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foodandfolklore · 8 months

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Kitchen Witch Essentials

I want to preference this by saying your priorities of tools for your craft will vary as you get more experienced. If you get more into baking, you may choose to invest in a kitchen mixer. If your path goes more down drinks, you might want to get a French press. This list is for those starting out or looking to maintain general witchy cooking. Nothing on this list is mandatory, so don't feel like you need to go spend money just because it's on this list.

This list will also assume you have general kitchen stuff, like pots, pans, and knives. You may not have everything, but you have enough to cook.

Wooden Spoon

If for whatever reason you don't have a wooden spoon, and you want to do kitchen magic, I strongly recommend you go and get one. You can get them at any store that sells Kitchen Utensils, including the dollar store.

For some kitchen witches, the wooden spoon is like a magic wand. Allowing the witch to direct energy. Personally, I just enjoy using natural materials whenever I can. Also, it's just such a useful tool to have when cooking. You can stir your food on stove top, and since it's made of wood you don't need to worry about damaging non stick surfaces. If you're boiling pasta, stirring with a wooden spoon helps get rid of the foam overboil. You can also just leave the spoon over the pot to prevent pasta water overboiling. Baking bread? Flip the spoon around and use the handle to bring the dough together.

Some people choose to add sigils or other symbols onto their witchy spoons. If you decide to do this, please do not use paint or stain, as this can come off while cooking. Unless this will be a display only spoon, of course. Safest way is to laser burn a design. Check etsy for custom spoons.

Herbs/Spices you know the properties of

I'm sure you already have some non perishable Herbs or Spices in your pantry or spice rack. Black Pepper, Garlic powder, Cinnamon, Paprika, that kind of thing. I want you to pick one and deep dive into the history of that Herb/Spice. What it's been used for in the past, what are some common magical properties and associations; what do YOU associate with it. Write down the magical association, like protection, banish negativity, prosperity, ect. Start with one, work your way up to three. If you have trouble memorizing, keep a little cheat sheet near by.

Now when you add these seasonings, you know what energies you can add/attract with your food.

Mortar and Pestle

If you already have another way to grind spices, like a coffee grinder, this does not need to be a priority. And if you have arm or shoulder issues, I don't recommend using. The main benefit to using a mortar and pestle is the crushing style of grinding tends to release more aroma and flavor then the cutting style of a coffee grinder. If you plan to just use for dry spices, you won't need a very big or fancy one. 20 dollars should get you something small and solid.

Make sure you are getting one made of stone. I tried a wooden one and it's garbage. I use it to hold messy spoons. There are also metal ones, and while I've never tried one, I encourage caution. I worry about long term use stripping whatever coating is stopping it from rusting.

Jars

Glass Jars are so great to have in the kitchen. Leftover sauce? Put it in a jar. Suddenly made a jam? We got jars to put it in. Meal prep overnight oats? Jars are here for you! They're just great for storage. And you don't need to buy them. Lots of things come in jars; just give them a hot soapy soak, scrap the label off, wash and reuse. If you prefer mason jars, I recommend washing the lids by hand. The lids aren't meant to be reused for jarring, so they rust fairly quickly after a few washes. You can buy replacement lids, however.

Plastic Containers

Jars are great, but things get a little dicey when you want to put stuff in the freezer. Water likes to make sure everyone knows it's cold by puffing up bigger; like look at me, I'm freezing here! Which means, there's a chance your glass jar can shatter.

But freezing food is the best way to preserve food since you don't need to add anything like extra salt or sugar. So get some freezer safe containers. I love making batches of broth and stock, and freeze it for later. Or if we have a lot of leftovers, I'll freeze enough for a dinner another week, incase I don't have enough spoons to make dinner one evening. And don't worry, you can wash and reuse plastic containers too.

I'll also freeze food I notice is starting to go weird. If I buy a huge bag of baby spinach, but can't get through it all, I'll transfer it to a freezer bag. Adding frozen spinach to food as it cooks is one of the easiest ways to up your nutrients. You can also freeze other vegetables, just make sure you cut them up first.

Crock Pot/Slow Cooker

Every Witch Needs a Cauldron, and these are Electric Cauldrons. Prices vary mainly based on the size you want. There are different brands, different colors; you can even get some in the theme of your favorite fandom. But they all have the same 3 core settings: High, Low, and keep warm.

Slow cookers are....well, slow. Which is great for certain kinds of food that need to sit for a long time, like meats. But it's also great for Kitchen Witches with a lot going on. Non witches will "Set it and forget it" but it's a good idea to stir every once in a while. Which is where the magic comes in. So, if you're a scatter brained Witch, Like me, or have ADHD and have trouble focusing, an electric cauldron might be for you. Throw everything together in 15 minutes, then give it love and attention when you remember. Normally that happens when you start to smell the food.

Again, this is my preference. Some Kitchen Witches I know prefer to identify a specific pot as their cauldron. Some went and got an actual full size, cast iron cauldron; which is amazing but not feasible for most. I grew up using a slow cooker, so I'm very comfortable around one. But if it's not your thing; that's fine. Maybe your cauldron will be a rice cooker or a Boston Shaker.

#witch #kitchen witch #kitchen witchcraft #klickwitch #food and folklore #Food magic #magic #witchy #witch tips #pagan #February #kitchen magic #house witch

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midnightseonghwa · 4 years

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𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭 | 𝐤.𝐡𝐣

𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐮 - 𝟏

✕𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Witch!Hongjoong x Heart broken!Reader ft. Cat Shiter Familiar!San

✕𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Magic, Halloween, Witch Au

✕𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 4.0k+

✕𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭: Hongjoong finds himself lonely, working day in day out to make human money. But what happens when someone comes into his workplace and asks for a temporary fix? Only Hongjoong knows how to make it permanent. Alternatively: “To taste a poison as sweet as love and the mist that clouds your sense.”

✕𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: Mentions of physical abuse (not from Hongjoong though). Hongjoong is a little softie at first. Love at first sight and ‘I love you’s are exchanged quite fast. Slight obsessive themes towards the end, he takes a advantage of your broken heart and mentions of magic...because it is a witch au.

✕𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬: Unedited

✕𝐀/𝐍: This took me three days to write and a reupload but I’m finally here. Okay, welcome to the first installation of the Wonderland Halloween Au series! I’m so excited so please don’t let this flop :(... Do remember that this fiction and I don’t actually see Ateez in this way. I know this is different from my conventional tooth-rotting fluff but I’ve always wanted to dabble in a bit of fantasy au-s. I hope you like it as much as I do!

✕𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: @pancakes-for-teddy

✕𝐀𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜: Here

As Hongjoong fake smiled at the customer and turned around to make yet another damned pumpkin spice latte, he found himself hating this part of the year more than any other.

It was a curse in all its worth to live in the human world, having to make mortal money. But no matter how much Hongjoong cursed his existence, he took slight comfort in the fact that at least he wasn't on the street starving and dying.

"Here you go, miss," he smiled and handed the paper cup to the lady and moved onto the next customer. It had been the same routine for the last few years Hongjoong had been cursed to the mortal world by his witch coven and it was getting boring, to say the least.

"Next customer, please," he said and tapped the register before looking up at you standing in front of him.

"What can I get for you today?" He asked after you didn't utter a word and just stared at the menu while fiddling with your hands. Your face was covered with a grey hood, and all Hongjoong wanted to do was yank it down and hex you for taking so long.

"Why don't you wait on the side while I take the rest of the orders?" He suggested, and a chorus of agreements for you to step out of the line was heard from the back.

"When you're done deciding, I'll help you out."

With that, he saw you move out the line and get cursed by the obnoxious and uptight people behind you, who were probably running late for their "important" meetings.

After shuffling about and preparing drinks behind the counter, he finally saw you stand in front of the register and right the little bell that was kept there to attract his attention.

"Are you finally ready to order?" He asked and you muttered a low 'yes' in response.

"What will you be having today?" He said and watched in annoyance as you brought your hands up to your hood and lowered it down to reveal your face.

"Just a black coffee, please. As strong as possible." Your voice was small and almost came out as a whisper. All the ill-will that Hongjoong had harboured against you vanished the moment he saw your blotchy face with dried tear streaks and small cuts.

"I'll get right on it," he said and mustered up a genuine smile, with his teeth showing.

You took out a crumpled note from your hoodie pocket and thrust it into Hongjoong's hand who just smiled at you again and put it in the tip jar, claiming your coffee was on the house.

When he stepped behind to attend to your drink, he made sure to provide extra attention to it. It looked like you had been through a rough day and all Hongjoong wanted at that moment was to make you feel better with his coffee. His coffee, crafted by his hands, made only for you.

An odd feeling churned at the bottom of his stomach as he lidded the paper cup and carrying it towards the end of the counter.

"Here you go. Strongest black coffee I could prepare," he said and you gave him a thankful nod.

You turned to leave, pulling your hood back over your head before Hongjoong called you out.

"Listen!"

You stopped in your tracks and shifted to face him. His red hair was falling into his wide eyes as he called out to you.

You approached him slowly and looked up to meet his eyes. They were a burnt umber colour, almost a warm reddish-brown and you found yourself getting slightly lost in them.

"If you don't mind," he started and you backed away a little, knowing how this would go. He was surely going to ask you for your number and you had no intention of giving it.

"What exactly happened? Who made you so sad that you couldn't sleep?"

The question startled you. You thought you had washed your face enough times to get rid of any lasting evidence but it seemed as if you were wrong.

"I-" you mulled over your words. Was it really alright to dump your problems on the barista of your local cafe?

"I stayed up all night fighting with my boyfriend," you admitted sadly and looked down at your hands that were clutching the coffee cup.

"Oh," Hongjoong frowned and felt that odd churning at the bottom of his stomach. Only this time, it was more fierce.

"It's not a problem, really. He just tends to get angry really quickly," you said and shrugged your shoulders as if it was no big deal.

Hongjoong didn't say anything but he had a small inkling as to what you were going through. While he may not have an immediate fix for it, he thought of something that would help.

"Hey, San!" He shouted and you watched as a lanky black-haired boy trudged out from the kitchen area.

"Can you please pack two cookies from the display case," he said and the boy meekly nodded before going off to do his task.

"I'm not sure of how much it will help..." Hongjoong trailed off and gave you a small knowing smile.

"But, I assure you, for as long as I have been living in the mortal world, I have never found any other cookie better than this."

You furrowed your eyebrows at his comment.

'Mortal world'?

Deciding to ignore it nonetheless, you lowly thanked the red-haired man in front of you before taking the paper bag out of San's hand, exiting the cafe.

As you soon as you exited, San clutched Hongjoong's hand and dragged him back to the kitchen area.

"I know what you're thinking," he said and Hongjoong watched the lanky boy turn back into his cat form and jump into his witch's arms.

"And what exactly am I thinking?" Hongjoong mused and raised one of his eyebrows, petting San's black fur and scratching behind his ears.

The cat hissed and bared its teeth at the witch who just laughed and ushered the cat back onto the floor.

"Sometimes San," he started and untied his apron, hanging up on one of the hooks, "You're too smart for your own good."

Hongjoong inhaled the scent of burning sage as he opened the door to his apartment with a small opening incantation. You could never really be too sure with these pesky humans. All pesky...except you.

Ever since Hongjoong's interaction with you at the cafe, he had set his heart on making you feel better, even if it does create a small dent in his supplies.

"San!" He called out once again and the cat made its appearance in front of him at once.

"Come on," Hongjoong said and stood in front of his bedroom door, muttering a quick spell before turning the handle and walking in.

The room was lined with wooden shelves from top to bottom with all types of witchy paraphernalia.

"Really? You're going to make that pesky human a potion?"

The cat turned boy was now leaning against the back wall, watching his owner word about his brewing room with a certain determination he had never seen before.

