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#and that changing the main ingredient makes it lose all its flavor
potahun · 11 months
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On the one hand i want a LHL2 because i want more of the happy throuple/ polycule solving cases on the jianghu with their dog. on the other hand i dont want them to destroy the open interpretation left at the end of the 1st season regarding Li Lianhua (as in, the person regardless of his name)’s state of being so leaving it as is may be best. but also i do want LHL2 because of the possible fluff and shenanigans. but I dont because-
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voidlightcomix · 2 months
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Feast Your Eyes: Fandom Cookbook Recipe Review #10
IT’S RAW - Gordon Ramsay’s Healthy, Lean and Fit
Tonight’s menu: sourced from Gordon Ramsay’s Healthy, Lean and Fit
Starter: Chilled Pea and Coconut Soup
Main Dish: Coronation Chickpeas
Dessert: Chocolate + Avocado Mousse
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Full review under the cut!
(and updates on the future of this series!)
Update:
While this series originally started as fandom cookbook-exclusive, my visit to Hell’s Kitchen in Vegas (and subsequent purchase of one of Gordon Ramsay’s books) has opened my eyes to how restrictive that requirement was. While I’ll definitely continue working out of my collection of fandom cookbooks— there are plenty of recipes I still want to try— I’ll be branching out to other books and maybe even the internet. I love cooking, and I really enjoy sharing it with people like you. Thanks for sticking around as long as you have! (And if you’re new, I hope you stay awhile if you like this review!) While I’m far from a professional chef, food has long been an inspiration for other forms of my art, and this summer has really cemented its place there.
Other changes to this series will include reducing the amount of Chef Leuci’s logs (they’ll still show up in more fantasy-based reviews, don’t worry!) and a different review scale for dishes like the ones I’m serving tonight (similar to the original review scale, just lacking the ”Immersion” rating). Again, the more fantasy-based reviews will remain the same.
As my next year at SCAD draws closer, I’m excited to start using this wealth of experience in my writing and comics. Thank you for tuning in.
Enough chatter out of me— let’s get to the main course!
Starter: Chilled Pea and Coconut Soup
RATING:
Difficulty: 4/5
Ingredients: 5/5
Time: 5/5
End Result: 5/5
Total Rating: 19/20
This dish… was something completely different than I expected. In a good way. It’s a very thin soup with a HUGE amount of ingredients. It made seven servings when the recipe said it would make 6, and I’m serving 4 people. Not complaining, though, everyone enjoyed it, and it seems like it’ll be good hot or cold. The flavor is super complex— every ingredient NEEDS to be in there, or it doesn’t work nearly as well. It’s delicious, full of vegetables, and the nuanced flavor makes you want to eat slowly in order to really experience it. Also, the thinness of the soup is absolutely deceiving. It’s super filling. It only loses one point because of the sheer amount of vegetables we had to chop (big thanks to my dad for helping out, or it would’ve taken forever).
Main Dish: Coronation Chickpeas
RATING:
Difficulty: 4/5
Ingredients: 5/5
Time: 5/5
End Result: 5/5
Total Rating: 19/20
Before you ask, this loses the same point that the soup did. Lots of vegetable chopping. That’s not a bad thing by any means— I love vegetables (and enjoy chopping them too), but for someone less experienced, I think it’s important to note that and reflect it in my assessment of the difficulty. Anyway— this vegetarian (we made it vegan) take on coronation chicken was incredible. I’ve never had coronation chicken before, but if it’s anything like this dish, I’ll probably enjoy it. This is a salad, served cold, made up of cauliflower, carrots, chickpeas and green onions, with a yogurt-based dressing (which I mixed myself) mainly flavored with curry powder. While, as I’ve said, I normally despise cauliflower— I think I’m learning to like it. Between last review’s wings and this delicious, crunchy salad, who knows? Maybe I’ve just had bad cauliflower all my life.
Dessert: Chocolate and Avocado Mousse
RATING:
Difficulty: 5/5
Ingredients: 5/5
Time: 5/5
End Result: 5/5
Total Rating: 20/20
This mousse… was incredible. Like, when I told my partner what I was making for my family tonight, she was skeptical of this (as was I, a little bit.) but WOW. Simple, only four ingredients and an hour in the fridge, and it sets right up just like a normal chocolate mousse. I didn’t use raw cocoa powder, so it was a little bit on the dark chocolate side of the taste profile, but when we actually ate it, we put a little bit of Coco Whip (not pictured) on it— the sweetness of that picked it right up. I’d love to make this again, maybe with some raspberry or orange flavoring added— it was rich and decadent while also being surprisingly healthy. Only vaguely related: I got this really cool tool for opening an avocado that removed all of the danger of cutting yourself open while trying to get that tasty tasty green mush. Thought it wouldn’t work, since it was $3. But it was super effective, and I’m looking forward to making something with that second avocado we’ve got on the counter… I love avocados. 🥑
Tune in this Friday (8/2) for my next recipe review!
If you read all the way down to here, thank you so much. I hope you enjoyed it. :)
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ermmm wowland spoiwers
bonus these r cute:
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^ I LOVE THESE SPRITES SO MACH the dodge especially
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fun fact: i get all his guns confused all the time so when i drew my 'airhead' animation i mistakenly made him 1-hand the rifle(?) or is it a shotgun?
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"food", "food", "...", "food :)"
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KJY - "Roland was a character whose eyes were fixed behind in many ways. When he first ran into Salvador, he anxiously kept looking backward and left himself open for a surprise attack. But, there was one time in the past where Roland could look ahead, and the encounter with Angelica is what I think brought change to Roland’s life. With Angelica gone now, he’s regressed to watching behind and reminiscing about the past. To Roland, Angelica is an angel that brought much pain as well as much happiness to him. Overcome with the grief of losing his angel, Roland wanders until he meets another angel: Angela is the source of Roland’s suffering, but at the same time, she gives him a reason to keep on living by any means. I remember the artists at Mili explaining to us as they worked on the song that ‘Gone Angels’ expresses Roland’s determination to kill that angel with his own hands and leave nothing behind."
^^^^^^ that makes me feel so many things
also you know, i only just now realized roland comments on all the groups of characters at the top of their pages <*bad eyes*
some stuff he says:
"Charles’ Office. A band of myself and the eleven Fixers who followed my lead, despite all my shortcomings… Being in the northern part of the City meant many of us had pretty extravagant outfits. I remember laughing at the way Astolfo dressed, too. We were together for quite a long time, and it felt like our company would last forever, but here we are now, going our separate ways. This wasn’t an unexpected outcome, though. I’d wonder if they’re alive and well from time to time, and it was good to see Olivier at the very least. I sometimes miss those simpler times when I could just focus on the now and live in the moment."
(about pierre & jack) "A restaurant aged 11 years in the streets of District 23; although it’s not super popular or anything, it has quite a few regulars. Its specialty is meat-based foods, and the main dish is Pierre’s signature thick meat pies. I’ve never tried one myself, but according to its patrons… the abundance and juiciness of the meat make for a fantastic meal. Now here’s the funny bit: some people don’t seem to know what the pie is made of. Well, Pierre, the head chef of the establishment, isn’t the type to babble out for things no one asked. Besides, we’re talking about District 23… the streets of flavor, y’know? Whatever methods or ingredients were used to make the food… most of those folks don’t pay any attention. They’d rather be taking another bite out of their tasty grub if they have the time to ask questions." (hmmm...)
(about the 8 o'clock circus) "...Perhaps that circus could be the place to restore your smile, forgotten in the hum of everyday life. I’d like to see a performance myself if I ever get the chance." (?? roland you saw what oswald did though......well if he wants to see the circus he can go see the circus <3 love & peace)
(about the smiling faces) "...The Smiling Faces apparently enjoy flaking human flesh into thin fillets to eat… They’re definitely far from the only ones known for cannibalism, but you’ve got to admit, their flesh fillet is something to behold. It’s uncanny how they can make the fillet so thin that you can see through it. Not like… I want to ever eat it." (HMM!? WHY DID U PAUSE)
(about liu association) "...That’s why most Fixers try not to get attached to each other; too many couples end up losing their significant others sooner or later. But, once you feel the warmth of someone precious, you can’t easily let them go. I sometimes wonder what the right thing to do is, if you lose someone who naturally became a huge part of your life." ( D: )
(about liu again) "I must wonder how it feels to be able to cherish something. To make choices for one purpose and even forfeit everything else in order to protect what’s precious. To restrain yourself from grieving for the deaths of the few to save the many who live on; to risk all you have for the sake of your loved one. I suppose it’s not the most unusual feeling. Everyone vaguely senses it, but no one bothers to delve into it. How could one name it… Love? Sympathy? I don’t think it will ever be possible to define this with a single word. A simple word wouldn’t do it justice, either. Nevertheless, it is a matter worth considering time after time."
(about distorted yan) "It sounds like there are beings comparable to gods in the City, such as the Prescripts. I think I’ve seen ‘em a few times myself… although they’re not memories I want to revisit..." (hmm...?)
