By: Lauren Kottke & Ella Sutherland

St. Paul has some great restaurants and places to eat. Here are some of our favorites!

One of our favorite places is The Nook. The Nook is a family owned business located on Hamline Ave. We love this place because it has great food, atmosphere and fun activities. The burger is great, and we would definitely recommend getting it from here. They are best known for their Juicy Lucy Burger.

It’s also a great place to bring your kids and family. Downstairs they have a bowling alley connected to another part of the restaurant. You can go bowling for a very cheap price and then grab some great food all right there.

Another great thing about this place is the wall they have downstairs in the bowling alley. The Nook is known for their great burgers, but also their money wall. In the bowling alley restaurant, they have the walls and ceilings filled with $1 bills decorated. You can decorate a $1 bill and then put it anywhere on the wall!

Another great place we recommend is French Meadow. French Meadow is another amazing restaurant close by, it’s located on Grand Ave. We have been there many times and we have always had a good experience. They have great food and service. Our favorites are the soups, salads and fries. They also have a very good chicken wrap during lunch.

If you go there, you must check out the deserts! They have different types of brownies, pastries and cakes. Our go-to is the caramel brownie. Although this place is very different from The Nook, it is still a great place to visit!

The family restaurant DeGidio’s has been around since 1933. They are known for their amazing Italian food, but they also do have some great American food, like burgers. Our favorites are the Chicken Parmesan and the Lasagna. They also are known for their bread that they give out. It’s fluffy bread with seasoned butter. Definitely one of our favorites!

Every experience we have had there, has been a great one. Another thing that makes this place so special is the service. Anytime we have been there it has been busy, but never a long wait. The workers make sure you don’t wait too long for a table. And they always make sure you have a good time!

Sakana is one of our favorite places to go out to eat. It has such a wide range of sushi. There are so many different kinds of sushi you can get, whether that be having raw fish, cooked fish, or no fish. The atmosphere is great with trendy music playing as well as excellent service. The prices are very reasonable and affordable.

You may also sit at the bar where they have TVs and they serve drinks. There is also a place where you can sit and watch the chef make the sushi right in front of you. They have great appetizers as well as great soups. This place is overall just great!

The last restaurant we recommend is Punch Pizza. This restaurant has a few locations that are scattered around Minnesota, but there is one located right on Grand Ave. They have so many different kinds of authentic Neapolitan pizza that are cooked with a 900 degree wood-burning oven.

The restaurant itself has such a lively atmosphere and it is always overflowing with customers. They have amazing side salads as well, that are quite filling. This is a great place to go with friends and family!

These are just a few of the places that Saint Paul has to offer, and our favorites!

By: Hannah Gliedman

A recent trend taking over food TikTok and Instagram, is accordion potatoes. It’s a form of cutting the potatoes so they make a sort of accordion shape. It’s a very simple and creative way to incorporate a bit of flavor and uniqueness to a dish or meal.

They are very easy and fast to make. They only require simple ingredients and a couple of utensils. Adding this form of potatoes to your meal is a way to visually spice up a plate. They are also very customizable, adding different spices and sauces can change this side. The way of cutting the potatoes is also popular in other foods, such as cucumbers.

What you need
The only ingredient essential to making this side is potatoes. However, I will be sharing different sauces to add to the potatoes. Other things you’ll need, include an air fryer or stove top.

How to make the accordion potatoes

1. Wash as many potatoes as you would like; each potato can make 2-3 accordions.
2. Cut the potatoes into about 1⁄4 inch slices, the thinner the slice the more stretch you will get.
3. Then place the potato on the counter and put 2 chopsticks or skewers on either of the longer sides.
4. Then cut a lot of lines perpendicular to the skewers; make the cuts close together
5. Then cut a lot more lines in the same way but diagonal
6. Then stretch out the potato to create the accordion

To cook

1. Oven: Add potatoes to a tray, preheat oven to 355 degrees, and bake for 30-40 mins, or until golden and crispy
2. Air fryer: Add potatoes to the air fryer and fry at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Sauce
Garlic and herb butter
Heat 1⁄4 cup of butter and add 2 tbsp of chopped parsley, 4 cloves of minced garlic, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1⁄2 tsp paprika, 1⁄4 tsp black pepper, and salt to taste. Brush on potatoes before cooking.

Homemade Canes sauces
Add in a bowl 1⁄2 cup of mayo, 1⁄3 cup of ketchup, 1⁄2 tbsp of pickle ranch, 1⁄2 tsp of Worcestershire sauce, 1⁄2 tsp of paprika, 1⁄4 tsp of salt. Whisk together.

Other sauces to use can include ketchup, sriracha mayo, ranch or BBQ sauce.

By: Sophie Johnson

Over spring break, I stayed in three different hotels in Europe. The first one I stayed in was in Massa, Italy, called the Illy Hotel. This hotel had a very homey feel and I really enjoyed staying there. Not only was it just a block away from a beautiful beach, but it also had plenty of shops and attractions within walking distance including gift stores and gelato.

The rooms were equipped with two twin beds and a twin bunk bed fitting a total of four people. The views out the window were unreal with towering mountains, intricate buildings and delicious lemon trees outside. The meals at this hotel were good for the most part ranging from seafood salad to spaghetti. Overall, this hotel was a 9/10.

The next hotel I stayed in was called Hôtel Cannes MontFleury in France. This hotel was definitely bigger than the first one, but was not as enjoyable as the other two I stayed in.

The first night I was there, we were looking around for the pool. Not only was the pool empty, which was disappointing, but we found rats running around in the kitchen. Other than that, their breakfast bar had good food and I had two nights of relaxing sleep.