"Why not?" He said and dropped strawberry leaves along with a few dried jasmine flowers in a pot that was situated in the middle.

Hongjoong stood on one of the stools searching the higher shelves before he turned to San.

"We're out of willow barks," he said and San rolled his eyes before pushing himself off the wall and exiting the room through the window in cat form.

Hongjoong bustled about the room, adding different elements to the pot which had now turned an ugly black mixture.

Throwing in some dried butterfly wings and yarrow flowers, he sat down in the corner and waited for San to come back with his bark.

The night wind whistled through the room and Hongjoong's idle thoughts floated back to you. Even in your miserable state, he thought you mesmerising and while he wouldn't call it love at first sight, it was definitely love at first sight.

Everything about you set Hongjoong's nerves on fire with some kind of aphrodisiac. The poison of love slowly making its way through his system, flushing out all negative thoughts and replacing them with happy ones instead.

San meowed as he made an appearance in front of Hongjoong and dropped the willow bark into the pot. The potion turned a sweet dark pink and Hongjoong tipped the entire thing into a vial before shifting back to his room with a snap of his fingers.

When Hongjoong saw you next, he was more than prepared. But what he wasn't prepared for was for you to be in a worse situation than you were previously. The tear streaks had turned into cuts and the puffy eyes had turned into black-purple bruises that peeked out from under your makeup.

"What happened?" Hongjoong whispered and ghosted his fingers over a particularly nasty bruise. You flinched back and closed your eyes, thinking he was going to do exactly what your boyfriend did to you. Instead, he lightly caressed your cuts with his fingers, almost butterfly-like touches that you made you want to press your face into his hands.

"Was it him again?" He asked from behind the counter, leaning forward a bit to make sure that no one heard him.

You didn't say anything, the words getting horribly stuck in your throat. But your silence was answer enough for him.

"What's your name?" He asked and your eyes widened.

"(Y/n)," you whispered and looked down at your fiddling hands.

"Well, (y/n). My name is Hongjoong," he said and pointed to the small enamel plate pinned on his apron.

You nodded and gave him the most genuine smile you could muster in your state.

"Now, I'll make you some coffee and we're going to sit at that table over there and talk. Is that alright with you?" He asked and you nodded once again, hair covering your eyes a little.

He painted fingernails brushed the hair out of your face and shooed you out of the line with a sweet grin before turning around to make your coffee.

Slipping the small vile out of his apron pocket, he tipped in a capful of the potion he had concocted and watched as it slowly fizzled pink inside the blackish-brown liquid before settling down.

He set a small cookie on the saucer of your cup and set it down in front of you while seating himself in the opposite chair.

"How long has it been going on?" He said and you choked a little on the hot liquid, not expecting him to cut right through the chase.

"This is the second time," you responded, nibbling on your cookie.

Hongjoong didn't say a word. Except, he motioned for you to continue with your coffee while he just sat opposite you, admiring the way you looked so perfect. Save for the injuries here and there.

Slowly sipping the caffeinated liquid, you felt it soothe your oesophagus as it gushed down and settled in the pit of your stomach. The feeling was warm and it was almost as if it was temporarily fixing all your problems.

Oh, if only you knew.

"Do you like it?" Hongjoong asked and you nodded enthusiastically, the bitterness of it still stinging your tastebuds.

"There's something very flowery about it," you said and Hongjoong just gave you another one his innocent smiles before letting out a sheepish laugh.

"It's a special type of bean we get imported," he said and you completely believed it.

The conversation stopped there as Hongjoong had to go back to work. Picking up your now empty cup, he greeted you with a soft goodbye which you returned as you exited the cafe and walked down the street. It was a puzzling revelation to you but you found yourself feeling much better; half a heartbreak almost cured.

"You're falling in love with her, aren't you," San hissed from his corner in the room as Hongjoong grabbed the butterfly wings from his shelf and placed them on his work station.

"Absolutely... yes," Hongjoong said and smiled at his table that was scattered with handwritten notes for you. All declaring his love like some Romeo lost in time and oh, how jealous Juliette would be.

San sighed and turned back into his cat form, jumping up onto his witch's tables and scratching through some of the letters Hongjoong had written.

"Hey!" Hongjoong yelled and threw his body over the paper to shield them from San's claws.

"Mind your paws," he said and San just trudged off the table with an indecent flick of his black tail.

Over the past few weeks, Hongjoong and you had gotten close. It was finally yesterday when the last straw of his healing potion had worked and you broke out the courage to dump your stupid boyfriend and report him for abuse.

With him rotting in prison, you had a lot of time on your hand and what better way to spend it than with your precious Joongie.

"Why are you even making her another healing potion? Didn't (Y/n) dump the guy already?" San asked as he slinked over one of the chairs, his legs jutting over the arms.

"Silly kitty," Hongjoong started and San hissed in reply, baring his teeth.

"This," he gestured to the pot and then smiled, "Is not a healing potion anymore. It's a love potion."

At Hongjoog's words, San jerked straight up and looked at him with wide eyes.

"Are you serious?"

Hongjoong scoffed as he neatly folded his handwritten letters and placed them under one of the jars.

"Yes, very. I am very serious about my love for (Y/n). Now hand me the scissors."

San rolled his eyes and passed the scissors which Hongjoong used to cut up the rosed into small fragments of petals.

Flinging the roses into the boiling potion in the pot along with some bay leaves and lavender, his heart bubbled with excitement at the deep red colour it took on.

Taking all of his handwritten letters, he shredded them to pieces before adding them to the pot as well.

San and Hongjoong both moved away from the pot as it bubbled furiously and then shot out a bloody red mist in the air.

Hongjoong inhaled deeply while San hacked a cough here and there, changing into his cat form to hide from the poisonous mist.

Tipping the final step of his plan into a vile, he stored it safely in his jacket pocket for tomorrow before stepping out of the room.

"Good morning Joongie," you piped as you smiled at the red-haired boy in front of you.

"(Y/n)," he acknowledges and taps the screen of the register before clapping excitedly.

"Oh! We just got some new tea that I would love for you to try," he said and ushered you to one of the tables before getting behind the counter to prepare your tea.

Setting the prepared drink under your nose, you marvelled at the gorgeous colour. The way the sun hit just right to make the red seem almost pink and the way the steam from the cup had taken on a misty red hue.

"What is this called?" You asked and Hongjoong laughed, setting himself down in the opposite chair.

"It's a love potion," he said and you laughed, thinking he was joking.

"Well, let's hope it's my lucky day and I fall in love with the one I'm looking for," you joked back but Hongjoong just frowned and fiddled with his hands nervously.

Did you like someone else?

"Drink up," he said and you pushed the cup to your lips, drinking in all of the liquid at once.

Hongjoong almost squealed in excitement but he contained it and reached out to stroke your hand with his thumb instead.

"You know, (y/n). There's something I've been meaning to tell you," he started and watched with bubbling ecstasy as he saw your pupils dilate with a reddish tint before returning to normal.

"Go on," you smiled and clutched his hand. The rings felt cool against your skin and a slight buzz between both your hands caused your skin to tingle.

It was a refreshing feeling; the feeling of cliche love.

"I... I really like you (Y/n) and I was kind of hoping I could take you out?"

There, he had said it. Hongjoong had confessed the smallest part of his undying love for you.

"Oh..." you trailed off and Hongjoong furrowed his eyebrows.

Did the potion not work?

"Just think about it and let me know. You have my number," he said and got up to continue his work.

You, on the other hand, were at war with your inner self. There was a coworker that you had been crushing on for the last week or so and were planning to ask him out but why a clouding sense of Hongjoong had left you occupied with thoughts of him instead.

The walk back to your apartment was spent in a perplexing self argument. Every time you forced the thought of your coworker in your head, a repulsive feeling washed over you and only Hongjoong's face brought you to ease.

Instead of walking back to your apartment, you circled the playground near it the entire day before a ringing from your pocket interrupted your thoughts.

"I was wondering," you heard Hongjoong's smooth voice over the line and instantly found yourself smiling.

"If you had made up your mind?" He said and you sighed at the fantasy of him whispering 'I love you' to you in that voice. A rosy feeling poured out of your heart and rubbed the part over your chest to ease the excitement that was thrumming under it.

You looked around the playground and watched little children run and play with their parents. Suddenly, the world seemed to take on a rosy mist as if you were viewing it through red-tinted glasses.

"Hongjoong, I-" you spoke but your fingers tingled a little when you heard him laugh over the phone.

"Okay, alright. Take your time. Good night, (Y/n)," he said and hung up. You stood in the middle of the street, blinking as the shit-stained world was revealed to you once again.

Where did all the wonder go?

Your breath hitched as you started taking steps to the cafe, breaking out into a full-on sprint midway.

All the lights of the cafe were closed except for the spotlight on top of the counter. You saw Hongjoong clearing some things and quickly tried to push the glass door, only for it to not budge.

Frantically, you hit your palm against the glass causing Hongjoong to get startled and look up at the source of the noise. You locked eyes with him and it was as if at that moment, it was la vie en rose again.

Hongjoong hurried over from behind the counter, unlocking the door and pulling it open as you pushed from the other side.

Barrelling through the door, you locked your arms around his neck and buried your face into the crook of his neck. You exhaled shakily and Hongjoong almost fainted due to your warm breath that was hitting his neck.

"(Y/n), what happen?" He said and stroked your back with almost the same affection that a mother would give to her sobbing child.

Hongjoong tried to pull back but you only hugged him tighter, winding your arms tighter around his neck and pressing your body into his.

"I-I...I wanted to see you," you exhaled and Hongjoong's heart leapt at your words.

You wanted to see him!

"I'm right here," he said and led you to the back of the cafe where you saw San lazily sipping on a cup of milk.

"Hey (Y/n)- oh," he said and gazed at yours and Hongjoong's intertwined hands.

Hongjoong leaned against the counter next to San who had now shifted back into his cat form, nuzzling into Hongjoong's side.

"Is this your way of saying yes?" He asked and you just giggled. Hongjoong seemed ethereal to you under the rosy mist and his red hair complemented the flowers of love perfectly.

"No, Joongie...let's just skip all the initial formalities. I want it to be just you and me forever," you confessed with absolute determination in your voice and Hongjoong pulled you closer to him at your words.

"(Y/n), I love you," he whispered and San made a gagging noise at the side as Hongjoong yanked on his tail lightly, causing San to yowl and then scatter away.

"Joongie, I love you too."

For the people who said that the honeymoon phase never lasts, you and Hongjoong proved them horribly wrong.

Now, a year and a half into your relationship, you had shifted into Hongjoong's apartment with rosy dreams of marriage, little children or even more cats. You had quite your job, believing Hongjoong's claim about his job being more than enough to support the two of you. You spend your days lazing around the house with San who mostly stayed in his cat form unless he needed to stretch. During those times, instead of San the cat, you would hang out with San, Hongjoong's coworker and friend from the cafe who had decided to pay a visit.

Hongjoong never let you leave the house unless it was with him or unless he had given you an extra-strong cup of tea in the morning. You were perfectly content with being left to your own devices at home, dreaming of Hongjoong and bathing in the love you had for him.

"Here you go, love," Hongjoong said as he handed you the familiar red tea he had deemed a love potion. Over the months, the red tea had become your one source of liquid courage, comfort and support, completely oblivious to its side-effects.

Hongjoong watched you with a lovestruck smile as you sipped the tea he had concocted. Your pupils dilated with a red tint like every other time he had given you the tea, the rosy mist clouding your senses and mind.

An overwhelming amount of love spread through your body like fire as you leaned up to kiss Hongjoong on the lips. The sweet residue of his tea lingering between the two of you before you settled on the sofa to take a small nap.

"(Y/n)," Hongjoong called as he appeared in the doorway all dressed.

"I'm going to the cafe for a bit. Some stock has come in that the boss needs me to run it through."

