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foodatfirstsight · 4 years ago

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3 Viral TikTok Food Recipes You Need To Try Out

by Minal Faisal

Ever since the world was hit by the deadly pandemic, bored individuals from all over the world have been finding ways to pass their time. From binge-watching shows on Netflix, to spending time surfing on their social media sites, to watching countless of videos on YouTube, to baking in their kitchens as well as using the free time to stay physically fit at home.

But one thing that has taken the world by storm during this lockdown is the craze for cooking. Individuals from all around the world have been cooking up a storm in their kitchens – and most of the credit has to be given to the viral app of TikTok. People from all walks of life (such as foodies and professional cooks) have been sharing their food journey and recipes on this site to not only entertain others but also motivate them to get in the kitchen.

Ever since TikTok launched in 2017, it has turned into a fantastic time sucker. Once you start scrolling, you cannot stop. The next thing you know, thirty minutes of your life have gone in a blink of an eye as you watched clips of laughing babies, dance challenges, catchy point of views and more. But that is not all! There is a dedicated section of the app which thrives on easy, fun, easy-to-follow home recipes which literally anyone can attempt to do, even a beginner like me! Some might disregard these videos as myths or not doable but trust me, these recipes are totally worth trying out!

I’ve brought you 3 TikTok recipes that you can easily try out at home with the basic essentials you most probably will have in your kitchen. Not only are they delicious but they’re also a great way to spend your days in lockdown learning a new skill! So without wasting any time, let’s fall in the world of TikTok and get cooking.

Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie

Craving for something sweet but you don’t have flour, the essential baking ingredient? Well, don’t you worry because I’ve got the right recipe for you. In this TikTok, @everydaychiffon shows how you can make quick and easy –to-do Flourless Peanut Butter Cookie with ingredients that you already have in your pantry.

Her recipe became viral instantly and now has over 6 million views. Here is how you can make these scrumptious cookies!

Ingredients:

1 cup light brown sugar

1 cup peanut butter

1 egg

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ cup chocolate chips.

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 2 baking sheets or line with parchment paper.

Stir together sugar, peanut butter, egg and baking soda in a medium bowl. Fold in chocolate chips. Divide cookie dough into 12 balls on prepared baking sheets using a cookie scoop. Freeze for 10 minutes, if desired.

Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes.

Cool cookies on baking sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer to wire racks, and let cool completely, about 10 minutes.

Serving Size: 12 cookies

Dalgona Coffee

If you’re an avid Instagram user like me, then you must have come across pictures of this sensational, frothy and creamy drink that everyone is raving about – Dalgona Coffee. This drink has exploded all over the social media sites. If you haven’t tried it then what are you even doing?

This yummy drink, also known as the ‘creamy coffee’ comes from the beautiful country of South Korea. The drink is so smooth, creamy and tasty that it will definitely make you forget all about your favourite cappuccinos and lattes and I assure you that the next time you need to whip up a quick, morning drink; you’ll be rushing to make this delicious, fluffy, frothy goodness. The best part? The recipe only requires 3 ingredients! And you can easily add variations according to your preference such as chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, sprinkles, marshmallows etc.

Here is how you can join the bandwagon and create your own Dalgona Coffee:

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. granulated sugar

2 tbsp. instant coffee

2 tbsp. cold water

Ice, for serving

Milk, for serving

Steps:

Take a medium bowl and use it to combine sugar, coffee, and water.

Using a hand mixer or a whisk, vigorously whisk until the mixture turns silky smooth and shiny, then continue whisking until it thickens and holds its lofty, foamy shape. (If you’re whisking by hand, then it will take 8 to 12 minutes to get to the creamy and optimal fluffiness.)

Once the mixture is nice and thick, take a glass and fill it all the way up with ice. Add milk according to your preference, and then top it off with a dollop of the mixture.

Stir the coffee, and enjoy!

Serving size: 1 person

Pancake Cereal

Are you the type of person who loves to eat cereal and pancakes for breakfast? What if I tell you that there is something even better than that? What if you can take both and combine into one delicious meal? Yes, that’s right – say hello to Pancake Cereal! Thanks to the numerous videos going around on TikTok and Instagram, this drool-worthy recipe has become viral on social media.

You can consider this version a miniature version of your regular, traditional pancakes. From the outside, they are crispy and from the inside they are fluffy. Probably the best part about this is that you can eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is also a fun activity to pass the time at home by yourself, your family or your children while we all are locked at our homes facing this terrible pandemic because let’s face it, we definitely need a distraction to change our monotonous routine.

If you already have a pancake mix, then you can skip the batter making steps, but if you don’t, here is how you can get your hands on these tiny, adorable pancakes!

Ingredients:

1 to 1.5 cups flour (adjust batter consistency to your liking)

1/2 cup yoghurt

3 to 5 tbsp milk (adjust batter consistency to your liking)

1 egg

1/2 tsp baking powder

Steps:

Mix wet ingredients in one bowl

Mix dry ingredients in another bowl

Combine wet and dry ingredients

Put mixture into piping bag (use a ziplock if you don’t have one, snip off the corner)

Set your pan on low heat and add some butter

Squeeze batter onto pan in small circles

Cook each side for about 1 minute

Once they’re done, you can put them in a bowl, and add any topping you like. (i.e butter, syrup, or even drown the pancake in milk)

Serving size: 2 people

There you have it – three viral, easy-to-make, fun and Instagram worthy recipes from TikTok that you can make at home if you’re feeling bored during this lockdown. If you do make them, don’t forget to tag @foodatfirstsight in your pictures!

Until next time, happy cooking!

#tiktok #viral #cooking #food #happy #love #yummy #delicious #homemade #dalgona coffee #pancake cereal #peanut butter cookies

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fanfoolishness · 5 years ago

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Full Disclosure (Steven Universe)

(As Steven runs out of other people’s problems to solve, he’ll finally have to face his own. Set after the events of the Steven Universe movie. Angst, PTSD, high-functioning depression, dealing with old traumas and fearing potential new ones, Connverse, love, and a little bit of hope. 4660 words, also on AO3.

A companion piece, ice cream sundaes, is from Greg’s perspective, and examines some of the aftermath. See Growing Things for the sequel to both stories. )

***

The day is light and bright and breezy, the scent of flowers on the air. Far below Steven hears birdsong, faint and lovely in the distance. Amethyst and Garnet behind him avidly watch the fight.

He’s babbling, desperate for attention, and Pearl tries to be patient with him. He can see in her face so clearly now the annoyance, the irritation. Light flashes, sun on steel.

He knows what’s going to happen, but he keeps chattering to her, stupid questions and childish wants streaming out of his mouth. Why can’t he warn her, why can’t he stop, why can’t he just be quiet --

The sword drives through Pearl’s chest, glittering in the sunlight, and it’s only then that he gasps himself awake.

***

“Steven!” Pearl said brightly as the temple door opened. “You’re up so early.”

Steven managed a shrug, watching the coffee brew. He wished he could swing by the Big Donut for something to have with it, but it was still two hours before the shop opened. “Uh, you know what they say. The early bird gets the worm.”

“Drinking coffee and eating worms?” Pearl asked in confusion. “Garnet said you would be going through some changes at this age, but she didn’t say anything about worms.”

“No, no, I’m not really eating worms,” he reassured her. He poured the coffee into his old Cookie Cat thermos and added several heaping teaspoons of sugar. “I’m just… trying to get an early start for training. I’ll see you later, Pearl.”

“I’m proud of you, Steven, making sure to stay on top of your training. After all, Spinel took us all by surprise. We can’t have that again! Would you like some company?” she asked. She smiled warmly at him, and he saw the blade, glinting as her gem fell to the ground.

“No, I -- I was going to work on some basics alone. But thanks,” he said hurriedly.

Her lilting “I love you, Steven!” followed him through the warp stream to the Sky Arena. He stumped up the steps and sat at the far end of the arena, barely shivering in the predawn chill. He drank his coffee and blinked back sleep, watching the sun spill gold and orange and pink in fiery glory, and he told himself, It was a long time ago.

So why did it still bother him?

***

Amethyst’s voice is a backwards gurgle, her eyes mismatched and fearful. Steven bends over her, trying not to look at her limbs all stretched and wrong, trying to feel the tears he knows are there just beneath the surface. He cries all the time -- he’s such a little kid still -- and yet he can’t seem to do it now when it matters.

Rose Quartz looms above him in grayish stone and browning thorns. He wonders what this place looked like when she was here: beautiful and safe, pink and green, filled with the scent of roses. They miss her so much. Steven gazes up at her, at her smile held in a peaceful rictus, and he knows in the pit of his stomach that he will never be able to make it up to them.

“I’m sorry, Amethyst,” he croaks, and the crack in her gem spreads, split, fractures --

***

He woke up with a start, breathing hard. He sat up straight and scrubbed his hand across his face, trying to slow his breathing back down. It’s fine. She’s fine. I could heal her now. He turned on his lamp and rolled out of bed, turning on his television and game system.

“Steven?” asked Amethyst some time later, fluttering up from the dark staircase as an owl and landing beside him on the bed. “Hey dude, I know we’re supposed to give you more privacy now, but I thought I heard you playing Lonely Blade VII. That’s totally the best one, so I get it, but aren’t you usually asleep now?” She switched back to her normal form, looking suspicious.

“Hey, Amethyst,” said Steven, fighting a yawn. “I’ve been meaning to go back and replay this. I, uh, saw a guide that said there were all sorts of Easter eggs I missed. So I’m going back through and trying to find them all. It’s a completionist run.”

“I don’t see any eggs,” said Amethyst, peering at the screen. Lonely Blade executed a flawless triple backflip scorpion kick, sending his evil twin flying into a stack of barrels for an extra skill point.

“Not that kind of Easter egg,” Steven chuckled. “They mean in-jokes. References to other stuff. But come on. I can switch to multiplayer if you’re up for a challenge.”

“Oh, I will destroy you,” she said, settling in beside him. “But I heard growing young adults were supposed to sleep a lot, and you look pretty tired. I could come back and kick your butt later if you need to get some rest.” She shrugged. “Besides, I thought you loved sleeping. How long have you been playing this?”

“Just a little bit,” Steven said. It wasn’t really a lie: on the level of Gem existence, four hours wasn’t long at all. “Anyway, maybe I don’t love sleep as much as I used to. I’m evolving, Amethyst.” He said it in such a lofty voice that she snorted.

“See if you can evolve past my lightning fists!” She grabbed a controller. They played on into the morning, until the sun flared in the east and filled his room with golden light. They played match after match, Steven getting tired and fumbling on the buttons, but he knew there’d be no more rest for him today. Amethyst laughed at her victories, and Steven watched the screen until it blurred.

It’s fine. She’s fine.

I’m fine.

***

Jasper towers over him, roaring, a destabilizer crackling in her hand. Garnet’s face is determined, her fists raised, her back straight and strong. She always protects him, she always takes care of him, she --

Yellow lines spark across her body, creeping, inching, writhing. And she falls, her face showing only a sudden surprise as she vanishes, Ruby and Sapphire’s gems looking so small in the sand. Steven scrabbles in it, his hands tearing into the grains, trying to back away. He tries to make another shield, but he’s drained, paralyzed, weak. His mind is blank, his only sensation sheer buzzing panic, and Jasper turns to him with a triumphant grin --

***

“It looks like there’s room for one more,” said Garnet kindly. Steven shook his head, blinking rapidly, and realized he’d fallen asleep at one of the tables outside the Big Donut. Garnet rested a hand on his shoulder, Sapphire’s silver band glittering on her ring finger, and he remembered that Jasper’s attack was more than three years ago.

“Always,” he said, unsettled. “Sorry I fell asleep.” He remembered his coffee and donuts on the table next to him, and drained the cup of coffee in one gulp. It had gone cold.

“I knew you would,” said Garnet, smiling and taking a seat beside him. Her visor hid her eyes, but he knew by her tone that she was winking.

She doesn’t know, he told himself. It’s future vision, not psychic vision. “I guess I can’t fool you,” he said, trying to make his face look something like happy.

“Don’t work too hard,” she said gently. “We need you, Steven.”

He swallowed, his mouth dry, and nodded mechanically. “I know.” The smile he finally managed felt stretched and thin, but she seemed to believe it. He busied himself eating his donuts. They tasted like sawdust.

***

Don’t fall asleep --

Dad panicking in his van with the wreckage of Jasper’s ship all around them, hit with the weight that he could have lost his only family, and Steven horrified, wondering why he’s never realized before how serious this all is.

Bismuth’s face with Rose’s sword piercing through her, Steven’s hands shaking on the blade, the guilt boiling through him more painful than the burns on his feet. He staggers as Bismuth sags against him, as she poofs and her gem clatters to the ground. The lava surges beneath his feet, and the sweat and tears he sheds evaporate before they hit the floor.

Wake up --

He throws Eyeball into the void of space, but he can’t watch as she vanishes. He gasps, trying to calm himself after their sudden battle. His heart pounds. His bubble shrinks around him smaller than it has ever been before, his breath growing thin and scanty, and all around him is nothing but the cold certainty that he will never, ever be found.

