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🌻For fun! 🍀


QUARINTINE COOKING: PASTA WITH MEATBALLS
By Leo Zhou
Hello, and welcome back to another installment of “Quarantine Cooking” Today we are trying a different writing style. . I don’t know what the recipe is called so I’m just going to call it “Pasta With Meatballs”. I know right, super creative. And in case you wanted to know the recipe, well I got it right here. But if you didn’t, I’m going to make you read it anyways. (Just kidding if you don’t want to read it then you don’t have to)
Ingredients/tools:
  • As much pasta as you need. This recipe is usually made with bowties, but any should work. (I generally go with two handfuls per person.)
  • A pot. Any pot will work. (I think)
  • Water (Tap water is fine.)
  • As many meatballs as you need (Try and get them precooked.)
  • Spatula thing. (I think it's called a turner)
  • As much Bok Choy as you need. (Try not to get too much.) 
  • Salt and pepper. (I guess.)
  • Pesto or Tomato sauce (Optional.)
  • Chopsticks (Commonly found in every Eastern Asian household in the world)
  • A stove (What else are we supposed to cook on?)
  • The souls of the doomed (Just kidding.)
Now that you have gathered your ingredients, Turn on your stove and get the kids out of the kitchen. Unless of course you are a kid who is making this. (Please have adult supervision) Remember to intermittently stir the pasta around a bit to prevent sticking.

Step 1: Add enough water to just cover the pasta.
Step 1A: Go back in time and measure out the pasta.
Step 1B: Put the pot on the stove and turn it to high heat.
Step 2: Wait for the water to boil.
Step 2A: Have an existential crisis
Step 3: Give up on the recipe because your grandma already started cooking rice
Step 3A: Regain your motivation the next day and repeat steps 1 & 2. 
Step 4: Put the pasta and meatballs in.
Step 4A: Add a cup of water.
Step 4B: Once the water starts to boil again, add another cup of water and a bit of salt.
Step 4C: Put on a lid if you are in a hurry. (Please leave an opening unless you want a homemade hot spring in your kitchen.) 
Step 5: Wait until the water starts to boil (again) and add the Bok Choy.
Step 5A: Use chopsticks to test the pasta for softness. If it is soft, the pasta is ready. 
Step 6: Put the sauce you have selected in a bowl. (or just serve a little S&P)
Step 6A: Mix it around a bit
Step 6B: Burn the inside of your mouth off trying to eat it.
And there you have it, a simple recipe for when your family asks you to cook something. 
Sideworks Art: Woman's History
Check out this assortment of art and quotes about Woman's History Month. (You can use all of them if you add credit to us!!)
​
March Kahoots:
International Women's Day Kahoot
Saint Patrick's Day

FEBRUARY 2021

Let's play some kahoots! 

​GATHER SOME FRIENDS AND PLAY THESE KAHOOTS THAT REPRESENT FEBRUARY!
  • Kahoot for Chinese New Year
  • ​Kahoot for Black History Month

Make your own Simple Dimple! ​

This is an easy fun project with materials you should have at home! This way you get a creative project and a stress reliever because the stress relievers online can be expensive.

January 2021

TOP TEN PRESIDENTIAL FACTS
​Curated by Benson Liu
  1. The only president to be unanimously elected was George Washington (1732-1799). He also refused to accept his presidential salary, which was $25,000 a year
  2. James Madison and Thomas Jefferson were once arrested together for taking a carriage ride in the countryside of Vermont on a Sunday, which violated the laws of that state
  3. George Washington never lived in the White House. The capital was actually located in Philadelphia and other cities when Washington was president. He is also the only president who didn’t represent a political party
  4. James Abram Garfield (1831-1881) is the first president to ever talk on the phone. When he spoke to Alexander Graham Bell, who was at the other end 13 miles away, he said: “Please speak a little more slowly
  5. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C
  6. The term “O.K.” [likely] derives from President Martin Van Buren (1782-1862) who was known as “Old Kinderhook” because he was raised in Kinderhook, New York. “O.K.” clubs were created to support Van Buren’s campaigns
  7. President Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) is the only president to be elected to two nonconsecutive terms. He was the 22nd and 24th president
  8. Martin Van Buren was the first U.S. president to be born a United States citizen. All previous presidents were born British subject
  9. President Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969) was the only president to serve in both WWI and WWII
  10. Every member of Teddy Roosevelt’s family owned a pair of stilts, including the first lady
​(Source: FactRetriever)
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Alternates with Elanor 
  • Episode 3: 
    ​Rainy Fun Inside
     

THAI ICED TEA RECIPE
(Based on this Kitchn recipe)
1 cup boiled water
1 black tea bag
​1 tablespoon sugar
1 clove
1 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
ice
INSTRUCTIONS
  • Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. (Ask your adults first!)
  • Remove the pan from the heat. Place the tea bag and clove in the water, and make sure they are completely submerged. Steep for 10 minutes.
  • Use a large spoon or a strainer to remove the tea bags, star anise, and cloves.
  • Add the sugar and stir until it's completely dissolved.
  • Let the tea cool to room temperature. Be patient!
  • Fill a tall glass with ice cubes and 3/4 full with tea. Stir in sweetened condensed milk. Drink immediately. Yum!

