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Need ideas for gifts to give for your loved one’s graduation?

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow |  News Editor

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

Graduation is right around the corner, and for many graduates, that means being celebrated for their accomplishments with a graduation party. Traditionally, graduation parties include food, family and maybe some tears shed. They also include gifts, but, like any college student knows, not all gifts are equal. Here are a few of the most desired gifts among college graduates:

Let’s face it — money is always the go-to. Money or gift cards are useful for students who are short on cash and can go towards their savings for the future. Graduates are expected to make big decisions when it comes to where they are going to live and begin life in the workforce; a little extra cash goes a long way in making their dreams a reality.  

Another useful gift idea is household appliances; some graduates are just moving out of the residence halls and might not have the necessary equipment to keep their future dwelling clean or functionable. Consider buying a graduate a vacuum or any of the hundreds of kitchen appliances that make life a little easier. Keurig coffee maker, anyone? 

Subscriptions are another excellent gift idea because they can be personalized to fit the graduate’s hobbies. If a graduate loves to binge-watch Netflix, consider making that payment one less thing to worry about this year. Or maybe the graduate loves to read, and in that case, a subscription to Book of the Month might be ideal. Monthly subscription boxes are also a popular gift idea. For $10 to $50 on average, depending on the box, a graduate could essentially get a care package every month full of goodies like self-care items or new clothing. 

The last gift idea, and arguably one of the most important gift considerations for this day and age, would be upgrading the graduate’s technology. Whether that’s getting them a new sound system for their car, a new laptop or one of hundreds of other add-ons, they are sure to be appreciative. Technology isn’t all expensive either; items like portable bluetooth keyboards and Alexa-enabled car charges average around $50.

Consider sending this list as a little hint to loved ones on what graduates really want for graduation, or use it as inspiration for gift-buying for others.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Duplicate recipes from your favorite places

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

Many restaurants have been forced to close temporarily or permanently due to the world’s current state. Because of this, many people may find themselves longing for their favorite foods from these establishments, but unable to obtain any due to the closures and social distancing. Luckily, multiple websites are providing copycat recipes for people to attempt to make their favorites from the comfort of their homes.

One restaurant that is closing for good is Sweet Tomatoes — also referred to as Souplantation in other states. This one hits pretty close to home for me, as this was an eatery my friends and I frequented often before COVID-19, so I was happy to learn that their website, souplantation.com, has recipes for many of their buffet dishes. For instance, a full list of instructions can be found for their popular seasonal Chicken Pot Pie Stew, which is packed with roasted chicken, red potatoes, mushrooms, celery, pearl onions, green peas and carrots in a creamy base. Other soups and stews can be found under their ‘Souplantation Recipes’ in addition to other beloved favorites of the establishment.

For Chick-Fil-A lovers, there are a few recipes that can be found to recreate their sandwiches and various chicken meals. On damndelicious.net, the full recipe for a Chick-Fil-A sandwich for two can be found; to recreate the taste, a person needs to marinate a chicken breast in pickle juice for 30 minutes before coating it in milk, egg, flour and powdered sugar and frying it up. The same website also provides a link to a recipe for Chick-Fil-A nuggets.

In the interest of those craving something sweet while stuck at home, the-girl-who-ate-everything.com posted a recipe for Cinnabon’s famous cinnamon rolls. The copycat recipe recommends making the dough for the rolls the night before and letting them rise on the counter overnight, and to change the amount of cinnamon in the recipe if the 2 ½ tablespoons would be too intense. Moreover, it says to pour the icing over the cinnamon rolls while they’re still hot so the icing seeps into the roll, then to add more once they have cooled down.

Finally, for Disney enthusiasts who are missing the park, a few have taken to recreating the famous Dole Whip sweet treat. On homemadehooplah.com, it states it can be made using coconut milk, sugar, lemon juice, a pinch of salt and, of course, pineapple chunks — preferably Dole brand, but any works. Once it’s all blended together, it can be dished up in a glass and eaten with a spoon or sipped through a straw.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo by Rylie Horrall

Cleaning the house made simple

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

Since most people are spending quite a bit of time at home, some might find themselves cleaning more than they normally do. While cleaning can be a satisfying task, it can sometimes be a grueling one — a stain that won’t come out, a tub that doesn’t look clean no matter how much it’s scrubbed or multiple surfaces that no longer shine. Here are some tips and tricks to help polish up the house.

