Memorable Spring Break (Part I)

I’m beyond relieved that spring is finally among us! I was getting pretty tired of this winter and the ever-present snow that accumulated on every sidewalk. Since I traveled down to Florida for Spring Break this past week, it was nice coming back to Holland with hardly any snow on the ground. I thought I would dedicate this blog post to my adventures I had in Florida with my friend Audrey and her parents!

Friday

Audrey and I woke up at 3:30 AM or so and hit the road by 4:30 AM with her parents and all of our luggage. It was quite a sight having blankets, pillows, snacks and luggage all piled into one car! The first leg of the trip consisted of a lot of sleeping as well as a few pit stops at gas stations, Starbucks, Cracker Barrel, and Subway. It’s an understatement to say that my butt was sore after sitting in the car for 14 hours until we called it a day when we reached Atlanta. A horizontal surface never felt so good when I collapsed on the hotel room’s queen-sized bed after being hunched in the most awkward positions in the car. After we settled in, we quickly got some food at Applebee’s and watched some HGTV before falling asleep before the next day of car riding.

photo 1 copy 2

Saturday

This car ride felt much shorter since we were almost in warm, sunny Florida. After riding for another handful of hours, we finally arrived in St. Augustine, FL, where we immediately dropped our stuff off and went to the grocery store for some necessities and staple food items. The rest of the day consisted of exploring the area, going down to the beach and simply relaxing!

Sunday

This particular Sunday was very special because it was the 125th anniversary of the St. Augustine Memorial Presbyterian Church in downtown St. Augustine. The inside of the church was absolutely beautiful and you’d never guess who Audrey and I ran into there! We happened to meet a lady that graduated from Hope in 1950!!! After the service, we toured around Flagler College and the surrounding area, which was a ton of fun. Once we got back to our condo, Audrey and I thought we would take advantage of the warmth and lay out near the pool and soak up some sun… little did we realize, the sun was a lot stronger than we thought, so we got some pretty terrible burns. That night was very interesting in regards to putting soothing lotion all over our bodies and struggling to get comfortable in our beds while trying to avoid the burnt areas on ourselves.

Monday

Day one of shopping at the outlet malls! The whole day was dedicated to shopping and getting great deals at stores such as The Loft, Kate Spade, Saks Fifth Avenue, Gap, Nike and others that I cannot recall right now! After a busy day of trying things on, we went out to dinner at a place called Salt Water Cowboys, where the “restaurant” is literally a shack in a swamp! This is Audrey’s all-time favorite restaurant, so we obviously had to go. I was surprised by how many people knew about this place because once we finished our meal, the line was out the door and down the dock, all waiting to be seated at the next available table.

Tuesday

After still recovering from our nasty sunburns from Sunday, Audrey and I thought we should try to stay out of the sun another day. We ended up meeting up with Audrey’s mom and aunt and headed to downtown St. Augustine to look at the Lightner Museum. What was really cool was the koi pond, but also an building that use to house an indoor swimming pool but was converted to a restaurant. We ate some lunch there and it was really fun to say we were eating in “the deep end.” Afterwards, we wandered down St. George street going in and out of various shops and eventually getting some ice cream at Kilwins.

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This sums up the first part of my trip. Stay tuned for the second part to my Florida excursion.

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @hopeleslie15.

72 Hours in Florence, Italy

What better way to celebrate the end of midterms than by spending a weekend in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance? Just being able to go on a plane and an hour later be in a different country is still so surreal to me. Visiting Italy has been on my radar since I have been in Europe! I went with my friends Amaya, Jess and Miguel, and the four of us stayed in an Airbnb apartment that was conveniently located near the center of Florence.

There was a tiny courtyard in our apartment building!
There was a tiny courtyard in our apartment building!

We landed in Firenze Friday evening, so we didn’t have enough time to explore. Instead, we walked around the neighborhood and had dinner. Can you guess what I got? PASTA, OF COURSE. ****Warning: The number of food pictures in this post may or may not make your mouth water, just saying.****

Frutti di Mare (seafood pasta!)
Frutti di Mare (seafood pasta!)

