#'Sugar Pearl' White Corn

[ediblegardenspointloma]

In My San Diego Garden and Kitchen

Last week we harvested the first of the Sugar Pearl corn. Seed is from Renee’s Garden and it matches the catalog description in every way. We have evidence suggesting a raccoon visitor to the garden but so far the plywood armored raised bed is holding. We put the critter camera out to see who’s visiting while we sleep.

“Pearly white sweet kernels with that delicate, meltingly tender flavor that characterizes really delicious white corn,” as the catalog says. We savor every bite and have shared ears with two garden tenders who kept the garden alive while we were away for several weeks.

The very cool June and July may explain why many of the stalks only have one ear this year. Happily, the last three weeks have been sunny and warm and the corn was ready to harvest near the expected 70 days from planting.

Every day my husband brings in at least this many Emerite pole beans—sometimes more. He’s letting the largest, best pods ripen for seed collection.

More Baby Belle peppers which are especially useful in summer salads with the surplus going to the freezer. They like the last few days of 90 degrees, though we don’t. This is very unusual for our location two blocks from the ocean. As the warm season crops finish, I’m preparing the raised beds for the cool season garden and tending the broccoli and cauliflower starts.

I removed all the tomato plants last week as each gave their last gasp and booty. The black cherry tomato, which is a monster, remains and is dripping with fruit to come. I think we’ve had an opossum and the occasional rat helping themselves so traps are set.

Zinnias don’t mind the heat and seem to come into their own. I’m contemplating what fall flowers will be planted in the raised beds with my vegetables.

Check the What I’m Planting Now page as I plan and sow seeds for the cool season garden. Then head to Harvest Monday, hosted by Dave at Happy Acres blog and see what garden bloggers around the world harvested last week.

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[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: On Colour

Describing Colour in your Poetry and Stories

BLACK Shadow Black, Dusk, Midnight, Blackbird, Blackberry, Ebony, Black Honey, Darkness, Jet Black, Ink Black, Soot, Onyx, Licorice, Ivory Black, Pitch, Char, Gloom, Outer Space, Creosote Black, Melanite, Goth Black, Gunpowder

BLUE Blueberry, Sapphire Blue Metallic, Tiffany Blue (Pantone 1837), Cobalt Blue, Denim, Aquamarine, Turquoise, Sky Blue, Topaz, Ultramarine Blue, Azure, Cerulean, Oxford Blue, Periwinkle, Electric Blue, Baby Boy Blue, Pthalo Blue, Robin's Egg Blue, Persian Blue, Marino Blue, Prussian Blue

GREEN Leafy Green, Olive, Moss Green, Jade, Lime, Sour Apple Green, Emerald Green, Mint, Kiwi Green, Phthalo Green, Praying Mantis Green, Viridian, Greenback, Shamrock, Sap Green, Chartreuse, Sea Green, Pistachio, Teal, Bamboo, Sea Salt, Celadon Green, Celery, Asparagus Green, Fern Green, Neon Green, Jungle Green, Pear Green

ORANGE Pumpkin, Burnt Orange, Carrot, Sunset Orange, Tangerine, Persimmon, Salamander, Tennessee Orange (Pantone 151), Jack-o'-lantern Orange, Florida Orange, Summer Squash, Pale Daffodil, Smashed Pumpkin, Saffron, Autumn Orange, Macaroni and Cheese, Cadmium Orange

PINK Pink Flamingo, Neon Pink, Bubblegum Pink, Salmon, Peach, Fuscia, Cotton Candy Pink, Rose, Carnation, Thulian, Apricot, Atomic Pink, Barbie Pink, Hot Pink, Amaranth, Flushed, Glitter Pink

PURPLE Lavender, Purple Haze, Grape, Eggplant Purple, Plum, Violet, Orchid, Psychedelic Purple, Amethyst, Lilac, Boysenberry, Mulberry, Wisteria, Bruised Plum, Indigo, Mauve

RED Blood Red, Copper, Maroon, Strawberry, Watermelon Red, Crimson, Candy Apple Red, Tomato, Brick Red, Scarlet, Cardinal Red, Cherry, Ruby Red, Coral, Sunburn, Hot Lava, Cadmium Red, Auburn, Blush, Alizarin Crimson, Fire Engine Red, Raspberry, Vermillion, Lipstick, Burgundy, Magenta, English Vermilion, Mahogany

WHITE Dirty White, Albino, Chalk, Alabaster, Cotton, Titanium White, Vanilla, Bone White Egg Shell, Marshmallow, Ivory, Pearl White, Almond, Champagne, Blond, Cream, Milky White, Corn Silk, Bleach, Navajo White, Ghost White, Light, Cloud White

YELLOW Canary Yellow, Lemon, Banana, Egg Yolk Yellow, Mellow Yellow, Chanterelle, Mustard Yellow, Corn, Goldenrod, Amber, Pineapple, Metallic Gold, Cadmium Yellow, Wheat, Tuscan Sun, Butter, School Bus Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Citron, Dandelion

BROWN Mud Brown, Beaver, Caramel, Rust, Macaroon, Toasty Brown, Coffee, Sandy Tan, Cocoa, Honey, Chocolate, Burnt Sienna, Mocha, Seashell, Antique Brass, Bronze, Brown Sugar, Chestnut Brown, Taupe, Burnt Umber, Khaki, Dark Sienna, Light Chocolate, Sepia

GRAY Stone Gray, Ash, Metallic Silver, Platinum, Smoke, Concrete Gray, Mercury, Steel Gray, Mist, Titanium, Charcoal, Slate, Sterling Silver, Tungsten, Old Coin Gray, Iron Gray, Chrome, Magnesium, Overcast

MIXED Candy Cane (red and white), Zebra (black and white), Chameleon (many different colours), Ladybug (black and red), Wildfire (yellow, orange and red), Tiger (orange, black and white), Yellow Jacket (black and yellow), Christmas Lights (red, white and green), Rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet), Black Pepper (black and gray), Leopard (spotted gold and black), Creamsicle (orange and white), Candy Corn (orange and white), Iceberg (a bluish gray), Marbled

COLOURS: Symbolisms, Associations & Psychological Effects

Black. Especially in Gothic literature from the West, a black colour choice often represents death, evil, grief, and depression. Associated with fear, the unknown and often has a negative connotation. Black clothes can make you look thinner. A black background severely diminishes the readability of most type. Often the go to colour for funerals and grieving. It symbolizes stability and power, which gives a sense of authority. Thus, the black colour often represents professionalism and expertise.

Blue. Has positive and negative connotations in colour psychology. Some writers may use blue to represent serenity and tranquility, instilling a scene with a calming effect. Blue can also signify sadness, melancholy, or isolation. People who find someone very loyal and faithful are often called "true blue". Blue is often considered to be more masculine which is why it is often the colour of choice when choosing a suit. Lighter blues are associated with tranquility, softness and healing. Darker blues are associated with power, knowledge and seriousness. Blue is actually shown to suppress appetites a bit. The colour blue symbolizes wisdom and hope. It’s the colour of peace and confidence. Blue has been shown to reduce blood pressure and pulse rate. It fosters serenity and a sense of belonging.

Green. The colour green often symbolizes rebirth, growth, peace, jealousy, and greed. Green colours may also represent spring and renewal. It is a colour that is very easy on the eyes. Dark green is often associated with ambition. Green suggests stability, safety and hope. At the same time, it may denote a lack of experience in a particular field. Green symbolizes peace, growth, and nature. It is the colour of success, promoting healing and tranquility.

Orange. The colour orange often represents energy, excitement, joy, and creativity. Since orange is the colour of fire, it may also symbolize heat. Since orange is not as aggressive as red, it can actually stimulate brain activity. It is very useful to catch someone's attention, which is why it's used a lot to advertise food and toys.

Pink. The colour pink symbolizes love, kindness, femininity, innocence, and playfulness. Certain shades of pink can limit aggression. Pink may be associated with unconditional love and caring.

Purple. Often associated with royalty, the colour purple symbolizes bravery, spirituality, and luxury. Light purple usually brings up romantic or nostalgic feelings; while a darker shade can make you feel gloomy or sad.

Red. The colour red symbolizes some of the most powerful human emotions, like passionate love or lust. On the other side of the spectrum, this warm colour is also the colour of blood, often symbolizing anger, danger, and violence. It stimulates the appetite. Red is an emotionally intense colour associated with energy, danger, anger, passion and determination. The symbolic meaning associated with the colour red is passion, excitement, and love. It’s the colour of urgency, power, and desire. Red is said to boost hunger and is believed to inspire confidence and excitement. This colour has also been found to increase blood pressure and heart rate.

White. This primary colour traditionally symbolizes innocence, peace, and cleanliness. In Western cultures, the colour white also represents purity and virginity, while it symbolizes mourning in some East Asian cultures. Usually has positive connotations when used and thought of as safe. Associated a lot with healing, simplicity and sterility, which is why it's used in hospitals and healing centers as much as it is. The symbolic meaning of the colour white is truth and sometimes even indifference. It encourages feelings of safety and cleanliness. Clean, white clothes and linens show sterility since stains are easily visible. That’s why doctors and nurses frequently wear white lab coats and scrubs.

Yellow. Writers may use the colour yellow to symbolize creativity, happiness, optimism, and warmth—think of a yellow ray of sunlight poking out from a dark cloud. A common negative connotation of the color yellow is cowardice, popularized by the phrase “yellow-bellied.” Warming effect which stimulates body and mind. Gold is associated with the highest of luxury. When bright yellow is used with black it's one of the easiest colour combinations to see from long distances; when uses with lighter colours it's not so easy to see. Yellow ribbons are worn as a symbol of hope and used quite often to welcome home loved ones. Yellow is the colour of warmth, kindness, and happiness. It’s often associated with optimism and well-being and promotes energy.

Brown. This warm, earthy brown colour may symbolize dependability, comfort, and a sense of being grounded. Brown is also a neutral colour, and writers may use it to represent dullness and predictability. Brown is a colour that is related to very grounded traits such as simplicity, practicality, common sense and hard work. Can also be associated with those that are frugal and not too flashy.

Gray. Lighter grays are often thought of as more feminine while darker grays more masculine. Gray is considered by many to be a neutral colour; the perfect balance between light and dark / good and evil. Pop up the lighter grays and add a little shine to it, and thought immediately turns to silver, which correlates to wealth.

