#and then four pumpkin pie energy ball things?

[ivy-paintdr2ps]

but like i started my day out with such a fuck-it attitude so i ate too much :(

[rejserusa-blog]

Holidays during the United states

Rejser USA

New A long time Eve: January 1 The celebration of your new 12 months is definitely the oldest of all vacations. It is the beginning with the calendar year in the majority of calendars close to the entire world. You will discover many festivities on New Many years day specifically while in the United states of america. This contains masquerade balls and parties which characteristic countdowns that mark the arrival of twelve midnight. Almost all of the television channels show Periods Square while in the coronary heart of new York City the place several persons get and wait around for that year to end as well as a new a person to start. many families and pals also view tv to take pleasure in the Tournament of Roses parade previous the Rose Bowl soccer match in Pasadena, California.

Presidents Working day: Third Monday of February Presidents Day is the prevalent identify for your U.s. federal holiday getaway officially designated as George Washington birthday. On at the present time, numerous American universities use the days primary as many as President Working day to teach students about the history with the Presidents with the Usa, specifically Washington and Lincoln. Now, the February vacation is becoming well-known for currently being each day during which a lot of suppliers keep income. Some faculties, which utilized to shut for your solitary working day for both equally Lincoln and Washington birthday, now typically near with the total week (starting with the Monday vacation) for a "mid-winter recess".

Memorial Day: Previous Monday of May possibly Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, is really a day of remembrance for individuals who died serving the united states. It can be commonly observed by browsing cemeteries and memorials; positioning flags and flowers within the graves of fallen heroes. The US flag is generally lifted at half-staff until eventually midday, jointly using the "POW/MIA Flag".

Independence Day: July 4 Also referred to as the Fourth of July, this getaway commemorates the adoption of the declaration of independence on July four, 1776, declaring independence within the kingdom of Excellent Britain. Generally connected with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, baseball video games, and various other public and private gatherings celebrating the historical past, government, and traditions in the America, but is usually viewed as basically a summer months competition, other than its patriotic overtones.

Labor Day: Initially Monday of September This holiday getaway commenced in 1882, originating from the want via the Central Labor Union to make a day without work for your "working man". In the event the holiday break was first proposed, tips was given concerning how it really should be observed and celebrated, a street parade to show for the community "the energy and esprit de corps of your trade and labor organizations" from the local community, followed by a festival to the recreation and amusement with the employees and their people. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Working day. On the other hand, at this time, it truly is celebrated generally like a day of relaxation and marks the symbolic conclude of summer for several.

Columbus Working day: Next Monday of Oct It is actually a vacation celebrating the anniversary of Christopher Columbus arrival inside the Americas, on Oct 21, 1942. A similar occasion is commemorated in other countries during the Americas as Dia de la Raza (Working day with the Race) in may perhaps countries in Latin The united states, Dia de las Culturas (Working day in the Cultures) in Costa Rica, Discovery Day within the Bahamas, Hispanic Working day in Spain, as well as newly-renamed (as of 2002) Dia de la Resistencia Indigena (Day on the Indigenous Resistencia) in Venezuela. This holiday break is normally celebrated with parades.

Veterans Working day: November eleven Veterans Day is surely an American holiday break for honoring war veterans. It really is celebrated on the same day as Armistice Day or Remembrance Working day in other portions of the whole world, slipping on November 11, the anniversary from the signing of the armistice that ended Environment War I. On this day, Veterans Day parades are frequently held all around the state.

Thanksgiving Working day: Final Thursday of November Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, can be an yearly secular one-day holiday getaway observed in Canada and also the U . s . to celebrate staying grateful. The vacation origins trace to reap festivals that have been celebrated in lots of cultures given that historic instances, and many persons rejoice by collecting in your own home with family or close friends for your vacation feast. While in the U . s ., Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth of Thursday of November and, in Canada, within the second Monday in Oct. On at the present time, households generally obtain jointly for Thanksgiving, dinner in which turkey is customarily served. Stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, maize, other tumble vegetables, and pumpkin pie are commonly linked with Thanksgiving supper. These major dishes are literally indigenous towards the Americas or were being introduced for a new food items supply to your people of Europe when they arrived.

Christmas Working day: December 25 Xmas or Xmas Day can be a holiday break celebrating the start of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity. Nevertheless, these dates are simply regular; the nice vast majority of students concur that the genuine birth date of Jesus is unidentified. Elements of the celebration might include things like gift-giving, Xmas trees, screen of nativity sets, church attendance, the daddy Christmas/Santa Claus myth, and household gatherings.

References Tourism in the United States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_the_United_States

[terrible-tentacle-theatre]

The Bestiary Revamped: Vampire Squid (HALLOWEEN SPECIAL)

Disclaimer: While this article is founded in scientific fact, it contains hyberbole and conscious exaggerations for the sake of comedy. Do not take my ramblings at face value. You can find the sources at the end of the article and tools for scientific fact-checking under the “Learn more” link on my blog.

The old article can be read here.

(I intended to post this yesterday but stuff came up. Anyway.)

Ahem.

Cue the spooky music.

*threatening organ music plays at unbearable volumes*

That’s right, dear readers, the Spooky Gourd Day has finally, finally come, and with it the nigh-endless Halloween shitposting that permeates this website every October like the smell of pumpkin pie did my house just a few hours ago, immediately before I ate most of it. (I still have like half of it left, but it’s cold now so it doesn’t have that mouthwatering smell unless I reheat it. And I was too busy watching old Betty Boop Halloween cartoons to reheat it. Anyway, I’m getting off track.)

Frankly, the obsession of internet culture with this innocuous holiday has always fascinated me. What it is about a day when you get to dress up all funky-like, go from house to house acting like an idiot, horf down all the candy you can get away with and watch scary movies all night that is so attractive to them youngsters? I simply cannot wrap my head around it.

However, it is a day of great significance to this blog, since this is the day when we celebrate the utter freakiest of the freakiest that can be pulled up from the stygian waves of the planet’s oceans. This is the third Halloween of the Terrible Tentacle Theatre, and for this notable occasion, I have decided to give one of my earliest poster children a much-needed revisit.

Back in the early days of the blog, when it was still called Hectocotylus and my content mainly consisted of spicing up Wikipedia and Cracked articles with swearing for the sick enjoyment of some 30 followers, the article in question was my first big hit among the people of the Digital Blue Hills of Hell. In the days when most of my articles didn’t go above 20 notes, this beast gathered up 300 notes by using its nebulous tendrils to reach into the deepest corners of the ole ‘web. Not only was this creature my first big hit in my career as a marine biology blogger with tone moderation issues, it would also fit in great as the main monster in a theoretical Universal Horror/Syfy teamup, which would be the Halloweeniest shit ever.

Ladies, gentlemen and other fellows, the vampire squid.

Before you even see this thing in full detail you can already gather that I didn’t choose it for this year’s Halloween special for nothing. Everything from the ghoulish dark red color scheme to the bat-like webbing between eldritch tentacles screams “cheesy Hammer Horror movies written by good ol’ Howard Philips”. And it will become even more evident when you see it in its full, glowy, betentacled glory.

This is how it looks like when you stare down a squishy, floppy incarnation of doom. This thing looked so freaky that the dude who discovered it, a certain German biologist called Karl Chun, decided to name it Vampyroteuthis infernalis. That’s Latin for “vampire squid from Hell”. Yep, that’s right. Remember the part where science is hard fact unaffected by emotion? Well you can throw that right out the window, because this fucker freaked its discoverer out so hard that he named it the vampire squid from Hell.

“The shit I’ve seen, kiddo. You wouldn’t believe.”

Even descriptions of this guy sound like they escaped straight from a 19th century gothic horror novel. For example, in 1925 the Arcturus expedition caught one near the Galapagos Islands and described it as “a very small but very terrible octopus, black as night, with ivory white jaws and blood-red eyes.” Even in the years of the Roaring Twenties, merely seeing the vampire squid was enough to bring out anyone’s inner Poe or Bram Stoker, apparently, which isn’t very surprising considering that it looks like Béla Lugosi had an illicit affair with one of the Star-Spawn of Cthulhu.

You’re welcome for that mental image.

While calling it a vampire is more than appropriate, the names “squid” or “octopus” are much less fitting. While intially appearing to be something of an octopus, it’s actually not one of them; and it isn’t a squid either, which left the confused scientists to place it within its own little private taxon, the order Vampyromorphida. If you know a little bit of Latin, that means “vampire-shaped”, which would imply that this is the general shape for vampires. So next time you read Twilight, imagine Edward as a vampire squid flopping around on the ground the entire time and I guarantee you’ll have a blast reading through several hundred pages of sweaty bloodsucker romance.

