#Okay so today I made a roasted chicken with potatoes and peppers

[skinreflectsthesun]

I had a good day today but I’m gonna whisper about it in the tags so as not to jinx the future🧡

[prolix-yuy]

Tag some mutuals you want to get to know better

Thanks @jazzelsaur and @fuckyeahdindjarin for the double tag!

Favourite time of the year: Mid to late autumn because I'm a NE girl and the double-punch of leaves changing and crisp air makes me way too nostalgic. Plus all of my favorite bakery treats are fall-themed ones (apple pie, pumpkin pie, big roast dinners, etc)

Comfort food: Fried eggs on toast. Banana bread. This chicken and rice dish made with red pepper sauce and beans. My mom's potato salad and my dad's grilled steak tips (served together, of course).

Favorite dessert: Apple crisp. Pumpkin pie. Fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie on a tiny plate. Panna cotta with berries.

Things you collect: Magnets from any place I travel to (my fridge is covered in them). Tiny seashells. Books with cool covers. Fabric scraps and notions I tell myself I'll use in a project then never do.

Favorite drink: Iced coffee with milk and honey syrup. I don't drink a lot of things besides coffee and water, but if I'm splurging a coconut water, or maybe a Fresca (which I don't think anyone but me drinks anymore).

Favorite musical artist: My music taste is always changing, but my ride-or-die classics are Bonnie Raitt, most bluegrass artists, or any pop band from the 90s that reminds me of a school dance.

Last song you listened to: The soundtrack to Vox Lux because it's all my husband's been listening to today.

Last movie you watched: Licorice Pizza. It was okay, not my scene so much but it had some nice cinematography and some unique moments.

Last series you watched: The Staircase, which was really interesting. We discovered halfway through that the true story it's based on was also parodied in one of my favorite comedy shows Trial and Error, which was really jarring. But I highly recommend both shows! (I still quote Trial and Error almost daily)

Series you’re currently watching: Narcos because I'm doing "research" (just about to start the S2 finale) and House of the Dragon.

Current obsession: Can writing again be an obsession? Because my god, it feels so good to be doing it after not for so long. Also obsessing over everyone's stories that I desperately want to read but I'm forcing myself to finish follower asks instead. I promise I'm coming my loves, your stories are the carrot at the end of the proverbial stick for me!

Dream place to visit: Morocco. New Zealand. Japan.

A place you’ve been that you want to go back to: France, but the south since I've already spent plenty of time in Paris and the Loire valley.

Something you want: To survive this five day renovation project without pulling my hair out or injuring myself. First time laying laminate floors and fingers crossed it goes smoothly!

Currently working on: So so many follower asks. I got motivated and wrote 5 in a row, but I've still got eight more to go. Luckily I'll start posting next week, so you get to finally see all the awesome ideas people put in! And some fan favorites are coming back ;)

NP tagging: @iamskyereads, @amywritesthings, @pedrito-friskito, @pedropascalsx, @mandoblowmybackout

[cynergy-laughter]

Obey Me! One Master to Abridge Them All! Ep. 5

5. Rewind... Rewind... Rewind...

Leviathan: W-What?! No, that doesn’t happen!

MC: Uh, yeah it does.

Diavolo: Enn doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would lie about something so detailed... I think we know who the winner is...

Leviathan: No... NNOOOOO! *changes into demon form* You shouldn’t know any of this! You are just a newbie wannabe! You got into TSL in such a short time, and now this... I will not accept this... I will not recognize you as a fan!!! *runs at Enn*

MC: Oh shi- *falls down* Mammon!

Mammon: I’m comin- GAH! *slips on some melted ice cream* Dammit! I can’t get there in time... run!

Levi: I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED BY A NORMIE!!! *reaches out hands to wring Enn’s neck*

*Freeze!*

MC: *voiceover* This is me, I know what you’re thinking, this is a huge jump from the last time we left off. Oh dang... I look so scared at that frame... who even got that angle of me? Well they deserve a raise... uhh anywho, you’re probably wondering how I got here... well good, fleeting audience, I shall tell you how.

*rewinds two days and two nights ago*

MC: *groaning, brushing their teeth and getting ready for bed* I knew I shouldn’t have eaten that garlic and ghost pepper devil potato salad... best potato salad I’ve ever had, but feels like a detox coming out... *sprays and finishes up in the bathroom*

???: H-Help... Help me...

MC: *eyes widen* Oh please tell me I’m not in a bathroom fever dream...

???: Please... help... follow my voice...

MC: ... Yeah, cause that always goes well...

*follows to the attic stairs anyway*

Lucifer: *pops up out of nowhere* Go back now. There’s nothing up there for you.

MC: For me? Now you’ve piqued my interest.

Lucifer: Well there’s nothing at the peak for you, go back to your room. Don’t ever go up to the attic.

MC: How do you spell attic, by the way?

Lucifer: ... A-T-T-I-C.

MC: Ah! You naughty boy, why were you looking down there?! *puts hands over chest* My eyes are up here.

Lucifer: *blinks and blushed mad, realizing what he just said* Room. Now.

MC: *tries not to laugh as they go to their room*

—————

MC: *sitting at breakfast, alone with Mammon, zoned out*

Mammon: Hey! Are you even listening to me?!

MC: Hmm? Oh, sorry, as soon you started talking crap about me I kinda just turned your ranting into background noise.

Mammon: ...Well... don’t do that, you don’t just skip over The Great Talkative Mammon’s dialogue, that’s rude.

MC: Did you... really just add another adjective to your Name Title?

Mammon: Yeah, what you gonna argue with The Great Infallible Mammon?

MC: I literally made you enter a pact with me two nights ago.

Mammon: Shut up! Gah! Why did I have to be the one who be paired with you. It’s all Levi’s fault that I’m with you in the first place... no, it’s all Lucifer’s fault... none of this would have happened if it wasn’t for him...

MC: *sighs, and goes on another daydream, he wanted to know how to get past Lucifer*

*Earlier last night*

MC: *Casually walks toward the stairs* Hey Lucifer, can I see what’s upstairs, please?

Lucifer: No.

MC: tch, almost had him... *walks back to room*

*present*

Mammon: ...Lucifer’s color scheme reminds me of those OP DeviousArtsy original characters, like Red and Black? Seriously? Get a better outfit, especially if you’re gonna wear brown shoes, why can’t you wear black, you’re already wearing so much of it! Oh and to top it off, his feet reek... not that I’ve... ever smelled them... but I’m saying it, so it’s true-

MC: Mammon, what’s in the attic?

Mammon: Don’t change the subject, right now we’re discussing Lucifer’s feet, which, by the way, freaking stin- wait what?

MC: ... Mammon. Attic. What’s up there?

Mammon: ... Geez, you really don’t know how to mind your business do you?

MC: I do, but I feel like I’m already more involved than anyone could ever realize...

—————

Mammon: *walking with Enn to Levi’s room* If you wanna get past Lucifer and find out what’s in the attic... You’ll need something that Lucifer wants, and I think I know just who to go to for that something...

MC: *looks at Levi’s room door* ... So why the hell are we outside the Ultimate Otaku’s door? What does he have that Lucifer wants?

Mammon: *whispering* There’s a record of the limited cursed edition of the TSL soundtrack in there, he absolutely loves it, so we just gotta ask Levi for it, it’ll be easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

MC: One, don’t ever say that again. Two, I don’t know how easy it’s gonna be since Levi wants nothing to do with me, and three... oh what the hell. *knocks on the door*

Levi: What’s the secret phrase?

MC: *looks at Mammon* Yeah, Mammon, this sure is gonna be lemon squeezy.

Mammon: Okay, Levi, let us in, it’s The Great Older Brother Mammon, and his pact slave.

MC: *leers at Mammon* You’re about to be the Great Fat-Lipped Mammon in a minute.

Mammon: *shied away a couple of steps* At least capitalize the T in the word The...

Levi: I am known by someone outside the door as the Ultimate Otaku, and to gain entry, you must say the secret phrase.

Mammon: *leers at Enn* So great, he was listening the whole time, and you’re calling me names?

MC: Ugh... umm... Rurichan is bae? Mammon’s an idiot? Enn’s a Normie?

Levi: ... while it is all true, bzzt! Wrong! Access denied.

Solomon: *appears behind them* Well, if it isn’t the celebrity and his newfound pet demon~.

MC: *jumps up, and holds Mammon close to them* Get the hell outta here, Goblin King, we ain’t wishing for nothing.

Solomon: *smirks* Sorry for scaring you, Enn. *knocks on the door* The fifth lord...

Levi: ...couldn’t keep his huge rod in his pants and took the Lord of Corruption’s wife to bed...

Solomon: And for the betrayal done unto his home...

Levi: The Lord of Corruption named him the Lord of Lechery, and cursed him with eternal unattainable climax. Secret phrase approved, welcome to my kingdom.

Solomon: *smirks* Peace out suckas. *hits the whip, and nae-naes backward into Levi’s room*

MC: *still holding Mammon protectively* So the Goblin King had an invitation?

Mammon: *blushing* ... You do know that was the secret phrase right?

MC: ... *knocks on the door* The Fifth Lord-

Levi: Bzzzt! The password has been reset! Bitch you thought! Next time know more about TSL before you try me, normie!

MC: *growls and bangs on the door* GAH! Go to Heaven you K-Pop Justin Bieber!

Mammon: Enn! ENN! Don’t, you don’t wanna get in trouble with Lucifer, not this early in the year... *pulls Enn away*

Levi: *with in the room* You see what I have to deal with? The violent life of the yucky otaku.

Solomon: Hmm...

*interviews*

Solomon: *bursts out laughing* PFFFTHAHAHAHA! K-Pop Justin B-Beihihiberrrr! Oh my god, I have to text that to Asmo... *starts texting* Man, as belligerent as Enn is, they sure know how to roast someone...

MC: Don’t worry, this makes day 4 that he hasn’t noticed. But... I have to find a way to get him to give me the record... God, I don’t know what it is with Levi, he just knows how to push my buttons... have I let him get to me?

—————

Mammon: So... why am I gonna be watching this with that human... and Beel... why are you here?

Beel: A Movie marathon means popcorn, and I had a craving.

Mammon: ... Of course you did.

MC: *comes in with a huge tub of popcorn* Alright, a huge tub of popcorn, extra butter and salt for Beel, a pack of chocolate coins for Mammon, and a sensible bowl of popcorn and soda for myself. Oh, I also made all of us slushees.

Mammon: *blinks* slushees? What are those?

MC: It’s cherry and blue raspberry.

Beel: *eyes widen* Why is it that you continue to amaze me with your snacks?

Mammon: Did you really just ask that question? Did YOU... just ask that question? The bigger question is how did you make these?

MC: Not important. Alright boys, 12 hours ain’t gonna watch itself, let’s get ready... The Tale of The Seven Lords... *presses Play*

————— The next day...

Levi: Human.

MC: *looks at Levi* Wow, look at who decided to grace us with his presence after spending his whole day in his room.

Levi: Don’t talk down to me just cause you have all the time in the world to do what you want, like having a TSL marathon. Totally not fair by the way.

Mammon: Wow, talk about nosy, were you spying on us?

Levi: No, Golden Moron, I heard it from Lucifer.

MC: First of all, don’t steal my joke, I worked hard for that, and second of all, for someone who minds his business, you sure do like knowing everyone else’s.

Levi: I don’t want to hear you talking especially since you are the ruler of not minding your business! Just cause you’re trying to suck up to me, doesn’t mean we’re gonna be all buddy-buddy. So get it through your thick head.

MC: Leviathan, I challenge you to a TSL Fan-Off.

Levi: *blinks* Excuse me? Are you serious? You really think that you, a human normie is gonna out-fan me?! LMMFAO! That’s not even a contest.

MC: Wow, I never knew you were a chicken, Levi.

Levi: ... what?

MC: I’m just saying if you had your own fursona, it would be a chicken. Ba-GAWK!

Levi: ... You take that back. I would N E V E R !

MC: Because you already are Levi, just cause you didn’t accept. An Otaku Chicken, I can see the Fanart now!

Levi: You know what, I was gonna spare you the embarrassment, but now I’m gonna make it my goal to destroy you in that Fan-off, human. When I’m finished with you, your time in the Devildom will be cut short. But, if by some odd miracle you best me, I’ll join Mammon as one of your pacts. Not like it’s ever gonna happen, I mean, I’ve only been following TSL all of a millennia. And that, compared to your 12 hour marathon, should speak to how much more knowledge I have of TSL than you. So let’s see who Fans off more. Student Council hall, today after school, and don’t chicken out.

MC: Heh, just I eat chicken doesn’t mean I am one. I’ll see you then.

*there was an intense stare down, until there was a loud cackling from upstairs*

Asmo: BWAHAHAHA! K-Pop Justin Beiber, I’m done! Solomon, I am done with you! AAAHH! YAAASS!

[hopelikethemoon]

Family Dinner (Javier x Reader) {MTMF} [smut]

Title: Family Dinner Rating: Explicit Length: 3700 Warnings:  Family Fluff and Smut (period sex, shower sex, and fingering)  Notes: You can find everything about Maybe Today, Maybe Forever here. Set in the Summer of 1998. No pre-reads so this is entirely unbeta’d because we live in a lawless land.  Summary: Javier teaches Josie to make enchiladas. 

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You inhaled deeply as you walked through the front door, catching the scent of something delicious coming from the kitchen. It smelt like roasted chilies. “I smell something good!” You called out as you kicked off your shoes by the front door, before you headed into the kitchen. 

Javier had Josie sitting on the kitchen counter beside him as he used a knife to peel the soft interior of the roasted pepper into the food processor. “Hey, baby.” He drawled out with a grin as he glanced back at you. 

“Mommy! We’re making enchinchillas.” 

Your brows shot upwards, “Interesting choice, if that’s the case. I think you’re making enchiladas.” You corrected her, biting the hair tie off your wrist and pinning your hair back into a loose bun. “How’s it going?” 

“The tortillas were a hit.” Javier told you, “Josie’s a natural with them.” 

You grinned, “Well, she certainly watched us make them when she was little.” 

“Really?” Josie asked. 

“Really.” You told her, kissing the top of her head as you reached over and ran your hand down Javier’s back. “We used to put you in your highchair and set you up in the kitchen so you could be part of the action.” 

“Wow!” She clasped her hands together. “Daddy said I was good at making them.” 

Javier shrugged a shoulder, “I figured, my mother started getting me involved with her cooking when I was a little younger than Josie. She loved this enchiladas recipe.” 

“I know.” You smiled warmly at him. “I’m glad you’re passing the tradition on.” 

He leaned over and pressed a kiss to your cheek. “How was work?” Javier questioned as you walked towards the other side of the kitchen. 

“I’ll be honest, I feel like crap.” You told him, pulling open one of the upper cabinets and pulling down the plastic tote that contained medicine. You grabbed the bottle of Tylenol and popped two into your mouth, holding them there while you put the tote back out of reach of the girls.

“What’s wrong?” Javier asked, before turning his attention back to the enchiladas, “Alright Josie, you can put the garlic in now.” 

“I love garlic!’

“It’s that time of the month.” You answered around the pills, filling up a glass of water to wash them down. “I’ve got the cramps of the century.” You washed your hands off in the sink, prepping to help them with dinner. 

“You should go lay down with a heating pad.” He offered, before the sound of the food processor switching on filled the kitchen. The smell of peppers and garlic made your stomach growl. You loved when Javier cooked. You weren’t half bad at making some of his favorite dishes, but he’d really honed his skills when he stayed at home for two years. 

You ducked out of the kitchen for a minute to find the camera, wanting to capture this moment on film. Javier tried to keep the memory of his mother alive with the girls. Especially Josie, who he swore looked like her. You could see it too. 

