Cake day was one of the coolest comparisons we’ve done!
But first, lunch.
I made this delicious wrap yesterday and had been excited about it for the past 24 hours. It was pretty good, but unfortunately the hummus (Cedars Lemon Lovers, I believe) kind of got watery on me. But the flavors were great.
Ingredients
- Lemon hummus
- Red pepper
- Spinach
- Mustard,
- Jalapeno
- Pickles
- Walnuts
- Capers
I also had a Fage with freshly picked blackberries (probably the last of the season!) and homemade granola –
Plus a couple extra red peppers from last night’s dinner –
I managed to eat it all during our 20 minute break!
On to the Cakes
Each group had a different variable:
- Control
- No Sugar
- No Shortening (yes, another shortening recipe! I think this lab manual is from the 80s)
- Splenda instead of sugar
- Vegetable Oil instead of shortening
The Results
Control
No Sugar and Splenda
No Shortening and Vegetable Oil
And the cross section
- Control (the most brown from the maillard reaction)
- No sugar (lumpy because the sugar uses cohesive forces to spread out the batter; tasted like a biscuit)
- No shortening (crumbly, less browning)
- Splenda (no browning, not very sweet at all)
- Vegetable oil (VERY crumbly – even more so than #3, and some browning)
I ate 4 of the 5 samples.
I’ve been cleaning since I got home and need to do some studying! It is so exciting that I’ll be home for dinner tonight!!!!!!!
Off to make an afternoon snack.
Sidi says
Great wrap! A good idea for the temps we live in for the past week, around 100…
Hallie says
Did anyone see this article?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25590107/
I have a bunch of frozen tilapia in my freezer….
yaz says
The wraps you’ve made are going to work well for me when I go back to school in the fall. They all look tasty…
mmm… cake. which was yor favorite?
Clio says
So which sample did you not eat?
I’m popping in from Blogher. Thought I’d say hi. I’ll be back to look around some more.
polly says
hi kath!
So glad you feel better today. Which sample did you like best?
What brand of wrap do you use?
KatieTX says
mmm cake! Makes me think of weddings! My boyfriend and I were thinking about getting married before we enter grad school next fall just so we don’t have to wedding plan while doing school. We finish our undergrad in May ’09 so we will both be 22. We have been dating over a year. I don’t feel like I am rushing into things but I feel 22 is young to be married but I love him and want to spend my life with him. Just curious how old were you(everyone) when you got married and how long had you known each other? Just a curious question. Blame the cake for switching my mind to weddings
Allison K. says
KaiteTX
I was 23, and my husband was 26. We had known each other for ….oh man now i have to count….five and half years, but had only been together for 2 and half years.
Justy2003 says
KatieTX-
I’m not married yet, but I’ve been dating my boyfriend for 6 years now (yes, long time I know!). We both recently graduated from college (we’re 23) and I’m starting a full time graduate program in the fall. Hopefully we’ll be engaged within the next year, however the money thing is what’s holding us back for now (he needs to get me a big, shiny rock 🙂 ) and he’s also still trying to figure out what it is he wants to do when he grows up 😉 We’ve talked about getting married, but it’s all about the timing right now. There’s no rush…we know it’ll happen eventually! I agree it would probably be easier to plan and all while you’re not in school, but I know plenty of people who have done it and it looks like I may do the same!
Tracy says
KatieTX-
My husband and I just celebrated our 8th anniversary! I turned 20 three days before we got married and he turned 22 two days after. I think if you know you are going to be together forever it is sooooo worth it to get married instead of waiting. Oh yeah, we only dated for 7 months, and were engaged for 3!!!
Sami says
Last of the season? No way!
My blackberries aren’t even ready yet. [Kentucky]
This is interesting. . the “no sugar people” should have spread it around a bit more, haha.
Congrads on the book deal!
I can’t wait. =]
Kelsey says
KatieTX-
My husband and I met in college (I was 18, he was 19) and were engaged a couple of years after college after we had dated for over 5 years. We got married when I was 25 and he was 26 and we’ll be celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversary this fall. I loved having him as a boyfriend for so long, that way we had a long time to get to know each other and enjoy being young and carefree! Marriage is forever, so we always figured, “what’s the rush?” Marriage is wonderful, but there’s a lot that comes with it (wedding planning, mortgage, bank accounts….) just make sure you’re ready for it.
