#benefits of nutmeg

[vegan-nom-noms]

Immune Boosting Wellness Shot

[reachablewellness]

Nutmeg: The Hidden Herbal Gem for Holistic Wellbeing

Nutmeg is one of my favorite spices in the fall season. I will often times place this herb in cookies to give them a special flavor (and it is one of my secret ingredients). More than just a culinary spice on a spice rack, nutmeg holds a treasure full of health benefits for health just waiting to be explored. As a seasoned nurse, herbalist, and founder of a wellness brand, I’ve taken a deep dive…

[abdulajeez]

The Best papaya and oatmeal to lose weight recipe

In this blog post, we will reveal the best papaya and oatmeal to lose weight recipe, which includes papaya and oatmeal. Introduction: Embarking on a weight loss journey can be challenging, but with the right combination of nutritious ingredients, it can be delicious and enjoyable. In this blog post, we will reveal the best recipe for weight loss, which includes papaya and oatmeal. This…

[herbalsjoy]

Health Benefits of Nutmeg"

[linguisticdiscovery]

Ways English borrowed words from Latin

Latin has been influencing English since before English existed!

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of ways that English got vocabulary from Latin:

early Latin influence on the Germanic tribes: The Germanic tribes borrowed words from the Romans while still in continental Europe, before coming to England.

camp, wall, pit, street, mile, cheap, mint, wine, cheese, pillow, cup, linen, line, pepper, butter, onion, chalk, copper, dragon, peacock, pipe, bishop

Roman occupation of England: The Celts borrowed words from the Romans when the Romans invaded England, and the Anglo-Saxons later borrowed those Latin words from the Celts.

port, tower, -chester / -caster / -cester (place name suffix), mount

Christianization of the Anglo-Saxons: Roman missionaries to England converted the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity and brought Latin with them.

altar, angel, anthem, candle, disciple, litany, martyr, mass, noon, nun, offer, organ, palm, relic, rule, shrine, temple, tunic, cap, sock, purple, chest, mat, sack, school, master, fever, circle, talent

Norman Conquest: The Norman French invaded England in 1066 under William the Conqueror, making Norman French the language of the state. Many words were borrowed from French, which had evolved out of Latin.

noble, servant, messenger, feast, story, government, state, empire, royal, authority, tyrant, court, council, parliament, assembly, record, tax, subject, public, liberty, office, warden, peer, sir, madam, mistress, slave, religion, confession, prayer, lesson, novice, creator, saint, miracle, faith, temptation, charity, pity, obedience, justice, equity, judgment, plea, bill, panel, evidence, proof, sentence, award, fine, prison, punishment, plead, blame, arrest, judge, banish, property, arson, heir, defense, army, navy, peace, enemy, battle, combat, banner, havoc, fashion, robe, button, boots, luxury, blue, brown, jewel, crystal, taste, toast, cream, sugar, salad, lettuce, herb, mustard, cinnamon, nutmeg, roast, boil, stew, fry, curtain, couch, screen, lamp, blanket, dance, music, labor, fool, sculpture, beauty, color, image, tone, poet, romance, title, story, pen, chapter, medicine, pain, stomach, plague, poison

The Renaissance: The intense focus on writings from classical antiquity during the Renaissance led to the borrowing of numerous words directly from Latin.

atmosphere, disability, halo, agile, appropriate, expensive, external, habitual, impersonal, adapt, alienate, benefit, consolidate, disregard, erupt, exist, extinguish, harass, meditate

The Scientific Revolution: The need for new technical and scientific terms led to many neoclassical compounds formed from Classical Greek and Latin elements, or new uses of Latin prefixes.

automobile, transcontinental, transformer, prehistoric, preview, prequel, subtitle, deflate, component, data, experiment, formula, nucleus, ratio, structure

Not to mention most borrowings from other Romance languages, such as Spanish or Italian, which also evolved from Latin.

Further Reading: A history of the English language (Baugh & Cable)

[ahedderick]

Context: It has been raining for days. But no wet peets or cold, soggy fur here! Hero, Missile, and Nutmeg are standing comfortably under the barn overhang, also enjoying domestication.

[ID: Photo of two large, plush, ridiculously comfortable-looking tabby cats cuddled up on a mirrored bureau. Text above reads "There are many benefits," text below reads "to being a domesticated animal."]

[beautyandlifestyleblog86]

Turmeric Golden Latte ——

Ingredients:

* 1 cup almond milk (or your preferred milk)

* 1 teaspoon turmeric powder

* 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

* 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

* 1 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup)

* Pinch of nutmeg (optional)

Instructions:

▫️In a small saucepan, heat the almond milk over medium heat until warm but not boiling.

▫️Add turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, and nutmeg (if using) to the warm milk.

▫️Stir the mixture well to combine the spices.

▫️Add honey or maple syrup to taste.

▫️Pour the golden latte into a mug and enjoy.

This golden latte contains a blend of powerful spices that offer a range of nutritional benefits. Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and potential immune-boosting benefits, while ginger can help reduce inflammation and support digestion. Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants and may help regulate blood sugar levels. Also, black pepper is included to enhance the absorption of curcumin, the active compound in turmeric. Enjoying this golden latte is a delicious and healthy way to boost your immunity and experience the advantages of these potent spices.

[the-s1lly-corner]

Ookay this one is really really tooth rotting fluff level

Tadc x reader who just realized christmas is coming, and is freaking out with absolute glee and childlike wonder

TADC cast x reader who loves christmas!

