Girls Can Grill

Now that the weather is holding at a steady 70 degrees, I’m sure you’ve witnessed the same scene I do on a weekly basis: beer in one hand, grilling tongs in the other, with a haze of manly ego floating in the air. It’s nice to get a break from cooking and sit back and watch the men take a crack at it for once, but don’t let them tell you grilling is all male. We are just as capable of handling the hot flames of an open grill as they are.
Turn on the hockey game, relax his recliner back, and slip out the door with the contents of these grilling recipes, and he’ll never know what hit him until you serve up a delicious grilled meal sans the “manly touch.”

Teriyaki Steak and Shrimp Skewers
16 oz beef tips or strips of your favorite cut of steak
1 lb thawed, pre-cooked shrimp
1 cup broccoli
½ cup teriyaki sauce
2 tblsp chopped garlic
2 tblsp soy sauce
salt
pepper
skewers

1. Throw steak and broccoli into one Ziploc bag and the shrimp into another.
2. Add ¼ cup teriyaki sauce, 1 tblsp soy sauce, and 1 tblsp chopped garlic into each bag. Season to preference with salt and pepper.
3. Set the bags in the fridge to marinate. You can marinate anywhere from 15 minutes to an entire day, depending on your schedule.
4. Take skewers and set in a large bowl of water so that they are completely submersed. Soaking the skewers will keep them from burning. Let set in water for 15 minutes.
5. Take your two bags of meat. Push the meat onto the soaked skewers (alternating broccoli and steak on one set of skewers).
6. Heat grill to medium and place skewers on the grill.
7. Grill the steak and broccoli for about 10 minutes, turning every three minutes to prevent burning, and grill the shrimp for about 6 minutes.
8. Serve.

Grilled Corn on the Cob
4- 6 ears of corn
2 tblsp stick butter
1 tsp chili powder
2 tsp Lawry’s seasoned salt
tin foil

1. Shuck the ears of corn removing all husk from the ears of corn. Wash.
2. Place butter, chili powder, and Lawry’s seasoned salt into a microwave safe bowl and melt in the microwave.
3. Pull out a sheet of tin foil about 10 inches long. Place corn in the center and brush the melted butter mixture onto all sides of the corn.
4. Wrap the corn up tightly and repeat with the remaining ears.
5. Heat the grill to medium and place corn on, allowing space in between each ear.
6. Grill for about 20 to 30 minutes, turning occasionally.

Easy Cheesy Grilled Potatoes
4 medium potatoes
3 tblsp olive oil
1 tblsp Morton Nature’s seasonings
¼ to ½ cup cheese (depending on preference)
tin foil

1. Wash potatoes and cut into cubes.
2. Place potatoes on large sheet of tin foil and drizzle olive oil over. Toss the potatoes to evenly coat with olive oil.
3. Sprinkle seasoning over the top, and toss again. (more can be added according to taste preference)
4. Sprinkle cheese on top to liking.
5. Place another sheet of tin foil over top. Fold the edges of the bottom over the top and continue to fold until sealed.
6. Place on medium grill for 20 to 30 minutes, or until potatoes are cooked through.

Kelsey Schirm is a junior at Iowa State University pursuing a double major in Journalism & Mass Communication and Art & Design. She loves exercising, cooking, and being outdoors.

DIY Cinco de Mayo Feast

Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner, and there is no better way to celebrate Mexico’s independence than with delicious, authentic Mexican food. Skip the hassle and cost of visiting your favorite Mexican restaurant and stay in. Cook your roommates an extraordinary three course Mexican meal that will leave them full and satisfied. Here’s a menu for you to try:

First Course:

Fiesta Beans & Tortilla Chips (delish.com)

Ingredients

• 1 can(s) fat-free refried beans, preferably spicy
• 1 can(s) no-salt-added pinto beans, rinsed
• 1/2 cup(s) prepared salsa
• 2/3 cup(s) grated sharp Cheddar cheese, divided
• 4  scallions, sliced

Directions

1. Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat broiler.
2. Combine refried beans, pinto beans, salsa and 1/3 cup cheese in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until the mixture is hot and the cheese is melted, 6 to 8 minutes.
3. Spoon the bean mixture into a 2-quart baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining 1/3 cup cheese and scallions. Broil until the cheese is lightly browned, about 2 minutes.
4. Serve with tortilla chips.

