#it has a lot of cocoa powder and food coloring in it so its not holding up as well

[florida3exclamationpoints]

I only have the last little details (writing 🥴) left on the cake and my hands are shaking so I'm eating a bunch of sugar first lol

[loominggaia]

UEKORAN CUISINE

OVERVIEW

Uekoro is a Matuzan territory located in the Midland Jungle. This jungle is bountiful with resources, including a diverse variety of meat and forage that the ancient Uekorans cobbled together into delicious recipes. These recipes were passed down over many generations and are still enjoyed today. The Uekoran palette prefers intense sweet and spicy flavors.

BONANCHI

A bonanchi consists of honey and a slice of banana sandwiched between two crispy millet wafers. The top wafer usually has chocolate frosting and coconut shavings on it, but the wafers themselves may be either plain or chocolate flavored. They may be eaten cold, but are traditionally toasted. These little sandwich cookies are a popular snack for children, as they’re sweet and simple to make.

FOWL AND SPINACH

The Midland Jungle is home to many species of colorful birds, and all of them are as tasty as they are beautiful! The Uekoran people are not picky about the fowl they eat, but parrots are historically the most common bird on their plates. They prefer to roast these birds over a rotisserie for several hours, then serve them with spinach leaves, beans, and some kind of grain–usually millet or rice. Sweet pineapple sauce is a common glaze.

SKROBA

Skroba is made by boiling millet starch with goat’s milk and sugar, then stirring until it has a thick liquid consistency. It is a sweet and filling drink that is popular with all Uekorans. Sometimes cocoa powder is added to give it a chocolatey flavor. Skroba can be fermented into an alcoholic version called “Skrobaki”.

KUKULU

A kukulu is a boiled plantain leaf stuffed with minced meat, beans, chunks of pineapple and plantain, and flavored with spicy chilies. Kukulus are a popular staple of Uekoran cuisine, but only for the poor and working class. Upper classes consider them “peasant food”, as they are hard to eat without making a mess. Most Uekorans, however, are willing to suffer a few minutes of looking undignified to taste this delicious dish.

EKUMELA FOLD-OVER

A flat, floppy piece of bread flavored with cinnamon and chocolate, folded over to contain a gooey filling of honey and ekumela chunks. Fold-overs are a popular dessert all over Matuzu Kingdom, but this ekumela filling is what gives this version its unique Uekoran flavor. Like kukulu, fold-overs are another dish that Uekoran upper classes tend to avoid because of its messiness, which makes them appear “undignified” as they eat it. It is so delicious, however, that many nobles eat them in secret.

COCONANA

Simple coconut water is not enough to satisfy the Uekoran tongue, so they prefer to mix it with blended bananas, pineapples, and limes to make a powerfully flavorful smoothie. This drink is packed with electrolytes, which are essential in such a hot and humid place as Uekoro. It is traditionally drunk from a coconut shell.

RED SOUP AND OFO

A common comfort food of the Uekoran people. Red soup is a blood broth containing chunks of tomato, yam, and the meaty drumstick of a fowl. This dish is usually accompanied by starchy rolls called ofo, which are made by pounding plantains, yams, and spices into a sticky meal, rolling the meal into balls, and then baking them. Red soup and ofo is enjoyed by peoples of all classes, found in the hands of peasants and also on the tables of royalty.

WAIRUNTU EGGS

Its name translates to “irresistable eggs” in the local language of Galsungi, and for good reason! These hard-boiled eggs are marinated in a sauce made from fish, chilies, and tomatoes, then glazed with honey and served over rice. This dish is known for its intense flavor, but some find it too rich. Wairuntu is associated more with upper classes than the common folk. It is traditionally eaten with a special golden fork, which is said to enhance its flavor even more.

MILLET CHIPS AND HOT YAM DIP

Uekorans make a lot of things from millet, and one of those things is crunchy chips. They taste good on their own, but they’re even better served with hot yam dip, which is simply mashed yams spiced up with hot chilies. This dish is simple yet addictive, and massively popular in Uekoro and beyond. Uekorans especially like to eat this while watching sports games at their local arena.

OTHER DISHES

Ekumela pie and setsiki brain soup are also traditional Uekoran dishes. You can read about them in the Matuzan Cuisine article.

SEE ALSO

Cuisine Masterpost

Ask - Cuisine

Ask - Uekoro

*

Questions/Comments?

Lore Masterpost

Read the Series

[thewhizzyhead]

a non-filipino's guide to trese: ep 1

So some of my mutuals decided to check out Trese aka the Netflix adaptation of the Filipino horror comic book series that I keep rambling about here and then since well um most of my mutuals aren’t from the Philippines fshfs I decided to make a long-ass post that basically consists of me rambling about the cultural context present in Trese with fun little tidbits about Filipino folklore. I’m not an expert on Filipino mythology so um I just typed out the stuff that I know and the stuff that I looked up on Wikipedia so um take this with a grain of salt aaaaa I’ll save the extensive google scholar research ramble on folklore present in Trese for another day.

I’ll try to find the sites where I got some of the information from cause um yea I kinda had a bit of a hard time finding the other shit so um once again, take the stuff here with a grain of salt. Also, feel free to add more info if you guys got any!

SO ANYWAYS ENJOY ME RAMBLING ABOUT EPISODE 1 OF TRESE WOO

+ MRT and LRT (Manila Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit) are train systems in NCR (the capital region) and yea them suddenly stopping and malfunctioning in the middle of the goddamn rail is a daily occurrence and we have been trying to deal with this bullshit for years but alas, corruption and negligence are sweet sweet drugs.

+ When the MRT broke down, you'd see a red bee in the flashing billboard right? Well that's Jollibee and that's probably the most well-known fast food restaurant chain here heck there are even branches of it abroad!

+ According to many youtube comments along with other social media posts that I am way too tired to link here, the opening theme is an Ifugao ethnic song called Balluha'd Bayyauhen but with modern accompaniments and I think the song is about a fruit called a balluha that the character in the song tries to it but cannot swallow. (someone please correct me if I’m wrong here fjkfs)

+ The first um monster that we see Alexandra interact with is the White Lady of Balete Drive. White Ladies or “Kaperosa” are a type of female ghosts typically dressed in ghostly white dresses or similar garments. According to legend, she died in a car accident while driving along Balete Drive (a two lane street formerly lined with Balete Trees which are said to be a home for spirits and mysterious creatures) in Quezon City while other accounts say she died waiting for the arrival of her lover; others also say that she was a teenage girl who was run over and killed by a taxi driver at night and then buried around a Balete tree while another variation of the tale claims that a student from the University of the Philippines was sexually assaulted and killed by a taxi driver nearby and so said ghost haunts the street in search of her murderer. There are many other variations but according to local rumor, the legend was fabricated by a reporter in 1953 in order to make an interesting story. What remains consistent in many variations is that apparently taxi drivers would be stopped by a beautiful lady asking for a ride and if one would look at the rear window, they would see that the white lady in question is bruised and drenched in blood.

+ There are a lot of mentions about "lakans" and stuff in reference to Alex and her father right? In precolonial times, the term is used to refer to the paramount ruler or the highest-ranking political authorities in Tagalog communities (so um NCR and some parts of Region 4). In Muslim communities, they are called sultans while communities with strong trade connecitons with Indonesia or Malaysia called them Rajah. Datu is umm the more generalized term though when it comes to discussing the leaders of the precolonial Filipinos.

+ So, Alex’s mom is a babaylan and back in the pre-colonial period, each barangay (which a native filipino term for a village or a district; said term is still used today to describe um divisions in municipalities like) had them and these are basically Philippine shamans and they specialized in communicating with the spirits of the dead. To my knowledge, the role of babaylan went to women and yea people assigned male at birth but then identified as female were also allowed to become babaylans and they would be treated with the same respect given to any woman back then (honestly I dunno much about lgbtq+ stuff back in the precolonial times but all I know is that precolonial Filipinos were much a lot more welcoming towards trans identities bUT THEN THE SPANIARDS CAME AND UM ERR RUINED THAT); also the writing Alexandra's mom did in that one scene with the dagger is in Baybayin - preHispanic Filipino script. I dunno what she wrote down though. .

+ Also I kinda find it funny that the people here esp those who were at the White Lady scene are um,,, not at all surprised? Like yea quite a number of filipinos have their own superstitions and beliefs and all that but um yea the people in Trese seem very used to the bullshit,,,which in retrospect, isn't at all inaccurate fsdfd I MEAN WE DEAL WITH UNSURMOUNTABLE AMOUNTS OF BS ON A DAILY BASIS SO I DON’T THINK DEAD GHOSTS WOULD EVEN FAZE MANY FSKJDS

+ The one that appears right before Alexandra talks with the duwende (the one in the manhole) is called Laman Lupa (which i guess translates to um "What is in the earth"? just um YEA THEY ARE DIRT CREATURES). normally this is an umbrella term for duwendes and nunos but in Trese they are servants of these aforementioned creatures.

+ Duwende (which came from the Spanish phrase "dueno de case" which means "owner of the house") or dwarves in Filipino folklore are known to be mischievous and magical environmental guardians. They are believed to reside in trees or under earth mounds (those that live in the latter are called nuno sa pundo or old man of the mount) which is why quite a lot of Filipinos say "tabi tabi po" or “excuse me” when wandering around a forest or earth mounds as a sign of respect and in the hopes the duwende won't torment them. If the person is friendly, the duwende can also be friendly in return and will bring that person good lucl; otherwise, those who destroy their homes by stepping on them will face their wrath in form of heartless curse and predictions of ominous and disastrous fates. A duwende's color also depends on their budhi or conscience: to my knowledge, white duwendes are kind, red ones give protection amulets, green ones are firnedly with children and the black ones give nothing but trouble.

+ Chocnut aka the snack Alex bribes the nuno with is a very yummy chocolate snack made of coconut milk, crushed peanuts and cocoa powder. They are umm about an inch in length and maybe half an inch in width so it's fairly small; that being said I WANT THE CHOCNUT THAT ALEXANDRA HAS CAUSE HOT DAMN THAT'S A BIG CHOCNUT

+ In Trese, the creatures in the MRT scene and in the warehouse Alexandra visits after she talks with the duwende are called "aswang". In Philippine folklore, it is an umbrella term for any kind of monster so um an aswang in Luzon would be very different from the aswang in Mindanao. According to what I saw on wikipedia, they can be classified in 5 categories: the vampire (self-explanatory um they drink blood), the viscera sucker (the manananggal, i'll get to that next time), the weredog (cats and pigs are also possible but um yea they target pregnant women), the witch (self-explanatory boom curses and stuff) and the ghoul (they gather near trees in cemeteries to feast on human corpses). Aswangs are often described to have a long, hollow tongue, sharp claws and sharp teeth, although they do also have human forms.

+ To my knowledge, Ibwa, the leader of the aswangs in the warehouse, is a creature from Tinguian or Itneg mythology (they, like the Ifugao, are an indigenous ethnic group in northwestern Luzon) though I could be wrong about this dksfsf Ibwa seems like an ethnic filipino term tho wah I can't remember where I once read that. But anyways, Ibwa often stalk sthe house of a dying person to steal its body. In order for the ibwa to NOT succeed in that, some people burn holes in the garments of the dead and put a sharp iron object on top of the grave since those are most powerful weapons against aswangs which is what Alexandra uses to subdue the Ibwa and kill all the other aswangs (the knife alex uses is named Sinag which means "ray of light".)

+ ALSO I AM SO SO GLAD THEY KEPT THE FILIPINO SWEARS IN THE ENGLISH DUB YES YES THIS IS A VERY GOOD JOB so lemme discuss the versatility of tangina-

+ Also umm Bossing is a nickname of Vic Sotto - one of the three pioneer hosts of Eat Bulaga! which is the longest running Philippine noontime variety show. Over time, most probably due to the show's popularity, the term "bossing" then became um slang for "boss" or "chief"

+ Translation of what Alex says when she's stirring the eye inside the cup: “In the eyes of others, secrets will reveal themselves.”

+ Sidenote: The English dub's pronunciation of many of the tagalog lines are um yea they r pretty good but they could use a bit of work but then again I'm really not that good in speaking in Tagalog so who am I to judge gkdkf sorry po guys conyo po ako-

+ Maria Makiling is arguably the most famous of all the diwatas (ancestral spirits, nature spirits, or deities) in Philippine Mythology; she is associated with Mount Makiling in Laguna as the guardian spirit of the mountain. Mount Makiling is said to resemble a profile of a woman and people associate the profile with Maria herself. She is also known as a goddess by the name of Dayang Masalanta and people would pray to her for safety and to stop storms and earthquakes. That's the goddess Alexandra's mother mentions right when she tells Alex to hide. (Translation to what she said there: Maria Makiling, goddess of the mountain, bless us.)

