Friday, January 29, 2016

Someday summary



I haven't done one of these in a while! You know one of those update in my life kinda thing so I thought I would do one now. And when I mean now I mean on the N train on the way to work. Sometimes I think I think better when I'm on the train because playing my games gets boring and you're surrounded by other people thinking or sleeping. So why the heck not. 

First thing popping into my head is schools coming back. I'm ending my winter break and school is starting this Monday. Nervous and excited are my usual feelings. But I am pretty stoked that I have three day of school only and two of the three end at 12pm so that's a plus! 

There was a huge snow storm this week in NY. You might have heard it as snowstorm Jonas (Brothers). It was pretty awesome and for the first time in a while me and my dad went sledding. We bumped into about a gazillion kids but that's the best part. Its kind of a right of passage. "Did you really go sledding if you didn't bump into people?" It's also not as bad as it sounds and we got crashed into a bunch as well. It's equally fun for both the crasher and crashee. 

I've also been working on my skin. Not like trying out a bunch of different products that help my skin but overall treating my skin/ body right. You know the drill. Drink lots of water preferably eight cups, sweat, and eat properly. I've been doing it for almost a week and let me tell you that face feel like a baby's ass. Of course a nice clay mask at night always helps. Which I shall be doing tonight 👍

I'm also thinking about the dreaded future. Am I making the right choices? What do I love doing? Is it what I'm studying for? It's so confusing and you would think that figuring it out would be fun but  sometimes it's just draining. Don't get me wrong it is fun to try new shit out but sometimes it just nice to know what you want and like and just focus on that rather than going in a million different directions. I'm trying to figure it out in a way that works the best. I guess everyone is.

This was one weird and deep summary but hey it's all good. Better out than in! 

I hope you're having a great day where ever you are physically and emotionally. 

:) 

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Oatmeal & Cranberry Cookies! 

I can honestly tell you that when I was little I hated oatmeal cookies with a burning passion. I hated the oatmeal but the worst was the raisins. THEY'RE EVERYWHERE, ITS RIDICULOUS! There is no way around them. If you pick them  out all you would have left would be remnants of a cookie you wish was chocolate chip. Its a total travesty. 

HOWEVER! My dad loves oatmeal cookies and had requested them this week. So off to the lab I call my kitchen to convert all my oatmeal raisin anger into some creative energy.

My first mission was those freaking raisins. I switched them for cranberries. Less sweet, more tart! Its key! Oatmeal raisin cookies are too sweet for me and the balance the cranberries give is just a perfect balance.

Next! Those oatmeal chucks in my cookie are insane! Grind those bad boys up. Give them some texture other than huge. Take out all your hate for them and go at them. Knife, blender, magic bullet, doesn't matter just go for it! This idea came from my cousin. You'll soon learn she the OG Master who will take over the world.    

The combo of these two things made this cookie taste like and I quote crack cocaine. I do agree though. 


 




Grind those oats!



How the butter and sugar creamed together should look like. 



What it should look like when you add your eggs. 






Ingredients

1 cup of flour 
1 Tablespoon of cinnamon 
1 1/2 Teaspoon Baking soda 
1 1/4 teaspoon of Salt 
1/2 Cup of Brown Sugar 
1/4 Cup of White Sugar 
10 Tablespoons of Butter
2 eggs 
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla 
2 cups of Oats 
1 Cup of cranberries 

1.) Mix all your dry ingredients in a bowl, which is your flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. 

2.) In your mixer or bowl beat the softened butter and sugar till creamy and pale. 

3.) Throw in your eggs and vanilla and mix until incorporated. No more than "incorporated"! I mean it! Just trust me. I got you.

4.) Next throw in all your dry ingredients.

5.) Lastly throw in your grinded oats and cranberries. 

6. )Bake at 350 degrees fahrenheit. I had them in for 18 mins cause mine were pretty big. You pretty much want it to puff up in the center and have gold edges. You want them to be underdone so that you can cool them on the pan and they will still be chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside. They stayed this way for three days straight. After that I couldn't tell you cause by then they were all gone.  

P.S.- If you're experiencing blizzard Jonas, be safe! Stay inside and have a calm and chill day! I'll be baking some bread to make Philly cheese steak sandwiches for dinner.

