#pasta and lentils in tomato sauce

[alatariel-gildaen]

I can't explain the joy and pride you feel as the parent of a neurodivergent child when they try a new food and like it 🥹💖

[morethansalad]

Vegan Persian Macaroni

[boyswanna-be-her]

Came home from travel and immediately started prepping tomato sauce, 2 lbs of dried beans, and 2 loaves of bread. Tradwife-coded.

[moonspower]

my husband brought home 7 whole take out containers worth of food from his work's pot luck and i got so much homemade, authentic indian and chinese food........ and he ran by tj's to get me some wine to enjoy it with and some edibles so we will be gettin litty .

[fairuzfan]

NEW UPDATE: TWO NEW CAMPS!

There are two new camps, made of about 240 families, built up around the one on Hussam's land due to the numerous refugees coming to Rafah. Hussam said that the nights are so cold and windy, the kids get frightened at night from the way the sand blows and scratches against the tents. So, he decided to buy 500 blankets for the surrounding camp residents!

Also, he plans on focusing on food next, with the next few days dedicated to spending on a variety of food items. The prices and supply for these are continuously changing but as of February 16th, one package of food costs about $33. Here is a breakdown of what they contain:

Lentils- 2 kilo

Rice- 2 kilo

Pasta- 1 kilo

Oil- 1 liter

Cheese- 4 cans

Tomato Sauce- 360 gram

Ful (Beans)- 4 cans

Let's help him out as much as possible! Thank you for everything so far!

For those of you who have been following this, my tumblr 'helpgazachildren' was deleted for unknown reasons. In the meantime, I put together this notion site to help document all the receipts and videos of updates for people who want a backlog of information. I will be continuously updating this site. Here is the archived version.

Please consider donating today. Your donations go directly to people in need with NO middle man in between. No donation amount is too little, or if you're unable to donate please spread the link today!!!

For those who cannot donate through paypal, here is Hussam's gofundme!

[bloomzone]

A PROGRAM OF A HEALTHY DIET

(with idea)

- inspired by Korean idols !

By: ★﹕byeolgιrᥣ﹒

"Take care of yourself, That's the priority, You can only recieve love if you love yourself, I hope you think of yourself as a priority, Then people around you will love you"

- Jang Wonyoung

Breakfast:

1. Overnight oats with almond milk, chia seeds, sliced banana, and a drizzle of honey.

2. Whole grain cereal with skim milk, topped with mixed berries and a sprinkle of flaxseeds.

3. Veggie omelette made with bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms, served with whole grain toast.

4. Smoothie bowl with blended spinach, frozen mixed berries, Greek yogurt, and a handful of granola.

Mid-Morning Snack:

1. Sliced cucumber and cherry tomatoes with hummus.

2. Rice cakes with avocado mash and a sprinkle of black pepper.

3. Cottage cheese with sliced strawberries and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

4. Whole grain crackers with tuna salad (made with Greek yogurt instead of mayo) and cucumber slices.

Lunch:

1. Quinoa salad with diced mango, black beans, diced bell peppers, and a lime vinaigrette dressing.

2. Whole wheat wrap filled with grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, avocado, and mustard.

3. Lentil soup with a side of mixed greens salad and a whole grain roll.

4. Brown rice bowl with stir-fried tofu, broccoli, carrots, and a teriyaki sauce.

Afternoon Snack:

1. Sliced apple with a spread of almond butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

2. Edamame beans sprinkled with sea salt.

3. Greek yogurt parfait with layers of granola, mixed berries, and a drizzle of honey.

4. Air-popped popcorn seasoned with nutritional yeast and smoked paprika.

Dinner:

1. Grilled shrimp skewers with quinoa pilaf and roasted Brussels sprouts.

2. Baked cod fillet with roasted sweet potatoes and steamed green beans.

3. Turkey chili served over baked sweet potatoes and topped with diced avocado.

4. Whole wheat pasta with marinara sauce, lean ground turkey, and sautéed spinach.

Evening Snack (optional):

1. Sliced pear with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a few squares of dark chocolate.

2. Celery sticks filled with almond butter and topped with raisins.

3. A small handful of mixed nuts (such as almonds, cashews, and pistachios).

4. Herbal tea with a squeeze of lemon and a small piece of cheese.

These meal ideas offer a variety of nutrients while keeping the overall calorie intake in check for a healthy and balanced diet.

[starb0n3]

TEEN IN A TIM BURTON MOVIE DIET 🦴🌫️

(inspired by @honeysugarfree)

.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆

You wake up with one thing on your mind: going out for a walk in the woods. But you can’t. You’re a teenager who has school, and your parents would kill you if you skipped school.

It’s too early to eat anything. Pass the time playing with your cat or simply reading by the window as the sun rises.

