From Tastes Lovely Recommended by Sarah Flake, ChBE & MSE
Sarah also suggests these variations for the recipe: “I use veggie broth and spicy vegetarian sausages, and I add nutmeg and red pepper flakes.”
Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice Copycat
Submitted by Marva White, AE
This caramel apple cider is perfect for cozy fall evenings, gatherings with friends, or even as a comforting treat to enjoy by yourself.
INGREDIENTS
4 cups apple cider
1/2 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
1 cinnamon stick
4-6 whole cloves
1 orange, thinly sliced
Whipped cream (optional)
Ground cinnamon (for garnish)
INSTRUCTIONS
In a medium saucepan, pour the apple cider and place it over medium heat. Add the cinnamon stick and whole cloves to the cider.
Stir in about half of the caramel sauce into the cider mixture. Save the remaining caramel sauce for topping.
Add the thinly sliced orange to the saucepan, allowing the flavors to infuse. Let the mixture come to a gentle simmer. Be careful not to boil it.
Once the cider is warmed and infused with the flavors, remove the saucepan from the heat. Using tongs, remove the cinnamon stick and cloves from the mixture.
Carefully pour the caramel apple cider into serving mugs.
If desired, top each mug with a dollop of whipped cream.
Drizzle a small amount of the reserved caramel sauce over the whipped cream for an extra caramel kick.
For an optional garnish, sprinkle a pinch of ground cinnamon on top of the whipped cream.
Serve the caramel apple cider warm and enjoy!
NOTE
You can adjust the amount of caramel sauce based on your preference for sweetness. If you like it sweeter, add more caramel sauce; if you prefer it less sweet, use less.
Feel free to customize this recipe by adding a dash of nutmeg or allspice for extra warmth and flavor.
If you want to make homemade caramel sauce, you can combine sugar, butter, and heavy cream in a saucepan and cook until the sugar is melted and the mixture is smooth.
Mexican Chicken Soup
Recommended by Joshua Stewart, Dean’s Office
INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium rib of celery, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon chilipowder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup canned green chiles
1 (15.5 oz) can hominy (or posole), drained (or frozen corn kernels, if you can’t find hominy)
1 can whole peeled tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 cup cooked skinless shredded chicken breast (rotisserie chicken is a great option)
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
1 lime cut into wedges
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, garlic, chili powder, and cumin.
Cook until the onion softens, about 5 minutes.
Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat slightly and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
Add the green chiles, posole, tomatoes, and oregano. Cook for another 5 minutes.
Pull from the heat and stir in the chicken. Ladle into bowls. Top with cilantro and juice from one lime wedge.
Pumpkin-Spice Bars
Recommended by Sarah Collins, Dean’s Office
INGREDIENTS
4 eggs
2 c. sugar
1 c. vegetable or canola oil
1 can (16 oz.) pumpkin
2 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 c. chopped nuts, if desired
Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. plus 2 tbsp. butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. powdered sugar
Mix cream cheese, butter, vanilla. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until smooth.
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin. Mix dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, ginger, cloves. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture and beat.
Pour batter into greased jelly roll pan, 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1 inch. Bake until light brown, 25-30 min.
Cool; frost with cream cheese frosting and sprinkle with nuts. Cut into bars. Refrigerate leftovers. Makes approximately 50 2 x 1 1/2 in. bars.
Indeed, there is scientific evidence to back up that feeling of rejuvenation that comes with the warmer weather and longer daylight hours.
Physical Renewal
Over 90% of vitamin D comes from direct skin exposure to sunlight, which helps maintain healthy bones, teeth, and muscles. Additionally, vitamin D is critical for maintaining brain function and immunity, with low levels linked to increased risk of heart diseases like hypertension and autoimmune diseases.
Other studies show lack of exposure to daylight is linked to lower melatonin production in the body, which is naturally produced as the body prepares for sleep.
Morning light brings those levels back down during the day, but in the shorter winter months, melatonin levels may peak and fall at later times.
