#golden lava croissant

[rpgindustries]

10 Creative Ways to Use Chocolate Paste

Today, we’re diving into the delectable world of chocolate spread and its versatile uses in baking. Whether you’re a professional baker or an enthusiastic home cook, these creative ideas will elevate your baking game and infuse your treats with rich, chocolaty goodness.

1. Chocolate Paste Swirl Brownies

Transform your classic brownie recipe by swirling chocolate Paste into the batter before baking. The result? Gooey, fudgy brownies with pockets of luscious chocolate in every bite.

2. Stuffed Chocolate Paste Cookies

Upgrade your cookie game by adding a dollop of chocolate spread in the center of each cookie dough ball. As the cookies bake, the spread melts into a delightful surprise for anyone lucky enough to snag one

Best Quality Chocolate Paste Manufacturer Buy Now

3. Chocolate Spread Croissants

Impress your breakfast guests with homemade croissants filled with chocolate spread. Simply roll out the dough, add a generous spoonful of spread, and roll up into crescent shapes before baking to golden perfection.

4. Chocolate Spread Banana Bread

Take your banana bread to the next level by adding a swirl of chocolate spread into the batter. The combination of sweet bananas and rich chocolate creates an irresistible treat.

5. Chocolate Spread Frosting

Ditch the traditional frosting and whip up a smooth, creamy chocolate Paste frosting for your cakes and cupcakes. It’s easy to make and adds a decadent touch to your baked goods.

6. Chocolate Spread Cheesecake

Incorporate chocolate spread into your cheesecake mixture for a velvety, rich flavor. Top with a drizzle of melted chocolate spread and some crushed nuts for an extra indulgent dessert.

7. Chocolate Spread Filled Muffins

Inject a burst of chocolate into your morning routine by filling the center of your muffin batter with chocolate spread before baking. These muffins will have a delicious surprise inside!

8. Chocolate Paste Tart

Create a simple yet elegant tart by filling a pre-baked tart shell with chocolate spread. Chill until set and top with fresh berries or a dusting of powdered sugar for a stunning dessert.

9. Chocolate Paste Lava Cakes

Impress your dinner guests with molten lava cakes filled with chocolate spread. When you cut into the cake, the warm, gooey center will flow out, providing a show-stopping finish to any meal.

10. Chocolate Paste Pancake Filling

Upgrade your weekend brunch with pancakes stuffed with chocolate spread. Cook your pancakes as usual, but before flipping, add a spoonful of chocolate spread in the center and fold over. The spread will melt, creating a gooey, delicious filling.

[delightsinfo]

Kazo: Where Taste Meets Artistry in Singapore's Pastry Scene

Within the colourful tapestry of Singapore's culinary landscape, there exists a gem that seamlessly marries flavor with artistry — Kazo. Nestled within the heart of the town, Kazo stands as a testament to innovation and lifestyle, imparting a delectable array of pastries that tantalize each the palate kazo and the eyes.As you step into Kazo's inviting ambiance, a symphony of aromas dances thru the air, engaging you with the promise of pleasant indulgence. the attention to detail is obvious in each corner, from the meticulously crafted pastries displayed elegantly in glass cases to the nice and cozy greetings extended via the staff, adding a touch of warmth to the revel in.

Kazo's declare to fame lies in its mastery of fusion, blending traditional Taiwanese flavors with present day pastry craftsmanship. each creation is a work of suitable for eating art, skillfully crafted to not only taste top notch however additionally attraction to the visible senses. the various stars in their repertoire are the signature Kazo gadgets just like the Golden Lava Croissant, a divine amalgamation of flaky pastry and oozing, molten lava custard, and the renowned Hokkaido cream puff, boasting a delicate stability of creaminess and sweetness.

What sets Kazo apart is its dedication to first-rate. each factor is thoughtfully sourced, making sure that solely the best factors discover their way into their creations. whether it's the buttery croissants, the velvety lotions, or the top class fillings, every component undergoes a meticulous choice manner to guarantee an unprecedented taste enjoy.

As you bid adieu to Kazo, the lingering sweetness to your lips serves as a scrumptious reminder of the delightful sojourn into the sector of exquisitely crafted pastries—a testament to Kazo's unwavering dedication to turning every visit into an unforgettable enjoyinside the bustling tapestry of Singapore's culinary scene, Kazo stands as a testomony to the wedding of expertise and flavor, inviting patrons to partake in a symphony of taste and artistry that maintains to redefine the pastry landscape.know more

[chocolatemoss]

Lava foodboard!

Lava tastes n feels like saltd egg buns and croissants w/ spicy cheese soup as an altern8ve!

Requestd by anon!

[3cl4ir-c00ki3-simp]

Cookie run muses!!

(Gays at the bar)

Sparkling

Herb

Vampire

Mint choco

​​​​​​

(Detectives and a criminal)

Almond

Rougefort

Walnut

​

(Bounty hunter and theif)

Rye

Chilli pepper

​

(Guild buddies)

Milk (Strawberry. Chocolate. Banana)

Purple yam

Dino sour

Mala sauce

​

(Chaotic evil and Neutral evil)

Hypnotic (oc)

Melted choco (oc)

​​​​

(Desert lovers)

Poison (oc)

Snake vemon (oc)

​​

(Gayendarys)

Fire spirit (Lord of ash) (Immortal Cataclysm)

Wind archer (Night raven)

Sea fairy (Dread trident of the abyss)

Moonlight (Alluring crescent moon)

Timekeeper

Millenial tree (Darkness tree)

Pitaya dragon

Ananas dragon

Lotus dragon

Lychee dragon

​

(The ancients)

Pure vanilla (Bitter vanilla)

White lily (Black rose)

Hollyberry (Poisonberry)

Golden cheese (Burnt golden cheese)

Dark cacao (Apyss cacao)

​

(Ex-cookie of darkness and a dancer)

Dark choco

Whipped cream

​

(Tropical islands)

Sorbet shark

Mango

​

(The bravest cookie, his not so brave brother, his bright sister and their enemy)

Gingerbrave

Dozer

Gingerbright (Special symbols like . and - are Purple and Italic)

Spiral lolipop (oc)

​

(Family in the mansion)

Blackberry

Adventurer

Onion

​

(TBD)

Croissant

String gummy

​

(Twizzly's friends)

Toothpaste

Peeled carrot

​

(Dark cacao kingdom)

Affogato

Caramel arrow

​

(Lab tested shapeshifters)

Faker (oc)

Jam (oc)

​

(Grandmaster hotel)

Earl grey

Pawn white cookie

Pawn black cookie

​

(Yogurca)

Scorpion

Plain yogurt

Yogurt cream

Cactus flower (oc)

​

(Crystalized undead and Flower ghost)

Crystal (Past name is Salted caramel) (oc)

Black tuilp (oc)

​

(Electric love)

Hero

Lemon

​

(Delivery!)

