002 - FEBRUARY 2016
8 EXERCISES TO WARM YOU UP FOR SPRING SPORTS
DMADA CREATIVE BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE MASTERMIND
SUPER BOWL PARTY: Venture Style
STUDENT CREATIVES KICKOFF: HAILEY & ASHLEY
MOM-TAGE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
PLUS
OUR SUPER BOWL STAFF & READERS PICKS Venture Meridian February 2016
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HEADSHOT Kristen Fields
Toni Osmundson - Editor-In-Chief
One Down
...and many, many more to go.
L
aunching the first issue was nerve racking for me. As for any creative, putting your work out there for the world to see is always a gamble. The response I received has been nothing but amazing. I am so lucky to have a welcoming community. This month I ventured to get to know some of our citizens. I meet an true born Irishwoman, who dabbled in everything Meridian; a photographer who not only takes amazing photos, she is beautiful inside and out and she’s only 18 years old; and a wildly awesome creative designer who’s love for the outdoors and baseball has brought him to his passion. What do they all have in common? Meridian. With all the fun I am having, I do not feel like it is work. The start of this venture has me on a high and I do
not see myself coming down from it anytime soon. February is a special month for our family because we get to celebrate football. Our theme for this month only seemed fitting. Football has been a staple in our household. It’s more than just a game. When our oldest, Scott, started playing we were not sure what to expect out of it. With great coaches, Scott has learned life long lessons; play hard, practice your passion, team work, sportsmanship and the tenacity to achieve your dream, if you want it bad enough.
student athletes that not only excel in sports, but in the meaning of sportsmanship on and off the field. We are not only investing in their time to play a game, but to learn how to be a better person, citizen and even mentor.
@toni_osmundson @toni_osmundson
Football is not just a game, it’s a drive towards achievement. In retrospect, it instills the values in us we could not have found in any other way. We believe in the impact of sports, and not just football. That is why we strive to find our
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INSPIRATION
“Always do more than is required of you.” George S. Patton
PHOTO Ali Smith of Adam with Dmada Creative *Submit your photos and quotes for the Inspiration section to toni@venturemeridian.com
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LIST OF CONTENTS
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SUPER BOWL PARTY: VENTURE SYTLE CONTRIBUTORS CORNER 06 08 VENTURE FAMILY FEEDBACK 10 12 DMADA CREATIVE CO. STAFF SUPER BOWL PICKS 22 24 8 EXERCISES TO WARM YOU UP FOR SPRING SPORTS STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: RYAN & TRENTON 26 34 STUDENT CREATIVE: HAILEY & ASHLEY 42 COMMUNITY MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: DEBBIE 44 MOM-TAGE: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COVER PHOTO Sydney Studios & Co
MODELS The Hamlins
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CONTRIBUTORS CORNER W
ith our second issue we searched for another round of contributors for the magazine. We again were honored with the outstanding response. We could not have done this without these amazing, wonderful people. From the Venture Family, we thank you from the bottom of our heart.
Jessica Hanson
CONTRIBUTORS
Jessica is married to Noah and a mom of two spunky kids. She’s an Idaho blogger, photographer and addicted to coffee. She gains support from her husband, who is often the subject of her photos, and her seven year old daughter, who is mostly behind the camera. Jessica was born and raised in Eastern Washington but now calls the Treasure Valley home. She loves fashion, crafting, thrift store shopping and making good food for people. Check out her blog at: www.domesticblissed2.com
Heath Van Patten
Heath is an authorized Adventure Boot Camp instructor in Meridian and a Certified Personal Trainer and Performance Enhancement Specialist. When you work with Heath and Meridian Adventure Boot Camp, you work as a team, to overcome any obstacle that gets in your way. Heath has been in the fitness industry for 15 years, with 8 years working specifically with athletes and sports programs. He fits right in with our community and our family here at Venture Meridian. Be sure to follow Heath and Meridian Boot Camp on Twitter: www.twitter.com/idahobootcam Facebook: www.facebook.com/meridianbootcamp Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ meridianbootcamp/ and visit his website: http://meridianbootcamp.com about-us-heath-van-patten/
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VENTURE MERIDIAN READERS We also reached out to our readers and asked them for their best Super Bowl recipes and traditions.
READERs’ SUBMISSIONS
Cauliflower Wings Submitted by: Kevin Scrima
Buffalo Wings Submitted by: Clarence Taylor
Decoration Ideas Submitted by: Jessica Hanson
Kevin is an NASM certified personal trainer with over 7 years experience helping many people across the Treasure Valley accomplish their goals.
Clarence is a self-taught chef with master skills on the Traeger. He spends his time perfecting his buffalo wings receipe.
Jessica is an Idaho blogger with the love of making healthy food.
PHOTO BY: Jessica Hanson
Snack Stadium Jessica, an Idaho blogger, submitted a snack stadium for an online contest. Her snack stadium received top 10 best snack statiums in the contest. See page 18 for the full article on these wonderful snacks, dishes and decor.
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VENTURE FAMILY S TA F F Angela Pierce Student/Sports Writer
Mikaela Rencher Writer
Angela joins our team as our sports and student writer. Her passion is football and sports in general. You will usually find her at a Boise State Football game or volunteering at the optimist fields. She also pops her head into high school sports games when she is scouting future athletes and students for our spotlight section.
Mikaela is mom to Myla and wife to Jeff. Although she resides in Twin Falls, her heart and most of her family are here in Meridian. She visits often and has so many ties within our community. That is why we chose her for our Mom-tage column. As a young mom she experiences everything a new mom goes through. Her column will not only entertain you, but give you hope that you’re not alone.
You can email her at angela@venturemeridian.com If you know of any athletes, students or teachers in the community who deserve the spotlight.
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The Mom-tage will be featured monthly and if you have any questions you would like for her to address, please feel free to email her at mikaela@venturemeridian.com
FEBRUARY 2016 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CO-CREATOR Toni Osmundson
CO-CREATOR John Ellis
Debbie Shaner Photographer
Ali Smith Photographer
Debbie is a volunteer for the Rocky Mountain Football Association as the team photographer for both the Freshman and Varsity teams. Debbie’s passion for learning photography has lead her to volunteer her time for her local high school. Photography is her hobby and she loves it. You can see more of Debbie’s work at www.rockyfootball.com.
An Idaho native, Ali Smith is a photographer specializing in newborn,family and women’s custom portraiture serving the Treasure Valley for the last six years. She is also a mother of three who enjoys cooking,gardening, and reading. Each year she joins other photographers and volunteers to bring the Help-Portrait event to the area, providing free family portraits to those in need in the community. As the event coordinator, this is a project she is very passionate about and is thankful to be able to use her talents to give back.
