Category: lists

Easy Pasta Recipe

I recently made a delicious turkey spaghetti with my Ninja Foodi. It came out really well, so I thought that I’d share it with you!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lb ground turkey
  • 1/2 of a chopped onion
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp pepper
  • 3 fresh basil leaves
  • 1 clove of garlic, chopped
  • 4 oz spaghetti noodles (broken into halves or thirds)
  • 7 oz can of diced tomatoes
  • 12 oz jar of marinara sauce
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup water
  • parmesan cheese (to garnish)

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Turn the Foodi on to the Sauté setting. When it is hot, add the ground turkey, 1 tbsp olive oil, and the onions. Break apart the meat by stirring.
  2. Add the salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and basil. Cook for a few minutes, while occasionally stirring until the meat is mostly done.
  3. Add the garlic and cook for around a minute.
  4. Scatter in the spaghetti noodles randomly.
  5. Pour the diced tomatoes over the noodles as evenly as possible and don’t stir.
  6. Pour on the spaghetti sauce completely covering all of the noodles (exposed noodles may not cook fully).
  7. Pour in the broth and the water down the side of the Foodi, so the sauce doesn’t wash off of the noodles. Do not stir.
  8. Close the lid and lock it in place. Set the steam release knob to the Seal position and cancel the Saute setting.
  9. Press the Pressure Cook/Manual button and set the time to 7 minutes.
  10. Wait for the pressure to release naturally. Once all the pressure has released, you can open the lid.
  11. Stir the spaghetti well, so that the sauce and the noodles can blend. Garnish with the parmesan cheese.
  12. Enjoy!

First Week as a Seventh Grader

I just started school! This is my first week in person and I was so excited to meet everyone and see everything that I missed out in my virtual year. Here are some of the things that I experienced during my first week as a seventh grader.

  1. Passing Periods
    I have 5 classes each day, most of them being on the second floor (our school has 3 floors), though some are on other floors. We have 5 minutes to get to each class and after that you’re tardy. It can sometimes be a big race to get to your next class before the tardy bell rings, though I have been on time for everything so far.
  2. One Way Hallways/Stairs
    Because of COVID, our school has added one way hallways to the first and second floors. This can be a bit challenging, especially if your class is two doors down, but you have to walk all around the school in the crowd to get to it in only 5 minutes. Luckily, the crowd thins out as you walk around. We also have one way stairs, so you can only go up certain staircases and down certain staircases.
  3. Homework
    There’s a lot more homework than what I was expecting for the first week of school! A lot of it were only forms to sign, but I did have homework in my Science, English, and Social Studies class. Luckily, the homework is pretty easy, though it will most likely get harder as time passes.
  4. Computers
    We are given school computers to use for the tests and projects we do in certain classes. I got mine on Friday and have already used it in the second week quite a lot (for the beginning of year tests). It’s handy to have a second computer specifically for school work, where you can keep all of your assignments.
  5. My Favorite Classes
    My Favorite Classes so far are Theater and Science. I love theater because of all the fun activities we do and all the chances we get to learn what we like and how we do everything. Our teacher’s also very nice. I absolutely love our science teacher and the energy that she gives off. She makes learning much more fun and I’m really glad I’m in her class!

    What’s your favorite part of school?
    Also, due to school starting up, I will now only be publishing blogs on Wednesdays.

Top Reads of August

Here are my top books for August!