BethT says
I got married THE day I turned 21! (No, we weren’t in Vegas or anything, haha….just a weird date coincidence). I had known my husband since I was 15 and we dated for three years before getting married. It was the right decision for us – it will be 9 years in December – but if I had known him for less time I might have waited.
I personally do not think 22 is too young to be married IF you have known someone for a long time. If you have only been together a year, why not get engaged and plan to get married after grad school? Grad school is stressful enough without the strain of the early years of marriage…if you wait, you can enjoy life as newlyweds once you graduate.
Of course, I don’t know you at all so take this for what it’s worth 😀 But as someone who went to grad school AND got married young, I can say I wouldn’t have wanted to do both in rapid succession!
Allyson says
KatieTX-
I’m not married yet, but all of my friends are, starting the year after we graduated college (about 3 years ago). I’ve known my boyfriend for almost 10 years now, but we didn’t start dating until much later. We’ve been together for a little over 3 years-we live together and everything.
I’m with Justy-we’re just saving some money and trying to get our careers on track before we actually get married. We’re just doing whats right for us right now, we’re in no rush to get married.
I think you should do whats right for you. For me, grad school was a little on the stressful side and I can’t imagine I would’ve been able to plan a wedding at the same time.
Good Luck!! 🙂
Fitnessista says
that wrap looks delicious!
i’m 23 and i’ve been married for 2 years on saturday… my husband and i knew eachother for 9 months before we got married. we also met at starbucks, so our love story is a little unusual 🙂 i just think when it comes to marriage: when you know, you know
Steph says
I feel that the age at which you should get married completely depends on your maturity level! Some 22 year olds are ready, and some 30 year olds aren’t! It just depends on the person. I met my now husband when I was 15!
We’re now 26 and 27, married for about 2 years. It’s a cute story to tell people, that we were high school sweethearts. =)
oatmeal says
Your food lab makes me want to get a masters in nutrition! This is way better than organic chem labs!
Really interesting to see how the different missing ingredients affect the final product!
KatieTX
I agree with Steph! Age doesn’t really matter as long as you’re both aware and able to handle what’s to come. It really does depend on the person! I mean, take a look at all the Hollywood divorces…some of them were married at 40 years old!
MLT says
Katie TX:
I’m 26 and just celebrated my 2nd wedding anniversary. My husband and I met when we were 19 and were together 5 years when we got married. A lot of people will try to say you are too young, too old, too immature, etc. When it comes to marriage, weddings and engagements it seems like everyone has an opinion and they all want to unload it on you. I say, don’t listen to them! Listen to yourself and do what’s right for you.
KatieTX says
Thanks for all the comments. I think we will get engaged by the end of this year it will just depend if we will wait 9months or up to 2 years! I just knew most people that read this blog are in their 20s and was curious. We would live together starting in August and my mom,being the Catholic she is, suggested we just go ahead and get married also just for convenience. Also my parents are paying for it so money wouldn’t be stopping us.I’ll keep you posted on what happens 😉
Jennifer says
Katie TX,
My husband and I have been married for 11 years. I turned 26 the day before we got married and he was 25. We had known each other since first grade and actually were friends since about 5th grade. However we did not start dating until a few years after college. We both went to differnt colleges but remained friends thru those years. Once we started dating we got engaged after five months. We really knew each other and we could only move forward. Much happiness to you whatever you two decide.
Kath says
Favorite Cake = ,
The control. The browning (maillard reaction from the sugar) was so important. The fat free was second. I actually tried a crumb of them all, but I didn’t eat the squares of the splenda or no sugar one on my plate.
Hallie,
Thanks for sharing the article. It does make Omega-6s seem like they are bad for you and they are not necessarily. They are also essential fatty acids. But the problem is they compete with omega-3s, which are equally as important, and Americans already get TONS of omega-6s so we should not try to consume more of them. So since our ratios are off balance from an abundance of omega-6 sources, we should work to reduce those and eat more omega-3s. But that doesn’t mean 6 is harmful, especially if you eat salmon, walnuts, flax, etc. on a regular basis. Eat your tilapia and salmon too!
polly,
Rudi’s Organic.
