how to
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009
Fall is in the air, I know you feel it too! Some mornings hint of the tailgate weather to come. As sad as I am to see summer ending, I always feel a certain sense of excitement for the beginning of fall. The leaves start changing, jeans and long sleeves become essential…
My favorite part of fall though is the food! Fresh apples, heartier meals and cider are just a few of the best things. With the change in weather we start to crave more substantial fare, so I thought what better way to start the season than with some yummy fall recipes? Here are just a few to get you started!
Spiced Pumpkin Soup
Ingredients:
2 tablespoon(s) margarine, substitute butter
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
clove(s) (2 cloves) garlic, minced
2 teaspoon(s) ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
1 carton(s) (32 ounces) chicken or vegetable broth
1 can(s) (29 ounces) pure pumpkin, not pumpkin-pie mix
1 can(s) (12 ounces) carrot juice
1/2 cup(s) pumpkin seeds (pepitas), roasted and shelled
——————————————————————————–
Directions
1.In 4-quart saucepan, melt margarine over medium heat. Add carrot and onion, and cook 8 to 10 minutes or until soft, stirring frequently. Add garlic, cumin, and cinnamon, and cook 1 minute, stirring.
2.Add broth, pumpkin, and carrot juice to saucepan, stirring to combine. Cover saucepan and heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer, covered, 15 minutes to blend flavors.
3.Stir soup just before serving. Pass pumpkin seeds to sprinkle over soup.
Spiced Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients:
3 tablespoon(s) mustard seeds
1 tablespoon(s) fennel seeds
1/2 teaspoon(s) crushed red pepper
2 (14-ounce) pork tenderloins
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup(s) grainy Dijon mustard
1/4 cup(s) traditional Dijon mustard
1/4 cup(s) honey
——————————————————————————–
Directions
1.Preheat the oven to 375°. In a mortar, lightly crush the mustard and fennel seeds with the crushed red pepper. Set the pork tenderloins on a rimmed baking sheet and season them with salt and pepper. Spread the crushed spices on the baking sheet and roll the pork tenderloins in the crushed spices to coat them.
2.Roast the pork tenderloins for about 20 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of each tenderloin registers 145°. Transfer the pork tenderloins to a cutting board and let them rest for 10 minutes.
3.In a small bowl, mix the mustards with the honey and season with salt and pepper. Slice the pork 1/2 inch thick and serve with the honey mustard.
Happy Cooking!
Mucki
Tags: Apartment Cooking, MSU Culinary Tips
Posted in how to | 1 Comment »
Monday, September 14th, 2009
I love football. I love the game so much that I find myself watching ESPN highlights all day on occasion. Though I’ve watched the clip ten times already, I still love to watch it again. 
I am now entering my fourth year of Fantasy Football on ESPN, and with the season approaching, my excitement level is at an all-time high. My buddies and I watch the Sunday games at either Reno’s East or Buffalo Wild Wings, and then watch Monday Night Football at one of our apartments at The Club at Chandler Crossings. There’s nothing like friendly competition with friends, co-workers, family members, and class-mates.
If your anything like me, you’re always curious about different methods people have to draft players. This is my system that has worked well enough to earn four straight Championship Game appearances:
- -Look at what the player has done in the past
- -Look at what the player is projected to do this season
- -Look at the supporting cast the player has
- -Look to see what previous team members are not currently on active rosters
If you have a different system that has been effective, feel free to post it here as a comment! Please remember: When drafting your team, DO NOT draft solely on names alone. No team is ever exactly the same as they were the year before, and the slightest personnel change can effect that players role greatly for the upcoming year.
Wish me luck, and I hope you all have a fantastic fantasy football season. (Those of you who aren’t in my league!)
-Ernest Madison
Tags: Buffalo Wild Wings, Chandler Crossings Websites, ernest madison, ESPN, Fantasy Football, how to, Reno's, the club at chandler crossing
Posted in how to | Leave a comments »
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
- ROOMMATES R FUN!
School is about to start yet again! East Lansing is a super fun place right now full of Michigan State spirits. If you are living with roommates this fall, check out this blog to learn some fun ways to get to know each other and to improve your new relationship. College life is all about having fun and meeting new people, so make sure your roommates are your close pals! I personally have met some of my best friends from being roommate matched with the roommate matching services that Chandler Crossings offers. If you are going in blind, this is a great way to get an individual lease and to be matched with people with similar personal interests. Looking to have a great year and make new friends? Then read on!
1. Talk. Get to know your roommates, don’t be shy! Compare decorating styles, clothing, food choices and school information. You might be taking similar courses and be able to help each other out. The first day of meeting someone might be a bit busy, but make time.
2. Invite your new roommates to dinner. Whether you all eat in and enjoy your new place, or find a new favorite spot out on town, this is a great way to get to know each other. Take a look at my blog on being a tourist in your own town to find hot places in East Lansing to try out!
