Doughnuts!

Donuts the shape of a circle, like ring, never ending.As I sat on the itchy grass eating my powdered doughnut I thought to myself. Is life never ending? Is life like this doughnuts? Does life never end? Then as i took another bite i hear a noise. As if someone was playing on the swing. Before my eyes I saw my friend Ericka. She was swinging as happy as can be. I could smell the scent of clothes for she always used downy. In another blink she was gone. She had died many years ago in a car accident. Then i knew life was like a doughnuts circular, round,and enjoyable while you have it.

Reflection!

This project was not that big of a challenge. Because I love to cook I found it easy to follow a simple recipe. I feel like the main challenge was planting the herbs. Because I was in charge of taking the plants home I feel really bad that I was not able to keep the herbs alive. It was not because I neglected them but because I did not see the bugs in them. There was these Bugs that have dug into the soil and killed some of the herbs. About time I realized them it was too late. I took the plants that were still alive by the root and resoiled them. But sadly the Limon Basil did not make it. Besides that I really had a fun time doing this whole project.

Presto Pesto!

Do you want to know how to make a pretty mean dish of Pesto? Well today is your lucky day! Just follow the simple instructions:

Okay you will need:

• 1/4 cup walnuts
• 1/4 cup pignoli (pine nuts)
• 3 tablespoons chopped garlic (9 cloves)
• 5 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups good olive oil
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Okay start of with any noodles you want. I prefer to mix match add a little flavor.






Get a good size pot, and fill it with water remember your going to boil your noodles.



Once your done it should be more than half way full.



You must, I mean you have to wait till the water boils! It's a must!


Just let the noodles slide in. Let them cook for about 11 minutes.






While the noodles are boiling you should cut the garlic,walnuts, and pine nuts. Make sure you have the correct measurements. Get the salt, pepper, basil and oil ready.



But the chopped garlic, pine nuts, and walnuts in the food processor.
Once you put everything in food processor don't forget to turn it on. It's a big factor.



Be sure to keep the processor it on for about 15 seconds. It should look like this.



Don't forget about the noodles! Once they are done be sure to drain the from the water.


Once the noodles are drain be sure to put the in a bowl.

Once you put the noodles in a bowls add a little flavor. My choice is a little oil and some cheese.

Be sure to mix it in I personally love to have a little fun.
Once your done with the noodles, add the salt and pepper to the food.


Once you add the salt and pepper don't forget put the oil and basil in!



Now it is important to add the cheese.



Okay now turn the processor on. You HAVE to turn it on its a must.



Keep the processor on for about 15 seconds.


Now once the blending is done the sauce should look like this.
Now you can put the two noodles together so people can choice what they want.



Pour the Pesto into a bowl big enough for it.



Let the people decide how much they want to use.

FINAL step! This is the most important step you must, I mean u HAVE to eat it. Trust me it is worth all the carbs your going to get.

This I believe

The past week I have had many inspirational moments. I have read many essay from addictions to afterlife to holocaust and many more. During school our teacher, Mrs. Charlotte, showed us a website called This I believe. This website contains many formative essays. These essay are written from various people of various races and age. Even though our teacher only showed us three I became inspired to read more. It was truly a challenge to pick the top three,but I came to a conclusion of my favorite three stories.

A great essay that I read was written by Elie Wiesel, God Is God Because He Remembers.
I liked this story because he talks about when people endure significant moments in our lives we feel like we need to share them.

Another essay that I read was written by Annie, A Real Life Well Measured. I really liked this story because she talks about her mothers care. She tells us how her mother didn't leave them much but what she did leave them was a lifetime of memories that no money can buy. I also really like this essay because it talks about how true love can never be bought.


Through all these great essay my favorite essay was written by Ann Karasinski, There Is No Blame, There Is Only Love. This essay truly inspired me in many different ways. Even though I am not a mother I can feel the same pain this lady felt. This story has opened my eyes to the world around us and how many families this drug has destroyed. Also that this essay again shows how powerful love can be. Here's her essay!











There Is No Blame, There Is Only Love.


You don't expect your child to grow up to be a heroin addict. From the moment of her birth, you have hopes and dreams about the future, but they never include heroin addiction. That couldn't happen to your child, because addiction is the result of a bad environment, bad parenting. There is most definitely someone or something to blame.

