#stuffed bells pepper so delicious

[skunkes]

[vanfleeter]

Whiskey & Cherries: Chapter 3

Characters: Jake Kiszka x Val Word count: 6.8k Warnings: 18+ || Language. Fluff. Flirting. Angst. Ex-girlfriend appearance. Jake's a dad? Jealousy. Comparing oneself. Tears. Crying. Smut. Kissing. Mentions of sex. (as always, if I miss anything please let me know so I can add it to the list)

Wednesday morning came quicker than Jake was hoping it would and now both he and Val were on a flight to Nashville so he could attend some meetings for the band over the next couple of days.

She stayed back at his house while he went to work, promising he’d be home by six to have dinner cooked. But he was pleasantly surprised when he arrived back home to find her already cooking. “I said I’d cook,” He says as he kisses her.

“I know, but I figured you’d be tired so I thought I’d do it instead and give you time to rest.”

“I appreciate the gesture.” He says. “But I really hope you can make enough for three.”

“I take it one of your brothers is here?”

Jake nods his head. “Josh went to the bathroom. Dumbass decided to hold his piss the entire meeting.” Jake laughs. Val giggles and turns back to the stove to stir the pasta.

“Don’t worry, I made plenty. I’m so used to cooking with my mama and having to make enough for ten people.”

“You didn't actually cook for ten, did you?”

Val laughs, shaking her head. “Four, maybe. Wasn’t sure how hungry you’d be after work.”

“Considering I lived off of ham and cheese sandwiches and beer for three days? I’m starving…still.” He kisses Val’s cheek before walking into the living room to the drink cart. “Want something to drink babe?” He calls back as he twists the cap off of a whiskey bottle and pours some into a glass.

“I’ll have whatever you’re having.” Jake isn't surprised at all. She drank half of his whiskey back in Paris.

Pouring out an extra glass, he grabs a third and pours in tequila and squeezes out a lime. For Josh. He was just on time with the drinks as Josh comes out of the downstairs bathroom and meets him in the living room. “I needed this after today,” Josh sighs. Jake chuckles and hands him the glass. “I thought those meetings were never going to end.”

“I almost fell asleep until Sam dropped his phone on the table,” Jake says as they begin to make their way into the kitchen.

As soon as Josh laid eyes on Val, he beams a smile and pulls her in for a hug. “It’s so great to see you again!” He says. “I hope Jake’s been alright for you. He can be quite the clutz.” He hisses when Jake slaps his arm, swinging his arm back in protest.

“I’ll have you know that I am actually pretty damn good at riding a horse,” He says. “I have not fallen off yet..” He huffs and takes another drink of his whiskey and hands the other glass to Val. “Nor have I been kicked.. So..”

“Have you lassoed any cows yet?” Josh asks as he takes a drink. “I’ve always wanted to try that.”

“I could show you,” Val says. “I think that's the next thing on Daddy’s list to train Jake on. Maybe you could join them.”

“Think he’d let me?”

“I don’t see why not,” Val shrugs her shoulders. “If he doesn’t, I can. I used to help daddy in the field all the time.” Taking a drink of her whiskey, she sets the glass on the counter and goes to grab a few plates from the cupboard.

“Whatever you made smells absolutely delicious,” Josh says as he takes a seat at the island counter.

“Stuffed bell peppers,” Val says as she grabs the oven mits. “Instead of beef, I used turkey sausage. Healthier alternative.”

“I bet it tastes great.”

“She’s a better cook than me,” Jake says. “The meals she makes when it’s just us two are phenomenal.” He helps her plate the few stuffed peppers and slides a plate over to Josh.

“I think you found a keeper,” Josh says as he digs his fork into the filling and takes a bite. His eyes roll and he moans in content. Jake chuckles and takes a bite of his own.

After dinner and winding down in the living room playing a couple rounds of card games with Josh, he bids his goodbyes before going home for the night. Val stays on the couch as Jake walks Josh out to his car. Hearing his phone vibrating on the coffee table, she slides off the couch and peers over at his phone.

Dove

Dove?

The call disappears and the screen goes black again before lighting up again a few seconds later. The same name Dove pops up again. She got a better look at the contact photo. She doesn’t recognize the woman and he’s never mentioned a Dove before. The call ends again just as the front door opens and Jake steps back inside. She’s never found herself jealous before but the feeling is deep in the pit of her stomach.

Who is Dove and why is she calling him?

“Val?” She pulls her eyes from his phone as he picks it up from the table. “Are you alright?”

“Wh-Who’s Dove?” She stammers as she asks the question.

“Uh..” Jake clears his throat and stuffs his phone into his pocket. “She’s my ex—Charlotte.”

“Oh.. You still talk to her?”

Jake shakes his head and pulls his phone back out. “No.. I have no idea why she’s calling me.”

“Why is she called Dove on your phone?”

“Val..” He finishes off his whiskey and sets the empty glass back down on the table. “I don’t want to talk about it–or her.” He says before walking out of the living room, leaving Val alone.

The rest of the night he was quiet, even as they watched a movie, she could tell his mind was elsewhere. He had to have been thinking of Dove—Charlotte, whatever her name was. She couldn't help but to think of her also. Her contact photo was gorgeous. Her dark hair complimented her dark colored eyes. He must have a thing for girls like her because she looks so similar to Charlotte, but she looks so much prettier than Val. She couldn't help but to compare the two of them. Now she was the one who wasn’t paying attention to the movie because all she could think about was her.

Val knew there was no competition. She had Jake. Jake chose her. Though what if he still had feelings for her too? If the timeline he gave her was correct, they broke up before he began sleeping around. Right?

Pulling away from Jake, Val sits up on the couch. His eyebrows crease and he drops his arm to his side. “I think I’m going to head to bed,” She says.

“Oh.. Okay.. I’ll uh, I’ll be up soon, after I lock up down here.”

Heading upstairs to his bedroom, Val sits on the bed and starts to undress. She didn’t even hear him come into the room until she felt his hands rest on her hips as he stood behind her. “I love you,” He says as he leans over her shoulder and kisses her cheek.

“Yeah..” She breathes. “I know..” She pulls away from him and goes over to the dresser to start taking off her jewelry.

“Val..”

“What?”

“Don’t act like this..”

“Act like what?” She says as she unhooks the clasp of her necklace and lays it on the top of the dresser.

“You know what..” He walks up behind her and she looks up at him in the mirror.

“If I can’t keep secrets from you, then why is it okay for you to keep them from me?”

“I’m not..”

“No?” She turns to face him, placing her hands on her hips. “She’s obviously an ex.. All I asked was why she was called Dove? She clearly meant something to you.”

“She did…then,” He says. “Dove was just a nickname I gave her because I was committed to her at one point.. I thought she was the one..” He looks down at his feet. “I loved her but she… She fell out of love…with me.”

“Oh…”

“It’s just sensitive,” He says. “I don’t know why I still have her number, I didn’t think she’d still have mine.”

“You could have just told me that..”

“I know..”

“She is pretty,” Val says. “I can tell you have a type.” He lifts his head, his eyebrows perked. “Well it’s true.”

“It is not.”

“Mmhmm, whatever.” Val walks from the dresser and goes to get on the bed. “Your next girlfriend better not be brunette with dark eyes or I will be right.”

“There won't be a next one,” He says as he climbs onto the bed and hovers over top of her. “Even if I wanted to–which I don’t–your father would have me six feet in the ground. I love you, Valentine. Only you.” He begins to kiss her and slowly lays her back on the bed. “I could never love anyone else but you.”