For pans that have gotten particularly dirty and involve a lot of scrubbing to clean, try using a dryer sheet instead. Put the dirty pan in the sink with some dish soap, warm water and a dryer sheet, and let it sit for an hour or so. According to bestlifeonline.com, the grime should come off easily, afterwards.

To get stains out of clothes, there are a couple methods to try; the stain can be spot treated with laundry soap beforehand, or a mixture of dish soap and baking soda can be used. Baking soda will help lift the stain, and dish soap just helps with cleansing the spot. This can also be used comparably on carpet stains, but with carpet cleaner rather than dish soap.

Similar to the previous hack, cleaning a bathtub can be done in a few ways. To scrub away grime, try using a grapefruit or lemon with salt — the salt will create an abrasive texture and the citric acid found in the fruits will assist with stain lifting, as stated by bestlifeonline.com. According to nbcnews.com, baking soda and vinegar mixed with hot water is another easy way to make the tub pristine. After letting that mixture sit for about five minutes, fill part of the tub with warm water and sit for an additional five minutes. This method can also be used on the toilet to freshen it up.

Following the trend of baking soda, vinegar and citrus fruits, all of these things can be used to make a sink clean and shiny. Sponge the surface with a baking soda and vinegar concoction, rinse, and then use the peel of a lemon or orange to deodorize. Finally, buff the sink with some sort of rag, sponge or paper towel and olive oil, which will repel water and keep the sink shiny for a while before it needs to be cleaned again.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo by Rylie Horrall

Pros and cons of popular diets

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

Dieting is something many people choose to partake in for a variety of reasons — such as to better their health or to lose weight. While they have their fair share of benefits, there’s also some drawbacks to various popular diets.

The Ketogenic or “Keto” Diet is a low-carb and high-fat diet, and is said to provoke the body into a metabolic state called ketosis. This produces ketones, which burn stored fat in order to obtain energy. According to roswellpark.org, people have been known to lose weight at the start of this diet and keep it off, although this could be attributed to cutting calories and sugary treats. However, this diet is known to be high in saturated fats and low in vital minerals and vitamins that the body needs; additionally, it could upset a person’s stomach, cause headaches, fatigue and dizziness, which are clustered together and called the “Keto flu.”

In the Alkaline Diet, acid-forming foods — meat, poultry, eggs, grains, dairy, alcohol — are replaced with alkaline-forming foods — fruits, nuts, vegetables and legumes. This alters the pH values in an individual’s body, which is intended to prevent the production of acid. A supposed upside to this diet is that there is an increased intake of fruits and vegetables, hereby improving vitamin intake and helping with miscellaneous health problems — but this isn’t supported by evidence according to roswellpark.org.

Another common diet trend is the Paleo Diet; food for this particular diet needs to be hunted, gathered or fished to mimic the way human’s ancestors ate. The allowed foods are grass-fed meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, fruits and vegetables, according to livestrong.com. By eliminating processed and junk foods, a person can decrease their chances for chronic and inflammatory diseases. However, an individual also cuts out dairy, starches and grains, leaving them with a lower carbohydrate intake. Because of this, some may need to take supplements to make up for lost vitamins and minerals.

As a whole, diets can help a person lose weight and make them more aware of what exactly they’re eating. However, done unsafely, they can come with the risk of losing nutrition — depending on the diet — as well as potentially causing some health concerns. Before taking a plunge with any diets, students interested should research beforehand, or speak with health faculty or staff at Western if they are wanting more information.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo by Rylie Horrall

Strawberry oatmeal bar recipe

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

Granola bars and breakfast bars can be a quick option for a snack throughout the day, or as a small meal in the morning. In addition, making them at home can be a fun activity to do by oneself or with others.

STRAWBERRY OATMEAL BARS

Start to finish: 55 minutes

Servings: 16 bars

1 cup old fashioned oats

¾ cup white whole wheat flour (all-purpose flour can substitute)

⅓ cup light brown sugar

¼ teaspoon ground ginger

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

6 tablespoons melted, unsalted butter (coconut oil can substitute)

2 cups small-diced strawberries (about 10 ounces divided)

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

OPTIONAL VANILLA GLAZE

½ cup sifted powdered sugar

½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 tablespoon milk

 

Preheat the oven to 375° F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper so that the paper overhangs two sides like handles.

In a medium bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, ginger and salt. Pour in the melted butter and stir until it forms clumps and the dry ingredients are evenly moistened. Set aside a ½ cup of the crumble mixture, then press the rest into an even layer in the bottom of the prepared pan.

