#Salted Soy Bean

[morethansalad]

Vegetable & Nettle Tempura (Vegan)

[arttsuka]

what is the meat(?) in the food photo called

It's a salmon fillet (I'd take another picture to show it better but I already ate it)

Here's a picture of another, still frozen salmon fillet I have in the freezer.

[soysaucevictim]

Hhh... didn't appreciate just how intense the winds/storm have been up in my neck of the woods.

I respect that delivery services are out of commission.

Just. Timing for me not taking care of myself on various fronts could definitely be better. (Like sleep and meds would stabilize me more in terms of emotions and meal planning. But bleh. I'll have to figure my own shit out here.)

[theuntemperedschism]

Kabob Recipe

Marinated chicken skewers are grilled to perfection and served with roasted string beans and carrots in this delicious and healthy dish. It's a great weeknight meal that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare.

[dear-ao3]

remember everyone. soup does not have to be hard to make. soup saves my ass at least three times a week. you don’t even need broth. and you can make it single serve. in like 15 minutes.

get some water put it in a pot. add a little bit of bullion or use broth if you have it. (one jar of bullion lasts me like months you don’t need a lot) add to that whatever the hell you want. soy sauce. oyster sauce. black vinegar. sesame oil. hoisin sauce. garlic powder. onion powder. salt and pepper. want it spicy? add chili flakes or oil or smoked paprika. literally whatever you have floating around in the cabinet or fridge will do. don’t forget! add something sweet (sugar honey maple syrup etc) to balance out the salt.

let it get hot. add in some vegetables. again, literally anything. whatever you got. can be frozen stuff. onions. corn. peas. edamame. broccoli. carrots. green beans. mushrooms. literally whatever. put in something with protein. tofu. meat of some sort.

wait until it boils. add some noodles. any kind of noodles. cook until the noodles are soft.

top with whatever you want. and there you have it. soup.

[lannisterblonde]

Chicken Skewers with Roasted String Beans and Carrots

Marinated chicken skewers are grilled to perfection and served with roasted string beans and carrots in this delicious and healthy dish. It's a great weeknight meal that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. Made from Salt And Pepper, Black Pepper, Soy Sauce, Olive Oil, String Beans, Garlic Powder, Carrots, Chicken Breast, Paprika, Olive Oil, Honey.

[eato]

[arthurdejaffre]

Recipe for Chicken Skewers with Roasted String Beans and Carrots

Made with Salt And Pepper, Black Pepper, Soy Sauce, Olive Oil, String Beans, Garlic Powder, Carrots, Chicken Breast, Paprika, Olive Oil, Honey. Marinated chicken skewers are grilled to perfection and served with roasted string beans and carrots in this delicious and healthy dish. It's a great weeknight meal that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare.

[theambitiouswoman]

Gut Friendly Grocery List 🥦🥑🧀

🧀 Probiotic and Fermented Foods:

Yogurt (look for live and active cultures)

Kefir

Sauerkraut

Kimchi

Pickles (fermented)

Tempeh

Miso

Fermented cheeses (e.g., cheddar, gouda, Swiss)

Kombucha

🫘 Fiber-Rich Foods:

Whole grain bread, cereal or pasta

Oats

Brown rice

Quinoa

Lentils

Chickpeas

Black beans

🍳 Protein:

Lean meats (chicken, turkey, lean cuts of beef or pork)

Fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines)

Eggs (rich in amino acids)

Tofu and tempeh (fermented soy products)

Cottage cheese

🍎 Fruits:

Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries)

Bananas

Apples

Oranges

Lemons

Watermelon

🥦 Vegetables:

Spinach

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Brussels sprouts

Asparagus

Onions

Garlic

Artichokes

Sweet Potato

Jicama

Chicory root

Dandelion greens

🥜 Nuts and Seeds:

Almonds

Walnuts

Flaxseeds

Chia seeds

Pumkin seeds

🥑 Healthy Fats:

Avocado

Olive oil

Grass fed butter

🍠 Herbs and Spices:

Turmeric

Ginger

Garlic

🧉 Beverages:

Green tea

Herbal teas

Aloe vera juice

Coconut water

🍫 Other:

Dark chocolate (in moderation)

Apple cider vinegar

Bone Broth

Raw honey

sea salt

Collagen

Seaweed

[rachellaurengray]

Not sure what to eat today that aligns with your diet goals? Here's a list of 50 things you can eat under 400 calories:

1. Grilled chicken breast (4 oz) with steamed vegetables

2. Turkey and avocado wrap with 15 cal tortilla

3. Greek salad with feta cheese and olives

4. Veggie omelette made with egg whites

5. Quinoa salad with mixed vegetables

6. Baked salmon fillet (4 oz) with roasted asparagus

7. Tuna salad on whole grain crackers

8. Cottage cheese with sliced strawberries

9. Shrimp stir-fry with broccoli and bell peppers

10. Black bean soup with a side of cornbread

11. Grilled tofu skewers with teriyaki sauce

12. Whole grain pasta with marinara sauce and grilled vegetables

13. Hummus and vegetable sticks

14. Turkey chili with a dollop of Greek yogurt

15. Brown rice sushi rolls with cucumber and avocado

16. Chicken Caesar salad without croutons

17. Steamed edamame sprinkled with sea salt

18. Spinach and feta stuffed chicken breast (4 oz)

19. Veggie burger on a whole wheat bun

20. Caprese salad with fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil

21. Lentil soup with a side of whole grain bread

22. Baked sweet potato topped with Greek yogurt and cinnamon

23. Tofu and vegetable stir-fry with low-sodium soy sauce

24. Egg salad lettuce wraps

25. Grilled shrimp skewers with zucchini and cherry tomatoes

26. Chicken and vegetable kebabs

27. Cauliflower crust pizza with veggies and light cheese

28. Whole grain toast with mashed avocado and sliced tomato

29. Baked cod fillet (4 oz) with lemon and herbs

30. Quinoa-stuffed bell peppers

31. Greek yogurt parfait with fresh fruit and granola

32. Turkey and vegetable soup

33. Baked eggplant parmesan

34. Steamed mussels in white wine sauce

35. Veggie and tofu lettuce wraps

36. Cottage cheese and pineapple

37. Spaghetti squash with marinara sauce

38. Greek yogurt smoothie with spinach and banana

39. Baked chicken meatballs with marinara sauce

40. Roasted vegetable and goat cheese salad

41. Salmon salad with mixed greens and balsamic vinaigrette

42. Turkey and cranberry lettuce wraps

43. Baked falafel with tahini sauce

44. Zucchini noodles with pesto and cherry tomatoes

45. Tuna and white bean salad

46. Stuffed portobello mushrooms with quinoa and spinach

47. Grilled teriyaki tofu with brown rice

48. Greek yogurt chicken salad with grapes and almonds

49. Turkey and black bean lettuce wraps

50. Spinach and feta stuffed mushrooms

These options offer a variety of tastes and textures while keeping your calorie intake in check. Enjoy!