You sighed dreamily before your eyes opened in panic and shock.

Hongjoong was leaving?

"Joongie, it's your day off. You said you would stay."

The male laughed and walked over to where you were lying down, stroking your cheeks and hair affectionately.

"I promise I'll be back as soon as I can," he said and brought your hand up to place a sugary kiss to it.

He picked up his things and moved to the front door as you launched yourself from the sofa and grabbed onto the back of his shirt.

"No, Joongie, please. I get so lonely and I just- you said you wouldn't go. Today's your day off," you begged and fisted his shirt in both your hands, preventing him from leaving.

Hongjoong felt slightly alarmed but he would be lying if he said he didn't like it. He had never seen you act this way but it was something he wanted to keep.

"Alright (Y/n). I won't go," Hongjoong said and ushered you back into the house, brushing a few stray tears from your face.

"Thank you, Joongie. Can I please have some more tea please?" You asked and pouted, trying to woo the male in front of you.

Needless to say that he was already very whipped for you.

"Of course, my love," he said and moved to kitchen as you attached yourself to him like a koala.

"I love you, Joongie," you said and hugged him tighter, "Promise you won't ever leave me?"

"I love you too, (Y/n) and yes, I promise I'll never leave you."

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sooibian · 4 years

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Flambé (Preview)

poster and edits/collage credits to @is-that-baekhyuns-shirt !

🍜 pairing: kyungsoo x fem!reader

🍜 description: pull up a chair. take a taste. come join us. life is so endlessly delicious. - ruth reichl

🍜 themes: fluff, crack (ish), slight angst, a lil bit of spice (in the future), rivals to lovers au

🍜 word count: ~ 2.8k

🍜 a/n: a little preview of a chef kyungsoo story that i've been working on. while i have the plot fleshed out it'll honestly be a while before the long one/two-shot comes out since a lot of research goes into the details. and....i write at a snail's pace. thank you for your patience and lmk if you'd like a tag in the updates!

this story is inspired by a lot of random yt videos and netflix's shows - street food and chef's table.

tagging *deep breath* @j-pping and @changshapatrol (the real rotten banana is here!)

___________________________________________

Water bobbed in frenetic bubbles in a massive ancient stone pot that was perched atop a fort of raging wood. Amidst brutal peals of thunder, a gushing stream rose from a nearby hill, obscuring the shrill cries of the sacrificial crab.

Chanting a spell, you lifted the enormous crustacean by its pincers and lowered it into the growling, pitch black utensil. Blubbering helplessly, it lodged its claws at the rim of the pot in desperation - seeking escape. The sound of your maniacal laughter reverberated through the cave as you thrust it back into the violent undulation with the flick of a bladed-spatula.

All of a sudden, a wave of unconsciousness swept over you. You felt your skin singe as boiling water started to fill up your lungs.

You were alone - at the bottom of the very same utensil.

“Help!” frantic, you staggered up, gasping for air. But the bladed-spatula wielding crab, who was now free and hovering over you, roared at your defenseless form.

Maybe your spell didn't land, you thought.

“Please, Chef!” you whimpered.

In one swift motion, it swooshed down to your eye level.

Bushy black brows sprouted on its forehead, just a little over a pair of big brown circles for eyes. Then came the nose, followed by a bloody red mouth that snarled at you.

zzzz...

“Late again?” It drawled in a jarring tenor.

zzzz...

zzzz…

4:00 a.m., your phone blinked.

In a sleep befuddled state, your hand reached out for the wailing device. ‘Late again’, Chef’s cold, deep voice sounded in your consciousness as you wiped the droplets of sweat off your forehead.

Chef.

Doh Kyungsoo had insisted on the title and you'd defiantly refused to call him that. What business does a man working at a Kalguksu stand in Gwangjang Market have, being called a chef. You'd seeked redressal with the higher ups. The owner. Your aunt.

"Aegiya, he has something that you don't."

"A dick?"

"YAH! He has a degree in culinary arts. It's only befitting that we give him the respect his degree deserves!"

"Imo, haven't you watched Parasite? Anyone can forge documents these days and if so then why is he here? He could very well get a job at Four Seasons like Hyun Jin. Think, Imo. Think!”

“Exactly! With forged documents, he could be anywhere. But he’s here, no?”

“Maybe you’re just easier to manipulate.”

"Chef. You're calling him Chef."

Every time the egotistical madman opened that darned mouth of his, it made you want to knock him down with a roundhouse and beat the living daylights out of him.

But, with a deep breath, you always resisted the temptation.

Because one day, one glorious day, you’d take over your aunt’s business and the very first item on your agenda would be….well, the obvious. With a glimmer of hope, you floundered out of your comforter, muttering every cuss word you’d learnt...and crafted in the course of working with the devil himself.

“Ahh 3000 is a bit too much for cucumbers", he said to the middle aged vendor, flashing a boyish grin.

The face of sourcing had drastically changed in the last six months since Kyungsoo’s arrival. Prior to his dictatorship, your aunt had a tie up with some of the local vendors who’d hand deliver the produce every single day, without fail. Guess Kyungsoo didn’t fully comprehend the benefits of customer loyalty. ‘There could be better quality ingredients out there, Sajangnim...economically priced, I might add’, he’d convinced your aunt using his military corporal voice. No matter if it meant awkward break-ups with the vegetables ahjumma or the prawns ahjussi. You had to do the dirty work.

And tag along for the routine 5 a.m sourcing runs. Every morning, he greeted you with an accusatory ‘you’ve killed my cat’ expression.

You groaned, shifting your weight from one foot to the other. If only he’d quit flirting with every woman in the market and hurry up! The purchases had long exceeded the capacity of your humble cart. Flailing your numb arms awake, you urged him to speed up with a nudge of the knee but he glared at you like you’d asked him for a kidney.

Kyungsoo had a tendency to overbuy but never would he help with a single bag. ‘I don’t like to sweat’ was his excuse. Which was pretty ridiculous considering he spent over ten hours a day overseeing a scorching frying pan. But you knew better than to argue. Because as much as you loathed every fibre of his existence, he terrified you a little. The man possessed the duality of a psychopath. As fierce as he was in the Market, ruthlessly competitive even, he was quite the sweet talker. And you could bet your life on the fact that every woman - whether or not a rival - would take a bullet for him.

“Ahdeul-ah”, the woman cooed at him, making your insides violently contort, “you know how tight the market is these days. But I’ll throw in some more only for you.”

The additional weight of three kilos on your right arm ended your sourcing run for the day.

***

“Chef”, huffing, you said to him on your way out, “I had a late night last night.”

“And I need to be privy to this little nugget of unwarranted information because?” He paced ahead of you at his usual lightning speed.

“No, I meant, could we stop”, panting you continued, “could we stop for a quick cup of coffee.”

Halting abruptly, he turned around to look you in the eyes, “No.”

“Asshole!”

“I heard that.”

Monday at Choi Yoonsun’s was busier than usual.

It went by in a daze amidst a cacophony of a sizzling girdle, clanging of pots and pans and your aunt’s relentless vocalization inviting customers to the stall. Having served thousands of bowls of Kalguksu and Kimchi Mandu, you heavily relied on muscle memory to get you through a workday’s demands.

Despite its chaos and commotion, you quite enjoyed working in the Market.

Not being particularly skilled at much and having nearly flunked out of high school, cooking was the one thing that defined you. It was your safe harbour. You’d lost your father in an accident at the tender age of ten and your mother was forced to work long hours to put food on the table. So you honed your culinary skills, little by little, because you thought it vital for your own well being as well as your mother’s.

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.

At the end of yet another gratifying day, you left a wet towel soaking in vinegar for Kyungsoo to clean the iron girdle and proceeded to tend to the dirty dishes.

“Yahh!” Imo called out for Kyungsoo and you, thumping her hand on the table, gesturing for you to join her.

“Ahh! Imo, there’s a huge pile of dirty dishes!” You cried, only to turn around to find that ass-kisser already at the table, schmoozing with your aunt. Hastily taking off your grubby apron, you washed your hands and wiped them clean with a rag cloth. Straightening your black shirt and flattening unruly flyaways, you rushed toward the table but she was already up and ready to leave, “We’ll have dinner together tonight. I want to have a chat with the both of you.”

“But -”

“Sajangnim”, Kyungsoo interrupted, wagging a finger in your direction, “this one’s had a late night last night -”

“Chef! So I guess I’ll be seeing you tonight. As if seeing you every day of every week wasn’t enough already!”

An overtly saccharine smile spread across your face and his jaw tightened in response.

“Aish….you two...I’m leaving now”, she sighed, shaking her head, “see you both in two hours.”

Kimchi jjigae, pajeon, tteokbokki, jajangmyeon, some leftover bibimbap with sides galore from Hong Lim Banchan Stall. She clearly had something important to talk about.

But the vibe at the dinner table just didn’t sit right with you.

The reason could be the bespectacled black hole of negativity that was seated besides you in all black clothing but there was something off about Imo.

She was being a little too...nice.

Fear gradually started to settle in your bones. Was she finally closing down? Was this delectable fare an attempt at softening the blow? After all, she’d settled her husband’s debts and her sons were doing well for themselves. Quite well, in fact. One of them was a banker and the other even went to culinary school and was working as a chef at Four Seasons’ Chinese restaurant. It only made sense for her to trade the Market’s gruelling ways for some much deserved peace and quiet.

“We’re closing down the stall”, she said coolly.

It was like a punch in the gut.

“Imo -”

“Aga”, she said resting her chin on her hand, “the Market’s given me everything. It’s given me a sense of pride...a sense of independence. It put my family back together. I used to think that I’m nothing without my husband and my sons...but the Market gave me an identity.”

A million scenarios cascading through your head drowned out your aunt’s voice. Would you now have to go back to Bucheon? Or invest in a stall of your own at the traditional Gwangjang that’d never accept your big and bold ways with cooking? And to start from scratch? With a new recipe? Kalguksu with a twist, perhaps? But you had no insight into your aunt’s special broth. She’d barely even let you whip up the hand-cut noodles.

You realized that you weren’t the only one caught in the eye of the storm. Kyungsoo’s eyes were scarily fixated on the bowl of jajangmyeon before him. His seemingly miserable state gave you a fleeting sense of relief and it was right in that moment that he chose to say something unpalatable.

“Sajangnim, you’ve worked too hard. It’s time for you to reap the fruits of your labour. We’ll be fine you don’t have to worry about us.”

Of course he’ll be fine.

All the stall-owners in the Market have been vying for him ever since the day he set foot into Choi Yoonsun’s. Whereas, you had nowhere to go. The world conveniently assumes your aunt hired you only because you were her poor sister’s daughter who she sought to help financially. Not because you had what it took to be there and survive.

"Did I say I was ready to retire?” She laughed, eyeing Kyungsoo quizzically, leaving you dumbfounded.

“Here’s the thing..I met up with a friend last month. She was looking for a buyer for her little family run marinated crabs restaurant in Gangnam. So I took out a loan, made her an offer”, balling her hands into fists she sighed, “put in the deposit...and the place is pretty much mine now!”

“IMO!”, you yelled, “why did you scare me like that! I thought I was laid off!”

“Well, it’s a big move, I’m not sure the two of you are ready to make...requires a tonne of work and I may not be able to pay half of what you earned at the Market for at least two months until we open! It’ll take us two years or so to break even and only then will I be able to afford you a pay raise. I could help you get a job at the banchan stall since you love seasoned spinach so much and Kyungsoo stands a chance at even managing one of the Pakgane stalls!”

Pakgane was the mung bean pancake stall that had gotten so popular that the owner had managed to branch out of Gwangjang. So even your beloved aunt believed that you’d make for a better “help” and Kyungsoo, a Manager.

Ugh!