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pablice · 10 months
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35 Keto Lunches Under 500 Calories for Quick Weight Loss
What is the Keto Diet? The Keto diet is a high-fat, low-carb meal plan that helps people lose weight quickly. It also has several health benefits, such as reducing the risk of some forms of cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. The main idea behind the diet is that by cutting down on carbs, your body is able to burn its stored fat as fuel and switch its metabolism away from burning glucose. This ultimately results in weight loss and an overall reduction in body fat. Foods that are generally included in a Keto diet are high-fat meats, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, vegetables, and healthy oils. Foods that are generally avoided are grains, sugars, processed food, and starchy veggies. Although the diet is designed to keep your body in a state of ketosis, the main focus is to keep up a healthy balance of dieting and exercise. Benefits of Keto Lunches for Quick Weight Loss The keto diet is an ideal option for those looking to lose weight quickly. It is a low-carb, high-fat diet that switches your body away from using glucose as its main form of energy to using ketones. By reducing the amount of carbs consumed, it causes the body to enter a state of ketosis whereby it burns fat for energy. This reduces the amount of energy intake, which equates to a calorie deficit and therefore weight loss. Keto lunches are an integral component of the keto diet that can help you quickly shed the top layer of extra fat. Basing your lunch around keto-friendly foods enables you to keep your energy intakes low whilst still feeling full. Eating this way, in combination with other lifestyle changes, could result in you achieving your preferred weight loss goals. Essential Food Items for Keto Lunches Eating a keto diet means you need to fill your plate with nutrient dense options. This includes focusing on healthy fats, proteins, and fiber-rich foods. Protein sources such as lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, and legumes should feature in every meal to stay full and energized for the day. Fats like avocados, coconut, nut butter, olive oil, and ghee can add flavor and satisfaction to your dishes. Lastly, include plenty of non-starchy vegetables, some whole grains, and fruits for fiber and minerals. How to Prepare Low-Calorie Keto Lunches Preparing low-calorie Keto lunches is not difficult. The first step is to cut out all processed and refined foods. These foods can contain hidden ingredients that add unwanted calories and take away from the desired nutritional value. Instead, opt for fresh veggies and lean proteins like chicken or turkey. Incorporate a variety of nutrient-rich vegetables into the meal. Some healthy options include spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and zucchini. Fruits can also be used as an excellent source of nutrients. When it comes to protein, focus on lean proteins such as eggs, fish, poultry, or plant-based proteins like beans and legumes. Adding healthy fats is another key step in making Keto lunches. Healthy fats help to keep you fuller longer and promote weight loss. Olive oil, avocado, and nuts are some ideal sources of healthy fats. These can be added to salads or used to dress up cooked dishes. Incorporating a variety of nutrient-rich ingredients is the key to making a low-calorie Keto lunch. Easy Recipes for Keto Lunches A zucchini noodle salad topped with grilled chicken is a delicious and low-calorie option for Keto lunches. To make it, julienne zucchini and lightly sauté in coconut oil. Cook chicken in a skillet with salt and pepper until finished. Arrange the zucchini noodles on a plate, top with chicken, and garnish with shaved Parmesan cheese, green onions, and fresh parsley. Ham and cheese roll-ups are another great idea for Keto lunches. Start by laying out a slice of deli ham and top with a slice of cheese. Roll up the ham and cheese and secure with a toothpick. Heat a non-stick skillet over low heat and lightly toast the roll-ups until golden brown and the cheese has melted. Serve with a side of bell pepper strips and ranch dip. Sample Meal Plans for Keto Lunches A balanced keto lunch should include healthy sources of protein and fat, as well as low-carb vegetables. Here are some examples of complete, low-calorie keto lunches that you can incorporate into your weekly meal plans: A tuna salad sandwich on a low-carb roll, with a side of sliced bell peppers, celery and grape tomatoes. For dessert, try a walnut protein bar. An omelet made with one whole egg and two egg whites, with bell peppers and onion, served with a large side salad. Enjoy a yogurt-based warm fruit parfait for dessert. A turkey wrap made with a low-carb tortilla wrap, lettuce, tomato, mustard, and pickles. Serve with a side of cucumber slices and a few low-carb crackers. Enjoy a sugar-free raspberry yogurt for dessert. Suggestions for Low-Calorie Keto Lunches One great way to keep Keto lunch options low-calorie is by looking for healthy food swaps. By finding lower calorie options for higher calorie ingredients in recipes, such as replacing heavy cream with coconut cream, you can reduce the number of calories in your meals. Additionally, focusing on protein sources that are lower in fat, like halibut, tuna, and boneless, skinless chicken breasts, is a reliable way to keep the calorie count of your lunch low. Making sure to include Keto friendly vegetables in your lunch is also key for keeping calories low. Cruciferous vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage are great choices with low calorie counts, while adding healthy fiber and nutrients. Include one or two servings of vegetables to add flavor and texture to any lunch, while keeping the calorie count down. Tips for Making Keto Lunches More Nutritious It is important to make sure that any keto lunch you make is as nutritionally balanced as possible to ensure maximum health benefits. A good way to do this is to focus on including a wide variety of nutritious foods that provide essential vitamins and minerals. For example, adding leafy greens, lean proteins, nuts, seeds, and fresh fruit to a keto lunch is a great way to get in all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Incorporating healthy fats such as avocados, olive oil, and nut butter can also add nutritional value. Another way to ensure a keto lunch is more nutrient-dense is to choose organic foods whenever possible. Organic fruits and vegetables are free of pesticides and chemicals, which can help provide additional nutrition. Additionally, selecting organic animal products is beneficial since organic livestock is raised with better welfare standards and often contains more nutrients than conventionally farmed animals. Furthermore, by using whole foods rather than processed foods, you can help to naturally increase the nutritional value of a keto lunch. What are some tips for making Keto Lunches more nutritious? Here are some tips for making Keto Lunches more nutritious: 1. Include plenty of leafy greens such as spinach, kale, arugula, and other dark green vegetables. 2. Incorporate healthy fats such as coconut oil, olive oil, avocado, nuts, and seeds. 3. Use high-fiber carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, squash, and legumes. 4. Include lean proteins such as fish, chicken, turkey, and eggs. 5. Add a variety of herbs and spices for flavor and nutrition. 6. Avoid processed foods or high-sugar items. 7. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Read the full article
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gameonoverdogcom · 11 months
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The Okinawa Belly Fat Tonic Recipe Reviews - Does The Okinawa Belly Tonic Work
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This article is about the okinawa belly fat tonic recipe reviews - does the okinawa belly tonic work? Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic is a nutritional supplement powder that claims to encourage weight reduction using an ancient Japanese drink recipe that melts body fats and reasons for expanded metabolism benefits.Striking a stability between effectiveness and ease-of-use has constantly been a priority of complement manufacturers and reviewers alike. No one wants to choke down horrible-tasting dietary supplements as soon as each day with a purpose to gain the health advantages they’ve been promised. At the same time, there’s little public interest in ineffective supplements that flavor correct but provide little on the subject of measurable blessings to well-being. Okinawa belly fat tonic ingredients. The most successful supplements in our minds are people who combine an easy and clean-to-digest system with a litany of powerful ingredients. Click Here to Buy Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic for the Lowest Price Online with Massive Discounts Today! The Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic is being presented as the right convergence of convenience with efficiency. The formula is seemingly filled with “powerful antioxidants,” and it comes with a scrumptious taste. The concept has been around for generations, and the Flat Belly Tonic internet site makes no try to disguise this truth. Just blend the complement in with water and experience in the morning. Sounds easy, proper? The bulk of our paintings today concerned a deep-dive into the studies in the back of key components used in this weight loss complement. The Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic internet site claims that its main complement can help users to gain “metabolic support,” as well as decrease stages of inflammation and more healthy energy degrees all through the day. These are some lofty claims; upgrades to both power and inflammation will be existence-changing for a number of our readers. This is why we took extraordinary care to cautiously vet all of the fitness-associated claims on the legitimate product website for this complement. https://www.youtube.com/embed/gLGezbcIz5Q It’s essential to recognise that you ought to in no way expect a supplement to do all the work for you. Losing weight is a simple matter; burning more energy than you devour will imply that you lose weight. However, metabolism is an underlying influencer of the way much weight you’ll probably lose throughout your recovery. Additionally, infection could make it harder to workout continually, whilst low energy degrees can similarly smash the exercising enjoyment for purchasers. By addressing each of these huge obstacles, answers like the Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic have the capability to trade the path of any weight reduction recurring. By taking Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic day by day, you could purportedly experience large weight loss effects. You blend one scoop of the Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic with water or a shake, then drink it daily to revel in numerous blessings. Developed by Mike Banner, the Flat Belly Tonic recipe is to be fed on before 10am every single morning to allow height performance in terms of metabolism and fats burning capabilities at the side of some dietary tips outlined in the Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic guide. There are masses of effective weight loss drink recipes and fats burning nutritional supplements to be had nowadays that promise easy weight loss, so what makes the Flat Belly Tonic recipe any distinct? okinawa belly fat tonic review,  While this Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic evaluation weighs out the professionals and cons much better than different faux client reviews, it's going to cover now not simplest the megastar of the show in the Flat Belly Tonic drink recipe, however also the five publications. Those being the ●      21-Day Flat Belly Manual: 47-web page eBook PDF guide approximately converting to a healthy diet with weight reduction management via kitchen gear and pearls of wisdom ●      Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic Drinks: Mike Banner's CRP Lowering Smoothie Tonics (Herbal Teas and Drink Recipes that Lower C-REACTIVE PROTEIN) ●      Quick Start Nutrition Plan Guide: 22-page downloadable PDF eBook on foremost food consumption in conjunction with every week by means of week meal plan diet (with films) ●      one hundred Flat Belly Recipes for Burning Fat: 126-web page PDF guide with 15 breakfast recipes, 20 lunch menu food, over forty dinner thoughts (with meat and vegetarian friendly), and even healthy snacks and desserts ●      Energy Boosting Smoothies: 26-page Flat Belly Tonic recipes to make your very own smoothie beverages like inexperienced protein shakes, along with specific fruit, veggie, seed and nut combinations with visible photos and dosages mapped out for my part (virtually pretty spectacular list of undying healthful smoothie recipes all people can revel in with everyday complete foods) This Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic review will cowl all of them in enormous detail without gifting away the meat and potatoes. To buy the actual Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic drink powder and get all the helping Flat Belly Tonic recipes and weight reduction manuals listed above, absolutely visit the reputable website at FlatBellyTonic.Com these days. But for the ones no longer geared up to make a buy yet, do no longer pass anywhere but due to the fact there are lots of critical statistics to cover first. Those asking whether or not or not the Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic is yet some other disappointing food plan supplement or indeed a worthy fat burning weight loss supplement are doing what you're supposed to do given the newly formulated Japanese drink tonic recipe. But is it actually a shortcut to easy weight reduction by using the use of the Flat Belly Tonic weight reduction drink powder to set off the grasp fats burning hormone to convert the meals you devour into power in place of extra garage in fats cells? Let’s take a better study of the reality of how Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic works and display what the raw studies tell us approximately about the superfood drink powder elements found in the Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic supplement.
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What is Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic?
Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic is coined as a science-based totally breakthrough in phrases of being a healthy weight loss and digestion supplement that makes use of a robust dose of plant-primarily based natural extracts, probiotics, polyphenols, nutrients, and minerals to target stomach fats. The actual Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic powder says its natural components comprise 3 Billion CFU and is formulated to promote healthy weight management and digestion while boosting power and energy. The writer of Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic, Mike Banner, became stimulated by the way of the Japanese island of Okinawa. He purportedly visited Okinawa and “had a nutrient-dense, powerful fats-demolishing drink that caused stepped forward healthcare for him inside out.” Now, with Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic, he desires to share that formulation with the arena. The makers of Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic describe the supplement as an easy and effective weight reduction solution. By taking the system day by day, you could allegedly lose weight without a huge food plan or exercise. In reality, the creators of the method claim you may keep eating your favorite foods, keep away from counting energy, and avoid strenuous sports – all while dropping weight. There also are Flat Belly Tonic testimonials that allude to how customers are using the Okinawa drink powder recipe as a method to assist wholesome blood sugar and blood stress tiers too. Obviously, you have to be skeptical any time a dietary supplement claims to result in extensive weight loss with little attempt or weight loss program required. And asking whether or no longer the Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic rip-off possibly is actual is what truly makes this interesting as to whether that is a fake weight loss supplement or one with legit benefit. Let’s take a more in-depth examination of how Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic works.
How Does Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic Work?
Right from the beginning because the introduction alluded to, it's almost unjust to think of the Flat Belly Tonic as superfood complement powder. Does the okinawa belly tonic work? In fact, the Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic needs to almost be thought of as a full fledged food plan and fats burning gadget as an entire. But for now, let's focus on the main megastar of the Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic machine within the drink recipe as it's far the only all of the 5 publications referred to above and shown here are focused upon. Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic is the catalyst to the complete application and comes within the shape of a powdered method. You mix one scoop (2,800mg of formula in line with the scoop) with water, milk, almond milk, a shake, or the beverage of your choice, then drink it day by day to get a flat belly. The shake is powered through four important element blends, together with a nutrition and mineral combination, a polyphenol blend, a metabolic boosting blend, and a digestive aid mixture. Overall, the system contains essential vitamins and minerals (like B vitamins and selenium), elements for digestion (like probiotics and prebiotics), plant-based total antioxidants (like beet, apple, and papaya), and metabolism boosters (like ginger and turmeric). The makers of Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic claim they decided on those substances strategically. These components don’t just help digestion, metabolism, and antioxidants in your frame: additionally they affect hormones. Most individuals looking to shed pounds and burn stomach fats are beginning to well know how hormonal imbalances disrupt the complete ecosystem that involves metabolism and weight management. Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic is primarily based on the idea that people come to be overweight whilst their C-reactive protein, additionally referred to as CRP, interferes with the ordinary feature of mitochondria. This switches off the hormone liable for metabolic activity in the frame. That critical hormone is referred to as adiponectin. When CRP interferes with adiponectin, it results in an accumulation of fats all through the body. This triggers a series reaction and comments loop: while you acquire more fat, your CRP degrees upward push. Your rising CRP levels interfere with adiponectin, causing a similar weight benefit. With that in mind, Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic promises to halt the cycle by means of activating adiponectin, balancing CRP and helping you shed pounds. Ultimately, which means you may expect sizable weight loss effects inside just 4 weeks of taking the Flat Belly Tonic complement. All matters specified in the front people and the records reveal the Okinawa drink powder recipe is one of the pleasant dietary supplements to apply for burning fat, boosting metabolism and enhancing strength stages obviously. Why? Look no further than the powerful Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic substances to see what is in shop for this natural superfood powder drink blend.
Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic- Its Pros & Cons
Pros
The factor of the product may additionally produce fat-burning hormones. The product is a hundred% natural and secure and has no aspect effects. It powerfully destroys fat cells. No want for a personal teacher or dietician to manual you. One hundred percentage money-lower back guarantee if the product does not paint. It tastes delicious, and you may feel refreshed as soon as you drink it. Available at an affordable fee.
