#Sumac Dragon

[msb-lair]

Clutch #3328 - Sumac/Hemlock

Mated On: 2023-08-31 # of eggs: ? Hatched On: 2023-09-05

Progeny:

Hatchling 8859 (Yggdrasil) - Ridgeback XYY Female, Taupe Ripple/Fern Daub/Fern Gembond, Common - 15,000 on 2023-11-28

Hatchling 8860 (Demeter) - Bogsneak Female, Stone Ripple/Fern Daub/Swamp Gembond, Uncommon - 15,000 on 2023-09-13

Hatchling 8861 (Mandrake) - Ridgeback XYY Male, Taupe Ripple/Algae Daub/Algae Gembond, Common - 15 gems on 2023-10-12

Comments: 

[ad-caelestia]

❌ Curse Correspondences ❌

Crystals:

Agate - for use on a target who has entered a space uninvited, i.e. someone breaking into your home or vehicle

Alexandrite - causes obsession and delusions

Amethyst - causes sensitivity and self-destruction

Astrophyllite - causes those who have died at the hands of another to torment the target from the grave

Diamond - causes blindness, confusion, and disorientation

Diopside - lowers inhibitions and causes secrets to be revealed

Emerald - causes greed, selfishness, and isolation

Flint - causes conflicts

Garnet - leeches energy from a target

Kunzite - induces vulnerability 

Kyanite - used to infiltrate a target’s mind

Meteorite - used as a catalyst in baneful magic

Obsidian - used for general aggressive magic

Onyx - causes nightmares and mental torment, and is used to break up relationships

Opal - used to store negative energy, and then to be given to a target

Ruby - used to focus your intent on a target

Colors:

Black - law, justice, manifestation, sorrow

Red - force, energy, confrontation, jealousy, anger

Greenish Yellow - strife, discord, illness, conflict, jealousy, greed

Magenta - catalyst

Botanicals:

Ague Weed - confusion 

Angelica Root - misery, strife, distress, discord

Asafoetida - drives enemies away

Bayberry - depression

Bindweed - binding

Blackberry Root - distress

Black Salt - misery, strife, distress, discord

Bladderwrack - illness

Bloodroot - substitute for blood

Blueberry - confusion, strife

Boneset - distress, confusion

Cayenne Pepper - anxiety

Chicory - discord

Chili Powder - discord, misery, strife

Cinquefoil - discomfort

Clove - stopping gossip

Cramp Bark - pain, illness

Dogbane - deception

Dragon’s Blood - destruction, strife, misery

Hemlock - discord, sadness

Henbane - illness, discord, melancholy

Jezebel Root - wickedness, ending relationships, punishing unfaithful lovers

Knot Weed - binding

Lemon - sourness, bitterness

Lemon Verbena - a boost of power, ending relationships

Lime - sourness, bitterness

Lobelia - discord

Mace - misery, strife

Mandrake - misery, strife

Mistletoe - isolation, confusion

Mullein - spirit work, nightmares

Mustard Seed - strife, discord

Myrrh - a boost of power

Nightshade (Belladonna) - discord, illness

Onion - strife

Patchouli - illness

Poke Root - confusion, discord

Poppy Seed - discord

Rue - misery

Safflower - destruction

Spanish Moss - bad luck

Slippery Elm - ending relationships

Stinging Nettle - jealousy, envy, discomfort

Sumac - bad luck

Tobacco - a substitute for any baneful herb

Tormentil - distress, harm, discord

Vetiver - silence

Wormwood (Absinthe) - misery, strife

Yew - spirit work

Yohimbe Bark - impotency

Planets:

Mars - power, force, energy, war, conflict, jealousy

Saturn - law, justice, chaos, revenge

Neptune - confusion, illusion, chaos

Pluto - death, mystery, crisis

Lunar Phases:

Waning - binding, banishing

Dark - destruction, banishing, justice

Black - power, manifestation

Taglocks:

Drawings

Photos

The target’s name written on paper

The target’s signature

An item that belongs to the target

Other Ingredients:

Cigarette butts

Broken glass

Razorblades 

Vinegar

Lemon/lime juice

Alcohol

Bones

Needles

Nails

Thorns

Shark teeth

Catfish spines

Murex seashells

Flying Devil Oil

Dead insects

Black sand

Charcoal

Disclaimer: I do not condone the unethical practice of collecting or harvesting animal parts, or forcefully obtaining taglocks. This is just a list of theoretical correspondences and I am not responsible for the actions of others.

© 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺 𝙰𝙳-𝙲𝙰𝙴𝙻𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙸𝙰

[astra-ravana]

Astra's List of Baneful Components

I hope to make this list as comprehensive as possible and will be adding to it whenever I discover something new. If anyone has any suggestions for things that should be added, please let me know. 🖤