That's what I used to believe. But after failed rehab and long periods of separation from my heroin-addicted daughter, after years of holding my breath, waiting for another relapse, I now believe there is no blame.

After Katie admitted her addiction, I struggled to understand how this could have happened to my daughter — a bright, beautiful, talented and most importantly, loved young woman. When the initial shock wore off, I analyzed and inventoried all the whys and hows of Katie's addiction. I searched for someone or something to blame. I blamed her friends. I blamed her dad. I blamed our divorce. But mostly, I blamed myself. My desperate heart convinced me that I should have prevented Katie's addiction, and that given another chance, I could correct my mistakes.

When Katie came home from rehab, I approached each day with the zeal of a drill sergeant. I championed the 12-step program and monitored her improvement daily as though curing heroin addiction was as simple as nursing a cold. I drove her to therapy sessions and AA meetings. I controlled everything and left nothing to chance. But in spite of my efforts, Katie didn't get better. She left my home, lost again to the powerful grip of addiction.

In the long days, weeks and months that followed, I gathered bits and pieces of old beliefs and tried to assemble them into something whole. Sometimes I gave up, and sometimes I simply let go. Gradually, my search for blame changed to a longing for hope. I comforted myself with the only thing that still connected me to my daughter: love.

I thought about Katie every day, and I missed her. I cried, and worried about her safety and whereabouts. I wrote letters I knew she'd never see. Sometimes I woke up panicked in the middle of the night, certain that my mother's intuition was preparing me for something bad. But through it all, I loved her.

I don't know why or how my daughter became addicted to heroin; I do know that it doesn't really matter. Life goes on, and Katie is still my daughter.

Katie and I meet for breakfast on Friday mornings now. We drink coffee and talk. I don't try to heal her. I just love her. Sometimes there is pain and sorrow, but there is no blame. I believe there is only love.

INSPIRATION!

The pioneer women was a true inspiration. She uses many pictures of her creations step by step. Also she uses comedy and a has an great organization. I loved how everything was in order and she made me want to post blogs the way she does.




I also really liked this cooking blog post. I really like this post not becasu of the writting but because of her picture. Her/his main picture just drew my eyes. She/he used a pictured that made the cooking actually look like the "perfect" guacamole.

recipes!

MY FAVORITE HOME MADE LASAGNA!!!!!

INGREDIENTS!

• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
• 3/4 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
• 2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 12 lasagna noodles
• 16 ounces ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.

Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

BASIL PASTA!


1 Cup Packed Basil leaves without stems
4 eggs
2 1/2 Cups whole wheat flour
1 Tablespoon olive oil

Directions:

Puree the basil in a food processor. Add the eggs and process for 1 second to combine. Pour in 2 1/4 cups of flour and the oil. Process until the dough forms a ball. Add the remaining flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, and process the dough for about thirty seconds, or until it is smooth.

Lightly flour the dough, wrap it in plastic wrap, and let rest in the refridgerator for at least 30 minutes.

Roll out and cut the dough.

Dry the pasta completely before storing in a covered tin in the pantry ,or freeze it. The pasta will keep for several months in either the freezer or the pantry.

Makes about 1 1/3 pounds



TOMATO BASIL SOUP!!!

Ingredients:

8 to 10 tomatoes, peeled, cored and chopped, or 4 c canned crushed tomatoes
4 c tomato juice or part tomato juice, part chicken or vegetable stock
12 to 14 fresh basil leaves
1 c heavy cream
1/2 c (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Over medium heat, combine tomatoes and juice in a large saucepan and simmer for 30 minutes. In a food processor, combine tomato mixture and basil leaves in several small batches and process until smooth. Return blended mixture to saucepan over low heat. Stir in cream and butter, then season with salt and pepper. Continue stirring over low heat until soup is heated through. Serves 8.

Community Garden

So I went to the community garden on Hollister Street in Imperial Beach. When I went I didn't see that many people there. One person that i did interview was a local shopper.

Questions and answer:
1) DO you always shop at community gardens?
No not always, I usually just come here when I feel like a bunch of chemicals are being put into my body.

2) Is there a difference in the taste of foods?
Um, yea there ones at the regular stores usually have more of a exotic taste to it.

3) Why do you shop at community gardens?
Because everything is just healthier.

4) Do you only shop at community gardens?
No, i also shop at regular stores like Costco.

5) What do you think about people who don't shop at community gardens?
I don't think there is anything wrong with them. Its there choice not to.