Cons
Not to be had offline (Only to be had through the reliable website) The website has said that this tonic must no longer be used in the course of the pregnancy. It may be dangerous to the toddler. What Comes With Your Flat Belly Tonic Purchase? The Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic is not only a weight reduction supplement powder with a fats burning recipe and confirmed elements. It also comes with all kinds of actionable, applicable publications that you'll seamlessly integrate into their current way of life and start changing the good with the bad clearly. Here is what the Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic gadget has to provide these days:
21 Day Flat Belly Manual
The 21 Day Flat Belly Manuel is a virtual guide that stocks a three-week belly fat burning gadget. This forty six-web page digital manual covers essential weight-reduction plan suggestions that might guide your weight reduction challenge. This virtual manual explains how intermittent fasting aids weight loss, for instance, and how pressure induces weight benefit.
Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic Drinks
Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic Drinks is a recipe virtual manual that gives smoothies to lessen C-reactive protein (CRP), related to weight gain. Similar to the Flat Belly Tonic complement, an Okinawa belly fat tonic recipe,these smoothies are able to help with weight reduction by way of targeting the CRP stages. The 36-page virtual guide features recipes for merchandise like Zen Berry Tea (frozen berries and rooibos tea with honey) and a Wake-Up Smoothie (frozen berries with chia seeds, honey, tofu, almond milk, and a banana).
Quick Start Nutrition Plan
The Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic Quick Start Nutrition Plan is a digital manual explaining the Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic program’s imperative tenets. Beneath the ‘foods that trade the entirety’ phase of the virtual guide, readers will understand the importance of eating eggs, beef, bird, fish, olive oil, quinoa, candy potatoes, coconut oil, and black beans meals. Overall, the 21-page virtual guide emphasizes the important steering you may discover on weight reduction fitness blogs online.
100 Fat Burning Recipes
a hundred Fat Burning Recipes is a weight reduction digital guide complete of 126-pages coaching extraordinary recipes. The digital guide features scrumptious alternatives like Vegetarian Lasagna, Fire-Roasted Beaverbrook Meatloaf, and Jalapeno Dijon Grilled Chicken, amongst other opportunities. All recipes are aligned with Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic nutritional beliefs.
Energy Boosting Smoothies
The Energy Boosting Smoothies digital guide explains more smoothie recipes to decorate your strength even as heeding the Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic software. The smoothies are similar to the CRP-targeting smoothies in Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic Drinks. Great smoothies encompass Green Protein Smoothie (with Greek yogurt, almond milk, cucumber, spirulina, peaches, spinach, and parsley) and the Pumpkin Oat Seed Smoothie (with oats, almond milk, yogurt, chia seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, and greater). The 25-web page virtual guide carries 20 perfect smoothies.
Why Do You Want Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic?
Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic is formulated with 100% herbal elements that could assist people get rid of excessive weight. Flat Belly Tonic comes inside the form of a powder; subsequently it may be eaten up easily with water or any protein shake. This weight reduction supplement begins running from the basic purpose, and it without delay attacks the excessive fats build-united states that result in quick weight loss. The important motive at the back of the success of Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic is its components. Here is a listing of major elements that make Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic and a powerful answer for weight reduction.
Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic Ingredients
Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic carries all the following ingredients and blends: Okinawa Flat Belly 3 Vitamins and Minerals Blend: Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic contains a number vitamins and minerals at a hundred% of your Daily Value (DV). Each scoop of Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic includes 100% DV of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, diet B6, folate, nutrition B12, biotin, pantothenic acid, and selenium. There’s additionally 167% DV of chromium. These nutrients and minerals are critical for average fitness and well-being and more than one physical capability. Polyphenol Blend: Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic incorporates a range of polyphenol-rich plant and fruit extracts. Most of every scoop (2,150mg of two,800mg total) consists of a polyphenol mixture. Key components in that mix encompass cherry, carrot, papaya, green mango, mulberry fruit, apple, beet root, cranberry, acai, and dozens of different fruit extracts. In all, the 25-factor antioxidant-rich polyphenol mixture in Flat Belly Tonic weight reduction drink powder is one of the exceptionally accessible given it is organically sourced. Metabolic Boosting Blend: Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic consists of 465mg of a metabolic boosting blend, which includes shilajit extract, ginger root, cinnamon bark extract, green tea extract, and turmeric, among other ingredients. Okinawa belly fat tonic ingredients, By now, all people know of the fitness circumstance generally known as metabolic slowdown, which is largely the slowed metabolic rate associated with growing old. The idea in the back of the Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic metabolic boosting combination is to spark off a manner called metabolic regeneration. Digestive Support Blend: Okinawa Flat Belly Tonic includes 100mg of a digestive assist blend. Like a digestion complement, this combination consists of a prebiotic (inulin) blended with probiotics (like Bacillus infantis and Bifidobacterium longum). Probiotics are beneficial gut microorganisms that help your frame soak up nutrients from food, at the same time as prebiotics feed and fuel those probiotic microorganisms. Okinawa belly fat tonic recipe, The frame's capability to assimilate, make use of and ultimately digest is a major characteristic of wholesome weight management. Read the full article
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foododdity · 1 year
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merlastagaxe · 1 year
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totallycharge · 2 years
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Whipped Cream Won't Whip: Why? The causes are as follows.
Is there whipped cream a better dessert accompanist? Whether it's a bowl of just-picked berries or a decadently excellent chocolate brownie, whipped cream, which is created from smart whip, is a versatile and flavorful ingredient. There is only one problem: most people's whipped cream does not whip properly, preventing them from providing their dinner table delicacy the ideal finish.
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his is due to a number of factors, many of which are fortunately easy to address. To make it easy for you to get the light, fluffy peaks that give whipped cream produced with SmartWhip cream chargers its delicious flavour; professionals have compiled them all into the list below. Stop worrying about whipped cream!
Your cream is not cold.
Using room temp cream, which is the main reason whipped cream doesn't thicken, is the fundamental sin of whipped creamery. Over ten degrees Celsius will cause the cream's fat to remain solid, making it incapable of hold the incoming air needed to form fluffy peaks.
·         Chill your cream for at minimum two hours before whipping it.
·         Avoid leaving at room temperature for an extended period of time.
·         Scream immediately!
·         Your bowl has not been cooled.
Even though it's frequently overlooked, freezing your bowl is just as important as chilling your cream.
The fat inside chilled cream quickly loses its ability to emulsify when it is placed in a warm or even room temperature container. Put the implement you'll be using to combine the cream in the refrigerator just to be safe.
·         Put the cream as well as the bowl in the fridge for a minimum of an hour.
·         For even better results, chill the other whisk or whipping utensil as well.
·         Don't spend any time after getting all of the products mentioned out of the refrigerator.
Either little or too much sugar was utilised.
While too much or too little sugar won't affect the cream's ability to whip or structural integrity, it can significantly change the flavour and make or break a meal.
Since whipped cream is frequently served with desserts which are already sugary, adding additional sugar or artificial sweetener should be avoided. On the other hand, using completely unsweetened whipped cream may produce an unappealing final product.
Conclusion
Once you've learned the process, whipping cream shouldn't be time-consuming or challenging; competent cream whippers can achieve best outcomes in under a minute.
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goldentournesol · 4 years
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Double Whammy
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(Spencer Reid x Reader)
The one where Reader gets a nasty cold and is on her period at the same time, so Spencer takes care of her.
Length: 2.6k
A/N: thank you for the request @itsmyblogandillreblogifiwantto​ ! I enjoyed writing this one, IT’S SO FLUFFY! 
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Sometimes, the stars align and something favorable happens. Other times, the stars want nothing to do with each other and every possible thing that less than favorable happens. Unfortunately, the latter had been Y/N’s case for the past two days. She’d been fighting off a nasty, terrible cold. She didn’t get sick often, but when she did, it felt like her body’s main goal was to punish her for not being careful enough rather than heal itself. Her bones ached and her nose was blocked in a way that made her feel as though she’d never breathe properly again. On top of all that, her uterus made sure to be as unforgiving as possible as the dreaded time of the month rolled around. She could barely keep her eyes open as her body fought through the exhaustion that came with the double-whammy.
It was around 4 in the afternoon and Y/N had barely left the bed at all. She wished for some type of relief from her cramps but it just wasn’t coming. Her migraine wasn’t helping her out either. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had any water to drink. 
“Hello?” She croaked into the phone with a heavy cough. It came as a surprise to her that she even managed to let out a single word, although it sounded more like ‘bellow’ than ‘hello’.
“Y/N! How are you feeling today, my love?” Spencer’s chipper voice boomed through the speaker. 
“Not much better to be honest.” She murmured into the phone which was laying on the pillow that Spencer slept on, barely able to keep her puffy eyes open.  He heard her blow her nose and she uttered a small apology, knowing that must not have been pleasant to hear over the phone. He felt his heart twist in his chest, knowing she was feeling so under the weather and not be able to make her feel better.
He was currently on a case somewhere in the deserts of California. She hadn’t caught the cold yet when he left. She knew that he would have stayed with her if she’d caught it before he left, which would have made her feel like the biggest burden there was and she also knew that her boyfriend wasn’t the type to take no for an answer.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. But, I have great news. We closed the case, I’m getting on the jet now. I should be home in no time.” He says softly and she can feel a small smile fighting its way onto her face.
“That’s great, Spence…” she trailed off, losing more energy by the second, “Get home safe, love you.” 
“Love you more.” Spencer hung up and felt his shoulders drop in defeat before making his way back to his team as they climbed onto the jet. The guilt he felt for leaving her alone was overwhelming. He should be there for her, making her feel better. He knew she hated asking for help, but he couldn’t help but wonder if she’d taken care of herself at all. He guessed he’d find out soon enough.
It felt wrong walking in and finding their apartment void of any light or sound. Usually, there was some sort of noise or light coming from either a TV or a phone. He quietly made his way over to the bedroom and heard her snores. He sighed in relief, knowing she was at least resting. Spencer made his way over to the kitchen and figured she must have been starving. There was no evidence of any food or drink anywhere. He wondered when the last time she ingested something was. 
He made a quick call to Rossi, unsure of his cooking skills. He checked the fridge and pantry for the necessary ingredients and attempted to make chicken noodle soup with whatever they had available. He yawned as he cut up the vegetables, but quickly fought the sleep to continue cooking. He heard her soft snores stop and he peeked his head into the dark room again.
“Spence?” She managed to say softly, the thick covers muffling her voice. 
“Hey, sweetheart. I’m here.” He smiled as he approached their bed and turned on the lamp by their bedside. She winced at the sudden brightness and he quickly tried to block the light with his body to provide her eyes with some relief. 
“How are you feeling?” He asked softly as he took a seat at the edge of the bed. He took in her puffy eyes and red nose and wondered how she could still look so cute. Her bottom lip jutted out slightly and shook her head.
“I feel like absolute shit.” She mumbled and his heart dropped in his chest.
“Have you had anything to eat...or drink?” He bit his lip, already knowing the answer. She shook her head again softly, almost guilty. 
“Alright, I’m making you some soup. I think a hot shower will make you feel a lot better, Y/N/N. Come on, out of bed.” he tried to coax her with his hands. She only peered back at him over the duvet with tired eyes and small hands that wrapped around the edge of the duvet, Spencer found himself reveling in her adorable appearance and feeling bad about ruining her comfort, but he knew she probably stayed in bed all day. Spencer raised his eyebrows at her when she didn’t move. He smiled with relief when she didn’t fight him as he gently pulled back the covers from over her. 
“Come here, baby.” He motioned for her to come closer into his embrace. She slowly wrapped her arms around him and he lifted her out of bed, her legs locking behind his waist. He heard her sniffle into his neck as he carried her to the bathroom, he didn’t know whether she was crying or if it was just from the cold. He was too good to her, she didn’t know what she did to deserve such a compassionate partner, but she thanked the universe for allowing her to have him. Perhaps a tear or two managed to slip out of her eyes and into Spencer’s hair. Spencer turned his head slightly to press a kiss to her temple, murmuring into her hair, “I’ve got you, sweetheart.” He set her down as gently as he could and began to run the hot water.