Sources & related articles: 1 2 3 4 5 ⚜ More: Writing Notes & References

If these writing notes helped with your poem/story, please tag me. Or leave a link in the replies. I'd love to read them!

[thecoiledserpent]

↻ REMEDIAL MEASURES FOR THE PLANETS: THE MOON

basics of vedic astrology. ask box. masterlist.

a weak moon will create unnecessary fears, anxieties and mental health issues. it can make the native moody, be emotionally sensitive, shut off and sometimes when in extremely bad dignity, even psychotic. a malefic moon will pose struggles when it comes to the relationship with the mother, which will further lead to anxiety for the native; furthermore it leads to problems with eyes and the stomach. a weak benefic moon cannot give its results properly and also makes the native become easily influenced.

GENERAL REMEDIES

never spill milk, and ensure that you don't waste water. especially drinking water.

keep hydrated all the time, and offer water to others when you think they might be thirsty or ask you for it. (never ignore anyone who asks for water)

never leave unfinished water. always finish the water you take in your glass.

sleep at appropriate times.

drink water in a silver glass (size doesn't matter, just leave some water in it to charge it with metal ions for some time, it's good for the body too.)

wear silver, if you can. necklace, bracelet, rings, whatever.

always respect your mother, or mother figure. she is the one who gave birth to you and nourished you with her blood. if nothing at all, then at least care for her because of that. talk to your mother as often as possible, and win her heart with your actions and morals.

offer gifts of silver to your mother. this includes but is not limited to jewellery, statues, antique pieces, watch, small trinkets etc.

buy a small silver box, it does not have to be any bigger than 3 X 3 cm, but it can be as large as you'd like too, and have it be filled with rice from your mother's hands. take it, and keep it at your study, or anywhere you will most likely be seeing it most often. you can keep it in a bag, pouch etc too. not in your pocket though, and it shouldn't be opened. replace the rice monthly, if you can.

fast on mondays, and only consume fruits, fruit juices, dry fruits and milk and milk products. no salt or grains in any form should be consumed. (like even kellogs will be considered grains because it has corn in it)

be at peace with crying and being emotional, especially for men.

donate to organizations that serve single mothers, widows, women etc.

keep motifs / statues of deers. a group of 17 deers pull the chariot of the moon god, so a painting of him hung on the north wall is favourable.

for hindus / people believing in idolatry / people with any form of devotion to the planets as gods:

TO BE DONE EVERY FULL MOON:

one thing i wish to emphasize here is that vedic practices like the two following are to be done in places free from the influence of alcohol / drugs / meat / rahu dominant places. after having consumed any of these, stay away from the places where the god is kept / offered remedies to, to respect their sanctity.

employ your imagination to visualize the moon god in an anthropomorphic form (as a human). this is done to create a deeper emotional relationship with the moon which is not possible with an inanimate object.

imagine the moon god as having pale, glowing skin with ethereal eyes that seem to shine. his skin is a shining white, like pearls, holding a vara in one hand and a mace in the other, aboard a chariot of ten white horses. he has a smiling and gentle face, and is adorned beautifully with jewels of silver. he wears white silks, and sits stop the crescent moon as he moves through the sky; waxing and waning in his shine as he does so.

do this as you stand admiring the full moon. you must have a small round silver vessel (lota, image below) filled with raw milk, not boiled and fresh. add some sugar and uncooked rice to it, as well. let the moon's rays fall upon you and then, extend your arms outwards and slowly pour the milk from the lota onto the ground. imagine that the milk is being used to wash the feet of chandra, as he gracefully accepts the offering.

once done, bow to him. it is necessary to do this in the open where the light from the moon falls on you. ensure the moon is visible in the sky, clouds hiding it is not favourable. as you prepare to leave, chant this mantra at least 11 times under your breath:

'OM SOMA SOMAYA NAMAH'

you can also do mantra chanting on a proper rudraksha mala, if you have one. show a diya (pictures above) to the god, and keep it outside, as though offered to his luminous form. the diya can be both, earthen ware or a brass one.

offer sweet items made of milk by you or a family member to chandra, as well. like kheer, vermicelli kheer, makhana kheer etc, their recipes can be easily found on google. take a small bowl of it, offer it to chandra and keep it outside the entire night (cover it to make sure it doesn't get contaminated) and then eat it as prasadam the next day.

keep glass bottles / jars filled with water to the brim, without their covers, as you keep them outside to allow the moonlight to fall on them. after nearly 15-20 minutes, take them back home; you can keep it outside for more time if moonlight is available, but at least do it for 15 minutes. keep this glass jar somewhere safely inside the house, ensuring none of the water is spilt.

TO BE DONE ON MONDAYS / AUSPICIOUS OCCASIONS: (depending upon level of commitment, and financial influence)

if you wish to pray to the moon god and engage in mantra chanting, then you may establish a copper / brass statue of the god, no bigger than your finger (or the thumb if you are a busy person and may have to skip this duty at times. large statues when unkempt curse the native for dishonour of the god.)

following is a good reference statue, and it is the perfect size as well. (i'm not promoting any website btw 😭)

discipline for taking care of statues of gods. not looking after the statue of gods is extremely inauspicious. if you do not have the discipline or time to dedicate some time in the morning / early evening to worship, then don't keep the statue in your home.

i will make a post about this if anyone needs additional or personal tips regarding idol worship, or how you can adjust it better with western culture. do lmk via asks.

REMEDIES TO BE DONE OCCASIONALY / WEEKLY:

offer the moon god the flowers associated with him (lotus, white chrysanthemums, white roses, moonflower, or other white flowers which are not weeds), white coloured garments (it can be any new textile, even unsewn cloth can be offered), uncooked rice (100 g) and silver metal if within means. all of these items are to be distributed amongst brahmins (temple priests) to appease the god.

havan can be done on mondays.

rice cooked with milk can be fed to brahmins (temple priests); you can ask the local temple priests about it, or if any isckon centre is present, then the authorities present there will be able to guide you well about how you can do so. if temples are present locally, then you can simply donate the items / food in a tupperware to the temple priest. the raw materials can also both be offered (raw rice grains and milk packets.

a conch to be given in charity. it is particularly beneficial if the conch shell is engraved with silver for aesthetic purposes. (don't go around thinking this has to be done weekly 😭 do it once, or maybe once every four-five years if you have that devotion and money)

[simplyafountainpen]

An Epicurean Feast

Oho? What’s this? It’s seems as though your head Butler is preparing a large feast! Now the only question is…

…Who Will You Invite?~

Hello, and welcome to my first milestone event; One held in the honor of my 100 followers.

This event will be limited to a total of nine slots, so that I won’t over work myself. So please, do not hesitate to send in a request. I assure I will be more than happy to oblige.

Here is our Menu for this Fine Evening

⋆♱✮♱⋆

{𝓓𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓼} ~ {𝓡𝓮𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓹}

♰ White Tiger’s Milk ~ Romantic

❝This is a rich and indulgent cocktail that delivers a creamy flavor profile through a harmonious blend of Applejack, milk, cream and white sugar with a sprinkle of nutmeg to top.❞

♰ English Milk Punch ~ Platonic

❝This creamy and refreshing Milk Punch is a blend of Brandy, pineapple, cinnamon, Green Tea and lemon, mixed with milk and boiled till curdled, strenuously strained and garnished with nutmeg and a lemon rind.❞

♰ Sleeper ~ Familial

❝A stiff and intoxicating mix of Rum, sugar, coriander seeds, and cinnamon, served freshly boiled with a clove buds and a cinnamon stick to garnish.❞

♰ Tip-Top Punch ~ One Sided

❝This light and fruity cocktail is the perfect blend of Champagne, Curaçao, soda water, sliced pineapple and powdered sugar mixed till fully combined and served with a pineapple wedge.❞

♰ Apple Toddy ~ Enemies

❝A warm and aromatic drink made up of Cider Brandy, baked apple and white sugar, mixed with boiled water and topped with powered sugar and a pinch of nutmeg.❞

♰ Earl Grey Cream ~ Friends with Benefits

❝A smooth and rich tea, made by mixing Earl Grey tea leaves with natural bergamot oil and a bit of vanilla.❞

♰ Wild Rosebud Tea ~ Stalker

❝A gentle and floral tea, made simply by steeping dried wild rosebuds of different variety with boiled water with a drizzle of honey.❞

♰ Pearl Tea ~ Yandere

❝A tea of Chinese decent, made by combining Camellia Sinensis Plant with mint tea and boiling it at medium heat, mixed with sugar and a splash of honey.❞

{𝓖𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓼𝓱𝓮𝓼} ⛧With Lemon ~ Yandere Reader ⛧With Lime ~ Stalker Reader ⛧With Ice ~ Older Reader ⛧With Sugar ~ Younger Reader ⛧With Cream ~ Polyam/Multiple Characters

{𝓐𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓽𝓲𝔃𝓮𝓻𝓼} ~ {𝓢𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂 𝓓𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷}

♰ Mulligatawny Soup ~ M/M

❝Inspired by a curry of Eastern Indian, this is a sweet, spicy and decadent soup, it's made with shredded chicken, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, sweet potato, apple and Indian Spices, all served in a lentil broth.❞

♰ Clear Soup ~ TM/M

❝This dish is made by simmering various vegetables or meats in a broth and removing them later for a flavorful 'clear soup'; ours is made with celery, mushrooms, carrots, beef, cabbage, broccoli and sweet corn, left to simmer over high heat and later served with a dash of salt.❞

♰ Scalloped Brill ~ M/TM

❝Brill is a flat fish that when cooked is sweet in flavor, we pan-sear and baste in a butter sauce with salt, plated with herbs and fresh tomato.❞

♰ Jellied Eels ~ Reader POV

❝Our eels are resourced directly from our river, taken immediately to be chopped into chunks and placed in spiced stock, left to cool for hours, and once jelled we serve them on ice.❞

♰ Fried Soles ~ Character(s) POV

❝Sliced into fillets, we batter with egg and breadcrumbs then fried, parmesan is then shredded over top and garnished with brown sugar, tarragon sauce.❞

♰ Lamb's Sweetbread ~ No One's POV

❝The thymus of a lamb is battered with egg wash, milk and breadcrumbs, fried, dashed with salt and pepper, then served on a bed of fresh lettuce and topped with chives. ❞

{𝓜𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓒𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮} ~ {𝓢𝓕𝓦 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮}