[najia-cooks]

[ID: A thick white stew topped with a symmetrical pattern of fried garlic, minced parsley, and 'meat' chunks in a bright blue bowl. End ID]

كرناسة / Karnasa (Palestinian yoghurt and rice stew)

Karnāsa, or لَبَنِيَّة ("labaniyya") is a Palestinian dish of short-grain rice cooked in لبن ("laban") and topped with a tadka of fried garlic. "لبن" in Palestine refers to لبن زبادي ("laban zabādi,") or thickened sour milk (aka yoghurt). Laban is used to make a variety of sauces that are served with meat dishes, stewed vegetables, and maḥshis (stuffed dishes); it may also be strained and preserved as labna. Past batches of laban are traditionally used as a starter to ferment new batches from fresh milk.

Karnasa may be made plain, or with fried cauliflower or green beans; the latter variation, called لبنية الفول ("labaniyya al-fūl," labaniyya with beans) is often eaten during the winter.

It is an older custom to prepare karnasa in the morning, then serve it with meat as a lunch forعِيد اَلْأَضْحَى (Eid al-Adha), the Festival of the Sacrifice. Eid al-Adha celebrates the willingness of إبراهيم (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son at God's command: the أضحية ("uḍḥiyah"), or sacrifice of livestock, occurs accordingly on the first day of the three-day festivities. Families may purchase livestock—often goats or sheep—and share the meat with neighbours, friends, and extended family.

Karnasa is sometimes served alongside khubbiz tabūn, a fermented flatbread, which is torn and dipped into the stew. In this recipe, the robust sourness of the flatbread melds with the tangy, creamy yoghurt and tender, savory seitan to produce a satisfying meal that's delicious hot or cold.

Donate to an evacuation fundraiser

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Ingredients:

Serves 4.

For the dish:

1kg (4 cups) vegan yoghurt (لبن زبادي)

1 Tbsp cornstarch

190g (1 cup) Egyptian rice, or other short-grained rice

225g (8oz) meat substitute such as seitan chunks; or cauliflower

1 Tbsp kosher salt, or to taste

1 cup vegetable stock, or 'meat' stock from cube or concentrate

1 Tbsp olive oil, for frying

Parsley or dried mint (optional)

For the tempering (ṭsha / طشة):

1/2 head garlic, chopped

3 Tbsp olive oil

For best results, use a thick yoghurt such as soy or coconut, rather than a thinner one such as almond.

To make your own cultured cashew laban, follow my cultured vegan labna recipe, but double the amount of water and skip the pressing in cheesecloth step.

Instructions

1. Rinse your rice once by placing it in a sieve, putting the sieve in a closely fitting bowl, then filling the bowl with water; rub the rice between your fingers to wash, and remove the sieve from the bowl to strain. Fill the bowl with fresh water and submerge the rice to allow to soak for 30 minutes to an hour.

2. Whisk laban and starch together and heat in a thick-bottomed pot on low until simmering, about 10 minutes.

3. Add rice and stock and mix. Cook, stirring often, until the rice is fully cooked and the texture of the stew is a little thinner than what you want (it will thicken as it cools).

4. Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp oil in a skillet on medium. Fry meat substitute, stirring occasionally, until browned. Set aside.

5. Make the tsha: In the same skillet, heat another 3 Tbsp olive oil on low. Add garlic and fry, stirring often, until a shade lighter than desired. Remove from heat.

6. Stir in salt and tsha. Ladle into individual serving bowls and top with meat; or, cut meat into small pieces, add into the pot, and simmer another minute or two before serving.

7. Top with parsley or dried mint. Serve hot or cold, with flatbread.

[morethansalad]

Apricot + Rosemary ‘Meatballs’ With Creamy Orzo (Vegan)

[rottenpumpkin13]

Does Zack like coffee? How does he take it?

Other firsts/seconds/grunts/ Crisis Core ppl?

Zack: He grew up in the sweltering heat of Gongaga, so he's automatically a sucker for cold drinks. He drinks iced coffee, drowned in so much syrup, whipped cream, and sprinkles that it barely qualifies as coffee anymore.

Genesis: Prefers his coffee piping hot and complex, orders the most elaborate concoctions like a triple-shot caramel cappuccino made with special roasted beans, steamed soy milk, extra foam, an sprinkle of cinnamon and a generous drizzle of Banora White syrup, finished with a dollop of diet whipped cream, dusted with more cinnamon, chocolate shavings and a pinch of sea salt to enhance the flavor.

Sephiroth: Hojo never allowed Sephiroth to have caffeine, so when he leaves the labs, Genesis and Angeal introduce him to the joys of coffee. He quickly develops a love for coffee mixed with milk and sweetened with honey—simple and comforting.

Angeal: He thinks those elaborate coffee orders are "not real coffee", so he sticks to good old fashioned homemade brewed coffee. He drinks it from a goofy mug Zack once got him for his birthday that reads "Tired mother of three" in bright colors.

Cloud: Not very fond of coffee, prefers a cup of hot milk with honey. But he'll occasionally sip on coffee socially, masking a grimace and pretending he enjoys it.

NOTABLE MENTIONS

• The coffee machine in the SOLDIER break room that has broken down more times than anyone can count, and when it does work, the coffee is either too bitter or tastes like it was brewed in a dirty sock. Lazard refuses to replace it, claiming it's "character-building," and punishment for whoever broke it the first time by brewing coffee with energy drink (spoiler, it was Zack).

• The rumor that Rufus drinks imported coffee beans out of a solid gold mug.

• The jar of instant coffee that was sitting in the break room cupboard, unopened, until Zack poured milk into it, shook it, and downed it in one go. He managed to finish all his reports and paperwork within 30 minutes.

• The rumor that Sephiroth and Genesis spike their morning coffees, after a witness claimed to have seen Genesis remove a flask from his coat pocket and pour it into their cups in the elevator. (Spoiler: it was Banora White juice).

