Why It's Ok To Cheat: In The Kitchen

With the end of the semester fast approaching there is simply not enough time in the day to do everything that needs to be done.

As luck would have it, this time of year also brings holiday potlucks. How do you bring a delicious dish when you have zero free time? Here are some fast, easy and delicious ways to still be part of the party.

1. Cut and Bake
Cut and bake cookies provide the best of both worlds. Delicious fresh baked cookies that you just have to open and put on a pan to bake.

This time of year is perfect for Pillsbury Peanut Butter Cookies with Hershey's Kisses. Just cut and roll the dough into 1 inch in diameter balls and roll in sugar till it gets a light coating. Put them in the oven to bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes and then pull them out to cool. As soon as they are out of the oven place one unwrapped Kiss in the center of each cookie. Let it cool and then enjoy.

2. Chips and Dip
Everyone loves chips and dip. The best part is it's super easy to make a "home made" dip with a little help from your pre-packaged food section.

Grab a bag of potato chips, a container of sour cream and a packet of french onion soup mix. Mix the french onion soup mix with the sour cream and stir. You now have the perfect holiday appetizer in under 2 minutes.

3. Chex Mix
Another great party appetizer is Chex Party Mix. You can buy it pre-made in small bags or for a more budget friendly option you can pick up a box of Chex cereal and make it at home.

One great recipe is Cinnamon Apple Chex Mix and takes less then 15 minutes to prepare.

4. Party Nut Mix
People crave salty snacks at parties, so grab a container of mixed nuts, a bag of mixed chocolate chips (white/milk/dark) and some dried cranberries and mix them in a fun holiday bowl. You will satisfy everyones salty craving in under 2 minutes.

No matter what recipe you choose, the most important thing to remember is that this is a time to relax and enjoy the season. Happy holidays!

-Olivia Fogarty

A "collective" look into the Little Grill

Nestled at the end of downtown Harrisonburg, The Little Grill Collective is a tough place to miss. With a half blue facade, it's exterior uniqueness is striking, but nothing compared to the interior decor. Little Grill has changed its structure, menu, and service since its founding in the 1940's.

 

The Little Grill was a Free Food For All Soup Kitchen that serves a hot noon meal every Monday (since October of 1992). Later it become both a soup kitchen and a restaurant. They are currently open 7 days a week, but 6 days for business since they offer the soup kitchen on Monday.

Over the years, menu changes made the restaurant appealing to healthy minded eaters and vegetarians. The collective has localized food  from all over Harrisonburg and stopped using many international companies products(i.e. Coke, Folgers Coffee, etc.). Some of the local food establishments include Our Community Farms, Mr. J's bagels, Charis Eco Farm, Red Front Supermarket, and more. 

The menu includes both breakfast items, along with lunch and dinner. Each week night is a specialty night. From mexi-night to down home cooking night. The meals are all affordable, with nothing on the menu over nine dollars. The collective owners create the eclectic menu offering delicious vegetarian alternatives to normal dishes. Sometimes with out you even realizing it! My friend Tommy ate five tacos on mexi-night before realizing they had no meat.

Little Grill is a cooperative business, owned and controlled by its members. Each member participates as workers, producers and consumers. There are currently 12 owners of the Little Grill. Each member plays a part in the business by working at the restaurant and coordinating different aspects of the business. All the owners can make decisions regarding the business autonomously. 

Working hand and hand together, the owners work on keeping the business going, but more importantly serving the community. Little Grill works with Our Community Place, right across the street, to help those throughout the community in need.

 

Stop by the Little Grill sometime soon. It will be most likely be a memorable experience.

Pizza is not a vegetable. Even Congress agrees.

Over the past few weeks, the headlines similar to this New Jersey paper's "Congress declares pizza a vegetable for school lunches" are everywhere. And they are completely deceiving.

The 1992 Disney movie, Newsies, taught me: "Headlines don't sell papes, newsies sell papes." Now that newsies no longer exist, headlines do sell papers. And even if they address the real issue, they know that people will read on with a catchy, though misleading, headline.

The question people are asking is, "Is pizza really going to be considered a vegetable now?"

No, it isn't. But that is not the controversy.

What we should really be concerned about is the terminology we're using to discuss this issue.

Congress has NOT declared pizza a vegetable. 

The LA Times put together a special story outlining the issue of "the pizza controversy." Here's what you need to know:

1. The current standard allows 1/8 cup of tomato paste on pizza to count as a 1/2 cup vegetable serving since it takes 1/2 cup of tomatoes to make 1/8 cup of paste.

