Tag: Food

Why Cereal Should Be Poured Before Milk

By: Madison Grace Hansen

When pouring a bowl of cereal, most individuals instinctively pour the cereal first— which is correct. Pouring the cereal into the bowl first is most efficient because it provides better portion control, improved texture, and a more enjoyable eating experience. Although some people choose to pour the milk first, that will never be correct because it is neither a logical nor a traditional approach. 

To begin, putting the cereal in the bowl first allows for portion control. You can clearly see how much cereal you are spilling into the bowl which is beneficial in order to not overeat. Most individuals try to have a well balanced breakfast and as we know cereal is not the most healthy option therefore being aware of how much you are eating will allow you to not overserve yourself. Although a hearty breakfast usually consists of bacon, eggs, or sausage, if you have portion control, cereal will not be as bad for you as some may think. 

Also, the texture is another key factor to think about when pouring cereal before milk. Cereal is meant to have a light crunch, and pouring milk on top allows you to control how much of it gets soaked. If you pour the milk before the cereal, the cereal may absorb more of the liquid, therefore leaving it not crunchy but instead soggy. Nobody likes soggy cereal. That is why the cereal should be poured before the milk.

Finally, pouring the cereal before the milk allows for a better eating experience. It is better to have some pieces of cereal still crunchy while some have settled to the bottom. It is much more enjoyable to have a little crunch with also a little soggy. If I am being completely honest, the taste of the cereal is different when the milk is poured second. The taste is better and that is why cereal should be poured before the milk. 

What are the Top 5 Foods of All Time

By: Henry Jones

There are many opinions on the top 5 lists out there. People think that they can’t be factual, but I disagree. The great thing about my top 5 lists is that they are always right and no one can debate me on any topic. Anyways my top five food rankings go like this : any type of pasta at the one, steak at the two, a breakfast meal at the three, grilled cheese burritos from Taco Bell at the four, and grilled nuggets from Chick Fil A rounding it out at the five.

If you know me then you know I love Italian foods. My favorite kind of pasta is preferably chicken alfredo, but I will still devour any pasta style foods. I mean, it is just so hard to mess up even when my younger brother makes it for dinner every now and then. Next, steak is a gimme pick. Who doesn’t love a good steak? Medium rare or even medium are the only ways to go, but I will save that blog for when I really am desperate for a 100 in the grade book. Next, is a solid breakfast meal. There is a reason they claim breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If it is done right it’ll set the mood for the rest of the time you’re awake. Next, is a grilled cheese burrito from the one and only Taco Bell. It’s a bit of a niche pull for those who know, however don’t knock it ‘till you try it. I used to be a big T-Bell hater until I figured out about this hidden gem. Safe to say it destroys my bank account any time I’m hungry. Last but not least is grilled nuggets. I recently got put onto these and let me say that I’m very glad. My pre game football meal used to be Chipotle, but I’ve made the transition. The macros these give you in such a small amount is criminally unrecognized and needs more attention.

Top 5 Fast Food Places

By: Morgan Aycock

  1. Zaxby’s 

I could eat Zaxby’s everyday. I always get the big zax snack. Their fries are probably the best fries from any fast food place. Zax sauce is so good and goes perfectly with everything they have. They also have the best salad. They used to have raw fries which they should bring back because I remember always getting them when I was younger. 

  1. Chick-Fil-A

There isn’t anything bad from there. I like that they don’t only have chicken on the menu; they have a nice variety of different choices to choose from. They have healthier options like salads, wraps, and fruit. They probably have the best mac and cheese out of any fast food restaurant, and they have by far the best ranch. I also like their waffle fries because no other fast food place has those kinds of fries and it makes them unique. They have the best breakfast out of any other place, but my only complaint would be that it ends at 10:30 and not 11, because who wants to eat lunch at 10:31? They are overall the nicest fast food place and have good, Christian morals and values.

  1. Bojangles

Bojangles is at #3 because they don’t have a nice variety on the menu, but their food is good quality. Their Southern style chicken is one of my favorites. The seasoning is something that you will not find at any other fast food place. This really sets them apart from any other fast food place. Their breakfast is also very good; one of my favorites is the Cajun chicken biscuit. The biscuit is buttered perfectly, but also has a sweet taste, which makes it a good combination of sweet and salty. Their food is also very fresh and they have some of the best honey mustard that you can get out of anywhere.

  1. Cook out

Cook out has a great variety on their menu. They have from barbecue to burgers, so they have something for everyone. They also have some of the best milkshakes you can get anywhere. The portion sizes are very good and the meals fill you up. The prices are very affordable, and the portion sizes makes it a great deal. They also add a good Southern aspect to the menu from barbecue to hush puppies to banana pudding milkshakes. 