“You loved her.”

“You’re ruining the moment…” He growls slightly through his teeth before kissing her again. Val giggles and pulls him down on top of her. “You drive me insane..”

“I know I do,” She says, shrugging her shoulders. His hands attach to her sides and he digs them into her skin, tickling her, making her squeal and squirm beneath him. “Stop it! Jacob!”

He laughs before kissing her passionately and pressing his hips into hers. His phone starts to vibrate in his pocket and he pulls away to take it. He sighs, hanging his head, when he sees Charlotte’s name on the screen.

“Is it her again?” Val asks as she moves to sit up.

“Yeah…”

“Just answer it.”

“But–”

“She isn’t going to stop until you do..”

Jake huffs and moves to the end of the bed as he answers the call. “Hello?”

“Jake.. Are you busy?”

“Not anymore,” He says. “What’s going on?”

“I umm.. I need to talk to you..”

“Now?”

“Yes.. It’s important. Can you meet me at the bar–the one a block from your place?”

Jake inhales and runs his hand down his face. “Fine.. I’ll be there in ten minutes..” He says before hanging up.

“What did she want?” Val asks as Jake stands up from the bed and goes to grab a pair of shoes to put on.

“Hell if I know,” He says as he pulls on his shoes. “I love you,” He says as he kisses her. “I won’t be long..”

Stepping into the bar, he looks around the room until he finds Charlotte sitting in a corner booth and staring right at him. He breathes deeply and maneuvers his way through the crowded bar until he’s standing by the table. “I’m glad you agreed to come,” She says.

“Make it quick,” He says as he slides into the booth. “I have someone waiting at home for me.”

“Oh I know,” Charlotte says. “So do I..”

“So then why am I here?” Jake sighs. “It’s been two years since we broke up, why are you suddenly showing up now?”

“I’ve been wanting to tell you this for a while now, but I was too scared..”

Jake’s eyebrows furrow. “Tell me what?”

Digging through her purse, Charlotte pulls out a wallet sized picture and slides across the table to Jake. The picture showed a little boy with ear length brown hair and hazel eyes. He looked eerily like Jake with his big goofy grin. Jake looks up at Charlotte. Part of him knew exactly what she was going to say but the other part of him was hoping she wouldn't utter those words because it can’t be true.

“I found out I was pregnant a few weeks after we broke up,” Charlotte starts to say. “I wanted to tell you but you were already away on tour..”

Jake shakes his head. “No.. No, he isn’t–he can’t be mine.”

“Jake, look at him.” Charlotte says.

“Stop.. No..” He slides out of the booth.

“Jake, he deserves to know his father.”

“No.. He’s not mine..”

Jake quickly makes his way through the bar again and pushes through the door and back out onto the crowded street. His head was beginning to pound and his stomach churned as he made his way back to his car. He sat there staring at the steering wheel as his mind went through every possible scenario. No.. They always used protection, he made sure of it. Never once did they have sex without her being on birth control and him wearing a condom.

The boy’s face flashed through his mind. His eyes were the same shade as Jake’s and his smile was a dead ringer. But still.. He couldn't have a kid. Not now. Not like this, and definitely not with Charlotte. This just couldn't be happening. Suddenly his mind switched to Val. God, Val.. How can he tell her that he might have fathered a kid with his ex-girlfriend?

Arriving back home he pushes through the front door and drops his keys onto the foyer table. Climbing the steps to the second floor, he walks into the bedroom to find Val still sitting on the bed where he had left her just thirty minutes prior. She perks up when she sees him.

“How’d it go?” She asks. “What did she want?”

He goes to open his mouth but instead of words coming out, he feels bile rising in his throat. He rushes for the bathroom and falls over the toilet to throw up. Instantly, Val was at his side and tying his hair back into a bun behind his head.

“Are you okay?” Val asks as he finishes and flushes the toilet. He leans against the bathtub and shakes his head. Fresh tears fall down his cheeks. “Hey it’s okay,” She says. “You’re okay.”

“Val, I’m so sorry..” He cries into her shoulder. “I’m sorry..”

“Sorry for what? Jake, don’t be sorry for getting sick..”

“No.. It’s not that..” He says as he pulls away. “Val, I screwed up and.. I won’t blame you if you hate me but I swear this doesn't change our relationship..”

“Okay-y-y, now you’re scaring me.” She says.

“I don’t even know if it’s true, but… She has a kid, Val, my kid.” Val’s eyebrows crease together and she moves further away from Jake. “Val, he can’t be mine, I swear it. I made sure we were always safe.”

“Y-You have a kid?”

“No! No, I don’t.. I can’t.. He can’t be mine.”

“You never knew until now?”

Jake shakes his head. “I promise I would have told you if I knew. No secrets, Val, remember?”

“I.. I..” She stammers as she moves to her feet.

“Val..”

“I can’t think right now…” She says. “It’s getting late and we have a flight back to Texas tomorrow after your final meeting..”

“Val..” He goes to move to chase after her but his stomach churns again and he bends back over the toilet.

He was barely in the right mind set as he sat there in the conference room. His attention was solely focused on this kid and his relationship. Val was quiet this morning, only acknowledging his presence when she made him coffee but otherwise she kept to herself as he got ready for work and packed his things for the flight back to Texas later in the day.

He had plans. Plans with Val.

“Jake?” He turns his head towards Josh who simply looks at him in confusion. “Are you awake over there?” He chuckles. “Jen’s been calling your name for the past five minutes.”

“Oh.. Sorry.. What?” He turns to face Jen who looks at him with raised eyebrows.

“Are you alright?” She asks. “Everything okay?”

“What? Yeah, yeah.. Everything’s fine.” Everything is not fine. He could be the potential father of a kid that he had no clue existed for the past two years and his relationship is officially on the rocks.

“Okay..” Jen says, obviously not believing him but choosing not to push the subject. “Anyways, should we plan for Valentine to join you on tour? I need to know so I can make the necessary arrangements.”

Would she want to come on tour? She can barely stand to be in the same room as him, could she handle a four month long tour with him knowing what she does?

“Yeah, uh, put her down for now..” Jen nods her head and scribbles down the note on her legal pad.

Jake stands from his chair, excusing himself from the meeting and making his way to the bathroom. He leans against the sink, dropping his head down. A knock comes on the door and Josh peers his head inside. “Soo.. What happened from the time I left two days ago and now?” He asks, shutting the door again and twisting the lock.

“It’s Charlotte,” Jake lifts his head, pushing the faucet handle upwards and cupping his hands to gather water before splashing it on his face.

“Char? She’s back?” Jake nods his head. “For what?”

Jake dries off his face and turns to face Josh. “She has a son.. Claiming he’s mine.”

Josh’s eyes bulge and his jaw falls slack. “Come again?”

Jake sighs, folding his arms over his chest. “We were always careful. I made sure of it. But..”

“But what?”

“Josh, the kid looks so much like me, it’s fucking scary.. Val is not happy.. Can’t say I blame her. I gave her a tough time for keeping secrets and yet here I am–”

“That is not a secret,” Josh says. “Can’t be when you never knew about the kid.”

“I don’t know what to do.. This would change everything for Val and I..”

“Have you told management yet? Maybe they can hire a lawyer and–” Jake shakes his head. “Jake, come on now. What if he isn’t even your child? We have to tell them.”

Jake’s phone dings in his pocket and he pulls it out to see a text from Val. “I have to go..”

“At least think about it,” Josh says.

Jake nods his head and unlocks the bathroom door before stepping out.