2. The USDA developed a plan to decrease potato and salt and increase whole grain, fruit and fresh vegetable servings in school lunches where schools are eligible for free or reduced lunch. They wanted to separate fruits from vegetables to require servings of each. This also included increasing the amount of tomato paste that would be considered a 1/2 cup vegetable serving.

3. Even though tomatoes are botanically fruit, the USDA classifies them as a vegetable due to use on the pizza (I still think of tomatoes as a vegetable, but regardless, the classification of the tomato is not the point of the pizza-as-vegetable dilemma).

4. The bill that was passed changed nothing. Obama's administration supported the USDA plan, but he signed the bill into law anyway.

So we can see where this gets confusing.

As always, this is less about the nutrition than about the politics.

Corporations that sell frozen pizza and starchy vegetables garnered Congressional support before the bill was put to either body. They called the bill "an important victory," even though the USDA's proposal would have standardized a healthier school lunch menu.

An article in the New York Times outlines some non-political reasons as well. It costs more money to buy fresh fruits and vegetables than it does to buy a bag of frozen french fries. Plus, there's the age-old adage that children don't like vegetables and are therefore more likely to throw them away or not take them at all.

A group of retired generals calling themselves "Mission: Readiness" do not support the bill and even called school lunch a "national security issue" because obesity disqualifies potential recruits, according to MSNBC.

And just like in the 1980s when Reagan's administration tried to count ketchup as a vegetable, just the rumor itself is potent.

The idea that "pizza is a vegetable" is now out there, and most people won't read another word about it. This will rationalize even more bad health decisions in the future for children. The terminology does more damage than the actual bill itself.

I looked up the Rockingham County school lunch menu for December to see what kids in Harrisonburg are eating at school.

Over the whole 12 days listed (the week before the holiday break is "manager's choice," so there's no telling what they'll serve that week) only half include a non-starchy, green vegetable choice. And of those 6 days, there are only two types of greens: tossed salad or green beans. A starchy vegetable (usually potatoes) is offered every day.

David Katz, a doctor from the Yale Prevention Research Center wrote a blog post for The Huffington Post, saying "no thanks" to counting pizza as a vegetable. If Congress had just passed the bill to advance the nutritional value of school lunches, the misleading headlines wouldn't have happened.

I hope one day Congress and the media can follow his advice.

--Amanda

Let's Go to a great deal

Live Off-campus? Trying to save punches? Live On-campus? Trying to save punches? Wether you are or you aren't Let's Go is a great place to grab two meals for one punch. It's location is on the side of Gibbons Hall, underneath the side entrance to Dhall, beside the Market One entrance:

Nutrition Wise: The Best & The Worst of Campus Food

With all the dining options here on JMU's campus it's hard to decide what to eat.

Below is a list of some of the best and worst punches on campus. There are also a few easy tips on things to swap into your less healthy punches to bump up the nutrition and cut down the calories as well as a quick guide for getting your coffee fix without blowing your diet.

Worst Punches on Campus:

PC Dukes Beef Nachos 
These nachos pack a whopping 1592 calories. Ad a soda to that diaster and your looking at an additional 150 calories.  All the nachos are over 1,200 calories so the best advice is simply avoid at all costs.

Festival Madison Mac & Cheese
This dish of cheesy goodness comes in at 1307 calories and 48 grams of fat. It may be the perfect comfort food but it comes at a high price, if you absolutely have to have pasta go for the Penne Rosa it has only 484 calories and 25.8 grams of fat. Pair with a water and your looking at a healthy meal.


Best Punch on Campus:


Festival Salad
This is one of the biggest salads you can get on campus. It comes with as many vegetables as you want  and if you skip the cheese, croutons and crispy noodles and pick a vinaigrette, french or light italian dressing this is one of the most filling and healthiest punches you can get. Get it with a water or unsweetened iced tea.




PC Dukes Falafel Fanatic Pita
This pita is packed with nutrients, protein and is only 423 calories. It taste great and will fill you up without the extra calories.


 Easy Substitutions:


Water or unsweetened Iced Tea instead of Soda
These drinks have 0 calories and actually help your body stay hydrated. Unlike diet soda they do not slow your metabolism or contain artificial sweeteners.


Fruit instead of Chips or Fries
Fruits are god for you they are full of vitamins and fiber and unlike fries have no trans fat or salt.


