No-Bake Recipes for a Super Bowl Party

Do you have a microwave? A freezer of some kind? Good.

For Super Bowl Sunday, why not impress your pals with a few of these recipes for a party or quiet gathering around the TV!



Ranch Crackers

A friend of mine, Leah, gave me this "recipe." There aren't very precise instructions because it is quite hard to mess up! Enjoy!

1 bags of oyster crackers
1 packet of ranch dressing powder
1 stick of butter

Melt half of the butter in a small bowl (or coffee mug). Pour the butter over your oyster crackers which should be in a microwave-safe bowl. Pour the ranch dressing packet over the crackers and mix well. You want everything to be coated evenly, and add a little more butter if needed. Also, you could add another ranch packet if you want it. Some people like less, some people like more.

Put your mixture in the microwave for just a minute. You aren't cooking it, its more to dry the crackers. It isn't really a science, so you can't mess it up. Don't keep it in a closed container, because you don't want them to get soggy.



Create Your Own PARTY MIX!

A full-proof snack for the Super Bowl... Fill a bowl with a few of these things, and everyone will find something they like!

M&M's
Chocolate Chips
pretzels
Peanut Butter pieces
marshmallows
Rice Chex
Popcorn
Peanuts



Classic Rotel

I'm not sure why I'm adding this, but in case you've never heard of it, then here it is! Its a cheese dip! Great with tortilla chips!

1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 lb. Velveeta cheese

Cut cheese into 1 inch cubes and pour Rotel tomatoes over and microwave until melted, stirring occasionally. Don't over-heat! Just melt it and serve it with chips!



Lemonade Pie

This is by far the easiest pie I've ever made. It takes very little effort and tastes pretty good. I made this for a study party for my Blount class!

1 pre-made graham cracker pie crust (on the baking aisle!)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 – 8 oz. Cool Whip
1 – 6 oz can frozen lemonade, thawed (do not use pink lemonade)

Thaw cool whip and lemonade. Combine sweetened condensed milk, cool whip and lemonade in bowl until thoroughly mixed. Pour into graham cracker pie crust. Put in freezer until set firm.

Serve within minutes of removing from freezer or things could get messy!



Have fun (and go Steelers!).

Student Football Tickets

We have problems with our student football tickets, and I think we can all agree that something should be done.

(I guess I should mention that I have no need for tickets since I'm in the MDB, but that I am still a student and I have friends that deal with this problem.)

I came across a link to Tommy Deas's blog suggesting a semi-plausible solution that should be discussed. (I was surprised to read of the same solution in the CW today, but because Deas elaborates a lot, I couldn't help but break it down.)

In a nutshell, Deas suggests that students be awarded points for each sporting event (other than football) that they attend. This would mean a drastic increase in attendance for volleyball, tennis, soccer, and many other attention-deserving sports. In theory, I really love this idea, but in reality, it needs work.

Firstly, there's a big issue with time-management in college to begin with. If someone really wants those tickets, they'll skip their night class, study sessions, and extra-curriculars to swipe their act card for extra points. If they don't, students will send a Freshman to skip their night class, study sessions, and extra-curriculars to swipe an upper-classman's act card. Some people will naturally attend every event possible to ensure that they receive the most points. Students with more difficult schedules won't be able to keep up.

Secondly, attendance will be an issue. If there is a volleyball match coming up against Auburn, surely the point-desiring students would rather attend that event than a hockey match against Alaska! Can the Cave hold those kinds of crowds? When people are turned away, will they receive points?

Also, there are plenty of students who buy football tickets simply to sell them for triple face value... that's not good for the students who couldn't get a whole package and want to buy from a fellow student.

Finally, students will swipe-and-go. Obviously, students will swipe their card, take a seat, and leave as soon as possible. In the end, this is probably the least worrisome downfall to Deas's idea, but still something to consider.


Some solutions? A slightly more complex, but hopefully better procedure.

Three Events.
Give students who have swiped their ACT cards at THREE events some points. Going to four events doesn't help, and going to two doesn't accomplish anything. Students will space out their attendance throughout the Fall and Spring semesters, and overall, attendance will rise. It takes the pressure off of a student who can't keep up with truly motivated people and avid fans. Also, skipping classes won't really be required.