  1. The Best Worst Summer by Elizabeth Eulberg
    This is a story about Peyton, who has recently moved. In her backyard, she finds a time capsule from 1989. There seems to be a mystery behind the contents of the box and Peyton decides to find out what it is with the help of her new friend Lucas. The story alternates between modern day (with Peyton and Lucas) and 1989 (with Melissa and Jessica). I really enjoyed this story and all of the little clues along the way.
  2. The Adventure is Now by Jess Redman
    This book tells the story of Milton, a socially awkward boy, with not many friends. The only time when he feels free is when he plays Isle of Wild. That summer, his parents send him to Lone Island to live with his Uncle Evan. At first Milton isn’t happy to be there, but then he discovers the secrets of the island. I loved this book and the themes behind it. All the characters were written really well and I enjoyed every part of the book.
  3. Flight of the Puffin by Ann Braden
    This is a story told by 4 narrators- Libby, Jack, Vincent, and T. It starts with Libby drawing inspiring messages on postcards. These postcards begin to travel, helping the other kids through their hard times. I loved the way that all the kids were linked up and the way that the story flowed. This is such a sweet book.
  4. A Thousand Beginnings and Endings by Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman
    This was an anthology with a lot of authors that I enjoyed. The stories were retellings of Asian myths and legends. I have always loved retellings and I really enjoyed these stories. They were all so imaginative and I loved them all. Some of my favorites were Still Star-Crossed, Daughter of the Sun, and Girls who Twirl and Other Dangers.
  5. Time Traveling with a Hamster by Ross Welford
    This book is about Al, who gets a mysterious letter from his (dead) dad on his 12th birthday. The letter tells him to travel back in time to save his dad and change the future. I loved the way that the book was written and i think it handled the concepts of alternate universes really well. Al is such a great character and I also enjoyed the way that the other characters were fleshed out as well. This is such a great book!
  6. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
    This is a dystopian trilogy, set in a world where every year, a boy and a girl are chosen from each district to fight in the Hunger Games. It’s a fight to the death and there’s only one victor until the 74th Hunger Games, where Katniss and Peeta (the two main characters) both win. I loved the characters and the plot. I found the theme very interesting and loved the type of dystopia!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April: click here
Top Books of May: click here
Top Books of June: click here
Top Books of July: click here

Podalanga Kootu

Kootu is really easy to make, especially in a Ninja Foodi. It is a quintessential Tamil food and I enjoyed learning to make it. I got a snake gourd from my grandmother’s garden in College Station. I had a lot of fun making this recipe and thought I’d share it with you!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup chopped snake gourd
  • 1/8 cup masoor dal
  • 1/8 cup moong dal
  • 1/8 tsp turmeric powder
  • salt (to taste)
To Roast and Grind
  • 1 1/2 tbsp grated coconut
  • 3/8 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1/8 tsp peppercorns
  • 1/2 tsp urad dal
  • 3/4 tsp chana dal
  • 1/2 a dried chili
  • 6 to 7 curry leaves (fresh from our garden)
  • 1 tsp canola oil
Tadka
  • 1/2 tsp canola oil
  • 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1/2 tsp urad dal
  • 1 pinch asafoetida

Directions:

  1. Wash the moong and masoor dal and soak them in 1 cup water. Add the turmeric and salt.
  2. Power on the saute mode on medium heat in the Ninja Foodi. Next, add 1 tsp oil and add all the ingredients mentioned under “to roast and grind” and saute until the lentils start turning golden.
  3. Remove from the Foodi and set aside to cool. When cool enough, grind the ingredients with a little water to form a thick paste.
  4. Add 1/2 tsp oil to the pot and add all the ingredients for the tadka. Let the mustard seeds pop. Keep the saute mode on high.
  5. Now add the chopped vegetable, soaked lentils along with water, 1 cup water. Switch off the saute mode.
  6. Add the ground paste to the Ninja Foodi and close the lid. Pressure cook at high for 7 minutes. Wait for the pressure to release.
  7. Enjoy!

This stew tastes best with hot rice and ghee. You can also enjoy it with chapati. Any kind of squash or gourd can be used instead of podalanga.

Blueberry Limeade

Summer is almost over! It feels like those three months with no school have flown so quickly and now, school’s starting soon again. I’ve made a lot of food over summer, but one of my favorites was a blueberry limeade concentrate. It’s tart and sweet, and is such a great drink for summer. I really enjoyed this drink, especially when chilled or frozen.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 cups of fresh blueberries
  • 1 1/4 cup of sugar
  • 2 cups of water
  • 3/4 cup of lime juice

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Put the blueberries, sugar and water in a saucepan. Cook them on medium heat.
  2. When it starts to boil, start breaking down the berries with the back of a spoon until the sugar is fully dissolved and the berries are crushed.
  3. Strain the syrup using a sieve, extracting as much juice as possible by pressing down on the berries.
  4. Allow syrup to cool down slightly, then stir in the lime juice. Keep in the fridge
  5. To make a drink, fill 1/3 of the cup with juice and 2/3 of the cup with water.

Serving Suggestion: Make popsicles. You’ll still have to dilute the mixture with water, and it comes out really well!

