#Zinas Fine Foods

[willalove75]

Alcina's New Maid Pt. 16 Lady Dimitrescu x Reader

Summary: Karl Heisenberg comes to visit and things get interesting.

Warnings: 18+ minors DNI

Tags: Light angst, mostly fluff

Notes: Part 16! I'm so sorry this chapter is so late! I struggled writing this more that I have with any other chapter before and idk why. But I hope you all enjoy it regardless💕

Click here for the rest of the series

The next day Cassandra woke you up just as the sun was rising to start training once again. You tried to look at Alcina so she could convince her daughter to let you sleep in a little more but she just laid there with a sleepy smile on her face. Both you and Alcina knew that once Cassandra had her mind set on something there was no talking her out of it.

The two of you worked on the same things you did yesterday. She helped refine your stance and the way your body moved and shifted as you dodged her attacks.

Breakfast came and went and it was back to training. You knew that she meant well and was only trying to help you, but Cassandra was wearing you out. Training went through lunch, the two of you only taking a short break to eat when Zina brought food out to the courtyard.

Not long after that Bela and Daniela showed up and they both sparred with you for awhile. The three girls had three very distinct fighting styles. Cassandra always took the offence, advancing often and quickly. Bela was more calculated. Even though you were training for self-defense she still kept herself at a distance and made you come to her. Daniela was the definition of chaos. She played both offence and defense, advancing and pulling away so you came towards her and retreated often. Her moves were erratic and unhinged and not for a second were you able to predict what she was going to do next. You could tell she was less formally trained than the other two, but from your sparring session alone you knew she was just as lethal.

By the time the dinner bell rang you were starving and exhausted. The four of you shuffled into the dining room where Alcina was already seated.

"How was training girls?" She asked.

"She did really well, improved a lot more than I thought she would." Cassandra says.

"She's better than I thought she was going to be honestly. She almost knocked me off of my feet a couple of times." Bela says as she takes her seat.

"It was SO much fun!" Daniela exclaims.

"Draga?" Alcina asks, looking at you.

"It was good, tiring, but good."

Alcina can see the exhaustion in your face and gives you a small smile.

Dinner was delicious, as per usual. Although they could have put a leather boot on your plate and you would have devoured it without a second thought. The conversation was light, the girls and Alcina talking about how their days went. You stayed quiet for most of the meal just listening; there wasn't anything you had to add to the conversation. That coupled with exhaustion you were happy to not have to participate in doing anything other than eating.

"So after dinner I was thinking I can show you how to get out of a grapple." Cassandra says.

"After dinner?" You say, your eyes darting toward Alcina with a pleading look in them. There's no way you're gonna be able to do more tonight.

"Cassandra I think that's enough for today."

"But-"

"I appreciate your enthusiasm, bug, but I need y/n in good shape for the meeting and I can't have her falling asleep. She needs rest. You can continue the day after tomorrow once your uncle leaves."

Cassandra hangs her head in defeat.

"Fine."

Alcina chuckles at her daughter and looks back over to you with a wink. You give her a small smile as if to say "thank you."

It took everything in you to not crawl up the stairs and flop into bed once dinner was finished. Alcina suggested everyone relax in the library after dinner and as tired as you were you didn't want to miss it. As tempting as your bed was, you managed to avoid passing out on it after you showered and headed to the library.

The girls picked their books and Alcina plucked one off of the shelf after perusing her options for a few minutes. You lazily flipped through a magazine you found laying around while you lounged on the couch.

"No book tonight, draga?" Alcina asks.

"Nah," you toss the magazine onto the coffee table. "I'm too tired to focus on reading."

Alcina sits in her large arm chair and places her reading glasses on the bridge of her nose. Gods she looks hot. You're too tired to try and hide your stare and Alcina smirks.

"Come. Sit with me, draga mea." She says, beckoning you with a slight nod of her head.

As you walk up to her, Alcina wraps an arm around your waist and pulls you up into her lap. You drape your legs across her thighs and rest your back against her arm.

"Comfortable?" She asks, looking down at you.

"Mhm." You say, cuddling into her.

Due to the way you're sitting and the height difference your face is pretty much against her boob. Normally this would drive you crazy, sending pulses to your core; but tonight they're your soft pillows.

Alcina lets out a soft purr as she runs her fingers through your damp hair and the soothing noise lulls you into a deep sleep.

When you wake up you're in Alcina's bed. Your eyes adjust to the darkness of the room and you realize it's still nighttime. There's a single light in the room coming from a lit candle on Alcina's vanity where's she seated. The warm light flickers across her, illuminating her porcelain skin and raven hair, highlighting the details on her face. Even though you're too far away to see, you're sure her smile lines and crows feet are bathed beautifully in the light as it dances across her skin. What isn't in the light is cast in a dark shadow. It's mysterious and beautiful, just like her.

Your heartbeat must have given you away because Alcina sets down the papers in her hand and turns to look at you.

"You're awake." She seems surprised.

"That I am. What time is it?"

"It's late, it's the middle of the night."

Alcina stands up and makes her way over to the bed.

"Why are you awake?"

"I work most nights at this hour."

"You do?" You're a little shocked, in all the times you've shared a bed with her not once did you ever feel her leave in the middle of the night.

"Mhm." She hums and sits on the edge of the bed. "The mutation allows me the privilege of needing less sleep than a human. After a few hours of rest I continue working."

"Every night?"

"Every night, save for a few rare occasions where I treat myself to the calm of the night and relax."

"So do you just wait until I fall asleep to leave?" You say, sounding more hurt than you expected.

"No, draga mea." She brushes your hair away from your face. "Most nights I fall asleep with you in my arms and get up later. Others I will lay there and listen to your heartbeat and your breathing for a few hours before I get up and work."

"If I didn't know you so well I'd say that's the creepiest thing I've ever heard." You laugh.

Alcina chuckles and slides under the covers next to you, pulling you into her.

"Well I am certainly glad that you know me then, draga."

With a kiss to your forehead you wrap your arms around her waist and rest your head on her chest. Alcina traces lazy circles across your skin where you shirt rode up on your back and you listen to her heartbeat with a sigh.

"Tired, draga?" She asks.

"No. Just relaxed, happy." Alcina hums in response.

"Good." She says.

As the scent of her perfume envelopes you, you become more aware of your senses. The silky fabric of her nightgown beneath your fingers, her toned muscles that lay underneath her soft skin, the feeling of her chilled fingers dancing across your back. You can hear her heartbeat, strong and steady, accompanied by each breath she takes. The rhythm of your heart steadily increases as you feel her body adjust underneath yours.

Alcina slides down from laying against the headboard and you rest you head in the crook of her neck when she settles. The scent of her perfume is stronger there and it makes you feel like you're floating.

The skin on her neck is soft and tender as you nuzzle against it. The hum she releases in response is nearly a purr and you smile against her skin. As your focus shifts back to her fingers, still tracing circles across your back, you hold Alcina a little tighter.

"My sweet, perfect girl. My beautiful little pet." Alcina whispers into your hair before placing a kiss on your head.

Too entranced to realize it, you place a light, open-mouthed kiss on Alcina's neck. You only realize it when you feel her chest rumble underneath you with a purr and feel the vibration of her voice.

"Draga." She says with a soft yet stern voice.

"Sorry." You say as you remove your lips from her neck.

"No need for apologies." She lifts your chin with a finger and your eyes meet hers. Leaning down, she places a kiss on your lips. When she pulls away she doesn't pull away fully, leaving her lips to brush against yours. "If you continued I don't think I would be able to control myself, is all."

The way her warm breath caressed your face, how her lips grazed yours as she spoke made your brain fuzzy.

"Don't." You whisper.

"Don't?"

"Control yourself. Don't."

Alcina smirks and captures your lips in a passionate kiss. Your heart begins to beat harder and you bring your hand to her face to deepen it. She places her hand over yours and pulls back from the kiss. Turning her head, she places a kiss in the middle of your palm and holds it against her cheek.

You can see it in her eyes: the want, the need, but you also see hesitation and worry.

"What's wrong?" You ask.

"It's not that I don't want to, draga. It's taking all of my self restraint to not pin you down and ravish you right this second." She sighs. "I fear that we might be moving too quickly. We only started rebuilding what we had a few weeks ago. And then you were hurt and-" Shaking her head, she takes a deep breath. "this is too important to rush iubirea mea. I hope you understand."

And you did. You understood perfectly and as disappointed as you were, you knew she was right. It was evident that your bodies were ready but your hearts and minds were still playing catch up.

"I do, Alcina. I do." You say, nuzzling back into her neck.

"Fetița mea dulce. Cât de mult te iubesc." She whispers as she runs her fingers through your hair. (My sweet girl. How I love you so.)

The two of you lay in a comfortable silence. The steady beat of her heart accompanied by the sensation of the lazy circles she's tracing along your skin relaxes you. Alcina lets out a soft sigh and you look up. Following her line of sight you notice she's staring at her vanity with the papers she was looking over scattered across it.

"Do you have to keep working?"

"Unfortunately."

"Can you stay with me until I fall asleep?"

"Of course my love." She says, nuzzling into your hair and placing a kiss on your head.

Alcina holds you in her arms until you drift back off into a deep sleep once more. When she's certain you won't wake up she gently lays you down onto the bed and kisses your forehead. She takes a moment to study your face as you sleep. She loves how peaceful you look, how you look like an angel. Her angel. After a minute she makes sure you're tucked in and continues working for a few more hours before joining you in bed once more.

Alcina was only in bed with you for about an hour before you woke up next to her. When you wake up you roll over and meet a stunning pair of golden eyes staring back at you.

"Hi." You say, your voice raspy with sleep.

"Good morning, draga."

"How long have you been awake for?"

"Quite some time."

"When did you come back to bed?"

"Approximately an hour ago."

"I'm surprised you didn't start getting ready for the day already."

"The thought did cross my mind, but laying in bed with you for another hour was much more appealing. Even if I didn't sleep."

A smile crosses your face and you curl into her, burying your face into her hair.

"Waking up next to you is one of my favorite things." You sigh.

"Mine as well, draga mea."

She places a kiss on your shoulder and wraps her arms around you, soaking in the moment before the two of you have to get up and get ready for the day.

After breakfast Alcina heads into her study to do some work before Heisenberg arrives and you hang out in one of the sitting rooms near the dining room and start to read a book Daniela recommended.

Just as the book was beginning to devour your attention the doors to the room swing open and slam against the wall. The commotion startles you and you snap your head towards the direction of the sound.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? A rogue maiden?" You sit there speechless as you take in the man before you.