The whole flight to Texas was quiet, including the drive from the airport to the ranch. Val mostly kept to herself, unsure of what exactly to even say to Jake. She felt horrible keeping him at a distance but at the same time she needed that distance. She wanted that distance.

This kid, he could change everything for them. Jake will have to go back to Tennessee to help raise him and be the father that that kid deserves. She couldn’t be the one to stand in the way of that. She’d have to let him go back.

Reaching the cabin on the ranch, Jake parks the car and turns off the engine. She was already climbing out of the car before he could utter any words to her. Retrieving her bags from the trunk of the car, Val heads up the cabin and steps inside. The air was thick and it wasn’t because of the windows being shut the past few days, but because of the lingering tension. She needed to get out of there. She needed fresh air and she knew of the only thing to do. So she drops her bags on the bed and quickly rushes out of the cabin, leaving Jake in the living room with his head in his hands.

Her body went into autopilot as she saddled her horse and rode her out of the barn. Clyde watched from the kitchen window of the house as she sped off down the pathway towards the back fields and the treeline. He knew something was up and his eyes moved across the fields and over to the cabin where he found Jake stepping out on the front porch.

Hearing the gravel crunching, Jake lifts his head from the palm of his hand to see Clyde walking up to the cabin. “I have a feeling something’s going on,” He says.

“My past is coming back to bite me in the ass apparently..” Jake says as he straightens up in his seated position on the porch.

“Care to fill me in?” Clyde asks, moving to sit beside Jake.

“Care to put the safety on the gun?”

“You really think I’m going to use it?” Clyde chuckles. “What’s going on? Ex girlfriend coming back?”

“And then some..” Jake grumbles.

“More than one?” Clyde’s brows perk.

Jake scoffs, shaking his head. “No… She has a kid..” He says, lifting his head again and staring off into the distance.

“Yours?”

“Claims it is..”

“But you don’t believe her?”

Jake shakes his head. “I just know he isn’t mine… Yeah the timeline adds up but I’ve always been careful.”

“Not so careful with my daughter though.” Clyde jokes.

“Val’s different,” Jake says. “We both want kids.. But back at that point, I didn't want kids–I was at the high point of my career so I made sure to be safe. But god.. That kid looks so much like me, it’s freaking me out and I think it’s getting to her too. Can’t say I blame her..”

Clyde hums and leans forward on his knees. “Let me handle this.”

Jake’s brows furrow. “What?”

“Let me handle it,” Clyde stands to his feet and adjusts the belt around his hips. “Now go find Valentine.”

Jake nods his head and stands up from the front porch. After the long walk up to the barn, Jake was saddled and riding out in a few short minutes. He had no idea where to even start looking first. The property went on for what felt like miles. To Jake, it felt like it would never end. He huffs, stopping the horse. He looks towards the trees and rides off again. He slows to a gentle trot, careful to avoid fallen trees and their roots. There still was no sign of Val and the sun was beginning to set.

Coming to the river, he was about to give up and turn back when he soon began to hear hooves walking through the water. Looking over to his right, he sees Val coming his way, carefully guiding her horse through the low water. He rides along the embankment until he reaches her as she rides up onto the embankment.

“I’ve been looking for you,” He says.

“Well you found me,” She says.

“We need to talk.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” She says, leading her horse through the woods with Jake following behind her.

“Val, please..” He says as he catches up to trot beside her. “I’m sorry.. I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do or even say.”

When they come out to the clearing, Val comes to a stop and looks at Jake. Tears fill her eyes and she shakes her head. “Don’t apologize,” She says. “I’m not mad at you..”

“You’re not?”

Val shakes her head. “I think I’m more angry with myself..”

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is… I’m angry because I’m jealous.”

“I’m confused..”

“That’s all I’ve been thinking about. At first I was angry with you, even though I knew you were telling the truth about not knowing. Then I grew angry with the universe, thinking that it’s been against me–us–from the beginning. I can’t give you a baby–or at least it would be hard to.. But then I was thinking.. You’d have to go back to Tennessee to be a father–his father and I can’t keep you from that.” A tear slips down her cheek but she quickly wipes it away. “I know my dad wants to buy land there and I know it would be a way for us to stay together but, Jake… Between the band and the ranch and you being a father? Where would that leave me?”

Jake shakes his head. “Val, your dad.. He’s doing something–I don't know what–frankly I don't think I want to know.. But I’m not going anywhere. I couldn’t do that to you.”

“What if he’s yours, Jake? Then what? You will have to go back to Tennessee.”

“No..”

“Yes..”

“No!” Jake exclaims. “No, no, no! God–” His hands fly his hat and he rips it off his head and runs a hand through his hair. “I finally feel content with my life and suddenly this shit starts happening.. I made you a promise in Paris.”

“Jake, I never expected you to stick with it.” Val says.

“You were doubting us?” He says.

“Well.. I barely heard from you after you left Paris. I mean, I expected that because you’re a rockstar and you were on tour.. But then you came back, showing up like you did, proving me wrong. I thought it would be alright, we would be alright.”

“We will be,” He says. “I know deep down, he isn't mine. You have to believe me. What will it take to prove that? A paternity test? I’ll do it if it’ll prove that I’m telling the truth.”

Val shakes her head, her chin quivering. “I just wish I could be the one giving you a child.” She says.

“And you will,” He reaches over and grabs hold of her hand. “But even if–if–you can't, I don't care. I love you and that's enough for me.”

Another tear slips down Val’s cheek. “Would you stop being so goddamn in love?”

Jake chuckles. “Never..” He says. It grew quiet for a minute before he spoke up again. “Are we okay?” He asks. “Because I’m not going back to the cabin unless you come with me.”

“We have to put the horses away first,” She says.

“Race you?”

“Oh you’re on.”

Her foot barely touches the top step of the front porch before he has his arm wrapped around her waist and sweeping her off her feet and carrying her through the front door. “Put me down!” She exclaims as she tries to wriggle her way out of his arms. “Jacob!” Nudging the bedroom door open with the toe of his boot, Jake walks over to the bed and lays her on the bed. She caresses his face in her hands, softly running her thumbs on her cheeks. “Even if he is your son, we’ll still be okay.”

“You mean that?” Val nods her head and Jake leans down to kiss her. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

As morning comes, Val rolls over in the bed to find Jake’s side empty. Hearing the front door of the cabin opening followed by the sound of boots on the floor, she quickly gets out of bed and throws on a robe before leaving the bedroom. Jake’s peeling off his jacket and tossing it on the back of the couch before working on taking off his boots and setting them on the floor. He smiles when he sees her and he winks.

“Like what you see?”

“Being a cowboy looks good on you,” She says. “How early did you get up this morning?”

“Way before the sun did.” He chuckles. “Helped the guys herd the cows into the pen so they can transport them tomorrow to Colorado. Then I helped your mother with the chickens. I think Rhonda’s coming around now.”

“Oh yeah?”

Jake nods his head. “She only pecked me once and it was my hand this time, not my ass.” Val giggles and walks over to him, wrapping her arms around him against his protests and kisses him.

“Is it bad that I like you better as a cowboy than a rockstar?”

Jake scoffs, rolling his eyes. “Just wait until you see me on stage.. You might rethink it all.”

Val shrugs her shoulders. “I’ll be the judge of that.” She says before pecking his lips. “Since you crossed off the chickens from my list, I basically have nothing to do today. What else do you have to do?”

“Change out the horseshoes and then I think I might take Serena for a ride, she’s been getting antsy in her stall all morning.”