Pizza

​

(The Curse and the Phantom)

Curse (Special symbols like . and - bold, black and italic)

Phantom (Special symbols like . and - bold, black and italic)

​

(A trickster and a wannabe artist)

Gumball (cookie)

​​

(A scientist and a cyborg)

Aloe (Special symbols like . and - bold and green)

Cyborg (Special symbols like . and - bold and purple)

​

(A sleep deprived professor)

Espresso (Special symbols like . and - are bold and black)

​

(Future king)

Custard (III) (Special symbols like . and - are orange and italic)

​

(Warriors that came from a timeloop)

Butter cream (NPC + fan name)

Waffle cone (NPC + fan name)

​

(Consul of the Crème Republic)

Clotted cream

​

(Bittersweet love)

DJ

Rockstar (Special symbols like . and - are Blue, bold and italic)

​

(The All-star)

Choco ball cookie (Special symbols like . and - are Orange)

​

(Forest enemies)

Grape feather (oc) (Special symbols like . and - are Orange and Bold)

Wolfberry (oc) (Special symbols like . and - are Orange and Bold)

​

(The thorned cookie)

Thornberry (oc)

​

(The optimistic host)

Blue raspberry soda (Special symbols like . and - are Pink) (NPC + fan name)

​

(Bug queens)

Bitter choco wasp

Raspberry dragonfly

Tiger ant

Jam mosquito

Cobweb

Lava scorpion

​

(Sprit guardians)

Sweet strawberry kitsune (oc)

Frosted grape deer (oc)

​

(The fallen guardians)

Soul stealer (Soul vanilla)

Shattered soul

​

(House caviar)

Captain caviar

​

(Wolf from the abyss)

Dark wolf

​

(The butterfly and the moth)

Light butterfly (Special symbols like . and - are Black)

Shadow moth (Special symbols like . and - are Black and Italic)

[for-a-flower]

Ashes and Dust

           As Flowey made his way from the capital, his new plans were already beginning to come together.  He found himself curious to see how much destruction he could cause.  Could he succeed at destroying everything in the underground?  It was time to test his limits . . . along with every other monster.  He wanted to start off with a bang, which would actually be quite simple.  The Core.  It was the main source of power and light for the entire underground.  Without it, most monsters would be stranded in complete darkness.  But the best part was that the Core contained a reactor of sorts . . . one that needed to be kept cool in order to function properly.

           When he had been through Snowdin Town earlier, Flowey noticed large blocks of ice being dropped into the river by a wolf creature.  That river stretched all the way to the end of Hotland, where those ice blocks eventually reached the Core.  All he needed to do was stop the flow of ice.  Eventually the Core would overheat and explode without urgent care.  He’d need to make sure no one came to fix the problem as well.  And with control of time, that could be achieved after a few tries even in the worst case scenario.

           Flowey emerged from snow within the small, yet lively town of Snowdin.  He peeked around the trunk of a tall spruce tree.  In a former timeline this and the other trees had been mostly cut down during the flower’s pitiful attempt at being useful.  Flowey glanced across the worn ground which lead through town like a narrow street.  His eyes caught sight of a small structure near the river just north of the town.  He watched a moment as a chunk of ice dropped from the machine onto a conveyor.  It was then snatched by the claws of a strong wolf monster and tossed into the river with a splash.  Flowey smirked.  He had no intention of harming the wolf yet, so shoving him into the river would suffice for now.

           He burrowed to move closer but remained hidden.  From behind another tree trunk, Flowey brought a vine from the ground.  It rose up behind the wolf then whacked him with force.  The monster let out a whimper as he was flung into icy, river water.  Splash!  Flowey threw five spreads of pellets at the structure, to break it before it could toss out another piece of ice.  Dents and cracks split the machine as flowey’s magic bullets punctured the sides.  The thing finally collapsed and Flowey left.  The wolf gasped for air further down the stream.  He clawed at the bank, whimpering.  It took him several seconds to get a strong grip and pull himself from the water.  He panted, shook himself dry, then glanced back at the ice machine.  Nothing remained but a pile of rubble and splintered boards.  The wolf growled.

           During several hours to follow, Flowey kept his eye on things related to the Core or capital.  As might have been expected, the broken ice machine in Snowdin didn’t go unnoticed.  Undyne, Papyrus, and several dogs of the Royal Guard went searching for the culprit through all of Snowdin and Waterfall.  But since no one besides Asgore had seen Flowey in this timeline yet, they didn’t know what to look for.  Flowey was quite safe.  He waited just beyond Hotland’s hotel, where he swayed among other flowers near a bridge that lead to the Core.  His eyes remained focused on the structure’s entrance ahead.

           When a faint rumble echoed from the Core, anticipation overcame the flower as a disturbing grin came across his white face.  A reaction was about to begin and there was nothing to be done to stop it now.  The hot air trembled followed by an alarm that wailed from the Core.  All at once the underground’s power shut off.  Lights above flickered then went dark, leaving only the red/orange glow of lava to light Hotland’s expanse.  In the absence of power, the doors of the Core sealed and locked inside any monsters that were within.  Flowey watched, taking it all in with glee.  Growling and groaning sounds filled the area as the ground shook.  Explosions blew inside the Core while steam and smoke spewed from openings, rising in dark billows.  Finally with a bright flash and roar of sound, the Core ruptured and collapsed as torn, metal chunks into the lava below.

            Flowey’s black eyes sparkled.  He watched as the facility broke apart and fell.  But when he noticed the lava had began to bulge and swell, his eyes grew wide.  It was starting a chain reaction.  "Oh.  Uh . . ."  An eruption of lava suddenly shot high from the heated rock below, raining over the surrounding area.  Flowey screamed.  He sunk into the ground to leave as fast as he could.  As he burrowed, Flowey could feel the ground shaking and splitting around him.  He emerged to check how far he had gone, only to find he had surfaced in a large web.  Flowey yelped, desperately trying to pull loose so he could escape the approaching flood of lava.

            A voice called from the darkness.  "Hello?"  Muffet dropped down from her large web above.  She caught sight of the frightened flower trapped within sticky strands of webbing.  Muffet stared back with a suspicious glare as she crept closer.  "Oh, hello there.  I just heard the explosions in the Core.  You aren't responsible for that are you?" she said.

           Flowey smiled.  She had no reason to believe he was the cause, so he could pretty much say anything to convince her otherwise.  "Ha ha, nope!  I'm just trying to get away."

           Muffet narrowed her eyes and shook her head, seemingly disappointed with his response.  "No one got away . . . little flower . . . because no one had a chance."  The spider moved closer.  "How did you happen to be so lucky?"

           Flowey scowled.  He had lost his cover.  He shot a few pellets to tear the webbing that held him.  Muffet was quick to react, shooting a stronger line of web at him before he could burrow.  Flowey growled, pulling against webbing that now held his roots.

           Muffet backed into the shadows behind her.  "Eat him, little spiders!" she called.  Flowey glanced around in alarm.  Several spiders rushed down from webs above.  Some dropped from strands of web while others crawled down the walls.  But they were the least of Flowey’s worries.  The ground still shook as the room grew hotter.  Flowey squirmed then shot pellets at the incoming arachnids.  He managed to hit several but there were simply too many.  Several reached him and crawled up his stem.

           Flowey was unable to break free and he didn’t want to find out what a spider bite would do to him.  He glanced at Muffet.  "Wait!” he shouted.  Muffet raised a hand, commanding the other spiders to stop.  “There is lava raining down everywhere out there!  It will burn us all if you waste your time with me," Flowey said.

           "There is no time left to waste," Muffet replied softly.  She frowned at the Golden Flower from the shadows.  “I already know the lava will tear this place apart and I will keep you here until it happens.”  She lowered her hand.  Three of the tiny spiders bit Flowey's twisted green stem.  He glanced down in alarm but nothing happened.