The group I was with didn’t get as much time to explore this neighborhood as we did at the other hotels, but there was a really good pizza place a few minutes away. I rate this hotel a 7/10.

The last place we stayed at was the Guitart Hotel just outside of Barcelona, Spain. I loved staying here so much. Once again, the beach was about a 10 minute walk away. I got to go swimming for the first time at this beach which was super fun too. They also had a nice pool and a game room which was cool.

Their all you can eat buffet was some of the best food I had on the whole vacation. For breakfast there were churros, eggs, sausage, fruit, everything you can imagine. For dinner, there were options of pasta, ribs, and so much more. They also had desserts including tiramisu, jello, ice cream, and pudding. The rooms were very comfortable at this hotel and they even had a walkout balcony. I rate this hotel was a 10/10.

By: Mushtaq Yonis

Sambusa is a fried snack that is eaten across the world. From India to Somalia you can find different versions of this delicious snack depending on the country. Sambusa is typically a stuffed triangular pastry that’s especially popular during Ramadan.

You can fill the sambusa however you like but I’m showing you one of the ways I like to make sambusas.

Making sambusas for a large number of people is quite time consuming so make sure you have these ingredients ready.

For the filing:

• 1 pound ground beef or lamb
• 2 tablespoons of oil
• 1 onion
• 1 green onion
• 1 green chili

Spices:

• 2 teaspoon cumin powder
• 2 teaspoon cardamom powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper

You would also need a paste to hold the shape of the sambusa and for the filling to not fall out.

Paste:

• 1⁄4 cup flour
• 1⁄4 cup water

For the wrapper:
You can use tortillas if you’re in a rush or you can buy sambusa wrappers.

But if you would like to make your own, you need:

• 3 cups of all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoon of oil
• 1 cup of water
• Salt

Now that you have your ingredients, it’s time to assemble your sambusa!

1. Cook the meat on medium heat with oil
2. Add the onions and the green chilis
3. Add spices
4. Set the filling ingredients aside

5. Mix the paste ingredients
6. Take one sambusa wrapper and fold it into a cone and seal it with the paste (make sure to leave 1 side open)
7. Fill the cone with the filling
8. Seal the rest of the sambusa with the paste

5. Add oil to your pan and fry the sambusas until a golden brown color
6. Take the sambusa and set it down on a paper towel or plate
7. Repeat the process!

And that is how you make Sambusas.
It’s best when it’s warm so make sure you eat it before it turns cold!

By: Mae Skold

Siren, Wisconsin is a small town in northern Wisconsin, perfect for cabin stays and outdoor activities. The small town has a small population of 800 where everybody knows everybody. The town full of friendly Wisconsinites should not be overlooked for its size and they would love for you to stop by. Here’s what you should do!

Wisconsin is known for its lakes, so stopping by Siren’s Crooked Lake is a must. The lake has a fun park with live music, a nice beach, a playground, and good people. Children can safely swim and enjoy the water while adults can relax at the nice shoreline. There are lively fish that are a joy to feed and fish for. In the summer, Crooked Lake is a great place to visit.

If you’re more of an in-door person, Siren has many great stores and restaurants to stop into. One town favorite is the candy store Chipmunks Cheeks. The cute candy store has great ice cream, boba, and of course candy. Not only do they have sweet treats, but they also have fun toys and a kitchen supply store on the other side of the building. Another great place to visit is the coffee shop Chattering Squirrel. Chattering Squirrel and Chipmunks Cheeks are owned by the same family so you can be guaranteed great service every time. The coffee shop is perfect for a refreshing drink or a lunch in a cool, new renovated setting.

One of the busiest days of the year in Siren is the 4th of July. This day is a must for when you are planning when to visit the town. The town hosts a fun parade in the morning with floats, bands, and candy for the kids. After the parade, the lakes are bustling with boaters and families enjoying the water. If you are deciding when to visit, the 4th of July won’t disappoint.

This summer, I hope you consider keeping Siren on your list for a day trip or cabin vacation spot. When you decide to visit Siren we’ll be there to welcome you!

By: Makenzie Malek

Chocolate chip cookies, my favorite, and it comes to no surprise that according to CBS news, it’s technically the U.S’s favorite cookie too.

There have become many variations of this one particular cookie, such as: adding oats and dried fruits, or filling the middle with brownie, and even adding fun candies like m&ms to the dough. Although those are fun and something different, today I’m going to share with you the best classic chocolate chip cookie recipe.

This recipe comes from: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/10813/best-chocolate-chip-cookies/

Total time: 30 mins

Servings: 48

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons hot water
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3-cups all purpose flour
• 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Step 1: preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2: beat softened butter, white sugar and brown sugar in an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth.

Step 3: beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla and beat until combined.

Step 4: dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt.

Step 5: stir in flour and chocolate chips.

Step 6: drop spoonfuls of dough on ungreased baking sheets.

Step 7: bake in the oven for about 10 minutes or until the edges are nicely browned.

Step 8: cool for at least 2 mins and enjoy!

These are great to share with friends and family, and you can freeze the dough and the baked cookies for up to two months.

Like I said earlier, people often add different ingredients to the cookie, feel free to add a twist to this classic recipe to make it your own. Some mix-ins that I have added in my cookies that I recommend are m&m’s, white chocolate chips, and if you like your cookies more sweet, add dried cranberries. Some I haven’t tried but I have seen are things like mini marshmallows, and more uniquely, people have added bacon or crushed up potato chips.

This simple yet delicious recipe will have you wishing you made more than the serving size, and I hope you decide to try this if you haven’t already.