#including sunflower flavour ice cream

[rachlou86]

August slipped away into a moment in time 🌻

[octoagentmiles]

i love ur octonauts safe foods post but that also brings the question: what are the octo-agents safe foods?

wonderful question my anonymous friend- apologies for the delay, please enjoy post 🤲:

Paani’s patties have nuts, seeds, and bugs in them, which all have kind of similar tastes—hear me out—they all taste nutty (yes, bugs have a nutty flavour, if you didn’t know), and possibly a little roasty or smokey depending on how they’re prepared. Paani’s safe foods probably consist of a lot of other grains, nuts, or butters (peanut butter, sunflower butter, almond/cashew butter, etc). He probably unironically enjoys pistachio ice cream. Can’t go wrong with a giant jug of straight up rainwater, either.

Tracker grew up the same way Barnacles did: In the Arctic with very little variety. So, their tastes are probably the same, or very similar. He enjoys simple flavours, and dishes with non-complicated seasoning. I also imagine he’s an extremely picky eater, despite being taught in the Polar Scouts to be prepared to “eat what you have to” in an emergency. He might like a couple obscure or odd things here and there, but other than that his palate is pretty limited. He likes knowing what to expect when he eats something (and in general), so he basically just eats the same foods over and over. He’s an EXPERT at cooking these foods.

Googled native Russian and Siberian cuisines for Natquik, and I’m seeing a lot of dough, pastry, soup, and salt (and a lot of other things, but they’re mostly meat and I’m going to pretend he’s vegetarian and so is everyone else, with the exceptions of Mr. Paani “The Bug Eater”, and Ms. Pearl “Eats Living Urchins Whole”). He loves savoury foods, as well as “earthy” flavours (below-ground vegetables, such as beets, potatoes, carrots (he might bond with Tweak over that one), or mushrooms) but can NOT tolerate spiciness at all; he’s worse than Barnacles in this regard. If he eats something too hot he will spit it out instantly, and be very dramatic about it. He also enjoys a cup of tea now and then, and he’s not picky about what kind; if it’s warm and got leaves in it, he’ll drink it.

I like to think that Calico Jack and Kwazii are alike in more ways than one thousand—and they probably have IDENTICAL tastes/safe foods. So, Jack loves sweets and sugars, but hates bitters. He hates citrus too (because he’s a cat), but has learned to tolerate it in all his years as a pirate. He chugs lemon juice like it’s milk, and he just ate a whole ghost pepper. You won’t catch him anywhere near a tangerine, though. (Disclaimer: Citrus is actually poisonous to cats in real life, which is why they hate it so much. This cat however, is fictional, and just thinks they’re icky.) CJ also canonically loves to cook and bake his own food, based on how many recipes he invented and passed down to Kwazii; such as pirate pie (real pie, see GBR for ingredients), pirate stew (main ingredient = kelp), and “pirate pie” (kelp and lima beans on toast), to name a few.

Ranger Marsh LOVES the Octonauts’ hot cocoa specifically, I don’t know if it’s the way the Vegimals make it, or what, but I’m taking this to mean the man is fan of chocolate. Dark chocolate. Meaning, he probably enjoys bitter things. Do not let him cook for Kwazii or Jack. I bet most of what he eats is foraged directly out of the Everglades’ thicket, so that would likely include weird and bitter berries, plants, and wild vegetables. I also headcanon that he taught Tweak how to make her famous chili, she just perfected it. Chili can taste like pretty much anything depending on how you season it, so you can bet he likes his extra bitter as well.

Okay now Pearl is probably the opposite of Shellington. I said that Shellington would enjoy intense or odd flavours (like extra hot sauce on cake), but dislike salty-anything because it reminds him of red urchin. He learned to like strange foods, as a result of being allergic to his species’ main source of nourishment (shellfish). Since Pearl didn’t have this problem, she didn’t need to branch out her plate; and thus would love salty things because it’s what she’s used to. She might dislike overly sour or sweet things, or generally “unnatural” or artificial foods. She’s probably not much of a chef, considering most of what she eats is stuff she literally picks off the seafloor.

Apparently a red panda’s diet is 95% bamboo, soooooooooooooooo... I guess that answers Min. She probably eats a ton of those bamboo biscuits, and that might literally be all. Bamboo tastes earthy, nutty, and slightly sweet, so if she were to expand her menu, she’d probably eat foods with similar tastes, or anything that has a good crunch to it. Y’know what? I bet she’d love a Paani Patty.

Ryla literally ate bat droppings covered in moss. Granted, the “droppings” were berries, but still. I don’t think she’s very picky. She doesn’t have any “safe foods”, because she’s a hardcore survivalist—she’ll eat ANYTHING (unless it’s poisonous then she’ll only eat it once). Wombats are strict herbivores, so she probably enjoys a good salad when she's not fighting for her life in a cave.

I think Koshi and Pinto are both stereotypical kids, who'll gladly inhale anything with sugar in it. Pinto specifically might have similar tastes to Peso, in which he'll also just eat... literally anything. Especially if it's weird looking. Koshi is a bit more sensitive to strong smells, so she'll only eat what she likes the smell of. She doesn't seem like someone who likes trying new foods, either. She likes sweet, or bland simple tastes.

[avis-writeshq]

Pretty Setters and things they remind me of

characters: oikawa, sugawara, akaashi, kenma, kageyama, atsumu

warnings: fluff [fem!reader]

other: repost (again) because tags didn’t work (again)

oikawa: staying up until four to finish assignments, star gazing, snow angels, face masks at twelve in the morning

 although oikawa might look like a flawless piece of art on the outside, on the inside he’s insecure and doing more than one hundred percent just to show that he is good enough. no, not just good enough. he wants to show that he’s better than all the people who stood over him. staying up late to watch volleyball videos and tactics is just one of his unhealthy habits. however, he does make time for himself, even thought that makes him look like a narcissistic person on the outside.

 he’s perfectly imperfect, just like snow angels. for some reason, they never turn out the way you want them to be. star gazing to oikawa is peaceful – he can finally forget the world and get lost in the billions of stars that light up the night sky. but he knows, that no matter what happens, you’ll always be his brightest star.

sugawara: forgotten algebra homework, coffee at nine in the evening, summer breezes, melted ice-cream

despite looking well put together, sugawara is a chaotic mess who has no idea what he’s doing. he put so much time in volleyball and other activities he sometimes forgets about his academics, hence the forgotten algebra homework at the bottom of his bag. he spends the rest of the evening trying to finish three chapters of overdue class work, drinking coffee late at night in a desperate attempt to get everything done.

 summer breezes are gentle, just like him. he’s caring and loving to the people he cares about, and he sacrifices so much for the sake of other people. summer breezes are cool in contrast to the glaring sun. they give comfort when needed and it’s always appreciated. melted ice-cream is for his messy but beautiful personality. despite all that, you just so happen to be his calm when he brings his own storm.

akaashi: rustic libraries, nature cafés, yelling your problems over a canyon, chicken noodle soup

 he’s naturally studious and hardworking, always doing his best to succeed despite the amount of pressure that is placed on his shoulders. he always remembers important dates and the little things in life – your favourite book, your favourite cake flavour, your favourite song. small insignificant little details that seem to be unnecessary but turn out to be the most important. nature cafés have a certain aspect to them that calms people down. it allows people to have a clear mind and a calm outlook towards their situations.

 no matter how calm and stoic he looks, akaashi tends to overthink with an anxious heart. he blames himself when things go wrong – a people pleaser who doesn’t even know it. however, he knows that keeping things to himself is unhealthy. so instead he yells it over a canyon, wide and vast as his problems get lost in the echoes. chicken noodle soup is a classic pick-me-up. it brings warmth and love into your body, healing you of illnesses. that’s what you are to akaashi. you are his warmth and his love.

kenma: late night video calls, cat beanies, two am road trips, chai lattes in the snow

 he calls you all the time to check on  you after graduating high school. university is hard, so it’s not easy to see each other in person, so video calls are the next best thing. you rant to each other about the loud dorm mates and the bad cafeteria food. you gifted kenma a cat beanie before graduation and he’s worn it ever since. it was like a way to have you with him when he was two hours away from you.

 of course he would go on road trips. the only reason he would ever go was for a stream, but nevertheless, it was a fun experience. chai lattes were one of kenma’s favourite drinks. You accidentally got the wrong order and gave him a chai, and he’s loved it ever since. he drinks it whenever it’s cold outside, mainly because it gives him a sense of warmth. it was a similar feeling to when he was with you. but you could give him that warmth with just a small smile.

kageyama: walks in the park, dark chocolate mochas, promise rings, ballroom dancing

 no matter the weather, kageyama loved walking in the park with you, hand in hand. in the middle of winter, he would tuck your hand into his jumper pocket to keep it warm. dark chocolate mochas just so happen to be one of his favourite drinks – it isn’t too sweet and it can keep people warm in the best way.

 kageyama gave you a promise ring in your last year of high school after noticing how your gaze would shift to the jewellery store ever so often. sugawara gave him the idea for the promise ring after hearing his first idea to ‘propose’. clueless as he was, tobio knew what a promise ring was, he just never really thought about it. ballroom dancing has a certain elegance to it, so when he first tried it out with you, he kept stepping on your toes. you always laughed it off with him, giving him a small sense of peace and he always admired you for it. peace… something that he needed and something you always gave to him.

atsumu: sunflowers in the spring, throwing small rocks at your window, oversized t-shirts, matching outfits

 your first date with atsumu just so happened to be in a sunflower field, the bright flowers bringing smiles to your faces. throwing small rocks at your window was what he did when he found out you were having nightmares. he caught you as soon as you climbed down your window and he took you to the nearest convenience store to get ice-cream while you ranted about what happened in your nightmares.

 the oversized t-shirts brought comfort to you whenever atsumu was away for a long training session. he would give you one of his jerseys or shirts, so of course with his six feet form they would all be hanging over you like a dress. however, despite that, atsumu loves it when you wear his clothes because he finds it adorable. that included cute couple outfits he would find on tiktok and pinterest. it gives him the idea that, yes, that’s my girlfriend and i love her.

[cheri-translates]

Kiro’s Official Art Book (Eng Translation)

Credits to @minjee98​ for sending me photos of Kiro’s official art book and requesting this translation!

This post contains details on Kiro’s outfits, items, backgrounds, letter, and interviews with his CN voice actor, the Copywriting Team, Art Team, and Production team

More: Gavin l Lucien l Black Swan l STF l Loveland City

💛 KIRO’S OUTFITS 💛

[ White Casual Outfit ] 

Even though it’s been a long time, you can definitely remember that day - Kiro wearing a white coloured casual outfit, earpieces hanging around his neck, smiling as he broke into your world.

When you reached out to grab that bag of chips, you never would have thought that from then onwards, you would own a unique nickname and a person who would journey alongside you.

[ Informal T-shirt ]

If you hadn’t acted without thinking and broke into the hackers’ convention, it wouldn’t have been possible to guess that Kiro is “KEY”, who is renowned in the hacker community.

When he removed his hood, fingertips flying and tapping on the keyboard, did your heart thump and jump along with it?

[ Striped Casual Outfit ]

Do you still remember how Kiro wore this striped casual outfit when the two of you went to Japan together?

I’ll tell you a secret. When he was redeeming the vow at the shrine, he had actually made a new wish - he wished that the deities would give all the beautiful things in the world to you, and wished that he could be with you forever.

[ Pink and yellow striped shirt ]

Do you still remember that day - when Kiro pulled you along excitedly to look for springtime. When you held his hand and looked at his profile, did you feel as though your entire person had become warm?

Actually, whether it’s the fuzzy bear. the blooming sunflowers, or the pleasantly warm spring sunlight, in your heart, all the warm and adorable things have long since been attached to Kiro.

[ Swimming Outfit ]

Even though you knew Kiro worked out, would you have known that he had such a good figure if you hadn’t bumped into him in the shower?

Next time, you have to be more careful. Don’t boldly appear in front of him, or you might get “teased” by him for a very long time.

[ Foreign Prince Outfit ]

Whether it’s during that Qixi activity or in real life, Kiro is the most dashing “foreign prince”, isn’t he?

Just thinking about his breathing when he had leaned in close, his sly smile... Do you feel as though your heart is skipping a beat once again?

You should be grateful to that troublemaking little cat. If it weren’t for it, your face would have definitely turned a familiar apple-red!

[ Wedding Outfit ]

When he had held your hand, walking step-by-step towards the middle of the hall, didn’t you feel as though every second became incredibly long? It was so endless that you could reminisce on your long past, and sketch a faraway future.