Drink:

Paloma (cocktails.about.com)

Ingredients:

• 2 oz blanco or reposado tequila
• 6 oz fresh grapefruit soda
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• salt for rimming (optional)

Directions:

1. Rim a Collins glass with salt.
2. Fill the glass with ice and add the tequila and lime juice.
3. Top it off with grapefruit soda.

Main Course:

Beef Fajitas (mealsmatter.org)

Ingredients

• 1 lb Sirloin steak, cut into strips
• 1 Each red pepper, green pepper cut into strips
• 1 Onion, cut into strips
• 1/2 cup Mesquite-flavored marinade (any variety)
• 1 cup Salsa
• 8 (6-inch) flour tortillas
• Guacamole, if desired
• Sour cream, if desired

Directions

1. Cook sirloin steak strips in 1 tsp oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat for 3 minutes. Add red peppers, green peppers and onion; cook 3-4 minutes.

2. Add marinade, salsa; reduce heat to medium-low. Cook until heated.

3. Fill warmed tortillas with meat and veggie mixture. Serve with a spoonful of guacamole and/or sour cream if desired.

Spanish Rice (food.com)

Ingredients

• 12 cups long grain white rice
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 14 cup onion (finely diced)
• 4 oz tomato sauce (el pato salsa fresca, find el pato)
• 2 12 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 12 tsp sea salt
• pepper

Directions

1. Microwave buillion cube in water for 1 minute. Mix and add cumin, chili powder, and salt half a can of el pato sauce (if you can’t find el pato use regular tomato sauce).
2. Brown rice, in hot oil, in a large skillet for approximately 5 minutes flipping occasionally.
3. Add diced onion, minced garlic, and sauté for 1 minute.
4. Add seasoned broth, bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Do not check on the rice before the 15 minutes is up, this will allow steam to escape and may make your rice turn out undercooked.
6. Most of the water will absorb before the 15 minute time limit but keep covered and continue to steam for the entire 15 minutes. This will make for perfect rice that isn’t crunchy.
7. After 15 minutes turn heat off, uncover. Flip rice over. Recover. Let sit until everything else is ready. You can let the rice sit covered for up to 25 minutes which will cook out most of the moisture. Leave perfect fluffy rice.

Third Course:

Fresas Con Leche (mexicandessertrecipes.net)

Ingredients

• 1 lb strawberries
• 1 small (10 oz) can sweetened condensed milk (unsweetened may also be used)
• Whipped cream, to taste
• 4 maraschino cherries

Directions:

Rinse, stem, and slice the strawberries, placing one fourth of the sliced berries in each dessert glass or bowl. Top with one fourth of the condensed milk (or a little less, to taste), top with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Serve at once or chill for 30 minutes to an hour and serve cold.

Guide to Eating Healthier Chips

There are certain snack foods that no matter how unhealthy they are we will never be able to cut them out of our diets. On that list of irresistible snack foods, chips rank highly. Instead of feeling guilty with every crunch of the delicious, salty chips, try looking for healthier brands of chips or making homemade chips. Here’s a quick guide to help you understand what makes a chip healthier than your average brand.

The top three things you need to consider when choosing a healthier chip is the oil, sodium, and natural ingredient contents.

Chips were originally cooked in oils that were high in saturated fat, which can lead to problems with obesity and the clogging of arteries. When looking at chips’ ingredient lists check for the type of oil the chip is being cooked in. If the oil is low in trans or saturated fat like soy oil or sunflower oil your chip is going to be much healthier. A good brand of chips to try that contains no trans fat or saturated fat is Popchips.

