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Show AggieLife Monday, Dec. /, 2008 Page 7 Finals: How to avoid the stress DOMESTIC DOMINATION [I continuedfrom page 5 Comfort food for the stressful season ith finals being a week away and stress building up, the last thing I am thinking about is cooking. I've papers to write, professors to please ^ finals to pass. That is where the grilled cheese sandwich comes into play. But not just any grilled cheese. 1 can't stand seeing people talk about how much they love the grilled cheese sandwich only to make it with plastic single slice cheese, paper like white bread and in a pan that burns it. Stop. Take control of what you are going to be eating for the next two weeks and branch out from the plain grilled cheese life you have been living and start feeding those taste buds. The grilled cheese has long been a comfort food, something many people ate as children. I still find it to be a great comfort food only I've made it grow up and become an adult sandwich with the variety of bread I make it with, cheeses I use and what surface it is grilled on. I grew up with my grilled cheeses being made in a pan on the stove top, nothing big but unless you cover the pan while it cooks, you are likely to end up with burnt bread for the sake of melted cheese. There is no need to sacrifice the bread for the sake of the cheese, especially since the George Foreman "Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine" was invented. If you use a George Foreman electric grill you will have perfectly melted cheese and bread that is toasted to golden perfection. On top of that, you can also do multiple sandwiches at a time for those study groups that are at your house 24/7 for the next two weeks. If you don't have a George Foreman don't freak out, you can still create the perfect sandwich. Start by keeping the heat on a medium setting. High heat will burn the bread and not melt the cheese very much. Next put a lid over the pan while the sandwich cooks, this traps the heat making all of the sandwich warm up, not just one side of it. The bread that is used is essential. Regular sandwich bread is always an option but using a crustier bread means your sandwich won't get flattened .out by the George Foreman. Breads that make great grilled cheeses are Rye, sour dough, French bread, Cibatta, Asiago sour dough and sourdough garlic. Sour dough is a a good one to use because of the sour flavor. It acts as a great accompaniment to the cheese solo that will be playing in your mouth. Cheese is the reason the grilled cheese even exists. Use a variety of cheeses other than the classic cheddar provides an exiting grilled cheese experience. Let's take a tour of cheese to find out what is out there in the cheese world that can tantalize our taste buds and comfort our mouths. . Havarti, which is native to Denmark is a soft white cheese. According to Wikipedia,which is not reliable but I'll trust it, Havarti has a buttery aroma and can be somewhat sharp in the stronger varieties, much like Swiss cheese. Wikipedia said, "the taste is buttery, and from somewhat sweet to very sweet, and it is slightly acidic." Gouda, hailing from Holland, this Dutch delight is named after the city it originated from. Depending on age classification of the Gouda, it can be everything between a number of weeks to over seven years before it is ready to be eaten. Wikipedia said, "As Gouda ages it develops a caramel sweetness and sometimes has a slight crunchiness." Exported Gouda has two varieties, the young Gouda cheese aged between one and six months, rich yellow in color and with a red or yellow paraffin wax coating. The second variety of Gouda, which is aged more, "has a pungent underlying bitterness, yet is still considerably creamier and sometimes discernible by a black paraffin wax coating", according to Wikipedia. Pepper Jack Cheese, as written by.the good folks at Wikipedia, "is a derivative of Monterey Jack that includes spicy hot peppers for a zesty flavor. Spicy, delicate and buttery, pepper jack cheese is semi-soft and open textured with a slightly tart flavor." The Tillarnook and Gossner's variety are good options. Swiss cheese is known for its holiness ' and bittersweet taste. In general, the larger the eyes in a Swiss cheese, the more pronounced its flavor; this is because the same conditions that lead to large eyes, also allow the bacteria and enzymes to produce a stronger flavor. For a bolder taste, buy a Swiss cheese that is foreign made since most American made swiss cheeses do not have the large eyes that give swiss a pronounced flavor. Goat Cheese is an option if one has a sensitive stomach to cheeses, since Goat cheese is easier on the stomach. Wikipedia said, "The higher proportion of mediumchain fatty acids in goat's milk contributes to the characteristic tart flavor of goat's milk cheese." Goat cheese can be bought in a variety of flavors such as Chipotle, garlic onion and with cranberries, just to name a few. Adding a new kind of cheese isn't the only thing that can be done to make the grilled cheese a little more upscale. Add herbs such as