For my whole life, breakfast has mostly been the same exact experience every time. I wake up, I’m hungry, I look in my cabinet, I find cereal, I pour it in a bowl, I add milk, and I eat it. Simple as that. However, now that I have grown and I have more knowledge about how to make foods that don’t take two steps to prepare, breakfast has become more like an experiment to me.

            I was never really taught how to make eggs as a little girl. My mother had always been the one who would prepare them for me. Though I was curious, I never watched to see how the process had been done. Yet, when my mom asked me yesterday morning how I wanted my eggs and when I replied ‘scrambled please’, I suddenly became extra inquisitive on how she did so. I sat there next to her, taking close mental notes on how she cooked my eggs. When I heard her repeat the steps out loud and watched her act them out, I realized, ‘wow, this is so much easier than I thought’. All you need to make scrambled eggs is two eggs and two tablespoons of milk. I had no idea.

            So, taking this new information that was so easy to gather, I decided to make breakfast another experiment. I first cut a Portuguese roll in half and placed one slice in the toaster. I then took a non-stick pan and rubbed butter on it. Then, I took a bowl, cracked two eggs, and poured them in. I then poured two tablespoons of milk in. Then, I whisked the eggs and poured them into the pan. I took my spatula and pushed in the outside corners by scraping the liquid into the middle over and over again until I was left with scrambled eggs. I topped them off with salt and pepper and buttered my toasted Portuguese roll carefully. I placed the eggs on top of my roll and into my mouth. It tasted even better than my mom’s eggs! I am happy that I decided to try cooking for myself, even if it’s making something as simple as scrambled eggs.

-JL

Gabriel Ruiz

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Ingredients

1 3 1/2-pound boneless pork shoulder or butt roast, rind and excess fat trimmed

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 18-22-ounce bottles of your favorite barbecue sauce

8 sesame seed buns, toasted

Preparation

1 Lightly season the pork with salt and pepper. Place in a slow cooker insert, add the barbecue sauce, and cover. Cook on low until the pork is fork-tender, 8-9 hours.

2 Skim off any fat from the sauce surface. Transfer the pork to a carving board. Let stand for 5 minutes. Using two forks, shred the pork, discarding any excess fat. Return to the slow cooker.

3 Heap the meat and sauce onto the buns and serve hot.

I like this version of a pulled pork sandwich because it is easy for anyone to do in their own home. Even though the pulled pork that we make in the kitchen at school is awesome something’s cannot be redone at home. For one thing the sauce that we put on our meat at school has ingredients that everyone at home might not have so the substitution of any store brand barbeque sauce is a plus.

Pulled pork is one the things that I love to eat the most if I have a chance to have it. One time over break I had pulled pork and I made some cornbread to go along with it, and I finished it with a side of mashed potatoes. I was traveling below the Mason Dixon Line on this meal. But I was home alone and I wanted to treat myself because it was going to be the first of a couple days home alone, and I didn’t feel like cracking open the TV dinners that were left for me just yet. Granted, it was not the cheapest meal that I could have had, but it was a mighty tasty one…

         Last Sunday, my family had an all you can eat buffet for my grandfather’s 80^th birthday. This buffet took place at the Brewhouse in South Norwalk. I went in with high expectations, being the buy in fee was 29$. At the time I thought this price to be ridiculous, because most people cannot eat near the amount of food needed to cost 29$. Once I got there around 1 p.m. I realized why the buffet cost 29$ per head. The tables were overflowing with everything from eggs benedict, bacon, sausage and pancakes to Spiral ham, Sushi, Turkey, penne ala vodka, filet mignon and many more dinner foods. I stuffed myself for nearly an hour on all of those foods and to my delight, came a whole new array of desserts, which included chocolate covered strawberries, Tiramisu, éclairs, cupcakes, cheesecake and ice cream of every flavor I left the Brewhouse full and satisfied. And for the rest of the day I could hardly eat. -DB

My brother is in eighth grade this year and like every eighth grade class does, they went to Washington, D.C. for three days last week. Wednesday morning he had to get up at 4am to make it to the school for 4:30am, so he didn’t eat breakfast. My mom packed him breakfast bars, and some kind of juice so he could eat something when he got hungry but he, like every other kid also had a bag of junk food. At maybe around 10am that morning my mom gets a text from my brother saying that he and his friends have no food left. None. He is only 5 ½ hrs into the trip. He told my mom that he was going to spend his money on food and that is it. So he came home with twenty-five dollars and about a year’s worth supply of junk food and makes me think about my trip to D.C. four ago. The first thing I remember about the trip is about food. Me and my friend, Victoria were sitting together and it was probably around 6am and we were hungry. We decided that we didn’t want to eat the food our parents gave us for breakfast but the junk food we had instead. Victoria got out this massive bag of Pirates’ Booty, and when we tried to open it, it ended up face down on the ground, spilling out everywhere. While a normal child would decide to throw away the stuff that fell on the floor, we decided that we were going to eat it anyway. So we ate food off of a bus floor, I look back on that moment and have to say it was one of the stupider things I had done at that age. I also look back on it and like to think that I wouldn’t eat the food off the floor again and I hope I am right. I also look back on it as a memory that we will always share with each other and that we will always get a laugh out of it. -Allie S.

