{"id":774,"date":"2020-02-26T17:24:18","date_gmt":"2020-02-26T17:24:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurorasaurudev.wpengine.com\/?p=774"},"modified":"2024-03-18T21:33:44","modified_gmt":"2024-03-18T21:33:44","slug":"nerdy-science-recipes-for-your-next-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/?p=774","title":{"rendered":"Nerdy Science Recipes for Your Next Party!"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_830\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-830\" style=\"width: 266px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/EPD_A7dWsAApC5e.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-830\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/EPD_A7dWsAApC5e.jpeg\" alt=\"On a table sits a poster describing the colors of aurora and STEVE, and the instructions for making aurora hummus. A plate of aurora hummus and a plate of STEVE hummus sit in front of the poster, with ingredients to the left. \" width=\"266\" height=\"356\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-830\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aurorasaurus&#8217; contribution to the Poster Party: make-your-own aurora and STEVE hummus!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Each year, Goddard Space Flight Center holds a collegial\u00a0poster party for scientists and engineers to showcase their ongoing research. One of the award categories is &#8220;Best Science as Food.&#8221; What better opportunity to try ideas for hands-on\u00a0education? Aurorasaurus and our colleagues Dr. Anne-Marie Novo-Gradac and Dr. Kevin Novo-Gradac decided to represent the Heliophysics department\u00a0by\u00a0coming up with new, multisensory ways to present scientific concepts.<\/p>\n<p>Aurorasaurus\u00a0used all-natural, homemade hummus in three flavors to introduce the colors of aurora, walking each person\u00a0through\u00a0hands-on science as they dished up their own aurora or STEVE. The Drs. Novo-Gradac converted the heat of different layers of the sun to\u00a0Scoville units and made a progressively\u00a0spicier flaming sun dip. Try both recipes to make your next party extra stellar!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Award-Winning Aurora(saurus) Hummus<\/h2>\n<p>by Elizabeth MacDonald and Laura Brandt<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ingredients\/Materials:<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_829\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-829\" style=\"width: 211px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/EPD_Ap8WkAEqNPb.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-829\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/EPD_Ap8WkAEqNPb.jpeg\" alt=\"Two women hold up an award and plates of aurora and STEVE hummus\" width=\"211\" height=\"173\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-829\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aurorasaurus\u00a0took home the\u00a02020 Poster Party Best Science As Food Award!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">1 batch green hummus\u2014we used <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.acouplecooks.com\/green-hummus\/\">&#8220;Glowing Green Hummus&#8221; by A Couple Cooks<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">1 batch red hummus\u2014we used <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplyrecipes.com\/recipes\/beet_hummus\/\">&#8220;Beet Hummus&#8221; by Elise Bauer<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">3 batches black hummus\u2014we used <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/theindigokitchen.com\/recipe\/black-hummus-black-tahini-darth-vaders-fave\/\">&#8220;Black Hummus&#8221; from The Indigo Kitchen<\/a> and substituted black sesame paste for the homemade tahini<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">Sesame seeds<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">Pita chips or blue corn chips<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">Fork for scoring<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">2 icing bags for the red and green hummus (optional)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">Makes enough for a party!<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Aurora Directions:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-853 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/My-Post-4.jpg\" alt=\"Aurora instructions\" width=\"280\" height=\"280\" \/>Spread a black sesame hummus sky on a plate.<\/li>\n<li>The aurora occurs when energized particles excite atoms and molecules in the Earth&#8217;s ionosphere. These then release that energy as colorful photons. Oxygen molecules emit red or green. Nitrogen emits blue or pink.<\/li>\n<li>Imagine you are gazing north, with the northern horizon at the bottom center of the plate.<\/li>\n<li>Draw curving lines up from the horizon with red beet hummus. Red colors occur at the highest altitudes because the oxygen present there must take a relatively long, uninterrupted time to emit a red photon. At higher altitudes there are fewer particles, so fewer interruptions.<\/li>\n<li>Green emits more quickly and is the most common color. Draw lines of green spinach hummus underneath the red beet lines.<\/li>\n<li>Score the hummus aurora into rays with a fork, add sesame seed stars, and add pita chip or blue corn chip mountains.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><strong>STEVE Directions:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-856 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/My-Post-5.jpg\" alt=\"steve steve steve\" width=\"276\" height=\"276\" \/><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Spread a black sesame hummus sky on a plate.<\/li>\n<li>Imagine you are gazing north, with the northern horizon at the bottom center of the plate. STEVE occurs equatorward of the aurora, and arches east to west. It isn&#8217;t an aurora, but a &#8220;subauroral phenomenon.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Aurorasaurus and citizen scientists are studying STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement). There is much to discover: the particles flow in an unconventional direction, and the colors appear at unusual altitudes.<\/li>\n<li>STEVE&#8217;s primary color is mauve, but it can have green &#8220;picket fence&#8221; features below the mauve. Add an arch of red beet hummus from east to west, with green spinach &#8220;picket fences&#8221; below.<\/li>\n<li>Finishing touches: add sesame seed stars and pita chip or blue corn chip mountains.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Warning: may cause great conversations about space weather, subauroral phenomena, and the awesomeness\u00a0of community science. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Aurora-hummus-6.pdf\">Click here<\/a> for printable 11&#8243;x17&#8243; posters.