#five kernels of corn tradition

[happy2bmyownboss]

Our tried and true favorite Thanksgiving recipes plus a new tradition in the making

It’s so hard to believe that Thanksgiving is next week! I haven’t finished all my shopping yet but plan to have it wrapped up before the end of the week. We will probably have a lot of our usual dishes plus a couple of new ones ‘keto-friendly’ versions. We won’t be ‘restricting’ ourselves to keto foods for Thanksgiving as we want to have the freedom to enjoy, but not overindulge, the dishes that…

[alwayslosingtheplot-blog]

Making a world (Part 4)

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 3.5

It's culture time!

I should be writing my book (or practicing for my driving test -_-) but I'm doing this instead because the novelty is more appealing. I'm going to do each island individually, focusing on settlements but talking a bit about the native species of plants and animals, food sources and all that.

The Island of Alseid

Alseid is in encircles by a ring of other islands. No monsters comes from the mainland or from the sea as they are many more places that are more convenient.

This city of Alsea is considered a wonder of history, art and invention. The shining city on the hill has been an inspiration for many heroes, poets and legends of old (think Arthurian).

Being inland, and on a hill helps keep the city safe from attack from raiders, while the wide river Achelous allows decently sized ships to travel to the sea.

Other than the city, there are five large towns worth mentioning: Crocus, Nelumbo, Nucifera, Iris and Lycoctonum. Yes, these are all flower names. There are many, many farms and small villages and shires that follow the river in both directions to and from the city itself.

Alseid is a gentle island with rolling hills and many small woods and forests. It's beaches are rocky and its weather is gentle with most of the storms having blown themselves out over other islands before arriving from the sea.

The main crops grow like corn but the kernels need to ground up into a flour in order to be used. The roots of this plant are also edible when roasted, but considered to be a poor person's food and is often used instead to feed the short, wooly cows found here instead. These cows are sometimes eaten by eagles and the small number of wolves that still live on the island.

The children here are educated until they reach ten and any of those who have shown talent (or have connections) will be given a patron to pursue their talents.

All others are allowed two 'fallow' years where they are allowed to work or be with family before being conscripted (until they reach 16). Once again, those who have shown talent are encouraged to remain in the military and those who have not are released.

There are policies in place to try and find every boy a trade to study at this stage. For some, it is easy. For example, a carpenter's son will be placed with his father unless there is good reason not to.

The girls are brought to the temple to serve for another year, where they are awarded merits. These merits are used to increase their bride-price for their family. Girls without families are also awarded merits and their bride-price are given towards the temple unless they decide to become priestesses.

Women are considered to be the protectors of the Alsean culture because of an old myth and all women are taught to read and write and write poetry in other to safe-guard the Alsean way of life. Any Alsean woman who travel out into the world (with their husbands, for the temple or by themselves) are expected to bring their culture with them and establish their traditions in new settlements.

Children educated outside of the city have instructors, who are to report any 'auspicious' children. Each school is visited yearly by a examiner who interviews the children and looks at their work. Any children who show talent are brought to a school in the city.

All 12-year-olds have to report to the city for their military training. Celebrations and festivals in Alseid mostly feature its naval pride and discipline in some way. Either through parades, the cleansing festival (think of it like a country-wide spring clean), the celebration of the construction of a new ship or a new bath construction. There is a celebration for births, but they only happen a year after the child is born and focuses on the mother 'overcoming the battle of birth'.

Naming conventions in Alseid are quite simple. A person's has a family name, but outside of their hometown the will refer to themselves as having the name of that hometown as their last name.

For example: in Iris, Atticus will be referred as Atticus Hann. Anywhere else, he will be Atticus Of Iris. Unless he meets someone else from the town, in which case they may swap 'home names'. I have a bit more on each of the towns themselves, (such as Crocus being Alsea's shield and Lycoctonum being next a wild forest with various beasts inside used for the last round of training for recruits in a annual 'Hunt') but the post is long enough.

I also have an idea for a series of short stories about a kid growing up through the military training and experiencing the island's features and faults - but I have a book to write and I really should focus on that.

[gchoate17]

In keeping with tradition, here’s my top ten list of the best events of 2023 and the worst events of 2023, vaguely ranked in the order that they most impacted my life. I'm using the above photo because most of the year I was at the whim of Magnus's sleeping habits.

Best

Magnus finally stopped requiring us to stay in his room while he sleeps. (April-May)

Mags went to daycare. (March 13)

At my 1,200-person firm’s annual meeting in Irving, Texas this year, my company president recognized my little hardworking video team with the highest honor we could have ever hoped for. And unbeknownst to me, my boss arranged for Liz and my mother to be there to see it happen. (October 26)

I committed to a gym. Between developing a regular fitness routine and celebrating a year without alcohol (September 7), I can see positive changes in my body – I lost weight, but now I’m gaining muscle. (March-December)

After attending daycare for almost two weeks, Mags made it through nap time for the first time, which led to staying full days at school. (March 27)

Gus pushed through some fear and developed a love for swimming, thanks to Liz’s commitment to taking him to the pool nearly every day this summer. (Summer)

I joined the board of directors at the UA-Little Rock Alumni Association and the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, two organizations I genuinely care about, and where I feel like I can affect positive change in the community. (January)

We upgraded Liz from a Subaru Outback to a Subaru Ascent, giving our family (and my back) more room to work with. (April 27)

Liz and I watched Chappell Roan put on a fantastic hometown show in Springfield, Missouri. (March 6)

Liz tagged along on a work trip that took us to Greenville, South Carolina, among other places, and we kind of fell in love with the downtown area there. (July 26)

Worst

Gus started playing baseball and I quickly became aware of how little time I have spent playing catch with him or showing him how to swing a bat during the first five years of his life. This is one of my greatest failures as a father to date. (Spring)

The tornado hit Little Rock. Beyond the devastation it caused to the city; I was at work, Gus was at school, and Liz and Magnus were at home – I’ve never felt so strongly the desire to have my family wrapped up in my arms. (March 31)

I couldn’t keep up with Argenta Reading Series, and put it on an indefinite hiatus. Again. (April 29)

Magnus came down with a double-ear infection and a cold at the same time, meaning he and his parents didn’t sleep for a solid week. And on the day he got better, Gus got what we suspect was the flu, keeping us from sleep again. We're still finding used Kleenex around the house, in our cars. (December 10-24)

At a concert this summer, I saw Conor Oberst unleash an immature and irresponsible political rant that’s made me not want to listen to his music anymore, which makes me terribly sad because he’s one of my favorites. (May 15)

I left my Fitbit at a hotel in Frisco, Texas. (June 11) (To raise awareness for my missing Fitbit, my team at work held a surprise mandatory fun walk, which made me so happy, and IT WORKED because when my friend Erin saw the video about the fun walk, she mailed me an extra Fitbit she had.)

The parking deck at the office added bollards to keep me from employing my highly efficient parking deck hack. It took me over a month to develop a new one, but I have and it’s better than the first, and I’m convinced they have given up trying to stop me. (August 3)

Each of my children had weird mishaps at different times that kind of sent me into a “what do I do!?” parenting panic. Magnus got a corn kernel jammed up his nose (July 9); Gus somehow managed to get a sequin jammed between two teeth while on a family vacation (January 4). [The corn kernel incident did payoff with some video footage in which I am the hero, so – given the safe outcome – this one could have easily landed on the “Best” list.]

Gus started getting carsick this year (although, he is pretty good at making sure his vomit stays in the bag we give him).

Gus got strep throat. (mid-May)

Previous Best/Worst Lists: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022.

[rodandconepress]

Aguadito de Pollo is a traditional Peruvian chicken soup known for its vibrant flavors and comforting warmth. This version features tender chicken, aromatic spices, and fresh vegetables simmered in a flavorful broth.

Ingredients: 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. 1 onion, finely chopped. 3 garlic cloves, minced. 2 teaspoons ground cumin. 1 teaspoon ground turmeric. 1 teaspoon paprika. 1 jalapeo pepper, seeded and minced. 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces. 6 cups chicken broth. 1 cup green peas. 1 cup corn kernels. 1 cup chopped cilantro. 1/4 cup lime juice. Salt and pepper to taste. Cooked rice, for serving.

Instructions: In a big pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Put in the jalapeo pepper, onion, garlic, cumin, turmeric, paprika, and cumin. Cook the onions until they are clear and soft. Put in the chicken pieces and cook until they get a little brown. Add the chicken broth and heat it up. Turn down the heat and let it cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Add the corn, cilantro, lime juice, and green peas and mix them in. Let it cook for five more minutes. Add pepper and salt to taste. Serve hot on top of rice that has been cooked.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Rachel

[adebisishank]

Corn Maque Choux is a traditional Southern dish. This vegan version changes traditional ingredients like bacon to a tasty mix of vegetables and spices.