♰ Fricandeau of Veal and Spinach ~ Beach Day

❝We take a leg of veal, lard it with fatty bacon and stew with bacon, potatoes, onions, carrots, bay leaves and spices till boiled, baste it with liquor, bake in the oven and glaze, served over a plate of spinach.❞

♰ Croquets of Fowl with Piquant Sauce ~ Reconnection

❝Our fresh Cochins chicken is shredded, mixed with condensed soup, bread crumbs, celery, and seasoning, and breaded again, fried and served with a piping hot piquant sauce made with a fine dark roux, tomato, onions, green bell peppers, seasonings and chicken.❞

♰ Curried Lobster with Rice ~ Character Death

❝We butterfly a lobster tail, cook it till opaque with curry powder and then steam it with rice, onions, butter, tomatoes and annatto oil, plated with parmesan grated on top.❞

♰ Roast Capon ~ Kidnapping

❝These roosters are hand picked from our fine selection, killed and plucked on site then slow roasted with onion, herbs, lemon the salt and pepper, we then take the drippings and combine them with Sherry for glaze, served with roasted potato.❞

♰ Stuffed Saddle of Mutton ~ Shopping Trip

❝A whole saddle of lamb is taken and deboned, stuffed with sautéed salted spinach, finely chopped garlic, shallots, black olives, and lightly fried lamb kidneys, then baked in the over, served with mint jelly.❞

♰ Lancashire Hot Pot ~ Moonlit Picnic

❝We place chopped mutton and onions in a dish to simmer, adding carrots, onions, stir in flower, stock and bay leaves then place potato slices on top and bake for hours to ensure all flavors are melded together, served with a mint sauce.❞

♰ Roast Goose with Apple Stuffing ~ Masquerade Ball

❝First we stuff a goose with specialty made stuffing, consisting of apples, bread, currants, butter and thyme, cover the goose in spices and slow roast with celery, potatoes and garlic, and covered in a homemade gravy.❞

♰ Collar’d Pig stuffed with Forcemeat ~ Memory Loss

❝The meat is butterflied and washed in butter then stuffed with forcemeat, which is a mixture of apples, bread and chicken broth, finally seasoned with cranberries and thyme, and finally slow roasted for tender, easy to pull apart meat.❞

♰ Cottage Pie ~ Idiots in Love

❝We take farm fresh beef and brown it, combining with fresh onions, garlic, peas, carrots and oregano, add Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste then cover in fluffy garlic mashed potatoes and bake till golden at the top.❞

♰ Devonshire Squab Pie ~ Long Distance

❝In a pie crust we mix spiced lamb, apples, onions, prunes, stock and sugar, bake low and slow then wash with egg, served with a helping of clotted cream.❞

{𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓽} ~ {𝓝𝓢𝓕𝓦 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮}

♰ Meringues ~ Trapped Together

❝A sweet dessert made only with egg whites and sugar that are beaten till stiff peaks are formed, light and airy with a fluffy texture, the perfect way to end any meal.❞

♰ Chocolate Cream ~ One Bed

❝A thick and creamy treat made with whole milk, heavy cream, sugar, egg yolks and chocolate simmered and cooled over a period of time, served with a dollop of whipped cream.❞

♰ Lemon Cream ~ Hole in the Wall

❝Much like our Chocolate Cream, this is a thick and creamy dessert but is instead made by combining water, lemon zest and rind, sugar and egg whites, simmered and cooled and served with raspberries and blackberries.❞

♰ Tipsy Cake ~ Cross Dressing/Cosplaying

❝This is a decadent Savoy cake made with lemon, White Wine and sugar, drenched in an especially sweet Rum and Brandy then glazed with vanilla custard, topped with almonds.❞

♰ Blanc Mange a la Vanille ~ Tied Up

❝This dessert is made by boiling milk, cornstarch and sugar, then adding cinnamon, lemon zest and vanilla, after which it is allowed to cool over an overnight period and served with chocolate shavings on top.❞

♰ Nougat Almond Cake ~ Sadism/Masochism

❝First we caramelize honey, add it to a sugar, water and egg white mixture and allow it to get to a foamy state, add our almonds and vanilla and allow to cool.❞

♰ Trifle ~ Free Use

❝A sponge cake made with custard and vanilla is brushed with Brandy and smothered in jam, layered with fresh picked strawberries, custard, whipped cream and more cake, topped with even more strawberries.❞

♰ Iced Oranges ~ Hateful Intimacy

❝Lemon zest and sugar is heated with water until clear, then oranges are grinded into the mixture, later they are frozen until a sorbet texture is achieved, it's then placed back into an orange peel and decorated with mint leaves.❞

♰ Crystalized Fruits ~ Power Imbalance

❝Fruits of different varieties are drenched in sugar and Liquors of matching flavor and left to set for hours, leaving for a revitalizing and refreshing dessert.❞

♰ Macedoine of Fruits with Jelly ~ Brand New Piercings

❝We take a light, fruit flavored jelly and mold it into marvelous shapes, filling with interior with fruits of every kind.❞

{𝓒𝓱𝓮𝓯'𝓼 𝓘𝓷𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽}: ❝It’s customary to have more than one meal at a Feast! You are encouraged to pick up to two meals from every course showed. Don’t bother with drinks however, I wouldn’t want you getting too tipsy, after all.~❞

⋆♱✮♱⋆

❝ Ah! Master. It seems you’ve made selections for this evenings dinner. Might I ask your order? And, of course,

Whom you’d like to invite?~ ❞

In order to have your request received, it would be most natural to relay this order to your most faithful Butler, yes? Here, an example of one such order may look like this:

❝Firstly, I crave a Tip Top Punch - with lemon please, followed by Jellied Eels as my appetizer. For the main course, I desire Roast Capon; and please, send a letter to Sebastian Michaelis? I have a feeling he’d simply adore this feast.~ ❞

I hope you find this meal most satisfactory, Master. Of course, it is this lowly Butlers everything to be able to serve a wonderful person such as you.

𝓑𝓸𝓷 𝓐𝓹𝓹é𝓽𝓲𝓽, 𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻 ~

{𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓶𝓪𝔂 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓭 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓸𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓽𝓼 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮}

Special thanks to my editor and @sister-lucifer, I know for a fact I wouldn't be here without either, and so, many thanks to each of you.

[thebleedingwoodland]

Ayam Goreng Kremes

Whole fried chicken with Kremesan (a crunchy condiment) ... The kremesan is an additional or complementary menu made from flour fried crispy) and sambal

2. Nasi Bakar Cakalang Pete Sambal Matah

"Grilled rice" with Cakalang fish (Skipjack Tuna fish) and pete (bitter bean or twisted cluster bean in English) and sambal matah (Balinese onion sambal)

3. Soto Mie Bogor

Noodles soup from Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, served with beef and emping (melinjo chip).

4. Bakmi Ayam & Teh Tawar

Chinese Indonesian noodles with minced chicken toppings & unsweetened tea

5. Nasi Bakar Ayam

"Grilled rice" with shredded chicken meat and sambal.

6. Indomie Rasa Rawon Pedas Mercon

Indomie with spicy rawon flavor. Rawon is beef soup cuisine from East Java.

7. Soto Betawi

Hearty beef soup from Jakarta consisting of chunks of meat and offal that are slowly simmered in a coconut milk broth, which is usually enriched with various spices such as lemongrass, turmeric, galangal, kefir lime leaves, and coriander.

8. Ubi Goreng, Aneka Kue Basah : Kue Bugis Suji Pandan, Kue Lapis, Cantik Manis

Ubi Goreng = Fried sweet potato. Aneka Kue Basah = assorted Indonesian wet cakes. The wet cakes are made from rice flour.

Kue Bugis Suji Pandan is wrapped in banana leaves. It is traditional snack of soft glutinous rice flour cake, filled with sweet grated coconut. Made from sticky rice flour which is given a natural green color from pandan or suji leaves.

Kue Lapis consists of two layers of color, which is what gives this cake its name. This cake is made from rice flour, tapioca flour, coconut milk, granulated sugar, salt and coloring. This cake is steamed each layer before the layer on top is added.

Cantik Manis has white colour and has glutinous fillings inside. It is traditional snack mixture of hunkue flour, pearl sago, and coconut milk.

9. Aneka gorengan di etalase: Otek-Otek, Martabak Telor, Bakwan, Ubi Goreng, Nanas Goreng, Pisang Goreng Madu

Assorted fried foods in display case: Otek-Otek (fried shrimp) Martabak Telor ( Indonesian thick folded crepe made from eggs), Bakwan is batter (Wheat flour, egg, water), vegetables (shredded cabbage, carrots, beansprouts, corn, scallions), Ubi Goreng (Fried Sweet Potato), Nanas Goreng (Fried Pineapple), Pisang Goreng Madu (Fried Banana with Honey)

10. Oleh-oleh dari Jakarta, Jawa, Bali, kue basah

Food gifts from Jakarta, Java, Bali, wet cakes

I don't need drugs and I do not smoke in real life. Delicious food in my own country is enough as stress reliever.

[mushroomjeremy]

SCP but as Food v1

I was going to make these into warm up sketches to practice drawing food, but feel like sharing. Here are some weird version of a small collection of SCP as food. It's a small mix between anomalies made it to food or just food vaguely based on them.

~~~

I'm a sucker for keys so here's the ones useful for this post. If some of these are null squares theres nothing I can do.

How it written:

🤍- Havent written up yet/vague idea

💗- Detailed recipes

👑 - Either the foods is to much food or to many different foods

🔧 - Self Assembly 

Type:

🍞- Bakery

🥩 - Grilled

🥣- Soup 

🍨 - Dessert

🍬- Candy

🥗- Salads

🥤- Drink

🥃- Alcohol

🍶- Condiment

Diet:

🐜- Arthropods/Insects

🥬- Vegetarian 

🍖- Meat

🐟- Fish

Taste:

🔥- Spicy

🍯- Sweet

Ingredients:

🧀 - Cheese

☢ - Blood/raw meat/raw egg/fermentation are an ingredient

🧭 - Exotic aka made of stuff real hard to get or just don't exist (examples being tree syrups not from maples, raw reindeer meat, anomalous item themselves, ect.)

~~~

SCP 001 The Scarlet King 🤍 ☢👑

A full table of 3 full seven course meals, one for each law (Blood, Howling, Concrete) Law of Blood food probably has blood, something that make the food offly red like beets, and spicy. Law of Concrete is stuff that just powders or looks like a brick or both. Law of Howling is going to be tricky.

