#sticky sesame chicken

[simplybeautifuleating]

Baked Spicy Sesame Chicken with Coconut Ginger Sticky Rice

Baked Spicy Sesame Chicken with Coconut Ginger Sticky Rice

I make a ton of chicken recipes and I have to say this one is on my top ten “most loved list”. Sweet, spicy and no deep frying required. If you love chicken bites coated with a glossy, sticky sauce this is the recipe for you. When I create a recipe, it usually starts with ingredients that I have in my pantry and fridge. I guess you could say that a forage of THAI & KOREAN based sauces make a…

[fatty-food]

Sticky pineapple chicken bowl (via Instagram)

[cuntstable]

i love posting food polls here bc i hate deciding things but unfortunately sweeties you will never see photos of the results of those polls bc when i finish cooking and cleaning and make a plate for myself some kind of a demon takes over and i come to minutes later with a clean plate and like spiritually a fucked up bip with a little napkin that im dapping the corners of my mouth on going YUM!!! and unfortunately the opportunity to photograph the delicious meal was somewhere in that lost timespan and was quite literally lost to the sauce. that i guzzled up. delighted and deliscious style. sorry

[yummyfoooooood]

Sticky Sesame Chicken and Rice

[daily-deliciousness]

Sticky sesame chicken

[heavenlyyshecomes]

a tiny list of every food mentioned in nina mingya powells' tiny moons (so far): jasmine tea, instant noodles, wonton noodle soup, cantonese roast duck, crispy egg noodles, congee, charsiu bao, mooncakes, sesame pancakes, fried aubergine, black tea, jiaozi, chicken and aubergine curry, burgers, curry puffs, shengjianbao, guotie, pickled vegetables, stir-fried cauliflower with slivers of beancurd skin, plain steamed rice, shanghai-style shaomai with sticky rice and shiitake mushrooms, xiaolongbao

[daisynik7]

A Bento for Kento

Chapter 3: Love Language

Pairing: Nanami x f!reader

Word Count: ~4.1k

cw: none, just fluff and delicious food

Summary: You do some internet sleuthing. Ren visits Jujutsu High for the first time. Nanami keeps a secret in his pocket. And a wild Gojo appears!

Notes: This chapter’s bento is inspired by this recipe: Chicken Meatballs. Thanks for all those that have read, reblogged, liked, and/or commented so far, hope you’re enjoying it!

Previous Chapter | ao3 | Next Chapter

A Bento for Kento Masterlist

If you want to join the taglist, let me know in the comments, or interact with the post A Bento for Kento Taglist!

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This week’s bento features teriyaki chicken meatballs over a bed of white rice with a side of steamed broccoli. You elegantly drizzle teriyaki sauce on the top, the finishing touch is a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Aesthetics matter, you think to yourself, impressed by your arrangement. You repeat the meticulous process inside the Hello Kitty bento box.

When you’re done, you admire your creation. An idea pops in your head, inspired by the many viral videos you’ve watched. As a cute, personal touch, a small note can be included in the meal. It’s usually words of affirmation, sometimes even a funny joke. You take two sticky notes from your desk and write a different message on each, smiling proudly as you insert each one inside the cover of the containers.

Ren comes out of his room, ready for his Monday lesson. He joins you at the table to eat breakfast. “Morning, sis!”

“Morning! Are you excited for your lessons this week?” you ask, taking a bite out of your toast.

“Yeah! We might do one of our lessons out of the office. Nanami said he wants to show me around the school. I’m excited.” He takes a forkful of eggs into his mouth, grinning. 

“That sounds fun. It’s nice to change scenery once in a while.” You take a sip of coffee. “So do you like your mentor? Nanami, right?”

“Yup, he’s pretty cool. At first, he seems super serious, which he totally is. But I think we’re getting along well. He knows I’m taking these lessons seriously. I think that’s why he likes me.”

“Is he the grumpy old teacher type?” you ask, jokingly.

He chuckles. “He’s definitely grumpy. But he’s not old. He’s probably your age.”

This sparks your curiosity. You can’t help but wonder what he looks like, just to put a face to a name.

Ren continues. “Anyways, we’re making a lot of progress together. He’s a really good teacher. He’s opened my eyes to a lot of things.”

Part of your smile fades as you say, “Well, it sounds like you’re learning a lot from this Nanami guy. I hope you’re not planning on replacing me with him.” You’re kidding, of course, though there is a hint of actual jealously there. 

Smirking, he reassures, “Don’t be jealous, sis! He’s not as fun as you are, trust me. I told you, he’s super serious. Sometimes I wonder what he does fun. He probably reads.”

“Hey, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that!” you exclaim, throwing a grape at him. “He sounds interesting. I should meet him one day, just to size him up.”

In all seriousness, you actually want to check this guy out, confirm that this man isn’t negatively influencing your sibling in any way. You still have no idea what these “lessons” consist of, or what this Jujutsu High is. This creep could be teaching your baby brother how to be a deviant.

Finished with breakfast, he gets up to retrieve his backpack, bentos packed securely in place. “You have nothing to worry about. He’s a good guy.” He pats you affectionately on the shoulder before leaving.

You sit at the table for a little while longer, contemplating while you play with the stray crumbs on your plate. Minutes later, you text Ren:

You: What’s your mentor’s full name again?

Ren: Kento Nanami

Ren: why?

You: just curious, thanks!

