EDITOR’S NOTE
Welcome to SLSS Press’s FIRST issue of the 2016/17 year! We’re thrilled that you’ve been led to the masterpieces of our students’ creative minds and multi-faceted interests! Our first issue’s theme is simple yet expansive: Fall/ Autumn. Throughout the making of this issue, a number of our school’s writers, aspiring journalists, photographers, artists, and those with other talents collaborated to bring you an issue that informs, inspires, intrigues, and enthralls. This issue encompasses all there is about autumn - from Halloween and festive food to school sentiments, we encourage writers and readers to stop and smell the autumn leaves and enjoy this strikingly iridescent season. Once again, thank you tremendously to everyone who contributed to this issue! We hope you all enjoy reading our issue as much as we enjoyed writing it :) Warm Regards, Davy Lau, Celine Tsai, Hedy Ng, and Angela Hu
Meet The Press TEAM Don’t get used to this. My smile is rare.
My name’s Davy, and this will be my 4th (and last ):) year in the Press! You’d identify me by my repeated use of hand sanitizer, sitting alone at lunch, or sporting a surgeon’s mask when I’m outdoors.
Davy Lau Co-Editor In Chief
Celine Tsai Co-editor In chief/ Public Relations angela hu Co-Editor In Chief/ secretary/Layout Designer I’m in grade 10, and I joined the Press as a fetus little grade 8. Pop culture nerd, language aficionado, lover of tea, exceptionally salty, and hates Grey’s (sorry Hedy). According to mes amis, I’m trashw #cabbageprodigiesforever
I take the phrase “you are what you eat” very seriously.
I’m Celine, and I’m in grade 11. I am an avid sleeper, dabber, and pun enthusiast. I follow Instagram dog accounts almost religious, and will stop at nothing to make fetch happen. I’ve been part of the Press ever since grade 9, Press is life.
Hedy Ng Co-Editor In Chief/ Layout Designer I went to Vancouver on a Wednesday just so I could get I’m in grade 11, and I this picture. joined the Press in grade 9. Self-proclaimed beard enthusiast, amateur guitarist, and a huge fan of Gallant and Tori Kelly. You can find me snuggled up in bed on the weekend watching OITNB or Grey’s Anatomy. I was only thinking abaout his beard ;)
A SHARKS’S HIGH SCHOOL SURVIVAL GUIDE Celine Tsai I’m sure many of you have felt the unrealistic projection that adults have for us high school students to excel at school, exercise, and maintain a social life while getting enough sleep every day. I mean, there is simply not enough time for us to juggle all of that at once. Speaking as a try-hard grade 11 student trying to do everything right now for the sake of getting into a good university, I can tell you that the stress and responsibility you have to shoulder does not get easier. But when there is a will, there is a way, and I am here to share some of my tips and tricks that I have to help you succeed in school. TREAT YOURSELF Buy yourself some nice clothes, watch a movie, or go hiking. It’s important to reward yourself after a long hard week of school. But don’t OVERtreat yourself. This isn’t something you should use as an excuse or a way of postponing something you don’t want to do. It is for you to acknowledge all the hard work you have put in and take a small breather. PREPARE FOR THE MORNING THE NIGHT BEFORE I am not a morning person. I often find myself being close to non-functional when I wake up. Consequently, the tasks of planning my outfit and packing my bag are harder for me to do. Preparing for my morning and having it planned out the night before makes me feel more relaxed and less pressed for time. WRITE THINGS DOWN Don’t rely on your memory too much. Chances are, it’ll fail you 90% of the time. So stop lying to yourself when you say “I’ll remember this”, just write it down--- it doesn’t hurt. As well, making notes instead of typing them also help develop a type of muscle memory that helps you memorize better. DON’T BE EMBARRASSED TO GET HELP The more brains, the better! Help isn’t for the weak or the dumb; asking for help is actually the smartest thing to do! Not only do you save time, but you also strengthen relationships! So just ask, ask, ask. DON’T DWELL ON YOUR MISTAKES Learn from your mistake and move on. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to cry because of a mistake that I made. Let yourself be sad, but not for long, because sadness will become destructive if you constantly beat yourself up about it. You’ll lose confidence and motivation. Understand that mistakes are learning opportunities; acknowledge where you’ve gone wrong so next time, when a similar situation comes around, you’ll know what to do. :)