We were only in Florence until Sunday afternoon, so we woke up early Saturday morning to get in as much exploring and sight seeing time as we could. From our apartment, the famous Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore was a 15-minute walk. It’s an absolutely stunning building made of colored marble and ornate paintings; attached to it is the outer dome or duomo, as it is referred to in Italian. 

Outer façade of the Cathedral
Outer façade of the Cathedral

I’m pretty sure you know this, but Italy is famous for their gelato, and believe me when I say that I ate so much more gelato than actual food! It was honestly as delicious and sweet as I thought it would be. Each time we passed by a gelateria, I would run over and see which flavors they had! Walking around made me pretty hungry, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try the famous pizza margherita while I was in Italy. It was so good!

gelato for breakfast!
gelato for breakfast!
pizza for lunch!
pizza for lunch!

I am pretty sure we walked the entire city of Florence (okay-maybe I am exaggerating just a little), the whole time we were there. Although my feet were sore and we did get caught under a mini rain shower, the highlight of my 72 hours in Florence was seeing the city from the top of the Piazzale Michelangelo (or Michelangelo Square)! To get to the square, we had to walk up quite a lot of stairs on top of a hill. Once you got to the top, you can see the beautiful view of Florence! I may have only been in Florence for 72 hours, but I am pretty sure I left a piece of my heart in Italia. I can only hope this won’t be the last time!

Can you spot the Duomo in the background?
Can you spot the Duomo in the background?

Thanks so much for reading! 🙂

Being Happy Where You Are

Beach photos. Tan, with ice cream cones dripping in their henna-tattooed hands. Driving a dune buggy and soaking up some rays.

No, I wasn’t on vacation this past week, but I sure saw a lot of pictures from people who were.

I was at home, taking pictures of my breakfast and my cat and dog, living it up in the clouds and brown grass outside my Detroit suburb home. I got a little bitter and jealous of everyone having a fun-filled vacations.

This is normal, I think, because isn’t it natural for someone sitting around in cold Michigan to wish they could be somewhere warm with friends? Sounds reasonable. But still there’s a part of me that realizes how far this extends into other places in life, such as the college you go to, the job you have, and so much more.

Life’s about being happy where you are. It’s about looking at what’s around you and finding the best in it, making the best of it. I tried to do that over break once I realized where my mindset was. So I made breakfast at midnight with my step-sister, Hannah, for her 22nd birthday (See Taylor Swift’s “22”), exercised, went on trips with my dog, and made homemade donuts. Sometimes you have to make your own adventures.

As I write this I’m in the car on the way back to Holland, and I’m so excited! The sun is warming up and we only have about 5 weeks left. The summer before Hope, I was so excited! Then when I was at school for about the first month, I wanted to be anywhere but Hope. After learning to love the place I’m at, there isn’t anywhere I’d rather be. It just takes some time to adjust : -) Even if you don’t feel okay at the beginning, I guarantee that it will turn around!

For anybody, I encourage you to keep this thought in your mind. For prospective students – remember that the college transition, wherever you go, will not be easy. You’ll find yourself perusing Facebook and wishing you were having as much fun as your friends, when they might be feeling the same way.

Give it time and give it love. : -)

I’m sure my bitter feelings will resurface once I see all of my friends tan faced, but I’ll just think of this post and be glad that I’m one less vacation away from wrinkly skin when I’m old.

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If you have any questions for me you can contact me at brookelyn.wharton@hope.edu, through Hope on Facebook, or my Twitter @hopebrooke18! I’d love to answer them!

Spring Break – From Florida to New Jersey

Hello Hope College!

I hope you all had a VERY relaxing Spring Break and are ready to start back on classes…or at least start back on catching up with your friends!

