#gio treats recipe

[furballfaggot]

the creatures have spoken. here is the fully unedited successful recipe, save for a couple extra notes i made when i posted them on discord and some clarifications. additional notes and failed attempts under the cut. please tag me if you make these i wanna know what yall think!!!!!!!!!!!

gio treats mk3 -- unedited recipe, more info at the bottom

goal of gio treats: crunchy, tastes good, bone

mk2 advancements: better texture, somewhat more of a taste, actually a bit crunchy, thick enough to cut beforehand

mk3 goals: stronger flavor, proper crunch

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup cornbread mix

2 tbsp butter, melted

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp curry powder

1 1/2 cup beef brof (made with 4 bullion cubes) (note: bullion is deliberately spelled billion in the original text)

small amount of any nice herbs (added to broth -- strained out probably) (note: i used bay leaves and parsley just to keep it simple, but feel free to add whatever you want)

egg

pinch of salt and pepper (note: originally typed out as "pincha salt n peppy")

"enough pancake mix to make it stick again"

preheat oven to 375 faggotheit

roll dough onto flat surface and cut into bone

transgender to GREASED cookie sheet

poke 4 holes into each bone with toothpick (mostly for looks tbh)

bake until baked (bout 21 minutes)

let cool until cool (7ish minutes)

serves people*, probably

for storage keep in ziploc bag. for added effect make sure its one of those ones that can stand up on their own when theres stuff in em

for the past week ive been trying to make a human body compatible dog treat of sorts because I Am Dog And I Am Weird. this is the 3rd attempt, which worked out wonderfully. im going to make a thread for the notes ive got about this recipe as well as the 2 rejects from before after i send this message, so dont be alarmed by that. no real editing done aside from this note because i think its funnier this way and i wanna preserve the energy behind the whole endeavor. feel free to substitute anything you want in place of anything here -- the broth and cornbread mix are what give these their flavor, so if you want something that isnt savory you should start there. none of this was based on any preexisting recipes, i just thought of what makes baked things how they are and threw bullshit numbers at the wall for a while

mark 3 original baking notes:

- the cornbread mix definitely fucked with the consistency some. in my defense we ran out of all-purpose flour after the 1 1/2 cups i used

- added 3 bay leaves and a couple shakes of parsley into the broth and didnt strain it. the bay leaves were discarded but the parsley stayed

- number 1 most unsettling feeling in the world: picking used wet bay leaves out of cold beef broth

- pancake mix was used ONLY to get the dough to where itd possibly keep its shape. DO NOT use any more of it than you need to

- something in this batch is making the dough rise. pancake mix? cornbread mix?? self-rising flour i used on the cutting board and rolling pin??? hopefully it doesnt fuck things up too bad either way

- froze the other half of the dough for future use. for What im not sure but for something

- is melting the butter the way to go or should i just let it soften? much to consider. there are many such cases. etc etc

- it looks like they dont rise all that much actually. definitely not enough to be a major issue wrt: if they touch but no verdict on taste and texture just yet

- i will say they definitely *look* better when theyve risen a bit. just aesthetics wise

- im gonna load the dishwasher while these bake

- toothpick doesnt squish and comes out clean after being taken out of the oven. so far so gamer

mark 3 original tasting notes:

- oh fuck yes

- FUCK yes

- FUCK YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

- theyre just dry enough, just crunchy enough, and just flavorful enough. fuck YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- the perfect little treat -- not too much flavor, but not too little of it either. just dry enough to dissuade having too many at once and/or to encourage more frequent hydration

- the cornbread mix was the PERFECT addition

- the thinner ones are a little off i will say. a bit burnt i think? but still not horrible

- the beef and herb flavors are just present enough for me

- im gonna be real i was NOT thinking these would turn out so good but im not upset in the slightest. might try and make a sweet version at some point if only so i can use it for my party in july

- mother of god i wish i had an actual tail to wag rn. that thing would be goin at like warp speed. curse this human flesh

- would absolutely KILL with soup. i might make extra noodle soup just for this theory

gio treats mk2

goal of gio treats: crunchy, tastes good, bone

mk2 goal: savory??? strong flavor also. ideally can be cut into from the start, to minimize waste

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 tbsp butter, melted

2 tsp onion powder

1 1/2 cup beef brof

egg

pincha salt

preheat oven to 350 faggotheit

spread onto pan

roll dough onto flat surface and cut into bone

transgender to GREASED cookie sheet

bake until baked (bout 25 minutes)

let cool until cool (10ish minutes)

serves people*, probably

mark 2 original notes:

- dough was VERY sticky. like "put flour on the workspace and the rolling pin or you will have made glue" levels of sticky

- looks like ive got the ratio down for the right consistency to roll and cut into shapes! they were still a little limp when i moved them from the cutting board to the cookie sheet but thats probably easily fixed with a quick chill

- going for a savory approach here. if it works i might see if i cant recreate this with other liquids and spices. and one eggs

- better?

- flavor is less faint than mk1 but still not really all that present. the onion powder didnt really do much tbh

- a little chewy still. tiel suggested cooking them at a higher temp so ill probably try that next

- probably fucks hard with soup though

- the onion powder is kinda overpowering tbh

gio treats mark 1

goal of gio treats: crunchy, tastes good, bone

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 tbsp butter, melted

2 tbsp brown sugar

"an amount" almond extract

4 tbsp honey

1/2 cup milk

preheat oven to 350 faggotheit

spread onto pan

bake lightly until just coherent enough to cut into (4ish minutes)

use bone cookie cutters to make into bone shapes (depending on how well you spread them they may be difficult to keep coherent)

bake until baked (bout 23 minutes)

let cool until hardened at least slightly (11 minutes)

serves people*, probably

mark 1 original notes:

- theyre fine. nothin to write home about. not quite what i was hoping for but fuck it we ball

- theyre kinda chewy? i might have made them too thick. or maybe there wasnt a good enough balance in the batter. ill have to work on that next time

- the sanding sugar i quietly added to the batter did nothing for the crunch factor actually

- almond extract is definitely not the right flavor for this one. it bakes into a light and delicate blink-and-you-miss-it taste, but too much and it overpowers the rest of it

- why did i use honey again? flair? prissybitchism? it does nothing

- like, theres hardly ANY almond here. its a ghost within this thing

- maybe i didnt bake them long enough actually. maybe they need more time in the oven

- maybe beef flavored gio treats would be pretty good actually. wonder what they make dog treats out of. im gonna google that actually

- ok im back. milk-bone treats (the ones i like the aesthetics of) are made with wheat flour, meat flavors, and a whole lotta chemicals i dont wanna read rn. so it cant be too hard

extra post-success notes:

- the honey in mark 1 may have actually been detrimental to the treats as a whole. my guess is somewhere along the way they fucked with the consistency and made them so chewy

- "an amount" lol

- i cannot stress enough that you have to grease your baking sheet and flour your workspace holy shit

- can you tell the bulk of these instructions were written super late at night

- the slight rise of mark 3 is perfect actually. makes them nice and airy while still giving them a good crunch

- dont roll the dough too thin!!!!!! they will burn slightly and suck lotsly if you do that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- i didnt have to pick the bay leaves out by hand

- but i did

- i was gonna pour the broth out anyways

- i did start a load of dishes and look up what milk-bones were made of when i said id do those things. just btw

- i did actually time those baking and cooling times with the stopwatch feature of my clock app! those are not easy estimates, i actually did those ones right

- if it wasnt for me running out of flour partway through mark 3 i would never have added cornbread mix. everyone say thank you to the flour bag being so pathetically tiny

ive been trying and failing for the past couple nights to make a Human Body Compatible dog treat from scratch and yes i KNOW i can just use my bone cookie cutters on any dough i want to but thats different to me. thats just bone-shaped cookies. i dont want that. what i want is something superficially resembling a milk-bone dog treat but made for people and also not with a buncha chemicals i cant read. ive got 2 attempts under my belt so far and i intend to try more. ill post those drafts eventually

[cookteenblog]

Banh Gio Recipe (A Traditional Vietnamese Treat with a Modern Twist)

Are you craving a taste of homemade Vietnamese cuisine? If so, you’re in luck because today I’m going to share with you a fantastic recipe for banh gio! Now, I know what you’re thinking – banh gio may not be as well-known as some other Vietnamese dishes like pho ap chao or banh mi, but trust me, it’s just as delicious. This delightful steamed rice cake wrapped in banana leaves is filled with a…

[crystalgood]

