#it's also the best way to eat rice especially with naan

[tamamita]

you eat rice with your hands??

Anon about to discover a whole new culture outside of the US and W.Europe

[babygirlaffirmations]

Writing about the party for Daddy, the night of 10-14-23

Tonight I picked out a cute dress and sent Daddy photos. I went to a kink party for Riley's birthday. Logan ended up messaging me right as I was getting ready before heading out asking if I still needed a ride with his new partner Milly. They were both really sweet. We had good conversation on the way there about kink and what roles we fall into in the community. We got to the party and I sat on the couch on some rainbow pillows. I got overwhelmed really fast after a few mins and went into the back room and had some anxiety. Mike was really sweet and came to comfort me and did parallel play. When I needed to talk he was there to listen, but otherwise he was on his phone nearby reading. It was comforting to be off the main area. And control my social interactions. I kept my mask on for all the big room stuff and a lot of time in the back room when I wasn't eating. I wanted to make sure to be extra healthy for Daddy soon. Especially after being at the end of my infection clearing up after finishing my antibiotics. Mike was so wholesome and the main reason I lasted 4 hours instead of just minutes. He got me food twice, naan and rice. He somehow knew and offered to get me very plain food. And I really needed that. My body was starving. And up to that point I had eaten only macaroni noodles, half a chocolate bar, and one pickle spear. He also got me water. Even grabbed my sweater when I got cold. Overall he made like 4 trips out to get me food and water and sweater for colds and comfort.

I got to see Kylie, my best friend, and give her big hugs, which was nice. Kinda bummed I didn't get to see Kiki or my meta Leigh or Jeff. When I first got there and had anxiety, around the time when Mike joined me, Dan, one of the hosts, came up to me holding a baby quail. He held this one month old baby quail for me to pet, even after it pooped on his hand multiple times, to help my anxiety. Dan is also a wholesome human. I ended up eating and mainly staying in a perch nest in the back room for most of the party. The window was open and there were way less people, so it felt like a lot lower risk of me getting sick to spend most of my time in. A few people came in here and there but it was mainly Mike and I or at one point just me. Mainly people just coming in to use the bathroom and use the mirror for changing. There was one big chicken in the tub, Henrietta, and 8 quail. They helped me so much with my anxiety and gave me serotonin. I got brave enough to go out into the main area for 30 mins for introductions. Everyone stated their names, pronouns, how Riley changed their lives, and one kink thing they would want Riley to do to them. This party was for their birthday party but still a kink party. A lot of answers were funny, some were funny, some made me cry with the vulnerability and rawness like Riley's intro at the end about being scared they would always be a misfit. I said my name and pronouns. Talked about how they changed how I view the kink community, comfort in kink parties and how they helped make a safe space for me for when I have anxiety. Dan and Riley are truly amazing and always go above and beyond. It was nice cuddled with my stuffie on the couch being able to message Daddy a lot for comfort through the panic. It was nice being able to message and update Jay a bit before he got tired, but mainly focus on centering my brain and my connection and communication with Daddy. He felt like a good safe space and it was really nice and helped me regain trust in him after our talk about him having to disappear right after I got into deep little space last night and me being angry and hurt and scared. I had cookie cake before I left. It was weird texturely. It was layered multiple layers like a cake, but the cake layers were replaced with cookie cake. But it was good though. Got overwhelmed after introductions and felt really overstimulated. This nice human who her and her husband gave me a ride once home from those parties was really sweet. She came up to me and asked if I needed anything or any water and offered to do deep breaths with me and have me breathe with her. Which I did. Which helped center me a little bit.

I'm gonna try to redo this last bit because Tumblr is literally a cunt. The first time I submitted it I got an error message and it didn't send at all. If I hadn't copied most of this it would've been all erased. I have got to start writing these in Google note first. I was writing about Daddy splitting the ride home with me for an uber which was super sweet and built trust. I'm really mad. I had the cutest little space talk rant at the end. Tumblr deleting it all really jars me to be angry and less in little space. Anyways breathe and rewrite. Daddy helped he get home safe. And I'm really excited for this upcoming week. Toy store for toys and a play collar, build a bear, coloring, baths. Sexy time. Playing out sexual fantasies. Getting to see Daddy for the first time. Jump in his arms. Get his kisses. Be his little puddle.

Daddy telled me I getted extra gold starses because I was brave. I videoed nakey with Daddy. I got more comfortable using the the D word on video, even subconsciously slipping up some times cuz it feels so natural with him. I told him about deep sexual ddlg fantasies. I went to the party and did the thing even though I cried. I'm really so incredibly lucky and blessed. I really do have the most bestest Daddy in the whole wide lamdd. I'm so excited to see where this goes. It sucks that this will likely only be part of a week every month. But maybe we can get extra time here and there when we become an established relationship and dynamic. So excited for Daddy to take baths with me.. and use me. And I'm so excited for this journey back into little space with him.

[milanopain]

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[nekojitachan]

I just read armies for the third time and every time I reread is just as fuckin amazing as the last time... Also I saw an ask once mentioning a collection about Aaron visiting Andrew in London, just wondering if you have any plans of posting again? I'm just so weak for my minyard boys. Hope you're good! Love your writing please never leave us ❤️

Ah... I went looking for the link to the story but I’ve been unable to find it yet (I know I would have used something to tag it, but that’s not working). I do have it saved, but not the link (on a side note, I found a twinyard prompt that I’ve forgotten about). So here it is again (until I either add it to Armies properly or do an Armies side stories post on AO3):

*******

Abram smiled at Ashley as he leaned gingerly against the top of one of her monitors with his chin resting on top of his folded arms. “So, I sent you the file last night, and let me tell you, it was rather difficult reining in Andrew while I corrected the few grammar mistakes – he wanted to make a couple comments on the paper.” That had surprised Abram, his husband’s interest on the topic, but Kimberly had picked an interesting book for once.

Ashley laughed as she leaned back in her chair and toyed with her long, dark brown braid. “I appreciate your efforts since I can only imagine what he’d have put in there.” She shuddered a little which made Abram smile in shared horror. “She’s doing better?”

“Yes, I imagine soon enough you’ll have to come up with something else when I ask for a favor.” Ashley smiled at that, a mixture of pride for her younger sister and delight in thinking up a new ‘price’ for Abram when he needed certain things done; he didn’t mind because Ashley was a minor miracle worker and usually asked for small, easily to do things in return such as proofing her sister’s uni papers or bringing back certain items from their travels.

“I’m sure I’m up to the challenge,” Ashley said as she tapped away on her keyboard. “As is, I’ve just sent you my part of our latest bargain. The email contains all the information you need in regards to the reservations I made for your dinners and a private appointment at Barts Pathology Museum.” She gave him a pleased smile as she once again toyed with her braid. “Anything else?”

“Don’t let the place descend into chaos while we’re away, yes?” Abram asked as he stood up and gave her a jaunty salute.

“I’ll do my best!” Ashley called out as he walked away, voice bright with laughter. Maddy and Rita (who was back in the office while she did some research before her next mission) wished him a nice ‘holiday’ as he left the office to meet up with his husband.

Andrew was standing out in the hallway with Lloyd and Kathryn Ambrose, one of the higher-ups who handled the EMEA region. Despite Lloyd’s occasional grumbling about the woman (he tended to grumble about anyone ranked above him), Abram never had a problem with Kathryn, who always treated him and Andrew with polite respect. “Hello, Abram,” she greeted him.

“Hello, Kathryn. Everything all right?”

“Yes, I was just talking to Lloyd and Andrew about how there’s a potential situation in Hungary. I know you’re about to go on holiday, but I just wanted to give you a head’s up that we may need to send the two of you there once you’re back.”

Lloyd nodded as he motioned to Andrew and then Abram. “Bit of a special request, but some people feel that you two could help out the agents already there.”

It wasn’t as if they could say ‘no’ when it was their jobs; Abram shared a look with Andrew who gave a slight nod after a moment. In a way, it might be better for them since someone else would be taking the lead on the mission and they would be providing support, would be more in the background. Though it meant that they’d have to do a bit of research before they left even though they were supposed to be on break.

“Send us all of the necessary information,” Abram said as he went to stand next to his husband.

“Though we’ll need an extra day or two to prepare,” Andrew argued as he stared down Lloyd.

“Of course. I’ll have Maddy put together the intel and send it to you by tomorrow.” Lloyd knew better than to fight with Andrew by then, especially with Kathryn right there (and when she appeared pleased by their agreement). That dealt with, they said their ‘goodbyes’ and left.

It wasn’t as if Andrew’s brother and sister-in-law would want to see them the entire time they were in London – they were visiting for a medical conference, after all, so they should have plenty of time to go over the material. If anything, the extra day or two they’d won from Lloyd would be spent by themselves to ‘recover’ from the visit.

Abram had the suspicion that they would need the days to recover, considering how Andrew was already on edge from the approaching visit, which was why he’d done everything he could to ensure that Aaron and Katelyn had an enjoyable (and busy) time once they arrived. He’d enlisted Ashley’s help on the matter, since he didn’t want the family too involved with Andrew’s brother ‘just in case’.

The Minyards were due to arrive the next day, and were staying at some hotel in central London where the conference was being held (along with a couple of ‘minders’ from the family), but had agreed to meet up with Andrew and Abram during their free time. Nicky and Erik would come to visit in a couple days for a mini-reunion, so there were dinners arranged and Abram had planned for an excursion or two for the couple to enjoy (by themselves).

Things between the brothers had improved since the wedding in South Carolina last year, had been tense phone calls at first before the two had moved on (somewhat) from the past, but Aaron and Andrew spending time together like this was a big step that Abram wasn’t certain that they were ready for just yet. Still, it was what it was, and in a few days Aaron would return to the States and soon after that Andrew would have an excuse to vent any disappointment by killing someone (more than likely).

“What idiocy are you contemplating now?” Andrew asked as he drove them home.

“Hmm, just that you’ll probably have to wait a week or so to commit therapeutic homicide, hon,” Abram confessed, and laughed when his husband heaved a weary sigh.

“Should have had the damn judge say ‘until insanity do you part’, could have gotten out of this marriage ages ago,” Andrew grumbled even as he held out his hand for Abram to entwine their fingers together.

“You like my mental instability,” Abram insisted as he smiled. “Keeps things interesting.”

Andrew did the sighing thing again but didn’t disagree.

Stuart and Davis were in the townhouse when they arrived, which drew a displeased frown from Andrew when he caught sight of Abram’s uncle standing in the kitchen with a purring King in his arms. Davis grinned while he held up his hands in a placating manner. “Just dropping off a few things and checking in on the kids.”

Abram patted his husband on the back before he went to hug his uncle, mindful of King who was handed over when they stepped apart. “You look tired, is everything all right?” Jamie had told him that Stuart was traveling a lot lately when they’d last talked; Abram had checked a few documents for the family to ensure that everything was on the up and up in the contracts.

“Too much drinking with Camillo last night,” Stuart complained. “Looking forward to being home for a bit.” He gave Abram an exhausted smile as he scratched King’s chin. “I know you’re busy the next few days, but if you’ve some time, call me and we’ll have some tea, yeah?”

Abram nodded in agreement. “That’s doable.” They should be able to meet up while Aaron and Katelyn were busy with the conference.

“Good. There’s some chocolates and jenever for you, and Ravi will show up with the cars when you need one, just call.” Stuart waved to Andrew as he left, and Davis bent over to give a meowing Sir a stroke along the back on the way out.

“Couldn’t he have brought some damn whisky?” Andrew complained as he headed straight to the boxes of chocolates out on the island while Abram shook his head and set King down on the floor.

“Your life’s so hard,” Abram remarked as he picked up the bottles of gin-like liquor and stored them away in the cabinet (he had a feeling he’d need them soon enough). “So, we eating in tonight or going out?”

“In, since we’ll be going out the next few nights,” Andrew said between bites of sweets.

That decided, Abram checked the fridge and cabinets before he settled on a spicy chicken and rice dish to make later, and worked on a few more documents for Jamie in-between calls with his cousin and Nicky while Andrew read a book. They went out to sit by the fish pond for a little while before he started on dinner, a mug of tea in his hands and a glass of whisky in Andrew’s, an enjoyable half an hour where Andrew made his usual threats over the poor fish and Abram slumped down enough to rest his head against his husband’s broad shoulder, content to sit there next to him and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Then he was given a shove to the knee and told to go cook something that wouldn’t poison the both of them.

Abram bit back a smile as he called his husband a prat for the umpteenth time, affection a warm tingle in his chest.

Andrew sat at the island and texted with Nicky while he made their dinner, and had a glass of wine waiting for him once it was done (and stole the damn naan once Abram sat down). It was nights like these which Abram treasured the most during all the years they’d been together, when they ‘bickered’ during dinner then curled up together in the living room (since it was late spring it wasn’t too warm yet for a fire) to watch a few episodes of a baking show they both enjoyed (easy to follow with their schedule) then head upstairs after a few hours.

They were tired, but not too tired. Looks were exchanged and clothes were shed before they sprawled out on opposite ends of the bed, where Abram spent a moment enjoying the sight of Andrew’s stocky yet muscular body (save for the slightest pouch of fat on his belly which he adored) before he gasped as his husband stroked his half-tumescent cock then leaned in to nuzzle it and-

He much enjoyed it when Andrew performed oral sex, but he also much enjoyed it when he could reduce Andrew to a shuddering mess with his mouth and hands, so it was the best of both worlds when they both blew each other. It didn’t take long until they both were shivering messes sprawled out on the bed, and then the bastard dragged him off to the shower to wash off before they tucked in beneath the blankets for a restful night’s sleep.