I’m not sure if you’ve read my blogs before, but if you haven’t I have a twin sister, Meg, and she and I are best friends as well as sisters. As crazy as it sounds, this was the first Spring Break I haven’t spent with her! She went down to New Jersey on an Immersion Trip, and I went down to the sunny state of Florida. It was a great Spring Break and we were just reunited last night, but I was amazed when talking to her about the differences in both of our trips, and this blog is dedicated to telling you all about both of our experiences.

For me, this Spring Break was all about relaxation and warm weather. The weeks leading up to the break were filled to the brim with tests, papers and studying, so I decided I needed a break where I didn’t have to think about anything except which book to read for pleasure on the beach. (I ended up flying through four within a seven day span – heaven!) It was perfect for me, because I’ve come to the realization that especially during second semester, I need a break to focus on my mental health and just relax for a week. I got to go to Florida with two of my best friends here at Hope and it made for a wonderful, fun-filled week!

As you can see, it was a relaxing break for me! Hammocks, boating, ice cream, puppy dogs, and beaches were what I woke up to every morning and it was one of the best breaks ever. It couldn’t have come at a better time!

Moving on to Meg’s break, she went to New Jersey as part of a Hope Immersion Trip. Being reunited last night was great, but hearing all her fabulous stories was even greater! She said it was one of the most fulfilling and fun experiences she’s ever had. She grew incredibly close with every person that was in her group on the trip and she got to experience God in an entirely new way. Her task throughout the week was to help the people in the town of Newark, New Jersey, with Hurricane Sandy relief. The group tore up asphalt, did some demolition, painted houses, and did a lot of good for the community there. On the last day of their trip, they got to visit the Big Apple – New York City! Even though she only got a taste of the city, she still got to do a lot of things like spend some time in Central Park and see Rockefeller Center which is a pretty good last day if you ask me.

This is her pointing to the Statue of Liberty! She had an amazing time on her last day, as well as the rest of the week. What a great experience!
This is her pointing to the Statue of Liberty! She had an amazing time on her last day, as well as the rest of the week. What a great experience!

Whether you went on an Immersion Trip like Meg, went to someplace to get away like me, or just went home, I hope your Spring Break was enjoyable and refreshing!

Welcome back, Hope College. Get ready for your last 5 weeks of the year.

Until next time!

I Found You at 5,000 Feet

We explored the world from a mile high. We free climbed giant rocks, learned to love like Jesus, met a professional fighter, obtained a free t-shirt, slept on air mattresses that didn’t inflate, took partially cold showers, and ate a lot of PB&J. We swept sidewalks, talked a lot, and learned the truth behind what it means to be homeless. That’s how I spent my Spring Break.

I spent Spring Break in Denver, Colorado, at 5,280 feet above sea level. Ten of us, including myself, plus our leader, Professor Schoonveld, and his 8-year-old daughter, made a 5 AM trek via a three-hour flight to the Mile High city on Saturday the fourteenth. This Hope College Immersion Trip was one week that changed me from the inside out.

Denver Fam
Here’s my Denver family and the 15-passenger van we named Joyce, aka JOY(ce), because we’re a pretty joyful group. The selfie stick was the perfect addition to our photo taking capacity.

And while I was there, I found something that changed everything.

I’m doing my best at living life without putting boundaries on God (but I still fail often, it’s part of being a human). His ways are always higher than mine, and His ways are not my ways.

There are times I struggle to remember it, but when I forget, He never ceases to remind me. He’s so good to us.

Beyond the boundaries, I discovered something greater. I discovered the complexity of God. Obvious, maybe. But by being in Denver, I realized that somewhere along my journey I had lost my awe of the kingdom He has built here on the earth.

As we sat at the Red Rocks Amphitheater the first day, a thought occurred to me: God, you know every hair on my head, You know every crack and crevice in these rocks, and You know every space in this city. And still, You want my heart. You created a tree, but not just a tree. A tree with branches, big and small, with needles. And You didn’t stop there. You created leaves. Leaves big and small, different shapes, sizes, and colors. A thousand trees is just a glimpse of Your glory.