Do you know the difference between spring rolls and egg rolls? Though they both are deep-fried favorites commonly found on Chinese menus, many people don’t fully understand their unique characteristics. From the ingredients to the cooking process, there is quite a bit of variance between a spring roll and an egg roll. In this blog post, we’ll break down all the crucial distinctions so you can make an informed decision when choosing your favorite delectable treat. [caption id="attachment_1480" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Spring Roll Vs Egg Roll[/caption] What Is a Spring Roll? A spring roll is a type of appetizer that originated in China. They can be fried or baked and filled with various combinations of meat and vegetables. They are a popular dim sum dish in East and Southeast Asia. They can be found in a variety of regional variations, including Chinese spring rolls, Vietnamese summer rolls (cha gio), Filipino lumpia and Malaysian popiah. The wrappers are often thinner than egg roll wrappers, which gives them a light, crispy texture when they're fried. They're often served with a sweet and sour sauce. Fillings vary widely across Asian cuisines, with chicken and pork a common choice, but shrimp is also commonly used. Fresh herbs are often added, and some spring rolls contain rice vermicelli or slivers of meat or seafood. To assemble a spring roll, dip one rice paper wrapper into water to soak for about 10 seconds. It should still feel firm when it comes out of the water but soften as you add fillings to it. Spring Roll Nutrition Fact: Spring rolls are a great option for a healthy snack. They are low in calories and contain nutrients like vitamin C, calcium, potassium, fiber, iron, and folate. Carbohydrates in food are your body’s primary source of energy. A balanced diet should contain about 45 to 65 percent of its calories from carbohydrates, according to the US Dietary Guidelines. One vegetable spring roll contains 8.5 to 13 grams of carbohydrates, which is about 7 percent of your daily calorie needs on a 2,000-calorie diet. The rest of the calories come from protein, fat, and fiber. Most vegetable spring rolls contain 3.5 to 4 grams of total fat and 0.5 to 1.0 grams of saturated fat, which increases your risk of heart disease and high cholesterol levels. These amounts can also contribute to weight gain. What Is an Egg Roll? Egg rolls are fried appetizers made with cabbage chopped Chinese roast pork wrapped in wheat flour-based wrappers that form tiny bubbles when deep fried. They’re a staple in Chinese-American restaurants. They are similar to spring rolls, but whereas spring rolls have a rice paper wrapper and can be served fresh, egg rolls have thicker wrappers and are generally deep fried. This gives them a much thicker and sturdier texture than spring rolls, so they’re more like fried pasta than they are a traditional Chinese dish. The origin of the egg roll isn’t known, but it is a popular Chinese-American food that originated in New York City sometime in the early 20th century. While there are several theories about the invention of the egg roll, Henry Low, a famous chef in New York, is credited with being the first to come up with the recipe for it. The most common fillings for egg rolls include shredded cabbage, pork, chicken, or shrimp. They’re often seasoned with salt, pepper, and soy sauce before being stir fried in oil. Egg Roll Nutrition Fact: If you're looking for a healthier take on your favorite Asian takeout, then this Egg Roll Stir Fry is just the thing. It has all of the good parts - lean ground beef, loads of veggies, and yummy seasonings like ginger and garlic - without that greasy fried coating! It's also super easy to make and you can swap out the chicken for a vegetarian option. Just a note, though, that the frying method can add some extra sodium to your meal. This recipe makes a ton of egg rolls, so you'll have plenty to serve for lunch or dinner.

It's perfect for an on-the-go, easy weeknight meal that's sure to be a hit with the whole family! Difference Between Spring Rolls and Egg Roll: Spring rolls and egg rolls are both delicious rolled appetizers, but their differences are very noticeable. They have distinct flavors, preparation methods, and appearances. A spring roll is a Chinese dish that typically includes cabbage, noodles and vegetable fillings as well as meat varieties such as pork. It is a popular snack and starter in Asian countries. It is commonly paired with different types of sauces including sweet, sour, and savory ones. Egg rolls on the other hand are a more Americanized version of the original spring roll. Originally influenced by Chinese spring rolls, these deep-fried bites are an important takeout menu staple and originated stateside in the early 20th century. Both can be prepared with a variety of vegetables and meats, but a spring roll has a thinner wrapper than an egg roll. In addition, the dough for a spring roll is made with flour and water instead of eggs. While egg rolls are fried, spring rolls are usually cooked without oil in an air fryer or microwave. This makes them healthier options than frying in oil. Which is Healthier: Spring Roll or Egg Roll? A spring roll is a paper-thin wrapper rolled around fillings of vegetables or meat. They’re a popular dim sum dish in Cantonese cuisine and can be found in Chinese restaurants. They’re also available in a variety of forms, including frozen and packaged versions. They can be fried or baked. Both types of rolls are light and easy to eat. They’re low in calories and have some nutrients, like protein, fiber, calcium and iron. To make a crispy spring roll, prepare a mixture of cooked meat (chicken, pork or shrimp are common) and shredded vegetables. Toss the filling with a little sesame oil and soy sauce. Place a couple tablespoons of the mixture on each spring roll wrapper and seal them tightly. Deep-fry them in 375 degF oil for 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally. Egg rolls, on the other hand, have a thicker wheat flour wrapper that’s typically filled with ground pork or shredded pork and stir-fried ingredients such as cabbage, carrots and celery. The egg roll’s wrapper is often coated in a batter before being deep-fried, which gives them their bumpy appearance. Similarities of Spring Roll Vs Egg Roll: If you love Chinese-American cuisine, then you’re probably familiar with both spring rolls and egg rolls. While they both look very similar, there are a lot of differences between these two staple appetizers. For starters, the wrappers for both spring rolls and egg rolls are different. While the wrappers of spring rolls are made from thinner dough that can be deep-fried, egg roll wrappers are thicker and noticeably crispier. The fillings for both types of wrappers are also different. While spring rolls are usually made with cabbage and other vegetables, egg rolls have other ingredients inside them as well. Both types of roll are often served with a dipping sauce. However, there are a few things to consider when choosing the right type of dipping sauce for these appetizers. These factors include the texture, method of cooking, and origins. Conclusion: When it comes to Chinese food, spring rolls and egg rolls are often confused for one another. Despite their common name, these two dishes are actually quite different from each other and it takes some research to figure out which one is the best for you. The first thing that you need to know is that spring rolls are made of a variety of ingredients whereas egg rolls are traditionally fried. In addition, the best spring roll may be a combination of meat and vegetables, while an egg roll is usually filled with cabbage. The best of both worlds isn’t hard to find at a decent Chinese restaurant, but you should still be prepared to pay top dollar for your entrée. It is also important to note that spring rolls are often served as an appetizer, while egg rolls are a more substantial meal.

Regardless of what type of roll you’re looking for, be sure to make your order the right way! You’ll be happy you did. You might even be impressed by how much you eat!

[mrsgiovanna]

Yayyy, its selfship Sunday (although it's selfship everyday here but we don't talk about that😂🤦🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️) and a conversation earlier in the week with a friend of mine lead me to thinking about selfcare with Bria and Giorno.

As silly as it sounds, sleep is a luxury for them so on days when they can spend an extra couple of hours snuggled in bed they grab that opportunity with both hands.

Bria is a homebody at heart and taught herself how to cook and bake, there's something relaxing about the textures and scents that soothes her soul, so baking together is something they do, she's taken to using heat treated flour for cookies because Gio eats half the batter before they get baked. He'll deny this until his final breath (the recipe was wrong, it yields only 6 cookies, not 12😂🏃🏽‍♀️)

They meditate on the beach together as often as they can, Bri developed an interest in tandem meditation and they use this time to devote to maintaining their spiritual connection with each other and quiet their minds. Its important to her that Giorno has a headspace far removed from his responsibilities.

I've mentioned this before but they workout together, it's a great way for them to burn off any negative emotions and energies.

He loves it when Bri washes his hair, she takes so much care to be gentle with it and she gives the most relaxing massages. She marvels at how beautiful his hair is whether it's long or a bit shorter, she loves the look and feel of it.

Bri loves it more when he brushes her hair, gently coaxing the tangles out with more care than anyone else has ever bothered to. He loves how soft and shiny her dark locks are, reminding him of his own hair before it transformed.

Giorno will want allow Bri to put all their her skin care products on him, claiming he's doing it for her but he enjoys it himself too.

Spending quiet time together but doing their own activities is something they relish.

With that being said, they also take some time to connect with themselves, Bri often goes to the garden Giorno made for her to clear her thoughts, write or just decompress. He sometimes takes the boat out on his own to do the same.

It's taken a while of mutual healing and affirmations to get them to this point, each convincing themselves and the other that it's not selfish but essential for them to take care of themselves and each other, and they both deserve to feel happy, loved and at peace, and thankfully they do inspire those feelings in each other.

[heartshaped-lou]

thanks lovelies @ddeerr @iqraars @quickpauseinconversations @avocadolouis28 for tagging me! 🌱💘

🌼 what do you prefer to be called name-wise?

gio

🌼 when is your birthday?

january 5th

🌼 where do you live?

italy

🌼 three things you’re doing right now?

figuring out some stuff for uni, listening to music and looking at a pumplking bread recipe dcjksd

🌼 four fandoms that have piqued your interest right now?

just 1d 

🌼 how is the pandemic treating you?

it could always be worst, but by now i’ve lost all kind of motivation (especially to study, which is what i should focus on right now) and i should seriously start thinking about after uni but it’s all a mess i have no idea what to do so eugh

🌼 song you can’t stop listening to right now?

get down - sam fender

🌼 recommend a movie

i havent watched a new movie in forever... idk just go watch Pride (2014) <33

🌼 how old are you?

