#but like when I do I usually add a variety of fruit and more of that fruit than i do banana

[theafroamericaine]

Soul Food: A Black American Cuisine

Baked macaroni and cheese, candied yams, collard greens, smothered chicken, fried chicken, fried fish, oxtails, ham hocks, okra, jambalaya, dirty rice, gumbo, cornbread, shrimp and grits etc... the possibilities are endless when it comes to down this ethnic cuisine.

Originating in the American South amongst enslaved Africans this cuisine combines West African, Central African, Western European, and Indigenous cuisine of the Americas. Having to survive off of inadequate provisions and trying to preserve their traditional recipes, enslaved peoples laid the groundwork for soul food. "Soul" is used to describe African-American culture and its' people as a whole, the term gained popularity in the 1960s. Initially soul food was looked down upon and wasn't respected in the North amongst other Black communities it garnered attention due to the Great Migration and has since become a staple in most households. From Sunday church gatherings to backyard barbecues (cookouts) to dinner tables to restaurant menus, this cuisine has become a symbol of cultural pride and perseverance.

Truly food from the soul.

Cornbread, greens, mac and cheese, yams and fried chicken.

Soul food is closely associated with the Southern cuisine of the United States. There are a few different versions of soul food, you can have it Creole, Cajun or Gullah style; just like most dishes it depends on the region.

Jambalaya and Louisiana seafood gumbo

Spaghetti and catfish

"Soul food historian Adrian Miller said the difference between soul food and Southern food is that soul food is intensely seasoned and uses a variety of meats to add flavor to food and adds a variety of spicy and savory sauces. These spicy and savory sauces add robust flavor. This method of preparation was influenced by West African cuisine where West Africans create sauces to add flavor and spice to their food. Black Americans also add sugar to make cornbread, while "white southerners say when you put sugar in corn bread, it becomes cake"[9]. European immigrants seasoned and flavored their food using salt, pepper, and spices. African Americans add more spices, and hot and sweet sauces to increase the spiciness, or heat of their food.[10] Bob Jeffries, the author of Soul Food Cookbook, said the difference between soul food and Southern food is: "While all soul food is Southern food, not all Southern food is soul. Soul food cooking is an example of how really good Southern [African-American] cooks cooked with what they had available to them."[11] - Sourced from Wikipedia

June is National Soul Food Month.

Red Drink aka Liquid Soul

Red drink is derived from West Africa's hibiscus tea called bissap. The plant's flower petals are brewed resulting in a cranberry-red to magenta-purple color, depending upon dried or fresh petals being used. Kola is another one that's brewed using kola nuts. Bissap and red kola nut brew are hospitality drinks that can still be found in West Africa to this day. Jamaicans also have a similar drink called sorrel.

Like with soul food African-Americans created an adaption from their homeland's drink. Red lemonade was popular in the 1870s-1880s, coloring the beverage with fruits like cherries and strawberries; then red soda in the 1890s and finally powdered drinks such as Poly Pop and Kool-Aid in the 1920s. Just like bissap or red kola nut brew, liquid soul is our hospitality drink. Whenever there's a gathering you can almost bet this beverage will be there. It doesn't matter the flavors or drink type just as long as it's red.

"What exactly do I mean by “red drink?” Well, in soul-food culture, red is not just a color, it’s also a flavor. We soul-food aficionados don’t get caught up in describing a drink as “cherry,” “strawberry,” or “tropical punch,” and we don’t say it has “hints of cranberry.” It’s just “red.” Red drinks have such a special cultural resonance that whenever African Americans gather together, there’s usually a red drink in the mix. In short, it’s liquid soul." -Soul Food Scholar, Adrian Miller

Writing this piece has been enlightening and entertaining; my goal is to showcase our ethnic cuisine and give some history behind it for a better understanding for Black History Month. There is so much more to soul food history that I would be here all day if I wrote it out. I also love to find similarities among the diaspora. Our jambalaya rice is similar to West Africa's jollof rice, our gumbo is similar to West Africa's okra soup. Red drink is also referred to as "red drank" in some areas, here in Detroit we prefer Faygo red sodas (pop), but in the South they prefer Big Red. "Red, in many West African cultures, is a symbol of strength, spirituality, and life and death, according to historians."

I would like everyone to list their favorite cultural meal in the comments below and their favorite drink along with it. Thanks for reading!

Source 1. Source 2. Source 3. Source 4. Source 5.

[whimsyprinx]

banana is too op, we need to nerf banana

[silverhairsimp]

who's gonna take care of you? k. bakugou

I am sicker than sick and couldn't sleep last night so here's some bakugou fluff.

Pairing & CW: Bakugou x f!reader. Reader and Bakugou have two kids. Brief mentions of pregnancy from Mitsuki (Reader is not actually pregnant). pure, sickly sweet fluff.

Katsuki looks at the clock hanging above the kitchen sink, 7:24am. Usually you’d have been up for at least a half hour by now, maybe more. The kids have to be to school at 8:30, it’s only a 12 minute drive, but they like to get there early and play with their friends before their day of learning starts. He looks at the two of them sitting at the counter, digging into their fresh pancakes and waffles with a variety of fruits. They were similar in a lot of ways, but your daughter refuses to eat pancakes, the same goes with your son and waffles. And what kind of number one dad would The Bakugou Katsuki be if he didn’t make his brats happy?

“You two stay here and finish eating— gonna go check on your ma’,” he calls out to them before heading down the hall, only to stop with a hand on the doorframe to look back at them. “And no eatin’ spoonfuls’a syrup this time! That shi— crap’ll give you diabetes.” 

The two of them laugh at their dads empty threat, knowing they’ll at least sneak one or two spoonfuls before he gets back. 

He has an office day today, full of paperwork and unfished reports that need to be submitted by the end of the week. He’s been working overtime, which means you have too. Working overtime at your own job and taking care of the kids when he gets home too late or leaves too early for work. 

“Baby—“ he calls out when he pushes open your bedroom door. Your cheeks are flushed red, your brows are knit together, you’ve got a mound of blankets on you, yet your feet are sticking out from the bottom. “Hey, y’doing okay?” He asks as he gets closer, sitting next to your sleeping form on the bed when he reaches a hand out to cup your cheek, followed by placing the back of his hand to your forehead. “Jesus babe, you’re burnin’ up. Might be running hotter than I normally do…” 

His words are laced with concern as he heads to your shared bathroom, grabbing a washcloth and wetting it with as cold of water he can get before wringing it out. For good measure, he grabs the thermometer and to confirm his suspicions.

“Open up for me, baby.” He brushes his thumb over your cheek and your eyes finally open when you bring your hand up to touch the cold cloth on your forehead. “‘Ts cold…” you mumble and he slips the thermometer underneath your tongue. “Yeah and you’re hot—“ he waits for the thermometer to finish rereading before he adds: “101.9 to be exact.” 

You try to sit up, “I’m fine…”but the pressure in your head is too much so you flop back down into the pillows. “I don’t know what year you think I was born, but I know what fine is. And you, are not fine.” 

“But the kids— they have school, you have work— I have things to do around the house.” You try to protest in between a fit of coughs, but he plants an arm against the bed, palm down at your side caging you in. “you know the hag— my mom,” he corrects when you give him the glare, “she loves taking them to school. Eijiro too. I could call either one and they’d drop ‘em off. And with work, that’s one of the perks’a bein’ your own boss.” 

He leans down to press a kiss to your cheek, trying to hide the wince at how warm your skin is. Gods you must feel like shit. “Lemme call my mom—“ he steps out of the room and gently closes the door, calling in a favor to the woman who always saves his ass. 

‘Yeah, y/n sick, real sick. Need someone to drop off the beats at school. What? Morning sickness? No she’s not pregnant again. She’s sick sick. Got’a fever of almost 102. Yeah, they ate. Yes, lunches packed. Ugh— what kinda father do you think I— mmgh. Thanks ma. They’ll be ready for ya.’

He comes back in the room slight shake to his head as he thinks back to the conversation he just had with his mom. Your youngest is 6 and she’s been itching for another grand baby, but that’s too bad. She’s got two good ones to love on anyway. “Moms comin’ to pick em up in 15.” 

