Noah’s Blog

Hello again! I decided to make focaccia bread for my 20% project this week. I found a recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen, and I started by measuring all the ingredients the night before. I mixed the ingredients and kneaded the dough the next day in class. I let the dough rise and returned at lunch and 6th period to kneed it again. So far, everything has been going smoothly. Upon my return home, I added oil, and placed the dough in the pan. Moreover, I let it rise again. While it was rising, I prepared the topping before it was baked. Finally, it was time to place it into the oven. The aroma of rosemary and garlic filled the kitchen when I took the bread out, and it was simply amazing. The golden-brown crust, with the soft, fluffy inside, was mouthwatering. Now, the true test was the taste. When I took a bite, my taste buds danced. In addition, the interior was moist and tender, and with a crispy crust was the cherry on top. Also, this bread had the most flavor out of all the breads I’ve baked so far. My only struggle was to follow the recipe, so I had to adjust. The recipe said to knead the dough every thirty minutes, four times, but I couldn’t accomplish that because I was in class. However, I already did one rep during the time I had at core. Therefore, I decided to come during the passing period and lunch to knead the bread every 1 hour. I ended up kneading the bread only three times. Next week, I am planning to make Garlic Knots.

My favorite room in my home is the master bedroom. There are many reasons why I chose this particular room, but one of the factors was that there is a TV. I often watch sports, movies, and other shows and is a great way to unwind after a long day. I can also play some of my favorite video games, like EA24 and Madden, which are a lot of fun. Another reason is its spaciousness. You can move freely around the room. Plus, when my parents aren’t around, me and Milo play volleyball, and other sports without them knowing. Moreover, the master bedroom has an incredibly comfy bed that I look forward to jumping into. It’s so comfy that sometimes I fall asleep in it by accident. Additionally, the bedroom offers a beautiful view that I find incredibly soothing. Looking out the window and observing the birds and the scenery is a wonderful way to relax and unwind.

Hello again! I decided to make Italian bread for my 20% project this week. I found a recipe from The My Way Chef, who is Italian, and I trust his recipes. I started by measuring all the ingredients the night before. I mixed the ingredients and kneaded the dough the next day in class. I let the dough rise and returned at lunch to knead it again, followed by a second rise. Later, I shaped the bread and let it rise again for a little. Finally, I put it into the oven. The aroma that filled the room when I took the bread out was wonderful. The moment when I looked at its golden-brown crust, I knew I was in for a treat. Now, let’s see if it tastes good. I grabbed a knife and sliced it into the bread, which looked perfect. The outside looked crunchy, and the inside texture was soft and fluffy. I couldn’t wait to taste it. As I took my first bite, I realized it was good, but not exceptional. The crunchy crust with a soft, fluffy inside is a good combination. The thing that made my taste buds dance was when I dipped it into olive oil. The Italian bread tasted like artisan bread; however, when you dip olive oil in artisan bread, it doesn’t taste as good when you have butter on it. Also, this bread was much softer. That is just my opinion. One struggle I had this week was that the bread could’ve used more salt. In addition, I did not make any adjustments this week. Next week, I am debating between making focaccia or ciabatta bread.

During the summer, I am planning a trip to Seattle, Washington. My main reason is to see family. I am also excited about exploring the city and its many landmarks. Firstly, I plan to visit the iconic Space Needle to get a bird’s eye view of the city. I’ve been there before and want to experience the breathtaking views again. Another thing I must see on my list is Pike Place Market. I’m also looking forward to taking a trip to Snoqualmie Falls. I can’t wait to gaze at the breathtaking waterfall and take in the surrounding beauty. While in Seattle, I also plan to visit Bainbridge Island by ferry. Once there, I want to eat at Proper Fish, a restaurant that serves delicious fish and chips. I’m excited to try out their menu and see what else the island offers. Lastly, I’d like to visit Lake Washington, a stunning freshwater lake perfect for swimming or a relaxing picnic. I look forward to exploring Seattle and making unforgettable memories with my family. In addition, after we visit Seattle, I would like to visit Vancouver, Canada, and then take a ferry to Victoria, Canda. It is nice to be in Victoria, because you get to meet new cultures. In addition, I might be able to learn a couple of French Words, since most people speak in Victoria speaks French.

Hello, my name is Noah, and I am baking bread for my 20% Project. For the first week, I decided to make artisan bread. I researched and found a recipe from Preppy Kitchen that looked intriguing. I started by gathering all the ingredients, carefully measuring, and mixing them. As I kneaded the dough, the dough started to become one piece. After letting it rise for several hours, I kneaded the dough again and shaped it. The aroma that filled my kitchen when the bread came out of the oven was amazing. But of course, the true test was in the taste. I sliced into the bread and was delighted by how it looked. The texture was perfect, and it was like a sponge. It tasted delicious. The crust had a satisfying crunch, while the inside was soft. Adding a bit of butter made it even better. The only issue I had was that the bottom of the bread was overcooked, while the top and side were perfectly golden brown. I plan to move the rack one or two notches higher next time. Next week, I plan to make Italian bread.

There are so many people I would want to invite to dinner, but these are my top three: Mom, Dad, and Milo. We would go to this place called Truly Pizza in Dana Point. For starters, we would order some garlic bread and other appetizers. Then, we would order some pizzas and a salad for dinner, followed by ice cream for dessert. I picked my parents, since they have always been there for me in all aspects of my life. Also, I enjoy spending quality time with them and chat about our daily happenings like school, sports and our friends. Whenever I need assistance with anything, they are the first ones to offer help. Moreover, I picked my brother because I enjoy spending time with him. Additionally, He supports me to go after my passions and dreams. Also, he is my twin, I can’t go anywhere without him. These are the reasons why I picked my family to go to dinner with me.

