#Freeze-Dried Fruits And Vegetable

[marketinsight1234]

Freeze-Dried Fruits and Vegetable Market: Forthcoming Trends and Share Analysis by 2030

The Global Freeze-Dried Fruits And Vegetable market was estimated at USD 31.14 billion in 2021, and is anticipated to reach USD 49.58 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 6.87%.

Freeze drying is a novel technique used to preserve fruits and vegetables. This helps the increase shelf life of fruits and vegetables. There is a stepwise mechanism through which freeze-drying is done, it involves removing moisture in a vacuum chamber and then sealing it in an air-tight container this stops the enzymes from breaking down, otherwise, it leads to spoilage or taste change of the product. It is a good process when compared with other methods such as canning and refrigeration. Moreover, drying increases levels of vitamins and minerals as well as decreases the water content which aids in the preservation of certain products otherwise the water content helps in degrading the product. Several companies are delivering freeze-dried meal boxes to consumers as the demand for freeze-dried products is increasing due to the speedy population growth, this will help the freeze-dried fruits and vegetable market to extend over the forecast period.

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The latest research on the Freeze-Dried Fruits and Vegetable market provides a comprehensive overview of the market for the years 2023 to 2030. It gives a comprehensive picture of the global Freeze-Dried Fruits and Vegetable industry, considering all significant industry trends, market dynamics, competitive landscape, and market analysis tools such as Porter's five forces analysis, Industry Value chain analysis, and PESTEL analysis of the Freeze-Dried Fruits and Vegetable market. Moreover, the report includes significant chapters such as Patent Analysis, Regulatory Framework, Technology Roadmap, BCG Matrix, Heat Map Analysis, Price Trend Analysis, and Investment Analysis which help to understand the market direction and movement in the current and upcoming years. The report is designed to help readers find information and make decisions that will help them grow their businesses. The study is written with a specific goal in mind: to give business insights and consultancy to help customers make smart business decisions and achieve long-term success in their particular market areas.

Leading players involved in the Freeze-Dried Fruits and Vegetable Market include:

European Freeze Dry LTD (Denmark), Döhler (Germany), Paradise Fruits Solutions (Germany), Sleaford Quality Foods Ltd (UK), Swadhika (India), Unilever (UK), Chaucer Foods Ltd (UK), Ruchi Foods LLP (India), Ekotera (Italy), Kruffs LLC (Turkey), Totally Pure Fruits (Australia) The J.M. Smucker Company (US), Van Drunen Farms (US), Mercer Foods (US), Dole Food Company INC (US), Sow Good (US) And Others Major Players. 

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Segmentation of Freeze-Dried Fruits and Vegetable Market:

By Type

Fruits

Vegetables

Coffee Beans

By Form

Powder

Granules

Flakes

Chunks/Pieces

By Application

Food & Beverages

Ice-cream & Desserts

Soups & Juices

Others

By Distribution Channel

Supermarkets/Hypermarkets

Convenience Stores

Online Retailers

By Regions: -

North America (US, Canada, Mexico)

Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Rest of Eastern Europe)

Western Europe (Germany, UK, France, Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Spain, Rest of Western Europe)

Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, The Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of APAC)

Middle East & Africa (Turkey, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Israel, South Africa)

South America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of SA)

Highlights from the report:

Market Study: It includes key market segments, key manufacturers covered, product range offered in the years considered, Global Freeze-Dried Fruits And Vegetable Market, and research objectives. It also covers segmentation study provided in the report based on product type and application.

Market Executive Summary: This section highlights key studies, market growth rates, competitive landscape, market drivers, trends, and issues in addition to macro indicators.

Market Production by Region: The report provides data related to imports and exports, revenue, production and key players of all the studied regional markets are covered in this section.

Freeze-Dried Fruits and Vegetable Market Profiles of Top Key Competitors: Analysis of each profiled Roll Hardness Tester market player is detailed in this section. This segment also provides SWOT analysis of individual players, products, production, value, capacity, and other important factors.

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[the-unnecessary-commentary]

Horrendous but now I want to try and make a jello fruit salad and see if it isn't an affront to all speculative life on earth

Wake up folks new absolute Legend on TikTok

[maysaythanghoaminisadoko]

PHÁ VỠ NGUYÊN TẮC VỀ NẤM SẤY ĐÔNG KHÔ

Các kỹ thuật sấy đông khô đã tạo ra tác động lớn trong ngành chế biến thực phẩm. Kỹ thuật này dựa trên quá trình sấy đông khô, trong đó nhiệt độ của sản phẩm được hạ xuống. Sau đó, áp suất cao được sử dụng để chiết xuất bất kỳ lượng nước nào còn sót lại. Một trong những mặt hàng đầu tiên được sấy đông khô là cà phê. Sau đó, nhiều loại trái cây, rau, cá, sữa, thịt, v.v. đã được thêm vào danh sách. Bây giờ, nấm sấy đông khô đứng đầu danh sách. Hàm lượng dinh dưỡng và thời hạn sử dụng lâu hơn khiến chúng trở thành món ăn kèm tiện lợi cho các món ăn và súp yêu thích của bạn. Dựa vào nhu cầu sử dụng thực phẩm tiện lợi của những người tiêu dùng bận rộn ngày càng cao, từ đó đã ra đời nhiều phương pháp giúp cho những sản phẩm từ khó trở nên dễ trong mọi căn bếp hiện đại.

NẤM SẤY ĐÔNG KHÔ

Hãy tưởng tượng đến cảnh bạn quên cho nấm vào tủ lạnh bảo quản. Chỉ sau 1 thời gian ngắn, bạn sẽ có một đống nấm thối không có tác dụng gì và sẽ chỉ có thể vứt đi một cách phun phí. Nấm sấy đông khô giải quyết vấn đề này bằng thời hạn sử dụng lâu hơn. Đây là một giải pháp thay thế tiện lợi giúp bạn chế biến các món ăn mà không phải lo lắng nhiều về ngày hết hạn.

Hơn nữa, chúng là những l���a chọn thay thế ti���t kiệm chi phí để được giải tỏa vitamin và khoáng chất hàng ngày của bạn như biotin, niacin, riboflavin, axit pantothenic, selen, đồng, vv. Mặc dù thành phần dinh dưỡng có thể khác nhau tùy theo từng loại nấm, nhưng hầu hết các loại nấm đều chứa khoảng 97% dưỡng chất sau quy trình sấy thăng hoa

Nấm đông khô  có trọng lượng nhẹ và có thể dễ ngâm nước trở lại. Có một lợi ích lớn khi nấu ăn vì bạn không phải chờ đợi lâu để bổ sung chúng vào bất kỳ món ăn nào.

[angel123rocks]

[friendlyneighborhoodshark]

"How to Life" Masterlist

Cleaning and Tidying

Make your bed in the morning. It takes seconds, and it's worth it.

Reset to zero each morning.

Use the UFYH 20/10 system for clearing your shit.

Have a 'drop-zone' box where you dump anything and everything. At the beginning/end of the day, clear it out and put that shit away.

Automate your chores. Have a cleaning schedule and assign 15mins daily to do whatever cleaning tasks are set for that day. Set a timer and do it once the timer is up, finish the task you're on and leave it for the day.

Fold your clothes straight out of the tumble dryer (if you use one), whilst they're still warm. This minimises creases and eliminates the need for ironing.

Clean your footwear regularly and you'll feel like a champ.

Organisation and Productivity

Learn from Eisenhower's Importance/Urgency matrix.

Try out the two-minute rule and the Pomodoro technique.

Use. A. Planner. (Or Google Calendar, if that's more your thing.)