JUST START Stop saying tomorrow; make it today. Never think it’s too early or too late to do something. I wish I told my grade 8 self not to be afraid to take chances; you never know until you try. So stop convincing yourself not to…what’s the worst thing that could happen? PRIORITIZE We only have 24 hours a day, so spend them wisely. Prioritize what is more time sensitive and have due dates; don’t prioritize the things you want to do instead of the things you should do. Because trust me, I would choose TV over essays any day. VENT TO SOMEONE PERIODICALLY To quote Frozen, “let it go”. Don’t keep your feelings and worries all bottled up. It is so important for you to be in touch with your thoughts and emotions. I used to be a pretty private person, until I realize how therapeutic and comforting it is for me to talk to someone about my problems. BREAK LARGE TASKS INTO SMALL PORTIONS Breaking things down into smaller chunks is so much easier to do than hashing it all out at once. It decreases your likelihood to procrastinate if you are tackling the problem step by step, and it also helps make the task less daunting. VISUALIZE YOURSELF WINNING/SUCCEEDING DRINK LOTS OF WATER Water helps energize your muscles and replenishes your body. School can take a physical toll on your body, and it’s just as important to keep yourself hydrated as it is to eat healthy! Plus, the only kind of thirst you can have is for a bae (only kidding). TURN YOUR PHONE OFF AND KEEP IT AWAY FROM YOU WHILE DOING WORK Nobody can focus while their phone is just buzzing and flashing with notifications. Going on your phone in the middle of solving a math problem will only stop your momentum and interrupt your train of thoughts. Go on your phone after you have finished your work. STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE, NOT PERFECTION GET ENOUGH SLEEP Inadequate sleep will negatively impact your concentration, logic, attention, ability to learn and retain information, and your mood. It’s science. So try your best to get as much sleep as possible, especially the day before a test. It’s better to sleep early than to cram information in until 3 in the morning. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF SMILE MORE A positive mind attracts positive vibes. Even just fake smiling will release dopamine into your brain and boost your mood! You can’t escape school, so try your best to enjoy it! STOP THINKING TOMORROW WILL BE A BETTER DAY, MAKE TODAY YOUR DAY! (CARPE DIEM)
Humans Of SLSS: fall Edition Sophia Gu and Kathleen Kong “Hey guys! We are Sophia and Kathleen, the creators of the current Humans of SLSS. We are currently in Grade 11. Humans of SLSS is modelled after the blog, Humans of New York and will be featured in the school newspaper. You can also find us online at www.facebook.com/humansofslss. This year, we’ll be bringing you short anecdotes from various students and teachers around Steveston-London!” - Sophia Gu and Kathleen Kong
“The people here are so nice, the teachers are kind, and I’m very grateful that everyone has welcomed me into this school.” - Jaeden Dela Torre
“Being part of creating all of these events to connect the student body is just so amazing and it’s great being part of a team that has so many different skill sets. It brings you wcloser together and it’s amazing to work as a team with different people in the school.” - Ryan Curtis
Coulrophobia: “Killer Clowns” anna patricia sandoval Everyone has been to a child’s birthday party where one of the highlights was the chance to meet the birthday clown. They make juvenile jokes, blow animal balloons and act empty-headed. This archetypal clown has been prominent since the 19th to mid 20th century, performing in circuses and in theatrical comedic roles. They have developed through the years and are now commonly seen as the modern “red clown” with the protuberant red nose, colourful outfits, and exaggerated features such as wigs and makeup. But the big question is, when did the joyous and innocuous image of the clown take a dark, sinister turn? The epitome of the notion of a killer clown was popularized by Stephen King’s novel It. “It” is the name of an eponymous being who terrorizes children, exploiting their fears and phobias and using their weaknesses to hunt them down. “It” normally assumes the form of a man in a clown suit to shroud himself and as an opportunity to get closer to children. This negative connotation of clowns appeared recurrently after It was published. This idea was also reinforced by the case of the Killer Clown in 1978, in which serial killer John Gacy dressed as “Pogo the Clown” in various charitable events and fundraisers. More recently, Batman’s notorious archenemy, the Joker, became one of the most iconic and popular villains of the past few decades. Clowns were also featured in an episode of the Simpsons, where Bart had a fear of clowns caused by his poorly-made remake of a Krusty the Clown bed. He repeatedly chanted, “Can’t sleep, clown will eat me,” and the phrase inspired an Alice Cooper song of the same name. These are just a few of the instances in popular culture that elicit coulrophobia.