+ ALSO YEA THAT MAYOR IN THE MRT STATION IS UMMM RATHER REMINISCENT OF MAAAANY POLITICIANS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS HERE LIKE BELIEVE ME I CAN THINK OF SO MANY NAMES RN. THEY WOULD FLAUNT THEIR MACHISMO AND PROMISE THAT THEY THEMSELVES SHALL PUNISH THE PERPETRATORS HARSHLY BUT IN THE END THEY DONT MEAN SHIT AND ARE IN OFFICE TO SERVE ONLY THEMSELVES AND TO SHIT ON THE REST ESP THOSE OF THE POORER SECTORS AND *NOTHING IS DONE ABOUT IT*. WE LIVE IN HELL OKAY. also hmm how the police are represented here is umm,,,interesting,,, like i know there are sOME good police officers like the ones alexandra assists but like,,,our current sociopolitical climate + the many cases showcasing the corruption in the police force + tHE SHEER AMOUNT OF POLICE BRUTALITY HERE would ummm beg to differ. but um anyways-

+ Also Mang Inasal posters can be seen in the MRT station backdrops and um it’s a very famous restaurant chain here and they serve lots of barbecue and other filipino stuffs and i miss them a lot God their halo halo is very yummy

+ Santelmo - oki so this is the fire face thingy that Alexandra summons inside the ruined train. This is the shortened version of the term "Apoy ni Santa Elmo" or "St. Elmo's Fire" - this is a weather phenomenon wherein plasma is created from an electrical discharge from a rod like object in an atmospheric electric field. This phenomenon was used to warn of imminent lightning strikes or storms (there is a chapter in Noli Me Tangere where Pilosopo Tasyo talks about that bUT I'LL SAVE THE NOLI ME TANGERE RAMBLES FOR ANOTHER DAY). But according to Philippine folklore, santelmos - which are said to be souls of people lost as sea - are balls of fire that appear where accidents or big arguments happen. In Trese, santelmos (alex's santelmo being "The Great Spirit of the Binondo Fire") can be called to assist in supernatural investigations

+ Translation of what Alex says when she draws the circles to meet with the purple ghosts: "Souls, where are you off to? I'll be entering too, so please open the door."

+ Remember the scene at the train with all the purple ghosts and the woman in a veil? Yea the woman is an emissary of a goddess named Ibu and she is the Manobo (again, another indigenous ethnic group but this time they're from Mindanao; fun fact we have around 134 ethnic groups) goddess of deceased mortals and the queen of the underworld; she also serves as a psychopomp and guides the newly deceased souls to the other side (having an MRT be the ride to the underworld isn’t in the legends tho so fkkjsf)

+ The aswang in the top hat is called Xa Mul and according to the Isneg/Apayao people (yay another ethnic group but this time in northern Luzon - the Cordillera regions to be specific), they are an evil spirit known to swallow people whole.

+ Alex has two henchmen right? Yea they are named Crispin and Basillio and No I still don’t know who’s who and I'm really sorry about that fsfjs so anyways the names Crispin and Basillio are actually those of two brothers featured in the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo novels (Crispin is younger and Basilio is older) which are basically the national novels here cause um yea written by national hero Jose Rizal as sociopolitical commentary about the Spanish regime here. I don't know if I want to spoil this cause I kinda want other people to read the novel too fskfs BUT ALL IN ALL, ONE OF THEM DIES IN LIKE THE 10TH OR 11TH CHAPTER OF NOLI ME TANGERE (and the novel has 64 chapters btw) AND UM YEA-

+ OKI SO TO ADD MORE CONTEXT TO THE SQUATTER STUFFS MENTIONED IN TRESE (we r gonna use the tiny font here because holy shit this rant is long): So,in the Philippines, especially in the capital region, there are lots of slum areas called squatters. These are dense urban settlements made of compact makeshift housing units that aren't really officially recognized by the government. This is um very reflective of the poverty situation here and there are maaany factors that come into play here and if i were to go into depth about this topic, that rant would probably turn into an academic paper so for the sake of brevity, let's just say that Things Are Fucked Up Here. Oftentimes the poorer sectors are being ignored and left to their own devices despite tons of campaign promises to make things better and easier for them. The communities that live here are incredibly vulnerable to floods, fires, and the like and afaik no concrete solutions have been in effect to protect these people and their settlements. There have also been many times where squatter areas are dismantled or demolished despite protests of people living in those areas and yea I understand the need to make space and the need for renovation but the people should still be offered some sort of temporary settlement or financial compensation thingy that doESN'T fuck them over but alas, we have an anti-poor government. That being said, I really like Trese Ep 1's portrayal of governmental negligence, but I also have some thoughts, especially in regards to the mayor being arrested THAT FAST which um believe me, NEVER FUCKING HAPPENS BECAUSE MANY MAYORS AND A LOT OF POLITICIANS HAVE THE POLICE IN THEIR POCKETS SO UM ERR YEA JUSTICE IS RARELY A THING HERE BUT UM ANYWAYS YEA THE GOVERNMENT LIKES TO SHIT ON THE POOR WOO LET'S SAVE THE USE OF SOCIOLOGICAL LENS ON THIS MATTER FOR ANOTHER DAY

+ The news channel reporting the arrest of the mayor is ABC-ZNN WHICH IS AN OBVIOUS REFERENCE TO ABSCBN aka the top media conglomerate here (that has been fucked over by the government so many times to the point that they had to shut down operations last year which is all sorts of unfair so seeing them being referenced here kinda made me happy gksfks)

[birdhaslostit]

🎁🎄❄️What the Lupin Gang would do for Christmas!❄️🎄🎁

Helloooooooo Lupin fans! You may or may not remember me as that one chick who made that Halloween headcanon post a few months back, as well as the Jigen’s bangs post. I’m back with a Christmas post!!!

Please note: Personally, I really only celebrate Christmas in a non-Jesus-y way. (Which is how I’m also writing this post, because let’s be honest, do you really think Lupin is going to confession and shit? Absolutely not.) It’s purely out of habit because I was raised Catholic, but I practice witchcraft now. My family doesn’t know that though. Because of this, I considered also making posts for other winter holidays, so I could include Lupin fans that don’t celebrate Christmas. But I didn’t want to accidentally mess it up, or write something inaccurate about a holiday that I don’t celebrate. It felt disingenuous to make a Hanukkah post because I’m not Jewish and it doesn’t seem like my place, and I didn’t want to do a Yule one either, because no two people celebrate it the same way. So, I strongly encourage others to add their respective winter festivities to this post if they want to! We’re all about inclusivity here.

Without further ado:

🎁LUPIN:

I don’t feel like it needs saying, but this man goes bonkers for Christmas.

He flip-flops his choice of red or green jacket by the year. But it always comes with an equally garish Christmas-themed tie, just to make explicitly clear that this is The Christmas Jacket for the year, as opposed to the standard red/green jacket.

The hideout(s) are always decorated to the GILLS inside. It’s an odd mix of older classy decorations he’s inherited from his family, and absolutely horrendously tacky ones he’s bought himself. 

Picture real branch garlands, wrapped tastefully around gilded candelabras that have been passed down through several generations. And then one of those singing, dancing stuffed animals from Walmart that plays “Jingle Bell Rock” when you squeeze its paw, right next to it.

Christmas-themed heists? You know it, baby. But he won’t steal anything on Christmas Eve or Christmas. It just isn’t in the spirit of the season, in his opinion. But he’ll leave a little something-something with his calling cards during the rest of December. A candy cane, a sprig of mistletoe, a bough of holly, etc.

Lupin despises eggnog. He loves any other Christmas drink, just not eggnog. He’s too grossed out by the idea of drinking eggs with alcohol- some things just shouldn’t be mixed.

Will not allow anyone to mention the truth about Santa Claus in his presence. Yeah, he knows, but that’s not the point. It just feels like bad luck to say it out loud. The harder Jigen tries to debate with him that Santa isn’t real, the harder he digs in his heels that “of course he is you absolute Scrooge, how dare you! If you don’t believe, you don’t receive.”

Favorite Christmas Songs: Anything peppy! 

Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney

Step Into Christmas by Elton John

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee

We Need a Little Christmas by Percy Faith and his Orchestra

A Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives

All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

Santa Claus’ Party by Les Baxter

Favorite Christmas Drinks: Literally anything except eggnog.

Favorite Christmas Foods: Anything obscenely sugary. Especially gingerbread men and other decorated pastries.

Favorite Christmas Activities: Loves to ice skate and make gingerbread houses! But his houses usually look fairly pathetic, no matter how hard he tries.

Favorite Christmas Movie(s): 

The Grinch (Jim Carrey version)

Home Alone

Scrooged

Christmas Gifts: The king of gag gifts, but he also gives surprisingly thoughtful presents too. He’s the kind of guy that would get a person something they mentioned once offhandedly that they really liked, and he’d go back and get it for them.

🎅JIGEN:

Lupin always wants to decorate the hideout(s) the second Halloween ends, but it never happens. With Jigen being the only American in the gang, he always puts a stop to it in order to preserve the quickly-disappearing border between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

What can I say, dude loves his Thanksgiving excuse to eat like shit and do nothing for a day. Even if it is a fucked-up holiday, historically speaking.

But once the Thanksgiving meal is over, he gives Lupin the okay to go crazy. He’s pretty stoked about Christmas too, but too full of turkey to contribute, so he just watches Lupin hang up Christmas lights everywhere while he lays on the couch and digests.

Jigen likes Christmas a lot, but like, in a normal person kind of way. Nowhere near Lupin’s insane level. He’s surprisingly open about his enthusiasm too. The average person would think he doesn’t really care about Christmas much (or anything else really), but to the gang, Christmastime is the most openly excited they’ve ever seen him.

One year’s Christmas-themed heist involved Jigen dressing up as a mall Santa as a part of the plan. The gang powdered his beard, gave him a pillow for his stomach, and sent him on his way. Everything went surprisingly smoothly, and he actually did pretty well with the kids. At first they were a little intimidated, and Jigen was kind of nervous- but he gave them all candy canes and they changed their minds pretty quickly.

Jigen enjoyed it a lot, actually... to the point that he may have potentially started volunteering to be the local mall Santa. Every year during December, he leaves for a day or two on “business.” Nobody in the gang can prove it though, and trust me, they’ve tried.

Favorite Christmas Songs: The classics and the chill ones, with a few rock ones thrown in for a little kick.

Mele Kalikimaka by Bing Crosby

Sleigh Bells by Gene Autry

(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays by Perry Como

Jingle Bells by Frank Sinatra

Caroling, Caroling by Nat King Cole

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow by Dean Martin

Silver Bells by Dean Martin

Happy Holiday by Bing Crosby

Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry

Merry Christmas Baby by Bruce Springsteen (Sang this once after too much eggnog and will never live it down)

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by the Barenaked Ladies (He’s not into all the Jesus-y stuff, but it’s pretty catchy.)

Favorite Christmas Drinks: Jigen is ALL. ABOUT. THAT. NOG. He’ll make his cup a little stronger than everyone else’s.

Favorite Christmas Foods: He really likes candy canes, especially the mini ones. He’ll keep a few in his pocket with his cigs, and switch between them depending on his mood. Out of habit, it’ll usually dangle out of his mouth like a cigarette would.

Favorite Christmas Activities: Watching Christmas movies and laughing at Lupin’s shitty gingerbread houses.

Favorite Christmas Movies: 

Anything that’s on at the moment, really. He likes to lounge by the TV, and he’s not picky. 

He has a soft spot for A Charlie Brown Christmas though.

A Christmas Story, solely because of the BB gun.

Scrooged, because Bill Murray’s hilarious.

Christmas Gifts: Something practical and useful that the person never realized they needed until they opened the box.

☃️GOEMON:

Goemon wasn’t originally a huge fan of Christmas. Shocking, I know.

He now enjoys some aspects of it, and tolerates others. He likes the idea of giving heartfelt gifts and spending time with loved ones as a tradition, but dislikes the cheesy commercial aspect of Christmas.

He already enjoys the snow and walking through the forest, so the gang usually commissions him to pick a tree for them and cut it down with Zantetsuken. (If they’re somewhere where that’s an option.)

Unbeknownst to the rest of the gang, he will always replant the tree he cut down, and he will wrap something cozy around the bottom of the sapling to keep it safe. Yes, this was directly inspired by A Charlie Brown Christmas. No, he will not admit to this.

Favorite Christmas Songs: The instrumentals, and a few he’d rather die than admit to liking.

The Nutcracker March from The Nutcracker

Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker

Christmas Time Is Here (Instrumental) by the Vince Guaraldi Trio

Greensleeves by the Vince Guaraldi Trio

Last Christmas by Wham! (He likes the storyline and the romantic aspect of it.)

Do They Know It’s Christmas? by Band Aid (He likes that it was for a good cause, even if it has its flaws.)

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon and Yoko Ono (Again, flawed, but he enjoys the intended message of peace. Also, represents Japan on the side with Yoko Ono.)

White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes

Favorite Christmas Drinks: Surprisingly fond of hot cocoa. Heavy on the whipped cream and marshmallows. 

Favorite Christmas Foods: Doesn’t really like eating gingerbread men, but enjoys decorating them. They’re always pristine, like something you’d get in a bakery.

Favorite Christmas Activities: See above. Also enjoys going out in the snow, and making ice sculptures with Zantetsuken.

Favorite Christmas Movies: Refuses to admit he likes any of these.

Any of the classic Rankin Bass claymation specials.

Any other animated ones for kids. Has a soft spot for A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Polar Express.

A few of those cheesy Hallmark ones.

Christmas Gifts: Something small and sentimental he saw while walking by a store that reminded him of the person he’s giving it to. Nothing extravagant, but thoughtful nonetheless.

⛸FUJIKO:

Fujiko decorates the tree. Period. Lupin cannot be trusted to do this on his own. Goemon picks the tree, Lupin and Jigen put it in the stand, and from there, it’s all Fujiko. The ornaments, lights, and tree skirt are all perfectly color/theme coordinated, and arranged like a pristine store display. 