Thank you, God, for creating this awesome rock that we can stand underneath.
Resting in Your glory, and restless for Your kingdom.
Isaiah 52:7

Through this, I tackled another realization: Who I am in Christ and who I am on my own are two separate identities. Too often, I try to hold on and raise my broken self up to be who God wants me to be. I fail miserably, trying to figure out why my past mistakes and bad habits are holding me back as I’m pursuing a relationship with God. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me” (That’s a verse in Matthew 16).

I’ve spent so much time making this so complex, but it’s more simple than I could have imagined. I was in shackles to my past and mistakes, but Jesus set me free from all of that. He set me free, and the chains are lying on the ground.

But over and over again, I find myself picking the unlocked chains back up and dragging them with me everywhere I go. I forget that my identity in Christ has set me free. It’s like I’m carrying 50 pound dumbbells the instant I wake up until the time I go to sleep at night.

Could you imagine doing that in real life? Not only would we look pretty dumb, but it would also be exhausting. So, here’s the question: why do we do it all the time? Bitterness, anger, frustration, regret, guilt, grudges; they all build up and weigh us down, causing us to drag around burdens that have already been lifted.

It’s more complex to carry it around than it is to lay it at His feet.

God is complex, but His complexity allows for Him to meet us where we’re at, because He’s the only one who sees us as who we are: children adopted into His family by the blood of Jesus. And He is so amazing, so good, and so worthy of all of the glory.

Thank You, Jesus, for opening my eyes. For teaching me to love people in the way You first loved me. For giving me Your eyes to see the brokenness and the heart of Your Father to love people relentlessly. And allowing me to remember that You meet us where we’re at. You love us for who we are, not who we have been.

I did a poor job of documenting my trip via social media because I was having too much fun, but you can still follow me @hopesophie17 to keep up with my on-campus extravaganzas. Want to hear more, or have questions or comments? Send me an email at sophie.guetzko@hope.edu. Have a great week!

Kultura Polska 2 / Polish Culture 2

Hey friends! I have another post about Polish culture. If you haven’t read my first blog post on Polish culture, make sure to check it out! As I have been traveling throughout Poland, there are other differences I have noticed in culture. As a “Westerner,” it’s fun to note these differences. It’s crazy how many differences there just by just crossing the “pond!”

Europeans really like putting locks on their bridges.
Europeans really like putting locks on their bridges.

6. PDA

Yes, PDA, public display of affection. It happens in Poland ALL OF THE TIME. Holding hands, hugging, kissing, the whole shebang. And to the public, it means nothing. It really catches me off guard when this happens near me. In the States, this doesn’t really happen much (in terms of public kissing and all of that hoopla). But if you ever come to Poland, (or Europe in general), expect this and try not to surprised!

7. Smoking

It’s gross, and there’s research behind it. But hey, it’s European I guess. Smoking inside is very illegal, but it is accepted in public areas. Every time I walk somewhere, I pass at least 10 people who smoke. I just hold my breath. The main reason why smoking is still prevalent in Europe is because their governments have not pushed anti-smoking campaigns like the USA. So in this case, go USA!

8. Putting Feet Up

I recently put my feet up on the seat in front of me in the subway, and I was “yelled” at by locals to put them down. This brought me memories when I did the very same thing in Vienna last summer. In Poland and in Europe, it is VERY disrespectful to put your feet up on furniture. In the end, your feet and shoes are filthy and they don’t want that on their materials. This maybe acceptable in the States, but don’t do it in Europe!

9. Fast Food Culture

Fast food places such as McDonalds or Burger King in Poland are actually restaurants. The Polish and other Europeans really value the social aspect of eating meals. Whenever they eat, they take their time and their waiter or waitress does not rush them, or visit them like they do in the States. When I went to McDonalds (yes, I caved and craved McNuggets), all who ordered sat, and ate their food, socialized, and let their food digest. So, I did the same to be European.