School is so boring when all you’re craving is a nice cup of warm soup or hot chocolate prepared by your mum. Whatever, you’ll suffer in silence and snack on whatever fruits you threw into your bag this morning.✧˖°.☾

For lunch, you’ll have leftovers from yesterday. roasted/baked/boiled veggies accompanied by rice or wheat. you don’t eat it all; it’s cold, and not that nice at all… Maybe your parents packed you a sandwich instead? make sure you don’t eat the crusts, though. they’re the worst part.

If you’re lucky, you might’ve even added one of your bakes as dessert (low cal pastry/cookie), or a small yoghurt. if you didn’t, don’t fret. your parent didn’t forget to include a fruit or veggie for health.

(¬ ´ཀ` )¬

Back home at last — not before you went on a small walk, though. your parents were worried about where you’d gone off too again, and you’re greeted by a warm broth/soup, or some more baked veggies.

you don’t finish your plate unless your walk was very tiring. you’re too eager to finish that book you started!

Once in a while, you might be allowed a piece of cake or some hot chocolate. not everyday, though. that would be bad for your teeth!

End the day with a cup of tea, reading under a warm blanket with a piece of your favourite chocolate or sweet. 🍂☕️🐈‍⬛

MEAL IDEAS I LOVE:

Chickpeas in tomato sauce with rice

Whole bread sandwich without the crust: tomato, cheese and cucumber (ham if you want, i’m vegetarian c:)

Ratatouille or Shakshuka with wheat/bulgur

Apple sauce cookies (i can share a good recipe if you want)

Pasta/zucchini gratin

Lasagna (spinach or veggies with tomato sauce - or mince, once again, i’m vegetarian)

potatoes (sweet is even better) with broccoli

Mushrooms with bread

Tomato salad (vinegar, herbs, olive oil)

Lentil/corn cakes with cream cheese

Pumpkin pie

Vegetable broth (or chicken) with vegetable dices

Potato soup

Tomato orzo soup

Mashed potatoes with lentils

Lentil soup

Beetroot (it’s so good even on it own)

REMEMBER!

You always prefer ‘halloween’ themed pastries — involving apples, pumpkin, carrots…

Eating isn’t a bother, you’re just a slow eater. don’t hesitate to share your love for sweets, while keeping consummation low.

You get tired of veggies so much! never finish a meal you don’t like.

Your favourite candy is liquorice, and most halloween themed ones like acorn or hard candy

Keep the chocolate low. it’s too heavy and nauseating!

If you must, have a piece of nutella/peanut butter and jelly toast, oats, or milk with fruits in the morning. i promise it’s much better than those ‘healthy’ alternatives (makes you satisfies and low calorie if you only have one)

No crisps — they’re too oily and dirty your books. Pop corn is so much better (and lower in cols) — caramel or pumpkin spice is a staple!

Cinnamon on apples… the best treat!

If you ever eat out with family, eat only a third of the meal and get the rest to pack. it’s so good you want to make it last!!

Bake and cook as much as you can! This will make your parents understand what you like, and not push to make you eat those gross overly fat foods.

Try to stay under 1,000 kcals, but don’t count calories obsessively. keep portions small and always leave a third of your plate.

Have fun!

(i’ll make a moodboard with meals etc, i hope you enjoy!)

[what-even-is-thiss]

Quick and cheap filling vegetarian food (I’m going ovo-lacto for this)

Soup:

Dump some cans of stuff in a pot. Maybe some seasoning too. Pearl barley or rice may also be a good choice to bulk things out. With beans or legumes and some kind of grain you can make a whole protein. If that doesn’t appeal to you add some cheese or poached egg. Don’t add a lot of rice btw it will expand don’t turn your soup into a rice dish I swear to gosh

Quesadillas:

Basic idea for this is shredded cheese melted in between two tortillas warmed up on either side in a pan, in a microwave if you’re feeling extra depressed. But other stuff can be added. Salsa, pico, leftover tofu or beans, sliced peppers or onion. It’s a dish that’s as complicated or as simple as you want to make it.

Casseroles:

Dump a can of cream of mushroom or cream of potato soup on it. It’ll work itself out probably.

Scrambled eggs:

The most braindead way to cook eggs. You can even scramble them in the pan. Put stuff in it. I like putting fried tomatoes in it. Add enough mushrooms and cheese and you can feel your system clogging up in real time. Eat some toast with it to convince yourself that adding carbs makes it fine actually

Curry:

Wildly oversimplified term for basically most Indian food. It’s simpler to make than you think. The spices are the important part. The base of a lot of types of Indian food is onion, ginger, garlic, and tomato and then add spices and stuff to that. What stuff? Whatever. Spinach, potatoes, coconut milk, regular milk, even more tomatoes, lentils, beans, yogurt. Put it over rice probably. Use powdered onion and ginger-garlic paste and canned tomatoes when you’re tired. Probably look up some actual Indian YouTubers and bloggers to get more specific recipes than my stupid ass can provide.