One wheat, turkey, footlong sub with provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, olives, cucumbers, green peppers, and to top it all off- light mayonnaise. This sandwich has become my weekly usual at Subway. I devour this meal at least two times a week. I feel like when the workers see me walk in they think, "Oh, look it's this girl again." To me, I don't see why everyone doesn't adore subway. A recent poll online asked whether people prefer taco bell or subway, and taco bell came out on top with a 59% to 41% ratio. This simply doesn't make sense to me. Subway actually cares about the nutrition in it's food, and is twenty times healthier than taco bell- not to mention more delicious. A few years back, it became known to the public that Taco Bell's beef was actually only 35% meat- and the other 65% were mystery ingredients. Recently, Taco Bell was scrutinized again for having E Coli in their iceberg lettuce, making 68 people seriously ill. I don't understand why or how Taco Bell is still in business when they continue to feed their customers dangerous and unsatisfying food. Subway is the only fast food restaurant that seems to take any pride is their customers at all, and it will continue to be my top choice for many years to come. 
-Lydia Beiter 

This weekend my friend and I decided we wanted to bake a cake. We had already baked the batter and were going to make homemade icing. We were going to use the receipe on the back of the Hershey's cocoa powder box to make the frosting. With the batter already baking in the oven, we realized we didn't have enough of the ingredients that the icing receipe called for. We already had the cocoa powder, sugar, and vanilla in the bowl. After not knowing what we should do, I knew that I didn't want to waste all the powder. My friend found a can of valentines day icing so we decided to experiment and mix the pink icing with the cocoa powder and other ingredients. At first it got really dry and wasn't mixing well. We added a little bit of milk and kept stirring it and eventually it got to the right consistency. Although it was chaotic and we thought it was going to be horrible, it actually tasted like homemade frosting! 
-jenna c

“Wake Up Wraps” Each month I seem to have some inspiration based on some experience I had with a particular food. Last month was Irish Soda Bread. This month, after going to Dunkin’ Donuts and trying their “Wake Up Wrap” I really liked the idea, but it needed some tweaking. This gave me a great idea. It was a simple and quick snack or breakfast which with some changes and a freshly made taste would be something I’d love to eat. I start out with a tortilla that I warmed up in the oven and then whisk some eggs together with a little water for a lighter texture, basically an omelet, then pour out a very thin layer of egg mixture on to a saut pan while a slice of cheese and whatever other ingredients are available. Thinly sliced mushrooms or sautéed peppers are among some of my favorites for a very savory vegetarian option. I will also sometimes add meats, like ham, bacon, and sausage which make for a great breakfast choice. Once I have the extras, my omelet is just about done cooking. The consistency is very crepe-like and the swirling and flipping method is how I cook the egg. Then, I put the thin, warm omelet over the tortilla, cheese, and toppings which melt the cheese just right. I then drizzle on a little bit of ketchup, fold the wrap in half and am good to go. These are great for hurried mornings or an afternoon snack. With endless possibilities, this revamped version of a Dunkin’ Donuts classic is great for anyone, and makes an easy and tasty meal for anyone on the go. -BD 

Coming into baking and pastry, I had no idea what to expect. From previous experiences I generally knew how to cook. However, I also knew I was bad at it from these same experiences. I barely knew how to properly crack an egg. In fact, while making chocolate chip cookies about a year ago, I cracked an egg on a countertop which is a bad idea to begin with, and when I split the egg all of its content spilled onto the floor. Let’s just say my friend never let me crack an egg again.
However, despite these learning experiences, I went into this class with an open mind and an empty tummy. I was able to fill them both with yummy goodies. Almost everyday we get the privilege of making a new food. So far, my favorite recipe was the pretzels. Although we had trouble with time while baking them, they came out more perfect than ever before and I ate every single one. They were topped with the perfect amount of butter and salt and were hot and steamy to the touch.
I am so happy for having stumbled upon this class while choosing my Junior year courses. I took it in hopes of becoming a better cook, but I ended up liking it a lot more than I expected. So far, I have made great progress and I hope to continue to imporove my baking skills.

Julia L.

