The Magic of Snow

By Maya Viswanathan

Coating all the trees
Is perfect white snow
Soon the snow will freeze
In its place ice will glow
The park an enchanted wood
From a fairytale
With magic creatures doing good
And a breadcrumb trail
The snow transforms the ordinary park
Into a magic wondrous land
Into so much more than trees and bark
Into a place that’s truly grand

Sledding

By Maya Viswanathan

With a gentle shove
From my warm black glove
I fly down the slope
Holding tight to the rope
By which I am led
On my bright pink sled
With the wind in my hair
Through the snow everywhere
With my friends at my side
Together we ride
Through the beautiful snow
We happily go

Za’s Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

By Matthew Ferrer

Around Champaign-Urbana,  you can find all sorts of delicious foods with different flavors ranging from sweet,  sour, bitter, salty, or even a mix of them all (and that’s just to name a few). Thanks to our local restaurants,  we can find these delectable foods and try them out.

About a year ago, a favorite restaurant of mine (and many other students at Jefferson) abruptly closed due to financial issues. The name of this restaurant is “Za’s”.  I was able to visit this Italian cafe multiple times. Every single time, my family and I would always eat the creamiest, flavorful food. But, one dish always stole our hearts with its simple cheesy taste that kept us wanting more: chicken fettuccine alfredo.

Chicken fettuccine alfredo is a pasta meal made up of fettuccine noodles mixed with butter and parmesan cheese. Although this version of the dish has chicken, other versions can have food items like shrimp and broccoli. The parmesan cheese coats the alfredo in a creamy sauce, as well.

Although Chicken fettuccine alfredo is a great dish, it has a few weaknesses. The alfredo is lacking in presentation sadly. The way the pasta is arranged is very simple. If you don’t take in the smell of the dish, you might think of it as mediocre or bland.

Thankfully, the taste of the alfredo, though, is a true delight. The moment you bite into the pasta, you can taste the slightly nutty and cheesy taste. Along with the pasta, pieces of chicken, which are a bit more bitter, help complement the powerful taste of the noodles. You can even feel the texture of the noodles, which is very smooth.  Afterward, the taste will leave you positively satisfied.

Chicken fettuccine alfredo is a very creamy, nutty, and richly flavored dish. It’s great to eat with family or friends when you get the chance. If you ever want to try out a similar fettuccine alfredo dish like Za’s, you can head over to a restaurant called Mia Za’s at 5701, 629 E Green St, Champaign, IL 61820.

Physical Mentality

By Matthew Ferrer

A phoenix soaring high, mighty,
With golden wings of fire,
Shown in front of me,
Their priority is higher.

Shower them with many gifts,
Praise the burning one with blurred eyes;
An escapism of lies,
Though, remember: worthy is your life.

A wave of anger shall be sent with strength,
With the phoenix’s woes and cries,
“Bow down to me, you’ll see,
I will empower strength with thee.”

For thy above does not know,
Golden tears shall glow brighter,
Than its own silver scars;
Far from any worth.

A mindset in physical form,
That phoenix, a true image,
A legend, a monster,
Your mind has blindly adorned.

This beauty of a monster,
Is to silence your true mentality,
Thy joy of what is reality,
Fear does the phoenix endear so.
A phoenix soaring high, mighty,
With golden wings of fire,
Shown in front of me,
Their priority is higher.

Shower them with many gifts,
Praise the burning one with blurred eyes;
An escapism of lies,
Though, remember: worthy is your life.

A wave of anger shall be sent with strength,
With the phoenix’s woes and cries,
“Bow down to me, you’ll see,
I will empower strength with thee.”

For thy above does not know,
Golden tears shall glow brighter,
Than its own silver scars;
Far from any worth.

A mindset in physical form,
That phoenix, a true image,
A legend, a monster,
Your mind has blindly adorned.

This beauty of a monster,
Is to silence your true mentality,
Thy joy of what is reality,
Fear does the phoenix endear so.
A phoenix soaring high, mighty,
With golden wings of fire,
Shown in front of me,
Their priority is higher.

Shower them with many gifts,
Praise the burning one with blurred eyes;
An escapism of lies,
Though, remember: worthy is your life.

A wave of anger shall be sent with strength,
With the phoenix’s woes and cries,
“Bow down to me, you’ll see,
I will empower strength with thee.”

For thy above does not know,
Golden tears shall glow brighter,
Than its own silver scars;
Far from any worth.

A mindset in physical form,
That phoenix, a true image,
A legend, a monster,
Your mind has blindly adorned.

This beauty of a monster,
Is to silence your true mentality,
Thy joy of what is reality,
Fear does the phoenix endear so.