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ysscquotes · 6 years ago

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A Good Weird (Oneshot)

“Are you guys sure you don't wanna come?” Akane pouted at two of her fellow council members. It was the school cultural festival and they had all been planning on going together.

“We can't Akane, Aoi and I have to keep watch to make sure nobody gets hurt, you can still look around with Torayoshi and Megami,” Kuroko calmly explained to the redhead, currently holding a very unhappy Aoi by the back of her blazer to keep her from wiggling out of her responsibilities. Akane was about to protest further but the studious girl was already out of sight and had dragged Aoi with her. Akane signed a bit but quickly turned her attention to the remaining two. Megami had just finished showing Taro and his little sister Hanako around and Shiromi was drawing in the dirt with her foot. Neither of them had been paying attention and neither of them looked excited.

“Alright guys, let's go!” Akane smiled sweetly, then looked at the both of them and held out her hands for them to hold. Both of them responded with surprise and minor blushing at the sudden display of affection in front of all these people, but took her hands nonetheless. It was very hard to refuse Akane when she was being affectionate.

“Ooh! Let's check out the desserts!” Akane was practically bouncing with excitement at the sight of the wide assortment of pastries, edible arrangements, and decorative ice cream lining one of the booths. Megami sighed internally as she imagined how massive Akane’s dessert receipt was going to be this time as she reached for her wallet. But she didn't really mind, it was always a treat to see Akane this excited, and it seemed that even the usually stoic Shiromi agreed with her, the girl rolling her eyes and smiling in amusement at Akane’s latest antics. However both girls were shocked when Akane pulled out her own money and only bought four items, a small plate of macaroons and three different decorative ice creams, one that was more of a Chocolatey-Nut-covered Popsicle with star designs, one that was more of an elaborate sunde with a waffle cone bowl filled with fruit and had round mouse ears and a little crown on the giant ice cream scoop in the middle for decoration, and one that was a waffle cone similarly elaborate to the sunde but a bit more regally decorated. The two girls shared a look.

“This is… Weird.” Shiromi muttered.

“But a good kind of weird?” Megami inquired.

“Jury’s still out on that one.”

“Let's find somewhere to sit and eat these!” Akane beamed as she handed over the ice cream cone and Popsicle to Megami and Shiromi. The two shared a surprised look at the ice cream being for them before they were both dragged to sit at one of the picnic tables set up nearby.

“They said these are called Royalberry and Rockin’ Crunch, I figured you guys would like them, we can share the Macaroons!” Akane smiled brightly at her friends before digging into her ice cream dessert which was surprisingly low in the sugary department for something Akane would pick since it was mostly fruit. The two looked at each other and shrugged before hesitantly trying their ice cream, and both had their eyes light up a bit, it seemed Akane was really good at judging people tastes in ice cream! Megami’s ‘Royalberry’ was mostly raspberry flavor with a hint of sour and it tasted homemade which she enjoyed quite a lot while Shiromi’s ‘Rockin’ Crunch’ was a bit bittersweet in the dark chocolate covering but had a very tasty Banana flavor on the inside with the crunchy peanuts pulling it all together.

“How did you know we'd like those…?” Megami asked curiously before popping a Macaron in her mouth. Akane once more smiled at them both.

“Well you're very sweet and regal, it seemed perfect!” Akane nodded with a giggle, causing Megami to blush a lot at the comment and Shiromi to get a little bitter (pun intended) because she had a pretty solid idea of why she had gotten her ice cream.

“Let me guess, you thought I'd like it since I'm bitter like dark chocolate?” Shiromi rolled her eyes with a sad sigh. Bitter is definitely a word that would easily describe her but it did make her a bit sad that's what one of her crushes thought of her. However the tigress was shocked when Akane eagerly grabbed a hold of her empty hand, Shiromi blushing a bit as she looked back up at the girl holding her hand.

“Uh-Uh, yeah your kinda cold to most people but you have a really good heart under your defense of bitter.” Akane explained her reasoning with a bright, encouraging smile which led to Shiromi blushing even more.

“I really love you both, so I wanted to do something special.” Akane took Megami’s hand with her own empty one, and now both girls were blushing at their crush saying she loved them.

“T-That's too kind of you, Akane.” Megami thanked the redhead, meanwhile Shiromi just grumbled flusteredly.

“Anything for you guys! Oh, look!” Akane's attention was quickly drawn to something else and the two shared a look of ‘Here We Go Again’ as they were dragged alongside her, three group of three taking up most of the walkway due to Akane’s refusal to let go of their hands. They started getting weird looks, so naturally Akane’s solution was for them to link arms while she sang ‘We’re off to see the Wizard’ as to avoid suspicion. Megami was fairly embarrassed but didn��t comment while Shiromi looked like she wanted lighting to strike her dead where she stood. After looking at a few brightly decorated booths until they came across a haunted house that had been put together by one of the group's. Much to both parties surprise Akane jumped at that and asked to go in, claiming it was to see the students hard work.

And that's how they found themselves here, walking through a creepy classroom and clinging to each other. Well more accurately Akane and Megami were clinging to Shiromi. Akane was pretty spooked while Megami wasn't scared per se, but it was easier to deal with the cheap jumpscares whilst holding onto the unflinching tigress. Shiromi didn't mind that much since the dark red lighting made her blush difficult to see.

“You sure you don't want to call it quits?” Shiromi asked cooly as Akane flinched yet again at a strobe light turning on. Shiromi herself wasn't scared in the slightest bit she didn't like seeing Akane so scared and Megami so on edge.

“I-I’m fine!” Akane squeaked out pathetically, however that was interrupted by her own scream as a fake skeleton hand lashed out from a Halloween prop, at Shiromi who was standing too close. Both members froze in place as they looked at the familiar scarf now tangled with the arm mechanism. They watched Shiromi with baited breath.

Shiromi could feel her neck be yanked towards the arm as the arm moved back, it's purpose served. Shiromi let out a small ‘HHCK-!’ and tried to move away which led to it lashing out again and smacking Shiromi in the face.

“Oh for the love of- Can one of you two get one of the kids that worked on this, I don't know how to get out.” Shiromi spoke calmly as if this was normal. The two blinked for a few moments before Akane rushed off, leaving Shiromi and Megami alone in the room.

“...Are you gonna stand there and look pretty or try and help?!” Shiromi asked with a huff as she tried to wrestle free, very frustrated at this particular juncture. What on Earth were the haunted house kids thinking?! A contraption that actually lashes out at people to jumpscare them with exposed mechanics? It's a wonder no one got hurt sooner!

“Shiromi, calm down. You can just take off your scarf.” Megami tried to soothe her friend, moving behind Shiromi to get a better look at the situation. The Saikou was a smart girl and figured she could figure this out. She leaned over Shiromi’s shoulder to get a better look at the situation only to realize Shiromi had completely frozen up.

“..I-Is this thing hurting you?” Megami asked in concern, quickly moving her hands to the scarf, trying to figure out what happened. However what Megami couldn't have known is her assumption on what was exactly going on was very wrong. For you see, when Megami had leaned over, she unintentionally had pressed her well-endowed chest to Shiromi’s back, and said tigress felt as if her face could catch fire at this point. The haunted house had ended up mortifying her in a very different way then intended.

“...N-No.” Shiromi’s voice came out in a shaky whisper, trying to untangle herself as she trembled a bit. This didn't do her any favors in convincing Megami.

“You don't need to be tough Shiromi, I care about you.” Megami replied as cooly as she could manage despite her mounting concern, carefully trying to unwrap the scarf only for Shiromi to suddenly stop her with her own hand clasping hers. Megami looked at her questioningly but Shiromi didn't meet her gaze, her previous embarrassment forgotten for an even more distant look then usual.

“...Please don't take off my scarf…” Shiromi spoke slowly, her voice firm. Megami’s concern rose to new heights at that one, but she didn't say anything. She instead honored her wishes and moved to instead untangle her scarf as best she could, but it was a bit of a fools errand since part of it had been swallowed up by the gears of the machine, Megami was just thankful Shiromi’s hair was short or this could have been a lot worse. She shuddered at that thought, starting to tug the scarf in the gears with all her might.

“Shiromi, it's not going to come out.” Megami spoke as calmly as she could manage but she could still feel Shiromi tense up in response to that revelation. “...Why don’t you want me to take off your scarf?” Megami asked cautiously, hoping to gauge if she needed to find another solution or not.

“...I don’t want to, back off.” Was Shiromi’s only reply, trying to wrestle free more forcefully now. The sooner she could get it out, the sooner she could duck out of this entire situation and pretend nothing happened. She yanked with all she had in her, cringing when she heard the fabric tearing, however that was the least of her problems. She had put all her weight into that, and when she was suddenly not attached to it she was sent sailing backwards. Or more accurately, she would have had Megami not been there. Megami let out a soft grunt when the tigress collided with her but almost immediately moved her arms to catch Shiromi, steadying herself from almost falling over as well.

“Are you okay?” Megami asked with concern, holding the smaller girl carefully as if she were glass. Shiromi nodded quickly in an attempt to get away ASAP, but Megami didn't let go, carefully looking over the girl for any injuries.

“No you're n-” Megami began as she gently moved the now destroyed scarf from her neck after seeing what looked like an injury from this ordeal, but what she initially thought was a few red marks was actually dark bruising that clearly had nothing to do with it. Shiromi went stiff as a board, her already fair skin getting even paler.

“...Council room. Now.” Megami spoke firmly as she took hold of the torn fabric, wrapping it back around her neck to hide the bruising. Shiromi gulped in panic but did as she was told, following Megami as she marched out of the haunted house, gripping Shiromi’s hand tightly to keep her from running off. The two got some odd looks as they passed but no one (except Ayano on occasion) ever dared to stand in the President’s path when she was like this.

The two reached the student council room which was empty due to the festivities. Megami closed the door behind them before turning to Shiromi who looked like a frightened doe in headlights at this point. Megami dropped the almost angry aura that was previously radiating from her, removing the scarf remnants hiding Shiromi’s neck with utmost care not to hurt her. Shiromi flinched slightly but didn't do much else, refusing to look Megami in the eyes for more than a few seconds, the sad look Megami was giving her wasn't helping.

“Shiromi.” Megami spoke in a whisper, causing said girl to look up. Megami gently brushed her fingers against the bruise, and Shiromi felt as if she were drowning in her concerned gaze.

“Who. Hurt you?” Megami’s voice was gentle and soft, her silver orbs filled with anxiety for the tigress. Shiromi didn’t speak, slowly placing her hand over Megami’s. She seemed to be debating what to say, but no words formed. She opened her mouth to speak when the door suddenly opened. Standing there was Akane holding the other half of Shiromi’s scarf. Both of them froze on the spot, Shiromi rushing to cover her neck with her own hands, terrified of what Akane would think. Akane closed the door, silent for a few moments. Then spoke.

“Her parents are abusive. You couldn’t tell?” Akane asked calmly, setting the remnants of Shiromi’s scarf on the table nearby. Both of their eyes widened, Megami’s out of shock and Shiromi’s out of fear.

“N-Nah, what makes you think that?!” Shiromi questioned frantically, trying to deny it. When she had gone out on this outing she hadn’t expected the be outed like this.

“You used to have dead eyes before you met us all. You never take off your scarf, you refuse to change at school, you stay away from people… It’s super obvious.” Akane listed off, Shiromi’s panic increase with each word. She risked a glance at Megami only to see that same angered aura from earlier.

“...Well, not if I have anything to say about it.” Megami crossed her arms with a determined expression. Shiromi quickly withdrew at this while Akane smiled.

“My thoughts exactly Megami,” Akane walked over to the two, pulling Shiromi a hug. “Don’t worry Shiromi, we both love you and won’t let this keep happening to you, okay?” Akane finished, holding them both gently. Shiromi’s expression full of shock soon melted away when Megami joined the hug, both of them holding her gently.