I am usually a very picky eater. I am not one for venturing out on a menu. I stick to the kids menu still even as a sophomore in high school, the classic pasta and chicken fingers. My dad has been trying to get me to eat new and exciting meals like my sister does, but I never usually budge. It’s been a while since I’ve looked on the menu for something that I’ve never had before. This weekend I made an interesting discovery. We were ordering Chinese food this Saturday when my friends were over and my friend doesn’t particularly like Chinese food. She chose to eat chicken fingers because it was something familiar and that she knew she would like. I usually get the sweet and sour chicken, which cost $7.50. I decided to get chicken fingers this time with my friend and they were only $6.30. When it got delivered to my house, it was the exact same thing as what the sweet and sour chicken is! It was a dollar cheaper and I actually found that I liked this meal better because it did not come with the sides that the sweet and sour chicken came with. What I learned from this experience was that venturing out on the menu and not being so closed-minded really came in handy this time!
-JennaC

It's some people’s tradition to gather around the table every Sunday with all their family and enjoy a big meal. Well coming from a small family like mine with not a lot of extending family to celebrate with we need to make a spin on tradition. Every other Sunday we get together with our family friends for Sunday dinner, traditionally that means a beautiful decorated table and a perfectly home cooked meal; well we have mismatched china and whatever was on sale that week. But I think that is why I love it so much. Dinner is sitting around the table sharing moments together; it doesn't have to be a huge production. My Sunday night dinners may not be perfect to others but to us they're a staple in our lives. This week I brought some bread we learned to make in baking and pastry, we passed it around the table shared stories and smiles, a perfect Sunday night dinner in my book.

-Kara C

This month, with our Irish heritage, we celebrated quite traditionally with St. Patrick’s Day. This was all due to baking and pastry class actually. The Thursday before St. Patrick’s Day, I went home after making Irish Soda Bread with Rick and Justin. I was so pleased with how they had come out, that I went home and after a little research combined and tweaked a couple online soda bread recipes and ended up with my own. I whipped up a batch that night and after 35 minutes I had a steaming loaf of soda bread before me. It came out, great if not better than the ones we had made in class. I especially like how I put sugar in the raw to make a sweet crust on the outside. That was delicious. The whole family enjoyed them so much that come Saturday I had already made four loaves and it inspired my mom to make corned beef and cabbage. I was quite skeptical about corned beef and cabbage because it sounds not so appetizing, and gave the house a funny smell while it was cooking in a sauce pot. But, when we put it on a bed of dumpling noodles, it tasted amazing. Each flavor blended perfectly and I went back for seconds. But I credit it all to making Irish Soda in class, and sharing it with my family, because had I not, I would never been able to taste and try a new dish I probably never would have considered trying. Back to the soda bread, I did some experimenting with caraway seeds, which I personally like, but my family not so much, I made a loaf of half with caraway seeds, and half without. With the comparison, I must say the caraway half had a heartier, fuller flavor, with earthy taste and aroma, whilst the non-seed half had a cakey and dessert-like flavor and semblance. Either way you choose, you can’t go wrong, so get out there and make some for yourself to enjoy! -BD

For my mom's birthday dinner last Tuesday, we went to the Indian restaurant, Kolam, for the first time. My parents had been begging me and my sister to try Indian food since we moved to Connecticut four years ago, but we refused each time. So when my mom's 50th birthday rolled around, of course, this is where she chose to dine. The whole car ride there, my sister and I glared at our parents through the mirrors- furious with the fact that we were being FORCED to eat this revolting type of food. When we arrived at the restaurant and I was haneded a menu, it took me 20 minutes to find something that even sounded halfway appealing. After debating between Kozhi Chettinad, Balti Murgh, and the Chapla Pulusu, I decided that the Balti Murgh would probably make me feel the least sick to my stomach. We got our food and my mom and dad scarfed down their dishes immediately, but I just stared aimlessly at mine, the strong scent of chilli and spices seeping up my nose. Actually, it smelled pretty good. I wanted to prove a point to my parents, but eventually I gave in, cut off a piece of the chicken,and cautiously placed it into my mouth. My eyes closed and the delicious flavor encompassed my mouth. This was the most appetizing piece of food I had ever tasted in my life. Why hadn't I been willing to try Indian food earlier? My family and I make sure to eat either lunch or dinner at Kolam once every month or so, since it is now all of our favorite restaurant.
-Lydia B

Recently a friend and I decided to attempt something we could only dream of. A Bacon weave. We set out to the local market to find a pound of bacon worthy of this milestone. (The cheapest one) After we purchased it we headed to the kitchen. We then preheated the oven and got a baking sheet, we then began to weave the bacon together one strip at a time, once it was all weaved to perfection we threw it in the oven. Then we sat for what was the longest 8 minutes of our lives. While it was in the oven phone calls began pouring in from neighbors all over the block wondering if they could come over because the aroma had spread all over town. Once we fought off all the hungry citizens, it was time for the epic flip it took both of us at the same time each with a spatula. Stuck the landing. Once our weave was done we melted cheese on top and placed it over smiley face fries. We had created a ooey gooey, melty, crunchy, salty, wonderful treat. -NR