Fear of clowns usually starts in infancy, when toddlers are still grasping their surroundings. They normally feel anxious being around strangers, and though many people grow out of it, some fear and hatred lingers until adulthood. People are unsettled by the clown’s facepaint, the inability to discern the true emotion of the clown, and the possibility of it doing manicactions. This fear is especially prominent in many communities today. Throughout late summer and early fall of 2016, there have been numerous “clown sightings” in the United States. These clowns have been wielding dangerous weapons and are seen chasing after people. The killer clown craze have spread to parts of the UK, Australia, and Canada, and as the news progresses with a multitude of killer clown sightings, it just gets worse. This pattern of clown sightings can be traced back to August, when a clown in Wisconsin known as “Gags the Clown” began standing at the corner of a sidewalk, holding balloons and frightening passerbys. Though the clown was real, “Gags” was a marketing stunt for a low-budget movie. It became viral and set the tone for the clown-related madness spreading across parts of the world. With Halloween right around the corner, people are keeping a lookout and proceeding with caution as there could be an increase in “killer clowns” for the holiday. Some stores even stopped selling clown costumes because of the incidents. This paranoia leaves most of the public baffled and alarmed. Nevertheless, it is plausible that most of the “clown sightings” are merely callous pranks and hoaxes, as only a tiny number of cases reported an actual human being dressed up as a clown doing frightening things. For most people, this was simply an internet fad turned into a real life nightmare; but can it actually be connected to something far more terrifying?
HORROR CHARACTERS THROUGHOUT HISTORY Katrina Hong Zombies
These fictional undead beings originating from West African voodoo culture are created through the rejuvenation of a human corpse. These figures are often found in the horror, fantasy and suspense genres. Today, modern depictions of zombies typically invoke science fiction practices such as radiation, mental diseases or viruses, as opposed to black magic and witchcraft spells. The television show, The Walking Dead, as well as classic movies, N ight of the Living Dead (1968) , R esident Evil (2002) and Zombieland (2009) portray zombies realistically and creatively. These reanimated corpses, all covered with infected wounds and dressed in torn clothes, crave human flesh. The “zombie apocalypse” concept involves a distorted civilian world entirely occupied by a global zombie infestation.
Dolls
With their blank eyes and smiling mouths, it is particularly easy to acknowledge a doll’s evil motives. Dolls have been a part of humans’ lives for hundreds of years. Introduced in the original C hild’s Playmovie in 1988, Chucky is known to be a sarcastic red-haired doll that is possessed by the spirit of a deceased serial killer. Chucky remains one of the best known and creepiest dolls ever portrayed in a horror film. Another equally famous doll is featured in A nnabelle(2014), one of the most frightening movies out there. Generally speaking, anything resembling a human look-alike “toy”, like a ventriloquist’s dummy, puppet or doll, falls under this category. From dolls with sleepy, stern and cheery eyes to dolls with porcelain, painted ragdoll or wax faces, they usually dress like young children. Dolls are essentially miniature human beings, totally unanimated by their own emotions. Next time, think twice before purchasing a doll…
Clowns
In the 1970’s, John Wayne Gacy, a registered clown, was arrested for serial murder, rape and pedophilia. By the 1980’s, a continuous string of clown-related horror films, like P oltergeist (1982) and I t (1990), based on Stephen King’s novel, were produced. The most ancient “clowns” have been discovered since the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt, around 2400 BC. Since then, clowns have been associated with a dark and disturbing history of murder, infidelity and horror. E vidently, clowns are recognized through their vividly-coloured wigs and grotesque costumes. With their faces heavily caked in paint, they behave maniacally and are rather terrifying. The twisted Sawfranchise is recommended to those who are in need of a suspenseful, exhilarating experience and crave the tingling sensation down their spines.
Masked Killers
After T he Phantom of the Opera (1925) gained popularity, the concept of “masked killers” arose. A masked slayer’s signature look consists of a mask and an idiosyncratic weapon such as a chainsaw, a butcher knife or an axe. These murderers are all ordinary human beings who have a troubled past, and consequently evolve into dangerous, cannibalistic, violent killers. A few famous iconic characters that instill the worst kind of fear and horror to watchers include Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre(1974), Michael Myers from H alloween (1978), and last but not least, Jason Voorhees, featured in F riday the 13th (1980), all of whom will make you never want to fall asleep again.