Selling Consequences.
So, for those students who sell their season football tickets, points should be deducted from their total, hindering their ability to buy tickets the next season. (What if a student can't attend a football game? They can donate their tickets to that fantastic ticket program the SGA has worked hard to set up and they will be eligible for a prize. For a donation, there should be no consequences.)

Dean's List Points.
Offer points to first-time Dean's Listers! If a student who has never made it to the list before, we could encourage better grades with extra points. (Okay, for repeat Dean's List offenders, give a few points, too, but don't go weighting the point totals for a genius majoring in underwater basket weaving.)

Three-Tiered Confusion.
Confuse things up a little more by giving out tickets by level. Sell tickets by the point-range in which students fall. People with lots of points buy on day 1, and the tickets are distributed on first-come, first-serve terms. People with many points on day 2, same first-come, first-serve basis. Everyone else on day 3... the truly motivated will wake up and be online before 7 (you snooze, you lose).

Other Things:
Expand the student section. Please?
High point totals + seniority = SECCG and Bowl tickets. Not that hard.
Perhaps initiate a way to reward volunteering with points?



Honestly, looking at what I just typed, my head hurts. It's pretty complex, but something should change, and saying "have at the tickets" won't work. My brother missed buying tickets last year. He made it to one or two games by paying way more than the usual student ticket value. He's not alone. My roommate didn't go to a single game because a single ticket would have cost her more than an entire package of student tickets. Amazing things could happen in the next few years, and it saddens me that some students won't get to see it in person.

My dad attended Alabama for law school. He was here for three years, and in that time Alabama won TWO National Championships. Hearing him talk about those years and the games that he went to really makes me excited for my time here.

We're living football history... let's share it with the other students who are paying tuition.

Discovery Classes at the Ferg

Did you know that the Ferguson Center is offering several kinds of Discovery Classes?These classes look like a LOT of fun! You can take classes in guitar, crocheting, vegetarian cooking, yoga, and baking!

Each class meets once a week (for 4-5 weeks). There's a fee for the classes, but the skills you can acquire will probably be worth it! The classes are small, so be sure to register soon!

Easy Cooking on Campus

I live in a dorm, so I share a kitchen with a building full of people. Trying to cook in the kitchen in my building isn't worth the hassle most of the time, but finding a simple recipe to use really helps.

My mom loves to cook and has tons of suggestions for simple cooking. She gave me this "Taco Soup" recipe a while back. I've made it for my roommates and also for a piccolo party last fall.
This recipe is really simple! As long as you drain the ingredients as instructed, it's really hard to mess up!


TACO SOUP

Ingredients:
2 lbs ground beef
2 cups diced onions
2 (15 ½ ounce) cans pinto beans
1 (15 ½ ounce) can pink kidney beans
1 (15 ½ ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (14 ½ ounce) can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
1 (14 ½ ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (14 ½ ounce) can tomatoes with chiles
2 (4 ½ ounce) cans diced green chiles
1 (4.6 ounce) can black olives, drained and sliced, optional
1 (1 ¼ ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (1 ounce) package ranch salad dressing mix

In the pot you will use for your soup, brown the beef. Drain the excess fat and put beef aside. Cook the diced onion in the same pot. When the onions are cooked, re-add the beef. Also add the beans (drain the liquid!), corn, tomatoes, green chiles, black olives, taco seasoning, and ranch dressing mix, and simmer over low heat for about 1 hour on the stove.

Serve with corn chips and consider topping the soup with sour cream, cheese, and green onions. This recipe will serve 12 to 16 people, and freezes very well!


I hope you enjoy it!

Five of My Newest Obsessions

As I drove back to Tuscaloosa today, I thought about all of the new things I've been listening to, watching, and playing... SO, here are just a few new things that I LOVE!

5. My new HP Printer
For Christmas, I got a printer! So far, not having to find a computer lab with a working printer is FABULOUS! I thought I wouldn't use it much, but I have definitely been able to, and the semester hasn't really even started!