Ingredients: 4 cups corn kernels. 1 tablespoon olive oil. 1 onion, chopped. 1 bell pepper, chopped. 2 cloves garlic, minced. 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved. 1 teaspoon smoked paprika. 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Salt and pepper to taste. 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley.

Instructions: Set a pan on medium heat and add the olive oil. Cumin, bell pepper, and onions should be added. For about 5 minutes, or until softened, saut. Add the corn kernels and cook for five more minutes. Smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper should be added. Add three to four more minutes of cooking. Cut up the parsley and add it after taking it off the heat. Enjoy while hot!

Terrence Mercer

[oaresearchpaper]

Preserving Kalinga's Heirloom Corn Varieties

Abstract

Heirloom corn is one of the distinctive and significant cultivars grown in Kalinga Province. Factors such as shifting to GM corn, reduction of corn area, entry of OPV varieties, and the age of farmers impact heirloom corn varieties in Kalinga. This study looked into the ex-situ characterization of heirloom corn varieties and the effect of fertilizer on the growth and yield of heirloom corn. The genetic base of heirloom corn consisted of twenty-four accessions in ex-situ characterization with eighty-four descriptors. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of white and purple heirloom corn were determined. The cultivars possess a unique qualitative character to distinguish their traits. The ex-situ characterization shows a slight variation in both quantitative and qualitative data for the cultivars tested. Field trials of heirloom corn planted in the two experiment areas showed no significant difference in the variables tested except in the plant height of heirloom corn under the Tabuk City condition. Sole ammonium phosphate (16-20-0) significantly affected the weight of the kernel and the yield of purple corn. The combined Ultimax organic and ammonium phosphate fertilizer did not yield significantly. Ammonium phosphate application is more effective in a sloped area than organic fertilizer. This phenomenon may be due to the faster release of inorganic fertilizer than organic fertilizer, which has a slow release; moreover, combining inorganic and organic fertilizers significantly improved heirloom corn. Farmers in Kalinga province must continuously cultivate and bequeath these cultivars to the young generation to preserve heirloom corn germplasm.

Introduction

Heirloom corn is one of the unusual and essential varieties in Kalinga Province. The study collected existing heirlooms, recorded them, and conducted field tests to conserve them. Zea mays, sometimes known as corn, is a significant food crop in the Philippines and is used as a staple meal by 20% of the country's citizens (World Food Program, 2012), particularly in the southern Visayas and Mindanao islands (Logroo et al., 1996). The product provides a livelihood for five million Filipinos. Corn comes in third overall regarding gross value added (GVA) in agriculture, behind only rice and coconut (PCARRD, 2006). The crop has significant economic value as a primary component of animal and poultry diets and as a raw material for various industrial goods, including starch oil, artificial sweeteners, and organic liquids (Siopongco et al., 1999). In 2010, Php70 billion, or US$1.7 billion, was spent on corn production (Bureau of Agricultural Statistics 1).

The two most common kinds of maize grown in the Philippines are yellow and white. In times of rice shortage, white maize is the most important staple food, especially for those living in rural regions (Gerpacio et al., 2004). Kalinga has flint and glutinous white, yellow, and purple heritage corn varieties. Although it does not receive much notice, purple corn has been commonly grown and enjoyed in other regions worldwide. White maize is eaten as a vegetable or a snack in regions where rice is the primary food. "Poor man's rice" is frequently used to describe white maize. Purple corn and other colored maize are not commonly grown in the Philippines (Greenpeace). Around 22 percent of the world's maize supply, according to data from 1990 to 2005,

Eighty-one countries agree that genetic deterioration in crops is mainly caused by replacing native species and varieties with better or foreign ones (FAO, 1997). Population pressure, environmental deterioration, legislation/policy, pests/weeds/diseases, shifting agricultural systems, and species overexploitation are additional factors contributing to genetic erosion. According to Greenpeace (2012), farmers may soon lose access to the traditional OPV of white corn for planting since genetically modified organism (GMO) contamination in maize types is already occurring among varieties patented and held by agrochemical corporations. It demonstrates the ineffectiveness of RA 7308, often known as the "Seed Industry Development Act," which requires the government to "conserve, maintain, and develop the plant genetic resources of the nation and supply the local communities with the genetic resources they need." It is essential to preserve landraces and crop wild relatives to preserve genetic resources for future crop improvement (Ford–Lloyd et al., 2011). Crop wild relatives and landraces offer valuable genetic material for breeding current improved lines, reducing the susceptibility of inbred crops to diseases and pests, enhancing performance, and adding distinctive features (Lopes et al., 2015). The heirloom corn of Kalinga is no different from other corn varieties in danger of being lost. Hence this study aims to conserve the Kalinga heirloom corn varieties. Furthermore, it looks into the ex-situ characterization (qualitative and quantitative) of the two heirloom corn varieties. The field trials aim to look into the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the heirloom corn cultivars’ growth and yield production.

Source : Saving the heirloom Corn varieties of Kalinga Province

[obesecamels]

In Order to Haunt This Earth

At the movie theater, where I worked concessions, an aproned girl beamed at me through the popcorn-scented, Yellow #5 lights. Her hair was neon red, teasing brunette at the roots.

“Do you believe in ghosts?” She asked.

I blinked, because it had been months, maybe years since I had even thought of ghosts.

“No.”

I didn’t get to know her well, in our secret years – that time between times that will be glossed over in our obituaries. But I remember her in the back, perched on the thirty-five pound bags of popcorn seed, on her laptop, trying to submit college aid applications by deadline.

“How did you do it?” She asked.

“I had a lot of help.” I replied hollowly, because it’s all so different isn’t it? Wasn’t it? Now she is laughing lest she cry, and we are standing behind the same apron.

I think of her sometimes. I hope she’s well.

I work at a vet clinic now. This is somebody’s dream, but not mine. As I brush the extractions off of the dental cleaning towels, I remember a girl in fourth grade who told me about the alien encounter that took her neighbor’s dog, but left its teeth all in a row. I spilled this to my mom on the ride home, aghast. But I was getting old, and the day was getting long.

“You don’t believe in aliens, though, do you?” she asked.

“No.” I replied hollowly, because it didn’t make it better.

A girl told me tales and watched me squirm and cry wolf all through elementary. Until finally, I didn’t.  I didn’t. I bit back the scariest; then in spite these spilled suddenly, having soured. Adults talked to adults. They told me she made stories about herself, for attention. Send her to us, but don’t believe her.

In secret I tried to cry for the wolves only I could see.

But I was getting old, the day was getting long, and I was hollow. And surely, I didn’t believe.

I think of her sometimes. I hope she made it.

I take the towels and balance them in my hand, and with the other, turn the knob and press myself into the humid air of the laundry room. I can feel the displacement. Every door you walk through, you know, squishes a you-shaped amount of air back in your stead.

I pour the laundry detergent onto the circle of soft hills and valleys and something in the pattern reminds me of the girl I once was. One who ate her cereal pieces by category, minded shadows, and picked at her face too much. She balked at all the traditional superstitions, but secretly made up her own, lest stepping out of line now would trip her up later.

I think of her sometimes, and I mourn.

I remember I once read an inspirational magazine article – the writer recounted a time when she noticed a package of toilet paper promising 250 sheets, and set herself the task of counting them. At the bottom of a pile of 250 unwound toilet paper sheets, she claimed to find a renewed faith in the world. Something to believe in.

I think of her every single time I hold a sheet of toilet paper shorter than it is wide.

I must confess, I do not wish her well.

At the end of the day, I retire to the garden. The sunflowers, tomatoes, and climbing vines are all taller than me. When I am surely shrouded, and my legs are properly clad in dirt, I approach a dozen corn stalks. I lift my eyes to this one. Against the golden-hour sky, her leaves are dark in shadow. Bees trace halos around her tassel, a full jump above an arm above my head.

“Do you believe in ghosts?” she whispers.

And I do, because somehow this is the ruby of the dozen Glass Gem variety corn kernels I held in my hand last April, and buried two knuckles down.

A technicolor cob of her siblings remains on the top shelf of my closet, most never to taste rain or sun.

I ate sweet corn for dinner; I devoured a whispering field. I had to.

Isn’t it so different? We laugh lest we cry. We shed years in secret, and we make stories. We make stories. We make stories – sooner than taxes, sooner than death.

In order to haunt this Earth, you see, you don’t have to die.

[bunnie-the-lighthouse]

𝑀𝒾 𝐹𝓁𝑜𝓇, 𝑀𝒾 𝒜𝓂𝑜𝓇

Pairing: ATEEZ Jung Woo-Young & Reader

Warnings: Cursing & It’s Horrendously Long

Inspiration: My Friend & I Being Crackheads

Type: Fluff

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Ay man, how’s it going?” Woo-Young exclaimed while wrapping his arm around his friend’s shoulder -- San. “Oh, the ol’mighty Jung Woo-Young, the Dancing Champion,” he laughed as the younger smirked. “Are you ready for the Hípica*?” Woo-Young questioned while leaning onto his left hip.