Modern Ghosts
The vindictive female Japanese ghost “Onryō”, tracing all the way back to the 8th century, appears in various East Asian horror films. She continuously sparks new ideas for the American horror film industry. In traditional Japanese beliefs and superstitions, this ghost is able to cause natural disasters and destro the living universe. “Maiden ghosts” typically have wild, long black hair covering their faces, wear lengthy white kimonos and are smothered with white foundation. Popular ghost films such as The Ring (2002), T he Grudge (2004) and T he Woman in Black(2012) are guaranteed to give unforgettable nightmares to gallant viewers.
6 Of The World’s Most Haunted Houses Rebecca Allen and Michelle Cho Oaklands Park Hotel
The Oaklands Park Hotel is located in Surrey, United Kingdom. It is rumoured to have been constructed on the site of a 16th century palace, built by Henry VIII in 1583 for the new queen, Anne of Cleves. Elizabeth I, James I, and Charles I also resided at Oaklands. When it first opened as a hotel in 1856, it was called the South Western Hotel. Allegedly, an apparition stalks the Tudor Wing of this historic hotel. This apparition is known as the “Grey Lady”, and is supposedly the spirit of a dead maid who threw herself from the bell tower and landed next to room 1313. Around this room, guests have complained of unexplained temperature changes, TVs mysteriously turning on and off, as well as drawers opening by themselves. While these events may seem nerve-wracking, most people say that the “Grey Lady” is a perfectly friendly spirit.
The Place d’Armes Hotel
The Place d’Armes Hotel was built on the site of a school that burned down during the Great New Orleans Fire. The fire killed students, teachers, and even the headmaster. The ghosts of the victims of the fire are believed to be around the hotel even today. A ghost of a bearded old man, thought to be the first headmaster of the school, has been seen nodding politely at guests, then slowly fading away. A woman even claims that she had a conversation with the ghost. She saw him on the balcony and had a chat with him, thinking that he was just a regular man. When she went to the lobby to ask about the man, the receptionist told her that she had just described the hotel’s friendly ghost. There is also a ghost of a young girl. She asks guests if they know where her grandmother is, and just like the old man, slowly fades away. The Stanley Hotel
The Stanley Hotel is located in Estes Park, Colorado, only one hour away from Denver and less than six miles from Rocky National Park. First opened in 1909, it is featured as one of America’s most haunted hotels, and is best known as the hotel in The Shining by Stephen King. The Stanley Hotel is also known for its architecture and famous visitors. There have been many eerie stories told by staff and guests about numerous ghosts. The most common one is about a 13 year old girl named Lucy. As reported by the hotel, Lucy was believed to be a runaway who was hiding in the basement of the hotel many years ago. The maintenance staff went to survey the basement and found Lucy, and subsequently kicked her out. She was later found frozen to death. There have been many reported sightings of Lucy, who roams the hotel wearing a pink dress. Today, the Stanley Hotel contains a bed-and-breakfast, spa, restaurant, and provides guided tours that show the history and the supposed paranormal activity of the mysterious hotel.
The Emily Morgan Hotel
Located in San Antonio, Texas, this hotel attracts many thrill seekers as it’s claimed to be one of the most haunted hotels in the world. Built back in 1924, it was originally a medical facility, with floors 12 and 14 being the main surgery and hospital areas. Guests are encouraged to book a room on floor 12 or 14 if they want to encounter a ghost during their time there. The ghost of a woman wearing a white dress regularly passes through the hallways on those two levels. However, the entire hotel is claimed to be haunted because of reports of unexplained noises, bottles sliding off tables, human figures walking around the hotel at night, and phone calls with no one on the other end. All of these are things that may point to the supernatural. Building on to the evidence of the possession of the hotel itself, it is located right next to the Alamo, a historic gravesite. Over 600 soldiers who died in the Battle of the Alamo are buried there, and it is said that the ghosts of the fallen soldiers may come to visit the guests of the hotel at night.