[thereoncewasagirlnamedjane]

wrapped in red.

‣ pairing — ari levinson x f!reader

‣ contents — oneshot, fluff, tiny bits of angst if you squint really hard, xmas/holiday themed, making new traditions, strangers to friends to lovers, reader is not physically described but is very asian-coded

‣ synopsis — all he wanted was some takeout, yours was the only restaurant still open on christmas eve, and ari gets so much more than he bargained for.

‣ word count — 4.1k

‣ notes — not expecting a lot of excitement for this one tbh, but I was very excited to write it. this is for my fellow asian girlies out there and everyone else who’s looking for some good old fashioned christmas fluff <3

✩ read on ao3 ✩ janie’s masterlist ✩ library blog

It took him a total of eighteen minutes to decide to leave the house. 

The sky was pitch black it was so late, and he knew trying to find a place open this late was a long shot, but his fridge was empty save for half a stick of butter and a jar of pickles. He really didn’t think he could fast for a whole other day, nor did he think himself talented enough in the culinary arts to slap together anything edible out of those two ingredients. 

So Ari drove around the city until he found a place with its lights still on, the open sign hanging askew on the door, and was relieved to see it was a Chinese restaurant. Who didn’t like Chinese food? 

He thought he knew what to expect when he pulled up to the Lantern House. He could see through the storefront window walls painted dark crimson, brightened up just a touch by several umbrella chandeliers. 

Once inside, he saw watercolour paintings of lotus flowers and mandarin ducks and leather dining booths separated by large wooden screens. Carefully-folded cloth napkins were resting on top of plates made of fine china, chopsticks and soup spoons stacked in plastic containers at each booth, and lazy Susans spinning around porcelain tea sets and bottles of chilli crisp, soy sauce, and sesame oil. 

There was a lucky cat perched on the corner of the hostess’s stand, waving at him mechanically as he picked up a menu from the neatly stacked pile. He looked around for the hostess, or any wait staff, but there was nobody else here. He heard someone rummaging around in the kitchen, could see the figure of someone hunched over the stove through the open door. 

Ari perused the menu quickly, glancing up and down the laminated pages, only to realize this wasn’t the kind of Chinese food establishment he was used to. 

Rather than the usual combination fried rice, orange chicken, and beef with broccoli, he was met with menu items like Hainanese chicken and rice, egg bean curd and fried gluten served in a sizzling hot pot, snow pea tips and goji berries in garlic sauce, chilli fried turnip cakes, and—was he reading that right?—blood jello congee. 

What the hell was congee? 

Or blood jello, for that matter? 

“I know,” a voice said all of a sudden, following by the rhythmic tapping of a pen against the edge of a notepad. “Lots’a weird stuff in there, huh?” 

“Uh—” Ari began, not knowing what to say without uttering something inadvertently offensive, halting immediately when he looked up to see you leaning against the doorway of the kitchen. 

His cheeks grew warm for some reason. Maybe because he’d been half-expecting a woman donning a red qipáo with gold threading, her hair twisted up into a bun. Instead, you stood there staring back at him in a black t-shirt and jeans, your midsection covered by a plain red apron, smirking as if you could read his stupid mind. 

He cleared his throat awkwardly and broke eye contact, mentally chiding himself that he should know better. He was no stranger to being stereotyped either, after all. God, he should just order something quick and just high tail it out of here before he embarrasses himself further. 

But then you laughed good-naturedly, stepping forward and reaching out a hand to help him flip to the next page. You smelled like salt and spice and orange blossoms as you pressed yourself to his side, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, peering down at the pages while he stared at the top of your head in wide-eyed bewilderment. 

“It’s not all weird, I promise,” you said, your voice tinged with amusement. “Any food allergies, sir?” 

“No,” he managed to say once he found his voice, “but I like to keep kosher.” 

“Ah, so shrimp and pork are out of the question then,” you nodded, not missing a beat, and he almost wanted to kick himself for not correcting you with his name instead. Then you looked up with an almost mischievous grin and a peculiar glint in your eye, and Ari felt his grip on the menu slacken just a bit. “You’ll need to trust me, stranger.” 

Ari considered this for a moment. He was already here, and he likely wouldn’t find another place that was still open, so he decided that yes, he would. He was nodding before the thought had even finished forming in his head. 

“How do you feel about grouper?” You asked and he blinked a few times before shrugging, not really feeling any way about it one or the other. You then proceeded to excitedly go through the menu items with him, pointing out the specials but also ones that you thought wouldn’t be too adventurous for a first-timer. 

You promised to be right back, giving him one last smile before disappearing back into the kitchen. Ari shoved his hands into his pockets, glancing around the restaurant before sliding into a nearby empty booth while he waited for his order of salt and pepper fried grouper and Cantonese-style beef chǎo miàn, all of which came with a free hot and sour soup. 

The place was quiet. Strange for any regular Tuesday night, maybe, but he suppose it wasn’t all that strange for Christmas Eve.

Most people were at home with their loved ones, sitting by warm fires and festively-decorated trees, eagerly awaiting the time for opening presents and dipping carefully-iced sugar cookies into steaming mugs of hot chocolate. 

Feasts of their own had been prepared as they welcomed visitors of all kinds, some they saw often and others they hadn’t seen in a while, not many deciding to brave the cold and snow in search for takeout. 

Except him, evidently. Well, not just him. 

Because the door suddenly opened, triggering the chime of your security system, revealing a middle aged man and two small children brushing freshly fallen snow off each other’s shoulders. 

“Excuse me,” the man called out hesitantly in an accent Ari couldn’t quite place. “You are open, yes?” 

“Yes, we are!” Came your muffled reply from the kitchen, and a few seconds later you came running out with your notepad and pen. You rushed past his table, doing a double take before asking if it was okay if his order took a few minutes longer. Ari agreed amicably, it’s not like he had anywhere else to be. 

He watched as you quickly ushered the family inside, seating them in a booth by the window so the children could watch the snow and twinkling lights outside. Ari tried to mind his own business as you poured them steamed hot cups of tea—an oolong blend that he would later learn was a favourite of yours, named after the iron goddess of mercy—and took their orders while they told you of their holiday plights. 

The man’s wife and the children’s mother was unfortunately stranded in another part of the country due to the snow. She wouldn’t be able to get a train ride home until Christmas night, and as a result they had to postpone their family dinner. Thank goodness you were still open, because he couldn’t cook to save his life! 

