#like i eat meat when i visit my family or get takeout and i sometimes put lunch meat in my salads or on my pizzas

[thepoisonroom]

not to be gross but i just got the strongest hankering to eat a steak is it too risky to try to purchase and cook one when i haven't cooked meat in at least six months

[prongssprank]

Marauders Dietary/Food Headcanons:

CW/TW: food/relationships with food

(Because I had a random idea and now I’m running with it)

Lily Evans:

- Has been vegetarian basically her whole life

- She did go Vegan for a few years but didn’t keep it up (partially because she missed honey so much)

- Lily loves to cook and create her own recipes

Dorcas Meadowes:

- Suffers from Celiac so they eat gluten free

- They love to bake, they never buy bread from a store

- Dorcas also always brings a plate of food or a treat to share when they visit someone else’s home, always keeping people’s dietary requirements in mind

Sirius Black:

- Surprisingly to some, Sirius is actually not to shabby in the kitchen, he prefers to just help but can make a few dishes quite easily

- Prefers sweets to chocolate, and is a sweet tooth

- Loves seafood, particularly mussel (oysters)

Remus Lupin:

- He was anaemic when he was younger so now he eats red meat at least once a week

- Can follow a recipe�� most of the time, but would much rather get takeout than cook for himself

- Remus is also a big comfort eater

Marlene McKinnon:

- Vegan and a big lover of oat milk

- Cannot cook for the life of her, except pancakes, they are her one specialty

- They’re allergic to nuts

Mary Macdonald:

- Is intolerant to a fair amount of foods as she suffers from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)

- Gets moody when she’s hungry and even more moody when she gets bloated (as a result of IBS)

- Her random talent is making the best sandwiches, all of her friends often beg her to make them sandwiches

Peter Pettigrew:

- Is lactose intolerant (I know, ironic) not severely so he sometimes has dairy products anyways

- Has always hated vegetables, loves fruit but can barely stand most vegetables

- Has an amazing sense of smell when it comes to food and is a pretty good cook (totally not ratatouille vibes shh)

James Potter:

- Okay hear me out, he hates red meat. Cannot stand it but he does like chicken and other white meats

- Enjoys cooking and can make some pretty good stuff, every now and then he may go overboard with experimentations, especially different herbs and spices

- Has always wanted to try seafood like crab and shrimp but unfortunately he has a shellfish allergy

Alice Fortescue:

- Is obsessed with breakfast foods, it’s her favourite mealtime ever

- Is good at cake decorating, often teams up with Dorcas

- Alice is also one of those people who often fills their days so much that she forgets to eat sometimes which is part of the reason she never leaves without having had a good breakfast

Andromeda Black:

- AMAZING cook, can bake as well. Honestly just a wiz in the kitchen but never accepts help from anyone because she likes to be in control without distraction when she’s cooking

- She’s not a fan of pastries, she’ll have cake and brownies on occasion but she’s never loved pastries

- She definitely gave cooking lessons at one point in her life

Regulus Black:

- His secret food pleasure is olives, they don’t even need to be with anything he’ll eat them straight out of the jar sometimes

- Has a few different allergies including egg, soy and peanuts

- Never really tried cooking before until he turned 17

Frank Longbottom:

- Great at cooking and loves to do it, flipping pancakes and spinning pizza dough are his favourite thing to do

- His favourite food is Fish and Chips, it’s so plain but he adores it

- Frank loves diversity and when he and Alice would travel he would always explore new cuisines, he loves almost everything he tries

Ted Tonks:

- Always carries toffee with him, Andy always teases him that he’s like an old grandpa, he doesn’t mind

- Is probably one of the least picky eaters you’ll ever meet. Seriously he’ll eat anything

- His all time favourite food is Dino nuggets because it brings out his inner child, that and they’re easy enough for him to make when Andromeda is too tired to cook

Narcissa Black:

- Another vegetarian, stopped eating meat around the age of 9 by herself (meaning her family were not vegetarian)

- Had an unhealthy relationship with food for most of her teenage years but she slowly learned to love it and herself again

- She’s always had a soft spot for eclairs

Kingsley Shacklebolt:

- Very tolerant to spicy food, he would always have competitions with people, James was the only person who ever came close to beating him

- Not technically food but he was an avid tea drinker, he and Remus would always drink tea together

- Kingsley was also that person who would rarely have snacks or packaged food, he would always have proper meals that he cooked

Side note: these are just some of my personal opinions and headcanons! Everyone has their own, please be respectful <3

[lovemesomesurveys]

How often do you…

check social media?  I check it throughout the day, daily. 

sleep in past noon? Everyday. Somedays I don’t get up until like 430PM, which is almost evening. :X

do your makeup?  Never anymore. It’s been a few years.

straighten or curl your hair?  Never.

brush or comb your hair?  Every other day.

take meds?  4-5 times a day.

weigh yourself?  It’s been a few years.

use the toilet? [just estimate]  Like 5-6 times.

drink water?  Various times during the day.

put on deodorant? Once a day.

change your clothes?  1-2 times a day.

eat breakfast?  Very, very rarely. I like breakfast foods, though, which if I have any it’s usually for a late lunch or dinner instead.

work?  I don’t.

go to school?  I don’t, I’m done with school.

take vitamins?  Gah, I’m supposed to be taking iron, B12, and vitamin D daily, but I haven’t been. It’s been awhile. :X

play phone games?  I haven’t played any in like a year.

watch YouTube videos?  I watch several a day.

log onto Bzoink?  Never.

check your email? At least once a day, sometimes more. 

drink soda? I don’t drink it anymore except for the little bit I have to take my medicine with.

drink tea? [either iced or hot]  Very rarely.

drink juice? Never. I don’t like any kind of juice.

drink energy drinks?  I drink a Starbucks Doubleshot energy drink almost everyday. :X

eat frozen meals?  Not too often anymore. I used to.

eat nicer restaurant food?  We get takeout a few times a week.

cook?  I cook ramen every night.

bake? Never.

go on walks?  Never.

read?  I do a lot of reading.

write in a journal?  Currently, six days a week for the Bible study I’m doing.

post on social media?  Not very often. I go on and check out what other people are posting and “like” stuff. Occasionally, I’ll share stuff, but I don’t post very often myself with the exception of Twitter.  eat snacks?  I’m not a snacker anymore. I used to be.

exercise?  Never.

do laundry? I personally never do it, my mom helps me with that. It would be hard for me to do.

do dishes?  I rinse off whatever I use, but I don’t actually do the dishes or load the dishwasher. My mom or dad takes care of all that.

make your bed?  It stays made cause I sit and sleep on top of the tucked in sheets. I have a throw blanket I keep to the side and use if needed.

shower?  Every other day.

floss?  I’m not good about that.

brush your teeth?  At least once a day.

wash your bedsheets?  Every couple weeks.

watch TV shows? Daily. My TV is on a lot for just background noise, but I do have shows I watch.

watch movies?  It really just varies. 

play video games?  I’ve been playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons regularly the past few months.

pray?  Not often enough.

see your parents? I live with them, so I see them all the time.

see your grandparents?  My maternal grandparents sadly passed away over a decade ago. It’s been a couple years since I’ve seen my paternal grandparents. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to visit them. It’s hard because they live out of state. They used to travel here every summer in their RV and stay a few months, but they’re no longer able to do that because of health reasons.

see your significant other?  I’m single.

see your friends? I don’t have any friends.

see your siblings?  I see my younger brother all the time, we live together. It’s been a few months since I’ve seen my older brother.

see your aunts/uncles/cousins?  I last saw one of my aunts and cousins back in February. I haven’t seen any others in awhile.

go to movie theatres/drive-ins?  I haven’t been to the movies since February either. Everything went to shit and shutdown in March and we’ve been going through it ever since.

go grocery shopping? I don’t, but my mom does twice a month for our big grocery shopping trips. She makes quick trips to the store in between then for a few things.

use ridesharing services like Lyft/Uber? The first time I used Uber was during my Disneyland trip back in, you guessed it, February. We ended up using it several times during that trip. I haven’t used it since.

use a food delivery service like Instacart, Postmates, Grubhub, etc?  Never.

go to doctor’s appointments?  Once a month now. I used to have two doctor appointments a month, but since covid happened I haven’t been going to one of them. I only go the one I go to because it’s the only way I can get my pain medicine.

go on vacation?  At least once a year, sometimes more. Only once this year, though. I can’t believe my family and I had our big Disneyland trip this year, it feels like forever ago now. Who knows when we’ll have another vacation. :(

do outdoorsy stuff like camping or hiking or bicycling? Never.

take lessons like dance, voice, an instrument, or a language? I I’m not taking any.

play sports?  Never.

write anything like stories, poetry, or songs? Never. I used to when I was a teenager.

listen to, watch, or read the news?  I’ll check the news a few times a day on my news app and I see stuff shared online. I’ll catch some on TV sometimes. 

eat sweets?  I have a Hostess coffee cake everyday with my coffee. For the past month or so I’ve been having a lot of cheesecake as well.

eat junk food?  I eat fast food, takeout, and ramen all the time.

eat veggies?  Not very often. :x I have spinach sometimes with my scrambled eggs.

eat fruits? It’s been a really long time since I’ve had any fruit. :X

eat meat?  Just about everyday, usually chicken tenders or boneless chicken wings. Meatballs sometimes.

consume dairy products like milk, cheese, or yogurt?  I have cheese everyday cause I like to have shredded cheese with my ramen, which I eat every night. If I have scrambled eggs I’ll add shredded cheese to that as well.

go on dates?  It’s been a few years now since my last date.

wear costumes or do cosplay? I used to dress up every Halloween, but I stopped a few years ago.

speak another language besides English?  I practice my Spanish sometimes. More so lately cause my mom has been learning Spanish with the Duolingo app and I’ve been helping her and brushing up on it in the process.