Mostly.

Andrew was up first, which was a rare occasion; Abram resisted the temptation to follow his husband out of the bed but decided to give him a bit of peace (half an hour) before he got up as well. He found Andrew working out and only put in a mile or two on the treadmill before he went to wash off then began work on a batch of chocolate chip and hazelnut hotcakes. It was right as he finished the last one that Andrew joined him, fresh from his own shower.

“I guess you won’t be fish bait just yet, babe,” the prat remarked as he rested his chin on Abram’s left shoulder and wrapped his right arm around Abram’s waist.

“If it wouldn’t be so traumatic to the cats and Nicky, I’d file for divorce,” Abram teased as he added the last hotcake to the huge stack next to the stove.

Andrew clicked his tongue before he snatched up the plate. “You’ve never had it so good and you know it.”

Yes, Abram did indeed ‘know it’, but there was no need to say it, was there? “Did you hit your head with a weight or what?” he asked instead, and rolled his eyes when Andrew made a rude gesture his way. “I’ve merely decided to wait for you to die from clogged arteries or diabetes instead, it’s much easier than dealing with solicitors and the such, hon.”

“What was that?” Andrew waited until he was seated at the island and his precious carbs set down to reach for his phone. “I’m making note of this so when we’re either divorced or you mysteriously disappear one day, there’s no problem with me taking custody of the cats and Bren – yet another cruel comment bordering on abuse.” He made a show of typing on his phone before he set it down then got up to fetch the whipped cream and syrup for his hotcakes. “How I suffer for this relationship.”

“Yeah, yeah, be sure to tell Nicky – oh, wait, I’ll do it for you.” Abram grinned when Andrew’s shoulders hunched upward at that remark. “I’m sure he’ll be ever so helpful with recommendations on how to save our marriage.”

Andrew gave him a long, level look for several seconds (which was impressive, considering the stack of hotcakes before him) before he spoke. “He’ll torment you just as much as me, you know.”

Ah, a flaw in an otherwise perfect plan. “Uhm… I’ll be off with Stuart?”

“You think the pest won’t rat you out to the family?”

Dammit, there was that – Stuart had actually calmed down on the whole ‘Andrew is bad’ front and all. “He’ll still be worse with you,” Abram argued as he set about making some scrambled eggs for himself.

“Right. Idiot.” Still, Andrew appeared smug as he finally cut into his stack of sugary carbs, so Abram felt pleased as he prepared his own breakfast. Once it was done, he sat down and rolled his eyes at how most of the hotcakes were already gone.

Andrew checked his phone while they ate and reported that Maddy had sent the intel for the Hungary mission, which they’d start parsing through later. Abram had just enough time to wash the dishes and go change before they left for the airport in the Aston Martin sedan which Navi had dropped off for them to use to pick up Aaron and Katelyn since neither of the sports cars in the garage would handle four people and luggage. Since Andrew didn’t trust anyone but the two of them or Bren (who made sure the cars didn’t sit idle too long) driving the sports cars, they didn’t want to have them out of the garage for the few days that Aaron and Katelyn were in town, so Ravi would drop off and pick up the sedans whenever Andrew needed one to drive his brother around town rather than let them sit in the driveway overnight.

Abram waited until they were past the worst of the traffic to speak up. “Aaron’s into general practice and Katelyn’s pediatrics?” He hadn’t paid much attention when Andrew spoke about his brother, other than to note that they were getting along (finally).

“Yes.” Andrew tapped his fingers against the steering wheel then sighed. “They both work at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Guess it balances out us a bit, right?” He glanced aside at Abram with a slight quirk to the corner of his mouth. “We kill people, they heal them.”

“We don’t kill everyone,” Abram argued. “There’s some missions where people live.” He smiled when Andrew snorted in dissent. “Whatever.”

“Whatever indeed.” Andrew’s eyes narrowed at the hatchback driving much too slow in front of them. “I’m about to kill someone right now.”

Someone was probably going to get multiple vehicle violations in the mail within the next few days, Abram suspected, but for once the threat wasn’t directed toward himself so he merely settled a little lower in the comfortable leather seat and used his phone to check the traffic ahead.

They reached Heathrow shortly after Aaron texted to say that he and Katelyn had cleared Customs and retrieved their luggage, and so drove to Arrivals to pick them up. For some reason the two had declared that they didn’t have to go into the airport to greet them, so Andrew drove the sedan to the general arrival area where the two should be waiting and found them by spotting Aaron’s familiar visage.

The couple appeared surprised by the Aston Martin as it pulled up to the curb and when both Andrew and Abram exited the vehicle, with Katelyn breaking into a grin while Aaron shook his head. “It’s so good to see you!” the young woman exclaimed as she made an abortive motion as if to give Andrew a hug then thought better of it. “Thank you so much for coming to pick us up.”

“Ah, yeah, you didn’t have to do that,” Aaron said in a much more subdued manner; he was dressed in worn jeans and a MUSC long-sleeved t-shirt, while Katelyn wore leggings and a brightly colored PSU sweatshirt. “We could have taken a cab or something.”

“But the hotel room won’t be ready for a few hours,” Abram said while Andrew grabbed the luggage to put into the car’s boot. “I thought that’s why-“

“Ignore him,” Katelyn insisted as she nudged her husband in the side. “He’s grumpy because of the long flight.” She gave Abram a grateful smile while Aaron huffed and went to help his brother with the luggage. “We appreciate everything you’re doing for us.”

“Uhm, it’s nothing, really.” Abram motioned toward the car and fumbled for the door handle so he could open it for her. “Let’s get going.”

“Okay.”

Katelyn smiled as he closed the door once she was inside, yet Aaron gave Abram a displeased look over the hood of the car before he slid inside. Abram frowned over the reaction then shrugged as he returned to his seat up front.

“This your car?” Aaron asked once they drove away from the airport. “Seems a bit too normal for you, a bit proper and all.”

Abram bit into his bottom lip to hold back a chuckle as Andrew revved the 560 horse power engine to easily bypass the traffic as they merged onto the highway. “It’s not bad for a loaner, but I much prefer the Vantage S Roadster or the Maclaren 720S. They’re not meant for four people,” Andrew stated in a bored tone, “unless you want to ride on the roof.” He gave a look at his brother through the rear-view mirror. “That an option?”

His brother was quiet for several seconds before he made a disgusted noise. “Like rubbing it in that you’ve got money now, don’t you?”

“Aaron,” Katelyn protested in a quiet, unhappy voice.

“I wasn’t the one to bring it up,” Andrew pointed out as his hands tightened around the steering wheel.

That seemed to deflate Aaron’s bad attitude as he slumped back in the seat and was quiet for the rest of the drive to the townhouse. After about ten minutes, Abram spoke out in Chinese. “Perhaps we can be assigned to Hungary a little early.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Andrew replied, but there was the slightest bit of humor in his deep voice and his grip relaxed.

It looked as if Aaron wanted to say something when they reached the townhouse, but Katelyn managed to step on his foot before she walked away from the car. “It’s lovely,” she said in a bright manner as they entered the building.

“Ah, thank you.” Abram was a little unnerved by how cheerful she was about everything, despite being used to Nicky’s exuberant nature; why was she with a dour person like Aaron? “Would you like something to drink? Tea or coffee?”

“Tea?” Aaron muttered as he glanced around. “Can he be any more British?” That seemed to be directed at Andrew.

Katelyn’s smile appeared a little strained at the comment, and then Sir came trotting along, probably attracted to the sound of their voices. “Aw, would look at… him?” she asked as she glanced at Abram, who nodded. “Aw, such a pretty boy,” she cooed as she bent down to pet Sir, who began to purr at the attention. “And coffee, if it’s not too much trouble. We’re trying to stay awake until tonight, we heard it’s best for jet-lag.”

Abram made a quick escape to the kitchen and left it to Andrew to show his family around the first floor of the townhouse. He heard Katelyn’s excited voice as the coffee brewed, and the three returned as he poured the hot beverage in four mugs; it didn’t come as a surprise when Andrew headed straight for the cabinet which contained the whisky.

“The place really is lovely,” Katelyn exclaimed as she leaned against the island as she looked around at everything. “I especially like the backyard. We keep talking about getting a townhouse one day, but we’re so busy with work right now that an apartment is easier to maintain.”

“It won’t be anything like this,” Aaron muttered, but he gave Andrew a slight, grateful smile when whisky was added to his mug. “We’re saving up enough money that we’ll get something nice for Charleston.”

“Just another year or two!” Katelyn gave a slight laugh as she leaned against her husband with an arm wrapped around his waist. “And by that point, we should be able to enjoy the new home! You know what they say about residents and long hours.”

Aaron grimaced at that. “I didn’t think anything could make me feel as tired as Day’s obnoxious practices when we reached the semi-finals, but a twenty-hour shift will do it.”

Abram perked up a little at the mention of Exy, at least until his husband gave him a ‘gentle’ kick in the right ankle. “So lots of long days, huh?” he asked as he got up to fetch a tin of biscuits to go along with the coffee, which he made sure to set close to Andrew. “I’m sure you have stories to tell, yes?”

He might not know how to deal with ‘normal’ people like Aaron and Katelyn after being raised by criminals and murderers, but he knew how to get people talking, especially after going to work for Lloyd. Especially after seeing the flashes of envy in Aaron’s eyes (an emotion so unfamiliar in Andrew’s) since picking the couple up from the airport.

It didn’t take much prodding for the two (especially Aaron) to reminisce about stories during their years as interns and residents, about the patients they’d treated while on the long training shifts and their fellow students. For a while it appeared that Aaron tried to disturb them by recounting the most gruesome stories that he could, but gave up when neither Abram nor Andrew were bothered (that and it seemed as if Katelyn did some kicking of her own).

If only Aaron had a clue what his brother had been up to the last few years, but all he’d been told was that Abram’s family was in ‘shipping and trading’ and that the two of them currently worked for the government.

Abram noticed that Andrew avoided looking at Katelyn directly when she talked, his gaze often cast at the mug held behind his hands, and figured that his husband still had some issues in regards to Aaron’s relationship. He also noticed that Aaron focused his attention on his brother rather than look at him, especially once it was clear that Abram wasn’t the ‘squeamish’ sort.

Andrew wasn’t the only one with his issues, it seemed.

Katelyn was in the middle of talking about some child who’d eaten too much raw pizza dough when her phone chimed. “Oh,” she said when she read the message. “We can check in now.”

Andrew stood up while Abram gathered the mugs. “It won’t take long to get to the hotel,” Andrew said as he walked away (probably for a cigarette before the drive into the city), and Aaron excused himself for a moment, which left Abram and Katelyn alone in the kitchen. He went to put the mugs in the dishwasher and was surprised when Katelyn came over with the tin of biscuits.

“Uhm, we really appreciate all of this,” she said in a quiet voice. “I know you don’t have to drive us around or have dinner with us and stuff, that it probably would have been enough for Andrew and Aaron to just meet up for coffee or something.” She gave Abram a wry smile when he held up one of the mugs. “He might not show it, but it means a lot to Aaron that Andrew’s willing to spend so much time with him after everything, and he’s… he’s trying, honest.”

Abram was beginning to see why Aaron had fought his brother so much (according to Nicky) for this woman, with her cheerful disposition, intelligence and obvious love for the man. “Well, he is a Minyard,” Abram said once the dishes were put away. “I know what to expect.”

She giggled a little and nodded. “Yes, and while they’re wonderful men, they’re stubborn as well. Very stubborn.”

“Ah….” Abram made a show of holding up his hands and shaking his head in a clear sign of not wanting to incriminate himself (at least, not when there was a chance of Andrew walking in at any moment).

Katelyn giggled some more and gave him a sympathetic look. “Right, not trying to get you in trouble, but I understand. I can’t always say that we’ve gotten along,” she rolled her eyes in an exaggerated manner at that, “but I’m happy that Andrew found someone.”

“Thank you.” Figuring it was best to change the subject before his husband returned, Abram motioned to the young woman’s purse. “So, there’s a couple of dinners we arranged and a friend of ours lined up a tour we think you and Aaron might enjoy, but do you want or need to do any shopping while you’re in town? Anything to take back home?” There’d been times when some friends of Nicky’s had come for a visit and needed souvenirs and the such. “I’ve a good friend who works at Harrods who can be of assistance.”

“Oh, that would be wonderful!” Katelyn beamed at the offer and went on about a shopping list she’d been given by her coworkers and her mother, as well as a couple items she’d hoped to find before she left; both Andrew and Aaron rolled their eyes as she talked while Abram sent a text to Liliya to arrange an afternoon when the two could meet up – maybe even have Nicky join in since he’d probably enjoy the excursion and got along well with Liliya.

Tension seemed to leave Andrew’s shoulders once the couple was dropped off at their hotel, and it was a quiet ride back to the townhouse. Abram made them some spiked tea and tugged Andrew out to sit by the pond, content to be alone with his husband once again. “That wasn’t too bad, was it? Katelyn seems nice.”

For once, he didn’t think the frown directed at the pond had anything to do with Andrew’s ‘dislike’ with the fish. “She’s still annoying as ever,” Andrew proclaimed before drinking his tea.

