The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 15

November 17, 2020 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 6 Arts & Entertainment What are your feelings about snow? Have you ever seen it, or would you like to see it? Festive foods for the holiday break “The first time I saw snow, I was 14, in Tennessee, and thought it was the most magical thing. Although that day I only saw flurries, it made me excited for all the snow I would one day see in my life. Since then, I have experienced a lot of snow and in different ways. Fromcatching snowflakes and having snowball fights to making snowmen and snowangels, I absolutely love it.Living inSouthFloridamywhole life, I’ve only experienced snowwhen on vacation in the winter months in places where it snows. With that, I’ve been extremely grateful to witness it since we lack seasons here in sunny South Florida. While snow has its beauty, it also has its ugliness, like turning into slushy, making driving difficult and putting a damper on your plans -- although COVID-19 seems to have done that now, too -- but it’s all a matter of perspective. At the end of the day, I’d love to experience at least one snowy day every winter,” said Flor Ana Mireles, copy editor. With the holidays coming up, it is time to get festive. This is the time of year that everyone waits for so they can eat all those special meals and desserts. The holidays may be a little different this year, but you can still be festive with your meals. It is an exciting time of year, so let’s keep the traditions alive. Even if you’re alone for the first time during the holidays and looking for a little festivity, these two easy seven-step recipes will make the holiday season all the more merrier. Apricot and apple pie Ingredients: 4 granny smith apples 4 ambrosia apples 4-5 tablespoons apricot jam 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon starch or flour Half of a small lemon (juiced) 2 tablespoons sugar premade pie crust dough Directions: 1. Dice apples into 1 inch cubes and add to pot with vanilla, starch, sugar and lemon juice. Mix. 2. Coverandcookonmedium heat, stirring occasionally, “When I was little, my one and only dream was to see the snow. For some reason, even though I have never celebrated Christmas before, I just loved the idea of being cold and ‘celebrating Christmas’ in the snow. I’d been in the snow when I was very little, but I don’t really remember it. My dream of spending winter in the snowcamewhen I was 12 andmy family and I went to ski trip to Beaver Creek, CO. I would love to move to a place where I can see all the seasons and to just be in colder weather.” said Farhan Shaban, chief of visual design. until apples are soft, but not mushy. This should take 5-10 minutes. 3. Remove the pot from heat and let it cool completely to room temperature. 4. Prep premade pie crust according to instructions. 5. Spread apricot jam evenly on the bottom of the pie crust. 6. Add apple filling to pie crust. 7. Bake according to crust instructions or until golden. 8. Enjoy. Vegan Pumpkin Spice Muffins Dry ingredients: 1 ¾ cups oat flour ¼ coconut sugar 2 ¼ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt 2-4 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice 3-4 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans (optional) 3 tablespoon mini chocolate chips or cranberries (optional) Wet ingredients: 1 cup and 2 tablespoons pureed pumpkin ½ cup oat milk 3-4 tablespoons of oil By: Briana Ramnauth & Chloe Rousseau Contributing Writers By: The Current Staff Student Media 1 tablespoon maple syrup Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 365 degrees Fahrenheit. 2. In a large bowl, whisk the dry ingredients until mixed thoroughly. Mix in nuts and chocolate chips, if desired. 3. Add in the wet ingredients and mix well. Mix pumpkin puree for about 2 minutes so it is combined well. Mix until there are no pumpkin or flour streaks within the mixture. If needed, add a tablespoon more of oat milk. 4. Transfer the batter into a muffin pan. Top with chocolate chips or pumpkin seeds, if desired. 5. Bake the muffins for about 50-60 minutes or until the toothpick from the center comes out clean. 6. Let the muffins cool for 15 minutes before serving. 7. Enjoy. “I’m from western Maryland, so while we get snow every year, we rarely get over one foot of snow at any one time. I have very fond memories of snowfall, snowdays off of school and building tiny snow sculptures in the front yard. Shoveling snowwas a hassle that I hated as a kid, but in recent years, we’re completely shoveled out of our driveway in half an hour. Most of the snowwill melt by the evening, too. In Florida, I miss the snow and winter season, but when I visit home over winter break, I have my opportunity to build fires on snowy evenings and play snowball fetchwithmy dog. While I like snow, I can get tired of it quickly, so I’m glad that I only have to deal with it for about one month a year,” said Erin Cowan, visual and multimedia assistant. “Growing up in South Florida, the only chance I ever got to see snow was the one Christmas I spent in New Jersey. I woke up the first morning to fresh snowonmy aunt’s lawn. As the day progressed and the snow accumulated, my brother, cousin and I got to work on our first snowman. I was only 6 years old, but I remember it being a magical experience. It has been a while since I have gotten to see snow again, but I know it’s in my future. Despite the current state of the world, I am hopeful that I still have a few more snowmen (and snowwomen) to create in my lifetime,” said Siena Berardi, sports editor. *check out our website for more staff picks PHOTO PRINTED PERMISSION BY C. ROUSSEAU Chloe’s Festive favorite food: Mac N Cheese