Please contact Debbie at dashaner@msn.com if you would like her work and love to work with her.
You can follow Ali and see her work here: Facebook: www.facebook.com/alismithphotography Instagram: @alismithphotog Blogsite: www.alismithphotography.com
Vol. 001, Venture is published monthly by Venture Publishing, LLC. 386 E. Producer Dr., Meridian, ID 83646. For customer service or mailing inquires please email social@venturemeridian.com. Venture considers its sources reliable and verifies as much data as possible, although reporting inaccuracies can occur; consequently, readers using this information do so at their own risk. Although persons and companies mentioned herein are believed to be reputable, neither Venture Publishing, LLC. nor any of its employees accept any responsibility whatsoever for their activities. Advertising Sales (208) 724-3740. Venture is printed in the USA and all rights are reserved. ©2016 by Venture Publishing, LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher. All letters sent to Venture will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication, copyright purposes and use in any publication or brochure, and are subject to Venture’s unrestricted right to edit and comment.
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Feedback INSTAGRAM We had a lot going on in our Instagram world. “We have been so excited to see the coming together of the new Venture Meridian Magazine. There is a glut of options out there-- community magazines, newspapers and websites. But none have stood out. None have taken the extra steps to go behind the scenes, to dissect a person, a business or in our case, an event and then explain to the community all the ingredients that come together to make it tick. We think Venture Meridian will provide insights and behind the scenes that will help all who live in the Treasure Valley learn more, live better and get engaged in what makes our community stand apart.” -- Lonni Leavitt-Barker Founder, Baldapalooza Charitable Organization
JOIN US
001 - JANUARY 2016
Create your dream
Creative Artist Kickoff With Ourr Comic Series
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CHALLENGES TO ROCK THAT NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION
Behind the academy
INTRODUCTING:
MOM-TAGE RAW, UNADULTERATED, MOTHER-TALK
MERIDIAN: BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN 2015 Venture Meridian January 2016
Blog Each week we bring you mini samples of Venture. Visit venturemeridian.com/theblog
News Updates on all things Venture and Meridian Visit venturemeridian.com/news
Venture Meridian February 2016
We connected with this blogger on Instagram. We got to sit down with this gal and her wonderful husband, Noah. We loved their hi-fives as we spoke about their blog and Venture.
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Our first issue in January featured this adorable couple on our cover. Heather and Nick have been behind this magazine since the lightbulb that sparked in our EditorIn-Chief’s head. When our she asked them to pose for a photo, they did it like they were on the runway. We would like to give them a special Thank You!
We invite you to enjoy the latest news, recipes, and blog post from Venture Meridian.
Events Check out what’s happening in Meridian and the Treasure Valley. Visit venturemeridian.com/events
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Evolution Football
We gave you some sneak peaks at what was going on at Rocky Mountain this month. We got to be there as Coach Criner recieved the 5A State Coach of the Year. They kept it a secret from him and he was surprised. TELL US ABOUT IT Our Facebook fans, Instagram followers and Twitter followers are buzzing about what matters in Meridian. Come join the VENTURE. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/VentureMeridian Like us on Instagram: instagram.com/venturemeridian email: social@venturemeridian.com
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BUSINESS
Adam runs an online company called Dmada Creative. He hopes to open a store in Meridian, since he loves the iconic downtown and wants to see it grow to its fullest potential. “The idea was to start a creative company that catered to many different interests that people have centered around the outdoors.�
PHOTOS BY Ali Smith Photography WRITTEN BY Toni Osmundson
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he first thing one notices upon entering Adam’s home is a refurnished 70’s cabinet that was used as a TV stand. To the right of it stands a handmade chair made with a sleek wood finish arms, and a door redone on large vintage wheels stands as the coffee table. The classic print designs, made by Adam himself, cover the walls above his workspace. It is no wonder how amazing Adam’s products are. His creativity shows everywhere in his home. Adam runs an online company called Dmada Creative Co. (DCC). His products range from creative designed prints, candles, notebooks and Heritage Ball Caps. His passion to support local companies and campaign for People over Profit makes Adam unique from the others. His top priority is the quality of his work. He makes small batches of each shirt and hats he designs. The nostalgia of art work has gone to mass production and he wants his products to feel unique and the owners to have the feeling they only have one of a handful of this particular item. When he first launched his company in October 2015, he set some low standards, but with his sales tripling within that first month, he was motivated to look into opening a store in Meridian. He loves the historic look of the buildings and hopes to have a store front in downtown Meridian someday. “I think it would be great to see a thriving downtown Meridian someday with local shops, art galleries, cafes, and local breweries. Dmada wouldn’t be where it is in these short three months if it weren’t for all of the support of many companies I have had the honor in working with, my wife and kids, and family and friends!” Here’s what Adam told me about himself and his company. “It has been a long journey the last ten years juggling day time jobs, and my creative work. For me, creative work is my relaxation from the everyday grind, a stress reliever if you will. A constant change of pace, a new challenge with every client, and taking a concept and turning it into something tangible is the ultimate reward. We win some and we lose some along this journey, but most importantly we have to continue to push on. The idea was to start a creative company that catered to many different interests that people have centered around the outdoors. To produce quality goods and to source things locally regardless of profit margins. Everything we sell is sourced and made in the U.S. My goal was to offer my customers items that were in limited supply and once they were sold out, we wouldn’t re-introduce that product
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again. This way it gives customers a feeling as if they have an art piece or something unique that not everyone can get. My parents raised us with the mindset that you work hard everyday for something, you stand up for what you believe in and you don’t take hand outs from people. Each day you do your best and respect those around you. My dad worked in the cable industry so we moved a lot when we were younger.” With his dad in the cable industry he moved to Reno as a little kid. His family returned to Idaho in 2001. Adam graduated from Meridian High School in 2005 and has called Meridian home since. Adam, along with his wife, raise their two girls in this city. Not only is Adam a creative creature, he also coaches soccer for U11 boys. He is also an avid baseball fan. He also enjoys backpacking, mountain biking and riding motorcycles. When you purchase a product from Dmada, he had writes a note with every package he sends out. The personal touch he brings adds to the local aspect. Adam takes special care in every package he sends out. He handpicks the best products to sell, all with a story behind them. The printing company he uses for his ball caps, Ebbets Field Flannels are based out of Seattle Washington. All his prints are down locally by Evermore Prints, LLC in Boise. He states that Jack and Moriah, the owners, are “awesome to work with!”. Great Bear Wax Co., is where he buys their candles from and they are all hand-poured in Birmingham, Alabama. Field Notes Brand, (see right photo) make these easy to carry memo packs, pencils and pens. Featured here are some of the items he carries. Be sure to check out Adam’s store online at www.dmadacreative.com. Follow him on Instagram @damda creative and Facebook /dmadacreative
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ENTREPRENEURTUESDAYS DO YOU KNOW AN OUTSTANDING ENTREPRENEUR? SOMEONE WHO STANDS OUT? POST ON TUESDAYS ON INSTAGRAM AND THEY MAY GET A FEATURE IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE
! s r u e n e r p e r t n #venturese
Interested in placing an ad with Venture Meridian? Contact us today at 208.724.3740 or email toni@venturemeridian.com 16
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Photographers Series
Comic strip series Writer/Author Series
*Photographers: Please send a series of 6 photos of your work. They need to be high resolution and 300dpi **Grand Prize will be announced at a later date
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Super Bowl Party:
Venture Style
We guarantee your Super Bowl party will have something for everyone. We will provide you with food ideas (including recipes for those with allergy and/or dietary restrictions), games and decorations.
