CSULB Marine Lab & Science Center

by Nate and Allie
We went to the Marine Lab and Science Center at CSULB. At the Marine Lab we learned about fish with eyes that bug out when they get caught and pulled out of the water. There was a researcher who found out that they can still see just fine when they get put back into the ocean. We saw an eel and learned that they can bite your fingers off. When they are babies they can bite off one finger, when they are a kid they can bite off two, when they are adults they can bite off your whole hand (according to Nate)! We saw sea stars and learned that they push out their stomachs to grab and eat their prey. We got to see sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and other creatures. Nate also got to help some of the researchers who were studying mussels. They added some water to their containers and fed them some micro algae that smelled really bad.


At the Science Center there were hands-on exhibits on things such as: optical illusions, bubbles, rocks and minerals, gravity, tornados, color, mirror images, scat, birds, eggs, and a plasma disk. Nate wants to go back and spend more time here.

Chocolate Exhibit at Muzeo

We had a great time at Chocolate -the exhibit at Muzeo in Anaheim the other day. It was very informational; we all learned a ton about chocolate. Here are some fun facts!

-Cacao trees grow in near the equator in places like Central and South America.

-The chocolate craze first started with the Mayans and then traveled to the Aztecs, Spanish and Europeans.

-The aztecs used cacao beans for money.

-Cacao was a luxury and sought-after drink. The aztec word for hot chocolate is chocolatl.

-They would put spices in the cacao beverage.

-The Europeans introduced milk and sugar being added to the cacao, so creating hot chocolate.

-Birds and different animals feast on cacao. A certain fruit fly called a midge pollinates the cacao flower and helps break down the cacao seeds into a rich fertilizer.

-Animals eat cacao pulp and spit out the seeds because the cacao seeds have caffeine in them which the animals don't like.

-A bird was found in the cacao trees in 1996 which was named the pink-legged graveterio. A disease called witches broom is wiping them out unfortunately.

-The Ivory Coast grows the most cacao: 1.4 million tons!

-Cacao pods contain 30-50 seeds, enough to make 7 chocolate bars.

-The swiss eat more chocolate per person than anywhere else in the world.

-There used to be chocolate houses where high class politicians went to sip hot chocolate and discuss politics in the 1600s and 1700s in England.

~post by Carly

Summer Specials from Chef Nate

Green Smoothie Pops

Blend your favorite summer fruit (we like to use mango, kiwi, nectarines, and/or peaches) with your favorite greens (we like chard, spinach, or kale) and freeze into popsicles.

This one had: 1 apple (with skin on), 1 banana, 1 mango, 1 kiwi, 4 big leaves of rainbow chard and 2 cups of water. This made quite a few pops! For more ideas/recipes for green smoothies (that can be made into summertime pops), check out this site.

Nate's Fried Zucchini

1 Garden Zucchini - sliced (I had fun using a mandolin slicer)

Garlic Powder

Basil

*Heat a little olive oil on the stove. Add zucchini and sprinkle as much garlic powder and basil as you want. Cook/saute on medium heat until it looks good to you.

Blueberry Lemonade

(This is one of Judita's recipes)

1 1/4 cups of blueberries

3 cups of water

1 cup of ice cubes

1/2 cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice

1/4 cup of agave

Puree 1 cup of the blueberries in a food processor. Transfer to a pitcher and stir in water, ice, lemon juice, agave and remaining blueberries.

Enjoy!

Great Golfing!

As dictated by Nate...

I went to a golf camp. It was fun. We went to the putting green where I had to putt very softly. We got to play "ring around the fire". After that we did chipping. And another time we did sand wedging. My favorite thing was going to the driving range. On the last day I won a visor and 2 golf balls (light green and yellow). The one bad thing was having to tuck my shirt into my shorts everyday.

*This was a free week long (2 hours per day) clinic offered by the Los Angeles County Junior Golf Program. They offer these clinics at a variety of LA County golf courses throughout the year.

My Latest Film Endeavor

I just finished another short film. This one is called Grounded and it's a surf film! I've been having fun with my gopro camera and another really sweet camera I've been able to use. Hope ya'll enjoy. :)

post by Carly

Raw Food Workshop

(post by Carly)
We had the opportunity to participate in a raw food workshop with Judita Wignall, who is an awesome raw foodist! She published a book called all about how to make raw food without it being too pricey and too foreign to the average American's taste buds. It showcases all of her original delicious recipes and glossy pictures. :)
At the workshop we made raw chocolate, raw spaghetti and meatballs and raw chocolate chip cookies! It was so fun! The spaghetti was zucchini out of her garden that we pushed through a pasta swirler type device. It was very delightful. The result was thin but not too thin curly zucchini noodles. The sauce was blended up containing sun dried tomatoes, spices, fresh tomatoes, olive oil, garlic etc. And the meatballs were made with blended pecans, green onion, parsley and spices = SOOOOGOOD.
The "flour" for the cookies was cashews chopped fine in a food processor, plus dates, our raw chocolate and spices. Also delectable and oh so rich! Give raw food a whirl! You'll be surprised at how good real fresh healthy food tastes, and how it makes you feel.

Spaghetti & Meatballs

Sauce:
1 1/2 cups sun dried tomatoes, soaked for at least 2 hours, drained
1 1/2 cups (2-3) tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried
2 tablespoons fresh oregano or 2 teaspoons dried
2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper
dash fresh ground pepper

Place all ingredients into a blender and process until smooth.

Meatballs:
3 cups pecans
1/4 cup minced green onions
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon tamari
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Place the pecans in a food processor and process until finely ground. Add remaining ingredients and process into a paste. Use hands to shape into desired sized meatballs.

Noodles:
6 medium zucchini peeled
Use a spiralizer to create noodles. Gently toss noodles with sauce and top with meatballs.
Serve & Enjoy! :)