Saturday, June 25, 2011
i love laura
Can I just say how awesome Laura Christina Onasch-Vera is? because she is freaking dope.
I love her so incredibly much and I am so glad that she is taking over my life until Tuesday (I wish she were here longer though... ) :)
I love that she is one of those people who I can go a long time without seeing and, when I see her again, we pick up right where we left off.
**Some new Iowan lingo that I'm trying to incorporate into my life: dope & bone.
I love her so incredibly much and I am so glad that she is taking over my life until Tuesday (I wish she were here longer though... ) :)
I love that she is one of those people who I can go a long time without seeing and, when I see her again, we pick up right where we left off.
**Some new Iowan lingo that I'm trying to incorporate into my life: dope & bone.
Class of '11
I'm officially no longer a high school student! (I'm a freshman again...)
And also, thank you again to all the awesome people who liked my song! I think I am recording it pretty soon, so the people who wanted a copy of it will be able to get it!
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt
Friday, June 24, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Banana Bread!
I have been making this banana bread for years now, so this is definitely my go to recipe whenever there are bananas lying around, or I need to bake something for school. All my friends are in love with it and they always ask me to make it... so basically, if you make it people will like you!
yay!
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups of mashed super ripe banana (i usually put a little more than 1 cup so like 3 bananas)
1 3/4 cups of flour (all purpose or whole wheat or some of both)
3/4 cup of brown sugar (packed) (or slightly less than 3/4 cup of agave)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 tbs milk
6 tbs butter (or 4 tbs and 1/4 cup of applesauce)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup walnuts or chocolate chips (or both if you want!)
There are two ways to make this... The easy way and the real way. As far as I can tell they turn out the same so its up to you!
for both: preheat the oven to 350 F.
EASY WAY:
Put all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix them, then make a well in the center. Put the eggs, melted butter, milk, sugar and vanilla in the well and them up in the center with a fork so that the wet ingredients are combined and then incorporate the surrounding dry ingredients.
REAL WAY:
Cream the softened butter with the brown sugar. Then add vanilla, eggs and banana. In a different bowl, combine all the dry ingredients and those to the wet ingredients.
BAKING: There are 3 ways I've made this: Bread/cake, muffins and pancakes.
Bread/Cake: put in a greased bread tin (you may need two) or any cake pan and bake for 45 to 1 hour. Just test the readiness by sticking a knife in the center at like 45 min (it should come out clean).
Cupcake/Muffin: If you want you can make this in cupcake/muffin form, in which case you put the batter in a cupcake tin in baking cups and bake for about 20- 25 min (but you might need more depending on your oven so just check the readiness with a knife at 20 min and then every 5 min or so after that).
Pancakes: You may need to add 1 or 2 more tbs of milk to make the batter a bit looser, but just put the batter in circles on a heated, greased pan and you get lovely banana pancakes!
yay!
1-1/2 cups of mashed super ripe banana (i usually put a little more than 1 cup so like 3 bananas)
1 3/4 cups of flour (all purpose or whole wheat or some of both)
3/4 cup of brown sugar (packed) (or slightly less than 3/4 cup of agave)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 tbs milk
6 tbs butter (or 4 tbs and 1/4 cup of applesauce)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup walnuts or chocolate chips (or both if you want!)
There are two ways to make this... The easy way and the real way. As far as I can tell they turn out the same so its up to you!
for both: preheat the oven to 350 F.
EASY WAY:
Put all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix them, then make a well in the center. Put the eggs, melted butter, milk, sugar and vanilla in the well and them up in the center with a fork so that the wet ingredients are combined and then incorporate the surrounding dry ingredients.
REAL WAY:
Cream the softened butter with the brown sugar. Then add vanilla, eggs and banana. In a different bowl, combine all the dry ingredients and those to the wet ingredients.
BAKING: There are 3 ways I've made this: Bread/cake, muffins and pancakes.
Bread/Cake: put in a greased bread tin (you may need two) or any cake pan and bake for 45 to 1 hour. Just test the readiness by sticking a knife in the center at like 45 min (it should come out clean).
Cupcake/Muffin: If you want you can make this in cupcake/muffin form, in which case you put the batter in a cupcake tin in baking cups and bake for about 20- 25 min (but you might need more depending on your oven so just check the readiness with a knife at 20 min and then every 5 min or so after that).
Pancakes: You may need to add 1 or 2 more tbs of milk to make the batter a bit looser, but just put the batter in circles on a heated, greased pan and you get lovely banana pancakes!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Pali Choir
Oh my goodness.
Tonight, my last choir concert every, definitely didn't go as I expected it to, but it was wonderful nonetheless.
I love Pali Choir so incredibly much and I have grown close to so many incredible people over the past three years. I can honestly say that some of my best high school experiences occurred in choir and I'm so thankful to Mr. Elson for everything has given and continues to give to the choir.
I just need to say that Mr. Elson might be the most inspirational, caring, genuine person I know, and I am so grateful that I have had him in my life to talk to and, of course, sing with. I think I can even go as far as to say that he has actually changed my life - that I am the person who I am today in part because of him. (I could go on forever... so I'll just leave it at that.)
Every song we sung tonight was amazing, the solos were all so beautiful, and it was a great way to end an amazing three years with choir. I promised myself I wouldn't cry when I sung tonight, but I guess when you are leaving something behind that has changed you so completely, its impossible to hold back the tears. I love every single person in choir so much, and I with that everyone could have the chance to experience all that I have experienced with choir.
Tonight, my last choir concert every, definitely didn't go as I expected it to, but it was wonderful nonetheless.
I love Pali Choir so incredibly much and I have grown close to so many incredible people over the past three years. I can honestly say that some of my best high school experiences occurred in choir and I'm so thankful to Mr. Elson for everything has given and continues to give to the choir.