“I’m coming with you”, you said firmly, “I’ve saved up a little and Mom will gladly pitch in, if need be...”

At this point, you’d expected Kyungsoo to be ready with his luggage considering the little sycophant he was but his expression was stoic, eyes still glued to the jajangmyeon bowl. It filled you with insane hope.

He was going to jump the ship...finally!

“Chef...”, you couldn’t resist, “you don’t have to worry about us...I’m more than enough for Imo. You may...”

He shot you an angry glare making you chew on your unsaid words. But you wanted to rile him just a little more. So you excused yourself to bring a bottle of ketchup and squeezed it generously atop the stack of pajeon while eyeing him maliciously.

Ketchup.

The tangy, unassuming condiment was the sole reason Kyungsoo despised you. As this dinner marked the end of his torturous regime, you celebrated with ketchup - lots of it - right in front of his nasty eyes.

Steam swirled in different directions and at every twenty metres a contrastive redolence tickled your olfactory senses. Experiencing Gwangjang as a customer was a far richer experience compared to the donkeywork involved in a life as a vendor.

A proper send-off was essential lest Kyungsoo decided to stay, even if it burned a hole in your pocket. You planned on giving him a final tour of the Market where he (and you) could say his goodbyes while receiving a premium fuel of vitamins, minerals and carbs.

A whole lot of carbs.

“Let’s start with Pakgane”, said Kyungsoo, with a skewered sausage in his hand.

You shook your head in response. You wanted to start with the best and mung bean pancakes weren’t it. This was going to be a farewell he’d never forget.

With every step you took, the aroma of scallops drizzled with butter and cheese grew stronger. You started your tour by ordering two portions of the delectable street food which set you back considerably. But you were too elated to care. You refused Kyungsoo’s offer to pay as the woman set the scallops on fire with a blow torch.

“Do you know what that technique’s called?” Kyungsoo gave a little nod in the direction of the aflame food.

Another teachable moment.

You’d made a firm resolve to not let any of his condescension bog you down so with a sweet smile, you replied, “No, Chef. I do not.”

“Flambé. But minus the alcohol. Do you know how they manage that?”

The ahjumma came to your rescue and you jumped to collect the order. You could’ve sworn that you caught the corner of his mouth twitch slightly.

***

The Market supposedly looked the same as it did fifty years ago and you quite enjoyed eating your way through it. The tour made your heart grapple with nostalgia even though your partner’s personality was akin to a mug of insipid coffee.

Although you’d spent only a little over a year with Choi Yoonsun, the goodbyes were long and hard. Some of the vendors squeezed you and Kyungsoo in heart wrenching hugs, the others gave you a little cash to help you through the transition and for some of the food, you paid in smiles and love.

After a gastronomic fiesta that entailed tteokbokki, pajeon (minus the ketchup - you did it Kyungsoo’s way), sashimi, kimbap, different types of banchan, a thousand more teachable moments, the both of you ended the day on a sweet note with hotteok.

The ahjussi wished you both luck, making you choke back tears.

Kyungsoo noticed.

“Are you…. Is the hotteok spicy? No, I mean it’s obviously not...erm”

The dam of your tears burst.

You were going to miss this place. Even the less appealing aspects of it. You were going to miss the kimbap unnie who greeted you with a hug everyday, also the snooty mandu ahjumma who could hardly stand the sight of you. You were even going to miss washing dishes in the winters with water that was supposed to be ice and the sweltering summers which had you sweating through every layer of clothing.

Hell, you were even going to miss Kyungsoo.

“No”, you sniffled, “No, no Chef, it’s nothing. Take care of yourself. As much as I’m glad that our fateful working relationship has met its rightful end, I truly, genuinely, wish you luck. And learn to smile more often, yeah?”

“Are you dying?” He gleamed.

“What? NO! What? You’re leaving. What is wrong with you?”

“Who says I’m leaving?”

“You! You’re not coming with us to Gangnam!”

“Says who?”

“Your stupid face that looked like it was hit by a freight train when Imo broke the news last week!”

“I’m not leaving?” He mused.

“This is no time to joke, Chef. You are leaving!”

“Says who!”

“Your stu-”

“Stupid face? I wasn’t planning on leaving at all. I’ve even found myself a place close to the restaurant. Oh yeah, sorry for having misled you. It was really just - my stupid face.”

122 notes · View notes

johnboothus · 4 years

Text

The Differences Between Bitters Tinctures and Shrubs

Finishing touches define art. “A Day in the Life” loses masterwork status if the Beatles don’t add the song’s final lingering piano chord. Without the slightly mischievous upturn in her mouth, Mona Lisa is merely a pretty portrait. Hell, the room in “The Big Lebowski” isn’t tied together without the rug, per the Dude’s infinite wisdom. In the world of cocktails — mixologists’ own form of art —bitters, tinctures, and shrubs are a bartender’s version of these coups de grâce. The right number of drops, drips, or dashes from these power-packed elixirs elevates a libation from mundane to magic, leaving the imbiber little choice but to acknowledge the sublime craftsmanship in the glass.

The shared source of their sorcery is their intensity, which is why they’re typically doled out in teensy amounts. “All three are designed to be highly concentrated ingredients,” explains Gareth Moore, beverage director of Home & Away in San Diego. “Because of this, they can drastically change a drink’s flavor profile with just a few drops. Once you know how to use them, you can build a drink to a specific flavor profile efficiently.”

Originally, the trio’s shared purpose was intended to make those consuming them feel good in a whole different way. “I think it’s important to know that all three started out as medicines,” states Jamie White, co-owner and bartender at Pearl Diver in Nashville. “Even though they have these similar backgrounds historically, it’s important to understand they all have different profiles of ingredients and use.” The best way to get a handle on these differences is by looking at how they’re built. Bitters are made with a pure grain spirit inundated with bittering agents like fruit peels, spices, or funky stuff like bark or cassia. Tinctures act as straight-up botanical, fruit, or vegetable infusions without any bitterness. A shrub adds sugar to fruit juice and uses vinegar to cut the sweetness.

Many imbibers and bargoers these days have an awareness of how these ingredients are used, but this hasn’t always been the case. Those of us who muddled through the bad old days of the pre-2000 bar scene had a vague sense of Angostura bitters’ existence back then, but that was only because we had one friend smart enough to order an Old Fashioned while we did Kamikaze shots. Regardless, bitters were a misunderstood ingredient. Tinctures and shrubs, on the other hand, were fully unknown substances.

This changed with the craft cocktail movement’s nationwide explosion in the 2010s, when bartenders from Orlando to Omaha dug deep into drink history and resurrected their usage. This coincided with a bitters boom marked by several upstart companies experimenting with unique and funky flavor profiles. This one-two punch created a renaissance of cocktail enhancements, one that fully blossoms when you look at each ingredient separately.

Bitters

Cocktail bitters (as opposed to digestive bitters like Amaro Montenegro or Fernet Branca, which are their own beasts) are highly concentrated concoctions designed to add flavor depth and balance to a cocktail. They can also occasionally act as a drink salvager, even for the professionals. “They’re sometimes used as a savior to fix a cocktail that I didn’t nail the first go-round,” White says. “It’s one of the reasons why they usually come in at the end of a drink for me.”

Angostura, Peychaud’s, and orange bitters are the holy trinity of bitters, and they’re essential if you’re making classics like Old Fashioneds or Sazeracs. But they can (and should) lay the groundwork for the kind of alchemy that leads the home bartender to more advanced voodoo.

“Don’t be afraid to experiment!” says Ashlyn Miyasaki, bar manager at Bar Henry in Los Angeles. “Next time you make Moscow Mules at home, try adding a couple dashes of Angostura bitters and see what you notice. Add orange bitters to your Martini. Try different brands of orange bitters and use them in tandem. Once you’ve got a feel for it, then you can branch out to different drinks and unique bitters.”

You can even go beyond the recommended two dashes of bitters — if you dare. Bartenders love the Trinidad Sour, a delicious yet brazen concoction that calls for a whopping 1.5 ounces of Angostura. It tastes like how prog metal sounds: bold, burly, and relentlessly complex.

Making Your Own Bitters

Making bitters is fun, and is easier than you might think. Here’s a recipe to get you going:

What You’ll Need:

16 ounces Everclear

4 teaspoons of botanicals, preferably four different botanicals

Four 4-ounce Mason jars

In each jar, add 4 ounces of Everclear and one teaspoon of a botanical. Label each jar with the botanical used, and seal. Let botanicals steep for about two weeks, shaking the jars daily and tasting them regularly. Strain out the matter with a coffee filter. Dilute with water or sweetener if desired. Mix the contents of each jar.

NOTE: Common botanicals used in bitters include juniper berries, cardamom, ginger, cloves, caraway, rose hips, and fennel. Your neighborhood spice shop should have ample supply. When you get the hang of it, you can also throw in flowers, legumes, or dried fruits to achieve extra funky goodness.

Tinctures

Tinctures are the metronomes of the bartending world, a steadying beat that bartenders break out to achieve singular flavor precision. “I use tinctures when a drink calls for something super specific, like black pepper,” White explains. “I can make a black pepper tincture and use a drop of it in a drink instead of trying to use a pinch of pepper. The drop of a tincture will always be more consistent.”

This sense of control can make it an ideal homemade ingredient if you fret about getting the drink’s flavor just so. And they will be homemade — the only tinctures you’ll find on the market are for medicinal use or are made from cannabis (which has its own medicinal purposes). But that’s no big deal. All you need to make a tincture is alcohol, the agent providing the infusion, and the patience for the infusion to do its thing. There’s no limit to what the infusing agent may be; people use everything from fruit and veggies, to herbs and flowers, so wander around your garden and see what looks delicious.

Making Your Own Tinctures

If you’re new to making tinctures, keep things simple. Here’s how:

What You’ll Need:

4 ounces high-proof vodka (at least 100 proof)

Infusion agent, such as fruit (for this example, use one a whole mango)

1 Mason jar

Place the mango in the jar. Pour in the vodka and seal. Put in the refrigerator for about a week, stirring and tasting each day.

NOTES: Using a higher-proof spirit could expedite things. If using berries as the infusion agent, fill the jar halfway with berries.

Once you get the hang of the process, though, you can push the boundaries of creativity a bit. This recipe from Gareth Moore is a great place to start:

Cinnamon Bourbon Tincture (Courtesy Gareth Moore)

What You’ll Need:

1 part cinnamon bark

4 parts high-proof bourbon (at least 100 proof: the stronger the proof, the better)

1 Mason jar

Fill a jar with the cinnamon bark. Pour in the bourbon and let sit in the refrigerator for one week. Strain out the cinnamon bark and transfer to a dropper bottle.

Shrubs

Because vinegar is involved, shrubs offer a little more food and drink-based versatility than bitters or tinctures. “Shrubs can make a nice base for vinaigrette salad dressings,” Miyasaki says. In a cocktail, shrubs’ mélange of vinegar, fruit, and sugar creates a bright, bold complexity that adds sweet, tangy, and tart notes, making it a favorite ingredient for bartenders when they’re behind the stick. “I prefer working with shrubs at my bar, but that’s because I know I’m going to be making a large volume of drinks every night,” says Moore.

Indeed, there is a bit of a conundrum with making shrubs at home. They don’t have the staying power of bitters and tinctures, which can both keep their integrity for about a year on a home bartender’s shelf. Shrubs are also designed for shelf life, but last half that long and will lose their mojo quicker the more they’re used. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make shrubs at home — you should, because they’re delicious. Besides, the vinegar makes shrubs a killer fruit preserver — a property that made them a hit back in the American colonial era. If given the choice between turning a past-its-prime peach into a superb cocktail ingredient or chucking it into your garbage in a few days, there’s only one good answer.