“Serena’s a crazy one–you have to be careful with her.” Val says. “Take your phone with you when you head out.”

“I’ll be fine,” He says as he kisses her before pulling away. “Are you hungry? Because I’m starving.”

“Jake, I’m serious,” She says, following him into the kitchen. “It’s better if you just let her loose in the ring to stretch her legs. Jake, you have a tour coming up, you can't afford to get hurt and then have to cancel it all.”

“Val, I swear I can handle her.” He pours a cup of coffee grounds into the filter before closing the lid and turning on the coffeemaker.

“Jake, please, just listen to me.” She says. “I’m not playing around when it comes to Serena. Daddy doesn't even ride her, neither should you.” She slides into one of the kitchen chairs at the table. “Do you remember the first night you were here–us talking about Richie? My oldest brother? Daddy said had an accident..”

Jake nods his head. “Yeah, bull riding accident.”

“Yeah.. Well, Serena was his horse.” Val says. “She was never so insane or hard to tame before the accident. I believe she knew he was gone, she lost her owner, her best friend. To me, horses are like dogs. They have an attachment, this strong bond with their owners, and when said owner passes, their heart breaks and they become depressed. Serena moped around a lot, hardly ate and would never come out of her stall. Then one day she just became super intense. Constantly kicking at her stall door to get out and someone did, she just wasn't tame enough to ride. Wouldn't let anyone close enough to put a saddle on her, even Daddy. So he made sure to have everyone just take her out to the ring and let her run around to get her energy out. He doesn't want anyone to chance riding her and then being bucked off.”

By the time she finished explaining it all to Jake, the coffee was brewed and ready. Jake turns away and pours some into two separate mugs. “Maybe she’s ready,” He says. “I don't know, but..” He finishes making her coffee the way she likes it and brings it over to her at the table before taking a seat himself. “She wasn't like that at all,” He continues. “She was…relaxed, I guess. She was a little antsy, constantly moving around and she whined a few times. She let me touch her head when she poked her head out of the stall.”

“She let you touch her?” Jake nods his head. “No one could ever actually touch her. You had to be careful when attaching the lead to her headpiece.”

Jake shrugs his shoulders. “She seemed okay when I did. But I’ll follow your warning. I’ll take her out to the ring and let her run around.”

Walking into the barn just a couple of hours later, after taking a solid nap and a shower, Jake heads down the row of stalls before stopping in front of Serena’s. She was already poking her head and blinking her eyes at him. “Hey girl,” He says as he brushes his hand up the bridge of her nose. “Want to go for a run?” She huffs a breath and nudges the palm of his other hand. “Alright then, but you have to behave while I put on your lead, yeah?”

Walking over to the wall, Jake starts to reach for her lead when she whines loudly, huffing a breath and kicking the stall door. He could see the anger in her eyes as she kicked the door again. Looking down at the leather in his hands, he spares a glance at Serena. The anger was still there and she huffs a deeper breath. Running his fingers over the leather, he looks along it until he finds initials branded into the material.

“That’s why you get so angry,” He says. “You don’t like people touching this.” He walks over to the stall. “Tell you what, we’ll get you a new one.”

He unhooks the door of the stall and carefully steps inside, avoiding getting too close to her. She watches him closely as he goes over to the wall where the rope is tied, keeping her contained to the stall. He unties her rope and drapes the lead over the hook.

“There.. Now no one can use it.” He says before stepping back out of the stall and latching it again. “Now we just have to find a new one.” He walks back over to the wall and over to the newer leads. Ones that get placed there as replacements of new leads for any new horses. “What about..” He slips one of them off a hook and turns around to face her. “This one?” She huffs a breath and for once he doesn't see a lick of anger in her eyes. “Alrighty then, we’ll use this one.” Untying the rope from her bridle, he adds on the new lead. “Better?” She nudges his head and he chuckles. “I take that as a yes.” He says before unlocking the stall door again.

He walks her out of her stall, still keeps a slight distance and leads her out of the barn. He takes her out to the ring and sets her loose inside of it. She takes out running, making several loops around as Jake climbs to the top of the railing and takes a seat.

“Well I’ll be damned..” Waylon said beside him.

“Geez..” Jake gasps in surprise. “Don't sneak up like that.”

Waylon chuckles and rests against the top of the railing, letting his arms hang over. “I ain't ever seen her be so…gentle–at least not since Richie…”

Jake nods his head. “I think that’s what was always bothering her. She hates when people touch his stuff. So I gave her a new lead–might replace her saddle too and keep his saddle in her stall.”

“Who knew the new guy would be a horse whisperer?”

Jake scoffs, shaking his head. “Doesn't take a genius to put together the pieces is all,” He says. “She’s still protecting his things, rightfully so.”

Serena slows her running and trots over to the railing, stopping beside Jake. She nudges his leg and huffs another breath before moving to stand in front of him.

“No way..” Waylon breathes. “She wants you to get on. Let me get you a saddle,” He says before running back to the barn. Minutes later he’s coming back with the saddle that Jake’s been using with the other horses. Together they hoist into her back and Jake tightens it to keep it steady. “I’d still be careful if I were you,” He says.

Serena huffs a short breath and Jake laughs. “I think we’ll be just fine,” He says before climbing up and swinging his leg over back. He gives her a little nudge and rides her out of the pen.

At first he only lets her take a slow walk but after a little while, he gently taps her sides with his boots, allowing her to go a little faster. Next thing he knows, they’re running through the fields. For once he felt completely free, he could only imagine how she was feeling.

It wasn’t until he got back to the barn an hour later to find Val leaning up against the wall. “Waylon told me you took her out, he was completely shocked seeing how good she was with you.”

“I know, me too.” He says, bringing Serena to a stop. “I think she’ll be good for anyone, as long as they keep their hands off of Richie’s things. That she is very protective of.” He swings his leg over and slides down from the saddle. “Isn’t that right girl?” He says, brushing his hand down the side of her face. She nudges his hand before brushing her face against his. “If only I could take you on tour with me.”

“Ha! Wouldn't that be something,” Val laughs.

“Instead of running around the venue before every show, I could take her for a ride around outside.”

“Your fans sure would love to see that,” Val giggles. “Sadly, Miss Serena has to stay here.”

“We’ve got six months,” Jake says. “Plenty of time to get to know each other.” He adds, patting Serena’s side.

“Trading out Bullet?” Val says.

“I don’t know, should I?” Serena huffs and nudges Jake again. “I think that’s a ‘yes’.”

“Heard my dad talking about taking a couple boys with him to Tennessee in a couple weeks.” Val says as Jake walks Serena back into the barn. “That wouldn't have anything to do with Charlotte, does it?”

Jae shrugs his shoulders. “I know nothing of it,” He says. “He told me he’d handle it, that’s all I know. If he’s going there for her? I wouldn't be able to tell you. Though if he is, I hope he plays nice.”

“Daddy never plays nice.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about.” Jake says. “He wouldn't hurt her, would he?”

Val shakes her head, “He never touches a woman.”

Putting everything away and locking Serena back into her stall, Jake says his goodbyes and follows Val out of the barn. “What’s the next thing on your to-do list?” She asks.

“I don’t know,” He says. “What do you want to do?” He says pulling her close. “Are you getting bored sitting in the cabin all alone?”

“It’s possible.” She says.

“We could always go back to the cabin and have some alone time.” He says.

“Yes, please.” She says. “Seeing you on a horse really does things to me.”

“Oh does it now?” He smirks.