The two of you can hear the padding of feet running down the hall and your two replicas appear in the door frame. 

“Mommy what’s wrong? Did you catch a bug?” Your 8 year old son asks you as he pushes his hips to the bed. He may have his fathers eyes but he’s got your color hair and the sweetest personality to match. 

“Ew! Why would mommy catch a bug!! That’s so yucky!” Your daughter chimes. She’s got that ash blonde hair to match her fathers and definitely gets his personality. 

“Yeah, squirt, mama’s not feeling great so your Gramma Mitsuki is gonna take you to school.”

“Katsuki— you really shouldn’t have asked your mom to come all the way here.” 

“You say all the way here like she doesn’t live 8 minutes down the road.” He smirks at you, knowing damn well she wasn’t gonna miss the opportunity to be involved in your kids’ lives. 

“Daddy, why can’t we stay and take care of mommy like she takes care of us when we’re sick?” Your boy asks with those gorgeous ruby red eyes peering down at you. “You guys have to stay in school and get good grades. You wanna have your own agency and be the number one hero like your daddy don’t you?” You smile at the two of them and lift your hand off the bed to cup their cheeks one at a time. 

Your daughter flexes her little muscles and grits her teeth. “Yeah mommy! We’ll get strong so we can take good care of you some day!” 

Each of your kiddos leans in to place a kiss to your cheek, it’s no use trying to stop them either. They’re both stubborn, just like you and Katsuki. 

“Go get cleaned up before Gramma gets here— and don’t think I can’t smell the syrup on those sticky fingers, you little shits!” 

It’s no use trying to protest the language when you hear the fit of laughter and screams as they run back down the hall. 

Katsuki gets up to make sure they’re heading out to wash up and grab their school bags while he makes another call to the agency, letting Mina know he won’t be in. 

You’ve nearly fallen back asleep by the time he comes back with a hot bowl of homemade soup, a freshly squeezed cup of orange juice, a ginger shot and two pieces of toast. “They’re right ya know. You’re like super woman to them— and even she needs help sometimes.” He presses a kiss to your forehead and turns on the tv for some back ground noise before he grabs his computer and sits next to you in bed. 

“Katsuki. You’re gonna get sick if you stay here—“ you try to protest and he just smiles and puts the cold rag on your forehead. “Yeah… and when super man needs help; I know you’ll be there too..” He lands a fat one right on your lips and smiles. The two of you share everything together. Even the cooties…

[acatinabox]

A collection of cultural and food suggestions related to Antiva

From an Italian amateur writer.

Big disclaimer: I am not trying to claim Antiva or his characters as Italian, if you want to see it more Spanish, be my guests. Things in the setting are ambiguous so let's make the most of this vagueness and make space for each others' headcanons.

That said, I'm Italian, and these are the things I can relate/speak about confidently, so I will. I do write Lucanis more Italian in my fanfiction because he was written as such in the Wigmaker Job and it was such a boon to feel represented in a piece of media I loved but I support fan creativity so do whatever you want.

Also these are generalisations. People are not a monolith, goes without saying.

Nobody asked for this, but I hope maybe it helps someone or is interesting.

With that out of the way, here's a collection of themes/suggestions that speak to me, and that might be useful if you want to write them in in your fanfiction and that aren't coffee or organised crime related.

The smell of soffritto at lunch time in the streets. People cook with their windows open when the weather allows it, and the smell of their food permeates the air. You can smell it from the street. Soffritto is the base of many Italian preparations and sauces, so it's a very familiar smell at lunch and dinner time. It's a mix of onion, celery and carrots minced and put in a pan to stir fry with olive oil. If you add a little bit of tomato sauce you make the most basic pasta sauce. Congratulations.

The smell of freshly made bread is fragrant and unique. Every region has its own type of bread and you can easily find a variety of them in most cities. Italian bread is fluffy and light and sometimes a bit dry. Potato bread is made in mountain areas. In the south, bread has a thick dark crust and an airy centre. We eat bread almost at every meal, it's just as iconic and pasta.

I can easily see Lucanis make his own pasta sauce and bread from scratch.

Speaking of bread, I can also see Lucanis make "scarpetta" after he finished eating, which means scraping the sauce from the plate with a bit of bread.

People make small talk in the streets or in the stores, sometimes with complete strangers. It's not a strict social rule but it happens quite often.

The Lucanis/Illario conversation in wigmaker job about not eating Antivan food abroad is the quintessential dynamic between the expat and the relative visiting who expects to not go out of their comfort zone. It happened to me more times than I can count.

Family functions can last all day, we can meet for lunch on a Sunday and spend the whole day together. If you get out of the table before 5PM on a holiday like Christmas or Easter frankly it means you failed as a host (harsh but true). More often than not you'll find yourself staying for a lighter dinner too.

The usual composition of a big meal is antipasto, first course, second course with a side, dessert, fruit, caffè ammazzacaffè. On normal days we only have a main, though.

Ammazzacaffè is the sacred ritual of the digestive after coffee (it literally means coffee killer). I mention it because it's mentioned in the game and in the short stories. It can be I think any strong liquor. We have it after a big lunch or in the evening, usually not at lunch on a working day. It kinda resets you, closes the meal.

Drinking wine has a big convivial function. Drinking alone is not something most people do often, we reserve it for social occasions and usually with a meal.

Dressing up is kind of expected in certain family functions and situations. Not in all families and not at all occasions but I can see it would be expected especially in high society.

Veneto, where RL Treviso is, is known for their creative swearing against god. I can absolutely picture Lucanis shout "by Ghil'an'ain's saggy boobs" or "by Elgar'nan's dried balls" when angry. Honestly go wild, please make up some insults for them and tell me about them (also sorry for the apostrophes, I don't know where they go).

We have a chocolate bonbon, Baci (means kisses), that have paper slips with sappy, romantic quotes in them. Some of Lucanis's phrases remind me of that. I think he'd be a fan and note down his favourite quotes. It's a dark chocolate bonbon with a soft heart and a hazelnut inside.

I said I wouldn't mention coffee but I lied. In some Italian cities there's the tradition of caffè appeso (hung coffee). Someone pays for coffee for themselves and for someone else they don't know that might want one and not be able to afford it. It's adorable and I can see Lucanis do it exaggeratedly all the time because he seems quite generous.

I think I'm done for now and maybe more people will jump up in the mentions or the replies to add their own useful things. I'll try to add some if they come to mind!

[cadere-art]

What’s one food/drink in your world that sounds amazing

Do they have any musical instruments, if so is it based off of any really world stuff?

Tahen cultures have all sorts of taboo around fire. This is taken to an extreme in Ranai, where open fires are completely forbidden and one must own a special permit to tend a cooking fire. As a result, Ranai cuisine is renowned for it's wealth of raw, pickled, and otherwise marinated foods. Bcause Ranai's territory is an archipelago where fish and seafood is the main source of protein, makwa, acid-cooked fish akin to our world's ceviche, is a staple. Real-life ceviche being delicious, it is only logical that fictional ceviche would also be*.

Bird-fish makwa is an ancient traditional meal of the archipelago. It has three main ingredients: gruel of uciwici, an oat-like, distinctively purple grain rich in anthocyanins, dried and salted kelp, and shrimp and crustacean meat marinated in sumac vinegar. Eggs, herbs, and tart fruits are sometimes added as toppings. Bird-fish makwa most salient tastes are tartness from the sumac vinegar with salt and umami from the seafood and kelp, on a base note of mild and nutty sweetness reminiscient of brown rice from the mashed uciwici. The name of this recipe is a mistranslation of the meal's name from Wetki to Ranaite Tahen.

Jimeleu makwa is a classic ceviche which puportedly originates from the town of Jimeleu, where the soils and climate are conducive to the growth of citrus trees. Jimeleu ceviche consists of diced white fish acid-cooked in lime juice with horseradish, white beans, and cold-cooked uciwici grains. The marinade is usually clear, with a green tinge from the lime and horseradish. Common variants add cold fish broth or cream of green peas to water the ceviche into a soup. Jimeleu makwa is sour and spicy, and variants with cream of green peas have a distinctive sweetness.