20

🌼 school, university, occupation, other?

uni! also a small part time job but just until mid september

🌼 do you prefer hot or cold?

is the range 15-25 degrees celsius hot or cold? i like autumn and spring ok

🌼 name one fact others may not know about you.

i suddenly know nothing about me?? i love pumpkin, tangerines and chestnuts so autumn is a glorious time for me <3

🌼 are you shy?

is water wet? kjhcknjsdj i always struggled a lot with it because i am very self-aware and constantly feel awkward when in social situations, always felt like it's something that holds me back a lot

🌼 do you have any preferred pronouns?

she/her

🌼 any pet peeves?

people who don't listen, who interrupt while other people are talking, people who dont greet you even after you greet them (like. IS IT TOO MUCH TO SAY "GOOD MORNING"?? "HELLO"??? NOT ASKING TOO MUCH, AM I)... there are lots but these are the first that came to mind sjxjsj

🌼 what’s your favourite “dere” type?

is this about that kuudere/tsundere/yandere thing? i think so but i have no idea what they mean so. yeah

🌼 rate your life 1-10. 1 being really crappy and 10 being the best you could ever be.

5 i guess

🌼 what’s your main blog?

this one!

🌼 list your side blogs and what they’re used for.

dont have any, im too lazy for that

🌼 is there anything you think people need to know about you before becoming friends with you?

well.... i can take ages to answer messages, I am very bad at expressing feelings and i show my affection through actions which is very tricky when it comes to online people but. yeah <3

i feel like so many people did this already so sorry if you have already been tagged/don't care for this stuff, ignore this? sjxjsj @larrysballetslippers @nouislover @canynmoonn @whaleharry @imclowning @purplepantsniall @myivy @larrys-love-child @the-h-on-his-shirt @tanktop-lou @larryinfinitylt @longhairedlouismybeloved @thosefookinavacados

[royal-poetry]

Truth Part 2

Beatrix chuckled as she made her way to Giovana. The fun loving prankster demon had bitten off more than she could chew and accidentally pranked herself. Instead of using a truth serum on the brothers Gio somehow took it instead. Now Trix was part of the crew to keep people away. This was a serious manor, not only did she get a text from Gio asking for help but Barbatos sent them a slightly threatening message.. but hey at least Beatrix was trusted enough by Barb. She found Gio at the castle, naturally as Barbatos had already started to damage control. After getting passed a worried and pushy Diavolo Trix finally was with their other best friend.

"Gio I don't know why this is such a big deal but whatever Barb said to Dia didn't help because that man is acting like you're dying.. This isn't a kill you after its done truth serum is it?" Worry struck the human for a second, nah that wouldn't be right. It's just Diavolo over reacting, but why? He was strange but Trix didn't question it too much, now wasn't the time. "Now I'm here to help with 'making sure nothing gets out' in the cryptic words of our lovely Barb. This has to be something big if they are acting like that. Why is this such a big secret? Like I'm probably here to figure out a way to reverse it which I mean I can and will but I'm gonna need company while I figure out where you got it from and what kind it is and who you got it from, ya know? So I can take this opportunity to ask some things."

"So we all know about your little tea time with Asmodeus, where you talk about our resident couples, but we haven't talked about you. So Gio, who are you crushin' on? There has to be someone you like, its only natural. Please don't say its Diavolo, I will only accept that he is a sugar daddy and you stole that job from Asmo, because he deserves a good sugar daddy who will treat him right." Trix laughed, remembering conversations about sugar daddies once. "Also speaking of tea you should spill some of it and since we are in the castle, got any dirt on Diavolo and Barb? I bet you know some things from living here with them."

Giovanna sat on her bed, anxiously bouncing her leg as she waited for Trix to arrive to help. She was frustrated that she had been so stupid as to follow a truth serum recipe she found without reading the fine print- and now it had backfired onto her. She knew it was bad, but the way Barb and Diavolo reacted only made her feel worse. She just wanted to get the spell out of her system so they would stop pacing outside her room. Gio hated seeing her brother worry so much- but she knew it was reasonable worry this time seeing as if the wrong person asked the wrong questions it could be Very bad for them.

She heard commotion outside her room and stood up, hoping it was the arrival of Trix to save the day. And lucky for her, it was. Sighing in relief, she couldn’t help but chuckle at her friends concern “What? No, I’m not going to die. Don’t be silly, they just worry a lot. Although this IS kind of important. I can’t imagine what would happen if someone asked me the wrong question.” She laughed a little, trying to ease her friends worry. Grabbing Trix’s hand and dragging her to the desk, she cringed at one of the questions. “Well I mean. It IS big. It’s just a big deal because if someone asks the wrong question and I tell them the answer to the question it would be kind of bad if it got out and I’m really fighting the urge to blurt it out because the stupid serum wants me to answer things fully so I’m going to need you to ask another question other than why this is important or anything” Giovanna bit one of her knuckles, forcing herself to be quiet before she spilled too much. Although the second Trix asked her next question she almost wished she COULD just keep talking about the other thing.

“Okay, first of all? Dia? Disgusting, never accuse me of having a crush on him again that’s-“ She quickly grabbed a pillow to mumble something into- saying the truth even if Trix couldn’t hear it. “Moving on though, I’m honestly a little surprised you can’t tell who I have a crush on dear. I feel so obvious it’s a little embarrassing- I feel like one of those silly lovebirds we’ve helped set up. I’m head over heals for Asmo, of course. Now naturally I would never persue him while you two have whatever you have going on. Bestie code. Of course. And I don’t like him in a sim a sugar daddy way! I mean, I genuinely and truly am embarrassingly swooning over him. Isnt that beautiful! I was never planning on telling you that though darling I know you two have a strange little benefits situation like I said. Pretend I didn’t say anything.”

“As for Didi and Barb, of course I have tea on them. We’re all fairly close after all. Like have I told you about Dia’s crush on Luci? Like I know we’ve all joked about it but he’s like a little puppy sometimes. It began as a joke but dear I think he isn’t joking about wanting to worm is way into Luci and Logan’s love life. I’m almost a little embarrassed. That’s actually another reason I don’t want to interrupt you and asmo- Anyways. As far as Barb goes he’s still fairly private, even with me and Di. But I can tell you that he sometimes slips spells into tea. I feel like that isn’t a surprise, but he tries to keep it on the down low. Like he’ll give Luci teas with spells to boost his mood, or help him sleep. Di’s teas sometimes calm his energy, I think I get those ones too. I also get tea that helps with nightmares. I know when Lily was still adjusting he would specially make her iced teas that calmed her nerves. He works very hard on them all.”

[peeterparkr]

two can play that game⤳t.h.

prologue: the challenge. 

story summary: Tired of being let down, you decide to change the game, you didn’t want to be played anymore, so what better way than to become a player yourself. You’re looking for a story and another challenge. When you’re dared to change a player into a committed relationship in exchange to get your big shot, you give in, knowing damn well you’ll make him fall to your feet before you can even say: spoiler.

pairing: player!tom holland x player!reader

warnings: swearing, alcohol mention

word count: 2.7k 

thanks to @gioandreolli for the moodboard, love you gio! Thanks!! 

so as you may know this is based on this blurb. As usual, tell me what you think 

series masterlist

chapter 1

You woke up to a text, three crying emojis. You rolled your eyes, being sure of what you’d find just as you walked into the studio. You were right. As soon as you walked in you saw your best friend crying. She was sobbing, hard. Tissues all around her. Mia was your best friend, but she also happened to be very stupid. She was the makeup artist in the show you worked for, and she was amazing at everything she did. 

Except of course, when it came to men. She never listened to you. 

“He broke up with me!” She cried as you approached her, you hugged her tightly. This was routinary for you. You had brought her an ice cream tube so she could start her sorrow.

“But you’ve only been dating for two weeks!” You pointed out. 

“I took him to my cousin’s wedding…” She said before taking out a spoon from her purse for the ice cream. 

And there was the mistake. You rolled your eyes. So that’s why she didn’t tell you what she was doing that weekend. 

Rules of gold: probably number 23: Never, ever take a man to a family party, less a wedding just in the first weeks. He’ll believe you’re rushing him into something and he will run away. 

“I love him, y/n,” she said.

Once you fall in love, you lose. You had already lost many times. One illusion after another illusion.

You were tired of the lies, the routines and the thousands of excuses they could tell you.

You knew exactly how each and every date was. You would spend hours putting on makeup, combing your hair, shaving, perfuming, while they only threw themselves some simple blue jeans and a black shirt 10 minutes before.

They were all the same. They would probably arrive in what you would expect to be a fairytale carriage, and you’d be expectant of a prince charming. But it would be an old car, and they would be unpunctual. They wouldn't even get out of the car to open the door for you. Sometimes they wouldn’t even pick you up. 

