#ham-steamers

[itswilliamleonard]

a new twist on a classic flavour

[askblueandviolet]

Emotional support frog sits politely

MASTER POST

Asks Start 💙💜

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[7-crows-in-a-trench-coat]

i know america has its problems and the 21st century has its problems but every now and then i like to take a moment to appreciate that it’s not the year of our lord 1531 and the king of england can’t have me boiled alive for the Treacherous Crime of making the royal court’s soup taste bad as a prank

[pretty-princess-4ever]

Frozen meals for 200 calories or less 💜🎀

Healthy choice simply steamers garden vegetable: 150 calories

Lean cuisine steak portabella: 160 calories

Healthy choice power bowls Greek style chicken: 170 calories

Healthy choice power bowls spicy beef teriyaki: 170 calories

Scott & Jon’s shrimp and vegetable stir fry: 170 calories

Healthy choice power bowls cajun style chicken and sausage: 170 calories

Smart ones slow roasted turkey breast: 170 calories

Lean cuisine herb roasted chicken: 180 calories

Healthy choice simply steamers grilled chicken marsala: 180 calories

Smart ones homestyle beef pot roast: 180 calories

Healthy choice cafe steamers beef merlot: 180 calories

Healthy choice simply steamers sesame chicken with riced cauliflower: 180 calories

Healthy choice simply steamers chicken tikka masala with rice cauliflower: 190 calories

Healthy choice simply steamers grilled chicken and broccoli alfredo: 190 calories

Lean cuisine roasted turkey and vegetables: 190 calories

Smart ones broccoli and cheddar roasted potatoes: 190 calories

Smart ones cheesy scramble with hash browns: 190 calories

Michelina’s cheese manicotti: 190 calories

Michelina’s Salisbury steak: 190 calories

Stouffer’s stuffed pepper: 200 calories

Healthy choice cafe steamers chicken fajita: 200 calories

Healthy choice simply steamers grilled chicken pesto and vegetables: 200 calories

Healthy choice simply steamers chicken and vegetable stir fry: 200 calories

Healthy choice power bowls roasted red pepper romesco chicken pasta: 200 calories

Smart ones angel hair marinara: 200 calories

Smart ones crustless chicken pot pie: 200 calories

Smart ones breakfast wrap: 200 calories

Smart ones ham and cheese scramble: 200 calories

[shamelessliarkickapow]

Arrvatarr! The Last Arrbender!

Just a little WIP

Zutara pirate AU inspired by THIS FUN ART by singswan-springswan and also THIS SWEET PIECE from the Zutara coloring book by fabdante

I have this whole story outlined at about 8 chapters. (*desperate promises to self* This definitely won't be another 100k word story, definitely. I'm aiming for 40k this time. Max.) I'm gonna try a new thing and post parts of chapters here as I go - no backward glances. Chapters will go on AO3 and ffn as they're completed.

Rating: M for violence and sexual content

Summary:

Set four years later than the show in an AU where the Avatar never returned. Instead of finding Aang, Katara and Sokka went looking for Hakoda and had lots of adventures. Fast forward to now, they’ve gathered a few motley friends into their life of piracy. Hey, it’s a living! After seven years circling the globe in search of the Avatar, Prince Zuko finds himself beset by weird pirates. They mean to ransom him, but the waterbender is distracting and Uncle Iroh seems to have some kind of plan so, if Zuko's lucky, this could all turn out okay... But when is Zuko ever lucky? A silly but pretty grown-up story with real swears and some sex stuff. Here be knavish pirate jokes and most ignoble puns - avast ye bilge-rat-vipers! yarrr

Chapter 1, part 1/3:

It was a junky little steamer, but beggars couldn’t be choosers and pirates loved junk.

They struck when the fat waning moon was still high, sparkling off the sea. Katara brought their little ship up from the depths alongside and raised it up on a mighty platform of ice to put their decks at a level for boarding. The wave of their emergence shook the steamer like a can of bees - but that hardly mattered when Sokka swung aboard and Toph dropped off his back. All the soldiers who came running half-dressed onto the deck wound up trapped, bound with strips of steel torn from the very vessel they sought to defend.

“Surrender, ya scabby seal-dogs!” Toph cried, striking a pose and really hamming up the drama. “Or I’ll paint this tub with yer stinkin’ guts before I sink ‘er!”

Most of the time, as soon as Toph broke out the metalbending, the fight was pretty much over. Suki was quick, so she could usually knock out a couple of soldiers before they realized how incredibly out-classed they were. Sokka had drawn his sword and found himself without an opponent so many times now that he usually just posed with it while he demanded surrender. Which was a shame - because it was such a nice sword.

Katara, always watching everybody’s backs, locked the ships together with thick bonds of ice and boarded last to come down hard on any remaining resistance. Tonight, though, she was still on the deck of their vessel, reassuring their new swab that nobody was going to get seriously hurt.

“She doesn’t mean it about the guts, Aang,” she said with a shrug and a crooked smile. “Toph just misses those earthbender tournaments she was telling you about. Remember, we do this to feed our villages through the winter. The Fire Nation can afford to be plundered a little after everything they’ve taken from us.”

This last she said with the faintest measure more steel. But the little monk didn’t notice. He only smiled trustingly up at her, his lemur clinging to his head with a grip on his bandanna.

“Aye aye, Cap’n,” he growled, a kid fully sold on the game.

“And what’s the rule?”

“No airbending - yarr!”

Katara grinned. “Great, now let’s go loot the boots off these guys.”

She took a few running steps and surfed the short distance up to the other ship’s deck, landing in a ready crouch with a tight stream of water looped through the air around her. There was no sound as Aang alighted behind her, but even if there had been, she would not have noticed.

Most of the time, these fights ended quickly. Firebenders weren’t at their best at night to start with. Soldiers rushed out, found themselves overwhelmed, and surrendered. The captain made an appearance and perhaps fought briefly, perhaps tried to rally his subordinates, but ultimately admitted defeat and gave up the goods.

But tonight was apparently a special night, because when Katara landed aboard the steamer, there was one firebender shouting and persistently unleashing all manner of fury in a three-on-one match against her friends.

He didn’t wear a uniform or even a shirt, just a pair of loose sleep pants as if he’d fallen from his bed into battle. And he seemed entirely ready for that battle, based on the way he spun and leapt and kicked unrelentingly in the air, dodging a chunk of metal from Toph even as he kept Suki and Sokka back with athletic moves and bright crests of flame.

Katara noticed at once that he didn’t look like a regular Fire Nation officer. His bared torso was all taut muscle - not that that was unusual, as many officers maintained their conditioning, it was more just… interesting. Drew the eye. No, it was his hair that marked him as peculiar. It was grown long past his shoulders and it fell loose and very straight around his scarred, snarling face. Most officers only kept their hair long enough for their military topknot. It might have occurred to Katara to wonder just what kind of captain this was, but presently, she was more interested in putting a stop to him.

