Of all the eateries beckoning hungry visitors on Broadway St. in Pitman, The Bus Stop Music Café has caught my eye, and my friends have me by the arm insisting, “You’ve got to try this!”

It is clear from the décor that this place is a relaxing hangout for patrons. Records, CDs and cassette tapes adorn the walls surrounding the tables and smooth wooden tiles along the floor.  Next to the entrance is a small stage where every Tuesday night local indie bands and individuals are welcomed to Open Mic Night.

Music anywhere from The Doors to Weezer fills the restaurant on a continuous loop. The CDs along the walls are available for purchase, along with vinyl records and music equipment to the rear of the restaurant.

There is a laid-back and friendly atmosphere at Bus Stop. The smiling waiter approaches our table, making eye contact with us all as we order.

“Let me guess, Allman Brothers?” he says to my companion. It is clear to me that the staff is personable and in great spirits.

The menu is filled with meals prepared with fresh ingredients and organic, anti-hormone foods. Each item on the menu is properly named after song titles and popular bands; a salad titled, “Nirvana;” a sandwich titled, “Free Bird,” etc.

I ordered “The Cure,” grilled chicken, fresh brushetta and sharp provolone on toasted ciabatta bread.  The meal came with a pickle and kettle cooked potato chips.  - Side note; I love how this has nothing to do with The Cure.

The grilled chicken was juicy, blending well with the powerful and savory spices and ingredients of the bruschetta that topped it. The provolone was slightly melted, and neatly layered beneath the chicken and bruschetta. The three items pieced the sandwich together wonderfully, giving it a pleasing texture. The ciabatta bread was toasted just right, giving the sandwich just the right amount of crunch.

The kettle cooked chips were crunchy but a bit too greasy. The concept of an alternative to the drab idea of French fries as a side, however, was a nice touch and stayed true to Bus Stop’s ideals for home-grown foods.

My companion got the “Allman Brothers,” one of the many vegetarian friendly meals on the menu. The ciabatta sandwich consisted of various vegetables such as spinach and Portobello mushrooms. From my bite, the medley of vegetables together on the toasted ciabatta bread was quite satisfying.

My other companion ordered one of soups offered for the day, cream of potato. From my spoonful, the potatoes and other ingredients were compiled together in a delicious mixture. The texture for the potatoes was just soft enough. The broth did not taste as if it were high in sodium, the way some tend to taste. The large, hot, bowl of soup was enough for a meal, and came with two small pieces of toasted bread.

Although Bus Stop serves an array of enticing ice creams on the dessert menu, I decided to go with a mocha latte to top off my meal. The latte was served in a large mug and was quite filling. The mug was clean, and the latte was served at a hot temperature.

The meal was just under $8, the latte a little over $3. For a financially challenged college student, it could be a little pricey. However, the quality and freshness of the food makes up for the price. Keeping in mind, also, that Bus Stop uses anti-biotic free meat and poultry, as well as fresh and organic ingredients whenever possible, which are distributed at higher prices.

The friendly environment that Bus Stop provides is a sole reason to give this place a try. Waiters have no reason here to reach over you while you nibble on what’s left of your food, grabbing plates, dropping the check, to give you the hint that you should be gone. There is no rush to pay the bill and leave so the next group can fill your spot and their register. Many patrons seemed to come to read, write, relax, and socialize. The harmony of a tasteful menu of healthy food and rock music from various decades is enough to turn you into a regular at Bus Stop Music Café.

No, we don’t have our own television show, nor do we have our own movie. But, that doesn’t mean our lives aren’t interesting. Every day in our household is an adventure and I would not have it any other way.

Being a part of such a big family has its pros and cons; although, at the end of the day the pros always seem to prevail. I am number two in line, succeeded by my older sister. I think it goes without saying that we have the most responsibility out of the kids. Yes, this can be a pain sometimes, but in the end I enjoy helping my younger siblings grow.

Living with a large family has taught me a lot and has somehow interjected itself into my own life. For one, I have learned to respond to any name called to me. I am so used to my mom going through at least five names before she gets to mine. And, if she is really angry she sometimes throws in the dog’s name.