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PHOTOS BY WRITTEN BY Jessica Hanson Angela Pierce & Toni Osmundson
How are you going to celebrate Super Bowl 50? We at Venture will be going all out. With Super Bowl right around the corner we thought we would take the opportunity to engage our football fans, partythrowers and partygoers. Maybe you have never thrown, planned or attended a Super Bowl party. If that is the case, we have you covered. Venture decided to reach out to an Idaho blogger, Jessica Hanson, and her husband, Noah Hanson, for this month’s issue. They were able to share some advice on what to eat and how to decorate. We also reached out to our readers and some of Venture’s staff to provide their best Super Bowl recipes or traditions. Now, we can confidently supply you with what you need to know to throw a Super Bowl Party: Venture Style. We guarantee your Super Bowl party will have something for everyone. We will provide you with food ideas (including recipes for those with allergy and/or dietary restrictions), games and decorations. Jessica is not only a blogger, but also mother of two, wife to Noah, and a photographer. She recently entered an online contest calling for the best football snack stadium ideas. Being the creative that she is, she and Noah started right away on the design and construction. Their football snack stadium placed in the top ten above all other contestants who entered the contest. Not only did they receive a prize for placing in the top ten, but they also received some recognition from the
Treasure Valley (including Venture). It was what you call perfect timing. Our Editor-In-Chief, Toni, saw the football snack stadium post on Jessica’s Instagram account (domesticblisssquared) and the tutorial on her blog (domesticbliss2. com) and wanted to know more. So there we were, sitting in a coffee shop days later talking football and food. Jessica and Noah shared that they wanted their stadium to look 3-D. In order to do so, they used soda cans, scrap pieces of Styrofoam, aluminum serving dishes, tiered pantry shelf organizers, disposable cups, and plastic bowls. Once design and construction were complete, they moved on to filling each dish with something different. “Since we have a variety of food allergies and different diets among our friends and families, we chose to use a variety of healthy snacks, as well as seven different kinds of dips,” stated Jessica. These dips included: fruit dip, salsa, hummus (see page 51 for recipe), ranch, guacamole, sour cream, and a spicy bean and queso blanco. The snack stadium consisted of various dipping vegetables such as: sugar snap peas, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, carrots, and bell peppers. Jessica also suggested using apples, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries as dipping fruits. Miscellaneous snacks in the stadium were: turkey roll ups, pepperoni, cheese cubes, pretzels, candy, and mini bean bowls (see page 53 for recipe). Keep in mind, this snack stadium was customized for a contest. Your snack stadium
can consist of whatever you choose. In addition to the snack stadium, we were pleased with the recipes submitted by our readers. Kevin Scrima, a Certified Personal Trainer submitted a recipe for paleofriendly hot wings (see page 51 for recipe). Clarence Taylor, a selftaught chef, submitted a recipe for homemade chicken wings. Jessica Hanson, an Idaho blogger and photographer, submitted a recipe for kale chips (see page 51 for recipe). Toni Osmundson, Editor In Chief of Venture Meridian Magazine, submitted a recipe for chili cheese dip (see page 53 for recipe). Mikaela Rencher, writer for Venture Meridian Magazine, submitted a recipe for mini cheesecakes (see page 53 for recipe). Angela Pierce, a writer for Venture Meridian Magazine submitted a recipe for pinwheels
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GENERIC THEME (see page 53 for recipe). You know a party has to have more than just food. A party needs games. The focus at a Super Bowl party will of course be the game, but one of our readers, Sean Ball, submitted a neat game called, “Football Squares”. This game is one way to engage guests who attend Super Bowl parties for the socializing and festivities. The game can be made in 4 easy steps.
Step 1:
Draw a 10-by-10 grid so that you end with 100 squares.
Step 2:
Assign one Super Bowl team to the columns and the other team to the rows.
Step 3:
Randomly draw numbers from a can (0-9) and write the number drawn above each column, repeat this step for the rows. Each square
will now represent a specific score in the game.
Step 4:
Allow your guests to pick their squares (evenly divide squares based on how many people are participating in the game). When the Super Bowl starts, Football Squares begin. Determine a winner at the end of the 1st quarter, 2nd quarter, 3rd quarter, and the final score. A winner is determined by looking at the last number in each of the team’s scores, and then matching those numbers on the grid. The square that intersects the two numbers is the winner. What does the person win if their name is on the winning square? That is for you to decide. (Directions for games can be found at www.footballsquares.net) Last, but not least, your party needs some decorations. You could decorate using colored napkins and plates or you can get crafty. Jessica recommends getting a few Skittles, some string and cupcake
PHOTO BY Sydney Studios & Co.
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liners (yellow and red) to make penalty and challenge flag bunting. Another great decorating idea was submitted by Angela. It is as simple as cutting triangles out of fabric that coordinate with each team’s colors and sewing (or gluing) them to string. Whether you are hosting or attending a Super Bowl party this year, have fun. Hopefully these ideas can be of assistance to you and that you, too, will enjoy the Super Bowl: Venture Style.
Thank you to our dear friends, Jessica and Noah, for sharing this amazing snack stadium. Their creativity and amazing personalities are top notch. We had to show you how fun they could be with these photos. Be sure to visit Jessicas blog at www.domesticbliss2.com
PHOTOS BY Jessica Hanson
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Venture SUPER BOWL STAFF PICKS BRANDON:
Denver vs. Arizona Denver has the healthiest team in the AFC, Best Defense and Payton makes good decisions. Arizona has good defense and a good offense. It’s a good balance. And if Arizona goes that means Greenbay will not go. (Brandon is a Viking fan).