Every day in the future, your world will be filled to the brim with Kiro’s presence.

[ Purple Jacket ]

The Kiro in your dream wore a purple jacket, singing his new song to you gently, the breath falling on your ear reminiscent of the most brilliant, warm sun on a winter day.

But... were you slightly hesitant back then? The sun in your dream - was it really the sun? The real Kiro - where exactly is he?

[ White Overcoat ]

Helios is Kiro... When you realised this, did you take a long time for it to sink in?

However, no matter what his current identity is, no matter what his objective is, or what appearance he has, he is definitely still the most important person to you, right?

This time, it’s finally your turn to proudly say that phrase to him - “I’ve found you.”

[ Student Uniform ]

It’s said that countless program teams have asked Kiro for his childhood photographs, but he has never made this photograph public.

In other words, only you can see this Little Kiro who has ice-cream at the corners of his mouth, which means this little cuteness only belongs to you!

-

💛 KIRO’S ITEMS 💛

Potato chips cake - This unique chip-flavoured cake is the most delicious cake I’ve ever eaten.

Smart bracelet - Did you know that to me, your existence is a miracle?

Torchlight - Miss Chips, isn’t the hacking technology I invented really amazing!

Massage oil - An exclusive physiotherapy. It’s the first time I’m making a house call, and it’s an experience exclusive for you. 

Astral stone - Wait for me to return. I’ll definitely return.

Doll shoes - I don’t seem to have the talent to tell ghost stories... Next time, it’d be your turn to tell me one.

Brown sugar - Actually, I’m not sure if this is effective either... I can only accompany you at your side. Will keeping you company make you feel a little better?

Egg noodles - I miss the days of our midnight crimes together, so... don’t try to lose weight, okay?

Star bottle - In 365 days, I want to secretly you the response to each and every star in your ear.

Autographed CD - I remember how you once said that every serious autograph can convey the greatest well-wishes to one’s supporters.

Live video camera

Romantic poetry collection

Superhero card

Teddy bear recorder pen

Snacks hamper

Teddy bear doll

Potato chips

Portraits

-

💛 BACKGROUNDS 💛

[ Mangrove Forest ]

On the day, you took up the challenge of 10km long-distance running. With his company, you seemed to complete it more relaxedly than you imagined. The two of you witnessed a miracle - that beautiful “forest on the water”. It doesn’t seem to be mere beautiful memory, and you should remember that phrase - “To me, your existence is a miracle.”

[ Kiro’s Living Room - Lights Off ]

The Kiro in your memory is rarely as despondent and helpless as that time. It was perhaps the first time you saw his lonely appearance outside the spotlight. Your heart ached slightly, and you didn’t really know what to do. You couldn’t help but use singing to comfort him. This seemed to be effective, and he fell asleep by your side peacefully.

[ California Seaside ]

The scenery along State Route 1, the unexpected breaking down of the car, unlocking a new method of travelling on foot, and him changing into a cowboy after several incidents... The sunset at the fallen castle and the sight of the whale leaping out of the water - they are definitely the most dazzling existences in your memories.

[ Gallery ]

That day, you had gone on an “adventure” with him while he dressed as a bear mascot. It was the first time you officially worked together with him. That elderly grandmother fan and her house filled with love deeply influenced you. Did you also gradually experience the charm possessed by this man who is just like the stars?

[ Kiro’s Music Rehearsal Room ]

Even though the rehearsal room is decorated simply, it has the necessities. You’ve spent countless days and nights with him here, which contains his sweat and all the sincerity he has expended.

[ Flower Arch of the Church ]

Do you still remember the kiss seared onto your ring finger? Accompanied by the affectionate vow, it had entered straight into your heart. His words still seems to linger at your ear. “I hope... that you can reserve this finger for me, for the wedding ring.”

-

💛 INTERVIEWS 💛

[ Interview with Bian Jiang, the voice actor for Kiro ]

“Sometimes, he can actually be more wilful, and more self-indulgent.”

Q1: Teacher Bian Jiang, having interacted with Kiro for such a long time, do you have any new insights regarding him?

Bian Jiang: Ahh... (suddenly sighs, finding it difficult to explain succinctly), the feeling he gives me is really difficult to illustrate using words. Normally, given his young age and him being a naturally easygoing, innocent and romantic person, he should live more happily. But at the same time, he has to shoulder so many responsibilities, and has to face a few inescapable problems in his position. So... he’s really very amazing, truly amazing. Always standing in the darkness, but having his heart facing the sunlight.

-

Q2: Are there any characteristics of Kiro you appreciate a lot?

Bian Jiang: He’s very manly. He never reveals his tiredness or negative sides in front of MC. He carries gargantuan matters by himself. But this really causes one’s heart to ache. Sometimes, he can actually be more wilful, and more self-indulgent. When he has any unhappiness, at least he can always talk to me about it.

-

Q3: What do you think of Kiro’s Evol?

Bian Jiang: Why do I find both of his Evol not very practical? Firstly, whether or not I have Evol, I’m still loved by all, haha (he laughs after talking about himself). As for Absolute Control, it’s even more unnecessary. You have to win people over with good virtue.

-

Q4: Is there anything you’ve always wanted to tell Kiro, but haven’t?

Bian Jiang: Nope, and that’s not possible. I would have definitely said whatever I’ve always wanted to say. The two of us don't hide anything from each other. If there’s something we want to say, we’ll say it directly.

-

Q5: Has Teacher Bian Jiang recently chanced upon a restaurant which you want to bring Kiro to?

Bian Jiang: He knows how to eat more than I do. He should be the one bringing me out to eat.

-

[ Interview with the Copywriting Team ]

“He’s like the only bottle of water in the world without impurities.”

Q1: The storyline of the game has several science fiction elements. What made you consider including science fiction elements in a game targeted at females?

Actually, we felt that romance is often underestimated. Love isn’t simply effete language without substance, or honeyed words. Love can give us courage, and bring us to a whole new world, opening new journeys, finding your unlimited self. A romance story is naturally appropriate to be melded with any other motifs. In love, we can explore various issues: personal growth, contradictions in society, the truth of civilisation, the rise and fall of history...  The story we wish to convey to the players is one of “the cruel competition between love and power”. This isn’t just a complex story with science fiction elements. Actually, it’s also very related to the lives of every person.

-

Q2: What are Kiro’s fans called?

They’re called “Little Sodas”. His biggest fan club is called “Kiro No Regrets Fan Club”. Their cheer is “Kiro No Regrets, Accompanied by Sodas”.

[Note] I’m not sure if the fan club name is supposed to be a pun for “起落无悔”. It isn’t an idiom, but 起落 (“rise and fall”) and 棋洛 (“Kiro”) have the exact same pinyin and intonation “qi luo”, and it kind of suits Kiro’s wish of there being no regret of sticking by him whether he’s in brightness or darkness

-

Q3: Which websites have Hacker Key hacked into? List some examples.

You’re limited by your imagination while there’s nothing he can’t hack into.

-

Q4: Which role is Kiro best at when it comes to MOBA games?

He’s very good in every role, but he likes being the jungler most.

-

Q5: Which flavour of donuts does Kiro like best?

He likes them all. Recently, he finds the sweet and spicy coconut mushroom flavour pretty good.

-

Q6: What’s Kiro’s original name?

He doesn’t know what it is because he’s an orphan. But he feels as though “Kiro” is his original name, and he likes it a lot.

-

Q7: Copywriting sisters, what do you think is Kiro’s core charm?

He’s like the only bottle of water in the world without impurities. This bottle of water has reflected all the impurities in the world, but has continued to remain clear and transparent, simple and kind.

-

Q8: In the 2018 Qixi Festival event, Kiro’s ancient garb left a deep impression on people. Why did you design Kiro this way?

Just like how he is in real life, he is prince who hails from a foreign land.

-

Q9: Is Kiro a dog or a cat person?

Dog.

-

Q10: What do you think is Kiro’s most classic line? How did you think of it?

"I’ve found you, and you’re not allowed to leave me again.”

It’s slightly overbearing, slightly coquettish, taking the initiative and resolute. This is Kiro.

-

Q11: In relation to Kiro, are there any scenes that you’ve always wanted to write but haven’t fulfilled yet?

He’s just too versatile! Which is why we want to let him try everything we haven’t written yet.

-

[ Interview with the Art Team ]

“He’s a large consumer of snacks who everyone is envious of!”

Q1: In relation to the various scenes in Loveland City, are there are any real life references?

The answer to this question has already been discovered by some meticulous players. We have indeed made references to a few real sceneries, such as the The Bund.

We want to give players the sense that the romance is happening right next to them, which is why we’ve brought our city’s scenery into the game, so everyone can feel a sense of familiarity and realism.

-

Q2: Art Sisters, what you think of the “Papergames Art Style” as coined by players? What is the biggest difference between the art style in Mr Love Queen’s Choice and other games by Papergames?

Actually, we don’t really understand the meaning of “Papergames Art Style”, and we don’t know what it means specifically. It probably refers to how the tone and atmosphere are more clear and romantic? Even our own department finds that the art styles from different games are very different. In making a comparison, Mr Love Queen’s Choice is much “harder” (laughs). After all, our main characters are four adult men. Right now, the style is basically “hard but not coarse” - there are parts which require meticulousness and delicateness, yet can’t be too soft.

-

Q3: Just how many types of snacks are hidden in Kiro’s house?

He has pretty much hidden a little of every snack available and unavailable in the market. He’s a large consumer of snacks who everyone is envious of.

-

Q4: Kiro has a t-shirt with the word “paper” on it, and it looks pretty good. Where did he buy it?

He bought it from a premium ready-made shop near the Subway station. It’s really expensive.

-

Q5: Have you ever considered changing Kiro’s hairstyle? For example, giving him a perm?

Actually, his current hairstyle is already slightly curly. Doesn’t it suit him? Or does everyone want to see big waves?

-

Q6: Kiro seems to always wear a black ring. Has he ever taken it off?

He wouldn’t remove it unless he meets special circumstances. It’s a ring which holds special meaning to him.

-

Q7: What differences are there between the initial and final design of Kiro?

They are all very fashionable and youthful styles. In the end, however, we chose the style which is most difficult to draw (cries).

-

Q8: Flowers appear frequently in the game. Could I ask the Art Team which flower best suits Kiro?

Small daisies. It’s incredibly suitable, isn't it!

-

Q9: When it comes to Kiro’s home decor, what do the Art Sisters find the most special?

What’s special lies in the combination of “cool yet interesting”.

It has a professional, first-rate work area for hackers. Yet, it is filled with all sorts of small hobbies Kiro has: superhero merchandise, his favourite youth comics, and the uncountable snacks he keeps hidden! During his idle time, he will play games with you, hug his guitar and play an impromptu song. Trophies he has won and gifts from fans are also cherished and kept in his cupboards.

-

Q10: What’s most difficult to draw about Kiro?

How exactly does Loveland City’s brightest boy look like when he’s melancholic? How exactly does one draw that feeling in between early youth and youth... sigh.

-

[ Interview with the Production Team ]

“He gives people a sense of security, like the ‘Ah Sir’ in Hong Kong films!”

Q1: Why did you produce a game like “Love and Producer”?

Producers: Since 2015, our company has already started producing this game. As a mobile game with romance at its core, it’s something not many companies have tried before. The company had a lot of discussions on the possibility of it. In the end, we decided to do it, and the reason for making constant iterations, updates, and persevering after three years is especially simple. No matter what age you are, no matter whether you’ve dated before, no matter whether you're married and have your own family, we believe that in every woman’s heart, there remains an anticipation for romance and heart-stirring experiences. Which is why we believe “Love and Producer” has a reason for its existence. This belief has always guided our production and operation process, and we hope we can continuously bring even more beautiful romance experiences to everyone in the future.

-

Q2: Where did the name of the game “Love and Producer” come from?

Producers: I don’t know if anyone remembers that in the very beginning, our tagline on the official website has always been “Love and dreams need to meet their match.” Why is this game called “Love and Producer”? That’s because the link between you and him not only encompasses the narrow scope of love, but also permeates into to your life journey together.

-

Q3: Are there any deeply hidden “Easter eggs”? Could you disclose them to us?

Producers: They aren’t really that hidden, but there are indeed some “Easter eggs” which should have already been discovered by some players. For instance, you can see a certain poster during City Strolls. In “Go See Him”, the coupling of certain outfits and sceneries could bring out a few hidden lines. We welcome everyone to give it a try.

-

Q4: What do the people in the Production team call Kiro?