Unlike Edward however, the vampire squid doesn’t actually feed on blood. Dashing from shadow to shadow in the cover of a snappy opera cape and hunting for innocent young maidens in the night is the kind of energy expenditure that this malevolent mollusk cannot afford. Mainly because it lives (you guessed it) in the darkest, deepest excesses of the oceans, where the eternal darkness creates an all-year-round Halloween mood. In these waters, even beginners have a hard time finding the tiniest scraps of food, and have to resort to drastic measures to get by. But the vampire squid looks at those beginners and goes “yall are scrubs git gud lmao”. Compared to the vampire squid’s lifestyle, virtually any other denizen of the deep sea lives right in the middle of a goddamn cornucopia.

See, the vampire squid doesn’t just live in the deep ocean. It specifically prefers places called Oxygen Minimum Zones (OMZ), which sounds more like the hardest Sonic level ever than any serious place which can support life. OMZs are vast sheet-like expanses of water in the deep sea which barely contain any breathable oxygen. Some of these zones can contain as little as 5% of the oxygen that saturates air, and barely anything survives here.

And guess what? The vampire squid lives here. Not only lives, but thrives.

This is the game the vampire squid plays, every day of its life. On hard difficulty.

Obviously, living in a dead wasteland of suffocating water has required the squid to adopt some nifty tools of survival. Do not do so would be like entering the final dungeon of a video game with early game gear.

First off is a pair of sensory filaments, which the vampire squid extends through the water much like a spider does its web. They are super long and flexible, and probably the source of so many dick jokes that the squid will choke a bitch if anyone tells one more.

“No, I’ve never heard that one ever. Ha ha ha. Real fuckin’ original.”

Next up is a pair of membranous wings, used by the squid to travel through the aether of space to “fly” through the water, it’s cape-like arm web billowing behind it. The vampire parallels are getting more and more accurate.

Interestingly this wing isn’t the same in adults and juveniles. At one point in their devlopment they start growing a second pair of fins which eventually fully substitutes the first pair, which then atrophies back into the flesh. Thus if you’re lucky enough to catch a vampire squid, it’s not impossible that it will have four fins. The biologists who first found these four-finned squid nearly went insane trying to describe it (and several other developmental stages) as separate species. It was such a mess it took years to sort out, and nowadays the vampire squid is the sole surviving species of its order. He’s standing in the darkness. Alone.

WAKE ME UP INSIDE

The fins and the filaments aren’t just decorative elements the squid picked out at Hot Topic, either. Used in tandem, they’re a fearsomely effective netting tool and the way this crafty cephalopod earns its daily bread. You think spiders are cool with their webs? Nah, Spiders ain’t shit. They’re lazy idiots and their web does all the work for them. the vampire squid’s filaments is where it’s REALLY at.

See, the vampire squid’s main diet is thankfully not blood but something called “marine snow”. This is basically the shower of discarded tissue, shit and corpses that rains down upon the lower layers of the deep ocean from the upper layers all year round. Having this fall from the sky for “White Christmas” would probably be quite traumatizing.

DECK THE HALLS WITH BALLS OF FECES SHALALALALALALALALAAAAARGH

The vampire squid, however, has had its resolve steeled by years of isolation in the darkness of the deep ocean, and is willing to chug down anything to survive. Bear Grylls is a picky gourmet chef compared to this guy.

That said, it needs to eat something that’s actually of some nutritional worth. It could spend its life scarfing down every chunk of marine snow it comes across, but that would be a waste of muscle movements since most of it does exactly nil to fill up its stomach. That’s where the filaments/fins combo come in, turning the vampire squid into an angry little tripwire trap ready to snap at any moment.

Note the filament. That’s not a parasite, that’s legit a part of the animal. Nobody knows where it evolved from, it’s not a modified arm or tentacle and it’s a fucking enigma.

Mystery tentacles: the quintessential Terrible Tentacle Theatre experience.

Extending its filaments (one at a time) into the mucky waters around, it waits more still then I do when I go to the kitchen for a glass of water during the night and I hear a sudden noise. The filaments come with a plethora of sensitive nerve endings, ensuring that anything bigger than a flea’s asscheeks landing on them will elicit an immediate response from the squid. And if said asscheeks touch the filaments, responds the squid it does. Specifically, it exhibits a surprising burst of speed (considering it just drifts around all day and it is effectively the consistency of Jell-O), pulled entirely by its fins to perform an acrobatic fucking pirouette off the handle, whipping around in a loose loop and catching its own filament. Millions of dogs around the world enviously sigh in unison.

After this, the squid pulls off its prey from the filament using its arms, which generate a solid slime-like material. The collected chunks of edible whatnot are rolled into a ball of slime, and horfed down by the squid at once. You probably cannot tell but there’s a Michelin star underneath its mantle. “Slimeball à la Vampire Squid” is one gourmet-ass dish.

Molto bene!

Of course, all this fine dining makes the vampire squid itself tasty as all hell. You are what you eat, afterall. But in the deep sea, you do NOT want to be tasty, because everyone is hungry on top of being the most light-deficient gourmet motherfuckers on the planet. So naturally, our subject needs some sort of way to evade the raving food critics hunting him in the deep. And he has this way in the form of a very unlikely tool: bioluminescence.

“But Admin”, I hear you say, “didn’t you just get done telling us last week that glowing in the deep sea will attract everything around you?” That I did, young padawan, and it still stands. However, just like last week’s subject, the vampire squid uses its built-in glowsticks with a very express purpose and doesn’t just flash into the sunset willy-nilly. The glowy parts of this beast have very well-defined places and usages, exquisitely located and timed, just like a laugh track in a sitcom. Underneath its dark-red skin the vampire squid carries clusters of glowing photophores mainly on the tip of its arms as well as in two fake eye-spots on the top of its mantle, ready to flare up in a blue burst of light on demand. The fake eyes even come with their own built-in eyelids, opening and closing as Dracula Jr. sees fit.

Imagine you’re a predator and you see this glowing collection of random bullshit. Now figure out where to bite. Good fucking luck.

These lights are used with great care and consideration in order to troll the fuck out of anybody who is foolish enough to make an attempt on the vampire squid’s life. Upon attack, the squid whips its arms around with the lights on full luminosity, creating a confusing dance of light spots in the otherwise total darkness and messing up the predator’s perception. The false eyes only make things worse, finally creating the illusion that the vampire squid possesses unlimited godlike control over space and time, which may damn well be true.

Question: What way is this vampire squid going? Hint: It’s not facing toward you.

The appearance of the squid as a godlike psychic is surprisingly in line with the whole vampire angle, since Dracula has reknownedly had the ability to charm and hypnotize people. The effect is further accentuated by the squid’s eyes, proportionally the largest of any animal ever discovered. With a diameter a whopping one sixth of the animal’s whole body, this thing's oculars are like if you were walking around with eyes the size of your head. Each.

And for added effect, they glow and change color depending on which angle you’re looking at them from.

DISCO CTHULHU

And finally, if a spooky vampire-looking-ass dark red glowing octopus-squid-thing with hypnotic powers isn’t Halloweeny enough for you, the vampire squid has a final trick up its sleeve that catapults it right into the realm of body horror. This is suspected to be a defensive tactic but who the fuck knows, really. Deep sea creatures are enigmatic as shit, and they guard their secrets jealously.

Alright, I’ll quit beating around the bush and say it outright. Basically the final defensive measure of the vampire squid is turning itself inside out.

Yep.

Of all the stupid shit that Mother Nature could have come up with, she went and decided “alright, it just up and turns itself inside the fuck out. What are you gonna do about it?”

This behavior is known to science as “pineappling” or even more Halloweeny-ly “pumpkin posture” (no, seriously) and it involves the squid taking the webbing between its arms and turning it upside to shield its head and body from harm. Now folded comfortably into a spiky little footbal, the vampire squid knows itself free from harm. The webbings are thin enough for it to see through, but also don’t let its lights to shine around, so doing this effectively means the vampire squid switches into stealth mode. Plus it looks stylishly similar to Dracula popping the collar on his cape.

The vampire squid is every Monster Mash horror cliché come to life and smushed into a vaguely cephalopod shaped package for best user experience. When the stars are right and Cthulhu and his Star-Spawn emerge from the sunken city of R’lyeh to bring the world to ruin once more, these guys will be the first living things they encounter. And then they’ll fuck off back to their stupid city, mumbling things like “what the hell man, that’s plagiarism” and “that’s way too extra, even for us”. The apocalypse is postponed once again, thanks to the vampire squid’s vailant efforts of looking weird as fuck.

Happy Halloween, everybody! I was a day late due to the length of this article, but I hope you don’t mind. Until next Tuesday’s article, have a wonderful time with the aftermath of the day of cheesy horror and confectioneries.

Sources:

Encyclopedia of Life

Tree of Life Web Project

Animal Diversity Web

Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS)

Ellis, Richard. “Introducing Vampyroteuthis infernalis, the vampire squid from Hell”. The Cephalopod Page. Dr. James B. Wood. 

Seibel, Brad. “Vampyroteuthis infernalis, Deep-sea Vampire squid”. The Cephalopod Page. Dr. James B. Wood. Retrieved 3 July 2011. 

