Simple Homemade Falafel

Ingredients
1.5 medium white onions
3 garlic cloves
2 cups cooked + drained chickpeas (or two cans)
2 cups parsley and/or cilantro leaves 
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin

2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
oil of choice, for sauteing  
Pita bread, for serving

The Process  Start by chopping onions and garlic cloves and place in food processor until finely minced. (as you can see I'm using a blender because I'm a newly-wife and don't have the privilege of a processor yet, but it's on the list) remove the onion/garlic mixture from processor and set aside.

Next, add chick peas, parsley/ cilantro, salt, chili powder, and cumin to the food processor until blended (not puréed!). Once blended, add the onion/garlic mixture, baking soda, and flour to the processor and blend. (Note: add 1/2c flour at a time, and add more if mixture is too wet) 

Transfer to large bowl and place in refrigerator for one hour. (This step can be skipped)

After chilled, place a large sauté pan over medium heat with a generous amount of oil (I use coconut oil for everything, but canola will work just fine!) 

After allowing pan to pre-heat for 3 minutes, use a large spoon to place balls of falafel on pan (2-3 tablespoons each) 

Cook both sides for 3-4 minutes, until mixture is cooked throughout and sides are light brown. Place on a paper towel and allow to cool before plating. 

We like to eat our Falafels with warm pita's, lettuce, and fried rice. Find the perfect fried rice recipe here:( http://summerlewis.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-secret-to-perfectly-fried-rice.html )

Enjoy!

Things I Wish I Had Known My Sophomore Year

Dear Sami,

This year has been crazy. New adventures, new majors, new friends, and new passions. It has been the most crazy year of my life, and I am so excited that you are getting ready to begin your second year of college. Last year, I wrote to you the Things I wish I Had Known Before College post. Here comes year two, with what I have learned my sophomore year of college.

Sami and I before the first day of classes

They aren't your friends if they don't support you

This is something that took me the whole year to understand. Although most of the friends you make in college will be lifelong friendships, not everyone you meet will be. Surround yourself with people that allow you to grow and change. Friends are people who understand that you might make decisions that they won't agree with, and love you anyway.

It's okay to change your major
It really is. Even if you change your major from nursing to education to psychology to education again. Although it may come as a shock to your parents and the people close to you, it's important to make the best choice for your future. This is your year to make the decision that you are most passionate about, as it becomes more complicated to change your major when you become an upperclassmen.

Studying in your dorm doesn't work
The dorm is meant to be an environment where people come and go, loud music is always being played, and your roommate is always watching netflix. There is no motivation when your roommate is nocturnal and always napping. I find it impossible to study anywhere except for the library on campus. Being in environment where (almost) everyone is focused on studying can lead to getting work done a lot faster.

Take online classes
Online classes make college life so much easier. If you are able to take at least one online class a semester, do it. Online classes can be taken at your own pace, as you don't need to make time for the three hours of classroom setting a week. They are also taken during 8-week intervals, so you can concentrate on fewer classes at a time. My spring sophomore semester, I took half of my classes online and it was a great decision.

Take advantage of free everything
Free meals? Free football games? Free kettle corn on finals week? Take advantage of everything that your university has to offer for you before you move off campus and have to pay for everything yourself. Being off campus, I now have to pay for my own gym membership, sport events, and groceries. Being on campus is a fun experience, so enjoy everything it has to offer before you move off.

Grades actually matter

Grades are now beginning to matter. Failing biblical worldview isn't okay anymore now that you're going into your higher level classes. Passing the gen-ed courses will give you an easier time with keeping your GPA up when you reach your more demanding major classes. Basically, start monitoring your grades when you become a sophomore so you can succeed later on. 

Don't let people borrow things you actually want back 
My favorite dress? gone. My 100$ textbook? gone. I definitely learned  to only let people borrow things you don't care about being returned. Don't leave yourself stranded with nothing to wear and no books for your test the next morning.

Learn to say yes 

My first semester, I decided going into the year that I was going to say yes to everything. Yes to football games, yes to cookout at 2 am, and yes to dating people. I got to know many people and I was able to participate in many activities such as going out of town, visiting nearby colleges, and just mainly having fun experiences. 