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Flaming\u00a0Sun Dip<\/h2>\n<p>By Dr. Anne-Marie Novo-Gradac and Dr. Kevin Novo-Gradac<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_863\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-863\" style=\"width: 397px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Picture1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-863\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Picture1.png\" alt=\"A tray holds four fluffy yellow layers of cheese in concentric containers. \" width=\"397\" height=\"302\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-863\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Dr. Anne-Marie Novo-Gradac<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The sun consists of about six layers, each with a different temperature. This dip platter uses black bean dip of varying levels of spice to represent the different temperature zones. The spice level in Scoville units is scaled to match the temperature of the solar layers. This recipe makes about 60 2oz servings of dip (about 7.4 pounds!) Keep in mind that if you use different size serving containers than the suggested ones, you may need to adjust the amount of dip.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_826\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-826\" style=\"width: 616px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Screen-Shot-2020-02-24-at-2.52.48-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-826\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Screen-Shot-2020-02-24-at-2.52.48-PM.png\" alt=\"A table lists the layers of the sun, their thicknesses, temperatures, the relative Scoville units illustrating the heat, and the types of peppers used in the recipe.\" width=\"616\" height=\"218\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-826\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Table by Dr. and Dr. Novo-Gradac<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\"><strong>Ingredients\/Materials:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">Three 29 oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">Three 16 oz cans Old El Paso Green Chile Refried Beans<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">1\u00bd cups Herdez Salsa Casera\u2013Hot (3\/4 of a 16 oz jar)<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">3\/8 tsp garlic powder<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">\u00be cup corn oil<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">1\u00bd tsp cumin powder<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">1\u00bc tsp salt<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">3\/8 tsp onion powder<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">2-4 fresh haba\u00f1ero peppers<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">8 oz yellow cheddar cheese, shredded<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">8 oz Colby-Jack cheese, shredded<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">8 oz Cabot Haba\u00f1ero Pepper Cheddar Cheese, shredded<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">One 4 oz round container, such as a cupcake cup or plastic storage cup, to represent the Core of the Sun<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">One 8\u201d round cake pan to represent the Radiative Zone<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">One 12\u201d round cake pan to represent the Convective Zone<\/li>\n<li class=\"_04xlpA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\">One 18\u201d serving platter (can be larger) to represent the Corona<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To prepare the basic bean dip, combine the first eight ingredients in a deep stockpot and heat until gently bubbling. Use a hand blender to puree the dip until smooth. Adjust seasoning as desired.<\/p>\n<p><strong>For the Sun\u2019s Core:<\/strong> Puree the haba\u00f1ero peppers in a small food processor. Be VERY careful to avoid direct contact. Mix 2 Tbsp of the pepper puree with 3 oz of the bean dip and place it in the 4 oz container. Make extra if you think there will be a lot of people who want to test their tolerance for the core \u201ctemperature.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>For the Radiative Zone:<\/strong> Take\u00a0<strong>half<\/strong>\u00a0of the remaining bean dip and blend shredded haba\u00f1ero cheese into the dip until it has a \u201cheat\u201d level similar to a jalape\u00f1o pepper. Alternatively, you could blend haba\u00f1ero puree into the bean dip until it tastes right. However, if the puree is not perfectly smooth, there will be surprise hotspots in the dip! Put this dip in the 8\u201d pan and press the 4 oz \u201ccore\u201d container into the middle.<\/p>\n<p><strong>For the Convective Zone:<\/strong> Spread all of the remaining basic bean dip around the inner edge of the 12\u201d cake pan, and then put the 8\u201d pan in the middle. Then place the 12\u201d pan in the middle of the 18\u201d serving platter. Sprinkle haba\u00f1ero cheese over the core and radiative zone. Sprinkle cheddar over the convective zone.<\/p>\n<p><strong>For the Corona:<\/strong> Prepare a blend of Colby-Jack and haba\u00f1ero cheeses that tastes about as hot as red chili powder. Sprinkle the cheese blend on the 18\u201d serving platter.<\/p>\n<p>Enjoy!\u00a0Anne-Marie emphatically suggests that you <strong>warn your guests<\/strong> before they try this dip!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_827\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-827\" style=\"width: 925px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Solar-layers.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-827\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Solar-layers.jpg\" alt=\"A diagram depicts the layers of the sun: from inside to outside, the core, radiative zone, convection zone, chromosphere, and corona. The diagram also includes coronal streamers flowing outward.\" width=\"925\" height=\"902\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-827\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Layers of the Sun. Credit: NASA\/Jenny Mottar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Each year, Goddard Space Flight Center holds a collegial\u00a0poster party for scientists and engineers to showcase their ongoing research. One of the award categories is &#8220;Best Science as Food.&#8221; What better opportunity to try ideas for hands-on\u00a0education? Aurorasaurus and our colleagues Dr. Anne-Marie Novo-Gradac and Dr. Kevin Novo-Gradac decided to represent the Heliophysics department\u00a0by\u00a0coming up&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/?p=774\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Nerdy Science Recipes for Your Next Party!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":829,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"off","neve_meta_content_width":70,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,29,17,16,12],"tags":[20,13,23,19],"class_list":["post-774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-hands-on-activities","category-other-resources-for-aurora-hunters","category-steve","category-understanding-the-aurora","tag-auroras","tag-diy","tag-northern-lights","tag-steve"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=774"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/774\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.aurorasaurus.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}