“Really?” Abram sighed as he leaned against Andrew. “How long are you going to hold this grudge? I mean, it’s just been… what, almost ten years? Something like that?” Couldn’t he just accept the poor woman already?

“Forgiven Ally for Calais yet?” Andrew asked as he stole Abram’s tea, the bastard.

“Never mind,” Abram sighed as he slumped down on the bench. “It’s going to be a few awkward dinners, how wonderful. At least I’m not driving.” He had a feeling that there would be at least a bottle or two of wine consumed at dinner.

“I put up with your insane family all the time, you can put up with Aaron and the cheerleader tramp for a few nights,” Andrew told him in that ‘agree with me or else’ tone that always made Abram want to grit his teeth.

“I don’t mind the cheerleader ‘tramp’, I just have to put up with some weird, twisted copy of you.” Abram scoffed as he thought about Aaron. “Does he really think he’s getting anywhere with those feeble scowls and insults? After I’ve lived with you this long?”

There was a slight twitch to Andrew’s full lips before he finished Abram’s tea. “It is rather amusing to see him try, isn’t it?”

“Prat,” Abram said as he rested his head on Andrew’s shoulder. “Why do I bother with you?”

“Someone has to remind you to feed the damn fish, babe.”

“More like make sure you don’t try to fry them up one day, hon.” Abram hummed in happiness as his husband tugged on a lock of his hair then closed his eyes so he could enjoy Andrew’s presence and the sound of falling water. It was quiet for at least a few minutes before Andrew tugged on his hair again, harder that time. “Ow, what?”

“Come on, it looks like it’s going to rain and I’m not about to have you get soaked then pass out on me during a mission again.”

“One time,” Abram moaned as he stood up. “One fucking time. Are you ever going to let that go, either?” he asked, even though he suspected he knew the answer already.

“No,” Andrew said in a succinct manner as he gave him a slight push toward the townhouse. “Idiot.”

Abram wondered if he could get Katelyn alone during her visit and commiserate over living with a Minyard (former Minyard, in his case, he supposed) for a good hour or two, perhaps see if she had any advice which may come in handy (other than ‘render him unconscious for a bit of peace and quiet’).

*******

[fiti-vation]

Hi! Do you have any tips on eating on a college dorm/meal plan? I’ve found myself having a lot more veggies by having salads at night, but I stopped eating fruit and usually resort to a green smoothie for breakfast and have junk food or starve during lunchtime. I also binge on chips a lot more! Thank you!

Hey there, let me start by apologizing for the super late reply. That said, before answering your question, I just wanted to let you know to always check the FAQ section of my blog or search for hashtags in the search area of my blog. Although I like to take the time to answer queries, as mentioned previously I stopped responding to questions that I have already answered.

As a university student myself, I understand the challenges of healthy eating, especially if you are on a tight budget, so over the years I have published many articles on healthy eating while at uni. If you type in recipes, healthy eating, healthy meals, nutrition or anything around those lines in the search box of my blog, many posts will come up. Here are a few examples:

 30 Ways to stay fit & healthy when you get to college 

 Smart way to eat at uni 

 33 things to eat when you have no food at home

 Easy bento box lunch for work and school 

25 15-min healthy dinner 

 30 low-calorie snacks 

5 ingredients sheet pan dinners 

 7 high protein breakfasts that aren’t eggs

 10 insanely yummy and healthy 2-ingredients recipes

 5 ways to turn Naan into dinner

 Breakfast, lunch and dinner 

 7 fast fillings for hot tacos

 16 lunchbox ideas that aren’t sandwiches

 5 simple snack boxes for busy people

 10 vegetarian lunch ideas

10 no-fridge lunchbox ideas

 10 sweet and savoury morning oatmeal

 5 bistro box lunch ideas

13 healthy lunches that aren’t salad

 Superfood breakfast

10 easy way to stuff a pita pocket 

 10 sandwich free lunches

 A month worth of school snacks

 4 yummy ways to set up your breakfast bagel

Pasta salad lunchbox

In terms of advices, I would recommend picking a day during the week specifically for meal prepping. I prefer Sunday. Of course, meal prepping isn’t for everyone, so you can always write down meal ideas for each day of the week. You can print meal plans calendars from various online templates and search easy meal prep ideas on Pinterest. Although I like to think of myself as very resourceful, I must say that I came across some very easy meal ideas on Pinterest that I had never thought of before.

Other tips:

If you live on res and don’t have access to a kitchen in your dorm, I’d recommend you make friends that have kitchens. I’m not kidding! I bet if you made a few extra goodies for them, they wouldn’t mind. You should also check out some microwave-only meals. Buzzfeed has an awesome list here.

If you can have a mini fridge in your dorm or room (if you share a fridge with lots of people in a house) DO IT. Best investment ever. You can grab one for under $60 on Amazon here.

You can do a lot with just a crock pot or Instant pot. If you don’t have access to a stove or oven, this would be an excellent investment too. Here’s a cheap crock pot (slow cooker) on Amazon. How easy would it be to throw in a bunch of ingredients and let it cook while you study or chill with friends?

Try some no-cook meals. Delish has an amazing list here! You can make these on the cheap without a kitchen.

If you use Chrome or Firefox as web browsers, you can create a cooking folder and whenever you come across great recipes save them in that folder. In a way you’ll have a lil digital cookbook.

And lastly, when you go grocery shopping here are THREE RULES FOR CHEAPER GROCERIES:

Go dry. You’ll save by choosing dry beans, rice, polenta, quinoa, and other grains — make a bunch and use it for multiple meals.

Go big. You may pay more up front for a larger container of oatmeal (store brand, natch), but the cost per ounce will be lower.

Go frozen. Not only are frozen veggies, meat, and fish perfectly healthy, but you also don’t run the risk of having them go bad.

On that note, I hope this was helpful and although I’m late I’d like to wish you success this semester. Also, finals are approaching, so best of luck.

Love Stephie 🤗

[thesustainableswap]

Plant Based Eating in Disney World.

So leading on from my last post we talked about trying to stay zero waste in Disney World and Universal and we uncovered: it’s bloomin’ hard. But how hard is it to follow a vegan or vegetarian diet in the parks and on the go? Now it’s not too hard, you’ll always find options (I’ll correct that to ‘you’ll always find one option’), they just might not be good quality. Especially if, like me, you’re used to eating organic, locally grown produce as close to the season that the food would naturally grow in (i.e endives in December!) America doesn’t have the same laws as the UK or EU when it comes to food quality but a lot of the products in Disney do boast ‘no GMO’ on their packaging which is good, as I already avoid unnecessary preservatives and chemicals in my food so I wouldn’t want to be eating anything genetically modified.

I will quickly say I was on a dining plan for my time in Disney World which means when you book the holiday you pay for your meals up front and receive credits. The amount of credits changes depending on what plan you are on. It’s a really good thing to do if you can, as it means any money you bring can be either spending money or tips for your servers. If you can’t do this and don’t have a huge amount of spending money you’ll most likely be dining at ‘quick service’ locations rather than ‘table service’ locations. If I wasn’t on the dining plan there is no way I would have been able to afford the ‘table service’ options. It’s all about weighing up what is important to you on a trip. If you’re a foodie and willing to spend the extra, try and eat at table service locations whenever possible, they are so worth it. If you’d rather spend money on souvenirs then quick service will get you through the trip, it just might not be a great time for your stomach.

In Universal breakfast was always spent at a Starbucks. While I have spoken already on how much packaging they use for their porridge (oatmeal), this meal was a really great start to the day. Oats, nuts and berries, mixed together with warm coconut milk... it was such a nice get up and go item filled with goodness. Me and my partner liked it so much that we bought a fruit and nut mix from our local bulk store to add to our porridge now. The only downside to this meal was the packaging, but porridge is always a safe, go to healthy option to give you energy in the morning. (Future Jess editing: They would only let us substitute the milk in our porridge at a Starbucks location. When we asked in Disney World at our hotel, they said no).

Moving into the parks, we had lunch one day at Krusty Burger (Krusty Land, Universal Studios) in Universal. My partner had a plant based black bean burger with avocado, tomato, lettuce, some kind of burger sauce and chips. I really wanted this option, but unfortunately avocado is a food that hates me. My face goes red and I’ll usually be sick a few minutes later. Not fun. Instead I settled with a cheese pizza, because the pizza was served on a paper plate. It was average. I would have chosen a salad but there was lots of plastic involved there. So, if you dined here I’d recommend the burger, my partner said it tasted great even if it looked a little sad.

Three much better options were found in Universal’s City Walk, and if you’re looking for good food with more choice you’ll definitely find it there. The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen was brilliant and definitely up there on my ‘highly recommend’ list. I had pasta with tomatoes and artichokes in a white wine sauce and my partner had a superfood salad (which I tried, and I was a little bit jealous that I didn’t choose it because it was not only amazing but huge). Both these were solid choices, though I think mine was only vegetarian while my partners was vegan. Our second restaurant was Hard Rock Cafe and it is a great place due to the memorabilia. I love looking around at all the instruments and costume pieces. The food here is good (I’m certain I had an impossible burger which is generally something you can’t go wrong with!), but out of this and Toothsome, the Chocolate Factory just has a bit more wow factor. For something quick, Panda Express was a winner in my book, though it is much more cafeteria style dining so don’t expect anything fancy here. Just some gooooood noodles.

Moving over to Disney World - I won’t touch on everything I ate here because this post would go on forever but I will give a shout out to the best of the best and also my least favourite item so you know what to avoid. Let’s start with my least favourite so that we can focus on the good stuff after. I ordered a rice bowl from Pecos Bill (Magic Kingdom, Frontier Land) and it was terrible. A plate of unattractive looking, definitely just-been-zapped-in-a-microwave, mushy black beans, rice and a yellow and green courgette mix appeared before me. This was the most bland thing I ate the whole holiday. If you see this in Pecos Bill, avoid avoid avoid. Especially when Pecos Bill have a really great plant based burger and super tasty trio of tacos (where you can instead ask that your three tacos be filled with cauliflower instead of meat). No to the mushy rice bowl.

Yak & Yeti (Animal Kingdom, Asia) is a definite go to spot for all veggies and vegans alike and this restaurant is amazing because not only is it a table service location, but it is also a quick service location! Expect lots of spicy noodles, perfectly cooked veg and curries. On our visit to the table service location of Yak & Yeti I ordered the Vegetable Lo Mien. It’s important to note that despite no animal products being listed in the ingredients I noticed it didn’t have the customary green leaf printed next to it (which is Disney’s way of showing you if an item is plant based.) I asked my server this and she explained that the noodles were cooked in an oyster sauce, but that it could be changed to create a vegetarian dish. She even asked whether I wanted my noodles changed from egg noodles to rice noodles so this could even be made into a vegan dish - you just have to ask. My partner ordered the Roasted Vegetable Bowl which was out of this world. It was everything I wanted the rice bowl from Pecos Bill to be and more, spicy and sweet with a ton of veggies. Yak & Yeti’s quick service menu is good too, though there is only one plant based option: a Vegetable Tikka Masala. Still, it was super tasty, so regardless of your budget Yak & Yeti is a sure place to visit.

The Brown Derby (Hollywood Studios, Hollywood Boulevard) is pricey, I’ll be honest. Saying that, this was the best table service meal of the entire holiday. Whoever the chef was who came up with the Ginger-Lemon Grass Pho has my tummy’s eternal gratitude. I’d honestly wager to say this was one of the best things I’ve eaten in my entire life. On top of that, the portion was huge. This is always a bonus for me, because sometimes vegan and vegetarian options can look a little sad, and be a little small. But my oh my this pho really packed a punch. It came with three spring rolls, and a selection of chilli’s, jalapenos and coriander so you could have some fun customising it to your tastes. If you can spare some dollars this is 100% the place to visit. Such a lovely atmosphere, and incredible food.

Finally, Docking Bay 7 (Hollywood Studios, Galaxy’s Edge) has my heart as the biggest surprise of the holiday and best quick service location. Myself and my partner loved Galaxy’s Edge and decided to see what options they had when it came to food. At first we were disappointed, because the initial quick service location we ended up in (a circular room with a fake Star Wars-esque pig being spit roasted) didn’t have a plant based option. We continued our journey expecting to be left hungry but happened upon Docking Bay 7. We checked out the menu and ordered their only plant based option - the Felucian Kefta and Hummus Garden Spread. We initially ordered one to share and after the first bite my partner went back up to the till to order himself his own portion. It was that good. We even came back a few days later to have it again. Essentially it is made up of three plant based meatballs, hummus blended with herbs, a tomato and cucumber relish and two pieces of what to me was like a thin naan bread. If you’re in Hollywood Studios and you need a quick bite to eat, this is the location for you.

A few small shout outs now: Teppan Edo in Japan serves amazing food with a show from the chef and, in general, Epcot does have some good options around their Food & Wine festival. My only niggly thing is that most plant based options at the festival were desserts. My highest festival praise goes to the booth in Africa, lowest festival praise goes to the booth in India (which surprised me as I perceive India as a country which eats lots of vegetables so, maybe the dishes decided on were not the best to reflect their country.)

Have you eaten at any of these locations in Disney World? Are there any plant based favourites of yours that you think I missed? Let me know!

Until next time,

The Sustainable Swap.

[silicabeast34-blog]

Won't soon forget | Roasted Winter Squash Soup with Curry and Coconut

Over the holidays, my brother gave me a box of family photo albums he's had since our maternal grandmother passed away in the summer of 2012. Between pages sticky with scratchy lines of yellowed glue and crackling sheets of protective plastic was a photo of grandma, younger than I can remember her, cooking with Aunty Surinder. Aunty was a close family friend, if not an actual relation.