Herbs/Plants

• Bloodroot- Substitutes blood

• Jezebel Root- Wickedness, ending relationships, punishing cheaters

• Bindweed- Binding, ensnaring

• Dogbane- Deception

• Rue- Misery

• Saffron- Destruction

• Lemon- Sourness/bitterness, reveals damaging truths

• Lemon Verbena- a boost of power, ending relationships

• Lime- Sourness/bitterness, encourages deceit

• Lobelia- Discord

• Hemlock- Discord, sadness

• Spanish Moss- Bad luck

• Vertiver- Silence

• Mace- Misery, strife

• Slippery Elm- Bad luck, negativity

• Bittersweet- Loss, sadness

• Mandrake- Misery, strife

• Mistletoe- Isolation, confusion

• Wormwood- Delusion, misery, strife, madness

• Sumac- Bad luck, negativity

• Mullein- Spirit work, nightmares

• Patchouli- Illness

• Mustard Seed- Strife, discord

• Hemlock- Destroys sex drive, break ups

• Poke Root- Confusion, upset

• Blackberry Root- Distress

• Myrrh- A boost of power

• Tobacco- Subs any baneful herb

• Belladonna- Discord, conflict, illness, suffering

• Cinquefoil- Discomfort

• Ague Weed- Confusion

• Blueberry- Confusion

• Cloves- Domination, stops gossip

• Stinging Nettle- Jealousy, discomfort

• Cramp Bark- Pain, illness

• Licorice Root- Domination

• Tormentil- Distress, harm

• Asafoetida- Drives enemies away

• Henbane- Emotional instability, melancholy, storms, spirit work

• Hot Peppers- Anger, fighting, discord

• Blackthorn- Illness, bad omens

• Elder- Suffering, spirit work

• Dittany- Mistakes, setbacks, depression

• Garlic- Disgust and repulsion

• Yew- Spirit work, destruction

• Onion- Disconnects relationships, strife

• Poppy Seeds- Intoxication, confusion, discord

• Foxglove- Manipulation, heartbreak, devastation

• Alum- Stops communication and speech, impotence

• Wolfsbain- Madness, loneliness, rage

• Knotweed- Binding, trapping

• Black Pepper- Revealing the truth, binding

• Green Apple- Unrequited love

• Radish- Sexual shame, STDs, infidelity

• Yohimbe Bark- Impotency

• Chicory- Discord

• Agrimony- Return to sender

• Datura- Psychic attack, nightmares, misery

• Bay Berry- Depression

• Angelica Root- Misery, strife, distress, discord

• Dragon's Blood- Destruction, pain, misery

• Chili Powder- Anxiety

• Bladderwrack- Illness, weakness

• Boneset- Distress, confusion

• Black Locust/Hawthorne Thorns- Struggle, agony, injuries, wounds

• Calamus- Control, domination, commanding, compelling

• Cocoa- Bitterness

• Black Mustard Seed- Confusion, discord, non-stop trouble

• Sumac- Discomfort, bad luck, painful lessons

• Willow Bark- A dose of their own medicine

• Stagger Weed- Disabling, trips them up

• Bar Berry- Stops progress

• Black Nightshade- Sickness, depression

• Oleander- Devastation, silence, doom

Crystals

• Opal- Amplifies negative energy (Black Opal works best)

• Ruby- Focuses intent on target

• Malachite- Anxiety, fear, cowardice, nausea

• Peridot- Confusion

• Obsidian- Reveal their darkness

• Petrified Wood- Ruin, abandonment

• Clear Quartz- Amplifier and energy holder

• Black Moonstone- Deceit, distrust, confusion, paranoia

• Onyx- Breakups, loss

• Amethyst- Self destruction, nightmares, paranoia

• Garnet- Siphons target's energy, steal their love/friends

• Diopside- Reveals a target's true colors

• Bloodstone- Sucks the life force from enemies, chaos, frailty

• Carnelian- Pain, anger, rage

• Black Quartz- Darkness

• Sardonyx- Return to sender

• Jet- Cloud their vision/blind them

• Serpentine- Illness, unsteady ground, mishaps

• Jade- Domination, control, manipulation

• Amber- Trapping, cause obstacles and setbacks

• Hematite- Negativity

Misc. Ingredients

• Salt- Painful cleansing, salt in their wounds

• Sulphur- Stops plans, causes harm

• Alcohol- Makes the work last

• Vinegar- Souring, dissolves relationships

• Pins/Needles- Pain and agony

• Thumbtacks- Makes the work stick in them

• Razor Blades- Sadistic actions, sharp words

• Broken Glass- Cut ties, emotional wounds

• Scorpions- Betrayal

• Spiders- Danger, ensnarement

• Wasps- Punishment, non-stop pain

• Grave Dirt- Enlists spirit's help

• Snakeskin- Removes them from your path

• Cigarette Butts- Snuff their will

• Thorns- Annoyance, pain

• Dog/Cat Poop- Rottenness, depression, life stinks

• Sticker Burs- Crippling emotional shock

• Spiderwebs- Crossing, binding

• Coffin Nails- Stay home, withdrawal, binding

• Lead- Weigh them down, make them late

• Black Salt- Misery, strife, banishment

• Dog Hair- Agression, combat

• Cat Hair- Passive-Aggression, conflict

• Bad Water- Stagnation, depression, illness

• Murder Scene Dirt- Crimes, complete ruin, terror, demise

• Nails- Binding, pain

• Thumb Tacks- Pain, discomfort

• Broken Glass- Disaster, accidents, injury, pain

• Blood- Longevity, boosts curse power

• War Water- Chaos, psychic warfare, banishing

• Razor/Barbed Wire- Pain, restriction, loss of freedom

• Fish Bones- Decay, bad reputation, loss of friendships

• Moths- Fragility, tunnel vision A

• Goofer Dust- Crossing, misfortune, illness

• Bone Ash- Instability, weakness, demise

• Storm Water- Destruction, upheaval, chaos

• Potato Eyes- Rot, loss of control, sickness

• Cat Claws- Helps curse cling to target, sudden agony

• Butterfly Wings- Loss of control, injury

• Egg Shells- Breaks down barriers and boundaries

• Ants/Ant Hill Dirt- Annoyance, overwhelming, banishing

• Hospital Dirt- Illness and injury

• Bullets- Devastation, destruction, suffering, demise

• Iron- Banishing, destruction

• Super Glue- Permanence, binding, damage

• Dirty Pennies- Financial loss

[mysticstarlightduck]

Smooth Sumac: What's something that's common & generally helpful in your story?