July’s Top Books

Here are my top books for July!

  1. The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan
    This is the last book in the Riordanverse (others have been hinted at, but there is no proof for them yet). I loved the classic Rick Riordan style and the way how our main character, Apollo/Lester has changed over his time as a mortal (normal human). This book is so great and the different aspects, like Piper’s identity and Meg’s love for unicorns, were amazing. Overall, this was a really great book.
  2. Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
    This is SUCH a great duology. I loved getting the different viewpoints and the humor was perfect. You can definitely see the development in the characters and the plot was great. I loved all of the characters, especially Inej and Jesper. This book is filled with danger, love, sadness, and more. I loved every page and think that it was such a great book!
  3. Carry Me Home by Janet Fox
    This is such an amazing book. I love the characteristics of all the characters and the how the plot developed. This book brings together sadness, hope, and joy together in the best way possible. It’s an emotional read and I loved the way that the author wrote the emotions. I love this book so, so much and I totally recommend it to you!
  4. The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
    This is a great graphic novel about a young boy struggling to come out to his mother. I love the illustrations and how fairy tales played a big part in the story. It was a really sweet book and I loved the plot and how everything fit together. The fairy tales were beautiful and I loved how the book ended. This is such a great book!
  5. The Pronoun Book by Cassandra Jules Corrigan
    This book is a great guide to pronouns for people of all ages! It talks about the main pronouns (she/her, he/him, they/them), but also others (ze/zir, xe/xem, fae/faer). It’s an amazing book with fun pictures. There are also examples of how to use pronouns. It also touches on different parts of LGBT+ like trans, intersex, genderfluid, etc. This is a really great book and it’s really helpful!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April: click here
Top Books of May: click here
Top Books of June: click here

Recipe: Pasta Chips

Recently, I made pasta chips with an air fryer (using the Ninja Foodi air crisp option). I love the crunchiness and the flavor of the chips and they were great as a snack. There are a few ways to make it and different ingredients that you can use. This is the way that I made it!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup pasta- I used farfalle, but you can use any type
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Directions:

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°
  2. Cook the pasta al-dente, following the instructions on the box.
  3. While the pasta is cooking, add the rest of the ingredients.
  4. After the pasta is done, drain it and add it to the seasoning mix.
  5. Stir so that every piece of pasta has some coating on it.
  6. Once the air fryer is preheated, add the pasta in and let it cook for around 5 minutes (make sure that pasta is coating every part of the base)
  7. Then, mix it up a bit and let it cook for another 2 minutes.
  8. Enjoy!

World Building

Recently, I did a WITS writing class (I wrote this story there). We did a few mini activities, one of them being world-building writing prompts based on artwork around the Rice University campus. World-building activities help you create a brand new world and develop it. It’s a common exercise writers use to be more creative. These are the questions asked and what answers I gave based off of the artwork.

Questions:

  1. Imagine that the artwork is deeply important to people on an alien land. Why? What do they use it for? What significance does it have?
  2. Imagine you are the size of an ant and the artwork is as tall as a skyscraper. What goes on inside of it?
  3. Imagine the art is small enough to fit in your hand. Why would you give it to someone and what for?
  4. Imagine the artwork could talk. What would it say? Would it be happy with its location?

The Questioning Column:

  1. This is where rainbows come from. Colors are churned, releasing their vividness and making rainbows brighter. This is how the colors seem to blend together as well.
  2. You can slightly see the churning of the rope-like strands of colors, twisting and turning together, eventually falling into place and forming a bright and colorful rainbow.
  3. If you need something to cheer you up, you can create rainbows with the small rainbow maker. It’s easy to give as a gift and can help anyone perk up.
  4. There are many Rainbow Makers around the world, some small, some big. They are all stationed in areas with desperate need of color and they do their job quite well. They would most likely be happy where they are.

Movement at the Edge of the Land:

  1. These aren’t just piles of dirt. They help the government. Piles of dirt and holes in the ground can easily track movements around an area the way that normal cameras could never do.
  2. You can’t see any action. The government made sure that the tracking was discreet. They couldn’t let anyone know what they were up to.
  3. The government gifted these piles of dirt to anyone who they though was suspicious, tracking them as they wished. No one ever realized what the piles were actually used for.
  4. The government would never let the dirt talk. If they even tried, they would be silenced forever right away. If they could talk, they would say that they hate their job.