Vinaigrettes, French and Light Italian instead of Creamy Salad Dressings
Everyone thinks salad is healthy no matter what, but when you load it up with ranch or creamy Caesar you mind as well have picked something else. These dressing contain between 150-200 calories per serving and  tons of fat.

Starbucks Coffee 

What to Avoid:
Whipped Cream-It ads extra calories, is full of fat and has no health benefits.


Regular Holiday Drinks-For a grande they are all over 300 calories and high in fat. Instead go for the non fat or skinny versions, same great taste just less calories.


Regular Frappuccino's- All are over 400 calories and high in fat. Instead pick the Frappuccino Light, same great taste, less calories.


Any of their Pastries/Breads/Cookies- Very calorie heavy, over 300 each, and loaded with sugar. They also do not keep you full.

Best Coffee Pick:
Regular coffee with non-fat milk and one or two sugars. Another great option is to get it with 2 pumps of light syrup instead of sugar, it ads great flavor for almost no calories.

You can get full nutritional information for all of your favorite dining options. Picking healthy options is easy once you know what to look for, so enjoy the great JMU food without worrying about the extra pounds.

Tweet @SMADfood411 with your favorite healthy punch options!
-Olivia Fogarty

Take In Your Take-Out

As the semester winds down and winter approaches, the cold weather hides students under big jacket and scarfs or indoors. Walking across the quad, it looks like a ghost town. You don't see students throwing frisbee, taking naps, studying for test, or my favorite...eating lunch! Since the weather has driven so many students inside, I went to look for the best indoor spots to eat outside of the dining halls.

With a campus so large, three different buildings stuck out to me as perfect places to post up for lunch.

Wilson Hall
The icon staple of the JMU community. Set right in the middle of the quad, it is the perfect location between dining halls and class. The building is filled with many offices for student services, but has two key locations to eat.

1. Wilson Hall Auditorium- Quiet, quaint, and comfortable are the best ways to describe it. Students don't know that the auditorium is open through out the day. Pick any seat (there are over a thousand), sit right on stage, or even go up to the balcony to eat. There are outlets to plug into all around, so you can use your laptop or recharge your phone. It is so quiet, you can even play music on your phone without headphones while you eat.

2. Career and Academic Planning Resource Center- Open for all students to get help looking for resume help, grad school information, or thinking about a career path, this place is a fun lunch spot. The people in this office are a pleasure to talk too. If you are eating lunch alone, stop by and make a new friend. The room has both table and couches for your lounging pleasures. They have four computers to use if you need to check and email before you jet to class. Usually the office is never busy so you won't have to worry about not having a table to sit at.

Taylor Hall
The student union on campus has one of the main hang out spots, but that isn't the only place to eat in the building. It just takes a little exploring.

1. Taylor Down Under (TDU)- Referred to at JMU's living room, its eclectic nature invites people from all over to use the space as need. Whether its to grab coffee, eat lunch, nap, or study, TDU has a very unique atmosphere because all the chairs are painted, banners hung on the walls, and photographs exhibited by students. When you come to TDU to eat there are other things you can do with your meal. Here are just a few ideas while you dine: Check out an iPad, play a board game with friends, listen to live music with "Toons at Noon", or shoot some pool with a friend.

2. 4th Floor- All the rooms are reserved for organizations or events in this building. However, if you are eating with someone else then sit on the group of couches and people watch. The view overlooks the patio in front of Grafton-Stovall Theatre. If you eating alone, go to the other end of the hall way. A single chair overlooks Hillside field. The view of the mountains from here is breathe taking. This is a great time to reflect about life and escape from JMU for a few minutes during your lunch break.

East Campus Dining Hall (E-Hall)
While this building is already an all-you-can-eat dining hall, bringing take out to eat here is a great way to mix things up and change scenery.

E-Hall-  On the second floor of the building is a balcony/foyer area used during receptions for events in the Montepelier Room. A semi-circle of glass windows gives a perspective of the campus at its entirity with the Appalachian Mountains in the background. Multiple couches are available, but not many students go up there. If you are a resident on the east side of campus, this option is a great way to grab food away from the crowds and your dorm room.

Explore these options and create your own. There are hidden gems all over campus when it comes to great indoor spots to sit down and enjoy your meal. It will take a little creativity, but it is worth it.

Food Adventures: Taste of Thai

What comes to mind when you think of Thai food?

For me it's the mysterious Pad Thai, spicy curry and peanuts. Three reasons why I have never tried Thai food before (I'm allergic to peanuts and I almost cried when I thought of the idea of trying the Blazing wings challenge at Bdubs for this blog).