Scatter half of the strawberries over the crust. Sprinkle the cornstarch evenly over the top, then sprinkle on the lemon juice and ½ tablespoon of the granulated sugar. Scatter on the remaining berries, then the remaining ½ tablespoon of sugar. Sprinkle the reserved crumbs evenly over the top, but know that some of the fruit will show.

Bake the bars for 35 to 40 minutes, until the fruit is bubbly and the crumb topping smells toasty and looks golden. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool completely; the process can be sped up by placing it in the refrigerator.

While the bars cool, prepare the glaze. In a medium bowl, briskly whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla and milk until smooth. Feel free to add more milk if a thinner consistency is desired. Using the parchment-paper handles, lift the bars from the pan. Drizzle with glaze, slice and serve.

 

Recipe from wellplated.com

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo by Rylie Horrall

Eateries that are currently open with limitations

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

With the world currently at odds with COVID-19, many businesses have unfortunately had to close their doors or, on a lighter note, had to modify the way they operate. In the Indy-Mo area, there have been multiple restaurants that have altered their normal routines, changing from dine-in to takeout and delivery only.

In terms of fast food franchises, the ones in the surrounding area have merely taken away the dine-in option previously offered, but continue to provide through their drive-thrus. Dairy Queen, McDonald’s, Carl’s Jr., KFC and Subway are all continuing to provide service without allowing customers to sit-in. Many have even gone to lengths such as taping off their tables so customers that walk in to order are aware that dine-in is still not available. Burgerville and KFC have also given the option for delivery for the time being.

Nearby pizza establishments — Figaro’s, Papa Murphy’s, Domino’s, Mendi’s, Little Caesars and Yeasty Beasty — have mostly retained their same delivery and takeout options prior to the pandemic, however, Yeasty Beasty has since taken away the option to dine inside. The other businesses didn’t have buildings where customers could eat inside, so there wasn’t a need to change in that aspect.

In regards to food trucks, many have taken away the dining areas that used to surround the space around the trucks. Tucky’s and Lonney’s Lunch Wagon no longer have their respective picnic tables and tents, but still offer food for pick-up and takeout. Many have even taken to expanding their online ordering — like The Donut Bar and Tucky’s — so customers don’t have to linger longer while waiting for their meals.

Fan favorite restaurants near the university — Sing Fay, Momiji’s, Yang’s Teriyaki, Koyote’s, Urban Deli, Casa Burrito — have also taken away their dine-in options. While Momiji’s now offers delivery, the other restaurants have stuck with takeout as their sole method of customer interaction.

A handful of eateries have unfortunately had to close their doors completely, some even permanently, such as Main Street Pub and Eatery ⏤ which closed due to additional factors as well. Nevertheless, students living in the area still have a chance to grab food from some of their favorite places amidst the chaos of a pandemic.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Social events turned virtual

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

Our current pandemic situation has affected how numerous people go about their lives; some can’t go to their favorite restaurants, take a night out with a loved one or friends or even hold a birthday party during this time of self-isolation. In this day and age, most have technology that enables us to stay in contact with those we hold dear, even if it isn’t the same as seeing them in person. This doesn’t change the fact that get-togethers are currently inadvisable; however, those in the household can still celebrate birthdays and accomplishments.

While it’s advised to stay in and limit contact with others, there isn’t any ‘rule’ saying that festivities can’t happen with people already living in the same household. In regards to birthday celebrations, people can still make decorations and cook food — which can be a fun activity to participate in. Maybe it isn’t the same as going out like someone could have previously planned, but, it doesn’t mean it has to be skipped altogether.

For someone who wants to ‘party’ or just socialize with others not in their household, there are many video chatting applications that can be utilized for more than solely conversation. As an example, Discord can be used for video and audio calls, and gaming software can be displayed so everyone can participate. To continue with the party theme, JackBox Party can be played remotely for everyone, as long as the screen is visible, leading to an enjoyable time similar to playing in person. Netflix Party and the website rabb.it are options for groups who want to watch movies or TV shows together; the former allows all users to sync up their devices so everyone can view at the same time, while the latter depends on the ‘host,’ or whoever has control of the room.

Right now, the idea of going out freely without concern for COVID-19 may seem bleak, and staying cooped up without friends could be disheartening. Birthdays are still coming and going, but plans have to be altered or cancelled for safety and health reasons. Nevertheless, some enjoyment can be achieved through celebration with roommates or virtual contact with friends afar.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

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