Hoving, H. J. T.; Robison, B. H. (2012). “Vampire squid: Detritivores in the oxygen minimum zone”. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 

[dancingalone21]

Something Sweet

Summary: Jensen proposes to the reader during her favorite time of the year.

Pairing: Jensen x Reader

Halloween Request: @smoothdogsgirl, @yuki101shonada

~

“We have enough apples to feed a small army. My god.” You lean against your boyfriend’s silver Chevy pickup, chuckling as he loads the last bag into the bed of his truck.

“Between the two of us and each of our growing rascals, they’ll be gone in no time, baby.” Jensen hooks his muscular arm around your neck, then pulls you close to peck your temple.

You and Jensen are having a busy, fun filled day at Barton Hill Farm in Austin. His daughter JJ and your son Brandon are both having a blast participating in all of the Fall activities that it has to offer. And to be honest so are you, this is hands down your favorite time of year and you can’t wait until it’s Halloween.

“It’s still a lot of apples…” You mutter under your breath, peeling off your jacket to welcome the chill that’s in the air.

“You’ll just have to bake lots and lots of apple pies.” Your boyfriend’s face beams at the delicious thought as he pats his stomach.

“Careful now, sweetheart. Your Dean is showing.” You warn poking him in the chest. Then with a cute twirl, you book it to a nearby pond where the kids are feeding some ducks.

“Jensen likes pie too ya know.” The actor grumbles quietly, unable to hide his amused expression. He then makes a beeline to you, JJ and Brandon.

“You guys tired yet?” Your boyfriend asks the kids with a playful smile. It quickly transforms into an exaggerated frown as they both shake their heads no.

You ignore Jensen’s pretend pout and speak up, “Ok so we picked apples, had cinnamon donuts and apple cider, went on a hayride….” You pause pretending to be stumped. “What are we missing?”

“We fed the ducks!” JJ chimes in pointing to a few that are floating on the water.

“Can’t forget the ducks.” Jensen’s deep chuckle sends a tingle down your spine.

You mentally berate yourself for the dirty images that pop into your mind, this obviously isn’t the time or place for such naughty ideas. Even though you and Jensen have been together for about two years now, it can still be tough to control yourself sometimes. It seems that your boyfriend is having similar thoughts, you catch him admiring the way your sweater clings to your form and it causes his cheeks to burn.

“We still need pumpkins!” Brandon exclaims to JJ, the two enthusiastic four year olds are now bouncing with excitement and it makes you giggle.

“Well then come on, y’all. Let’s go!” Jensen hoists his daughter up onto his shoulders, his long legs carrying him ahead of you and Brandon. “Don’t be slow pokes.” He teases back in your direction.

“Oh shush, Ackles.” You stick your tongue out at him, noticing that Jensen and JJ are now whispering to each other. “What are you two troublemakers hiding?”

“Nothing!” They answer in unison without turning around. Oh that’s not suspicious at all. You’re about to press them for details but get distracted by the pumpkin patch that comes into view.

“Um…where is everyone?”

“Who?” Your boyfriend quirks an eyebrow, letting his little ball of energy run off into the open space.

“The other people.” You gesture around. “They’re roaming all over the farm except for here.”

“Oh I rented it for some privacy. Apparently you can do that if you ask nicely.”  Your boyfriend smirks lacing his fingers with yours. “Being handsome also helps.” 

You burst out laughing, “Well it’s a good thing you’re handsome, handsome.” 

“Damn straight, sexy.” Jensen plants a sweet kiss on your lips before leading you in the direction of JJ and Brandon.

“I found one, mom!” Your son bellows waving you over to an overly large pumpkin.

“Nice one, buddy." You crouch down to get a better look. “Isn’t it kinda big though?” Brandon vehemently shakes his head.

“Y/N! Come here!” JJ calls out before beaming at her dad, she’s visibly thrilled with the pumpkin in front of her and you're pretty curious as to why.

Once you and Brandon get closer, it becomes clear that Jensen is feeling a little antsy, “What do you think, babe?” He asks you pointing to JJ’s pumpkin.

"Good choice.” You bend down to examine it when something reflective catches your eye. “Oh my god.” Your eyes widen when you see that a gorgeous, round cut engagement ring is sitting on top.

Taking a deep breath, Jensen shyly gets down onto one knee and it renders you utterly speechless. You’ve dreamt of this amazing moment so many times and now that it’s here your mind has turned to complete mush. Thankfully, your boyfriend is a mess of nerves himself so he doesn’t seem to notice it.

“Y/N...I was instantly smitten when I first laid eyes on you, I was hopelessly in love the first time that I kissed you and I was officially screwed��when I could look back at past regrets with a smile. Every bad choice, every disappointment and every heartbreak has been worth it because they all lead me straight to you. I love you and Brandon more than I could ever express, baby. Will you marry me?”

“Yes!” You exclaim with tears in your eyes. The kids start cheering as you launch yourself into Jensen’s arms, practically knocking you both over. You’re relieved when he regains his balance in time, instead lifting you off of ground.

“We love you too, honey.” You whisper resting your forehead against his.

Halloween Fics

Masterlist

[bafflinghaze]

An Autumn Time: Extra: Food Notes For October 2017

The following are the food notes for An Autumn Time. There is an entry for each day of the month, plus extra.

Sunday 1st October: Harry made cauldron cakes, with custom fillings of pumpkin, and apple, as autumn flavours, and with yuzu, which Harry saw on the Great British Bake Off (in Sophie’s bake). He shared these with Draco, as part of a lunch-outside spread.

Harry’s cauldron cakes consisted of a charcoal dark chocolate or golden white chocolate shell in the shape cauldron, followed by a thin layer of sponge and an oozing filling inside.

Monday 2nd October: Harry made fish and chips and mushy peas for dinner with Ron and Hermione, a British staple. Harry, being a chef, choose dover sole for his battered fish, and accompanied it with curry-spiced sweet potato chips, mushy peas, and a tangy coleslaw, aside the condiments of vinegar, lemon and tartar sauce.

Tuesday 3rd October: To give Draco energy to work hard, Harry made a packed dinner, charmed hot, which included a cup of green tea, a dish with chunks of salmon, slices of avocado and blanched greens with sprinkles of toasted sesame seeds, and ending with dessert, a dark chocolate pudding, topped with chopped nuts and blueberries. This was inspired by the previous week’s Great British Bake Off episode, what had been pudding, and all the ingredients, according to one of Harry’s cook books, were supposed to increase brain power.

Wednesday 4th October: Harry made a tonne of pastries, given that yesterday’s Great British Bake Off episode was pastry week. He made both individual savoury pastries and sweet pastries, for Draco, for Teddy and Andromeda, and for the Delacour-Weasleys, using seasonal ingredients including game meat, squash, beetroot, blackberries, raspberries and figs. For him and Ron and Hermione, he made a single large hand-raised curry pie.

Thursday 5th October: This was the night of the full moon, and given that it had just been the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, Harry made moon cakes for Draco and the volunteer patients to share. In one golden moon cake, Harry had made a lotus paste filling, with four salted egg yokes. In the other golden moon cake contained sweet and savoury salted pork, nuts, and four salted egg yokes. The white snowskin moon cake contained an egg custard filling, and the dark purple moon cake contained purple yam, and a sweet potato paste shaped into a ball served as the ‘moon’.

Friday 6th October: Date night with Draco! For the main meal, Harry made a seasonal wild mushroom stroganoff, which he served with rice. He made two identical servings of dessert: each comprised of a “frosted” bubble made from melted sugar, inside which Harry had laid down crumbs from dark chocolate biscuits and crushed hazelnuts, shaped leaves made from matcha icecream, and a flower with thick petals made of cheesecake (double cream, cream cheese, sugar, pureed strawberries) which “flowered” by the power of magic, opening up to reveal mixed berries sitting in a berry sauce and cream.

Saturday 7th October: For breakfast, Harry made a Full English. He fried bacon, eggs, and mushrooms. The tomatoes, cut in half, and the black pudding, in slices, were grilled in the oven along with some hash browns Harry had made previously and frozen. Ron heated up canned baked beans. They had home-squeezed orange juice and a cup of good breakfast tea.

Sunday 8th October: Harry, Ron and the kids had a day out on the scarecrow trail. They ate grilled sausages, kebabs, patties, along with some salad, out of plastic plates with plastic utensils (they eventually gave up on the utensils). They bought soft drinks, and Harry also a couple of ‘gypsy tart’ slices to share, a traditional dessert from Kent.

Monday 9th October: With pumpkin definitely in season, Harry made a well-spiced pumpkin soup, with scattered pumpkin seeds, sage, and a drizzle of a savoury cheese sauce, which was served with crusty bread. For dessert, he made a pumpkin cheesecake to share. Harry didn’t expect it to actually happen, but he and Draco ended up feeding each other little spoonfuls of cheesecake.