           Flowey suddenly grinned and burst into laughter.  "They can't even harm me!  You idiots."  He flung a spread of pellets, wiping out the spiders around him.  Muffet threw croissants as she grabbed a hold of her web with a free hand and climbed higher.  Two of the pastries hit Flowey on the head but hardly hurt.  Flowey growled with frustration and continued pulling against the webs around him.  Muffet only laughed at his efforts and fueled the flower’s anger.  Several cracks split across the ceiling as hot lava dripped onto webs above.  Muffet and Flowey paused to look up.  A warm glow overhead highlighted webs that were once concealed by darkness.  Drips of lava lit the webbing on fire.

           Muffet gasped at the sight.  She swung across her web to the furthest corner from the fire.  "Come in here, my pet, and tear apart this flower!" she called.  There was a low growl that filled the room from behind Flowey.  The flower frowned.  He knew what was coming.  He turned to look as a massive, spider-like monster crept forward from the shadows.  Flowey had seen this thing before.  It had a wide, jagged mouth and dark eyes on either side of its lumpy form.  Several insect legs stuck out around it, with which it drug itself along the floor.

           Flowey looked down in a panic.  He was still trapped within webbing and unable to burrow.  But as the creature drew nearer, Flowey began throwing as many pellets as he could manage.  He struck the large monster over and over.  Its mouth opened wide, ready to bite.  If his roots had been free, Flowey could have stabbed the thing easily.  But he had to continue desperately striking it with bullets until the monster finally slowed.  Only a couple feet from the flower, the creature squealed pitifully before dropping motionless on the floor.  Dark liquid leaked from the injuries Flowey had inflicted.  Only a moment later, the dead monster broke down into dust.  Flowey felt a satisfying sense of determination as his strength increased.  He looked up at Muffet again, grinning as fires burned around them.

           The spider stared from few remaining shadows above.  "You . . . despicable creature!" she said.  Muffet dropped down to attack the flower herself.  She threw a cup of acid.  It crashed against the floor beside Flowey.  Several drops splashed onto him anyway, eating at his stem and petals.

           Flowey winced then pulled on the webbing again.  The acidic liquid burned through the web, enabling Flowey to pull free.  He took his chance and acted quickly.  Vines wrapped around Muffet and held tight, while fires blazed in the room.  Flowey smiled.  “Next time . . . don’t miss.”  He growled in anger, causing thorns to grow on the vines.  His grip grew tighter.

           Muffet squirmed and gasped in pain.  "I . . . I never met a monster so cruel!"  She frowned and fell silent.  Her body went limp just seconds before scattering to dust.  Flowey’s vines returned to the ground then he burrowed to escape.  Fires finally enveloped the room as lava poured in from the ceiling.  As Flowey made his way to the safety of Waterfall, all of Hotland erupted with lava and fire.  The ground shook while residing monsters ran for safety hoping to survive.  Rock beneath Alphys' lab split apart, tearing through its structure and foundation.  The whole building broke down and collapsed into a lava pit deep under its foundation.

          This reaction continued for several minutes as lava in Hotland rose.  It flooded most of the land, melting chunks of rock and building structures.  While destruction wiped out every monster in Hotland . . . Flowey sat at the edge of Waterfall's cave system and watched.  He stared as a warm, orange glow reflected off the rock around him.  Over half of the monsters in the underground were gone and Flowey didn’t feel any hint of regret.  Only a feeling of temporary satisfaction that had him speechless.  He took a deep breath.  Though for some reason, he still felt uneasy.  Why though?  He had gained power from the monsters he had killed.  Why did he feel as if he was still in danger?  Something seemed to be telling him that someone else knew something they shouldn't.  But how?  He had just reset everything recently.  No one could possibly remember who he was.

<Previous  Next>

Full Chapter List

[goodeveningtowrite]

Like Hell II

I’ve known the name of Lucie’s blond, blue-eyed mystery man for over two weeks and have been living with them both since, so it feels strange to think this is the first time you’ll know, too! Happy reading, and be on the lookout for the finale in about another two weeks. x

Catch Part I here!

Warning: Mature content ahead, reader discretion is advised.

Snow, whipped by fierce wind, had no sooner stuck to the pane of Lucie’s window in a mountainous pattern than a new gust blew it away -- loud, but still unable to drown out Jenn, her flatmate whose snores were usually muffled and distorted by a wall at home, but that now sounded like cannonfire right next to her. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been been awake and conscious enough to watch it, but it was long enough for her to gather it wasn’t going to die down. At this rate, there was no way the lifts would be operating, and she squeezed the pillow clutched in her arms, burrowing in close  with a frown. No slopes, and no escape.

She snapped her eyes shut, but it had nothing to do with the new squall that just about shook the glass. No escape in relatively close quarters meant last night’s after dark activities would have a flashlight thrown on them even in the gray, stormy daylight.

Truth be told, she wasn’t sure whether she was more chagrined by the fact she’d gone against herself, or caved to his charms, or--

The digital numbers of the clock on Lucie’s bedside table flipped from 6:59am to 7:00am, and it blared to life briefly before her hand came slamming down on top of it, stopping it mid-scream.

7:00am. The first hour breakfast opened downstairs, and a whole hour earlier than she usually met her friends to fuel up for the day.

One whole hour earlier before he usually strolled in and circled each array just after her (or darted ahead to swipe what she had her eye on).

A snort behind her followed by the sound of a body rolling had her holding her breath, counting and praying, but she let it out when nothing else followed. If she had to be trapped inside today, she wanted to be as scarce and stealthy as possible, and company made for neither.

The room was toasty, but her teeth still chattered when she slid out from underneath her covers and slowly swapped her leggings and t-shirt for socks and a turtleneck. The jeans made her take pause, and Lucie nearly balled them up and threw them back into the drawer when she remembered she wasn’t the last person to pluck the button open and pull the zipper down.

The halls were eerily quiet, and when Lucie made it down to the breakfast room, it was equally as deserted, with only a few guests having bothered to come down this early. A balding man with half-moon glasses perched on the end of his nose sat at one table reading a newspaper over the rim of of a cup of what was presumably coffee, and a woman with curly, gray hair was making a slow beeline for him with two full plates. Another woman, younger, wandered lazily with a toddler by her knees speaking Spanish or Portuguese, and Lucie sidestepped the child’s sibling, who was zooming straight for their mama across her path, weaving around the displays and looking for something quick and easy to grab.

Pots of oatmeal made sick, squelching sounds when she stirred them with the ladle and she could feel the gummy texture sticking to her teeth just by looking at it. The grease of hot eggs and potatoes, though, made her stomach turn, and fruit had her gagging at the idea of biting into it at room temperature. She’d never had so much pastry in such a short span of time, but once again she found herself by the danishes. Filled and iced treats were arranged with muffins and other goods, and there, nestled underneath, just a little squashed, was a golden croissant, puffed to perfection.

Lucie grabbed the tongs and fished it out before dropping it into her hand. It was warm to the touch, more than the lamp under which the display was sitting could have provided, and she pulled the end of it off before stuffing it into her mouth. It all but melted from all its butter, and she sighed, satisfied, contemplating the pots of jam.

Before she could choose between raspberry and apricot, a hand on her hip froze her in place, and the flaky pastry she’d been ripping apart nearly fell to the floor. It was too familiar, too intimate, and when she heard his, “Hello, love,” cheerful and lilted but deep enough to make her shiver, she grasped his hand and firmly pushed it away.

