Archive of ‘Opinion’ category

16
Dec
2021

Christmas Countdown Favorites

categories: Cooking, Holiday, List, Opinion

1.  My favorite Christmas song BY FAR is Jingle bell rock by Bobby Helms. (It was also in Mean Girls, my favorite movie!) But I am a true fan of Mariah Carey Christmas songs as well.

2. I love a traditional gingerbread cookie.

Recipe:

INGREDIENTS

3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
2/3 c. molasses
1 large egg
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
3 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
2″ piece fresh ginger, grated (optional)
Zest of 1 orange (optional)
1/2 tsp.
finely ground black pepper (optional)
Sugar Cookie Icing, for decorating
Sprinkles, for decorating
DIRECTIONS
  1. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and molasses until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, spices, baking soda, and salt until combined. With the mixer on low, gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, as well as  fresh ginger, orange zest, and black pepper (if using), until dough just comes together. (Do not over mix!)
  3. Divide dough in half and create two discs. Wrap each in plastic wrap and chill until firm, about 2 to 3 hours. (Alternatively, divide dough in half and roll each piece of dough between two pieces of parchment to 1/4″ thick. Chill until firm.)
  4. Preheat oven to 350° and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Place one disc of dough on a lightly floured surface and roll until 1/4″ thick. (Alternatively, peel off both sheets of parchment from dough, then replace one sheet of parchment back underneath dough.) Cut out gingerbread men with a 3″ wide cutter and transfer to baking sheets.
  5. Bake until slightly puffed and set, 9 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of your cookie cutters. Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  6.  Repeat with remaining disc of dough. Decorate with icing and sprinkles as desired.

3.  My Favorite Holiday movie is elf, because I think it is hilarious. No one could play Buddy better than Will Ferrell.

4. My favorite holiday activity is making hot chocolate and watching Christmas movies. I also enjoy have arguments with my brother about if Die Hard is a real Christmas movie.

5.  I know it’s not gonna happen, but I would like to have a pet for Christmas. Even a goldfish would work for me.

6.  I work at a charity called ForTheKids, and I do enjoy doing Christmas fundraisers for student council.

7.

8.  I like giving my Christmas baking.

9. The Christmas wreath is a symbol of love and eternal life.

10.  My best Christmas memory is when I got a phone for Christmas

01
Nov
2021

Journalism: Why it is the BEST elective

categories: Free Write, Opinion, Review

Although there is definitely going to be some hate towards this post, Journalism is the BEST elective. You cannot change my mind. Journalism is amazing because you get to start your own blog and do fun activities to share with the world. (If you somehow get your site link out there) And if writing and prompt activities aren’t your thing, there is also a photography unit where you have a photography prompt, and you can go outside and take photos with (usually) a group of your choice. During the photography unit, we learn how to use the cameras and sometimes mess around a bit, resulting in some fun and silly photos. We also complete a podcast unit, which is really fun. The class gets to record alone or with a friend on a topic they want to talk about and we will complete about a 5 episode series and each episode is about 5-10 minutes long. Mrs. Steel is also one of the reasons this elective is so great. She is a very chill teacher and has fun lesson activities, while managing a class of mixed 7th and 8th graders. Journalism is the best!

Some items from the journalism photography unit: