By: Sophie Johnson & Addison Strack

As soon as the fall menu items were released for both Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks, we were both ready to try them all. Fall is one of our favorite seasons and these drinks make the season even better. We visited both Starbucks and Dunkin’ in the Highland area to try these drinks right away. This article reviews five of the drinks, from coffees to teas, and we hope that these recommendations encourage you to find your favorite fall drinks as well.

Dunkin Donuts pumpkin chai: This past week one of the fall themed drinks that we tried was the iced pumpkin chai from Dunkin’ Donuts. Dunkin’ Donuts has many choices for different fall drinks and fall food as well. The iced pumpkin chai is one of our favorite fall drinks that we’ve tried so far. There is a strong pumpkin and cinnamon flavor mixed with the chai flavor, that makes the drink feel like fall. It is on the sweeter side, so if you aren’t a fan of sweet drinks then we wouldn’t recommend this drink to you. Although, if you do like sweet drinks and chai lattes, then this is the perfect drink for you. You can also adjust the amount of pumpkin you want in the drink to make it have a stronger or weaker pumpkin flavor. You can also add things like whipped cream, cold foam, and more. Overall, we would rate this drink a 4.5/5.

Starbucks iced pumpkin cream chai tea latte: Another fall themed drink that we tried this past week was the Starbucks iced pumpkin cream chai tea latte. This drink was very similar to the Dunkin’ Donuts pumpkin chai, but instead of having pumpkin flavoring mixed with the chai tea latte, the pumpkin flavoring was in the cold foam on top of the chai. This drink didn’t really have the strongest pumpkin flavor, but it was our favorite drink that we tried. The cold foam wasn’t too liquid, and had a sweet, but not too sweet flavor. When you mix the cold foam with the chai, it tastes even better. We liked this one better than the Dunkin’ Donuts pumpkin chai, because it wasn’t too sweet. The pumpkin flavor also wasn’t too overpowering, and you could still taste the chai. We would rate this drink a 5/5.

The Dunkin’ nutty pumpkin coffee was another delicious fall menu drink that we tried this autumn. This drink had an overall pumpkin flavor with notes of nuttiness and it was just the right amount of sweet. We really enjoyed this drink, but it was not our favorite out of the four we reviewed. We definitely prefer the Dunkin lattes over their coffee options, but we still liked this one. One thing that made this drink slightly better was the sweet cold foam that was added. This is one of our favorite things to add to drinks because it makes them more creamy and adds a little extra sweetness to the drink. Overall, we would rate this drink a 3.5/5.

If we are in the mood for a coffee, the Dunkin’ pumpkin latte is our go to drink on the fall menu. This drink is different from the nutty pumpkin coffee because it is less bitter of a drink and has an even more robust pumpkin flavor. We’ve gotten this drink several times because it is so delicious. Once again we added the sweet cold foam to this beverage which adds texture and a nice boost of sweetness and creaminess. This drink is a 5/5. There is nothing that comes to mind that would make this drink better, and we have all good things to say about it.

The Starbucks pumpkin spice latte is the last fall menu drink that we tried. This drink is about a 3/5. It has a good amount of sweetness but the coffee flavor is bitter. We definitely prefer the flavor of the Dunkin’ coffee over the Starbucks coffee. If there was pumpkin cold foam added to this drink, the flavor would improve a lot. Overall, this drink was good but we don’t think we would order it again.

By: Stephanie Caballero Benitez

With colder weather approaching it is difficult to find fun places to go to. In this article, I will be talking about one of my favorite places to go to during cold weather. The place I will be talking about is called Hmong Village. Hmong Village is similar to a flea market but it is located inside a building. In this building, you can find plenty of different things such as groceries, food, clothing, and many other things.

The first thing I always head to when walking inside is the food court as the smell is very strong and pleasant. There are a variety of places to try, my favorites are Her Kitchen and Moon’s Kitchen which are located right next to each other. These Kitchens have very affordable prices and are also very enjoyable. I always order Pho, a short way to explain pho would be rice noodles in bone broth. The Pho always comes with a side of lettuce, mung beans, lime, and mint leaves. I have seen people add many different toppings and sauces to their liking. Adding toppings and sauces changes the flavor which makes it easy to not get bored of the taste. Pho bowls come in very different sizes but even a small one can be shared as the amount it comes with is a lot even for just one person.