“Ideay, el mae está bien preparado*,” San chuckled while looking at Woo-Young’s attire. The young one had a cotona*, ripped blue jeans with a leather belt, cowboy boots, and finally, a white panamanian hat* -- to stand out from the crowd. “Of course! You gotta be prepared for those events.. Plus, you gotta attract the ladies, man!” he laughed as San grinned and shook his head.

“Do you think there’ll be pretty ladies?” Woo-Young questioned as San shrugged, “Every Hípica is basically the same each year,” he trailed off while brushing his horse’s coat. “Well, up to a point that’s true, but I’m sure that this year’s Hípica will be great,” the younger comforted.

By ten in the morning, Woo-Young and San were at the Hípica, getting prepared for the races and championships. The Dancing Champion petted his horse, an onyx black stallion who adopted the name of ‘Sombra*’.

“Woo-Young-Ah! ¡Los otros ya están aquí*!” San called as the Champion turned around and saw the other ATEEZ members, Seong-Hwa already on his snow white stallion ‘Maltese’, Yeo-Sang on his pinto black and white stallion ‘Gallopinto*’, and finally -- San on his dark brown mare, ‘Gitana*’.

Sombra, Maltese, Gallopinto, and Gitana were the four horses that would compete in the Hípica as the other members were there for support or to help out in their family businesses. For some context, Hípicas are basically small equestrian festivals where people around the country would meet up in one city and showcase their horses’ skills.

The first few races went by, and with Maltese’s agility skills, ATEEZ were able to win against the others. Gallopinto was a master at jumping over fences while Gitana was fast and resistant, being able to dash long distances without getting exhausted.

Now, while the three other members were resting, it was now Dancing Champion Woo-Young’s turn. He clicked his tongue, guiding Sombra as the speakers started playing some tunes, making Sombra immediately react and start dancing (aka trotting in synchronization and order).

The crowd cheered loudly as only Sombra’s moves were truly aweing -- overshadowing the other horses that were partaking in the same competition. And, as the song was ending, Woo-Young got off his horse and danced with the music, moving his hips and gracefully yet sharply executing other moves.

As children ran by to go and play, the ATEEZ boys were eating under the outdoor tent, taking a break while drinking some Cacao* and Chicha*. "Ahh.. Now we have the rest of the day to have fun," Woo-Young sighed out in relief as the heat was starting to get a bit intrusive. After all, it was around one or two in the afternoon. "Indeed, but I think I may be helping my family during the evening since, you know, more people come in order to eat," Hong-Joong chuckled.

The boys then continued on speaking while Woo-Young was distracted by something. You. You were wearing a red güipil* that revealed your shoulders, ripped jeans, and also cowboy shoes. Your hair was styled into a waterfall braid together with some sacuanjoche flowers* that were embedded into the braid.

One of the flowers then fell down, and unknowingly, you walked away into a crowd. Woo-Young placed down his cups and ran towards the dirt street, reaching down to pick up the lone flower. He then looked at the crowd to see if he could find you again..

“Mae, you’ve been holding onto that flower for ages now,” Yeo-Sang stated as Woo-Young twirled the flower, “Of course, because I am searching for the owner of it,” he replied while looking lovestruck.

It was now around five in the evening, the sun setting, coloring the sky with hues of orange, purples, pinks, reds, and blues. Woo-Young then saw you again, helping your family sell the Fritangas* that you guys would make.

The speakers then started playing a cumbión*, making people leave their seats and get into the center of the streets to start dancing. This made Woo-Young have an idea. A perfect one. He took this as an opportunity to stride his way towards the small restaurant.

“Buenas*,” he called as you looked at him with doe eyes, “Buenas, como le puedo servir*?” you asked as he then pulled out the flower. “Is this yours?” he asked as your eyes widened. “Ah!.. Thank you so much for finding it,” you smiled, reaching out to hold it.

He then did a soft, graceful turn, beginning his dance slowly, catching you off guard. “Come! It’s time to celebrate! Don’t you want your flower back?” he asked while his hand was out for you to hold. You chuckled at his smoothness, walking towards him and holding onto his hand, following him into the dancing mob.

You guys danced to the music, feeling it. And as he twirled you, he placed the flower back, snuggling it with the other sacuanjoches. As you then turned back to face him, he smiled lovingly, “Eres como una flor bella, mi amor,*” he whispered, flustering you.

“Gracias*.. I still haven’t caught your name,” you said as he chuckles, “The name’s Jung Woo-Young,” he responded as the song was coming to an end. “(Y/N). I think you should know who my brother is,” you stated as he then held onto your waist and pulled you close, as an ending pose.

You and Woo-Young were close to each other, your lips almost touching as you both could agree that you both fell in love with each other. At least, have a crush. “¡Ayyyy! ¿Qué estás fucking haciendo?*” Hong-Joong yelled as he held onto your shoulders and pulled you away from Woo-Young.

“This is my brother,” you ended as Woo-Young did a small pout. “Hyung!~” he then whined as Hong-Joong looked at him disgusted. “No! I’m not letting you date my sister,” he said as Woo-Young then smirked and winked at you.

“Ma! We have to be care-- Hey!” Hong-Joong exclaimed as Woo-Young snatched you from Hong-Joong, holding your hand tightly as you laughed and followed him. He then whistled as Sombra trotted towards you guys.

He helped you up and later followed, clicking his tongue, making the horse catch the sign and start galloping. “Jung Woo-Young!--” Hong-Joong yelled loudly as Woo-Young took you away from the Hípica.

“Sorry for my actions, mi flor.. But I now find myself incapable of living without you. You make me want to pinch myself in order to make sure that I am not dreaming.. So, mi flor. Where do you wanna head to?”..

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hey fellas, it’s time for me to give y’all a Spanish Vocabulary Glossary thing because yes, I speak fluent Spanish. 

Hípica: Equestrianism. Basically Horse Competitions And Stuff Like That. 

“Ideay, el mae esta bien preparado”:

This needs some information. “Ideay” is colloquial, it can mean: “Seriously?”, “What next?”, “Oh well,” and many others.

In this context, the translation would be: “Seriously?! This dude is well prepared”. (Mae = Dude/Bro <- Between Friends Or Relatives [If Those Relatives Accept It])

Cotona: It’s Literal Translation Is Cotton Shirt. However, It Is A Sort Of National/Typical Dressing In Some Latin American Countries. (Examples: Facebook.com)

Panamanian Hat: (According To Wikipedia, Because I Am Not Panamanian But I Had A Friend Who Lived There,) A Panama hat, also known as an Ecuadorian hat or a toquilla straw hat, is a traditional brimmed straw hat of Ecuadorian origin. (Examples & History: Ultrafino.com)

Sombra: Shadow

“¡Los otros ya están aqui!”: “The others are here!” 

Gallopinto: A Typical Food In Some Latin American Countries. As For Some Latin American Countries, It Is Basically Red Beans And White Rice Cooked Together. The Literal Translation Is Spotted Rooster. (Example & History: Wikipedia.com)

Gítana: Literal Translation Is Gypsy (To Me, The Spanish Meaning Is Better lol). 

Cacao: Delicious Drink. It Is Basically Made With White Rice, Milk, Cacao Seeds. You Can Add Spices Or Sugar To Your Taste. It’s Absolutely Amazing. (Example & History: Nicaraguanrecipes.com)

Chicha: Another Delicious Drink. It Is Basically Dried Maize/Corn Kernels. Sounds Weird, But It Is Good! (Example (You’ll Have To Scroll Down): Eater.com)

Güipil: It’s A Typical/Traditional Tunic/Garment That Is Used By Women In Latin America For Dancing Traditional Dances. It Is Also Made Of Cotton. (Example: Petersalgado.blogspot.com)

Sacuanjoche Flowers: It’s The National Flower For Nicaragua! A Beautiful One. (Examples & History: Granpacifica.com)

Fritangas: It’s A Type Of Typical Food In Nicaragua, It Contains Barbecued Beef, Pork, Tajadas (Friend Plantains), Yucca Roots, And Others. (Examples & History: Theculturetrip.com)

Cumbión: A Fuckin’ Good Shit Ass Song Bro. It Can Be A Latin American Or Caribbean Song That Fucking Slaps -- Makes You Wanna Move And Dance. 

The Song I Placed Is Titled “No Le Pegues A La Negra” Which Translates To “Don’t Hit/Beat The Black Girl”. The Song Is Basically Trying To Talk About How Natives And Africans (Specifically In The Caribbean) Felt About Colonization In The 1600s. <- I’m A Sort Of History Geek)

“Buenas”:

This One Needs Some Explanation. Some United State Students May Confuse This As “Goods” Or Like “Those Are Good (When The Context Is For Example: “Esas Son Buenas”). However, “Buenas” Can Also Work As A Greeting! “Buenas” Can Be Like “Hello” Or “Hi”. It Is Generally Used When Entering Shops Or Friends/Relatives’ Houses. 

