#Veggie Fare

[housekeepinginfo]

The Top 10 Traditional Vegetarian Meals

Explore the world of tasty plant-based dishes with our top 10 traditional vegetarian meals. These meals are perfect for anyone, whether you're a dedicated vegetarian, a flexitarian, or just want to eat more plants. You'll find everything from pasta dishes to Mexican recipes and hearty rice meals.

Join a culinary journey that highlights the best of vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. These dishes are loved by many for their great taste and texture. They're ideal for parties or cozy nights in. You'll learn about the many ways vegetarian cooking can be exciting, from casseroles to stews, and even easy freezer meals.

[socialpermadeath]

So one of the Emerald Grove druids in BG3 who is just disgusted at your presence is unintentionally hilarious in my playthrough because he looks almost exactly like my PC. Pretty-boy Blond Half-elf on Pretty-boy Blond Half-elf crime. My first response when he made the comment about wanting me out was to think "bold thing to say to your cousin, man. I'm gonna let Aunt Aravia about this at the next barbeque."

[veggiechannel]

Quando ci esponiamo al sole, soprattutto nei primi giorni di vacanza, è facile incorrere in fastidiose scottature da sole; scopriamo come trovare sollievo da rossore e bruciore grazie ai rimedi naturali.scottature da sole rimedi naturali, scottature da sole cosa non fare, scottature da sole

[clemenssetz]

Spaghetti Squash with Chicken and Veggies Baked spaghetti squash with chicken and vegetables is a nice departure from your usual weekday fare. 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley or to taste, 1 large bell pepper cut into 1/2-inch squares, 3 cups chopped broccoli, 2 tablespoons olive oil divided or to taste, 2 cloves garlic minced, 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms, 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch pieces, 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano or to taste, 1 large spaghetti squash halved and seeded, 2 cups chopped fresh spinach, 1/2 medium onion chopped or to taste, 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh basil

[robynroze]

Recipe for Spaghetti Squash with Chicken and Veggies A nice change from your typical weekday fare is baked spaghetti squash with chicken and vegetables.

[shennanigoats]

Spaghetti Squash with Chicken and Veggies - Squash Baked spaghetti squash with chicken and vegetables is a nice departure from your usual weekday fare.

[another-lost-mc]

When It's MC's Turn to Cook THE DEMON BROTHERS x gn!MC | 1.1k words | SFW Rating/Warnings: Mostly fluff and silliness. Some jealous/possessive behaviour if you squint. [ Obey Me! Masterlist ]

Belphegor

It’s not surprising that he’s the least interested in helping you in the kitchen since it’s exhausting cooking for so many hungry demons every night

He complains when it’s your turn to cook because it means he has to nap alone

He has trouble napping when you’re not with him, so he’ll wander into the kitchen with a yawn and ask if you need a hand (but you both know it’s a hollow offer - he’s just trying to be polite)

Depending on how sleepy he looks, the most you ask of him is to help you set the table 

Instead of returning to the attic for a restless sleep, he’ll simply go to your room instead where he can hear you in the kitchen while he tries to doze off

You let him know that dinner’s ready first by waking him up with a kiss, followed by relentless tickles if he still pretends to be asleep

Beelzebub

Cooking is challenging entertaining when Beel is around, but you need to strategize if you want food to actually make it to the table for everyone else

You have some quick snacks ready by the time he walks into the kitchen to see you - there are some sandwiches, cut up veggies and dip - light fare that won’t ruin his appetite but will keep his hands and mouth occupied

He’s one of the brothers that won’t shy away from making requests for certain meals, especially if there’s something he heard about that he wants to try (only if he thinks you’ll like too - he appreciates its hard work)

He likes going to the shops with you after class to help you pick out ingredients, and he’ll carry all the bags home without breaking a sweat 

Asmodeus

Asmo loves spending time with you in the kitchen, but he’s more like your personal cooking cheerleader than a hands-on helper

He sits on a stool nearby and keeps you company while being out of the way - this also prevents him from getting his clothes or hair dirty if something splatters or spills

