TI-84 Calculators at 5am! Oh the thrills...

So I am up early studying today (as I seem to be every test day) and I thought I'd write about some of yesterday's adventures and such. There were fun and sad moments. Let's start with sad moments.
1) There was a chance at free movie tickets and I missed out cause of work...
I guess for advertising for the talent show there were a bunch of flaming pink flamingo's stuck all over campus that, if turned in, were worth one free movie ticket. Problem was I had to work a good chunk of the afternoon today and I didn't see the ONE sign that explained this concept... Yep, OIT's advertising kind of sucks. I just know there was one guy who saw that and totally cleaned house on all the flamingos ha ha.
2) I .. guess there was only one :D

Fun Moments!
1) The Talent Show
2) Watching a comedian host the talent show
3) The Talent Show

Here's some videos!!! I know all the people in these three (yay for living in the dorms!) videos and only one of the winner's is among them. The 7 Drunken Nights song won second place (kind of funny cause it was a repeat of last years performance by the same people). First place was Team FAST but I don't know if anyone caught them on video or not. Third place was my friend John. John played really well. He did a drum piece to the Mario songs from Nintendo! It was sweet.

Click here to see Shanghai Expo - Jacob (drums? or the other guitar...), Jon (singer), Tyler (guitar), Will (base guitar)

Click here to see 2nd Place Winners - 7 Drunken Nights - Jon and Hollalina

Click here to see Belly Dancing - Rachel

Yay - Spanish Poptarts for Breakfast!

Mmm so before I begin my "become a clam and study study study" ritual I thought I'd write about another recipe :D But even before that, I'll divulge my plans for the day! Hmm this morning I'll just be studying and taking 5 minute breaks on facebook until about 11ish and then I'll get ready for work. Once I'm out of work... Oh yeah.. I'm going to the talent show tonight too. That will be fun. Then, I may or may not be scanning Nicole. Nicole has to work tonight and so it probably won't happen. I'll have to ask her for a different day this week. I wonder who else I could snatch away...

Pineapple Cinnamon Squash

This recipe I liked a lot. The original though was not my favorite.. it tasted too much like applesauce to me when I made it the "right way". But it was amazing after a few alterations I made the second time around! It's pretty much just yams without the marshmallows. I liked it though and I liked that I could leave it in the crock pot again. This recipe is also from "The Best Slow Cooker Cookbook Ever" by Natalie Haughton.

Original:
3 to 3 and 1/4 lbs banana or hubbard squash, rind removed and cut into 1 to 1 and 1/2 cubes
1 (8 ounce) can unsweetened crushed pineapple
1 to 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces

My Version:
1 and 1/2 to 2 lbs butternut squash, washed and cut into 1 inch cubes
2 (8 ounce) cans of crushed pineapple
1/3 to 1/2 cup brown or white sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons butter, melted

Place squash in a 3 and 1/2 or 4 quart slow cooker. In a small bowl, mix together pineapple and liquid, cinnamon, brown sugar, and butter. Spoon over squash and mix well. Cover and cook on low heat 6 and 1/2 to 7 hours, or until squash is tender. Stir gently to mix.

Note: I pretty much just let mine cook until it's a mush like chunky applesauce.

Lazy Day & Pinto Beans

I've been moving really slow when it comes to getting things done again. I waited until right before the cafeteria was completely shut down to drop off my food handler's permit :D Nice one, right?

Anyway, I mostly just thought I'd post up some recipes and my changes/notes about them since today was fairly slow. I think I'll even post up one of my images that I take sometime at the Vascular lab... I just have to remember... "remember Brittany, remember.."

BBQ Cowboy Pinto Beans

This recipe I pulled from "The Best Slow Cooker Cook Book Ever" by Natalie Haughton. Since I suffer from that "poor-college-student syndrome" I try to look for recipes with very few ingredients most of the time. This one required very little and most I already had on hand.

Original:
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
1 (16 ounce) package dried pinto beans, rinsed.
4 cups hot water
2 medium onions, chopped
1 tablespoon chili powder
3/4 cup hickory flavored bbq sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1 and 1/2 tablespoons yellow mustard
dash of tabasco sauce

My Version:
Makes 3-4 servings.
1/2 (8 ounces) package dried pinto beans
3-5 cups of water
1 teaspoon of chili powder
1/4-2/3 hickory flavored bbq sauce
1/4-2/3 cup ketchup
1/2-1 tablespoon yellow mustard

Directions: In a 3 and 1/2 quart slow cooker, mix beans water onions, and chili powder. Cook and cover on low heat about 7 hours or until beans are tender. Drain liquid. Stir in bbq sauce, ketchup, mustard, and tabasco sauce. Cook uncovered 10 to 15 minutes longer until heated through.

Did I even attempt the original? Nope. I was testing it on Jared and I, so that meant I had to cut out almost all things spicy (Jared's not a fan of spicy food). Also, about 4 hours into cooking the beans started to look dry. I originally started with about 2 cups of water because I was halving the recipe, but I ended up adding enough water to make it between 3-4 (maybe even 5) cups of water.

Do I like the recipe? Yes. It was simple, easy, and cheap. A nice side dish, or even a meal if you add in some hot dog bits. Yum. Plus, I can start it before I go to work or classes, check it once sometime in the middle of cooking, and then eat up when I get back. I like the long recipes that mean I can leave food alone for long enough to do other things.