By: Hannah Gliedman

One of the best snacks to have on a snowy or rainy day is soft, delicious chocolate muffins. Not only are they delicious and healthy but a way to keep busy on a day stuck inside. With a bake time of only 30 minutes, and easy to get ingredients, these muffins are sure to be the best part of your day. This recipe consists of a chocolate muffin recipe and a chocolate frosting recipe.

What you need

• big bowl
• mixer
• wisk
• muffin/cupcake tray
• non stick cooking spray

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups of sugar
• 1 cup of avocado
• 1 cup of milk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1⁄2 tsp of balsamic vinegar
• 2 cups of flour
• 1⁄2 cup of cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1⁄2 tsp salt

Frosting

• 1 pack (8 ounces) of cream cheese
• 1⁄2 cup confectioners sugar
• 2 tbs vanilla extract
• 1⁄8 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and line a 12 cup muffin tin with wax paper or spray with non stick cooking spray.
2. Into a large bowl, mix the avocado, sugar, milk, vanilla, and vinegar. After mixed throughout, either by hand or with an electric mixer, add eggs in one at a time until thoroughly incorporated.
3. In a separate bowl, mix in the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
4. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Pour half of the dry ingredients and mix well, add the remaining half.
5. Mix well and separate into muffin tins using either a spoon, pouring, or an ice cream scooper works very well.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the tops of the muffins are lightly browned.
7. Cool for about 5 minutes, or until completely cool to frost
8. For the frosting, beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and salt together until completely smooth
9. Spread the frosting over the cooled cupcakes

Serve and enjoy.

Note: Recipe adapted from Jessica Seinfeld’s ‘Deceptivly Delicous’

By: Calla Fragrassi & Mackenzie Malek

With spring break coming up everyone needs a break from Minnesota’s hard and cold winters. Here are the 10 best tropical places to visit in 2023.

1. Santorini

Santorini is one of the many Greek islands and one of the most famous islands in the world. Santorini is known for its beautiful views and hosts one of the few active volcanoes in Europe. Many people have theories that Santorini is the home to the lost city of Atlantis. The island is also known for its beaches and is made up of two different inhabited islands and multiple smaller surrounding islands.

2. The Azores

Just off the coast of Portugal are the nine islands of Azores. Azores is one of the Europes safest destinations. There are many activities to do in the Azores including hiking, diving, bike tours, canyoning, bird watching, surfing and much more. The Azores’ islands are very sustainable because they preserve resources and opportunities for tourists to be eco friendly.

3. Bali

Bali is a small island within the country of Indonesia. The country is known for its beautiful mountains and volcanoes, and is known for being a “surfer’s paradise”. The surrounding coast is filled with coral reefs and is perfect for family vacations. On the very famous Kuta beach you can find many hotels, restaurants, and shops along with many different water sports for anyone to enjoy!

4. Galápagos Islands

The nineteen Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean. These islands are known for their unique wildlife such as sea turtles, sei whales, marine iguanas, and much more. Some activities you can do on these islands are snorkeling, which is a highlight for many tourists, sea kayaking, surfing, horseback riding, etc. If you are interested in relaxation don’t even worry, there are beaches perfect for disconnecting.

5. Hawaii

Located in the central Pacific Ocean, known for its beautiful beaches, are the five main islands of Hawaii: Kaua’i, O’ahu, Moloka’i, Lana’i, Maui. Some of the most common things to do in Hawaii are visiting the Pearl Harbor museum, if you’re into history, or if you are into hiking, visit Diamond Head which is the most recognized landmark in Hawaii.

6. Aruba

Aruba is a country south of the Caribbean Sea. This country is most known for its white sand beaches and bright blue ocean water. Some things to do are the butterfly farm, basically you are walking through a tropical rainforest surrounded by butterflies. Eagle Beach is a very popular beach to visit because of the white sand and turquoise water.

7. Bora Bora

Bora Bora is one of the 118 islands of Tahiti. What makes it special is the scenery and culture. Like many other places on this list, Bora Bora is known for the vibrant blue water and white sandy beaches. The top sites are Matira Beach, Bora Bora romantic tour, the Tohora Bora Bora snorkeling lagoon tours, and whale watching.

8. Maldives

Maldives the smallest country in Asia, located in the southwest of Sri Lanka and India. This beautiful place is most known for its amazing culture and interesting landmarks. Maldives is also famous for water sports like scuba diving, surfing, and water skiing. Maldives may be costly, but is one of those places where you only have to be there a few days to get the most out of your vacation.

9. Dalmatian Islands

The Dalmatian Islands are a strip of 79 different islands along the Adriatic Sea. The three most famous and largest of the islands are Brač, Pag, and Hvar. The islands are all surrounded by beautiful high limestone cliffs, each with their own unique beaches and sights. This is the perfect destination for unforgettable beach trips, with one of a kind landscapes, and scenic views.

10. The Isle of Skye

*Note, this one is not tropical, but still worth the visit.

The Isle of Skye, also called Cloud Island, is popular for its medieval castles and beautiful mountains, cliffs, and history that brings in tourists from all over the world. The island is rich with fascinating culture, scenery, and wildlife. Past visitors commonly say the land looks almost “untouched by the modern world”. If you’re looking for an exciting vacation with plenty of greenery and vibrant culture, The Isle of Skye is the place to be.

All 10 of these beautiful tropical places have something different to offer, along with great tranquility. While traveling to a tropical island can be spendy, and planning can seem like a lot of work, everyone deserves a break from the real world. Booking that trip can open many new doors and adventures that lead to many amazing experiences.