[imyourliquor-youremypoison]

A Girl’s Best Friend (Peter Parker x OC) - Part 5

Synopsis: Diamonds are man’s best friend- or dogs are girls’ best friends, wait… how does the saying go again?

Warnings: Family issues; Peter has a crush and it’s complicated; mention of assault; good dogs; College AU; aged up! characters; TONY STARK IS ALIVE AND WE ALL LIVE IN A HAPPY PLACE CALLED DENIAL

A/N: In this story, Peter has Tom’s dog, Tessa.The dogs in the story play a minor but key role.

Word count: 2.9k

Part 4 <<< >>> Part 6

MASTERLIST

                The week after his last visit to Emmeline as Spider-Man, he noted no changes in her behavior. He was hoping for something, but she was her usual self. She smiled at him when they saw each other in the hallway, she sat next to him in D.E., she studied with him on Thursday mornings before the first wave of students came in and started whispering around them.

                At least, she acted like her usual self until the next Friday. Three months since their meeting on the lawn, and she finally realized that she didn’t have to keep everyone out of her life in order to preserve her feelings. She had this epiphany while watching Peter walk out of his dorm with Tessa on his heels. She spotted the leash she had bought him, and it made her smile a little.

                Peter was a good person. He was a profoundly decent person, he had heart, he was kind, she had never heard him be mean to anyone, she should be lucky to even have met him. Sometimes she remembered the way she had treated him the first time she saw him, and it made her want to crawl into a hole and never talk to another human being ever again.

                Why was she hiding from him? She feared she knew the answer to that question but quickly dismissed the idea.

“Hey! Peter!” she called after him, running to catch up, despite her heels. “Peter wait!”

                He stopped and turned around, watching people’s faces over his shoulder until his eyes fell on her and his entire face lit up. Her heart leapt in her chest.

                Emmeline crashed into his back, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, much to his bafflement. He didn’t expect this kind of physical display of affection, she wasn’t one to be so demonstrative.

 “Em!” He laughed at the way she clung to him, resting her chin on his shoulder. “What’s the occasion?”

“The occasion? No occasion, just saw you and thought I’d walk with you.”

                She let go, much to his chagrin, and went to stand beside him, but not without slipping her hand around his elbow for support. He had noticed she did that whenever she wore heels. She could walk in them, she could even run in them, but it didn’t stop her from holding his arm when they walked together, and Peter wasn’t going to call her out on it.

“Were you walking home?”

He knew she had an extra class on Friday evenings, she signed up for Art classes or something – he wasn’t sure because she stayed very vague about her whereabouts, in true Emmeline fashion. Maybe he was reading into things a little too much – she probably wasn’t hiding anything from him in particular, she was just used to having to be extremely cautious with her private life because she wasn’t safe from a public scandal.

“Yes, but I wouldn’t mind taking a walk, I’ve been sitting in the same position for two hours,” she told him with a groan, stretching with only one hand because she didn’t let go of his arm. “And I’m a bit hungry. I could eat a hot dog.”

“Yeah? A hot dog sounds good,” Peter agreed with an approving nod. Tessa whined softly next to them.

“It’s not actually dog meat, Tess,” Emmeline chuckled, booping Tessa’s nose. She too had to wear a muzzle when going out, and it broke her heart the same way it did when she had to put the muzzle on Bella. “Our dogs have never met,” she suddenly told Peter.

“I’ve never met your dog,” he pointed out. “Then again, you live off campus, which explains it,” he added, quickly looking ahead of him.

“True. And she doesn’t like strangers anyway, she’s a guard dog,” Emmeline hummed quietly. The sound of her heels on the paved paths circling around the lawn in the middle of campus gave them a walking rhythm.

                It was then that it hit him. Peter couldn’t meet Bella, because Bella was supposed to be wary of strangers, but she would immediately recognize him as a friend because of all the time he had spent petting her as Spider-Man. How could he not have thought about this? Talk about shooting himself in the foot.

“Where were you heading?” she questioned, turning her head to look at him.

“Nowhere in particular, just getting some fresh air and maybe grab some takeout on the way back.” Peter shrugged; he didn’t have plans when he walked out, but he sure wished he had made some now that Emmeline was at his arm. Some people stared as they walked past, probably having recognized her – it must be that because now one knew him. “Unless you want to go somewhere?”

                He congratulated himself for asking; her face lit up and he knew it was the right thing to say. Maybe she didn’t want to be alone tonight.

“I’m trying to think of something where Tessa could come with,” she said, already deep in thought, leaning a bit more against him.

“We can drop her off at my room again,” Peter told her. “It’s not a problem.”

                Emmeline laughed and glanced at him, a cheeky half smile dancing on her lips.

“Shush now, Peter. Don’t sound so desperate to spend time with me,” she teased him though if she were being honest with herself, it was the other way around. She had been the one lurching at him the second she spotted him and almost jumped on his back like a clingy koala bear.

                Her banter was answered with a tense laugh and Peter put his free hand in his pocket.

“Maybe I am,” he simply said. “You’re pretty fluky, you know that? I barely get a glimpse of you some days.”

“I’m keeping things interesting between us! Routine is lethal,” she argued, whispering the words so close to his ear her breath tickled him slightly, as if to prove her point.

                Goosebumps erupted on his skin, but he tried to keep it cool. She hadn’t noticed the effect she had on him yet – which was a miracle Peter had every intention to take advantage of. He wasn’t entirely socially inept; he could carry a normal conversation with her if he would just quit acting like a fool. She’s just a girl, just a regular, normal human being of the opposite sex. A very pretty representative though.

“I call bullshit,” Peter scoffed, finally regaining some control over himself. He got this. “Maybe you’re just not that interesting?” he deliberately provoked her, smiling smugly when her jaw dropped a little and she poked him in the ribs.

                They had an easygoing friendship despite Emmeline’s efforts to keep Peter at arm’s length. It made his heart drop a little every time, but he could tell she was doing her best. She wanted to spend time with him, she wanted to be close, he could tell as much. But somehow, she couldn’t do it. She didn’t allow herself to. He had yet to figure out what the reason for that was, but he figured it had something to do with her family – she simply never mentioned them. If he hadn’t googled her, Peter wouldn’t even know she was the daughter of the mayor.

“See, that’s why I like to hang out with you, Parker.” She sent him a sarcastic smile. “You really know how to sweet talk to girls.”

“Thank you. It’s a skill.” He winked at her, wondering where this sudden smoothness came from but thanking heaven it did come after all.

                They ended up walking for hours, until Tessa called it a day and began to tug on the leash to go back to Peter’s dorm room. They still hadn’t made plans for tonight, but neither of them was going to go their separate way yet. The night was still young.

 *

                 The change came slowly – so slowly that Peter didn’t see it coming and was simply smacked in the face when it hit him.

                It happened when he sat on the floor in the corridor right outside the door to Emmeline’s last class of the day. He arrived fifteen minutes early and decided to read through some of his notes instead of scrolling through his phone to keep his hands busy.

                He realized that four months ago, he didn’t know when, or where her last class of the day was. Four months ago, he didn’t wait for her so they could go study together or grab coffee before walking his dog. Four months ago, she didn’t know he existed.

                And now? Now her number was in his phone under the name “M” – it took him forever to figure out it was her; she had put her number in it herself so she could send herself a message and have his number too.

                A fluttery sensation in his chest made him feel light all of a sudden. For the first time in forever, he really felt like things were going his way. He wasn’t stuck in a weird unrequited crush on an uptown girl. She actually liked to hang out with him; she stayed on campus way longer than necessary just to keep him company when he walked his dog, even though she would have to go out again later to walk her own dog.

                It just hit him like a ton of bricks when he realized that maybe, she had opened up a little to him since he had stopped visiting her as Spider-Man. She hadn’t told him about the attempted assault yet, but she shared pieces of herself still – which was good enough for now.