They would take you to a cheap place where they would only talk about themselves, but since you were very dumb, you would probably end up kissing him in his apartment.

And you would ask yourself, why are you there again? Why do they have to be the ones to choose?

In spite of everything, your crushes had been remotely passengers. But even if they were only momentary, it was no excuse for not having you full of tears, waiting for a call, apologizing for something you hadn’t done. Because it was always like that, being the fool who was waiting for a prince to save her. And there you were, giving in to all his whims and wanting to please them from one to another. Then feel the guilt that you had let your heart break again. And again, and again. 

After someone had decided to break your heart into a thousand pieces and in the worst way, you decided that maybe it was time to change. It was like an awakening. When you watched your friends and you make yet another girls night with ice cream, chips and pizza, seeing them how they would sob and bawl and then scream when they saw hottie Ryan Gosling in The Notebook, you decided it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that they were always crying.

And you were fed up, after seeing ye another message on your cellphone from the group chat with tearful emojis, you said enough. Just like the one today. 

It could not be that they always made the decision and that us as women, were always waiting for them to choose what they wanted. It was not fair that you had to face with indecisive idiots who didn’t know where the hell they wanted to go with the relationship. You decided that you would not fall back into the tangles of a man who just wanted to take you to bed.

Your new bible, Why Men Love Bitches, had taught you a lot of what you knew now. You had made your own strategies and now it would be you who would choose, it was you with the last word. You were tired of being treated like garbage, and you understood something: they would only treat you like garbage if you felt like garbage. So you found out that you needed to change.

You would follow those steps to the letter and now, just one look was all it took to be the owner of the relationship. It was you who took command.

They all fell. They all begged.

Because you understood something very important.

Principle of attraction number 7: act like a prize and you’ll turn him into a believer.

Everything was based on this principle. 

Men are so primitive, they keep acting like hunters looking for their prey. You had done it wrong all those years, acting as they wanted. Leaving them the easy way. You know, being the fool who called him the next day and gave in to any nonsense. We’ve all been there, diving in too fast into the relationship, sending him notes and wanting to introduce them to your parents after date two. Being exceptional in everything you do, you know, inviting him over for dinner and cooking one of Martha Stewart’s amazing recipes. We’ve all served them in a silver plate. Because like any other reasonable human being. We believe in love. 

It does exist, you’d guess. But you weren’t going to fall now. Not now that you had managed to get all you wanted. Not now that you had guys begging for dates and begging to get things serious. 

You had a life. You were not a toy. Because you realized men wanted to be the hunger. So you became a challenge, a challenge they wanted to take.

You became, to his eyes, the prey.

Let's say it this way, for the hunter, being this all primitive men, a deer that they’ve been pursuing would be more attractive than a deer which arrives at his door by ringing the bell.

You understood then, that they wanted the fight.

They wanted the challenge. And you would be, without knowing that they were really your prey falling to your claws.

And so, now you would get a perfect date, and make it fall right at your feet. He would call. You would decide when and where the first kiss would be, and if you wanted to reach second or third base. You would receive the flowers days later. They would be the ones who would be crying while eating chocolate ice cream and watching The Notebook. Not you. Never you. Not anymore. 

And if you liked someone, you knew you would get him straight into your claws. You would just have to follow a few simple steps and he would be eating from the palm of your hand.

It was a mixture of red lipsticks, high heels and provocative but elegant clothes. Let them wish, but never get. Plus a few words and actions to make yourself impossible to their eyes and therefore, you’d be that challenge they were looking for.

And you were tired of the love songs, the stupid chick-flicks and all the stupid endings. You were tired of seeing them all do the same stupid love films, always teaching women exactly what they were not supposed to do. You wanted to be a screenwriter yourself, maybe even a director to write what women should do, and not fall for a stupid man just three days after meeting him. 

Problem was you didn’t yet have a story. Not a good one, at least. So you were a television producer….’s assistant on a sitcom. Not exactly where you wanted to be, but you know, something was something. You were basically just there making sure things worked out. 

Your romantic life was settled, you weren’t seeing anyone seriously simply because you didn’t want them. You were sure you could turn any man, even the worst players into your game. 

You weren’t even listening to your friend cry anymore. You were tired. 

“If you only listened to me,” you sentenced. 

Your other best friend, Barbie, had just walked in, she was also an assistant producer like you. She had walked in sucking on a lollipop and what you were sure were the clothes from yesterday. She probably had hooked up with someone. Because you and her had a very different standing on men. Her theory relied on something simple: “If they’re already playing with me I might as well get something out of it.” 

“She’s crying?” She mouthed at you from afar, not wanting to deal with it. 

You nodded. She rolled her eyes and made her way to Mia. 

“It’s alright, here,” Barbie smirked as she pulled out a mini bottle of vodka. “Spice up your ice cream and treat yourself, sis, it’s only a guy.” 

Mia took the mini bottle into her hands and stared at it. 

You rolled your eyes and took it from her, putting it on your purse. “We’re at work, idiot.” 

Barbara shrugged as she pulled it back out, and sprinkled Mia’s ice cream. You rolled your eyes. 

“Did you bang him?” Barbs asked Mia. You frowned and nudged her. “I mean, did you-guys make looooove?” 

“Don’t ask her that!” You warned Barbara. But before you could even stop it, Mia was already sobbing again. 

Mia sniffed. “We did--- I saw it, we both, we were perfect! We would get-”

“Married, and we’d have three children and get a pomeranian…” Barbs and you said at the unison. 

Mia glared. “He broke up with me, why?”

“Because you wanted more than sex,” Barbs said popping her lollipop. “You guys should do what I do, get laid and have fun.” 

“If you only listened to me,” you rolled your eyes. “Problem with you both is you both treat yourself like garbage.” 

“I...don’t,” Mia sniffed. 

The main producer walked in, seeing Mia with puffy eyes. She ignored her but she kept checking stuff on the board she would check every morning. 

“Get her on her senses before we start,” she warned you, and stayed close by. 

“You know what, yn?  if you were that good you’d have a boyfriend by now,” Barbs pointed out. “Your rules and strategies don’t work.” 

You shook your head. “Au contraire, I know they work,” you defended yourself. “I don’t have a boyfriend because I don’t want one. But if you want, I can make anyone you’d tell me to be my boyfriend.” 

“Huh, sure,” Barbs laughed. 

“Well, look at me, I went out on a date last night and I’m a, not crying and b, not wearing last night’s clothes,” you called them out. “My strategies work, I can make any man a docible man, let’s say. And, you know what? I’m writing a screenplay on that, I’ll prove it.” 

“You’re writing a screenplay, now?” Barbs chuckled. “About what?” 

“About my game,” you smirked. “About a young woman who makes a player fall in love with her.” 

“Ah, chick flick alert!” Barbs chuckled.

“Why can’t I get them? Why do I always fall for their lies?” Mía asked. 

“Because you keep doing that,” you pushed. “You keep calling him the next day, you keep letting him decide when he wants to date you, you keep inviting him to weddings,  and you keep thinking that sure whenever he invites you to watch Netflix you’ll actually end up watching The Good Place.” 

“But, he can change,” Mia said.

“Yes, but not by what you’re doing.” You crossed your arms 

“I gave him my apartment key.” Mía cried.

You wanted to hit her. 

“Ewgh,” Barbie wrinkled her nose. “No, okay, you’re a lost cause. Like, okay, y/n is crazy but you, Mia you’re really the toughest case.” 

“I’m not crazy, I’m smart,” you defended yourself. “I’ll prove it, I’ll even get Mia a boyfriend.” 

“Your strategies are just a dumb and pretty way to say you’re a good slut,” Barbs pointed out laughing. “And stop calling them strategies, that sounds super dumb.”

“I’m not a slut, I’m not you, honey,” you frowned. 

“What’s the difference?” Barbs asked. “We both technically do the same. I mean you’re also dressing up, and with those sexy red lips, you’re a big of a player as I am, y/n. You’re the female version of Mia’s worst nightmare...Or dream, same difference.” 

Mia frowned. 

You shook your head. “I get them to date me, I get the fairytale, I get them to be the ones calling me the next day and I don’t find myself like her, crying over stupid things. I get the-” 

“You don’t get laid?” Barbie asked. “That’s boring.” 

“I get them to be desperately in love with me,” you said. “And I do get laid, I just decide who with and when.” 

“How do I get the fairytale?” Mia asked. “Because all I do is try to be the princess…” 

“You won’t get the fairytale, because you’re both, in a way, easy!” You explained. “That’s why! You, Barbara, you’re always hooking up with whoever gets in front of you, and you Mia you fall in love the moment they say hello to you! Falling in love is not wrong but letting it be your weakness is!” 

“You only get your said fairytale because you’ve been dating a bunch of nerds, I need to see it with a real man.” 

“It can work with whoever,” you assured her. “Tonight I’ll prove it, let’s see that my strategies can change even the assholes Mia falls in love with.” 

“Hey!” Mia rolled her eyes. “Fine, I’ll use your strategies.” 