Another thing to keep in mind is the sodium content. Sodium can be just as dangerous as the fats in oil, and chips like Lays original are very high in sodium. Try finding chips that use sea salt. Sea salt is often regarded as healthier, more natural substitute to sodium. Look for Laurel Hill Multigrain Tortilla Chips in your grocery store.

The most important thing you can remember is that natural is always better. Artificial ingredients should be a red flag for you when you browse the nutrition facts on the back of your chips. Also look for organic chips to avoid added chemicals or preservatives that are harmful to your health. A good option for organic chips is Kettle Brand Chips.

If you aren’t a fan of taking the time to check the nutrition facts on the back of chip bags while you’re at the store, you are not alone. When I go to the store I’m on a mission: get in, get out, and get on with my busy life. What I like to do instead is make my own healthy chips at home. Here are a few recipes for you to try from EatingWell Magazine, including a microwavable recipe perfect for us busy college students.

Microwave Potato Chips

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 pounds Yukon Gold or red potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Slice potatoes into thin (1/8-inch) rounds. Toss the slices in a medium bowl with oil and salt to coat evenly.
2. Coat a large microwave-proof plate with cooking spray. Arrange some potato slices in a single layer on the plate. Microwave, uncovered, on High until some slices start to brown, 2 to 3 minutes (depending on potato thickness and microwave power). Turn the slices over and continue microwaving until they start to crisp and brown around the edges, 2 to 4 minutes more. Check frequently and rearrange slices as needed to prevent scorching. Transfer the chips to another plate and allow to cool, completely. (They will crisp more as they cool.) Repeat with the remaining potato slices.

Garlic & Herb Pita Chips

Ingredients

• 4 6-inch whole-wheat pitas
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation

1. Position oven racks in middle and lower third of oven; preheat to 350°F. Coat 2 large baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Cut pitas into 8 wedges each and separate each wedge at the fold. Place the pita wedges, rough-side up, in an even layer on the prepared baking sheets. Brush with oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, garlic powder and salt.
3. Bake the pita wedges, switching the baking sheets halfway through, until golden and crispy, 6 to 10 minutes (depending on the thickness).

Chile-Lime Tortilla Chips

Ingredients

• 12 6-inch corn tortillas
• Canola oil cooking spray
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation

1. Position oven racks in the middle and lower third of oven; preheat to 375°F.
2. Coat both sides of each tortilla with cooking spray and cut into quarters. Place tortilla wedges in an even layer on 2 large baking sheets. Combine lime juice and chili powder in a small bowl. Brush the mixture on each tortilla wedge and sprinkle with salt.
3. Bake the tortillas, switching the baking sheets halfway through, until golden and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes (depending on the thickness of the tortillas).

Kelsey Schirm is a junior at Iowa State University pursuing a double major in Journalism & Mass Communication and Art & Design. She loves exercising, cooking, and being outdoors.

5 Reasons to Take Summer Classes

Every college student knows the best months out of the year are June and July since you’re finally free from the hectic school schedule you uphold. Having your days free to laze in the sun or at least make some extra cash and your nights free from studying and homework can be pure bliss. The last thing on your mind is school, but you might want to rethink that approach. Taking classes in the summer can offer many benefits, which often outweigh the disadvantages. For me, taking classes in the summer has always been a rewarding experience. Here are the top five reasons why you should consider taking summer classes:

1. Graduate earlier – A few classes in the summer can be the difference between graduating on time, late or earlier. If you think about it, taking 1 to 2 three credit classes each summer semester can equally up to at least a semester’s worth of credits, ultimately leaving you with a semester’s worth of tuition still in your pocket.
2. Shorter sessions – Summer classes are often much shorter than classes offered in the spring and fall. Depending on the institution, you can earn the same amount of credit but in half the time. shorter term.
3. Smaller class loads – In the summer you won’t be taking 18 credits, therefore you’ll only have one or two classes to focus on. You can also take classes online allowing you to still get a full time job for the summer. An advantage of the smaller class load is getting harder classes out of the way. Summer will allow you to focus on the harder classes so you don’t have to worry about them during the school year when you have tons of other courses and activities to schedule time for. What I’ve done in the past is take my harder classes at a nearby community college because they tend to be much easier.
4. Smaller class sizes – Not very many people take advantage of summer classes so your classes will most likely be fairly small. The benefit of this is creating relationships with more students and even your professors. In addition, professors will have less students and courses to focus on which in turn allows them to offer you more help and attention.
5. Staying focused – The first couple weeks of the fall semester can be brutal for some students because they have gotten used to their summer schedule or late nights and lazy days. By taking classes during the summer you are keeping yourself focused on school and staying in the disciplined routine. Returning the school in the fall will be a much easier transition.

Make sure you think over all these points before eliminating summer classes as a possibility for you this year. Giving up a few hours a day each summer has been rewarding for me and I believe the same for you.

Kelsey Schirm is a junior at Iowa State University pursuing a double major in Journalism & Mass Communication and Art & Design. She loves exercising, cooking, and being outdoors.

Q & A with Robin Plotkin

This classy co-ed got the opportunity to talk with Culinary and Nutrition Communications Consultant and Registered and Licensed Dietitian, Robin Plotkin about her career choice and (italicize and) advice she has for college students trying to live healthy lives. Check out the Q&A session to reveal all the burning questions you’ve been wondering about:

Kelsey: What does the job of a consultant entail?

Robin: Each day is different!  As a culinary nutritionist, I provide a number of services to my clients based on their individual needs.  I may be providing culinary and nutrition guidance to a public relations client, writing a blog post for the Dallas Morning News Health blog, developing recipes for food manufacturing clients, teaching kids cooking classes, hosting a Twitter party, reviewing and editing menus for restaurant clients, conducting media interviews to showcase new products with health benefits, attending meetings, networking and mentoring interns!  I love that each day is different and provides new challenges.

CL: What advice do you have for students interested in a similar career path?

Robin: First, take a nutrition class and/or a culinary arts class. It’s important to understand and know the bare bones of what this field is all about before jumping into it full steam ahead. Talk to nutrition professionals, volunteer for community events and start cooking!

CL: What foods do you consider to be staple for any college student’s home?

Robin: For a college student, it’s a great time to continue the healthy habits you had at home OR start new healthy habits as you create your own kitchen. The best way to ensure that you have healthy, fast and tasty meals/snacks is to have the foods you love on hand at all times. With regard to anything on this list, always check the food label and ingredients to be certain that you are making the healthiest choice!

• Canned soups
• Popcorn
• Whole wheat pasta (variety of shapes)
• Canned beans
• Frozen vegetables (green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, brussel sprouts)
• Frozen fruits (berries, mangos, pineapples)
• Fresh or frozen lean meats I.e. Chicken breast, chicken strips
• Protein bars
• Frozen waffles
• High fiber cereals
• Oatmeal
• Yogurt and Greek yogurt
• Low fat or fat free milk/soy milk
• Bagged salads
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Dried fruits
• Nuts
• Seeds
• eggs
• 100% whole grain rice, bread, english muffin, crackers
• Canned tuna packed in water
• Cheese
• Trail mix (make with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, chocolate chips
• Peanut butter and other nut butters
• Cottage cheese and fruit
• 100% fruit juices

CL: What Kitchen items/gadgets would you recommend?