                When the bell rang and the door swung open, Peter jumped on his feet and Emmeline was the first one out. Her beaming smile when she saw him made his heart skip a beat and he wished they lived in a world where creeps who assaulted girls in dark alleys, and superheroes who had to intervene didn’t exist. He wished they lived in a world where he could kiss her hello and goodbye, and nothing was complicated.

                She approached and grabbed his hand on her way past him, pulling him with her.

“Come on, we have to hurry,” she told him with a laugh, urging him to pick up his pace.

“Where are we going?”

                She had asked him if he was free this afternoon and he had said yes. Peter had no idea what she had planned but he was ready for just about anything. She could have announced that they would be skydiving, and he would have just nodded.

                Ned had been wrong in saying that Emmeline would never even look at Peter, but he was spot on when he had told him he was a love-sick fool who was going to end up in trouble for this girl’s pretty eyes.

“Have you ever been ax-throwing before?”

                Well… he didn’t expect that, but he was down.

“I have not,” he laughed.

                She had let go of his hand and they were now running towards the metro, attracting curious glances as they dashed across the lawn, Emmeline leading the way. Peter tried to not outrun her even though he easily could have.

“Why are we running?” he asked when she stopped at a red light once they reached an intersection.

“I booked a target, if we’re late they are gonna give it to someone else,” she explained, giving a light tap on his stomach and making him bend slightly forward. “I know you’re fitter than you let on, don’t lie to me. If we run, we can make it.”

                And they did. She was completely out of breath by the time they reached the front door or the place, and Peter hadn’t even broken a sweat – he could have pretended to be worn for her sake, but after her little comment on his shape, he wasn’t going to.

                To be frank, he hadn’t expected this afternoon to take this road at all. He thought maybe she wanted to have coffee, to visit the zoo, to go shopping, or whatnot. But he did not consider they would end up listening to some guy dressed like a lumberjack giving them safety instructions before showing them the right way to throw a tomahawk and explaining how the points system worked.

                Peter sent a suspicious look to Emmeline who looked way too comfortable here, and he wondered if she had done this before. He wouldn’t put it past her to throw axes in her spare time. Hell, he wouldn’t even put it past her to know how to use a katana, and ride a horse, and play the organ. People with money made their children learn all kinds of freaky stuff. Shit, maybe she fenced too. He would have to ask later.

                He couldn’t say he was surprised when she grabbed the ax from the guy’s hand and threw it at the target. Four points: it landed in the second ring from the inside out.

 “Did you bring me here just to show off?” he asked her, accepting the weapon she handed him.

                She shrugged while he took position, one foot on the line drawn on the ground. He had never done that, but he thought it couldn’t be that hard, he just needed to put the adequate amount of strength into it… right?

                He missed the target completely, but the ax still got stuck in the wood panel behind it, sending Emmeline into a fit of laughter. She had to wipe away tears of hilarity while Peter glared at her, hands on his hips in an attempt to look stern but having no success whatsoever.

“You-“ She was still laughing too hard to talk. “You can’t just-“ No, she really couldn’t speak yet.

                Peter gave her a moment to laugh it out and calm down.

“You have to aim first, Peter,” she finally said when she was able to articulate a full sentence. “Not just throw as hard as you can.”

“Well, it’s my first try and it’s stuck in the wall, I wouldn’t call it a total failure.”

“Here, try again,” she said, pulling the ax out of the wall and giving him again. “Don’t let go before your arm is fully extended,” she explained. “Maybe take a step or two back. You really got that arm strength.”

                He did as she instructed and after the fourth time, the ax was finally in the target. Nowhere near the center, but it was in it.

“How long have you been throwing axes? It’s not a conventional Tuesday afternoon activity.”

“A girl needs to let out some steam once in a while,” she said offhandedly.

                She got into position, aimed and threw, hitting the bull’s eye.

“Whose face are you picturing when you throw that thing?”

                Frankly, he expected another vague answer funny enough to distract him from asking more inquisitive questions, and nearly missed again when it was his turn to throw and she gave him an honest answer.

“My father’s, most of the time.”

Peter stared at her, the ax barely grazing the outer circle of the target. Emmeline shrugged again. She did a whole lot of shrugging and Peter was starting to think it meant the opposite of what she wanted to convey. It wasn’t something she should be shrugging off.

“You never mentioned him before,” he said, licking his lips. God, he was beginning to sweat. This hoodie wasn’t made for physical exercise.

“We have a complication relationship.” Emmeline pursed her lips and thought about it before continuing, eyes trained on her shoes as if they were the most fascinating sight she ever beheld. “I can’t just talk shit about my family to vent,” she explained. “It had consequences whenever I did it in the past. This led to a lot of resentment between us, and I’ve never been close to my parents in the first place. So yeah… I don’t mention them that often – or at all.”

                She shrugged again and this time Peter was sure it was a physical cue of her unease. He forgot about the ax and turned to her, but she seemed to need to throw it again. The mere mention of her parents lit a fire in her eyes, and he saw now why she came here. To exorcise her rage.

                The angrier she was, the better her aim apparently.

“They are not your biological parents, right? I heard you speak to that doctor…” Peter trailed off, not entirely sure it was a good idea to admit to having eavesdropped but too curious not to ask.

“So, you were listening that day,” she said, letting out a bitter laugh. “Whatever. I don’t care if people know, only my parents care about what the public opinion.”

                She was about to throw another ax, but Peter took ahold of her wrist to stop her.

“Does it make you mad?” he asked, staring into her dark, troubled eyes.

“It doesn’t matter. Hiding it would be lying,” she stated, lowering her arm. “I think it’s enough for one afternoon, what do you say? Should we head out and go sit somewhere? My arms are killing me.”

                He wanted to insist, to ask a thousand questions, to know more. However, she had told him more about herself this afternoon than she had in the past few months, and he considered himself lucky enough for one day.

.

.

.

Reblog to save a writer

Taglist: @of-virtuoso

[thisdiscontentedwinter]

rule of three - chapter 32

RULE OF THREE CHAPTER INDEX HERE. 

 “This is not my idea of a first date,” Peter grouses when Chris hands him the safety glasses or whatever the hell they are.

Chris just quirks his mouth in a smile that says a lot more than words could. Because it doesn’t matter what Stiles had suggested, Peter would have jumped at the chance to spend some time with him.

It’s been two weeks since Deucalion’s arrest, and they’ve hardly seen Stiles. Peter’s missed him. Texting isn’t the same. Peter would rather hear Stiles’s laugh and see the way his eyes shine when he does it than get a texted LOL. So yes, he would have agreed to anything. He had hoped, though, for something with appetizers and a wine menu.

Stiles flashes him a grin, and adjusts his earmuff things.

Are they still called earmuffs if they’re not fuzzy and warm?

Peter has no idea. He’s completely out of his depth here.

The shooting range is mostly empty. Maybe there’s a busy period at places like this, and maybe there’s not. If there is, it’s certainly not today. They’re the only ones in this half of the—gallery? Peter wants to call it a gallery despite the depressing lack of art, or even a view. The term shooting gallery has to come from somewhere, right? And why not here? They’re in a long, wide hallway basically, and there is a series of narrow rooms off to the side where the targets are set up. It’s all very police buddy movie.

Peter might be out of his depth in his surroundings and completely hopeless with the terminology, but Chris is clearly in his element. He runs Stiles and Peter through the basic safety stuff, which Peter chooses to interpret as “Stay away from the guns and go and read a book in the car, Peter” because this really isn’t him.

Fine.

So Peter did shoot and kill a man back in their apartment, but those were extenuating circumstances. And Peter is totally willing to believe that he will never again be put in a position where anything more this his currently rudimentary—or non-existent—knowledge of guns will be required. Peter never wants to touch a gun again. Stiles clearly wants to learn how to, so that if there’s ever a next time he’ll feel more in control.

Stiles is soaking it up. He’s listening intently to Chris, and nodding to show his understanding.

And then Chris is standing behind Stiles, his hands on his hips to get his stance right, and Peter forgets all about the book in the car. To be fair, both Chris and Stiles both seem totally focused on what they’re doing, and Peter is probably the only one with his mind in the gutter, but Stiles looks good with Chris’s fingers splayed around his hips. Peter can’t help but imagine them naked, Chris’s cock sliding into the boy. Stiles’s mouth hanging open, his eyes sliding shut, every thrust punching out a sweet, strangled noise. Peter imagines licking the sweat and cum off both of them when they’re done.

Peter’s fantasy shatters the moment he sees how much Stiles is shaking as he raises his gun to shoot the paper target.

“You’re doing good,” Chris tells him. “Breathe in, and breathe out. Don’t hold your breath. Fire on the exhale.”

Stiles nods, swiping his tongue over his lower lip as he tries to steady his aim.