Tuesday 10th October: Draco bought food, in part motivated by wanting something decidedly not pumpkin, and also for Harry to take a break from cooking: matcha soba and a number of side dishes to go with it, including dipping sauce, green onion and wasabi, a mix of vegetable and shrimp tempura.

Wednesday 11th October: Harry spent the day with Ron making many, many different iterations and matches of chocolate insects—mostly milk and white chocolate, with added colours to make them more realistic—and figuring out how to spell in the sweet coloured syrup that would be the blood of the insects, all without it burst out as the charmed chocolate insects moved around. Dinner was something pumpkin themed, presumably.

Thursday 12th October: Draco actually cooked—he made ‘grilled’ pork with apples, which he cooked by preparing all the ingredients and then levitating it over a good strong direct heat that he used to heat up his potion cauldrons. The apple-crumble-cheesecake came together quickly: for any ‘baking’ components, Draco used a levitation and quick direct heat and charm to speed up the re-organisation of the molecules, and for the ‘chilling’ components, Draco again used a spell that quickly cooled and set the cheesecake just so.

Friday 13th October: An unlucky day, perhaps. Harry was feeling down, so he and Draco made dinner together. Harry just threw together a quick stir fry (with pumpkin), and Draco made a Waldorf salad (with apples).

Saturday 14th October: Today, Lee came over to take photos of Harry cooking, and of his food. So Harry made a full English for the “breakfast”, open-faced sandwiches for the “lunch”, and a pasta for the “dinner”. Just before bed, he, Draco, and Teddy each had a cup of hot chocolate, with marshmallows on top.

Sunday 15th October: After visiting Grimmauld Place, Harry made an array of sfogliatelle, with different fillings including chocolate, and jam, candied fruit and cream. They were served after the traditional large Weasley Sunday dinner, which would have included a large roast, baked potatoes, Yorkshires, a mixture of roasted and blanched vegetables, salads, and lovely gravy.

Monday 16th October: Draco had a packed lunch from Harry, which would not have been mere sandwiches. Harry also made some black-cat shaped cookies, which would have been flavoured and coloured with activated charcoal, black sesame, or oreos. He found all three flavours had their own charm.

Tuesday 17th October: Harry spent the day baking various different things in trial before the bake sale. Draco bought medlar tarts for dessert, which took him a while to find, not that he’d admit that to Harry (given the Forgotten Bakes theme for the Great British Bake Off that night, Draco wanted to buy something very old fashioned and obscure, yet still looked appetising).

Wednesday 18th October: Harry shared a romantic lunch with Draco (before it was unceremoniously interrupted). For an appetiser, he made bruschetta with cheese and cured meats, and the main dish was pasta pescatore—a seafood pasta—which included clams and scallops and mussels, i.e. Harry had spared no expense.

Thursday 19th October: Harry prepared a lot of pumpkin puree ahead of the bake sale. For dinner though, he did make risotto, that did not include pumpkin nor related vegetables.

Friday 20th October: Harry made a big chocolate cake, to be eaten with icecream and strawberries, for Draco and the lycan volunteers, in celebration of the breakthrough that Draco had made. Throughout the day, Harry made many, many different baked goods, both sweet and savoury for the bake sale the next day. Draco had previously said he’d make dinner this night, which meant that he went out and bought noodles.

Saturday 21st October: Today was Harry’s bake sale! He had made pumpkin cheesecake brownies, blackberry cheesecake shots, pumpkin pies, rhubarb and lemon pudding, apple cakes, oreo black cat cookies, miniature glowing jack-o-lantern pumpkin cakepops, ghostly candy floss, chocolate bats, slime cauldron cakes, pastry latticed mummy-like tarts, and an assortment of miscellaneous monster miniature bakes (of biscuits and cookies and cupcakes decorated like monsters and insects and spiders)...

For actual meals though, he had a quick sandwich before the sale, and had a sandwich after it. After his and Draco’s bath, they would have made some proper dinner together.

Sunday 22nd October: It’s the weekly dinner at the Burrow! Harry made caramel apples to share, and he and Ron and the kids tricked Draco into biting into a caramel-onion! Harry did give Draco a proper caramel apple in the end.

Monday 23rd October: Harry made an earl grey cake for Narcissa and the house elves to enjoy, as a thank you for their help with Grimmauld Place. He had packaged it in a box that would automatically enlarge back to its original size when opened. In fact, he he felt that was getting rather good at this packing thing (in contrast to his ability to wrap Christmas presents!), which made Sara’s idea of an owl-order business more tantalising.

Tuesday 24th October: Ron cooked dinner this night. He made a spiced aubergine bake, grilled salmon, and a watercress salad. He also made chocolate cake with a tonne of chocolate frosting and chocolate bark with chocolate sauce, which he served with some pitted cherries.

Wednesday 25th October: Harry and Molly and all the kids made sweet treats: there were pretzels, marshmallows, lollies, nuts, sprinkles and various toppings, and a lot of melted chocolate. The kids were...creative in what they smashed together. A lot of it was eaten, but some were saved for the upcoming Halloween party.

Thursday 26th October: This night had the dinner party at Harry and Draco’s place, with Draco’s friends, Pansy, Millicent, Blaise and Greg. For the starter, they had butternut squash soup. For the main dish, there was a very cheesy roasted squash lasagna with a nutty pesto, and for dessert, pumpkin flan. To cut through the alternating sweetness and saltiness was a sharp iced mint lemonade.

Friday 27th October: Harry still had a lot of pumpkin, so he made pumpkin ravioli, that went in a dish along with cubes of pumpkin, a cheesy crème fraîche and an almond glaze. He made some little choux buns with pumpkin-cream inside for dessert (inspired by that week’s Bake-Off episode).

Saturday 28th October: The great big Weasley Halloween Party! There were all the lollies and chocolates and treats that the kids made with Harry and Molly, there was pumpkin juice, and caramel apples, and apple bobbing. The main dish included a stuffed jack-o’-lantern bell pepper/capsicum.

Sunday 29th October: In the morning, Harry had a full English brunch with Ron and Hermione. After he and Draco walked around the park, and explored a bit of Muggle London together, they when to an overpriced food kiosk in one of the parks, and had burgers and chips.

Monday 30th October: Harry made some desserts for Lee to photograph. For dinner, Harry went back home. He made gnocchi, which his paired with apples and Stilton cheese. Draco dipped slices of apple into chocolate ganache for the dessert.

Tuesday 31st October: Harry and Draco only shared breakfast today—Draco cooked. Later in the evening, after they finished visiting the cemetery by Godric’s Hollow, Draco will go to France and eat dinner with his extended family, and Harry would go to the Burrow to eat dinner with his surrogate parents.

:::

In the future, Harry would teach Draco how to cook more things; Draco would diligently learn, but subsequently cook it in his own way. Draco would eat crabapples, and will find them delicious. Not as delicious as apples, but he will admit that there is more to fruit than apples.

And one day, Harry would have the bright idea of making a chocolate ball that melts away to reveal an engagement ring inside...

[consulting-celiac-in-the-tardis]

45 Healthier Gluten Free Desserts for Valentine's Day

New blog post! Regardless of whether you're single or in a long-term relationship, a Valentine's Day lover or hater, our Valentine's Days all have one thing in common: lots of delicious food! To help make your February even tastier than usual, though, I thought I'd round up some of my favorite gluten free dessert recipes. The best part? All of these Valentine desserts have been given a healthy twist, whether it's by making them paleo, low carb or vegan, sneaking in some hidden veggies or including less sugar than your typical dessert. BUT they all taste just as delicious!

So whether you're looking for the best gluten free dessert recipes, healthier dessert ideas or just a delicious way to celebrate Valentine's Day this year, keep reading to discover 45 delicious gluten free dessert recipes!

1. Chocolate Raspberry Truffles (Keto) - Keen for Keto

These chocolate truffles look almost too good to eat. But if someone has to do it...I'll sure volunteer!

2. Avocado Chocolate Pudding (Vegan, Raw) - Imagelicious 

Out of all the gluten free vegan recipes out there, this avocado chocolate pudding is a definitely must-make. Who can turn down a creamy, dreamy chocolate dessert?!?

3. Healthier Blackberry Apple Hazelnut Crisp - Pass Me Some Tasty

A traditional gluten free apple crisp just got a berry delicious makeover.

4. Super Clumpy Summer Squash Granola (Vegan, Sugar Free, Oil Free) - Casey the College Celiac

Combine this gluten free granola with your choice of vegan ice cream, banana ice cream or dairy-full treat, and you'll have one delicious creamy and crunchy combo!

(As with all of the recipes in this round up, you should make sure you use gluten free, non-cross-contaminated nuts and seeds if you have celiac disease. Scroll to the bottom of this post for info on my favorite places to buy gluten free seeds/nuts!)

5. Apple Donut - Courtney's Sweets

Grab some gluten free frosting and apple slices will never taste so good.