AAAAAA im so so sorry i could have sworn i answered this but i guess i didnt??? i promise i didnt mean to leave this in the inbox this long on purpose i think i must have lost track of stuff </3 regardless, i hope you enjoy! admin must admit, asides from presents and the christmas tree, he doesnt do many holiday activities so... admin is underqualified for this but hes still gonna try! a lot of the character segments intertwine in this btw! like not in a "similar idea" thing but in a "they are actually overlapping and interacting with one another" way so !! side note unrelated to the post eheheheh the second batch of macarons have been piped! theyre now on the counter set out to dry, and ive got my ganaches out to get to room temperature so i can whip em up into a frosting :3

CAINE:

oh i just know that caine would lean hard into holiday stuff, plus i think he has the best sense of time in the digital world out of everyone.. plus he just seems like the kind of guy to celebrate all sorts of holidays, not just christmas! year round stuff, you know? not just winter... so you guys would likely team up and totally deck out the grounds to match the holiday spirit! sure caine on his own already puts in way too much effort decorating everything, he even makes it snow! but with you around he cranks it up to 11! lets just hope there arent any scrooges around, though.... also prepare yourself because he would definitely find a way to have christmas music play on loop in the background... somewhere... ambient music but its festive songs... i think caine is also the one responsible for most of the presents, since he can basically get most things with just a flick of his wrist! ooooo perhaps a date (platonic or romantic! up to you!) where you guys wrap the gifts together!

POMNI:

funny enough, while i usually think pomni would SUCK at cooking, i think she can make a mean hot coco. granted, hot coco and/or hot chocolate arent the hardest things to make, but... i dont know, its just different when she makes it... (recommendation from the admin, add a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg to your hot coco its a game changer frfr, this goes for a lot of chocolate stuff, actually. its like the chocolate-coffee effect but like. makes a different flavor profile. add a bit of nutmeg to your chocolate chip goodies. rn.)

anyways! pomni always keeps you supplied with hot coco, and honestly it benefits you both! keeps you nice and warm, plus its delicious; and it gives pomni something to do... i mean, its christmas... surely she can take it easy from trying to find the exit... just for the season... helps with her anxiety about the whole situation, you know? making digital food sure is weird, though...

RAGATHA:

as mentioned in gangles part, she joins you and gangle in helping making a skirt for the tree! keeping up with the idea of sewing things, i think she would also make stockings for everyone; leaving most of them blank so everyone can customize them however they like... but you and her get together to decorate your own together and just !! i just think thats sweet! depending on how soon caine starts putting the christmas stuff around, you and her might be able to make some ugly sweaters for yourselves! thats a christmas thing, right? oooo and they match.... OOOO YOU GUYS MAKE AN EXTRA LONG SCARF FOR YOU GUYS TO SHARE!!!! rolls around... she makes you mittens so you can go mess around in the snow caine put all over the grounds

JAX:

snowball fight. and i mean really intense once. in fact it wouldnt be too much of a stress to call it a snowball WAR! honestly jax might just be the type to put rocks in his snowballs.... but because this is meant to be nice and sweet, he wont... just this once, and because he feels TOO mean crushing your holiday spirit (even if your digital body would quickly recover from the possible injury...)

you guys make forts and go absolutely ham. the stuff ragatha had made for the two of you! i mean sure you guys cant succumb to hypothermia, buuuuuuuuuut being really painfully cold still sucks... but the sweaters help you guys stay out for longer to play! and you can perhaps ask pomni to make some hot coco

oh yes its all coming together

ooo perhaps you convince jax to make snow angels and snowmen with you... though, i think jax would make the snowmen purposefully unappealing... but maybe you think hes actually trying his best... oh you jolly little thing..

KINGER:

okay so i admit this one might be a stretch and its mostly because his robe already has the fur and he gives off grandpa energy (even though hes only 48 but hey some grandpas become grandpas young) but imagine somehow someway he dresses up as santa (and i say that loosely, his robe turns red and the fur turns a plain white), bonus if he wears a hat to tie in the entire look. while caine is the one getting the gifts and wrapping them, i like to think kinger would ask to be the one to put them under the tree at an ungodly hour. sweet man. chews

as for an interaction with the reader... hmm.. hes the last character im writing, everyone else already has their parts done... the one christmas activity i can think of that hasnt been taken yet is baking! honestly i can see him being a decent chef! maybe its the dad/granddad energy speaking to me again... perhaps its the admin projecting... buuuut imagine you two make shaped cookies togehter; stars, candy canes, trees, bells, ect... and you ice them together! sure they may not be the prettiest or look the most professional; but does that really matter when youre having fun? they still taste delicious!

ZOOBLE:

ok i get it, i tend to lean hard into the zooble being negative and/or unimpressed with things a liiiiiiiiittle too often, but again zooble doesnt strike me as the type to enjoy most holidays. they seem more of a halloween person to me, you know? though, i think that they would switch out their antennae for ones that resemble antlers more... or if they dont have those, they string lights up on them! all for you, just because they know how excited the holiday makes you. they dont care about many things, but they care about you... and if it means doing (harmless) things they normally wouldnt do, then so be it! dont expect them to get in on many holiday activities, though...