“Okay, this should be perfect for decongesting your nasal pathways and loosening up the phlegm--” he stopped himself, knowing her head was probably pounding, “The soup should be ready by the time you finish your shower. If you need anything, I’ll be right outside.” He squeezed her shoulders and she sent him a tearful smile. 
As he closed the bathroom door, he took notice of a red patch of blood on the bed sheet on the mattress. He hastily checked his phone for the date and realized that her monthly visitor would be in fact--visiting. Spencer’s heart wrenched yet again as he could only imagine how horrible she really felt at the moment. He didn’t hesitate to change the sheets and clean the mattress of any remnants before neatly restoring order to the bed. He wanted to make sure she was taken care of, especially since he’d been away for so long. 
Somehow, he’d lost track of the pot that was currently boiling over the stove. He rushed to it, thankfully catching the pot right before it overflowed. He brought a spoon up to his lips and immediately winced at the lack of flavor. Spencer added some salt and continued to stir as he heard soft footsteps behind him. Y/N hugged his waist from behind silently and smushed her face against his back. Spencer smiled widely as he took the soup off the heat and swiveled around to wrap his arms around her. She noticed that he’d changed the sheets and made the bed and she honestly thought she was about to cry again.
“I missed you.” She mumbled into his shirt. Spencer kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back.
“I missed you way more. I’m so sorry for being away while you’ve been--” He began to apologize but was interrupted by her frantically shaking her head.
“No, no, no. Don’t apologize. I’m just glad you’re back.” The words barely made it past her lips, her voice hoarse. She lifted her head from his chest to gaze at him and they both adoringly stared at each other for a bit too long. He reluctantly pulled away from the embrace to ladle some soup into a bowl while it was still hot. He made himself a bowl as well since he hadn’t had any dinner. She sighed heavily as she sat at the kitchen table.
“What’s wrong?” Spencer asked, setting the two bowls down.
“I...I don’t feel like eating.” She pouted again, Spencer knew this was the cold talking. 
“I don’t think you want to hear me list the benefits of soup when you have a cold.” Spencer teased, even though he knew she loved his info-dumps. She rolled her eyes playfully, smiling at him. “Besides, you haven’t eaten or drank anything in...judging by the color of your tongue and lips, around 16 hours. You need something in your system so you can take some medication to make you feel better, sweetheart.” He said as he hungrily spooned soup into his mouth. It really wasn’t that good, but it’d do the job.
She nodded, giving in and taking her first spoonful of soup. She giggled right after it.
“I know it’s not that good.” Spencer laughed.
“I didn’t say that!” She laughed back at him. She was happy to finally get out of the rut she was in and who would be able to do that better than Spencer? “Honestly, Spencer, it’s pretty good.”
“If you say so.” He grinned and took her hand over the table. They sipped their soup in a comfortable silence and she even got up to ladle a second helping of soup. It was the first thing she’d eaten in a while and her stomach appreciated the warmth.
“Do you need me to get you anything from the store?” he asked later as he put both their dishes away. He brought her some medicine for her cold and a cup of water, motioning for her to take them. He also made sure to make her some chamomile tea to help ease the cramps.
She nodded sheepishly, taking the medicine, “Chocolate.”
He laughed, fully expecting the response. “Alright, how about you set up a movie and drink your tea? I won’t take long.” He pressed a firm kiss to her forehead and walked towards the door.
“Spencer!” She called after him, sniffling again and wiping at her nose.
“Yeah?” He called back, slipping on his shoes.
“I also need pads!” She reminded him and he laughed.
“Okay, anything else?”
“Yes! I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He grinned as he made his way to the store.
She grabbed her cup of tea and plopped down onto the couch, setting up a movie that wouldn’t agitate her headache. As Spencer promised, he was back quickly. He changed into something comfortable and made his way over to the couch with her chocolate in his hand. She smiled gratefully as she unwrapped it and devoured half of it. Spencer could only watch with adoration.
“How is it?” he asked, watching her lick the corner of her lips, trying to get all the chocolate she possibly could.
“It’s the best thing I’ve had all day, Spence.” She threw herself in his arms, her head resting soundly on his chest, “Besides this, of course.” Spencer smiled as wide as he could as he rubbed her back. She pulled her head off his chest to stare at him in wonder.
“I will never get over how lucky I am to have you.” She whispered softly and Spencer resisted the tears threatening to rise in his eyes. He just sent her a watery smile and shook his head in disbelief, not trusting his words. He had no idea where he would even begin to describe how lucky he felt to have her. She placed a soft hand on the side of his neck to pull his cheek closer to kiss it, she would have kissed his lips but she didn’t want him to get sick. Her fingers threaded through his hair as she admired him. At this point, the movie was long forgotten, she wasn’t even sure she wanted to watch it.
“Hm, it’s getting long.” She twirled a piece around her fingers. Spencer nodded as he stared back at her.
“Do you...want to braid it?” He asked tentatively, instantly noticing how her face beamed at the idea. She’d always asked him if she could braid it for him but he always refused. But looking at her now, he’d let her do anything she wanted, especially if it meant making her feel better.
“Really?! You mean it? You’re not just offering because you pity me?” She squeaked excitedly.
“Well...that’s only part of it.” He laughed and rolled his eyes. She gasped and got up to walk to their bedroom to get a comb and some hair ties. This was the most energized she’d been since Spencer had seen her and he wasn’t about to deny that seeing her excited made it worth whatever was about to happen.
“Okay, you’re gonna have to sit on the floor. You’re too tall for me.” She said as she took her seat on the couch. Spencer moved to the floor and sat down between her legs. Her fingers threaded through his mop of curls and he instantly relaxed at her touch. She began to gently comb through his tangles, careful not to hurt him. He really didn’t mind, it brought him inexplicable peace, especially after a long day.
“Are you gonna fall asleep on me now?” She teased as she noticed his closed eyes and the way his head felt heavier against her hands.
“Mmm, I might.” He hummed.
She giggled and separated his hair into four sections, French braiding each one. It was nice to have a distraction. The only thing keeping Spencer’s head propped up was her knee and she thought he genuinely fell asleep until he felt the absence of her fingers in his hair.
“Are you done?” He asked quietly, his hand coming up to feel the braids. He took it as a yes when she didn’t smack his hand away. “Y/N, they feel so cool. I have to see.” He got up from his spot with a grunt and went into the bathroom to check himself out.
“I don’t think it suits me.” He laughed, unconvinced at his appearance. He brushed his teeth while he was at it. She laughed and shook her head in response, getting ready for bed as well.
“I personally think you look great! You should sleep with them in and we can see what your hair will look like in the morning.” She tried to reason with him, she just really didn’t want him to take them out so soon. He shook his head at her once again and turned the TV off with a huge yawn.
“Come on, Spence, let’s get in bed.” She grabbed his hand and took him to the bed. They instinctively wrapped their arms around one another.
Spencer whispered in her ear, “Are you feeling any better, sweetheart?”
She nodded against him, “Thank you, Spencer. I love you so much.” He smiled.
“I love you, more. Goodnight, Y/N.” She was already out like a light before she could respond.
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gameonoverdogcom · 2 years
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canyouhearthelight · 3 years
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The Miys, Ch. 144
After much demand, Kink Night at the Undine has arrived. This chapter is really fun, was informative to write, but if you need to skip it, you won’t miss out on the overall story. So, trigger warnings on this chapter for:
- Bondage (mentions of)
- Pegging (possible mention of?)
- Impact play (discussed, both done wrongly and demonstrated correctly)
- Topping and bottoming
To be clear: These are all mentioned from the perspective of a non-participant, non-voyeur. I would probably overall rate this chapter appropriate for 14 years and older, but your mileage may vary. However, kink in general can be very healthy if done correctly, and this chapter was double beta-read, not only by @baelpenrose but also by @charlylimph-blog for accuracy of the scene.  This actually prevented a PROFOUND mistake from making it to queueing, so I am super grateful for their help.
Once I was released from medical after an unnecessarily long lecture from Noah, I found I had a message waiting from Charly with a date and time to meet at the Undine.  Right below that was a message from Sebastian with a uniform-slash-dresscode of sorts.
Aw nuggets. I had forgotten what night it was. 
There wasn’t time to grab clothes from my quarters, but my office was on the way to the bar, so I stopped by to change.  Socks and shoes were a bit of a challenge, since I generally didn’t wear either, so I had to find a vendor to help me fill in the gaps.  Granted, shoes weren’t specified in Sebastian’s list.  However, there was exactly a zero percent chance that I was going to lend a hand at a kink party while barefoot. Just… no. Nope. Not happening.
I wiped my palms nervously against my slacks when I arrived, not sure exactly what to expect.  Charly and I had talked about it, but none of that knowledge wanted to make its presence known at the moment, apparently.  Instead, my mind kept drifting to what in the actual hell she had roped Arthur into doing.  The door opened entirely too soon to reveal a smiling Charly, who grabbed my arm and dragged me behind her to the small group already gathered.
All of my nerves were forced from my body by the sputtering laughter I fell victim to when I saw Arthur - I still had no idea what he would be doing, but he looked like someone took a post-apocalyptic movie hero and hit a button labelled ‘make him a villain’ a few too many times.  The leather jacket and motorcycle pants were fairly innocuous, since I knew he actually owned both and neither were terribly uncommon on the Ark.  Same thing held for the boots - they were just practical in the After and several people held on to that preference with a death grip.
“Cloak’s a nice touch,” I snorted, trying desperately to ignore the campier bits of his outfit.
I was dangerously close to losing it when he scowled and adjusted the laurel crown - I mean, really? - resting on his head. “I knew I shouldn’t have cut my hair this morning,” he muttered. “Damned thing won’t sit right anymore.”
Charly clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Okay, one more run through of what everyone will be doing!”
Sebastian nodded seriously and flicked a towel over his shoulder before handing me an apron. “Sophia has kindly agreed to prep the snacks, while I serve and clean behind people. She’ll clear any dishes in between batches, and one or the other of us will do a lap of the floor every fifteen minutes to ensure everyone is hydrated and there’s no need for medical attention.” He winked at the relief on my face.
Cooking, clearing plates, and momming people into staying hydrated. I could do that.
Arthur brushed off his pauldrons, only forcing me to confront the fact that they were shaped like skulls again, before straightening with aplomb. “I will be Dungeon Master, keeping an eye on everything from there,” he pointed to a scaffold that had been put into place over the bartop, “And intervening as needed if things get out of hand.” Without so much as a twitch of question from me, he explained. “Charly and Coffey can’t be everywhere at once, so I get to perch on high, look ridiculous, and play bouncer if Coffey can’t get there first.”
“Yep,” Charly nodded seriously. For all that she normally seemed built out of chaos and energy, this was Boss Lady Charly. “Let’s keep it safe, sane, and consensual across the board. Speaking of!” She pulled two badges from seemingly nowhere. “Soph, Bash, these are for you.” I took one and immediately grinned when I read it. Staff Only - I Do Not Consent. “If either of you want to play, go for it, but otherwise, probably wear those.  Sexy librarian and millionaire CEO are tropes that exist, so ya know - no confusion for anyone.  Any questions, concerns, cries for help?” When we all shook our heads, she clapped again. “Okay, off you go! Thanks everyone.”
Sebastian tilted his head toward the kitchen and I followed, wiping my hands on my legs again. “Thank you for agreeing to help with snacks.  I know Charly already told you, but I am not the greatest at finger foods that don’t make a mess or won’t be too heavy.”
I hummed for a second before making a few suggestions. “Macaroni and cheese bites, they’re about this big.” I made a circle about an inch and a half across with my fingers. “Just pop and go. Pigs in blankets, the kind with cocktail sausages… meatballs, but probably with lamb instead of beef.  Dumplings.” I shrugged. “Charly swears people actually bring food to these, so once that stuff starts coming in, it would just be portioning it and sending it back out.  We shouldn’t have too much actual cooking to do.”
He nodded and started grabbing ingredients. “So that leaves drinks, plates, and utensils.” When I reached for a rack of glasses, he stopped me. “No.  If one of us drops anything that can break, people can get injured.  I’ve been stocking up on fiber-based plates, forks, and spoons.  Drinks are going to be in those corn-starch gel pouches.”