“Do they really work?” Someone interrupted. The three of you turned to see the TV producer, your boss, Margaret, watching you. 

The three of you went stiff. 

“Margo!” You gulped as you turned to her. “I--uh. What?” 

“Your strategies,” Margo said, looking down at her phone. 

“They don’t,” Barbs said. 

You scowled. “They do,” you gulped. “They do, they do…” 

Margo chuckled. “And you’re writing a screenplay,” she commented. 

“Yeah, yeah, for a movie or series… Uh.” 

“Mh,” Margo smirked. “You know, finish it, and I’ll get you to pitch the idea with the supervisors.” 

“Wait, what?” You couldn’t believe what you were hearing.

“Yeah, we’re looking for a new series,” Margo said. “Sounds interesting, and would be a funny sitcom, maybe change a bit, make her a serial dater.”  

You gulped. “Yeah, yeah.” 

“But are you sure it works?” Margo raised an eyebrow. “Like, if I ask you to get an insufferable player you’d be sure you’d get him to date you?” 

“Yeah, I’m sure,” you nodded. “It’s a strategy really, I-” 

“Let’s make a deal,” Margo walked over. “I’ll give you a name, and you’ll need to make him date you, you need to get him into a real relationship, make him fall in love. I want him to end up like her,” she said pointing up at Mia with her tissues. “Then, if I see it works, then I’ll get you to the people so you can have your own sitcom, how does that sound?” 

“It sounds perfect--Yes, perfect. I won’t disappoint. I’ll do it!” 

“Alright, but you won’t back away?” Margo chuckled. “Even when I tell you who he is?”

“No, of course not!” You were in shock. “How difficult can it be?” 

Barbs and Mia were just as shocked as you were. 

“Alright then, your new assignment is no other than Tom Holland.” 

“Tom--Tom Holland?” You blinked. “As in Spider-Man Tom Holland?” 

Margo frowned. “Yes, I’ll give you everything you need to know about him,” she offered. “Unless, of course, you don’t want your screenplay to see the light.” 

You coughed. “No, no, it’s okay! I’ll make it work!” 

Margo smiled. “Meet me in an hour.” And off she walked, scrawny and stiff. 

Mia, Barbie and you had to wait until you knew she was completely gone. 

“What the fuck,” you mumbled. “Is this a dream?” 

“Oh my god!” Mia cheekily grinned. “Tom Holland, that’s a dream!” 

Barb slapped the top of your head. “Are you out of your fucking mind? Tom Holland? The actor? You wouldn’t even get the chance to even meet him, and you just said you could get him into a fucking relationship?” 

“The only problem I see here is how I’m making him notice me,” you bit your lip. 

“Noticing you?” Barbara rolled her eyes. “Noticing you? You think that’s the slightest problem?” 

“It’ll be the biggest one, I’m sure,” you smirked. “I’ll finally prove to you that I know my way around them. You’ll see it, I promise I’ll have Tom freaking Holland bawling over me.” 

Mia grinned. “Tom Holland! Can you imagine that?” 

“I’ll bet you 50 pounds you won’t even get near him,” Barbara insisted. 

“50 pounds and my own sitcom are coming my way,” you shook her hand with a smirk.

----

series masterlist

chapter 1

wanna be tagged?

tag list: @shaydeevee33 @kill-the-stereo @spdys @kathleenbriar @ymeradonnadx @misformarvel @thatweirdomimic @youllbemineandillbeyours @fairytaleparker

[headoverjojo]

Hey! Can I ask hcs of AU where Giorno would be in an adoptive family full of vampires? Like he was adopted very young and his vamp family is really loving but he is the only human in the family, I wonder how he would act in his everyday life? Thanks you and I love your blog

Hi hi, darling! Waaaaaa such an interesting requeeesttt ** Gio deserves a loving family :,) Aaaand here we go!! I hope you like it :3

Little Giorno Giovanna is taken in by an adoptive family full of vampires

(Under the cut for length!)

Dio was a vampire really well known in the vampire community, mostly to be reckless and unmerciful. The whole community felt relief, when the news of his death spread around; if the Crusaders didn’t kill him first, a platoon of vampires would have done it, to preserve the secret of their existence. However, even with Dio dead, there were many things to fix, first of all his spawns.

When they found Giorno, the couple sent to take him (or to terminate him) observed his life for a while. They were disgusted by the way his mother treated him: how could someone treat like this a child?! They were vampires, so technically no more human, but in that moment they felt emotionally way more human than that woman. So they decided quickly; they kidnapped the child. They were expecting some opposition from the kid, but even he knew that anyone would have taken care of him better than his own mother, so he let them do what they wanted. They took him to their house in Italy, to grow him with their own little vampire children.

Giorno wasn’t a defenseless human among vampire; his father was Dio, so it made him a half-vampire, or, better, a Dhampir. In the beginning things were a bit awkward; Giorno was used to care about himself all alone, but now… now there were people who were willing to help him out. When he couldn’t do something, he didn’t have anymore to pile up chairs to reach for a high shelf, as someone was immediately here to help him. Giorno was a quiet and good child, a child that always did his best to meet everyone’s expectations, who didn’t cause troubles… he fit well in the secretive and discreet behaviour of his new vampire family.

Sometimes, he doesn’t feel at home. It’s not like he doesn’t get love or such… but he’s evidently different. First of all, his whole family lives during the night, mostly; then, they eat… well, definitely not human food. And they can levitate, turn into bats, and so on… he can’t. He’s just… normal. A normal kid. Whenever he feels like this, however, his vampire parents immediately come to hug him tightly, talking to him with their heart on their sleeves, soon followed by all the uncles, unties, brothers and sisters. They all love Giorno so much!! He’s their precious sun, the light of that sun they can’t feel anymore…

It wasn’t, however, just Giorno the one who had to get used to live with vampires; his vampire family had to get used to live with a human and his needs! Vampires don’t need to eat or to go to the bathroom or to cover themselves if it’s cold; a human needs it, instead. So they learnt to cook, in order to prepare him healthy meals -even if he already knew a bit how to cook at least the simplest recipes- and adapted their home to his needs. They wanted him to feel comfortable and at ease!

Even if some kids tried to bully Giorno or to take advantage of his tendency to avoid conflicts, everyone stopped the moment they saw his parents, tall, imposing, dark, waiting for their kid on the shadowed doorsteps of their home. A glare was enough to make everyone stop even to dare to think about bullying him! And, in exchange, Giorno is really protective toward his family; in fact, the only times he gets violent, and those are few, luckily, happen when he hears someone talking poorly about his family. No one can dare to talk about them like this in front of him!

In the end, Giorno couldn’t have asked for a better family. It’s weird, it’s peculiar -they’re vampire, how can they not be peculiar?-, but it’s also warm, sweet and loving; in his short life, in the short time he spent with his own mother, he never felt so much love, so much warmth. But now, almost accidentally, he has this all and he never felt so happy like he feels now!

[veronica-ag]

Empties: April 2022

Used up Lip Smackers Belle Tea Party Treats - $1 Used up Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Toner Deluxe Mini - $2.26 Used up Glow Recipe Watermelon Pink Juice Moisturizer Mini - $6.50 Used up Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask Mini - $5.62 Used up Method Honeycrip Apple All Purpose Cleaner - $3.59 Used up It Cosmetics Confidence In A Neck Cream - $54 Used up Grove Lavender + Thyme Hand Soap Sample - $0.11 Used up Peace Out Acne 6 Pack - $5.70 Used up Scentsy Cloudberry Dreams Washer Whiffs Sample - $0.94 Used up Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio Cologne Sample - $1.80 Used up Osea Undaria Algae Body Oil Sample - $0.64 Used up BBW Paris Pink Champagne + Tulips Soap - $6.50 Used up Amika Fadeblock Sample - $3.47 Used up Pantene Sheer Volume Foam Conditioner Mini - $1.41 Used up BBW Sunshine + Lemons Hand Wipes - $8.50 Used up Disney 50th Foam Soap - $19.99 Used up BBW French Lavender Hand Spray - $6.50 Used up Pink Fresh + Clean Hand Wash - $14.50 Used up Body Shop Drops Of Youth Youth Cream - $34 Used up Secret pH Balanced Shower Fresh Deo - $3.59 Used up Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream Deluxe Size - $5 Used up Tresemme Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo Mini - $2.79 Used up Sephora Charcoal Exfoliating Wipe Sample - $0.30 Used up Sephora Charcoal Exfoliating Wipe Sample - $0.30 Used up This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray Sample - $0.97 Used up It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Eye Cream Mini - $16.50 Used up Michael Kors Wonderlust Perfume Sample - $2.88 Used up Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Treatment Mini - $5.20 Used up Masque Bar Luminizing Charcoal Peel Mask - $3.33 Used up Masque Bar Luminizing Charcoal Peel Mask - $3.33

Empties: 30 $ Value - $221.22

[anotherobsessedsomething]

Thanks for tagging me @mmaneskin​ I love this 💕

1. Singing lesson with Damiano or guitar lesson with Thomas  

Singing with Damiano even though I can’t sing and it would be so embarrassing but I’d really like to learn singing and I think Damiano is that kind of person who would make you feel comfortable while also pushing you out of your comfort zone.