He talks about new pictures and gossip he sees on Devilgram, and calls you over to look at his DDD when he comes across something really interesting or scandalous 

He knows you don’t like having your picture taken so he takes candid shots of your dinner-in-progress with your blurred form somewhere in the background 

You can guess when he’s posted something on Devilgram because more of his brothers (particularly Mammon) come and visit you in the kitchen shortly after

Satan

Satan is a fantastic partner in the kitchen when you’re in the mood to try cooking something new or adventurous

He learns about a lot of human world food from the books and TV shows, so sometimes he requests things even you haven’t cooked or eaten before

He likes to help you plan things ahead of time so he gathers a couple different recipe options to see which one you want to use

Once you’ve chosen the recipe, he goes through the ingredients and adjusts the amounts on your shopping list so it'll be enough to feed everyone + Beel + leftovers (if you can hide them from Beel fast enough, anyway)

Satan is skilled with a knife and eager to show off help with the prep work

If you ask him to teach you a particular technique, he stands behind you while he holds your hands in his as he guides you through the motions until he's satisfied you can repeat it safely

He has a short fuse if Mammon his brothers barge into the kitchen and flirt with distract you while you're cooking together

Leviathan

Levi is happy enough to sit in his room and wait until he’s called for dinner, cooking isn’t a task that appeals to him and he’d rather spend his time catching up on new anime releases 

Some days if he feels particularly social, he’ll sit on a chair like Asmo does and play his handheld while you cook

If you’re not sure what to make for dinner that night, usually you’ll ask Levi - he never asks for something that’s complicated or takes too long

More often than not, he suggests ordering takeout instead - the sooner you eat, the sooner you can play games with him

He likes to cuddle with you in his tub while you keep an eye on the delivery tracker app 

Mammon

Mammon isn’t the most skilled at food prep or cooking, but when his brothers aren’t around he’s with you in the kitchen the entire time you’re preparing dinner

After he’s helped chopped some vegetables for you, he brings them over with a faint blush on his cheeks and mumbles that it’s harder than it looks

He’ll flash you cocky smile when you tell him he’s done a wonderful job, and he says that’s why you should just ask him for help whenever you’re cooking instead of his brothers who obviously aren’t as gifted as he is

Sometimes you have to slap his hand away when he tries to stick his finger into a dish to taste it 

When you tell him to use a fork or spoon if he wants to sample something, he surprises you when he holds it to your mouth expectantly so you can have the first taste

It’s hard to resist when he offers you something you know he worked really hard to help you make, after all

You remind him to use a clean utensil for himself, but he pops yours into his mouth as soon as you look away

Later when you ask him how it tastes, he says it’s perfect (but he’s not referring to the food)

Lucifer

RAD business often keeps Lucifer on campus later than everyone else, so some nights you rarely see him before dinner is finished and served at the table

You’ve mentioned in the past how you had special family dinners on Sunday nights growing up, and when your cooking night falls on Sundays in the Devildom, you try to uphold the tradition

Lucifer is usually less busy on Sundays too, so cooking together to create more elaborate meals becomes something of a ritual you both take comfort in

He takes you to the market himself and helps you when you’re unsure of which Devildom ingredients to choose; he’s also more knowledgeable when it comes to choosing and cooking Devildom meats, so that is his responsibility the nights you cook together

It’s not practical to drag the record player into the kitchen, but music streams from your DDD while you both work quietly on prepping and cooking that night’s meal

Lucifer is surprisingly relaxed in the kitchen - the top buttons of his shirt are undone, his sleeves are rolled up, and he has an apron tied around his waist

When he works beside you at the counter or walks past you to retrieve something, you can feel his hand brush against you gently, an affectionate gesture that leaves a pleased smile on both your faces

[triggerblaze345]

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/new-fund-help-wildlife-trusts-restore-rainforests-britain

[anachrophobia]

apparently the issue was a physical issue with my hard drive bc the ppl I bought it from replaced it and fucked up. and bc it's refurbished its no under warranty -_- costs me 140 dollars to fix (I hope they fix it I'm waiting for it now) but now I have around 100 dollars for veggies for bowser and metro fair for school. would really help if I could have some donations or at least a rb. this is my below. plsss ignore my dead name

[aerbiscuit]

So, this may be a super silly idea, but bear with me.