I regret that I haven't been to a Thai restaurant sooner. I will certainly be going back to this one.

I met up with some friends driving through town at Taste of Thai. Though the building looks a bit run down from the outside, I was immediately impressed by the aroma. Even from the parking lot, the wafting smell of spices and garlic sauce invited me in.
General Appeal: 3/5


The restaurant has two large dining rooms, neither of which were completely full at 5:30 p.m. We were seated at a booth near the window in the dimly-lit room. The red on the walls was definitely making me hungry, as were the smells of the food going to the neighboring tables.
Atmosphere: 4/5

I ordered the Fresh Asparagus Saute with seafood and garlic spice sauce. I decided to go easy on the spiciness, as this was my first foray into the Thai food world. We got all six of our meals within 10 minutes of ordering!

Fresh Asparagus Saute with Seafood and garlic sauce-- $13.99

And now I may have to reorder my mental list of favorite cuisines. Thai has now jumped to the top five, behind Italian food made by my grandmother, the American version of Chinese food and Diner food, but now above breakfast for dinner.
Taste: 5/5
Service: 4/5

I left full and I want to go back for lunch tomorrow, but unfortunately, it's a little bit expensive for the everyday college student. Get Mom and Dad to take you there when they visit! Most entrees are between   10 and 15 dollars, depending on what kind of meat you get.
Price: 3/5

Taste of Thai is one of three Thai restaurants in the Harrisonburg area. It's located on South High Street between South Ave and Maryland Ave. If you have a car, it's about two minutes from campus. If you don't, maybe about 15 minutes walk.
Location: 3/5

My first Taste of Thai was a great one. Good friends, delicious food and a great evening to head back into the 'burg after break.
Overall: 4/5


--Amanda

Dirty, Sloppy, and Rough

I know you like somethings Dirty, Sloppy, or Rough, but is it usually your food? I would think not. But at the Blue Nile Ethiopian Cuisine (181 North Main Street in Downtown Harrisonburg), that is exactly what you get. The crazy part of it is, it's delicious.

They start you off with a cozy feel at the entrance of the door. The waitress is nice, and sets you at a empty table, where no plate and no silverware will ever be seen. You drink. You order, and eventually you are given your food, without plates and without silverware. Then, the waitress walks away, and you look at it and wonder "How am I supposed to eat this?"

Lucky for me, my first time at Blue Nile was with Micky Arafaine, who's family actually owns the restaurant, which I later came to find out. So I had somewhat of a translator as to what exactly was happening.

She ordered us Injera, which is a spongey bread that has a similar consistency to a wet piece of rolled up sandpaper. It's rather bizarre. Then she ordered us Tibs, which is basically a Chipotle style meat set up (she ordered lamb) and Keye Wat, which is a jelly-like meat set up that has the consistency of cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving. Also on the plate was an assortment of salsas and veggies.

The waitress handed us a giant serving dish with a piece of Injera on it, and all of these foods spread out upon it. Mickey then took the extra Injera, ripped off a piece, dipped it in the food with her fingers, pinched some, and put it in her mouth. I naturally followed suit. I licked my fingers, and wiped them and everything, and repeated the process. And nobody cared surprisingly. The secret was in the finger set up on the Injera, which, after practice, only touches your own piece (A secret that is easily learned in fact).

After dinner, I decided to explore, and found a downstairs club area, full with a bar, dj area, dance floor, and side tables set up. The lights were flashin', the party was hoppin', it was a good time. They have bands come and play, they have clubs book their facility for their formals and parties, and they have great food. It's sloppy, dirty, and rough, in all the right ways.

(Dont worry, they have food for the strong and weak stomach)


Menu Items:

Traditional Item Highlights:
Tibs (Chicken, Beef, or Lamb) $14/$15/$18
Keye Wat (Chicken, Beef, or Lamb) $14/$15/$18
Mixed Platters (Veggie and other) $30-$35

Regular Item Highlights: (In case you are a picky eater)
Cheesesteaks $7
Grinders $7
Tacos $7
Veggie Assortments $7



Their Happy Hour is also pretty happy, and lasts for three hours, and they have half priced pitchers and dollar margaritas on Sundays, so if you're 21, you can enjoy that as well.

Who would have known that such a traditional way of eating could be:

    A) So tasty
    B) So close by
    C) So fun and interesting to experience
    D) So traditional

I didn't, but after I went to the Blue Nile, I did, and you can too!

http://bluenileva.com/
Images found at: http://bluenileva.com/gallery/

A New Twist on a Traditional Holiday

 Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we all know the clichés, huge turkey, football and the Macy’s parade, but here in Harrisonburg students celebrate before the break in a variety of different ways. 