Producers: Kiro, Little Kiro, Ro Ro, Idol, Helios.

-

Q5: How do the males in the production team view Kiro?

Producers: The type of golden-haired big celebrity many girls like. He's even mixed blood. It’s a good thing he plays games well, or we wouldn’t even give him ‘likes’ on Moments.

-

Q6: If you had Kiro’s Evol, what would you use it for?

Producers: To own the entire world’s love in an instant... it might be a little terrifying.

-

Q7: If there comes a day when you can be a big celebrity like Kiro, what would you want to do most?

Producers: Stand in the middle of the spotlight, and greet my thousands and ten thousands of fans!

-

Q8: If you became Kiro’s stylist, is there anything you’d want to say to him?

Producers: Your skin is really good, your eyes are really huge, and you are even more dashing than on television...

-

Q9: Lastly, do you have anything to say to the players?

Producers: This interaction between the Production Team and the players is already sufficient enough to cherish. The world we created has only become perfect because of your participation. Our days alongside Loveland City have already become an important stamp in our lives. This world is still constantly becoming richer and broader. Kindly look forward to it!

-

💛 KIRO’S LETTER 💛

Hello! Miss Chips!

Is the weather good today? Are there clear skies or it is raining?

When I was busy with work earlier, I thought I was full of things to write. But when I lifted the pen, I didn’t know where to begin.

So I’ll start with the overused topic of the weather - there’s been torrential rain the past few nights. I leaned against the side of the window, looking at two people who forgot their umbrellas and were running while making fun of each other. For some reason, I thought of you soon after.

Do you still remember when we were at the beach last summer, and how there was similar heavy rain? That was the first time I detested the rain. I was worried you would go out into the rain while waiting for me, and I was even more worried that I wouldn’t be able to find you.

Before I met you, it had been a very long time since I felt such a sense of urgency. 

Of course, the thing I didn’t expect most was how the girl who had reached for the same bag of chips as I did in the supermarket, would slowly become the most important person in my life.

In movies, don’t they call this “fate”?

But sometimes, I’ll start thinking - it’d be great if our movie could progress even faster, skipping those unhappy scenes, and rushing straight to the ending where I can roar with laugher and be boisterous with you.

But when I turn around and see the periods of time that you’ve accompanied me through, I realise that it’s exactly because of those imperfect days that I could become the Kiro of today.

The songs I sung for you, the birthday surprises you prepared for me, the 100 things we agreed to do together... These uncountable moments cause every minute and every second to sparkle. Spring, summer, autumn and winter have been accorded different meanings.

Of course, there’s one point I firmly believe in without doubt - from today onwards, there will be an uncountable number of such moments. You singing for me, me secretly preparing you birthday surprises, and expanding “the 100 things we must do together” to 1000 things...

And that no matter what day it is, I can always lift my pen and write you a letter whenever I miss you.

Savin is starting to rush me. I’ll leave the important words to the next time we meet, and I’ll tell them to you personally!

[the-coconut-asado]

A Bit Like Julie Andrews

 A loathsome guest at a dinner party I once attended announced you can make anything taste good with fat.  She said this as I was serving up a chocolate pecan tart promised to the host, and my first instinct was to divert it into her face. I didn’t of course, because violence and whip-smart retorts only ever live in my head. Later on, she invited me into the bathroom to see her new labia piercing. So, mixed messages.

That said, she had a point about fat. I’ve been writing this blog for eight years now and the most shared and liked recipes have lashings of fat and/or sugar in common. No surprises here - as we all aspire to cleaner, increasingly plant based virtue-signalling, how many of us are squirrelling away six pineapple Jaffa Cakes when we think no-one’s looking? Right this minute I am staring longingly across the coffee table at a box of Divine Mint Thins while a sweet potato bakes in the oven. And the rate at which we get through sea salt butter in our house (yep, the one with the extra crunchy salt crystals) is not something I am ever going to admit to my GP. 

But if you all want fat and sugar, then I am here to please. Not necessarily with animal fat, and not always with proper sugar. One of the most versatile oils in my kitchen is coconut, sunflower oil always produces moist and springy sponge cakes and I could almost drink extra virgin olive. And I sometimes supplement no-carb Splenda for sugar in some recipes with zero difference noticed. None of this interferes with the popularity of the finished dish, sometimes it even enhances it - and I am often asked for recipes for dishes I photograph with abandon but haven’t got around to writing up. 

So what follows then is only a bit like Julie Andrews: rather than a selection of my favourite things, it’s a revisiting of some of yours - a Top 4 of those recipes most often requested or dishes shared, fats or sugar included, with a couple of twists thrown in. 

Perfect Roast Pork Belly 

For my money the supreme leader of pork joints is belly - roasted long and slow until those layers of fat melt and the hide turns to the guiltiest pleasure of all: cracking. I used to subscribe to the belief that anything this good was proportionately difficult to achieve - but after many years and attempts, I have found a way as fool-proof and leave-it-alone succulent as you can get. 

My advice is to serve this with creamed corn - fresh corn shucked and simmered in a little butter and cream. Pork and corn are a less-travelled match made in heaven. Cowboys kind of got the hang of it but were seduced into flatulence by the baked bean before the corn craze could really take off. But what the wild west discarded, the barbecue warriors picked up. OK I’m taking The Crown approach to history but you get the picture. Serves 4-6. 

Ingredients

One 2 kg pork belly joint, bone in ideally but not necessary( get your butcher to score the rind)

1 tbsp. each fennel seeds and cumin seeds

1 tbsp, chilli flakes

2 tbsp. Kosher salt

2 onions, cut into wedges

2 carrots cut into chunks

1 leek cut into chunks

200ml sherry or white wine

100ml water

For the creamed corn:

3 fresh ears of corn

50g butter

150ml double cream

Kosher Salt and freshly ground black pepper

How to make.

The night before you aim to roast the pork, get rid of any covering, pat the skin dry, pop it onto a dish and put in the fridge. This will dry out the skin and ultimately product better crackling. 

Heat the oven to 220C (or 210C Fan) and take your belly out of the fridge at least 30 mins before roasting. Pulverise the fennel seeds, cumin seeds, salt and a and chilli flakes in a pestle and mortar. Rub the mix into the scores in the pork rind, then pop into the oven for 25 mins to get the crackling going. 

After 25 mins,remove from the oven and transfer the pork onto a board and reduce the oven to 180C or 175C fan. Working quickly, toss the onions, carrots and leek into the roasting pan and then put the belly joint on top. Pour the sherry or white wine into the roasting pan around, not on, the pork. Return the pork to the oven and roast for two and a half  - 3 hours. 

Check the pork at 2 and a half hours - if you can wiggle the rib bone easily, great, if not, return to the oven for another 30 mins. Remove from the oven again and transfer the roast veg to a bowl and keep warm. Crank the oven back up to 220C and return the joint one last time to crisp up the crackling. 

Remove from the oven and leave to rest for 20 mins before carving

Dutch pancake with caramel apples

Leave It Alone is the best mantra for an easy life in the kitchen. Some dishes were made to be fussed over - risotto, caramel and of course pancakes. But a dutch pancake gives you both time to yourself and a whomping great wow factor when you bring it out of the oven. Thanks to Erin Jeanne McDowell at the New York Times for this little number. (Serves 3-4)

Ingredients

(100 g) plain flour

3 Tbsp. dark muscovado sugar

½ tsp salt

½ tsp cinnamon

½ tsp kosher salt

Pinch ground nutmeg

50g unsalted butter

3 eggs

100ml cashew nut milk (or milk of your choice)

1 tsp vanilla extract

For the caramel apples: 

40g butter

75 ml double cream

110g dark muscovado sugar

3-4 apples (granny smiths are good)

Juice of 1 lemon

1 tsp vanilla essence

Pinch of ground cinnamon

How to make

Heat the oven to 200C fan (210C). Put the butter in a frying pan or skillet that you can use on the hob and in the oven. When the oven is hot, pop the skillet in to melt the butter. 

Mix all the dry ingredients together. Break up the eggs with the milk and vanilla essence then add to the dry ingredients and mix until smooth. 

Peel and core the apples then cut into thin slices and toss in the lemon juice. 

Take the skillet out of the oven (the butter should have melte by now) and pour in the pancake batter. Put back in the oven and set your timer for 20 minutes. 

While the pancake is doing its thing, make the caramel apples. Melt the butter in a saucepan then add the sugar and cream and mix again. Add the apples, stir to coat the apples in the caramel mix, then simmer gently for 5 minutes until the apples soften. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the vanilla essence and cinnamon. 

After 20 minutes, and using protective gloves or oven mitts, remove the skillet from the oven. The pancakes should be all puffed around the edges like a dramatic Yorkshire pudding. 

Pour the caramel apples into the centre, bring to the table and drizzle with double cream while everyone round the table gasps. DO NOT FORGET that the handle is hot so use your oven mitts while handling at the table. 

Stuffed Courgette flowers

This is a romantic dish for me as it reminds me of my first trip to Rome. At the same time it’s tempura on steroids. Cook the whole (usually tiny) courgette with the flowers attached - it may not look as pretty but there is more flavour and nutrition (always handy when you are taking a bath in carbs). Like the Dutch pancake, this dish gives good gasp when it arrives on the table. (Serves 4). 

Ingredients

8 courgettes with flowers attached

250g ricotta cheese, soft goat’s cheese or goat’s curd

6 anchovies, finely chopped

1 tbsp each finely chopped mint and parsley

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the batter:

70g cornflour

30g plain flour

80ml ice-cold sparkling water or lager

400ml sunflower oil for frying

How to make:

Mix the cheese, anchovies, herbs and seasoning in a bowl. 

Taking each courgette, gently splay the petals of the flower and remove the stamens with a small knife. Using a teaspoon,  stuff each flower with the filling then twist the tips of the petals to seal. 

In another bowl mix the batter ingredients and leave to stand for 5 minutes. 

Heat the oil in a deep pan or flat-bottomed wok. Line a serving dish with kitchen paper. Once the oil is hot, take each courgette in turn, dip it in the batter (courgette and flower) and then carefully lay it in the oil and deep fry for a couple of minutes, until the batter turns golden and crisp. Try not to crowd the pan, you can probably fry three at a time. Remove each courgette and flower from the oil and onto the paper lined dish. When all the courgettes have been cooked, remove the kitchen paper and serve while hot, with some quick pickled red onion slices on the side. 

Sweet potato Gnocchi with pesto

Anything a potato can do, a sweet potato can do as well if not better. Plus it’s packed with antioxidants (not red for nothing) and lower in the demon carbs. When in Buenos Aires, gnocchi is traditionally eaten on a Thursday (a ritual they share with Rome) and it’s my niece Luli’s favourite dish. Wonder what she will think of this version? The gnocchi is based on a recipe by Jonny Rhodes (Serves 4)

Ingredients

1 large sweet potato

1 cup plain flour

½ cup wholemeal flour

1 tsp. Ground cumin

½ tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp allspice

½ tsp kosher salt

1 egg

50g butter

2 tsp apple cider vinegar

For the pesto:

1 large bunch basil

1 tbsp, pinenuts

2 fat cloves garlic

25g grated parmesan

½ cup - ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil

How to make.

Heat the oven to 190C fan and roast the sweet potato for 1-11/4 hours (the potato should be soft inside and give when you insert a knife). Cool, skin and mash. 

In a bowl, mix the flours, potato mash, spices, salt and egg. Roll into a ball then cover with cling film and pop into the fridge for an hour to firm up. 

After an hour, remove from the fridge and cut into six portions. Dust your work surface with flour then taking each portion in turn, roll into a long sausage and cut 18-20 portions. You can either leave the portions like this or roll each portion over a gnocchi paddle to give it ridges, then place on an floured baking sheet. Repeat with each portion, then cover all the gnocchi and refrigerate until ready to cook.

 Bring a pan of salted water to the boil, working in small batches, add the gnocchi to the pan and continue to boil. As the gnocchi float to the surface, remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a greased baking sheet. 

Make your pesto, put all ingredients except the olive oil into the food processor and pulse until chopped small. Keep the motor running and gradually add the olive oil until the mixture thickens. Turn off the motor and leave to one side while you saute the gnocchi. 

Heat a large frying pan and add the butter. when melted and sizzling add the gnocchi in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 2 or 3 minutes, until the bottoms are light brown (you may need to do this in batches). Then add 2 tbsp butter, 3 tbsp water and the apple cider vinegar and swirl around the gnocchi. 

Serve immediately in pasta bowls and drizzle the pesto over the top. Grate over some parmesan. 