Giants are intriguing fantasy creatures. Depending on how big they are, their existence has massive implications for wherever they live. What do they eat, and how much/often do they have to do so? What is their population size? Where do they live that has enough room for them all? How does their waste not make large stretches of land filthy?

And, most importantly… do they fart?

No, for real, I’ve often thought about this. As a kid, I was taught that cow burps and farts contain huge amounts of methane that could threaten the atmosphere. Now, of course, I know that there are a ton of factors at play in this claim, all of which turn this glimmer of a fact into a misleading claim. (While cow farts, and especially burps, do contain a large amount of methane, the largest contributions to climate change are still human pollution and fossil fuel usage. Cow gas is remarkably small in comparison and we can change their diets to decrease their methane production anyway.)

Still, this has always made me wonder about the gas output of giants. How would their flatulence affect smaller creatures and the world around them?

… well, I now have a gassy mythology about giants. Read on for a peculiar fairy tale.

In my fantasy AU, giants exist. However, they all live on a small continent (which to them is a large island) far in the middle of a distant sea. This land is perfectly suited for their needs. A few large races of animals exist for them to eat meat from time to time, and certain quickly-growing species of fauna provide them with continuous sources of vegetation. They also eat bugs by breeding, collecting, and chowing down on them at once, kinda like how whales can subsist off large amounts of krill. The land is also large enough for them to handle the subject of their waste, which they’ve developed systems to dispose, reuse, and/or filter. They’re a smart race of beings and can live sustainably in their home country. However, they largely stay where they are, and any giant who attempts to travel to the smaller lands is seen as foolhardy and asking for trouble.

Legends say that the reason for the giants' isolation (stories which both the giants and the smaller folk tell) come from a time when lots of giants travelled around the world. Giants were friendly, and even set up homes in smaller lands to learn from the tiny races. There are still a few stories of friendly giants, and the good that they can do.

Unfortunately, many of the smaller races saw the giants as a threat. If a giant didn’t have the time or resources to set up food sources (bug farming, bringing livestock, etc.), they’d need to eat from the small folks’ land, which the small folk saw as decimating their resources. Giants also had to do a LOT of research into where they could piss or shit, unless they didn’t mind accidentally flooding or burying valuable land. As thoughtful as most giants are, you couldn’t help the occasional emergency, or just the handful of people who weren’t as considerate as the others.

And of course, there was the gas. Giants need to break wind too. It’s hard to stay around someone when one of their farts sounds like a thunderclap and produces clouds of smog that take up to an hour or so to fully dissipate. And if a giant strayed too far from a majority bug-based diet, those farts could get numerous and gnarly.

Finally, one cruel and bigoted wizard devised a plan to make enough small folk hate the giants to banish them. He used the entire freshwater lake that a group of traveling giants had claimed for their water supply to make an eternal potion of flatulence, one that was so strong, it altered your very biology into making you sensitive to most food sources. Any meal of standard meat or veggies would turn into a night full of farts, and that’s not counting eating the standard fart fare like beans, broccoli, sprouts, dairy, etc. He cast the spell, complicating it so that only he could possibly undo it, and waited.

Soon, the damage was done, and all the giants in the area turned into giant gasbags. Even if they stayed near their camps, neighboring villages could hear choruses of belching in the distance, or smell the results of dinner on the wind. Finally, enough people got so fed up that they passed official mandates of banishment. All giants, even the ones who didn’t drink from the lake, were sent away, and threatened with war if they returned.

The giants, who are peaceful folk and newly embarrassed by their tremendous eruptions of gas, didn’t put up a fight. They all packed their bags and sailed home.