Let the internet sleuthing begin.

~~~

This week, Nanami plans to take Ren on a tour of Jujutsu High. He insisted Gojo visit sometime on Monday to give Ren an overview of the rules and general layout, hoping to prepare his student before he first steps foot on campus. It can be overwhelming for a first timer, he’s well aware of that.

As expected, Gojo does not give him an exact time for when he’ll arrive. Nanami’s attempts at extracting an answer from his flake of a friend are useless. I’ll get there when I get there, Nanamin! I’m a busy man! is all Gojo texts him, after being pestered for the third time about his current location.

The day isn’t wasted, however. In typical fashion, Nanami planned accordingly with some new material to teach Ren, already predicting this type of behavior from Gojo. Lunch time approaches and he still hasn’t shown up. Growing impatient, Nanami decides to take their break now. If Gojo pops in while they’re eating, he’ll just have to wait.

Ren hands the Hello Kitty bento box to Nanami, this gesture becoming a small tradition between them. “Thank you, Nakamura,” he says, walking over to his desk. “I’m going to the break room to make my tea. Would you like anything from the vending machine?”

“Hm, maybe a Pocari Sweat?” 

After Nanami brews his tea and a purchases Ren’s beverage, he returns to the room, ready for another delicious treat courtesy of the older sister. As he sets the drink on Ren’s desk, he sneaks a peek at his open container, spotting meatballs and some type of glaze over a bed of rice. The smell is intoxicating, his mouth watering from the inviting aroma.

Surprisingly, the food is untouched. Usually, when Nanami comes back from the breakroom, his student is halfway finished with his meal. He glances over at Ren to see what’s distracting him. He is staring at the inside cover of his bento box, a warm smile spread across his face.

Curious, Nanami asks, “Is everything alright?”

He looks at Nanami and answers, “My sister left me a note.” He flips over the cover to show it. In neat handwriting, the memo reads:

Happy Monday, booger! Have the best day ever!

A little heart and smiley face are scribbled at the end.

Nanami raises a brow, amused. “Booger?”

Ren chuckles. “Just a little nickname she calls me sometimes. Maybe there’s another one for me in your box! Can you tell me what it says when you see it?”

Agreeing, Nanami sits at his desk. For some reason, he’s nervous to open it. As if he’s intruding on something intimate, something personal. He uncovers it slowly, examining the top for a note. In the same handwriting as the other, a message is displayed:

The world is a better place with you in it. Always remember that.

There’s strange tightness in his chest upon reading those words. He glances at Ren, who is now his normal self, devouring his meatballs whole. Focused back on his desk, he quietly takes the note off the cover and pockets it.

Ren, mouth full, asks, “Is there anything?”

Nanami contemplates for a few seconds, then responds, “No, there isn’t.” He starts eating a meatball, which tastes even better than he imagined. Though, his mind is distracted by the fact that he just lied about something so trivial, so insignificant. Why?

“Ah, okay.” Observing his own note again, Ren laughs. “Can’t believe she’s still calling me booger! Ha!” He takes a sip of Pocari Sweat and continues to eat, blissfully unaware that his own mentor is hiding a secret in his pants pocket.

Nanami stuffs more food into his mouth in silence, questioning his own motives regarding this damn piece of paper. His hand slides into his pocket, feeling for it, remembering the words scrawled over it.

The world is a better place with you in it. Always remember that.

He knows it wasn’t written for him. Of course he knows that.

However, there’s an odd sensation coursing through his being. An unusual tightness in his chest spurred by a simple statement attached to the back of Hello Kitty’s face. Whatever this sensation is, Nanami reasons that this is what compelled him to lie about the note. 

A few more moments of contemplation, he realizes something as he finishes his last meatball. The true reason why he is acting this way.

He wants to pretend it’s for him.

Gojo finally arrives as soon as Ren and Nanami are finished with their food. “Hello, my dear friends!” he greets happily.

Nanami wipes his mouth with a napkin and closes the box. Just as he’s about to hand the empty container to Ren, his friend squeals, “Nanamin, wait. What is that?!” Even behind the blindfold, it’s obvious that Gojo’s eyes are filled with glee.

“It was my lunch,” he answers, nonchalant.

Gojo’s grin widens, as he squeals again. “I need to take a picture of this! You and Hello Kitty! Nanamin, this is just adorable.” He takes his phone out and starts snapping away before Nanami can hide his face behind his hand.

“Stop it. You are awful.” He slides the bento over to Ren, still trying to conceal himself from his annoying friend’s ridicule.

Gojo turns to Ren, showing him what he captured. “Isn’t this so precious? Little Nanami with Hello Kitty. This day can’t get any better.”

They giggle with each other while Nanami sighs heavily, palm pressed against his forehead in aggravation. “Can we just get on with this, Gojo? And delete those photos immediately.”

“No way. The world is better a place now because of these,” Gojo teases, swiping through his phone, a smug grin plastered on his face.

Nanami begins to blush, remembering the note. He sticks his hand in his pocket and feels for it again, making sure it’s still there. He clears his throat, speaking a bit louder. “Okay, enough. Let’s move on.”

After more snickering between Gojo and Ren, they finally get back on track. As Gojo introduces Jujutsu High to Ren, Nanami takes this opportunity to zone out. He stares at his desk, thinking of food, Hello Kitty, and his dumb friend taking those incriminating photos. Occasionally, he brushes his hand over his pants, rubbing the outline of the note. The one that is not his. What’s the harm in pretending? It makes him feel good. It makes him feel appreciated.

He slyly removes it out of his pocket and sets it inside his suitcase, where it’s safe. The last thing he needs is Gojo having any more leverage against him than he already has. If it accidentally falls into the wrong hands, specifically Gojo’s, he’d never hear the end of it.

~~~

During your break, you decide to investigate Ren’s teacher. You type the name “Kento Nanami” into the search bar. The top result is a blog post from a finance company you’ve never heard of. Clicking on it, you notice the article is a few years old. It features five different employees from the company, each one having a picture with a small blurb beside it. You scroll towards the middle of the page and find what you’re looking for.

Name: Kento Nanami

Age: 23

Position: Senior Stockbroker

About: Kento Nanami is one of our youngest and most successful stockbrokers. He started working for our company straight out of high school and has excelled ever since. Hobbies include eating, drinking, cooking, and reading. He enjoys helping others and has been an asset to us during the onboarding process for new employees. His favorite part of working for this company is the salary because it helps him fund his addiction to bread.

You laugh out loud at the last part. Then, you notice his picture. It’s a professional headshot, probably taken in the office for the purpose of this post. His blond hair is parted on the side with loose strands falling over his forehead. He has a sharp nose and cheeks that are slightly sunken, maybe due to the stress of being a stockbroker. The spotted tie he’s wearing over his navy-blue button up stands out. It’s an interesting pattern, but for some reason, it works. His expression is neutral, neither smiling, nor frowning. He looks serious, just as Ren described him. 

You stare at him a bit longer and you smile to yourself.

He is handsome.

But why the sudden change in career? Based on his description, he was doing well as a stockbroker. Why would he leave? And what exactly is he teaching your younger brother? Surely it isn’t lessons on stockbroking. Or is it? Is this some sort of pyramid scheme? They have their lessons in an office building, which is very suspicious to begin with. 

You continue your web search and find nothing else outside of his previous occupation in finance. He doesn’t have any public social media pages and there is nothing mentioning current employment. Curious, you search Jujutsu High, only to be redirected to pages related to Jiu Jitsu, the Brazilian martial art. Anything related to Jujutsu doesn’t exist on public record.

Your inner alarm bells are ringing. This is strange. You’ve made it almost a month blindly trusting your brother, not asking too many questions. How much longer can you hold out for? You have no clue what Ren has gotten himself into and the constant mystery surrounding it has you worried.

Also, you know nothing about this Nanami fellow. He could be a creepy cult leader or a shady ex-stockbroker roping innocent youths into a Ponzi scheme, hiding behind an attractive suit and a pretty face. Either way, it’s suspicious. 