Her water whip cut the air with only a chilling hiss for warning.

.

.

Zuko woke when he flopped hard off the edge of his bed onto the floor. A floor, he quickly realized through the fading disorientation of sleep, that was still swaying from some massive disturbance. He scrambled to his feet and craned his head to get a look out the wide, high window.

On the deck below, something was going on in the dark - but the strange ice that jutted up around his ship shone brilliant and deadly in the moonlight.

“Uncle!” he shouted as he slammed through his door into the hallway. “Uncle Iroh! We’re under attack!”

The old man was already emerging from his quarters, rubbing his bleary eyes. “What, did we hit something?”

“They have a waterbender,” Zuko snarled on his way to the stairs. “It must be pirates.”

“Pirates!” Iroh exclaimed, following at a sedate trot. “How terribly exciting!”

Zuko had leapt far enough down the stairs that he could pretend not to hear that last bit. Uncle had grown increasingly… whiny in recent years. He complained largely of the boredom of their life at sea, constantly trying to get Zuko to do something - anything else.

Hey, maybe we take a little break from searching for the Avatar and visit the colonies! I know a most pleasant spa where the masseuses could work the tension out of a stone. I think it might really change your perspective on things, my nephew. A man needs to release his tension every now and then, you know?

It was insufferable and uncomfortable and Zuko always dismissed the notion and stormed off to scan the horizon… but the old man had a point about the tedium. Zuko had circled the globe in his hunt for the Avatar - and then did it again, and again, until what he was doing was less hunting for the Avatar and more hunting for any kind of purpose or meaning in his life.

Because the Avatar was never going to return. That much had become obvious over the course of seven years spent searching ruins and sniffing out half-baked stories. What had not become obvious was what Zuko could possibly do instead, what other path to honor might remain open to him.

He was confident, however, that such a path would not be found in some thinly-veiled whorehouse in the colonies.

In truth, Zuko was no longer entirely sure he wanted to capture the Avatar even if one did appear. The chance to return home to his scheming, ruthless family no longer inspired in him the driving desperation he had felt when his banishment began. His sister was set to inherit the crown, presumably in half a century when Ozai succumbed to the inevitable fate of the terminally evil-and-wealthy and died peacefully in his sleep.

Meanwhile, Zuko had grown into a man in exile. A bitter and angry yet philosophical man deeply schooled in the arts of firebending, Pai Sho, and longing. Because what else was there to do?

Except, thankfully, finally, thrash a pack of pirates?

The only warning Zuko had about what awaited him on the deck was Lieutenant Jee, hanging by a strap of steel that had certainly not been affixed to the exterior door last night. “Prince Zuko,” he gasped against the pressure of the band, “it’s a metalbender.”

“Impossible,” Zuko managed - but the evidence was there before his eyes.

Beyond the open door, a girlish voice was cackling.

Zuko hurriedly kicked the restraint off his Lieutenant so the man fell free to the deck, then sent him off to rally the rest of the crew. “And get my uncle down here. Now!”

Then, bold and furious, Prince Zuko leapt out the door and reignited the lost fight.

The cackler turned out to be the metalbender, a muscular but petite girl - a teenager - whose smirk and hard postures bespoke unshakable confidence. At the instant of his appearance - almost as if she had sensed him coming and was waiting to do it - she moved through a sequence and ripped a sheet of the deck out from under Zuko’s bare feet. Or she would have, if he hadn’t hurled himself forward into a flip and come down in a roaring kick that crashed down a huge gout of flames. The metalbender blocked with another chunk of the deck.

“Stop tearing holes in my ship!” Zuko shouted, punching more blasts at her to try and flush her out of her shelter. While she was under cover, he blasted the restraints off a couple of his firebenders, then quickly went back on the offensive to cover their rise and return to combat.

“Get a real ship!” the little brat shouted from behind her shield. She shot a chunk of steel at him and he was forced to dodge even though she couldn’t possibly have seen him to aim. “This clunker’s more rust and barnacles than metal anyways!”

“Rrah!”

“Finally!” A lean man with a sword darted in to beset one of the freed firebenders. Zuko didn’t see the fight, but he saw the moment his soldier toppled over the gunwale with a cry. The swordsman grinned and shouted back toward the rigging of the pirate vessel Zuko only then realized was locked in alongside - that’s what all the ice was for. “Katara, you’re missing it! Captain’s out-! Woah!”

He went staggering back from the low arc of flame Zuko kicked in his direction. Zuko turned his whole attention back to bearing down with a sustained blaze on his first opponent. The metalbender was strong, but her technique was a little slow and, if Zuko hit her shield with enough heat, he suspected she might-

“Ow!” She tumbled out of the way, holding one hand close to her chest. “Why you bilge-sucking biscuit-burner! I’m gonna mash you good for that one!”

It happened as if in slow motion. Zuko had drawn back for a knock-out blow and was initiating the punch, but from the corner of his eye, he saw a golden flash and another figure moving rapidly toward him. He redirected his punch but was too late to do more than block the fan that had been about to strike him in the side of the head. The pale, painted face of a Kyoshi Warrior was suddenly there, looming like a specter out of the night.

She was much faster than the metalbender, and came at him with a lightning-quick sequence of jabs and slashes with her fans. For a moment, Zuko was hard-pressed to evade her attacks. She drove him a few steps until he stumbled over one of the torn places in the deck and went sprawling on his back. The warrior darted in-

-but Zuko wheeled his legs around in a dazzling circle of fire that sent her leaping back, blocking with those fans. He rode the kick to his feet and took the offensive, laying down a hard, quick series of blasts that had her backing up toward the pirate vessel, where the metalbender was one-handedly locking the last of his firebenders back down.

Zuko might have been annoyed, had he not been so busy almost getting skewered. The lean guy with the sword came up from his flank. If he had led with a stab, he might have ended the fight right there, but he tried to brain his enemy with the flat of his blade instead.

Zuko didn’t give it much thought as he ducked, darted in close to grab the guy’s sword-hand, and, with a grip on the front of his vaguely Water Tribey pirate jacket, pitched him bodily at the warrior. She was charging him with her fans out to either side and barely managed to dodge out of the way as the lean guy came hurtling past.

“Waugh-!”

Zuko kicked fire to keep her diverted and simultaneously ducked out of the way of another chunk of his ship that came hurtling toward him. He was about to press the advantage when a hissing sound cut the air, he felt a hard jolt of impact, and pain bloomed from his left pectoral like he’d been stung by a buzzard-wasp. He fell a couple steps back and took in this new opponent.