Upon their return, the giant’s cycle of reproduction showed that the spell was more permanent than expected. Any offspring of a newly gassy giant with an unmodified person became half as gassy. If two gassy giants mated, then the offspring had full fart power. After enough generations of mating, all giants became gasbags to some extent. While the giants grew used to, and even happy with, their new powers, they knew this was the last nail in the coffin of their diplomacy. Now, no giant could try to live peacefully with the smaller races. Barely any giants visit the small lands even now.

The end.

… but, of course, the world goes on after “The End,” doesn’t it?

First, there were the unintentional side effects of the lake. After the expulsion of the giants, the wizard quickly used the last of his remaining power to neutralize the water. However, some damage was already done. While humans were the majority of the small races to hold issue with giants, most of the demi-humans (goat-mans, centaurs, satyrs, etc.) had no issue with giants and were happy to hang out with them, share meals with them…. and drink with them. This is the theory of why these races are flatulent even beyond their animal counterparts’ abilities. Their guts have been forever tainted by the same brew that doomed the giants.

Some of the demi-humans who liked the permanent changes to their digestive tracts acted quickly, bottling some of the water before the wizard neutralized his work. These potions of flatulence are incredibly rare, and possibly no more than legends, but people search for them to this day.

Then there are the members of the small races who don’t mind venturing out to visit the giants. After all, no rule was set up that they couldn’t visit, although some years had to pass before the giants were in a good enough mood to be visited. This is how the small amount of giant-to-small-person communication and research still persists.

And who knows? Maybe in enough time, relations will improve enough to reach the level that they used to be.

Until then, most giants will stay at home, entertaining only the most friendly (or peculiarly inclined) members of the races who banished them.

[languajix]

TMNT Write Fight Fic: Pizza Party

Prompt by @donniepodsshow: "The first pizza party and/or family movie night post-Rise!Kraang invasion. Good opportunity for Casey Jr. to learn and try some stuff he never got in his timeline!" @tmnt-write-fight

Word Count: 1,018

Summary: The Rise turtles introduce Casey Junior to the many varieties of pizza available in the present.

"Okay, Casey, your mission, if you choose to accept it... is to try a bite out of every one of these."

"And don't worry! Raph will eat whatever you don't!" Raph added reassuringly, and his stomach rumbled right on cue.

The spread out before them was a veritable feast - rarely before had there been such a variety of pizza pies all in one place. Only in the Ninja Turtles' lair would a meat lovers sit peacefully beside a veggie delite! Of course, those were ordinary, uninteresting fare when compared to some of the options they'd picked up from Hueso's specifically for the occasion - a Super Creepy Supreme, of course, and a hot one that literally set your tongue on fire, among others.

When Casey Junior had made it clear he'd never so much as tried a piece of pizza before, they'd gotten a classic pepperoni into his hands as fast as possible, but to introduce him to the broader world of pizza really required a more formal occasion. A pizza party, if you will.

"That's a lot of food," Casey Junior breathed, looking a little pale. "Where do we even-"

"There are many ways to approach the pizza party spread," Donnie said flatly, pulling up a few holographic diagrams. "Right to left is a classic, as is common to uncommon-slash-unpopular, which may be more appropriate for the tastebuds of someone who isn't used to pizza at all. Of course, the mild-to-spicy is also a tastebud-friendly approach, and if I were you, I'd start with a combination of the two - with a third, less significant vector relating to general popularity."

Leo pressed a hand between Casey Junior's shoulderblades, pushing him forward. "You know what I think?" He felt the guy perk up, like he really cared about what Leo thought, which was such a confidence booster. "I think you let yourself feel the pizza, be the pizza, and your instinct will guide you to the right pizza."

Casey Junior swallowed. He pasted on a smile. After careful consideration - which Leo appreciated, this was serious business, after all - Casey Junior picked up a slice of barbecue pizza.

Mikey stood in the middle of the room with a clipboard and glasses, tapping the eraser against his lips. "Going for a non-standard sauce out the gate... interesting. Very interesting." He scribbled something down in his notebook.

Casey moved to put it down, but Leo clucked his tongue. "You touched it, it's yours, Case! You gotta try it now. No takebacks."

Casey sighed. He looked at the slice in his hand with curiosity, then shoved it in his mouth.