CLARENCE:
Panthers vs. Patriots. “My two picks for the superbowl are the Panthers and the Patriots, with the Patriots winning it. My only reason behind the pick is mywife is a die hard Patriots fan. Happy wife, happy life...”
Sean:
Broncos v. Cardinals (Bronco’s winning) “I don’t really have a good reason, I just like Payton.”
Angela:
Broncos v. Panthers (Bronco’s winning) “Cause “the Sheriff” is back in town.”
Toni:
Panthers vs Patriots. I like Brady and I like Cam. I go by how awesome their quarterbacks are.
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Heath:
I am from AZ and I am a big Cardinals fan. I believe they have a really good chance to be Super Bowl 50 Champions. However, I believe Seattle, Carolina, Minnesota, Denver, Pittsburgh, and Kansas City are the other favorites in the NFL right now. I will give my thoughts after this weekend, as well. I believe the Cardinals have a great chance to win for many reasons, in no particular order: 1 Healthy QB - Carson Palmer is having an MVP caliber season. He is 26-4 in the last 30 games he has played over the last three years in AZ. 2 #1 Offense - They have scored the most points, largest point differential, most yards per game and they have 19 different players who have scored a TD this year (NFL best). The will be tough to stop. 3 #4 Defense - They were in the top 5 before the last game of the season against Seattle but that was a game that wasn’t worth anything. 4 Coaching - The last 2 of 3 years the head coach, Bruce Arians, has one coach of the year. In addition, they have more coaching experience on the team than any other team. I believe they have 3 coaches that have been in the NFL for 35+ years each. Of course, I am biased, however, they have been predicted as Super Bowl favorites from many of the top analysts (which doesn’t say much) and are known as the deepest team. The NFL playoffs are all about momentum and playing your best at each of the “one game seasons.” If you have a bad game, you are sitting on the couch. I predict Minnesota, Green Bay, Pittsburgh, and Kansas City this weekend.
We will post on Instagram and Facebook who came out the victors. Be sure to follow us.
@venturemeridian /venturemeridian
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HEALTH/FITNESS
8 EXERCISES TO WARM YOU UP FOR SPRING SPORTS We will procrastinate and think we have all the answers, but in the end, we need to stay humble and find professionals who can advise us and assist us.
Hey Guys! This article is for you. The Super Bowl will be here on February 7th and that is (or at least should be) the moment when you should start your training for all of your activities from April to November. If you haven’t been training at all, it is imperative to be proactive opposed to reactive at this time. The more reactive you are, the higher chance you will sustain some sort of injury in the future. Taking as little as 5-10 minutes per day will help you exponentially. Are you ready? Lets go! The main focus for you is to keep it super simple. Assuming your flexibility is better than average (usually not the case for guys) I recommend doing the following exercises every day.
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1. Plank 1-2 minutes 2. Crunches 25-50 repetitions 3. Push ups as many as possible for 1 minute
4. Back Extensions 25 repetitions 5. Jumping Jacks 1-2 minutes 6. High Knees in place 1-2 minutes 7. Butt kicks in place 1-2 minutes 8. Skater Jumps 1-2 minutes The above 8 exercises can be done with breaks between each exercise but preferably as a super set (no rest). Do as many rounds as possible based on your time. Note: it is highly recommended to visit with a personal trainer, physical therapist, or doctor to check your vitals, and/or flexibility. Tip: Make this year the start of your annual physicals to get blood drawn and do a full health assessment. It will save you money and years on your life decades from now! Of course, we are guys and we all think we have the answers. We will procrastinate and think we have all the answers, but in the end, we need to stay humble and find professionals who can advise us and assist us. I promise you if make these daily choices and combine with some healthy choices you will receive amazing results. Not only will you look and feel better but your sports performance will improve while limiting your chance of injury. Can you do this? Can you set aside a minimum of 5-10 minutes each day to improve your health? Schedule “your fitness time” into your busy schedule and make it happen. Your body, and mind, will thank you come football season next year.
PHOTOS BY Sydney Studio’s & Co of Evoution Football Spring Camp WRITTEN BY Heath Van Patten
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT There are times in life when you choose to be busy and there are times in life when busy chooses you.
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PHOTOS BY Debbie Shaner WRITTEN BY Angela Pierce
RYAN
Ryan is not shy when it comes to community involvement. He is often seen around town volunteering for various events. He also happens to play football for Rocky Mountain High School. There are times in life when you can choose to be busy and then there are times in life when busy chooses you. High school is one of those times that you get to choose. One Meridian student who has chosen to stay busy is Ryan. As a senior this year, he is able to look back and reflect on the choices he has made over the last four years. Choices that have taught him life lessons, introduced him to new people, honed his leadership skills, and the importance of community involvement. As someone who grew up in the Meridian community and attended Meridian schools his whole life, his favorite thing about school in Meridian is, “You can be involved in the community, go to school, and in the summer do different activities.” Ryan has spent his high school years at Rocky Mountain High School. Rocky Mountain has presented numerous opportunities for him to stay busy. Some opportunities have taught him that learning extends beyond the classroom. Serving as ASB President, Ryan has taken on a tremendous amount
of responsibility throughout the academic year. Responsibility that was entrusted to him by his peers (they elected him). If you ask Ryan, becoming ASB president has, “Allowed my confidence to go up and gave me an opportunity to lead the school, voice students’ opinions, and give students a voice.” In this role, Ryan has had the opportunity to plan events, collaborate with other students, and assign tasks. “Learning to work with people, set aside differences, voice opinions, and cooperation” have been the most valuable aspects of becoming ASB President. He is also a member of the National Honor Society. He has learned the importance of community involvement through this program. The National Honor Society gives students the opportunity to volunteer in the communities in which they live in. While Ryan is not able to attend every volunteer opportunity, his favorite is, “Movie Night in Meridian.” It is a family friendly environment where members of the Meridian community are invited to watch a movie on the big screen in Settlers Park.
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Although Ryan stays busy with school related functions, he finds time to do the things he enjoys outside of school. He is an outdoors man. Some of his favorite outdoor activities are: fishing, hunting, camping, dirt biking and snowboarding. Ryan also plays sports. “I have played football since I can remember.” This year Ryan completed his fourth year of high school football. When asked who his biggest inspiration is, Ryan shared that it is Coach Scott Criner, the head football coach at Rocky Mountain High School. “Coach Criner developed me into a good football player, but taught my teammates and I to be state champs on and off the field.” Something that stands out about Coach Criner to Ryan is that, “He is human, and we are all human and what we learn from our mistakes and how we get up, our daily decisions determines our destiny.”