“Dude,” I groaned. “Those things get so gummy.”
“Straws are real and do exist.”
“Besides, I can already tell someone is going to find alternative uses for those,” Arthur called from behind us. I swear, I could hear him smirking. “You can’t put humans, sex, and flavored liquid in the same room and not expect that.”
I shook my head with a smile, but he had a point. Once we shooed him away, work on the snacks went pretty quick.  Judging by the sounds coming from the main room, it was a good thing, too - furniture being dragged, then Arthur’s voice ringing out to welcome everyone.  Soon, Sebastian was swinging out of the kitchen door with the first trays, and true to Charly’s word, he came back carrying a plate of neatly stacked fudge, followed by Arthur carrying a covered container.
“Scratch the meatballs, someone brought an actual mountain of sausage balls,” Arthur grunted as he slammed the container on a flat surface before retreating.
“Not even a joke?” I mused.
“Must be slipping,” Sebastian grinned. “I mean, he said ‘balls’ twice…”
“Low hanging fruit!” a voice called from the main room.  It must have seemed entirely out of context to the crowd, but Sebastian and I were laughing as we started plating so he could carry more food out to the spots Charly had designated.
A timer went off, so I took the mac and cheese bites out of the oven, snagged a tray of drink-blobs, shoved a fistful of straws into my apron and took off to do my lap of the event.  There were already people taking a break, reaching gratefully for hydration.  Several times, someone would reach for one and pour it in a partner’s  mouth, and on one occasion, a woman offered it up like a gift to a bound man, both biting into it and drinking greedily.
I almost stepped on someone before I realized there was an actual pile of people on the floor. I diverted my eyes quickly from what I thought was an all-out orgy before my brain registered that I wasn’t hearing sex noises - just whispers.  Snapping my eyes back up, it took a moment to figure out that I had nearly stepped on the largest cuddle pile I had seen since my apartment on Insert Winter Holiday.  Crouching, I balanced what was left of the drink blobs on one hand while holding out the straws with another.  In no time at all, the tray was empty and I was heading back for more.
This time, food on one hand, drinks on the other, I exited the kitchen to see Charly wrapping up her rope-bondage safety lecture before starting to demonstrate different knots on a volunteer, with Charly in the role of the top for this scenario. Watching her calmly contort and restrain another human being while calmly explaining the psychology behind it was… kind of terrifying.  I had to constantly remind myself that this person volunteered and that Charly was experienced on both ends of the rope.  
One more sweep of the room landed me with only a dozen or so drinks left on top of a pile of empty trays.  I backed into the kitchen to sanitize and re-load the trays, only to hear Sebastian swearing. “Who the hell brought chili!?”
“Apparently someone thought it was a good idea,” I shrugged, baffled. I mean, it didn’t seem like a good idea to me, but this wasn’t exactly my area of expertise.  “Maybe we put it in bowls, set up a little station in one of the break areas, with toppings? Let people help themselves?”
“Bondage potlucks and chili…” He shook his head. “Trying to remind myself that I’ve seen weirder things, but…”
“I can promise you, they are having fun. And they’re hydrated!” I shook my mostly empty platter of blobs at him.
Sebastian went out to retrieve more food from the people who brought it, and I kept rolling sausages in dough.  “More fudge!” he crowed. “I snagged a piece of the first batch, and it was amazing.”
“You clearly do not see the irony,” I muttered where he couldn’t hear me. “Oh, heavens, no chili! But fudge… fudge is fine…”
The next time I was able to break free and take my designated lap, a slight bit more chaos had descended as everyone had gotten more comfortable.  Several of the more experienced were examining and complimenting each other on their knots and arrangements of their subs. Ivan and Jokul were doing…. Something… that involved Ivan in a gorgeous evening gown and Jokul with a gag in his mouth.  I was almost done with my circuit when a thud reverberated behind me and a black cloak whipped by.
“For the love of…” Arthur growled. I thought he was going to dribble the cowering man he was glaring at like a basketball, but instead he brandished a marker and made two quick X’s on a bare pair of buttocks. “Here and here. Only here and here.” With an irritated flourish, he wrote NOT HERE across the small of the attached back. “This will give someone kidney damage.  Specifically you if I catch you doing it again.” Ducking around to the face of the person he had just used as a whiteboard, he shook his finger. “And I’m not even going to apologize, because you have a safeword and you need to use it. First, last, and only warning, you two. If that hit had been any more than a nervous first tap, you wouldn’t even be getting that.”  Without a word, he snagged the cane sitting on the table nearby and took it with him. “They aren’t getting anywhere near the cane, fucking idiots. Gotta talk to Charly about those two…” he muttered as he blew back past me, so angry he didn’t even acknowledge that I was standing there.
I almost dropped the stack of empty platters when the Imperial March started playing while Arthur stomped back into his position over the bar. “Attention, Deviants!  Courtesy of some poor practices I’ve seen, I would like to invite Sir Coffey and his pet fae Charly to give us a tutorial on safe and proper impact play!”  Applause started as he beckoned them forward, Sebastian theatrically adjusting the lights to center in front of the stage.
I ducked back into the kitchen as Coffey’s voice rang out over the crowd, explaining yet again safewords and consent before launching into what toys were used how and where.  A little public humiliation never hurt anyone, I joked with myself. At least not for some of the people out there.
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thiscastielhasflown · 3 years
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day three of day two of j&kcreatorfest (with @expectingtofly)— prompts: movie night or baking dean just wants to watch brokeback mountain in peace and cas is there to enjoy the emotional roller coaster ride. (2.1k) [does contain spoilers of the movie's plot, you have been warned]
"Okay choose — Midnight Cowboy or Brokeback Mountain?"
Cas looks directly at Dean who is standing in front of him holding two DVDs and smiling wide with eagerness. To celebrate and commemorate their first Pride Month official out together, both collectively decided to watch a different LGBTQ+ themed movie every night during June (if at all possible).
Rather than the Winchester/Leahy family's normal Tuesday night movie routine, Sam and Eileen were more than willing to change up their usual viewing schedule — even helping to prepare and order movies unavailable to be streamed. But sadly this night coincided with their short weekend getaway trip up to Donna's cabin for a needed change in scenery from the bleak walls of the bunker. No matter how good the movie choice was going to be for those nights, nothing compares to either couple getting some alone time together.
Cas and Dean are left alone to watch a movie in the newly renovated 'Dean Cave' — now including a larger sectional couch (to fit everyone more comfortably), an LED monogrammed neon light of Dean's nickname from Cas, 'Titan', along with new pictures hung up from a recent family photoshoot, and a new stereo sound system all set up by Dean earlier that day.
While Dean was busy with that, Cas was in the kitchen trying out a homemade sourdough pretzel dough recipe — made with his own fermented starter — along with a batch of double-chocolate chunk brownies with lines of caramel crisscrossing across the top as their movie viewing snack for the night.
"I thought we were watching the Trixie Mattel documentary."
"I know we agreed on that, but I'm more into a gay cowboy sort of mood tonight. You feel me?"
Cas blinks, "I haven't felt you yet."
"Cas, it's a figure of speech. Stay on track. Which one do you want to watch?"
"Isn't Trixie a gay Western icon as anyway?"
Dean hesitates, "Well, I would say not exactly. Maybe because of her music style and love for Dolly—"
"Parton, we've listened to her music before," Cas interrupts.
Dean smiles, "Yes we have. We've listened to Trixie too. So I guess it depends on who you ask if they’d categorize her as a modern gay Western icon in the drag business. We're sidetracked, please just pick one."
"Okay, sorry. How about the one with the happier ending."
Dean pauses to think, "I don't think either end up happy."
"Then the one where someone doesn't die."
Dean pauses again, "I...do believe someone dies in both of them."
"Then what are the differences?"
"To be honest, there really aren't that many," Dean laughs it off, "They both take place within the same 1960s setting, even though Brokeback was made in 2004. There are two main male characters in both, who aren't close in the beginning but end up so by the end. Um. The biggest difference is that Brokeback actually takes place in Western-type locations, where Midnight Cowboy setting is in New York. Is any of this helping in your decision process?"
"To be honest, not really," Cas stands up from the couch and adjusts his shirt, "Well, you go ahead and make the final decision, okay? Let me go grab the pretzels and brownies from the kitchen while you get it set up. Want a beer?"
"Yes, please. Can you bring extra cheese sauce too?" Dean answers.
"Of course, nacho or cheddar?"
A sparkle glazes over Dean's eyes as he looks at Cas, a smirk making its way across his lips, "How about both?"
"Sure can," Cas leans in to give Dean a kiss on the cheek, brushing his hand up against the other man's shoulder, "Be right back."
Dean watches Cas walk out of the room with a smug look on his face, admiring his love before bending down in front of the TV console and turning on the DVD player to give it time to boot up. He looks back and forth between either movie case, still unable to pick one over the other. Sighing, he ends up picking Brokeback Mountain, knowing deep down that Cas would most likely end up enjoy watching it more.
As he stands back up holding the DVD player remote in his hand, he hears the sound of Cas walking down in the hallway near the mancave’s door. They've been together so long at this point, but even the slightest presence of Cas will still make a butterfly giddiness erupt inside of Dean.
"Right on time as always," Dean puts down the remote after pushing 'play', grabbing the plate and beer held out to him by Cas.
He holds it up to his nose and breathes in the mingling smells of delicious food, "You really outdid yourself on this one."
Cas blushes from the compliment before pulling his own plate closer to him, breaking off a piece of the brownie and slipping it into his mouth, "Glad to know you approve."
Dean winks and takes a bite of his own, letting out a tiny moan of satisfaction from the taste, "Did you put sea salt in this?"
"I'm surprised you noticed, it was one of my secret ingredients I added in. Thought it would go well with the caramel."
"Your intuition was right, this is delicious," Dean takes another large bite and lets the flavors melt over his tongue.
At this point in the movie, Jack and Ennis sit at the bar drinking together, getting the chance to have the last bit of freedom before heading up to the mountain to work. This reminds Dean of the many times he's shared a drink with Cas before they assumed the worst would happen, losing each other. Yet those moments have now become ones he'll never forget.
The soft touch of a hand against his face pulls Dean's eyeline from the movie, Cas reeling him into a deep kiss, their lips melding into each other creating a familiar yet comfortable feeling.
Before letting anything escalate Dean pulls back and faces his head back towards the TV, reaching up to wipe off his bottom lip softly, "Watch the movie, you're going to miss a good part."
Cas pulls away and pouts, giving him one last peck on the neck before returning fully to the boundaries of his seat.
Dean turns his head back again to Cas and reaches out for his hand, weaving their fingers together, "Hey don't do that, all I wanna do is watch the movie. We can do plenty of that later."
"Fine, fine," Cas mocks, grabbing a piece of the soft pretzel and dips it in the cheese, shoving it in his mouth with a hint of annoyance.
They manage to in silence to watch the movie a little longer before Cas speaks up again, "So...what exactly is going on?"
Dean clears his throat, "Well, Jack and Ennis got their orders to go up to the mountain to go work with the sheep and they're still trying to get used to each other. Testing out the ropes, trying to work together as a team."
"Are you sure they fall in love? They definitely don't very seem into each other at the moment."
Dean takes a sip of his beer, "Love happens in mysterious ways Cas, just like us. It is never as easy as we think, especially when two people don't really get along, to begin with."
"We got along just fine, what are you talking about?"
The only thing Dean does when he hears Cas make that statement is laugh, downing another large gulp of his beer.
Cas tilts his head, "Why are you laughing?"
"Your memory must be skewed now that you're human. Don't you remember threatening my life multiple times? Trust me, you and Uriel were a couple of dicks for the majority of that early time."
"I've changed a lot since then."
Dean smiles and squeezes Cas' hand, "We've both changed a lot. Us, being here like this, is the ending we both deserve. For them, it was much harder of a situation. Their free will isn't as fluid as the ones we take for granted."
"You're not telling me—" Cas sits back with wide eyes, trying to formulate the future plot points in his head.