10. English

Despite all of our differences, we have more similarities than differences. One similarity is that we are HUMAN! But another one is that Polish citizens are great at English! They understand and can respond well, which makes it easy to travel. But one difference is that WE don’t speak Polish, but we try hard! So far, I have mastered the following: Cześć (pronounced chayshed), dziękuję (pronounced jenkuyeh), and dzień dobry (pronounced djen dobreh). These are enough to get me by. Back to the point, communication is simple, and despite our cultural variances, we are much more similar than different!

That’s it for culture, folks! As of today, I only have 2 days left in Europe, so I am going to make the most out of it. If you haven’t already, make sure to follow me on Twitter and on Instagram!

3 Things I’ve Learned About Failure

1. Take action against failure.

The worst thing you can do to yourself is to start something expecting it to end in failure. A certain awareness of the possibility of failure is needed for everything, but predicting failure as the most likely outcome of anything and everything you do will make everything seem futile. Relax. Think about all the possible ways you could fail and take actions to ensure they will not come to pass. Part of the reasons people fail is because they resign themselves to being spectators of their own lives. Don’t be a spectator; take center stage. If all of life is a stage, then let the show go on!

2. Learn from your failures.

The only thing worse than failing is refusing to learn from failure. Ignoring or outright refusing to acknowledge the reasons you have failed is to set oneself up for even more serious errors and blunders. It is especially important that one learns from failure, especially if one happens to be a college student. The older we get, the higher the stakes in our future become.Tardiness isn’t something that will cost you your livelihood now, but it probably will in a few years when you are working to establish yourself in your chosen career. Take a moment to reflect on your actions (always a good thing to do, regardless of the outcome of your actions). If you discover you don’t like what you see in hindsight, good. You can now take steps to ensure you’ll have no reason to be disappointed or ashamed of yourself they next time you have a moment of introspection.

3. Do not let your failures define who you are as a person.

It is easy to resign oneself to failure, especially if ones efforts are met with unsatisfactory results time and time again. When one finds oneself in such a situation, one only need remind oneself of this; your failure’s do not define who you are; the lessons that you learn from failure speak more about who you are.

Stay safe out there. All will be well.

warioapproves

Weekend Adventure: Exploring Paris!

I am currently in the midst of midterm week(s) with papers, presentations, and exams, so I have been a bit busy, to say the least. However, I wasn’t going to let all of my work get in the way of me enjoying the beautiful weather we’ve been having here in Paris! As you can imagine, there is always something to do and places to see, so i’ve made it my goal to go out and explore on the weekends. This past weekend, I went with my friends Elizabeth and Amaya on a tour of the parks and cemeteries in Paris. You may not think of parks when you think of Paris, but there are many parks spread out throughout the city! On a bright and sunny day, you will find lots of people, especially families, enjoying the weather. I can’t wait until it stays nice enough out so I can have a picnic with friends 🙂

We began our afternoon by visiting the Jardin du Luxembourg, which was originally called the Palais du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Palace) until it was expanded into a garden. It was commissioned to be built by Marie de Medicis, the wife of Henry IV, but she never had the chance to walk the grounds on her estate because she was later exiled. What a history! Another interesting fact: The Palace is owned by the French Senate and is their central meeting place!

Luxembourg Palace
Luxembourg Palace

This park makes the parks in the U.S seem very VERY small because it is huge! One thing I love about the parks here in Paris is that it’s a great meeting place to walk around and hang out with friends. Not only that, but it’s also an easy way to exercise! I saw so many people running through the park, but in general, the streets in Paris aren’t the most convenient for running. Instead, meeting a friend at the park and taking a long walk is a fun way to take a break during the day. Between the stress of midterms and feeling a bit homesick, I was happy to be around friends and spend the day exploring Paris!

My friends Elizabeth and Amaya couldn't resist getting into my picture!
My friends Elizabeth and Amaya couldn’t resist getting into my picture!