Cici-Uli makwa is reminiscient of tataki or carpaccio. A large, white-meat fish is cut into filets which are marinated in a mixture of sumac vinegar, oil, and seasonings (including, but not limited to, salt, horseradish, and tart fruits akin to pincherries). The marinated filet is then cut into very thin slices and served with crunchy seeds and sliced sweet onion. Only the external edge of the fish has cooked: the main flavor of Cici-Uli makwa is that of the raw fish itself. This type of makwa requires very fresh fish.

*Note that I have not tried to make these The Most Palatable Possible - especially the first one!

---

The answer to the second question is a bit less interesting. In short: yes, they do have music instruments! However, I am profoundly not musically inclined and this (as well as sports) is a thing where I show my biases as an individual: I have done roughly 0 musical worldbuilding, and it is unlikely that I will ever do more than the bare minimum (when I remember that the world should, to feel alive, have some music). About Ranaites, I can say that they have a variety of instruments, especially winds and percussions. Bamboo is an important material for their woodwinds and percussion instruments. A large shell is used as a traditional wind instrument. I imagine they have some sort of relatively simple string instrument, and a slightly more complex one with better acoustic imported by members of the Oumdashen diaspora. Ranaites have inherited a taste for passive music such as windchimes from the archipelago's original inhabitants, the Wetki. Shell windchimes are a popular fixture of gardens throughout the archipelago.

[miscfandomwrites]

A/N: Based off a prompt of two people who don't work well together being forced to make breakfast together, expect one of them fucks something up. Also, I made some characters have food allergies. Because I can and it helps make them more relatable in my opinion. Anywho, I can make more of this if y'all like.

Pairing: Stephen Strange x Reader (tried to keep it non-discript as possible)

Warnings: langauge

Words: 700ish

Tagging: @tyler-t0t

~

“You’ve never learned how to cook?” 

“Well, I have, I just don’t mess with hot things or knives or anything that might damage my hands.” 

“Well, that’s a bit vain, but considering your job is messing with someone's very delicate brain, I think you can get a pass. This time.” 

“Oh, this time, huh? Thanks, I guess.” 

I grinned at him. “C’mon, it’s our turn to make breakfast today, we’re gonna go all out so I can show you how to cook.” 

I grabbed a pair of aprons from the side of the fridge, tossing one to him. “I’ll do prep and you can make everything, should be simple.”

I asked FRIDAY to open up a digital whiteboard, and jotted down the ideas I had for breakfast: 

Banana Bread (2 loaves)

Pancakes with and without blueberries

Quiche (3)

Breakfast potatoes (two sheets)

Scrambled eggs

Bacon

Breakfast sausage

Sourdough bread

“That doesn’t look ‘Simple to me’ “ Strange remarked, eyes widening at the list as he finished tying his apron. 

“This is nothing, I used to work in a summer camp kitchen. Besides, we’re feeding several super soldiers, a couple gods, and several others.” I told him as FRIDAY helped make the lists of everything I’d need, and thankfully I had woken up early to feed and start the sourdough bread so it’d be ready to put into the oven in about half an hour. 

Putting on some 2010 hits from when I was a bit younger, I started pulling out ingredients while Stephen got the bowls, pots, and pans ready for it. 

I quickly diced and chopped a variety of vegetables and prepped some quiche in some pre-crusted pans that I pulled from the freezer, popping them into the first oven while I monitored Stephen making the banana bread. 

“Is this literally it? No seasonings or add-ins?” He questioned as he poured the first bread mix into the greased pan. 

“I mean, you can add like cinnamon and nutmeg and stuff but Clint has a nut allergy so I don’t, and last week we found out Loki is allergic to cinnamon, so.” I told him as I parboiled some potatoes. 

He paused at that and turned to me, confused. “A god from another planet has an allergy?” 

“Yeah, not surprising if you think about it for a bit. Took me a little bit to think about it as well.” I replied, taking a sip of my coffee as I used a fork to poke a potato. 

He narrowed his eyes and stared off into space for a bit, something I usually did when I was trying to figure out something in my head. 

“I mean, he is from another planet after all, and I don’t suppose they have the same spices as we do, so that leaves a whole world of possibilities open for them.” He said slowly after a moment. 

I nodded, taking the potatoes off the heat and straining them into the colander in the sink. 

“Peter is allergic to food dyes. Which is why he’s in the kitchen so often making his own candy with his friends.” 

“So that explains the large jar of sugar on the counter then.” he motioned to it as he put the bowl and measuring spoons into the sink. 

“Oh that? I think it’s citric acid, but I’d ask him at breakfast before you go putting it into anything.” 

He stopped for a moment and sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, making me pause. 

“You put that into the banana bread, didn’t you?” 

“It looked like sugar! What else was I supposed to use?” He yelled at me. 

“I don’t know! Maybe the jar on the left of the sink with the label Plain Sugar on it!” I yelled back, heading over to the fruit bowl and yanking the rest of the bananas from it. 

“It’s fine, we’ll just keep them in the kitchen and hopefully no one will notice.” 

~ One hour later ~

Everyone had started coming from their various morning routines and piled into the kitchen, grabbing bowls of food and taking it into the dining room as I got the hot pitchers ready with both regular and decaf coffee, and pulling out the pitches of various juices and iced coffee, carrying them into the room as well. 

As we finally all sat down, I explained how Stephen helped make breakfast and pointed towards the banana bread, and soon enough everyone had a slice. 

“WHAT THE FUCK!?” came from Bucky, spitting out the slice on his plate. “WHY IS IT SOUR?” 

Welp, looks like people noticed.

[beneathsilverstars]

you could. probably think if some characters are texture eaters and if so which textures they would prefer or what reactions they'd have over disliked textures

@kimdokjafan replied

I would love to hear what you have to say about the party's food preferences! Things like favorite food, things they dislike/won't eat

i started answering this anon and then got this reply, so i'll combine them. got really long lol, food is such a complex topic!

bonnie enjoys the multi-textured fish head, so they're probably big on texture! i think they're starting to have enough cooking experience to get put off when a texture isn't correct. like the problem isn't the texture itself but rather that rice should not be like that, they overcooked it, yuck, ugh! they would probably make a new batch if possible. however, they're also used to eating what you have because it's all you have — sometimes the nice neighbor drops off her shitty mac n cheese and it's better than nothing, or you mix up salt and sugar for today's bread but you're almost out of flour — so they'll try to come up with a new use for the fucked-up batch where the weird texture works better, or just eat it themself. unpleasant, but better than serving it to someone else or wasting it! as for what they enjoy the most: lots of different textures mixed together, like a salad or deluxe burrito. and chewy things!

we know bonnie's favorite foods are pineapple, rice, and samosas. i'd say they love sweet things as most kids do, but they're really starting to prefer a little more complexity to their sweet treats, like the tart acidity of pineapple. rice is a great favorite bc it's a comforting plain staple, but it can also be used in such a variety of dishes, as the entire base or to add texture! bonnie likes spicy, sour, etc... bring on the flavor! honestly i don't think there's many ingredients they don't like, it's more often a case of that flavor doesn't go there, why would you do that??? maybe they haven't grown into bitter vegetables yet.

siffrin also likes the fish head, so they really enjoy a fun texture, and they like trying new foods as they travel — but when they don't like something they hate it. but they also hate to raise a fuss! so if they're eating with other people, they'll try to just eat around the offending element without making it too obvious that's what they're doing, and then claim they're just not that hungry. if they're by themself, they'll spit it out and rinse out their mouth and eat something crunchy. they don't like tomatoes, which is convenient bc they also don't like when sandwich bread gets soggy at all. they don't like mushrooms or caramalized onion. they enjoy super crunchy things and a nice thick soup!

we know malanga fritters are presumably his favorite. i think he likes mashed potatoes too. fish, of course, and hearty stews. he loves clam chowder! he used to be a big sweet pastries fan, but post-canon he pivots to fruity sweetness bc he can't stand caramel-marshmallow-candy sweetness anymore, and even fruit's on thin ice. most of his disliked foods are about the texture, not the taste. but he's also really sensitive to associations - if he coincidentally gets sick after eating something, eats something badly seasoned, etc, it'll put him off of that taste for a while even if he doesn't remember why.