“And your tan is gorgeous.” She says, running her hands over his exposed biceps. “And stop wearing white t-shirts.”

“Tired of having to bleach them?”

“No,” Val shakes her head. “I’m tired of wanting to rip it off of you.”

“I have plenty of them,” He says. “Rip away, love.”

As he snoozes, soft snores drifting from his nose, Val traces the callouses in the palms of his hands. He gained some more ever since starting his work on the ranch. Feeling them running along her skin made her feel even more good versus soft or smooth skin. His hand slightly twitches and he groans before turning over on his side. His eyes flutter open and he looks at her while she still traces the calluses on his hand.

“Do you know you snore?” Val asks.

“My nap was great, how was yours?” He says, chuckling. “And by the way, you snore too.” He says.

Val drops his hand, lightly smacking her hand against his chest. “I do not.”

“Yes, you do.” He says. “I think it’s cute.” He leans over and kisses her, moving his hand down to her waist and pressing their still naked bodies together. “But it only truly happens when I’ve completely worn you out,” He adds, grinding his hips into hers.

“My body is completely spent,” Val says as she hooks her leg over his hip.

“Guess I did my job then,” He says, poking her nose. He kisses her again before pulling away and rolling back over to get out of bed.

Val groans, “Ugh, don’t leave..” She says, stretching her arm across the now empty space beside her.

“I have to,” He says as he pulls on his jeans and reaches for his shirt. “Your father will kick my ass from here back to Michigan if I even show up one second late.”

Val huffs and turns her head away. Jake simply smiles and kneels on the bed, hovering over her and leaning his head down to press his lips to her bare shoulder. “Two more hours and then I’m going to come back here to shower and after that, we will head into town and grab some dinner. You and me, no one else. I have yet to take you out on a proper date.”

“Proper?” She says, turning her head back to look at him.

Jake nods his head. “I saw that blue dress hanging in the closet, the one with the white daisies.”

“That’s not a proper dress for a proper date.”

“So?” He says. “Doesn't need to be fancy.” He kisses her cheek and pushes off the bed. “Two hours, Val, I mean it.” He calls over his shoulder as he leaves the bedroom.

And for two hours he actually stuck to them. He quickly showered and got dressed, surprisingly was done before Val even could get her dressed zipped. A knock comes on the front door of the cabin and Jake pushes off the couch to answer it. Pulling open the door, he was met with Charlotte.

“Hi Jake..”

Want to added to the taglist? Just ask! I'd love to add you! @losfacedevil @writingcold @edgingthedarkness @i-love-gvf @katuschka @josh-iamyour-mama @sammysstolenbirks @asendingtothestarsasone @hollyco @musicislove3389 @its-interesting-van-kleep @katiegvf @tinydancer40 @gretavangroupie @lizzys-sunflower @fleetingjake @takenbythemadness @godly-sinsx @psychedelectable @dancingcarbon @cheersdannyx2 @piratejtk @katuschka @musicislove3389 @takenbythemadness @wildbluesorbit @hollyco @vintage-heaven @deadzlol

[romirola]

Headcanons for the Shaw Pack’s Favorite Carnival Activities and Foods

David: David’s favorite activity at a carnival is the Ring Toss. He knows that most games are rigged, but somehow, David always manages to excel at that game. He strikes the perfect balance of strength and finesse. When asked which prize he’d like, David always lets Angel pick something out for him because (since their mating), Angel suggests that they donate the stuffed animal they selected to the pups’ room in the Shaw Pack den, so lots of kids can enjoy. Their mere idea of using the prize for the young pups makes David’s heart melt. As for his go-to fair food? Fried dough with a generous sprinkle of sugar. There’s no such thing as nutritious fair food, and frankly, if there were, David would not want to touch it. After all, it’s not often that he goes to a carnival. While he’s there, he might as well enjoy and indulge!

Angel: Angel is a big Bumper Cars fan. They love to get behind the wheel and take down anyone and everyone they can. No one is safe from their bumper-car road-rage, even (especially) the pack. After their victory, they will track down a sausage sandwich with grilled onions and peppers to celebrate. 

Asher: Asher always looks forward to the Scrambler ride, because no matter how hard he tries, the pattern of movement always confuses him, which is what excites and thrills him. He habitually orders a large plate of nachos with every kind of cheese (or ‘cheese-product’) to share with the pack. Not only does Asher love nachos, but he also enjoys letting his friends have a bite. A bonus, his friends will usually let him sneak a bite of their food as repayment, meaning Asher gets to sample the whole carnival.  

Babe: Babe does not do rides because they get horrible motion sickness. They do, however, love playing all the games. Their favorite game to play is the Water Shooting Game, because they always do well. Since Babe saves money by not going on the rides, they are able to play almost every game and usually return home with many prizes of all sizes. Their favorite food to eat is caramel corn, because it’s somehow always better when eaten at a carnival than at home.

Milo: Milo makes a beeline for the Strongman Game whenever he attends a fair. He makes the bell ding every time, much to the surprise and chagrin of the employees. In fact, once, after Sweetheart declared that a stuffed gray wolf plush (which happened to reflect Milo’s own wolf form) was the cutest, best prize of the whole fair, Milo made it his mission to win. The plush, named Hammer, now resides on Milo’s and Sweetheart’s bed. (In fact, this is a headcanon I developed and discussed in an old fic, Cross My Heart.) Afterwards, Milo is hot to trot to get his hands on a nice, hot, salted soft pretzel. It’s filling, delicious, and quintessential to the fair experience. 

Sweetheart: Although one might expect Sweetheart to enjoy funhouses or horror houses, their favorite carnival activity is actually the Carousel. They walked up and down to seek out the perfect horse, ideally one with unique markings and/or close to the outer edge so that they can wave to their friends on each rotation. Sweetheart never leaves a carnival without eating a candy apple. They can’t resist the sweet treat, and love how convenient it is on a stick.

Darling: Darling adores a session in the Photo Booth. They ask (or sometimes, force) each of their friends to take a few pictures with them. Darling is a master at posing, always ensuring they get a wide range of shots showcasing all the fun they have. After the fair, Darling will copy the photos, keeping one set for themselves and giving the other one to the person. Having a physical reminder of the fun memories is so meaningful to Darling, especially if they begin to feel loneliness creep in. While at the fair, they usually opt for a corndog slathered in mustard. They have a very strong stomach. 

Sam: Sam may be reluctant about crowds, noise, and being forced to convert your money into ‘tickets’ to hide how expensive everything, but even he enjoys a slow ride on the Ferris Wheel. It’s a beautiful opportunity to see all the stars above and all the hustle-and-bustle below, especially when it’s Darling sitting next to him in the seat, holding his hand in theirs. Ever one with a sweet tooth (or sweet fang, rather), Sam usually gets a hot fudge sundae to eat, savoring each spoonful. 

BONUS!

Gabe: A bit of an adrenaline-junkie, Gabe always enjoyed the Roller Coaster. David clearly heard the familiar howl in his father’s voice as he dropped from the apex. Gabe always opted for french fries when it was his turn to order, but in reality, it was his job to eat whatever anyone else ordered and didn’t like or couldn’t finish. It was a job at which he performed efficiently. 

Marie: Marie never leaves a fair without getting her face painted. She usually asks for a wolf. Her favorite food is the pack of sandwiches she smuggled into the fair by hiding them in her large purse, because fair food is too greasy, too expensive, and (probably) prepared with too many health/cleanliness violations for her to even think about putting it in her mouth.

[alloftheveganfood]

Vegan Potato Soup (GF option/SF): I've made it without the toppings and it's still delicious!

Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Potatoes (GF/SF): I recommend adding black beans and corn!

Buffalo Tofu Wrap with Easy Vegan Ranch (GF option with these Lentil Wraps): I recommend marinading the tofu chunks for a few hours in the buffalo sauce and salt then tossing the cooked tofu in extra buffalo sauce; I've also used this vegan Caesar dressing in place of the ranch recipe OR used store bought vegan ranch for a quicker meal!

Vegan Lasagna with Tofu Ricotta (GF option with GF Noodles or Zoodles): I'm personally not a huge fan of mushrooms so I sub zucchini and bell pepper (or whatever else I have on hand)!

Easy Coconut Curry (GF): Subbing sweet potatoes for butternut squash has worked well... Don't forget to season with salt!

[simplevanquish]

Let Me Look After You

@sambuckylibrary this is a short thing i made for the freespace o the pink 'loving' card for this sambuckysummer :D Short summary: Bucky loves Sam. What he doesn't love is seeing him so stressed to the point he's ignoring dinner. Rating: Teen and Up

Sam pinches his brow, eyes retracing the same sentence he's read about five times now.

He's reading the words in his head, sure, but everytime it just doesn't seem enough. He can't seem to catch a feeling that he's comprehending any of it beyond face value.

Which, a tiny part of him is trying to tell him that he's alright to move on to the next sentence. Maybe even the next page, wondering why this worn down studybook is even on his desk considering he's got a thick study guide sitting to the side that the professor so generously gave out in an attempt to offer some more help to their students.

Yet Sam still hasn't reached out for it. He's gone through the whole thing multiple times and rechecked his work. The majority of him itches to check it again, but he hasn't read through the book far enough. He doesn't think so, anyway, so he doesn't turn the page yet, he doesn't close it shut, and just tries to focus his brain even more. Attempting even harder at understanding the written material just in case it'll help. It has to help, he thinks.

He's made the progress of two sentences further when there's an abrust orchestra of noises, shuffling of sheets and short huffs from movement. He blinks to his side, catching his boyfriend adjusting his position where he resides on Sam's bed, flipping through a comic book Sam probably picked up when he was fifteen. He scans over it briefly, then fixes his hair after he sets it back down neatly.

"Wanna eat dinner?" He asks, casual, distracted as he leans back into the softness of one of Sam's pillows. He lifts a hand to the ceiling and pretends to throw a dart at the imaginary target he's set in his mind.

Sam looks away from it and blinks down at the mess of papers, sticky notes, and images splayed across the wooden surface of his desk. "Uh, later, Bucky. I'm busy."

Bucky hums. "With what?"

Sam's lips twitch, he glares harder at the words on the page and forces his brain to soak them in. A couple seconds past by and he finishes two more sentences.

"You know what," Sam says, obviously Bucky knows he's too busy with uni. He's got to be prepared when he walks in and takes the final exam. He faintly hears Bucky click his tongue.

The man sighs and crosses his legs, knees hanging off the edge of the bed as he lays on his back. "Busy dreaming about a delicious meal? Some stuffed bell peppers, perhaps?"

Sam carries on reading, restarting the sentence when the voice reading in his head stumbles and says a word twice.

"Pasta," Bucky comments dryly, turning to his side and glancing at Sam who is incredibly hunched in his seat with his finger underneath the line he's currently situated on.

Sam doesn't feel like the sentence is grained in his mind. He reads it again.

"Or we can get Chinese food," Bucky says, voice trailing at the end as he watches Sam's finger tap on the page, brows furrowed in an intense manner. It's clear he's not getting his boyfriend to put down the book by tempting him with meals.

It's silent for a moment, Sam flips the page, and Bucky sighs.

"When do you think you'll be hungry?"

Two more sentences read. Sam clicks his tongue. "Dunno."

Then Sam has to reread the first six letters on the next line, huffing. "Not right now."

"Okay," Bucky mumbles, drawing in his arms to cross them across his chest, planting a foot on the ground. Bucky tilts his head, blue eyes gazing at Sam. "Well, I hope you know you can't keep doing this."

Sam's eyes stop scanning the page for a second, finger pausing. Bucky waits, hoping for an answer, some sort of announcement of defeat, where Sam will give in and go eat with him.

But Sam inches the book closer to his face, a faint frown pulling on his lips. "Doing what?" He asks but not really, Bucky can tell, his tone- this isn't a question. It's a statement of denial.

Bucky huffs. "How many times have you actually eaten dinner recently?"

Sam reads through a sentence flawlessly and shrugs. "Uhm-"

"Not enough," Bucky answers his own question, cutting Sam off as he steps forward.

"Baby, I'm a little busy-"

"You can still take care of yourself," Bucky argues and Sam hangs his head for a second, breathing in.

"I got to do this."

Bucky eyes him carefully, squinting at the crease between his eyebrows, and holds a hand out. "Come eat dinner, Sam."

"I will," Sam says, then looks down at his book. "Later."

Bucky groans. "That means never in your book."

"Actually, my book's about-"

"Sam, I'm trying to help you, dammit." Bucky extends his arms for emphasis, a look of frustration on his face, meeting Sam's eyes when the man finally tilts his head up.

"I'm trying to help myself, Bucky," He defends and Bucky shakes his head.

"No, avoiding eating isn't helping anyone-" Bucky scrunches his nose, taking a second, and setting a hand on Sam's shoulder when he tries to return to reading. "I get that this is important but you need to listen to me."

"But-"

"Sam."

"Bucky, this is important, I need to be prepared," Sam states, holding a hand to his chest, passionate as he places his other hand on the book. "I need to be, okay?"

"You need to eat food like every other human."

"I need you to stop argu-"

"Sam." Bucky tries again.

"Bucky," He copies him.

Bucky stares for a moment, a little lost and very concerned. Currently, it's like it's impossible to make Sam let up, to persuade him to finally eat something. He blinks at Sam, observing his tense stature, and he frowns, noticing the underlying worry behind his partner's eyes.

He breathes in, careful, and hesitates for a second. Then, he braces a hand on Sam's shoulder again. "This isn't healthy, yknow," He whispers and Sam glares extra hard at the page. "Everyone needs a break, even you."

Sam doesn't respond so Bucky leans closer, attempting to make his rough voice as smooth as possible. "You don't have to have a full meal, okay? How about just a snack?"

"Bucky, I don't know," Sam whispers back, tapping the paper to show him where he's at. Then he runs a finger through all the pages. "I've got a lot of stuff I have to do."

"And it will all be waiting for you in a couple minutes, how about that?"

Sam stirs at the offer. There's a heavy hanging silence as he does, weighing it out in his head as Bucky slowly hopes he's managed to slip into his window of convincing Sam, like perhaps this is it, he's got the hook in cheek.

Eventually, after a moment, Sam's whole body deflates as he drops his hands to his lap.

"Just a couple."

And that sounds like first steps, Bucky thinks. It's good. He offers a grateful smile and when Sam stands up, Bucky closes the distance and presses his lips to Sam's, humming with satisfaction when Sam leaves the book behind to redirect them to the kitchen. Of course, not without stealing a bunch more kisses on the way there. 

Progress, Bucky reminds himself as Sam sorta laughs at him for kissing Sam with a 'lovestruck' gaze, as Sam calls it.