She also has a few ornaments that she bought for each specific member of the gang. Lupin’s is a monkey (he was not pleased, but he’s whipped for her, so he let her keep it). Jigen’s is a carved wooden pistol. Goemon’s is porcelain, with hand-painted sakura blossoms on it. She bought one for Zenigata too as a joke one year- a tiny bowl of ramen noodles.

Her ornament? The star on top of the tree, because she’s the star of the show, baby. It’s actually a snowflake, made of the finest crystal she could steal.

Favorite Christmas Songs: Pop music and Motown’s finest.

Underneath The Tree by Kelly Clarkson

All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

Santa Tell Me by Ariana Grande

This Christmas by Donny Hathaway

What Christmas Means To Me by Stevie Wonder

Sleigh Ride by The Ronettes 

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Darlene Love

A Marshmallow World by Darlene Love

I Like A Sleighride (Jingle Bells) by Peggy Lee

Favorite Christmas Drinks: Hot chocolate and mulled wine.

Favorite Christmas Foods: Loves baking and eating gingerbread men. She lets Goemon decorate them with her. Hers have lots of candy and sprinkles on them, while his are just icing.

Favorite Christmas Activities: Along with baking, ice skating! She’s the best at it out of the whole group. None of the guys are particularly good at it, but she makes them go with her at least once regardless.

Favorite Christmas Movies:

Hallmark ones, solely to make fun of them.

Babes In Toyland, but only the 1986 one, because it has Keanu Reeves in it, and “I don’t care if I’m your girlfriend, Lupin. In this house, we support Keanu Reeves.”

Christmas Gifts: Something expensive/extravagant that will make the person think of her every time they use it.

🎄ZENIGATA:

Zenigata is the second biggest Christmas enthusiast, just behind Lupin.

He doesn’t get to settle down and decorate anything really, since he’s always running after the gang, but he does lots of other little things to celebrate instead. Like getting hot chocolate instead of coffee, tuning the squad car radio to the Christmas station, getting an air freshener that smells like gingerbread, and wearing a festive scarf and gloves with his trench coat to keep out the cold.

In years past, Zenigata still had to work on Christmas Eve/Christmas, even if Lupin wasn’t out stealing anything. Lupin found out and thought that was a little harsh of ICPO, so he came up with a plan. 

Each year he sends a calling card to the station with the conditions that only Zenigata can come to investigate. Zenigata does some research, shows up to the location on Christmas Eve, and every year, nothing’s there except for a neatly wrapped present from Lupin. 

Zenigata keeps the present as “evidence,” goes back to the station, and they give him Christmas off to go investigate on his own, in case Lupin tries anything else. Lupin never does, but the station doesn’t know that. Bada bing, bada boom, Lupin just got Zenigata a vacation.

Zenigata never catches on, bless his heart.

Favorite Christmas Songs: Ones he can sing/hum along to in the squad car.

The Man With All The Toys by The Beach Boys

Celebrate Me Home by Kenny Loggins

Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano (Does Zenigata understand Spanish? Absolutely not. Does he get the point and think it’s festive? Darn right.)

A Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer by Dean Martin

Winter Wonderland by the Eurythmics

Silver Bells by Dean Martin

Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season by Andy Williams

Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town by Gene Autry

December by Earth, Wind, and Fire (Let him have this okay, it’s a good song and he gets made fun of for liking it by the rest of ICPO)

Skating by the Vince Guaraldi Trio

Favorite Christmas Drinks: Hot cocoa and eggnog, but not strong eggnog like Jigen’s.

Favorite Christmas Foods: Anything, really. It’s something besides cup noodles, so he’s grateful. Lupin’s gift always includes lots of various Christmas goodies because of this.

Favorite Christmas Activities: Zenigata enjoys the snow in theory, but doesn’t handle the cold well. So he likes to watch the snow from his window while he listens to Christmas music in his squad car and sips his hot cocoa.

Favorite Christmas Movies: He doesn’t really have a lot of time to sit down a watch a movie, with how hard he works. But he remembers a few from when he was younger, and he really likes those. His favorite is Frosty the Snowman.

Christmas Gifts: Something inexpensive because ICPO vastly underpays this poor man, and he’s always embarrassed because of that, but it’s always something super sweet and heartfelt.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! And for those who don’t celebrate it, HAPPY HOLIDAYS! <3

[kitchenwitchtingss]

🕊𝙰𝙿𝙷𝚁𝙾𝙳𝙸𝚃𝙴 𝚆𝙴𝙴𝙺 𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚁𝚈 #𝟸🕊

𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐕𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

Red is a gorgeous color, isn’t it? 

Well in magick, it actually has quite powerful meanings that can connected to Aphrodite.

Red correspondence ~ passion, love, courage, strength, beauty, energy, assertiveness, determination.

*Recipe makes a two layer cake*

I am really proud of this red velvet recipe, it’s so good!

Magickal properties of the cake based on its ingredients: self-love, confidence, beauty, passion, courage, strength.

Where do I get my sources?: I have been practicing for 4 years now, so I pretty much can look at an ingredient, and know what it’s magickal properties are, even though before I post, I always fact check things. I have read a lot of books and articles on it. Here are some of my favorites...

learnreligons.com

witchipedia.com

plentifulearth.com

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen

𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞:

1/2 cup melted butter 2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup buttered flavored shortening 3 cups cake flour  3 tbsp cream cheese 1 tsp baking soda 2 tbsp cocoa powder Pinch of salt 4 large eggs, room temperature and separated 1 tbsp vanilla extract 1 tsp distilled white vinegar A couple drops red food coloring 1 cup buttermilk

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:

3/4 cup unsalted butter 3/4 of a 8 oz brick cream cheese 5 1/2 cups powdered sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract

𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Preheat you oven to 350 F.

In a large mixing bowl, cream your shortening, melted butter, cream cheese, and sugar together. Beat in your egg yolks. Mix in your vanilla, vinegar, and buttermilk. Now fold in your dry ingredients gently for a light and fluffy cake. 

Beat your egg whites on high speed until they become stiff peaks. Fold into your batter gently until just combined. Add in red food coloring until you reach your desired color, and mix until even.

Light a candle if you wish and fill the batter with your intentions.

Butter and flour two cake tins and pour the batter evenly into both of them. Pop them into the oven for 30-35 minutes, or until you stick a toothpick in the center of the cake, and it comes out clean, making sure not to overcook the cake.

After 1 hour of cooling, remove the cakes from the pans, so they can fully cool correctly.

For the frosting, cream your butter, sugar, and cream cheese on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes. Mix in your vanilla extract and beat for another minute. If the frosting is too thick for your liking, add in a tablespoon of heavy cream or half and half.

Assemble the cake to your liking! Offer a piece to Aphrodite and enjoy!!!

[foodreceipe]

The Science of Good Chocolate

Meet the sensory scientist who is decoding the terroir of chocolate—and working to safeguard the cacao plant that gives us the sweet dark treat. Smithsonian Magazine    Simran Sethi

The flavor of chocolate depends on numerous factors, from the soil the cacao plant was grown in, to the length of time the cocoa beans are fermented

While walking through a dense thatch of cacao trees in Gran Couva, Trinidad, food technologist Darin Sukha crushes a dried cacao leaf in one palm and a fresh one in the other. He inhales deeply, then lifts the leaves toward my nose and asks, “What do you find here?”

Sukha studies the nuances of smell and taste in the cacao plant, whose pulp-covered seeds, once processed, become cocoa and chocolate. He wants to understand—and relay to chocolate eaters—not only the biological characteristics of the plant, but also the sensorial ones. These references help illuminate a wide variety of flavors inherent in cacao, that, when properly nurtured, will carry over into the final product.

The smell of the dried leaf contains traces of baled hay, while the fresh one offers up bright and vegetal aromas. Both can be found in chocolate. By continuously reaching for more flavor experiences, Sukha says, we can find greater depth in chocolate, a substance that is far more complex than most people realize. “A good piece of chocolate is like a good piece of music. It contains something memorable that stays on your mind for the entire day.”

Most of us don’t recognize this nuance because we grew up on confections characterized by sweetness and one dominant chocolatey note—consistency we expect when reaching for a Hershey's or a handful of M&M’s. But cocoa beans hold a symphony of flavors, from roasted hazelnuts and fresh violets to tart cherries and green apples. These hints exist, to some degree, in all cocoa, but are highlighted in more specialized craft chocolates.

The flavors found within these bars are the result of a range of factors, from soil and climate to microbial activity during the fermentation process. Collectively, these elements make up chocolate’s terroir, something Sukha has been exploring for nearly a quarter-century.

This taste of place is built on the foundational ingredient cacao, a pod-shaped fruit that was domesticated 3,600 years ago. For most of its history, the plant was grouped into three categories loosely based on historical and visual characteristics, but in 2008, a team of geneticists expanded the groupings of cacao to 10. “And every single one of those cocoa beans has a genetic flavor potential,” Sukha says.

Once harvested, the pulp-covered cacao seeds are fermented. Before this process, the seeds are bitter and taste nothing like chocolate. As I describe in Bread, Wine, Chocolate: The Slow Loss of Foods We Love:

Cacao ferments for anywhere from three to eight days, usually heaped under banana leaves or jute sacks, or enclosed in wooden boxes and trays or wicker baskets. The beans are, in essence, cooking, as the pulp around the seeds gets gobbled up by the yeasts that are present in the air and on the surfaces the pulp comes in contact with. [They] convert the sugar in the cacao pulp to ethanol, while bacteria generate lactic acid (the acid that sours milk) and acetic acid (the kind that turns grape juice into wine, then vinegar). The goal is to ensure the cacao is fully cooked so that the astringency and off-flavors that emerge when lactic and acetic acids are formed are eliminated.

Through fermentation, the cellular structure of the seed changes and aroma compounds start to develop. Sukha says this process is the biggest driver of flavor. “It’s like adopting a baby, where you can make [a great] impact on the expression of genetic potential.” But by the time a chocolate maker receives cocoa beans, “it can be likened to adopting a teenager, where the personality has been expressed already. All you can do in terms of change is make small tweaks.”

These “tweaks” are roasting, milling and adding ingredients, such as sugar and milk powder, to the cocoa mass.

“Let’s use an example of a bean that has a very delicate floral note. If that’s the genetic flavor potential, and I don’t ferment those beans properly to reveal [the floral quality], then it will never be expressed. … You have to handle the cocoa understanding what exists.”

Sukha served as lead author of the 2014 paper “The Impact of Processing Location and Growing Environment on Flavor in Cocoa,” the first study to systematically explore how terroir impacts flavor in chocolate. Through years of research, the sensory scientist discovered that fruity flavors in cocoa and chocolate are strongly related to how the beans are fermented, while floral flavors are more closely tied to the genetics of the crop.

As a research fellow at the Cocoa Research Centre (CRC) at the University of the West Indies in St. Augustine, Trinidad, Sukha is not only a chocolate expert, but one of its guardians of biodiversity. The CRC, where Sukha is the head of the Flavour and Quality Section, oversees the largest and most diverse collection of cacao plants in the world. Varieties from the upper Amazon, where the crop originated, through the entire equatorial band where the plants flourish are all grown at a field station known as the International Cocoa Genebank.

The collection maintained by the CRC not only holds endless flavor possibilities, but, more importantly, a treasure trove of potential solutions to the challenges facing the crop. Disease and climate change increase the economic hardships facing the six million, mostly smallholder farmers who depend on cocoa for their livelihoods. The wide range of trees grown at the CRC includes varieties that might be more tolerant to drought or resistant to a particular pest. They give scientists the ability to breed traits into the crop to address agricultural challenges today—or in the future.

Sukha is also part of a select global team developing international standards for cocoa quality and sensory analysis. The varieties of cocoa that the group is bringing to the fore are defined as “fine or flavor”—celebrated for genetic diversity and flavors that are intended to be drawn out of the cocoa and highlighted in chocolate.

In order to sustain the future of chocolate, Sukha says, we have to better value the people who create it. “Our work must come back to what can we do to empower the cocoa producers who wake up every morning and go to their fields.” Otherwise, these farmers—many of whom live in extreme poverty—will turn to other crops or find alternate ways to earn a living.

And that would be a gastronomic loss for the world. “There’s so much behind a good piece of chocolate,” Sukha says. “There’s a backstory … the genetics, the sense of place, the terroir, the tradition, culture and history.”

By having these stories “told and understood and celebrated,” he hopes the market for more diverse chocolates will grow—and the farmers behind the bar will be “fully recognized and rewarded.” Without that compensation and support, the amazing flavors that we’re only just discovering could disappear.

Simran Sethi is a journalist and educator focused on food and sustainability. She is the author of “Bread, Wine, Chocolate: The Slow Loss of Foods We Love,” a book about changes in food and agriculture told through bread, wine, chocolate, coffee and beer.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-science-of-good-chocolate?utm_source=pocket-newtab

More Stories from Pocket

A Tiny Tweak to Sugar Is About to Make the World’s Sweets a Lot Healthier

Almonds Are Out. Dairy Is a Disaster. So What Milk Should We Drink?

What the Color ‘Haint Blue’ Means to the Descendants of Enslaved Africans

If Sugar Is So Bad for Us, Why Is the Sugar in Fruit Ok?