  In March, I enjoyed reading Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz. This historical fiction novel features a Jewish boy named Yanek Gruner, set during World War II in Kraków, Poland. As the Nazis started invading Kraków, Life just went downhill for him and his family. It’s so bad that they must sneak out at night to get food at a local bakery. One day, he gets put into a concentration camp. He thought this was the only camp he would be at. However, he was at ten different concentration camps. Yanek thinks multiple times to commit suicide, but he keeps reminding himself he made it this far, so he has to keep going. 

I recommend Prisoner B-3087. One reason is that I was immediately drawn to the book. This book wasn’t like some books where the climax is the only exciting part, this book had me hooked from the beginning. The vivid descriptions and a lot of details made me feel like I was on Yanek’s journey with him, which made the book all the more enjoyable. As a result, I have found myself eager to read every night. Furthermore, this book teaches us about the dark chapter of history, this serves as a reminder to be grateful for what we have.

My favorite character was Yanek. He had many admirable traits, such as determination, bravery, and resilience, but his caringness stood out to me. An example is on page 19, when Yanek tells his dad, “‘I want to go with you!” This shows Yanek’s compassion, as he wants to accompany his dad to get bread during curfew. It also demonstrates his loyalty to his family. Lastly, Yanek’s decision to go with his dad illustrates his empathy for others, because he wouldn’t have gone if he didn’t care about his dad’s health.

There were many quotes that I loved, but my favorite was on page 256. The author states, “Now it was time to live.” I love this quote, because it is another reminder for us to be grateful for our lives. Plus, when I think about this quote, it reminds me of the theme of never giving up. This message resonates with me, and it inspires me to keep pushing forward even when it gets tough. This quote can be a perfect way to conclude a book, and it left me with a good impression. Also, I learned that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. When I think about this quote, it leaves me feeling motivated and uplifted. Overall, this is a remarkable quote. 

If I could have any job in the entire world, it would be a pediatrician. One reason is that I want to improve the future. It makes me sad when I see kids be stop from doing stuff that that other people can’t do, because of illnesses. Every child should have a fair shot at chasing their dreams without being held back by health issues. I want to remove their pain and help them live healthy lives. Another major reason I want to become a pediatrician is that it allows me to be an excellent role model for the children that I will work with. As a pediatrician, I will be responsible for diagnosing and treating various medical conditions, however, I will have the opportunity to teach my young patients on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and make good choices. Lastly, in order to be a pediatrician, I will have to have a great amount of knowledge of the human body, and how to cure people. Because of this reason, if one of my family members gets sick or ill, I will know how to treat it. It will save a lot of time, and money.

In February, I enjoyed reading a captivating book called The Finest Hours by Micheal J. Tougias and Casey Sherman. This book is historical fiction, and it retells an incredible true story. The story revolves around the U.S. Coast Guard’s most daring rescue mission, which took place on the night of February 18, 1952. A terrible storm hit Cape Cod, and two oil tankers, Pendleton and Fort Mercer, were caught in the middle, causing them to be torn in half. This disaster left thirty stranded sailors left on boats that could sink any minute. It was up to four brave coast guardsmen to come to their rescue, navigating through the stormy waters in a tiny lifeboat. The waves were as high as seventy-five feet, but they were determined to save the stranded sailors, who had no other hope.

I recommend The Finest Hours by Micheal J. Tougias and Casey Sherman. One reason is that you get hooked on the book from the beginning. Additionally, both authors did a good job of adding details and vivid descriptions. This makes you effortlessly visualize the story and feel like you are one of the characters in the book. Another thing the authors did well is that they build and maintain the suspense throughout the story. Also, you can learn many life lessons from this book. One lesson I learned is to be brave. In addition, if you like to read books with the theme of resilience, this is the book for you. 

My favorite character in the book is Bernie Webber. He has many admirable traits, such as resilience, courage, and bravery, but his caring for others stood out. An example of him being caring is on page 132, when Bernie states, “They were there, the same as me, and did all the heavy rescuing. If they can’t get the gold, then I don’t want it.” This shows that he is aware of what his crew did. In addition, it shows he values the significant contributions the crew made to the rescue. Also, he prioritizes others over himself. 

The quote that stood out to me the most in the story is on page 153, when the book states, “Determination heeds no interference.” I love this quote since it highlights the internal strength you can possess when you have a lot of determination. I can use this quote during times of struggle, because it will help me to stay motivated and focused on my goal. Another reason I love this quote is because it is the ship’s motto in the name of Bernie Webber.

The possibilities are endless when you are invisible for twenty-four hours! The first thing I would do is attend exclusive events. What I mean by this is sneak into VIP parties, red carpet events, or exclusive gatherings that you wouldn’t typically have access to. You can experience the glitz and glamour without being on the guest list. I would want to do this, since I can see how celebrities act without the cameras. Also, I want to see the atmosphere. This will be a memory that I always will remember. In addition, I would want to play pranks on my friends and family. One of the pranks I would do is move their things around. It will be funny when they go to their things to see that it is not there. After playing pranks on my friends and family, I am sure I will realize that I need to make things right. To show my regret, I will assist them with their daily activities. For instance, if they lose something, I would get it for them and place it somewhere nearby. These are the things I would do if I were invisible for 24 hours.