He had been so young when he lost her and he worked hard to supply Josie with her own collection of memories related to her abuelita. 

“Smile.” You urged, grinning as Josie and Javier both turned towards you and offered a confused look. 

“The paparazzi found us, JoJo.” Javier winked at her, “They’ve heard what a good cook you are, princesa.” 

Josie giggled as she pretended to hide her face from you, “No pictures please! No pictures!” She scrunched up her nose as you took two more pictures of them. 

“I can assure you, I have full press privileges in the Peña test kitchen.” You told her, matching her sassy expression with one of your own as you put your hands on your hips.

You moved to the other side of the kitchen to grab the large glass casserole dish you had used the last time you made enchiladas. You sat it down on the sink beside Josie. 

“Thanks, baby.” Javier said with a warm smile as he removed the blade from the food processor bowl, passing it to Josie. “Alright, now poor this into that dish.” He instructed her.

“It’s so red!” She mused as she poured the red sauce into the bowl. 

“Alright, you’re going to have to stay over here.” Javier informed her, “Because the oil is going to be very hot and I don’t want you to get burnt.”

“Okay!” She nodded, listening intently to him. 

“You’re going to dip the tortillas into the red sauce and then let mommy put it on a plate and bring it over to me.” He passed you the plate, before he moved towards the stove and got the skillet going.

“Look at us,” You told Josie with a grin. “We make quite the team, don’t we?”

She nodded, “We do! I wish sissy could help us. But daddy said she was too small to help us.” She pouted a little as she used the tongs to place the tortilla onto the plate. 

“She’s sleeping,” Javier told you as you brought the plate over to him. “We went to the park this afternoon and she was all about chasing after Stevie.” 

“I figured you hadn’t left her somewhere,” You teased, watching him for a moment as he carefully put the tortilla onto the skillet, moving it around before flipping it over. 

“Mommy! I have more for you!” She kicked her feet against the cabinet to get your attention.

“Babydoll, I am right here.” You chuckled as you returned to collect another tortilla, moving in between the two of them as the process continued. “Did you make the filling already?”

“I sense doubt in my skills,” Javier teased as you returned with another tortilla. “You’ll be proud of JoJo. She helped saute the onions and chicken.”

“But they’re not chicken nuggets.” Josie told you very primly. “I thought all chicken was nuggets.” 

You rolled your eyes and laughed, “Well, you do live on them.” 

She nodded, “I love chicken nuggets.” 

Once the tortillas were done in the skillet, Javier brought Josie over to help him fill them, holding her up over the side of the counter. You opted to take photos, quite impressed with how skillfully Josie was able to fill the tortilla, roll it, and place it into the long casserole dish. 

“I think this is going to be the cure for my crappy day.” You remarked as Javier worked on the finishing touches — spreading more red sauce over the enchiladas, before covering them with crumbled queso fresco and cheddar cheese. 

“I bet I can think of another way to cure your bad day, baby.” Javier retorted with a wry smirk. “The kind a nice hot shower might be able to fix.” 

“Behave.” You warned, picking up a piece of queso fresco and popping it into your mouth. 

Javier clicked his tongue against his teeth as he opened the stove and placed the dish inside. “Well, JoJo. You’ve done it. You have successfully made your very first enchiladas.” He turned on the stove light so she could peer inside. 

“We did it daddy!” She cheered, wrapping her arms around his leg and grinning up at him. 

“But now,” He started in a very grave voice. “We have to do the most important part of cooking.”

“What’s that?”

Javier gestured around the kitchen to the various plates, bowls, and utensils that had been used to make the enchiladas. “Clean up.” 

She scrunched up her nose and shook her head. “I’m good.” 

You snorted, smiling at the two of them. “Even Barney has a song about clean up, Josie.” 

“He says everybody do their share!” She pointed at you. “Are you helping, mommy?” 

“Mommy has to go check on sissy,” Javier explained to her, before turning his gaze towards you. “Go rest.” He mouthed to you, nodding his head towards the bedroom. 

“The Tylenol’s helping.” You assured him, “But I will go check on Sof. If I were her, this smell would wake me up.” 

“C’mere.” Javier crooked a finger at you, urging you close so he could press a kiss to your lips. “Thanks for helping.” 

You ran your fingers over the exposed skin of his chest where he had three buttons undone. “I’m always happy to cook with you.” You kissed him again, before you slipped out of his embrace and headed for the nursery. 

As you had expected, Sofía was wide awake, but contentedly chilling in her crib. You scooped her up with her stuffed Scooby-Doo plush, and headed back out into the kitchen. “Look who woke up from her nap.” 

“Sissy!” Josie squealed, grabbing at Sofía’s dangling feet and kissing them. 

Stevie barked, darting into the kitchen to announce that someone was at the front door. She paced back and forth for a moment, before running back into the family room and barking again. 

“Monica and Nadia are joining us.”

“I figured.” You said as you passed Sofía to him. “You pulled out the big casserole dish.” 

He chuckled, scratching at the back of his neck. “I would’ve invited Steve and Connie too, but her mother’s in town—”

“Say no more.” You made a face, before you leaned down and kissed your daughter’s belly as Javier held her back to his chest in a cradle. She giggled and squealed, patting at your head. 

Josie scurried out of the kitchen to greet her two favorite people. That child could talk a person’s ears off if they let her and Monica and Nadia always let her. She was obsessed with them and they were fine with that. 

“I come bearing gifts,” Nadia said as she walked into the kitchen with a bottle of Dewars White Label. 

“You don’t have to bring us gifts every time you come over for dinner,” You told her, giving her a hug after you took the bottle from her. “But I’m not going to say ‘no’ to scotch.” 

“That’s what I thought.” Nadia laughed, waving at Sofía as she babbled for attention in Javier’s arms. “Honestly, I got it at my co-worker’s barbecue last weekend.” Nadia told you, “They played a bunch of stupid games and I won it.” 

“Games?” You made a face.

“I don’t understand people in Florida’s obsession with party games.” Javier rolled his eyes. 

“You’ve both lived here for how long now? Aren’t you Florida people now?”

“No.” You both answered in unison. 

“Mhm.” Nadia gave you both a skeptical look. “Whatever floats your boats, party people.” 

“How’s the internship going?” You questioned as you moved to put the bottle of scotch in the liquor cabinet. “Planning to escape to space anytime soon?”

“I’m not an astronaut.” Nadia reminded you with a short laugh, “I am having a blast.”

Javier chuckled, “Like blast off?”

Nadia groaned, “You are not allowed to pull out dad jokes, Javi. It is too early.”

“Anyways,” You gave Javier a pointed look, even though you couldn't help but grin. He could be so fucking corny sometimes. He’d always had a great sense of humor, but back in Colombia, it tended to veer into the dark humor realm. “What do they have you doing?”

“Well, the internship title is ‘Molten Regolith Electrolysis Subsystem Design and Testing’, so that is what I do.”

“That’s a lot of words.” You shook your head. “As long as you’re having fun.” 

“I am.” Nadia nodded, glancing back towards the family room at the sound of Monica and Josie laughing. “The distance sucks, but we’re making it work.” 

Javier bounced Sofía in his arms, “That’s what, three hours?”

“Four with traffic.” Nadia made a face, “Seriously, thanks again for letting her have your old Taurus. I don’t know what we would’ve done.” 

“We’re happy to help,” Javier told her with a smile. “We just want what’s best for Monica.” 

“I think I can speak for her when I say you guys were exactly what she needed.” Nadia told you, a faint smile playing over her lips. “I obviously wasn’t there for everything, but I know what she says. She needed actual parents.” 

“I might not have given birth to her, but Monica is as much our daughter as Josie and Sofía.” You assured her. “She’s a hell of a young woman.” 

Monica appeared around the corner with Josie wrapped around her back, arms slung over her shoulders. “I heard my name.”

Nadia grinned at her, “I can’t embarrass you by looking at baby pictures, so I’ve got to make do with verbal brag books.”

“Oh God,” Monica grumbled, closing the distance between her and Nadia to press a kiss to her lips — which Josie provided sound effects for. 

“What a weirdo.” Nadia teased, ruffling Josie’s hair. “What did you do this week?”

You turned back to Javier with a grin, “Never a dull moment.” 

He clicked his tongue against his teeth and shook his head, “And to think I used to picture being cooped up in an apartment alone somewhere at this point in my life.” He readjusted Sofía in his arms, letting her wrap her arms around his neck as she gurgled and attempted to add to the conversation. 

“All that’s missing is the white picket fence.” You smirked, “I think it would clash with our aesthetics.” 

He snorted, “It’s a damn good life.” 

“It is.” You reached up and ran your fingers through the hair that fell against his forehead, before you leaned in to kiss him. “I think I might take you up on that offer.” 

His brows rose upwards, “Yeah?”

“Something to think about.” You whispered as you kissed him again, before you turned back towards the girls. “So what are we drinking?”

“Monica’s driving. Do you have any gin?” 

“Yep, in the cabinet.” You nodded, “And lemonade, since I know exactly where this is going.” 

“Mommy, can I have gin?”

“Nope, but you may have lemonade.” You told Josie, patting her back. “Hey, why don’t you take Stevie out in the backyard before dinner?”

“Okay.” 

“I’ll go with her.” Monica told you, before looking to Nadia, “Hon, can I just have a Coke?” 

“You’ve got it.” Nadia snapped her fingers, before helping herself to the fridge as Monica departed the kitchen. 

Given your upbringing, family dinners had never really been a thing that you looked forward to. Hell, family in and of itself was such a contentious topic. But that wasn’t the case anymore. You didn’t envy others for the families they had, because you had your own. You had Javier, who proved to be the most incredible partner — and you had the girls, Nadia included. 

 ———

 You tilted your head back, eyes closed as you let the warm water run down your chest, rivulets running down between your breasts and falling at your feet. Despite your claims that the Tylenol had eased your cramps, you still felt the stiff knot of tension in your lower belly. This month seemed determined to be a bitch. Your period just had to arrive fast and hard on a Friday — just to ruin hitting the pool over the weekend. 

The bathroom door creaked open and you smirked, “Who goes there?” You questioned with a teasing lilt, listening to the tell-tale sound of Javier’s clothes being removed. The faintest flicker of arousal burned in your core at the promise of what was to come. 

“Depends on who you want me to be, baby.” Javier drawled out, peeling back the shower curtain. 

You turned beneath the showerhead, blinking as the water ran into your eyes as you watched him step in to join you in the shower. “So many possibilities.” You teased, reaching out to stroke your fingers over his chest. “But I think you is the best answer.” 

He nodded his head slowly as he ran his hand over your hip, stepping closer to you. “That is the best answer.” Javier gave your hip three squeezes, before he leaned down to trail a line of kisses down the curve of your throat. “How are you feeling?”

“Gross.” You admitted, resting your hands at his shoulders, playing with the water droplets as they fell onto his skin. “I feel like my body is punishing me for not breastfeeding anymore.” You sighed softly when Javier’s tongue darted out against your pulse point. “I’ve got cramps, I’m bloated, and thanks to someone I’m a little bit horny.” 

“I’m very interested in that last one,” Javier remarked, pressing kisses along your collarbone as he ran his hands over your waist. “You gonna let me take care of you, baby?”

You nodded, raking your fingers through his wet hair, “I’m looking forward to a little relief.” You told him, letting him manhandle you as he turned you around. 

“I’ll help however I can,” Javier whispered close to your ear as he ran his hand downwards, tracing shapes over your lower belly before he dipped downwards. 

You closed your eyes, sinking back against him as he parted your folds, dragging his fingers between them. He never cared — at all. You’d had boyfriends when you were younger that treated you like a pariah when you were on your period. Javier wasn’t one of them. He took it all in stride and was always willing to adapt. 

“Baby,” Javier started, brushing his lips over the shell of your ear. “Have I mentioned lately how fucking gorgeous you are?” 

A little bit of praise and you felt like every nerve in your body had come to life. “I think you mentioned it last night, but I’m open to hearing it again.” You told him, turning your head to press a kiss to his scruffy cheek. 

Javier worked one and then two fingers into you, dragging them in and out of you slowly. There was something tantalizing about the feel of water rubbing down your skin while he worked at your cunt. You shivered and he chuckled, scraping his teeth over the curve of your shoulder. “Bet I could bend you over right now and fuck you. Couldn’t I?” 

You couldn’t help but nod your head, your mind focused on the singular bliss of his fingers working in and out of you. He kept hooking them just right, sending little pulses of need through your veins. 

His cock was hard against your ass and you couldn’t help but grind back against him. You grabbed at his free hand, bringing it to your chest, urging him to grab at your breast. 

Javier pinched at your nipple and the twinge of pain was quickly followed by fresh pleasure as it burned through you. You were going to come. You could feel the heat radiating through your core. 

“This pussy—“ Javier rasped out as he caught your earlobe between his teeth. “There’s nothing better, baby. So fucking perfect.”

You were so close. 

“Come for me, baby.” He urged. “Come on. Be a good girl. Just for me.”

You cried out softly as you started to come around his fingers, your inner walls clenching and pulsing as your release washed through you. 

He withdrew his fingers while you were still coming down from your high, letting the water rinse them clean before he guided your further under the water’s flow. 

You turned around to face him, tilting your chin as you pulled him down and kissed him. You balanced on one foot, wrapping the other leg around his hip, drawing him towards you.

Javier took the hint, reaching down between you to guide his cock to your center. He grabbed at your thigh, holding it to his hip as he pushed into you.

Your nails scraped over his scalp as you combed your fingers through his hair. Your cunt was still clenching from your release, drawing him into you until he could press no further. 

“How does that feel, baby?” Javier questioned, rocking grinding his hips into yours. 

“Fuck.” Your head hit back against the wall as he remained still within you. You swore you could feel every inch of him buried within you, your inner walls fluttering around him — making it feel even tighter. 

“Use your words.” He nipped at your jaw. “Come on, baby.”

“Fuck you.” You mumbled, scoring your nails down the back of his neck as you rolled your hips, clenching tight around him as you did.

Javier swore hoarsely, his fingers digging into your thigh as he tried to keep you still. “Want you to come for me, just like this.” 

Your eyes flickered open to meet his, blinking through the water droplets as they fell from his face and hair onto you. He looked good. It was unfair how good he looked. 

“That’s no fun.” You whispered, tightening your body around him again as you wiggled your hips. You ran your hand over your neck, before sliding it down your stomach, between your thighs to where your bodies were joined. You scraped your fingernails over his lower belly, trailing downwards towards the root of his cock, fingers playing over the skin just at where you were pressed together. 

“It’ll be very fun,” He assured you as he drew back just enough press back into you once more. He breathed out your name as he pressed his forehead to yours.

You curled your fingers around the back of his neck, tilting your head just enough to kiss him as your fingers sought out that little bundle of nerves that set off fresh heat in your belly. 

He palmed at your breast gently as he rolled his hips slowly — barely pulling out of you before pressing back into you once again. You moaned against his lips, your tongue sweeping out to find his as you kissed him. 

Your first release had barely settled before you felt your second building on the heels of it. Javier kissed you so desperately as your release washed through you. He swallowed up the sounds you made, lips crushing yours. 

Javier started moving then, driving into your clenching cunt until he was able to find his own release right behind yours. He ran his hand over your thigh tenderly soothing the bruises he’d left. 

He sank against you, forehead pressed into the crook of your neck, “Fuck, baby.”

You ran your hand down his back, “Water’s getting cold.” You told him, kissing his shoulder.

He chuckled, the sound muffled against your skin. “It’s worth it.” 