CONFIDENT
While Ryan may not be able to attend every volunteer opportunity, his favorite is “Movie Night in Meridian.” It is a family friendly environment where members of the Meridian community are invited to watch a movie on the big screen in Settlers Park. PHOTO BY Debbie Shaner
This spring, Ryan will graduate from Rocky Mountain High School. Once he graduates he will leave on a two year service mission to teach the gospel. When Ryan returns from his mission, he plans on going to college. His hope is to attend a college where he can receive the best education and scholarships. The schools of his choice are: BYU Idaho, BYU Provo or Utah State. Whatever school Ryan attends, he will with no doubt, choose to keep busy.
PHOTOS BY Hailey Mitchel
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TRENTON Trenton completed his fourth and final year of football at Meridian High School. He is playing basketball and will run track. In addition to all of the sports, he serves the Meridian community as much as he can.
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D
o Good.” This phrase is more than a quote to Trenton, a senior at Meridian High School. It is personal. Whether he is running on the track, jumping around on the basketball court, catching a football mid-field, or singing in the high school choir, he exemplifies what “do good” looks like. As the oldest of five children in his family, he is aware that younger eyes are upon him. In fact, he recalls a time growing up when he was inspired by family. He remembers watching his older cousins “do good” in sports. “I always loved watching my cousins play sports. They were really good. One of my cousins even played basketball at a Junior College,” stated Trenton. Perhaps this was the beginning of Trenton’s work ethic as an athlete. This past fall, Trenton completed his fourth and final year of football at Meridian High School. He earned the opportunity to play running back and wide receiver for the team. In his sophomore year, he earned a spot on Varsity. “Experience and knowledge. I don’t really talk very much, but I get the job done,” was Trenton’s response when asked what he brought to the football team. He admits, “I used to not be the greatest player, but working hard has helped me to get better.” One of Trenton’s favorite quotes is by Gordon B. Hinckley, “Try a little harder, to do a little better” and he has definitely applied this to becoming a better athlete over the years. Currently, Trenton is playing basketball and will run track this spring. He started playing basketball in first grade and has mainly played forward. When trying to decide what he likes most about basketball, he realizes he can not pick one thing. He likes everything about basketball, including “working as a team, playing defense and shutting people down.” This spring, Trenton will compete on the high school’s track team running the 400 meter. He describes track as a conditioning sport, “it gets me in shape for the other two sports I play and makes me faster.” Trenton not only plays sports (all year long), but he gets good grades and sings in the school choir. Off the field, court, and track, he is a member of the National Honor Society. When asked what his favorite subject in school
PHOTOS BY Kiley Barber
WRITTEN BY Angela Pierce
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Venture Meridian February 2016
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EXPERIENCE
is, he responded with “Math. I am just really good with numbers.” Trenton has been singing his whole life and sings in the high school’s choir. This year, the choir students will be going on a trip to Disneyland. Making time to spend with family and volunteer in the community are also important to Trenton. Trenton credits his parents for being his major influences. “My dad has shaped my work ethic and my mom has taught me to be nice to everyone, that is really who they are. Through his dad’s work ethic and his mom’s kindness, Trenton can be found volunteering in middle school classrooms. He encourages students to stay away from tabacco. He also volunteers annually at The Buddy Walk, which is the Treasure Valley Down Syndrome Association Celebration. Trenton enjoys serving the Meridian Community and soon will have the opportunity to meet and serve others around the world. After high school, Trenton will be leaving on a mission for two years. Trenton will find out this Spring where he will serve his mission. In the meantime, he is excited and looking forward to it. When he returns from his mission, Trenton plans on attending Boise State University as an Accounting major and trying out for the football team as a “walk on.”
RIGHT & TOP PHOTO Lana Hope BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO Kristi Bowins
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HAILEY S T U D E N T C R E AT I V E PHOTOS BY Hailey Larson
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WRITTEN BY Ali Smith
Hailey runs her own photography business, teaches piano and guitar to kids, and she’s only 18 years old.
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rom the moment I walked in and met this spunky redhead, I was impressed. Her infectious personality was evident and I immediately found myself drawn to her. As I sat and listened to her story I couldn’t help but be in awe.
A senior at Centennial High School in Boise, Hailey has quite a diverse collection of accomplishments under her belt. She serves as a senior officer on the student council at school and outside of school, she teaches piano and guitar lessons to children ranging in age from five to fifteen. Last summer she was able to go to Guatemala as part of a service trip. They visited three cities while getting a feel for the culture there and even spent a week serving in an orphanage. What she does in and outside school is quite impressive, but what really got us excited and eager to talk with her is the fact that at just 18, she is running and rocking her own photography business! Yeah. We were blown away, too. Hailey’s interest in photography can be traced back to 7th grade. She began perusing online photo blogs and eventually reached out to a photographer that she knew. This photographer helped her learn how to use her camera. They also helped her be able to find and personalize her style of photography, which she describes as “clean, candid and light.” She continued to hone her skills and eventually was asked by friends and family to take photos for them. A neighbor approached her to take their high school senior’s photos. She was nervous during the session, but it was then that she knew that photography was what she wanted to do.
With that knowledge and newly found confidence, she began to realize her worth and started charging for her services. Then, just like that, a business was born. By the end of her sophomore year, she had numerous paying clients and is now receiving more inquiries for sessions than she can take. Her business has grown over the last couple of years and she has found high school seniors to be her perfect target market. After all, she can closely relate to them. She has photographed many of the students at Centennial as well as other local high schools. However, after photographing a couple of weddings she feels that weddings and engagements may be the direction she wants to take her business in the future. When she’s not shooting professionally, she also enjoys networking with other local photographers and getting together with other groups to go out and shoot just for fun. After graduation in May, she will be serving an LDS mission in the fall and upon return wants to attend Utah State. While she’s not quite sure what she would like to major in, she is pretty sure she wants to minor in Spanish. Hailey has got so much going on and on top of it all is her beautiful and bubbly personality. Not to mention her contagious smile and laugh. This girl is going places people, so watch out!
As a high school student it was hard for others to take her seriously. When her work started to progress, a very dear friend and mentor helped her to see that there was real value in what she was providing to others.
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ACCOMPLISHED
Clean, Candid & Light 36
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pizza?
Fun Trivia
A. “Pizza with white sauce, mozzarella, jalapeños and pineapple from Messenger Pizza in Nampa.”
Q. Which photographers inspire you most?
Q. If you could photograph anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?
A. “India Earl, Tessa Barton, and JC Smith
Q. What camera are you shooting with? A. “Samsung NX1”
Q. What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?
A. “This is so hard! I don’t know why, but I’ve always loved when people tell me that I remind them of a friend or a relative. I think that’s so much deeper of a compliment than just saying ‘oh, I like your hair’ or ‘I like your smile.’ I like when people tell me something that makes me feel like I’m a person they can relate to.”