Thank you so much for the ask, @clairelsonao3!!!! I'm sorry for the very late answer, I'm trying to catch up with my old tags and asks this week!

Smooth Sumac: What's something that's common & generally helpful in your story?

Well, this is a complicated question lmao! I would say that, in the setting of my main current WIP Of Starlight and Beasts, something really helpful is magic. One can use magic to heal illnesses/treat infected wounds (ahem, for example like that one chapter where an enchanted potion literally saves Kyran from dying from an infection after being rescued at one point in the story -), to find their way in some specific locations, to make food taste better, to build extravagant buildings, to make combat easier, to tell children stories (like a little movie, only the sorcerer is casting images)! Almost, (and that's a very BIG almost), anything!

Another example of where magic is really helpful is Tomasa's shapeshifting ability, which allows her to turn into a giant, extremely shiny, dragon. This not only allows her and the other MCs to get from one kingdom to another more quickly (which, since they're literally racing against time to stop an ancient evil from destroying everything, is really a question of life and death. especially in a medieval world with no extremely advanced means of transport readily available for everyone) but literally saves their lives more times than I can count (after all, having a dragon on your side in battle definitely shifts the tides a bit, wouldn't you say, lmao?)!

[highladyluck]

Tag nine (9) people you'd like to know better.

Tagged by: @quarterclever

Last song: House of the Rising Sun - The Animals

Currently watching: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds! And I also just watched Bee and Puppycat, The Mystery of Aaravos (Dragon Prince seasons 4 & 5), and Nimona, because it turns out that when you are too congested to sleep, sometimes you can briefly forget your inability to breathe properly by watching cartoons. (I have covid rn, I'm getting better tho!)

Currently reading: BodyDreaming in the Treatment of Developmental Trauma by Marion Dunlea (my therapist mentioned it & it's surprisingly readable for nonfiction, although to be fair, my threshhold for readability in nonfiction is heavily distorted by the inclusion of that fucker Immanuel Kant at one end of the scale.) Also I'm rereading Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold, although I put a pin in it once I realized I didn't want to be re-reading the torture scenes when I was already feeling like shit physically. Huh, and actually I'm also re-reading Plenty More by Ottolenghi, because I have a lot more access to his more esoteric ingredients than I used to, so there's more stuff I can make now. Like, I have preserved lemons now, and sumac, and dried barberries, and an asian grocery store incredibly close to my house!

Current obsession: Yeah, that's gonna be ceramics. I am really excited to be feeling better today, I hope I keep feeling better and test negative soon so I can go back to my pottery classes. I've recently gotten a lot better at centering and pulling up clay on the wheel and I finally have some decent-looking, medium-sized pots that will hopefully still be in a state to be trimmed by the time I get back in the studio.

Tagging: @agardenandlibrary, @togrutahhh, @iliiuan, @perplexed-penguin, @arealbonecracker, @froglatte, @mermaidtablet, @birgittesilverbae, @evilphrog (chosen somewhat at random from people I've recently-ish followed!)

[thiswaycomessomethingwicked]

Potentially silly question regarding Grima: You've discussed before the idea of him loving to have pineapples around as a status symbol on account of them being something weird and exotic that no one else has, but if given the chance to not just have them kicking around for symbolic purposes and actually be served to him, do you think Grima would taste them, and if so, if he'd like it or not? And what other foods (fruit or otherwise) do you think might he consider a status symbol?

I live for silly Grima questions!

And Grima would love pineapple! it's so sweet, he'd be gung-ho for it. He would be that person who would receive one and then be grieved over whether or not he wished to put it on his table or eat it. Like receiving a work of art as a rug - do you hang it on the wall or put it on the floor and use it as it was meant to be used?

In this world with the anachronistic pineapple, I think initially Grima would never eat them. He would keep them until they weren't aesthetic anymore then they'd be fed to the goats or pigs or chickens.

However, once he had been in a decently powerful/wealthy position for long enough I think he'd take a pineapple and try and figure out how to eat it.

There would be a debate: can you eat a pineapple?

Eomer says no - they're prickly on the outside, sharp, pointy, clearly a sign they're poisonous and not to be eaten.

Grima says yes - there are prickly pointy sharp plants that are perfectly edible. It's a matter of knowing how to do it.

Eowyn has no opinion on the matter, but she holds that Grima should be the one who tries it first.

Theodred is just confused about why this matters. They have perfectly good, delightful food. There's no need to try and eat the table decorations.

Grima: but what if they taste good? Who knows. It could be fun for us.

Being a reasonably intelligent man, Grima makes his least favourite person eat a bit of the pineapple first then they all wait and see if he dies. When it's determined that he will live, Grima tries some and is like 'it's terrible. None of you should have any. I'll take care of it, don't worry.' And hoards the pineapple like the wee dragon wyrm he is.

Figuring out how to access the inner flesh of the fruit involved Grima carefully cutting small bits off then they were like 'ah, the outer layer isn't that thick so this is easy'. They were also all mightily pleased that there was no stone inside which means more pineapple to eat.

