#ive been enjoying the sprinkles of added content

[upwards-descent]

More and more, Wyll triggers that cuteness aggression that makes me wanna bully him, like with Gale

[squerlly]

do you possibly maybe JUST MAYBE write Lute x Demon!reader JUST ASKING FOR A FRIEND my friend would love a story of the goobers (I’m the friend)

-🪿anon

I write pretty much anything so I would be happy to do this for you, no specifications on the gender or type of story you want but I will do GN demon reader x lute head cannons SFW and NSWF to add a bit of spice since updates on my blog have been slow, mostly because I have been out sick and just procrastinating but more content is being made as we speak so enjoy!!!

(GN! Demon reader) x Lute -SFW/NSFW-

-SFW-

Lute despises demons naturally but after running into you during extermination day, she made one big exception that might cost her job, but love makes people do crazy things...

with Lute's rough personality, she can be really bad with communication and feelings but always makes an effort to show affection, even in the most strangest ways.

In Lute's mind calling you an idiot is like saying I love you and letting you help preen her wings lets you know she trusts you, after all her wings are sensitive and having you get those hard to reach places makes flying much more comfortable.

when she comes down for secret visits she always brings back little things from heaven that aren't available in hell, who new sweets in heaven taste so good, they even have rainbow sprinkles!

-NSFW-

when Lute sneaks out of heaven to meet up with you, as an exterminator she knows every little hiding spot perfect for some quick fun~

Lute would let you bite and mark all over her, if she can't take you with her, she definitely has something to remember you by.

as someone who doesn't get a lot of credit and recondition for her work Lute doesn't get compliments or praise, so when you whisper sweet nothing in her ear and praise her she will melt into mush and do anything to here you say she's a good girl~

had been trained for battle and endurance, Lute has incredible stamina and can go for hours adding to pleasure of rough handling.

angel blood is not common to come by, and according to the local cannibals', its quite the delicacy. Lute happy to give you a taste, lets you drink as much of her sweet savory blood as you want, leaving you drunk and craving more. the feeling of your tongue lapping the literal liquid gold makes her core heat up, a sensation that leaves her soaked.

IM SO SORRY!!! for leaving you all for almost a whole weak, iv been so tired and sick. I'm also sorry if this request feels lazily written. request and chapters will be coming out a bit slower until I feel a bit better and have more time but I will try to get more content out faster. thank you all for your patients I love you all have a good day/night!!!

-squerlly

@pooplyface1423 @strippezzz

for more content and chapters please click this masterlist

[food-and-culture-by-elze]

Coffee culture

"Coffee - the favorite drink of the civilized world." - Thomas Jefferson

History of coffee

The heritage of coffee can be traced back centuries. The Ethiopian Legend says that a goat herder saw his goats munching on red berries, which made them extremely hyper and energetic – they were bouncing around the field, playing, they did not want to sleep at night. Afterwards, he showed his findings to the monastery of the town, which started making a drink from the berries, that kept people focused while sitting through long, tiring prayers (National Coffee Association, 2020).

The popularity of coffee quickly spread all over the globe. Coffee was a bonding beverage – it was a center for exchanging information - even nowadays, people ask each other “Do you want to go grab a coffee?” when they want to catch up with a friend. As well as that, people drank it while watching performances, playing chess, listening to music.

However, coffee was not liked by everyone. Some people considered it to be the “bitter invention of Satan”, because of its taste and the effect it had on people. That lead to many attempts to ban coffee in different countries. For example, in Constantinople, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Murad IV punished everyone who was seen with a cup of coffee with a beating. If the person was seen drinking coffee again, they would get sewn into a leather bag and thrown into the river (National Coffee, 2015). Such a vicious punishment for just two cups of coffee?

The discovery of coffee. Retrieved from googleimages.com

Coffee culture

Nowadays coffee can be found anywhere. It is not considered dangerous to be seen in public, holding an americano or a latte. People have completely revolutionised the drink. Now, it can be enjoyed in plenty of different varieties. Hot or cold, with or without milk, sweeteners, sugar, syrups. There are plenty of coffeeshops on every corner, making it a very easily accessible drink.

Speaking about different varieties of coffee, Kopi Gu Yu is a coffee that is widely popular in Asia (more specifically Thailand, Singapore). Butter is added to the coffee, to enrich its taste. 

Kopi Gu Yu. Retrieved from googleimages.com

Another interesting coffee experience is the Irish Coffee. The Irish created it by mixing coffee, cream, sugar and whiskey! This drink was mainly used to warm American travellers in freezing Irish towns, but now it is a beverage that the whole public loves (Irish Central, 2020). 