The man is tall, but not nearly as tall as Alcina. He's wearing a grease-stained shirt and pants, a long tan trench coat, circular glasses, and a hat. There's a gigantic hammer that looks like it was put together with scrap metal and gears found in a junkyard slung over his shoulder and he begins to wave it around haphazardly. You can tell that the man is unshaven and by the way he's stomping his muddy shoes across the freshly polished floors, he has little manners. There's a ruggedness to him, very much the opposite of the prim and proper aura that radiates off of Alcina.

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" He says with a smirk as he walks closer. "Such a pretty little thing-" he reaches up to touch your face and you can see the grime underneath his fingernails and the dirt on his fingers.

"Heisenberg! Get your filthy man hands away from her!" Alcina shouts just before his fingers graze your skin.

He spins around and you have to duck to steer clear of the hammer.

"What?! I didn't even do anything!"

"And for the love of gods watch where you swing that thing!" She snaps.

"Nice to see you too, Godzilla. Oh I've been great, thanks for asking. Yeah the lycans have been doing well on their search for those hunters that keep entering your castle's territory. You're so very welcome for protecting your precious land!" He says sarcastically. "And I was only going to tell this pretty little girl here that she should get her ass back to work before you stick her in a barrel for your next fresh batch of-."

"That is enough." She hisses.

You give Alcina a look and her eyes shift to you and back towards Heisenberg, which doesn't go unnoticed by him. He looks at you and back at Alcina and starts laughing as he turns back towards you.

"Oh I get it now, you're more than just her little maid, aren't ya sweet cheeks? You got yourself a pretty one here Alci, I wonder how long this one is going to last."

Alcina's eyes burn into the back of his head as the anger in them grows. Her fists are clenched tightly at her sides, there's no doubt she's doing everything she can from letting her claws out and taking his head off where he stands.

He sees how Alcina is reacting to his words and you notice him inhale deeply through his nose. He looks between the two of you for a moment before his eyes fall on you once more and you see that they're full of mischief.

"Whenever you get bored of this one, hold off on turning her into your next blend and be a good sister and send her my way-"

He reaches out to touch you again and his words are swiftly cut off when Alcina grabs him by his collar and throws him clear across the room. His back slams into the wall leaving a small crater behind.

Alcina stands in front of you in a protective stance, her claws are out and her chest is heaving with anger.

"I warned you, Heisenberg, do not touch her." She growls.

"What the fuck!" He yells as he picks himself up off of the ground. "What's your fucking problem?!"

He looks up and sees how Alcina is standing in front of you, how she's protecting you. He sees the look in her eyes and it clicks. Once it does he lets out a chuckle that turns into a hysterical laugh.

"I fucking knew it. I could smell you all over her from a mile away Alci." Alcina growls at him. "Oh calm down, the fact that your temper is bigger than you are is astonishing, truly. Don't worry, I won't touch your precious little human."

In an instant his hammer is flying towards him and he catches it in his hand. Your eyes grow wide, you definitely weren't expecting that. Heisenberg walks over to one of the chairs and plops down into it, resting his hammer against the chair and Alcina relaxes enough to retract her claws.

"So does Miranda know about your little," he pauses to think of the right word. "friend, here?" Alcina tenses up as she narrows her eyes at him. "I'll take that as a resounding 'yes.' I'm surprised that bird bitch hasn't taken her as one of her test subjects, especially if she knows of your interest in her. What's your name, kid?"

You look up at Alcina and she nods her head at you and you tell him your name.

"Hah, and you already got her trained? I wonder how many trips to the dungeon that took."

"She has never set foot in there and she never will." Alcina growls before she takes a seat next to you on the couch.

"So, kid, what debts did you have that got you shipped to this hellhole?" He asks you.

Alcina cuts in before you can speak.

"She has no debts and she can leave whenever she chooses."

"HAH!" Heisenberg laughs out loud. "I'll believe that when I see it. Really kid, what's your deal? In all my years I've never heard of someone hanging around here willingly. What's the catch?"

Alcina growls and you slide your hands around one of her fists clenched in her lap. You can just barely hear her breath hitch in her chest before she looks down at you. The anger in her eyes softens and you give her a small smile.

Looking back at Heisenberg, he has the biggest shit-eating grin on his face.

"Holy shit, I never thought I'd see the day. Someone finally tamed the beast and lived to tell the tale." Alcina rolls her eyes at him. "Now I really gotta know where the hell you came from."

"I grew up here in the village." You say. "She basically rescued me. My aunt and uncle kept me as their maid and had me raise their five children. Then I met her and she brought me here." Looking up at Alcina you see her looking down at you. A smile pulls at the corner of her lips and you can see the adoration in her eyes.

"Yeah, sure." He says and earns another eye roll from Alcina. "You were gonna stick her straight into a barrel after you had your fun with her, weren't you?" Alcina snaps her heard towards him and growls again.

That's the third time he's mentioned that and you have no idea what he's talking about. The confusion on your face must be obvious because he starts laughing again and looks at Alcina.

"She doesn't know, does she?" Alcina tenses up again and gives him a death stare. "Kid, do you know what goes on in the dungeon down there?"

"Heisenberg." She hisses.

"A little." You look between the two of them. Alcina is glaring at him, if looks could kill he'd be dead where he sat. Heisenberg still has a shit-eating grin on his face as he stares back at Alcina.

"Were you ever told why maids suddenly disappear?" His eyes don't leave Alcina who growls at him as a warning.

"I know Miranda experiments on them-"

"Did she ever tell you where the blood wine comes from?"

"I-"

"You are walking into very dangerous territory, brother."

"Did my dear sister ever inform you that she sacrifices her maids and turns them into the wine-"

"ENOUGH." Alcina roars. "That is enough Heisenberg."

"What?! She deserves to know if you were planning on making her next seasons newest-"

"I SAID ENOUGH." She yells, standing up to her full height.

Your mind starts to spiral as they argue. Why didn't she ever tell you that's what she does with her maids? That there was more to their disappearances than just Mother Miranda experimenting on them? Was that her original plan with you? To buy you and turn you into wine? Did she actually care for you in the beginning or was it just to butter you up before she killed you? Everything that happened in the first few weeks of your arrival is suddenly brought into questioning.

Panic starts to wash over you and the walls begin to feel like they're closing in. You try to breathe but your lungs feel constricted. You need to get out of this room, now.

Jumping to your feet you run past Alcina and Heisenberg and out of the room. The girls are just coming down the stairs when they see you run out the front door.

"Damn you, Karl!" Alcina yells before chasing after you.

Once you get outside you bend over and rest your hands on your knees and try to breathe. Your breaths are short and fast and you can't seem to slow it down.

Alcina's footsteps rapidly approach you and you stand up only to realize your hands are trembling and tears are rolling down your cheeks. Before you know it, she's kneeling next to you and rests her hand against your back.

"Shh, draga, breathe with me, okay? Deep breath in."

You try but you can't seem to get the air to fill your lungs.

"I can't." You say.

"Yes you can. Do it with me, easy, breathe in," you manage to take a bit of a deeper breath in. "and out. Good, just like that."

Alcina walks you through a few more breathing exercises and your panic begins to fade. You grab onto her dress and bury your face into her as your tears keep falling. She wraps her arms around you and holds you tight.

"I'm so sorry, draga."

"Why didn't you tell me?" You cry into her.

"I wanted to, I was going to, I promise I was."

"Why didn't you tell me the other day?"

"I was too afraid of overwhelming you. I had told you so much and it was already so much for you to process, I didn't want to add to that. I'm sorry, I should have been the one to tell you, not him."

"Was that your plan, after you brought me here? To just kill me and use my blood for your wine?" You pull back and look into her eyes and see guilt. "That's what you were going to do, wasn't it?" Alcina closes her eyes and a tear runs down her cheek. "Tell me the truth, please Alcina."

Golden eyes meet yours and fill with tears.

"I considered it. I would be lying if I said I didn't. But I promise that was not why I brought you here."

"Then why did you bring me here?"

"Draga, I've already told you-"

"Tell me again, please. I need the whole truth."

Alcina sighs and wipes the tears from your cheeks.

"I brought you here because you deserved better. Because they didn't appreciate you there. Because you are so much more than just a caretaker and a housekeeper. You are so beautiful and thought so low of yourself and I couldn't accept that. At least if you were with me, you would be appreciated the correct way. And I know I've failed at that more than once and I still haven't been able to forgive myself. But you deserved so much better and you were even more wonderful than I ever could have imagined, draga. I never expected to fall in love with you, I just hoped that you would live out your days here and be happy. I never thought you would find your happiness in me. And the only reason I ever considered doing that to you was in case I was wrong about you and you ended up being just another rude, ungrateful girl. But after those first few days, especially when my daughters were bothering you in the library, I knew that wasn't who you were. You were so kind to them, you treated them so well even though they made your job more difficult. I knew I was right about you, but I didn't realize just how incredible you were, draga. I am so sorry."

Alcina wraps her arms around you and holds you close to her. You wrap your arms around her neck and bury your face into her.

"How much more is there that I don't know?"

"Not much, but there are some things."

"Can you tell me?"

"I will my love, I promise. Can we get through this meeting with Miranda first? After that I'll tell you everything you want to know."

"Okay. Deal."

You pull away a little and look into her eyes. After you wipe the tear stains from her cheeks she rests her hand on your face and brings you into a deep kiss.

"Te iubesc, draga mea."

"I love you too, Alcina."

You and Alcina sit there for a minute as you soak in being with each other. The anxiety completely fades into the comfort she's brought you and you can feel like you can breathe normally again.

When the two of you part she stands up and dusts off her dress.

"Did you not want him to know about us?" You ask her.

"I was hoping you would never have to meet him because he is the most insufferable creature I've ever come to know. But he loathes Miranda and that alone makes him trustworthy. But since he was able to figure it out, I'm not concerned."

A loud crash comes from inside the castle and Alcina growls as she brings her fingers to the bridge of her nose.

"I don't even want to know what they are getting up to in here." She grumbles. "Come, draga. We should get back inside."

As soon as the door closes behind the two of you, you see something shiny fly through the air in your direction. Alcina quickly steps in front of you and she lets out a loud hiss and the room goes silent. When you walk out from behind Alcina, you see a large steak knife lodged deep into her leg. You freeze in horror for a moment before watching Alcina yank it out and turn her head towards you.

"I'm fine draga, there's no need to worry."

Blood pours from her leg for a few seconds before it stops and in that moment you remember her regeneration abilities and let out a breath.

"What did I tell you, especially you, girls, about throwing sharp objects in my castle?!" She yells. "If this were to hit one of my staff, or her," she says, gesturing to you. "you would wish the Black God itself would come and punish you because the wrath I would unleash-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we get it." Karl says, interrupting her. "Big scary claws, our parts would have to grow us back, we've heard it all before bigfoot, don't get your panties in a twist."

"That almost hit her!"

"I wasn't aiming for her!"

"Then what were you-" She turns around and sees a picture of her taped to the door with knife marks in it.