"I'm not going to spoil anything from the movie, you're going to have to watch it yourself to find out yourself," Dean mimics zipping his lips and turning a key to lock it, "My lips are sealed.”
A sudden vibration erupts from Dean's back, shoving his hand into it and pulling out his phone to see Sam's picture contact picture lit up (from a drunken Halloween night dressed up in a Chewbacca costume, minus the head, with a herbal cigarette dangling between his lips), swiping to answer, "Hey Sammy, what's going on?"
"Hey-uh-hi, are you busy right now?" Sam asks in a mildly frantic tone of voice over the phone.
"Well—" Dean signals to Cas to pause the movie, "It is movie night like you know, but I can talk. Everything going okay?"
"No, yeah, everything is fine. Do you know how to treat a spider bite?"
Dean coughs slightly in surprise, "Are you telling me you already managed to get a spider bite?"
Cas, overhearing the conversation holds a hand up to his mouth to help suppress the giggling he's unable to prevent himself from doing.
"Yeah, um, neither Eileen and I can remember if it's supposed to be a cold or warm compress."
Dean shakes his head and lets out a chuckle, "Did you just drunkenly call me, to ask me, how to treat a spider bite less than 24 hours after leaving here?"
"Yes Dean, do you have the answer or not?"
"Go get some ice and makeshift ice pack. For the swelling. Any other questions?"
Sam pauses not answering right away, Dean hears the sound of rustling and clanking of ice in the background, "No that should be it. Thank you."
"Yep, you're welcome. Bye," Dean hangs up before Sam can say anything else.
"I'm sorry for all of the distractions tonight Dean, I really am. I know how much you wanted to watch this movie," Cas puts a hand on his shoulder, slightly massaging at the tense muscle underneath Dean's favorite Led Zeppelin shirt.
"It's fine Cas, we can stop the movie if you want. Maybe pick it back up tomorrow?"
"Why can't we continue watching it? If we have to pause again, then we pause again. Anyway, you have me interested in learning what will happen.”
“Alright, we’ll continue.”
Thankfully, no one else bothers them for the rest of the movie. Even when Cas was confused in certain sections, he reminded quiet and attentively watched, quickly becoming attached to the characters and the blossoming (and losing) love between them. When the credits begin to roll, Dean looks over to see Cas crying, tears streaming down his face, and biting on his bottom lip to possibly contain his emotions.
"Cas, what's wrong?"
"The jacket...Jack was the one who took the jacket that Ennis thought he forget on the mountain. He took it and kept it for all those years. And now...with Jack gone..." Cas leans in towards Dean, who wraps his arms around his shoulder in comfort, pressing little kisses on the top of his head. He lets Cas cry, holding onto him tight.
When Cas feels ready enough to pull away, Dean reaches up to wipe the tears from his cheeks, "What’s wrong Cas?"
"It just reminds me of us. When you kept my coat, the symbolism of keeping an article of clothing when your loved one is gone. In this case—" Cas sucks in a deep breath, bottom lip quivering, "Ennis lost Jack, his soulmate. But no matter how many times you've lost me, I've always come back. I wish that could have been the same for them."
"Oh, babe..." Dean pulls Cas into a kiss, strong and supportive, "They got to share their love while they could, and even though things could have been different, that was the ending destined for the."
"Why couldn’t they have ended up together?"
"Just how their cards were played, nothing we can change about it.”
Cas sighs, rubbing away his remaining leftover tears, "This really is a goddamn bitch of a unsatisfactory situation."
Dean can't help himself from laugh out of happiness, "That was a pretty good usage of that phrase, glad to know you picked up on it."
"Oh, it's going to be my go-to now, along with 'I wish I knew how to quit you’."
"Sounds to me like you liked the movie. Well, I do have an idea," Dean stands up from the couch and reaches for Cas' hand, pulling him up to a standing position, "How about we go start something? Sound good to you?"
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thumbgarden · 3 years
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How to grow thyme in a pot: secret for growing on a windowsill
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Thyme is widely used in culinary, medical, and cosmetic applications. It is rapidly gaining popularity among housewives due to its aroma, unusual flavor, and useful properties. To grow thyme in how to grow thyme in a pot, it must be planted correctly, providing the necessary light, optimum temperature, and humidity.
WHY IS THYME SO POPULAR? Thyme is valued not only for its beautiful appearance and fragrant aroma but also for its excellent medicinal properties. In folk medicine. Thyme tea is fragrant and rich in useful vitamins, active ingredients that soothe the nervous system, eliminate pain, cope with colds, and many other diseases. From its leaves and flowers make decoctions, infusions, essential oils. Dried thyme herbs are added to pillows for a deeper and healthier sleep. In the old days, thyme was used to fumigate rooms to get rid of germs and pests.
BENEFITS OF THYME AND ITS USES Thyme is often referred to as the herb of witches and Vedas. The ancient Slavs revered thyme as a sacred plant. In pagan rituals, it was used to burn on bonfires to attract the mercy of the gods. In pagan rituals, thyme was used to burn on bonfires to attract the favor of the gods. Thyme is a wonderful herb with a pleasant flavor and many beneficial effects. In addition, this herb has some decorative properties, which is an added bonus when cultivated in living room conditions. Using thyme in the home can be done in the following cases. Use thyme for cooking and add it in moderation due to its strong natural flavor.
THYME: WHICH VARIETY IS POPULAR TO GROW? Although there are more than 300 varieties of this plant, only four species are grown in garden plots. Its medicinal and decorative properties are the most obvious. Marshall's thyme. Used to treat eye diseases. Thyme creeper. Planting and post-care are useful for treating cold and cough, stomach aches, and promoting digestion. Common thyme. This variety has been specially bred. It is used to treat runny nose, colds, gastritis, and pancreatitis. Thyme tea is a good antiseptic. Plant this thyme in flower beds and decorate the site. Thyme Lemon. The leaves are greenish-yellow in color and the plant has a pleasant lemon smell. Feel free to choose one of them!
GATHERING THYME Collect the herb if you want to dry it for future introduction into a spice mixture or save it for a decoction, just in case. Take only the flowering plants. Slant the stem and cut it with a sharp knife. By breaking off the branches, irreparable damage is done to the entire bush. Harvesting thyme during flowering Thyme should be dried according to general regulations, spread on a sack or gauze, and placed in a cool place. The herbs can also be hung in bunches in the attic to dry in the sun.
HOW TO GROW THYME?
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Growing thyme in the open ground does not require superb effort or the application of special knowledge. Thyme perfectly tolerates the conditions of non-droughty summers and snowy winters. For fast growth and development, abundant flowering requires a lot of water, so the climate of the Moscow region creates the best conditions for him. Bred from wild varieties, thyme grows well on any soil except acidic clay. Strong frosts do not scare this plant either. If thyme is planted in a warm, sunny spot in a garden plot, it will grow healthily and quickly. To prevent the stem from rotting during the off-season when it is over-watered, cover the soil next to the stem with small pebbles or gravel for drainage. Thyme looks great as a decorative element for garden paths. Planting it at the edge of a pathway gives it a cultivated look. This plant is also suitable for rose gardens and alpine landscaping and is a good decoration for ponds. And if planted near a house, you can not only get aesthetic pleasure looking at its intricate inflorescence but also breathe in the scent of flowers in the early morning and evening. Planting different species of thyme in flower beds can enhance the decorative effect.
HOW IS THIS PLANT PROPAGATED? Thyme can be grown in three ways. 1. Thyme seeds are planted in early spring. You can plant this plant in the late fall. In this case, sow the seeds before the onset of frost to prevent them from freezing. First make sure that the soil is prepared: dig it, loosen it, and remove weeds and other plant roots. Then apply compost. Instead, you can add well-rotted manure and mineral fertilizer, urea, all mixed with the soil. 2. Now the seeds can be sown. After sowing, cover the seeds with soil, water them and additionally cover the bed with coarse sand. This will prevent water from being trapped in the area where the seedlings are growing. 3. When the plants have grown a little, the seedlings should be thinned slightly to make them stronger, healthier, and more viable.
PLANTING SEEDLINGS A thyme seedling can be planted in a vacant lot. To do this, sow the seeds in a special container and cover them with the film. Wait until they will germinate and sprout. After about a month, transfer the grown plants to the open air to acclimatize and harden them. If after 14 days the plants continue to grow actively and look healthy and neat, they are transplanted to a permanent open ground, the soil is dug beforehand and enriched with fertilizer and trace elements.
PLANT PLANTS WITH WELL-DEVELOPED ROOTSTOCKS Thyme can be purchased from amateur gardeners at the market or in stores. It is important to note that when buying rhizomes with open roots, pay attention to the condition of the roots, stems, and leaves. It is necessary to buy only healthy plants. If in doubt, it is best to refuse the purchase immediately. The roots must be well developed. However, even a weak root system can be improved, and when the roots go into growth, new roots will appear from the stem of the plant. The main thing is that there is no decay or insect damage on it. The plant should be robust, with a sturdy stem and dense, glossy, elastic leaves. A slightly wilted plant should not be purchased. It may wither over time or it may wilt completely. Growing thyme with a closed root system and buying it in a special place will not cause difficulties. The plant should be carefully removed from the container, checked for decay, cleaned and righted if necessary, and then planted in prepared soil. Water and cover near the stem for drainage.
HOW TO CHOOSE A PLANTING LOCATION? Thyme is best planted in a southern, sunny part of the garden. If you plant it in the shade, its bushes will look loose, the leaves will be small and the stems will stretch. It will be more difficult to accumulate the ideal concentration of substances and essential oils useful for him. An approximately pleasant aroma is impossible. The plant simply cannot produce a strong odor. Thyme, which grows on the warm, sunny side, takes the form of a small, dense shrub. If its leaves and branches are cut regularly, it grows wider. With proper care, thyme grass can take on a bulbous shape in the fall. This plant will look especially good in a flower bed and can be used as a decoration for any flower garden.
COLLECTION AND STORAGE The edible and medicinal thyme herbs are harvested twice during the growing season. in June, the flowers and herbs contain the most flavorful and medicinal substances. The second cutting of the green mass is planned for the end of August. The harvest of the herbs is commemorated especially on Church feasts such as Pentecost and the Assumption. There is a popular belief that these harvests multiply the positive effects of the herbs.
Thyme has a weak root system with shallow roots that do not tolerate hand harvesting. The only proper way to harvest these aromatic herbs is to cut them.
Bale the raw material to dry and hang it in a dry place, out of direct sunlight. A small amount of thyme can be dried in a thin layer at home or in a place protected from the sun and rain. Drying is crucial. Thyme is stored by grinding or milling the thyme and removing the stem. Ready to use, the powder is poured into an airtight container such as a coffee can. The container should be kept in a dark place, such as a kitchen cupboard. Tight-fitting paper and canvas bags are suitable for dried herbs, but they will lose the fragrance of the essential oil. The properties of the plant can be preserved for up to two years. Cultivation of thyme is justified in several cases: for cooking, for decorating and flavoring the garden, for medicinal purposes. The unpretentious culture can grow in harsh conditions unsuitable for other plants. Thyme is easy to grow due to its resistance to changes in weather conditions and adaptability. With proper care, the plant grows rapidly and has an abundant and prolonged flowering period.
CARE OF THYME The care of thyme is not at all tedious.
1. Watering A plant can go for a long time without water. However, it should still be watered in the dry summer months.
2. Fertilization In the spring, fertilize with a solution of cow manure. He also needs ash, which is added to the soil and pre-mixed with it.
3. Replanting To make the shrub look better, dig away the soil from its shoots. The shoots are placed in a pit and covered with freshly fertilized soil. To improve reliability, you can press them with special staples. With time, new roots will form and the sprouted plants can be planted in other areas.
4. Pruning Thyme is pruned during the flowering period. At this time, the concentration of essential oils in its leaves and flowers is at its highest. After pruning, cover the plant with loose soil and water it. The cut stems, flowers, and leaves are dried in a cool place and then packed in canvas bags. Gardeners have long had a fondness for this low-growing groundcover herb, with its carpet of flowers and distinctive scent. But thyme isn't just grown for garden design purposes. The plant, commonly known as thyme, has long been noted for its medicinal value and its ability to flavor meat dishes, soups, salads, and marinades. In ancient Egypt, thyme was used in rituals.