Stevonnie is falling, falling, knowing that they’ll die unless Steven can get out of his own head, but how can he? Rose’s crimes become his own, bleeding into his hands and his choices. He’s done so many terrible things even when he tries to do his best, and they crowd into his mind, the guilt overwhelming --

Please wake up --

Greg’s taken and stolen for the zoo, scared and alone because Steven had to see, Steven had to fight with the Gems, Steven had to know for himself; Connie and Jamie and Lars and Sadie and Onion, all of them captured and frightened, and all of it Steven’s fault, not Rose’s, it’s his --

Then there’s Lars, hitting the stone column with a horrible dull sound, hitting the ground with a softer one. No, please, not this, Steven thinks, but he can’t escape the way Lars lies there, limp and somehow small. Steven does what no one else can do, what maybe no one should do, his tears on Lars’ face; and in his ears, the slow, slow, slow drum of Lars’ heart.

Please --

***

Steven’s fingers slid up and down the guitar neck, and he leaned into the buzzing of his fingertips, the growl of the guitar in his ears. It was hard to think while he focused on playing along with Greg’s lead. He’d always liked losing himself in music, but now it seemed more important than ever. He played with his dad, his mind finally quiet for a little while, the ocean breeze cool on his face.

Then his hand slipped. A tangle of sour notes. He scowled at the clash between his dad’s melody and his own accompaniment.

Normally, he’d just keep playing through it. That had always been Greg’s advice -- keep the rhythm, and the audience was unlikely to notice an off note. He knew that, but his hands fell to his sides anyway, unable to play through the error.

Greg continued on for two bars before his playing trailed off, too. “Schtu-ball? Need to take a break?”

Steven gave his dad a wan half-grin. “Yeah, maybe. Fingers getting tongue-tied.” Reluctantly he turned down the volume, unplugged his guitar, and set it back carefully into the van.

“Happens to all of us,” Greg said, putting his own guitar away. “Something bothering you, kiddo? You seem a little far away.”

Steven opened his mouth, searching for the words. He didn’t even know where he would start.

Dad, I’ve been having nightmares about stuff that happened years ago. Gem stuff I never told you about -- But he imagined Greg’s face, falling as he realized Steven hadn’t trusted him enough to tell him, and Steven closed his mouth again. He knew he couldn’t handle seeing the hurt in Greg’s eyes. He searched for something else to say.

“Do you ever think about the future, Dad?”

“Sure, Steven,” said Greg, looking curious and a little concerned. “Do you?”

Steven stared at his hands. They were soft, young, smooth, no scars or lines to mar their surface. They showed no sign of ever having held a sword or thrown a punch. Then again, would they ever?

He glanced at Greg’s hands, noting wrinkles, a few freckles, tan lines, an old scar over one thumb. “Garnet can see possibilities. But she doesn’t know which one is going to happen… only the possibility that makes the most sense with the information she has.” His fingers twisted, folding into each other in his lap. “No one knows what’s going to happen to me, do they? You said it yourself. There’s never been anyone like me.”

Greg put a hand over Steven’s. It was calloused and strong. “That’s not a bad thing.” He gave Steven a smile. “I didn’t know what would happen when I met your mom, but look at how things turned out. The Gems are finally free. You know how to use your mom’s powers, but you’re also an incredible human being. I hope you know how proud I am, kiddo.” He reached out and tousled Steven’s hair.

Steven sighed. “What would I do without you, Dad?” He smiled back at his dad, but suddenly Greg wasn’t Greg. He was pink. Dark eyes stared out of pink skin, pale pink hair falling around him like a shroud.

Steven shook his head frantically, trying to clear the vision. Greg looked at him, puzzled, normal as ever with his ruddy tan and his graying hair.

What would I do without you, Dad?

Maybe I wouldn’t let you go.

“Thanks,” he said quickly, giving his dad a hug. “I just remembered -- I said I’d meet up with Connie. See you tomorrow?”

“Oh!” said Greg, clearly surprised. “Of course. But Steven -- if you need to talk, you know your old man’s always here for you.”

Are you supposed to be? Is that allowed? Would you -- would you even want that?

Steven hurried down the sidewalk back to the beach, hands jammed in his pockets, trying to remember the quiet space he’d been in while playing music. He hummed the melody Greg had been playing, but stumbled over it.

He reached for a different song. Take a moment to think of just --

But instead he thought of Lion. How long were lions supposed to live? How old was Lion, really? How old could he become? What if there was no limit?

He thought of Lars, and he heard that slow, deep heartbeat again. He thought of two trees in rolling pink fur beneath a sunless sky. He thought of more trees rising, a tree for Greg, for Connie, for the Maheswarens, for Sadie, enough trees to cover Beach City, and he wasn’t sure which would be worse.

Two trees lonely in a pink void, or a pink forest stretching infinite.

****

Connie’s face is cold, her body stiff as she turns away on Lion’s back. She rides into the early moonlight, the sinking sun behind her, until she vanishes through Lion’s roar.

Come back! I’m sorry! he wants to scream, but instead he sees her face upturned as she treads water, hears her shouting for him to jump down, to not leave her, to let her help him.

Her sword clangs against Pearl’s spear, then flies from her hands to spin across the white floor. Pearl holds her tightly in an embrace she can’t escape --

She bends before him, a knight offering her service, lower and less than --

She holds him as they fall together, as he sobs, and her arms around him feel like they’re the only thing keeping him from going crazy --

The dream shifts. He stands on the sand, watching the waves lap against his bare toes. The ocean is drenched in pink and gold.

“I didn’t want this,” says Connie, and she stands beside him. But the pink in her hair and skin doesn’t come from the setting sun. “You should have let me --” She reaches out, touching his cheek, then lets her pink hand fall. The sinking sun reflects in her dark eyes, twin fires falling into a black sea, and the tears streak her face.

“I couldn’t let you go,” Steven says, fighting a growing panic, a sickening knowledge. “I had to save you.”

“But what am I?” she asks, laying his hand on her chest. Beneath his palm he feels her heartbeat.

One. A long, agonizing silence. Two. “Steven, what did you do to me?”

***

The mornings began to look alike, bleeding and blurring into one another, the routine becoming second nature. Wake up too early. Drink too much coffee. Shower and shave. Stomachache (from too much coffee). Get dressed. Stay awake.

Stay awake.

The mornings were the same, but the days were different. There was always something more to do, ways to help, problems to fix. Things he could distract himself with, at least during the day. He lived for that.

He walked through Little Homeworld, stopping to speak to the uncorrupted Gems, visiting Nephrite and her crew the most. He spoke with the Diamonds regularly, giving updates, checking in to make sure they weren’t getting into trouble. Spinel was always eager to see him when he called. He trained with Pearl and Garnet and Amethyst, Peridot and Lapis and Bismuth. They were always so happy to see him, so proud of all he’d done.

He walked the streets of Beach City, visiting his dad, seeing Lars and Sadie and the rest of his friends. He chatted with Bill Dewey and Mayor Nanefua. He ate the bits.

He worked on Beach City soil, trying to regrow the life Spinel’s injector had snuffed. It was coming along nicely. He thought there’d be another few weeks at most for life to come back and for the patchiness of the returning plants to fill in. There’d always be more work to do, but this was work that had an endpoint. He could deal with that.

Of course, he spent time with Connie. Sometimes they trained, separately and as Stevonnie. He made sure during those times to lock up the dreams and push them back; he worked hard to think of flexibility, love and trust, instead of... other things. It worked, and Stevonnie trained hard, growing stronger all the time.

Sometimes Steven and Connie relaxed. They’d put on silly shows or laugh at how bad the Dogcopter movies were in retrospect (though they still had a soft spot for them). They played board games with the Gems and listened to music with Greg. Sometimes, they just spent time being, and when Connie would announce she was hitting her curfew, he was always surprised at how fast the time went.

He and Connie talked late into the days as spring began to shift and summer hinted at its return. They hugged more than they used to, held hands when they didn’t need to, and sometimes Connie rested her head on his shoulder in a way that made him dizzy. He didn’t know what to call it, yet, but he knew he loved her more than ever, and he knew she felt the same.

“Are you all right, Steven?” Connie asked one night beneath the stars; she’d been working on her homework, stretched out on the floor, and he’d been idly working on a song. She finished packing up her backpack, but she didn’t put it on.

“Of course,” he said reflexively, but his fingers paused on his guitar. “Uh, why are you asking?”

She left her backpack behind and scooted over to where he was sitting. “I don’t know,” she said honestly. She rested one hand on his guitar, nudging against his until their fingers laced together. “Something just feels off.”

“With me?” he asked, his heart pounding. He hoped she couldn’t hear it.

“Maybe.” She gazed at him, her free hand pushing her hair behind her ear, smoothing it again and again. She bit her lip. “You just seem so tired, Steven. And I can’t figure out why.”

He chuckled nervously. “I’ve just been doing a lot. Training, and repairing the damage from the injector, and talking to the Diamonds, and helping at Little Homeworld -- I’ve been busy! I guess it’s catching up to me. That’s all.”

Connie nodded to herself, looking sad. She leaned against him, warm, solid, familiar. Her voice was gentle. “Look, I know something’s up. I was hoping you wanted to tell me about it, but maybe you’re not ready. It’s okay if you need to think stuff over… but it’s also okay to ask for help.” She wiped at her eyes. “When you are ready, please talk to me. Jam buds, remember?”

Steven squeezed her hand. He took a deep breath, one, then another. “Jam buds. Forever.”

The silence between them pulsed, a beat all its own.

He didn’t trust himself to speak past the lump in his throat. Instead he put aside his guitar, wrapped his arms around her, and held her as tight as he could.

***

He’s back on Homeworld. All around him is pink and pink and pink, his hands in Pink Diamond’s gloves, the walls of her tower miles high above him. He’s the lost, the lonely, the little again, helpless and hapless.

Stevonnie is joyful, sudden, sublime, and yet they’re thrown to the ground like so much trash, trapped in a tower with no food or water, and when they separate, there’s fear, fear, fear --

A flash of white at the edge of his vision, Yellow and Blue screaming silently as White takes them over, Pearl and Garnet and Amethyst paling, stripped of their color, their beauty, their flaws, and all of them smiling that knowing smile --

He’s weightless in White’s hand, pulled up so fast through the air he almost vomits. He can’t move. Can’t speak. His bubble shivers and shatters before it can even form.

Her nails shine in her own light, glinting blackest black and blinding white. They click against his gem, sharp on its edges, and the sensation is chalkboard scratches felt in his bones, his gut, his soul.

She pulls — she twists — this isn’t happening --

She plucks his gem from the core of him, and soundlessly he screams. And screams.

It hurts and it doesn’t. It’s a wound and a lack and a missing that empties him of everything he’s ever been. So small an action for her -- and yet she’s pithed him of everything Steven. There is nothing left.

“Please,” he whispers, slumped on the ground. His heart stutters in his chest, forgetting itself. He reels, sick with the loss, and he begs her, begs anyone who will listen. “I -- I need it --” He’s so small without this -- so, so weak.

This is what dying feels like --

***

He didn’t understand that he was awake at first; he was gasping, panting under the covers of his bed. His hand clawed at his gem. Please, please, please be there. He gripped it hard, and it was warm and sure, secure, part of him the way it always had been. Except for —

Steven was still for a moment, his fingers resting against his gem. Then he started sobbing.

He sobbed so hard his chest hurt, raw cries that his hands barely muffled. He didn’t know how long he cried. All he knew was that when he finally quieted, his eyes were swollen and his throat was sore. He shook all over.

Why can’t I stop this? he thought miserably, his head pounding. Dreams used to help me!

Once, his dreams had been useful. They’d shown him Pink’s memories, Malachite’s battles, the Cluster’s mind. They’d helped him aid Kiki and Lars. They’d given him what he needed to call for help on Homeworld. They’d shown him problems he hadn’t named, shown him what he needed to solve them. And when they’d done so, then they’d change once more to silly Steven dreams, simple things that made him smile instead of weep. He missed those dreams. Missed sleep. Missed rest.

He bowed over himself, his breathing still ragged, head spinning. Why did he keep dreaming these unbearable things --

He froze, an awful chill running through him.

I’m the problem.

There was a warm whuff of air against his ear. Blearily Steven looked up, and in the shadows and the moonlight he made out Lion’s face.

Lion nudged Steven’s shoulder. Steven leaned his head against Lion’s, reaching out and stroking his mane. The fur was soft on his fingertips.

“Lion,” he whispered. The words didn’t want to come. “Lion, I’m scared.” The words faded into the quiet room, falling away. Lion’s purr was a low rumble, a familiar comfort.

Steven reached for his phone with a shaky hand. He leaned hard against Lion as it rang.

Two, three, four rings. Then a click, and Connie’s voice, tired but sharpened by fear. “Steven? Steven, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

A beat. “No,” he confessed, his voice cracking. “I’m not okay, Connie.”

“What happened? Are you hurt? What’s going on?”

“Nothing… happened… it’s just, it’s me, Connie, something’s wrong with me.” The words hurt, but he couldn’t stop them now. They came out in a frantic rush. “It’s like I’m sick or something. I can’t sleep. I just keep seeing all of it again, everything horrible that’s ever happened to me, everything horrible I’ve ever done. It’s so real and I can’t get away from it. And I worry about you and Dad and everyone… but I don’t want any of you to ever worry about me, because I’m supposed to protect you, that’s what I’m for. I can’t let anyone down. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.”

He gripped Lion’s mane hard enough that his hand ached from the effort. “I know you said once it was okay to think about the bad things, but I can’t, Connie, it’s too much.” He was crying again. “I’m sorry.”