Making Your Own Shrubs

There’s a little more prep work involved when making shrubs compared to tinctures and bitters, but they’re still relatively easy to make. Besides, every shrub you create gives fruit a second life. Here are a couple of recipes to get you started:

Strawberry Basil Shrub (Courtesy Ashlyn Miyasaki)

What You’ll Need:

4 cups ripe strawberries, hulled and halved

1 cup fresh basil leaves

4 cups sugar

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

4 cups white wine vinegar

Place the strawberry halves and basil leaves in a large bowl. Add sugar and salt, then cover. Let set at room temperature, stirring occasionally, until liquid begins to form. Add vinegar, and stir until sugar is dissolved. Fine strain the liquid, and store in the refrigerator.

Grilled Peach Shrub (Courtesy Jamie White)

What You’ll Need:

1 peach, sliced and pitted

1 cup sugar

½ cup apple cider vinegar

½ cup regular vinegar

Grill peach slices until they have slight char marks. Mix all ingredients in a pot. Cook on low for 15 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Blend ingredients with a hand blender. Put back in the pot, and let simmer for five to 10 minutes. Strain and refrigerate.

The article The Differences Between Bitters, Tinctures, and Shrubs appeared first on VinePair.

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argonianaccount · 6 years

Text

Solid.

Was it fair? Of course not, nothing in this godforsaken city state was ever fair. Fair is a concept completely alien to the inner workings of this place. Kurist knows that, he lives an unfair life everyday, uses this unfair world to his advantage. So why, oh why, does it bother him to not be fair to Him?

Kalon doesn’t expect life to be fair, Kurist knows that but he can’t help but feel the egging sense of disappointment any time he has to be unfair too. Unfair with his time, with his affections. With his presence.

Emerald eyes passed over the park’s footpaths, the bare sidewalks deserted save for a handful of people. One of those people walked up to the bench he was sitting at and set down their briefcase, kneeling down to tie their shoe. “Lovely evening for a stroll, Its just delightfully warm out. Enjoying the fresh air?” As if the handoff wasn’t a tip enough, this loon was insisting on using the signal words they’d messaged about. Zentrites love their espionage dramas, don’t they?

“Of course, such a rarity for this time of year. And the peacekeepers haven’t even asked for my ID, I’d say its racking up to be a wonderful trip.” Sarcasm cut into his voice for just a moment, though his smirk never faltered. Kurist adjusted his his place on the bench for a moment, what seemed to most was just getting comfortable was just enough movement to push that case under the bench.

The agent stood with a barely concealed huff. “Well, give my thanks to any peacekeepers that do. They erhm.. They…”

“Keep the peace?”

“Exactly!” With a click of their heels they set off, a barely audible gripe about not playing along passing to no one.

He was smart enough not to check the contents of the case in the open park, two police in civilian clothes hanging around some nearby trees stuck out like sore thumbs. Zentrite officers never knew how to properly blend in. Not like Kurist did. He’d make a wonderful spy, if it payed even half as well as burglary, smuggling or really any crime you could pull off solo.

The case would stay unopened, even as he slid into the familiar confines of that Del home he was used to. Kalon was out, he knew he was. He’d purposefully concealed his return from anyone who might tip the tree off. Kurist had squirreled away some surprises before he left and while Kalon might mill around enough to find where his sister hides presents, he’d never find anything squirreled away by a professional thief. A few removed wall panels later and Kurist would set to work.

___ ___ ___ ___

The lights were on. He is back. Kalon didn’t even try his key, knowing the man inside was waiting for him. While moving relatively quietly for a man of his size, something came into view. A large briefcase sat on the table open and empty. Jars sat next to it, containers of spices. Probably. They weren’t labeled. Eyes flitted over to the other. He smiles. A flash of white teeth, some crooked but they were perfect. Imperfectly perfect. They were his.

“I’d tell you not to stare but then you’d stop.” He laughs, Kurist’s laugh is so different. Rough, but it doesn’t bark. Its loud, musical. He loves it.

“You’re here.” Home. But he wouldn’t say it.

“I’m home.” His correction was upbeat. Kalon’s heart fluttered for it. “And you’re late, I was about to come hunt you down.” He moves, Kalon meets him. A kiss. Longing, months of it, met with equal passion from the shorter. He melts. The other, thought shorter, holds him close. And breaks far too soon.

“Welcome..” Back. The other gives several pecks more, but ultimately pulls away. Moving to the table, he puts the spices(?) back into the case. Its shiny. “A trip to Zentra?”

“I told you that’s where I was. Don’t pretend I don’t call.” A sly eyeing as he cleared the table. A dinner? But he didn’t need to, there was food. The fridge has food in it. “Didn’t…” Kalon moved to the counter to help, stirring whatever was in the pot before Kurist moved forward to chase him away.

“Sit, sit. Over there, on a chair before I make you sit in my lap.” A kiss, passionate, apologetic? Sombre. Why? “I took the initiative to cook for a reason, you’re not gonna sweep away all my work by jumping in are you?” That smirk, his eyes sparkle like jewels. They fit him. Emerald gaze challenging Kalon to protest.

He sits. His eyes don’t relent. “Course not..” They slide off of him, Kurist returning to his task. His clothes fit so tight, the other always making a point to show off his muscles. A tee clings to his chest as he plates their food. Kalon thinks of nothing else until the chest is inches from him, the other setting plates down. “What?..”

“Jambalaya. Found an old recipe a while back, wanted to try it out on you.” Confident smile. Lopsided. Perfectly imperfect. He’s so beautiful. “Had to get some rare spices from the bigwigs a district up and since i was already gone a month, figured it’d be a good apology.”

“Don’t have to apologize… Nothin’ for..” Brown eyes drift away. A hand on his brings them back.

“I do. I have to apologize everytime I’m gone.” Emeralds meat honey, his voice sounds different. Bare. Sincere.

___ ___ ___ ___

“Everytime I’m not here you don’t get to stare at me like you’ve never seen someone so handsome.” He laughs, pulling away from this moment he’d just opened up. Kurist would love to be more… What’s the word… Vulnerable. But he can’t currently. At least not for more than a bit at a time.

“A crime...” The slight smile told him all he needed to know. He hardly cooked as often as Kalon did, true, but Kurist still took pride in his culinary deeds. Not unusual considering he took pride in just about everything he did. The larger one would eat quickly, uncharacteristically so. That only served to fuel Kurist’s ego that much more.

He set a small box on the table, only a few inches long. When Kalon opened it he’d pull out a small knife, basic but still beautifully crafted. Solid and strong. “A carving knife, for your whittling. So you can stop using that crappy little folder I gave you a few years ago.”

“Like that one..”

“I know, but its falling apart. I’ve seen that thing break and cut you waaaay too many times. Sometimes you have to let unstable things go for something more… solid.” Apprehension curled at the back of his throat, those brown eyes, dollops of raw honey, looking so scared at the sound of it. Why did he have to such a good listener.

“...Its a good one, though..” His head still bowed, always bowed, Kalon’s eyes searched his boyfriend’s face for something. Kurist wouldn’t guess as to what. He simply gave him that smile, lopsided and award winning. He could walk into a bank with that smile.

“Don’t look so scared ya big tree, you don’t have to use the new one if you don’t want to. Cost me hand and a half though, so I’m not taking it back.” He stood, hand pressing to Kalon’s chest for a moment as his head nodded to the stairs. His voice was soft, low. Unusual for the criminal. “Lets go take a bath. I need to relax after that trip and Nothin’s more relaxing than soaking in some hot water with your quiet ass.”

Those honied eyes go wide, a blush he could never hide from Kurist floating across his face, staining that tanned skin beat red. “.. I can. Run the water…”

“...Oookay, but will you? I’m gonna set these dishes on to soak.” As the taller of the two hurried off, Kurist cleaned, first tucking away their leftovers, then hurrying to set the dishes in abit of water. Finally he grabbed his jacket from the spot he’d abandoned it before, pulling a much smalled box out of it. Two inces wide at most, and only containing one thing. He stowed it away in another removed panel, humming to himself. “..Solid. That’s a good word for it.”

#Kurist #Kalon #Neotecity #Kalon and the setting both belong to #keycchan #Kalist #Gay boys #look at em

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benjamingarden · 5 years

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Weekending

the coop girls are enjoying the moderate temps

Our Christmas week was low key and relaxing. Last Sunday, as soon as the farmer's market was over, we celebrated the beginning of our time off. It felt strange to not get up Monday and go right to work. Instead, we were able to change our daily rhythm and take time to putter around the house, read, get caught up on projects and such. It's actually perfect in winter because the cold weather makes me want to slow down and take my time working on projects or sit with a hot cup of tea and read. We are still on somewhat "time off" mode in that we have now entered our slower time of the year so making and packaging products every single day of the week won't start up again until spring. It allows us to look forward to the change that is inevitable and welcomed at that time.

last month when the shed was being delivered

Jay was pretty happy to see it finally on the property!

Outside projects - Jay was able to get most of the needed shelving built in the new shed. We'll be rearranging the outbuildings in the spring to give him more space in his workshop which he definitely needs. He's been hand-turning beautiful razors and shave brushes and they've been quite popular, so the guy needs more room to work. We currently have one of our freezers in his workshop and that will join the other freezer in the barn. Some of the larger equipment that is currently housed in the barn will move to the new shed along with my gardening tools and the chickens extras. That's why we sold my garden shed and purchased a replacement that was twice the size. We'll now have more space to move around in all outbuildings. Working on - our 2020 calendar - craft shows, markets, our soapmaking and product making calendar, etc. We take the opportunity to review the shows we attended during the current year, look at the numbers, and decide what shows we want to keep, drop, and if there's any we'd like to try to add. Applications for the 2020 shows have already either come out or will come in out the next 2 months so we've got to make decisions now because applications will need to be filled out and spots will need to be paid for. It also helps us to determine our product making calendar. Upcoming projects - I'm also starting to work on putting together a small magazine. Do you remember when I did this once before? I enjoyed it and I, personally, like looking at information in a magazine or pdf ebook format so I thought I'd put another one out. I'd love to hear from you if that's something you enjoy or not? I'm considering trying to offer this (for free) quarterly if you would like to see it. I've also started working on a couple of other projects I hope to get out later this year.

homemade salsa for tacos tonight

sourdough starter

Cooking - Last night it was oven-roasted chicken with mashed potatoes & gravy for Jay and baked falafel (I premade them) with salad for me. Tonight it's tacos. Jay gets ground beef with chilies, peppers, onions, fresh salsa & guacamole and I like refried beans with the same veggies/salsa/guacamole. Here's how I make this even easier: The burger is pre-cooked and frozen. Anytime I fry burger for a dish for Jay, I make extra and freeze it in single-use portions. Then, when I want to use it in tacos, burritos, on pizza, etc. I don't have to cook it. For the refried beans, I either use some I've made up and stored in the freezer or, if I don't have any pre-made, I use canned (no salt or oil added). I designate Sundays to an easy dinner night because of the farmer's market. By the time we get home and unloaded it's 3:30 (and 4 ish in the summer) and the last thing I want to do is go right to the kitchen and spend the next few hours cooking. So, I've implemented "easy dish" night on Sundays. It's either something in the slow cooker or instant pot, or a super easy dish like tacos/taco bowls, burgers, or soup & sandwich (for me, not Jay - he doesn't like soup for dinner. at all.). I will also put last nights chicken carcass in the instant pot with some veggies and water to make homemade chicken stock while I prepare dinner and get my sourdough starter ready to start a loaf of sandwich bread tomorrow.