I have also developed a fear from having a large family; a fear of being alone. I am so used to being around noise and commotion that when it is quiet and no one is around I feel like something is wrong. But, this is never a problem with a big family. Someone is always around wanting to either annoy me or bring me company.

Privacy? Never. Sharing is a must in big families, but don’t think it’s such a bad thing. There is sunshine behind the clouds. Take clothes for example. I don’t see it as having five sisters and a mother all with their own clothes. I see it as having six other wardrobes to choose from. If we have to share in the house, why not share their clothes? I love variety.

And there is a lot of variety throughout my family members. Every single one of us is very different. Physically, we are all short and have dark features (except for a few), but our personalities differ greatly. I believe this is why there is always so much commotion in the household. Yes, there is bickering and arguing, but also a plethora of activities taking place all at once. Singing, drums, gymnastics, you name it. On top of all of the commotion, our house seems to be the neighborhood hangout. Maybe it is because there is always something going on. But, to my mom, what is one more place at the dinner table? She occasionally calls our house the “frat house.”

My family somehow manages to make even the most dreaded events fun. For example, the one thing we hate doing most, our Christmas picture. It is long awaited by many people and most hated by us. People are always fighting over where they want to stand, and others blink or sneeze. This causes us to take about 20 pictures over the course of a few hours. When we finally get the pictures done, we need to pick one out. When a person looks at a picture of themselves, they always make sure they look good. Try making nine people agree on one picture that they all think they look good in. This is a nightmare.

Although it may seem as if the Christmas picture nightmare would make me hate being part of a big family, it makes me love it even more. Behind every Christmas pictures lies a funny story. One year my sister bumped into my brother and he hit the tree causing it to fall to the ground. Another time, all of us decided to turn our heads when my mom counted to three so when she took the picture you couldn’t see our faces. Years from now it is not the hassle of taking the pictures I will think of, it is the memories shared between my family members.

Year after year I come to realize just how much fun I had living in a household with ten other people. I know it may seem crazy to most people, but I love it. I have come to find that there really is beauty in chaos. But there is one thing that I think about that always comforts me; knowing that I will never have to face my biggest fear of being alone.

Posters are understandably popular in college dorm rooms. They are easily the most inexpensive way to personalize your space. However, too many posters taped up on white walls can make it feel like “Animal House” or other sloppy college flicks.

A low-cost way to make those posters pop and make your room look more sophisticated is to frame them with foam poster board. Measure equal width strips of poster board, two long and two short, and paint them any color you’d like. Simply tape them around your poster, giving them the illusion of a frame.

Using the leftover foam poster board, you can also make a message board by covering the front in a swatch of fabric or even the front of an old t-shirt and stapling it in back. Criss-cross ribbon across the front and tack at intersections (make sure it’s tight so it will hold mail and pieces of paper). If you or a friend likes to paint, pick up a couple canvases and create your own art. Personalize your space by making a name plate.

Another fun way to add color is to create a gigantic wall collage with your roommates from leftover magazines. Pick out things you all like and simple tape them in a non-conformed fashion, in the end it will be a great piece of artwork that represents all of you.

There are other ways to personalize your room, even without craft skills. Pick a color scheme for your room, bedding and accessories. Any bright color will instantly liven up your drab dorm. You can find cheap throw pillows and decorative pop art at places like Homegoods or even Bed Bath & Beyond on clearance.

Fill your desk with pictures of your family and friends; every time you see them they’ll make you smile.

If you share a bathroom, pick out a fun shower curtain instead of a plain one and if you want to get really crazy, buy a matching tooth brush holder to create unity. Even a cute clock in the bathroom is decorative and useful for keeping track of the time when you’re getting ready.

Finally, to make your dorm feel like home, you can easily find cheap curtains or even make them with large swatches of fabric from places like Joann Fabrics or Walmart. Fold over one edge, leaving enough space for the rod to slide through and secure with fabric tape or glue.

The most important thing is to make the space feel like your own and have fun with it.

Dinner parties are probably one of my favorite things … ever. There is nothing better to me than spending time with great people while drinking excessive amounts of wine and eating delicious food. If you can name something better, I’ll bake you cookies. Really. Try me.