The shot belongs with a few others in sequence. My grandfather, dressed in a pale yellow golf shirt with the collar neat, sitting with his elbows on a table, talking to a man whose back is to the camera. Another with grandma and aunty outside a small cottage, wearing sunglasses and smiling broadly at the photographer. My mother thinks the cottage must have been a rental of some sort, a forgotten holiday somewhere. Wherever it was, it looks green and temperate. And they look happy. 

That one photo has stood out to me for the last two weeks, how the highest points of their smiles are just visible, the way their attention is on the stove and to each other. The particular blue on the carton and the eggs in the pan. Friends are going to India in a few weeks, and talk of their trip has had me thinking about my childhood visits there. I've been missing my grandmother in that hollow, aching way that comes with time, especially the feel of the skin on the back of her hands, her laugh, and her way with a good scramble. That photo, among all the others, even the ones where she's fully facing the camera, shook any dust off her memory.  

Benjamin and William know of our friends travel plans, and that some others are newly engaged, and that another couple just bought a house. While the boys don't call Sean and my friends aunties and uncles, they do call them mister and miss. So it's Mister Jason, for example — I can't get past my upbringing of children not calling adults by their first names alone. What's more, in the naming of their misters and misses in the world, I hope the boys feel they've claimed the adults that are theirs, besides just Sean and I, our parents, and their aunts and uncles by blood. 

For the last little while, William has held the firm belief that yellow soups are his favourite. I often make ones with squash or carrots, garlic, ginger, and cilantro, then chilies and coconut to take us somewhere in the area of Thailand, if not quite there. After last week's successful khao soi/squash experiment, I continued the streak with this Indian curried one.

Molly wrote about this soup more than two years ago; it is as simple as you'd want yet so bang-on exactly what it needs to be. The oomph comes from curry powder (honestly, I keep curry powder in the house for the aforementioned khao soi, mum's dry fried noodles, and this soup), but then its made all the  more interesting by a partnership with maple syrup (!) and fish sauce. The maple syrup, and grade B is really the way to go here, has a darkness that is brought out by the savouriness of the fish sauce, so its sweetness melts into the background. Lime juice and Sriracha further sharpens the focus right at the front. It is the type of soup you make with such regularity that you take for granted how good it is. Which I totally did, until I was texting about it Sunday night. I'm glad I remembered. I won't soon forget. 

(ROASTED) WINTER SQUASH SOUP WITH CURRY AND COCONUT MILK

I like this soup with accompanied by a little bulk — a rag of griddled naan, a mound of brown rice or crisped quinoa in the bottom of the bowl. Or, as shown, with chubby cubes of firm tofu slathered in the same flavours as the soup (maple, Sriracha, fish sauce) then bronzed in a hot skillet until leathery-edged. I had the last of some cooked lentils knocking about, so stirred them through with yogurt, cilantro, mustard sprouts and a pinch of Kashmiri chile powder, then spooned them over the tofu for another collection of textures. Cashews worked over in a mortar and pestle would also be nice. 

The method for the soup was barely changed by me in roasting the squash first, but everything else is an adaption by Molly Wizenberg from a recipe in Better Homes and Gardens via Lisa Moussalli's own adaptation. I agree with Molly in that butternut is the best squash for the task, but red hubbard and butterkin aren't bad. Acorn makes the soup a bit more khaki and it somehow tastes it, too. The ace method for roasting squash entirely from Molly Hays at Remedial Eating. The squash is roasted whole — no peeling! No hacking! No scraping of seeds still stubborn! Wins all around! — then split once soft enough to do so without resistance. It is brilliant.

INGREDIENTS

 1 winter squash (about 2 pounds / 500 g)

2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil

 1 medium or large yellow onion, chopped

 3 or 4 large garlic cloves, minced

 1 tablespoon curry powder

 1 (14-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk

 2 cups (475 ml) chicken or vegetable broth

 1 tablespoon maple syrup

 1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce

 1 teaspoon Sriracha or other Asian chile sauce

 Juicy wedges of lime, for serving

METHOD

Preheat an oven to 400°F. Place a whole winter squash on a rimmed, parchment-lined baking sheet (see note, below). Bake the squash until tender enough to be pierced deeply with the tip of a knife with only modest resistance, about 30 minutes. Carefully split the squash down its length, being careful of the steam. Flip the squash facedown on the pan and pop back into the oven for 15 to 20 minutes more until squash tender but still firm. Turn the squash so their faces are now upturned, and roast for 10 minutes more. Set aside until the squash are cool enough to handle. 

Meanwhile, warm the olive oil in a 4 to 6-quart Dutch oven set over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until they are softened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for a minute or 2 more. Sprinkle in the curry powder, and stir around for 1 minute. Pour in the coconut milk and scrape any stuck bits from the bottom of the pan. If using an upright blender, transfer onions and coconut milk to its carafe, along with the broth. Scrape the seeds out of the squash and discard, then spoon the flesh into the blender as well. Purée until smooth and velvety (alternatively, do all of this in the pot with an immersion blender). Pour the soup back into the pot, stir in the maple syrup, fish sauce, and Sriracha, and check for seasoning. Bring the soup back up to a simmer, then serve with fresh lime wedges alongside for squeezing on top. 

NOTES:

When I roast winter squash this way I tend to do a whole bunch all at once — basically however much my oven can hold. This way it justifies turning the oven on, and then I'm set for soup (or whatever use you might have for roasted squash) for the week. 

Newer:Things line up | Chinese-inspired chicken noodle soupOlder:A mashup

Source: http://sevenspoons.net/blog/2016/1/5/wont-soon-forget

[patialakitchen]

Most Popular Paneer Dishes at patiala kkitchen, You Must Try Today!

Whenever we hear the word ‘Paneer’, our mouth eventually becomes mouth-watering, and we start visualising our favourite pick from the special paneer dishes. Many Indians have the next level of nostalgia linked with Paneer and its variety of dishes. Also, being a versatile dairy product, one can enjoy eating it in plenty of ways and with a variety of food items.

If you are a lover of Paneer dishes, then here is some good news for you. In The Patiala Kitchen, Paneer and its recipes are available in a variety of ways. Moreover, the additional Indian species make the special paneer dishes of The Patiala House even more special. Whatever the occasion is, or with whomever, you visit The Patiala Kitchen, the following are some special paneer dishes in noida you should surely try.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Kadai Paneer

Paneer Makhani

Paneer Butter Masala

List of Special Paneer Dishes At The Patiala Kitchen

1) Kadai Paneer

Kadai Paneer is one of the favourite paneer recipes from the special paneer dishes we enjoy a lot with our family and friends. Even in marriages, or on any other special occasions, it is one of the best dishes to eat to our potential. At The Patiala Kitchen, the Kadhai Paneer consists of cottage cheese, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Additionally, the coriander seeds draped in the creamy tomato gravy enhance its yummy taste. It is also among the must-have dishes at The Patiala Kitchen to make your day.

2) Paneer Makhani

Paneer Makhani is one of the special paneer dishes, especially north-Indian foodies can relate to the most. The delicious taste and buttery taste of Classic Paneer Makhani are unforgettable. The best combo to try Paneer Makhani is Tandoori Roti, Rumali Roti, and Naan. You can enjoy a great time having Paneer Makhani with any of these main course food items. Moreover, even after having sufficient food at The Patiala Kitchen, it is one of the delectable recipes you will not give up eating. Even without any combo, you can just enjoy it with your spoon and get lost in the classic time of eating Classic Paneer Makhani.

3) Paneer Butter Masala

Along with the Kadai Paneer, the Paneer Butter Masala is also one of the favourite special paneer dishes in India. This recipe from the special paneer dishes comprises a few common ingredients of some of the above yummy dishes. The combo of butter and paneer gives an exceptional taste. Moreover, it tastes way yummier if we add some masala (gravy/ mixture of spices) into it. you can ordered family restaurants in noida at patiala kitchen..

The Paneer Butter Masala at The Patiala Kitchen comprises cottage cheese cooked along with finely chopped onions, tomato, and some Indian spices. It is one of the versatile special paneer dishes you can eat with anything. Be it naan, tandoori, plain rice, fried rice, or any other main course dish. It is compatible with anything without compromising its delectable taste.

BOTTOMLINE

These were the top five special paneer dishes that you make for your day. As already said, you should try these special paneer dishes irrespective of the occasion of the day. These are some great paneer recipes that will elevate your mood and make your day. birthday party restaurants in noida. Thus, whenever you visit The Patiala Kitchen, you must try out these best picks.

[slimquick1]

TRAVEL DIET: HERE’S HOW YOU CAN STAY HEALTHY WHILE TRAVELLING!

There’s nothing like going on a fantastic vacation and feeling like you are on top of the world. But what happens when you come back and feel bloated from overeating or eating something unhealthy? While there are a lot of travel food ideas, right from famous eateries to finding road trip food on a budget, choosing healthy food on the go is essential. Finding the proper meals for your next trip shouldn’t be difficult, and we at SlimQuick make it simple as ever. Our calorie-counted, portion-controlled and ready to meals are here to save you from unhealthy food on your next trip. Why You Should Avoid Unhealthy Food When You Travel

While we travel, we often look for the most convenient options for a quick snack or a meal. However, these options often contain unhealthy food choices, and may not be a good option. After you fill up on soft drinks, burgers, pizza and fried refreshments, you might end up feeling lethargic, bloated and drowsy during and after the trip.

Here are a few reasons why you should absolutely avoid eating unhealthy food while you travel:

Ignored Cleanliness: The key reason to avoid convenient food options while on a trip is lousy hygiene and unclean cooking environments. Many eateries often ignore hygienic cooking conditions, which can cause diseases, especially bloating and an upset stomach.

Weight Gain: Another key factor to avoid greasy and fast food while on a trip is weight gain. Frequent consumption of fast food will increase your calorie intake, and in turn, increase your weight, leaving you a few kilos heavier at the end of the trip.

Acne: You might not know this, but constant consumption of unhealthy food can cause acne and impact your skin health. The oils used in cooking fast food often affect the hormone levels in the skin and cause acne.

The best way to avoid eating unhealthy food on your trip is to take balanced diet options with you. SlimQuick’s calorie-counted diet box acts as your ideal trip partner, with rich Indian cuisine filled with protein, fibre and other nutrients.

HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP A HEALTHY DIET ON YOUR NEXT TRIP

Here are certain benefits of eating healthy food while travelling:

Keep Your Weight In Check: Eating healthy meals while travelling can help you keep your weight in check, as convenient fast foods add a lot of calories. Fast foods often contain extra oil, fats, and can increase your weight when eaten frequently.

Prevents Travel Infections: While travelling, we are prone to stomach ailments, mainly from having unhygienic road trip food. If you eat healthy travel food, you can avoid these bugs and stay safe.

Reduces Mental Stress: Travel stress is real, and healthy food can help you stay calm. When you eat food that is a good source of energy and nutrients, your body reduces anxiety and helps you stay calm.

SlimQuick brings you tasty and healthy travel food that is calorie-counted, portion-controlled and filled with the goodness of nutrients. We offer a wide variety of ready to eat non-perishable road trip food that helps you stay fit while travelling. Choose from an extensive Indian cuisine and satisfy your travel cravings with SlimQuick.

TOP 10 HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS TO REMEMBER WHILE TRAVELLING

When you are going for a trip next time, make sure you pack these ten healthy food options to stay healthy and fit while travelling.

Muesli: Muesli is the perfect healthy breakfast, as it is an excellent source of protein, fibre and other essential vitamins & minerals. Museli is the ideal healthy breakfast and can improve cognitive function, boost your heart health, and increase energy levels. You can easily get ready to eat packs of muesli, which come in a lot of flavours, so you need not settle for the basics. SlimQuick’s crunchy honey muesli is your ideal travel partner with its high nutrition value and rich taste.

Quinoa: Quinoa is a highly healthy snack and is very nutritious. Considered one of the top diet snacks, it contains fibre, magnesium, B vitamins, iron, and various beneficial antioxidants. Quinoa has emerged as a healthy alternative, and many travellers now prefer it as an alternative to rice as well. It is the ideal snack for your trip, as it is easy to transport and will help you feel fuller rather than bloated. Try SmilQuick’s Quinoa Peri-Peri that has the perfect mix of taste and health, on your next trip,

Soup: Soup has always been an inexpensive and healthy food option for many, especially travellers. While making soup from scratch is difficult while on vacation, ready to eat soups are a godsend while travelling. Soups are also loved by travellers as they are an inexpensive food option, helping them stay full and hydrated, while they can taste a lot of flavours. Moreover, soups are proven immunity boosters, keeping you healthy on your trip. You can try out SlimQuick's range of soups that are packed safely with advanced technology, that keeps the taste and aroma packed while you travel and keeps the soup fresh for a prolonged period.

Roasted Chana: Roasted chana has been a go-to diet snack for many decades now. It is convenient, easy on the pocket and loaded with nutrients. Black legumes, also known as ‘chana’, are an excellent source of protein, fibre and carbohydrates. They also contain vitamins, iron, magnesium and many other minerals. This healthy snack boosts the immune system and promotes muscle mass. Travellers often find this snack on roadside eateries, which are packed with flavours, but often lack hygienic preparation. SlimQuick’s roasted Chana Jor Garam blends in the goodness of chana while bringing out the taste of the Indian streets while being completely hygienic.