:) 

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Homemade Shake Shack!



If you've ever been to NYC or ever plan on coming, you know you have to eat at a Shake Shack. Its like your initiation as a true New Yorker. You have to say you have bit into one and tasted all the delicious hype. Its like Cali's In & Out or Louisiana's Cafe Du Monde.

But if your lazy like me and don't want to leave the comfort of your own home, you can do what I do and make them at home! 

All you will need is :

1 Pound of Ground Beef 
Martin Potato Buns 
Some Buttah to Shmear
Head of Lettuce 
Slices of Tomato
American Yellow Cheese 
The Famous Shack Sauce (Recipe Below!) 
Salt & Peppah to Taste
& if you want to go all out grab a bag of frozen fries. 


Making the burgers is pretty straight forward, fry the meat, melt the cheese, top it with all the goods, and chomp right into it. But there are a couple of tips I think make a really good fake Shack Burger.


First things first, the Shack Sauce is the key. This is the number one difference to all burgers. If the only thing you make is this, you are already ahead of the game. 

The ingredients you need are: 

1/2 cup mayo 

1 Tablespoon Ketchup

1 Tablespoon Mustard

1/4 paprika 

1 Tablespoon Pickle Juice

Pinch of Cayenne Pepper 

Pinch of Paprika 

***You can keep this in the fridge in an airtight container for a while!***


Tip 2: You can't forget to shmear that buttah on those potato rolls and then toast them to perfection. Its practically the cherry on top. Also the Martin Potato brand is the exact buns used at real Shake Shacks!

At this point I like to throw the fries in the oven, so by the time your burgers are done your fries will be hot and crispy. As they all should be. I used the OreIda brand, they're my go to bag of frozen fries.  

 
Tip 3: Making the burger meat into little pucks that look like the ones above is one reason why their burgers are so juicy. It has to do with the fats not fully being rendered out in the center. There's some weird science to this method of cooking the burgers and it's the legit way of making them. Basically, the idea is that you cook the pucks, then once it has its crust, squish 'em thin, flip 'em, and cook to medium. 
Danny Meyer, the owner of Shake Shack even patented the tools he used to squish the patties!

The method & science behind the magical burgers: 
http://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-shake-shack-burger-at-home-epicurious-secrets-article


My make shift version... hahaha. You gotta do whatcha gotta do. Ya know? 


YUMMY!!!

Tip 4: Dip the fries in your Shack Sauce, its the bomb. 



Sunday, January 3, 2016

Goodbye 2015!


I've never really been the girl to party away the years end. I prefer to spend the time with my family watching the ball drop and saying Happy New Years to everyone rather than to be at a huge party. This year the events leading up to the countdown consisted of me just relaxing in my living room. I find that being at my most relaxed state is the way that I like to start the year. Its calming, relaxing, and allows me to think about the year to come but most importantly, the year that's passing by.  

This year was filled with its ups and downs and when I get real old I want to be able to look back at 2015 and remember it for all it was... A beginning and an ending.

One of the biggest things accomplishment for me was switching colleges. I went from being in a college where I always felt like I would only be at square one to a college where I can actually excel at something I find interesting. The transition alone had helped me get out of a little rut that I was in and now going to school is something I look forward to doing. 

Another accomplishment was getting a job. This seems so silly because everyone can get a job. But when you're so busy from being in school to trying and figure life out, finding the perfect job that looks good on your resume seems impossible. It may not be my absolute dream job but its a good start and I got some time to spare. 

The last accomplishment I wanted to write about, and to me the most important, is being more involved in social media. Spending more time in blogging and making YouTube videos are by far the accomplishment I am most proud of. I think it might be because it took me so long to really get started and be more devoted to it. However, being able to creating content and getting better or even getting worse at making videos is something I've always wanted to do. Even if it takes me nowhere at least I can always look back on it. 

This year might have been rocky in the beginning, but 2015 turned around and made it one of the best years by not actually ending. On paper I will have to write 2016 but all the good things and habits that I have created will continue to persist into this year and wherever that takes me is what I am most excited for. However, if this year is starting out rough for you, then I suggest keeping your head up because it WILL get better and it WILL be worth it.

 I pinky promise. 

:)

What are some your accomplishments in 2015?