Summer Holidays

Hey bloggers! Today, my post will be an optimistic one, encouraging young people to study hard this last term.

You all agree summer is closer than ever, specially in our town which is known for its low temperatures. Despite the fact that we are in May, which is usually a rainy month, some days ago the weather was really wonderful and totally different from what we are used to. Sunny days and a blue sky have covered the town and sun rays have reached our skins. In other words, we have to prepare ourselves for summer.

To tell the truth, everyone finds summer the best part of the year. Studies are over, we don't have to wake up early to go to school, nor study or do our homework. Apart from that, we have plenty of free time to enjoy ourselves with our friends or to go on holidays and discover new places you hadn't been to before.

Summer is the period of time when cities are empty because we all usually travel to our villages, the meeting point during summers. There, you have the best moments of the summer with people you have missed during the year. You go to every village party, a party every weekend, and so on. Summer can be summarised using three words: sun, laziness and party.

 

Nevertheless, not everyone can enjoy their summers. There is a part of the population that will have failed exams in June and need to pass their resit exams in September which is really horrible: they have to study during these 3 marvellous months instead of going out with their friends when temperatures really high, over 25 or 30°C.

My message goes directly to those people, I ask them to study and then they can enjoy the summer. Summer, don't you think it is really amazing? I mean, do you want to lose it because you have done nothing during the year? Work hard during this last term and you can have the best summer ever!

Cookie Monster's Cupcakes

Can you imagine eating one of these? Really are they foodstuff? Yes, obviously, they are the best sweet for someone who really loves food. Since the 20th century when they were first created, everybody wanted to eat one, just one. Probably, they are on the list of things to do and taste before you die, aren’t they? Anyway, why wouln't you want to eat such a beautiful delight? I am sure that you will cry after eating them, although, you may regret eating such an amazing dessert. Why should you eat them? Why? They are so cute… The curious thing about these cupcakes is their name! What is the meaning of ‘cupcake’? This name was given before the current bread we have nowadays to prepare muffins were invented, so they prepared these cakes inside a cup, this is the reason why they are called cup-cakes. It was not so difficult to guess! As you can imagine, cupcakes were invented where nowadays the obesity rate is the highest in the world: in the United States of America. Nevertheless, it is not bad to eat just one to give yourself a small treat, for example, when you are having the worst week of your life, and you have to study for your thousands of final exams. 

Plenty of cupcake shops opened and they became famous, for example, Magnolia Bakery. It is one of the most famous bakeries in the United States. Furthermore, it also appeared on the television in SEX AND THE CITY. Certainly, these bakeries are more frequent in the United States; nonetheless, you can have a cupcake anywhere, no matter where you live.
Believe me; making cupcakes is as easy as pie! The most difficult ingredient is to find your creative side, then, put your best apron on and do it!

The first time I tried to make cupcakes, it was a disaster. After spending the whole afternoon making them, when they finally looked perfect and the big moment arrived to taste them, they were dry and hard. They seemed to be incredible, almost the best I had ever seen, but then, when I tasted one, I was disappointed. Although I had to soak them in milk, I ate them all and I promise you they were the greatest cake I had ever eaten, maybe because they were my first creation… In these situations it is when you have to show that you are strong and never give up. Perhaps you’d be successful next time, maybe not, but, you should keep on working hard until you became a perfect cupcake-maker. 

Once you master the technique, you will can even sell them and earn some money. However, I am not sure you will dare to sell them, just like you may not dare to eat them, such awesome creations just made with your hands! It would be a pity to sell your babies! 
For the most adventurous ones, here it is my recipe for preparing my Cookie Monster’s Cupcakes! Exactly the same face and with the same hair! Aren't they lovely? The first step is to make the base of the cupcake, the muffin. You can buy them so you can jump this step, but they will be better if you make them!

The ingredients you need are: 

• 1/3 cups cake flour
• 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cus granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

You must preheat the oven to 350 degrees ºF, while you line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Then, prepare the mixture in a small bowl; sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Later, in a large bowl, beat butter until it looks creamy. Gradually beat in granulated sugar until it is fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time until well-blended; beat in vanilla. Beat in flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk, just until it is smooth. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. And finally, bake 18 to 20 minutes. Then, let it cool. Top with frosting.
The last step is to prepare the Cookie Monster topping. The ingredients needed are: 

• Chocolate cupcakes
• 200g butter, softened
• 2 ½ cups icing mixture
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• blue food colouring
• 1 tbsp milk
• 1 packet white marshmallows
• 1 tube black writing icing
• 12 chocolate chip cookies (1/2 per Monster with a few to sprinkle)

For the mixture, whip the butter with an electric mixer until it is pale. Later, add in the icing mixture and vanilla until they are evenly mixed. With the mixer running, add in blue food coloring until you get to the Cookie Monster color. Add in the milk and mix until the frosting puffs up. Then, fill a piping bag with a fluted nozzle and pipe on icing and with the writing icing, place black spots on the marshmallows for pupils (place one on each cupcake). Finally, cut cookies in half and place one in the mouth of the monster.

I hope you will try to make them and of course, enjoy them!

It's only a rock!

When people think about rock climbing, they think about people moving like monkeys up a rock. But some of the best rock climbers of the world define rock climbing as an art of progression in the rock, using your own hands and legs, without any equipment.

There are many types of rock climbing: free climbing, classic climbing, artificial climbing, sport climbing, bouldering and the most recent, psicoblock.

Psicoblock is practiced where the only security is when you fall in the water. This type of climbing is practiced on cliffs. When the climber falls, he would fall into the water. This type of climbing has many risks. If you fall in a bad position to the water, you can injure yourself with a rock or with the force of the water. This sport is very popular in Mallorca, where the accessibility of the rocks and the calm waters are a perfect place to climb.

In spite of this type of rock climbing, most of rock climbers prefer free climbing or traditional climbing. In Spain, we have one of the most famous climbing routes: the Northern route of the Naranjo De Bulnes, or Urriellu peak.

However, the most famous place in the world, the “Mecca” for rock climbers, is the Yosemite valley, in the United States.

In my opinion, we should be more attentive to other sports where the only risks are losing a match or finishing in a  bad position.