iirc isabeau wasn't into the fish head. he likes simpler and more predictable foods! he gets yucked out by overripe fruits, but luckily it's usually pretty easy to tell if a fruit will be good. if he does accidentally bite into a bad one, he makes a face and swallows it as quickly as possible, and asks if anyone else wants the rest before he donates it to the local wildlife. he likes fluffy breads and nuts! he's the kind of guy to pack a stack of pb&js and an apple for lunch every day, just buying a different flavor of jam each time he runs out. he doesn't like anything too spicy or bitter! probably a cheese fiend too.

mirabelle isn't super particular about textures, but she is pickier about tastes; she doesn't like a couple common vegetables, like green beans and cooked carrots, and a couple common sauces, like mustard and marinara. she doesn't like nuts, but sometimes eats them anyway because they're so popular in dormont's house for some reason and she gets tired of refusing to eat them, and now she sorta hates them even more but also will absentmindedly stand there munching on them? in general if she doesn't like a food she's served she'll still try to eat enough to be polite, but sometimes can't manage it. some foods she loves are honey, olives, and apple pie. she does love plums too, but it's less that they're objectively her favorite taste and more that they're her thing. it's fun having a thing!

odile likes delicate textures like flaky pastries and watermelon, and doesn't like purely glop-based foods like oatmeal, though it's tolerable with a crunchy topping. she really enjoys a good meat, like a nice herby steak or buttery pork belly. she doesn't dislike sweets, but she doesn't indulge in them in often; when she does, she prefers lemony desserts or bitter chocolate. she finds most foods tolerable at least, and especially likes sharp flavors, like vinegar and vodka!

[moon-is-a-cryptid]

Strawberry energy 🍓

Warnings: none

Gender: use of the word mrs otherwise gender neutral

Kirishima having a Pre-Workout product called Riot Rage is a personal HC 👏🏻❤️‍🔥

It’s advertised as the most manly pre workout for guys, gals and non binary pals, because all genders can be manly in Ejiros opinion. His pre workout would come in a variety of tastes like strawberries, bomb pop, fruit punch all centered around red themed coloring, it’s a fairly successful brand already despite kiri not being a top hero, he can thank his bestie bakugou for helping advertise it.

But the way the Sale SKYROCKET when you, Prohero RedRiots s/o Is caught by the press heading to the gym in a “be unbreakable” red riot work out top drinking a bright red liquid out of a gym bottle to work out with Bakugous S/O, Stopped to ask what you were drinking, what you were going to do, who were you going to see etc. with cameras flashing and the tapes rolling, “I’m heading to the gym to see {bakugous s/o} and I’m drinking RiotRage Strawberry energy” turning to the camera you hold the bottle up next to your face “The perfect pre workout to make you feel unbreakable” with a wink before you push your way past and into the private gym.

Your face would then be plastered on magazines with a wink and holding your RiotRage, Kiris PR Team became all over it and asked if you guys could promote his product more often since he got some popularity off it, the folks seemed to love you and would go wild for the loving work out couple look you guys had. You would occasionally posting about it on your socials and staring in the adds that are put out on social platforms. Kirishima made it very clear that If you were uncomfortable with anything that you didn’t have to do it and his team agreed. You were so excited to agree since it helped Kirishima your loving husband out in his field. Next think you know you and kiri are posing in your usual gym outfits with the brand, making promotional videos about it, listing off the benefits of the pre work out.

Within the week of the preparations you received the first View of the ad that was to be sent out, it was a picture of kirishima lifting you above his head with one arm as if you were a dumbbell while you were drinking out of a gym bottle with different flavors scattered around. At the top of the ad it says “FEEL UNBREAKABLE IN THE GYM” and at the bottom “JUST LIKE MR. AND MRS. REDRIOT”

This came to me literally while i was drinking a code read Mnt Dew💀

See a spicy challenge for bakugous hot sauce brand

See smittens coffee for shinsous coffee brand

Masterlist🗒️

[niennawept]

Moon Dumplings: A Pan-Elven Cultural Debate in Three Documents (Part 2)

Warning(s): None Rating: Gen Summary: The origins of moon dumplings, shared amongst all branches of elven kindred, are a source of frequent arguments, both culinary and scholarly. Part 1 is here.

Selected Interviews from Díril’s research into moon dumpling origins, transcribed in her own hand

Q: When did you first hear of moon dumplings?

A: They were with us even at Cuiviénen. Had them often when the nights got very cold. They are warming, you know. Good for putting some meat on your bones. You are too skinny, young lady. Respondent 1: a Sindarin elleth of unknown age, asked to estimate she shrugged and said “we did not count years back then”

A: Not until we were nearing the Anduin on the Great Journey. We made lembas out of Valarin corn, but it was not until we halted to wait for better conditions for crossing that those with minds for cooking learned to make the dough. Respondent 2: a Nandorin ellon, born approximately ninety winters before the Journey at Cuiviénen

A: They were invented during the hottest days, of course. Stews and porridges are hearty and delicious, but they leave something to be desired when it gets too warm out. The calming influence of the stars will set that right. [interviewer prompts “can you estimate the year?”] Oh! Right after Oromë gave the Noldor the right type of flour. We kept them secret, you know, from the other kindred. Respondent 3: an Exilic Noldorin elleth, who was born on the Great Journey

A: I do not remember. When I was still a small child. Respondent 4: an Avari ellon, who remembered choosing to stay rather than joining the Great Journey

Q: Why are they called moon dumplings?

A: They were not originally called that. It was only after the moon and his phases that folk changed their name. They used to be called “starbeads.” Respondent 1

Respondent 2 declined to answer.

A: Because they are cured under moonlight these days. What do they teach you in Lindon, girl? Respondent 3

A: We do not call them that. We call them “starbeads.” [respondent says something mostly inaudible, but a portion of it contained the phrase “new names for old things”] Respondent 4

Q: Who invented them?

A: The Noldor. I already told you that. Respondant 3

All other respondents declined to answer.

Q: Are the fillings of this dumpling sweet or savory?

A: Either, whatever is available. Respondent 1

A: Sweet, always. Respondent 2

A: Savory, always. Respondent 3

A: Both, sometimes. Respondent 4

Q: What is the traditional filling for these dumplings?

A: Oh, all sorts. Anything that will not tear the skin while cooking. No one wants to be picking out little bits of burned vegetables from a steam basket. It is important that the filling is soft either by nature or by cooking first. [interviewer asks “which were the most common?”] Mushrooms, wild plants, sometimes fish or fowl. Respondent 1

A: We begin by collecting sap from maple trees, which is boiled to remove impurities and concentrate the flavor. We filter it and add dried fruits and minced nuts. When it has cooked down and become rather sticky, we fill the dumplings. Respondent 2

A: Meat, obviously. [interviewer prompts “what kind of meat?”] Whatever can be gotten with relative ease. Respondent 3

A: Minced nuts are most usual. Respondent 4

Q: Are there alternate fillings that are acceptable?

A: I have already answered that question. Respondent 1

A: Absolutely not. Respondent 2

A: Have you taken leave of your senses? No. Respondent 3

A: Fruit is also common. Respondent 4

Q: What texture should the dumpling wrapping be?

A: They should have a texture that requires a bit of chewing. The flavor improves with more moonlight. Respondant 2

All other respondents answered with a variation of “not tough [like the Nandorin variety.]”

For @silmarillionepistolary week

[pure-ablution]

Could you make an example post about what you eat in a day? I'm not asking for exact portions, or anything, more like meal examples, like what is for break fast, snacks, lunch and dinner. Like, how and when do you fit all those collagen drinks and yogurts and supplements and veggies and all nutrients that we need

Of course!

Every morning when I wake up, I have a glass of hot lemon and ginger water, a celery juice, and a shot of ginger, turmeric, and sea buckthorn. I take my supplements for the morning, and then I take my protein shake with me to whatever exercise class I have booked for the morning, and have breakfast when I get back.