You smiled against his shoulder, “It helped.” You whispered, winding your arms around him. 

“Good.” You whispered, squeezing your hip three short times. 

[5-falsehoods-phonated]

Rise and Fall

Summary:  Roman is finally starting to feel better and it shows, though the others are understandably still worried. Please heed the tws for this fic.

Warnings: suicidal thoughts, discussion of suicide, referenced and implied depression

Ships: Virgil x Roman, Prinxiety (not very focused on)

WC: 2, 723

Logan stepped out of his room rolling up his sleeves and nudging the door closed with his foot. Looking across the hall to one of his roommates' rooms. They lived in a fairly big apartment to accomodate all four of them since they had all decided to keep living together after college for companionship's sake. The doors were all decorated in accordance to their individual styles; Logan’s was a bit plainer with galaxy printed washi tape around a printed paper name plate. Patton’s of course was covered in bright stickers in all shapes and textures while Virgil’s looked like if you walked into his room you’d be expecting a Halloween store; bats, spiders and other dark decorations absolutely covered its surface. The one across from his own, Roman’s, waas a practical explosion compared to the other two however. The entire thing glittered which he had chastised the other about for months after he had done it since it had then covered the rest of the apartment in microscopic glittery pieces of foil that was impossible to vacuum all of no matter how many passes were made over the floor and other surfaces. Drawings and doodles from both Roman and Patton and less so from Virgil and Logan himself were taped and stickered on with a variety of differently printed materials. It was an absolute mess but today that was the furthest concern from Logan’s mind.

The actual concern was the fact that the door was shut tight, no source of light even shining from underneath the jam. Walking closer revealed that there was no sound to be heard from inside either. No music, no singing, no furious scratching of pens and pencils. Just complete silence that made Logan frown and file the observation away for later. It was only nine in the morning on a Saturday, it wouldn't be unusual for Roman to have a late morning to the start of his weekend and he refused to be worried about it when in reality he was probably the only one awake at this hour.

Moving down the hall with coffee and cartoons on his mind ehcocked his head as the first sound he’d heard this morning made itself known: rhythmic snapping. Raising his eyebrows he followed the sound to the living room, the sight before him catching him with surprise.

Roman sat on the floor in front of the couch, music playing softly from his phone with coloring books stacked one side and colored pencils spread out on the other. He couldn't quite make out what was playing but he watched as Roman quietly mouthed along to the lyrics and snapped a rhythm with his other hand. He looked relaxed and happy, and the sight nearly made Logan tear up in the doorway. Instead he made his way to the side of the couch and cleared his throat to make his presence known, smiling more as Rooman turned and flashed his own genuine one his way.

“Morning Pocket Protector. Did I wake you up?”

“No, I- I had my alarm set for 8:30. I thought everyone was still asleep; are you alright?”

Roman’s face softened somewhat as he nodded. “I’m fine Logan. Just got an early start this morning and wanted to relax.”

“Oh, well then by all means, don’t let me distract you.” Turning to go to the kitchen he stopped as Roman called for him.

“Hey wait! You don't have to leave nerd, I’d like the company if you wanna hang out.” He rummaged in his pile and grinned triumphantly as he found the one he was looking for, waving it for Logan to see. “I even have a coloring book for you if you want to join my creative hour!”

Anatomy by Color was shaken in front of his face, something Logan assumed had once been used as a studying tool by Roman before he had no longer needed it, having used that genre of coloring book himself in high school for Biology. Smiling he plucked it from Roman’s hands and turned on his heel, making a beeline for the kitchen before he could get distracted again. “Coffee first!” He offered over his shoulder as Roman laughed after him. Logan smiled wide as he heard the TV being switched on and moments later The Owl House theme being paused for him to come in when he was done. It had been a while since he had caught Roman enjoying a bit of free time and stimming along with music, and he was very glad for the tentative return to normal.

-----

Later that day Roman heard clanking in the kitchen, smiling with a wince as he stretched and stood up from his cramped position on the floor. Logan had left after a few hours of binging their newest show with him and coloring in an old study book he still kept in his collection. Sweeping his pencils back into their box and stacking the books neatly in a pile he waltzed his way into the kitchen with his headphones still playing his playlist on loop. Shoving his hands in his pocket as he leaned against the doorframe he watched as Patton bustled around the kitchen gathering ingredients since it was his turn to make dinner that day. He could see a pile of potatoes in the sink waiting to be washed and a deep dish pan filled with chicken yet to be seasoned. Patton wasn’t...the best cook in their small group but he did try his hardest. Very often he ended up burning whatever he tried to make either trying to make sure it was truly cooked or because he forgot it was in the oven and the smoke alarm letting them all know that dinner was definitely ready. As a result the meals were usually simpler ones that required him to simply put them in the oven for an allotted amount of time and tell at least one other person so that they could keep track of the time together.

Stepping into the kitchen, Rpman unplugged his headphones and set his phanoe down on the table as Patton turned around, the other giggling as Roman caught his heads and set them twirling around the kitchen in an improvised dance that had them both tripping over eachother and laughing like madmen until Roman stopped by the sink and bowed, rolling up his sleeves to wash the potatoes.

“What kind of seasoning are you trying today Padre?”

Shaking out the last of his giggles Patton grabbed up the seasoning containers he had been grabbing before Roman entered. “Just something simple since movie night is later! Little bit of garlic and onion, some salt and pepper, and curry.”

“Sounds delicious Patton. You're getting better at mixing flavors.” Roman meant that genuinely, they had all improved drastically with their cooking, but Patton was making better and better dishes all the time, even if he did still burn half of what he tried to make.

“Thank you!” Patton beamed at him as he started on measuring out the spices, leaving Roman to scrub at the potatoes and start cutting them up to roast, both of them moving and shimmying to their own beat as the music continued to play. Roman missed however the many careful looks Patton shot him as they worked, smiling softly after each one seeing how truly happy he really seemed to be.

-----

Virgil settled his chin atop his boyfriends fluffy head as they all got comfortable for movie night, bowls of customized, microwave popcorn in front of each of them with a shared bowl for Roman and Virgil nestled in the formers lap since they had the same taste. He squeezed around Roman’s middle gently causing him to squirm back into him and huff out a quiet laugh as the movie started. The opening notes of Cinderella started playing, an old favorite of all of them that they had voted on earlier and he could feel any lingering tension in the room leave as they all seemed to sigh contently at the same time. Roman was warm and relaxed in his arms and Virgil knew the soft smile that had been present on his lips all day would be there still even if he couldn’t see it.

He reached for some popcorn at the same time as Roman but when he tried to pull away his hand was caught and brought up for a chaste kiss by the cheeky flirt in his arms, making his laugh softly and smack at his face before grabbing a big handful and shoving it in his mouth.

“You get popcorn crumbs in my hair and I will never forgive you.” Roman muttered quietly.

Grinning Virgil wiped his lips before leaning his head down and planting a lingering kiss on top of his head. “Wouldn’t dream of it my Prince.”

Knowing Roman’s face would be scarlet he grinned devilishly and settled careful hands on the others hips, massaging slowly as they continued watching the movie, Logan and Patton politely pretending they didn’t hear anything over the film.

-----

“Roman?” Virgil carefully closed the door behind him, biting his lip as he quickly opened his phone and went to his speed dials.Roman turned slightly and smiled, not at all easing the anxiety spiking in his chest as he watched Him shift slightly in his cross legged position on the wide roof railing.

“I’m okay, I’m just sitting.”

“Yeah?” Virgil licked his lips nervously, putting his phone in his pocket but keeping it on. He had no idea how much delicacy this situation would need but if Roman needed him, he would be here. He tried not to feel too hurt that he hadn’t come to him before deciding the top of their apartment building was the best place to sit.

“Yeah, here I’m sorry for making you nervous.” He breathed a grateful sigh of relief as Roman turned and slid off the short wall and made his way over to sit against the gate surrounding the satellite dish instead. Carefully walking over and sitting beside him, Virgil looked over to him attentively. He had seemed to be getting better, had been leaving his room and making things again, taking time to relax and slept on a more regular schedule. It didn’t take a monumental effort to get him to eat anymore and Virgil didn’t have to take junk food away from him at a two in the morning binge of hunger and try to convince him to eat just a small meal instead and to drink water. He had even been changing his clothes more regularly and the bags around his eyes were gone, stimming happily with music and smiling more.

All that said Virgil had read there was a possibility it would get worse before anything got better, and even scarier that things could seem better before they got worse. Major depressive episodes weren’t anything to take lightly, Virgil definitely knew that which was why he had been trying so hard to keep an eye on his partner even more than usual. Did he feel smothered? Did he feel too babied? Not taken care of enough? Should he check in with him more often or was he being pushy already?

“You think really loud.” Roman voice snapped him out of his thoughts, making him shake his head and reach for his hand, grateful when it was gripped tightly between them. “I really am okay now Virge, you don’t have to worry so much.”

“I do anyway, you know that. You’ve been really busy lately both with work and what you work on after and I just- I’m afraid you’re pushing yourself.”

“I’m not.”

“Then why-” did you look like you were going to jump. The unspoken though made him tense and Roman squeezed his hand, offering him a small smile.

“I’m sorry. I’m just...a mess.” Roman laughed and looked away, making Virgil’s heart clench.

“You aren’t. Tell me what’s happening Ro.”

Roman breathed deeply and let it out in a whoosh of air. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately and it’s making me a little...scattered.”

Squeezing his hand again Virgil nodded. Thinking. He could handle thoughts. “Thinking about what?” He encouraged.

“Thinking that- things were a lot...easier when I was alone.” Roman pressed his lips together. “Before I met any of you, I could sit and wallow as much as I wanted. I could self-pity in peace without worrying anyone. It’s nice to have people that care about me and that I care about but now that I do- people would care if I left. I have people that would be disappointed and sad so I can’t- I can’t go. And sometimes that’s worse, for the most selfish reasons.”

“It isn’t selfish.” Virgil breathed out, earning a rueful smile.

“Not everyone would agree.” They sat in silence for a few minutes before Roman broke it again. “Before I met any of you I was very sad, all the time. There didn’t always have to be a reason sometimes I just...was. Nothing I did worked but I honestly didn’t try too hard. I didn’t feel like there was a need to. I just kind of existed. And I was always tired and sad and lonely, though I didn’t know I was the last one at the time. I isolated myself on purpose for whatever reason, it isn’t important now. I felt like I was nothing.”

He shifted closer to Virgil and Virgil detangled their fingers to wrap his arm around him instead, reaching across to hold his hand that way instead. Roman gratefully sank into the warmth before speaking up again.

“I’m not suicidal now, but I was then. I just turned numb to the idea I suppose. Almost like a ‘Well I’m not doing anything else’ sort of thing.” He let out a joyless laugh. “And then I got inspired again. I still wanted to die, that just got pushed to the background in favor of doing other things. I told myself I would still do it, I just had to finish some things first. But I never finished them.”

He shifted again to look up at Virgil. “I kept feeling guilty for leaving half finished projects so I told myself I had to finish those first. And then I met you, and Patton and Logan and I knew I couldn’t leave. I missed my chance, because I knew you all would be devastated. As much as I didn’t care about myself you three did ten times as hard for me. I got really sad again that I hadn’t been able to go through with it in time. And as happy as I am now, I’m frustrated because I thought I would be dead by now so I didn’t think there was any point in working on so many things I had ideas for, and now that I know I’m staying here there’s so many things I want to finish and start and it’s so much. I could have done so many things before this but I feel like I’m just getting started. It’s...overwhelming.”

Virgil sat in thought for a moment before speaking. “There’s nothing wrong with just getting started, especially if that means you're focused on those creative things that make you happy instead of the thoughts of wanting to end your life. As frustrating as you feel like it is, and as behind as you think you are, you don’t have a time limit anymore. You can do anything and everything you want, and take it one step at a time because you know you’ll still be here tomorrow.”

Leaning down Virgil planted a soft kiss on Roman’s forehead. “I’m really proud of you that you were able to find something to keep you here, and I couldn’t be happier that Logan, Patton and I can care for you.”

Roman hummed and turned his face into the hoodie covered chest, scrunching his face as the rough stitching scratch at it. “I’m happy I’m here too, especially with the three of you.”

Resting his cheek on Roman’s head, Virgil squeezed tightly around the others shoulders in an awkward half hug. They’d definitely have to talk about this tomorrow, preferably with their other roommates so they all knew how to move forward with Roman’s mental state, but for now it was enough to simply hold him close. And be.

This work and others are also available on AO3!

[asfeedin]

Turn Vegetable Greens and Herb Scraps Into Flavorful Pestos

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

In my old, pre-coronavirus life, I aspired not to waste food, but I’ll admit, I wasted a fair amount anyway. I may have intended to use up the rest of that ginger, or those herbs leftover from that recipe I made a few nights ago, or the bag of limes I was sure I needed for daiquiris that I ended up being too tired to actually make. I may have had noble intentions, but life often got in the way and eventually I’d have to toss my shriveled scraps in the compost.

Today is different. Almost overnight, quarantine living has forced me to become a more efficient home cook. It’s also made it easier to be efficient—I’m home and I’m cooking every meal so I have every opportunity to make the most of what I’ve bought.

As I’ve detailed before, one of the main strategies I’m leaning on at home is what I’m calling “component cooking.” I’m not really following too many fully fleshed-out recipes, but instead am building components: blanched or roasted or pickled vegetables; poached or roasted meats; cooked beans; and condiments aplenty. Then I’m mixing and matching them in as many ways as I can dream up, which keeps meals varied and interesting.

One very easy component we can all make with ingredients we probably have in our fridges are herb sauces in the style of pesto or chimichurri. They’re endlessly variable and versatile.

Fennel-frond pesto. [Photograph: Daniel Gritzer]

Here’s an example: This fennel frond “pesto” I made using the tops of four bulbs of fennel I’d bought. The bulbs themselves ended up in a rich bean stew. The fronds went back in the fridge. In my old life I would have found them there a week later, wilted and yellowing. But in this new existence I actually managed to do something with them before they went bad.

I picked the fronds and got about a quart’s worth. Then I added some garlic cloves, some lemon juice and zest, a dollop of Dijon mustard, and a number of anchovies that almost bordered on being obscene. I topped everything off with a big glug of olive oil and blended it until I had more than two cups of sauce. Was it “pesto”? No, not really, but it had that kind of vibe.

It was bright and herbaceous and salty, and it was great spooned over the fennel and bean stew I made. It also made a really good pasta sauce, and was delicious swirled into fresh ricotta cheese as a snack. It was even better as a dressing for a salad of roasted carrots, fresh parsley, and sliced red onions. I didn’t start out with a plan for how to use it, but it’s been easy to find ways. It would’ve been killer tossed with a plain bowl of beans, but I’m all out now, so I’ll have to try that with whatever herbal concoction and pot of beans I whip up next time.

For one dinner, I tossed sliced roasted carrots, parsley, and red onions with my fennel-frond pesto, then mounded them on top of a potato cake with thinly sliced roasted lamb. This wasn’t a recipe, it was just a creative way to combine components I’d whipped up. [Photograph: Daniel Gritzer]

Here are a few tips for making your own herb sauces with whatever you have on hand, whether during quarantine or any other time.

How to Invent Your Own “Pesto” Sauce

Not every green herb sauce is pesto, but you get the point. [Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

“Pesto” is in quotes here because not every herb purée is a pesto, just like not every soup is chicken noodle. But as a shorthand, it’s probably the most widely understood way to talk about puréed, oil-based herb sauces.

Be Open to “Herbal” Possibilities

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

When it comes to choosing herbs to turn into pesto, of course there are the obvious options like basil, parsley, and cilantro, but don’t stop there. Chives, scallions, tarragon, and mint would all be great additions, as are fennel fronds and even carrot tops.