With a growl Alcina chucks the knife at Karl and it stops right before the tip pierces his chest. He looks down at it in shock for a second before it clatters to the ground.

"Sorry mother." The girls say in unison.

"Can we please get to business now that you've effectively ruined one of my good dresses?" She says.

"Yeah, sure." He says with a shrug.

The six of you head into a larger sitting room and Alcina goes to change. She comes back in a long black dress and pulls you into her lap after she sits on the couch next to you.

"No more trouble in paradise?" Karl says with a smirk.

You roll your eyes at him and Alcina looks down at you with pride before kissing you on the cheek.

"Before we begin, draga, I would like to formally introduce you to Karl Heisenberg, my idiot younger brother and another one of the four lords of the village."

He tips his hat at you and leans back in his chair, crossing one leg so his ankle is resting on top of his knee. He lights up a cigar and blows the smoke up into the air.

"Bela, my book please." Alcina says.

Bela walks over and hands her mother a leather-bound book and a pen. Alcina places them in your lap and kisses you on the head.

"Draga, will you please take notes? It'll be good practice for the meeting, although I fear she won't actually have you take notes-"

"Why the hell is she going to be taking notes at the meeting?" He asks.

"Mother Miranda insisted on it."

"Oh fuck, she knows about her, knows about her?"

"Yes."

"Alcina-"

"I know."

"Fuckin' bird bitch. Do you know what she wants with her?"

"No." She says with a sigh before pulling your head into her chest and kissing the top of it.

"How the hell did Miranda find out?"

Alcina tells him what happened when Mother Miranda arrived and what transpired when you met. When she's finished, Karl smokes his cigar with a pensive look on his face.

"Well, that sucks."

"I will say the same thing to you that I said to Donna. If Mother Miranda does anything, I will stop at nothing to protect her." Her grip around you tightens and you rest your head on her chest to try and calm her.

"And what did Donna say?"

"That her allegiance is with me."

"And Sal?"

"He doesn't know about her. And I don't trust him. He will do anything to be in Mother Miranda's good graces, even if it means going against us."

"No fuckin' shit. At least we don't have to worry about him all that much. He's pretty useless as it is."

Alcina shrugs and runs her fingers through your hair.

"So how do we go about killing the bitch?" He asks with a grin.

"We don't. Karl you know she's too powerful. There is nothing we can do, not yet."

"Well if she wants her we could-"

"I will not be using her as a decoy or pawn in whatever moronic plan you have in that grease-filled head of yours."

"But-"

"No." She says with a growl.

"Fine, fuckin' bitch." He mumbles. "Lets get this over with."

You begin to take notes as Alcina and Karl talk about the hunters his lycans have encountered. He says that they found thirteen of them and his group of seven lycans were able to kill about ten of them. Three of the hunters managed to get away and four of his lycans were killed in the fight. The lycans that were left were beat up enough to not be able to follow where the three went so they retreated back to the factory.

"Then yesterday, they came across another six hunters. All wearing the same symbol as the last group." He pulls out a pendant from his pocket and hands it to Alcina who examines it. "Luckily I sent nine lycans out so none of the hunters managed to get away and all of my lycans came back this time."

"Any prisoners?" She asks.

"Nope."

"Ugh." She groans, rolling her eyes. "How many times do we have to have this conversation-"

"Chill out sasquatch, they tried. One guy was left and my lycans tried to drag him back as prisoner but the guy put a bullet in his head before they were able to get any useful information out of him."

"Well, that's new."

"Yeah, they were pretty surprised."

"So in a week there have been nearly twenty hunters? And three escaped?"

"Yup."

"I don't like this."

"And they were armed to hell too. Massive guns, tons of ammo, they aren't fuckin' around."

"Military grade?"

"You know it."

"I really don't like this. Have you expanded coverage near Donna and Salvatore?"

"Yup, found a few rogue hunters that didn't seem affiliated with these guys and only two that were by each property. But they weren't as close as they are to you."

"How close were they able to get?"

"About four miles out."

"The closest anyone has come in decades has been two miles."

"And I'll do my best to keep it that way. But from the looks of it, they're scouting. No hints of an invasion yet but I think they're planning."

"Do we know where their base is?"

"Haven't located it. Next time my guys find a group of them they're gonna stalk them back to the base."

"Good."

"So what do you wanna do, sis?"

"I need more patrols throughout the entire territory. If they're calculated they may try and strike from multiple angles. Also more guarding Donna and Salvatore's homes as well."

"I can't stretch them too thin, you know how much ground there is to cover for the castles territory alone?"

"I am aware-"

"Oh mom, can we go with Uncle Karl and patrol?!" Cassandra asks.

"Oh yeah! We haven't hunted hunters in so long!" Daniela says.

"Absolutely not."

"But-"

"No. It is too dangerous. You three are not going anywhere near this until we know what we're up against. My word is final."

"I could use the extra-"

Alcina growls at him and he shuts his mouth.

"Once this meeting is over with, and if things here return to normal, I will go out one night and cover some ground and see what I can find."

"Sounds good to me."

"Our priority should be finding their base and taking at least one prisoner alive to question them."

"Glad we can agree on something."

"Anything else?"

"Yeah, I'm fuckin' starving! When's lunch?"

Alcina rolls her eyes and looks down at you as you finish up your notes.

"May I?" She asks.

You hand her the notebook and she flips through the notes you've taken. When she gets to the last page she nods with approval.

"How are they?"

"Very impressive, draga. I think you're more than prepared for the meeting, in terms of note taking at least."

"I don't think she'll be takin' many notes there, sis." Karl says.

It throws you off a little when you realize his tone isn't antagonizing like it's been since he walked in. You can feel Alcina deflate a little under you at his words and she holds you tight.

"Hey," you say, looking up at her. Her golden irises meet yours and you stare into them while you cup her face. "everything is going to be fine. Whatever happens, we'll figure it out, okay?"

Alcina nods and rests her forehead against yours as she closes her eyes. Her hand cups your cheek and she brushes her thumb against your skin.

Karl watches as Alcina melts into you. Sure, he's met his sisters other paramours, not that any of them had lasted very long - but right away he could tell this was different. Never in his long life has he seen Alcina act like this with someone. She's always been possessive of her partners but when she ran out after you, well that was new. Now this, watching as you, a tiny human, comforts her, he can barely believe it and it's happening right in front of him.

The lunch bell rings and you and Alcina are pulled from your moment. She sits up straight and adjusts herself, you notice a slight blush forming under her makeup. That and the way Karl is staring at the two of you, this must be new territory for the both of them.

You hop off of her lap and follow the girls into the dining room while Alcina and Karl follow behind.

Everyone takes their seat and Karl goes to put his feet up on the table. Alcina growls at him and he stops halfway through the motion.

"It's truly amazing that you've lived as long as you have without learning any manners." She murmurs.

"Sorry not all of us grew up as stuck-up nobility with etiquette classes and maids to wipe our asses for us. Fuckin' bitch."

"Must you use that language in my house?"

"Can't you mind your own fuckin' business?!"

"Child."

"Bitch."

The girls begin giggling and Alcina glances over at them and only gives them a little bit of a look. Karl diverts his attention to you and he has a mischievous smile on his face.

"So, kid, what in the hell made you attracted to bigfoot over there anyway? You got a size kink or something?"

"KARL." Alcina yells as the girls bust into laughter.

"Come on, I gotta know. I mean, it's gotta be her size, right? There's no way anyone can be attracted to her personality, unless 'massive fucking bitch' is the kind of trait you look for in women." You look between Alcina - who's fuming - and Karl who has that shit-eating grin back on his face.

"Don't dignify him with an answer, draga."

"Oh thank the Black God, I thought you were dyin' Alci. Actin' all sweet back there. But there's the controlling bitch I hate. Glad to see you're back to normal. Do you always let her control you like that?" He asks you.

You know he's just trying to get a rise out of Alcina so you just shrug your shoulders at him and continue eating.

"You really got this one whipped. I should make you a fuckin' collar that says 'Property of the Big Bitch.'"

"But what will your little lycans wear then?" You say.

Alcina looks at you surprised, but pleased. Karl's mouth hangs open for a moment before he laughs out loud.

"She speaks! I thought she was a fuckin' mute."

"I'm not but I wish you were." You quip.

The girls break out into hysterics again and Alcina hides her chuckle behind her wine glass. Karl laughs again and nods his head in approval before devouring everything on his plate.

The rest of lunch went well. Aside from Alcina getting so mad at Karl she threw a chair across the room and threatened him with her claws a few times. You and Karl got into a rhythm of throwing digs at each other and he and the girls told stories of all of the trouble they've gotten into over the years.

When lunch was over you and the girls said your goodbyes to Karl and you helped clear the table. The girls flew away to go play with the new weapons he gave them and Cassandra managed to convince him to make you a dagger.

Alcina escorted Karl to the front door, not trusting him to wander off to find the girls and throw more sharp objects around the castle.

"So, she really did tame the beast, huh?" He says with only a hit of antagonization.

Alcina rolls her eyes at him and he laughs.

"She seems like a good kid."

"She's wonderful."

"Nervous about the meeting with Miranda?"

Alcina sighs.

"Nervous doesn't begin to cover it."

"Donna said she has your back, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, then I got the kids back."

Alcina stops and stares down at him. They've hated each others guts since the moment Karl was given the cadou and really only got along for Miranda's sake and because both of them hate her more than they hate each other. But over the last couple of decades their mutual hatred for Miranda caused them to have more of a older/younger sibling relationship and the hate between the two of them faded. Not all the way, but more than either of them ever would have thought possible.

"Thank you." Alcina says.

"This doesn't mean we're fucking buddies or anything. But I know if anything happens to that kid, you're gonna be a fucking mess. And we need you to keep your shit together because we need you to take down Miranda." He looks up at her and she nods at him. "Plus, I like her and I know Miranda wants her for something and whatever it is, it ain't gonna be good."

"Thank you, Karl."

"Yeah, yeah. You owe me for this."

"Invoice me." She says as she walks away.

Alcina finds you in the sitting room again, now decorated with the crater in the wall from Karl's body, as you continue your book.

"There you are." She says with a smile.

"Here I am!"

Alcina plucks the book from your hand and puts it down on the table next to you. Before you can protest she lifts you into her arms and pulls you in for a tight hug. You wrap your arms around her neck and she sits down on the couch.

"You okay?" You ask.

"Yes, I just needed you close."

You nuzzle into her neck and she hums in response.

"So he was interesting." You say.

"He certainly is something. He didn't lay a finger on you, did he?"

"No, each time he went to touch my face you stopped him. I think he was doing it just to piss you off, honestly."

"I don't doubt that for a moment. He's such a child."

"Does he control metal or something?"

"Yes, he controls the magnetic fields therefore able to control all metals."

"That explains a lot."

"You mean why knives were being throws across my foyer? Yes. It certainly does."