[ratbastard0]

tagged by @elpuppies to do this thing ty bby 💕

what is the colour of your hair brush? one is blue the other is white 

name of a food you never eat? almost all vegetables

are you typically too warm or too cold? too cold

what were you doing 45 minutes ago? i was either on here or changing the water in antonio’s tank (one of my fish)

what’s your favourite candy bar? reese’s sticks or take 5 

have you ever been to a professional sports event? yes i have :D i’ve been the women’s college world series twice (softball) and seen the usa play japan (also softball) also been to a texas rangers game and several baseball games for the minor league club here in my state 

what is the last thing you said out loud? “what is the last thing you said out loud” 💀

what is your favourite ice cream? chocolate chip cookie dough (specifically from braum’s)

what is the last thing you had to drink? coffee ⨀_⨀

do you like your wallet? uhm i guess? but i have 2, one is like a little change purse thing that i use more frequently bc i hate taking my purse anywhere so i just carry that little thing and the big wallet is just tan nothing special 

what was the last thing you ate? hot ham and cheese sandwich with chips

did you buy any new clothes last week? no, thankfully

last sporting event you watched? shit, probs that last rayados match :(

what’s your favourite flavour of popcorn? slightly burned kettle corn

who was the last person you sent a message to? gc with my managers lmao

ever go camping? yah several times....not that great 3/10 

do you take vitamins? yes, am i supposed to list them? for hair/nails and stuffs

do you go to church every sunday? no i don’t but i wish i did :(

do you have a tan? rn? no but i’m working on it

do you prefer chinese food or pizza? PIZZA!!! i don’t really like chinese that much tbh

do you drink soda with a straw? if they fill that shit full of ice hell ya those dirty bastards i got teeth sensitivity 

what colour socks do you wear? mainly black but i do own some fuzzy ones that are various colors

do you ever drive above the speed limit? AHHAHAH what is “speed limit” i’m always in a hurry/late so i be flooring it

what terrifies you? dying alone or being unhappy/depressed for the rest of my life but on a lighter note...spiders

look to your left what do you see? a wall with a picture on it and a shelf

what chore do you hate? hanging up clothes/folding them or cleaning up after my brother

what do you think of when you hear an australian accent? steve irwin :(

what’s your favourite soda? coke or dr pepper

do you go into fast food places or drive thru? depends what i’m ordering i guess

who was the last person you talked to? my bff on ft

favourite cut of beef? sirloin 

last song you listened to? contact by wiz khalifa ft tyga lmao shit bangs

last book you read? unfortunately i am illiterate :/

can you say the alphabet backwards? ya if i think about it really hard 

how do you like your coffee? with a dash of creamer or black

favourite pair of shoes? my white AF1s

the time you normally go to bed? maybe 12 but lately it’s been like 3am

the time you normally wake up? at like 8 but then sometimes i fall back asleep till 10 💀

what do you prefer sunrise or sunsets? both are beautiful but there’s just something so calming about a sunrise

how many blankets are on your bed? currently, there are 4 all partially hanging off 

describe your kitchen plates? cream with a border around them that includes sunflowers and bees

do you have a favourite alcoholic beverage? i don’t really drink but i’ve had margarita and mojito and both were delicious so probs those

do you play cards? yes it’s a family tradition and the only game i play on my phone

what colour is your car? dark grey

can you change a tire? if i really had to, yes

your favourite province? does this mean state for me? i guess i’ll say texas but also i do lowkey love it here in oklahoma (overall we’re pretty friendly ppl compared to a lot of other states ☕️)

favourite job you’ve had? probs the one i have now but it’s still not that great or in hs i cleaned cars and that was cool

how did you get your biggest scar? it’s on my calf, it’s a burn mark, maybe the size of my palm and it’s where my mom dropped a curling iron on me when i was a child lmao

what did you do today that made someone happy? well i think i made some ppl on here laugh today so that’s something 😊

if you wanna bc this is long af lol @aguerofc @carvajalfc @hadikathefangirl @lermanologgie @vivalachampions @ximenalightwood 💚

[danganronpa-21]

Happy birthday to Makoto and koichi!!!

Happy Birthday to the boys!! Sorry that this is so darn late, Wednesdays are my long days at school. Plus, one of my poor pups had ear surgery today! He’s doing okay, but he’s very drugged up and sleepy. Therefore, he needs a lot of attention. Got the cone of shame and everything.

But yeah, BIRTHDAY! Seiko made them t-shirts and everything. Let’s do some birthday headcanons, shall we?

Makoto’s Birthday — 2020:

February 5th, 2020 brings a seemingly typical day for Makoto at first. As it’s a Wednesday, he’s still expected to drag his butt into work. He doesn’t even get to sleep in! Kyoko claims that they can pretend to be late because of “morning sickness”, but he doesn’t think anyone will believe it. She’s in her seventh month of pregnancy with their first, and fully intends to go to work with him. She’s much too stubborn to take maternity leave until she has to. At the very least she talks him into skipping a breakfast at home, as he’d have to be the one to cook it anyway. He later discovers that by the time he gets there, Aoi’s already baked some muffins for him and dropped off a cup of coffee — just the way he likes it! If that weren’t enough, some of his students left him gifts. One of his favourites is a small succulent in a hand-painted pot, which he cheerfully places by his window.

He assumes that maybe this is going to be the extent of his special day, but he’s wrong. When he goes to do his paperwork, he discovers that almost all of it has been done already. His meetings have been cut in half, and all because his friends took over some of his work! He’s overwhelmed with love, and makes sure to shoot them some thank you messages. He then does the rest of the work that’s left over, which holds him for just enough until Kyoko comes bursting into his office. She’s planned a picnic for his lunch. They eat together in the school’s gardens, chatting and cuddling. Kyoko can’t help but tell her husband how grateful she is for him, and how excited she is to be carrying his child. Makoto can’t help but laugh and tell her how lucky he feels to be the subject of her love.

The rest of his school day is spent in meetings and popping in and out of classrooms to chat with the students. When work ends, his friends drag him out for dinner, and then to the karaoke bar. They spend the night drinking, singing, and laughing until the late hours of the morning. Makoto, Yasuhiro, and Byakuya are mid-way through a trio song of “Hakujitsu” when they realize they should probably head out... as Kyoko and Toko had started to nap in the corner. To settle things down a bit, they pop into Aoi’s café — where they have a sweet birthday cake waiting for Makoto. He gets a cheerful singing of happy birthday, and all kinds of love and hugs from the people around him. They even prepared in advance and brought their gifts for him to the café!

Byakuya just straight up gifts him cash. He insists that he doesn’t know what to buy someone so painfully average, but everyone knows it’s because Makoto nearly had a heart attack at last year’s birthday gift. He really wasn’t expecting to get a car for his twenty-fifth, so for his twenty-sixth... Byakuya plays it safe. Toko and Komaru choose to collaborate on an adventure manga for him, in which he is depicted as a valiant hero saving people from despair (and inevitably winning the heart of his pretty detective boss in the process). Aoi puts together a collection of CDs for him, with every song he’s ever sung along to on it. It’s really hard not to cry when they put it on and hear Sayaka’s voice playing through the speakers. Yasuhiro opts to gift him a couple of free fortune tellings, before also passing along a brand new hoodie. Hiro says that he figures if he knew one thing, it was that Makoto loves comfortable clothing. So he thought it would be fun to pass along something he knew Makoto would use. As for Kyoko, well, she goes super romantic on her gift. It’s a huge notebook, filled to the brim with photographs and journal entries of all of the adventures they ever had together. She’s even notably added passages from her personal journals, in which she first begins to cite her feelings for him. At the end of the book, he finds the words “... and I can’t wait to have even more adventures with you”. 

Below this, is the ultrasound photo of their daughter.

Koichi’s Birthday - 2037:

Koichi has never really been someone who likes too much birthday attention. Most of the time he’s content to spend it with his family. Growing up, he’d usually take the day off school. Kyoko would take the day off work, and they’d go around doing whatever he wanted to do until the rest of the family got back from work and school. 

This year, he chooses to go to school. Not because he really wants to, but because he has friends who are desperate to see him for his birthday! So his dad wakes up that morning for school as always, with the two of them wishing each other a mutual happy birthday. He gets to eat a happy breakfast with his family, who is sure to shower him with love and affection. It seems like none of them can stop talking about how old he’s getting! Even Seiko’s going on about it, as if she’s not getting older herself. 

When Koichi comes to school, his friends are sure to greet him with as much as they can manage. Tamiko, Natsumi, and Phoenix have decked out his desk in balloons and confetti. They’ve each placed a little wrapped gift for him on his desk, and Tamiko even went ahead and made him a birthday cupcake. The three of them (embarrassingly) sing a rendition of happy birthday in front of everyone, and the whole time, Phoenix is happily snapping pictures. 

Unfortunately, he does have to spend much of his day in class because it’s still a school day, but at least his friends make it fun. For lunch, they decide to sneak out and go to a local restaurant. Being a technical yakuza heiress, Natsumi covers all of lunch and tells everyone to order whatever they want. Naturally, the group stuffs themselves full of tasty food before returning back to school. They slip back in mostly undetected... well, if being noticed by Aoi but not chided is considered “mostly undetected”. 

After school ends, Koichi goes to meet his parents as always. He’s surprised to discover that his father has gone out to pick up their birthday cakes, and that he intends to meet them at a surprise location... Which his mother is taking them to. After picking up Seiko from school, Kyoko takes all of her kids to the local arcade. They’re told that they can play as many games as they want for [retty much as long as they want. The kids all decide to team up in an attempt to win a huge purple teddy bear, just for the fun of it. Seiko kicks everyone’s butts at whack-a-mole (including Makoto’s, when he shows up), Hope absolutely destroys at Dance Dance Revolution, Kyoko shoots a decent amount of hoops, Makoto is able to stop on just the right spot at the prize wheel multiple times, and Koichi has nothing but victory at the ski ball machine. They manage more tickets than they ever thought possible, and of course managed to nab the teddy bear. They decide it should be kept in Seiko’s room, given that she’s the kind of person who could probably find space for something like that.

When they return home, Hope and Seiko challenge their brother to play a quick game of basketball outside while Makoto prepares dinner. Being the most athletic of the three, naturally, Koichi beats his sisters into the ground. But they get a lot of good laughs out of it, and they end off the match with Hope having slung Koichi over her shoulder and walking him back into the house for dinner. Dinner is Oyakodon, paired alongside some homemade gyoza. Despite having had a big lunch, Koichi eats something like three helpings, which his family teases him about. “The older he gets, the more he eats! He’s gearing up for that big growth spurt!”

For dessert, they of course, have two birthday cakes. One of them is Makoto’s, and the other Koichi’s, and each of the boys gets their own rendition of happy birthday. Makoto’s birthday cake is a vanilla-flavoured cake, whereas Koichi’s is a strawberry ice cream cake. They take turns pretending to blow at each other’s candles, just to mess around. It makes for some great pictures. Everyone tries to have small slices of each cake, so they can enjoy it. The only people who get big pieces are of course, the birthday boys. And when cake is done, they follow it with presents. Being the younger one of the two, Koichi gets to go first.

From his parents, he gets a new video game. One that he’d been saving his allowance for for a long time, I might add. He’s ecstatic! He’s sure to thank his parents several times, especially considering that they’d complained about how pricey it was. Seiko’s birthday gift to him comes with a card she made herself, decorated with as many happy penguins as she could fit onto the page. They’re his absolute favourite animal, after all! The gift she ends up giving him is a set of different tea flavours for him to try -- most of them being far off from the kinds you can find in stores. She also throws in a little plushie penguin that Kyoko and Hope helped her sew. Truthfully, it’s not really pretty, but Koichi loves it. He promises to treasure it, before tearing into Hope’s gift. She’s managed to get him a brand new stack of novels, ones from authors she knows he admires. She confesses that she sort of raided his room to figure out which authors were his favourite. 

They watch Makoto open his gifts next. He receives about what you’d expect for a man his age. Hope gifts him a whole bunch of new yarn to knit with, as well as some of his favourite candy. Seiko gives him a clay sunflower she made at school in her art class, as sunflowers are his favourite flower. Koichi gifts him a set of headphones that have become popular in the past year or so, figuring he will make use of them while he’s working or trying to sleep. Kyoko gives her husband her gift in the form of kisses... as well as multiple picture frames that contain photos of their family. Notably, even the older pictures of his parents that she found are added. 

All in all, the boys have a great day.