6. Beet Nut Butter Cups (Vegan) - Veggie Desserts

There's no beet-ter way to get in some veggies than with these chocolate treats! Plus, this easy gluten free dessert only requires four ingredients to make.

7. Banana Mug Cake (Grain Free, Dairy Free, Vegan and Whole 30 Options) - One Clever Chef

If you've ever wished you could eat some banana bread or cake in two minutes or less...here's your dream come true.

8. Healthy Peanut Butter Balls (Keto, Low Carb) - Joy Filled Eats 

All you need is four ingredients to whip up a keto dessert that any peanut butter lover will fall head over heels for...

9. Chocolate Pecan Love Bites (Vegan) - E. A. Stewart Spicy RD Nutrition

These gluten free cookies have a secret healthy ingredient. Hint: it starts with "chick" and ends with "peas"...

10. Brownie Batter Hummus (Vegan) - Pink Fortitude

Who knew hummus could make such a delicious dessert?!?

11. Easy Paleo Strawberry Cream Pie (No Bake) - Oh The Things We'll Make

Nothing says "Valentine's Day" like a pink paleo dessert that only takes 20 minutes to make...

12. Red Velvet Brownies (Vegan) - Veg Annie 

Beets, squash and black beans make these brownies as nutritious as they are delicious!

13. Superfood Berry Banana Bites (Vegan) - Casey the College Celiac

Frozen fruit has never tasted so good!

14. 4-Ingredient (No Butter!) Chocolate Fudge with Coconut - Two Healthy Kitchens

If you're looking for easy gluten free desserts, this simple fudge fits the bill! You can make it ahead of time and mold it into whatever shapes fit your fancy.

15. Vanilla Cupcakes with Perfectly Pink Beet-Dyed Coconut Cream Frosting (Vegan) - Just Beet It

I really don't know what to say besides YUM.

16. Chocolate Banana Bars - This Ole Mom 

Make sure you use certified gluten free oats to whip up these gluten free dessert bars. I still can't believe this dessert features beans!

17. Triple Chocolate Mousse Shooters (Paleo, Refined Sugar Free) - Raia's Recipes

Creamy avocado mousse + fluffy coconut whipped cream + a crumbly almond flour crust = major YUM.

18. Easy No-Bake Chocolate Fig Bars (4-Ingredients, Vegan, Grain-Free) - Clean Eating Kitchen

Gluten free vegan recipes can sometimes require complicated ingredients or a lot of time in the kitchen...but this dessert recipe is the exception! Throw together some gluten free figs, pumpkin seeds, chocolate chips and coconut oil, and prepare to enjoy a Valentine's Day dessert you'll definitely remember.

19. Chocolate Superfood Smoothie Bowl (Vegan) - Casey the College Celiac 

This vegan smoothie recipe is nutritious enough to be eaten for breakfast but tastes decadent enough to eat as dessert. The best of both worlds!

20. Sweet Potato Brownies (Vegan) - Rhian's Recipes

Sweet potatoes are the secret ingredient to these super fudgy gluten free brownies...

21. Easy Chocolate Fat Bombs with Coconut Oil (Keto, Paleo, Low Carb) - Wholesome Yum

Am I the only one drooling?!? I doubt it! A low carb dessert has never looked so decadent.

22. Strawberry Cupcakes - The Soccer Mom Blog

I love that these gluten free cupcakes feature some fresh strawberry puree in their batter and icing!

23. Keto Low Carb Cheesecake - Noshtastic

This is one keto dessert that anyone would enjoy digging into...

24. Chocolate Cauliflower Ice Lollies (Vegan) - Recipes From a Pantry

Can you believe these vegan popsicles have cauliflower in them?!? Mind. Blown.

25. Superfood Chocolate Banana Brownies (Vegan) - Casey the College Celiac 

These brownies are soft like banana bread, packed with chocolate flavor and loaded with hidden superfoods. What more could you want?!?

26.  Raspberry Dusted Brownie Truffles (Vegan) - Spabettie

I have some gluten free cashews in my pantry that are begging to be made into this chocolate vegan dessert!

27. Homemade Jello Snacks - Food Meanderings 

Cut these homemade jello snacks into a heart, and no one will ever guess they're loaded with fruits and veggies!

28. Red Velvet Cupcakes - Good for You Gluten Free 

You can't go wrong with a classic...especially since these gluten free cupcakes are dyed naturally with beets.

29. Vegan Chocolate Pudding - Deliciously Plated

I love how the tart raspberry sauce complements the thick, rich vegan chocolate pudding! And if you're scared of diving into avocado pudding right away, this dessert features banana as well for extra sweetness.

30. The Best Low Carb Carrot Cake (Grain Free, No Sugar Added) - Dr. Davinah's Eats 

I've never been a huge carrot cake person, but I bet this could convert me!

31. 2-Ingredient Protein Candy (Vegan) - Nest and Glow

To get a dose of protein with your sweet fix, whip up this super easy 2-ingredient protein candy! I've had chocolate covered chickpeas before and they are waaaaay more delicious than they sound, so I definitely need to give this recipe a try.

31. Sweet n' Salty Banana Ice Cream (Vegan) - Casey the College Celiac 

If you want an easy gluten free dessert, look no further than banana ice cream! You only need a few ingredients and it's super easy to make in a high-speed blender or food processor.

32. Delicata Squash Coconut Flour Brownies (Paleo) - Fearless Dining

Who knew that squash and chocolate were soul mates?!?

33. Chocolate Avocado Cupcakes (Vegan, No Added Oil) - Healthy Slow Cooking

Is there anything avocado can't do?!? I don't think so...

34. Low Carb Salted Raspberry Chocolate Bark (Keto) - Appetite for Energy 

Frozen raspberries are icing sprinkles on top of this homemade keto chocolate dessert.

35. Strawberry Chunky Monkey Dessert Quesadilla (Vegan Option) - Casey the College Celiac

Quesadillas just got a sweet and delicious upgrade!

36. Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcakes (Low Carb) - Low Carb Yum

This low carb cream cheese dessert is perfect for Valentine's Day...or any day of the year, really!

37. Sweet Millet Balls with Sweet Berry Sauce (Vegan) - My Pure Plants 

Millet is high in fiber, protein, magnesium, copper and manganese...and it makes for a delicious, light dessert in the form of sweet millet balls.

38. Flourless Chocolate Cake (Dairy Free) - Cathy's Gluten Free 

Everyone loves a classic flourless chocolate cake...but this one's a lil' healthier by using coconut oil.

39. Easy Baked Cinnamon Apples (Vegan) - Delightful Adventures

Sometimes dessert can be as simple (and scrumptious) as baked apples!

40. Healthy Blueberry Banana Mug Cake (Vegan) - Vibrant Guide

Who needs blueberry banana oatmeal when you can grind up those gluten free oats and make a vegan mug cake instead?

41. Mini Almond Flour Chocolate Cake - Snappy Gourmet

Excuse me as I lick my computer screen...

42. Chewy Pumpkin Popcorn Balls (Vegan) - Casey the College Celiac 

Depending on the popcorn you use, this gluten free dessert is refined sugar free. Plus, you sneak in some veggies with the pumpkin!

43. Quinoa and Lavender Healthy Chocolate Bark - Turning the Clock Back

Homemade chocolate bark gets some added protein from quinoa and a pop of color and unique flavor from edible lavender. 

44. Chickpea Flour Cookies (Vegan) - Our Wasabi Life

Gluten free cookies just got a deliciously healthy makeover with chickpea flour. 

45. Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake (Vegan) - Give It a Whirl Girl

Who says you can't have cheesecake while eating a vegan diet?!? 

Where to Find Gluten Free Nuts/Seeds for Your Baking Adventures

As you've probably noticed, a lot of these gluten free recipes feature nuts and seeds. Make sure yours are gluten free and non-cross-contaminated. (Same with any oats you use!) Some of my favorite brands to buy gluten free nuts and seeds from are Nuts.com and Anthony's Goods (I usually order the latter on Amazon). I'm also an ambassador for Foods Alive, which offer a variety of delicious seeds and nuts, from hemp seeds to walnuts. Some of my favorites are their organic sunflower seeds and organic pumpkin seeds.  

The Bottom Line of Eating Gluten Free This Valentine's Day

When you're first diagnosed with celiac disease or need to start a gluten free diet, it can feel overwhelming to prepare gluten free foods for holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day. As this round up shows, though, you don't have to eat gluten in order to enjoy a delicious dessert this Valentine's Day! In fact, you can even eat your cake and some hidden veggies with a lot of these gluten free dessert ideas. So whatever your dietary needs this holiday - from general gluten free to low carb to keto to refined sugar free - I hope you show yourself some extra edible love this Valentine's Day. Which recipe from this round up would you like to try first? Tell me in the comments! via Blogger http://bit.ly/2td3xju

[marketerarena-blog]

The 30 Most Popular Dessert Recipes of All Time

Nutrisystem makes losing weight easy because you don’t have to give up the kinds of foods you really enjoy, including deliciously sweet treats. You can satisfy your cravings for dessert with lots of options from the Nutrisystem snack menu. When it’s time for something extra special, try one of our easy recipes, each high in satisfaction yet low in calories. We love them all, but these are the most shared and liked.