Q. What’s your perfect
A. “I think probably Eleanor Roosevelt. I love her. I think she’s so cool …what she stood for. Her quotes about being a woman and loving yourself and yet she was no beauty queen or fashion queen but she was totally straightforward and honest. She’s one of my biggest heroes.”
Q. If you could be any age for a week, which age would you be?
A. “Oh man, I feel like I’m an old soul stuck in a teenage body. I think it would be so cool to be 80 and just see what it’s like. I think it would be cool to see how people treat you different when you’re elderly vs. how they do when you’re a teenager. I just think that would be interesting.”
“I feel like and old soul stuck in a teegange body. I think it would be cool to be 80 and just see what it’s like.” -Hailey
www.haileylarsonphoto.com @haileylarsonphoto haileylarson@gmail.com
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Ashley is a senior at Meridian High School and a 4.0 student. Her artwork is what she does “to make all the worries go away and my art comes to life on paper.”
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When I met her and her mom for coffee, Ashley brought a stack of notebooks. They were all filled with her work and some of her works in progress. As I flipped through those pages, I could not believe how talented she was at such a young age. She is an amazing artist. When Ashley’s mom first told me about her, I knew I wanted to feature her in the magazine right away. Ashley’s mom is so proud of her daughter and I could see it as she told me about her. Ashley would tell me each story that went with her pieces. I was having a hard time narrowing things down to feature in the magazine. Her passion showed in her drawings.
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GENERIC THEME
A
shley has been drawing for as long as she can remember. For her, art began in middle school. There, she discovered how to utilize her skills. She challenged herself with her school projects. Ashley says that her artwork is what she does “to make all the worries go away. That is where my art comes to life on paper.”
Ashley uses graphite in her drawings and her art seems to come alive with it. She created an abstract of Alice in Wonderland that played right along to each character. She carefully chooses art and characters to display the movie. She chooses to illustrate Alice in Wonderland because it is her favorite Disney movie. Some of her artwork influences are the video game, Diablo, the movie Lord of the Rings and Tim Burton’s movies. She states her art is between “fantasy and creepy”. Ashley wants you to look at her artwork and create a story of your own. She wants you to imagine, not what she was thinking, but what could you see for yourself. Ashley is a senior at Meridian High School. She is a 4.0 student, and thrives to do her best in school. She plans to attend Boise State in the fall, majoring in psychology and continuing to get her masters. She says that it was just natural for people to come to her and ask for advice with any issue they may be having. She feels strongly that it is
PHOTO BY WRITTEN BY Tavit Kassardjian Toni Osmundson
S T U D E N T C R E AT I V E
Ashley
ART WORK BY Ashley
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INSPIRED
her calling.
Ashley keeps herself busy with school and her artwork. She enjoys her escapes with a pad of paper. She hopes to just give some meaning with her artwork, whatever that may be to the person that is looking at it.
I asked Ashley if she could interview anyone dead/alive who would it be and why?
This piece was inspired by the video game, Diablo. The charactors all have great detail.
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Her answer was: “I would interview David Draiman (lead singer of Disturbed) because he is so intelligent and his band is my favorite band ever.�
This piece Ashley created with graphite and an exacto knife.
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Community Member Spotlight
Debbie Shaner Debbie is the parent photographer for the Rocky Football Games. She also volunteers her time as a board member for the Meridian Chamber and has enjoyed every minute of it. We asked Debbie a few questions and here are her answers.
Where are you from? “I was born in Northern Ireland and immigrated to the US in 1982 to California. In 1988, I went back and lived in England for a few years. In 2004 decided to move my family back to Northern Ireland so my husband and boys could experience life in the UK. A year later we took out a map and decided to move back to the States. We chose Meridian, ID not knowing anyone here, and just decided this was the place. That was the best decision ever. We love Meridian and what it has provided for our children and family. In 2006 my mom, sister and her family moved here to join us.
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We love this community and we are proud to call it home.”
What was it like for your family living in Ireland? “It was different for the boys in Northern Ireland. School is very strict there. The students are required to wear full uniforms, including shirt, tie, sweater and blazer. My eldest went to a grammar school for all boys. Because of his age, he was placed in 3rd year high school, whereas here in the US he would have been a freshman. However, this was a great experience for him and
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he gained lasting friendships. My youngest was so big compared to Irish children the same age and everyone loved him. He broke a record from 1968 for throwing a cricket ball. My husband loved how close the family is there and the feeling like you had so much more time in the day since everything was so close.”
What were some of the experiences you had growing up there that you wanted them to live? “Mainly the family life and how people make time to spend
time with family and friends more often. To this day I still miss that part of life there. The structure of the schools and education and the openness with family made the experience a whole different life from the US. Seeing the differences in work ethics there and then seeing the every day privileges that people get here.”
How did you come to love photography? “I came to enjoy photography by loving to take pictures of the family and friends. I am still a beginner and I am still learning. I enjoy trying new things and a few years back took some scenery pictures. I was encouraged by friends and family to enter those pictures into a contest and it won me a ribbon at the Idaho Fair. This gave me a better feel for photography, so I continued on. I haven’t done anything as a service for people, just stuff for fun. It is a growing hobby and I look forward to becoming more than a beginner.”
What’s it like photographing Rocky football games? What are some of the things you do with the Chamber? “I enjoy taking pictures at the games for a few reasons:- 1 Great to be on the sidelines, seeing and hearing all the action. 2. Watching the team come together more and more. 3. Getting to capture the experience for the boys and the coaches. 4. It is a gift to the parents to be able to have those memories captured forever.”
What are some of the things you do with the Chamber? “As a chamber member I am now on the Executive Board as the Vice Chair. I am also active as the liaison between the board and the Ambassador group. I attend luncheons, committee meetings, ribbon cuttings and other special events for the chamber. This is a volunteer position that I enjoy immensely. You get to be out there in your community and get to know lots of awesome people.”
When we asked Debbie to contribute some of her photos for the student spotlight, she was thrilled. She offered her services whenever we needed them. When our Editor-In-Chief sat down with Debbie, she knew right away that we had to have her on board. Debbie is now one of our main photographers for Venture.
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This plan can easily be customized to fit your family’s individual needs.