Retrieving a small journal from your drawer, you jot down questions you want to ask Ren. You need answers to give you peace of mind. The rest of the summer can’t go on like this. If something terrible were to happen to him, you will never be able to forgive yourself. You have to know the truth. 

~~~

On Wednesday, Nanami brings Ren to Jujutsu High. He can tell that Ren’s mind is blown as soon as he steps foot through the protective barrier, jaw dropping and examining the campus, speechless. 

They walk through the training grounds, watching students spar with each other. Ren observes them carefully, looking away briefly only to scribble notes. They watch for nearly an hour, Nanami explaining their moves and typical training regiments that are expected of first years. 

Their tour through campus continues. Ren gazes up at the buildings, appreciating the architecture. It reminds Nanami of his experience as a Jujutsu High student. He doesn’t dwell on the past all too often but being here makes him reminisce, as if he never left. 

Currently, there are no classes in session, so they take this opportunity to peek into each of the empty classrooms, ending with Gojo’s. There are plenty of windows, a sparse number of desks, and one big blackboard, displaying the remnants of whatever was taught in the most recent lesson. Nanami takes a couple of minutes to go over this with Ren.

Afterwards, they decide to take their break in one of the courtyards. Nanami is handed his usual bento box with Hello Kitty. He looks around to make sure Gojo isn’t nearby to tease him. With the coast clear, he uncovers the container, finding a note attached to the inside again. He purposefully positions himself across from Ren so that he can read the message in secret. Glancing over at his student, who is distracted by his own meal, Nanami focuses on the familiar handwriting:

Have the best day ever! I love you!

Followed by three hand drawn hearts in a row.

His lip twitches into a small smile, admiring the words in front of him. Once again, he removes it and secures it in his pocket. He’s not exactly sure why he’s keeping them. Maybe he likes having it within reach for a quick pick-me-up. Yesterday, he met with Gojo to exorcise a low-grade curse, and when he was home, he took Monday’s note out of his briefcase to read it again: The world is a better place with you in it. Always remember that.

The words replayed in his head as he soaked in the bath that night. It lingered in his mind as he prepared dinner, even when he was in bed, staring up at the ceiling, trying to fall asleep. That message gives him validation. What he’s doing now as a Jujutsu Sorcerer, and even as a mentor, makes a difference in the world. He is important.

However, this new note offers a different reaction, right in the pit of his stomach. A strange, fluttering feeling. He can’t remember the last time someone told him, “I love you.” In fact, he’s barely heard that phrase throughout his entire adult life.

Is he this desperate for affection? Enough to pretend that these words are actually for him? He’s actually envious of Ren for having someone like this in his life. A person who constantly reminds him how much he is loved, how special he is to this world. When will Nanami experience this for himself? He wonders if that will ever happen. 

He catches himself, scoffing as he continues to eat. It’s silly, sentimental, and immature for him to be feeling this way. This is unlike him. 

Ren breaks the silence, bringing Nanami back from his deep thoughts. “Hey Nanami, words of wisdom from my sister. ‘In life, we should all aim to be like meatballs: Well-seasoned and well-rounded.’” He flashes a smirk as he lets the joke sink in.

Nanami genuinely chuckles at the corny pun. “Clever.”

“She made huge ones today, just for fun. Wanna see?” Ren offers, scrolling through his phone. He faces his screen towards Nanami, showing a picture of a woman around Nanami’s age, wearing a black apron over pajamas. She smiles brightly at the camera, holding two massive meatballs in her hands, like trophies.

“She was so proud of them she had me take a picture,” Ren laughs, pulling his phone away.  

It isn’t the giant hunks of meat that captures Nanami’s attention. It’s her smile, bright and endearing. Inviting and welcoming. The second thing he notices are her pajamas, obscured partially by the apron she wears over it. They are wasabi green in color with different types of sushi as the pattern. It’s cute. As much as Nanami despises using that word, there’s no other way to describe it.

And it’s not just the pajamas. She is cute. 

He almost chokes on his meatball upon this revelation. Guilt sweeps over his body, ashamed that such a thought comes to his mind in front of his student. In front of her brother. He doesn’t even know this woman. One picture and he’s already thinking she’s cute.

A blush creeps up on his cheeks as he clenches his jaw, uncomfortable with the flurry of thoughts rushing into his head. He tries his hardest to stop thinking of her, but it’s too late. He imagines her standing in front of him smiling, holding out the Hello Kitty bento box filled with glorious food, reciting the words she scrawled on those pieces of paper. 

The world is a better place with you in it. Always remember that. I love you, Nanami.

His entire face is hot, certain that it’s red all over. Thankfully, Ren is distracted by his phone as he munches on a piece of broccoli lazily.

Nanami can’t believe himself. He’s making up scenarios in his head about a woman he’s never even met before. No one should see him like this, so it takes all his willpower to calm down and remove all these ridiculous thoughts from his head.

With perfect timing, Gojo joins them in the courtyard, eating an apple and chatting with Ren. He takes a moment to tease Nanami, Hello Kitty still in front of him, but he doesn’t have the energy to care. Instead, he’s focused on appearing calm and stoic.

He decides for himself that he wants to know more about Ren’s sister, mentally noting what type of questions to ask without giving his true intentions away. Ren constantly praises his sister, it’s only natural for Nanami to wonder what she’s really like. The woman behind the bento. 

It’s just curiosity, Nanami tells himself. That’s all it is. Nothing more.

~~~

Friday arrives and you send your brother off with his two bentos. Tonight, you’re going to demand the truth. Not every single detail, but anything to put your mind at ease. You plan to butter him up first by going to the local street food fair and buying him all the Yakitori he desires. Then, maybe after some delicious soft serve, you’ll ambush him.