Stiles killed a man too, of course. Matt Daehler died on his way to the hospital and Peter hopes wholeheartedly that his last moments were full of pain and regret. Stiles is very probably a stronger man that Peter if he’s ready to pick up a gun again.

Stiles sucks in a deep breath, and holds it for a moment before he lets it out again. He fires, and Peter jerks at the noise despite his hearing protection.

“Fuck,” Stiles says, squinting at the target. “Right in the throat. Apparently I’ve got a signature style.”

“You’ve got bad aim,” Chris tells him with a smile. “You’re aiming for the chest, remember? Always go for the body mass, not the extremities.”

“No trick shooting with you then?” Stiles asks, his voice pitched a little higher than usual with nerves.

“No,” Chris tells him, and corrects his stance again. “Try again.”

They’re at the shooting range for an hour, until Stiles is wrung out, Chris declares him a decent student, and Peter has run through every fantasy of a naked Stiles in a thigh holster that he can imagine.

He’ll move onto fantasies of tearing body armor off him next time.

 ***

 They eat a late lunch at a restaurant on Pine Street, that’s not quite the plastic and neon monstrosity that Peter had feared. The menus are laminated, but he gives them a pass on that because the place is otherwise charming. Although that might be the company.

Stiles orders a club sandwich and a soda, and then fiddles with his straw for a while before he says, suddenly, “Where did you guys go on your first date?”

Peter considers that for a moment. “Here.”

“You brought me to the same spot you had your first date?” Sties asks, raising his eyebrows.

Chris smiles.

“No,” Peter says. “I mean that this is our first date.”

Stiles’s jaw drops.

“We never dated,” Chris says. “I was mated to someone else.”

“We hooked up in a lot of filthy hotel rooms and back alleys,” Peter says. “And then the loft. We didn’t go out.”

“That’s…” Stiles blinks. “Wow. Not even a movie?”

Peter smiles a little at that. “Don’t feel too sorry for us, Stiles. We had some fantastic dirty sex, without the annoying social niceties attached.”

“Social niceties like getting to know the other person?” Stiles challenges.

“It’s amazing what you can learn about someone else during the fantastic dirty sex,” Peter shoots back, just to enjoy the flush that pinks Stiles’s cheeks.

“Particularly when the other person doesn’t know how to shut his damn mouth,” Chris says.

Peter smirks, and Stiles gives a snort of laughter.

“We did go out,” Chris says. “When I got divorced, remember?”

“We ate burgers in my car when I picked you up from the courthouse,” Peter says, and winks at Stiles. “And they say romance is dead.”

“I visited you when you were in college,” Chris reminds him.

“Yes,” Peter allows, although he can’t consider those dates either. Not really. They still didn’t have the freedom of going out and acting like boyfriends in public, since Peter’s circle of friends was mostly still from Beacon Hills, and they would know who Chris Argent was. The mated alpha son of Gerard Argent. Takeout meals and closed curtains were the extent of their time together then. “You visited. We didn’t date.”

“Okay,” Stiles says suddenly, his smile a fraction too bright as though he’s worried they’re going to argue about it. “So this is everyone’s first date, right? We’ll circle it on the calendar or something.”

Peter snaps a complimentary breadstick. “You don’t need to be the peacemaker, Stiles.”

“What?”

“This asshole and I have got twenty years of baggage.” Peter shrugs. “It’s not your job to unpack it.”

“Right,” Stiles says with a nod. “So we’ll just load mine up and throw it in the back with yours?”

Peter shrugs again and smirks. “Why not?”

“That seems like a disaster of a plan,” Stiles says frankly and then takes a long sip of his soda.

Chris reaches out and squeezes Peter’s hand. “Well, he’s a disaster of a person.”

Stiles laughs so hard that soda comes out his nose.

 ***

 Their second date is a movie. Stiles gets so excited during the part with explosions that he spills his popcorn all over the three of them.

 ***

 There are things that Stiles doesn’t say to their faces, but he sometimes sends texts.

I don’t want to have heat sex with you. Or anyone. Is that ok?

“He’s too young,” Chris says when the text comes through. “If he can’t talk about sex to our faces, he’s too young.”

“Bullshit,” Peter says. “He’s suffered trauma and he’s terrified of having his control taken away from him. That’s why he’s texting, not talking. If he’s texting, nobody can railroad him. He can take as long as he wants to think of a reply, and we can’t change his mind. He’s not embarrassed by sex, Christopher, he’s afraid of losing his agency during heat.”

He texts back: You set the rules, sweetheart. Remember?

 ***

 Their third date is possibly the most terrifying of all: family dinner with the Stilinskis. Peter finds himself perversely delighted at the prospect of facing John Stilinski’s disapproval. He’s never been given a shovel talk before and is almost looking forward to it. He makes an eggplant parmesan with fresh mozzarella to take with them, since Stiles insisted on something meat-free, but Peter knows will still earn John’s appreciation by being absolutely laden with cheese.

Stiles is cooking too, but clearly not just because he’s the omega of the household. He’s definitely in charge, and Isaac is his vegetable-chopping bitch. But the household is still traditional in some respects: John shows Peter and Chris into the living room, gestures at them to sit down on the couch, and then sits across from them and stares at them in silence for a long while.

Chris takes it all with his usual equanimity.

Peter suddenly regrets looking forward to this part.

At last, John sighs. “He’s my son,” he says, and then presses his mouth into a tight line and shakes his head slightly. “My son. If anything happened to him…”

And Peter understands, because yes, Stiles is precious. Stiles is one of the brightest stars in the sky. If anything happened to him, it wouldn’t just be John who was bereft.

“John,” Chris says, his voice calm and level. “The last thing Peter and I want is to hurt Stiles.”

“You’re a lot older than him,” John says. “You have a history that he can’t even begin to compete against.”

“And we don’t expect him to,” Chris says. He rubs his forehead for a moment, the slight movement signaling his nerves, and Peter melts a little. Chris, total fucking badass Chris, is nervous. Well, that makes two of them. “This is new territory for us as well. But we like Stiles a lot, and we respect him, and we would never intentionally hurt him in any way. That’s a promise.”

Peter nods.

“Well,” John says finally. “I guess that’s all I can ask, isn’t it?”

He never does show them his gun collection.

 ***

 Stiles is still smiling when he walks Peter and Chris to their car. “Thank you.”

“For what?” Peter asks.

“For letting my dad glare at you throughout dinner.”

Chris leans against the car. “He’s also glaring at us now from the front porch.”

Stiles turns around, squawking with indignation. “Dad! Jesus Christ! I’m giving Peter back his casserole dish?”

“Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” Peter murmurs, and Chris elbows him.

John looks pointedly at his watch and steps back inside the house.

“Guess I’d better make this quick then.” Stiles says, stepping closer.

Chris gets the first kiss, and Peter finds that he doesn’t mind, because it’s a beautiful thing to watch. Stiles melts into Chris, a feeling Peter is more than familiar with, and looks dazed when he finally steps back again.

And then Stiles’s mouth is warm against Peter’s, and Peter thrills to be following the same path that Chris’s tongue just did.

Stiles pulls back. “Your turn.”

Chris raises his eyebrows.

“Don’t make me smoosh you together like my GI Joe figures when I was eight.” Stiles’s smile is nine-tenths wicked. “Because I will.”

Peter smirks, and reaches out and curls his hand around the back of Chris’s head. Tugs him close into a kiss that’s quick, messy, and breaks when Chris starts to laugh.

“Still hot,” Stiles declares with a grin. “Goodnight!”

He waves awkwardly and jogs back toward the house.

Peter watches him go, warmth flooding through him. Beside him Chris is still smiling.

No, this was never about adding someone to their relationship, was it? This was about starting over, for all of them.

This is something new, and it just might be something wonderful.

[soap3rz]

Visit Cossetta’s here: https://cossettas.com/

While there are legitimate concerns out there over the authenticity of cultural cuisines and our American foundation of fast food and franchise chain restaurants, taking what is not ours and spinning for profit–it’s easy to get caught up on what is “real” food and what isn’t. One conversation, however, that I feel myself irked by consistently, is what makes Italian food authentic here in the United States. It’s a fair question, after all, because you’re not likely to find meatballs, Alfredo sauce, garlic bread, or a “Hot Dago” [1] back in the Old Country of Italy. But there is a distinct difference in what is Italian and what is Italian-American. After all, the cuisines of immigrants who came from Italy was heavily influenced in not only their fellow foreigners and adjacency to other cultural cuisines, but also in being forced to adapt old dishes to new based on the availability of foods in The States at that time. What we have here is a hodgepodge of old Italian with a distinctly American flair. How do you make do without olive oil? Butter up that bread instead and use plenty of garlic. And what do you do when you show up in a country that’s brimming with cows? Pack up those meatballs like your friendly neighborhood Swedes and toss them in the sugo! And, speaking of sauce, pretty much the only kind easily made was red because canned tomatoes were the only thing easily found in markets at the time–until you got to Alfredo sauce. “Who is Alfredo?” Native Italians will ask–well, he was a chef in Rome back in 1914 who made a white sauced based dish that happened to be served with fettuccine noodles that day when two American Silent-Film Stars dined at his restaurant. They loved it so much, they took the recipe back home which became a hit among the elite, solidifying its popularity in Olive Garden’s across the nation after Alfredo’s family later opened a few restaurants showcasing the dish stateside in the 1970’s. [2] So perhaps you can’t find meatball sub sandwiches in Italy, but these are authentic to and traditional Italian-American foods that were invented right here in the United States due to the unique cultural experiences of Italian immigrants at the time.