Milkshakes: If you have a sweet tooth, then milkshakes are the ideal travel buddies for you. They bring in the goodness of milk, which is rich in protein, calcium, and healthy carbohydrates. Moreover, you can get milkshakes with a large variety of flavours, including butterscotch, chocolate, peanut butter, and a lot more. The milkshakes come in easy to store and consume packs, making it the perfect travel beverage. SlimQuick’s impressive line of milkshakes is here to help you find the ever-impressive flavourful taste while you travel, without worrying about the calories.

Indian Cuisine: Indian cuisine is known for its rich flavour worldwide, but it also holds key vitamins & minerals that are perfect for a healthy lunch or dinner. With delicacies such as dal, rajma, saag, choley and sambar, you can never go wrong. While the Indian cuisine is hard to manage while travelling, SlimQuick’s ready to eat and carefully crafted packs makes it a perfect travel pack. Just heat and eat, and you are done. Pair it with chapati or naan, and you have a healthy Indian lunch or dinner prepared in minutes.

Fresh Fruits: Fresh fruits are highly potable and high nutritious, making them a perfect choice for a healthy travel snack. When you are on the road, munch on healthy fruits as they are filled with essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals, and provide a feeling of being full that helps you control the calorie intake. They even keep your stomach healthy and keep it from getting bloated due to inactivity. If you are on a short trip, keep fruits handy when you begin your journey, or even try to go for dried fruits. However, if you are on a long trip, try to source fresh fruits every day.

Nuts: Nuts have multiple health benefits and a high concentration of protein, healthy fats, and fibre. What makes them the perfect travel snacking partner is the ease of availability and portability. Nuts don’t go bad quickly and can be consumed at your convenience. Nuts even aid in weight loss, making them an even healthier snack. Some of the top nuts include walnuts, almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, and pistachios.

Sandwiches: Sandwiches are a reliable snack when it comes to travelling. Whether you are travelling on the road or are taking the air, sandwiches can be a part of your journey to satisfy your hunger while keeping you healthy. However, it is essential to note that all toppings and sauces are not made to sustain changeable weather and long journeys. Therefore, while you build yourself a healthy snack filled with veggies and your favourite seasonings, make sure you read the instructions clearly. For example, a cheese and pickle sandwich travels well and doesn’t lose its taste and aroma quickly.

Trail Mix: While we have discussed nuts above, trail mix, too, is a great travel partner for people looking to have a healthy snack. It was initially developed for hikers and generally contains granola, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Many trail mixes also have additional sweeteners, such as honey or syrup. Trail mix is a healthy snack rich in protein and ideal for convenient snacking. It contains heart-healthy fats that keep you active while you travel, rather than making you feel lethargic. However, make sure you choose the trail mix that doesn’t have a high sugar volume, as it can be bad for the teeth and heart.

READY TO EAT FOOD COMES TO THE RESCUE

Unlike popular belief, ready to eat meals are healthy and have now become the norm around the world. They have now become a convenient solution for many people, as it removes the hassle of cooking and provides the taste you so desire. Moreover, with new technologies in place, food is now prepared by providing extensive heat for a short time, locking in the aroma and taste. This food is then packed with special machinery to keep it fresh for a long time. In to do, ready to eat food is easily accessible, incredibly convenient, time-saving, and safe to use.

SlimQuick’s bring you the best ready to eat meals for a healthy breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. Get portion-controlled and calorie-counted ready to eat Indian food for travel with SlimQuick.

[billusindianeatery]

Indian food is prepared with the help of fresh ingredients by adding dried spices. Moreover, we know it is one of the most diverse foods in the whole world. From East to West, north to south, there is an incredible wealth of flavor available across the region of India. Do you ever taste South Indian food? If not then you must try it if you love to eat spicy food. Our chef uses coconut milk rather than any milk products for the preparation of the cuisine.

There is a variety of food available in the southern regions that favor lentils and rice over roti or naan. Also, we provide more fish and vegetarian options rather than heavy-meat northern menus. We also serve hot dosas with chutneys and lentil soups, deep-fried doughnuts with herbs, and fragrant curries made with fresh fish. All this iconic cuisine of South India is very popular all over the world especially around Harris Park, Parramatta which is home to Sydney’s best Indian eateries. We have mentioned our top 5 south Indian dishes that are the best of Billu’s

1. Vada Sambhar- $ 10.90

Are you thinking of getting the comfort food then you must pay your visit to the Billu’s. Among the many South Indian delights, we are famous for serving the best Vada Sambhar. It comprises two spit black lentil doughnuts that are infused with fragrant spices and herbs that are further deep-fried to golden brown perfection.

Billu’s Indian Eatery is the perfect spot for plant-based foodies looking for a good feed. We deliver authentic Indian food to our customers with coconut chutneys and tomato chutney.

2. Chicken Madras — $20.90

Are you looking for hot, hot curries then you can get them from our best Indian restaurant in Harris Park that is serving the best chicken madras. At our restaurant, most of the Indian cricket team has come to eat when they are in Australia. We have taken the name from the capital city of Tamil Nadu. No doubt we also provide a fine lamb version as well.

3. South Indian Thali — $ 19.90

Most of our customers can’t settle to one dish so they order the Thali which is the best way to taste all the dishes in small portion. This is a feast for one (or two or three) crowded with a myriad of mini dishes. We serve the Best Thali in Sydney.

At Billu’s Indian Eatery, you will get Chef’s choice of Veg curries + Sambhar (lentil soup) + 2 Puri + Rasam Raita (yogurt seasoned with herbs and spices) + Salad + Rice with Pickle & a Sweet. Even we have north Indian style Thali too along with non-veg Thali for non-vegetarians.

4. Masala Dosa — $ 13.90

Of the many dishes that are born from the southern region of India, it might be the Masala Dosa. We serve the best masala dosa in and around the Parramatta.

Our chef’s secret to success is his dedication to preparing every dosa to order, from scratch. Also, they take their time and spend more than half an hour on the batch of fresh, piping hot pancakes that are made from a moreish mix of potato and rice further served with coconut chutney and sambhar.

5. Goan Fish Curry — $ 22.90

Goan fish curry is taken from the south Indian coast, Goa which is famous for its sandy beaches, magnificent architecture, and exotic dishes that are influenced by Portuguese cuisine. You will get the best Goan Fish curry from us who immersed in Coconut milk and flavored with mustard leaves. Our chef put the ingredient that gives the dish its zing is kokum that is a sour butter made from the seeds of the kokum tree that is only grown in Indian tropics.

#Indianrestaurantsinsydney #BestIndianrestaurantinsydney #BestIndianrestaurantinparramatta #BestIndianrestaurantinharrispark #Indianstreetfood #Restaurantsinharrispark #BestthaliinSydney #BestrestaurantinHarrisPark #CheapIndianrestaurant

[mhotel]

Best Restaurant in Madurai

Traditional North Indian Cuisine

India may be a vast country and residential to a various range of cuisine. North Indian food is way different from Northeastern Indian food or South Indian food, and if you get even more specific, each region is legendary for individual dishes.

After visiting a couple of the main cities within the North of India, and dining on much local food, I'll attempt to cover a couple of the overall things that I noticed distinctly about North Indian cuisine.

North Indian food is usually what many of us would consider as just Indian food.

It's the North Indian curries that are often found outside of India in Western restaurants (but do not forget about South Indian food either – it's equally as delicious, but different).

Within North India, you will find everything from street stalls to high-end restaurants like Bukhara same delicious taste given by Madurai Moskva Hotel called as Arbatskaya Restaurant, all serving classic North Indian fare.

Conventional cooking methods include deep frying for several of the snacks, grilling or roasting for meat, and slow simmer stewing for all kinds of curries.

As soon as you arrive in India and begin eating, you'll notice that there is tons of vegetarian food and restaurants available.

If you're vegetarian, you'll enjoy the variability of tasty pure-veg dishes, and if you are a meat-eater, you'll never be far away from outstanding meat either!

While rice is that the ultimate staple in much of the South portion of India, within the North, while rice is usually available, a meal isn't complete without bread.

Tandoori roti, chapati, naan, and lots of other sorts of flatbreads are extremely popular and vital for all North Indian meals.

Bread is employed because the main filler and as an excellent thanks to scoop sauces.

Dal, or lentils, is altogether one amongst the essential foods in all of India.

North Indian sorts of dal curry are usually a touch thicker and richer than South Indian variations. It isn't uncommon for somebody to only eat dal and bread for a meal.

For more substantial main dishes, a diversity of curries and barbecue meats are always available.

Chicken, beef, mutton, and eggs are all stewed in many spices and ghee (clarified butter).

The thick, rich sauces are truly marvelous.

North India is additionally extremely famous for its barbecued meats.

Tandoori chicken, chicken that's been marinated in spices and yogurt then roasted during a clay oven referred to as a tandoor, is one among the foremost famous.

Common vegetables include potatoes, peas, okra, onions, carrots, and every one kind of beans.

Green leafy vegetables aren't all that common, but some vegetables go well in curries.

Dairy plays an enormous role in North Indian food.

Paneer, a hearty cheese, is one among the foremost popular main ingredients, especially for people who are vegetarian and wish protein.

Thick full-fat yogurt is heavily utilized in snacks referred to as chaats, and is also often served alongside any normal thali (a fixed meal including a spread of dishes and starch).

Milk and products of milk form the inspiration of the many of the North Indian sweet desserts also.

Chickpeas are curried in many spices and dished up with chilies and onions, and garnished with cilantro.

It's available everywhere the streets of Delhi and typically eaten alongside a couple of freshly grilled chapattis.

North Indian food may be a joy to eat; it’s rich, extremely satisfying, and packed filled with spicy flavor!

[theblessed-unrest]

Vegetarian Recipes I 💖

I’m starting a new thread for #Gabcooks because during my 6-month exchange in Vancouver, I’ve developed a passion for food and appreciation beyond simply the end product on my plate. There’s just something about being in the fields, plucking out fruit from the land, food compost being a common sight and feeling the vulnerability and fragility of fresh produce that makes you want to whip up the best meals you can with what you have and to demand the same from places you dine at. It makes me think, perhaps this is why there is a dearth of excellent, world-class food places in Singapore, apart from hawker food - where then again, the best places are usually run by older folks (who I hypothesise had more interaction with their food before they were turned into food?) Millennials these days keep opening cafes with eye-roll inducing, run-off-the-mill menus. (Did someone say avocado toast with eggs benedict? I swear, if someone says describes a cafe as “insta-worthy” again I will wring them dry...)

Food security is something many developed countries have began to take for granted and you can see this from the amount of food wasted in these countries. Research by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has shown that food waste by consumers is more common in high-income countries (FAO, 2019). Especially in urbanised settings like Singapore (which generated 763,100 tonnes of food waste in 2018), where many have not even stepped into a farm their entire lives, Wendell Berry’s word never rang truer. He writes that “cultural amnesia” regarding the origins of our food is rampant. Not only does food waste have negative environmental impacts (GHGs, carbon/land/water footprints), but it just seems like a really dumb problem to have by virtue of how easy the solution is: basically to estimate rightly and buy the right amount of food you need. Everyone benefits because you save money while not having to go out of your way to save the environment.

Regarding this point, I found the figures interesting for the main food groups and their associated contribution to carbon/land/water footprints. In this regard, all food groups (not just meat and animal products!) can equally contribute to food waste, so this applies to even vegans/vegetarians. The bottomline is, no matter what you eat, don’t waste it.

(Source: FAO, 2019)

But cutting out food waste is just one part of the equation. We need to do more.

I can’t commit to veganism just yet, but here’s my hot take: I think the world will benefit with majority of people incorporating more eco-friendly and zero waste lifestyle habits (imperfectly) rather than a few people practicing through and through veganism. So I guess I am a “Reducetarian” in a sense. Multiple resources have pointed to reduction of meat intake as the essential to avoiding a climate crisis, with a recent study by Oxford showing that just going vegan for two-thirds of your meals can cut down food-related GHG emissions by 60%! And of course, eating less red meat is good for your health.

As for me, apart from when I’m out with my friends or eating what my mum/helper cooks at home, I will try to get vegetarian food for myself (usually at a mixed rice store). Quoting Wendell Berry again, I too believe that “eating is an agricultural act” and a critical way we can take action to fight climate change (since eating is something we inevitably do every few hours each day).

Many of my friends didn’t believe I could survive on a vegetarian diet on the weekdays when I was in Vancouver, and ask me what I eat then: beans??? (Short answer: no, I believe only 10% of my diet were beans as seen below) So here are some recipes to start with that can help you transition into a plant-based diet while proving that you don’t necessarily sacrifice taste! (Another hot take: thinking that steak belongs in “fancy meal” category and a proof of culinary prowess is the lack of one’s imagination. Any fool, including this writer, can cook a good steak at home after a few tries.)

Recipes

(Source: Bon Appetit)

1. Parmesan-Roasted Cauliflower

I let my family and some friends try this for the first time when I came back and everyone had second/third/fourth helpings... I don’t know how to describe roasted cauliflowers apart from “life-changing”. You’ll never stir fry your cauliflowers again.

(Source: Bon Appetit)

2. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Lots of Kale

Super easy weeknight meal to make. Just remember not to hold back on the salt.