[blanketfork-blog]

High-Calorie Ingredients For A Healthy Weight Gain

Calories come from all the foods and beverages we consume. It is the basic unit of energy that the body needs for all its vital functions. The number of calories that a person needs to maintain his basal metabolic rate depends on several factors. It includes a person’s age, gender, lifestyle and muscle mass.  

When a person eats minimal calories for a prolonged time, it can lead to several health problems. For one, the person can become underweight according to BMI, and it can cause weakened immunity and even organ failure. On the other hand, eating too many calories can lead to being overweight or obese, increased risks of heart diseases, diabetes or cancer.

Some people wish to gain weight by building lean muscle mass. This can be done by consuming about 3000 calories per day to fuel strength, muscle training and exercise.

High-calorie ingredients and foods will help provide this increase in calorie requirement. If you want to gain weight healthily, you should consume more healthy high-calorie foods like avocados, whole grains, nuts, fish, milk and dairy.

Are Calories All the Same or Are there Healthier Calorie Sources?

Your total calorie intake matters most if you are aiming to trim down and lose weight. Similarly, the number of calories you take also affects your muscle building and weight gain efforts. In essence, not all calories have the same effects on these two goals. There are healthy calories from nutritious food sources, and they are the best ones to help you.

For those aiming to lose weight, healthy calories will support you by providing fuel for your activities, keeps you feeling fuller longer and improve your overall well-being. Likewise, those who need to gain weight for muscle building must choose healthy high-calorie ingredients and food to provide you with stamina and fuel for your workout.

So what are healthy high-calorie foods that you need for your health goals? Professionals recommend the following food variety:

Colourful Vegetables - go for leafy greens for your salads, crunchy carrots and bright peppers. You can experiment with flavours to find something that you enjoy.

Lean Meats - go for lean white meats like fish and chicken. You can also have moderate amounts of lean red meat like pork and beef.

Whole Grains - healthy whole grains will provide you with fibres that you need for you to feel fuller longer. Go for whole-grain pieces of bread or oatmeals.  

Whole Fruits - whether you are trying to gain or lose weight, always choose to have whole fruits instead of having prepared fruit juices and fruit-flavoured drinks.  

Healthy Fats - you can have small servings of healthy fats, and the best sources of these are nuts and seeds.

More Water - it is always best to go for Water to sate your thirst. Avoid sports drinks, soda and sweetened teas.

In your health goals, you have to remember that empty or unhealthy calories will only leave you feeling hungry. Likewise, it will increase your cravings for unhealthy food choices. Empty calories are usually found in processed foods, sugary snacks, and other food products that contain excess fat and transfat.

Different Calorie Needs for Men and Women

Using a calorie calculator is very helpful in figuring out the number of calories that you need to consume each day. In calculating this, your gender is always taken into account along with your weight, age and activity level. It is because a man’s body needs more energy (or calories) even if it is the same size as a woman’s.

Men have more muscle mass compared to women, and these extra muscles need more energy. Likewise, men are commonly taller than women, and this extra height also means that men need more calories. But even if men and women hare of the same size, men will still need more calories. Men generally have a larger lung capacity, and they can work harder in physical activity and exercise. Thus, men need more calories to fuel proper functioning of their muscles.

A person’s specific calorie needs vary widely, and this is why calorie calculators are helpful. For instance, a 32-year-old male with an average height weighs around 160 pounds and has moderate physical activity will need approximately 2,600 calories each day for fuel. This calorie requirement will change if he intends to gain or lose weight.  

High-Calorie Foods For Healthy Weight Gain

Most nutrition and diet articles are aimed at losing weight and become healthier. But for those who are too thin, losing weight is not an option. Unhealthy sweets and fatty food may only lead to health problems. Thus, instead of munching on unhealthy calories to gain weight, you need to choose healthy high-calorie foods. It is the best way to help you build muscles and provide you with energy that your body needs.

Find out how much calories you burn each day with the use of a calorie calculator. Then create a diet plan that exceeds this value. Generally, the 3,500 calories per pound are applied in most diets. It means that each pound is equivalent to 3,500 calories of fat. Therefore, if you reduce or increase your calorie intake by around 500 calories, you will have a pound of fat loss or gain every week. Still, these are rough estimates, and it is not accurate for either weight loss or gain goals.

Adding around 500 healthy high-calorie ingredients and food each day can give you extra calories for weight gain. To ensure that this diet works, you have to plan to eat smaller and frequent meals throughout your day. You can use toppings like chopped nuts, dressings and gravy to add calories without the bulk.

Thus, whether you are aiming to lose or gain weight, it pays to source your calories from nutritious and healthy high-calorie foods. Some suggestions are:

Bagels

Bread and cereals are excellent sources of complex carbohydrates. This food contains starch and fibre, which gives your body energy to function. Complex carbohydrates are metabolized slower than simple carbs. Bagels are more calorie-dense compared with regular bread. A slice of white bread may contain 70 calories, while a small bagel can have more than 180 calories. Extra-large bagels from your favourite coffee shops can have as much as 300 calories. Top it with cream cheese and fruit jam for you to have a delicious, calorie-packed snack.

Pasta

Another high-calorie source of carb is pasta. It is ideal for any meal. All you need is to add the sauce, and you are ready to go. Two cups of cooked pasta are equivalent to 400 calories. A cup of bolognese sauce gives it another 160 calories. And if you will top it up with grated parmesan, you have another 45 calories. With one pasta meal, you get more than 600 calories to fuel a healthy weight gain goals.

Dried Fruits

One or two servings of dried fruit can give you a quick calorie boost. It has less volume than fresh fruits, and you can eat more without feeling full. For instance, a cup of raisins provides 400 calories, while a cup of grapes only has 60 calories. Other dried fruits that you can try are apricots, cranberries, apples and tropical fruits.  

Healthy Oils

Another healthy way of adding calories is by adding an extra dose of healthy fat to your diet. Go for olive oil which is a rich and healthy way of adding flavour to your bread pasta and vegetables. Similarly, canola oil is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and is perfect all-purpose cooking oil. If you need lighter oils for salad dressing, choose grape seed oil or walnut oil.  

Avocado

Avocado is indeed a wonder fruit for any health goals. It is rich in fatty acids, potassium, vitamin K and fibre. One serving of avocado provides 200 calories and lots of extra nutrition. You can add slices of avocado to your sandwich or make guacamole to serve with tortilla chips, burritos and taco shells.

Nuts and Seeds

Munching on nuts and seeds are also a great way to amp up your calories in a healthy way. Nuts and seeds like almonds, cashews, brazil nuts, walnuts, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are good for your health. You can munch them as a snack or use as a topping for yoghurt, ice cream and salad. Alternatively, you can also use nut butter like almond or peanut butter.

Granola

You can create your granola mix using dry whole-grain cereals, seeds, nuts and dried fruits. Store it in an airtight container and use for breakfast. You may also pack your granola on small containers so you can take them with you on busy days. Additionally, you can include some dark chocolate chunks for more flavour. Munching on granola is a great way to add calories to your day if you can’t do big meals.  

When it comes to gaining weight, the equation is pretty straightforward. You have to consume more calories than you burn for you to gain weight. On the other hand, if you have a high metabolism or have lots of physical activities, you could have a calorie deficit if you don’t eat enough calories to fuel your needs.  

[indianrestaurantganesha]

THE GEMS OF THE NORTH INDIAN CUISINES

India is a country where people speak different languages, eat different types of food and experience different weathers. The culture of food is as diverse as the culture. Here, we are going to delve into north Indian food that is served in the best Indian restaurants in Amsterdam. The region has plenty of tasty recipes and is mostly available in all the good Indian restaurants in Amsterdam.

Influence of Culture and history on North Indian food:

The northern part of the country had kings and emperors from different parts of the world. This has influenced the food of the region as well. North India had rulers from Central Asia ruling the region for a long time. The origin story of many dishes can be traced down to the time of these emperors and how the country integrated various other cuisines into theirs.

The Style of the food

North Indian food has many characteristic features to them. To begin with, famous Indian bread like Naan and tandoori roti originated from North India. The curries that come from this part of the country have a thicker consistency as a paste of nuts and cream is used in the preparation. One can notice a larger use of diary by-products in the cooking of these curries. Rice is usually made into elaborate dishes like the legendary biriyanis or pulao. Another distinct feature is the difference in the oil used for preparation. North Indian cuisine utilizes sunflower oil or mustard oil in the preparation. Oil is also replaced by Ghee and is used to prepare celebratory dishes.

Seven gems of North Indian cuisine:

1. Biriyani: The food of celebration, the food of royalty; Biryani came to India with the Mughal empire that ruled the region. The dish is prepared with rice, meat and a mix of spices or masalas and is slow cooked until it is perfect. There are many stories about how Biryani started to be popular and cooked. This dish was cooked in an earthen pot and cooked using charcoal. With time Biryani had travelled throughout the country, and different regions made variations of the dish. Nowadays, the dish is usually prepared in the household during special occasions.

2. Paneer tikka: The most popular appetizer and a favourite among vegetarians is prepared from Paneer, which is also called cottage cheese. Paneer is marinated in a mix of spices and yoghurt batter and grilled. The dish is served with a side of mint chutney, a dip made from mint and green chillies.

3. Rogan Josh: Rogan josh is a type of curry that originated from the regions near Kashmir. This tasty curry is prepared using spices like cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom and with additional flavours of onions, chillies, garlic and ginger. Originally made with mutton, this curry has diversified and is made using other types of meat as well. The Rogan curry paste is world famous and filled with an authentic mix of spices.

4. Tandoori Chicken: Prepared with a blend of spices and yoghurt, marinated for some time and grilled, tandoori chicken is believed to be originated from Punjab. A local favourite, Tandoori chicken, is characterized by its red colour that comes from spices and chillies used in the marination. It is also served with bones to retain the flavour while eating.

5. Chicken Saag: Another gem from the state of Punjab, Saag is a healthy and traditional recipe made in many households in North India. The ingredients include chicken, spinach leaves of mustard, turnip greens and a spice mix. The greens are mixed with spices and cooked in the kitchen, giving a perfect blend of meat and greens. The chicken can be replaced with Paneer and is preferred by many vegetarians

6. Kulfi: This Indian ice cream is a creamy and flavourful dessert. Made from creamy milk and flavouring agents like saffron or cardamom, Kulfi gives you a sweet end to a full meal. Kulfi is also made in different flavours like mango, rose and pistachio

7. Chole Bhature: This dish is a combination of spicy chickpea curry and deep-fried bread. Usually eaten as a breakfast item, this high-calorie dish comes from Punjab. Chole Bhature is normally eaten fresh and hot. This helps to keep the crunchy texture of the Bhatura and enhances the experience of eating this amazing dish.

The dishes that belong to the north Indian cuisine come from different states of North India. The cuisine includes dishes from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kashmir, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The north Indian cuisine is rich in flavour, filled with amazing dishes for all food lovers, and is often referred to as the king of cuisines. Many of the dishes from north Indian cuisine have become famous worldwide. These dishes are offered in many restaurants in global restaurants and are accepted by people globally.

[the-expert-zone]

SUGAR FREE VALENTINE LOVE MUFFINS |

Sugar Free Valentine Love Muffins. 2g carbs and super simple.

It’s been scientifically proven (hehe) that the way to a loved one’s heart is through their stomach. And Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. So why not show that special someone how much you love them, with these gorgeous keto treats.

My easy-to-follow recipe transforms plain muffins into scrumptious mini cakes layered with a luscious filling and topped with the same.

Decorate them with a dusting of raspberry powder, some berries, or chocolate shavings. Or – if you fancy being really romantic – how about some edible rose petals. It will be impossible for your Valentine not be impressed.

How To Make Sugar Free Valentine Love Muffins

For the muffins, you just need quark cheese (or ricotta), eggs, a neutral-tasting oil, vanilla extract and some food colouring. I use high-oleic cold-pressed organic sunflower oil, because of its lightness and neutral flavour. It’s very low in Omega 6 PUFAs – way lower than all the other vegetable oils, including olive oil. Which makes it a healthier choice (you can find a nice table that compares vegetable oils HERE). You could use MCT oil instead, but the muffins won’t be as fluffy, as it’s a heavier oil. I do not recommend real Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil because it’s also heavy, plus highly aromatic.

Tip the Keto MagiCake

Mix | ORIGINAL into a bowl and give it a stir. Weigh the amount needed, mix with liquids, and bake. That’s it! The other half can be returned to its pouch for future use.

My 6-hearts silicone baking mould is pretty inexpensive and works like a dream. No need to grease or line anything. The muffins bake to perfection and pop out effortlessly.