Which, sure, that's accurate, Bucky supposes. I wrote it while on the verge of falling asleep cus i'm tired but hopefully it's alright lmao

[yinyuedijun]

hello miss mao…….. i hope i am not overstepping but i saw !!! cultural exchange !!! and oml all the food looked so good RAHHHH need them in my mouth rn actually 🤤🤤🤤 but if i may 👉👈 offer a breakfast from my culture 👉👈

nasi kerabu !!! it looks like a lot and honestly. yeah, it is LMAO but going clockwise starting from 12, the condiments/sides are: sliced cucumbers, sliced long beans, mixed sliced torch ginger and kaffir lime leaves, salted egg, fried chicken stewed in spicy sauce, fish crackers, bean sprouts and sliced cabbage !! the topping on top of the blue rice is toasted shredded coconut. the rice itself is blue because it’s cooked with the flower presented on top !! it’s a huge breakfast that i indulge in once in a while, though i take mine with grilled beef and bell peppers stuffed with a mixture of fish, shredded coconut and coconut milk 🤤🤤🤤 suffice to say after downing this bad boy i pretty much don’t eat until dinner SLSKDKSK

anyway hope u have a good day miss mao !!! <3

omg SEV THIS IS NOT OVERSTEPPING AT ALLL . thank you for sharing this delicious looking dish for me! I do think I'd have trouble eating it in the morning LOL it feels like I'd have it for dinner or maybe a brunch!! it looks so good, especially that CHICKENNNN. and that rice is so interesting and pretty! toasted cocnut....yum. does the flower add any flavour or is it just to make it look nice? (either way I want to eat it immediately tho LOL)

[nothingxs]

cuban-style picadillo: remix

posting this for those who want it. it was in a reply, but i made some changes to the base recipe that i enjoyed a lot, so i want to leave them somewhere.

tools a pot with a lid (or a very big sauté pan with a lid), something to stir and break raw meat up with (spoon), a spare bowl for the meat, a colander or some kind of strainer to quickly drain meat with ingredients

a neutral oil (avocado?), 2 tbsp

2 tsp of adobo (with pepper) seasoning, i like iberia

1 tsp of sazón seasoning (w/ achiote and culantro), i use badía

1 tsp of onion powder, i use badía

2 lb of ground beef (85/15 is good here)

half a large white onion, smaller dice

one green or red bell pepper, smaller dice

1.5 tbsp tomato paste

5 cloves of garlic, minced

one 15oz can of tomato sauce

2 tsp capers

1/2 cup green pimento-stuffed olives

1 tbsp worcestershire sauce

1 tsp maggi seasoning

2 bay leaves

salt and pepper to adjust seasoning

instructions

get all of the listed ingredients ready and chopped and in discrete places before you get started. mise en place! don't let your ADHD win.

get your pot/pan up to medium-high heat. add 1tbsp oil.

once it's hot, add your meat, add your sazón, adobo and onion powder over the top of it, and then start mixing around to break it up and let it brown. i like to let it rest undisturbed so one side gets a little bit more color and some fond develops on the pan.

the meat will let out a lot of fat and water. drain the meat and set it aside for a sec. add the other tbsp of oil to your pot/pan.

add the onions and peppers (and potatoes if you're using them).

cook until the onions are a little translucent, about 4 minutes, stirring them around a bit.

add the garlic and the tomato paste and let that cook a little bit in there, about 1 minute, stirring it around.

add the meat back and add the worcestershire and maggi seasoning to everything and mix it up. give it like a minute for everything to get the tomato paste color all mixed up.

add the tomato sauce, then the capers, olives and the bay leaves. mix it all up.

let this start bubbling before lowering the temperature to medium-low and cover the pot.

let it simmer for 10 minutes then stir. repeat twice; you want a total of 30 minutes on top.

once it's done, serve it along with your favorite rice.

this is how it'll look before you give it the 30 minutes, more or less. after this, though, it should be pretty reddish and pretty delicious.

if you want to ease back on the salt, you can try cutting the maggi seasoning, but it feels like it was the little touch that sent it over the top for me. you could try replacing it with low sodium soy sauce, but i am not sure how effective that'd be

FAQ.

Q. where are the raisins?

A. shut the fuck up.

Q. how can i make this more like the more traditional version?

A. remove the worcestershire and maggi seasoning. remove the sazón. just use the adobo, and add a little salt and pepper to taste. you can add a little oregano (i don't).

Q. i live somewhere that makes it hard to find some of these latino powdered seasonings. where can i find 'em?

you're in luck! amazon seems to have 'em.

badía 7oz sazón: https://amzn.to/3B9FdFk iberia 16oz adobo, no pepper: https://amzn.to/4dZ4bWu badía bay leaves (.17oz): https://amzn.to/3Xquq1d

i can't find a reasonable amount of the adobo with pepper, so add a few cranks of pepper if you use this one; about a tsp is enough. i know some people have never seen bay leaves either, so there you go.

[modeus-the-misanthrope]

You like spicy food?

Yes! I love spicy food. Louisiana culture is like 60% food, and we love tabasco sauce, and all kinds of other hot foods.

Now one of what I am gonna list off, are things I can't eat. (Shellfish allergy) but I have seen people go banana's over.

This is Boudin (pronounced Boo-dan) sausage. Take your normal pork stuffed sausage, but replace some of the meat with rice, yellow onion, garlic, parsley, oregano, thyme, bell peppers, and black pepper. It is delicious. But the best version of this I ever had was when the gas station across from my work had a cajun kid employed there, so he would bring some of his uncle's Alligator boudin. Yes, alligator meat.

Meet Shrimp Etouffee, (meaning smothered shrimp) the the liquid is two parts, one of it is the etoufee, which is called that cause its cooked shorter than stew, but longer than a sauce. And the second half is hot sauce, just straight up whatever hot sauce ya want. With onion, celery, and green peppers mixed into the rice.

If your not a fan of sauced foods, then Jambalaya is better. Same trio of onion, celery, and green pepper mixed into rice. But now you got a mix of sausage and chicken. This one is great with some cayanne pepper or just diced jalapeno's if you wanna go mild.

[sims2ccfindsbyck]

[christinew8654]

Breakfastenchiladas

About this recipe

Wake up and smell the enchiladas. Stuffed with our plant-based Just Egg and sausage, this easy recipe takes the enchiladas you know and love, and gives them a rise-and-shine makeover. A little food history before we begin: Enchiladas have their roots in Aztec cuisine and have evolved through Mexican culinary traditions. They’re now beloved worldwide for the irresistible combo of sauce-drenched tortillas with tasty fillings. While our breakfast version isn’t traditional, we think it’s a delicious way to enjoy your morning eggs.

Before you hit that snooze button thinking this is too much work for breakfast, listen up: We’ve cut the prep time way down using our convenient Just Egg Folded and store-bought enchilada sauce. These vegan enchiladas are also dead easy to customize – add veggies like zucchini or bell pepper, swap the tortilla type or skip the sausage. No plant-based cheese? No problem. Just add some extra avocado when you serve it.

So yes, you totally can (and should) whip these up on a Tuesday morning for a hot, savory, plant-based breakfast for the family. Other Mexican-inspired breakfasts we love include crunchy migas and these huevos rancheros with citrusy guacamole, which are both included in our free plant-based recipe collection. If you’re looking for more authentic vegan Mexican recipes, visit Alexa Fueled Naturally or give Neto Craves a follow. 

Serves 4-6

8  Just Egg Folded, each sliced into 4 strips 

8 to 10 6- or 8-in flour or corn tortillas 

1 cup plant-based chorizo or breakfast sausage (optional) 

2 cups green enchilada sauce 

1 cup shredded plant-based cheese 

For serving: sliced avocado, green onions or cilantro, and hot sauce 

Equipment

01 / 04

Prepare the oven and pan

Preheat the oven to 375°F(190°C). Lightly oil a 13x9-inch pan or similar baking dish. Spread about a ½ cup of enchilada sauce on the bottom of the pan. 