Unstable melatonin production cycles can lead to mood changes associated with seasonal affective disorder, which can account for the often-dreaded moody winter months. Studies in night shift workers also show that less melatonin leads to reductions in the chemicals needed to repair DNA and unbalanced fluctuations in body weight and energy.
Mental Renewal
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spending time outdoors in green spaces is associated with reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety. The increased physical activity that comes with springtime leads to an increase in endorphin release, a natural mood booster.
A study published in the British Journal of Psychology International reported that people who use natural spaces for physical activity at least once a week cut their risk of poor mental health in half. Each extra day of physical activity can even reduce the risk by 6%.
The benefits of green spaces became especially evident during the Covid-19 pandemic. Communities with access to these spaces had better reported physical and mental health outcomes than those without.
As writer Jackee Holder puts it, “Spring is the season of hope, where we see the early signs of the labor of the winter months come to life. What a good time to notice the parallels in our own lives. Whether our New Year hopes and plans have failed or stalled, spring reminds us that there’s still time to start over again.”
Taking advantage of the opportunities spring brings — as easy as spending time in the fresh air outdoors or socializing with neighbors and friends in the warmer, sunnier weather — can significantly improve mental and physical health, giving us a fresh start for the season.
1 prepared angel food cake (8 to 10 ounces), cut into 1-inch cubes
DIRECTIONS
For glaze, in a large saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch and gelatin; stir in water until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until mixture begins to boil. Cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat; cool completely. Cut half the strawberries into quarters; fold into glaze.
In a small bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in condensed milk until blended. Fold in whipped topping.
In a 4-qt. clear glass bowl, layer half the cake cubes, glaze and cream mixture. Repeat layers. Cut remaining strawberries in half and arrange over the top. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Salsa Fresca
Submitted by Erin Adams, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Most stores offer pre-cut veggies, but I find that dicing them yourself makes for a better end result.
INGREDIENTS
1 small serrano chili (or jalapeno) – stemmed, seeded & chopped
2 small (or most of a medium sized) green bell pepper
DIRECTIONS
Combine salt and Rose’s lime juice. Stir/shake until salt dissolves fully.
Combine salted lime juice with prepared vegetables. Mix well.
Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour prior to serving.
Strawberry Feta Salad
Submitted by Shalonda Williams, Electrical and Computer Engineering
SALAD INGREDIENTS
Lettuce – Any leafy green will work such as romaine, spring mix, arugula, spinach, kale, etc.
Fresh Strawberries
Walnuts
Dried cranberries
Feta Cheese
DRESSING INGREDIENTS
Extra virgin olive oil
Lemon
Honey
Dijon
Sea salt
Black pepper
DIRECTIONS
Add salad components to a serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Combine dressing ingredients except oil in a mixing bowl. Whisk while slowly drizzling in olive oil until creamy. Refrigerate dressing until ready to serve.
Before serving, crumble the feta cheese and sprinkle on salad. Toss with dressing.
Kheer – a Pakistani dessert
Submitted by Gul Shah, Biomedical Engineering
INGREDIENTS
¼ cup rice, soaked
1 liter whole milk
5-6 cardamom pods
10 table spoon sugar
¼ – ½ cup cream
DIRECTIONS
Keep the rice soaked in water for an hour and then boil the rice until it is mushy – this is at least 10-15 minutes of active boiling.
While that happens use a wide bottomed steel pot (NOT NON STICK) to bring your milk to a simmer.
Add the cardamom pods to the milk, and keep the stove on a low temperature.
Once the rice is mushy, drain the water and then mash it up thoroughly on a plate with a fork.
Add to the milk mixture along with the sugar. Mix well.
Cook on low – a gentle simmer for an hour. The milk will scald at the bottom of the pan but should not burn. Stir frequently so that it does not burn.
The kheer will thicken and condense quite a bit in this time, add ¼ cup of the cream you are using to the kheer.
Pour the kheer in a dish and keep in refrigerator for 2-3 hours before serving.