“The waterbender,” he growled, momentarily stunned.

TBC

[scotianostra]

On May 10th 1850 Thomas Lipton, founder of the Lipton's grocery chain was born in Glasgow.

Before the big supermarkets took over we lhad ots of wee ones, every street had a Liptons, or a Galbraith even a Templetons!

Liptons was one of the originals started by a guy from Glasgow who built an empire and the tea brand still bares his name.

Born in a tenement flat in Crown Street, the Gorbals, Liptons parents were Irish and had left the Emerald Isle during the potato famine, the smallholding their family had farmed on for generations no longer viable they settled in Glasgow. 'Tommy' Lipton was educated at St. Andrew's Parish School close to Glasgow Green and by the time Tommy was 12 his parents had a shop in the street they lived selling ham, butter, and eggs. It was with the aim of supplementing his parents' limited income that Thomas Lipton left school at the age of thirteen and found employment as a printer's errand boy, and later as a shirtcutter. He also enrolled at a night school, the Gorbals Youth's School, during this period. He then found work as a cabin boy a steamer running between Glasgow and Belfast and was captivated by life aboard the ship and the stories told by sailors who had traveled to the US After being let go by the steamer company, Lipton quickly used the wages he had saved to purchase passage on a ship bound for the U.S., where he would spend five years working and traveling all over the country.

Back in Scotland on his 21st birthday, In 1871 Lipton opened his firstown shop at 101 Stobcross Street in Glasgow. In the heart of industrial Glasgow, full of smoke and fog, the shop was said to be so brightly lit that at night it became a beacon in the street. Goods were stacked in the American fashion, not for the convenience of the proprietors, but with the purpose of catching the customers’ attention. Lipton used another selling technique learned from his time in the States and from his Mother's shop.

When his parents had opened their small shop, Mrs. Lipton, rather than deal with middlemen at the markets, dealt directly with the farmers of her homeland. Lipton followed this example. He bought his bacon, eggs, butter and other produce directly from Irish farmers. The firm traded as a supermarket until 1982 when another group bought the shops that were to become Presto’s, the decision was made as they wanted to solely concentrate on the Tea business which it does to this day, in 2009 Lipton received a Corporate Green Globe Award for its work with the Rainforest Alliance.

As well as the tea and the shops but Lipton was also a keen sailor, he holds a place in the America’s Cup heart as being the most reliably consistent and deftly congenial loser. Five times he challenged for the Cup, five times being defeated. Despite his best laid plans and momentous effort to win the cup, the tea magnate simply didn’t cut the mustard. Nonetheless, he did have a penchant for beautiful boats. His last challenger, Shamrock V, never really stood a chance of winning the race but it did win marks for pure beauty. His well-publicised efforts to win the cup, which earned him a specially designed cup for “the best of all losers”, and also made his tea famous in the United States.

During the first world war Thomas Lipton helped organisations of medical volunteers. He placed his yachts at the disposal of the Red Cross, the Scottish Women's Hospitals Committee of Dr. Elsie Inglis, the Serbian Supporting Fund, etc., for the transport of medical volunteers (doctors and nurses) and medical supplies. Not content with just allowing his boats to be used he also took a keen interest in the work of Elsie Inglis and the womans hospital, visiting Serbia, where he insisted on humble lodgings and was renowned for his humility and modesty. .In addition to visiting many hospitals, where he encouraged doctors, nurses and soldiers, he found time to attend traditional fairs and to take a part in blackberry gathering and fishing. Sir Thomas Lipton was proclaimed an honorary citizen of the city of Niš.

Lipton even made the cover of Time magazine during 1924. He was knighted in 1901. Sir Thomas Lipton passed away on 2nd October 1931 in London and is buried alongside his parents and siblings in Glasgow's Southern Necropolis, his grave, like the man himself, a humble, simple understated affair, he bequeathed the majority of his fortune to his native city of Glasgow, including his yachting trophies, which are now on display at the Kelvingrove Gallery.

[schwoofy]

steamed hams vocoded to skater boy

[murielcook]

onion cheese cream sauce au gratin potatoes

Are you ready? okay

items for sauce:

1 vidalia onion (between softball and baseball sized)

1 stick of butter

1/2 large carton heavy/whipping cream (variable) about 2 cups

powdered cheese

garlic powder

onion powder

white pepper

3-4 chicken ramen packets, or 2 cups chicken stock

salt (very little if using ramen packets, more if using stock, potatoes soak up salt like crazy)

thyme

marjoram

mushroom powder if you're cute like that

reserve ham liquid if you have any (cut back salt if you do)

Items for finished dish:

2lbs sliced ham (thick deli slice style, round is easier, split into 3 stacks, cut into quarters)

about 4lbs potatoes

shredded cheese, dealer's choice

Steps:

thin slice potatoes. should be floppy. a mandolin is your friend. If using thin-skinned potatoes, skip peeling. otherwise peel first.

partly unwrap your butter and use it to rub the inside of your casserole dish

get your saute pan preheating

put basket or steamer in instant pot (important!), add 2c water and 2 ramen packets (or 2c stock), dump in potatoes, set on highest setting for 0 minutes (I was skeptical too but if they're thin enough it'll be fine) [source]

While that's going, peel outer layer off onion, cut in half, cut thin slices; lightly oil the pan then get them in there to start softening up, medium heat we're just sweating them

cut up your ham while you wait for onion

once onions have hit translucent stage, pretty soft, give things a stir, throw the stick of butter on top of the pile and let it hang out

mix spice powders with cheese powder in a dish; garlic, onion, white pepper, and cheese powder happen here. you want to end up with about 2/3 of a cup of mix here, possibly more if you're using stock and add salt. dealer's choice on what's most dominant, you know what you like!

once that butter is mostly melted, start looking for some browning. give things a stir; you're looking for SOME caramelization, not fully browned, we're going for a mix of onion flavors

potato timer go off? let it hang out for as much as 3 minutes before releasing the valve, then remove the potatoes to a bowl.

sprinkle your spice mix over the onion and butter and keep stirring until it's a paste and there's not a lot of liquid butter left

if it starts to stick or you're happy with the mix, start adding the potato liquid from the pot, this adds broth, liquid, and starch, whisk (preferably with a fork or spatula so your onions don't get tangled) quickly to turn the paste into sauce

begin adding cream, nice and slow while stirring

keep going, we're using about 2/3 cup of cream

stop when it starts to get thin, keep stirring for just a little while longer

turn up the heat a little to let that bubble and incorporate, prepare more of the powder mix, because you're going to want more sauce

put down a layer of potato just enough to cover the bottom, then take a ham stack and layer that over top, keep it light and sloppy for sauce flow

take a ladle and start spooning over sauce, make sure to get some onion in the mix, but don't get too greedy or you'll put all your onion in one layer!

