#cacao origin trips

[inawickedlittletown]

Just Let Me Adore You (BuckTommy) -2/6

Summary: What if…instead of Chimney taking the role of interim Captain of the 118, Tommy is asked to take on the role.

Or, what happens when Buck meets Tommy in S2

Words: 3.4k

Notes: Title from Adore You by Harry Styles

Read on Ao3

Part One

-

Part Two

After growing up in Hershey, chocolate factories didn’t impress Buck much. He’d gone to the Hershey factory a few times on school trips and it’d been fun the first few times. Buck wasn’t even sure if it was his proximity and how often he had that chocolate as a kid, but he really wasn’t all that fond of it. He’d also had some great chocolate down in South America that made anything American pale in comparison. Not a lot of people knew it, but that was where cacao beans came from. It wasn’t Mexico either like some though, but Ecuador. 

The Seymour Chocolate Factory wasn’t even one he’d heard of and he kinda figured the chocolate probably wasn’t even that good, though they did leave with a small bag of chocolates by the end of the call. The call came about a guy that had fallen right into a chocolate vat while on a tour. 

As they were walking up, Buck heard Tommy say to Chim, “this would be the moment the Oompa Loompas give us a musical number.” 

Buck had no idea what he meant, but there was no time to ask for clarification. 

None of them had any idea how to get the guy out of the chocolate vat until, after a few failed attempts, Tommy pulled out his phone. They all eyed him. 

“What? A good Captain uses his resources. In this case, Bobby probably knows more about chocolate than anyone I know. Unless one of you has a better idea?” 

He wasn’t wrong. Bobby’s advice worked and between all of them they had the teacher out and then on a stretcher. 

Buck held himself back as they walked out and wound up next to Tommy. 

“That was a good call, getting Bobby on the phone.” 

Tommy smiled at him, crinkle eyed and gorgeous. Why was he so good looking? More importantly, why couldn’t Buck stop noticing? 

“It wasn’t like he was going to get flushed out or sucked up in a tube,” Tommy said. 

“What are you talking about?” Buck asked. 

“Willy Wonka,” Tommy said. 

“Who?” 

Tommy stopped and turned to look at him, making Buck almost run straight into him. 

“Okay, I’d understand if you never saw the original movie, but you have to have seen the remake? Johnny Depp was in it.”

“Uh, no,” Buck said. 

“It was a book,” Tommy said next. “Roald Dahl. Oompa Loompas? The kid that got turned into a blueberry?”

Buck stared at him blankly. 

“This means nothing to you, does it?” 

Buck shrugged. 

When they finally made it out, the ambulance had already left, Hen having gone with it. Chim and Eddie waited by the truck. 

“He’s never seen Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” Tommy announced as if Buck had committed some kind of crime.

Buck was used to missing movie references. Chim had long given up expecting Buck to get what he was talking about. Buck had always been that kid that couldn’t sit still long enough to get through a movie. That and all the time he spent outdoors doing daring thing after daring thing. Not to mention that his parents hadn’t been big on tv time. 

“He’s never seen much of anything,” Chim said with a laugh. “Him and his sister both. You’d think they were raised in some commune, but instead they’re just from Pennsylvania. I’ve taken on the task of introducing her to some classics.”

Buck shrugged his shoulders. “So, what exactly are these oompa lumps?” 

“Oompa Loompas,” Tommy said. “And you won’t understand until you watch it.” 

When he turned to Eddie, Eddie just shrugged at him, but he was grinning in that way that meant Eddie was too amused by the whole thing to help. Chim mimed zipping his lips closed. Looking at Tommy just got him a shake of his head. They also banned him from looking it up and on the way back to the station, Chim even grabbed his phone out of his hands even though Buck wasn’t going to google it. 

“I can just look it up when I get home,” Buck told them. 

“Or you could watch it,” Tommy suggested. 

“Only if you watch it with me,” Buck shot back, not sure exactly why he said it.  

Tommy didn’t respond at once and Buck felt like he’d gone and put his foot in it. But then, “Yeah. Alright. If only to make sure you actually watch it.”

—

He tried to invite Chim and Eddie over to watch Willy Wonka with him and Evan, but neither of them was interested or available even if they did want Tommy to let them know how it went. Hen had also turned him down in favor of a date night with her wife. So, Tommy was on his own. Due to Evan’s living situation, he also had to host. So at least they got to use his living room with his big screen tv and sound bar. 

Evan showed up with pizza, beer, and a veggie tray. He looked a little nervous even after Tommy invited him in. He watched as Evan took in Tommy’s house. It was very much a work in progress and Tommy had been doing most of the work on his own, so it was taking him a while to get through all of it. He expected it would be at least a year or two before he was finally satisfied by which point something would need to be repaired or repainted. 

“I like your place,” Evan said. 

“Really? It’s a bit of a half finished mess.” 

“But one you’re clearly putting time into,” Evan said. “And you’ll like the end result because of it.” 

“Well, lucky for us, one of the things I did finish is the living room.” 

It was the thing he’d tackled right after the kitchen — which technically wasn’t even done — , the upstairs bathroom, and parts of his bedroom. He needed a place to relax and wind down after long shifts. So, it had become a priority. Tommy led Evan there and cleared off the coffee table for the food. 

They sat down side by side on his couch and Tommy grabbed the remote. 

“It’s an older movie,” Tommy informed Evan. “I think you’ll like it, though.” 

Evan got into it pretty quickly. He did ask questions like about the bed the grandparents shared and Tommy mostly just told him to keep watching. Tommy was more of a romcom re-watcher, so he hadn’t actually watched Willy Wonka in years. Still, it was more fun to get Evan’s reaction to things. He’d forgotten how eccentric and weird the movie was and watching Evan react was everything. He expressed so much and laughed with so much surprise that it was absolutely endearing. 

“Those are the Oompa Loompas!” Evan exclaimed when he first saw them, giggling. “I get it now.” 

By the time they finished the movie, Evan had turned to him with a big grin. “Okay, that was actually pretty good, if a little odd. You said there was a remake?” 

Tommy nodded. “Yeah. It’s different, but still good. Wonka is completely different. The whole vibe is different.” 

“Might have to check that out,” Evan said with a smile. After a pause, “We could have another movie night?” 

“That’d be nice,” Tommy said and he meant it. 

Evan stayed a little bit after the movie, discussing the more ridiculous aspects of it. Then, somehow, talking about what Tommy would be tackling next on the house. 

“I did construction,” Evan offered. “I can help out if you ever need a second hand.” 

The thought of Evan working with him to put new flooring down or to sand and stain his cabinet doors was far more appealing than it should be, but he nodded and thought that he wouldn’t actually ask Evan for help. He might not survive it if he saw Evan dressed down and sweaty doing physical work in Tommy’s own home. 

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he told him. 

—

Phone calls with Ali were getting exhausting. Buck had known what he was signing up for when he started dating her. She’d been clear from the start that she traveled for work and considering Buck’s own hours he’d figured it’d be fine. It was for a while. When she was in LA it was always fun. It was different from Abby and Buck liked that. Still, it always left him feeling a little left behind whenever she went off on yet another trip. She’d call, but it wasn’t the same as having her in LA. It wasn’t the same as being able to just see her whenever he wanted and that made it hard. 

When the time between calls started lengthening and lengthening, it almost even felt like he wasn’t dating anyone at all. One night they even had a discussion about opening up the relationship, making things more casual. Not that they were even necessarily talking about each other in any serious manner to begin with. 

“It’d be a lot easier on both of us,” Ali had explained. “You can be free to meet other people and so can I.” 

Buck hadn’t argued with her or known how to approach such a suggestion. Maybe he should have. It had just felt like if he didn’t she would just leave him once and for all. He tried his hardest not to think about her out there meeting other guys and maybe finding something better elsewhere. Someone better. For his part, he didn’t want to go back to who he used to be, so he didn’t even try to meet anyone else. 

It wasn’t until…but no, Tommy was a guy. Buck wasn’t interested in him like that. He wasn’t, right? He tried not to think about their movie night. How it had felt to sit on Tommy’s couch feeling his warmth next to him watching chocolate shenanigans and being perplexed by the whole thing and then also feeling Tommy’s gaze on him. There was just something about him. Buck felt like a magnet being pulled in by a force he couldn’t fight — one he didn’t want to fight. And that…that was scary. 