Spring is a great time to go tiptoeing through the tulips — or lilies or roses or whatever you like. Enjoy spring and summer in these on-campus and North Georgia gardens.
Georgia Tech Community Garden (759 Ferst Drive)
An initiative of the Students Organizing for Sustainability, the community garden is available to everyone on campus and offers small plots for both individual and group use.
A reopening celebration for the newly renovated garden located on the Experiential Walkway next to Rising Roll will take place April 21 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors will learn more about the space and how to get involved with the community garden.
Take time to rejuvenate in Clough Commons’ rooftop garden. With 39 species of native plants, the rooftop design maximizes water collection and houses 30 solar panels that provide on-site renewable energy.
Atlanta Botanical Gardens (Atlanta)
An urban oasis abounding with indoor floral exhibits, outdoor garden settings, and dozens of sculptures, beautifully bringing together art with the natural environment. Some of Atlanta Botanical Gardens’ April features include Orchid Daze and Trolls: Save the Humans, an exhibition by Thomas Dambo.
Atlanta Botanical Gardens Gainesville (Gainesville)
Opened in 2015, this offshoot of Atlanta Botanical Gardens is home to the largest conservation nursery in the Southeast. Unique to the Gainesville location is a children’s outdoor learning area as well as a series of hiking trails.
The La Calavera Catrina exhibit featuring sculptures of Dia De Los Muertos figures by Los Angeles artist Ricardo Soltero and runs from April 1 through August 27.
A 33-acre campus featuring beautiful natural scenery, historic houses, exhibitions, and interactive experiences. Guests can organize their visit by interest area, length of visit, and guest party count using the center’s online visit planning tool.
Callaway features 2,500 acres of gardens, trails, and exhibits. In addition to a vast array of natural scenery, garden amenities include hotel and cabin lodging, golf greens, a lake, eateries, recreation activities, a spa, and educational centers/structures, including the Callaway Discovery Center, Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, and Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl. The Spring Flower Fest runs through April 30.
Sitting on 375 acres, Gibbs Gardens is one of the nation’s largest residential gardens. The gardens are composed of 16 gardens, including 3 feature gardens. Daffodils, cherry blossoms, tulips, azaleas, and drift roses are some of Gibbs’ colorful spring blooms.
From the blooming trees to festivals galore, spring events are as plentiful as the unfortunate yellow coating of pollen. Check out some of the activities happening on campus (and beyond) in the coming weeks.
On Campus
Tech Arts Block Party – April 21
When: Friday, April 21, 6 p.m.
Where: Arts Plaza
The semester, and the Tech Arts Festival, comes to a close with a finale that will get you moving! DJ Unruely will spin all evening; GT Creatives will host an open mic; and Komansé Dance Theater will perform at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. All that creativity making you hungry? Slutty Vegan ATL will offer free boxed meals for the first 75 folks, and Chef Baker’s Place food truck will serve 75 free meals and then have their menu available for purchase.
Have you noticed all the lovely blooming trees, shrubs, and flowers on campus? Have you found yourself thinking, huh, I’d sure like to know that plant’s name? If so, come and join us for a walking tour of campus flora on Earth Day and learn about all the beautiful trees in our own backyard!
GTMN’s semesterly music festival. Local bands and musicians will be performing on Peter’s Parking Deck all day! Come by for a day of live music, food, snacks, and good times!
The Georgia Tech Rock and Pop bands will perform a variety of new and original music on the West Village lawn! Bring food, drinks, and friends, and be prepared to dance!
Ivan Allen Prize: Fireside Chat with Christiane Amanpour – April 24
When: Monday, April 24, 9:30-11 a.m.
Where: Atlantic Theater, John Lewis Student Center
Georgia Tech is proud to honor the legacy of a great alumnus and civic leader, former Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. The Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage shines a light on those around the world who bravely act to improve the human condition, often in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.
The 2023 recipient is Christiane Amanpour.