Do you make cold brew? I used to drink it year-round before giving up coffee a couple months ago but Jay still drinks it year-round. Last year he ordered this Ball jar with strainer. Initially I thought (and probably even said) "you've got to be kidding me. Why do we need to order a special jar to make cold brew????" Well, I fully admitted that I was wrong and it was a smart purchase, once I used it. You fill the infuser with ground coffee, place it in the jar and then fill the jar (and infuser) with water. Screw a lid on the top and let it sit for 24 hours. Strain the coffee (we also strain it a second time by pouring it through a coffee filter or paper towel to get the super fine stuff out) and voila! You have perfect cold brew. If you are interested, it can be found here (affiliate link). To purchase the infuser only, it's here (also affiliate link). It can also be used to make iced tea.

non-dairy, no oil and egg free delicious banana bread

Also, I'll be baking banana bread (with non-dairy chocolate chips!). I've made this once before and it's DELICIOUS!! It is made with white whole wheat flour, no eggs and no dairy or oil. It's in parchment paper because that's what I use instead of oiling the baking pan. I used this recipe from the Cookie & Kate blog and adjusted it by using flaxseed for the eggs and applesauce for the oil. Because of the adjustments it is quite dense but boy is it good! (she offers adjustments to make it gluten free as well) Cleaning - Although some people prefer to do their thorough cleaning in spring, because of our work schedule, I like to do mine in winter. So that officially starts this week. I like to do a thorough cleaning of one room per week where I not only clean but re-evaluate everything in that room. Is there clutter? Are there things to purge? Does it need to be painted? Does anything need to be repaired or replaced? My husband does not look forward to this season because he would prefer everything stay as it is and braces himself waiting for the "I think we need to paint" or "I think we need to make/re-do/replace _____". He says change doesn't do anyone any good (only partially joking when he says this) to which I reply that change is nice. He grunts and then we make the changes. Enjoying - this is my new favorite tea from Harney & Sons and this is my new favorite tea from Celestial Seasonings (although these are Amazon affiliate links, you can sometimes find the Harney & Sons at Target and usually find the Celestial Seasonings in the grocery store). You can tell that I love cinnamon and spices. The Harney and Sons tea reminds me of red hot candies and the Celestial Seasoning tea is just a lovely fall-ish spice blend. We are settling in and waiting for the big ice storm expected to hit tomorrow through the next couple of days. We're, of course, hoping that it isn't as bad as they predict but are preparing in case it is.

Hoping you had a wonderful weekend!

Weekending was originally posted by My Favorite Chicken Blogs(benjamingardening)

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arplis · 5 years

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Arplis - News: My 22 Goals for 2019 Week 49 of 52

My 22 Goals for 2019

Goal #1 Spend More Time Doing What I Love

Red alert people, RED ALERT. It was 6 degrees this morning when I woke up. SIX!!! That.Is.Chilly. The Girl and I were going to walk Lucy on the beach this morning but those plans have been scraped. Gaaaa. I think if its 6 degrees outside, all bets are off and you can most certainly declare it a pajama day. Whos with me on this?

Goal #2 Garden, Garden, Garden

Garden are done for the year. Yipee!

Goal #3 Plant an Orchard {Calling it Quits on this one.}

Lemon baby #3 is on the way and we are patiently awaiting her arrival.

Goal #4 Gussy Up the Potting Shed Done!

I gussied up the potting shed at our old house, but I would like to add some sort of potting station to the backyard here somewhere, but Im not sure where I would put it yet.

I did come across this photo on Author Susan Branchs Instagram page though of a picture she tooth at Colonial Williamsburg. Isnt it cute? I think I need one of those.

Goal #5 Grow Enough Extra Vegetables, Eggs and Flowers to Earn $1500 at my little roadside vegetable stand.

It was totally my intention to grow a ton of fruits and vegetables to sell at the farm-stand when I made my list of goals for 2019 last winter, but then we moved. So, that whole goal was sort of a bust. I do miss it though.

Goal #6 Finish Every Single Unfinished Rug Hooking Project in My Pattern Bin + 10 Things from back Issues of Magazines/Books Ive Been Meaning to Make.

While I didnt add any new finished hooked rug pieces in my Etsy shop this past week, I did hook 4 totally new rugs {1 of which will become a kit and 2 will be offered as patterns} as well as hand dyed a bunch of wool {that I was able to get listed in my Etsy shop}.

I have decided to go back to my old schedule of only listing new hooked rugs items on the first Friday of every month for next year as it seems less stressful to me. It allows me more time to hook, rather than stopping every few days to take photo, write up description and then post a single piece online. Doing it all in one big swoop seems less chaotic to me.

73 rugs in my pattern bin {now down to 16} < SO CLOSE!

183 hooked flowers {finished 150, now down to 33}

10 things from back issues of magazines {finished 0}

Goal #7 Create 12 New Rug Hooking Patterns {with at least half of them being large ones} DONE!

So far this year Ive added 12 new rug hooking patterns and 14 beginner rug hooking kits to my Etsy shop. I just added Santa and Rudy 1892 yesterday and am hoping to squeeze one more kit in before the end of the year.

New rug hooking patterns Ive created and added to My Etsy Shop this year:

Santa and Rudy 1892

Tullia and Thomas Turkey

Double Nantucket Whale Runner

Miss Henny and Penny

Miss Penny

Simple Kitty

Primitive Flowers

2 Fat Cats

Annabells Big Day

Old Fashioned Double Tulip

Fat Brown Hen

Busy Little Bee

Queen Bee

Rug Hooking Kits

Busy Little Bee {in 2 different colors}

Folk Art Heart

Small Nantucket Whale

Primitive Crow

Miss Robin {in 2 different colors}

Simple Kitty

Primitive Flowers

Sunflowers

A Basket of Spring Posies

Fat Brown Hen

Chickys Garden

Goal #8 Split and Stack 2 Cords of Wood for Next Winter

All that firewood! We sold it.

Goal #9 Do Something with the 5,002 Photos on My Phone

Currently at 2415 Back up to 2565.

Goal #10 -Lose the Muffin Top Done!

Sweet digity!

Goal #11 Run, Walk or Crawl a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon

As long as its not pouring rain tomorrow. The Girl and I are on for the Half Marathon. Wish us luck!

Goal #12 Read or Listen to 26 New Books {21 down, 5 to go}

No new books this week but we are planning a trip to the library later this week.

Books Ive Read or Listened to So Far This Year:

Marilla of Green Gables #1 Still my favorite

The Great Alone #2

The Aviators Wife #3

Before We Were Yours #4

Secrets of a Charmed Life #5

Whered You Go, Bernadette #6

Carnegies Maid #7

The Gown #8

Unbroken #9

Drama#10

The Alice Network #11

The Shape of Mercy #12

Wills Red Coat #13

Big Little Lies #14

Mr. Churchills Secretary

Born to Run

I Feel Bad About My Neck

Bunny Mellon {Doesnt count because it was my second time}

On Writing {Doesnt count because it was my third time}

Walden

Finders Keepers

Delicious!

50 Things to Do in Maine Before You Die

Following Atticus

Goal #13 Try 52 New Recipes.

39 down, 13 recipes to go. We tried 2 new recipes this week. 1 was a dud and the other I will share on Tuesday. And its a good one!

Goal #14 Clean Up 52 Old Recipes on the Blog

9 down, 44 to go. Why did I make this goal? Note to self: Make fewer goals for next year.

Goal #15 Fill 100 Canning Jars 72 down, 28 to go.

I made a batch of Christmas Jam for gift giving PLUS I tried a new recipe {that was inspired by Mrs. HB} this past week and the HH and I loved it so much, that Ill be making another batch {or maybe 2} of it today {Ill share the recipe on Tuesday}.

So far this year Ive I canned:

9 Jars of..

6 jars Christmas Jam

7 jars Spiced Pomegranate Jelly

7 jars Peach Jam

7 jars of Strawberry Jam

15 jars of Carrot Cake Jam

15 jars of Spiced Pear Jam

4 jars of Almond Pears.

Goal #16 Finish Furnishing Our House

We finished the roman shades for the kitchen nook and kitchen window. I plan on taking a break from making roman shades for the next month so I can finish making kits for my Etsy shop and paint out the entire kitchen area as well as finish a couple of art projects for the walls.

Goal #17 52 Dates with the HH {44 down, 8 to go}

The HH and I went on 2 date days this past week and one of them was to the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village for their Shaker Christmas Fair and it was so overwhelming, we left after 5 minutes.

Overwhelming in the sense that although we could tell there was going to be a lot of people at the event by the distance we had to walk to the village, what we werent expecting was that once we walked in the doors of the trustees office {where the craft fair was being held}, it was SHOULDER to SHOULDER.

Like, being at a rock concert crowded. The HH didnt even make it 2 feet in before walking out and it took me nearly 5 minutes to get from the entrance and through 3 rooms and back out the door again without even being able to look or pick up anything it was so crowded. It was nuts. And totally not in the calm, welcoming Shaker spirit and all we wanted to do was leave. And so we did.

I do want to go back though at some point to visit the museum, but it will have to be an ordinary weekday with nothing on the event calendar, thats for sure.

Goal #18 Take One Adult Education Class Done {Ive taken 3!}

Block Printing Class with my neighbor.

Spoon Carving Classwith Heather.

Mini pottery lesson {I loved it! and now I want to sign up for a full class}

Goal #19 Secret Holiday Project{s}

Block print towels

Seed packet wreaths

Tea Bag Trees

Goal #20 Create 12 Wowie Zowie Party Platters

8 down, 4 to go. We are planning on making #9 tonight!

Goal #21 Visit 12 General Stores

10 down 2 to go. We visited a new country store yesterday!! The kind that offers human made {and local} baskets to customers to do their shopping with. Ill tell you all about it next week.

H.B. Provisions in Kennebunk, Maine

Chases Daily {I think it should count}

Squam Lake Marketplace

Harrisville General Store

Dodges Store in New Boston, New Hampshire

Zebs General Store in North Conway, New Hampshire

Dan and Whits in Norwich, Vermont

Husseys General Store in Windsor, Maine

Goal #22 Compete with Carole.. Get on My Front Door Game On

Would you believe not a single person walking by {or even a neighbor} has made a comment about the leg lamp in the window? I think theyre showing restraint, while my husband keeps telling me that they are in such awe of it, they just dont know what to say.

Ummmm Okay.

Front Door Bling Ive Made So Far This Year to Compete with Carole:

Late January : Valentine Heart

Late February : Shamrock

Late March : Giant Carrot

May: White wave petunia hanging basket

June/July: Tin Star and Flag Bunting

August : Sunflower

September: Indian corn and pumpkins

October: Pumpkins and spinner do hickeys

November: Indian corn and big pumpkins

December: Leg lamp and nutcrackers in the window and giant Christmas balls on the porch

**************

How about YOU? What are your goals for 2019? If you told us about them HERE, check in! We want to know how you are doing. Because seriously, its so much easier to get those goals checked off your list when you have people rooting for you!

Have a great day everyone,

Mavis

P.S. If you are looking for a last minute gift for neighbor or a friend, I still have a few ornaments left in my Etsy shop and you can find them all HERE. UPDATE: The barred rock chicken is sold out but there are a few more chicken ornaments HERE.

You can read more about my 22 goals for 2019 HERE.

Have a Great Day!

The post My 22 Goals for 2019 Week 49 of 52 appeared first on One Hundred Dollars a Month.

This content was original published at One Hundred Dollars a Month and is copyrighted material. If you are reading this on another website it is being published without consent.