It was what found him knocking on Bobby’s apartment. 

“Hey,” Bobby said and motioned him in. “Want some water?” 

“Uh. Yeah. Sure.” 

Bobby’s table was covered in wedding stuff. 

“Am I here at a bad time?” 

“Not at all. What’s going on, Buck?” 

Buck sank into the chair. “Bobby, you gotta come back to work.” 

Bobby chuckled as he set down a glass of water in front of Buck. “I’d love to. It’s not up to me.”

“Isn’t there anything we can do? Can’t we like write letters or something? Talk to them?” 

Bobby shook his head. “I don’t think that will help, Buck. What’s going on? I thought Tommy was doing well.” 

Buck kinda panicked then because Tommy was actually good at being Captain. He was different than Bobby, of course, but not in a way that made Buck or really anyone on the team want him gone. Tommy was knowledgeable and his own expectations about how the equipment was kept and how everything was stocked. While he’d hung back a bit the first few shifts, after that he’d jumped right into action with them, knew how to balance being in charge and telling them what to do with also being part of the solution. Buck was more than a little impressed with him. 

 “No, no, he’s doing fine. He’s a good Captain. He’s not you, but he’s good. Way he handled that bombing the other day? Or the chocolate factory…I can see why he was picked to hold your spot.” 

“I’m glad you like him,” Bobby said with a smile. “So, what’s happening, Buck?”

“Ali wants an open relationship,” Buck blurted out. 

He could tell that he’d shocked Bobby, at least for a moment. He recovered quickly. “Is that something you want?” 

“Not really,” Buck admitted. “Or…well, I don’t know. You know it’s not unusual or anything and it works for some people. You know, some people think that people aren’t meant to be monogamous. I don’t think I’m too bothered by it like as a concept.” 

“But this is not a concept. It’s your life, Buck.” 

“Yeah. I know,” Buck said and it was entirely the problem. 

Okay, so it wasn’t like Buck didn’t know that he had a bit of a slut era. His Buck 1.0 days…Buck wasn’t ashamed of them. And maybe in that time he’d explored a bit. One thing that Buck had realized was that he could never do threesomes. They were complicated and Buck was bad about sharing. Jealous, even. 

Bobby stared at him and Buck stared back. If he could just share all his thoughts with Bobby without saying them outloud, it would actually solve everything. Not even just his Ali problem, but maybe the near obsession he was having about Tommy. 

“I don’t think the problem is the open relationship,” Buck said.

He thought about Abby leaving and how she had tried to tell him in a roundabout way that what she wanted was to be free from everything and everything included him. He hadn’t been in love with her, though he had loved her. Cared about her. Convinced himself he would have a future with her. Had he realized what Abby meant by Eat, Pray, Love, Buck was actually sure that he would have been upset. Then again, it wouldn’t have been some dragged out thing. 

With Ali…shouldn’t he be more upset? Shouldn’t he be angry and maybe even jealous because why was she bringing it up if she didn’t already have someone that she wanted to sleep with? Was this her roundabout way of saying that they were over? 

“I don’t think I should be so…so okay with it. Or not care,” Buck said. 

“Oh,” Bobby said. 

Maybe it was that she was gone all the time. Gone so much that Buck hadn’t had any time to get attached. Not really. Not in the way that mattered. 

“Then maybe this would work for you, if you were looking for something different,” Bobby tried.  

Tommy came to mind right away. Except that…he couldn’t do that to someone, least of all Tommy. Buck groaned, as if that were even an option. 

“Buck?” 

“What if…” Buck trailed off. He couldn’t say it. “No. I guess I should talk to Ali.” 

“That’s probably a good start. You know, I don’t have to be your Captain for us to have these talks.” 

“No, but it would be less confusing if you were,” Buck muttered on his way out and didn’t know if Bobby had heard him. 

—

He could see the devastation on Eddie’s face. The woman — his wife — was on the stretcher and from what Chimney had whispered to him and Tommy’s own experience she wasn’t going to make it. She was already dead even if it hadn’t caught up to her. Eddie didn’t seem to know it fully yet, but he watched as Hen and Chim worked on her. 

“We need to intubate,” Hen said from inside the ambulance.

Chim stopped her. “No.” 

“No?” Hen asked. 

Chim shook his head and his eyes met Tommy’s, before looking to Eddie. 

“Chim’s right,” he said. “I’m sorry, Eddie.” 

He could tell that Eddie understood. He’d been an Army medic, had worked as a firefighter long enough that of course he knew. 

“If they intubate,” Tommy said, “that tube may never come out. Right now, before they do that, just take a minute.” 

“He knows,” Chim said. “Eddie, I’m sorry…this is…come on, you can say goodbye to her.” 

There was nothing that could have prepared any of them to arrive at a call to find that the one person seriously injured — other than the driver — was the wife of one of his firefighters. 

Tommy gripped Eddie’s shoulder, not that it made much difference and then he watched Eddie climb into the ambulance. Tommy closed the door behind them and then turned around. 

“Hey,” Evan said. “Is she—”

Tommy shook his head. Evan let out a sigh and he pressed his lips together. He took a quick glance around. The driver had been loaded into another ambulance. The minor injuries had already been looked at. Evan let out a sigh and his eyes met Tommy’s again, looking a bit glassy. 

“We should go to the hospital,” Tommy said. 

“Yeah.” 

He wasn’t surprised when Bobby arrived, was glad to see him so that some of this burden wasn’t on Tommy. It was more than a job, these people were Bobby’s family and they needed him. Tommy wasn’t that for them and he wasn’t all that close to Eddie to offer the comfort that Bobby could 

Eddie left with Bobby, clutching a bag with her belongings and looking lost in a way that Tommy had never experienced for himself. 

They didn’t talk about it on the way back to the station and he told dispatch to take them off line for the remaining time left on their shift because it was only a few hours and they were all more than a little distracted. The 118 could go back online once B-shift took over. He found Evan in front of the tv, staring out into nothing. 

“Did you know her well?” he asked. 

“No,” Evan said. “Met her a few times here or there, but that was all. Eddie really cared about her, they were kinda reconnecting, I guess. She hadn’t been a part of Eddie’s or Christopher’s life for a bit. Now…”

“That poor kid,” Tommy said because he hadn’t even thought about Eddie’s son. 

Eddie had probably told him by now, had torn his world apart. At least Christopher would have a good dad. He would have Eddie there to grieve with. He would have a dad that cared and that loved him even if he never saw his mother again. 

“Yeah,” Evan said. 

Life was like that, made up of tragedies. 

The next time he saw Eddie, it was a few days later. Tommy had arrived early to do some paperwork and the last person he expected to see was Eddie. He was in civilian clothes at least, not that Tommy would have allowed him to work even if he’d gotten the uniform on. 

“Hey, Eddie, how are you doing?” 

“Alright, everything considered. Funeral’s in a couple of days.” 

He still looked lost. Like he was still out on that street looking at Shannon. 

“Well the last thing I want you to worry about is work,” Tommy said. “Take all the time that you need.” 

“Even with all those bombs showing up?” Eddie asked and shook his head. “No. I think I’ll need to work. I’ll need to be back so I can stop thinking about it. Stop picturing it.” 

It felt like a mistake. He didn’t want to say no and he didn’t want to make things harder for Eddie, and yet in their line of work there was no room for distractions. Distractions led to mistakes and mistakes in their line of work could be life or death. 

“Look, that’s…I’m not saying you shouldn’t come back at once. I just, I want your head to be in it. I want you to be in the right state of mind. Have you thought about talking to someone?”

Eddie looked taken aback. “What?” 

Tommy should have expected it. Guy like Eddie who’d been in the Army and who had probably not bothered to do any therapy after it, of course he didn’t think he needed it now. 

“The department has good grief counselors, Eddie,” Tommy said. “I won’t put any restrictions on when you can return, but I want you to see one…if they say that you’re fit to work and willing to do a few more sessions then that’s that.” 

Eddie looked like he wanted to argue, but Tommy was going to hold strong on that. He didn’t know what Bobby would have done in his place, but Tommy knew what Gerrard had done for a firehouse and a team that had lost one of their own. Tommy knew what Captain Reid at Harbor would do, too. 

