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cuisinecravings · 2 years ago

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Pierogi Brands

Pierogi Brands? An fantastic addition to a dinner or a standalone snack, pierogi are a sort of dumpling. You might already have a favourite brand of pierogi if you enjoy them. But you could be unfamiliar with dumplings and uncertain about what to buy. To ensure you acquire the greatest product possible, take into account the top brands available.

Pierogi Brands

Which Pierogi Brands Are the Best?

The top brands include Pappardelle's and Pierogies Factory. Other businesses that produce top-notch pierogi include Kasia's, Mrs. T's, and Alexandra's. Other brands that aren't sold anyplace else might be sold at some grocery stores. Make careful to test out a few brands before settling on one. Considerations including accessibility, price, and taste are also options. Favorite Pierogi Brands Although pierogi are not the most popular stuffed dish, many companies produce and market them. You must be aware of which brands to purchase if you want to test some good pierogi. sa borovnicom pierogies The brands you find may, of course, vary from store to store. Some companies continue to be the greatest overall, though. If you're interested in trying pierogi, take into account the following businesses. Polish Factory Potato and cheese pierogis are produced at Pierogies Factory. They can be cooked by grilling, sautéing, or boiling. This makes it simple to prepare the food based on your preferences for texture or the amount of time you have. Unfortunately, after thawing, you cannot refreeze them. Therefore, you should be cautious about how many you cook at once. But many people enjoy the taste, and they can be simple to produce. Be aware that these are somewhat pricey. Fortunately, if you're only feeding yourself or a couple of others, you don't need to make a lot. Pappardelle’s Additionally, Pappardelle's makes potato and cheese pierogis. Although they are a little less expensive than the other brand, you also get less pieces. So that's okay if you're serving yourself, but if you want to serve a few buddies, you'll need extra packages. The pierogies can either be boiled for a shorter amount of time or longer before being transferred to a frying pan. You can therefore choose the texture you wish. Some claim that this brand of pierogi is a little bit dryer and less creamy than other types, however some individuals could prefer that. Try this brand if you want the dumplings in a smaller pack. If you change your mind, you can always buy another brand. Kasia’s The price of Kasia's pierogis is significantly higher than that of the earlier names on our list. However, it is made in Chicago, so if you live in the Midwest you can obtain fresh pierogi. The company produces pierogi with sweet cheese, potato and cheese, and potato and onion. You'll receive these in a lovely insulated package if you have to order them online. That may aid in maintaining their health. After that, you may store them in your freezer until you're prepared to make some tasty pierogi. Naturally, not all brands provide as many tastes. You can choose the potato and onion box, for instance, if cheese isn't your thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYIkjsPTpZI Related Articles :- How Many Cups of Powdered Sugar in a Pound Are There? 8 Inch Cake Servings Is Aquafina Good Water and How Good Is It Is Fried Fish Healthy Whataburger Southern Style Sauce Taste Mrs. T's The well-known pierogi brand Mrs. T's offers a variety of varieties. Pierogi with potatoes and onions, cheese, and even sauerkraut are available. There are 12 pierogi in each box, which is sufficient for the majority of households. However, you must purchase them in bulk if you acquire them online. This implies that although they may be costly, you can freeze the boxes and take one out at a time. This brand has a large variety compared to other others. You can experiment with a few various flavours and even cater to the diverse tastes of your family. Alexandra’s Good pierogi are Alexandra's specialty. Classics like potato and cheese are among the more than a dozen flavours that the company offers. Pierogi made with blueberries, cabbage, or pork can also be purchased. The meat variety will obviously not work for a vegetarian diet. Be sure to take into account both your own eating habits and those of other members of your household. You can always get a few varieties if you can't come to a consensus. Then you can make both so that folks can select their favourite flavour. Your own Perhaps you have trouble finding pierogi that you enjoy. If so, take into account following a recipe to create pierogi from scratch. It will take a long time and several ingredients. The fillings, however, are up to you. The flour and other ingredients will likewise be under your control. You can therefore use a gluten-free flour if you or someone you know is gluten intolerant. It can be enjoyable to try even though this isn't really a brand. Since homemade pierogi is always fresh, you could discover that you prefer it to any retail brand.

Pierogi versus potstickers

How do pierogi and potstickers stack up against one another? Typically served in Europe or North America, pierogi has square or crescent-shaped dumplings. But potstickers are an Asian dish that are frequently pan-fried. Depending on the brand and variation you choose, the ingredients may be different or relatively similar.

How Should I Pick a Pierogi Brand?

Picking a reputable brand is important if you want to try pierogis. Different businesses offer more possibilities than others. Even brands with less ingredients can have wonderful flavour and be simple to make. To choose the best brand for you, think about the following aspects. Availability Depending on where you buy your food, you could just have a few selections. Usually, frozen food is where you may find pierogi. There might not be many options for pierogi, especially if your grocery shop is small. Even in a larger store, not all brands might be available. You may focus your search on the greatest brand by being aware of the ones you can purchase. If you can't locate any reputable pierogi brands locally, you may of course also shop online. Quantity You should also consider how many pierogis you will receive. The standard serving size is four pieces, while certain brands may provide more or fewer. Get a smaller pack if you just want to prepare food for yourself. However, you'll need something bigger if you have a family. Sure, you can purchase additional packets, but you might not want to spend the money if you only require a few more pieces. Think about if there will be a lot of waste and whether you can keep some of the pierogi if you don't plan to eat them all. Preparation Reviewing the pierogi preparation instructions on the packet may be your next step. Most products can be easily made at home. However, some advise boiling while others advise sautéing or grilling the pierogi. Grilling and sauteing can help get your pierogi crispier. Naturally, you are free to disregard the instructions and prepare the pierogi however you like. But making the pierogi according to the directions on the package will almost certainly result in success.

Ingredients

Pierogis with potato and cheese are fairly common. Pierogi made solely of cheese or of potato and onion are also available. There are also other variations that include fruit or meat, like blueberries or bacon. pierogi preparation recipe Take into account your desired pierogi flavour. Choose potato and cheese if you wish to follow tradition. But you can also try out more recent choices. Naturally, if you create your own, you can include everything you like. You can choose the appropriate pierogi flavour if you know what you'll be serving with. Fortunately, potato and cheese pierogi are available to eat with a wide variety of foods. Diet You should take any dietary limitations in your household into account in addition to the items. For instance, meat pierogi can be avoided if you are a vegetarian. Additionally, if you observe kosher law, you should do that, particularly if the company's pierogi contain cheese. The availability of gluten-free pierogi for purchase is unknown, but you can attempt to manufacture your own. That can be useful if you or someone in your household cannot consume gluten or wheat. You'll be able to still savour a delicious supper. Price You must, of course, ensure that you can afford the meals. You might not have the money to acquire a variety if it's only offered in quantity. If you've never tasted pierogi, staying away from bulk alternatives is also a good idea because you don't want to spend a lot of money on something you might not like. Don't forget to account for the cost per ounce as well. Per ounce or pierogi, some larger containers might be a little less expensive. Consider what else you'll eat to go with the pierogi as well. When that happens, you won't need to borrow money or make any other concessions in order to pay for the entire meal. To assist you decide which brand to try this time, check your local grocery shop for any sales. There are a few excellent pierogi brands, despite the fact that there aren't many. Please take into account Mrs. T's, Kasia's, and others. Consider your preferred flavours, any dietary restrictions, and your financial constraints. After that, you can make sure you like the final output. Read the full article

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cursewoodrecap · 4 years ago

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Session 19: Hunters and Haunts

It’s time for some proper horror movie monsters, y’all.

Before leaving Mornheim, we ask Aubrey about the scroll in her mother’s writing. She’s baffled. “I mean, plenty of my ancestors dabbled in magic. The castle had plenty of secret rooms. But…my mom? As far as I knew, she was just a very talented gardener. That’s how my parents met! She was the castle gardener, he was the son of the lord, but she looked past that…”

She laughs nervously. “My mom wasn’t a druid. They don’t live in big fancy houses! They live in the woods and make friends with badgers! I mean, why would there even BE a druid in Mornheim?!”

“That’s a good question,” Gral admits. “Maybe to guard the old tomb in the Trollstones? If I understand correctly, it was a place blessed by one of the woods spirits they revere.”

“So you’re tellin’ me that MY MOM, Rosalind von Mornheim, was the secret mystical druidic guardian of a magic tomb that’s been on family property for, well, longer than it’s been our property?!”

“I mean, maybe? Skelbjor told us there always had to be a troll in Mornheim, maybe it’s like that?”

“I guess? Skelbjor’s been the local troll since Dad was a kid. He knew about all this?”

“Oh, nah, he just knew there’s always supposed to be a troll.”

“Yeah, that sounds about right, he’s a big galoot. Just tell me I don’t have to worry about this immortal troll demigod getting up and causing trouble. I have enough problems.”

“Don’t worry, he didn’t even get up for a direct summons from that dybbuk creep.”

Aubrey shudders. “If you ever wanna figure out a way to kill that guy for good, you have my help.”

Clem grimaces. “Believe me, I’d LOVE to.”

“Anyway. You folks cleaned up the water, stopped my people getting so sick, heck, maybe this’ll even slow down the undead situation. I owe you a lot of thanks. As the ruling lady of Mornheim, I can offer you…a bottle of hard cider or somethin’? I don’t have a lot. It takes all the money we have just to keep this place running. I’m sorry I can’t do more to reward you.”

Valeria smiles, the picture of a chivalrous knight. “I’m just glad to know there won’t be so much sickness. Hopefully things will improve for your people.”

“Thank you, I mean it. And, uh, sorry for glassing you in the face, Shoshana.”

The sorceress shrugs. “It’s water under the trollbridge. We all have family members who we would both hug and cry, and glass in the face. It’s chill.”

To everyone’s surprise, Valeria nods in commiseration.

“You’re welcome to stay if you want – I mean, things are crowded, the food sucks, and every night we get undead and penitents waking everybody up, so I understand if you don’t want to stick around. Can I treat you to breakfast?”

We get breakfast, though the offerings are meager. Mercedes is cooking, and Aubrey scowls at her. “I’m mad at Mercedes because she’s a morning person. Also she lit me on fire yesterday.”

Shoshana nods. “Okay, I understand lighting people on fire, but being a morning person is a capital offense. I know this, because I live with THIS ONE.” She points at Valeria, who shrugs in acknowledgment.

“As ruling lady of house of Mornheim, I hereby banish 8am from my lands,” Aubrey grumbles. “My house is now renamed Midafternoonsheim. Like, 2pmheim. Especially if I spent the last day and a half chasing some regenerating superghoul through the tunnels.”

Mercedes and Aubrey tell us about taking out the superghoul they fought last night, bickering the whole time. “Okay, you don’t speak Goblin, but if I shout words in Goblin it only ever means one thing. I don’t cast buff spells. It means there is about to be fire, get out of the way.”

“If you ever find a cloak of fire resistance, I could use it,” Aubrey deadpans at us. “I might smother her with it.”

Gral chats with Mercedes – apparently she’s a skilled chef as well as a mage! “Yes, it is part of pyromancer training. To learn to respect the gifts of Brother-in-Flame, all students must take up a fire-related trade. Pottery, blacksmithing, cooking. That way if you wash out of pyromancer school, you have a trade! And you have respect for flame and know how to commune with it. Working with non-magical fire gives a natural guidance toward using Brother-in-Flame’s gifts. I will say, cooking contests at pyromancer school can get rather intense. If you burn the food, you have to burn your jacket.”

“Would you say they get…heated?” Shoshana quips, shooting finger-guns. Mercedes ignores her.

Gral considers. “Did you ever meet an orc who went by Firesong?”

“Oh yeah! Orc bard, wore a mask?”

“Uh, all orc bards wear masks.”

“Yeah, she’s why we can’t have the chili cookoffs anymore. She had to leave the Republics under, uh…circumstances.”

“She told me she has fond memories of her time there.”

“Oh, so do I! Passions were already high, and a professional orcish bard providing background music did not lower the emotional intensity. And, well, we’re pyromancers. We thought we were far enough from the swamp gas wells! If it hadn’t been for that damn bird – oh, one second.” She cuts off what was promising to be an excellent story to open the window and hand a sizable plate of eggs outside to Skulbjor.

“The first time I saw him, I jumped out of my skin,” she confides. “Have you ever met a swamp troll? They’re the reason we’re so good at fire.”

“The pyromancer school was originally founded to defend the Republics against trolls. So it was, you know, a liiiiittle bit awkward. Horrible creatures, swamp trolls. YOU’RE GREAT, SKULBJOR,” she calls out the window. “But I did almost light him on fire, until Aubrey stopped me.”

Gral murmurs an aside to Clem. “Is it just Valdian trolls who are weird, then?”

“I dunno, maybe bridges calm them down?”

After breakfast, we prepare to get on the road. Valeria resummons Aethis, and Skulbjor gives our good chomper some quality scritches. Already, the waters flowing into the town appear clearer, less foreboding somehow. Everything else is still, honestly, super Tim Burton-y, but we’ll work on that.

We head out, traveling the now familiar path to Three Oaks Junction. We’re glad to see the bloody chain banners have been taken down. The locals have even made new banners, featuring a shield with a chunk taken out of it, symbolizing they’re under the protection of Duke Shieldeater!

Business has resumed as normal. Some of the outriders are guarding the gate to provide a more visible presence. Not a lot, but they stand out. It’s more of a visual reminder that more orcs are coming and town has agreed to be under protection.

Gral’s pretty psyched his diplomatic master plan is working. Meanwhile, we’ve got trading to do. We manage to sell our old Aquilian coins to Pierre the furrier, who says they’ll be popular in the Demish court. Valeria keeps one of the coins as a collectible.

We’ve got enough stuff to carry and traveling to do that we decide to buy a cart. Clem, familiar with travel from her drow caravan days, heads over to the Used Cart Lot out behind the cart repair, where a guy named Sal shows her around. Looks like these guys do good repair work, with a line of apprentices and masters dating back to Three Oaks himself. Maaaaybe they might get a lot of business from selling carts which will shortly need to be repaired, but Clem uses her know-how and also her impressive guns to intimidate the guy into showing her the good stuff instead of the junkers.

She picks up a nice solid dark oak cart, secondhand, repaired recently. Clem checks it over and it seems pretty sturdy; seems like scavengers found it at an abandoned farmhouse. We also pool funds to buy two draft horses, a shaggy pair that came as a team package. The chestnut one is named Pierogi, and the bay one is named Chestnut. Shoshana attempts to have a Horse Girl Movie moment, but rolls a nat 1 and gets ignored.

Valeria, of course, buys a map to Hoska.

Clem checks her mail – she’s received a form letter thank you from the embassy in Schotzengrad – and sends 200 gold back home to her caravan, along with an update letter. Valeria writes a letter reporting back to Order of the Rose.

Clem gets busy decorating the cart in drow fashion to make it look presentable. She makes a start; a proper drow cart is decorated and redecorated over years and years. She encourages the rest of us to add our own designs, because in drow culture it’s important to have everyone in the caravan participate. We’re not at all familiar with the symbolic language used in drow art, but we’ll give it a try during a few long rests on the road.

Now we have a cart and horses and money and we bought some potions! We roll a mediocre enough survival check to meet the DC, so we head to Hoeska without issue.

Clem’s heard about Hoeska, which stands high in the collective memory of the czar’s military. During the Kevan occupation, it was said that castle was haunted. It was built 400 years ago by Gottfried von Hoesk, a Valdian warlord who wanted to become the first king of a unified Greatwood. He failed, but his descendants have occasionally tried again, and this is their ancestral seat of power. The elves, knowing its significance, took it as one of their first targets and stationed a garrison of 500 elves there. When the Valdian rebellion kicked into high gear, one of the big things that convinced the elves to leave was that the entire garrison vanished without a trace.

Shoshana, well, she’s heard plenty of stories about Hoeska. Every time a Valdian ghost story needs a mad wizard, or a ghost, or a vampire, or generally anything that lives in a big spooky castle, it takes place in Hoeska. Most of those stories are tall tales and urban legends, but on the other hand, there’s been an awfully long history of vampires and ghosts and mad wizards in Valdia, many of whom originated from or occupied the towering, dark castle on its isolated mountain.

Merchants who have been there say it’s a sprawling fortress; every inhabitant since Gottfried von Hoesk, from his descendants to various nobles to the elves, has added something else to castle, so it’s a big mismatch of styles. Some parts are a grim fortress, some are a luxury palace. The castle’s changed hands, but the von Hoesk family is still around and more often than not they ride in and reclaim their ancestral home. A couple of mad wizards were von Hoesks; when something truly evil goes down, usually a bunch of knights ride in and clear it out and some other von Hoesk descendant moves in. Rinse and repeat.

When the Cursebreakers were founded, their first move was to clear out Hoeska and take it over as their headquarters. It’s the Usual Suspect of spooky stuff in Valdia, but if the Cursebreakers found anything relating to the Curse there, they didn’t tell anyone.

Shoshana tells some ghost stories about it. Valeria eats them up. There’s a long Valdian tradition of “having a cousin” who worked at Hoeska as a servant and totally saw something spooky.

With the cart it takes like a day and a half to get from Three Oaks to the edge of Hoeska territory. As we approach, we see a guard house sitting on the road. Gral can see from a distance that the squat stone building appears to be abandoned. That’s not normal. We consider: should we avoid it because it probably has monsters in it, or should we go clear out the monsters and see if there’s loot? We’re gonna go see if there’s loot.

We get out of the wagon and approach, weapons drawn. The small stone building, just big enough for a couple of guards to keep an eye on the road, looks like it was abandoned in a hurry. We case the place quickly; there’s dried blood on the ground in the back storeroom. Maybe someone was killed here, or injured and brought here to get patched up? There’s not a body or anything. Gral’s keen eyes pick up a recent set of footprints; someone came in, after the guards had left, did something here, and then headed out into the woods.

The woods? In the Cursewood? Near the haunted castle? DEFINITELY full of dangerous monsters. But we’re PCs, so we want go investigate the mystery. Aethis stays behind to guard the cart, mildly weirding out the horses.

We follow the tracks into woods. Clem hears something behind her, and as she turns, a furry something whips out of brush and spears her for minor damage. She looks down and sees a scorpion stinger emerging from her torso. She barely has time to register it’s glistening with poison when she’s accosted by massive slavering jaws. This thing looks like it was once a huge wolf, but now has mutated into something far worse, and its teeth are buried deep in Clem’s armor.

Clem goes pale under her ash-dark skin, and must save against the panic and flood of memories brought up by the sudden sight of an attacking wolf.

How in the HELL did that thing get so close without us noticing?! Hell, we were following humanoid tracks – where did this monstrosity come from?!

Valeria immediately smites the hell out of it, and it does enough extra damage we suspect it’s some kind of fiend. Unfortunately, it’s immune to being Frightened, so Gral’s plan to Dissonant Whispers it past two tanks fizzles.

The wolfbeast uses the same tactic on Valeria as it did on Clem – as Valeria’s distracted by deflecting the stinger, it strikes in with its massive jaws, for a huge amount of damage.

Dammit, it’s resistant to Shoshana’s lightning, too. We’re in trouble.

As we’re barely fending this thing off, we can hear snarling and barking coming toward us from another direction. It sounds like wolves or dogs, smaller than this thing tearing through us. And Gral can faintly hear booted humanoid footsteps hurrying alongside them.

Clem misses on her first panicked swing but catches it on the upswing, Great Weapon Master letting her drive the blade deep. Valeria slices it good too, vines tearing through its corrupted flesh. Gral tries to Phantasmal force and fails) It swings its poisonous tail, and Valeria goes down, unconscious. Then it chomps on Clem. Clem is down – except, hold on, not so fast. She uses Last Gasp to use her Second Wind as she falls, in accordance with the Deal she has made with the Pale King.

Panicking, Shosha deals it thunder damage which it does not resist. BIG BOOM THO. That was dumb of me.

Shoshana, panicking, hits the thing with thunder damage. It doesn’t have resistance, but now everything in the forest knows we’re here. As Valeria passes her first Death Save, Gral shouts a Healing Word to keep her alive.

Three large hounds burst from the trees snarling and howling. A voice in Elven shouts “Alexei! Kill! Go for legs!”

Gral can’t understand Elven, so he goes for the neck with his sickle and draws a nasty gash across its throat. The thing glances around, snarling, furious at being deprived its meal, but it recognizes it’s in danger and withdraws, sprinting away into the forest.

A large wood elf wearing a tattered Cursebreaker coat steps out of woods holding a club and a heavy blunderbuss. He whistles sharply, and the hounds abruptly stop their pursuit. “No further!” He gestures, and the hounds spread out and form a perimeter.

“I do not know you,” he says in Valdian, though with a thick elven accent. “You fought the Shusva.”

“…The what?”

“That thing, the Shusva. At least, I found name in book. Seemed similar to this, yes? I am Ser Boris, of Cursebreaker Knights. What brings you here? Is dangerous territory.”

“Kyr Valeria Argent, at your service! We’ve been working with Ser Quentin Morozov.”

A grin breaks across his thickly bearded face. “Ah, Ser Morozov! I know him. The grumpy one! He talks to people, finds what is in hearts and minds. Goes to towns, finds cultists. As he is to the people, I am to the beasts.”

“Yes, we had information for him and needed to make a report. Also we were trying to meet up with another person headed this way?”

He grimaces. “How recently? This Shusva has been stalking roads.”

“Um, recent?” Shoshana interjects. “But he’s accompanied by two fuckhuge goliaths, so…?”

“Oh, yes, him. He is fine. Oh! You injured it!” Ser Boris cries, distracted. He pulls out a small waxed pouch and grabs a chunk of flesh off Clem’s blade. “Good! With this, we can track its scent! Not today, though, you are wounded. Must get you two to castle.”

“These are Alexei, Sasha, and Xander,” he introduces his hounds, which have heeled obediently.

“You are – ah! A drow!” He greets Clem in Elven. “You are very far from home!”

“Ah, home is where you make it,” she replies in kind.

He laughs. “Indeed, indeed. Come, we must share stories back at castle! I move here during war, think it would be peaceful.”

“Yeah, bit of a mistake, huh?”

“I do well enough. I have my dogs, I receive employment. And coat! Employment with coat is better than employment without coat, da?”

We go back to our cart, and Ser Boris is immediately taken with Aethis. “Oh, my! A wonderful beastie. Is it Celestial? May I see teeth?”

Valeria’s happy to make introductions.

“Have you cared for such a creature before? They are adapted for warm streams, not cold woods like these, you know.”

“Do they need any further care than occasional spellwork? That’s all they told us at the academy,” Valeria says, puzzled.

“Is gift from Rack, no? Then double important you take good care! It does not need it, but you must. Caring for exotic mount in inhospitable climate is difficult task. I will give you literature. You would not believe poor beasts Dr. Galvan had, I am giving him dietary instructions, seeing if I can create sweater for them to keep warm…”

He goes back to cooing over Aethis. “Nice luster on scales, though that is expected. Feets---oh, you’ve been running on hard road, you’ll get used to that. Very well. Castle is this way!”

He whistles, and the three hounds form a triangle around group. “Do not wander too far off, they may try to herd you.”

It’s somewhere around here that the pun finally hits the players. Ser Boris. Three dogs. …Cerberus.

The path winds up to the dramatic gates of castle Hoeska.

“Now if you look there, you will see castle.” A lightning bolt cracks dramatically across the sky, casting the castle in ominous silhouette.

“It always does that. It is very stormy around here. I do not know why. Impossible to get good sunlight. I worry for Alexei, he likes to frolic in sun, in fields of flowers. I am not allowed to let him in garden. How will Alexei frolic without field of flowers?”

There’s a Cursebreaker Knight at the gates, some kind of battlemage with a big staff. Next to him is a grim figure in full plate, holding a halberd and looking distinctly displeased to see us.

“Do not mind them, the castle guards do not appreciate us being here,” Ser Boris tells us cheerfully. “It is okay, we have permission. They do not like that we do their job better than them. Hello friend!” He waves. “These are guests, please open gate!”

The guard glares.

“Pretty please, open gate for Ser Boris and friends? And Alexei and Sacha! Oh, have you met Xander yet?”

The guard silently opens the gate, his withering scowl not diminishing a bit.

“I do not know what problem is. Must have woke up on wrong side of bed,” Boris chatters as we enter. “Maybe should not leave lunch where dogs can get it. Guard knows I am here with dogs! Maybe dogs have done nothing wrong ever in their life and guard should apologize for making such a fuss!”

We’re past the castle walls, in a large courtyard before entering the keep proper. As we pass our carts and horses off to some stablehands, we notice a familiar cart and two draft gatorbeasts in the stables, with quilted blankets thrown over them against the chill.

Parked incongruously among the carts is a looming metal construct in a hulking, vaguely humanoid shape, with buzz-saw arms protruding from the front and a machined metal owl mask affixed to what might charitably be called the face area. Peeling paint on the front reads “Valdian Tree Company,” and it’s chained to a heavy wagon proudly bearing the insignia of the Sturmhearst University College of Engineering.

Ser Boris shrugs. “Many visitors are here now. One shows up with that thing. I do not like. Not natural, so much metal moving on own.”

We step into the grand hallway of castle, past another set of guards and a big statue of a fine-featured man in armor, labeled Gottfried von Hoesk. Ah, Ingborg and Bjorn are there, drinking.

We hear someone clear his throat imperiously, and turn to see Ser Quentin, regarding us with annoyance. “You’re late,” he bites out pointedly.

“Uh, did we make an appointment to see you? Because I was certainly not informed,” Shoshana snarks back.

He doesn’t take the bait. “So. The Pale King.”

“…Yup!”

“That letter and those words are why we’ve been stuck here. You’ve been escalated to the higher ups, who would very much like to hear what you have to report in person. Follow me. The dogs can stay here.”

Ser Boris grumbles. “Is fine, they do not bite! Well, they might bite sandvich. I could go for sandvich. I get us all sandviches, yes?”

We head up grand winding stairs, into the more palatial section of castle, and find ourselves passing through long dark galleries full of portraits of von Hoesk ancestors. The eyes follow us as we walk by, natch.

The path we take is DEFINITELY a little bit Scooby Dooby Doors. Ser Quentin Definitely Does Not Get Lost on the way there, what are you talking about? “This place was built by a succession of mad architects in an intergenerational argument with each other, of course it’s a damn maze,” he huffs.

Eventually, we are taken into a small, elegant drawing room. Two figures sit in comfortable armchairs in front of a roaring fire.

“Allow me to present Ser Brigid Konig,” Ser Quentin states formally, gesturing to the old woman calmly knitting in the chair on the left.

The other chair holds a tall man with sharp cheekbones, a fine black and red outfit, and rather similar features to the statue in the foyer. “Our host, Ludwig von Hoesk,” Quentin introduces stiffly.

“Hello,” the old woman, Ser Brigid, greets us warmly. “Our dear Quentin has told me so very little about you. Quentin, did you offer them anything to eat? It would be quite rude to let our guests go hungry.”

“I am told Ser Boris has arranged for sandwiches,”

“Perfect. Sit down, everyone, pull up a chair.”

Gral unnatch 20s a perception. That Ludwig von Hoesk – maybe Gral’s gotten better at picking up on this sort of thing since we’ve spent so much time in in Mornheim, but there’s something odd about that fella. He’s a little too still when he sits still, his motion a little too deliberate. And his skin is awfully pale. The old lady? Her, he can’t get a read on, even with a 20. Daaaaang.

“If you would, please, tell us of your travels. Ser Morozov tells us you first worked together in Ovruch; why don’t you start there?” Ser Brigid asks.

We take turns describing the entities we’ve seen, how we’ve fought them, and how they seem to categorize themselves. We produce the Eyegis as evidence of the Key, and explain what the Astronomer told us regarding the concept of Prisoners.

Ludwig, though very reserved, seems keenly interested in Clem’s tale of Mornheim. Once we’ve told our tale, he asks us to produce the tapestry we took from the cultists in the manor. He examines the partially-woven image carefully, tracing a thin finger over the crowned, skeletal figure.

“Well, Luddy, does it look familiar?” Ser Brigid asks smugly.

The aristocrat is too dignified to roll his eyes, but just barely. “It does. If we’re just going to-“

“Oh, we’d have to clue them in sooner or later. They’ve done more in a few weeks than half my agents have done in years!”

Ser Quentin grumbles audibly. She ignores him.

“Ludwig, is that the symbol you described to me?”

“Yes.”

“And the name?”

“Yes.”

“Do you consider that independent verification of what I told you?”

“Yes.”

“So I think you owe me something, old friend.”

He lets out a huffy, aristocratic sigh. “Yes, fine. You weren’t lying, and I was right not to kill you. I apologize for doubting you.”

“Thank you. Oh, the sandwiches are here!”

He turns his attention back to the tapestry. “Yes, this is the thing that appeared to me and offered me a position at the head of its armies.”

…oh?!?!

He rolls his eyes at our alarm. “I refused, naturally,” he sniffs.

“I should hope so!” Valeria says, and removes her hand from her sword hilt.

“I have no interest in submitting myself to some power-hungry usurper.”

Ser Brigid winks at us. “Perhaps I should re-introduce us properly. My name is Ser Brigid Konig. I was on my way to Valdshart when the city went dark, to formally retire as the Duke’s chief vampire hunter.”

“And this is Ludwig von Hoesk. His son built this castle! For the past couple hundred years, my office has been dedicated solely to hunting and killing him. Greetings!”

She rolls her eyes at her companion, who looks a bit miffed. “Really. They would have figured it out eventually. And you are not subtle about it. With the spooky castle? And the red and black outfit? C’mon, Luddy.”

“A few years ago, shortly after the curse manifested, I had a dream. This in itself is quite unusual; I do not normally experience dreams. In it, a creature resembling the figure on your tapestry appeared to me, offering a position as general of its armies. As its power grew, it would gain control of all undead in Valdia, and it would like myself and my followers to be the first and most honored of its forces. Naturally I refused. There is only one king in Valdia, and it is not some strange skeletal specter.”

“Wait, we have a king?” Shoshana blurts. “…oh. You mean yourself, don’t you.”

“Yes. It was my son’s idea. And what can I say, I spoiled the boy. Now, I was wondering what to do about this vision when who shows up but a bunch of angry knights with crossbows? Not that we’re not used to such incursions.”

“Oh, I’ve been trying to storm this place for years,” Ser Brigid agrees airily. “Every time we try, a mysterious new von Hoesk heir shows up with money and a whole court of followers! People buy it every time. Wishful thinking, I suppose.”

“She accused me of being behind the Curse,” Ludwig explains dryly. “I argued otherwise, and eventually we came to an agreement. Which is why Brigid Konig, my worst nightmare, HAS BEEN LIVING IN MY HOUSE.”

“Yes!” she agrees, with a beatific granny smile. “This way, if you ARE behind it, I can kill you!” She lifts the blanket she’s knitting just enough to give us a peek at the crossbow hidden underneath. Gral sees runes on the crossbow similar to his heartseeker bolts. “The rules are simple! I get to use his house and money, and his people assist as we try to get to bottom of this thing! And in exchange, I don’t kill him!”

Ludwig sighs. “She removes the monsters. I don’t appreciate monsters in my land, and I genuinely will do anything in my not inconsiderable power to drive out these ruinous Prisoners. Even if it means entertaining a woman who’s been a thorn in my side for the last sixty years.”

“Not a thorn, arrows!” she retorts cheerfully. “And a scythe one time. You got better, you big baby!”

“Of course I got better, I’m a vampire.”

Quentin sighs. “Needless to say, all information disclosed in this room is top secret. Frankly, if it were up to me, I wouldn’t have chosen to divulge even this much.”

Ser Brigid turns her level gaze on him. “Please. The orc would have spotted something and said ‘My goodness, Kyr Argent, I suspect something is up with that handsome and brooding fellow,’ and then she would have Detected Undead, and killed several guards, and the castle would be on fire, and we’d be in the dungeons having this conversation, but it would be far more awkward!” She turns to us. “Have I read the situation right?”

“…yup,” admits Valeria.

“See? Now Quentin, dear, eat your sandwich, you’re far too skinny.”

Ludwig is not eating a sandwich. He has a glass of red wine, of course.

They grill us a bit about the Key, specifically, and the Sturmhearst scholars we met who seem rather susceptible to the whole knowledge-seeking lure.

“Hmm, yes. We have several guests here, two of whom are professors. Professor Galvan, whom you’ve met, and a visitor from Sturmhearst. Professor Bjork, from the College of Engineering. I have some suspicions about things going on there. He’s told us a few concerning stories; you might want to pick his brain and get your take on the situation.”

“Such an august institution,” Ludwig agrees. “I gave some of the money to start the place, I’d hate to see it go bad.”

We wonder if he knows Dr. Wendell. But it’s getting late, and while the party discusses their experiences in great detail, we’re going to cut session and pick back up once they’re ready to go meet some other guests of the von Hoesks.

#the cursewood #cursebreaker knights #quentin morozov #ser boris #von hoesk #hoeska #aubrey von mornheim #skelbjor #mercedes the pyromancer #clem haxan #valeria argent #gral omokk'duu #shoshana bat chaya #The Pale King #The Hunt

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alotta-lovin · 7 years ago

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1-10, 21-30, 45-55, 65-80 and 90-100! And to clear up confusion so u won't forget like last time by - I mean those and everything in between B)

1: Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?

That fucking thing is barricaded. and i mean with boxes, pillows and spare blankets that i take on and off my bed–

2: Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel?

No?? Sometimes? only if i didnt bring my own shampoo and conditioner– thats the only reason.

3: Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?

IN.

4: Have you ever stolen a street sign before?

Does stealing the pole count?

5: Do you like to use post-it notes?

Not really i only really use them as like— book marks or for tiny drawings to put around the house.

6: Do you cut out coupons but then never use them?

7: Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees?

fucking let the bear take me. i love bees and all but im fucking allergic to that shit and id rather not die that way.

8: Do you have freckles?

Yes. Everywhere. Moles too.

9: Do you always smile for pictures?

no�� not always. im the person i smile all the time. and most of the time its not a real smile so when im smiling in pictures unless im actually happy its a fake smile, thus i consider it a no. or i pull a deadpan and just look at the camera annoyed.

10: What is your biggest pet peeve?

PEOPLE WHO FUCKING CHEW WITH THEIR MOUTH OPEN OR TALK WITH THEIR MOUTH FULL AND DONT COVER THEIR MOUTH TO BE RESPECTFUL.

21: Whats your least favorite movie?

Lights out? Don’t breathe? i have a fair few.

22: Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some?

Why though? but if i had to choose i guess with myself when i die. and that means its being turned to ashes with me. BOOM.

23: If you’re a girl, bra size? If you’re a guy, pants size?

Okay for someone who is dysphoric as hell and also is just as confused about what genderbullshit is this really made me just “hhhhhhh” but i also dont care? im a 34B. and maybe a size 9 or so in pants?

24: What do you dip a chicken nugget in?\

Ketchup

25: What is your favorite food?

FRENCH FRIES.

26: What movies could you watch over and over and still love?

Cats Dont Dance, Grease, Mama Mia, Ghostbusters

27: Last person you kissed/kissed you?

My mom?

28: Were you ever a boy/girl scout?

29: Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?

Its the human body. people really need to stop just thinking of it in a sexual way, its honestly just skin and parts. it doesnt matter. so i dont know.

30: When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?

1st through 3rd grade we were all assigned a person over seas that was serving our country while we gave them a care package.

45: Ever watch soap operas?

N O

46: Are you afraid of heights?

Not really

47: Do you sing in the car?

Fuck yeah

48: Do you sing in the shower?

Hell yeah

49: Do you dance in the car?

Only if im in the passenger seat.

50: Ever used a gun?

Yep and im a deadshot too.

51: Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer?

It was a family portrait and i was 10 or younger

52: Do you think musicals are cheesy?

53: Is Christmas stressful?

Yes. i don’t like Thanksgiving or Christmas all that much due to bad memories and the fact that it was basically ruined every year for me by family

54: Ever eat a pierogi?

more than likely because of my mom but i don’t remember

55: Favorite type of fruit pie?

Fruit pies— huh…. dont think i have one

65: Nike or Adidas?

Vans

66: Cheetos Or Fritos?

Cheetos

67: Peanuts or Sunflower seeds?

Sunflower Seeds are the bomb

69: Ever take dance lessons?

70: Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing?

No?

71: Can you curl your tongue?

Yes and i can tie a cherry stem with my tongue too.

72: Ever won a spelling bee?

No up until 2013 i barely knew how to read let alone type.

73: Have you ever cried because you were so happy?

OKAY LISTEN. IF SOMEONE MAKES ME SOMETHING OR BUYS ME SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY WANT TO AND ITS SOMETHING I LIKE OR SOMETHING THEY THINK WILL MAKE ME HAPPY AND SEND IT TO ME I FULL ON FUCKING CRY CAUSE I DONT UNDERSTAND THE FEELING OF HAPPY.

like for example, the first pictures i posted on this blog of me n’ Cronus, @curvy-roses made those for me and sent them to me while i was in a call with @the-jackals and i started crying full on because i dont understand wtf happy feels like and it scares me and sends me into a panic attack

74: Own any record albums?

Yeah i do actually original ones too

75: Own a record player?

Sadly not yet i gotta get it to play said records

76: Regularly burn incense?

Yep, Dragons Blood mostly

77: Ever been in love?

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM I DUNNO.

(Sarcasm at its finest but the art is a commission from @curvy-roses)

78: Who would you like to see in concert?

Everyone i wanna see in concert is either old and not doing them anymore or is dead

79: What was the last concert you saw?

it was a country concert and it sucked everyone was drunk off their ass and it didnt help it was at a statium where tHEY FUCKING WOULDNT LET YOU SIT IN SEATS OR BRING YOUR OWN SEATS SO YOU WERE SITTING IN THE GRASS AND PEOPLE WERE STEPPING ON YOU—-

80: Hot tea or cold tea?

90: Can you knit or crochet?

Crochet

91: Best room for a fireplace?

bedroom? or living room? ONE OF THOSE

92: Do you want to get married?

Yeah i would and do

93: If married, how long have you been married?

Not married— unless yer talking with Cro and thats not for a couple years so

94: Who was your HS crush?

Didnt go to highschool o v o

95: Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way?

N O ID GET MY FUCKING ASS BEAT AND IF SOMEONE ELSE DOES THAT AROUND ME IT MAKES ME WANNA PUNCH THEM AND GIVE THEM A REASON TO CRY FUCKIN HELL

96: Do you have kids?

n o

97: Do you want kids?

yes and no

98: Whats your favorite color?

Rainbow

99: Do you miss anyone right now?

lots of people

F U CK IN THERE YA GO

i did the thing and now i dunno what else to do so ye

#Alotta-asks #Asks #homestuck mention #Cronus Ampora Mention #Personal Asks #its a lot but here you go #content cause i cant seem to draw shippy crap

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perfectirishgifts · 4 years ago

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How Irene Li Strives To Keep Mei Mei In Boston Alive

New Post has been published on https://perfectirishgifts.com/how-irene-li-strives-to-keep-mei-mei-in-boston-alive/

How Irene Li Strives To Keep Mei Mei In Boston Alive

Irene Li, a James Beard Award nominee for emerging chef, is doing everything she can to keep Mei … [] Mei’s doors open in Boston.

Irene Li, the owner and chef at Mei Mei’s, a Chinese restaurant located in Boston, and a finalist for Rising Star Chef at the James Beard Awards, is pulling every lever she can to keep it alive during the pandemic.

Located in the Audubon Circle neighborhood of Boston, in proximity to Fenway Park and Kenmore Square, Mei Mei started out as a food truck in 2013. It morphed into a brick and mortar restaurant with 36 seats in 2014, and became known for its double scallion pancake sandwich, cranberry sage pork dumplings and scallion pierogi dumplings.

In its inception, Mei Mei was a family affair, run by three siblings of the Li family, not just Irene. Andy Li was in management at several fine dining eateries, Margaret, whose nickname was Mei, was an entrepreneur and an MBA, and Irene, a graduate of Cornell University, had line cook experience. Together they established a formidable trio.

The three siblings raised the capital to launch Mei Mei. They bootstrapped it, borrowing money from friends and family, and generating $40,000 via Kickstarter.

But Andy left to get married and had children before opening Flora’s, a wine bar in nearby West Newton, and Mei got married and had children and concentrated on writing cookbooks, leaving Li, the youngest sister, as sole proprietor.

From early on, they opted to diversify and produce several revenue streams, not just the restaurant. For example, they created a sauce line in 2014, but that was discontinued two years later.

Li’s being nominated for a James Beard Award enhanced the restaurant’s recognition, extending its profile and brand.

The pandemic devastated its business. Li says that its revenue plummeted about 80%. She noted that prior to Covid’s striking, catering generated about 40% of its business and that vanished.

Creating new revenues was the only way to keep Mei Mei alive, during this crippling pandemic.

For example, it organizes virtual classes online, including dumpling-making, hand-pulled noodles, and wok dishes. Classes last 90 minutes and appeal to corporate clients, groups and friends, and individual online students.

It also sells its signature dumplings as a prepared food at both the restaurant and at farmer��s markets.

In addition, it offers delivery through DoorDash and its Toast service. Prior to Covid, it partnered with a variety of third-party vendors.

Currently, Li says its revenue is split by 33% each by the following: 1) restaurant sales from pick-up and delivery, 2) virtual classes and 3) farmer’s markets.

Though Boson permits indoor dining in a limited capacity with tables separated six feet apart, Li has opted not to restore it.

“We’re a small restaurant with an open kitchen and can’t modify our HVAC system. It doesn’t seem safe to me personally,” she says and doesn’t want to put her staff of eight employees (she once had 25 employees) at risk.

Being adaptive is critical to sustaining Mei Mei in some capacity. “We anticipate another closure. Everything is so unstable. We don’t want to put all of our eggs in one basket,” she says.

She envisions that producing packaged goods in its kitchen that sell in supermarkets is one way to keep the business alive in the future. Besides the steamed dumplings, it also offers thai-style curry meals and vegetarian beans.

Currently, the packaged goods can be purchased at Mei Mei’s and at several other eateries, through colleagues and friends, across the Boston area.

Keeping an independent eatery alive is no easy task. “We only have a couple of months of operating expenses in the bank at any given time,” she admits.

Though Mei Mei received Paycheck Protection Program funding, her landlord has not reduced its rent, and its lease lasts another two years.

In the next year, she expects that Mei Mei will continue to operate from the same address “but it’ll look more like a factory than a restaurant.”

Many customers know the brand and, she hopes, will be attracted to buying its products, either from the restaurant or farmer’s markets, and eventually supermarkets, taking out dinners, or attending its online classes.

She envisions the restaurant industry’s undergoing major upheaval. She sees it “being hollowed out. We’ll only have fine dining and chains, and we may lose the independents.”

Mei Mei is located in Boston, in walking distance to Fenway Park.

From Food & Drink in Perfectirishgifts

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ladychaoticka · 6 years ago

Text

This conversation! Bucky talking about a guilty pleasure with Clint. Plus, Nat's two cents thrown in for good measure.

---------

Clint walks quickly across the communal kitchen, heading straight to the last cabinet. He pushes aside cans of vegetables, grunting as he bends further in and stretches to grab a bag of candies from the very back of the pantry.

Bucky watches the archer for a few moments before deciding to announce his presence by thumping his empty mug down on the countertop. A small curl of his lip belays his amusement as Clint jerks his head up at the sound, head colliding with the upper shelf.

"Geez, give a guy a heart attack!" Clint turns away from the cabinet, rubbing the top of his head. "Goddamn it Barnes, I gotta put a bell on you... " Clint grumbles, dumping his procured sweets on the counter and opening up a wrapper to pop a neon pink, sugar covered bunny into his mouth.

"Bell wouldn't help. Why are you eating that?" Bucky tilted his head a bit as he started down the somewhat stiff looking marshmallow rabbit on the counter.

"Why the hell wouldn't it work? And what do you mean why? They're delicious!" Clint breaks off another peeps bunny and bites off the ears. Bucky looks incredulously at the bag on the counter with thr brightly colored egg decorations on the packaging and grunts out "They're expired."

Clint shoves the remaining part of the peep into his mouth, chewing as he replies "They taste better stale." Bucky grimaces as Clint swallows and smacks his lips with exaggerated satisfaction. "Come on, don't look at me like that, Mr. High and Mighty Ass-ass-in. Like you don't have any guilty pleasures?"

Bucky's face goes blank for a moment and Clint hurriedly adds "shit! I mean you probably had a ton of guilty pleasures before Hydra did the whole, you know" he makes a few swirling gestures with his hands.

Bucky gives him a cold look and Clint starts to sweat, slowly inching towards the doorway. He opens his mouth, ready to say something he hopes to figure out before the sounds leave his mouth but Bucky cuts him off before he can insert his foot any further.

"Buying pierogi in the dead of night from an elderly Slavic woman who sells frozen baked goods --cash only-- from the back of an unmarked van." Bucky pauses, a far away look on his face "Oh, yeah, that's the stuff."

Clint's eyebrows raise up to his hairline, "That is... ...oddly specific."

Natasha, steps into the kitchen from behind Clint causing the archer to scuttle away from the door he had been edging towards. Smiling as Clint realizes he is boxed in between the two ex-assassins, Nat adds, "It's not real pierogi unless the person selling it is committing tax evasion. You can taste the difference."

------

Me, buying pierogi in the dead of night from an elderly Slavic woman who sells frozen baked goods cash-only from the back of an unmarked van: Oh, yeah, that’s the stuff.

31K notes · View notes

savetopnow · 7 years ago

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2018-03-07 14 FOOD now

FOOD

Ask Culinary

Why does meat turn brown in the refrigerator after a few days, even though I haven't opened the external packaging?

What is the purpose of spanking/hitting a cucumber with the side of a cleaver before cutting it for Chinese cucumber salad?

I’m looking to make a birthday cake 4 days before serving to save some time. How should I store it? Fridge? Freezer?

Why is there lemon in madeira cake

Balancing interests in food and cooking, and health and fitness

Belly Over Mind

Flourless White Chocolate and Hazelnut Cake

Homemade Ginger Beer

Sukeli and Kakvi Banana Bread

Harissa Ragu With Garlicky Tomatoes and Crispy Green Chickpeas

Green Peas, Feta, Mint and Za’atar Samosas

Binging with Babish

Binging with Babish: Clementine Cake from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Eggs | Basics with Babish

Binging with Babish: Tamales from Coco

Binging with Babish: Chocolate Lava Cakes from Chef feat. Jon Favreau and Roy Choi

Livestream #7 Pizza | Basics with Babish

Food Porn

[4008x5344] So I am being told over at /r/WeWantPlates you guys would like this,Country Fried Steak and sunny side eggs! [X Post]

I made Cacio e Pepe [OC] [4032x3024]

I made some lobster with a side of Sriracha mayo and salmon tartare with a mango and avocado salsa [2448x2448]

[I ate]Seared Salmon over Rice [OC][5312×2988]

[I ate] Duck with braised cabbage and pierogi [4032x3024]

Gordon Ramsay

Gordon Ramsay Finds DRIED BLOOD On His Bed Sheet | Hotel Hell

Gordon Ramsay Storms Out After Having Enough of Delusional Owner | Hotel Hell

Ramsay Sends Owner Home Because He Looks Like a 'Towel Boy'! | Hotel Hell

FROZEN Avocado & RAW Chicken Kept Next To Cooked Chicken | Hotel Hell

Hotel Staff Have to BUY THEIR OWN NAME TAGS! | Hotel Hell

Jun's Kitchen

Peaceful Cuisine

Reddit Food

[Homemade] Beef and mushroom stew on roasted potatoes.

[I Ate] Delicious Double Cheeseburger

[Homemade] Mongolian beef!

[I ate] so many cannoli

[Homemade] Fried Mozzarella

Rosanna Pansino

Tending the Table

Epic Savory Breakfast Bowl

Palm Springs

Millet Polenta with Spring Vegetables and Greens from Simply Vibrant

Horchata Mocha Latte

Chyawanprash Pecan Butter Bites

#food

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westernmanews · 4 years ago

Link

SPRINGFIELD — In 1936, Paul and Gerry D’Amour were passionate about providing fresh local food to their customers at the Y Cash Market in Chicopee. Today, close to 85 years after its founding, Big Y World Class Markets have more than 500 partnerships with local farmers like Meadowbrook Farms and local food producers like Millie’s Pierogi. The passion of its founders continues with Big Y announcing the Fresh & Local Distribution Center name and logo.

“One of my earliest memories was going around with my uncle to the farms in the summer months and buying peppers and tomatoes and corn,” said Charlie D’Amour, president and CEO of Big Y (see video here). “You could just feel the camaraderie and the connection. I’m proud to say that that connection is still with us today.”

Big Y’s Fresh & Local Distribution Center provides local farmers and food producers with an efficient, one-stop location that saves them the time and cost of delivering to individual stores. It also features state-of-the-art technology and temperature controls to help Big Y maintain and deliver food at the peak of freshness to customers. Corn picked in the fields in the morning can be in Big Y stores by the afternoon. Big Y supplies each of its stores with fresh fish six days a week. Fish may have been swimming in the ocean one day and be in stores by the next morning.

Currently, through Big Y’s Fresh & Local Distribution Center, 70 farmers — accounting for more than 9,000 acres of farmland in the region — supply Big Y’s stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut with 1,200 types of native fruits and vegetables each year. For many farmers, this partnership helps them grow their business and preserve farmland and open space in area communities.

“Big Y has been so instrumental in the local community,” said John Burney of Meadowbrook Farm in East Longmeadow. “They have enabled me to continue to grow my business and put 99% of my profits back into the farm to keep providing customers with locally grown produce.”

More that 3,000 different products from local food producers can be found at a typical Big Y supermarket. Big Y actively searches for new craft-food artisans to bring into their stores and can provide them with support for marketing and packaging, help with barcodes, or even advice on business matters like insurance. “It gives us great pride and honor to be able to help these young businesses, these young farmers, these young producers, to grow their business and become successful,” said D’Amour. “That’s part of the role we can play in the community. I would encourage folks out there who want to explore an opportunity to work with us to contact us through bigy.com.”

The new Fresh & Local Distribution center has close to 425,000 square feet of space and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is located adjacent to Big Y headquarters at 2145 Roosevelt Ave. in Springfield.

The post Big Y Expands Legacy of Helping Farmers and Small Businesses appeared first on BusinessWest.

#Western MA news #westernmanews

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psychotherapyconsultants · 7 years ago

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Broadening Your Mind Through Friendship

I have a friend from high school. It’s the classic sentence that starts every character evaluation, diagnosis, and competition. Maybe it’s because high school is frozen in a space outside normal time where friends became more than the person who sat next to you in social studies. Close friendships have an undeniable power that can affect people long after childhood. Especially for women.

A UCLA study reports that female friendships are unique in the sense that they help biologically reduce stress. A ten year Australian study found that friendships can improve brain functioning as we age. Study after study shows that friendship is not only good for our social lives, but also for our physical and mental well-being. The relationships we build with those around us help shape our entire lives.

I met my oldest friend in a hallway while avoiding the cafeteria. She was playing a guitar and sitting on the windowsill. Although I had no idea who she was at the time, I was instantly drawn to her in the way that teenage girls are drawn to the covers of Cosmopolitan magazine. She was the kind of person that could sing without being self conscious in a busy upstairs hallway of a public high school. Unlike me, she was not trying to be invisible. She was vibrant.

The characteristics that are intrinsically hers, are the ones I like best. Perhaps because they aren’t mine and don’t run in my family, I am more fascinated by her ability to survive off an entirely unique set of skills. She is flexible. If plans change, that’s fine. If I absolutely have to listen to disco in her car, she doesn’t think twice. She isn’t afraid to wear the kinds of clothes I privately watch on eBay year after year without buying. She can dye her hair even when there’s no real occasion.

This isn’t to say friends don’t have similarities. While people gravitate toward what is different, they ultimately crave comfort. My friend and I both analyze ourselves, each other, and everyone else for hours without getting bored. We both like walking with no particular direction. We both share the same tragically-beautiful taste for Joy Division. Yet, like most friendships, there are parts of her that have somehow melted into my personality.

Standing in a grocery store, I panicked when the pierogi section had been replaced with frozen yogurt and snack food. I could feel myself getting antsy. This is not a big deal, I told myself, scanning the sections of neon-colored dessert. My rigidity has caused one anonymous friend to sign me up for the AARP. I now have daily reminders in the form of hearing device catalogues and coupons for reading glasses. It’s not that I’m afraid of change, I tell my friends. I just like things the way they are.

I thought about slamming the frozen freezer door and waltzing out of the supermarket in a huff, when I remembered my friend and I, standing in a 4 hour line at an airport. She explained to me the problem with J.Crew and together we made up stories about the other travelers. When they told us we’d have to board another plane several hours later, she pulled out a book. We’d just have to take another route, she explained when I continued to ask what happened.

After intense scrutiny of all artificial flavors frozen, I figured the other packaged food couldn’t be horrible. I settled on a foreign container of spinach appetizers and continued on. I could safely say I was not afraid of change. An inconvenience, yes, but not terrifying.

It’s a microscopic example of contagious virtues, but there are dozens of them. They may seem too simple to pay attention to or too small to notice, but as with every deconstruction of patterns, flexibility and open-mindedness becomes second nature.

Friendships broaden horizons in a way that family cannot. While generations of families pass down ethics, morals, character, and biology to their offspring, friends pass down the shine of something new and different. Like democrats or republicans who rely on Facebook for news, people can often find themselves trapped in an echo chamber of insular thinking. While it may be rewarding to find a sense of predictability, the ability to learn new ways of thinking becomes more difficult.

Repetitive thinking, depression, and poor physical or mental health can plague someone at any point in life. While not everyone is able to still have the friend that glitters from high school, relationships outside family are important at any age.

from World of Psychology https://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2017/09/24/broadening-your-mind-through-friendship/

#World of Psychology

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mamosefan · 7 years ago

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timelxrd-victxrious · 8 years ago

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1. Would you have sex with the last person you text messaged? well, whatsapped, yeah

2. You talked to an ex today, correct? Yeah, but we’re close friends so I speak to him everyday 😂

3. Have you taken someones virginity? Nope

4. Is trust a big issue for you? I guess? I find it hard to trust people at the beginning, but once I do its fine

5. Did you hang out with the person you like recently? Not physically 👀

6. What are you excited for? Backpacking around Italy after college - it’s the only certain thing I have planned for this year

7. What happened tonight? I’m answering this in the morning, so I’ll just tell you about last night. I spent most of the evening working on an essay, then I watched and episode of Lost and just chatted to some lovely people

8. Do you think it’s disgusting when girls get really wasted? No, just stay safe kids.

9. Is confidence cute? As long as it’s not cocky

10. What is the last beverage you had? Water. Crazy ik.

11. How many people of the opposite sex do you fully trust? maybe 4..

12. Do you own a pair of skinny jeans? That’s all I own

13. What are you gonna do Saturday night? I’m going Ice Skating with some friends

14. What are you going to spend money on next? Gotta pay for those driving lessons

15. Are you going out with the last person you kissed? Haha no

16. Do you think you’ll change in the next 3 months? Not drastically, but experiences change everyone

17. Who do you feel most comfortable talking to about anything? Does my cat count?

18. The last time you felt broken? All :) the :) time :)

19. Have you had sex today? Nope

20. Are you starting to realize anything? I really don’t like it here

21. Are you in a good mood? Just sort of neutral right now

22. Would you ever want to swim with sharks? Maybe, I think I would need to decide in the moment rather than think about it properly

23. Are your eyes the same color as your dad’s? I’m not sure, I can’t think of my dad’s eye colour

24. What do you want right this second? Joseph

25. What would you say if the person you love/like kissed another girl/boy? If we were together then I would be pretty pissed, I’m not sure what I would say though. If we weren’t, I would keep quiet and probably just be a bit upset

26. Is your current hair color your natural hair color? Yeah

27. Would you be able to date someone who doesn’t make you laugh? It’s hard to not make me laugh so probably not, because if they can’t make me laugh I would probably feel quite bored

28. What was the last thing that made you laugh? My mum calling me in a panic because HMV is closing and telling me that it’s an emergency

29. Do you really, truly miss someone right now? Oh yes

30. Does everyone deserve a second chance? I like to think so

31. Honestly, do you hate the last boy you were talking to? No no no, I could never

32. Does the person you have feelings for right now, know you do? I hope so, but I don’t think I’ve told them explicitly

33. Are you one of those people who never drinks soda? No, but I try to avoid it

34. Listening to? It’s Quiet Uptown - Hamilton

35. Do you ever write in pencil anymore? Rarely

36. Do you know where the last person you kissed is? Not right now

37. Do you believe in love at first sight? Not really, I think love comes from the deeper level of knowing someone

38. Who did you last call? My mother - to reassure her that HMV closing is not an emergency because I usually buy my records from independent shops

39. Who was the last person you danced with? I don’t remember the last time I danced with someone aha

40. Why did you kiss the last person you kissed? Spin the bottle 😂

41. When was the last time you ate a cupcake? Probably over a month ago

42. Did you hug/kiss one of your parents today? No, I left the house before they were awake

43. Ever embarrass yourself in front of a crush? Everytime I send him a message I’m pretty sure it’s cringey af

44. Do you tan in the nude? I don’t tan, I burn, and certainly not in the nude

45. If you could, would you take back your last kiss? Nah, it was a laugh and nothing is weird about it

46. Did you talk to someone until you fell asleep last night? They sort of told me to go to sleep because I had to be up this morning

47. Who was the last person to call you? My mother. Act 1 of the HMV panic

48. Do you sing in the shower? When no one’s home aha

49. Do you dance in the car? Not really

50. Ever used a bow and arrow? No

51. Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer? When I was 8 😂

52. Do you think musicals are cheesy? No, I love musicals

53. Is Christmas stressful? Only when everyone’s over

54. Ever eat a pierogi? I don’t know what that is

55. Favorite type of fruit pie? Cherry I suppose

56. Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid? I wanted to travel with the Doctor

57. Do you believe in ghosts? Only after horror films

58. Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? A couple of times

59. Take a vitamin daily? Nope

60. Wear slippers? No

61. Wear a bath robe? Yeah

62. What do you wear to bed? A t-shirt

63. First concert? Green Day

64. Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart? Idk man I’ve never been in any of them

65. Nike or Adidas? Nike, but usually neither

66. Cheetos Or Fritos? Cheetos

67. Peanuts or Sunflower seeds? Peanuts

68. Favorite Taylor Swift song? Everything Has Changed ft. Ed Sheeran

69. Ever take dance lessons? Never

70. Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing? Something that they enjoy

71. Can you curl your tongue? I can indeed

72. Ever won a spelling bee? They’ve never been a thing where I live

73. Have you ever cried because you were so happy? New Years Eve when Quinn sent me a package

74. What is your favorite book? The Book Thief

75. Do you study better with or without music? With classical music

76. Regularly burn incense? Nope

77. Ever been in love? I’m not sure

78. Who would you like to see in concert? The Smiths but SOMEONE thought it was a good idea to stop being a band

79. What was the last concert you saw? King Charles

80. Hot tea or cold tea? Hot tea

81. Tea or coffee? Tea at home, coffee on the go

82. Favorite type of cookie? All of them

83. Can you swim well? Pretty well

84. Can you hold your breath without holding your nose? Yeah

85. Are you patient? I like to think so

86. DJ or band, at a wedding? I’ve never thought that far ahead

87. Ever won a contest? I won a kahoot once

88. Ever have plastic surgery? Idk

89. Which are better black or green olives? Green

90. Opinions on sex before marriage? Do what makes you happy- with consent ofc

91. Best room for a fireplace? Living room

92. Do you want to get married? I’m not sure, I’m not religious so I would find it pretty awkward

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