#Best rice cooker for busy schedules | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

kashishkhanna296 · 4 days ago

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Best Pressure Cookers for Fast, Delicious Meals

Introduction to Pressure Cooking

A Best pressure cooker is a kitchen appliance that uses steam and pressure to cook food quickly, locking in moisture, flavors, and nutrients. It works by sealing the food inside a tightly closed container, where steam builds up as the liquid inside heats. This increases the pressure within the cooker, which raises the boiling point of water, allowing the food to cook at higher temperatures than normal, significantly reducing cooking time. There are two main types of pressure cookers: stovetop and electric.

Stovetop pressure cookers are traditional models that rely on direct heat from your stove. They tend to cook faster because they can reach higher pressure, but require more attention since you need to monitor the heat level and timing manually.

Electric pressure cookers, like the popular Instant Pot, are more user-friendly and come with pre-programmed settings for different foods. They have built-in temperature and pressure control, allowing for a more hands-off cooking experience. Electric models also often include additional functions such as slow cooking, sautéing, and even yogurt-making, making them a versatile option for home cooks.

Both types offer significant time savings, but the electric version provides a more hands-off approach, making it a favorite for many modern kitchens.

Time-Saving Benefits

One of the primary reasons pressure cookers have become a must-have in modern kitchens is their ability to drastically reduce cooking time. Whether you're preparing a hearty stew, cooking grains, or braising meat, the best pressure cooker can cut cooking times by up to 70% compared to traditional methods. This is especially beneficial for busy individuals or families who want to prepare healthy, homemade meals without spending hours in the kitchen.

For instance, dishes that typically take hours, such as pot roast or risotto, can be done in under 30 minutes with a pressure cooker. The high-pressure environment speeds up the cooking process by forcing moisture and heat into the food, helping it cook faster without sacrificing flavor. This time-saving benefit makes pressure cookers a game-changer for anyone with a hectic schedule but still wants the satisfaction of a freshly prepared meal.

Flavor Enhancement

Pressure cooking is renowned for its ability to enhance the natural flavors of food, making dishes more delicious and aromatic. The best pressure cooker creates a sealed environment where steam and heat circulate, locking in the flavors and moisture that would otherwise escape during traditional cooking. This means that ingredients like meats, vegetables, and herbs release their full taste potential, intensifying the overall flavor profile of your meal.

The pressure also ensures that seasonings and spices are absorbed more deeply into the food, creating rich, robust flavors. Additionally, since pressure cooking requires less water than other methods, fewer nutrients are lost in the cooking process, allowing your meals to retain more of their natural vitamins and minerals. This results in meals that are not only more flavorful but also more nutritious, making pressure cooking an ideal choice for health-conscious individuals who don’t want to sacrifice taste.

Top Recipes for Beginners

If you're new to pressure cooking, starting with a few simple, beginner-friendly recipes can help you get comfortable with this powerful kitchen tool. Here are some easy recipes to get you started:

Rice Dishes – Whether you’re making plain white rice, fluffy jasmine rice, or a savory pilaf, a pressure cooker ensures perfectly cooked rice every time. It's much faster than using a stovetop or rice cooker and requires minimal attention.

Chili – A perfect dish to experiment with in your pressure cooker. Throw in ground meat, beans, tomatoes, and spices for a rich, flavorful chili that’s ready in under an hour.

Pasta with Sauce – You can even cook pasta in your pressure cooker! Simply combine pasta, sauce, and broth, and you’ll have a full meal with minimal effort.

These recipes are not only quick and easy but also showcase the versatility of the best pressure cooker, giving you a chance to explore different types of meals with ease.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Best Pressure Cooker

To make the most of your pressure cooker, here are a few essential tips that can enhance your cooking experience and results:

Check the Seal: Before each use, ensure that the rubber or silicone sealing ring is properly positioned and free of cracks or food particles. A well-sealed lid is crucial for maintaining the pressure needed for efficient cooking.

Add Enough Liquid: Pressure cookers need liquid to create steam, which generates the pressure for cooking. As a rule of thumb, add at least one cup of liquid (water, broth, or sauce) to prevent food from burning and to build pressure effectively.

Adjust Cooking Times by Ingredient: Softer vegetables like zucchini cook much faster than tougher ingredients like meat or potatoes. If you’re cooking a dish with mixed ingredients, consider adding softer ingredients later, or cutting denser ingredients into smaller pieces to help them cook evenly.

Don’t Overfill: To avoid issues with pressure buildup, only fill your pressure cooker up to the halfway mark when cooking ingredients that expand (like grains or beans) or up to two-thirds full for other foods. This prevents clogging of the pressure release valve and ensures the food cooks evenly.

Use Natural Pressure Release for Delicate Foods: For ingredients that can easily become overcooked, such as vegetables or pasta, use the "natural release" method, which allows pressure to drop gradually. This prevents rapid steam release, which can sometimes cause foods to break apart or lose texture.

Brown Your Ingredients First: If your recipe calls for meat, onions, or spices, consider browning them in the pot before sealing the lid. Many electric pressure cookers have a sauté function that allows you to do this without switching pans. Browning enhances flavor and brings a richer taste to your dishes.

By following these tips, you can maximize the flavor, texture, and overall results of your dishes, truly making the most out of the best pressure cooker in your kitchen.

Pressure Cooker Myths

Despite their popularity, there are still many misconceptions surrounding pressure cookers. Here are a few common myths—and the truth behind them:

Myth: Pressure Cookers Are DangerousTruth: Modern pressure cookers are designed with numerous safety features, including locking lids, pressure release valves, and automatic shut-offs. These advancements make them much safer than the pressure cookers of decades past. When used properly and maintained well, a pressure cooker is a safe, reliable kitchen tool.

Myth: Pressure Cooking Reduces Nutritional ValueTruth: Pressure cooking actually retains more nutrients compared to boiling or steaming for long periods. The shorter cooking time and closed environment help preserve vitamins and minerals, making meals prepared in a pressure cooker highly nutritious.

Myth: Pressure Cookers Can Only Be Used for Stews and SoupsTruth: Today’s best pressure cookers are incredibly versatile. They can cook everything from risotto to yogurt, steam vegetables, cook rice, braise meats, and even bake cakes. Electric models often come with multiple cooking functions, turning one appliance into a multi-functional kitchen helper.

Myth: Pressure Cookers Are Only for Large BatchesTruth: While pressure cookers are great for meal prepping, you don’t have to make large portions. Many models come in various sizes, and you can easily adapt recipes to cook smaller servings if needed.

Myth: Pressure Cookers Require Constant MonitoringTruth: One of the biggest advantages of pressure cookers—especially electric models—is their hands-off nature. You simply set the time and let the cooker handle the rest. Most electric models automatically adjust to maintain the right pressure, making them ideal for busy cooks.

These myth-busting facts help highlight the practicality and versatility of the pressure cooker, making it clear why it’s become a trusted tool in kitchens around the world.

Health Benefits

One of the greatest advantages of cooking with a Best pressure cooker is its ability to retain more vitamins and minerals compared to other cooking methods. Because pressure cooking uses higher temperatures and shorter cooking times, nutrients in the food are preserved, rather than being broken down or lost through prolonged exposure to heat. Studies have shown that pressure-cooked vegetables retain more vitamins, like vitamin C, and minerals, making meals healthier overall.

Additionally, pressure cooking requires less added fat and oils than frying or sautéing, making it a heart-healthy option for those looking to cut back on fats. The best pressure cooker also allows you to cook beans, whole grains, and lean proteins easily, encouraging a diet rich in fiber and plant-based nutrients. By preserving flavors and nutrients, pressure cooking offers a convenient way to prepare balanced, healthful meals for any diet.

Pressure Cooker Alternatives

While pressure cookers offer convenience and efficiency, it's worth comparing them to other popular kitchen appliances to see which one best fits your cooking style and needs. Here’s a look at how pressure cookers stack up against slow cookers and air fryers:

Pressure Cooker vs. Slow CookerA slow cooker is ideal for “set-it-and-forget-it” cooking, where ingredients are added early in the day and cooked at a low temperature over several hours. This method is great for enhancing flavor in dishes like stews and roasts, but it requires more planning due to the longer cooking time. A pressure cooker, on the other hand, achieves tender and flavorful results in a fraction of the time, making it a better choice for those who need meals prepared quickly.

Pressure Cooker vs. Air FryerAn air fryer is specifically designed to crisp and brown foods with little to no oil, making it ideal for achieving a “fried” texture in a healthier way. However, air fryers are less versatile for dishes with liquid, such as soups or stews, where a pressure cooker excels. While both appliances can offer healthy meal options, the best pressure cooker allows for a broader range of recipes, from grains and beans to braised meats and vegetables.

Multi-Cookers: The Best of Both WorldsFor those who want the benefits of both pressure and slow cooking, many electric pressure cookers now function as multi-cookers, with slow-cook and air-fry settings included. These versatile appliances give you the option to slow-cook, pressure-cook, or even air-fry in a single device, making them ideal for maximizing functionality in smaller kitchen spaces.

By understanding the strengths of each appliance, you can choose the best tool—or combination of tools—for your cooking needs. A pressure cooker’s speed and versatility make it a valuable addition to any kitchen, especially when paired with other appliances that complement its strengths.

Conclusion:

Best Pressure cookers have become an essential tool for modern kitchens, offering a unique combination of speed, flavor, and health benefits that few other appliances can match. They simplify meal preparation, allowing even the busiest individuals to enjoy home-cooked dishes in a fraction of the usual time. With the ability to retain nutrients and enhance flavors, the best pressure cooker provides both convenience and quality in every meal.

Whether you’re new to pressure cooking or an experienced cook, understanding its many advantages—from its time-saving capabilities to its versatility across different types of dishes—can transform the way you approach cooking. With helpful tips, beginner-friendly recipes, and debunked myths, anyone can get comfortable using a pressure cooker to create delicious, nutritious meals. Ultimately, this reliable appliance isn’t just about faster cooking; it’s about unlocking a world of flavors, health benefits, and cooking possibilities in your kitchen.

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#bestpressurecooker

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kinaiya-926 · 4 months ago

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please, be kind

07252024

Personal

Slept for 3 hours and 30 minutes (from 6pm-9:30pm): Although I only managed 3.5 hours of sleep, I did my best given my busy schedule. I forgot to turn on the Bluetooth on my iPad, so my watch didn’t track my sleep. This is a learning opportunity, and I’ll remember it for next time.

Finished 900mL of water before sleeping: I stayed hydrated by drinking 900mL of water before bed.

Worked on pending tasks while on Discord with friends: I made my work more enjoyable by spending time on Discord with friends.

Realized I didn’t eat much, only snacks: I didn’t eat much today, only snacks, because I hadn’t cleaned the rice cooker from yesterday and didn’t have any dish. It was still raining outside. I missed walking at the park. Not walking makes me feel guilty about eating since I worry about not burning the fats and possibly gaining weight.

Work

Finished 3/8 client reviews: I made significant progress by completing 3 out of 8 client reviews. It’s important to recognize this achievement and keep moving forward.

Presentation of setup review to the client: I faced my fear and presented to the client, asking questions and requesting a dry run. Even though it felt challenging, I chose to grow instead of just observing. It’s okay to feel nervous; it means I care about improving. Each step I take in public speaking is a step towards greater confidence.

Podcast content creation: I focused on the client presentation today, which meant less time for the marketing part of the podcast content. I’ll discuss access to the transcription platform with my client tomorrow, trusting that they will understand. It’s okay to ask for help and prioritize tasks as needed.

Academics

No academic work done: Today was heavily focused on work, and I didn’t get to my academic tasks. I’ll make up for it tomorrow and prepare for the upcoming presentation on Saturday. It’s okay to have days where one area needs more attention; I can balance it out.

Reply to groupmate: I’ll reply to my groupmate regarding our project. I want to ensure good communication and teamwork. It’s okay if I missed it today; I’ll make sure to address it promptly.

I showed resilience and determination. While there were areas I need to catch up on, I also achieved a lot. It’s important to be kind to myself and acknowledge my efforts. Each day is a step forward, and I’m doing my best.

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nusratpopy99 · 5 months ago

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Master the Art of Perfect Rice Every Time: The Ultimate Rice Cooker Guide

When it comes to cooking, there are few things more satisfying than a perfectly cooked pot of rice. Whether you're preparing a simple weeknight dinner or an elaborate feast, rice is a versatile staple that can complement any meal. Yet, achieving that perfect texture and flavor can be a challenge.

