Time flies...

Either it's me or it's the cause of the Japan earthquake, but time seems to be moving pretty quickly. First, I'm entering high school for the first time, and next, we're almost done with our school year. High school has its pros and cons.

Pros:
- Cool and fun clubs to join
- BETTER FOOD than middle school or elementary
- Wide variety of classes to choose from

Cons:
- Friends drift away to other high schools
- More studying for finals
- Sleepless nights (yes, this is the main reason I chose to sleep instead of blogging.. sorry.)

Here's a quick recipe:
-1 cup of de-vained shrimp
-1 diced garlic
-1/4 large tomato
-1/4 cup of olive oil
-Marinara sauce
-Oregano (UNLIMITED :P)
-Lemon for zest

1. Put olive oil in the pan. Put the shrimp in the pan and let it simmer/sizzle on medium-high heat until pink
2. Dice the garlic and tomato together and put it into the pan. Make sure you stir often.
3. Add as much lemon juice as you please into the pan.
4. Once cooked, take the nice shrimpy meal into a bowl. Add more lemon if you'd like. Also, add oregano for a yummy taste.
5. Put the marinara sauce into a small bowl.
6. Grab a fork and dip the shrimp into the marinara sauce and happily  into your mouth.

I do not have a picture right now, but I will in the future. Alright, well it's time for me to go back to sleep. I will blog a new recipe and post a picture of the delicious shrimp later.

Signing off,
Simi

STRESS- it happens to everyone.

One of the reasons, I haven't kept you updated on the latest things is because of all the finals and tests I have to take. Not to mention, taking care of my family and the house. All of this work jammed into 1 (that's right 1!) due date. Is completing all my work possible? I actually do not know the exact answer to it. Stress probably usually happens to the procrastinators. The let everything go the last minute where they pile on all the work they "forgot" to do. I have to admit -- I am a procrastinator. But I really try not to procrastinate! Yet, the load piles up on me to clear. Stress can also happen to anybody. Whether it's friends, family, school, work, or anything that you're involved in. Sure, a little stress is good, but when you have a lot of stress, it can slow you down.
If you see the list of things I have to do, you might become stressed yourself. This is why I wouldn't put my list of "Things to Do" here for you. I will tell you that there is about 33 things I have to do. I actually calculated my work  just now. Hehe.

Have you ever felt stressed out? How on earth do you calm down?! Well....

1. FIRST, you breathe. It makes you feel at least half releived.
2. SECOND, you call a friend and start letting all your feelings out. You may also use a diary.
3. THIRD, think "This isn't so hard. It isn't impossible. I can do this! It just takes step by step to resolve this issue."
4. Lastly, FOURTH, drink water. It actually calms you down a little. Try it!

Anyways, for now, I have to go do my things. Please let me know on some things that stress YOU out. Leave comments! I'll try to help ya out. :P

P.S.: A recipe is coming soon! Check in the weekend. It'll probably be there.

Recipe #1- Simi's Somosas

Hey I know it's been quite a while since I've blogged. But I'm back!

Let me introduce you to the somosa! A somosa is a triangle (may be bite-sized) crispy appetizer (or meal, depending on size) usually filled with vegetables or ground beef mixed with spices. Of course, you can fill it with any other filling (that should be something salty). You have to fry these things. I always think it's a little too unhealthy, so I've created with somosas that shouldn't use that much oil, except for the oil that's already inside the bread part and the little butter you put on the pan.

8 somosas

Ingredients:
- 2 uncooked tortillas
- teaspoon of egg mixed
- 1/2 cup filling
- Small amount of butter

**For the filling, I suggest any kind of vegetable curry. Indian vegetable curry is also very good, and preferred**

STEP 1: Take 1 tortilla. Cut the tortilla evenly into fourths.

STEP 2: Take one piece of the tortilla. Scoop up a teaspoon of filling and plump it on the tortilla.

STEP 3: Fold one corner in. Take your clean finger and stick it in the egg. Then, smother it on the tortilla gently. Fold the next corner in. Put the egg on again. Fold the last corner in.

STEP 4: Get a non-stick pan or get a regular pan and put light butter on it. Put the somosa on it. Cook on medium and until all of it is light brown. This may take 4 minutes. Please turn somosa about every 20 seconds or however many times you think it is better to cook.

STEP 5: Repeat for the next 7 somosas.

Dipping?
If you are interested in dipping, I suggest regular ketchup or plain yogurt. Perhaps some indian raitha or chutney.

There is my first recipe. Please tell me how it goes for you. If you have some problems or questions, please ask in the comments! Enjoy your food!

How to Survive the CST or any other BIG tests.

HEY PEOPLE! Tomorrow is my State Standards CST/STAR testing. Ever wonder how to go through it, without overwhelming yourself? We all start out with the basics. Of course you need good sleep, healthy food, and a brain. But, there's still more things to do to take the test smoothly. Try these simple tips below.