Irish coffee. Retrieved from googleimages.com

Mixing coffee with alcohol is not uncommon, there are plenty of other alcoholic cocktails that include coffee. Furthermore, Karsk is a Nordic coffee cocktail, that originated in Russia. To make it, the person needs to put a coin in the cup and fill the third of the cup with coffee. Then, add moonshine (a high alcohol content drink). The aim of putting the coin is so the drinker knows when to stop adding moonshine – when the alcohol dilutes the coffee and the coin is visible through the drink (Homegrounds 2018).

Karsk. Retrieved from googleimages.com

Apart from different ways of drinking it, coffee can also be aesthetically pleasing. During the 1980s, coffee has also become a form of art. Latte art was developed in the United States by a coffee shop owner David Schomer (Holmes, 2008). He found a technique of pouring frothed milk into a cup, that made a heart shape on top of the coffee. Now, baristas are even more creative when it comes to latte art. They use sprinkled cocoa powder, milk foam, syrups creating all kind of patterns, pictures.

Coffee art. Retrieved from googleimages.com

Due to the development of coffee, its purpose has changed as well. When analysing coffee and the Triadic Approach, previously it has been utilitarian – it was drunk to keep people awake during long prayers (Charters, 2006). However, currently, the motives of drinking coffee are more experiential – people get to spend time with their friends and family while enjoying the beverage. Of course, coffee still plays an important utilitarian role in a lot of people’s mornings, helping them wake up and get to work, school.  

Coffee and health

However, the biggest debate about coffee is – is it healthy or is it deadly?

Chu (2012) states that in the process of roasting coffee beans, a lot of the harmful compounds are removed, leaving it with many antioxidants that are beneficial to human health. Abramovic and Preedy (2015) agree with the statement of Chu, adding that coffee has compounds, that can fight the inflammation of chronic diseases. As well as that, coffee is said to boost metabolism (Shubrook, 2018). There have also been several studies that that found that drinking coffee can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s (Alzheimer’s Society, 2015)!

On the other hand, another study concluded that drinking excessive amounts of coffee can significantly change the brain and lead to developing mental health – anxiety issues (Stafford et al., 2016). Besides coffee having beneficial compounds, it also has harmful substances (García-Moraleja, Font, Manes & Ferrer, 2015).

In conclusion, coffee is generally safe to drink and can be beneficial for the health. However, it affects everyone differently – some individuals may find that drinking coffee stops them from sleeping at night or negatively influences their thinking process (Poole, Kennedy, Roderick, Fallowfield, Hayes & Parkes, 2017). Adults should not exceed the safe drinking limit of coffee which is 400mg of caffeine (which equals to about 3 to 5 cups) a day (NHS, 2017).

My perspective

I enjoy coffee a lot. I used to drink it every morning, until I found out about matcha lattes, which I prefer over coffee. However, for me, coffee is more of a social experience. Whenever I want to meet a friend, I will always suggest them to go grab a coffee together. I also always try to make a very careful decision when choosing a coffee shop. It has to be cosy, have comfortable seating, the music cannot be too loud, it must have the socialising environment.  Then, I can peacefully enjoy getting to know the person or just catching up with them. I also noticed that in such situation, I never buy any other beverage, only coffee. Something about the caffeine makes it easier to talk, as well as sets time boundaries for the conversation. If one person is done with their cup, they can consider getting another one, to continue their talk. If they did not enjoy speaking to the other person as much, it is a great way to wrap up the meeting and go separate ways.

Coffee art. Retrieved from googleimages.com

References:

Alzheimer's Society. (2015). Caffeine and dementia. Retrieved from https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

Charters, S. (2006). Wine and Society. Retrieved from www.dawsonera-com.libaccess.hud.ac.uk

Chu, Y. (2012). Coffee: emerging health effects and disease prevention. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons.

García-Moraleja, A., Font, G., Manes, J., & Ferrer, E. (2015). Simultaneous determination of mycotoxin in commercial coffee. Food Control, 57(1), 282-292. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2015.04.031

Holmes, S. (2008). 05 - David Schomer: Higher grounds at Espresso Vivace Roasteria. In . (Ed.) Entrepreneur Power Plays : How the World's Most Dynamic Thinkers Reach the Top of Their Game. (pp. 51-57) . New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies.