Try bullet journalling.

Keep a notebook/journal/commonplace book to dump your brain contents in on the regular.

Set morning alarms at two-minute intervals rather than five, and stick your alarm on the other side of the room. It's brutal, but it works.

Set three main goals each day, with one of them being your #1 priority. Don't overload your to-do list or you'll hit overload paralysis and procrastinate.

If you're in a slump, however, don't be afraid to put things like "shower" on your to do list - that may be a big enough goal in itself, and that's okay.

Have a physical inbox - a tray, a folder, whatever. If you get a piece of paper, stick it in there and sort through it at the end of the week.

Consider utilising the GTD System, or a variation of it.

Try timeboxing.

Have a morning routine, and guard that quiet time ferociously.

Have a folder for all your important documents and letters, organised by topic (e.g. medical, bank, university, work, identification). At the front of this folder, have a sheet of paper with all the key information written on it, such as your GP's details, your passport details, driving licence details, bank account number, insurance number(s), and so on.

Schedule working time and down time alike, in the balance that works for you.

Money

Have. A. God. Damn. Budget.

Use a money tracker like toshl, mint, or splitwise. Enter all expenses asap! (You will forget, otherwise.)

Have a 'money date' each week, where you sort through your finances from the past seven days and then add it to a spreadsheet. This will help you identify your spending patterns and whether your budget is actually working or not.

Pack your own frickin' lunch like a grown-up and stop buying so many takeaway coffees. Keep snacks in your bag.

Food and Cooking

Know how to cook the basics: a starch, a protein, a vegetable, and a sauce.

Simple, one-pot meals ("a grain, a green, and a bean") are a godsend.

Batch cook and freeze. Make your own 'microwave meals'.

Buy dried goods to save money - rice and beans are a pittance.

Consider Meatless Mondays; it's healthier, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly.

Learn which fruits and vegetables are cheapest at your store, and build a standard weekly menu around those. (Also remember that frozen vegetables are cheap and healthy.)

Learn seasoning combinations. Different seasoning, even with the exact same ingredients, can make a dish seem completely new.

Misc

Have a stock email-writing format.

Want to start running, but find it boring? Try Zombies, Run!.

Keep a goddamn first aid kit and learn how to use it.

Update your CV regularly.

Keep a selection of stamps and standard envelopes for unexpected posting needs. (It happens more regularly than you would think!)

[shopfoodstorage]

Freeze Dried Food USA- Shop Food Storage

Shop Food Storage follows the process for Freeze Dried Food USA where nutrients in fruits and vegetables are preserved by freeze-drying is one of its main advantages. Only the water is taken out throughout the process, leaving the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are crucial to a balanced diet. Read our blog to know more-https://shopfoodstorage.com/blogs/helpful-articles/exquisite-freeze-dried-fruits-and-vegetables-shop-food-storage

"Follow Us: Facebook:- https://www.facebook.com/shopfoodstorage Instagram :- https://www.instagram.com/shopfoodstorage/"

[unitedhamilton]

Luck

Summary: a resolution with flowers on the counter.

Word Count: 1k

A/N: here is part two of Flowers! I would recommend reading that first. Enjoy lovelies 💜

Lewis’ head shot up off the couch pillow when he heard the lock on the front door click. 

He didn’t move when he saw you in the living room doorway. You broke the silence first. 

“I’m going to bed.”

“Do you want me to sleep on the couch?” 

You rolled your eyes. “Whatever, Lewis.” 

Then he saw you turn and go up the stairs. 