turn down the heat on the sauce if you haven't - you might be starting to get browning on bottom - stir that up, add a dash more cream if it seems extra gunky (more like a glue than a sauce)

sprinkle about 2 cups of just-shredded cheese (loose) or 1 cup commercial shredded cheese (packed), you're going for a light distribution

next layer of potato, ham, sauce and cheese

at this point if you're like me, your sauce is running low! have no fear. get your oven preheating to 400F (convection, 425F regular)

take that round 2 powder mix, pour cream directly in it so you can make a paste

scrape that paste into your sauce mix then slowly add the remainder of your cream and stir while bringing the heat back up

This won't get as thick but as it's getting saucier, sprinkle on thyme and marjoram. maybe a tsp of each? evenly sprinkled across the top and stirred in

DUMP IT IN that potato pile, and top with 2c of cheese. go heavier on this, we want it to melt and brown, give the pan a gentle shake to help sauce distribution and stick it in the oven

you might have time to clean up some of the prep dishes while it's browning. check in 10 minutes on that cheese. keep checking every 5 or so after that until it's as brown as you please

DONE

oo you better let that sit because it's bubbling

Notes:

Feeds at least 6.

I have an induction cooktop so I can turn down my heat very quickly, if you don't, consider moving the pan off the heat briefly if you're feeling like it's browning at the bottom faster than you can stir/scrape it off or you're in danger of sticking/burning.

Stainless steel or another forgiving surface is your friend here so you can scrape without fear. non-stick users should keep a wooden spoon or spatula handy for being very firm with brown material in the sauce.

You don't have to use ramen packets, obviously! we always have extra because people make the noodles other ways around here so i ask them to save the packets to use as quick and dirty bouillon substitute.

More onions would be best if you have a 12" skillet or something else that can heat up more without too much layering; this would change the sauce situation quite a bit; it'd definitely take longer

heavy cream recommended for texture and thickening ability, you'll likely have to cut back and add more thickening agent (powdered cheese, flour, etc) if going a different route there

Shred carrots into little matchstick pieces to add in if you want to mix it up. parsnips or sweet potato could be interesting if you're into that.

mushrooms would make a good addition, maybe steamed on top of the potatoes then diced and added to the sauce as it's being built. or just quite a bit of mushroom powder, give it more earthy umami flavor.

The mandoline slicer I use is the "ONCE FOR ALL upgrade safe mandoline slicer": Affiliate link - I don't use it often, tbh, but it's perfect for mass batches of thin, even slices, especially if you have neck or back problems like yours truly. wishlist it and wait for a sale, imo. or check one of the many basically identical ones. but i can confirm i like this one.

[clairelutra]

meal prep, the "i can stand upright for about an hour, and then i'll sit down and won't get up again" edition

so!! i've needed quick meals for basically ever, and it was high time i sis meal prep again, but i'm crazy drained and can't manage a whole lot. so!! i thought i'd write up what i'm doing for this meal prep in case it helps anyone else. everything is packed in 16oz deli containers i got for like $7 at the restaurant supply store

strawberry trifle: -strawberries cut into bite size chunks, coated in a few tablespoons of sugar and left to sit for a few hours -vanilla pudding mixed from a packet -pound cake, sliced and stuffed on top of the strawberries

keep in fridge until ready to eat. invert into a bowl if you feel fancy, idk. you could probably keep whipped cream or something on hand to top it and make it extra great but i was too lazy for that.

sweet potatoes and ham: -diced ham from one of those pre-cooked dinner hams you get at the supermarket near the sliced meats -cooked sweet potatoes from a microwave steamer bag (idk how many stores offer this but the internet has instructions for cooking sweet potatoes in the microwave and presumably those could be substituted for the steamer bag) sliced in half + a pat of butter and spoon of brown sugar on top

after it's packed, it's pretty easy to just. dump it all in a bowl, heat it up for a couple of minutes, then consume.

ham and stuffing: -thick slices of a dinner ham (could also be rotisserie chicken or turkey or whatever) -thanksgiving stuffing from a box -canned cranberry sauce

make sure the cranberry sauce is at the bottom; it'll soak up into everything it's touching, and moreso if it's got gravity helping it, so how Joined you want your cranberry sauce and stuffing is up to you. dump in bowl, heat, and enjoy.

so that's what i'm eating for the next few days, after getting sick to death of corn dogs, shared in hopes that it is useful inspiration to some poor soul out there in need of packed meals.

[killman-enderson]

MILKMAXING? BROTHER. H

KP NEED ENRICHMENT... i dont drink coffee and i can use the steamer for fun so i just go ham on the milks!!!

[proserpinewrites]

Assorted headcanons about Hekate ‘Katie’ Talbot:

Taught herself how to play guitar using a very old leftover guitar from a prior Vault 101 resident and some guidebooks that Jonas found for her. Left said guitar behind in the vault, but retrieved it after the massacre. Did not take it north with her to Boston and absolutely has had a special order in with Daisy for ages seeking another one.

Enjoys sniping intact cars until they explode for stress relief and/or to scare the living daylights out of raiders. Also enjoys prank calling Brotherhood soldiers via ham radio and then scarpering before they investigate.

Hates monkeys. Doesn’t matter what kind, be it the cymbal wielding raider alarm variety or Jangles the Moon Monkey. Uses the latter for target practice in the shooting gallery at Railroad HQ.

Has an extensive holotape collection of music, film, and any other worthwhile media she can get her hands on. Has been trying and failing to construct her own homemade headphones for years. Brought the entire steamer trunk’s worth of holotapes up north with her. After her plasmacaster, that trunk and it’s contents are her most prized possession.

Leery of dogs, likes but has little experience with cats, but has a strange affection for Deathclaws, Brahmin, molerats, and radrabbits. Would try to domesticate the latter two creatures if she had the time and energy.

Cannot and will not dance. Well aware of her limitations in that area, and given her lack of proprioception it's probably for the best.

Autistic, like her father before her. Has substantially better communication skills, mainly self-taught and earned through past bad experiences. Prefers written communication or ham radio communication to face to face, but can handle herself in person.

Sometimes wishes she was a synth, if only to be freed of the continual burden of remembering to eat, drink, and etc. Has only told Glory this after half a bottle of wine.

Has a great number of small scars in odd places due to her 'fuck it, why not' attitude towards experimenting with electronics and mechanical objects.

Lies about the source of most of her scars, except for the burn scar on her left shoulder. That one is due to a badly aimed shot from a Brotherhood soldier during the retaking of Project Purity, and she's still bitter about it.