“Buenas, como le puedo servir?”: “Hello, how can I serve you?”

“Eres como una flor bella, mi amor,”: “You are like a beautiful flower, my love,” 

“Gracias”: “Thanks” / “Thank you” (Hehehe.. Thanxx)

“¡Ayyyy! ¿Qué estás fucking haciendo?”: “Hey! What in the fuck are you doing?” 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And that’s it! Now you understand the story better lol. (Or maybe you already did)

As obvious as it is, yes, I know how to speak Spanish and I was born in a Latin American Country -- Granted, I exposed it and it’s Nicaragua. 

Anyway, I think I won’t ramble much since this is long...

But! Thanks so much for reading and the support! Have a great day/night!

[peruscapes]

EVEN THE FOOD IS AN ADVENTURE

How can you talk about a country's culture and not talk about its food?  For any food enthusiast, Peru is a popular culinary destination and its importance in the gastronomic scene has grown hugely in the last decades. The range of climates in Peru results in an incredible variety of produce. Potatoes, corn, and grains especially quinoa are Peruvian staples. 

So, what dishes should you try during your time in Peru? 

Fish

Ceviche, Peru’s national dish, consists of only five ingredients: corvina (fish) marinated in lime juice, onions, salt, and hot chilis. Ceviche is often served with dry-roasted corn kernels on the side. 

Meat

If you want the full Peruvian food experience, you will have to try Cuy, or guinea pig. Cuy is one of the Andean region's most popular sources of meat. The traditional method of cooking it is to fill the whole guinea pig with herbs and roast it over an open flame. It is usually served with roasted potatoes, and high-end restaurants will deep-fry or braise the meat. 

Another traditional Peruvian meat is alpaca, the smaller cousin of the llama. Alpaca is very lean, tender and almost sweet. Alpaca meat is not only rich in proteins, but also low in fat. It is considered one of the healthiest meats in the world. 

Drinks

A Peruvian drink you must try is Chicha Morada, a non-alcoholic beverage made from purple corn. Chicha Morada is sweet and served cold. 

When it comes to alcohol, Peru is famous for the Pisco Sour. Pisco is a type of brandy made from grapes, and the drink is made of Peruvian pisco as the base liquor, mixed with lime juice, simple syrup, bitters, ice, and a raw egg to give the drink a foamy top.

Tomorrow is the weekend, and we have a SURPRISE POST for you. So stay tuned!!!

Explore! Experience! Enjoy!

[littlethingwithfeathers]

Quarantine Cuisine: Beef and Bean Chili

There’s nothing like holing up with a big bowl of chili... Funny story though. I didn’t actually like the stuff until a friend made chili for dinner one night. Not wanting to be rude, I had a bowl... and then went back for seconds. His secret? He puts beer in his chili. And now so do I, though I’ve got a secret about that of my own. But I’ll circle back around to that in a minute. Chili is one of those notoriously long cooking dishes. It needs to simmer for a good couple of hours at least before all the flavors properly meld together to make the tasty, rich concoction we all know and love. And I’m all about some long cooking, slow simmering dishes. But... seriously, chili is comfort food, and when you want comfort food, you want it right now oh my God please FEED ME SEYMOUR! So I have found ways to cheat. Four ways in fact. And before we get to the actual technique, I want to talk about them a little bit, because the tricks in play here go for more than just chili. You can make any sort of soup or braise all the richer by cheating just a little with ingredients that already have a complex, bold flavor. Here... watch... Chorizo sausage: for the uninitiated, chorizo is a heavily seasoned sausage hailing from Spain and Portugal, but very popular in Mexico as well. It’s a little spicy and super flavorful, plus all those flavors have blended and married and settled already... all you need to do is brown it and mix it in! So I do just that. Think of it as kin to andouille if you’re familiar with Cajun cuisine. Roasted poblano peppers: One way to deepen flavors is to roast something in a hot oven... Italians and Greeks do this all the time with red peppers, so why not here? 

Chipotles in adobo sauce: These are great. Already flavorful. Already ready to go. Just chop ‘em up and toss them in... and don’t ignore the sauce in the can. Think of it like adding a dash of Worcestershire or miso to a dish. Same concept... different flavor profile. Beer: Going back to my original point... beer. Now you can use any kind of beer... most people use some kind of lager or amber ale in their chili, but I use Guinness. Why? Same reason for the above. It has a deep, savory flavor profile, plus... well, let’s talk about that flavor profile. Nutty... chocolatey... rich... a little cinnamon-spicey... sound like mole sauce to you? It fits the flavor profile of chili really really well. So that’s something to think about next time you’re worried about a bland dish. Cheat! Use a full bodied red wine for your stew... use a little splash of balsamic vinegar in your tomato sauce... how about molasses in a marinade... or look into premade spice blends and curry powders for a quick flavor boost. There’s no harm in cheating. It’s culinary tradition at this point.

Okay... on to the recipe! (oh... and for those curious about the spice level... I’d put this one at mild to medium. It’s definitely not spice free, but it’s not going to light your hair on fire either.)

Ingredients

Two pounds ground beef (I also like ground venison in this)

4-6 oz of pork chorizo (I use one link from Whole Foods)

4-5 tablespoons olive oil.

One medium onion, chopped

4-5 cloves garlic, minced

One large or two small poblano peppers

One can chipotles in adobo sauce

14oz can diced tomatoes in tomato juice. (I like Miur Glen brand)

One can black beans, rinsed.

One can red kidney beans, rinsed (chick peas are also good in chili if you need a substitute.)

1 cup frozen corn kernels

48oz beef broth

1 tablespoon (ish) of chili powder

1/2 teaspon (ish) chipolte chili powder

1 teaspoon (ish) of cumin

1 can beer (I actually like Guinness for this, but I only use half the can in that case)

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Place poblano peppers directly on oven rack and roast for ten minutes. Flip and roast for five more. Place in a paper bag and crimp down the opening to seal in the steam. Allow to come to room temp. Then peel the plasticky skin off the peppers, cut open and scrape out seeds and roughly chop.

Seed and chop two of the chipotle peppers. Save the can because you'll want the sauce in a moment. (this only uses up about half the can... so save it for future endeavors!)

Heat the oil in a large heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onions and saute until just starting to turn golden. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Add chorizo and beef and cook through. Add tomatoes, peppers, and two or three tablespoons of the adobo sauce. Also add the beer if you're using it. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes.

Add broth and remaining spices, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and allow to cook for 45 minutes to an hour.

Add beans and corn and cook for at least another 30 minutes, but it can just be left to simmer until you're ready to eat.

Serve with cheese, tortilla chips, and (if you're weird) sour cream.

[fightevilandthengetblownup]

FIC: Surpassed All Men V

---

It took him all of five minutes upon returning to the small house, concealed and simply observing as he wanted, or rather felt that he needed, to be completely specific and accurate when he appeared to tell the girl her reality, to figure out exactly what the other Trickster had been on about.

The swirling of power in the area had held a tang to it, a sort of electricity in the air that only came from rapid and continued reality shifting and altering as well as the crackle of mischief that hung about the house like an invisible cloud, that he knew all too well from the centuries spent befriending others of her kind.

The sugary-sweet scent that wafted perpetually out of the house wouldn't have been unusual for this space, but watching from the wall he lent invisibly against to see the blonde shimmying around the kitchen to some song his eyes had immediately gone to the bright, golden bear-shaped container that sat out on the kitchen bench and had been held and brought to her lips more than once a minute as the woman had baked.

He had frowned in realization, but stalking through the rest of the house he could see items that shimmered under his vision in a way only the reality-warping powers of a Trickster could do all over the house. A painting on the wall, a jacket draped over the back of a couch, and more than one vase of flowers filled with blooms that he’d never seen before were all scattered around the house like a trail of crumbs that would all lead back to their creator in the kitchen.

Gabe frowned deeply to himself understanding just what the perky blonde had become, and as he turned to watch through the open door to the kitchen to see her lifting the golden honey bear back to her lips absently as she cooked something, his look got darker realizing just what trouble she could find herself in before he left again leaving no signs of his visit behind as he made his way back to his last stop.

Crow had laughed. Hard. With that cawwing sound that came from his throat harsh and brash, and matched by the laughter of his birds all around as the archangel had returned. The old god had stared at him after his laughter, dark hands folded in his lap as he pinned the angel with a serious look, before there had been a hum and his soft, listed voice gravel thick asking the question Gabriel had had trouble coming to terms with himself.

“So. How are you going to help her?”

---

Gabriel could not tell if meeting with the pair as a pair was better or worse than one on one. Two birds one stone, but the two birds outnumbered him two to one if they decided to lash back out at him.