After walking around the garden, we headed to our next destination: Montparnasse Cemetery. It’s divided into two sections, small and large, and is the final resting place to many famous authors, artists, and political figures. I’m going to be honest and say that cemeteries in general freak me out, but you can’t visit Paris and not visit at least one of the cemeteries. I was hesitant to take photos, so I only took a few of the people I wanted to see, like John-Paul Sartre, the famous French philosopher and writer. I have read some of his essays in my French novel class, so I am a bit familiar with his work. I always find it interesting to see the kinds of things people leave on the graves! Not only were there flowers on Sartre’s grave, but also handwritten notes and metro tickets, which I still have no idea why.

Jean-Paul Sartre's grave
Jean-Paul Sartre’s grave

One of the biggest and most well known cemeteries in Paris is the Père Lechaise Cemetery, and let me tell you, it is huge. You walk in through the huge gates and it isn’t until you are walking farther and farther that you realize how massive it truly is. You could spend hours walking around and still not walk around the entire cemetery!  I really wish they offered maps for visitors! You could get lost if you don’t know where you’re going! Sadly, we could only explore for a little bit because it was closing as soon as we entered. I did manage to get a picture of the famous female French writer, Colette, who wrote one of the books I read in my lit class, Chéri. Luckily she was towards the beginning of the cemetery, so it wasn’t too hard to find her.

Map of Père-Lachaise
Map of Père-Lachaise
Colette's grave
Colette’s grave

Exhausted from walking for how many hours, we decided to end our day by exploring one final neighborhood in Paris: Belleville, which literally means “beautiful town.” It was known as a working class neighborhood, and it is known to the city’s second Chinatown (the other being in my neighborhood!) Another fun fact: the French singer Edith Piaf, was born here! If you’re interested in French films, I highly recommend the movie about her life called  La Vie En Rose.

Belleville is a very diverse neighborhood and walking around, I just felt a different vibe than other neighborhoods I’ve been to. Especially at night, when there are people sitting outside cafés, drinking their coffee and watching people walk by. Belleville also had some pretty cool street art, which I couldn’t resist taking a picture in front of!

Colorful street art in Belleville!
Colorful street art in Belleville!

I have one more month left in Paris, and I am determined to take the time to go out and keep exploring this beautiful city! Keep up with me and my adventures on Twitter @HopeMarisela16 🙂

Kultura Polska / Polish Culture

For those of you who don’t know, I am currently spending my #SB2K15 in Poland. For many of you whose last names end in a -ski, I am in your homeland! In the two days I’ve been in Poland, there have been very evident cultural differences in comparison to the United States. I once lived in a world where I abided by European culture when I spent two months of my summer living and studying in Vienna, Austria, but it’s (somewhat) nice to be back to notice these differences. I posted a blog post on my other blog about my first day in Poland; check it out when you have a chance.

1. WCs

WC = water closet = bathroom. When meandering in the city of Gdansk, I spotted a blue, square sign with “WC” on it. It put a smile on my face because of the nostalgia it brought from Europe last summer! Regardless, there may be WC’s, but in Poland, and most of Europe, there is a small fee to use it. I’m sure this baffles many American tourists, but you just have to suck it up, especially when you really have to go.

2. Water is Not Free

You read that right. When you walk into a restaurant in the States, water is a given, and its free, with ice. In Poland and most of Europe, water comes at a charge. In Poland, water with gas is cheaper compared to water without gas or niegazowana. Again, you deal with it, because after walking and being a tourist, water is all you want, so you’ll do anything to get it. Another interesting concept in Europe, alcohol. In many restaurants, it is much cheaper than water.

3. Smiling

Polish and Europeans typically keep to themselves in public areas. It is normal to not make eye contact and keep a straight face. I don’t know about you, but this is so hard for me. Being an extrovert and coming from Hope College, all I want to do is give strangers a “Hope Hello.” But in Europe, that might be taken the wrong way. Tourists alike must be conscientious about this cultural difference!