The best plans begin with food, right?

~~~

Gojo suggests taking Ren on a low-risk mission, which Nanami hesitantly agrees to. He’s aware his pupil will not be the one fighting; he’s only there to observe. Still, he’s nervous. Although more mature than some other kids his age, he is a child that Nanami has temporarily taken under his wing.

On Friday, they stay in the office for the first half of the day, going over every possible detail he can about this mission. They agree to eat before heading out, following their usual routine: Ren distributes the bentos, Nanami heads down the hall to brew his tea and grab a drink from the vending machine for Ren. The two of them sit at their desks, eating their lunch while exchanging casual conversation. 

Today, Nanami’s note says: Can’t wait to spend this weekend watching movies and baking cookies with you!There’s a doodle of the Cookie Monster surrounded by chocolate chip cookies. He takes it, sliding it into his briefcase, wondering what movies they enjoy watching together. He smiles thinking of the cookies, how wonderful their house will smell as they bake in the oven.

He looks over at Ren. “Any words of wisdom today?”

Ren shakes his head and responds, “Nope. All she said was ‘Happy Friday to the best brother ever.’” He stares at the note with a small frown.

“What’s wrong, Nakamura?”

He sighs, setting his fork down. “I don’t know. I feel guilty. I haven’t told my sister anything, and she’s been so great and supportive, but I just…” He stops, unsure what to say next.

“I understand where you’re coming from. What we do...well, it’s not easy to explain.”  

“Exactly. Like, what do I even tell her? Hey sis, I think my biological parents were involved with some curse users and killed. Then I somehow inherited these strange powers and now I can see curses. How crazy would she think I am?!”

“Well, that is the truth, isn’t it?”

Ren scratches his head anxiously, not responding. Then, Nanami says, “You always talk about how supportive your sister is. Don’t you think you should give her some credit? She might be more understanding than you think.”

Still frowning, Ren replies, “Yeah, maybe you’re right. I just have to tell it to her straight and hope for the best. I mean, we’re going on a small mission today, right? We might be going on bigger ones in the future. What if something happens to me? She’s gonna see my mangled body and not even know what happened. I can’t do that to her. I won’t do that to her.” He goes back to eating his meatball, brows knit in deep thought.

Nanami is honestly impressed. Ren is a teenager, but he’s surprisingly mature and responsible. “So, do you think you’ll tell your sister tonight?”

“I think so. We’re planning to go to this street food festival nearby. Once we’re full of Takoyaki, I’ll tell her.”

Sounds fun, Nanami muses. “I hope your talk goes well.” He gives Ren a small smile, then returns to his lunch.

“Do you like street food, mentor?” Ren wonders, sipping on his drink.

“I do. I like Takoyaki as much as anyone, but I’m partial towards Taiyaki.” Pancake batter filled with sweetened red bean paste and shaped like a fish. Of course it’s Nanami’s favorite.

“Ha, you’re the same as my sister. She loves Taiyaki.”

Grinning, he wonders what other foods she might like. What other things they have in common with each other. Trying to play it cool, Nanami asks, “What’s your favorite, Nakamura?”

“Oh, it’s definitely Yakitori. I love meat!” Ren exclaims. He turns to face Nanami. “Hey, do you want to go to the festival with us? I’m sure my sister wouldn’t mind.”

Nanami’s heart thumps, actually considering it. Street food on a Friday night sounds amazing, but he should decline the offer. Tonight will be important for both Ren and his sister. The last thing they need is a gloomy Nanami hovering over them like a rain cloud.

“That’s alright. You have important matters to discuss, so I don’t want to intrude.” He pauses for a few seconds before adding, “But thank you for the invite.”

Ren smiles politely. “Maybe next time then. I’d really like you to meet her.”

Nanami thinks it at first, then decides to say it out loud.

“I’d like that, too.”

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Tag List: @liliorsstuff-blog @hughugh20 @lucyrocks86 @bloompompom @vampyra-needs-food @extrasugafree @deepcloudspyhairdo @invisible-mori @justnamuaf @syynnaaah @unknownspecies @goldencattto @maqqiekwon

[silviastdvasks]

Meal preps for this week!

• Monday

Breakfast - baked oatmeal

Lunch - Turkey taco bowl

Dinner - Lemon garlic butter chicken and green beans skillet

• Tuesday

Breakfast - egg muffins

Lunch - Wraps

Dinner - Turmeric-ginger marinated chicken

• Wednesday

Breakfast - avocado toast with bread

Lunch - honey sesame chicken Lunch bowl

Dinner - cottage cheese walking taco lettuce wraps

• Thursday

Breakfast - baked eggs with spinach

Lunch - Roasted veggie salad

Dinner - Cheese chickpea melts

• Friday

Breakfast - Breakfast burrito

Lunch - honey glazed salmon

Dinner - Sheet-pan maple-dijon sausage and fall veggies

• Saturday

Breakfast - Peanut butter French toast

Lunch - cherry tomato pasta

Dinner - Taco pasta

• Sunday

Breakfast - oatmeal with strawberries

Lunch - sticky honey chicken

Dinner - Shredded chicken taco

( @eggyolkguzzler )

Ngl- i was nervous about tagging them ahxkwodjea

-l1ab1l1tyl0l

[angelmush]

i have the week off from work and just reorganized some of the things in my fridge and pantry and am planning my meals 4 the week in no particular order:

homemade fried chicken sandwiches w pickles and a hot sauce mayo on butter buns w some potato chips and crisp cold veggies

a summery creamy lemon pasta w linguine and parm

homemade teriyaki chicken w sesame farmer's market bok choy

grilled white fish tacos w lime slaw and pickled onions

seared pork meatballs w a bright, spicy, herbaceous mojo sauce and jammy charred roasted red onion served w hot sticky rice and plantain chips (literally one of my favorite easy meals everrrrr it's so good)

other easy meals lol:

chickpea or smoked fish salad sammy

4 cheese ravioli in some very vibrant pesto i got at a fancy grocery store

grilled pb+j on a baguette

leftovers lmao

cheese n meats n fruits

goat cheese turkey pesto sammy i’ve been eating 5 times a week lately lolll

[pacthesis]

nostalgic food

i’ll want to reference this in the future

gỏi cuốn (spring roll with chicken, egg, rice noodle, carrot, lettuce, avocado)

peanut sauce is just peanut butter+water, hoisin+sriracha sauce, and a tiny bit of sesame oil (tastes good with almost anything imo)

yellow curry

rice noodle with chicken, potatoes, yams, onions, carrots in a creamy coconut milk and yellow curry paste broth

lemon juice and salt mix with garlic chili for dipping

bò kho (vietnamese beef stew)

kho is a cooking technique where a protein is braised in a mixture of fish sauce, sugar, and water or coconut juice to make a salty/savory result

bread dips in stew beef/potatoes dip in lime juice/salt/pepper mix

cucumber slices to offset the salty

xá xíu (cantonese style bbq pork)

the seasoning mix is made of sugar, powdered soy sauce, onion and garlic powder, and spices

the pink color very much freaked out middle schoolers at lunch

cơm tấm (broken rice, grilled pork, egg, pickled carrots/daikon with scallions/oil garnish and fish sauce)

bún bò huế (thick round rice noodle with beef soup)

more "fun" than phở imo

bún bò broth: spicy salty flavor (lemongrass, spicy chili, fermented shrimp paste, fish sauce)