The entire campus community is invited to attend a fireside chat on Monday, April 24, moderated by CNN correspondent Tom Foreman.
Inversion (with sky and chromatic clock): Opening Night Reception – April 25
When: Tuesday, April 25, 7-8:30 p.m.
Where: Cherry Street NW, near Harrison Square
Please join us for an opening reception to celebrate the installation of Micah and Whitney Stansell’s collaborative artwork, Inversion (with sky + chromatic clock). Installed outdoors on Cherry Street near Harrison Square, the work utilizes thousands of sheets of copy paper reclaimed from the Georgia Tech Library’s recycling bins to create a fluttering “kinetic screen” suspended between the trees lining Cherry Street, spanning the road. As night falls, projections of daytime skies with clouds illuminate the paper. The projections, recorded around campus at hourly intervals throughout the day, are separated and organized by moments of saturated color that correspond to the time at which each video segment was recorded.
Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy – May 24-26
When: May 24-26
Where: Georgia Tech Global Learning Center
Why: The 9th Biennial Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy will include plenary sessions reflecting different facets of the science and innovation system, presentations of well-developed research, and an early career poster session to allow young researchers to present their work.
The Big Shanty Festival is back with more than 150 Arts & Crafts vendors, food, live entertainment, a parade, children’s activities & a beer garden; there is something for the whole family!
A parade will kick off the festival at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 22. Crowds line the streets of downtown Kennesaw to cheer on the more than 2,000 kids that participate. These kids represent every sports association and school in the area. Local businesses, the winners of various beauty pageants, and Allatoona, Kell, Kennesaw Mountain, Harrison and North Cobb High School marching bands also add to the festivities.
Enjoy local performances and dance groups on two stages and acoustic music, featuring Scott Thompson throughout the day.
Atlanta Arts, Vegan, and Vegetarian Festival – April 22
When: Saturday, April 22, 12-7 p.m.
Where: Westside Park, 1660 Johnson Road NW, Atlanta
The free Atlanta Arts, Vegetarian, and Vegan Festival celebrates Earth Day. In the spirit of healthy living, family, and community we celebrate the Earth. Support local and international artists, crafters, chefs, and entrepreneurs.
Where: Plaza Theatre, Dad’s Garage, The Carter Center
The Atlanta Film Festival, now in its sixth decade, is an Academy Award-qualifying festival and one of the region’s largest and longest-running preeminent celebrations of cinema in the Southeast United States. More than 28,000 festival attendees are expected to enjoy independent, animated, documentary, and short films selected from more than 9,000 submissions from 30 countries at the 2023 event.
The free Decatur Arts Festival brings the community together through a multi-day offering of live music, dance, comedy, theatrical performances, kids’ fest, exhibitions, and an expansive and diverse artists’ market.
Where: Depot Park, 2829 Cherokee St NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144
The Kennesaw Beer and Wine Festival features live music as well as over 100 beers, including local Georgia breweries as well as select breweries from all over the country. Also available at the event are tastings from a variety of ciders, spirits, and more than 25 different wines.
The Hampton Business and Merchants Association is announcing its annual Yellow Pollen Street Festival. This event has become the premier spring event for artisans and craftsmen in the state, with food trucks, concessions, live music, and more.
REVIVED … RECHARGED … RENEWED. Welcomes the largest family reunion in the world with music, food, vendors, and kids’ zone, and more. The purpose of the Sweet Auburn Festival is to bring awareness to the Historic Sweet Auburn District in Atlanta, Georgia.
Where: Dunwoody Village Parkway and the Dunwoody Village Shopping Center, 1317 Dunwoody Village Parkway, Dunwoody, Georgia
This Mother’s Day tradition will be bigger than ever, with over 130 artisans, a large Kidz Zone and lots of festival cuisine. Sunday is usually the most crowded day, so for the easiest shopping start on Saturday morning. Take a break in the Food Court and finish it all off in the afternoon. The show is Rain or Shine.