Robin: For the basic kitchen:

• Cutting boards
• Skillet
• Stock (soup) pot
• Colander
• Microwave
• George Foreman Grill
• Blender
• 3 knives-1 chef knife, 1 paring knife and 1 bread knife (serrated edge)

If portion control is of interest, I recommend these: http://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Steps-Portion-Control-Utensil/dp/B005WCF1KU

(CL) Often college students lead busy lives which leads us to eat foods that are quick but not necessarily healthy, what advice or tips do you have to combat that?

(Robin) Just like you prepare your backpack or book bag, it’s important to prepare your snacks and meals while on campus. Pack fresh fruit that can travel like bananas, oranges, apples, Clementines and grapes. Dried fruit and trail mixes are great, too-I love whole grain cereal, dried apricots, a few raisins, mini chocolate chips and almonds. When studying, pop a bowl of popcorn, snack on frozen edamame or try some low fat cheese and whole grain crackers.

Easy meals include soup, salads and sandwiches, pasta dishes and bean dishes. There’s also nothing wrong with cheese, crackers, fruit and nuts to make a light meal.

Be sure that the food that needs to be refrigerated is cooled properly with ice packs and remember to clean your lunch bag each week!

CL: In terms of a college budget, how can you make a little food go a long way?

Robin: Many students spend the majority of their money on going out to eat and drink. By having the foods you love to eat at home, you can save a lot of cash and have fun learning how to cook for your friends. Try inviting 4 friends over for a pot luck dinner. Or, have friends over and take one afternoon to cook your food for the week. Portion it in individual freezer bags for each person and you’ve each got your snacks and meals for the week.

Making a grocery list is key for saving money at the grocery store. Here are some healthy, inexpensive foods that can be easily stretched to make multiple meals: oats, eggs, potatoes, kale, apples, nuts, beans, low-fat milk, seeds, spinach, broccoli and whole grain pasta.

• Dining out? Buy the foot long sub (it’s less expensive), eat 1/2 there and take the rest home for a snack. Be sure to load up on veggies-it’s easy to get a cup serving (or more) when ordering!
• Ordering Chinese food? Tack on an order of steamed veggies that can be utilized the next day in another dish.
• Pizza tonight, breakfast tomorrow is fine—but what to do with the rest of the slices? Freeze them! Defrost and reheat when the urge for pizza hits again.

One more thing—the best gift graduation gift you can ask for is a beginner or basic cooking class or a knife skills class. Having a confidence in the kitchen and a few dishes in your repertoire will help save money and eat healthier!

Kelsey Schirm is a junior at Iowa State University pursuing a double major in Journalism & Mass Communication and Art & Design. She loves exercising, cooking, and being outdoors.

Spring Salad Combinations

Spring is officially here. It’s time to stop eating winter’s comfort food and freshen up your diet with a spring-inspired salad. Not sure where to start? I’m here to help walk you through the process of creating your very own crisp, delicious salad.

The most important part of the salad is, of course, the greens. The variety of types can help liven up your salad and give it that perfect taste. Here are a few varieties to think about:

• Romaine: A darker green with a crisp bite to it and has a softer texture than most varieties.
• Iceberg: This light green variety has a delicate crunch to it, but isn’t as nutritional as darker lettuces.
• Butterhead (also called Boston or Bibb lettuce): A unique buttery flavored lettuce with a tender texture filled with vitamin A and folate.
• Spinach: The most nutritional of all varieties, this green is packed with high levels of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and folacin.

Once you’ve chosen your green variety it’s important to think about all the add-ins. Many like to add chicken, shrimp, or other meats to their salad to amp up the protein levels, but this is all based on personal preference. Don’t forget to sprinkle on your favorite kind of cheese. The healthiest varieties include feta, mozzarella, Swiss, and Parmesan.

There are also several assortments of vegetables and fruits that go great on salads. Here are a few of my favorites I encourage you to try:

• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Butternut squash
• Carrots
• Corn
• Grapes
• Green beans
• Green peas
• Kiwi
• Orange segments
• Pineapple
• Red bell peppers
• Strawberries
• Sugar snap peas

Your salad is starting to look great, but there are still some final touches to take care of. I am a huge fan of crunchy add-ins. My favorites include croutons, sugared almonds, and fried chow mein noodles, but you can add any array of nuts, granola, or seeds.