Sherry Goes With Everything

[jenniferkatie20]

I made this cake for my little boy Jacobs 9th Birthday. He is Fortnite mad like most boys his age. He must have said thank you a hundred times for making this cake, so guess from that response he must have loved it. The cake itself is super easy to make, the royal icing Fortnite lettering was a little more difficult to do but was totally worth the extra effort. The end result is pretty epic if I may say so myself. I think any boy who loves playing Fortnite would love this cake. I bought the toys as an extra treat to go on top. I hope you have as much fun creating your Fortnite cake as I did.

 Cake stand Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3lZUVGJ I use this cake stand a lot when displaying my celebration cakes, its one of my favourites.

Fortnite figures Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3kUmtvP  

Palette knives: - https://amzn.to/35gXqP9

I Hope these links help you out if your planning on making your own Fortnite celebration cake.

Fortnite Celebration cake recipe

 Ingredients

For the cake sponge

260g of unsalted butter (room temperature)

260g of caster sugar

3 eggs

80mls of milk

3 tablespoons of orange juice

60g of cocoa powder

260g of self-raising flour

2 teaspoons of baking powder

¼ teaspoon of salt

 For the chocolate buttercream frosting

600g of icing sugar

300g of unsalted butter

1 tbsp vanilla extract

¼ tsp of sea salt

Green food coloring

 For the cake toppings

Royal icing

2 ice cream cones (for the trees)

Black food coloring

Green food coloring

Fornite figures

  Instructions

First thing to do is preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius and line two 20cm cake tins with parchment paper.

Add the butter and caster sugar into a large mixing bowl and cream them together until light and fluffy, this will take about 4-5 minutes.

Next add in the eggs one at a time mixing well as each egg goes in.

Now add in the milk and orange juice to the cake batter and mix well.

In a separate mixing bowl sieve, the flour and cocoa power, add in 2 teaspoons of baking powder, ¼ of a teaspoon of salt and give the dry ingredients a quick mix.

Add in the dry ingredients a little at a time and keep mixing until fully incorporated. You may need to scrape down the edge of the mixing bowl a few times if using a stand mixer.

Divide the cake batter evenly between the two cake tins.

Put them on the middle shelf of your preheated oven for 25-30 minutes.

To check if the cakes are cooked insert a skewer into the middle of the cake, if it comes out clean its done, if it has a little cake batter on it pop it back into the oven for a couple more minutes.  

Once cooked put them onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Now for the buttercream, into a large bowl and cream together the unsalted butter and icing sugar until light and airy. This should take about 4-5 minutes.

Next add in 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract and a few drops of green food coloring. The amount of food coloring depends on what green you want and what brand you are using. Just keep adding a few drops at a time until you get the color you want. Remember you can always add but you can’t take away. Mix well until everything is combined fully.

Once the cake sponges have completely cooled place one onto a cake stand or cake board, using a palette knife or spatula spread the buttercream over the cake layer evenly.

Add the top cake layer making sure it is centered properly, then spread over a thin layer of buttercream, fill any gaps and smooth over all edges, don’t worry about getting crumbs on the icing. Place the cake into the fridge for about 45 minutes to set.

Once its set spread over a good amount of buttercream and smooth the top and sides using a palette knife.

Now to make the toppings.

First, I took a lump of royal icing and added a few drops of black food coloring and mixed in the color by pulling and rolling the icing between my fingers, I then rolled out the colored icing and cut out the llama and background with a sharp knife as you can see in the photo above. I placed this on the side of the cake then broke of another lump of white royal icing off and rolled it out and got to making the letters, I wet the back of each letter with a couple of drops of water and stuck each one in place. I also added an eye to the llama.

For the trees I used some of the left-over green buttercream and added a few more drops of green food coloring to it and gave it a quick mix. Then I cut off the bottom of two ice cream cones and covered them with buttercream. I then placed the trees on top of my cake. I made a bush using the cutoffs from the cones and covered it in the same way as I did the trees, I placed the bush to one side of the cake. I also made a large rock from the left over grey royal icing. I bought a few Fortnite figures and added them to the top and sides of the cake.

That’s how I made this Fortnite cake. Hope you enjoy making this as much as I did.

   As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

[colehence]

Ninjago Christmas week, day 6: Hot Cocoa

For @pastelroseghosts Ninjago Christmas week

HC: How the Ninja prefer their hot cocoa

Jay: Likes everything. But his favorite syrup tastes for hot cocoa are cinnamon and gingerbread. He likes cinnamon and sugar on top of the whipped cream.

Cole: Sweet, sweet, sweet! Hot Cocoa with vanilla, almond or caramel syrup. On top whipped cream and some cookies. He also loves marshmallows.

He has his own cup for hot cocoa. It's twice the size of an average cup (almost 1 litre hot coca and all that sweet stuff. Yes, his stomache hurts after that, but it's all worth it).

Every time Cole tries to make hot cocoa he messes up. Instead of the mix for hot cocoa, he takes the dark cocoa which Zane had bought for cake batter. He forgets to heat up the milk so they have a lot of chewy lumps in it. He doesn't know that he has to add sugar. So its a cold, clumpy, bitter, disgusting liquid. Ugh!

Lloyd: Marshmallows! Dozens of marshmallows, some colorful sprinkles, a little bit whipped cream or milk foam, and extra tiny pastel colored marshmallows on top. He'd never tell anyone, but he loves the soft colors. It's like drinking a sweet sweet rainbow!

Zane and Pixal: Classic – hot Cocoa with whipped cream and cocoa powder on top. Pixal sometimes adds a scoop vanilla ice cream.

Everyone loves Zane for his hot cocoas! He knows exactly what everyone wants. The right amount of syrup, marshmallows, whipped cream, sprinkels, the best temperature. He just knows everything! He also knows that Lloyd likes colorful things so he buys food color and edible glitter and adds it to his cocoa and the whipped cream or milk foam.

Kai: Just some milk and cocoa. Nothing special (secretly adds Amaretto or Baileys. He loves the taste and the extra warmth in his tummy), doesn't like whipped cream and thinks marshmallows in cocoa looks disgusting.

Nya: Prefers black, pure, liquid gold: Coffee! No milk, no sugar!

[vick-0]

Best Healthier Alternatives For Sugar (100% Natural)

Is a lot of saccharin awful for you? Does agave nectar satisfy everyone's expectations? What on the planet is priest organic product? Discover the scoop on sugar substitutes, which ones are best for your eating regimen, and how to utilize them in the kitchen.

Healthier Sugar Alternatives You Should Try

We as a whole have our dietary shortcomings. Regularly, sugar is the guilty party. It tends to be hard to stay away from, as well, as everything from soft drinks and debauched pastry, to prepared nourishments contain included sugar. Be that as it may, on the off chance that you or a friend or family member have a sweet tooth, it is basic to watch out for your sugar admission, particularly for more seasoned grown-ups. In addition to the fact that excess sugars increment the danger of insulin obstruction and Type 2 diabetes, it has additionally been connected to gentle subjective weakness. Luckily, there are a wide scope of sugar substitutes accessible, both normal and counterfeit, to assist you with decreasing the measure of sucrose in your eating routine.

How Sugar Affects Your Health

The medical advantages of lessening our sugar admission might be boundless. High sugar consumption has been connected to a wide scope of wellbeing conditions, either legitimately through its impact on the body or in a roundabout way because of inconveniences from heftiness. Intricacies include:

Tooth rot and depressions

Type 2 diabetes

Ailing health or poor nourishment

High triglyceride levels

Low HDL ("great cholesterol"), which is a hazard factor for coronary illness

What's more, particular sorts of malignant growths might be connected to weight and poor sustenance.

How to Use Them

There are such a large number of sugar choices available nowadays that it very well may be an errand to just settle on them, not to mention make sense of how to utilize them in your everyday eating regimen. One basic factor in your choice ought to be your purpose behind diminishing sugar. In the event that somebody is diabetic, for example, fake sugars are a superior decision than sugar alcohols like xylitol, or normal sugars like nectar, which can in any case raise glucose, however to a lesser degree. Continuously talk with a specialist on the off chance that you don't know of your best choice.

Understanding the various classifications of sugar options out there can assist you with making sense of which one is best for your eating routine. The Mayo Clinic depicts four regular sorts: fake sugars, sugar alcohols, novel sugars and characteristic sugars. A portion of these, particularly the counterfeit sugars, are additionally high-power sugars, which give ordinarily the sweetness of ordinary sucrose yet without the same number of calories. Utilize our rundown beneath as a helpful manual for the absolute most normal sugar substitutes and how to join them into your eating regimen.

Acesulfame potassium (Sunett, Sweet One)

Type: Artificial sugar.

Why It's Healthier: As a fake sugar, it doesn't add to tooth rot or raise glucose, and it has practically no calories. In any case, to stay away from some other potential medical problems, consistently be mindful so as not to surpass the FDA's suggested day by day sum.

Step by step instructions to Use It: Besides adding it to nourishment at the table, Ace-K is likewise heat-stable, which implies you can utilize it in cooking and preparing. It is around multiple times better than sugar yet doesn't give a similar mass or volume, so make certain to make proper formula adjustments when you use it in the kitchen.

Agave nectar

Type: Natural sugar.

Why It's Healthier: It's low on the glycemic list and doesn't prompt spikes in glucose. Nonetheless, it contains a great deal of fructose — significantly more than high-fructose corn syrup — which can prompt weight addition and stoutness in over the top sums, and may likewise build insulin obstruction. Thus, it may not be a decent decision for diabetics.

Step by step instructions to Use It: Agave is better than sugar, has a long timeframe of realistic usability, and can be utilized instead of different sugars in almost any cooking circumstance. Its taste is like nectar, and it does not have the harsh persistent flavor of some sugar substitutes. But since it is a fluid, you may need to roll out some different improvements to your plans, particularly when heating.

 Coconut Sugar

Type: Natural sugar.

Why It's Healthier: It's foul, so it holds the entirety of its nutrients and minerals, and it doesn't prompt variances in glucose, however diabetics will even now need to counsel a specialist before fusing it into their eating regimens. It has indistinguishable measure of calories from sugar.

Step by step instructions to Use It: Coconut sugar can be utilized as a coordinated swap for white or earthy colored sugar, so it is anything but difficult to use in the kitchen. Be that as it may, it tends to be extremely coarse, so Mother Nature News suggests placing it in a blender or nourishment processor for a couple of seconds before utilizing it for preparing or instead of powdered sugar.

Nectar

Type: Natural sugar.

Why It's Healthier: Says Doctor Oz, "Crude nectar has less fructose than most agave and is the main common sugar with other medical advantages, which incorporate enemy of microbial, heart-solid and mitigating impacts." However, in your body, nectar separates to glucose and fructose similarly as sugar does, so it represents a portion of a similar wellbeing dangers.

Step by step instructions to Use It: Honey can be especially delectable in smoothies, heated products, sauces, marinades and serving of mixed greens dressings, yet it tends to be better than sugar, so you'll need to lessen the sum you include, just as decreasing the fluid in preparing.

Priest Fruit removes (Nectresse, Monk Fruit in the Raw, PureLo)

Type: Novel sugar (high force).

Why It's Healthier: You don't have to use so a lot, since it's 150-200 times better than sugar, so it's useful for cutting calories. Notwithstanding, monetarily accessible priest natural product separates have all been prepared somewhat, and may contain different sugars what's more, for example, sugar alcohols or even sugar itself, so make a point to check the name.

The most effective method to Use It: Some find that priest natural product sugars have a lingering flavor, so in case you're touchy to that kind of seasoning, be mindful while fusing it into cooking and preparing. Likewise with some other high power sugar, you may need to make modifications to your plans.

Date Paste

Type: Natural sugar.

Why It's Healthier: Date glue is a simple sugar elective you can make at home in a blender utilizing 3/4 water, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla concentrate and around one cup of warm, hollowed dates.

The most effective method to Use It: Dates can be especially delicious in smoothies, heated products, sauces, marinades and plate of mixed greens dressings, yet it very well may be better than sugar, so you'll need to diminish the sum you include, just as lessening the fluid in preparing.

Stevia removes (Pure Via, Truvia, Rebiana)

Type: Novel sugar (high force).

Why It's Healthier: Since this plant remove is non-caloric, it's safe for diabetic use and won't add to stoutness. It's additionally a lot better than sugar, so you need less of it to give a similar measure of sweetness.

The most effective method to Use It: Though it's non-compound, it has a perceptible delayed flavor impression much after it's been refined, so a few people won't appreciate utilizing it as a sugar for espresso or tea. It comes in different structures, including powder and fluid, so you may need to investigation to discover which ones work best in various plans.

Sucralose (Splenda)

Type: Artificial sugar.

Why It's Healthier: Sucralose is an incredible multiple times better than sugar, yet without the calories, so it's been advertised vigorously to weight watchers and diabetics the same.

The most effective method to Use It: There is a wide scope of Splenda items accessible, including sugar-sucralose mixes explicitly for preparing, since sucralose is heat-stable. It can likewise be added to drinks and nourishments at the table. Focus on sums: even with the preparing mix, you normally don't have to use as quite a bit of it.

Xylitol (Birch sugar)

Type: Sugar liquor.

Why It's Healthier: Xylitol, sorbitol and other sugar alcohols are typically 25-100% as sweet as sugar. Says the FDA, "Sugar alcohols are somewhat lower in calories than sugar and don't advance tooth rot or cause an abrupt increment in blood glucose." However, they do have some impact on glucose levels, so diabetics will even now need to focus on dietary starches. Additionally, sugar alcohols may have a purgative impact in huge sums.