Ari couldn’t help but smile when you handed the kids some festive red envelopes to lift their spirits, each containing a chocolate coin wrapped in shiny gold foil. 

And as the night wore on, only a handful more customers passed through the doors. With each visitor, Ari felt the world shift. 

You waved goodbye to the small family as they piled into their car parked just outside the restaurant, not turning away until they were out of the parking lot and out of sight. 

You smiled and listened attentively to the stores of a lonely older gentleman, who had lost his wife just months prior, and was spending the holidays alone for the first time in fifty years.

You cooed at a fussy toddler balanced against the hip of a frazzled-looking young woman who couldn’t have been much older than twenty, all the while packaging up their leftovers with practiced ease. 

They all thanked you with smiles, some clutching your hand with shining eyes before they left, wishing you a merry Christmas and blessing your heart, as if trying to convey something else they couldn’t quite voice. 

Ah, Ari thought as he glanced down at his table, noting the sign in your window that announced you would also be open on Christmas Day. 

Even though most of the world was effectively on pause, you couldn’t close your doors yet. Not when there were people out there, no matter how few and far in between, who needed this place, who needed this small beacon of light on one of the darkest and coldest nights of the year. 

For people like you and him who, for any number of reasons, weren’t celebrating today, or for whom it was just any other day, and who came in search of a warm meal when they had no one or nothing else. 

Ari stayed after all, too caught up in the spirit of the season even though he’d never paid much attention in previous years. His earlier awkwardness and apprehension was quickly forgotten when you arrived with his order, smiling kindly when he didn’t move to leave and brought him a cup of tea, and he ate every last steaming morsel, slurped up every last noodle, and gulped down every last drop of broth. 

Only when his takeout containers were clean and empty and his stomach was full did he actually stop and look up, and you were watching him with this proud little grin. He was helpless but to return the gesture. 

“What’s your name, stranger?” You asked him before he went home, handing him the check on a small tray with a few mints in shiny red and gold wrappers. 

“Levinson,” he said, so used to reciting his last name first. He quickly corrected himself, “Ari.” 

“Okay then, Levinson,” you chuckled, your fingertips brushing against his open palm as you gave him his change. Then you looked at him with the softest smile, your eyes genuine, “Drive safe out there, okay?” 

He nodded politely, popping a mint into his mouth even though he usually never partook. He would only realize later that it was out of instinct, quickly trying to stop his heart’s frantic escape. The minute they hit his tongue, however, he found that they were candies. 

The entire drive home was milky and strawberry sweet, even if it ended with him slumped over with his forehead resting against the steering wheel when he remembered he hadn’t asked for your name in return. 

And so it took him a few more days to decide to return, right before the new year, with only half the reason being the amazing food. The restaurant was much busier this time, but you still brightened visibly when he walked through the door. 

“Levinson, Ari!” You shouted over the noise of conversation, over the hustle and bustle of your busy staff, all of whom turned to look in his direction, “you made it back!” 

You were once again his server, flitting between tables before stopping at his, and he asked hesitantly why you didn’t wear a name tag. You blinked slowly at him a few times, before realizing with a surprised laugh that he didn’t know what to call you. You said it to him while beaming, Ari’s own cheeks almost flaming in a way he hadn’t experienced since his youth, nodding when he repeated it back to you in a quiet voice. 

He made sure you didn’t see him pull out his phone, updating the entry for the restaurant’s number in his contacts. 

How do you feel about grouper?

Without context, it was a strange question to fall in love to. 

Because, looking back, Ari thinks he might have begun that sweet yet treacherous descent from that moment on. 

It took him another six months before he managed to try everything on the menu, after you made substitutes for everything specifically so he could try them. Pork was switched out for chicken or beef, shellfish set aside and fish tossed into the mix in its place, even though they changed the flavour of the original dish. 

“I hope you know what a big deal this is for me,” you’d joke, playfully shaking your head and rolling your eyes at him. But Ari always clocked the way you watched him with bated breath as he tried them, your eyes wide and hopeful without even realizing. He would later wish he would’ve told you that yes, he did know. Did you know how grateful he was? 

Instead, he’d stare blankly at you as he chewed, only faltering and grinning when you groaned in frustration and impatience, practically stomping your feet as you whined, “Just tell me what you think already!” 

And he would cave. Maybe not everything was to his liking, he admitted, but enough of it was that it kept him coming back. 

Among other things. 

It wasn’t long after that that he spontaneously asked you to join him late one night. He was up at odd hours of the night, so it wasn’t uncommon for him to swing by to pick up his order only minutes before closing. You began insisting he could eat there while you cleaned up, and while he watched you mopping the floors and closing the till, he glanced down at his meal and couldn’t help but wonder if you’d eaten. 

It would be nice, he thought, if you sat down with him for a change. When he asked, his heart stuttering at the way you paused and looked so taken aback. When was the last time someone looked after you instead of the other way around? 

There was no one else in the restaurant, the sign on the door already flipped over to say you were closed, and Ari, with all the boldness he could muster, gestured to the opposite side of his booth in invitation. 

You glanced at him a little hesitantly, before looking away and smoothing a hand over your slightly disheveled hair and glancing quickly down at your plain yet sensible attire. With a bit of coaxing, though, you finally put aside your mop and decided to sit across from him after all. 

And if he’d felt the world shift that first night, this was the night he felt it flip completely upside down. 

Ari wished he didn’t have a penchant for leaving things unsaid, that he would have told you what he’d really thought then. You didn’t ever need to be self-conscious; he’d thought you beautiful since the moment you met, and this was how he always wanted to see you. And with each visit, it was just as thrilling to learn you were as beautiful on the inside. 

Instead of the usual cups of tea, you brought out a bottle of chilled plum wine and a set of beautiful glasses that looked like they were saved for special occasions. You giggled when he pointed it out, whispering even though no one else was around that you’d bought it for dirt cheap at a flea market. 

Ari smiled wide then, and soon all decorum between restaurant owner and customer was forgotten as he told you, through a mouthful of ground chicken and chives and a tangy black vinegar dipping sauce, “If I could only have one food for the rest of my life, it would be these fuckin’ dumplings.” 

“Ari,” you chided, using your chopsticks to pick up a rice noodle roll stir fried in a fragrant satay sauce. He thought that it was the first time you’d said his first name, and that it might have been the best sound he’d ever heard. That was until you laughed, the musical little sound making his heart leap. 