And probably nothing more storied to this unique experience of cultural history exists in Minnesota than Cossetta’s Market–a pinnacle of Italian-American cuisine and heritage here in St. Paul. 

Cossetta’s Market as it stood in 1952. (Photo: Minnesota Historical Society)

In the late 19th century, around 10,000 Italian immigrants made their way to Minnesota–a vast majority of them settling around the Twin Cities, Duluth, and the Iron Range. My great-grandfather was one of them, opting to work in the mines up north. Most of them settled in St. Paul, however, and clustered near the Upper Levee/Landing or “Little Italy” where many of them worked on the railroad (In the 50’s, the Mississippi River flooded this area over and the neighborhood, unfortunately, was forced to relocate). As a result, St. Paul began to see a number of Italian run stores and restaurants pop up and among them was Cossetta’s in 1911. Michael Cossetta came from Calabria, Italy–a region where my family also hails from and can be found on the toe of the Italian boot–and established his deli on the Upper Levee. The market passed through family hands until current owner Dave Cossetta took it over in 1978, at the time only 21-years old and a meat cutter by trade. [4]

It was under Dave that Cossetta’s began to expand into the block of Italian fare it is today. He moved the market to it’s current location–situated down the street from Xcel Energy Center and within walking distance of the Minnesota History Center, Cathedral of Saint Paul, and the Science Museum of Minnesota (Here’s looking at you, Stranger Things fans!) and started branching out into selling meats, deli, and imported Italian groceries. In the grocery, you can find entire aisles dedicated to Italian olive oils, chocolates & candy, noodles, sauces, coffee, etc. And though slightly overpriced, it makes for the ideal stop to get a quick fix of whatever goodie you fell in love with overseas. The meats & deli alone are also worth a gander–it’s the best place to find a variety of spicy capicola (my family’s favorite), the best porchetta & prosciutto in town, and fresh hand-rolled ricotta cheese for those of us who still make their lasagnas homemade.

And the bread, THE BREAD!

Dave then expanded Cossetta’s into a Marketplace & Eatery–it’s here you can find a full quick-service dining experience where you can stuff your face with a slice of pizza, some of the heavenly Mostaccioli con Ricotta–a Cossetta’s staple–or simply run away with a to-go box of tiramisu before all of the delicious carbs slay you.

Or, if you’re looking for a more intimate, fine dining experience–Louis Ristorante & Bar was opened upstairs in 2012 with an eye for both more upscale, traditional mainland Italian dishes as well as some Italian-American staples like Mama Frieda’s meatballs! I’ve eaten at Louis a few times and lemme just…

Special Feature

Bucatini All’ Amatriciana

‘Louis’ Brick Chicken

Formaggi & Frutta

But perhaps the best thing about Cossetta’s is the newly added pastry shop which was designed to reassemble a pasticceria in Italy–it was actually made there, disassembled, and shipped to the US where it was rebuilt for Cossetta’s by Italian craftsmen. [5] Having been to a few of the real deals myself, it certainly does feel like I’m back in Rome.

Not pictured: Drool. Photo from MPR

Leave the diet, take the cannolis! Cakes, tarts, gelati–it’s sweets heaven courtesy of Cossetta’s here. The tables are even packed in and tight just like a real pastry shop in Italy would be–so get over your claustrophobia and get the Italian experience the way it was meant to be, elbows touching and cream puffs oozing. And, naturally, I’ve indulged in my fair share of Lavazza espresso (You’ll find this brand everywhere in Italy!) and gelato here.

  Since Dave took over ownership of Cossetta’s, he’s transformed it into a pillar of both Italian-American and traditional Italian cuisine. The blend of both Italian heritages married together like a sweet marinara sauce. Cossetta’s is one of the original Italian restaurants here in Minnesota, so its foundation of Italian-American historical significance had never been in question. But as the years have gone by and with remodels, expansions, and continued redesigns–Cossetta’s is now one of the best stops to get a little taste of the real Italy across the sea too. I’ve gone here to shop for groceries and pick up spicy capicola, tomatoes, and peasant bread to make sandwiches just like my Italian-American grandfather would eat on the farm up north. I’ve been here for coffee and dessert, or for a Christmas party with all of my aunts and cousins where we sat upstairs digging into chicken parmigiana. I’ve gone on dates with my boyfriend to Louis, had met my Italian language class there at the end of semester, and sometimes I’ve simply been in that area of St. Paul walking along the sidewalk–taking the time to smile and marvel at the collection of Italian antiques and decorations in the window.

To me, Cossetta’s is the beating heart of being an Italian-American here in Minnesota.

    Footnotes, citations, and other reading:

[1] Norton, James. “St. Paul’s “Hot Dago” Sandwich Offers No Apologies, Few Explanations, and a Half-pound of Sausage.” The Takeout. July 13, 2018. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://thetakeout.com/st-paul-s-hot-dago-sandwich-offers-no-apologies-few-1825333299.

[2] Coleman, Todd. “The Real Alfredo.” Saveur. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://www.saveur.com/article/Kitchen/The-Real-Alfredo/.

[3] Sazevich, Jim. “Italians” Accessed July 22, 2019. https://saintpaulhistorical.com/items/show/40

[4] Pioneer Press. “Cossetta’s, a St. Paul Classic, Grows Thanks to Owner’s Vision.” Twin Cities. November 05, 2015. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://www.twincities.com/2013/01/15/cossettas-a-st-paul-classic-grows-thanks-to-owners-vision/.

[5] Staff, BMTN. “Cossetta in St. Paul Shows off Restaurant Remodel.” Bring Me The News. October 19, 2012. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://bringmethenews.com/news/cossetta-in-st-paul-shows-off-restaurant-remodel.

Cossetta’s Alimentari: An Italian Market & Pizzeria in St. Paul, MN While there are legitimate concerns out there over the authenticity of cultural cuisines and our American foundation of fast food and franchise chain restaurants, taking what is not ours and spinning for profit--it's easy to get caught up on what is "real" food and what isn't.

[sentrava]

Planning a Dolly-Filled, Fall Friend-Cation in the Great Smoky Mountains

You know those friends you can go years without seeing, then all show up in one place and immediately it’s as if no time has passed? That’s the Footlight Fannies for me. So when the sole male fanny proposed a weekend in the Smokies—or rather, I think his words were, “how do you feel about church lady hats, Dolly and speaking with a drawl?” which I took to mean he wanted an East Tennessee getaway of epic proportions, I didn’t hesitate. I started looking for us a cabin, pieced together an itinerary and made sure they were serious about flying down to Tennessee to see me for the ultimate fall vacation in the Smokies.

But let me rewind.

I met the Fannies exactly seven years before our fall retreat in the Smokies. The four of us were confined to a floating office that couldn’t have been more than 200 square feet in size, so let’s just say we got to know each other intimately. We sang show tunes, we competed in Sea Olympics somewhere in the middle of the Indian Ocean, we dressed up as various iterations of Lady Gaga, we drank way too much at a BBQ joint in Vietnam, we even choreographed our own haka dances. Trina, Josh and Paula are my tribe, y’all. The people with whom I can be hopelessly silly and—on the flip side—totally, unabashedly real. We actually garnered the name “Footlight Fannies” from the program’s South African theater director who said we were a quartet who always needed to be in the spotlight. I mean … he’s not wrong.

And though two of us live in New York, one in Sacramento and the other in Tennessee, we still manage to convene at least once a year, three times of which have now taken place in Tennessee. (You can catch up on our Nashville birthday weekend celebration for Josh a few years back.)

So, they booked their tickets, and I moved forward with the logistics.

Where to Stay in the Smokies

One thing those who don’t frequent the Smokies grapple with is where to book a cabin. Well, it all depends on what experience you want because even though Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are all located along a 15-mile stretch comprising Highway 441, the traffic is horrendous. In other words, decide where you’re going to spend your time and then book your lodging.. If you’re a couple who wants close access to the park, I recommend being around the perimeter of Gatlinburg, not in town, but close enough to drive when you have a hankering for a good breakfast. If you’re a family who wants easy entrance to Dollywood and all the attractions along the parkway, Sevierville is a great choice for you.