Now for one of the most important parts of the salad: the dressing. A great dressing helps bring a salad from tasty to “Yum!” Of course, you could grab a bottle of your favorite dressing off the shelf at your local grocery store, but why not be ambitious and try to make your own! Making your own salad is easy if you follow this simple recipe: 2 or 3 parts oil to 1 part acid, plus salt and pepper or other herbs. Here are a few examples of ingredients you can use:

Oils:

• Olive oil
• Avocado oil
• Nut oils (walnut, almond, etc.)
• Seed oils (sunflower, flaxseed, grape seed, etc.)
• Vegetable oil

Acids:

• Balsamic vinegar
• White or red wine vinegar
• Fruit-flavored vinegars
• Cider vinegar
• Citrus juice (lemon, lime, grapefruit, etc.)

For Creamier dressings, try adding one of these:

• sour cream
• yogurt
• buttermilk
• mayonnaise
• peanut butter
• honey

Now you’re ready to make your most perfect, personalized salad. Just remember these are only suggestions, your salad can be as simple or as complex as you want it, but just be sure to think it through first, because some salad ingredients don’t go that well together. But no matter what type of salad you concoct, you’ll be rewarded with a healthy and fresh start to the spring season.

Kelsey Schirm is a junior at Iowa State University pursuing a double major in Journalism & Mass Communication and Art & Design. She loves exercising, cooking, and being outdoors.

5 Spring Break Mocktails

If your week has been anything like mine, you have been spending countless hours studying for midterms or putting the final touches on midterm projects. It’s stressful; trust me, I know. The good thing about spring semester midterms: spring break follows! Whether you’re hoping on a plane to Florida or having your very own staycation, the one thing on your mind is the awesome parties.

Hold up. You’re not 21? No problem neither am I. Us underage co-eds need to stick together! Your friends may be sipping on a cosmo or an appletini, but so can you with just a few mocktail recipes. What’s a mocktail, you ask? A mocktail is a cocktail without any alcohol and perfect for the younger crowd of college students.  Here’s a list of my top 5 mocktails from drinkalternatives.com that I’ll be sipping on this spring break as I travel to the frigid state of Minnesota.

1.     Strawberry Daiquiri Mocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh strawberries, de-stemmed and halved
• 2 Tablespoons sugar
• 1 Tablespoon lime juice
• 1/4 cup water
• 4 medium sized ice cubes

Directions:

Crush ice cubes in blender. Add all other ingredients, blend until icy and mixed. Slice a whole strawberry half-way through and place on rim of glass. Sprinkle with sugar. Serve in a daiquiri or cocktail glass.

2.      Sex on the Beach Mocktail (sometimes called Safe Sex on the Beach)

Ingredients:

• 3 Tablespoons peach nectar
• 1/2 cup cranberry juice
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice
• ice

Directions:

Place ice at bottom of glass. Pour in peach nectar followed by cranberry and pineapple juice. Serve in an old-fashioned lowball glass.

3.     Pink Shampagne

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups Sparkling apple cider, chilled
• 1 1/2 cups Sparkling cherry-flavored mineral water
  (or club soda mixed with cherry flavoring syrup)
• 1 cup Cranberry juice

Directions:

Stir all ingredients until thoroughly mixed. Serve in a champagne flute.

4.     Chocolate Martini Mocktail

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup milk
• 3 Tablespoons chocolate syrup
• crushed ice

Recipe:

Place milk, chocolate syrup, and crushed ice in blender. Blend until icy and slushy. Add ice as needed. Coat the glass rims with cocoa powder or chocolate sprinkles. Top with a chocolate covered cherry. Serve in a martini glass.

