How to serve Ice Cream at parties

By: Amberly Asay

Ice cream became a popular treat during the second half of the 20th century, after cheap refrigeration became common.  You can find ice cream in almost every grocery store or restaurant, and it has become one of the most popular desserts ever.

I have thrown many ice cream parties, and at the end have found several broken ice cream scoopers.  After the last two broken ice cream scoopers I have decided to try another attempt.  If you cut ice cream with a knife, it makes it much easier to cut.  It's easier for serving at parties and helps with portion control.  

Prevent Wilted Lettuce

By: Amberly Asay

Let's face it, sometimes as college students it is difficult to eat healthy.  Healthier food is expensive and spoils easily, especially lettuce.  Nothing is worse than going to make a salad and only having wilted or brown lettuce.  Here is a simple trick to keep your lettuce crisp.

Put your lettuce in a dry brown bag instead of plastic bags or food containers.  The paper will absorb the condensation and stop lettuce from wilting.  You can now impress yourself and your friends with how happy you are to eat that salad, now that your lettuce is crisp.

Avocado

By: Amberly Asay


The avocado is a popular vegetable right now, and you can find it in almost anything!  However we have all had the vegetable salsa/dip whose avocados are rock hard and impossible to chew.  I have discovered that a lot of people don't know how to tell if an avocado is ripe or not. 

Simply pull off the stem on the end of the avocado.  If it is dark brown or black it is too ripe.  If it is green or lighter it isn't ripe enough.  If it is a light brown it is just perfect!

Here is a delicious recipe for salsa that includes avocado:
1 can corn
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can black beans
1 can black eyed peas
2 avocados cut up
1/4 cup cilantro
1/4 cup green onions chopped
1 packet Good Seasons Italian Zesty Dressing - make dressing according to directions on back of package.  Needs oil, water and vinegar.

Drain all canned items and add to bowl.  Cut up the onions and avocado and add them to the canned items.  Make the dressing, and add most of it to the bowl until it looks right to you.  Stir and enjoy your creation with chips!

Buttermilk Substitute

By: Amberly Asay

The other night, my friends and I decided that we were going to make banana bread.  However the recipe called for buttermilk, and I didn't have any.  Then, one of my friends showed me a trick I will never forget.

If you are in need of buttermilk, you can make your own!  Simply add one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to one cup of milk, and let it sit for a few minutes.  Voila!  You have a perfect buttermilk substitute for baking.

Fairy Glow Lantern

By: Amberly Asay

"Do you believe in fairies?  Say quick that you believe. 
If you believe, clap your hands."

James M. Barrie

For most grown-ups, it is difficult for them to remember how to make believe, or how to pretend.  They get too busy in their day-to-day business, and they sometimes forget the magic that a warm summer evening in the outdoors brings into our lives.  That's when a little magic is needed most to rekindle the light of wonder that hides inside each of us.

In the classic Peter Pan movies, flying out of a window in the middle of the night is a good way to make your life more magical.  All you need is a little faith, trust and pixie dust, and off you go!  In real life this could end in injury or even fatality, so we suggest making a fairy jar instead.  It's just as magical, and all you'll need is a mason jar or other glass container, glow sticks and glitter.

To make the lantern, simply cut open the glow sticks and dump the contents into your jar along with some glitter.  The glitter will glow.  And, as you mix it around, it will take on the luminous appearance of glittering pixie dust.

This is the perfect way to mystically light up a late night hike or picnic while you're on that magical outdoor date.    

It's Coming!

Festive Fourth of July Drink

By: Amberly Asay

Independence Day is among us and it is time to celebrate.  Everyone is having barbecues, lighting fireworks and just having a grand old time.  But there is one drink that will wow your guests and have them focused on their taste buds more than the fireworks.

Layered drinks are fun to make and delicious to the taste.  You can stack your drinks in layers within a single glass based upon the sugar concentration in each beverage.  Put the most sugary drink in first, then the second and the least sugary drink on top. Based on the order of color you want, the drinks you use will vary.

If you want to do a red, blue and white drink, get cranberry juice, blue Gatorade and Diet 7up or Diet Sprite.  Fill your glass to the top with ice, and slowly pour in the cranberry juice until the glass is a third of the way full.  Then get your Gatorade, and SLOWLY pour in another third.  And finally top it off with your Sprite.

We wanted a different order with white on the bottom, red in the middle and blue on the top. We used Pina Colada Sobe, Fruit Punch Powerade and Powerade Zero for the top.  Watch the video below to see our experiment in action! 

$1 off MOA Sandwich