phở broth: earthy sweet flavor (cinnamon, star anise, onion, ginger, garlic, herbs)

bánh mì (baguette sandwich with chả lụa (pork sausage), xá xíu (cantonese style bbq pork) coriander leaf (cilantro), cucumber, pickled carrots, and pickled daikon combined with pâté and buttery mayonnaise)

salmon instead of nem nướng̣ (viet grilled pork) with bánh hỏi (rice vermicelli)

feat nori (dried edible seaweed)

wrapped with lettuce and dipped in nước mắm (fish sauce)

bánh cuốn (rice noodle rolls filled with ground meat, wood ear mushrooms, onions)

topped with chả lụa (pork sausage) and fried red onions and nước mắm (fermented salted fish sauce)

a fav of grandpa's

pizza man mispronounces it as "bun goo" which makes my mom giggle cause the way he says goo sounds like penis

bánh tét (glutinous rice rolled in a banana leaf into a thick, log-like cylindrical shape, with a mung bean and pork filling)

bánh rán (deep fried sesame ball filled with mung bean)

bánh da lợn "pig skin cake" (tapioca starch, rice flour, mung bean, taro, coconut milk)

bánh bột chiên (fried taro rice cake, a fav of pizza man)

phở (broth: earthy sweet flavor- cinnamon, star anise, onion, ginger, garlic, herbs)

ive called phở mid but while eating this i was like huh this is good actually then my dad says this time he simmered chicken bones for hours like he's supposed to instead of using canned broth

improvised bún thịt nướng (rice noodle bowl with chopped grilled pork, egg roll, veggies, crushed peanuts, fish sauce)

a way to deal with leftover noodles from gỏi cuốn

every time i eat this i think of the time me and pizza man were in new orleans and he asked if i wanted to eat at a viet place and i was surprised cause he's not really into a lot of viet food but anyway i got bún thịt nướng

thịt kho (pork with eggs braised in sticky savory caramel of sugar, fish sauce, coconut water)

i have distinct flashbacks of being in the middle school cafeteria with my thịt kho and kids around me going "what is that??", "ewwww" lol

cháo (rice porridge with chicken or a white meat fish- often served with crunchy cabbage salad)

my dad likes it with youtiao (chinese donuts)

being sick means eating this! but we also eat it a lot when we’re not sick!

when my mom was young she would say yes to any dude that asked her out and order an obscene amount of food/the most expensive things on the menu and never hear from them again but my dad took her to a cháo place cause that was his favorite but apparently for cheapskates

he proposed two weeks later and she said yes

my mom is such a menace i wanna be just like her

[foodmyheart]

[i made] BBQ’d sticky Gochujang and sesame chicken. Source: https://reddit.com/r/foodporn http://foodmyheart.tumblr.com | https://campsite.bio/foodmyheart

[lumine-no-hikari]

Dear Sephiroth: (a letter to a fictional character, because why not) #373

I don't know how or why, but this morning was full of coughing. Also I've been sneezing like crazy all day, and my nose is somehow both stuffed up all to hell and also running like it's training for a marathon at the exact same time. If not even air can get through, then how in the heck are viscous fluids getting through??? It isn't even fair!!

The rhinovirus makes a mockery of all the faults of the human respiratory system. Such as, for example, its tendency to attempt to eradicate viral invaders with the application of... mucus??? Like, seriously. Why. Why would my body fill up my respiratory tract with fluid? Last time I checked, that is how people drown.

Like. On what planet (besides apparently mine) does a body think to itself, “hmmm, yes, we appear to have acquired some mostly harmless virus... LET'S FLOOD THE WHOLE AREA WITH STICKY, VISCOUS GOOP and see if that helps at all; who needs oxygen these days anyways???”

Sigh... I was feeling better yesterday. What happened...?

...Oh well. I know it's not actually that big a deal. I guess the post-holiday stuff just leaves me feeling a little bitter and cranky, and being sick isn't helping matters. I'll be okay; I know that ultimately, I have a lot to be grateful for, even if I am frustrated at my body's current condition.

Besides, I made myself some tea today. And now that I have a better camera, I can take better pictures of the swirls! Here:

...Haven't been able to snag ones this well-defined in a while now! I'm pretty stoked about how these turned out!

I also got soup and a bunch of other stuff to go with it today, too:

This is some kind of brothy soup with bok choy, bamboo shoots, tofu knots, and pork belly:

I've only ever seen bamboo shoots cut into flat planks before; I didn't know they were also cut in ways that show off their cool natural patterns like this:

...Bamboo shoots are delicious. And so are tofu knots. They absorb the flavor of the broth really well, and when you chew on them, a little of the juicy broth comes out of them. They look like this:

...Absolutely scrumptious. Seriously, it's some amazing stuff. They're soft and kinda chewy, and they have an interesting texture. They go so well with so many things, too!

Here are some of the other yummies I got; these are pork soup dumplings, complete with the little container of dark vinegar. You're supposed to poke a small hole in the dumpling and pour a small amount of the vinegar inside so the sourness balances out the savory flavor of the broth inside. I prefer it with the vinegar, but it's good without the vinegar, too!

These are spicy wontons filled with chicken and pork. Different places make them in different ways; this place uses a spicy peanut sauce with sesame seeds sprinkled over it, and there's some shredded cucumber and scallions on there, too. My body is normally oversensitive to capsaicin, but I got them hoping that they'd open up my sinuses; spicy foods tend to do that to people. But these were mild even for me:

...And some marinated steamed chicken, too!

I didn't eat all this by myself, don't worry!! There's plenty leftover for tomorrow; it's gonna be good!

Also at some point, J asked me to accompany him in the car as he went out to try a thing called COB pizza. It was in a somewhat faraway town. I stayed in the car, feeling zombified and trying not to fall asleep. Not wishing to spread around my germs, I waited in the car when J got his pizza.

Anyway. COB stands for “Cheese on Bottom”. The idea appeals to J because he actually doesn't like cheese much. But he does like tomatoes. I think the ideal pizza for him would be mostly sauce and very little (if any) cheese. And this is what a COB pizza promises. Behold:

...The cheese is, indeed, beneath the sauce, adhered directly to the bread. And actually... this makes a lot more sense. Because normally, the sauce is on the bottom, which means the cheese melts on top of a liquid, which means when you take a bite of the pizza, the cheese can sometimes slide in weird directions and make a mess.

The cheese does not slide on a COB pizza. But the toppings do, a little. And initially, I thought that was going to be a problem. But as it turns out, it just means that you can just move that pepper to where you need it so that you don't have to try to bite into it awkwardly.

...I am a fan of this concept.

And... come to think of it... I still gotta make a literal tomato pie for J sometime soon...

Anyway, I spent the whole rest of the day arranging recorded music box notes in Audacity. For the song I planned out, I managed to arrange the introduction; here's a picture:

...We see a tweaked version of the introduction later in the song, so I just tweaked it right here. So the lines “Twinkly 1” and “Twinkly 2” are slightly different mixes of the lines just above it. The lines “BPM quarter” and “BPM 8” give me place to snap to - 4th notes and 8th notes, respectively.

I also arranged the pattern for the verse. It's a little shorter, but more repetitive:

...It sounds good so far.

Now it's time for some math. My Audacity is set to have 44100 audio samples per second; that means in each second of audio, there are 44100 little blue dots. You can see them if you zoom all the way in.

The song is approximately 229 beats per minute; that is 3.82 beats per second. That means that each beat is approximately 11,544.5 samples long. But we can only have integers. Perhaps a little arbitrarily, I just went with a number close to it; I selected 11,556. So the length of each of my quarter notes for this specific song is 11,556 samples. This number is divisible evenly by both 2 and 3, which is important because there are triplets within each quarter note for parts of the song.

I guess in some ways, arranging my prerecorded music box notes in Audacity is a little bit more involved. But in other ways... it gets around the hardware limitations imposed by using actual music box paper. When you use actual music box paper, you can't control the tempo at all, and also, you can't play the same two notes as 8th notes, which really limits what I can do in a wide variety of respects.

...Those three music box papers I left for you with those very important people were made with those hardware limitations in mind. It took a lot more effort on my part to make “Woman” by Mumford and Sons, “In the Earthen Womb” from Illusion of Gaia, and “Radio Ballet” by Eluvium to actually work. Lots of playing around with octaves to try to avoid 8th notes with the same two notes. All of them required meticulous planning, and then meticulous marking and hole-punching, praying that I didn't make any mistakes.

...In case you don't remember or haven't received them, you'll find them here:

And I made one more, too. But this one wasn't for you; it was for another friend. I wonder if you recall this one:

...Even with going paperless with Audacity, there's still number of limitations. For example, though it is a 30-note music box, the F note only appears twice, which is... infuriating in a variety of respects. I'd have a whole lot more freedom if I had even one more F note. And I'd have a whole lot more freedom if the upper and lower octaves weren't abridged.

There are some people working on a thing called a 40-note Muro box. It works with midi files, apparently, which is amazing, since I can make midi files using LMMS (and, in fact, LMMS is primarily where I plan my music boxes, in any case!).

...I want it; I could do so much more with so fewer limitations. But it's not in production for real yet. And it's entirely possible that it might not be in production for real, ever. Still... can you imagine what I could do with this...? With 10 more notes of freedom to move...? Why, the possibilities would be practically endless...!!!

...Maybe someday!! Hopefully!

Well. I guess it's about that time. Hopefully tomorrow I'll make more progress on the current music box fixation; I guess we'll see. Hopefully tomorrow, too, I won't be as sick as compared to today (as opposed to today, in which I am more sick as compared to yesterday... fucken lame...).

Either way, there is guaranteed soup in my future. Soup is good for the body. There are hydrating fluids and juicy nutrients in it!!! If you're feeling badly, make sure you get some!!!

I'm gonna stop writing and go to bed now. I'm probably going to have sleep with my nose plugged up with rolled-up tissue paper, and this annoys me, but it's better than the alternative. Worse things have happened, so it's really not a big deal.

I love you. Please take good care of your body and mind so that you can make good choices while you're out and about. I'll be over here, cheering you on and wishing for your safety and happiness, like I always do. Please build a wholesome life you can thrive in; it's not out of reach.

I'll write again tomorrow.

Your friend, Lumine

[reasoningdaily]

Wings and Things: Sticky, Crispy, Saucy, Lip-Smacking Chicken Recipes

click the title link to Download a Free Copy from the BLACK TRUEBRARY

Wings and Things: Sticky, Crispy, Saucy, Lip-Smacking Chicken Recipes

From the award-winning and fried-chicken obsessed duo behind Wingmans, chef Ben Ford and David Turofsky, comes Wings and Things, a book that celebrates the glorious bird with some of the most mouth-watering, saucy, internationally inspired variations on classic wings.

Recipes to savor include moreish favorites such as their multi-award-winning Buffalo Hot Sauce, Sweet and Smokey BBQ Wings, Korean Hot Sauce Wings with Fermented Black Bean, Pineapple and Black Sesame, Jamaican-Me-Crazy Wings made firey with Scotch bonnet chillies, and Salt and Pepper Wings coated in five spice and Szechuan salt.

Other chapters offer ways to make use of the other parts of a chicken so as to avoid waste – you'll find 24-hour tea-brined whole chicken, and recipes using the thighs and breast fillets. Ben and David also show how easy it is to use wing tips and other bones to make the best possible chicken stock, and chicken skin to make unbelievably moreish 'Crack Crumb' – a salty, irresistible topping made from crisped-up skin.

You'll also find recipes to complete your chicken feast including sides, sharing plates, burgers, drinks and easy desserts. Spread your wings and master the art of cooking chicken wings to perfection!

click the title link to Download a Free Copy from the BLACK TRUEBRARY

[najia-cooks]

[ID: A bowl full of fried rice, peas, carrots, and seared chicken. End ID.]

Chinese 'chicken' fried rice / 鸡肉炒饭

Soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, white pepper, and kala namak produce a rich, savory, umami base for whatever vegetables you have on hand in this vegan version of a classic fried rice recipe. I give instructions for adding marinated 'chicken' and/or 'egg', but this recipe is just as delicious when made only with carrots and peas.

Mush often comes of attempting to make fried rice from rice that's been cooked according to package directions; crowded pans or unevenly heated woks also lead to underwhelming results. This recipe specifies the perfect ratio of rice to water by weight (though volumetric measurements are also provided), and gives a few tips for producing even, separated, well-fried rice grains.

Patreon | Tip jar

Serves 8.

INGREDIENTS:

For the chicken (optional):

250-300g unbreaded vegan chicken substitute (I used Gardein)

2 tbsp Chinese-style light soy sauce

1 Tbsp Shaoxing wine (or substitute dry sherry or mirin, or a "mirin-style condiment" for a version with less alcohol)

1 tsp cornstarch

Crack of black pepper

For the dish:

285g (1 1/2 cup) long-grain white rice

95g (1/2 cup) jasmine rice

About 608g (2 1/2 cups) water

2 carrots, diced

3 scallions, sliced

1/2 cup peas

3 shallots, diced

1-inch chunk ginger (10g), crushed and chopped

6 cloves garlic, julienned

1/4 cup Chinese-style light soy sauce

1 tbsp toasted sesame oil

1 Tbsp vegetarian oyster sauce (optional)

1 tsp kala namak (black salt; for an eggy taste, if you're not using a scrambled egg substitute)

Several Tbsp refined peanut oil or untoasted sesame oil