Peanut noodles:

Cook some noodles. Probably ramen noodles. Melt some peanut butter on it and add soy sauce. Merry Christmas.

Melts:

Get a panini press so you never have to think again. Cheese, something else, bread, hot, eat. Add a sauce and some nicely grilled vegetables if you want to but tbh a midnight grilled cheese with tomato isn’t gonna be a gourmet meal. Just make it so you can finish crying.

Smoothie:

Frozen fruit and/or veggies and some kind of liquid. I usually use strawberry, mango, and soymilk. Maybe yogurt too idk. The worst part of this is cleaning the blender later but the actual process of making it is fast.

Pasta:

There’s more to life than just spaghetti and red sauce. Or so I’ve been told. You can use canned soups as a sauce sometimes if you reduce them a bit. I like butternut squash soup. Adding some cream cheese to sauces tastes better than it sounds and can fix your protein problem that you sometimes get with pasta dishes. Keeping a jar of pesto and some mushrooms in the fridge can make for a fast dinner when you need it.

Chili:

Get two different types of beans and some tomatoes and chili powder and whatever in a pot and let those bitches get to know each other and simmer while you stare off into space for a while. Maybe like 10-20 minutes idk it tastes good with sour cream

[rachellaurengray]

Not sure what to eat today that aligns with your diet goals? Here's a list of 50 things you can eat under 400 calories:

1. Grilled chicken breast (4 oz) with steamed vegetables

2. Turkey and avocado wrap with 15 cal tortilla

3. Greek salad with feta cheese and olives

4. Veggie omelette made with egg whites

5. Quinoa salad with mixed vegetables

6. Baked salmon fillet (4 oz) with roasted asparagus

7. Tuna salad on whole grain crackers

8. Cottage cheese with sliced strawberries

9. Shrimp stir-fry with broccoli and bell peppers

10. Black bean soup with a side of cornbread

11. Grilled tofu skewers with teriyaki sauce

12. Whole grain pasta with marinara sauce and grilled vegetables

13. Hummus and vegetable sticks

14. Turkey chili with a dollop of Greek yogurt

15. Brown rice sushi rolls with cucumber and avocado

16. Chicken Caesar salad without croutons

17. Steamed edamame sprinkled with sea salt

18. Spinach and feta stuffed chicken breast (4 oz)

19. Veggie burger on a whole wheat bun

20. Caprese salad with fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil

21. Lentil soup with a side of whole grain bread

22. Baked sweet potato topped with Greek yogurt and cinnamon

23. Tofu and vegetable stir-fry with low-sodium soy sauce

24. Egg salad lettuce wraps

25. Grilled shrimp skewers with zucchini and cherry tomatoes

26. Chicken and vegetable kebabs

27. Cauliflower crust pizza with veggies and light cheese

28. Whole grain toast with mashed avocado and sliced tomato

29. Baked cod fillet (4 oz) with lemon and herbs

30. Quinoa-stuffed bell peppers

31. Greek yogurt parfait with fresh fruit and granola

32. Turkey and vegetable soup

33. Baked eggplant parmesan

34. Steamed mussels in white wine sauce

35. Veggie and tofu lettuce wraps

36. Cottage cheese and pineapple

37. Spaghetti squash with marinara sauce

38. Greek yogurt smoothie with spinach and banana

39. Baked chicken meatballs with marinara sauce

40. Roasted vegetable and goat cheese salad

41. Salmon salad with mixed greens and balsamic vinaigrette

42. Turkey and cranberry lettuce wraps

43. Baked falafel with tahini sauce

44. Zucchini noodles with pesto and cherry tomatoes

45. Tuna and white bean salad

46. Stuffed portobello mushrooms with quinoa and spinach

47. Grilled teriyaki tofu with brown rice

48. Greek yogurt chicken salad with grapes and almonds

49. Turkey and black bean lettuce wraps

50. Spinach and feta stuffed mushrooms

These options offer a variety of tastes and textures while keeping your calorie intake in check. Enjoy!

[soberscientistlife]

Saving this for me. Items possibly targeted for tariffs.

