#I once had a coconut cream and strawberry pop and that was my favorite thing in that moment of time to consume

[itsomgitsgreenblogging]

A Never-Ending Feast

Yes, it is me again. Really we all should have expected this, but when Jester pulled out Heroes' Feast in episode 105, my friend alixcat basically said, yeah, you are writing a fic about Jester using Heroes' Feast right? And I was like....yeah, you right. I'm back on my Labor of Love bullshit 24/7. This one's for you!

Jester often shows love through acts of service, OR 5 times that Jester summoned a feast for others and the 1 time she made a feast for herself.

Bon appetit!

Read on AO3

Preview:

The trudge to the inn was a terrible one. It was one of those summer days that clung to your skin and sowed misery with the humidity. It was almost a relief for it to start raining, but as soon as it did the wind howled and shook the trees with intensity, and the sky cracked open with lightning and thunder. Yasha looked unbothered by the storm, but Beau grumbled and trudged her way through the front door of the inn looking like she had been personally insulted. It didn’t help that when they ordered food, all they received was burnt chicken and wilted vegetables coated in oil. 

“I can’t believe we spent money on this shit,” Beauregard snapped, her temper hot and lashing like a whip. She cast a dirty look to the innkeeper, who plainly ignored it and continued on with their day.  

“I know what will make us all feel better,” Jester said, fluttering her fingers with her excitement. “I have that new spell that makes the food! Everyone, let’s go upstairs to our room and I’ll make us a feast!�� 

“I’m down,” Fjord said, picking up a particularly sad looking green bean from his plate and watching it flop around in an extremely unappetizing manner, not that Jester ever believed that beans were good. They were one of those things that Mama swore were good for her, but if they were so good for her then maybe they ought to taste good too! Regardless of her feelings about green beans, the Mighty Nein all followed Jester up to their room, where she settled down on a blanket and pulled out her jewel encrusted goblet. For a moment she prayed, and then the Traveler’s energy pulsed through her. 

What kind of feast shall it be today? Jester heard the Traveler ask. 

I’m thinking...summer! The kind of things you would eat on a beautiful summer day, the kind of summer day that Beau would love, not whatever this shitty day is!

Magic overflowed from the goblet, and out from the ground plates patterned with flowers, and bowls of porcelain began to appear like they were sprouting flowers and tall grasses. Strawberry shortcakes with dollops of indulgent creams that were scented of vanilla and the zest of lemons, peach crumbles with layers of streusel flavored with the warming spices of ginger and cinnamon to give it just a punch of flavor. Scoops of coconut ice cream covered in toasted coconuts and topped with pineapple sauce and bright cherries. Bananas dipped in chocolate and covered in toasted nuts and strawberries, slices of banana cream pie and rhubarb pie. 

Veth picked up a glass bowl containing a trifle half the size of her body, layers of cake soaked in rum, blueberry sauce, custard, berries, and jelly that was arranged like a large fruit display. Caleb began cutting slices of a pavlova, sweet toasted meringue garnished with kiwis, passionfruit, strawberries and cream. Yasha and Fjord were busy sharing a pineapple upside down cake and coconut ice cream, as Beau worked on her own plate that she stacked high with pies baked into jars. 

“I’ve never had iced tea before,” Caduceus said, taking a long indulgent sip from a glass.“Would you like some?” 

“Oh yes!” Jester said as she took the glass. It was iced tea as her Mama made it, the signature Nicodranas brew layered with black-citrus tea with sweetened condensed milk and coconut milk. Jester sighed as the flavors mingled on her tongue. She took a mouthful of streusel next, sighing as the tender peach melted her in mouth with the brown sugar and coconut and made the flavor of summer. She dipped forkfuls of banana cream pie in pineapple sauce, cut chocolate covered bananas to add to her slice of pavlova. She took indulgent sips of different drinks to refresh her palate and add more flavor, watermelon tea or frosted lemonade or fizzing fruity floats with scoops of ice cream that melted into foam that lapped at the edge of goblets the size of bowls. 

By the time the hour was up and the feast vanished, Jester had truly eaten her fill. She sighed as she settled into bed that night. For a moment she swore she felt Beau’s eyes on her. 

“Thanks Jester,” Beau said, voice rough with feeling. “That did hit the spot.” 

“Of course,” Jester said with a smile that Beau couldn’t see. “Any time.” 

______________________________________

They sat camped outside the dungeon, in the bubble as Caleb meticulously casted. The villagers there had complained about something coming up from the depths of the old abandoned mine. Jester wondered idly if it could be gnolls again, but based on what Fjord and Beau had discovered while snooping about it seemed to be something far more...trickey. 

“We just don’t know what we are gonna be walking into,” Fjord said worriedly as he balanced the Star Razor across his knees. Yasha who had been minding the perimeter came back and settled down, looking a bit unnerved. Jester felt a quiet sense of concern for her. It really was awful how she kept getting mind-controlled all the time! Jester would need to talk to the Traveler about that some time to see if she could help. 

“If we hit it hard enough, it’ll fall,” Veth said, cocking her crossbow confidently. 

“It might not hurt to prepare ourselves though,” Caleb said as he sat himself down next to Veth. Caleb then caught Jester’s attention with an awkward wave.  “Jester, would you be, perhaps, capable of creating that feast again? To...ah...bolster our efforts?” 

“Yeah, yeah yeah yeah,” Jester said thinking about it. “I can do that today!”

“Can you include some meat?” Veth said, picking at her teeth. “Any at all?” 

“I have to give Caduceus something to eat!” Jester said, reminding Veth as she pulled out her bowl. 

“Aw, that’s nice,” Caduceus hummed as he fixed his sleeping bag. 

Jester settled it on the ground, and as she had done before she called the Traveler’s power to her. 

What kind of feast shall it be today? Jester heard the Traveler ask. 

I’m thinking...warm and filling! Something crisp like an apple on a brisk fall day, and the flavors of a Harvest Close Festival. 

And there on plates and bowls patterned with leaves in brilliant autumn colors was their feast. A whole roast duck glazed with orange sauce and served on a platter on a smear of plum applesauce with skin so crispy that it cracked when Caleb took his first bite. Bowls full of sunny pumpkin soup topped with crisped onion, that paired perfectly with loaves of bread that were stuffed with fennel-pork sausage that Beau downed so quickly that Jester was half sure it would be more effective to just raise the bowl to her lips. Rabbit in rosemary-wine sauce, served with sides of potatoes mixed together with a spicy savory mustard, and mushroom risotto with rice so tender it brought tears to the eyes. 

And then of course dessert, which Jester was mostly concerned about and wouldn’t dare to stint on the servings. Apple pie with cinnamon-sugar dusted on crumbling crusts. Baked apples covered luxuriously thick caramel sauce and covered in peanuts, and elephant ears swirled in cinnamon and drizzled with frosting. There were slices of smooth and glossy pumpkin pie and crunchy and delicately sweet pecan pies topped with dollops of whipped cream, and sweet potato cheesecake with gingersnap streusel crumbled on top. Goblets were full of apple cider, or hot chocolate with toasted marshmallows and drizzled with salted caramel, and coffee made buttery and rich with swirls of cream and brown sugar and even pumpkin. Butterscotch cookies pressed into the edges of large glasses of milk were what caught Jester's eyes first and foremost. 

"This is my favorite thing," Jester said as she dipped the warm cookie into the glass of milk that had a rim encrusted with chocolate dust and cinnamon sugar, sighing as the butter, crunchy edges of the cookie, and the sweetened warm milk melted together in perfect harmony. Veth pressed in close to her, finishing off her plate before grabbing a glass of milk and cookies. 

"This reminds me of when I was a girl," Veth laughed, her eyes misty. "But my mother wasn't nearly as good of a cook as your magic is." 

“Aw, thank you,” Jester chirped, trading her now empty glass for a new plate and taking bites from pecan pie and long sips from cream-pumpkin-coffee. She gave Veth a side hug that Veth gladly leaned in to. 

"It really is lovely," Caleb said, with a soft reflective look of his own as he stopped up soup with a piece of bread. His dark fingers sweeping around in a well practiced movement before popping the last piece of bread in his mouth. 

“Hey, save some for the rest of us,” Beauregard teased as she elbowed Caleb. 

“There’s plenty to share,” Veth argued with no heat. “I’ll make you a plate.” 

Jester said nothing, but cuddled more firmly against Veth's side as she enjoyed her cookies in milk, thinking of a time with her own mother and perhaps something like this. 

_______________________________

The ship rocked them back and forth as they gathered in the captain’s quarters. Jester had been full of energy ever since she learned that today was Fjord’s birthday. He had asked for nothing big or special, trying to argue that he couldn’t know his actual birthday and that he was getting too old for celebrations, but all of them had gotten him gifts regardless. Small little useful things, because Fjord would have surely refused anything more than that. Once the others had finish gifting things to Fjord, which he took with an increasingly tender and misty-eyed expression, Jester pulled out her jeweled goblet and set it upon the table. She casted the spell as she usually did, feeling her chest fill with the energy of her god.  

What kind of feast are we having today? The Traveler asked curiously. 

A celebration! Jester responded exuberantly.  A fancy dinner party!

Upon the table that Fjord had set up, the plates and bowls and trays appeared, bubbling up from the spell like little boats buoyed on the water. A sweet and creamy lobster bisque, besides a tray of mussels steamed in white wine garlic and lemon juice, and nestled between buckwheat galettes made of salmon, capers, and dill. Mashed potatoes that were made smooth and rich with exorbitant amounts of butter found a place next to plates of mushrooms and gnocchi in a tomato cream sauce, and spicy butternut squash soup. Crispy crab cakes with a rainbow of dipping sauces in bowls shaped like shells and baked oysters dusted with spices and cheese. There was even a whole braised octopus in the center of the table, arranged among slices of lemon. 

“I’ve never had anything like this,” Caleb admitted as he looked at the perfect slices of raw tuna in a loose approximation of a raw bar. “Is this supposed to be raw?” 

“It tastes pretty good,” Veth said, scooping up her own serving of the ceviche of raw tuna marinated in lime juice and tossed with onions, tomatoes, avocados, and cilantro. She slurped down mussels at an alarming rate and did her best to encourage Caleb to cry the crispy calamari with the garlic aioli and the steamer swimming in butter. 

"Look, our favorite!" Fjord said, sharing a knowing look with Beau and Yasha as he motioned to the plate full of fried fish and potatoes with tartar sauce. Beau and Yasha laughed as they loaded up their plates, pressing the flaky white fish into sandwiches made from the warm fresh white bread. 

“What’s for dessert?” Caduceus asked curiously. 

“Chocolate! You can’t really have a birthday without a chocolate cake,” Jester said excitedly as she moved to cut slices of a decadent chocolate cake, moist and sweet and filled with chocolate cream and raspberry sauce, settled besides saucers of chocolate mousse, and crisp cannolis filled with sweetened ricotta and chocolate chips. Chocolate covered strawberries were gathered in a luxurious array of white, milk, and dark and covered with nuts and candies. Stacks of salted caramel millionaire’s shortbread with crisp butter-cookie sandwiching layers of caramel and covered in chocolate, even bubbling pots of chocolate and caramel fondue with a wide array of fruits and snacks to dip into the heavenly smelling liquid. 

“Thank you, Jester,” Fjord said with a wide smile that had lantern-light glinting off his tusk. “Thank you all of you. This has really been the best birthday I have ever had.” 

“Don’t forget to blow out your candles!” Jester said, offering him a slice of his cake. Beauregard reached over to the goblet and pulled out a candle, passing it to Veth who planted it on his cake. Caleb reached out to punch the candle and it lit and began to glow. 

Fjord blew out his candle, and closed his eyes to make a wish. As she took a bite of her own slice of cake and then dipping a forkful in the chocolate fondue, she wondered if any wish could top this simple pleasure as she pressed it against the top of her mouth so it could just melt away bit by bit and she could savor it. She would try to savor it all, for as long as she could. 

____________________________

No one enjoyed trudging through a swamp, especially not Caduceus. Jester knew the Wildmother was a powerful god god, but it seemed to her that she could look out for Caduceus a little better. Jester found that the task often went to her, and of course she didn’t mind. Caduceus was steady as a rock, let Jester braid his hair, and listened intently whenever Jester rambled. The least Jester could do was yank Caduceus out of muck puddles whenever he fell in them, in return for being such a good friend. Jester could tell though that Caduceus was relieved when they stopped for the night, and Yasha who had fallen into a bush of prickers was just as excited to be bedding down. They would have a hard day ahead of them the next day, this Jester knew. So when Yasha quietly asked her if she could cast Heroes’ Feast to aid them, Jester already knew what was on the menu. 

What sort of feast tickles your fancy, my dear Jester? The Traveler asked her. 

Now seems as good a time as any to have an afternoon tea!

At night?

Of course, duh!

I do love the way you think. The Traveler chuckled as the goblet summoned for them their feast, spreading it about the dome.  

Their afternoon tea was spread out on three tier and four tier porcelain stands decorated in flowering vines, kettles appeared and whistled merrily as they did as did beautiful tea sets in a variety of flowering colors and painted with rabbits and ducklings. Nestled among the kettles and tea cups were pots of toppings, from sunshine yellow lemon curd to vibrant marmalade and a treasure trove of jams to clotted cream and thick yellow custard. There was a stand of finger sandwiches all cut in diagonals, like cucumber and herbal butter, watercress and fluffy egg salad, prosciutto and goat cheese, and smoked salmon and cream cheese.  One that Jester scooped up was a fluffernutter that made Jester smile. The next stand was a twisting array of scones filled with fruit or berries or nuts or spiced with cinnamon in turn, hearty spiced pumpkin muffins, blueberry muffins, lemon-poppy seed muffins, and danishes filled with jams or sweet cheeses and dusted with sugar or drizzled with vanilla frosting. And then of course, the cookies. Trays of cookies from madeleines with their shell-like filigree edges to smooth as button macarons to stacks of simple butter cookies and shortbread surrounded them like patches of wildflowers. 

“Oh Jester, this is wonderful,” Caduceus sighed into his cup of tea. “Let me pour you a cup?” 

Jester nodded enthusiastically as Caduceus poured her a cup of ruby-red tea. Jester took a sip and was immediately struck by the gorgeous strawberry almost malty note of it. Dipping in a shortbread cookie and eating it made her whimper with the sublime pleasure. The shortbread simply melted into her mouth like a dream, like it was meant to be together. 

“It’s too bad we can’t stop for an afternoon tea every day,” Jester sighed as she excitedly cut open a scone to layer it with clotted cream and blueberry jam and lemon curd. Caleb watched her do this and mirrored it, though adding far less then she did of all three toppings except the lemon curd. Jester didn’t understand why he was being so stingy, but not everyone could truly appreciate sweets as she did. 

“I can’t eat rich food too often,” Beauregard admitted as she cornered the market on tiny finger sandwiches. “It’s a nice once in a while thing, but otherwise it screws up my workout routine.”   

“This is magic food though,” Veth pointed out. “Does it really count?”

“Tastes the same, and feels the same in my stomach,” Beauregard said with a shrug. 

“What are these tiny orange things?” Yasha asked as she eyed a canape. 

“That would be salmon roe,” Fjord explained and when seeing Yasha’s befuddled reaction further explained, “fish eggs.” 

“Tasty,” Yasha said, offering no more explanation on that as she popped it in her mouth. 

“All we need now is a fancy place to sleep,” Jester said excitedly as she poured another cup of tea and tried that one. This tea was bright and citrus and with a strong floral note, that perfectly matched the lemon-poppy seed muffin and was smoothed by the lemon-vanilla frosting on top. “You guys have got to try this tea! I’ll get everyone a cup!” 

“It tastes like flowers,” Veth said, doing that thing where it sounded like she was complaining but she really wasn’t.

“It does, doesn’t it?” Caduceus asked, smile sweet on his face. Yasha smiled too, but didn’t say a word. 

_____________________________________________

In Jester’s nightmares, there was a different kind of feast. 