Because fall is high season in the Smokies and I was booking within a two-month window, our options were limited. We wound up just off the parkway a bit north of Sevierville in one of Old Mill Lodging’s older cabins. In a more ideal world, we would have been off of Wears Valley Road—a short drive to everything, but in a place that still feels like you are in the mountains. On SVV’s and my last Smoky Mountain getaway, we stayed in a great Sevierville cabin complex that I highly recommend. But sometimes you have limited options and for the Fannies’ intents and purposes, this cabin, while dated, was comfortable enough, the perfect size for the four of us and worked just fine!

Paula, Trina and Josh arrived at various times on Thursday morning and night, so I booked us an Airbnb in Knoxville for our first evening, rather than drive to the Smokies under a veil of darkness. This wound up being a smart move as Trina and Josh’s flight was so delayed that they didn’t land until after 1am. Paula and I were snoozing by the time they made it to our rental in Fourth and Gill.

Looking to book your first Airbnb? You can get $40 off your stay here!

After sleeping in, we got up and tooled around my former college town and checked off a few things on my Knoxville itinerary for every first-time visitor, then we hit the road for Sevierville in time to miss the weekend traffic. Knoxville McGhee Tyson airport is just 30 minutes to an hour from the Smokies, depending on which side of them you’re staying on.

What to Do in Pigeon Forge

Once we arrived at our Sevierville cabin, we wasted no time uncorking the wine and starting a dance party as we all got ready to take the town by storm. Josh surprised us with—Dolly Parton wigs, what else?—and we used Trina’s bright red lipstick and bandanas we purchased in Knoxville to accentuate our looks. We were ready to hit the parkway!

But what we didn’t expect when we arrived at the parkway, with its giant Godzilla, replica of Mount Rushmore, overturned museum and other curiosities, is that we would be the attraction. Despite the county’s huge rod run going on that weekend, many bikers stopped to ask to get their photos with us—and one vendor even asked if we were a band. I can’t imagine why we turned heads. But we rolled with it!

We had a big evening planned at Dolly Parton’s Celebration! Dinner Show—you may remember that SVV and I went to Pigeon Forge in the spring for the show’s opening—so it made sense to migrate to that general vicinity. Old Forge Distillery is right there, so we parked at the Old Mill, poked around its various buildings including the pottery studio, then bellied up to the bar to taste our way through Old Forge’s spirited offerings.

That included a full flight of moonshine, so I only took a few sips as I was driving, while the Fannies full-on indulged. By the time we left Old Forge and made it to the dinner show, they were real happy if you get my gist.

Luckily, Celebration! wasn’t far—just a five-minute drive if that. What I love about the dinner show is they cook up a full Thanksgiving-level feast that’s served to you before and during the main event.

This cirque-style show is an entertaining way to spend an evening even if you’ve already seen it, as I had. In fact, there had been some slight tweaks to the programming and cast changes even since my visit six months prior. Best of all, dinner starts around 6:30pm and the whole shebang is over at 8pm, so plenty of time to add another activity on after that. For us, that was hot-tubbing with wine back at our cabin. Smoky Mountain life, am I right?

The following day, we had a date with my friends Steph and Tim and, of course, Dolly—after all, Dollywood is very much why the Fannies wanted to come to the Smokies in the first place—and I’m glad we got there right as it opened (after a quick stop for breakfast at Courthouse Donuts because we’re only human), as the skies opened up and poured on us after lunch.

We waited it out a bit, before the park got shut down and we were ushered out. But not before we took plenty of photos in our Dolly wigs–obviously!

Even with the rain thwarting our plans, we still had plenty of time to go on a couple of rides, eat some BBQ and greasy meat-and-threes and, of course, take a peek into her former tour bus. Just a half-day at Dollywood is worth the trip for the magic that is Dolly Parton.

Where to Eat and Drink in Pigeon Forge

Rained out, we headed to the nearby Island in Pigeon Forge as I read they had a new outpost of Yee-Haw Brewing Company, a Johnson City-based brewery whose beer I love (that Dunkel, though). Parking was atrocious, but we eventually nabbed a spot and splashed our way over to Yee-Haw as the rain soaked our clothes. I was a little disappointed in Yee-Haw, to be honest, as it didn’t have nearly the beer offerings I’ve seen at other bars—and many of those brews of theirs that were on tap that I wanted to try weren’t available. We downed a quick pint and went to our next stop: Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud.

Now if you’ve done an Alaskan cruise, you’ve likely seen a replica of this show—two families “feuding” to become the ultimate victor by tackling a series of lumber-related challenges; I know my family and I went to one in Ketchican many years ago. In fact, I’d venture to say several of the “lumberjacks” (actors) even did their time in Alaska. This new show was a bit cheesy but definitely fit the Pigeon Forge mold. I’d say the four of us 30-somethings weren’t exactly the target demographic—kids are likely to love the concept—but we had fun nonetheless and even took home our own “cookie” (a piece of the tree the lumberjacks sliced off for us)! After all, we’re the Fannies and kitsch is totally our jam.

The Lumberjack Feud backs the complex that houses Smoky Mountain Brewery, so after the 90-minute show, we were able to walk right over to dinner.

Let me just start with the bad: Y’all, the beer at Smoky Mountain Brewery was terrible, so don’t waste your calories if that’s something that matters to you. And now, the positive: The food is really good, particularly for Sevier County standards (this is not an area known for fine dining). I always love their pizza, and we frequently order takeout from here when SVV and I are visiting the Smokies. Just don’t go for the beer—or do, but don’t say I didn’t tell you so. There’s also now a Casual Pint in Sevierville, so finally you can have the ultimate craft beer experience without leaving Sevier County.

A couple of my favorite places to eat in the area that have both great food and beer are the Roaming Gnome Pub and Goats on the Roof. We didn’t get a chance to go there on this visit, but I put together a little map for those of you wanting more eating and drinking experiences on your own fall vacation to the Smokies.

Where to Go in the Smokies

Fall is a tricky time to drive through the Smoky Mountains as it’s high season. We were there in September, so arrived well before the leaves peeped, which are around late October and early November nowadays with the summer temps extending through early October. For reference, here’s what last November looked like when we were there for a whiskey festival.

But it was still green in September and warm, a gorgeous view nonetheless, just not the color you might expect from the Smokies in fall.

We headed down to Gatlinburg early on Sunday morning, with a brief pause at a pancake house for sustenance. Note: I enjoyed Crockett’s 1875 Breakfast Camp far more than Pancake Pantry and the wait wasn’t nearly as long. But try to get there as close to opening as possible to put your name in, otherwise you’ll inevitably have to wait!

While we waited, we strolled the parkway—and stumbled into one of those old-timey photo booths that Gatlinburg was made for. Minutes later, Paula had negotiated a deal with the guy running the place and we had a date to return later that afternoon. Oh boy, what were we in for?

But first, we had to eat, then drive the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, a 5.5-mile, one-way loop which takes about an hour to tackle with limited stops. This is one of the best drives if you don’t have a lot of time but want a taste of nature—and oftentimes, you’ll see bears, even so close to town!

After that, we returned to our friend in the old-timey Gatlinburg photo store to dress up in Old Western attire and pose like our lives depending on it. It was one of the more interesting hours of my life as our friend manning the shop, well, let’s just say he embodied what comes to mind when you think of people in Appalachia. But he broke the rules for us and did let us take some shots with our iPhones, which is typically not allowed as they want you to buy print images (we purchased those, too), so we’ll take our wins where we can get them.

And just like that, our weekend was nearly over. Two of the Fannies had a 5pm flight back from Knoxville, so we had to make our way from Gatlinburg there via Fighting Creek Gap Road and Highway 321.

But not before a quick stop for a dip in the river. After all, Tennessee falls are glorious weather for that!

Then, we swung by the Casual Pint in Maryville for one last Fanny happy hour before I dropped them all off at their respective points of departure, our stomachs aching from laughter and our iPhones brimming with photos. I can’t wait to see where our next Fanny weekend takes us! One of us turns 40 this time next year, so I’m already plotting our next get-together, and I guarantee it will be even better than the last.

Looking for other ways to enjoy the Smokies? I have ideas:

16 Ways to Do Gatlinburg as an Adult

Smoky Mountain Adventures for Families: Dolly’s Dinner Shows

On the Moonshine Trail in East Tennessee

The Smoky Mountains with Pets

Your Weekend Guide to Sevierville

PIN IT HERE

Planning a Dolly-Filled, Fall Friend-Cation in the Great Smoky Mountains published first on https://medium.com/@OCEANDREAMCHARTERS

[keijay-blog]

New Post has been published on https://cookingtipsandreviews.com/how-to-make-cauliflower-rice/

How to Make Cauliflower Rice

amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "makemoneyq-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_title = "Shop Related Products"; amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = "cooking"; amzn_assoc_default_category = "Kitchen"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "51fe4d035c7af8dc5928e6f5e5b79c4e"; amzn_assoc_default_browse_node = "284507"; amzn_assoc_rows = "4"; amzn_assoc_design = "text_links";

Try more ways to dress up your cauliflower rice.