They all leaned forward, jittery with anticipation.

He chewed, paused for a second, kept chewing and then swallowed.

"So...?" Donnie began.

"If you had to rate it out of ten, ten being the best most awesome thing you've ever tasted in your life and one being the worst thing you've ever had-" Mikey paused to adjust his glasses thoughtfully, "-which is probably really really bad-"

Casey Junior tilted his head. "Nine."

--

"Is it supposed to be wiggling? And, uh, speaking to me?"

"Hueso follows the classic recipe, which involves serving them alive so they can beg to be eaten," Donnie replied.

Mikey bounced on the balls of his feet. "I'm reading about the culinary history of this and other live pizza dishes in the Hidden City, and it's actually pretty cool!"

Casey Junior stared at the slice in his hands. "Cool. Sure." Still, he hesitated. Leo was sure he'd seen worse, but something about the writhing tentacles just wasn't doing it for him.

...yeah. Okay. Given where he'd come from, that was pretty understandable actually.

Leo swiped the piece from his hands, shoving it in his mouth. "Whoops! Guess you gotta pick something else," he said past the mouthful of unchewed crust and squirming creatures.

Casey Junior blinked wide eyes at him, but then grinned, already reaching for the next pizza down the line.

---

"If you don't like this one, I will absolutely be crushed," Donnie admitted flatly. "The perfect blend of several cheeses to provide the optimal texture, an alternative to the normally quite greasy classic pepperoni..."

Casey bit into it and gave him a thumbs up, and Donnie outright whooped, throwing his hands in the air. Mikey did it along with him, because Mikey liked being included in celebrations.

--

"Sometimes you just gotta add some spice to your life," April declared, holding out a slice of jalapeno pizza with hot sauce sauce and hot pepper flakes baked into the crust. "Brace yourself, though, it's gonna be a rough ride."

Casey took a big ol' bite, and everybody but April and Raph flinched in sympathy.

He just chewed a couple of times and swallowed, blinking innocently around the room. "What?"

Leo swiped a piece just to check, and upon a single sniff he immediately started choking. What was this guy made of?

---

By the end of the night they had all ended up sprawled out on the floor, hands on their stomachs, empty pizza boxes scattered around the scene of the crime.

"And how would you rate this pizza party experience?" Donny asked the ceiling from his own spot on the floor. "Educational, very very educational-"

"Delicious," Casey Junior concluded. "But yeah, I'd say I learned a lot. Like that the present really likes grease and cheese."

"Mmmm, grease and cheese," Raph mumbled.

When Leo looked over, Casey Junior was grinning from ear. "Thanks, guys. This was fun. I don't think I remember the last time I felt... full."

"We're gonna give you all sorts of stuff to try and you're gonna forget what it ever felt like to feel hungry, okay?" Leo assured him. "Hot dogs..."

"...nachos..."

"...fried rice..."

"...maybe a salad or something," April added and almost everyone blew a raspberry at that, even Casey Junior, props to him. Mikey snapped his fingers in appreciation, but that was Mikey.

Yeah, they'd feed him well. Casey Junior would never go hungry, and there were so many things in the world for him to try. Leo, for one, couldn't wait to show him.

[willtheweaver]

Theme song tag

Thanks for the tag @sableglass @theink-stainedfolk

I will be doing the MC and their adopted family from A Feather in the Forest:

Fen- (I don’t know if Tolkien named this one)

Still round the corner there may wait

A new road or a secret gate,

And though we pass them by today,

Tomorrow we may come this way

And take the hidden paths that run

Towards the moon or to the sun.

Apple, thorn, and nut and sloe,

Let them go! Let them go!

Sand and stone and pool and dell

Fare you well! Fare you well!

Sorrel- I Don’t Think You’d Change Your Mind (Bob Wright)

If I had to do it over

I don’t think you’d change your mind.

Caine- Lowlands (Trad.)

She made no sound, no word she said.

Lowlands! Lowlands away, my John!

And then I knew my love was dead.

Lowlands away!