The Marshall House
The Marshall House, located in the most haunted city in the state of Georgia, is filled with mystery. Similar to the Emily Morgan Hotel, the Marshall House was used as a hospital. However, it was used as a hospital three times, twice during the yellow fever epidemics and once during the Civil War. With so many deaths associated with this hotel, it is said to be haunted with spirits. Guests and staff alike report seeing ghosts in the hallways, faucets turning on themselves, lights flickering, and more. People who stay there commonly report seeing and hearing ghostly children, perhaps the children of the soldiers who had died. They hear sounds of crying babies, laughter and voices of children during any given second, and see ghost children running and skipping down the hallways. As troubling as this seems, a few people were left with unexplainable children’s bite marks. Ghosts of Civil War soldiers can be seen walking aimlessly through the halls as well. There is a particular amputated ghost who has been spotted in the hotel lobby, begging nearby hotel guests to help him find a surgeon. While the ghost tales are extremely frightening, there is speculation about the authenticity of the story. However, there’s no denying that the hotel has its secrets. When the hotel was being restored back in 1990, workers were replacing floorboards when they found human remains that were believed to be the limbs of Civil War soldiers. Whether it’s really haunted or not depends on your opinion, but the Marshall House is definitely not a regular hotel!
Mizpah Hotel
The Mizpah Hotel was originally opened in 1907 in Tonopah, Nevada to house the silver miners from town. It was later closed down but reopened in 2011. There have been many reported sightings of spirits at the Mizpah Hotel, the most common being the “Lady in Red”, who was gruesomely murdered by an ex-lover in room 512. She is often seen riding the elevator and whispering to people. There are two miners who allegedly haunt the basement, which is usually off limits. Two children have also been heard laughing and running through the halls on the fourth floor. Additionally, rattling and tapping sounds have been reported in some rooms. The Mizpah Hotel is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and is often visited by paranormal investigators.
10 random facts about Halloween Azadeh Kashani 1. There’s a fine for using silly string on Halloween!?
There’s a $1,000 fine for using silly string in Hollywood on Halloween, they’ve banned it since 2004 after thousands of people bought it and vandalized the streets. Since then, the city called for a $1,000 fine and/or 6 months in jail for “use, possession, sale, or distribution of silly string from 12:01am on October 31st to 12:00pm on November 1st”
2. If you’re celebrating Halloween in Germany, hide the knives…
In Germany they see Halloween as a time to respect the dead and one tradition is to hide all the knives in the house. They do this so that spirits don’t injure themselves if any knives are out and in reach.
3. We should be carving turnips, not pumpkins.
The origin of the jack-o- lantern comes from a Celtic folk tale about a farmer who would play tricks on the devil. The myth was introduced by many different Irish families that were fleeing the potato famine in the 1800s so when they came to the USA, pumpkins were used as a substitute for turnips.
4. Each country celebrates Halloween differently
The majority of countries celebrate Halloween as a day to remember the dead. For example, in Poland, they walk through the forest praying to keep the evil spirits away. It’s called Samhainophobia which means the fear of Halloween and it comes from the Irish word “All Saints Day”
5. Fears of poisoned Halloween candy are untrue
Every parent’s biggest fear is that their child’s Halloween candy contains some sort of poison or razor blades. In reality, this is almost entirely a myth. There were only two known cases. According to LiveScience, a young boy died of heroin overdose, but lateron they found out that he accidentally ate his uncle’s heroin stash and that the parents sprinkled some on the candy to cover it up. The other was in 1974 when a boy named Timothy O’Bryan died after eating a pixie stick that his father had laced with cyanide, a deadly chemical, just to collect insurance money.
6. Halloween and the candy industry supposedly wanted longer Daylight Savings Time.
Candy makers wanted to extend daylight savings time into the beginning of November to get an extra hour of daylight so children could collect even more candy than they normally would, and so that would force people to buy more candy to meet the demand. They wanted this to happen so badly that in a hearing on daylight saings, they out candy on the seat of every senator according to NBR.
7. An Unfortunate Haunted House incident…
I’m sure everyone has visited a haunted house near Halloween, and we’re all a little relieved knowing that we won’t be in any real danger, right? Tons of haunted house volunteers reported that the customers have kicked, punched and even bitten thedifferent characters at a haunted house. At an amusement park in St. Louis called “Creepyworld”, a teenage volunteer got up to the bathtub and caught in a noose, it all seemed a little too realistic for the customers. She ended up staying in a coma for 3 days and the creepy part is that she has no memory of how or when it happened.
8. A full moon on Halloween is actually very rare.
Even though in horror movies and Halloween decorations they show witches flying across the full moon, the next full moon on that will take place on Halloween won’t happen until 2020. The most recent full moon that took place on Halloween full moon was back in 2001, and before that in 1955.