Shrimp with Warm German-Style Coleslaw

We love anything that is tangy or has bacon. With fennel and tarragon, this is a super savory dish. I use the medley from Minute Rice if I don’t have time to make my own. —Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts

Get Recipe

Chinese-Style Ribs

When I was working two jobs, slow cooking was my way of life. Sometimes I had more than one slow cooker going at a time to help me feed my family delicious home-cooked meals. It’s nice to walk in after a hard day’s work and have dinner ready. I hope you agree these ribs are quick, easy and delicious. Enjoy! —Paula Marchesi, Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania

Get Recipe

Creamy Paprika Pork

When I was little, I would often ask my mom to make “favorite meat.” She knew what I was really requesting was this homey pork recipe. It’s been in my family for more than 30 years and is still a favorite! —Alexandra Barnett, Forest, Virginia

Get Recipe

Garlic Chicken & Broccoli

This simple riff on Chinese chicken proves you can savor the takeout taste you crave while still eating right. —Connie Krupp, Racine, Wisconsin

Get Recipe

Meatballs in Honey Buffalo Sauce

My family loves the sweet and spicy combination and declared this recipe an instant favorite just for that reason. The meatballs start sweet but finish with a little heat! —Anne Ormond, Dover, New Hampshire

Get Recipe

Coconut Red Curry Stew

This is a fragrant and flavorful dish that’s packed with nutritious goodness. I like to enjoy it with sticky rice. —Marly Chaland, Maple, Ontario

Get Recipe

Garlic Chicken with Herbs

Pan-roasting garlic cloves turns them into rich, creamy deliciousness. This chicken is fantastic with crusty Italian bread or mashed potatoes on the side. —Kathy Fleming, Lisle, Illinois

Get Recipe

Sausage & Chicken Gumbo

This recipe for the classic southern comfort food was the first thing I ever cooked for my girlfriend. It was simple to make but tasted gourmet. Lucky for me, it was love at first bite. — Kael Harvey, Brooklyn, NY

Get Recipe

Takeout Beef Fried Rice

Tranform last night’s supper into tonight’s dinner for six. Hoisin-flavored chuck roast works wonders in this recipe, but you can use flank steak, as well. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin

Get Recipe  

Curried Lamb and Potatoes

Loads of rich flavors and spices make this a warming, inviting meal. It’s a great way to impress at a family get-together. —Subrina Goosch, North Carolina

Get Recipe  

Black & White Bean Chili

This is a healthy and filling meal that even the kids love! The satisfying chili is great for football games or potluck dinners. —Katti Scott, Manteo, North Carolina

Get Recipe

Huli Huli Chicken Thighs

I’m allergic to store-bought barbecue sauces, so when I found a marinade recipe I could use, I tweaked it a little and began using it with chicken thighs. My fiance loves this over Parmesan couscous.—Erin Rockwell, Lowell, Massachusetts

Get Recipe

Chickpea & Potato Curry

I make chana masala, the classic Indian dish, in my slow cooker. Browning the onion, ginger and garlic first really makes the sauce amazing. —Anjana Devasahayam, San Antonio, Texas

Get Recipe

Chicken in Coconut Peanut Sauce

My youngest son has been out of the country for several years teaching English. When he returned to the United States, I made this home-cooked meal for him that combined Asian and American cuisine. He loved it! —Sheila Suhan, Scottdale, Pennsylvania

Get Recipe

Hoisin Pork Tenderloin

Ramen noodles are anything but college-casual when they’re served with saucy pork tenderloin. Our guests go nuts when we sit down to this Asian-style meal. —Connie Keller, Lake Ozark, Missouri

Get Recipe

Cuban Ropa Vieja

I love having this as a go-to recipe for a weeknight meal. Its great authentic Cuban taste puts it at the top of my list.—Melissa Pelkey-Hass, Waleska, Georgia

Get Recipe

Thai Coconut Beef

My husband and I love Thai food, but going out on weeknights can be challenging with busy schedules. I wanted to create a Thai-inspired dinner that could double as an easy lunch the following day. The beef is fantastic in this dish, but chicken or pork would be equally delicious! —Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Get Recipe

Sweet Potato Curry

This is one of my favorite vegetarian dishes that packs a lot of flavor and nutrition. Curry can be served over rice or on its own. —Aubrei Weigand, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Get Recipe

Sweet-Spicy Asian Meatballs

I love the sweet and spicy flavors of Chinese food and decided to try to incorporate them into a meatball. The subtle tastes of the meatball blend well with the spicy Sriracha and sweet chili sauce. The garam masala adds a hint of coriander, black pepper and cinnamon for a unique and fun flavor. —Darlene Buerger, Peoria, Arizona

Get Recipe

Curry Shrimp

I created this Indian-style shrimp when we were entertaining some friends, one of our favorite things to do. It works on the stovetop or the grill. —Shana Conradt, Appleton, Wisconsin

Get Recipe  

Coconut Lentils with Rice

Years ago I made this recipe for my kids, and they loved it. One of my daughter’s friends would always request this dish when she came over to visit. I recommend basmati rice for this dish. —Diane Donato, Columbus, Ohio

Get Recipe

Tomato-Basil Steak

We grow the basil and bell peppers I use in this dish. It’s easy to prepare, yet so rich and delicious. —Sheryl Little, Sherwood, Arkansas

Get Recipe

Amazing Slow Cooker Orange Chicken

Orange chicken is my favorite Chinese takeout food, but I know that it’s very high in sodium and fat. So I got to work at home and created a healthier version. Now I have peace of mind knowing what ingredients are in it and that it’s better for my family. —Barbara J. Miller, Oakdale, Minnesota

Get Recipe  

Ginger-Chutney Shrimp Stir-Fry

I made this recipe a lot when I was juggling college, work and a growing family. It tastes like you spent a lot of time making it, yet only takes minutes to pull together. —Sally Sibthorpe, Shelby Township, Michigan

Get Recipe  

Cola BBQ Chicken

My dad has been making a basic version of this family favorite for years. I’ve recently made it my own by spicing it up a bit with hoisin sauce and red pepper flakes. Sometimes I let the chicken and sauce simmer in my slow cooker. —Brigette Schroeder, Yorkville, Illinois

Get Recipe

Easy Chili Verde

I love chili verde. I order it whenever I can at restaurants, and figured out how to make an easy, tasty version at home. People have the option to eat the chili verde with a fork or in tortillas with a variety of toppings such as cheese, cilantro, minced onions or lime wedges. There are never leftovers at my house. —Julie Rowland, Salt Lake City, Utah

Get Recipe    

Shrimp with Tomatoes & Feta

Any recipe that is special enough for company, but easy enough for a weeknight meal is a favorite in my book. All you need to finish off the meal is a side salad and crusty French bread to sop up the delicious tomato and wine juices. —Susan Seymour, Valatie, New York

Get Recipe      

Satay-Style Pork Stew

Thai cuisine features flavors that are hot and sour, salty and sweet. This one-dish pork satay balances all of them using ginger and red pepper flakes, rice vinegar, garlic, lime juice and creamy peanut butter. —Nicole Werner, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Get Recipe

Tropical Tilapia

Take a walk on the wild side and venture into the tropics with this one-skillet dish. Cool mint balances the sweet heat from the jelly. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California

Get Recipe        

Sweet-and-Sour Beef Stew

This chunky meal in a bowl makes terrific use of nutrient-packed vegetables. It has a deliciously sweet and tangy taste. —Frances Conklin, Grangeville, Idaho

Get Recipe        

amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; amzn_assoc_search_bar_position = "bottom"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "makemoneyq-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_title = "Shop Related Products"; amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = "cookware"; amzn_assoc_default_category = "All"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "b45319dac495d29e17b5eff312392025"; Source link

[dinakaplan]

Make Healthy Choices in 9 Tricky Situations with These Useful Tips (Stick to Your Healthy Habits!)

By Anisha Jhaveri • Originally published by Greatist

Ever get the cold shoulder for not partaking in cupcakes brought to the office? Teased for waking up early on vacation to fit in a run? Or maybe you’ve “ruined it for everyone” by saying no to another round of drinks?

Yeah. We’ve been there.

Sticking to healthy habits can be hard, so it doesn’t help when your commitment is met with jabs and side-eyes. And while we all know sassy comebacks, responding to negativity with negativity is never a good idea. Not only will it get you and your naysayers nowhere, but it could end up causing resentment or damaging relationships. And it’ll definitely kill the vibe at brunch.

It’s important to remember that most of these critiques are the result of people who are misinformed but well-intentioned or people who feel insecure or disappointed about their own health-related decisions.