Tagging @storycraftcafe @thylocalbard @novel-nook-blog @leahnardo-da-veggie @touloserlautrec

@riveriafalll @words-after-midnight @moltenwrites @agirlandherquill @phoenixradiant and open tag

[veggiechannel]

Tutto è aumentato e anche il prezzo del cacao è molto più alto del normale; approfondiamo insieme il perché di questo rincaro.

[peterlorres21stcentury]

a birthday feast

I couldn't finish everything I wanted to do for Peter's birthday, but I was reading my unreadable draft file (seriously, even I hate reading my own notes sometimes, it's like a lunatic wrote them. It's me, I am the lunatic) and I found a tasty little morsel that was intended to open my next kink story, during the wedding feast for the Baron and his bride. (yeah, I'm not wasting any time getting to the part with the foooood, lol) Since this feast takes place in the town square, the villagers supplied a good deal of their own food so it's an assortment of simpler dishes among the fancy rich-people fare, and everyone gets to eat as much as they can hold. Which is no different from any other day of the year in this town, but, uh, now there's even more food! I apparently tried to write out a crude menu, which includes but is not limited to:

wedding soup, cream soups, noodle soups, all kinda soup

roast beef, roast turkey, glazed ham, fish filet in garlic butter

bread rolls, both the light yeasty rolls and the dense chewy ones

fresh fruit drizzled in honey. Or candied fruit! I love that

walnuts and almonds rolled in brown sugar and cinnamon and baked until crisp

maybe an extra (large) platter of salty snacks like stuffed olives and gherkins and melted raclette cheese over veggies

cake, like a LOT of cake, all different cakes: strawberry shortcakes and airy meringues and Sachertorte and a tall white wedding cake, each layer stuffed with a different jam filling and slathered with thick layers of lemon and orange flavored buttercream

of course every single dish contains copious amounts of The Spice, making it a festival of enhanced flavors and heightened appetite.

This is, of course, a sort of stream of consciousness intended to answer the question "what would I like to eat?" and also more importantly, "what would Peter Lorre like to eat?" since I'm essentially writing about him in the role of a true hedonist. Which I like to think he was in real life, too, just a bit. ^_^

Sooo, even if I couldn't write out the entire scene yet, consider this an offering of sorts for Peter's birthday feast. I like to think that our fan creations, including descriptions of illusory food, sustains him somehow in the afterlife (which is perhaps silly of me, but it does tap into a certain prehistoric belief about funeral offerings and immortality).

[mamamittens]

So, I've been thinking on Thatch's sad bean hour time and here's a decent one i think

Now, as head cook and commander, Thatch takes his job very seriously. With a crew this large, it's not hard to get lost in the details, which is where his division comes in to help lessen the, at times, overwhelming workload.

Still there are some things that he personally likes keeping an eye on, to the best of his ability.

Allergen safe work areas for particular foods is key among them.

The kitchens are massive, of course, which is the only way he's able to ensure certain foods go no where near particular areas. It took some clever work arounds in some cases, but it works!

Thankfully, meals are rather self serve style, so he usually can relax after prepping and cooking is finished when it comes to cross contamination. His division is well trained, after all, and utterly serious about food health and safety.

So, he's enjoying dinner, sitting beside Izou as they both gossip about interesting, new things that popped up recently in the papers or on board. Visibly pleased when he spots Nikia make her way to the food and wave to get her attention after she gets her plate.

"She's so cute when she does that." Thatch murmurs, referring to the little fluffing her wings do when something abruptly catches her attention. She jogs over and sits across from them in an empty spot, most not wanting to eat directly beside any commander, let alone Ace. Her wing briefly brushing across his back in quiet greeting before she considers her food.

Thatch notes, still quite pleased, that it was pretty healthy fare. Teriyaki chicken and cauliflower rice with raw veggies, a small serving of clear soup, and two cookies as a treat. Healthier than usual, but he was hardly complaining. It was surprising though, that she didn't eat regular rice, considering how much she usually liked it with certain meals.