“Good morning,” she said, wishing she'd worn something that constricted her neck so much. A lock of his floppy blond hair fell just above his brow bone in a casual flip that mimicked her stomach, and he was wearing a dusky blue sweater that complemented his eyes, and oh she wished she hadn’t noticed that.

“You're up early,” he said as she skirted around him, jams abandoned, and he followed on her heels.

“How do you know?”

“Because I’m up early -- usually don't see you for another hour or so.”

“Why are you up, then?” she asked, poking and prodding eggs that didn't appeal to her.

“I was up late tending to some unfinished business,” he said. “Woke up and it still wasn't done.”

His pointed gaze made her breath catch in her throat and she dropped the serving spoon for the eggs before returning to the jams and grabbing a plate.

“Alright?” he asked. Lucie grabbed a spoon and dropped a scoop of raspberry jam on her plate with a soft splat. “Seem a bit distracted. Tense,” he said, and she took a deep breath.

“I'm fine.”

“Sure?”

“Ethan--”

“So you do know my name!” he clucked. “I was starting to wonder if I was that forgettable. Come on,” he said, and his voice lowered to a jarring degree, smooth and persuasive. “We’re adults -- doesn’t have to be awkward if we don’t make it that way.”

Lucie took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, holding his gaze despite how it looked like he was seconds away from huffing and puffing whatever backbone she’d grown away.

“Make what awkward?” she asked.

Ethan -- there was no point in trying to pretend she didn’t know his name now, because she knew it, and him, and he knew her, or parts of her, to a degree -- narrowed his eyes, shifting to lean more of his weight to one side.

“So, you’re just going to pretend it never happened.”

It was more of a statement than a question, and the flat set of his mouth had her throat constricting.

“Yes,” Lucie said, nearly choking on the whispery syllable. Her shoulders were already tense and heavy in anticipation of the onslaught she was sure he was about to unleash -- please, why not, give me a chance, and everything in between after how persistent he’d been to get more than two words out of her.

Two words and then some, ultimately….

His icy eyes might as well have been spearing her with their intensity, and that flippy lock of blond hair over his forehead bobbed when he nodded. “Right. I’ll see you, then.”

“You’re just going to go?” Lucie asked when he turned on his heel.

“I’m not really into forcing women to be with me, love, or chasing after them with some cockamamie Notebook plan,” he said, turning back halfway. “Don’t find that particularly romantic and I’m not about to risk my life for someone I’ve only just met. Ta.”

The single syllable was more cutting than it ought to have been and probably more so than he meant it. At first, Lucie bristled -- what right did he have to be angry? She was well within her rights to choose who and how and when to be with someone. But he hadn’t sounded angry -- if anything, he was disappointed, but he’d shrugged it off easily enough like it was no loss.

That she really didn’t know what to do with.

“Where’s he off to?”

For the second time, Lucie nearly dropped her breakfast when Jenn surprised her at her side.

“What?” she asked, followed quickly by, “I don’t know. When did you get up?” to veer any conversation towards safer waters.

“Just now,” Jenn said. “You weren’t there, so I thought I’d come down to see what you were up to. We should invite him to hang out with us,” Jenn said, following Lucie to one of the little round tables.

“Who?” Lucie asked.

“Ethan!”

“Why?” Lucie asked, dragging the chair across the floor and gritting her teeth when it scraped obnoxiously.

“Slopes are closed,” Jenn said. “We’ll all be looking for something to do. He’s always chatting with us,” she said, taking the second chair. “Talking to us about our days, taking an interest--”

“He’s annoying,” Lucie said flatly. “And a showoff.”

Just not about the right things.

“I don’t think so,” Jenn said, leaning over and tearing the opposite end off Lucie’s croissant.

Instantly, Lucie’s hair stood on end. She could recognize that tone a mile away, and it didn’t matter how well she did or didn’t know her flatmate of the past year.

“Trust me,” she said. “I can tell.”

Jenn shrugged and heat burst in Lucie, rolling through her like molten lava, flooding her fingers and toes. No. She didn’t get it.

“Saw him with a girl last night,” Lucie said. “They looked pretty cozy.”

“I’m sure,” Jenn said, flaking pieces of croissant apart. “Are you surprised? He’s gorgeous,” she said. “All that hair and those eyes….” Two dimples popped when she threw her stolen bite into her mouth, smirking. “He looks like he knows what he’s doing.”

Insanity made Lucie do it, and she would stick by that if she thought about it later.

“It was me.”

Jenn frowned, mouth twisting.

“Who was?” she asked. “No it wasn’t.”

“It was,” Lucie said, and Jenn gave her a pitying look.

“You don’t do that,” she said.

“Says who?”

“Says everyone!” Jenn said. “You don’t do that, you’re not about to jump a stranger. I’ve never seen you bring someone home. You keep to yourself!” she said quickly, apparently registering some offense in Lucie’s expression. “There’s nothing wrong with that. Besides, you just said you hated him.”

Not even the melty pastry appealed to Lucie anymore, and she wondered why she’d even asked her flatmate if she’d wanted to join the trip to begin with. She shoved the rest of it towards Jenn and stood with another obnoxious scrape against the floor.

“Where’re you headed?” Jenn asked.

“Dunno,” she said. “Nowhere to go, is there? I’ll find something.”

*

Lucie’s floor was still quiet when she returned to the room, and she took her shoes off before crawling back into bed, intent on falling back asleep and starting the morning over when she woke up. Whether it was the wind or her mind that had her tossing, turning, and kicking legs out from underneath the duvet before tucking them back in again, she wasn’t sure, and she scowled at the ceiling, anger aimless and billowing.

A whole week left and she was already done with this trip. A whole week, and she already wanted to swap rooms with someone, anyone. What had that even meant? You don’t do that. She sneered just remembering it, and angrily punched her pillow into shape underneath her head.

A whole week she’d planned on avoiding him, and now….

Her phone buzzed as 8:00am turned to 9:00am and 9:00am turned to 11:00am, and it was around 11:30am that it waned. Good, she thought sulkily. She didn’t want to see anybody at this rate, anyway. Sleep evaded her, and the result was her stewing with spikes of anger. What kind of girl wasn’t she? Spontaneous? Sexual?

She kicked and untangled her legs from the duvet and jammed her feet into her shoes before stalking from the room. Where she was going she wasn’t sure, but with only so many places for guests to go with the weather as it was, she had a hunch, and sure enough when she got downstairs, there he was, back at the scene of the crime.

Ethan was lying on the couch, his long legs dangled over the side, one arm over his head and a book balanced on his chest with his other hand supporting it, brows knit together and his progress down the page tracked by the way his eyes moved over and back again. Lucie hesitated in the doorway, resolve deflating, but she clenched her fists and strode forward, intent on seeing what she’d set out to do through… whatever that was.

She perched on the arm of the couch, just next to his feet, but when he didn't acknowledge her even after she softly cleared her throat, she braced herself and asked, “What are you reading?”

Over the lowering edge of the book, a lone eyebrow cocked, blue eyes appearing.

“What?” Lucie asked, twisting her fingers in her lap.

“So, now you’ve decided you’ll talk to me?” he said. “Left me alone and and told me to sod off--”

“I didn’t,” she scoffed.

“Might as well have,” he said.

“Well--” But try as she might she couldn’t find any reasonable explanation to justify her behavior, and Ethan straightened the book out, his face disappearing once more.