This time of year they were in the Russian’s home for once, but as the archangel pushed open the flap of the traditional yurt the scent of the other’s choice of smoke filled the air - rich with tobacco, bearberry and the staghorn sumac that made up the blend of his people from the cold North - with an undercurrent of sweet tang of reindeer milk and the fermented berry drink that had had the angel pulling a face the first time he tasted the rancid drink that turned sweet the longer you kept it on your tongue. There was a blend of both men’s favorite foods with slabs of wheat and acorn loaves soaked to dripping in honey and berries surrounded by the sour-tang berries that made that juice, with piles of corn husk wrapped maize filled with softened blueberries, blackberries, and cloudberries, corn pone with fresh sweet corn kernels and then in the middle as if a secret that they wanted to be disguised amongst the rest was a bowl of boiled sweet candies.

Neither god seemed to look up at his presence as they continued to pass a journal back between one another, marking sharply a line on a page before handing it back to the other. It was a nonsense thought game that Gabriel had always struggled to comprehend - some connective string between their people that had them in a battle of wits over charcoal and paper - but the fact they still persisted and, from the age of the book they wrote in, seemed to be on the same match from the last time he had met with them made him want to laugh.

“What’s this? You think this is a game, Kutkh?” The taller of the pair asked, looking with a tight frown of his brows at the page. Wisakedjak flicked his gaze from between the journal and the god sat across the low table from him, dark brown eyes flashing for a moment as he ran a tan finger over whatever marking he was complaining about. “You’ve not tried this move for the last century.”

There was a whistle from the other man, and Gabriel recognized the wicked smirk on the Russian’s lips. “Perhaps it is time to try something old, lyubovnik.” The dark-haired man’s eyes were closed as they had been since Gabriel had passed through the door, and he rested his head in his palm, propped with his elbow on the table.

“Speaking of old, look which nitotem has finally decided to visit.” “Jackie, that won’t get you off from your returning mark.” “Nicimos, you should open your eyes more often. We have a visitor.”

Gabriel swallowed thickly as he took a further step in under the watchful eye of the American Trickster, as he entered the circle of lighting from the torches that hung from the yurt frame. The god’s eyes were sharply focused on him and where he was used to seeing the humor in their depths instead there was a harsh cold that did not bode well for this meeting, as Wisakedjak lifted a hand sharply in greeting before running it along the long thick braid to the right side of his head. Gabe found himself taking a step back as the other made to tug on the end of it, a tingle down his spine as he knew what that move could do if the god felt inclined.

“Oh, so we do. What a surprise to see you again, Loki.” Kutkh added, turning so the shaved side of his head with the raven feather tattooed sharply onto his scalp that shimmered in a way a real feather would before he let out a sharp laugh reminiscent of the last god the archangel had visited. “Have you decided to prostrate yourself to the mercy of your lessers now, feather-duster?”

“I see you have heard the news.” Gabe found himself replying as there was a crackling in the air before a third seating pillow materialized and the table shifted to a triangle between the two men and the open third position. He found himself looking between it and the American Trickster as Wisakedjak dropped his hand from the braid he had tugged at. “I... am here for a reason, and not for myself.”

“That old bag of feathers did mention something last month.” “Yes, Crow visited my lyubovnik and mentioned to him about your little girlfriend-” “Oh was it the one that the fairy hated? I did not realize-” “That is because you are the pretty face of us both, Jackie.”

“She’s not... That’s not what it is like, but yes. I’m sure Crow gave you a run down more efficiently than I have.” Gabe found himself gritting his teeth as he moved to sit in the spare cushion cautious that the shimmering he could see of the item might suddenly disappear or manifest something dreadful from the muskrat-fur wearing man. “It appears that-”

“Yes, yes, a human becomes demigod. It happens sometimes.” Whiskey cut over him sharply, a sharp glare still on his face in contrast to the friendly amusement and warmth from the other god. The pair always seemed at odds, always one amused and one responsible, but were a match that Gabriel had always found unsettling should they decide to unleash their trickery at the same time. “What is it to us though, angel? You should speak to her new people.”

Gabriel found himself biting down on a scowl as he leaned forward to pluck one of the sweets from the central bowl as the American Trickster had raised a curved, sharp eyebrow towards him. Shaking his head as he popped the candy in his mouth, he stared back with his own brow raised after a moment. “That would be why I’m here, Whiskey.”

“No Americans have been of our ilk since my love here, Gabriel.” Kutkh cut in quietly, his voice soft as the wind that brushy against and flapped the canvas of the tent, as he sliced a piece of the honey-soaked bread and held the plate towards the angel in a way that was far more familiar and friendly than he’d expected to receive from any of his old friends. “I doubt she is a new one. Perhaps you should seek out the other newcomers, perhaps you should talk to Flagg?”

“She’s one of you lot, Kutkh, and of everyone sending her to speak to Nyarlathotep is probably the worst possible suggestion.” He found himself snapping back, taking the offered treat but pinning the god with sharp look at the suggestion. Kutkh’s lips twisted into an amused grin, the wickedness bleeding through under the friendly look. “So I am here to get your assistance with-”

“Nicimos, I believe the lying angel wants something from us.” The American cut over the top of him, leaning across the table a little to take the other god’s drink from his hand, sipping from it rather than pouring his own. “I believe he thinks his little friend may need some kind of.. protection or help with meeting her own.”

“Jackie, that seems rude to assume wouldn’t you say?” “I thought so too. What is it about a group of Tricksters that would make one think we would be rude to our own?” “Especially a new one. If she, in fact, reaches our level.”

Gabe found himself sighing heavily watching the pair bouncing off of one another. They always did this, and it was always their own annoying pattern to do it. The only one more frustrating to deal with was Gwydion when he would bring his brother or be missing his brother, or anything to do with his brother or the topic of brothers, in general, was brought up. Rubbing at the bridge of his nose as he watched the pair communicate through looks - twitches of lips, rise of brows and jerks of heads - for a long moment as he sucked on the boiled sweet, the archangel felt the desire to sigh again bubbling up inside before the American gave a growl.

“Fine, nicimos, we shall help the Westerner.”

“You really do hold grudges for too long, Jackie. Perhaps your having a new friend will be good for your patience.” Kutkh shot back, a smirk curling upon his lips in a way that made Gabriel want to shudder. The Russian picked up one of the boiled maize desserts, squeezing the dark purple colored filling out with a grin. “After all, you will have another American to meet that isn’t that dog-man you loathe so much.”

“You promised not to bring that beast up for another fifty years, Kuttie.” Wisakedjak snapped back harshly, the fire in his eyes back but no longer directed towards the third of the group that felt somehow better for Gabriel’s luck and mission at that point. The god snarled back, crossing his arms before adding. “Though, I suppose we should get to her before that foul-”

“What he means to say, angel, is that we will assist. Crow shall tell you when we’re gathering to meet your.. friend.”

Gabriel found himself frowning a little as the Russian looked at him, a glint to his eye that made the archangel feel like either the words were the sincerest of the whole conversation or the most dangerous, before the other cut over the top, continuing his rage regarding his Southern counterpart. Taking the offer at face value and unwilling to stay seated for yet another rant about the antics of Coyote and Wisadjek’s complaints about the other god as he had suffered through over the centuries, Gabe found himself slowly rising and then slinking out of the yurt as Kutkh’s eyes followed him without moving his face from staring and nodding at the other man’s words.

As he stood outside the intricately decorated yurt, Gabriel found himself breathing in deeply to rid the sharp scent of smoke from his nose as well as to shake the electric feeling of the trickster’s energy from his shoulders. There was a moment, where he could still hear the rise and fall of the voices behind him, muted and softer than they’d ever sounded before he found himself disappearing before they could change their minds. Perhaps they were both still unhappy with his trickery, but at least it allowed three voices to be potentially supportive of the blonde when he finally decided to tell her what she was becoming.

---

[vaexpeditionscostarica]

5 Reasons Why Costa Rica Is The Most Sought-After Honeymoon Destination

Costa Rica is a popular honeymoon destination for a reason: it’s beautiful, friendly, and full of adventure. Here are five reasons why this Central American country is the best destination for honeymooners:

Costa Rica is unbelievably beautiful:

When it comes to honeymoons, there is no more beautiful country on earth than Costa Rica. With stunning beaches, striking volcanic peaks, lush rain forests, and pristine wilderness, Costa Rica has everything you could want for a perfect honeymoon destination. 

The Weather Is Gorgeous Year-Round:

The gorgeous year-round weather is another reason to have a Costa Rica honeymoon. No matter when you get married, you’ll arrive at a friendly climate—warm and sunny all year round. During most of the year, there are only a few days of rain, but not enough to keep you from enjoying your vacation. Just remember to pack some sunscreen!