SCP 009 🧭🥤🍯

Red ice cherry slushie

SCP 058 🍖🔥🥩

Spicy grilled beef heart with sauteed onions and red chimichurri sauce

SCP 111 🧭🐜 🔥

Spicy dragon snail escargot

Scp 166 ☢🧭🥗🍖

Reindeer carpaccio salad

SCP 999 💗🍞🍨🍯

Tart layered with jam, whip cream, and orange jello topped with a candied blood orange

SCP 1489 🤍

Mutton fusilli bucati pasta dish with a grey or black coloring to it

SCP 2317 🥤🔧 

Self-brewing cinnamon hazelnut coffee on hot salt (like Turkish coffee)

SCP 2360 🤍🍞🥤

Oil/metal looking doritos, drip, and energy drink (GFuel offbrand)

SCP 3001 💗🍬🥬

Large pomegranate boba pearl encased in a hard candy shell topped with black cherry carmel drizzle

SCP 3301 🍨🔧

Gingerbread house kit that makes a small world map.

SCP 3739  🧀

Mind Milk™ cottage cheese bowl 

SCP Yeah that one ☢🥣🍖🔥🍶

Spicy blood stew with chuck roast topped with white habanero n pineapple hot sauce

A - Spicy veal sausage. A whole big roll of it.

B - Ghost pepper corn chowder

Dr. Bright 🤍

Place holder to show that a food item based off scp 963 isnt the same as a food item based off Jack Bright himself. Thinking something made with whiskey/moonshine or just straight up a whiskey or moonshine… or both honestly.

Dr. Clef 💗🧭🍞

Three colored waffles (one blue, one green, and a barley one) sandwiched between with coconut sugar glaze than topped with thick corn chowder and unnecessary large amount of Corymbia terminalis sap syrup (I have no idea if that sap is even edible/if you can even tap the tree to get enough to make a syrup)

Lady Agora 🤍🍞 🍨

Blood Cornbread Bread Pudding with red colored custard and honey also maybe some herbs/spices/flowers with some magic meanings.

Pangloss 🤍

Little Diy Hotpot

Children of the Scarlet King🥃🍯

Warm red koolaid with alcohol and clumpy jello also candied blood orange and salty foam topping with sour or cinnamon rimming.

Chr*stian Ministries of America🤍 ☢ (I hate censoring stuff but im really not in the mood for the jesus people that dont know this is a fictional group today, be glad I haven't done the vore jesus one yet)

Can Jeremy not place actual blood in a food for once? It’s harder than you’d think. Thinking blood wine… or that weird communion wafer nachos.