The room itself was familiar, and Jester could almost feel like she shouldn’t be there but couldn’t remember why in the haze of the dream. There was a single window above the door, casting the glow of a red and violet twilight across the room that was cluttered with bottles and jars and strange books and drying herbs. The only other light was fat candles of yellow-beeswax, choked by glass and made dim, and the dying embers of a hearth. The table was set for two, and yet as Jester looked around she was the only one in the cramped little home. Even the ceiling cages swung empty and creaking amongst the wooden slots. Jester took a seat, and just as she did she saw her goblet sat in the center of the empty table. 

Her goblet overflowed, and out of the spreading liquid came a menagerie of sweets. Jester set herself upon them all with a reckless abandon. A strange sludge in a crusty bowl ended up being blueberry soups with dollops of sweet cream, overturned cups ended up being creme brulee with glistening caramel crusted on the tops, casseroles full of bread pudding steaming with cinnamon and drizzled with butterscotch and topped with ice cream flecked with ice cream. There was a bouquet of flowers that filled the air with their sugary scent, that as Jester plucked a beautiful pink bloom melted into her mouth with the flavor of rosehip and fairy floss. Forks melted in between her fingers and she realized they were made of chocolate, and the placemats were now made of crunchy honeycomb. She bit into her glass only to realize it was made of shards of sugar flavored with mint and the liquid within like pressed and sweetened lemons and melons. She took more ravenous bites, filled her plate high and yet somehow treats continued to spring from that never-ending goblet-

The liquid from her goblet splashed and overflowed as it turned over under the weight and gushed out like a strange pulsing wound, dripping off the edges of the tables and onto Jester’s skirt and seeped in. She recoiled from the sensation, scurrying away as she swiped at it with her fingers. With her vision and the dim light she could see that the liquid was a oily black. The candles all flickered as if shuddered by a breeze, the smoke hazy and twisting as it tickled the low-hanging herbs that were drying from the ceiling. The liquid began to splatter onto the scratched and dusty floor, pitter-pattering at an ever-increasing rate.  

“Now, now my dear,” a familiar croaking voice said as a large hand settled upon her shoulder, fingernails slicing past layers of her cloak. Jester could hear the cracking of dusty-joints and the lumbering crunch of her footsteps. “You have prepared such a feast for me.” 

“I...uh…” Jester squeaked as she felt a too long finger mind her neck. She didn’t dare to move, afraid that such a movement would slit her own throat, but let Isharnai tip her chin up and back so Jester could see the witch hunched over her.  

“Such a precious giving girl,” Isharnai cooed, and her strange face came into focus, dull green eyes searching Jester for some truth that Jester desperately didn’t want to admit. “So full of misery. What a treat you are.” 

“I’m not,” Jester said, her heart pulsing quick and fast in her ears. Her fingers were slick with the black liquid now, it was up to her thighs now bunching and collecting her skirts and glueing them to her legs. But it was her fingers-suddenly she couldn’t move them, as if she had gone numb at the wrist. She couldn’t move, she couldn’t breathe as suddenly the panic overtook her. Where were her friends? Where had everyone gone-? 

“We are friends. Friends don’t lie to each other,” Isharnai said, voice cruel with softness. “Now come, don’t you want your last cupcake?” 

-Jester looked up to the table again and saw wilted flowers and cracked bowls and something bleeding-it was a heart and it was still beating and the whole home contracted and pulsed like it was a thing alive and in the center of it all there was a single cupcake that glistened with gold and-

What a horrible dream! The Traveler’s voice swept across her mind like the wind on a winding path. For a moment she felt like she was falling and yet she didn’t fear as the wind carried the scent of autumn. No need for this, sleep now Jester and know I am with you. 

And so the color of her dreams changed, and she slipped into something safe. 

____________________________

The girl behind the counter was a teenager, fresh faced and with her hair in twin braids. She had a dusting of freckles across her thin nose and smiled happily when Jester walked through the door of the little bakery in the nowhere town that they had stopped in for the night. It was bright and early the next morning, and Jester had snuck out apart from her friends in hopes of finding something that answered her prayers. The Traveler truly was with her in this endeavour. 

"What can I get you this morning?" 

"What do you have?" 

"Would you like savory or sweet?" 

"Sweet, always sweet," Jester said seriously, because sweets were no laughing matter at all. 

"We have muffins, blueberry, cinnamon swirl, and cornbread. We also have cinnamon rolls, and we do have cupcakes." 

"What kind of cupcakes?" Jester asked excitedly. 

"We have a honey-apple cupcake, gingerbread cupcake, and a carrot cake cupcake. The carrot cake is our topseller." 

"Carrot cake," Jester grumbled, feeling her nose scrunch. She knew that it was a popular flavor, but she just couldn't wrap her mind around a vegetable in a cake. But she did know from Beau's grumbles that she enjoyed carrot cake even though, as Caleb had pointed out, it was rather nerdy and old-fashioned of her. Beau had given him a solid punch in the arm at the teasing and had disagreed in the way she did where she wasn't really disagreeing but more arguing for the sake of arguing. "Alright, I'll take a dozen, but like a mixed dozen. Four of each flavor?" 

"Absolutely, that'll be four silver." 

Jester slid the girl six silver and smiled. 

"You keep the change," Jester told her and watched as the girl's eyes widened and she nodded vigorously. The girl quickly packed up the cupcakes and tied the box with a string before handing it off to Jester. She smiled and thanked her again before heading off. Jester walked for a little bit, finding the apple tree just outside of the inn that they were saying. Carefully she set her box on the ground as she pulled out her own handkerchief and settled it amongst the roots. She carefully opened the box of cupcakes, careful not to jostle any of them. She lifted one out from the box, the honey-apple cupcake Jester assumed based off of the drizzle of honey that covered the swirl of vanilla buttercream. 

“I thought we might share this,” Jester said as she crossed her legs, feeling the morning dew and the sunshine dappling her face as the trees shifted with a breeze. She lifted the cupcake to her lips and took a bite. She sighed at the flavor of the sweet floral honey infusing the cake with its buttery undertones and mellow vanilla crumble, the sharp flavor of the apple-filling that was syrupy and made decadent with brown sugar and cinnamon and the tang of lemon, and of course the melting buttercream frosting that dissipated like a vanilla cloud. Jester felt a hand touch hers, and a shoulder bump against her own. 

“Thank you, Jester,” the Traveler said whispered and when Jester blinked there was a second bite taken out of her cupcake. 

Jester laughed, and went to take another bite. 

[food-advisor]

Not a Drill: Daily Harvest Is Adding Nondairy Ice Creams to Its Lineup

Bless my lactose-illiberal coronary heart, however, once I first heard that day by day Harvest (certainly one of our favorite meal delivery services) was launching a line of non-dairy ice lotions,

 I was moved. With all of my favored vegan ice cream shops closed in the intervening time, I've been pining for some pints and soft serve that I will get on-demand, and folks, this speaks without delay to me. Exciting news for me, and optimistically for you too: the brand new line dropped today ahead of the summer season, and the entirety's prepared to ship out to your step.

In case you're familiar with day by day Harvest's services (from smoothie kits to oat bowls in a neat single-cup serving), you recognize which you're in for healthy, organic ingredients with creative taste combos, and the Scoops line is no exception. The 4 new flavors encompass Mint and darkish Melty Cacao Chips, Vanilla and Salted Swirled Black Sesame, Strawberry and rich, Rippled Berry Compote, plus Chocolate and Ooey Gooey nighttime Fudge. The whole thing is freed from delicate sugar and has a coconut cream base to it too, so it has a tender, mild texture. The elements list additionally consists of some curveballs like organic avocado puree, black tahini, ashwagandha powder, and pine pollen.

I had the privilege of previewing daily Harvest's new non-dairy ice cream line beforehand of the launch and might inform you of some preliminary thoughts. My take? The mint with chunked chocolate chips is a traditional palate purifier, and as a brought bonus, it's improved with spirulina. And though I don't commonly take to chocolate (sorry, don't @ me), daily Harvest's fudgy option became wealthy and decadent with a bit sea salt kick. The avocado in it's also scrumptious and surprising.

The strawberry taste with berry compote is extremely good refreshing on a heat day (without a sickening candy aftertaste). It also has a few chunks of strawberry and dragonfruit in it, that's divine. If I needed to pick favorites, though, my preference is the vanilla with swirled salted sesame—it has a pleasing crunch to its way to the bits of black sesame (love textured ice cream) and is the mildest and most savory out of all of the options. And no longer to beat a lifeless horse, however perhaps the exceptional issue approximately all of these is the reality that they do not require popping a Lactaid to enjoy them. It's a public carrier we will all appreciate!

You can purchase everything starting at $nine a pint, or set your self up with a subscription to make certain that the ice cream keeps coming all summertime long. To celebrate the new release, every day Harvest has even teamed up with the smoothest men around, Boyz II Men, who have dropped brand new music in tribute.

[autisticandroids]

2, 6, 12, 14, 27, 47.... foods questions

2. Grilled cheese or PB&J?

pbj, always. i like grilled cheese, sometimes. there are some truly delectable grilled cheese sandwiches out there. and it’s hard to beat a grilled cheese with your tomato soup on a cold night.

but peanut butter is the forbidden fruit. 

my mother is allergic to a great many things. this has influenced my taste in two ways. some of the foods she can’t eat, i have developed a serious distaste for. shellfish, salmon, most preparations of eggplant, etc. even some things which she dislikes because even though she’s not allergic to, it seems that she ought to be, like coconut, i hate.

but sometimes it went the opposite way. some of these forbidden foods - tamarind, pumpkin seeds, sesame, cherries - i covet. peanut butter is in this second category.

though i must say, i don’t usually go for jam on my peanut butter sandwiches. i tend to go elvis style, banana slices and honey. occasionally i will treat myself to a fluffernutter, a monstrosity which, if you have never lived in new england, i gleefully invite you to google.

6.  Top three cuisines?

okay. i’m officially declaring that this will be americanized versions only. i’ve traveled a lot, over the course of my life, and i’ve always eaten like a king, even in countries whose national cuisine is universally reviled. but i feel like it’s unfair to compare that way, you know? so this is gonna be just for stuff i eat in america, or make at home.

- italian food, but only the way they do it in new haven, connecticut, and surrounding areas. 

- chinese food because if you told me right now if i could never eat another bao i’d die on the spot, actually. this is also cheating a little because some of the chinese food i cook myself is a lot more like chinese-chinese food than americanized chinese food, since i’ve actually been to china and stuff, but even if i were to never cook my own chinese food again and only ate at american chinese restaurants it would still be on here.

- third is hard. third is hard. thai food? polish food? indian food? vietnamese food? it’s hard. i think i’m going to have to go with japanese food. i would be a hypocrite if i didn’t, because i just spent two hours making a passable imitation of takoyaki, with vegetarian fish chunks. 

i feel kind of odd about this, because i’ve always had the sense that americanized japanese food is even further from japanese-japanese food than most americanized cuisines, because it’s so limited in scope. like, american japanese food is pretty limited to either sushi, or trendy street food/ramen places. 

i always had the impression that, for example, while american chinese food is very americanized, and really only reflects the cuisine of guangdong, it might at least have something to do with what immigrants from guangdong were eating at home during the early waves of chinese immigration. i have similar impressions with other immigrant cuisines. but i do not have this impression with american japanese food, since it was really limited to sushi and whatever side dishes sushi places sold, and the expansion of things like ramen shops and street food in the last few years seem to be driven less by immigration and more by a rising trend of mainstream western culinary orientalism and weeabooism. so i feel like it’s probably incorrect to claim japanese food is one of my favorite cuisines since the american version of it is so limited.

also, just realized that i would die for a good banh mi right now so i’m changing my answer, vietnamese food.

12.  What do you get on your bagels? What WOULD you get if you had access to anything you wanted?

you can’t go wrong with a good egg and cheese. i nearly always get an egg and cheese. they’re unbeatable.

sometimes, in a certain mood, i will get strawberry cream cheese instead. sometimes, in a very certain mood, i might get just plain cream cheese, but that’s unusual.

it really does not matter what you get on a bagel. what makes or breaks a bagel sandwich is not the filling, but the bagel itself. a good bagel could make sawdust and coffee grounds delicious, and no filling on earth can save a bad bagel. 

there are, of course, mediocre bagels in the world, but those are best treated with the same respect as ordinary sandwich bread, and filled accordingly.

14.  Favorite mug you own

i don’t own a ton of mugs, but since, i’m home with my parents right now, and they have a whole collection, i’ll give me favorite of theirs, which is my mom’s spock mug.

what makes this mug special is that it’s as big in terms of volume as a cappuccino mug without actually being one. instead of being as wide or wider than it is tall like a cappuccino mug, it has the same proportions as a normal mug, just scaled up. this makes it easier to hold, and easier to drink from, while still being fucking huge. plus, the wide mouths of cappuccino mugs when compared to their height mean that anything held in them goes cold in five seconds flat, while this mug has the upright shape of a traditional mug and so holds heat longer.

also, this mug has spock on it.

27.  What section do you immediately head for when you walk into a bookstore?

i’m not a huge bookstore person? i’m very hesitant about acquiring new material possession which have a finite term of usefulness, even moreso if i have to actually pay for them, and i am well aware that i will read most books only once, and some not at all. for actual reading material, i tend to prefer libraries or ebooks, to keep from adding more unmanageable clutter to my disastrous living space. libraries especially, since they’re free, and also i have a deadline to either read the damn book or give up on it.

in libraries, i tend to head for either the y.a. or adult genre fiction sections, since that’s what i go for, though usually when i come into a library i already have a book in mind. i also tend to head to audiobooks. i love audiobooks, they’re wonderful, i’ve gotten through so many books that way.

however, when i do go to bookstores, i don’t go to the stuff i would normally actually read. in more chain-y, new-book bookstores, i tend to go to the novelty books, the kind of stuff libraries don’t have. coffee table books with pictures of cats, comic collections, joke books. and i tend to check out the displays, see what’s up. 

i’m also way more likely to go to the nonfiction sections of these kinds of bookstores than used bookstores or libraries, for two reasons. first, because i tend to think nonfiction makes for good gifts. if you give someone a book it comes with strings attached, no matter what, but those strings are different for different kinds of books. a novel comes with an obligation to read it cover to cover, and not just read it, but enjoy it, or at least come up with an interesting opinion on its contents. a nonfiction book does not have to be enjoyable, merely informative, and it’s a lot easier to be informed by a book than to like one. plus, most of the time you don’t actually need to read the whole thing, because although they do tend to have overall arcs and maybe overarching arguments, a lot of nonfiction books can be informative even if consumed in small chunks. second, because in chain-y, new book bookstores, the nonfiction section tends to be glutted with the sort of fun, digestible pop-nonfiction that i tend to read if i must go for nonfiction, while libraries and used bookstores run more towards the drier, probably more informative but less enjoyable sort.

in used bookstores, i tend towards a different pattern. what i look for in used bookstores is stuff that’s interesting because it’s old. cookbooks, art books, fifty cent science fiction novels. i especially like very old history and social science books; near my college there was a used bookstore that had an entire shelf of psychoanalysis books, and another of histories of like, medieval european art and design, all written in like the forties. the kind of stuff that’s out of print so wouldn’t be in a new bookstore, but is probably outdated, inaccurate, useless, and unpopular, so it isn’t in too many libraries either.

47.  How do you top your ice cream?

i’m not a huge ice cream person? like, ice cream gives me a stomach ache pretty much uhhhh always. if i’m having it in my house, scooped into a bowl, i don’t generally top it with anything, ditto with stuff i get from an ice cream shop, but the most common way i eat ice cream is actually in like, bar form? like you know those dove bars, like a bar of vanilla ice cream dipped in chocolate. does that count?

i definitely like stuff mixed into my ice cream, i’m a fiend for cookie dough and brownie chunks. maybe my favorite ice cream flavor ever came from a local ice cream shop which has tragically since shut down. it was called kettle crunch and it had chocolate covered potato chips mixed in.

i guess i always get toppings at like, those trendy froyo places that go by weight and have a buffet of toppings? but honestly, when i go to those places, i rarely get any actual froyo. usually i just fill my bowl with popping boba because they always have it and i love it. i get some fruit too, and sometimes i get some of the candy, like a few gummy worms or a kit kat. but the popping boba is the star of the show.

ok now i’ve gotten distracted researching buying popping boba online. apparently it’s not hard, but it seems like a lot of the time it comes in seven pound bucket. like i could get a small amount of the common flavors, but i have just now right now discovered that there is such a thing as chocolate popping boba and i’m losing it because it only comes in seven pound buckets but i need it.

also, chilli pepper popping boba, which has the same problem, but also holy fuck.

