Blog, Features, Uncategorized
By: Julia Mertes, Communications Intern, The Lion’s Pantry
Starting out as a simple soup and bread dinner, St. Andrew’s Community Café has grown to offer hearty entrees, soups, salads and desserts every Thursday from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m, Sharon Rovansek of St. Andrew’s Community Café said via email.
She said they also offer take-home ‘goodie’ bags which are filled with breads, fruit, and desserts to help supplement the pantry the week. The all-you-can-eat free meal is open to all.
Rovansek said St. Andrew’s Community Café members are also proud to say that they have never missed a Thursday event — no matter the weather or circumstance.
They have a bad weather crew that lives in walking distance of St. Andrew’s Community Café to ensure they can stay open regardless of weather.
When unpleasant and unforeseen circumstances developed, Rovansek said St. Andrew’s Community Café has made the most of their situation.
For instance, she said they once made sandwiches during a power outage in order to still provide their services to those in the local community.
Rovansek said they never thought of shutting down during the pandemic.
“How could we when so many people needed us or were, for the first time, in need of help?” she said.
They shifted gears as fast as they could and went to take-out — an adjustment that allowed them to continue helping their fellow community members during a time of growing need and uncertainty.
Now, they are back in-person, and Rovansek said they would like you to know that they pride themselves on not being your “typical” anything.
“We take the ‘community’ part of our name very seriously,” Rovansek said. “We create a welcoming and lively atmosphere to enjoy your meal. You can eat as much as you’d like. No one is going to tell you that you have eaten enough. Desserts and coffee are available.”
Prior to the pandemic, St. Andrew’s Community Café celebrated holidays, and they are moving toward that again, according to Rovansek.
As a matter of fact, she said they “hope to see Santa Claus in person — for the first time in two years — very soon.”
In the past, St. Andrew’s Community Café also had films playing for those who enjoyed them, and after some repairs to their movie screen, they will do so again, she said.
Finally, those at the Community Cafe would like to tell you that their motto is: “donations are accepted, but they are never expected. See you for dinner!!”
Community members can visit St. Andrew’s Community Café at 208 Foster Avenue in downtown State College. They also offer volunteer opportunity for those interested in making a larger impact on their community.
Blog, Recipes, Uncategorized
By: Julia Mertes, Communications Intern, The Lion’s Pantry
Fudge. Sandwiches. Ice Cream. Candy.
What do all these treats have in common?
They can be made with peanut butter — a staple food item that students pick up when visiting The Lion’s Pantry.
If you are a peanut butter lover, then you are not alone. According to Statista, approximately 299.34 million Americans consumed peanut butter during the 2020 season.
Peanut butter can be paired with a variety ingredients to make a delicious meal or snack — from the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich to peanut butter and chocolate treats.
Besides being a tasty addition to one’s meal plan, peanut butter also contains health benefits.
For instance, WebMD records that peanut butter includes omega-6 fatty acids, which aid brain and bodily functions as well as cholesterol lowering. The creamy spread is also known to reduce one’s diabetes risk and regulate weight, the article said.
If you are looking for new ways to incorporate peanut butter into your daily dietary plan, then you came to the right place. Here are 15 recipe ideas for peanut butter lovers to whip up this week.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels
1. Make peanut butter rice cake sandwiches.
Rather than making traditional PB&J sandwiches with white, wheat or rye toast, consider making your sandwich with rice cakes.
You could even make “The Elvis Sandwich,” which includes peanut butter, bananas, honey and bacon. Simply use rice cakes as the base of the meal.
2. Create peanut butter granola bars.
Peanut butter acts as a binding agent when creating energizing granola bars to snack on at the beginning of the day or when extra energy is needed. If you would like to whip up some peanut butter granola bars, check out a recipe from Food Network or Taste of Home.
Most granola bar recipes include comparable ingredients, including peanut butter, honey, eggs, old-fashioned oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips, brown sugar, and butter. However, you can always modify your recipe to include your favorite ingredients — whether that be dried fruits, marshmallows, or nuts.
3. Create peanut butter-coated ice cream cones.
You cannot go wrong with a peanut butter dessert, so why not add the spread to your next ice cream treat?
Coat the inside of your ice cream cone with peanut butter and enjoy every bite that follows.
4. Add peanut butter into your next smoothie or milkshake.
If you are a smoothie or milkshake lover, add a scoop of peanut butter into the mixer when creating your drink.