  1. Sonic 

Although sonic is not one of my favorites, they have a very good variety on the menu. They also offer slushies, which fast food restaurants often don’t have. Their drinks can be customized to anything you want added to them. The carhops are something that no other fast food place has and makes Sonic unlike any other place.

Dunkin Donuts Review

By: Olivia Cogswell

Dunkin Donuts is a  well known food chain. People enjoy the fact that they serve breakfast all day and have a wide variety of drinks and food, specifically caffeine. They are also known for the wide variety of donuts, munchkins, and other bakery items. However many people do prefer to buy Starbucks over Dunkin, even though Dunkin is cheaper, faster and better in general. 

Dunkin’ Donuts has a wide variety of coffee. You can get it hot or iced and it comes in three different sizes. They have lattes, cold brew, Americanos, Macchiatos, Cappuccinos, and Espresso; that you can fully customize to make your own. You have the ability to add sugar, syrup, espresso shots, cold foam, and so many more options to get the desired drink that you want. They are fast and affordable coffees that are anywhere from three to eight dollars. Starbucks, however, gives you the same options to customize your coffee, but the price can be double that of a Dunkin coffee. People also tend to wait in line awhile to order and even longer to get their coffee.

Dunkin also serves breakfast all day long. They provide a variety of different breakfast items to choose from such as: sandwiches, wraps, hash browns, bacon, bagel minis, and  a variety of bagels, muffins and donuts. On sandwiches you can get sausage, bacon, or turkey bacon, cheese, and egg. You can also customize the sandwich to not include those toppings, as well as the choice of bread including, English muffins, bagel, croissant, or sour dough bread. The sandwiches are made hot and ready and only cost around three dollars. You can also choose from a variety of donuts and a variety of numbers that you want. Dunkin also provides a wide variety of munchkins which are donut holes. This allows you to try more of the flavors they provide. Also in the bakery section, Dunkin has bagels and muffins, while providing many different flavors and toppings.

With that being said, Dunkin’ Donuts provides the most variety of breakfast and coffees at the lowest prices. With fast serving and hot and ready food, people should go to try.

Cooking with Luke B: Orange Chicken

By: Luke Banar

How to make Orange Chicken. 

  • 2 Eggs
  • ¼ cup of Flower
  • ½  cup of Cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
  • 2 lb of chicken breasts
  • Oil
  • 2 Cloves of Garlic cut up
  • ½ teaspoon of Ginger 
  • ½ crushed red pepper
  • ⅔ cup of orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons of sweet chili sauce
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar 
  • 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
  • Juice of half of a lemon 

In a small bowl add the eggs and beat them until they are blended and in another bowl add the ¼ cup of flower,½ cup of cornstarch,salt, and pepper. Put the chicken into the egg bowl first then take it out and cover it in the flower mixture. In a pan add some oil and heat it up to cook the chicken. After cooking place the chicken on for a couple of minutes until the chicken is light brown. After taking the chicken out, place it on a plate with paper towels to remove any excess oil. After cooking the chicken start to make the sauce. In a small pot add oil and heat it until medium. Then add garlic,ginger, and red pepper and cook it for about 2 minutes. After add orange juice, soy sauce, chili sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, and lemon juice, and bring down the heat a little bit. While it is cooking add the rest of the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water. Slowly add into the sauce and stir for about 5 minutes. Then add the sauce onto the chicken and have it with rice. 

My Top 10 Things

By: McKenzie Gray Mills

On the second week of top ten things, I’m going to be talking about my favorite fast food restaurant. Which is obviously Chick-fil-a. Chick-fil-a is very popular for their good food, but also for their family friendly atmosphere. From breakfast to dinner they sell a variety of options to satisfy their customers. While they continue to strive with quick service and good food they also continue to stay true to their roots. Their purpose is “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.” The phrase “my pleasure” is commonly connected to this restaurant. Their website says, “Over the years, “my pleasure” has become much more than a phrase – it embodies Chick-fil-A’s commitment of creating remarkable experiences, one interaction at a time.” This phrase is just another example of how this fast food place has created such a great reputation. There’s also a rumor that if a worker doesn’t respond to thank you with my pleasure that the customer receives a free ice cream. This is why Chick fi la is one of my favorite places. 

Blake’s Food Reviews Week two: Buffalo Wild Wings

By: Blake Van Patten

Week two of my food reviews, we will be looking at Buffalo Wild Wings. Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW) is a reliable spot for you and your friends to go eat. My friends and I love going here to eat good food and watch sports games. While occasionally the wait for you food can take a little long, the food quality makes up for it. The have any option you can imagine: wings, burgers, chicken tenders, wraps, great fries, and more. My favorite time to go to BWW is on Thursday because they have a bogo on wings. You can buy 10 wings and get 10 free. Overall, the price range is average-not super expensive but not cheap. BWW is also in a good location and they have plenty of parking spots. If you’re looking for a place with good food to go with your friends and watch sports, Buffalo Wild Wings is the place. I rate them a 7.4/10.