"Good picks." Thatch said cheerfully, watching as she smeared the sauced chicken over the cauliflower--apparently intending to eat it as she would white rice. "Wanted to try something a little new or have you had it before?" he asked curiously, watching as she scooped up a healthy serving of cauliflower and chicken before eating it.

"What? The rice? It's just small, still white though, isn't it? Or something like that--"

Her face immediately scrunched up as she started choking, confusion clear as she swallowed hard. Face red as she blinked furiously, trying to control her breathing.

"F-Fuck, that was spicy as shit! Where'd that come from?!" Thatch frowned, looking down at the food.

While he knew she had a sensitive palette, nothing on her plate was particularly spicy.

She was wheezing as he stole a bite of chicken and cauliflower rice.

It certainly didn't taste spicy--though he'd apologize for the theft regardless.

"There's no spice besides teriyaki, baby. Just chicken and cauliflower." Thatch mused, focusing on her face again only to realize she was struggling to breath. Lips tinted faintly blue, wings trembling with distress.

"Ah. Get Marco. O-Or epi." Nikia blinked away tears and swallowed with greater difficulty.

Thatch and Izou froze in horror as they realized what was happening for only a moment, but luckily Ace wasn't passed out and quickly reacted.

"Marco! Here!"

He was over in an instant, hand on fire as he gently placed his palm over her throat.

"Right, let's get you to the med bay--this will only hold it, not treat it." Marco advised gently, helping Nikia leave. "Got your inhaler--ah, good! We'll use that after we treat the allergic reaction."

Nikia was in good hands, thankfully.

Thatch, however, was spiraling. It didn't matter what Izou told him, Thatch could only replay the moment in his mind when Nikia ate something she was incredibly allergic to without realizing what it was--

right in front of him.

Nikia, on the other hand, was fine after some medication and ordered to take it easy for the rest of the day. No running, flying, or eating foods she didn't recognize.

She returned to her room and got ready for bed, quite exhausted from the startling event. Settling down for sleep when there was a knock at her door. Confused, she answered, finding Thatch swaying in her doorway.

He was utterly despondent, eyes red, reeking of booze as he whimpered apologies. Arms quick to wrap around her in a tight, drunken embrace.

"Oh, b-baby cakes--'m sorry--I should have kn-known--knew--was right there--" Thatch whined and she was quick to pull him into her room. With difficultly, being mostly blinded by his arms shoving her face into his chest, she steered him to sit on her bed.

"H-Hey, Thatch, it's alright! I'm okay!" she reassured him, rubbing his back as he shook his head and kept mumbling apologies. "I should have realized it wasn't actual rice--cauliflower is like, the literal only thing I know I'm allergic to. And usually it's just spicy but I guess it got worse without me realizing it--ah, beans, that's not helpful is it?" she balked as he started weeping, eyes watery pools as he cupped her face.

"You couldn't breathe, baby. You couldn't breathe because I didn't make sure the food wasn't mixed." Thatch breathed out.

"Hey--look at me--it's not your fault. I'm breathing fine now, see? Everything is alright. It's not your fault. I don't blame you. Feel that? I can breathe just fine now. Because I felt safe eating something new--because you helped make it. And you don't make it weird if I decide not to eat something after trying it. Normally, I would have not eaten it at all--or eaten it while alone." Nikia reassured him gently, sliding one of his hands to her throat.

He froze, fingers pressing into the delicate skin that throbbed with life. Trusted so implicitly with her life, even now, that she openly let him touch her neck. Which he knew she hated. But his palm was there, pressed against the side of her throat as she breathed steadily.

Slowly, Thatch slid his hand further behind her neck. Watching as she didn't even flinch, not even as he used the leverage to pull her into his arms. Lifting her into his lap to hold onto her better, bury his face in her hair. He collapsed against the bed as tears kept falling. Now more from a place of relief than anxiety.

It was his literal worst nightmare as a chef.

Bad enough to trigger her asthma--which she apparently had.

But she still trusted him.

Still let him hold her like this. Shifting only to rest more comfortably on his chest, wings tucking in like the edges of a thick duvet. Feathers brushing against him gently as she rubbed the sides of his ribs in comforting motions.