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My 22 Goals for 2019 Week 48 of 52

My 22 Goals for 2019 Week 47 of 52

My 22 Goals for 2019 Week 46 of 52

Arplis - News source https://arplis.com/blogs/news/my-22-goals-for-2019-week-49-of-52

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gourmetsalts-blog · 4 years

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3 Healthy Christmas Presents in a Container | So Natural

It is that time of year again, time to mirror, commemorate, provide, as well as be wondrous. Xmas time is a festive vacation full of colorful lights, Christmas village screens, gingerbread residences as well as cookies galore. Throughout this period, I usually travel down memory lane and also trip back into time to assess my childhood years. They were warm memories of enhancing the tree, check outs to toy land, resting on Santa's lap, and then impatiently awaiting him ahead down the smokeshaft with a sack full of playthings. Although those days are lengthy gone, throughout the years I have actually adapted to the practice of gift-giving which is an essential component for my holiday celebrations. I enjoy seeing the excitement and marvel in the eyes of the recipient and the bright colorful plans underneath the Christmas tree. Gift-giving has a way of connecting people as well as cultivating generosity in ones life. In the heart of vacation buying, it can come to be demanding and difficult to look for the "excellent" present for that special individual in your life. Why should you scratch your head as well as circle the store twenty times before you find that special present? Often you locate yourself acquiring yet another set of socks or sweat t shirt to offer your enjoyed one. Inspire on your own this year and also give the recipient the unforeseen present of making something you put a great deal of idea and also heart right into.

Bath salts london

If you are purchasing for your children instructor, a buddy, neighbor or relative, why not shock them with a homemade "gift in a jar" which is something they will definitely like and appreciate. Nowadays, many people are wanting to obtain healthy so why not present something that will certainly nurture their body and also fuel their power. I am mosting likely to outline a couple of ideas to aid you get your creative juices flowing.

Begin with writing a listing of the items below prior to you start this holiday purchasing trip. Glass mason containers with lids (a range of dimensions), tags, envelopes, paper, hole puncher, scissors, satin or raffia bow, and also components for the recipe. You can select these things up at your regional craft shop and market. That understands, you may even have some of these things currently in your house.

So now that you have your items allow's beginning obtaining creative with these three healthy and balanced "presents in a jar" concepts.

Healthy dish in a jar # 1- Holiday Goji Berry Grind

Your loved one will enjoy this treat due to the fact that it is versatile, they can include it to yogurt, grain, or simply bite on a handful in the afternoon.

Components:

Organic granola (buy in bulk).

100% bitter shredded coconut.

Cacao nibs.

Organic dried Goji Berries.

Whole Raw Pecan Nuts or Pistachio Nuts.

A small bag filled with also quantities of cinnamon and also chia seed.

Directions: Get any dimension glass mason container. Layer each component in the jar, even amounts individually each time. Optional: place the little bag of cinnamon and also chia seeds last. Securely shut the cover as well as attach a label with attractive raffia or satin ribbon. They can include a 1/2 or 1 tsp. of cinnamon and chia seed mixture to their Vacation Goji Berry Grind.

Healthy and balanced recipe in a jar # 2- Holiday Wintertime Veggie Soup.

Veggie soup is the present that goes on giving. This will heat your body and soul during the chilly winter months.

Gourmet spices london

Active ingredients for soup mix in a jar:.

1 1/2 pint glass container.

1/2 cup of completely dry eco-friendly split peas.

1/2 mug of dried out white kidney beans.

1/4 mug of dried out barley.

( Front runner) 1/2 cup of dry quinoa (placed in a plastic bag).

( One more choice) 1/2 cup of raw whole grain (put in a plastic bag).

Affixed a small bag of complying with spices; two bay leaves, one tablespoon. of the following herbs, dried parsley, dried cilantro, as well as basil.

Instructions: Lay the eco-friendly split peas, white kidney beans, barley, pasta or quinoa as well as seasonings. Lastly, seal the lid firmly on the glass jar (Note: Shop in a dark as well as amazing place up until ready to prepare). Area the complying with recipe in an envelope, punch an opening in the upper right or left hand edge of the envelope, string a satin or raffia bow through, wrap the ribbon around the lid of the container securely in place and also tie right into a bow. Extra active ingredients, 2 32 ounces of organic low sodium vegetable brew, one 32 ounce of filtered water, one 28 ounce of organic smashed tomatoes, 2 garlic cloves (diced), 1/2 wonderful onion (minced), two natural celery stalk (entire or sliced up), teaspoon of red pepper flakes, two cups of chopped organic carrots, tbsp of olive oil, sea salt and pepper to taste. (Optional: add additional seasonal vegetables that satisfies their taste).

How to prepare the soup: First, take the bag of pasta or quinoa out, alloted. Second, rinse the beans and then soak over night (8 hrs) in a dish of water, or up until soft. The complying with day, get a tool to big pot, sauté diced garlic, onions, as well as red pepper flakes in olive oil over medium warm for about 5 minutes. Next off, add crushed tomatoes and also carrots, sauté for 10 minutes. Finally, include veggie brew, filtered water, celery, soup mix (initial drain from the bowl of water), seasonings, and also sea salt and also pepper to preference. Bring to a boil and lower warmth to reduced. Securely area lid on the pot as well as simmer for 45 minutes to a hr. (Note: get rid of bay leaves when you are ready to offer).

In a different pot, boil water as well as cook pasta till al dent or quinoa according to directions on the bundle. Offer with whole grain rolls.

Holiday dish in a container # 3- Holiday Chocolate Chip Pancakes.

What far better way to start the morning with these tasty morning pancakes. Your enjoyed one can serve with a bowl of fresh fruit and hot maple syrup.

Ingredients:.

1 cup of natural whole wheat flour.

1 tablespoon of organic sugar.

1/4 tsp. of sea salt.

2 tsp. of light weight aluminum totally free baking powder.

2 tbsp. of mini chocolate chips.

In a bag: (1-2 tablespoon of chia seeds and also 1 tsp. of cinnamon).

Instructions:.

Area whole wheat flour, sugar, sea salt, delicious chocolate chips, cooking soda and then position the bag of chia seeds and cinnamon on the top in a small mason container. Securely close the lid and location the complying with dish as well as added active ingredients in an envelope. Get the opening puncher as well as punch a hole in the top right or left hand edge. String satin or a raffia ribbon through the hole protecting it around the cover as well as last but not least, connect a bow. These are the extra components: 1 1/2 mugs of normal natural milk, almond milk or filtered water, 2 tablespoons of coconut butter, 1 beaten cage free egg. Directions: Get a medium dimension blending dish and mix all the ingredients in the container and also bag. In a separate dish mix all the damp ingredients. Allot. Lightly grease a griddle with coconut butter and turn on to medium warmth. Put 1/4 mug of batter onto the griddle to make a round pancake.

#Bath salts london #Gourmet spices london

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ladystylestores · 4 years

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Project Ideas Around the House (for When You’re Not Feeling Productive at All) • The Blonde Abroad

I’ll be the first to admit that productivity hasn’t been 100% lately—and I’m guessing I’m not the only one. While there are a few tips I employ to boost my productivity, there are some days where I just…can’t.

You know the feeling?

While it’s pretty easy to veg out on the couch in front of the TV or continue scrolling for Instagram, I can’t stand that *guilty* feeling of wasting time. While I realize this is self-imposed and sometimes you need to give yourself grace, there are other times where I need to mentally check out, yet I still want to do something productive-ish.

And in an effort to cut out any extra work for you, I’ve rounded up a list of projects you can tackle at home. For me, these are projects that have long sat on the backburner or are the things that I always mean to do and never get around to.

Here are project ideas around the house for when you’re not feeling productive at all!

Clean Out and Organize

Take this time to get into home projects that you’ve been putting off (such as cleaning your closet, putting together things you want to donate, organizing the pantry, etc.).

Cleaning is extremely therapeutic so put on that inspiring podcast and get to it!

Sell Your Used Goods

After you’ve sorted through your closet, if you’ve got items that are in good condition and want to try your hand at selling them—look to Poshmark and Thread Up!

If you have “like new” or “gently used clothes” but have been holding onto them because they’re worth more than $.50 at a garage sale, check out Poshmark, a free online platform for buying and selling clothes. Poshmark takes a small commission on the sale, but sends you a prepaid shipping label and packaging so all you need to do is sell, then drop it in the mail!

Thread Up is really cool as they’ll provide you with a large bag that you can ship all your items—they’ll go through the pieces, professionally photograph them, and you’ll get a portion of the sale.

Let Go of the Clutter

While this ties in to clean out and organize, do some digging—what haven’t you cleaned out in a while?

Are there old boxes under the bed? That random “junk” drawer? Does your bookshelf need to be organized and are there books on there you haven’t read or would like to share with a friend?

Learn How to Make a New Meal

I’ve shared tons of recipes from around the world on TBA recently and now is a great time to learn how to make a new dish!

Digital Organization

This one is a huge necessity for me and I’ve learned my lesson in the past when I thought I lost all of my photos—my laptop crashed and I spent the entire weekend working to recover photos from so many trips.

So take a lesson from me and stay on top of your digital organization!

Back up photos on the Cloud

Organize digital photos into folders and copy them to a hard drive

Clean up your computer desktop

Delete all the junk emails and zero out your inbox

Productive DIYS

Once I started traveling and blogging, creating NEW things and capturing NEW photos, there never seemed to be enough time to go back and reflect, let alone craft. I sometimes take thousands of photos in a single day. Multiply that by 8 years of travel…phew! So the photos sit on hard drives while the postcards and ticket stubs sit in boxes waiting for a day when I’ll have the time to memorialize them in some way.

I decided to finally go through the archives and put the past three years of friends, family, and experiences in South Africa into a photobook.

As soon as I started going through photos, I couldn’t stop. I laughed, I cried, I relived some of the happiest times in my life. Creating this photobook was a journey on its own, and it already feels like one of my most valuable possessions.

Artifact Uprising made it SO easy to build and design my own photobook — the process helped me get over the hump of my creative block. And I am so impressed with the quality — it looks like a professional coffee table book that we can cherish forever!

Consider going back through your photos and making that album or just getting the prints you’ve always said you wanted! Plus you can use code ‘BLONDEABROAD15’ for 15% off photo books and more!

Employ the Idea of Mise En Place

Have you heard of the phrase mise en place?

Make sure everything has a place to live; while the expression mise en place is typically used in a culinary kitchen, it literally means “everything in its place” and is a really good rule of thumb to keep things neat and tidy.

I’m a big fan of the label maker and giving everything a dedicated space!

Another thing you can do is either make a spice jar or spice rack and label everything!

Make a Lifestyle Change

Nothing makes you feel more productive than doing something good for your health, right? One of my favorite lifestyle changes—both for overall health, to reduce waste and plastic, and my environmental impact—is switching over to plant-based milks.

The switch is not as scary as you might think! Check out how I make plant-based milk at home for only 50 cents for all the details and recipes!

Plan Your Next Travel Vacay

Not that you need permission, but this is the perfect excuse to spend some time perusing Pinterest and figuring out your future travels! Start saving some ideas and while you don’t need to book tickets or accommodations right this second, it definitely helps to have an itinerary in mind.

Build your dream itinerary!

What things would you add to this list to be productive-ish?

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milenasanchezmk · 7 years

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6 Food Products I Love to Hate and 5 I Just Love

Any old time readers remember the Fuming Fuji? He was the lovable yet ornery food critic of early MDA who railed against chocolate milk, cocoa puffs, chicken fries, applesauce (he was seriously biased here), and frozen waffles. He’d get a little carried away, and we eventually had to put him down (ironically, by turning him into applesauce), but his heart was in the right place. Today, I’m paying homage to the Fuming Fuji by having a little fun with some of today’s more absurd food offerings. Then I’ll follow up with some that I’m enjoying these days.

Let’s go:

1. Peeled Sumo Mandarins in Shrink Wrap

Whole Foods is a great store. They carry the best brand of mayo, for one. And two, they offer some of the most nutrient-dense food around. But now and then I find myself raising an eyebrow (or two) at something on the shelf.

Last year, they began offering pre-peeled sumo mandarin oranges in plastic shrink wrap. Because mandarin oranges weren’t already expressly bred to be easy-to-peel. Because orange peels weren’t crafted by evolution to protect the delicious interior. Because even if you were able to somehow peel your own orange, what the hell are you going to do with the peel?