This is where rice cookers come into play, transforming the often tedious process of cooking rice into a seamless and reliable experience. In this guide, we will explore how to master the art of perfect rice every time with the help of a rice cooker.

Why Use a Rice Cooker?

Rice cookers are designed to simplify the cooking process while delivering consistent results. Unlike traditional methods, which require constant monitoring, rice cookers automate the entire process, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your meal. Here are some key benefits:

Consistency: A rice cooker ensures that your rice is cooked evenly, eliminating the common problems of undercooked or burnt grains.

Convenience: With a rice cooker, you simply add water and rice, press a button, and let the machine do the work. Most models come with a timer and automatic shut-off feature, so you don’t have to worry about overcooking.

Versatility: Modern rice cookers can do much more than just cook rice. Many models come with settings for different types of grains, porridges, soups, and even steaming vegetables and meats.

Choosing the Right Rice Cooker

There are various types of rice cookers available, each catering to different needs and preferences. Here are some factors to consider when selecting the right rice cooker for your kitchen:

Capacity

The capacity of a rice cooker is usually measured in cups of uncooked rice. If you have a large family or frequently host guests, opt for a larger model (10 cups or more). For smaller households or individuals, a 3-5 cup capacity cooker should suffice.

Features

Modern rice cookers come with a range of features that can enhance your cooking experience:

Multiple Cooking Functions: Look for cookers that offer settings for different types of rice (white, brown, sushi), as well as other grains like quinoa and barley.

Keep Warm Function: This feature keeps your rice warm and ready to serve for hours after cooking.

Delay Timer: Allows you to set the cooker to start cooking at a later time, perfect for busy schedules.

Price

Rice cookers range from budget-friendly models to high-end versions with advanced features. Determine your budget and find a model that offers the best value for your needs. While cheaper models can do the job, investing in a higher-end cooker can provide better performance and longevity.

Using Your Rice Cooker Effectively

To get the most out of your rice cooker and consistently achieve perfect rice, follow these tips:

Rinse Your Rice

Rinsing rice before cooking removes excess starch, which can cause the grains to stick together. Place the rice in a bowl, fill with water, swirl gently, and drain. Repeat this process until the water runs clear.

Measure Accurately

Use the measuring cup that comes with your rice cooker to ensure the correct rice-to-water ratio. Different types of rice may require different amounts of water, so refer to your rice cooker’s manual for guidance.

Let It Rest

After the cooking cycle completes, let the rice sit in the cooker for an additional 10-15 minutes. This resting period allows the steam to finish cooking the rice, resulting in a fluffier texture.

Experiment with Add-Ins

Enhance the flavor of your rice by adding spices, herbs, or broth. For example, cooking rice in chicken or vegetable broth instead of water can add a delicious depth of flavor.

Caring for Your Rice Cooker

Proper maintenance of your rice cooker will ensure it remains in good working condition for years to come. Here are some tips for care and maintenance:

Clean Regularly: Remove the inner pot and wash it after each use. Wipe down the exterior and the inner lid to prevent residue buildup.

Check the Cord: Ensure that the power cord is in good condition and not frayed or damaged.

Store Properly: Store your rice cooker in a dry place when not in use to prevent any moisture damage.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of perfect rice every time is within reach with the help of a reliable rice cooker. By understanding the features and benefits of different models, choosing the right one for your needs, and following best practices for cooking and maintenance, you can enjoy perfectly cooked rice with minimal effort. Invest in a quality rice cooker, and elevate your culinary experience, turning rice from a simple side dish into a standout feature of your meals.

#prokitchenette.com #pro kitchenette

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cuckoosingapore · 7 months ago

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Multi-Functional Cooker- Your Trusted Kitchen Partner.

Multi-functional Cooker is the must-have kitchen appliance. The electronic device blends several cooking functions such as pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing, steaming and more into one single device.

The cooker offers many benefits that include-

Performs many cooking tasks: CUCKOO’s multi cookers can perform a variety of cooking functions that include slow cooking, pressure cooking, sautéing, rice cooking, yogurt making and more. Users can prepare all kinds of meals using one appliance thus saving kitchen space and money.

Saves time: CUCKOO’s multi pressure cooker is equipped with cutting-edge features like pressure cooking and pre-set programs that minimize cooking times compared to the traditional methods. The meals that take hours to cook can be easily and quickly cooked in no time with a push of a button, making it easier to prepare meals on busy days.

Sustainability: One of the most striking features of multi cookers is that they use less energy as compared to conventional cooking methods. The cookers have sealed environment that traps steam and heat, allowing the food to cook quickly and efficiently while also using less power or gas.

Consistency: Multi-functional cookers offer precise temperature control and cooking times, ensuring evenly cooked food every time. Whether you are cooking rice, yogurt or soup, CUCKOO’s multi cooker delivers perfectly cooked food every time.

Convenience: The cookers feature programmable settings and delay start functions allowing the users to prepare meals in advance and have them ready when required. This is convenient for all those who have hectic schedules and also want to enjoy home cooked food without spending hours in kitchen. Furthermore, one need not have to do babysitting while cooking in multi cookers as all they have to do is to put all the ingredients in the cooking pot and push the required button.

Easy to clean: Multi cookers are easy to clean and maintain. They come with removable and dishwasher safe inner cooking pots enabling hassle-free and easy cleanup. Also, CUCKOO’ multi cookers have automatic steam cleaning mechanism that allows users to spend less time in clean up and more time to enjoy delicious meals.

The best quality multi cookers from CUCKOO cook healthy meals in no time. They are space saving device and are designed thoughtfully to simplify meal preparation. When seeking Good Water Filter Singapore or multi cooker, consider investing CUCKOO brand!

#Good Water Filter Singapore #Multi-Functional Cooker

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gadgetes · 11 months ago

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Gadget

Best Small Pressure Cooker

The small pressure cooker is a compact and efficient kitchen appliance that cooks food quickly and retains its nutritional value. With its convenient size, it is suitable for smaller households or for those who want to save space in their kitchen.

It is great for cooking a variety of dishes, from soups and stews to rice and beans. The small pressure cooker is easy to use, with simple controls and safety features. It can be a game-changer in your cooking routine, making meal preparation faster and more convenient.

Whether you are a busy professional or a home cook looking for a versatile and practical cooking tool, the small pressure cooker is a must-have addition to your kitchen.

How Small Pressure Cookers Save Time And Energy

Small pressure cookers are a blessing for busy individuals who are always on the go. With their quick cooking times and energy-efficient design, these compact appliances serve as a time and energy-saving solution in the kitchen. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of small pressure cookers and compare them to traditional cooking methods, highlighting how they can make your life easier while being eco-conscious.

Quick Cooking Times For Busy Individuals

One of the main advantages of small pressure cookers is their ability to cook food in a fraction of the time compared to traditional cooking methods. These compact appliances utilize high pressure and temperature to speed up the cooking process. With small pressure cookers, you can prepare a delicious meal in minutes, which is especially beneficial for individuals with hectic schedules. By reducing cooking times significantly, small pressure cookers help you save precious minutes that can be dedicated to other important tasks. Whether you have a tight deadline to meet, want to spend more quality time with your loved ones, or simply need a break from the kitchen, a small pressure cooker is your ultimate time-saving companion.

Energy-efficient Design For Eco-conscious Cooking

In addition to saving time, small pressure cookers are also energy-efficient, making them a sustainable choice for eco-conscious individuals. These appliances trap steam and heat within the sealed pot, creating a pressurized environment. By cooking food under high pressure, small pressure cookers require less energy and time compared to conventional cooking methods. When you cook with a small pressure cooker, you can significantly reduce your energy consumption, lowering your carbon footprint. This energy efficiency not only benefits the environment but also saves you money on utility bills. With rising energy costs and increasing concerns about sustainability, choosing a small pressure cooker is a smart and responsible choice for the planet.

#Gadgetes

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shubhamjain83 · 1 year ago

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Burrito Bowl Hacks: Time-Saving Tips for Busy Week

Amidst our hectic schedules, finding the time to prepare a nutritious and satisfying meal can be quite a challenge. Fortunately, the versatile and delectable burrito bowl comes to the rescue. These meals are not only quick to assemble but also completely customizable to suit your palate. In this blog post, we will share some ingenious time-saving tips to help you whip up a delicious burrito bowl in no time.

Time-Saving Tips for Your Burrito Bowl

1. Prepare Your Ingredients Ahead of Time

Spend some time on a weekend or during a free moment to chop, dice, and prepare your burrito bowl ingredients in advance. Store these ingredients in separate containers in your fridge, enabling you to assemble a bowl in just a few minutes when you're pressed for time.

2. Choose Convenient Ingredients

To save even more time, consider using pre-packaged ingredients such as pre-cooked rice or quinoa, pre-cut vegetables, and pre-marinated proteins available at your local convenience store. These ready-to-use ingredients significantly reduce your cooking time without compromising on flavour or nutrition.

3. Get Creative with Leftover

Don't let your leftovers go to waste. Leftover grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, or even that half-can of black beans can be repurposed in your burrito bowl. Simply reheat them, add some fresh ingredients, and you'll have a delicious meal in no time.

4. Invest in Time-Saving Kitchen Appliances

Think about investing in kitchen appliances like a rice cooker, slow cooker, or instant pot. These gadgets can help you cook rice, beans, or proteins while you attend to other tasks.

5. Maintain a Well-Stocked Pantry

Having a well-stocked pantry can make a significant difference. Keep essentials like canned beans, salsa, and your favourite seasonings on hand. These items can add flavour and substance to your burrito bowl in a matter of minutes, allowing you to get creative with different combinations.

6. Embrace One-Pan Cooking

Streamline your cooking process by using a single pan or skillet. This minimizes the number of dishes you need to wash and simplifies your meal prep. A quick stir-fry in one pan can make your ingredients taste like they've been marinating for hours. One-pan meals are a real time-saver.

7. Remember to Add Toppings

Toppings are what make your burrito bowl truly unique. Keep a variety of toppings like shredded cheese, avocado, sour cream, or fresh herbs on hand. These add the finishing touch and elevate your bowl's taste.

8. Explore a Variety of Flavors and Bases

One of the best things about burrito bowls is their versatility. Try different combinations of ingredients, sauces, and seasonings to keep your meals exciting. While rice is the traditional base for burrito bowls, don't be afraid to get creative. Try using quinoa, couscous, or even leafy greens as a base. It's a fantastic way to add variety to your meals, saving time and keeping your taste buds excited.

9. Simplify Your Cooking Approach

Remember that the beauty of a burrito bowl is in its simplicity. You don't need a dozen ingredients for a delicious meal. Stick to a few well-chosen components, and you'll save time and savour the meal even more.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a busy schedule doesn't have to mean sacrificing a delicious and healthy meal. With these time-saving tips, you can relish a satisfying burrito bowl that perfectly fits into your hectic lifestyle. By prepping ahead, making the most of leftovers, investing in the right appliances, and wisely utilizing pre-packaged ingredients, you can enjoy a wholesome meal without the hassle. Plus, the versatility of burrito bowls means you can experiment with different flavours and ingredients to keep things exciting.

So, the next time you're short on time but craving a fulfilling meal, consider these burrito bowl hacks to simplify your life and delight your taste buds. Bon appétit!"

#burrito bowl #burrito #bowl food #bowl meal

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ella-healthy-foods · 2 years ago

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Healthy Eating on a Time Crunch: Meal Prep Tips for Busy Schedules

Oh, the daily hustle and bustle of life, a never-ending roller coaster of tasks, commitments, and deadlines, leaving you gasping for breath and craving a decent meal. Sound familiar? You, my friend, are not alone. The modern world has left us scrounging for time, and sadly, our diets are the first to suffer. But fear not, for I come bearing the secrets of meal prep and healthy eating on a busy schedule.

First, let's address the elephant in the room - the dreadful consequences of a poor diet for the busy bees like yourself. Nutrient deficiencies, weight gain, low energy, mood swings, and even the dreaded "hangry" beast are lurking around every corner of your chaotic life, just waiting to pounce. Surely, you don't want to fall prey to these diet demons, do you?

Well, you're in luck! I'm here to guide you through the intricate world of batch cooking and freezing meals, creating weekly or monthly meal plans, and whipping up delicious dishes in just 30 minutes. So buckle up and get ready to embark on the flavorful journey of healthy eating, even when you're racing against the clock.