[imnoexpertblog]

Carbs - I'll Eat Them While I Can

5/14/18

Its Monday! I ate the worst that I have eaten in months over the weekend. Granted, I had two birthday gatherings for my 22nd so it makes sense. But I am still regretful. I feel bloated and I can’t wait to get my free bag of detox tea this week. It was also Mother’s Day weekend which means we had a couple of get-togethers for that as well. Baby and Nugget got me a card with a gift certificate for my first professional massage! Baby also made me my own Mother’s Day brunch at home! It was an omelet with everything I love; mushrooms, onion, cheese, salsa, bacon, sausage. Mmmm, so good. It was really sweet of Baby to get me something for Mother’s Day. I would not expect anything, considering we are not married and I am obviously not Nugget’s mother. They both know I love and treat him as if he is my own though and it was just really nice to be recognized as a motherly role in this life. Baby’s family also wished me a Happy Mother’s Day, along with mine. I wasn’t expecting so many people to say that to me! It was very new to me and honestly very exciting. I do everything with my two men in mind so this was a great day to be appreciated a little extra. I’m just happy everyone can see how much I love these two. I hope your Mother’s Day was as great as mine, whether you’re a mother or not. Now let’s talk about some food!

Baby is going Keto. I know very little about it, other than the fact that it’s a high fat and low carb diet, which is great for him because he is definitely a meat-eater. I am sure that once I consume the food that he cannot eat that we still have in the house, I will most likely give it a shot too. It’s really hard to change something so large in your lifestyle, like your diet. It’s even harder when the person you live with has a completely opposite outlook or mindset. I wouldn’t want to be stuck eating something less appetizing while I watch my partner down my favorite snacks that I can no longer have. Baby has learned quite a bit about the Keto diet and I am eager the find more out, as well. He lost about six pounds in eight days, I believe he said. One of my best friends at work, Ryan, has been on his Keto diet for about five or six weeks now and has lost over 15 pounds and kept it off. Good for them! I wouldn’t do it do lose weight, I have already lost 30 pounds since late July of 2017. I would do it for health purposes and to see if I feel better without all the carbs I usually take in. I will get more into it once I actually learn about it. Baby is making me watch the Keto-related The Magic Pill documentary on Netflix tomorrow so I will have to let you all know how that knows and what I think about it. As much as I think it would suck to have to give up carbs, there’s still so much you get to eat. Baby said it’s the most enjoyable diet he’s ever tried. We will see!

Straight from Keto to Carbs. I wanted to tell you about overnight oats. I have wanted to give these a whirl for years but just tried them this weekend. Emily, also featured in my last food blog, told me to try these for work! I love them and I will for sure be eating these until my ingredients are all gone (and I will have to try Keto). Using a mason jar (the standard size, I’m pretty sure), layer approximately ½ cup rolled oats, 1 tbsp chia seeds, whatever fruit you like, and a bit of brown sugar or vanilla extract. An awesome flavor combo is peanut butter and banana. After all that, pour in 2/3 cup of your choice of milk; 2%, almond, coconut, etc. I also add in about 1/3 cup of Greek yogurt to thicken it up. Pop it in the fridge overnight and you’ll have your quick and easy breakfast in the morning! The chia seeds offer a great complex carb to provide long-lasting energy without having to take in a bunch of calories. The fruit you’re getting from this meal is also a great way to start the day. “Chocolate covered strawberry” could have strawberries and chocolate chips in it. Peanut butter and honey is super good. “Cinnamon apple” would be delicious. “Peaches and cream” could consist of peach slices and sweet cream! For “raspberry cheesecake,” add cream cheese and raspberries. To make it chocolate based, add cocoa powder. This sky is the limit! Grab come mason jars next time you’re out and give these a go.

Okay, not everything we eat is going to be very good for us. So, let me tell you about my jalapeno popper burgers. Yes. They are as good as they sound. Of course, I will tell you how to make them, but I don’t always measure everything, so forgive me if I leave out measurements. 1) Beef. Get 2 pounds of it. Season it. Onion salt, garlic powder, pepper, cumin. Mix that up. 2) The jalapeno popper filling. Mix 6 oz. of cream cheese, 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, 2 minced jalapenos (I don’t always include all the seeds), and garlic powder. 3) Shape the burgers into 8 thin patties to make four stuffed burgers. 5) Spoon filling onto four of them, and place the other four on top of them. Pinch the sides of the patties together. Cook in a skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes each side. You will want to bake them in oven at about 350 degrees because these can be pretty thick. 5 minutes will keep them at medium, bake for longer for a more well-done burger. I serve these with pepper jack cheese and lettuce on toasted buns. I also put the lettuce underneath the patty to catch the grease, that way your bottom bun is not soggy. Add any condiment you like or slap some extra filling on top of the patty if you end up with any! Cook times will vary depending on the size and thickness of the burger. Adjust whatever you need in order to make these perfect for you. I love these with sweet potato fries.

Wow, I want those burgers so badly now. Baby and I have been on a burger kick lately. I have probably eaten 10 in the last couple weeks. No complaints from me, though. Burgers are my favorite. We actually have gotten Nugget to eat burgers now! A little backstory, Nugget would only eat about three things when I met him and his father. He’d eat chicken nuggets, pizza, and pb&j sandwiches. I also saw him eat the frosting off a donut once. In the last 8-9 months, Baby and I have gotten him to start eating hot dogs, corn, burgers, spaghetti, green beans, eggs, yogurt, ravioli, baked beans, a ton of fruit, cereals, just a bunch of stuff. This is a continuous adventure with him and it’s going really well as of about four months ago. It used to be very hard to have him open up to some things but he just ate a sloppy joe for the first time (I am pretty sure) tonight! I grew up with the option to eat what everyone was eating, or nothing at all. Eating nothing at all was barely even an option, but my mother never served me what she wouldn’t eat herself. She never pushed brussel sprouts or peas on me, for example. I always ask Nugget to try something before he thinks he doesn’t like it. I also try not to tell him that I don’t like something before he tries it. He has discovered he likes peas and I hate peas. I just won’t tell him that. I also know to be sensitive with him when it comes to texture; I can tell he has a hard time with the texture of some foods rather than the taste. But getting him to eat more foods has been a big success in our household these past few months! Is it hard to get your kids to eat? Do you have any tricks? Comment below! We will chat health and beauty soon. I hope your Monday isn’t too rough on ya!

[nemodernmama]

Top 10 things you could be making yourself!

Along my journey to be healthier I was shocked to understand the amount of chemicals I was consuming in certain products. I was equally shocked when I discovered how flippin’ easy these items were to make myself. When it comes to making changes, I am a huge fan of little changes that make big impacts. Try these out and let me know what you think!

1) Dressings:

Dressings take no less than 30 seconds to make. Seriously, 30 seconds people!!! They can contain as little as two ingredients (oil and vinegar). Once you learn how to make one you can make a thousand variations by changing your spices and herbs. Bonus: kids love dressing!!!

My favorite dressings are creamy I must confess, and my all-time favorite is an orange ranch where you substitute the juice of an orange and some zest for the typical lemon or vinegar you find in the standard recipe. You can shake your dressings in a jar or container and they will keep in the fridge all week.

½ c mayo

1/3 c sour cream

Tblsp milk or water

S+P and garlic powder (tsp each)

2 tblsp citrus juice (orange and grapefruit are my fav, lemon and lime combo is also superb) OR vinegar (white,champagne,balsamic,apple cider sooooo many options!)

Fresh chopped herbs (pair with your citrus, parsley goes well with lemon and cilantro goes with orange. I like chive and spicy oregano too, those I would pair with a vinegar)

1 teaspoon sugar

2) Smoothies:

Number one the price of smoothies has gotten waaay outta control! Number two they are usually packed with sugar when you get them pre-prepared either at the store or at the juice bar. People say sugar is the silent killer, but I don’t think it’s so silent. I think everyone just doesn’t want to hear it. Well good news people this one is also prepared in about 60-90 seconds depending on what you throw in your blender. Even better news, you can pretty much throw anything in there! Here is my family’s favorite recipe:

Two cups frozen fruit (WF organic fruit medley 2lb. bag)

One can coconut milk  

Bunch of greens (usually spinach or kale)

½ c fruit juice (usually pineapple or pineapple cranberry)

Banana

Any fresh berries on hand or frozen (blueberry, raspberries have seeds and my kids don’t love it)

3) Popcorn:

So apparently eating microwaved popcorn is one of the worst ideas a person ever had. Having a lot to do with the butter topping and electromagnetic exposure, tasty! But popping your own popcorn is so simple your kids could do it and it takes just minutes. You don’t need any special equipment, just a stock pot with a lid. You add your oil (we use vegetable) and your popcorn kernels and cover placing over medium high heat.  Shaking occasionally until you hear it stop popping. Let sit at least 60 seconds before removing top. You can add sooooo many toppings, some of our family favorites:

-Melted chocolate with sea salt

-butter salt and sugar

-salt pepper and white vinegar

-salt and parmesan cheese (not shake on, grated from a block)

I would love to hear what you try!!

4) Cheese sauce:

Who’s kids don’t looooove Mac n’ Cheese?! My kids request it daily. What if I told you, you could make it from scratch in the same amount of time as the boxed version? I confess I use the box from time to time. But as my kids get older and my boys are eating enough for grown 200 lb. men I had to start questioning what I was doing. Cooking 4 boxes of mac n cheese for one meal seemed excessive, even for me! Once you learn this sauce you can use it to make so many wonderful things! Chicken broccoli alfredo, vegetables with cheese sauce like loaded baked potato, baked mac n cheese, pretzels with cheese dip! I just love cheese 😊

 2 tblsp butter

2 tblsp flour

Seasoning (S+P, dry mustard, about ½ tblsp each)

1-1   ½ c milk or half n half

1-2   1 cup grated cheese (cheddar, gruyere,parmesan,any kind you like!)

Melt butter over medium heat, add flour and whisk about 60 seconds. Add milk and seasoning continue whisking, bring up heat a bit. Whisk until thickened, about 2-3 min. remove from heat and add cheese.

5)  Bread Crumbs:

How many times have you thrown away stale bread? The best meatloaf’s, meatballs, and breadcrumbs come from these leftovers that normally would be tossed. All you have to do is keep a brown bag in your kitchen drawer and throw your unused bread pieces into it. When you need bread crumbs simply pulse for 15-20 seconds in a food processor. You can mix with herbs and spices to flavor your crumbs. My favorite is S+P, garlic powder, parsley and lemon zest. For meatloaf or meatball soak bread in milk until you can crush with your fingers, add to your mixture for the moistest results.

 6) Croutons:

If you catch your bread before it’s gone dry but not quite fresh it is perfect for croutons!!! Just cube and toss with Olive Oil and seasoning (I use S+P, garlic powder, parsley and shake on Parmesan cheese) and cook in 375 preheated oven for about 8-10 min. until golden, tossing occasionally.

7)      Whipped cream:

Whipped cream is ONE ingredient, heavy cream. You need a bowl and a whisk and the cream needs to be cold. You whip until fluffy. My kids love love love to make whipped cream. I add a tsp. of sugar and dash of vanilla when I want sweet cream.

8)      Fruit syrup:

I give my kids plain milk and almond milk but sometimes I make flavored milk and above and beyond their favorite is strawberry. Once you have learned to make strawberry syrup you can add it to milk, serve over yogurt or ice cream, make a milkshake or use it to sweeten a smoothie or bowl of oatmeal. Just like all the rest it could not be easier!!

1 carton strawberries, greens removed (can substitute any fruit, larger fruits need to be chopped)

½-1 c sugar (I find one cup to be way too sweet but if you are just lessening your intake you may need to start there and then cut back)

1 cup H2O

Optional:

Zest of citrus (I always use Orange, it is just my favorite 😊)

Put in sauce pot over medium/low heat and bring to a simmer. Let simmer until it reduces and becomes syrupy, about 8 min. for strawberries, longer for larger fruits.

My family’s favorite syrups:

Figs (cut in ½), orange (you use peel, talk about multipurpose!), peach (skin off, sliced) and blueberry (I pass thru sieve)

9) Salsa:

I love salsa!! It is so good with well just about everything! I am not talking about that soupy stuff from a jar. I am talking about cilantro bursts and bright refreshing lime followed by heat from the jalapeno on the back of your tongue. I am talking guacamole for daysssss. It is just a handful of ingredients thrown into the food processor and pulse. Once you have the basics you can go nuts changing out the ingredients always having a super FRESH, RAW topping on hand.

             Two tomatoes, rough chop

             Spicy pepper like jalapeno, rough chop

             Cilantro bunch

             Juice of one lime

             S+P and garlic powder

             *MMH: Taste your spicy pepper before adding to the mix to gauge heat level. Much like women peppers level of spice can vary greatly from one to another even though they look exactly alike on the outside😊

10)   Memories!!!

The most important part of all of this is your relationship with food and your family’s relationship with food. When I stop to take the 10 minutes to prepare these items listed my kids inevitably end up at my feet and a memory is imprinted.

My hope is that just one person tries something new because of this post!  

XOXOXO

MK

[itsalettucelife-blog]

Nice Cream

Whatsup my friends? Ever since I wrote the first post, my brain has been brewing with ideas for tons more! I love writing about things I’m passionate about, LOVE food (nobody knew that), and people are constantly asking me how I’m vegan in college, so it’s a win win for everyone involved! I definitely see this as an outlet for creative expression and to share mouthwatering recipes with you guys regularly. I’m currently headed into my last week of the spring quarter. Man time flies. Currently I’m a cognitive science major with a specialization in neuroscience. I’m not certain I will keep that major, but maybe. As of now, I have a quiz, paper, and research paper left before I’m done for the year. Yesterday I had my critique for my photography final which always causes my heart to beat out of my chest. Standing up in front of a class full of people to be roasted is a lot harder than it seems no matter how confident you are in your work. After I’m done here, I’ll be going home for a few days and then flying to Chicago to see my grandma for two weeks! Cooking and baking for her is always fun and almost anything I make is received with a smile. Stay tuned for a post about what I make for her. I can’t wait to see my dog named Lois who is a Bichon Terrier mix when I go home. It’s been so hard to be away from her. At least FaceTime exists. I’m sad to leave the friends I’ve made for the summer, but happy to go back to the city of angels and see everyone I’ve missed, as well as cross some bucket list items off this summer. And HAVE A KITCHEN AGAIN!!! No joke, the part about moving into college that I was most scared for was not having my favorite room of the house. My heart cracked. A true tragedy for me. Luckily I’d been experimenting with raw recipes since the spring of my senior year of highschool, so I was well prepared with things to make without a stove or oven. Part way into the winter quarter (yes, we’re on the quarter system ugh) I got a blender. The smoothie gods were smiling down. It was the best addition because smoothie bowls are easy, cheap, quick, filling meal options. I’ll go to the market here on campus, use dining dollars to buy as many bananas as my arms can hold (I quickly learned to bring a bag with me.) and peel them to freeze overnight so they’d be ready to blend up the next day.

Ingredients I get for smoothies and smoothie bowls are:

~bananas (Lots of em)

~blueberries

~strawberries

~cacao/cocoa powder

~acai packets

~mixed berries

~mango

~almond butter

~peanut butter

~spinach

Toppings I get for the bowls include:

~cacao nibs (for a chocolate-y taste)

~chia seeds

~shredded unsweetened coconut

~granola

~additional fruits

Liquids I use to get things blending:

~almond milk (or any other nut milk.)