Chastain Park Arts Festival (Atlanta) – May 13 & 14
When: Saturday, May 13 & Sunday, May 14
Where: Chastain Park, 4469 Stella Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30327
Named as one of the nation’s Top 100 (67) Arts Festival Nationwide by Sunshine Artist Magazine the Chastain Park Arts Festival will host its 13th annual event at Chastain Park along Park Drive for approximately 175 artists and artisans.
Visitors will enjoy fine art and crafts, a children’s area, and local food and beverage concessions including gourmet food trucks. Local acoustic musicians will enliven the atmosphere. This event is organized by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces and volunteer artists. Best of all, it’s entirely free to attend!
MomoCon brings together fans of Japanese Anime, American Animation, Comics, Video Games, and Tabletop Games to celebrate their passion by costuming / cosplay, browsing the huge exhibitors hall, meeting celebrity voice talent, designers, and writers behind their favorite shows, games, and comics and much much more over this 4 day event.
Atlanta Jazz Festival is regarded as one of the largest FREE jazz festivals in the country. An annual celebration of the music, culture and art of jazz begins in April and culminates each Memorial Day weekend, with an outdoor festival featuring jazz artists from all over the world.
The mission of the Atlanta Jazz Festival is to expose and entertain a diverse audience of Jazz aficionados, young Jazz enthusiasts and aspiring musicians to the rich heritage and variety of Jazz as an authentic form of American music. Atlanta Jazz Festival is produced by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (www.ocaatlanta.com).
Can you spot these locations on campus? The first person to correctly identify where these springtime photos were taken wins lunch with Dean Raheem Beyah.
A children’s book author and night-school English teacher too, Evans supports the College’s DEI and faculty affairs efforts.
By: Amy Kim
Cassandra Evans says she’s always had a connection to Georgia Tech. So when she returned to campus for a second stint as an employee, it probably was inevitable.
After a few years as a faculty support coordinator in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Evans went to Emory University as an equity and inclusion assistant in the School of Medicine. Yet she couldn’t ignore the pull of Tech and returned to the College of Engineering in September 2022, this time as a project support coordinator in the dean’s office working on faculty affairs and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts.
“I always felt like I would come back, because of the environment and the people I work with,” Evans said.
In the evening, Evans also works as an English teacher, teaching up to three classes a week at the Interactive College of Technology in Chamblee as part of the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. She teaches adults who are seeking jobs and promotions.
Evans said she asks each student two questions: “Why are you here? And what is your ultimate goal?”
For Evans, teaching is an innate skill, and what she calls a “yearning” she’s had since she was young. Growing up with an educator mother, Evans got her first taste of teaching as an instructor for the GT 1000 Freshman Seminar.
“My mom is a teacher and I said I would never be one, but I had an itching,” she said. “It’s a little bit in my genes.”
In addition to teaching, Evans is also a self-published author, having released a children’s book in 2019 called A Cache of Cashews.
The book follows a squirrel, Sika, who saves up nuts and helps her community when a big storm comes. “Sika” is a Ghanaian word for money, and Evans hopes to teach young readers about saving money.
“I couldn’t find a children’s book I could read to my daughter about financial planning,” she said. “In 2019, I said ‘I’m going to commit to writing one.’”
Now, Evans is planning her second book, this time inspired by her son. Writing is fulfilling, she said, but never easy.
“I was always good at math and science but writing and reading challenge me because they don’t come naturally,” Evans said. “Writing is something I desire because I know I’m going to have to work for it.”
Wherever she is — whether it’s teaching English or writing about financial literacy or working with her colleagues in the College — Evans said finds herself serving and being inspired by others: “My name, Cassandra, means ‘helper of mankind,’ so I’m always the supporter and helper. I always have a desire to help, and I try to excel in that area.”
Returning to Tech has helped Evans see she was meant to be here.
“There are some environments where it’s just work,” she said. “But at Tech, you get different venues to be yourself and be creative, whatever you’re doing. Your ideas aren’t just on paper, you get to do them in real life.”