Instructions to Use It: Because it comes in granulated structure, it is anything but difficult to use instead of sugar in refreshments, on organic product or grain, and in cooking and preparing — as long as the formula "doesn't require the sugar to separate into fluid structure," says BBC Good Food, on the grounds that xylitol doesn't caramelize.

Tips for Reducing Sugar

In spite of the fact that not in every case simple, here are a few different ways that you can lessen the sugar in your eating routine consistently.

Use sugar free jam to improve plain yogurt as opposed to eating previously improved yogurt with organic product in it

Substitute solid entire organic products for improved, prepared sweets

Put organic product on your oat as opposed to including sugar or eating an improved grain

Rather than a chocolate bar, attempt a lower-calorie, sans sugar hot cocoa drink

Tidbit on dried organic product or trail blend, rather than candy

Purchase unsweetened renditions of fruit purée, nut margarines, non-dairy milk and different items that can cover up included sugars

Include flavors like vanilla, flavors, or citrus to include a kick (and the dream of sweetness) to your tea, espresso, and even oats

With the wide choice of sugar substitutes available today, there's no motivation to go without any weaning period off the sweet stuff — simply do your examination and consolidate a portion of these tips, and you'll see it doesn't require a lot of exertion to fulfill your sweet tooth while as yet keeping up a solid nutritious eating routine.

Which sugar substitutes do you utilize frequently? What are your preferred tips for decreasing sugar in your family's eating regimen? Join the discussion underneath.

[eskitildim]

25+ Food That Will Shred Weight Easily

you can surprise if it’s feasible to lose weight while no longer giving up snacks. If you pick healthful, complete-meals options with a number of protein and nutrients, snacks may be quintessential to weight loss. Some can even assist hold you full in the course of the day and limit your cravings for bad foods. Here are 29 healthful, weight reduction-friendly snacks to feature for your weight-reduction plan.

1. Combined nuts

nuts are a perfect nutritious snack. They're related to a discounted threat of heart disease and might assist prevent certain cancers, depression, and different illnesses (1trusted source, 2trusted supply). In spite of being fairly excessive in fat, they are very filling. Numerous research recommend that consuming nuts carefully will let you lose weight (3trusted supply, 4trusted supply, 5trusted supply). Nuts provide an appropriate stability of healthful fat, protein, and fiber. They comprise a hundred and eighty calories in a 1-ounce (28-gram) serving, on common. Because they do not require refrigeration, they’re ideal for taking over the pass. 2. Crimson bell pepper with guacamole purple bell peppers are extraordinarily wholesome. Although all bell peppers are nutritious, pink types are specially excessive in antioxidants like beta carotene, capsanthin, and quercetin (6trusted source). They're are also wealthy in vitamin c. In truth, 1 big purple bell pepper incorporates over 300% of the day by day cost (dv) for this nutrient (7). Pairing 1 large purple bell pepper with three oz (eighty five grams) of guacamole provides wholesome fats and fiber even as keeping this snack's calorie depend beneath two hundred. 3. Greek yogurt and blended berries simple greek yogurt and berries make a scrumptious, nutrient-dense snack. In addition to being a top notch supply of calcium and potassium, greek yogurt is likewise excessive in protein (eight). Berries are one of the nice assets of antioxidants round. Devour a mixture of in another way colored berries to get an array of those powerful compounds (9trusted supply). Combining 3. Five oz (a hundred grams) of plain, complete-fats greek yogurt with 1/2 cup (50 grams) of combined berries affords about 10 grams of protein and below 150 calories. Four. Apple slices with peanut butter apples and peanut butter taste splendid collectively. Apples are high in fiber and polyphenol antioxidants that improve gut fitness and reduce heart sickness risk (10trusted supply, 11trusted source). Peanut butter may additionally have extra blessings for heart health. It's been proven to boom hdl (accurate) ldl cholesterol and decrease ldl (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides (12trusted supply). That said, peanut butter is fairly excessive in calories. Even though it commonly hasn't been linked to weight advantage, it is quality consumed carefully. A medium apple with 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of herbal peanut butter presents a pleasant stability of sweet flavor with crisp and creamy textures at below 2 hundred energy. 5. Cottage cheese with flax seeds and cinnamon cottage cheese, flax seeds, and cinnamon each have remarkable fitness benefits. Together, they're pretty healthful. Cottage cheese is high in protein and very filling, and complete-fats types boast conjugated linoleic acid (cla), a fatty acid connected to fitness benefits (13trusted source, 14trusted source). Flax seeds are beneficial for weight loss and blood sugar manipulate. They will also lessen breast cancer hazard (15trusted supply, 16trusted source). Cinnamon allows decrease blood sugar and can enhance intestine fitness (17trusted supply, 18trusted supply). Here's an easy recipe that offers about 15 grams of protein with fewer than 150 calories:

cinnamon flax seed pudding for this recipe, mix the following components in a small bowl:

half cup (80 grams) of cottage cheese 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of floor flax seeds half teaspoon (five grams) of cinnamon a sprint of stevia or different sweetener, if desired

6. Celery sticks with cream cheese celery sticks with cream cheese are a classic low-carb, filling snack. Celery contains luteolin, an antioxidant that reduces infection and can assist prevent most cancers (19trusted source). Five small celery sticks with 2 oz. (60 grams) of cream cheese harbors fewer than 2 hundred calories. 7. Kale chips kale is especially healthy, because it’s loaded with fiber and antioxidants like quercetin and kaempferol. Those compounds lower blood pressure and can lessen your risk of colon cancer (20trusted supply, 21trusted supply, 22trusted supply). A 1-cup (sixty seven-gram) serving of uncooked kale affords more than one hundred% of the dv for nutrients a, c, and k (23). This clean recipe for kale chips offers approximately a hundred and fifty calories:

kale chips substances:

1 cup (67 grams) of chunk-sized kale leaves 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of olive oil 1/four teaspoons (1. 5 grams) of salt guidelines:

blend all elements in a bowl. Vicinity kale portions on a parchment-coated baking sheet and bake at 350°f (175°c) for 10–15 minutes. Watch them carefully, as they can easily burn. Eight. Darkish chocolate and almonds darkish chocolate and almonds make a wealthy, pleasing, and portable snack. Darkish chocolate is loaded with flavanols which could lower blood stress and reduce heart sickness danger, supplied the chocolate consists of as a minimum 70% cocoa solids (24). Almonds are high in heart-healthful monounsaturated fats and have beneficial results on blood sugar manage. Research additionally display that they can lessen appetite and help you shed pounds (4trusted source, 25trusted source, 26trusted source). Both darkish chocolate and almonds are excessive in magnesium. One ounce (30 grams) of every gives approximately three hundred energy in general, depending on cocoa content material. Nine. Cucumber slices with hummus cucumber and hummus move well together. Cucumbers incorporate cucurbitacin e, a compound which can have anticancer consequences (27trusted source). Hummus is crafted from chickpeas, olive oil, and garlic, which lessen irritation and can enhance heart health (28trusted supply, 29trusted supply, 30trusted source). One cup (52 grams) of sliced cucumbers dipped in three. Five ounces (100 grams) of hummus has about a hundred and eighty calories. 10. A chunk of fruit healthful snacks do not want to be complicated. Just a single piece of fruit can be fairly pleasant. Transportable, easy-to-eat fruits encompass bananas, apples, pears, grapes, grapefruit, and oranges. 11. Cherry tomatoes with mozzarella tomatoes and mozzarella cheese are a taste fit made in heaven — and they may be healthful, too. Tomatoes are rich in diet c, potassium, and lycopene, an antioxidant which can reduce your risk of cancer and coronary heart sickness (31trusted supply, 32trusted supply). Mozzarella is high in protein, calcium and diet b12. It can additionally lower coronary heart disease threat with the aid of raising your stages of hdl (exact) cholesterol (33trusted source). One cup (149 grams) of cherry tomatoes paired with 2 oz. (60 grams) of mozzarella cheese has beneath 2 hundred energy. 12. Chia pudding chia seeds are loaded with fiber and may be covered in all varieties of diets, consisting of vegan and ketogenic diets. They're additionally excessive in antioxidants that assist lessen inflammation and enhance heart health (34trusted source, 35trusted source). Despite the fact that they do not have a whole lot flavor, chia seeds do tackle an thrilling, jelly-like consistency whilst soaked in liquid. This snack has fewer than two hundred energy:

chia seed pudding

elements:

1 tablespoon (15 grams) of chia seeds 1/three cup (80 ml) of water 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of cocoa powder 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of peanut butter a pinch of stevia or different sweetener, if preferred guidelines:

combine chia seeds and water in a small bowl. Cowl and refrigerate for as a minimum half-hour. Stir in cocoa powder, peanut butter, and sweetener. 13. Difficult-boiled eggs eggs are one of the healthiest and most weight loss-friendly foods you can devour. They % masses of protein, as well as vitamins k2 and b12. Eggs are notably filling and might lessen the variety of energy you eat for plenty hours, which ought to help you lose weight (36trusted source, 37trusted source). Although their excessive cholesterol content gave them a terrible recognition for years, more recent studies advocate that moderate egg intake doesn’t have any effect for your threat of heart ailment (38trusted source, 39trusted supply). Two big, tough-boiled eggs contain approximately one hundred forty energy and 13 grams of protein. 14. Baby carrots with blue cheese dressing carrots are some of the pleasant assets of carotenoids, which include beta carotene, which your body can convert into vitamin a. The carotenoids in carrots can also reduce your hazard of most cancers, heart ailment, and cataracts (40trusted source, 41trusted supply, 42trusted source). It's a very good idea to pair carrots with a creamy salad dressing or dip due to the fact fat will increase your absorption of carotenoids. A 3. 5-ounce (a hundred-gram) serving of baby carrots with 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of blue cheese dressing affords about 2 hundred calories. Healthline resources take our unfastened three-query weight loss plan quiz our loose evaluation ranks the quality diets for you based totally for your answers to three short questions. 15. A chunk of cheese cheese is a delicious meals it's filling sufficient to be a snack on its very own. Even though cheese is high in saturated fat, its role in coronary heart disorder is doubtful. Some studies propose that saturated fats does not enhance your hazard of heart ailment (43trusted source, 44trusted source). Moreover, studies show that up to 2 servings of cheese consistent with day do not boost ldl (awful) cholesterol levels, even in human beings with improved degrees (45trusted source, 46trusted source). A 2-ounce (60-gram) serving of cheese provides about 14 grams of protein and two hundred energy. Sixteen. Healthful pork jerky or beef sticks beef jerky or beef sticks make remarkable high-protein, transportable snacks. That stated, it’s vital to select the proper kind. Some jerkies are loaded with sugar and preservatives. Red meat sticks generally don't comprise sugar, but many are made from low-best meat and incorporate other questionable elements. Look for jerky and red meat sticks made from grass-fed beef, with as few delivered ingredients as possible. Grass-fed pork contains more healthful omega-3 fatty acids than grain-fed beef (47trusted supply). Most pork jerkies and sticks contain approximately 7 grams of protein according to ounce (28 grams). A wide variety is to be had online. 17. Whey protein shake a whey protein shake is a superb snack when you need something large till your next meal. Research display that whey protein allow you to benefit muscle, lose fats, and enhance body composition (48trusted source, 49trusted supply, 50trusted source, 51trusted supply). Many exquisite whey protein supplements are to be had on-line. Look for sorts without delivered sugar. Here's a recipe for a shake that contains about one hundred fifty–200 calories and 20–25 grams of protein, depending at the kind of protein powder used. Whey protein shake substances:

8 ounces (225 ml) of unsweetened almond milk 1 scoop (30 grams) of whey powder a pinch of stevia or other wholesome sweetener, if preferred half of cup (one hundred forty grams) of overwhelmed ice for this recipe, combine all substances in a blender and process till smooth. 18. Canned salmon or sardines canned fish is a great, healthy snack that calls for no refrigeration. Salmon and sardines are extremely excessive in omega-three fatty acids that decrease your chance of coronary heart disease and different health troubles (52trusted supply, 53trusted supply, 54trusted source). Fish is likewise a extraordinary source of weightloss-friendly protein, potassium, and diet b12. Many types of fish also are excessive in magnesium. A three. 5-ounce (a hundred-gram) serving of salmon or sardines consists of 17–23 grams of protein and a hundred thirty–one hundred eighty calories. 19. Edamame edamame is a dish of steamed unripened soybeans. It's a notable snack for vegetarians or every body who enjoys their precise taste and texture. Edamame is rich within the antioxidant kaempferol, which has been proven to reason weight reduction and decrease blood sugar in animal research (55trusted source, 56trusted source). It's also excessive in folate and numerous minerals, which includes iron, magnesium, and manganese. One cup (a hundred and fifty five grams) of edamame has around 17 grams of protein and a hundred and eighty energy. 20. Marinated artichoke hearts marinated artichoke hearts are scrumptious and nutrient-dense. They’re a good source of fiber, nutrition k1, and folate. Studies recommend that artichokes assist guard the cells lining your arteries and comprise prebiotic fibers that nourish the beneficial micro organism to your intestine (57trusted source, 58trusted source). A three. Five-ounce (a hundred-gram) serving of artichoke hearts marinated in olive oil consists of approximately one hundred ninety calories. 21. Pear slices with ricotta cheese pear slices and ricotta cheese make a satisfying snack with a candy taste and creamy texture. Pears, in particular the peels, comprise polyphenol antioxidants which have robust anti-inflammatory residences (59trusted source, 60trusted source). Ricotta cheese is rich in protein and calcium. In a 12-week examine, older adults who fed on 7 oz (210 grams) of ricotta cheese day by day skilled enhancements in muscles and electricity (61trusted supply). A three. 5-ounce (one hundred-gram) serving of ricotta cheese with 1 small, chopped pear presents about 12 grams of protein and 250 calories. 22. Dried unsweetened coconut dried coconut is tasty, filling, and transportable. It is excessive in fats, which includes medium-chain fat that could boom metabolism, promote weight loss, and enhance brain characteristic in humans with impaired reminiscence (62trusted supply, 63trusted supply, 64trusted supply). Ensure to get the unsweetened kind, because many packaged alternatives harbor sugar. Unsweetened dried coconut packs about 185 energy in 1 ounce (28 grams). A wide sort of dried, unsweetened coconut is available online. 23. Turkey roll-ups turkey roll-u. S. A. Are delicious and nutritious. Turkey incorporates splendid protein, which helps you experience happy, preserves muscle mass, and burns extra energy for the duration of digestion than fats or carbs (65trusted source, 66trusted source, 67trusted source). The recipe beneath boasts approximately 20 grams of protein and one hundred eighty calories:

turkey roll-ups substances:

four slices of turkey breast 4 teaspoons (20 grams) of cream cheese four pickles or cucumber strips directions:

area turkey breast slices on a huge plate. Unfold 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of cream cheese on every slice. Place a pickle or strip of cucumber on each turkey slice and roll up. 24. Olives olives are one of the nutritious staples of the mediterranean food regimen. They're very high in coronary heart-healthful monounsaturated fats and provide effective antioxidants like oleuropein. The plant compounds in olives may reduce inflammation, insulin resistance, and cancer danger (68trusted source, 69trusted source). Relying on their size, 25 inexperienced or black olives have one hundred–one hundred seventy five calories. 25. Highly spiced avocado avocados are the various maximum nutritious and gratifying ingredients on the earth. Studies display that they could help lower ldl (terrible) cholesterol, enhance signs and symptoms of arthritis, and protect your pores and skin from sun harm, (70trusted supply, 71trusted supply, 72trusted supply). What's more, avocados are high in fiber, potassium, magnesium, and monounsaturated fats. Sprinkle half a medium avocado with salt and a sprint of cayenne pepper for a savory, filling snack with around one hundred thirty calories. 26. Ricotta cheese with cocoa powder ricotta cheese is as flexible as it's far healthful. It can be mixed with veggies and end result or baked into a casserole or cheesecake. It also works splendid on its very own, with only a touch of brought taste. Here is a short recipe for a fulfilling snack with 14 grams of protein and approximately 2 hundred calories:

ricotta cheese with cocoa

substances:

1/2 cup (125 grams) of full-fats ricotta cheese. 1 teaspoon (five grams) of unsweetened cocoa powder. A pinch of stevia or other sweetener, if preferred. Instructions:

vicinity ricotta cheese in a small bowl. Sprinkle with cocoa powder and stevia. 27. Solar-dried tomatoes sun-dried tomatoes incorporate more lycopene than everyday tomatoes (seventy three). What's greater, they're usually packed in olive oil, which allows your body take in more of their lycopene (74trusted supply). A 3. 5-ounce (100-gram) serving of solar-dried tomatoes packed in oil offers 170% of the dv for diet c and simply over two hundred calories. 28. Cantaloupe slices wrapped in prosciutto cantaloupe is a nutritious, tasty fruit. It boasts powerful antioxidants that combat infection, keep your eyes healthy, and reduce your chance of ailment (75trusted source, 76trusted source). Very excessive in vitamins a and c, cantaloupe is likewise an excellent supply of potassium. Combining cantaloupe with prosciutto (dry-cured ham) creates a balanced, candy-and-salty snack for below two hundred energy. Try cutting 3. Five oz. (a hundred grams) of cantaloupe into wedges. Wrap each wedge with 1 slice of prosciutto. 29. Closing night's leftovers if you have leftovers from a nutritious lunch or dinner, you may consume them as a snack. Just make certain to save your leftovers within the refrigerator to maintain them from spoiling quickly. The lowest line whilst your subsequent craving hits, intention for whole foods instead of extraordinarily processed, fattening options. Having a few wholesome and nutritious options in attain can stave off your urge for food and assist raise weight reduction.

[espercr---archived]

𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 : hope bernadette smith . 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏 : single  : <  𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒔 : verse dependent , here’s a quick rundown ! main - so skilled at baking it might as well be magic tbh .  marvel - self-generated photo-telekinesis ( telekinesis by manipulating light/photons ) : flight , flinging people / objects through the air , increasing her own strength , blocking projectiles , etc . takes the form of a glow that ranges from a soft periwinkle to navy blue and typically generates from her palms . ( bonus , bc of the blue motif & ability to fly the media has deemed her ‘ bluebird ’ . ) it /stranger things / lil witch : general witchiness , potions & spells , unpolished psychic abilities ( like the ability to see / communicate / summon ghost & demons ) , making it up as she goes - mostly following her great-grandmother’s grimoire . fantasy - similar to the above verses , but spells are far more extensive / powerful - think d&d . taught by her mother and her coven .  𝒆𝒚𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒓 : sky blue .  𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒓 : dark brown .  𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒔 :  mother - ardella byrdene smith . artist , taught hope kindness & perspective - also most everything she knows about baking .  father - damien gibson smith . gave her a good moral compass and bullshit detector . was much stricter than her mother . gave her the little discipline she has , gave her an insane work ethic - nearly to her detriment .  little sister - faith ursula smith . chaotic evil , frankly . resents hope’s need to please and keeps to herself for the most part . will for sure throw her under the bus at any given opportunity . secretly craves a sisterly bond .  honorary brother - winfield navarre . hope’s childhood bully turned bff . she won him over with kindness & sweets , they’ve been together ever since . ultimate bi / gay solidarity . they are chaotic idiots but they’re each other’s chaotic idiots . < --- check him out @foolheartier . it’s law . 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆  : red velvet as a flavor . she thinks it’s overrated and not very good . it’s a gimmick . it’s cocoa powder with red food coloring . it’s not even that tasty - she’s right . you’re wrong . shut up . 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 𝒉𝒐𝒃𝒃𝒊𝒆𝒔 / 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 : baking of course , knitting , scrapbooking , karaoke , journaling , piano , singing , ukulele , arts & crafts ! 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 : emotionally - her roommate and business partner christina . in all honesty it’s both of their faults for refusing to address the elephant in the room - being , christina’s feelings towards hope - but hope will actively avoid a serious conversation , prolonging christina’s suffering and not allowing her closure . she can’t do emotional confrontation , even if she knows it’s wrong . hope experiences a lot of guilt over this , but she is afraid of losing one of her best friends . : (  𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 : no . in marvel verse she thinks she might have - but no . that person is still out there & they are watching & waiting . : ) c 𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎  : any songbird , but bluebirds in particular .  𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒔 : nail biting , caffeine addiction , shitty sleep schedule , & getting herself into trouble .  𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒔  : her mother above anyone else . she idealizes ardella to the point of self deprecation . she’ll never be as good as ardella seemed to be , and because of her upbringing she will never feel like she’s reached the standard set by her mother . . . however , in hope’s book that just means she needs to try harder .  𝒔𝒆𝒙𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 : bisexual .  𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒈𝒆 / 𝒌𝒊𝒅𝒔 : wants both , but it will take her a long time to come to a decision - and of course it has to be the right person . she needs security and trust in a relationship , and she doesn’t love casually .  𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 : mary berry . 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒔 : very open , usually uses humor to break the ice . puts on a bit of a show when she first meets someone , but as they get to know her she mellows out . once she considers you a friend ? hope is fully committed . she will be there when you need her with baked goods & a shoulder to cry on anytime anyplace .  𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒌 : lady grey tea with milk & sugar .  𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒕  : in her bakery of course ! whether it’s smiling behind the counter or in the kitchen kneading some gingerbread dough .  𝒔𝒘𝒊𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒂𝒏 : ocean . she is tempted by the unknown & enjoys the uncertainty of it , she’s captivated by feeling infinitesimal against its expanse . also , the ebbing and flowing sensation is very calming to her .  𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒕𝒚𝒑𝒆 : well , number one - not good for her , she has a habit of being attracted to people she can ‘fix’ whether she knows it or not . otherwise , someone who adds consistency to her life - that assures her that they will be around tomorrow . she’s always losing people , so those that stay tend to matter to her most . other traits she appreciates are : kindness , selflessness , sense of humor , & good communication skills .  𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒓𝒔 : hope L O V E S camping & hiking .

tagged : i stole it from @gothsic like a stealer .  tagging : @betelguide , @hcroeslament , @bloomlover , @galaeus & @brvgrl !

[victoriavaleska]

Is Dumol Pinot Noir Rich in taste?

If you’re a fan of Pinot Noir, you’ve probably had your fair share of French wines. But what about Californian Pinot Noir? In this article, we take a look at Dumol Pinot Noir and find out whether it lives up to the hype. Dumol is a producer of fine Pinot Noir wines from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, California. The winery was founded in 1996 by brothers Mike and Duncan Meyers, who was raised in New Zealand.

Dumol’s flagship wine is their Estate Pinot Noir, which is a blend of grapes from various vineyards in the Russian River Valley. The wine is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels and has a deep ruby color with aromas of black cherry and spice. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with flavors of blackberry, plum, and cocoa powder. The finish is long and lingering with soft tannins.

If you’re looking for a rich and flavorful Pinot Noir, then Dumol Pinot Noir is definitely worth trying.

What Is Dumol Pinot Noir?

Dumol Pinot Noir is a red wine grape that is known for its rich, fruity flavor. The grape is native to the Burgundy region of France and is one of the most popular varieties of Pinot Noir. Dumol Pinot Noir is typically made using a blend of grapes, including the Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris. The resulting wine is full-bodied and has high acidity, making it ideal for pairing with food.

Dumol Pinot Noir wines are typically medium to full-bodied with high acidity. The wines have flavors of dark fruits, such as cherries and plums, as well as spice and earthy notes. Dumol Pinot Noir wines are typically made using a blend of grapes, including the Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris. The resulting wine is full-bodied and has high acidity, making it ideal for pairing with food. What Makes a Wine Rich in Taste? There are many factors that can make a wine rich in taste. One is the grape variety. Pinot noir is a thin-skinned grape, which means it doesn't have a lot of tannins. Tannins are what give wine its astringency, or dryness. They can also add bitterness and a "gripping" sensation to the wine. So, less tannins usually means a more fruit-forward, richer wine.Another factor that contributes to a wine's richness is how ripe the grapes were when they were harvested. Riper grapes have more sugar, which translates to more alcohol in the finished wine. Alcohol also adds body and weight to a wine, making it seem richer. Finally, oak aging can also make a wine taste richer. The wood imparts flavors of vanilla, spice, and toastiness that can make a wine seem more complex and full-bodied. The Different Types of Pinot Noir There are many different types of Pinot Noir, and each one has its own unique flavor. Some Pinot Noirs are light and fruity, while others are rich and full-bodied. No matter what your preference, there is a Pinot Noir out there that will suit your taste.If you're looking for a light and refreshing Pinot Noir, try a wine from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. These Pinot Noirs tend to be light in color and body, with bright acidity and delicate flavors of cherries and strawberries.For a richer, more full-bodied Pinot Noir, look to wines from France's Burgundy region. These wines are often made with older vines, which give them deeper flavors of dark fruits like blackberries and plums. They also tend to have higher tannins, which give them a more structured feel in the mouth.No matter what type of Pinot Noir you choose, you're sure to enjoy its unique flavor. So why not try a few different types and see which one you like best?

The Taste of Dumol Pinot Noir Dumol Pinot Noir is rich in taste, and its flavor profile is very unique. This wine has a lot of dark fruit flavors, like blackberry and cherry, as well as some earthy and tobacco notes. It's a full-bodied wine, but still has a nice balance of acidity that makes it very food-friendly. If you're looking for a Pinot Noir that's packed with flavor, then Dumol is definitely worth trying! Dumol Pinot Noir is a great wine to pair with food because it has such a rich flavor profile. Try pairing it with grilled meats, like steak or lamb, or even with a hearty stew. It's also a great choice for drinking on its own, so if you're looking for a delicious red wine to sip on by the fire, then Dumol is definitely worth trying. Comparison to Other Pinot Noirs When it comes to Pinot Noir, there are a lot of different options out there. But what sets Dumol apart from the rest? Let's take a closer look. In general, Pinot Noir is known for being a lighter-bodied red wine. However, that doesn't mean it lacks in flavor. In fact, many Pinot Noirs are quite rich in taste, with complex fruit and earthy aromas. So where does Dumol fit in? Dumol Pinot Noir is definitely on the richer end of the spectrum. Its dark fruit flavors and full body make it a perfect candidate for pairing with hearty meals. But don't let that intimidate you - Dumol is still approachable and easy to drink. Whether you're a fan of light-bodied reds or rich and full-flavored wines, Dumol Pinot Noir is definitely worth a try. Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions about Dumol Pinot Noir? 

Here are some of the most common questions we get.