Silence. He knew it. He’d messed up again. He should never have scared her like this --

“Steven Quartz Universe,” she said, and though her voice trembled, there was steel beneath it. “Send Lion to me right now. I’ll be there as soon as I can. And we’re gonna get through this, okay? Because I love you, and your dad loves you, and the Gems love you. We’ll take care of you, Steven, all of us. Because that’s what we’re for.”

“Okay,” he whispered. Lion glanced at him, and Steven nodded. With a roar Lion vanished into the dark.

Dully Steven ended the call, set aside his phone, and turned on his lamp. He squinted at the sudden brightness and brushed the water out of his eyes. It was all he had time to do before there came another roar.

Lion knelt so Connie could dismount. She was still in her pajamas, her hair in a messy ponytail, her face flushed. Tears shone on her face in the lamplight. “Oh, Steven.”

“Connie…”

And then she was beside him on the edge of the bed, holding him tight, her arms strong but soft around him as they both cried. That was how the Gems found them the next morning; it was how Greg saw them after Pearl called and told him to come; it was how they remained through tears, and time, and talking. Steven wasn’t sure how long they spoke, but the sun was high when he finally stopped.

They sat in silence, deep in thought. Steven’s head rested on Connie’s shoulder, her arms still around him. Greg sat beside him, rubbing Steven’s back with one hand the way he used to when Steven was little. Lion was curled on the bed, purring but awake. Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl sat on the rug in front of them, all of them fighting back tears.

Steven let out a long breath, managing a faint smile. “I love you guys, you know,” he said hoarsely.

“We know,” said Garnet, all three eyes sad but gentle.

“Of course we do, Steven,” Pearl said. She rubbed at her face, wiping away tears.

Amethyst sniffed. “We love you, dude.”

“This’ll take time, kiddo,” said Greg. His face was blotchy, his eyes red and swollen. “But we’re all here to help. I’m just glad you told us.”

Connie kissed his forehead. “It’s gonna be okay, Steven. Maybe not today or tomorrow. But it will be.”

Steven didn’t reply. He had fallen asleep, his head safe on Connie’s shoulder; and his sleep was sweet, and dark, and dreamless.

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experiencenaturetoday · 4 years ago

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Ready for a slice of heaven? We are no stranger to decadent and rich cakes. But what about a cake recipe where butter, fat, and egg yolks run away in fright? Meet angel food cake. Angel food cake is a low fat cake recipe made mostly from egg whites, cake flour, and sugar. It’s pristine white on the inside with a chewy light brown crumb around the exterior. What it lacks in butter makes up for in texture. This tall, tender, and timeless cake has a cloud-like crumb and ultra light flavor.

You only need 6 ingredients to make angel food cake. With so little ingredients, understand that each one is imperative to the cake’s final taste and texture. Here’s the breakdown:

Granulated Sugar: The recipe begins with granulated sugar. Pulse it in a food processor to create superfine sugar. Superfine sugar’s granules are the best size to provide optimal structure for angel food cake. It’s not as coarse as granulated sugar and not as fine as confectioners’ sugar. Granulated sugar is simply too coarse, while confectioners’ sugar dissolves too quickly in the egg whites.

Cake Flour: Cake flour is a low protein flour and yields a tender angel food cake. Do not use all-purpose flour because the cake will taste like white bread…! In a pinch, you can use this cake flour substitute. But real cake flour is ideal.

Salt: Adds flavor.

Egg Whites: You’ll notice there’s no baking powder or baking soda. The egg whites are actually the sole leavening ingredient providing all the cake’s rise. Use freshly separated eggs because they aerate the best. Carton egg whites or egg whites that have been frozen won’t expand as much during the whipping process, which will negatively affect the rise of your cake. You’ll have a lot of leftover egg yolks, so make some lemon curd and serve it with the cake!

Cream of Tartar: Cream of tartar is an acid and stabilizes the whipped egg whites, just as it does in my chocolate swirled meringue cookies too. Without it, the cake would collapse. Other acids, such as lemon juice, can work but they aren’t nearly as effective. Cream of tartar is found in the spice aisle and is actually a common baking ingredient. I have many recipes calling for it!

Vanilla Extract: Adds flavor.

How to Make Perfect Angel Food Cake

I’m confident this will be the most perfect angel food cake to ever hit your lips. We can’t achieve angel food cake perfection for free, so make sure you follow these steps closely.

Pulse the granulated sugar into superfine sugar. Use a food processor or blender.

Set 1 cup of the superfine sugar aside. You’ll add it to the egg whites.

Add cake flour and salt to food processor. Pulse them with the remaining sugar. This aerates the dry ingredients.

Beat egg whites and cream of tartar together. Beat on medium-low speed until foamy.

Slowly add 1 cup of superfine sugar. Turn the mixer up to medium-high and pour in the superfine sugar you set aside.

Beat into soft peaks. Whip the egg whites, cream of tartar, and superfine sugar into soft and lofty peaks. This takes at least 5 minutes. After that, add the vanilla.

Sift and fold in dry ingredients. In 3 additions, sift and fold in the dry ingredients.

Pour/spread batter into a tube pan. Do not grease the tube pan. Greasing the pan causes the batter to slip down the sides, preventing it from properly rising. If you already greased it, wash and wipe it completely clean.

Bake at 325°F (163°C). A higher temperature won’t properly cook the cake.

Cool upside down on a wire rack. If cooled upright, the cake’s own weight will crush itself. Cool it upside-down on a cooling rack so it holds its shape and air can reach it.

Run a thin knife around the edges to release. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to help loosen the cake, too.

Slice with a serrated knife. A regular sharp knife squishes the cake.

Can I use a bundt pan for angel food cake? No, do not use a bundt pan for angel food cake. You’ll have a very hard time getting it out in one piece. You need a tube pan which has a flat bottom and straight sides. If you don’t have one, I recommend this tube pan. It’s relatively inexpensive for its great quality. Though it’s labeled as nonstick, the coating is VERY thin and has never been an issue for my angel food cakes.

You need 1 cup (16 Tablespoons) + 2 Tablespoons of cake flour. Sounds like an odd amount, but 18 Tablespoons is the precise quantity to bring enough structure to the cake.

Soft Peaks, Not Stiff Peaks

Remember, whip the egg whites into soft peaks. (Pictured above.) Soft peaks don’t hold a stiff shape. Instead, they “wilt” back into the mixture after a few seconds. Soft peaks are the optimum consistency because they’ll continue to expand in the oven. Stiff peaks, on the other hand, means that the egg whites have been over-whipped for angel food cake and will likely collapse in the oven.

Important to remember: Don’t let a drop of egg yolks into the mixing bowl. Any lingering fat could prevent the egg whites from forming peaks at all. Crack eggs over an egg separator into a small bowl, then add the whites one-by-one into the mixing bowl. This way if the yolk breaks, it doesn’t break directly in the mixing bowl.

Sift the dry ingredients over the beaten egg whites in a few additions, gently folding together after each addition. The goal is to retain as much of the whipped volume as possible. Pouring the dry ingredients on top all at once will quickly deflate the egg whites.

The Magic is in the Details

I’ve thrown a lot of information at you in this post, so here’s a quick summary of all the important success tips. Remember that the magic is all in the details.

Use freshly separated egg whites.

Pulse granulated sugar into superfine sugar.

Whip egg whites into soft peaks, not stiff peaks.

Sift and gently fold in dry ingredients.

Do not grease the tube pan.

Cool the cake upside-down on a wire rack.

Use a serrated knife to slice.

Angel food cake doesn’t need to hide under frosting, but tastes blissful with fresh berries and a dollop of whipped cream! Feel free to dust the top with confectioners’ sugar, too. If you enjoy these flavors together, you’ll love my fresh berry cream cake. (Which, if I’m being honest, isn’t quite as fussy as this cake!)

I know what you’re thinking: is this cake really worth it? The answer is YES. Angel food cake boasts a texture like no other and once you go through the process, you’ll understand the preparation isn’t that difficult– it’s just a little picky. 😉 Let’s do this!

#angel food cake #cake #foodporn

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agents-of-virtue · 4 years ago

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A Multitude of Things (Secret Santa 2020!)

I said I would post at midnight. I worked hard on this damn it

( @the-roanoke-society )

Hi @agentondine ! It’s me! I’m your secret Santa! :D So, I love you. And the ships we have together. So I’m doing something for all of them. Most of them. All of them would be a task that would take a lot longer than the month of December. Any way! I decided to take our most popular four and write little drabbles for them. And do picture boards! This is the most effort I’ve ever put into writing in a long time! I really hope you enjoy these!!!

Parties were not exactly Bekah’s ideal location to be. At any time. Ever. But Leo liked them. So she was willing to spend a few hours of her time with him at parties every now and then.

“Mi alma! There you are! Are you enjoying my party?” Leo smiled brightly at her as he saved her from an unwanted conversation. He always threw a large party for the holidays. Most of the Oceanic Council was invited as well as a few members of the Roanoke Society.

Bekah smiled softly. “I am. It’s very nice.” It was a bit too loud for her taste and the lights were starting to hurt her eyes. “I think I’ll be leaving soon though. It’s getting to be a bit,” she sighed, “much.”

His smile softened as he wrapped an arm around her waist. “That’s okay. I’m just glad you came at all. Besides,” Leo turned and wrapped his other arm around her, “I’ll get to be around you later tonight. Alone. Just the way you like it.” He smiled more as he saw a smile spread across Bekah’s face. “I know you are looking forward to that, mi amor.” Leo gave her cheek a quick kiss. “But until then, why don’t we get you a drink and a seat so that you can enjoy the rest of your time here in peace?”

“I would like that. I would like that very much.” Bekah smiled softly and took his arm as they walked to the refreshments. Leo grabbed a mug and started to fill it up for her. He loved doing any and everything for her. Bekah took a few minutes of the free time to look around the room. Her eyes stopped right above them. A small bough of mistletoe. She laughed softly. “Leo?”

He hummed in recognition as he turned to her, filled and garnished mug in hand. “Yes, mi reina?” He was completely oblivious to the plant above them.

Bekah laughed a bit louder as she took the mug out of his hand, set it down, and pulled him in for a kiss. She came away with a smile and a finger between them pointing up. “Mistletoe.”

His eyes followed and he laughed. “Indeed. Mistletoe.” Leo wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for another kiss, much longer than the first. “Maybe,” he pressed his forehead to hers, “maybe we can leave now? I mean... The party is all but done.” It most certainly was not.

Bekah looked around the room. “Yeah... Let’s just go.” She laughed softly, gave him another kiss, and started to run with him out of the party.

The mountain safehouses for Roanoke were meant as that, safehouses. But sometimes, agents would use them as secret getaways. Much like Rebekah was doing with Neron. A man that rarely left an island chain had to appreciate a cabin in the mountains, right? All the evergreen trees and snow? Not to mention how romantic it would be.

At least, that's what Bekah thought.

"Hold on." Neron pulled his wool blanket tighter around him. "You mean to tell me that people like this? All this cold and snow?" There is something to the child that he can't quite place. Like a weird sense of belonging. But it was vastly overpowered by his Caribbean weather temperament. He was used to heat and humidity. Not cold and ice.

Bekah looked out the window. Snow was falling at a steady rate. "Some people do. I like it. At least, I like it when I can come inside to a nice, warm fire." She walked back over to the couch and curled up beside him.

Neron opened up the blanket so that she could come closer. "Well, I think I like my Caribbean heat more than the snow." He laughs and kisses the top of her head. "But I can withstand the cold for you."

"Aw, thank you." She smiled and snuggled further into his side. Little did they know how much cold they would have to withstand.

The next morning, Bekah woke up shivering. Her eyes fluttered open, squinting in confusion. Why was it so cold? She sucked in her breath when her feet hit the cold floor and made her way to the window. Bekah couldn't believe her eyes. Pulling back the curtain, she was greeted to a window full of snow. Was the snowfall that bad?

Neron groaned and rolled over, slightly shivering. "Bekah?"

"Uh... You might want to throw on some layers, love..." She threw some wool socks and a sweater his way. "I'm going to get the fire started and we can get started on making breakfast to warm the house and us up. We might be here a while..."

That woke him up. "What? What are you-" He turned towards the window. "Your kidding... Snowed in?"

Bekah nodded her head. "Yup. Hopefully won't be too long and we have enough supplies here to last us through most natural and unnatural disasters, but we should still-" she cut herself off with a small yelp as he pulled her back into the bed. "What-"

He silenced her with a quick kiss. "The fire will take too long to get us warm. I know a faster way. And a much better way to start off the day..." He smirked before kissing her again.

"I... I can't argue with that." Bekah kissed him back and pulled closer to him. Maybe getting snowed in wasn't such a bad thing after all.

“Bekah! Hot chocolate’s ready!” Angela called from the kitchen. She was holding two mugs filled with piping hot chocolate, the marshmallows and whipped cream in Bekah’s cup almost melting from the heat.

A door slammed and only seconds later, Bekah was beside her. “You are,” she takes the sugar loaded mug, kissing her cheek “the best.” Bekah takes a sip of the sweet treat, but a small yelp follows instead of a satisfied hum.

Angela starts laughing. “It just came out of the pot! Why would you do that? Could you not see the steam?” She puts her own mug down to avoid spilling any of the contents.

Bekah just shakes her head, putting down her mug too. “It was hidden beneath all the whipped cream and marshmallows...” Her speech had a bit of a lisp due to the fresh burn on her tongue. That chocolate really was hot.

“Awww, if only you had listened when I said I was making hot chocolate.” Angie slipped her arms around Bekah and placed a gentle kiss to the tip of her nose. “Now, how about we take our mugs of hot chocolate, take a seat on the couch, cuddle up, and watch a cheesy Hallmark movie that we can make fun of.” She picked up her mug and Bekah’s.