~coconut water

When people see photos of my smoothie jars and smoothie bowls, they often ask how I get such a creamy consistency that is like soft serve. The golden rule is freezing EVERYTHING except your liquid the night before. And you only want to use about ¼-½ cup of the liquid. If you don’t have a durable-as-steel blender like a Vitamix, make sure you take breaks so your blender doesn’t die on you. (Opps might’ve done that once.) It might take a while to get to its creamy state, but don’t give up. It’ll be so worth it to contently be chowing down on your smoothie bowl/jar while your suite mates have lunchables. I mean if Lunchables are your thing, go ahead. (Jk, please don’t. They’re overly processed and damaging to the planet.) Ok, back to the recipe. Turn the blender off to stir every few seconds until it transforms into smooth, fruity heaven. If you need inspiration, check out the Instagram account @earthyandy. It’s run by the mom of a family in Hawaii and she is always posting her newest vegan ice cream (also known as nice-cream because it’s nice to the planet, the animals, and your body.) with her cute kids. On a couple different occasions this year, there’d be someone in the common room of my dorm while I’d be making a smoothie. They’d ask what I was making and I’d tell them and offer a taste. Every single time their eyes would pop out of their heads as the spoon entered their mouth. It makes me so happy to be that person to remind them of how delicious fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds can be in their purest form. The majority of the kids in my dorm now know me as the weird banana girl who rattles the sliding glass doors with the piercing sound of the blender at least once per day. It’s pretty funny at this point. It might seem odd to the lady working the cashier at the on-campus market that I buy more bananas than she’s had in the last 5 years, but I say it’s ultra weird and disturbing that we live in a society that says processed food and animal flesh are good. That the government has put such a heavy emphasis on protein and worked those animal “foods” into the MyPlate and MyPyramid chart that doctors and nutritionists look to for guidance. Question everything, and accept nothing. Otherwise the world is a trap. I beg you to educate yourselves. I’m currently sitting inside my favorite vegan cafe in La Jolla and every single one of the human beings here is alive. Vegans are more than just surviving, we’re thriving. Food can either be a drug or medicine. You choose.

Until next time,

Vegan College Gurl (aka Hannah)

[patronsaintofprincesses]

Hey can you answer all 64 questions for me? Thanks 😘

I’d like to thank @unluckymess for indulging me, and my need to lay myself bare on the internet and talk a bunch, you’re the real MVP, an excellent friend. 😚

1. Do you ever doubt the existence of others than you? Mm yes, in a way. I like to have my bases covered so, I believe that I’m not real, and I believe that I am real but in a simulation and I can believe that I’m not real and still in a simulation and I can believe that no one is real and I can believe that only the simulation is real and I can believe that everything is real and I can believe that simulations aren’t real etc. So, sorta.

2. On a scale of 1-5, how afraid of the dark are you? 3. But I’m not afraid of the dark, I love the dark, it’s the people that misuse the dark that I pity and loathe. The dark is comforting, and natural– I love the dark.

3. The person you would never want to meet? Let’s be honest, Mr. Cheeto-Fingers #notmypresident guy is the most distateful man I’ve had the pleasure of never meeting. I’d like to keep it that way.

4. What is your favorite word? Settlement. Someone asked what my favorite word was in oh 8th grade? and my mind scrambled and said settlement and I stand by that brain scramble lol.

5. If you were a type of tree, what would you be? There’s a Celtic thing that says Hazel and there’s an astrology thing that says Pine mm however, I’d want to be a Peach tree v:

6. When you looked in the mirror this morning what was the first thing you thought? Can I brush my teeth later :“)

7. What shirt are you wearing? A pale pink tee that says “Nevermore” in antique lettering and has a Raven opening it’s beak to caw.

8. What do you label yourself as? THE Boring Princess. San THE Bore. I own my dullness, I enjoy my royal duties in the Boring kingdom.

9. Bright room or dark room? D a r k but with a pink antique garden quilt covered in flowers and blackout/ lace curtains and dark wood furniture and glass end tables and ceramic vases in olive and navy filled with dahlias and white silk flowers.

10. What were you doing at midnight last night? Reading. Messaging @barnsburntdownnow @silver9mm (I adore you ma'am)

11. Favorite age you’ve been so far? 16 was a good age, graduating high school and being District Spelling Champion has been the highlight of my life so far ;)

12. Who told you they loved you last? @unluckymess and I love you as well 😇

13. Your worst enemy? Evita Perón said Time, but I don’t want to plagiarize. I have to say, energy then?

14. What is your current desktop picture? My pup, he’s turning seven on December 11th!

15. Do you like someone? Sure I like a lot of people :) but I’m not attracted? to anyone really, since I’m abstinent until marriage and real commitment-phobic so 😅

16. The last song you listened to? The Most Peculiar Day of Your Life by the Hoosiers. (my third favorite band)

17. You can press a button that will make any one person explode. Who would you blow up? myself, probably

18. Who would you really like to just punch in the face? Also myself le mao.

19. If anyone could be your slave for a day, who would it be and what would they have to do? I’d choose Kim Jong Un and I’d have him sign over the dictatorship of North Korea over to me and get those people some gotdamn internet and H-E-Bs.

20. What is your best physical attribute? (showing said attribute is optional) my eyes are pretty expressive, I’ve been told.

21. If you were the opposite sex for one day, what would you look like and what would you do? I’d probably be really scruffy, with curly hair, tortoiseshell glasses, and be real sweet. I’d go to several bookstores, chew on my pen cap, mope about looking artsy, I’d cry a lot, and probably blog about toxic masculinity. I’d try out the whole masturbation as a guy thing and also the whole prostate thing, and then get drunk at a bar.

22. Do you have a secret talent? If yes, what is it? Nope. Everyone knows everything about me at this point le mao.

23. What is one unique thing you’re afraid of? Getting exactly what I want? Is that unique? Mm dying and the headstone people misspelling my name so my gravesite/cremation urn says Sam Hernandez. Ugh.

24. You can only have one kind of sandwich. Every sandwich ingredient known to humankind is at your disposal. !!! My go-to, is whole grain bread, egg white, spinach, mozzarella, parmesan, green bell pepper, tomato, cucumber, mushroom, and ground black pepper.

25. You just found $100! How are you going to spend it? I’m going to give it to my mum, so she can gas up her car ^^

26. You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere in the world, but you have to leave immediately. Where are you going to go? Australia, to get bitten by the elusive taipan

27. An angel appears out of Heaven and offers you a lifetime supply of the alcoholic beverage of your choice. “Be brand-specific” it says. Man! What are you gonna say about that? Even if you don’t drink booze there’s something you can figure out… so what’s it gonna be? PINA COLADAS. um rum? Uhhhhhhhhhhh premixed Pina coladas???

28. You discover a beautiful island upon which you may build your own society. You make the rules. What is the first rule you put into place? Always be humble and kind.  

29. What is your favorite expletive? Bless Your Heart

30. Your house is on fire, holy shit! You have just enough time to run in there and grab ONE inanimate object. Don’t worry, your loved ones and pets have already made it out safely. So what’s the one thing you’re going to save from that blazing inferno? The smiley face zipper case I keep my photograph print outs in.

31. You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be? Mmm I feel like saying my birth is a bit too gallows, so I’m going to say, agreeing to marry my ex-fiancé.

32. You got kicked out of the country for being a time-traveling heathen who sleeps with celebrities and has super-powers. But check out this cool shit… you can move to anywhere else in the world! Tibet?

33. The Celestial Gates Of Beyond have opened, much to your surprise because you didn’t think such a thing existed. Death appears. As it turns out, Death is actually a pretty cool entity, and happens to be in a fantastic mood. Death offers to return the friend/family-member/person/etc. of your choice to the living world. Who will you bring back? I’m going to ask for a business card à la Fairy Godmother (Shrek 2), be proactive, because when my mother passes, I can bring her back. I told her that she has to outlive me and I meant that.

34. What was your last dream about? Falling

35. Are you a good….[insert anything you’d like here]? My buddy, I’ve never been good at anything in my life. I’m an excellent speller, a reading prodigy, and average in every other aspect.

36. Have you ever been admitted to the hospital? Yes, thrice during manic episodes. Twice for when a dog bit me.

37. Have you ever built a snowman? Nope. I have yet to see snow

38. What is the color of your socks? I’m not wearing socks but I only like grey socks and beige liners

39. What type of music do you like? Alternative/Country/UK Pop/Rock

40. Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets? Sunsets, please and thank you.

41. What is your favorite milkshake flavor? Coconut cream pie, from Sonic (after dark)

42. What football team do you support? (I will answer in terms of American football as well as soccer) TEXAS. T E X A S

43. Do you have any scars? Oh yeah, plenty ^^ on my face, my arms, my foot. I’m kind of clumsy and I don’t mind scars so I never applied the vitamin E.

44. What do you want to be when you graduate? A graduate lol all joking aside, a librarian? A kept girl? A strong, independent bookworm? Something alright.

45. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I’d like to have been born in the 33rd century. (mm if not possible, then I would like to be indestructible) (if not feasible, then I guess I’d like to have perfect night vision)

46. Are you reliable? No

47. If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be? “What is the most profound thing we have said thus far?”

48. Do you hold grudges? Nope

49. If you could breed two animals together to defy the laws of nature, what new animal would you create? A dragon (uh a scary bone eating bird with a nice, sweet snake)

50. What is the most unusual conversation you’ve ever had? The first time I discussed anything with my conscience? Mm really, any conversation I’ve had with myself has gotten pretty unusual.

51. Are you a good liar? HA maybe over text but irl I begin to giggle and avert my eyes and it’s awful no one let’s me get away with anything

52. How long could you go without talking? I went a whole day once for the GLSEN Day of Silence in April 2012. Maybe I could go longer? Mm I’d like to be mute. That would be interesting.

53. What has been you worst haircut/style? They’ve all been great, particularly the ones I cut by myself from 2008-2012 I don’t know what you are trying to imply c:

54. Have you ever baked your own cake? Is this a euphemism?

55. Can you do any accents other than your own? Sort of an English accent, and sort of an Australian accent. Oh but I have a natural accent when speaking Spanish and a Texas accent pops up with some words in English.

56. What do you like on your toast? Fr e sh avo cado (free Sha vacadoo) obviously (if unavailable, I’ll take honey, cinnamon, butter, sugar, beans, eggs, strawberry jam, peach preserves etc.)

57. What is the last thing you drew a picture of? A lady, for @silver9mm@barnsburntdownnow for LETTER #6

58. What would be you dream car? An Aston Martin is what I liked in 2008—actually my dream car would be an indestructible flying bathosphere that could also teleport and drive itself. I’m waiting, 2020.

59. Do you sing in the shower? Or do anything unusual in the shower? Explain. I do sing, mm well ahem, I don’t like showers I like baths. Sometimes I’ll turn off the lights and bathe in the dark, when I’m feeling overwhelmed or hopeless or I just don’t know who I’m fooling etc. Sometimes I’ll play music and place my phone facedown on the tub, let my head sink beneath the water, and the sound vibrates/echoes throughout and it is so settling. Ahem, sometimes bathing is my me time, where I’ll let my mind wander to something racy, and with the steam fogging up my mind I’ll get helplessly turned on, and just lounge in the hot water fluttering my inner muscles until I either orgasm or cry lol.

60. Do you believe in aliens? Yes. But do aliens believe in me? Lol.

61. Do you often read your horoscope? No but I do like those moodboards/aesthetics/text posts concerning my signs 😇

62. What is your favorite letter of the alphabet? R in middle school, X in high school and now, probably S.

63. Which is cooler: dinosaurs or dragons? Dinosaurs are neat but I’m a Dragon! kinda gal.

64. What do you think about babies? Cute and scary and gross and wonderful and delicate and perfect and miniature and I want none and ten

65. Freebie! Ask anything interesting you can think of. Message me 👻 I’ll answer anything y'all.

If y'all would like to send me any other asks (anonymous or public) I tag them as Ask Thing and I’ll answer literally everything. Thanks y'all!

[draconian-overlord]

Do all of the asks. All of them.

YOU TRASH BAG UGH FINE I’LL DO ALL OF THEM.

chocolate: when was your first kiss?

It does not exist and may never

french vanilla:

how old are you?

My existence exceeds the age of the universe

cotton candy:

three places you want to travel to?

Paris, Alaska, and Japan

strawberry:

a language you wish you could speak?

Sign language

coffee:

favorite cosmetic brands?

KVD, Urban Decay, and Shiro Cosmetics

mint chocolate chip:

indoors or outdoors?

Although I love the outdoors, the indoors has fewer ants

cookie dough:

do you play any instruments?

I play classical piano, and know one guitar riff

rocky road:

favorite songs at the moment?

Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos

butter pecan:

favorite songs for life?

Um, the same?

cheesecake:

what’s your zodiac sign?

VIRGO

toasted coconut:

the beach or the pool?

The beach because my dog loves to play in the sand

chocolate chip:

what’s your most popular post?

IDK THERE’S TOO MANY

bubblegum:

books or movies?

Mostly books, but movies can be great too

pistachio:

manga or anime?

Both are great- stories with more action work really well with anime since they are more exhilarating to see, but more complex stories are better told in manga because of their ongoing nature

salted caramel:

favorite movies?

UGHH I HATE QUESTIONS LIKE THESE. I literally remember nothing that I watch; if I have a favorite, it is somewhere deep within the void that is my mind. I know I loved the Falsettos movie, though!

birthday cake:

favorite books?

ANOTHER ONE. Okay, well, I love series, especially fantasy series. So my favorites are the Riordan books (there are too many to list), the Harry Potter books, and the LOTR books. I also like the Sisters of Versailles series (warning, they’re SIN), and probably many more I can’t remember at the moment.

moose tracks: (wtf is this a real ice cream flavor???????)

favorites for manga?

OKAY THIS I KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE A LIST-- I should do that for other stuff. Anyway, I love Black Butler, Yona of the Dawn, Princess Jellyfish, and Abide in the Wind (although that’s a manhwa, but oh well).

orange sherbet:

favorites for anime?

One Punch Man, Shiki, Orange, From the New World, Psycho Pass, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Nana, Boys over Flowers, and Sailor Moon

peanut butter:

favorite academic subject?

AP Biology is the most wonderful subject to ever exist, I looovved it

black raspberry:

do you have any pets?

A DOGGO WHO I LOVE MORE THAN THIS PLANE OF EXISTENCE

mango:

when and why did you start your blog?

When: July 2016

Why: Literally a whim after you told me to, Maia

mocha:

ideal weather conditions?

THUNDERSTORMS ARE HELLA FUN

black cherry:

four words that describe you?

Spontaneous, sensitive, small, and sordid

neapolitan:

things that stress you out?

Everything I get stressed when people tell me I need to fix something, when I’m separated from people I care about, when I’m in a room with strangers, when a room is really cold and has harsh lighting, when I’m walking down a narrow bright hallway, when I suddenly feel detached from my surroundings for absolutely no reason, when I lie awake in bed for hours trying to sleep but being distracted by thoughts, and when my shoes don’t fit properly.

raspberry truffle:

favorite kind of music?

I love Chopin’s Nocturnes, they awaken my inner witch, but I also love ACDC and assorted rock bands, as well as Tori Amos-esque pop, so my taste is kind of all over the place

chocolate marshmallow:

favorite brands of candy?

I love Cadbury chocolate since it’s literally all milk & sugar. Lindt truffles are universally acknowledged as heavenly, and Kit-Kats are pretty great. I’m not really a fan of hard candy, but blue raspberry Jolly Ranchers are cool.

toffee:

a card game that you’re good at?

Um. None of them? Maybe those memory games, I guess.

lemon custard:

do you eat breakfast?

I do! I’m usually STARVING in the morning, so I’ll have a bowl of cereal or toast, nothing too heavy. If I’m not hungry that early, I might have a fancier brunch later, like waffles or pancakes.

dark chocolate:

turn ons?