Homegrounds. (2018). 17 Strange (Yet Intriguing) Coffee Experiences That You Must Try. Retrieved from https://www.homegrounds.co/

Homegrounds. (2018). Coffee Cocktails. Retrieved from https://www.homegrounds.co/coffee-cocktails/

Irish Central. (2020). A history and recipe to celebrate National Irish Coffee Day. Retrieved from https://www.irishcentral.com

National Coffee . (2015). 5 Attempts to Ban Coffee in History. Retrieved from https://nationalcoffee.blog/

National Coffee Association. (2020). The History of Coffee. Retrieved from http://www.ncausa.org

NHS. (2017). Four cups of coffee 'not bad for health' suggests review. Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk

O’Neill Stafford, C E, Newsom, R J, Stafford, J, Scott, T, Archuleta, S, Levis, S C, ...Bachtell R K (2016). Adolescent caffeine consumption increases adulthood anxiety-related behavior and modifies neuroendocrine signaling. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 1(1), 40-50. . Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4808446/

Poole, R., Kennedy, O. J., Roderick, P., Fallowfield, J. A., Hayes, P. C., & Parkes, J. (2017). Coffee consumption and health: umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple health outcomes. BMJ, 360(1), 194-234. doi: 10.1136/bmj.j5024

Shubrook, N (2018). Is coffee good for you?. Retrieved from https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/

[airadam]

Episode 122 : Drop It Heavy

"Scripture tell me no one excluded when rain drippin'..."

- Tobe Nwigwe

This month has been a rough one, but here we are once again with a brand new selection for your headphones and speakers! We remember the great KMG, and then sprinkle the selection with some strong UK tracks, overlook gems, rapid genre jumping, and one absolutely amazing remix. While individually there aren't many obscurities in the mix, I'll be impressed if anyone already knows every track on here...

Twitter : @airadam13

Playlist/Notes

Above The Law : V.S.O.P (Remix)

Been waiting a long time to play this one - it was quite a few years of looking to find a decent 12" copy (thanks Discogs!), and then it was one I was determined to save for an anniversary of KMG's passing. The original from the excellent "Black Mafia Life" is proto-G-Funk, but this version puts a just a touch of extra chaos (and bass) into the mix, courtesy of Cold 187um on both occasions. An ode to late-night partying and cognac, but still bringing the battle edge to the second verse, this has KMG handling the hook solo but going back and forth with Cold 187um on the mic. A much underrated tag team from the west!

Jigmastas : Too Ill (Instrumental)

I love the fact that the "Resurgence" album came with a complete set of instrumentals, just so you can get that DJ Spinna flavour undiluted - here's just a taste!

Tobe Nwigwe ft. FAT : PEEP GAME

Another #GetTwistedSundays killer! I'm bringing this Texan back for a second appearance in the last four months, with a track I think a lot of you will really enjoy. The producer Nell brings a fresh style, with some great change-ups in the beat - and the other half of the bargain is held up with skills galore. Tobe absolutely crams meaning (and syllables) into his devastating monotone flow, and his wife FAT provides a great spoken-word-like breakdown in an efficient eight-bar appearance. This is a trio of brilliant artists (along with their video crew) doing amazing things.

BADBADNOTGOOD ft. Kaytranada & Snoop Dogg: Lavender (Nightfall Remix)

Canada's BBNG first released the original version of this track on their "IV" album, but Snoop Dogg heard it and somehow knew it could benefit from his own unique enhancement! This version ended up as an inclusion on his 2017 "Neva Left" album; his added verse addressing police brutality, in addition to the controversial video, thrust it into the consciousness of a much larger audience. 

DRS : All Time High

I was reminded of this track from the new "From The Deep" LP when DRS performed it live at a Manchester International Festival event recently. He's one of the most important artists the Manchester scene has ever had, with his influence spreading far and wide - whether fully acknowledged or not. While he's now mostly known for his drum & bass work, he was of course one-third of Broke 'n' English (alongside Strategy and Konny Kon) and this album has him displaying his Hip-Hop skills over the production of Pitch 92. 

Lowkey : Hand On Your Gun

If you like politics in your Hip-Hop, then Lowkey is someone you should definitely be checking for - a British MC of Iraqi descent, he brings his worldview to the mic with strength every time. His second album, "Soundtrack To The Struggle" gives us this stinging condemnation of some of the big players in the global arms trade, with ShowNProve providing the Wild West-themed track.

Kaytranada ft. Karriem Riggins and River Tiber : Bus Ride

A nice instrumental from the "99.9%" album. The guest star Karriem Riggins gets busy on the drums in a subtle way through most of the track before showing out right at the end with a little double-time flair!

Children of Zeus : Respect Mine

"Travel Light" is now a year old and it's still getting just as much play as it did on release! Juga-Naut on production, Mr.Thing on the sharp cuts, and Tyler and Konny Kon putting it down on the mic make up a major league quartet.