First, pause to consider if they have a point. All healthy lifestyles need balance. But assuming your choices are sound, stick to your guns with grace. With that in mind, here are several productive ways to fend off unwelcome flak.

1. Thanksgiving Dinner

The situation: Although your family is aware of your healthy-eating style, they remain hell-bent on pushing food:

“Just eat it, it’s not going to kill you!”

“You could afford to have some.”

“But I made this just for you!”

What you’re tempted to say: “You made this just for me? Really? Clearly you don’t know me as well as I thought you did.”

Do this instead: It’s tricky when you’re dealing with family members and don’t want to disrespect anyone. But you don’t need to give in either, says Sherry Pagoto, Ph.D., a psychologist and associate professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

“Your aunt [or another older family member] is of a different generation, where expressing love for people meant cooking for them,” Pagoto says. “There’s no point in trying to change the way she thinks.”

The quickest way to end this interaction is to say thank you with a smile and eat what you originally planned. If anyone insists on seeing you finish the portion, make an excuse about feeling uncomfortably full and ask if you can take it home. Later, you’re free to do with the food what you wish. (Read: Chuck it.)

2. The BBQ

The situation: You’re the only non-carnivore at your friend’s annual bash. While he is thoughtful enough to grill you a veggie burger, fellow guests aren’t as considerate:

“I feel bad for you—how can you live without bacon?”

“Isn’t fake meat gross?”

“How do you get protein if you don’t eat meat?”

What you’re tempted to say: “Here’s an idea: How about you don’t ask me about my protein, and I won’t ask you about your cholesterol?”

Do this instead: While trainer and dietitian Erica Giovinazzo keeps an animal-protein focused diet, she understands the frustration of her vegetarian clients. Her advice:

Remember that you make your own choices. “Pressure is likely to come from everyone telling us what we should do, and sometimes we forget we’re in charge of our lives,” she says. “Once we remember that, we’re able to better deal in situations that challenges those decisions.”

Giovinazzo says the trick is to stay positive rather than defensive. Try: “My veggie burger is superb! You should try one! You’d be surprised how good it tastes!” They may or may not take you up on it, but they’ll know not to argue further with someone so confident.

3. The Visit Home

The situation: Seeing family means you’re instantly fair game for unsolicited commentary on everything from love life to career choices. But today’s hot topic is your body:

“You must work out all the time—you’ve lost so much weight!”

“You’re so thin! How much do you weigh?”

“Looks like someone could stand to eat a cheeseburger!”

What you’re tempted to say: “I weigh somewhere between ‘buzz off’ and ‘mind your own business!'”

Do this instead: Often people become judgmental of others’ healthy habits when they feel threatened. “The criticism can really be a veiled expression of jealousy,” Pagoto says. Rather than biting back, diffuse the situation: “Thanks for being concerned about my health, but there is nothing to worry about. My doctor said that my weight is healthy and to keep up my good eating and exercise habits.”

Giovinazzo also suggests taking the focus off your appearance and enthusiastically sharing how your habits have helped you in other ways: “I feel better and more energetic than ever since I started working out regularly! Can you believe I can do pull-ups now?”

4. The Dinner Party

The situation: The spread is butter-laden, deep-fried, and carb-dense. Eating this meal equals a massive food hangover. You help yourself to what you can, but when others see your plate, they exclaim:

“Why are you barely eating?!”

“What? You don’t like any of this food?!”

What you’re tempted to say: “I don’t feel like committing gustatory assault on my system, ’kaythanks.”

Do this instead: “You shouldn’t have to explain to others what you do or don’t put into your mouth,” says Lindsey Joe, R.D. Don’t feel pressured to justify your choices. Joe suggests simply stating, “This is plenty for me. Thank you for preparing all this!”

Another tactic, recommended by Tina Gowin, R.D., is to smile and redirect the conversation. Try: “I’m just pacing myself with this great spread! Hey, how was that vacation you just went on?” It’s bound to get your host chatting and gently steer the focus away from food. No matter what you say, both Joe and Gowin stress the key is to be polite.

5. Lunch at the Office

The situation: Everyone wants the fast-food chain you can’t stand. You don’t want to be disagreeable and go along with the order, but then your coworker passes you a box of sugary churros:

“Come on, you can be unhealthy for a day!”

“If we split dessert, we can split the calories!”

What you’re tempted to say: “Hey, you can make poor choices all by yourself. Look at that haircut, for example.”

Do this instead: You don’t have to feel hesitant to pass on something you genuinely don’t want, but remember, you work with these people five days a week, so keep it civil. Joe uses a simple, “Thanks for offering, but no thanks. I’m stuffed from lunch!”

One of Gowin’s go-to responses is, “I’m going out for a nice dinner later and want wiggle room for a juicy steak!” White lies are OK, Gowin says, as long as they aren’t too complicated and won’t get you in trouble later (i.e.—Don’t say you’re going gluten-free and then get caught eating pita chips).

To avoid awkward moments in the future, she also suggests making a game plan. “Keep paper menus of the restaurants you and your coworkers order from and highlight your best options,” she says. “This way, you know what to get no matter what.”

6. The Workout Buddy Who Bails

The situation: You text your friend to confirm tomorrow’s post-work running date and she bails for the third time in a row:

“Let’s play hookie! Netflix and takeout beat pounding the pavement!”

“I’ve been slammed at work. Can’t you take a break too?”

“What’s the big deal? We’ll just reschedule.”

What you’re tempted to say: “Sure. First I’ll just remind your S.O. what you think of commitment.”

Say this instead: While it can be frustrating to have a friend cancel on you repeatedly, there’s no need to blacklist someone for flaking, says Justin Robinson, a sports dietitian and strength and conditioning coach.

Acknowledge the fact that balance and rest days are a part of any fitness plan, but stick to your guns: “Thai food sounds awesome, but I took a day off earlier this week and I’m booked tomorrow. So I really need to get this workout in today. Let me know what your weekend plans are and we’ll meet up.”

Moving forward, Robinson suggests shopping for a new fitness buddy who shares your dedication.

7. The Mexican Food Truck

The situation: When your burrito arrives, you pull off the tortilla (rice and beans are enough for you) and dig in with a fork. You’re then hit with comments from your fellow diners:

“That is so weird.”

“Can’t you just eat it the way it is?”

What you’re tempted to say: “I’m sorry, food police! I didn’t realize I was over the limit in the no-tortilla zone.”

Do this instead: The comments may have nothing to do with you, Pagoto says. Watching your healthy habits may remind your fellow diners of their own struggles to do the same and bring up feelings of resentment. Keeping that in mind, she recommends responding with a light comment: “You guys have known me for years and only now realize I’m weird?! I just don’t want to fill up on tortilla when it’s the filling I really like.”

Giovanizzo’s tactic of returning their question also works: “I always get too full if I eat it with the tortilla. Don’t you hate feeling stuffed?”

8. Post-Work Happy Hour

The situation: You’re out with coworkers, but you’d rather just enjoy their company and skip the booze. When you pass on alcohol, your colleagues start in:

“You’re so boring!”

“Oh, come on, just have one drink!”

“Are you anti-alcohol now too?”

What you’re tempted to say: “Well, no, but this interrogation is going to drive me to drink!”

Do this instead: Over the years, Robinson’s experience has revealed that the more you talk and make excuses, the more your friends will pry. His advice? “A short answer is best when discussing why you choose not to drink: ‘I just don’t feel like drinking tonight.’”

Limiting your behavior to that moment (versus a lifestyle choice) deflects any larger debate. If that doesn’t do the trick, humor is another great option: “Now you have a sober driver to make sure a lightweight like you makes it home!” To appear social, Robinson suggests ordering a club soda and lime or even an iced tea with lemon. Both look like cocktails, help you hydrate, and may get people off your case. Win-win.

9. The Unhealthy Restaurant

The situation: While the rest of the table starts with fries and mozzarella sticks, you opt for a salad. Your friends are immediately annoyed:

“Of course, you always get the rabbit food.”

“Are you on a diet or something?”

“Ugh, I can’t imagine eating just a salad for dinner.”

What you’re tempted to say: “Don’t worry. I’ll ask the waiter to batter and deep-fry the lettuce so we can match. Twinsies!”

Do this instead: It’s frustrating to feel attacked by your fellow diners, and as tempting as it may be to criticize their choices, it’s better not to be judgmental, Gowin and Joe say.

If simply laughing it off and changing the subject won’t work, give them some insight on why you’re eating the way you are: “The grease upsets my stomach and I’d rather feel good instead of ending up in a food coma and having to go home early.” If you’re with true friends, Gowin says, you can honestly talk to them about your lifestyle preferences and ask for their support.

Let us know in the comments: How do you make healthy choices when eating out and in other tricky situations?

[Read More ...] https://foodrevolution.org/blog/making-healthy-food-choices/