And even though he used to joke to his colleagues about how useless of a day Christmas was for him, even though he always used to say it was just another day, it seemed that even he wasn’t exempt from the makings of holiday traditions. 

Because for years after, even when it wasn’t Christmas, you and Ari would sit  together sharing meals in an empty restaurant late into the night. He got to know your regulars just as much as you—

Silas and his boys, the family who had come into the Lantern House the same Christmas he did and began making their own traditions of having family dinner here every now and then. 

Mr. Han, who lives just across the street and always brings home an order of shāomài as an offering for his late wife. 

Traci with an ‘I’, a college student and single mom, whose little girl loved your restaurant’s freshly steamed mǎ lā gāo. 

—and you’d tell him that it reminds you of when you were a kid, when your neighbours all knew each other and took the time to catch up over steamed sticky rice dumplings and fried dough sticks wrapped in rice noodles. 

And when Christmas Eve did come around, Ari would show up at your door like clockwork. Your staff would exchange knowing smiles behind your back, shooing you towards his table despite your protests of how busy it was, more than happy to take on the work in your stead for a change before heading home to their own families. 

So, you would warm him up with a cup of tiěguānyīn and a kiss on the cheek. You would welcome him with open arms, literally, holding him close enough to let his heart beat right next to yours for just a few seconds, but it was enough. More than enough. 

You would point to pictures pinned against the walls of your beloved restaurant, the ones that told your own story in a series of snapshots—tales of parents who were enjoying retirement as they zipped all around the world and sent you endless flurries of postcards, of lifelong friends who you either see often or hardly ever see anymore because life just gets so preoccupying, of the regulars who continued to be drawn in by the promise of hot meals and a warm heart. 

Ari’s eyes would then land on one photograph in particular, swallowing hard to see his own blue eyes staring back at him from your wall, his smile easy and bright despite his normally serious disposition. It was taken on your third Christmas together, and you were leaning close to him in the shot, tucked right against his side just like that very first meeting. 

He wanted you to give him permission, to tell him that his arm always had a place around you so long as he wanted it. And he wanted it all the time, he realized. 

But Ari was never on leave for long. 

The first time he told you about his job, minus all the unnecessary details that were incredibly classified, you did your best to send him off with a smile and well wishes. His work was important and he helped people, and he knew you would never consider asking him not to do it, even if it was rife with danger and uncertainty, even if he could see the part of you that worried he might never come back. 

As the years went on, with each goodbye, you stared up at him as you pulled away from a hug, as if trying to memorize the lines and edges of his face, before tugging him back into embraces that always felt like they might be the last. 

“How will I ever know if something happens to you out there?” You would say, trying to keep your voice light and smiling wryly but looking like your heart was catching in your throat. 

“Aw, you worried about me?” He would joke, even though he knew he looked just as stricken and scared, wanting to say something else altogether. 

As far as the world knew, you and him were nothing to each other. But to him, this was it. He didn’t care what, if anything, ever came of it, or whether it would remain just like this forever. This was all he ever dared to hope for. 

He wanted this to be the only place he ever came home to. 

He wanted to be the one to greet you with a kiss hello, smile as he tasted the sweet mango pudding on your lips. 

He wanted to be the one to wish you sweet dreams with a kiss goodnight, then grumble about the way his mouth tingled with the leftover spice from whatever you had for dinner. 

He wanted so desperately to be the one with the intimate knowledge of how you kissed first thing in the mornings. 

And each time you bade him goodbye, he swore you were breaking off a piece of yourself to tuck into his carry-on. 

Because no matter how far or how long he went, you never really left him. You flooded his memories the same way the smell of winter melon and pork bone soup flooded his nostrils as it boiled away on your stovetop, right from the moment he stepped inside your kitchen. 

“Just because you abstain doesn’t mean I have to,” you’d tease before slurping noisily from your spoon and making obnoxious yummy noises.

You stayed with him the same way the sound of sliced rice cakes sizzling enticingly on oil-covered frying pans never left him until he’s had a bite. You tried teaching him how to make them one time, to less than desirable results. 

“No, I swear it’s good!” You looked at him with wide eyes as you chewed. He would glance back at you, unimpressed. 

“They’re not even fully cooked,” he’d say, but his cheeks were warm as he watched you finish them all. 

And even though you weren’t with him, the thought of you still made him smile the same way he’s seen you grin to yourself, satisfied, after enjoying a mouthful of savoury and spicy dándán noodles. 

“Obviously, I have to try them before I can serve them!” You mumbled through grease-covered lips. “It’s called quality control, Ari.”

“Obviously,” Ari agreed facetiously with a slight roll of his eyes, but the edges of his mouth always quirked up into a half-smile. “You bottomless pit.”

And when his plane finally lands, hours after the clock as struck midnight and signalled the arrival of another Christmas Day, his car makes the familiar turns and detours down the streets. He’s almost breathless when he arrives in a vacant parking lot, and the lights to his very own personal lighthouse are still on. 

The doors open, greeting him with the sharp smoky scent of incense permeating the walls and tablecloths. You’ve told him on numerous occasions that you only light them now out of habit more than anything else, but you still promised to light one for him every now and then. 

“A little prayer won’t hurt, will it?” You’d reasoned with a sheepish smile the very first time you lit one in front of him. “Just in case there is some deity out there actually listening, I need them to know you need protecting.” 

Ari is going to tell you tonight, the very first chance he gets, that he knew he loved you then. 

And with an offering of your now cold pan-fried dumplings placed onto the table next to the burning incense, he’s certain that all the gods are probably scrambling to hear your prayers for just a taste. Or maybe you thought the smell of his favourite food and the lights from the Lantern House in the otherwise moonless night would help guide him back. 

Either way, perhaps it’s okay to think he’s alive because of them. Because of you. 

When you step out of the kitchen, still wearing your apron, wrapped in red just like the very first night he ever saw you, Ari drops his bags to the floor with a careless thud. You open your arms and he falls into them, his hands finding their place on your back to press you close, and he feels like he can finally breathe again. 

His lungs expand with something even lighter and sweeter than air—the smell of salt and spice and orange blossoms. He kisses away your grateful tears one by one under the watchful eye of a nearby lucky cat and falling snowflakes until your mouths touch, and then he’s whispering it between your lips. 