1. Embrace the Magic of Batch Cooking and Freezing Meals

Batch cooking is the superhero of meal prep for busy folks like you. Simply put, it's the art of cooking large quantities of food at once and freezing them in individual portions for convenient reheating later. Imagine coming home after a long day and having a delicious, home-cooked meal ready in minutes. No more sad, soggy takeout for you!

The key to successful batch cooking is selecting recipes that freeze well, like soups, stews, casseroles, and even some pasta dishes. Spend a few hours on the weekend whipping up your culinary creations, portion them into containers, and let the freezer work its magic. Your future self will thank you.

2. Plan Your Weekly or Monthly Meal Plan Like a Pro

Creating a weekly or monthly meal plan may seem daunting, but trust me, it's worth it. You'll save time, money, and all-important brainpower by knowing exactly what's on the menu. Plus, you'll avoid the dreaded "what's for dinner?" question, which, let's face it, can lead to some pretty unhealthy choices.

Start by picking a few go-to recipes that you can rotate throughout the week, and don't forget to include some quick, 30-minute dishes for those extra hectic days. Your meal plan should be flexible, allowing you to swap ingredients and make adjustments as needed. And remember, practice makes perfect – you'll get better at meal planning with time.

3. Master the Art of the 30-Minute Meal

Not every meal needs to be an elaborate, time-consuming project. Sometimes, you just need to whip up a tasty, nutritious dinner in under 30 minutes, and for these moments, salads, stir-fries, and grain bowls are your best friends.

The secret to lightning-fast meals lies in having pre-cut vegetables and fruits on hand. You can either buy them pre-chopped or spend some time on the weekend slicing and dicing for the week ahead. Combine these pre-cut veggies with hummus for a satisfying snack, or toss them into a salad, stir-fry, or grain bowl for a quick, filling meal.

4. Stock Up on Time-Saving Ingredients and Tools

Having a well-stocked pantry and a few handy kitchen gadgets can save you precious time and energy. Keep your kitchen stocked with healthy, versatile ingredients like whole grains, canned beans, and an assortment of sauces and spices that can be easily transformed into mouthwatering meals.

Invest in a few time-saving tools like a slow cooker, an Instant Pot, or even a simple rice cooker to take some of the stress out of meal prep. These gadgets can turn seemingly complicated dishes into easy, set-it-and-forget-it masterpieces.

There you have it – a treasure trove of tips and tricks to help you conquer meal prep and healthy eating on a busy schedule. With a little planning, creativity, and a good dose of humor, you can wave goodbye to sad, tasteless meals and hello to a world of delicious, nutritious, and time-saving dishes. So go forth and conquer, dear reader, and may your meal prep journey be ever triumphant!

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#healthy food #healthy eating #healthy foods #healthylifestyle #busy life

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kakashiswilloffire · 3 years ago

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hey friend! i saw you are taking requests and would love to submit one if you're up for it!

would love something fluffy and sweet for kakashi. maybe some lazy day off shenanigans with his s/o and his ninken? bonus points if snuggling in a dog pile is involved at some point. reader can be gender neutral.

thanks and congrats on 100!

thank you so much!! i'm not really a dog person so i struggled a bit but i hope you enjoy!!

ao3

words: 2.4k

warnings: none!

It was the first day off you had both had in nearly a month. Team 7 kept Kakashi busy, if not with missions, then with training all day. On top of that, he was still in the on-call rotation all jonin were required to keep their names in, though his shifts were less frequent due to his status as a sensei. You had recently been promoted, and with that, your responsibilities were upped and you had been asked to step in for one of your colleagues who had recently run into some unexpected health issues. The time you had been able to share at home together had been limited to early mornings and late evenings, and frequently, there had been nights where the apartment you shared had remained empty entirely. Your fiancé had been counting down the days until your schedules finally overlapped, and you had exactly twenty-six hours in which you both had no obligation to the outside world.

You were awoken by the fire alarm screeching and a handful of swear words, followed by a crunching of plastic and sudden silence. Gaze flickering to the side, you noted Kakashi’s two-thirds of the bed empty and grinned, holding back a chuckle.

“Everything alright, babe?” you called out.

The reply came with an air of resignment. “Did I wake you up?”

You brought your arms over your head, feeling your joints re-align and pop lightly as you stretched.

“Not necessarily, unless you need help cleaning up?”

“No!” He replied quickly, and you heard the broom skitter across the tiles, dragging the remains of the smoke detector with it. “Go ahead and go back to sleep, I’ll come wake you later.”

Not one to deny the opportunity to rest after how late you’d gotten in last night, you snuggled back into your pillow with a small smile. It only took a moment before you were drifting off again, although not as deeply as you had been. You were dimly aware of the sound of teapot being filled, the burnt toast smell wafting through the open door, and your fiance’s graceful footsteps as he danced through the kitchen.

Wait.

Danced?

You raised your head up slightly, freeing both ears to focus on the sound of the Copy Ninja’s footsteps. His weight wasn’t distributing evenly on each step and the pattern of his footfalls was irregular. Bringing yourself to a sitting position, you suddenly realized that he was humming absentmindedly in the small kitchen.

Kakashi was not known for his stoicism, but the level of professionalism he established outside of the copy of Icha Icha attached to his palm was carefully maintained even in his downtime. When you went out together for dinner or drinks with friends, he told few jokes and mostly at Genma or Asuma’s expense. Gai’s repeated challenges to karaoke contests, both in locations with and without a karaoke machine, had always been flatly denied in favor of watching you and Kurenai choose the heartbreaker duet of the week to belt out. When you found yourself at the rare club, it only took light coaxing to bring him onto the dance floor with you, but anything more than swaying to the beat was out of the question. As long as he was having fun, you didn’t mind him not joining in the way the others teased him to do, but you had wished that he would be able to let go of his responsibilities long enough to really enjoy himself one day.

You slinked out of bed, keeping your movements as fluid as possible as you wrapped the comforter over your shoulders. As silently as you could move, you travelled into the hallway and through the living room, the smell of something acrid and burnt slowly getting stronger. You flattened yourself parallel to the wall, though not touching it to prevent the noise of the comforter dragging along, once you approached the doorway to the kitchen. He was certainly humming, and you couldn’t repress a grin, realizing he must be nearly skipping from the counter to the pantry from the way he moved. As slowly as you could, despite your excitement, you leaned around the corner to check on the man in the kitchen.

Kakashi was wearing boxers and a binder, his most comfortable outfit when secure inside your shared home. To your delight, he had chosen one of the binders without a mask attached, and you had a clear view of the slightly silly grin plastering his face as he shifted intermittently from humming to light, mumbled singing, punctuated by murmuring the ingredients he was using as he reached for them. He was stationed at the stove, stirring a medium pot and tasting from it in between verses of his song, reaching for more salt or minced garlic to adjust. He closed his eyes, bobbing his head side to side at a line he took a particular interest in, the morning sunlight catching glints of silver in his messy hair.

Taking advantage of his eyes being shut, you whipped back around the doorway into the living room, quickly tiptoeing away. You were so in love, and so happy to see him carefree, your mouth fell open in a silent scream and your hands, corners of the comforter still held in each, flew to your face.

You had to tell someone. No one would ever believe that Kakashi Hatake, master of a thousand jutsu, could be so sweet and cute behind the former ANBU exterior. Quickly, you crouched to the floor, abandoned the comforter, and made the required handsigns, pausing for a moment to remember if it was hitsuji or uma that came after saru, then gently pressed your palm against a squishy couch cushion. With a puff of smoke that evaporated almost as quickly as it was created, Pakkun sat before you.

You brought your finger up to your lips in a shushing gesture immediately. The tiny dog squinted, but nodded his agreement after a beat. This was your third or fourth time summoning him, and the first time you had done with without Kakashi. Animal summons were not your strong suit, and you had never particularly been a dog person, a fact that Pakkun had keyed in to almost instantaneously upon meeting you when you had no more than polite “my boyfriend’s pet” level interest in his paw pads. They were as soft and supple as he claimed, but you didn’t quite understand the appeal of man’s best friend.

You made the simple gestures required to convey that there was something to see and led Pakkun quietly toward the entryway to the kitchen where you could hear the rice cooker being sealed and started. Kakashi had switched to a different song and was now vocalizing the instrumentals softly, occasionally pausing to mime playing the instruments he was mimicking. Your hand found its way over your mouth, your heart melting with the gentle domesticity. Then you jerked away, feeling a soft scratch at your feet.

The pocket-sized grizzled dog glared at you until you bent down, when he pointed upwards toward a mess of hair. You felt a pang of guilt as you realized from this angle, all you could see was the shinobi’s calloused hand pushing silver strands out of his face, the black engagement band glinting dully on his finger. For the wedding in four months, you had managed to arrange custom bands for you both with the Hatake crest engraved into the matte surface. Kakashi didn’t know yet, and you knew that with how mission work was, he wouldn’t get to wear it often, but he would have a piece of his clan’s legacy with him whenever he did wear it.

The feeling of disappointment radiated off of the dog with the headband as you absorbed the fact you hadn’t considered him not being able to see over the counter. After a moment, you held out both your hands cupped together, fingertips resting on the floorboards. Pakkun regarded this, looking from your hands to your face, which you tried to humble appropriately. He sniffed at your exposed palms, then delicately stepped into your arms.

Bringing him up to your chest as you stood back up, you felt him stiffen. Had you moved him too quickly? Were you holding him too tightly? You ran two fingers down the back of his head instinctively and were surprised to find him relax. Kakashi tasted the cloudy liquid from the pot again and nodded firmly, turning toward the doorway. You whipped around, placing your back against the living room wall and clutching Pakkun tightly to your chest. You both held your breath, waiting to see if you’d been caught.

He sang to himself, “almost ready!” and you released your breath. Quickly, you snagged the blanket off the floor and made your way back to the bedroom.

“What’s the occasion?” Pakkun demanded as soon as you had the door shut behind you, jumping onto the bed.

“There is none! It’s just our first day off in a while, and he thinks I’m still asleep!”

Pakkun considered that quietly. “His pa, Sakumo, used to do the same thing. If he thought no one was around, he’d put on a whole concert for himself. Kakashi used to join him, up until his death. Then I didn’t catch him humming again till about a year after Minato’s death. Life had been rough for the poor pup up till about then. But he’s been in there all morning singing to himself?”

You nodded, pulling the gray comforter tighter around your shoulders. You knew your fiancé had been through more than most people should ever have to go through, but to think he might be making a breakthrough with his depression and trauma—to start singing again?

Pakkun made an odd noise that reminded you of a sneeze, then pawed at his eye and seemed to clear his throat. “I gotta tell the others. They’re gonna lose it.”

“Yeah, you should definitely head back and let them know the good news. I’m supposed to be asleep after all, he’ll probably come wake me up in a minute or two.”

The sly dog hesitated, then a wicked glimmer flashed across his eyes. “Or…”

Before you could react, you were engulfed a thin cloud of smoke that smelled vaguely of grass, and your bed began to creak. You jumped up, gasping at the number of variously sized dogs that had appeared in the room.

Pakkun addressed the crew before anyone could ask any questions. “Stay quiet. We’ve got a stealth mission ahead of us. Everyone, this is Kakashi’s partner, the one he’s marrying soon.” He then turned to you and pointed out the pack members in a line. “Bull, Urushi, Shiba, Bisuke, Akino, Uhei, and Guruko.” They were all undeniably adorable, and you’d have to ask your fiancé when he had the time to commission them all matching vests and headbands, but you were still shocked to see so many dogs. Did he really have eight summons? When most shinobi had one, if any?

“Name of the game is observe without being detected. Target: Kakashi. Location: kitchen. Standard formation. Questions?”

With no questions being posed, Pakkun lept up onto Bull’s head and led the way. You marveled in how quietly such a massive dog could move and trailed the pack as they made their way through your apartment.

You heard the timer on the rice cooker ding, then the seal breaking and relished the scent of the steam drifting through the air. There must be a stick of lemongrass in the rice this morning. You could see that Kakashi was beginning to set the table, gathering everything for a cozy breakfast for two.

He was also singing, audibly, with some degree of confidence.

One by one, the dogs all stopped and froze in awe. Akino and Uhei stepped around to the other side of you, and Shiba—or maybe it was Urushi?—popped their head between your knees to try to see. You were surrounded on all sides by the ninken, and you started to feel comforted by their warmth. Together, you all listened to your man serenade chopsticks and bowls as he spun to the small table, breaking into a mock tap routine as the china hit the wooden surface. You felt your head tilt to the right as you let the waves of love rush over you as you watched him carefully adjust the oily, burnt pan in the sink so he could wash his hands.

