#all that time blending different sauces and this is the only thing I needed | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

0m3g4skanohiforge · 2 months ago

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Hello, I'm fairly new to tumblr so I apologize if I break any social faux pas, and of course, please do not feel that you have to respond if this is in any way privileged information.

I'm looking to get into resin casting in order to recreate bionicle masks in different colors, and I'm wondering if you have any tips or tricks you would like to share with me? If not I completely understand, this is a source of monetary income for you, and I would scarcely go into a pizza shop asking how they made their special sauce so that I could make it at home.

The big thing I'm struggling with is how best to orient the mask/suspend it in the silicone. Currently I place a toothpick in the stud hole but that doesn't seem to be optimal for filling the mask mold all the way. I'm thinking of 3d printing a special stick to hold up the mask to allow resin to flow more evenly to the different edges, but I was just wondering how you combatted that issue.

Another improvement to my process I was thinking of making was "injecting" the resin into the mold with a plastic syringe in order to penetrate deeper into the mold. Currently my molds (I've made two so far, each of middling quality), have only one fill-hole, and two or so air escape holes that I've poked in after the fact with a needle.

Obviously my mold-making needs a lot of work, but if you have any tips or tricks on the matter I'd be more than happy to hear them :D

Thank you very much for your time,

opaulsoup

First off, hi! Welcome to tungle. I very much do have tips and tricks, and I'm happy to share! The point of my work is to make masks (and eventually more parts) accessible to people in as many colours as possible, so restricting information wouldn't be in good faith imo.

Mask mold making is an intricate process how I do it - which I've been told is "over complicated" and "a lot of extra trouble" or "probably not using the best equipment" lol, but I'll share what's worked for me nonetheless.

First off, I embed my masks in clay on a sufficiently sized plate. The clay here is a really rough job (I don't wanna spend all the time fixing it up for this photo, so enjoy some real WIPs) so ideally you'd smooth it out to be flush with the edges of the mask and the plate, little to no overhang or pockets. (Make sure the clay is sulfur-free!)

I then add on my mold box (made of old/dirty bricks sealed on both sides with painters tape) and fill with silicone. This of course only makes one half of the mold, so we gotta then take the bottom off and the clay out to make the rest. Another wall layer is added to the flipped mold, and the entire thing is sprayed with a mold release so the next layer of Silicone doesn't stick.

For the injection point, I currently do two per mask for the sake of Metru Mask blends. These are done with Lego bars, like lances or antennae. Advantages of a Lego mold box is reusing the same vents and sprues in configurable positions for any mask. Speaking of...

I also make a LOT of air sprues so bubbles don't get trapped. These are using toothpicks, and placed at any notable points of elevation. At minimum, I'll put 4 per mask. Afterwards, pour the next layer of Silicone and take it all out! Definitely don't poke air holes to avoid bubbles, the rubber will maintain its shape too well and the air won't truly escape.

Regarding injection, I use syringes! I try to inject somewhat slowly mostly to reduce material waste, but also to reduce pressure (and thus deformation) inside the mold. Rubber bands can only do so much to hold the mold shut, and at this scale + this angle there's not much else to do to keep the mold firmly shut.

Of course, the biggest tip I should always start with is SAFETY. Make sure you're doing this in a sufficiently safe location - no bedrooms or kitchens! These are harmful chemicals, and I've experienced the respiratory harms and chemical burns firsthand. Gloves, ventilation, labcoat, and respirator are must-haves.

I do hope this helps! Feel free to get in touch any time, and I'm eager to see what you create!

#bionicle #resin casting #behind the scenes #answered

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waytooinvested · 10 months ago

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Forgotten, Not Forgiven - Chapter 30

This and previous chapters are also on AO3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘Here, taste this, tell me what it needs.’

Kara accepted the offered spoon and blew on it before taking the sauce onto her tongue with the considering look of a connoisseur.

‘Hmm… a tiny bit more oregano I think. And a couple of squares of that super intense dark chocolate you think I haven’t discovered yet.’

Lena chuckled, going to fetch the ingredients Kara had suggested.

‘That’ll teach me to think I can hide chocolate from you. I only bought it yesterday, you’re like a blood hound.’

‘What can I say, I take a healthy interest in my snack options. Your chocolate is pretty safe though – I maintain that candy really shouldn’t be bitter. Well, except when you’re adding it to a savoury recipe, then that 90% cocoa stuff is perfect.’

‘I’ll take your word for it.’

Lena knew that the idea of adding cocoa to savoury dishes was hardly a new one, but it still felt instinctively wrong to be dropping squares of chocolate into her marinara, the smell of it as it melted mingling with the tomato and herbs in a blend that was frankly confusing to her senses. It was not a choice she would have made on her own, but she had come to trust Kara’s instincts when it came to flavour.

After a few days of take out and easy freezer-to-oven dinners, Lena had insisted on cooking proper meals (because pot stickers and pizza alone were not nutritionally balanced enough to aid a speedy recovery, even if they did technically contain vegetables), and over time cooking together had become a welcome part of their evening routine. To begin with Kara just sat nearby while Lena cooked, reading aloud to her from whatever book Lena had on the go at the time, or else exchanging stories about what they had each been up to during the day; but as her pain diminished and she started to regain more use of her wrist, Kara had begun to take an interest in the cooking process itself.

After the pancake disaster Lena had (not unreasonably, she thought) felt some trepidation the first time Kara had offered to help make dinner, but they quickly discovered that, as long as Lena took over all charge of the process, they actually made an amazing team. Lena had always enjoyed cooking for herself when she could find the time (she found great satisfaction in taking unrelated parts and bringing them together to make something new and better, whether it was an image inducer or a mushroom and stilton tarte tatin), but it was Kara that was the real surprise. She made short work of anything that needed chopping, grating or mashing and acted as an enthusiastic sous chef for any dish Lena suggested they try, but she really came into her own when it came to flavour combinations, and was inevitably the one to suggest the exact missing ingredient to elevate whatever dish they were making from mere ordinary week night filler to something that could be served with pride at any dinner party.

As usual, once the chocolate was fully stirred in and the sauce had had a few more minutes to combine, Lena found that Kara’s recommendation had been spot on. Her additions added a depth and richness that had been missing before, and nicely balanced out the acidity of the tomatoes to create something that tasted truly phenomenal.

‘Okay, that’s amazing. How did you know that would work?’

Kara grinned and shrugged, half smug, half bashfully pleased with the compliment.

‘I guess there have to be some advantages to basically being a walking stomach. I’ve tried a lot of different flavours, and I pay attention to what makes things go well together.’

‘Well, I’m impressed. I grew up in a house with a professional chef on staff, and some of your dishes could rival his.’

‘Not without you they couldn’t. I get too distracted when I’m cooking, and either eat half the ingredients as I go or else mess up my timings and end up with a burned crust at the bottom of the pan.’

‘We’re the dream team.’

‘Yup!’

Lena couldn’t help thinking how many other things that applied to in their new shared experience beyond simple meal prep. Now they had settled in and Kara was able to do more for herself, living together was becoming comfortable in a way she had never imagined cohabiting with another person could be. Even with Jack, who she really had loved, sharing their space had felt like an ongoing negotiation to maintain a balance between her comfort and his, both of them having constantly to give ground in order to maintain domestic harmony.

It wasn’t like that with Kara. There was compromise of course, but it never felt like a fight. It felt more as though the two of them were a team, working together to solve whatever the problem was rather than just trying to get their own way. Like when Kara had started feeling homesick for her own apartment around about the two week mark, and they talked it through and then Lena brought over a whole load of her things to make the penthouse feel more like home. It could have been a disaster of clashing taste and excess clutter, but it wasn’t. They had spent a happy afternoon decorating together, Kara sitting on the couch with her injured leg propped up while Lena followed her suggestions for where to put things: a painting Kara had done here, some bright throw pillows there, a couple of cosy woven blankets draped over the back of the sofa where they could be grabbed and snuggled under while watching a movie.

What they ended up with was a blend of both their styles that shouldn’t have worked, but somehow did. Lena had always thought that she preferred her spaces to be clear and modern, as far removed from the dark, old money clutter of the Luthor Mansion as she could get, but she found now that she liked this so much better. It was cosy and friendly, and it reminded her of how safe and happy she had always felt in Kara’s apartment. Having her things here side by side with Lena’s own felt right, like this was their home, not just hers.

She didn’t like to dwell on just how much she loved that feeling, because if she did she would be forced to remember how fleeting it was. Kara was getting stronger every day, and was already well enough to have started working from home, though she was yet to return to the office. And her recovery was a good thing, of course. A wonderful thing. But Lena couldn’t help the sinking feeling in her stomach when she remembered how soon the time would come when all this would be over, and she would have to go back to living alone in a place that would feel too big, too sterile, too unnaturally quiet without Kara and all her things to breath life and warmth into it.

And of course when Kara moved back to her own apartment Lena would have no more excuses to put off fulfilling her unspoken promise to track down Lex, and however that played out, it was bound to change things. Even with her best case scenario, where she successfully killed Lex before he could kill her and made it out with the cure, restoring Kara’s memories would bring an end to this cosy domestic bubble they had made for themselves. And if somehow they managed to work through all of their history and found they still loved each other on the other side of that, Kara would go back to juggling her work at Catco with saving the city while Lena returned to being a proper full time CEO. They would both have much less time for just hanging out together, learning to make their own pot stickers and practising Singstar duets, especially when they no longer lived under the same roof.

But, she reminded herself, they weren’t there yet.

Kara might be well enough to write articles from her nest on the couch and hobble to and from the bathroom with the assistance of crutches now, but her leg was going to be in plaster for a few more weeks, and she wasn’t done recovering yet.

She still needed Lena.

They still had time.

‘Are you okay love? You look a million miles away.’

Lena turned to meet Kara’s gently concerned look with a smile, letting her spiralling thoughts fade into the background to be replaced by the much more tangible presence of their evening plans.

‘I’m good. Just pondering what movie we should watch after we eat. I think I’m in the mood for something cheerful tonight.’

‘How about Singin’ in the rain?’

‘Again?’

‘Well, how could you not feel cheerful listening to those songs? But I’m open to other options. Actually I was looking for movie night ideas online yesterday and thought it might be nice to watch Imagine Me & You some time… would you be up for giving it a try? I think it’s mostly cheerful. There’s a happy ending for definite.’

Lena had never heard of ‘Imagine Me & You’, but mostly cheerful with a happy ending and something other than the musical they had watched four times since Kara moved in was okay with her.

‘Sure, sounds great.’

They ate their (excellent) meal and then Kara loaded the dishwasher while Lena brought the crockery over to her and wiped down the surfaces. They could have left it for the cleaners to take care of in the morning, but the shared chore felt easy, natural, a routine they had performed over and over and could gladly perform a thousand times more, if given the chance.

When the kitchen was back to rights they grabbed a bottle of wine and a tub of Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey, and settled down on the couch. They were long past the point of sitting cautiously apart on the more-than-big-enough-not-to-touch sofa, and Kara’s shoulder was pressed up against Lena’s before she had even managed to work the lid free from the ice cream.

‘How many tubs do we still have left?’

‘About eight.’

‘And we’ve eaten…?’

‘… about eight.’

Kara laughed, bopping her head gently against Lena’s as she dug her spoon into the banana-nut-fudge that was tonight’s flavour of choice.

‘I can’t believe you bought sixteen flavours of ice cream just to cheer me up.’

‘Well, you were sad and in pain and I wanted to make you feel better – I’d have bought more, except I also needed room for all the frozen potstickers and oven-ready pastries.’

‘Ohhh those were so good. I felt like I’d just walked into a Parisian bakery on our croissant mornings.’

‘Now we’ve got into the swing of cooking we should try making some from scratch. I bet you could come up with some really interesting breakfast pastry flavour combinations’ Lena suggested.

‘Yes, lets do that on Saturday! First flavour possibility, banana, walnut and fudge. What do you think?’

Kara held out the ice cream tub to Lena, and she dug her spoon in to sample.

‘Hm… banana – not my usual go to, but I could be convinced as long as we used real ones, and could be paired with a custard base. Walnuts would add a nice crunch and flavour. Fudge… pretty good in the ice cream, but I’m not sure about the pastry.’

‘You’re right, semi-sweet chocolate would probably be better for balance. I like the ice cream though, solid six out of ten. Remind me what it’s up against?’

‘New York Super Fudge Chunk.’

Kara winced and patted the tub in her hand sympathetically.

‘Oof. Poor thing never stood a chance.’

‘Agreed. I’ll update the spreadsheet.’

Given the sheer quantity of ice cream flavours they had had to choose from and the need to find novel ways to fill their time during the first couple of weeks, Kara had started what she called the “ice cream play offs” in a bid to find the ultimate ice cream flavour. And Lena, being ever the scientist, had been unable to resist the temptation to record their results properly, which had led to the creation of their unofficial official Ben and Jerry’s world rankings spreadsheet, which they updated meticulously each time they picked a new pint to sample. It brought together Kara’s enthusiasm for food and Lena’s inherent nerdiness in a glorious shared investment in their unserious contest, and cumulatively they had spent at least a couple of hours arguing companionably over whether Cherry Garcia or Chocolate fudge brownie should make it to the next round, or if Netflix and Chill’d should gain or lose points for being called that.

Now the serious matter of ice cream ranking had been decided they at last pressed play on the movie and settled down to enjoy the story, each occasionally dipping their spoon for another bite as they watched.

It started with a bride getting ready for her wedding day, and Lena mentally prepared herself for a couple of hours of cheesy rom com.

There was a moment pretty early on where Rachel (the bride) made eye contact with the florist as she walked down the aisle that made Lena raise an eyebrow, but it wasn’t until the way they looked at each other during the first visit to Luce’s shop that she was certain beyond doubt of what sort of movie Kara had picked for them to watch.

Oh.

Lena had imagined watching a queer love story together many times before – had even considered suggesting one in their previous life, as another hint to the intentions that Kara never seemed to pick up on, but she had never actually done it. Now Kara was the one making the move, and fuck, it was as if she was taking a sledgehammer to the foundations of Lena’s good intentions to maintain this last bit of distance between them.

They took another blow when, during a tension-loaded scene in a darkened classroom while Rachel fantasised about reaching out to touch Luce, Kara pulled her legs up to stretch out on the couch, moving her head from Lena’s shoulder to lie in her lap with a contented, kittenish sigh.

She did her best to keep her hands to herself, but by the time Luce was wrapping her arms around Rachel to teach her how to project at a soccer game she found she was, without quite knowing how it happened, idly playing with Kara’s hair. As soon as she realised what she was doing she froze, and made to move her arm back to the safe distance of the back of the couch, but Kara made a little grumbling noise of protest.

‘Don’t stop. I love having my hair played with, it makes me feel all floppy and relaxed, like a cat being petted.’

So Lena went back to running her fingers through the soft golden waves, her nails scratching lightly over Kara’s scalp in a way that made her give a little shiver of pleasure.

‘Mmm, it’s so nice, I could fall asleep.’

‘You probably shouldn’t, you’ll have a terrible crick in your neck if you sleep like this... Maybe we should call it a night and go to bed?’

‘Noo, I want to see the end of the movie. And I don’t want to stop hanging out yet. I don’t mind a cricked neck.’

Lena knew she absolutely shouldn’t say what she was about to say, but Luce was telling Rachel that the lily means ‘I dare you to love me’, and Kara was soft and relaxed against her knees, and right at that moment she couldn’t bring herself to care about anything else.

‘I have a TV in my room. We could finish watching in there if you like, then it wouldn’t matter if you fall asleep before the end.’

Kara looked up at her, and her expression said she was aware of how much more could be read into that offer than mere practicality, but she didn’t say so. She smiled and nodded against Lena’s thigh.

‘Mmkay. I’ll change and brush my teeth now then, just in case.’

‘Good idea. Just in case.’

Lena changed too, opting without quite knowing why to put on the marshmallow pajamas she had just ‘happened’ to pick up from Kara’s apartment when she’d gone round to collect her things. They weren’t hers to put on, technically, but she didn’t think Kara would mind, and though she still didn’t feel much like her usual put together self in them, she felt like Kara’s Lena, and that was all she wanted to be right now.

Kara gave her the softest smile when she saw what Lena was wearing.

‘Aw, my marshmallow Lena is back. You look so cute in those, I think I’m going to have to officially give them to you.’

‘Don’t. I like that they’re yours.’

Lena felt herself blushing at the confession, and looked away quickly before it could turn into anything more.

‘Lets finish watching the movie before we really do get too sleepy.’

Once Kara was settled in beside her Lena pressed play, but she couldn’t focus on what was happening on the screen. All she was aware of was Kara in the bed beside her, no longer actually touching her but somehow feeling even more intimately near than when her head had been resting in Lena’s lap on the couch.

This was a terrible idea. It was a terrible idea...

She slid further down against the mound of pillows at her back, and, hidden beneath the covers where she couldn’t see and could therefore pretend it didn’t count, she laced her fingers through Kara’s.

Kara squeezed her hand in return, and the movie played on.

They did not let go.

#supercorp #kara danvers #lena luthor #supercorp fanfic #my fic #kara x lena #supergirl fanfiction #multi chapter fic #forgotten not forgiven

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ordinaryschmuck · 10 months ago

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Full Family AU Part 16

"I'm not going to bed yet, am I...?" Luz asked, fully dressed in her jammies after taking a bath.

"You are soon," Camila said. "We're just getting you and Vee ready for now."

"Okay...Vee's fun, by the way," Luz said with a smile. "I taught her a lot of things. How to walk, draw, and...re...call...itate?"

Camila snorted, trying her best to hold back her laughter. "Do you mean "re-calibrate?"

"That's the word!" Luz exclaimed. "Papi likes to use too big of words."

"He sure does."

"But, yeah, I taught her that thing Papi taught me! Watch!"

Luz then started shaking herself all over, only stopping once she got dizzy. Camila had to stop her from falling on her butt.

"I wish he taught you something a little less...chaotic."

Luz giggled, her eyes still spinning. "Yeah..."

"This one's bath is done," Manny announced. He entered the room with Vee, still wearing her sundress. "This dress of hers really is like skin. Just washed her in the tub and the pizza sauce just went off her. Look: It doesn't even leave a stain."

"I'm sorry," Vee muttered.

"What are you sorry about?" Manny asked with a chuckle. "Not everything you do is bad. This is actually a great thing. Save us money for laundry."

"Assuming she can change shape into wearing different clothes," Camila pointed out. "Is that something you can do, sweetie?"

Vee played with her thumbs. "Shapeshifting requires magic. I only have a little left..."

Luz gasped. "Magic?!"

"Oh, right. Uh, forget that, Mija," Manny told Luz.

"Forget it?! She said magic! Magic's real?!"

Vee nodded, getting Luz to squee!

"Luz, not now," Camila said. "What do you think you're capable of doing?"

"...Maybe changing what I wear one more time?" Vee suggested. Camila hummed for a second, stroking her chin as she tried to think of something. Wordlessly, she went to Luz's closet, opened it up and do a bit of digging. While she was distracted, Luz ran up to Vee with her smile brighter and wider than ever before.

"What kind of magic is real?" She asked. "Is it something everyone can do? Can I do it? Is it something that comes from the heart? You also said something about storing it? What does that mean? Can you do magic? Ooh, is shapeshifting part of your magic?!"

"Luz." Both Luz's parents gently chastised the young girl, making her stop with the constant questions. And for good reason, because it was starting to make Vee hide behind Manny's leg due to all the attention on her.

"Sorry," Luz muttered, looking down in shame.

"It's okay, querrida," Manny said, "But you need to turn your excitement down a couple notches. Just for tonight."

"Okay, Papi..."

"Ah-ha!" Camila returned from the closet, holding up one of Luz's swimsuits, a pink sparkly one-piece with a star in the center. "Can you shapeshift into wearing something like this, Vee? Not the exact color or design, just...the suit."

"I...can try..." Vee closed her eyes and concentrated, the dress shrinking and changing into a one-piece, just like Luz's. But as the dress changed, so did other parts of Vee. Her ears, which were circle, started looking more like Vee's basilisk ears, which blended in with the rest of her hair. Vee's mouth started to become more curved like a cat's instead of the thin line it was before. And when she opened her eyes, her pupils were yellow and blue, just like in her basilisk form. "Did I do good...?"

Camila and Manny stared at her, not sure to respond.

"You...did good enough," Camila chose to see. "But..."

"Her face is different," Luz broke the news first.

"Yeah..."

"Oh..." Vee played with her thumbs some more. "I'm--"

"Don't say it," Manny interrupted. "It's fine. We can just...tell people you were born this way if they ask. I mean, it's not too weird, right? For someone to look this way."

"I guess not?" Camila said, unsure herself.

"But isn't that lying?" Luz asked.

"Lying is only good when it's for the people you love," Manny told her.

"Might want to revitalize that one," Camila said as she went to the closet. "Until then, we can't have Vee sleep in a swim suit. So..."

She pulled out another pair of Luz's jammies.

"Luz and Vee seem about the same size, right?" Camila asked.

"Only one way to find out," Manny agreed.

#the owl house #luz noceda #camila noceda #manny noceda #vee noceda #fan fiction #full family au

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transactinides · 11 months ago

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i'm super bad at cooking and never know where to start because every recipe out there asks for ingredients i simply don't have at home so do you perhaps know what basic ones would be good to stock up on? like eggs and stuff...especially when it comes to spices i have no idea what is okay to use

Haii o/ very honored that you sent me an ask, and ofc I’ll do my best to help! This reply got a bit out of hand so. Long text under the cut. Behold. Feel free to reach out in asks or dms or whatever with any future questions (@ everyone tbh).

Food is, of course, very subjective, so my idea of a perfect list of foods to keep a stock of will not be universal, but I hope this will, at least, give you some ideas if anything.

First of all, I usually mentally break down my typical weekday recipe into vaguely carbs source - protein source - veggies, buy a couple of options for each category and just switch them around for variety. My standard set is

rice / pasta (usually spaghetti re:shapes) / glass noodles

eggs / chicken / tofu / bacon

random pack of frozen vegetables, bell peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, cucumbers, leafy greens. garlic and onions too

I have an option of making egg fried rice with chopped up bacon and added frozen vegetables one day, then blending the leftover vegetables with bell peppers and tomatoes to use as pasta sauce with chicken and spaghetti the next day, then branching out and making eggplant tofu stir fry with glass noodles, then using whatever eggplant tofu stir fry i had left as rice balls filling and making myself a quick vegetable salad on the side… And all those things are easy to make and don’t need much fussing around.

Other options to consider would be potatoes (you can roast them with whatever, boil, fry, etc), buckwheat (my wife doesn’t like it otherwise I’d use it more often), kidney beans and chickpeas for your carbs*; fish and meat for your proteins (those are. a bit too expensive for me usually); carrots, cabbage, leeks etc.

The list looks long, but, again, you just need to pick out a couple of things from each group and throw shit in a pan so to speak. And a lot of them are easily soup-able (boiling water chicken potatoes carrots rice? boom soup. etc), which is another easy base recipe to exploit.

Now to the matter of spices. Salt and pepper are obvious enough, but a good thing to look for are, especially if you are just getting into cooking, spice blends. Something something French Herbs™ something something Taco Seasoning™ something something Seven Spice™ something something Garam Masala™. There’s a lot of different ones, but they are, essentially, a formed flavor profile in themselves, so you don’t need to worry about mixing spices and herbs that might not go well together, and by paying attention to contents you can learn for yourself what individual seasonings are commonly used together.

Also, everyone, hold your judgement real quick and trust me with this, but ooh I always save leftover flavor packets from instant ramen and reuse them in other dishes. Egg fried rice just doesn’t taste right without suspicious red powder courtesy of shin ramen… It’s probably MSG my beloved or something…

While I’m at it, bouillon cubes are handy to have, you can use them for soups, crumble them up in other recipes. Adding one to the water you’re cooking rice in is a great hack at making it more flavourful.

In general, while I do actually have way too much spices (and keep buying more… very excited about my newly acquired dried tarragon…), the ones I’d advise to have for an average person would be:

Salt (ideally both coarse grain and fine grain, but fine grain only serves you just right)

black pepper (both in a mill/grinder and peppercorns), red pepper flakes

paprika, garlic powder, ginger powder

bay leaves, dried oregano, basil, thyme, dill, cinnamon, coriander, cardamon, cumin, turmeric, sumak....

I really got a bit carried away by the end, but. You don't actually need to buy all of them and at the same time, just start with whatever couple of things you'd need for whatever you are cooking and let your collection build up over time, since spices aren't something you need to buy often anyway 👍

Other things I think it’s nice to have in stock in your kitchen would be flour and baking powder, vinegar (distilled vinegar, rice vinegar… I like to have balsamic vinegar too but it’s so expensive it’s ridiculous ngl), soy sauce, cooking oil of your choice (I use sunflower oil, olive oil and sesame oil), panko or breadcrumbs, starch (i have potato starch, cornstarch and tapioka starch, I would suggest just getting cornstarch at first).

* going to clarify here that while beans are often brought up as a source of protein, most are rich in complex carbs, excluding edamame and green beans for example. And since I mostly often cook beans with meat, they check out my daily carbs in my head.

#lis cooking #<- spiritually

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ausefulblogforputtingthingsin · 9 months ago

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Hello! Would you be willing to elaborate on what you eat almost every day? I'm hunting for food that will keep me not-malnourished and chicken tilapia asparagus yogurt squash and I know I'm missing something- is this a set meal you make every day or do you rotate between things?

I am entranced.

Sure! I basically rotate through combinations of those foods every day, with various other little additions. It's cheap, simple, and tasty, and because it's got a lot of protein and fiber, it's satisfying and filling. Also, everything is pretty much a one dish dinner, to minimize dishes, though you might need something to store leftovers. Depending on what's on sale and how much time/spoons I have, sometimes the veggies are fresh, and sometimes they're frozen.

The chicken and tilapia are frozen, and I also started getting frozen salmon too. The tilapia is probably the cheapest of the proteins but the chicken is the most convenient since it's already cooked:

They're from Walmart but sometimes the chicken is on sale for way cheaper at Fry's (Kroger).

For the chicken I throw it in a big bowl with whatever frozen veggies (usually broccoli but sometimes onions and bell peppers, brussel sprouts, squash, or whatever caught my eye at Trader Joe's). You can use any frozen veggies. I microwave it for like 4 minutes, add a sauce or salsa (it can be anything, but I usually go with pasta sauce, salsa, or masala sauce), then mix it and microwave it another couple minutes until it's evenly heated. Sometimes I sprinkle cheese on top or add like 1/3 of a can of black beans for the last minute of microwaving. That's what I often eat on weeknights when I'm tired. It's nice because it takes no planning and there's enough variety that it's not boring.

For the fish, I usually roast it with asparagus. It takes a bit more time but it's super easy. I only buy asparagus on sale (though I do get it frozen for the meals I talked about earlier), and as soon as I get it home I break off the bottom of the stems and put it in mugs of water in fridge. It'll last at least a week like that before you cook it. This can also be done with brussel sprouts, fresh broccoli, cauliflower, squash, or any other veggie, and you can make just one piece of fish for one dinner, or cook several at once if you want leftovers.

I toss the veggies in some olive oil (or use an olive oil spray) and some garlic powder or a steak seasoning blend, then put them in a Pyrex roasting pan. I roast them for like 20 minutes while I thaw the fish (I use the weight defrost on my microwave). Different veggies need different times, and I just look that up on the internet. I season the fish with olive oil and some salt, and sometimes spices, and then I put it in the same pyrex with the veggies and put it all back in the oven to finish cooking. I just use the cooking time on the package of fish. For the salmon, I scoot the veggies over and put it skin side down on the pyrex, and for the tilapia, i put it on top of the veggies so it doesn't stick and get shredded when I try to move it. Basically I find out how long the fish needs to cook, and I start the veggies and cook them enough that they can finish cooking in the time it takes the fish to cook. When I add the fish I'll often sprinkle the asparagus with parmesan if I have some - it's so good! If you use a smallish baking dish, like a 9 inch brownie one, you can even eat your dinner right from that and not make extra dishes.

For Squash, I'll slice up some yellow and/or gray squash, or even zucchini, and sautee it, and I'll add black beans and some cheese for protein, and then add salsa. It's good for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and I often make a whole bunch so I can have leftovers to take for lunch. That's really good with eggs too.

Canned tuna is always good, and I mix in some avocado and eat it in a sandwich or with celery sticks. It's great with nori flakes too

For yogurt, I usually just thaw some frozen berries or get berries when they're on sale, and just put them in a bowl with some yogurt. Sometimes I'll also throw in a handful of trail mix or some of the chocolate covers espresso beans from Trader Joes lol. I prefer plain Greek yogurt, because you can do more with it. Every now and then, I'll mix some yogurt with lemon juice or with masala sauce to make a dressing or to add some creaminess to a sauce I'm putting on ckicken or fish.

I probably made it sound more complicated than it is, but yeah I mix and match all the foods I mentioned, and some are fresh and some are frozen.

#food #hopefully this is helpful #i can make a proper recipe for the fish if you want

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swiftscion · 2 years ago

Text

✢⁎. larcei in garreg mach

source !

PERSONAL INFORMATION

GENDER. Female

AGE. 20

HEIGHT. 160 cm / 5'3

BIRTHDATE. December 28th, Gran 759

CREST/HOLY BLOOD. Minor Od (though subject to change depending on her father)

CLASS. Blue Lions student

AFFILIATION. Kingdom of Isaach

BIOGRAPHY. Daughter of the legendary swordmaster Ayra. Arrived at the Officers Academy in search of her mother, whom she believes is still alive. Her skills with her blade are matched only by her red-hot temper, and her devoted spirit is both her biggest strength and greatest weakness. While technically royalty, her simple and blunt mannerisms are fitting of one raised alongside other orphans. She wishes to become the strongest version of herself that she can, echoing her mother's legacy so they can one day reunite.

PERSONAL HISTORY

Grann Year 759 ~ Born during the Holy Wars alongside her twin brother, Scathach

Grann Year 761 ~ Separated from her parents following the Battle of Belhalla, and placed in Tirnanog to be raised as an orphan

Grann Year 777 ~ Lends her sword to the Liberation Army and helps restore Isaach after its occupation

Imperial Year 1180 ~ Enrolls at the Officer's Academy at Garreg Mach

INTERESTS. Swordplay, Competition, Traveling LIKES. Light clothing, physical activity, festivals, stars, sweets DISLIKES. Injustice, feeling like a child, dishonorable combat, flowery language, laziness STATUS. Princess of Isaach, cousin of King Shannan of Isaach CLOSE ALLIES: Scathach, Lucina, Edward

DINING HALL PREFERENCES

LIKES. country style red turnip plate, saghert and cream, sweet bun trio, peach sorbet, pheasant roast with berry sauce, garreg mach meat pie, deirdriu-styled fried pheasant, sauteed jerky, sauteed pheasant and eggs, beast meat teppanyaki, gronder meat skewers, pickled rabbit skewers

DISLIKES. sweet and salty whitefish, small fish skewers, grilled herring, fish and bean soup, fruit and herring tart, fisherman’s bounty, fish sandwich, two-fish saute, cabbage and herring stew, bourgeois pike, super spicy-fish dango, spicy fish and turnip stew, pickled seafood and vegetables, scrambled eggs with vegetables, fried crayfish, daphnel stew, cheesy verona stew, gautier cheese gratin, vegetable pasta salad, onion gratin soup, vegetable stir-fry

DINING HALL NOTES

FAVORITE DISH. ✧

"As a kid, I would've hit my brother over the head for somethin' like this!"

STANDARD DISH. ✧

"You loaded up our plates with extras, yeah? Eating is just as important as training."

LEAST FAVORITE DISH. ✧

"Are you sick in the head?! A-Actually, I think I'm about to be...!"

WITH SCATHACH. ✧

"Remember when Edain used to make all our meals for us? I bet I can still eat these ones faster than you!"

WITH AYRA. ✧

"This might sound silly, but... I've always wanted to do this with you... Mother...."

TEA TIME GUIDE

FAVORITE TEA. Honeyed-Fruit Blend, Tea of the Saints

CONVERSATION TOPICS. evaluating allies. reliable allies. tell me about yourself. working hours for guards. exploring the monastery. cats. past laughs. school uniforms. heroes’ relics. children at the market. hopes for the future. thanks for everything. shareable snacks. getting out of homework. creative pranks. making friends. close calls. a place you'd like to visit. sturdy weapons. potential training partners. the last battle. your ambitions. overcoming weaknesses. mighty weapons. i'm counting on you. someone you look up to. a new sword technique. equipment upkeep. the thrill of sweets. you seem different. favorite sweets. a new gambit.

TEA TIME QUOTES

GREETING. ✧

(1) "I prefer staying on the move, but I'll make time for you."

(2) “Thanks for reminding me that I need to take a load off every now and then.”

(3) “I won't forget this, you know. Next time, it'll be my treat!”

FAVORITE TEA. ✧

“Huh? Hey--Who told you I like this stuff?!”

FIVE STAR TEA. ✧

“Woah... Isn't this a bit much? Hmph, if you're trying to impress me, save it. Last thing I need is another flower shoved in my face!”

BEING OBSERVED. ✧

(1) "Don't tell me you brought me here just to gawk at me! I'll pull you into a stump if you don't buzz off!" (2) “Bored already? Me too. Let's get in a round of fighting after we're done.” (3) “Geez... I don't think I could ever get used to this kind of attention...”

QUIPS. ✧

"Ah--That's hot!" "Just gotta stop drinking so fast...!" "Eheheh..." "Not bad!" "How are things with you?" "Reminds me of her..." "Yeah?" "It'll go straight to my legs." "What's up?" "I wonder what goes good with this..." "Hey!" "Hmm..."

ENDING. ✧

"Heh, looks like I finished before you. Blink, and you'll miss me!"

FINAL COMMENTS. ✧

(1) What did you think of my last battle? I've gotten a lot stronger since the time Lord Shannan had to save me! ANSWER. Commend, Chat (2) I've seen the way you guys do Astra. The form's all wrong! I'd teach it to you myself, but without the Holy Blood of Isaach, I doubt you'd get very far. ANSWER. Laugh, Sigh (3) This sword was an heirloom from my mother... If I lost it, I don't know what I'd do with myself... ANSWER. Nod, Sip Tea (4) Sometimes it feels like you're looking right through me. I wonder if I've grown predictable as an opponent... ANSWER. Laugh, Sip Tea (5) l like my clothes light and easy to move around in, but there are places where it's always snowing! ANSWER. Laugh, Chat (6) Ever meet someone you want to believe in, but makes it so damn difficult? Sometimes I wonder if a hilt to the jaw would fix 'em. ANSWER. Disagree, Admonish (7) Back in Isaach, we believe that every debt should be repaid--both the good and the bad. I'll never forget you doin' nice things like this, but cross me and I'll make you regret it. ANSWER. Nod, Sip Tea (8) Growing up, I used to watch kids get snatched up by imperial dogs. It was awful, and the things they would do to the girls... I used to feel so weak, being unable to protect them. ANSWER. Nod, Commend (9) One day, I'm gonna find her... And then I'll prove everyone wrong! They'll all see that everything has been worth it! ANSWER. Commend

MISCELLANEOUS DIALOGUE.

GIFT GUIDE

FAVORITE GIFTS. Tasty Baked Treat, Smoked Meat, Hunting Dagger, Whetstone, Ancient Coin, Owl Feather, Training Weights, Ceremonial Sword, Exotic Spices

GIFT QUOTES

DISLIKED GIFT. ✧

"Get this outta my face!"

LIKED GIFT. ✧

"Thanks! I'll make sure it's put to good use."

FAVORITE GIFT. ✧

"Looks like I'm in your debt again. Don't worry, I'm already thinkin' up a great way to repay you!"

LOST ITEMS

STAR-SHAPED AMULET. A simple wooden amulet, evidently worn. It probably belongs to someone who finds the stars sentimental. Location found: Blue Lions classroom

TASSELED TROWEL. Someone's personal farming equipment. It probably belongs to someone with humble origins. Location found: Greenhouse

CURVED SWORD. A uniquely shaped saber, meant to overwhelm an opponent with a rush of killing strikes. It probably belongs to a foreign and skilled swordmaster. Location found: Training Grounds

LOST ITEM QUOTES

OWNER. ✧

"Shoot--can't believe I actually lost that! Thanks for the help."

NOT OWNER. ✧

"Only a child would lose something like that."

BATTLE QUOTES

MOCK BATTLE RETREAT. ✧

“You're lucky we weren't fighting for real...” ( *Byleth specific ) "Professor...? Hmph! This isn't over! Next time, I'll take you down for sure!"

FIRST KILL. ✧

"The power of Crusader Od demands I cut you down!"

MONASTERY QUOTES

CHOIR PRACTICE. ✧

(1) "H-Hey, isn't this a little embarrassing? I've never really sung before..."

(2) "Alright, but if I catch anyone givin' me funny looks...!"

COOKING. ✧

(1) "Oh, this? It's actually pretty easy. If it was for survival, I could help cook back at home."

(2) "Make sure you pile on lots of meat! If a meal won't make me any stronger, it's not worth having."

(3) "Let's make more than enough for everyone. If there are any siblings eating tonight, they'll fight each other for who gets to have seconds."

TUTORING

INSTRUCT

BAD. ✧

"So that's wrong... Damn! L-Let me have another go at it!."

Critique: I need real-world application if I want stuff to stick. Console: Quit treating me like a child!

GREAT. ✧

"I've gotta keep goin' if I want to be like mother." “That's a good point. Okay! I'll include it in my technique.”

PERFECT. ✧

"My technique is the pride of Isaach! Nothing stands in my way!"

PRAISE. "Heh, watch your tone. I'm on track to outdoing you."

TASKS

STABLE DUTY. ✧

“It's pretty hard keepin' up with 'em during battle, but horses back in the stable are easy to maintain.”

WEEDING. ✧

"We used to ball these up and throw them at each other when we were kids... Wanna go?"

SKY WATCH. ✧

“Just don't look down, and you've got nothin' to be afraid of!”

CERTIFICATION EXAMS

FAILED. ✧

"What the--That was hardly fair! Give me a weapon and I'll show you I can do it!"

PASSED. ✧

"One step closer..."

UPDATE GOALS

AXES. ✧

“Professor, I'm getting good at using my legs, but I feel like my arms could use some work. Let me pick up an axe! If you give me enough time, I'll be swinging it faster than the eye can see.”

FLYING. ✧

“Man, mages and archers piss me off... Look at them, always sitting behind enemy lines and attacking from afar! I say we walk right up to 'em and knock 'em down where they stand! Professor, if you teach me how to use a mount, I can rush in and take them out before they get a chance to act.”

BRAWLING. ✧

“I grew up having to fight for survival. If I can punch through that, I can punch through anyone. Put me on the front lines, and see how my lightning-fast fists make short work of our enemies.”

LEVEL UP

0 TO 2 STATS UP . ✧

“Just need to try a bit harder...”

3 TO 4 STATS UP . ✧

“Riposte, and engage. That's the form I've drilled into my body!”

5 STATS UP . ✧

“The skills of my homeland live on through me.”

6 STATS UP . ✧

“My sword is shining! Our enemies will fall to my Astra!”

UPON REACHING LEVEL 99 . ✧

“Mother... Are you watching?”

BUDDING TALENT

“It's new, but I like it! Let's keep training until it's as good as my swordplay.”

NEW SKILL

“Power comes pretty naturally to me. I'll show you what I can do!”

RECLASSING . ✧

(1) “Harder, better, it's all just training to me. ” (2) “Doesn't matter how--I move forward.” (3) “A new angle might help me find what I'm lookin' for.”

BATTLE QUOTES

WHEN SELECTED

FULL/HIGH HP . ✧

“Eyes on the enemy.”

MEDIUM HP . ✧

“Not gonna fail!”

LOW HP . ✧

“Don't worry... About me...”

ENEMY DEALS 1 OR NO DAMAGE OR MISSES . ✧

“I'm faster!”

CRTIICAL ATTACK . ✧

“No running now!” “Die, tyrant!” “Heart and sword as one!” “Now we're fighting for real!” “This is the end for you!”

GAMBIT . ✧

“My sword is too kind for the likes of you.”

GAMBIT BOOST . ✧

“Leave it all to us!”

DEFEATED ENEMY . ✧

“Tch. That's all?” “Victory or death--it's just how I fight.” “Easy pickings.”

ALLY DEFEATS ENEMY . ✧

“We're rivals now!” “Keep going! Leave none standing!” “Heh, you're pretty good at this.”

ALLY HEALS/RALLIES . ✧

“Caught me slacking, huh?” “Wow, I really owe you one...” “I'll put this to use.” “Hits the spot after a long battle!” “Messed up, didn't I?” “Now watch me soar!” “My sword's all yours.”

DEFEAT QUOTE

CASUAL . ✧

“N-No... I've still got stuff to do.”

CLASSIC . ✧

"Shannan... Mother... I've... Failed..." “Guess they... Finally got me...“

THE ADVICE BOX

"I got real mad at someone I care about, but now I'm beginning to have regrets. I'm afraid they might not want to talk to me. What do you think I should do?"

>It's okay, they'll probably forget about it if you wait enough >If they're family or a close friend, they'll forgive you once you break the silence (Correct answer) >Start another fight to prove how you were right in the first one

#OOC #HEADCANONS #//i lied about not being able to do one of these #//following the 3h formula for closest allies #//where it's top 3 characters they've interacted with most #//either before or during the events of the game #//also just generally decided to be as close to the 3h format as i could

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dreaming-marchling · 1 year ago

Note

Candle rollerskate juicebox dice mushroom planet candy tooth icecream tomato bug flower

on a scale from 1 to 10, how much do you enjoy editing? why is that?

I think I'd have to go 5. Dead center because I really love the first like 15 times I read something lol. I re-read my writing a LOT in preparation for posting. So that initial edit when it's all really fresh and then later when I'm making it all cohesive to make sure it matches with the way the story flows is great. Then it gets really miserable and tedious. The final read through before I post is like dragging myself through mud.

describe your latest wip with five emojis

🌿🐻🐍🔒🌧️

share some personal lore you never posted about before

I don't talk about books much but I'm a huge reader outside of fics too. Like I own hundreds of books.

what stops you from writing more in your free time?

I have a hard time focusing. Fighting the "I feel emotionally blah, I'm just going to mindlessly scroll" thing is a battle some days.

share a head canon for one of your favourite ships or pairings

I've not written it (yet) but I have kind of endless daydreams about Magnus using Pandemonium as an informal court for the warlocks (or just Downworlders in general but technically it's meant for the warlocks he leads) to bring him issues/requests. And then on nights when Alec is with him, this powerful Shadowhunter just drapes himself on Magnus, sits in his lap, sitting on the floor at his feet and laying his head on Magnus' leg... just not having to put on his Leader face and letting himself be Magnus' instead. Maybe only on Downworld night? And the Downworlders are unsure of how to take this but Magnus is very "he's surprisingly cuddly *shrug*" about it

name three good things going on in your life right now

I have two wonderful cats who make my home happier, I finally bought a new mattress (it's glorious) and though I'm dealing with some crap at work I do have a job that is not bad and allows me financial stability

post an unpopular opinion about a popular fandom character

I think this was the popular opinion and then the tide has since turned but I continue to loathe Nesta from the Court of Thorns and Roses series. The main justification after all those pages was like "you can't hate her, she hates herself" but like no, I can totally continue to hate her.

share some personal wisdom or a life hack you swear on

Steam a cut up head of cauliflower, slowly roast 5 to however many garlic cloves as you want in a few tablespoons of butter (or oil), combine, season, thin with a little water (especially pasta water if going on pasta) and then blend in a food processor for like a decade. Literally walk away and start cleaning up your kitchen. Blend until you worry for the motor. It'll transform into the fluffiest creamiest garlicky "alfredo" sauce that won't break and get all greasy when you reheat later. Great for batch cooking that requires reheating.

name three good things about a character you hate

Jonathan in Shadowhunters: It wasn't his fault really, he loved Clary, his little move while he was activating Clary and Jace's runes was super smooth

give yourself some constructive criticism on your own writing

I need to understand and internalize the difference between lay and lie. I can't forever go off what sounds right in my head and defying spellcheck. I'm sure some reader is like BITCH YES PLEASE lol

add 50 words to your current wip and share the paragraph here

“I will.” She promised. He hated dumping so much on her. Lying to the police, having to take care of Brian in the aftermath of something so major without him, calling everyone and having to tell their family and the team what had gone down… This was a lot to ask anyone.

They had no choice. Dom trusted her. He trusted her so fucking much.

do you have any pets? if you do, post some pictures of them

Unfortunately I am a weirdo who likes to keep all photographic evidence of my life off the internet but I do have 2 awesome cats. A tortie girl and a black boy who are littermates. They're 3 now. She never shuts up and he squeaks. She demands I wiggle the string constantly, he's literally got an anxiety disorder that in the last year has really let up its grip on him and he's like blossoming. They're great little monsters.

Thank you for asking!

#My Writing

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sagekjs21 · 6 months ago

Text

1. There are only three TV shows that I care about at all anymore: The Chosen, When Calls the Heart, and Heartland. They really don't overlap much, so I don't really have a backlog of TV that I need to watch. When these three shows are completed, I am very unlikely to pick up any new shows at all, I have pretty much lost all interest in TV other than these three shows.

2. I don't have a favorite pair.

3. Yes, of all different sorts. When I make my own, I always add spinach or kale because if you blend it properly you can't even taste it and it just packs the smoothie full of vitamins and nutrients.

4. My order of preference would be dress pants first and foremost, a skirt is tolerable, and I try to avoid dresses like the plague. If I have to though I will. I literally own one dress and one skirt.

5. In an omelette with cheese, different types of breakfast meats, and different combinations of vegetables depending upon my mood. For just plain eggs though, I prefer them scrambled with a bunch of pepper.

6. Whatever is handy: a bookmark, a receipt, a random piece of junk mail, anything really. I don't dog ear the pages though.

7. I've got a fairly decent mixture. I prefer black, blue, red, and white, but as far as I know the only color missing is pink and it's going to stay that way lol.

8. No. I used to, I used to collect all kinds of things. But I've moved around enough times in my life to know that holding onto stuff is not something that I am suited for. I'm not a true minimalist, but I don't like collecting a bunch of stuff either.

9. A cat purring, running water, birds, a music box, the perfume my grandmother used to wear, vanilla, coconut, the perfume that I wear most often

10. No opinion

11. I wear sunglasses outside and in brightly lit rooms/buildings.

12. I've got two best friends, and I love their enthusiasm. Both of them, when they get on a topic that they love or get an idea that they're excited about, they're like little kids. 😊 @titaniumpeony @pinestripe37 ❤️

13. If I have to write by hand, pen, but I much prefer to type.

14. Really only at my church, my current home, and the house that my grandmother used to live in which I will probably never visit again.

15. Not applicable

16. Also not applicable. I don't think I've owned a hoodie since around 2012. Not really my style. Not feminine enough.

17. Food on DoorDash lol. As to which restaurant, I honestly can't remember.

18. Lots of biblical things, particularly the good ones surrounding Jesus.

19. Not applicable

20. I'm good at the basics, I'm good at algebra, I'm good at geometry, and I'm good at trigonometry. I have never done calculus and so I have no idea what my skill set is there, and the only math I ever struggled with was statistics but I still managed to get an a. Barely.

21. Definitely not applicable lol.

22. Usually iced unless it is very very cold outside.

23. Anything that comes up that I know the lyrics to and enjoy.

24. Of course I am! I am seriously the best driver that anyone would ever meet. 😊 For anyone reading this that doesn't know, I'm partially blind and legally am unable to drive ever.

25. Just the average pierced ears, and I don't want any other piercings and definitely no tattoos.

26. Both! I've got a lot of different stuff that I think is good and a lot of people compliment me on. Probably my spaghetti sauce would be one of the top things. I can make pretty much anything though and have fun tweaking and playing around with a lot of ingredients and recipes.

27. Just one. And honestly I can't even think of what it is lol. I know it has to do with the state of Arizona and it's some kind of picture but that's all I can remember. 😊

28. I would consider myself an intermediate swimmer. I know more than just the basics, I know a few different strokes, I took lessons for either six or seven years quite a while ago. However I'm not exceptionally fit and so speed would definitely be my downfall and I don't know anything advanced.

29. I had a very basic set when I was very little, and when I was maybe 12 or 13 one of my friends had a bit of a more complex set but it didn't really have a theme.

30. Yes, from left to right: tank tops, short sleeve shirts, three-quarter sleeve shirts, long sleeve shirts, sweaters that act as shirts, pants, my skirt, jackets/sweaters. My dress is in a different closet as are my extra pairs of shoes.

31. I have absolutely no idea. Probably one of the songs that @pinestripe37 sent me about Psalm 23.

32. I wouldn't.

33. Earbuds

34. Of course.

35. It's a black and white cat that @pinestripe37 gave me for my last birthday.

36. I'm not really good at many of them because they generally contain a lot of visual aspects, but I do have fun playing at arcades. Haven't done that in years and now I kind of want to lol.

37. I prefer it. It gives me someone to talk to and if they want to help out they can and if not that's OK too.

38. I don't have any secret TV shows or musicians that I like that I'm too embarrassed to tell people about. I mean really, I don't care. My music taste very eclectic, I still like the Backstreet Boys and a few songs from the Spice Girls and I really don't mind admitting that at all lol. If people are going to judge me based on that I probably don't want them in my life anyway.

39. Receiving a bunch of very useful information from God. But a lot of good stuff happened today, I mean tons of it! 😊 it was one of the best days I've had in a long time. 😊

40. Probably a Christmas tree of some sort or a palm tree

41. Usually either vanilla or coconut

42. Not applicable

43. This is a super weird question. For me most of the time I shower with the lights off but that's because light from the windows gives me enough light in my bathroom to see by. It wouldn't for people with normal vision, so this question has me wondering why anybody would shower in the dark. I probably don't want to know the answer to that.

44. I usually give it to people, friends, street people, I may put it in a tip jar or just anything of that sort, I don't like holding onto spare change at all.

45. definitely not lol

46. I can't think of anything specifically, but probably a book or a song.

47. Only if I'm with someone. Going on a walk by myself is boring.

48. No.

49. I like to go out and stand in the rain. I don't care if it's sprinkling or pouring. Yeah, I'm that crazy person lol. Smile 😊

50. a comfortable bed for sure, a pillow that provides lots of head and neck support, the room is not too hot or too cold but the perfect temperature, and I can sleep the whole night through without waking up.

50 Questions Just Because

What are three shows in your watchlist that you’ve been meaning to get to?

Describe your favorite pair of socks

Do you like smoothies?

What do you wear when you have to dress nicely?

How do you like your eggs?

What do you use to keep your place when you’re reading a book?

What color dominates your closet?

Do you collect anything? If so, what?

What sounds or scents calm you down?

What’s your favorite kind of uquiz question? (Lyric, color, aesthetic, etc)

Do you wear glasses or contacts?

What’s something about your best friend that you love?

Do you prefer to write in pen or pencil?

What are some places where you feel most at home?

Do you have any houseplants? Do any of them have names?

Describe your favorite hoodie. How long have you had it? What makes it unique?

What’s the last thing you ordered online?

What’s one historical event that you would have liked to have witnessed?

What’s your favorite Halloween costume from when you were a kid?

What kind of math are you best at?

What’s your favorite period in art history, your favorite famous work and/or your favorite style of art? If you don’t know any that’s ok!

Iced or hot drinks?

Which songs do you like to sing in the shower?

Are you a good driver?

Do you have any piercings or tattoos? Are there any that you want?

Can you cook or bake? If so, what are some of your specialties?

Do you have any keychains on your home or car keys? Describe them!

Can you swim very well? Do you like swimming?

Did you play with Legos as a kid? What was your favorite set?

Is your closet organized? If so, how?

What’s the last music video you watched?

If you could dye your hair any color, regardless of how you think it would look, what color would you choose?

Headphones or earbuds?

Can you read analog clocks?

Describe your favorite stuffed animal, either now or from when you were a kid.

What’s an arcade or table game (air hockey, ping pong, etc) that you’re really good at?

Do you mind if others are in the kitchen when you’re cooking or baking?

What’s one show you watch or musician you listen to that your friends know nothing about?

What was the best part of your day today?

What’s your favorite kind of tree?

What scent is your deodorant?

Do you have any games on your phone? If so, which one(s) is/are your favorite?

Do you shower with the lights on or off?

What do you do with spare change?

Do you have good handwriting?

What’s the last thing a friend recommended to you that you looked into and actually liked?

Do you like to go on walks?

Do you have a favorite plate or bowl?

What’s your favorite thing to do when it’s raining?

Describe your perfect sleeping conditions

#I know this is not how these things are supposed to be done but this is how I do them lol

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thesaltycooker2025 · 2 months ago

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Discover the Magic of Avocado Cilantro Crema: A Fresh Start for Every Meal

Sometimes, the simplest things can breathe new life into your day—a walk under the sun, a heartfelt conversation, or a dish so vibrant and full of flavor that it turns a regular moment into something worth remembering. That’s the power of the avocado cilantro crema. More than just a sauce, it’s a celebration of freshness, a tribute to nature’s richness, and a reminder that even the small choices we make in the kitchen can ripple into the rest of our lives.

We often move so quickly through our routines that we forget the joy of creating something from scratch. There’s something deeply fulfilling about selecting ingredients that are whole and real, blending them together with care, and watching them transform. In just minutes, you can take a handful of beautiful green cilantro, a perfectly ripe avocado, and a few pantry staples—and you’ve created a sauce that’s as nourishing as it is delicious.

A Simple Recipe with Powerful Impact

This crema isn’t just about taste—it’s about what it represents: intention, creativity, and the joy of feeding yourself and those you love with something made by hand. It’s the kind of recipe that encourages you to slow down, tune in, and savor each bite as a small act of self-care.

Ingredients:

1 medium avocado

2 tsp lime juice (juice of 1 lime)

1 cup fresh cilantro

Pinch of salt

¼ tsp garlic powder

1 cup plain yogurt

These six simple ingredients come together to create a sauce that’s creamy, tangy, herbaceous, and full of life. And what’s more, it’s versatile. Use it as a topping for tacos, a dip for fresh vegetables, a dressing for grain bowls, or even a spread for sandwiches. Every dollop brings a spark of freshness that uplifts even the most basic of meals.

More Than a Sauce—A Moment of Mindfulness

But the true beauty of this crema lies not only in how it tastes—but in how it makes you feel. There’s empowerment in making something with your own hands. There’s peace in pausing for a moment to blend flavors and textures into harmony. And there’s joy in sharing that creation with others, in bringing a little light into their day too.

It’s easy to fall into the belief that cooking must be complicated to be meaningful. But this sauce proves otherwise. With just a blender or food processor and a few minutes, you can create something that’s not only beautiful but deeply satisfying. It’s a small act that speaks volumes: I care about what I eat. I care about the moment. I care about myself.

Let Simplicity Inspire You

And that’s something we can all use more of—small rituals that ground us, that bring us joy, that connect us to something real. Whether you’re cooking for one or preparing a feast for family and friends, the avocado cilantro crema is a beautiful reminder that inspiration often starts with simplicity.

So the next time you need a spark of flavor—or a spark of inspiration—let this vibrant green sauce be your muse. Let it remind you that beauty often begins with the basics. Let it invite you to slow down, breathe deep, and take pleasure in the present moment.

Because a meal is never just a meal. It’s a chance to reconnect. To refresh. To rediscover the joy of creating something with love. And sometimes, that all begins with one ripe avocado, a handful of cilantro, and the belief that the little things can make a big difference.

For more delicious recipes and behind-the-scenes content, visit The Salty Cooker and follow along on Instagram and YouTube! I’m also now on Pinterest—come check out what’s new!

#Avocado Cilantro Crema #Fresh Homemade Sauces #Healthy Cooking Inspiration #Simple Recipes with Big Flavor #Mindful Cooking Moments

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tameblog · 3 months ago

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By: Shelly Posted: Apr 28, 2025 If you’re a fan of Panera Mac and Cheese, you can now make it at home with this easy recipe. It delivers creamy, cheesy pasta that tastes just like the restaurant version. Make sure to check out my tried and true Stovetop Mac and Cheese recipe too! Why You’ll Love This Mac and Cheese Recipe If you’ve never tried it, you might be wondering, “Is Panera Mac and Cheese good?” And I’m here to answer that for you! Yes, it is REALLY good. It’s super creamy, cheesy, and flavorful. It’s one of the stand-out, evergreen items on their menu that I can’t imagine they ever discontinue! Easy To Make! Making this dish at home is simple and quick. You control the ingredients, save money, and skip the trip to the restaurant. Done In About 20 Minutes! Everything is done right on the stove top very easily. This is a great recipe for beginning cooks. Delicious Flavor! This recipe will easily become a family favorite. What You Will Need The Panera Bread Mac and Cheese ingredient list is super simple. You might even have everything in your kitchen right now! Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom for the full list of ingredients and instructions! Pasta. Panera uses Pipette Rigate, which you can easily find, but I always have shells on-hand, so I use those too. Any short, cut pasta will work! Just cook it al dente so it holds a little bite as it sits in the cheese sauce and continues to cook a bit. Butter. I specify using salted butter in this recipe because it’s what I prefer. You can use unsalted butter as well. The only added salt in this recipe is what you use to salt the pasta water as well as the salt that exists in the cheese. Flour. Regular all purpose flour is what you need for this recipe. Pepper. Ground black pepper is the only additional seasoning in the ac and cheese recipe. I like a lot of black pepper, but feel free to use as much or as little as you prefer. Milk. You can use either 2% milk or whole milk in this recipe. I don’t recommend 1% milk, skim milk, or almond milk for the creamiest results. Cheddar Cheese. To make this a real copycat Panera recipe I use a mild white cheddar cheese. You can certainly use yellow cheddar if that’s what you have! The result will be the same, just the flavor will differ slightly. Parmesan Cheese. The addition of parmesan cheese enhances the cheddar without making the sauce too “sharp”. Panera mac and cheese has a mild flavor, so you don’t want too much Parmesan. American Cheese. This is the “secret ingredient” to really getting the creamiest cheese sauce. Don’t skip the addition of the deli-sliced white American cheese! Tips On How To Make Panera Mac and Cheese Prep all the ingredients before starting. This recipe comes together very quickly, so you want to have everything on-hand and ready when you need it! Use high-quality white cheddar: This gives the mac and cheese its signature taste. You don’t need to use an aged cheddar or anything super sharp, but a nice, creamy white cheddar will make the sauce extra delicious. Cooking the pasta: I like to start the water boiling for my pasta at the same time I melt the butter for the sauce, that way everything is done about the same time. But you can easily make the pasta before hand and just drain and keep it covered and warm to add at the end. The pasta might stick together a bit, but it will be ok once it’s mixed into the cheese sauce. What Makes Panera Mac and Cheese Special The great thing about this recipe is that it is done in minutes, it has great flavor, can be enjoyed as a quick main dish dinner or lunch, or even a perfect dish dish at your cook out or BBQ. Can You Use Another Type Of Cheese? There is just a creaminess and texture that can’t be explained, due in-part to the 3 cheeses I used. I worked hard to create this copycat recipe that is both easy and delicious, with a creamy blend of cheeses. Is it exact? I can’t say for sure, but it is pretty darn close! You can certainly sub in yellow cheddar and yellow American for the white cheddar and it will work perfectly. You can also use a different blend of cheese if you prefer and use this recipe as a base to really make your own! Ideas To Add-In To Mac and Cheese Of course Panera Mac and Cheese is perfect as-is, there are tons of things you can add to make it a full meal or amp of the flavor! Hot sauce. My husband ALWAYS adds hot sauce to his mac and cheese. Doesn’t matter if it’s homemade or from a box. He loves the heat and tang that hot sauce gives. Chicken. Really any kind of protein would work well in mac and cheese, but cooked chicken mixed in is a simple way to make this a full meal. And if you really want to take it there, try chicken nuggets mixed in…SO GOOD! Chili. If you have some leftover chili, adding a scoop on top of this mac and cheese creates the most delicious Chili Mac! How To Store Panera Mac and Cheese I’ll be honest, this recipe is best the same day you make it, enjoyed warm. Macaroni and cheese has a tendency to lose its creaminess the longer it sits. That’s just the way it works when you are using real cheese. While it will lose a bit of the creamy texture you can absolutely store this and enjoy it the day as leftovers. Simply cover it in airtight container and when you reheat it add a splash or 2 of milk as you cook it! More Mac and Cheese Recipes To Try Print clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon Description This is a spot-on copycat version of Panera Mac and Cheese. It’s super easy to make and takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish. Everyone loves this one! 3 1/2 cups medium shell pasta 1 tablespoon kosher salt 4 tablespoons salted butter 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 2 1/2 cups 2% or whole milk 2 cups fresh shredded white cheddar cheese 1/4 cup fresh shredded parmesan cheese 4 slices deli-style white American cheese, torn into pieces Bring a large pot (5 – 6 quarts) of water to a boil. Add in the salt and stir. Add in the pasta and cook according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. While the pasta is cooking, in a medium saucepan melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once the butter is melted, whisk in the flour and cook for 1 -2 minutes until smooth. Add in the black pepper and then slowly add in the milk, whisking constantly. Bring the milk mixture to a boil, stirring frequently so the milk doesn’t scald. Once it’s reached a boil, stir constantly for 2 minutes until thickened. Turn the heat immediately to low and add in the cheddar, parmesan, and American cheese, stirring until smooth. Add in the cooked pasta and stir until coated. Season with more pepper if desired and serve immediately. Notes This type of mac and cheese is always best when enjoyed the same day. You can always store airtight in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave with a splash of milk! Want To Save This Recipe?Find more recipes like this: PIN for later Source link

#KITCHEN_AND_DINING #AMERICAN_CHEESE #CHEDDAR_CHEESE #CHEESE #COPYCAT #MAC #PANERA #PARMESAN_CHEESE #PASTA #RECIPE

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ramestoryworld · 3 months ago

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#KITCHEN_AND_DINING #AMERICAN_CHEESE #CHEDDAR_CHEESE #CHEESE #COPYCAT #MAC #PANERA #PARMESAN_CHEESE #PASTA #RECIPE

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8-evil-annoying-catboys · 8 months ago

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i think i’ve rbed this before but idk but i will give you my fall drink that never fails to delight

first step is to make homemade apple cider, but if you wish you can use store bought, just make sure it’s regular spiced cider and not the sparkling kind. but if you have a slow cooker and you can get your hands on enough apples to fill it up, that’s the best. i’ll put my apple cider recipe under a cut.

once you have your apple cider, make sure it’s nice and hot, put it on the stove for a minute if you need to, but put your hot apple cider in your cup. either fill it all the way with cider and use a chai tea bag, or fill it most of the way and use chai concentrate. add caramel syrup (which is even easier to make at home than apple cider and i bet you already have most or all of the ingredients, i’ll put a recipe for that under the cut too). maybe add whip cream or marshmallows or both, if you’re feeling decadent. it’s delicious!!

hot apple cider recipe:

slice up a combination of your fav apples (i use mostly pink ladies, and some granny smiths) and throw them into your slow cooker until it’s full. if you like citrus, you can add a combination of your fav citrus fruits too, peeled and whole. i usually add one lemon, one lime, and one orange, but you can basically do whatever you want, you could probably add different fruit here too like maybe some cranberries or pomegranate seeds/juice.

once your slow cooker is full of apples and whatever other fruit you wanna add, spice it. i usually use a full cinnamon stick or two for my medium sized crockpot, then add my pumpkin pie spice blend and just kinda eyeball it. if you don’t have pumpkin pie spice blend, it usually has, like, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, and nutmeg. use what you have, think gingerbread or pumpkin pie for the flavor profile.

now that you’ve spiced your cider ingredients, fill your slow cooker with water. then set it to low and leave it be for 12 hours. you can stir it once in a while if you want but you don’t even really have to—tbh, i usually prepare it before bed and leave my crockpot to its own devices while i sleep, so you can just let it do its thing if you don’t have time or energy to stir it.

once 12 hours has passed, take a bean/potato masher and mash up your fruit and spices. at this point, your apples should be pretty soft and easy to mash, same with your cinnamon sticks if you used them. do your best to avoid leaving any large chunks of any fruit, you want it to look like apple sauce or something.

when you’re done squishing everything into a sludge, leave it be again for another hour. you could probably even leave it for longer if you really want but it’ll be ready after an hour.

strain it through a cheesecloth, then sweeten with brown sugar to taste. if u want guidance, i usually use 1 cup of brown sugar for the entire medium size crockpot. you can also leave it unsweetened if you prefer it that way or you have friends who like less sweet things or have sugar restrictions and you wanna share with them. you can strain it and sweeten it all at once, or only enough for one cup at a time. it usually takes a long time to strain ime, so if you’re trying to serve it immediately, one cup at a time may be better for you. if you don’t have cheesecloth, you could prolly substitute coffee filters or very very fine mesh, just know that you may get a little pulp in it, especially if you’re using mesh.

serve it up and enjoy!!!!

caramel syrup:

put 3/4 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of water together in a pot on the stove. DO NOT STIR. bring to a boil and occasionally SWIRL the pot to combine.

once the water has boiled and the sugar is dissolved, let the sugar water simmer for 15 min or so, until the mixture is a nice golden brown color. still swirl it a few times while simmering. while this is simmering, bring another, separate 1/2 cup of water to a boil (so that when you combine it, it won’t splash so much)

once your sugar water has caramelized and turned a nice golden brown, CAREFULLY whisk in the 1/2 cup of water you boiled separately. it will still splatter, for best results wear oven mitts

add 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract, stir or swirl to combine, and boom, you’re done!

Chai tea bag + lil but of brown sugar + apple cider packet + 16 oz. mug of hot but not quite boiling water

it will not Fix You but like. maybe. maybe.

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alexha2210 · 3 months ago

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#KITCHEN_AND_DINING #AMERICAN_CHEESE #CHEDDAR_CHEESE #CHEESE #COPYCAT #MAC #PANERA #PARMESAN_CHEESE #PASTA #RECIPE

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