GANGLE:

you and her make decorations for the grounds and the giant digital tree caine put in the main common area! handmade ornaments, paper stars and snowflakes, things like that! you and gangle stay up take cutting each thing, applying the colors and the glitter and any small details.... dozens of times.... because caine chose a tree that was way too big than it needed to be.... oh you might have to have gangle on your shoulders so she can reach the higher points of the tree! sits and thinks.... ooouuuuuuuuugh you guys make a skirt for the tree together with the help of ragatha... little group activity... sobs...

[loominggaia]

GREENHEARSTIAN CUISINE

(This time we are learning about the traditional cuisine of Greenhearst, hometown of Evan Atlas!)

OVERVIEW

Greenhearst is often called “Evangeline’s breadbasket” because most of the kingdom’s grains are grown here. But Greenhearstians farm a wide variety of other crops too, most notably apples, potatoes, and squashes. This territory exports a lot of locally-made beers and ciders all over the world, so peoples far and wide can get a taste of Greenhearst. Many of Evangeline Kingdom’s favorite recipes originate from here, and they are…

BAKED APPLE

The baked apple is a versatile food that can be eaten any time, depending on the ingredients used. It is simply an apple that has been cored and baked until soft. If eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, it is stuffed with brown sugar and minced beef or squash. If eaten for dessert, it is instead stuffed with cream cheese or pudding. It is often flavored with cinnamon.

PUMPKIN PORRIDGE

Pumpkin season is an exciting time for Greenhearstians, as they love to eat pumpkin porridge for breakfast. It is made by mixing cornmeal with pureed pumpkins and tomatoes, then it is usually flavored further with cinnamon and nutmeg. It is full of fiber and vitamins, making it popular with elderly people in particular. Children and the sickly also benefit from eating this food. Greenhearstians even feed pumpkin porridge to their sick livestock to perk them up, and they swear by its miraculous results.

BEEF LOAF

This is a typical lunch or dinner item in Greenhearst, traditionally served alongside mashed potatoes. It is made by mixing ground beef with crumbled bread, eggs, tomato paste, diced onions, and spices. These ingredients are baked into a hearty, delicious loaf that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

FRYING CHEESE

Though Greenhearst isn’t known for its ranching industry, many of its residents do own their own milk-producing livestock. Locals like to turn this milk into hard cheeses and then fry them on the grill like meat. What makes this dish popular is its versatility and portability. It can be wrapped up and carried around all day, which is ideal for those who work outside. It is often eaten plain, but may also be flavored or paired in countless ways. Tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, and apples are some of the more common pairings.

APPLE CIDER

Greenhearst is home to vast apple orchards, and it seems there is nothing the locals can’t do with this fruit. Apple cider is such a hot item here that there are entire shops dedicated to it. Keeping the shelves stocked is easy with so many different types and flavors available. Greenhearst produces enough cider to export it to other regions as well, including overseas. This drink, along with beer, support a large chunk of the territory’s economy. Cider comes in alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties, so it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It can also be served cold or warm.

POTAPLO CASSEROLE

Thinly-sliced potatoes and apples are arranged in layers and baked in a dish with onions, rosemary, nutmeg, and topped with melted cheese. This dish is so filling, flavorful, and simple to prepare that it has become the most popular dinnertime meal in Greenhearst.

CARAMEL BUTTER BAR

These chewy bars are a common dessert food in the region. A layer of melted caramel is poured onto buttery dough forms, then the bars are topped with crushed hazelnuts and salt. Once they cool, they are solidified and ready to eat. These bars are high in fat and sugar, but locals find it hard to eat them in moderation.

CHICKEN CHILI

A flavorful chili containing chicken, red beans, green beans, carrots, tomatoes, onions, and peppers. It is hard to grow spicy peppers in Greenhearst’s cool-temperate climate, so this chili is quite mild when prepared the traditional way. Regardless, it is hearty and healthy with its plethora of nutritious ingredients.

OTHER

Beer and appelchek are also staples of traditional Greenhearstian cuisine. You can read more about them on the main Evangelite Cuisine article.

SEE ALSO

Cuisine Masterpost

Greenhearst

Queen Indiga Evangeline

Evangelite Fashions

Evangelite Territories

*

Questions/Comments?

Lore Masterpost

Read the Series

[novantinuum]

Fandom: Steven Universe Rating: Teen Audiences Words: 1.7K~ Summary: “No, no, please— Steven, it’s not ‘nothing,’ I’m curious, now.” Tone bursting with genuine warmth, he plants a singular hand on his shoulder, trying to coax him to open up again. “I genuinely want to know.” And stars, is the sheer, uncharacteristic vulnerability glistening within his dear friend’s warm brown irises when next he opens his mouth almost enough to scramble the very code of his core-most being. “You sure about that, Flower Boy?” _ A holiday gift fic inspired by the story "Drift Together," in which Steven and his Gem- Floret- are split at birth and live entirely separate lives before ultimately reuniting in high school.

Merry Christmas @gaudess-schmoddess! I enjoyed getting an opportunity to write about your boys so very much! It's such a fun challenge, playing in other people's sandboxes, ahah.

__

The living room of the home he’s visiting— Steven’s home— is filled with warmth and loud, lilting laughter this brisk winter evening.