My breakfast is much the same every day: I have a bowl of homemade yoghurt with seasonal fruit and local honey, eggs and patés with vegetable sticks, a green juice, and a cup of collagen matcha.

I drink a variety of beverages throughout the day, and I aim for around 2–3 litres of infused water alongside different herbal teas and juices. I add gelatine and tremella to my hot drinks, and also take sips of a cup of Dioralyte throughout the morning to boost my hydration levels. I don’t tend to snack between meals, but if I do, then I usually have something simple, like some nuts or dried fruit.

Lunch is usually my biggest meal of the day, and I try to incorporate organ meats and fermented foods into my lunch if I can. Lunch is the most varied meal for me, and I eat something difficult everyday—it’s my excuse for trying new recipes! I have a cup of herbal tea and some sparkling infused water with my meal, and then a shot of pure aloe juice afterwards to help with digestion. I have another cup of matcha mid-afternoon, to keep my energy up, but always before 4pm so that I can sleep well.

My dinners are quite small, because I don’t have much of an appetite towards the end of the day, and I struggle to sleep with a full stomach. It’s pretty much the same thing every day: I have a broth of some kind to start, and then fish or seafood with steamed or roasted vegetables.

Before bed, I have my evening supplements and a cup of sleepy herbal tea. I don’t like to eat anything at least 2 hours before bedtime, because it really disrupts my sleep and makes me bloated in the morning. I make sure to have a bottle of water (with a pinch of salt and lemon) beside my bed overnight, in case I wake up especially thirsty.

[anotherdayforchaosfay]

I really ❤️ tea.

The tins are from the same brand, but not all of them contain tea from that brand. To remain fresh, tea needs to be contained in something with a reflective surface. It's why teabags/sachets are usually wrapped in paper lined with a reflective surface. Also why tea should be stored in tins. If I buy loose leaf tea and it's in a plastic bag or a bag without a reflective surface, it gets transferred to an empty tin. I currently have just one empty tin.

All those large bags contain loose leaf, but the bags are lined with reflective material. One of my tins contains sachets, to keep it fresh.

Traditional medicinal doesn't do this, which pisses me off, but I don't have a tin large enough to store them. I bought this particular Traditional Medicinal tea for the longterm issue I'm dealing with post-UTI.

The UTI got really bad because it wasn't showing up in test samples, even though it smelled and looked like an infection. Three weeks of it building up before I was given an antibiotic, and now I'm dealing with urinary retention. The prescription and OTC meds used to fix this are all sulfates, and I'm allergic to those. Thankfully, my dr includes holistic medicine in her practice. She gave me a list of herbs and natural treatments I can safely try. One was a 10-day treatment and it has helped, but not enough. So now the dandelion chai, which is fucking delicious, but I can only have three cups a day due to it being a medicine. Licorice root is one of the ingredients, and having too much can be very bad.

Small tip: if white and green tea are very bitter when you drink them, you likely burned the leaves. The rea should never be boiling hot. Instead, wait for it to simmer. About 175 F is when bubbles start to show. That's where you want it. If it gets to boiling, wait around seven minutes for it to cool. Steep for a MAX of five minutes. Any longer and it will be bitter.

Black and herbal teas need boiling water. Black should steep for a max of seven minutes. Herbal teas for a minimum of 10 minutes. Some require more time. If the herbal tea contains green or white tea, follow the instructions i gave for those instead.

Some black teas require cream or they have a caustic texture to them, similar to coffee. Breakfast teas are in that category. I use non-dairy creamer because it has sugar already mixed and adds some extra flavor.

The green thing in the first picture goes over the teacup/mug, and the string goes through a slot on top. It keeps the tea hot while steeping. When done, I pull the string and tip the lid back a little, then squeeze out the excess water. I fucking love this thing

If you enjoy iced tea, I have a trick for you to make it: overnight cold brew. I put three to four teabags of my choice in a pitcher, fill it with water, then pop it in the fridge overnight. Then, remove the teabags. If the tea is too strong, treat it like a concentrate. Just add water to your cup to make it less concentrated. I do this with my very fruity teas (Harney & Sons makes some of the most amazing fruit blends), and a one gallon pitcher becomes two gallons this way.

If you want to add a little flavor to water, make the tea overnight, then fill an icecube tray with it. Put the ice cubes in your drink, and it has a little flavor while they melt. You can mix flavors this way too. Cold black tea with a hint if peach is really nice.

Here are the fruity blends. I'm especially fond of the blood orange.

[somethingclevermahogony]

Happy STS! What are some common forms of entertainment for regular, non-noble people in your world?

Thank you for the question! As per usual, I will be sticking to Kishetal for this one, and more specifically the region around Labisa. These are just a few of the things that common people might do for fun! Common people find a number of ways to entertain themselves.

Beer halls (beer is the drink of commoners, as opposed to wine which tends to be more high class or else reserved for special occasions) are very numerous and form one of the main hangout spots for commoners of all ages. Throughout Kishetal, beer has traditionally been brewed and sold by women. Labisa alone has 19 beer halls, all but one of which are run by women. These halls typically serve five varieties of beer along with various food items.

Aruhakishar/Akishar: (Aruha- Dry, Kisharu- Beer) Unadulterated, typically plain beer, this sort of beer is the basis for the other varieties. These vary from brewer to brewer and can differ greatly in terms of strength, flavor, color, etc. This tends to be the cheapest option. Ishkishar: (Isha- Sour/Bitter Kisharu- Beer) Aruhakishar typically with the addition of various herbs, nuts, and even minerals. This beer is typically seen as invigorating, good for lifting the energy and strengthening the resolve against wicked spirits. Few people drink this casually. Wakishar: (Wawa- Sweet, Kisharu- Beer) Similar to the above but rather than the addition of herbs to promote bitter and sour flavors, this variety of beer is typically sweetened with the addition of various sweeteners, most often date syrups, honey, and fruits like fig. These tend to be the most well-liked variety of beer and fall in the middle when it comes to price. Olikishar/Olkishar: (Oli- Blood/Red, Kisharu- Beer) This variety of beer is similar to Wakishar but is flavored specifically with the addition of red fruit, like pomegranate, cherry, and various mountainous berry, giving it that crimson appearance. Some beer halls may add other additives to increase this sanguine appearance. Depending on the quality, this may be the most expensive variety of beer sold at a hall. Ihikishar/ Ihiki: (Ihi- Giggle (haha), Kisharu-Beer) This particular variety of beer is not sold in all halls and tends to be the most expensive, and is viewed among the common folk as more of a treat. This beer can be any of the above with addition of the treated oil of the magical Kasikur plant, also known as jit(from a Forestfolk word). Drinking jit mixed with wine may cause various effects, most commonly a slight high, similar to cannabis. However the use of jit is highly regulated as its magical effects, when consumed in sufficient amounts can have dangerous and bizarre effects.

Storytelling, relating tales of Kishetals history and of the various happenings of the outside world, takes a very robust place in the lives of Kishite people of all walks of life.

Temples often put on performances, mostly reenacting the exploits of legendary heroes. Typically these events are free though a donation is expected. The most extravagant of these performances may also include shows of sagecraft, some of the only magic that common folk are exposed to.

Poets and bards are likewise quite ubiquitous, performing on street corners or else found in the beer halls, competing for the attention, and appreciation of their audiences.

Poetry battles and rhyming contests, in essence thinly veiled battles of insults, are common spectacles and the best poets may even earn some degree of fame amongst their peers.

Gambling with dice or on the outcomes of fights are also quite common. Thiefs dice is particularly common among the enslaved population of Labisa as it only necessitates small gambles.