5.      Pina Colada Mocktail

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup pineapple juice
• 1/4 cup coconut cream
• ice

Recipe:

Crush ice in blender. Add pineapple juice and coconut cream. Blend briefly, until all ingredients are icy and mixed. Throw in a maraschino cherry and add a wedge of pineapple to the top of the glass. Serve in a Collins glass or margarita glass.

Kelsey Schirm is a junior at Iowa State University pursuing a double major in Journalism & Mass Communication and Art & Design. She loves exercising, cooking, and being outdoors.

Pamper Your Pet on Love Your Pet Day

Another Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean the loving gestures have to stop. I hope you saved some love for that other special someone in your life, your pet. February 20, is National Love Your Pet Day! Our pets do so much for us from offering companionship to protecting us. It’s time to show your appreciation for your furry friend. Here are some quick and easy ways to pamper your pet today.

Homemade Treats – Sure you could run down to your nearest Three Dog Bakery or similar pet store, but why not offer your pet a treat baked with love from you. There are tons of recipes for pets you can make at home on your own using your pet’s favorite foods. My favorite site is dogtreatkitchen.com  because it also provides recipes for pets on special diets. Try this recipe from Dog Treat Kitchen:

Peanut Buttery Woof Woofs
3-4 cups whole wheat flour
1 egg
1 cup peanut butter
2 teaspoon garlic
ground flax

1. Mix flour, egg, peanut butter, garlic, and flax together. Set aside.
2. Boil 2 cups water with your choice of meat.
3. Remove meat from water mixture, leaving whatever little bits are in water from meat, and mix with peanut butter mixture.
4. Cut or shred meat.
5. Mix all together.
6. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray and spoon to the size of your dog, (small, medium, large) onto the sheet.
7. Bake on 400 for about 30-35 mins.

Pet Massage – Yes, pet’s can get professional massages too. Just like us they have stress and sore muscles as well, so help ease the pain of your pets daily activities by taking them to a pet spa for their very own personal massage. Check the yellowpages or search online for a pet masseuse near you. Don’t worry if your community doesn’t offer these services, you can do it on your own (link to youtube video).

Quality Time – The best thing you can do for your pet is just spend time with them. Often as college students we lead such busy lives that our pets often get ignored. Commit a day to spend with your pet. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant you could just let your pet sit on the couch with you while you watch TV and pet them or take them on a car ride with you. No matter what it is, just being by your side will make your pet’s day. My dog, Lady, loves taking naps with me. It’s not much, but just being close to me is enough to make her happy.

Exercise – Of course, this is something important to give your pet every day, but today try something new or just take them out longer. Go on a walk on your favorite walking trail or throw the Frisbee around a little longer than usual. The exercise will be great for not only your pet but also for you.

Play Date – Depending on your pet’s personality (like my dog’s) this may not be the best way to show your love, but if you’ve got a friendly fur ball at home that loves meeting fellow pets why not set up a play date. Call your friend and ask them to bring over their pet so they can both run around together and socialize. You can also take them to a pet park or dog park to meet new pets!

These are only a few ways you can pamper your pet today. Pets come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities, so make sure to choose something that your pet will love. I have two dwarf hamsters that don’t necessarily like the whole quality time idea, so I just let them run around in the exercise balls longer than usual and give them a special treat when they’re done. Get creative and come up with your own ideas that would better suit your pet. Just remember today is your pet’s day so make it all about them!

Kelsey Schirm is a junior at Iowa State University pursuing a double major in Journalism & Mass Communication and Art & Design. She loves exercising, cooking, and being outdoors.

Iowa State University Reopens State Gym

State Gym in the early 1900's (Photo Courtesy of Iowa State Recreation Services)

At the beginning of the 2012 spring semester Iowa State University reopened their newly renovated gym, State Gym. Originally built in 1913, the gym’s features were outdated. In 2004, recreation services administrative staff came together to discuss expansion options.