Where Is Dumol Pinot Noir From? Dumol Pinot Noir is produced in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, California. The vineyards here benefit from a cool climate, which helps the grapes develop their signature dark fruit flavors. How Should I Store My Bottle of Dumol Pinot Noir? Ideally, you should store your bottle of Dumol in a cool, dark place. A wine cellar or cooler is ideal. If you don't have access to either of those, a cupboard or cabinet away from direct sunlight will do. How Long Will My Bottle of Dumol Last? If stored properly, your bottle of Dumol will be at its best for up to 5 years after the vintage date. Of course, every wine is different, so it's always best to check the label for specific storage instructions. Conclusion We can say with confidence that Dumol Pinot Noir is rich in taste. This luxurious wine has a complex flavor profile that includes notes of dark fruits, spices, and vanilla. The tannins are well-balanced and the finish is long and lingering. If you're looking for a Pinot Noir that delivers on flavor, Dumol is definitely worth trying.

[mintchocolatewitch-blog]

A guide to chocolate by meee!

According to the Aztecs, the great god of the feathered serpent of wisdom and creation known as Quetzalcoatl introduced the cocoa bean to humanity. It is more likely that it comes from the Amazon rainforest and goes to Mesoamerica, whose inhabitants understood that they could tame, ferment, roast, mash and mix the cocoa with water, peppers and spices to produce a bitter and intoxicating drink. He then took a boat across the Atlantic to learn Spanish. Europe was not sure what to do with bitterness until someone spilled sugar into the drink. Cocoa quickly swept the continent, giving birth to large companies that persist to this day, such as Cadbury, Nestle, Hershey and Lindt.

Today, chocolate is everywhere. This is part of the fabric of the human experience.

Why is it so good?

Let's start with ...

Health benefits Chocolate contains healthy fats Cocoa butter is mainly monounsaturated and saturated fat, with very little polyunsaturated fat. And because most of these saturated fats are stearic acid, which turns into oleic acid in the body and is renowned for its neutral effects on LDL, even declared lipophobia can engulf cocoa fat.

Animal studies have shown that cocoa butter protects the liver from damage caused by ethanol.

Dark chocolate contains a lot of flavanols Flavanols are an important class of polyphenols, the phytonutrients that have beneficial effects on oxidative stress, inflammation and contribute to producing beneficial hormonal reactions. In terms of polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity, cocoa overturns super fruits, namely acai, pomegranate, cranberry, blueberry and almost everything else. The most studied polyphenol in chocolate is epicatechin, a flavanol.

Dark chocolate and endothelial health / blood pressure Epidemiological studies show fairly consistently that dark chocolate consumption is related to lower blood pressure readings. In Jordan, among the Kuna Indians living in Panama, among pregnant women and among the elderly in the Netherlands, this is true.

Controlled trials suggest that this observation is probably causal:

Cocoa consumption has improved arterial flow in smokers. This is not too surprising, as smokers have higher oxidative loads and foods rich in polyphenols help fight oxidative stress. What's really fascinating is the study that found that fifteen days of dark chocolate, but not white chocolate, decreased blood pressure (and improved insulin sensitivity) in healthy subjects. The main difference between white chocolate and dark chocolate is the polyphenol content; Both types contain cocoa fat, so that cocoa fat is not enough to improve blood pressure.

In another study, consumption of flavanol-rich dark chocolate improved endothelial function while increasing plasma levels of flavanols (indicating that flavanols are involved). Another study used flavanol-rich cocoa to increase nitric oxide production in healthy humans, which increased vasodilation and improved endothelial function. In another case, the highest dose of cocoa flavonoids caused the greatest drop in blood pressure. Yet another found that dark chocolate did not reduce blood pressure, improve lipids and reduce oxidative stress, but improve coronary circulation.

Dark chocolate is prebiotic Chocolate is a good source of polyphenols and fibers, both of which act as prebiotic precursors for healthy intestinal bacteria.

In spontaneousIn hypertensives, soluble fiber in cocoa decreased blood pressure, perhaps by reducing weight gain.

Dark chocolate and cardiovascular diseases In humans, with normal and high cholesterol levels, the consumption of cocoa powder mixed with hot water LDL and ApoB (good barometer of the number of LDL particles) increases while increasing the HDL. The three doses of flavanol-rich cocoa powder - 13, 19.5 and 26 g / day - proved to be beneficial. If you wonder, 26 grams of powder are about a quarter cup. It also works if you drink it with milk.

Given the effects of chocolate on lipid peroxidation, we can probably assume that it will also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. And indeed, epidemiological studies suggest that this is the case. In a sample of over 2200 patients (PDF), chocolate consumption was inversely associated with the progression of atherosclerotic plaque. The association was held for chocolate in general and I do not think everyone consumes 100% cocoa powder overflowing with polyphenols. This year's study of the same group showed similar results: chocolate consumption was inversely associated with cardiovascular diseases.

Dark chocolate and insulin resistance For two weeks, hypertensive patients with glucose intolerance received either 100 grams of dark chocolate with a high content of polyphenols or 100 grams of white chocolate without polyphenols. The diets were isocaloric and nothing differentiated the groups in addition to the type of chocolate. Dark chocolate improves beta cell function, lowers blood pressure, increases insulin sensitivity and improves endothelial function, unlike white chocolate. Again, this indicates that it is polyphenols, not just cocoa butter.

Dark chocolate and foie gras As mentioned earlier, cocoa butter is hepatoprotective in the context of ethanol consumption. These benefits seem to extend to other areas of liver health.

Daily consumption of chocolate is related to the decrease of liver enzymes.

Dark chocolate and UV damage One study showed that feeding healthy people for 12 weeks with large amounts of dark chocolate doubled their resistance to UV rays or their resistance to UV rays; feeding low amounts of dark chocolate had no effect on the MED.

Similarly, another study showed that a person who consumed high levels of cocoa flavanols had greater resistance to a given UV dose than a low flavanol group over a period of six to twelve weeks.

Dark Chocolate and Aging It seems that every time you read articles about the eating habits of a centenary, they are great chocolate lovers. This may not be a fluke because chocolate has been shown to improve many aspects of the aging process.

In postmenopausal women, dark chocolate rich in cocoa improves blood circulation to the brain and the periphery. It also reduces arterial stiffness.

A 40 gram piece of dark chocolate improves the ability of elderly patients with peripheral arterial disease to walk unaided within two hours of consumption. It's wild.

Older people who eat the most chocolate have better cognitive function and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

It is clear that the older you are, the more you should eat chocolate. I certainly work under this hypothesis.

How chocolate is made What are we talking about when we talk about chocolate? How is it going?

After the cocoa bean has been removed from her pod, she stays in battery for about a week to heal. It is the fermentation in pithe, the first stage of cocoa processing. During yeast fermentation, the yeast Degrading the mucilaginous pulp that surrounds the beans in ethanol, the bacteria transform the ethanol into acetic acid and carbon dioxide, which increases the temperature sufficiently to finally kill the cocoa bean. Now dead and their decaying cell walls, the bean undergoes chemical reactions that develop flavor and color. Fermentation also reduces bitter compounds and phytic acid.

Then, the beans are dried for a week or two, then roasted, then sprayed to form feathers. Sometimes this process is returned, they spray dry beans into feathers and then roast the feathers. The seeds are crushed into a paste called cocoa liquor or chocolate liquor, which is combined with sugar, vanilla and other ingredients to form the chocolate itself. This is also the time when they make cocoa powder by squeezing the liquor and extracting the cocoa butter.

They will further refine cocoa by trying to reach the point where human language will not perceive individual particles. Once it is smooth, it conquers chocolate, which involves mixing and aeration of the material at elevated temperatures to improve texture and mouthfeel. Soy lecithin improves the emulsification and reduces the amount of conching required.

Each step of the treatment reduces the flavanol content of the chocolate. This means that the higher the chocolate, the higher the flavanol content. But with the exception of explicitly raw bars, almost all finished chocolate bars undergo fermentation, roasting and conching. There is really no way around that. And even raw chocolate is probably not even raw. And if so, is it desirable? Fermentation and roasting all reduce the phytic acid content, after all. Even ancient Mesoamericans roasted their cocoa beans before eating or drinking them. And it is not clear if more polyphenols are still desirable.

In addition, not all chocolatiers use black cocoa products. They do not use unfermented raw cocoa beans selected by the Aztec elders. They use commercially available cocoa-based products that are undergoing significant processing, such as 85% dark chocolate or unsweetened cocoa powder. And they still work very well and produce great benefits.

Powder: There are different powders. I will not talk about premixed hot cocoa powders; avoid them

Raw cacao powder comes from dry beans, fermented and unroasted. Since the beans have not been roasted to extract all the cocoa butter, there are still some grease residues. The roasted cocoa powder comes from roasted and fermented beans. This tends to be less oily, as the roasting process allows for greater extraction of cocoa butter. Nibs: Feathers are like chocolate gravel, unsweetened. You can add them to the smoothies, eat them whole or grind them to get your own cocoa liquor.

Liquor or mass: The liquor / cocoa mass is crushed into grains / cocoa beans in solid or semi-solid form. These are equal parts of cocoa and cocoa butter. You can eat this as a maniac or use it to make your own chocolate.

Bars / chips: The finished product. The percentage of cocoa in a bar (100%, 85%, 70%, etc.) indicates the amount of mass and cocoa butter. An 85% chocolate bar contains 85% cocoa mass and cocoa butter, 15% other ingredients such as lecithin, sugar and flavors.

So yeah, mmummumumumumumumuummmm chocolate.

I’m going to try and do some more outreach with my content. I’m currently going through the https://www.BigGuestPosting.com chocolate guest posting list. So hopefully you’ll see me about online more!

[thehungrykat1]

Mamma Mia Offers Authentic Italian Cuisine in a Relaxed & Casual Dining Environment

I don’t write about Italian restaurants that much because I have to admit that it is not on my list of favorite cuisines. Japanese and French would probably be at the top, but so far I have not been too impressed with the Italian restaurants in the country. My favorite Italian restaurant here would have to be Caruso (Read: Caruso Ristorante Italiano Serves Exquisite Truffles All Year Round) but their prices are kinda restrictive. That’s why I was really happy to find out that there’s a restaurant in the city that serves authentic Italian cuisine just like Caruso but with a more casual setting and much friendlier prices.

Mamma Mia by Parmigiano can be found right at the ground floor corner of Uptown Bonifacio Mall in Bonifacio Global City. They opened this branch in late 2017 but Parmigiano also has other existing branches at Newport Mall in Resorts World Manila and at Molito Lifestyle Center in Alabang. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Mamma Mia from my friends so I’m finally going to experience their homey Italian cooking for myself.

The restaurant interiors are quite colorful and refreshing. It gives off a casual and relaxed environment where you can dine comfortably with your family and friends. It feels a lot like those Italian travel shows where families spend a lovely Sunday brunch in restaurants like these.

Mamma Mia also follows all health and safety protocols. In fact, all of their staff are 100% vaccinated so you can feel safe and secure when dining.

For those that feel more comfortable dining al fresco, there are a lot of dining spaces outside Mamma Mia as well. You can choose your seats in front of the restaurant or at the side where it is more private.

We had lunch with Mamma Mia owner Giulius Iapino who told us that he got his inspiration for the restaurant from his childhood memories dining at Caruso. His father is Italian and some of the recipes used in Mamma Mia are from his grandmother so you can be sure that their dishes are authentic and from the heart.

To brighten our afternoon, we started with some bubbly Aperol Spritz with its combination of prosecco, aperol, and soda water. The Italians drink this as an aperitif or beverage appetizer to stimulate the taste buds. We really didn’t need any help with our appetites, but this was a lovely way to open our meal.

Each table also got a complimentary basket of their house bread which is baked fresh every day.

Here are the starters! The Melon and Pumpkin Wrapped with Prosciutto Al Forno (P465) is a deep fried appetizer that is as pretty as it is flavorful. I usually encounter melon wrapped in ham, but this is the first time I saw it accompanied with pumpkin. The unique pairing gives it a contrasting play on textures with the soft pumpkin and the sweet melon giving diners an alternating experience with each bite.

The Italian Bacon Meatball Bomb (P395) is another fantastic dish. These meatballs are wrapped in juicy bacon then served with ricotta cream cheese and spicy marinara sauce. It’s a meaty bombshell in your mouth.

Italians are, of course, known for their pizza, so Mamma Mia uses a Valoriani pizza oven which is what they normally use in Italy. We were all excited to try their specialty pizzas.

I have never seen pistachio on a pizza before so I was quite amazed with the Mortadella e Pistachio (P630). This cheese based pizza is topped with mortadella Italian sausage and drizzled with pistachio cream sauce and crushed pistachio.

You might think of this as a peculiar combination but it actually works! It looks like a dessert pizza but the savory sausages and cheese are just balanced with the slightly sweet pistachio dressings. This was a creation of Giulius himself and he likes putting modern and creative twists to classic favorites. All of Mamma Mia’s pizza crusts are also stuffed with oozing cheese, so there’s no way you will be seeing leftover crusts on your plates.

Another specialty they have is the Friarielli e Salsiccia Pizza (P550). This Mozzarella base pizza is topped with mildly spicy sausage and Italian veggies called friarelli which are all imported from Italy. It’s a bit like the creamy spinach pizzas that are getting popular in the metro, but this one has much more sophisticated and richer flavors.

Pasta is also a staple in Italian cooking, so we also tried the Frutti di Mare Pasta or seafood pasta. Mamma Mia uses homemade pasta which has a different and firmer texture than what I usually encounter in other restaurants. This olive oil based pasta dish comes from a recipe from Giulius’ grandmother who lives in Italy. It really feels like a good home-cooked meal that was prepared with love and care.