4. Damien Rice
A friend of mine gave me a copy of his CD "9 Crimes," and I definitely enjoyed it. I recommend not listening to it while operation heavy machinery (it may cause complete relaxation and slight drowsiness). I loved his song "Cannonball" but hadn't really heard any of his other songs. Now, I'm hooked!!

3. The New Season of Desperate Housewives
I remember watching the first-ever episode of this show with my sister. By last season I had lost all interest in the show and decided to stop watching it... then I heard a rumor that the new season of the show was set to take place 5 years later! As it turns out, this clever change brought new life into the show and got rid of some ridiculous story lines! Now, I eagerly await the show each week... just like I used to!

2. John Grisham's The Appeal
As with any Grisham novel, The Appeal kept me interested. I could tell that Grisham had a bone to pick, and perhaps this book will open more eyes to the problem with electing State Supreme Court justices. It was a good read, and I can't wait for his new book, The Associate, coming very soon (January 27, 2009)!!

1. Guitar Hero: On Tour for Nintendo DS
This game is just like the real version, only it fits in your pocket! I've enjoyed playing it, though it is much less comfortable than playing the original version. I've been using the game to brush up on my skills, so that I can compete with my friends at our next "Rock Band" Party! It was definitely worth the money to get this great game!


Enjoy!

Something You Should See

A month ago I happened to catch Oprah talking with John Quinones about his show for ABC News. It is called "What Would You Do?" and I think it deserves a lot of attention.

Basically, the show examines situations in which people should speak up. A man putting a mysterious powder into his date's drink while she is in the restroom, a woman in traditional Muslim clothing being refused service at a lunch counter, and two girls verbally abusing a young girl in a park are previous experiments. Each experiment involves actors playing these tough roles as hidden cameras record the reactions of bystanders.

I think the experiments on racism are some of the most powerful examples of how this show succeeds. I have seen two such set-ups in which an angry lunch counter worker discriminates against someone seeking service.

The bystanders who witnessed discrimination against an actress wearing a traditional Muslim head scarf, or hijab, reacted to what they thought was actual discrimination. The vast majority of bystanders said nothing, while many even took the side of the belligerent bakery worker.

There were, however, a good number of people who emphatically supported the woman and even cancelled their orders after hearing the argument.

This show both troubles me and gives me hope for America. On one hand, the number of people who said nothing or supported the actor who belittled the Muslim-American woman astounds me. I would love to think that we are better than that as a society.

On the other hand, the brave customers who defended the woman touched my heart. According to an article on the ABC website, one man had this to say when the actor behind the lunch counter called him a "bad American": "I believe I am a good American. My son just came back from serving in the army for over a year in Iraq and that has nothing to do with her rights. I am deeply offended by this."

Not all experiments are this heavy, but they are definitely entertaining. Last week, one segment explored the reaction of Paris locals to the atrociously stereotypical behavior of two American tourists.


"What Would You Do?" can be seen on ABC each Tuesday night at 9:00 PM, and there are many videos on the website.

A Tuesday/Thursday Schedule.

This semester is an experiment for me. I was curious. I had seen plenty of my friends arrange their schedules so that they could have free Fridays (and sometimes Mondays as well).

It was bugging me. I wondered if I could do it and if I'd like it. So here I am, all of my classes piled onto Tuesday and Thursday, with one Monday/Wednesday class, and an extra lab on Monday. My observations thus far? Holy cow.

It is fantastic in theory... but a few things are bothering me. What if my teachers all plan tests for the same day? Essays? What about all that reading?

Okay, so the chances of a MASS test day are very slim, but still it's something to worry about. We're barely a week into this semester but I'm already optimistic that this could work. I might be able to get away with having Fridays off for a road trip or a visit home... I'm actually pretty excited about it, but I know I have to stay on track with reading and homework.

So far, I'd say having this kind of a schedule is a great thing... I'll let you know if something changes.