2. Bidet & Legolas or Chili  

Bidet & Legolas! Chili is cute but I love cats and I am literally following Gio just to see Bidet & Legolas 😂

3. Go shopping with Victoria or go to the movies with Thomas  

Go shopping with Vic for sure like that would be a dream come true. 🥰  I love her style and she would definitely know where to find the cool stuff and also encourage you to get those fancy bold clothes no matter if others find it weird or too much. She would be the perfect shopping partner and now I really really want to go shopping with her 😭

4. Cooking with Damiano or go eating out with Ethan  

Cooking with Dami like please teach me all your gorgeous italian recipes! I also like cooking with friends and just chilling having good food and talk all night it’s basically my favorite thing to do with friends and it’s also less stressful for me than going out.

5. Staying in with Ethan or going out with Thomas  

Like I already dicussed with @mmaneskin​ recently I’d definitely stay in with Ethan. :D I don’t think I could keep up with Thomas partying all night :D Like if I go partying I need at least two days to recover and that’s not always possible. :D (Also my chronic pain and anxiety can get annoying and I often can’t do stuff) I also like just staying home and relax. I just need that time to recharge and I think Ethan with his calm energy would be a good partner for that. I also love having meaningul and deep conversations and I think Ethan would be great for that too.

6. Go dancing with Thomas or go karaoke with Victoria  

Dancing with Thomas. As I already said I can’t sing and there is no way I’ll ever sing in public, sorry Vic. But I love dancing so much and I definitely need Thomas to teach me his dance moves.

7. Driving with Victoria or being driven by Ethan  

Being driven by Ethan, because first I can’t even drive and second I think it would be very chill with Ethan. I think he would also be that person who you can easily just sit in silence with maybe listening to some good music but it’s not an uncomfortable silence it’s just nice and relaxing.

8. Having your Makeup done by Ethan or having your makeup done by Damiano?

Both? Like all of Maneskin could treat me like a dress up doll if they wanted to I wouldn’t mind do what you want with me, have fun :D It would be funny to do a makeup challenge or something and let Ethan and Damiano compete in who can create the better makeup look :D I also would so love to do their makeup.

9. Getting a matching tattoo with Damiano or matching piercing with Victoria  

Okay I am scared of both of these options because I have a really low pain tolerance and I am a coward like I probably wouldn’t even dare to get my ears pierced again today (luckily my parents took care of that when I was four lol) :D But I like tattoos more than piercings I think plus I am also allergic to many metals so idk if a piercing would be a good idea. I have only found one pair of earrings I can wear yet without my ears getting irritated. :D So I would probably choose a matching tattoo with Damiano but only a small one somewhere where it doesn’t hurt too much and I would need Dami to hold my hand all way through it. :D

10. Movie marathon with Damiano or Thomas  

Movie marathon with Damiano because he would understand that we need to start early so we can still go to bed at a reasonable time, because I need my sleep (and it seems like he does too) :D

11. Escape room with Ethan or with Victoria  

Definitely Ethan because if I would ever be in an escape room I would probably panic (I don’t like being locked into a room even if it’s just for a game I get claustrophobic very easily) and I need someone calm and cool headed to calm me down. :D

This was so much fun I am excited for your answeres @bidet-and-legolas​ @ginny-lily​

This or that: Måneskin edition

This has been super fun, thank you for the tag @moonlight-simp 💛

1. Singing lesson with Damiano or guitar lesson with Thomas

I'm currently trying to learn to play guitar, so a help from Thomas is exactly what I need. Even though I think I'd get him on his nerves and he wouldn't like to do a second lesson.

2. Bidet & Legolas or Chili

I'm a dog person so Chili!

3. Go shopping with Victoria or go to the movies with Thomas

Tough one 🙃 I like going shopping with a very little amount of people or alone so I'd go to the movies with Thomas.

4. Cooking with Damiano or go eating out with Ethan

Eating out with Ethan without a doubt. I'd even share my dessert with him.

5. Staying in with Ethan or going out with Thomas

SUPER TOUGH. Depends on the day, right now I'd stay in with Ethan... Can I now? I have a lot of ideas.

6. Go dancing with Thomas or go karaoke with Victoria

Dancing with Thomas, bring on the trap!!!

7. Driving with Victoria or being driven by Ethan

I don't enjoy driving so I'd love to be driven by Ethan. And he looks super hot driving so we'd need to stop on an alley.

8. Having your Makeup done by Ethan or having your makeup done by Damiano

I never wake make up and I don't know a thing about it so maybe Ethan would be more patient but I also think Damiano would do it better? God help.

9. Getting a matching tattoo with Damiano or matching piercing with Victoria

Matching tattoo with Damiano please and thank you.

10. Movie marathon with Damiano or Thomas

Damiano. I think Thomas would talk a lot during the movies and that annoys me a lot.

11. Escape room with Ethan or with Victoria

Ethan! I tend to be super bossy and I don't wanna fight with stompy girl sorry.

No pressure tags: @8iunie @iosonoarina @theimpossiblehologramtree @kiss-this @cheese-toastie-11 @idyllicbutterfly

[dawnasiler]

An Unconventional Way To Treat Eczema That’ll Change Your Life

There’s more to skincare than cleansing and moisturizing.

This is even more true when you’re dealing with eczema. Lotions and potions can keep the symptoms under control, but they can’t target the root cause. Like stress or a bad diet. And they can’t make the healing process easier to deal with.

That’s where self-care comes in. A positive attitude, a lot of tender loving care and the support of friends and family go a long way in keeping those flareups far, far away from your skin.

Don’t take my word for it. Long-time eczema sufferer and health coach Camille Knowles learned it the hard way. Her skin didn’t get any better until she started taking better care of herself, inside and out.

When she finally cracked the eczema code, she developed the HOPE principles, a holistic toolkit to healing:

H for Home: Creating the right environment for healing.

O for Optimism: Choosing to respond to eczema in a positive way and see it as a friend that’s telling you what’s wrong with your life.

P for Purpose and Pampering: Focusing on your dreams and passions, and pampering yourself in the process.

E for Eating Well, Exercise and Ecotherapy: Diet and exercise help you keep inflammation under control and prevent another flareup.

Camille shares her story and her HOPE programme in her book, The Beauty Of Eczema. But you know what they say. Knowledge without action is useless.

To help eczema sufferers put the Hope principles into practice every day, Camille has created two more tools that’ll make a difference to your skin: the “Positive Scribe” journal and the “Positive Vibes” affirmation cards:

“Positive Scribes” Journal

It’s so easy to think eczema is a curse. “Oh, I’ve just had another flare-up, that’s life. Can’t help it.”

What if you could? Eczema rarely comes out of nowhere. Flare-ups rear their ugly heads when you’re cheating on your diet too many days in a row, are under intense stress because of a work deadline, or something in your life is just off.

That’s where the “Positive Scribes” Journal comes in. It has daily and monthly check-ins to help you stay on track and make sure you’re following the HOPE principles to a T. Because even when you know what to do, you don’t always have time or remember.

Here’s what’s inside:

Morning rituals to start your day on the right foot

Evening rituals to reflect on your day went and how you can improve your daily routine

Self-care checklist to make sure you’re giving your skin, body and mind everything they need

Lots of self-care tips to nourish and pamper yourself

Positive inspirational quotes

Delicious self-care recipes

Weekly challenges to help you achieve your goals faster

And don’t get me stated on the design. The “Positive Scribes” journal is gorgeous. It’ll put a smile on your face every time you open it. 🙂

“Positive Vibes” Affirmation Cards

Let’s get one thing straight: you can’t repeat a few positive mantras every day and have your eczema disappear overnight. It doesn’t work like that.

So, how do affirmations work? Affirmations don’t make your eczema go away. But they can change your attitude towards it.

Have you noticed how you tend to focus on all the things that are wrong in your life? Maybe a stranger just paid you a compliment, the traffic light turned green as soon as you were about to cross the street and your partner bought you tickets for that musicals you were longing to see. Yet your brain is still focusing on that nasty comment a stranger left on social media about your eczema flareup…

Science shows that affirmations help you rewire your brain so that it focuses more on the positive – rather than the negative – things in your life.

“Fair enough, Gio. But what has this to do with my eczema?,” I hear you ask.

EVERYTHING. A positive, loving attitude towards yourself changes everything. When you love yourself for who you are and are grateful for the good things in your life, something magical happens.

You become so confident that you feel beautiful even when you have an eczema flare-up. You treat your body with tender loving care, giving it all the sleep, exercise and everything else it craves so that flare-ups are way less likely to happen.

And you learn to see the beauty of eczema. It’s just a friend that shows up to remind you that you need to relax more, eat a healthier diet or spend more time with your loved ones. When you do, not only your eczema disappears faster. But the recovery process ain’t so painful anymore.