“Jenn asked if you’d like to hang out with us today.”

“Who?’ he asked from behind the pages.

“Jenn,” she said. “You’ve met her. Pretty girl, curly hair….”

Snores like an earthquake Lucie added mentally.

“Why?” he asked.

“Dunno,” she said. “Think she thinks you’re fit.”

Ethan snorted and thumbed a page to flip it. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?” Lucie asked, preparing to fend off a series of accusations regarding her transparency (which she most absolutely was not).

“‘Fit’,” Ethan said. “Sounds weird in an American accent.”

“Anyway,” Lucie said, only half wondering why she’d bothered coming and why she was still there. “Jenn wants to know if you’ll hang out with us.”

“Don’t see her around, do I?” he asked.

“Can’t see anything past that book, probably.”

“Is that why you’re here?” Ethan asked. “Not enough for me to get you off--”

“Shh!” Lucie hissed, looking around from her eagle’s nest, but even as she felt a thousand eyes on them, not one was visible.

“But if someone else tries to take a bite of your sloppy seconds--”

“That’s not--”

“It’s that or the fact that I’m not chasing you that’s gotten under your skin,” Ethan said, chin against his chest and voice muffled. “Pick your poison.”

“It’s not that,” she said. “And you’re the one who wouldn’t let up until you had your hand down my jeans.”

“And you told me you had no interest,” Ethan said.

“Maybe that’s changed.”

“Since when?” he asked, shutting his book, evidently giving up on plowing through it. Lucie straightened up, fingers braided tightly together.

“Since I’ve been thinking,” she said. “And I think you’re right.”

“About?” he asked drolly.

“We have a whole week ahead of us,” she said. “And after it’s over, we never have to see each other again.”

Ethan’s mouth parted and he blinked quickly.

“I still think you’re a showoff,” she said. “And arrogant. But it doesn’t matter, does it?”

“Suppose so,” he said, still blinking.

“When do you leave?”

“Sunday morning,” Ethan said.

“Saturday night,” Lucie said, nodding. “And then that’s it.”

His throat bobbed.

“So,” she said, “do we have a deal?”

“What are the terms?”

“Terms?”

“I was going to be a lawyer, remember?” Ethan said. “Have to know what we’re getting ourselves into.”

She took a deep breath. “One week. Nobody knows, or the deal’s off. And if we want out, that’s it. No questions asked.”

It felt like forever before Ethan sat up, leaning forward and pulling his legs off the arm of the couch to hold his hand out to her, book clutched in the opposite one.

“Shake on it,” he said.

For the second time in twenty-four hours, Lucie knew this moment was pivotal. She could either walk away and save her dignity, or she could have an adventure.

She clapped her hand in his and they bore down on each other’s when they shook.

“Fine,” he said under his breath, the corner of his mouth lifting up.

“So, how does this work?” she asked. Last night had sort of just happened, hadn't it? No rhyme or reason, just animal instinct.

“Slopes are closed,” Ethan said. “Suppose we can find something to do.”

Oh -- now?

Lucie’s heart skipped in her chest, but she nodded. “Sure,” she whispered.

*

Ethan did, in fact, have a room. It was one floor up from Lucie’s on the opposite side of the building, and, best of all, a single — no snoring to interrupt them or anyone to barge in on their privacy. He left her at the door to scurry ahead, picking up odds and ends and tossing them into drawers or his open suitcase, and she bit her lip, acutely aware of the fact they were behind closed doors.

You don’t do that.

“Nice room,” she said.

“What?” he asked over his shoulder. “Oh. Yeah, thanks.”

“Are you nervous?” Lucie asked.

“Why?”

“Because you invited me up and I’m by the door and you don’t care.”

Ethan set his book on the bedside table at last and turned to her, short of breath from his Tasmanian devil spin around the room. “Wasn’t expecting company,” he said, and Lucie’s gut twisted.

“No one?” she asked.

“Not really, no,” he said. “Had someone run off on me last night, though.”

Lucie scowled and Ethan grinned.

“I can run off again.”

“Yeah, you can,” he agreed. “It’ll give me a minute to finish what I was reading.”

Annoyance welled inside Lucie anew, but rather than turn on her heel and storm out, she propelled forward, catching herself on his shoulders and lifting just a bit to press her mouth to his. Keep her anger, keep her drive, and when he grabbed her hips and pulled her flush with his, she thought maybe -- just maybe -- he knew that.

Where he’d popped the button on her jeans last night, she popped his now, and she slid her hand just under his shirt, thrilled when his abdomen tensed under her touch as she scratched him over a smattering of soft hair.

“Right to the point, then?” Ethan groaned against her mouth, toppling back onto the bed, hands still on her hips even as the kiss broke.

“Left you hanging?” she asked breathlessly, leaning against his knees as she lowered to her own, shaking just a bit. Their eyes stayed locked on the others as she unzipped his jeans, and he clenched his jaw when her hands slid to the insides of his thighs and she squeezed.

She felt like she ought to be saying something — anything to rile him up the way he had her, but anything she wanted to sounded out of place, and if she did, she couldn’t swear she wouldn’t start laughing. Instead, she of watched his mouth thin until the point of disappearance when she pressed her hand where he’d held it for her the night before. Not nearly as hard as he’d been then, but she relished how he hissed and tensed his thighs and how his eyelids drooped in their effort not to close.

She thought she could see his lips moving, but if they were, he didn’t have anything to say or couldn’t at all.

Silently and without prompting, Ethan lifted his hips from side to side, easing his jeans down with Lucie’s help. The tight boxer briefs he had on underneath proved slightly more difficult, but when she touched his cock to pull it out, he hissed as if he were fully hard and her spine tingled. Even the most delicate, tentative strokes had him gnawing his lips with flaring nostrils and stamping his eyes shut, and she was grateful for the reprieve from their intensity not just for her own sake, but for what it allowed.

He’d felt nice the night before when he’d grabbed her hand and had her feeling what he was doing to her did to him, and as far as she could tell he was perfectly nice to look at, too, as well as incredibly sensitive and responsive. He was long enough for her to need both hands to handle him comfortably, and he was firming up just as nicely.

Tentatively, Lucie parted her lips and bent and took the soft, covered head of his cock into her warm, equally soft mouth, turning her eyes up at him when he sucked in a deep, harsh breath.

“Fuck!”

Gruff and faint, Ethan clutched the edge of the bed with white, popping knuckles next to his thighs, and another tingle splintered Lucie’s spine as she rolled her tongue in smooth strokes where the underside of his head would be.

She didn’t do this, maybe, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t think on her feet -- or her knees.

Slow and steady, Lucie coaxed herself. Slow and steady.

She sighed and pulled off, shifting her weight from knee to knee before sitting back on her heels and bending again, holding him in both her hands to flick deliberate, quick licks along his cock from tip to base and back again, sometimes pressing open-mouthed kisses to the sides and top. Ethan’s thighs tensed underneath her elbows and he rocked from side to side in response, but it was Lucie’s quiet moan of content that seemed to affect him the most when he bucked his hips up and swept her hair back with one shaking hand and a long, low exhale.

Still holding his head on her tongue, Lucie twisted some and peered up at him, the tightness in her neck from the awkward twist worth the glazed over look on his face. To say he was in awe of her would be an understatement, and to say he looked glorious would be a criminal offense for all it left to be desired. Slowly, dazed, Ethan nodded, the very corners of his mouth twitching in a way that not twenty-four hours ago Lucie had found arrogant and would have itched to scratch off his face, but that now had her feeling powerful.