The filling/topping is a breeze. Whip quark with a little sweetener and vanilla until smooth and paste-like. Pour in the whipping cream and whip until firm and you see deep trails left behind by the whisk blades. For the same carb content, you can use ricotta instead of quark, as long as you don’t mind double the calories and more fat.

Let the muffins cool thoroughly, then slice them horizontally and add your filling in between and over the top of each one.

Now you have options. You could dust your finished muffins with some raspberry powder, sprinkle some edible rose petals, add some berries, or even some grated chocolate.

The recipe makes 6 love muffins. One each is plenty. In my opinion. I may be wrong (hehe).

Keep the rest covered and refrigerated, and you’ll have two extra days of enjoyment out of them.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

You can save this recipe or any recipe you

to your Yummly collection. Scroll past the recipe box and you’ll see the button ↓

Cook ModeClick to prevent your screen from going dark

1x2x3x

Decoration (all optional)

Bake Muffins

pre-heat oven to 170°C static.

beat quark to make it smooth and creamy; then whisk in eggs, one at a time, ensuring each one is well incorporated before adding the next one.

add oil, water, vanilla extract and red food colouring, a little at a time, until you achieve the desired hue.

tip the MagiCake

Mix into a bowl and give it a really good stir; add 87g to the egg mixture; use a manual balloon whisk to combine. 

fill your silicone moulds and smooth the tops with a wet teaspoon.

bake for 25-30 mins (check with a skewer); turn off oven, open door and leave in situ 5 mins.

remove from oven and allow the muffins to cool completely before popping them out of the mould.

Make the Filling/Topping

whip quark, icing ‘sugar’ and vanilla extract to a smooth paste.

add cream and continue to whip until firm (deep trails will form).

Assemble and Decorate

when the muffins are totally cold, slice them horizontally, add ½ filling over the bottom halves, sandwich with the top halves, and cover with the remaining cream.

to prettify your creation, you could use a fork to make swirl lines on the top layer of frosting, or you could add a few sparsely placed drops of red food colouring that you can drag out with a toothpick or skewer to create patterns.

(optional) lightly dust with dehydrated raspberry powder, edible rose petals, fresh raspberries or chocolate shavings/crumbs.

refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving.

The remaining dry mix can be returned to its pouch for future use. If using ricotta instead of quark, expect a slightly grainy texture, depending on brand and quality. To save time, you can bake the muffins one day prior to adding the filling/topping and decoration. Just leave them, uncovered, at room temperature and complete them the following day. Use Metric Kitchen Scales to measure ingredients accurately.

Serving: 1 | Calories: 199kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 16g

QueenKETO is a participant in Amazon’s affiliate advertising program. Clicking on a product or ad will re-direct you to the Amazon site. For your purchases, I may receive a small fee, which helps buffer the cost of maintaining and improving this site, at no extra cost to you.

You can click the LINK to start creating your 8-week plan. Simply follow the plan to achieve a successful keto diet.

⠀ LINK : CLICK HERE LINK :CLICK HERE

from Your Keto Plan https://ift.tt/3tBY0RK

[haidasndwch]

Best Restaurants Near Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel

South St. Burger

Restaurant Name: South St. Burger

Phone Number: +14169011524

Website: 

Address: 360 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5H 2V6, Canada

Opening Hours: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Dish Type: Fast Food, Canadian, American

Special Diet:

Price: $-$$

Delivery: No

Yelp Rating: 3.5

Google Rating: 4.3

Zomato Rating: 3.0

Foursquare Rating: 7.1

Located in the heart of Toronto at Bay St. and Queen St, South St. Burger is known for its quality burgers, and it serves only 100% Angus Beef. They cook their delicious beef burgers over an open flame to give you all of that backyard-grill flavour made when you order it. You can also try their turkey, burger, chicken breast, veggie patty, or hot dog. Their famous fresh-cut New York-style fries are cooked in sunflower oil and made to order. Their milkshakes are hand scooped and made with premium ice cream. This is a great place to try burgers in the whole of Toronto and what keeps their customers coming back is the freshness of the meat and generous, exciting toppings. No two burgers need ever be the same, and it means that they allow you to build your own burger and map it up with over 30 gourmet toppings, including a variety of flavoured mayo, fresh veggies, grilled pineapple and a few cool options such as mango chutney and sautéed onions. There are also ten or so premium toppings at an additional charge. They allow you to choose between white or whole wheat buns, something rare at burger places. Service is speedy, and the dine-in facilities are clean, with a lot of seatings available for people who choose to stay.

Locale Mercatto

Restaurant Name: Locale Mercatto

Phone Number: +14163060467

Website:

Address: 330 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5H 2S8, Canada

Opening Hours: 11:30 AM - 11:00 PM

Dish Type: Italian

Special Diet: Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options

Price: $$-$$$

Delivery: No

Yelp Rating: 3.5

Google Rating: 4.2

Zomato Rating: 4.1

Foursquare Rating: 7.2

Located in the Financial District’s heart, Locale Mercatto is an escape from bustling Bay Street through Italian-inspired fare, classic cocktails and hand-selected wine pairings. The indoor seems bright and airy; the space has massive street-facing windows, red and white subway tiles, and a long bar overlooking the prep kitchen. While the food here isn’t cheap, it won’t break the bank either. The menu features fresh fish and meat dishes, though there’s still pasta on the menu. There’s also a separate take-out counter with its own menu. The shareable appetizers, or small plates, include meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. Try the seafood sott’olio with lobster, octopus and shrimp, as well as bread topped with creamy saffron aioli. While those dishes are great for groups, you won’t want to share the Cappellacci, a made-in-house pasta pocket, each comes stuffed with duck, and the whole dish comes topped with honey mushrooms and a truffle sugo. To wash everything down, Locale has an extensive wine menu as well as an excellent selection of beer on tap. There are plenty of bottles to choose from as well.

https://haidasandwich.ca/best-restaurants-near-sheraton-center-toronto-hotel/

[helenaalyssa]

Six places to indulge this Pancake Day in London

London restaurants have upped their Pancake game for this years Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday as it's most commonly named. From savoury offerings, pizza and vegan pancakes there really is something for everyone to over-indulge in in London for this year's Pancake Day - and falling a day before Valentine's Day this year why not use this as the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a pre-Valentines date night or just drown your sorrows in stacks of pancakes... here are a selection of six that I think are definitely worth a visit!

Christopher's

Christopher's in Covent Garden, famed for their ultra fabulous and delicious french toast are going big this year to celebrate Pancake Day. The three specials include a multi-coloured vegan option, featuring Beetroot & Sunflower Seed, Rainbow Chard & Spirulina, and Pumpkin, Caramelised Onion & Turmeric, all garnished with pomegranate, Bee Pollen and Coconut Yoghurt. 

Personally, I'm looking forward to the French Toast one In homage to their infamous dessert, Christopher’s will re-create their French Toast in pancake form. Buttermilk French-toasted pancakes will be served with honeycomb pieces, honeycomb ice cream, maple syrup and a dusting of cinnamon – with optional chocolate sauce for those wanting it extra-sweet, this sounds right up my street!

Finally there's he Lobster one for a tad of American luxury, a lavish grilled lobster with sea kale and chorizo, all on top of a Purple & Sweet Potato Pancake. All available throughout 13th Feb.

Covent Garden, 18 Wellington St, London WC2E 7DD

christophersgrill.com

Dirty Bones

As part of Dirty Bones' brand new brunch menu they are now offering pancakes,and not just any old pancakes, double dutch pancakes! The signature dish involves a deep dish pancake topped with fresh clotted cream and blueberries, served with a shot of maple syrup. The good news is that this pancake will be sticking around after Pancake Day so there's loads of opportunity to get it down you! If you missed my Dirty Bones brunch review you can check it out here.

Kensington, Carnaby, Soho & Shoreditch

dirty-bones.com

Breakfast Club

The almighty Breakfast Club have some up with some genius creations making all of our pancake dreams come true for this year's Pancake Day. You can expect Pizza Pancakes teaming up with Pizza Pilgrims, fried chicken delicacies teaming up with Coqfighter, vegan delights and even boozy pancakes thanks to a collab with Bulleit Whiskey. 

Their famous Pancake Day challenge is also back, simply eat a stack of 12 in 12 minutes or less and win your stack on them. The specials are available from the 12 - 18 Feb but the challenge will only be available on the 13th Feb.

Angel, Battersea Rise, Canary Wharf, Croydon, Hackney Wick, Hoxton, London Bridge, Soho, Spitalfields 

www.thebreakfastclubcafes.com/events/pancake-club-2018

The Book Club

The Book Club never fail to disappoint for Pancake Day - and this year on offer is a boozy stack of fluffy American pancakes, glued together with delicious Kahlua Cream, covered in chocolate, Espresso and vodka sauce and topped with even more Kahlua Cream. If that hasn’t sold it to you then I don’t know what will. 

Grab the stack at The Book Club between 9am – 10pm on Tuesday 13th February. 

100-106 Leonard St, EC2A 4RH

thebookclub.eventcube.io/events/10140/pancake-day

Joe's Southern Table

If chicken and waffles can work so well I have all the faith in the world that the fusion of fried chicken and pancakes would be beautiful. Joe’s Southern Table & Bar in Covent Garden is passionate about deep southern flavours; their fluffy pancake stack is topped with sweet tea-brined southern-fried chicken and lathered in Jim Beam bourbon maple syrup. 

34 King St, London WC2E 8JD

joessouthern.co.uk

Polo Bar

If you have to work late or simply have no time during the day, Liverpool Street’s 24-hour favourite; Polo Bar, is your savior! This year they have teamed up with Jude’s ice cream to whip up three mouth-watering specials for Shrove Tuesday.

Don't miss the red velvet & cherry ripple ice cream stack (topped with a slice of red velvet cake OMG!!), for the traditional dessert lovers they have also whipped up a stack of apple crumble and custard pancakes complete with Jude's custard ice cream as well as a healthier alternative of tropical pancakes topped with Jude's mango and passion fruit frozen yogurt and fresh fruit. 

Their ultimate challenge is also back for another year, if you missed me being defeated the Polo bar Pancake Day challenge last year, be sure to check it out here. These stacks are only available until Tuesday 13th Feb!

176 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4NQ

polo24hourbar.co.uk

[johnmillsmola]

7 Day Keto Diet Meal Plan For Beginners

7 Day Keto Diet Meal Plan For Beginners

7 Day Keto Diet Meal Plan

If you’re searching for a fat-burning meal plan to help you lose weight, the 7 day keto diet meal plan may be the perfect diet to suit your needs.

This weight-loss diet provides you with the tools needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle while also helping you achieve the body that you desire Burns fat, Use fat for energy, Includes healthy fats, No side effects, Allows for low carb intake, Moderate protein intake, Insulin resistant.

Benefits What Can You Eat On The Keto Diet

See below detailed explanation along with the 7 Day Keto Meal Plan at the end of the article along with ketogenic recipes.

Meat and Seafood

Remember that ketogenic diet foods are not to be high in protein; the focal point is on fat. So be moderate in consuming these proteins.

Beef

Fish, aim for fatty fish, such as salmon

Sardines

Trout

Lobster

Dark meat chicken

Pork

Turkey

Bacon

Lamb

Shrimp

Skinless chicken breast

Whole Milk Natural DairyOils

Avocado oil

Coconut oil

Olive oil

Hazelnut oil

Sunflower oil

Flaxseed oil

Corn oil

Fruits and Vegetables

(1 cup serving size)

Seeds and NutsSweeteners

(Use moderately)

Monk fruit

Stevia

Erythritol

Xylitol

Condiments and Sauces

Soy sauce

Guacamole

Lemon butter sauce

Salsa

Mayo (No sugar)

Heavy cream

Raw garlic

Tomato sauce/paste (No sugar)

Liquids

Water

Almond milk

Coconut milk

Bone broth

Herbal tea

Green tea

Black coffee

Unsweetened carbonated water

Zero-calorie drinks

Rum

Whiskey

Tequila

Vodka

Gin

Liquors like above, are keto friendly, as long as you do not mix them with juices or sweeteners.

Use tonics, sodas, and seltzers when it comes to keto mixers.

>>> CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR CUSTOM KETO DIET TO LOSE WEIGHT AND LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

Herbs and Spices

Any herb and spice can work in keto diet foods.

They are all typically okay if you use a tiny quantity for adding flavour.

These are just some examples however; you can use your desired choice.

Supplements

Below are not required. They are simply optional and can help you produce ketones more rapidly.