Here are the top pinned dessert recipes of all time:

1. 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cups >

Make a better version of everybody’s favorite candy in minutes and have a supply on hand for whenever you’re ready. Bonus: the peanut butter provides one PowerFuel.

2. Cinnamon Spice Baked Apples >

It’s no surprise this delicious dish made the list; it’s packed with everyone’s favorite fall flavors and it’s super simple to make.

3. Chocolate Peppermint Cookies >

There’s no better combo than chocolate and mint. And there’s nothing better than being able to enjoy the decadent duo in diet-friendly cookies like these!

4. No-Bake Lemon Coconut Cheesecake Bites >

The picture says it all. This sweet treat is a light and airy option that makes perfect finger food at parties. Just be sure to double the batch: A dessert this delicious won’t last long!

5. Maple Walnut Fudge >

Featuring all the flavor of that utterly indulgent dessert, fudge, this delicious recipe is so sweet and so creamy, you’ll have trouble believing you can enjoy it while losing weight.

6. Cake Batter “Nice Cream” >

Nice cream is basically ice cream that’s nice to your waistline. And this one definitely does not disappoint. Wait till you find out what the delicious and healthy secret ingredient is!

7. 4-Ingredient Pumpkin Brownies >

Featuring just four simple ingredients, this is one dessert you won’t have to work for. Good thing, because we’re confident that once you give it a try, it will become a staple in your post-dinner repertoire.

8. No-Bake Samoa Chocolate Cookies >

Chocolate-lovers go crazy for this delicious dessert that’s jam-packed with flavor… not with guilt.

9. Blueberry Almond “Nice Cream” >

Our readers love this refreshing treat during the hot summer months, when frozen temptations abound, because it’s sweet, cold and totally guilt-free.

10. Decadent Grasshopper Mint Brownie >

Turn your Nutrisystem Fudge Brownie into a super-indulgent dessert with a layer of quick minty frosting. All that flavor for just 179 calories per serving? Somebody, pinch us!

11. Skinny Cannoli Dip >

We bet you never thought you’d see the words “skinny” and “cannoli” in the same sentence, huh? Lucky for you, we’ve found a way to combine the two into sweet, creamy harmony. This one is perfect for parties and gatherings. Just lay out some fruit slices or graham crackers and you’re all set to be the hostess with the mostess!

12. Low-Fat Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge >

You can enjoy sinking your teeth into a thick piece of fudge and stay on track to your weight loss goal. This simple recipe takes just three ingredients—chocolate chips, peanut butter and almond milk.

13. Fruit Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing >

This one isn’t just pretty, it’s super tasty, too! Plus, it’s packed with all kinds of nutrients like antioxidents, vitamin C and fiber.

14. Crust-less Pumpkin Pie >

Celebrate the autumn holidays—or any coffee break—with a slice of this light but flavorful pie. It’s easy to make even if you have no baking skills.

15. Berry-Easy Bread Pudding Mug Cake >

When you’re in the mood for real comfort food, a few spoonfuls of this warm dish will hit the spot. With individual servings in each mug, you’re sure to eat just the right amount.

16. Chocolate Cherry Bliss Balls >

Made with just five ingredients, these sweet and chocolatey bites are rich and satisfying. And they’re so easy to prepare—no cooking necessary.

17. No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bites >

Yes, we’re talking about chocolate chip cheesecake, with the creamy texture and rich flavor you love, but only 115 calories per serving. Plus, you get two PowerFuels that keep you feeling full for hours.

18. Vanilla Berry Ricotta Mousse >

Creamy, whipped ricotta combines with fresh produce for a fruity favorite you don’t have to regret.

19. Salted Chocolate Pretzel Bread Pudding >

Just when you thought the Nutrisystem Soft Pretzel couldn’t get any better, this recipe enters the picture. The perfect combo of sweet and salty, this delicious take on a Nutrisystem snack is so decadent, it’s hard to believe it’s diet-friendly.

20. Kiwi Strawberry Slushie >

Naturally sweet and ridiculously refreshing, this fruity favorite will take your taste buds on a tropical get-away… without all the guilt of traditional frozen drinks.

21. Gingerbread Freezer Fudge >

Nothing says fall like the distinct flavor of gingerbread. And now, you can enjoy the seasonal staple all year round, thanks to this delicious fudge recipe that combines a few simple ingredients to create an unbelievably tasty treat.

22. Snickerdoodle Energy Balls >

Our readers absolutely adore these tasty little energy snacks because they’re jam-packed with flavor and they’re super simple to eat on the go.

23. Gluten-Free Chewy Ginger Cookies >

You can choose from lots of cookie options on the Nutrisystem menu, but when you’re hankering for the aroma and taste of fresh-baked, try putting a batch of these in your oven. The blend of ginger, cinnamon, molasses and vanilla bring maximum flavor to these soft and chewy cookies.

24. Red White and Blue Pudding Cup >

With three layers of flavor to dig into, each bite is juicy, smooth and creamy, and so sweet. Better make extra—the whole family is sure to want their own.

25. Peachy Honey Whipped Ricotta >

Sweet, creamy and packed with nutrition, one bite of this fabulously fruity, and you’ll be feeling peachy keen. And don’t worry: If you’re not a fan of peaches, you can easily swap them for any of your favorite fruits.

26. Chocolate Coconut Mug Cake >

Who knew such decadence could be made in a mug? Featuring a few simple ingredients, this decadent dessert is perfect for chocolate-lovers who don’t want to sabotage their slim-down. The sweetest part? No oven, necessary. Just pop your mug in the microwave and you’re good to go!

27. Pumpkin Spice Freezer Fudge >

The quintessential fall flavor, pumpkin spice tastes good in everything from coffee  to cake. And now, pumpkin spice tastes twice as nice in fudge! Creamy and sweet, this fudge is rich and decadent but totally guilt-free.

28. Salted Caramel “Nice” Cream >

Here’s the perfect blend of flavors: Gooey, sweet caramel with a spark of salt mixed in and on top frosty sweet banana-vanilla “nice” cream. It’s a sundae you can enjoy just about any day.

29. Pecan Pie Fudge >

This fudge isn’t just adorable… it’s totally tasty, too. Whip up a big batch over the weekend and have fabulous fudge at your fingertips whenever sweet treat cravings strike.

30. Easy Thumbprint Cookies >

Our readers love these crunchy little cookies because they’re easy to make and packed with fruity flavor. Bring these sweet treats to any party or gathering and we promise you they will be a huge hit.

The post The 30 Most Popular Dessert Recipes of All Time appeared first on The Leaf.

https://askfitness.today/the-30-most-popular-dessert-recipes-of-all-time/

[hotfitnesstopics]