Check your annoying email 
I did not realize how important it was to be constantly checking my email until this year. I especially understood this when I hiked through the snow to get to my class, just to arrive to an empty classroom. And when I was up studying all night for an exam in my morning class only to find it canceled the next morning. And missing emails from work that were important about my work schedule... Well, you get the point. I get a ton of emails from my college email every day (and don't even get me started on the alerts for end-of-course surveys). It's annoying, but it's important.

The Secret to Perfect Fried Rice

After years of searching for the best way to make fried rice, I finally figured it out! This homemade recipe is sooo much better than takeout.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter (no oil)

2 eggs

1 onion

2 cloves garlic

3 cups of your favorite veggies 

3 cups cooked + chilled rice (the secret!)

4+ tablespoons soy sauce

The Process 

Begin by making the rice. I use 1 cup long-grained white rice to 1 3/4 cups water. After cooked to perfection,  place the rice in the refrigerator for an hour or until chilled. (This is the secret for the best fried rice!)

Next, heat 1/2 tablespoon of butter on a large skillet and cook eggs until scrambled. When cooked, transfer eggs to a separate plate.

Add another 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet on medium heat until melted. Add onion, garlic, and vegetables (I used carrots, corn, peas, and green beans) for  5-8 minutes (until onion is soft).



Once vegetables are cooked, turn the heat to high and add the remaining butter. Immediately follow with the chilled rice and soy sauce. Continue to stir rice for 3-5 minutes until rice is completely fried.

Turn off heat, add scrambled eggs, and serve.

Enjoy!

Why We Got Married After 9 Months

It's true. Devanté and I met each other less than nine months before we got married... And it was the best decision I ever made.

Carty Photography

During our engagement, we received many questions. Questions such as, "why are you getting married only after knowing each other for nine months?" and "Don't you think you're rushing things too quickly?"

But here's the answer: I love Devanté. I love him more than words can express, and I want to spend the rest of my life with him.

It's that simple.

Although we had a lot of people concerned with our engagement, we also had a lot of support by our family and friends. I am now realizing that the people who made negative comments towards our marriage were people who really didn't know us, as the people who truly knew our hearts supported our decision. There are many reasons why we decided to get married after nine months, and the following are just a few...

We didn't settle
I am a strong believer in the fact that you could marry anyone you want and be happy- or learn to be. But I also believe that there is one perfect person for everyone. There are too many people settling. I can admit that I have almost settled many times. But I was never able to explain the feeling I continued to have that just maybe, there might be someone else. I found out why I felt this way when I met my husband, and I am so glad I never stopped believing there was something better. How blessed am I that I found my perfect match? I did not believe in a love like this before I met my husband, as I could never understand how I could be capable of loving someone so much.

We are committed
We were committed to each other even while we were dating. We promised each other that we would always stand next to each other and go through life together. We were in an inclusive relationship and we weren't scared of commitment. We knew that we were made for each other. So why should we have waited a two or three years before getting married if we were already committed? If our love was already this strong, why should we wait to sign some papers? What was the point of waiting something out that was inevitable to happen?

We made time for each other
During our relationship, we made time for each other. We were fortunate enough to see each other every day. We made each other a priority. Whether we spent the whole day together, or caught each other for a few minutes at night, we made sure we spent every spare minute together. I believe that this is why we became so close so quickly. If normal couples see each other twice a week, that is 100 days each year. Devanté  and I have spent over 300 days together. Can you see why we became so close?

We love the same way
We feel emotions to the extremes. We are both spontaneous, romantic, and supportive. When we love, we love with everything we have. And when we hurt, we hurt so deeply. We are extremely passionate about what we want and believe in.  We love each other with everything in us. It is so rare to find someone who loves the same way you do. And I believe that the reason for this is because we know how badly it hurts to feel unloved. And when people come into your life and understand both the love and pain you have been through, it makes you so much closer.

We are in the same stage of life
We both come from loving families. We have both lived in another country. We have been in college. We understand people, cultures, and different ways of living. We know what we want in life, and we are ready to get it. We both want to be successful in our jobs and passions. We both want to have a family. We are excited with moving forward in life TOGETHER. And yes, we have a long way to go until we "settle down". But why shouldn't we move forward together, instead of finding ourselves apart?

10 Things I Wish I Had Known Before College

Dear Sami, as you are about begin your freshman year of college, here are 10 things I wish I would have known.

With my second year of college quickly approaching, I have been seeing a lot of soon-to-be-freshman getting anxious about their next stage of life. As I'm beginning my sophomore year, I began thinking of what I want my sister to know before she steps foot on campus with me in two weeks. Here are 10 things that I wish I would have known my freshman year of college.