You can lean on softer herbs more fully without worry, like parsley or basil or fennel fronds. Others may be a little too assertive to be the only vegetal component. Woodsy herbs like oregano and sage could be tasty in moderation, but they might come across too aggressively on their own. Ditto for oniony scallions and chives. It of course depends how you use it, but it’s often smart to cut very bold herbs and vegetables with more mild ones. Parsley, spinach, and even kale are all good picks for diluting a more pungent herb’s flavor.

Alternatively, you could go all in on the bolder greens, but then be sure add less of the sauce to your food, or cut it another way (see eggs and nuts below).

One more trick that might come in handy is softening and taming the raw flavor of the greens or herbs by quickly blanching them in boiling water before shocking them in ice water and then puréeing (it even works for basil). You can blanch and blend most any herb or vegetable, but it’s especially useful for tougher, fibrous ones like kale that can seem gritty when processed raw.

Go Nuts (Or Don’t)

Mortar and pestle not required. [Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

True Genovese pesto wouldn’t be pesto without pine nuts, and while you certainly don’t need nuts for a flavorful herb sauce, they’re an ingredient worth considering for their fatty richness and thickening abilities.

If you do add nuts, there’s no need to limit yourself to pine nuts. Pistachios, almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, and more can work well. One thing to remember is that roasted nuts tend to be drier and may not blend up quite as smoothly as plump raw ones do.

Cheese Ain’t a Bad Idea

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

Once again, classic Genovese pesto serves as a template and its inclusion of finely grated hard cheeses like Pecorino and Parmigiano-Reggiano is another option worth considering. Cheeses add yet more richness and fattiness, but they also add complexity and their own form of tang, thanks to their lactic acid content.

Must you add cheese? No. But you probably won’t regret it either. If you do, it’s better to stick to harder grating cheese like Parm, though you may be able to purée in a soft and spreadable cheese like chèvre with good results. Just skip the semi-soft ones like cheddar and the soft-rind ones like brie.

Don’t Sleep on Eggs

Pesto, pesto, pesto. I know, enough with the pesto. So let’s look at another Italian classic: salsa verde from the Northwestern region of Piedmont. It’s a parsley-based sauce that’s served with many things, including bollito misto, a feast of boiled meats.

There’s a lot that’s great about salsa verde, from its salty and herbal capers to briny, funky anchovies. But perhaps coolest of all is the hard-boiled egg that often gets blended in. Sure, it gives the sauce a subtle eggy quality, but it’s not obvious and I’d wager most blind tasters wouldn’t pick it out. What it really does is help thicken and emulsify the sauce for creamier results.

Punch Up the Flavor

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

There’s no way to list all the ingredients one might decide to add to a sauce like this, so I’ll just rattle off a bunch off the top of my head. I’m sure you can think of more.

Citrus juice and zest (in particular, lemons and limes)

Capers and caper berries

Olives

Anchovies and tuna, or even a splash of fish sauce

Spices (black pepper, coriander seed, cumin, fennel, etc.)

Garlic and other alliums like shallots

Mustard

Chili peppers (fresh, dried, pastes, or pickled)

Some fresh or roasted tomatoes or bell peppers or rehydrated dried peppers (see romesco and pesto alla Trapanese for ideas)

Ginger

Watch Out for Acid

Acid in the form of lemon juice or vinegar can brighten up a bright green oil-based sauce. I added lemon juice in the fennel frond pesto I made. Do watch out, though, because heavier doses of acidic ingredients can turn bright green vegetables a duller army-green color, and you may lose some of that vibrant, fresh green flavor too.

Speaking of Oil

Olive oil is the real star in these sauces, its grassy green flavor pairing perfectly with whatever herbs and vegetables you’re using in your sauce. But if you don’t have olive oil, a fresh neutral oil (read: don’t use that old sticky bottle you’ve been slowly drawing down for months) like canola, grape seed, or vegetable oil can all work. They won’t add much flavor of their own to the sauce, but if you add enough other flavorful ingredients, that’s just fine.

Get Creative

Sicilian Trapanese pesto has tomatoes mashed in. It’s still a type of pesto! [Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Have an eggplant you don’t know what to do with? Maybe roast it, scoop out the flesh, and mash that into your pureed herb sauce as well. It will be a totally different creation, but… why not?

Wondering if some green tomatillos might find a home in your sauce? Well it works in Mexico, so there’s a decent chance you’ll come up with something good.

Point is, take the time to look through your fridge and pantry, think about what you have and what it might taste like as part of your sauce. Really try to imagine the flavors and textures and how they might go together. You have better instincts than you may suspect, so take the risk. You may stumble on a genius idea.

It’s Okay to Use a Blender

I have a history of blathering on and on about the wonders of the mortar and pestle, and I believe it as much today as I always have. But I’m also a very pragmatic cook, and it’s important to remember that we’re not always trying to create the absolute best-possible thing. Often all we really need is something tasty that we can use to make our meals more pleasurable while using up ingredients that might otherwise go to waste. If using a blender is the difference between you actually doing it and just thinking about it, please plug that sucker in and blend away.

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Tags: Flavorful, Greens, Herb, Pestos, Scraps, Turn, vegetable

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[mudsdale-fr]

Thanksgiving, part 2

-I’m going to be with Iubar, will you be alright?

I’ll be with Reg and her family, gotta help with dinner. Are you two going to have an entire dinner yourselves?-

-If by dinner you mean a shit ton of chicken wings and beer, then yes.

D: that’s not a dinner. Give me his address, I’ll send shaymin with some things.-

-Babe it’s fine. We don’t need that much food anyway.

But it’s TRADITION >:0 -

At least let me send some pies. I make the best pies.-

What kind does Iubar like?-

-Oh my god babe

-Let me ask

-He says sweet potato and apple

Okay I’ll have them ready by tonight.-

-Don’t you want to know my favorite?

It’s lemon. And you don’t get a pie because you’re not here.-

Ivory let out a sigh. He probably deserved that.

“I knew he was mad at me.” he  mumbled, petulant. Iubar gave him a sideways glance from his spot on the couch, flipping channels.

“Are you whining because your boyfriend won’t send you a pie?”

“No!”

“Yes you are. You know he’s teasing right?” he stopped on a movie long enough to give the explosions a polite consideration before moving on. He’d seen it already. “I’ll bet you $50 that a lemon pie shows up with the rest.”

They stared silently at some cartoon they landed on, hypnotised by its colorful stupidity. Before long Ivory held out his hand. “I’ll take that bet.” Iubar shook it.

“You’re an idiot.”

They settled on the cartoon, with houndoom stretched out between them, taking turns to beg each of them for ear scratches with sloppy licks to the face. He always sent Ivory sputtering. He noted with slight embarrassment how accustomed he’d gotten to tiny Bean and her neat little habits. She was a needy thing but also the size of a potato so you could just plop her on your shoulder or in the hood of your jacket to keep her happy.

Before long the dog’s big head settled into his lap, and he could feel the post-job crash creeping in. His limbs turned leaden and his eyes drooped. Then… nothing.

Iubar shook his head at the first few quiet snores. He’d be out for hours, that much he knew. Welp, he decided as he rose from the sofa. This is as good a time as any to go shopping. And maybe clear out the guest room.

Houndoom’s head perked up when he saw his master don his coat. His tail thumped against the couch cushion. Walk? Was there gonna be a walk??

But his master only held out a steadying hand, low to the ground. The command for stay. Oh very well then. He settled back into Ivory’s lap with a groan.

-

When Ivory awoke, it was dark outside and he had a throw blanket on him. The was a faint sizzling sound coming from the kitchen and the unmistakable scent of bacon that sent him leaping to his feet. Fuuuuuuck yes.

“Ivory, back from the dead.” Iubar waved a pair of tongs at him. Houndoom sat at a special chair set up just for him by the island, whimpering. He usually had something to do when Iubar cooked, but it didn’t seem like today he was needed.

“Hey man,” he sank into a barstool beside the table, stifling a yawn. ‘Sorry for passing out on you like that.”

“No worries, I’m used to it. Wandering the countryside babysitting takes a lot out of you. Oh fine you big baby here,” he turned to the whining dog behind him, grabbing some yellow and orange bell peppers and impaling them on a spiked contraption set on the counter. “Roast these.”

Ivory perked up as he watched Houndoom work. It was an incredible thing to witness, this creature that his friend had raised from birth square his paws and release a steady and deliberate stream of flame upon the delicate peppers, roasting them to perfection. Rhys would love to see this.

Iubar snapped his fingers in his face, grabbing his attention.

“You home?”

Ivory yawned again. “Yeah, totally.”

Iubar shook his head and returned to his bacon, a half fond half amused smile on his face. One thing that had never changed in the ten plus years they’d known each other was just how useless Ivory was just after waking.

“Go get a shower, you smell rank. I’ll make you some coffee.”

“Yeah. Yeah I’ll do that.” He shuffled off to the bathroom. The was a half second pause before Lubar called back: “And go ahead and drop your dirty clothes in the washer!”

-

Iubar was smearing homemade aioli on toasted bread when Ivory returned, a towel draped over his head and wearing one of his shirts that was - and let’s be reasonable here- way too small for him.

“Dude… you’re going to stretch it out…” He let out weakly, knowing it was already too late. Ivory shrugged, saying how it was this or he walk around naked before he was waved off and a sandwich was pressed into his face as well a a small bowl of chopped vegetables.

“Keep it you mooch. Will you take this to the legendary sleeping in my guest room please?”

Ivory blinked in surprise.

“Wha-?”

“Thanks for telling me your boyfriend had a shaymin Showed up while you were in the shower, nearly gave me a heart attack and houndoom almost ate him. You didn’t hear the shouting?”

“Uh… no.” His friend simply shook his head and  assembled his own sandwich.

-

Shaymin was grooming himself  on the bed when Ivory walked in. His actions ceased the moment he noticed the man, and he gathered himself up primly.

“It’s about time!” He complained, cheeks puffed out. “That beast almost ate me!”

“Well in his defense, “ he set the bowl before him, smiling when the little thing immediately plucked a cherry tomato out and nibbled on it. “You are the perfect sized mouthful for a houndoom, and you were carrying delicious treats on top of that.”

That earned him the teeniest growl he had ever heard. So damn cute.

“I should take back the lemon pies and tell him you’re being mean.”

Wait.

“He made me a pie??” He brightened, face lighting up. Shaymin just ‘hmmph’ed grumpily into his salad.

‘Of course he did idiot! Why wouldn’t he? Not that you deserve it…”

Ivory picked up the little creature, ignoring his frantic protests and kissed the top of his head. Shaymin deflated, accepting his fate.

“You’re the best, don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.” He pressed more kisses on Shaymin’s head, who renewed his struggles.

‘Of course I’m the best! Who would ever say otherwise??”

“I dunno, people?”

“Stupid people,” Shaymin pouted, munching a carrot slice. “Your friend has good vegetables. Not like at home, but they’re still good.”

Ivory swelled in pride.

“Yeah, Iubar is awesome. Come on, I’ll introduce you properly.” he held out his hand, letting the pokemon crawl up his arm while he held the veggie bowl in the other hand.

“That beast won’t eat me?”

“I promise.”

-

After introductions were made, the four of them settled into their meals quietly. Shaymin seemed distracted however, his gaze shifting from Ivory to Iubar, then back again.

“Are you two mating?”

Both men choked on their sandwiches.

[biteblue81-blog]

One-Pot Orange Honey Garlic Roasted Chicken Paleo

Paleo One-pot Orange Honey Garlic Roasted Chicken. The sweet and savory orange sauces makes this roasted chicken moist and flavorful. Easy to make in the dutch oven (or pan) and a total crowd pleaser for family or holidays! 

Just letting you know this Orange Honey Garlic Roasted Chicken recipe was originally published in 2015. I retested the recipe, rephotographed, updated content and URL. Now I am republishing it for you today because it’s the PERFECT dish for the upcoming season. Just sayin…

Oh hi. My name is Lindsay and I have a confession. I am way too excited that it’s almost FALL. Que the pumpkin, roasted everything, and change of leaves! Another confession… I am WAY picky when it comes to cooking Chicken or Turkey. GASP! Did I just say that (type that) out loud? Oh, I think I did. Well, it’s out there. And you know what? My kiwi of a husband feels the same way. Um, hence this One-Pot (or pan) Honey Orange Garlic Roasted Chicken recipe. FLAVOR is needed!!!

You see, it’s not that we don’t like poultry (chicken or turkey), we just prefer it with LOTS of flavor and well… not dry.. but instead, juicy and moist!   Are you rolling your eyes at me? It’s okay, i get it. We’re stranger.

But I think you’ll prefer my method once we explain. Roasted chicken, like in a cranberry marinade or mixed into miso mango chicken wrap, yes, that DIVINE! That’s our preference. Or Chicken PHO .. OH YO, we likey!

And my husband, well, he’s a lamb and beef kind of guy. Plus he has nightmares from turkey leg and pumpkin incident from Thanksgiving a few year back. Needless to say, if he won’t eat pumpkin or turkey anymore. Haha, poor guy. Thanksgiving is not a fond memory of his.

That being said, It is almost Fall and the start of Holiday season! I’m not about to break tradition, I just plan on adding to it. Ya know? Like the adding to our mashed potatoes with white bean potato mash, bringing a vegan cranberry lentil loaf, a fall panzanella salad. So heck, let’s just add Honey Garlic Roast chicken to that Holiday table. Or any weeknight table to be exact.

I feel like I’m cheating on turkey or ham, but this roasted chicken is so good and easy to make that we’ve been eating it REGULARLY! GASP! It’s a simple, healthy, one pot wonder!

Simple ingredients to make a FLAVORFUL ROASTED CHICKEN:

Here’s whatcha need!

Oranges or orange juice

garlic

honey

Sea salt/pepper

olive oil and balsamic vinegar

Chicken

Herbs.

Just mix, coat, roast, and BAM! FLAVORFUL Roasted Chicken at your service! In fact, I think even the turkey fans would be impressed. It’s the orange honey garlic sauce that makes this roasted chicken just so tender! Fresh squeezed oranges picked ripe from the vine. And I grew my own garlic! Kidding.

But in all seriousness, it’s just real food ingredients that make for the tastiest dishes sometimes, would you agree?

It’s healthy, paleo, gluten free, grain free, made with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry… you get my point. It’s what my husband likes to call a “MONEY” dish!

Meaning —> easy to make, budget friendly, great for everyone, delicious, LOVE IT!

Okay ya’ll, get your one pot ready for this orange honey roasted chicken!

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Orange Honey Garlic Roasted Chicken

Description

One-Pot (or Pan) Orange Honey Garlic Roasted Chicken Paleo

Ingredients

3 Lbs whole chicken

1/4 cup olive oil

2 oranges, juiced (or 1/4 c fresh orange juice). Extra sliced oranges for garnishing.

1/8 cup honey

1.5 tsp garlic (minced) or 3 cloves

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1/4 tsp onion salt

1 tbsp lemon juice

Sea salt and black pepper to taste (extra for plating)

Instructions

First clean your chicken and remove excess fat that. Place half an orange and thyme inside the chest. Tie the legs of roasted chicken together with string. Set aside

Cut another oranges into quarters. Squeeze the juice into a bowl but keep the oranges for later. (or you can use juice from bottled orange juice, just me sure to have extra orange – quartered and sliced for cooking)

Combine your juice, olive, oil, garlic, and honey, balsamic vinegar, and other remaining spices in one small bowl. Mix well.