Nutrisystem makes losing weight easy because you don’t have to give up the kinds of foods you really enjoy, including deliciously sweet treats. You can satisfy your cravings for dessert with lots of options from the Nutrisystem snack menu. When it’s time for something extra special, try one of our easy recipes, each high in satisfaction yet low in calories. We love them all, but these are the most shared and liked. Here are the top pinned dessert recipes of all time: 1. 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cups > Make a better version of everybody’s favorite candy in minutes and have a supply on hand for whenever you’re ready. Bonus: the peanut butter provides one PowerFuel. 2. Cinnamon Spice Baked Apples > It’s no surprise this delicious dish made the list; it’s packed with everyone’s favorite fall flavors and it’s super simple to make. 3. Chocolate Peppermint Cookies > There’s no better combo than chocolate and mint. And there’s nothing better than being able to enjoy the decadent duo in diet-friendly cookies like these! 4. No-Bake Lemon Coconut Cheesecake Bites > The picture says it all. This sweet treat is a light and airy option that makes perfect finger food at parties. Just be sure to double the batch: A dessert this delicious won’t last long! 5. Maple Walnut Fudge > Featuring all the flavor of that utterly indulgent dessert, fudge, this delicious recipe is so sweet and so creamy, you’ll have trouble believing you can enjoy it while losing weight. 6. Cake Batter “Nice Cream” > Nice cream is basically ice cream that’s nice to your waistline. And this one definitely does not disappoint. Wait till you find out what the delicious and healthy secret ingredient is! 7. 4-Ingredient Pumpkin Brownies > Featuring just four simple ingredients, this is one dessert you won’t have to work for. Good thing, because we’re confident that once you give it a try, it will become a staple in your post-dinner repertoire. 8. No-Bake Samoa Chocolate Cookies > Chocolate-lovers go crazy for this delicious dessert that’s jam-packed with flavor… not with guilt. 9. Blueberry Almond “Nice Cream” > Our readers love this refreshing treat during the hot summer months, when frozen temptations abound, because it’s sweet, cold and totally guilt-free. 10. Decadent Grasshopper Mint Brownie > Turn your Nutrisystem Fudge Brownie into a super-indulgent dessert with a layer of quick minty frosting. All that flavor for just 179 calories per serving? Somebody, pinch us! 11. Skinny Cannoli Dip > We bet you never thought you’d see the words “skinny” and “cannoli” in the same sentence, huh? Lucky for you, we’ve found a way to combine the two into sweet, creamy harmony. This one is perfect for parties and gatherings. Just lay out some fruit slices or graham crackers and you’re all set to be the hostess with the mostess! 12. Low-Fat Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge > You can enjoy sinking your teeth into a thick piece of fudge and stay on track to your weight loss goal. This simple recipe takes just three ingredients—chocolate chips, peanut butter and almond milk. 13. Fruit Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing > This one isn’t just pretty, it’s super tasty, too! Plus, it’s packed with all kinds of nutrients like antioxidents, vitamin C and fiber. 14. Crust-less Pumpkin Pie > Celebrate the autumn holidays—or any coffee break—with a slice of this light but flavorful pie. It’s easy to make even if you have no baking skills. 15. Berry-Easy Bread Pudding Mug Cake > When you’re in the mood for real comfort food, a few spoonfuls of this warm dish will hit the spot. With individual servings in each mug, you’re sure to eat just the right amount. 16. Chocolate Cherry Bliss Balls > Made with just five ingredients, these sweet and chocolatey bites are rich and satisfying. And they’re so easy to prepare—no cooking necessary. 17. No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bites > Yes, we’re talking about chocolate chip cheesecake, with the creamy texture and rich flavor you love, but only 115 calories per serving. Plus, you get two PowerFuels that keep you feeling full for hours. 18. Vanilla Berry Ricotta Mousse > Creamy, whipped ricotta combines with fresh produce for a fruity favorite you don’t have to regret. 19. Salted Chocolate Pretzel Bread Pudding > Just when you thought the Nutrisystem Soft Pretzel couldn’t get any better, this recipe enters the picture. The perfect combo of sweet and salty, this delicious take on a Nutrisystem snack is so decadent, it’s hard to believe it’s diet-friendly. 20. Kiwi Strawberry Slushie > Naturally sweet and ridiculously refreshing, this fruity favorite will take your taste buds on a tropical get-away… without all the guilt of traditional frozen drinks. 21. Gingerbread Freezer Fudge > Nothing says fall like the distinct flavor of gingerbread. And now, you can enjoy the seasonal staple all year round, thanks to this delicious fudge recipe that combines a few simple ingredients to create an unbelievably tasty treat. 22. Snickerdoodle Energy Balls > Our readers absolutely adore these tasty little energy snacks because they’re jam-packed with flavor and they’re super simple to eat on the go. 23. Gluten-Free Chewy Ginger Cookies > You can choose from lots of cookie options on the Nutrisystem menu, but when you’re hankering for the aroma and taste of fresh-baked, try putting a batch of these in your oven. The blend of ginger, cinnamon, molasses and vanilla bring maximum flavor to these soft and chewy cookies. 24. Red White and Blue Pudding Cup > With three layers of flavor to dig into, each bite is juicy, smooth and creamy, and so sweet. Better make extra—the whole family is sure to want their own. 25. Peachy Honey Whipped Ricotta > Sweet, creamy and packed with nutrition, one bite of this fabulously fruity, and you’ll be feeling peachy keen. And don’t worry: If you’re not a fan of peaches, you can easily swap them for any of your favorite fruits. 26. Chocolate Coconut Mug Cake > Who knew such decadence could be made in a mug? Featuring a few simple ingredients, this decadent dessert is perfect for chocolate-lovers who don’t want to sabotage their slim-down. The sweetest part? No oven, necessary. Just pop your mug in the microwave and you’re good to go! 27. Pumpkin Spice Freezer Fudge > The quintessential fall flavor, pumpkin spice tastes good in everything from coffee  to cake. And now, pumpkin spice tastes twice as nice in fudge! Creamy and sweet, this fudge is rich and decadent but totally guilt-free. 28. Salted Caramel “Nice” Cream > Here’s the perfect blend of flavors: Gooey, sweet caramel with a spark of salt mixed in and on top frosty sweet banana-vanilla “nice” cream. It’s a sundae you can enjoy just about any day. 29. Pecan Pie Fudge > This fudge isn’t just adorable… it’s totally tasty, too. Whip up a big batch over the weekend and have fabulous fudge at your fingertips whenever sweet treat cravings strike. 30. Easy Thumbprint Cookies > Our readers love these crunchy little cookies because they’re easy to make and packed with fruity flavor. Bring these sweet treats to any party or gathering and we promise you they will be a huge hit. The post The 30 Most Popular Dessert Recipes of All Time appeared first on The Leaf. from The Leaf https://ift.tt/2MJQBgo via IFTTT

http://www.fitnessclub.cf/2018/08/the-30-most-popular-dessert-recipes-of.html

[through-the-red-door]

Dear Lucy,

I read somewhere that writing a letter to you might help me right now, to process my thoughts and feelings and to give me a chance to say what I need to say to you. Something I can look back on later when my heart is broken and I want nothing but to hold you close again.

It’s just really really hard to do with you curled up next to me, snoring loudly and moving your little legs as you chase after an imaginary ball - or in your case, more likely a pinecone - in dreamland.

So little. So innocent. So loved.

I love you, Lucy. I promise, I love you so very much. I love the way you have to sleep as close as possible to me at night and if I move an inch, you wake up to move with me. I love the way that you would lay your head on my neck if I laid down first and if I tried to make you move, you just climbed further on top of my face. I love the way you pounce first, then run after your toys. I love the way you freak out when I grab your bag of food and how you are suddenly soo obedient when I tell you to sit before I pour it. I love the way you hate when I leave a room and how you follow me or get impatient for my return. I love all of your silly nicknames - Lucy-Goose, Lou, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpy-umpy-umpkin and Honey Bunches of Oats. I love that you already have a theme song - Just the Girl by the Click Five - so random, but it somehow fits the fire in you. I love so many things about you, but I love most of all the way you curl up in my lap when you’re done - going potty, eating, playing. When you climb in my lap, it’s time to move on to the next activity. It makes me feel so loved and needed, even if it’s usually short-lived.

I love you, Lucy-Goose. That’s why I have taken four billion pictures of you in three weeks and why I can’t stop crying now. That’s why I have to do this and why it hurts so badly.

I’m not right for you, Lucy-girl and as much as I wish this wasn’t true, you’re not right for me either.

I have been second-guessing this decision every single night since I made it. I remember the moment clearly: I had been trying so hard to care for you in the best way possible. I did so much research, but I also had let go of the reins a little and let you be a puppy. Things were going better - not particularly well, but better - and I snapped your picture as you looked back at me from your spot on the bed. And as I looked at it, I felt a whisper in me saying that you weren’t mine. You were not meant to stay and I was just putting off the inevitable. I sobbed into your fur as you slept that night and told you how sorry I was. You woke up to lick the tears from my face and snuggle closer still. It will remain one of my favorite memories, sweet girl.

But every morning, when your personality is at its biggest and brightest, I am reminded of all the reasons why we are not right for each other. For one, I absolutely do not have the energy to keep up with you. It’s not fair to keep you outside or in the crate so much because I can’t handle you for long periods. It’s not fair to either of us that I dread waking up to spend the day with you.

And if I’m being honest, I have known we weren’t right for each other all along. When I decided to get a dog, I knew the main reason was for emotional support. Depression and anxiety have wreaked havoc on my life for so long and I have developed some very unhealthy coping mechanisms. I thought that having a dog, especially when I was living alone, would be beneficial. It would give me much-needed responsibility and a reason to get out of the bed in the morning. And most of all, it would give me a companion and friend that I could always turn to when I’m in my darkest moments, instead of turning to destructive things.

I had been seriously thinking through the idea of a dog and planning since November. I had a very specific outline for the kind of dog I wanted - a small to medium sized, adult, good-tempered dog who needed minimal exercise and with whom I clicked and felt comforted by. One that would be content to sit on the couch with me. I even had my eye on one at the shelter, but he got adopted on the very day Mom went to get him. From her first impression, he wouldn’t have been a great fit either, but I had fallen head over heels with the idea of him and I was devastated. At that point, I was desperate for a dog and all of my careful, logical planning flew out the window when I saw your face on the adoption listings.

Your name was Easter then and you were listed as a bulldog mix. (Though we have known as you grow that they were wrong about your breed; there is not an ounce of small, lazy bulldog in you, Lucy-girl - our current theory is bull terrier, another strong, high-energy breed.) I fell in love with your wrinkly face and I went to get you first thing in the morning. I had completely reversed my previous logic and convinced myself that a puppy would be best - for trainability, for bonding and even an easier adjustment for Mickey.