A soft laugh left Bekah before she gave Angie a quick kiss. “I would like that. I would like that a lot. I’ll go grab the gingerbread cookies. You go get the movie started. Maybe we can even watch the new Chanukkah movie they’ve put out!” She laughed as she grabbed the plate of cookies and followed her to the television.

Once everything was set up, Bekah wrapped an arm around Angela, pulling her close. “Hey Angie? I love you. Happy holidays.” She smiled and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

“I love you too. Happy Holidays, babe.”

(And of course we save our favorite for last...)

Valdimar’s palace was always a quiet place. That is, until Bekah came. Her laughter would fill rooms, the sound of her running echoed through lofty halls, and at night her voice would fill Vald’s room at top volumes. But for right now, the kitchen was the loudest room in the palace.

“Vald!” Bekah laughed as she ran around the kitchen island to get away from him. His hands were covered with flour. “Don’t touch me until you clean your hands!” Her jeans were already covered in handprints and some were even in her hair and on her face.

He laughed softly, stopping in his chase. “My apologies, my dear. You know that I love you.” Vald smiles. “And you know how hard it is for me to keep my hands off of you...” He started to stalk forward again.

Bekah matched his moves forward with steps back. “No... No, don’t you dare.” A laugh slips past her lips. She wasn’t fast enough in getting away. Vald had her cornered, but they were both smiling. His floured hands cupped her face and brought her close for a kiss. Bekah hummed happily. “I love you... Though I think we should focus on the actual buns in the actual oven. You can’t make me any more pregnant than I already am.” She placed one of her hands on the soft swell of her stomach.

Vald places a hand over hers, resting his forehead against hers, and smiling. “I know, I know... I’m just... I’m very happy. Because of you. You have made me the happiest man in the world.” He gave her another soft kiss. He doesn’t remember being this happy in so long.

Bekah kisses him back. “And you have made me the happiest woman in the world. Now, let’s get back to baking. Your baby is making me want sugar.” Her nose scrunched up as she smiled. If this is what every winter would look like now for the rest of her life, so be it. She’ll be happy with that. As long as she has Vald and their baby.

#Secret Santa 2020 #Shall We Dance #Emotionally Challenged #Melted Hearts #Seashells and Daisies #//Happy christmas

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palesmokeisinthevoid · 21 days ago

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More fankid stuff because why not. Except all of it is pre-Gardenview shutdown because I thought it’d be funny

Sprout’s handler calls her boss about the situation. That was a fun week. Also pretend that’s a flip phone she’s holding-

Don’t ask Sprout if you can hold Lofty unless your Cosmo, he will say no. Try to take them from him and be prepared for a black eye.

Dandy shows his Handler his kid!…Also I named his Handler Aaron because I couldn’t come up with anything else.

Astro was already tired all the time so the only ones who really noticed he was more tired than usual were Vee, Dandy, Brightney, and RnD, and only the last one knew why, considering they were in the same boat but much more noticeably. Astro and Dazzle didn’t exactly want to draw attention to Andromeda after the whole thing with Lofty.

I’ve said before it took Vee a few attempts to make her kid. No matter what she did it never seemed to work up until Toby was made.

Lofty got their own little episode to explain why the real Sprout and Cosmo had a kid…albeit in the cartoon they made Lofty solely Sprout’s kid. It was the early 2000’s they weren’t going to acknowledge the fact those two were as straight as a wheel…also the title is a play on “Bun in the oven” because it was the only thing I could come up with.

#dandys world #art #dandy’s world #dw fankid #dw sprout #dw cosmo #fruitcake dw #fruitcake #dw astro #dw vee #Dandy x Glisten #cosprout #Cosmo x Sprout #Lofty the Sugar Cookie #Rosy Posy the Glass Rose

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fox1656 · 5 years ago

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Shadow Chronicles 16 (Intermission)

The Lonely Butterfly

David Parks was your average twelve-year-old boy. He was about normal height; he had semi-long blond hair, and brown eyes. He was a good student in school, and he tried to stay out of trouble. But little did he know that trouble was now looking for him, and when it found him, he'd have to deal with the consequences.

One fine sunny summer day, David was taking a walk along the shore of the lake that ran behind his house. Usually, David would pass a lot of other people taking a walk along the lake shore, but not today. Today, there was a festival in town, which David had decided not to attend. He figured his friend Benjamin Faber, who was home alone today, was more important than the festival. "I don't even like festivals anyway," David said, as he walked along the shore. David really hated crowds, and so did Ben. This was one of the reasons that prompted David to visit Ben. He had a weird feeling that it was important that he visited Ben today, even though he didn’t know why, but he was going to find out soon.

The sun was beating down harshly on David and the lake, and David was feeling hot and tired. "Geeze it's hot today," David said to himself. "I'm going to take a breather," he said, and he walked over to a big oak tree, and sat down, with his back against the trunk. His eyes closed automatically. His mind went blank for a few seconds, and then, he thought, oh, crap! I need to get going! He opened his eyes, and the lake was gone, and in its place, there was a very large field of multi-colored flowers.

David's jaw dropped, when he saw the field. It seemed to go on forever, stretching to the far horizon. He looked left, and only saw more flowers, but when he looked right, he saw a small brick house.

"Was that there before?" David wondered aloud. He remained sitting beneath the tree for a few more minutes, and then he decided to go the house, to see if the people that lived there knew where he was, or how he got there.

He walked up to the front door of the house and knocked. Not two seconds later, the door swung open, and there was a plump little old woman standing in the doorway. She had short cut gray hair, and she was wearing a silken night gown, and she was grinning from ear to ear, and when her beady eyes landed on David, she said in her shrill voice, "You're late! Now get inside before the flowers try to eat you."

David stared at the woman for a moment in disbelief, and then he looked curiously back at the flowers, and now he could see little yellow faces where the pollen would be. The face had small dark eyes, and sharp little teeth. As David was watching one flower, a bumblebee landed on its face, and the flower's tongue shot out, wrapped itself around the bee, and pulled it into the mouth, and it started to chew. Once again, David's jaw dropped, and he ran inside the house.

The first thing he noticed about the house is that everything was much taller than was necessary. He also noticed that the walls were painted a horrible yellow, and the linoleum was a sick lime green color. The cabinets however were brown, and looked normal.

"Tea's almost ready, dear," the woman said, and she grinned again, as she walked over to the stove, climbed on top of a cardboard box, reached over the stove, turned a dial, and grabbed the tea pot. She hopped down, walked over to the counter, climbed up onto another box, opened the cabinet, and took out two tea bags, and two tea cups and two saucers.

She hopped down from the box, walked over to the table and said in her shrill voice, "Now we have company! Don't you dare embarrass me and be so lofty!"

Shortly after she said this, the table and chairs shrank down to normal size, and the little old woman set the tea pot, and cups and saucers on the table. She put the tea bags in the tea pot, and a few seconds later, she poured the tea out into the two cups. David noticed that there was a sugar bowl on the table, and when the little old woman sat down, she said, "Well, aren’t you going to sit down?"

So David pulled out a chair, and he sat down. "Guests first," the woman said, and she handed David the sugar bowl from across the table. David took the sugar bowl, and took out two cubes of sugar and dropped them into his tea. He put the lid back on the bowl, and passed it back across the table. "Just two!?" the woman exclaimed, and David nodded feebly. The woman took the sugar bowl and grinning, took the lid off the bowl, and dropped five cubes of sugar into her tea. Still grinning, she picked up her spoon and started stirring her tea. David took his own spoon and started stirring his own tea. The woman took a sip from her tea, and then she added five more cubes of sugar. She stirred it again, and then she took her spoon out of her cup and immediately started gulping it down. David stared at her in silence as she drained her cup, and when it was empty, she set it back on her saucer, and still grinning madly, she fell sideways off her chair. David instinctively jumped up from his chair, knocking it over in the process, and rushed over to the woman's chair, but she had vanished. The only thing that remained was cookie crumbs, which littered the floor, where the woman had been. David noticed that they also made a trail, which led to the back door, which was now standing open. He ran over to the door, and looked out. There was a beaten path, which went through the flowers, and into some trees, which wasn't there before. The trees were only a few yards from the house, so David decided to risk taking the path. He walked quickly, following the trail of cookie crumbs, and he didn't slow down, until he was under the cover of the trees.

The trees were very large and covered in moss. There was a lot of undergrowth growing between the trees, but the path was still there, and it was still had a trail of cookie crumbs leading on through the forest. The sun was shining through the leaves on the trees, and it gave the forest an eerie green light.

As David walked on, he noticed that the forest was extremely quiet. No birds were singing, and no squirrels were chattering. As he was walking along, he looked left, and almost screamed in surprise at what he saw. There, lying on the ground on the side of the path was a large ginger cat. It was the size of a German Shepherd, and when David looked at it, it turned and looked at him in return, and it grinned in that special way that cat's do, and it opened its mouth, but instead of a meow, the word "Hello" came out. David stared dumbstruck at the cat, and then it said, "It's very rude to stare," and it grinned again.

"Sorry," David said, as he looked down at his shoes instead of the cat.

"It's quite alright," the cat said, and David saw it sit up out of the corner of his eye. "This is your first time seeing a talking cat, isn't it, David?"

David looked back at the cat in utter surprise, and it chuckled at the look on his face, and it said, "Don't worry, you're not going mad. In fact, this whole world was made from your imagination."

David stared at the cat in disbelief, and then he said, "Seriously?"

"Of course," the cat said, looking a little taken aback, and then it said, grinning again, "Welcome to the place where your dreams come true, and your imagination is your reality." The cat finished with a flourish of its paws, and a chuckle.

David looked at the cat in amazement, and then he said, "So if I imagine that I'll be right in front of the castle when I get out of these woods, then I will?"

The cat's grin faded slightly, and it said, "No. The castle is only a short distance from the edge of the woods though. I'll take you there, if you would like."

The cat looked at David expectantly, and David said, "Sure." The cat broke out in a grin again.

"Well, then, follow me," the cat said, and it stood up and started walking along the path. David followed, and as he was walking alongside the cat, he noticed that it's back came up to his waist. The cat walked slowly, so that David could keep up, and it kept looking up at the trees, and all around.

A few minutes later, they came to the edge of the forest. Once out of the forest, David looked left, and he saw the castle, but it still looked quite small. He also noticed that there was tall grass growing on either side of the path instead of those carnivorous flowers, which had surrounded the old woman's house. The cat looked up at David, and it chuckled, and when he looked down at it, it just grinned at him in its eerie way.

They continued walking down the path, and as they were walking, David noticed that there were bees that would pass by every so often, and when one flew close to David's face, he noticed that it had the torso, arms, and head of a man, but the rest of the body was a bee. He looked over at down at the cat for confirmation, but it just chuckled and kept walking. They walked on for a few more silent moments, and then David noticed that there was eerie music rising from the grass. He started feeling light and happy, and then suddenly, the cat said, "David! Focus on what matters most to you. If you walk into the grass, you'll never see your home again."

David focused on his brother, and his friends, and it seemed like a veil had been lifted, and he could see small ugly creatures, singing and running around in the tall grass. Although the creatures were ugly, they have beautiful voices.

"We must be very near the entrance to the castle," the cat said, and when David looked at the castle, it still looked miles away. Then, as if the cat had read his mind, it said, "It's supposed to look like it is far away, so that uninvited guests will be discouraged and turn back. Ah, here we are."

They stopped, and the cat raised its paw and swung it, and it stopped mid swing, and there was a hollow boom, which sounded like a wooden door. The cat knocked three times, and then a door materialized, and swung open, revealing a high entrance hall. The walls were snow white, and there were black pillars along the walls, and the ceiling was painted to look like the sky above, and there was a phoenix and a dragon also painted on the ceiling. The phoenix and dragon were both sitting on clouds of their own, and they were looking down at the floor below, with looks of mild interest.

"Welcome," a beautiful female voice said, and David looked at the large doors across the hall, and his jaw dropped when he saw the woman standing there. She was tall, she had long black hair, and she was wearing a blood-red dress. "I am Lady Cassandra. Welcome to my home. If you will please follow me, I'm sure Lord Kavak will be pleased to know that you've finally arrived." She turned around and disappeared behind the large doors once more.

David looked at the cat, and it nodded, as if it had read his mind. So David set off toward the big doors, which swung open as he approached, and they opened onto a magnificent throne room. It looked a lot like the entrance hall, except that the trims were all done in gold. Also, there were two large magnificent white and gold thrones at the far end of the room. Lady Cassandra was sitting on the right-hand-side of the man that was sitting on the other throne. The man looked quite young and very handsome, but lordly, just the same. He had dark hair, fair skin, and piercing brown eyes. He was wearing a dark red button-up shirt, dark green pants, black shoes, and a dazzling white trench coat.

David crossed the room, and stopped a few feet from the thrones.

"Welcome, David," the man said, in a very elegant, appealing voice, "I am Lord Kavak."

"I've come to ask if you know of a way for me to get home," David said, with all the courage he could muster.

Lord Kavak and Lady Cassandra both smiled at David, and then Lord Kavak said, "I was about to send Lady Cassandra on an errand to your world. She can take you back. Pity you couldn't stay longer. I would have so wished to talk to you. Oh, well, then. You had best be off."