Place Chicken in dutch oven on breast side down.  Pour juice and garlic and honey mixture over the chicken, coating it nicely and evenly around the chicken

Place oranges around chicken in the dutch oven.

Cook on medium heat covered for 25 minutes on stove.

While Chicken is on stove, Preheat oven to 450F for later use.

After 25 minutes on stove, flip the chicken over, skin side/breast up. Coat the sauce from the pan on top of the breast and around thighs. Add a few garnishes of thyme and orange slices on top of the breast.

Transfer the dutch oven pot with chicken into the oven uncovered and cook for another 25-27 minutes or until cooked through and skin is crispy. 165F. Check chicken after 10 minutes in oven, just to be safe.

Skin should be crispy on top.

Remove and spoon any extra juice from pot and coat it again over chicken.

Serve with veggies or salad!

See notes if you don’t have a dutch oven or oven safe pot.

Notes

You can easily make this in a roast pan or casserole pan, just skip the stove top and add on an additional 20-25 minutes or so. Check chicken around 35-40 minutes to see progress. Cover for the last half the time with foil so it doesn’t burn.

Keywords: roast chicken, healthy, paleo, one pot meal, dairy free, gluten free dinner

Think of it this way. I’m doing you a favor. You can have your turkey and CHICKEN too! Or you can just save this recipe for post holidays when you are truly sick of turkey. Come one, you know  that will happen.

One Pot (or pan) Roasted chicken –> It’s a WIN WIN!

Are you a Roasted Chicken or Turkey person? Cast your votes! 

As I run off hiding… the American who doesn’t like roasted turkey (much). Gulp!

Will you forgive me?

Cheers,

LC

Source: https://www.cottercrunch.com/one-pot-orange-honey-garlic-roasted-chicken-paleo/

[edoughty2876-blog]

#JanStewary: How Soup Changed My Life (& Body)…Really

I've changed. I discovered how fun and relaxing it is to cook and at 39, I'm a new woman. For anyone who is about to stop reading and likely never come back, I promise that brand new design content starts all next week, so don't worry. But it's the first week of the year, and it's natural to look inward and try to “be your best self.”

But meanwhile, I have to address how my life has changed for the better since September, or I should say SOUPtember. So, here is the story…

I had hit bottom in terms of how I was feeling on my insides over Labor Day/my birthday so I wanted and needed a reset. We had spent 10 days with friends on vacation and I just felt so unhealthy and my body needed nutrients, vitamins and less processed foods, sugar, alcohol, etc. So naturally the answer was ONLY EAT SOUP. Soup in the morning, soup in the evening, soup at supper time. Instead of grabbing crackers and cheese for a snack, I warm up a small bowl of soup. And these soups did not have any grains, starch, dairy or gluten, just vegetables, broth and lean protein.

Before you freak out at how weird and boring it is, you have to hear me out: this is truly the easiest and most satisfying change I've ever made in my eating habits, and more effective than ANYTHING I've ever tried. I hesitate to call it a “diet” because it truly is more than that, it's my new lifestyle. Essentially, it's a way to only eat vegetables and protein without sugar or dairy which we all know is generally what we should be doing in life, but eating it in the form of soup is far EASIER and more satisfying than it sounds. Not sold yet? Hear me out.

Here are the benefits of soup (as per my years/weeks of expertise):

Soups can be SO hearty. The ones I've been making are so loaded with lean proteins and vegetables with richness and depth, and after a huge bowl, I'm FAR more satisfied than I am with a huge salad. I normally add WAY more vegetables than the recipe calls for and my goodness, it's so filling and these veggies are full of texture and crunch…we aren't eating a bowl of mush, I promise.

You can meal prep. I joked that “soup is the salad you don't have to make again and again.” Unlike the always popular salad, a soup can be made the night before and it stays good for days so it's SO much easier to bring to work and warm up. I make a big pot of soup and eat it for every meal 'til it's gone, then I make a new one. It's not normal, but it's so easy. I don't have to think about it. I don't have to wonder how I'm going to have a healthy lunch. It's just me and my soup.

They are easier to digest. Soups have cooked vegetables, therefore, they are so much easier to digest than salads (for me). I was SHOCKED at how my body reacted. No digestive issues AT ALL, if you know what I mean. Raw vegetables can be hard on your tummy and bloat or give you gas, but cooked is at least what my body wants. You get all the nutrition without the side effects.

Soups are EASY to cook (generally). All you need is a cutting board, knife, pot and spoon. The chopping can take a while, but otherwise it's all in ONE POT. You aren't juggling a million sauces on different burners. Just one. August Emily would be SHOCKED at how good of a cook I've become and it's all thanks to soups.

Soups are naturally lower in calorie. I'm not talking clam chowder, of course. Avoid anything cream based, but if you make one of the soups we are recommending, they are simply full of vegetables, lean protein and water. Yes, there might be some avocado oil or olive oil, but it's just straight up nutrition. My goal was not really to lose weight, just feel better. I cannot stress that enough here. I don't actually have a scale but all of a sudden all my clothes were fitting differently and what was tight around the tummy was no longer. I've always carried weight there but all of a sudden, 10 days in, it was gone (it's back now, but will be gone soon).

There's tons of variety-trust me. There are a million types of soups so while you might think “aren't you sick of soup yet?” the answer is NOPE. I've only started to enter the world of soup recipes.

You have a ton of control over all the ingredients. Obviously, we aren't buying canned soup here, it's just fresh vegetables and lean organic meats. That's it. No dairy. No grains. No gluten. You feel like a good person when you cook like this.

Soups are full of water…so A. it fills you up fast and B. you are drinking more water than you usually do. Again, no big cream-based soups and I've really stayed away from the chili world. Most of my bases are either chicken broth or tomato based.

To be fair in September, I also didn't drink for a month (with the exception of one cheat night for our anniversary) and ran probably 3-4 times a week, so all my friends were like “uh, it's not a secret why you feel better…you are just super healthy” but I'm telling you, it's never been this easy or fast. And in CROCKtober when I went back to more normal habits, I kept it off just by keeping up my soup habits.

Now, after taking the last six weeks off from being healthy (not working out, drinking too much over the holidays, eating crackers and chips all day) I'm so excited to get healthier again, but I will say that I normally feel WAY grosser after New Years and I think the reason I don't feel so unhealthy is that I was still eating more homemade soups than anything else. But yeah, I miss my SOUPtember body (inside and out). Like most vegetable/protein-based diets that eliminate processed foods, carbs and sugar, of course, it's going to work, but by making it in the form of soups, I LOOK FORWARD to each meal and I actually ENJOY this life. I don't feel like I'm missing out. I don't make eyes at bread as if it's an ex-boyfriend that I crave to be with. I'm perfectly happy eating my healthy ass soup (I will miss my wine, however).

If you've made it this far in this post, thanks for sticking around, but I'm not just talking about the brothier me for the sake of blabbing about soup. Enough of you asked me (like every day, I got so many DMs on Instagram) for recipes when I started storying about my soup journey (or telling me they thought I looked leaner and asking me how I lost weight), so it's time to start sharing…it all started with SOUPtember. Then CROCKktober, then STOVEember, followed by DecemBROTH and yes, we are finally into JanSTEWary.

I wasn't the only one on this lifestyle change. Sara and Arlyn at the office also started souping (to feel better inside, but also to prep pre-holiday for what was to come). So we are going to share with you our FAVORITES and then starting next Saturday, we'll post a new healthy and hearty soup on the blog every Saturday for you to try with us the following week (and of course we are wanting your recommendations, too). For today, I'm going to share my go-to that I've literally made again and again and again, followed by a handful of some of Arlyn's that she made while adopting the souping lifestyle (that she also used while doing a fall Whole30).

30 Minute Turkey Meatball and Kale Soup via Savory Lotus

Okay, so…my #1 favorite soup was inspired by THIS recipe, but I've tweaked it and now made it probably 12 times over the last couple of months. I'm so proficient, I don't even have to look at the recipe anymore.

I do have to mention I've tweaked it to my liking, and while the original recipe is great, here is how I doctor mine up:

Add sauteed sliced mushrooms and celery, as well as spinach. For the meatballs, I sometimes chop up extra spinach to sneak in some more veggies (kid-friendly!), add in dill, oregano and thyme to the ground turkey, and use bone broth instead of chicken stock (it gives it a heartier, richer flavor). Arlyn suggests drizzling a little olive oil atop the soup once it's served with a shake of red pepper flakes, but if you don't want to add any extra fat, it's great without it, too.

I'm going to save the rest of my favorites for the weekends like I promised, but to get you started on your soup odyssey, I'm going to hand it over to Arlyn to share six of her dairy-, grain-, sugar- and soy-free soup recipes that she promises she cooks all the time for her and her picky husband (with her notes).

image source

Detox Immune-Boosting Chicken Soup via Eat Yourself Skinny

Hi guys! I'm so excited to be talking about soup…wait…have I been brainwashed?

Anyhow, say hello to my favorite insanely easy and healthy weeknight soup. The first time I made this soup, I really didn't have high expectations. Like…it's just chicken and kale and broth and some veggies. But I'm telling you, it's INSANELY fast to bring together (as long as you use a rotisserie chicken or pre-shredded roasted chicken), really satisfying and somehow feels nearly magical with the combination of turmeric, red pepper flakes and…everything else that comes together. The chickpeas make it filling, the mushrooms give it really nice texture, OH and use bone broth for extra richness. I've played around with this (adding nutritional yeast, hot sauce, and other add-ons) but it's pretty solid as-is.

image source

Simple Lemony Chicken & Spring Veggie Soup via The Cozy Apron

Sometimes, you just want a soup that's light, fresh and you know won't make you feel like an overstuffed trash bag of a human. This is that soup. I'm pretty sure I skipped the leek every time I've made this and it was still great. Not sure how this would fare with picky kids because there are a lot of green things floating around here, but I bet you can swap out most of these veggies for whatever you/your household prefers and it would still be great. The lemony broth will not be stopped by your decision to ditch the zucchini in place of broccoli. It's a fighter. The quinoa rounds out the whole thing to make it a full meal and filling.

image source

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili With Sweet Potato via Paleo Running Momma

During my September Whole30, I made this soup about three times (that and slow cooker buffalo chicken dip over sweet potato…life changing), and I have to admit, it turned out differently every time I made it and I can't figure out why, but overall, it was a solid addition to my go-to list of “what on earth do I cook this week without making my tight pants even tighter or going broke” solutions. Definitely use bone broth if you can (it makes it richer and more complex than regular broth or stock), and if you can't find a white or Japanese sweet potato, it would be just as good with regular sweet potato. If you make it as-is, a bowl of this yummy goodness (which is less of a chili honestly and more of a soup) is dairy-free, sugar-free and grain-free (which sounds like a snore-fest but I promise it's super yummy…once you double the nutritional yeast).

image source

Easy Thai Shrimp Soup via Damn Delicious

I remember when I first made this for myself and DH, he said “this tastes like it could have come from a restaurant”, so I knew it was a winner in his eyes (funny how home-cooked meals are top rated if they could have come from a restaurant, while restaurant food gets a gold star if it taste homemade, oh the ironies of life). I think you could easily swap out the rice for riced cauliflower and butter for ghee (to make it Whole30 approved), but as-is, it's super simple, comes together in under 30 minutes (if you're a fast prepper/chopper), and satisfying.

image source

Gluten-Free Zuppa Toscana via Noshtastic

Another Whole 30-approved soup here (i.e. dairy-, sugar-, grain-, and happiness-free). Okay, it's not happiness-free because this one made the cut for this article. I'm more of a pasta e fagioli girl myself, and I will never deny my love of Olive Garden's soup, salad and breadsticks combo, but buttery logs of bread soaking up heavenly, narcotic-like dressing are absolutely off limits during a tortuous totally doable month-long healthy eating stint. This lady freezes really well, so I usually make a big batch and then parse it out into one-serving containers for easy meals when I don't have the will to even glance over at my knife block. I've always used curly kale, but I think dino kale (the darker, bumpier but straight variety that looks like, well, a dino could have noshed on it) might actually be better. FYI for any newbie Whole 30ers, Pederson's makes a pretty rad sugar-free bacon (I get mine at Whole Foods when I'm feeling rich, obviously, or Sprouts when I've brought myself back down to earth).

image source

Heart Vegetable & Beef Soup via I Heart Nap Time

Okay, I really love this soup. This is not a soup that leaves you starving in 20 minutes. This is a soup that pulls its weight as a stand-alone entree. Sometimes, the potatoes go rogue and thicken it up while it sits in the fridge before I eat leftovers the next day (I just add chicken or beef broth before heating up), but overall, it's pretty low-maintenance. I tend to OD on the balsamic vinegar (I exaggerate all spices and other flavor additions when I cook because I never find what a recipe calls for to be enough), which renders down into a super yummy flavor. And DO NOT SKIP THE BASIL. I did last time and it just fell flat. The basil at the end makes this pot of richness totally sing. I've never tried this with anything but ground beef, but I bet it'd still be pretty yummy with ground turkey or chicken. Give it a whirl, because this one is a winner for all (except vegetarians).

UPDATE: So many of you commented this morning that we didn't provide any vegetarian options, and we happened to be cooking up a vegan Zuppa Toscana for lunch during our editorial retreat. All the vegetarians on staff went back for seconds, so it definitely got the seal of approval. Sara drafted up the recipe to share with you below. Take it away Sara:

There are a LOT of “Zuppa Toscana” recipes out there. But they all kind of have the same base-onions, garlic, red pepper, broth, a leafy green, and an Italian sausage. I've been making this soup for years now, and I don't follow a specific recipe anymore. To be honest, I switch it up a little every time I make it based on what sounds good or what I have in my fridge. Sometimes I use spinach instead of kale, sometimes I make it creamy (traditional style) but sometimes I keep it spicer and broth-y, the list goes on and on… 

And this time I've made it super hearty and totally VEGAN (vegetarians and vegans, we heard you, and we have a lot more veggie soups coming your way in the upcoming weeks). It's kind of like a good chicken soup or chili, after you make it once, you can make it again and again, a little different each time.

Ingredients:

8 cups vegetable broth

1 bunch green kale (de-stemmed and torn into small pieces)

Two large carrots, chopped

2 cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup potatoes, chopped

Two heads chopped garlic (or as much garlic as you want, I will use two tablespoons minced sometimes)

1 tablespoon avocado oil (for sautéing)

1 white onion, chopped

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp herbs de Provence 

Salt and pepper to taste

Juice of one lemon

Sauteé onion, garlic, carrot with salt, pepper, garlic powder, red chili pepper, and dried herbs until onions are translucent and soft. Add veggie broth and bring to boil, add potatoes and let simmer until potatoes are soft (about 20 minutes). Add coconut milk, mix in. Add drained cannellini beans and kale, and bring to a boil for 5 minutes (until kale is tender). Finish with lemon juice and garnish with red pepper flakes if you like it spicy. If you're not vegan, add some cooked spicy Italian sausage. If you prefer a softer green, swap spinach for kale. If you want a lighter soup only use half a can of coconut milk, or use 1 can of light coconut milk. No matter what you do, it will be delicious.

Okay, back to Emily…

Before you do anything else, be sure to pin the above image so you can refer back to this post. It'll save you on a Sunday morning while you're meal planning for the week!

So, all I really have left to say for today is…welcome to #JanStewary. Absolutely make sure to follow along on Instagram Stories, use the hashtag to share your favorite recipes (and throw them into the comments, too!) and please come back on Saturdays during January for more of our tested and approved (and modified) soup recipes. Happy souping everyone. xx

The post #JanStewary: How Soup Changed My Life (& Body)…Really appeared first on Emily Henderson.