Fiber

Multivitamin

MCT oils

Vitamin D (Great support for immune system)

Exogenous ketones (A great aid to help raise ketone levels)

Nutrition Information For The 7 Day Meal Plan

Nutrition information for foods in the meal plan.

Avocado Oil

Per 1 tablespoon serving: 124 calories, 0g net carbs, 0g protein, 14g fat

Benefits: Avocado oil is vital source for boosting your nutrients. The high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids help the body absorb nutrients.

Butter

Per 1 tablespoon serving: 100 calories, 0g net carbs, 0g protein, 11g fat

Benefits: It contains a fat-soluble vitamin good for the immune system and healthy vision.

Cheese

Per 1 slice serving: 113 calories, 0g net carbs, 7g protein, 9g fat

Benefits: Cheese is the best dietary source for calcium and also an excellent source of protein.

Coconut Milk

Per 1 cup serving: 445 calories, 6.35g net carbs, 4.57g protein, 48.2g fat

Benefits: This is a great way improve digestion, and heart health. The high source of electrolytes help prevent fatigue.

Chicken

Per 1 thigh serving: 318 calories, 0g net carbs, 32g protein, 20g fat

Benefits: Chicken, the most common poultry can aid in weight loss and cholesterol regulation. Also, it has a great source of protein.

Eggs

Per 1 egg serving: 77 calories, 1g net carbs, 6g protein, 5g fat

Benefits: Eggs are very essential for receiving nutrients. In fact, they’re among the most nutritious foods around. They contain a fair mixture of satiating protein vitamins and fat.

Salmon

Per 4-oz serving: 170 calories, 0g net carbs, 26g protein, 6g fat

Benefits: You’ll get an impressive amount of benefits from salmon. The impressive omega-3 fatty acids offer the ability fight off cancer cells and tumors.

Asparagus

Per 1 cup (raw) serving: 27 calories, 2g net carbs, 3g protein, 0g fat

Benefits: Asparagus is full of nutrients and antioxidants that can boost your brain function as well as give you more energy.

Avocado

Per ½ avocado serving: 160 calories, 2g net carbs, 2g protein, 15g fat

Benefits: The creamy fruit is loaded with fiber, giving the ability to improve digestion. They also contain a high amount of immune-revving vitamin C.

Broccoli

Per 1 cup (raw) serving: 31 calories, 6g net carbs, 2.5g protein, 0.3g fat

Benefits: The verdant green veggie is keeps you looking younger, improves bone health and works as a natural detoxification.

Cauliflower

Per 1 cup (raw) serving: 25 calories, 2g net carbs, 2g protein, 0g fat

Benefits: Cauliflower is very high in fiber, vitamin C and includes an abundance of heart-healthy nutrients.

Celery

Per 1 cup (raw) serving: 16 calories, 1g net carbs, 1g protein, 0g fat

Benefits: Celery is a very hydrating vegetable. These crunchy spears are rich in vitamins K, A, and C.

Green Peppers

Per 1 cup (sliced) serving: 18 calories, 2g net carbs, 1g protein, 0g fat

Benefits: They are a very powerful antioxidant. This food is favorable in pain-relieving and lessens the risk of many chronic illnesses.

Lettuce

Per 1 cup (shredded) serving: 5 calories, 1g net carbs, 0g protein, 0g fat

Benefits: Leafy greens can add bulk to your meals while keeping your immune system healthy and strong. They also work for skin-strengthening vitamin A and vitamin C.

Green Onions

Per 1/2 cup (sliced) serving: 16 calories, 2g net carbs, 0g protein, 0g fat

Benefits: More than just a savory taste for dishes, green onions are extremely high in antioxidants and study shows they are a natural remedy for colds.

Tomato

Per 1 cup (raw) serving: 25 calories, 6g net carbs, 1g protein, 0g fat

Benefits: amazing source containing vitamins that protect your heart health and neutralize harmful radicals in the blood.

Zucchini

Per 1 cup (sliced, raw) serving: 18 calories, 3g net carbs, 1g protein, 0g fat

Benefits: This is a delicious way to promote healthy digestion, reduce blood sugar and aid your heart health.

Foods You Should Avoid Or Limit

Grains and starchy products

ALL sugars

Candy

Cookies

Dairy

Evaporated skim milk & low fat dairy

Sweetened yogurts

Ice cream

Fats

Margarine

Artificial fats

Grains Starchy Carbs Fruits and Starchy Vegetables

Most fruits, except for lemons, limes, tomatoes, and small portions of berries.

Starchy vegetables, including corn, potatoes, and peas.

Nuts and Seeds

Sweetened nut or seed butter

Chocolate-covered nuts

Sweeteners Sauces and Condiments

Salad dressings

Barbecue sauce

Ketchup

Honey mustard

Beverages

Wine (limit)

Beer (limit)

Sweetened cocktails

Soda

Energy drinks

Fruit juice

Lemonade

>>> CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR CUSTOM KETO DIET TO LOSE WEIGHT AND LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

7 Day Keto Diet Plan For Beginners

Here is a free 7-day keto diet meal plan for beginners to ignite your journey towards living a healthier lifestyle. Scroll down to access and print the infographic.

Day 1

Breakfast: Sunny-side up eggs and bacon added with avocado

Snack: peanuts or cashews

Lunch: Avocado salad with grilled chicken

Snack: stuffed celery sticks

Dinner: Beef and broccoli with cauliflower rice

Day 2

Breakfast: Herbed veggie omelet with smoked salmon

Snack: almonds

Lunch: Broccoli salad stuffed in shredded cheese and red onions

Snack: High-fat cheese and dill pickle slices or organic pepperoni slices

Dinner: Zucchini noodles with butter and garlic topped in parmesan

Day 3

Breakfast: Ham and cheese omelet sided with strawberries

Snack: Plain Greek yogurt coated in 1 teaspoon crushed almonds

Lunch: Sesame chicken wings and keto fries

Snack: Delicious smoothie made with coconut milk, raspberries and blackberries.

Dinner: Lemon pepper chicken topped in parsley sided with asparagus

Day 4

Breakfast: Avocado smoothie made with coconut or almond milk, fresh spinach, and berries

Snack: Two deviled eggs or two hard-boiled eggs

Lunch: Chicken parmesan on top of zucchini noodles topped with cheesy tomato sauce

Snack: Pizza or taco rolls (used baked full-fat cheese as the “wrap” and fill with pizza or taco meat)

Dinner: Avocado chicken salad served with celery and tomatoes

Day 5

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and bacon sided with avocado or sliced tomato

Snack: A cup of berries with nuts of your choice (almonds, pecan, walnuts…)

Lunch: Lettuce wrapped beef burger topped with tomato, cheddar cheese and avocado

Snack: zucchini and homemade guacamole or with full-fat cheese

Dinner: Cheesy chicken fried cauliflower rice and broccoli

Day 6

Breakfast: Egg burrito loaded with avocado, bacon, cheese, and chives

Snack: Keto bar

Lunch: Tuna stuffed avocado seasoned with lemon and topped off in green onions

Snack: Cheese and meat snack pack

Dinner: Roasted lemon garlic butter shrimp and asparagus

Day 7

Breakfast: Smoked salmon mixed with scrambled eggs sprinkled with scallion

Snack: kale chips

Lunch: Salmon salad and boiled egg topped with cucumber and cherry tomatoes

Snack: Baked celery stuffed in goat or cottage cheese

Dinner: zucchini noodles shrimp scampi topped with lime

Keto Recipes

When you eat the right combination of food, you simply feel more satisfied.

Once you start the keto diet for beginners, you will notice that you feel better, look fabulous, and overall have a healthier way of living. Enjoy this free keto diet plan!

>>> CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR CUSTOM KETO DIET TO LOSE WEIGHT AND LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

[the-coconut-asado]

Sand and Sandwiches

When I posted pictures of Clacton Pier from our road trip last month, alot of friends recalled fond memories of their childhood, whizzing down the helter skelter and eating whelks on the beach. How many of those friends returned to Clacton between puberty and the menopause? I’m guessing zero.

British seaside holidays - especially those on the bracing North Sea coastline - are freeze-framed in our consciousness as an ice cream in a 10-force gale, or a sandy mouthful of picnic behind a wind break. That’s if you ever got out of the car to eat. My own holiday memories involve that great British institution The Car Picnic: cold baked beans on crispbread, washed down with a thermos of tea, watching the rain lash the windscreen before going to queue for Les Dennis and Dustin Gee at the Winter Garden.

When I was very young we would follow my half-sister (a dancer) around the seaside panto circuit, performing variously alongside Danny la Rue (the ultimate drag queen), Dickie Henderson (a comedian I announced I wanted to marry, aged 5) and The Clitheroe Kid (there would have been no Crankies without him. You figure out if this was a good thing). Any dreams I had of a career in showbiz were quashed by seeing the leading lady in Robinson Crusoe sitting in her dressing room in a candlewick robe drinking soup out of a flask and puffing aggressively on a Malboro’ Light . Cold soup did not signal glamour, and no amount of gourmet gazpacho over the years has made me change my mind.

But back to Clacton. We had come for the day from our glamping site near Colchester (Covid has done nothing if not made us adventurous), hoping to build better seaside food memories in a post-Jamie Oliver era.

It didn’t bode well that we couldn’t get warm. Icy winds blew from the stall selling an irresistible if confusing combination of ice cream and chips, right through the rat run of Vegas-adjacent slot machine arcades, where you could win anything you wanted as long as it was a baby Yoda.

But nestling in the back streets was a cafe called Tracie’s which, unlike those around it, was teeming with people. Its fogged up windows promised warmth, so we snapped on our face masks and dived in.

And we were rewarded. While Adam couldn’t think past a burger and chips (no blame there) I noticed a chalkboard with their special of the day: goat curry. I figured that restaurant which stakes their reputation on a goat curry has to serve a good one - and I wasn’t wrong. Dark, glossy and caramelised from long, slow cooking, with just the right lick of habanero chilli pepper and meltingly tender potatoes, served with a flavourful jollof rice.

From the gleeful expressions of our fellow diners it seemed that Tracie, the owner-chef, is turning out plate after plate of delicious and consistent food - including Adam’s burger and crispiest fries. But that curry, over and above all else, banished all my dodgy seaside supper memories for good and replaced them with a whole bowl of yum.

I went straight home and experimented, and here is the result. You might feel like an ice cream to follow (with or without a side order of chips) so my choc chip sorbet ice cream should fill the bill nicely. And if, like me, your childhood is sprinked with the crumbs of a back seat picnic, then I hope that my Pork Cholas will change the course of your summer outdoor eating.

Goat Curry

Unlike Tracie, I have developed this as an off the bone curry. Still full of flavour but less fiddly to eat. Serve with jollof, coconut or plain basmati rice. Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

2kg goat leg, off the bone and chopped into generous chunks

4-5 garlic cloves, crushed

1 red pepper, cubed

1 scotch bonnet/ habanero pepper seeded and chopped finely

1 in piece of fresh ginger, grated

2 tsp kosher salt

2 onions chopped

1-2 tbsp. Sunflower oil

Few sprigs fresh thyme

1 tin cherry tomatoes

3 tbsp plain yoghurt

250 ml beef stock

1 small tin coconut cream

200g potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped

Curry Paste:

2 tsp allspice

3-4 tsp cumin powder

2 tsp. Turmeric

½ tsp. Cinnamon

1 tsp ground black pepper

1tbsp. Reloja powder (this is a Puerto Rican mix of toasted ground cinnamon sticks, dried chillis, cumin, pumpkin seeds, bay leavesm sesame seeds and cocoa powder)

3 tbsp sunflower oil

How to make

Marinate the goat in the garlic, ginger, salt, thyme and chopped scotch bonnet. Leave the flavours to develop over an hour or two.

Heat the oil in a large, deep casserole, then fry the onion and pepper until brown. Add the curry paste and fry until the oil starts to separate and the aromas hit you. Add the marinaded goat meat and stir until coated.

Add the tin of cherry tomatoes, the beef stock and the coconut cream, stir well to combine then reduce heat and simmer, covered for about 3.5 hours.

Add the chopped potatoes, then simmer, uncovered, for a further 30 mins until the potatoes are cooked but still holding together. Test the goat for tenderness - it should be meltingly tender - and serve.