Saving this for me. Items possibly targeted for tariffs. • Bananas, Mangoes, and Pineapples (from Central and South America) • Avocados (from Mexico) • Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons (from Mexico and Spain) • Berries (e.g., strawberries, blueberries) (from Mexico, Chile) • Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, and Cucumbers (from Mexico and Canada) • Asparagus (from Peru and Mexico) Seafood (Fresh, Frozen, and Canned) • Fresh/Frozen Shrimp (from Thailand, India, Ecuador) • Salmon (from Norway, Chile) • Tilapia (from China) • Tuna (canned) (from Thailand, the Philippines) • Sardines (from Portugal, Morocco) • Mackerel (canned) (from Japan, Norway) Grains and Legumes • Rice (from Thailand, India, Vietnam) • Quinoa (from Peru and Bolivia) • Chickpeas and Lentils (from Canada, India) Nuts and Seeds • Cashews (from Vietnam and India) • Brazil Nuts (from Bolivia, Brazil) • Almonds (from Spain, Australia) • Chia Seeds (from Mexico and Argentina) Dairy Products • Cheese varieties like Parmesan, Gouda, Feta (from Italy, Netherlands, Greece) • Butter (from Ireland, New Zealand) • Yogurt (Greek-style from Greece, other varieties from Europe) Canned Foods and Packaged Items • Tomato paste and puree (from Italy) • Canned olives and olive oil (from Spain, Italy, Greece) • Canned coconut milk (from Thailand) • Canned beans (from Mexico, Central America) • Canned corn (from Canada, Brazil) • Canned anchovies and sardines (from Morocco, Portugal) • Canned fruit (e.g., pineapple, mango, peaches) (from Thailand, Philippines, Mexico) • Canned tuna and salmon (from Thailand, the Philippines, Chile) Spices and Herbs • Vanilla (from Madagascar) • Black Pepper (from Vietnam, India) • Cinnamon (from Sri Lanka) • Turmeric (from India) • Paprika (from Spain, Hungary) Beverages • Coffee beans (from Brazil, Colombia, Vietnam) • Tea leaves (from India, Sri Lanka, China) • Cocoa beans (from Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana) Oils and Fats • Olive oil (from Spain, Italy, Greece) • Coconut oil (from the Philippines, Indonesia) • Palm oil (from Malaysia, Indonesia) Alcoholic Beverages • Wine (from France, Italy, Chile, Spain) • Beer (particularly certain Mexican brands) • Whiskey and Scotch (from Scotland, Ireland) Sweeteners • Cane sugar (from Brazil, Mexico) • Maple syrup (from Canada) Condiments and Sauces • Soy sauce (from Japan, China) • Fish sauce (from Thailand, Vietnam) • Sriracha and other chili sauces (from Thailand) • Italian pasta sauces (canned/jarred) (from Italy)

[lowspoonsfood]

Shakshouka

Middle Eastern/ North African eggs in spicy tomato sauce. Very much a ‘dump whatever you have in a pan and wait 10 minutes’ kind of thing.

Eggs

Tomato product (Fresh, diced, paste, crushed, whatever)

Cumin, paprika and/or chili powder

Salt and sugar

(Optional) Onion and garlic

(Optional) Choice of vegetable(s), diced

(Optional) Choice of carb

The actual recipe is somewhat vague because it all depends on what you end up using, but 95% of the time it’s gonna turn out pretty good.

Add vegetables (I like frozen peas, spinach and bell pepper) and tomato product to a small saucepan or skillet. For an extra boost, throw in some beans or lentils.

Add water or cook down as needed to get a saucy, stew-like consistency. 

Season with salt, cumin, paprika and/or chili powder, and a pinch of sugar. 

Make a little well using the back of a spoon and crack in an egg or two. 

Cover and wait until egg is cooked to your liking. 

Eat plain or with your favorite carb. I like pita best, but any bread/rice/pasta/etc is gonna get you there.

TLDR; Throw whatever you have in the fridge into tomato sauce with cumin and paprika, crack an egg on top.

[morethansalad]

Pumpkin Lentil Bolognese (Vegan)

[tightwadspoonies]

Eating Well

If you are someone who struggles to figure out what to eat, this post may help.

There is a lot of information out there about eating well. It's important to know it's not as complicated as most guides try to make it. The following is a simple way of looking at food adapted from David Werner's Where There Is No Doctor:

You need a main food, or foods. A "Main Food" is one or more starch bases, like pasta/noodles, bread/tortilla/biscuits, hominy, rice, potatoes, taro, millet, barley, or another grain or starchy tuber.

These are usually cheap and should make up a majority of your calories. They often also provide an amount of protein, vitamins and minerals.

However, living on starchy bases alone is not adequate. To them, you need to add at least one or two each of "Go Foods", "Grow Foods" and "Glow Foods" every day.

"Go Foods" are energy foods. They are things like oils, fats, peanuts, other nuts, oily seeds (like sesame and sunflower), and sugars (like granulated sugar, honey, maple syrup, and fruit juices). Eat more of these if you are doing heavy work. They can also replace some of your Main Food, though they are often somewhat more expensive.

"Grow Foods" are foods that build muscle and other body tissues and heal injuries. They include animal foods (like meat, eggs, milk, and fish), legumes (beans, peas, peanuts, and lentils), and seeds (pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, melon, etc...).

