Cuisine de Magic

 Ding Tea Hi guys!  Last Sunday after church, I went with one of my dear best friends, Alli, to a new boba tea place she had been going to. The name is Ding Tea, and it was so amazing! Here are some pictures of the interior: We got two teas: a hazelnut milk tea (mine) and a guava milk tea with mango jelly (Alli's). It was all around $13 without tip. The milk teas there are made with non-dairy creamer, but the lattes do contain dairy. They have a wide variety of flavors, and I got to try both of the teas we got that day. Hazelnut and Guava Milk Teas: Taste Test Let's start with the hazelnut tea. I initially expected this tea to be extremely sweet with a taste similar to Nutella, as it is made out of hazelnuts as well. I was wrong, but I don't regret it. The taste was more nuttier and a bit less sweet, I loved it though, even though it was not what I originally expected. It had the notes of lightly roasted hazelnut. It wasn't as smooth thou...

Proteins What are they and where can you find them? Chemically, proteins are made out of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. Their basic units are amino acids, which contain the nitrogen part of proteins. Proteins don't come into your body as proteins. Instead, they supply amino acids to you when enzymes break them down. They are broken down via a process called hydrolysis.  Fun fact: the body prefers whole proteins rather than partial ones! While plants are able to synthesize many chemicals needed for life, which later on produce carbohydrates, animals cannot (Haurowitz, Koshland). Therefore, making animals need to extract protein from external sources. Some of these individuals are us, human beings.  Some common protein sources are: Beans Legumes Nuts (almonds, cashews, etc) Meats (fish, beef, chicken) Proteins are essential to muscle building as well, therefore eat double the necessary amount for a daily unit consumption in order to build  = Sources Whitney, Ellie,...

 Hi again! So, I recently made my butterscotch brownies again for my colleagues at work. Turns out, the gluten-free version of them was more thick and fudgy. It seems like this kind of flour absorbs more liquid than normal flour. It also kinda happened with the focaccia bread I made a few days before. The loaf was less spongy and more humid, it looked like it didn't rise either. Perhaps I should add more baking flour to the bread instead, and do more research on gluten-free flour.  I will keep y'all updated!

 Heya! Today's health news: Weight loss drugs. Yes, you read that right. According to CNN News Briefing, Ozempec has become the newest weight-loss trend. What is Ozempec? It is a drug injected into patients who suffer from diabetes once a week. Lately, people have been using these as a weight loss method instead of their intended use.  Weight loss is actually one of the few side effects it has. Some other reactions are related to the gastrointestinal system, such as throwing up and gastroparesis (also known as stomach paralysis). It is reported that so many people are using Ozempec as a weight loss aid that people with diabetes are having a hard time accessing this much-needed medicine. Is it Addicting? Not necessarily. There are no studies correlating this drug to addiction at the moment. However, the FDA is looking into it. Also, European regulators are currently looking into the possibility that another side effect of this drug could be suicidal thoughts. Kind of weird it a...

 Hi there! So, you know what a Michelin star is. It's a type of award given to restaurants for outstanding performances. The more star a restaurant has, the better. But how did this all start? Well, believe it or not, it all started with a rubber factory. The Michelin brothers had inherited their grandfather;s rubber factory, where they invented the common bike tyre we see today back in 1889, in the French Alps. They also contributed to car tyres as well (Edtitorial staff).  By definition, a Michelin star is a type of award given by a committee of people due to outstanding cooking (Michelin Guide  Inspectore). It does not matter how big, small, pretty, ugly, or popular a store or dish is. If it qualifies for a star, the restaurant will obtain one. It also does not have an impact on service, surprisingly. I think that they should rate the Karen Cafe here in the United States then, that would be an interesting one to see. Some pf the chefs who have the most Michelin stars f...

 According to  CNN Politics , Russian attacks on the area of Ukraine's Odesa region have been targeting grain production areas. This has significantly affected grain prices, furthermore affecting the economy and overall, the people of Ukraine. It is estimated that many will suffer and/or die according to the United Nations (U. N). Additionally, there are an estimated "345 million people" will be facing hunger due to the Black Sea Grain Initiative collapse (Cavanagh). This has caused allies to look for ways to get grains such as barley and wheat out of Ukraine and into reserves. At the same time, Russia is trying to win over six African countries, promising them grain to be imported to them for free. = Sources Hansler, Jennifer, et al. "Concerns Mount over Potential for Food Crisis amid Russian Moves to Cripple Ukraine Grain Exports." CNN Politics , 27 Jul. 2023, www.cnn.com/2023/07/26/politics/russia-grain-deal-ukraine-food-crisis/index.html. Accessed 28 Jul. 20...

 So you're craving sweets, huh? Well, you're in luck! Today's recipe is fudgy butterscotch brownies. Perfect for pairing with ice cream! Let me show you how to make them. Fudgy Butterscotch Brownies 2 cups flour (gluten-free or regular) 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/3 to 1/4 cup espresso coffee liquid, or1 tbsp powder 1 tbsp vanilla extract 1 cup milk of choice (for gluten-free only, for normal use only half a cup) 1/4 cup espresso coffee 3 eggs 1/3 stick of butter 1 cup chocolate chips 1 cup butterscotch chips Preheat the oven to 350 F degrees. In a bowl, combine all dry ingredients, Mix thoroughly with a spoon or whisk until all the ingredients are incorporated. Next, add the milk and eggs. Mix until it is completely mixed in. In a small heat-proof bowl, at in half the chocolate chips and a portion of the butter. Heat over a pot of hot water, mixing all the time so it melts completel...