“Good,” he said. “Good,” he repeated, louder, nodding stiffly. “It’s good… you’re good….”

Warmth flooded through Lucie from a knot in her abdomen and she took a breath through her nose, unwrapping one of her hands from around his now stiff cock to rest it against his stomach and, still holding him with the other, she descended with a slow bob of her head. It wasn’t rushed, and he didn’t hurry her -- there were no commands, and no insistent pushes of her head, just the wet sound of her mouth and hand working in tandem, sliding up and down and increasing in pace with her confidence and greed, a pornographic soundtrack in and of itself. His head was particularly sensitive just under the ridge, and Lucie sucked firmly, relishing his squirms and faint, strangled moans. He was smooth, and warm, and best of all he tasted clean with a salty tang that made her want to lick more and inquisitively rather than pulling away, and Lucie chased it with growing vigor, spurred and rewarded by the way his hand tightened in her hair.

Hot. Ethan’s cock was in her cheek when Lucie became acutely aware of how hot she felt. Too hot, way too hot, maddeningly so -- her turtleneck felt like it was strangling her, and it clung to her back, damp from sweat. She whined on her next descent, but his hand on her head, acting like a cap and trapping more heat against her, made was her breaking point.

She popped off him with an ugly sound and wiped her mouth hurriedly on the back of her hand, shaking her head when he made a sound. Yes, she was fine, but she just needed….

Lucie grabbed the hem of her turtleneck and pulled it up her torso, wrestling with it at her head before yanking it over and off, and Ethan stared, eyes hooded and lips parted.

“Sorry,” she whispered, breath hitching, and Lucie tucked her hair behind her ear before bending and again balancing herself on his knees with her elbows and wrapping her lips around his head.

A soft moan echoed in his throat almost immediately and Ethan responded with a barely audible, “Jesus…” that had her sinking quicker, eager to hear it again, lightheaded.

“Come….”

She looked up at him when his long fingers gripped one of her wrists, and she released her hold allowing him to place her hand just under his balls. She cupped them, gently running her thumb back and forth, and his eyes rolled up with a hollow groan, lips twitching.

“That’s good,” he said. “Just like th-that….”

Lucie exhaled through her nose, shutting her eyes and pausing, lips tight and an ache settling into her abdomen as she pulled on him almost lazily with minute bobs. Her tongue rolled back and forth just under the ridge of his head, and when it slipped up over the slit, he lurched forward with a shout.

“Whoawhoawhoa-wh-wh—!” Ethan huffed, mouth hanging and hand tight on her shoulder. “I-- that’s--”

Eyes wide, she looked up at him and, with his throat rising and falling, she deliberately licked again.

“Oh, God,” he groaned faintly. “Oh, God, oh….”

Again, and again, and again she licked precisely there, pressing her tongue firmly against him and feeling a jolt every time he stretched his jaw or swore. The sudden, strong twitch inspired a panicked drop of her stomach. She knew he was close, or would have been soon, but oddly, stupidly, even, she hadn’t considered this part of it all, and she wasn’t— she didn’t know—

Lucie pulled off Ethan with a pop, licking her lower lip quickly and tightening her hand around his cock, gliding so vigorously her bicep throbbed dully in an effort to make sure nothing was lost. Whatever inkling of concern she had about disappointing him or him losing his momentum was wiped when he bared his teeth, shoulders and chest heaving.

“Fuck… fuck, God, don’t, I--”

She pumped, and twisted, and squeezed ever so slightly, and then, with a series of guttural grunts, he came in long, thin spurts that dripped and dribbled down the side of his cock and over the back of Lucie’s hand. Satisfaction bloomed through her, and even her knees suddenly felt unsteady as she watched him, stroking his cock through several incomprehensible grunts before Ethan circled his fingers clumsily around her wrist and stilled her, shoulders shaking heaving.

“Okay,” he panted. “That’s… okay….”

BANG.

Lucie gasped, toppling backwards, and Ethan twisted on the bed, leaning away from the direction of the sound.

“Shit!” he said, staring at the rattling window, and Lucie clapped the hand that wasn’t sticky to her mouth to muffle a burst of hysterical laughter. Ethan flopped back against the bed, arms over his head, and Lucie rolled onto her knees again and stood, somewhat unsteady, crawling onto the bed next to him. A ghost of smile played on his mouth and fingers were tangled in his blond hair. Underneath his sweater, which was riding up his torso, his cock laid against his stomach, softening and losing its shape but no less nice to look at.

“So what are you going to tell them,” Ethan began, still staring at the ceiling, “when they ask where you’ve been?”  

“They won’t,” she said and he laughed once. “I’m going to go wash my hands,” she said. Ethan nodded and she pushed up, sliding back of the bed. When she reemerged from the toilet, he was sitting up, cock tucked back into his pants but zipper and button still undone.

“You don’t have to go yet,” he said when she grabbed her turtleneck from the floor. “Not like there’s anything else to do, is there?”

Lucie smiled wryly and pulled her shirt over her head, flipping her hair out from under the collar.

“I’ll be back,” she reminded him.

“Catch you by the fire again if you aren’t,” he said and she laughed.

“Like hell.”

*

That was how it went for a week. More often than not, Ethan’s room served as their first refuge, although there had been an enlightening encounter in a maintenance closet and an infuriating one just yesterday on the ski lift that had left Lucie burning with rage when he’d jammed himself in next to her with an impish grin and her friends had stared as they went up, up, and away.

But it was Friday night, and Lucie left tomorrow. Per their agreement, this was it — one week and done, and they’d never have to see each other again — but Lucie found herself deflated. After tomorrow, it was business as usual, wasn’t it? Wake up, shower, eat, go to class, study, sleep, and do it all over again while trying to figure out what she wanted to do when she graduated and where she wanted to go.

She liked who she’d become this week. She enjoyed sneaking around, and sharing a laugh, and truth be told, when he wasn’t being a dick, Ethan’s company had been enjoyable. He knew a lot about a lot, either from his flirtation with law or all the books he’d read, and when he pushed back gently against an argument, it was ingratiatingly well-informed and persuasive. It was… refreshing, and she dared to say she’d miss the sparring, and she wanted to absorb every minute of it she had left.

With her friends itching to take advantage of their last day, it had left Lucie begging off for an imaginary strained muscle. “Better not risk it,” she’d told them, curled up by the fire with a magazine in hand. The minute the last one had turned and their voices had faded, though, she’d sprung from the couch and sprinted for the elevator, as she’d no sooner knocked on Ethan’s door than he opened it and drew her inside.

“It’s late,” he said.

“It’s not!” she said, taking his extended hand.

“It’s noon,” he said.

“They wouldn’t leave,” she said, the door falling shut behind her.

“Have you packed?” he asked, just before pressing a kiss to her mouth. It was firm and she swayed, warming through, and clapped her hands to his face.

“Last night,” she said. “Bought us a bit of time,” she said. “Nobody will be looking for awhile.”

“About that,” he said. “I’ve been thinking.”

Lucie gripped his shoulders and pushed slightly, forcing him to lean back. “What about?”

“Where’re you studying, anyway?” he asked, but he’d sealed another kiss over her mouth before she had a chance to answer.