If you aren’t interested in trying new foods that’s fine as there are also stores in the same building that you can explore and look around in. The ranges of the stores are a good amount. Some sell cultural Hmong dresses, some sell shoes, others sell beauty products, and if you are a Sanrio fan you will find a lot of merchandise in many of these stores.

Lastly, to finish off your visit at the Hmong market, you can stop by their fresh produce area. There is plenty of fruit and vegetables that are very affordable. Whenever I stop by that area I always have to buy some of their mango, it is always fresh and sweet, and it comes cut up and ready to eat for only $5. There are also a lot of products there that can be hard to find at normal grocery stores such as lychee, coconut, dragon fruit, and nances (which is a hard to find fruit).

If you are looking to explore something new and cultural, a visit to the Hmong Market is the perfect idea.

Hmong Village is located at: 1001 Johnson PkwySaint Paul, Minnesota 55106

They are open daily: 9am-9:45pm

By: Austin Bailey-Zimmerman

Are you looking to bake something delicious for fall? Well this recipe is perfect for you. The mouth watering pumpkin spice crumble muffin is a great treat, leaving you satisfied and in baking heaven.

I chose this recipe because it looked like the perfect pumpkin recipe for fall, and it was very easy to make. I got the recipe from: https://tutti-dolci.com/pumpkin-spice-crumb-muffins/ by Laura Kasavan. She has created the perfect ratio of perfectly spiced pumpkin muffins and delicious buttery golden crumbs. The muffin is moist and the crumbs have just the right amount of sweetness. You can eat it for breakfast, a snack, for dessert, or really any occasion.

I had my older brother try the muffins I made and he said “They were really moist and tasted very yummy.”

Get in the mood for fall with this treat!

Ingredients

Crumb topping:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup rolled oats
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• pinch of salt
• 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Muffins:

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 1/4 tsp ginger
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 1/4 cups pure pumpkin
• 1/2 cup milk, at room temperature
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted and slightly cooled (or vegetable oil)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a 12cup standard muffin pan with baking cups, then spray baking cups lightly with cooking spray.
2. For the crumb topping, combine sugars, rolled oats, flour, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl. Then add melted butter and toss the mixture with a fork until crumbly.
3. Chill in the freezer until needed.
4. Whisk together rolled oats, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices in a large bowl.
5. Combine pumpkin, milk, eggs, coconut oil, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add to the flour mixture and fold in just until incorporated.
6. Fill each baking cup 3/4 full of batter and sprinkle evenly with crumb topping.
7. Place the muffin pan in the oven and bake for 5 minutes at 425°F. Reduce temperature to 350°F and continue baking for 13 to 15 minutes until muffins are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, or with a few crumbs attached.
8. Let muffins cool in the pan or on a wire rack for 5 minutes.

Enjoy!

By: Oak Berg

The Minnesota State Fair is a food persons dream, with a shift scale of delights that deliver to all tastes and preferences. As a food person, I have walked  the fairgrounds and discovered some amazing meals that deserve recognition. In this article, I will share my top picks for the best Minnesota State Fair food.

First on the list is the basic corn dog, a simple yet delicious treat that never fails to please both young and old. The crispy batter and juicy hotdog create an amazing collaboration of textures that are irresistible.

Sweet Martha’s Cookies are a must-try for anyone with a sweet tooth. These warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies are freshly baked and loaded with chocolate chips, creating an amazing taste that is hard to resist.

The Pronto Pup is a tasty twist on the traditional corn dog, with a slightly sweeter batter that creates a unique and delicious flavor. The hot dog is encased in a golden, crispy exterior, adding another layer of texture to this delicious treat.

Last but not least, deep-fried cheese curds are an amazing pick that should not be missed. These bite-sized nuggets of cheese are coated in a light, crispy batter and deep-fried to perfection, creating a warm and gooey snack that pairs well with any other delicacy you choose to try.

Overall, the Minnesota State Fair offers a wide variety of mouthwatering treats that brings something to all tastes and preferences. From classic corn dogs and sweet chocolate chip cookies to unique twists on familiar favorites like the Pronto Pup and deep-fried cheese curds, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Make sure to invest in these foods during your visit to the fairgrounds.