CAN THYME BE GROWN IN POTS? Many people want to know if they can grow the spice at home. Thyme is very suitable for growing in an apartment because it is not too fussy and does not require much care. Therefore, even people who have no experience in growing thyme can cope with planting and growing spices. To plant, you just need to choose a suitable container for the spice, plant it, and place it in a well-lit room. If you grow it in your apartment, you will have to water it regularly to prevent the soil from drying out and fertilize it.
THE MAIN VARIETIES OF THYME
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Among a large number of thyme, species are. 1. The common ones. Comes to us from southern France and Spain. Characterized by small, lance-shaped leaves, dark green color, and delicate purple flowers. 2. Prostrate (creeping). Mediterranean species with leathery leaves of various colors. The purple flowers have a beautiful pinkish hue. This thyme is frost and drought tolerant and is considered an excellent honeybee. 3. Lemon scented. This is a hybrid from southern France, named for its lemony tart flavor. Over time, the yellow leaves turn green. The flowers are a delightful pink color. Poor frost tolerance needs shade during the cold season and regular pruning. 4. Plant Honey. Foliage is strong, perennial hybrids are drought and cold resistant and productive. Excellent for beehives and garden decorations. Used fresh and dried, in cooking and folk medicine.
CUTTINGS OF THYME
"If it is a spontaneous decision to cultivate thyme in the window, X when there is no pot or soil mixture at home, green cuttings can be allowed to take root in a glass, which can be made of dark glass or specially blackened"
If you're not ready for the long process of growing thyme from seed, you can try accelerated propagation. To get fresh spicy herbs, you need to stock up on potted plants, free up your windowsill and buy fresh thyme herbs from the supermarket. Follow the instructions Bring a package of thyme, carefully unpack it, and select the best-preserved flowering branch from the total mass. Make a diagonal cut in the stem. This requires a sharp knife. Tear off the leaves underneath and submerge the cuttings in water, allowing them to remain in the water for another five to six hours. This works very well if you use melted water heated to room temperature. Adding honey (half a teaspoon is enough for half a liter of water) will promote better rooting. While the cuttings are sitting in the water, prepare the pot. It should be scalded with boiling water and the bottom should be covered with clay pebbles. Drainage is watered with a layer of fertile soil. It should take up a third of the volume. The rest will be occupied by coarse-grained series of calcined sands. These are watered with a pink manganese solution.
In one pot, plant four cuttings per pot. After planting, they are sprayed with water and arranged in greenhouse conditions. The pots are covered with a half-liter jar, which you should remember to lift periodically to allow air to reach the shoots. The roots of the cuttings will form in about the second or third week. During this time, the jar will also be removed. Half a month from this point, the seedlings can be planted in their own containers with standard fertile soil. In case of a spontaneous decision to cultivate thyme in the window, X when there are no pots or soil mixtures at home, green cuttings can be rooted in a glass, which can be made of dark glass or special dark glass. Room temperature water saturated with activated charcoal tablets and a few grains of the hydrogel. As soon as the microclimate of the windowsill is dry and warm, the glass is placed in a polyethylene bag and filled with air in the latter and tied. In such germination, roots will appear within 20 days. Transplant the seedlings into pots filled with light, fertile soil, taking care not to chip off the swollen hydrogel particles from the roots. Thyme cuttings are rooted within 20 days.
Watering Thyme should be watered moderately and only when the soil is sufficiently dry. Only young shoots should be planted on dry food. Thyme bushes are planted in their second year when new shoots begin to emerge from the roots. Like allspice herbs, it responds to mineral fertilizers.
Thyme in winter During this period, it is best to remove thyme from the windowsill and send it to a glass balcony, for example, to provide the plant with a period of rest. Only during frosty weather, when the temperature on the balcony is not too low, can it become a shelter. Readings below -5°C (23°F) are a concern and the thyme has been moved to another warmer location Practice and continuous baking thyme, but in this case, he needs to provide not only a warm window sill but also additional lighting.
HOW TO GROW IN THE GARDEN Growing thyme in your own plot is not difficult. To do this, prepare seeds, cuttings, or divide the shrub. Active propagation by self-seeding should be taken into account, due to the need to deal with space constraints over time.
1.Thyme seeds Seeds can be sown in places carefully cleared of weeds. Since small seeds germinate within a month and develop very slowly, weeds interfere with this process. Therefore, planting thyme is best done by the seedling method. For this purpose, a mixture of sand and peat is prepared in early spring and poured into a box, tray, or container. After sowing, the seeds are kept under polyethylene or glass until the sprouts appear. Sprouts need regular moderate watering and good light. after 3-4 weeks, the stronger-looking plants are hardened in the open air for two weeks and then planted in a permanent growing place.
2.Thyme from cuttings In summer, propagate thyme from green cuttings. This method is characterized by successful rooting. The procedure is carried out before flowering. The top part of the stem should be cut to a height of 10 cm (3.93inch), placed in river sand, and covered with a piece of polyethylene. After a month, the rooted specimens can be planted in the open ground.
When dividing the shrub, pull the base apart and gently pull out the roots.
We recommend covering the slot with a glass jar for one week to promote rooting.
GROWING THYME A hardy and undemanding semi-shrub that can be cultivated without causing trouble to the gardener. Thyme grass adapts to the climatic conditions proposed and copes with a can-do attitude by forming spherical bushes and increasing its useful mass.
SITE AND SOIL SELECTION To grow thyme, it is necessary to choose a sunny and open place in the vegetable garden, but without draught. The soil should be neutral and well-drained. Heavy soils, clayey soils, and strongly moist soils need Gaza. For grass to thrive in the open ground, it should not be acidic and chalk or lime should be added. You need to consider the overall design of your garden so that the luxurious thyme weave blends harmoniously into the landscape.
WHEN AND HOW DO I PLANT THYME? Planting thyme seeds is done in autumn and spring after soaking in warm water for 12 hours. Smear the shoots, keeping 30cm (11.8inch) intervals. Seedlings are best planted after the end of frost on a warm, sunny day. Arrange a spacious hole. Remove the seedlings from the container and place them in a mixture of soil and sand. Compact the surface of the soil and water the plants afterward. In case of propagation by cuttings, planting is done in August. When thyme is grown from seed in the open ground, the semi-shrub will flower the following year. In Asia, the flavor of thyme is a must in lamb dishes in all countries. This spice is also an irreplaceable ingredient in French cuisine. Thyme is a genus of plants in the thyme family (Lamiaceae). The genus Thymus has a large number of species, including more than 350 species. More than 170 species of thyme can be found on the territory of Eastern Europe. Not all species are herbaceous, as they vary greatly in color and odor. Thyme is called Thymus vulgaris. In natural conditions, thyme grows on dry mountain slopes. So if grown in a home plot, it needs a sunny spot with plenty of light throughout the day. In the shade, or even in the penumbra, cultivars with unusually colored leaves lose this characteristic.
This plant looks like a compact shrub or semi-shrub up to 40cm (15.7inch) tall most commonly 15-20cm (5.9-7.87inch). The stems of thyme are woody, leafless, and recumbent or ascending. The herbaceous branches have small pointed leaflets that arise from the stems. The flowering branches are erect. It is a perennial plant. Thyme flowers from May to August. Its flowers are purple and pink, and there are also white-flowered varieties. Gardeners often use thyme as a decorative plant. With its help decorate irregular plots. It is now a permanent resident of the popular aromatic garden. The fruits of thyme are small, oval, smooth black, or dark brown nuts. Thyme has a slightly bitter and slightly spicy flavor with a pleasant and persistent aroma. Thyme branches and leaves are picked, dried, and crushed. After such preparation and proper storage, the spice does not lose its flavor for two years. This plant grows willingly on open ground and on windowsills. Thyme is a great bee and is indispensable where there is an apiary. It also attracts insects for pollination if some shrubs are planted near or in greenhouses.
SEEDS OF THYME To grow a spicy plant at home, you don't have to spend money on seedlings, which, by the way, are still very easy to find. It's much easier to use seeds. Potted thyme grows properly on a sunny balcony, as well as on a windowsill, with a system of regular ventilation.
THYME IS PERFECT FOR PLANTING ON WINDOWSILLS Action plan. 1. Prepare a small pot 15cm (5.9inch) deep. 2. Just cover the bottom with a 2cm (0.78inch) layer of drainage pipe. 3. Prepare the soil. Mix with vermiculite. 4. Wet the soil in the sprayer and place it on top of the drain. 5. Shade the pot until the first shoots appear. This will make the seedlings more robust and less likely to be burned in the sunlight. Thyme seeds germinate very well, so you can leave the strongest shoots to grow and discard the rest.
FIND A PLACE WHERE I BELONG Light, non-acidic soils are suitable for growing thyme. Soil reaction should be slightly alkaline, close to herbaceous. The soil should be well-drained, loose, and airy. Like most pungent plants, thyme is very demanding of light and is not afraid of direct sunlight. It grows in open, sunny areas. Thyme is a hardy plant. However, it does not like drafts and north winds. Therefore, thyme must be planted in a place that is sheltered from strong winds. You can place a thyme mini-planting garden behind a berry bush. Fertilizer is mainly organic. However, if you use manure, this organic matter is applied only in the fall under digging. In the spring, before planting, methane is introduced into the soil intended for thyme. Thyme does not tolerate "overwatering" and does not like to have standing water on its roots. This drought-tolerant plant does not require heavy watering. It only needs watering during periods of drought.
DISEASES AND PESTS The aromatic substances released by thyme in large quantities act as a good defense against pests. If not cared for according to good care instructions, it can trigger attacks by insects. Those that cause significant damage to the plant are. Straw bags, which damage the stems and leaves. Activated by warm nights. Insecticide treatments help. Sand bumblebees completely destroy the above-ground organs. Control them with poisonous baits. Weevil. Feed on young shoots and flower buds. Plants can be protected by insecticide treatment or by setting baits with poisonous preparations. Aphids damage the stems and leaves of thyme. It is not resistant to insecticides. Measures to prevent pests and parasites are regular loosening of the soil, timely removal of weeds, deep digging, and alkaline fertilization.
PLANTING CONDITIONS The thymus is propagated by seeds, seedlings, and cuttings. Even in our latitudes, it is possible to sow seeds directly in the open ground or in a greenhouse. The seeds are sown at a distance of 15-20cm (5.9-7.87inch) and in rows about 35cm (13.7inch) apart. The seeds are sown at a depth of 0.5cm (0.19inch). Seeds are sown in March, and seedlings are planted in the soil in early spring. Seeds are not soaked before sowing. Dry seeds are placed in the soil to a depth of about 1cm (0.39inch). When planting seedlings, take into account a row spacing of at least 45cm (17.7inch). You can propagate thyme by dividing the bushes (it is better to do it in spring). Thyme needs good care. Be prepared by regularly loosening the soil between the rows and directly around the bushes. Water on dry days and keep weeding. Especially important is the control of weeds during the bok choy harvesting activities to facilitate harvesting. At first, thyme development is less active. The first year requires constant and thorough weeding and loosening of the soil, as well as regular and moderate watering. Feeding in the first year is not done. In the second or third year, humus and mineral complex fertilizers are introduced into the soil. Planting thyme is recommended to be renewed after 3 to 4 years.
HOW TO GROW THYME AT HOME?
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There are several common ways to grow thyme. When propagating the spice in the living room, it can be grown by cuttings or sowing seeds. To choose the best growing method for you, it is important to understand each growing method in detail.
1.Starting from seeds It is most common to grow spices from seeds, as it is relatively easy. To do this, pour soil mixed with vermiculite, which improves the moisture retention of the soil, into a pre-prepared container. Then water the soil in the container with warm water and make holes in the ground. Put 2-3 seeds in each hole and fill with soil. Transfer the planted plants to the windowsill and water them regularly. When the first buds appear in the pot, thin them for better growth.