Figuring out how to propagate a pineapple would be a past-time Grima would undertake and if he managed to successfully figure it out he would be like, 'they are absolute freaks of a plant. I love them even more. Eomer, build me a greenhouse.'

---

Other status symbol foods for Grima?

Certain herbs and spices would be: cinnamon, vanilla, saffron, cardamom, lemongrass, sumac, caraway, nutmeg etc.

Citrus in general - I don't see Rohan doing orangeries or anything, that would be a Gondor-style invention. So all citrus is imported which makes it rare and expensive.

Grima trying to convince Eomer to build an orangerie is now my new favourite mental image.

Grima: we could have oranges in winter, my lord! just. think about it.

Eomer is like, 'you really took on the decadent living full force, didn't you?'

'I was born on a farm in the north, my lord. I grew up living off turnips and seasonal produce that can grow in cold climes and whatever we foraged. Not that we ever foraged or poached on the local lord's land. Never.'

Anachronistic tomatoes! Certain tree nuts would be strictly imports and so therefore a delicacy (e.g., almonds).

I don't know if Rohan did class based consumption (only royalty can eat certain meats etc.), but if they did - whatever was determined to be for nobility alone would be something he'd put great stock in now having access to.

Man, this guy's diet really improved when he joined the king's household.

Grima: I ate a lot of pottage. Bread soup. Meat but more so in the autumn when we slaughtered the animals that were right for it. Turnips. Carrots. Roots for days. Cabbage. Ruffage of that sort. Berries if they were in season. Apples, when they were in season. Fish from the river sometimes. Cheese. Most everything was salted, pickled or fermented.

Eomer: I see.

Grima: but now I can eat fruit whenever I want! also we have meat with every meal and it's fresh meat, too. Not to mention wine. Also food is spiced so fancy here. Look at this ginger. This would cost five of my father's sheep. I never new cardamom existed until I came to Edoras. You even colour your jellies random colours solely because it amuses you to have them coloured! Wild.

Eomer:

Eomer: you know, I get it.

Grima: and you have white flour! Wheat! It's not rye or barley - amazing. And white ale! ugh, the lap of luxury, my lord. I will never grow tired of it. Oh, and fancy tea that I've never had before arriving in Edoras.

Other things would be jellies and custards - anything that is time and labour intensive would be a status symbol. Figs, dates - dried fruits that had to be imported would cost a pretty penny and be for the wealthy alone. Not to mention grapes and olives. Peacock and other more fanciful poultry, of course. Like the feasts would be certainly something.

I sometimes imagine, like, twenty-two year old Grima arriving in Edoras and getting absorbed into the king's household because he's one of the few fully literate people in the city and seeing a royal feast up close for the first time.

Mind blowing.

Grima: how do I eat this?

Theoden: it's an orange. Have you never had an orange before?

Grima is like, Do you think I've had an orange before?

Theoden:

Theoden: fair point.

Grima has more than one shirt in his possession and thinks he's basically a lord, now.

---

Things to also consider is if there were any social constraints to when you ate certain food - such as religious festivals. Was fasting during a certain period part of Rohan's culture? Were there restrictions or taboos around grouping certain foods together? Did those restrictions apply to everyone equally or only certain groups? Was there a gendered aspect to food consumption and access?

E.g., in early medieval Scandinavia (think vikings), boys were favoured and so in lean/starvation times they were given the good food and the daughters were not. We can see in skeletal remains that within the same generation women were more likely to have suffered a starvation level of hunger at a greater percentage to men.

So, like, in Rohan if there was a lean time during his childhood was Grima fed more in comparison to his sister(s)? How does that impact someone's relationship to family? to food? etc.

-

Also what was the meal structure like? Did they do two meals, as was common through much of the medieval era in Europe (broad brush stroke, of course, regional variations existed and things shifted over time. E.g., Venice did dinner and supper but there was a secret, third meal between the two that was like a sort-of tea/snack break)? I suspect at a minimum it was three in Rohan since we know Gandalf et al arrived in Meduseld in the morning and Grima makes reference to Theoden's meat (i.e., his meal) being at the board. So, likely breakfast of some variation.

However, Theoden was old and infirm and that might mean he was eating different meals than he would be otherwise. How illness and age are treated in terms of food consumption is another impact to what you eat and when. (Allen Grieco was a historian who wrote a good amount about this - granted he was more in the early modern period, but his writing on food in early modern/renaissance Italy is super fascinating. Recommend Food, Social Politics and the Order of Nature in Renaissance Italy as a good starting point.)

(granted, anything from Harvard Press' "Villa I Tatti" series is worth reading if you're into the early modern and renaissance period.)

---

Ok I've gone on for too long. I just. fucking love thinking about food habits and rituals and all the weird little things that impact how and what we (or Grima) eat! It's so cool!

Thank you so much for the ask! <3 <3

[justinedharni]

From the Pantry to the Heart: Unusual Ingredients That Spark Family Fun

The kitchen is often described as the heart of the home, but it's much more than just a place to prepare meals. It's where families bond, share stories, and create memories. However, family cooking doesn't always need to follow traditional recipes. By introducing unusual ingredients, mealtime can become a fun, creative activity that not only tantalizes taste buds but also strengthens family bonds. Let's explore how some unique ingredients can add excitement and create memorable moments in the kitchen.