“Alright, love—breakfast is ready!”

For just a moment, you forgot that you were supposed to be in bed. You didn’t move as Kakashi rounded the corner, freezing when he saw nine sets of puppy-dog eyes gazing wistfully back at him from the middle of the living room, all heads tilted to the right and dreamy smiles plastered on each face.

“Ah! Uh, how long have you, uh…?”

Together, you moved as a pack toward your loved one, tackling him in a ten person hug. When you wormed your way past Uhei, you cupped Kakashi’s face and brought him in for a deep kiss, feeling butterflies in your stomach. He blushed slightly, tracing his thumb along your jawline.

“I love you, and I’m so glad that you feel safe and happy and loved with me,” you whispered fiercely, trying to beam the intensity of your emotion at him without being too aggressive.

He smiled, Sharingan deliberately taking the whole scene in as he lay on the floor with you, pulling you into his arms. Pakkun trotted over to sit on his chest while he brought you in for a firm, tight hug.

“Me too. And I’m glad you got to meet the rest of the clan.” He let the Sharingan fall shut, relaxing against you.

“Would’ve made more miso soup if I’d known everyone was coming over. Have you seen the dog bowls around anywhere?”

#fic request #kakashi can't cook #kakashi x reader #kakashi hakate #ninken #kakashi x gn!reader #gn!reader #kakashi oneshot #naruto fanfiction #domestic kakashi #pakkun

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animeangst · 4 years ago

Text

Headlights

╭─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╮

𝘗𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨: Atsumu X Reader

𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘦: Angst ending

𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴: Slight time skip spoilers, blood, major character death

𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵: 2.2k

╰─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╯

You woke up the light shining into your window. You reached over the bed to find it empty. With your mind still half asleep, you sit up groggily. The faint sound of the shower comforts your suspicion of someone stealing Atsumu in the middle of the night. It was rare that Atsumu woke up before you; usually he was tired after his practices which led him to sleep a little later most mornings.

Atsumu has not been his normal self lately, his normal confident and teasing personality has been replaced with more anxiety than normal. Maybe it was just his upcoming game? Although he hasn’t shown this kind of nervousness before…

Well it’s not like you haven’t seen him act this way before. After his twin quit volleyball it was kind of hard on him. Maybe he just misses him!

Due to his upcoming volleyball game, Atsumu hasn’t really been able to do much. His schedule basically consists of practice, eat, and sleep. That would be rough for anyone. You think you should do something nice and make a yummy breakfast for the both of you!

You finally pull yourself out of bed, the shower still running in the background as you “sneak” out of the room. You make your way to the kitchen, and pull out some eggs and a pan. You set up the rice cooker for some white rice and get to making the omelette.

You’re not the best at making omurice, but you do know that Atsumu enjoys it; and so do you! It can be difficult to get it right, but it is definitely worth it! Once the rice cooker sang it’s little done song, you got to seasoning the rice. You shaped the rice into a little mound on each plate and placed the omelettes on top of each. The steam rising slowly from each plate tickled your senses; if it was half as good as it smelled you think it would be alright!

All of a sudden two strong arms snake their way around your waist. The fresh warm shower smell mixes in with the spices and you melt into his arms.

“Good morning, love” His voice is like silk in your ear. “It looks delicious” his breath tickles your ear as he takes a little bite of your shoulder.

“I thought you meant the food!” you laugh as he starts to tickle you, and nip at you playfully.

“I never said that,” he replies. You slip out of his grip, and take the two plates in your hands. You walk over to the table and set them in your normal spots.

You two have a fun time eating breakfast. Atsumu kept making fun of your omurice, saying he could do better (which you both know is not true).

"Well maybe I won't make you any more food" you huff playfully. You cross your arms and give him a side eye.

"You know I'd starve" he smirks, grabbing your arm, and pulling your hand into his. His cheeky smile turns into a genuine one. A slight blush falls over your cheeks. You look over to the clock to avoid his gaze.

8:00

"Sadly you have to get going" you say as you take your hand back and stand up. You take the dirty plates off the table and head over to the sink. Atsumu grabs your shoulder gently and lands a swift kiss to your cheek. He grabs his bag and goes to the front door to put his shoes on.

"Love you, Y/N" he calls out. "I'll see you after practice" and with that he left the apartment. You had the day off today so you were free to do as you wanted.

▬

You were lounging on the couch watching TV, when your phone gave a little chime. It was a text from Atsumu.

I’ll be home early tonight

Oh?

Practice will be over at 5 so I’ll be home

At 6

Can’t wait to see you then!

You check the clock

3:00

Since you spent most of the day doing nothing, you decide to meet Atsumu at practice. Since he has been feeling kind of down lately, you think it would be nice to stop by Osamu’s shop together for some after practice snacks/dinner.

You know that the train will take a little bit, so you decide to start getting ready; but after this episode....

By the time you get yourself ready it's about 4 o’clock. You walk out of your apartment building and start heading toward the station. The crisp fall air blows over you, the trees lining the street are a beautiful mix of red, orange, and yellow. The beauty of the scenery never failed to put a small smile on your face.

The train ride was simple, and walking to the gym the same. This wasn’t your first time showing up after Atsumu’s practice. Lately practice has just been ending later and later. You knew the boys worked hard, and you were glad they were getting a little break for tonight.

You enter the gym just as the boys are packing up their items. You hear someone shout your name and a familiar swish of orange hair catches your eye as Hinata runs over to you. Bokuto follows suit and wraps his arms around you in a bone crushing hug.

“Jesus, you’re killing me” you squeak out. “And you stink, dude” you were right, they were all tired and sweaty and oh god does it smell in here. You had no idea how they did this every day.

Slowly your boyfriend saunters over to you and his teammates with a smirk. He watches as they squeeze the life out of you in excitement.

"Alright, alright, let em' go" Atsumu says putting his hands up in a stretch. He looks over to you with a quizzical look. “Y/N, why are you here?”

“Ah, well” You mutter as you get put down by Bokuto. “I thought it would be fun if we could go to Osamu’s after your practice” you raise a hand to scratch the back of your neck sheepishly. The other boys leave you and Atsumu alone, as they go to grab the last of their things.

You and Atsumu head out of the gym, the rest of the team following behind. His arm slings around your shoulder, and you all walk towards the station. Everyone seems to be tired after practice, so the normally rowdy team is having quiet casual conversations. Bokuto and Hinata are rambling about spiking like normal.

You all manage to make it to the platform, and some of the members break off to go to their respective trains. A chill runs down your spine as a gust of cool wind blows through the group, and Atsumu pulls you a little closer. The train pulls into the station; Bokuto, Hinata, Atsumu and you board the train and find a seat.

“How have you been, Y/N?” Bokuto questions.

“Oh you know, like normal.” you sigh. “Nothing particularly exciting.” Hinata and Bokuto give each other a look, and look at Atsumu.

“Yeah, I’ve been so busy with practice I keep leaving my Y/N home alone most nights” Atsumu says. He gives the two other boys a sharp look. Your head resting on his shoulder as he pet your hair slightly.

“I’m an adult. I can handle myself.” You laugh.

Bokuto and Hinata blab on and on until your stop comes. The two of you stand up and give a little wave towards the other boys as you get off the train. Hinata and Bokuto give you a big smile.

You walk the familiar path to Onigiri Miya hand in hand with Atsumu. You gently swing your hands as you hum your favorite song.

“Gosh do you have to hum that all the time?” Atsumu says with a smirk. His thumb gently rubbing your hand. You nod your head humming louder. Atsumu shakes his head as he opens the door to the shop.

You are greeted by an awfully familiar looking man. You smile widely looking up at Osamu’s face. He offers a small smile and looks towards his twin.

“I didn’t know you were coming today.” Osamu states, cleaning his hands off with a towel. The shop was rather busy, with people milling around eating. It was a perfect time for dinner and it seems as if you weren't the only one with the idea.

“It was Y/N’s idea” Atsumu says tilting his head towards you. “I got out of practice early, and they thought it would be nice to come”

“Yeah” you pipe up. “I know you’ve both been busy lately so I thought seeing each other would be nice” the two men look at each other a faint smile pulling at their lips.

“Well, just wait here for a second while I set some stuff up. I can take a break for a bit.” Osamu says casually. “Let me steal him for a moment as well.” he states, pointing towards Atsumu. He follows his brother to the back of the shop, while you find a place to sit.

Once they come back, Osamu has a tray of food for all of you. It looks absolutely amazing as you all dig in and talk about your busy lives. You look at the two boys happily chatting, with a smile on your face. You’re glad that you got them together; they clearly missed each other.

▬

After a while, you look out the window to the street. It was already dark, and the shop was basically empty.

“Well” Atsumu says as he stands up. “I should take this one home” He laughs pointing towards you. “It was nice seeing you” He smiles as he gives his brother a hug. Osamu gives you a smile and a hug as well.

“We should do this more often!” you chirp. The two men give you a faint smile, as Atsumu grabs your hand.

The two of you walk out of the shop, stomachs full and genuinely having a good time. You can't remember the last time you were able to go out with Atsumu, and you're glad that he got to spend time with his brother. You notice that Atsumu is back to his old self.

“Hey, Y/N” he says, giving your hand a squeeze. You look up at him, the moonlight reflecting off of his face. “I’m sorry I’ve been acting kind of weird lately” He stops walking and takes both of your hands in his.

The headlights from the passing cars illuminating the two of you, casting long shadows along the buildings beside you. Atsumu squeezes your hands and looks up into the night sky.

“You know I love you, right Y/N?” he asks. The moon reflected in his beautiful brown eyes. He starts to look down to you. His eyes widen as he violently pushes you away from him.

It all happens so fast, you find yourself falling into the road and you hear tires screech out and a loud bang. A car crashed into a tree behind you, Atsumu splayed out on the sidewalk beside you.

Blood pools onto the gray of the sidewalk, your ears ringing violently. You crawl towards him; tears welling up in your eyes as you bring his head into your lap. You pet his hair gently, and you hear a scream in the distance.

▬

You don’t remember much after the accident, and you find yourself in a hospital bed. Osamu is sitting in a chair beside you. Your whole body hurt as you sat up. Osamu’s normally calm face was replaced with puffy red eyes and a frown. You knew something was wrong.

“Where is he?” you croak. You look at Osamu with half lidded eyes, the IV stung in your hand as you raised it to your head. All he does is shake his head. Tears spill over your cheeks involuntarily. Your emotions haven't caught up to you as the doctor enters the room.

“Ah, you’re awake. We’ve done a few general tests and you’re free to go home later today.” he rambles ruffling through the papers in your chart. He pulls up a chair and sits next to your bed. You had a queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach. You knew exactly what he was going to say. You watched as Osamu sat up in his chair and looked out the window, avoiding your gaze.

“I’m sorry to have to say this, but sadly Atsumu didn’t make it.” All at once your emotions come rushing out, your hands trembling as they cover your face. You bend down as sobs rack your body.

“We have many grief counselors and options for you here.” he continues. “And we found this by him at the scene.” the doctor pulls something out of his pocket. You hold out your trembling hands to accept the item. A ring box.

The doctor eventually leaves after explaining a few more basic things to you and Osamu. Osamu looks up to you with sorrow filled eyes, the box still clutched in your hand.

“He wanted to give you that last night.” Osamu said; his voice barely audible whisper. You opened your hand, the soft velvet of the box in your palm. With shaky hands you gently flip the top open to reveal,

An engagement ring.

#atsumu x reader #hq #haikyuu angst #haikyuu #major character death #some fluff #atsumu x y/n #miya atsumu #haikyuu!!

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ichigo-daifuku · 4 years ago

Text

Alone Together

Fandom: Boku no Hero Academia Pairing: Hawks/Todoroki Fuyumi Genre: Time Travel, Romance, Fluff, Angst, Suggestive Themes

Synopsis: A Quirk accident prompts Fuyumi to travel back in time in various intervals, where she does her best to keep a low profile so as not to alter the future timeline.

Except Keigo catches feelings for her a year earlier than scheduled.

1 | ☆ Chapter One: A Fine Mess Word Count: 5.2k

恋の予感 | こいのよかん | koi no yokan

premonition of love; the sense one can have upon first meeting another person that the two of them will inevitably fall in love.

At five in the morning, Hawks stirred in his sleep and shivered.

