Kids in the Kitchen

St. Patrick’s Day Treats BY KRISTI JOHNSON MARION & EMILY DODSON Fun Summertime Snacks! BY KRISTI J. MARION

Summer is here and it’s time to enjoy the great outdoors. The kids will love nibbling on these fun portable treats while in the backyard, by the pool, or on a picnic!

DISNEY COPYCAT CORNDOGS

INGREDIENTS & SUPPLIES:

¾ cup Yellow cornmeal ¾ cup All-purpose flour 1 Tbsp. Sugar ¼ tsp. Salt 1½ tsp. Baking powder 1 Egg, lightly beaten 2 Tbsp. Honey ¾ cup Buttermilk 2 quarts + 2 tsp. Vegetable oil 12 Hot dogs 12 Wooden skewers Ketchup or mustard for serving

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large Dutch oven or pot, heat 2 quarts of the vegetable oil to 350°. 2. In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Add the egg/ honey buttermilk and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and stir until combined. Let sit 10 minutes. 3. Pat the hot dogs dry and insert a skewer into each. Pour the batter into a tall drinking glass and dip and cook one skewered dog at a time, being sure the batter also coats just a little of the skewer. If the batter is too thick, add a splash of buttermilk. When the batter gets low, tilt the glass to help cover the hot dog. 4. Place into the hot oil to fry. Cook each for about 3 minutes, turning with tongs to be sure they brown evenly. Transfer to a paper towellined plate.

NOTES: • This recipe can be easily doubled. • These freeze easily after cooling by transferring to a ziplock bag. • To reheat, bake at 400° for 15 minutes.

FIRECRACKER POPCORN

INGREDIENTS:

1 bag microwave popcorn 1 cup white candy melts or white chocolate chips 1 package Strawberry or blue Pop

Rocks candy Blue or red sprinkles.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Pop the popcorn according to package directions. Spread onto a cookie sheet to cool. 2. Melt the candy melts or chips in the microwave, stopping to stir every 20 seconds until melted. Drizzle onto the popcorn. 3. While the white candy melt mixture is still “wet,” sprinkle on the Pop

Rocks and sprinkles.

MASON JAR PIES

INGREDIENTS & SUPPLIES:

4 refrigerated piecrusts 12 (4-oz.) small mason jars 1 can cherry pie filling 2½ cups fresh blueberries 1/8 cup sugar ¼ tsp. cinnamon ½ tsp. cornstarch

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Slice two of the piecrusts into quarters.

Press a quarter of crust into each of the jars for the bottom crust, making sure the crust is the same thickness throughout. Trim excess crust to use in the other jars. 2. Fill half of the jars with cherry pie filling. 3. In a large bowl, gently combine the blueberries, sugar, cinnamon and cornstarch until the berries are coated. Fill the top half of the jars.

NOTES: • Don’t overfill the jars or the filling will overflow on baking. • Don’t under-fill them or the pie will deflate. 4. Top the jars with the remaining piecrust in stripes or basket-weave or use small cutters to cut out stars or circle designs. 5. Place the jars on a cookie sheet and bake uncovered for 10 minutes until top crust begins to brown. Remove from oven and cover top with foil and return them to the oven to bake an additional 30 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and hot.

“I do not want art for a few any more than education for a few, or freedom for a few.” ~William Morris

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Alexis Widener 10th Grade Atkins High School Janet Blakely, Art Teacher

Audrey Nelson 11th Grade Reynolds High School Phil Benenati, Art Teacher

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Kinsley Harris 3rd Grade Sherwood Forest Elementary Stephanie Parsons, Art Teacher

Brandon Harris 8th Grade Northwest Middle School Natasha Young, Art Teacher

The View from My Section – A Father’s Perspective

Advice for the Class of 2020

BY A. KEITH TILLEY

This column was originally written around the beginning of the Covid-19 response in the spring for our May issue; however, due to the impact of the changes, we were unable to run it at that time. However, we felt the message, although intended for the Class of 2020, who still deserve to hear it, also resonates with the incoming Class of 2021, as they embark on their most unique senior year. Enjoy!

The Class of 2020 holds a special place in my heart, as it’s also my youngest son’s graduation year as well. A lot of advice this time of year relates to achieving future goals, dreams, and more for these well-deserving come at the most inconvenient times, when you’re not

graduates. I’d like to offer my humble advice in a different area. I want to impart my experience with regard to handling the trials, struggles, obstacles, and speed bumps that are placed in your path along the way. There will be plenty, but you’ll make it through them. Not without some bumps and bruises, threats to your ego and self-esteem, and even your confidence from time to time. But that’s the way life is. It gives you the lows, so you appreciate the highs, and the highs to show you how life’s truly worth living.

There have been times in my own life when I felt like I was on the monkey bars, fingers clinched, hanging on for dear life, because I was too afraid to let go. I didn’t understand at the time that letting go would cause me to fall for sure, but that I would recover from the shortfall and ultimately feel much better as a result. There’ll be times when you are in a job, or situation, that you feel compelled to hang on to, but then eventually realize that life has better plans for you if you’ll just let go of what you know and have faith in what can be.

You’ll have moments when you doubt yourself and your abilities. Others will attempt to climb over you to reach their objectives. In doing so, they may reinforce those doubts and make you lose sight of what you bring to the table. Your ideas will be challenged, your insecure thoughts provoked. As a young person with little life experience, it’ll be easy to fall prey to these aggressive tactics. I implore you not to let that happen and rise above it. When they doubt your ideas, abilities, and perhaps even your value at times, you’ll need to look inside yourself and see your qualities in all the richness they offer. Know that a time will come when they are recognized. Believe it. There’s a line from the Netflix movie The First about the first manned space mission to Mars that says, “People say, I’ll believe it when you see it.” There’s lots of truth in that statement. You have to truly believe in yourself, not just for now, but throughout your lifetime. Keeping that belief strong will give you the resilience and courage you need to see the rewards only your gifts can bring.

Next, what I feel is one of life’s delicate little secrets— opportunity. I’m not talking about “chances” here. “Chances” are those moments life gives you that involve risk, and a reward that may or may not be worth the risk. You’ll get multiple chances in life, but unique opportunities are different because you only get them once. They usually I see it. But they have it backward, belief comes first, then

expecting or perhaps even ready for them.

Nonetheless, you have but one shot at taking advantage of them. Never fear, you’ll most certainly let some pass you by. You won’t always recognize them for what they are at first. Other times, you’ll know as soon as they pass what you missed out on, and you’ll regret your blunder. As the line from the movie The Accountant states, “I spent my whole life only recognizing my lucky breaks after they were gone.”

All is not lost, however, because just as life only gives you a unique opportunity once, it is kind enough to offer another unique opportunity next time to consider. Life doesn’t set out to make you fail; it’s trying to help you. You just have to rise up and take notice. Tracy McMillan, in her Ted Talk, said it best, “Life doesn’t give you what you ask for. It gives you the people, places, and situations that allow you to develop what you asked for.” So, if you pay attention to the signs, being the people and events unfolding before you, the opportunities will become more visible and clear.

Finally, let me leave you with one last piece of very humble advice. Go forward in your life having fun with it. And know not to look for happiness in money, or a job or career, or, most importantly, a life partner. If you go purposefully looking for happiness specifically in those places, you won’t find it. Instead, discover the joy that lives inside you and share it, and let those other things be complementary to your joy. There, you’ll find the happiness you’re looking for.

Congratulations to the graduates of the Class of 2020, and may your glass always be half-full.

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