“London,” she sighed, snaking her arms around his neck. He knew that, and he’d only asked her about a dozen times a day for the last four.

“Where?” he whispered again, kneading her hips.

“City,” she said, gasping when the world tipped and she wound up on her back in bed, his body looming over where she was caught in the duvet.

“That’s not far from me,” he said, eyebrows high on his forehead, his delighted surprise transparently feigned.

“Oh?” she said, scalp tingling despite the dry syllable, and Ethan smirked, unconvinced.

“Mmm,” he said, leaning down and kissing her jaw. “Might pop ‘round,” he said against her skin, smacking wet kisses there that had her squirming and smiling despite herself. “If that’s okay?”

Ethan kissed and nuzzled along her cheek as she weighed her answer.

“Bit longer than a week, isn’t it?” she whispered, fingertips jittery.

“Took us a few days to get rolling, didn’t it?” he asked. “Figure we owe ourselves a few extra days, otherwise we’re just cutting out on the terms, aren’t we?”

“That’s a very legal way to look at it,” Lucie said and he lifted up, grinning down at her.

“What d’you say?” he asked with a soft jerk of his chin.

One week and her life had changed more times than she could count in seven days than it had in nearly twenty-five.

“If it’s not too far,” she said breathlessly. “Sure, that’d be…. Sure.”

Ethan grinned and pushed his hair out of his face before bending to kiss her, and Lucie hitched her legs up around his hips again, stomach fluttering.

Until London, then.

That’s all for now! Part III coming in two weeks -- turn on notifications if you want to know when it posts (but since I do other things here, that might be annoying? You do you, friends). Keep an eye on my Instagram for sneak peeks the week of release and any other goodies along the way! Thanks for reading. x

[autonomousbosch]

Private Language

I woke up before dawn this morning. It was pouring rain and gales were howling across my home. Once I realized there was no way I could get back to sleep, I decided instead to capitalize on an early morning and try my hand at croissants.

They were not difficult, but they took me hours. I also toasted some pine tree nuts and made some home made caramel to top them with. Someone very dear to me told me, and I had never forgotten, that I should try to bake them some day because of the perverse focus necessary. Of course I decided that I should do this precisely then, thinking that they would amuse her as much as they did me.

It was a meticulous development, especially being somewhat underequipped with a rolling pin too small for any serious use. Over the span of six hours I gently smoothed out a buttery dough, used only enough flour to work properly, took a bench scraper to make sure all the edges were as square as they could be. When you’re close to someone who’s such a magnificent baker, it’s good motivation to work just a bit hard in the service of perfection.

With nuts toasting in the oven, I put some sugar into a saucepan to make caramel, an endeavor which has historically never gone well for me. Very fussy, stir it at the wrong time and a beautiful, ribbon-y sauce crystallizes into something aesthetically offensive and almost wholly useless. Yet, around the fifth hour, I realize that I have no fear nor concern at all.

The cast iron comes out, the caramel is furiously whisked in the saucepan as steam bellows out from the introduction of cream to lava hot melted sugar. Finally it’s time to put them into the oven. One last egg wash and I put them in at 400 degrees, watching amusedly as they puff up.

I peep in the oven here and there. I know it’s bad form, but it was timely to do so; had I left them in for a full twenty five minutes then they would have gone from golden brown to scorched. I put on my red mitts and remove them from the oven, taking a spatula and transferring them to a baking rack. They were stunning.

How handsome and darling. She would have loved them, and I begin weeping immediately to know this so intimately. She would have said “Wow, Ry” and laughed upon seeing what the final design was to be for them, after tasting them.

They were perfect products of pure love, a full heart concerned immediately and only that they were in service to provide joy to another person, a very specific person. There is no language to describe it, no poetic flourish that would do such a thing the justice of stating it precisely and as satisfyingly as it could be expressed.

As gorgeous as they are, such perfection has no meaning. I confessed and she said no, they will never exist for her. I don’t resent her for this, in many ways I am thankful to have come to this realization as gently as I did. Likewise I simply just needed to cry, as regardless of how much I aspire to live a life that is beautiful, this does not make life less hard.

The devastation lingering is many. It is not that I think I am not good enough, at the risk of sounding arrogant I believe myself to be plenty good. Both self and love are labors, and my desire is to share the productions of labor in myself with someone whom I love and care for. That she would elect for it to not be her is of course tragic, because I would have been very good at it. Indeed, I will continue to become very good at many things which will prove very beneficial not only to myself but also to she that does desire that very dedication.

I just pity that it was not her. I pity that this expression, one which I fought so hard to bring into materiality, would never be for her. It would only be for me. It is all very tragic, and I should feel, at least I suppose, at least somewhat lucky that a heart can only be so broken.

They were very, very good though

[buffetlicious]

With the opening of Hokkaido's BAKE Cheese Tart in April this year, our local bakeries have also put out their own versions of the cheese tart. Just had a taste of Bread Society's Cheese Tarts made with cheese from Hokkaido and they went one step further by coming out with a salted egg yolk cheese tart. Those with black sesame seeds on top are the Golden Lava Cheese Tart.

Golden Lava (Salted Egg Yolk) Cheese Tart - Creamy and rich oozy cheese with a runny, albeit too liquid salted yolk centre and a crumbly buttery crust that threatened to fall apart in your hand. The cheese filling is on par with those found in BAKE's version but not as jelak. The salted egg yolk however, lacks oomph and came across muted compared to their own golden lava croissant.

[kellyyyllek]

Golden lava croissant! Filled with oozy, rich, salted egg yolk, swipe for #yolkporn. Incredibly buttery flaky pastry too 🥚🥐 (at Suntec City)

[universallykoalasheep-8670b-blog]

(via Love A Loaf Bakery + Café | Penang Digital Library)

BREADS AND BAKES

The croissandwich and toasty breakfast/ set lunch with different fillings is simple, tasty and a good choice. The set comes with a cup of coffee. If you love something light for lunch, this hot sandwich will hit the spot.

The all-day breakfasts, brunches with a range of delicious meals are quite satisfying. It is available daily from 8am – 6pm.

The most tempting is the oven-fresh signature croissants lava series with interesting fillings of Salted, and Chocolate Lava, Matcha Green Tea Lava and even Salted Egg Golden Lava!

I tried the salted egg filled croissant. The runny salted egg yolk lava is the most popular.

[joshineurope2017]

Copenhagen day 1.5

I still owe a write-up for Dill.

I flew from Reykjavik to Copenhagen yesterday. Got in 6pm-ish to CPH and caught the train to my private room. It was dark and quiet when I arrived so I didn't get a chance to see much, and decided to retire for the night and try to catch up on sleep, maybe beat the jetlag.

I slept from 730pm to midnight, then off and on again until 730am today. Not sure if it worked, will see tonight around 9pm how I feel.

I'm going to miss Reykjavik. It's a weird place with a few cool museums (visited the penis museum as well as the oldest discovered man-made structure exhibit, a segment of wall from the 9th c as well as a long house from the 10th c), but everything is expensive and you don't get a real sense of the natural wonder unless you tour the island. Someday I'd like to go on a trip on the golden ring, see Dimmu Borgir, some ice caves, lava flows, etc. The thing I miss right now is hanging out with the locals and other tourists not there for the typical stuff. Met several expats from all over, and it was never clear why they ended up in Iceland, but they seemed fiercely loyal to the place. And the young natives seemed eager to leave. Such is life. That last night there was pretty fun.