December 2020

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Alternates with Elanor
  • Episode 2: Everything Christmas


Make Holiday Stars!
  • Easy paper star tutorial:
    Make enough to hang a garland for some holiday cheer.
  • No-sew fabric star ornament:
    ​Stars are always in season in the winter. 
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Golden Latte: The Other Winter Hot Drink
Is hot apple cidar too appley? Hot cocoa too sweet? Hot tea just too ordinary? Are you still longing for a special winter hot drink? Try a golden latte!
​
Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon honey (it emulsifies the spice into the milk; add more to make it sweeter)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric (super healthy and give it the golden glow)
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice mix (or a dash each of ground ginger and cinnamon.)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup of milk (any plain kind works: cow, soy, oat, rice, nut, etc...) 
Instructions
Mix the honey, spices, and vanilla in a microwavable cup. Microwave for about 15 second, depending on your microwave, to melt the honey. Mix well. Add the milk and mix well again. Microwave for about 60 seconds, then stir to mix the hot and warm spots into one one delicious golden cup of holiday cheer. Enjoy!




November 2020

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Quarantine Cooking: Make a Cake
By Leo Zhou

Hello there, and welcome to the first installment of Quarantine Cooking. Today, we are going to make a cake. This recipe does require cake mix, because I am assuming you don’t have time to make batter from scratch. Any will do fine, But I am using a box of Betty Crocker cake mix. There is a recipe on the back, so if you would like to follow those, instead of the one written by a middle schooler, go right ahead. Also, do not forget to call an adult to help you.
     The ingredients listed on the back include 1¼  cups of water, ½ cups of oil, any kind will do, and 3 eggs. First, add all the cake mix into a large mixing bowl. Then, add the rest of the ingredients, taking care not to get too much of each ingredient. Mix until the batter has the consistency of paint, or something similar. This can get tiring if you are out of shape, like I am, so feel free to have your adult help a bit. If you don't feel like decorating, add some sprinkles to the batter before baking. This will give your otherwise bland looking cake some color.
     Now, this is where you parents/guardian really comes in. Tell them to preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Remember not to set it to 350 degrees celsius unless you want to set off every smoke alarm on your block and/or burn down your house. Now that your batter looks like, feels like, and maybe smells like paint, it's time to equally distribute them into pans. You can also do cupcake tins, in which case do not pour more than half into each tin, as they will rise when baked. If you are doing an actual cake, then also pour about one half. You could spray the pan with a nonstick spray, but it is completely optional.
   Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool for about 10 minutes, or until it won’t completely destroy your mouth when you take a bite. And there you have it, a perfectly fine cake, or cupcakes, made from a box of cake mix.

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Thanksgiving Crafts; Candy Corn Garland
By Ada Weide Psaros

​Want to make a thanksgiving craft project? Follow these steps!

You will need;
  • White paper plate
  • Yellow paint
  • Orange paint
  • Holepuncher
  • String/twine

  1. Paint the outside of the plate yellow, and the middle of the plate orange. Leave a bit of room in the middle for the white part of the candy corn.
  2. Wait for the paint to dry.
  3. Cut the paper plate into triangles, and punch holes into both upper sides.
  4. Put the string through the holes, making it hold together!
  5. Put this anywhere in your house for a festive touch.