“Are you serious right now?” Eddie asked. 

Tommy sighed. “Eddie, come on. I have a whole team to look out for here and this is not even really my house.” He lifted an eyebrow. 

“Okay,” Eddie said. “Fine. If that’s the only way.”  

“It’ll help, Eddie. I don’t…I’ve never been married, but I’ve lost important people. I get it. It isn’t easy and it won’t be for a while. How’s your son doing?” 

“As fine as he can be doing,” Eddie said. “My parents are here. My sisters. It’s helping him. It’s stressing me out.” 

“Parents are never easy. If you need to get away, give me a call. There are distractions that aren’t work, you know?”

[leonisloresmith]

Future Choco, Espresso, and Milk for Soul Jam Descendants.

Choco is now king of the Dark Cacao kingdom, Cacao having retired and moved out to the country with Pure Vanilla and White Lily.

Espresso is the first chief of the coffee tribe in almost 50 years. He also has a seat on the Dark Cacao royal court for being one of the most skilled magicians in the region, on top of his other seat for being a chief.

Milk is the chief of the milk tribes, the original one having since expanded and branched off into three sister groups. In the game timeline he was on his expedition, a journey potential heirs to the milk tribe leadership go on before they become chief. Despite originally not wanting to be chief, he returned home for a visit and more or less tripped into the position.

[blueiscoool]

A Blazing Orange Wildflower Thought Extinct Rediscovered in Ecuador

A rare blazing orange wildflower that was thought to be extinct for 36 years was rediscovered in South America.

The wildflower Gasteranthus extinctus has only been spotted in Ecuador’s cloud forest and was last documented in 1985, according to a new study in the journal PhytoKeys. The researchers saw a dim future for the flower, so they named it “extinctus” because they believed it would soon die out, said coauthor Dawson White, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Field Museum in Chicago. Most of the cloud forest suffered deforestation in the years that followed. The habitat loss was thought to have killed off dozens of species, White said.

Researchers decided to take another look in western Ecuador in 2021 to see if there were any patches of forest left and to search for the species that had lived there. Within days, the flower was found, White said.

“It was total elation because Gasteranthus extinctus is a symbol of these unique forests,” White said.

The team gathered samples to later confirm the DNA of the plant, which was scattered in clumps in the small sections of remaining forest.

A serendipitous moment

After the magnificent rediscovery, team member Riley Fortier checked the nature app iNaturalist to see if anyone else had taken a similar photo, White said. A joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society, iNaturalist is a biodiversity observation network where people can post photos of plants, birds and other findings in nature for help with identification.

The researchers found photos of the wildflower posted in 2019 by a group of Ecuadorian students who had been enjoying an outing in a small conservation area.

“They were out on a trip a little north of where we were collecting and sure enough, they took two pictures of Gasteranthus extinctus, but they weren’t able to identify it as such,” White said.

He was able to track down the students to learn more details about their encounter and to include their observations in the scientific paper.

Gasteranthus extinctus is not well known in Ecuador, but another member of its family, the African violet, is, said Carmen Ulloa Ulloa, botanist and curator at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. She was not involved in the study.

“Many people probably have an African violet from Africa in their homes, but very few of the Ecuadorian native plants are cultivated for ornamentals,” she said.

Working against the clock

While no longer considered extinct, the wildflower is still endangered, White said.

Despite the devastation the cloud forest is suffering, the Ecuadorian government continues to destroy the forest for their own gain, which wreaked havoc in that part of the country, he explained.

The originally Ecuadorian government redistributed the land to the working class in the 1950s and 1960s, White said.

People cut down trees to make way for growing crops like cacao beans and bananas, most of which end up in the United States, he added.

“We were with local landowners, and they told us about their plans to continue to cut down some of these small forests that still remain,” White said.

Ulloa Ulloa grew up in Ecuador and saw firsthand the deforestation, but as she became an adult, she understood the delicate balance of needing to protect the environment while finding ways to make money.

“You need to protect the forest, but then you also need to feed the population of the country,” Ulloa Ulloa said.

One solution is to invest in ecotourism, which invites tourists to enjoy the natural land, she said. It’s a way to protect the forest while boosting Ecuador’s economy, Ulloa Ulloa explained.

Research teams who traveled to Ecuador before and after White’s team discovered nearly half a dozen plant species new to science. The teams who discovered the new species are hoping to publish their findings later this year, he said.

White’s goals are to conserve the environment of the cloud forest while continuing inventory on the newly discovered species, he said.

By Megan Marples.

[goodbyeglutengoodies]

The 4 Best Ideas for Sweet Gluten Free Treats

Eating gluten free or stocking gluten free foods in your pantry can be easy when you know the foods and textures that keep things tasty and safe for even those with a gluten allergy. The best idea for gluten free goodness is to keep things simple so that you can enjoy treats and sweets or serve them to friends and family whenever the craving hits. Whether you want to be a good host serving gluten free coconut cookies or you want to have treats on hand for yourself, the following ideas are the best ways to keep things tasting great without the gluten.

Gluten Free Cookie Idea: Coconut! 

The best idea for your pantry is to swap out any unsatisfying and flavorless cookies that just make you sad with delicious cookies featuring coconut as a main ingredient. Chewy coconut is a filling and nutritious ingredient. It will lend flavor and texture to a beloved cookie, including a chocolate coconut cookie. Alongside other ingredients like almond flour and agave, coconut will make a cookie come together for a chewy, enjoyable snack perfect for any time of the day.

Gluten Free Brownie Idea: Make It Snappy!

Brownies are great and all, but it’s not so easy to take them with you, whether you’re running errands or heading to work. Luckily, you can find some delicious gluten free brownie snaps that will make chocolatey snacking a little more snappy—literally. You can take these crispy, delicious snacks on the go or keep them in your pantry or desk drawer for easy snacking. They’re perfect for sharing with friends and family (even coworkers), and they’re super lightweight, so you can bring a bag camping in case cravings hit while you sit around the campfire.

Gluten Free Blondie Idea: Cassava Flour! 

You have to eat a little differently anyway, so why not grab a bag of blondie mix instead of the classic brownie variety—a mix that includes cassava flour instead of conventional wheat flour? Cassava flour gives brownies and blondies a fantastic texture similar to the mixes your parents might have made for anyone who can eat gluten. You don’t have to miss out on delicious pre-made baking mixes when the gluten free options are full of delicious ingredients that lend the final product the perfect texture.

Gluten Free Coconut Bite Idea: Make It Crunchy!

If a chewy coconut cookie isn’t doing it for you, you can walk on the crunchy side. Chewy coconut cookies are absolutely delicious, but crunchy coconut bites are perfect for anyone craving a crunch. With a hint of sweetness from coconut chips and a cute little shape that’s perfect for popping into your mouth, just one isn’t enough. You’ll want to keep a bag of crunchy coconut cookies on hand for all your snacking needs.

Sometimes, the best ideas for keeping things gluten free are pretty simple. With a few great treats, tasty ingredients, and some new textures in the pantry, you can enjoy a sweet, gluten free snack whenever you want.

About Emmy’s Organics

When you want gluten free goodness on the snack tray, in a backpack, or on the table, Emmy’s Organics will provide delicious, gluten free sweets and snacks for all-day smiles. The gluten free cookie brand offers a variety of great-tasting flavors for their OG coconut cookies, including coconut cookies Chocolate Chip, Dark Cacao, and Vanilla Bean flavored. In addition to the chewy coconut cookies, you can grab a bag of gluten free brownie or blondie mix or pick up some crunchy Coconut Crunch’Ems or Brownie Snaps. Emmy’s Organics offers the perfect treats for any time of year to ensure that nobody misses out on something sweet when they can’t eat conventional options. From summer camping trips to fall lunch bags for school, Emmy’s Organics will fill your day, your tummy, and your plate with wholesome organic treats that are free of refined sugars. 

Discover how Emmy’s Organics uses the best ideas for gluten free treats at https://emmysorganics.com/

Original Source: https://bit.ly/4bGeOwA

[creamfilledchurros]

Churros vs. The World: Are They the Ultimate Dessert?

