing the guitar, the more comfortable I become with the material. I will use my presentation ideas developed this week in my actual TED talk, and will continue to develop my presentation. I believe that, considering I was improvising my talk when I first started practicing, I did well (I have a clear vision of what I plan on doing). While I will not be able to play a full length song, as originally intended, I plan on making the progress I've made abundantly clear to the audience. Next week, I will continue to work on the talk and will complete the written aspects of the presentation. Until then!

Reflection #12

Over the break, I was not able to get too much done. Instead of playing a lot of music, I was listening to so many great street musicians in New Orleans, as I was on vacation. Plus, I got a guitar of my own for Christmas! I no longer have to borrow one from a friend, and I was able to play "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" before I went to New Orleans. I worked on 20% for a couple of days before I left, in which I tried out the new guitar by practicing the song. All of this is building towards the presentation. I'm not sure how I will show my guitar playing skills, but I'm thinking of making a video with a few clips of me playing, to show my progress. As the presentation date approaches, I will continue to practice the song and will begin to work on the actual TED talk. That looks like what I'll be doing until January 20th. Until next week!

Reflection #12

This week I began to learn the second part of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." While neither the first nor second part is perfect, I am absolutely progressing. I'm slightly disappointed that I haven't been able to finish the song before the holidays, but I would rather take my time to do the song as best I can instead of half-heartedly learning another song. My chord transitions are still a little too slow for me, the only way to improve them is constant practice. This week was important because I am continuing to practice the song I will use for the actual presentation, so every chord practiced is essential. When I began to practice the second part of the song, I noticed it was a little easier to get used to than the first part: this is probably due to my increased comfort with the guitar. I am not near perfection, but I am trying my best and will continue to do so. I'm taking pride in the fact that I'm learning this instrument, so if my song for the class isn't absolutely flawless, I won't lose sleep. I know this means that I might not achieve my original goal of perfecting a challenging song, but in no way do I feel like this represents failure. I'm still taking long strides towards learning the instrument! Next week I will continue to practice "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Until then!