The air was frigid. He concluded the heater must have ceased functioning sometime in the middle of the night. If it didn’t, how else could he explain how frosty the temperature in his room was? He took a deep breath and exhaled through his mouth, rubbing a palm over his abdomen. It felt as if he was sleeping beside a block of ice. Groggily, he huddled further under his blanket and tried to fall back into slumber.

Five more minutes, he thought, and then, this early bird will catch the worm… no, the villains.

A shift on his bed followed by a yawn drew his attention. He froze. Eyes shut but conscious and alert, he spread out a number of his feathers and confirmed it: an intruder was on his bed.

Hawks opened his eyes and found a sight that made them go as wide as saucers. A scantily clad woman was curled up next to him, comfortably sleeping as if she was on her own bed. She mumbled something incoherently and embraced his torso, her hold loose but enough for him to feel the outline and curves of her body. A puff of breath from her parted lips tickled his bare chest. Her skin was as cold as ice, and for a second, he wondered if she was feeling unwell—until he came to his senses. He recounted the events of the previous night in search of any factor that could’ve led to this situation.

Hawks had gone through the daily grind of flying around and catching villains. It had been a busier day than usual. Exhausted after his final patrol, he opted to order take-out at a fast-food restaurant on his way home instead of dining in. He ate his dinner, freshened up, put a random pair of sweatpants on, and went to sleep. He failed to recall encountering her last night, and he was certain she wasn’t here when he plopped down on his bed.

Hawks had never met this woman before.

However, from what he was seeing, he slept beside this woman. He didn’t sleep with her, right? There was no way such a thing would slip his mind.

Was he going insane? Was he having his annual spring rut? Was he so sexually frustrated that he was having a realistic hallucination of a very attractive woman sleeping next to him?

“Good morning,” said a feminine voice, still husky from the early hour, near his ear.

Despite the silent questions he raised, the softness of the lips pressing on his cheek was real.

Very much so.

Languidly, the woman sat up, stretched her arms above her head, and let out a contented hum. She stepped out of the bed and left the room while combing her fingers through her snow-white hair, unperturbed.

Hawks, who was still dubious of the situation, left the bed and slipped on the first t-shirt he could lay his feathers on. He went after the woman and found her in the kitchen, browsing through the contents of the refrigerator with a frown.

She cocked her head to the side and scrunched her eyebrows. “Didn’t we go grocery shopping yesterday? Why is everything gone? Don’t tell me you got hungry in the middle of the night and ate it all.”

The two of them went grocery shopping? Yesterday?

Without waiting for his response, the woman grabbed two eggs from the shelf and closed the refrigerator. She set them aside and bent down to get a frying pan from the cabinet.

Hawks wondered how she knew where he kept his cookware, but before he could dwell on the thought, he found out it wasn’t all that she was cognizant of.

The woman knew how to operate the rice cooker and coffee maker easily and prepared breakfast with such familiarity that if he didn’t know better, he’d say it was her kitchen and not his.

All the while, he stood at the entrance, wary and ready to defend himself when she decided to strike—except she did nothing of the sort.

“By the way, have you seen my eyeglasses?” she asked, setting the plate of fried eggs on the table. “It wasn’t on the nightstand. I forgot where I put them.”

“Who are you?” Hawks finally uttered the question he was dying to find the answer to. He took a tentative step forward as a predator would when it stalked its prey. “How did you get in my place?”

She glanced at him but paid his threatening action no mind, filling two mugs with coffee. “Huh?”

“It’s a serious question, Miss,” he stated, his expression grave and stern. “Who are you?”

Silver eyes met his golden ones. For some inexplicable reason, he was taken aback, but before he could mull over the peculiar impression he sensed, the question that left her lips had alarm bells ringing in his head.

“What are you talking about, Keigo?”

Keigo.

She called him Keigo.

He launched one of his longer feathers to his palm and aligned it toward her neck as one would with a sword. The tip of the feather brushed a strand of her hair, from which he spotted distinctive crimson streaks from. It was a unique feature that would help confirm her identity if she refused to speak. “Are you a spy? Who sent you?”

Panicked, she shook her head and waved her hands in front of her in denial. “I’m not a spy! No one sent me!”

“How did you know that name?”

“Which name?”

“Stop pretending you don’t know what’s going on,” he snapped, glaring at her. “My real name. How did you know it?”

“You told me.”

His birth name was classified information. From the day he was instructed to live as Hawks, he had buried his past and told no one his real name. Nobody—save for his estranged parents, the Hero Public Safety Commission, and himself—should have been aware of it. Not even his sidekicks, nor his fans, and definitely not the woman standing in front of him. “You’re lying.”

“Keigo, are you okay? Did you hit your head or something?” The menacing stance he had did nothing to deter her. She stepped forward and touched his head in search of any injuries. When she found none, she retreated and put her hands behind her back. “If I remember correctly, we’ve been on a first-name basis since we met. Well, kind of.”

Why would he reveal his real name to someone he just met? He would never do that.

Was this woman a delusional fangirl of his? He had encountered a few cases of those, but none of them had gone as far as this woman. She wasn’t from around here, he noticed, as she wasn’t speaking in Hakata-ben. Regardless, this was a penthouse of an exclusive condominium in Kyushu. How was she able to get past the security?

“We’ve never met. I don’t know who you are,” he stated without room for argument. “Now, tell me how you got in, and I’ll turn you in to the police myself.”

She stared at his face quietly, deep in thought. After a long pause, an epiphany struck her, and she spoke in a hesitant tone, expecting the worst, “Sorry, but… could you, perhaps, tell me what year it is?”

“That’s an odd question, Miss. What year do you think it is?”

The response she gave him left him disconcerted. With an uncertain voice, she told him today's month and day correctly, but she added three years to the current year.

When he revealed she was wrong, she backed away and buried her face in her hands.

“Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry!” she cried out with an apologetic bow, on the verge of bursting into tears. “We haven’t met yet, haven’t we? This must be so strange to you.”

“We’ve never met.”

“Yeah, not yet.” She paced back and forth and turned to him. “Do you mind if I look around for a bit? I just want to confirm it.”

He didn’t rule out the possibility she was unhinged, but he wanted to know what her deal was before handing her over to the authorities. Humoring her, he let go and returned his large feather to his wings, relenting. “Fine.”

In case she had any funny business up her sleeve, he followed her. A few of his feathers hovered around her as a safety precaution, too. Yet as he observed her, he had to ask himself: how come she was able to roam around his place like she owned it?

Similar to the way she acted in the kitchen, she barged inside his walk-in closet effortlessly. Stumbling upon rows and rows of men’s clothing, she mumbled, “My clothes…”

She peeked inside the bathroom and found a lone toothbrush on the sink and men’s products everywhere. “My toiletries…”

In front of an empty space in the living room, she stared and murmured, “My books…”

“None of my belongings are here.” She shook her head with a sigh, momentarily forgetting she had company as she glanced at the calendar on the wall. “I really am in the past.”

Keigo placed a hand on her shoulder, rousing her from her reverie. “Care to explain?”

The sound of her stomach grumbling interrupted her before she could speak. She covered her midriff in embarrassment, the skimpy nightgown she had on drawing his attention again. “Sorry.”

Keigo sighed. From a logical point of view, the current evidence indicated this woman as a threat. However, his feathers tingled in a different way than they would when they sensed danger was in the midst. He had gathered from her whispers that she believed she was from the future. Something strange was going on, and he would get to the bottom of it.

With a few small feathers, he grabbed a hoodie from his closet and offered it to her. “You can wear this.”

“Oh, thank you.” She slipped the hoodie on and awkwardly continued, “It’s cold, isn’t it? Not that I’m bothered or anything, though. I actually don’t mind the cold much, don’t worry! Haha…”

That’s not it, he thought but didn’t bother saying aloud. She already cooked breakfast, might as well let her eat it.

“You can enlighten me of the situation while you eat,” Keigo decided, leading her to the dining area. He pulled a chair out and instructed, “Sit down.”

She followed him wordlessly and watched as he set the table, brought the cooked rice, and sat in front of her. Upon noticing he wasn’t making any move to grab a serving, she spoke, “Aren’t you going to eat? I didn’t put anything weird in there, I promise.”

Keigo had witnessed her prepare them earlier. He didn’t see or smell anything weird in the food either.

She sensed his reluctance and lifted the chopsticks between her fingers. As proof of her innocence, she took a bite of the fried egg and swallowed. “See? It’s fine.”

Keigo acquiesced, putting a portion of rice and egg in his bowl.

“Thank you for the food,” they said in unison.

He took a much-needed sip of coffee and began with his inquiry, “Think you can tell me what’s up now, Miss?”

“Yesterday afternoon, a young girl’s Quirk went out of control and hit me. Nothing happened, but my companion and I went to the hospital to be sure. The doctors said it was a mutation type of Quirk, but they couldn’t confirm anything since the girl’s exact power was unknown.”

That companion was supposedly him. “And then?”

“Since nothing was wrong with me, they sent us home. We went to this penthouse, ate dinner, and slept. But when I woke up, I’m… here. In the past,” she told him. “One of the doctors did advise us to wait for twenty-four hours, so maybe, that’s my time limit.”

“You’re sure this is the past? Not an alternate universe?”

“I think so.”

“How are you going to come back to your own time?”

“I don’t know.”

“How do I know you’re telling the truth? Why should I believe you?”

“I…” Contemplative, she paused before offering a suggestion. “I’d like to wait for twenty-four hours, at least.”

“And if nothing happens?”

“I’ll turn myself in to the authorities if you’ll insist, but I hope you’ll at least let me call someone for help.”

“Let me guess. A colleague? Perhaps, a fellow villain?”

“No, I’m not a villain. My—” she broke off mid-sentence again, carefully choosing her words, “—a family member would know what to do, I think.”

“How suspicious.”

“Look, I know twenty-four hours is a lot to ask, especially from the Number T...hree Hero, but I’m also confused right now. If I’m being honest, I’d like to go back to where I came from right at this moment,” she confessed. “I hope you can bear with me for a while. It will really help me. Please.”

Keigo felt the accusation he was about to utter stuck in his throat. Sincerity and anxiety radiated from her words. His instincts told him it was an honest appeal for his assistance. While he was still unsure, he was a Hero, and the woman in front of him, a suspected villain or not, was asking him for help. He couldn’t ignore it.

He grabbed his phone with a stray feather and dialed his secretary’s number. “Hello, good morning. It’s Hawks. I won’t be coming in today. It’s an emergency situation, and I’ll be on surveillance duty.”

“Roger, Sir. I’ll let your sidekicks know.”

“By the way, don’t ask why, but can you send a set of women’s clothes to my place? Toiletries, as well. Thanks! Bye-bye!”

“Thank you,” the woman told him as he ended the call. This time, she was unable to hold back her tears, and she wiped them immediately with the sleeve of his hoodie. “Thank you so much. I’m really sorry for the inconvenience, Keigo—I mean, Hawks!”

Silence reigned during the rest of the breakfast. It wasn’t the awkward nor the comfortable type. She was engrossed in her thoughts while he was on high alert. After they finished eating, she volunteered to do the dishes, and he allowed her to, knowing she needed a moment alone to collect herself. He stayed at a considerable distance in the living room instead, aware she finished the task without any issues.

Keigo looked up from the YAP! News article on his phone and observed as the woman plopped down on the other side of the sofa and grabbed the remote control on the coffee table.

As if she felt his sharp gaze on her, she turned her face to his direction, and realization dawned on her.

“Whoops, sorry! I just…” she blurted out, embarrassed at the faux pas she committed. “Nevermind. Do you mind if I watch TV?”

“It’s fine.”

“Thank you,” she mumbled, redirecting her eyes to the television. She flipped the channels to find something appealing to watch and came upon an animated magical girl franchise. “Oh, PreCure!”

“I see,” he noted, caught off guard she chose that show over the morning news on one channel and a rerun of a documentary about the most recent Hero Billboard Chart JP on another. “You’re into these kinds of shows?”

“I happen to know a lot of kids. They love this show,” she replied, heat creeping up her cheeks. “Besides, there’s no such thing as being too old to watch anime.”

“Yeah.” An amused smile crept upon his lips. “You’re right about that, Miss.”

She would squint her eyes from time to time throughout the episode. In addition, since she had been looking for her eyeglasses earlier, he deduced she had poor eyesight. Keigo thought she might get a headache later on if she continued watching television like that. That would be bad, wouldn’t it?