When you’re having a bad day or your eczema is bringing you down, simply grab your “Positive Vibes” decks. It has 31 affirmation cards, one more beautiful than the other, designed by Camille herself.

Spread them around your house. Keep one or two in your car. Every time you look at one, you’ll be reminded of a reason to smile. 🙂

Available at: Positive Scribes Journal, £24.00 and Positive Vibes affirmation cards, £19.99 at Amazon and The Beauty Of Eczema

How do you deal with eczema? Let me know your tips in the comments below.

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

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[thebaginvestigator]

Last weekend, we’re fortunate enough to join #CrispyFryPlayDay to watch the newest DC movie, Aquaman and also the launching of the newest addition to Crispy Fry’s breading mix and this time they made something for moms to love, the new Crispy Fry Fish Breading.

Why we should use Crispy Fry Fish Breading?

It will ease every moms fear of getting “tilamsik” by frying fish.

It also have added flavour that suits the fish.

Kids will love the new taste of fish, without the “lansa”

I myself has always been afraid of cooking fried fish because of how hard it can be to fry it. It should be in the right temperature before you put the fish an also the oil splatter that you’ll take when you start frying it. That’s why with Crispy Fry Fish Breading you do not need to fear frying that fish.

Last weekend is not also for the launching but also for the block screening of the newest DC movie, Aquaman. Which I think matches the launching for the fish breading.

  Thank you so much for treating us for an amazing movie and it was a nice weekend with Donna Cruz-Larazabal and her son Gio!

Check out Ajinomoto website for more recipes to try www.ajinomoto.com.ph or their Facebook Page /cookmunitybyajinomotoph

The new Crispy Fry Fish Breading + An Aquaman Kind of day Last weekend, we’re fortunate enough to join #CrispyFryPlayDay to watch the newest DC movie, Aquaman and also the launching of the newest addition to Crispy Fry’s breading mix and this time they made something for moms to love, the new Crispy Fry Fish Breading.

[vietnamtour-blog]

Vietnamese food: 40 delicious dishes you'll love

Vietnamese food: 40 delicious dishes you'll love

Vietnamese cuisine doesn’t win any points for complexity. Many of the most popular dishes can be made just as well on the side of the road as in a top-end restaurant.

But it’s precisely this simplicity, the subtle variations by region and the fresh ingredients, that keep us pulling up a plastic stool for more.

Here are 40 foods from Vietnam you can’t miss:

1. Pho

Cheap can be tasty too.

What list of Vietnamese cuisine would be complete without pho?

It’s almost impossible to walk a block in Vietnam’s major destinations without bumping into a crowd of hungry patrons slurping noodles at a makeshift pho stand. This simple staple consisting of a salty broth, fresh rice noodles, a sprinkling of herbs and chicken or beef, features predominately in the local diet — and understandably so. It’s cheap, tasty, and widely available at all hours.

Just look out for a mass of people on plastic stools — or try a tried and tested favorite: Pho Thin, 13 Lo Duc, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi

2. Cha Ca

A food so good they named a street after it.

Hanoians consider cha ca to be so exceptional that there is a street in the capital dedicated to these fried morsels of fish. This namesake alley is home to Cha Ca La Vong, which serves sizzling chunks of fish seasoned with garlic, ginger, turmeric and dill on a hot pan tableside.

Cha Ca La Vong may be the busiest but the service is a bit gruff and the food overpriced. Instead make your way to Duong Than in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem district, where you’ll find plenty of more affordable but just as tasty options.

3. Banh xeo

A crepe you won’t forget.

A good banh xeo is a crispy crepe bulging with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts, plus the garnish of fresh herbs that are characteristic of most authentic Vietnamese dishes. To enjoy one like a local, cut it into manageable slices, roll it up in rice paper or lettuce leaves and dunk it in whatever special sauce the chef has mixed up for you.

Banh Xeo 46A has mixed reviews but judging by the crowds that swarm there each night they must be doing something right. Banh Xeo, 46A Dinh Cong Trang, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)

4. Cao lau

Soft, crunchy, sweet, spicy — a bowl of contrasts.

This pork noodle dish from Hoi An is a bit like the various cultures that visited the trading port at its prime. The thicker noodles are similar to Japanese udon, the crispy won-ton crackers and pork are a Chinese touch, while the broth and herbs are clearly Vietnamese. Authentic cau lao is made only with water drawn from the local Ba Le well.

Try Morning Glory, 106 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An

5. Rau muong

Some might call it river weed — with good reason — but that doesn’t stop the masses from scarfing down platefuls of morning glory, usually stir-fried and seasoned with slithers of potent garlic. Rau muong is common at Vietnamese restaurants and beer gardens.

Chung Den Bia Hoi, 18B Hang Cot, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

6. Nem ran/cha gio

Vietnam’s bite-sized crunchy spring rolls might not enjoy the same popularity as their healthier fresh equivalent, but they deserve a special mention. The crispy shell with a soft veggie and meat filling dunked in a tangy sauce gets the gastronomic juices flowing before a main course. In the north these parcels go by the name nem ran while southerners call them cha gio.

Bun Cha, 1 Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

7. Goi cuon

A healthier choice for spring roll fans.

These light and healthy fresh spring rolls are a wholesome choice when you’ve been indulging in too much of the fried food in Vietnam. The translucent parcels are first packed with salad greens, a slither of meat or seafood and a layer of coriander, before being neatly rolled and dunked in Vietnam’s favorite condiment — fish sauce.

Quan An Ngon, 18 Phan Boi Chau, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

8. Bun bo Hue

Central Vietnam’s take on noodles caters to carnivores with its meaty broth and piles of beef and pork. The thick slippery rice noodles also make for a heartier meal than noodles found in the north and south.

You don’t have to go to Hue to enjoy this dish; if in Ho Chi Minh City try Tib Express, 162 NguyenDinh Chieu, District 3, HCMC

9. Banh khot

Bite-size, delightful Vietnamese pancakes.

This dainty variation of a Vietnamese pancake has all the same tasty ingredients but is a fraction of the size. Each banh knot can be scoffed in one ambitious but satisfying mouthful. The crunchy outside is made using coconut milk and the filling usually consists of shrimp, mung beans, and spring onions with a dusting of dried shrimp flakes on top.

Co Ba Vung Tau, 59B Cao Thang, District 3, HCMC

10. Ga tan

Got the sniffles? Opt for ga tan, a broth that’s Vietnam’s answer to the proverbial cup of chicken noodle soup. Sure it’s not quite how your mother used to make it, with its greenish tinge from the herbs and hunks of chicken parts, but it’s worth a try if you’re needing a Vietnamese tonic.

Try this at one of the street stalls on Hanoi’s Tong Duy Tan aka Pho Am Thuc, or “Food Street,” Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

11. Nom hoa chuoi

Vietnam’s banana flower salad packs a much bigger punch than a typical plate of mixed greens. Banana flowers (thick purple lumps that will later turn into bunches of bananas) are peeled and thinly sliced then mixed with green papaya, carrots, and cilantro along with chicken and a heavy-handed pour of a salty fish sauce dressing and crunchy peanuts.

Highway 4 restaurant, 3 Hang Tre, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

12. Bun bo nam bo

One of Vietnam’s most-loved noodle dishes.

This bowl of noodles comes sans broth, keeping the ingredients from becoming sodden and the various textures intact. The tender slices of beef mingle with crunchy peanuts and bean sprouts, and are flavored with fresh herbs, crisp dried shallots, and a splash of fish sauce and fiery chili pepper.

67 Hang Dieu, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

13. Hoa qua dam

This chunky blend of fresh tropical fruit in a cup is the perfect local treat when the heat of Vietnamese summer starts to wear you down. It could be considered a healthy alternative to ice cream — if you stick to the shaved ice variation — but for the full experience it’s best had with diabetes-inducing condensed milk mixed in.

14. Pho cuon

Pho cuon packages the flavors of pho and goi cuon in one neat little parcel. This Hanoi take on fresh spring rolls uses sheets of uncut pho noodles to encase fried beef, herbs and lettuce or cucumber.

The best place to find them is on Ngu Xa island on the capital’s Truc Bach Lake — specifically at 26 Nguyen Khac Hieu, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi

15. Ga nuong

This beats KFC any day.

KFC may be everywhere in Vietnam these days, but skip the fast food for the local version. Honey marinated then grilled over large flaming barbecues, the chicken legs, wings and feet served are unusually tender, while the skin stays crispy but not dry.

Viet Ha on Ly Van Phuc, Dong Da district, Hanoi

16. Pho xao

Pho xao may just be a slightly healthier take on my xao — but the beauty is in the details. The flat, smoother pho noodle doesn’t crisp up like its pre-boiled instant cousin. When done well the outer edges acquire a browned crunchiness, whilst the center stays soft and glutinous. This dish tastes best with a fried egg and seasoned with chili or soy sauce.