9. Trick-or- treating has been around for a while
Trick or treating has been around since the medieval times, it used to be called “guising”or “souling.” It was when children and poor adults went around in costumes and masks begging for food and money and in exchange they’d sing songs or give prayers.
10. Halloween is the second-most commercial American holiday of the year
In America the candy industry makes an average of $2 billion dollars a year just for Halloween. That’s over 90 million pounds of chocolate and candies. American spends $6 billion dollars each year for costumes, candy, and decorations. Even more than Halloween, the number one most commercial American holiday of the year is Christmas.
Mystery Meat: a short story Bertina Lee The man barged into the lobby in the middle of the night. He was an intimidating man - broad-shouldered, muscular, and scraggly-bearded - which was probably why none of the rare few employees that were left in the lobby summoned the nerve to chase him out or welcome him in. You could easily tell that he was ill-mannered by the way he moved, clumsily and barbarically. Everyone else ignored him and tried to act normally. I, however, was obligated to help him. I was quitting tomorrow, but my boss would give me hell if he caught wind that I would dare to drive away a potential customer. I managed a smile, “Hello, sir. How may I help you?” The man grunted and replied with “D’like a rume.” I could smell his foul breath even though I was at least two feet shorter than him. This was going to be a longer night than I’d expected. “Pardon? What would you like?” “Rume. A rume.” It took me a second to interpret his accent. “Oh, of course. A room. For one?” “Yeh.” “And how many nights will you be staying with us?” I inquired. “On.” “Alright, sir. That will be a hundred dollars for a single night. Which method of payment will you be using?” I doubted he would have enough money. “Mun’eh,” he said, taking out a wad of crumpled bills and a few dull coins. He slammed the contents in his hand onto the counter with so much force it made a nearby vase topple over. As an employee rushed to clean up the mess and scrambled away, the man nodded at me. I gingerly picked up the crumbled contents on the counter and counted the money up. As I expected, he did not have enough. Once again, I smiled at the man. “Excuse me, sir. I believe that you’re quite a few dollars short. Do you happen to have another eighty dollars lying around?” He glared at me, and leaned over so that he was eye-level with me. “Rume.” “Sir, I don’t -” I started, only to be interrupted by a loud grunt. I noticed the knife that he was slowly taking out of his jacket. It was in a leather sheath, but the handle was covered in dried blood. He put a finger to his lips, as though we had some secret between us.
I hastily placed a room card on the counter. “T-thank you so much for choosing H-hotel Ellior! Your room will be on the t-third floor, five doors to your l-left. P-please enjoy your stay!” The man fixed his beady black eyes on me for a few moments, enough to make me uncomfortable, then slipped his knife back. He grabbed the card to room 310 and stomped away. A few days after my encounter with the awful, bullish man, I saw a breaking news report on a murder in the Hotel Ellior. It appeared as though a middle-aged man with a long beard had been brutally murdered. Currently referred to as John Doe, his body had been found and described to have been presented in a grotesque manner. His limbs, tongue, and vital organs had been removed. Only his torso and parts of his head, including his face, remained. What was left of his body had been somehow hung over the open door of room 310 and was found by housekeeping. It was a deeply disturbing case, and it stumped all the detectives. There were no witnesses and the evidence led them in circles. The girl next to me grimaced as she stared at the screen in front of us. We were both on our break and still in our waitress uniforms. It was a relief that we even received a break considering the surprising amount of people that came. Most people would have been home on Halloween or out trick-or-treating rather than at a restaurant. “How awful!” She said, pointing at the screen as it flashed an image of the Hotel Ellior, “And to think that you used to work there!” “It wasn’t that bad,” I told her. “It’s so scary that the murderer is still at large! I hope he’s not in the city anymore!” I sighed. “Who knows? There are all sorts of sick freaks out there.” I eyed a bowl of soup that a fellow coworker was carrying out of the kitchen. Today’s halloween special was Mystery Meat Soup. Our entire selection of courses had Mystery Meat in it. It was in such high demand that we were sure we’d run out of the stuff by the end of the night. I heard a couple of people guessing pork, beef, and other barnyard animals. I smiled. Such a pity that the investigators will never know what happened to the rest of John Doe.
Food For Thought: Fall edition Hunger Management Counsellors Hey Sharks! It’s this time of the year again: fall! When you think of fall, don’t you start craving “fall foods”, like pumpkin, apples, and spices? Well, we do! If you’re just like us, you’ll be thrilled to hear what we have to offer. We’ll be sharing some great fall must-haves to get everyone hyped for the season!