Oh my god. Um. Long, luxurious curls are pretty hot. As well as nice lips. Uhh, I like pretty clothes too?

fudge:

turn offs?

A lack of hygiene, definitely. Also, being nasty and a just plain awful person are clearly turn offs.

peach:

how do you relax?

Two words: I don’t. But, I do try to drink tea and take long baths, they sort of help.

praline:

a popular book you haven’t read yet?

The rest of the TMI series. I read book one, was severely put off by the incest, the blehhh writing, and the annoying protagonist, and never picked up another one.

superman:

do you like sweaters?

OH MY GOD I LOVE SWEATERS SO MUCH YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND ONE OF THE REASONS I HATE SUMMER SO MUCH IS BECAUSE I CAN’T WEAR SWEATERS.

cherry:

do you drink tea or coffee?

Both! But I prefer tea for the taste. If I’m really tired, though, I might have coffee.

dulce de leche:

an instrument you wish you could play?

I really want to learn how to play the violin! It sounds so beautiful, and it’s an instrument I can actually bring with me places. Pianos are a little difficult to carry around.

blackberry:

have you ever laughed so hard you cried?

SO MANY TIMES!! I laugh all the time, at anything, and then end up laughing so hard I cry ;v;. It’s really a problem when I’m wearing mascara!

ginger:

a new feature you wish tumblr could have?

Hmm, I think that NOT MESSING UP YOUR PLACE ON A BLOG WHEN YOU TRY TO REBLOG SOMETHING WOULD BE A GREAT FEATURE, NO???

blueberry lemon:

favorite blogs?

I GUESS that I’ll have to go with @lareinedelapoubelle (this is coercion i did not add her in of my own will i swear it), @a-million-stories, @space-rocks-trash-bin, @dracos-at-pigfarts, @astrae, @thebootydiaries, @pjoisboss, @writing-prompt-s, @zephyrine-gale, @norindraws, @astrorhea, @normal-horoscopes, @qiu-jin, @mysticmessengerincorrectquotes, @anyway-i-love-vanderwood, @lizard-is-writing, @missthingmessenger, @promiscuous-jalapeno, @cuipid, @artcemis, @myetie, @aquariumprincess23, @caffeinewitchcraft, and @jintii (I LOVE ALL OF YOU YOU’RE SO WONDERFUL ❤❤❤)

almond:

favorite mean girls quote?

WE SHOULD TOTALLY JUST STAB CAESAR!!!

butterscotch:

what color are your nails right now?

They are currently a sienna-reddish-brown.

cinnamon:

have you ever been confessed to?

Nope.

blue moon:

have you ever had a crush on someone?

Yep.

cappuccino crunch:

do you take naps?

Nahh, I can never sleep during the day even when I need it.

mint:

the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done?

I once tripped going up the stairs at a family friend’s house, and found myself rolling sideways from the top of the staircase I had just walked all the way back down. Unfortunately, I have still not lived that down.

brownie batter:

do you like sushi?

Yeah, it’s pretty great!

key lime:

where do you want to be right now?

In a tangled affair with a balding French Canadian waiter named Lemon. He kisses my hand, and we run away across the seas into eternal darkness.

red velvet:

do you wear prescription glasses?

I wear prescription colored contacts, so technically, I guess.

green tea:

favorite flavors of ice cream?

Cookie dough is love, cookie dough is life. I also love vanilla fudge swirl and birthday cake.

[jeepsister72-blog]

Avocado toast, nachos & vegan donuts Omaha

Avocado toast, nachos, and vegan donuts Omaha. How to not go hungry as a vegan in Nebraska. Donuts from Hello Sugar and Farine + Four, and nachos at Modern Love.

This past weekend David and I went to Omaha for a couple of days, because he was speaking at their local BritishFest about his work on Doctor Who: Shada. When we weren’t getting TARDIS flying lessons, we sampled the Omaha vegan food scene.

(For an extensive list of vegan options in Omaha, check out this post on vegan Omaha restaurants.)

Vegan donuts Omaha at Hello Sugar

Our first morning in Omaha while I was out getting coffee, Kayla, a person on Instagram who lives in the area, told me that I needed to pick up vegan donuts from Hello Sugar.

Hello Sugar sells doughnuts at a couple of different farmers markets. (Keep an eye on Hello Sugar’s Instagram for the menu, as well as locations & times.)

I happened to be fairly close to the farmers market at the time, and so I made a beeline there.

In addition to selling non-vegan doughnuts, Hello Sugar had several vegan doughnuts on offer including chocolate almond sea salt, raspberry jam filled, lemon pistachio, apple fritters, glazed with sprinkles, and triple berry.

David’s favorite doughnut is raspberry jam filled, and so that was a no brainer. I asked what the other big sellers were and was told that people always come back for the apple fritters and lemon pistachio. So I grabbed those as well.

The doughnuts were wonderfully fresh and full of bounce, light, and airy. For us, the big winner was the raspberry jam filled, but I’d happily eat any of them all over again.

Farine + Four

I visited the bakery Farine + Four for breakfast two mornings while we were there.

(The second day, we’d planned on going to Saddle Creek Breakfast Club, because they have an inviting vegan brunch menu, in addition to their standard menu. However, when we arrived, the area in front of the restaurant was positively packed with throngs of people waiting for a table. It looked like it would be a really long wait, so we skipped it. But I’d like to go another time!)

Farine + Four has a rotating menu. They handwrite the menu on the counter in front of the cash register. So if there’s a line, you can’t really see it until you place an order. It would be nice if they had a menu board higher up, where it could be seen from a distance.

I got a rosemary bagel with vegan cream cheese for me, and an everything bagel with vegan cream cheese to-go for David.

The bagels were wonderful – chewy on the outside and soft on the inside. As a rosemary fan, I was all over the plethora of dried rosemary on top.

But the cream cheese was a little perplexing. I’m still trying to figure it out. I wonder if they might have given me the wrong thing, because it looks like they actually ladled it on. Perhaps it was donut glaze by mistake? The flavor was sweet and pleasant, but it didn’t look like cream cheese in any way, and it made my bagel soggy.

Out of curiosity, I googled their vegan cream cheese after the fact, and in other pictures, it looks the way a person would expect cream cheese to look.

Inspired by this experience, I’ve decided to start a country band called Soggy Bagel Bottoms. Look for my record in stores.

The confusing cream cheese wasn’t enough to keep us from going again the next day, and I’m really glad we did.

This time they had vegan donut holes on the menu in three flavors – lemon & lavender, cardamom, and vanilla. (Because we hadn’t had enough donuts, right?) You can get just one flavor or a mixture of all three. I’m not really into lavender or cardamom, and so I went with vanilla alone.

They fry the donuts fresh when you order, and so they actually come hot to the table. They were coated in sugar and reminded me of churros in ball-form.

David ordered avocado toast, and it was topped with thinly sliced radishes & pea tendrils.

I ordered the zucchini avocado toast, which had loopy zucchini ribbons, marinated onions, and pea tendrils.

I have vegan avocado toast for breakfast probably 3 mornings a week, and it’s always delicious. But wow, they really took avocado toast to the next level.

First, instead of just toasting the bread in a toaster, it was oiled and toasted in a skillet. So it was really crunchy and crisp on the outside. Then the onions were pickled, and there was an extra savory richness to the toast that I couldn’t put my finger on. Some kind of flavored oil, perhaps?

Anyway, I can’t recommend their avocado toast highly enough. It might not seem like something a person needs to go out of their way for on a trip, but you really do.

While we were there, we also picked up a fresh loaf of sourdough bread to give the cat sitter (a.k.a. my parents) as a thank you gift, and it was exceptional.

Modern Love Omaha

Obviously, any trip to Omaha must involve at least one visit to Modern Love, if not more than that.

When we first rolled into town Friday night, we went straight to Modern Love for our 8 o’clock reservation. I’d seen on Facebook that they were offering their seitan reuben as a weekday-only special. So I knew this was my big chance to finally score my favorite sandwich from one of my favorite restaurants.

When we arrived, Isa, the owner of Modern Love & cookbook author extraordinaire, came out to say hi. She asked if I’d planned on ordering the reuben, and then gave me the bad news that they were out of them.

As luck would have it, though, they did have some stray ingredients laying around, and there was enough to put together a reuben amuse-bouche. So even though I was disappointed about missing the reuben, I was excited I’d get a taste at least.

We placed our orders, and I felt confident much deliciousness awaited us…

Once it was ready, Isa brought the reuben amuse-bouche to the table and laughed, “It’s not really an amuse-bouche.”

It was like a full-sized sandwich with two onion rings piled on top! The bread was nice and charred around the edges, and it was filled with seitan, sauerkraut, and thin slices of smoky beet. The cheesy layer had a nice pop of miso. So good!

David and I ordered a nacho platter appetizer as well.

This thing was positively massive with walnut chorizo, big dollops of guacamole, hot sauce, pico de gallo, and cashew-based queso. There wasn’t a dry chip in the bunch.

By the time my dinner order of mushroom stroganoff arrived, I immediately asked for a to-go box. That worked out well, though, because then lunch the next day was sorted.

For his main course, David had ordered the chickpea bacon ranch sandwich.

It was layered with chickpea cutlets, avocado, mushroom bacon, greens, tomato, and ranch dressing. On the side was purple potato salad.

Isa’s chickpea cutlets are a vegan classic. When I first went vegan, I made them all the time. They’re also a good & easy vegan Thanksgiving main dish option.

The chickpea cutlets at the restaurant were a little different than the ones in Veganomicon. The chickpeas themselves aren’t as prominent. They’re more blended into the cutlet. The cutlets are thin and uniform in a way that reminded me of Milanese.

David also had his sandwich for lunch the next day. That hadn’t been our initial plan, but it was super convenient!

Even though there are other vegan options to be had in Omaha, we couldn’t resist the opportunity of going back to Modern Love another time while we were there.

For my main dish, I got the kale Caesar salad, which was dressed with a tahini caper dressing. This super nooch-y salad was topped with smoked mushrooms, capers, pepita parmesan, and croutons. I also added cornmeal-crusted tofu.

David ordered the mushroom stroganoff I’d ordered the night before with added chickpea cutlets.

The thing I really love about this stroganoff is that they don’t skimp on mushrooms.

Sometimes you’ll order a pasta dish with mushrooms, and there will only be a handful of cremini mushrooms. But with this one, even after finishing the noodles, there were still loads of wild mushrooms at the bottom, including oyster mushrooms.

(By the way, she has a similar mushroom stroganoff recipe in Isa Does It, one of my favorite cookbooks.)

Choosing dessert was a real dilemma with strawberry shortcake, cheesecake, and an old school sundae all in the line-up. But ultimately, I had to go with the one that I never see anywhere else – peanut butter Snickers pie.

Look at that.

It really tasted like a Snickers bar with a thick layer of chocolate ganache, whole peanuts, a gooey peanut butter custard interior, salted maple caramel, and a big dollop of coconut whip to finish it off. Incredible.

I imagine by the next time we get to Omaha, Modern Love will be in their new, larger location, where the seitan reuben will be on the regular menu! (They’re just waiting on furniture now. So it shouldn’t be too long!) I’m excited to get back again, whenever that happens.

And that ends our excursion to Omaha! For more vegan options in Nebraska and beyond, check out my vegan travel page.

Source: https://cadryskitchen.com/2018/08/09/vegan_donuts_omaha/

[coachdog96-blog]

exceptional grilled chicken

I’m sorry to disappoint you if you ever believed otherwise, but only a fraction of the recipes on this site come from a place of adoration — i.e. I’ve always loved this dish, thus we all need to make it at home. A far greater amount come from befuddlement that people are so into something I find so unspecial. Maybe it’s not as bad as it sounds. I mean, would you rather get a recipe for a dish from someone who loved it to the moon and back and may not see its flaws or from a deep skeptic that had to be convinced by an exceptional version? Or so I tell us as a long windup to the fact that there are probably few summer dishes I like less than grilled chicken. Let’s take something that already leans dry and cook it for what is usually way too long and make it more dry! Here’s a thick sweet sauce that almost guarantees there will be little texture or color on the outside. I’m not saying that good grilled chicken doesn’t exist (I like this and that one, for example, and yours, yours is fantastic), it’s just far less common than bad grilled chicken.

I guess you could call this my Unpopular Opinions week. It’s okay, though, I still love the Aperol spritz.

This recipe is for all three of you who have not left the room after reading the above. Like last week’s raspberry crumble tart bar recipe, it was inspired by Ruth Reichl’s list of favorite recipes from her Gourmet years, however, it’s less an adaptation of the 2003 recipe from John Willoughby and John Schlesigner’s recipe and more a “Yay! That’s my favorite way to grill chicken too!” What we all agree on is that perfect grilled chicken — I mean, exceptional grilled chicken, grilled chicken that’s forgiving of human (whoops I left it on a couple minutes too long), grill (my grill suggests heat more than it blasts it), and chicken (look, I got what the grocery store had in stock that day) imperfections — has three distinct steps: brining the chicken, grilling it, and then tossing it in a brightening vinaigrette or sauce to finish. It makes the kind of grilled chicken I want a second piece of, which is unprecedented enough that my husband dropped his jaw when I reached for it. It makes the kind of grilled chicken I want to make twice a month for the rest of the summer. It makes the kind of chicken I think would make all of our weekends more delicious.

See also: My slow-and-low dry-rub oven chicken also begins with a brine.

Previously

One year ago: Garlic-Lime Steak and Noodle Salad Two years ago: The Red and Black Three years ago: Cucumber Yogurt Raita Salad and Chicken Gyro Salad Four years ago: Pasta Salad with Roasted Tomatoes and Picnic Pink Lemonade Five years ago: Nancy’s Chopped Salad Six years ago: Lobster and Potato Salad Seven years ago: Rhubarb Snacking Cake Eight years ago: Strawberry Summer Cake and Spring Salad with New Potatoes Nine years ago: Creamed Chard and Spring Onions, Avocado Salad with Carrot-Ginger Dressing and Homemade Pop Tarts Ten years ago: Slaw Tartare and Strawberry Shortcakes Eleven years ago: Cherry Cornmeal Upside-Down Cake and Molly’s Dry-Rubbed Ribs Twelve years ago: Coconut Pinkcherry Yogurt and Strawberry-Rhubarb Crumble

And for the other side of the world: Six Months Ago: Chocolate Caramel Tart, Falafel and Baklava Babka 1.5 Years Ago: Salted Butter Chocolate Chunk Shortbread 2.5 Years Ago: Spinach Sheet Pan Quiche and Chocolate Caramel Crunch Almonds 3.5 Years Ago: Roasted Leek and White Bean Galettes, and Date Breakfast Squares 4.5 Years Ago: Cranberry Pie with Thick Pecan Crumble and Twice-Baked Potatoes with Kale

Exceptional Grilled Chicken

Servings: 4

Time: 40 minutes active time

Source: Smitten Kitchen and Gourmet, 2003

Print

At the end are three vinaigrette/sauce options; I could never choose a favorite but shown here is the first one, adapted from Gourmet. Note: The chicken quantity here is relatively small; it works for our family on weeknights. You probably won’t regret doubling it, and you’ll want to double the vinaigrette/dressing you use as well. Finally, don’t have a grill? Blast your chicken in oiled, shallow baking pans a very hot oven (500 degrees) until the skin is crisp, then reduce the heat (to 400 degrees) and roast the rest of the way, about 30 to 40 minutes total cooking time.

Brine

2 quarts cold water

2 tablespoons granulated or brown sugar

1/4 cup Diamond kosher salt (use 2 tablespoons if any other brand)

3 1/2 pounds chicken parts with skin and bones

Oil for grill

To finish

One of the three vinaigrettes, below

Brine your chicken: In a large, sealable freezer bag or container with lid, mix water, salt, and sugar. Add chicken parts and seal container or bag. Refrigerate for 1 hour and up to 6 hours. When you can’t wait any longer, remove from the brine and pat dry.

Make your vinaigrette: Whisk together one of the ingredient combinations below in a large bowl, and set aside.