Ari promises to always come back, every single Christmas until time stops and even thereafter, come hell or high water. 

And every year, without fail, you will always be the light that guides him home.

fin.

[buffetlicious]

If all Zong Zi or Rice Dumplings look the same to you, you’re not alone! Zong Zi (粽子) or Bak Chang are a variety of glutinous rice dumplings traditionally eaten by the Chinese during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节). Here are six types of popular Zong Zi from various dialect and ethnic groups in Singapore.

Hokkien Rice Dumpling (福建咸肉粽) - One of the most common Zong Zi that can be found in markets and stores, the Hokkien Zong Zi is wrapped in bamboo leaves is recognized by its dark appearance from soy sauce infused rice and distinct aroma from the five-spice seasoning. Usually made with pork belly, salted egg yolk, chestnuts and dried shrimps.

Cantonese Rice Dumpling (广东咸肉粽) - The ingredient that sets Cantonese Zong Zi apart is the filling of mung beans or green beans. One can also order a variation with a salted egg yolk. The glutinous rice is also seasoned with salt and garlic oil instead of soy sauce.

Nyonya Rice Dumpling (娘惹粽) - The Nyonya Zong Zi is the most distinguishable rice dumpling for its bright blue tip that is typically made from the extract of the butterfly pea flower. It is also sweeter in taste and aroma because of its pandan leaf wrapper and candied winter melon.

Teochew Rice Dumpling (潮州粽) - The savoury yet sweet taste of a Teochew Zong Zi comes from various ingredients such as red bean paste or lotus paste, fatty pork belly, earthy mushrooms and dried shrimp. Chestnuts are also added to the dumpling for texture.

Hainanese Rice Dumpling (海南肉粽) - The Hainanese Zong Zi’s most distinctive trait lies in its portion. It is filled with generous chunks of pork belly, whole chestnuts, mushrooms, and seasonings of savoury additions like five-spice powder, dark soy sauce, and black pepper. It is also usually served with a dollop of palm sugar syrup, adding a nice balance of sweetness to its savoury and slightly spicy flavour.

Hakka Rice Dumpling (客家粽) - Steamed in bamboo leaves, the Hakka Zong Zi consists of preserved vegetable filling, juicy pork belly strips and savoury mushrooms. It is also sometimes filled with beans.

Zong Zi info from here and images from Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.

[makeitmingi]

The Cat and Dog Game [Chapter 43]

Genre: Romance, Fluff, Comedy

Pairing: Yunho x Reader (y/n)

Characters: Chef!Reader, RestaurantOwner!Yunho, MaitreD!Hongjoong, Waiter!Yeosang, Waiter!San, Waiter!Mingi, SousChef!Seonghwa, SousChef!Wooyoung, PrepChef!Jongho

Summary: Yunho's dream was to open and run his own restaurant. But he doesn't know anything when it comes to cooking. Until you came along and accepted the job, bringing with you a small crew. How will the black cat tame the energetic golden retriever?

Word count: 3.2K

"Hey, wanna swap?" You came over to where San and Yunho were grilling the meat. Yunho smiled when he saw you, wrapping an arm around your waist.

"No, we're good. Let us cook for all of you now." San chuckled, turning you around and gently pushing you back in the direction of the table. You went to help Seonghwa make the ramen for the table. There were two pots going from the sheer amount.

"Taste test." Wooyoung called. You went over to help him taste the bean paste soup.

"Good." You nodded in approval. Wooyoung grinned and leaned in to give you a peck on the cheek but you dodged it.

"Hey! You knowing dodging it is only going to make it worse." He frowned, trapping you in his arms to forcefully try and peck your cheek. You squealed amidst your laughter, trying to escape.

"Stop, I need to make the tamagoyaki." You slapped his arms. He laughed and let you go, stealing a peck on your cheek first.

"What tamagoyaki are you making?" He asked as you stood in front of the fridge.

"I'll do a mentaiko one and a cheese one... I think. With the amount of people, we'll definitely need at least two." You said, looking at the ingredients you bought.

"Two should be sufficient." Wooyoung hummed. You cracked the eggs and began to make the tamagoyaki with the different fillings, cooking the delicate sheets of egg layer by layer. Yeosang came to help wash the lettuce, perilla leaves and chili peppers that you all would eat with the meat.

"What's next?" Jongho came over.

"Spring onion salad. Red pepper flakes are in the cupboard with the soy sauce." You informed. He saluted and started on that. Wooyoung prepared the garlic and set aside some to be marinated.

"Can that be marinated in time?" Jongho asked, seeing Wooyoung mix the soy sauce mixture with the garlic and onions.

"We'll see. I'll heat it up a little to hopefully speed up the process." The older shrugged.

"The first portion of meat is cooked. When you guys are ready, we can eat." Yunho entered the house, going to the fridge to grab a beer and a soda, presumably, for San.

"Okay. I'll go set up and the grill for the seafood then." You grabbed the tray of prepped seafood and box of rock salt.

"Can I use this part of the grill? Before we put the marinated meats on." You asked. San nodded, stepping aside and dramatically gesturing for you to take over. First, you laid down the aluminium foil then built a salt bed.

"Is it hot, love? Want help?" Yunho asked.

"I'm good, Yun. Thanks." You said, laying the layer of rock salt down on the tin foil. It only took 5 minutes before the salt started popping and sizzling.

"Be careful. It may jump." You cautioned Yunho and San. Once the salt was hot, you laid the shrimp down first.

"That looks good." San said in awe, him and Yunho flinching slightly when the salt popped.

"Ramen's ready. I'm going to get the rice now. We're all having rice right?" Mingi asked. The 3 of you nodded in confirmation. The taller went into the house to grab the rice.

"Hongjoong hyung, I need help to carry everything!" He yelled from inside. Hongjoong stood up and quickly went over.

Everyone was busy their own thing, running around and preparing or cooking. Finally, everything was done. All 9 of you sat at the long table on the deck to begin eating. Jongho gave out glasses to everyone, him and Wooyoung making sure that everyone's glasses were filled with alcohol.

"Woohoo! Cheers!" All of you clinked glasses and began digging into the delicious food. This reminded you of the first time you went out for dinner together.

"This reminds me of the first dinner we had together as a team. To celebrate one week of the restaurant being open." You smiled.

"And now we're celebrating one year." Seonghwa said. You nodded, clinking glasses with him again.

