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2,000 Louisiana Students to Receive Paid Job Training During Summer

The Louisiana Department of Education released some great news this month when they stated their plans to “expand its Jump Start Summers initiative, allowing nearly 2,000 high school students the opportunity to earn academic credit, engage in workplace-based learning and attain critical industry-based credentials, all while earning a wage, during the upcoming summer months. The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) on Wednesday will vote to approve 46 new program providers across the state.”

“Workplace-based learning provides an unparalleled opportunity for students to master essential workplace behaviors and communication skills, while making their academic schoolwork more relevant,” said State Superintendent John White. “This is true for all students–those who are university-bound, as well as those who are career-focused.”

For more information on the Jump Start Summers Initiative, click here.

Perfectly Grilled Steak

It’s that time of year where you continuously find yourself outside by the grill each night enjoying the sunset and hopefully something delicious to go with it. Which is exactly why we’ve want to share this perfectly grilled steak recipe with anyone and everyone! This recipe, which is featured on thefoodnetwork.com, is not only the perfect steak recipe, but it is quick and simple as well- what more could you ask for!?

Ingredients

4 1 1/4-to-1 1/2-inch-thick boneless rib-eye or New York strip steaks (about 12 ounces each) or filets mignons (8 to 10 ounces each), trimmed
2 tablespoons canola or extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

About 20 minutes before grilling, remove the steaks from the refrigerator and let sit, covered, at room temperature.

Heat your grill to high. Brush the steaks on both sides with oil and season liberally with salt and pepper. Place the steaks on the grill and cook until golden brown and slightly charred, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn the steaks over and continue to grill 3 to 5 minutes for medium-rare (an internal temperature of 135 degrees F), 5 to 7 minutes for medium (140 degrees F) or 8 to 10 minutes for medium-well (150 degrees F).

Transfer the steaks to a cutting board or platter, tent loosely with foil and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.

Oil Closes at Highest Point in 3 Years

Here in Louisiana we all know how big of a part the oil and gas industry play a part in our day to day life. Which is why it was such great news when we read this article from the Houma Times dated 4/11/18 which stated, “The oil and gas industry reached a new peak today on the market. The price of oil closed at $66.74/barrel on Wednesday – up more than $3/barrel from the $63/barrel price tag it carried at the start of the week. The $66.74 price is significant. It’s the highest price that oil has carried since the start of 2015 – the beginning of the economic downturn locally, which has lasted for 40-plus months.”

For more information and to read the full Houma Times article, click here.

Best Travel Websites for Planning Your Next Vacation

Forbes.com has recently released an article to help you prepare for your next best adventure. The article, which you can find here, lists 4 of the best travel planning websites that you will want to use to their full potential so you can plan the trip of a lifetime.

The first suggestion is Airbnb which is a company almost everyone has heard of these days. But number 3 (kayak.com) and 4 (momondo.com) you may not be too familiar with. As stated in the article, “you can use Kayak to scour the Web to find deals on flights, hotel rooms, and rental cars. One of the best features about this travel Website are the pricing trends and the predictive algorithms on where prices are going — up or down. You can use the information gleaned to assess your options for buying now or holding off.” And “Momondo is by far one of the best travel Websites for sourcing travel deals with one of the most intuitive meta search engines for pricing flights, hotels, and rental cars. Similar to Kayak, you can also setup travel alerts here to notify you when prices change.”
Good luck on planning your next get-away!

Louisiana High School Launches “Life Skills” Class for Seniors

In an article recently released by news station, WGNO, Edward Douglas White Catholic High School in Thibodeaux, LA is now adding a life skills class to their curriculum for seniors for an entire semester. As stated in the article, “These students are learning all about budgeting, writing checks, and overall how to be responsible with their future finances. “With like banking and taxes and stuff, there is a lot of extra stuff I have never considered,” says Philip Caldwell, a senior at E.D. White Catholic High School. The trend, is that these millennial are ready to strip that negative title, and basically kick some butt in life. They’re even learning how to jump start a car and how to change a flat tire.”

For more information on the new curriculum that has been added and to read the full article, click here.

Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Grits

The Food Network is always releasing several different recipes to fit many different moods. Whether its comfort food or a healthy meal you are looking for, they are sure to have a pool of delicious recipes to choose from. This lemon garlic shrimp and grits recipe falls under the “healthy weeknight dinner” recipes. A. Because its healthy and B. we can only assume because it can be prepared and cooked in a total of 30 minutes which is perfect for a busy week night.

Ingredients

3/4 cup instant grits
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/4 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails intact
2 large cloves garlic, minced
Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
Juice of 1/2 lemon, plus wedges for serving
2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat, covered. Uncover and slowly whisk in the grits, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the parmesan and 1 tablespoon butter. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper. Cover to keep warm.

Meanwhile, season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp, garlic and cayenne, if using, and cook, tossing, until the shrimp are pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and add 2 tablespoons water, the lemon juice and parsley; stir to coat the shrimp with the sauce and season with salt and pepper.

Divide the grits among shallow bowls and top with the shrimp and sauce. Serve with lemon wedges.

Courtesy of Food Network Magazine