Entry #8 - Thirsty Anyone?

 

Summer drinks...

 

With every meal there has to be a drink involved. During my younger days, I was always fond of a certain drink, which I discovered more than a decade ago, which I call, "Watermelon Jolly Rancher," for that is what it tastes like. Even though I no longer drink, I recommend this to whoever is wanting something good and light to drink. For all the non-alcoholic drinkers out there, don't worry, I haven't forgot about you. This is my version of a, "Virgin Jungle Juice." Trust in me when I say, "this juice goes great with anything."

 

Watermelon - JOLLY rancher



Drink Responsibly

Serving size: 1 

 

You will need:

 

Ice to keep dink icy cold

4 oz Diet Sprit (chilled)

1 oz "Melon" Vodka (chilled)

1/2 oz "Light" Cranberry Juice (chilled)

 

Preparation: 

In a short cocktail glass, fill with ice and combine ingredients in order as they appear. The amount of vodka may be fluctuated to your liking.

 

Add 2 straws and enjoy!

 

 

Jungle juice

 

You will need:

Ice

5 gal. ice chest

32 oz. fruit punch concentrate

3- 2 liters Ginger Ale
1 1/2 Gallon of water

2 cup fresh blue berries (sliced or whole)

2 cup fresh raspberries (whole)

4 cup fresh strawberries (whole)

** berries may be substituted with frozen berries
2 lbs bag of ice

Preparation:
In a 5 gal ice chest, combine all ingredients and let sit for an hour.

 

Entry# 7 - Blog Reflection Final

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

 I have to admit, when this course began, and once blogging was mentioned as an assignment for class, I was not head over heals about it. But after having done blogs for four weeks, I have to say it was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. My reasons are blogging has allowed me to think about what I wanted to talk about, and has also allowed me to think of how I wanted my readers to react towards my writing. With this, I was able to allow myself to really think from the readers perspective, and visualize what I, as a reader, wanted to read.

Even though blogging was by far the easiest assignment, I took it seriously. Being an honor student, it's kind of hard not to take school work seriously, for without taking each assignments seriously could easily drop my grade down, and that was something I wouldn't allow to happen.

Blogging as an assignment, for me, was very helpful. With blogging I was able to express myself in words, and have people see me in a way I rarely expose myself as. Blogging was a good way, I thought, to allow oneself to express themselves with words.

Even though blogging is a good way of practicing to express oneself with words, it can have a downfall. For one, since blogging I have found myself wanting to make entries, even though there are none assigned. I guess you can say I am addicted. Nonetheless, I find blogging as a great way for teaching students how to change their rhetoric to aim towards particular groups of people. Another good factor blogging gives is the ability for students to interact amongst each other outside of the classroom.

Entry# 6 - The Mexican Twist

Guacamole



Before I do my usual, and start off with a story of how or when my thoughts of these recipes came about, I would like to say hello, "Yá'át'ééh." I hope you all waited to pile all your sinful desires on to your fry bread, because without this Guacamole, you taste buds will be missing out on an adventure. Okay, let me start of by telling you how I came to know a little about Mexican food. As you all know, I am Navajo, and my children are half Mexican. Having three growing children, whom by the way love Mexican Food, forced me to do a little digging on finding ways to satisfy their cravings, and at the same time, show them a little bit about "both" their heritages. I am not just talking about your simple guacamole or salsa, I am talking about tacos, menudo, rice, beans, enchiladas, to chili verde, and when it comes to my kids, believe me, they know the difference between good and bad. One of their favorites is "mommy" guacamole. I hope you enjoy it as much as they do.

Serving size: 4 (about 2 cups)
Prep time:  15 min
Cook time: 0 min


You will need:
2 fully ripened avocados, pitted, peeled and diced
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 jalapeño chili, chopped and seeded (if you desire hot, seeds can be left in)
2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 tsps. salt
2 finely chopped Roma tomatoes, drained

1/4 cup (or desired amount) cottage cheese

1 pkg guacamole mix

 Preparation:

In a medium bowl, place avocados in the bowl, and give each avocado a one time mash, with a potato masher. After you've taken your frustration out on your avocados, place chopped onion, chopped jalapeño, chopped cilantro, salt, chopped tomatoes, cottage cheese, and guacamole mix in with the avocados; lightly stir to combine.