3. Throw a fiesta! (or other cool themed party) Welcome week is almost here, so why not celebrate with your new found friends. Relax, eat some good food, party it up with music or chill out with a movie. Meeting each other’s friends will also make you closer and more comfortable.
4. Facebook or Myspace your roommates before you move in. If you can strike up a conversation before you actually meet, you will probably feel more comfortable on move in day. You can also make arrangements for decorations and shared accessories too.
5. Do your shopping together. Next time you hit the store, invite your roomies. You can learn a lot about someone while you are shopping, and who knows, you might even be able to split the cost of groceries. One of my roommates didn’t have a car so we would shop together, it was fun and she appreciated that I helped her out.
6. Hit up all the local events you can together. Chandler Crossings Apartments always have great resident appreciation events such as free food days, tournaments and pool parties. The best part, the are FREE and right in your front yard! Check with your community to see what events and activities you and your buddies can do together. (This is also a great way to meet your new neighbors)
7. Be outgoing. If you’re watching T.V., making a snack, or going out for a jog, ask your roommates to join you. It is common for people to be shy around strangers, but showing them that you are trying to make an effort can make both of you more comfortable. Nobody says you have to be friends over night!
Good luck and have a great school year!
-Katelyn Moore
Tags: Chandler Crossings Events, Getting to know your roommate, MSU Roommates, Roommate Matching Services, Roommates
Posted in how to | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite parts about moving into a new place is buying all kinds of decorations. With that being said, this blog is dedicated to finding cheap decorations for furnish your East Lansing Student Apartment.
First and foremost, before you get out there and make your purchases you have to decide on a theme. If you can’t decide on a theme or have so many ideas you can’t narrow it down, I like to look at magazines or use my friend Google to finalize my vision for my new home.
The next step is finding things to not only fit your theme but fit your budget. Try checking out your neighborhood yard sale, antique malls, flea markets, or thrift stores to find the best deals.
If your budget is a bit flexible you can still find a great deal at local department stores. I personally love shopping at Target. Target has a great selection of dorm room or MSU apartment decor that you are sure to love.
Another one of my favorite places is IKEA. I love IKEA. The best part is I no longer have to travel to Chicago to go to IKEA. A store recently opened in Canton, Michigan which is only about an hour drive from your Chandler Crossings Apartment. If you are a first timer to IKEA. I would plan an entire day to get lost in their warehouse of decor. They have everything. Seriously. They even have an amazing food court. One of my favorite parts about shopping at IKEA is enjoying their 50 cent hot dogs. They are delicious.
You can pretty much find everything you will need to furnish your East Lansing Apartment at IKEA. Don’t believe me? Check out the store or visit them online. They are awesome.
Those are just a few of my favorite bargain stores. If you have a store that you love to pick up cheap decorations at please share them. I am always looking for a new place to shop.
Have fun decorating!
- Joanna Gibbons
Tags: apartment decor, cheap decorations, college apartment, decorating, how to decorate your college apartment for cheap
Posted in how to | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
I recently went to spend some time with my best friend and her husband in Florida. On my last night there, Becca and I decided to make use of her wedding presents and try our hand at making some sushi. Above is a picture of the actual sushi we made! We were a little nervous as neither of us had made it before, but it was surprisingly easy and most of all fun!
Here are some tips for making sushi at your Chandler Crossings apartment:
- Make sure you have the right ingredients. It DOES matter what type of rice you have, so make sure you purchase the kind made especially for sushi rolls.
- Do all your prep first. Make sure all ingredients are cut and ready so that when you start they are right at your fingertips.
- Have a sense of humor. The first time you make it, it may not be perfect, but that is all part of the fun. (The first roll I made turned out as an oval).
Ingredients
- 1 cup prepared sushi rice
- ½ avocado
- 4 crab sticks (or real king crab or jumbo lump crab meat for a luxury California roll)
- ½ cucumber
- 1 sheet dried nori seaweed
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- For a spicy California roll, add a few drops of hot pepper sauce to the mayonnaise
Preparation
- Cut the peeled and pitted avocado and the peeled cucumber in quarters lengthwise.
- Spread the sushi rice over the sheet of seaweed, and sprinkle the sesame seeds over the surface.
- If you don’t have a bamboo rolling mat, place a sheet of plastic wrap on the worktop, and turn the layer of seaweed and sushi rice upside down flat on the the plastic wrap so that the seaweed ends up on top.
- Place the avocado, cucumber and crab sticks evenly down the center, and coat the filling with mayonnaise. Roll the layer up from one edge, and slice the roll into 8 pieces.
How to Make a California Roll with Sushi Chef Lin –A great how to video!
Enjoy, and happy rolling!
-Mucki
Tags: Chandler Crossings Websites, east lansing apartments, sushi at msu
Posted in FYI, The Club, The Landings, The Village, how to | Leave a comments »