Pope Soap Costk Crosstest 🤍 ☢ 🐟

Spicy raw squid with edible foam, also maybe blood sauce dipping and/or apples/whale blubber

~~~

I hope someone enjoy reading this cursed cookbook of ideas. I think I got pretty creative and most stuff here is edible with some just needing replacement ingredients for unattainable items... except all the blood recipes that can be made just cook your pasteurized blood correctly for your own sake.

[alsamara]

December In Review

Well let’s start off with I’m stealing Li’s template.

What’s In My Cup?

AM: As of late I’ve been drinking black/earl grey tea w/ honey or drip coffee because too much caffeine has been giving me massive anxiety and OCD tics which we don’t even want to get into. I add 1 scoop of Agent Nateur’s holi(mane) which is just collagen powder w/ pearl powder. It actually really helps the evenness of my complexion in my skin. Then I add some hazelnut, english toffee, or vanilla stevia drops depending on the vibe I’m in each day and then my nut pod creamer. Also, you guys I’ve been putting my warm drinks in my ember cup I got for Christmas and it keeps it to the temperature I want for so long, I can shower, do my skincare, whatever and it’s still the same temp. 😭 life changing.

During the day: I’m drinking water with silica drops for thicker and healthier hair, ultima electrolytes in lemonade, and trace mineral drops. I rly want to try the LMNT??? Element??? (Idk..) electrolytes, but why do all the flavors sound like they taste bad.

During the holidays I have been partaking in an occasional sprite that I mix with white peach cranberry juice, cranberry sauce, frozen cranberries, and a sprig of rosemarry as a little mocktail vibe.

PM: I’ve been drinking teas. My favorites have been spearmint, hibiscus tea w/ honey, or elderberry healer by the company rishi.

What’s On My Plate?

AM: smoothies are my go to.. usually strawberry & banana with almond milk, cacao powder, inulin, flax seed, chia seeds, rice bran, pearl powder, chocolate protein powder, cacao nibs, and honey to make it taste like a chocolate covered banana/strawberry.

Pm: I have been rly into a couple things that I’m just rotating…

1. smash burgers on corn tortillas that have been all over TikTok lately. They’re just easy and take such little planning.

2. I marinate boneless, skinless chicken thighs in coconut aminos, salt, minced garlic and minced ginger from a jar and cook it in a pan with all the sauce from marinating. Add it as a dressing on top of a bed of lettuce, cilantro, green onions, sugar snap peas, cabbage slaw mix, and add vermicelli noodles if I’m feeling like I want some carbs.

3. Another one is chicken thighs skin rubbed w/ salt & garlic, fry up the chickens and then remove them from the pan add in black rice (super high in antioxidants) with minced ginger, garlic, let it soak in all the oils and then I add chicken stock, a can of coconut milk and lemongrass smashed. Then add the chicken back in and ignore it for 40 mins. ( this is just a recipe from Gwyneth Paltrow clean plate book which I kind of die for)

My mom and I made Julia Childs lamb for Christmas with green beans and an endive salad.

What’s On My Bookshelf?

Currently reading the 4th book in the “Magnolia Parks Universe” It’s called “The Great Undoing” the series starts out with a book about Magnolia Parks and BJ which is the most toxic but addicting love affair we’ve all had and the 2nd book goes on to Daisy Haites which is like crime lord familia, brother steals paintings from the louve type vibe with more love triangles between both worlds from different perspectives and the 3rd book goes back to Magnolia Parks and the 4th is now back to Daisy Haites.

What’s In My Playlist?

I’ve been into classical music or scores that have been evoking feelings of a past life or have been allowing me to just feel my feels. If not that I’m rly into the song High by Steven Sanchez .. hawt 🫡

What I’ve Been Up To?

I was going crazy for Christmas decorating I wanted it to feel like the North Pole, but honestly it also made me kind of depresssed. My expectations are always high for holidays. My sister never comes home for ANY holiday and always spends it with Lara’s dad side. We used to always spend Christmas night at my grandparents on my Dad’s side of the family and I think that makes the holiday feel lonely now that they’re gone and my uncle is in Boston. Usually we go over to my neighbors on Christmas Eve and she has this huge pasta party, but she cancelled cause she had a pinched nerve in her back and we ended up cooking her a huge lasagna and taking over chicken pot pies for her Christmas Eve + Christmas. I was over stimulated but not with Christmas joy. Happy to help, but I’m feeling exhausted. I enjoyed spending time with my parents and surprising my mom with a gift for her business my dad and I snuck around to get, but as sad as it is to say… I feel relief that Christmas is over and it’s time to bring in a new year.

I am severely dedicated to my physical therapy and my body now that I’m stationary and not traveling around. 3 days out of the week I’m at the clinic in tractions. One where I’m strapped in to the wall pulling my neck to the left and one with 25lbs pulling my neck forward and 20lbs pulling my head back to reintroduce the C curve into my spine. Then I have a ton of at home exercises they have me doing for my knees/ankles and spine as well everyday. It’s a holistic clinic so I’m going to see their nutritionist in January and go further cutting out foods and getting clear on what my body needs to be its highest and best self.

I got a pill organizer from Amazon cause I’m trying to be better about my supplements… it’s been life changing. I’ve been taking saffron 3 times a day to help mood stabilize and gaba to help calm my brain ( both life changing ), chlorophyll, heavy doses of omegas, vitamin d3k2, zinc, glycine which is a building block for collagen, pumpkin seed oil for long hair, and a lot of Bach essences to keep my brain as peaceful as possible.

I’m spending lots of time with my animals. One of my ducks is being a bully so we had to separate berry cause her leg is hurt and cherry won’t stop standing on her back pulling her feathers. We’re collecting about 7 eggs from our ducks and chickens per day.. which is crazy cause I can’t eat eggs anymore, so we’re over flowing with eggs. We have 2 strays in our basements that we are taming to hopefully adopt out or have as outdoor cats that come inside at night… only time will tell.

I finally bought an air doctor for Christmas and I feel like I’m in a pure oxygen tank the air feels so clean (I found a coupon code for $300 off if anyone is interested)

I’ve deep diving into astrology and doing moon rituals.

Every first of the month I’ve been blowing cinnamon through my door which I highly suggest for an abundance practice and washing your cards with cinnamon water.

Skin & Hair Saviors

Face reality is my tried and true. I’m afraid of anything else but I rly want to venture out. I’m going to start micro needling at home to help plump my skin & get rid of acne scars.

My red light/blue light therapy wand + my near infrared/red light therapy panel are saviors.

I use golabs rosemary hair oil any chance I have to let it sit and chill and I use her other oil on my ends and then pop it in a shower cap and let it simmer for at least an hour.

Virtue hair oil with keratin has been my go to before I braid my hair every night.

I’ve been using a ph balanced shampoo by k18 & a rice water conditioner called mykirei..

I also do a apple cider water rise on my scalp to balance PH after I shampoo and condition ( 4 parts water, 1 part acv)

Miss & love you all

Aly 💗

[ediblegardenspointloma]

In My San Diego Garden and Kitchen

The summer garden wanes. Tomato plants look dreadful but still yield a satisfying number of fruit. The dry shell bean plants are near removal as the pods rattle with the beans. Pepper plants, waiting for some heat, respond to the warmer August days. The first of the corn harvest is anticipated this week. Zucchini and cucumber seasons have ended.

The Emerite pole beans most days continue to produce amounts as seen in the thumbnail. Planted in late May, they show no signs of ceasing production though the daily yield is less. They will likely up their game as the six foot corn plants in front of them are removed.

Some days we’ve garnered one to two pounds from a planting only four feet wide. Plenty to share with friends and neighbors and I have more in the freezer than most years. I can’t say enough good things about Emerite grown from my saved seed.

Tomato plants are in their last weeks though the Black Cherry “explosion tomatoes” at six feet are just gearing up for a killer harvest. I don’t have many to photograph because they sit on the counter as snack food and disappear.

I try to imagine the harvest of Dwarf Rosella Purple we might have had with more sun in May, June and July. Cool days, no bees, blossoms dropped and I was glum. But I’m pleased to have these and the promise of more. I’ve saved seed from one of the tomatoes and am eyeing the one in the center of the plate for next year’s seed.

I roasted some of the smallest Stupice tomatoes in olive oil with thyme and rosemary. Near the end I added cannellini beans and some of them crisped up. Combining the mixture with fresh basil and Trader Joe’s Organic Lemon Torchietti Pasta was memorable. (The pasta is from Italy, and unfortunately a seasonal item).

With these garden veggies I made a small cauldron of Gazpacho (recipe from the original Moosewood Cookbook). Three neighbors received deliveries to their delight I’m told.

The first half of my Sugar Pearl corn crop should be ready this week so I’m protecting the patch. A few years ago I lost most of the ears just as they were approaching perfection.

Garden flowers shift to the warm fall colors. This was Sunday’s church entry bouquet. I think I’ll make a duplicate for my dining room table.

Check the What I’m Planting Now page as I plan and sow seeds for the cool season garden. Then head to Harvest Monday, hosted by Dave at Happy Acres blog and see what garden bloggers around the world harvested last week.

To leave a comment, click on “Leave a comment/Show comments,” enter the comment, then insert your name. Finally, click on “Comment as Guest” to post comment.

[ganzschoenkalk]

Couscous, Corn, and Black Bean Chicken Salad Recipe In this quick couscous salad with corn, bell pepper, and black beans with a pop of balsamic vinegar dressing, leftover chicken has a place. 1 teaspoon white sugar, 1.5 cups cooked and cubed rotisserie chicken, 3 tablespoons olive oil divided, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 2.5 cups water, 1 can black beans rinsed and drained, 2 cups pearl couscous, 1 can whole kernel corn drained, 1/2 red bell pepper chopped, salt and ground black pepper to taste

[joanshan]

The Art of Brewing: A Guide to Making the Perfect Cup of Tea with Tea Bags

When it comes to a hot cup of comfort, nothing quite compares to the soothing embrace of a perfectly brewed tea. New Zealanders have a particular affinity for tea, the soothing aroma of a freshly brewed cup of tea is enough to brighten even the dreariest of days. And in the modern world, where convenience often takes precedence, tea bags have become the go-to choice for many tea lovers. But why choose tea bags over loose leaf teas? In this blog post we’ll discuss the tea bag universe, and the best tea bags to try from three of New Zealand’s most renowned loose leaf and tea bag brands - T Leaf T, Harney & Sons, and Tea Total. So, steep yourself in knowledge as we embark on this tea-rrific journey into the world of tea bags.

The Tale of Tea Bags

1. The Rise of Tea Bags

Tea bags have an interesting history. Many people think they were invented in the early 20th century in the United States but there is evidence that as early as the 8th Century, during the Tang dynasty in China, folded and hand sewn square paper bags were being used to conserve teas. Today, tea bags are popular because of their convenience. They come in various shapes, sizes, and materials to cater to different tastes and preferences. They act as a simplified infuser, often on a string for easy removal. 

2. Types of Tea Bags

a. Empty Tea Bags for Loose Tea: For the Creative Tea Enthusiast

If you're a purist who loves loose tea leaves but you crave the convenience of tea bags, you can always make your own. Fill empty tea bags with your favourite loose tea leaves, and voilà! You have the best of both worlds. Empty tea bags are a blessing for those who love to experiment with loose tea leaves. They allow you to create your unique blends and control the strength of your brew. 

b. Best Tea Bags: T Leaf T, Harney & Sons, and Tea Total

Let's talk about the best tea bags available in New Zealand, starting with three renowned brands

c. T Leaf T