It turned out, he had no need to fret about such a thing from happening. A couple of hours later, she ended up dozing off. He stood, turned the television’s volume down, and fixed her position in a way she could lay down and sleep properly.

How could she let her guard down like that? he asked himself, covering her with a blanket. She seems fatigued, though.

Unable to figure her out, he took a seat on the solo sofa and let her be, still on surveillance duty.

While she didn’t mention anything about being unwell, she was exhausted—that much was obvious. It was only at lunchtime when she awoke from her nap, the sound of the doorbell serving as her alarm clock. Behind the door, the pizza delivery man stood with Keigo’s order in his hands. Keigo settled the payment and brought the box to the living room. He set the box on the table and untied the string on top of it.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“I’m okay.”

“Are you feeling sick or anything?”

“No, just tired.” She shut her eyes and massaged her fingers over her temple. “It must be a side effect of the girl’s Quirk. I’m not usually like this.”

He didn’t know this woman, but he knew how being sick without medicine felt: miserable. “Tell me if you need anything. I’ll get it.”

Her eyes fluttered open drowsily. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not that bad. I’ll be fine.”

“Do you want to freshen up after you eat?” He handed her a sealed paper bag through a feather on its handle. “The clothing and toiletries I asked for earlier arrived while you were sleeping.”

“I will.” She waited for him to release the paper bag with her palms wide open. When he did, she caught it and put it on her lap. “Thanks.”

Keigo decided to take his turn in using the bathroom after she did.

As soon as he stepped inside and shut the door, he was surrounded by her presence. Droplets of water trickled from the tiled walls to the floor. The delicate scent of floral shampoo and the fragrance of milk and honey body wash clung in the air; soft and sweet. No part of his house had smelled like that before. Another crack made its way through his composure. He was unused to having people over at his place. No, scratch that, he never had people over. Given who he was, he had a lot to protect, and to accomplish that, he must keep his secrets. It was a dangerous line she crossed easily. He found the experience daunting.

As quickly as he could, he finished showering, got dressed, and returned to the living room, where he was able to sense her presence.

She sat in the same area she occupied earlier, flipping through a random magazine she found on the coffee table. The cream-colored turtleneck shirt and acid wash jeans she was wearing clung to her body in all the right places. Upon seeing him, she looked up from the pages and shut the magazine. “Hawks?”

“Y-Yes?” He cleared his throat. “What is it?”

“You’re twenty-two years old at the moment, right?”

“Yeah.”

She chuckled good-naturedly. “I’m still older than you.”

“Is that so?” he asked, unsure of how to respond to her statement. “Are you also older than me where you came from?”

“That’s right.” She returned the magazine to the table and stood. “By the way, do you mind if I wash my clothes?”

“Go ahead.”

“Thank you.”

She gave him a smile and left.

Dumbfounded by their bizarre exchange, Keigo stared at her retreating form and frowned.

She didn’t even ask him where the washing machine was.

The woman stood by the glass walls, the pad of her fingertips touching the surface as she stared at the carmine and amber hues of the setting sun.

Keigo made his way next to her and observed the view closely. The scenery was breathtaking from this altitude. He couldn’t blame her for being enamored by it. It was one of the reasons he picked this penthouse. The sky was fascinating, no matter the weather or the time of the day it was.

“Are you curious?” she asked out of the blue, her gaze still on the horizon.

“About what?”

“The future.”

“Well, I don’t really know if you’re from the future or not,” he admitted, an absurd idea popping inside his mind. “How about you tell me something that will happen a week or so from now?”

“Like a major event?”

“Something like that,” he said, although he speculated a definite answer from her would be unlikely. “Anything will do.”

“Okay, that would be an effective way to check.” The woman nodded. “If what I’m about to tell you happens, will you believe me, then?”

“It depends.” He turned to look at her. Her casual agreement caught him by mild surprise, his curiosity multiplying as the seconds ticked by. “But let’s say you do disappear and come back to wherever you came from after twenty-four hours. At that point, it wouldn’t matter, wouldn’t it?”

“It would. At least, to me, it would,” she stated, meeting his gaze. “I’ve got nothing to lose by telling you, but you have to promise not to meddle. If this is the past, the future timeline shouldn’t be altered.”

“Fair enough,” he agreed with a lighthearted laugh. “Sounds like a plot of a movie.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” She gave him a smile and fiddled with her fingers. The shift in the mood was palpable as she began, “A few days after the term at U.A. High School begins, a class will be attacked by a group of villains.”

“U.A.’s security system is top-notch, though,” he pointed out, not bothering to conceal his doubt. “I don’t see anything like that happening.”

“Everyone thought so, too.” Amused, she added, “Knowing you, by now, you’re already aware that All Might is going to be a teacher at U.A., aren’t you?”

“How did you—”

“I just do, okay?” She clasped her hands behind her back and leaned in. “Remember, you promised not to meddle.”

“Fine,” he agreed. “But if it does happen, who knows? You might have known of it because you’re a member of that ‘group of villains’ yourself.”

“I’m not! I’m not a member of that group of villains.” A chuckle fell past her lips, one tinged with amusement and melancholy. “That’s… not me.”

She returned her gaze to the scenery of Kyushu, and it gave Keigo a good view of her shoulder-length hair. The crimson streaks in it stood out against its dominant white color. When he thought about it, he couldn’t help but compare it to the color of his feathers. They were so alike that a smaller feather of his would blend in with them perfectly. He chided himself for thinking that way.

And so, instead, Keigo debated whether the crimson streaks in her hair were natural or otherwise.

The late-night news was on in the background as the two of them partook in their share of fast-food chicken meals. It was from the same restaurant Keigo visited last night except, this time, he ordered them online and waited for them to arrive after twenty minutes.

“I wish you didn’t have to have meals delivered all the time,” the woman lamented and took a sip of soda. “Eat healthier when you can, okay?”

“Aww, are you concerned about me?” he asked half-jokingly, setting the empty cardboard packaging aside.

“Of course.”

Keigo was quiet at that, once again blindsided by her candidness. He had only met this woman today, yet she cared enough about him to trouble herself about his diet.

“Hawks,” she spoke, her voice gentle and hesitant, but of what, he didn’t know. “Are you doing okay right now?”

“Just peachy,” he answered promptly like he always did, pushing those strange thoughts aside. “Why would you ask me that?”

A long pause passed before she opened her mouth to respond. “You told me there were times you thought of the HPSC as a birdcage—sometimes, a shackle. Even if I know better, meeting you in this time of your life worries me.”

By then, the sound coming from the television was nothing but white noise. Everything she uttered was the truth. Those were sentiments he had hidden deep inside him and swore to keep to himself. This woman knew about them, though—she knew him well. He found no rational explanation for the way she was aware of specific matters he dared not to speak about. How else would she know them if he didn’t tell her? Maybe, not now, but in the future.

At that point, he started to truly believe her. One thing, however, kept creeping inside his mind once he came to terms with it. He stared at her intently, trying to unravel the mystery that came in the form of this woman. “Who are you in my life?”

“Uh, I am…” She averted her gaze, a blush forming on her cheeks. “That would be a spoiler, wouldn’t it?”

“I want to know.” Keigo was a sharp man. He already had an inkling of who she would be for him in the future, but he wanted the confirmation to come from her lips. “Tell me.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but the sound of a bell, similar to that of a cat’s, rang three times, diverting their attention.

The next thing he knew, the woman in front of him had vanished into thin air.

Keigo searched the entire penthouse but found her nowhere. He considered the possibility she had been a figment of his imagination, but he ultimately believed she wasn’t.

The cardboard container of her meal remained on the coffee table, in front of the seat she took earlier. The wooden chopsticks laid on top of a folded sheet of tissue paper, their tips dampened and darkened by the savory sauce of the chicken she ate and said was delicious. Inside his bathroom, the toiletries she used were arranged neatly on the corner of the sink.

The white cotton nightdress, as well as the hoodie she borrowed, hung on the metal clothing rack in the washing area, fresh with the detergent he liked best. A matching pair of underwear with a dainty ribbon—lingerie, to be specific—dangled beside them, mocking him for having thoughts he shouldn’t have had. He laughed them off as best as he could but didn’t know what to do with them. In the end, he decided to put them inside the unused drawer in his walk-in closet.

She might have disappeared, but she didn’t do it without a trace.

He checked his wristwatch and saw it was past midnight. If her assumptions and calculations were correct, it meant she had arrived on his bed last night around this time. He wondered if she made it to the future safely.

He hoped so.

Hawks kept his feathers vigilant for any clues regarding the supposed surprise attack at U.A. High School. The mysterious woman would appear in his mind frequently because of the information she had given him concerning the near future. It piqued his interest because he found nothing about it. He couldn’t meddle at all even if he knew, which he could imagine, for her, was a good thing.

To his credit, he got the wind of the news before the press did. Class 1-A was attacked by a group called the League of Villains during an on-campus activity in the Unforeseen Simulation Joint training facility. People dubbed it as the U.S.J. Incident. The League of Villains aimed to put an end to All Might but failed in the end. Their leader, however, had gotten away. Hawks couldn’t help but consider what kind of trouble they would stir up in the future. He had to investigate further.

On the flip side, it further proved that the woman he encountered in his home was telling the truth. She was from the future. He opened the door to his penthouse and made his way to his bedroom, remembering her again. In retrospect, they had gotten themselves into quite a mess during the day she appeared.

Not that he’d see her anytime soon, or so he thought.

It was a faint sound, but nevertheless, a familiar one. An invisible bell rang three times, and a feminine voice spoke beside him, causing him to stop in his tracks in wonder.

“Do you believe me now?” the woman asked, her head tilting to the side. Her doe eyes, framed with eyeglasses this time, twinkled with hopefulness.

“You’re here,” he blurted out, “again.”

“Yeah.” She leaned backward and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I have twenty-three hours this time.”

“One hour less than last time,” he pointed out. “But how did you know?”

“We had time to visit the doctor again. The young girl has a Quirk that sends people back in time. Time Quirks are rare, so existing studies about them are insufficient to undo the whole thing. I can’t elaborate too much on the details, but there’s nothing I can do but go through the whole time travel duration. After this, there will be twenty-two more instances when I will appear somewhere near you at a random moment, each time lessened by an hour.”

“For how long?”

“A year, more or less.”

“But out of all the places you could appear in, why does it happen where I am?” he asked, meticulously processing the information she had given him. “Not that I’m complaining or anything. I’m just curious.”

“I…” she paused, contemplating whether or not to tell him, “because you were the one closest to me when I was struck by the girl’s Quirk.”

“How close?”

“We were standing next to each other.”

“And?”

“We were… holding each other’s hand.”

“Ah.” He nodded. “So, we really do have that kind of relationship, huh?”

She rolled her eyes and averted her gaze, folding her arms in front of her chest. “I’m not going to answer that.”

Despite her dismissal, the pink tinge of her cheeks betrayed her composure. It was all the answer he needed to his question.

They were together. Three years in the future, the two of them were in a relationship. How did such a thing happen?

Time would tell. For now, a cordial smile tugged at his lips, knowing exactly where to begin. “What’s your name?”

“If I tell you,” she said hesitantly, “will you promise not to look for me?”

“Why not?”

“I don’t want to change the present—I mean, my present—where I’m from. The future, if you will, in your case.”

“Okay, then.” Keigo nodded. It was a reasonable condition, after all. “I promise.”

“Great.” She grinned, relieved he gave her his word. “It’s nice to meet you. My name is Fuyumi.”

Notes: The three-year difference in their timelines and the sound of a bell ringing was inspired by Kimi no Na wa, one of my favorite movies.

I was actually working on a fic for another ship, but I thought of Huwumi again and ended up writing this instead.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for reading! ❄️

Alone Together

BNHA Masterlist | Main Masterlist

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masjestickingdom · 4 years ago

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FRIENDS

Pairing: NCT Jaehyun x reader

Genre: Angst

Summary: This is a recount of Jaehyun’s growing moodiness and distance from you.

Note: This is inspired by the song FRIENDS by Marshmellow and Anne-Marie, hence the title.

_______________________________________________________________________

Let’s face it: not all of your childhood friends stay as your friends. You were too idealistic to acknowledge this fact, but you eventually tired out and gave in. All of your friends were his friends, after all. You had to move on. It was easy for him to move on, so you couldn’t be the only one hanging on to the lingering past, the fading memories. For what reason did you have hope that you could become close again? You were only friends. It wasn’t like he was your only friend...