I just need to say that Mr. Elson might be the most inspirational, caring, genuine person I know, and I am so grateful that I have had him in my life to talk to and, of course, sing with. I think I can even go as far as to say that he has actually changed my life - that I am the person who I am today in part because of him. (I could go on forever... so I'll just leave it at that.)
Every song we sung tonight was amazing, the solos were all so beautiful, and it was a great way to end an amazing three years with choir. I promised myself I wouldn't cry when I sung tonight, but I guess when you are leaving something behind that has changed you so completely, its impossible to hold back the tears. I love every single person in choir so much, and I with that everyone could have the chance to experience all that I have experienced with choir.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
super crunchy coconut almond walnut hazelnut granola!
I found a container of oats, and an old package of coconut, and I couldn't find the fourth Harry Potter book, so I decided to try making granola! I love love love coconut, and coconut oil is supposedly really healthy, so I decided to go coconut all the way. Hope you enjoy this easy, crunchy granola!
What you need:
4 cups of old fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup of grounds almonds (optional)
1/3 coconut milk
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup honey/agave/syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1-1/2 slightly over flowing cups chopped or whole almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts (you can add whichever nuts you like, or no nuts at all!)
1/2 shredded coconut sweetened or unsweetened (mine were in flakes)
1/3 cup of pumpkin seeds (and you can add a tiny bit of flax seeds or sesame seeds but I just stuck to pumpkin seeds)
*if you want to add chocolate chips and/or any dried fruit, add those in later.
How its done:
Preheat oven to 325 F.
Ok so first, in a large bowl, combine the oats, ground almond meal, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, hazelnuts/almonds, seeds, and coconut until everything seems somewhat evenly distributed.
Next, whisk the coconut milk, coconut oil, vanilla and agave or syrup in a saucepan until the oil is melted (don't boil it though!) and pour it into the bowl with the oat mixture. If you are using honey don't heat it with the milk and oil. Instead add it to the dry ingredients separately. Stir up all the ingredients until everything is nice and sticky and coated and then press half of the mixture onto a parchment papered covered sheet tray and the other half on another tray.
Put the trays in the oven and after 15 min stir the granola around with a spoon or spatula.
*If you want to add any dried fruit or chocolate or you want some not so crunchy coconut add those ingredients into the granola now (incorporate them as you flip the granola around).
Finally bake for another 10-15 min until the granola is a nice light golden brown, and take it out of the oven to cool. Don't worry if its not crunchy yet (it should still be pretty soft) but as soon as it cools it will harden. Put it in an airtight container to store and enjoy with some delicious yogurt and fruit or just as a snack!
What you need:
4 cups of old fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup of grounds almonds (optional)
1/3 coconut milk
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup honey/agave/syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1-1/2 slightly over flowing cups chopped or whole almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts (you can add whichever nuts you like, or no nuts at all!)
1/2 shredded coconut sweetened or unsweetened (mine were in flakes)
1/3 cup of pumpkin seeds (and you can add a tiny bit of flax seeds or sesame seeds but I just stuck to pumpkin seeds)
*if you want to add chocolate chips and/or any dried fruit, add those in later.
How its done:
Preheat oven to 325 F.
Ok so first, in a large bowl, combine the oats, ground almond meal, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, hazelnuts/almonds, seeds, and coconut until everything seems somewhat evenly distributed.
Next, whisk the coconut milk, coconut oil, vanilla and agave or syrup in a saucepan until the oil is melted (don't boil it though!) and pour it into the bowl with the oat mixture. If you are using honey don't heat it with the milk and oil. Instead add it to the dry ingredients separately. Stir up all the ingredients until everything is nice and sticky and coated and then press half of the mixture onto a parchment papered covered sheet tray and the other half on another tray.
Put the trays in the oven and after 15 min stir the granola around with a spoon or spatula.
*If you want to add any dried fruit or chocolate or you want some not so crunchy coconut add those ingredients into the granola now (incorporate them as you flip the granola around).
Finally bake for another 10-15 min until the granola is a nice light golden brown, and take it out of the oven to cool. Don't worry if its not crunchy yet (it should still be pretty soft) but as soon as it cools it will harden. Put it in an airtight container to store and enjoy with some delicious yogurt and fruit or just as a snack!
Friday, June 10, 2011
chamomile. my love.
chamomile when its cold. chamomile when its hot.
(Grad night was soooo fun! I'm so exhausted and I can barely keep my eyes open so I will post about that later.)
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Grace
My sea exists
In a time only I know of
Its sharp waves do not penetrate my surface
Though, occasionally
I erupt, in frenzies
I am surrounded by a feast of emptiness
What was imagined
What was beautiful
Stored at the bottom
With the ancient sand
Holding me here
Eyes
Unable to see the ripples which have begun to evolve
Eyes
Wander, but do not notice my cracks
I break, unseen
Alone
My sea exists
Surround by life
I do not want to be afraid of
I want to extend myself
To reach your island
To leap off mine
In a moment of grace
In a time only I know of
Its sharp waves do not penetrate my surface
Though, occasionally
I erupt, in frenzies
I am surrounded by a feast of emptiness
What was imagined
What was beautiful
Stored at the bottom
With the ancient sand
Holding me here
Eyes
Unable to see the ripples which have begun to evolve
Eyes
Wander, but do not notice my cracks
I break, unseen
Alone
My sea exists
Surround by life
I do not want to be afraid of
I want to extend myself
To reach your island
To leap off mine
In a moment of grace
all i've listened to for the past 2 days
maybe I think you're cute and funny
maybe I wanna do what bunnies do with you
if you know what I mean
;)
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
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