Lewis dropped his head into his hands. He couldn’t believe what the last few hours had turned into. 

~~~~~

Lewis jogged up the steps, slightly out of breath as the Colorado freezing air kicked his ass. A crappy night's sleep and the change from Las Vegas weather had him struggling. 

He opened the door and immediately saw Roscoe camped out on the welcome mat. While bending down to pet the attention seeker, he caught sight of you in the kitchen. You had a mug held to your lips with your phone in the other hand. 

Lewis felt your eyes on him once he stood up. The light still hadn’t returned after a night of sleeping apart. It’s not like he expected anything different. 

“Morning,” you greeted as you set your mug on the counter. You tucked your phone in the back pocket of your jeans. You kept talking, voice flat as it has been and Lewis didn’t like that. “I’m going to the store so if you need anything you can text me.” 

Lewis walked to the cabinet and grabbed a glass making his way to the sink to get water. He didn’t respond. He didn’t know what to say. 

“Alright, I’m going. See you in a bit,” you said. 

“What store are you going to?” Lewis asked. 

“I haven’t decided yet. Sprouts perhaps. Maybe Trader Joe’s. Whatever I feel like when I get in the car.” 

You started to walk out of the kitchen when Lewis spoke. He really shouldn’t have. He was still pent up from his run and over everything he caused. 

“You’re not going to the store.” 

You froze and slowly turned towards him, eyebrows raised. “We need groceries, Lewis.” 

“No we don’t.” 

“Yes we do.” 

“Nope.” 

“Okay,” you put your hands on the counter, leaning towards Lewis, “the fruit and few vegetables I got yesterday barely feed you so we need groceries.” 

To this, Lewis replied, “I’ll go with you.” 

You barked out a laugh and shook your head. 

“Don’t laugh,” Lewis ground out. 

You both moved simultaneously, Lewis towards you and you towards the door. But, Lewis caught your wrist and pulled you towards him. 

“Don’t laugh at me baby.” 

“Lewis,” you whispered, in shock and maybe even surprise at your sudden closeness. 

He walked you so your back was against the counter. Lewis reached into your back pocket and pulled your phone out placing it next to your hip. 

“Why’d you throw the flowers away?” Lewis rumbled, you didn’t respond, he asked again, “why?” 

“They were dried out.”

“You did that on purpose.” 

“Lew—“ 

“Why?” 

“Just let it go Lewis.” 

He pressed you harder against the counter. “Tell me, honey. Why did the flowers end up in the trash?” 

“They were just flowers.” 

“They weren’t.” 

“You’re right,” you said quietly. “Once you stopped showing up they became just flowers.” 

He dropped his forehead to yours. 

Lewis didn’t mean to hurt you. Truly. You had the best vacation together, something he enjoyed every second of. No work, no responsibilities. Time together that was needed. He did have work he needed to handle when getting home but went about it the wrong way. 

He had to fix what he did. 

“Please let me go Lewis,” you whispered. 

“No.” 

“No? You can’t just say no.” 

He moved his hands from your hips to around your shoulders pulling you into a hug. 

He moved his lips to your ear and whispered, “I hurt you. I messed up and I hurt you.” 

Lewis felt your arms lightly wrap around his waist. He tightened his arms and pressed his temple to your hair. 

“I’m sorry I hurt you, baby,” he murmured. 

“Fine Lewis.” 

“Let me in, baby. Let me fix my mistake. I shut you out and I shouldn’t have.” 

He pulled back and saw your hard exterior slowly crumbling. He didn’t let you go but gave you time to speak. 

“We got back from a fabulous time together, Lewis. I would have supported you through whatever you were going through. You know I have supported you and always will,” you said quietly. “What am I supposed to do and think when you aren’t talking to me?” 

Lewis placed a finger on your chin guiding your eyes together. 

“Give me your eyes honey.” Once you locked eyes he continued. “I didn’t want to burden you with everything I was working through. I can’t tell you exactly why I did what I did. I knew it was wrong. I can promise you I won’t do it again.” 

He saw you take a deep breath and sigh. He hoped you weren’t gearing up to keep arguing. 

“I know you didn’t do it on purpose, Lewis. But I’m not here to be thrown to the side when you’re stressed or whatever,” you flicked your hand off to the side. “I forgive you, but I’m not tolerating it again.” 

Lewis felt the smile creeping onto his face. He heard you laugh quietly. 

“Hug me baby. I’ve missed you.” 

At that, you wrap your arms around his shoulder at the same time he hugs your waist. He missed the feeling of you. All parts of you. 

You pulled back, Lewis not wanting to let you go, but loosening his hold, and seeing the smirk on your face. 

He knew what was coming and braced for the incoming sass. 

“Now, can we go buy groceries or are we going to stand here and starve?” 

Lewis bent his neck and dropped his forehead to yours. 

Then, his eyes locked with yours, he muttered, “Of course honey.” 

“Then get off me and let’s go!” 

“Fine, fine,” he replied, fighting a smile. 

You looked into his eyes for a while. 

Then you yelled, “let’s go Roscoe! You’re daddy stopped being an ass so we’re going as a family.” 

Lewis closed his eyes and laughed. Then he moved and touched his lips to yours. 

Then he let you go and watched as you went to get Roscoe’s collar and leash. With you out of sight, he went to the garbage can and pulled the flowers out. They’d deal with them together after shopping.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Mushrooms

The edible parts of fungi are the fruiting bodies that are produced very dramatically by huge spreading masses of mycelia, which draw their nutrients as parasites from roots and decaying vegetation.

BAY BOLETUS (Boletus badius)

Usually found in woodlands, this fungus is pale to brown in colour.

Has light yellow pores on the underside and these stain blue if damaged.

The flesh also stains a bluish colour when cut and smells very mushroomy.

The stalk has no frills but is smooth from base to cap.

Can be stored by slicing and drying or flash freezing.

They taste fine raw when sliced and make great soup.

SHAGGY INK CAP (Coprinus comatus)

Very common but distinctive mushroom.

Easy to identify with its egg-shaped shaggy cap.

Often grows on newly disturbed ground in large clusters.

The cap is covered with beautiful white scales and there is no veil on the stem when the cap opens to a bell shape with a dark black underside.

Need to be young and fresh to make good eating.

Shaggy ink caps make a wonderful mushroom soup.

These mushrooms do not store well, so they are best used fresh.

GIANT PUFFBALL (Langermannia gigantea)

Can grow to 80 cm diameter.

The huge white ball of a giant puffball is not hard to identify.

Must be used young before the spores have time to develop and the insects have time to take their share.

Slice them up like rump steak to cook them.

By themselves they have little flavour, but fried quickly with a little bacon they are delicious.

HORSE MUSHROOM (Agaricus arvensis)

Can be found on old pastures that has been grazed by horses or cattle.

Has a slight aniseed smell and does not shrivel up when cooked.

Just beware you don’t over-indulge if you are lucky enough in these times of chemical farming to find a crop of these.

The cap of the horse mushroom may be yellowy in colour, but be careful not to confuse it with the “yellow stainer” fungus, which will make you ill.

CHANTERELLE (Cantharellus cibarius)

May be found in woodland clearings.

Seasoned mushroom hunters will keep their locations a close secret as they tend to grow in the same places each year.

Are fairly small – up to 4 inches (10 cm) across but usually smaller – with a distinctive yellow colour and a slight smell of apricots.

The caps become like small, fluted trumpets as they age and the gills are heavy, irregular and run down the stems.

Best stored in good olive oil or in spiced alcohol.

PARASOL (Macrolepiota procera)

Usually found in open fields and has large brown scales in a symmetrical pattern around a pronounced central bump.

The cap can grow up to 10 inches (25 cm) across and the gills are white.

The stem is long and tough with a large ring around it.

Will dry well for storage.

Make a delicious dish by dipping pieces of the parasol in batter and deep frying.

PENNY BUN (Boletus edulis)

Also known as the “cep” mushroom and is a great prize for the mushroom hunter, as it has an unusual nutty flavour.

Found in woodland or sometimes in heather with dwarf willows, the “cep” can grow quite large – over 2 pounds (1 kg) in weight.

When picking, cut the cap in half to check for maggots. These work their way up through the stems.

Its cap looks just like freshly baked bread.

The colour darkens as the mushroom ages.

The underside will have yellow pores, not gills.

The stem is bulbous and solid white with brown stripey flecks.

Stores well if dried in thin slices.

HONEY FUNGUS (Armillaria mellea)

This yellowy-brown fungus is a tree-killer – but highly edible for humans.

The active part of the fungus is a black cord-like rhizomorph that covers huge areas under the soil and seeks out trees, which it destroys.

Normally grows straight out from trees and stumps, usually in large clumps.

The flesh is white and smells strong and sweet.

The gills vary from off-white to brown and the stalks are tough, often fused together at the base and with a white, cotton-like ring below the cap.

The caps become tough if you dry them so it’s best to freeze.

ORANGE PEEL (Aleuria aurantia)

An extraordinary, brightly coloured and very striking fungus.

Found commonly in large clumps in grassland on bare earth from autumn to early winter. The caps soon become wavy and are of fairly robust texture.

Quite small – up to 2 inches (5 cm) across – the fungus is bright orange on top and a lighter shade on the velvety underside.

These store well if dried.

WOOD MUSHROOM (Agaricus silvicola)

Only found in woodland.

A more delicate version of its close relative, the horse mushroom.

Does not grow out of a volval bag like the death cap and its gills are pink to brown in colour, not white.