Dill, Rosemary and Oregano. But don't combine them together, that could be disastrous. Seasonings such as fresh ground pepper, creole seasoning or a little salt can add a kick to it as well. If you want a heartier grilled cheese add some deli meat, slice tomato, sauted onions or spinach. Don't forget to butter the bread before you grill it to make it crunchy. Like most adults, the grilled cheese needs some love, too, and that is where soups come into play. Pair..the sandwich with, a soup such as a .creamy, tomato,, butternut squash, chicken noodle, lentil, such as the one featured a few weeks ago and you are in business. Branch out from the standard Campbell's condensed soups and try Pacific brand all natural soups. The Creamy Tomato and Butternut Squash are delicious as well as the Minestrone. Now that you know the secrets of the grilled cheese go dominate it. , • CAMERON PETERSON photo illustration are already dead so 1 can just walk around in peace." Several people use walking or exercise as a stress reduction method. Another common method is people watching/observing. Ashley Ylst, junior in elementary education, said she prefers fish tanks to people. "I like to watch the fish at Wal-Mart," Ylst said "They are calming." While fish watching at Wal-Mart may relieve stress for some, Davis suggests to avoid shopping as a stress management method. Davis said a recent study proved that shopping increases the risk to be in a high stress group by three times the normal amount. In addition to shopping, Davis said prayer was another method that was surprisingly suggested as counter productive to relieving stress. He said the study also suggested some protective factors for stress reduction including sleeping, calling a parent, singing and playing an instrument. However, Davis said students need to learn what works best for them. "\ personally go to my happy place," he H continuedfrom page 5 said. Davis said he likes to imagine digging his toes in the warm sand or he reflects on memories from his childhood. He said students can physically turn away from the source of stress by closing their eyes and focusing on other visual images. "Stress is the salt of life," he said. "Without stress, life would have no flavor." Davis said the more stress one has, the more potential a student has at succeeding. Davis said as stress increases, accomplishments increase, until one hits the point of burning out, which is when stress becomes counterproductive. Everyone just needs to know how much stress they can handle before they burn out, Davis said. Brian Laird, junior in mechanical engineering, said everyone has something special they can do on their own. "Juggling gets my mind off of my problems," Laird said, "because it's rhythmic and distracts me from the troubles of school." -courtney.schoen@aggiemail.usu.edu Street Speak Who is your favorite Disney character and why? "Aladdin, because he has a relaxed lifestyle and he's carefree." '•}' C.Ann Jensen is a senior majoring in print journalism who wants ramekins and a Kitchen Aid for Christmas. You can find out where to deliver them to by e-mailing her at chjensen@aggiemaiiusu.edu Smile: Helping one smile at a time Upon arriving in Bolivia, Foster said she and other student volunteers worked from about 6:30 in the morning until 9 at night. "Our (the student volunteer's) responsibility was to educate. We gave four different presentations that we taught the whole time I was there ... burn care and prevention, oral rehydration therapy, nutrition and dental hygiene," Foster said. "We taught kids waiting for the screenings, went to orphanages and taught random patients throughout the hospital, any place we could find an audience." Foster said she had a small carry-on bag with ALYSSA Q U I N N , J U N I O R in mechanical engineering, said she takes mock engagement pictures to help relieve the stress of finals. Jim Davis, medical director at the Student Health and Wellness Center, said stress management is critical but avoiding it can stop a student's progression. -Ammon Neff, senior, chemistry "Jasmine. She's hot, but she always smells like curry so it's a little overpowering to me." -KeviH Manwaring, senior. Ufeguarding "Dumbo. He overcame what some might call a handicap to make it work for him. Also, my granddaughter Olivia wants to watch it every time she comes over." "Gaston. He's manly enough to drink eggs' and has a charming grin. What more could you want?" her personal belongings, but her suitcase was filled.with donations from home. "I wanted to fill my whole suitcase with dona-Jaime Perry, tions. I brought 1,600 toothbrushes donated from senior, dentists and gave them away," Foster said. "We exercise science also brought toys and notebooks for parents. Kids were thrilled just to get a bouncy ball. It definitely makes you grateful for the things you have." To become involved with the USU chapter of Operation Smile, contact Marshall at nicki.marshall@gmail.com. -karlie.brcwd@aggiemail.usu.edu It Costs More To Eat Raman Noodles That's Hov/ We Roll. Are you struggling with pornography? 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