Incorporate your desired helping of peanut butter, ripe bananas, milk and ice into a mixer for a breakfast dish filled with creamy texture, few ingredients and quick creation time.
Photo by Eiliv Aceron on Pexels
5. Spread peanut butter onto your breakfast favorites like pancakes and waffles or coat your crepes with the spread.
Adding peanut butter to your favorite breakfast classics will take them to the next level.
6. Create a dessert pizza coated with peanut butter as the “sauce.”
Rather than making a savory pizza filled with cheese and coated with red sauce for dinner, you could always create a dessert pizza coated in peanut butter.
Top your peanut butter-covered pizza with your favorite fruits and other sugary toppings. For instance, consider adding chocolate chips, peanut butter cups, marshmallows, and chocolate syrup for a sugary treat.
7. Whip up some peanut butter bread.
If you enjoy carbs, you are not alone. Peanut butter bread will be the perfect treat for a special breakfast or quick midday snack.
Follow this recipe by She Wears Many Hats to end up with tasty bread for any occasion.
8. Make some no-bake peanut butter cookies.
If you don’t have an oven easily accessible for regular use, then no-bake peanut butter cookies are the treat for you to create and devour.
Using sugar, butter, milk, peanut butter vanilla extract and oats, you’ll be able to whip up a peanut butter-filled dessert to impress your friends and family in no time.
Photo by Matheus Bertelli on Pexels
9. Add peanut butter to your s’mores.
If you’re a fan of Nutter Butter Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies, then you may enjoy this spin on the traditional summer snack — s’mores.
Coat your Graham cracker in peanut butter before adding a hopping of chocolate and warmed marshmallow.
10. Add peanut butter to your next yogurt parfait.
Besides adding traditional yogurt, fruit and granola inside a fruit parfait, consider adding peanut butter to the dish for extra flavor and protein. A helping of peanut butter in your bowl will take the parfait to the next level.
11. Incorporate peanut butter into your daily oatmeal.
Add a dollop of peanut butter into your oatmeal for a filling and savory breakfast.
If you would like to follow a recipe geared toward accentuating the peanut butter flavor in your dish, then use the following recipe by Tasty that takes limited prep time and ingredients.
12. Coat your popcorn in a peanut butter drizzle.
Heat up some peanut butter in the microwave or stove and drizzle it over some popcorn. This will be your new favorite movie night snack that takes minimal time to heat up and execute.
13. Cover your Oreos in peanut butter.
If you grew up watching the movie “The Parent Trap,” then you would recognize this suggestion of coating Oreos with peanut butter.
Try this simple trick the next time you open a container of Oreos for a “sweet” surprise of flavor.
Photo by Rachel Claire on Pexels
14. Mix peanut butter into your next pasta, rice, or noodles dish for added saltiness.
If you order sesame peanut butter noodles when eating out at your local Asian-inspired restaurants, consider making your own dish for dinner.
15. Create a frozen peanut butter treat.
To create a cool treat, mix vanilla yogurt and peanut butter together in a container — along with any other add-ins you would like to include. Place the concoction into the freezer until solid and enjoy.
This basic treat will be great for people of all ages and can even be shared with your dogs at home.
Blog, Features, Uncategorized
What is Abba Java?
Abba Java is a ministry of the Wesley Foundation at Penn State, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church & Wesley Foundation, according to their website. The establishment is located in downtown State College on the corner of Locust Lane & Calder Way.
When can you visit Abba Java?
Abba Java Coffeehouse is closed until July 5 after which they will reopen from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
These modified summer hours will continue until August 4.
They will reopen with their regular open hours on August 22, according to Campus Minister of the Wesley Student Foundation & Abba Java Rev. Sarah Coker Voigt.
What is Abba Java’s mission?
According to the Abba Java Coffeehouse website, their mission is to be a “home away from home” for Penn State students. They offer a safe study space for students to enjoy fair trade coffee and tea, food, and Wi-Fi.
What does Abba Java offer?
Abba Java Coffeehouse has quiet study spaces as well as large coffeehouse rooms, a prayer chapel, and meeting space for groups/student orgs to reserve.
Abba Java has a food pantry area, which contains boxed/canned items as well as hygiene/household items. They also recently added a refrigerator/freezer unit for additional items.
Abba Java planted a community garden this summer filled with lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and broccoli. All of the produce is available for students and community members alike to take from as needed.
Blog, Recipes, Uncategorized
By: Julia Mertes, Communications Intern, The Lion’s Pantry
If you need a quick and easy meal to whip up after a long day at work, then look no further. You can’t go wrong with pasta, so we’ve found you 11 top-notch meals to make this season.
