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My mom is the most important person in my life. She brought me into this world, and without her, I would not exist. This perhaps explains why I have a strong bond with my mom. From my earliest memories, my mother has always been there for me, guiding me through tough times and celebrating my victories. I remember at times when I was struggling in elementary school with a difficult challenge, she would sit with me for hours, patiently listening and offering her wisdom. Her comforting hug and wise advice helped me navigate life’s challenges. Another reason is that my mother always keeps me on track. She encourages me to set goals, work hard, and strive for excellence. I recall a time when I was feeling discouraged, she reminded me of my potential and urged me to keep going. In addition, her unwavering support has gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams. In addition to her support, my mother has taught me the importance of honesty, integrity, and having strong moral values. She taught me the value of hard work and persistence and how to be kind, compassionate, and empathetic towards others. I am truly grateful for my mother’s unwavering love and support. Her guidance and mentorship have helped me become a better person. 

Hello again! Last week, I mentioned that I was planning to bake some sourdough bread for my 20% project, but I ended up trying a recipe for ciabatta bread instead. I came across an interesting recipe by Alexandra’s Kitchen, a well-known chef with sixty-two thousand subscribers on YouTube. This bread was unlike any other bread I’ve made before, because it required a poolish starter. A poolish starter is a type of pre-ferment that uses yeast and is quicker to make than a sourdough starter. I measured the ingredients the night before and mixed them in class to get started. I let the mixture rest for four hours before returning home to use the starter in the dough. After mixing the main dough ingredients, I allowed it to rise for thirty minutes before performing a technique called stretching and folding. This process was repeated four times, allowing the dough to rise between each set. Once the last set was complete, I covered the bowl and left it to rest until the dough doubled. I then deflated the dough, covered it again, and placed it in the refrigerator overnight. The following day, I removed the dough from the refrigerator and placed it on a working surface. I balled the dough up and cut it into two pieces before letting it rest for two and a half hours. Once the resting time was complete, I shaped the dough and placed it in the oven to bake. When the ciabatta bread was baked and removed from the oven, it looked and smelled amazing. The crust was golden-brown with flour dusted on it. This made it more appealing. In addition, it was crispy, while the inside was soft and had irregular holes. The flavor had hints of tanginess, sweetness, and saltiness all mixed together. The bread could have been a little more tangy, but overall, it was flavorful. The combination of the chewy interior and crispy crust was perfect. I had no problems during the baking process, so I didn’t have to make any adjustments. This was one of the best breads I’ve made so far, second only to the focaccia bread. Next week, I plan to make sourdough bread and work on my trifold.

In April, I read a fascinating historical fiction novel called Code of Honor by Alan Gratz. The book follows the story of Kamaran Smith, a high school senior and the captain of his football team. Kamaran’s mother is Iranian, while his father is American. Kamaran dreams of joining the army like his brother, Darius. However, things take a crazy turn when Darius is accused of being a terrorist, based on videos of him making threats against the country. Despite the evidence, Kamaran refuses to believe that his brother is guilty and sets out to solve his brother’s secret codes to clear his name. This leads him on an emotional quest as he uncovers more about his brother’s past and the truth behind the accusations.

I recommend Code of Honor for many reasons. First of all, I was captivated from the very start. The vivid descriptions and the way the author brought every detail to life made me feel like I was right there on this incredible journey with Kamaran. Because of this, I found myself reading this book every day. This book is a reminder to not draw any conclusions on someone so quickly, which we could all use a little more in our lives. So, if you’re looking for a captivating read that will keep you on the edge of your seat while also teaching you a valuable lesson, then I highly recommend this book! 

My favorite character in this book was Kamaran. He had many admirable character traits, such as bravery, determination, and caringness, but his loyalty stood out. An example of Kamaran’s loyalty is on page 43 when the author states, “What was more important was clearing Darius’s name.” The author describes how Kamaran is prioritizing clearing Darius’s name before his. Despite the accusations against Darius and the doubts by others, Kamaran still believes that Darius is not a terrorist. This faith in his brother’s innocence shows us Kamaran’s character and the strength of their bond. 

I loved many quotes, but the one that stood out to me is on page 266, the author states, “I decided to go have that shower after all.” This quote might seem insignificant to some, but it holds a lot of meaning to me. It reminds me of the difficult journey Kamaran went on to save his brother. Also, when I think about this quote, it reminds me that we should not lose hope and should keep pushing forward even when things seem complicated.

Hello again! I’m excited to share my experience making garlic knots for my 20% project this week. During class, I spent most of my time looking for an easy and quick recipe for garlic knots. I only had thirty-three minutes to work on my 20% project this week, so I wouldn’t have enough time to mix the ingredients in class. After some browsing, I decided to try Sally’s Baking Addiction’s recipe for garlic knots. When I got home, I gathered all the ingredients, measured them, and mixed them. I then kneaded the dough for a few minutes before letting it rise for an hour or two. The dough had to double in size before I could proceed with the next step. Once the dough had risen, I shaped it into knots and let it rest for another thirty minutes. During this time, I made the topping for the knots. The topping consisted of melted butter, garlic powder, and salt. It smelled amazing, and I couldn’t wait to try it on the knots. After the dough had rested, I brushed the topping on the knots and placed them in the oven. I baked them for about twenty-five minutes, and when they came out of the oven, they looked great. I added some parmesan to make it more flavorful. In addition, the outside was golden brown and smelled delicious. However, when I tasted them, I was disappointed that it lacked flavor. It tasted more like a biscuit. I don’t know what went wrong. Maybe I didn’t add enough garlic or seasoning or let the dough rise long enough. One struggle I had this week was that I thought we had enough of one ingredient, but we needed more. For example, the recipe says to use 3 and 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour. The flour ran out, exactly 3 cups, so I had to adjust and use bread flour for the other 1/2 cup. Next week, I plan to make sourdough bread.

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.