A soft smile rises upon Floret’s lips as he leans up against the wall in the doorway of the kitchen and observes the scene. It’s a fairly small gathering all-in-all, just the Lök family and a few of their closest connections, which means that he’s genuinely quite touched that Steven thought to invite him. Vidalia is perched on the couch next to Yellowtail, a bit tipsy on wine and giggling over some dramatic, drawn-out story about a recent mail delivery incident that Barb’s been telling for the last ten or so minutes. Onion is perfectly content sculpting… well, something— (he’s not quite sure what his latest masterpiece is supposed to be yet)— in his mashed potatoes, and Steven himself is hanging out in the corner catching up with Sour Cream, who’s come home from university to visit for a few weeks. There’s a handful of other folks here too… either extended relatives or friends of the family he doesn’t yet know. Everyone here— completely new faces included— has been very welcoming towards him, with plenty asking him curious questions about Gems and their settlement in town, which he’s perfectly happy to answer. In less familiar social situations like these though, he often feels more comfortable overlooking the crowd rather than injecting himself right into the middle of it. At least for now. At least until he gathers more intel on all the subtle minutia of these people’s energy and interactions. 

It simply feels more polite that way. 

Absentmindedly whistling along to the soft classic rock on the playlist that’s running, he glances down into his cup, twirling around the scant remainder of some homemade spiced apple cider that he brought. It’s more of a concentrated slurry of cinnamon and nutmeg than actual cider at this point, but that’s fine. He’s well aware that this batch was a bit of a rush job. If he were given the benefit of advanced warning he could’ve simmered it for longer, but alas Steven’s invite was a wholly last minute thing; it was a stray semicolon at the end of an otherwise finished sentence. He barely had enough time to throw together a halfway coherent outfit tonight, let alone prep a halfway adequate potluck offering as a polite thank you. Still, he’d say the flavors melded enough to suit most folks’ tastes.

He sighs with the exact sort of manufactured content one might expect from a teenage wallflower at a party they know almost no one at, spinning around real quick to toss the plastic cup in the trashcan right behind him. 

When he returns his wandering attention to the living space though, every last thread of his cognizant mind is sucked in by Steven (and oh, how easily it’s swayed by him these days), who’s finished his quick conversation with his adoptive older brother and is now sauntering back towards him with a teasing little grin on his face. He’s wearing a sweater tonight, black with red stripes. It suits him, he thinks— this pop of red matches that of his bold eyeliner perfectly. 

“Uh-oh,” his science partner says with a bit of a playful lilt tinting his voice, nudging him with his elbow. “Do you see what I see?”

He nods his head upwards, pulling Floret’s gaze straight towards the ceiling. 

He squints, finding nothing else of note beyond a fresh, ribboned sprig of that leafy plant he often sees hung about in the doorways this time of year. “What, y’mean that decoration?”

Steven’s grin transforms into a full shit-eating smirk. “Looks like it caught us fair and square, don’tcha think? Guess that means we have no choice…”

His brows scrunch inwards. “No choice… of what?”

“Uh… it’s mistletoe—? Come on, play along with me, here. You know what that is.”

“Do I—?”

He sneaks a quick peak at the plant in question again, wracking his memory for any scrap of familiarity he can muster, even the smallest crumb of a fact. And what does he find? Nothing of note. Beyond his awareness that it’s a seasonal thing, he has no idea what Steven’s talking about, and it’s starting to drive his mind in insatiably curious circles. ‘Play along?’ With what??

Steven purses his lips as he squints at him, truly searching his expression.

“Oh my fucking god,” he blurts out with a small peel of laughter after a few tense beats of silence. “Are you seriously telling me that Gems don’t know what mistletoe is for? That your dad didn’t even mention this very basic holiday tradition to you??”

“I dunno!” Floret says with a massive sheepish shrug, sensing his cheeks heat up against his will. “I missed out on a lot of human stuff growing up, okay? Also, I never really celebrated Christmas as a kid anyways. Just wasn’t our thing.”

He raises his open palmed hands out in a gesture of defense. “Jeeze, sorry, fair enough.”

Pause. 

There’s an extended moment here where the two of them can’t quite seem to meet each other’s eyes, rocking back and forth on their heels as the din of all the adults’ spirited conversation in the other room threatens to envelop the unwritten potential of this interaction entirely. 

Then…

Inhaling deep, he scratches at the nape of his neck, lingering curiosity pouring off him in waves.

“So, uh… what is it for?”

Steven’s attention snaps back up to meet his— just for a split second, just for long enough that he knows without a glimmer of doubt that he did in fact hear his question— and his cheeks flush a bright scarlet red as he immediately averts his eyes once more. Floret follows the trajectory of his glance, finding him peering at Vidalia in the other room. She’s watching them with a bit of a wry smile.

“I-I… forget about it,” he murmurs, crossing his arms tight around himself, “it’s stupid. I’m stupid. I was just messin’ with you, really. We don’t actually have to—”

His words conveniently and oh-so-frustratingly trail off.

Floret’s brow furrows as he probes him for more information. “Have to… have to what?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s just leave it.”

“No, no, please— Steven, it’s not ‘nothing,’ I’m curious, now.” Tone bursting with genuine warmth, he plants a singular hand on his shoulder, trying to coax him to open up again. “I genuinely want to know.”

And stars, is the sheer, uncharacteristic vulnerability glistening within his dear friend’s warm brown irises when next he opens his mouth almost enough to scramble the very code of his core-most being.

“You sure about that, Flower Boy?”

He nods, suddenly having never been more sure about anything in all his eighteen years of life. “Yes. I am.”

Steven’s glance skates upwards once more, lingering upon that little sprig of green with a palpable air of anxiety as he drops his hands to his side. 