Suru was on the deck arranging some sort of game atop a wooden crate. " Come down here, Ninma." He called up to her.  Ninma shimmied down the mast and sat at the makeshift table. The crate had on it a pile of dried figs and two dice carved from bone; two of the sides were painted red, one blue, one black, one yellow, and one remained white. " What is this?" Ninma asked, inspecting one of the dice. " Something to distract us while we wait. Narul and I used to call this thief’s dice, no idea what it is actually called. I borrowed the dice from one of the crew. We used to play it in the slave quarters, don’t know if you ever played it up in the palace, doesn’t seem like it. The rules are simple. We take turns rolling the dice. If you get blue, you take a fig. If you get red, it becomes my turn. If you roll yellow, you must put a fig back in the pot. If you get white, you can take one of my figs, but if you get black, I can take one of yours. The game is over when someone rolls a blue, but there are no figs in the pot to take. Back home, we used the money your father gave us at festivals, but I respect you too much to take all your money, princess." He grinned.

Hunting for small game like birds and rabbits is popular among rural populations, though not so much among urban ones. Though, rat-catching is not unheard of among young and adult alike in certain parts of Labisa and other large cities.

Duels, or more accurately brawl matches with sticks and fists, are not at all uncommon, though technically illegal. When such fights do break out, they attract much attention, and typically, much gambling. The city guard, at least under Hutbari, does little to stop this and may even join in on the wager.

Wrestling, boxing, foot races, competitions of skill with slings, and other similar physical activities are popular, and may take place at just about any time. For those rare few that know how, swimming in Lake Shebali is a fun bit of leisure, though not always entirely safe as the depths of the lake can be dangerous. Dance and music are common as well, perhaps most famous is Storm Step. This style of dance theater is almost entirely non-verbal and rather is dependent on facial and bodily expression. The dances are performed on hollow wooden platforms, producing loud thundering sounds, thus giving the style of theater its name. Unlike most styles of theater in Kishetal, Storm Step is entirely dominated by women, and more often than not pairs of sapphic lovers. In some instances entire troupes may form polyamorous unions.

I could keep going, but I think that gives a good picture for now. Let me know if you would like to know more!

[azure-wolf-227]

Pony Tribes: Night Ponies V2

The Night Ponies are a trio of Pony Tribes with strong connections to the night and Princess Luna. These Tribes are the Thestrals, the Bicorns, and the Carno Ponies.

Note: I was originally going to use the Lycanequui and the Cervidians, creations of Featherfury, but then I decided to create my original Night Pony Tribes. However, I can still use them differently: Cervidians as Deer/Pony hybrids and Lycan Ponies as regular ponies suffering from the Lycanthropy curse.

Note 2: Here is the original version of this post with the Lycanequui and Cervidians.

Note 3: Might add more stuff in the future as I think about it.

In General

The Night Ponies revere Princess Luna, favoring her above the other Alicorns. While they respect the other princesses' authority; they love Luna the most because she was one of the first ponies to accept and protect them when they were shunned and feared by the ‘Day’ Ponies (Unicorns, Pegasi, Earth Ponies).

All three tribes have draconic eyes and are naturally nocturnal. They possess tapetum lucidum (eye shine), which grants them excellent night vision.

Like any other pony of the Day Tribes, the Night Ponies come in a variety of colors, though they tend to be darker shades to help them blend into the night. Of course, there are exceptions.

Thestrals, Bicorns, and Carno Ponies are commonly called Bat Ponies, Demon Unicorns, and Goblin Ponies, though most consider these terms offensive.

Most Night Ponies don't celebrate Nightmare Night and because they find the holiday offensive to Princess Luna and towards themselves as many horror stories feature Night Ponies as monsters and antagonists. Princess Luna’s enjoyment of the holiday has changed the minds of most of them, but there are still a few who dislike it.

Night Ponies are often proficient in magic aligned to the night, moon, darkness, and shadows.

Night Ponies obviously have Cutie Marks representing their Special Talents just like the Main Tribes.

Description

Thestrals

Thestrals are recognized by their bat wings, draconic eyes, sharp teeth, and tufts of fur topping their large ears. These traits are why they’re also called “bat ponies”.

They have much better hearing than most ponies from the other Tribes.

Like any other pony, Thestrals come in a variety of colors with their wings a darker shade that compliments the pony’s coat and mane.

Like Pegasi, Thestrals usually have slim and aerodynamic bodies perfect for flying. Taller and/or bulkier bodies are often due to mixed-ancestry.

Diet-wise, Thestrals are not much different than the Main Tribes, though they have a preference for fruits of any kind. Contrary to popular culture and myths, Thestrals do not feed on blood.

Like bats, Thestrals can use echolocation and with practice, this ability can be turned into a sound attack. This skill is mainly taught to the Thestrals who join the Night Guard.

Like Pegasi, Thestrals 'nest' but they prefer to do so in dark, covered places that remind them of caves. They also spread their wings to intimidate but add hissing to the display.

Unlike Pegasi, Thestrals do not gift their feathers to their special somepony (because they do not have any). Instead, they make gifts using the favorite fruit(s) of the one they fancy. This gifts can be a simple as fruit baskets to elaborate fruit art.

Ponies with Thestral ancestry can inherit either their large, turfed ears, sharp teeth, draconic eyes, tapetum lucidum, ability to use echolocation, and/or love of fruit.

Bicorns

For the most part, Bicorns have a similar appearance to Unicorns; possessing cloven hooves and leonine tails. The traits that differentiate them are their draconic eyes, sharp canine teeth (though not as prominent as Thestrals') and that they have two horns instead of a single one. The latter trait is the origin of their Tribe's name.

These horns are arranged in three ways: 1) side by side like most horned animals, 2) one each side of their forehead just above their eyebrows, or 3) one located in the middle of the forehead like an Unicorn with the other located just above the first one.

Horns come in a variety of shapes; some are like Unicorn horns while others resemble the horns of other horned creatures like rams, goats or antelopes. Antlers are the only type of horns they do not have unless they have deer ancestry.

Like Unicorns, Bicorns tend to have delicate and elegant bodies with little physical strength. Different body shapes are often due to mixed-tribe ancestry.

Bicorns need both horns intact to be able to cast magic accurately. Damage to even one of them will result in difficulty to control the effects of spells or even cast them in the first place. They could adapt themselves to using only one horn but that requires a lot of work.

Bicorns are no more powerful than Unicorns just because they have two horns; it all depends on individual talent and innate magical power. So some Bicorns are very Gifted in magic while others are just average or even less than that.

All Bicorns, regardless of their magical ability and special talent, are able to sense the aura of other living beings and sometimes see them. This sense can help them determine the true nature of other beings. There are spells and items that can mask someones aura, though.

Diet-wise, Bicorns are no different from any other pony tribe, not having any particular food they prefer over others. An old pony tale states that Bicorns eat devoted husbands but that, of course, is false.

Like Unicorns, Bicorns touch horns as a sign of affection or during confrontations. They also flare their aura or lower their heads to point their horns as forms of intimidation.

Also like Unicorns, Bicorns gift their special somepony beautiful things that often relate to their special talent or interests.

Stygian, the pony who gathered the Pillars of Equestria, was a Bicorn although he is erroneously depicted as an Unicorn. Because he was declared a traitor, the Bicorns denounced him and made his name taboo, only referring to him as The Betrayer.; but after the truth about Stygian is revealed, the Bicorns honor him as a hero.

Ponies with Bicorn ancestry can inherit their leonine tails, draconic eyes and aura sight.

Carno Ponies

Carno Ponies are almost physically indistinguishable from Earth Ponies, the only differences being their draconic eyes and carnivore-like dentition. The latter trait is the origin of this Tribe's name.

The Carno Ponies are the only land-based pony tribe to be mainly carnivorous. While they are capable of eating and digesting plants like other ponies, their bodies need nutrients found in meat or meat-substitutes like eggs. Due to their diet, the other Tribes are often wary of them at best, or fear them at worse. Even Thestrals and Bicorns tend to be uneasy when interacting with Carno Ponies. Of course, there is nothing to fear as Carno Ponies are not cannibals.

While Carno Ponies that live amongst other Tribes tend to consume meat-substitutes instead of actual meat, those that live in mostly Carno Pony communities either raise animals for meat or even hunt. Those that hunt only do so to feed themselves/their families and they make sure to thank the prey they catch for their sacrifice.