“At that point, our newest gym, Lied, had been in existence for about 15 years and it was clear that the university was moving upward in student population, so we decided that we needed to expand,” explained Michael Giles, Director of Recreation Services at Iowa State. “So, in 2007 and 2008 we did research and held forums and found out the students were very interested.”

Following a student referendum, the vote passed and construction began during the fall of 2009. As the result of a few minor set-backs in construction scheduling and material issues, the gym reopened a semester later than scheduled, leaving students high in anticipation.

The gym is packed full of features that have brought students flooding in the doors. On opening day a total of 4,200 cards were swiped to enter the facility. Since then the numbers have level off, but Giles estimates around 1,500 to 2,000 swipes on an average weekday.

New features that students are now enjoying on a daily basis include 125 new weight and cardio fitness machines, a leisure pool with a 30-person hot tub and whirl pool, 40 foot climbing wall, and several new full-sized basketball courts. At State Gym, you can also take several free fitness classes in one of their new studios or hire a personal trainer to help get you into shape.

The hype around the new gym is definitely living up to its image. Although I do not work out at this location on a daily basis, I do visit it at least once a week and the new equipment certainly enhances the experience of my workouts. The different opportunities and choices the gym offers makes fitness a new and more exciting experience. Whether it’s swimming laps in the new pool or running on the treadmill-stairs, there is always a unique way for me to get the results that I want.

The novelty of the gym is helping increase the health on campus in so many ways, something that has been a big priority in Iowa and on campus for many years now: “The student themselves are interested a great deal in the opportunities outside of the classroom and Iowa State serves as a great opportunity for wellness and healthy living. The expansion of the State Gym is going to further that even more,” explained Giles.

To further their goal of healthy lives on campus, Iowa State has other plans in the work to expand the recreational opportunities available. Currently, they are working on developing two outside multipurpose fields and hoping to outfit Lied Recreational Facility with new equipment.

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Kelsey Schirm is a junior at Iowa State University pursuing a double major in Journalism & Mass Communication and Art & Design. She loves exercising, cooking, and being outdoors.

DIY Valentine’s Goodies

Valentine’s Day is next week! Have you gotten your sweetheart a gift to show how much you care? As college students finding the perfect gift for your special someone and staying on budget can be a stressful task. Truth is, in the past, the gifts my boyfriend has appreciated the most were the ones I hardly spent any money on, so forget the fancy cologne or the $50 box of gourmet chocolates. Make your own chocolate truffles and a personalized box to put them in!

Visit Fine Cooking’s website and use their special web application for creating your own personalized truffles. While you’re waiting for your truffles to set, create your heart-shaped box to put them in. What I love about this DIY candy box is you can personalize it with pictures and sayings that express your relationship best! Follow the instructions below to create your box:

Items you will need:

Matte board

Poster board

Heart Pattern

Glue gun

Decorative paper or similar decorative items

Rubber cement

Pencil

Scissors or X-acto knife

Markers

Directions:

1. Trace two hearts onto the matte board using the heart pattern. Cut them out.
2. Using the decorative paper and markers, create a design to go on one of the hearts to act as the top of your box.
   (If you’re feeling really ambitious you can grab some paint and paint the matte board before you construct the box.)
3. Glue the decorative design to one of the matte hearts, this heart will act as your lid.
4. Cut 2 one-inch wide strips of poster board paper long enough to curve around the circumference of the heart.
5. Glue the strips to each of the cut out hearts, making sure to form the heart shape as you glue around.
   Tip: Make the area formed by the strips slightly bigger on the decorated heart so that it can slide over top of the other to make a lid.
6. Place your fresh, homemade truffles in the bottom of the box, attach the lid, and surprise your valentine with a gift made from the heart!

Kelsey Schirm is a junior at Iowa State University pursuing a double major in Journalism & Mass Communication and Art & Design. She loves exercising, cooking, and being outdoors.

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