By: Helen Aweke, Siyam Kedir & Yasmin Roba
Monthly Archives: September 2025
Brownie recipe review
By: Norah Hoglund
Brownies are one of my favorite desserts. I love chocolate pastries and a good brownie is one of my favorite things ever. I have made many different recipes and today I am reviewing a recipe from Baker by Nature.
Link to the recipe: here
Review
This recipe made really good brownies all around. The top was crackly, just like it was advertised. They were very fudgy in the middle, but not undercooked. The edges were very crispy, which is good for the edge piece kind of people. I really enjoyed the chocolate chips that were mixed into the batter. They added a very nice texture to contrast the pastry texture. The chocolate flavor was strong, but it was still very sweet. As the brownies cooled, the edges got a bit more crispy. I personally prefer softer edges, but some people like them crispier. These brownies were really great overall and would go great with vanilla ice cream. I would rate them a 9/10 overall.
Recipe
- 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (43g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder optional (don’t use if you don’t like coffee)
- 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter
- 2 Tablespoons (28ml) oil canola, vegetable, or coconut will work
- 1 and 1/3 cups (265g) granulated sugar divided
- 2 large large eggs
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract optional, but recommended
- 3/4 cup (128 grams) chocolate chips
instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F) (175 degreed C). Line an 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Spray lightly with non-stick baking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, and espresso powder. Set aside until needed.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, oil, and 1/3 cup of the sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until butter is completely melted. Remove from heat.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, egg yolk, vanilla (if using) and remaining sugar. Whisk until well combined, about 30 seconds.
- Slowly, pour the warm butter mixture into the egg mixture, adding it very gradually (a little bit at a time) and whisking constantly until completely combined.
- Add in the dry ingredients and chocolate chips and, using a rubber spatula, slowly stir until just combined.
- *Do not over mix! Stop stirring when you see the last trace of dry ingredients. Over mixing will give you cakey brownies.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 28 (to 30 minutes) or until the edges are firm and the top is shiny and slightly cracked.
- Place pan on a cooling rack and cool completely before slicing.
Two doors that tell the “Truth”
By: Marina Yang
Two doors that tell the “truth”,
but one of them tells what you wanna hear.
A shorter path via selfish acts with everything you want,
your dream type, what you’ve envied of others, etc.
But the other door tells you what you need to hear.
To learn patience, kindness, and respect to not only yourself but others.
And you’ll truly receive what’s rightfully yours
whether it be love,
future wants, needs, etc.
One door path is a gift, while the other is a bribe.
Life is like a long maze,
the countless ups and downs getting to the precious end after each corner.
Maze never has shortcuts, just promising dead ends.
The guide to life (maze) is patience (map),
you might not know what’s around the corner without knowing.
But a map is better than walking blind.
Would You Rather?
By: Elijah Davis & Dalton Haas
In which the question: “Would you rather save your pet or your car?” is asked.
Part I
Part II
Sports schedule for: Sept 22-27
| ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE SEPTEMBER 22- SEPTEMBER 27 | |||
| MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 22 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 5:00pm | Football B-Squad vs. Johnson | HOME – HP Stadium | |
| TUESDAY | SEPTEMBER 23 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| V: 4:00pm JV: 4:00pm | Girls Tennis vs. Central | V: Central High School JV: HOME | |
| V: 5:00pm JV: 5:00pm | Girls Soccer vs. St. Croix Lutheran | St. Croix Lutheran Academy | |
| WEDNESDAY | SEPTEMBER 24 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 4:00pm | 3:15pm | 6:00pm | JV Girls Tennis vs. Southwest | Linden Hills Park |
| JV & B: 4:30pm V: 6:00pm | 3:15pm | 7:30pm | Girls Volleyball vs. Washington | Washington Tech |
| THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 25 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| B: 4:00pm JV: 5:00pm V: 7:00pm | 3:15pm | 5:30pm | Boys Soccer vs. Central | B: McMurray Fields V/JV: HOME – HP Stadium |
| 4:30pm | Adapted Soccer Vs. Minneapolis South | Minneapolis South High School | |
| JV: 5:00pm V: 7:00pm | Girls Soccer vs. Central | Griffin Stadium | |
| FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 26 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| JV & B: 4:30pm V: 6:00pm | 3:45pm | 8:00pm | Girls Volleyball vs. Nova Classical | Nova Classical Academy |
| SATURDAY | SEPTEMBER 27 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 8:00am | 6:50am | ~ 3:00pm | JV Volleyball Tournament | Park High School |
| 8:30am | Varsity Girls Tennis Tournament | Mounds Park Academy | |
| JV: 9:00am V: 11:00am | Girls Soccer vs. Minneapolis South | HOME – HP Stadium | |
| JV: 10:00am C: 10:00am V: 12:00pm B: 12:00pm | JV/C: 9:00am | 11:30am V/B: 11:00am | 1:30pm | Boys Soccer vs. Hill-Murray | Hill-Murray School |
| 1:00pm | 11:00am | 3:00pm 2 Buses | Football vs. Como Park | Como Park High School |
Halloween and the Changing Leaves: Why Fall is one of the most popular seasons in America
By: Charlotte Aver
When you ask someone what their favorite season is does it feel like the answer is always fall? This is probably because fall is the most commonly liked season in America. According to a CBS News poll in which 45% said that their favorite season is fall.