Making Cooking an Adventure

Cooking can feel like a chore when it becomes repetitive, but adding a little adventure to your culinary endeavors can transform the experience. One of the best ways to do this is by including unusual ingredients that break the mold of routine cooking. Exotic spices, unique grains, and unfamiliar vegetables or fruits can ignite curiosity, encouraging family members of all ages to explore new flavors together. It's this sense of discovery that turns a regular family dinner into a fun, shared experience, sparking conversation and laughter in the process.

For example, why not swap out your regular pasta for something like black bean spaghetti or lentil penne? These alternatives not only provide a different texture but are also packed with protein and nutrients. The novelty of the change invites everyone to try something new, making family mealtime an adventurous experience. This simple ingredient swap turns a routine dinner into a culinary adventure that everyone can enjoy.

The Power of Spices

Spices are an easy and cost-effective way to bring excitement into the kitchen. Beyond salt and pepper, a wide range of spices can transform a simple meal into a flavorful masterpiece. Including spices that aren't usually part of your family's repertoire can introduce everyone to global flavors and create a new level of engagement in the kitchen.

Take za'atar, for instance, a Middle Eastern spice blend featuring thyme, sesame seeds, and sumac. It can be sprinkled on anything from roasted vegetables to bread, adding a lemony, earthy flavor that's hard to resist. Having a family spice-tasting session where everyone votes on their favorite new spice blend can become a fun tradition. The key is to be open to experimenting and letting the kitchen become a place of shared learning and enjoyment.

Unexpected Vegetables for Fun and Nutrition

When it comes to vegetables, most families stick to the same basics: carrots, broccoli, spinach, and maybe the occasional zucchini. But what happens when you bring in more unusual vegetables? Veggies like romanesco, jicama, or kohlrabi not only add nutritional value but also bring an element of surprise and fun to the table. Their different shapes, colors, and textures are fascinating, especially for children, who may be more inclined to try something out of the ordinary when it looks like a little alien or has an unexpected crunch.

Romanesco, with its fractal-like appearance, is particularly intriguing and makes a fun conversation starter. It's a cruciferous vegetable like broccoli but has a more nutty flavor. Grilling or roasting it with olive oil and herbs can transform it into a dish everyone will want to try. The act of trying new vegetables as a family creates lasting memories and helps establish lifelong healthy eating habits joyfully and interactively.

Exotic Fruits for Dessert Magic

Desserts don't have to be the same old pies, cookies, or cakes every time. Incorporating exotic fruits can take your family's sweet treats to the next level, making dessert time a moment of shared surprise and delight. Fruits like dragon fruit, rambutan, or cherimoya can introduce vibrant colors and new textures that spark curiosity.

Dragon fruit, with its bright pink skin and speckled flesh, is not only visually striking but also mild and sweet, making it a great addition to fruit salads or smoothies. A family fruit-tasting session can turn dessert into an event where everyone votes on their favorite new fruit, ranking them in terms of flavor, texture, and appearance. The shared activity adds an extra layer of fun, making dessert more than just a time to indulge but also a time to connect.

Bringing Creativity to the Pantry Staples

Even pantry staples like flour, rice, and beans can offer room for creativity. Introducing unusual varieties like chickpea flour, forbidden black rice, or adzuki beans can spark family interest and get everyone involved in the kitchen. These simple pantry swaps can offer nutritional benefits while encouraging new cooking techniques and recipes that the whole family can take part in.

For example, chickpea flour can be used to make gluten-free pancakes or savory crepes that can be filled with any combination of ingredients your family enjoys. Forbidden black rice, with its nutty flavor and striking color, can become the base for a sushi night, where everyone creates their rolls with a variety of toppings. Adzuki beans, often used in Asian desserts, can inspire a family bake-off with unique sweet fillings. The flexibility of these pantry staples allows for creative freedom, giving every family member a chance to contribute their ideas.

Culinary Challenges to Bond Over

Why not turn cooking into a fun family challenge? You can create themed nights, like "International Night," where you cook using ingredients from a different part of the world, or "Mystery Box Night," where each family member gets to pick one unusual ingredient that everyone has to incorporate into the meal. These activities encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity while making cooking an enjoyable part of family life.

Getting the kids involved in the selection of unusual ingredients adds another layer of excitement. It gives them ownership of the cooking process and helps them develop an interest in food beyond just eating. The challenge can culminate in a family meal where everyone shares what they learned or enjoyed about the new ingredients. It's not just about eating well but about spending quality time together in a fun and meaningful way.

Creating Lifelong Memories

In the end, cooking with unusual ingredients is not just about the food on the plate but the experiences shared around the table. It's about creating new traditions, building memories, and fostering a sense of togetherness that can last a lifetime. By turning the kitchen into a place of exploration, creativity, and fun, families can deepen their connections while learning more about the world around them—one unusual ingredient at a time.

So, open up your pantry, explore your local markets, and start incorporating those quirky ingredients. The joy you'll find goes far beyond the meals you make—it's in the time spent together, the laughter, and the love shared around the table.

[ashleybenlove]

Itchy dragons.

So I guess it's a poison ivy/oak/sumac sort of plant.

(If you feel the need to be negative about TNR to me/on my posts, don’t. Leave me alone.)

[une-touille-en-vadrouille]

C'est déjà notre dernière journée ensemble avec Clochette 😭😭

On a commencé par devoir faire un détour d'une heure et demie, la route principale étant toujours bloquée depuis le cyclone d'il y a 4 mois (je ne veux même pas imaginer les dégâts)... Nous en avons donc profité pour passer par la "90 miles beach", une plage qui longe le littoral sur une centaine de kilomètres ! On y a trouvé ce charmant petit personnage :

Si je ne me trompe pas, il s'agit d'un Man o' War, une galère portugaise. C'est un peu l'équivalent du sumac, mais version animal marin : sa brûlure peut être douloureuse pendant des semaines ... On l'a laissé bien tranquille hein !