T Leaf T use pyramid tea bags, which include a tag and string. They are made from polylactic acid (PLA). The PLA material used by T Leaf T is derived from corn starch and does not contain any polypropylene. The tea bags are sealed using a transducer which applies pressure at an exact temperature - this cuts and seals each bag without the addition of any other materials. While compostable, PLA products generally take a number of months to degrade in a commercial composting facility. It is not known if the heat required can be achieved in home composting set-ups. Some of T Leaf T’s best teas are available in tea bags. Our picks for the top three best tea bags from T Leaf T are Jasmine Dragon Pearls, New Zealand Breakfast, and Honeyed Chamomile with New Zealand Kawakawa. 

d. Harney & Sons

This US-based brand has made its mark worldwide, and its tea bags are no exception. They recently released a statement about their progress in transitioning away from nylon based tea bags. As at 14 June 2023 91.3% of their tea bags (Harney & Sons call them “sachets”) are now using a sugarcane based material. The list of teas that are not using the sugarcane material are:

1. Hot Cinnamon Spice, Decaf Hot Cinnamon Spice, Green Hot Cinnamon Spice, Herbal Hot Cinnamon Spice

2. Hot Apple Spice

3. Chamomile

4. Yellow & Blue

5. Peppermint

6. Organic Green w/ Citrus and Ginkgo

7. Organic Turmeric & Ginger

8. White Peach Matcha, Very Berry Matcha, Roasted Buckwheat Matcha

They have plans to convert the remaining products, but adaptation of machinery is required. The plant-based material Harney & Sons use comes from sugarcane grown in Thailand. The sugarcane is fermented and bacteria eats the fermented sugar making lactic acid which is converted into a fiber that creates the mesh that holds in the tea but allows the liquid tea to flow to you.  So all sugar is converted and none remains in your sachets material, making it safe for diabetics and those concerned with sugar intake.

Our top picks for Harney & Sons products available in Tea Bags are English Breakfast Tea,Japanese Sencha, and Paris Tea

e. Tea Total

Tea Total, is truly a Kiwi tea brand. Based in Auckland, is a haven for tea lovers. Their tea bags come in various flavours, and their commitment to organic teas is commendable. Explore their offerings to enjoy the pure, unadulterated taste of tea. Tea Total’s tea bags are made of NON-GMO sugarcane bioplastic which is biodegradable and industrially compostable. They are safe for brewing and sealed using heat, not glue.

Tea Total uses pyramid shaped tea bags because this allows them to provide the same quality of tea they use for their loose-leaf teas (unlike many tea bags that use a lesser grade as it’s easy to disguise in tea bags).

3. Organic Tea Bags: Sip with a Clear Conscience

Organic tea bags are gaining popularity due to their eco-friendly and health-conscious appeal. Brands like T Leaf T and Tea Total offer organic options that are free from harmful pesticides and chemicals. By choosing organic tea bags, you're not only benefiting your health but also supporting sustainable farming practices.

4. Plastic vs. Paper: The Tea Bag Material Dilemma

The material of your tea bag matters. While traditional paper tea bags are biodegradable, some tea bags contain plastic elements that may not break down as easily. Brands like Harney & Sons are moving towards plastic-free tea bags to reduce their environmental footprint, while Tea Total and T Leaf T are arguably already there.

5. Tea Bag Packaging: Aesthetics and Functionality

Tea bag packaging not only keeps your tea fresh but also adds to the overall experience. Many brands, including Harney & Sons, invest in elegant and practical packaging that enhances the pleasure of tea drinking. Tea Total say they use pyramid shaped tea bags so they don’t have to skimp on the quality of their teas just  because they are provided in a tea bag. 

6. Bulk Tea Bags: For the Avid Tea Drinker

If you're a frequent tea drinker, buying in bulk can save you money and reduce packaging waste. Look out for bulk options from Tea Total and other brands to keep your tea stash well-stocked.

7. Metal Tea Bags: A Reusable Alternative

For those who want to avoid disposable tea bags altogether, metal tea bags are a sustainable option. They are designed for multiple uses and allow you to enjoy loose tea without the waste.

8. Best Tea Bag Brands: The Final Sip

In the world of tea bags, quality matters. Each of the brands mentioned - T Leaf T, Harney & Sons, and Tea Total - has carved a niche for itself by delivering exceptional tea experiences. Choose your favourite and let your taste buds embark on a delightful journey.

9. Used Tea Bags: Beyond the Brew

Don't discard your used tea bags just yet. They have some surprising uses beyond brewing a second cup of tea. From natural skincare to cleaning solutions, used tea bags are versatile household allies.

10. Large Tea Bags: Brewing for a Crowd

Sometimes, a regular-sized tea bag just won't cut it. Large tea bags are perfect for brewing a pot of tea to share with friends or enjoy on your own when you need a little extra comfort.

11. Tagless Tea Bags: Simplicity in Brewing

Tagless tea bags are designed for those who prefer a fuss-free tea experience. No tags, no strings, just pure tea enjoyment.

Sip Your Way to Tea Bag Bliss

In the world of tea, the convenience and variety offered by tea bags are hard to beat. Whether you're exploring the rich, traditional flavours of T Leaf T, the global offerings of Harney & Sons, or the organic delights of Tea Total, there's a tea bag for every tea lover in New Zealand.

Remember to choose eco-friendly options when possible, and consider trying empty tea bags for a more personalised tea experience. Explore the diverse range of tea bags available at floweringherb.com to elevate your tea-drinking ritual.

So, go ahead, brew a cup of your favourite tea, and let the comforting warmth of your chosen blend embrace your senses. Cheers to the world of tea bags and the endless possibilities they bring to your tea journey.

Disclaimer: The information provided by The Flowering Herb is intended as general information for entertainment purposes only. We are not healthcare providers and we do not hold any healthcare qualification.  

The content contained on this site is in no way intended as medical advice or as a substitute for medical treatment and we are not making any recommendations for your personal situation. We therefore strongly recommend and encourage you to consult with your primary health practitioner prior to making any changes to your diet/consumption habits or purchasing any of our products with the intent of manage any health condition. 

Source: Perfect Cup of Tea with Tea Bags

[valgasnewsthings]

Diet nr 3 a.

 Recommending dishes. Meat, fish  fatness kinds, boiled, baked, stewed, by pieces, rubbing sometimes, rubbing, 2 eggs/day, soft-boiled, omelets of white eggs. Milk as acidophile, kefir, fresh curd, rjazenka, baked, cheesecakes, creams ten perc .  in dishes, to tea, as natural in good enduring, till 2  glasses/day, as cold.

A curd is saturating meal, nourishing, and a rich with protein, calcium, phosphorus, easy digesting fats, hypotrophic substances, use fresh for diet, half fat, by home cooking, calcium, with less acidity.

Press curd.

in one l. of milk add 2 tbl.sp. 3 perc. sol. vinegar, lead till boiling, cool, and cooled mass put on gauze.

Calcium curd.

In one l. boiled milk, add 3 tbl.sp. ten perc.sol. chloride calcium, mix, cool, put on gauze.

Diet nr 3 a.

Adding vegetables, raw, boiled as garnishes, salads, baked puddings, beet, carrot, tomatoes, leaf salad, squashes, pumpkin, cauliflower, but white cabbage, green peas, young pods of kidney beans  are allowing if good enduring, petroselinum, dill , celery, add in dishes, salads.

Fruits, berries, sweets, as fresh, ripe, sweet, apples raw, in dishes, dried berries, fruits, wetting, prunes, jellied, marmalade, pastilla, zephyr, iris, milk, cream caramels, sweet berry jam, fruits, sugar, honey.

Cereals as buckwheat, oats, pearl, macaronies limiting as in soup put, butter oil, olive, not fry, just for dish.

And in good enduring are sunflower oil, corn, cotton, soya, in hard stool daily dose increase.

Vegetable, kidney bean sauces, fruit, white milk, of dry flour fried, dry flour on oven, not fry in oil, in white sauce add fromage, stewed tomato juice, shredding carrot and spices in small quantity.

Buckwheat soup.

3/4 water, 4 potatoes, carrot, onion, glass for buckwheat flour, green,salt.

In boiling water put ready chopped potato, in ten min add washed buckwheat, carrot shredding, onion, dried or fresh green, roots, salt. Cook 25 min.

Beet in sweet marinade.

500 gr of sweet, glass for water, 2 tbl.sp. sugar, one tea.sp. caraway, 3 tbl.sp. vinegar. Cook beet as not cleaned. Cool, clean, chop. Boil water with sugar, and caraway, add vinegar, lemon acid, or lemon juice, cool, add this syrup a beet. Infuse before serving for 1-2 days.

Soups, vegetarian borsh, dressing shi, beet cook a small-time, that in vegetables keeping vitamins, for improving tastes are vegetables, roots slightly fry or stew in oil.

For diet nr 5 stew vegetables in small quantities a vegetable decoction. And for serving ready soup infuse 20 min, before serve in plate put oil or fromage, green.

For diet nr 2 vegetables are shred, for nr 7 soups cook salt free.

Borsh vegetarian.

400 gr ready dish a cabbage fresh, beet on 100 gr, potato 80 gr, carrot, fromage 10 gr, butter oil 8 gr, flour 5 gr,salt 3 gr.

from Valga s health news,gardening,and cooking ,and beauty . https://ift.tt/I68iVrU via https://ift.tt/mD8iGtY

[aiweirdness]

AI-generated donuts

If you're going to open a late-night donut shop, you're going to need a unique set of over-the-top donuts to set the proper festive atmosphere. But how to keep the ideas coming?

I decided to see what donut ideas I could get using OpenAI's GPT-3 text-generating models. I collected seven of the weirdest donuts and descriptions I could find (such as a pizza donut, or a dirt-themed donut), and presented them as a list for the AI to complete. I've drawn a few of the best donuts it added to the list.

[human illustrations of some of the ai-generated donuts below]

When I say I used "GPT-3" for this project it's hard to be exact about it, because OpenAI often updates the models. The newest GPT-3 versions (as of May 2022) actually did the worst at this task - they kept presenting me with real donuts that they'd seen during their online training, and not even particularly weird donuts. They were trying to match what was most common online, not what I was asking for. But the original early-2020 GPT-3 models were more willing to deliver the weirdness. Here are some more of my favorite results from the various models!

The biggest model, DaVinci

Violet Beauregarde - A lemon glazed donut with blue raspberry eyes and a raspberry center The Candleberry Flu - A chocolate doughnut filled inside with ganache plus a dripping candle on top that's dripping liquid sediments Brick of Yum - A glazed doughnut sandwiching American cheese, with red pepper jelly inside The Confusatron - A doughnut sliced into three layers - vanilla, coconut, and chocolate, dipped in chocolate ganache and topped with sugar pearls that look like circuit boards The Purple Stuff - Chocolate, oreo, and purple stuff sprinkled with powdered sugar

Curie, the second-largest model

Heckleberry - A strawberry donut smothered with blueberry syrup and crushed vegan Crunchies Donut of Doom - Rainbow donut filled with Frosted Flakes, black sprinkles, and sour candy The Alligator Rising - A spiral donut, frosted with chocolate and filled with a filling of chocolate hard-boiled egg and green apple slices Hell Raisin - A jelly donut with a filling of peanut butter and hot dogs Dark Crystal - A donut filled with candy corn and white chocolate chips I ♥ My Gay Ex - A rainbow Jell-O donut with white frosting, red sugar sprinkles, and pink glitter Fish N' Chips – Topped with chocolate and tangy tempura-flavoured icing

Babbage, the second-smallest model

Mr Crepe - Topped with tapioca pudding, green sprinkles Little Red Apples - Topped with pumpkin bread crumbs and small red apples Chalkista - Stationary donut with chalk dusting Horns - Cupcake gripped in both of the animal’s horns Julius Rooms - A pair of bottomless donuts Doughnut Forest - A profusion of donuts spread throughout the French Quarter Flintlock fennec - bacon, fried okra, and burnt thermochromic alcohol Baffle - cocoa powder, giraffes, and vanilla wafers

Ada, the smallest and definitely weirdest model