Prepare your grill: If using a gas grill, heat all burners to high for 10 minutes, then adjust to moderately high right before you add the chicken. If using a charcoal grill and you have room enough to do so, leave about one-quarter of grill free of charcoal and heat the rest of the charcoals until they’re grayish-white, about 15 minutes.

Grill your chicken: Lightly oil your grill racks. Arrange chicken on racks, cover with lid, and cook until well=browned, turning over once, about 6 to 8 minutes total for smaller parts (wings, thighs, and drumsticks) and 8 to 10 minutes for breasts.

Once chicken is well-browned, if you’re using a gas grill with multiple sections, turn off the center heat and move chicken pieces onto it. If you’re using a gas grill with one heat control, reduce it to medium. If you’re using a charcoal grill and have left an area free of charcoal, move the chicken onto it.

Cook browned chicken, covered with lid, moving chicken around grill as needed and turning over occasionally, until cooked through, anywhere from 12 to 20 minutes (less for smaller parts, of course; gas grills tend to take longer) or until a thermometer inserted into the deepest part of your piece of chicken is 160 to 165 degrees.*

When chicken is almost done, place lemon or lime halves, if using, cut sides down, uncovered, over lit burner until grill marks appear, about 2 to 3 minutes.

To finish: Transfer chicken to bowl with vinaigrette and toss to evenly coat. You can also cover this bowl with foil to keep it warm until needed. Serve grilled chicken with grilled lemons or limes, if using, and any extra vinaigrette on the side.

[We ate this with the Vinegar Slaw with Cucumbers and Dill from my first cookbook, a forever favorite. It keeps really well should you want to stretch it over a few days.]

About temperatures: The USDA recommends 165 degrees F, but the heat will continue to rise after you take the chicken off the grill, so I take mine off at 160 degrees.

About thermometers: A good recipe is one thing, but nothing will more quickly help you perfect any cooked meat dish, grilled or roasted, than a thermometer. For years, I somewhat resisted recommending my favorite (a Thermapen) because it was expensive; it makes sense for people who cook or develop recipes for a living. However, they released a much less expensive one a few years ago (ThermoPop), and it works just as well — I immediately bought one and often buy it as a gift. Not sponsored, but I hope that goes without saying for every single thing on this site.

Three vinaigrettes/sauces:

Garlic-lime-herb: Whisk 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, 1 minced garlic clove, 1/2 teaspoon dark brown sugar, Sriracha (to taste) together in a bowl. Slowly drizzle in 1/4 cup of a neutral oil, whisking the whole time. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped mint or cilantro, or a mix thereof. Have two limes, halved crosswise, ready to grill and serve.

Lemon-herb: Whisk 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 minced garlic clove, 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary or oregano, or a mix thereof, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes together in a bowl. Slowly drizzle in 1/4 cup olive oil, whisking the whole time. Stir in 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley. Have two lemons, halved crosswise, ready to grill and serve.

Salsa verde: Blend 1 cup roughly chopped herbs (ideally mostly parsley plus a mix of mint, cilantro, thyme and any other herbs you’d like with chicken) with 2 cloves garlic, 1 anchovy, and 1 teaspoon capers with 1/4 cup olive oil in a food processor. (Or, finely mince everything by hand.) Add the juice of half a lemon. Adjust to taste, adding more lemon or olive oil as needed. If you wish, have two lemons, halved crosswise, ready to grill and serve.

Source: https://smittenkitchen.com/2019/05/exceptional-grilled-chicken/

[wiickedxgood]

EVERY ICE CREAM ASK!! BAM

chocolate: when was your first kiss?Uhh, maybe when I was around ten? I kissed my boyfriend at that time, because it was my way to show him I really liked him.french vanilla: how old are you?Already answered!cotton candy: three places you want to travel to?Hogwarts, Camp Half Blood, and The Isle Of The Lost (The last two are real)strawberry: a language you wish you could speak?I really wanna learn Vietnamese! I know a little, but I want to speak it fluently.coffee: favorite cosmetic brands?I haven't really explored the use of make-up, so I don't have a favorite!mint chocolate chip: indoors or outdoors?Depends. Sometimes I like indoors, and other times I like outdoors.cookie dough: do you play any instruments?I play clarinet! And I know how to play the keyboard a little bit! rocky road: favorite songs at the moment?Already answered!butter pecan: favorite songs for life?Every song I have listened to more than once! (Ones that play on the radio constantly don't count bc I hate a lot of those)cheesecake: what's your zodiac sign?I am a proud Gemini boy!toasted coconut: the beach or the pool?Both!! I love the water so much!! chocolate chip: what's your most popular post?Uhh, that headcanon about Jay using magic that I posted on the night of D2. Last time I checked, it has about 80-90 notes?bubblegum: books or movies?The books are usually better, but I like both!pistachio: manga or anime?Anime!salted caramel: favorite movies?I don't think I have any favorites.birthday cake: favorite books?The entire Percy Jackson series. And The Zodiac Legacy series. moose tracks: favorites for manga?Same as anime! I just don't read manga a lot.orange sherbet: favorites for anime?If you're talking about types, I love action and comedy animes. Plus ones that have monsters! If you're talking about my favorite animes, I have too many!peanut butter: favorite academic subject?Reading. For sure.black raspberry: do you have any pets?If my girlfriend's pets count then yeah! I have a kitten named Undyne, a big doofy pitbull named Nixie, and a rat named Yogurt. (All her pets btw) mango: when and why did you start your blog?I think last month? And because I really wanted to rp Jay! I love him so much and there just needs to be more of him, so I thought I could help with that!mocha: ideal weather conditions?All of them. I love all types of weather!black cherry: four words that describe you?Dorky, sweet, innocent, loveable. I've been called all those things btw. neapolitan: things that stress you out?Life. School. Myself. I think that's it.raspberry truffle: favorite kind of music?Uhhh, rap. And hip hop, and regular pop. chocolate marshmallow: favorite brands of candy?All of them. toffee: a card game that you're good at?Uno.lemon custard: do you eat breakfast?Sometimes? It depends on how I feel or if I like what's for breakfast.dark chocolate: turn ons?TOO YOUNG I AM A GOOD BOYfudge: turn offs?I'm too young for this question eXCUSEpeach: how do you relax?Tumblr, my phone, jamming out to music. And watching tv. praline: a popular book you haven't read yet?Uhhh, idk. Probably the second and third Isle of the lost books.superman: do you like sweaters?Um, yes!! Especially big ones. cherry: do you drink tea or coffee?Tea. I had coffee once, and I didn't really like it! dulce de leche: an instrument you wish you could play?Definitely the drums! And the guitar. I have one. I just don't know how to play.blackberry: have you ever laughed so hard you cried?I have! One time me and my girlfriend were watching Coraline, and I made a joke about someone looking like her dad (I'm evil I know) and we just couldn't stop laughing!ginger: a new feature you wish tumblr could have?Group chats!! Because then I could talk to all my friends at once!blueberry lemon: favorite blogs?Too many to name. I'm sorry. But I hope y'all know who you are!almond: favorite mean girls quote?Confession, I've never watched it.butterscotch: what color are your nails right now?Red, white, and blue! Bc the last time I did them was for the fourth!cinnamon: have you ever been confessed to?I don't think so? I can't remember if my girlfriend confessed or if it was me.blue moon: have you ever had a crush on someone?Yep!! I've had a lot of crushes! cappuccino crunch: do you take naps?All the time. I'm a very tired boy all the time. Mostly because I stay up on here! But naps help a lot and I love them!mint: the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?Definitely when I pantsed myself while I was trying to climb down a fence. brownie batter: do you like sushi?Never had it! But I want to super bad! My mom won't let me though. key lime: where do you want to be right now?In my bed. But I'm settling for the couch rn.red velvet: do you wear prescription glasses? Yeparooni! I have since I was around seven or eight!green tea: favorite flavors of ice cream? Uhhhh, watermelon! And triple btownie blast (I think that's it)

[applecut3-blog]

Avocado toast, nachos & vegan donuts Omaha

Avocado toast, nachos, and vegan donuts Omaha. How to not go hungry as a vegan in Nebraska. Donuts from Hello Sugar and Farine + Four, and nachos at Modern Love.

This past weekend David and I went to Omaha for a couple of days, because he was speaking at their local BritishFest about his work on Doctor Who: Shada. When we weren’t getting TARDIS flying lessons, we sampled the Omaha vegan food scene.

(For an extensive list of vegan options in Omaha, check out this post on vegan Omaha restaurants.)

Vegan donuts Omaha at Hello Sugar

Our first morning in Omaha while I was out getting coffee, Kayla, a person on Instagram who lives in the area, told me that I needed to pick up vegan donuts from Hello Sugar.

Hello Sugar sells doughnuts at a couple of different farmers markets. (Keep an eye on Hello Sugar’s Instagram for the menu, as well as locations & times.)

I happened to be fairly close to the farmers market at the time, and so I made a beeline there.

In addition to selling non-vegan doughnuts, Hello Sugar had several vegan doughnuts on offer including chocolate almond sea salt, raspberry jam filled, lemon pistachio, apple fritters, glazed with sprinkles, and triple berry.

David’s favorite doughnut is raspberry jam filled, and so that was a no brainer. I asked what the other big sellers were and was told that people always come back for the apple fritters and lemon pistachio. So I grabbed those as well.

The doughnuts were wonderfully fresh and full of bounce, light, and airy. For us, the big winner was the raspberry jam filled, but I’d happily eat any of them all over again.

Farine + Four

I visited the bakery Farine + Four for breakfast two mornings while we were there.

(The second day, we’d planned on going to Saddle Creek Breakfast Club, because they have an inviting vegan brunch menu, in addition to their standard menu. However, when we arrived, the area in front of the restaurant was positively packed with throngs of people waiting for a table. It looked like it would be a really long wait, so we skipped it. But I’d like to go another time!)

Farine + Four has a rotating menu. They handwrite the menu on the counter in front of the cash register. So if there’s a line, you can’t really see it until you place an order. It would be nice if they had a menu board higher up, where it could be seen from a distance.

I got a rosemary bagel with vegan cream cheese for me, and an everything bagel with vegan cream cheese to-go for David.

The bagels were wonderful – chewy on the outside and soft on the inside. As a rosemary fan, I was all over the plethora of dried rosemary on top.

But the cream cheese was a little perplexing. I’m still trying to figure it out. I wonder if they might have given me the wrong thing, because it looks like they actually ladled it on. Perhaps it was donut glaze by mistake? The flavor was sweet and pleasant, but it didn’t look like cream cheese in any way, and it made my bagel soggy.

Out of curiosity, I googled their vegan cream cheese after the fact, and in other pictures, it looks the way a person would expect cream cheese to look.

Inspired by this experience, I’ve decided to start a country band called Soggy Bagel Bottoms. Look for my record in stores.

The confusing cream cheese wasn’t enough to keep us from going again the next day, and I’m really glad we did.

This time they had vegan donut holes on the menu in three flavors – lemon & lavender, cardamom, and vanilla. (Because we hadn’t had enough donuts, right?) You can get just one flavor or a mixture of all three. I’m not really into lavender or cardamom, and so I went with vanilla alone.

They fry the donuts fresh when you order, and so they actually come hot to the table. They were coated in sugar and reminded me of churros in ball-form.

David ordered avocado toast, and it was topped with thinly sliced radishes & pea tendrils.

I ordered the zucchini avocado toast, which had loopy zucchini ribbons, marinated onions, and pea tendrils.

I have vegan avocado toast for breakfast probably 3 mornings a week, and it’s always delicious. But wow, they really took avocado toast to the next level.

First, instead of just toasting the bread in a toaster, it was oiled and toasted in a skillet. So it was really crunchy and crisp on the outside. Then the onions were pickled, and there was an extra savory richness to the toast that I couldn’t put my finger on. Some kind of flavored oil, perhaps?

Anyway, I can’t recommend their avocado toast highly enough. It might not seem like something a person needs to go out of their way for on a trip, but you really do.

While we were there, we also picked up a fresh loaf of sourdough bread to give the cat sitter (a.k.a. my parents) as a thank you gift, and it was exceptional.

Modern Love Omaha

Obviously, any trip to Omaha must involve at least one visit to Modern Love, if not more than that.

When we first rolled into town Friday night, we went straight to Modern Love for our 8 o’clock reservation. I’d seen on Facebook that they were offering their seitan reuben as a weekday-only special. So I knew this was my big chance to finally score my favorite sandwich from one of my favorite restaurants.

When we arrived, Isa, the owner of Modern Love & cookbook author extraordinaire, came out to say hi. She asked if I’d planned on ordering the reuben, and then gave me the bad news that they were out of them.

As luck would have it, though, they did have some stray ingredients laying around, and there was enough to put together a reuben amuse-bouche. So even though I was disappointed about missing the reuben, I was excited I’d get a taste at least.

We placed our orders, and I felt confident much deliciousness awaited us…

Once it was ready, Isa brought the reuben amuse-bouche to the table and laughed, “It’s not really an amuse-bouche.”

It was like a full-sized sandwich with two onion rings piled on top! The bread was nice and charred around the edges, and it was filled with seitan, sauerkraut, and thin slices of smoky beet. The cheesy layer had a nice pop of miso. So good!

David and I ordered a nacho platter appetizer as well.

This thing was positively massive with walnut chorizo, big dollops of guacamole, hot sauce, pico de gallo, and cashew-based queso. There wasn’t a dry chip in the bunch.

By the time my dinner order of mushroom stroganoff arrived, I immediately asked for a to-go box. That worked out well, though, because then lunch the next day was sorted.

For his main course, David had ordered the chickpea bacon ranch sandwich.

It was layered with chickpea cutlets, avocado, mushroom bacon, greens, tomato, and ranch dressing. On the side was purple potato salad.

Isa’s chickpea cutlets are a vegan classic. When I first went vegan, I made them all the time. They’re also a good & easy vegan Thanksgiving main dish option.

The chickpea cutlets at the restaurant were a little different than the ones in Veganomicon. The chickpeas themselves aren’t as prominent. They’re more blended into the cutlet. The cutlets are thin and uniform in a way that reminded me of Milanese.

David also had his sandwich for lunch the next day. That hadn’t been our initial plan, but it was super convenient!

Even though there are other vegan options to be had in Omaha, we couldn’t resist the opportunity of going back to Modern Love another time while we were there.

For my main dish, I got the kale Caesar salad, which was dressed with a tahini caper dressing. This super nooch-y salad was topped with smoked mushrooms, capers, pepita parmesan, and croutons. I also added cornmeal-crusted tofu.

David ordered the mushroom stroganoff I’d ordered the night before with added chickpea cutlets.

The thing I really love about this stroganoff is that they don’t skimp on mushrooms.

Sometimes you’ll order a pasta dish with mushrooms, and there will only be a handful of cremini mushrooms. But with this one, even after finishing the noodles, there were still loads of wild mushrooms at the bottom, including oyster mushrooms.

(By the way, she has a similar mushroom stroganoff recipe in Isa Does It, one of my favorite cookbooks.)

Choosing dessert was a real dilemma with strawberry shortcake, cheesecake, and an old school sundae all in the line-up. But ultimately, I had to go with the one that I never see anywhere else – peanut butter Snickers pie.

Look at that.

It really tasted like a Snickers bar with a thick layer of chocolate ganache, whole peanuts, a gooey peanut butter custard interior, salted maple caramel, and a big dollop of coconut whip to finish it off. Incredible.

I imagine by the next time we get to Omaha, Modern Love will be in their new, larger location, where the seitan reuben will be on the regular menu! (They’re just waiting on furniture now. So it shouldn’t be too long!) I’m excited to get back again, whenever that happens.

And that ends our excursion to Omaha! For more vegan options in Nebraska and beyond, check out my vegan travel page.