Ensuite, on est parties se balader dans les rochers géants de Wairere ! (Il y avait même une grotte de dragon, et des maisons de fées, eh ouais !)

C'est assez marrant : vous voyez les grandes rainures sur leur surface ? En fait, c'est à cause des Kauris (les grands arbres) du coin : ils acidifient assez fortement le sol. Du coup, quand l'eau acide coule sur les rochers, elle finit par le ronger ! Bon, apparemment, il faut à peu près 1000ans pour qu'une goutte d'eau finisse par laisser une trace, vous voyez donc là le travail des dernières 2,8millions d'années. Rien que ça. Ça demande de la patience l'art géologique 😎

Ensuite, on a tenté d'aller trouver les Koutu Boulders, qui sont censés être de gros rochers en bord de mer ... On a donc trouvé la mangrove ci dessus (les branches qui sortent du sol, c'est normal, les arbres poussent directement comme ça ! Ça fait super bizarre, mais ils ne se sont pas enfoncés dans le sol, on en voit souvent dans les zones marécageuses le long des routes et ça ressemble toujours à ça)... Et les majestueux rochers ci dessous.

Voilà voilà, après la crise de fou rire terminée, nous avons donc repris le volant, direction le majestueux Kauri Tane Mahuta. Alors, majestueux, certes ... Mais surtout fermé >.<

J'en profite pour vous montrer les stations de nettoyage des chaussures qu'on trouve à l'entrée de toutes les promenades en forêt ici : il faut brosser et désinfecter ses chaussures à l'entré et à la sortie pour éviter de contaminer les kauris avec le Dieback, une maladie sans traitement qui leur est mortelle.

Heureusement pour nous, l'accès à son voisin Te Matua Ngahere était lui bon ouvert ! 1 bon kilomètre à se balader entre les arbres gigantesques, c'était quelque chose ... (On vous a mis une Touille pour l'échelle !)

Notre objectif final, c'était donc le Père de la forêt (noter la majuscule), un vénérable ancêtre de 16m de circonférence, 30m de haut ... Et 3000ans d'âge. Rien que ça.

On a ensuite fini la journée en se mangeant une bonne pizza devant un bon film, calées dans le van ... C'était vraiment un mois super 🥰

Ps : en bonus, une photo des dunes d'hier, avec une Touille en échelle. Voui, c'est le pixel noir là... Et encore, on était déjà très largement à mi hauteur sur cette photo !

[ceaseless-rambler]

@rowan-the-dragon poison ivy facts!! I'm pretty sure these first couple are fairly well know but. The poison ivy rash is caused by an oil called urushiol, which most people are allergic to. This oil is also on poison oak and poison sumac, and is why you want to keep pets away from these plants. Even if they can't get poison ivy, you can pick the oil up off their fur.

Poison oak and poison sumac aren't the only plants closely related to poison ivy. Mangos, cashews, and pistachios are all part of the same family. I've heard that it's common for people to have sensitivity to eating mango skin and that it's often recommended that you don't do that. I've eaten a lot of mango skin in my life (it's not very good. I don't know why I ate so much) but I'm also immune to poison ivy so I'm not a good source on whether mango skin is comfortable to eat.

This brings me to my next fact! Poison ivy immunity is a thing, but it's a thing that goes away with exposure. Poison ivy sensitivity in general gets worse with exposure, so if you get poison ivy several times it's likely to be worse each time. I still try to avoid poison ivy because I like my immunity and I would very much like to keep it.

Poison ivy isn't super easy to treat, but if washed off immediately you can avoid the worst of it. There's also a plant called jewelweed that can treat it fairly well, although you have to apply the sap pretty early on. Once the rash develops, getting rid of the oil won't get rid of the rash. Luckily, jewelweed tends to grow pretty close to poison ivy, so if you've been exposed while out hiking and might not have access to soap for a while, there's solid chance you can find jewelweed, in which case you should apply the liquid from the stem to the exposure site.

Of course, avoidance is really the best method, so wear long pants if it's feasible, and keep pets on trails so they don't spread the oil to you. Identification is useful too. You've probably heard a little rhyme about "leaves of three", but plenty of plants have groupings of three leaves. Poison ivy leaves are pointed at the tips, are not serrated or smooth on the edges but rather have irregular notches along the outside. The stem is smooth, no thorns or anything. Also, do not touch the furry ropes that you sometimes see going up around trees. These occur when the poison ivy grows higher in the tree, and are the roots. Because every part of poison ivy has urushiol, these will also give you a rash

Every time I see one of those capybaras in an orange bath I think about how capybaras are one of the only non-human animals that can get scurvy. Humans, guinea pigs, capybaras, and a handful of other primates consist of everyone who can get scurvy because most animals can synthesize their own vitamin C. Interestingly, guinea pigs are pretty much the only non-human with any sort of poison ivy sensitivity, although it's not nearly as bad as ours. There are maybe a couple other primates who are sometimes sensitive but again, much less sensitive than we are. I don't remember what my point here was but it's cool information

[msb-lair]

Clutch #3205 - Sumac/Hemlock

Mated On: 2023-04-28 # of eggs: 3 Hatched On: 2023-05-04

Progeny:

Hatchling 8469 (Raunzen) - Ridgeback Male, Stone Jupiter/Avocado Saturn/Forest Gembond, Common - 15,000 on 2023-05-15

Hatchling 8470 (Carell) - Ridgeback Female, Tan Ripple/Algae Daub/Swamp Gembond, Uncommon - 15,731 on 2023-05-18

Hatchling 8471 (Mizar) - Bogsneak Male, Tan Ripple/Camo Daub/Green Gembond, Uncommon - 14,818 on 2023-05-15

Comments:

[ashen-crest]

[ID: a digital line drawing of three people. The tallest is a man with curly hair and freckles, and he has his arms draped over the two people in front of him. The one to his right is a woman with tight curls and a blue jacket and skirt. The one to his left is a person with longer curly hair, a purple vest, and flowers in their hair. Ivy crawls up out of their sleeve and onto the first man’s arm. end ID]

The Stray Spirit Kids!

Word Count: 324

TW/CW: none

“Emry?” Cal’s voice shot across the quad, edged with urgency. “Emry Karic?” 

He whipped around. “Cal?”

She was searching wildly around the entrance of Esther Hall, holding something in her hand. As soon as he waved her down, she grabbed her skirts and sprinted toward him.

“What’s wrong?” He rushed to meet her, searching her face for any hint of the news—another surge? More injured from the river routes? 

But when they met in the middle, she was out of breath and beaming.

“This came in for you.” She handed over what she had been clutching so tightly—a small envelope addressed to him. He ripped it open, stared at the sturdy card it held, and laughed out of disbelief. 

“What is it?” Cal bounced on her heels, already perfectly aware of what it was. Aspen caught up behind Emry and peered over his shoulder.

“Please read it out loud,” they begged. Emry opened his mouth, but only laughter came out, floating like bubbles from his lungs.

“I can’t do it, you read it—”

Cal grabbed the card. “Ms. Sorman requests the honor of—oh Hara, Emry—of Mr. Karic’s presence at the Sumac Hall for the purposes of Guild entry examination…” Cal broke out into laughter along with him. “Three days? They want you to play for the Guild in three days?”

He grinned so hard he thought his jaw might break. “Gods, I’ve got to practice.”

Cal squealed and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Emry, this is incredible! I can’t believe it—I mean, I can, of course I can! But—oh, you know what I mean.”

“Thank you, Cal.” He returned the hug, a little dizzy at the feeling of her head against his shoulder, her hair tickling his chin. As he steadied himself, two more arms snaked around both of them.

“I’m very happy for you.” Aspen smiled up at him. Emry reached over and ruffled their hair.

TSS Taglist under the cut (ask to be +/-):

@crystallized-ink, @little-boats-on-a-lake, @semblanche, @theramwrites, @wordsbycreed, @pretend-im-normal-blog, @mel-writes-with-her-dragons, @wildswrites, @ladywithalamp, @ettawritesnstudies, @mj-is-writing, @cecilsstorycorner, @write-your-own-stories, @chayscribbles​, @storytracks​, @lightningmastertrilogy​, @magic-is-something-we-create​, @authortango​, @thegoldenseries​, @lunewell​, @vellichor-virgo​, @writeblrfantasy​, @weaver-of-fantasies-and-fables​, @bronwennjames​, @akindofmagictoo​, @pheita​, @talesfromaurea​, @a-wild-bloog​, @starryeve88​, @the-finch-address​, @alexwritesfiction​, @47crayons​, @jadeywrites​, @writing-with-l​, @the-titular-bird​, @sagasofazeria​, @thelaughingstag​, @dragon-swords-prophecies​, @drabbleitout​, @houndmouthed​, @inksandpoisons​, @drowsy-quill​, @jaimistoryteller​, @zmwrites​, @pe-ersona​, @booksnotbookies​, @the-orangeauthor​, @extra-magichours​, @athenswrites​

[desertslegacy]

Saffron and Sumac

culinari

He heard a faint sound while looking for ingredients for dessert, while it would have to wait until he was done with the main dish, having those collected and placed to the side would make it less time consuming considering it was already evening.

Bunet walked out of the storeroom with a few ingredients to check who it was in case they were in need of anything, only to be met with a woman smiling at him. He gave one in return to be welcoming to his now cooking spot, but his eyebrows raised at her recognition of the spice sitting in the ramekin. "Indeed, you wouldn't see this kind of ingredient in these lands."

Though he got lucky to find some, had it not been the case he would've made a simpler dish that didn't find a need for spices and was perhaps more usual to most people eating here. But seeing the tangy red spice set him to do something that would be more nostalgic to people like him.

But seeing that someone else knew of this sort of thing made him quite happy. "That is a good use for it considering it does give a lemon flavor to dishes." He walked slightly closer, setting aside some of the things he was carrying. "In my homeland, Solm, we have many styles of cooking but we do like using our fair share of spices."

Spices gave much flavor to food, one who grew with them could appreciate the life it brought to a dish when added. Not everyone in the world was used to enjoying a meal with them, trying things out was something good to do though.

With a look to the side he noticed the kettle over the fire and looked at how warm she was dressed—likely to get some warmth. "Forgive me for not having prepared it, i got too focused on my own cooking." But he went back to the topic they had been talking about. "If you'd like do tell about your home's cooking, i would gladly talk about mine too if you're interested."

"In your homeland? Not from here either, then?" She supposed the monastery truly did accept people from all over – the thought brought a soft smile to her face, the faintest hope that maybe this was the place for her after all, a place that might accept all with open arms. It was true that she had seen students and professors, even knights of all races and creeds, it still somehow surprised her. 