Lady Cassandra arose and walked over to David. "This won't hurt a bit," she said, and she smiled and placed a hand on his head, and immediately he felt as if he were flying.

"Now go to the house I've prepared for you in the other world," David heard Lord Kavak say, but the rest of the conversation was cut off. The next thing David noticed was the sound of water lapping against sand. He opened his eyes, and looked around. He was back under the tree at the lake near his house. He looked at his watch, and noticed that he had only been gone ten minutes. He got up and continued on his way to his friend’s house.

#shadowchronicles #kalvar

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rp-meme-central · 6 years ago

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Sanders Sides - Roman/Creativity - sentence starters

1. “I have a pretty ideal vision of love. There is someone out there for me. One true love.”

2. “Yes, someone will accept us, flaws and all! Until that day, I shall learn to love myself.”

3. “I get what you are saying, and I do care about that. But here’s the thing... I don’t really care about that.”

4. “Curse you for making me laugh.”

5. “You are an emo nightmare.”

6. “Disney movies are the embodiment of goodness and purity, something you would know nothing about.”

7. “You besmirch the name of Disney? This time you have gone too far!”

8. “There’s a way to simultaneously make them feel special and show them how awesome you are. You find out what might be making their life difficult... and you kill it.”

9. “What can I say? I’m a mean spleen-stabbing machine.”

10. “Ha! I like that nickname and I’m gonna use it now.”

11. “I’m gonna need you to be real quiet right now, because you just earned the number one slot in my dun-zo list for today.”

12. “I am not some bread roll to hold you over while you wait for your dinner! I am the main course!”

13. “No! If I can’t think of an original idea, what will you think of me? I can’t... let you down.”

14. “Why don’t you want to listen to me more? This whole thing could have been avoided if you did.”

15. “Did you ever wash that shirt? You’re wearing it right now.”

16. “You need to do chores as soon as you are able to. That means wash your filthy shirt, you heathen!”

17. “Sorry, I seem to have drawn a blank for a second. Let me try again.”

18. “I was just making it known that I was the ______ that did the most work and deserves the most credit.”

19. “Excuse me, I am still a man! A manly man! A man who is manly!”

20. “I am trying really hard not to like you right now... but you are just too darn cute!”

21. “Come on, _______! Life is an adventure! Embrace the change!”

22. “So much of life is dominated by your world, _______, let _______ enjoy the bit that’s dominated by mine.”

23. “Don’t worry, everyone loves the villain.”

24. “Well, _______, it was a lofty dream, but we achieved it.”

25. “Okay, time out for thee and time out for thee, focus on issues or focus on me.”

26. “Oh, you’re just getting it all over the carpet, aren’t ya? Alright, well...”

27. “Can you at least - Can you take off the hoodie? You look like a hot mess. Nay, not hot, cool. Nay, not cool, uncool. An uncool mess.”

28. “Those are just silly cartoons, they’re not even realistic. But if need be, I will destroy them for you, _______.”

29. “If your only goal is to protect, then why do you act like the embodiment of a dark and stormy night all the time?”

30. “You’re a creepy cookie, ________! You’re like a - an oatmeal raisin cookie that’s primarily composed of raisins. A raisin oatmeal cookie. No one wants that!”

31. “I normally would have fallen asleep, but I am not feeling like my fabulous self right now. I am bitterly jittery and not very glittery.”

32. “WAS THAT GOOD? DID I DO GOOD?!”

33. “It is a brilliant, iridescent display. Although I still stay we could have gone with even more colors. Full rainbow next time!”

34. “I literally almost took your whole face out.”

35. “That is magnificent... how you’ve managed to become even angstier.”

36. “Oh man, remember when our outfits used to look like this? Wow, so embarrassing.”

37. “DESTINY HAS DIALED BACK!”

38. “I just gotta say, I am sorry, _______. I was literally in the middle of apologizing and I just immediately took a U-turn right back into ‘Part of the Problem’ Town.”

39. “You were completely right. Meaning you were right about initially being wrong.”

40. “It’s just like that old saying: ‘There’s no winning on Christmas’.”

41. “May visions of sugar plums dance in your head, and hopefully not visions of your naked _______.”

42. “JUST LET IT GO CHARLIE FROWN! I’m sorry I called you Charlie Frown. It’s just this senseless bickering never gets us anywhere!”

43. “_______ really had me doing his/her/their bidding today! Playing into my love of ______ and my love of getting what I want? Oh, I feel so used!”

44. “You suck at summoning, ______! You pulled my hair!”

45. “Oh, shoot! I’m sorry. It’s the glasses, it totally throws me off.”

46. “You’re like the myth of the Great _____-Baby. Looks like a _______, acts like a baby.”

47. “How can you be teaching me so many words but also be so wrong today?”

48. “So many of your ancestors took chances, endured hardships, risked their lives for you to even exist today! Follow in their footsteps. You could very well be what you’re entire family tree was leading up to. Make them proud.”

49. “I propose that we compose a ballad to celebrate the occasion!”

50. “I can’t help but wonder if we as a society are past the days of celebrating dashing princes and acts of bravery... that are edging on stupidity.”

51. “I am not blind to the reality that _____ has steadily grown more popular than me. He’s/she’s/they’re a _______. I’m a ______. But look at him/her/them now! He’s/she’s/they’re just so cool!”

52. “Say, that is a pretty flippin’ finger-lickin’ fruit spread.”

53. “How dare you criticize my work while also utilizing my rhyming skills? That’s like slapping me in the face with my own beautifully manicured sword!”

54. “I drew a little outside the lines, but I kind of like it.”

55. “You always do your best thinking in the shower! So, uh, um, get naked? Everyone get naked?”

56. “All right, here’s what I threw together. It’s nothing special, really.”

57. “Ow! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. You hit me in the eye! You hit me in the eye, you freakin’ _______!”

58. “Well, pardon me, _______, but when were you the expert on creative content? Who are you to criticize my work?!”

59. “What I think _______ was trying to say is that _______ has just proven that he’s/she’s/they’re the worst and that he’s/she’s/they’ve been the thorn in your side all along.”

60. “Okay, well I gave that a shot. I still feel bad.”

61. “I’ve got an issue that feels new school. I don’t want to say I’m too cool, but I’m just too fab for you fools, and I feel like you don’t get me.”

62. “It’s so hard to create anything that I’m proud of when it’s critiqued so harshly by you. Nothing ever seems good enough, professional enough, serious enough for you.”

#rp memes #sentence starters #Sanders Sides #Roman Sanders

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backtothestart02 · 6 years ago

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25 Days of Westallen Fanfiction: Day 19 - A Day in the Life

A/N: I changed the title so it wouldn’t be repetitive with the synopsis. It also allows this to be a multi-chap potentially in the future of different scenarios of WA being cute parents in love. Enjoy this installment for now.

Dedication: @tooold-toship - a little late since her birthday was on Christmas Eve, but here you go, hun! Enjoy!

(*Many thanks to @jade4813 who let me borrow the bit about Don and Nora getting their speed gradually as children instead of immediately when they were born as inspiration for my fic - I thought it was so genius when I saw it incorporated in the fic she wrote for me that I decided to write a variation of that in my own gift for someone else.)

*Big thank you to @valeriemperez for beta’ing.

...

Synopsis: Barry and Iris help prepare their five-year-old twins for their Christmas Dance recital.

...

It was Saturday.

Iris knew this instinctively, even in that place between sleeping and waking.

Her alarm had not gone off. She was aware of the warmth of the comforter surrounding her, and the quiet pitter-patter of rain drops on her bedroom window was easily lulling her towards the sleep end of the spectrum.

At a time like this, few things could successfully knock her out like cuddling up to her husband and feeling his arms wrapped around her. She reached across the bed for him, eager to take the last step into unconscious bliss, but instead her hand came into contact with bare sheets. They weren’t particularly warm either. The sudden bang coming from downstairs in addition to some shushing made her eyes flash open and her body snap up to a sitting position. But the following whispered words that somehow rose to their bedroom informed her there was no cause for alarm.

“Shh, Mommy’s still sleeping.”

Oh, that’s right. She was a mother of two, and today was their Christmas recital.

Reluctantly, she tossed the comforter and sheets aside and slipped into some fuzzy slippers. Then she pulled on her robe, tied it into a double knot and proceeded to descend down the staircase.

“Okay, one more time, guys, then Daddy will make breakfast. A one, a two, a one-two-three-four-”

Iris watched as Barry at first initiated and then silently backed away to leave their twins doing an impressive dance number in a neat line in front of the dining table.

Iris couldn’t help herself. She clapped enthusiastically from the bottom of the staircase after they’d finished.

“Mommy!” The twins both gasped, looking straight at her, horrified and then sheepishly away. “Daddy, we’re-”

“Oh, don’t worry about it, kids,” Barry said, coming up from behind them and tousling their hair affectionately. “I’m sure it was your mom missing me in bed that woke her up and not Donny losing his footing and accidentally pushing the couch over, knocking the table down and sending the lamp crashing to the floor,” he said, but it was all in amusement and not scolding, even if Don blushed fiercely at the reminder. “Right, honey?” He winked.

But Iris’ planned playful response vanished from her mind at the mention of ‘crashing to the floor’. Her eyes immediately sought out the evidence of said crash. There were some scrapes on the floor from the couch moving and the table toppling over, but just about everything else looked to be okay. The lamp was set against the far wall though. Iris pointed at it and looked at Barry.

“The bulb shattered,” Barry explained. “We can pick up some more when we’re out later today, I think.”

Don’s face was downcast.

“Hey, buddy, it’s okay,” Barry assured. “Accidents happen. When I was your age, I was knocking things over all the time! Isn’t that right, Iris?”

But Iris had a single eyebrow raised.

“When you were his age, Bear? Honey, you still do that.” She crouched down so she was at eye-level with her twins. “You guys have seen Dad play baseball, right?” She cringed, and the twins followed suit.

Barry almost mentioned cooking. He was incredibly close to pointing out how at least he could cook. But he figured he could swallow his ego for the sake of the adorable moment unfolding right now with his little family. So, instead he laughed, indulging them.

“All right, guys, why don’t I make us all some pancakes? Enough excitement for one morning anyway.”

“Yaaay!” the twins cheered, and Iris smiled.

“Come on, guys, you can help me set the table while Dad starts breakfast.”

Eagerly the five-year-olds trailed after their mother into the kitchen and handled the plastic plates and cups with care on their way to the dining table. Iris stopped to give her husband an appraising look from head-to-toe. He locked eyes with her, knowing what that look was for. His woman was undressing him with her eyes and forcing him to redirect his thoughts lest he develop a boner in front of their children.

Iris’ latest kink had been seeing her husband be such a Dad with their adorable children. He only wished they could squeeze in some alone time before they took off for the recital that evening. He muttered something incoherent after she left, trying to suppress the semi-arousal when her lofty giggle reached his ears, setting off a series of delicious sensations.

“Daddy, hurry up! We’re hungry!”

He cleared his throat and shook himself out of it.

“Coming right up, Princess,” he responded, enacting his super speed to make this breakfast a speedier one. The giggle from his daughter successfully redirected his thoughts, and for the morning at least, he didn’t have to worry about that type of embarrassment unfolding.

…

After a day of some playtime and a few more practice rounds, Barry and Iris prepared their kids for the concert and headed over to the lavish ballroom in downtown Central City. Iris was particularly fussy over their kids’ appearances, but the two pristine looking five-year-olds pushed her away when they spotted their teacher near the entrance.

“They look great, Mrs. West-Allen,” their teacher assured her, and Iris felt a twinge of embarrassment for herself mixed with pride in her darling children.

“Thanks, Mrs. Beesly.”

The woman nodded and took a hand from each of the children in her own, heading behind the curtain and down the long hall to where the rest of the participants were located.

“C’mon, Iris,” Barry urged, brushing her elbow. “Let’s go find our seats.”

She shook off her nerves at leaving her babies and focused instead on her husband, who was looking incredibly sexy and looking at her much the same way she had looked at him that morning.

“Are you sure that’s all you want to do, Mr. Allen?” she asked sultrily, sidling up to him.

He chuckled but made a mentally ordered his lower regions to calm down.

“That’s all we can do right now, Mrs. West-Allen,” he said into her ear. “Unless you want to miss out on our kids’ amazing dance routine during the opening act?”

She sighed regretfully. “I suppose you are right.” She drew her finger down his shirt till right above his belly button, retracting it when she heard him suck in a breath of air suddenly. “Let’s find our seats then.” She patted his chest and headed for the concert hall, swaying her hips slightly as she did so.

“That’s deliberate,” he muttered under his breath and followed her to their seats.

…

Despite the oozing sexual tension between the Allen and West-Allen respectively, all of that faded away when they saw their kids on stage. The other kids performed very well of course, but there was nothing quite like seeing Don and Nora West-Allen dressed as fashionably as their mother and performing as naturally as their father. They blew the crowd away and had their parents gushing.

Iris clapped enthusiastically both times they performed, and after the last hit of the night, there was a standing ovation. Iris had to keep herself from running up to the stage after the encore and handing each of her children a brilliant red rose and a bag of cookies.

“You both did so amazing!” she fawned. Barry repeated the sentiment.

“Yeah?” Don asked, his eyes alight with wonder.

“We did?!” Nora squealed, jumping up a bit on her toes.

“You were the best,” Barry assured, smiling so wide it almost hurt.

They each hugged their children, and as soon as the crowd had started to dissipate, they let their precious five-year-olds jump down into their arms and then walk proudly out the door with them, a skip in their step, as they hopped into a limo and went out for ice-cream.