[calm-fics-blog]

Fight Song [Calum]

Part 3 Part 1

The next morning I woke up and Nick was gone. Where he layed in bed was just a cold space of 500 thread cotton sheets. I sat up and stretched looking around the dim room. I could feel my muscles wake up all throughout my body and I smacked my lips a couple of times to get them wet. I looked over to see a note on the night stand that must have been from Nick. I picked it from it’s place on the table and read it.

“Had to make an split second trip to New York. I didn’t want to wake you up. Make sure to lock up when you leave and call me when you wake up. Love you, N”

I sighed and looked over at the alarm clock. It read quarter-past ten. I crumbled up the note and threw it in the wastebasket in the bathroom. I really didn’t want to call him because odds are he probably wouldn’t pick up anyway so I just shot him a quick text. I grabbed my belongings and called for a driver to bring me back home. Once I was at my flat, I went right upstairs to take a shower and rinse away all of last night.

Just as I pulled off my robe to step in the hot shower, My phone started to vibrate with Calum’s name on the screen. I picked up and swiped the arrow right putting in on speaker phone. “Hey, Calum! What’s up?”

“Hey! I just wanted to give you a call and see if you were still thinking about stopping by the studio today. It would be cool to see an A-lister on set with us. Maybe even make a cameo?” Calum said with hopefully wishing.

With a chuckle, I hoped up onto the cold bathroom counter and picked at my nail. “That sounds like fun but i’m gonna have to put on a hat and some glasses because being seen with a band like you might hurt my image.” I said sarcastically.

“That’s not very nice!” I heard Ashton whine in the background. I chuckled and told them that I would see them later.

I climbed back into the shower and washed up before pulling on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. I threw on my glasses and let my hair down. Considering last night I had a full face of makeup and a up do, I wanted to be natural for once. I was excited because I loved making music videos and creating new things. I climbed into the car and gave the driver the address that Calum sent me. I was so excited I couldn’t help but tap my fingers in anxiousness.  

When I pulled up to the spot, it was just a normal house with a lot of props and equipment spread throughout the front yard and the garage. People were peppered everywhere and when I saw Ashton and Calum outside of the garage on their phones. I thanked my driver and grabbed my bag before stepping out and running up to the two boys. Out of nowhere, Michael came outside and ran to me and engulfed me in a hug. Considering I'm only 5’3 I was easily crushed by his six foot structure. Ashton, Michael, and Calum came back over to me and gave me hugs just like Michael.

“Thanks for inviting me here guys. What exactly is the whole plan here?” I asked, referring to the house.

“It’s for our new song call Hey Everybody and it’s basically just a house that we’re going to mess up and do stupid shit in.” Michael said with a mouth full of sandwich.

“That’s pretty cool. Where would I fit in in all of this?” I asked.

“You’re going to be an extra in the very last scene. It’s like a party in the street and there will be costumes and there will be dancing and a whole lot of fun.” Luke answered this time.

Some one on the managing team of the set came over and told the boys that we were going to get started in just a little bit and they needed last minute fittings with Calum and Ashton. I smiled at Luke as he stepped closer to me, his hands shoved into his pockets and he looked kind of awkward.

“I want to talk about last night. Are you okay? I heard the conversation with you and Calum and he looked really worried and I know Nick was acting a little, I don’t know, abusive.” He said quietly.

I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and looked down at my shoes. “Yeah, I’m - uh, I’m fine. It was just a rough night for him.” I said rubbing my arm. I winced from the sharp pain I felt from the bruises that Nick left.

My stomach growled loudly and I looked up at the two boys. “Have you eaten today, Y/N?”

I shook my head now and looked away. “Haven’t had much of an appetite, anyway.” I answered honestly.

“Nonsense, I can order you a sandwich or even make one if you’d like. I don’t mind!” Michael offered draping an arm around my shoulders but his hand rubbing against a bruise.

“I’ll be okay, I promise. Anyways about this song…” I changed the subject because I didn’t want them to dig into it anymore and I also wanted to just forget about everything that happened last night and focus on the fun that was ahead for today.

We worked on that video for hours and honestly I had forgotten about everything that had happened last night. I was laughing and I was absolutely carefree like I had no weight on my shoulders. I even got to meet Liz, Luke’s mother, and boy was she so nice! It was like I was talking to my own mother. She asked me what it was like being famous and a female and asked me about some of her favorite dresses I had worn for awards shows.

My conversation was cut short with Liz when my phone began to ring. I looked to see that it was actually Nick who was calling me. I silently cursed myself for not touching base with him basically at all today and new that as soon as I answered his call I was in for a rude awakening. I excused myself and stepped outside before accepting the call.

“Hello?” I said.

“Why the hell haven't you answered the phone, Y?N? I gave you a clear demand. To call me when you woke up and what the fuck do I get? A text!? Where are you?” He shouted into the phone. I had to hold the phone away from my ear because he was so loud. I also didn’t know that Michael had followed me out and eavesdropped the whole conversation.

“I'm sorry, Nick. My phone died and I had to put on the charger. I'm out with my friends right now.” I said quietly trying not to bring any attention to me.

“When I call, you answer. That's how it's going to be. I don't care if I'm in another state or in another damn country. Do you hear me?” He said sternly. “Oh and if you think that eating tub of ice cream in the freezer, reconsider because I don’t want to lose the title of ‘Hollywood’s Hottest Couple’ because you get upset over something stupid.” He said right before hanging up the phone.

I couldn’t help but completely fall apart right where I stood. I wanted to run away and hide for the rest of my like. As I was falling to the floor, Michael was there to swoop me up and hold me close to him. He pet my hair and said soothing words to me to try and calm me down but there was no use. “I don’t understand why you’re with him. You’re so much better than him. You deserve a million times better.” Michael said in disbelief.

I wanted to believe him, I really did, but Nick was right. I could devour a whole container, maybe even three at the moment, and i’m the one who would ruin the image we created together over the past years. Everything is my fault and it will always be. I’m ugly, i’m fat, and i’m a bag of potatoes next to Nick. If i’m not good enough for him then i’m not good enough for anyone.

--

Michael helped me clean up and brought me back to the street where we were ready to film the big float scene. There was every kind of contraption that you could think of was sticking out from all over the float. Lights, twirly things, feathers, anything you name it was on that float. At the top sat Ashton’s drumset.

“That looks like a huge safety hazard. Is that safe?” I asked, flicking a pinwheel on the front.

“You sound just like my mom.” Luke giggled as he turned to Liz who just rolled her eyes and laughed along.

The director called for everyone to get in their spots for the final scene and I skipped over to my place. I befriended one of the extras and we decided that we were going to do this last scene together. We danced and sang along with the songs while the boys rocked out on their makeshift stage. I was having so much fun and the time of my life filming this music video and I don’t even profit from it!

When we finished filming, we were brought back into the house where a big buffet of hot food was spread for everyone to help themselves to. The beautiful smell of freshly cooked bread and roast chicken had my mouth watering with every step I took closer. I was really hunger considering I hadn’t eaten anything all day and it was night. My stomach growled when I grabbed my plate and that’s when I knew I was going to dive right in. I pulled a nice meaty piece of chicken on my plate and scooped a big helping of potatoes and gravy onto my plate.

“Hey look who's getting her grub on!” Calum said from behind, placing his large hand on the small of my back.

I smiled and watched as he grabbed a plate and followed me down the buffet line. As we made our way to sit down on the front lawn with the other boys, Nick called me. I ignored it because I didn’t want to deal with him. Instead, I sent him a quick text telling him that I was at the studio. Maybe he wouldn’t be mad.

I continued my conversation with Calum and the boys when my phone buzzed. I looked down to see Nick had sent me a text that read:

Okay. Call me when you get dinner. Remember,  don't eat too much. Weigh yourself after and do what you need to do to lose the weight again. Love you

My stomach automatically felt full even though I only had two bites of potatoes and just a small nibble of chicken. I set my napkin and fork on the plate and set down next to me, shifting myself into a more comfortable condition. Calum immediately noticed my shift in demeanor and grabbed my phone, reading the screen before asking me if he could. I wasn’t able to snatch my phone back so he read the message from Nick.

“‘Do what you need to do to lose the weight’? YN...you can't let him make you feel that way. Why do you let him do this to you, you’re beautiful just the way you are.” He said softly as he grabbed my hand.

I knew I shouldn’t have set my phone down. I didn’t want anyone to know the kind of stuff I went through with Nick and now that Calum knows, someone who has a problem with it already, everything is going to change.

I felt my eyes warm from the tears that were threatening to fall. I choked back the tears and said, “I have to keep my image, Calum. If I don’t then our reputation will be ruined. Not only that but he loves me and he wants what is best for me. He knows i’m not happy-”

“Does he know that he’s the reason why you’re unhappy?” Calum interjected. He looked so upset and that made me feel worse.

I didn’t have anything to say back to him. Instead, I just let the tears that wanted an escape to roll down my cheeks. As much as I wanted to believe Calum I knew that he was wrong. He didn’t understand the way Nick was and how he worked. He doesn’t know how the past three years together had changed both Nick and I for the better. He just didn’t understand.

The director dismissed everyone and after I was able to send a text to my driver, Michael came up to me and gave me a big hug. “You’re a trooper, Y/N. I can’t believe that you stayed all day!”

“Of course I am still here, this was a lot of fun to do. Thanks for letting me be apart of it.” I said with a yawn. I felt a little nauseous and kind of dizzy, most likely from being on my feet all day.  I started to sway back and forth so Calum put his hands on my arms to steady me.

“Y/N, are you okay?” Liz asked as she looked between my eyes.

“Yeah, yeah, just tired.” I fake smiled. My car pulled up and I said my goodbyes. Calum walked me to the car and it’s good that he did because I felt really weak and sluggish.

“Y/N, what is wrong? You’re not acting normal.” Calum asked.

“I’m fine, Calum, i’m really tired is all.” I said, pressing my temples together and sighing. My head was banging.

He placed his hands on my shoulders and rubbed my arm. “If you need anything, please don’t be afraid to call. I’ll be right over.”

I gave him a smile and a hug goodbye before practically throwing my body into the car. My speech started to slur and I knew that I needed to eat something or else this wasn’t going to be a good night. I grabbed the sleeve of crackers from my purse and munched on them the whole way home but it didn’t settle the uneasy feeling that was building up in my stomach. I felt nauseous and decided that I had enough crackers. The rocking of the car only made this worse and in my head I was making plans on the best place to throw up. Luckily, I didn’t have to worry about that because I made it home without a chunk being blown.

I walked right up to my bedroom and stripped myself of the day's clothes. I pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a loose t shirt and headed for the bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror, disgust only now becoming overflowing as I look at myself..

A small part of my belly showed and I lifted the hem more, staring at the flabby skin in front of me. I’m not large and a I’m not small, but I’m not what I want either. I want to be beautiful and I want to be skinny. I mushed my stomach together to make a little mountain of pudged and sighed. My eyes drifted to the toilet behind me and Nick’s words ran through my mind again.

“Do what you have to do to lose the weight.”

My fingers twitched, they knew just how to help me.

I walked over to the toilet slowly, maybe this was a bad idea and I shouldn’t do this. But what would Nick think? If he came back and saw that I hadn’t lost any weight or if he noticed I gained some he wouldn’t be happy. This would help me, this would make me look and feel better. It would only hurt for a few minutes then I would feel better.

I kneeled down infront of the porcelain bowl and steadied my left hand on the side, readying my index and middle finger on my right. I took a deep breath and stuck my fingers down as far as I could until my gag reflex kicked in and I threw up the small amount of food I had ate tonight. The vomit burned my throat and my eyes watered. I hadn’t thrown up in years and it wasn’t a good feeling to have back again.

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and flushed the toilet, seeing all chewed up food wash away like waste. Was this bad? I mean, the food made me feel upset and I do feel better now. It was just a quick fix. I stood up and washed my hands good in the sink and brushed the disgusting taste from my mouth using mouthwash to really make myself feel minty fresh. I didn’t feel as bad anymore and I liked it.

I walked back into my bedroom and saw a missed call from Ashton. I hit the call back number and sat at the end of my bed picking at my nails while I waited for him to answer.

“Hey, Y/n!” Ashton cheered, “I was giving you a call because we are off tomorrow and we're planning on going to Disneyland. Would you like to join us?”

A smile grew on my race and of course I agreed. Something like this will take my mind off of things for a few days and I really needed a fun time. When Ashton and I were done on the phone, I quickly called Nick to tell him I love him and goodnight. He told me about his super busy and important day. I was happy that his album release was going so well and that he was proud of his work. I missed him but I knew this was good for him.

I fell asleep that night with an empty mind and an empty stomach which I was oddly satisfied with. For once in my life I wasn’t stressing and I could truly enjoy my bed and the comfort of silence in my own home.

[nancypullen]

I Can’t Stop Cooking

Apparently I respond to a crises by preheating my oven.  You guys, I can’t stop cooking.  It’s comfort, it’s normalcy, it’s creative, and it’s going to kill me.  Not really, I’m trying to keep things healthy. Mostly.  We won’t talk about the brownies in the oven.  But trying to keep things healthy during a pandemic, when grocery stores are gutted regularly, gets a bit trickier.  If you want rice or pasta, odds are that you’re getting the white variety.  Stocking up on fresh produce feels like hitting lotto.  My last grocery pick up  included cucumbers, radishes, cabbage, lettuce, apples, bananas, avocados, tomatoes, fresh green beans, cauliflower, and more.  I felt like I was transporting the crown jewels.  The downside of that is not picking my own produce, but I’m happy to make do with what is chosen for me.  I hope this doesn’t continue through watermelon season.  I don’t want anyone else thumping my melon.  But I digress, back to the kitchen.  I’ve stuffed peppers and I’ve made grand salads, but I have also made creamy sauces and buttery sides, things I would normally avoid.  Here’s some pork chops with a tangy green onion chimichurri topping. So far, so good.  I had no brown rice so it was paired with jasmine rice. Not good The rice was topped with a yummy black bean and tomato salsa.  Healthy! But then I drizzled it with a crema made from sour cream and some lime juice and zest.   Oops.

Another evening I started with chicken sausage and tomatoes...healthy!

But it ended up in a creamy, buttery sauce on top of spinach and ricotta ravioli. A little shaved parmesan helped too.

It tasted better than it looks. Every calorie was delicious. I’m really trying to find a balance between comfort foods and keeping us on the right track.  Most days I do okay.  In fact, I usually eat two meals per day and one is usually just veggies.  I guess that doesn’t help if the other meal is carbs dripping in butter. Yesterday this was my lunch  - a Caesar salad.

Sure, I tossed in a few crumbled croutons and a little bitty bit of chicken and cheese.  I used the tiniest amount of lite dressing.  Probably a solid 7 on a healthy scale of 1-10, right?    Last night’s dinner was one of my favorites.  Just a juicy, roasted chicken. I’d always roasted chickens slowly, my high school home ec teacher had taught me that cooking protein should be “low and slow” for optimum tenderness.  I’m so very sorry Mrs. Holladay, but you were WRONG.  Sometimes low and slow is the right choice, but a perfect roasted chicken needs to go into a 425 oven.  I promise.  Ina Garten taught me that. So this girl went into the furnace....but first I coated her with melted butter. What is wrong with me?

I stuffed her cavity with garlic, onion, and celery (just for flavor, that’s what I had).  Then gave her a good coating of cracked pepper and kosher salt. That chicken was 5.5 lbs so an hour and a half at 425 is perfect.  It’ll blow your mind. While the hen roasted I peeled a few carrots and cut them up.  They get tossed in a little olive oil, seasoned with salt and pepper, then pan roasted for maybe 30 minutes - depends on how large you cut them. I like to pop them in when the chicken has about 15 minutes left.  When I take the chicken out I give the carrots a stir, then let them finish while the chicken rests (covered) for 15-20 minutes.  When the carrots are roasted, put them in a bowl and mix with a light drizzle of honey. These are Mickey’s favorite vegetable.  He’d eat the whole pan.