"Mmm, so good." Yunho groaned happily, falling onto your shoulder in pure bliss. A happy smile on his face as he chewed his food. You snorted at his reaction.

"Drama queen." You couldn't help but laugh, patting his cheek. You made a wrap to eat.

"I asked you to make a wrap for me when we ate at the barbeque restaurant." Yunho remembered, watching you make the wrap.

"Exactly. Thinking about it, I don't know if you genuinely enjoyed it or you were just trying to flirt." You raised an eyebrow. Mingi, Yeosang and Hongjoong winced at your words, loudly 'ooooooh'ing, while Yunho pouted at you.

"It was actually good! I wouldn't lie about that!" He whined. You smiled and grabbed his chin in your hand, leaning forward to give him a peck, earning jeers from the rest of the table.

"Come here!" Wooyoung tried to kiss Jongho, who in retaliation, jagged Wooyoung hard.

"Oww! Yah!" He howled, grabbing his ribs. You knew that was going to leave a bruise for sure. Hongjoong refilled everyone's drinks.

At the end of the night, the food was finished and everyone helped to clean up the area before moving into the living room to continue drinking.

"Drink! Drink! Drink!" The boys cheered on Yunho and Jongho, who were racing each other.

"I win!" Yunho slammed his empty glass down, throwing his arms up victoriously as the others cheered for him.

"Did you see me win?" He cuddled up against you. You nodded, too busy laughing at how drunk Yunho was already. You had stopped drinking a while ago, already feeling the buzz but you wanted to be somewhat sober. Yunho leaned on you and threw his head back, laughing as Mingi tripped over something.

"Be careful, Mingi!" Yeosang went over to help the taller male, sitting him back down on the couch. Mingi blinked with a dazed look in his eyes, confused at what was going on.

"You aren't drinking anymore?" You asked San, who was sitting on the floor with Wooyoung laying in his lap.

"Nope, not after what happened last time. Two drinks are more than enough." He chuckled.

"Just leave him there later. He can sleep anywhere when he's drunk." You said, nodding over to Wooyoung. San laughed and nodded his head, stroking Wooyoung's hair.

"Baby, pay attention to me." Yunho frowned, grabbing your cheeks to make you face him.

"I am paying attention to you, Yun." You said.

"Good." He gave you a big smile, which was adorable with his red cheeks and red ears, giving you another kiss. You smiled softly, stroking his cheek. He leaned against your chest and you put your arm around his head.

"I miss Whiskey... He hates me but I love him~" Yunho sniffled, a sad pout on his face.

"Aww, I miss him too. And he doesn't hate you, Yun. He just shows love differently, you buy him snacks and toys. I'm sure he misses you too." You comforted.

"Whiskey is our first son... Our very cute son." He smiled up at you. His words made you choke, you felt your own cheeks heat up.

"I'm sleepy." Seonghwa groaned.

"Let's get you to bed." You stood up, leaving Yunho momentarily. You put Seonghwa's arm around your shoulders and tried to keep him steady, guiding him to his room.

"There we go, Hwa. Goodnight." You said, tucking him in. Seonghwa hugged you down to his chest.

"Goodnight." He whispered in your ear before letting you go. You chuckled and made sure he was fine before leaving the room.

"I've put Wooyoung in his room. He's out like a light. Didn't even notice me carry him." San said, coming out of Wooyoung and Jongho's shared room. When the two of you returned, Hongjoong was shakily topping up everyone's glass, squinting his eyes to focus on getting the alcohol into the glass.

"Come on!" Hongjoong pulled Yeosang over. Poor Yeosang was tipsy too, staring into space and not really saying much. He looked dazed, it was cute.

"Baby, where did you go? You left me." Yunho frowned when you returned to your spot.

"I went to put Hwa in bed, Yun." You replied patiently.

"Come on, Mingi. Don't sleep out here." San couldn't carry Mingi like he did with Wooyoung so it was amusing to see the tall giant's body slumped onto San's.

"Yah. We're going to fall. Wake up for a bit." San stumbled from Mingi putting his entire weight on him.

"Let me help." You stood up but Yunho grasped the end of your shirt to stop you.

"No. Don't go." He stopped you, the frown still on his face.

"I got it, (y/n). Don't worry!" San waved you off and brought Mingi to his room. You sighed and sat back down. Yunho grinned, happy he managed to 'persuade' you to stay with him. Considering San didn't come back out, you assumed he slept in Mingi's room.

"Oh... There's no more." Hongjoong pouted when there was only a measly drop that came out of the soju bottle.

"Good. Let's get all of you to bed." You patted Yunho's head before going to help them. Jongho, although drunk, seemed to comprehend instructions the most out of all of them.

"Alright, this way." You guided Jongho to the room and helped him get into his bed.

"Goodnight." Jongho yawned. You smiled and patted his hand then went to check on Wooyoung before coming back out.

"Yeosang~" You waved a hand in front of his face. He just stared at you, his eyes glazed over as he swayed a little. With some encouragement, you managed to get him to stand up.

"Where... are... we... going...?" Yeosang blinked in confusion.

"Going to your bed to sleep." You replied. You carefully helped him into his bed but he just sat there. So you laid him down on his pillow, on his side, and covered him with his blanket. Whether he will actually sleep or continue to stare at the wall in a drunken daze was not something you could change.

"Last one, Hongjoong. Let's go." You patted his shoulder.

"No!" Hongjoong turned his chin up in defiance, crossing his arms like a child throwing a tantrum.

"Joong, there's no more alcohol anyway. If you don't go to bed now, I'm going to leave you here all by yourself. You can sleep here." You raised an eyebrow.

"No~" He whined. You held your hand out to him. He sighed, shoulder slumping in disappointment.

"Fine." He had a look of disappointement on his face but still slipped his hand into yours. You put your arm around his waist to support him.

"There we go." You pulled the blanket up to his chest.

"We'll get more tomorrow, alright? If you're up for it." You coaxed not sure why you were giving in when he's drunk and wouldn't even remember his tomorrow.

"Promise?" He held his pinky up. You nodded and laced pinkies with him, making him smile in satisfaction. Before leaving to go back to Yunho in the living room, you went to check on Seonghwa again, being Hongjoong's roommate.

"That leaves us, Yun." You yawned. Yunho reached out to hold your hand quickly, grasping it with two hands.

"Don't leave me again." He commanded.

"Okay, I won't." You patted the back of his hand. By some sort of luck, you managed to get Yunho up the stairs unharmed. He leaned against the wall.