Can be served with anything your stomach desires... Enjoy!

Entry #5 - ♫ I'll Keep You My Dirty Little Secret - Who has to know? ♫

Food...

When settlers first settled in America,

food demand was not as much of a concern, and farmers of all sorts were able to keep up with the needs of every American. As America's population increased the demand for rations followed, which became bit of a concern to farmers, as they could no longer keep up with the vast growing population.


From this tremendous incline of America's population there was a sudden demand for faster food production, without any regards to possible health issues.





This sudden demand also resulted in a trillion dollar market of fast food chains, which has spread around the world. Like everything that is sooooooo good, these delectable greatness, came at a price...

So, I would like to say the video that was presented in class has impacted the way I now see our everyday food we consume. It was all astonishing by the things that are going on in slaughterhouses across the nation, the amounts of dangerous chemicals in our everyday foods, not to forget the amount of greed there is amongst American businesses. It makes me think a lot about my kids health, as well as my own. The video also has me think of how much freedom people, whom live on the reservation, have to be able to harvest and herd their own food without any threat of any attempts of law suits by any agency.


 

Entry #4 - Don't Be So Plain

 

Chili beans

 

Many natives would like to say their Native Taco is the best, but I would have to disagree. Living in Phoenix my whole life, and having to cook for my brothers and sisters, as well as my kids (whom are half Mexican) has taught me a little bit about experimentation when it comes to cooking. From this I have learned how to combine both Navajo traditions with Mexican traditions. Believe me, you will not eat a Navajo Taco any other way after you have tried mine. It starts with the beans, not just your ordinary, plain pinto beans, it has to be "chili" beans.


 

Serving size: 4-6
Prep time: 10 min

Cook time: 45 min
 

You will need:

3 cups cooked pinto beans (or 2 cans)
1 lbs ground beef
1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes (Italian Style)
1 1/2 cups water
1 bell pepper, chopped
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1 pkg McCormick® Chili Seasoning Mix, Original
1/2 head of lettuce

Toppings
sour cream
1 can diced olives
1/2 cup green onions
1 tomatoes, chopped into cubes


In a pot, combine pinto beans, water, chopped bell peppers, salt, ground pepper, chili seasoning, and can of tomatoes, and bring to a simmer for 15 minutes.

In a pan, cook ground beef until it is brown. After ground beef is cooked thoroughly, drain as much access oil as possible, then pour into beans. Cook on low for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to blend.




Now, it is time to create your taco....

It is not as simple as piling everything on, you have to take you time, and imagine what your taste buds are craving the most, and what is also sinful in everyway.

OH! you can't forget the guacamole... That will be on my next blog, so if you want a delicious taste, you'll just have to view my next entry. Until then, Hágoónee' (later!)

Entry #3 - The Future & Technology

Technology



Technology has the world at it's fingertips.

             

 As humans evolved from ape-like ancestors, so has  technology, from the evolution of the earliest tools to the latest trend in electronics, as well as the future. Whether society is ready for the next "biggest thing" to happen with technology, or if it will be beneficial, it will happen, and people will become more dependent on it.

Technology has become a significant part of society that has been as much positive, as it's been negative. For some, the positive aspect of technology is having access to a computer and internet, as this enables faster communication than a hundred years ago. With this technology it has not opened many doors to personals life, but also towards school and work.

 

Negative views, are of those who feel technology has evolved a little too much, that it has made today's society lazy,

 

 

 

 

or even a little too ridiculous to follow.



Whichever the case may be, technology is here to stay and is being modified for the future. I just hope that it's not as ridiculous as some make it out to be...