[ask-chara-official]

chara-related puns fur a purrticular frisk who needs em rn

Hm, well a chara who steams hams would be a chara steamer,

[quixoticgourmet]

Din Tai Fung Soup Dumplings

Found this recipe while trolling Reddit out of boredom. Looks pretty close on first blush, even if I can't vouch for it's accuracy.

Din Tai Fung Soup Dumplings

INGREDIENTS Soup Mixture   10  cups water   3  tablespoons water (may need more)   3  lbs chicken parts (wings, backs, and necks)   2 1⁄2 ounces chinese-style cured smoked ham or 2 1⁄2 ounces Smithfield Ham, cut into 4 slices   3⁄4 cup green onion, rough chopped (white parts only)   2  slices  peeled fresh ginger (1 inch diameter 1/2 inch thick)   1  dried shiitake mushroom   1  large garlic clove, flattened   1  tablespoon soy sauce   2  teaspoons shaoxing wine   1  tablespoon unflavored gelatin 

Filling   1  lb ground pork   1⁄4 lb  uncooked shrimp, peeled de-veined and finely chopped   1⁄3 cup green onion, minced (white parts only)   3  tablespoons sugar   2  tablespoons soy sauce   1  large garlic clove, minced   3⁄4 teaspoon salt   1⁄2 teaspoon ground black pepper   1⁄2 teaspoon peeled fresh ginger, finely grated   1⁄2 teaspoon shaoxing wine   1⁄4 teaspoon sesame oil  

Dumplings   75  dumpling wrappers (3 inch square or round)   1  large head napa cabbage, leaves separated  

Dipping Sauce   1  cup black vinegar   6  tablespoons soy sauce   2  tablespoons  very thin matchstick-size strips peeled fresh ginger  

DIRECTIONS   1. Three days before, combine 10 cups water and all remaining soup ingredients except gelatin in large pot. Bring to boil, spooning off any foam that rises to surface. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until chicken pieces are very soft and beginning to fall apart, adding more water by cupfuls if necessary to keep chicken submerged, about 2 hours 30 minutes. 2. Strain soup; discard solids. Return broth to same pot. Boil until reduced to 2 cups, about 35 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour 3 tablespoons water into small bowl; sprinkle gelatin over. Let stand until gelatin softens. Add to hot broth; stir until gelatin is dissolved. Transfer to 13x9x2-inch glass dish. Cover; refrigerate aspic overnight. 3. Two days before, combine all filling ingredients in large bowl and mix with fork just until blended. Cut aspic into 1/3-inch cubes. Add 1/3 of the aspic cubes to pork mixture; stir gently with wooden spoon just until incorporated. Cover and refrigerate. Return aspic to refrigerator. 4. Mix 1 cup black vinegar, 6 tablespoons soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons fresh ginger strips in small bowl. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving. 5. One day prior, line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Place 1 dumpling wrapper on work surface. Spoon 1 very generous teaspoon filling onto center of wrapper, including at least 2 aspic cubes. 6. Lightly brush edges of dumpling wrapper with water. Bring 1 corner of wrapper up around filling, then pleat remaining edges of wrapper at regular intervals all around filling until filling is enclosed and wrapper forms bundle-like shape with small opening at top. 7. Gather top edges of wrapper together and twist at top to enclose filling. Place on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling. Refrigerate, covered, for 1 day, or freeze in single layer in covered containers for 2 weeks. 8. On the day of, line each layer of bamboo steamer basket with cabbage leaves; place over wok filled with enough water to reach just below bottom of bamboo steamer basket. (Or line metal steamer rack with cabbage leaves and set over water in large pot.) Place dumplings atop cabbage, spacing apart. 9. Bring water to boil. Cover; steam until cooked through, adding more water to wok if evaporating too quickly, about 12 minutes for fresh dumplings and 15 minutes for frozen. Serve dumplings immediately, passing sauce alongside for dipping.

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/TopSecretRecipes/comments/mtek14/din_tai_fung_noodles_with_sesame_sauce/gv0duzq/

[nusratpopy99]

10 Surprising Meals You Can Make in a Rice Cooker

When most people think of a rice cooker, they naturally think of cooking rice. However, the versatility of the best rice cooker extends far beyond this staple grain. If you own one, you may be pleasantly surprised by the variety of meals you can prepare with it.

From breakfast to dinner, and even dessert, a rice cooker can become one of the most valuable appliances in your kitchen. Here are ten surprising meals you can make using a rice cooker, proving its worth as more than just a single-purpose gadget.

1. Quinoa and Vegetable Stir-Fry

Quinoa is a protein-packed grain that can easily be cooked in a rice cooker. Add your favorite vegetables, such as bell peppers, carrots, and peas, along with some seasonings like soy sauce or teriyaki sauce. Once the quinoa and vegetables are cooked, you’ll have a nutritious and tasty stir-fry ready to serve.

2. Frittata

A rice cooker is an excellent tool for making a fluffy and flavorful frittata. Beat a few eggs and pour them into the rice cooker along with your preferred mix-ins such as spinach, mushrooms, cheese, and ham. Cook on the regular rice setting, and soon you’ll have a perfectly cooked frittata that’s great for breakfast or brunch.

3. Mac and Cheese

Who doesn’t love a comforting bowl of mac and cheese? Your rice cooker can handle this creamy dish with ease. Add pasta, milk, and shredded cheese to the cooker, and let it do its magic. In no time, you’ll have a pot of delicious, cheesy goodness.

4. Oatmeal

A hearty bowl of oatmeal is a fantastic way to start the day, and a rice cooker can make it even easier. Combine oats, water or milk, and your favorite toppings such as cinnamon, nuts, or fruit. Set your cooker to the porridge or regular setting, and enjoy a warm, nutritious breakfast without any hassle.

5. Chicken and Rice

A classic combination, chicken and rice, can be effortlessly made in a rice cooker. Place chicken pieces, rice, and your choice of seasonings and vegetables into the cooker. The result is a flavorful, one-pot meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights.

6. Steamed Dumplings

If you’re a fan of dumplings, a rice cooker can serve as a makeshift steamer. Line the basket with parchment paper, place the dumplings inside, and let the rice cooker steam them to perfection. This method works well for both fresh and frozen dumplings.

7. Chili

A hearty chili is another surprising dish you can make in a rice cooker. Brown some ground beef or turkey, then add beans, tomatoes, and your favorite chili seasonings. Let the mixture simmer in the rice cooker until all the flavors meld together into a rich, comforting meal.

8. Ratatouille

For a healthy and delicious vegetable dish, try making ratatouille in your rice cooker. Layer slices of zucchini, eggplant, and tomatoes, then drizzle with olive oil and season with herbs. Cook until the vegetables are tender and the flavors are well combined.