1. During your test, tap your feet. Not only does it keep you awake, but it also feels like you are occupied. Plus, it may relieve your stress. Besides, you're excercising!
2. If you are taking a final on a scantron (or any other bubbling sheet) and there isn't enough time to fill it all out, just do as much as you can and think fast. In the last 2 minutes, bubble all the rest of the questions the same answer (Ex: 1. A, 2. A, 3. A, 4. A etc.). I suggest the letter B actually. WARNING: If you are taking the CST or any other important tests without time limit, TAKE YOUR TIME. It doesn't matter who finishes first. It matters who gets the answer correct.
3. If you can, try to have some fine instrumental music stuck in your head while taking the test. It helps you be more relaxed, think smoothly, and you won't feel that alone. I prefer Mozart. WARNING: Don't have slow music in your head! It'll only make you drowsy! Stay awake during the test, please. DO NOT have any distraction music. The distraction will most likely fail most of the questions.
4. DO NOT HAVE ANY DISTRACTIONS (if possible) 
5. Face AWAY from your friends during the test. It makes you think clearer.
6. Breathe! No need to panic. It's just a test. You'll eventually get through it. Breathing helps you stay alive.
7. Stay positive during testing. Staying positive will most likely let your brain think that this test isn't ok. It's all psychologic. If you stay negative during testing, it will cause a negative effect and you won't test well.
8. NEVER say "I'm going to FAIL!" or "I'm soo going to ace this." If you say this the failure way, again, you are only convincing your brain that you will, and maybe you'll jinx yourself. If you say this the acing way: Sure. It's positive. But, you're being way too confident. You don't want to have high expectations. Always say "I'm going to face this test," happily.
9. Back straight! (good posture)
10. Think: "I'm almost finished!", "I can do this!", "This isn't so bad." It makes you feel like you have a goal.
11. If you're having a Language Arts/English tests and one of those vocabulary fill-in-the blanks or some other questions that might be similar to that, put your hand over your mouth and say it in that sentence. This will prevent cheating from others who are watching your face (THAT'S JUST CREEPY.) But hey! It's true.
12. HAVE A GOAL AT THE END. You need something to look forward to. But nothing to keep you distracted during the test.

Ok so that's all my tips! I hope you "face" that test. Hopefully my tips work. Please leave comments on how/if these tips help. If it didn't, just say so! (Politely, please.)

WARNING: Only read this if you want to ruin your appetite.

The other day, I was watching "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" with Guy hosting it. I found it pretty interesting the way the simplest fast food could become so popular! Isn't it funny the way that we watch the food channel and then it suddenly makes us hungry? Well, the same happened to me. I was nearly mouth-watering to see the tasty entrees and meals. Then... my appetite vanished when I heard about this unusual meal.

There is this amazing diner in this island, probably near New York. They have a popular food item that I find disgusting. They call it a "fatty". Have YOU ever heard of such thing? What it is, is that they get all the fat from pork. It clumps up into a thick strip. Then, they fry it completely! They add a little salt, serve it with with sauce, and TA DA! The fatty has been made. Disgusting, isn't it? The gross part is that the customers of the diner eat it right in front of the camera. Yummy... not. It's obviously so unhealthy. IT'S FRIED FAT FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. Lol.

I am probably not going to watch that show for a while. Haha. Don't get me wrong, it probably tastes very appetizing to other people. But for me, I never want to try such a thing.

My 1/2 Burnt Hand and Hello!

Hello to you people who are reading this blog! I hope you enjoy reading it. So... I'm going to make the whole intro thing fast since it's pretty late. So, ENJOY!



A few days ago, I burnt my hand. How, you may ask?? Well, my mother has been very very stressed out. So I decided to be a good girl and try to cheer her up. Let me just say that I love to cook. I will cook anything! Even if it's not that appetizing... Anyways! I decided to make some food for her. I noted that she's been craving some delicious onion rings. So, obviously, I try to make some!

It would be very cool if I made onion rings from scratch. But from my previous experience, I decided it's not such a good idea. Of course, that would be said in another blog. So we have frozen onion rings. You know... the one where you pop into the oven and they come out "fresh"? HAHA. I know what you're thinking... That's how she burned her hand. Well, not exactly. You see, I put the onion rings on a tray. I put the tray in the oven with mittens carefully. I carefully took them out while wearing mittens again. How can I be burned? Well, you see, the onion rings were still a little soft. And instead of putting them back into the oven or putting them on the fry pan, I decided to put them in the toaster oven! Brilliant! I didn't have my mittens on that time. So I touched the tray which just came out of the burning hot oven. I burned my hand! Arn't I smart? Haha.  

Don't worry! I ran to the sink and put some toothpaste on my burns. Toothpaste is an asian cure. Look it up. I'm serious! Lol. I burned half of my hand. I am now HEALED! WOOHOO!