           

Juniors Betsy Kaeberle and Kristen Kelijen started their new annual pre-Thanksgiving tradition. They had a potluck style dinner with their friends from three different houses. “We had about 12 people,” says Kaeberle.

 Their pre-Thanksgiving party did not just include food. They played corn hole, watched football and hung out. “It was really nice to get to celebrate with our JMU family before we go home and celebrate with our actual family,” says Kelijen.

Wednesday, November 16 at 7 p.m. The Catholic Campus Ministry held its annual Interfaith Pilgrim Feast. It cost five dollars to attend. “All the money goes towards our yearly alternative spring break trip,” says junior Katie Benusa.

 The event is annual, but this year is the first time it has been called Interfaith Pilgrim Feast. “We decided to change the name to draw a larger group of people,” says Benusa.

The event is open to everyone regardless of religion. This year they are hoping to have one hundred people attend the event. Besides food they are going to have a Thanks Tree. People will be able to write what they are thankful for on precut handprints made from construction paper. “Once everyone has put them up, the tree will look like it is covered in fall leaves,” says Benusa.

Thursday, November 17, The Stratford Players are hosting their annual Thanksgiving dinner. “This tradition has been going on forever,” says junior Amanda Herman. “There are professors who are currently teaching here at JMU, who remember having this dinner when they were undergraduates.” 

 It is potluck style and the house that hosts the dinner does the turkey. “Everyone else brings a dish, usually something they do at home with their families, such as home made pumpkin cheesecake,” says Herman. The dinner starts at 5 p.m. and usually goes until about 11 p.m.

There is also a senior case race for anyone who is over 21. This is where seniors see who can drink a case of beer the fastest  “It’s really entertaining to watch and everyone always has a great time,” says Herman.

Thanksgiving is also a time to think of the less fortunate. JMU Circle K International did a canned food drive and collected over 40 cans to donate to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. “It’s a great feeling to help someone less fortunate,” says junior Justin Kibiloski. “Our club does this sort of thing all year long, but around the holidays it is even more important.” 

The food drive went on for three weeks, and club members were able to bring cans in to the weekly meeting. “I like knowing I’m helping someone else have a nice meal, especially around the holidays,” says sophomore Morgan Bibb.

The club will also be doing another canned food drive in February, since that is when the food banks are usually in need of more food. “Everyone thinks about it around the holidays, but we have to remember there are people who are hungry all year long,” says Kibiloski.

Another Thanksgiving tradition going on this week is the on campus pre-break, family dinner. “My suite mates and I pick a day of the week before break and we all go somewhere on campus and eat, hang out and just relax before we go home for break,” says sophomore Claire Fogarty. “This year we all went to D-Hall for the Thanksgiving dinner.”

D-Hall featured a traditional Thanksgiving meal at lunch and dinner, on Thursday before break.  “It reminds me of being with my real family, but I get to have it here with my JMU family,” says Fogarty.  

           

There are many different ways students celebrate before the holiday break, but they all involve good food, fun and friends.

-Olivia Fogarty 

That's So College..."Hotdog Spaghetti"

That's So College...when you make spaghetti with hot dogs in it, but even more "college" when you make hotdogs with spaghetti in it!

You know when you look in the refrigerator and you see nothing of true substance. It seems that we eat the same things over and over against as college students, Ramen, Mac N Cheese, Spaghetti, Hotdogs, PB & J, etc.  This "Hotdog Spaghetti" puts a new twist on the routine bland foods we eat as broke college students.


The concept is simple, yet genius. Instead of cutting up hot dogs and putting them in a bowl of spaghetti, try cooking the noodles in the hotdog.

Follow these instructions:

1.Get a pack of 8 hotdogs.

2.Slice the hotdogs into half inch medallions.

3.Boil  6 cups of water.

4.While water is coming to a boil, open a box of spaghetti.

5. Spear Hotdog medallions with dry spaghetti noodles (use at least 5 noodles per).


6. Once water comes to a boil, cook until pasta is tender.

7. Enjoy!

For easy eating, use a fork to grab hotdog and twirl pasta around.

The final product looks interesting. Most people ask what does well with this combination. My recommendation would be ketchup, butter and parmesan cheese, or just plain!

Hotdog Spaghetti....That's So College!


-Mike