The flesh does not discolour when cut and the smell is of a slight aniseed.

The cap is a creamy-yellow colour that darkens as it ages and is smaller than the horse mushroom, growing to only 4 inches (10 cm).

THE PRINCE (Agaricus augustus)

Resembles a stocky version of the parasol.

Grows up to 10 inches (25 cm) wide and is found in woodland.

The top is flecked with brownish scales.

The gills are off-white when young, turning dark brown with age.

The flesh is strong white and smells of mushroom.

The stem is very strong and often scaly with a large floppy ring under the cap – it is too tough to make good eating unless cooked in stews.

It has a strong flavour and can be frozen or dried for excellent winter meals.

FIELD MUSHROOM (Agaricus campestris)

Undoubtedly the best known of all mushrooms, before the days of chemical farming whole fields would be covered by the prolific field mushroom.

Get up early after a hot summer spell has been followed by rain to pick.

The silky white caps grow up to 4–5 inches (10–12 cm), the gills are pink, and the smell mushroomy.

The ring around the stems is very fragile and often missing.

Maggots can be a problem – check older specimens by cutting through the stems.

Can be stored by flash freezing or drying.

WHERE TO LOOK

You will always harvest your best specimens early in the morning. Fungi grow in a wide variety of places, but they will not tolerate chemical fertilizers or sprays.

They say it will take 20 years for the horse mushroom to appear in grassland after the use of chemicals has been stopped.

In fact, the majority of edible fungi grow in the proximity of woodland and many have close symbiotic relationships with particular tree roots.

But wild grassland does always produce an excellent crop of fungi every autumn and you will find each season’s crop in similar places to the previous year’s.

WHAT TO AVOID

There is probably no need to warn you of the fly agaric, as this bright red and white spotted fungus is so well known.

The most dangerous of all fungi is the death cap (Amanita phalloides).

A single death cap contains enough toxins to kill several people:

Usually it grows in woodland, particularly with oak trees. It can vary in colour, being similar in size to a field mushroom, but its characteristic features are white gills on the underside and a “volval” bag at the base. Any fungi growing from a “volval” bag are best left well alone for many are poisonous.

A death cap has white spores, not brown like most edible mushrooms.

Another mushroom to avoid is the “yellow stainer”, easily confused with field or horse mushrooms:

It has the distinctive feature of turning bright yellow when bruised or cut. It also smells rather like disinfectant.

NOTE. There is no easy way to determine whether a fungus is toxic just by looking at it. You should never ingest any unknown fungi. Fungal fruiting bodies can be picked out of the planter pot and thrown in the trash if there is a concern that pets or young children could ingest them.

Sources: 1 2 ⚜ Writing Notes & References ⚜ Food History

[domesticgoddess22]

wish upon a cowboy

chapter 8: middle of the night

pairing: raider!joel miller x fem!reader

Summary: A rugged raider takes you under his wing after hunters leave you for dead. The two of you form a team and you quickly grow attached to him–mumbling, grumbling, protective Joel Miller. When you divulge your wishes to experience life before the outbreak, Joel decides to make them come true. All of them.

warnings: age gap (early 20s/mid 40s), praise kink, breeding kink, daddy kink, unplanned pregnancy, unprotected piv, canon-typical violence, light choking, dom!Joel, angst, joel is bad at feelings, drunk sex, pregnancy sex word count: 5k words (chapter 8) rating: 18+ explicit MDNI

masterlist | Ao3 | My Booktower @orcasoul @guiltyaschargedmf @idrkman

After dinner last night you’d gotten to know Frank and Bill a little more. Mostly Frank, and what you learned about Bill is what Frank divulged to you, but you could tell that his grumpy better half was coming around to you by the way he kept asking if you wanted to try different flavors of wine he had proudly brewed himself. 

Sadly, you had to tell him no. And the worst part was that you couldn’t even tell him why.

Joel had warned you that the baby needed to be kept a secret. He said it would freak Bill out, and while you didn’t understand why exactly you carrying a child was a private matter, you decided to entertain his wishes and tell Bill wine never sat well in your stomach.

Massive oak barrels lined up in the basement with what looked to be one hundred wine bottles adorned on the racks nearby. These people were serious about their wine.

“It’s not just wine,” Frank began. “We’ll juice just about anything and cork it up for winter. Here. This is a bottle of strawberry juice.” He pulled out a bottle filled with rose-colored liquid and handed it to you. 

“Real strawberries?” You asked, dumbfounded as your thumb glazed over the smooth glass. 

“Yup. I planted the strawberries myself while Bill did all the crushing and bottling.”

You have never eaten a strawberry in your life–unless you count questionably old freeze-dried strawberries that looked more like grey rocks than red berries–let alone had the pleasure of drinking a bottle of strawberry juice. 

“Have it.” Bill urged. 

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to impose. You guys have done so much for us already, and with winter coming, I couldn’t take this from you.” 

“We’d like for you to have it,” Frank insisted. “There’s no use having all these luxuries when we don’t have anyone to share it with.” 

“Thank you. Truly.” 

A rush of emotions swept through you and tears started to well in your eyes and you blamed your hormones for wreaking havoc on you. You'd never received a gift like this before. Shit, you don't know if you've ever been given something you didn't have to take.

Men you hardly knew had trusted you in a world where trust was not easily given, yet they’d allowed you into their home. Now they were giving you some of their best rations. 

The plastic cork popped open and you brought the bottle to your lips, tasting the juice with your tongue before letting it wash down your throat. Your taste buds danced at the cool sweetness that spilled over your tongue. It was hard to believe that there was food that tasted like this. You were going to add ‘drink a strawberry milkshake’ to your bucket list from here on out.

Leaving the QZ was the best thing you ever did. That feeling really sunk in when Frank gave you a tour of their botanical greenhouse, a temperate garden filled with a stunning array of homegrown fruits and vegetables. Rays of sun gleamed onto the veggies from the glass panels above, casting an angelic glow that made everything in the garden sparkle with life.

“Frank, this place is unbelievable!” The QZ had a warehouse filled with food too but it wasn’t like this. The warehouse was dreary. It reeked of mold and there were rats that’d scutter around your feet at every step.

“Little slices of heaven like this is what keeps our spirits up,” Frank said musically, practically skipping down the aisle to show off everything he had for harvest this year. 

“Strawberries, lemons, pumpkin, zucchini, potatoes, we’ve got it all.” 

And you’ll never forget the crisp smell of dewy leaves and earthy soil that filled your lungs as you stepped through the dome. It was like stepping into another world. Somewhere safe. A place with hope. A world that was just like before, and you didn’t know how you knew, you just knew it was a place far better.

Right then and there you decided that you were going to add another wish to your wishlist. You wanted your very own greenhouse that looked just like this. You wanted to plant food and watch the little green sprouts emerge. To feel that rush you’d get from harvesting something you’d grown, cooking it, and sharing it with people you loved to be around. 

“Is there any way I can help out while I’m here?” You asked Frank as you headed back to the house.

“Well, you can help me make lunch. Unless you’re one of those people that burns eggs, then I’d rather you didn’t.” Frank quipped.

You’d felt a closeness with Frank that you didn’t feel with Bill or even Joel for that matter. Frank was easier to talk to and also easier to read. He wore his heart on his sleeve and showed genuine care and interest in those around him. If he was pissed, you’d know. If he liked you, you’d feel it. You liked people that you could get a good read on when the man you spent the last few months with masked every emotion on the human spectrum. 

“Luckily for you, cooking eggs was a basic requirement for me to finish school."

The menu for lunch consisted of a very aromatic rabbit stew with a buttery finish and sharp spices that made your mouth water. God, you hadn’t had food like this before. The best you’d had was the roasts you and Joel would make over the spit back in the woods, which were good, but it was hard to get creative without a kitchen full of ingredients like this. 

You didn’t even bother comparing their food to what was available in the QZ. Meat wasn’t even something you could easily get in the first place, so that pretty much left you with old cereal on most days. Twizzlers if you were lucky. Jerky if you had a fat stack of cards.

At Bill’s, not only did he have meat, he had an array of earthy spices, dairy, fruits, vegetables, flour and other ingredients that you could actually cook with. It felt like you had walked into pre-outbreak and had a little taste of the past. 

“It smells amazing,” you praised. You waved a hand over the steaming dutch oven and let yourself inhale the stew’s aroma. Most of the credit went to Frank and his stellar recipes, but you’d helped assist in any way you could with cutting onions and chopping carrots. 

Frank ladled a spoonful of soup and brought it to his puckered lips to taste. He hummed in approval. “Oh, that’s good. That’s reaaaal good.” 

“Where’d you learn to cook like this?”

“I didn’t really. When I first came here, Bill was the chef and I was just his assistant. One night, Bill had come down with a cold and then I took over in the kitchen. I’ve been cooking up a storm ever since. It helps Bill out since he can spend more time hunting and skinning the animals.”