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Mom-Tage
M O M -TAG E
PHOTO BY WRITTEN BY Sydney Studios & Co. Mikaela Erickson
Emergency preparedness 5 tips to getting started
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n New Years Day 2015, a new resolution made it onto my list. I made it a priority to start an emergency preparedness plan for my family. Now, just one year later, after a lot of research and a little bit of work, my stash of emergency preparedness items and knowledge of basic preparedness skills is at a level that I feel confident about utilizing, if the need arose. Implementing such a plan can seem daunting at first, but I’m here to bring you my 5 tips for putting together a basic, yet efficient, emergency “stash”. This plan can easily be customized to fit your family’s individual needs. These tips are for 72-hour (3-day) emergency items that can be stocked in thriftstore duffel bags or backpacks and carried with you, if necessary. Start with enough for 3 days, and then adjust your personal stash from there, based on what you feel is best for your family.
1. Store Extra Water
This is the most important aspect of your preparedness. I have also
found it to be the most difficult to plan for and store. There are many different ways to store water, and it can be a huge discouragement for some people when trying to plan for emergencies. This is why I recommend you nail it down first. Start by determining how much water you need for your family; the CDC recommends storing at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of 3 days, half a gallon for drinking and half a gallon for sanitation. (Don’t forget the 4-legged members of your family as well.) If you are pregnant, nursing, or have any sick or elderly persons in your family, you may need more. If you plan to use bottled water, remember to switch it out when it expires, or have a purification method lined up.
2. Store Extra Food
The term “food storage” for me brings flashbacks of my grandmother’s storage room- a room made entirely of cement, dedicated exclusively to storing canned and bulk food of every kind. But storing food for your family doesn’t have to be this extreme.
Like water, there are many different types of foods to store. Canned food is the most common- just remember the “first in, first out” rule when using your canned foods, and check the expiration dates every 6 months and use/restock what you need. There are also pre-packaged freeze-dried food kits you can purchase, and these typically have a much longer shelf life, anywhere from 5-30 years. If you lose power, be sure to use food from your fridge first, then food from the freezer, and then canned/stored food last. Try to stick to foods that are familiar to you and your family, as this can be a comfort during an emergency situation. Also, have a small stash of gum and hard candies for the same reason. Multivitamins and/ or powdered protein supplements are a great addition to your supply as well. Remember: food can be rationed much more easily than water, and we can survive on half the food we normally eat if we limit our physical activity.
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PROTECT YOURSELF
GENERIC THEME
3. Maintain Shelter
The most likely emergency situation we will encounter in our area is a long-term power outage due to inclement weather, which would allow us to remain in our homes. In these cases, be prepared for extremes in temperature. If part of your home is damaged, use your car as shelter until you can make other arrangements or try to shield yourself from the part of your home that is exposed to the elements. Cover windows with curtains or extra sheets to block any cold winter drafts or keep out the heat from the sun in the summer. Have lots of candles, matches, extra flashlights and appropriate battery sizes stored. Keep these items
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in an easily accessible location. Once a year, check these items for expiration dates and to make sure they work properly. A small kerosene grill is a great way to heat food and your home. Avoid using charcoal inside your home as this can put harmful chemicals into the air. In the summer, cook outdoors to avoid heating up your home. I also recommend putting an extra set of clothing with your 72-hour kit, preferably long shirts and pants that can be cut to shorter lengths in the summer, or used as bandages if needed.
4. Protect Yourself
Invest in a good quality firstaid kit and familiarize yourself
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with everything in it. Be sure to stock basic medications like pain relievers, allergy, cough drops, sinus/cold, and gas relief (I’m not sure, but I can imagine that eating beans from a can more often than we normally would could cause a little intestinal distress.) Make sure to purchase extra epinephrine pens if anyone in your family has allergies. In terms of personal protection and self-defense, only you can decide what you’re comfortable keeping and using, and what’s appropriate for your family. Try to stay in your house, and only go out if necessary. Grocery stores, malls, hardware stores, gas stations and drug stores
are places to avoid when there is a wide-spread emergency. If you do find yourself in desperate need of a certain item, visit trusted family members and/or friends or neighbors first. Stay together and wait for power to return or for further help to arrive.
5. Store Extra Personal Items and Important Documents
Put together hygiene kits for each member of your family. The basics (shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, comb and wash cloth) will work for younger children. For babies, have extra diapers and wipes as well. For older children and adults, include feminine hygiene products, razors, hair ties and Qtips. For important documents, make copies of the following and put them in a folder or a binder (preferably in sheet protectors to protect them from water): birth certificates, social security cards, driver’s licenses, your homeowners/health/life/auto insurance policies and their applicable cards, will and trust documents,
a recent picture of each member of your family (in case you get separated), and anything else you feel necessary. I also have a letter written to each member of my family, in the event that something happens to me, that contains all the things I would say to them if I had one more chance to talk to them. (Word of advice: write the letter and ONLY pull it out again if you want to have a good cry. I’m looking at you, moms.) I hope that, after reading this article, you’ll have a better idea of how simple emergency preparedness can be. As I mentioned earlier, this is a very basic approach to creating an emergency kit for your family, and I’m sure that you’ll think of items you’ll personally want in your kits as you put yours together. Have any genius ideas that come to mind? Let us know! I could see a follow-up article in the future that includes all of these genius tips from our readers! If you have any questions regarding this Emergency Prepardness kit, contact Mikaela at mikaela@venturemeridian.com.
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We launched our first issue last month and we are ready to Rock and Roll.
W H AT ’ S N E X T 48
WHAT’S NEXT
The next couple of months are exciting for us. We will be featuring some non-profits that not only set the stage for everyone, but the people involved are some of the most amazing citizens. They are all volunteers.
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Meridian Reads and Writes is a community-wide project. They are passionate about show casing local writers and authors from Meridian. Their mission is to “share the connectedness of reading and writing. This year we are focusing on the Meridian Writes portion to highlight the talent and hard work of Meridian authors.” We want to get behind-the-scenes at the person heading this amazing program, Megan. Next month we get to hear a little bit about her story and we will see who the next winner of the contest is.
Along with March, brings spring. And along with spring is Spring Break. Our writer, Mikaela, will share with you how to “Survive Spring Break” when your kids at home. We want to introduce you to our newest writer, Ronald Kern. Our editor-in-chief sat down with Ron to pick his brain. Ron was excited to hear about Venture Meridian and wanted to help in any way he can. It was only fitting to have Ron head our Business Advice column. Welcome Ron. If you have any questions for Ron, you can email him at RonaldKern@me.com.