Why is fall one of the most liked seasons in America? Is it the abundance of pumpkin flavored things or the spooky season and Halloween? Don’t forget about fall colors, apple picking, pumpkin carving, and Thanksgiving. Could it also be the ingrained predisposition to like fall that is brought upon as children? Maybe it’s a combination of all of these things bundled together into a nice fall themed package.
According to Katherine Lively, a sociology professor at Dartmouth University, we are predisposed to like fall as children. “As children, we come to associate fall with going back to school, new school supplies (and) seeing friends. It’s exciting, for most. We still respond to this pattern that we experienced for 18 years.”
Another reason why fall is so popular is because it can be a time to start anew as Yasmine Saad, PhD and licensed psychologist, said “Temporal landmarks divide life into distinct mental phases. They allow us to put in the past negative experiences and propel a fresh outlook.” Fall is also a time of order and structure making it a relief to people dislike the chaos of summer.
“Depending on where you live, fall usually means the end of swimsuit season. People tend to feel more comfortable about their bodies and appearance in the fall because they’re wearing more or bulkier clothing,” Dr. Levy says. That, combined with the social acceptance to indulge in Halloween candy and decadent fall foods, means “there’s less body shame and pressure to diet in order to maintain a picture-perfect, beach-ready body,” as Levy also explains. This is yet another reason why fall is so popular and a relief for plenty of people. Fall is also a time when eating goes beyond just fuel for your body, it becomes a time that families and friends come together to eat.
In addition to a childhood predisposition towards fall, there are plenty of fun activities that are purely fall related and you can’t do any other time of the year. You can go to an apple orchard and pick apples, drink apple cider, and get some nice warm cinnamon donuts. According to a poll, 51% of Americans’ favorite thing about fall is the leaves changing colors, and in New England it is incredibly popular to visit purely for fall colors. Between 3 and 4 million people go to New Hampshire alone to see fall colors.
When discussing fall you can’t forget about Halloween and spooky season. Halloween is one of the most commonly celebrated holidays in America and on Halloween night you can certainly tell by the sheer amount of decorations and trick or treaters. Leading up to Halloween there are plenty of things to do to start feeling the spooky atmosphere, you could go to a pumpkin patch and carve a pumpkin or go to a haunted house. You could also go to a coffee place, chain or local, and get one of the most popular seasonal treats, the Pumpkin Spice Latte. In some states there aren’t distinct seasons therefore, no true fall, even so PSL’s and Halloween are just as popular and celebrated.
Overall, fall is one of the most popular seasons and honestly, what’s not to like? From colorful leaves to Halloween, pumpkin spice lattes and apple cider, there is truly something for everyone. So the next time someone asks your favorite seasons I hope the answer is ‘fall’.