"That scared me. I forgot you have that healing power for a minute and watching you pull that knife out of your leg almost made my heart stop."

"It's nothing to fret over, draga. It'll take much more than your average kitchen knife to do any real damage to me."

"Good." You say as you nuzzle into her again.

"I'm sorry for not being completely honest with you. I know we agreed to rebuild our relationship on trust and honestly, but I was so worried that all of that new information would be too much for you to handle all at once. I know I'm on thin ice, I hope I didn't lose your trust again."

"I do wish you told me, but I understand why you didn't. And I think you're right, I think it would have been too much for me to process all at once. I wish I learned it from you and not him, but that's not your fault. I still trust you Alcina. You aren't on as thin of ice as you think you are."

"I deserve to be."

"You've done so much to regain my trust." You say as you sit up and look her in the eyes. "You've been listening to me, taking things slow, being honest. You've apologized more times than I can count. You don't deserve to be on thin ice. I forgive you, Alcina."

"I don't deserve your forgiveness."

She looks away from you and you bring your hands to her face and guide her back to look into your eyes.

"Hey, stop that. Yes you do."

"I don't understand how you can forgive me after I've committed such atrocities."

"Because I love you. And because I understand why you did what you did. I think you definitely went about it the wrong way, but I get it. Even after everything you did, after learning about the other sides of you, I still love you. And if none of that deterred me from loving you, I don't think anything will. You have to forgive yourself, Alcina."

"I don't know if I can." She says, looking down.

You bring your hand under her chin and bring her gaze back up to yours.

"Yes you can. You just have to allow yourself to do it. At least try, for me?"

"I'll try for you, iubirea mea."

Her lips meet yours and she pulls you in for a soft kiss. She kisses you a few more times and with each kiss her smile grows wider until she's peppering your face with chaste kisses. You start laughing as she turns to pin you down onto the couch and continues to leave lipstick marks all over your face and neck. By the time she releases you from her grasp you're covered in her crimson lipstick and the both of you are sporting wide smiles.

"Oh dear, it looks like I may have made a bit of a mess out of your face." She says with a laugh.

"I can only imagine, there's isn't an inch of my skin that isn't covered in your lipstick is there?"

She takes your chin between her thumb and forefinger and examines your face before placing another big kiss on your jaw.

"Now there isn't." She laughs. "Come draga, lets get you cleaned up."

[gastronomasonoma]

The Spot where Sausage is Supreme and Charcuterie is above all the rest. Among the best places to eat at the historic plaza in the town of Sonoma is The Sausage Emporium. Few people know the real details about sausage and “cold cuts” as owner Miranda Ives does.

She also knows how to pair beverages with the right combination of sausage and meat. This reporter had the opportunity to chat briefly with Ives while enjoying a favorite of mine from the regular menu.

The Vietnamese Banh Mi, made with The Sausage Emporium’s own pork sausage, paté, house pickled carrots, cucumber, cilantro, fresh mint, jalapeño and sriracha creme is yummy. What surprised me was the fresh baked bread-roll (actually it’s a short baguette) it was served in. The aroma alone made for an exceptional culinary experience as that baguette was soft yet slightly crisp and warm. The reviews and ratings for the Sausage Emporium are high and raves.

The harmony of hot, spicy and subtle tangy flavors was very satisfying. The other aspect to The Sausage Emporium I noticed is that there’s a variety of sausages and meats that can gratify just about any palate.

Being in Wine Country, Ives knows her stuff and can prepare a dish that will do more than impress; it takes the taste buds to new levels of experience. Being able to pair a particular wine with a food is a talent and I think it’s crucial.

For example, there are many wonderful wineries and wine-makers in the Sonoma Valley that are eager to have their wine served at a restaurant. Yet in efforts to sell wine and promote it, few tasting rooms take the time to really pair food with what they want to sell.

A really fine Cabernet Savignon like the one I had at the Zina Lounge at the Ledson Hotel, a glass of something sparkling at SIGH, or a Petite Syrah such as the one offered at St. Francis upvalley in Kenwood needs to have something exceptional to go along with it.

Ordinary grocery store cold-cuts truly don’t do a fine wine justice. I’m sorry to say that some of the tasting rooms at the plaza and elsewhere don’t understand this fact. A Sonoma or Napa Valley wine that can truly rival that of any in Europe must have a good food pairing to highlight its own flavor and regional characteristics.

Certainly Sonoma and Napa area can make fine cheeses but quality meat, specifically a sausage or local bologna? Hmm! Here’s where Ives and her staff can help. Charcuterie board servings are popular and The Sausage Emporium makes them.

Not many people know this but to make real bologna or mortadella, prosciutto, etc. is a “slow-food” art. Oscar Meyer or Hormel and others does only the mass produced type; of which Americans are used to.

Pepperoni for instance is essentially an American version of salami, something close to what Italians might call ‘salame piccante.’

As Ives knows, it’s a generic term that means “spicy salami.” It’s made from beef and cured pork mixed together and then seasoned with a blend that usually includes paprika, garlic, black pepper, crushed red pepper, cayenne pepper, mustard seed, and fennel seed.

Ives of course has her own recipe. Still, just about every pepperoni producer uses a different mix and ratio of ingredients, but paprika is always present. The paprika is the ingredient that give pepperoni its color. And most likely according to food historians, perhaps paprika had something to do with the name “pepperoni.”

Only someone like Ives would know that and provide a customer a more discerning understanding of what really good pepperoni is.

For foodies it’s also important to know that The Emporium’s ability to pair food with beverages doesn’t stop at wine and beer. Sausage Emporium serves delicious coffee and is even promoting its own holiday blend just for the winter season called “BeanWrks.”

The Sausage Emporium is Women-owned and operated, with an unpretentious, casual dining area in a memorable and friendly atmosphere, serving breakfast and lunch, along with as mentioned charcuteries, retail sausages, salumi, local wine, champagne, craft beer, and cider.

Open Wednesday through Sunday The Sausage Emporium begins serving breakfast at 8:30 AM and closes after lunch at 3:00 PM. Weekends- Saturday & Sunday doors open at 8:00 AM and close at 4:00 PM. See The Sausage Emporium for website details.

[thealmightyemprex]

Julien is a dragon who caught the eyes of the high priest  Rafael and his wife Zina,the richest and third most powerful dragoness in Nukpana (Behind the goddess Kara and the queen Ilana),both of whoom proceeded to court and seducethe dragon .Julian enjoyed the affection of the pair but only agreed to wed them on the condition that his sister be spared from the lotterry (The system where dragoness followers of Kara are chosen and fed to the goddess ) on which they agreed. Julien is considered very beautiful and is aware of it ,he lazes about in luxuary ,eating fine food ,and enjoying the affection of Rafael , Zina,and Rafael's bodyguard/loverRomolo (While he most often spends his time with Zina,Julien admit's Romolo is the one he loves the most ).He is friends with Sieanna and absolutely LOATHES Lilianna

[aftaabmagazine]

Summer 2002 Road Trip: Kabul-Kandahar-Herat

Photos and imagery by Fariba Nawa From the June 2004 issue of Afghan Magazine | Lemar-Aftaab

[caption: Tile work at the Gazargah shrine, Herat province.]

I traveled through Afghanistan in the fall of 2000 during the Taliban era and then returned in 2002 and 2003 to report for various publications and radio programs. These pictures are from the summer of 2002, when I took a cross-country road trip from Kabul, through Kandahar, and then to Herat, my hometown. This was before any roads were repaired, and during a time when many Afghans were still hopeful for change.

As a child, I lived in Kandahar, Helmand, and Herat. Now with American and European journalists as my travel mates, I traced back memories from my childhood, visiting sites like the Helmand River and the Gazergah shrine. I went to schools, shrines, bazaars, and private homes, talking to Afghans from every background and age to gauge the mood of the country.

We took a taxi on the road from Kandahar to Herat. It was a nine-hour ride through a dangerous zone where three people had been killed three days before. Our driver was easy-going, almost fearless, speeding at 90 mph on the cracked roads. We stopped for lunch at a roadside restaurant, and then our driver lit up his usual after-lunch joint. He smoked it as he drove.

My Spanish companion and I were not happy with his dessert. But our German photographer seemed amused. She was sitting in the front and taking photos of him.

"I can drive blindfolded through these roads," he told us with confidence.

Meanwhile, a group of turbaned men with Kalashnikovs jumped out from behind the small hills motioning us to stop with their guns. Our heartbeats accelerated as our car slowed to a stop. I had heard stories of road lootings, but this would be worse. We were all women and foreign women with a lot of cash on hand. We told the driver to keep going. He didn't listen. I somehow felt responsible for these women because I was the Afghan. A thousand things went through my mind. Will they rape us, kills us, and take our money? I clutched onto the door handle as one of the men stuck his head in the window and asked the driver for something in Pashtu.

I can barely understand Pashtu, but I could tell it was about money. We sat motionless, hoping the driver could rescue us. The driver handed the man a 40,000 afghani note, $1 then, said goodbye and drove off. The women looked dumbfounded. I asked the driver what had happened.

"They were just collecting toll. This is how people in this area make their money."

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.

Join me on this journey.

Kabul

[caption: This is a co-education school in the Kabul neighborhood of Wazir Akbar Khan, which is one of the few areas in the capital left unscathed by war, although it suffers from years of neglect.]

[caption: A young girl gazes at the chalkboard absorbing the day's lessons.]

Kandahar

[caption: A view of the old city in Kandahar. Most Afghan cities and large towns are divided between old and new sections.]

[caption: Children at the Kandahar bazaar. It is common to see small children out alone, running errands for their parents, and taking care of younger siblings.]

[caption: This bird seller at the Kandahar bazaar sells most of his birds to vendors who make them fight against each other, similar to cockfighting.]

[caption: A young office assistant at the World Food Program. During her downtime, she uses the computer to draw portraits. She wants to be an artist.]

[caption: A 100-year-old Pashtu manuscript brought to the office of Culture and Information for preservation.]

[caption: Located near the old city of Kandahar, the Chihil Zina (Forty Steps) were built in the 16th century by Babur Shah, founder of the Moghul Empire. Inside the cave at the top of the steps, letters carved into the stone pay tribute to Babur Shah. This is one of Kandahar's most treasured historic sites.]

Kandahar to Herat

[caption: The bombed-out road from Kandahar to Herat. Drivers speed at 90 mph diving off the path to avoid destroyed bridges and then climbing back up. The drive takes nine hours to reach Herat city after passing three other provinces.]

[caption: Nasir, the driver for the Chicago Tribune, changes his seventh tire on the Tunis van. It took us about 17 hours from Kabul to Kandahar on the old, destroyed road. Now that the road has been rebuilt, the trip takes only five hours.]

[caption: Deserted Soviet army barracks. The fields are littered with mines en route to Herat.]