1. Cacio e Pepe
Add some Italian cuisine to your meal plan by whipping up cacio e pepe for dinner.
Cacio e Pepe translates to “cheese and pepper,” which are the main ingredients needed to make this meal. You can use this recipe from Bon Appétit that uses only 5 ingredients including, your choice in pasta, unsalted butter, black pepper, grated Parmesan cheese and Pecorino.
2. Spinach Parmesan Pasta
When cooking your pasta, sprinkle in some spinach and cheese to soften with the noodles as they cook. Stir in some Alfredo sauce if you want to increase the creaminess of the dish, and top it with Parmesan cheese.
3. Pasta al Limone
To “zest” up your next meal, add some lemon juice, butter, Parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper to your pasta.
Since lemons contain “vitamin C, soluble fiber, and plant compounds” that are beneficial to one’s health according to healthline, this meal may become your next go-to healthy dinner. Plus, it would be a simple — yet delicious — dish to whip up when you’re expecting company.
4. Spaghetti Taco Pasta
If you grew up as an iCarly lover, then this recommendation may sound familiar to you! Grab some hard-shell tacos on your next trip to the store and fill them with cooked pasta in marinara sauce.
5. Pizza Pasta
Besides topping your spaghetti with red sauce, add some traditional pizza ingredients like pepperoni, garlic, onion, mozzarella cheese, and Italian seasonings. If you would like to follow a recipe to make this scrumptious dinner, The Country Cook shared a tasty pasta bake with few ingredients. This meal would be perfect if you’re a leftovers lover.
Photo by Katerina Holmes on Pexels
6. Spaghetti Carbonara
Spaghetti Carbonara is a classic Italian dish that includes eggs, cheese, bacon and black pepper. You can’t go wrong with bacon, as many breakfast lovers proclaim! Find a quick and easy recipe for this meal on The New York Times Cooking.
7. Southwestern Rotisserie Chicken Pasta
Add some spice to your penne pasta by including peppers, black beans, and taco seasoning to the mixture. Chop up your rotisserie chicken for additional protein, and sprinkle in some corn and jarred Alfredo. The final creation will create an explosion of flavor.
8. Cajun Sausage Alfredo
Pick up some smoked sausage that can be cooked on the stove and add it to your pasta mixture filled with Cajun seasoning, heavy cream and cheese. You can find a recipe for this creation by Plain Chicken.
9. Canned Tuna Pasta
If you would like to follow a recipe, then make sure to check out this recipe from Salt and Lavender that requires few ingredients and a reasonable cooking time. You’ll only need canned tuna, garlic, salt and pepper, olive oil and lemon juice to incorporate with your pasta.
10. Broccoli Alfredo Pasta
Elevate your pasta with some softened broccoli, garlic and Alfredo sauce. This pasta creation lacks complexity but is loaded with flavor.
Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels
11. Pantry Pasta
You may be wondering what pantry pasta is and what the dish includes. Wonder no longer!
Pantry pasta includes any ingredients lying around in your kitchen pantry that can be added to your pasta. Do you have some foods that are about to expire, add it to the dish. Did you recently pick up something from The Lion’s Pantry that you do not know how to include in a meal? Sprinkle it in. This dish is simply a mishmash of flavors.
What is your favorite pasta recipe? Be sure to share your recommendations with us!
Blog, Recipes, Uncategorized
By: Julia Mertes, Communications Intern, The Lion’s Pantry
As the summer months proceed, the weather becomes warmer and more sustainable for outdoor dining experiences at campgrounds and outdoor bonfires. While you could whip up traditional hot dogs and hamburgers, there are other delectable dishes you should try as well, including these mountain pie recipes.
Mountain pies are made by filling two pieces of bread with an assortment of fillings and toppings. Think of grilled cheese sandwiches — but more deluxe and flavorful. We have the perfect array of sweet and savory meals for you to whip up this summer.
Check out our recommendations below, and be sure to share your own tips and tricks with us.
Savory Mountain Pie Meals
Photo by Pixzolo Photography on Unsplash
If you enjoy savory meals, then we have 13 Mountain Pie suggestions for you that will be perfect for any occasion.
1. Pizza Mountain Pie
If you’re a pizza lover, you’ll love this mountain pie filled with pizza sauce, cheese, pepperoni and other favorite pizza toppings. Simply fill your traditional white bread with these items and watch the ingredients melt together into a variation of many Americans’ favorite foods.