The Pumpkin Spice LattE
AKA
PSL
Take a deep breath. Now, tread into your imagination. Envision yourself taking a walk, or watching a soccer game outside in the fall. You’re so cold that you can’t even feel your hands! That certainly sounds like us during this season. When that happens, we always go to Starbucks and get their Pumpkin Spice Latte! Don’t call us basic, because we have perfectly rational reasons for buying this commercially labelled “basic” drink. Firstly, we’re broke (isn’t everyone?), and we can’t afford anything from luxurious cafes. Secondly, it’s seasonal, so it’s unavailable throughout the rest of the year - so get it while it’s still available! Lastly, it tastes amazing. The Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks, widely known as the PSL, is one of Starbucks’ most popular drinks in autumn. From the moment you take your first sip, you’ll taste the fluffy, sweet whipped cream, with pumpkin spice sprinkled on top. Next will be the latte taste. It has a perfect combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and pumpkin, which isn’t too strong H owever, the taste of cinnamon and pumpkin trump the other flavours. The whipped cream adds sweetness to the slightly bitter taste of the latte. As for the latte, the best part is the sharp taste of coffee. It’s the perfect drink for a cold morning! We thoroughly recommend it. The tall (i.e. the smallest size) costs around $4.25.
Cinnamon Scones Cinnamon scones from Cobs Bread are a heavenly treat! If you’re a fan of cinnamon, you’ll enjoy these scones a lot! The scones aren’t too sweet, making it a great choice for breakfast or a light snack. It’s paired perfectly with some hot tea, or coffee, like the PSL ;). The crispy outside has the universal scone taste. When you bite into it, you’ll feel the sweet tang of the cinnamon dough - not too strong, but strong enough to have a palpable taste. It’s extremely chewy, and goes perfectly with some blueberry jam. It’s also seasonal, like the PSL; so don’t miss out on this delicious masterpiece!
Seasonal Tarts The tarts from Coconama Chocolate are to die for (not literally). The pumpkin tart is seasonal, like the PSL, and the cinnamon scone. It has more of a sweet, creamy pumpkin flavour than a chocolate flavour. The tart itself is also crispy, and baked to perfection - in our opinion. The seeds that top if off, makes it exceptionally photogenic, and brings the the pumpkin taste to life. Unlike the previous items, the taste of spices aren’t exceedingly strong. It tastes like eating a sweet, velvety pumpkin. The other two tarts we highly recommend are green tea and mango flavoured; they are not seasonal, so you can buy them whenever you want. The tarts taste amazing with tea, and can be served as a gift, or a snack! To top it off, they look very cute in tiny little gift boxes.
Therefore, we highly recommend you to try all of our suggestions before winter takes over! Remember, for all of these, you’ll only need to bring a ten dollar bill!
October Thirst Thirst Quenchers
Pumpkin Spice Latte Servings: 2
Ingredients - 2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin (can substitute with 1 tablespoon of pumpkin pie syrup) - 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, extra for garnish - Freshly ground black pepper - 2 tablespoons of sugar - 2 tablespoons of pure vanilla extract - 2 cups of whole milk (can be substituted with 2% or skim milk) - 1 to 2 shots of espresso, about 1/4 cup Whipped cream
Instructions 1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook the pumpkin with the pumpkin pie spice and a generous amount of black pepper for 2 minutes or until it’s hot. Stir constantly. 2. Add the sugar and stir until the mixture looks like a bubbly thick syrup. 3. Whisk in the milk and vanilla extract. Warm gently over medium heat, watching carefully to make sure it doesn’t boil over. 4. Carefully process the milk mixture with a hand blender or in a traditional blender until frothy and blended. 5. Make the espresso or coffee and divide between two mugs and add the frothed milk. 6. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, or nutmeg if desired.
Nutella Hot Chocolate Servings: 4
Ingredients - 4 cups of milk - 2 tablespoons of Nutella (or any hazelnut cocoa spread) - 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder - 2 tablespoons of sugar
Instructions 1. Heat milk in a medium-sized saucepan on medium to high heat until it begins to warm and steam. Then add the Nutella, cocoa powder, and sugar, and whisk until dissolved and combined. Bring to a gentle simmer while stirring, and take off heat. 2. Serve with your desired toppings.