Source: https://cadryskitchen.com/2018/08/09/vegan_donuts_omaha/

[everyone-is-lovelyy]

chocolate: when was your first kiss? i was 15 YEARS OF AGE

french vanilla: how old are you? 22 years old

cotton candy: three places you want to travel to? japan, berlin, andalusia

strawberry: a language you wish you could speak? french, it’s so beautiful. and italian! but hopefully i will work on that more during my gap year

coffee: favorite cosmetic brands? glossier! by far :)

mint chocolate chip: indoors or outdoors? outdoors, esp now during the summer

cookie dough: do you play any instruments? nope, i’d like to learn. i tried my hand at guitar for a while but was a bit of a fail

rocky road: favorite songs at the moment? chairlift - bruises and stornoway - zorbing

butter pecan: favorite songs for life? oh man. rusted root - send me on my way, fleetwood mac - landslide, chet baker - my funny valentine (off the top of my head)

cheesecake: what’s your zodiac sign? aries :)

toasted coconut: the beach or the pool? the beach! always

chocolate chip: what’s your most popular post? i think i probably have NONE

bubblegum: books or movies? i love both but i’d have to say books

pistachio: manga or anime? anime but tbh i’ve never tried reading manga

peanut butter: favorite academic subject? i loved english lit in high school. as for uni i had a bunch - asian cinematography, postmodern to posthuman, films & violence, critical terms of the 21st century, monster culture was amazing too

neapolitan: things that stress you out? pressure, any form of pressure really fucks me out. or feeling like i can’t help people that i care about. also money

raspberry truffle: favorite kind of music? indie folk, blues, jazz, pop

chocolate marshmallow: favorite brands of candy? i’m not the biggest candy fan. i love lacta chocolate and a local chocolate shop here called Adore, just had their chocolates today :3

toffee: a card game that you’re good at? uno and blackjack once i practice a bit haha two very similair card games?

lemon custard: do you eat breakfast? yeap, as long as i’m not rushing anywhere. this morning i had green tea and greek yoghurt with blueberries and honey :)

praline: a popular book you haven’t read yet? gone girl

superman: do you like sweaters? i do! comfy stuff

cherry: do you drink tea or coffee? i prefer green tea for caffeine purposes and save my coffees for if i’m going out with a friend or something

dulce de leche: an instrument you wish you could play? the sax!

almond: favorite mean girls quote? the entire kevin MC rap

butterscotch: what color are your nails right now? they are without. i bite my nails so i avoid painting them so that it doesn’t look messy. my toenails are blood orange though :)

cappuccino crunch: do you take naps? usually not

brownie batter: do you like sushi? love love love

key lime: where do you want to be right now? i’m pretty happy with where i am. listening to the paper kites in my living room

red velvet: do you wear prescription glasses? yep, for reading etc

green tea: favorite flavors of ice cream? salted caramel and lemon gelato!

[cuddleacuttlefish]

Do all the ice cream asks!!!!!

Jesus Christ Ok

chocolate: when was your first kiss?

September of 2015 :)

french vanilla: how old are you?

20

cotton candy: three places you want to travel to?

Florida, Florida, Florida

strawberry: a language you wish you could speak?

I’m doing duolingo/memrise stuff of spanish and korean everyday

coffee: favorite cosmetic brands?

lol

mint chocolate chip: indoors or outdoors?

outdoors is dirty

cookie dough: do you play any instruments?

no

rocky road: favorite songs at the moment?

glass animals “pork soda” / IU “palette”

butter pecan: favorite songs for life?

Lead me out of the dark by the crown the empire

cheesecake: what's your zodiac sign?

Aries. Had to google it

toasted coconut: the beach or the pool?

the beach is outside so ill take the pool

chocolate chip: what's your most popular post?

Dont have any on tumblr. Asked a question about why coconuts arent mammals on reddit that got a few thousand upvotes.

bubblegum: books or movies?

What is “book?”

pistachio: manga or anime?

Why is the pistachio question asking about mangos?

salted caramel: favorite movies?

err Jurassic park bc of the suspense and the practical effects

birthday cake: favorite books?

Introduction to Statistical Learning

moose tracks: favorites for manga?

Only know one type of mango

orange sherbet: favorites for anime?

My favorite animal is the octopus

peanut butter: favorite academic subject?

Comp Sci

black raspberry: do you have any pets?

I wish. 

mango: when and why did you start your blog?

6 years ago. Friend showed me theirs and it looked fun for memes and stuff.

mocha: ideal weather conditions?

Overcast with a strong breeze. Pretty much right before a storm but not humid.

black cherry: four words that describe you?

umm

neapolitan: things that stress you out?

Crowds, long assignments, when more than 2 people are talking at a time

raspberry truffle: favorite kind of music?

Post-hardcore and k-pop

chocolate marshmallow: favorite brands of candy?

Whoever makes nerds

toffee: a card game that you're good at?

Coup

lemon custard: do you eat breakfast?

I dont wake up until dinner

dark chocolate: turn ons?

Gentle unexpected touches, soft clothing, code that compiles on the first try

fudge: turn offs?

Stress

peach: how do you relax?

Rimworld. Its a really fun relaxing game

praline: a popular book you haven't read yet?

Harry potter. Tried to but i got bored

superman: do you like sweaters?

yes yes yes

cherry: do you drink tea or coffee?

covfefe

dulce de leche: an instrument you wish you could play?

If i didnt have to practice to be good at it id love to be able to play the violin. Its so beautiful.

blackberry: have you ever laughed so hard you cried?

ya

ginger: a new feature you wish tumblr could have?

That xkit feature where it remembers how far youve scrolled down and you can jump to that point.

blueberry lemon: favorite blogs?

all the aesthetic blogs that are usually just pale colors and then once in a blue moon you open your phone in public and they post porn. my life doesnt have much surprise thats the good shit

almond: favorite mean girls quote?

That’s why her hair is so big. It’s full of secrets.

butterscotch: what color are your nails right now?

Standard issue human nail color (tm)

cinnamon: have you ever been confessed to?

Whats this mean?? My gf confessed she had a crush on me and then i ignored it for like 4 minutes bc i was worried if i told her i liked her she wouldnt like me, even though shed just confessed she did. 

blue moon: have you ever had a crush on someone?

Yes

cappuccino crunch: do you take naps?

Yes every night

mint: the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?

no

brownie batter: do you like sushi?

im vegetarian :)

key lime: where do you want to be right now?

Sarasota. I miss my girlfriend, she’s everything to me.

red velvet: do you wear prescription glasses?

yep

green tea: favorite flavors of ice cream?

amaretto

[coffeesforfuckers]

And Thanks For The Black Eye // Brallon

Pairing: Brallon Summary: Brendon Urie is an idiot. He also goes by things that friends of friends of friends and so on and so on, say. Which is why he has to write a letter to Dallon Weekes. P.S. Thanks for the black eye, it suits me well. Word Count: 4,177

Disclaimer! I got this idea from here.

Dallon Weekes,

I just wanted to apologize for the kiss that I stole from your mouth on the first day of summer, June 20th to be exact. You can keep the jacket, I just request that my heart is given back to me.

Deepest Love,

Xx ~ Bren.

P.S. - Thanks for the black eye, it suits me well.

My handwriting was awful but it was all I could do, having scribbled it down on an old sketch paper with old doodles all over it. It was a spur of the moment idea as I was wandering about on my day off of work and I just so happened to pass by Dallon’s work. I could see him through the window, easily spottable, the giraffe he was.

I sat outside the shop and wrote out the note on the paper that I found in my bag from a couple months ago. Once finished, I enter the little cafe and step up to the counter, Dallon had disappeared but I didn't mind.

“One coconut cream ice coffee, four and four, please.” I smile at the girl taking my order. She nods and grabs a cup, scribbling the notes down on it and somebody else takes the cup and runs off to make it.

“That'll be three seventy-four.” She looks up at me with big, bright green eyes and I pull out a five, telling her to keep the change just as the other girl comes back with my coffee.

“Thank you, and uh, could you give this to Dallon for me please?” I hand the folded and lightly wrinkled paper to the girl who made my coffee.

“Sure! Do you want me to get him for you?”

“No, thank you. Just give him the letter, he'll know who it's from.” I say and she nods, scurrying off to find him as I leave.

I continue to walk about aimlessly. Ending up in the place I’d kissed Dallon less than a day ago…

|||

“Why are you bringing me out here? I thought we were just going to get McDonalds?” Dallon asked me as I made my way to the swings in the park. They were abandoned at this hour, the sun was just rising and it was only about one in the morning. I sit on the plastic strap and the old metal creaks under my weight.

“We will, I just want to watch the sun rise over the lake.” I reply and Dallon joins me, sitting on the swing next to mine. I rock myself on it just slightly.

The park was always a favorite place of mine, even now that I was seventeen years old. It overlooked the lake and was surrounded by beautiful, natural flowers, bushes and trees. Everything was in full bloom and it was gorgeous, it all sparkled from the dew that resided on everything as the orange glowing rays of light spilled over it all from between the trees.

Dallon shifts around on the old uncomfortable plastic and almost falls onto the wood chips on the ground below, catching himself at the last second. I notice and watch him, he pants for a second from the slight heart attack he gave himself. I giggle softly at his clumsiness.

He glances over at me and turns red with embarrassment, “Tell me you didn't see that.” He chuckles.

“Oh, I did. Moron.” I shake my head with a grin on my lips. He starts to laugh a bit, staring at me and I stare back. I notice his soft shivering and the goosebumps all along his soft looking skin, and I give him my jacket.

His blue eyes were being hit with the orange light and the lighter flakes of blue were tinted gold and made his eyes glow, popping against his lightly tanned skin and dark hair. His mouth was a deep pink that matched the pink in his cheeks. He was so pretty.

I had planned it and cancelled it on myself hundreds of thousands of times but I now realize you can't plan things like this, they just happen.

I kiss Dallon Weekes on the swing set at sunrise on the first day of summer. His mouth was warm and his lips were plump, smooth, they tasted like energy drink and artificial strawberry.

He pulls back and takes me by surprise. Not with a smile, not with a love confession and certainly not with another kiss but a fist to the face.

The rumor that my best friend heard from a friend that heard from a friend (and so on) that Dallon Weekes liked boys was incorrect. The information must've been lost in translation.

Dallon got up and left me on the swing set to watch the sunrise all alone.

|||

I sip at my coffee on the swings, it’s not nearly as beautiful as it had been this morning. The water was a bit choppy in the lake, people must be boating. I wish I were out on a boat, if I had one that is. Dallon had one and he would bring me out on it a lot, that probably wouldn’t be happening much anymore. I pull out my phone and notice a new snapchat message, I open it.

It’s just Sarah making a weird face. I send one back, just as weird and admire my black eye for a bit. I draw a little heart around it on the app, smiling. It was like a little trophy to my achievement towards kissing Dallon. I save the picture as a memory.

She sends one back pretty fast, it’s of her making a shocked, over exaggerated face with a caption that read, ‘Holy shit dude! I’m omw to the park so you can explain!’ I chuckle.

I think of telling her not to come but I really don’t feel like typing out the long answer.

It doesn’t take her long to show up, “Hey, dickstain!” She shouts as she jogs over, sitting where Dallon had hours before.

“Hey, asshole.” I give her a nudge.

“Dude your eye looks so much worse in person. Doesn’t that hurt?” She reaches over and touches the side of my face.

“Well, yeah, of course it does, genius.” I roll my eyes and she slaps me.

“No need for the asshole-ish comment.” She scolds, “How did this even happen?” Sarah promptly asks.

“Let’s just say that friend of a friend of a whatever-the-hell, was totally wrong about Dallon Weekes liking boys.” I rub at my face.

“Wait, you told him!?” Her eyes almost pop off her face.

“No, I kissed him… And he punched me.” I give her a smile, “I still got to kiss him though and that’s all that matters.”

“Jeez, you’re giddy for someone who just got their heart stomped on.” She rolls her eyes, “How are you always so damn happy?”

I shrug, “It was just so nice, it’s what… Well, almost what I’ve always imagined.” I grin.

“Tell me about it.” She says with her full attention on me.

“Well, it was one in the morning and him and I were gonna get some food and I wanted to watch the sunrise over the lake so we sat over here…” I smile as the scene replays in my head, “Dallon almost fell off the seat and we laughed together over it… He looked so pretty in that light, the way it tinted his hair, making it look so much lighter and made his skin look so much tanner than normal… And his cheeks were all red, and his lips matched perfectly, his eyes popped against the deep glow of his skin and hair, little golden flakes glowed through the blue… He was so beautiful, a work of art… Dallon Weekes was my favorite song brought to life, the human equivalent of the most perfect melody.” I hum with my eyes closed, “And then I kissed him, and then he hit me and ran away with my jacket and my heart.”

“Wow…” Sarah mumbles, “You really do love him, huh?” I nod for a bit, thinking about the feeling it gave me to kiss him.

“I wrote him a note and left it at his work.” I tell her.

“What’d it say?” She questions and I pull up the picture I took of it on my phone, handing her it and she proceeds to read it aloud, mumbling, mostly to herself but I still hold onto each word of my own.

“I gave it to a co-worker of his, he took his break while I was outside the shop writing that.” I inform Sarah and she bobs her head in reply, her brown hair swishing over her face as she did that, some stray bits falling in her face.

“It’s a sweet note. I hope that there won’t be any hard feelings between you both.” She frowns as she turns to look at me.

“Me too… I god, I hope.”

|||

I stop by the cafe every morning, either on my way to work or while I’m just going on a walk. I seem to just miss Dallon each time, our schedules just moments apart from colliding. Isn’t it how sad life can be sometimes?

I get to the record store that I worked at about ten minutes late, my boss is reorganizing some stuff on a shelf. He turns as he heard the chime of the bell tied to the door, sighing as he sees me, “Late… Again. ” He shakes his head.

“Sorry, Joe. Line at the cafe was wicked long. Brought you a coffee though.” I say as I place both of ours on the counter.

“That makes up for it.” He chuckles, “Some guy came in here about ten minutes ago, when you were supposed to be here. He left a jacket for you.”

My stomach drops and my heart sinks when I see my Queen varsity jacket. I just missed Dallon, “ Shit… ” I breathe to myself, “Thanks, Joe.

“No problem my dude.” He replies as he drops all the Pop Vinyl boxes in his arms, they all hit the floor and tumble everywhere, “Goddamn it!”

“Don’t worry about it, I’ll clean it up for you, go get me the new shipment of stuff and start stocking until I finish.”

Joe heads off to the back and I sit on the floor, picking up each box and setting them into a pile on the floor, a neat one so Joe would hopefully just let me leave them there.

The door chimes open and I glance over, only able to see the legs of the person from the tall display case. I just ignore it and continue stacking boxes. The person crosses the room and leaves only a moment later. I could care less, right now I just wanted to get my shift over with.

Joe comes back out, “Who was that?” He asks.

“Don’t know, they came in, walked across the room and left.” I shrug.

“You didn’t greet them?”

“Nope.” I say blankly and Joe lets out a huff.

“You’re an idiot.” He mutters as he places a pile of boxes on the floor. He starts to walk off to go get a few more from the back and stops, “Hey, Brendon, there’s a paper with your name on it over here.” I jump to my feet and run over to him.

My name is scrawled across the paper in somewhat neat handwriting.

Dallon.

“Fuck!” I shout, slamming my palm to my forehead, “Dumbass!”

“What?” Joe says, startled by my outburst.

“Dallon came back and I didn’t even see him! God-fuck!” I yell and Joe looks at me weird.

“What the hell is with you? You’re acting like a fucking loony-bin.” Joe questions, eyeing me over.

“Joe! I kissed that guy! That’s why I have the black eye! He fucking punched me in the face and I- Agh!” I groan again, hitting my forehead a second time.

“Calm down. Just call him or something dude.”

“I don’t have the courage for that!”

“Read the letter, I’m going to get more boxes.” He rolls his eyes and heads off to the back room.

I open the paper and sigh.

Brendon Urie,

Thanks for the jacket, sorry it took so long to get back to you… I’ve been busy.

Thanks again,

~Dal

I drop the paper back to the counter and lean over, resting my head on my arm. I hate everything now.

|||

I enter the cafe, note in hand, at nine-thirty sharp. No Dallon, as always. I order my usual that the girls usually have ready as soon as I walk in.