Imagine walking down a lively street. You're surrounded by the city's hustle and bustle. Suddenly, a sweet aroma grabs your attention. It leads you to a small food cart. Here, churros are being made. They look like dessert perfection. Memories of childhood fairs come to your mind. Or maybe it's the joy of biting into a warm, sugary snack. Whatever the reason, churros have a special charm. But, are they the best dessert out there? We're going on a trip to learn about churros. We'll look at their history and origins. We'll see why they're popular in the U.S. We'll also peek at how profitable they are for restaurants. Plus, we'll check out other desserts, for those wanting variety. Get comfy, grab some hot chocolate, and prepare for a treat. We're exploring the churro world. Let's find out if they're the top dessert.

The History and Origins of Churros

No one knows exactly where churros came from. Yet, many think they arrived in South America via Spain during colonial times. The Spanish took the idea of fried dough and added native South American flavors. This mix brought us the churros we love today. Churros got more famous when the Spanish brought cacao back to Europe. They were often eaten with hot chocolate. This treat is still loved by many. The story of churros is a mix of South American and European food history.

The Popularity of Churros in the United States

Churros have rapidly become a favorite in the U.S., showing up in many restaurants. They are loved in both upscale and casual places. It's easy to see why they're so popular. Churros are known for being affordable. This makes them a great choice for many people. Whether saving money or just looking for a good deal on sweets, churros are perfect. Making churros is easy and quick. Unlike complicated desserts, churros can be made fast. This means less waiting for those craving a fresh, tasty treat. The shape of churros also makes them special. Their long, thin design is ideal for eating while moving. Busy people love them because they can enjoy a yummy snack on the move.

Churros are also very adaptable. They can come with different toppings and sauces. Choices range from classic cinnamon sugar to chocolate or caramel. This makes churros exciting for everyone's taste. Many restaurants have added churros to their menus to attract more customers. Their good price, ease of making, unique shape, and flexibility make them a hit. It's clear why churros are loved by so many in the U.S.

The Profitability of Churros as a Menu Item

Churros can greatly boost a restaurant's profits. They are cheap to make, using simple ingredients like water, butter, sugar, salt, and flour. They are fried quickly in high-quality oil. This process is fast and keeps labor costs low. Churros are popular and flexible, which means more customers. By offering various flavors and toppings, restaurants can please more people. This approach leads to more sales and happy customers.

Using better oil management systems can also raise profits. Systems like Pitco cut down on oil expenses and make frying more efficient. They keep oil good for longer, reducing the need to change it often. This makes churro-making cheaper and boosts profit margins. Churros are not just tasty; they're great for marketing. Their eye-catching look is perfect for social media, drawing in crowds. This visibility can grow the customer base and increase profits for the restaurant.

Exploring Alternative Dessert Options

Churros are a favorite, but many other desserts can add variety. For weddings, think about how practical and good the desserts are. Chocolate chip cookies are a hit and can be made in many flavors. They add a comforting feel to any dessert table. Macarons are small and tidy, perfect for any event. They look delicate and taste delicious, bringing elegance everywhere. Cupcakes are easy to handle and look great. They come in many flavors and can match any wedding theme. They make a great dessert centerpiece too. Candy jars offer an affordable and fun choice. They can be filled with anything from gummy bears to chocolate nuts. This lets guests pick what they like best. For a healthier option, try mini fruit tarts or chocolate-dipped strawberries. These choices are not only tasty but also add vibrant colors to the table. Choosing wedding desserts means thinking about variety and how much to have. Make sure to consider what guests may like or need. Adding different desserts to the usual churros makes everyone happy.

FAQ

Q: Are churros the best desserts? A: Churros are great, but whether they're the best is up to you. They're famous for their shape, you can change them up, and they don't cost much. But, so many other desserts are out there to try. Find what makes your taste buds happy! Q: What is the history and origins of churros? A: No one's totally sure where churros first came from. It's thought that the Spanish brought them over to South America long ago. They mixed fried dough with local treats. Later, when they brought cacao back to Europe, churros and hot chocolate became a hit. So, churros have a cool history that crosses oceans. Q: Why are churros so popular in the United States? A: In the U.S., everyone loves churros for a bunch of reasons. They're cheap and super easy to make quickly. Their fun shape means you can snack on them while walking around. Plus, you can top them with all sorts of yummy things. That's why everyone can't get enough of churros. Q: Are churros a profitable menu item for restaurants? A: Yes, churros can bring in good money for restaurants. They're made from simple, inexpensive ingredients. And they're quick to fry up. That means you can serve a lot without spending too much on labor or ingredients. Offering different toppings can draw in more customers. If you use tools like Pitco to manage frying oil, you can save even more and serve the best churros. Q: What are some alternative dessert options to churros? A: If you're looking for other sweet treats, there are plenty. For events like weddings, think about what works best. Cookies are loved by many and can come in lots of flavors. Macarons are tiny and tidy. Cupcakes are easy to serve and look great. Candy jars let guests pick their favorites. For a healthier choice, try fruit tarts or chocolate strawberries. Remember to keep your guests' tastes and dietary needs in mind. Read the full article

[benefits1986]

Southern Blend

The chirping cicadas and the madre de cacao blooms are pretty and pretty curious, too.

Finally able to squeeze in a trip somewhere near Tagaytay yesterday. Since mother dragon's hometown is in Indang, I guess, every time I pass by Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, I feel like I'm coming home to her, too. Never mind the traffic caused by yet another road repair. This time around, I'm a bit wiser and a bit grown up, too.

Dad has been rarely home since he's going to and from ina's house; so, I asked him to drive me. We had brunch in Cafe Agapita because I need to take meds and missed the pancake sandwich which is my favorite quick meal for road trips especially during weekends. I brought dad and Vici there because I'd know that they'd like this spot. Cafe Agapita used to be small and overlooked. I was told that the owner, the lola started with a tiny catering business that served small and big events. Dad was actually surprised to see that there's a cafe that's super pet-friendly and where bikers come and go, too. LOL. Puro kasi Tags alam neto saka Nuvali. He teased me: Bakit ngayon mo lang ako dinala dito, 'nak? Me: Walang masayadong tao today kasi saka iinom na ako ng gamot and sakto na andito tayo. Dad: Aba. Nag-drive lang ako, may libreng meal pa kami ni Vici. LOL. Simple joys and asaran talaga. Anyway, I don't know where the crowd is kahapon, but I have this inkling that they avoided this route because of heavy traffic. :p Saks traffic lang talaga and though the bikers are not too many, decent mga bikes nila. LOL. Wala lang akong makitang B. Sabi ni dad: E paano, aayaw sa unli ahon. Me: E bakit si Mekaniko Martilyo, kaya naman folding bike a. :P Hahahahaha. Dad ogled of course. Ganun talaga siya e. Sabi ko, bago siya magsuot ng proper biker attire, magpapayat muna siya. LOLOLLOLL. Wala na raw siyang pag-asa. Hahaha. May mga bikers who greeted Vici and I. 'Pag weekends, I try to lessen small talks talaga. Ako lang 'yun a. So, na-stress lang ako kasi may humawak pa kay Vici agad without asking permission. I actually took a step back and said: 'Di pa siya naliligo. Hahahahahaha. LOL. Oks lang daw. Lol. So, ending... exit ako agad. Stress lang ako kasi may auto-immune condition nga si Vici. 'Yung lang talaga 'yun. Pero sobrang happy siya when he's out and about. Dad told me that si Vici lang talaga reason why lumalabas ako 'pag nasa Manila which I agreed with naman.