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GET IN THE BEST SHAPE OF YOUR LIFE. All IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME. Contact Kevin Today: (208) 949-9114 www.nexus-fitness.com
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@nexusfitness_idaho /nexusfitnessllc
Chicken Wings
”I like these wings because they have a little bit of tang to them but they aren’t too spicy, so most kids will eat them. I cook them on my Traeger using Hickory pellets because it is the only grill I have. However, this big of a batch would work better on a gas/propane grill as the Traeger has a hard time staying at temp with such a large batch”. - Clarence
Kale Chips
”They’re crunchy and salty without being greasy and full of carbs, plus, my kids love them!” - Jessica
Cauliflower Wings
”Cauliflower is a health food powerhouse. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber it is a great alternative to those messy, high fat traditional chicken wings. This recipe is also very low in calories which means you can eat more......Right? “ - Kevin
Hummus
“It’s a healthy dip alternative that you can customize to whatever flavor you love, it’s easy to make really quickly, and it’s much cheaper to make at home!” - Jessica
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Ingredients: Cauliflower Wings 2 medium heads of cauliflower, cut into florets 1 c white rice flour (or sub regular flour) 1 c water ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon garlic powder ¼ teaspoon paprika 1 c buffalo wing sauce (I recommend Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce) Directions: Combine rice flour, water, salt, garlic powder, paprika and whisk until combined. Dip cauliflower in batter and place on two baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Spray the tops with a bit of oil. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the tops start to get color on them. Pull cauliflower out of the oven and lightly dip them into buffalo sauce to coat. Put them back into oven for another 5 minutes to crisp back up. Remove from oven and serve hot along side your homemade ranch dip. YIELD: Serves 8-10 people
Chicken Wings Brine the chicken wings (10 lbs) for 12-24 hours. Chicken Wing Brine: 1.25 gallon cool water 2 bottles or cans of dark beer 2 c brown sugar 2 c kosher salt ½ c white vingar ½ c Worcestershire Make brine in a 5 gallon bucket. It is easier and less messy. Store in a cool place. Dump the wings into a large colander and rinse thoroughly. Pat them dry with paper towels. Dump them into a large bowl and toss them with olive oil. Put onto large cookie sheets and coat generously with your favorite chicken rub (I recommend Three Kings from the Caboose Spice & Company). Let the wings season for about 3 hours. Grill the wings at 350 for 45 mins. While they are grilling make the beer sauce. Beer Sauce: 2 cans Guiness- put in a saucepan and reduce by 50% 1 1/2 c melted butter 1/3 c honey 3 c Louisiana Style hot sauce Take the wings off the grill and coat with 1/2 the beer sauce by tossing in a large bowl. Put them back on the grill and cook for another 10-15 mins until the outside of the wings are crispy. Remove from grill and coat again with the beer sauce. Serve immediately.
Ingredients: Hummus
Ingredients: Kale Chips
4 cans of garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained 2 Tbsp tahini (completely optional) 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced 1 Tbsp lime juice Extra virgin olive oil (around 3/4-1 cup) Salt and pepper
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 bunch of kale salt & pepper *garlic optional
In a blender, mix your garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and garlic. There is no magic amount of extra virgin olive oil, simply keep adding until your beans blend smoothly and become creamy. Add your tahini, lime juice and continue blending. Take a little taste and then salt and pepper until you like the flavor.
Rinse your kale to clean it, then chop the stems (and all the hard white parts) out of the leaves. Let the leaves air dry for a bit, then drizzle them in olive oil and mix thoroughly so that every leaf is covered. Lightly salt and pepper, then spread the leaves out on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes until crispy. THEY WILL NOT TURN BROWN. If they turn brown, they’re too done. Instead, poke them gently every few minutes to see if they’re crispy. When they’re crispy, take ‘em out. Lightly season with powdered garlic if you want, and serve!
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Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Chili Cheese Dip
“Every time I made this everyone seemed to love it. It’s so simple and easy to prepare. It taste better when you let it sit in the crock pot for a few hours. It seems to be a crowd pleaser at any party.” - Toni
Pinwheels
“It’s a family favorite. No party is a Pierce Party without pinwheels! They are quick, easy and colorful.” - Angela
Bean Bowl
“These are a hit with the adults and kids. They are so small and tasty. It is best served fresh but they take about 10 minutes to prepare.” - Toni
Mini - Cheesecakes
“These cheesecakes fit the mold for a perfect party dessert. They’re small and individually wrapped, super easy to make, only require a few simple ingredients, and can be customized with virtually any flavor of topping you desire!.” - Mikaela
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Ingredients: Bean Cups
Ingredients: Chili Cheese Dip
1 bag of tortilla chip cups 1 can of refried beans Sour cream Green onions Shredded cheese
1 block of Velveta cheese 1 package of cream cheese 2 cans of your favorite chili 2 cups of milk
Add a small soup to each chip and top with shredded cheese. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Bake chips with beans and shredded cheese for 5 minutes. just enough to melt the cheese. Remove from oven and add sour cream and green onions.
Ingredients: Cheesecake For Graham Cracker Crust: 1-1/2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs 6 Tbsp. Butter, softened or melted 6 Tbsp. Granulated Sugar Preheat oven to 350* Put cupcake liners in cupcake tin. Combine ingredients in mixer or in a bowl until evenly mixed. Place approx. 2 Tbsp. graham cracker crust mix into each cupcake liner and press down to form the crust. Set aside and make cheesecake filling. For Cheesecake Filling 2- 8oz. Blocks of cream cheese, at room temperature 2 Eggs 他 Cup of Granulated Sugar 1 Tbsp. Vanilla 1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice Beat together all ingredients in a mixing bowl until mixture is light and creamy without any lumps. Spoon mixture into cupcake liners, almost filling them. Bake at 350* for 22-25 min., until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let the cheesecakes cool completely. Top with desired topping of choice (fruit pie filling, chocolate sauce, caramel, cool whip, etc.) Recipe adapted from A Helicopter Mom (http://ahelicoptermom.com/)
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Cut the velvet cheese into square inch blocks. Add cream cheese, chili and milk Set on low for 6 hours Stir occasionally to break up the cheese.
Ingredients: Pinwheels Jalapeno Cheddar tortillas Deli meat of choice (picture: honey ham) Cream Cheese Romaine lettuce (rinsed) Spread cream cheese on tortilla. Lay 6-8 slices of deli meat on the right side of the tortilla. Place two leafy pieces of Romaine lettuce on top of deli meat (face in opposite directions. Roll tortilla and slice in 1 inch pieces
THANK YOU
MERIDIAN
FOR A SUCCESSFUL 2015 WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING YOU IN THE NEW YEAR! COME TRY OUR AWARD WINNING FINGER STEAKS! FAMILY FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE LARGE PARTIES.
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