Bath Roll - Three donuts melted hot on one side Friar Flats - Topped with tomatoes, honey, red paint and ceramic chili caps Ponder Owls - magical, yellow-feathered donuts covered in icing with puffiness and shine By Soul - filled with firecrackers, black bean dip, red pepper syrup, and watermelon Coconut Fun - Sulphure hasn’t been wiped off, a demon cake filled with coconut cream and pistachios Blood Donut - Creamy moist donut topped with spoonfuls of delicious blood Goofy Trick - the elephant, is a clown and it's all about tossing treats into his skull Spankin’ - Other-colored donut with a frying pan in the middle

Bonus content: More of Ada's weird donuts (plus some donuts made of antimatter??)

Also you can buy the donuts on a tea towel! Along with pies, cookies, and breakfast cereals.

[bowl-of-shortness]

RWBY OC Color Names:

Massive shoutout to @collectingsparechangemadeeasy1, they helped a lot with coming up with these name :)

Red:

Roux, Rory, Rufus, Russell, Rusty, Maroon, Burgundy, Mahogany, Claret, Sorrell, Flannery, Vermilion, Apple, Candy, Sangria, Cardinal, Carnelian, Cerise, Cinnabar, Falu, Crimson, Wine, Amaranth, Titian, Chili, Raspberry, Carmine, Realgar, Eudialyte, Madeira, Cuprite, Rosa, Peppermint, Aster, Anemone, Yarrow, Chrysanthemum, Amaryllis, Carnation, Poinsettia, Begonia, Dianthus, Freesia, Petunia, Hibiscus, Poppy, Salvia, Tulip, Azalea, Canna, Dahlia, Verbena, Holly.

Orange:

Hari, Ginger, Spice, Blaze, Russet, Tawny, Citron, Clementine, Tangerine, Coral, Peach, Apricot, Mango, Persimmon, Sunset, Pumpkin, Butterscotch, Cider, Copper, Bronze, Clay, Ochre, Fulvous, Jasper, Sunrise, Topaz, Amber, Tiger, Carnelian, Hessonite, Sunstone, Sunny, Padparadscha, Sardonyx, Calcite, Dzi, Begonia, Canna, Cosmos, Honeysuckle, Zinnia, Autumn.

Yellow:

Honey, Blaine, Gold (Goldie), Mellow, Lemon, Champagne, Canary, Daffodil, Sunny, Jasmine, Primrose, Goldenrod, Dune, Sand, Flax, Xanthus, Laguna, Dijon, Beige, Aureolin, Mikado, Maize, Colza, Melon, Cyber, Banana, Tuscany, Ecru, Corn, Sepia, Citrine, Heliodor, Pyrite, Copal, Argonite, Sulphur, Rutile, Spiriferida, Scheelite, Calla, Jessamine, Pansy, Primrose, Lotus, Buttercup.

Green:

Viridian, Hunter, Forest, Moss, Florence, Chartreuse, Oliver, Olive, Olivia, Sage, Lime, Jade, Fern, Laurel, Mint, Tea, Kelly, Sacramento, Juniper, Pear, Shamrock, Pickle, Pistachio, Basil, Paris, Spring, Glade, Timber, Verdun, Chateau, Kaitoke, Foxtons, Kale, Avocado, Bilbao, Panache, Khaki, May, Tourmaline, Chrysoprase, Idocrase, Aventurine, Peridot, Moldavite, Zoisite, Turquoise, Malachite, Serpentine, Prehnite, Variscite, Ekanite, Tansy, Hydrangea, Scabiosa.

Blue:

Royal, Admiral, Duke, Glacious, Blueberry, Bluebell, Sky, Midnight, Frost, Ocean, Glade, Bluebird, Azalea, Denim, Pigeon, Navy, Carolina, Maya, Cornflower, Sapphire, Azure, Yale, Indigo, Cobalt, Teal, Cerulean, Lapis, Aegean, Berry, Arctic, Aquamarine, Aqua, Spinel, Chalcedony, Tanzanite, Moonstone, Iolite, Apatite, Larimar, Benitoite, Zircon, Opal, Azurite, Kyanite, Sodalite, Halite, Clematis, Salvia, Lobelia, Lupine, Veronica.

Purple:

Magenta, Fuschia, Periwinkle, Plum, Yolanda, Violet, Iris, Lavender, Amethyst, Hibiscus, Mauve, Mulberry, Orchid, Lilac, Grape, Byzantine, Helio, Floral, Thistle, Sangria, Jam, Chalcedony, Fluorite, Garnet, Kunzite, Sugalitie, Coquimbite, Kunzite, Siberite, Charoite, Phantom, Taaffeite, Tiffany, Marialite, Angel, Verbena, Anemone, Heather, Aster, Liatris, Honesty, Merlin, Wisteria, Zinnia, Dianthus.

Pink:

Blush, Sakura, Rosè, Calamine, Bubblegum, Thulian, Cerise, Carnation, Amaranth, Taffy, Rouge, Crepe, Rhodolite, Morganite, Mayala, Pezzottaite, Rubellite, Calcite, Eudialyte, Talc, Rosolite, Cerasite, Cherry, Azalea, Begonia, Amaryllis, Thyme, Hollyhock, Astilbe, Iberis, Phlox.

White:

Pearl, Alabaster, Lumi, Snow, Porcelain, Linen, Cream, Ivory, Platinum, Sugar, Chiffon, Titanium, Lace, Ice (Icey), Edelweiss, Cotton, Salt, Daisy, Frost, Rice, Howlite, Diamond, Akoya, Baroque, Keshi, Selenite, Selene, Zeolite, Caylon, Okenite, Snowdrop, Magnolia, Jasmine, Powder, Galatea.

Grey:

Grey, Silver, Steel, Stone, Pewter, Slate, Dusty, Boulder, Manta (?), Cloud, Fossil, Mink, Abalone, Harbor, Iron, Trout, Seal, Lava, Shadow, Ash, Anchor, Graphite, Fog, Lead, Gibeon, Celiom, Larvikite, Chrome, Terahertz, Brunia.

Black:

Ebony, Merle, Charcoal, Coal, Jet, Ink, Soot, Smoke, Pepper, Domino, Vanta, Onyx, Pitch, Sable, Obsidian, Spider, Leather, Morion, Hematite, Shungite, Galena, Graphite, Lodestone, Shale, Scoria, Augite, Anatase, Basalt, Blackberry, Baccara, Satin, Viola.

Total number of names on this list: 420

[abookishdreamer]

Character Intro: The Hyades (Kingdom of Ichor)

*from left to right: Coronis, Phaesyle, Cleea, Phaeo, & Eudora

Nicknames- The Blue Sisters by Aphrodite

The Rainmakers, The Maidens of Rain by the people of Olympius

Age(s)- 22 through 17 (immortal)

Location- Corfu, Olympius

Personalities- They all have a strong sense of sisterhood & they're calm, stoic, & introverted. Coronis (the oldest) is the most loving and maternal with Phaeo being the most sensitive. Cleea is uniquely individual & artistic. Phaesyle is the bookworm intellect while Eudora is an old soul.

As goddesses of the seasonal rains, they all have the standard abilities of a goddess- except shapeshifting. Because their mom is an oceanic nymph, they all inherited the trait to breathe underwater, but they don't form tails. Other shared powers/abilities include hydrokinesis or water manipulation in all its forms- ice, snow, vapor. They can use water for healing & they can also generate rainstorms as well as tidal waves. They also have limited aerokinesis and nephelokinesis (cloud manipulation).

The sisters' main address is in the state of Corfu where they all live in a gorgeous mansion built out of marble & moonstone with their mother Aethra (an oceanic nymph). They also have a property in the Underwater realm built out of pearl & sea stone.

The Hyades often spend time in Corinth where they visit their father Atlas (Titan god of strength & endurance).

They also visit Olympius' capital, New Olympus, where they often spend time in the Lunar district.

The inside of the main house gives off a starry night vibe (with dark blues, purples, silvers, & gold). There are lots of floor-to-ceiling windows, a skylight, opal and obsidian countertops, velvet & satin furniture, and a grand chandelier dripping with white diamonds & blue sapphires.

The sisters & their mom have a strong close relationship with the shared grief and trauma they all went through. Their little brother Hyas died several years ago, but sometimes it feels as though it was yesterday. He was an adventurous precocious young kid who was the center of their universe. The sisters (Coronis especially) treated him more like a son than a little brother. They loved spending time with him as a family- doing activities like stargazing, cloud surfing, hunting, surfing, camping, and visiting aquariums. The day where their mother gave him permission to go hunting alone fills them all with regret. Hyas was only 10 when he died, attacked by a lion. It was said that they all (including their mother) continuously wept for an entire year. Now, they all have some comfort with knowing that his soul is in Elysium, probably cloud surfing with his wide toothy grin. The sisters & their mother all wear silver locket bracelets which contain some of his ashes.

It's safe to say that the death of Hyas led to the fracture of their once tight knit family. Their father completely shut down emotionally & metally and their parents eventually divorced. The sisters now check on him from time to time- bringing him food, doing household chores, & making sure that he's going to his appointments with his therapist. Coronis does water healing treatments, mellowing out Atlas' mind fog whenever he has nightmares about Hyas.

They all like their mother's aguapanela (a sugarcane drink). Cleea loves the toasted marshmallow chocolate milkshakes from The Frozen Spoon while Eudora likes the coconut tres leche milkshake. Coronis' go-to drink is a blue sapphire while Phaesyle likes the aqua pearl & Phaeo likes rum punch. They all like the olympian sized blueberry açaí splash from The Roasted Bean.

They have a big breakfast with their mother every morning. Some go-to dishes include strapatsada (scrambled eggs cooked with tomatoes), avocado toast, rizogalo, cayeye, gialetia (corn pancakes topped with powdered sugar, cinnamon, & honey), and changua (egg & milk soup). The sisters also likes their dad's blueberry french toast when he's in the mood to make them!

The Hyades are distant with their extended family. They haven't seen their paternal grandparents Clymene (Titaness of fame & renown) and Iapetus (Titan god of mortality, pain, & death) in a long time. They also haven't hung out with their older half sister Calypso in a while, but they're still kept in the loop with her on Fatestagram. They don't hang out with their cousins Aidos (goddess of shame, modesty, humility, & respect), Deucalion (Deuce), Prophasis (goddess of excuses), or Pyrrha. The sisters barely know their uncles Epimetheus (Titan god of afterthought), Menoetius (Titan god of rage, violence, & rash actions), and Prometheus (Titan god of forethought).

Phaesyle helped her dad with the development of his aerospace engineering school. She loved seeing the excitement on his face & hearing the enthusiasm in his voice. For a moment, it was like how he was before his punishment & their brother's passing.

Cleea admires Selene (Titaness of the moon) & even sometimes babysits her youngest kids. She's also a member of Urania's (muse of astronomy) stargazing club.

Eudora once had a crush on Astraeus (Titan god of dusk). She even had dreams of him becoming her stepfather.

The Hyades are head of a festival held in Corfu around the middle of autumn- The Monsoon Festival. It celebrates water itself (specifically the rain) as a blessing from the gods & giving thanks to the rain for the plentiful harvests. The festival includes a massive swim race in the ocean, a boat race, food, live concerts, and fireworks. They also enjoy the Blue Moon festival in the Underwater realm.

Some of their favorite desserts include the blueberry macarons & coconut baklava from Hollyhock's Bakery, cholados colombianos, cocadas blancas, and merengon de fresas.

They're friends with Aetna (goddess of volcanoes), Nephele (goddess of clouds), Aerin (goddess of the ethereal), Eos (Titaness of dawn), Neféloma (goddess of space & dark matter), Brizo (goddess of sailors, mariners, fishermen, & dreams), Nerissa (goddess of jellyfish), The Muses, and Pasithea (goddess of hallucinations & relaxation). They're also cool with Calypso's mother, Coralie.

The Hyades admire The Pleiades as well as their mother Pleione (Titaness of sailing & stars), The Ourea (esteemed mountain gods), and Tethys (Titaness of freshwater & clouds)

The sisters like their mom's new boyfriend Evangelos who's a merman. The sisters have weekly dinners with him and their mom. They are huge fans of his imperial lobster tails with spicy seaweed & kale salad.

They're aware that their father is seeing Hesperis (goddess of the evening & sunset). When they try bringing up the topic about their relationship to him, Atlas shuts down, not wanting to talk about it.

The sisters are also in business together- they have a jewelry brand, specializing in minimalist astronomy themed designs called Stella Ferrea. They have also released a make-up palette called Celestial Dust.

As far as the sisters' romantic lives, Eudora has a girlfriend- a nephelai named Zoë. Phaeo has been talking with a cyclops named Elio on Fatestagram for a few weeks. She really likes him. The rest of the sisters aren't dating & Coronis recently ended things with her long term boyfriend Hylas.

Some of their favorite foods include aborrajado (fried banana dumplings filled with cheese & guava), mondongo, chorizo con arepa, mole de queso, & patacones.

In their free time, they all have shared interests like swimming, surfing, deep sea diving, dancing (ballet and merengue), yoga, cloud surfing, & stargazing. The sisters also have separate interests.

Coronis is taking mixology classes taught by the Dionysus (god of wine).

Cleea's into fashion & make-up, so she checks out the classes at the community center in downtown New Olympus that is taught by one of The Graces, Thalia.

Phaesyle loves science- astronomy specifically and writing, being a huge fan of the science fiction books written by the co-author team of Astrape (goddess of lightning) & Bronte (goddess of thunder). She sometimes writes short stories in her journal and has thought about attending the writing workshop for aspiring writers headed by Philyra (goddess of perfume, paper, & beauty).

Phaeo (aside from jewelry making) has also gotten into tech & blacksmithing. Eudora has gotten into amateur bodybuilding and even runs a fitness vlog on PanopTube.

"There's a difference between just getting wet and feeling the rain."

[ellocentipede]

Arcana Craves Vanilla Reviews!

Vanilla Craves the Honor of Aphrodite