“You two really have the perfect setup here.” Your eyes sweep the kitchen and then land on the little windows of the Fench doors where Joel is chopping wood out in the yard. His muscles are straining with every upward stroke of the axe and you swear his veins pulse with every downward crash of the blade.

Lift, swing, crash. Repeat.

Joel lets the axe dangle at his side, twirling it around in his fierce grip. Even in the chilly December air, sweat glistens along his face and arms. He looks over his shoulder and his piercing gaze lands on you, sharp as the edge of the blade in his hand. 

Joel was intense. You could see how other people would find him terrifying. Heat and rage radiated off of him like a searing cast iron pan that’d been left on the fire and long forgotten. But it was that very heat that drew you to him. Made him seem strong. Capable. And that did things to you. It made your heart flutter and heat build between your legs until you ached. 

Your eyes dart around the kitchen desperately looking for a distraction until they fixate on the counter in front of you. Onion peels decorate the butcher block like little fallen leaves and you swipe your hand across the wooden surface to scoop them up.

“Yeah well, there’s always a little trouble in paradise no matter how perfect it may seem. Think you might know a little something about that.” Frank said in a hushed whisper, his brow cocked inquisitively in your direction. A subtle smirk plays on his lips. “Want to tell me why you and Joel sleep in separate bedrooms?”

“Don’t know what you mean.” You lie. You dump the peels in the trash and then tug at your oversized sweater, tugging it down like it'll hide your bump better if you do.

“Oh, sweetie. I’m not stupid. The sexual tension between you two is so bright, I need three pairs of sunglasses to keep myself from going blind. Tell me what’s going on.”

“There isn’t much to tell,” you sigh. “I don’t think Joel wants to be with me because he thinks he’s taking advantage of me or somethin'. That or he just doesn’t like me like that.”

“Oh honey, look at you. Why wouldn’t he like you?”

“You tell me.” You shrug.

“He’s a cranky old man is what he is. He and Bill might hate each other's guts, but the two of them are like two peas in a fucking pod. Grumpy little assholes. And take it from me, the best way to win over an asshole is to give him everything you’ve got. You need to make all the moves and let him know you really want him and all of his bullshit.”

“Ugh Frank, I dunno. I tried all that already and he’s still pretty cold with me.”

“Want me to talk to him?”

“God no!” That sounded like an awful idea. 

Frank shook his head left and right, lips curved upward in a smile that only people who enjoyed the thrill of gossip wore. “All I’m saying is, the world is too fucked up and depressing for you two to be wasting your time playing these little mind games. That's the kinda crap people did when they had all the time in the world.”

“Yeah, I don’t disagree with you, but it’s not that simple with Joel. Seriously, what’s up with the guy? Do you have any idea why he is the way he is?”

“Of course I know.”

“You do?”

“He was a raider. That would fuck anyone up if they weren’t already messed up from all the bullshit that’s happened.” You shrugged nonchalantly. Of course, you knew about that.

Frank continued. “Joel never talked about it to us. We knew bits and pieces from Tommy, but even he was quiet about it. Whatever it is they do–or did–is probably going to send them both straight to hell.”

“Most of us have killed people, Frank.” You hadn’t, but you were the rare few outside the QZ. 

“Not like that.” His voice was low, gaze drifting to the French doors. “Raiders kill not just for survival, but for sport. They kill because they are the strongest predator and the rest of us are just prey for their entertainment. They kill because they can.”

“I don’t believe Joel finds killing fun.”

“It’s not about the kill or the chase, it’s about winning. There’s a rush people like that get when they overpower someone and Joel has been getting that rush for years and years. It’s what has kept him alive out there for so long. He knows how powerful he is.”

You swallowed hard. Even though Joel was far out in the yard and the sounds of simmering stew and the pressure cooker filled with bone broth hissed furiously, you could almost hear the bone-cracking sound of Joel’s blade splitting logs right down the middle.

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t be with Joel,” Frank continued and you redirected your gaze back at the man before you. “He took care of Tommy and with the way he looks at you, I don’t doubt that he’ll protect you all the same. I'm just saying that you have to be careful. And that you deserve to know what you’re getting into. Do you want to get into it with him?”

It took everything in you not to laugh at that question. There was a baby growing in your belly because of what you ‘got into’ with Joel, so you were long past taking things slow.

The baby wasn’t the only reason you cared about Joel, though. The night he first made love to you is something that you’ll carry with you always. Memories of the diner and the milkshake and fries were still crisp in your memory, their sweet aftertaste leaving you craving more of what you never had yet fully felt the loss of. Because underneath all of his anger and grumpiness, Joel could make you feel at home.

“Yes, I do.” you breathed without hesitation.

Frank smiled, breathing out a little through his nose. “The heart wants what it wants, I guess.”

After all the cooking was complete, you offered to help Frank clean up the kitchen while he tended to the greenhouse. Joel had abandoned his post and you figured he had gone to collect more wood from the trees, but then you heard the door crack open in the mudroom and each thud of his boot on the wood floor as he neared closer to the kitchen.

Then his broad shoulders ate the width of the doorframe. He down at you, a tiny little thing.

“Hey, lumberjack.” You teased.  

Subtly, very subtly, he smiled back.

“Hey, chef.” His deep, raspy voice tugged at something in your core. Then he was behind you as you stirred the soup one last time and you felt the weight of his hands on your hips like the pressing warmth of a sun-baked stone, comforting yet unmovable. Luckily Bill was out still, and you could see Frank through the window, still busy with the vegetables.

You brought the spoon to Joel’s lips to try the stew. He hummed in approval.

“‘S good.” There was a lock of hair that had fallen out of your messy bun. Joel tucked it back into place and then pressed a kiss to the space just below your ear. You shivered.

“”M gonna go take a shower, just wanted to do this first.” He said into the shell of your ear as he dotted your neck with more kisses. Heat pooled between your legs. This man had you wrapped around his finger and it wasn’t easy for you to hide the fact. 

The absence of his steady hands on your hips left you feeling cold and you spun around, neck cranking up to get a good look at him. Grabbing a wad of his flannel, you reeled him into you, feeling the way his strong arms circled around you. 

His lips found yours and he groaned, letting you know that he’d missed you these last few days. It made your chest swell with pride at the affirmation that Joel still needed you. That you still had an effect on him. When you felt something hard pressed against you, it was all the confirmation you needed to know that Joel still wanted you just as much as you wanted him.

He pulled away, insisting that the two of you needed to be careful. That Bill and Frank couldn’t know about your relationship and you almost rolled your eyes at that. Maybe Bill didn’t know, but Frank obviously knew something was up. They just didn’t know about the baby.

Whatever. You’ll entertain Joel’s wishes. 

The ghost of his kiss still felt hot on your skin as you hummed to the Queen song Frank and you played the other night. The baby was hungry and you weren’t going to wait for everyone else to dig in, but you didn’t like that you had to eat alone. Sure, eating alone wasn’t something new to you. You’d eaten alone for years after your parents had… passed, but you realized that this was the first time in a long while that you had to eat without someone to keep you company. Joel had been your dining buddy for the last few months. 

Something Gram told you many years ago resurfaced. It was a saying that she’d recite to you every now and then, but you were too young to absorb its meaning.

‘We learn to be grateful for what we have only when we no longer have it.’

Gram’s words sank in as you chewed, casually looking over your shoulder at the glass panes on the French doors. One of them was cracked, and now that you were focusing on it there was a smear on it too. Grabbing the rag you used for cleaning, you hopped up and took it upon yourself to clean the little glass square, the background of the forest a blur as your eyes sharpened in on the little smear of dirt. Probably from Frank, you thought.

A tall, male figure emerged in the distance, just at the edge of the woods. It was a generous distance away, but close enough to catch your eye. You turned your gaze toward him, but by the time you focused in on him, he had already disappeared back into the shadows of the trees.

Was that Bill?

You shook off the eerie feeling and finished eating for two. When the men returned for lunch, they were surprised to see so much of the stew had been devoured. Heat rose to your cheeks when they asked about your appetite. 

You’d grown used to Joel stuffing you with most of the food you’d found that it hadn’t occurred to you that your hunger may come off as a little strange to people who weren’t aware of your condition. Fortunately, when you apologized, Frank laughed it off and made a joke about Joel keeping all the food for himself when you were traveling.

****

Later that day, you came down with a bad case of nausea. Nothing you weren’t used to by now, but it was still strong enough of a force to swipe you from your feet and keep you bedridden. The world was a swirling wave every time you stood up or did so much as look in a certain direction. 