1) No relationships your first semester

Or... Maybe your whole first year. I made this point first because I cannot stress this enough. Especially if you are coming straight from high school without taking a year off. I know you have heard this numerous times, but please, listen to me for one second. Whether you realize it or not, you are transitioning into a whole new stage of life and you don't know who you are. Your first year of college is going to mold you into a new version of your life, and it is really hard to find yourself while in a committed relationship. Take your first year of independence and be independent with it. Learn about people and find what you are passionate about. Go to football games, theatre performances, cookouts, concerts, seminars, and all those silly school-run events. Note that I said, “no relationships” and not “no dating”. If a boy asks you for coffee, then go. Meeting people is important in college, but do not fall too quickly in a relationship as soon as you step foot on campus. (Oh, and definitely go speed dating once- you'll be amazed of how many people you meet.)

2) Everyone knows everyone

This does not matter if you have a student body of 300 or 16,000. This is the first thing I learned once I was enrolled in my first week of school. I made a sarcastic comment to Julie in my Bible class about Betty in my chemistry class, and Julie’s roommate’s best friend’s cousin has Betty in her missionary club and everyone knows in .02 seconds. Moral of the story: word travels so quickly. A good rule of thumb is not to say (or send) anything unless you would be comfortable saying it in front of the person you're talking about. Be nice to everyone, and you will not have any drama your freshman year.

3) Give yourself a light course load.

College is hard, so do not sign up for 18 credit hours your first semester. You may have been able to do this in high school, but college is a whole new territory. Also, to add a side point, do not always listen to your adviser. It's wise to seek advice from other students in your degree program. I was told that I had to take certain courses, when I really did not need too until later on in my degree. I was an A student in high school and did not do well my first semester because I overloaded myself in credits. If I would have taken 14 credits instead of 18, then I would have been in better academic standing. Which leads me to the next point…

4) Do not take morning classes
If you are taking all 7:40s and 8:50s then you need to get yourself a new schedule right now. You may have been able to do it in high school, but things are different now. A general rule is not to take anything before 9am. Just trust me.

5)  Starbucks is expensive
My school has three Starbucks on campus and it’s really easy to buy two drinks a day when you’re drowning in a study session… But it’s a waste of money. I may or may not have spent 200$ in just coffee my first semester. Buy a coffee pot for the morning, and get Dunkin instead. College hack: A venti of flavored ice coffee at Dunkin is 2$, and Starbucks is 5$.

6) Set Schedule

Once you figure out your class schedule (and possibly work schedule) fill in empty spots with things you love. Whether that be joining a club, going to the gym, playing an intramural sport, it doesn't matter. Just get involved in something and put it in your agenda so you will stick with it. Also, I found it nice to circle two different hours a week to invest in someone’s life. Whether that be having coffee with a hurting friend, or a spontaneous shopping trip with your roommate, it’s important to make time for people.

7) Grow in your relationship with Christ

Take advantage of going to a Christian school. Go to convocation. Go to campus church. Join a Christian life group. Get spiritual guidance counseling. Surround yourself with people who will spiritually encourage you. Listen in your bible classes (yes, even Biblical Worldview). Wake up every morning and read your Bible at breakfast. Help and serve others. Not only should you learn academically at school, but you need to gain knowledge and grow in your faith in Christ.

8) Make plans on Fridays

 I'm not saying you should party every weekend, but make sure you are not alone in your dorm on a Friday night. After a long week of classes, it’s time to give yourself a night off. Get a group of friends together for dinner and stargazing, or have a movie night and paint nails with your girls. 

9) Speaking of partying
... Kick-back instead. Let me break something to you, Christian kids are just the same as others when it comes to partying. No one told me this when I signed myself up to go to a large Christian university. If you decide to party while going to a Christian school, be very careful. If the school police find you than you will get kicked out of the school. Which is why I suggest “kicking back” instead. It is a lot more fun to get a small group of people together in your friend’s apartment and just have a good time. Don't waste your time partying.

10) Be yourself
This is an exciting time in your life! You'll learn new things about yourself, meet new friends, and maybe discover a passion you've never noticed before. Enjoy your first year of college, and try not to stress too much! Your first year is supposed to be spent having a great time in your stage of life.