But though it was true she had found many outsiders in this place, it was still rare for another desert dweller. She offered the man a smile. "We heavily spice our food, as well. I believe that's quite a desert custom, no matter which desert." 

Though in her home it was often a way of preserving meat (or masking meat that was otherwise not ideal), Igrene did not say that. 

She waved off the apology as the kettle started to whistle - "No harm, see? Would you like some?" - and started to prepare a pot of tea, dark rolled green with mint, as he continued. "I can't admit to being the greatest cook, myself, but our food in Nabata is something I miss quite often. We eat a lot of meat – sheep and goats are our livestock, mostly – because - " 

She hesitated. In larger part, though the diet of most deserts was shaped by the area, the food sources that could be found, in Arcadia there was no small influence due to the dragons. They ate as humans did as Manaketes did, by and large, but in their original shapes their diets were rather restricted. But although she had only just been feeling a wave of warmth for the acceptance of Garreg Mach, there was still a pinch in her chest at the thought of her village being discovered, trodden by those most unwelcome. 

" - because, of course, it is difficult to farm in the desert," she finished with a wry smile. "Though we get our imports – and some small gardens. We have this one stew – pomegranates, lentils, and lamb – and it's always been a favorite of mine." 

It had actually been her daughter's. But she did not say that either. 

Sipping her tea delicately around the heat, she smiled again. "You are from Solm, you said? I haven't heard of it. Please, I'd love to hear more about it. Oh," she added, extending a hand to shake, then withdrawing it with a laugh when she recalled his hands were busy, "My name is Igrene. I'm a professor here." 

[ryguy5382]

I was tagged by @leafrose-santurn for this really long get to know me post haha

Name: Ryan

Sign: Taurus

Height: 6'2"/188cm

Current Time: 9:20am

Birthday: May 3

Favourite bands/artists: Imagine Dragons, Bastille and Florence + The Machine are some of my favourites

Last movie: Galaxy Quest (No it hasn’t been that long since I’ve watched a movie haha). Just watched that on Saturday

Last show: Claim to Fame 🙈

When your blog was created: First one was created in 2017, then deactivated and started a shiny new one at the end of December 2017

What I post: Cats, Things I enjoy, Cats, Things I find funny, Cats, Male Celebrities, Cats, Cute Mutuals and did I mention Cats

Last google: who got eliminated from episode 6 of Canada’s Drag Race. Stupid PVR didn’t record the end haha

Other blogs: Nope, just the one

Do you get asks?: Once in a blue moon. Unless you count the spam ones from Masters, Mistresses and Sugar Daddies haha

Following: 1059

Followers: 1990

Sleep schedule: really fucked up... let's leave it at that

Play instruments? I play Clarinet

Currently wearing: Jeans and a Mickey Mouse shirt

Dream job: I don’t really have a dream job, but would say that I really enjoy the 3 that I have

Dream trip: To meet my Mutuals and also want to go back to Austria

Nationality: Canadian

Favourite song: Malambo No. 1 by Yma Sumac

Last book: I think the last book I read was Dance with Dragons

I’ll tag: @wunnmoretime, @my-w4ndering-m1nd, @catgifsinthesenate, @definitelyindefinite, @woofspuppy, @xxspookysznxx, @iamanimaginarybeing and @thesadboisguidetolife

[dragonbleps-fr]

Usually I hatch dragons and I’m like “eh. yeah. sure”. I don’t get a dopamine hit from it

but sometimes I DO get that when I see them finally grown up and realize they are actually stunning

This is Helbore, named after the poisonous Onyx Hellebore flower, son of the veilspuns Hemlock and Sumac

[cinenthusiast]

new-to-me albums heard for march 2022

43. pompeii - cate le bon (2022 44. crimson - akina nakamori (1986) 45. street lady - donald byrd (1974) 46. third - soft machine (1970) 47. misty blue/actraiser OST - yuzo koshiro (1990-91) 48. thanatos of funk - minoru fushimi (1985) 49. dragon slayer vi: legend of heroes (pc-88) - meiko ishikawa & maasaki kawai (1989) 50. through the looking glass - midori takada (1983) 51. space 1.8 - nala sinephro (2021) 52. equinoxe - jean-michel jarre (1978) 53. wamano a to z volume 1: japanese jazz-funk & groove 1968-1980 (2020 compilation) 54. focus 3 - focus (1972) 55. man plays the horn - cities aviv (2022) 56. trans - neil young (1982) 57. warrior on the edge of time - hawkwind (1975) 58. mambo! - yma sumac (1954) 59. music for amplified keyboard instruments - david borden (1981) 60. enta da stage - black moon (1993) 61. classic objects - jenny hval (2022) 62. technicolor paradise: rhum rhapsodies and other exotic delights (2018 compilation) 63. a doppia faccia OST - nora orlandi (1969) 64. maiden voyage - herbie hancock (1965) 65. space ritual - hawkwind (1973) 66. promises - floating points, phaorah sanders etc (2021) 67. new age of earth - ash ra (1976) 68. word of mouth - the kinks (1984) 69. risque - chic (1978) 70. ptah, the el daoud - alice coltrane (1970) 71. ricochet - tangerine dream (1975) 72. casiopea - casiopea (1979) 73. discophonia - ARGO (1981) 74. ha!-ha!-ha! - ultravox! (1977) 75. ‘round about midnight - miles davis (1957)