Scent description: Voluptuous melted caramel coils around softly whipped coconut creme. Sun-warmed Californian wild oranges are laced with honeyed cardamom, then dipped in vanilla beans, Muscovado sugar, and delicate ivory patchouli.

This is a gorgeous scent! The wild oranges are ripe and perfect--a little tart and natural and beautiful. The oranges are on a pillow of delicately cardamom-spiced vanilla and coconut cream, that’s rich and oh-so-very-slightly tropical. The caramel to my nose is barely there and not too sweet, and there’s a subtle grounding earthy element that must be the patchouli. Vanilla Craves the Honor of Aphrodite is a stunning luscious blend.

Vanilla Craves 90s Malls

Scent description: The scent of rebellious young punks and toothachingly sweet innocence. Bright fluorescent lights, glossy watermelon-flavored lip gloss, a ziplock baggie of fresh, green bud, and sticky vanilla-laced marshmallow treats.

Wow, this scent is straight out of my childhood. This takes me back to chewing endless amount of watermelon Hubba Bubba and slathering on Bonne Bell lip gloss. With some time I get the citrusy green of the bud (which is 100% NOT from my childhood, just to be clear!). This is such a happy and joyful blend, conjuring memories of the neon lights and pyramid candles in the Topkapi store!

Vanilla Craves Spring

Scent description: An absurdly delightful blend of two gourmand vanillas, young honeysuckle, pink bubblegum, white amber, a hint of galbanum, and a single drop of sweet mint.

Vanilla Craves Spring is my second favorite scent of all of the Craves! (Marshmallows Scatter is #1!) Spring is my favorite time of year, and Vanilla Craves Spring is a glorious homage to new life, light, and budding flora. Who would have thought that honeysuckle and bubblegum would smell so wonderful together? This bubblegum is pink, powdery, and fresh, like untouched Bazooka, and blends seamlessly with the waxy, heady, nectar-sweet honeysuckle. A kiss of green mint gives the scent some zip and freshness, and of course the smooth vanillas tie everything together to create a blend that smells like hope and happiness. Please do not be scared off the eclectic mix of notes in this blend. I’m no lover of mint or bubblegum, but this scent is more than the sum of its parts--it’s gorgeous and well worth a try. 

Vanilla Craves Terror

Scent description: Creamy vanilla with Arcana Wildcraft’s legendary Holy Terror (burning frankincense, sandalwood, deep myrrh, and dusty beeswax candles).

The frankincense and myrrh is in this one smells like Christmas Eve mass! The dustiness here is really lovely--it’s like a candlelit mass in a beautiful old church... with cookies. The vanilla is not prominent to my nose, but is like a binding agent that ties all of the other elements together. Vanilla Craves Terror is a cuddly, more approachable version of Holy Terror.

Vanilla Craves Sugar Cookies

Scent description: Warm sugar cookies are infused with three gourmand vanillas and a hint of vanilla musk.

Oh this does smell like warm sugar cookies! This is lovely. Warm, buttery, homemade sugar cookies with extra vanilla extract! Simple, yet cozy and wonderful.

Vanilla Craves Fireworks

Scent description: The scent of New Year's Eve. Rich black leather accord, incense-infused dark vanilla, and a splash of champagne.

This blend is magical. It really does smell like a festive winter night. The black leather is of the smooth and silky variety--it’s both cool and cozy and blends beautifully with the pop of champagne. I can’t stop smelling this one--my nose is glued to my wrist! I never go out anymore because of babies + pandemic, but this blend makes me yearn for a fun and carefree night out.

Vanilla Craves Snow Fairies

Scent description: Frozen honey with dry white musk, winter vanilla, opulent amber, snow, vodka, and a sliver of orris root.

Vanilla Craves Snow Fairies smells like snow! This is a fun and magical blend that manages to smell cool and cozy all at once. A crisp and cloudy white musk is kissed with vanilla and sweetened by a subdued honey and made elegant by a hint of orris (a la the glorious Celestite blend) and a smooth, rich amber. A touch of vodka creates the illusion of an icy, snow-covered vista. This is one of my favorites of this collection! It’s smooth and elegant, beautiful, and fun.

Vanilla Craves Warmth

Scent description: Our Garnet Grapefruit blended with dark, smoky, intoxicating vanilla.

I was a little confused when reading that Vanilla Craves Warmth features grapefruit, but now that I’ve tried it, it 100% makes sense. This opens with the most wonderful red, tart, juicy grapefruit note. I’ve loved every grapefruit scent that Julia has created--they’re all punchy and realistic in the best possible way, and Vanilla Craves Warmth is no different. Somehow when combined with this beautiful smoky vanilla, the grapefruit develops a warming quality, almost like burning embers. It’s an intoxicating scent, and a fun experience as well.

Vanilla Craves Mermaid Shoals

Scent description: A gourmand aquatic fantasy. An opening of warm, musky neroli leads to a heart of lemon biscotti, bright tangerine, sunlight glittering on blue water, vanilla, sea foam, briny seaweed absolute, and scattered rose petal incense.

Vanilla Craves Mermaid Shoals is another fine example of Julia’s expertise with aquatic and tropical scents, with some toothsome gourmand elements added to keep things interesting! This is the scent of eating orange creamsicles and iced lemon cookies on the most beautiful tropical beach. The creamsicle is perfection--smooth, sweet vanilla cream and juicy, tart tangerine--and the iced lemon cookies melt a bit in your fingers. The sea breeze carries the scents of sparkling, pearl-crusted foam, and a light hint of waxy pink blossoms. This is a fantasy indeed. An utterly beautiful scent!

Vanilla Craves Grind Shows

Scent description: The edible aromas of a traveling carnival overflowing with oddities and amusements. Vanilla-laced cotton candy, deep fried funnel cakes encrusted with powdered sugar, salty peanuts, kettle corn, and caramel-covered apples.

This scent is also reviewed in the Daydream Collection post, but I’m  including it here as well! Sweet kettle corn, pink cotton candy, and a pop of salty peanut! With time, the kettle corn wins out as the dominant note for me, and it’s wonderful. It smells so realistic that I feel like I’m sticking my nose into a bag of warm, freshly-popped, sweet and salty kettle corn. This is a wonderful and happy carnival scent that makes me yearn for our local fair.

Vanilla Craves Cocoa

Scent description: An elegant twist on chocolate and vanilla. Swanky white amber and sheer vanilla musk with our Hot Cocoa accord (a rich cocoa CO2 infusion melds with the finest dark chocolate and a mug full of fluffy white marshmallows).

Vanilla Craves Cocoa is so, so delicious. The Hot Cocoa layering note is my favorite chocolate scent (it smells like the perfect cup of frothy hot cocoa made with milk, coated in melty marshmallows), and Vanilla Craves Cocoa adds some complexity to it with the hint of opulent amber and kiss of diaphanous vanilla musk. It’s a beautiful scent, and I recommend it for even those who don’t typically love chocolate in perfumes.

Vanilla Craves Gingerbread

Scent description: Rich, gourmand vanilla with Arcana Wildcraft's Gingerbread accord (luxe golden ginger, gingerbread, warm ginger cookies, and delicately piped icing).

Well, this one was unexpected! I get fresh, candied ginger and a squeeze of bright, tart lemon. It smells like sparkling ginger candy or fresh, cool ginger beer. It’s bright and refreshing. With time the freshness of the ginger tames a bit, and I do get some festive, warm, bready goodness. This is artisanal gingerbread made with actual ginger, not the stuff from a box.

Arcana Craves perfumes may be found at https://arcanacraves.com/

[robbybirdy]

Chapter 31: Briella’s Winterfest Baking 20: Champagne Cookies

Sul Sul, Gerbits. It’s only a couple hours left until we see a new decade. So I was reading Baking all year round by Rosanna Pansinno again, and I found her Champagne Cookies. I thought that they would be perfect for this particular night.

For the Cookies you will need all purpose flour, kinda keep forgetting that there are different types of flour out there. You will also need, baking powder, salt, butter or margarine, powdered sugar, 1 egg, corn syrup. The recipe calls for sparkling wine extract, but I used Welch’s sparkling juice and that tasted really good. The measurements for the recipe will be in the description below.

We will make the icing in a little bit, but you will need to egg whites, powdered sugar, cream of tartar, honey (if you have it), salt and vanilla extract.

For the cookies, in a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. 

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat the butter and powdered sugar until it is all light and fluffy. Which will probably take about 3 to 5 minutes.

Next you are going to add the egg and corn syrup. Making sure to beat well.

You are going to beat in the sparkling juice or wine extract.

On a low speed, beat in the flour mixture until is is combined with the wet ingredients. 

Shape the dough into a disk shape, and wrap it in plastic wrap. Refrigerate it for at least 1 hour, this way the dough is easier to use when rolling it out. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 sheets, to start with, with parchment paper.

Make sure you are working on a clean surface. Lightly flour your surface, and your rolling pin. Roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thick. 

Cut out the cookies using a champagne flute cookie cutter, is what the recipe says to do. 

However, what I did was I used a circle and a bell cookie cutter, and I halved them. I used the other half as the stem of the glass. Place the cookies at least 1 inch apart.

The recipe says to bake it for about 14 minutes. However, I was a little afraid of that number, so I put the cookies in for 8 minutes, and they turned out really good. If the cookies aren’t done yet, you can bake them for another 1-2 minutes. You want the bottoms to be slightly brown.  Let them cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

While the cookies are cooling you can make your royal icing. To do so you are going to need a large bowl, and with an electric mixer, beat the egg whites, powdered sugar, and cream of tartar until it is a thick and smooth texture. This will take about 5 to 6 minutes. 

Then you are going to beat in the honey, salt and vanilla until it is smooth for about 1 minute.

Now it’s time to decorate the cookies! Ice the cookies the way you want to. Decorating is an art form so if you feel like following the recipe then go for it, but if you don’t or you are like me and dead tired, you decorate the cookies the way you want to. 

I had so much fun making these cookies. My mom and I decorated these cookies together. It was really fun, because at some point we just started pouring sprinkles on all the cookies. It was so much fun. Again, I hope that you all have a good New Year. May 2020 be a good one. Vadish, Dag Dag!

Ponder-ing Life Description

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Recipe by Rosanna Pansinno via. Baking all your round

Champagne Cookies

2 ¼ Cups all purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature or margarine. 

1 cup powdered sugar

1 large egg

2 tablespoons corn syrup

2 ½ teaspoons sparkling wine extract or sparkling juice. 

Royal Icing

3 large egg whites

4 cups powdered sugar

¼ cream of tartar

1 teaspoon honey

¼ salt

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

For the cookies

Make the champagne cookies: in a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, bat the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes.

Add the egg and corn syrup and beat well.

Beat in the sparkling wine extract.

On low speed, beat in the four mixture until combined.

Shape the dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to ¼ inch thick. Cut out cookies using the champagne flute cookie cutter and place them 1 inch apart on the baking sheets.

Bake until the cookies are firm to the touch but not browned at the edges, about 14 minutes.

Let cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the icing:

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat the egg whites, powdered sugar, and cream of tartar until thick and smooth, 5 to 6 minutes.

Beat in the honey, salt, and vanilla until smooth, about 1 minute.

Decorating the cookies

Make the royal icing. Scoop it into a decorating bag fitted #3 tip

Outline the cookies with icing, then fill in the centers. Let the icing harden for about 1 hour.

Pipe a second layer of icing in the shape of the champagne. While the icing is still wet, cover with sanding sugar.

Using a dab of icing, place pearl sprinkles on the cookie to look like bubbles.