“Well, uh—” he begins, thumbing his fingertips against the somewhat worn hem of his sweater’s sleeve— “when two people are caught underneath the mistletoe, the tradition is that they’re supposed to…”

He inhales sharply, and then rises on his tiptoes as high as he’ll go. Eyelids fluttering shut, and grabbing loose fistfuls of his dress shirt to bring them closer together, he finally crosses that long-indefinable line of their uniquely intense friendship and presses their lips flush. Floret practically melts into this kiss, his veins thrumming with a kind of warm, effervescent energy he’s never quite felt before. The gem at his navel hums with clear desire as— almost instinctively— his hands raise to settle against the small of his back, deepening their embrace. 

And then, just as swift as their worlds so unpredictably intersected this school year to begin with, it’s over. 

(Far, far too soon.)

Steven pulls away first. He breaks apart with a shallow, almost quivering breath, sinking back upon his heels. The tips of his ears are burning a pink that’s even brighter than the swirl of dyed color in his bangs as he pointedly avoids his dumbfounded gaze, choosing instead to stare holes into the tiled kitchen laminate under his feet. It’s the most unguarded expression he thinks he’s ever seen from him, and the sheer significance of this realization leaves Floret wholly unmoored. His mouth bobs open to say something in response— literally anything— but despite his best efforts he can’t muster the cognizance to so much as string two syllables together. 

He’s lost in the stratosphere. 

Entirely starstruck.

(Because what on Earth does this kiss make them? Who are they to each other after such an intimate breakthrough like that?)

“T-that’s a… a really nice tradition,” he finally manages to splutter out, voice croaking a few pitches higher than his usual tenor.

The barest glimmer of a smile flutters across Steven’s face, but it’s subdued. Anxious, even… as if his friend (boyfriend??) has just been struck with the wonderful but all-too dizzying truth that this daring kiss he initiated isn’t like one of his teasing jokes that can always be taken back. No, no. Instead, a fundamental line of this relationship has been crossed forever… a distinct, billowing shift in the winds of their fates that it’s obvious they both can sense. 

Floret watches his eyes flit towards the living room for the briefest of seconds, meeting the glance of his adoptive mother once more. Vidalia shoots them a knowing smirk and a nod of wholehearted acceptance (leave it to a parent to have a keen intuition for these kinds of matters, he supposes) before returning to her conversation with the other adults.

Tugging at his sweater sleeve, Steven clears his throat.

“So, um… anyways,” he mumbles, summoning the courage to peer up at him again. “Are you enjoying the party, so far?”

Floret beams, his cheeks almost aching from— for once in his life— the sheer sincerity of this yet-unknown feeling bubbling up within him.

(Stars, what does one even call such emotion, again…?)

“I definitely am now,” he says, wrapping his arm around his waist and drawing him into his warmth. 

And upon physical reunion with his dear science partner, the diamond embedded at his core sings him its wholehearted answer.

It’s bliss, he realizes with a hum of contentment.

The emotion he’s looking for… that some yearning, hollow piece of him has always been looking for… is bliss.

[loosesodamarble]

Welcome to the Black Bird Part 11: Luis's Special Brew

Summary: Introducing Marx as Luis, the Black Bird's tea specialist and one of the kitchen crew. Genre: general Word count: ~850 A/N: Thank you to @crazycookiemaniac for the commission of Marx.

..........

Bountiful Francois, a family-owned business selling herbs, spices, and most famously tea leaves. Everything the business sold, they grew on one of several farms owned and run by a branch of the expansive family tree.

Marx, as a child from the main branch, knew he’d eventually be entrusted with a significant role in the company. What specifically he’d do, he had no clue. Then, opportunity knocked by way of his Granny Claris calling him to her personal office.

“Marx, sweetie, how would you feel about being a consultant for a new business partner?” she asked while sliding a cup of tea to Marx who graciously took it. Marx gave his grandmother a questioning look, wordlessly seeking elaboration. “A cafe wishes to buy our leaves and make their own blends. Though, to ensure that our products are used to their fullest, I feel it best to give them an expert opinion.”

“And you think I’m qualified?” Marx asked between sips.

Claris grinned and replied, “Why of course. You have an eye for detail, you’re efficient, and—”

“Oh!” Marx stared at his cup. “Was this blend made with clementine and not blood orange peel?”

“See, that’s what I mean!” Claris exclaimed with a cheerful laugh. “Your palette is refined and I don’t doubt your judgment would benefit that cafe.” Her praise made Marx smile and flush. Claris reached across the desk and took one of Marx’s hands between her own. “The best part is, working with the cafe could be a way to promote Bountiful Francois before opening a store in Clover City.”

Marx chuckled. While Granny Claris wasn’t the most shrewd business woman, she was always considering potential deals and future projects. And if she believed Marx would succeed in the task given, as small as it was, then he couldn’t turn down the chance.

…..

“One pot of Dreamy Darling for Table #11,” Marx called out as he placed a tea set for pick up.

“Luis!” “Marius” sped up to the pick up counter and peered into the kitchen. “A customer wants a recommendation. Floral with spicy undertones, and something that doesn’t need any additional sweetener.”

Marx blinked before several possibilities came to mind. Orange blossom and cinnamon yellow tea. Rose and cardamom. Marigold with nutmeg, or ginger. But no sweetener?

“Give me ten and I’ll have something prepared.”

Marx strode deeper into the kitchen to a large cabinet and swung it open. Jars and canisters of dried leaves and petals and more lined the shelves.