[caption: A taxi driver takes three women journalists, including me, from Kandahar to Herat. He rolls his joint and smokes his daily after-lunch hashish as he drives. "I can drive on this road with my eyes closed. Don't worry," he tells the frightened women.]

[caption: Camels are still common in rural Afghanistan. Nomads use them for transportation.]

Herat: Historic Sites 

[caption: Around the majestic Friday Mosque in Herat City, men make colorful crafts including handmade silk shawls. This shawl reads "Herat 2002."]

[caption: One of the minarets built in Herat's cultural renaissance in the 15th century during Timurid rule. They encircle the Gowharshad shrine and school, another landmark from the same era.]

[caption: The Friday Mosque (Masjid-e Jami) is a sanctuary for Sufis and vagabonds. It is one of the cleanest public places in the city with gleaming handmade tiles and marble floors. It is among the finest Islamic buildings in the world. The structure is built on the platform of a Fire Temple dating back to the Zoroastrian period.]

[caption: The Friday Mosque's main entrance. The mosque is decorated with beautiful Timurid tilework and calligraphy.]

[caption: Another view of the Friday Mosque.]

[caption: A malang (Sufi wanderer) in a trance at the Friday Mosque.]

[caption: Near the Friday Mosque are homes from a century ago. The architecture is common to the Islamic world with high ceilings, arches, and fountains in the courtyard. These homes are not being restored. Instead, Afghans are building boxy, whitewashed, modern-style houses modeled after those in Iran.]

[caption: This was once an indoor pool in one of the old houses.]

[caption: The family who lives in this house has been here for generations. But they are not sentimental about the fact that they have no running water or electricity.]

[caption: The view of the Friday Mosque from the roof of the old house.]

Herat: Crafts

[caption: In the corridors of the Friday mosque, workers bake and color tiles that will be used for the facades of other buildings in the city.]

[caption: A tile maker designs tiles.]

[caption: A finished tile looks something like the flower on the left.]

[caption: The glassblower of Herat. He has been blowing blue glass, an authentic Herati craft, for 30 years in front of the Friday Mosque. His young sons aid him in the laborious work, as they endure smoke and 120-degree heat inside a clay hut. "The foreigners come to see how interesting what I do is and how beautiful the glass turns out, but if I could trade this for another job, I'd take it in a second," he says.]

[caption: The father and his sons are busy at work.]

[caption: Designing the glass is a skillful task.]

[caption: Journalist Angeles Espinosa from Spain's premier newspaper El Pais visits the antique shop where the handmade glass is sold.]

Herat: City

[caption: Riding in a horse wagon is a form of transportation in Herat.]

[caption: One of the many sparkling gardens rented out for private family parties on the outskirts of the city. Families gather here on Fridays to picnic and swim.]

[caption: Most homes in Herat have fruit trees and grapevines. Families pluck their dessert right from their yards.]

Herat: Education 

[caption: Students at the Fine Arts College at Herat University. The classes are segregated by gender, but men and women study at the same university.]

[caption: Roia Hamid, a 26-year-old recent graduate of the Fine Arts College at Herat University, draws the image of a woman behind bars. Tears drip down from the sky to her face. "This is how I felt when the Taliban ruled here," Hamid says.]

[caption: Hamid's paintings. She copied this from a book lying around in her house.]

[caption: One of the students displays his work in the classroom. The men and women of the Fine Arts College organized a gallery exhibit. Some pieces sold for more than $1,000. The students are influenced by many art schools, including the classical school of Behzad, the 15th century Herati artist who established a unique style of miniature painting, often referred to as the "Rafael of the East".]

[caption: Young girls in school in uniform. At their age, a burka is not necessary.]

[caption: Classrooms in high schools are so full that students have to sit outside for exams. This group of girls is taking a geography test.]

Herat: Country and Camps 

[caption: Ishaq Norzi, an Afghan who lives in Iran, visits his family land in Ghorian, a village two hours from Herat city.]

[caption: A young woman in Ghorian village, one of the most devastated areas in the province. It's one of the drug trafficking routes to Iran and the men and women in Ghorian live on the drug trade. This woman is an opium addict living in a clay hut in the desert.]

[caption: A young girl at the internally displaced refugee camp of Maslakh carries bread on her head. Many of the camps inside the country are closing as people return to their homes, but Maslakh remains open for the most down and out refugees.]

[caption: A mother and infant stand in line to see the camp doctor. Camp residents suffer from cholera, malaria, diarrhea, typhoid, and many other diseases. Ailments in the West that are easily treated become a death sentence to many in Afghanistan who have limited access to health care.]

[caption: The camp bazaar. Refugees find innovative merchandise to sell from sweets to blankets.]

[caption: Goat heads or is it sheep?]

[caption: Young girls take care of their younger siblings as if they are the mothers.]

[caption: Some girls shy away from the camera; others own it with their smile.]

[caption: Maslakh's brightest smiles and its hope.]

Herat: Gazargah

[caption: It is an honor to be buried in the cemetery next to the Gazergah shrine, located 3 miles east of Herat city. The 15th century Timurid ruler Shah Rukh built the complex of buildings around the shrine.]

[caption: The Gazergah shrine of Khoja Abdullah Ansary, the renowned 11th-century Sufi poet. Afghans from every walk of life gather here to pray and give alms. The shrine and its surrounding cemetery, mosque, and garden belong to the Mir family, descendants of the poet.]

[caption: Centuries-old Persian calligraphy remains on the walls of the shrine.]

[caption: The gatekeepers of the shrine hid this statue of a lying dog from the Taliban. The architect who built the shrine represented himself as a dog to show his loyalty to the great poet, Ansary.]

[caption: Lavishly decorated tile work at the shrine.]

About Fariba Nawa فریبا نوا

Fariba Nawa, an award-winning Afghan-American journalist, covers a range of issues and specializes in women’s rights and conflict zones. She is based in Istanbul, Turkey and has traveled extensively to the Middle East, Central and South Asia. Visit Her Website

[orcinus-ocean]

Zina, Zoya, Gayka, Aleksandra, Tikhon, Lekha, Lekhi, Kirill

...are eight of the eleven killer whales currently in the holding site in Russia.

Now the rumor is that they’re in terrible condition, but as this is from rabid anti-caps who describe the place with highly anthropomorphic, inflammatory terms like “whale prison”, I don’t believe a single word out of their mouths without at least a second, non-biased source.

The young male Kirill has big patches of skin coming off, but it’s not exactly strange for a young whale to shed skin in big pieces, and if they’re living in a net cage, and perhaps aren’t yet tame enough to let humans rub the skin off, it would be hard for them to get skin off normally.

Both in Washington and Iceland, whales died in holding locations during the winter because of hard conditions.

The solution to this seems easy to me - send them to better facilities! Let good, well-staffed, comfortable aquariums in China take them in!

I don’t know what is going on with this situation bureaucratically, but it seems at least some were caught illegally, and lengthy bureaucratic processes like this, is what kills animals who need improved situations NOW.

Not that animal rights activists care about that (remember Pascuala, Wilma and Bob).

Fine, punish the people who caught them illegally, but don’t punish the animals!

When Nord, Orpheus and Grace were caught in 2013, they were in very poor conditions (because of the wild - they were like that when they were caught).

Thus, if captured in 2012 female Narnia was well-fed and had clean skin, all captured in 2013 animals looked exhausted and weakened, with fresh marks of multiple cutaneous lesions. Apparently, the above-mentioned difference could origin from weather characteristic in winter 2012–2013 (uncommon to this region cold winter and late ice melting) and, as a consequence, from limited food reserve for killer whales.

Even if these claims of the animals being sickly are true, it doesn’t mean it is because of their care or confinement.

Let them go to a better home, where they will have proper care, and not be at the mercy of the elements.

[crushersposts]

Music! The truth must be told even if it is bitter, Pls read and judge yourself

after this...

DON’T LISTEN TO MUSIC

Why did you say that?

Because music is HARAM!!!

Did you say Haram? Is it not a Makrooh?

No! Music falls under the category of haram.

Ok, fine.. What’s your proof?

In Surah Luqman Verse 6, Allah says:

" Among men are those who purchase idle talks to mislead men from

the path of Allah ".

The word lahwal hadith according to Ibn Mas`ood, the four Khalifas,

the eminent Sahabaah, the Tabi`een, the four Imaams and other

reliable Islamic scholars and authorities have agreed that it is

referred to as al-ghina or music.

In Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol 7, the book of drinks

no 5590 reported by Abu Malik Al-Ashari that…

`There will be people of my Ummah who will seek to make lawful;

fornication, wine-drinking and the use

of ma`aazif (musical instruments ).`

Seeking to make lawful means they are all unlawful.

So from the verse and the hadith, the four imams

unanimously agreed that music is haram.

But what is Haram about Music?

1) Singing and listening to music is haram

The Prophet said:

Istimahul malahi maa asiyatun – to listen is a major crime

Waljulusu alayha fisqun – to sit in a gathering of

music is an open violation to Allah

Wataladhuzu biya kufrun – to derive pleasure out of music is kafur

The Prophet blocked his ears while he was walking and heard music

playing.

2) Purchasing of male and female singers is haram

Ayesha RA narrates that the Prophet (S) said that

Almighty Allah has made unlawful the trade in

singing slave maids, their training and listening to their songs.

3) Purchase of instruments for fun and amusement.

Akramah RA said the Prophet (S) said that;

“Almighty Allah has raised me to destroy flute and the drum.”

But Music has benefits?

Yes it does, just as some says that there is benefit

in the drinking of alcohol so also is music. Some

says music is food for the soul without which

existence is impossible.

Music makes them feel loved, forget about their

problems, relaxes their mind, feel high etc.

But have you ever thought about the negative impact of music?

THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF MUSIC

1. Music takes you away from the remembrance of

Allah because Music and Qur’an can’t sit in the

heart at the same time.

2. A waste of precious time: Research proved that an average youth

spend at least five hours a day listening to music:

3. It is an audio pornography that makes you lose you moral senses

– use of vulgar, shameless and violent words.

4. Music leads to zina: as it arouses the sexual

desires. The Holy Prophet (S) said," Singing is a ladder to Adultery."

5. Music is a degradation to the status of women

Islam: Just look at the video clips.

6. Leads to hypocrisy and deprives you from the Rahmah of Allah -

Ibn Qayyin Al Jawziyya says that music in one’s heart makes one

move away from Allah’s Rahmah. Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (a.s.) said:

"Music is the nest of hypocrisy."

7. Takes away the imam like the fire takes away

the bush in the harmattan season.

8. Music is the primary cause for calamities in the dunia: jinn attacks,

earth quakes etc. Prophet said that when my Ummah will take fifteen

habits, calamities will befall them and among them is

music listening.