But deep down, I knew. I knew when I picked you up and you were going so crazy that I could barely hold you. I knew when I heard the worker say that your mom was a pitbull and they were not sure about the dad. I convinced myself that doubting myself then would be stereotyping against your breed and that wasn’t fair. But I knew in my heart a “big, strong dog”, as they said, was not what I should sign up. I knew when I cried all the way home and couldn’t even look at you. I knew when I felt the hollow ache of regret in my chest when we got home and the next two days when I sobbed out of fear no less than four times. And in between the moments of joy and sweetness and bonding and love, I have known a million more times since that day.

I called you a spitfire when I introduced you to the world and I was right. You are full of life and spunk and fire. You are opinionated, stubborn and, many times, defiant. I know a lot of it is just puppy behavior, but there have been times when you’re angry because I didn’t give you your way that you have legitimately scared me. I don’t want to be afraid of you, Lucy-Goose. I want to love you, always. Even if it has to be from afar.

I tried so hard to trick myself into believing this was right, and it worked. I convinced myself that we would be okay; I would whisper those words to you as you slept soundly in my arms. I would tell myself that having a big dog when I live alone would be good protection. I told myself we wouldn’t both be miserable.

But since you have come home, Lucy, my mental health and my physical health have taken a nosedive.

I have cried every day - from regret, fear, guilt and heartache. My foot has broken down for the first time in five years. I am struggling again to get out of bed in the morning. All I want to do is avoid the world and this horrible decision I made and the deep, gnawing guilt that I feel for having dragged you into it.

You didn’t do anything wrong, not really. You are just being a puppy, as you should. The big, strong dog that you are already becoming will be a beautiful, wonderful dog, I’m sure of it. And I’m sure she deserves the freedom to run free and play and not be stuck on the couch when that’s already not where you want to be. I think that’s why you’re particularly feisty and fussy sometimes - you’re bored, and I can’t entertain you in the way you need. People keep telling me that you can be trained and that you’ll adapt your behavior to mine, but I don’t want you to. I want you to have more than that. And I know that I can’t adapt myself to you. I can’t run, I can’t chase you, I can’t even walk outside without planning ahead. If I were to miraculously muster up the energy to keep up with you, I would be laid up in bed with horrible pain for days. That’s not fair to either of us.  

I hope that doesn’t sound like an excuse, Lou. I swear I did my best for you.

I am so afraid of the judgment this decision will bring. I know I shouldn’t care; this is between you and me. But I hate the idea of being seen as “that person” who gives up on a sweet little puppy because she didn’t know what she was getting into. I hate that other people will see a different solution, because I can see it too. I know there are things that would get better and ways we can work around the things that don’t. I wish I wasn’t going to be alone when I move out. I wish I had someone strong enough - mentally and physically - to help me with you. I wish it could be me now, not who I could be someday. But I know now, in this moment of reality, that I don’t want better and I don’t want good enough, because I know we could still have had what’s best -  for me and for you. It’s not something I want, sweet-girl, but I think it’s something that we both desperately need. Even if it hurts so much right now.

I’m jealous, Luce. I’m jealous of your next family. I’m jealous that they get to love you and play with you and watch you grow. I’m jealous that they get to find out if you become the best dog ever. I look at Mickey and everything we’ve experienced with him and I want that with you. I want you to be big enough and gentle enough that I can use you as a pillow. I want to teach you tricks and communicate in our own little shorthand. I want to know all of your quirks and preferences and favorite things. I’m so sad that I can’t. I’m sad that I will likely only know who you are now. I’m so sad that I won’t have firsthand knowledge of who you are as you grow. I’m jealous that I won’t be there for birthdays. I’m jealous of the ones who get to see you grow old and gray. I bet you’ll make the sweetest old lady someday. I wish you were there now; maybe we’d be a better fit if it was already both of our “someday”s.

It sounds cliche, but you have taught me so much in the last three weeks, Lucy. I have learned so much about what it means to take care of someone, especially someone who can’t communicate with me. I have learned that sometimes being grumpy means you just need a few extra hugs. I have learned not to settle, not to rush or make excuses and to wait for the best thing for you and you alone. I have learned that even when someone is difficult and they stretch you way beyond your limits, you should still love them to the best of your ability.

I swear that every sweet snuggle made every mid-night bathroom run, every bite that was a little too hard, every time you peed in the house, all three baths that you hated and that time you got into the trash while I was writing this letter a thousand times worth it. I’m so grateful to have loved you first.

I love you enough to let you go, but I am so so sorry.

[rejserusa-blog]

Holidays during the United states

Rejser USA

New A long time Eve: January 1 The celebration of your new 12 months is definitely the oldest of all vacations. It is the beginning with the calendar year in the majority of calendars close to the entire world. You will discover many festivities on New Many years day specifically while in the United states of america. This contains masquerade balls and parties which characteristic countdowns that mark the arrival of twelve midnight. Almost all of the television channels show Periods Square while in the coronary heart of new York City the place several persons get and wait around for that year to end as well as a new a person to start. many families and pals also view tv to take pleasure in the Tournament of Roses parade previous the Rose Bowl soccer match in Pasadena, California.

Presidents Working day: Third Monday of February Presidents Day is the prevalent identify for your U.s. federal holiday getaway officially designated as George Washington birthday. On at the present time, numerous American universities use the days primary as many as President Working day to teach students about the history with the Presidents with the Usa, specifically Washington and Lincoln. Now, the February vacation is becoming well-known for currently being each day during which a lot of suppliers keep income. Some faculties, which utilized to shut for your solitary working day for both equally Lincoln and Washington birthday, now typically near with the total week (starting with the Monday vacation) for a “mid-winter recess”.

Memorial Day: Previous Monday of May possibly Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, is really a day of remembrance for individuals who died serving the united states. It can be commonly observed by browsing cemeteries and memorials; positioning flags and flowers within the graves of fallen heroes. The US flag is generally lifted at half-staff until eventually midday, jointly using the “POW/MIA Flag”.

Independence Day: July 4 Also referred to as the Fourth of July, this getaway commemorates the adoption of the declaration of independence on July four, 1776, declaring independence within the kingdom of Excellent Britain. Generally connected with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, baseball video games, and various other public and private gatherings celebrating the historical past, government, and traditions in the America, but is usually viewed as basically a summer months competition, other than its patriotic overtones.

Labor Day: Initially Monday of September This holiday getaway commenced in 1882, originating from the want via the Central Labor Union to make a day without work for your “working man”. In the event the holiday break was first proposed, tips was given concerning how it really should be observed and celebrated, a street parade to show for the community “the energy and esprit de corps of your trade and labor organizations” from the local community, followed by a festival to the recreation and amusement with the employees and their people. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Working day. On the other hand, at this time, it truly is celebrated generally like a day of relaxation and marks the symbolic conclude of summer for several.

Columbus Working day: Next Monday of Oct It is actually a vacation celebrating the anniversary of Christopher Columbus arrival inside the Americas, on Oct 21, 1942. A similar occasion is commemorated in other countries during the Americas as Dia de la Raza (Working day with the Race) in may perhaps countries in Latin The united states, Dia de las Culturas (Working day in the Cultures) in Costa Rica, Discovery Day within the Bahamas, Hispanic Working day in Spain, as well as newly-renamed (as of 2002) Dia de la Resistencia Indigena (Day on the Indigenous Resistencia) in Venezuela. This holiday break is normally celebrated with parades.

Veterans Working day: November eleven Veterans Day is surely an American holiday break for honoring war veterans. It really is celebrated on the same day as Armistice Day or Remembrance Working day in other portions of the whole world, slipping on November 11, the anniversary from the signing of the armistice that ended Environment War I. On this day, Veterans Day parades are frequently held all around the state.

Thanksgiving Working day: Final Thursday of November Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, can be an yearly secular one-day holiday getaway observed in Canada and also the U . s . to celebrate staying grateful. The vacation origins trace to reap festivals that have been celebrated in lots of cultures given that historic instances, and many persons rejoice by collecting in your own home with family or close friends for your vacation feast. While in the U . s ., Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth of Thursday of November and, in Canada, within the second Monday in Oct. On at the present time, households generally obtain jointly for Thanksgiving, dinner in which turkey is customarily served. Stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, maize, other tumble vegetables, and pumpkin pie are commonly linked with Thanksgiving supper. These major dishes are literally indigenous towards the Americas or were being introduced for a new food items supply to your people of Europe when they arrived.

Christmas Working day: December 25 Xmas or Xmas Day can be a holiday break celebrating the start of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity. Nevertheless, these dates are simply regular; the nice vast majority of students concur that the genuine birth date of Jesus is unidentified. Elements of the celebration might include things like gift-giving, Xmas trees, screen of nativity sets, church attendance, the daddy Christmas/Santa Claus myth, and household gatherings.

References Tourism in the United States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_the_United_States