9. Risotto

Risotto is traditionally a labor-intensive dish, but a rice cooker can simplify the process. Sauté onions and garlic in the cooker, add arborio rice and broth, and let the rice cooker do the work. Stir in some Parmesan cheese and butter at the end for a creamy, decadent finish.

10. Chocolate Cake

Yes, you can even make dessert in a rice cooker! A chocolate cake made in a rice cooker is moist and delicious. Prepare your favorite cake batter, pour it into the cooker, and set it to the regular rice setting. The result is a perfectly baked cake that’s sure to impress.

Conclusion

The best rice cooker is not just for cooking rice. Its versatility makes it an invaluable tool in the kitchen, capable of preparing a wide range of delicious meals. Whether you’re looking to make a quick breakfast, a hearty dinner, or even a dessert, your rice cooker can handle the task. So, the next time you’re thinking about what to cook, remember these ten surprising meals and make the most of your rice cooker’s capabilities.

[xtruss]

The 2024 Uber Lost & Found Index Reveals Bizarre Items Left behind By The Customers

— April 17, 2024 | Uber.Com | Written By Uber

With Mercury in Retrograde, which astrologists say influences forgetfulness, we’re back with the eighth annual Uber Lost & Found Index – a snapshot of the most surprising and most popular items left behind in Ubers.

Over the last twelve months, items of clothing, luggage, headphones and wallets topped the list of most frequently forgotten belongings. But Uber riders didn’t just leave the usuals behind… in fact, folks forgot their frontal hair toupees, live turtles, trays of meat pie, tubs of surgical implants, and more. We saw a few new forgetfulness trends this year, too: Miami was the most forgetful city, red was the most lost color, 9pm and 10pm are when most folks report lost items, and January 21st was the most forgetful day.

Take a look at the full Lost & Found Index below, which includes step-by-step instructions on how to get help getting lost items back in the Uber app. Whether it’s your Beyoncé fold up fan or a whole smoked pork belly, we want to help you reunite with your prized possessions!

The 2024 Uber Lost & Found Index! The 10 Lost Commonly Forgotten Items:

Clothing

Luggage

Headphones

Wallet

Jewelry

Phone

Camera

Tablet or book

Laptop

Vape

The 10 Most “Forgetful” Cities:

Miami, FL

Los Angeles, CA

Atlanta, GA

Houston, TX

Dallas, TX

Orlando, FL

Phoenix, AZ

Tampa Bay, FL

Denver, CO

Austin, TX

The 50 Most *Unique* Lost Items:

Frontal hair toupee

Hot sauce and a breathalyzer

I left a leaf in your car that’s much needed

Two containers with spiders in them

A Beyoncé fold up fan

A tray of meat pie

Ceramic cat

Jar of oysters

A personalized blanket with a picture of me and my dog

Small rat skeleton prop

Candle that says ‘See you in court’

A fake tooth / retainer (it’s a really small plastic piece with a fake tooth in it)

Gray tub of surgical implants

Police-grade handcuffs

My live pet animal turtle

Waist beads and a burrito steamer

I left expensive blueberries that are special that I need that the store is completely out of. There’s two packages that I absolutely need.

My girlfriend’s pregnant pills

Small box containing a gnome.

Standup paddleboard paddle

Painting from SeaWorld. It was wrapped up in a roll and I love it.

A playbill from the Spamalot show at the Kennedy Center

My robot

Benihana garlic butter

Contraceptive Plan B from Costco and a BaBylissPRO massager machine

A panic button

A spear and a furry fox tail

Taylor Swift autograph. Framed!!!!

Fart sensor

Bravo Con wristband

A #bestdayever foam sign

3 feathers

Fake butt

Poster of Hillary Clinton

Panty liner and 1000 bucks. That’s all I can remember

Some lotion or my thong

Meditation crystals

Undergarments, bread, pack of ham and mayo

Cardboard cut out panda

Street sign saying ‘She’s drunk’ and a picture frame

My father’s beard softener

Big sentimental carrying jug

Paternity test

WWE championship belt

Harry Potter wand engraved with name ‘Alexander’

Large sticker with a dancing cartoon cat that says ‘Spanky Fest’ on it

I might have left my garden fence in the trunk.

Jeep Liberty engine. Please call me

I lost my wizard woman

Three Japanese ceramic decorative cats – one gold, one black and one pink. All fist-sized.

Top 20 Forgotten Food Items:

Leftovers from Pizzeria Portofino. Soooo expensive.

A whole smoked pork belly

Cooler with meat

I left the ice cream cones in your car and was worried about it melting and making a mess

A nice cheese. Feel free to keep!

A pan of chicken spaghetti

Bucket of cookies

Benihana garlic butter

Mason jar with cilantro

Church cookies in the trunk

Green lettuce in a jar in your car

Fly ass burrito

Side of salmon

Tomatoes (Don’t need ‘em back, just a heads up so they don’t cook in your car!)

A tray of meat pie

I left my pizza in your car! I can’t believe I left it!

Bowl of meat is in your car! And i need it

I left some pasta in the back by accident. Feel free to have it! It was so yummy and I didn’t eat out of the plate. Thanks again!

Jar of oysters

Small container of valuable honey

2024 Lost & Found Trends:

Seeing Red: Lost an item and seeing red? Well, that should help, since the most popular color of lost items was red.

Keeping Cool with Crystals: Channeling your inner zen and manifesting more just got a little harder. Riders around the country lost a number of healing crystals, including purple Amethysts, green Aventurines and more.

Mini Cooper Movers: The top lost car keys were from Mini Cooper owners. They won’t be getting very far in their little cars!

What’s the WiFi: There was a significant number of wifi hotspots and mobile routers left behind this year. Is that why you dropped from the Zoom call?

Getting Sensical: It appears Uber riders are coming to their senses this year, or finding them rather. From dignity, to credibility and memory, riders reported emotional losses left behind.

Next Time, Take Your Board: Whether of sentimental value or brand spankin’ new, skateboarders forgot their #1 tool this year time and time again.

Most Forgetful Days/Times:

Remember 1/21: January 21st is the most forgetful day of the year, with the most lost items recorded.

Losing Hour: The most popular hours of the day lost items were reported were 9:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Not the ideal night time routine we see on TikTok, huh?

Lost Items That Peak On Certain Days:

People are most likely to forget luggage on Mondays.

People are most likely to forget headphones on Tuesdays.

People are most likely to forget wallets on Wednesdays.

People are most likely to forget jewelry on Thursdays.

People are most likely to forget phones on Fridays.

People are most likely to forget vapes on Saturdays.