“Thanks.” I hand Janelle a ten as usual and tell her to keep the change as now I had started getting Joe coffees too, “Could you give this to Dallon, please?” I hand her the note I’d written.

“Of course, Brendon!” She smiles at me and I give her one back.

The words I’d written on the paper reply in my head a hundred times. The picture of it still burned into my mind.

Dallon Weekes,

Thanks for getting that back to me… All that’s missing is my heart… Sorry I missed you yesterday.

Hope our paths cross again soon…

Xx,

~ Bren

I leave with my coffee and make my way to work, showing up just five minutes late, Joe was at the counter and I hand him a coffee.

“Thanks.” He takes a sip and leans back in the old wooden chair. It creaks as he does so and he gets a bit tense for a second.

“No problem.” I nod and clock in and sit down on the floor against the counter, picking at the chipped paint on my nails that my niece insisted on doing.

“How’s Andy? I haven’t seen him in a while.” I glance up at Joe who beams at the name.

“He’s great.” It was so obvious that Joe was crushing pretty hard on him.

“Why don’t you ask him out after work sometime?” I chuckle at the huge grin on his face. That’s how I felt with Dallon.

“No way! What if he says no!?” Joe almost chokes on his coffee.

“He won’t, trust me.” I’ve talked to Andy a lot. He seemed to have just as much of a thing for Joe as Joe did for him.

“How do you know?” Joe presses, “You got punched in the face by that guy you like!”

“‘Cause I can tell that Andy likes you. I just hoped that Dallon liked me too… He didn’t.” I chuckle, rubbing at the back of my neck.

“Fine, I’ll ask tonight I guess…” He sighs.

“Tell me how it goes.”

“Will do.”

|||

I hurry to the coffee shop in the morning, I woke up so late. I had negative twenty-five minutes to get to work. Dallon’s not there as usual I also make sure to get Joe a donut for how late I’m going to end up being.

I was an absolute mess, my alarm clock never went off and I was struggling after being up way too late to watch the sunrise at the park.

I only had a twenty on me when I bought everything so I ended up leaving a probably close to fifteen dollar tip as I dashed out without even thinking of it. I made it to work almost forty minutes late.

“Joe! I am so sorry! Holy shit! My alarm never went off! I am so sorry!” I shout as I dash in and he’s sitting at the counter with Andy on the opposite side.

“Hey, it’s fine with me. You missed that guy by like, two minutes though.” Joe glances over at me.

“He left you this.” Andy holds out the paper as I stumble over to him quickly, panting heavily as I drop the bag of donuts and the coffees on the counter. I snatch the paper from the ginger man and open it.

Brendon Urie,

Looks like we’ve missed each other again. Usually you’re working now but I guess Andy’s working today instead, huh? Oh well… Sorry for missing you.

See you whenever…

~ Dal

Oh, and P.S… You said I could only keep the jacket if I gave you your heart back.

I let out a scream as I read the last sentence, slamming a hand over my mouth to cover my huge smile, Joe almost falls out if his chair I scare him so badly.

“What!? Can you not just scream without warning? Fuck.” He pants.

I throw the note at him, “Read the P.S.” I squeal and he does, handing it to Andy who smiles.

“Good for you dude.” Andy smiles.

“That was cheesy as fuck.” Joe replies.

“Like what you did was any less cheesy than that.” Andy rolls his eyes and Joe turns bright red, “He actually arranged the album's to spell out ‘ Andy let's go out.’ ” He giggles and Joe smacks his arm, “I said yes, of course.” He smiles and so does Joe.

“Cute.” I tell them.

I couldn't wait to get off my shift.

|||

The next morning I'm at the cafe with my note. I didn't have work for the next four days which sucked but it was whatever.

I hand the note and a five to the Jenelle after she gives me the coffee, “Let me guess, it's for Dallon.” She jokes and I nod.

“Thanks, Jen.” I grin, “I'll probably be in more often after tomorrow.” I inform and she smirks knowingly.

“Good. Have a great day, Bren.” She waves as I leave and I wave back.

I’m smiling too much as I read to myself the note again and again in my head.

Dearest Dallon Weekes,

If you’d like to keep my heart (And possibly my jacket) please meet me at the park at one in the morning today (Technically tomorrow). Don’t miss me this time.

See you soon and with my deepest love,

Xx ~ Bren

P.S. Please try not to punch me again even though I slayed with that black eye.

I walk down to the record store, hoping to possibly run into Dallon but I sadly don’t. Joe and Andy jump apart as I enter the shop, assuming I was a customer.

“Ew, get a room.” I groan.

“Why are you even here? You have like a decade off. I don’t need you here to bother me for any longer than you already have this week.”

“I was just stopping in to see if Dallon dropped anything off.” I chuckle.

“Yes, now go home.” He thrusts the note at me as Andy giggles, cheeks bright red.

“Thanks man, see you whenever.”

“Bye.” He grumbles as he goes back to doing some gay shit with Andy. I laugh as I leave and open the note.

Brendon Urie,

I have the next couple weeks off, after today that is (July 15th). Hopefully I’ll be able to catch you at work, Joe said that you were off for the next few days… Pretty sad that I can’t see you for a bit but I’ll come in on Friday I guess.

Talk soon (hopefully)

~ Dal.

I smile. Thank god I thought about bringing that note today. I had no idea what to do until one in the morning, so I went home and took a nap until three in the afternoon.

I ate, not much as I was too anxious and I paced a lot, sang some shit and played on my phone but either way, time passes slower than porn with plot.

By ten that evening I had nothing to do.

“Brendon, what are you doing?” My mother asks as she enters my room where I’m pacing and singing a bit too loud for the time it was.

“Passing time.” I mutter and fall onto my bed.

“Until…?”

“One. I’m going to meet Dallon for McDonalds at one.” I grumble. I’m so bored I couldn’t take it.

“Okay then… Why don’t you watch tv or something?” She suggests.

“Eh.”

“I’m just trying to help. Please keep it down before the neighbors call the cops.” She teases and I grunt in reply. My door closes and I let out a huff, sliding off my bed and to the floor.

I turn my tv on and play a video game for about an hour or so before losing interest and start pacing around again.

I try to read, that fails, I try to write, that fails, I try to sing, that fails.

I was ready to flip out. It was only eleven-thirty. I sit at my keyboard and start just playing whatever and trying to make a melody. I try to turn Dallon Weekes into an actual melody in my head. I bang on the keys for a long time, losing track and only stopping when my alarm went off.

It was finally twelve-thirty.

I grab my Queen jacket and dash out of my room, down the stairs and out the front door. I run all the way there, barely able to breathe when I finally get there, forty-five minutes later.

“You really are always late, huh?” I hear Dallon’s voice chime from the swings. I look up and a smile spreads across my face. He’s on the same swing as he was almost a month ago. I make my way over to the swings slowly, my heart racing as the nerves suddenly hit me now that I was here.

“That’s what I’m known for.” I smile as I drop to sit on the old swing, it squeaks under the weight of me.

“I can tell.” It’s silent for a while as we both watch the sun beginning to rise. It’s so calm and comfortable that it’s almost awkward.

“... So…” I start and Dallon glances over at me.

“So…” He mumbles.

“Why’d you hit me?” I ask suddenly and he’s taken aback by how straightforward I was.

“Uh… Well… It’s just reflex.” He stares at his hand, flexing his fingers and balling them again a few times, “Um, You know I still feel really bad about that… I’m sorry.”

I nod and watch him, “It’s fine.”

“You did look really good with it though.” He chuckles, “I’d be better if I weren’t the cause.”

I smirk, “Why was it a reflex?” I finally ask.

“Uh, well, I’m not good with feelings and I mean, I’ve gotten better with most things, I used to be really violent when people showed me affection. I never got better with stuff like that…” He shrugs.

“So if I kissed you again, right now, would you hit me again?” I ask him and he finally turns to look at me.

“Possibly.”

“I'll take that chance.” I hum as I lean in and press a kiss to his soft mouth, holding onto his hands to prevent another black eye. He laces his fingers with mine. I never knew that he was like that. I knew that he had a rough childhood with a shitty dad.

It makes sense really, his love was reciprocated with violence from his alcoholic mom and his abusive dad. I can tell he doesn't want to act like that and that he knows it's wrong. And right now, he's kissing me and he's trying his hardest to show me he cares. He’s holding my hands and kissing my mouth and he tastes like strawberry and cinnamon sugar.

I pull back and wince, expecting to be hit but he just squeezes my hands, “It’s okay, Bren.” He says, “I won’t hit you. I hate that I made you feel like I will.” He brings his hand up and softly caresses my cheek, “I hate that my reflex is to act like my dad too.” He frowns.

“It’s okay. I know you’re trying.” I mumble, “I get why you act like that too but I know you don’t want to. I also can tell you for a fact that someday you won’t do it anymore. Is that the only thing that makes you react badly?”

“Yeah, I stopped the other things because you’re so touchy-feely that it just went away.” He admits.

“See, and now I’ll help you get rid of this one.” I kiss him again and he flinches, grabbing my hands again and I smile. It’s so cute, just like him. I pull back again after a bit, “Promise you’ll still leave me notes at work?”

“Only if you do that for me too.” He says and reaches into the inside pocket of my jacket, pulling out a small, folded paper, “I knew you wouldn’t see this.”

“What is that?” I take it from him and unfold it.

Brendon Urie,

You owe me one heart now that I have returned the jacket.

Sorry I hit you.

With love,

~ Dal ♥

P.S. Please go on a date with me? xx

“Yes.” I smile at him and peck him on the cheek which puts a tiny grin on his lips.

We sit on the swings, hand in hand and watch the sunrise. Together.

[buckykingofmemes]

ice cream man answers

(you guys sent in so many asks im posting all my answers to the ones you asked at once, so i dont take up your whole dashboard.)

chocolate marshmallow: favorite brands of candy? not sure about brands, but i tried pop rocks and they changed everything i knew about reality and what food is

peach: how do you relax? sometimes i fight nazis. thats a nice way to vent steam. petting dogs or cats or birds or literally any other animal is a winner every time. making food is a good because its constructive and at the end i get food. sometimes steve and i go running. but not early in the morning because mornings are terrible.

coffee: favorite cosmetic brands? i dont wear much makeup but pepper breaks out some sephora stuff when we have to go on tv? i like OPI nail polish.

birthday cake: favorite books? i recently read and loved the harry potter books. im a hufflepuff, just so you know.  (Mod Hell loves the Dresden Files, pretty much everything by David Webber or Robin McKinley or Tamora Pierce)

french vanilla: how old are you? buddy, i dont fuckin know anymore. a little under 100, by the books, but how the heck am i supposed to count the cryofreze?

(Mod Hell: I regularly forget my own age, but I’m pretty sure I’m 24)

fudge: turn offs? nazis. really not into nazis. 

chocolate: when was your first kiss? i was…7, probably. grade school sometime. me and stevie saved this girl mary from a real jerk of a bully and she kissed both of us, one right after the other. sent stevie straight into an asthma attack, poor kid. but she was both of our first kisses.

neapolitan: things that stress you out? public speaking. steve inside any aircraft. trains. not having any weaponry. bad hair days.

bubblegum: books or movies? totally depends om my mood. movies, maybe, because they can be more of a group activity, but dont require a ton of social interaction.and the novelty of being able to watch films in your own home hasnt quite worn off.  but i do like to read a lot.

toasted coconut: the beach or the pool? my beach experiences involve either a lot of 1. storming +fighting nazis or 2. sand in my cool robot arm,  which is not fun. so pools. even though im not buoyant enough to float anymore so i wear swim fins on my left arm.

mint chocolate chip: indoors or outdoors? outdoors, when the weather is right.

moose tracks: favorites for manga? orange sherbet: favorites for anime? i read fullmetal alchemist.and then watched the anime. all of it. it was really good, although i feel like clint only showed it to me because of the robot arm thing. its the only manga or anime ive experienced so far, but i really liked it!

blueberry lemon: favorite blogs? i love @iguanamouth‘s crazy animals, and i follow a couple knitting blogs, as well as @dailybadjokes, just so i have some really terrible puns to use when nat breaks out her dad jokes.

superman: do you like sweaters? do i like sweaters. friend, i live in sweaters. i haveta knit em special though so they dont have a left sleeve because otherwise the plates in my arm catch on the knit.

blackberry: have you ever laughed so hard you cried? yes. the first time steve tried out the vibranium shield he missed the rebound and hit himself in the head with the flat side. he flew a good six feet through the air, knocked himself clean out. it was beautiful. i was crying. howard fell over, he was laughing so hard.

cherry: do you drink tea or coffee? yes. it is how i am alive. 

raspberry truffle: favorite kind of music? i have a hard time with this one because im still learning so much about modern music. me and thor like listening to heavy metal, and i like tonys classic rock n’ roll, but im also really fond of the music of the 30s and 40s, the stuff i grew up with. 

praline: a popular book you haven’t read yet? i havent gotten to game of thrones yet. people keep telling me such and such a character is gonna die, but im not sure how they can have that many dead characters and still have enough people for a book.

(Mod Hell has not, and never will, read Fifty Shades of Grey)

toffee: a card game that you’re good at? so far, all of them. but rummy is my game, friends. i will kick anyones ass at rummy.

(Mod Hell has an inexplicable affinity for Up the River/Down the River. And Irish Poker, if you wanna count that as a card game)

mango: when and why did you start your blog? my therapist recommended i write about things that were happening in my life, and mentioned that blogging was a good way to do so. i dont think this was quite what she had in mind, but here we all are, so... anyways, this blog was started on october 10th, 2016.

rocky road: favorite songs at the moment? can i count the entire discography of pink floyd? tony recently introduced me to them and they’re pretty great.

(Mod Hell has been enjoying Down Like Silver’s Wolves, because my taste in music is very very morbid)

butter pecan: favorite songs for life? this is a hard one. lately i have been enjoying fleurie’s ‘soldier’ because im a cliche sonovabitch 

strawberry: a language you wish you could speak?

dog. do dogs talk? not sure but if they do i want in.

butterscotch: what color are your nails right now? uhh... silver on the left, none on the right? except for my right pinkie, which is black because thor accidentally set his hammer down on my fingertip. so theres a blood blister there. gross. but they were red last week. me an nat had a nail night. 

(Mod Hell is rocking a matte black and gold french manicure. I’m getting good at those!)

mint: the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done?one time me an the howlies were having a night on the town and i drunkenly forgot steve was huge and i tried to pick him up (i mean literally lift him. i wasnt hitting on steve) because i thought he was still tiny.  i failed. steve did not budge at all.  and in the process of trying to regain my balance i overcompensated and fell into the thames. which wouldnt have been so bad if all the howlies and the girls we were with hadnt been right there laughing at me. its probably not the most embarrassing thing ive ever done but its the first that comes to mind.

 (Mod Hell accidentally flashed a lifeguard once, so quickly I was never sure if he actually saw or not. Still super embarrassing.)

green tea: favorite flavors of ice cream? yes. all of them. now, please.

(Mod Hell:  chocolate chip: what’s your most popular post?  If you’re counting this blog, the “new years resolution: 1080p” post got picked up by a couple bigger blogs and is the frontrunner at 21,000+ notes. Original posts at hellenhighwater usually fade out at like 20 notes. So there’s a bit of a gap there.

Mod Hell: black raspberry: do you have any pets? Oh man yeah. I have two cats, Nimitz and Yamamoto. Nim is small and black and puffy and made primarily of homicidal urges. She is the Terror of the Underbrush; the Reaper and Eater of Souls. Yamamoto is 23 pounds of superbly useless cat. Her favorite activity is slowly petting the stair banister post with her paw. I also have a mated pair of domestic Violet Ringneck doves named Vexation and Vendetta who live in my bedroom, though I’ll be building them an outdoor coop to vacation to in the summer. Vex and Ven are the most wonderful idiots. They live life like it’s a spanish soap opera. Everything is very dramatic and seductive and not in a language I understand.)