New Years in New Orleans

Ringing in the new year in New Orleans was fantastic... we watched fireworks over the river, ate on a balcony on Bourbon Street, and watched two great football teams. It's been 8 days, and I've come to terms with the loss (perhaps because the weekend was so memorable!). The mood on our bus after the game was much lighter than it was after our loss to Florida. Rather than sit in our hotel and play games, we ventured out into New Orleans and enjoyed our final night. Losing to Utah was awful, but in spite of the outcome, I'm excited for next year. I think we all are.

The last Alabama football game for many months was bittersweet, but it sure was memorable. I think we'll have even more fun next year in Pasadena if we get the chance. So here's to a new year, and a countdown to Bama's 13th National Championship.

It's Not a Small Galaxy...

I was in the car today, and caught a little bit of Science Friday, one of my favorite NPR programs. Ira Flatow had a guest on talking about new measurements of the Galaxy. They say that the Milky Way is actually larger than what was previously thought.

I thought it was pretty interesting, and just wanted to share. You can listen to the segment at the link above!

Sara Elizabeth Matthews is bloggin' it up.

One of my favorite things to do when I'm bored is to change my Facebook status, but after a while the generic "Sara Elizabeth Matthews is tired" gets boring and predictable.

It's always nice to switch it up a little bit, which is why I'm blogging today about some cool Facebook statuses that I've seen in action. There are a few things that can make a really good status, in my opinion.

Creativity
If you've never seen someone use a particular status before, you've probably got a winner on your hands. You can make a play on words or take an old phrase and make it your own!

Are you a fan of Descartes? Try this:
Sara Elizabeth Matthews thinks, therefore she is.

Or, if it's really late and you've had too many Red Bulls:
Sara Elizabeth Matthews has too much blood in her caffeine system.

Something I like to do is look on the back of a novel and pick one of the reviews to make into a status. I liked this one:
Sara Elizabeth Matthews packs a wallop.

Song Lyrics
One of my favorite fall-back statuses is a simple song lyric. When a status looks like it is a lyric, I often google it to see which song it is from.

I use this Green Day lyric on days when I can't think of anything else:
Sara Elizabeth Matthews is one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone no doubt about it.

Hairspray supplies a good one, too:
Sara Elizabeth Matthews can't stop the beat.

Songs that mean something to your friends are good material, too.:
Sara Elizabeth Matthews just wants to celebrate.

Chuck Norris Style
I'm sure you've heard a Chuck Norris joke or two in your lifetime, so why not convert one into a unique status?

Sara Elizabeth Matthews CAN touch this.

Sara Elizabeth Matthews always knows the EXACT location of Carmen San Diego.

Sara Elizabeth Matthews doesn't bowl strikes, she just knocks down one pin and the other nine faint.

Abstract
So, basically abstract is my way of saying "Make absolutely no sense." If people don't understand what you're status means, they'll probably comment away! Try going to this LINK and letting the website generate something completely random for you!!

Sara Elizabeth Matthews is writing a dissertation on various puddings.

Sara Elizabeth Matthews is nibbling marinated cocktail umbrellas.

Sara Elizabeth Matthews is teaching a class in superfluous cabbages.

Just Different
If the point of a good status is to let your friends know what you're up to, then just saying things in a different way can be as cool as anything else.

Rather than saying you are going to class, tell your friends this:
Sara Elizabeth Matthews is sketching pretty patterns, day-dreaming, and staring at the inside of her eyelids... she's in Math class.

Going to the 'Bama game, later?
Sara Elizabeth Matthews is ready to roll over the Tigers and watch them crawl back to Auburn.

Skip the English
If you want to drive your friends crazy, go to a translation website and enter your own text. You'll probably recieve a really rough translation, but your friends will hop on over to the website and see what you're trying to say!


The best thing about changing your Facebook status is that there are no rules! They even took away the "is" that used to be a permanent fixture to any status.

Have fun with your status, and hopefully you'll get more and more comments on each one!


(PS: if you're mysterious, people will get curious and be forced to comment!)

It's a New Year!

So, the winter break is winding down, and my blog is about to start winding up. I've got a few posts up my sleeve, but I just wanted to wish you all a very happy New Year!

It's 2009 and anything is possible!



PS: Be on the look out for a summary of the Sugar Bowl trip, as well as a post about Facebook, and new videos to go with my posts!