2. Grilled Cheese Mountain Pie
One of the most basic mountain pies is the grilled cheese mountain pie variation. Simply incorporate your favorite cheese — or cheeses — into the mix and enjoy the gooey treat.
3. Buffalo Chicken Mountain Pie
You can’t go wrong with buffalo chicken flavored dinners, so why not try out some Buffalo Chicken Mountain Pies? All you would need is some shredded chicken, cheese and sriracha sauce to fill the inside of the bread. These ingredients will give you an explosion of flavor that is great for anyone who likes hot and spicy dishes.
4. Spinach Feta Mountain Pies
If you want to put a healthy spin on mountain pies, add some greens like spinach into the dish along with the fan-favorite feta cheese.
5. Breakfast Mountain Pie
Who wouldn’t want to start their day off with a Breakfast Mountain Pie filled with scrambled eggs, cheese and a protein of one’s choice — like juicy bacon and sausage?
If you are on a camping trip, this may be the perfect breakfast to add to your meal plan.
6. English Muffin Mountain Pie
If you’re tired of using traditional bread for your mountain pies, switch out your grain by utilizing an English muffin. An English muffin may even be the best type of bread to use in a Breakfast Mountain Pie, as previously noted above.
7. Garlic Cheesy Bread Mountain Pie
Comparable to the Grilled Cheese Mountain Pies, the Garlic Cheesy Bread Mountain Pie will speak to any Italian food lover. Simply enhance the cheesy flavor by incorporating garlic and/or garlic spread to your pie.
8. Taco Mountain Pies
If you’re planning a cookout on a Tuesday evening, then you should combine your desire for mountain pies with the Tuesday tradition of having scrumptious tacos.
Sprinkle in some taco seasoning, beans, greens, and beef. You’ll be left with a yummy treat to eat and share.
Photo by David Disponett on Pexels
9. Turkey/Ham and Cheese Mountain Pie
Many kids grew up with lunch meat-filled sandwiches being packed in their lunches or available in their school cafeterias. You can take this opportunity to reminisce on childhood memories while making new ones with friends and family.
Add your favorite lunch meats to your pack for a cosmo sandwich.
10. Meatball Sub Mountain Pie
If you’re a fan of Pizza Mountain Pie, then you should add meatballs to your sandwich to increase the extra flavor and texture.
11. Po’Boy Mountain Pie
Now, this is a meal for our seafood lovers. If you’re craving some seafood, a Po’boy sandwich may be the dinner option for you to experiment with for a tasty dinner treat. Simply add your favorite seafood into the sandwich.
12. California Avocado Toast
Avocado toast became a widespread craze over the last few years as people began looking for the best recipes and restaurants to get the dish.
Look no farther. All you will need is your favorite avocado toast toppings, including avocado, eggs and sriracha.
13. Bruschetta Mountain Pie
Incorporate some tomatoes, mozzarella and spinach into your mountain pie sandwich to be reminded of the classic Italian dish — bruschetta.
Combine the sophistication of bruschetta with the fun-atmosphere entailed with mountain pie making.
Sweet Mountain Pies
Photo by Freddy G on Unsplash.
If you have a sweet tooth, there are an assortment of mountain pie recipes that will satisfy your craving for sugar and chocolate.
1. Fruit-flavored Mountain Pie
You can never go wrong when adding canned fruit into your mountain pie sandwich. Add some corresponding spices to the dish, and you will have a pie-flavored creation.
2. Cookies and Cream Mountain Pie
Crumble your favorite cookies into the pack and get ready for a melted, delicious dish.
3. German Chocolate Mountain Pie
If you’re a German Chocolate Cake lover, then this mountain pie will be right up your alley.
Combining chocolate, caramel syrup and coconut inside the pack will create an explosions of flavor.
4. S’mores Mountain Pie
At a cookout, why not make a delicious spin on the delicious s’mores desert? Add chocolate, marshmallows, and crumbled graham crackers into your sandwich for this treat.
5. Peanut Butter and Fluff Mountain Pie
This mountain pie will transport you back to your school-day memories when peanut butter and fluff sandwiches were a must-have commodity in the school cafeteria.
Simply add a hopping of peanut butter and fluffernutter onto your sandwich and let is warm. You could also utilize Nutella to add new and unique flavors to the dish.
Photo by Asnim Ansari on Unsplash
What’s your favorite mountain pie recipe? Be sure to share your recommendations with us!