Carno Ponies' magic is no different from the magic of Earth Ponies, but they have the unique quirk of breathing out flame-shaped energy, often when feeling intense emotions like anger or excitement. Despite it's appearance, this energy is not actual fire; the best explanation is that is their life-force or chi. With training, Carno Ponies can use this energy as a projectile attack. Usually, only members of the Night Guard are give such training.

Like Earth Ponies, Carno Ponies rear up and stomp their front hooves as an intimidation display. In addition to that, they also breath out wisps of energy-flames.

Also like Earth Ponies, Carno Ponies court by gifting hoof-made items, but they often use animal bones. The other Tribes understandably consider this to be morbid.

Ponies with Carno Pony ancestry often inherit their draconic eyes and dentition, carnivorous diet included.

This Tribe is inspired by the flesh-eating Mares of Diomedes/Thrace from Greek Mythology. The Thracian Pony Tribe are actually a group of Carno Ponies that refused to accept friendship with the other Tribes.

Origins of the Night Tribes

There are many myths, legends, and theories about the origin of the Night Tribes. The most popular ones are that they are cursed; they were created by a Dark Wizard; they are the children of demons; or that Nightmare Moon created them.

The truth is that they were naturally born this way, due to a genetic mutation that made them more adapted to nocturnal life. Besides being nocturnal and other minor traits, the Night Ponies are not that different from regular Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies.

Of course, the ponies of the past did not know about genetic mutations so they believed that the Night Ponies were cursed or demons. Due to this superstition, it was common to slaughter these ponies at birth, but some parents were not so keen about having their children killed so some Night Ponies survived into adulthood. Eventually, there were enough of the three Night Pony Tribes to self-sustain their population.

The Night Ponies have always lived side-by-side to the Day Ponies but they had kept themselves hidden. Eventually, they were discovered by the newly-coronated Princess Luna, who immediately took a liking to them. The Night Tribes immediately liked Luna and felt a strong kinship with her, partially because she had Night Pony traits like draconic eyes, bat ears, feathered bat-like wings, two horns (one in the normal Unicorn position and a smaller one just below it), and sharp teeth. Luna also has each of the Night Tribes' respective special abilities: the Thestrals' echolocation, the Bicorns' aura sight, and the Carno Ponies' life-force/fire breath.

The Night Tribes were misunderstood as the Day Ponies believed they were evil because they merely looked evil. Luna wanted to show the world that they were just ponies, so she befriended the three Night Tribes and made their existence known by recruiting many of them into her newly-founded Night Guard. In return, the Night Ponies gave her their friendship and swore to forever serve her.

One of the factors that contributed to Luna becoming Nightmare Moon was discovering that her Night Ponies were being hunted down by a group of zealots that worshiped Celestial and saw the Night Ponies as demons. Celestia refusing to believe that her little ponies would be capable of such things only served to enrage Luna even more.

After Nightmare Moon was sealed away, the Night Ponies were at risk of being lynched for their association with the fallen princess, but Celestia protected them. They went into hiding as the Solar Princess ensured that the Night Tribes would be safe and ready to welcome back Luna when she returned 1,000 years later.

In that time, they slowly integrated back into society, to the point that the modern ponies are familiar with them. Their reintegration became more prominent after Luna was freed of her corruption with many Night Ponies eagerly joining the newly reinstated Lunar Guard.

Celebrations

The Winter Moon Ball - a celebration of the longest night of the year, counterpart to the Summer Sun Celebration. It’s a semi-formal event, fancier than the Summer Sun Celebration but less stuffy than the Grand Galloping Gala. The celebration happens in a different city each year and it begins once the sun goes down and Princess Luna raises the moon.

Luna Remembrance Night - this is what Night Ponies celebrate instead of Nightmare Night. On this night, they leave gifts and offerings beneath statues of the Night Princess, and tell stories about all of Luna's accomplishments and all that she did for the Night Ponies. After Luna's return, many Night Ponies started to add elements of Nightmare Night like wearing costumes, giving out candy and playing games.

[thejoyofseax]

Bustāniyya & Mis̲h̲mis̲h̲iyya

There was a practice day run by Master Agnes Boncuer in the Scout Hall in Clara the weekend just gone, courtesy of the good offices of THL Órlaith Caomhánach, and I took the opportunity to try out a couple of recipes on people. Both of these I've actually cooked before, but it was mostly before I was taking good notes. The two are from the same page of Annals of the Caliphs' Kitchens, the translation of al-Warraq by Nawal Nasrallah. They are bustāniyya, a dish with orchard produce, and mis̲h̲mis̲h̲iyya, an apricot stew. Both call for chicken rather than "meat", which makes them somewhat unusual.

It's worth noting that in both cases, where the recipe calls for the juice of the fruit, I used fruit and all. This is the "peasant" version of the dishes, at least in my head; while I can see the elite of the elite using just the juices and presenting meat "alone" as the dish, I can't see most cooks of the time leaving out the fruit. So in it went. I will at some point try the posh as-written version.

Here are the two recipes:

Bustāniyya (cooked with orchard produce) from the copy of Abū Samīn Wash small and sour plums and put them in a wet kerchief [to hydrate them] if using the dried variety. If fresh ones are used, [just] add to them some water, press and mash them then strain the liquid. Cut chicken breasts into finger-like strips and add to them whatever you wish of other meats. [Put them in a pot], add the [strained juice of] cherries, and let them boil together. Season the pot with black pepper, mā kāmak̲h̲ (liquid of fermented sauce), olive oil (zayt), some spices, a small amount of sugar, wine vinegar, and 5 walnuts that have been shelled and crushed. [When meat is cooked], break some eggs on it and let them set [with the steam of the pot], God willing. A recipe for mis̲h̲mis̲h̲iyya (apricot stew) Clean and wash a plump chicken. Disjoint it and put it aside. Choose ripe apricots, which are yellow and sour. Put them in a pot with some water and bring them to a boil. Press and mash them with the water they were boiled in, and strain them into a bowl.Now go back to the chicken, put it in a clean pot and add the white part of fresh onion (bayāḍ baṣal), cilantro, and rue [all chopped]. Add as well a piece of galangal, a stick of cassia, and whole pieces of ginger. Light the fire underneath the pot and let it cook. Then sprinkle the pot with onion juice and add enough of the strained apricot liquid to submerge the chicken. Season the pot with coriander seeds, black pepper, and cassia, all ground.Let the pot simmer until [chicken is] cooked and serve it.

For the bustāniyya, I had fresh plums (probably much sweeter than the ones available in period), frozen sweet cherries (definitely sweeter), and I left out the sugar to compensate. Last time I made this was over a slow fire, outdoors, and two different people asked if there was chocolate in it - at least in part due to the colour it arrives at. The plums this time were very juicy, and there was rather too much liquid overall, so that the eggs at the end were submerged and poached, rather than sitting on top to steam. I think the walnuts might be intended as a thickener, rather than anything else - I had them down to a grit, but not to a powder, so they didn't really work that way. "Some spices" is unusually unhelpful for al-Warraq, but I used some cinnamon and ginger. The spices tasted stronger in this than in the other dish.

The mis̲h̲mis̲h̲iyya I've done a few times now, and it's starting to enter my rotation as just another dish I can do at short notice. Chicken and apricots are a good combination in any cuisine, and I'm pretty sure I've seen tagine recipes very much like this. As usual, I left out the rue, because nobody ever knows if they're allergic to it or not, and I don't fancy someone finding out from my cooking.

Both were served with plain rice and stack of pita and naan bread.

They went down well in general, the mis̲h̲mis̲h̲iyya more so (a few people took some home, too). The bustāniyya had 12 eggs in it, and I've only accounted for about four of them being eaten, so either eight people ate them and didn't notice, or were so horrified by the discovery they couldn't talk about it. Daniel was amused; he'd expected his to be a large chunk of chicken, and was very puzzled by finding white and yolk when he cut into it. I suspect that the bustāniyya might actually be better with just the juices, as written, so that'll be the next thing to try.