Robert Glasper Experiment ft. Norah Jones : Let It Ride

As strong as this track is, it's not even one of my top three from "Black Radio 2", which speaks to just how good that album is! Mark Colenburg earns his money on the double-time drumming that you'd think had to be a programmed drum machine, setting a furious pace that the rest of the groove languidly follows. The bass and piano are low-key and do their thing without upstaging Norah Jones on the vocal of this classy cut.

Janelle Monáe : Cold War

This is an absolutely furious cut. The video is definitely worth a watch - similar to the one for Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U", it stays focused on her face for the entire running length and is packed with emotion, as are the lyrics. Clearly one of the standouts on "The ArchAndroid", with the themes of isolation and struggle articulated by one of the best artists of this era.

OutKast : B.O.B

I've been wanting to do the blend from "Cold War" to this for ages! One of my favourite tracks from this duo, this pretty much made my brain explode when I first heard it back in 2000. I was surprised to find out recently that this wasn't a big hit even on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts, but they were actively trying to go against the grain and a lot of the audience probably just wasn't ready. To me, this is Andre and Big Boi at the peak of their lyrical games, keeping up with a track that really would fit the name "organised noize" - but was actually produced by the group themselves alongside Mr.DJ. That's a real gospel choir you're hearing on the hook and the outro, a really serious guitarist letting loose all over the track, and a real MPC being beaten into submission for those drums. Stone classic from the "Stankonia" LP. Oh, and "got a son on the way by the name of Bamboo"? Well, time flies...

[The Alchemist] Cam'ron : Wet Wipes (Instrumental)

This fit the bill here as something electronic-sounding that was also half the speed of the frenetic OutKast track, allowing us to come back down to earth a bit. The Alchemist cooked up a thudding, menacing beat for what was a typically disrespectful Cam'ron track from 2006's "Killa Season". This was actually Alchemist's first MPC beat (he was a devotee of the ASR-10 up to this point) and has the chopping and aggression that is very reminiscent of a track he did years later, Raekwon's "Surgical Gloves".

The Lady of Rage : Raw Deal

I finally sat down to listen to the "Necessary Roughness" album from front to back for the first time recently, and I can confirm that it was indeed slept-on. This was probably a consequence of it being pushed further and further back by Death Row, until it finally got a very quiet release in 1997. If you'd forgotten about the skills that made her a people's favourite, here's a reminder over a Daz Dillinger and Tyrone Wrice beat, laid-back enough to give her the space to get busy. 

Glenn Lewis : Don't You Forget It (Curtis Lynch Remix)

FIRE 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥! The original Glenn Lewis cut from "World Outside My Window") has always been a favourite of mine, and it's one you don't want to mess up with a clumsy remix - for example, the Desert Storm attempt with the most "missing the point" guest rap verse in music history. I can't remember how I found this one, but it stunned me - the re-interpretation is perfect. Lewis is from Trinidadian and Jamaican roots, and the move to connect with someone like London's Curtis Lynch for this remix was a natural but also an inspired move. It sounds like this one has been re-voiced rather than just swapping instrumentals, and it's a rootsy dancehall masterpiece with the drums, bass, and every single accent on point. Turn this one all the way up!

London Grammar : Non Believer

I'm not even sure what genre you'd count this as - Wikipedia claims "indie pop", but even that doesn't quite hit the mark. For me there are definite vibes of what they used to call "trip-hop" - I can imagine previous eras of Portishead or Massive Attack doing a tune like this. This track from "Truth Is A Beautiful Thing" is itself a melancholic beautiful thing, with Hannah Reid's crystal-clear vocals soaring over the moody beat.

Sean Price & Illa Ghee : 2Pac by the Locker

If you know "Juice", you know what this title is all about! I'd describe the track as "short and sweet", if there was anything remotely street about it. Sean P and Illa Ghee come through like a pair of brass knuckles as they do on every other cut on the "Metal Detectors" EP - just beasting.

Jake One : Gangsta Boy (Instrumental)

Coming through slamming like a new take on Dre's "Lyrical Gangbang", this is a monster of a beat from Jake One's "White Van Music Instrumentals". It had to be, since the MCs on the vocal version are the rugged neva smoove M.O.P.

Raekwon : Canal Street

Raekwon is one of the greatest picture painters in Hip-Hop history and this is an absolute art masterclass. From the first lines "All of our fathers is bank robbers, holding TECs/Eights of hero'n, shooting in the steps" he grabs your mind's eye and never lets it go until the track ends. Flawless street imagery all the way from "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt.II" to such an extent that the video actually takes away from it! Icewater Productions bring a fairly well-used sample in that brings the crime-flick menace the lyrical content demands. One nice touch on the production side - the sudden turn up of the volume in a matter of a beat or two in the transition from the intro to the first verse - definitely makes it hit you in the chest.

Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!

  Check out this episode!

[healthywealthywiselife]

Spice Up Your Foods With These Healthy Hummus Variations

The word hummus is literally the direct translation of the Arab word for chickpeas. It's believed that hummus goes back hundreds of years ago, with the earliest confirmed source dating back to 13th-century cookbooks. Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[i] Many countries claim to have created hummus, but the exact origin has been lost. Today, nations such as Turkey, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt enjoy hummus as an important part of their cuisine and diet. Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[ii]

If you haven't tried hummus yet, it's a great way to get more flavor from your other foods. Furthermore, it's a gluten-free dish, Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[iii] which can help you avoid the health risks associated with eating grains. I recommend trying out the classic recipe first, then you can proceed with the other variations mentioned below. I've also added a section on how you can use hummus in different ways to maximize its benefits.

Classic Hummus Ingredients:

2 cups of chickpeas

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 garlic clove

1 tablespoon of tahini

1 to 2 tablespoons of pure, filtered water

Procedure:

1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender and pulse until the mixture starts to become smooth.

2. With the motor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the hummus. Add the salt and pepper and blend until smooth for about one to two minutes.

Tip: If the hummus is too thick for your liking, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time until it's the right consistency.

Below are other variations, and the procedure is just the same as above.

Spicy Green Hummus Ingredients:

2 cups of chickpeas

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1/2 teaspoon of salt

2 garlic cloves

1 tablespoon of tahini

1 tablespoon of pure, filtered water

1/4 cup of parsley

3 green onions

2 jalapeno peppers

1/4 cup of fresh lime juice

Turmeric Hummus Ingredients:

2 cups of chickpeas

2 tablespoon of olive oil

1 teaspoon of salt

1 garlic clove

1 tablespoon of tahini

1 tablespoon of water

1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon of turmeric powder

2 teaspoons of ginger powder

1 teaspoon of ground black pepper

Chickpeas and Tahini: The Foundations of Hummus

Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are a type of legume with origins in the Mediterranean and Middle East. As with other legumes, chickpeas are a nutrition powerhouse. Here are a few notable health benefits associated with eating them:

Bone health: Chickpeas are rich in iron, vitamin K, phosphate, calcium, magnesium, zinc and manganese, which all help promote bone health. Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[iv]

Cholesterol: In a study published in the Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism, researchers noted that adding chickpeas to your diet may help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in your system. Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[v]

Fiber: Chickpeas contain beneficial levels of dietary fiber, which can help promote a healthy digestive tract by facilitating the regular elimination of stools. As a result, the chances of developing common digestive issues such as constipation may be reduced. mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[vi]

The other half of the equation in hummus is tahini, which is essentially a paste made from olive oil and crushed sesame seeds. It is also used to create other Middle Eastern dishes like baba ghanoush and halvah. Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[vii] Tahini can offer you the following benefits: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[viii]

Rich in various minerals such as phosphorus, lecithin, magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron.

Contains methionine, an amino acid that may help in liver detoxification.

Has protein, which is helpful for your body's essential biological functions.

May help manage inflammation thanks to its copper content. mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[ix]

I suggest making your own tahini using unhulled sesame seeds because the skin contains most of the nutrients. Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[x] If you do not have the time or resources to make your own, I recommend purchasing organic, unhulled tahini from a reputable source.

Mix Different Herbs and Spices to Experiment With the Flavor

The great thing about hummus is that you can add various herbs and spices during the grinding process to modify its flavor. Furthermore, this method can help improve the nutritional profile of your hummus. Here are some herbs and spices you can add:

Parsley[TNAS1]: This herb is rich in vitamin K, which can help promote bone strength and may lower your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by limiting neuronal damage in the brain.

Jalapeno peppers[TNAS2]: These peppers contain a compound called capsaicin, which may help with weight management by increasing satiety. Capsaicin may also help lower your risk of developing tumors by activating cell receptors in your intestinal lining.

Ginger[TNAS3]: This rhizome has carminative properties that can help promote the release of intestinal gas. It also functions as an intestinal spasmolytic, which can help relax and soothe your intestinal tract.

Turmeric[TNAS4]: An important component in the creation of curry, turmeric is particularly known for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Black pepper[TNAS5]: This common spice contains potassium, a mineral essential in helping maintain heart rate and blood pressure. It also contains zinc, which may help promote cell growth.