People are most likely to forget clothing on Sundays.

If you’ve left something behind during a ride with Uber, look no further than this help page, which outlines the simple steps you can take to help you get a lost item returned to you.

The best way to retrieve a lost item is to call the driver – but if you leave your phone itself in an Uber, you can login

Open the Uber app and tap “Activity” on the bottom icon menu.

Select the trip on which you lost the item.

Scroll down to “Find lost item” in the Help section, and then “Contact driver about a lost item.”

Enter your phone number to call the driver.

If your driver picks up and confirms that your item has been found, coordinate a mutually convenient time and place to meet for its return to you.

If your driver doesn’t pick up, leave a detailed voicemail describing your item and the best way to contact you.

[scotianostra]

During the same storm that lashed the Scottish waters that took the crew of the RNLB  Mona, we lost the Aberdeen based George Robb trawler in the same storm.

This never flagged up for me, which surprises me, hopefully next  year I will catch it on the correct day.

December 1959 saw one of the worst storms in living memory brought disaster to shipping and caused great loss of life around Scotland.  The full fury of the gale started on Sunday 6th December abating on Thursday 10th December. For four days mountainous seas lashed the coast and ships on voyage were at the mercy of the storm. On the Caithness coast, two vessels were wrecked and 13 lives were lost.

The Leith cargo steamer, the Servus, was lost at Dunbeath on 7 December despite every effort to save her. She had been held in tow by another ship for some time, but in the end the master and crew of seven had to be taken off by the Cromarty lifeboat, and the derelict steamer was driven to her doom below Dunbeath Castle.

The people of Wick learned of the distress call from the George Robb when they heard the rockets sent off by the coastguards to call out the local Lifesaving Company. The Scarfskerry Company were also summoned. Meanwhile Longhope lifeboat had been launched and was heading towards the scene in heavy seas with the gale at its height, the Wick lifeboat being unable to leave harbour because of the gale and the immense breakers at the harbour entrance.

When the coastguards and L.S.A. Companies, under the command of Commander John L. Woolcombe, Coastguard Inspector for the Northern District, arrived at Duncansby Head Lighthouse, they learned that the trawler had already been located by some local persons. Among those who heard the George Robb's S.O.S. on their radio sets was Mr William Ham, farmer. Along with his wife Betty, (a trained nurse), he set off at once in his car from their home in Mey for John O'Groats and to the home of Mrs Ham's father, Mr John Green, New Houses. Accompanied by Mr Green, his son, John and daughter, Nina, and a neighbour, Mr Alexander Sinclair, contractor, they set off carrying torches, towards the cliffs to the south of Duncansby Head.