(Source: Bon Appetit)

3. Zucchini-Herb Fritters with Garlic Yoghurt

“It tastes like meat!” I rest my case. I had them with cold soba, sautéed swiss chard, julienned cucumber and occasionally, a poached egg. (Also, the garlic yoghurt dip is SO GOOD. I introduced my family to it recently and we’ve been making a new batch every week since.) 

4. Wholesome Burrito Bowl

Inspired by a time where my roommate and I paid close to $10 for a burrito bowl in school. Never again. Also if you’re not sold yet, it has guac (!!)

(Source: My Gluten Free Guide)

5. Cheesy Potato Rosti 

For 2 servings

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

2 peeled potatoes (I used russets because they were on sale when I made this)

1 tbs olive oil

Salt and pepper

Lemon wedges (squeezed for serving)

Optional: garlic yoghurt (refer to BA’s Zucchini Fritters recipe)

Method:

1) Grate potatoes.

2) Take handfuls of your grated potato and squeeze it out over the sink to remove as much liquid as possible. (Life hack: put it in the fridge while you go and busy yourself with other things for half an hour or so to get it real dehydrated)

3) Heat oil in large frying pan over high heat. Season potato with salt and pepper and place half in pan, distributing it evenly to form a large circle. Press t down with the back of a spatula. Cook for 2 minutes, then turn down the heat to medium and cook for a further 3 minutes.

4) Place a plate upside down on top of the potato and carefully flip the frying pan so that the fried side of the rosti is facing upwards on the plate. Gently slide back into the pan and continue cooking for another 4-5 minutes, turning up the heat for the last minute or so to crisp up the base. Remove from pan. Repeat with remaining potato.

*Notes: You can add on whatever other ingredients you want! I recommend onions and mushrooms. They probably go well with poached eggs and other sautéed vegetables as well.

6. Baked Patatas Bravas with Egg

Inspired after having it at Como Taperia :’-) Make sure to watch the eggs!

7. Chana Masala

Seriously, the secret to good vegetarian food is the spices!! Great with naan.

8. Zucchini Loaf

Zucchini again?? Yes, I somehow managed to procure a hugeass zucchini. Story for another day. Basically kind of like a carrot cake situation but moister because zucchinis have higher water content.

(Source: Epicurious)

9. Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta

Super easy, tasty and fast dinner to whip up (without even having to crack open a jar of pasta sauce!)

10. Crispy Black Bean Tacos with Avocado and Feta

Another really fast, easy and satisfying meal to make. Especially if you have a masher. I use a fork :’’-) 

11. Grilled Cheese Sourdough with Caramelised Onions and Scrambled Eggs

I had a phase (during finals) where I was basically exhausting all the possible permutations and combinations of meals you could make from sourdough, cheese and eggs. It was kind of a eureka moment when I thought of adding caramelised onions into your classic grilled cheese sandwich.

For 1 serving

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 35 mins

Ingredients:

1 small onion, or half if large (chopped)

1 tablespoon unsalted butter (softened)

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon sherry vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)

2 slices of sourdough (or any other bread of choice)

2 slices of cheddar (I mixed in some shredded parmesan as well)

1 large egg

Salt and pepper

Method:

1) Heat half tablespoon of unsalted butter in a large pan over medium heat. When butter is melted, add onions in and cook, stirring occasionally, until dark brown and caramelized, about 15 minutes. Add the vinegar, sugar and 2 tablespoons water, scrapping up any dark bits that have accumulated on the bottom of the pan. Continue to cook until all the liquid has evaporated. Transfer the onions to a bowl.

2) Butter 1 side of each bread slice. Lay 1 slice butter-side down onto pan on medium heat. Top with 1 slices of cheddar, parmesan, a dollop of the onions and 1 more slice of cheddar. Top with another slice of bread, butter-side up.

3) Cook until the cheese begins to melt and the bread is golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Flip and continue to cook until golden brown and the cheese is melted through, 2 to 4 minutes. Cut in half.

4) Crack egg into a medium bowl. Add salt and pepper. Whip eggs until completely homogenous and pale yellow in colour, about 30 seconds. Heat butter on pan over medium-low heat. (Can skip this step if your pan is non-stick) Add eggs and cook, undisturbed, until a thin layer of cooked egg appears around the edge of the skillet. Using a spatula and broad sweeping motions, push eggs all the way around the circumference of the skillet, then across the bottom. Continue to push eggs around and across skillet until fluffy and barely set, about 2 minutes; they should still look runny on top. Sprinkle with more pepper if desired. Serve immediately with grilled cheese sandwich.

(Source: Bon Appetit)

12. Spicy Kimchi Tofu Stew

A winter essential. Really comforting to have with rice. 

13. Crispy Maple-Soy Glazed Tofu with Soba & Kimchi

A product of making do with whatever I had in the kitchen. Followed this recipe for the crispy maple-soy glazed tofu. Served it with chilled soba and kimchi straight from the fridge, topped with chopped green onions. Flavours actually went really well together. 

14. Pumpkin Soup with Cheesy Garlic Bread

A fall essential. Made the cheesy garlic bread from scratch with sourdough, olive oil, minced garlic, green onions and shredded parmesan cheese.

15. Cream of Mushroom Soup with Cheesy Garlic Bread

It was a phase of soup + cheesy garlic bread. I can’t find the recipe I used though... But here’s Bon Appetit’s recipe.

16. Barlett Pear and Goat Cheese Toast

With some chopped roasted almonds and a drizzle of maple syrup, it’s a taste bomb.

17. Cheese-Stuffed Bell Peppers

Great finger food for a party!

18. Baked Eggs with Mushrooms, Cherry tomatoes and Spinach + Toast

Zero cooking needed. Just chop up the ingredients and stick them in the oven (together with some slices of bread for maximum efficiency). Great for lazy dinners or a late night snack.

(Source: Bon Appetit)

19. Pumpkin Loaf with Salted Maple Butter

Loaves are my favourite thing to bake now. I love the flavours in this one - it has fresh ginger!! There’s also very little effort required for maximal output. I can have them for breakfast, snacks and dessert. And they freeze well so future you will thank you too.

[eveninginindia-blog]

Get Indian Food In South Brisbane And Enjoy Its Health Benefits

Indian food is different from other food as it is made by a lot of healthy spices by using traditional recipes. There are a lot of dishes, spices and variety available in Indian food, that vary from state to state. Indian food is healthy in its own way, as there are a lot of herbs and spices are used while making Indian dishes that are really good for health and also used to make some Ayurvedic medicines. Due to the health benefits of herbs that are used in Indian food, it makes the immune system strong as well as supports inflammation, brain and other functions of the human body.

There are a lot of Indian restaurants in the market where you can even taste a bit flavour of Indian cuisine, but If you really want to taste the authentic food of India, then you can visit Evening In India Indian restaurant situated in South Brisbane. Evening In India restaurant comes under one of the most highly reputed restaurants in South Brisbane. If you are looking for the finest quality, healthy and traditional Indian cuisine, with flawless service and the great ambience, visit Evening In India restaurant with your family, friends and loved ones and enjoy the fresh and colourful dishes made by the best team of expert Indian chefs under the command of the owner-head chef using traditional Indian recipes, delicately spiced, to intoxicate the taste buds. 

There are a lot of health benefits of Indian Food due to the presence of herbs in spices in it that makes the food tasty and healthy. Some of the health benefits are:

High in a wide variety of vegetables and fruit, such as spinach, eggplant and mango

High in a variety of spices and herbs, such as ginger, turmeric and coriander

Low in saturated fat

Protects heart health

Supports the improving of the digestive system

Boosts metabolism

Improves the healing process

Promotes the health of bones and teeth

Treats menstrual pains

Reduces the risk of cancer

Evening In India provides the finest quality, healthy and traditional Indian cuisine, with flawless service and the ambience. You can order your food according to your taste like sweet, medium, spicy, super hot etc. We offer a variety of Indian dishes such as Butter Chicken, curries, Naan, Biryani, Lamb Rogan Josh, Veg & Non-Veg Tikka etc. and Indian Desserts including Ras malai, Kulfi, Cakes and Gulaab jamun.

Everybody probably wants to have a fresh and healthy meal full of taste and flavours, Evening In India serves the best Indian food at the restaurant. You can eat the food at the restaurant or you can order the food to taking away, we offer group bookings as well as you can split the bill among friends. We provide car parking at the rear and basement so you can enjoy the food without worrying about your vehicle. 

Our expert chefs work under the command of the owner-head chef and dedicated to providing you with a healthy and fresh meal according to your taste. You can enjoy Beverages, Starters (Samosa, Pakora, Cutlets, Paneer Tikka and kebabs), Rice (Biryani), Tandoori delights and Indian Bread ( Roti, Naan, paratha etc.). 

It is really difficult to find a perfect authentic food that matches your taste especially when you are staying out of your country. you can find many restaurants and cafes that serve your type of food but sometimes no one could give you the flavours exactly what you are looking for. Evening In India restaurant serves healthy and quality Indian food in South Brisbane. Where one can actually taste exquisite aromatic flavours of India.

[thehungrythinker-blog]

Food Before Humans

Preface: This essay/study/thought was presented me as my final assignment for graduating with my associates degree in culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University. I beg this piece inspires you to think of where regional food and cuisine truly comes from. 

I find myself for the first time being told to stick to a specified region of cuisine. I don’t follow suit well in any aspect of life, much less cooking. Which perhaps isn’t the best, considering I have years of practice before I master the ‘now’ of cooking. If I had the knowledge and tech of today, but only the animals/produce/spices/herbs of indigenous India, what would I do? What would I make? If I ignored religious restrictions and the impact of traditional Indian dishes, how would it change what I create? And I think of India, because I believe it to be, in its modern state, a hodgepodge of a million different timelines. It is history in the flesh, written into the food and etched along its people’s interactions.

To Illustrate, there are parts of India still stuck in slavery. In the year 2016 there were 18.3 million people living in modern slavery in India. For the majority of the US, slavery is something only taught out of history books. The type of poverty India sees is almost unfathomable to us. Infant mortality rates in India are 40:1000 live births. In America, we assume our child makes it into adulthood, and even our homeless have access to clean drinking water. 12.5% of the Indian population has no access to clean drinking water. To put it in perspective that’s roughly 163 million people, or 1,690 Flint Michigan’s.

But, there are also centers of great wealth and technological advancement in India. Take Bollywood for example, Shah Rukh Kahn, Bollywood’s richest actor’s net worth is $600 million, that’s $30 million more than Hollywood’s Tom Cruise, who’s net worth is $570 million. In America the top 1% earners own 40% of the nation’s wealth, but in India the top 1% owns approximately 73% of the country’s wealth. Being born and raised as a privileged-white American, it is almost impossible to imagine living in a world like India.

There are polarities greater than the ones in our own backyard, more war than we’d see in a lifetime, drought & famine, natural disasters, and cruel government. And all of this, is a screenshot of what built Indian cuisine. That timeline is what makes Indian cuisine. That timeline is what made India vastly vegetarian, the biggest supplier of spice in the world. That timeline introduces potato and mustard to Indian cuisine and builds ground for curries, naan, vindaloo, and tandoori. And what if we ignored all that? What would India be, then? Without the history & religions, and cultures & beliefs, what would India be? Without trade routes, and slavery, and British rule, what would India be? What is left of India, then?

All that would remain is the natural environment. Just the land and its garnishes. The animals, and plants, herbs and spices. So what are they?

     anise

     areca nuts

     fennel

     bananas & plantains

     cinnamon

     cloves

     coconuts

     cucumbers

     coriander

     eggplants

     grapefruit

     mangoes & mangosteens

     melons

     millets

     nutmeg and mace

     okra

     pears

     plums

     rice

     sugarcane

     taro

     tea

     turmeric

     yams

The first domesticated animals in India include; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goat, pig (rarely eaten in India due to the Islamic and Hindu/Buddhist religion), horse and donkey. As far as fish go, the Arabian Sea is responsible for tuna, sardine and billfish. What’s left of India after you remove the people and their history and their cultures, is this grocery list of uninspired ingredients. What makes Indian cuisine, Indian cuisine is the innovation of these ingredients and the history and culture that molds them into staples over centuries of slow and steady evolution. It isn’t just recipes handed down from generation to generation. These dishes were made on the backs of slaves and heavily impoverished citizens. So where does the cuisine go next? How does it evolve from here? As the rich get richer and poor get poorer in modern India, will we begin to see a divide in the way we think about Indian food? I don’t think so.

I believe it to be very difficult to change what people view as home cooking. Home cooking is what your mom made you every day for the first 18 years of your life, and your moms home cooking was just your grandmas home cooking, and before that, her mom’s cooking. Its nostalgic and heartwarming, and things like that don’t change, and they shouldn’t. It’s what makes culture and community.

But there’s no stopping what happens next in restaurant and recipe innovation. The world is begging for diversity and innovation in food, we’re sick of trying to be inspired by the kitchen of Auguste Escoffier. It’s time to open new ideas from regions that otherwise don’t hold a big voice in the culinary industry. For a place that supplies the world with its spices, it’s heartbreaking to see Indian cuisine being over shadowed throughout the world, especially the western world. The western world, or America rather, prides itself on being a melting pot of cultures, but it’s not. While we use spices and ingredients native to India on a daily basis, we’re the last ones to suggest going out for curry. So the next step for Indian cuisine probably isn’t how to innovate the food. But how to change the rest of the world to find a home inside Indian cuisine. The cuisine will marry to its new home’s history and through that exchange, it will naturally evolve. The food is the people and the people are the food.