2. Fried Gluten with Peanuts

The anti-Primal, fried gluten with peanuts has everything you’re not supposed to eat on strict paleo or Primal:

Gluten.

Rancid soybean oil (both frying and storage medium).

Soy.

Sugar.

Legumes.

And it’s all packaged in a can no doubt lined with ample BPA. If you were to toss a pallet of these into a CrossFit box, the universe would implode on itself.

3. Gluten-Free Water

The best satire is indistinguishable from reality. I’m pretty sure that Clara Gluten-Free Water is a real brand whose earnest mission is to give you “peace of mind throughout the day,” but boy is it tough to tell from the “portraits” of the water to their commitment to a diverse customer base (intended for anyone “at a vipassana retreat or simply working as an account manager at an award-winning boutique ad agency”) to the odd phrases they coin (“lifestyle-oriented individual”).

Who am I kidding. I’m going to start drinking this stuff and get on the righteous path. Who could say no to this face?

4. The Juicero

Ah, how I love the hubris on display when Silicon Valley tries entering the food space. From Soylent diarrhea to shmeat to disappointing vegan “mayo,” it rarely goes right. The Juicero is another example.

A $700 juicer that used proprietary packets of fresh produce, like a Keurig coffee maker only for kale juice, the Juicero just never made sense to me. How could such a set-up—shipping refrigerated single-serving produce packs—work?

It hasn’t. The company just announced they’re pulling out and issuing refunds for the Juicero.

5. Unicorn Froot Loops

I just don’t understand the “unicornization” of foods. What makes Unicorn Froot Loops unicorn Froot loops? I assumed they would have severed cereal horse heads with horns interspersed with the loops, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. They’re just different colored loops. There’s a unicorn on the box. Is that it?

Do kids really like unicorns so much that they’ll clamor for Unicorn Froot Loops? Is there a huge demand for unicorn-themed foods? Sure, put enough sugar in it and they’ll eat it, but what specifically about the unicorn is drawing people in?

Maybe if these were made of real unicorn meal, I’d sing a different tune. That’d be a healthy high-protein breakfast. I imagine magical beast flesh has plenty of undiscovered micronutrients, too. Oh well.

6. Yoni Beer

It was inevitable, in hindsight. Of course they were going to make beer using vaginal bacteria. I’m actually surprised it took this long. After all, “The secret of the beer lies in her vagina.” You get this message in fortune cookies, for crying out loud.

Look, I’m not going to disparage reproductive organs. But, well, the vagina a person chooses to consort with is a personal decision. I don’t just want any vagina’s lactic bacteria in my beer.

Then there’s the inevitable question I’m sure we’re all wondering right now: when’s the male version coming out—and will it derive active cultures from smegma? How long do we seriously have to wait?

But enough negativity. What do I love?

1. Turkey Legs at Disneyland

My kids are grown. I have no real reason to brave the crowds and visit Disneyland. And the product I’m about to recommend isn’t good enough to get me to go anymore. But when I did go, when my kids were of age and I did go to Disneyland, the turkey legs were a lifesaver. I still think about them.

There’s no gussying it up: It’s just a big tender smoked turkey leg. For about $9, you get around a pound of meat and sinew and tendon and gelatinous unctuousness. I’ll happily wait in line for Star Tours if I’ve got a turkey leg to gnaw on.

2. The SousVide+

Mike and Mary Dan Eades are good friends of mine, so when they asked me to highlight their upcoming SousVide+ I was more than happy to do it. Then I got to try the thing, and came away even more enthusiastic.

3. Chili Peppers

The farmer’s market has been great for fresh chilis lately. I’m loving fresno and serrano chilis, or any chili with moderately high heat that retains its fruitiness. There’s even a stand that sells Thai chilis on the vine. Just look around at your local market, as there are many different types. Ask to try them! I keep a tupperware container full of chopped chilis, garlic, shallots, and ginger that I can quickly add to stir fries without messing up a cutting board or getting hot chili residue all over my hands.

I’m also really into dried ancho chilis, which I eat like fruit bark. Seriously. Try it. I got the idea after listening to a podcast episode of “Conversations with Tyler” with Mark Miller, where they do a dry chile tasting and discuss how to choose dried chilis. Even better is a handful of dried ancho chili strips mixed with beef jerky.

On the powder front, chipotle chili powder is essential. Mix it with cumin and garlic powder for an incredible addition to any meat dish.

4. Wide Mouth Canning Jars

I’ve been pickling a fair bit of produce. Stuff like sauerkraut and kimchi, while delicious and not that hard, still take a bit more effort than I’m willing to expend these days. Plus, you have to worry about keeping torn up cabbage that loves to float submerged under the brine. It’s a big headache.

Instead, I’ve been pickling whole garlic cloves (I just get the big bag of organic peeled cloves from Costco), various spices like ginger and turmeric, small onions and shallots, and all the chili peppers I just mentioned. It’s great. Add the produce to the wide mouth canning jar, fill with salty brine (teaspoon of salt per cup of water or thereabouts), and wait for bubbles to start appearing. The relative density of the ingredients means keeping them submerged is simple. Sometimes I’ll spruce it up with a few dashes of fish sauce, or maybe a layer of olive oil at the top.

5. Short Rib “Steaks”

My new favorite “steak” is the short rib. Not the Korean cut with the little bone islands dispersed throughout, though that’s great, too. I prefer the English cut with the whole rib bone. To get a “steak,” I use a sharp knife to separate the meat from the bone. I season the meat with salt and pepper, throw it in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 270°, then sear it over high heat for a minute on each side. Even better—you can reserve the bone for soup.

Perfection.

That’s it for today, everyone. Do you have any personal favorites (or absurd discoveries) to add? Share ’em on the board, and have a great week.

1 note · View note

fishermariawo · 7 years

Text

6 Food Products I Love to Hate and 5 I Just Love

Let’s go:

1. Peeled Sumo Mandarins in Shrink Wrap

2. Fried Gluten with Peanuts

The anti-Primal, fried gluten with peanuts has everything you’re not supposed to eat on strict paleo or Primal:

Gluten.

Rancid soybean oil (both frying and storage medium).

Soy.

Sugar.

Legumes.

And it’s all packaged in a can no doubt lined with ample BPA. If you were to toss a pallet of these into a CrossFit box, the universe would implode on itself.

3. Gluten-Free Water

Who am I kidding. I’m going to start drinking this stuff and get on the righteous path. Who could say no to this face?

4. The Juicero

It hasn’t. The company just announced they’re pulling out and issuing refunds for the Juicero.

5. Unicorn Froot Loops

6. Yoni Beer

Look, I’m not going to disparage reproductive organs. But, well, the vagina a person chooses to consort with is a personal decision. I don’t just want any vagina’s lactic bacteria in my beer.

But enough negativity. What do I love?

1. Turkey Legs at Disneyland

2. The SousVide+

3. Chili Peppers

On the powder front, chipotle chili powder is essential. Mix it with cumin and garlic powder for an incredible addition to any meat dish.

4. Wide Mouth Canning Jars

5. Short Rib “Steaks”

Perfection.

That’s it for today, everyone. Do you have any personal favorites (or absurd discoveries) to add? Share ’em on the board, and have a great week.

0 notes

watsonrodriquezie · 7 years

Text

6 Food Products I Love to Hate and 5 I Just Love

Let’s go:

1. Peeled Sumo Mandarins in Shrink Wrap

2. Fried Gluten with Peanuts

The anti-Primal, fried gluten with peanuts has everything you’re not supposed to eat on strict paleo or Primal:

Gluten.

Rancid soybean oil (both frying and storage medium).

Soy.

Sugar.

Legumes.

And it’s all packaged in a can no doubt lined with ample BPA. If you were to toss a pallet of these into a CrossFit box, the universe would implode on itself.

3. Gluten-Free Water

Who am I kidding. I’m going to start drinking this stuff and get on the righteous path. Who could say no to this face?

4. The Juicero

It hasn’t. The company just announced they’re pulling out and issuing refunds for the Juicero.

5. Unicorn Froot Loops

6. Yoni Beer

Look, I’m not going to disparage reproductive organs. But, well, the vagina a person chooses to consort with is a personal decision. I don’t just want any vagina’s lactic bacteria in my beer.

But enough negativity. What do I love?

1. Turkey Legs at Disneyland

2. The SousVide+

3. Chili Peppers

On the powder front, chipotle chili powder is essential. Mix it with cumin and garlic powder for an incredible addition to any meat dish.

4. Wide Mouth Canning Jars

5. Short Rib “Steaks”

Perfection.

That’s it for today, everyone. Do you have any personal favorites (or absurd discoveries) to add? Share ’em on the board, and have a great week.

0 notes

cristinajourdanqp · 7 years

Text

6 Food Products I Love to Hate and 5 I Just Love

Let’s go:

1. Peeled Sumo Mandarins in Shrink Wrap

2. Fried Gluten with Peanuts

The anti-Primal, fried gluten with peanuts has everything you’re not supposed to eat on strict paleo or Primal:

Gluten.

Rancid soybean oil (both frying and storage medium).

Soy.

Sugar.

Legumes.

And it’s all packaged in a can no doubt lined with ample BPA. If you were to toss a pallet of these into a CrossFit box, the universe would implode on itself.

3. Gluten-Free Water

Who am I kidding. I’m going to start drinking this stuff and get on the righteous path. Who could say no to this face?

4. The Juicero

It hasn’t. The company just announced they’re pulling out and issuing refunds for the Juicero.

5. Unicorn Froot Loops

6. Yoni Beer

Look, I’m not going to disparage reproductive organs. But, well, the vagina a person chooses to consort with is a personal decision. I don’t just want any vagina’s lactic bacteria in my beer.

But enough negativity. What do I love?

1. Turkey Legs at Disneyland

2. The SousVide+

3. Chili Peppers

On the powder front, chipotle chili powder is essential. Mix it with cumin and garlic powder for an incredible addition to any meat dish.

4. Wide Mouth Canning Jars

5. Short Rib “Steaks”

Perfection.

That’s it for today, everyone. Do you have any personal favorites (or absurd discoveries) to add? Share ’em on the board, and have a great week.

0 notes

cynthiamwashington · 7 years

Text

6 Food Products I Love to Hate and 5 I Just Love

Let’s go:

1. Peeled Sumo Mandarins in Shrink Wrap

2. Fried Gluten with Peanuts

The anti-Primal, fried gluten with peanuts has everything you’re not supposed to eat on strict paleo or Primal:

Gluten.

Rancid soybean oil (both frying and storage medium).

Soy.

Sugar.

Legumes.

And it’s all packaged in a can no doubt lined with ample BPA. If you were to toss a pallet of these into a CrossFit box, the universe would implode on itself.

3. Gluten-Free Water

Who am I kidding. I’m going to start drinking this stuff and get on the righteous path. Who could say no to this face?

4. The Juicero

It hasn’t. The company just announced they’re pulling out and issuing refunds for the Juicero.

5. Unicorn Froot Loops

6. Yoni Beer

Look, I’m not going to disparage reproductive organs. But, well, the vagina a person chooses to consort with is a personal decision. I don’t just want any vagina’s lactic bacteria in my beer.

But enough negativity. What do I love?

1. Turkey Legs at Disneyland

2. The SousVide+

3. Chili Peppers

On the powder front, chipotle chili powder is essential. Mix it with cumin and garlic powder for an incredible addition to any meat dish.

4. Wide Mouth Canning Jars

5. Short Rib “Steaks”

Perfection.

That’s it for today, everyone. Do you have any personal favorites (or absurd discoveries) to add? Share ’em on the board, and have a great week.

The post 6 Food Products I Love to Hate and 5 I Just Love appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple.

Article source here:Marks’s Daily Apple

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