“I’ll need to use a white or yellow tea as the base to minimize the bitterness…” Marx pulled out a jar of pale leaves. “Cinnamon or nutmeg would provide good spice. A pinch of fennel too…” He plucked the chosen spices and set them aside. “For the floral element… something that will provide most of the sweetness…”

It wasn’t normal practice for Marx to piece together a custom blend for a patron on the fly. But sometimes, the standard blends that the cafe serves and seasonally cycled through didn’t suit a customer’s tastes. It was always a gamble, but Marx would follow his instincts and have faith that the flavors he studied and knew would work their magic.

The kettle whistled. Marx poured the boiling water through a strainer filled with the custom blend and into a teapot for serving.

The aroma of the steam was different. Pleasantly so. Marx made a mental note to remember it and recreate the blend, perhaps to add it to the cafe’s menu rotation.

…..

Assorted Tea Bites. A dessert that turned the enjoyment of enjoying tea and pastries into fun, bite-sized portions.

Cookies flavored with tea weren’t invented by the Black Bird so they elevated the dish by presenting multiple flavors of tea on a single platter. Black, chai, green, and white tea flavors were always served while an extra two flavors, typically herbal blends, were changed regularly to keep customers from growing tired of the dish.

The tea flavor of the dessert was added through liquid and dry ingredients. Milk would be simmered with loose leaves to absorb the flavor and then cooled at room temperature. For the dry component, leaves from a blend were ground down to a fine powder, matching the consistency of flour. The infused milks and powders were then used to make cookie dough. Once mixed, the dough was portioned for daily use and stored in the freezer.

Was it a lot of prep work? Certainly. Did it mean the kitchen staff had to track when portions of dough were made to use them up before too long? Indeed. But it saved hours of time that would’ve been wasted trying to make fresh dough daily.

The dish, the recipe, and the organization to implement it spoke to Marx’s soul. His family’s products were used masterfully. And staff were efficient, so as never to run out early or leave dough sitting too long.

A chance was taken and though Marx had been taken a bit far from the family business, he liked how he felt comfortable and yet challenged where he was. Like tea leaves, he was undergoing a process and would come out of it changed into something far more refined than what he once was.

[simplyafountainpen]

An Epicurean Feast

Oho? What’s this? It’s seems as though your head Butler is preparing a large feast! Now the only question is…

…Who Will You Invite?~

Hello, and welcome to my first milestone event; One held in the honor of my 100 followers.

This event will be limited to a total of nine slots, so that I won’t over work myself. So please, do not hesitate to send in a request. I assure I will be more than happy to oblige.

Here is our Menu for this Fine Evening

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{𝓓𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓼} ~ {𝓡𝓮𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓹}

♰ White Tiger’s Milk ~ Romantic

❝This is a rich and indulgent cocktail that delivers a creamy flavor profile through a harmonious blend of Applejack, milk, cream and white sugar with a sprinkle of nutmeg to top.❞

♰ English Milk Punch ~ Platonic

❝This creamy and refreshing Milk Punch is a blend of Brandy, pineapple, cinnamon, Green Tea and lemon, mixed with milk and boiled till curdled, strenuously strained and garnished with nutmeg and a lemon rind.❞

♰ Sleeper ~ Familial

❝A stiff and intoxicating mix of Rum, sugar, coriander seeds, and cinnamon, served freshly boiled with a clove buds and a cinnamon stick to garnish.❞

♰ Tip-Top Punch ~ One Sided

❝This light and fruity cocktail is the perfect blend of Champagne, Curaçao, soda water, sliced pineapple and powdered sugar mixed till fully combined and served with a pineapple wedge.❞

♰ Apple Toddy ~ Enemies

❝A warm and aromatic drink made up of Cider Brandy, baked apple and white sugar, mixed with boiled water and topped with powered sugar and a pinch of nutmeg.❞

♰ Earl Grey Cream ~ Friends with Benefits

❝A smooth and rich tea, made by mixing Earl Grey tea leaves with natural bergamot oil and a bit of vanilla.❞

♰ Wild Rosebud Tea ~ Stalker

❝A gentle and floral tea, made simply by steeping dried wild rosebuds of different variety with boiled water with a drizzle of honey.❞

♰ Pearl Tea ~ Yandere

❝A tea of Chinese decent, made by combining Camellia Sinensis Plant with mint tea and boiling it at medium heat, mixed with sugar and a splash of honey.❞

{𝓖𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓼𝓱𝓮𝓼} ⛧With Lemon ~ Yandere Reader ⛧With Lime ~ Stalker Reader ⛧With Ice ~ Older Reader ⛧With Sugar ~ Younger Reader ⛧With Cream ~ Polyam/Multiple Characters

{𝓐𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓽𝓲𝔃𝓮𝓻𝓼} ~ {𝓢𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂 𝓓𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷}

♰ Mulligatawny Soup ~ M/M

❝Inspired by a curry of Eastern Indian, this is a sweet, spicy and decadent soup, it's made with shredded chicken, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, sweet potato, apple and Indian Spices, all served in a lentil broth.❞

♰ Clear Soup ~ TM/M

❝This dish is made by simmering various vegetables or meats in a broth and removing them later for a flavorful 'clear soup'; ours is made with celery, mushrooms, carrots, beef, cabbage, broccoli and sweet corn, left to simmer over high heat and later served with a dash of salt.❞

♰ Scalloped Brill ~ M/TM

❝Brill is a flat fish that when cooked is sweet in flavor, we pan-sear and baste in a butter sauce with salt, plated with herbs and fresh tomato.❞