Sahl Bin Saad narrates that Holy Prophet (S) said,

"Submersion below the surface of the earth, raining of stones from

the sky and mutilation of figures shall come about in my ummat." The

companions asked, "O the Prophet of Allah when shall it happen?"

The Prophet (S) there upon said:" When

musical instruments shall be in abundance and there shall be a large

number of singing girls and shall be unlawful."

Ali RA said,"And music and songs give rise to

hypocrisy and is one of the ways leading towards

poverty and hunger.

9. It creates a temporal illusion of madness and

sometimes permanent madness because of the

tension in the brain. It is an intoxicant and one is

unaware of his immediate environment.

10. It create nervous breakdown and even stomach ulcers discovered

in France in 1957

11. It has led to lots of violence and deaths: The

daily ‘Kayhan’ (Tehran), No 6626, published a news of the Reuter

Agency: About 50,000 youths had gathered in Melbourne (Australia)

for a musical concert. The concert overwhelmed them so much that

they started assaulting each other with fists and knives. Many were

seriously injured; some

girls were molested.

12. Leads to Deafness: Experts says that prolonged exposure to a

noise level above 85 decibels will eventually result in a reduction of

hearing acuity in

the frequency range most important for understanding the human

speech. Dr. Charles Lebo, of the Pacific Medical Centre took

measuring

instruments into two San Francis co dance halls

where the cacophony from amplified instruments

caused sound intensity from 100 to 119 decibels in the low frequency

range.

13. Will be deprived of listening to the beautiful voice of Allah -

Prophet (S) said," Molten lead will be put in the ears of that person

who listens attentively to music and songs”.

14. Music has no barakah and it will never increase your Islamic

knowledge… all the songs in the world

couldn’t be compared to Alif, Laam, Meem in

barakah would not be equivalent to them.

CONCLUSION

I conclude by reminding you about our main purpose on this

Earth...Allah created us only to worship Him alone and to worship

Allah is to obey Him and abstain from what He forbids..

We all know music is difficult to leave but we just have to make the

sacrifice in order to please our Creator and Allah says: perhaps you

may like something but in reality it is bad for you..

verily the ear, and the eye and the heart, all

of them will be asked. The ear and what it listened to, the eye and

what it looked at and the heart and what it intended."

So If you claimed to be a muslim, then u need to obey Allah by stop

listening to music, it might be hard at first but with time you will get

over it..just pls be sinere with your repentance make a convent with

Allah not to do it again. How bad would have been our position if we

die with this habit.

Prophet says Allah will call those who forgo music for His sake and

give them Hur’ains to entertain them.

Respected brothers and sisters let's use this medium to end the fitnah

of music in our lives, let's Repent before Allah and ask His

forgiveness. May He forgive us, have mercy on us and accept our

repentance..Aameen

[gelasssoek]

Papaya kuch shahi andaz mein. Kuch Toh Hai Colors Tv Hindi Drama Serial Full Episodes HD Quality, We Try Our Best To Make Available All Latest Episodes, Kuch Toh Hai Voot Watch Online. Papaya is one of the well known healthy fruit and Raw papaya or green papaya considered as a very healthy vegetable. This is having many vitamins for our body specially for Skin. today i am presenting tasty and healthy Shahi Papaya Kofta recipe.

Papa bahut roye the maa ko is halat mein dekh ke. Unhone doctor par case bhi kiya aur court se hum jeet bhi gaye. See more of Dil Ka Ehsaas !!

Hello everybody, it is me again, Dan, welcome to our recipe site. Today, we're going to prepare a special dish, papaya kuch shahi andaz mein. It is one of my favorites food recipes. For mine, I will make it a little bit unique. This will be really delicious.

Kuch Toh Hai Colors Tv Hindi Drama Serial Full Episodes HD Quality, We Try Our Best To Make Available All Latest Episodes, Kuch Toh Hai Voot Watch Online. Papaya is one of the well known healthy fruit and Raw papaya or green papaya considered as a very healthy vegetable. This is having many vitamins for our body specially for Skin. today i am presenting tasty and healthy Shahi Papaya Kofta recipe.

Papaya kuch shahi andaz mein is one of the most favored of recent trending foods in the world. It's appreciated by millions daily. It is easy, it's fast, it tastes yummy. Papaya kuch shahi andaz mein is something which I have loved my entire life. They are nice and they look fantastic.

To get started with this recipe, we have to first prepare a few ingredients. You can cook papaya kuch shahi andaz mein using 25 ingredients and 9 steps. Here is how you cook that.

The ingredients needed to make Papaya kuch shahi andaz mein:

{Prepare of For Koftas.

{Get 1/2 cup of Raw Green Papaya peeled and grated.

{Make ready 100 gram of Paneer.

{Make ready 1 of Boiled Potato.

{Take 2 tbsp of Corn flour.

{Make ready 1/2 tsp of Salt.

{Prepare 1/4 tsp of Garam Masala.

{Make ready 1/4 tsp of Black Pepper powder.

{Prepare handful of Chopped Cashews and Raisins for stuffing.

{Get of For Gravy.

{Make ready 2 of Onion.

{Make ready 1 cup of Tomato puree.

{Get 1 tbsp of Cooking Oil.

{Make ready 2 tbsp of Cashew Paste.

{Prepare to taste of Salt.

{Take 1/2 tsp of Kashmiri lal Mirch( chilli) powder.

{Get 1/2 tsp of Haldi( turmeric) Powder.

{Make ready 1/4 tsp of Honey/Sugar.

{Make ready 1/2 tsp of Dhania ( corinader)Powder.

{Make ready 1/4 tsp of Garam Masala.

{Make ready 2 drops of Kewra essence.

{Prepare 1/4 tsp of Green Cardamom Powder.

{Prepare 3 tsp of Chopped fresh coriander leaves.

{Take 3 tsp of fresh cream for garnishing.

{Take 1/2 tsp of Kasoori methi.

Han Mere Jaisa Ishq Mein Pagal, Phir Mile Ya Na Mile Kal Sochna Kya Hath Ye Dede Mere Hath Mein. You may never find someone like me who is crazily in love. Ankh Uthi Mohabbat Ne Angdayi Li Dil Ka Sauda Hua Chandani Rat Mein Oh Teri Nazron Ne Kuch Aisa Jadoo Kiya Lut Gaye Hum Toh Pehli. "Jeetendra" Ko Iss Janwar Se Lgta Tha Darr, Badi Filmon Mein Kaam Karne Se Kiya Tha Inkar. Song - Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe Film - Dil Chahta Hai Singer - Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan, K K Lyricist - Javed Akhtar Music Director - Shanker, Ehsaan, Loy Artist. Результати для запиту Naye andaz mein.

Steps to make Papaya kuch shahi andaz mein:

Clean, peel and grate the papaya. Squeeze out its water.Mash the potatoes, paneer nicely and Add grated papaya to it..

Add salt and black pepper to it. Grease your clean palms and make lemon size balls, flatten them and stuff, chopped raisins and cashews in it..

Roll them again, keeping in mind, no cracks are formed. Else they might break in oil. Fry each of them on medium heat.

Gravy – Soak 5-6 cashews in little warm milk After 5 minutes, churn them in mixy to form a fine paste, keep aside..

Meanwhile, take a kadhai and add oil, finely chopped onion, ginger garlic paste and cook them on medium flame, till they turn pink..

Add in tomato puree, salt, kashmiri laal mirch, haldi powder, coriander powder, cook it till it leaves it side. Switch off the gas, cool the gravy.

When it is cooled down, put it in mixie jar and give it a nice churn. Pour it again in kadhai, add little water to it, make thick gravy consistency. After one boil, add in cashew paste, kasoori methi, kewra essence, honey, add one teaspoon cream to it. Switch off the gas.

While serving, warm your koftas in microwave and pour in hot gravy, on top of it. Garnish it with elaici, powder, garam masala powder, chopped coriander and few drops of cream.Serve it with your fav bread like lachha parantha or naan! Happy feasting!.

Notes: Clean the papaya, nicely and remove the white seeds and thin white layer from inside, before grating Koftas are very soft, so do not boil it in the gravy for too long..

Twenty memorable dialogues from the rib-tickling comedy Andaz Apna Apna, as we celebrate twenty years of its release. hadees speech of larka by qari haneef rabbani بہت یاد آتی ہے ماں رلا دینے والے اشعار Molana Nasir Madni Bohut Yaad aty hay maa Bazaron mein zina sare aam Songs included in this Jukebox are :-. Kuch Toh Hai: Naagin Ek Naye Rang Mein (There's Something: Female Serpent In A New Colour) is an Indian supernatural, fantasy, thriller television series produced by Balaji Telefilms. Watch popular Indian movies online with HD on YuppFlix.

So that is going to wrap this up for this special food papaya kuch shahi andaz mein recipe. Thanks so much for your time. I am confident you can make this at home. There is gonna be interesting food in home recipes coming up. Remember to bookmark this page in your browser, and share it to your loved ones, friends and colleague. Thank you for reading. Go on get cooking!

[moeninjagirls]

Walkthrough Season 8

✧ ٩( ‘ω’ )و //✧

Thanks to Dizzy for their help~

✧ Chapter 1 - Beyond the Light ✧

Total: 9 parts

Part 4 Move over a bit... 💙 closer to Ricka That jutsu you used... ❤️ closer to Akari How's the Empress doing?

Part 6 Is anybody hurt? Akari... Um... ❤️ closer to Akari We need to keep our guards up. 💙 closer to Ricka

Part 8 We should let Mr. Kuzuryu decide what to do with her. We can't leave her here. ❤️ closer to Akari Ricka, you remember what it was like being controlled, right? 💙 closer to Ricka

✧ Chapter 2 - Zina: Lab Princess ✧

Total: 11 parts

Part 1 Akari, did you know? ❤️ closer to Akari I had no idea that village had so many secrets... 💙 closer to Ricka How did you meet the Empress?

Part 9 I'm depending on you. ❤️ closer to Akari I'll protect everyone, too. 💙 closer to Ricka What should we do now?

Part 10 Good job today, everyone. ❤️ closer to Akari I'm really sleepy... 💙 closer to Ricka Cy, come over here.

CG

✧ Chapter 3 - Public Bath ✧

Total: 9 parts

Part 3 I'll come back to visit you. Akari, do we need to call your mom? ❤️ closer to Akari We need to use this time to train. 💙 closer to Ricka

Part 4 Let's get one of the old hag's games out. 💙 closer to Ricka What kind of games do girls like to play? ❤️ closer to Akari Let's play doctors and nurses!

Checkpoint Premium Story: [Food] Bottled Coffee Milk - 200 jewels Normal Story: [Food] Bottled Fruit Milk - 150 jewels or 2500 niney

Part 6 CG (premium or normal)

Part 9 Let's go back with our heads held high. 💙 closer to Ricka I'll show you around. ❤️ closer to Akari I'm gonna see my dad...

