8th Floor Iron Chef: Winning Recipe

Hi there, everyone! This is Sean Chumley, 8th Floor Representative, SOLID Social Committee Member, and Iron Chef. My RAs (Jake and Angie) recently sponsored an Iron Chef competition, and here I am, the big winner, ready to share with all of you! Enjoy!

Raspberry Rainbow Brownies
2 0z Dark chocolate
2 oz Bittersweet chocolate
4 oz Semisweet chocolate
1 stick butter, cut into 8 pieces, plus more for buttering baking dish
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup dark brown sugar
2 eggs
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup self-rising flour
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease an 8"x8" square glass baking pan.

2. In a saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter, dark, bittersweet, and semisweet chocolates, stirring occasionally to combine. Allow to cool slightly after melted and combined.

3. Combine sugars in a large bowl. Add butter and chocolate mix. Whisk together to combine.

4. Whisk in eggs one at a time, stirring to combine. Add vanilla.

5. Stir in flour. Mix until well combined. A "spoonula" works well for this, but a whisk will suffice.

6. Add milk chocolate chips and raspberry jam, stirring to mix throughout. The final consistency will be slightly thicker than cake batter.

7. Pour batter into pre-greased baking pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean (if you poke through a chocolate chip, try again).

--Sean (8th floor rep, and SOLID Social Committee member)

Shopping with sustainability!

As the holiday season rolls around, you can’t help going for the ribbons, Ugg boots, and gift cards. But this year, make an effort to make better, more sustainable choices about your purchases. Simply, sustainability is having no impact. You can decrease your impact in gift giving by buying recycled or thrift, supporting local businesses, or using the least amount of packaging possible.
Buying from around your area reduces cost and pollution from transport, ensures freshness, and supports local entities. This method of being an educated consumer supports area businesses. Buying local keeps your money in a community rather than from going to a large corporation. This money will stay local and support other businesses and community organizations in the region.
Being a smart shopper is easier than it seems. There are many cooperatives and organizations that support local businesses and make sustainable commerce possible. There are also many rating systems for grading large corporations on philanthropic and environmental responsibility. For instance, Climate Counts has rated a number of large corporations on their environmental responsibility and impact. Even though Macy’s might have a shopping guide, shy away from it and go by a green shopping guide. Even if you don’t have a guide, remember to think local and sustainable first by going to thrift stores and independent sellers. Remember, your friends and family will appreciate a museum membership or a pail of honey much more than a JC Penney gift card.

Try these shopping guides:

Climate Counts:
http://www.climatecounts.org/scorecard.php

Treehugger
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/12/green_gift_guid_1.php

BCUE
http://www.shopbcue.org/

EPA
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/pdfs/shopping.pdf

Brooklyn Based
http://brooklynbased.net/everything/diy-gift-guide/
http://brooklynbased.net/everything/the-brooklyn-sampler/