How to Enjoy Hummus in Different Ways

Aside from being easy to modify, hummus can be paired with various foods. All you need is a bit of imagination and creativity, and hummus can be a regular part of your diet. Here are several ways on how you can enjoy this dish: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[xi]

Mashed potatoes: Replace the sour cream with hummus for more flavor and fewer calories.

Deviled eggs: Boil a few eggs, remove the yolks and stuff the whites with hummus to create a tasty midday snack.

Salad dressing: Make a tasty salad dressing by mixing hummus, olive oil, lemon juice and paprika.

Grilled chicken: Add more flavor to plain old grilled chicken by slathering it with hummus and sprinkling crushed raw almonds on top. Make sure the almonds are not pasteurized. mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[xii]

Stuffed peppers: Fill up bell peppers with hummus to serve as a simple and healthy appetizer to party guests. mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">[xiii]

The ones I mentioned above are just some ways to use hummus in different situations. Of course, you can also eat hummus on its own, but adding it to your favorite foods can make the flavor more interesting.

@font-face { font-family: "Wingdings"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math"; }@font-face { font-family: "Calibri"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; }h2 { margin: 2pt 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 115%; page-break-after: avoid; font-size: 13pt; font-family: "Cambria",serif; color: rgb(54, 95, 145); font-weight: normal; }p.MsoCommentText, li.MsoCommentText, div.MsoCommentText { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; }span.MsoCommentReference { }span.MsoEndnoteReference { vertical-align: super; }p.MsoEndnoteText, li.MsoEndnoteText, div.MsoEndnoteText { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; }p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; }p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; }p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; }span.Heading2Char { font-family: "Cambria",serif; color: rgb(54, 95, 145); }span.CommentTextChar { }span.EndnoteTextChar { }.MsoChpDefault { font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; }.MsoPapDefault { line-height: 115%; }div.WordSection1 { }ol { margin-bottom: 0in; }ul { margin-bottom: 0in; }

[sherristockman]