For our main course, the meaty Porchetta (P750) serves as a great centerpiece. This classic Italian pork roast roulade is served with mashed potatoes, tomato salsa, and mixed salad.

You can never go wrong with roast pork especially with skin as crunchy as this one. Mamma Mia offers weekday lunch deal from Mondays to Thursdays starting at P250 per dish, including the porchetta. That should be a great deal.

To cap off our Italian lunch, we had servings of two traditional Italian desserts. The Panna Cota (P170) is a light and creamy custard dessert while the Mamma Mia’s Tiramisu (P280) offers layers of mascarpone cheese, ladyfingers, and espresso garnished with cocoa powder.

Mamma Mia also has a Happy Hour promo daily where you can get two glasses of Mojito for the price on one. They are also available for delivery at Foodpanda, GrabFood, and Pickaroo. So if it’s authentic Italian food you are craving, Mamma Mia in Uptown Bonifacio is definitely a great option for the entire family.

Mamma Mia

G/F Uptown Bonifacio Mall, 36th corner 9th Ave, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

(02) 8541-8933 / (0966) 663-7803

www.facebook.com/MammaMiaPHL

[sherlysylvia1897]

What is the safest sugar substitute?

The alternative sweeteners to white sugar and that we can find today are many, due to the growing search for healthy solutions for our diet, these products can be easily purchased in any store, know what are the best alternatives to finish using sugar refined in your meals.

There are many natural sweeteners today that allow you to replace the toxic and acidic substances that refined sugar contains and that are used in most sweet processed foods, which we eat almost every day or that we use to sweeten our food at home.

But we must be careful, refined sugar is harmful but so are the sweeteners that we often use disproportionately on our food, or which are part of the ingredients in our recipes, because they can have effects contrary to what they promise, such as weight gain, among others.

Artificial sweeteners problem

One of the artificial sweeteners that is used a lot is aspartame, since it is supposedly not fattening. There is now enough evidence that "zero calorie" sweeteners like this one (now banned in Europe) can actually even contribute to weight gain.

Alternative sweeteners to refined sugar

For this we must use natural sweeteners to supplant refined sugar that really provide a health benefit, such as the sweets of certain fruits and herbs that today have become the most widely used alternatives, regaining their place as before. stores will invade all these artificial sweeteners to supplant the harmfulness of refined sugar.

1. Coconut sugar

Produced from the sweet juices of coconut palm blossoms, natural sweetener coconut sugar has been a staple in Southeast Asia and is an alternative to refined sugar. This is certainly not an empty calorie, it is actually high in minerals and compared to brown sugar, coconut sugar has twice the iron, four times the magnesium and more than 10 times zinc.

It is also rich in enzymes, which helps decrease absorption into the bloodstream. Combined with its low glycemic index (35 compared to 68 for sugar), this sweetener is not a bad choice at all. It is even considered to be the most sustainable sweetener in the world. It can be used as a 1: 1 sugar substitute in cooking.

2. Stevia

This really packs a punch. It is 200 -300 times sweeter than sugar but with zero calories. Stevia is actually a green leaf (part of the chrysanthemum family) found in South America and it is comforting to know that it has been used for centuries by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay.

The stevia is not really a sugar at all and has been shown to not feed the candida, and raises blood sugar. The aftertaste can be a bit bitter and checkered and may take some getting used to. You can get stevia in liquid or powder form. The best alternative is of course the unprocessed and crushed green leaves. If it is liquid, a few drops are all that is needed.

3. Dates

This is a true whole meal packed with dietary fiber that helps slow down the absorption of sugar. Dates are also rich in antioxidants, iron, minerals, and tannins. Date sugar is made from dehydrated dates and is used just like you would brown sugar. We must bear in mind that it does not dissolve in water so it is better to bake or sprinkle. For a great smoothie just put a date or two in the blender with some raw cocoa and almond milk and you will know what heaven is like!

4. Raw honey

The original sweetener of the caveman. With antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, carbohydrates and phytonutrients. Raw unprocessed honey could even be considered a super food. And yes, be sure to obtain a crude kind, no benefits remaining in the processed honey or adulterated with other ingredients, but the pure honey is a natural alternative to refined sugar.

5.- Pink Himalayan salt

Believe it or not, adding some unrefined sea salt or Himalayan pink salt to your morning smoothie, sweet potato cake, fruit salad, or other sweet drink or dish can actually increase its natural sweetness without the need for sugar. Not only does salt help cover the inherent bitterness in certain foods, it also makes the natural sweetness of many foods more enhanced, meaning less sugar is needed to bring them to the desired flavor level.

This is the exact reason why many people sprinkle some salt on watermelon, lemon and other fruits before eating them. Salt essentially increases the brain's ability to process the sensation of sweetness, which in turn makes naturally sweet foods sweeter.

6.- Bee pollen

Bee pollen is another great and delicious natural alternative to refined sugar. And as an added bonus to its sweetness, bee pollen is rich in protein and carbohydrates and has vitamins and minerals. And just like local honey, eating this sugar alternative can really help treat or prevent seasonal allergies, like hay fever. Ideal for shakes / smoothies / smoothies.

7.- Agave Syrup

Agave is a natural alternative sugar derived from the root of the agave plant. It is considered low on the glycemic index, which means that it will not raise your blood sugar levels as high as other higher glycemic sweeteners (like sugar). However, even though it has this characteristic in its favor, it is composed mainly of fructose and glucose, so it should be used in moderation. They are usually in liquid form and have a slight flavor as well, so it does not dominate in flavor.

8.- Xylitol

Xylitol is an excellent natural alternative. It is found naturally in mushrooms, fruits, vegetables, and the birch tree. Similar to some of the other sweeteners here, it is considered to be low on the glycemic index, so it only slightly raises blood sugar levels when consumed.

As an added bonus to its sweetening abilities, xylitol prevents cavities and ear infections, promotes weight loss, and helps strengthen bones and teeth. It is usually found in powder form at your local health food store. It is recommended to try a sample or buy a small packet first to make sure you like the taste before buying a large bag, as it costs much more than sugar.

9.- Molasses

Molasses is a natural alternative sweetener to refined sugar that is extracted from various cereals (rice, barley, corn, etc.), berries, fruits or vegetables by a fermentation process. Of all the sweeteners, it is the one that takes the first place in terms of health and nutrition. Molasses is usually much smoother, more digestible and more nutritious and healthier than any refined sugar or artificial sweetener. It is very high in carbohydrates and B vitamins, as well as minerals, mainly potassium, calcium, phosphoric acid, iron, copper and magnesium.

The high content of carbohydrates makes molasses useful for athletes, as a remedy against soreness and for a quick recovery, as well as for those who perform intense physical and mental work. For example, molasses or cane honey is obtained by extracting cane juice, which is subjected to a cooking process until the water evaporates and the natural sugar of the fruit is concentrated. Its flavor is similar to licorice. The darker this molasses is, the more intense its flavor will be and the more nutrients it will have. This molasses can be used as a sweetener for teas, smoothies, juices, waters or desserts.

10.- Whole muscovado sugar

Unrefined muscovado sugar is a food that, consumed in moderation, is beneficial for our body since glucose provides us with the energy necessary for the proper functioning of our body. But not all sugar is equally healthy, as refined sugar lacks nutrients. Only when the energy provided by sugar is slow-release, which occurs with whole sugar, does our body benefit from the action of its vitamins and minerals. While refined sugar has lost all its nutrients and becomes a simple carbohydrate, it does not benefit our health at all.

Sugar, which is obtained from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum), provides us with 386 calories per 100 grams, and it is advisable for a healthy person to consume 70 grams per day. Whole or brown sugar is very rich in carbohydrates, contains almost 95%, provides us with vitamins of type B (B1 and B2) and high contents of Vitamin A as well as pantothenic acid. The brownish color of muscovado sugar reveals the presence of soluble fibers that are easily absorbed and digested.

The energy provided by sugar and glucose is necessary for the proper functioning of our brain, eyes, nervous system, muscles, red blood cells, and they give us the necessary energy to face our daily tasks. But these benefits are lost when it comes to refined sugar as it has lost its nutrients in the bleaching process.

Whole grain sugar, also called brown sugar, has a caramel color due to the presence of molasses (cane honey), which also gives it a licorice-like flavor and sticky texture. Unlike white sugar, whole grain sugar is practically unrefined and thus maintains its nutritional qualities. To obtain it, it begins by crushing the sugar cane and by evaporating its juice, the sucrose crystallizes are obtained, it is reduced to a fine powder after washing with hot water

On the other hand, panela sugar, widely consumed in South America, Asia and the Philippines. It is obtained from the juice of sugar cane and is not subjected to refining, only crystallized and centrifuged, which is why it is considered the purest sugar. This integral product owes its color to a film of molasses that surrounds each crystal.

On the other hand, fruits such as mango, banana, grape extract, orange juice, and other fruits, can be elements to sweeten your smoothies or juices, especially. Do the test every time you prepare one, simply adding a portion of these fruits or juices to your smoothie and you will see how it makes a difference.

Moderation of the consumption of these natural sweeteners

The key to sugars and sweeteners in your diet is moderation. Having a candy once a week is not going to sabotage your health goals. Ditching sugar altogether just to live on artificially sweetened snacks and drinks is not a good idea. So, knowing these healthy alternatives to refined white sugar, you can start to try which one can best suit your body and palate. The key in everything is moderation, do not abuse any food and always see the labels before consuming them.

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[scentedrunawayshark]

Around the World History of Cakes

“Let them eat cake”, a well-known line said by the very famous Marie Antoinette. Cakes are one of the most delicious and universally loved dishes and desserts. The origin of modern-day cakes can be traced back to the 17th century. Throughout these centuries the dish has had different names across the globe like ‘plakous’ and ‘satura’ in Greek and ‘placenta’ by the Romans. In the history of cakes it can be seen how cakes have been used and what cakes symbolizes have changed and been modified over the years. Like how the east coast American cooks considered it to be a symbol of well-being or how it was very similar to loaves of breads in the very beginning.

Cakes in the 21st century symbolizes joy and celebration. Looking at the history of cakes, it can be seen that cakes have been present at so many different occasions of celebration like birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc. Each different flavor and type of cake has its history and story. It is like delving into the history of something so simple, yet so beautiful.

1) Chocolate

The widely loved and cherished cake is the chocolate cake. The birth of chocolate cakes can be traced back to the 17th century when the existing cake recipes got a new ingredient, the cocoa powder. The journey of chocolate cakes began when chocolate was discovered by Dr. James Baker in the year 1764. The 1920s had important slices of changes and introductions for chocolate cakes. This period was when the first ready-to-eat chocolate cake was introduced by the O Duff and Sons as this year, saw that chocolate cake was becoming more common and popular among the people. Another important piece of chocolate cake history includes the publishing of the first chocolate cake recipe by Eliza Leslie’s cookbook in the year 1847. Chocolate cakes over the years have branched out into a variety of different exotic flavors including, Choco-Hazelnut Cake, and Chocolate Truffle Cake, all of which are available here at Aubree’s.  

2) Red Velvet

The feeling of the velvety cake and how it melts in your mouth, is unforgettable. Red velvet’s history goes back all the way to the Victorian Era. The term ‘velvet’ in the cake is because, in the earlier years, this word was used to describe cakes with smooth texture in Victorian England. This smooth texture was induced with the introduction of cocoa that made the flour soft. The color of the cake came about during the second world war. Order from Aubree and enjoy these delicious history-rich cakes from around the world.Thanks for reading! We are Aubree, one of the best bakers in Bangalore providing delicious eggless cakes and best cupcakes in Bangalore. You can place your order on our site or contact us directly to enquire.Due to a shortage of food items like sugar and butter, bakers resorted to using beetroots for not only the moisture but also color, as the red in the cake made it highly appealing. The Waldorf Astoria Hotel claims that it is the birthplace of the Red Velvet Cake but also, The Adams Extract company said that they are responsible for the origin of the cake. Hence, roots cannot be traced back to any one person or company. The Red Velvet Cheesecake is a must-try at Aubree.

3) Coffee Cake

Who doesn’t love a delicious coffee-rich cake? Coffee and cakes do compliment each other well! Just like a lot of cakes, the exact origins of the coffee cake are unknown. It is claimed that the Danish were the ones in the start to introduce coffee cakes. It is said that in the 17th century in England, they enjoyed it as part of their evening snack with a coffee drink. But the origin cannot be fully credited to England as some say it originated in Germany. Soon, it was also introduced in the United States of America and this can be accredited to the immigration from North-Eastern Europe. In the United States, it became famous in the states of Delaware and New Jersey. Nowadays, coffee cakes have many variants and many new ingredients which can vary from region to region. The Irish Coffee Cake at Aubree’s is a smooth and perfect blend of coffee and cake.

4) Birthday Cakes

While reading about the history of cakes, birthday cakes are absolutely essential! Cakes are the heart of a birthday party. A perfect birthday should have the perfect birthday cake! Birthday cakes have a very delicious and interesting history. In Ancient Greek, worshippers of the goddess Artemis (Goddess of the Hunt, Moon, and Wild Animals) would make moon-shaped cakes with candles to honor the goddess. The roots of birthday cakes can be traced back to the elaborate German tradition of Kinderfest which was a fascinating way of celebrating a child’s birthday. We here at Aubree’s give you a long list of options in flavors and themes for birthday celebrations like Animal-themed like Dinosaur Cake or Superhero-Theme cakes.