So far today I went to Det Rene Brøt, or 'the clean bread', for coffee and a croissant. I walked around after, saw the Little mermaid statue (and a, ahem, big mermaid statue not too far away). Walked the Kastelet ramparts, past the fortress' windmill. Went by St Alban's Anglican Church (sent my dad a pic). It was placed next to a fantastic statue and fountain that looked like a Norse goddess driving out snakes and demons with her Chariot pulled by a team of four bulls.

More palaces and a royal church that was closed. The royal gardens - this was all around the Amalianborg. Beautiful of course. Strange too.

I walked through Nyhavn and across the bridge to where Noma used to be. It's a new joint called Barr and it didn't look too intriguing. Again across a bridge to the Copenhagen Street Food Collective where I waited for the stalls to open, then had a Duck Croque Monsieur with confit fries, and now I'm finishing up my rest with a glass of Danish beer from Nørrebrew and a shot of Cuban Rum. After this I'll probably check out Christiania and then back across to the Round Tower and a yarn store I knew I'd check out today.

[teamlifechamp]

Well sweet Lebron, it's only midday (well it was when I stared writing this) and this life feels unreal. We left our sweet little cabin and backtracked a bit to hit up Seljalandsfoss. The famous waterfall where you can walk into the cave behind it. Ahhhhhh, it was wet and wonderful and we were blessed again with a rainbow! We then walked down to the Gljúfrafoss waterfall, which is less famous but much cooler! You have to boulder up a muddy rocky hill thing to actually see it, and it's gorgeous. After, you hop rocks into a cave thing to see it from the bottom. That's where my sweet new profile pic came from! After these magical waterfalls, we got gas station bacon wrapped hotdogs which were amazing but took 20 minutes to make, and then headed to the Golden Circle. We checked out the Kerio volcanic crater first. It was a giant red crater with a huge, bright blue lake at the bottom. Turns out a few years ago, Bjork had a concert there, in which she floated out on a raft. The red/blue contrast was really beautiful. Our next stop was a great decision- the Fontana Geothermal Baths. Beautiful outdoor hot springs, where we warmed up, drank beer, and made friends with old people. Old people truly are the best.

After that it was off to the most magical waterfall we've seen so far (in my humble opinion)- Bruarfoss. It's that amazing blue waterfall I had posted a photo of that y'all liked the shit out of. It was a muddy hike to the fall, but dear Lebron it was unreal. So so magical. Next up was the Geysir, which, as you probably suspect, is a geyser. It was hella touristy, but luckily we only had to wait 5 minutes before it went off and we could take off. We headed to another giant waterfall after this, which was also super super touristy. Like, pay for the bathroom, touristy. I get it though. It was a GIANT fucking waterfall. So so so much water and so much death if you fell into it. We hit up our second hot springs for the day after this. Secret Lagoon is adorable, warm, and a wonderful spot to take a break, drink a beer, and float. We also ate some delish fish and chips. After a relaxing float, we headed to Reykjavik and to our next Airbnb. It's on the water and totally IKEA and modern and amazing. Being Saturday night, we knew we had to hit the town. So we started the night by drinking a bottle of Bjork, which definitely seemed like a good idea at the time. We then grabbed a drink at an English pub, chatted with friendly Icelanders, and put some creepy old dudes in their goddamn place. We danced at Latinx night and drank too many white russians at the Lebowski bar. We've determined the white russians were the fatal mistake which lead to all of us oversharing, ugly crying, and going to sleep at 6:30a. Mistakes may have been made, though no regrets. As punishment for drinking too much, Lebron left my cellphone and wallet in the taxi. But because he is a benevolent god, he let the driver find it and keep it for me to pick up the next day (with nothing stolen!). We won't test you again with our silly antics King James.

We woke up the next day at 1pm. Yes. 1pm. It's been a while since this has happened, but we were warned Iceland makes you party harder than normal. We rallied and headed into town for some life saving hotdogs and coffee. Damn these hotdogs are good! We roamed in and out of stores, got beers, and then picked up my phone from the taxi station. We then got more beer (are you noticing a trend?), ate kimchi dumplings, went to a whiskey bar, chatted with other travelers, and were finally feeling good enough to stuff an overwhelming amount of delicious food in our guts. We headed to Tapas and got the chefs surprise tasting special and the Icelandic traditional tasting menu and split it all. Holy cow. Amazing. We ate kangaroo (why is kangaroo sold in Iceland? It was similar tasting to rabbit), whale (similar to a tuna steak), puffin (so salty but delicious), quail, lobster tails, salmon, lamb, tuna, char, more lamb, so many veggies and the best chocolate cake and strawberries I've ever had. Beers, Black Death, and champagne accompanied the meal and we seriously thought we were gonna puke we ate so much. It was amazing. We rolled home and passed tf out, dreams of puffin and whales danced in our heads. Today we got up, got coffee and bread and croissants, and headed to the Snæfellsnesvegur Peninsula (or the Snufflelufagus Peninsula as we so lovingly call it). So far, we explored lava caves, seen a waterfall, and destroyed a rotisserie chicken with our bare hands. The people of Iceland are tall, blonde, beautiful, and love to intensely stare with no shame. Their accent is hilarious and they talk with all the words in the front of their mouth. Iceland looks so much like Hawaii at times, it's crazy. Big, green volcanic mountains. And then sometimes it looks like Ireland and sometimes it looks like Alaska. Cool how similar geological features can be found all over the world. We've see over 50 waterfalls. They're everywhere. As are the cutest baby horses. This trip truly has been incredible. We are a wonderful travel group, and we've spent most of our time laughing. Can't believe this trip is almost over. It's gone by so fast but also feels like we've been here for weeks. Can't wait to see what the rest of the day brings!

[pengchang168]

超犯規爆漿美食│Baguette 禮品‧烘焙坊 - 流沙可頌

下午茶吃這個如何？ 薄酥可頌+鹹香流沙=流沙可頌，這是多麼令人髮指的組合啊！！！ 但是即使冒著熱量爆表的危險，也不能阻擋吃貨想吃的決心！！！ 

放在保溫櫃中的可頌隨著櫃中溫度上升，表層益發金黃，勾人香氣也從保溫櫃中流瀉出來，瀰漫於空氣中。

這一顆顆金黃渾圓的可頌，看起來與一般可頌無異，但是它其實可是暗藏玄機喔！

Tada!!! 它可是會爆漿的流沙可頌啊！！！

可頌外層薄酥，內裡層次分明，算是很不錯的可頌，但是奶黃餡表現的太優秀，讓人幾乎忘卻了可頌的存在。黃澄澄的奶黃餡帶點沙沙的口感，入口後味蕾首先嚐到的是鹹蛋黃明顯勾人的鹹香滋味(我好愛鹹蛋黃喔～)，之後奶油的甜香才慢慢出現。這甜鹹交織、滑順濃腴的流沙奶黃餡，實在好吃的讓人放棄肥胖羞恥心的欲罷不能啊！

可頌以手提紙盒包裝，好拿又不用擔心可頌會被壓扁，標準的自用送禮兩相宜！

Baguette 禮品‧烘焙坊 ㊙ 每天限量50顆、每人限購6顆、每日上午10時及下午3時出爐 ㊙

[dessert-foodi-li-cious]

Golden Lava Croissant (Salted Egg)