✧ Chapter 4 - Mountain Roads, Take Me Home ✧

Total: 9 parts

Part 1 We've still got a ways to go, but... ❤️ closer to Akari You nervous? 💙 closer to Ricka How're you holding up, hag?

Part 3 I suppose you'll enjoy it. ❤️ closer to Akari It's no different from other villages. 💙 closer to Ricka It's a boring village.

Part 5 What type of thing do you want to see? ❤️ closer to Akari Ricka, is there anywhere you want to go? 💙 closer to Ricka There isn't anything to see here.

Checkpoint Required Soul: 3500 Special chance: Pass the checkpoint within 24 hours and get Box x1

✧ Chapter 5 - Father-and-Son Moment ✧

Total: 8 parts

Part 4 I'm going to train under a waterfall to get stronger. ❤️ closer to Akari I'll find another ninja tool to use and train with it. 💙 closer to Ricka We'll honeypot the Tycoon.

Part 5 Akari...? ❤️ closer to Akari Ricka...? 💙 closer to Ricka Look away.

Checkpoint Premium Story: [Charm] Traditional Patterned Detailed Bookmark - 300 jewels Normal Story: [Charm] Traditional Patterned Bookmark - 200 jewels or 3000 niney

Part 6 CG (premium or normal)

Part 7 Now's the time to work together. ❤️ closer to Akari Hag, don't you have a master plan? 💙 closer to Ricka We have to play the hand we've been dealt.

✧ Chapter 6 - Bringing Down the Chocolate Factory ✧

Total: 8 parts

Part 2 Let me have some! 💙 closer to Ricka Let's take a break then... ❤️ closer to Akari We need to get moving.

Part 4 Akari's chest...! ❤️ closer to Akari Ricka's chest...! 💙 closer to Ricka We're gonna get caught!

Checkpoint Required Soul: 7000 Special chance: Pass the checkpoint within 24 hours and get Good EXP Juice x1

Part 6 It's all thanks to you, Akari. ❤️ closer to Akari You're the one who did it, Ricka. 💙 closer to Ricka Now we can focus on the antidote.

✧ Chapter 7 - Saving Private Lily ✧

Total: 9 parts

Part 3 Check Lily's injuries. ❤️ closer to Akari Ask Lily what happened. Check the perimeter. 💙 closer to Ricka

Part 7 Ricka, you've been before, right? 💙 closer to Ricka I wonder what Myu's village is like? ❤️ closer to Akari Will they welcome outsiders?

Checkpoint Premium Story: [Food] Big Croquette - 450 jewels Normal Story: [Food] Small Croquette - 350 jewels or 5500 niney

Part 8 CG (premium or normal)

Part 9 Why is Myu looking at me like that? I'm fine, really. ❤️ closer to Akari Ricka's acting completely normal. 💙 closer to Ricka

✧ Chapter 8 - Mother-and-Daughter Moment ✧

Total: 9 parts

Part 3 I guess it'd be okay...  I'm not even thinking about that stuff. ❤️ closer to Akari We'd never be able to keep you in the dark, Ricka. 💙 closer to Ricka

Checkpoint Required Soul: 14000 Special chance: Pass the checkpoint within 24 hours and get [Arm] Ricka’s Chakram x1

Part 7 I'm sorry for giving you the most dangerous job. ❤️ closer to Akari Does the scroll say anything else? Then all that's left will be Obnubi ninjas and the Tycoon. 💙 closer to Ricka

Part 8 We have to report back to Mr. Kuzuryu. I'm going to do everything I can. 💙 closer to Ricka I want to protect Akari's smile. ❤️ closer to Akari

✧ Chapter 9 - Let’s End This ✧

Total: 9 parts

Part 1 All hands on deck. Akari, we need you. ❤️ closer to Akari Ricka, it's up to you. 💙 closer to Ricka

Part 4 How is everyone doing? 💙 closer to Ricka We lost again... I should ask Akari how she is. ❤️ closer to Akari

Part 6 Wait and see. Sorry for worrying you. ❤️ closer to Akari I got the Kamuy back. 💙 closer to Ricka

Checkpoint Premium Story: [Arm] Cy's Gun Emiting Glow - 600 jewels Normal Story: [Arm] Cy's Gun - 500 jewels or 8500 niney

Part 8 CG (premium or normal)

✧ Chapter 10 - Young Master ✧

Total: 10 parts

Part 1 I grip the Kamuy. Cy sacrificed herself for us... ❤️ closer to Akari We don't have time to be depressed! 💙 closer to Ricka

Checkpoint Premium Story: [Arm] Big Torch - 650 jewels Normal Story: [Arm] Small Torch - 550 jewels or 12000 niney

Part 6 CG (premium or normal)

Part 7 What are you going to do next, Ricka? 💙 closer to Ricka Am I making the right decision? ❤️ closer to Akari ...So beautiful...

Part 9 A new body? Ricka, you should've told me! 💙 closer to Ricka She's your neighbor, Akari? ❤️ closer to Akari

✧ Akari Sweet Ending ✧

Total: 8 parts

Note: the choices in the ending don’t matter, you can choose whatever you want.

[...]

Checkpoint Required Soul: 22000 Special chance: Pass the checkpoint within 24 hours and get Better EXP Juice x1

✧ Ricka Sweet Ending ✧

Total: 8 parts

Note: the choices in the ending don’t matter, you can choose whatever you want.

[...]

Checkpoint Required Soul: 22000 Special chance: Pass the checkpoint within 24 hours and get Better EXP Juice x1

✧ Normal Ending ✧

Total: 8 parts

Note: the choices in the ending don’t matter, you can choose whatever you want.

[...]

Checkpoint Required Soul: 22000 Special chance: Pass the checkpoint within 24 hours and get Better EXP Juice x1

[farewell-persephone]

started feeding zina wet food in addition to dry food bc she hasn't been eating much and now she's eating the dry food more than she was before

whatever, fine. at least she's putting on a little weight

[recentanimenews]

How Heavy are the Dumbbells You Lift? – 07 – Meat on the Brain

With the gym closed, the girls decide to take Zina out for a welcome party. Hibiki recommends her brother’s yakiniku (BBQ) restaurant where she works part time. As they chow down, Machio and Satomi hover between them and us, explaining that while beef is a good source of protein for bodybuilders, the cut of meat and even its source determines how much you should eat.

When there’s a slowdown in work, Hibiki takes a load off and tucks into a multi-thousand-calorie meal. Zina believes this is Hibiki’s secret to, among other things, beating her at arm-wrestling: the same ability to consume huge amounts of muscle-building protein as a pro wrestler, only she enjoys doing so! Of course, it’s just Hibiki’s “cheat day,” but she won’t be able to slack off on the other days.

When the others ask why Hibiki has to work five days a week in addition to school and the gym, she says it’s to pay her monthly membership fees and for all the food she eats. Akemi informs her that thanks to her older sister, chairman of the board of their school, gym fees and other training-related expenses are covered by the school! That said, Hibiki still needs to pay for her own food.

While sitting in class and half-paying attention, Zina notices that Satomi has a beauty mark beneath her eye that she’s sure she’s seen before. Sure enough, a quick check of her phone confirms that Satomi is “Yulia Riko”, cosplay sensation. When she tells Satomi that she knows, Satomi assumes Zina wants something in exchange for her silence, as, in Zina’s words, she’s “suspicious of altruism.”

So Zina comes up with a worthy payment: she gets to spend the day with Satomi/Yulia, including a one-on-one photoshoot and sightseeing tour. When Satomi complains of soreness after a nice workout, Zina introduces her to the concept of active rest, which actually helps you recover from fatigue faster than the passive kind (i.e. sitting on your bum and swilling beer). It’s all about aiding circulation of blood (and thus oxygen) throughout the body.

Their active rest for the day takes the form of a brisk but comfortable jog that isn’t overdoing it and enables them to carry on a conversation, all the way to Akihabara. When Satomi hilariously asks the tourist if she’s going there to buy electronics, Zina responds that due to her love of all things Japanese (and a few things that aren’t like Hong Kong and yoga), she’s determined to become an idol…and she’s taking Satomi and her new friends along for the ride.

The public idol audition they end up competing in is judged by a director voiced by Yoshino Hiroyuki (nice cameo!) who is tired of normal-looking girls with a normal level of talent performing normally. That is, until the bikini-clad “Muscle Girls” arrive on stage, riding on the shoulders their burlier fellow gym members. All of a sudden, things are a bit too abnormal for the director…with emphasis on the ab!

Rather than sing, Zina and Ayaka deliver an impressive sparring demonstration, while Hibiki does bench presses with Akemi spotting. Their final act is Satomi, hiding her face behind a kendo mask, performing a perfect deadlift, the toughest and riskiest of the three major barbell exercises.

Despite enthusiastic applause by the crowd, they fail to make the cut…partially because they didn’t sing anything, but also because they were just way too weird. Normal, the director concludes, is fine after all. Too bad; I would have loved to see these guys on tour!

By: sesameacrylic

[thestudyfeels]

Hey Tayyyyy

Hello zina!! How have you been doing, fam? :“) Haha I’m glad you like them, I like ranting on tags so yea ^-^ I’m doing good so far also omg finals are coming near save me jesus ;u;

Bones: Name one strength and one weakness.

Ahmh so strength is the fact that I have become a saint kid you not, and I have kinda reached a stage where no insult bothers me anymore (I see ya laughing zina, don’t do this) and weakness is that I’m a potato and I like being one HAHAHA

Soup: Comfort food?

Food. (Lmao why am I like this)

Typewriter: If you had to come up with ten words to describe your life story so far, what would they be?

Lol don’t I love this thing called life,,, so it could be - “had a horrible time before but now its lit woo” LMAO

If you want to see how embarrassing I am -> send me asks! :”)

[jeremystrele]

Alice Zaslavsky’s Gefilte Fish Fritters

Alice Zaslavsky’s Gefilte Fish Fritters

Food

Alice Zaslavsky

Gefilte Fish Fritters for one. Top Banner: Bottle Platter ($90.00) from Mud Australia. Apollo Tray, Blue ($52.00) from Jardan. Blue vintage glass from Establishment Studios. Bison Birgit Carafe, Blush ($49.95) from Make Designed Objects. Photo – Amelia Stanwix. Styling – Lucy Feagins. Styling Assistant – Ashley Simonetto.

Our effervescent ‘Tasty Jewsdays’ host will have you whipping up this delicious dish and talking-the-talk too! Photo – Amelia Stanwix. Styling – Lucy Feagins. Styling Assistant – Ashley Simonetto.

There’s no yiddishe* dish(e) that sparks more of a visceral reaction in gentiles than gefilte fish.