The healthy option  would have been to serve the chicken and carrots and call it a meal, right?  But I didn’t.  I added mashed potatoes.  Even worse, they were instant potatoes...and they were yummy.  The chicken was juicy and flavorful, the carrots were just right, and the taters were a comfort.

Someone stop me.  I don’t want to come out of this pandemic and have the producers of My 600 Pound Life stalking me.  Cooking is my therapy,  cooking gives me a purpose.  Cooking allows me to nurture people I love.  But this has to stop.  So far today I’ve only had an apple (granted it’s only 11am, I could still blow the doors off this day).  The plan for tonight’s dinner is a healthy taco salad using ground turkey.  Try to forget that I mentioned the brownies in the oven.   I’m cooking for my sanity, and if this thing doesn’t end soon I’ll be roaming the neighborhood putting cookies in mailboxes.  I feel guilty complaining about this when I know that there are people struggling to even get groceries right now.  We’ve helped where we can, and I don’t want to be thoughtless or unfeeling.  Should I even post this?   Will I get hate mail for roasting a chicken?  I hope not.  I’m truly just trying to lighten the mood, laugh at myself a little, and distract myself from the worry and fear for a bit.  My most fervent wish is that we all come through this healthy and kinder.    If you know someone needs a help, reach out in any way that you are able.  If you have something to share, please do.  I am grateful every minute of every day that right now my family is all well and safe.  I hope that yours is too.  Every day is a day closer to the other side of this.  Can’t wait to see you out there.  XOXO

[cookingawe]

Eating in Real Life (Sugar Free, Part 3)

New Post has been published on https://cookingawe.com/eating-in-real-life-sugar-free-part-3/

Eating in Real Life (Sugar Free, Part 3)

We believe that one of the best, most interesting, most inspiring ways to talk about food is in the context of REAL LIFE EATING.

We’re super excited to bring you this mini-series (and bring it to a close today – sad!). All month long, you’ve be hearing from a POY team member as they bring you into their very real, very normal, very regular-home-cook life (during Sugar Free January!) to show you what’s been keeping them full and happy without the sugar.

Let’s dive in!

Meet Eman

Name: Eman

Role at Pinch of Yum: Content Success Strategist

Have you done Sugar Free January before? Sure have! Three years in a row now!

What does Sugar Free January look like for you this year? Things have been looking a little different for me this time around. In the past, I’ve cut out too much at once that by the time February rolled around, it just wasn’t realistic to maintain. This year, I’ve been reframing what I think healthy looks like for me and right now that means just avoiding sweet treats and sugary cocktails but including honey / maple syrup, fruit and dried fruit, and a few refined grains during my Sugar Free January.

What is your favorite part of Sugar Free January? Reminding myself (and my body) that there are so many yummy and fun ways to make meals without all of the extra sugar.

What is your biggest challenge during Sugar Free January? Making sure that I have options that fit into my SFJ stocked / prepped / at the ready! It’s easier for me to get into a realistic and healthier eating routine if I take out the decision making behind what I eat and what I’m watching out for right now.

What was the number one, most easy / delicious / favorite best recipe you made this week? It’s gotta be the Cashew Golden Milk Lattes! With a little bit of ice in a fancy cup if you want (you do!), it’s been the perfect late afternoon pick-me-up without the caffeine buzz that’d keep me up all night.

Breakfasts This Week

Toast But Make It Fancy

Breakfast is one of those meals I’d be okay going without, but I’m making it a point to eat a lil’ something to start my day. Just a piece of whole grain crispbread here topped with a bit of almond butter and hemp seeds and a cute clementine on the side.

Just Your Average Yogurt Bowl

Keeping things easy here with a few dollops of cashew milk yogurt (yes, this is a thing!), fresh blueberries, and a sprinkling of chia seeds.

Lunches This Week

Long Live Burrito Bowls

These Roasted Cauliflower Burrito Bowls could be on repeat all week long and I would have exactly zero problems with that.

Sweet Potato Tortilla-Less Soup

Okay, yes. I went tortilla-less for a tortilla soup, but everything about this Instant Pot Sweet Potato Tortilla Soup just says cozy and ready for winter.

Snacks This Week

The Greatest Muffins of All Time

Obviously these apple muffins needed to make an appearance during my Sugar Free January. I mean, how could they not?

Next-Level Lattes

I am L-O-V-I-N-G these Cashew Golden Milk Lattes! Best part here IMO is getting to that ginger / cinnamon combo that’s starting to settle near the bottom. It’s like sipping the last of the Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal milk minus the sugar high.

Also: yes, how cool is that straw? I bought it years ago and can’t find it now, but here are some similar ones. Reusable straws FTW!

(affiliate link above!)

Dinners This Week

Red Curry Lentils

My favorite kind of dinners are the ones that come together in a pinch and bring big time flavors and these Instant Pot Red Curry Lentils DELIVER!

Mediterranean Bowl Mashup

It’s called an I-need-to-use-up-things-in-the-fridge situation. Pan-fried halloumi, fluffy quinoa, crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and fresh mint piled high on a bed of greens with a bit of Roasted Red Pepper Sauce for good measure.

Soup Round 2

It’s soup season and this Jalapeño Lime Chicken Soup is here for it!

Thanks for joining us for the final edition of Eating In Real Life!

What foods/meals/snacks/treats are saving your life this week?

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[mohamed44]

LOSE WEIGHT FAST DIET | How I Lost 15 Pounds In One Week

Currently, I am like a little bit out of shape overweight and just unhealthy and I have like a really sensitive tummy like everything upsets my stomach and I just feel really bad if your tummy is not happy.

Everything is not happy and most importantly I have no energy not having energy is like directly related to my diet. Most of the time it is so difficult to be a model and a foodie this two Clash so much. It's not even funny in October was the last time I was on a diet. I was going to Europe I was going to Spain for a photoshoot and Italy for a commercial of shooting a commercial after that diet. I felt good. I looked good. I had so much energy and when I came back, I was like girl-girl. You are not gonna go back to your old ways. Like I'm going to maintain my health side note. I have been eating Ramen almost every day. Like I have no idea how I'm not dead serious, so it started off with like one ramen a week and then it was like two ramens a week and I'm like, oh no, it's fine for I know it back to Ramen every day. And here I am.

It's not cute. No, so I don't know about y'all, but for me, like if I don't have a purpose for starting a diet, I will quit as soon as the diet gets difficult. I'm just like what am I doing? So before I start any diet, I have a checklist. So I've already identified my goal set a deadline cleared out all the junk although Robin out of the house. The last thing I need to do is go grocery shopping late l so I could just take like public transportation. From my house. It's like 3 minutes and then goes to the grocery store but since its diet week, I'm gonna take the hard way. I'm going to be having a lot of turmerics and a lot of ginger. The struggle is real because I can't read Japanese. I don't know if this is cilantro or partially let's just hope it seems a lot of trouble. This is like the best part about Japanese grocery stores. They have these like already set meals and they're actually really good and fresh sucks. So here is my healthy food hall for the next two weeks starting with the vegetables. I got some carrots two things of kale. This was literally the most expensive item out of all of these things some cabbage some kimchi. I got some honey some raw honey, but I don't think I'm going to even be using that these bananas were on sale and they're a little bit riper. So I'm actually going to freeze those which is great. And then I Some bananas to eat. I eat a lot of bananas got some grapes. These grapes are on cells is actually a great prize for some grapes. I'm still in the store so lucky got that cheese so I can top with my salads to zucchinis a why did I forget the name of this? So it's dark. I need my coffee. I got an avocado, I freaking love these mushrooms, I still can't pronounce them. I'm just not even trying she talked a shiitake. She too good. I don't freakin know the brown mushrooms that look a little fuzzy so you don't pick up normally but they're safe. They're safe. The fuzz is okay. I got some green so I can make some salads. This is just mixed greens and some lettuce for the frozen vegetables. I got spinach. I usually use this in my soups some broccoli and this like mixed thing that your mama makes in the pies. You know what I'm talking about the chicken pot pies. I got some soy milk, and I got some Sweetened almond milk. I also got some plain yogurt. I got some pumpkin seeds and I got this to make a fruit bowl. I want to make it look really really pretty with the dragon fruit. Minie sweet potatoes and hear the sweet potatoes are like purple and the inside is like a yellow-white color but in America, they were orange and I don't know if that's a gam or sweet potato. Anyway, these are a bomb and they're really little so they can fit in my fish grill. I got some garbanzo beans I think is another name for these. What is the name of my God? I forgot dang. I can't remember. Anyways, these dang beans I freaking love I just roast these over the stove with some cayenne pepper onion powder garlic powder a little bit of salt and I can put those on oh my salads. I got some more oatmeal and then now for my protein I got some ground chicken some tofu and chicken breast and I got some tuna, which is super overpriced. In Japan, but I love tuna. Like that's one thing I can just eat all the time. And then I got the coffee that I need in my system as we speak before I lose my mind. So yeah, this is my semi-healthy food Hall. I'm not going to be buying some more cabbage. I already have brown rice and some other ingredients in the house already, but this is basically it I'm gonna try and make this last for two weeks. I'm not going to finish all those I'm not gonna finish this either. I got quite a bit of stuff, but I already know I'm going to go and get more cabbage and I'm going to probably get a bit more vegetables and then later on in the week. I can start to eat meat and carbs. So I'm going to pick up some like chicken or something like that. But for now, it's just fruits and vegetables for like the next four days. It's like 2:30, and I haven't had anything to eat yet. I usually like to start off my diets with like a small fast. So usually I won't eat breakfast or And it'll have dinner. It just helps set the tone. It just helps get my diet going. So I made it through day one actually day one for me is the easiest day just like you buy all the ingredients you like. I'm gonna eat these so they one's not so bad. And I feel really good. I'm gonna prep some vegetables this morning for today and tomorrow to eat and for breakfast. I'm feeling like a salad. I'm going to make like a huge giant salad with like a bunch of stuff in it. I'm gonna have a salad for breakfast and I'm going to make some kale with the mushroom that you saw I'm also going to steam some pumpkin and I'm going to make some green beans and I'll probably mix in some avocado with that because like just eating vegetables with knows like seasonings or fats or carbs. It's like so Again disgusting. This is really hard for me. But that's what my body needs right now. So that's why I'm going today 4 in the morning. And I want chocolate like so bad deep dark chocolate fudge brownie. That's hot ice cream on top. Basically, the bulk of my diet is through vegetable soups. That is like the main thing that I eat and then I have other things here and there but mostly I'm eating vegetable soup, which I'm sick of I need to go out and get some more carrots. I've already eaten almost everything that I went to the grocery store for so I have to go re-stuck again. it's like the butt crack of dawn so it's really difficult to see me in this room, but it is still a 70 actually. Sorry. It is day 8 in the morning. My diet is done. I'm so proud of myself y'all do I get cookie somebody give me a cookie. I finished this diet and I feel great. All right. I lost so much weight.

LOSE WEIGHT FAST DIET | How I Lost 15 Pounds In One Week a weight loss chart, a weight loss program, b+ weight loss diet, weight loss foods via Weight loss Tips https://ift.tt/2LtaA1x

[marblefeet08-blog]

One-Pot Orange Honey Garlic Roasted Chicken Paleo

Paleo One-pot Orange Honey Garlic Roasted Chicken. The sweet and savory orange sauces makes this roasted chicken moist and flavorful. Easy to make in the dutch oven (or pan) and a total crowd pleaser for family or holidays! 

Just letting you know this Orange Honey Garlic Roasted Chicken recipe was originally published in 2015. I retested the recipe, rephotographed, updated content and URL. Now I am republishing it for you today because it’s the PERFECT dish for the upcoming season. Just sayin…

Oh hi. My name is Lindsay and I have a confession. I am way too excited that it’s almost FALL. Que the pumpkin, roasted everything, and change of leaves! Another confession… I am WAY picky when it comes to cooking Chicken or Turkey. GASP! Did I just say that (type that) out loud? Oh, I think I did. Well, it’s out there. And you know what? My kiwi of a husband feels the same way. Um, hence this One-Pot (or pan) Honey Orange Garlic Roasted Chicken recipe. FLAVOR is needed!!!

You see, it’s not that we don’t like poultry (chicken or turkey), we just prefer it with LOTS of flavor and well… not dry.. but instead, juicy and moist!   Are you rolling your eyes at me? It’s okay, i get it. We’re stranger.

But I think you’ll prefer my method once we explain. Roasted chicken, like in a cranberry marinade or mixed into miso mango chicken wrap, yes, that DIVINE! That’s our preference. Or Chicken PHO .. OH YO, we likey!

And my husband, well, he’s a lamb and beef kind of guy. Plus he has nightmares from turkey leg and pumpkin incident from Thanksgiving a few year back. Needless to say, if he won’t eat pumpkin or turkey anymore. Haha, poor guy. Thanksgiving is not a fond memory of his.

That being said, It is almost Fall and the start of Holiday season! I’m not about to break tradition, I just plan on adding to it. Ya know? Like the adding to our mashed potatoes with white bean potato mash, bringing a vegan cranberry lentil loaf, a fall panzanella salad. So heck, let’s just add Honey Garlic Roast chicken to that Holiday table. Or any weeknight table to be exact.

I feel like I’m cheating on turkey or ham, but this roasted chicken is so good and easy to make that we’ve been eating it REGULARLY! GASP! It’s a simple, healthy, one pot wonder!

Simple ingredients to make a FLAVORFUL ROASTED CHICKEN:

Here’s whatcha need!

Oranges or orange juice

garlic

honey

Sea salt/pepper

olive oil and balsamic vinegar

Chicken

Herbs.

Just mix, coat, roast, and BAM! FLAVORFUL Roasted Chicken at your service! In fact, I think even the turkey fans would be impressed. It’s the orange honey garlic sauce that makes this roasted chicken just so tender! Fresh squeezed oranges picked ripe from the vine. And I grew my own garlic! Kidding.

But in all seriousness, it’s just real food ingredients that make for the tastiest dishes sometimes, would you agree?

It’s healthy, paleo, gluten free, grain free, made with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry… you get my point. It’s what my husband likes to call a “MONEY” dish!

Meaning —> easy to make, budget friendly, great for everyone, delicious, LOVE IT!

Okay ya’ll, get your one pot ready for this orange honey roasted chicken!

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Orange Honey Garlic Roasted Chicken

Description

One-Pot (or Pan) Orange Honey Garlic Roasted Chicken Paleo

Ingredients

3 Lbs whole chicken

1/4 cup olive oil

2 oranges, juiced (or 1/4 c fresh orange juice). Extra sliced oranges for garnishing.

1/8 cup honey

1.5 tsp garlic (minced) or 3 cloves

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1/4 tsp onion salt

1 tbsp lemon juice

Sea salt and black pepper to taste (extra for plating)

Instructions

First clean your chicken and remove excess fat that. Place half an orange and thyme inside the chest. Tie the legs of roasted chicken together with string. Set aside

Cut another oranges into quarters. Squeeze the juice into a bowl but keep the oranges for later. (or you can use juice from bottled orange juice, just me sure to have extra orange – quartered and sliced for cooking)

Combine your juice, olive, oil, garlic, and honey, balsamic vinegar, and other remaining spices in one small bowl. Mix well.

Place Chicken in dutch oven on breast side down.  Pour juice and garlic and honey mixture over the chicken, coating it nicely and evenly around the chicken

Place oranges around chicken in the dutch oven.