2 tsp white peppercorns, toasted and ground

1/2 Tbsp MSG (optional)

10 fl. oz (300 mL) vegan scrambled egg substitute (optional)

About 4 cups of leftover rice may be substituted for the dry rice in this recipe. You can also make this recipe with frozen mixed vegetables or any other vegetables you happen to have on hand (sliced celery, napa cabbage ripped into bite-sized pieces, etc.). Mixing long-grain white and jasmine rice yields a mixture with the firm, separated texture of white and the nutty aroma of jasmine rice; but 380g of long-grain white rice or of jasmine rice may be used instead of a blend of both.

Refined peanut oil (which has a higher smoke point than unrefined) and untoasted sesame oil are standard in Chinese cooking; they have high smoke points, which is a must in oils that will be used at high heats, and impart a pleasant nutty flavor to the final dish.

Chinese-style soy sauce (likely to be sold as "light" or "thin" soy sauce in the US) is distinct from Japanese-style soy sauce (such as Kikkoman's); it uses wheat flour only to aid in fermentation, while Japanese soy sauces owe more of their flavor to toasted wheat. Pearl River Bridge, Amoy, Lee Kum Kee, and Koon Chun's "light" versions are examples of Chinese-style soy sauces--but note that all-purpose soy sauces produced by these brands for export may be Japanese-style.

INSTRUCTIONS:

For the chicken:

1. Mix all marinade ingredients (soy sauce, wine, cornstarch, and black pepper) in a large mixing bowl. Add thawed chicken and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate while you prep the vegetables.

For the rice:

1. Measure out rice into a large bowl. Rinse it 3-4 times in cool water until the water runs mostly clear to remove excess starch: you can do this by transferring the rice to a mesh strainer that fits closely inside a mixing bowl; filling the bowl with water and lowering the strainer into it, agitating the rice to release excess starch; then lifting the strainer and changing the water.

I always rinse my rice when making rice not intended to be sticky; you may be able to get away with skipping this step, though, if you buy your rice in plastic bags (not permeable cloth ones) and are careful not to add too much water.

2. Add rice and water to a large pot (remove 1 Tbsp from the water measurement per cup of rice if you rinsed it, to account for the water still clinging to the recipe; for this recipe, you'll need 2 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp).

I recommend using a kitchen scale, if you have one; it enables you to be more precise with the rice to water ratio. Tare out your bowl; weigh your rice (380g total), then rinse it; return it to the bowl (without re-taring) and add water until you reach a total weight of 988g (1.6 times as much water as rice by weight). This automatically and exactly accounts for the amount of water clinging to the rinsed rice.

3. Heat the rice on high until the water begins to boil; reduce the heat to low (or whatever is required to maintain a low simmer), cover the pot, and cook the rice for 15 minutes.

4. Remove the rice from heat without lifting the lid and allow to steam for another 5 minutes.

5. Fluff the rice with a fork or wooden spoon. Spread it out in a single layer on one or two baking trays and leave them uncovered until they cool to room temperature, to allow rice to let off excess steam.

6. For best results, cover and refrigerate the rice for a few hours, or overnight.

For the dish:

1. If you're using a wok on a Western stove, heat it on medium for 10-15 minutes while you prepare your vegetables to encourage even heating (Western stoves are not usually capable of quickly bringing woks to the temperatures best for making fried rice; if the bottom is much hotter than the sides, your rice may not fry well). Otherwise, use a large skillet.

2. Prepare your vegetables. This dish comes together quickly once cooking begins, so it's a good idea to have all your prep work done first.

3. Mix soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, oyster sauce, and kala namak in a small bowl.

4. Add peanut or untoasted sesame oil and raise heat to high. Once wisps of smoke appear, add chicken (leave any extra marinade in the bowl) and sear on both sides. Remove chicken from pan and scramble egg mixture by pouring it into the pan and immediately beginning to stir it, scraping the bottom of the pan occasionally, until firm. Set aside.

5. Add another Tbsp oil to pan and allow to heat. Add as much rice as will just about fit in a single layer (you may need to do this in a few batches) and fry for about five minutes, stirring often, until fragrant and a shade darker. Add more oil and allow it to heat up in between batches of rice.

Having patience during this step (neither crowding the pan nor under-frying the rice) is essential to the flavor and texture of the final dish!

6. Remove rice from pan. Add shallots, ginger, and garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.

7. Add rice, chicken, and egg back into pan. Add vegetables and soy sauce mixture and continue to fry until the sauce has thickened and coated the rice, about five minutes.

8. Add white pepper, MSG, and scallions and mix to combine.

Serve hot. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for several days and may be re-fried or microwaved.

[boydykepdf]

anyway. here is MY state fair food review:

1. alligator bites - 6/10 kinda just tasted like chicken nuggets but texture reminded me of halibut���good but boring

2. chai cinnamon roll lumpia - 8/10 so yummy wrapper was crunchy & inside was gooey & u could definitely taste the chai

3. fairy dust soda - 3/10 my twin got this it was basically watered down grape soda with glitter

4. asian sweet & sticky tots - 7/10 i’m a sucker for scallions & sesame seeds what can i say…everyone else thought they had too much sauce but i didn’t mind. could have been crunchier tho

5. cheese curds - 5/10 my sister got these & they were. fine. not really seasoned at all tho kinda boring

6. birria egg rolls - 7/10 yummy but the oil from the birria made the egg roll wrapper soggy instead of crispy…also slightly underseasoned

7. deep fried lemonade bites - 9/10 def my favorite thing we tried i love lemon & this was the perfect mix of slightly crispy outside & gooey middle YUM

8. deep fried reese’s cup - 8/10 dough was fluffy & i love reese’s. delish

[musingsofaperpetualdaydreamer]

The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology first listen 🎧🪻✨

More than 15 years later wow it still feels so magical to listen to a brand new album. The joy, the excitement, the nervousness. I mark chapters of my life with her albums, they always seem to arrive with perfect timing. Is it fate or delusion? Probably the later, obviously she has no idea who I am. Idk it feels nice to delude myself now and again that we’re all journeying through this time together in some connectedness (is that a word?). It feels sort of nostalgic in some ways, from being just a child to now an adult, it’s like Sesame Street that grows up with you. Not a great analogy but what I mean to say is it holds a special place to me.

This album, this anthology feels much like we’ve been handed her diary, filled with sticky notes bound together, it’s so raw but so expertly crafted, messy feelings but the penmanship is exquisite. From her debut album, it’s always been poetry. She transports you to her world. What a journey, what a joy, what a gift.