“Ooo, a limo,” Don gawked at the sight, both when they were outside and inside.

Iris looked over at her husband, an eyebrow raised.

“Yes, wherever did you find it?”

The window partition between them and the driver lowered at the stop light, revealing one Cisco Ramon.

“Uncle Cisco!” the children cheered.

“At your service, monsieur and madam.” He tipped his hat.

Iris looked at him curiously.

“It’s a side gig I picked up just for kicks,” he explained easily.

Iris suspected that wasn’t the whole truth, but she let it slide. If she knew her husband and her friend, Barry had rented the limo as a surprise for their kids and had selected not to have a driver because Cisco wanted to be a part of the action.

But she wouldn’t pester Barry about that until later. He’d probably silence her with kisses – and there were children present.

“Well, all right then, Uncle Cisco. Take us away!”

“Will do, Madam.” He tipped his hat again, making Iris roll her eyes.

But Cisco rolled up the partition again and took them to their favorite ice cream spot in the city where they all enjoyed their favorite dish. At the end of the night, Cisco dropped off the family of four just when the young West-Allens’ sugar high was finally starting to drop. By the time they reached their bedrooms – of which Barry and Iris had carried them halfway to – they were both half-heartedly protesting to stay up longer and all but snoring once they were in their pjs and tucked away in bed.

“What a night,” Iris said, taking off her jewelry at her vanity.

“Our kids were terrific.”

“Mhmm,” she agreed.

“Especially Don. That boy can move.”

“Right into the couch apparently,” Iris snorted, but she knew her husband spoke the truth. She’d seen first hand how impressive her son’s moves had been up on the stage during the concert.

“It was an accident,” Barry said, coming up behind his wife and placing his hands on her arms. “I think his speed short-circuited for a second and sent him farther than he meant to go.”

Iris nodded. The super speed had started to show up in spurts in the last six months. It didn’t happen often enough for the children to notice, but Barry had picked up on it right away and the second time so had Iris. It was a point of concern, whether or not to tell their kids that they were metahumans. Iris wondered if they were too young to handle it and Barry wondered if they’d be targeted if it started happening more often and in public and if they couldn’t suppress it – or chose not to.

“Let’s not think about it tonight,” Barry said, sensing where her thoughts had gone. “They did great on stage. The crowd loved them. And they did that just by being them, no super speed required.”

Iris turned around in her husband’s arms and draped her arms over his shoulders.

“Something tells me they have you to thank for that.”

He shrugged. “I liked practicing with them.”

She smiled serenely.

“And I love you for it.”

She pulled him down for a sensual kiss, one she knew her husband couldn’t immediately draw back from.

“You’re not too tired, I see,” she said when they finally came up for air.

Wordlessly, Barry drew down the zipper on the back of her dress and let the gown to fall to the floor, pooling around her bare feet. Then he tipped her chin up so she could see the heat in his eyes.

“Not for this.”

Pleasure shot to the tips of her fingers and toes, and she shot up to capture his lips again, winding her legs around his waist when he lifted her up and placed her on top of her vanity, all manner of items falling to the floor.

With their children asleep just down the hall, Iris was impressively quiet. Barry was less so when they moved to the bed, but by then their children were in a deep sleep. Nothing save a roaring thunder could wake them from their slumber.

...

*Also posted on AO3 and FFnet.

#25 days of westallen fanfiction #westallen #fanfiction #backtothestart02 fanfiction #for toooldtoship

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spideychelleforever · 6 years ago

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🎄25 Days of Promptmas, Day 19🎄: Baking Cookies 🍪

It had taken a while, but MJ had finally baked all five dozen of the sugar cookies.

They were those little tiny ones that had designs printed on them, the tiny yummy ones. MJ was already about to drool, but she had to save them for when Peter arrived.

Was five dozen too many for the two of them? In all honesty, yeah. But she always saw how happy Peter was when he ate something delicious and sweet, and she loved loved loved hearing his happy “mmmmm’s” because they made her heart melt.

And yeah, MJ loved the cookies too.

Eventually he arrived, and he was immediately beaming once the heavenly aroma of fresh cookies hit him once he walked in. MJ couldn’t stop herself from grinning at him as she led him to her kitchen. She was about to serve two big glasses of cold milk, but then noticed that Peter was carrying a bag of something.

“If it’s okay, I brought some too?” Peter asked hopefully. “They’re chocolate chip, and they’re supposed to be super gooey and chocolately once you bake them?”

MJ rolled her eyes, smiling. “I suppose we can dirty my kitchen a bit more.”

And they went about getting the eggs and sugar and milk and all that jazz. MJ drooled not just over the cookies, but also seeing Peter’s firm arm working as he used the rolling pin. And Peter nearly fell over once when MJ stretched her arms and her hoodie rode up, exposing her tummy.

Once Peter’s cookies were baking, they sat to enjoy the cookies MJ had already made, and thankfully they were still warm in the basket MJ had put them in. Peter humming with approval at how yummy they were made MJ’s teeth hurt from sweetness far more than the cookies did.

“Hungry?” Peter asked as he smiled at her, “you’re really putting them away!”

MJ raised an eyebrow, but then thought about it - she really hadn’t eaten yet today. This was her first meal, and... yeah, she really was inhaling them. “Maybe a little.”

Peter waved his hands in surrender. “You eat first.”

MJ snorted. “Peter this isn’t a zebra we hunted, they’re cookies.”

Peter shrugged. “You first.”

MJ rolled her eyes. “Whatever.” But still, she thought, he’s so selfless even over some worthless-ass-cookies!!

And... yeah. MJ gobbled the cookies, enjoying how warm and lofty they were. Peter watched her in calm, soft happiness. She was so beautiful, with that cute little bun, the glasses, the sweater. This was how Peter loved MJ best - soft, casual, and enjoying herself.

MJ was powering through the cookies, because they were small, soft, white sweet things... and it was a way to take out her hunger for a certain other small, soft white sweet thing sitting across from her. She swore at herself for being so stupid but... she couldn’t stop imagining what it’d be like to finally eat Peter and... oh man... these cookies would have to do for now but... oh..

Peter was definitely surprised when a very large portion of the cookies disappeared into his crush’s mouth. He was oblivious that MJ’s gorging was her way of indulging her fantasy about him. And by the end, MJ moaned a little. “That was pretty good,” MJ hiccuped. “I... think I overdid it a bit, but... fuck it.”

Ding! The oven went off. Peter hopped up smiling. “Hope you still have room!”

MJ stared blankly as Peter got the cookies out of the oven and set them out to cool. The sight of her beloved doing something as simple and soft as getting cookies was... oh dear.

Something was telling her, with more demand than her previously empty stomach, to go for it. Pin him down, or against the wall. Get him. Get him. Get him.

But MJ fought it. But not without biting her lip as she contemplated if she had room for Peter’s cookies after her feast.

Soon, Peter brought one to her. “Want the first bite?” He asked.

MJ froze.

After a second, she nodded.

And as the world seemed to spin, Peter brought the cookie to her mouth.

Her stomach was crying no.

But everything else was crying yes.

And she ate the cookie from his hand.

They stared at each other, smiling, but unsure.

“That was... good.” MJ said slowly.

“Yeah.” Peter responded calmly.

“I... I think I do have room for more.” MJ said as she reached for another from Peter’s batch on the table.

This is based on Prompt #19 of @spiderman-homecomeme ‘s 25 Days of Promptmas!

Tagging: my crush @you-guys--are-losers @spideychelle-romanogers @acastleintheair @peterjonesparker @suplosers @lovely-iris-west-allen @lovelyshuri @spideyxchelle @here-be-spideychelle

#25 days of promptmas #spideychelle college au #spideychelle #michelle jones #zendaya #tom holland #tomdaya #mj #peter parker #spideychelle headcanon #michelle #zendaya coleman #peter parker x michelle jones #michelle jones x peter parker

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poppieandsage · 6 years ago

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2019

resolutions aren’t my thing. they remind me of tacky little notions someone puff-painted on a wine glass for the hallmark store. we all want to shed the butter cookie weight, eat kale, exfoliate, read classic novels, travel the world and spend less / save more. and we may, or may not. something in the middle probably.

we do craft a family vision board with wishes of travel and meeting fairies, lofty garden wishes and published books. that will hang to remind us of our dreams no matter how wild they are. this mama also has some goals, which are important to me as a maker & creative person, mother and partner.

**2019**

:: make + stick to a weekly budget. ah, i adore wandering cutsey towns with tiny stores filled with handmade things, etsy and overpriced floral kimonos, stationary from japan and washi tape. i have so many treasures already that i don’t need much more, and while i don’t plan on giving up my love of hoarding handmade, i do plan on spending less + focusing on quality over quantity. one area im focusing on for all of us = clothing. we have so many things tossed here and there, and i’d like to donate most and stick with a basic seasonal wardrobe. high-quality bottoms, tops, + sweaters. a fancy outfit for fancy days. woolens for bed in the winter. over the course of having three babes my sizes have gone from xs - xl and im selling a SHIT TON of anthropologie & free people online soon, if anyone of you pretty folk want to take a sneak peak.

:: my three goals are sort of all tied in, the next being simplify. im going to be hauling bags to the thrift shop across the river all winter. im so sick of stepping on tiny plastic pieces and chaotic play-corners. paring it down to open-ended and sustainable for all aspects of our living.

:: food. we have been eating like sugar-whores. i want to get back into the grove of nourishing our bods seasonally + locally + organically. i honestly hate cooking, im really good at eating all the yummy things, but preparing pinterest-worthy meals is like, hellish torture. if mama is in the kitchen it’s a wooden slab with local cheeses, meats, and fruits for lunch..and dinner. the focus for our diet will be very little sugar (and if so, raw honey or maple syrup) and lots of healthy fats + some protein.

:: and the rest of my goals are a wish-wash of creative imaginings. get some freelance writing jobs that match my passions. update my shop with witchy things. do a few craft shows.

what are your goals for this upcoming year?

#witch #pagan #hedgewitch #witchblr #new years #resolution #2019 #selfcare #simple living #simplicity #organic #local food #eating well

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lacunasaga · 3 years ago

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Confessions of a Waitress #2

Graham and Bill were at the cafe today. They’re two of our regulars and I see them every Monday.

Graham gets a large cappuccino and Bill gets a large flat white--no sugars for either. Bill likes raisin toast, occasionally a blueberry muffin or blueberry cheesecake (with ice cream and strawberry syrup). They ask for water after they have finished eating and drinking. Recently, I’ve started bringing the water to their table before they ask.

Today, Bill asked for my name. I smiled and gave it gladly, and he asked me about what I wanted to do. I said that I have no idea, and he told me about his son. He said his son is very bright but it wasn’t until he was 30 that he realised that he wanted to teach. Bill told me that there is no rush to finding out what it is you want to do in life.

Graham told me that the way I carry things is impressive. I told him a secret: that every time I carry plates from the tables to the sink, I am only pretending to know what I’m doing. Really, I am the clumsiest person that I know, and I am waiting for something to fall, but that even if it does, I just chuckle to myself and move on.

I saw Sam and Les today too. Glen wasn’t there today though. Les has been doing a preventative skin cancer treatment. He tells me that it makes his face itchy, but that it is okay because it might save him from being cut up. Writing it down like this makes it sound quite horrible, but he said it with a smile on his face--a smile that said he knows things are going to be okay.

Sam asked me why they weren’t playing Italian music in the cafe, and told me that Italian was his first language, English second. He also told me that his kids could speak fluent Chinese because they used to live in Hong Kong, and that while he was in Hong Kong, he stood in as a father of the bride (cheekily, he also told me that he was the one who got the couple together).

Today was honestly a slow, boring day and towards the end I just wanted to go home, but when I look back at these stories, it fills me with gratitude.

Being a waitress isn’t anything lofty, but when a little girl grins and offers you a cute little “thank you,” after you place down her smartie cookie and babycino, you feel like you’re there for a very good reason

#confessions

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livingcorner · 3 years ago

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The Best Kitchen Scale

Photo: Michael Hession

A good kitchen scale just might be your secret weapon for consistent cookies, perfectly risen bread, or a lofty souffle. It gets your baking down to a science, offering precision that rivals the best measuring cups and spoons. After years of research and testing, we’re confident that the Escali Primo Digital Scale is the best. It’s among the fastest and most accurate scales we tested, and it remains powered on for longer than most others before automatically shutting off.

You're reading: The Best Kitchen Scale

Our pick

One of the most accurate scales we’ve tested, the Escali Primo reads quickly in increments of 1 gram or 0.05 ounces, has a capacity of up to 11 pounds (or 5 kilograms), and will remain on for about four minutes before automatically turning off. The interface is extremely simple with just two buttons—one to switch units of measurements, one to tare and power on or off. The Escali has been our favorite scale since 2017, and we’re happy with how it has held up over time.

Budget pick

The Ozeri Pronto Kitchen and Food Scale looks and feels like our top pick with a few minor differences. Like our top pick, it weighs in 1-gram or 0.05-ounce increments, and in our tests we found it was just as accurate—slightly more so at heavier weights. However it automatically shuts off after about two minutes, about half as long as the Escali. We also found it was ever so slightly slower, often requiring two seconds to read really small weights.

Upgrade pick

My Weigh KD8000

A scale for advanced home bakers

For a bit more money, this scale offers some advanced features, a backlit display, a removable platform, and the option to turn the auto-off function off.