Anyway, over spring break I had a lovely little gathering with my boyfriend Johnny and two of our friends. The menu? Chicken en croute with garlic roasted tomatoes and asparagus.

Sound complicated? It’s not! “En croute” is just a fancy French way to say something is wrapped in pastry dough. The recipe I came up with for chicken en croute includes a leek and mushroom stuffing and some good strong brie, which gets gooey and delicious once it’s baked in the oven.

This meal sounds kind of intimidating, but I promise it’s actually quite a no-brainer and it fed four people (plus leftovers) for about $8.50 a person! You won’t get a meal this fancy at any restaurant for that cheap.

For the chicken en croute:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 boxes (4 sheets) of puff pastry dough

1 bunch leeks, sliced (fun food fact: When leeks grow through the soil, they trap lots of dirt and grit inside their leaves. When you prepare a leek, you’ll actually want to slice it first, then soak it in a big bowl of water. Swirl it around a bit, and all of the grit will sink to the bottom! Scoop the leeks out with a slotted spoon to leave all of the dirt in the bowl).

1 pound baby portobello mushrooms, sliced

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 tablespoon minced garlic

8 ounces brie cheese, sliced into four servings

Salt and Pepper to taste

Flour for dusting

1 egg, beaten

For the garlic roasted 

tomatoes and asparagus:

1 container cherry or grape tomatoes

1 pound asparagus spears, woody ends removed

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons garlic, minced

Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine the tomatoes with salt, pepper, garlic and olive oil and spread them on a foil-lined baking sheet.

3. Bake for about 30 minutes, until fragrant and the tomatoes burst. Remove from oven and set aside.

4. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.

5. Add the leeks and cook for about 3 minutes or until they begin to become translucent. Add the mushrooms and continue cooking 5 minutes longer.

6. Add the wine and cook another 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

7. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.

8. Flour your work surface and spread out one sheet of puff pastry dough. In the center, add 1/4 of the leek mixture, 1/4 of the brie and top with the seasoned chicken breast.

9. Fold the pastry dough over top of the chicken, long ways. Then fold the other half on top of that. Use the beaten egg to seal the edges.

10. Fold the outside edges on top and flip the chicken on a greased baking sheet.

11. Repeat with the remaining 3 chicken breasts.

12. Brush the top of the pastry dough with the beaten egg.

13. Using a sharp knife, make three incisions in the top of each pastry to avoid excessive puffing while baking.

14. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes.

15. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire baking rack and cool 5 minutes more.

16. While the chicken is cooling, bring a large pot filled with 2 cups of water to boil.

17. Once boiling, add the asparagus. Let cook for 3-4 minutes, until bright green in color and tender.

18. Drain, return to pot and add the reserved tomatoes. Heat until tomatoes are warmed through.

Obviously, a snowy day makes me want to bake. Who doesn’t want to bake on a snowy day? I immediately ran into an issue: I had no butter. What the heck am I supposed to bake with no butter?

What I did have was flour, sugar, vegetable oil and apple sauce. Add some cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves and it kind of sounds like apple pie, right?

But it’s not apple pie; I wanted to make cookies. Apple pie cookies!

These absolutely delectable, perfectly moist and slightly sweet with just the right amount of spice cookies just so happen to be vegan, too!

Apple Pie Cookies

2 & 1/4 cup flour (I used 1 cup whole wheat, 1 and 1/4 all purpose, but use what you have on hand)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 tablespoons sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients until combined.

3. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the apple sauce, sugars and vanilla.

4. Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing well to incorporate. Add the second half and repeat. The dough will be pretty sticky.

5. Scoop dough by the teaspoon onto a greased cookie sheet. (Don’t attempt to roll them out; the dough will just stick to your hands. Instead, wet your fingers once your cookie sheet is lined and press down the cookie dough with your fingers, rewetting them when the dough starts to stick again).

6. Sprinkle the top of each cookie with a little of the cinnamon sugar mixture.

7. Bake for 8-10 minutes until fragrant and the tops are golden brown.

8. Let cool for about 5 minutes. Transfer to a baking rack to cool completely. Or you can eat them while they’re still hot from the oven. They’re good either way, I promise!