2.Cuttings Some people like to propagate thyme bushes from cuttings. First, you need to get busy preparing the cuttings for planting. After the thyme has finished flowering, cut off the shoots from the bush and strip the leaves completely. Cut off the frequent shoots and take the cuttings and plant them in pots. Planting thyme cuttings in the ground is simple. To do this, the pot is completely filled with soil and a 1-2cm (0.39-0.78inch) deep depression is made in it. Then, put sprouts in the wells and cover them with soil. The planted cuttings are watered within 1-2 days until the first leaves appear.
3.Time for harvesting cuttings. Leaves and shoots should be harvested several times during the growing season. Shoots are cut at 5cm (1.96inch) from the ground. After that, the plants are fed. As a spice for cooking, the main harvesting time for the tops is at the end of June and July. The flowering shoots are used for medicinal purposes. Thyme seeds are harvested from two to three-year-old plants. The seeds are mature when they turn brown. Thyme is placed in a cool place, spread on a clean cloth or paper, and dried naturally.
4.Siting of indoor thyme Some inexperienced housewives pay little attention to choosing a suitable planting location because they believe that the spice will grow in any room. However, this is not the case, so you should familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of choosing the best place to grow thyme.
5.Lighting Thyme is considered a light-loving plant that grows best in the presence of sunlight. It is recommended to place the pot with the plant on a sunny windowsill. If growing spices in winter, take care to increase lighting and install special lamps.
6.Temperature and air humidity Thyme grows better in a cool room with air temperatures no higher than 20°C (68°F) hot. In autumn, you can take the pots to the glazed balcony during the day and bring them into the apartment only in the evening, after the sun has set. In wintertime, you cannot take the spices to the balcony because the low temperature will kill them.
#ThumbGarden #GardeningTips #Herb #Herbal #Thyme #HerbGarden #Garden #HowToGrow #Best #Sprouting #Germination #Seeds #SmallSpaces #Pests #Harvest #Fertilize #Soils #Watering #Pruning #PlantCare #Care
Author: Ms.Geneva Link: https://www.thumbgarden.com/how-to-grow-thyme-in-a-pot/ Source: ThumbGarden The copyright belongs to the author. For commercial reprints, please contact the author for authorization, and for non-commercial reprints, please indicate the source.
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abiteofnat · 4 years
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If you’re reading this, I’m coming back to Chicago, beetch
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The non-existent rumors are true. After a brief 10-month exit from the city to soak up the fresh air and social distance-friendly suburbs, I am now returning to Chicago as a single, slightly more anxious version of myself. While I’m still trying to kick some of the anxiety and OCD that COVID-19 pushed from “lifelong tagalongs” to “all-controlling demons”, I feel 97% ready to be back where I feel most myself, and cannot wait to welcome that change. While that 3% still makes me a little uncomfy and hesitant, I’m a believer in pushing your boundaries to allow yourself to grow, and also, I am really sick of suburbs food. 
Ha! I joke. I wouldn’t move downtown simply for access to more diverse & higher quality food... or would I? All I know is while there are plenty of gems in the North Shore, I’ve eaten take out from all of them ten times over, and I did not foster my dislike of cooking out of nowhere. My parents do not enjoy cooking, my sister pretends to enjoy cooking, and I will cook if it is 5 ingredients or less. My latest speciality is a toasted bagel with butter, hummus, and EBTB seasoning. Voila. So when it comes to dinner, we are living off of a carousel of suburban favorites, and are losing steam as we are still not comfortable with dining inside (or dining inside in the city, where the fun food is). 
All of this to say, it’s exciting to imagine what life is going to be like in a few short weeks. While I’m still extra precautionary, I can’t wait to have my own space downtown, where I can enjoy coffee on my little balcony (!!!) and dream of the days friends can come squeeze into my studio safely while I lay out an entire table of sharable spreads and snacks from Ema (Charred Eggplant Spread is the best one, don’t fight me). 
So you may ask, how did you come to this decision to move to the heart of downtown out of seemingly nowhere, you hermit? 
It starts with my mom and I having a brief, simultaneous breakdown and coming to the conclusion that we would both feel comfortable doing a staycation downtown, as long as we wore masks, sanitized always, and braved the cold to eat outside. This was big for me! As a person with real OCD, not cute TV show “I have to keep my pens straight” OCD, this would be the most exposure I’d had to a lot of uncontrollable variables since the pandemic started. If you’re thinking, “you get to spend a weekend downtown in a hotel with your mom, shut up”, know that I hear you. I am unbelievably grateful that I’ve gotten this time with my parents, and that we can do a staycation. However, having anxiety comes at a cost, and that cost is blowing everything way the fuck out of proportion instead of being able to rationalize it sometimes. Let’s! Normalize! Having! This! Discussion!
So, we went downtown in early March for a two-night stay, and oh my goodness. The realization that we got to be in a different space, and do different things, and eat different food for a weekend made it feel like a legit vacation, and not like we drove 30 minutes to get there. The view from our room was of Michigan Ave, and hearing the traffic and seeing the people out and about instantly made me feel a sense of peace I wasn’t expecting. I’ve lived downtown for 6 years, but it always shocks me how much the city feels like an extension of me once I’m in it after being away. My mom and I went out for a walk (gentle yet forceful reminder to please wear a mask), then decided to grab dinner while we were out. The plan was to bring it back to the room, but there was a warm spell, and there just happened to be a table for two at Topolobampo on Clark, and suddenly we were sitting on the patio under the lights eating masa quesadillas dipped in a spicy salsa verde. It just happened!!! 
Before getting downtown, I was tentatively looking at apartments for the spring. I was looking at Lincoln Park, Old Town, maybe Lakeview, and came across a listing in the Gold Cost that caught my eye. That one was swiped out from under me within days, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the area. Then I discovered another unit that was available, and couldn’t shake it from my mind. Over mushroom tacos I discussed it with my mom, and we decided to go see it. Totally not what I had been planning for in terms of location, but why not? 
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Once we polished off breakfast the next morning (Eggs Benedict with fried eggs, extra hollandaise) we headed out to see the place. Let me say I have never seen my mom fall in love with a single apartment I’ve lived in, and she was ALL. FOR. IT. Unreal reaction on her part. Once I saw the west-facing views and the incredible natural lighting, I was 100% in as well.
We spent the rest of the weekend wandering the downtown area, enjoying another dinner outside at The Gwen and my mom’s first visit to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, which was 95% more empty than I’ve ever seen it given we went in a pandemic at 8:30PM. Shit on Starbucks all you want, but that Roastery is an incredible use of space (in non-pandemic times) and the coffee & Princi pastries are really, really good. 
When we got back home feeling refreshed and like we had actually gone on a vacation, I jumped into apartment shark mode real fast and signed as many documents as the very kind realtor could send over. One week later, whabaam, I was a Gold Coast girl. Ahem, *lady*. What better way to celebrate than going to Somerset and having the Rapini & Roasted Garlic Flatbread and Wild Mushroom Risotto? No clue. As I sat outside, yet again with my mom, I felt a wave of excitement come over me and realized, this is it. This is the sign and feeling I’ve been waiting for, telling me it’s time to move back to the city and start over. The creamy, herbacious risotto also helped solidify that. 
SO. After all of that, the news is I’m moving, and you’re probably wondering why I shared all of this on a blog about food. I meant for this post to be about everywhere I ate during my staycation, but realized quickly we ate at some very basic places - DELICIOUS, but still basic. Oops. Below are all the dishes I had and a rundown of the flavors, textures, etc., however don’t expect to find any new, revolutionary restaurants. Sorry! 
1. Topolobampo 
This Rick Bayless restaurant has been around forever, and unfortunately, you can tell by the interior. We’ve eaten here as a family a couple of times before, but never had a noteworthy experience. I can confirm that in a pinch, the patio covered in fun lights & mini piñatas, and the sharable, filling bites will do just fine. This was my first time going to a Mexican restaurant as a non-alcohol drinker, and instead of my typical mezcal margarita, I opted for a Fresh Limeaide which was refreshing and flavorful. We split the Guacamole and Chips, which if you’ve ever stopped at the Frontera in O’Hare, you know is good as fuck. It’s smooth, creamy, tangy, and topped with chopped onions and cilantro for a little crunch. It’s not the most life-changing, but it is consistently satisfying. Next, we got the Mushroom Tacos and Masa Quesadillas. The Masa Quesadillas were a fun surprise, as instead of a tortilla, the masa is what makes up the outside. They are almost like empanadas and stuffed with gooey, melty cheese, and come with a spicy salsa verde on the side. I would come back for these alone - they’re rich yet light, warm, and comforting, all the things you would want when dining outside when it’s still a little chilly. The Mushroom Tacos were quite frankly unreal, because whatever they seasoned the mushroom slices with and grilled them on made them taste unlike any mushroom I’ve had before. There was definitely some meat crossover on the grill, so don’t order those if you’re vegan, or ask them to prepare the mushroom separately. I however was LOSING MY MIND. Over mushrooms. The joys of being vegetarian! 
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2. The Gwen
On a happening Saturday night in Chicago, Upstairs at The Gwen is sure to be a packed scene. Located in River North, this hotel bar/restaurant offers a somehow cozy rooftop filled with loungey couches, fire pits, and ambient lighting, even though you’re surrounded by apartments and skyscrapers and there is nothing “cozy” about River North. Every table was filled, yet since you’re outside and it’s fairy spread apart, it still felt safe. I got my new classic, a Lemonade, and we got the Burrata to start. With sourdough, roasted beets, squash, pomegranate, pistachio, & arugula, this plate was nothing short of mouth-watering. It has textures! It has flavors! It has pomegranate seeds, the TikTok must have of the moment! The bread was 10/10, the burrata was 8/10, and all of the toppings made for a very find bite of salad on their own. For my main I got the Lobster Fettucine, a beautiful bowl of “charcoal fettuccine with saffron-tomato sauce, lobster, calabrian chili butter, and basil-brioche crumbs” as listed on their website. Take any of those ingredients and it’s going to be delicious, but all of them TOGETHER? INCREDIBLE. The chunks of lobster were huge, absolutely making the dish worth its price tag, and the sauce was flavorful, unique, and unlike any sauce I’ve tasted in the last few years. It’s typical to do a squid ink pasta with seafood and tomato sauce, but the saffron added a new element I very much appreciated. 
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3. The Starbucks Roastery 
I KNOW. THIS IS A TOURIST DESTINATION. All I am saying is if there’s no line, go get an iced latte with two packets of sugar in the raw. That’s all. It’s really good after something like, I don’t know, Lobster Fettucine. 
4. The Penninsula 
You cannot go wrong with hitting up The Penninsula for breakfast or brunch, especially if you are staying there and have the option to do room service. Typically we would go to Pierrot Gourmet, the cafe in the ground floor of The Penninsula, however it has been closed temporarily. If there’s one thing to order with your breakfast, it’s the smashed fingerling potatoes. Delish. 
5. Somerset 
Somerset is becoming a quick go-to of mine for an impromptu dinner downtown, given it’s in the heart of Gold Coast and is cute if you’re sitting indoors or outdoors. The food is nothing too innovative, but it is done well, which is the most important part with “cuter” restaurants that may focus on the Instagram appeal over the food sometimes. Each time I’ve gone I’ve gotten the seasonal flatbread and a pasta or risotto, usually something with mushrooms, and it’s always been plate-licking good. To drink, I got -you guessed it- a Lemonade! For dinner I went with the Wild Mushroom Risotto which was everything you could hope for in a risotto, topped with olive oil, herbs, and local parmesan. We split the Rapini & Roasted Garlic Flatbread which was as it sounds, flatbread covered in rapini, garlic, and ricotta, which added a nice crunch and had enough rapini to feel like it was replacing a boring vegetable side dish or salad. The patio vibes were wonderful, the judgemental girls in the greenhouses looked like they were having a good time, and our waiter couldn’t have been sweeter. I will be going back to try the Fontina Arancini, which I just noticed on the menu. FRICK. 
So there you have it, a very long-winded explanation of the last few weeks of my life and where you can find me on a staycation in Chicago. Hopefully once I move back to the city I’ll have endless new spots to try and won’t be basic anymore! 
Until next time, Happy Eating!
-Natalie 
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