Buying Options

*At the time of publishing, the price was $50.

The My Weigh KD8000 is much larger and costs a bit more than our top pick, but it offers a few extras that serious bakers will appreciate. It’s about as fast and accurate as our top pick, but it has a huge capacity of up to 17 pounds, 6 ounces (8 kg) and can weigh in baker’s percentages, a feature that allows you to easily scale recipes up or down if you want to bake by ratio. It’s one of the few scales we’ve come across that allows you to disable the auto-off function.

Also great

For people who need to precisely measure coffee or other ingredients, we recommend the American Weigh Scales LB-3000 Compact Digital Scale. It was the most accurate 0.1-gram scale we tested this year. However, it’s got a relatively low capacity of 6.6 pounds (3 kg), so you won’t be able to use it to weigh a large cut of meat. Its two minute auto-off feature is plenty long enough to account for pouring pauses found in most popular pour-over coffee recipes. Alternatively, it includes an AC adapter that disables auto-off when plugged in.

Everything we recommend

Our pick

Budget pick

Upgrade pick

My Weigh KD8000

A scale for advanced home bakers

For a bit more money, this scale offers some advanced features, a backlit display, a removable platform, and the option to turn the auto-off function off.

Buying Options

*At the time of publishing, the price was $50.

Also great

Christine Cyr Clisset, who wrote our original guide, spent dozens of hours researching and testing kitchen scales. Michael Sullivan has used a variety of kitchen scales over the years in a catering kitchen as well as for cookbook recipe testing. For our 2018 update, Tyler Wells Lynch rounded up all the scales we’ve missed over the years, testing nine new ones in addition to our four previous picks.

Kitchen scales are all about consistency. According to Alton Brown, 1 cup of flour can equal anywhere from 4 to 6 ounces, depending on how you measure it, how old the flour is, the size of the bag, and the relative humidity. That’s the difference between a light-as-air cake and one that’s tough or rubbery. As pastry chef Jürgen David told us, “Using a scale is much more precise… If you measure 100 grams of flour using a scale, it’s going to be the same for everyone.” He encourages home cooks to “Get a scale and ditch the cups.”

It’s not just flour and sugar that can vary depending on what you’re measuring with. The same goes for cooking ingredients. Take cheese as an example: A recipe may call for a cup of shredded cheddar, but you’ll get different volumes grating with a box grater, a microplane, or a food processor. The same holds true for nuts, vegetables, or any number of ingredients that you’ll cut up. Your chop or dice may differ from that of the recipe tester.

Finally, for precision coffee brewing, as when making a pour-over, a scale can help you get an accurate combination of beans and water every time. Weighing ensures consistency.

Beyond accuracy, pros use food scales because they make things quicker and easier. Author Michael Ruhlman told us he likes cooking by ratio because it streamlines the mixing process. If you know the ratios in your recipe, you can whip up a batch of pasta dough (three parts flour, two parts egg) or biscuits (three parts flour, two parts liquid, one part fat) in a few minutes, or tailor the recipe to the number of guests you’re serving. And since you can measure all your ingredients into one mixing bowl—subtracting cups and spoons from the equation—using a scale also cuts down on dirty dishes.

Who should get a kitchen scale

Anyone who wants more consistent results from their baking, cooking, or coffee brewing should consider getting a scale. Cheap digital scales can be very accurate, so if you’re currently using a $15 or $20 model that easily switches from grams to ounces, you probably don’t need to upgrade. Cookbook author Peter Reinhart told us that for years he has happily used a cheap food scale that offers only an on/off button and a tare feature. But if your scale is damaged or isn’t reading properly, it’s probably time for an upgrade. Scales ranging from $35 to $50 will give you more features, such as a backlit screen, a pull-out display, or the ability to weigh in baker’s percentages.

For weighing very small amounts very precisely—such as espresso, spices, or leaveners—you’ll want to invest in a more sensitive digital pocket scale. Whereas the average kitchen scale rounds to the whole gram, pocket scales typically weigh in increments of 0.1 grams, with a few super sensitive models capable of reading in milligrams. The milligram scales, however, only read in milligrams and have much, much lower capacities, so we don’t recommend any in this guide.

We tested 13 digital kitchen scales for our 2018 update. Photo: Michael Hession

We’ve tested many scales since 2013, and in that time we’ve settled on a list of essential features to look for, extras that are nice to have, and qualities to avoid. Here’s what we expect from a good scale:

Accurate measurements: The best scales weigh things accurately and consistently—whether 10 grams or 10 pounds.

Reads in ounces and grams: The scale should be able to measure in both metric and imperial units. We prefer those that read ounces in decimals rather than fractions, as it’s more precise and intuitive. (Some scales come with both functions, but pro chefs recommend just decimals.) We also like scales that offer a choice between straight ounces and, for heavier measurements, pounds plus ounces, to save you from doing the conversion math.

Tare button: Taring allows you to subtract the weight of a mixing bowl and report only the net weight of the ingredients. You should be able to tare repeatedly so that you can zero out the weight of whatever’s in the bowl and measure additional ingredients. Ideally, you can hit the tare button twice without accidentally turning the power off.

Long auto-off duration: Most kitchen scales automatically shut off after a period of inactivity to preserve battery. Usually the wait is about two minutes, but some last as long as five minutes. The auto-off feature can be irritating, as baking requires a lot of multi-tasking and the last thing you need is to have a sugar measurement vanish on you while you’re busy kneading dough. So the longer the duration before the scale shuts off, the better. It’s nice if the scale has the option to turn off the auto-off function entirely, but that’s pretty rare.

Speedy measurements: Most scales display measurements within a second, but some take a bit longer. “It should read quickly,” David said. “If the reading fluctuates a lot, then that’s very annoying.” The best scales quickly show the gradual increase in weight when you’re measuring, which allows you to anticipate when to stop adding an ingredient to the bowl.

Laminated buttons: The controls should have a plastic membrane covering them to prevent gunk, crumbs, or grains of sugar from collecting in the cracks. It makes everything much easier to clean.

Nice to have but not essential

Measures in 0.1-gram increments: Most digital food scales weigh in whole grams (or eighths of an ounce), and that level of accuracy is fine for most recipes. However, a pocket scale that can read in 0.1-gram increments can be useful for measuring coffee (especially for pour-over or espresso) or leavener for baking. That extra precision comes at a cost to size and capacity, however, and most people don’t need it, since measuring spoons are accurate enough for baking.

Can read less than 1 gram: If a scale can read in 0.1-gram increments, you might assume it can also read super-small measurements of less than a gram. But through tests, we’ve found this level of resolution is rare among pocket scales. For reference, one gram is less than a quarter teaspoon of salt, so the times when you’d need to measure out that little of an ingredient are few and far between. If you do need something that precise, get a milligram scale.

Rubber feet: A convenient but surprisingly uncommon feature, little rubber feet help prevent the scale from sliding around on counters.

Maximum capacity of at least 11 pounds (6 pounds for pocket scales): Most whole gram kitchen scales can handle up to 11 pounds or 5 kilograms. Pocket scales typically manage around 6.6 pounds or 3 kilograms. “If you’re baking at home,” says Ruhlman, “you’re probably using something like a KitchenAid mixer, and you’ll rarely mix more than a couple pounds of flour at a time.” But it’s nice to have the range in case you want to weigh a pork shoulder or a large batch of bread.

Large, removable platform: It’s nice if the scale has a large platform that easily holds a large mixing bowl or sheet pan. We’ve seen some models with removable platforms, which are convenient for cleaning, but they’re pretty rare.

AC adapter: A scale’s batteries should last a long time with average use, but when you’re making large batches of food or cooking all day, an AC adapter can be another nice feature. “Recipe testers I work with love to have plugs, because they use scales all day,” said Ruhlman. “Changing batteries is a pain.” David added, “An adapter is a nice thing to have, but it’s not a dealbreaker if a scale doesn’t have one.”

Glass platform: “I don’t like the scales that have a weird glass top,” says David. “They’re difficult to clean and they’re more fragile.” Many glass scales also lack a raised platform, making them harder to read when used with a large bowl.

“Smart” functionality: Most “smart�� scales can connect via Bluetooth to an app on your phone or tablet. Since these types of scales tend to be expensive and overwrought, with inferior apps and features that fall outside the realm of what most people need, we opted not to test them.

We used a series of lab weights to test the accuracy of each kitchen scale. Photo: Michael Hession

To test each scale for accuracy and speed, we bought a set of lab weights and weighed each to see how accurately every scale measured the following: 1,000 grams (1 kg), 100 grams, 50 grams, 20 grams, 10 grams, 5 grams, 2 grams, and 1 gram. For the pocket scales that read in 0.1-gram increments, we also tested accuracy for the following: 50.5 grams, 50.1 grams, 30.5 grams, 20.5 grams, 20.1 grams, and 10.5 grams. Then we did some milligram tests with the pocket scales for good measure (ha!): 500 mg, 200 mg, 100 mg, 50 mg, and 10 mg.

To test speed, we timed how quickly the scale responded to adding or removing weights. Then we timed how long each scale remained on with a weight on the platform before the auto-off function kicked in. We also baked a batch of pumpkin muffies with each scale, making note of any unusual quirks or handling details, like whether or not the scale turns off if you accidentally hit the tare/power button twice.

Read more: Kitchen Essentials List: 71 of the best kitchen cookware, utensils, tools & supplies

Our pick: Escali Primo Digital Scale

Photo: Michael Hession

Our pick

The affordable Escali Primo Digital Scale is the best scale for most home baking and cooking needs. In our tests it was one of the quickest and most accurate scales we tried, with one of the longest auto-off times we’ve seen. The Escali scale has a simple design with an easy-to-use, two-button membraned interface and four rubber feet to hold it in place. The weigh platform is conveniently elevated, so you can still read the digital screen when using large bowls. It’s a compact, lightweight scale that won’t take up much space in a drawer or cupboard.

When we used lab weights on the Escali scale in our 2018 test, it read accurately to the gram in all but one of our measurements—the 1,000 gram weight, which was 2 grams off. (For context, only five of the 13 scales we tested in 2018 accurately measured the kilogram weight.) Additionally, the Escali scale was one of the most responsive models we tested: Whether we were adding or removing items, it always read weights in less than a second, making it one of the standout scales in terms of speed. Some of the other scales took two or three seconds to settle on a measurement, and a few even changed their readings over time.

In our tests, the Escali correctly weighed nearly every lab weight down to the gram. Photo: Michael Hession

We timed the Escali’s auto-off function kicking in at 4 minutes and 13 seconds—the third longest duration of any scale we tested this year. Most of the scales we tested shut off after about two minutes, so that extra bit of time will be helpful for recipes that require a lot of multitasking. Only the Hario V60 and American Weigh AMW-SC-2KG pocket scales had longer lasting auto-off times, but both were inaccurate or faulty in other ways.

The Escali has a simple design and an intuitive interface with two buttons: one to turn the unit on or off and to tare, and another to switch the unit of measure between grams, ounces, and pounds plus ounces. It has the ideal capacity for home and pro use: It’s capable of accurately weighing ingredients between 1 gram and 5 kilograms (or about 11 pounds). This model doesn’t beep when operating, unlike our top pick in previous years, the Jennings CJ4000, which beeps every time you press a button. The Escali is available in nine different colors, too. It requires two AA batteries, which are included.

With a fairly small footprint of 8.5 by 6 inches, it’s easy to store on a counter or to slip into a cupboard or drawer. It’s also lightweight, which is great for pro cooks and bakers who want to include a scale in their toolkits. The four rubber feet on the bottom helped keep the scale from sliding around. And with fewer grooves than some of the other models we tested, the Escali scale was one of the easiest to wipe clean.

The Escali scale has an easy-to-use interface and a large digital screen. Photo: Michael Hession

One Wirecutter staff member has owned the Escali scale since 2014, and told us it has a long battery life. (This wasn’t the case with our former top pick, the Jennings CJ4000, which required frequent battery replacements.) According to pastry chef Jürgen David, the Escali scale has been the model issued in the toolkits for the pastry students at New York’s International Culinary Center for the past three years or so. The Escali Primo comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Unlike our upgrade pick, the My Weigh KD8000, the Escali Primo Digital Scale doesn’t have a backlit screen. Despite that limitation, our testers didn’t have much difficulty reading the screen. Also, although you can’t disable the auto-off function on the Escali, our testers found that the preset four-minute auto-off feature provided enough time to weigh ingredients.

Budget pick: Ozeri Pronto Digital Kitchen Scale

Photo: Michael Hession

Budget pick

We think the Ozeri Pronto Digital Multifunction Kitchen and Food Scale is a great choice if you want something that’s cheap but accurate. It’s a bit smaller than the Escali scale, so it takes up slightly less space. Although it’s similar in appearance to our top pick, the Ozeri has a far shorter auto-off duration and is ever so slightly slower at reading weights. It also comes with a shorter warranty.

The Ozeri’s accuracy surprised our testers, considering its cheap price tag. In our tests, it correctly measured lab weights to the gram on all of our tests of 100 grams or less. Like our top pick, the Ozeri was just slightly off with the kilogram weight, reading one gram under the target 1,000 grams. However this reading was inconsistent: sometimes it read 1,000 grams and sometimes it read 999.

We did notice a slight delay when measuring items as small as 1 or 2 grams, which wasn’t the case with our top pick. We timed the auto-off function at 2 minutes and 17 seconds, which is pretty average to slightly longer (by a few seconds) than the other scales we tested.