"Come." You led him to the bathroom. You gave him mouthwash to rinse and spit since he can't brush his teeth.

"Go to bed. I'm going to shower." You ushered him to bed.

"Okay." He nodded and yawned, falling onto the pillow. You quickly showered and brushed your teeth, that helped you sober right up. You climbed into bed with Yunho after drying your hair.

"Still awake?" You asked. He hummed and turned around to face you but made not effort to close the gap between the two of you. Even when he was flat out drunk, Yunho wouldn't miss any chance to cuddle you and have you as physically close to his body as he could. You shot him a questioning look.

"I'm mad at you. So no cuddles." He declared, reminding you of a child like how Hongjoong was earlier.

"And why are you mad?"

"Because... I saw you... You put your arm... around Hongjoong hyung's... waist. You... cheated... on me..." He accused, squinting his eyes at you.

"I didn't cheat on you. I was just helping him to the room. He's drunk, like you are." You pointed out.

"I'm not drunk. And that is cheating." He corrected.

"Fine. Be that way, stay mad." You shrugged, turning off the light on your nightstand and laying on your pillow to sleep. You missed the way Yunho's jaw dropped, not expecting that.

"You're lucky I love you." He mumbled as he pressed himself to your back, wrapping his long arms around you.

"I know, I am very lucky. And I love you too." You lifted to his hand to kiss to back of it. Yunho let out a little snicker to show his happiness, snuggling his face into the back of your head to show you affection like a puppy.

"Go to sleep, Yun." You murmured. Soon enough, you heard his little snores by your ear, signifying that he had really fallen asleep. It lulled you to sleep too.

"Ugh my head." You were woken up by Yunho's groan as he rolled away from you.

"Come here..." You sleepily called out to him, turning around. He turned back to you, resting his head against your chest.

"You need to drink a lot of water, you're dehydrated." You said, massaging the back of his neck to help him relieve some of the pain in the back of his neck. He melted at your touch.

"I'm never drinking so much again." He groaned.

"You always say that... Feel better?" You yawned. You felt him nod as you continued your actions.

"We should get up soon. You need a warm shower, have some food and water in your stomach. It'll make you feel better before going back to sleep." You said, stroking his hair. He shook his head in refusal, tightening his grip on you, bunching the material of your shirt in his hands on your back.

"Come on. After that you can spend the whole day in bed." You patted his shoulder to persuade him. Yunho reluctantly got up, sitting up and yawning.

"You go first, love." He nodded over to the bathroom. You hummed, going to shower and brush your teeth.

"Yunho, I'm done." You came out to see him sleeping faced down.

"Yun~ Wake up." You shook him lightly. He nodded and sat up, sliding out of bed and stumbling to the bathroom. Once you heard the water running, you left the room to go downstairs.

"Oh, everyone's here." You blinked. Jongho was at the stove, cooking a big pot of rice porridge.

"(y/n), sorry for disappearing on you last night. I must have passed out because I woke up cuddling Mingi." San apologised.

"No worries, San. Thanks for helping me with getting everyone to bed." You giggled. Everyone else was strewn around the living room, too hungover for a conversation right now. You poured yourself and Yunho a cold coffee.

"You were the one that helped us to our rooms?" Yeosang asked. You nodded your head.

"San carried Wooyoung and moved Mingi. I moved everyone else, one by one. Safe to say, it was very interesting and rather eventful." You laughed.

"Stop right there, I don't want to know how bad it was." Seonghwa winced, laying his head in your lap as you drank your coffee.

"You were all very adorable." You giggled. In response, there were multiple jeers and protests from the room.

"Ugh." Yunho trudged down my stairs.

"There's my golden retriever." You teasingly cooed. He glared at you, going to get the coffee that you left on the counter for him. He sat beside Mingi since Seonghwa's legs occupied the couch you were on.

"But for real, (y/n). Since you were sober, who is the cutest drunk? Me, right?" Wooyoung snuggled to your other side from the arm rest, making you and Seonghwa groan, having to scoot down slightly to accommodate him squeezing onto the couch. You raised an eyebrow at him, shaking your head.

"Cutest is Yeosang. He's so dazed, it was absolutely adorable. Then he would sway from side to side like this with his head." You mimicked Yeosang last night while giggling.

"Y-Yah (y/n). Don't go exposing people like that." Yeosang called out, his cheeks turning red.

"I'm not the cutest?" Yunho said in disbelief.

"You and Hongjoong were the whiniest. Gosh, like trying to put 5 year olds to bed. Had to pinky promise Hongjoong to give him more alcohol today." You raised an eyebrow.

"Hahaha that's so funny, hyung! You're legit a little kid." Mingi and San burst out laughing, keeling over.

"Stop it, (y/n)~" Hongjoong shook his head with despair, covering his ears, not wanting to listen to your exposé anymore.

"And Yunho wouldn't cuddle me because he was mad and throwing a tantrum. Said he saw me cheating on him with Hongjoong." You rolled your eyes. Hongjoong and Yunho both choked on their coffees, coughing violently.

"What?" Yunho squeaked.

"You kept whining about me leaving your side to help the others to bed. And you said the way I support Hongjoong to his room was basically me cheating on you." You scoffed.

"Please no more..." Yunho cried out. Jongho saved everyone by announcing that the food was done.

"I wasn't mad the whole night, right?" Yunho leaned over to ask you in a hushed voice.

"No. You weren't happy that I accepted you being mad and came to cuddle me right away. I would say you gave up in about 20 seconds?" You chuckled.

"Good. Because I would hate my drunk self for giving up any opportunity to cuddle with you." He laughed.

"Oh, Yun..." You melted, shaking your head and reaching up to stroke his cheek.

"Thanks for cooking, Jongho." Everyone chimed. You and Yunho decided to sit outside at the deck table with your bowls of hot porridge. The others didn't join you, to give you two some space as a couple and because the glare of the sun was not helping the hangover headaches.

"This is relaxing. How's the hangover?" You asked him.

"It's good. I bounce back a little better than the rest. And I have a great nurse to take care of me." He teased. You scoffed and nudged him.

"I know you've been stressing about your employee contract ending, haven't you?" He suddenly spoke. Your hand paused in mixing your food as you slowly turned to look at him.

"I know you well. And I've been thinking about it too." He smiled softly, eyes leaving yours to look at the shore in front of you.

~

Series masterlist