 

Introduction Practice Entry

Hi everyone! My name is Lourinda Cantu, I am a Navajo, born in Louisiana, raised in Arizona. My interests are spending time with my kids, watching Netflix, doing school work.

My favorite movies consist mainly of gangster movies, such as The God Father, Goodfellaas, and Scarface.

 

 

 

As for my favorite music, I don't care for it as much as I used to, nor do I have time for it.
 

I am second year student here at GCC, where I am a active member of clubs, such as Native American Student Association (NASA), Phi Theta Kappa, and Honors Club.

 

My plans for the future are to complete my Associate Degree here at GCC, take the ACTs in hopes of being admitted into a top university for the academic year 2013-2014, where I will be focusing on my bachelor's in Political Science and International Affairs. After my studies I plan to apply to law school in hopes of becoming one of the nations prestigious lawyers on all federal lands, including the Native Reservations throughout the United States.

 

Entry #2 - Family Traditions

Navajo Fry Bread

 

Growing up I have always admired the many inspiring dishes my mother made, some of which she was able to pass down to me. One of her most famous dishes was her lamb stew with fry bread. Today, I will pass her teachings of how to make the best fry bread, followed by my version of how to make all the fixings to complete a Navajo Taco, with a Mexican twist.

 

Caution: This recipe is not for those who are prone to using a fork for mixing dough, or a rolling pin for stretching out dough. So, put the rolling pin and fork away, because they are not needed.

 

 
Serving size: 4

Prep time: 15 min

Cook time: 8 min



 

You will need:

 

2 cup flour (Blue Bird brand is recommended)

3 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2/3 cup warm water

1 cup shortening (you may also substitute with vegetable oil)

1 Iron Skillet
Extra flour (to flour each piece of dough)

 

 

**Please note - Rolling pin or fork not needed**

 

Combine flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium size bowl, and mix together by hand. Pour warm water over the flour mixture a little at a time and stir the dough by hand in a circular motion, trying to get all the flour into the mixture to form a ball. TRY not to KNEAD the dough, as this will make dough difficult to stretch.

 

Separate dough into 4 pieces. In a small bowl roll the pieces of dough in extra flour to avoid the dough from sticking to hands. With each ball of dough in your hand begin to shape, stretch, and pat (as you would do while singing the Patty Cake song) into a disk of about 5 to 7 inches in diameter. To avoid dough from plumping up in the middle, poke a hole in the center.

 

 

In an iron skillet, heat oil on med hi. You can check if oil is hot enough by dropping a small piece of dough in the hot oil, and if it tumbles and turns golden brown it is ready. Oil should be about 1-inch deep.

Take the formed dough and gently lay into the oil. Fry until brown, and then flip to fry the other side. Each side shouldn't take more than a minute. Place the cooked Fry Bread on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.

Entry #1 - Personal view on blogs

My opinion of blogs is more of a negative and positive approach, my reasons are because blogs are not important and just a waste of time, and then again, in some shape or form, they aren't. For instance, one might use a blog to lure customers in liking a certain product, then there are others who see blogs as a means of communication between one person to another.

So, I would have to say my view on blogs are a split between being useful and non-useful.


Of the blogs I viewed the one's that most interested me were: 

  

1. The Best Blogs of 2012

 

This blog gives the reader a view of the best blogs that pertain to world, business, and finance, in a casual/business sense. Though my educational study pertains to many of these topics, I did not like this blog very much as it was nonsense, and confusing to navigate around the page, this made me less interested quickly.

 

 

 

Chevy Urban Style Celebrates the 2014 Impala

2. The Fast Lane:  GM’s Blog

GM's Blog, The Fast Lane, gives the reader a view of what to expect as far as vehicles coming out for the upcoming year, and the inside of GM. Being as a person who is really into cars as well as Chevy's, this is a blog I would consider on viewing again.





3. 2012 Bloggies

Weblog Awards is my least favorite blog. Though it was surprising, from my view, having a blog that announces which blogs won the best award for the year, is a waste of time. This is a great example of a useless blog, then again to some it may be what they look forward to.