After proceeding more than a mile over the moor in the worst weather they had ever experienced, the party reached the cliff top and heard a siren sounding from the beach below. Mr Green said afterwards that he thought someone still aboard the trawler had seen their torches and sounded the ship's siren. "The siren was being sounded at five minute interval," he said, "but after it went four or five times it suddenly became silent." With storm driven spray dashing over the cliff top it was difficult to see anything. "We could make out the faint outline of the hull," he said. "We got a glimpse of her between waves. The sea was crashing over her. We thought we saw a light in the wheelhouse but otherwise there was no sign of life." As there was nothing they could do, the party made for Duncansby Head Lighthouse and there met the Coastguards and Lifesaving Companies, and returned with them to the scene of the wreck. The ferocity of the gale was such that men at times had to hold on to each other as they fought their way to the cliffs, guided by hand torches, crossing broken ground over which they manhandled heavy equipment, which had to be carried over fences, and ditches and streams flooded with water. Blinded and drenched by the spray they groped their way forward. It was while the Coastguards were on their way that Station Officer Eric Campbell (50) collapsed. He was bringing up the rear with another man. They were carrying heavy equipment. The rest of the party were well ahead and were not aware that one of their colleagues was in distress. Two Wick volunteers in the Lifesaving Company - Hugh Green, 30 North Murchison Street, Wick and William Tait, 13 Argyle Square, Wick were also on their way and came upon Mr Campbell and his companion who were both exhausted. Mr Campbell appeared to be in a serious condition and Mr Green and Mr Tait decided to get help. They went ahead and met Commander Woolcombe who was on his way back to the Lighthouse. Returning to Mr Campbell they found he was now unconscious. Commander Woolcombe remained with him while Mr Green and Mr Tait proceeded to the Lighthouse for aid. Police Sergeant Robert Dunnett, Wick, who was about with a patrol car, along with Constable David Coghill, immediately organised a stretcher party and Station Officer Campbell was carried to the Lighthouse. Dr J.P.B. Gill, Canisbay, was summoned and when he arrived he found that Mr Campbell had died. The following Monday his body was removed to the Police Mortuary at Wick. Meanwhile the party ahead had reached the scene of the wreck. Using a powerful searchlight they could see the George Robb lying head on to the beach, and only a short distance from the cliffs. The trawler was in darkness and there was no sign of life aboard. The stricken ship lay as helpless as a toy at the mercy of the elements. Foaming seas swept over and around her. Inspector Woolcombe, coastguard service, said the trawler was located by searchlight. "we fired a rocket line but there was no one on deck to take it," he added. "It is most unlikely that anyone was alive on board at the time." When there was no response to the rocket line, it was decided to suspend rescue operations until day-break. Out at sea stood the Longhope lifeboat, but there was nothing that rescuers could do by land or sea. Commander Woolcombe decided to recall the lifeboat and a message was sent to the Lighthouse to be relayed to Wick Radio Station which notified the lifeboat. The watch on the cliff tops was kept in case survivors had reached the shore. Nothing could be seen, however. The search resumed at day-light. The George Robb was now seen lying over on her port side and her back was broken in several places. The beach was strewn with wreckage, including a large number of fish baskets. Lying on the shore, too, was an open suitcase, personal property of some member of the trawler's crew. Mr. Green's son, John, 26, and a friend, 36-year-old Alex Sinclair had descended to the beach by means of a path, a short distance north of the wreck, and they found a body, half-clothed and barefooted. Coastguards lowered a stretcher from the top and the body was hauled up and taken to one of two Land Rovers which the police had brought to the scene. It was conveyed to the Police Mortuary of Wick later. On 8 December, Mr A. Robb, a representative of the owners of the George Robb, who had travelled north by train, identified the body as that of Bruno Saborowski (39), second fisherman, Crombie Road, Torry. The Lighthouse became the base for the operations. Motor vehicles crowded the narrow road outside. On this, the highest point of the coast, the force of the gale was terrific. As men left the shelter of the building they were whirled along, almost off their feet, and had to grab at the wall, nearest vehicle or anything they could to stop their progress. Such were the conditions which a John O'Groat Journal representative found when he reached the scene on the Sunday night. Accompanying the Lifesaving Company to the wreck, he saw these volunteers on duty in conditions such as they had never experienced before, and most of them had been out on many wrecks in all kinds of weather. Exhausted men returned to the Lighthouse for warmth and shelter. In addition to attending to their ordinary duties the lighthouse staff - Alexander Matheson, Principal keeper, Fred Bruce, second keeper, and Charles Thomson, third keeper - were rendering every possible assistance. Mrs Matheson was kept busy serving hot drinks to men who were drenched and who had eventually to return to Wick for dry clothing. The body was conveyed by road to Aberdeen on the Thursday. Another body was found washed up on the shore at Freswick Thursday (10 December) and was taken to the Police Mortuary. The Crew The crew of the lost Aberdeen trawler were; Marshall Ryles, (Skipper); Peter Dempster, (Mate); B. Saborowski, (Second Fisherman); William McKay, (Chief Engineer); R. Dugan, (Second Engineer); J. Findlay, (Deckhand); A. Smith, (Deckhand); George Duffy, (Deckhand); John Christie Adams, (Deckhand); David Lockhart, (Deckhand) - all of Aberdeen; W. Farquhar, (Third Engineer) from Portknockie and W. Duthie, (Cook) from Cairnbulg. Skipper Marshall Ryles, who was 31, took over command of the George Robb when she was recently converted to diesel. Married with four of a family, he told his wife in a radio-phone call a few hours before disaster overtook the vessel that the weather was very bad and that he was in for a rough night. Before she went to bed that night Mrs Ryles was a sea widow - something she had feared always, but never put into words to her bright-eyed, sea-loving husband. At 23, Marshall Ryles was a mate - one of a successful crew. A measure of their success was that Marshall was paying super tax at that age. At 24 he became the youngest skipper to sail out of Aberdeen on fishing trawlers. Given a fine, powerful ship in the George Robb, the young skipper handled her with pride. "He liked plenty of power under his feet," said his wife. "He loved to use all the modern sea aids," said a friend. "He liked to sail as if he were driving a car along a signposted street." Peter Dempster, the 24-year-old mate of the trawler, was married only four months ago. He had been going to sea since the age of 15. His wife, Ulvjean Dempster, 22-year-old, was tyding their spick-and-span new home in Alexander Drive when her brother broke the news to her. "It was to have been our first Christmas together in our new home." she said. Polish-born Bruno Saborowski, had been sailing on Aberdeen trawlers since his demobilisation 12 years ago.  In Torry, Aberdeen his landlady, Mrs. C S Graham looked around her stripped living room in Crombie Road as she was due to move to a house in Kincorth. Her eyes red-rimmed with weeping, Mrs. Graham said: "We don't have any family. Bruno was just like a son to us. We are all ready to move-all our best stuff is out of the house. Bruno had stayed with us all these years. Now we don't know if we're on our head or our heels. I don't know if we'll bother with that new house. We had it all planned that Bruno would stay with us." She went on to say that "I think his pet spaniel, Teddy, knew there was something wrong. He had been uneasy all night." William Mackay, the 35-year-old chief engineer, hated the sea and spent every minute in port at his home in Strathmore Drive, Aberdeen. He was the father of three children - aged from 13 months to seven years. His last words to his wife as he left home were: "Maybe I'll be back. It looks gey rough." His wife said: "He'd been hoping for a shore job so that he wouldn't have to go to sea." Second Engineer Robert Dugan, who would have been 39 next month, was coming home for Christmas to his wife and two sons - aged 5 and 9 - and his daughter Maureen, aged 7. Mrs. Nancy Dugan said: "He was anxious to get the house painted before he left and he had been working hard to have it ready for Christmas and the New Year. I was getting the little girl ready for school when I heard about the boat on the radio. It was a terrible shock."  Fair-haired Nancy Dugan, summed it up when she said: "Bob was so pleased about the new boat. He even invited me down to see it. I said what will people think if they see me on a trawler? But he said the chief had already shown his wife around, so I went down, and it was a lovely boat." On board, as the trawler hammered through the hissing seas was 30-year-old James Findlay, of Davidson Place, Aberdeen who was married with four children. This was the third time he had been involved in a sea accident. He was aboard the Sturdee when it went aground on Aberdeen beach about four years ago, and when the George Robb grounded in Orkney earlier that year. He and his wife were to have celebrated a wedding anniversary and Mrs. Findlay was expecting a message from him. Mr. Findlay was a native of Govanhill, Glasgow, and former pupil of Abbotsford Place School. He was christened Peter McPhedran, the son of a lorry driver. Later his parents separated and he took the name Findlay. His mother - remarried and living in Ayr - said yesterday: "Peter was a wanderer. He moved around a lot and worked for a time on some hydro-electric scheme in Inverness-shire. Then he went to Aberdeen and married and settled there." Albert Smith (45), married with four of a family, held a mate's certificate, but sailed as a deckhand because he had been unable during the past few weeks to get a mate's berth. George Duffy (25) the only son in a family of five, had an artificial limb. He lost a leg when he was five. He had been at sea since he was 17. John Christie Adams (45) left a family of six. He served on minesweepers during the war. David Lockhart (30), deckhand, lived with his mother at 72 Grampian Place, Torry. His brother Findlay was killed in a "million to one" mystery electrical blast at Countesswells, Aberdeen, in January 1959. And in Portnockie, Banffshire and Cairnbulg - village of another recent sea tragedy - there were more mourning for the two other victims W. Farquhar and W. Duthie. Fishermen in Aberdeen were surprised that the George Robb had made the Pentland Firth in such quick time. But the gale that hounded her at times gusted at more than 80 mile an hour. Cause Unknown No one knows what went wrong aboard the trawler when she was caught in the teeth of the gale. Was her steering smashed? Did her engines fail? Or did some other fault develop which put her at the mercy of the cruel sea? The only clue was the radio message from the stricken ship about 11.30 on the Sunday night (6 December). It read: "Making water rapidly. Require immediate assistance." The George Robb She was built in 1930 by Hall Russells of Aberdeen for Newhaven owner Robert Carnie as the as the Elise I. Carnie and registered in Granton as GN24. She  was bought by George Robb & Sons Ltd. in 1936, re-named George Robb and registered in Aberdeen (A406). She was taken up by the navy on 30/08/1939 and served as a minesweeper until her release in February 1946. In 1959, when almost all of Aberdeen's fleet of steam trawlers had already gone for scrapping it was felt that the George Robb at less than 30 years old had some years of life left in her sturdy hull and she was therefore taken in hand for conversion to diesel power, the work being completed at Lowestoft in October 1959. She was 36m long, 7m wide and 91 tons.