Izou found them sometime later, sighing as his voice crept out from the doorway.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I can take him to bed now." Izou offered.

"It's alright." Her voice vibrated against his chest as one wing lifted up. "He was scared. Scared me too, today. You can join if you turn off the light." she offered.

There was a moment of hesitation and the room was cast into silken darkness. His body gently shoved further up the bed by firm hands until a familiar body slipped in beside him.

"Ki?"

"...yeah, 'Zo?"

"I'm glad you're okay... please don't do that again, though." Izou asked softly.

"Don't plan on it." she snorted before settling back down.

From that day forward, Thatch carried a little case with emergency epipens on his person at all times. And it was a while before he stopped hovering over Nikia when she got food, quietly listing out the food she considered and major ingredients. Just in case, Thatch gently steered her away from anything closely related to cauliflower, such as brussel sprouts and cabbage.

When he gets to be a little too much, Nikia gently lifts up his hand and places it on her neck. A silent reminder that makes Thatch's stomach flip with a mix of emotions.

He just never wants to see her like that again.

[mariacallous]

For many Jews, eating potato latkes on Hanukkah is non-negotiable, whether store-bought or made from scratch. But what should we be eating with them?

I’m not talking about the old applesauce vs. sour cream debate (I’m team neither), or about nibbling on a latke while holding a glass of bubbly at a chic Hanukkah soiree (I’m team exhausted mom in bed by 9). I’m talking about practical, everyday stuff: How can latkes be incorporated into a balanced, filling, seasonal meal that won’t leave you nauseous? 

The answer was harder to find than I’d anticipated; most people I asked were similarly stumped.

After much contemplation, research and a deep-dive into The Nosher’s Hanukkah archives, here are 13 ways to turn latkes into a complete meal — from the centerpiece of a festive breakfast to a side dish alongside classic brisket.

Crockpot Sweet and Sour Brisket

Throw this together in the morning before work and let the promise of a hearty dinner get you through your day. Make sure to let the flavorful gravy soak into your latkes.

French Onion Brisket

Drawing inspiration from French onion soup, this modern twist on a classic braised brisket is even better when it’s made a day ahead. Serve with your favorite steamed veg.

Juicy Instant Pot Brisket

Tender, sweet-and-savory brisket that’s ready in two hours. The best use for your Instant Pot.

Perfect Roast Chicken

All the secrets, straight from a bubbe’s mouth.

Quick Skillet Roast Chicken 

An easy one-skillet chicken for the soul, complete with veggies. Let the latkes soak up all the schmaltzy pan drippings.

Za’atar Fried Chicken with Spicy Thyme Honey

Why not go all in and match fried with fried? Hanukkah fare doesn’t get much better than this herby, succulent, shatteringly crisp fried chicken.

Roast Goose 

Hear me out! Decadent, golden roast goose is a long-forgotten Hanukkah tradition from the Middle Ages, but the flavors more than hold up today.

Israeli-Style Turkey Pastrami

Salty, sweet, spiced and ready in a flash. Serve warm, sliced, with mustard and a salad. I recommend this mayo-free Russian health salad for optimal crunch.

Latke Deli Sandwiches

Sub the rye bread in your favorite deli sandwich for two latkes for the ultimate Hanukkah treat. Warning: not for the fainthearted.

Latke Hotdish

A twist on the beloved casserole from the Upper Midwest, this hotdish is topped with mini latkes instead of tater tots. Filled with brisket and a whole load of veg, this is a great way to feed a crowd.

Everything Bagel Latkes

Aka breakfast latkes. You can’t go wrong with topping your latkes with dill-y, lemony cream cheese, lox and everything bagel seasoning. Poached egg optional, but encouraged.

Latke Poutine

Inspired by New York’s Mile End Deli circa 2017, top your latkes with cheese curds and gravy a la classic Canadian poutine. The real miracle of Hanukkah.

Latke Board

A festive take on hot girl dinner (or post-school snack time), this board proves that it only takes a few store-bought additions to turn latkes into an entire meal.