Most of the time you were able to keep your food down, but some of it came rushing back up and the entire house had to listen to your exorcism.

Bill and Frank were kind enough to let the two of you stay a few extra nights until you recovered. They’d sent Joel up with a tray full of tea, saltine crackers, and homemade mints Frank had made from the leaves of their little mint bush. 

“You okay?” You could see the white of Joel's eyes as he scanned your face. For the first time, you felt like you could get a good read on him. He was worried.

“I’m fine. The baby is just a little upset with me right now so I’m trying to make it up to her.”

“Her?” Joel angled his head at you.

“Oh, it’s just a silly feeling I have. Can’t say I’m not hopeful though. I already have some names in mind for her too, wanna hear?” Having kids was always something you wished for which is why you already had cherry-picked your favorite names.

“Sure.” He set the tray down on the pinewood table and then the mattress caved in by your feet. He sat a comfortable distance from you, but close enough that you could feel his body heat. 

You rolled to your right side, propping your elbow up to rest your head on your hand, but then the world started to spin again and you groaned. You slammed your eyes shut to will the dizziness away.

“Ain’t gotta look at me, baby. ‘M still gonna listen.” His voice was so soothing and gentle. It was a shame no one else knew how musical his voice could be. When you had the attention of his big brown eyes, it made you feel like you mattered. Like you weren’t just an invisible worker in the QZ slaving away for your weekly ration cards.

“Madeline. We’d call her Maddie for short.” Eyes still closed, you start listing off your favorite girl names. “Or Adeline and we could call her Addy.”

“I like Maddie better.” Joel’s gravelly voice cut in.

“Yeah that one is cute.” 

“What else?” 

“Lily.” 

“Heard that one too many times. Maddie is the better.”

“I haven’t told you my favorite one yet.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve always liked Violet.”

“Violet…” He rolled the name on his tongue in thought and then you felt the featherlight of his fingertips caressing your calf. 

It was amazing how grounding his touch could be when nothing else in this world had the power to make you feel this calm and safe. You smiled as he traced circles on your skin and you hummed at the warmth of him on you. 

“It makes me think of the sky when the sun is ducking over the horizon, casting sunlight at just the right angle to color the world like it's a fairytale and less like a grim apocalypse. Violet reminds me of a color I never got to see. Fluffy blankets that now are grayed with dirt and dust. Plastic bottles that used to be vibrant now have lost their luminous luster. Purple clothes that have faded to dreary shades of brown.”

“I like Violet.” He sounded pleased. "Used to have a painting in my hallway of violets."

You liked imagining Joel's house. It was big, and there was a guitar hanging in the study. A little wooden breakfast table with a high chair. Now a field of violets hanging in the hallway.

“If it’s a boy, I think I like Noah. What do you think?”

“Noah’s good too, darlin’.” Even though he said he liked it, his lips were a straight line that gave you a different impression, eyes on your stomach briefly before he looked at the wall in thought.

“You don’t seem to care for it.” You frowned.

“‘S not that. Just worried about you bein’ sick like this is all. Seein’ you like this got me thinkin’ we need to head back to see Doc before we go on this trip. We don’t know how long it’ll be for sure, what we’ll run into, if we’ll even find what we’re lookin’ for in time… ‘s risky, baby.”

“I’m fine, Joel. It’s just a little bit of nausea. It’s completely normal when you’re pregnant.” 

Not that you knew much about pregnancy since you’d never been pregnant before, but it wasn’t a secret that morning sickness was a common symptom of growing a tiny human. The vertigo wasn’t something you were a little less sure about. It should be fine.

Still, you guys couldn’t overextend your welcome any more than you already had. Leaving to go see Doc would mean you’d end up back here again, imposing on your new friends. Joel’s relationship with Bill was already strained for other reasons outside of your control, the least you could do was keep things from getting worse. 

If there’s one thing you knew, it’s that having connections is an important part of survival, and while you didn’t know the ins and outs of everything Joel did to stay alive out here, you knew he kept a vast network of people he could cut deals with. Keeping those relationships strong was probably important to Joel. You knew he’d only sever relationships as a last resort.

Joel left you to your own and you fell asleep earlier than usual. Nausea had wiped you out today. Unfortunately, nightmares were creeping in on you again and you found yourself awake at 1 AM if the old clock hanging on the wall like a relic was to be trusted. 

Sweat clung to every pore on your body as you stirred at the faint, haunting sound of the door creaking open like a whisper beckoning you to rise. A tall figure darkened your bedroom doorway. The dim candlelight beside your bed flickered against the small current of wind, shedding light on the broad outline of Joel’s shoulders. The sharp angle of his nose. The unruly, gray-brown curls framed his face. 

You wiped the tears that were streaming down your face thanks to nightmares, and you hoped that Joel didn’t notice. It was dark in here, aside from the humble candlelight. He probably didn’t.

“Why are you awake?” Your voice was barely above a whisper. Even though Bill and Frank’s bedroom, which was on the second floor, was enough of a distance away from yours on the first floor.

“Thought I heard cryin’. Needed to check on you ‘n make sure you were okay.”

“Was just another nightmare. I’m feelin’ a little better now, though.” There’s a gentleness to your voice. Mostly because you’re tired, but also because seeing the father of your child made you feel soothed and safe.

“‘S good.” He eased himself into the room and let the door click quietly behind him. You swallowed. “Need some company?” He wasn’t lustful in his meaning. It felt genuine like he was worried about you and wanted to stay with you until you were better. Just like he had after the first time he met you and you were too afraid to sleep alone, he’d stay by your bed until you healed.

“We’ll have to leave soon,” you said wistfully to Joel.

“I know,” he whispered.

“He doesn’t want to give you the truck, does he?”

“’M working on changin’ his mind.”

“Please tell me you’re not going to resort to violence with these wonderful people.” It was a demand, not a question. Joel was silent. 

“Joel.” You narrowed your eyes at the man.

“Baby…”

“No. Don’t ‘baby’ me. You can’t do that to the people that welcomed us into our home, fed us, let us stay a few extra days ‘cuz I was sick. They didn’t have to be kind to us, Joel. They didn’t. So we need to repay them with the same kindness they gave to us.”

“That ain’t how it works…”

“I don’t care how things work out here! If there’s any hope of the world being a better place, it starts with this.” There was an air of finality in your voice that showed you weren’t backing down. 

Your efforts didn’t feel like they were enough to sway Joel, so you decided to tackle it from a different angle. “We don’t know for sure that we’ll find what we’re lookin’ for, so it’s better we keep them as allies than not. In case we need to come back around here.”

“Fine. I’ll find another way.” His voice was coated in what you thought might be a lie. You didn’t argue with him further, but you’d sure as hell make sure he wasn’t going to act on whatever he was thinking right now. Somehow.

Joel lifted the corner of the bed sheet and the cool air chilled your skin. You weren’t wearing much, never liked to wear anything other than a T-shirt and underwear to bed. Told yourself you needed to start wearing a sweatshirt to bed soon with the way your bump was showing, just in case Bill or Frank came in and saw you. Not that they would, but it felt like you were rolling the dice.

Strong arms encompassed and your lungs were filled with woodsmoke and pine. You sighed in relief, nuzzling into his neck. “This is nice. Wish you’d sleep with me more often.”

“Mm.” He hummed, not really giving a definitive answer. With the way his thumb was rubbing circles on your hip, you knew he liked it too. “Get some rest, darlin’.”

But it was hard to fall back asleep after bad dreams, even with Joel at your side to comfort you. The dream you had this time around was far more vivid than anything you’d had before. Usually, images of your nightmares would recede after you woke up. They’d feel like a blurry afterthought, or an unfinished sentence, an unsettling feeling but it wasn’t something you could really piece together into a cohesive story.

Sometimes your dreams would be reminiscent of what it felt like when your parents were killed. What it felt like when hunters had tried to kill you. Or how lonely you felt in the QZ eating old, dry cereal and bread for breakfast and dinner with no one to care if it was your birthday or not. 

This time was different. This time you still felt the agonizing loss of what you had endured in your nightmare. Joel had abandoned you and your baby, leaving you to bear the weight of raising a child alone out in the wild. The world was black and white with little to no color besides the wine-red stains left behind on the fabric that your baby was bundled in. Someone had taken your baby, and all you could do was scream-cry into the empty bundle.

There was a strange feeling settling into your bones and twisting the very essence of who you were. Before the baby, you were never afraid of being alone. Not really. Sure, it wasn’t something you wanted, but you had gotten used to it. You left the QZ knowing full-well you'd be alone or worse.

Now things were different. Now that you’d nearly had a visit with death… and that you were pregnant with a child and had a taste of what life was like with Joel, you couldn’t think of anything more terrifying than being alone.