"Glow Foods" are foods that contain a lot of vitamins and minerals. These include dark green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, collards, turnip greens, radish greens, etc...), orange vegetables (carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, winter squash of any kind, etc...), fruits (apples, pears, berries, quince, etc...) and other vegetables (turnips, radishes, summer squash, onions, cabbage, etc...), herbs and spices (chili powder, garlic, cumin, thyme, oregano, sage, cinnamon, etc...).

Example meals (each meal does not need to contain all types of foods, as long as someone is eating some of each every day):

A rice bowl (Main) with vegetable (Glow) and bean (Grow) curry (Glow).

Oatmeal (Main) with whole or coconut milk (Go, Grow) and berries (Glow)

Spaghetti (Main) with tomato sauce (Glow) and meatballs (Grow)

Tapioca pudding (Main, Grow, Go) with cinnamon and nutmeg (Glow)

Farrow (Main) with stewed tomatoes (Glow) and olive oil (Go)

Zucchini boats (Glow) with black beans (Grow), rice (Main) and cheese (Go, Grow)

Baked potato (Main) with broccoli (Glow) and cheese (Go, Grow)

Potato (Main) and spinach (Glow) curry (Glow)

Whole fat yogurt (Grow, Go), granola (Main, Go), and berries (Glow)

Peanut butter (Go, Grow) and jam (Go, Glow) on toast (Main)

[adviceformefromme]

Hi! Thank you for the health advice! I would love to quit or significantly reduce carbs, I also feel like it's heavy on my body, but so many meals revolve around grains (sourdough bread mostly) and I guess there's a craving aspect to it too... Could you give advice on what you're eating instead?? I have lots of eggs, fish, occasional meat, plenty of fruit, just enough veg haha but i find it hard to imagine going without carbs (or grains more specifically cos I have no prob with vege carbs). Especially in winter 😋 Thank you for any help 🙏🙏

I feel like society has normalised feeling heavy and lethargic after meals, but its amazing you have noticed this and want to change!

You may want to cut carbs gradually (no starches - breads, grains, rice, pasta, potatoes).

I would recommend looking into GI index to see what foods are high glucose, following Hormone Balancing recipes, juices etc (usually very low carb and support women's health). Listening to podcasts on microbiome, or even a tiktok search.

Introducing pre/ probiotics: I make sauerkraut (which is basically cabbage / onions in water and salt left to ferment for a few days - lots of variations on this), also just made my first batch of Kefir (I stay away from store bought Kefir as its pasturised and all the good stuff has been killed off during this process). I mention these as a healthy gut is going to support you as you remove carbs and introduce more wholesome foods.

Breakfasts:

Omlette (spinach / onion / parsley )

Scrambled eggs w/ coconut oil

Buckwheat porridge w/ blueberries (buckwheat is a seed not a grain so low glucose index)

Avocado salad (seeds, olives, rocket, tomatoes, cucumber) +tahini

Snacks:

Nuts, olives, blueberries, blackberries, watermelon

Main meals:

Veg + Protein (Broccli, kale, butternut squash, courgette, carrots, asparagus, cabagge, peppers). I do different variations of veg to mix things up, sometimes i do Chinese style stir fry, I try to add garlic and ginger as much as possible into the veg. Protein is usually grass fed steak, whole fish - seabream, sea bass, mackerel, cod fillet, wild salmon fillet, or turkey breast fillet. I make chimichurri sauce to add some extra flavour to the fish.

Protein + lentil / chicpeas dish. I have a stew a few days a week to break up the veggies because they do get boring after a while.

Bone broth. I boil the bones, and have as a little side dish with veggies but this isn't really filling enough for a main meal.

I make beetroot juice, and also watermelon juice, tumeric + ginger shots throughout the week. I try to throw in flaxseed and chia seeds where possible.

I cut coffee/ decaf all that and now only drinking fresh mint tea, slice of lemon + hot water, fresh juices (within the hour of making), and water ensuring 2l per day.

Number one thing that had to go was oats. So if you are having a morning crash I suggest cutting the carbs first thing. I know there are suggestions (glucose goddess) that fat with carbs or when you eat them (having carbs after veg can help) but personally i think its best to cut them.

I hope this helps! Its a full lifestyle change that has honestly helped so much! It's a commitments, but investing in feeling good and your health will make you feel so good and wholesome! xoxoxo

*I used the free 1 month trial of MyFitnessPal app to track my calories/ meals to ensure I was getting enough food - for some this might be extreme but super helpful to see what’s going on.

[starry-eyed-wild-child]

~ i'd never want once from the cherry tree ~

kappa x reader

summary: a family gathering takes an unexpected turn, and you swear you're going crazy

warnings: kinda yandere!kappa? alcohol, kappa deserves his own warning (he ain't really in this part much tbf)

a/n: you have a twin brother in this, I'm sorry it's probably inaccurate but it's a huge plot line later on!)