Spice Up Your Foods With These Healthy Hummus Variations none The word “hummus” is literally the direct translation of the Arab word for chickpeas. It’s believed that hummus goes back hundreds of years ago, with the earliest confirmed source dating back to 13th-century cookbooks.[i] Many countries claim to have created hummus, but the exact origin has been lost. Today, nations such as Turkey, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt enjoy hummus as an important part of their cuisine and diet.[ii] If you haven’t tried hummus yet, it’s a great way to get more flavor from your other foods. Furthermore, it’s a gluten-free dish,[iii] which can help you avoid the health risks associated with eating grains. I recommend trying out the classic recipe first, then you can proceed with the other variations mentioned below. I’ve also added a section on how you can use hummus in different ways to maximize its benefits. Classic Hummus Ingredients: · 2 cups of chickpeas · 2 tablespoons of olive oil · 1/2 teaspoon of salt · 1 garlic clove · 1 tablespoon of tahini · 1 to 2 tablespoons of pure, filtered water Procedure: 1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender and pulse until the mixture starts to become smooth. 2. With the motor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the hummus. Add the salt and pepper and blend until smooth for about one to two minutes. Tip: If the hummus is too thick for your liking, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time until it's the right consistency. Below are other variations, and the procedure is just the same as above. Spicy Green Hummus Ingredients: · 2 cups of chickpeas · 2 tablespoons of olive oil · 1/2 teaspoon of salt · 2 garlic cloves · 1 tablespoon of tahini · 1 tablespoon of pure, filtered water · 1/4 cup of parsley · 3 green onions · 2 jalapeno peppers · 1/4 cup of fresh lime juice Turmeric Hummus Ingredients: · 2 cups of chickpeas · 2 tablespoon of olive oil · 1 teaspoon of salt · 1 garlic clove · 1 tablespoon of tahini · 1 tablespoon of water · 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice · 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder · 2 teaspoons of ginger powder · 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper Chickpeas and Tahini: The Foundations of Hummus Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are a type of legume with origins in the Mediterranean and Middle East. As with other legumes, chickpeas are a nutrition powerhouse. Here are a few notable health benefits associated with eating them: · Bone health: Chickpeas are rich in iron, vitamin K, phosphate, calcium, magnesium, zinc and manganese, which all help promote bone health.[iv] · Cholesterol: In a study published in the Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism, researchers noted that adding chickpeas to your diet may help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in your system.[v] · Fiber: Chickpeas contain beneficial levels of dietary fiber, which can help promote a healthy digestive tract by facilitating the regular elimination of stools. As a result, the chances of developing common digestive issues such as constipation may be reduced.[vi] The other half of the equation in hummus is tahini, which is essentially a paste made from olive oil and crushed sesame seeds. It is also used to create other Middle Eastern dishes like baba ghanoush and halvah.[vii] Tahini can offer you the following benefits:[viii] · Rich in various minerals such as phosphorus, lecithin, magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron. · Contains methionine, an amino acid that may help in liver detoxification. · Has protein, which is helpful for your body’s essential biological functions. · May help manage inflammation thanks to its copper content.[ix] I suggest making your own tahini using unhulled sesame seeds because the skin contains most of the nutrients.[x] If you do not have the time or resources to make your own, I recommend purchasing organic, unhulled tahini from a reputable source. Mix Different Herbs and Spices to Experiment With the Flavor The great thing about hummus is that you can add various herbs and spices during the grinding process to modify its flavor. Furthermore, this method can help improve the nutritional profile of your hummus. Here are some herbs and spices you can add: · Parsley[TNAS1] : This herb is rich in vitamin K, which can help promote bone strength and may lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by limiting neuronal damage in the brain. · Jalapeno peppers[TNAS2] : These peppers contain a compound called capsaicin, which may help with weight management by increasing satiety. Capsaicin may also help lower your risk of developing tumors by activating cell receptors in your intestinal lining. · Ginger[TNAS3] : This rhizome has carminative properties that can help promote the release of intestinal gas. It also functions as an intestinal spasmolytic, which can help relax and soothe your intestinal tract. · Turmeric[TNAS4] : An important component in the creation of curry, turmeric is particularly known for its anti-inflammatory properties. · Black pepper[TNAS5] : This common spice contains potassium, a mineral essential in helping maintain heart rate and blood pressure. It also contains zinc, which may help promote cell growth. How to Enjoy Hummus in Different Ways Aside from being easy to modify, hummus can be paired with various foods. All you need is a bit of imagination and creativity, and hummus can be a regular part of your diet. Here are several ways on how you can enjoy this dish:[xi] · Mashed potatoes: Replace the sour cream with hummus for more flavor and fewer calories. · Deviled eggs: Boil a few eggs, remove the yolks and stuff the whites with hummus to create a tasty midday snack. · Salad dressing: Make a tasty salad dressing by mixing hummus, olive oil, lemon juice and paprika. · Grilled chicken: Add more flavor to plain old grilled chicken by slathering it with hummus and sprinkling crushed raw almonds on top. Make sure the almonds are not pasteurized.[xii] · Stuffed peppers: Fill up bell peppers with hummus to serve as a simple and healthy appetizer to party guests.[xiii] The ones I mentioned above are just some ways to use hummus in different situations. Of course, you can also eat hummus on its own, but adding it to your favorite foods can make the flavor more interesting.

[aegisreflections]

Thoughts on the Current State of Street Fighter V

You may have noticed that I’ve been shying away from Street Fighter (particularly Street Fighter V) themed content as of late. There are several reasons for this, chief among which are my feelings about the current state of Street Fighter V as a whole. My thoughts on this topic are lengthy, so I’m gonna go ahead and lay them all out under the cut. TL;DR version at the end.

Street Fighter V had a rough start. Servers were unstable, features were somewhat slim for a $60 purchase, and the balance was a bit questionable. At it’s core though, as a fighting game, it showed a lot of potential. I genuinely like the systems they had in place, and looked forward to how they’d evolve and build upon them in the future. Hell, the first month I spent with SFV was more fun for me than the entire 7 year life span of Street Fighter IV. While the short term of the first three or so months after release seemed like rough waters, there was a ton of promise on the horizon. That’s where the key issues lie, however. I personally feel SFV has utterly failed to evolve as a game. 

Since launch they’ve added new features; a cinematic story, daily/weekly challenges, combo trials, and as of writing this a total of 8 DLC characters. On paper that all sounds great. In reality, though, aside from the DLC characters those are all features that in the end felt like they should have been there from the start. The fact that they weren’t was disappointing, and the fact that they were EVENTUALLY added in didn’t really do much for the game as a whole. On top of this, the bulk of the content they’ve added, the DLC characters, ended up being of debatable relevance as well. When you consider that, at their original time of release, every DLC character (sans Guile) was considered low or nearly bottom tier compared to the rest of the cast, it was easy to see there was something wrong with how they were balancing the new fighters against the established top tier fighters. 