~~~~ a/n: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Let me know what you think :)

[outofangband]

Updated winter related world building for the March of Maedhros

More in the Himring tag!

Maedhros and cold (related post)

Elves and winter headcanons

Winters at Himring are long and cold. Winter temperatures generally range -8 degrees Celsius/18 degrees Fahrenheit to -25 Celsius/-15 Fahrenheit (including windchill)

Temperatures drop to the extent that access to water can become a concern. Wells that are fed from groundwater can freeze and the rivers and lakes become even more dangerous to venture upon. Water is sometimes sourced from snow which is boiled to distill it. (More on water here at Himring here)

Heated stones, primarily obsidian and certain types of sandstone are heated and wrapped in cloth as a treatment for lasting pain. The relief is fairly short lived but especially for the duration of the treatment can be incredibly soothing. Maedhros himself has benefited from this as have the many residents of Himring with lasting effects of injuries from battle, or, in some cases, torture. Changes in weather can exacerbate chronic pain and other conditions including mobility, mood, and other functions.

The soldiers of Himring often sleep in extremely close quarters during the winter for warmth, especially when firewood is scarce. Scouts and spies limit their fires when away from the citadel to limit the possibility of being seen.

Much food is preserved for cold winters and for the soldiers and scouts who rotate out and need food that can last. Methods of food preservation are learned from the dwarves who aided in the construction of Himring as well as through trial and error (These are still Noldor and take pride in experimenting and exploring). Himring utilizes more of these methods than many other elven realms. Salted meat, stocks and broths that can be quickly heated over a fire, root vegetables, dried fruit from the summer, usually orchard fruit like apples that can grow in colder climates.

Warm clothing and materials come from wool imported from Thargelion, and from reindeer, ermine and rabbit native to the March. Feathers from snow and tundra geese are also used for insulation.

There is a ghost story told by the scouts of Himring of elves who simply walk away into the winter wilderness and are never seen again. These elves were said to appear in a trance like state or to appear as though something has caught their attention. These stories are often implicitly associated with former thralls, who are often thought of or depicted as ghosts, transient, or otherwise eerie. (See my post on barn owl lore and former prisoners here)

There is very little light on the winter solstice and the days that surround it. The atmosphere of Himring is wary and alert, almost frantic at times

[witheringflowr]

some of my fave safe foods

~ 🎀🤍🎀🤍 ~

• watermelon

• cucumbers

• lc popcorn

• veggetable soup

• strawberries

• pickles

• sf popsicles

• cauliflower

• apples

• tuna

• kimchi

• vegetable sushi

• seaweed chips

• rice cakes

• lettuce

• lf greek yogurt

• steamed broccoli

• cooked butternut squash

• unsweetened applesauce

• cooked egg whites

• freeze dried fruits

*with no added sugar*

• carrots

• bell peppers

• sf jello

• sauerkraut

• lf cottage cheese

• miso soup

Lmk if anyone's interested in meal ideas, i can make a separate list for that !

[ahedderick]

Beet that

Processing beets. Why not? I had a basket of beets sitting around in cold storage and not keeping all that well. Not spoiled, just getting a bit wrinkly and soft, as apples sometimes do. K and I did some much-needed cleanup around here this morning, then I gathered my courage in both hands and started peeling beets. Yes, it DOES look like a massacre in the kitchen when you prep more than one beet - magenta smears everywhere.

I used a kitchen mandolin to slice a few and put them in my ancient, handmedown dehydrator. Chopped a few more and put them in a ziploc bag to freeze. My husband's been making himself smoothies for the last couple of months, and actually buying beet powder as one ingredient. He can use little frozen beet cubes, now. I'm not entirely sure what to do with dried beet slices, but I will figure it out as I go along. The instruction pamphlet for the dehydrator actually mentions beets (along with damnear every other fruit and vegetable) so I'm not the first person to do it.

Now I'm just sitting still on the sofa while a tabby naps next to me. There is sun. Good times.

[maysaythanghoaminisadoko]

QUẢ SẤU SẤY THĂNG HOA

Nhắc đến quả Sấu, người Việt Nam sẽ biết ngay đây là đặc sản của miền Bắc đặc biệt là Hà Nội và các khu vực vùng cao. Loại quả này còn có cái tên khác là "quả sấu Bắc". Với hương vị đặc trưng dễ gây ấn tượng với người dùng bởi sự chua thanh, chát nhẹ và mùi thơm tự nhiên, quả sấu thường được sử dụng trong nhiều món ăn truyền thống và chế biến thành nhiều sản phẩm khác nhau như sấu ngâm, sấu dầm, và đặc biệt là sấu sấy thăng hoa – một sản phẩm đang thu hút sự quan tâm của nhiều người tiêu dùng. Không chỉ phổ biến ở khu vực phía Bắc, do nhu cầu thưởng thức cao nên loại quả này được lan tỏa rộng khắp các tỉnh thành.

SẤU SẤY THĂNG HOA (Freeze Dry Crocodile Fruit)

Món ăn vặt đông khô này có cấu hình hoàn toàn khác với những loại bánh kẹo thông thường mà bạn thường thấy.  Chúng giòn nhưng vẫn được giữ tất cả hương vị thơm ngon. Khi ăn, bạn sẽ cảm nhận được vị chua thanh, dịu nhẹ nhưng vẫn đậm đà, không quá gắt như sấu tươi mà dễ chịu, phù hợp để ăn trực tiếp.

Ngoài vị chua, quả sấu sấy thăng hoa còn có hương thơm tự nhiên, nhẹ nhàng đặc trưng của quả sấu, khiến người ăn dễ dàng nhận ra ngay từ miếng đầu tiên. Độ giòn nhẹ giúp tăng thêm cảm giác thú vị khi ăn, làm cho sản phẩm trở thành món ăn vặt hấp dẫn. Nếu được kết hợp với các món khác như sữa chua, kem, hay pha nước giải khát, quả sấu sấy mang đến vị chua dịu và tươi mát, tạo sự cân bằng giữa các thành phần và kích thích vị giác.