By: Natalia Gercheva

Autumn in Minnesota is one of the best places to experience some of the most beautiful leaf colors. Luckily, there are many parks you can go to, and walks you can take to be surrounded by nature’s beauty.

In Minnesota, mid-September to mid-October is when the trees start to change color. The official first day of fall is September 23rd so if you have the chance, I highly recommend going outside to admire this annual glorious phenomenon.

1. Winchell Trail in Minneapolis
This hike is a 2-mile round trip on a mostly unpaved trail with a moderate climb. This beautiful hike goes right along the Mississippi River gorge, and it is popular with bird watchers and naturalists. There are many trees along the trail, and the lighting makes the leaves’ colors pop.

2. Lake Maria State Park
This state park has a wide variety of trails you can go on varying in distance. There are 9 trails that range from 0.5 mi- 5.3 mi long. Lake Maria is located in Minneapolis, and it is an easy drive from anywhere in the area. This would be a perfect state park to go to with your family or friends to enjoy being outside in nature.

3. Minnehaha Falls Regional Park
Minnehaha Falls is one of the oldest parks in Minneapolis, where visitors can enjoy not only the autumn colors, but also a luscious 53-foot waterfall, river views, and limestone bluffs. The park is 193- acres and contains oak, elm, silver maple, basswood, hackberry and cottonwood trees. There are also native and prairie woodland wildflowers.

These parks/ trails are my personal favorites, but some other noteworthy destinations are Taylors Falls, Fort Snelling State Park, and the Hyland Hills Ski Area. Although the time is limited, and the fall colors will change quickly, it will be a memorable experience, and definitely worth it if you decide to make one of these trips.

By: Ajmal Abdirahman

My two favorite things are matcha and banana bread, and so when I found out that they could be combined I right away needed to make it. This recipe I’ve made many times for my family and my friends and it’s now my favorite way to make banana bread!

If you don’t know what matcha is, or have never heard of it, matcha is a high grade form of green tea, made into a powder from the actual tea leaves. Matcha is traditionally consumed in East Asia and has many health benefits. It’s high in antioxidants, may help protect the liver, help prevent cancer, boost brain function, promote heart health and even help in weight loss.

I grew up eating banana bread because my mom would often make it when our bananas would go bad. Quite recently I’ve started to drink matcha when I was recommended to by my cousin. So, if you like the flavor of matcha I would recommend you try this recipe because it pairs well with the banana and sweet chocolate flavor.

Ingredients:

• 1 stick of butter
• 1 cup of sugar
• 3 mashed ripe bananas
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon of milk
• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 2 tablespoons of matcha powder
• 2 cups of chocolate chips

Instructions to make Matcha Chocolate chip banana bread:

• Preheat oven to 350, and grease your loaf pan with baking spray or butter
• Add butter to a microwave safe bowl and melt it, add the sugar and cream and mix them until light and fluffy, add your eggs one at a time beating well after each addition
• Mash your bananas in a small bowl, mix in the nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla extract and milk
• In another bowl, add the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and the matcha powder
• Add the banana mixture to the creamed mixture and mix well
• Combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients and mix till the flour disappears
• Mix in your chocolate chips
• Pour your finished batter into the loaf pan and bake for 50-55 minutes
• Take out from the pan when ready

Enjoy!

By: Mya Olson-Williams

St. Paul is full of hidden locations that are worth finding. These are in my opinion the best coffee shops in the city.

Lost Fox

Lost Fox is a coffee shop and kitchen. It’s located downtown, and in an alley near the St. Paul farmers market. This is one of my favorite places to go for coffee and sometimes a bite to eat. It’s big, cozy, and they have games for you to play. Lost Fox is a great place to hangout and get something to drink.

Caydence Records & Coffee

Although small, this coffee and record store is super great for shopping with a cup of coffee in hand. They have all sorts of new vinyls, as well as older ones for just 2 dollars. This one is very entertaining if you’re into music.

Spyhouse

Spyhouse has 3 locations; St. Paul, and two spots in Minneapolis. This shop has unique drinks, and very cute interiors. They also offer ordering for pick up, which is nice for on the go. I enjoy this one especially because of how close it is.