Small, compact, and easy to explore:

You don’t have to drive for thousands of miles to reach the coast from your rainforest eco-lodge in Costa Rica. In fact, you may find a glorious beach is just around the corner. With so many options for unique experiences and the ease of travel here, you can visit several areas in just a single week. You can spend your time among mountains, cloud forests, jungles, verdant plains—and endless miles of unspoiled beaches!

The food is delicious:

You’ll find some truly mouth-watering dishes on offer in Costa Rica—from fresh seafood to traditional Latin American cuisine, this country has it all! Costa Rica has some of the best restaurants in Central America, serving up traditional dishes like grilled fish tacos with pineapple salsa or shrimp-stuffed plantain cups with a side dish of roasted corn kernels seasoned with lime juice and cilantro.

Costa Rica Is Affordable:

Maybe you think you have to lower your honeymoon budget to pay for the wedding itself, but it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the quality of your honeymoon. For example, if you choose Costa Rica as your honeymoon destination, flights are more affordable than most people would guess, and the exchange rate is in your favor too. However, we recommend checking out vacation packages in Costa Rica to get the most out of your money.

Whether you are looking for Costa Rica group tours or honeymoon trips, you can rely on VA Expeditions for affordable Costa Rica tour packages. Our team works closely with you to create a customized trip that will meet all your expectations.

[fandom-trash-xl]

One-Shot: The Thankfulness of Saiyans

Time Placement: Thanksgiving Day, 1 Year After the Tournament of Power (Age 781)

The doorbell at Capsule Corporation rang as Bulma approached her family's dinner table, interrupting her current train of thought. "I'll get it!" 

Vegeta rolled his eyes. "What could it be now? You've been keeping me waiting for ten straight minutes and I still can't take a bite of this succulent roasted bird?" He continuously eyed up the juicy turkey in the center of the table.

"Ugh, be patient, Vegeta. You'll get your food soon enough. It's a time for family, you shouldn't be entirely thinking about that bottomless pit you call a stomach." Bulma opened the door to the Capsule estate as her husband grunted in response. To her surprise, she saw a family of three at the door. A spiky-haired man in an orange fighting gi was at the front of the group. "Goku, Chi-Chi! What a surprise to see you here!" Vegeta nearly choked on his own saliva.

"Yep. We're here. Sorry, it's on such short notice. We're only here because someone," Chi-Chi glared at Goku. "ate the entire turkey last night." 

Goku scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "You can't blame me, Chi-Chi. The way you set it out made it look so appetizing..."

"Goku, it was in the back of the fridge for a reason." She turned away from her husband to face Bulma again. "Of course, we couldn't head to Gohan and Videl's because they're off in the city to see the other side of the family. So, we came here as a last resort."

"Oh, of course. Thanksgiving is always a challenge when you have a Saiyan for a husband, am I right?" The two wives laughed in unison.

As Goku and his family walked up to the Briefs dinner table, Vegeta attempted to turn out his seat and leave. "Umm, I-I don't think I'm feeling so well..."

"Sit back down, Vegeta!" Bulma insisted. "You're not fooling anyone with that act." 

Vegeta growled and returned to his initial position in the chair. "Fine, but there is no way that I'm sitting next to Kaka--" The Saiyan was interrupted by the unfolding of a metal chair between him and Bulla's highchair. Of course, the person who sat in said chair was none other than Kakarot himself. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me."

"Hey, Vegeta." Kakarot, a.k.a Goku, was partially slouched in the folding chair. "How's your Thanksgiving going?" 

"It was going fine." Vegeta held his head in his palm.

Once everyone was seated, Goten, who was sitting on the other side of the table next to Trunks, raised his hand. "Oh! Can I say grace?" He asked. 

"Aww, sure thing, Goten." Bulma cooed. "Go right ahead." 

"Okay. We have a traditional saying of grace in our house." The half-Saiyan closed his eyes. "Thanks for the grub!" He reopened them no less than a second later. Bulma and Chi-Chi facepalmed. There was no doubt he learned it from his father. 

"Let's just get to eating..." Bulma sighed. Within seconds, the two Saiyans had managed to swipe two bowls of food from the center of the table.

By the time an individual bowl came to Chi-Chi and Bulma, it was already approaching the bottom. Typical hungry Saiyans.

As the mashed potatoes started going around the table, Chi-Chi began small talk.

"So, Bulma, how are the kids?"

Bulma frowned. "Well, this week, Bulla picked up a new word."

"You say that like it's a bad thing. Is it wrong to ask what word?"

The young child answered for her mother. "Kakawot!" She squealed, raising her hands in the air and kicking out her feet. "Kakawot!"

"Holy cow!" Goku seemed alarmed. "How does Bulla know my Saiyan name?"

"She learned it from Mr. Saiyan Pride over there." Bulma pointed to Vegeta from across the table, who stopped scooping mashed potatoes onto his plate and blushed. 

After a few seconds, Goku piped in. "Hey, Vegeta. Pass the mashed potatoes." Without giving Vegeta a chance to process, the Saiyan grabbed the bowl and started serving himself.

"Hey! I wasn't done with that!" Vegeta barked.

"Well, you were taking longer than five Mississippi's." Goku continued to pile on potatoes. "So, you snooze, you lose." He stuck out his tongue, which was very unlike him. 

"Oh ho ho... You want to go, Kakarot?!" Vegeta stood up. 

Goku did so as well. "Bring it on!" Both Saiyans' hair lit up and turned solid gold. Vegeta swung his arm in an attempt to hit Goku, only for him to duck and attempt to punch the Saiyan in the gut in return. Neither one managed to land a hit before they were interrupted.

"Goku!"

"Vegeta!"

The two Super Saiyans turned to see their not-so-happy wives. 

"No Super Saiyan at the table!" The two women yelled in unison.

Vegeta and Goku's hair returned to their black color and they sat down in embarrassment. 

The two Saiyans were sitting awkwardly next to each other. Not speaking. Not even looking at each other. Just eating in awkward silence. That was until there was a loud thump from the basement. 

"W-What was that?" Trunks asked.

"I don't know." Bulma turned to Vegeta and Goku. "You guys want to check it out?"

"Of course, you ask us." Vegeta rolled his eyes and continued to chow down on some sweet potatoes. He didn't know why humans continuously requested the strongest Saiyans on the planet to take care of their simple tasks. It was probably due to cowardice. 

"Will you go down there or not?" Bulma growled.

"Fine, but I'm going alone." The Saiyan stood up. 

"No. You're going down with Kaka-- I mean, Goku!" She pointed towards the stairs. "You too need to get along or at least take your fighting elsewhere."

"FINE!" Both Saiyans grumped, as they went downstairs, surprisingly, not taking their dishes with them. They ave each other glares strong enough to create sparks. Bulma knew things probably weren't gong to turn out so pretty and she was having second thoughts. But, it was too late. The door had already closed.

In the basement, they discovered a tall figure in a dark coat. 

"W-who is that?" Goku asked.

"I don't know." 

They approached the figure further, before it sharply turned around, revealing its face, which was familiar and a menacing purple.

"Hit!" The two Saiyans yelled in unison. They charged towards the assassin, both wondering how he got into their universe. However, the Universe 6 fighter disappeared in a blink of an eye and reappeared to leave twin scratches on their cheeks.

"What are you doing in Universe 7, Hit?" Goku asked, as he brushed a bit of blood off of the scrape on his face. 

"Wondering why Saiyans have fighting as their built-in first instinct." Hit made a not-very-obvious sarcastic remark.

"Why are you here for real?" Vegeta rolled his eyes. 

"Fine. I'll tell you." Hit put his hands in his pockets. "I'm searching for the Super Dragon Balls."

"Why didn't you say that to start?" Goku inquired.

"Because you tried to beat me up." The assassin shrugged. "I was told a woman who lived here had a detector for them."

"Oh, you mean the Super Dragon Radar?" The younger Saiyan opened a box and pulled out a small glowing disc. "Here you go!"

Vegeta swatted it out of his hand. "Oh no, you are not giving that to Hit of all people. He's probably going to wish for immortality or to murder us in the blink of an eye!" The Saiyan stopped himself. "Crap. I'm giving him ideas."

Hit shrugged, picked the radar up off the ground, and turned away.

"Kakarot, you just gave an assassin the gateway to the most powerful Dragon Balls in existence. Remember what happened with Zamasu?!" Vegeta barked.

"It'll be fine..." Goku started walking towards the steps. "He can't do something that bad. Besides, we should be getting back to the good food. Come on!" Vegeta immediately forgot what he was talking about.

As they headed upstairs, Vegeta turned to his rival. "Kakarot?"

"Yes?"

"I'm actually kind of thankfully that you came. I have a lot to thank you for. Had you not prompted me to go to Earth, I'd probably not have the life I have now. I'd never had met Bulma or started this family of mine. To be honest, I'd probably still be working under Frieza and believing I was a Super Saiyan."