October 2020

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Quarentine Quick Projects
By Anna‌ ‌Agnoli,‌ ‌6th‌ ‌Grade,‌ ‌AP‌ ‌Giannini‌ ‌
Hi!‌ ‌Have‌ ‌you‌ ‌noticed‌ ‌that‌ ‌you‌ ‌are‌ ‌mostly‌ ‌laying‌ ‌around‌ ‌during‌ ‌Quarantine?‌ ‌Have‌ ‌you‌ ‌been‌ ‌bored‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌weekends?‌ ‌Here‌ ‌are‌ ‌some‌ ‌awesome‌ ‌Quick‌ ‌projcts ‌that‌ ‌will‌ ‌help‌ ‌you‌ ‌stay‌ ‌entertained‌ ‌in‌ ‌ Quarantin.
1. DIY‌ ‌dollhouse!‌ ‌
Do‌ ‌you‌ ‌have‌ ‌toys?‌ ‌Boxes?‌ ‌Towels?‌ ‌You‌ ‌can‌ ‌make‌ ‌a‌ ‌DIY‌ ‌dollhouse!‌ ‌All‌ ‌you‌ ‌need‌ ‌are‌ ‌at‌ ‌least‌ ‌2‌ ‌boxes,‌ ‌tape,‌ ‌and‌ ‌some‌ ‌scissors‌ ‌(you‌ ‌can‌ ‌use‌ ‌folded‌ ‌paper‌ ‌for‌ ‌stairs).‌ ‌ You‌ ‌can‌ ‌arrange‌ ‌the‌ ‌boxes‌ ‌anyway‌ ‌you‌ ‌want,‌ ‌ontop‌ ‌of‌ ‌each‌ ‌other,‌ ‌next‌ ‌to‌ ‌each‌ ‌other,‌ ‌ and‌ ‌maybe‌ ‌even‌ ‌Diagonal.‌ ‌You‌ ‌could‌ ‌use‌ ‌the‌ ‌towels‌ ‌for‌ ‌carpets,‌ ‌wallpaper,‌ ‌art‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌walls‌ ‌(if‌ ‌you‌ ‌decide‌ ‌to‌ ‌put‌ ‌them‌ ‌on‌ ‌top‌ ‌of‌ ‌eachother,‌ ‌the‌ ‌person‌ ‌who‌ ‌will‌ ‌live‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌house‌ ‌ has‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌smaller‌ ‌than‌ ‌the‌ ‌box,‌ ‌width‌ ‌wise)‌ .

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2.‌ ‌House‌ ‌Mandala‌ ‌
All‌ ‌you‌ ‌need‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌place‌ ‌to‌ ‌build‌ ‌it,‌ ‌items‌ ‌from‌ ‌your‌ ‌house‌ ‌(Pencils,‌ ‌erasers,‌ ‌markers…)‌ ‌and‌ ‌a‌ ‌center.‌ ‌First‌ ‌you‌ ‌start‌ ‌off‌ ‌like‌ ‌any‌ ‌Mandala,‌ ‌you‌ ‌make‌ ‌the‌ ‌center‌ ‌(Plate,‌ ‌Shell,‌ ‌ball…)‌ ‌then‌ ‌branch‌ ‌out!‌ ‌ Most‌ ‌Mandalas‌ ‌are‌ ‌normally‌ ‌symmetrical‌ ‌but‌ ‌you‌ ‌can‌ ‌do‌ ‌it‌ ‌however‌ ‌you‌ ‌like!‌ ‌We‌ ‌made‌ ‌ours‌ ‌at‌ ‌the‌ ‌beach.

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3.‌ ‌Make‌ ‌a‌ ‌Catapult!‌ ‌
You‌ ‌will‌ ‌need:‌ ‌1‌ ‌chopstick,‌ ‌1‌ ‌clothespin,‌ ‌tape‌ ‌(Any‌ ‌kind),‌ ‌and‌ ‌a‌ ‌spoon‌ ‌(Can‌ ‌be‌ ‌metal‌ ‌or‌ ‌plastic,‌ ‌just‌ ‌don’t‌ ‌bend‌ ‌the‌ ‌metal‌ ‌one)‌ ‌also‌ ‌the‌ ‌thing‌ ‌you‌ ‌are‌ ‌going‌ ‌to‌ ‌launch‌ ‌should‌ ‌be‌ ‌soft‌ ‌ because‌ ‌it‌ ‌may‌ ‌backfire‌ ‌and‌ ‌hit‌ ‌you‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌face.‌ ‌First‌ ‌you‌ ‌can‌ ‌attach‌ ‌the‌ ‌spoon‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌clip,‌ ‌the‌ ‌ disc‌ ‌side‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌spoon‌ ‌should‌ ‌be‌ ‌facing‌ ‌the‌ ‌alligator‌ ‌mouth‌ ‌part,‌ ‌and‌ ‌tape‌ ‌them‌ ‌together.‌ ‌Then‌ ‌ you‌ ‌get‌ ‌the‌ ‌chopstick‌ ‌and‌ ‌tape‌ ‌it‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌bottom.‌ 

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4.‌ ‌Clip‌ ‌People‌ ‌
‌These‌ ‌Clip‌ ‌People‌ ‌i‌ ‌made‌ ‌with‌ ‌my‌ ‌friend‌ ‌before‌ ‌Quarantine.‌ ‌All‌ ‌you‌ ‌need‌ ‌are‌ ‌a‌ ‌couple‌ ‌clips,‌ ‌ (Depending‌ ‌on‌ ‌how‌ ‌many‌ ‌family‌ ‌members‌ ‌you‌ ‌want)‌ ‌and‌ ‌some‌ ‌tape‌ ‌(Washi‌ ‌tape,‌ ‌painters‌ ‌tape,‌ ‌ anything)‌ ‌For‌ ‌the‌ ‌clothes.‌ ‌You‌ ‌should‌ ‌also‌ ‌have‌ ‌a‌ ‌marker‌ ‌handy‌ ‌if‌ ‌you‌ ‌want‌ ‌to‌ ‌draw‌ ‌their‌ ‌faces.‌ ‌ You‌ ‌wrap‌ ‌the‌ ‌tape‌ ‌around‌ ‌the‌ ‌pins‌ ‌middle,‌ ‌you‌ ‌can‌ ‌make‌ ‌separate‌ ‌tapes‌ ‌for‌ ‌shirt‌ ‌and‌ ‌pants‌ ‌ effect,‌ ‌and‌ ‌then‌ ‌draw‌ ‌the‌ ‌face,‌ ‌you‌ ‌could‌ ‌glue‌ ‌a‌ ‌small‌ ‌piece‌ ‌of‌ ‌paper‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌top‌ ‌for‌ ‌a‌ ‌hat‌ ‌or‌ ‌for‌ ‌hair.‌ ‌
Have‌ ‌Fun!‌ ‌

Frankn Brains
  • 5 tablespoons salted butter
  •  8 cups miniature marshmallows (about 1½ (10-ounce bags))
  •  12.2 ounce box rice crispy cereal ((about 8 cups))
  • Green food coloring 
Line a 9x9-inch square pan with parchment paper.
In a large pot, melt the butter over low heat. Once melted, add the marshmallows and stir constantly until they have all melted. 
Add in 2 drops of green food dye see how green it is and add more if you need it.
Remove from the heat and stir in the cereal until it is completely coated with the melted marshmallow sauce.
Turn the mixture out into the pan and, using a spoon or spatula that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, press into an even layer. Let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, then cut into squares and serve.
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Halloween
​Soundtrack
 

by Benson Liu

Check out the new podcast: 
Alternates with Elanor
  • Trailer
  • Episode 1: Halloween
  • ​See below for the recipes
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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread 
by Bea Bhalla
Ingredients:
3 eggs
⅔ Cups Brown Sugar
1 ⅓ Cup White Sugar
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
1 Cup Canned Pumpkin
1 Cup Applesauce (2 containers)
3 Teaspoons Vanilla
3 Cups Flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
¼ teaspoon Baking powder
3 teaspoons Cinnamon 
½ Cup Mini Chocolate Chips 
    Beat eggs until light. Add in oil, sugar, pumpkin, applesauce, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients. Gently stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Mix in chocolate chips. 
    Grease and flour two 9x5 loaf pans. Divide batter evenly into the two pans. Bake at 350º for about an hour. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pans. Then, remove from pans, and let cool completely on racks. 


Answers to Last Month's Riddles:
1.  Rain
2. Anchor
3. A deck of cards

4. Trouble
5. An alarm clock
6. Footsteps
​7. A penny

Eyes Eyes Eyes
  1. Grapes 
  2. Frosting
All you need to do is cut the grapes in half and add frosting on the nonflat side to make eyes. You can make as much as you want.
Halloween Jokes
By 
Juliette De Clapiers, 6th Grade, AP Giannini
  1. Why don’t mummies take time off?                                        
    ​They’re afraid to unwind.​
  2. Why did the headless horseman go into business?
    He wanted to get ahead in life.
  3. What kind of music do mummies like listening to on Halloween?
    Wrap music.
  4. Why don’t mummies have friends?
    Because they’re too wrapped up in themselves.
  5. Why did the vampire read the newspaper?
    He heard it had great circulation.
  6. How do vampires get around on Halloween?
    On blood vessels.
  7. What’s it like to be kissed by a vampire?
    It’s a pain in the neck.
  8. What’s it called when a vampire has trouble with his house?
    A grave problem.
  9. How can you tell when a vampire has been in a bakery?
    All the jelly has been sucked out of the jelly doughnuts.
  10. What do you get when you cross a vampire and a snowman? Frostbite.
  11. Why do skeletons have low self-esteem?
    They have no body to love.
  12. Know why skeletons are so calm?
    Because nothing gets under their skin.
  13. What do you call a cleaning skeleton?
    The grim sweeper.
  14. What do skeletons order at a restaurant?
    Spare ribs. :)

Frankn fingers 
  • Hot dogs 
  • Mini Tomatos
All you need to do is cut the hot dogs in half and cut the tomatoes in slices and add it to look like a nail you can make as much as you want.
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