You knew he was going through a weird phase. He had just passed another round of assessments, dictating whether or not he would go on one step further to debut among the other numerous trainees. It was the nth evaluation and you could tell he was getting tired. As his childhood friend, you thought that you could cheer him on and be that friend he could rely on--you couldn’t be more wrong.

Along with struggling with the assessments, Jaehyun was having a tough time dealing with his break-up with his long-term girlfriend. She was his first love, and even though he would always claim that he wouldn’t date until his twenties, meeting her changed his mind. He was even able to date her secretly after getting casted as a trainee into SM Entertainment. Unfortunately, when his training sessions started to get more intense, their time with each other withered. Afraid that his first love story would end up in ruins, he made an effort to ease the process by seeing her whenever he could--that included missing your everyday hangouts after practice--before ending their relationship on a positive note. Still, it was a lie if he said that he wasn’t heartbroken. Understanding that he needed some space, you were there for him by not physically being with him. Slowly, he recovered from his first relationship, but with that, he slowly distanced himself from you.

One day, you were at his house, conversing with his parents who, despite their busy schedule, managed to leave work early on the day of Chuseok. With your parents out of town, his parents gladly invited you to eat dinner with them; you were like the daughter they never had. When Jaehyun returned home from a busy day, you and his parents were already gobbling up the feast his mother had prepared.

“I wish I had a daughter like you,” his mom sighed as she adored the way your eyes sparkled at the marveling meat in your mouth. “Then we could go shopping, have dates, gossip..."

You laughed at her dreamy expression. “You already do that with Jaehyun.”

As Jaehyun occupied the seat next to you, his dad noted, “With Jaehyun out of the house more often, our gatherings are even rarer.”

Careful not to scratch the bowl, you scrapped the last grains of rice with your metal spoon. Taking notice of this, your attentive friend took your bowl once you set it down on the table and left for the kitchen to scoop more rice for you from the rice cooker.

“Don’t worry. I’ll stop by more often,” you assured Jaehyun’s parents. “It’s my duty as Jaehyun’s good friend to take care of you.”

You heard a rough grunt behind you as Jaehyun returned with your refilled bowl.

“Just take care of your own parents,” Jaehyun said with bitterness dripping from his voice.

Although you were concerned for him, you momentarily brushed off his acerbity for the sake of conversation.

“What? We’re practically twins,” you joked with a goofy expression, swinging your free arm around his shoulders. “We can pass as family, can’t we?”

His parents bursted out into laughter, and once his mom regained her composure, she pushed your favorite side dish towards you.

“많이 먹어라, 우리 딸~” (“Eat a lot, our daughter.”)

Once Jaehyun’s parents cleared their spots on the dinner table, they reminded you and Jaehyun to leave the remaining dishes in the sink.

As they left the dining room, you said, “I’ll wash them.”

“We know,” they sang over their shoulders before retreating to their shared room.

Smiling at their retreating form, you stole the seat Jaehyun’s dad once occupied and stared at Jaehyun with anticipation. Normally after practice, Jaehyun would be the one to talk about his day without having you ask him, but today, instead, he was silent, and all you could do was watch him quietly eat. He clearly wasn’t in the mood to talk, so you kept your mouth shut. When he finally glanced up at you, you took that as your chance to start a conversation no matter how blank and emotionless his expression was.

“How was your day today?” you asked.

It took him a second to answer “not bad”, and it was half-hearted.

You held in the rising sigh that threatened to leave your lips and continued to speak. “I’m glad your teachers let you off early today. Otherwise, you might have been eating alone right now on this holiday.”

The room fell silent once again. Maybe you do want to be alone right now. With that thought crossing your mind, you rose from the seat and piled your share of dishes in your hands.

“I’m going to start on the dishes now, but take your time eating,” you told Jaehyun, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

It was since that soulless night he stopped texting you.

You brushed off the bad feeling in your gut and tried to convince yourself that he was just going through some tough challenge in his life, but he became so distant and cold to you whenever you met him after his classes that you couldn’t believe that that boy was your childhood friend.

Like always, you were waiting on the opposite side of the building Jaehyun was in. As you checked the time on your phone, he walked out of the building, talking to a few of his trainee friends. He seemed lively and well, but the moment he laid eyes on you, all of that vigor instantly washed away. That was the first time you seriously considered that you were the problem of his attitude. Just what on Earth was going on? However, you didn’t try to pry information from him. Instead, you made the effort to rebalance his mood.

You tried to talk him into going to a new candy store that opened up around the corner of your guys’ neighborhood. “We’re not kids anymore” was his simple response and that was all he said on your guys’ way home. Your patience was running thin. You had waited for him for hours, doing homework assignments on the street, just to get to see him, but the treatment he was giving you was beyond rude.

You huffed out a short breath. “Jae, what’s going on? Is something bothering you?” When he didn’t respond, you pushed him, adding, “Something’s bothering you, isn’t there?”

“Nothing!” he snapped.

The tone of his voice was one thing, but the look he gave you was on a whole new level of annoyance. You felt your eyebrows knit together and your pulse accelerate at an alarmingly fast speed at his unannounced, frightening outburst.

“Hey, I-”

“It’s a pain spending time with you, so stop pushing!”

You couldn’t believe your ears. Was your best friend seriously telling you that you were a pain? Well, your so-called friend didn’t seem to care about your incredulous expression because he walked on without you, not looking back, while you stood there in absolute shock. Not once did he slow down his pace to wait for you or hesitate for a split second.

Following that incident, you stopped being the first one to text him. You were done with his attitude. If he wasn’t willing to reach out to you, then so weren’t you.

So were all the years of your guys’ friendship going down the drain because of that one incident?

As heartbreaking as it was to you, yes. Neither of you reached out to the other. You remained clueless to the reasons why he stayed mad at you, or why he got mad at you in the first place. Whenever you two were hanging out with mutual friends, you would ignore each other. Taeyong, a friend who used to frequently hang out with you and Jaehyun, grew worried. When he got the courage to ask either one of you what happened, he backed out when he saw the dangerous gaze Jaehyun gave him at the simple slip of your name and the narrowing eyes you gave him at the mere mention of your former best friend.

The days passed, and you were finally leaving for college in America. Because your parents were off working for their respective companies, everyone escorted you--even Jaehyun. Taking that as a sign of hope, you tried to start a conversation with him, but the moment his name left your timid lips, he turned his back on you and began a conversation with the first person he laid eyes on. That was your last attempt to reach out to him.

Once you boarded the plane and secured your window seat, you switched your phone to airplane mode and turned it off. All of the tv screens on the plane had the instructional safety video playing, but you were off in your little land of thoughts.

You vowed to get over your friend. You promised yourself that you would never contact him ever again. You even dramatically bid a silent farewell to the boy.

The plane jerked forward, causing you to tighten your seatbelt. Naturally, you looked out the window to take in the last view you would have of your home country with your own two eyes. The light pouring of rain trickled down the transparent window, beautifully complementing the orange lights that shone in the dark night. Memories, both good and bad, of your friends and family flashed past your mind. Memories of Jaehyun, especially, clouded your mind. Moments you two would sneak into each other’s houses just to talk because you didn’t have phones, times you would smack Jaehyun on the head for the number of girls he would reject, and finally...

“It’s a pain spending time with you, so stop pushing!”

A single tear resembling the sad raindrops out the window ran down your cheeks. With that, the plane took off, and you looked ahead at the mini tv screen.

Goodbye, Jung Jaehyun.

_______________________________________________________________________

UPDATE: There’s a second part to FRIENDS! Check it out here!

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insfiringyou · 4 years ago

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BTS girlfriend series - What they would buy the members for Christmas / how they spend the day together

New readers can find out about our headcanon girlfriends for the BTS members here.

To read each member and their girlfriends’ fics in order, follow links below:

RM / Jin / Suga / J-Hope / Jimin / V / Jungkook

Our masterlist of fanfics and original art (including art works of the girls) can be found here

& Our most likely to/preferences/quizzes and fun stuff masterlist can be found here

You may also be interested in our past post for the members on what they would buy their girlfriend for Christmas

Content below the cut

Ji-eun (RM’s girlfriend)

Ji-eun would put a lot of thought into her Christmas presents and is someone who would actually put a lot of importance on the big day itself. As someone with a busy, stressful job, she would allow Christmas to be a time where she, for once, puts everything down and can enjoy spending quality time with those she loves. We also think Christmas would be a time which takes her back to her childhood and reminds her of happier, easier times. While keeping things fairly minimal and classic, she would like decorating a tree and the home a few days prior, especially if Namjoon was with her to help. She would also enjoy the more domestic aspects of cooking the dinner and wrapping presents, which is something she might not usually get time to do at other times of the year.

For a gift, she wouldn’t mind spending quite a lot of money on a thoughtful present for Namjoon but would not go too overboard. It would be more about the gift itself than the money spent, so if she did find something cheaper but which she knew he would like, she would go for that. She would not be afraid to put the time and research into finding something he would love. Gifts would include a timeless but unique watch, art prints or original paintings and coffee table books on art and architecture; something that would look good in the home as well as being informative. As they enjoy travelling together, visiting historical landmarks and museums, she would have a good idea on the type of art or architecture he is interested in, and it would be a bonus if she too enjoyed it, so they could find out more together. She would love cuddling up with him in the evening, both full from their dinner, and reading the book she bought him together with a glass of mulled wine.

Min-seo (Jin’s wife)

Min-seo and Jin would both get very excited about Christmas in the weeks leading up to it. Of all the members they would start their Christmas shopping and decorating the earliest, especially once they become parents. They would love putting together the tree as a family, as well as handmaking some of the decorations. She would find a lot of sentimental value in the baubles they made and would keep them safe every year; reminding them both of their early years as a family. They would cook the dinner together, with Jin most likely taking the lead, and would spend the day seeing to family and friends; finally able to spend some family time together in the evening watching a film or playing with the new toys given to Eun-ju.

Min-seo is most likely to get Jin something personalised, such as a family album or picture frame with photos of them and their daughter, engraved keyrings or a wallet with his name on it along with a special message. She would also buy gifts to him from their daughter. He would definitely have a ‘best dad’ mug lying around the house. Jin would also be most likely to dress as Santa for their daughter while giving her the presents. Min-seo would find it really fun and goofy, but we could imagine baby Eun-ju might be a bit frightened at first, not recognising her dad under the fake beard, and would cry until he lifted it and reassured her.

Jeong-sun (Suga’s wife)

While they would not go overboard, Yoongi and Jeong-sun would make the effort to get in the festive spirit by putting up a tree in the days leading up to Christmas. Neither are particularly artistic or enthusiastic when it comes to decorating, so we could see it looking a bit pathetic and bare; which they would both find hilarious. We think they both would feel that Christmas was more about other people, so they would make the effort to see their family and friends in the morning; going around to those they could to drop off presents.They would also be most thankful if they were invited around to someone else’s for Christmas dinner, such as Min-seo and Jin’s or Nana and Hoseok’s as they wouldn’t have to think about cooking and would appreciate the company for a few hours.

If they weren’t invited anywhere, they would make the dinner together, with Jeong-sun taking on the less arduous tasks of chopping the vegetables and making the stock for gravy. While they would undoubtedly end up making too much food for just the two of them, they would find a lot of unexpected joy in doing something like this together; sipping wine while preparing the food and finding themselves quite giggly and merry by the time it is finished. There might be a small kitchen disaster such as burning the meat or setting a teatowel on fire, but since neither have expectations of having ‘the perfect day’, anything which went wrong would not stress them out. Later in their relationship, it would be more likely that with Jeong-sun as a nurse, she might not be able to have Christmas day off work. In this case, they wouldn’t be against having a less traditional Christmas dinner together in the evening which was easier to make.

While they would buy gifts for each other, neither would go overboard or buy anything too expensive. They are more likely to buy each other something thoughtful and practical, but that they wouldn’t necessarily get themselves. Jeong-sun would leave anything too technical he might need (such as music equipment, headphones etc.) to him, since she wouldn’t know where to start. Instead, she’s likely to get him something for the kitchen he might want but does not have, such as a new rice cooker, or something useful like the thermos travel mug she bought him for his birthday one year. If she was struck on what to get him, a nice, well-reviewed but not overly expensive bottle of single malt scotch would be her go-to gift. She knows he would be grateful and they would like sharing the first glass together in the evening as they curled up on the sofa together, half-watching a Christmas film and chatting about nothing in particular.