I told dad that the best time to come by Cafe Agapita is weekdays talaga. Sumaktong wala lang tao kahapon and the crowd can get "kagulo" kasi marami nga talagang tao dito sa spot na 'to on a usual weekend. Food: 6.5/10. Okay 'yung concept. Super duper generous servings BUT it can be better. As an example, 'yung rice ng Twice Adobo is medyo malata. And it's not warm. 'Di ko sure kung ang attempt ba nila is to have that rustic feel, pero 'pag balmy weather, warm food is comforting talaga. But, the addition of the dried fish and the well done salad saved the dish. This dish actually reminds me of a typical almusal after the fiesta sa bahay ni Inang Sinta, my mom's mother. So baka nga ganun 'yung vibe nitong dish na 'to. Mushroom soup has a variety of mushrooms BUT hindi lumabas 'yung umami which could have been done by slight caramelization and onion and garlic. Pero gets ko naman kasi price point-wise, super goods na siya. What I got was the croissant stuffed with chicken salad. I like croissant. I like salad. Hindi super duper flaky ng croissant pero again, price-wise, ang laki nung serving. 'Di pa ako nakaka-one bite, busog na ako. It came with potato wedges. Oks naman pero lacks flavor din. Again, 'di warm 'yung potato wedges so, it's dull for me. Maganda kasi may contrast ng cold salad and warm/hot potatoes, right? Sabi syempre ni dad, grabe naman daw ako mag-rate; but, he gets it. The best part about Cafe Agapita? A-game sa pag-treat kay Vici. We got the seats in the third floor of the original wooden house and they allowed Vici to sit on the chair. HUHUHUHU. Then, they gave Vici iced water to drink. Happy rin si Vici to roam around the vast grounds. So, for that, 7/10 overall rating ko sa kanila. Wala akong nakitang pet food sa menu so ask ko na lang din next time if meron; though Vici had a few bites of adobo and croissant.

And then, I went to visit my not so secret spot. :) Natuwa din tatay ko. Bili raw siya ng lupa niya doon. Sabi ko, mag-rent na lang siya. AYWWAW. Hahahaha. Sabi ko hinay lang. Unti-unti lang. I dunno but 'pag nasa South side talaga ako, iba. As in. :) It's so calming to think na overthinker ako ng malala. And, though it's gonna be a long and winding road na unliahon, I know so well that I'm on the right track. 'Yung kahit sobrang daming 'di tiyak sa mundo, may uuwian ako na masasabi kong dito ako at home and at peace. South, you are a wonder and you make me wander. I'm seeing you more and more frequently this 2024. And syempre, with my clunky MatchaME and Vici, let's get this on and on and on. Bawal makalas ang tuhod at balakang at iba pang body parts. :) Kapit lungs because we are inching our way there.

And sa bawat pagbalik ko sa bustling city lights, mas may bitbit akong good vibes in an underrated and almost undetectable manner. 'Yung okay ang city life, yes na yes. Pero the life beyond the city is my legit iced matcha laced with white chocolate + cinnamon + vanilla. Ganung levels. Saka ang maganda sa side ng South na 'to, as in, lahat din ng nasa city, andito na rin e. I cannot unsee since ngayon lang ako ulit napadpad dito. Even the restaurants, may Indo-Malay, Viet, Thai, and the works na rin.

Thank you, mother dragon for your love. I guess eto na talaga tayo sa exciting part na less iyak, less triggers, less drama whenever I see your side of the South. Thank you for making me see that what's meant to be will find its way to you, no matter how long it takes and no matter how tough things get... sa lahat ng aspeto ito. And that, the simple life is the life well-lived in full color, in black and white, and everything in between.

Whenever I'm at the verge of spiraling, I'll go back to the cicadas chirping and the pink blooms of kakawate and the cool and calm breeze. Never better. Always.

[emmysorganics]

Summer Picnic Essentials for Hungry Kids (and Their Parents)

What’s supposed to be a simple summer picnic with the family can get a bit complicated when you need to pack snacks and lunches for hungry kids and adults. Still, there is a lot you can do to make things easy on you and fun for your kids, including packing delicious snacks and treats. Don’t worry—that doesn’t mean filling everyone up with sugar. Some options are lower in sugar and full of nutritious ingredients that will fuel energetic little bodies without a sugar crash.

Sweet Crunchy Snacks

A crunchy sweet is a satisfying snack, and you can feel good about giving some crunchy coconut cookies to the family on a casual picnic—even if it’s just a quick trip to the park in the middle of the day. Picnics don’t have to take hours. Pack some lower-in-sugar, crunchy coconut cookies, and when it’s time for a water break, let your kids munch away. Just remember that their mouths should finish chewing by the time they start moving!

Delicious Chewy Cookies

If you want to enjoy a little brown-paper-bag lunch picnic and keep the whole thing simple, add a chewy coconut cookie to each lunch. With sandwiches, veggie sticks, and a chewy cookie, your kids can sit their sweaty little bodies down on a park bench or a beach towel for a quick lunch before it’s time to start playing again.

Home-Baked Goodies

When you have time to plan for a big family picnic, you should make some home-baked goodies. Pick up a gluten-free baking mix for brownies or blondies without refined sugars to treat your kids, your partner, and yourself to a sweet treat. You can finish the meal with something to make the occasion more memorable. Going on a picnic doesn’t have to be a big deal, but it’s worth celebrating the family outing—do it with a show-stopping picnic dessert.

Bonus: Chocolatey Treats for Mom and Dad

Parents need some treats just for them, so make sure to bring some favorites like brownie snaps or chocolate chip coconut cookies. Sure, the kids would love them too, but these sweets are the perfect, parent-friendly picnic snack with almond flour or a gluten-free flour blend and unrefined sweeteners like coconut sugar and agave.

Packing foods for a picnic doesn’t mean you have to decide between sweet foods and nutritious ones—they may just be the same thing! You can find gluten-free treats and organic cookies with wholesome, filling, and tasty ingredients. They’re still the foods that will put a smile on your kids’ faces, but they’re also foods you’ll be happy to serve at a picnic for a fun-filled day with limited ingredients.

About Emmy’s Organics

Are you on the lookout for delectable, gluten-free snacks to satisfy your sweet tooth? If so, you need to experience Emmy’s Organics. Their delicious lineup of cookies, treats, and baking mixes are made from ingredients you can trust for the whole family, including almond flour, coconut, coconut oil, and agave. Having products from Emmy’s in your pantry means you’ll always have a treat you can feel good about eating as an amazing dessert, an afternoon snack, or whenever you’re in the mood for deliciousness. Pack Emmy’s Organics’ coconut cookies with lunch, grab a Dark Cacao cookie after dinner, and enjoy munching on the new Coconut Crunch’Ems during a movie. Wherever your day takes you, Emmy’s treats will be there to keep you fueled and satisfied.

Find the top picnic picks at Emmy’s Organics and shop for sweet treats at https://emmysorganics.com/

Original Source: https://bit.ly/46ZqN6e

[thegaytraveler]

Pride Journey: Coastal Mississippi

By Joey Amato, Guest Contributor

Every now and then I visit a destination I know absolutely nothing about. That happened a few years ago when I visited Oklahoma City and I fell in love with OKC. This time around, that destination was Coastal Mississippi, more specifically Biloxi, Gulfport, and Ocean Springs. In fact, the only thing I knew about the Biloxi was the hotel I stayed at, Beau Rivage. I knew it was owned by MGM Resorts, but that was about it. The rest of the trip was going to be a surprise.

For this particular trip, I wanted to focus on health and wellness and luckily, Beau Rivage’s most recent renovation included two floors full of Stay Well rooms as well as an updated spa. My gulf view room came complete with an aromatherapy machine, ultra high-end linens, a memory foam mattress, and pillows as well as a vitamin C dispenser hooked up to my shower. I had never seen one of those before, so I had to ask what it was.

After an early check in, I departed for Ocean Springs, a quaint town just east of Beau Rivage. My first stop was a place called Shearwater Pottery. Apparently, it is very well known to everyone but me. After posting pictures on social media, I received numerous comments from friends wanting to visit. Shearwater Pottery was founded in 1928 by Peter Anderson and from the 1920s through the present day, Shearwater Pottery has produced art pottery, utilitarian ware, figurines, decorative tiles, and other pottery pieces.

I had the opportunity to meet with Margie Ashley, the daughter of Peter Anderson who told me about her family’s legacy in Ocean Springs. At that time, Coastal Mississippi was known for fishing and not so much for the arts, so her family was viewed as outcasts but the community. Margie told me people used to called them the “crazy Andersons.” But they eventually had the last laugh as the family name has become as much of Coastal Mississippi culture as seafood gumbo.

A few minutes up the road from Shearwater Pottery is the Walter Anderson Museum of Art. Walter was the brother of Peter Anderson and equally as talented, creating thousands of works throughout his lifetime. Many of Walter Anderson’s paintings, drawings, murals, block prints, sculpture, carvings, and writings are on display at the museum.