Works Cited:

“Brand India.” IBEF, www.ibef.org/exports/spice-industry-indias.aspx.

Chandran, Rina. “Forced to Walk Miles, India Water Crisis Hits Rural Women Hardest.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 13 July 2018, www.reuters.com/article/us-india-water-women/forced-to-walk-miles-india-water-crisis-hits-rural-women-hardest-idUSKBN1K318B.

“COUNTRY COMPARISON: INFANT MORTALITY RATE.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2091rank.html.

“Detroit, Michigan Population 2019.” Detroit, Michigan Population 2019 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs), worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/detroit-population/.

“Income Inequality Gets Worse; India's Top 1% Bag 73% of the Country's Wealth, Says Oxfam.” Business Today, 30 Jan. 2019, www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/oxfam-india-wealth-report-income-inequality-richests-poor/story/268541.html.

“India.” Global Slavery Index, www.globalslaveryindex.org/2018/findings/country-studies/india/.

“India, How Indigenous Farmers Are Developing Climate Resilient Agriculture.” LifeGate, 27 Mar. 2018, www.lifegate.com/people/news/india-indigenous-communities-climate-resilient-agriculture.

“INDIGENOUS VEGETABLES OF INDIA WITH POTENTIALS FOR IMPROVING LIVELIHOOD.” INDIGENOUS VEGETABLES OF INDIA WITH POTENTIALS FOR IMPROVING LIVELIHOOD | International Society for Horticultural Science, www.ishs.org/ishs-article/806_72.

Ingraham, Christopher. “The Richest 1 Percent Now Owns More of the Country's Wealth than at Any Time in the Past 50 Years.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 6 Dec. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/06/the-richest-1-percent-now-owns-more-of-the-countrys-wealth-than-at-any-time-in-the-past-50-years/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.f31d2a6b792d.

Staff, Wealthy Gorilla. “The 20 Richest Actors in the World 2019.” Wealthy Gorilla, 1 May 2019, wealthygorilla.com/richest-actors-world/.

Varma, Subodh. “1/3rd Of What We Eat Today Is Foreign - Times of India.” The Times of India, Home, 25 June 2016, timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/deep-focus/1/3rd-of-what-we-eat-today-is-foreign/articleshow/52919858.cms.

“Where Our Food Crops Come From.” CIAT Blog, blog.ciat.cgiar.org/origin-of-crops/.

[nashta]

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to complain or anything

I realize far too many people have it so much worse than I do, and I just need to put this out there or I'll cave in on myself. Also this post is a giant mess and I don't expect anyone to read it. So a few months ago, I started a new job where I'm working on Friday and Saturday until close (0300). My friend who will be moving in this week or next in place of my mom (oh yeah she's leaving the state) is my ride to and from work, and he refuses to pick me up from those two shifts because he works the next morning. Understandable, I guess, but Uber is super expensive like the first ride I had was almost $40. I can't afford that twice a week. Luckily, another friend of mine is saving me and will be my ride home until she goes to boot camp in February. Anyway, I feel lifeless. I'm not eating anything like I should and I have no energy and school is starting soon and I'm under immense amounts of stress and sacrificing more of myself than I have to sacrifice. He complained about the work thing, saying he won't pick me up from that shift, which I kind of get, but he also said he wants his 2 days off to be reliable so he knows that he'll have a day or two to look forward to where he doesn't have to drive or wake up or anything. Again, I get it, but here's the thing: you can't have both. You gotta either give up your guaranteed days off or a couple hours of sleep because I'm already not sleeping much/well, especially with school coming up. A full-time job on top of school that I'm fully responsible for? I will not be sleeping. A big-ass thing, a few months ago when he said he wouldn't pick me up from those shifts, I lashed out and said "how the fuck am I gonna eat with no job?" because yknow, anxiety, and he lashed back "don't you fucking dare try to guilt trip me." I wasn't trying to though, I was honestly just trying to express what my fears were. Literally ever since then, I refuse to tell him anything. I was often told I was a manipulative child, and maybe it's because I was "mature" for a child because manipulation, even after I learned what it was, was never my intent. But now, I can't tell him when something is wrong. I cry after a ton of shifts on the ride home almost the entire ride because honestly I have so much I need to just get OUT (hence this post) and so many things I'm afraid of and things I need him to do or at least listen to and understand. I need a hug and a cry and I need to know I'm safe and things will be fine and that someone gives a legitimate damn about me and my well-being because it really feels like no one in the world cares. Not enough, anyway. At this point now, someone just saying "I care" really isn't going to cut it. I'm not going to believe them, not really. I can consciously tell myself that, I can back it up with evidence and logic and things they've done to "prove" it, but I still won't feel it. He always wants to get home to his place, I understand, he's tired and wants to go, but I'm never okay. I'm so shot, during those times I'm crying in his car for 20 mins I literally just need a real fucking hug and I need to be allowed to cry because I don't make any sound. As soon as I get inside, I break the fuck down like I'm talking drop everything and fall to the floor audibly sobbing, and I'm exaggerating absolutely none of that. I've been afraid to post on this for so long because I know he follows it and reads shit and I'm afraid of what'll happen but honestly I just want to die and the more shit that happens, the more I break and the less I feel and the sooner I'll kill myself so maybe him getting pissed off and so upset with me is for the best. THIS IS A SUPER IMPORTANT BIT @ANYONE/FUTURE ME The reason I'm always crying is that I have things I need to express, but I can't. I'm constantly reminded of that "don't guilt me" thing, and every single thing I need to express is a guilt trip, all of it is a fucking manipulation, and I can't express that feeling because that is ALSO a guilt trip and a fucking manipulation. Telling him what I need and why and how it's fucking with me, that'll possibly make him feel bad, and telling him that I can't tell him shit might also make him feel bad, you see where I'm going with this? He also thinks I'm dramatic and overreacting to shit. My whole body is in pain and simple tasks seem to hurt more than they used to. FUTURE ME, THIS IS ALSO A SUPER IMPORTANT BIT I've expressed some of these things before and he just invalidates them. "Oh you're fine," "you just have hypothermia because you always have the A/C on," "your weight is fine." NO BITCH My temperature at one point hit 94.something. That's dangerous, and while I realize you can get hypothermia from too much A/C, I don't have any of the symptoms and I have too many symptoms of other things that are more likely. My mom is Type 1 brittle diabetic (autoimmune disease) which means being hypoglycemic isn't an out-there theory, I have a lot of symptoms, and it would explain the voodoo doll feeling. Plus hypoglycemia (from what I've read) is often a symptom itself of something else. Having Addison's Disease also isn't all that far off because it is also an autoimmune disease and it attacks internal organs (from what I've read. I'm not a doctor I don't know how likely or unlikely it is that I could have it). ALSO kidney disease (CKD) is another possibility because I have too many symptoms to be that much coincidence and that really freaks me out because if I'm ever so broke that I literally cannot afford food/water/other damn needs, my backup plan (honestly probably for college) is to sell one of my kidneys since you really only need one. And yes, I mean on the black market. Go ahead FBI fucking come for me. If I don't have 2 working kidneys, bye bye backup plan! Also to add to that stress, I don't know half of my biological family medical history. Never had a dad because he left, so I don't know what I'm at risk for from them. I have decent reason to fucking panic! MORE IMPORTANT THING FUTURE ME I KNOW YOU'VE NODDED OFF BY NOW PROBABLY GO FUCK YOURSELF I'm starving myself. Kind of. Ok look it's not in an ED sort of way. It's not like that, I'm not so fucking hungry that I'm clutching my stomach in pain and still refusing to eat. If I'm that hungry I'll try and fucking eat something. I have a small appetite because of stress and probably other things rn. There are usually only a few times I eat: 1) when I watch Shane Dawson videos (idk why he used to do a lot of food stuff and I'd usually watch them after work when I was hungry so maybe that's it but it's stuck now) 2) when I have to take my meds (before work and during work if it's been a while) 3) if my head is being stupid (if I have a massive headache because I've learned that that usually means I need food, or if my head is super foggy and I'm confused and slow and forgetful) My usual weight from a few months ago was like 115-118 lbs. I'm 4'11 so that's not bad BMI but I despised my body and frequently would punish myself for indulging or eating too much. My BMI was fine but too uncomfortably close to "overweight" for me. However, didn't hate my weight, just my body. Light for me was 112-115 lbs. My average-ish weight now is 100 lbs, and it's going down. I don't despise my body now (don't really like it still but I'm fine with it) and I don't want to gain my weight back but I'm also scared to lose more. I weighed myself earlier today and I WAS 98 LBS. THAT'S APPROXIMATELY A 20 LB DROP. That's still a healthy weight, but it wasn't lost in a healthy way and that's what fucking scares me. I sent him a photo of the scale at 99 lbs (he knows my normal weight and I expressed to him when I lost 10 lbs how worried I was because it was after like 2 weeks of accidental starvation) and YOU KNOW WHAT HE FUCKING SAID? "Your weight is nothing to be worried about." I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT MY WEIGHT I'M WORRIED ABOUT HOW I GOT THERE GODDAMMIT HE FUCKING KNOWS I HAVEN'T BEEN EATING. WE'VE LITERALLY TALKED ABOUT HOW IT'S A FUCKING STRUGGLE FOR ME TO GET IN MORE THAN 800 CALORIES IN A FUCKING WAKE CYCLE PLUS EVERYTHING I'M EATING IS NOT GOOD FOR ME TO BE EATING LIKE THIS Jesus fucking Christ god fucking dammit I'M FUCKING WORRIED ABOUT MY WEIGHT BECAUSE THE ONLY REASON IT'S THERE IS BECAUSE I'VE NOT BEEN EATING. I'VE BEEN FUCKING STARVING MYSELF I've been fucking starving myself. I've been fucking starving myself. I've been fucking starving myself. Because of money. That's literally the reason. I picked up my medication today and had a $1 copay. I've never had a copay before. I had an anxiety attack and bought food, plus I was hungry. I woke at 1800, ate at around 2000, ate again at 1000 when I took another dose of meds before work. This prescription thing, I got back in his car (which isn't working well and he was angry so I kind of get it) at 1700ish. I ate one small soft cookie and he asked me to not eat because chewing irritates him. So I didn't eat until 0100, after a few hours of sleep. Let me timeline this for you: 1800 - wake 2 hours later - approximately 1c rice with nooch and chili powder and a little cheese to take my meds and supplement 14 hours later- 1.5 pieces of naan with hummus to take my meds 7 hours later - 1 small cookie that I then felt bad about buying and eating because it made him angry and reinforced the "you're nothing so you don't deserve to eat" thing in my head 4 hours later - fall asleep 3.5 hours later - wake 30 mins later - half a package of soft cookies with milk 5 hours later - writing this post for 1.5 - 2 hours I don't eat 95% of the time because of money. If I eat this food, then I have to spend money to replace it. I might need that money later so don't eat too much, eat only what you need, don't be a fucking pig, eat only what you need to function, don't be greedy, eat only what you need to stay alive for now, don't piss anyone off by making a mess and being lazy just don't eat if you don't absolutely need to. Don't make anyone angry at you. Make it last. You need boots that you can work in. You need your neck worked out. You want to see Motionless In White, save your money. You can't go to Kipona this year because he won't go with you and you have no one else even though you used to go with Grandbob, maybe next year or the one after that. Save your money. Maybe Muddy Run? Save your money for that. You want to go to the Ren Faire, save all you can for that. Another thing that's fucking with me He said he'd take off work and go to last month's flute circle because I really want him to experience it, but backed out because he didn't want to take off work and left me unable to attend. I rarely go, and it's the last regular experience I have to Grandbob and it absolutely fucking destroyed me to not be there. Again. I can't go to this month's because it was 2 days ago. I don't think I'll be allowed to go back for another few years, I don't think I'll be allowed to experience anything that connects me to Grandbob for another few years and by then they'll probably all be gone. I'm not allowed to cope or lash out or cry or scream or experience emotion or eat or fucking try to have some sort of connection to Grandbob because it inconveniences everyone else and I'm not allowed to have needs or try to take care of myself because it inconveniences everyone else and makes everyone else angry and every single thing I do does that. Last week I woke up at 0200 and couldn't go back to sleep even though I had to be at work at 1100 and close the shop at 2100 and work through those hours. I couldn't get back to sleep even though I tried for hours because I was having a depressive anxiety attack and crying for hours and I was literally imagining that my availability having to change and possibly not being able to work the drunk rush anymore making my boss so angry and upset that he fires me and me being as depressed and anxious and suicidal as I am, literally taking a knife and killing myself in the bathroom and my coworker (who actually got fired irl) found me and was just so apathetic and my boss literally just being like "goddammit now I have this mess to clean up and have to close early and can't make money" and me dying having zero emotional impact on either of them because I'm not a fucking person to them and all I am is a hassle. So I'm seeing that in my head and crying for hours, then I'm also seeing potential effect that that imaginary situation has on my mom and my friend and I'm crying over THAT for hours. God, I don't even fucking know. I just want to die because no one gives a fuck and I hate this country and I don't have enough money to survive and be okay in this country and politics is killing me and money and stress and I just want to fucking die because my soul is cold and nothing feels real or genuine to me anymore and I'm just a fucking obligation to everyone I'm not a fucking person I'm not important I'm just a selfish piece of shit motherfucker that needs to die alone in a hole and I'm pretty sure this whole post is a fucking guilt trip manipulation bullshit even though I don't mean it to be and I wish I never needed anything because hugs aren't feeling genuine anymore no one fucking takes my needs into consideration it doesn't matter how thin i get or how thin I'm spread it's never enough and I can't expect anyone to spread themselves the smallest bit until I'm fucking dust please just end my earthly existence Look at me Look at this fucking post I'm fucking crazy, aren't I? Isn't this the raving of a mad person? I've literally spent 2 hours typing this WHY am I this way? WHY can't I just deal with it like everyone else?