My Babushka* Zina always made her gefilte fish the old-school way; by boiling the shiitake out of it, and then crowning with a conciliatory mushy carrot. Slathered with chrain*, and wrapped in the glow of her naches* as she watched us devour it, this dish was unmissable every Passover.

Traditionally made with inexpensive and readily accessible white fish such as carp, some recipes also branch out into a pink-fish version (ie salmon), but most stick to the boiling bit pretty vehemently.

That’s why I’m expecting some broigus* with this rendition, because a gefilte ‘fritter’ is kinda cheating… but if there’s anything we’ve learnt from MasterChef Australia, it’s that everything tastes better fried.

Consider this the Gateway to Gefilte: all the flavour of bubba’s fish balls, with the satisfying crunch of fish cake!

Ingredients (serves 6-8)

700g firm-fleshed white fish (such as monkfish or cod) cubed 1 brown onion, roughly chopped 3/4 bunch chives, roughly chopped 1/2 cup fine matzah meal 1 tbsp vegetable/peanut oil (plus extra for frying) 2 eggs 1.5 tbsp sugar 2.5 tbsp salt flakes ½ tsp ground pepper Coarse matzah meal for crumbing

Method

Pop onion, chives, oil and eggs together in the food processor, blitz to a smooth puree. Add fish cubes and pulse until combined (pulsing helps keep the texture mildly chunky rather than soupy).

Combine fine matzah meal, sugar, salt and pepper together, then pop into the processor and pulse through the fish mix a couple of times.

Scoop your mix into a bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least half an hour (this can be done the morning of your fish fritter feast, but not the day before, because there’s little worse than second-day-seafood).

When ready to fry, heat some oil in a heavy-bottomed pan on low-medium heat.

Set up your station with a bowl of warm water (to keep your hands from getting too sticky) and your coarse matzah meal on a flat plate. Scoop two tablespoons of mix into your moistened hands, shape into a patty, then coat with matzah meal.

Fry on both sides until golden brown (around 2-3 minutes a side)

Allow to drain on paper towel, sprinkling some salt flakes on top.

Garnish with fresh horseradish (if you have any) or the jarred stuff – my favourite is the beet-horseradish for colour contrast.

Top tips

Actually, today’s tips are all about the Yiddish I’ve been peppering through this week’s Tasty Tuesday, because having a few of these classic words up your sleeve is as important to master as the recipes themselves.

Yiddishe: this is Yiddish for ‘Jewish’, and is usually used to affectionately to describe people and things – like the classic song popularised by the Barry Sisters, ‘My Yiddishe Momme’.

Dish(e): not a Yiddish word, but I figure that tacking on an “eh” to the end of any word (preferably with an upwards inflexion) is to writing, what adding schmaltz is to cooking.

Babushka/Bubba: Grandma.

Chrain: horseradish

Naches: Yiddish for the warm glow of pride you get from something, most likely from your children, or your children’s children, or your children’s children’s children. Thphu thphu thphu.

Broigus: Yiddish for ‘a bitter dispute’, according to Wikipedia. It usually involves family, and ends in somebody guilting somebody else into doing something they would otherwise not want to do (like put differences aside for Passover Seder… you could call it ‘applying a #gefilte’ for the night).

[lindseypitts0-blog]

A Guide To Choosing Freezer On The Web

Refrigerator have come a long way since perhaps enough time that your grandfather bought his original . From the large, bulky single door refrigerators of yester-years these cooling apparatus have evolved into swanky, multi-featured appliances of today that will fill you with amazement . Like every other type of technology, refrigerators also have changed in more ways than just one. They will have not just become better looking but additionally are being designed in a more user friendly way. Apart from this, they now provide options and features which were unthinkable previously and so offer a lot more aid in the kitchen. Check out http://riga.pilseta24.lv/zina?slug=hriznal-vai-verikal-kad-saldeav-izveleies-e4caf39460 website for effective information about fridge now.

Once you put out to pick a fridge for your self, you will find always a variety of concerns that you would have to bear at heart. You could be buying a refrigerator for the first time ever or you might be only replacing your older one. In any case, considerations of space, storage and size kind have to be made until you pick up the most important appliance of one's kitchen. The sort of ice box you select is essentially a life decision and is directly about the type of life you lead. For that reason you need to contemplate a little on your own own food customs before making a final decision. Your reasons to get your self a fresh refrigerator could be varied. It could be due to a change at how big your family or maybe because of big change in the storage layout. Here is a detailed record of everything you need to figure out before beginning to buy yourself a icebox. Budget A fridge is some thing which you purchase only once or twice in your whole lifetime. Consequently you ought to keep a little flexibility in your budget to get it and accept something which serves all of your purposes even in the event that you do have to fork out a little extra for it. Nonetheless, you have to have a very clear picture of one's budget as only that'll decide the category of ice box which finally reaches you. Size In other words, the size of your family. How big your refrigerator depends a good deal on the size of your family members. The greater the amount of individuals in your family the more expensive would be the level of food necessary to be refrigerated. So based on your finances, select a bigger fridge when you've got a large family. Ideally, for a small four member family, a basic, 180 Cooker fridge is just fine. You can also remember any future changes that are likely to happen in the size of one's family. Storage This could be definitely the most essential issue to be thought about before buying a icebox. The sort of food that goes to a ice box decides the size and the features it will have. As an example, yours could possibly be a tiny family with tight job hours and also busy schedule thus requiring to save massive amounts of half cooked food to get simple prep. Refrigerators have come a long way since perhaps the full time your grandfather bought his original one. From the large, bulky single door refrigerators of yester years these cooling apparatus have evolved in to swanky, multi featured appliances of today that'll fill you with aweinspiring. When you set out to decide on out a fridge for yourself, you will find a number of things that you would have to keep at heart. You can be buying a fridge for the very first time ever or you might be simply replacing your older one. In either instance, considerations of distance, size and storage kind have to be made until you pick up the most essential appliance of your kitchen. The type of ice box you choose is largely a lifestyle decision and is directly associated with the sort of life you lead. For that reason you have to think about a bit in your own food customs before making a final decision.

[terribletwos5]

It’s my best friends wedding and I have feelings which are beyond communicable. Some strange nostalgia, emotions of extreme joy overwhelming to tears. Our friendship goes back 23 years. Yes! Some friends are for all weathers and she’s one of them.

I have been assigned the task of organizing and planning the wedding with her family. Since I’m unmarried and she is one of the first ones in my close group of friends to get married; I’m new to this and boy I’m nervous! There’s a fine line between doing too much and little. Knowing her taste and choices- I know what I can give her but until I found Zank You, I didn’t know how to reach out to all these people.

Zank You is an international wedding portal operational in 23 countries and catering to all your needs including making your own website, finding the right caterer in a particular city, outfits, hotels and local florists. Brides/grooms can do this themselves too who don’t have much time on them and want to plan their wedding in another country. As the maid of honor, I have chosen a list of these vendors to complete and fulfill my friends dream.

https://www.zankyou.com/in

Outfit- No wedding is complete without what the bride should look like. After going through a multitude of designers and narrowing it down to what my friend really likes. I’ve shortlisted three- Rohit Bal, Anita Dongre & Shantanu & Nikhil. 

Rohit Bal- The maestro of bridal wear; the designer has been active since 1990 and has dressed all of India’s royalty to a common person alike. He emphasizes a lot on embroidery and royal heritage/ decadent clothing.  My picks for the bride are-

ANITA DONGRE-

The beauty and craft of design mixed with a true Indian dream. This lady has changed and brought back tradition in a way where everyone will either want to be a bride or know her.

Shantanu & Nikhil- The brothers are known for their drape elegance and silhouettes. great for evening wear and cocktails, these are my picks for the bride to own the night.

As a bridesmaid it is very important to not overpower the bride and not outshine. Two designers who can be great for a young bride or a bridesmaid are-

Payal Singhal-

Young, confident and comfortable. This outfit is perfect for a bridesmaid as she can run around doing her chores while still looking fun.

Gauri & Nainika-

The designer sisters are celebrated for their gowns and western wear. The only ones who make you look and live a dream. This outfit is perfect for a cocktail and a swinging party. Anyone who doesn’t want to wear an Indian outfit and still look glamorous-this would be ideal.

Makeup- A dear friend and makeup artist Somya Chawla has transformed me into many a things in one day and taken up challenges without hesitating. One time we did a bridal shoot together and I would love for her to do my friend and my makeup on her big day.

Somya says “Bridal makeup in 2018 is going to be more about fresh , dewy and glowing skin with a hint of metallic shadow on the eyes paired up with a neutral or a bold lip color depending on what the bride prefers.

Tip : If you have never worn a red lipstick in your life , try and not wear one on your wedding day .The opposite logic applies as well , if putting a red lip color makes you feel beautiful and more confident then go ahead with the brightest shade.”

You can get in touch with her @makeupbysomya on Instagram or +91-9873753647.

Location- For many people  getting married, it all comes down to the destination and what that place means to them. The nostalgia of going back to that place will always evoke a certain emotion shared just by them. A few of my choices would be-

Khyber resort and spa (Gulmarg, Kashmir)- A winter globe and great for skiing and landscape. If you are one for a smaller group and enjoy the woods and nature. This is the perfect place for you.

Umaid  Bhawan Palace (Jodhpur, Rajasthan)-What more would you like than a palace to be your dream destination and home for those few days?! I know my friend wouldn’t be able to resist this!

Music- No party is complete without this and if I’m responsible for my friend and her guest having an amazing time, then I’m going all out! I can’t think of anyone else but Manu Idhra!

He says –

“I can only talk about music since I am in the music industry for the last 22 years. I think people want more experiential events where the music and decor is memorable. In terms of music I see people want something to remember. Lot of people are bored of the same Bollywood tracks as these are played many times in Every wedding. Due to this repetition people complain to me and tell me that they want something new that can make them dance and lift the spirits of the wedding. I guess that’s why my act “Manu Idhra & Hamza” has been booked in Indian wedding to mix music from all over the world and create a unique flavour of Afro beats Latin music desert sounds with house beats Rajasthani folk Sufi influences and lots more. It’s basically a modern way of presenting traditional music. A Similar movement to what’s happening in the food world. Look at restaurants like Indian accent or Gagan. They are presenting Indian food in a new age way. Same thing is happening with music. People want traditional music presented in a modern way so people can get something familiar but also something they can relate to!”

I hope my selections will settle well with my friend and her family. If you too are planning your own or a close one’s wedding; don’t hesitate and reach out to Zank You.

Available in so many countries excites me because now I can plan another close friend’s wedding in Russia sitting in India!

Thank you Zank You!

Much love and wedding bells

Zina Singh for Touch & Be

Instagram @touchandbe5 Facebook- Touch and Be.

my best friends wedding It's my best friends wedding and I have feelings which are beyond communicable. Some strange nostalgia, emotions of extreme joy overwhelming to tears.