Cranberry Citrus Party Punch Servings: Party-sized
Ingredients - 4 litres of ginger ale - 4 cups of pineapple juice - 4 cups of cranberry juice - 12 ounce bag of cranberries - 3 oranges, sliced - 3 lemons, sliced - 3 limes, sliced
Instructions
1. Pour the ginger ale and juices into a 2 gallon drink dispenser. 2. Put cranberries and fruit slices in the drink. 3. Refrigerate until served. 4. Optional: Add ice cubes.
Bon appetit! Fall Recipes Angela Cheng Summer is over and fall has finally arrived! That means it’s the perfect season to make sweet festive treats for family and friends! Below are 3 enjoyable recipes for you to try this season :) Bon appetit!
Pumpkin Layer Cake Prep Time: 15-20 mins Cook time: 50-60 mins
Ingredients - Non-stick cooking spray - 1 box vanilla cake mix (plus ingredients needed to make cake: eggs, oil, water) - 1 (30 oz.) can pumpkin pie mix (Contains pumpkin, seasoning, and sugar) - 1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk - 1 (3.5 oz.) box instant vanilla pudding - 2 large eggs - 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice, divided use - 1 cup cold milk - 1 (8 oz.) tub whipped topping (Cool Whip), thawed - 1 cup chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray the baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. 2. Using a large bowl, prepare cake mix according to the package’s directions. Then pour the cake batter into the prepared baking dish. Set aside. 3. Now prepare the pumpkin pie mix in another large bowl. Combine the pumpkin pie mix with eggs, evaporated milk and one teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Stir well. Pour this into the prepared baking dish as well. 4. Put the cake into the oven and bake for about 50-60 minutes. Using a toothpick, poke the top of the cake in the middle. The cake is done if the toothpick comes out clean. Allow cake to cool completely, let it sit at room temperature for at least a couple of hours. 5. Once the cake has cooled, begin making the topping. Combine package of instant pudding with one teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Then pour in the cold milk. Whisk mixture until pudding begins to thicken. 6. Gently fold in whipped topping and spread topping onto cooled cake. (Optional: Sprinkle chocolate chips onto the cake) Pop it into the fridge for 1 hour then serve chilled! Enjoy :)
Apple Scones With Honey Prep Time: 20-25 mins Cook time: 15-17 mins
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour - 1 teaspoon apple pie spice or ground cinnamon - 1/2 cup butter, chilled and cut into small pieces - 1 cup finely chopped apples - 3/4 cup whipping cream - 16-18 thin slices of unpeeled apple - Coarse sugar or granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar - 1 tablespoon baking powder - 1/2 teaspoon salt - 2 large eggs, lightly beaten - 1 egg yolk, beaten - 1 tablespoon whipping cream - Honey
Instructions
1. Line an extra-large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil then set aside. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, apple pie spice and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the 1 cup finely chopped apple. Make a well in center of flour mixture. 2. In a small bowl, combine the 2 eggs and 3/4 cup whipping cream. Using a fork, stir egg mixture into flour mixture; stir until just moistened. Dough will be thick. Using a 1/4-cup ice cream scoop or measuring cup, scoop dough into mounds and place on prepared baking sheet. Don’t flatten. 3. In a small bowl, combine the egg yolk and 1 tablespoon whipping cream. Brush some of the mixture over the top of the dough mounds. Place an apple slice on top of each dough mound, pressing down until about 1-inch thick. Brush with remaining egg yolk/whipping cream mixture; sprinkle with additional sugar. 4. Bake in the oven at 375°F for 15 to 17 minutes or until the scones are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheet on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove scones from baking sheet. 5. Serve warm with honey! Enjoy :)
Pumpkin Soup Prep Time: 15-20 mins Cook time: 60 mins
Ingredients
- 6 cups chicken stock - 1 1/2 teaspoons salt - 4 cups pumpkin puree - 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley - 1 cup chopped onion - 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme - 1 clove garlic, minced - 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream - 5 whole black peppercorns
Instructions
1.Heat stock, salt, pumpkin, onion, thyme, garlic, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes uncovered. 2. Puree the soup in small batches (1 cup at a time) using a food processor or blender. 3. Return to pan, and bring to a boil again. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for another 30 minutes, uncovered. Stir in heavy cream. Pour into soup bowls and garnish with fresh parsley. 4. Serve hot! Enjoy :)
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