It was late in the afternoon, the sun began to set, bleeding pretty colours of a vibrant pink and orange hue. You'd already showered and had changed into some more comfortable clothing - a patchwork shirt and a pair of mandala pattern shorts. You'd made yourself a herbal tea, flicking on the record player in the corner of the room still going until there was a firm knock on your front door.

Your smile widened, becoming ecstatic at the sight of your parents and twin brother. Eagerly, you opened the door, welcoming them into your home. As you shut the door, you gasped for air when your mother pulled you into a hug.

"I can't believe you still have all these." your dad said, chuckling as he gestured to the record player playing softly.

You laughed softly, turning up the record player a notch.

"Got in just before the rain?" you teased, nudging your brother Fionn playfully. The two of you had always been close, and your parents had said you'd always had a strong connection. Growing together meant that you shared a bond that many usual siblings couldn't even imagine sharing.

"Did you cook something?" your mother asked, glancing over at the kitchen, the scent of the lentil bolognese cooking bringing a wave of nostalgia - a staple family dish in your household.

"Only the best lentil pasta you've ever tasted." you said proudly, moving into your small kitchenette so that you could stir the tomato sauce you'd prepped for the family meal.

Your parents smiled, glad to hear that you still loved cooking, after all these years. It was always something that you'd loved, and it was nice that that hadn't changed.

You took out the hand painted bowls from your cupboard, little trinkets that you and Fionn had made as kids. You served it on the table with two large bowls of salad and bread so that your family could help themselves. Feeling generous, you cracked a bottle of red wine open for your folks, knowing it would certainly please your mother at least.

"Tastes amazing, as always, sis... maybe you should start serving it to the family."

You almost choked on your pasta, sipping at your water to wash it down. Your parents looking over at you concerned, hiding you awkward cough with a low chuckle, hoping that your parents didn't catch on to what Fionn was implying.

Hell, you weren't even sure what he was implying.

"Are you alright, honey?" your mother asked, leaning over the table a little. Your dad leaned back in his chair, glancing between the two of you.

You nodded at your mother, still washing down your pasta with a large gulp of water as Fionn nearly spat out his wine from laughing. Your parents grew a little suspicious at the unusual interaction but they soon waved it off dismissively.

"It's nothing... think Fionn here is just afraid I'm gonna run away and start feeding cults or something." you laughed, though your own words made your heart skip a beat at your own implications. You knew it wasn't far from the truth, but you doubt you'd be there to feed them.

"A cult?" your dad asked, glancing over to his son with an amused brow. "What you wanna be the next Jim Jones or something?" he joked. You laughed though you hid it well enough so that your parents couldn't see it.

"C'mon, you know she'd never do anything like that." Fionn snickered, smirking as your dad shook his head. Your brother took a sip of the wine, pretending to choke like it was poisoned koolaid making you playfully kick him under the table.

"Actually, dad, yeah... I'm gonna run away and fall in love with a cult leader and everything." you joked, making your dad roll his eyes with a fond smile at your teasing gesture.

"Oh yeah? Some hippie with dreadlocks and a joint in his mouth in the back of a van? Would you go for that?" your dad said jokingly, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

The entire situation was very ironic. There was so much truth in your words and you had no idea.

You nearly choked again on your food, coughing loudly as tears brimmed in the corner of your eyes.

"I'm just saying... I don't want you falling in love with some weird hippie that lives in the back of a van, okay?" he said jokingly as he reached over to steal some of your bread from your plate. "That would be a nightmare."

Your father chuckled, amused by his own joke. In a way, you knew he was just trying to look out for you.

"Well... what if I become the weird hippie that lives in the back of a van?" you bit back playfully, raising a brow at your father.

Fionn smirked, amused that you were even bold enough to go this far in front of your parents. But to his surprise, there wasn't any suspicion - as though perhaps your parents weren't as perceptive as you believed them to be.

"I wouldn't let you do that... too dangerous.... no weird men, okay? I don't want anyone stealing my little girl away."

"Guess you won't be coming to the wedding then?" you smiled, nudging your dad as you stole your bread back from his plate.

Your dad's eyes widened as he looked to Fionn, then back to you. "Wedding?! What wedding?"

Your mother looked over, smiling when she caught on to the conversation. She looked between you and Fionn with a knowing, dreamy smile on her face.

"Married? You're getting married?"

You and your brother burst out laughing. You shook your head dismissively as you choked on your words.

"There's no wedding, Mama," you giggled, "nobody's getting married."

"I can't believe none of our babies are married yet," she said, looking over at her husband with a dramatic tone, "what have we done wrong?"