[bokettochild]

*sigh*

ur posts always have such great vibes, I could really just imagine a fluffy pancake behind your screen just typing your posts

because ur vibes are like a fluffy pancake with some trauma, but that just adds more depth to the pancake as a sentient pancake

anyways

what do u like on ur pancakes

does legend like pancakes

has he ever fallen asleep face first into a pile of pancakes?

does he ever feed his bees pancakes?

are u concerned about being fed to bees?

probably not cuz ur probably a person but I'm still suspicious ur just a sentient pancake

u can probably do all the person things and put on a little hat and glasses and no body could even guess u were actually just a pancake

but I know I can tell your'e a pancake

unless ur some other type of pastry.. ???

if so then I'm sorry for assuming u were a pancake if u really a souffle or waffle or other cultural variety of fluffy pastry

hold on- don't u have some Irish in ur blood? yeah so you're probably a pancake

u have very nice vibes and probably pretty nice voice too

bye

........oh boy

So, um, funny story? My sister calls me the Pancake Goddess? For reasons?

Reasons:

Inch thick pancakes :)

As for Legend, he loves pancakes! Definitely the type to eat his with fruit, but maple syrup (or as Wild calls it, tree blood) is also a favorite. Both combined though? Sweet tooth heaven! He's ever fallen asleep while eating them. That's sticky and he's kinda...against stickiness. It's very unpleasant :(

And yes! I have Irish blood, and pancakes are a Happy Food for me. Unfortunately I'm the only one in my house who can make them correctly, so if I want to eat them I have to make them myself. that's usually okay though, because it reminds me of making pancakes with my dad when I was a tiny anklebiter and those are Good Memories :)

I love that I give pancake vibes though LOL. My sister asks me to make them for her all the time, and they are her comfort food when she's drunk/high/hungover/depressed so I tend to make them quite a bit LOL

This has, of course, led my other sister given nickname to be Moomin Mama because she is ALSO a pancake goddess <3

[borldwuilding]

most-definitively-a-human

Good luck with worldbuilding! Hope you have a blast.

Questions for you: how do the people of your world get their food? What is the magic like? And do you have a favourite fun fact about your world?

----

Replying to this here like a weirdo because my response to the magic section has actually gotten more lengthy than I intended!

How do people of your world get their food?

For most people, food comes from their own efforts or from close community efforts - be that farming / gardening or hunting. For most people who live outside of more urbanized / tightly packed cities, it’s not uncommon to have a garden to grow some food, and many more rural civilians know how to hunt game or have livestock of some form (even if it’s just a few chickens). Additional food is usually obtained at local markets or from neighbors. For those living in cities, almost all their food is from surrounding land, which is usually produced on much larger scales than rural communities might. Specialty foods may be imported from longer distances to larger and more wealthy cities, like fruits from the more tropical regions or rare types of treats and game.

There is also a large population of hunter-gatherer or nomadic people in Aanrah, which has resulted in a interesting distribution of plants. Many well traveled paths may have commonly used rest spots that are surrounded by a wide variety of produce planted by previous travelers, left for their future selves or for whoever might travel there next. In areas where these groups are frequent, food can be gathered fresh almost daily for a good portion of the growing season as one travels due to the amount planted on well-traveled paths. Seeds accidently and purposefully spread are tended to idly by those resting there for the night, and it’s considered good practice and polite to add to the ‘garden’ if one takes from it.

Favorite Fun Fact 

Since this will be shorter than the magic question!

Aanrah, once having had three moons, used to have pretty violent tides, which left very, very little land that was continuously above water! As a result, some of the best ways to travel long distances is actually the dwarven tunnel systems, which were initially dug with the intention of connecting the sparse few landmasses together in a way that could be traveled without every having to worry about the tides.

How does magic work?

We’re just gonna slap the cut here!

In Aanrah, magic can largely be split into two ‘types’: what will henceforth be called ‘divine’ magic (or inherent magic), and sort of ‘spell’ magic.

In the simplest sense, divine magic is a inherent part of everyone and everything in the world - whether alive or dead, animate or inanimate, sentient or intelligent, everything has divine magic. Divine magic can be thought of in a sort of mechanical/metaphysical sense as a descriptor or ‘tag’ - something that ‘describes’ what a thing is in its most inherent and distilled form. And for most things, they only just legally have divine magic. It exists, but is very weak, and very scattered. But divine magic is what designates a domain if a thing were to ascend to actual divinity, and decides what ‘traits’ a object might have for spellcasting. 

For example, a rock. A rock’s divine magic both covers what it’s made of and is (basically in a scientific ‘what are my elements composing me’ sense) as well as what one might attribute to it when spell casting - earth, stone, a location, tough, sharp, and other things of that nature. 

For a living thing, divine magic is both a mix of what they are (dragon - fire, sharp, flight, red, etc.) as well as who they are (their personality, life events, goals, likes, dislikes, etc.). A person’s divine nature, so to speak, changes as they go through life - but for the most part, until they ascend to divinity, any given ‘category’ of themselves is usually fairly weak. Even strong immortal beings who have honed themselves on something specific don’t have a strong divine aspect in it, and won’t unless/until they ascend to godhood.

The Outsider god Artitengh is considered the patron over divine and inherent magic and power. The nature of divine power is such that with the exception of actually divine beings, one really cannot find out what aspects might be ‘attached’ to a person. If anyone would know, it would be Artitengh - and if it is an ability Artitengh has, it refuses to share that knowledge. However, Artitengh is known to be able to cause individuals to develop ‘inherent power’ if they come into contact with his scales - a sort of ‘superpower’ or internal, self-driven magic akin to that used by sorcerers. However, Artitengh does not seem to be able to determine what that power might be - and for the recorded cases in universe, the power seems somewhat arbitrary.

From a ooc and mechanical point of view, it is. Mostly. Every individual can basically be thought of having, say, 90 1% traits and 5 2% traits from which their power can manifest or take direction. Non divine beings simply do not hone or lean to any one trait or direction the same way deities do - which is for the better. Diversity in ‘divine traits’ allows for diversity in who someone is and what they can do. A person who has ascended into a god will slowly ‘lose’ parts of themselves as they gain divine ranks, leaning more into certain aspects and becoming more ‘distilled’ versions of that. Divine magic determines a being or thing to its very core in a unshakeable and undeniable way that other forces cannot or do not - which is why it’s very broad for things that are not divine. 

For Artitengh’s ability, this means that more then likely, one person’s likes and dislikes, or what they do, will not really have a sway on what their power is. A merfolk water mage is just as likely to roll the ability to control waves as they are the ability to self combust when they sneeze. Even Zhün the Exiled, one of the oldest not fully divine beings (even as a demigod) does not particularly have a strong sway in his divine magic - despite being a practicing necromancer and the first lich since the 2nd Era. Unless he were to ascend to Lesser godhood, his divine magic will remain significantly more general.

For those who do ascend to divinity, divine magic begins to pick a direction. The jump to demigodhood can begin to funnel the sense of self towards something related to the individual, but not always. But once a being ascends to lesser godhood, their divine magic and inherent nature picks a direction, and that being becomes usually fully unable to go down other paths (outside of drastic events). Divine magic tends to go from specific and weak to general and powerful, but this is not a solid rule.

For spellcasting, or otherwise ‘wizard’ / general magic, a large portion of it honestly just follows the vague direction of DnD ruling, just for the purpose that I would like to maybe one day run a campaign in this world. In a less boring and lame way, spellcasting is a mix usually of somatic, material, and verbal components. Prior to the 10th Era and Szaifudrus’s deal with Emrul, spells and spellcasting was incredibly rare. Most magic used by beings was inherent / divine, and those ‘true’ spell casters who used spells for magic were usually taught it directly from Emrul or someone adjacent. Spells were basically impossible to get unless you knew the right people, and even then they were seldom traded or exchanged. 

Since the introduction of a lot of spells into the knowledge of more average civilians, the use of spells has taken off wildly. Spellcrafting and theorizing has reached new levels with the amount of knowledge Szaifudrus let into the public, and from what he gave more experimentation and extrapolation allowed magic to become both more widespread and commonplace, as well as far more versatile and deep. 

While wizards and various mages use the bulk of the magic, it’s not uncommon for normal civilians to know simple spells to help out with daily life. Magic is a major component in the creation and maintenance of the world’s technology - including rail systems, basic light bulbs, and heated water.