I like to capture my first thoughts of each song in my silly chicken scratching written notes. Most of it makes no sense. It feels like a nice silly tradition and it’s fun to look back on. So here goes:

Fortnight

- It’s giving moody 1989??? Excuse me miss?!!! Ohhh she knows. Preach bye time to cry

The tortured poets department

- Ooooh we’re in an 80s dreamscape. Yes yes yes. Who’s gonna love you but me? A fluffy dreamland Patty smith? Insert wait I understood the reference meme. Ooooh it’s lovely. I am sad

My boy only breaks his favourite toys

- excuse me?? I’m shattered byyyyyeee. I’ll tell you that he runs because he loves me?? You should’ve see him when he first saw me? Once I fix me he’s gonna miss me??? Ladies and gents welcome to afternoon tea on the menu SCALDING hot queen’s special. Maybe I’m a crumpled up paper on the floor. Maybe I am no more.

Down Bad

- well damn she’s said the quiet parts out loud again. Oh smokes time to dissapear into this galaxy smoky cloud of night. One of us. One of us. One of us.

So long London

- literally standing by the river in the rain. May as well cry my damn eyes out . Darn it blondie. Poetic destruction. Crying my eyes out by the water like I’m in made in Chelsea. Darn.

But daddy I love him

- a folklore ode? Little house on the prairie Princess revolution. Serve it up serve it up I’m ready to be stuffed like a winter pig. A grown up love story. It’s ridiculous and maybe wise eyes know too well it’s chockablock of red flags but darn I’m a cheesin’ this is so cute.

Fresh out the slammer

- oh it’s like August but dark. August dark afternoon blistering hot and the storm is about to come.

Florida!!! Ft Florence and the machine

-ExXUSE MEEEEEEEeE?????!?!!?teee heee heee heeee. Your home’s really only a town you’re a guest in??? Sorry can’t speak my jaw has shattered. Pls pls. Palm tree pls.

Guilty as sin?

- A false God dreamy haze confessional? With sprinkle of Gold Rush??? I am a melted.

Who’s afraid of little old me?

- The who’s who of who’s that is poised for the attack? But my bare hands paved their path, you don’t get to tell me what’s sad? - I AM CHOKED. Silenced mute. Ohhhh miss blondie is on BUSINESS. TELL THEM SWEETIE. Oh my heart 💔

I can fix him (No really I can).

- Oooh moody blues preaching with generous dash of delusion? Ah yes my routine favourite beverage. I am drinking this up like air. Drunk on false hope? One of us. One of us. One of us.

Loml

- You Holy Ghost you told me I’m the love of your life. Oh no I’m crying again. Back to crumpled paper rocking back and forth on the floor in a ball it is. It’s so pretty yet, shattering. Devastating. I wish I could unrecall how we almost had it all. Dancing phantoms on the terrace, are they second hand embarrassed that I can’t get out of bed ‘cause something counterfit is dead? Yep that’ll do it.

I can do it with a broken heart?

- Oh damn. Honey nooooo. Oh myyyy. Oh I’m in this picture and I don’t like it. It’s so artfully done, so upbeat and Poppy yet so hauntingly sad. Yes that’s the point but it’s sooo well done. Oh sweetie. I can’t stop laughing it’s not funny, it’s just you too pumpkin. I wanna hug her and tell her it’ll be fine. Ok ok.

The smallest man who ever lived

- Oh I’m speechless. And I don’t even want you back, I just want to know, if rusting my sparkling summer was the goal. The bridge? Excuse me while I sink to the bottom of the darkest ocean.

The alchemy

- Oooh it’s so cute and dreamy. I’m beaming you can hear her smile when she sings.

Clara bow

- Oooh it’s the lucky one grown up. The bridge is a masterpiece. It’s hell on earth to be heavenly, thems the breaks it don’t come gently. She knows she’s a star, The never ending cyclical wheel of stardom, even the shiniest, ends with a new star born in its shadow.

The black dog

- Oh No no no I Am 1 billion percent destroyed. Byeeeee

Imgonnagetyouback

- Oooh blondie is on the prowl and what can I do but bop like the well stuffed clown I am. Insert meme of cat bopping their head.

The albatross

- Banjo? Haunting country cautionary tale? - scathing review of one’s reputation, worst traits but underneath it all is just vulnerability. Caged for ‘monstrosity’ but being so vulnerable and just wanting to be freed loved. The ‘monster’ trying to protect the one they love from the things that will come for them too? Do they even realise it? Do they care? Wow it’s poetically beautiful.

Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus

- Oh it’s sad. If you wanna break my cold cold heart, just say I loved you the way that you were? Oh myyy. Replaying old moments, looking for clues wondering if it can all have a new ending? Wow.

How did it end?

- Wow the invasiveness of empathy of the innate curiosity of wanting to know, so you can something comforting, learn from it but you forget how it can be the worst part, having to offer up a ‘post mortem’ to all when you’ve barely even processed its ended yourself. The cyclical nature of it happening every time like it’s just a formal process we’ve come to accept even though it haunts us all. Ironically as we listen to this. Wow so beautifully done.

So high school

- I wanna find you in a crowd just to hide from you, and in a blink of a crinkling eye, I’m sinking, our fingers entertwined. Awww the sort of bubblegum silly feels you roll your eyes but you have the biggest smile on your face. It’s soo cute. You know how to call, I know Aristotle.

I hate it here

- Oooooh tell me something awful like you’re a poet trapped inside the body of a finance guy. One of us. One of us.

ThanK you aIMee

- Oh my goodness it’s grown up mean but she made it out. It’s so sad but I’m beaming. I say that’s my baby and I’m proud. Andrea? Oh thank you next. Not the kid. I’m cackling.

I look in people’s windows

- Oh it’s haunted death by a thousand cuts glimmering of desperate false hope. It’s lovely.

The prophecy

- Oh. Damn yep that’ll do it. Right in the ticker. Damn. It feels very much like am I doomed to always be the one before the one? Wow. Just yeah.

Cassandra

- I don’t know why but this makes think of safe and sound. Like the woman that was there when everything burned around them. She’s telling her side. Everyone’s there to watch you burn, screaming your guilt but silent when they’re wrong? If that ain’t the truth miss. Oh wow. Shes beautifully captured such a dark chapter.

Peter

- Oh wow it’s beautiful. It’s like post cardigan and she’s all grown up. 'Cause love's never lost when perspective is earned. But the woman who sits by the window has turned out the light. Oh wow it’s wow.

The Bolter

- Oh we must stop meeting like this but it always ends with a town car speeding. Wowowow. It feels like the time she fell through the ice, then came out alive. Oh my a BEAUTY.

Robin

- Oh it’s so pretty. It’s like never grow up, safe and sound and seven swirled together. Wow. It’s like she’s talking to her child but then also herself in the past and present, like from an older perspective? Ohhh it’s beautiful. Why does this make me think of coraline’s real mother watching her sleep? I wanna cry.

The manuscript

- Wow god it’s beautiful. Another time travel song. You keep revisiting past in your mind and you gain perspective and then you realise you aren’t that version of you that lived it anymore. You can feel it still, not as deeply perhaps but you’re disconnected from thinking the way you did at that time or after. Is sobering and haunting. The healing. Wow wow wow.

@taylorswift thank you my love ����