The pièce de résistance is the Community Center, which is the site of Walter Anderson’s monumental 3,000 square foot mural, which depicts the historic discovery of the Mississippi Coast and its diverse climates. The city commissioned Walter Anderson in 1950 for a fee of $1.00 and the project took 16 months to complete.

For dinner, head to Vestige, a farm-to-table restaurant in Ocean Springs helmed by head chefs Alex Perry and his wife, Kumi Omori who were recently nominated for a James Beard Award. Vestige offers a pre-fixed menu which changes on a regular basis and contains only the freshest local ingredients. And if it’s not local, they fly it in from its land of origin to insure its freshness. We began our meal with sashimi of Hamachi complete with a foie gras emulsion, rose, purple sweet potato and magnolia flower kombucha veil. Yes, that was one dish and just an appetizer, but probably my favorite item on the menu.

After 3 more courses which consisted of a piece of perfectly cooked fish to charcoal grilled wagyu beef, the meal comes to an end with a delectable strawberry Bavarian, with cacao mint genoise, whipped match, grapefruit lemon curd and pecan ginger shortbread. This wasn’t just a meal; it was an experience worthy of a James Beard nomination and definitely the award for Best Chef: South.

You’ll need the rest of the night to recover from a food coma, so head back to Beau Rivage for some much-needed rest or hit the casino if your heart desires.

Head out the next morning to the recently opened Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport, about 15 minutes west of Biloxi. The state-of-the-art facility is home to a variety of sea life and is one of the crown jewels of the area.

I can never see enough animals, so next on the agenda was the Institute of Marine Mammal Studies located at Ocean Adventures Marine Park. Guests can come up close and personal with stingrays, sea lions and dolphins. I had the opportunity to interact with a beautiful male dolphin, getting to rub his belly, give him commands and feed him some delicious fish. For my, I mean his hard work, I got a kiss from one of my favorite animals.

On the way back to your hotel, stop by Coastal Roast Coffee for an afternoon pick me up before dinner. I wasn’t sure what to expect at White Pillars. The bar was set really high at Vestige the night before, but I was in for another treat. We began our meal with a bowl of Oyster & Artichoke soup. I was a bit hesitant to order this at first as I didn’t want to begin my meal with something heavy, but when it arrived, it turned out to be one of the best soups I’ve had in a long time. It was light and fragrant, consisting of Gulf oysters, fennel, and oyster mushrooms in a coconut milk broth. When dining near the coast, why not try the Gulf Seafood Tower, two tiers of fresh oysters, mahi crudo, smoked fish dip and amberjack ceviche.

And those were just the starters. For my main course, I ordered the Duck Ramen prepared with a confit duck leg, collards, togarashi, duck cracklins, and the traditional soft-boiled egg. In fact, the egg was the only thing traditional about the dish, which was rich and delicious. The duck was cooked to perfection and the broth was fantastic.

The area is home to two LGBTQ bars, Sipp’s in Gulfport, and Just Us Lounge, located within walking distance of Beau Rivage. The crowd at Just Us was a melting pot of the area’s LGBTQ community, extremely diverse and welcoming. One thing to note is that smoking is still legal inside bars, so if that bothers you, there is a large outdoor space available.

I know I said I wanted to focus on health and wellness during this trip, but I seemed to have detoured from my mission somewhere in Ocean Springs. One can’t resist the food in Coastal Mississippi, so screw the diet for one more day and head to The Roasted Bean located in the lobby of Beau Rivage and ask for an order of beignets. These are not listed anywhere in plain site and are the best kept secret of the hotel. I received a tip from the captain of the Biloxi Shrimping Trip, which I went on the morning prior. The powdered sugar pastries where the best I’ve ever had. Light, airy, and simply delicious. They couldn’t have been that many calories, right?

End your stay in Coastal Mississippi with a relaxing CBD massage at the The Spa at Beau Rivage. The 80-minute massage uses CBD body oils as well as a Moor Mud treatment to soothe tired muscles and back pain. Playing with dolphins, eating oysters, and savoring beignets all weekend was quite stressful. If you are looking for a relaxed seaside vacation, put Coastal Mississippi on your radar. There are many unique experiences that will make your stay truly memorable. Visit coastalmississippi.com for more information about the destination.

[butey]

You all have that question in your mind: what are the hyaluronic acid benefits for skin? Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring chemical found in the human body that has been proven to have a wide range of benefits for the skin. It is known to have a great effect on the elasticity of the skin, and has been found to help fight wrinkles and improve the skin's appearance.

[thechocolategarage]

Momotombo Benefit: Tomorrow!

August 17, 2018

Open hours Saturday 9 am - 1pm.

Dear Chocolate loving folk, Here we are, another Friday, another end of the week. My second last weekly newsletter, after an 8 year stretch! The picture above is our first trip that we did, to Nicaragua, with all of us piled into Giff's truck at La Dahlia farm. What a great trip that way. So much has changed in Nicaragua since then... Momotombo needs our help moving all the inventory they sent us for safe keeping. The more we can move tomorrow, the more money we can send them, and not have to send it back when we close. MOMOTOMBO Those of you who are local, please come in tomorrow to take part in our Momotombo special. We have always cared for our dear friends in Managua, who make amazing chocolate and are part of building a kinder world. And now their situation is dire, and one of the ways we can help is by buying lots of Momotombo tomorrow! Tomorrow, we will be selling only Momotombo, nothing else, and we will also be sampling Momotombo so you can fall in love with your favorites. How will that help? Well, all the money we bring in tomorrow, every single dollar you spend, is going to go straight to Momotombo. We are not taking any profit or margin for the cost of operating tomorrow, we are simply totaling our sales tomorrow and wiring that directly to them, so they can keep their factory going, while they get back up on their feet. As many of you may know, I don't usually have specials, or amazing bargains in order to move product, longer story there about how this is what I call pressing the "greed" button, and I don't want to be part of that way of moving, but in our efforts to move as much Momotombo as possible tomorrow, we are going to offer certain deals! I will not benefit in any way from this, other than a great sense of pleasure to know that our chocolate community here helped Momotombo. BUY 4, get the 5th one free! If you buy 4 of any format (small box, small bar, large bar, large box) we will give you the fifth one free! So, for the small boxes, that are $24, you will save the equivalent of $6 per box, if you buy four. For the 80 gram, $16 bars, you will save $4 a bar, they will be $12 instead of $16. I think you get the point. ONLINE: We are applying the same deal online, so those of you who are far away, or can't come in tomorrow, here is your chance to try out this wonderful chocolate maker from Nicaragua.  Our store is not set up to show you the deal on our website, but if you order 4 boxes, we will throw in a fifth box for free, for all orders placed anytime between now and before Monday August 20th, by noon. You can check out our online site here! RAFFLE FOR MOMOTOMBO In addition, my kids who know Nicaragua from their two visits there, and are friends with Carlos' kids, are holding a raffle! They will be selling tickets outside of The Chocolate Garage, and you can fill out a ticket with your name and email, and we will draw the lucky chocolate winners at the end of the day. They will explain all the details to you, what the prizes are, and how the ticket purchases work. ALL the money from the raffle will also be added to what we send to Momotombo. Please go ahead and buy a few tickets, make them do some math, and learn that they can also take part in helping shape our world. CHOCOLATE MAKING WORKSHOPS & TASTINGS Carlos will be coming up to the Bay Area to host some chocolate making workshops and chocolate tasting events. So, you will get a chance to learn more about traditional uses of cacao in Mesoamerica, medicinal uses, plant medicine in combination with cacao, and also more in depth chocolate making workshops. Stay tuned, the tastings would start this fall, and the workshops will begin early next year. A perfect holiday gift for a loved one, a workshop to learn all the ins and outs of making chocolate. More on that in future newsletters! THE CHOCOLATE GARAGE CLOSING 8/25 August 25th will be our last day. I announced last week that we would be closing, as we didn't quite make it to our donor goal, for all those of you who got on board to donate to "save The Chocolate Garage" however big or small your donation, thank you so much. It helped keep us open for July and August. We will terminate the autopay at the end of the month, so you won't be charged going further. Next weekend, our last Saturday (8/25) we will sell all of what is left, including any leftover Momotombo and then we will be closing our doors. I will keep sending out a periodic (monthly?) newsletter, and in next week's newsletter, I will also point all of you to where you can keep finding all the favorites that you have discovered at The Chocolate Garage. I will include links to places to buy, that I have found to be great partners to work with, and in line with Happy Chocolate values. Ok, I think that covers it! Enjoy your evening and weekend! Sunita

Here is my friend and ever inspiring and visionary Carlos Mann, of Momotombo Chocolate. This interview in the Nicaragua documentary is one of my favorite parts of the film. 