[hermitlibrarian]

Babe’s got a viable side business working out of Busy Bean’s, the coffee shop in her hometown of Oar’s Rest, creating all sorts of tasty treats from sandwiches to baked goods for the people in her small beach town. Can sweets and savories heal hurt hearts, though, in a summer full of turmoil and new love? It’s hard to say, but in Lillie Vale’s debut novel readers will be treated to not only delicious dishes, but to a deliciously intricate story of friends and emotions, of the summer before the rest of their lives start, and a town that feels like home.

I want to thank Vicky from Vicky Who Reads for facilitating this partnership & Lillie for her guest post today on the tummy rumbling food in Small Town Hearts and much more!

  From Lillie Vale

  Hi Harker! Thanks for hosting me on your blog today! So excited to chat about my YA debut, Small Town Hearts, all the yummy food Babe conjures up in her kitchen, and, of course, the foods that mean the most to us! Everybody else: Hi! I’m Lillie Vale, the author of upper YA contemporary Small Town Hearts. It’s a messy BFF breakup + found family novel taking place in the summer after high school, the last summer 19yo bi baking barista Babe thinks she’ll have before her friends Penny and Chad start college in the fall. She has a somewhat co-dependent relationship with the people she loves, and change has never been a good thing, in her experience, so she’s trying to hold on tight during a time when she has to learn how to let go. Matters are further complicated when her ex-girlfriend Elodie returns to their sleepy Maine village of Oar’s Rest at the same time as a mysterious summer boy shows up to rent Babe’s mom’s cottage on the beach.

“It’s hard to figure out if you want something to be a career. Like when people find out I’m not going to college, they get all awkward. They think staying at Busy’s and being a barista is . . . a stepping-stone job. And for most people, it is.” I shrugged. “But I’ve never wanted to do anything else in my entire life. Making people happy with food is something special.”

– Small Town Hearts (pg. 124)

Food plays a huge role in Small Town Hearts. Babe loves taking care of her found family with sweet treats, steaming chowders, fresh-baked bread, and experiments with flavors like goat cheese that her author is way too chicken to try! Nope, nuh uh, sorry, I have an adventurous palate but it does not extend to goat byproducts! 🙈

I joke all the time that Small Town Hearts should come with the disclaimer that it will make you really hungry, and I hear this A LOT from readers that they were craving snacks (or actually went out to get some!) while reading! Which, to my foodie heart, is top-shelf praise.

“The sweetness of a slice of cake has the ability to turn a bad day around. There’s a lot of memories in food, you know.”

– Small Town Hearts (pg. 225)

So I thought I’d chat with Harker about comfort food, and why it means so much to us!

I live on a steady diet of Asian food: khow suey, chicken biryani, shrimp/egg curry, vegetable korma, pad thai, thai basil chicken, and so many more. This stuff takes FOREVER to prepare if you are a turtle at chopping vegetables like me, and in general there’s a lot of prep involved with Asian dishes, and sometimes a very specific order in which to add ingredients, so all in all it can be time consuming.

My mom makes the best chicken gravies/curries. It reminds me of my childhood whenever I smell frying onion. Her butter chicken and chicken tikka masala is *chefs kiss*. Rich, smooth tomato gravy with lots of onion and garlic, oh my gawdddd. Paired with white rice or naan? THE BEST. Also, Indian recipes that require only one clove of garlic? DO NOT TRUST. Who doesn’t love garlic? It’s doing double duty! Not only is it making your food delicious, it serves a very medicinal purpose of keeping you safe from vampires (;

Crisp vegetables, tender meat (or your choice of protein! I often substitute tofu!), the bite of ginger and the sweetness of onions, crunchy bean sprouts and sugar snap peas, chewy re-hydrated mushrooms (my favorite!!!), flavorsome lemongrass and curry leaves, garlicky noodles and sauces, fragrant coconut milk mixed in a delicious, savory broth…I could wax poetic about this all day! Eating any of this is like being enveloped in a warm hug. I know how much time goes into meals, so I appreciate it even more when it’s made for me. It soothes me to a degree I sometimes didn’t know I needed. Sometimes, food can be love.

As a diaspora Indian-American, food is the best way I know how to connect to my heritage. I associate my favorite Indian dishes with stories my mom tells me of her childhood in India, of a world and a time and a place I have never known, yet still feel wistful for.

And when I don’t have the time/energy to cook for myself or can’t beg/bribe my mom to make me something? Nothing beats packet ramen with a ton of veggies and a fried egg (gochujang and pickled radish and greens if you’re feeling fancy)! Wendy’s chicken nuggets, fries, and chili! You haven’t lived until you’ve dipped fries in their chili. So. Freaking. Good. And…corn flakes. I just really like corn flakes.

Harker, what are your favorite comfort foods, and why are they so evocative? Any special memories you associate with food? (Also, I am really hungry right now!!! Why did we think talking about food was a good idea!!! I have no idea what to make for lunch!!! I JUST WANT ALL THE THINGS!!!)

  From Harker, the Hermit Librarian

  Oh Lillie, I don’t know! Just reading your post made me hungry all over again. Each dish sounded better than the last. 😀

I feel very basic in saying that two of my comfort foods is mac n cheese or Chef Boyardee, both of which are super easy to make when I’m feeling low energy. However, I also enjoy Asian food quite a lot, especially from my local restaurants: brisket ramen, bool go gi, takoyaki,  and butter chicken. I haven’t made many of these dishes myself at home because, as you mentioned, these and similar can take a long time to prepare and I often don’t have the energy or the strength (my hands cramp easily when chopping/mixing). I’ve tried some jarred butter chicken sauce which I know isn’t the same as homemade but it suffices and it still quite delicious.

Reading Small Town Hearts made me ache to try some of the dishes that Babe was making. Whether it was the sweets or one of the savory dishes, pretty much everything she made sounded delicious, even if it had an ingredient I’m not partial to (blue cheese is apparently to me what goat cheese is to you, Lillie! *lol*).

Babe’s fare was a bit easier to replicate at home.

  (Left to Right – Babe’s “Grilled Cheese” Toastie, Ham & Cheese, Dark Chocolate Chip Pistachio Cookies)

  There was one sandwich that jumped out first: a grilled cheese that Babe made with blue cheese, arugula, and apricot jam. I made my twist on this by switching out the blue cheese for gouda and using an arugula/spinach mix. Omg, this was SO good! I’d never thought of putting jam on  sandwich before! What a joy! This was supposed to be a grilled cheese and I kind of failed on that in all the iterations I made, so it became more of a toastie, but even only semi-melted the smokiness of the gouda was a real nice counterpoint to the sweetness of the apricot jam.

Since I had the apricot jam and the arugula/spinach mix already and I wanted to make something that Babe would be proud of, I tried to think of a sandwich that would utilize many of the same ingredients. I paired the aforementioned items with some deli ham and sliced swiss cheese to make another sandwich. If you’ve got the energy you can toast it, but if you want something quick late at night, this Ham & Cheese can also be enjoyed cold.

And, of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t try and recreate Babe’s dark chocolate chip pistachio cookies. In Small Town Hearts, Babe includes sea salt in her recipe, which I nixed because I thought that the pistachios would be a bit too salty in the cookies. Next time, though, I would include it and also put more pistachios on top. All in all they were quite tasty! The recipe is the one on the back of the Nestle Tollhouse bag with the addition of the nuts if anyone would care to recreate them for yourself. 🙂

Food is only one part of Lillie’s book, of course. There’s so much more to it, from setting to the characters. Check out the synopsis, purchase links, and my review for more on this debut novel.

Once again, thank you, Lillie, for joining me for this wonderfully delicious guest post!

  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Goodreads | Indiebound

Published: 19 March 2019

Publisher: Swoon Reads

Category: Contemporary/Young Adult/Romance/LGBT+

Rule #1 – Never fall for a summer boy. 

Fresh out of high school, Babe Vogel should be thrilled to have the whole summer at her fingertips. She loves living in her lighthouse home in the sleepy Maine beach town of Oar’s Rest and being a barista at the Busy Bean, but she’s totally freaking out about how her life will change when her two best friends go to college in the fall. And when a reckless kiss causes all three of them to break up, she may lose them a lot sooner. On top of that, her ex-girlfriend is back in town, bringing with her a slew of memories, both good and bad.

And then there’s Levi Keller, the cute artist who’s spending all his free time at the coffee shop where she works. Levi’s from out of town, and even though Babe knows better than to fall for a tourist who will leave when summer ends, she can’t stop herself from wanting to know him. Can Babe keep her distance, or will she break the one rule she’s always had – to never fall for a summer boy?

Rating: 3 Stars

Rep: Bisexual MC, Black SC, biracial ex-LI, Chinese American SC

CW: manipulative friendship, mention of casual drug usage (weed, not shown on the page), alcohol consumption (on page), alcohol abuse (a character drinks and parties to the point of dehydration and sleep-deprivation; two characters get wasted and are too drunk to fully consent to sex with each other); in this edition use of a racist term (tr*be – “It always felt like once people had their tribe, they didn’t have a lot of time for new friends.”) during the included quote. Note: having spoken to the author, she’s accepted this note and while it’s too late to change the current edition, she mentioned correcting it in further print runs.

From the get go, Small Town Hearts had a great knack for setting. At the heart of it was The Busy Bean, the coffee shop where Babe sells her baked good and works as a manager. It has a certain eclectic charm that is illustrated well in the furniture from various patio sets and alternating lettering styles displaying the daily specials on a board.

Vale constructs a comforting setting. Oar’s Rest comes to the reader’s mind not only through visuals that she sets out for them, but through scents that are described and used to round out the image of the town. It almost makes it a 3D image and puts the reader that much more in the story than any other.

There were some characterization choices that I thought were interesting, such as when Babe & Penny compare Penny & Chad’s relationship to Rory and Logan of Gilmore Girls. Penny/Rory, in their respective works (book/show) don’t tend to notice what they’re asking of others, the demands that their actions place on others, and I found this a super apt comparison.

Penny did not end up being my favorite person. There’s some growth on her part, but it was difficult to read her interactions with Babe. There’s language she uses that’s subtly manipulative of Babe & Babe’s feelings as well as judgment toward Levi when “first meeting” him at a houseboat party and offering him weed/alcohol but also “water if you’re not into having fun”.

I wasn’t sure, at first, if the tension between Babe & Penny was casual friends depending upon one another or something else, but as one scene plays out (Penny asking Babe to, essentially, cement a breakup with Chad) it becomes clear that Penny knows what she’s doing. Events spiral from that one request, and from the past decisions that have happened between Babe, Penny, and even Chad, to create a whole mess that intertwines the entire narrative.

Babe & Levi had some sweet moments, despite the tension that was running between them for a variety of reasons. Their dates around town, their conversations, there were some truly lovely, intimate moments that bolstered the quickly formed relationship.

There is something I found slightly odd, maybe offputting, about the tone of the characters. Before their ages were explicitly stated, and perhaps even a bit after that, I would’ve said based on the way they acted, the situations they were in (living conditions, certain freedoms, etc.), that this was more a New Adult novel and that most of the main cast was in their early twenties rather than late teens. Like, there was a disproportionate amount of young people to older (late twenties and up) residents. These characters were all 17-19 and not quite acting like it. They had jobs, “houses”, and responsibilities that didn’t quite mesh with the personalities that had been presented on page.

There is a brief explanation given as to where Babe’s mother is (she works on a cruise ship most of the year) and why Babe is able to afford living in a lighthouse (given funds). It felt a rather convenient way, though, to avoid developing a familial relationship between Babe and her parents because both are essentially absentee what with her mother working on a cruise ship and her father being a relative unknown to the reader.

Overall, while the action seem choppy/repetitive at times, creating a sometimes rough reading experience, what was good was good and what wasn’t awful. I really could see Oar’s Rest in my head and sinking into a setting isn’t always easy. I wish that it was possible to visit such a place, get a picnic lunch at Lorcan’s seafood shack, and wander down to the beach. Small Town Hearts is a wonderfully atmospheric novel and getting to settle down with a snack and a good read is totally something to look forward to with this debut.

  About the Author

  Lillie Vale, upon discovering she could not be one of Santa’s elves or attend Hogwarts, decided to become a writer to create a little magic of her own. Enjoying the romantic and eerie in equal measure, she’s probably always writing a book where the main characters kiss or kill. Born in Mumbai, she has lived in many U.S. states, and now resides in an Indiana college town where the corn whispers and no one has a clue that she is actually the long-lost caps lock queen. She can be reached on Twitter @LillieLabyrinth and Instagram @labyrinthspine. Small Town Hearts is her debut novel.

            I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Quotes included are from an advanced reader copy and may not reflect the finalized copy.

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  Yummy Read: A Guest Post with Lillie Vale, author of Small Town Hearts Babe's got a viable side business working out of Busy Bean's, the coffee shop in her hometown of Oar's Rest, creating all sorts of tasty treats from sandwiches to baked goods for the people in her small beach town. 2,668 more words