♰ Jellied Eels ~ Reader POV

❝Our eels are resourced directly from our river, taken immediately to be chopped into chunks and placed in spiced stock, left to cool for hours, and once jelled we serve them on ice.❞

♰ Fried Soles ~ Character(s) POV

❝Sliced into fillets, we batter with egg and breadcrumbs then fried, parmesan is then shredded over top and garnished with brown sugar, tarragon sauce.❞

♰ Lamb's Sweetbread ~ No One's POV

❝The thymus of a lamb is battered with egg wash, milk and breadcrumbs, fried, dashed with salt and pepper, then served on a bed of fresh lettuce and topped with chives. ❞

{𝓜𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓒𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮} ~ {𝓢𝓕𝓦 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮}

♰ Fricandeau of Veal and Spinach ~ Beach Day

❝We take a leg of veal, lard it with fatty bacon and stew with bacon, potatoes, onions, carrots, bay leaves and spices till boiled, baste it with liquor, bake in the oven and glaze, served over a plate of spinach.❞

♰ Croquets of Fowl with Piquant Sauce ~ Reconnection

❝Our fresh Cochins chicken is shredded, mixed with condensed soup, bread crumbs, celery, and seasoning, and breaded again, fried and served with a piping hot piquant sauce made with a fine dark roux, tomato, onions, green bell peppers, seasonings and chicken.❞

♰ Curried Lobster with Rice ~ Character Death

❝We butterfly a lobster tail, cook it till opaque with curry powder and then steam it with rice, onions, butter, tomatoes and annatto oil, plated with parmesan grated on top.❞

♰ Roast Capon ~ Kidnapping

❝These roosters are hand picked from our fine selection, killed and plucked on site then slow roasted with onion, herbs, lemon the salt and pepper, we then take the drippings and combine them with Sherry for glaze, served with roasted potato.❞

♰ Stuffed Saddle of Mutton ~ Shopping Trip

❝A whole saddle of lamb is taken and deboned, stuffed with sautéed salted spinach, finely chopped garlic, shallots, black olives, and lightly fried lamb kidneys, then baked in the over, served with mint jelly.❞

♰ Lancashire Hot Pot ~ Moonlit Picnic

❝We place chopped mutton and onions in a dish to simmer, adding carrots, onions, stir in flower, stock and bay leaves then place potato slices on top and bake for hours to ensure all flavors are melded together, served with a mint sauce.❞

♰ Roast Goose with Apple Stuffing ~ Masquerade Ball

❝First we stuff a goose with specialty made stuffing, consisting of apples, bread, currants, butter and thyme, cover the goose in spices and slow roast with celery, potatoes and garlic, and covered in a homemade gravy.❞

♰ Collar’d Pig stuffed with Forcemeat ~ Memory Loss

❝The meat is butterflied and washed in butter then stuffed with forcemeat, which is a mixture of apples, bread and chicken broth, finally seasoned with cranberries and thyme, and finally slow roasted for tender, easy to pull apart meat.❞

♰ Cottage Pie ~ Idiots in Love

❝We take farm fresh beef and brown it, combining with fresh onions, garlic, peas, carrots and oregano, add Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste then cover in fluffy garlic mashed potatoes and bake till golden at the top.❞

♰ Devonshire Squab Pie ~ Long Distance

❝In a pie crust we mix spiced lamb, apples, onions, prunes, stock and sugar, bake low and slow then wash with egg, served with a helping of clotted cream.❞

{𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓽} ~ {𝓝𝓢𝓕𝓦 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮}

♰ Meringues ~ Trapped Together

❝A sweet dessert made only with egg whites and sugar that are beaten till stiff peaks are formed, light and airy with a fluffy texture, the perfect way to end any meal.❞

♰ Chocolate Cream ~ One Bed

❝A thick and creamy treat made with whole milk, heavy cream, sugar, egg yolks and chocolate simmered and cooled over a period of time, served with a dollop of whipped cream.❞

♰ Lemon Cream ~ Hole in the Wall

❝Much like our Chocolate Cream, this is a thick and creamy dessert but is instead made by combining water, lemon zest and rind, sugar and egg whites, simmered and cooled and served with raspberries and blackberries.❞

♰ Tipsy Cake ~ Cross Dressing/Cosplaying

❝This is a decadent Savoy cake made with lemon, White Wine and sugar, drenched in an especially sweet Rum and Brandy then glazed with vanilla custard, topped with almonds.❞

♰ Blanc Mange a la Vanille ~ Tied Up

❝This dessert is made by boiling milk, cornstarch and sugar, then adding cinnamon, lemon zest and vanilla, after which it is allowed to cool over an overnight period and served with chocolate shavings on top.❞

♰ Nougat Almond Cake ~ Sadism/Masochism

❝First we caramelize honey, add it to a sugar, water and egg white mixture and allow it to get to a foamy state, add our almonds and vanilla and allow to cool.❞

♰ Trifle ~ Free Use

❝A sponge cake made with custard and vanilla is brushed with Brandy and smothered in jam, layered with fresh picked strawberries, custard, whipped cream and more cake, topped with even more strawberries.❞

♰ Iced Oranges ~ Hateful Intimacy

❝Lemon zest and sugar is heated with water until clear, then oranges are grinded into the mixture, later they are frozen until a sorbet texture is achieved, it's then placed back into an orange peel and decorated with mint leaves.❞

♰ Crystalized Fruits ~ Power Imbalance

❝Fruits of different varieties are drenched in sugar and Liquors of matching flavor and left to set for hours, leaving for a revitalizing and refreshing dessert.❞