For more information, please visit:
- https://www.myjournalcourier.com/features/article/scenic-places-leaf-peeping-across-united-states-21015276.php
- https://lanthorn.com/106705/opinion/falling-in-love-with-fall-autumn-is-the-most-superior-season/
- https://www.verywellmind.com/the-psychological-reason-why-we-love-fall-so-much-5205863?scrlybrkr=34863fbf
- https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/weather/2022/09/30/not-so-spooky-season–why-fall-weather-is-a-favorite
- https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/fall-is-americans-favorite-season-survey-shows/
A chill day at the arboretum
By: Nils Hilleson
Spring leaves and leaves fall
Fallen leaves leave crunches
As we leave a trail through the leaves
Soon fall will leave but not just yet
Today the branching paths guide us
Through the trees and their barren branches
A branch in the path, a decision to be made
Any branch will show us beautiful branches
A chilly wind blows bringing warmer colors
A warm hoodie keeps me unchilly
And safe from falling leaves from branches
A chill day at the arboretum
The US Open: Sinner Vs Alcaraz
By: Karl Salkowski
The US Open is renowned as one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. Over the course of the year there are four Grand Slam tournaments, each played on a different surface: the French Open on clay, Wimbledon on grass, and the Australian and US Opens on hard courts. These events have some of the highest prize money in sports, boasting over 50-100 million per event.
The US Open lasts around two weeks, beginning on August 24th and ending on September 7th. Every year 128 players compete in the US Open for both men’s and women’s singles. These tournaments each have extensive legacies dating back over a century. The US Open is the final of the Grand Slam events each year and is the last major tournament until the Australian Open in January.
Before the tournament had even begun, two favorites had emerged. Carlos Alcaraz, a Spanish player who previously won the US Open in 2022 and has a total of 6 Grand Slam titles. Alcaraz would be competing against another favorite, Jannik Sinner, an Italian player who won the US Open in 2024 and has a total of 4 Grand Slam titles.
Alcaraz and Sinner collectively have won every Grand Slam title in the last 2 years, 2024-2025. Many other famous players took part in the US Open as well, including Novak Djokovic, one of the most dominant players in tennis history, having won 24 Grand Slam Titles.
Sinner and Alcaraz were placed on opposite sides of the bracket, meaning they wouldn’t meet until the finals. They both had several close matches. Alcaraz faced Djokovic during the quarterfinals in a grueling match that lasted over 2 hours. Eventually Alcaraz was able to narrowly defeat Djokovic, not only cementing his position in the finals, but also proving that he was one of the greatest players in the sport.
Alcaraz’s momentum only continued to increase throughout the competition. By the time he entered the finals, it was clear that he had control of the match. In the end, Carlos Alcaraz was able to edge out his rival Sinner, and won the 2025 US Open Grand Slam title.
Tier ranking school lunches
By: Liv Kleiber and Salome Meyer
The ‘Barbie’ movie
By Kate Tabor
The ‘Barbie’ movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, is surrounded by a lot of controversy. For some reason, the exact point the movie was trying to make, went over so many people’s heads.
The movie itself is about the female experience, to put it simply. The societal expectations, the unfair standards women are held to, and the hardships that we as women all face and are not given enough credit for.
Most of the criticism about this woman is centered around the idea that Barbie is a doll with big boobs, and that’s it. She’s something to look at, something for young girls to be inspired by. What’s funny about that idea is the fact that when young girls actually are inspired by Barbie, or any other female icon, they’re criticized for it and beaten down.
What Greta Gerwig has done with the ‘Barbie Movie’ has made so many women and girls feel seen. She actually took Barbie, the women that so many women and young girls look up to, and had her experience what real women and girls experience. She captured exactly what it feels like to be a woman.
Not only that, but she turned it around in order for Barbie, what a lot see as just a pretty doll, and had her be inspired by a real human woman. What I’m trying to get across here, is that no matter who you are, as a woman in this society, you’re going to feel put down by society and its expectations of you. You could be the most beautiful and biggest female icon in the world, and still feel like you’re not enough.
This, of course, is not the only point that stands out in the movie, and most certainly is not the main point Greta was trying to get at, but it’s a very good one.
No matter how beautiful and great and special you are as a woman, which every woman is, there are always men, and sometimes women, who will try to tear you down. All you need to remember is that every single woman feels the exact same way as you.
Plaid Line + PRIZM + Scottie News 