Rafiki Coffee & Café

This coffee shop is super chill and quiet. They have really good pastries and my favorite is their chai lattes. The employees are kind, and it’s an overall great environment to be in.

Cahoots Coffee Bar

Cahoots is located on the busy street of Selby Ave, but is never busy inside. It’s a cozy spot, with amazing outdoor seating. This is my favorite spot for a hot coffee or tea. Everyone there is always really sweet as well.

There’s many hidden coffee shops in St. Paul, but these are my favorite spots, and I 100% recommend them!

By: Jessica Garcia Saligan

Carlota de limón is an ice box style cake! There’s a layer of limon frost then there’s a layer of Maria cookies. If you’re a lemon lover, you’re going to love this cake!

Utensils

• Blender
• Spoons
• Bowls (multiple)
• Casserole dish
• Spoon or spatula
• Plastic wrap

Mexican frosty pastry

• 4 Mexican limes or use Key limes
• 1 Can of condensed milk
• 1 Can of evaporated milk
• Galletas Maria or Maria biscuits (multiple packs)
• Vanilla extract

You’re going to start out with squishing your 4 lime into the blender, getting every drop of the lime juice.

Get your condensed milk, evaporated milk and a dash of vanilla extract and pour that into the blender. Blend it all together until it comes into a smooth consistency but don’t blend too fast or some air bubbles will start to form.

Once you start getting the smooth mixture you’re going to start to make the Carlota.

You’re gonna grab your casserole dish, or a deep baking pan, both work perfectly! You’re going to pour in a little bit of the lime mixture – not to cover the can completely – but enough to get all over the pan.

Grab your Maria cookies and spread an even layer covering the whole bottom of the casserole dish.

Then pour in a good layer of the lime mixture over the cookies to coat them, then you’re going to use the back of a spoon or a spatula and spread it evenly all around.

Add in another layer of cookies and you will be repeating it until you have no mixture left and have several creamy lime layers.

You end up with the lime mixture on the top and if you like, you could leave it as it is or what ‘s more preferred is to add Maria cookies on top to cover every part of the cake and add some lemon zest on top!

Place plastic wrap carefully on top of the casserole, not letting it touch the surface of the Carlota. Place it in the refrigerator for overnight, or 2 to 5 hrs is preferred.

That’s how you make a Carlota de limón Enjoy!

By: Pablo Contreras

I have never made Plátanos Flameados but from the video that I watched I can see that this recipe is definitely interesting and slightly unique. This recipe requires using fire and alcohol so be careful in that part if you are doing those steps.

I’m pretty sure that we all have tried Platanos flameados, I know you can find them in buffets, and me personally, I have never liked the taste and texture of them. I don’t like how soft the banana is and the taste of the banana.

Now here are some warnings before we start the recipe:

1. This recipe is not mine it belongs to ‘Cocina Como Se Hace’
2. The photo on this article also belong to ‘Cocina Como Se Hace’
3. This recipe does have alcohol in it but you can skip that part, if not then have an adult help you

‘Plátanos Flameados’ Ingredients:

1. 2 Bananas
2. Brown sugar
3. Butter
4. 2 sliced oranges
5. Whisky or cognac
6. 1 cinnamon stick

Steps:

1. The first thing that you need to do is put your pan on the stove on medium heat, and add in the brown sugar and wait for your sugar to get caramelized
2. While waiting for your sugar to get caramelized peel your bananas and cut then in half
3. Now, once your sugar is fully caramelized then add in your butter and your 1 stick of cinnamon and mix thoroughly
4. Next squeeze the juice of the oranges in the pan and mix
5. Once everything is mixed thoroughly then add in your sliced bananas
6. Leave your bananas to cook in the caramel for a little while and then flip them

(For this next part I don’t recommend doing this without an adult because it requires you using alcohol and a lighter. You can skip if you want, if not make sure you have an adult help you)

1. You are going to add in the whisky and turn your heat all the way up and use a lighter to light the bananas on fire
2. Wait for the fire to stop and then you will know that they are ready

Now that you are done you can enjoy 🙂

Here is the link to the original recipe, beware the video is in Spanish ‘Canal Cómo Se Hace’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKtbJArs23s