We are getting closer and closer with our Switzerland choco-doc! We are reviewing it again, after some time to get a fresh perspective in India and Brazil... stay tuned! 

[wispisstillverybored67]

I had an epiphany-

Sorbet: (Buddy, lemme ouuuttt!)

Werewolf: No.

Sorbet: (Why nooooottt!)

Werewolf: Because every time you take 3 steps, you get accused of murder, and I'm not-I'm getting an aneurysm.

Sorbet: (Oh c'mon! It's only been like 4 times!)

Werewolf: Only 4...?! The fact that you think that's normal is actually freaky. 4 is a concerning amount of CATS to own, I don't even HAVE an analogy for 4 murder charges...! Like, w-what is wrong with you?!

Sorbet: (Yeah, but they're always false charges- it's not my fault.)

Werewolf: Sorbet, last time you tripped on a giant banana peel, flew into outer space, landed in the Dark Cacao Kingdom where your hand landed on a knife that was just used to stab a bitch followed by you knocking over disinfectant on every part of the knife except for the part with your fingerprints, while also removing the original killer's fingerprints. AND there was a record of airplane tickets you ordered online of going to said kingdom at that exact time, which you apparently ordered while sleep-walking...! So excuse me if I don't trust you to be unsupervi-

Judge guy: We are here for the trial of Sorbet Shark Cookie for nuking the Dark Cacao Kingdom-

Werewolf: I LITERALLY BLINKED! How could you get accused of that while I was blinking?!

Sorbet: (Well maybe it means like I'm being accused of nuking the kingdom in a microwave! Like a brownie.)

Judge guy, courtesy of Peppermint: No, people are dead. The whole kingdom, they're dead.

Sorbet: (Oh fuck, I might be a war criminal.)

[authorofstories55]

Get to Know Me Tag Game

Tagged by @hymnonlips, thanks!

Rules: Tag (10) people who you want to get to know better

Relationship status: In a relationship!

Favorite color: A soft golden yellow.

Three favorite foods: Takoyaki (Japanese dish consisting of diced octopus in fried balls of dough), Minestrone soup, and dark chocolate (the more % cacao the better).

Song stuck in my head: "I Love You Always Forever" by Betty Who (cover of the original by Donna Lewis).

Last song I listened to: "Want Me" by Baby Queen (yes because of Heartstopper, this gay lil show has taken over my life).

Last thing I googled: "what four states is the grand canyon in." Joke's on me, the Grand Canyon is only in one state, but four more border it. I Googled it like a fool so you wouldn't have to.

Time: 9:23 AM

Dream trip: Backpacking around Europe

Anything I really want right now: Top surgery haha.

Tagging: @aohendo @galaxy-writer @saedoeswriting @kiss-my-aquari-ass @writing-is-a-martial-art @viola-cola @thewrathofquietminds @not-magnus-bane @theres-bees-in-my-head @elizaellwrites

[skybristle]

going insane going absolutely wild going fucking batshit about golden cheese cookie. Like. if u followed me you signed up for my bullshit sorry in advance note MOST of this is me talking out of my ass and making shit up and i don't think devs would do this but i think i should be allowed to go insane about a fictional cookie actually i typed too much putting this under a cut IF YOU LIKE THIS, TELL ME!!!! I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABT MY INSANITY!!!! either thru reblogs or u can dm me on discord at skybristle#6009, just send me a friend request and ask away! :]

okay so like. starting off. i think she's a false ancient. god blessed, yes, but not a true *ancient.* i don't know. just,,,, don't read her as an initial god, rather someone with a massive god complex that isn't in check. fun fact, in the art book, you can see a pic of her as a kid [or i assume so and that means its true because my rules now] [also ignore dark cacao he's just thotting it up i couldnt find this on its own and was too lazy to crop the original pics]

notice anything? her wings are missing. + her soul gem is a different color but like all of her beta art is that color so ill disregard it for now. but the MISSING WINGS. her kingdom is built on greed and vanity, and, going into made up shit territory, the rulers are surrounded by rumors of a god being in their liniage somewhere back but,,,, the signs of it are gone? it's a false power. until, on the night of her coronation, golden cheese falls unconcious suddently as the crown is placed on her head. she meets the God [whatever they are fuck if i know but like it isnt super relevant it's something winged, perhaps the god of wealth and pride? who fucking knows], a small talk about restoring the kingdom to something more meaningful than a gold mine, and ending with a blessing. golden cheese rises from the ground and spreads her newfound wings, showering the throne room in her radiance. and. this doesn't bode well for someone already raised on superiority. she becomes a rather cruel and vain leader [as seen in her art book, she basically forced the cheesebirds to treat her like a god]. she knows about the ancients. she should be as good as them. she should be BETTER than them, if anything, like she is with everyone else. doing the god's demands,,,, maybe that starts with alliances? she's so absorbed in the power trip she doesnt bother to stop and think about her godsent mission she can fit right in,,, a flawless amber stone traded for gold can easily pass for a soul gem, especially in her radiance. in many ways, she is an ancient, in name, power, semi-immortality, but she is not one at her core. and nobody knows. until dark enchantress has her at her knees, desprate for the power or her soul gem, and golden cheese swallows her pride and simply smiles "take it" "it was never real, not for a moment, white lily." [insert the fridge was a lie joke] /JOKING but yeah fuck man i cant get my thoughts in order and ill probably mess with this and change my mind but this concept has me like,,, HOLY FUCK i think after the dark flour war, she loses her wings. she's disgraced the god with her arrogance and failure. it's a blow to her pride, but much deeper, her heart. her kingdom loses all faith in her and casts her out her story chapters have her earn them again and realize her flaws and conquer her god complex, and in the last moment, she bursts to the sky with her flight repaired and whirls a real soul gem in her crown.

[wohacookiesideblog]

Affogato Cookie headcannons

so here's some stuff I can't get off my mind

-Affogato cookie is Latte Cookie's younger brother, Espresso Cookie's cousin, and Milk cookie's step brother (kind of?)

-Affogato cookie is a descendent of both the Milk Tribe and the Coffee Tribe along with his sister Latte Cookie, specifically a Coffee Tribe father and a Milk Tribe Mother. They often traveled to both tribes to visit family

-Growing up was hard for Affogato as he believed there was no where for him to belong in either the Milk or Coffee tribe and he was often ridiculed for his flavour by the other tribe members (especially the coffee tribe)

-eventually Affogato's parents split up, his mom got custody of Latte and remarried while his Dad got custody over him, they both moved back to their respective tribes after the divorce

-as times were getting more tough in the Dark Cacao Kingdom Affogato and his father moved to the Creme Republic where Affogato's uncle lived, this is where Affogato learned a lot about magic

-once Affogato cookie made his pilgrimage back to the Dark Cacao kingdom he gained a following for his use of (Dark) magic, since the Dark Cacao Kingdom is the most religious/superstitious they assumed that he was some kind of godly prophet

-Affogato ran with this lie, he calmed to be a prophet of "The God of Deserts" and gained a loyal following of decibels

-When Affogato was appointed as Royal adviser his original plan was to slowly poison Dark Cacao to death using his incense and then take the throne, but he preferred the Cookies of Darkness's plan as it was quicker

-when Affogato was banished from the Dark Cacao Kingdom he tried to contact his cousin but learned that he was off on a trip outside of the republic, he tried to ask Latte Cookie who was now living in Parfadia for refuge but she refused after hearing about his deeds

-even after Affogato left the Dark Cacao Kingdom most of his followers still believed that Affogato should be the rightful king, they are now forced to live as a secret cult plotting to find Affogato and retake the throne

[goodbyeglutengoodies]

4 Cookie Pairing Ideas for Your Favorite Summer Drinks

On a hot summer day, the only thing that sounds better than a refreshing summer drink is a refreshing summer drink with a side of cookies. Milk isn’t the only beverage that pairs well with cookies, too. Find out which tasty coconut cookies pair best with some beloved summer drinks. It’s the perfect combination for the moments when you absolutely need to rest, recharge, and rediscover your love for all things cookies. Plus, everyone in the family can enjoy these delicious cookie combinations.