In its interface and overall look, the Ozeri scale is very similar to our top pick. Like the Escali, it has two buttons: one to turn the unit off or on and to tare ingredients, and the other to switch the unit of measure. We did notice that hitting the tare/power button twice, which bakers might sometimes do when in a hurry, will shut the scale off, which can be frustrating. In comparison, you have to hold down the power/tare button of the Escali to turn it off, making it much harder to do by accident. The Ozeri also has the same maximum weighing capacity as our top pick, about 11 pounds.

Like our top pick, the Ozeri scale has a simple interface and a large digital screen that’s easy to read. Photo: Michael Hession

As on our top pick, the Ozeri’s digital screen isn’t backlit, but its elevated weighing platform still allows you to read the scale, even when you’re using a large bowl. It takes two AAA batteries and includes four in the packaging.

Members of our staff have owned the Ozeri scale for years, including Wirecutter senior staff writer Lesley Stockton, who said, “I’m very tough on this scale. I shove it around my kitchen and sometimes do the dreaded no-no of storing things on the weigh platform. After six years of wear and tear, Lesley’s Ozeri finally died, but she quickly replaced it with another that she’s had for the past 8 months. “My only pet peeve is the automatic shutoff seems short, but I guess that’s why it doesn’t eat up batteries.”

The Ozeri scale is covered by a one-year warranty, in contrast to the Escali model’s limited lifetime warranty, but since it’s so cheap, we don’t think that is a dealbreaker.

Upgrade pick: My Weigh KD8000

Photo: Michael Hession

Upgrade pick

My Weigh KD8000

A scale for advanced home bakers

For a bit more money, this scale offers some advanced features, a backlit display, a removable platform, and the option to turn the auto-off function off.

Buying Options

*At the time of publishing, the price was $50.

We recommend the My Weigh KD8000 for people who make a lot of bread or want to prepare large batches of food at once. It’s pretty big—about the size of a pop-up toaster—but of all the scales we’ve tested, it has the highest weighing capacity at 17 pounds, 6 ounces. Unlike the Escali or Ozeri, the KD8000 gives you the flexibility to disable the automatic-off function, and it has a backlit screen for easy reading. In our tests, the My Weigh KD8000 produced some of the most accurate readings we’ve found, and it responded quickly as we added or removed ingredients. We liked the angled display, which made it much easier to read.

We’ve long-term tested the My Weigh KD8000 since 2015, and we still think it’s great. Aside from letting you adjust the backlight and auto-off functions, the scale can also run on a DC 5 V 300 mA AC adapter (not included). Advanced bakers may appreciate its ability to measure in baker’s percentages, which makes it easier to tweak a recipe or to scale the quantity up or down.

In our accuracy tests using lab weights, the My Weigh KD8000 was accurate to the gram, though it occasionally had trouble reading a 1-gram weight—as did several other scales we tested. But it’s unlikely you’ll be needing to measure out so little of an ingredient anyway. On all weights over 1 g, it always gave a correct reading in less than a second. And it’s one of the very few scales in our test group that supports calibration (though you need to have a 5 kg lab weight or the equivalent).

Compared with the other scale displays we tested, the My Weigh KD8000‘s large, backlit screen was by far the easiest to read. Photo: Michael Hession

The KD8000 has the option to switch off the auto-off function—a rare feature that you won’t find in the Escali Primo or Ozeri Pronto. It’s actually a somewhat involved process (link to PDF) and the manual’s instructions are a little bit unclear: They direct you to hold down the “HOLD” and power buttons simultaneously without specifying that this will only work when the scale is off. But once you get there, you can choose an auto-off duration of two minutes, five minutes, or indefinitely. The default setting is two minutes, and we timed it shutting off at 2 minutes and 5 seconds.

The My Weigh KD8000 was one of the easiest models to clean; you can easily lift off the stainless steel weigh platform for rinsing, and it comes with a removable plastic cover that protects the interface while it’s stored away. Furthermore, the buttons are laminated to provide extra protection from crumbs, oil, and other baking debris.

The My Weigh KD8000 scale comes with a removable plastic cover that protects the interface while it’s stored away. Photo: Michael Hession

This model’s large, backlit screen was by far the easiest to read. Since the weigh platform is elevated above the interface, you’ll have no trouble seeing the screen. Some of the slimmer scales in our test group, such as the Greater Goods Nourish Digital Precision Kitchen Scale, were difficult to read when we used large, oversized bowls. We also appreciated the KD8000’s four rubber feet, which help keep the machine in place. It requires three AA batteries to operate, and they come included.

The My Weigh KD8000 comes with a limited “lifetime” warranty that’s good for 30 years.

Also great: American Weigh Scales LB-3000

Photo: Michael Hession

Also great

If you prefer extreme precision for tasks like brewing coffee, we recommend the American Weigh Scales LB-3000. A pocket scale like this might also be useful for weighing tiny amounts of ingredients like leavener for baking (though in most cases, a set of good measuring spoons will do fine.) Although it wasn’t the speediest scale we came across, the LB-3000 was far and away the most accurate of the five pocket scales we tested in 2018. Like most pocket scales, it maxes out at about 6.6 pounds, which is still enough for most tasks. It has a backlit screen for easy reading and four rubber feet to hold the scale in place, and it was the only scale we tested to include a hinged plastic cover to keep the platform clean and protected.

The LB-3000 was the only pocket scale to ace our milligram tests, in which we tested to see how accurately the scale could read the following weights: 50.5 grams, 50.1 grams, 30.5 grams, 20.5 grams, 20.1 grams, and 10.5 grams. This is what you want if you’re brewing coffee, for example, where espresso or single-serving pour-over brews often require precise measurements to the decimal. The LB-3000 proved similarly accurate in our whole-gram tests, with a few exceptions: It underweighed the 100 gram and kilogram weights by 0.1 and 0.4 grams, respectively, and it over-weighed the 10 gram weight by 0.1 grams. However, it’s worth pointing out that the pocket scales have a natural disadvantage in this test precisely because they can read to the first decimal point. Whole gram scales can’t, so even if a whole-gram scale is off by 0.4 grams, you wouldn’t know it.

While it was almost always accurate, the LB-3000 sometimes took a couple seconds to get there. Most of the pocket scales we tested took only about a second to reach a measurement. We don’t think it’s enough to give anyone a headache, but it was ever so slightly slower than our top picks. The auto-off function was typical for the category, shutting off after 2 minutes and 9 seconds, but it comes with an AC adapter that, if plugged in, will keep it on indefinitely.

A backlit screen makes for easier reading. Photo: Michael Hession

Read more: The Best Kitchen Knife We’ve Ever Tested Is Nearly 60% off at Williams-Sonoma Right Now

The LB-3000 is super simple to operate and clean. Like our other picks, it measures in grams and ounces. It also measures Troy ounces (ozt) and pennyweights (dwt), though you won’t find a use for those in the kitchen. Also like our other picks, it has rubber feet to keep it from sliding. We really liked the hinged cover that keeps the controls and platform clean and protected from weights that might stack up on top of it in the closet or a drawer. Measuring 7.3 by 5.5 inches, it’s a bit smaller than our other picks but bigger than most pocket scales, making the screen easier to read when you’re using a larger bowl. All the buttons are membraned, adding a bit more protection from your baking scraps. And while this scale is easy to use, not all the controls are clear in their purpose. There are four buttons: On, Off, Cal/Mode (to calibrate the scale or change units of measurement), and Tare/Print. We’re not really sure what “print” means (the instruction manual doesn’t help), but it’s easy to ignore.

The LB-3000 comes with a removable plastic bowl, but we don’t think it’s that useful. Since it’s too shallow for most baking tasks, it may just add clutter to your kitchen. It needs four AA batteries to run but can also be powered by an AC adapter—all come included in the box. We’ve noticed some of the user reviews aren’t quite as solid as our other picks. Wirecutter staffer Beth Niegelsky has used hers regularly for about a year and has yet to have durability issues, but we’ll continue to test for the long term. If yours sours on you, American Weigh offers a limited 10-year warranty.

Digital scales can break when you load them past their capacity. In other words, don’t try weighing a 7-pound bag of malted barley on the American Weigh LB-3000, which can tolerate about 6.6 pounds, or you may permanently damage it. Overloading a scale also voids the warranty. You should also avoid placing items on top of a scale when it’s turned off for similar reasons; some models, including the American Weigh scale, come with a plastic cover to prevent damage when the scale is not in use.

You can calibrate some scales, such as the My Weigh KD8000, using lab weights, but since heavy calibration weights tend to be far more expensive than a kitchen scale, that isn’t a practical option. Though some scales we tested did not support recalibration, we found that none were off by more than 2 grams, even with heavier weights.

If your scale seems to be displaying inaccurate readings, check to see if the batteries need replacing. Better scales have a low-battery symbol that appears at the appropriate time. Also, always confirm that your scale is sitting on a flat surface; it might weigh inaccurately if not.

We still think our previous top pick, the Jennings CJ4000, is a good scale. Unlike the Escali, it measures in half grams and has a backlit digital screen. In our tests, however, this model wouldn’t pick up our 0.5 g lab weight on its own, registering the half-gram increment only when we added a 1 g weight. Also, after multiple years of long-term testing, we discovered that this model quickly eats up batteries, and we found its excessive beeping annoying.

In 2018 we tested an older (and now discontinued) version of the OXO 11 Pound Stainless Steel Food Scale with Pull Out Display, and it just wasn’t very accurate. Readings were off by a whole gram or more, depending on where on the platform you placed the weight. It also failed to read anything 2 grams or lighter and wavered greatly in the 20-gram and 5-gram tests. We wouldn’t tolerate that kind of inaccuracy in a budget pick—much less something that costs $50. We may give the newer version a chance in a future retest, but unless it’s markedly improved from its predecessors, you’re much better off sticking with one of our more accurate and less costly picks.

In our experience, the tare button on the Ozeri Touch Professional Digital Kitchen Scale suffered from a delayed response, which our testers found annoying. Also, since this scale doesn’t have an elevated weigh platform, we had difficulty reading the screen when using an oversized bowl to measure ingredients.

Though the Ozeri Pro Digital Kitchen Scale is highly rated on Amazon currently, we dismissed it in previous tests because the buttons were not sealed, making them more prone to water damage.

Our previous pocket scale pick, the American Weigh Scales AMW-SC-2KG Digital Pocket Scale, didn’t hold up over time. Aside from having a lower capacity than most pocket scales (2 kg or 4.4 lbs), it wasn’t very accurate. In our most recent tests, it struggled to read anything lighter than 2 grams and would slowly increase readings over time. The 50-gram test started at 50.1 g and then, after five minutes, read 50.9 grams. It also doesn’t have any rubber feet to hold the scale in place.

Michael Ruhlman told us he likes the My Weigh UltraShip U2, a shipping scale. However, since it offers a capacity of 60 pounds and reads in increments of 2 to 5 grams, it’s not as precise as we wanted for this review.

The Hario V60 Drip Scale and Timer is a really popular pocket scale for brewing coffee. Our problem was that it wasn’t super accurate—certainly not as much as our the American Weigh LB3000 pocket scale—and it costs almost twice as much. We also found the touch controls were not very responsive.

The Tomiba 3000g Digital Touch Pocket Scale Small has touch controls that were really difficult to work with. They often failed to respond at all to our commands and we could see this thing get annoying real fast. However, it’s cheap and almost as accurate as our favorite pocket scale.

The 1byone 700US-0001 Digital Kitchen Precise Cooking Baking Scale is pretty similar in design to our budget pick, the Ozeri Pronto. It’s pretty cheap and accurate, but it’s got a fairly short auto-off duration of just over two minutes—about 13 seconds shorter than our top pick. Since testing, it’s also gone out of stock on Amazon.

The REM Concepts Digital Food Scale is another model that’s more or less like our top picks, but this one really struggled with accuracy at heavier weights, underestimating our kilogram weight by 2 grams.

The INEVIFIT Digital Kitchen Scale had even more trouble with heavier weights, underestimating the kilogram weight by 4 grams. It also has a fairly short auto-off duration and takes more than two seconds to read lighter weights.

Alton’s Kitchen Tools: Scales (video), Food Network

Michael Ruhlman, author of Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking, phone interview

Peter Reinhart, author of The Bread Baker’s Apprentice: Mastering the Art of Extraordinary Bread, phone interview

Farhad Manjoo, Tipping the Balance for Kitchen Scales, The New York Times, September 13, 2011

Steve Rhinehart, brand lead for Prima Coffee Equipment, email interview, June 12, 2014

Jurgen David, associate director of pastry at the, International Culinary Center, interview

Baker’s Math, The Fresh Loaf Baker’s Handbook

Kellie Evans, Tipping the Scales: How To Measure Flour, Saveur, May 29, 2012

Emma Christensen, Weight Conversions For Flour, Sugar, and Other Common Baking Ingredients, The Kitchn, May 17, 2012

Digital Kitchen Scales (subscription required), Cook’s Illustrated

About your guides

Michael Sullivan has been a staff writer on the kitchen team at Wirecutter since 2016. Previously, he was an editor at the International Culinary Center in New York. He has worked in various facets of the food and restaurant industry for over a decade.

Christine Cyr Clisset is a deputy editor overseeing home coverage for Wirecutter. She previously edited cookbooks and craft books for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and she started reviewing kitchen gear back in 2013. She sews many of her own clothes, which has made her obsessive about high-quality fabrics—whether in a dress or bedsheets.

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Kitchen

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