Nana (J-Hope’s girlfriend)

As a teacher, Nana would be in the festive mood quite a while before the actual big day, having made cards and ornaments with her class. She would love spending the day with Hoseok, dedicating some time in the morning to phoning or visiting family before preparing the dinner together with her boyfriend. They would be most likely to steer away from the traditional Christmas lunch and instead try out a new recipe. Since they are both toying around with veganism, they would look up the instructions beforehand, enjoying going grocery shopping together in search of the ingredients, and experimenting in the kitchen on the big day. Hoseok would turn into a child again as they exchanged gifts - having hand made each other cards, Christmas ornaments and decorations. Of course, there would also be a lot of decorations made by her pupils, and she would love telling him stories about the kids as they hung each one on their tree. They might also derive from the traditional Christmas tree and decorate a big plant she already had in the apartment. They would also love wreath-making together; having undoubtedly gone to a class at some point in their relationship and making a tradition of doing so again at home together each year. They would view Christmas as a time for loved ones and sharing, so would eagerly invite others over for dinner if they thought it might make the day more special for them.

We think they would make a habit of buying each other a festive-themed flowers as a gift, as Hoseok would love receiving bouquets just as much as Nana, and she would also buy him something practical but unique, such as a vegan-leather satchel, wallet or keyring she bought from a small, local business or seller online. She would also not be against buying him a new shirt or two in bright, bold colours and fun prints, knowing they will always come in useful.

Ara (Jimin’s girlfriend)

Jimin and Ara would put a lot of effort into spending the big day together with their busy schedules and would want everything to be perfect. They would love shopping for decorations and a new tree each year and might have several around their apartment, including a pink, artificial one in the bedroom. They would choose a different theme each year and pick their decorations accordingly. They would also love getting in the mood in the days prior; drinking cocoa, watching Christmas films and hand-making Christmas cards for their friends and family. They would attempt the perfect Christmas dinner together, with them both taking equal responsibility in the preparing and cooking. They would enjoy spending the whole day alone together, with everything very carefully planned and orchestrated, from opening the presents when they wake up, to unwinding in the evening. Because of this, if someone went wrong or did not go according to plan, they could both get quite flustered and upset as they have put so much time, effort and mental energy into the day.

Ara would have a good sense of Jimin’s fashion taste and is likely to pick him a few clothes and accessories as gifts such as a nice designer shirt, a new tie or a warm but fashionable scarf which would go with anything. She would be most likely to also put a lot of effort into wrapping the gifts, selecting the wrapping paper, gift tags and ribbons carefully.

Cassandra (V’s girlfriend)

Taehyung and Cassandra would be most likely to argue over how to spend the big day as they would both have their own Christmas traditions and idea of what makes the perfect day. This would undoubtedly become even more tense once Gabriel is born, as they would need to plan how to give him the best day they could, while also orchestrating the fact they need to agree on a plan. Although they have broken up at the time he is born, Taehyung would want to spend most of the day with them, trying their best to give him a ‘normal family’ Christmas. Cassandra would not object to this, but might need to put her foot down at certain ideas. They are both incredibly stubborn but would reach some kind of agreement or compromise in the end including who should cook and what. Taehyung, regardless, would make himself useful and ensure he brings plenty of food and drink and change and feed Gabriel when Cassandra is busy doing other things.

While Taehyung’s gifts to both Cassandra and Gabriel would always be elaborate and expensive; with a lot of thought and individuality going into what he thinks they would like, we think Cassandra would be less likely to spend a lot of money on Taehyung but still get him something she knows he would love. This would always be the case, even prior to having the baby, as she knows he would always appreciate the thoughtfulness of the gift over the cost. She has the best idea of anyone what his taste in fashion, art and music is, so would be able to buy him something he would really love. Vintage records, antique curios and second-hand but quirky accessories would be among things she would buy him. She would also like to get him something useful but still within his taste, such as a William Morris printed glasses case or artfully designed stationary. Of all the couples, we feel Taeyung and Cassandra are the most comfortable in buying the other something they know they will love.

Young-soon (Jungkook’s girlfriend)

Jungkook and Young-soon would be most likely to enjoy spending Christmas with their families, so would visit both sets of parents during the day and alternate each year who they had Christmas dinner with. They would both help out with the cooking and would prepare a dish or dessert beforehand they could take with them. While they enjoy spending time together as a couple, they would get more out of being part of a bigger family and might even arrange for both sides of the family to meet as one. They would love watching people open their gifts and seeing their reactions. While they would decorate their apartment, they wouldn’t go too extreme as they wouldn’t be spending a lot of time actually at home.

Young-soon would find it quite hard to think of the perfect gift for Jungkook, mostly because his interests are quite vague or something better suited for his band members to buy him. She wouldn’t really know where to start when it came to, for example, getting him a video game he liked as he would game alone. Likewise, music equipment would be best left for Yoongi to gift him as she wouldn’t have the first idea of what would be of good quality. She knows he would love and appreciate her gift either way, so would be more likely to go for something quite traditional that he could wear for date nights or special occasions such as a nice quality tie pin or set of cufflinks. She would ensure to visit a tailors or high-end designer to get the best quality and with the best metals, and would choose something that would last and that he could keep forever.

***

Thank you for reading. To read each member & their girlfriend’s headcanon universe fics in order, follow the links here: RM / Jin / Suga / J-Hope / Jimin / V / Jungkook

& Our full masterlist of fics and art can be found here

& our most likely to/preferences can be found here

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jaybug-jabbers · 4 years ago

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Meal Ideas for College Students

Ok, so. As a college student, I’m compiling my own list of easy meal ideas. I have a bad habit of skipping meals, like many students do. A list of ideas helps a lot when you’re busy, stressed, tired, and/or not feeling up for much.

This post will prioritize quick/easy meals, ideas for relieving meal monotony, food that gives energy that sticks with you throughout the day, and meals that are generally healthy and balanced.

Note: This list of ideas was made with myself in mind. Everyone has their own dietary needs and/or preferences to keep in mind! Still, you might find something useful here. :) Also, check out my other post of recipes for more specific ideas.

Lunch/Dinner Ideas

1.) Soup/Salad/Sandwich.

-Not many canned soups are worth eating in my opinion, but a few taste acceptable (split pea’s pretty good), and sometimes grocery stores have containers of fresh soup. Those are almost always better tasting then canned!

-Salads ideally are more then just plain romaine lettuce and croutons/salad dressing. They can have all kinds of crap thrown on: nuts, seeds, tortilla strips, dried fruit, fresh sliced fruit, cheese, chicken, even some pasta noodles.

-It’s better to buy heads of greens and wash them yourself, as the already-washed bags of greens go bad quickly and have been prone to e. coli outbreaks. A little salad washing bowl speeds up cleaning greens. In either case, try to get a mix of darker, vitamin-rich greens.

-Sandwiches can use the healthier lunch meats but also leftover cooked chicken, or just a grilled cheese sandwich. (Use different kinds of sliced cheese.) Fancy mustard, pesto and horseradish can really punch up a sandwich; so can bread that actually tastes good.

2.) Pasta.

There are a lot of options of what to put on top of pasta; just adding some marinara sauce to spaghetti noodles is only the beginning.

-If you do use red sauce, I suggest adding mushrooms, sliced sausage or ground meat, or lots of cheese on top to bump up the protein.

-If you do something else, stir-frying some veggies (fresh– zuccini, mushroom, celery, carrot, snappeas, etc. frozen– frozen stir-fry veggie mix) and adding a light sauce is good; even dumping vinegarette salad dressing on it can be tasty.

-Other options include frozen shrimp, meatballs, leftover chicken, tofu or a cheese casserole.

-Try other kinds of pasta noodles, because even that can relieve some food monotomy. You can even use cheap ramen noodles, because why not? Just skip the spice pack they come with and add other things instead.

-Raviolis or tortillinis are also great for a light dinner or lunch.

-Sides for pasta include bread/garlic bread, salad, and fruit.

3.) Tacos/Burritos/Tostadas.

Canned beans, cheese, a bit of shredded lettuce, some jarred salsa, a tortilla, presto. Also great for using leftover ground meat or baked chicken. If you are lucky enough to own an avacado, please use it for this.

4.) Nachos.

This is basically when you have canned beans but you ran out of tortillas. Dump everything on top of corn chips instead.

5.) Enchilada Casserole.

Ground meat (or shredded chicken), canned black beans/red kidney beans, shredded cheese, canned enchilada sauce, corn tortillas, and a casserole dish. Dense and lasts you for a long time. Freezes well, too.

6.) Baked chicken.

There’s about a million different ways to prepare chicken. What’s more, the leftovers are so useful for so many things.

7.) Homemade pizza.

-They sell those kits at the store with the shell and the pizza sauce all ready. Just add your desired toppings and cook. A million times better then frozen pizza and worth the five extra minutes of work. You’ll need to invest in a large cutting-board and a pizza cutter or a large knife, but that’s it.

-If you want emergency personal pizzas, you can even use English Muffins for the task.

8.) Hamburger.

If you don’t care for ground beef, ground turkey or chicken works just as well; you can cook them insanely fast and easily on a Foreman grill, but still cooks pretty fast in a regular pan too. Adding some fixings goes a long way: pickles, cheese, lettuce, tomato, pineapple rings, etc. Good sides: salad, fries/potato, peas or beans.

9.) Baked frozen fish/salmon.

Again, you’re unlikey to have the time to buy and prepare fresh fish, which needs to be cooked and eaten quickly, but you can buy a filet of frozen fish. Good sides: rice, easy risotto, boxed couscous, broccoli, bread, etc.

10.) Fajuitas.

Steak strips/chicken strips that are pan-fried, plus stir-fried mushrooms, asparagus, zuccini, etc. Lime juice and avacado add a lot of flavor.

11.) Chicken, mustard, mushroom, garlic, spinach and swiss hot sandwiches.

Bake ‘em after assembling them for melty goodness.

12.) Smoothies/shakes.

This is a great addition to breakfast or lunch if you’re not very hungry or running low on food supplies; only if you have a blender, of course. Ice cubes, plain yogurt, fruit (fresh or frozen), shredded coconut, honey, fruit juice or ice cream, and blend. Experiment to find what works best.

Breakfast Ideas

Bulk up on breakfast if your schedule demands it!

1.) Oatmeal loaded with nuts, dried fruit, powdered proteins, flaxseed, and a dash of maple syrup/honey

2.) A plain yogurt parfait loaded up in a similar manner, plus granola

3.) Bagels or toast with cream cheese, nut butters, jam/honey, or avacado

4.) Stir-fried potatoes, potato pancakes, hashbrowns

5.) Low-sugar muffins

6.) Breakfast burritos

7.) Omlettes

8.) See above for smoothies!

General Tips

1.) Always make large portions when you cook so there are leftovers. When you bake chicken for dinner, you can use the leftovers the next day or make a sandwich or a taco or whatever. If you’re going to invest your precious time and energy into cooking, get the most out of it. If you have TONS of leftovers, freeze them in portions that are easily taken out, bit by bit, to use later on.

2.) See if you can locate a microwave on campus. This expands your options for what to pack for food, in case sandwiches a million times a month gets tiring. Pack things into microwavable tupperware or bring little paper plates and plastic utensils. Plastic bento boxes are also handy ways to pack things other than sandwiches. You can even bring soup, pasta, or ramen with you in a thermos.

3.) Frozen vegetables help a lot. You may not have the time to buy, clean and cook fresh veg, but grabbing a bag of something frozen is easy to make sure you have balanced meals. Steam them in the microwave easily in a bowl with a plate on top; avoid the ‘steamer’ plastic bags if you can, which tend to taste gross imo and may not be super healthy. (zapping plastic may create toxins.)

4.) See what’s in season for fruit. That way you can buy cheaper organic fresh fruit such as grapes, melons, berries or even exotics like kiwi. If you get them in bulk and need to use fresh fruit up before it spoils, try smoothies or put them on cereal/oatmeal or even make a fruit salad.

5.) Consider investing in a crock pot or insta-pot cooker. This opens up options for a lot of low-effort recipes, where you can just toss crap in and come back later and it’s done.

6.) Invest in spices. It’s worth the money and effort to get a variety. Get in the habit of tossing them into things. It can punch up just about anything and is way better then just salt. Even scrambled eggs can be punched up with some Sriracha sauce or some spices, or a little bit of shredded cheese.

This is a repost on a new blog. The original post was on Nov 4, 2019.

#mycontent #college survival

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