“You’re going to be fine, I’ll make sure of it.” Megami smiled warmly at the tigress, ruffling her hair. Shiromi looked between the two girls, the two girls she loved most in the world. And she felt her icy heart melt from how much warmth they were looking at her with. Shiromi’s eyes filled with tears, returning the group hug.

“T-Thank you…” She whimpered as the two held her closer, she could feel Akane kiss the top of her head and Megami’s hand on the small of her back. And for the first time in awhile, she didn’t doubt people cared about her.

They all were very different people, but Gravity was a beautiful thing. Three estranged stars were brought together simply because they existed.

#Oneshots #Akane Toriyasu #Megami Saikou #Shiromi Torayoshi #Manticore

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ladyofmind · 6 years ago

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October Wrap Up

Hey everyone! Sorry for the silence... been busier than even I can keep up with, and also found out that the last Music Monday I had a few weeks back- well it didn’t post so I was quieter than I intended to be...

But it is NaNoWriMo time now, so there should be time to settle in and post like mad to update you all, and write my 50k! After all, I have no plans to be anywhere this November. Fingers crossed nothing else goes crazy on me.

Without further chatter, game answers after the jump.

#CharactersHell

1- Rooms for rent above an active and lively bar, for as long as you like* (*Mgmt not responsible for any damage from the cat or other beings if you leave your door open/unlocked.)

2- Not in the expected way. Most of the monsters are the human Antags. The antags are motivated by jealousy and obsession. Other characters have their own personal demons, or else they aren’t really human...

3- Not real monsters, not really. The Antags are over the top in their issues, but they are rarer. Everybody has some kind of issue though.

4- Frost? That grumpy man is actually a bit of a softy inside… If not, Sly mixes up some ugly looking boozy milkshakes that are pretty tasty!

5- That would be the Antag. Tim is a sort of threat in waiting, one that slips around a bit like the snake he is. The incidents he is involved in are hard to figure out until after it happens...

6- My world is no different than our world. There is divinity in the form of God etc, but it really plays no part in my story.

7- Same world, same dire predictions. Only difference is, it’s a brothel, so one can assume they may already be in hell…

8- Most interesting job? That’s a toss up… It’s an interesting place to work in general, but I’m torn between Woods being in a band, or Tweety, the one in somewhat charge of all the other looney tunes….

9- Best Co-worker award goes to Malta. There is no one else likely to push, prod, and sometimes accidentally beat ya up to have a good time, while respecting limits. Unlike the constant party pusher Bebe, Malta can tell when you need the push, and when you just need a cuppa tea.

10- Most of the time, the networking person is Tweety, as everyone knows her and gets connected by her. But for this, I have to give it to the guys. Nira has a lot of connections from before bar life, music man Martin is always networking and improving his career, and Frost? Well the giant makes friends thru fights. Might not be a lot, but they are the best connections…

11- This is a little bit of everyone really. Malta, Frost, and others don’t do it intentionally, it’s more of a language barrier. Sly is the master of deflection to the point you still don’t know very much. That may be why Tweety sees him as an equal, as everyone assumes they know her, but they never know a thing. She doesn’t lie, just turns things around on ya.

12- Woods is about/has turned professional famous musician, depending on which book you read… Tweet is just really good at talking to people and getting everywhere from it.

13- Antags- Sofia has some fans yes. She’s a strange boss with a back story & has some loyal workers until she does things to mess that up (her MO). Tim on the other hand? Well, he’s liked for what his skills & the more unstable/broken sorts love him to obsession.

14- The Antags are good for backstabbing! Tim and Sophia work together for the mostly common goal, but in places there’s differences. For instance, a rigged auction is supposed to end in Tim’s favor. Doesn’t mean S can’t make more money off of him if he wants it that badly…

15- Tim gives me the creeps. There’s this thing he does that makes me feel violated too, so I know it will be good in the end… I just need recovery time after him.

16- Tweet isn’t monstrous… but it is a pain sometimes, writing for an always happy sort, even if you want to have her fight back against things.

17- Tim is as direct as a blunt log to the face can be. He’s more bull in the china shop. Sophia is the mastermind, making her puppets dance in that web way. You can 100% assume she’s behind something, but you’re hard pressed to prove it…

18- With Tim, smarts is the easy part. It’s Sophia you match wits with, if you have to at all…

19- Woods isn't really vicious… maybe some biting comments while holding a grudge. Tweet is always the “kill 'em with kindness” type

20- I think the side chars are very active in their own ways to push this story forward. Some are even pushy as hell!

21- Ok, so Frost isn't exactly wrathful towards the MC so much as ornery and wrathful at everyone… but he does blame Tweety for flaring his ulcer with her ideas.

22- Not all that hard for me, as I don’t force my characters into doing things they wouldn’t do anyway. I try to learn who they are first and go from there.

23- I don’t really use red herrings, not intentionally. There may be one or two accidentally...

24- So zen! I throw on some earphones blaring my playlist and forget that people exist. The absolute worst is when you’re writing so well, and then someone scares you by interrupting you!

25- I’m not really into the sweets. Once in a while, but mostly my writing runs off potato chips or pretzels. Crunchy and salty balances the romance writing well!

26- #FF #followfriday with interesting stories by: @nomdejillian @TGNeal @SkeptiCybrarian @marshawritesit

27- Halloween was fun when I was a kid. Now I enjoy making Halloween-y cookies and giving them out to people I like, since we never have trick or treaters where I live. One year per the Halloween cookie costume rules, I dressed in all grey with a bell on… Jingle bell rock ya’ll!

28- Not a prankster, so not very wrathful at all. Halloween isn’t a big deal near me.

29- Oh I think I did that already! False arrest of the sweet one anyone?

30- So this is a boost for our Co-Host @manual_arbanassi! His amazing, well rounded character work in #Tiogair is great. Plus he totally shares that character building with all of us with both this game and #CharactersTell!

31- After work where I have to avoid a kids book sale while having a bills closing day? Relax and maybe watch a Halloween-y movie. Really, I am more excited about #NaNoWriMo starting at midnight.

#SciFiNaNoPrep

1- Hi, Nicole here. I was fairly certain for #NaNo I would continue my #RedLetters #series, but this Mars idea won’t let go. It has an outline, so maybe this prep will help me change course?

2- For this Mars idea? 50K or whatever it takes to finish this idea. Definitely looking to start it.

3- It’s very similar in that it’s our Earth, and an exploration of the Mars planet we think we know.

4- The not so very distant future. My research says I need at least 4 years, so mid to late 2020’s

5- Planet Mars for about 90% of it. There’s a little Earth training time, and possibly other planet flash backs.

6- Both generally advanced Earth tech, and some stuff for Mars that feels like #spoilers (plus I need to sort that out –Note to self on more #prep!)

7- Haven’t quite named them… but I do know there’s some diversity and a female MC/narrator

8- That’s definitely a #spoiler! I can say that it’s a “greet the way you’re greeted” thing…

9- Oh, I’m showing my age here for sure… but like Sailor Mercury from Sailor Moon or the original Power Rangers Billy the blue ranger come to mind… for their smarts and calmness.

10- There are both Earth “children” and adults, plus some Martian life.

11- Earth customs, sure, all the standard ones. Martian customs fall into “show you, you decide what happens” things. Because the message/meanings are important sometimes.

12- #FF #followfriday with #scifi writers: @RagingCyclone @authorASMcGowan @mae_mckinnon and a bunch of people at #wipworldbuilders

13- I would say somewhere in between, as it largely depends on which side you see it from. Just because it’s Utopia to one may be dystopia to another. Similar to the grass being greener on the other side theory.

14- Earth politics are the same. Mars doesn’t have politics in the same way. They have more rule, order and understanding.

15- Mars is more science and study, so they are more guardians less lawyers in that sense. They have systems for everything, but mostly they do not have crime within their own ranks. Outsiders are a different story.

16- Oh lots! I am taking some of the known things about planets and life and tying it together to give credible conspiracy theory if you will. Might even include Nikola Telsa…

17- As Mars is a drier planet- with more wind storm, less water, the idea of hydro anything doesn’t work. Plus they have a better greenhouse process that makes planting in the ground useless.

18- There is really no focus on currency in this idea, as shooting for different themes, money being the root of trouble not one of them.

19- ATV type things above ground, underground tunnels with everything from walking to hovering transports.

20- I enjoy a reasonable time travel story. Not the type that appear there just to be there, or where the tech that travels person is hokey. More like Timeless, Krypton, or Doctor Who on good days.

21- On Mars there is advanced tech where medicine as we know it is obsolete. A little more nanites and lasers a lot less oral pills and rectal anythings.

22- Mars is a dry windy planet without water, in comparison to Earth’s visible habitats.

23- Mars grows things without name at the moment, but it is edible, like all things people make do with.

24- Standard Martian wear is something of a lab coat but resistant to its environmental elements.

25- Anything can be a weapon in untrained hands…

26- #FF upcoming writers

27- Earthlings go to school and are trained for space exploration. Martians learn by doing.

#RomanceNaNoPrep

1- Hi, Nicole here. Library worker by day/night/weekend, writer every other chance. Currently two and a half books into my #RedLetters series. So far all I’ve ever written falls into womens fiction category.

2- For Red Letters? 50K is just going to start it. They end up being easily 80-100K, even if its more like 200K words that have to be split into two different books...

3- Romance is my sub genre, as it reads more like womans fiction first. But the other books in the series cover more of the slice of life/journey stuff. This one would have a heavier romantic tone.

4- I love a good believable romance. Whether it starts off as a one night stand or getting to know each other first, the characters have to be real and well rounded. Funny is a plus but not cartoony or asks me to assume too much.

5- Depends on the mood. If I need a little escape, a sweet romance will do the trick. But if I need to be reminded of what it’s like to be human outside of working too much or need a serious escape, steamy tends to have a better grip on me.

6- #RedLetters started as an RP… don’t know where the 💜 of romance came from, but I’ve been writing about it as long as I can remember. Helps that hubs & I have been together 10+ yrs & we’re good friends first. Learned lots about relationships from that alone.

7- The main characters in #RedLetters has always been Naomi, better known as Tweety and the musician Woods. There is a whole host of other characters that are important, and Greg may become an MC… if he stays Greg of course.

8- Well, it’s not really a special meaning, so much as an inside joke. Tweety got her nickname from an outfit she wore, and a drunk-ish Cockney woman. The rest as they say is history…

9- Honestly? Kind of a fan of Emma Stone. Looks sweet and innocent, but can be sassy and a bit sexy too. All around package, inside and out I think.

10- I might have the Evil Other Woman cliche… At least on the surface. Hoping the history fleshes this out to be a full story not just a mad woman scorned thing...

11- Big fan of sassy heroines (aka no weak and fainty unrealistic women) and maybe a touch of the second chance at love thing…

12- #FF #followfriday @MaeBaumWriter @klimov_author have been #prepping with me since day one... plus I like the stuff @K_A_Grayson does in her rockstar #romance...

13- When they first met, Tweety was about 21/22. Woods was 24/25. When they meet again about 5 years later, Woods is 30, Tweety will have a birthday in that book.

14- The characters are struggling 20's. Woods is higher in class while trying to do it himself. Tweety's poorer & finding herself. Inside the bar/club, social status doesn’t matter, & in some cases, makes you less important the more important you assume you are.

15- Woods sister approves, eventually. Tweety doesn’t talk to her parents, instead relying on Frost the manager to be her father figure. After a good bit of threatening during a chat with Woods, Frost approved too.

16- In this book? Friendly enemies. Tweety is not happy to see him, but she is never a rude sort, more the kill with kindness type. Woods is more eager to charm her into regretting her choices and occasionally bringing up the past, even if facts are distorted...

17- What brings Tweet and Woods together? A certain book… you know when you get that déjà vu feeling? Except you have proof from your side of the tale too. Trouble is that the truth has its own version…

18- What’s keeping them apart? Lots of hurt pride, broken hearts, completely different lifestyles… But even with all that past, the thing that made them unique is still there.

19- Remember yesterday, when I said different lifestyles? Yeah. West coast musician with a wildly successful touring band vs an East coast wildly famous bar/nightclub owner. One is always on the go, the other is happily rooted to one spot. Plus the same problems as last time- other people.

20- Woods can be a bit too thick headed or obtuse for Tweet’s liking. Woods isn’t exactly annoyed by her running off tendency, but it isn’t making his days any better either.

21- Well, this pair have been together before, and neither were all that innocent then. But since then… One has gone full on flavor of the month style, while the other is much more cautious about their reputation.

22- Woods & Tweet = the infamous Ghostbusters “don’t cross the streams” thing. It’s a peppy flirt who makes you question if she’s as naïve as she sounds vs a rogue with all the manners of that bad boy you need to leave with. Their game is holding out the longest & upping the stakes…

23- Their first kiss? Very steamy yet semi polite in front of the crowd… You see, it was Halloween, and there were sexy costumes… someone didn't speak, just acted, and the rest is... in the book!

24- In this series, I love that Tweet and Woods flirt at the level of chess moves sometimes. Tweety makes a man play on her level or the game is over. If you use tired lines or give the answer she expects when giving you enough rope to hang yourself… well she’s already over it.

29- Favorite quality about-

Tweety- She’s amazing at making people feel welcome and free to be themselves.

Woods- He’s got an awesome amount of patience and tolerance. The not being jealous adds to his charms.

30- Least favorite quality about-

Tweety- Always with the bright, happy side even if it hurts…

Woods- He picks up a ghost nickname for a reason you know.

31- This has been fun, and I’m totally ready for #NaNoWriMo! (Sits and waits for the clock to strike 12…)

#CharactersTell

1/10- “Oh, it’s my favorite month! Halloween weekend parties are our best buiness, and the most fun! Of course I have to come chat about #RedLetters with you all. You all know me as miss Tweety...”

2/10- Tweety- “Why i’m your hostess with the most-ess! I run the front of house at Soulful, in addition to being a co-owner.”

3/10- Tweety- “It’s only lonely in the sense of responsibility. Otherwise, I have a ton of staff and regulars around at any given time.”

4/10-Tweety- “I guess? I’m great with a lot of things, but Nira is best with the finances, so I leave that to him. Since I started being a waitress, I had him investing & asked for what I needed to buy clothes with. Best way to pay him back for the couch surfing.”

5/10- Tweety- “My time off is usually when I sleep. Now there is some help so I can leave before I start falling asleep, but other than writing, I wouldn’t know what to do with time off.”

6/10- Tweety- “Adventure happens all around the club. You never know what Bebe will do when bored, at least my job and the respect given to me, keeps the place from falling down around it all.”

7/10- Tweety- “Well, I would hope that my kindness keeps me in high esteem… Why else would we be so packed all the time? I know there are those against me, because I built a following from scratch.”

#CharactersTell

8/10- “I'm Greg, Gus’ grandson and recent college grad with a degree in business.”

9/10- Greg- “I had a few odds jobs, some for the experience more than the money, but yeah I work a lot.”

10/10- Greg- “I'm not nefarious. Just a regular guy with an inheritance that apparently affects others…”

11/10- Greg- “That's what I'm trying to decide! A piece of a prosperous club or a life on my own…”

12/10- Greg- “Trying not to do that with this choice. You know, this isn't really helping me decide, not when you're highlighting the downsides…”

13/10- Greg- “Progressive. Smart, firm when I have to be. Not overly nice, you will know I'm the boss.”

14/10- Greg- “If I decided to take the ownership, it's really like a slow raise. Or I sell it and make a windfall quick…”

#CharactersTell

15/10- Rolls in on those shoes with wheels inside “Duranta at your service, but everyone calls me Runta! Soul’s not so resident clothing designer and somewhat personal shopping friend to Tweet, if you must know.

16/10- Runta- laughs “Of course not! It takes money and patronage to become a designer who makes money. They wanted me to have a different sort of full time boring work.”

17/10- Runta- “I’ve made a few fashion week shows, and have some amazingly supportive fans who basically are fashion influencers in their own rights...” #spoilers

18/10- Runta- “Sure, I mean clothes and fashion is how you see a person, so of course people have stereotypes based on looks, but I don’t play that game.”

19/10- Runta- “Absolutely! Networking is a big part of what I do! Connections get me everywhere.”

20/10- Runta- “Total workaholic! A friend of mine says that if you love what you do, it’s not working, but living. And I am living for this life!”

21/10- Runta- “I learned a few things from the place I got my start. Hire people good at what they do, and that you can stand being around constantly. So yeah, the people who work for me become a family, since we’re together that much.”

#writer #game #twitter game #answers #charactershell #characterstell #nanowrimo #prep #romance #scifi

2 notes · View notes

cutiecrates · 4 years ago

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Cutie Reviews: TokyoTreat Jan 20

I was so excited to get to this box, it’s been 4 months since I did the November review for it, and since I didn’t get December’s box that one was skipped.

If you’re interested in my review on the DIY kit below, I made a separate post for it right before this one.

“The new year is coming! There are many exciting events to look forward to like New Year’s Eve parties and fun with friends and family! Sometimes though just having a relaxing evening indoors is just what you need too. That’s why we made a box that’s perfect for cozying up with some tasty Japanese snacks, a warm drink and enjoying the holidays before the busy year ahead!“

The flavor of the month is Milk.

Lucky Treat & Photo Contest

As I said, the Tokyo Treat people were really feeling Disney with their January boxes. In some shape or form, you can bet there was some in it somewhere. For this month’s Lucky Treat, there was a variety of delicious and cuddly Disney goods.

As well as in the Photo contest, with prizes based around Aladdin.

Lipton Tea Pack

(see top of post for photo)

To deal with the lingering chills of winter, TokyoTreat has decided to throw in a summer or spring-based tea. We could ether get the Sakura pack, or the Tropical Charge, featuring flavors of mango, peach, and pineapple.

Considering I already got the sakura pack, I’m quite happy to have gotten the other. But for anyone new here, I really really hate tea. So either way I was kind of anxious about this one. I don’t know why I can’t stand it so much, but the only tea I seem capable of drinking are super fruity lemon/raspberry iced tea (the lipton kind is really yummy), or the ones that taste like mint or cinnamon. I remember when I was little, my mom would make me this white-ish peppermint tea when I went to play in the snow. She would put it in a bottle so that I could carry it with me.

♥ ♥

Shockingly enough, I didn’t hate this :D it wasn’t the best tea I ever had but I almost finished the entire cup. You get a really strong peach scent and taste, I couldn’t really identity the mango or pineapple in it. While I was drinking it, I kept thinking that this tropical flavor would be better iced, so I plan on trying that next time.

Fluffy Softmallow & Colorful Baby’s Marshmallows

I love marshmallows, and this month we get 2 different types, both featuring a lovely pastel color scheme. However, these are both just basic marshmallows, they’re not fruity flavored or anything like that. The softmallow is 58.5 calories, while the pack is 61 calories.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The softmallow is still soft even after almost a year of sitting in the packaging. It’s a lot of fun to look at while eating, and it tastes fine.

♥ ♥ ♥

The colorful baby’s pack is okay. But unlike the softmallow they are more... firm? chewy? Like they went stale or something, but I’m not sure if they actually did. The texture might be intentional, but it wasn’t appealing to me. They taste fine though, and they soften up if you use them in a hot drink.

Little Mikan Mints & Night Sky Star Candy

In Japan, its tradition to sit beneath a warm, lovely kotatsu while snacking on oranges, or mikan. To emulate their packaging and taste, we received this cute little container filled with tiny, spherical orange-flavored mints/candies.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The orange flavor is really strong, and they actually bring to mind a bright, freshly bitten orange x3 they taste a lot like the tic-tacs. I used to love those when I was a kid, but now that I’m older I never buy them.

- - - - -

Konpeito are a very popular, cute, and fun little snack for any time of the year. Usually they are just sugary-sweet, but you can find flavored ones pretty easily online, often in cute glass jars! They would make adorable decorations while you munch on them over time.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Not only is the packaging really cute, but I don’t see how you could go wrong with these! I think they might be flavored too, because I tried a couple different colors and they each tasted differently. Great for a little sugary pick-me-up.

Winter Kakigori Gummies & Diamond Ring Candy

The ring we’ve had before, a very, very long time ago :3 it’s cola flavored, not the best I’ve had but I still really liked it. It’s 48 calories.

What I was really excited for in this box was probably this next item, gummies based on delicious Kakigori (shaved ice). They come in the flavors of mango and strawberry, each with a milky bottom to give it creaminess. The strawberry gummies also have a crunchy texture to emulate the icy crunch you might sometimes experience when eating it.

Each bag is 178 calories, which is kind of a lot, but you don’t have to eat them in one sitting. They can be re-sealed for convenience.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I love shaved ice (and slushies/snow cones, I always get blueberry/blue raspberry flavor) so I was heartbroken to miss out on it this year. In a weird way, this kind of perked me up. Both flavors are very yummy too, the mango one is light and doesn’t have that... weird foot smell/taste some mango tend to have. The strawberry one is pretty artificial but I’m just fine with that. I really like it’s texture too.

Cheese Umaibo & Calbee Winter Chips

Cheese umaibo is no stronger to us here at Cutie Crates. It’s a very common, basic flavor of umaibo, and it’s not one of my most favorites. But I feel like with each one I eat, the more it grows on me.

- - - - -

Our next item are some salted chips from Calbee. The salt is powdered, to emulate the fluffy, thick snow on a chilly mountain top. Each bag is 363 calories! I wouldn’t recommend eating these at once, or at least share them with a few people to evenly divide the calorie intake.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I wouldn’t say these have been my favorite chips from them, I really like getting to try the more unique flavors. But these taste fine/good, and have a great crunch to them. So if you like chips (especially the plain/regular salted) you would probably love these.

One Piece Cookies & Choco Cake

Considering I missed out on the December box (which was anime/manga/video game themed), I was very excited when I saw these in this months! These were randomly selected from a large variety of character-based cookie packs, most of which were Pokemon or Disney-based. Flavors ranged from basic chocolate chip to banana.

I’m very happy I got these, not only because of One Piece- but because I love chocolate chip cookies (I love a lot of stuff today don’t I ;P). Each cookie looks plain on the outside, but is filled with several chocolate chips slightly melted together to create a delicious chocolate-filled bite. They also come wrapped in a package featuring each of the crew members personal symbol.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

These are delicious, if basic cookies. Nothing super-special, but if you like One Piece you would probably enjoy getting these like me :3 I wanted to save one of each member <3< except for Sanji, because I didn’t get any of his. I’m a little sad because he’s one of my favorites.

- - - - - - -

Our other item is this choco cake-like cookies. The pack includes 2 of them, but if you’re like me and waited too long you might just be eating them together. Per-pack or cookie (I can’t tell which), it’s 173 calories.

♥ ♥ ♥

These are really dry, they have a spong-cake like texture and the chocolate is on the bitter side. They taste pretty good though, if a little bit messy.

Animal Biscuits, Key Ring Chocolate, & Maple Hotcakes

The hotcakes we actually just had in the November box, so if you want my full opinion on them I would suggest checking out that review. We also get this cute little key-shaped ring filled with small M&M-like chocolates.

I’d give them ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥, because while there isn’t anything too special about them, the key shape is cute and fun. Plus they taste fine.

- - - -

This other item I honestly wasn’t expecting much from, because I assumed they were just animal crackers with English written on them. They’re super-adorable though, because ideally this would be a fun snack to give someone who isn’t familiar with English, or those who want to learn a little more Japanese can also use the box for that purpose. The box is covered in text and fun little puzzles to make learning it really fun!

(I tried to get my 3 top favorite animals, but I could only find the cat and bat. My box didn’t came with a panda, so I set out the owl, because my mom likes them).

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The cookies are basic in flavor but are dipped in a delicious glaze. With each one I finish, I’m left with an oatmeal-like after taste that’s really yummy. I’m not sure what the glaze is, but it’s lightly sweet. I love these!

Bubbly Rainbow Taiyaki & Milk Giant Caplico

Sorry about the crappy lighting here, I only just realized I forgot to get a pic of this one <3< But don’t worry because this isn’t new to me, we’ve seen this before on the blog. It’s a very yummy, berry-chocolate flavored Taiyaki that features a cute split-color, one side is baby blue and the other is light purple.

- - - -

I also decided not to get a picture of the Caplico because that was a little bit of a mess. At some point it all melted and ran out of the cone, then re-hardened in the package. It was still edible though, and pretty yummy. It has a faint vanilla white chocolate on top, while the chocolate filling the cone is more on the bitter side. They compliment each other well.

♥ Cutie Ranking ♥

Content - 4 out of 5. I’m glad we got a new DIY, I pretty much liked everything and besides the melted caplico everything held up great until I got to the box. I do wish we had gotten some more savory items though, the variety feels a little one-sided this time. Theme - 3 out of 5. I see where they were at with this, I really like the theme concept but maybe it could have been executed better? It could just be me personally, but maybe some sort of cinnamon or spicy, warming stuff would help amp the coziness of it.

Total Rank: 8 out of 10. I don’t really have anything to complain about. Nothing really exciting happened in this box besides a few surprises; but I like what we got. I’d recommend it unless you’re not big on chocolate and prefer less-sweet flavors.

♥ Scale of Yummy ♥

1. Winter Kakigori Gummies - they’re so cute, along with the packaging. Plus I really like their fruity flavors!

2. Animal Biscuits - I was extremely surprised by how much I liked these.

3. Bubbly Rainbow Taiyaki - I really like this :3 I didn’t go into detail on it because it’s already been reviewed, but it’s very yummy and sweet. 4. One Piece Cookies - these made me feel nostalgic because they taste a lot like these big, soft cookies my mom would buy me as a child. 5. Star Candy - The packaging is so cute! Plus they’re tasty.

6. Caplico - It’s not the best one I’ve had, especially considering how messed up it got. But i happen to like bitter chocolate so I like the combination of the varying flavors. 7. Cola Ring - It still tastes the same as last time :P I just hope I finish it this time. 8. Mikan Mints - super-tiny but they have a lot of flavor. 9. Cheese Umaibo - I get it a lot but it’s slowly climbing its way up on my top 10 Umaibo chart. It would never surpass corn potage as my favorite though. 10. Maple Hotcakes - pretty much had the exact same opinion as last time. Delicious, I love their maple scent more than anything. Very dry though. 11. Lipton Tea - I hate tea but this was actually bearable with enough sugar. I’m hoping I’ll like it better iced. 12. Choco Cake - I can’t decide if I’m into these or not. They’re kind of firm/hard, not soft like cake at all. They taste bitterly but I don’t hate them. 13. Calbee Chips - You probably noticed that all the regular/average items have been put low on the list by now right? There’s nothing wrong with them but the other stuff has more to offer... 14. Key Ring Chocolate - fun shaped, but very basic.

15. Softmallow - This one had a better texture than the other ones.

16. Colorful Baby’s - basic, nothing special. The packaging and colors are adorable though.

#tokyotreat #cutiere #onepiece

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cookymoms · 6 years ago

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Best Popcorn Kernels Reviews 2018: Top 5+ Recommended

Watching in the movie theater?

Streaming your favorite TV series on Netflix?

Maybe just want some tasty, crunchy snacks?

A buttery salted popcorn would be the perfect food for you right now, don’t you think?

And although you can buy cooked popcorns in stores or around the movie house, when you are preparing for a late date night with your family, then there is nothing more convenient than having the best popcorn kernels stored somewhere in your kitchen cabinets.

Not only do you have the fun in popping out those corn kernels, but you also get hot and freshly cooked popcorns for movie date nights!

So, why not stack up with the best popcorn kernels right now?

Popping History of Popcorns

So, you might be having fun watching those popcorns pop. But do you ever wonder why they pop?

The answer is in the corn kernel.

Popcorns come from a variety of corn known as “maize” which produces small kernels with outer shells that are hard. When cooking, the moisture from the kernel steams the pot, causing the outer shell to burst, creating a popping sound and releases a soft inner flake.

Hence, the name popcorn!

In terms of the popcorn’s history, maize first arrived over 2,500 years ago, during the pre-Columbian age. However, in the early 1800s, it was found growing in Mississippi. Indigenous people domesticated in throughout the US and become a good source of nutritional starch as well as food stock for pig fatteners.

The very first popping of popcorns appeared in the year 1820 when the very first popcorn was sold on the east side of America. After 20 years, popcorn has become the favorite snack in the American culture.

Types of Popcorn

Types?

Yep, you’ve read it right!

Popcorn kernels actually differ in flavor, size and color profile.

But don’t get confused!

They are still the yummy snacks that you love to munch on during movie marathons!

In general, kernels are divided into 2 varieties— yellow and white.

Here’s the difference between them:

1. Yellow Popcorn

Yellow popcorn pops, well, a yellow tint. In general, this type of popcorn can be seen being sold at movie houses since it apparently looks more buttery and provides a more distinctive corn flavor, with some individuals describing it as “nutty”.

Yellow popcorns also range in size. Baby yellow popcorn pops slightly smaller than others while extra large caramel and big yellow popcorn pop larger. Bigger ones are great for mixing with glazes, seasoning, and flavors.

2. White Popcorns

White popcorns pop up a sparkling white (duh). It is a bit smaller when compared to the yellow variant and it has a pure and neutral popcorn flavor which goes great with flavors such as sour cream, barbecue, cheese, and chocolate. (Yes, CHOCOLATE!)

A salty popcorn with a sweet rich chocolate flavor is heaven to munch on, just so you know!

White popcorns have the following sub-varieties:

Tender & White

Sweet Baby Blue

Baby white

Lady Finger

Some Popcorn Characteristics

Now that we have covered the 2 types of popcorn, I want to show you next to the different characteristics of popcorns:

1. Butterfly-Shaped or Winged Popcorn

It is not a variety of popcorn, but a shape that certain types of popcorn take when it is cooked. If you want toppings and granulated seasoning to coat and stick to every piece of popcorn, then winged popcorns are the best at it!

Butterfly-shaped popcorns can take your seasoning from every nooks and cranny even flaps they have.

2. Hulless Popcorn

Some individuals describe this popcorn as “hulless”.

While all corns have hulls, there is some popcorn with more hulls and some have less.

You know that solid thing that lies at the bottom of your popcorn bag or the hard thingy that gets stuck in between your teeth

Those are hulls.

If you are very much annoyed with picking stuck hulls in between your teeth, then choose a variety which produces less. Typically, the smaller the kernel, the thinner the hull is and the lesser chances of it getting stuck in between your teeth.

Hulless varieties include Tender and White, Vintage Red, Midnight Blue, Lady Finger, Baby Yellow, and Baby White.

3. Mushroom Shapes

As its name implies, mushroom-shaped popcorns pop a round and more solid popcorn, similar to the head of a mushroom. This popcorn shape is suitable for chocolate or caramel glazed popcorns.

It is much stronger than the winged popcorn type since it keeps its shape even under pressure of applying the glazed and heavy coating and will not easily crumble down when mixed with flavorings and seasonings.

Popping Popcorn in 3 Easy Ways

So, let’s talk about the fun part— how to pop a popcorn? Here are 3 easy ways in popping those crunchy corn kernels!

1. Popping on the Stove

You can popcorn kernels on the stove using your usual cooking pan or pot. Just pour some oil into the pan or pan and put on medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot enough, add the corn kernels. Cover the pan or pot and wait until you hear the popping sound. You will know when it’s ready when the popping sound stops.

Put the hot popcorn into a wide bowl and add salt or butter if you want.

2. Microwave Popcorn

The easiest way to cook popcorn is using the microwave. Just put a paper bag filled with popcorn kernels in the microwave. Heat the microwave at maximum power for around 90 seconds. When the timer is up, you can now enjoy your favorite popcorn!

3. Using Hot Air Poppers

Hot air popper, also known as popcorn maker is a machine used or popping corn kernels which blow hot air through the holes in the container holding the kernels. This is a much healthier way of popping corn kernels since it does not require any oil to cook.

These popcorn machines emerged in the late 1970s for commercial use, however, small-scale hot air poppers for home use became available in the most recent decades. Popping corn kernels in a hot air popper is quite simple:

Add the corn kernels into the popper.

Turn the machine on and place a bowl below the spout of the popcorn maker.

Wait until all corn kernels pop.

Add butter and salt to taste

The Good in Eating Popcorn

If you are going to eat some snacks, then it is better you choose healthy snacks. And while it usually means replacing processed potato chips with a bowl of apple or carrot slices, an occasional bag of popcorn is not such a bad idea.

Popcorns are lighter on the stomach than most popular snack foods. There are numerous studies which have confirmed that the kernel hulls of popcorns possess a higher amount of polyphenols than most fruits.

Polyphenols help in developing strong tissue as well as preventing various types of cellular deterioration which can lead to cancer, liver disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, polyphenols are a great form of antioxidant, meaning popcorns can help in giving your skin a youthful glow.

Other than that, popcorn also nourishes your body by way of whole grains. Whole grains are packed with B vitamins as well as fiber, minerals, protein and vitamin E. For instance, one cup of popcorn contains around 1 gram of fiber. Food rich in fiber are proven to reduce cholesterol, thus minimizing the risk of particular heart illnesses including arrhythmia and diabetes.

Things to Consider When Buying a Popcorn Kernel

All these talks about popcorns might have made you crave for popcorns and you might already be dressed and ready to go out to get some kernels from your local store to munch on.

Wait!

Before you do that, you need to consider a few things in order to help you buy the best popcorn kernels out there!

1. The Packaging

Like any other edible materials, it is crucial that the popcorn kernels have good packaging in order to ensure safe storage for your popcorns. Choose popcorn kernels in resealable bags or containers with airtight lids since they can help in preserving the freshness of the popcorn kernels.

The packaging also needs to have a readable and clear description of nutritional facts for you to be aware of certain ingredients you might be allergic to.

2. Amount Per Pack

You also need to consider the number of popcorn kernels in each packet. You do not want to buy a large number of popcorn kernels that you might not be able to finish by yourself. Also, you do not want to buy packets with too little kernels for a big family and running out of popcorn snacks right before you can even start your favorite TV shows!

You need to assess how many ounces of popcorn kernels you need and stock up your kitchen accordingly so there is no shortage or wasted popcorns.

3. Kernel Variety

There are various types of popcorn kernels and we all have our own preference. You can usually find white and yellow popcorn kernels in the market, however, there are also purple, red and blue ones if you wish to explore the textures and flavors of different popcorns. Each popcorn variety has their own unique size, amount of hulls, texture, and flavors you can experiment on.

4. Regular Kernels VS. Seasoned Kernels

If you want the greatest freedom in taste, then choosing regular, unseasoned popcorn kernels is the right one for you since you will be the one to decide which seasoning you can add on it.

However, if you want an easy and quick preparation, then go for popcorn kernels with seasoning and oils. All you need to do is to add these kernels to your pan, a microwave of the electric popper, wait for them to pop, and you’re ready to munch!

The Top 5 Best Popcorn Kernels 2018

#1: Franklin’s Gourmet Popcorn Organic Popping Corn

Via Amazon.com

Quality

Price

Our rating

A popular brand of popcorn kernels, Franklin’s Gourmet offers this 7 pounds tub of certified organic popping corn kernels for you and your family. Franklin’s Gourmet has created popcorn products for too long and these popcorn kernels are non-GMO popping corns which are grown from Iowa and then packaged at Wisconsin— from true farm to your table, guaranteeing only the freshest popcorns out there!

Franklin’s Gourmet Popcorn Organic Popping Corn might not be the cheapest you can find in the market today, however, it makes up with its freshness and heavenly taste! If this promise is not fulfilled, you can have your money back, no questions asked!

What We Like

Pops really well

Non-GMO and organic popcorn kernels

Fresh from corn farms

Reputable brand

Enough for the whole family

What We Don't Like

Thick hulls

Popcorn is stale

Corn is too dry

#2: Kauffman’s Fruit Farm Non-GMO Red Popcorn

Via Amazon.com

Quality

Price

Our rating

If you have tried both yellow and white popcorns, then you might have been wanting to try something new! Well, look no more! Bring home this RED popcorn kernels from Kauffman’s Fruit Farm!

Being red in color, you might be scared to try it out since you might think that these are artificially colored or genetically modified— but these popcorn kernels are not! This red popcorn kernels are certified non-GMO and is grown by Amish Country Popcorn.

It is naturally cross-bred in order to produce the bright red color that is quite similar to Medium White. These red popcorn kernels have less flaky hulls, so you can enjoy eating it without any hulls getting stuck between your teeth. It pops meaty and fluffy white every time, and you got a lot of option for dressing and seasoning it up.

What We Like

Non-GMO

Naturally cross-bred

Less flaky hulls

Bright red color

What We Don't Like

Packaging bags could have been better

#3: Orville Redenbacher’s Yellow Gourmet Popcorn Kernels

Via Amazon.com

Quality

Price

Our rating

In terms of popcorn brands, Orville will always have a place among the best. Why? Because they create high-quality popcorn that offers great taste and freshness. This Non-GMO Yellow Popcorn kernels are delicious and pack a lot of crunches you will surely love!

The kernel size is suitable for popcorn poppers which can help save you effort and time in making these tasty popcorns at home. You can purchase from 5 to 11 pounds of kernels, depending on your craving needs.

Another great thing about this popcorn kernels is its container. It is built solidly so you can reuse it for other purposes when you finished all your corn kernels. It also has a hollow handle so you will not feel cheated by tricky packaging.

What We Like

Hulls stay attached to popped kernels

Certified non-GMO

The container is easy to store and reusable

Tasty and fresh popcorns

Comes in 5 to 11 pounds of kernels

What We Don't Like

Some corn kernels do not pop

Some kernels can get stuck on the hollow handle

Popcorn may become stale before you can even use it

#4: Country Harvest Popcorn 4-Ounce Poppers

Via Amazon.com

Quality

Price

Our rating

The Country Harvest Popcorn Kernels comes in a pre-measured serving for you to easily make popcorns one batch at a time. The packaging also features a tri-pack system which has the seasoning and oil in separate compartments. This is particularly useful when you do not know how much oils or seasoning you need to add in order for the popcorns to taste great.

This popcorn offers a slight tint of yellow color from the hull and produces large fluffs for a crunchy experience. It also has a slightly nutty flavor, particularly peanut or walnut flavoring, although there are no nuts included in the ingredients. This popcorn kernels are gluten-free, non-GMO and are directly sourced from local farms which ensures its freshness and tastiness.

What We Like

High level of crunchiness

Comes with seasoning and oils

Pre-measured

Gluten-free

Non-GMO

Clear nutritional facts at the back of the packet

What We Don't Like

Kernels are expensive per ounce than other types of popcorn kernels

Features a plastic bag which is hard to handle

#5: Franklin’s Gourmet Movie Theater Popcorn

Via Amazon.com

Quality

Price

Our rating

If you are looking for a strictly organic popcorn kernel which uses no animal fat and contains no gluten or non-GMO, with the added requirements of packets being pre-measured for smaller portions, then these 2-ounce popcorn packets from Franklin’s Gourmet would be your best choice.

The compact popcorn packets include 3 compartments which separate the kernels, seasoning, and oils and are the best for making home popcorns or can be tossed in your camping bag for making popcorns outdoors.

Other than being Gluten-free, non-GMO, and certified organic, these popcorn kernels are also peanut-free, soy-free, Vegan and Kosher, so you can make it for your guests or family without having to worry about the chances of someone being allergic to particular ingredients. The included oil is 100% coconut oil and is measured to be just the right amount for healthier and tasty popcorns you can munch on!

What We Like

Nutritional facts and instructions in cooking the popcorn are clearly given at the back of the packets

Pre-measured 2 oz. portions of kernels

Pre-measured seasoning and oils in separate containers

Organic and non-GMO

Free of soy, peanut, gluten

Vegan popcorn

What We Don't Like

Its size may not be enough for a large group of people

The Popping King

And now, the popcorn kernel that has the biggest “pop” would be…Franklin’s Gourmet Movie Theater Popcorn!

Being gluten-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, certified non-GMO and organic popcorn, t is pretty much the safest and healthiest option among the 5 popcorn kernels! Also, it comes with the needed healthy seasoning, so you can just toss it to the pot or popcorn maker, wait for the popping fun and you can go on and munch it right away!

Popping Thoughts

A bowl of popcorn is among the best snacks there is— from movie marathons to camping snacks to late night talks. And although this delicious snack can be bought ready-made, there is nothing more fun than making it yourself at homes and hearing that popping sound and heavenly smell!

So, what are you waiting for? Get one of the best popcorn kernels mentioned above and treat your family to a large bowl of popcorns this evening!

What’s that? You know some tasty popcorn kernels I don’t know about? Feel free to share it with us so we can experience the goodness! Just hit up the comment section below!

Until then, have a fun, popping time!

The post Best Popcorn Kernels Reviews 2018: Top 5+ Recommended appeared first on Cooky Mom.

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kristinsimmons · 7 years ago

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Nutty Crusted Butternut Squash Bowl with 10-Spice Roasted Chickpeas

I was recently asked by Terra (OSG’s editor extraordinaire) how I came up with this recipe, and after explaining my process to her we both agreed I should share my fun little kitchen story with you on the blog! I often think this stuff is going to be boring so I don’t tend to get into the behind-the-scenes details too often, but I’d love to hear what you think!

This recipe actually began as something totally different. I’d been working on a simplified butternut risotto and, despite a few attempts, it just wasn’t impressing me (okay, I totally have Shania Twain in my head right now). I had planned on trying that recipe one more time before moving on, but just couldn’t shake the feeling of DOOM I had about it. Whenever I’m clouded by this “feeling of doom” and try to force a recipe (ignoring the voices in my head screaming “noooo don’t do it!”), I find it usually winds up being a waste of time anyway. I have to say that the results are almost always still edible and often quite tasty…just not quite good enough to share!

So, putting the risotto aside, I brainstormed something in a totally new direction! I couldn’t get crusted butternut squash out of my head (#weirdo), and thought it would be absolutely amazing to create a nut-and-seed coating for one of my favourite sweet, hearty winter veggies. I thought about my popular eggplant parmesan recipe from Oh She Glows Every Day (page 173) and used that as a jumping off point to get the wheels turning.

But I didn’t want to share the crusted squash recipe on its own as I had a hunch many of you would ask me how to turn these crunchy beauties into a complete meal. I checked my fridge and saw that I had some kale on hand, so I decided to marinate the greens in a creamy dressing for a hearty base. Now what about adding more protein in addition to what the nuts and seeds provide? I’ve been wanting to make spicy roasted chickpeas using my 10-Spice Mix for a while, and thought the pop of heat they bring would be a nice contrast to the the sweet, nutty squash. Bingo!!

Let’s recap: crunchy crusted squash, marinated kale, and 10-Spice roasted chickpeas. Yes, this could be AMAZING!!! Soon enough, a meal was born! This is when I start to get really excited, if you can’t already tell. But then I realize that I have to write up that dang recipe…

After I come up with the complete recipe idea, I type the recipe out in its entirety, visualizing each step as I go along. (This is something I’ve gotten better at as the years have gone by, but I still think it’s probably the most difficult part of the process!) Then I use this detailed recipe draft as as a guide for my first test and any trials thereafter. Each time my recipe tester Nicole and I test the recipe, I make live edits into the working draft on my laptop. (Live editing sounds way more exciting than it is…hah.) Once we both approve of the recipe (Nicole owns her own daycare, so other testers often include children and parents too…score!), I make final recipe edits before Terra and I begin the back and forth of our editing process. I’ve been creating recipes for almost 10 years now, and I find this system helps me deliver consistent and high-quality recipes.

Okay, if you skip right over this and go straight to the recipe, I won’t blame you. It’s all about the food, after all! This recipe is a big one, so reading it over before you begin is especially important. Also, you’ll see it contains a few “mini” recipes within—nutty topping, 10-Spice Roasted Chickpeas, marinated kale, etc.—feel free to make individual components (like the roasted chickpeas or marinated kale) on their own when you’re not up for preparing the full dish. A little mix-and-match, if you will! I don’t want to gush too much, but I really hope you make the whole thing…everyone who tried this recipe RAVED about it (one tester even said it’s possibly her favourite OSG recipe ever!). I could eat it every day, personally. :)

Nutty Crusted Butternut Squash Bowl

Vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, refined sugar-free, soy-free

This hearty dish is filled with so many amazing crunchy, chewy textures—the crispy roasted chickpeas and nutty butternut coating are a delightful contrast to the soft squash and chewy kale. The flavours are out of this world: there’s sweetness from the squash and pure maple syrup, pops of tangy lemon and savoury garlic, and smokiness from the spiced chickpeas. Because there are a few components, this recipe is perfect for the weekend when you have a bit of extra time on your hands. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself dreaming about these nutty crusted butternut squash wedges and wanting to put them on just about everything!

Yield 4 generous servings

Prep time 25 Minutes

Cook time 50 Minutes

Total time 1 Hour, 15 Minutes

Ingredients:

For the nutty crust topping:

1 large garlic clove

6 tablespoons (53 g) hemp hearts

6 tablespoons (50 g) raw hazelnuts

3/4 cup (57 g) raw cashews

3/4 cup (38 g) raw walnuts

3 tablespoons (15 g) nutritional yeast

1 1/4 teaspoons fine sea salt

For the butternut squash:

1 small/medium (2 to 2 1/2 pound) butternut squash*

1 1/2 tablespoons arrowroot powder**

6 tablespoons (90 mL) extra-virgin olive oil

For the 10-Spice Roasted Chickpeas:

1 (14-ounce/398 mL) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon 10-Spice Mix***

For the marinated kale:

1 medium (300 to 350 g) bunch curly kale

1 small garlic clove, finely grated on a microplane

1 tablespoon (15 mL) extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon (5 mL) pure maple syrup, or to taste

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

3 tablespoons (45 mL) fresh lemon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving

1 tablespoon (15 mL) tahini, plus more for serving

Directions:

Position two oven racks near the middle of the oven and preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Prepare the nutty crust topping: Add the garlic clove to a food processor and process until minced. Now add the hemp hearts, hazelnuts (no need to remove skins!), cashews, walnuts, nutritional yeast, and salt to the processor and pulse the mixture until coarsely ground with some larger chunks of nuts (the mixture should be the texture of large-flake sea salt). Be careful not to overprocess the nuts as you want the topping to be crunchy. Spoon all of the mixture into a large shallow bowl.

Peel the squash and halve it lengthwise. Use a spoon to remove and discard the seeds inside. Slice each half into thin 3/4-inch wedges.

Now we’re going to coat the wedges in the nutty crust topping, and I’ll warn you in advance that this is a messy, imperfect process...but the result is delicious, so don’t sweat it! To start, in a shallow bowl, whisk the arrowroot powder and oil together until smooth. Use a pastry brush to generously brush the oil mixture onto a single squash wedge until it’s completely coated in oil (or simply dip the wedge into the oil and toss to coat). Immediately transfer the oil-coated wedge to the bowl of nutty crust topping. Using your fingers, heap the mixture onto the top and sides of the wedge until it’s covered completely. Be generous! Press the topping into the wedge so that there’s a thick coating. (And it’s totally normal for some topping to fall off in spots.) If you find your fingers covered in the topping, rinse and dry them as needed.

Repeat this process for all of the wedges, placing each one gently on the baking sheet as you go and leaving about 2 inches of space between. If you run out of topping, you can reserve leftover wedges for another use or coat them in oil and roast them alongside the topping-coated wedges as directed.

Prepare the 10-Spice Roasted Chickpeas: Place the drained and rinsed chickpeas onto a tea towel and roll the chickpeas around until they’re dry. Spread the chickpeas onto the second baking sheet and toss with the oil. Sprinkle on the 10-Spice Mix and toss the chickpeas again until coated evenly.

Place both baking sheets into the oven. Roast the chickpeas for about 30 to 35 minutes until lightly golden and then remove them from the oven. Roast the squash for a total of 40 to 55 minutes (I bake for about 50 minutes), until fork tender and lightly golden. I suggest testing the squash around the 40-minute mark and keeping a close eye on it thereafter.

While the chickpeas and squash are roasting, prepare the marinated kale. Rinse the kale leaves and use absorbent tea towels to pat dry. Separate the stems from the kale and discard. Tear the kale into bite-sized pieces and transfer to a very large mixing bowl. In a small bowl, whisk the garlic, olive oil, maple syrup, salt, lemon, and tahini until smooth. Pour the dressing over the kale and “massage” until fully coated. Feel free to enjoy the marinated kale raw or use a skillet to heat it up. (I like to sauté mine if I have time!) Set aside.

For serving: Divide the marinated kale into 4 large shallow bowls and top each with a few squash wedges along with a large spoonful of roasted chickpeas. Drizzle a tablespoon of tahini onto each bowl and top with a few generous squeezes of lemon juice too. You can serve the bowls with lemon wedges on the side if preferred. Oh, and if there is nutty topping remaining on the baking sheet, feel free to sprinkle it over the bowls so nothing goes to waste.

Tips:

* I recommend using a butternut squash on the smaller side here because a large squash (2 1/2 pounds or more) won’t leave enough nutty crust topping to go around.

** Cornstarch should work as an alternative to arrowroot powder.

*** For the 10-Spice Mix, use this recipe from the blog or on page 284 of The Oh She Glows Cookbook. Feel free to omit the white pepper for a slightly less spicy version.

If you’re not including the roasted chickpeas, please note that the squash will bake more quickly in the oven alone.

Have leftover roasted squash? It’s great thrown into a wrap the next day!

As always, you can find this recipe in The Oh She Glows Recipe App as well! The app is available on iOS and Android.

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Nutty Crusted Butternut Squash Bowl with 10-Spice Roasted Chickpeas published first on https://wittooth.tumblr.com/

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susantregre · 7 years ago

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Nutty Crusted Butternut Squash Bowl with 10-Spice Roasted Chickpeas

I was recently asked by Terra (OSG’s editor extraordinaire) how I came up with this recipe and after explaining my process to her, we both agreed I should share my fun little kitchen story with you on the blog! I often think this stuff is going to be boring so I don’t tend to get into the behind-the-scenes details too often, but I’d love to hear what you think!

Nutty Crusted Butternut Squash Bowl

Vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, refined sugar-free, soy-free

Yield 4 generous servings

Prep time 25 Minutes

Cook time 50 Minutes

Total time 1 Hour, 15 Minutes

Ingredients:

For the nutty crust topping:

1 large garlic clove

6 tablespoons (53 g) hemp hearts

6 tablespoons (50 g) raw hazelnuts

3/4 cup (57 g) raw cashews

3/4 cup (38 g) raw walnuts

3 tablespoons (15 g) nutritional yeast

1 1/4 teaspoons fine sea salt

For the butternut squash:

1 small/medium (2 to 2 1/2 pound) butternut squash*

1 1/2 tablespoons arrowroot powder**

6 tablespoons (90 mL) extra-virgin olive oil

For the 10-Spice Roasted Chickpeas:

1 (14-ounce/398 mL) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon 10-Spice Mix***

For the marinated kale:

1 medium (300 to 350 g) bunch curly kale

1 small garlic clove, finely grated on a microplane

1 tablespoon (15 mL) extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon (5 mL) pure maple syrup, or to taste

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

3 tablespoons (45 mL) fresh lemon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving

1 tablespoon (15 mL) tahini, plus more for serving

Directions:

Position two oven racks near the middle of the oven and preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Peel the squash and halve it lengthwise. Use a spoon to remove and discard the seeds inside. Slice each half into thin 3/4-inch wedges.

Tips:

* I recommend using a butternut squash on the smaller side here because a large squash (2 1/2 pounds or more) won’t leave enough nutty crust topping to go around.

** Cornstarch should work as an alternative to arrowroot powder.

*** For the 10-Spice Mix, use this recipe from the blog or on page 284 of The Oh She Glows Cookbook. Feel free to omit the white pepper for a slightly less spicy version.

If you’re not including the roasted chickpeas, please note that the squash will bake more quickly in the oven alone.

Have leftover roasted squash? It’s great thrown into a wrap the next day!

As always, you can find this recipe in The Oh She Glows Recipe App as well! The app is available on iOS and Android.

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#Oh She Glows

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the-grumpy-panda · 8 years ago

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Call The Landlord... There's A Goomba Afoot!

A fun (arguably speaking) mix of sweet and salty, moist and crunchy this time around! I'm still only about half way through all of the junk aligned on my counter top. Lots of crackers and chips and frozen treats and doughnuts to be reviewed at some point. My intent was to go sweet first, then savory/crunchy, but as it turns out, I care not about formulated decisions, and merely pounce onto whatever strikes my fancy when I feel like a snack. So dive in with me as we discuss... My dormant plumbing skills! Who knew? My Kitchen Sink Basket (it's a thing!) was old, faulty and leaking. I replaced it! I did it! It was rather simple, really, so don't call me for a real plumbing emergency, but for a guy who rents his abodes for the express purpose of never having to fix anything he didn't personally break, I'm quite pleased with myself that I decided to just be proactive this time. As a reward, I ate... -Firework Oreos! With popping candy! Well, if you're going to keep upping the ante on junk foods, this is certainly one way to do it. First off, no matter how you eat this, it will end up tasting of a regular Oreo, so if there's any fear about trying this one, fear not. In order to obtain the effect of the popping candy, it's best to just eat the cream on its own. It takes a small amount of time for the cream to give way, but the finishing notes are the fizz and pop you're looking for, and that's it. No other flavoring at play, and the fizz/pop is quite weak. If you put a whole cookie in your mouth and let it dissolve into a sludge consistency, the pop and fizz will show up at the very end after you've swallowed and if there happens to be some candy left on your tongue. Obviously, the cream and cookie parts get in the way of what the candy is supposed to do. Your level of enjoyment will depend on how much effort you want to put into it. I wouldn't say this one is a dud, as ultimately you're eating an Oreo, but it's certainly not as fun as one would hope. -Mountain Dew Spiked Lemonade from Taco Bell! I'm throwing this in here because of how yummy I found it to be. Grown men say yummy. Shut your mouth. I didn't know this was a thing until someone handed me one. If this were a permanent Dew flavor for mass market sale I'd probably keep a case on hand during the summer months. The Taco Bell website tells me it's a Dew lemonade spiked with Prickly Pear juice. It's lovely, and has a wonderfully tickling carbonation level. Grown men also say wonderfully tickling. Shut your mouth double. I had the soda version, but it also comes in a Slurpee like version. ***Quick addendum. I've just learned that this Dew lemonade, along with a raspberry version are available in singular, 16 ounce cans. Be on the look out! -Little Debbie Red, White and Blueberry Creme Rolls! It took me a moment to pin point exactly what the smell and flavor of these reminded me of. Then days after trying it, it finally dawned on me out of nowhere. The taste of the cream is very reminiscent of blueberry yogurt. Make what you will of the fact that part of my days were spent pondering a snack cake. Yogurt in a cake roll, though? Does it work? Yeah, it's alright. It's a cream consistency, though. I don't want anyone to think it's as runny as yogurt. The blueberry is a bit too artificial tasting, and it's not the best Little Debbie has offered, but as a weird little attempt to have a new item to offer, it's worth a purchase to try. This is a very solid item, too. It's thick, bulky, and surprisingly dense. One roll will definitely do ya. -Little Debbie Maple Buns! Whoa... quite an aroma to this one. Upon opening it your face is smacked with a cloud of cheap syrup smell. Taste wise, it's essentially a honey bun dipped in some cheap syrup, so exactly as promised. Your level of enjoyment will vary factoring in your appreciation of honey buns and cheap syrup. I wouldn't make this my go to choice, but if all else failed, I'd have no problem eating one again. -Little Debbie Peanut Clusters! A salted caramel and peanut cookie, covered in chocolate and halved peanut pieces. A nice sized cookie. A very dry treat, all things considered, but the cookie part maintains a pleasant crunch even though it's topped with caramel and chocolate. I won't dare scan the ingredients to see how many chemicals make this possible. I think this would be better if it were a caramel and peanut butter layering on the cookie covered in chocolate, but it still serves it's purpose, and I do find the crunch of the cookie satisfying. -Marshmallow Fruity Pebbles cereal! I have no clue how new or old these are. I had never seen them on shelves before, so it's a new product to me. Not much to say about them, really. It's Fruity Pebbles with essentially Lucky Charms marshmallows tossed in. I liked it, but I do think I prefer my Fruity Pebbles without accompaniment. What can/should be discussed is the marshmallow shapes... and what they actually look like. The Sharkasaurus looks exactly like a dolphin. Which when broken down, is actually a bit impressive. The Starfish... well, alright. It looks like a star, hard to muck that one up. The Giant Clam looks like a UFO or a kid wearing a helmet. You decide! The Jellyfish looks like a flower. The Shark's Tooth looks like a piece of broken off marshmallow dropped on the floor and found two weeks later. The Turtle looks like... I don't know, but distinctly not a turtle. And what this grouping of "shapes" has to do with Fruity Pebbles is beyond me. -Thomas' Banana and Chocolate Chip bagels! What type of tomfoolery is this? There is no banana taste, there is no chocolate chip taste, even when I decidedly take a bite that has chips in it! None of what's supposed to be here comes through in the flavor profile whatsoever. This tastes merely of a plain bagel. So much so, that I double checked the label, and inspected each of the bagels in the bag. All the same, all festooned with chips... but with NO FLAVOR! Luckily enough, I like any kind of bagel, so it's not a loss. All things being what they are, if a bagel complaint is the roughest my day gets, I should keep my fool mouth shut and enjoy this cushy existence. -Utz Sweet Corn potato chips! No weird or obnoxious smell upon opening the bag, just a normal chip smell. No corn flavor is really apparent either. They almost taste like a regular chip, but there is some sort of dusty coating to them that comes into play. I imagine this is supposed to be the sweet corn flavoring, but it just simply doesn't come across at all. We're left with a chip with a weird coating that neither adds or detracts from the chip. So... just buy a bag of regular Utz. This is just simply a dud, which makes me feel a bit bad, as it's not a failure that is revolting, it's just... a chip that inflated its resume and got caught. Tsk tsk. -Wise Grilled Cheeseburger potato chips! Smell of those microwaved one dollar burgers you can find in the frozen food section, which simply can't be anything but processed chemicals, right? Taste like a chip dipped in a weird sauce made of cheap ketchup and leftover burger grease. To my surprise, though, I found them to be okay. Not to the point where I'd eat a whole big bag, and there's something a little cheap about these, but they luckily weren't as disgusting as a chip that tastes like greasy ketchup could have been. -Wise Korean Barbecue potato chips! Pretty big smell of old fast food restaurant ketchup wafting out of this bag. Taste wise, they merely taste like a salt and pepper potato chip, and if you try real hard you can sort of taste a wee bit of onion as well. Mix up at the factory, Wise? A little disappointed there's not something weirder to rave on about. Although I think I've learned I'm not a big fan of Wise potatoes. I think it's safe to assume most potato chips are made relatively the same, but there's something a little off about the Wise brand. Maybe its the kind of oil they use, maybe the soil their potatoes are grown in is a little more acrid (or whatever, I don't know agriculture, my junk food grows right on the grocery store shelf all packaged up as far as I know) but their chips just come across as weak and cheap. Still perfectly edible, of course, but not a brand I'll ever make my first choice. -Hostess White Fudge Ding Dongs! Sooo many puns and innuendos waiting to be made. I'll keep it classy, however. I don't know what all makes up the white fudge Hostess uses, but I think I'm a fan. The other treat utilizing the coating was a white fudge and marshmallow Twinkie, which was delicious. This Ding Dong is also quite tasty and very moist. It consists of a yellow cake mixture, whereas a normal Ding Dong is a chocolate cake. Maybe therein lies the secret to its tastiness. Come on now, Hostess, how long will I have to wait before you give me a regular, chocolate Ding Dong with a white fudge coating??? Oh me, oh my but that sounded salacious as hell. Why do I now want a wearing nothing but an apron Daisy Ridley to mix me up some cupcakes while I, uh, "watch?" -Let's end this one how it began... with cookies. Always cookies. Cookies and soda, the undeniable crutches that keep me teddy bear soft. But that also makes me cuddly. Come on, Daisy, put away the cupcakes and cuddle me. Wait... bring the cupcakes with you and cuddle me. What was I thinking? Anyway, we now have Waffle And Syrup Oreos! Hmm. These are actually quite tasty, although I don't think I could pin point waffles and syrup if pressed. They smell and taste a lot like the Cinnamon Bun Oreo. Or maybe even a little like the Gingberbread Oreo. Hmm. (two Hmmm's in one paragraph. These are a thinker!) I'm going to go with my first instinct and say these are right on par with the cinnamon bun one. So they're good, but not the flavor we were promised. Which sums up my life! Thus concludes another adventure-less adventure. Time now for a nap and a cuddle. Come on then, me, you lovable oaf.

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onejamtart · 8 years ago

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The Fat Duck, Berkshire

It’s my (JL) dad’s 70th birthday this year so to help him celebrate; we decided to treat him to a meal at The Fat Duck. We’d been talking about going as a family for a while and so this seemed like the perfect opportunity. It’s definitely not as hard as it used to be to get a table; we were able to get a table about 5 weeks before when we wanted to go.

We arrived at the restaurant to find a small booklet and magnifying glass on the table. The booklet opened out to show our “itinerary” for the evening. We quickly realized what that the magnifying glass was for when we noticed that descriptions of the dishes were written in super small font.

As it was a celebration, we had to start with a glass of bubbly :)

We started off with “Change of Air”; which was essentially frozen mousses done at the table with liquid nitrogen.

I went for the Campari and Soda flavour. It was incredibly light and literally melted in the mouth. The Campari flavour came through really strongly and was a really nice start to the meal.

Next up was a beetroot and horseradish macaroon. You might be able to see from the photo the almost aero like texture of the beetroot biscuits. Again; it was incredibly light and the sweetness of the beetroot was really strong. It was almost a bit too sweet but was balanced out with the horseradish cream in the middle. Presentation was super simple but looked great; but that might be because I really liked the plate!

Next up was a dish called “Just the tonic!” This came with a glass of really nice gin and a plate of “tonic”. That was made up of a horseradish ice cream with like a biscuit base and some edible flowers. This was a bit more substantial than the first two things we had but still felt more like a pre-starter. Don’t get me wrong, it was incredibly tasty and horseradish ice cream is surprisingly good!

Next up was the “Hot and Cold Tea”. This turned up looking incredibly simple; it’s essentially a cup of tea. We were told not to let it sit for too long though (I don’t think there was much chance of that with any dish here). You take the first sip and you realize that one side of your mouth is drinking hot tea and the other is drinking cold tea. It is a very weird feeling and takes a second for you to realize exactly what’s going on but it brought a smile to all of our faces.

We were then brought a variety pack of cereals. I used to love getting these and choosing which ones we were going to eat first but I never had quite this choice. It was amazing that each of the boxes were custom made for The Fat Duck; the attention to detail is really very impressive.

I went for the Serious Cereal:

You can see the Fat Duck crest on the side of the box there. We each opened up our respective boxes and apart from the bag of cereal (more on that later), there was a wooden puzzle.

We had a mini race to see which one of us could put it together first. I’m obviously not normally one to brag but it was me :). As we were finishing them up, we were presented with our bowls of milk.

As you can probably guess, it wasn’t quite just a bowl of milk. It was in fact a layered mousse type thing with layers each flavoured with the components of a full English breakfast. The layer at the top was bacon milk. The parts that weren’t in the bowl were in the cereal so on that went.

The cereal had flavours of tomato, mushroom and beans all in a crunchy cereal form. Eating it together; you did have all of the flavours of a full English breakfast but the texture was that of a cereal. It did mess with our minds a bit but it tasted amazing. We were all pretty much agreed that so far, this dish was our favourite. The “so far” was a pretty big caveat though as we were about a quarter, maybe a third through the meal so far.

After breakfast, it was time for the Sound of the Sea. First up was a sea shell each with headphones hanging out. Put those in and you get to listen to literal sounds of the sea with the sound of waves crashing into the beach and sea gulls.

We then got a dish of sashimi. We had mackerel and kingfish with a sand made of crushed anchovies, oyster leaf and a foam of tapioca. The sand was very cool and I’ve always loved oyster leaf. If you’ve never had it before, it’s a leaf but does actually taste of oyster. Completely messed with my head the first time I had it but it’s awesome!

The fish was super fresh and tasted great! Listening to the sea was a bit gimmicky but it was fun.

Staying at the seaside, it was time for ice-lollies! We were given a rocket lolly and a twister. But this obviously wasn’t your standard lollies; the rocket one was a Waldorf salad with walnut, celery and apple flavours. The individual flavours were all really strong but balanced against each other really well. You did end up eating top down so you ate each section almost separately but definitely Willy Wonka-esque!

The Twister was a piece of smoked salmon with pureed avocado and horseradish cream around it. I can only imagine how fiddly it is to make but definitely worth it! The produce and flavours are great but in this case, the presentation just makes something quite simple (salmon, avocado and horseradish) into some very cool.

Now onto a trip to the rock pool; the dish came like this with the food coming in a shell shape on top of sea vegetables.

A broth was poured over and the top of the shell melted away to reveal a nest of fish roe. I really enjoyed this dish in that the warm broth was really nice and savoury with that lovely shellfishy seafoody flavour and whatever the shell was made from slowly melted into the broth just making it richer. I also just love fish roe so I was loving this dish.

To be honest, at this point, we were already a couple of hours into the meal and it hit us that we were probably not even half way. It’s spaced out really well though so the time had gone really quickly and we weren’t feeling too full (at least I wasn’t). There was a little bit of a longer break now which allowed us to catch our breath a bit, chat a little and appreciate the really relaxed atmosphere in the restaurant. It wasn’t too long though until it was time for the next dish.

We were presented with this very cool woodland scene. Again, it’s the level of detail that was super impressive but what happened next was also super cool.

Obviously, very quickly you can’t really see anything but what really hits you is this waft of mushrooms, wood, leaves and just pretty much anything and everything that you associate with the woods.

And then they bring the dish! The plate came down in front of me and this dish just simply smelt unbelievable! You’ve got to love mushrooms for this but all of us do and every bite was just another burst of mushroomy goodness. You can just about see in the photo there was a little bug like thing that tasted pretty good actually.

The courses just kept on coming and next up was the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, this was Heston’s version of the Mock Turtle Soup.

I can only imagine how fiddly it is to make this dish look this good in this bowl!

We were given a gold watch which when put into the teapot with water quickly melted to become a beef broth which was then poured over the mock turtle.

We were then given a Queen Victoria Toast sandwich. This is pretty how it sounds in that we had a sandwich where the main filling was in fact a piece of toast. It’s obviously a little more than that with mustard, anchovy paste I think and some truffle as well as a lot of other ingredients I couldn’t figure out. This may sound strange but I think this was one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had!! I could easily have done 5 or 6 of these!

After this, we were actually given a menu for a whole 3 course meal! Another menu came up to describe the next 3 courses that in itself would form a 3 course meal.

First up was the Scallops Anna which was layers of scallop, truffle and king oyster mushroom. Damn, this was good! It was really hefty juicy slices of scallop cooked to perfection with the mushroom and the truffle. Presentation looked amazing but it was a showcase of amazing flavours, amazing produce and perfect execution. We were all very impressed!

Onto the beef; filet of beef with bone marrow, shiitake mushrooms and shallots. I’m not normally the biggest fan of filet; I generally prefer ribeye but oh my god this was good. Filet is always pretty tender but this took the piss. What really blew my mind was just how much flavour it had! I’ve never had a piece of filet come close to being that tasty and I love bone marrow and mushrooms so I was in my own little bit of heaven here.

Dessert was called Botrytis Cinerea which is actually a fungus that grows on wine grapes and is what gives certain dessert wines its flavour. This whole dish was to do with the flavours of dessert wine so you had apricots, peaches, honey and obviously grapes all done in different textures. It was on a bed of delicate crumble and came with a super tasty biscuit. We actually had a glass of dessert wine with this which went perfectly.

It’s crazy how delicate the sugar work is.

The aperitif of our meal within a meal were whisky gums. Each was made with a different type of whisky, 4 from Scotland and one from Australia. I’m a massive whisky lover so I found this a lot of fun and they were really pretty boozy little sweets! Really nice but I get that you need to be a whisky fan to really enjoy these.

Now it was finally onto actual dessert which was a trip to the clouds called Counting Sheep and the first part of our dessert was literally floating in the air. It was a malt meringue that was impossibly light.

The rest of the dessert was a coconut ice cream, an incredibly fluffy sponge and a sorbet. It was quite a light dessert which was appreciated after the many many courses that had led up to it. I think we were all slightly slipping into food comas at this point but there was still one last course to go.

We’d been eyeing up this model house in the corner of the restaurant throughout the meal wondering what it was and for our last course, we were about to find out. It was wheeled over and we were told it was a specially commissioned model of the Fat Duck building, complete with the hanging sign but designed as a sweet shop.

As you can see, the detail of the model is pretty damn impressive. Each individual jar and sweets were all made separately.

What’s more is that with a turn of a handle here and there, the building opened up to show the inside with the shop in the attic.

There was also a set of drawers underneath that we were to find our final course.

So very appropriate for a course called “Like a Kid in a Candy Shop”, we got a shovel of sweets in a paper bag.

And that was it, the end of what was a great meal. It went by pretty quickly while we were eating but the whole thing did take about 5 hours. There were some really nice touches to the meal, including a birthday card for my dad and a quick tour of the kitchen at the end.

It’s pricey and takes time to book and organize but for a really special occasion, it still does the trick!

The Fat Duck, High St, Bray, SL6 2AQ

Cheers, JL

#thefatduck #fatduck #heston #hestonblumenthal #foodporn #food porn #foodgasm #restaurantreview #heston blumenthal #instafood #mealoftheday #oishii #yummy #bray #brayrestaurants #ojt

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cutiecrates · 6 years ago

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Cutie Reviews: Tokyo Treat Nov 18

I’m writing this a day or two later than I would have liked, but I’ve been playing my Atelier video game series again ;3

“The seasons have begun to change. The breeze has begun to chill, the leaves are slowly changing colors, and seasonal foods are starting to fill out the shelves. We here at TokyoTreat absolutely love autumn and all the autumn flavors like chestnuts, sweet potato, and more! That is why this month’s It’s Fall Ya’ll box you can find an assortment of tasty autumn flavors! We hope you enjoy this month’s box and set the mood for a joyous upcoming holiday season.“

For this month, our Lucky Treat stars random pieces from Kirby and One Piece! The prizes for the months contest feature My Hero Academia.

The book also features a connect the dots, an article about autumn scenery hot-spots in Japan, and an article about the food Oden- a warm dish often ate in fall or winter consisting of many items boiled in stock.

Peach Ginger Ale

Ironically, this time my plans weren’t to use the carpet but everywhere else was preoccupied. It makes a lovely backdrop though, doesn’t it?

Anyway, the DIY I won’t be reviewing. , if you’ve been a reader of this blog you will recognize it. Our featured item for this is the Canada Dry Peach Ginger Ale, which combines the taste of ginger ale and real peach juice. There is a total of 160 calories in this drink.

The color is a lot lighter than it looks in the picture, and it smells like peach gummies with a faint hint of ginger ale.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥

I hate the taste of strong ginger, but I like ginger ale. Usually peach drinks have been good too, so I had high hopes this would be great.

However... I’m not entirely sure how I feel now. It doesn’t exactly taste like ginger ale to me, I mainly get a bitter peach juice taste, maybe with a very faint hint of ginger? I felt like the scent was way more appealing than the actual drink- but the more of it I drank, the more like ginger ale it tasted and less like peach. So it’s not the worst thing I’ve tried. Not by far.

Puffy Sweet Potato Chips & Japanese BBQ Scone

(I’m not sure what happened with the picture, please try to ignore that.)

These are two items we’ve had before in this box, several months/years back. But they are both extremely tasty so I’ll take it for what it is ;3

By Calbee, our first item is a bag of chips made from sweet potato all the way from Tanegashima Japan. They are fluffy with a light crisp, making them the perfect option for those who like a softer crunch or may not be eating harder foods just yet. Each bag is a total of 94 calories.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I love these! They’re sweet with a pinch of salt, and the texture reminds me a lot of Munchos chips. The sweet potato is barely noticeable, so if you don’t like it they’re not that bad, but if you do like it then you might not taste it enough.

Our other item is the months share pack, BBQ-flavored Scone (Basically the Japanese variant of Cheetos, but I think they have cheetos in Japan too...). Each bag is 99 calories, which if you ask me is a pretty good deal if you compare them to certain other options :P

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

These would be in my top 5 Japanese snack list for sure. They have a very strong flavoring and are coated in it; actually, after eating them I couldn’t help but note that flavor reminded me a lot of beef jerky. Which makes sense as they are flavored after grilled meat smothered in sauce, not just the sauce like most barbecue chips.

They taste very good, I’m sure a lot of people would like these ones.

Chestnut Kit Kats & Mont Blanc Shimi Choco

These are the perfect match and a great representation of fall. For Cuties unfamiliar with Mont Blanc, it is a chestnut dessert very similar to a cupcake.

First up is a bag of miniature Chestnut kit kats. Each pack is 64 calories and features a white chocolate covered wafer. I believe the chestnut is mixed with the chocolate, giving it a unique tinge.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

They’re pretty sweet with a neutral creaminess, with the chestnut mostly overpowering the white chocolate. I’m not complaining since I don’t like white chocolate very much.

To go with this is the Shimi Choco in Mont Blanc flavor. Shimi Choco is not a new thing for TokyoTreat subscribers/me, but this flavor sure is! Once again it features the chestnut product mixed in with white chocolate to create a delicious combination.

Each bag is 320 calories, and for those who might be unfamiliar with shimi choco- it is a light and crispy chocolate snack, often identifiable by it’s cute star shape.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥

As much as I like shimi choco, I think I might like the kit kats more than these. They taste good, but they go stale pretty fast once opened (if not before then because keep in mind its been months since I got this). I was also a bit disappointed by how little they actually give you in the bag- especially because of how little we actually get.

That’s really saying something you know...

Tsum Tsum bitesize Choco, King’s Crown Chocolate Cookie, & Bisco Sandwich Snack

Okay, so the Tsum Tsum aren’t new and I’ve decided not to individually review them. Long story short, they’re cute and yummy, bitesize chocolate with a shell over them. Normally really good- but this time they sucked, due to a hole in the pouch they came in causing them to be stale by the time I got to them. If I had known about it when I got the box I would have eaten them.

This is why I always check my boxes, even if I don’t review them right away- just to make sure nothing is wrong/broken/missing. I somehow missed it though.

Anyway, the next item is the King’s Crown Chocolate Cookie; and doesn’t it just look precious~?

This is a special cookie because not only is it made from both regular and chocolate cookie, but the inside is filled with gooey chocolate ♥ You can heat it up to make it a dreamier experience or eat it as is.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥

As I forgot to read the book before eating this snack, I was quite surprised by the chocolate. It’s a little runny, but it didn’t make a mess or anything. The sweetness of the chocolate compliments the neutral cookie flavors.

Our final item in this pic is the Sandwich Snack (obviously a cookie though, I’m not sure why they called it a snack) by Glico. Each bag includes 5 cookies, and one bag is 98 calories. Each cookie has a cute heart etched on it, and these are also the kinosei snack, made with lactic acid to help with digestion.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I liked sandwich cookies a lot more when I was little, and I’ve always liked Oreos but I don’t find myself eating them too often as of late. The flavor is very simple, but I swear I taste a tiny hint of lemon. I really like the cream, which might be small but fairly thick (and practically mold-able like air dry clay).

I feel like these would be a good option for children to have.

Juicy Gummies

Next up are these 100% juice made gummies, available in Grape, Peach, and Green Grape. They have a bell shape, but it’s said that if you’re lucky you can also find them in stars and hearts, which I think is very kawaii~

I didn’t realize that at the time when I took these pictures, but I did see both in my pack. Each pack has a total of 170 calories.

Rating: ♥ ♥

First of all you can see that their coloring is way off, but I suspect that’s due to the real juice. If they were artificial they probably would have resembled the pack more.

I loved the texture of these, they’re very soft. But I couldn’t stand the taste except for the green grape ones. The grape one doesn’t even taste like grape juice (which I love btw) it tastes more like artificial sugary jelly or jam (which I don’t like), while the peach was like... a poor comparison to the ginger ale drink.

As cute as the package is, I can’t say I would necessarily recommend these when I’ve tried so many better gummies.

Apple Pie Pie No Mi & Sweet Potato Caramel

Up first is everyone’s favorite Pie No Mi by Lotte. This time we get a buttery apple pie flavor and each box is a total of 380 calories.

Pie No Mi is popular for coming in a variety of seasonal flavors, each with a flaky, soft pastry outside fairly similar to a pies crust. The filling is chocolate flavored and colored after the main ingredient, in this case it’s apple custard.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I usually enjoy the Pie No Mi, and at first I didn’t think I would like this one at all after trying it. I love apples, but these actually taste like banana to me o_o I don’t like banana, but it’s saving grace was the fact that it’s not an artificial banana taste, it tastes like an actual banana to me.

To be air, they might taste this way because I didn’t open it sooner, but...

Anyway our next item is this adorable little box of caramels~

These are by the brand Morinaga, and each caramel (or pack, I’m not sure) is about 20 calories.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I ♥ caramel x3 they feel hard but they’re actually very soft and chewy, but not sticky so you won’t need to worry about teeth. The “sweet potato“ flavoring might sound a bit odd, but to me they still pretty much just taste like a normal caramel, which maybe a tiny hint of pumpkin spice or something. They’re not overly sweet.

Yakisoba Taro Snack & Vegetable Salad Umaibo

We’re down to our last two items of the box. First is this small bag of yakisoba snacking noodles, which are perfect if you like noodles and want to take them on the go but don’t have the appropriate utensils to make a cup.

I’m pretty sure we’ve had these before...

Rating: ♥ ♥

They tasted okay, and I love crunchy noodles (I don’t know why), but for some reason I’ve never been a huge fan of the ones meant for snacking. I don’t know if it’s this brand or if I’m just picky. But my mom loves them so I decided to just let her have them.

Our last item for the review is a vegetable Umaibo; as you can see it didn’t travel very well though. I don’t rough house with the box, I’m not sure what happened to it. It’s still edible though so it’s not a big deal :P

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Very delicious, even if it was a tiny bit messy to eat this time. I can’t really say it tastes like vegetable to me though, it reminded me of some powder you would put in cup noodles.

♥ Cutie Ranking ♥

Content - 3 out of 5. Once again I find myself conflicted by the repetition featured in this box. But compared to the prior box, the repetitive items we got I liked a lot more, so I suppose it might balance out.

Theme - 3 out of 5. I think about half of the box gave me fall vibes and made me think of the season quite well.

Total Rank: 8 out of 10. I never stepped back and said wow I love this box! during the review while exploring the items- but I didn’t hate or dislike more than 1 item and thought that the selection was nice. However I felt like there wasn’t a good balance. It felt very one-note in a way.

♥ Cutie’s Scale of Yummy ♥

1. BBQ Scone - I really like these, maybe a tiny dash less than the corn potage Umaibo. Highly recommend.

2. Umaibo - I’m not entirely sure what vegetable these represent because I didn’t taste salad at all. But I do really like the flavor :P

3. Puffy Sweet Potato Chips - I’ve had these before but I like how light and crisp they are. They never get old.

4. Chestnut Kit Kat - I liked their creamy flavor. Kit Kats are almost always delicious~

5. Shimi Choco - I wish there had been more, but I was kind of concerned over the calories >3<

6. Sweet Potato Caramels - I love caramel and these were pretty tasty.

7. King’s Crown Cookie - I thought the shape was very cute, and I liked the chocolate sauce on the inside.

8. Apple Pie Pie No Mie - I love the texture on these, although that usually never changes. I was kind of confused because to me these tasted like banana, not apple; but because they’re not artificial in taste I didn’t hate them.

9. Sandwich Snack/Cookie - I loved the cream in these, I was surprised by how much was actually in each one.

10. Canada Dry Peach Ginger Ale - It wasn’t too bad once I got used to it, but it still wouldn’t be my first choice. I really liked the label on it though.

11. Tsum Tsum Choco - Had these not been expired I would have liked them a lot more. They’re good any other time.

12. Juicy Gummies - I was so disappointed in these. I always expect fruits or gummies to taste amazing, then I’m let down when they don’t...

13. Yakisoba Taro Snack - I don’t know why I don’t like these, I just don’t.

Alrighty, we’ve come to the end of another review :3 I hope you enjoyed or liked the pictures at the very least. We got one more November box to cover, then we’ll be moving onto the December boxes!

Until next time, remember to open up a box of cuteness every day!

#cutie reviews #tokyo treat #kit kat #tokyotreat #tsum tsum #pie no mi #umaibo

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