Choc Chip Sorbet Ice Cream

How can you have an ice cream and a sorbet all in one? Simple - by using my friend Sam’s Chocolate Sorbet recipe (see my Last Kitchen Show blog) as a base, then adding whipped egg white, double cream and of course chocolate chips. An ice cream maker will make this effortless, but don’t despair if you don’t have one. Just remember to take the ice cream out of the freezer a couple of hours after freezing and whisk thoroughly before returning to the freezer. Serves 4-6

Ingredients For the sorbet mix:

200 g caster sugar

50g cocoa powder

50 g 70% dark chocolate, broken into pieces

1 tsp. Vanilla extract

600 ml water

To finish:

1 egg white

300 ml double cream

30g dark chocolate chips

How to make:

First, make the sorbet mix. Bring the water to the boil, then whisk in the sugar and cocoa powder. Simmer for 5 minutes, then take off the heat and stir in the chopped chocolate and vanilla extract until smooth. Cool (you can make this the day before and refrigerate over night)

Whisk the egg white to soft peaks, and in a separate bowl, whisk the double cream until just holding its shape. Fold the egg white and cream into the sorbet mix, then mix in the ice cream maker.

Five minutes before it is ready, add the chocolate chips to the ice cream as it mixes (or if you are not using a maching, add the choc chips after you have whisked the mix out of the freezer). Transfer to a plastic container, cover and freeze. Bring to room temperature for around 20 minutes before serving.

Pork Cholas

This is the national sandwich of Bolivia - probably getting its name from Cholitas, Bolivia’s indigenous women. You can just serve this with the traditional salsa verde but I also like to add a small dollop of Stokes Jalapeno Jelly for extra zing. I made my own crusty bread rolls for these photos, but sandwich making shouldn’t be a morning-long process, so just buy 6 of these and off you go. Makes 6 Cholas.

Ingredients:

1.5kg pork shoulder off the bone, skin removed and aside

1 tsp fennel seeds, crushed

1 tsp salt plus extra for salting the skin

1 tsp garlic salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp chilli flakes

2 tbsp. Olive oil

300ml cider

6 crusty white bread rolls

Lettuce

Salted butter

For the salsa verde:

3 tbsp. Flat parsley

1 tbsp. Mint leaves

3 tbsp. Capers

6 anchovy fillets

1 clove garlic

1 tbsp. Dijon mustard

Juice of ½ a lemon

120 ml extra virgin olive oil

How to make:

First, roast your pork (you can do this the day before). Mix the fennel seeds, salt, garlic salt, pepper and chilli flakes in a bowl. Add the olive oil and stir to combine, then rub this all over the pork shoulder. Set aside. Rub salt all over the skin (which should be scored) and then pop, uncovered, in the fridge.

Heat the oven to 240C. Put the pork shoulder into a roasting tin and pour the cider around it. Pop into the over, uncovered and immediately turn the oven down to 180C. Pat the skin dry, salt again and put onto a rimmed baking sheet. Slot into the top shelf of your oven and roast skin and shoulder for 2 - 2.½ hours. The pork should be tender and the crackling super crisp. Set both pork and cracking aside to cool.

To make the salsa verde: put all the ingredients except for the olive oil into a blended and pulse. You dont want this mix to be super smooth. Tip into a bowl, add the olive oil and whisk. Cover and chill until needed.

Split the rolls and butter, then layer with a lettuce leaf, slices of pork, a tbsp. Salsa verde and a dollop of jalapeno jelly (optional) before sandwiching with the crusty top. Serve with shards of crackling on the side.

[ursusesuriit]

11 baking ingredients for your store cupboard

Essentials for your pantry, our top picks.

There are a handful of storecupboard staples that are worth having on hand so you can rustle up a cake whenever you want one. Most of these have lengthy use-by dates so even if you're an infrequent baker you can still afford to stock up.

Baking powder

Baking powder is a raising agent. It's made up of bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar. Cream of tartar is an acid which activates the bicarbonate of soda causing it to release carbon dioxide and aerate the cake with the addition of moisture. It's often used in baking, especially in creamed cakes.

Bicarbonate of soda

Bicarbonate of soda can also be bought separately but it's still necessary to add an acid and moisture to activate it. Common acids that you will find in recipes include cream of tartar, buttermilk and milk. Bicarbonate of soda has a strong flavour so care must be taken not to use too much.

Butter

We haven't included many fresh ingredients in our list as most, such as carrots for Carrot cake, you'll want to buy as and when you need them. However, butter is a must for many cake recipes and is a useful all-round item to have in your fridge. Butter imparts a distinctive flavour and is ideal for creamed cakes where it's beaten together with sugar to incorporate air into the mixture and produce a light cake.

Chocolate

It's worth having some plain chocolate in your store cupboard for making chocolate cakes; for breaking up to use as chocolate chips and for making rich chocolatey cake toppings. In most recipes a plain chocolate of around 40 per cent cocoa solids is adequate unless otherwise stated. You might also want to keep a stash of white and milk chocolate for your recipes.

Cocoa

Another key ingredient for chocolate cake recipes, cocoa provides an intense chocolate flavour. It has the benefit of not needing to be melted and is completely stable. A couple of tablespoons are often used in place of flour in addition to melted chocolate to give depth to the recipe. It is also used when making chocolate buttercream for icing and filling cakes.

Eggs

Another all-round useful ingredient, eggs are used in cake batters to trap air in the cake as well as to bind the ingredients together. At Good Food we usually use large eggs unless otherwise stated in the recipe. 

Flour

Plain flour and self-raising are white (refined) flours that are essential for baking. Self-raising flour is made from plain flour with a small amount of baking powder mixed in (1/2 tsp per 100g). If a recipe states plain flour, it will also specify a raising agent such as baking powder or bicarbonate of soda to ensure a good rise. Wholemeal flour is not generally used in cake recipes as it provides a denser texture so would usually be mixed with plain or self-raising flours. 

Sugar 

Caster sugar is the most popular sugar for cake making, particularly for creamed cakes as its fine texture blends well. Icing sugar, as the name suggests, is the key ingredient for both glacé icing (icing sugar mixed with water) and buttercream (icing sugar mixed with butter). It's also useful to have a variety of brown sugars; light and dark soft brown sugar and muscovado all have distinctive flavours and are commonly found in fruit and other richly flavoured cakes.

Spices

Common spices used in baking include ground cinnamon, ground mixed spice, ground ginger and nutmeg. It's worth having jars of these to hand and buying others as needed.

Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil has many culinary uses and it's ideal for baking as it has a mild flavour which allows the other ingredients in a cake to shine through.

Vanilla

Vanilla extract is a store cupboard essential. It's worth buying the real thing, made from vanilla beans, as opposed to the cheaper vanilla essence, as the flavour is much better.

[lisamckain-blog]

Come and explore the varied and exciting chocolatey delights in London!  As the third-largest consumers of chocolate in Europe, we Brits take our sweet treats seriously! Whether it comes steaming hot in a mug or in a solid bar, flavoured with the latest must-have ingredient or just pure chocolate, everyone from Buckingham Palace to the streets of Soho and beyond is eating chocolate. During your chocolate getaway, you will explore the capital’s top addresses and taste the most daring of flavours!

Image via Shutterstock

10 ways to dive into the London chocolate scene

Visit the chocolate museum

 Opened in March 2013 by Isabelle Alaya, French chocolatier and creator of the Mélange Chocolate brand, the Chocolate Museum in London is a haven for chocolate lovers. By bringing together a wide variety of museum pieces – including posters, cooking utensils and ancient artefacts – the museum allows you to dive headfirst into the world of chocolate and learn more about its origins. The museum also organises a number of workshops and tastings to set your taste buds tingling! The Chocolate Museum, 187 Ferndale Road, Brixton, London SW9 8BA

Take a specialist course with MyChocolate

 Want to learn to make chocolate-based cocktails? How about truffles or your own sweet treats? This is what MyChocolate, a London business specialising in organising chocolate workshops, can offer. In a relaxed atmosphere, you will learn how to work with delicate chocolate. The courses are designed for everyone, from complete novices to those with existing confectionary-making skills. MyChocolate 10C Branch Place, London N1 5PH

Discover the historic Menier Chocolate Factory

 First opened in 1870 on the South Bank, for many years the Menier Chocolate Factory was an important London-based outlet for the French brand, Menier. Listed as an historic monument, the factory was converted into a 180-seat theatre in 2004. Although chocolate has not been produced here since, those interested in its history can still make a pilgrimage and enjoy a show in the converted theatre at the same time!  Menier Chocolate Factory 53 Southwark Street, London SE1 1RU

Have a cup of decadent hot chocolate at Chin Chin Labs...

 Although they’re best known for producing cutting-edge ice cream using molecular cooking techniques, Chin Chin Labs in Camden have a secret weapon: their hot chocolate! Made using artisan chocolate, it comes topped with a gigantic helping of lightly caramelised vegetarian marshmallow. Indulgent and irresistible! Chin Chin Labs 49-50 Camden Lock Place, London, NW1 8AF

... or try the almost obscene caramel hot chocolate at Said!

 At the other end of the spectrum, Said which is the oldest Italian chocolatier, offers up a hot chocolate that is just as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate from its Soho workshop: the caramel hot chocolate. Presented in a cup covered in dark chocolate on one side and caramel on the other, its powerful and devilishly decadent flavour sets it apart from the rest. Difficult to resist! Said dal 1923 41 Broadwick Street, Carnaby, London W1F 9Q

Try darker-than-dark chocolates at Charbonnel & Walker

 London chocolatiers since 1875, Charbonnel & Walker is one of the UK’s oldest brands. A very traditional confectioner, the shop has remained a key player in the capital’s chocolate scene year after year. Their secret? The finest dark chocolate as well as exceptional champagne truffles. They’re so delicious, you won’t be able to resist! Charbonnel & Walker One, The Royal Arcade, 28 Old Bond St, Mayfair, London W1S 4BT

Wake up your taste buds at Montezuma’s

 Compared to other chocolatiers, Montezuma’s have a much more modern and quirky approach when it comes to their flavours. Founded in 2000 by two chocolate-addict lawyers, they offer bars in unusual flavours such as orange & geranium, chilli & lime and even caramelised sesame & sunflower seed.  Montezuma’s Chocolates 8 Market Street, London E1 6DT

Live out your wildest chocolate dreams at Choccywoccydoodah

 As inventive as their name suggests, Brighton-based chocolatier Choccywoccydoodah made its name through its kitsch creations, rococo-style cakes and ornate chocolate flowers. In their London store, their gallery-style “Bar du Chocolat” invites you to sample their chocolate delights and can always be accompanied by a tasty milkshake or hot chocolate. Imaginative and delicious! Choccywoccydoodah 30-32 Foubert’s Place, Carnaby, London W1F 7PS

Bite into one of Philip Neal’s Buddhas

 Known as one of the best chocolatiers in London, Philip Neal offers luxurious and often unusual creations. In his Chiswick shop, you will find chocolates in the shape of Buddha, stilettos, theatre masks and even bars which depict the Kama Sutra. After you’ve sampled the truffles and chocolate squares, you’ll want to move onto the more unusual designs! Philip Neal Luxury Chocolates 43 Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick, London W4 1RG

Taste excellence at William Curley

 Luxury pastry chef and master chocolate maker, William Curley is a big name in chocolate, not only in London but around the world. He excels in producing high-quality traditional chocolates as well as more unusual combinations. In our opinion, no chocolate lover will be able to resist temptation and just walk past the window! R Chocolate London 198 Ebury Street, Belgravia, London SW1W 8UN

Image via Shutterstock

Chocolate... as described by great chefs:  “Chocolate is a unique product. You can be incredibly creative with it and experiment in many areas such as:  cakes, pastries and desserts.”  -William Curley, chocolatier and pastry chef, four-time winner of “Britain’s Best Chocolatier” Spotlight on: Paul A Young and the secret of his success  Having fallen into chocolate-making almost by accident, the chef Paul A. Young is known today as one of the leading figures in the global chocolate world. However, his road to success wasn’t easy. Having gained experience as a pastry chef, he initially ventured into the world of industrial cooking. After working for Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s, he then decided to move into the chocolate business in 2006 by opening his own shop in London. Then came the real success! Developing quintessentially British flavours, such as  Marmite chocolate and Port & Stilton truffles, he is considered one of the most inventive chefs on the planet. Amazing! The Cadbury Creme Egg: a British chocolate institution  Invented in 1923 by Cadbury, these eggs filled with fondant creme are a lot more than just Easter chocolate: they are a real national treasure! This egg-shaped milk chocolate full of white and yellow fondant creme delight is extremely popular at Easter. Having previously reached sales of over 200 million units each year, sales of Creme Eggs fell in 2016 when Cadbury’s new owners, American food giant Kraft, decided to change the recipe. Yes – you can’t meddle with an institution such as this without the British public noticing!

The post London’s Chocolate Itinerary appeared first on Expedia Blog.