Cook on medium heat covered for 25 minutes on stove.

While Chicken is on stove, Preheat oven to 450F for later use.

After 25 minutes on stove, flip the chicken over, skin side/breast up. Coat the sauce from the pan on top of the breast and around thighs. Add a few garnishes of thyme and orange slices on top of the breast.

Transfer the dutch oven pot with chicken into the oven uncovered and cook for another 25-27 minutes or until cooked through and skin is crispy. 165F. Check chicken after 10 minutes in oven, just to be safe.

Skin should be crispy on top.

Remove and spoon any extra juice from pot and coat it again over chicken.

Serve with veggies or salad!

See notes if you don’t have a dutch oven or oven safe pot.

Notes

You can easily make this in a roast pan or casserole pan, just skip the stove top and add on an additional 20-25 minutes or so. Check chicken around 35-40 minutes to see progress. Cover for the last half the time with foil so it doesn’t burn.

Keywords: roast chicken, healthy, paleo, one pot meal, dairy free, gluten free dinner

Think of it this way. I’m doing you a favor. You can have your turkey and CHICKEN too! Or you can just save this recipe for post holidays when you are truly sick of turkey. Come one, you know  that will happen.

One Pot (or pan) Roasted chicken –> It’s a WIN WIN!

Are you a Roasted Chicken or Turkey person? Cast your votes! 

As I run off hiding… the American who doesn’t like roasted turkey (much). Gulp!

Will you forgive me?

Cheers,

LC

Source: https://www.cottercrunch.com/one-pot-orange-honey-garlic-roasted-chicken-paleo/

[babyobservationcrusade-blog]

hi guys I'm Laura Vitale and on this episode of Laura in the kitchen I want to share with you my loaded potato soup I have been getting the credit requested to make the soup for so long and don't know why I never did but it is to die for and it's so incredibly easy if you love a loaded baked potato this is a soup version and I mean it's cold outside I would eat this and I have eaten this in the middle of July so I have no excuses the point is it's really good it's really comforting a little goes a long way and everyone loves it I have yet to meet a person that doesn't love it because it's just that rich and bacony and potato wee and really delightful now the ingredients you'll need are few and basics you're going to start off with some potatoes I have some Yukon Gold that I've diced into about a half inch or so pieces I've got some bacon chopped onion butter flour I've got some chicken stock some milk and you're going to need a few additional ingredients which we will get to in just a little bit but for now let's get started shall we I've got a big soup pot I'm going to take it over about medium-high heat now I need to cook up my bacon first you can do you can you can cook your bacon in the oven first and then crumble it I just find it easy to just do it all in one pot and it's the past I'm super hot yet but don't worry once I start to sizzle it gets really hot the bacon will start to render it's fat it'll start to get really nice and crispy and once it's nice and crispy I'm going to get it out of here using a wood of a slotted spoon I'll show you what it looks like when it's there Bacon's nice and crispy I'm just getting an out of the pan out of my big pot using the slotted spoon now normally see I'm like fishing in here cuz I'm too short normally I'd say use some of the leftover bacon fat to make you rue or to cook your onions in I don't want to do that because I find that if you do that then the bacon flavor just starts to be a lid a bit overpowering so what I do is I get rid of the bacon fat you can keep it in the fridge it solidifies and you can keep it to roast potatoes in which case all will be well with the world and you be forever grateful because it is amazing but for today I'm just going to get this out onto the dirty bowl gonna put it in the dirty Bowl and now in that same pot there's a little bit of fan there maybe like a teaspoon or so but not much I am going to add my butter because I looks like a lot of butter but remember this is a really rich soup a little goes a long way and I want to saute my onions in butter and then I also need the butter to make a roux so kill two birds with one stone I'm going to saute my onions in my butter until my onion becomes nice and translucent I'll take about I'd say two to three minutes maybe four minutes just keep an eye on it these are looking good add my flour now this is what's going to help thicken and the potatoes will help thicken a soup as well but you need to make a roux in order for you know in order for the soup to be really thick and creamy and just gorgeous and you just cook it for about a minute I want to make sure that you don't see any raw flour anywhere and this is perfect give it a few more seconds it gets rid of any of that raw flour taste it smells so good already because I just want to bacon and the onions and the butter cooking together it's like a match made in food heaven at this point I am going to add in my chicken stock which as you know I use my little stock base or whatever it's called and get a spoonful of that and make sure you always use a low sodium because you want to make sure to control as much of the salt as possible and then you're also going to add in some whole milk now a lot of people make there's so many different variations of the soup really there's no one way of making it but for me this is my preferred concoction I suppose and now to this I am going to add my potatoes once everything comes to a simmer you want everything to simmer together for about 15 minutes the potatoes should be tender but they should still retain their texture just a little bit and their shape otherwise it just kind of like the disintegrate and nothing so let that simmer let that come up to a gentle bubble and then let it simmer on medium for about 15 minutes or until the potatoes or about tender my soup has been simmering for about 25 minutes it took a little bit longer because my potatoes were a little bit bigger and this should be but all over the world the potatoes are tender but they still retain their shape and some of their texture at this point I have tasted this for seasoning I do think it needs quite a bit seasoning at least definitely a lot of pepper because I love black pepper with any potato and then a good pinch of salt not too much because we are going to be adding the cheese in give that a stir just to stir it in smells phenomenal and now I'm going to add in the sour cream now you there's so many ways you can do this you can omit the sour cream and just add it on top if you want to I think it adds a richness you cannot replace I'm going to add my bacon back in whatever is left over from me picking at it and then this is optional you can serve it on top or running the soup I like to do it right in because I just love the flavor of some green onions and then some sharp cheddar that I have grated you want a good cup and a half or so I'm going to reserve a little bit for the top but I want a good cup and a half right into the soup and this is what's going to give you so much incredible richness and then just kind of stir this in and you want to just simmer this for about five minutes or until the cheese is fully melted but you don't want this to boil you just want to simmer it slowly just to melt the cheese and to kind of heat up the sour cream and now look at that texture it is just phenomenal I'm just gonna let this go for a few minutes and then we are ready to serve this baby look at that that just looks phenomenal okay turn it off the heat I'm going to lead us some I am like I'm standing and waiting that is just gorgeous look at that beautiful texture the bay the potatoes you can still see that they've got good shape and then I just need a little bit more cheek just a little bit more cheese just a little bit sprinkle that on top sprinkle some more green onions on top extra bacon sour cream whatever your heart desires and then I kind of just like to do that so that it can start to melt and then as I eat it kind of like pulls a little bit mmm mmm mmm okay I give this a go but I'm going to just need a minute because it's hot on my word and it's just so delectable so rich so fabulous it is like a baked potato with all the fixings in soup form I can't even tell you how good this is mmm ha hmm really pop hold on it's good enough to bring you to tears because you're eating it scorching hot and that to me is a good sign I hope you try this I hope that you love it I hope that if you've been requesting this for a long time then this is exactly what you are looking for Laura in the kitchen will have the recipe written for you already for you to take it go to grocery store get your ingredients make it and I yo know you will tent you will thank me you will love it I prom I will put my name on it everyone just money time with me and I'll see you bye you you

[chesterfitness1]

Healthy Diet and Fitness Q&A — Inspiralized

When considering the subject for my #livinginspiralized series, there were so many questions I had been receiving and I felt awful not replying more by replying a single question/topic.

Therefore, the current article is more of a “Q&A” in which I am answering a lot of your submitted questions!

You will see your question here and for those who do not, leave your question at the comments and I will be answering them as best I could. Or, you may always your queries so I have them will save them for potential Q&A collection, if that proves hot!

What I Ate Today, April 11, 2017

Breakfast

Made a smoothie jar at a cup! I woke up craving a smoothie bowl but wanted to drink a smoothie, so I simply set my granola in addition to my smoothie together with some chia seeds. This was the perfect consistency! The smoothie has peanut butter, kale, blueberries, banana, almond milk, icecream, and hydration powder.

Snack

Always eating a bag of nuts, haha! Same raw mix (pecans, almonds, walnuts, cashews) using carbohydrates.

Lunch

It had been such a beautiful day out, I wanted to get outside, so I went to this little “Fresh Cafe” that is within my building (I understand a grocery store, a cafe, a restaurant and a coffeeshop, I am spoiled!) And got their Vegetarian Wrap that was AMAZING. Kale, hummus, roasted red peppers, avocado, onion, tomato, etc.. Fresh and yummy!

Snack

I ate lunch, so I simply had more nut blend to hold me till my 5pm Spanish lesson — along with an apple!

Dinner

I created the Chicken Cacciatore in the Inspiralize Everything cookbook but used spiralized potatoes rather than rutabaga and additional brussels sprouts. Finest dinner!

Dessert

Green grapes and some citrus pieces! I like these from .

Healthy Diet & Fitness Q&A

Just how did your workouts differ when you were more so on the weight loss travel versus now where you’re not trying to drop weight? — Meghan, via email

I certainly did workouts. I worked out for one full hour since I did more cardio and wanted to fit it all in — toning and cardio. Now, it is rare I perform a 1-hour workout, unless I am in a workout class such as yoga. 45 minutes is all I want to maintain toning and keep my weight loss (and I definitely do 30 minute workouts too now!) . But, it is not necessary to perform 1-hour workouts to drop weight, I am simply comparing then to now. Back then I wanted to reevaluate the weight loss, so I had been focused on extra calorie burn. Now, my objectives aren’t calorie burn.

When I had been trying to drop weight, I did cardio 6 days per week. It was either spinning or running. I would attempt to perform at least 30 minutes of cardio on these days. A few days, I would do 45 minute spin rides. It’s wonderful for cardio burn (some of my spin courses burned off 600+ calories!) , but it is essential to do toning. Once I had been toning, I would focus on “apps” that laid it all out to me, so I could plan my workouts. For example, I would do Tone up it workouts 3 days per week (along with this cardio). A few weeks, I would do BBG workouts 3 days a week. These applications take all the guess work out to you and when you have goals of weight loss, the concentrated toning is truly beneficial.

NOW, my priority is toning 100%. I am at a weight at which I am happy, and now I only want to turn any additional pudge to muscle. With an hourglass shape, I am not the body kind that builds muscle readily (say, as an example, in comparison to an ‘athletic build’ or someone having a more straight down and up frame.) My workouts now are lighter around the cardio (though I always return back to cardio if my weight fluctuates a few pounds after a very long weekend), say 2o to 30 minutes of running or turning and I finish   using 15-20 minutes of toning workouts. There are also specific days that I do full toning exercises, no cardio. I do not always do cardio now. I will perform a 30 or 45 min Nike Training Club app workout or a BBG workout for 28 minutes. That will be my entire workout daily.

I am equally as consistent with my workouts still today, exercising 5-6 days per week. Consistency is key, especially when trimming!

I always wonder if I am making or seeing your recipes if you see calorie/fat intake in any way? I understand that you workout like crazy so you probably burn quickly. I guess my questions is how do you have any recommendations for overall balance of your day? Thank you Ali! — via Instagram

Nope! I do not count calories. For a single summer (really, two weeks of the summer) I started counting calories a bit and it gave me a very unhealthy outlook on eating, so I quit it immediately after and I’ve never counted calories because. I focus more on eating real foods and percentage controlling. But, I do understand that my body needs 1,200-1,400 calories per day to keep my active lifestyle, so I make sure to eat at LEAST which (and on a day when I am running around or have an extra intense exercise), I may have an additional snack or 2. I do not really count the calories, so I simply understand what these portions look like, in comparison with the foods I am eating. You may view my “What I Ate Today” to get an illustration of this. If I needed to run the numbers to today, I would say I ate approximately  1,600-1,800 calories (but I am also pregnant and adding 300+ calories each day over my regular ingestion per my doctor’s instruction.)

If you focus on very nourishing your system with actual whole foods (along with a 100 calorie Yoplait does not count), then you definitely won’t have to go caught up at your  calories. Your own body will tell you what it needs to operate correctly. If you’re ever light headed or feeling especially hungry, you probably have to eat more — and probably more protein. Maybe have a week in which you simply eat 3 meals a day and if you’re hungry in between, have a snack that can nourish you, maybe not something such as a bag of fries. In this exercise, you’ll realize exactly what your body ought to have on a daily basis to operate correctly. And you won’t actually understand the calories! You shouldn’t feel sick-to-your-stomach full.

When you have any suggestions on locating motivation I would be quite interested. — via blog

Amazing question! My response: YOURSELF. Promise yourself that for 5 days/week for one full month, you’ll have a post-workout selfie yourself at form-fitting workout clothing. After one to two weeks, then you’ll start to notice a shift in your body (slimmer(maybe a couple pounds less), and that is going to function as your inspiration. There’s no surprise that Kayla Itsines of BBG constructed such an empire — viewing with our own advancement is all we want for motivation! I’ve done this using @Getinspiralized and I started looking forward to looking at my photos, to see the incremental changes during the week and comparing myself to old photos.

Tips on how to craft a workout program for the week and the way to determine which weight training moves or HIIT motions to perform daily will be greatly appreciated!! — Joanna, via blog

If you don’t have any idea how to begin constructing a workout program, I highly recommend Tone It Up or Kayla Itsines’ Beach Body Guide (aka BBG.) They bought have easy to follow along and know exercise guides (with images). When I was starting out, these are the workouts I did. I loved Tone It Up especially, since they had a great deal of movies (I bought their collection, it was good to own — and I did the workouts, they’re really rough!) The majority of them require little to no gear (ie free weights ( nothing), so it is ideal for those who only want to workout in your living room.

After performing these workouts for weeks (I used them to get the first 6 weeks of my match journey) I was able to custom build my own workouts, based on my one of a kind needs/goals. However, at first, these are so beneficial and both of them (TIU and BBG) possess printables! And both have an awesome community of women working towards their healthiest selves!

Sometimes now, when I am too lazy to produce my routine, I print out a workout and bring it to the gym with me!

You said the late night snacking, and now I am totally with you on this. Any advice for how to deal with these late night munchies? — Jamie, via blog

First off, it is okay to have a snack before dinner and a bit of dessert afterwards. Provided that your snack isn’t a bag of fries and your dessert isn’t a row of Oreos. It’s okay to have a cup of popcorn as you’re waiting for dinner to finish in the oven, and it is perfectly fine to have a few squares of dark chocolate after dinner.

What’s not okay is eating a tub of almond butter while watching The Bachelor (or is that only me?!) Or eating an entire chocolate bar after dinner.

This may always be a struggle for me personally, but what I’ve found helps is what I call “carrying a psychological step back.” When I am likely to have something that is outside the fair amount of food (ie a reasonable snack) I let me “have a mental break” and I move fill a glass of water or create tea using steamed almond milk and inform myself “If I am still craving that in 10 minutes, I will have it.” What ends up happening is that I wait the 10 minutes and I either forget about the snack, the craving goes away, or so the tea/water satisfies this craving.

If you just really need to eat something, just try your best to allow it to be healthy — I adore frozen grapes, berries together with Greek yogurt, or even any dried mango pieces. Possessing an arsenal of healthy “munchies” makes it more difficult to overdo it — it is much easier/more interesting to plow through a bag of Pepperidge Farms’ Milanos than it really is to have cherry pieces, you understand? So keep the temptation from the house!

And if everything else fails, try this “psychological break” The majority of the time, we’re not being careful. The mind is really a very, very strong punch, so use it well! After all, a healthy lifestyle is a mindset.

If you’ve got a question to ask, I would love to hear from you! For a future Q&A collection!

from chester fitness http://www.chesterfitness.co.uk/healthy-diet-and-fitness-qa-inspiralized/