Vanilla Bean Cookies with Lemonade

If your go-to summer drink is lemonade, you can complement that bright, citrusy flavor with a simple (and simply delicious) vanilla bean cookie. Vanilla is a subtle flavor that pairs well with many flavors. In a coconut cookie, the gentle vanilla makes the cookie taste elegant and delicious. A sweet little vanilla bean coconut cookie will mellow out the vibrant and tart flavor of lemonade on a sunny summer day.

Dark Cacao Cookies with Watermelon Juice

Watermelon juice is a fresh treat that’s perfect for summer. It’s easy to make with a juicer, but simply blending up watermelon will also give you a delicious seasonal beverage. A favorite for kids and adults alike, fresh watermelon juice with a dark cacao cookie will taste delightful. The rich cocoa flavor is so opposite the fresh watermelon flavor that it’s basically a study of how opposites attract. This combo will be like the nutritious, summery version of chocolate-covered strawberries.

Lemon Ginger Cookies with Orange Cream Smoothies

Smoothie lovers rejoice! You can pair summer smoothies with a zingy gluten free cookie that’s full of flavor and fun. A delicious smoothie with orange juice and yogurt (or ice cream) will pair well with the citrus flavor of a lemon and ginger cookie. The flavors blend well, and you can serve them as a midday treat or a little dessert at the end of the day.

Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies with Egg Creams

Have you or your kids ever had an egg cream? Egg creams are an exciting drink—like a fizzy chocolate milk. These refreshing little beverages of milk, seltzer water, and chocolate syrup will have you reaching for a couple of chocolate chip coconut cookies. The combination is a perfect summer treat after a long day of outdoor play that ensures you won’t have to wrestle the kids indoors. Plus, parents will want to sneak a sip (and probably more than one cookie) to get in on the summer fun.

When it comes to coconut cookies chocolate chip, vanilla bean, dark cacao, and lemon ginger will become your summer favorites. You can bring them out at snack time or plan a sweet dessert for evenings on the patio. Whether it’s for the kiddos in your home or just for you, gluten free coconut cookies might taste even better with a refreshing drink.

About Emmy’s Organics

When you want gluten free goodness on the snack tray, in a backpack, or on the table, Emmy’s Organics will provide delicious, gluten free sweets and snacks for all-day smiles. The gluten free cookie brand offers a variety of great-tasting flavors for their OG coconut cookies, including Chocolate Chip, Dark Cacao, and Vanilla Bean. In addition to the chewy coconut cookies, you can grab a bag of gluten free brownie or blondie mix or pick up some crunchy Coconut Crunch’Ems or Brownie Snaps. Emmy’s Organics offers the perfect treats for any time of year to ensure that nobody misses out on something sweet when they can’t eat conventional options. From summer camping trips to fall lunch bags for school, Emmy’s Organics will fill your day, your tummy, and your plate with wholesome organic treats that are free of refined sugars.

Find the perfect cookie for your favorite summer drink at https://emmysorganics.com/

Original Source: https://bit.ly/3QVtEa1

[roundedloaf]

hope is no uncertain future

(ao3)

Your home is failing, your home will fail, and your Captain calls out that they can and will save anyone willing to come.

This colony world was meant to be a new start, terraformed from nothing with fresh technology, a new history, separate from the horrors of the past.

Makeba was not the captain when the ship arrived here, but her voice rings out all the same. A plan, a future. We will not leave a single living thing behind to die, she says,  the ship will take us all.

She promises a future where everyone will have enough to eat. She doesn’t know exactly where or when that future will be, but there is no uncertainty that it will exist.

People are packed into the hold, reusing the suspension boxes to take them somewhere else. The atmosphere keeps failing. Your lungs heave as you help the final person in. Their mouth turns up in hope as the box engages.

Life on the ship is dull. There's a list of volunteers and other trained crew members to take over your role when it gets too much. A roster to ensure this new home will one day be your home too.

The ship’s destination was picked before you left the planet. Spectroscopically your scientists searched for a breathable atmosphere. The ship's path was planned in those first tense months. Mathematically you searched for a path home. You will have to detour through an uninhabitable system for raw fuel.

There are no children living on the ship. Pulling people in and out of suspension is tough on bodies and tougher on the very young. You start to grow old, Makeba grows old, your friends grow old. You tell stories of the new planet, of what your sleeping friends will think of it, and you are driven so much by hope that the fear never overcomes you. Makeba seems driven by sheer grit and a love for her people.

Most of the ship lies empty. Meal rooms and kitchens and homes, enough for all your people to live. It would be cramped. Adrift in space, you do not have enough resources to sustain that. They will live beautifully on the planet.

Still, sometimes you wander or have to perform maintenance checks on the lower decks, or get so sick of the small handful of people currently alive that you want to break into the hold and wake up the lost ones you love. Sometimes, on the lower deck, you sob yourself to sleep. And then sometimes you wake up in someone else’s arms, and they have brought blankets and small squares of chocolate. Then you sob into their shoulder and over time the low croons of your cries make way for a two-part harmony.

It takes extra energy to keep the cacao tree growing, but like the art you make aboard the ship, it’s necessary.

Crews change on the decade, a few members at a time. It is a time for great celebration and a great deal of hard work. You hug one lover goodbye, and she tells you she will see you on the planet. She presses a small gift in your hand before she leaves. A loan you will return to her on the planet’s sandy shores.

Time is the only resource you have too much of.

The decade before you go into suspension you train an apprentice. He is quick and smart and writes incredible songs to pass the days with.

I don’t mind if I die on this ship, he says to you one night, as long as it keeps moving forward.

You tell him that the crew will not leave him behind to die, and he laughs.

He tells you that Makeba’s speech was only six months ago.

For you, it has been decades.

Your apprentice’s biggest role will be in the resupply mission you planned to the uninhabitable system. It adds an extra 80 years to your journey. Surveying and mining that area will be the most dangerous part of the trip. The ship could have made it without the detour, but not without losing many of its people.

And without all of its people, it wouldn’t be much of a ship at all.

Later, your apprentice sings you into your sleep.

Time stops.

You do not notice any change.

When the ship arrives, your lover wakes you. Her child is holding her hand, and you squeeze them both into the largest hug, both as young as you last saw them too many decades ago. They squeeze your new-old body back. For all the ways that you have changed, you still give the same hugs.

You look out to the planet from the portholes on the ship. When you wander the lower decks, they are no longer empty and children play where you used to cry. Your lover’s child leaves you here, playing the same ball game they had played three months ago on the old colony. The child says they will be back for dinner and your smile is as wide as it has ever been.

Makeba refused sleep for longer than you expected. Your apprentice, now old himself, tells you of her courage in continuing to work and bravery in letting herself be cared for. Returning from sleep took a toll on her body. She can no longer walk, but no one gets left behind here. She gets to see her people on the planet and feel the splash of ocean water on her feet.

You are greeted warmly on the planet's surface. A woman, a member of the final crew to the planet, tells you the stories of her knowledge, passed from you to your apprentice, to his apprentice who loved to dance, to her apprentice who loved plants, to their apprentice who told the best jokes to her, the woman in front of you. She tells you that she has looked forward to meeting you, and you can say the same.

How incredible is this? Your actions have cascaded to reach her here, reaching through time and no time at all and now you have more family that you've never even met.

There is much work still to do, but in this moment, amongst your people, the people you have helped preserve, the people who have preserved you, the people who will persevere into the future on this new world, you relax.

Your home is growing, your home will grow, and your people call out that they can and will save anyone willing to come.

--------------

Look sometimes a fic can be just tangentially related to canon okay. This was originally going to be a quick comment on discord during my Exit Strategy re-listen after I got to the part about the 200 year journey that Preservation took to their planet.