♰ Macedoine of Fruits with Jelly ~ Brand New Piercings

❝We take a light, fruit flavored jelly and mold it into marvelous shapes, filling with interior with fruits of every kind.❞

{𝓒𝓱𝓮𝓯'𝓼 𝓘𝓷𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽}: ❝It’s customary to have more than one meal at a Feast! You are encouraged to pick up to two meals from every course showed. Don’t bother with drinks however, I wouldn’t want you getting too tipsy, after all.~❞

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❝ Ah! Master. It seems you’ve made selections for this evenings dinner. Might I ask your order? And, of course,

Whom you’d like to invite?~ ❞

In order to have your request received, it would be most natural to relay this order to your most faithful Butler, yes? Here, an example of one such order may look like this:

❝Firstly, I crave a Tip Top Punch - with lemon please, followed by Jellied Eels as my appetizer. For the main course, I desire Roast Capon; and please, send a letter to Sebastian Michaelis? I have a feeling he’d simply adore this feast.~ ❞

I hope you find this meal most satisfactory, Master. Of course, it is this lowly Butlers everything to be able to serve a wonderful person such as you.

𝓑𝓸𝓷 𝓐𝓹𝓹é𝓽𝓲𝓽, 𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻 ~

{𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓶𝓪𝔂 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓭 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓸𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓽𝓼 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮}

Special thanks to my editor and @sister-lucifer, I know for a fact I wouldn't be here without either, and so, many thanks to each of you.

[the-hearth-witchery]

Gingerbread

Made with ginger, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon, Gingerbread packs a powerful aromatic punch. Is it any wonder that mix serves up just as much magic as well?

Be it crisp gingersnaps or soft loaves of Gingerbread cake, indulging in this treat during the Yule season will attract all manner of fantastic benefits to your home.

By creating Gingerbread ornaments or Gingerbread houses, we create magical talismans to help protect hearth and home and encourage wealth in the Midwinter. Sweeten with honey to strengthen loving bonds or enhance prosperity or top with vanilla icing for a similar effect.

Above all, enjoy the scents of the season!

Ginger: Love, Money, Success, Potency

Clove: Protection, Love, Money

Nutmeg: Luck, Money, Health

Cinnamon: Success, Healing, Power, Protection, Love

Vanilla: Love, Energy

Honey: Love, Prosperity

[mclaricepoetry-art]

Thanksgiving on AIP: A Love-Hate Relationship

Thanksgiving....where the turkey's juicy, the sides are endless, and the desserts could probably launch a thousand food comas. Except, this year, my plate was… modest. I’ve been on Autoimmune Protocol since May, and I’m in phase two of reintroductions. Long story short, green bean casserole (my all-time fave) didn’t make the cut. Green beans said, “Nah,” and my gut agreed. Ugh.

But let’s talk dessert. I attempted AIP-ish apple and sweet potato pies. Used almond flour for the first time since my Keto days (oh, how I’ve missed you) with a little cassava for structure. Let me tell you, wrestling that crust into submission was a whole WWE match. I was talking smack to it, and it was definitely talking back. Ended up crumbly post-bake, but hey, we’re calling it rustic charm. Taste-wise? Pretty damn close to the real deal...minus nutmeg, because I’m not that brave yet.

It wasn’t the Thanksgiving of my pre-AIP life, but you know what? It was mine, crumbs and all. So, what about y’all? Did you create AIP masterpieces or just stare longingly at someone else’s mashed potatoes and baked mac 'n cheese (damn, I'm drooling again)? Let’s share the wins (and the fails).

Edit: I also made an AIP-friendly Turkey brine. OMG...No gravy required, because the Turkey was delicious and moist. I also tried something new; I softened some Beef Tallow added AIP safe herbs and rubbed the turkey with it, WOW, delicious (amazing benefits for the body and skin, also, did you know McDonald's used Beef Tallow for their burgers and fries WAY back in the day when they first started out? Yeah, well Beef Tallow became so expensive because it is, they use bullshit oil to cook their foods now.)

This path to whole body healing is tough but so worth it. Im taking gut regimen supplements on top of weeding myself off of AIP with slow reintroductions. Everyone's body is different some will take a little longer to get to someplace more tolerable and some won't take as long. Either way, I appreciate all the support here. You guys are some fu*kn warriors!

Pre-bake:

[booksbeansandcandles]

Mabon Tea Blend

2 parts Dried Apple Slices

2 parts Dried Orange Slices

1-2 parts Black Tea

1 part Rosemary

1 part Cinnamon

1/2 part Nutmeg(or Ginger)

1/2 part Cloves

1 part Rosehips(optional)

1 part Chamomile(optional)

Depending on how much or how little of your Mabon tea incense blend you want to make, simply adjust the parts to whatever measure you need. A cup uses teaspoons while a bulk batch would use 1/2-1 cup measures. Store in a air tight jar.

Benefits of the magikal ingredients:

Apples are good for Love magick and Prosperity.

Oranges symbolize prosperity and love, especially when burned as an incense.

Rosemary is a great all purpose herb as well as having focus on protection and cleansing.

Cinnamon helps with money magick, healing and protection magics.

Nutmeg is also good for money and abundance magicks.

Clove uses magic for cleansing, protection and prosperity

Black Tea repels negativity,

Rosehips carry energy that invokes good luck

Chamomile is calming and helps with healing, purification and prosperity.

Happy Mabon!!!