To Capcom’s credit, they did eventually realize this flaw in their balancing. However, the way they went about correcting it ended up creating more problems than it solved. Basically what ended up happening was Capcom took the two strongest DLC fighters they had made (Guile and Urien), buffed them up a ton, nerfed the established top tier characters (Ryu and Nash) to the point where they are now borderline useless by comparison, and for the rest of the cast made some minor tweaks that moved tiers around ever so slightly between them. That’s it. No buffs noteworthy buffs for the mid tiers, no major changes to the bottom tiers. Most of the cast of SFV was basically left untouched compared to the shifts seen at the top of the tier list and between Guile and Urien. It would seem Capcom’s idea of balancing the game is to simply rotate characters in and out of the top 3 slots and not really worry much about how fun it is to play against them when you’re playing someone outside of those slots. It’s fine for the people who want to play Guile and Urien, but if you want to play as any other member of the cast you may as well put your controller down against them.

Balance isn’t the only gameplay issue facing SFV right now either. I mentioned how I enjoyed the mechanics of SFV at launch, and looked forward to how they would develop over time. But, sadly, they haven’t developed. Not even a little. I had expected by Season 2 coming around we would have seen some sort of change to at least one of the core mechanics. Maybe add new sets of skills for character’s v-systems; new skills and triggers. Maybe a new way to use meter in general, hell, you could give us special cancels in exchange for using v-meter. SFV may not be receiving periodic new repackages in the forms of Super Street Fighter V and so on, but that doesn’t excuse a lack of evolution of gameplay systems over time in the manner these previous iterations gave us. I was under the assumption new seasons would bring more than just characters, and I’m disappointed to see that doesn’t seem to be the case so far.

Speaking of the new season, it is perhaps the biggest thing keeping me away from Street Fighter V right now. Capcom’s idea for Season 2 is, in my opinion, one of the most puzzling decisions they have made throughout this game’s life cycle. The idea of bringing in a cast of entire new characters, sight unseen, and expecting the entire community to A. Be excited about every upcoming release and B. Go so far as to pre-order them through a second season pass purchase is completely ludicrous to me. Don’t get me wrong, I like the idea of SFV having new characters. I think FANG, Laura, and Rashid are great characters (in concept, at least, and I’m not even going near Necalli) and welcome additions to the SF universe. However, to base an entire season SOLELY off of brand new faces is the fighting game marketing equivalent of New Coke. Not only did no one ask for it, but you’re taking away the thing people actually want from you (classic characters, in this case) in favor of the thing no one asked for instead. It would’ve been fine had you sprinkled it in along your line up of other products, perhaps people would have even liked it, but instead you have a package no one has any reason to be invested in at all. Characters sell fighting games, and giving people characters they know and recognize is chiefly important to selling SFV’s style of downloadable content. This approach does nothing positive for the game, especially when Capcom won’t even give us a HINT as to what each of these new characters holds for us gameplay wise. It hurts the current customers who would like to see familiar faces, it hurts would be customers who are WAITING for familiar faces, and, what should be most pressing to Capcom, it hurts Capcom. Because when you lack familiar faces, and give no cohesive details on what the new faces have to offer your customers, you end up in a situation where no one is confident enough to buy them. I guess it’s no wonder they keep shelling out costume DLC.  

Frankly it’s all a bit disappointing that this is where we are right now. I truly believe Street Fighter V has potential to be a great fighting game, but the current prospects aren’t as promising as what I had hoped for this time last year. Capcom’s complacency in regards to balance and evolving mechanics, on top of lack luster features and a marketing nightmare scenario have resulted in a game that I can in no way recommend to anyone at this point. And those are just the big points! I haven’t even touched the slew of PC specific issues that still exist to this day, lingering bugs with battle lounges, features that existed in USF4 that are still MIA from SFV, the unreliability of online matchmaking and connections, the fact that Birdie has been unjustifiably shafted when he never did anything wrong and is a precious boy who deserves nothing but the best, the list goes on into infinity at this point and it’s become too depressing to even bother. 

In closing, SFV is currently a massive source of disappointment for me, and until they sort out their mess I’m not motivated to keep up with its current affairs. The drought of SF related content will likely be persistent on this blog, at least until I inevitably pick up 3S again, or SFV suddenly becomes a good video game. In the meantime, I’m fully invested in my renewed love for Guilty Gear; a series the developers actually know what they’re doing with and only gets better and better. Good job Arc System Works, you’re a better company than the people who decided horror games don’t sell and Megaman should be exiled to Street Fighter x Tekken. Now if only they’d get a handle on their PC ports.

TL;DR - Capcom is consistently fucking up everything they do in relation to this game. It’s imbalanced, they show no interest in evolving the core mechanics, and Season 2 is a concept that is dead on arrival. My interest in the game as a whole is rapidly fading, and it will show on this blog. Also, everyone should go play Guilty Gear Xrd.