James Turrell Skyspace:

  1. This is a hangout for astronomers, meteorologists, and others who use the sky and space for their line of work. Though the government doesn’t trust their kind and has banned them, some still meet here day and night to practice their work. At night it is lit up to resemble a party, so the government doesn’t get very suspicious. In the day, there is a special forcefield surrounding it. It is a sign of resistance and perseverance.
  2. Inside, astronomers and more scurry around, trying and succeeding to practice their art. It can be messy and dangerous sometimes, but it’s a safe space for the “sky lookers”
  3. It wouldn’t be given as a gift, but as a signal from worker to worker signaling a meetup in the skyspace. They are usually very small, to avoid drawing attention.
  4. The skylight would be pleased for being used in such a noble manner, though sometimes it wishes that its job wasn’t so dangerous and life-risking.

Barn Raising:

  1. These ribbons are a festivity, or at least, that’s what most people think. As soon as you step into the forest, you’ll doubt yourself. Something about the rustling of the ribbons sneaks up on you and makes you wonder if you made the right choice (spoiler alert- you didn’t). Slowly, without the ribbons doing anything, you’ll start to lose your mind. You mind will turn against you- starting with self-doubt and ending with complete insanity.
  2. The ribbons blow with the wind. Something about the way they move so gently, but with a ferocious demeaner is frightening to people. In the end, not many know that the ribbons are the villains in this story.
  3. Only true villains who know the power of the ribbons gift it to others. Though it’s smaller, it works in the same ways.
  4. The ribbons would just laugh gently, with a slightly horrifying edge. They don’t have and conscience and therefore don’t care.

How would you build a new world?

5 Places to Visit in Chicago

There were many wonderful things in Chicago and I loved visiting all of them. 5 of them were really great places and I enjoyed them a lot. These are my top 5 places in Chicago.

  1. The Science and Industry Museum
    This museum is filled with all the types of science- from physics to patterns (Fibonacci, Golden Ratio, etc.). There were so many cool experiments and it was a really fun place. Some of my favorite parts were the Physics section, the Mirror Maze, the Model Railroad, and the Science Storms section.
  2. The American Writer’s Museum
    This Museum is filled with information about famous writers in America. The way that the information is presented was spectacular and I loved the way that we got interactive and fun exhibits while still learning. Some of my favorite parts were the typewriters, the games (fill in the blanks and write a story), and the Children’s Gallery.
  3. Shedd Aquarium
    The aquarium is a fun place with so many animals. I usually love aquariums and this one wasn’t any different. It was amazing to see so many marine animals close up. Some of my favorites were the penguins, the otters, the Color Exhibit, and the beluga whales.
  4. The Art Institute of Chicago
    The Art Institute has many wonderful artworks. They’re all very varied and diverse and are really amazing to look at. At the time we went, we could see the Obama Portraits, which were amazing. Some of my favorites included the Greek Mythology section and the Indian Mythology section (every place represents the gods differently and it was interesting to see the different representations).
  5. Tribune Tower
    I really liked Tribune Tower because of the outside. There are pieces of stone from all over the world- from Egypt to China. There are 149 rocks on the wall, which I found super cool. Each rock has a different texture and shape, so you can compare them. Some of the rocks are from famous landmarks while others are not.

Have you been to Chicago? If so, what’s your favorite place there?

Recipe: Ninja Foodi Mac and Cheese

This is a recipe I recently made. It came out really well and I enjoyed it a lot. I did it on a Ninja Foodi Instapot.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/4 cup small shell pasta
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (any type)
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 butter
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • Panko breadcrumbs

Directions:

  1. Add the chicken broth, heavy whipping cream and pasta into the pot and stir.
  2. Close the pressure cooker lid and make sure that it’s set at seal. Set to high for 3 minutes. Let it release pressure, then release the rest of steam.
  3. Lift the lid carefully and stir in 3 Tbsp of butter, then stir so it can melt. Then add in the cheese and stir until melted. Add whipping cream if needed (for a less sticky consistency). Season with pepper, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder and stir.
  4. Sprinkle some cheese and breadcrumbs on top of cooked mac and cheese.
  5. Close the air crisp lid and air crisp at 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
  6. Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy!