#and carrot cake is generally off-limits

[ryanthedemiboy]

My allergy to jalepeños is now in the danger zone. I unexpectedly ingested a bite of something containing one, and on top of my usual allergy meds, I urgently took 2 zyrtec and a claritin, used my prescription allergy spray, and had to use my rescue inhaler. If i'd waited any longer to take those, I think it'd have been epipen territory.

Fuck

[nogu-d-reamers]

WELCOME TO PLAYTOWN/POPPY PLAYTOWN- CHARACTER REFERENCE #4.

Name: Hoppy Rabbilda Hopscotch.

Age: 21

Height: 270 mts/8'8 fts.

Species: Smiling critter creature. Rabbit (eastern cottontail).

Occupation: enginer/researcher.

Genre: female (She/her).

Sexuality: Bi.

Magical usser type: Alchemist.

Birth place: bayquarter (Main city).

Birth day: march 13th.

Personality:

Hoppy is a very lively rabbit focused on what she does and only that; and along with his somewhat rude and misaligned appearance, he seems to be a person who is a little rough to start getting to know, but is actually a very energetic and impulsive person; especially with things that are of interest to her or something that those close to her need (even if it costs her a little at first, if it is important to a person she cares about, she will do it too).

She is extremely competitive, she likes to do things the right way, insistent to the point of being stubborn and she doesn't see the limits of certain things; especially with experiments that don't go quite right.

She is also not very good at being patient or regulating her reactions, which gives rise to the recurring gag in which she usually gives a little scream that scares those around her when she is very excited, euphoric or angry.

about her work and daily life.

Hoppy has his daily routine very clear =

He gets up at 4 am and eats a light breakfast (eggs and bread in general).

At 4:30 he exercises.

At 5:30 he starts getting ready for work.

She works from 6:30 to 20:30, with 3 daily breaks of 1 and a half each to eat. She has a pretty heavy job as a mechanic of small airplanes, seaplanes and other flying vehicles. And that time can be extended and she studies from 21 to 23 with Bubba to become an official consultant on antiques and how to fix them.

In her free time it is common to see her spending time with Bobby, getting into a dispute with kickin or begging Bubba to approve a project of dubious morality or safety.

Lately she seems interested in spending time with crafty or Dogday, more than anything because of his particular interest in witchcraft as a study.

Magic data (and other skills):

Hoppy is a certified alchemist,title that is not only achieved by studies but by affinity to technology. Hoppy specializes in technology and his related element is electricity and mechanic.

If she gets into a fight, she simply conjures her alchemical circle or uses her pocket watch to use it without having to draw it to use it to attack or defend herself.

Due to the element it handles, it causes it to run out and have a "short circuit" when used, something that can be handled by carrying metallic elements that make it more likely to receive electricity.

As in a certain series of two alchemist brothers; You can fix and modify objects as long as you don't use a different or extra item to restore it.

other random data:

favorite food: spatakópitas «I went to a witch bazaar when I was a kid, and those little puff pastry and spinach things stayed in my memory.».

Favorite dessert: carrot cake «I like the carrot cake despite being a rabbit, I don't like it because I'm a rabbit»

hated food: carrots «Because of a certain actor, now everyone thinks that rabbits love carrots, I hate them!! They are hard, sour and need to be cooked or spiced to make them taste good..».

smell: mint.

strength: concentration, brute force, analytical skills.

weakness: communication problems, lack of interest.

favorite physical appearance: muscles «pure physical effort worth showing off.».

hated physical appearance: hair «I hate how flammable it is to my experiments and tests…and I'm too lazy to wash it.».

person you respect most: dad «What? I adore my dad»

person you don't want as an enemy: Bubba «He's the one who cancels my experiments! It's not fair! someone once makes a clock with the ability to travel through dimensions and then threatens me for taking away my alchemist's license!!.».

hobby:sports, fly seaplanes, study about astronomy or witchcraft.

Some crush?: ... «Bobby, I love Bobby; I have tried to propose to her about 15 times but I am never able to because I think it won't be romantic enough; the good thing is that she doesn't realize... I hope it».

[kazuyummy]

🧁 dessert moodboards!

hi dear friends, i've been itching to make some moodboards and thought this would be such a sweet theme! read the instructions below and ask away!

rules: one moodboard per person (for now) so please be off anon (or stay anon but dm me what you requested - otherwise i'll delete the ask). i'd also appreciate if you gave me a follow if you request smth 🥰 fandoms: haikyuu, diamond no ace, attack on titan, hunter x hunter, jujutsu kaisen, my hero academia, tokyo revengers, chainsaw man, shokugeki no souma, demon slayer step one. give me either your self-ship or one character to make the moodboard for. if it's a character, i'll likely get a manga image of them and change colour accordingly, and if it's a self-ship, likely a generic couple picture lmao (or if you have art that would match feel free to dm it but no guarantee i'll use it if i can't fit it in the theme) step two. choose your top three desserts - i will only be doing one moodboard per dessert (first come first serve - but can do the same character multiple times) so if your top choice is taken, i'll go to the next one, etc. feel free to specify a flavour, otherwise i'll make my own choice (ex: if you say cake, i'm gonna choose a specific type like birthday cake) step three. bon appetit! enjoy your dessert 🍧💖

how 'bout some dessert ideas? you are NOT limited to this list - choose anything sweet that your heart desires!

🍰 strawberry shortcake 🍰 macarons 🍰 tiramisu 🍰 blueberry pie 🍰 halo halo 🍰 carrot cake 🍰 madeleines 🍰 sno-cones 🍰 yule log 🍰 panna cotta 🍰 creme brulee 🍰 banana bread 🍰 trifles 🍰 neopolitan ice cream 🍰 chocolate-covered strawberries 🍰 ice cream sundae 🍰 crepes 🍰 key lime pie 🍰 mont-blanc 🍰 s'mores 🍰 lemon cupcakes 🍰 baked alaska 🍰 poached pears 🍰 taro cheesecake 🍰 mango bubble tea 🍰 nanaimo bars 🍰 peach cookies 🍰 egg tarts 🍰

🧁 slots / desserts taken (those in pink are finished):

halo halo - miyuki x cee

red velvet cake - kirishima for nem

tiramisu - tendou for deru

banana bread - aki for dym

@meggsngrits - lemon cake

@ricecrispiebirb - macarons

@heroesfan101 - chocolate truffles

@ricewaves - cream puffs

open

open

might add more if i have the energy & time (and depending on how this goes ehehe)

dividers from here (closest i could get to credit)

[danpuff-ao3]

Flaws in Fiction:✨Magic Edition✨

"If there's magic, why not [insert literally anything here]?"

Because it's boring!

Also...not very realistic.

(...she said about MAGIC. Yes, yes, I know, but c'mon, just open your mind a little.)

[TOTALLY GENIUS Danni Thoughts below the cut]

Nothing is perfect. Nothing on this earth is perfect. Not even carrot cake, which is perfect in my heart.

So why should magic be?

Why should magic fix every single problem? If you want it to, sure, have at it! If you want to wave your wand and solve all problems, go for it!

My interests, however, lie in flawed magic. Or, I suppose, flawed people wielding magic.

"If there's magic, why does Harry Potter wear glasses?" I don't know. Maybe there's no spell to correct vision. Or maybe there is, but it's so precise and complicated that few people can perform said spell. Maybe it's too risky and the benefits don't outweigh the potential consequences. Like, sure, this spell can correct your vision if I do it right. But what if I screw up? One little waver in the wand movement and your head falls off!

Even with simple things. "If there's magic, why this or why that?"

Well, magic is a skill. But not all magic is the same. Performing an Unforgivable Curse is different from household charms. You could be better at one than the other. Imagine performing a killer Avada (ba-dum-tsst) but your dishwashing charms never pan out? (If no one is going to pat me on the back for these puns, I'm going to pat myself on the back.)

For example: in real, non-magical life, I'm an excellent baker! Not such a great cook. In fact, an awful cook. I can make scrambled eggs most of the time, but that's about it.

These skills seem similar enough, so why am I good at one and not the other? GOOD QUESTION. I have no idea. Instead of answering, let me bake you some banana bread, okay?

Answering questions directly and intelligibly? Not a skill I have. Puns, though? Those I can do in excess.

Magic can't bring back the dead. And it can't create food out of thin air. Magic has its limits, clearly. And so do people.

In fanfiction, I love seeing magical theory explored a little more and seeing where the limits of magic are, according to each creator. Seeing what might be possible, but no one's attempted yet. Or there have been attempts, but none have succeeded yet.

In fanfiction, I love seeing what areas of magic characters struggle with. Are they bad at Apparating? Do they never Apparate because they splinch themselves every single time?

What if they can't Floo because they have an allergy to Floo powder?

Do they struggle with Transfiguration but, through hard work and dedication, finally manage to turn that book into a llama?

Or, does the hard work not pay off, because it's just an area they plain struggle in? Try as they might, maybe they'll never brew a perfect Dreamless Sleep. Why buy potions when you can make them? Because you have the money to not accidentally poison yourself, of course!

How about...spells the character is generally pretty good at, until suddenly...they're too tired to perform them. Or too angry. Or too depressed. Or maybe they're having an off day. No one does things amazingly all the time, even skills they're generally good at. Sometimes you just screw up! Same with magic.

Or even...what if there is a magical solution, but the non-magical solution is better? Easier doesn't always equate to better, you know! Baking cakes from scratch are usually yummier than box mix, after all. So maybe they can cook with magic, but it's just not as delicious as non-magical cooking!

It might seem silly that magic can't solve seemingly simple problems, but what about life is really so simple or so easy? And isn't it more fun exploring what magic can't do than what it can do?

So, if you want to wave a wand and fix Harry Potter's eyesight, have at it!

As for me...I like to think that maybe his head will fall off if they try, so he'd rather just keep his glasses, thanks.

[theyareweird]

The Happy’s Humble Burger Restaurant Menu

Unlike the Five Nights at Freddy’s games, Happy’s Humble Burger restaurants actually have menus. There are three different menus total. The first menu is located in an unknown diner above the counter to the kitchen’s window. This vintage retro diner was featured in the sequel Burger Farm game. Its limited menu consists of basic food items. The second menu is displayed above the front counter inside the original “Happy’s Humble Burger Barn” restaurant from the first Burger Barn game. This detailed menu contains the most food products. The final menu sits above the front counter of the “Happy Burger” restaurant. Its literal humble menu features a decent amount of traditional fast-food products. Due to all the different menus, all the food items will be presented.

In addition to the menu, a type of “canned coffee” can be purchased from a Happy’s vending machine. These vending machines also contain “Humble Bars” as an energy snack item. Flavors include: the “original milk” bar and the extra large “mashed peas & carrots” bar. The “Jazzy Java Joint” is a coffee shop in the game where various coffees can be purchased from their own vending machines.

The first three images featured below are from the Cythe Dev’s Team’s menu picture on Twitter. This menu was designed by @JonoftheShred for the game. Unfortunately, half the “Breakfast” section text is cut off. The following information is a list of all the food products gathered from each of the different menu versions; along with any other food items mentioned in the game.

Breakfast

All Sandwiches $25

Omelet (English muffin)

Eggwich (croissant)

Egg n’ Sausage

Sarah’s Bacon Banger

Small-Medium: $15, Large-Grande: $20

Homefries

Chilled Beef Burgers

Delightful Happy’s Deluxe (Contains lettuce, pickles, unions, cheese and tomatoes. Either topping can be removed as requested.)

Single: $30, Double: $35

Berleezy Bovine Burger

Single: $35, Double: $40, Artery Cloggier: $50

Physical Gamerz Game Changerz

Single: $30, Double: $35, Triple: $40, Heart Attack: $50

Groovin’ Chicken Sandwiches

Fantastic Juicy Chicken Burger (Contains lettuce, pickles, unions, cheese and tomatoes. Either topping can be removed as requested.)

Single: $25, Double: $30

Crispy/Crazy Cool Chicken

Single: $35, Double: $40, That Crazy Plaze: $50

Weekly Specials (pictured but not listed or known)

Happy Dog: $25 —(hot dog with ketchup and mustard. Either sauce can be removed as requested)

Poppin’ Pork Sandwich (made with patty, but bacon is better)

Single: $25, Double: $30

Grilled Egg or Fish: $15

“Small Bite, Big Eats” Sides

Small-Medium: $20, Large-Grande: $40

Salmon Nuggs (seven per container with a side of tartar sauce)

Potato Crisps (fries)

Serine Salads

All Types $15

Chicken Salad

Green Salad

Beef Salad

House Special Tuna Salad

Tossed Salad

Fruit Salad

Cool Kid’s Menu (unknown)

Happy Meal (contains fries, nuggets, a soft drink and one of the five character action figure toys)

Small-Medium: $5, Large-Grande: $10

“Cake It Seriously” Desserts

Chocolate Chip Cookie: $15 —(plain sugar cookie)

Hot Pie: $20

“Cake It Seriously” Cakes

Generic: $15, Custom: $30

More (unknown label)

Optimism & Faith (possibly a sandwich made with beef, chicken and pork)

Achievement: $25, Triumph: $30, for $5 more: Deep-Fry it!

Drinks & Drafts

Variety of Soft Drinks: $20 —(Jungle Soda, Not Grape, Moon Juice, Lime Time & Divinity Soda. aka. coke)

Shakes/Slushies: $25 —(strawberry)

Ice Cream Malts: $30 —(banana, chocolate and strawberry)

What do you think? Do you like the full menu? If not, why? Please share with me!

[greenheartart]

Monster Food Theories (part 2)

(A multi-part essay because I love world-building.) 

In part 1 I discussed the theory that monster food is actually made from physical food that’s been infused with magic, and therefore monster food is limited to what can be farmed in the Underground.

In this next part, I’m going to springboard off that idea and talk about what foods exist in the Underground (and therefore what crops and livestock monsters likely have.)

The very first thing I want to look at is what food canonically exists in the game. I’m going to break this up into two sections...

1) Food We Interact With Directly (Healing items we can pick up and get information on.)

* Monster Candy - Has a distinct, non-licorice flavor.  Heals 10 HP. * Spider Donut - A donut made with Spider Cider in the batter.  Heals 12 HP. * Spider Cider - Made with whole spiders, not just the juice.  Heals 24 HP. * Butterscotch Pie - Butterscotch-cinnamon pie, one slice.  Heals ALL HP. * Snail Pie - Heals some HP.  An acquired taste. Heals one less than max HP. * Nice Cream - Instead of a joke, the wrapper says something nice.  Heals 15 HP. * Bisicle - It’s a two-pronged popsicle, so you can eat it twice.  Heals 11 HP. * Unicicle - It’s a SINGLE-pronged popsicle.  Wait that’s just normal... Heals 11 HP. * Cinnamon Bunny - A cinnamon roll in the shape of a bunny.  Heals 22 HP. * Astronaut Food - For feeding a pet astronaut.  Heals 21 HP. * Crab Apple - An aquatic fruit that resembles a crustacean.  Heals 18 HP. * Sea Tea - Made from glowing marsh water.  Increases SPEED for one battle.  Heals 10 HP. * Abandoned Quiche - A psychologically damaged spinach egg pie.  Heals 34 HP. * Temmie Flakes - It’s just torn up pieces of construction paper.  Heals 2 HP. * Dog Salad - Recovers HP (Hit Poodles.)  Heals 2/10/30/ALL HP. * Instant Noodles - Comes with everything you need for a quick meal!  Heals 4/15/90 HP. * Hot Dog...? - The “meat” is made out of something called a “water sausage.”  Heals 20 HP. * Hot Cat - Like a hot dog, but with little cat ears on the end.  Heals 21 HP. * Junk Food - Food that was probably once thrown away.  Heals 17 HP. * Starfait - A sweet treat made of sparkling stars.  Heals 14 HP. * Glamburger - A hamburger made of edible glitter and sequins.  Heals 27 HP. * Legendary Hero - Sandwich shaped like a sword.  Increases ATTACK when eaten.  Heals 40 HP. * Steak in the Shape of Mettaton’s Face - Huge steak in the shape of Mettaton’s face.  You don’t feel like it’s made of real meat... Heals 60 HP. * Popato Chisps - Regular old popato chisps.  Heals 13 HP. (Note:  I’ve chosen to leave the Hush Puppy off of this list, as its description refers to it as a spell.  I’m also excluding the foods that can only be found by digging around in the game files - Puppydough Ice Cream, Pumpkin Rings, Rock Candy, Croquet Roll, Ghost Fruit, and Stoic Onion.)

 2) Food We Only See, or Hear About Through Character Dialogue (I did my best to be thorough here, but please let me know if I missed any and I’ll add them in!)

* Hamburger  (For sale at Grillby’s) * Fries  (For sale at Grillby’s) * Cheese Fries  (Undyne likes them, for sale at Grillby’s) * Ketchup  (Found at Grillby’s / Sans’ Hot Dog Stand) * Mustard  (Found at Sans’ Hot Dog Stand) * Relish  (Found at Sans’s Hot Dog Stand) * Spaghetti  (Made by Papyrus and Undyne) * Lasagna/Ravioli/various other pastas   (Mentioned by Papyrus) * Brewskis (aka Beer)  (Mentioned in a prank call) * Sugar  (In Undyne’s kitchen) * Soda  (In Undyne’s kitchen / Alphys’ Lab) * Hot Chocolate  (Mentioned by Undyne) * Marshmallows  (Mentioned by Undyne) * Golden Flower Tea  (In Undyne’s kitchen / Offered by Asgore) * Grapes  (Undyne talks about Mettaton eating them) * Pizza  (Undyne and Alphys both talk about ordering some) * Limes  (Undyne mentions eating them whole) * Cucumbers  (Come up when Undyne and Papyrus talk about spa treatments) * Carrots  (Mentioned by Asgore on the tapes in the true lab) * Lollipops  (Papyrus mentions getting them from the lady who runs the inn) * Ice cream  (Mentioned multiple times by multiple characters) * Espresso (Mentioned by Red Bird at Grillby’s) * Cake  (Mettaton specifically breaks the ingredients down into SUGAR, MILK, EGGS during his cooking segment) * Artificial Ingredients and Chemicals  (Also mentioned by Mettaton)

(Note: I’m leaving edamame off the list because while Toriel mentions it, she does it as a joke because she’s after the pun.  It’s possible that monsters have edamame, or it could just be something she’s aware exists in the world in general.)

So! Looking at this list, and cross referencing with recipes to find the most basic necessary ingredients to make everything, I can break things down more neatly into categories of available food:

STARCHES * Wheat  * Potatoes * Barley

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES  * Apples * Grapes * Limes * Tomatoes * Cucumbers * Spinach PROTEIN AND DAIRY * Snails * Water sausages * Eggs * Milk 

HERBS AND SPICES * Cinnamon * Mustard Seed

MISC * Salt * Sugar * Oil  * Coffee * Chocolate * Assorted artificial ingredients and chemicals  * Golden flowers (unique to the Underground?) * Hops (only because of the mention of “brewskis”)

(Note: I’m excluding a few healing items from contributing to this list.  The Astronaut Food’s origin is nebulous - it sounds like it could possibly be human food that fell from the surface and landed in the dump.  Temmie Flakes are construction paper and not actually food, even if they are technically consumable.  Dog Salad is clearly an outlier and should not be counted.)

When broken down to its base components, it’s a pretty small list.  Monsters don’t seem to have a lot to work with.

A lot of their foods revolve around the same few staple ingredients: Flour, eggs, sugar, and milk products.  From that we can take a guess that there are wheat fields somewhere in the Underground.  Likewise, they likely keep chickens as well for eggs (though other birds like ducks might be a possibility too.)  Sugar and milk have more options.  Sugar might come from sugar cane or sugar beets, while milk could come from a variety of animals, but I think goats or sheep are more likely than cows for a variety of reasons (mainly that cows might be too much of a resource drain to support long term.)

Interestingly, we never get any indication that monsters eat animals besides snails.  The information we get on the hot dogs and steak make it clear that they’re not made out of meat (and if the steaks aren’t meat, it feels reasonable that the hamburgers aren’t either.)  This makes sense, since the Underground has limited space and resources and might not be able to support farms dedicated to raising animals for meat, and/or might not be able to meet the demands of a populace that wants to eat meat regularly.  If it’s eaten at all, meat might be a rare treat.  Otherwise, it looks like the monster population could be largely vegetarian.  

With a basic list of crops, we can also make a guess at what sort of alcohols might be available in Grillby’s bar. Monsters have apples, grapes, potatoes, and sugar, so we can guess that in addition to beer (since it gets mentioned specifically), monsters could also have hard cider, wine, brandy, whisky, rum, vodka, and moonshine. 

If we want to be a bit more generous and include possible foods and foods that didn’t quite make it officially into the game, we can add back in edamame, pumpkins, and onions.

And, just for fun and going off of nothing except the environment of the game, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think monsters might be able to round out their pantries with a few other foods that occur naturally in the caverns.  Mushrooms show up in the damper areas of the game, so it’s not far fetched to think that there might be a few edible varieties available. Likewise, we see streams and marshes in Waterfall that support life.  It’s possible that there are fish, crayfish, or shellfish living in there, or possibly other edible plants besides the water sausage.  

This went a bit longer than I originally planned, so in the next part I’ll talk about what might make monster food inherently different from human food (even without monsters intentionally doing anything to it), and possibly theories about how and why monsters ended up with this specific, limited variety of foods they seem to be working off of.

[silverlake-rp]

Good day, residents of Silver Lake! In the April Newsletter below you will find outlined the events and happenings in our beautiful neighborhood this month.

What YOUR CHARACTER can do during these events:

You may include any of these happenings in your starters, incorporate them into your threads, text threads, social media posts, and so forth! The sky is the limit.

What’s ON. Here are just a few things that will be happening around town this month:

Easter Egg Hunt @ Silver Lake Meadows — 4 April

Come on down to the meadows for a day of fun and games! We’ll be hosting an Eggstravaganza Easter Egg hunt with lots of exciting prizes, but other events as well including but not limited to: egg-and-spoon races, egg roll, sack races, and DIY arts and crafts galore. Non-denominational so all are welcome! 

Easter Treats @ Milk — 2-9 April

All week long, we will be having Easter themed treats over at Milk! This includes our infamous easter egg cheesecakes (yes, they’re back!), and all manner of special, limited time only ice cream sandwiches, including our Peeps themed ones and a carrot cake sandwich you’ll go positively hoppy for!

Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day @ Golden Griddle — 12 April

In honor of this most sacred day, you can order a free grilled cheese sandwich (yes, free!) at Golden Griddle when you order other menu items. Offer valid all day long — even after midnight! 

60′s Night @ Los Globos — 16 April

Did you miss out on Beatlemania? Wish you could’ve been at Woodstock when Jimi Hendrix had iconic performance? Well, it’s too late for these things, but you can relive some of the charm at Globos’ 60′s night. Expect a night of The Stones, Aretha Franklin, The Supremes, Beach Boys, Beatles, Marvin Gaye, The Mamas and the Papas, Chuck Berry, James Brown and more. Dressing up in your flower power best is also highly encouraged! Prizes for the best dressed! Rumor has it that you’ll get free tickets to Globos events for the rest of the year!

Record Store Day @ Cosmic Vinyl — 17 April

It’s every vinyl collector’s favorite day today, so be sure to not miss out on this holiday at Cosmic Vinyl. Expect heavily discounted vinyl, swaps, special re-releases, limited signed editions and more. Also don’t miss a very special acoustic set from a well known musician! We won’t tell you his name, but it does rhyme with Pac DeParco. 

4/20 @ Peachtree Dispensary — 20 April

We would be remiss to leave out the greatest holiday of the year, well, according to Dusk Peachtree, that is. Come for the free sample edibles, stay for the marijuana themed movie marathon, special talks by CBD experts, and much, much more!

Dungeons & Dragons Night @ Five By Night — 23 April

Dust off your rare dice set! This Friday we will be hosting Silverlake’s biggest campaign in history. With no less than twelve tables set up in our main room, and a skilled host of dungeon masters ready to guide you into this magical world, just turn up with your friends ready to play and embark on creative new adventures. No previous experience necessary! 

Arbor Day @ Silver Lake Meadows — 30 April

Show your love for Mother Earth by coming down to the meadows and helping us plant some trees this Arbor day! No signup necessary, anyone is welcome, the more hands on deck the better. Coffee and refreshments to be generously provided by Donut Farm. 

redcliff street bulletin

Whats that the residents of Redcliff have woken up to? Ah yes, the glorious sound of silence! The road works from last month are complete and were substantially under budget. You’re all going to sleep easier with the gift baskets provided from the construction company, contents include: a relaxing massage courtesy of the CliffRed Spa, and an assortment of gifts from the farmers market! ( a candle, some fresh groceries, cookies! ) Almost makes all of those extra steps on the Fitbit from last month worth it! 

silverwood terrace bulletin

Is that a paparazzo? In our exclusive neighborhood? How irritating. Rumor has it that Hollywood heartthrob Jack Mefron, freshly off the market, has moved into his girlfriend’s Silverwood Terrace pad. Most unfortunate for the residents of the Terrace, because packs of paparazzi will be cropping up here and there, for the entirety of this month. 

cinema paradiso screenings

Friday 2 April:  Spring Breakers + The Beach Bum ( Harmony Korine double bill)  Saturday 3 April: Rushmore Sunday 4 April: Hop (2011) + The Passion of the Christ (2004) (double bill)

Friday 9 April:  Thoroughbreds Saturday 10 April: Boogie Nights + Magnolia ( PTA double bill)  Sunday 11 April: The Game (1997) 

Friday 16 April: Men in Black + Men in Black II (double bill) Saturday 17 April: Charlie’s Angels (2000) Sunday 18 April: The Brady Bunch Movie

Friday 23 April:  All About Eve + What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (Bette Davis double bill)  Saturday 24 April: The Room (quote-along extravaganza)  Sunday 25 April:  Spy (2015)

happy birthday to...

10th April: Matthew Adams (33)

13th April: Remi Fisher (26)

18th April: Hayley Karatan (25)

29th April: Eleanor Atwood (29)

[seunqs]

[ a long get to know me tag ]

tagged by: losers @woosohn @yeonjuins

what day is your birthday?

27th june! it’ll be on a monday next year

what’s your favourite colour?

blue! a rather specific shade of light sky blue but i also like dark blue! might be misleading because everyone would think beige/black since that’s the aesthetic i like + almost everything i own is black...

what’s your lucky number?

i don’t have one i think but i tend to say 7 if i’m asked?

do you have any pets?

sadly no >:( will get one in the future idc idc

how tall are you?

158cm tiny i wna be abit taller

how many pairs of shoes do you own?

off my head i think 3 pairs...? just 2 black and 1 white that i rotate depending on the outfit i’m wearing

favorite song?

asdjekw i don’t think i have one specific one but recently i’ve been listening to maniac by nct doyoung & haechan!

other honourable mentions: a book of love by ha hyunsang, wide eyed blind by saint raymond, irreplaceable by nct dream, lmly by jackson wang. that’s all i have off my head

favorite movie?

surprisingly i’m not big on movies... but i’ll always answer parent trap when someone asks! why do i sound like i always have prepared answers in my head for various questions... okay that’s bc i do.

what would be your ideal partner?

@june look away i already know you’re gna say this sounds a lot like someone..

shy... is the main characteristics lmao idky it’s not even like i’m outgoing but i tend to find myself liking shy-er boys over the outgoing ones! aaa those with very obvious leadership qualities and quietly cares and looks out for those around them :’) tsundere! i think shy may appear cold sometimes but i’m rly :’) when the shy ones become very affectionate in private or when you get to know them better :’) or shy with strangers but very goofy and silly with their closer social circle heh those that are more cat-like than dog-like, only approaches you when they’re comfy. okay also shy but willing to speak up when necessary! doesn’t let themselves get bullied for being quiet and also pls speak up for me i hate ordering food pls do it for me HAHAHHA also if they’re passionate about something they like/are good at! good listeners too heh doesn’t need to always have the best advice, just if they would sit with me silently and listen to me and give me a hug afterwards :’’’’’) i think i’m on the touchier side too so if they don’t dislike that it’ll be nice! OH someone who’s good at cooking too bc i hate cooking and the kitchen in general.. i’ll do the dishes though HAHAHAH ok that is all there is a certain idol in my head that is the embodiment of my ideal type and i hate him >:(

do you want children?

no... not so much bc i don’t find them cute or i can’t handle them but i think it’s a commitment that scares me! bringing up the child well with the right character and values ajksdbwkje i don’t know if i’m up to that HAHAHAH

have you gotten in trouble with the law?

nope @woosohn @yeonjuins pls be proud of my direct no why are the two of you......... 

bath or shower?

shower! i don’t know if i’ve actually taken a bath before... probably when i was younger HAHAH i think i’ll get bored in the bath and i much rather be relaxing in bed than in the tub

what color socks are you wearing?

barefoot at the moment! the socks i own are mostly solid colour socks / simple cartoon or animal patterns but all ankle socks that can’t be seen with my shoes

favorite type of music?

i listen to pop, r&b and indie! that’s about all and favourite depends on the mood!

how many pillows do you sleep with?

just 1! and a bolster too

what position do you sleep in?

either on my back with hand over my head lmao or turned to either sides while hugging my bolster and face buried into the bolster

what you don’t like when you’re sleeping?

when it’s too hot! canNOT sleep if the weather is too hot. also if i get woken up rudely, by screaming or someone smacking me awake LMAO just tell me nicely to get up and i’ll be out of bed in 10mins pls give me awhile my brain is turning on HAHAHA

what do you have for breakfast?

recently i haven’t woken up early enough for bfast or my family is just about to go out to buy lunch by the time i’m up hahaha but on the days that i’m alive for bfast, iced coffee and any pastry sitting in the fridge! my family is big on pastries like croissants and cakes like banana and carrot cakes! so one of those but the iced coffee is a constant in my first meal of the day

have you ever tried archery?

nope and idt i’ll be good at it tbh....

favorite fruit?

strawberries, apples, peaches! there are some seasonal favs where i rly like them for a period of time and then suddenly not anymore but these 3 are the constants

favorite swear word?

hahahaha i dont think i have a favourite one..... but i say tf a lot and mf for kpop boys who make me more flustered than they should

do you have any scars?

i don’t think so! i have a few stretch marks around my waist and tummy tho 

are you a good liar?

yes... HAHAH i used to get scolded so much for lying as a kid lmfao

what’s your personality type?

isfj-t has probably only dipped to isfp-t once but if not constant isfj!

what’s your favorite type of girl?

HAHAHAH uh.... okay with all kinds i think? except people in general who try too hard

innie or outie?

innie. was this question necessary tho AHHAHAHA

left or right-handed?

right-handed

favorite food?

ramen! but i like lots of food lmfao tiramisu, pork belly, lots of noodles, also lots of rice, beef, cakes, ice cream, i think i’m more salty > sweet!

favorite foreign food?

japanese ramen, korean cuisine!, lasagne

are you clean or messy?

clean

most used phrase?

i think alot of keyboard smashes, lmao, wtf, HAHAHAHHAHA, sigh, i’m tired LOL

how long does it take for you to get ready?

depends! fastest i think i can get out of the house 20mins after i’ve woken up. longest probably an hour where outfit is taking a while and accessories needs to be chosen

do you talk to yourself?

in my head yes.

do you sing to yourself?

not often but i sing out loud for the family to hear LOL in my head very often a song is playing up there

are you a good singer?

nop. i don’t think i’m a BAD singer but wouldn’t classify as good either HAHHAHA

biggest fear?

wow so many things but i think biggest is complete darkness, i need to see and know what is going on around me. i sleep with a night light on heh 

are you a gossip?

with closer friends yes def HAHAH my school culture tends to have lots of tea that my friends and i don’t like to get too involved in but we do talk about the gossips that goes around hahaha have also been in the center of gossip way too often

do you like long or short hair?

long! can’t imagine myself with short hair.. used to have reallllyyy long hair that goes beyond my waist and cried when i cut it to slightly below shoulder length. that’s the shortest i’ll ever go

favourite school subject?

wow nothing i don’t like school lmfao but humanities and language are way more bearable than math and sciences

extrovert or introvert?

introverted

what makes you nervous?

unpredictable situations, being alone in public (contradictory because in private i would strongly prefer to be alone but i don’t enjoy being alone in public i feel judged HAHAHA), also currently waiting on a reply for something and that’s been keeping me anxious the past 2 days :’)

who was your first real crush?

when i was 13/14, tablemate in school that was kinda shy and had very limited social circle but talked to me endlessly in class lmfao he apparently liked me too but we never dated and went to different schools at 16 y/o. we’re still kinda in touch though! we talked quite a fair bit last month just catching up but he’s more of an acquaintance now

how many piercings do you have?

2! just one normal lobe piercing on either ears, don’t think i’ll get anymore

how fast can you run?

back in school i used to be one of the fastest girls in my class LMFAO i could clock 12.5 minutes for a 2.4km run. stamina came from dancing since i had to run laps before dance class 2 times a week. but that is long in the past and now i get tired from climbing more than 4 flights of stairs pls spare me

what color is your hair?

naturally black but dyed brown! my hair has grown quite abit since i dyed it though now its black at the top and brown from above my ears onwards

what color are your eyes?

a very dark brown lmfao almost black

what makes you angry?

irresponsible people. just pushing responsibility to others or avoiding their responsibilities. don’t need you to do a good job with your responsibilities, just don’t make your issues my issues. and if its a shared responsibility like group projects, then do your part to contribute and don’t expect others to cover you

selfish people, in many ways. just being self-centred, not caring about how others feel, doing things for personal gain at the expense of others

speaking in a passive-aggressive/sarcastic manner. i say this even though i’m afraid of confrontation but i much rather someone outright tells me they’re unhappy about something or wants to get a point across. i hate when they talk about it sarcastically or tries to sugar-coat their words to make themselves look less aggressive about their words. tell me straight as it is, if you’re already gonna talk about something bad don’t piss me off with your attitude at the same time

do you like your own name?

rae is nice! has a very nice ring to it and looks pretty!

do you want a boy or a girl as a child?

i don’t.. want one.. but both have their good and bad i can’t decide.. i want a puppy

what are your strengths?

is this an interview question i have had a few interviews over the past weeks i am well-prepared for this HAHAHA

i think i’m pretty resilient! i bounce back from bad times pretty quickly or i psycho myself to see the situation positively. but it is ofc coupled with a lot of complaining to the people around me first

although i hate unpredictable situations and having to quickly adapt to new settings, i think i adapt pretty quickly too. flexible? easy-going? idk what’s the right way to call it but yeah something along those lines. good at it but i still enjoy my stability and calm don’t want to have to quickly adapt to new situations.

what are your weaknesses?

very emotional HAHAH used to be much worse but i often let my emotions rule my head. i think i’ve improved A LOT though i used to be so bad but i think i’m now able to make rational decisions even if im bawling LMFAO

this sounds like a compliment but i’ve been told this too often as well. i tend to be way too nice to people who don’t deserve it. even if the person doesn’t deserve it or they’ve pushed all my buttons in the wrong way possible, i would still try to be as nice and polite as i can. really helps with me working in the f&b industry lmfao.

what’s the colour of your bedspread?

dark blue / grey! 

colour(s) of your room?

white & wood (throughout my house actually + green from the plants in the living room) @yeonjuins says i live in a muji showroom

[aforrestofstuff]

I'd like to know if you have any cooking skills headcanons!! Like, from who's able to make a absolute meal to who burns microwaved instant noodles.

I’ve done a few individual headcanons about cooking before, but I think it’s time for a refresher. You could call this... the main course.

Okay, enough of that bullshit. Here’s the hcs. Thanks for your ask, anon! ❤️❤️💞

Disclaimer: this shit is crack as fuck because I have very strong feelings about cooking lmfao. FOH don’t interact.

Tornado of Terror: She’d find a way to burn ice cream, honestly. She tries so hard (by god she tries) but her meals always come out as a convoluted mess with ingredients that have no reason being together. She eats her steaks well done and boils hamburgers. It’s a nightmare. She doesn’t really spend too much time in the kitchen, however, because she knows she sucks at cooking and because of this, makes 90% of her diet consist of takeout. But if she did spend more of her day cooking, she’d probably discover the recipe to meth accidentally. It’s that bad.

Silverfang: Stubborn old grandpa way of cooking. He’s got a handful of recipes that have been passed down for generations and he’s gonna carry those fuckers to his grave. When Garou was living at the dojo, the little bastard would try to make some changes to these recipes and Bang had to will every molecule in his arthritis-riddled body to not RKO this kid (not really, Bang wouldn’t hurt a fly). But I digress. He’s a decent cook, knows all the fundamentals and all of that shit.

Atomic Samurai: Can’t cook or bake for shit although he, of course, talks himself up like he can. The extent of his cooking knowledge is only within the realm of “shit you can roast over a campfire when your cheap ass can’t scrape together enough coin to pay the electricity bill”. But now that he’s got that S-Class paycheck and three other disciples to freeload off of, they pretty much cater to his every food-related need. He’s useless in the kitchen. Utterly fucking useless.

Child Emperor: Doesn’t know how to cook (little bastard ain’t even tall enough to reach the stove imo) but luckily he’s got that PHAT BRAIN so he can easily just build a Gordon Ramsey bot 3000 to replace his incompetence in the kitchen. His diet consists of Dino nuggets and microwaveable noodles so it’s not like he’s doing the world a great disservice by not learning how to cook properly.

Metal Knight: Same as Child Emperor except he’s a rich bastard and programs his bots to make that fancy shit with only the finest ingredients. He’s got enough cash from doing black market tech trades and building up his robo-army that this motherfucker could snort caviar for fun. He’s a real pompous asshole about it.

King: His mom taught him to cook a few things, nothing serious. He’s one of those dudes that doesn’t really know how to make much, but the few dishes that he does know how to cook are fucking BOMB. He’s got a cast iron skillet for making pancakes and everything, bitch is already halfway to being a chef himself. Other than that, however, he’s a ramen monster. His blood is practically pre-packaged bone broth.

Zombieman: I’ve said this in a previous hc but he’s a damn good cook. One problem though: he only knows how to make single servings of everything because he eats alone almost all the time. He specializes in meats. Bitch is a carnivore. He bought himself a set of those 500-dollar butcher knives so he can carve up cuts like a monster. He hemorrhages cash into fancy wood chips so he can get that smoky flavor juuuuust right. He’s got an Outdoor Chef setup on his patio. My mans is living the DREAM.

Drive Knight: He can eat but does he really need to? His cooking expertise is popping a new battery in. There you go.

Pig God: Oh my god if this man’s kitchen isn’t Michelin-Star quality. He eats a lot and he cooks a lot, it’s only natural. He’s got an indoor grill and pot chandelier and buys industrial-sized buckets of pickles and roast beef by the cow and— okay he just has a lot of food, alright? And he’s got that PHAT S-Class paycheck so my boy probably has a whole walk-in fridge just to put all the fucking food he eats. Bonus points if he hires a dishboy to work and a contractor to implement a three-sink dish station with “Clean-Rinse-Sanitize” stickers slapped on the steel, lol. But yeah, he cooks for 500 people at a time because he eats enough for 500 people at a time. Gotta maintain that figure, you know what I’m saying?

Superalloy Darkshine: He has. Oh my god— he has a full shelf dedicated to just. DOZENS OF JARS of whey protein. He has two blenders: one for fruit smoothies and one for protein shakes. His kitchen? Spotless. He knows how to cook and he eats like a bodybuilder (because he is one, duh) so he’s got that fridge STOCKED at all times. He cleans like he’s getting paid for it because nothing feels better than wiping down a gas stove until that bitch is spotless. However, his taste is garbage. He can throw down in the kitchen but does it taste good? No. Sometimes the ultra-healthy alternative to something isn’t always the greatest. He’s grown accustomed to putting zucchini in his cakes and almost damn well likes the texture of it, but don’t invite this guy to the potluck because he WILL show up with a vegetable nightmare that’s sure to make even vegans gag. Sorry bud, but nobody likes soy bacon.

Watchdog Man: furry ass.

Flashy Flash: I’ve said this before in a previous hc, but he’s pescatarian. He grew up on a coastal town before being sold of to the ninja village like a goddamned carpet and now fish is the only meat he eats. His cooking ability is about as good as one would expect from a homesless ninja. Like Atomic Samurai, he can throw it down over the campfire and still find a way to make a decent dish (in both presentation and taste) despite having limited knowledge and resources to work with. Bitch can whip up a five-star meal with some branches, a fish, and half a carrot like it was second nature. That’s about it though. He’s useless in an actual kitchen.

Genos: It’s canon. He’s a housewife. He only knows how to make the select few dishes that play an integral part in Saitama’s diet, though (because Genos can eat but he doesn’t really need to, so he only does it when he and Saitama are sharing a meal). Those dishes include things like: actual garbage. He cooks shit food. It’s not his fault. Saitama just eats like a fucking twat. There’s rats that live in the dumpster outside the restaurant I work in that have a better diet than him. Genos just works with what the poor bastard’s got and has gained a pretty mediocre grasp on cooking because of it. If he wanted to, though, he could easily be the best chef in all the land. Too bad he’s more focused on being an ultra-powerful speed demon.

Metal Bat: Tries his absolute best to cook healthy meals for him and Zenko when he almost always resorts to just popping a frozen pizza in the oven and calling it a day. I’ve said this before in a previous hc, but he eats his shit BURNT. Bitch like his steak well done, his yolks grey, and his chicken vaporized. The only exception to this is sushi because there really is no other way to enjoy it other than having it raw. Trust me, though. If there was a way to burn the fuck out of sashimi while still having it be sashimi, he’d find a way to do it and like it. But yeah, as I said: he sucks ass at cooking. He’s tried the tutorials, he’s bought the skillets, he’s sharpened the knives, but he just can’t fucking do it.

Tanktop Master: Same as Superalloy. They bond over gross-ass ultra-healthy recipes that only they enjoy. The Tanktop Gang loves him but they always kindly refuse to eat over at his house because they know he’s gonna try to make them ingest a broccoli loaf or some shit. He’s not too strict about his diet, though. He’ll chill out and have a pizza every once and a while, but only when he’s hanging out with the homies.

Puri-Puri Prisoner: He has a job in prison where he helps out in the kitchen for seventy-five cents an hour, but that’s about the extent of it. He’s got the bare basics down and could put together a decent meal for date night if he really tried (and had a damn kitchen to work with). On top of that, he can throw down some tasty prison food recipes, hand-crafted from the brick box itself. Ramen pad Thai, anyone?

Amai Mask: he’s rich as fuck, why does he need to cook? Bitch hired a chef and now all he does it drink skim milk and eat food from the top shelf. He couldn’t fry an egg if his life depended on it. Poor bastard doesn’t even know what a whisk is. And don’t even get me started on how much of a slob he is. The ten-minute process of making a single plate of spaghetti will have his kitchen in such a disgusting state that it’ll take him and a trusty Mister Clean Magic Eraser five hours just to clean it up. That is, if he even has the basic human decency to pick up after himself. He’ll probably just hire someone to do for him and then tip them a crisp 100-dollar bill for their troubles, only to make an even worse mess tomorrow.

Iaian: I’ve said this before in a previous hc, but yes: he can cook. It’s nothing special. He’s got a suburban dad sense of cooking where he, like King, can only make a select few dishes but makes those dishes taste magical. He’s got 0 utensils and shit kitchen to work with (because Kami’s place is probably like, centuries old on account of him still being a Samurai), but boy can Iaian whip up a feast like no other despite all that. It’s all protein-packed flavor bombs that look simple in comparison to, say, Zombieman or Metal Knight’s food, but it still tastes good all the same. Kama eats off of his plate all the time and it used to annoy him but they’ve grown so close that they might as well share forks at this point.

Okamaitachi: Can’t really cook, but they are a baking god. I don’t know much about baking but I know they’ve got a cupboard dedicated to their plethora of sourdough starters. They buy yeast by the pound and make enough bread to feed entire armies some days. Whatever the gang doesn’t eat, they donate it to the local homeless shelter and make it a habit to go out of their way performing good deeds that don’t always involve sword fighting (something Kami insists he instilled into them via his teachings— which is bullshit. Kama is just naturally good-hearted and sweet).

Bushidrill: Can’t cook or bake for shit but like Atomic Samurai and Flash, can throw it down on the campfire. Don’t let this man near any turkeys or pigs because he will spitroast the fuck out of them.

Fubuki: Okay, not only is she a great cook but she’s as dogmatic as a coked-out head chef. She and the Blizzard Group sometimes cook together in her massive kitchen (she poured all of her measly paycheck into it because by god, if her apartment doesn’t have a kitchen fit for a chef then it’s not worth living in), and she’ll be barking orders like a damn crow. She’s got the two-grand knife set, cast-iron everything, bronze accents on the sink, and the ability to deglaze a pan without starting a fire. She’s a natural. If she cooks for you, then that’s how you know she likes you. All in all, her food tastes and looks great. She’s a bit low on funds on account of being only Class-B, so she sometimes takes little shortcuts when plating her dishes, like using celery leaves in place of parsley and all that jazz.

Saitama: I’ve already said that his diet is absolute shit and part of that is due to being poor, but I will show mercy and say that he’s a decent cook. He only makes what he knows he’s gonna like and doesn’t leave any room for experimentation unless his budget allows it (which isn’t often). His kitchen only has the bare essentials. Genos has offered to buy him more equipment and even renovate the damn thing for him but Saitama refuses each time because then he’d have a bigass kitchen just for making a poor man’s omurice, and that would be a waste. His talent, though? Making a perfect omelet. He can fold the egg like a sheet with no tears and no brown spots. It tastes heavenly.

Mumen Rider: Ultra-safe in the kitchen. He doesn’t even own a knife sharpener because he’s clumsy enough to know he’ll cut himself the moment he even tries to use it. His pot handles all have coverings and he’s watched all of the food safety and fire safety videos out there. He could give a goddamned seminar on it. Food-wise, he’s a decent home cook. Nothing special. He does, however, share Superalloy and Tanktop’s nasty habit of over healthy-ing everything to oblivion and making it a tasteless, vegetative mess. It doesn’t matter if you invite him to the potluck or not because he’ll bring a cauliflower pizza anyway and y’all better fucking enjoy it or he’ll start crying.

Sonic: The same as Flashy Flash, minus the pescatarianism. He’d butcher a pig without blinking an eye, and often uses his katana in cooking (even though it poses like, 87 different safety hazards and is most definitely health violation). He can forage quite well and has taken a liking to wild mushrooms and berries over the years. It’s gotten so natural to him that he now knows by heart the specific time of year in which the wild berries are ripest, and which species of salmon inhabit certain streams on any given day.

Garou: Would burn water. End of story. His cooking is so bad and dangerous that everyone thinks he’s an arsonist when he really just starts fires on accident. Don’t let this fucker near a stove, for the love of god.

[theonceoverthinker]

96. It’s my birthday (2/23), but there ain’t no party like a Fair Game Party, so let’s party on with tonight’s HC!!!!

You read the title, you can probably surmise the theme I’m going for -- you’re ready for this HC!

So let’s get to it!!!

(Also, gonna be on the smaller side tonight because I just got done hosting my party, and I’m more than a little tuckered out)

It’s not really what many would expect when they think of the two of them and birthdays, but Clover and Qrow really do both love birthday cake!

The birthday staple makes it onto their birthday menus every year, and they even end up with a nice amount of leftover cake to enjoy in the days following it. I have this image in my head of Qrow or Clover enjoying a piece of frozen cake as a midnight snack, the other one walking in and joining them as they discuss aging or any other problems of the day. 

Qrow has little in terms of flavors that are off limits for him. He’s a simple guy, preferring vanilla and chocolate cake, but of someone give him a piece of lemon cake or something, he wouldn’t be too upset either (He’d probably just give you a weird look). Qrow also has a soft spot for funfetti, both the cake and the icing. He’s not the biggest carrot cake fan, but that’s seldom presented to him as a birthday cake option anywhere except maybe as an option during bigger birthdays. Qrow certainly makes Clover’s job easy when it comes to getting him a cake, though he can’t help but tease Qrow about how different their tastes are.

And speaking of, Clover, meanwhile, is a bit more particular with his taste in cakes. Well, it’s not actually the cakes themselves that are the problem, but the frosting is where he gets a bit snobby. Clover likes a rich frosting -- he finds it to be the difference between otherwise simple and generic cakes, so the choice in icings is important to him. He prefers a frosting that is both rich in flavor, as well as unique. He’s the kind to have a dark chocolate, a lemon, or a real buttercream frosting, and really care about having it just the way he likes it. Because of that, Qrow insists on ordering Clover’s cake since even if his semblance makes things go a bit haywire,  he’ll know exactly what’s wrong and how he can make it right.

Tagging @homokinetic @skybird13 @whipped4qrow @mooksie01 @luck-of-the-caw @xwildangel @solitude-of-stars @magneto-is-neato @o0nashipear0o @unfairgamey @doctorrwby @clover-and-co @megan-atthedisco @wash-my-brain @bisexualdisasterqrow @baelonthebrave @doubledexterity @rwby-things-i-guess @atlas-heartthrob @the-answer-was-bi-klance @compoterie @thuskindlyiboop @oceansquid @transdemion @deltastream21 @mimiori @xya-hunter @delta-altair @genderfluidturtle @roman-torchtwink @subatomictealeaves

Want to be tagged in future Fair Game HC’s? Of course, you do! So send me a reply, PM, or ask to be added, and I’ll grant your greatest wish! XD

[theauthorstreehouse]

Worldbuilding - Food and Recipes

*The chart above illustrated the dietary resources available to the majority of the nation.

Culture of Food

Food is a huge part of what makes a culture and Verdant is no exception to this. They pride themselves as a nation in which no one goes hungry. In a country where most of the land is desert, this is much more difficult to achieve than one might think. But thought centuries of trial and error they have not only learned to take advantage of the county which the land provided, but to cultivate their own food by utilizing the unique seasons to their advantage.

Verdant food is colorful, packed with flavor, and prepared with passion. The hearth is the center of the household and as such the kitchen and living area are usually inseparable in all but the most wealthy estates. Something is always cooking, and as such it is considered polite to offer an unexpected guest food and drink, and considered very impolite to refuse! If invited over, it is an absolute scandal not to bring something along, even if it's just goat cheese rolled in garlic and chives or a bottle of homemade wine.

Accessibility

When one looks at the scope of what the people of Verdant eat, it is important to remember the wide range of territory in which their nation covers. For instance in the capitol city which straddles the coastline, the bounty of the sea is plentiful. This means that people in the capitol can obtain fresh fish, seaweed and such for next to nothing. However in the further reaches, such as the Speckled Pond Oasis, their ability to serve food like swordfish or lobster is severely limited.

As in all countries, the wealthy always have access to more than those in lower classes. The more processed or refined something is the more likely you have to be wealthy in order to afford it. The more elaborate and time consuming it is to obtain and cook, the more likely you must have thralls or servants available in order to ensure it gets accomplished. Domestic pigs, for instance, do not do well in the Verdant heat and are difficult to keep content. So much so that pigs are considered to be a status symbol and kept like very spoiled pets by the super wealthy and socially elite. Goats and chickens on the other hand are a much more common source of sustenance and can be obtained by all but the most impoverished folk. Even then, foraging and trapping is a common chore given to children. Verdant has only a few laws regarding hunting practices, allowing for easier access to food sources.

Preservation

Food must be properly preserved to last as long as possible. With a flooding season and a sandstorm season to factor into the equation, Verdant folk must ensure their larder will hold for as long as possible. Most meat is cured in salt or smoked to prolong it's shelf life. Jerked meats are fairly common, especially among the working class. Packing in animal fat and storing it in a cool, dry place is an excellent method for ensuring the meat remains tender for months. Herbs are air dried and ground into powders,or drowned in oil or vinegar. Fruits and vegetables are often pickled or soaked in a sweet brine which is often then turned into alcohol. Waste is the enemy, and if anything can be used it will be used. Bone broths are immensely popular as a method for stripping the most nutrition out of an animal.

Household Staples

Some things are just a ubiquitous part of the culture, and Verdant is no exception. There are staples served on every table from rich to poor, though the amount and embellishments may differ. As a part of their initiative to ensure everyone is fed, monthly stipends of grain and rice are provided to the poorer districts, the amount depending upon the size of the family. These come from the silos kept by the Queen's government, which are filled through yearly taxes collected at harvest time. Each meal has rice with herbs, pickled vegetables, and flatbread lightly fried in oil. The most popular dish through out all the nation being a saffron crispy-rice cakes. They keep well and can be stored in cloth and reheated for meals or handed off to a worker to take with them for mid-day meals.

Saffron Crispy-rice Cake

Ingredients 2 cups basmati rice 3 ½ cups water 2 tablespoons kosher salt ¼  teaspoon crushed saffron threads 1 cup plain yogurt 3 eggs 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted ½  cup olive oil 1 cup vegetable oil

Instructions

Put your rice in a bowl with enough water to cover and let soak for about 30 mins. Rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear. Place 3 ½ cups water into a large pot and add a generous sprinkle of kosher salt. Bring to a boil and add the drained basmati rice. Bring to a boil and give it a stir. Reduce heat and let cook till tender. Sprinkle small amount of salt and saffron threads in mortar and crunch until powdered. Add 2 tbsp hot water and stir lightly. Let steep for about ten mins until deep reddish-orange color.

Mix 3 egg yolks, yogurt, ½ cup olive oil, and 2 tbsp salt into large bowl. Add saffron mix when steeping is done.

Pour 1 cup vegetable oil into skillet and heat. Fluff basmati rice mixture and test to see if fully cooked. Slowly integrate it into the saffron mixture until every grain is thoroughly coated. Don't skimp! You want it to be saturated with this mixture.

Once your oil is hot, put in a small bit of rice to test and see if it is ready. If it begins to bubble immediately, you are ready to proceed!  Form the saffron and rice mixture into patties with you hands and carefully place in skillet, frying on each side until golden brown. Remove from skillet and place on rack to drain. Serve with choice of topping.

Note: I have personally made this recipe and let me tell you it packs a LOT of flavor. I've put a fried egg on top, mixed it with sweet coleslaw, tossed it with chicken and even put a thick slice of mozzarella on top and stuck it under a broiler until bubbling! It's addictive and it keeps in the fridge forever! The saffron threads are a little bit pricy, $7.99 for 1 tblsp where I got them. But since it made like five meals it was worth it.

Another staple of the Verdant meal is flatbread with garlic oil drizzled over it. The garlic oil is easy enough to make by chopping and frying large amounts of garlic in copious amounts of oil, then straining. The oil is useful for just about every dish in Verdant and is used liberally. The chips are kept and dried out, then ground as a topping or crusting for meals.

Garlic Flatbread

Ingredients ½ cup warm water 1 teaspoon sugar 1 package dry active yeast (2 1/4th tsp) ¼ cup plain yogurt 2 cups bread flour ¼cup garlic oil 2 tbsp crushed garlic chips 1 teaspoon kosher salt fresh parsley

Instructions

Dissolve sugar in ½ cup of warm water and add yeast to mixture. Leave for 10 mins until the yeast begins to foam.

Mix flour and salt together. Slowly incorporate yogurt until you have a loose, flaky dough.

Add yeast mixture and knead thoroughly until smooth. Place in a bowl and drizzle generously with garlic oil. Cover with a plate for about an hour or until doubled in size.

Lightly dust flat surface and pour dough onto surface. Gently shape into rectangle and cut into 8 pieces. Form each piece into a ball. Arrange on plate and cover for another 15 – 20 mins.

Place skillet on stove top and add 4 tbsp olive oil to pan.

For larger flatbread, roll balls on floured surface until about 1/8 inch thick. For smaller, cut each ball in half and roll till about the length and width of your hand. Add flatbread to hot skillet and fry on both sides. One side will puff up, creating bubbles of air. Once you flip, DO NOT PRESS FLAT! Cook until golden brown around bubble rings and transfer to rack. Once finished, arrange flatbread on plate and give a drizzle with garlic oil. Add sprinkling of salt, garlic chips and parsley and serve.

Note:These are spectacular on their own but tbh I love them with some goat cheese and some of the broken up saffron cakes above. You can also do them sans garlic/salt/parsley and heat one up in the oven before smearing it with blackberry preserves. It's chewy and lightly crispy and just so satisfying to eat.

The pickled vegetables may very day to day depending upon availability. Children are typically sent out as soon as they have eaten to go forage for wild edibles which can be added in to make for a more hearty fare. Knowing how to source edible plants from their environment is a necessity, as it may save their lives during the Trials needed to become a Citizen.

Sweet Pickled Vegetables

Ingredients 1 Eggplant 1 Cucumber 1 Carrots 1 Red Cabbage 1 Leek 1 Squash 1/4th  tsp salt 1/4th tsp ground pepper 1/4th  cup Olive oil 1 Red oranges 2 tbsp Brown sugar Optional: Pine nuts Goat cheese

Instructions

Turn oven on to 400°.

Slice your eggplants,squash, and leeks into widths about the size of your pinkie finger. Toss in drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper and place on baking tray. Place in oven for 20 mins or until cooked through. Chop cucumbers, red cabbage and grate carrots into large bowl. Mix to combine.

Take 1/4th cup olive oil and add 2 tbs brown sugar. Juice one red orange and add juice to mixture. Stir to combine until sugar is dissolved.

Once roasted veggies are thoroughly cooked, turn on broiler and roast till lightly browned. Keep a close eye on them. Broilers work quicker than you think.

Once browned, remove from oven and allow to come to room temp. Mix in with rest of vegetables and drizzle the orange dressing over top. Mix generously.

Top with pine nuts and crumbled goat cheese for an extra burst of flavor.

Note: You can really serve this at room temp like a warm salad but it's just as good second day as like a slaw. I love to add it onto rice and chicken for a lunch bowl.

One of the easiest sources for protein across Verdant is the ocean and all the bounty it provides. Even if one doesn't have a boat, they can search along the rocky beaches for mussels and dig into the sand for cockles. Just about everyone has a trap for crabs or eels and takes advantage of this as they taste wonderful when grilled. Spearfishing and diving for urchins are popular methods for obtaining harder to catch food sources. However under Guild law, anything which requires a boat in order to catch requires a Guild permit.

Mussels with Leeks & Tomatos

Ingrdiants 1 lb mussels 1/4th cup olive oil 1 Leek 6 Garlic cloves 1 cup Multicolored cherry tomatoes ½ Red onion 1 tbsp Ginger 1 Lemon 1/4th tsp salt 1/4th tsp pepper ½ tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

*Check your mussels thoroughly before use!

-rinse thoroughly

-trash any cracked or opened mussels

-if you find a 'thread' on the mussel, remove it

Take a deep saute pan and add in olive oil.

Thoroughly clean leeks between the leaves. They're noted for being dirty.

Chop leeks, red onion, garlic cloves and tomatoes. Add to hot olive oil and cook till lightly browned.

Add in your mussels and cover with lid. Steam for 10 – 15 min until all the mussels have opened up. Stir gently to combine.

Juice 1 lemon and grate 1 tsbp lemon. Stir together with cayenne, salt and pepper until combined.

Scoop mussels from pan into large bowl. Pour lemon juice onto mussels while stirring. Serve.

Note: Mussels are one of my favorite things to eat! There really is no end to the different things you can combine to them but sometimes the simplest is the best!

[cook-n-tell]

Low Budget Meal Ideas

So most of your paycheck is consumed with various bills & rent and you feel like you can’t afford to eat, or your a student and not only is your money limited but also your time, or maybe you’re just saving up to buy something special. Here’s a few ideas that may help you & your stomach through with more than just a loaf of bread.

Key Staple Ingredients

Powdered milk - 1kg makes about 7L, which means that you’re spending about 80c for a litre of milk. If used wisely this will last you weeks. I wouldn’t recommend it for having just a glass of milk or with your coffee, but it’s perfect if you’re making scrambled eggs or rice pudding... if you’re cooking with it basically. This milk is a make-as-you-need-it milk.

Alternatively if you don’t like powdered milk or you have to have some coffee or cereal, look into UHT Long-Life milk. They can last months without refrigeration before opening.

Rice - It’s filling, it’s cheap, and it’s incredibly versatile. Most grocers you can buy it at ~$1.50/kg

Flour - It may be time consuming, but it’s so much cheaper, and more rewarding, to make your own bread. Again it’s about $1/kg, sometimes less, and it’s generally worth it. You can store it up to a year and there’s so much you can do with it.

Eggs - Meat can be expensive, but to go without protein is a dangerous thing. They’re not too expensive, but probably the most expensive item on the list, generally around $4 for a dozen. You can eat them as is (after cooking of course) or use them in baking. They generally only last about a week before you have to start getting rid of them.

Sugar - Now this one isn’t an urgent ingredient that you need lots of, but it does help add a bit of that serotonin to your life, be it when you make a sweet loaf, add a bit to your tea, who knows. It’s generally handy to have some on hand.

Optional Extras

Bananas - If you’ve got room in the budget for more, try and get some Bananas. I know my local green grocer sells bananas which are almost overripe and pretty much only good for baking for 50c/kg when he’s got excess. I snatch ‘em up like hotcakes and make smoothies, banana bread, ice cream.... there’s so much you can do with Bananas.

Carrots - Carrots are amazing and oh-so-cheap. 80c-$1/kg, and you can chop them up to snack on, roast them, boil & mash them, grate them, carrot cake...

Oranges - I cannot express how good Oranges are for you, and they keep quite a while as well. Now making your own orange juice will chew through your supply, I wouldn’t recommend it, but slice up half an orange and take it with you to classes or work.

Onions - Not as versatile as some of the other foods I’ve mentioned but if you’ve got an extra dollar, they can help add some flavour. Fry up an onion in some oil and add it to your eggs perhaps, use it in a rice dish... It generally just helps add flavour.

Potatoes - Potatoes are something you can buy in massive bulk, which like carrots you can use in so many ways. Their shelf life is incredible but for the love of god do not store them with your onions. They go off so much faster, which you can tell when they start sprouting!

Garlic - Long shelf life and though your friends may not appreciate your breath, you can’t pass up some good old garlic bread. I’m sure there’s more you can do with it but that’s all I can think of at the moment.... mmm garlic bread.

Honey - With an infinite shelf life, it’s perfect to drizzle over almost anything for a sweet treat.

Other thoughts, if you have the space in your home for vertical/wall herb garden, something small, that’ll generally put you back at most $50 total for the pots, soil, plants, and hooks (be it for a wall or railing), but to invest in some hard-to-kill herbs like rosemary, oregano, and mint, can add something special to your dishes.

For what to do with these ingredients that I’ve listed, follow @cook-n-tell for more recipes, tips & tricks.

Also a massive thank you to my friend Baccano for helping me bounce ideas and come up with others for this post.

[joshburger93]

Cooking Tips That Everybody Needs To Peruse

Have you discovered that planning suppers for your family are turning into an errand? Try not to let cooking anger you! Here you will locate some magnificent cooking thoughts that will assist you with eliminating the anxieties of not realizing where to start. After you take the direction in this piece to heart, you will ponder where it was an incredible entirety!

Keep in mind, the more modest the thing, the higher the preparing temperature. Little treats will heat on a higher temp than a full cake would. Try to twofold look at your formula to discover the specific temperature it should be. You would prefer not to set up an ideal thing just to have it consume or be half-cooked.

It is fine to adjust plans. Do you like more cheddar than what is called for? It's fine to add more. Do you figure onions would be acceptable added in? Attempt it! Adding your own uncommon curve to a formula can help make a feast unique!

A decent tip when cooking with oil is to put it on the sides of the container so it's as of now hot when it slides down into the food. Utilizing this strategy can assist you in boosting the kind of nourishment.

To decrease the fat and calories in a formula that requires a ton of mayonnaise, essentially supplant a large portion of the mayonnaise with sharp cream. Since mayonnaise fills essentially a textural need in a large number of these plans, supplanting it with comparatively finished sharp cream gives you a similar surface with a lighter, more advantageous taste.

If you put resources into nothing else in the line of cookware, buy a non-leave broiling container with a removable non-stick simmering rack. Rather than grappling with an expendable cooking dish this Thanksgiving, imploring it doesn't implode, a fair quality broiling skillet can spare you time, cash, and sorrow. Search for a profound dish with steel handles, ready to hold the biggest turkey or bit of meat that you would typically purchase for your family, alongside a simmering rack that empowers you to lift the meat from the skillet easily. The non-stick covering will make tidy up a breeze and the skillet can likewise be utilized for an enormous sheet cake, a container of lasagna thus substantially more.

New spices can add a lot to most plans. Spices can be dubious to deal with, however, because they should be slashed so finely. Sprinkling salt over the cutting board before cleaving spices can eliminate wreck. The salt urges spices to adhere to the load up as opposed to taking off.

Continuously utilize a hermetically sealed holder to store preparing fixings, for example, sugar or flour in the kitchen. Hermetically sealed compartments are profitable for a few reasons. They forestall air presentation from diminishing the newness of your nourishment, and they likewise keep the bugs out. You can buy them at numerous spots, and they are certainly justified regardless of the cash.

When cooking with a sauté skillet, turn the handle of it the other way of you. Keeping the handle confronting you expands the opportunity of finding and spilling your food. This is additionally a well being concern since you can consume yourself if the skillet tips or falls over.

Ensure eggs are still new before utilizing them. Eggs that are not, at this point great can cause salmonella harming among other dangerous infections. You can test an egg's newness by bringing down it into a bowl of water. If it settles on a level plane, it is still acceptable. On the off chance that it ascends to the top, it is terrible.

Before broiling crude potatoes, let them sit in chilly water for in any event thirty minutes. By doing this, the fries will be more firm. Likewise, letting them sit in cool water will eliminate the time it takes for them to cook completely.

If you need to have completely cooked bacon that doesn't twist up when you cook it, at that point you should absorb cold water before placing it in the container. You ought to likewise make a point to put the bacon in a virus skillet since warming the dish too early will make it stick.

Put vegetables in cool water after you whiten them. Whitening - otherwise called bubbling - a vegetable can be a scrumptious method to set them up. Shockingly, it can in a real sense "whiten" your veggies. While this is just a stylish issue, it tends to be effortlessly evaded. By placing the vegetables in cool water in the wake of whitening, they will hold their green tone.

At the point when you are wanting to prepare a major dinner take a stab at preparing the entirety of your nourishment the day preceding. This will assist you with sparing time and it will likewise be less wreck to tidy up after the enormous supper. Slash all vegetables and cut up the entirety of your meat and store properly.

Figure out how to appreciate Brussels sprouts. Very few individuals appreciate Brussels sprouts if they are cooked in the customary way of bubbling them. Fledglings can be heavenly if you attempt various techniques for cooking, for example, simmering them with carrots and parsnips for a delectable side dish. They are scrumptious if sautéed with bacon. These cooking techniques give them a nutty flavor. Continuously pick little Brussels sprouts, as the bigger ones will in general be extremely harsh.

For more delicious meat, cook for longer time frames under lower heat. This permits the flavor, time to completely settle, and saturate the meat. Also, this will create a bit of meat that is substantially more delicate than one that has been cooked at a higher temperature for a more limited time frame.

For a juicier turkey, absorb it brackish water for in any event 12 hours before cooking. You can make a basic saline solution by consolidating ice water and ocean salt. In the wake of preparing the turkey, lower it completely, cover, and leave to sit for 12-24 hours. At that point, cook the turkey not surprisingly. Not exclusively does the turkey come out juicier, yet it will in general have more flavor than UN-tenderized turkeys.

It can once in a while be a serious task to prepare an incredible supper for your family consistently. Fortunately, you can do various things to make cooking easier. You should be loosened up when you are strolling into your kitchen.

[the-coconut-asado]

NUT MILK CITY LIMITS

This should have been my Boston blog. And I will write one, someday soon. 

But limited as we are to four walls, dodging pavement cyclists and the kindness of delivery folk, let’s settle for a tale of lockdown invention. 

That said, my story does start in Boston - or rather, leaving it. It was the real start of The Weird, around early-mid March, when I still took the tube into work and was looking forward to a visit to the hairdresser (lockdown was announced the day before my appointment in case you were wondering. So there will be no selfies here).  We managed to head off to the US the day that Trump banned the rest of Europe from flying and I won’t lie, we felt lucky. I sat next to a Canadian student on the flight who explained, as she coughed, that she had traded her study trip around  Europe for a £2,000 ticket-chance of getting home. 

We got to our faintly Psycho- throwback hotel that night, where we seemed to be the only guests. And for three days we toured the (mostly shut)  sites of Boston with the streets all but empty. 

At one stage, as we strolled past a CVS store, two young women emerged, insanely juggling 4x16 pack toilet roll bags. How we laughed. The way those pesky kids laugh as the Scooby-ghoul looms behind them. On the Sunday, any holiday vibe had been replaced with low level anxiety, counting down the hours to our flight leaving the US on time and as planned.

And since we landed back in London, that’s been it. Travel now means taking the car for a weekly local drive to keep the battery ticking over, and let’s not dwell on the cancelled trip to Vietnam. The Supermarket Sweep race as you grab random packs off shelves before the personal space invader twats sneak up behind you  is now replaced by the delivery time lotto of Amazon Fresh. Got a formula for that, Dale Winton? 

But there have been new things to smile about: neighbourhoods coming together every Thursday evening to Clap for Carers; the bravery of NHS workers and a whole army of people I hope we’ll never take for granted again; friends and family checking in on each other much more than ever usual. And the travel buzz achieved by changing our backgrounds on Zoom. Don’t knock it,  the endorphin kick is real. 

And dare I say there have been pleasures too: delicious meat, fish and vegetables delivered from local suppliers, and weekends full of invention possibilities. “ Are we all fucking bakers now??” Twitter ranted in week 2 of lockdown  as flour and eggs became the New Disappeared. Cashew milk, the one nut milk I enjoy, became similarly scarce for a short while, but I discovered the eye-wateringly expensive delights of Milkadamia until sanity returned. 

Faced with the random nature of vegetable boxes, half used packs of speciality flours otherwise doomed to outlive their sell by date and the excitement of what you can achieve with a carton of buttermilk and bicarb of soda - life in the kitchen is nothing short of a blast right now. Just like wartime? We have no rationing and plenty of Chipotle paste so, er, no. 

Breaking my veg box virginity has been liberating. There are the highs of high-sheen aubergines and those creamy new potatoes of the season, and the occasional low of celery on three consecutive weeks. But the thrill of anticipation when we open the door to a new box is palpable. And finding specialist suppliers for everything from sumac to burrata has made me realise that up until the pandemic I’d been shopping all wrong and wasting far too much money. With the simple elimination of impulse purchase I have hit my notional monthly food budget for the first time ever. 

So here are a bunch of recipes for what I consider my best lockdown experiments. Stock up on your store cupboard essentials and you can use whatever basics are available that week. And by store cupboard essentials I mean: Olive and coconut oils, smoked paprika, cumin, turmeric, chilli flakes, soy sauce, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda (you don’t need yeast for soda bread or flat breads). And whatever flour you can find, you’ll be able to do something with it. 

Bolli-cauli biryani with camargue rice

Forget boiling cauliflower ever again. Chop florets, toss them in spice and oil and roast to crispy, caramelised deliciousness every time. Serves 2-3. 

Ingredients

1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets, then cut each floret in half to create bite size pieces

The cauliflower leaves, pulled from the fibrous stalks

2 medium red onions, quartered

1-2 large red chillies, split from top to bottom but kept intact

2 tsp. Sumac

2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp kosher salt

Generous grind of black pepper

1 tsp chilli flakes

3 tbsp. Olive oil

300g camargue red rice (1 small mug)

25g salted butter

Plan yoghurt to serve

How to make:

Heat the oven to 190C. 

In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower, cauliflower leaves, chillies and onion (and any other chunky vegetable you hav in the fridge eg.squash, aubergine or courgettes) with the spices and olive oil. Spread out onto a large roasting pan and pop into the oven for 40-45 mins, turning everything half way through. The edges of the vegetables will caramelise and the leaves will crisp up. 

Meanwhile, heat the butter in a saucepan until it bubbles then add the rice and toss until you get a toasty aroma. If you used a small cup, then now add a small cup and an extra quarter cup (or if you measured 300g then add 400ml water) and a generous pinch of salt. Bring to the boil, stirring once and then simmer on a medium heat until the water is all but absorbed (about 15-20  mins). At this point, cover with a lid, turn the heat to low and cook for a further 10-15 mins. Turn off the heat and leave covered for a further 10 minutes before fluffing the rice up. 

When the bolli-cauli is ready, remove from the oven and serve over a generous scoop of the toasty, chewy buttery camargue rice. Add a dollop of yoghurt on the side and some mango chutney to serve. And treat yourself to some poppadoms for the crunch factor. 

Beer and Buttermilk Soda Bread

My favourite bread of the lockdown - and no yeast required.  Based on a Paul Hollywood recipe, mine replaces stout with any old beer or lager you may have  in the fridge, and a range of ‘bin end flours: Wholemeal, basic brown, spelt and strong white. 

Ingredients: 

500g wholemeal flour (or a mix of any brown or grain flours you have)

250g strong white flour

280ml buttermilk

300ml bottle of beer or lager

2 tsp salt

2 Tbsp. bicarbonate of soda

How to make:

Mix the flours, bicarbonate of soda and salt in a large bowl. 

Make a well in the centre and add the buttermilk and beer. 

Mix until everything comes together then knead gently until you have a cohesive ball. 

Pop into a 2lb loaf tin and press slightly into the corners.

Leave to rest for 30 mins. 

Heat the oven to 210C. Bake the loaf for 10 minutes, then turn the oven down to 180C and bake for a further 25-30 minutes. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack. The base should sound hollow when you tap it. 

Cool then slice and slather with butter. This bread is also excellent toasted. 

Spinach,  Ricotta and Feta  Pie

The superstar look of this pie as it emerges from the oven belies a super-easy method. If you can’t get hold of ricotta, just use cream cheese. Serves 4. 

Ingredients

7 sheets filo pastry

2 garlic cloves, chopped finely

1 medium onion, finely chopped

250g spinach

1 large egg

1 tsp. Grated nutmeg

250g ricotta, mascarpone or cream cheese. 

125g feta cheese, crumbled

Handful of fresh oregano leaves, chopped finely. 

100ml olive oil. 

1 tsp. Nigella seeds

How to make:

Heat the oven to 200C. 

Heat 1 tbsp. Olive oil in a frying pan then saute the onion and garlic on a low heat until soft. Add the spinach and cook gently until wilted - about 5 minutes. Turn into a sieve or colander and squeeze out as much liquid as you can. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and put to one side. 

Beat the egg with the ricotta and nutmeg then season. Crumble in the feta, then add the spinach and onion mixture. 

Brush a 22cm loose bottomed cake tin with olive oil and lay a sheet of filo pastry along the bottom and the sides. Brush again with oil, then add a second sheet at an angle to the first. Keep brushing each sheet with oil, then adding the next layers at an angle until you have used six sheets and they are lining the tin in a flower petal formation. 

Tip the spinach and cheese mix into the tin then fold each ‘petal’ of filo on top to form a lid to the tart. Brush with more oil then scrunch up the seventh sheet of filo, perch it on top of the pie and brush with the remaining oil. Scatter over the nigella seeds. 

Pop into the oven for 25-30 minutes (watch the top so it doesn’t turn from golden to burnt). 

Remove from the oven, cool slightly, before releasing the sides of the tin and transferring the pie to a plate to serve. 

Carrot cake muffins with mandarin frosting

Not really the season for carrot-eating, but grated three carrots into this cake mix and you have a winner. And the frosting is a great way to use up mandarins. Makes 6 Large muffins. 

Ingredients

1.5 cups plain flour

1.5 tsp. Bicarb of soda

¾ cup demarara sugar

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. Cinnamon

1 cup cashew nut milk

2 eggs, beaten

½ cup sunflower oil

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

3 carrots, shredded

50g pecan nuts, roughly chopped. 

For the frosting: 

Juice of 1 mandarin

1.5 cups icing sugar

How to make

Heat the oven to 180C. 

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, bicarb. Of soda, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Add the eggs, oil, vanilla and cashew nut milk and mix again until a smooth batter. Fold in the carrots and the pecans. 

In a muffin tin with 6 cases (or double the recipe and use 12). Fill each paper cup with the muffin batter until ¾ full then pop into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until they are fully risen. 

Remove from the oven and cool in the tin before removing each muffin and placing on a cooling rack to cool completely. 

When the muffins are cool, mix the mandarin juice with the icing sugar until you have a smooth and sluggish paste. Ice each muffin and serve. 

[6-and-7]

Doctor Who Cooking Headcanons

1. Right out the gate,they use the food machine for more or less everything. They are a Time Lord, cooking is menial labor and therefore beneath them. However, the more they travel, the more they find that cooking can be really quite intriguing. Once their friendship with Ian and Barbara develops, they ask if perhaps there are any Earth meals they they particularly miss, and if perhaps they might like to use the TARDIS kitchen to recreate them? With the Doctor there to supervise, of course. No, they don’t want cooking lessons, Chesterman, what nonsense. Eventually, with some trial and error, the Doctor learns how to make scrambled eggs. It is a source of great secret delight to them. Their favorite thing to make is cocoa, a reminder of a bright and witty human that very nearly stole their heart.

2. Enjoys baking, which they are rubbish at. They are, however, quite good at making soups, stews, salads, anything where measuring is done in more haphazard dashes and pinches with occasional tastings and frequent sniffs. Jamie will eat almost anything, though even he turned up his nose when the Doctor tried to make a fruitcake. Victoria is quite fastidious. The menu for her tenure on the TARDIS mainly consisted of soup, sandwiches, and tea. The Doctor branched out a little more after she left-- Zoe was scarcely any more fussy than Jamie about the quality of the food.

3. Most meals are either served at the UNIT canteen or at some members club in London-- the Diogenes or some similar institution. However, on the nights when they can’t make it out of the lab, they tend to boil eggs and tea over Bunsen burners. If they happen to be bored, or if there’s nothing good for lunch that day, or if they feel Jo isn’t as enthused about science as she could be, they might try something fancy, ranging from liquid nitrogen ice cream to molecular gastronomy. After all, it is only chemistry.

4. All of their companions were astonished at how good they were. It was nothing to write home about, exactly, but they were convinced that his laissez-faire attitude extended to food. It did not. They had at their disposal a compendium of every recipe in the known galaxy, in the form of K-9, and made a point of never repeating meals, though they did make note of what each of their companions favored. Harry liked simple, hearty meals. Sarah-Jane enjoyed a good roast. Leela quickly developed a fondness for barbecue. It was Romana where the Doctor fell into a pickle-- she was as closed off from culinary delight as their first self had been. Therefore, he made a point of cutting loose, each night something new and exquisite from some far-off corner of the galaxy.

5. In many ways, their culinary skill was superior to Four’s, but their range was somewhat limited. They enjoyed nutritious, down-home meals-- things like roast vegetables, ham, mac and cheese. They refused to use celery in their dishes on the basis that their companions would make fun of them, which was probably true.

6. Really very impressively skilled. Peri was quite alarmed when the first meal the Doctor cooked was six courses, comprised of ingredients and techniques from nine different planets and seventeen various cultures. After awhile though, as their mind settled and healed after the trauma of regeneration, their menu settled as well, much to Peri’s relief. This incarnation was truly skilled at blending flavors, bitter into sweet, salty into umami, sour into tangy. Much like their clothes, their tastes were colorful, and somewhat jarring at first. However, it couldn’t be denied that in cooking, the Doctor had excellent taste.

7. For Ace’s sake, they usually stuck with Earth cuisine. It didn’t hurt that they themself had developed a liking for it. Most dinners tended towards comfort food, fatty and meaty and sweet. That may or may not have been related to the departure of Mel and her nigh-draconian control of the menu. Some nights, though, when they were feeling particularly piqued, the Doctor would conjure up obscure, obscenely complicated meals from long-dead civilizations and turn them into a feast fit for any king. Generally, the night after, they would land somewhere in 20th century America and go for hamburgers, after which the Doctor would take Ace back to the kitchen and teach her to make cookies.

8. As with everything else, their cooking skills were... variable. One day, they might fix up lobster, the next they might forget to put flour in their cookies. They tended to depend quite heavily on the food machine.

9. Cooking was, for them, somewhere between science and stress relief. Everything was done by hand; beating eggs, kneading dough, shredding vegetables, everything. For a long time, they wouldn’t even let Rose in the kitchen. The night after Father’s Day, though, she found herself at the kitchen door. It was wide open, and the Doctor stood with his back to her, stirring a pot of soup on the simmer. There was a chopping block on the other counter, with carrots, celery, and leeks sitting next to it. She took the hint. After that, cooking together became a frequent activity on the TARDIS-- sometimes, they even let Jack join in. Those were the fun nights, where everyone smiled and laughed, and splashed one another with cake batter. When it was just the Doctor and Rose, they talked, but it was much more subdued. When it was just the Doctor, it was almost totally silent.

10. Everything is automated. Bread machines, toasters, blenders, they love it all! And they love combining them in increasingly bizarre and unusual ways. It’s a thing that boils potatoes, slices bread, gets free WiFi, and translates Sanskrit into Spanish! Amazing!

11. They aren’t allowed in the kitchen anymore. They know what they did.

12. While traveling with Clara, they were pretty good at making more or less everything. By the time they got to Bill, though, they mostly lived on ramen, curry, and delivery pizza. However, that didn’t stop them from taking a lecture that was supposed to be about Emily Dickinson and telling all the students how to safely prepare fugu, including a live demonstration.

13. Exceptional at baking, basically fine at everything else as long as you don’t mind it being a little burnt. They have a habit of making dishes from whatever place and time they’re planning on taking the fam, but since those plans hardly ever last the night, none of them have ever really noticed. Cooking is, for them, a social thing, and they like to get at least one of their friends in the kitchen with them.

[stronghealthtoday]

How to do a keto diet? Beginners guide, Sample keto diet week plan, benefits, foods to eat or not on keto diet, and Most Often Asked Questions about keto diet.

The ketogenic diet (or keto diet, for short) is a low-carb, high-fat eating routine that offers numerous medical advantages.

Truth be told, more than 20 examinations show that this sort of diet can assist you with getting in shape and improve your wellbeing.

Ketogenic diets may even have benefits against diabetes, malignant growth, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s sickness.

Here is a point by point learner’s manual for the keto diet.

What Is a Ketogenic Diet?

The ketogenic diet is an extremely low-carb, high-fat eating routine that offers numerous similitudes with the Atkins and low-carb eats less carbs.

It includes definitely decreasing sugar admission and supplanting it with fat. This decrease in carbs places your body into a metabolic state called ketosis.

At the point when this occurs, your body turns out to be fantastically effective at consuming fat for vitality. It likewise transforms fat into ketones in the liver, which can supply vitality for the cerebrum.

Ketogenic diets can cause huge decreases in glucose and insulin levels. This, alongside the expanded ketones, has various medical advantages.

Synopsis

The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat eating regimen. It brings down glucose and insulin levels, and moves the body’s digestion away from carbs and towards fat and ketones.

Various Types of Ketogenic Diets

There are a few variants of the ketogenic diet, including:

Standard ketogenic diet (SKD): This is a low-carb, moderate-protein and high-fat diet. It regularly contains 75% fat, 20% protein and just 5% carbs.

Recurrent ketogenic diet (CKD): This eating routine includes times of higher-carb refeeds, for example, 5 ketogenic days pursued by 2 high-carb days.

Directed ketogenic diet (TKD): This eating regimen enables you to include carbs around exercises.

High-protein ketogenic diet: This is like a standard ketogenic diet, however incorporates more protein. The proportion is frequently 60% fat, 35% protein and 5% carbs.

Be that as it may, just the standard and high-protein ketogenic consumes less calories have been examined widely. Repetitive or focused on ketogenic eats less carbs are further developed strategies and fundamentally utilized by jocks or competitors.

The data in this article generally applies to the standard ketogenic diet (SKD), albeit a significant number of similar standards additionally apply to different forms.

Synopsis

There are a few adaptations of the keto diet. The standard (SKD) variant is the most inquired about and most prescribed.

Ketogenic Diets Can Help You Lose Weight

A ketogenic diet is a compelling method to get in shape and lower hazard factors for infection

Indeed, explore shows that the ketogenic diet is far better than the frequently suggested low-fat eating routine.

Furthermore, the eating routine is filling to such an extent that you can get in shape without checking calories or following your nourishment admission.

One study found that individuals on a ketogenic diet lost 2.2 occasions more weight than those on a calorie-limited low-fat diet. Triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels additionally improved.

Another study found that individuals on the ketogenic diet lost multiple times more weight than those on the eating regimen suggested by Diabetes UK.

There are a few reasons why a ketogenic diet is better than a low-fat eating regimen, including the expanded protein admission, which gives various advantages.

The expanded ketones, lower glucose levels and improved insulin affectability may likewise assume a key job.

For more subtleties on the weight reduction impacts of a ketogenic diet, read this article.

Synopsis

A ketogenic diet can assist you with losing considerably more weight than a low-fat diet. This regularly occurs without hunger.

Related: Can the keto diet help to weight loss?

Ketogenic Diets for Diabetes and Prediabetes

Diabetes is described by changes in digestion, high glucose and weakened insulin work.

The ketogenic diet can assist you with losing overabundance fat, which is firmly connected to type 2 diabetes, prediabetes and metabolic disorder.

One study found that the ketogenic diet improved insulin affectability by an incredible 75%.

Another concentrate in individuals with type 2 diabetes found that 7 of the 21 members had the option to quit utilizing all diabetes meds.

In one more examination, the ketogenic bunch lost 24.4 pounds (11.1 kg), contrasted with 15.2 pounds (6.9 kg) in the higher-carb gathering. This is a significant advantage while thinking about the connection among weight and type 2 diabetes.

Furthermore, 95.2% of the ketogenic bunch were additionally ready to stop or decrease diabetes prescription, contrasted with 62% in the higher-carb gathering.

For more data, look at this article on the advantages of low-carb counts calories for individuals with diabetes.

Synopsis

The ketogenic diet can support insulin affectability and cause fat misfortune, prompting huge medical advantages for individuals with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.

Other Health Benefits of Keto

The ketogenic diet really started as a device for treating neurological infections, for example, epilepsy.

Studies have now indicated that the eating regimen can have benefits for a wide range of wellbeing conditions:

Coronary illness: The ketogenic diet can improve chance factors like muscle to fat ratio, HDL cholesterol levels, pulse and glucose.

Disease: The eating routine is as of now being utilized to treat a few sorts of malignancy and moderate tumor development.

Alzheimer’s infection: The keto diet may diminish side effects of Alzheimer’s sickness and moderate its movement.

Epilepsy: Research has indicated that the ketogenic diet can cause gigantic decreases in seizures in epileptic kids.

Parkinson’s illness: One investigation found that the eating routine improved indications of Parkinson’s malady.

Polycystic ovary disorder: The ketogenic diet can help diminish insulin levels, which may assume a key job in polycystic ovary disorder.

Mind wounds: One creature study found that the eating routine can decrease blackouts and help recuperation after cerebrum damage.

Skin inflammation: Lower insulin levels and eating less sugar or prepared nourishments may help improve skin break out.

In any case, remember that examination into a large number of these zones is a long way from convincing.

Synopsis

A ketogenic diet may give numerous medical advantages, particularly with metabolic, neurological or insulin-related infections.

Foods to Avoid

Any nourishment that is high in carbs ought to be constrained.

Here is a rundown of foods that should be decreased or wiped out on a ketogenic diet:

Sugary foods: Soda, natural product juice, smoothies, cake, dessert, sweet, and so on.

Grains or starches: Wheat-based items, rice, pasta, oat, and so forth.

Natural product: All organic product, with the exception of little segments of berries like strawberries.

Beans or vegetables: Peas, kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, and so forth.

Root vegetables and tubers: Potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and so forth.

Low-fat or diet items: These are exceptionally prepared and frequently high in carbs.

A few fixings or sauces: These regularly contain sugar and undesirable fat.

Undesirable fats: Limit your admission of prepared vegetable oils, mayonnaise, and so forth.

Alcohol: Due to their carb content, numerous mixed refreshments can toss you out of ketosis.

Sans sugar diet foods: These are frequently high in sugar alcohols, which can influence ketone levels now and again. These foods likewise will in general be profoundly prepared.

Synopsis

Dodge carb-based foods like grains, sugars, vegetables, rice, potatoes, treat, squeeze and even most organic products.

Foods to Eat

You should base most of your dinners around these foods:

Meat: Red meat, steak, ham, wiener, bacon, chicken and turkey.

Greasy fish: Such as salmon, trout, fish and mackerel.

Eggs: Look for fed or omega-3 entire eggs.

Margarine and cream: Look for grass-nourished whenever the situation allows.

Cheddar: Unprocessed (cheddar, goat, cream, blue or mozzarella).

Nuts and seeds: Almonds, pecans, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, and so forth.

Solid oils: Primarily additional virgin olive oil, coconut oil and avocado oil.

Avocados: Whole avocados or crisply made guacamole.

Low-carb veggies: Most green veggies, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and so on.

Toppings: You can utilize salt, pepper and different solid herbs and flavors.

Synopsis

Base most of your eating regimen on nourishments, for example, meat, fish, eggs, spread, nuts, solid oils, avocados and a lot of low-carb veggies.

Related: What are the best foods for a keto diet?

A Sample Keto Meal Plan For 1 Week

To help kick you off, here is an example ketogenic diet dinner plan for multi week:

Monday

Breakfast: Bacon, eggs and tomatoes.

Lunch: Chicken plate of mixed greens with olive oil and feta cheddar.

Dinner: Salmon with asparagus cooked in spread.

Tuesday

Breakfast: Egg, tomato, basil and goat cheddar omelet.

Lunch: Almond milk, nutty spread, cocoa powder and stevia milkshake.

Dinner: Meatballs, cheddar and vegetables.

Wednesday

Breakfast: A ketogenic milkshake (attempt this or this).

Lunch: Shrimp plate of mixed greens with olive oil and avocado.

Dinner: Pork hacks with Parmesan cheddar, broccoli and serving of mixed greens.

Thursday

Breakfast: Omelet with avocado, salsa, peppers, onion and flavors.

Lunch: A bunch of nuts and celery sticks with guacamole and salsa.

Dinner: Chicken loaded down with pesto and cream cheddar, alongside vegetables.

Friday

Breakfast: without sugar yogurt with nutty spread, cocoa powder and stevia.

Lunch: Beef pan sear cooked in coconut oil with vegetables.

Dinner: Bun-less burger with bacon, egg and cheddar.

Saturday

Breakfast: Ham and cheddar omelet with vegetables.

Lunch: Ham and cheddar cuts with nuts.

Dinner: White fish, egg and spinach cooked in coconut oil.

Sunday

Breakfast: Fried eggs with bacon and mushrooms.

Lunch: Burger with salsa, cheddar and guacamole.

Dinner: Steak and eggs with a side plate of mixed greens.

Continuously attempt to pivot the vegetables and meat over the long haul, as each kind gives various supplements and medical advantages.

For huge amounts of plans, look at these 101 solid low-carb plans.

Synopsis

You can eat a wide assortment of scrumptious and nutritious dinners on a ketogenic diet.

Healthy Keto Snacks

In the event that you get eager between dinners, here are some sound, keto-endorsed snacks:

Greasy meat or fish

Cheddar

A bunch of nuts or seeds

Cheddar with olives

1–2 hard-bubbled eggs

90% dim chocolate

A low-carb milkshake with almond milk, cocoa powder and nut margarine

Full-fat yogurt blended in with nut margarine and cocoa powder

Strawberries and cream

Celery with salsa and guacamole

Littler bits of remaining dinners

Synopsis

Incredible snacks for a keto diet incorporate bits of meat, cheddar, olives, bubbled eggs, nuts and dim chocolate.

Tips for Eating Out on a Ketogenic Diet

It isn’t extremely difficult to make most café dinners keto-accommodating when eating out.

Most cafés offer some sort of meat or fish-based dish. Request this, and supplant any high-carb nourishment with additional vegetables.

Egg-based suppers are additionally an incredible alternative, for example, an omelet or eggs and bacon.

Another most loved is bun-less burgers. You could likewise swap the fries for vegetables. Include additional avocado, cheddar, bacon or eggs.

At Mexican cafés, you can appreciate any sort of meat with additional cheddar, guacamole, salsa and acrid cream.

For dessert, request a blended cheddar board or berries with cream.

Synopsis

When eating out, select a meat-, fish-or egg-based dish. Request additional veggies rather than carbs or starches, and have cheddar for dessert.

Reactions and How to Minimize Them

In spite of the fact that the ketogenic diet is ok for sound individuals, there might be some underlying reactions while your body adjusts.

This is frequently alluded to as the keto influenza and is for the most part over inside a couple of days.

Keto influenza incorporates poor vitality and mental capacity, expanded yearning, rest issues, sickness, stomach related inconvenience and diminished exercise execution.

To limit this, you can attempt a normal low-carb diet for the initial barely any weeks. This may instruct your body to consume increasingly fat before you totally take out carbs.

A ketogenic diet can likewise change the water and mineral parity of your body, so adding additional salt to your dinners or taking mineral enhancements can help.

For minerals, have a go at taking 3,000–4,000 mg of sodium, 1,000 mg of potassium and 300 mg of magnesium for each day to limit reactions.

At any rate in the first place, it is imperative to eat until you’re full and abstain from confining calories to an extreme. Typically, a ketogenic diet causes weight reduction without purposeful calorie limitation.

Synopsis

A significant number of the symptoms of beginning a ketogenic diet can be constrained. Sliding into the eating regimen and taking mineral enhancements can help.

What supplements for a Ketogenic Diet

Albeit no enhancements are required, some can be valuable.

MCT oil: Added to beverages or yogurt, MCT oil gives vitality and helps increment ketone levels. Investigate a few alternatives on Amazon.

Minerals: Added salt and different minerals can be significant when beginning because of movements in water and mineral equalization.

Caffeine: Caffeine can have benefits for vitality, fat misfortune and execution.

Exogenous ketones: This enhancement may help raise the body’s ketone levels.

Creatine: Creatine gives various advantages to wellbeing and execution. This can help on the off chance that you are joining a ketogenic diet with work out.

Whey: Use a large portion of a scoop of whey protein in shakes or yogurt to build your day by day protein admission.

Synopsis

Certain enhancements can be advantageous on a ketogenic diet. These incorporate exogenous ketones, MCT oil and minerals.

Most Often Asked Questions

Here are answers to the absolute most basic inquiries concerning the ketogenic diet.

1. Can I ever eat carbs again?

Indeed. In any case, it is critical to essentially lessen your carb consumption at first. After the initial 2–3 months, you can eat carbs on unique events — simply come back to the eating regimen following.

2. Will I lose muscle?

There is a danger of losing some muscle on any eating routine. In any case, the high protein admission and high ketone levels may help limit muscle misfortune, particularly on the off chance that you lift loads.

3. Would i be able to manufacture muscle on a ketogenic diet?

Truly, yet it may not fill in just as on a moderate-carb diet. For more insights regarding low-carb or keto diets and exercise execution, read this article.

4. Do I have to refeed or carb load?

No. Be that as it may, a couple of more fatty days might be useful from time to time.

5. What amount of protein would i be able to eat?

Protein ought to be moderate, as an extremely high admission can spike insulin levels and lower ketones. Around 35% of all out calorie admission is likely as far as possible.

6. Imagine a scenario where I am continually worn out, feeble or exhausted.

You may not be in full ketosis or be using fats and ketones productively. To counter this, bring down your carb admission and return to the focuses above. An enhancement like MCT oil or ketones may likewise help.

7. My pee smells fruity. Why would that be?

Try not to be frightened. This is essentially because of the discharge of results made during ketosis.

8. My breath smells. What would i be able to do?

This is a typical reaction. Have a go at drinking normally seasoned water or biting sans sugar gum.

9. I heard ketosis was incredibly risky. Is this valid?

Individuals regularly mistake ketosis for ketoacidosis. The previous is regular, while the last just happens in uncontrolled diabetes.

Ketoacidosis is perilous, yet the ketosis on a ketogenic diet is flawlessly typical and solid.

10. I have processing issues and looseness of the bowels. What would i be able to do?

This basic reaction for the most part goes following 3 a month. On the off chance that it perseveres, have a go at eating all the more high-fiber veggies. Magnesium enhancements can likewise help with obstruction.

A Ketogenic Diet Is Great, however Not for Everyone

A ketogenic diet can be incredible for individuals who are overweight, diabetic or hoping to improve their metabolic wellbeing.

It might be less appropriate for tip top competitors or those wishing to include a lot of muscle or weight.

What’s more, similarly as with any eating regimen, it will possibly work in the event that you are predictable and stay with it in the long haul.

That being stated, barely any things are too demonstrated in sustenance as the incredible wellbeing and weight reduction advantages of a ketogenic diet.