"Aww, that's thoughtful, Vegeta." Goku scruffed the shorter Saiyan's hair.

"Don't make me regret my words."

Vegeta and Goku stood shocked at the sight on the dinner table. There was absolutely nothing left on the table with the exception of the two plates they had abandoned.

"W-Where is everything?!" Goku yelped.

"I see you didn't kill each other. But, where'd you two get the scratches?" Bulma changed the subject.

"We were fighting raccoons. Now, where's the food?! The turkey? The stuffing? The cranberries?" Vegeta demanded, slamming his hands on the table.

"We ate it all!" Goten explained.

"What?!" Goku nearly passed out until Vegeta caught him. 

"Then, what are we supposed to eat?"

Chi-Chi pointed to the two plates of cold food. The two Saiyans sighed in disappointment. All they had left of the precious Thanksgiving dinner were clots of room temperature potatoes, the stalks of collard greens, and a few intermittent corn kernels. They had not even eaten a smidgen of the succulent turkey breast with an aroma strong enough to fill a whole household. It was now gone in an instant, as if it had teleported away. Vegeta and Goku sadly took their seats and feasted on the remains on the meal that had escaped their grasp.

The next day, somewhere in the cosmos...

Hit, accompanied by Vados, stood in the interior of Super Shenron, sweat engulfing his body from the mere presence of the divine dragon. Part of his body's sweaty coating was from concern... concern that his wish may not be granted.

"Hit-san, have you prepared a wish? We're inside the dragon now, so I guess there is no turning back." Vados turned to the trembling assassin. She had never seen Hit in this state before. "Whisper it to me and I'll translate."

"Yes." The assassin finally spoke. "But, never tell anyone I requested this wish." He whispered something into Vados' ear. When he pulled back, the angel seemed surprised. 

"My! That's not a wish I'd expect from you!"

"Just say the wish already." Hit wasn't himself. He was never nervous, nor one to to get frustrated easily.

"Okay. I understand." Vados cleared her throat and began to speak in the divine tongue. "Xis Esrevinu fo Nijeci eht Tsorf fo efil eht erotser!" 

Super Shenron was quiet for a moment, racking up Hit's anxiety further, before declaring, "Detnarg neeb sah hsiw ruoy." Hit gave a small smile. Of all the divine language he knew, he understood that it meant that his wish was granted.

The golden dragon dispersed into light, allowing Hit and Vados to land safely down on top of a small moon-like planet. A few seconds passed before another glow appear and melted into a mortal being rather than a dragon. It was a blue lizard-like creature with what seemed to be a gem encapsulating its head. Two black horns stuck out from the head's sides. The being also wore a set of gray armor. Hit marveled the form as it fully completed itself and drifted slowly to the ground. 

"Welcome back to existence," Hit paused dramatically. "Frost."

"Hit!" Frost yelped as he began to stumble backwards, almost off of the small moon. "W-What are you doing here? W-What are you going to do with me?"

"Relax, Frost. I didn't wish you back to kill you--"

The Icejin interrupted. "Wait a minute. You brought me back?" 

"Yeah." Hit shrugged. "Is there a problem with that?"

Frost dashed up to Hit and squeezed him by the waist. "Thank you..." He whispered. 

"No problem."

[angelofwords-blog1]

Christmas Preference

The purr of the engine beneath the hood of the sleek black car made you smile. You had been surprised that Dean had let you borrow his baby, even if it was just to run into town for an emergency. You smiled even wider at the thought of the emergency. It was defiantly Christmas with the boys. The snow covered gravel crunched under the wheels as you turned and made your way, slowly, down the rest of the road. You pulled in to the garage, being extra careful incase Dean had been watching. The door snapped shut behind you after you grabbed the grocery bag from the back seat. Castiel had been in the yard when you drove up, Sam was probably still in the library, and Dean was making a racket in the kitchen…

Castiel

You jumped down into the snow that covered the ground, squealing as it soaked into your jeans.

“Cas! I’m back! I got the carrots, and the buttons, and a top hat and scarf, because they were there and I couldn’t say no, and- what did you do to the snow man?” You stopped short when you saw the pile of snow at the angels feet.

“I was shaping him like you taught me to, and he collapsed. I do not know how or why.” Cas was confused, as usual.

“Oh, well that means that we didn’t pack him down hard enough. Come on, we’ll start again.” Cas had looked like a hurt puppy when you had seen the demolished snow structure, but on hearing that it was an easy fix his face lit up like Christmas lights. He had enjoyed rolling the snow with you, and he was happy to do it again.

He watched you as you bit your tung in concentration, shaping a small ball with your hands. Upon seeing him watching you instead of helping, you chucked it as his head. Even with hunter reflects and angel mojo, he didn’t see it coming.

“Y/n, I do not see why you have done this, or why you find it so amusing.” You rolled back and forth on the ground, soaking your coat and jeans even more, laughing your head off. “Y/n, Y/n please, what are you doing?” The snow hit his face again.

“Cas, it’s a traditional human game called a snow ball fight. Two or more opponents fight each other by throwing snow shaped into balls at each other.”

“How does one win this game?”

“There usually isn’t a victor.” You smiled at him, amused by his interest in such a simple thing you had taken for granted.

“Could we play this ‘snow ball fight’?” You hit him with snow again, being a hunter giving you impeccable aim.

“I kinda thought we already were.” It was only a few moments before the two of you were soaked through, laying next to each other in the snow, breathing heavy.

“Did I win?”

“No.” You smiled at Cas as his face fell.

“Congratulations, Y/n, you fought well.”

“I didn’t win either Cas. No one won.”

“Then how is it a fight?”

“I honestly don’t know.” You whispered as you gazed into Cas’ blue eyes, content to simply lay with him. Except you were getting cold. “Want to finish our snow man before we head inside?”

“I would love to, Y/n.” The two of you stood and with fumbling frozen fingers assembled your snow man. It only took five attempts until you got his base correct, and six more to get his middle.

“Perhaps we should stop and finish him later after we have warmed up. You are getting cold.”

“No, no way Cas, we are finishing him now.”

“No, we are not.” Cas picked you up and carried you inside, kissing the top of your head. “Merry Christmas, Y/n.”

Dean

You walked through the door and into bunker, headed straight to the kitchen.

“Trying to burn us out, Dean? We’re not dead yet, no need to salt our bones early.”

“Thank god you’re back. What the hell do I do?” You cracked up laughing at the sight that was before you. Dean stood in the middle of the kitchen with a ‘Christmas Cookin’ apron on, the one with the frilly lace edges. He had butter on his nose, sugar on his clothes, and flour in his hair. You knew that if you helped you would end up looking just as bad. After pulling up the sleeves of your favorite over sized sweater you dove right in.

“Did you let the cookie dough cool?”

“Yes…?”

“How long?”

“Like, five minutes?”

“Dean, put it back in the fridge. And no eating any!” You slapped his hand away from the bowl, pointing to the fridge. “Chop chop! We have a schedule to keep!”  You pulled the grocery bag of fresh ingredient to yourself and soon had another batch of sugar cookie dough ready to go in the fridge. No thanks to Dean.

“Stop that!” His hands stopped their circular motion on your lower back. “We need to focus, Dean.”

“Fine, but after, right?” Sammy wasn’t the only Winchester boy to inherit puppy dog eyes.

“Yes, Dean, after. Now hand me that cookie cutter. No Dean, the one shaped like santa!”

“Bossy much, shorty?” He hung the cutter just out of your reach.

“Do you want me to call Sam in here? Because I will call Sam.” You stood with your hands on your hips and a frown on your lips and Dean couldn’t help but smile.

“You wouldn’t.”

“Wanna to bet?” You inhaled a deep breadth, ready to call for the giant of a man to come help you. Dean’s hand slipped over your mouth to keep you from calling out, the cookie cutter falling to the counter. You smiled under his hand and turned away so that you could get some work done, hopefully. You and Dean worked in silence fro a while. Just as you were moving a snowman onto the baking sheet Dean came up and wrapped his arms around your waist from behind.

“Dean… Dean.”

“Mmhmm?” He hummed against the skin where your neck met your shoulders. You sighed and turned around in his arms, wrapping your own around his neck.

“You’re insufferable, Winchester.” You murmured against his lips, running one of your hands through his hair. Your other hand snaked back behind you, feeling around on the counter. You soon found what you had been looking for and brought it up above both of your heads, clapping your hands together. ‘Snow’ flour floated down around you, making a huge mess. Dean glared down at you, but what stopped your laughing was the soft white flakes that alighted on his thick lashes, standing out against the bright green that gazed at you with warmth and love.

“Merry Christmas, sweetheart.” And his lips met yours again.

Sam

You quickly ran through the bunker and into the library.

“Hey, handsome. I’m back.” You said as you walked into the room.

“Hey, you got the supplies?” Sam smiled down at you.