You chuckled softly at the dramatic display, sipping at your wine. "Nothing, Mama. Just don't suppose we've met the right people yet." you shrugged nonchalantly.

Though your words stung to say. You had met the one. You were sure of it. Though you knew your parents couldn't know that this was the life you were choosing. You didn't like this. Not one bit. You hated lying to your parents and knowing you'd have to create an entire web of lives to keep them off your back.

Fionn looked over at you with a knowing smirk before turning to whisper into the ear of your mother. "I think she's already in love. She's got that look..." he whispered with a chuckle.

You pretended that you hadn't heard him - but you did.

Your mother, however, looked... happy. All she'd ever wanted for her children was for them to be themselves and find love. Her mind worked in romanticism and fairy tales like that.

"Anyone for dessert?" you spoke, desperately attempting to shift the topic at hand. "It's tiramisu... grandma's recipe."

Your parents agreed, and Fionn joined you in the kitchen to help dish out the dessert and clear away the dinner plates. You were only halfway through the night and already you felt your nerves creep in like an unwanted guest.

Fionn threw you a sympathetic smile, sensing your anxiety.

"Still got board games to get through." you joked to Fionn as he laughed, offering to take your dessert bowl to the table.

After dessert, and some mindless chatter, your family followed you into your living area, watching intently as your dad attempted to set up monopoly on your coffee table, mumbling and groaning to himself.

You and Fionn were insanely competitive with one another, and so it wasn't a surprise that he groaned and muttered at you under his breath when your brother found that he was losing.

Your parents held hands, something that always made you smile. The sweet, wholesome gesture softens your features. They had, you supposed, what you had always wanted. A tender, gentle love that lasted forever.

You suddenly looked up in surprise - when you swore you heard a knock on your front door and yet it went completely past your parents.

You heard it again. Again... and again... as your family went about the routine of the game, completely oblivious.

"Should you get the door, honey?" your mother asked with her eyebrow raised, glancing over her shoulder at your wooden front door.

You glanced around nervously, gulping as you stood to your feet. Though to your surprise, there was nobody on the other side to greet you. You shrugged it off, dismissing your thoughts as quickly as they came, closing and locking the door.

"Must've had the wrong house..." you said quietly, rejoining your family on the floor around your coffee table.

Throughout the night, there were no more intrusive questions or subtle jokes about what had happened, to which you were relieved. after packing away, you led your parents to their room, kissing them goodnight.

You rejoined Fionn downstairs, two mugs of chamomile in your hands.

"What was the deal with all that?" you asked your brother with an irritated tone, crossing your arms over your chest.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" he said, eyeing you with a glare at the accusation. "It's weird that you thought someone was at the door."

You sighed, throwing yourself down on the couch next to your brother.

"No, Fionn... I heard it and you did too... I know you did." you said, sipping at your tea and rubbing a hand over your eyes. "Listen, if you're playing with me on this..." you began but he held his hands up in defence. No, Fionn wasn't that much of an asshole.

"Look, I just thought it would be funny to see you panic... I didn't think you'd actually believe I heard it." he said, his eyes softening as he watched you look away.

"I know... but I really did hear it, Fionn..."you spoke lowly, starting to become a little scared. Kappa had barely been on your mind all night so why was everything flooding back now?

"you're a dick... but you're my brother and I love you, yeah?" you smiled, ruffling his hair with a cheeky grin. To ease your mind, you flicked on a movie so that you could both criticise how awful the special effects were.

You sat there, laughing with your brother as he threw popcorn at you, cheering when you caught one in your mouth perfectly. Fionn clapped mockingly, making you take a dramatic bow. It was nice. It made you forget about everything. About the cult leader waiting for you to show him a sign. Anything.

It was then you noticed it... a figure. A silhouette behind him.

Your breath hitched, hands trembling.

"Fionn... stay still. There's... something behind you." you said lowly, almost so quiet he couldn't hear you.

Your eyes widened, searching frantically around the room, Fionn following your eyes with a concerned expression etched into his eyes. Your breathing quickened, inhaling deep breaths as you glanced around the room - but there was no sign of anyone.

You took a deep breath, trying to calm yourself down. "i'm just a little jumpy." you said with a sheepish laugh, "I don't know what I thought I saw." you said, brushing your shoulder with Fionn's to reassure him.

He smiled, though it looked a little too forced as he took in a deep breath. "Let's just... finish the shitty movie, yeah?" he asked, glancing back at the television.

He was here. You knew it. And in an odd way, it made your heart warm knowing you'd see Kappa again.

"That movie way so dumb." you laughed, switching off the television screen. You watched as Fionn walked to the front door, checking your lock for what seemed to be the hundredth time. "Jesus, Fionn, you know you've checked it about ten times." you smiled, though flattered that he wanted to make sure you were okay.