How to make Stuffed Shells 

By: Luke Banar

Ingredients 

  • 5 Ounces of Spinach 
  • 2 Cups of Ricotta cheese 
  • ¼ cup of Pecorino cheese
  • 2 Garlic cloves or garlic salt
  • 20 Jumbo Shells
  • 1 cup of Mozzarella 

This recipe will make up to 20 pasta shells filled with a cheese mixture. First you need to start by cooking the jumbo pasta shells in salted water. Make sure that the pasta is still firm and not overcooked so it can hold the filling. While the shells are cooking, make the filling by adding ricotta, pecorino, garlic, and cut up steamed spinach and mix all of these ingredients until it is fully incorporated. Once the shells are cooked you need to fill them using the cheese from earlier. Use a spoon to scoop some of the filling into each shell. Place the shells in the pan and add the tomato sauce into the bottom of the pan making sure that it is evenly spread throughout. Then add 1 cup of mozzarella cheese on the top and bake at 375 F for 30 minutes while covered with tinfoil. If you want you can move the pan onto the top row of the oven to broil for 2-4 minutes after taking off the tinfoil. This dish is good to have with garlic bread or whatever other dish you would like. 

Which is better, Moe’s or Chipotle?

By: Clark Kinney

Around 2-3 years ago, the Mexican chain, Chipotle opened a location in Sumter. Sumter already housed a similar Mexican-type restaurant in Moe’s Southwest Grill, so this raised a question and a big debate: Moe’s or Chipotle? 

I am going to tackle this debate from a little different angle than some people may expect if you don’t know me. You see, I am kinda a nutrition nerd and I know thar’s kinda weird but it’s true. I track how many grams of protein, carbs, and fats I eat, and I look to have more protein than carbs and fats in almost every meal and at these restaurants I can get pretty close to doing so. Let’s break this thing down. With Chipotle, I know exactly what I’m getting, I can look up on their website the complete nutrition of my exact order so I know what I’m putting in my body. With Moe’s it’s kinda a guessing game with nutrition because they don’t make it so easy for you to find their nutritional information; in fact, I’ve never found it, I’ve just used what other people have estimated which could be correct or not. Here are my normal orders for both:

Chipotle-bowl with white rice, no beans, double steak, one serving chicken, medium salsa, corn pico, and lettuce

Moe’s- bowl with southwest rice, double white meat chicken, one serving steak, queso, corn, raw onion, Moe’s sauce, and poblano crema (don’t knock it until you try it)

The prices of both vary greatly and this is always due to my extra, extra (triple) meat. At both places, the person making my bowl tells the person ringing me up what I ordered and they tell them something different every time, so the prices very greatly. Sometimes it’s $15 and sometimes it’s up to $30 and I don’t know which one is technically right, so I don’t argue and just pay for whatever they say. With that being said, price doesn’t really play a role in this debate; however, the taste does. At Chipotle, my order taste the same every time and it’s great. At Moe’s, my order is sometimes fire and makes me wanna slap Coach Rip (Editor’s note: assault) in the face, and other times, it’s not as good. I also just feel better after eating Chipotle because I know exactly what’s in it and what I ate. 

In my opinion, Chipotle is better than Moe’s due to its consistency and nutrition, but Moe’s is still very good. 

Cooking with Luke B

By: Luke Banar

How to make a homemade Crunchwrap supreme

Ingredients 

  • One pound of ground beef
  • Shredded cheese 
  • Taco seasoning 
  • Toppings like lettuce,tomatoes,and sour cream

First you need to cook the pound of ground beef for a couple of minutes. Make sure to chop up any big pieces so that it cooks evenly. Stir it around and add in the taco seasoning.  Once the ground beef is brown and fully cooked you need to drain the excess fat off. Set the meat off to the side and set out tortillas flat. Next you need to add the toppings on the tortillas. First lay down a layer of meat but not too much because the tortilla will need to be folded. Next add some sour cream, cheese, and  thinly sliced lettuce and tomatoes. You can add any hot sauce that you would like or any other toppings. Next you need to fold up the tortillas just like a Crunchwrap. If there are too many toppings inside to fold it up then you might have to take some out because you do not want any toppings coming out of the Crunchwrap. Once you have your folded up Crunchwraps you need to fry the outside of them. Pour some oil onto the pan and heat it up until when you put a drop of water on it the water pops. Then you need two spatulas to place the Crunchwrap on the pan until it is browned enough then flip it on the other side until it is also brown. Make sure the oil is hot enough or the oil will not fry the tortilla it will only soak into the tortilla and taste bad. Then they are ready to serve. You can also add additional toppings on top of the Crunchwrap if there is not enough inside.