4. Making Change

In Poland and in Europe, they prefer cash over card. That’s hard for me at least because I use my debit card all the time, but cash is king here. On top of using cash, they love it when you use exact change, or change that will give you an even amount back in either bills or coins. This just makes their jobs easier, and you are not stuck with coins that ultimately have no “worth” to them. Another note about money, the smallest denominator in bills is 10 zloty. This frustrates me so much because I actually enjoy, love, and use one dollar bills. But in Poland, they have coins for 1, 2, and 5 zloty. Seeing as I am not used to their currency, this makes making change much more challenging. On the plus side, 1 US Dollar = 3.95 zloty. Food and clothes are much cheaper here, making me a happy tourist!

5. Grocery Stores

As Americans, I think we take grocery bags for granted. They are always supplied to us. In Poland and much of Europe, you bring your own grocery bags to the stores, like recyclable bags. But if you don’t have bags, you have to purchase plastic bags there. Don’t fret, the fee is very small. But I’m sure this still baffles American tourists!

Soaking up all of Poland and what it has to offer!
Soaking up all of Poland and what it has to offer!

That’s all for now, friends. For now, it’s time to travel and enjoy Poland. Do widzenia!

Brooke’s Baked Donuts | Better Than Good Time?

If you go to Hope currently or are a recent alumni, you’ve probably heard of Good Time Donuts. This is the sketchy little donut shop that everyone goes to in the middle of the night to get some hot, fresh pastries. Their donuts are nothing short of amazing, but I’ve realized how bad for you they are if you have more than one every week or so.

With that being said, I’ve done a little bit of research and I’ve come up with my own healthy donut recipe. Now, if you’re searching for the Good Time Donuts taste, don’t look here. If you’re looking for a healthy alternative, this is exactly where you should be. It was a pretty lengthy process, but worth it in the end!

Good Time makes some pretty fabulous blueberry donuts, so I decided to take a twist on them and make strawberry donuts!

Healthy strawberry donut!

Recipe for 2 dozen small donuts. You will need:

1 cup Mashed Banana (took me about 2 bananas)
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup maple syrup (pure)
1/2 cup Fat Free Greek Yogurt (sugar free)
1/4 cup applesauce (no sugar added)
2 Eggs (Room Temperature)
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 cup Strawberries (cut or mashed up into small pieces, you could also do chocolate chips, blueberries, etc.)
Whisk or electric mixer
Mixing bowl
A plastic bag
Tin foil
Cupcake pan
Nonstick cooking spray

1. Start by preheating your oven to 325° Fahrenheit.

2. Using either an electric mixer or a whisk, mix the mashed banana, honey, maple syrup, and greek yogurt together.

3. Add the applesauce, eggs, and vanilla and then mix.

4. Add the flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix it until it is just incorporated, don’t over mix!

Banana, honey, maple syrup, yogurt. It’s going to look a little weird!
Applesauce, eggs, vanilla added.
Flour, baking powder, baking soda added.

5. Fold in your strawberry bits (or chocolate chips, blueberries, etc!)

This is what it should look like with the strawberries!

6. Prepare your pan – take your tin foil and bunch it up into a small ball, set one in each cupcake hole and spray with non-stick spray! (If you have a donut pan, just use that!)

7. Take your plastic bag and fill it with your batter. Snip the end for easy piping!

8. Pipe your batter around the tin foil. I did about 2-3 time around.

9. Bake for 12-15 minutes!

DIY donut pan!
Piped batter around tin foil 🙂
Baked donuts just out of the oven!

10. Get your donuts out of the pan. Push the tin foil out the bottom of the donut, set to cool.

Finished product!
Finished product!

Optional: I’m sure you could make a honey and strawberry glaze to go over this, but I didn’t do that. It would be really yummy, though!

I just thought I’d share my college-healthy donut alternative with the world. Since donuts are (shockingly) such a big part of my Hope life, I saw it fit to post here. In term of taste, Good Time definitely trumps. In terms of health, I think I’m the winner here!

Enjoy!

If you have any questions for me you can contact me at brookelyn.wharton@hope.edu, through Hope on Facebook, or my Twitter @hopebrooke18! I’d love to answer them!