KatieTX ,
If you feel like you’re too young to be married, I’d say that’s a good gut instinct. Not about your boyfriend, but just about the decision in general. There’s no need to rush! Also, planning a wedding doesn’t have to be hard, so don’t rush things just because of grad school. Maybe just have a long engagement so people know you’re serious and have the wedding when you are finished with school. But whatever the case, you must do what suites you best.
oatmeal ,
It’s not all this fun! Just wait until I AM in organic lab this fall and see my cry about it 🙁
Kath
ppp says
my hub and i have been married for 3 years – i was 24 and he was 31 when we got hitched; we dated for 8 months before we got engaged, 1.5 years before we got married.
i say that love is love, when you know you know, and no one else knows whether the time is right except for you and him! 🙂
Evey says
Katie TX,
Only you can know what is right for you.
I will say, IMHO, that I respectfully disagree with those who say that love is love and when you know, you know. Personally, I think there are so many other things that go into a marriage (bank accounts, living together, etc.) that dating for a good while before getting engaged and being engaged for a good while before getting married would be the ideal situation. My own opinion is that 1 year is too little time and 22 is too young. Sorry to be blunt! I am just being honest with my own feelings on the subject. But, of course, everyone is different.
Good luck to you!
ppp says
though evey quoted me on her advise and disagreed, i have to say that she does have a point – my hub and i moved in after 4 months and by the time we married had been living together for over a year. Some still may say not enough time, but i think moving in together and dealing with finances, cleaning, and all those other ugly realities of life together really helped us to see that we could be together forever.
it worked for us, but it is true that everyone is different – i just think you need to feel it out and i still say that when you know, you know.
tiedtogetherwithasmile says
The differences in the cakes is really neat to see!
Emily says
AH! I’m 20 and i dont even have an official boyfriend…oh i just got depressed.
sirenjess says
KatieTX,
I’ve been married for three years and i’m happy but was forced into it. My parents are catholic and my husband and I moved in together so I pretty much said that we were “engaged” so they would be cool. I also told them I would get married in 2003 and then 2005 came around and they were like “when are you getting married”. So here I am.
I agree with evey there is a lot to consider. I am a huge advocate for moving in before marriage and testing the waters. But do what you feel is right for you girl.
caitlinbo (in FL) says
katie tx – im sorry but i’ve got to agree with evey. if youre going to be together forever, why rush into getting married?
of course, i believe you can truly love someone after a year, but you can’t really *know* someone after a year.. its just not long enough to go through all the ups and downs of life. plus, people change so much in their early 20s and as they graduate from college, etc. in the very least, plan on a long engagement!
polly says
Katie TX,
I might be one of the oldies on here! Hub and I just celebrated 14 years and we got married one month after graduation from college, both were 22 years old. We dated 2.5 years in college, never lived together, and are best friends and more in love than ever. You do what is best for you, though!
Caroline says
Great idea to put nuts (especially walnuts!) in a wrap–I’ll have to try that one.
PS I am so jealous of your fun food science class. I can’t wait to take it!
Andi says
KT Tex, I met my husband at 22 (he was 25). We got married three years later. My only advice would be to not rush in to anything just for the sake of convenience. Part of your life adventure together can be surviving grad school….if your life together is meant to be, it will work.
We’ve now been married 14 years and not that it’s not been wonderful…..I just wish I could tell all you girlies that youth is fleeting and there is no reason on God’s green earth why anyone should rush in to marriage!
I don’t think girls realize this in their early twenties (I sure didn’t) but independence is a very powerful, but fleeting thing. Enjoy it while you’re able, and embrace it! Marriage is a team sport; it’s awesome, but it’s not always easy or fun, and once you’re in it, it’s for the rest of your life.
Don’t wish your life away.
Lindsey says
While I agree with everyone who advises you to do what’s best for you, I wanted to chime in and encourage you to make sure that you are financially independent (from both sets of parents) before you get married. I’m sure the parents of many young women will happily pay for the wedding, but I strongly believe the bride and groom should be able to support themselves AFTER the wedding.
I’m 26, and my dear boyfriend of 2 years will be 28 in a few weeks. We’ve lived together for a year now (we’re saving up for our first house!), and it was definitely the right decision for us. We’ll probably be engaged within the next year, and are looking forward to spending our lives together while enjoying every minute we have right now.
Kathryn says
I’m a Nutrition student at the University of Alabama and we did this lab not too long ago – by far my favorite!