26 Nguyen Khac Sieu, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

17. Ca phe trung

Vietnamese “egg coffee” is technically a drink but we prefer to put it in the dessert category. The creamy soft, meringue-like egg white foam perched on the dense Vietnamese coffee will have even those who don’t normally crave a cup of joe licking their spoons with delight.

In Hanoi, follow the tiny alley between the kitschy souvenir shops at 11 Hang Gai into the clearing, and up several flights of increasingly dicey stairs to pair your ca phe trung with an unbeatable view of Hoan Kiem Lake.

18. Bo la lot

Vietnamese are masters of wrapping their food. Bo la lot is neither raw nor deep-fried, but flamed on an open grill to soften the exterior and infuse the betel leaf’s peppery aroma into the ground beef inside.

3T Quan Nuong, 29-31 Ton That Thiep, District 1, HCMC

19. Xoi

This savory sticky rice is a meal all on its own. (Shen Lu/CNN)

Savory sticky rice is less of an accompaniment to meals in Vietnam, more a meal itself. The glutinous staple comes with any number of mix-ins (from slithers of chicken, or pork to fried or preserved eggs), but almost always with a scattering of dried shallots on top.

Xoi Yen, Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

20. Banh cuon

Delicious savory pancakes. (Flickr)

These rolled up rice flour pancakes are best when served piping hot, still soft and delicate. Although seemingly slender and empty they have a savory filling of minced pork and mushrooms. Zest is also added by dunking the slippery parcels in a fishy dipping sauce.

21. Ca tim kho to

Eggplant alone tends not to get us excited. Although when it’s diced and sauteed in a clay pot along with tomatoes, soy sauce, sugar, and (depending on the recipe) minced meat, the once bland vegetable redeems itself.

Pineapple Restaurant, 35 Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

22. Bot chien

Bot Chien is Vietnamese street food at its best. (PJjaruwan)

Saigon’s favorite streetside snack, bot chien, is popular with both the afterschool and the after-midnight crowd. Chunks of rice flour dough are fried in a large wok until crispy and then an egg is broken into the mix. Once cooked it’s served with slices of papaya, shallots and green onions, before more flavor is added with pickled chili sauce and rice vinegar.

Night-time food vendors sell this at the corners of Pham Ngu Lao and Cong Quynh, District 1, HCMC

23. Bun dau mam tom

This plain-looking tofu and noodle dish is served with mam tom sauce — the Vegemite of Vietnam. The pungent purple dipping sauce is used to flavor the slabs of deep-fried tofu that are at the core of the meal.

24. Banh goi

These pockets of deep-fried goodness are often described as the equivalent of a Cornish pasty or as a Vietnamese samosa, depending on the nationality of the person explaining. Inside the crispy exterior you’ll find that it’s similar to neither description, with its filling of finely minced pork, mushrooms and vermicelli noodles.

25. Com suon nuong

This simple meal is the Saigonese equivalent of bun cha — with rice in place of noodles. A tender pork cutlet is barbecued over hot coals to give it a rich, smoky flavor, and laid over the fluffy white “com” or broken rice.

Com Tam Cali has a number of branches across HCMC. Try Tam Cali 1 at 32 Nguyen Trai, District 1, HCMC

26. Chao

With its thick and creamy texture Vietnam’s rice porridge is the best pick when your queasy stomach can’t handle much else. If you want to jazz it up you can always add slices of chicken, fish, beef, duck or pork ribs, along with a sprinkling of herbs and shallots.

Chao Ca specializes in fish chao, 213 Hang Bong, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

27. Bo luc lac

Cubes of beef are tossed around a steaming wok with garlic, pepper, and some vegetables to make shaking beef. There’s nothing special about the beef that makes it shaking. The name is just a literal translation that refers to the process of mixing the beef around while cooking.

Nha Hang Ngon, 160 Pasteur, District 1, HCMC

28. Hat de nong

The smell of chestnuts roasting on an open fire can bring back fond memories of Christmas carols — until a moped transporting a giant blow-up Santa whizzes by. Pick the street vendor with the most enticing smell.

29. Banh uot thit nuong

It’s all about the marinade when it comes to the grilled pork in fresh rice paper rolls that are popular in Central Vietnam. The typical mixture coats the meat in a blend of sugar, salt, chili, lemongrass and fish sauce. Cilantro, basil and mint are added when it’s served up to add some green to the appetizer.

Morning Glory, 106 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An

30. Bun cha

The perfect lunchtime treat. (flickr)

Pho might be Vietnam’s most famous dish but bun cha is the top choice when it comes to lunchtime in the capital. Just look for the clouds of meaty smoke after 11 a.m. when street-side restaurants start grilling up small patties of seasoned pork and slices of marinated pork belly over a charcoal fire. Once they’re charred and crispy the morsels are served with a large bowl of a fish sauce-heavy broth, a basket of herbs and a helping of rice noodles.

Hanoi’s most famous bun cha outlet is 1 Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

31. Banh mi

The world-famous banh mi sandwich. (SAUL LOEB)

The French may have brought with them the baguette, but Vietnam takes it to a different level. How exactly depends on what end of the country you’re in.

In the north, chefs stick to the basic elements of carbohydrate, fat and protein — bread, margarine and pata — but head south and your banh mi may contain a more colorful combination of cheese, cold cuts, pickled vegetables, sausage, fried egg, fresh cilantro and chili sauce.

One of the better baguette vendors in Saigon sets up shop beside the Cherry mini-mart on DoQuang Dao, District 1, HCMC

32. Lau

Eating this hodgepodge hotpot dish is a communal affair with everyone digging in to the oversized boiling pot. We’ve found that just about anything can (and will) go into this soup from tofu to frogs. It’s best to stick to one main protein rather than opting for the mix of meat, poultry and seafood together.

On the northern edge of Hanoi’s Truc Bach lake you’ll find a number of restaurant staff crossing the street to deliver lau to lake-side diners

33. Banh bao

The Vietnamese take on steamed pork burns. (Courtesy Edsel Little)

Steamed pork buns aren’t traditionally Vietnamese, but that doesn’t stop the spongy rolls from being sold by street vendors and in traditional Vietnamese restaurants. The best buns have a hard-boiled quail egg buried within the minced meat, while the cheaper ones come without any filling at all. Remember the lower the price the less stuffing, so you might not be getting the good deal you thought you were.

Often sold by wandering vendors patrolling Hanoi’s Old Quarter at all hours. In the south try Banh Bao Tho Phat, 78 Nguyen Tri Phuong, District 5, HCMC

34. Com rang

Fried rice may not be the most adventurous option, but sometimes you just want some familiar grub done right. Baby-sized chunks of meat and colorful vegetables are mixed with soy and fish sauce in a wok streetside to create a rice dish that is still moist but slightly smoky. Make it Vietnamese by supplementing with Bia Hanoi.

Try one of the vendors on Tong Duy Tan aka “Food Street,” Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

35. Bo bit tet

Vietnam’s equivalent to steak and eggs fills the void when you’re hankering for some greasy pub tucker. The thin flank steak is usually served with eggs, thick potato wedges, and Vietnamese meatballs on a sizzling cast iron plate.

36. Com chay

Com chay refers to two things in Vietnam: vegetarian food, or Vietnam’s homemade rice crispies that are popular with children. Unlike the sweet treats in the United States, Vietnam’s version of a crispy comes with meat instead of marshmallows. Vietnam’s vegetarian restaurants use mock meats to create all the traditional dishes and usually do a pretty good job. Although some places include artificial creations we would rather not try. Fake rubbery snails anyone?

Try Hoa Dang vegetarian restaurant, 38 Huynh Khuong Ninh, District 1, HCMC

37. Che

This dessert can be served in either a bowl or a glass. The latter is the more enticing option with the visible layers of bean jelly, coconut milk, fruit, and ice. Best had when you’re craving something sweet on a scorching day in Saigon.

Nha Hang Ngon, 160 Pasteur, District 1, HCMC

38. My xao bo

Mix noodles with a dollop of oil, then add beef, onions, garlic, morning glory and some tomato for color and you have a platter of my xao bo. The whole dish takes about as long to make as instant noodles — but oh so much more flavor.

Any bia hoi establishment serves this dish, but the eateries on Tang Bat Ho, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, have perfected it

39. Dau phu sot ca chua

The English translation of “tofu in tomato sauce” doesn’t really do this dish justice. The slabs of deep-fried soy are doused in a rich fresh tomato and spring onion coating, and seasoned with a speckle of fresh herbs.

Chim Sao at 65 Ngo Hue, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi

40. Canh bun

Another hearty soup that’s high on the lunchtime agenda, this is a crab and morning glory noodle soup. Canh bun is similar to the more well-known bun rieu crab soup, but has a small handful of variations — including the type of noodle used.

Look for street food vendors with Canh Bun on handwritten signs surrounded by lunchtime crowds, or visit Bun Saigon at 73 Ly Tu Trong, District 1, HCMC

Editor’s note: This article was previously published in 2011. It was reformatted and republished in 2017.

Source: http://blog.evivatour.com/vietnamese-food-40-delicious-dishes-youll-love/