“Of course.” The bag you had carried in was full of popcorn, candy canes, and tinsel. “You ready to get this party started?”

“Lets do this!” In a mater of moments both you and Sam were covered in tinsel. It was every where. In your hair, on your clothes, on the couch, and, thankfully, on the tree. With a flick of his wrist sam threw a kernel of corn at you.

“Oh really, you want to start this?” You grabbed a handful from the bag on the table and tossed it in his direction.  Soon the popcorn was just like the tinsel. You laughed wen you saw a piece stuck in Sammy’s gorgeous locks of brown hair. Sam took advantage of you having your guard down and half a second later you were on the couch with him laying on top of you.

“Do you surrender?” He said as he pinned your hands above your head.

“Never!” You said in between deep breaths.

“Wrong answer!” You tried to get away but with his body weight holding you down there was no where to go. His long fingers found your sides and gave no mercy. You wreathed beneath him, laughing uncontrollably.

“I surrender! I surrender!” You shouted out with the little breath you had left. Sam laughed and stilled his movements, letting your hands go. You flipped him over, throwing the both of you off the couch, so that you were on top. Sam was much stronger then you, so there was no way that you could hold him down if he wanted to get up. Fortunately for you, he didn’t.

“Hello there, beautiful.” He whispered in your ear, his voice low and sultry.

“Slow your roll, Samuel. We still have to eat diner with the boys.” But you pressed a kiss behind his ear anyway.

“Hmm, I think we could miss diner. It’s not like food is important or anything.”

“No, but family and Christmas is. Now get up, moose. We have to finish decorating the tree.” You offered him a helping hand up after you climbed off of him.

The two of you spent the next hour stringing popcorn. If you were being honest you ate more then you strung. After you poked your finger with the needle for the millionth time, Sam took it from you, telling you to hang up the candy canes instead. You fell into a comfortable silence and soon the tree was completely decorated, looking amazing. You took a step back to look at you handy work, Sam wrapping his arms around you.

“I feel like we need to break out in a rousing chorus of ‘Jungle Bells’ or something.”

“Defiantly something. You are crazy, and I love you.”

“I love you too, Sam. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas.” His lips met yours and both where bent into smiles.

[tipsycad147]

Aquarius January National Popcorn Day

By shirleytwofeathers

National Popcorn Day is celebrated at the end of January, although its exact date is a matter of debate. Various sources report it as January 19; others claim it takes place on whatever day the “big game” falls on.

Why not use this day for some popcorn magick?

Then he thought if he had some milk, he would have popcorn and milk.

You can fill a glass full to the brim with milk, and fill another glass of the same size brim full of popcorn, and then you can put all the popcorn kernel by kernel into the milk, and the milk will not run over.

~from Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Magickal Associations of Corn:

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Venus, Pluto

Element: Earth

Season: Lammas and Mabon

Deities: agriculture and solar deities

Correspondences: Protection, Luck, Divination, Blessing, Offering, Fertility, Abundance

Popcorn Offerings

I’m not sure if you are aware of it, but nature spirits like popcorn. I have it on authority from Chickadee who has had complex relationship with a number of nature spirits, that they almost all like popcorn, particularly the sea gull spirits. This is a great way to introduce children to the idea of a relationship with the land…however, because of the (practical) negative implications of feeding wildlife, it is important to not leave food out too much or too often and to change the area where offerings are left, so that wildlife do not become accustomed to it.

Popcorn Chains

At Yule, when we decorate our tree, we include a popcorn garland. Part of our tradition when we make it is to use what we add to say a thank you and a blessing for someone we love (not for every single piece, but for our “family strand” of garland that that goes on the top of the tree).

Stringing magic popcorn into edible jewellery is an easy way to add a bit of extra love or joy or healing blessings for the kids, and it even makes a great sibling or parent gift. A few months ago, when my daughter did something especially naughty, got it in her head to make a “sorry necklace” for her brother. After eating caramel popcorn on a string, he was in a better mood to forgive her…

Popcorn Fortune Balls

This should be pretty obvious–think fortune cookie in a popcorn ball. Or, if you are packing a lunch for a trip or a day at school, put in an encouraging note or positive thought. Put a popcorn fortune ball on the end of a straw, and add some pipe-cleaner petals for a edible bouquet gift from the kids. All you need are some small strips of paper with a message written on them, and a popcorn ball recipe–stuff the message in the centre of the ball as you shape it.

Venus Popcorn Spell

Sharing a bowl of popcorn with someone you love is one of life’s simple pleasures. Adding a sprinkle of practical magic may be akin to “gild-ing the lily,” but who doesn’t like to stir up a little love magic now and then? Rent a favourite romantic movie tonight. Pop some fresh popcorn, add butter if desired, and season with love herbs and passionate spices as suggested below. Say as you do so: “Venus, bless us with love and beauty.”

Garlic salt, chilli powder, and red pepper-to rekindle your love life.

Parmesan cheese and dried basil-for Italian style romance

Chilli powder, garlic, and basil-fiery passion.

A touch of cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla powder-for comfort and warmth.

More Popcorn Day Activities

Guess the Amount: Fill a container with popcorn kernels and have everyone guess. The winner gets a nifty prize.

Popcorn Air Hockey: Can you “volley” the kernel back and forth 20 times without letting it fall? For this you will need: a flat surface (table), straw (to blow), coffee stirrers (as paddles) or hands (as paddles).

Popcorn Relay Race: Holding popped corn in a spoon, run relay races to see which team can keep the popped corn in the spoon longest without spilling it.

Popcorn Basketball: Can you flick a piece of popcorn into the basket? Muffin tins or small cups can be used for the basket.

Make a Popcorn Word Search: Use these words: popcorn, pop, kernel, explode, heat, moisture, grain, snack, crunchy, butter, oil, salt, fiber, bag, hull.

Write a Popcorn Haiku (5, 7, 5 syllable pattern poem): Like this!

Oil, kernels, heat, time Many loud explosions heard Pop, crunch, snack time. Yum!

How many words can you make from this phrase? “Fresh hot popcorn”, “Popcorn tastes good”, “I like popcorn”, “Hot buttered popcorn”

About Popcorn:

Popcorn has been around for 5,000 years. Archaeologists and researchers believe it to be the oldest of a group of five sweet corns. Popcorn originated in Mexico but quickly spread globally. Popcorn ears over 5,600 years old were found in New Mexico in 1948 and 1950, they are the oldest ears of popcorn known.

Popcorn was integral to early 16th century Aztec Indian ceremonies. Bernardino de Sahagun writes:

“And also a number of young women danced, having so vowed, a popcorn dance. As thick as tassels of maize were their popcorn garlands. And these they placed upon (the girls’) heads.”

In 1519, Cortes got his first sight of popcorn when he invaded Mexico and came into contact with the Aztecs. Popcorn was an important food for the Aztec Indians, who also used popcorn as decoration for ceremonial headdresses, necklaces and ornaments on statues of their gods, including Tlaloc, the god of rain and fertility.

An early Spanish account of a ceremony honouring the Aztec gods who watched over fishermen reads:

“They scattered before him parched corn, called momochitl, a kind of corn which bursts when parched and discloses its contents and makes itself look like a very white flower; they said these were hailstones given to the god of water.”

Writing of Peruvian Indians in 1650, the Spaniard Cobo says, “They toast a certain kind of corn until it bursts. They call it pisancalla, and they use it as a confection.”

In South America, kernels of popcorn found in burial grounds in the coastal deserts of North Chile were so well preserved they would still pop even though they were 1,000 years old.

Some Popcorn Trivia:

Popcorn is a subspecies of corn called Zea mays everta, and like all corn, it is part of the grass family

An 8 foot in diameter popcorn ball, weighing 3,415 lbs, created in 2006 in Lake Forest, IL is the largest popcorn ball on record

A popcorn kernel needs 14% moisture content to pop

The oldest popcorn popper was discovered in Peru dating back to 300 AD

October is National Popcorn Popping Month!

After bread, popcorn is one of the most popular foods that people feed waterfowl. Unfortunately, feeding waterfowl isn’t a good idea…

Popcorn is the official state snack food of the state of Illinois

Archaeological evidence of popcorn dates back to 4700 BC in Peru

During the Great Depression, popcorn became exceedingly popular due to its relatively low price and was one of a few businesses that did well.

The Science of Popping Corn:

Popcorn works because each individual kernel (thanks to the hard shell) becomes its own pressure cooker, which then explodes, turning itself inside out. Inside the shell is a starchy substance and water. As the kernel heats up, the water turns into steam and the steam cooks the starch into a super hot jelly-like substance that explodes. After exploding, the water evaporates and the starch dries out, leaving the kernel flipped inside out, in the shape we know as popcorn.

Sources:

Web Holidays

LLewellyn Spell A Day

Bay Witch Musings

Popcorn.org

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