"Yeah I know, I just... I have a bad feeling." he said, looking over at you with concern written across his face.

"I'll be fine, Fionn..." you assured, playfully telling him to get his ass to bed. You followed him up the stairs, bidding your twin goodnight before heading to your own room. You sat on your windowsill, lighting up a cigarette, hoping to smoke away the stress of the night.

You thought about him again. How you hadn't seen him since that night. The night the family broke into your home. The night you'd let Kappa have you.

The night you fell in love.

It was crazy to think that you'd met him once and yet you'd become obsessed. You'd fallen in love and had your heart broken all in one night.

"Knock, knock." a voice whispered from the corner of the room, a mischievous tone to the voice.

You flinched at the unexpected noise but your heart leapt as you threw away your cigarette. You couldn't believe it. Clyde had wanted to be reunited with Bonnie - and so soon.

"You didn't really think I'd wait that long to see you again, did you?" he asked with a smirk, looking you up and down, like he was undressing you intently with every look.

"My brother is in the next room." you whispered, shutting your window behind him as he went to sit on your bed. You were wearing the same little nightgown you wore the night you met, making him smile fondly.

"Why are you worried about him?" Kappa whispered back with a smirk. "Can't I come see my girl?" he asked, tugging you closer so that you straddled his legs.

"Oh, I'm your girl now, huh?" you joked, resting your hands on his chest. "We meet once and suddenly I'm your girl?" you teased, threading a hand through his hair.

"Mhm... that's right.." he spoke into your ear, nipping at the skin of your neck as if to taunt you.

"Jesus! Not so fucking loud." you hissed quietly, glancing at the door as Kappa laughed lowly. "What would they say, huh? If they saw their precious little baby like this?" you teased, referring to your parents.

"I reckon they'd be quite surprised... they have no idea about their little girl's wild side. Her little obsession with me." he whispered teasingly.

His breath was warm on your skin, and your face heated up as he nipped at your skin. "If anything, it's you that's obsessed with me..." you bit back playfully, softly tugging at his hair.

"You know I can't keep my hands off you." he murmured into your ear, nipping and biting at the skin of your throat, his hand gripping at your thigh.

"Why are you here?" you asked, not harshly but with tenderness. With a gentle curiosity.

"i needed to see you, sugar..." he spoke, his voice a little quieter than usual. He looked into your eyes, hands roaming the exposed flesh of your thighs. "I couldn't stop thinking about you... are you not happy to see me?"

You sighed contently, holding his face in your hands, his face buried in your chest as he pressed soft kissed there.

"You're mine, y'know that?... only mine, sugar." he breathed with a possessive glint in his eyes, leaning in to press a slow kiss on your lips.

"Mhmm... all yours, Kappa." you hushed out, desperate not to disturb the rest of your family. "So what do you think... about me joining?" you whispered softly, referring to what you asked him the night you met.

He chuckled, running his fingertips up and down your bare arm. "You're not gonna let me say no, are you, sugar?" he asked, a small smile on his lips as he looked up at you.

"I wouldn't mind seeing you around all the time..." he whispered, toying with the lacy hem of your nightgown.

"If my parents told me I'd fall in love with a cult leader and join a hippie cult I would've laughed in their faces." you giggled, the sweet sound amusing Kappa.

He was flattered that you wanted to join this life with him. Meet the family and lead alongside him. And he couldn't help but think back to the other night, at the bonfire with Theta. How jealous she was and how excited the family were to meet you.

"Who would've thought, huh?" he teased, chuckling lowly to himself as well. He could feel your lips on his skin, cradling your head to his chest as you left small, heated kisses on his shoulders - his heart racing.

Kappa tilted your chin up from his body, making you look into his eyes. He grinned, admiring the sight of you above him, so adored and flushed before leaning in and giving a passionate kiss to your lips.

"You're real pretty, sugar." he hummed gently, "and all fucking mine." he said possessively, holding your waist to steady you.

You nodded with a content hum. You swore you could stay like this forever with him. You wished you could walk out with him right now - to show your parents who you loved and who you were going to marry someday.

You were pulled from your reverie as you heard a knock on your bedroom door, your eyes widening as your blissful peace was cut short.

"Sis? You still up?" Fionn's voice called from the other side of the door.

[lee-romee]

ergag be adas (similar to pasta)

cheese fatayer

ka'ak al-quds (Jerusalem bread)

khubiz taboon (flatbread)

msakhan (national dish)

mansaf (spiced lamb with rice and yogurt sauce)

qidreh (bone-in lamb with spiced rice, from Hebron)

maqluba (rice with stewed meat & vegetables)

kofta do bandora (meat patties and vegetables in tomato sauce)

rummaniyeh (lentil & eggplant stew)

dawali (stuffed grape leaves)

qudsiyeh (hummus topped with fava beans, from Jerusalem)