NÉT ĐẶC TRƯNG CỦA SẤU SẤY THĂNG HOA

sự kết hợp hoàn hảo giữa sấu tươi ngon được chọn lọc và cách chế biến tỉ mỉ. Được làm từ sấu không hạt, mơ vẫn giữ được độ giòn tự nhiên và hương vị đặc trưng. Những quả sấu non, không hạt, tươi ngon nhất, sau đó rửa sạch và để ráo. Được ngâm trong đường và gia vị tự nhiên, đảm bảo từng miếng mơ thấm đẫm hương vị ngọt, cay và giòn tan. Những ai yêu thích hương vị truyền thống chắc hẳn sẽ bị hấp dẫn bởi món sấu này, gợi nhớ đến hương vị quê nhà.

TÁC DỤNG PHỤ

Một tác dụng phụ của cá sấu được nhiều người quan tâm chính là hỗ trợ giảm cân. Làm sạch ruột, cản trở quá trình hấp thụ đường vào máu, thúc đẩy quá trình trao đổi chất và đốt cháy chất béo trong cơ thể. Ngoài ra, tính axit này sẽ tác động đến hệ tiêu hóa, giúp cơ thể hấp thụ canxi tốt hơn.

Ngâm muối cá sấu hoặc cá sấu tươi sắc nước là bài thuốc chữa ho theo Đông y. Đặc biệt, cá sấu hấp mật ong sẽ giúp trẻ giảm ho hiệu quả.

Bên cạnh tác dụng của sấu đối với sức khỏe, loại quả này còn có hương vị trong các món ăn đặc trưng như sấu ngâm gừng, canh chua sấu.

[daemon-in-my-head]

As requested by @theannoyingurge let's take a detour from our regular schedule and talk food preservation in medival settings / before everybody had a refrigerator so you can write the bg3 fic of ur dreams and be realistic even with details that keep getting in ur way:

Underground cellars/basements. No rly. They can be incredible cool even in summer or even if they're not too deep, and they've been used to ripen and store food such as wine or cheese or meat since ages. Cooling and freezing has been no new invention, we've been refrigerating food (where possible aka northern regions and those with real winters) since forever. The only difference is that it's more convenient nowadays.

Your food can't spoil if you let it rot deliberately aka fermenting. Whether it's fruits and vegetables, honey and grape wines, beer, cheese, or soy sauce. People have been using fermentation since ancient times to preserve foods. Remember Surströmming? The canned fish that smells incredibly bad? Yeah that's just fermented fish.

My personal fav: The burial method. Foods would be burried in dry soil (the deeper u go the cooler it gets) to protect from, well, the sun, but also and very importantly, pests and that stuff. Sometimes the food would also be tightly packed in salts or some marinades to infuse some flavour and to dry it out even better, it's a method still used today for food such as Graved Lachs (lit. buried salmon) a 'delicacy' and yeah shit tastes awesome actually I highly recommend trying it.

Can't have fermenting without pickling. Even ancient Romans loved pickles. Everyone knows that wine can turn into vinegar, and guess what they took advantage of. Also you can pickle pretty much everything. Fish, meat, fruits, veggies. It's edible? You can pickle it. And apparently people will.

Boiling stuff with sugar or honey, aka, making jams and jellies. Sugar can preserve food, and while they didn't have those cute lil glasses we do, they still very much enjoyed their jam. Ofc this was used primarily for sweeter foods. Strawberry jam has been used as a treat for God knows how long. You wouldn't believe how old some cake recipes really are.

Curing and smoking: a method we still very much use to this day to make sausages and prepare other sorts of meat and fish. People have ever since loved the smoke flavour and dangerous amounts of salt. Jerky is certainly no new invention.

Drying: yep. Grain, nuts, fruits, veggies. Lots of shit lasts nearly forever if its purposefully dried. Just make sure you don't screw it up and treat the not yet so dry produces carefully. Garlic ropes may keep out vampires but the biggest advantage is that it'll keep it from spoiling so fast.

And most importantly; the take only what you need approach. You need only 2 tomatoes? Only pluck 2 off the vine. You need meat 3 days from now? Well, only get it on the day you'll need it. You need bread today? Bake it today. People we're very conscious about their foods and what they needed. Doesn't hurt to leave the apple on the tree for one more day if it's not close to overripe already.

Now for the fun part, the random trivia regarding food;

Originally it was a woman's job to brew the beer

Beer can be used as food and it often was used as a cheap tavern food or in times of need

Island nations and coastal regions love to eat fresh, raw fish. A lot of culture from this region somehow includes raw fish in their cuisine for a plethora of reasons. Coastal people love their raw fish. Also algae. They do love algae too

Not a single hair on an animal was wasted. Hair = brushes, fat = soaps and cosmetics, blood = can be cooked and eaten. Blood sausages and all that stuff. Lamb's intestines were famously used as condoms. I meant it when I said everything.

The 'trash' meat aka scraps and very non tasty looking stuff was mixed with grain and fried in times where food was rare. Great source of protein and very filling.

Meat was expensive, so it was rare to come by and very much valued.

Normal middle/lower class people would often only eat the "good stuff" once a week or on special occasions.

During outbreaks of the pest and other illnesses even kids drank beer. Water was too dirty and contaminated.

In fact the primary drinks were wines, beers, ales all that stuff. Water had to be boiled first.

Pretty much everything that wasn't poisonous would be eaten by people. Wasting food really didn't happen a lot outside of the upper class.

Religion was heavily influenced by food. Meat will spoil very quickly in the deserts heat, a sober soldier fights better than a drunk one, fish is rare outside of coastal towns so it's expensive and rare, cows are much more useful if they're alive rather than dead, you took a life to feed yourself so be responsible about it, that kinda shit. Food influences religion. Has always done that.

Hope this helps or this is what u were looking for. I somehow crave Graved Lachs now so I shall hunt some in the supermarket or smth.

[tightwadspoonies]

I am allergic to all nightshades (tomato, potato, peppers, eggplant) as well as shellfish. I'm also physically disabled, so standing at the stove or counter for long periods of time is painful. My food options are so limited as a result, and I end up relying on frozen foods more than I'd like. Any ideas?

Trail mix: Lots of things can be purchased in pre-sized pieces from bulk stores and mixed in zipper bags. I recommend dried fruit or berries without added sugar, seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, etc..), nuts, and puffed grain or cereal pieces. Making your own mix is usually a healthier and more customizable option than buying pre-made, so you can expand it out to a meal or just eat as a snack.

Meal shakes- Combine a regular smoothie recipe with some heavy cream or nut butter for more calories. These are much easier to clean up after if you use a stick blender and rinse it off immediately.

The following recipes minimize prep, or allow prep to be done at a different time than the meal will be consumed:

Sheet pan meals: Cut pieces of 2 different vegetables (sweet potato, onion, broccoli, green beans, cauliflower, etc...) and a meat (chicken, sausage links, beef, pork, etc...) into 1-inch cubes, toss in oil of choice with spices of choice (I like garlic, onion, salt, and black pepper), lay on a sheet pan, and bake until the meat is cooked through (30-45mins at 350F).

The chopping can be done seated and/or done ahead on a good day (or even purchased pre-cut at some supermarkets) and frozen (lay on a baking tray in the freezer for an hour, then put in a zipper bag) for a quick meal on a bad day. You can cut down on dishes by lining the pan you freeze or cook with in parchment paper.

Instant Pot or slow cooker meals: Put some meat, roughly chopped onions, spices of choice, oil of choice, and broth in a slow cooker or instant pot, set to appropriate settings and wait.

Make rice or other starch ahead of time and freeze in portions. Then all you have to do is microwave it to go with a sheet pan dinner or instant pot dinner.

Non-nightshade sauces can be tricky, but here is a relatively easy one that doesn't require sautee-ing. It does require an instant pot or slow cooker and blender or immersion blender.