02 / 04

Cook the eggs and sausage

Unwrap all the Just Egg Folded and spread them out on a dinner plate. Cover with a second plate and microwave for 90 seconds. Once cool enough to handle, slice each egg into 4 strips. 

If using, heat the plant-based sausage in a microwave or skillet according to the package directions. 

03 / 04

Assemble the enchiladas

Fill each tortilla with about 2 tablespoons of chorizo and 4 strips of Just Egg Folded. Use a spoon to drizzle on a bit of enchilada sauce. Roll it up tightly and arrange it in the baking pan seam side down. Repeat until the pan is filled. If your tortillas are stiff and breaking, wrap them in a damp paper towel and warm them briefly in a microwave until they are more pliable. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce evenly on top of the tortillas. Sprinkle the top lightly with plant-based cheese. 

04 / 04

Bake the enchiladas

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the edges of the tortillas are starting to brown and crisp. Serve warm, topped with avocado, chopped green onions or cilantro, and hot sauce

[tomsflavorfusion]

Bison & Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers 🌶️🦬🍚 Spring is here, and so is this amazing dinner recipe! Healthy, hearty, and oh-so-delicious. Get the recipe: https://tomtuesdaydinner.com/best-spring-dinner-recipes-bison-beef #StuffedPeppers #SpringDinner #FoodBlog

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! Slowly but surely, Gaza is coming back to life. Palestinians' gradual transformation of the destruction and devastation left behind by Israel is fascinating. From clearing out rubble, restoring destroyed homes, bringing back their vibrant markets to cooking nutritious meals now that more food aid is entering the war-torn strip, living conditions are improving. Life is nowhere near where it was before the genocidal war in Gaza began and there's much to rebuild but it's heartening to see Palestinians hard at work, determined to survive in spite of their circumstances. Their resilience despite the odds stacked against them is inspiring.

I introduced Mummy to a Japanese restaurant where I took Pa several months ago. They have a pretty good lunch menu that Pa and I like. We ordered their negitoro don lunch and chawan mushi. Their steamed egg is so silky, we could almost drink it! As for the negitoro, chopped up fresh tuna came with sushi rice as well as a side of noodles with tofu skin, salad, fruit and a tiny cup of marinated salmon skin. All were very delicious, especially the slurpable noodles. I'll definitely return to try their other menu items! This meal kept us full, but not stuffed. There was room for coffee, so we visited a cafe for a chat and hot cuppa.

I dislike legumes and lentils, but after deciding to eat them in support of Palestinians during the genocidal war in Gaza, I've started to find them acceptable if they're eaten together with other foods like fish and vegetables. I also ate mini ready-to-eat meals out of compassion for Palestinians in order to understand their hunger when there was acute food insecurity in the strip. Now that more aid is available, I eat 2 or more of these mini meals at a go. At first, I had 2 different ones; then I decided to combine 2 or more of the same into 1 meal. It was substantial and filling, with tuna, legumes, red bell peppers and peas. I almost skipped dinner as I wasn't that hungry.

So nice, she made it twice. CY tried her hand at the sardine, cannellini beans and tzatziki mix with cucumber. We ate her first attempt with 9 grain bread. She found it so delicious, we had the leftovers the next day with whole wheat flat bread, toasted till crispy to resemble taco shells. CY brought more cucumber and bell peppers for variety. She asked me to share the brands of cannellini beans and tzatziki that I bought so that she can make them for her husband too. The 'tacos' were yummy and filling; we're so making healthy lunches in the office again. We have some whole wheat flat bread left over, so we stored it in the office freezer for a salmon, hummus and veggie wrap next time.

Now that Chinese New Year celebrations have ended, work has resumed its frenetic pace. It's been hectic, but we had fun moments making healthy lunches. CY wants to try the salmon with avocado hummus combo, so we'll do that soon. Meanwhile, I'm trying out a new recipe for parents' healthy sandwiches as well; I'll share whether they like them once they've had them. I'm tired. This weekend, I want to take it easy, exercise, catch up on current affairs, rest, do things at a leisurely pace and eat delicious food. It's all I have the energy for and that's okay. 下次见!

[downtoearthmarkets]

Here’s some fun football trivia: did you know that Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest day for food consumption in the United States after only Thanksgiving?! In fact, people eat more snacks during the big game than on any other day in the year. For many Americans, the Super Bowl is not just a watch party to cheer on their chosen team, it’s a time to get together with friends and family while enjoying their favorite comfort foods, snacks and drinks.

With two more farmers markets before the big day you have time to plan an enticing combo of fun and healthy snacks, all with a local twist!  So, hustle straight to the farmers market this weekend. We’ll have plenty of great options to help you have a food-ball with your football because the sport’s biggest showdown of the season is rushing in for a tackle on February 9th.

Hail Mary or Bloody Mary? A staple of Sunday NFL Countdown brunches across the country, the Bloody Mary is thought to have been invented by a young bartender named Fernand “Pete” Petiot at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris in 1921. Dr. Pickle’s recipe for spicy game day bloodies is your ‘License to Dill’ for the ultimate Super Bowl cocktail. It's fun and flavorful enough that you can skip the vodka if that’s your preference.

Hot Pepper Mary

Ingredients:

Dr. Pickle Hot Pepper juice

1 lime wedge

3 ounces vodka

4 ounces tomato juice

2 dashes Worcestershire sauce

1 farmers market celery heart stalk

Dr. Pickle jalapeno stuffed olive skewer for garnish

Directions

Fill an ice cube tray with hot pepper brine and freeze (this recipe skips regular ice as it waters down the drink).

Combine ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake thoroughly. Pour into a highball glass.

Drop in a few hot pepper ice cubes and garnish with olives and celery.

Enjoy your Bloody Mary that will get even tastier as the ice melts!

Chips, Dips & Drop Kicks It wouldn’t be a Super Bowl party without a few bowls of assorted chips & dips to satiate the cheering hordes!

Grab some bags of salty, crunchy tortilla chips as Halal Pastures Farm has just launched a brand-new tomatillo salsa. This special salsa features a blend of their own farm-grown tomatillos including Chupon de Malinalco, an heirloom tomatillo variety that can grow up to four inches long and is known for its tropical fruity, sweet-tart flavor.

Taiim Shack Mobile’s line of freshly made, nutritious hummus features seasonal flavors to entice your Super Bowl guests and have them coming back for more. Choose from a full menu of party favorites including Cilantro, Roasted Garlic, Truffle Oil, Spicy Red Pepper and Artichoke. Don’t forget a few packs of Taiim’s crispy Seasoned Pita Chips in Za'atar or Mashiseo for dipping.

Labneh is a thick, creamy yogurt-based dip that’s popular in Middle Eastern cuisine. White Moustache Yogurt’s labneh is made from their same Persian yogurt recipe but strained for longer to remove more whey for a thicker, shareable dish. Wow your Super Bowl guests by picking up some of their delicious labneh in Plain, Shankleesh and Kurdish flavors to serve with crispy pita chips for easy dipping.

If chips and dip are not your sports-watching snack-of-choice, Great Joy Family Farm grows peanuts on their diversified farm in Pine Bush, NY that they harvest and sell in their shells! Inshell peanuts have been a popular baseball snack since the late 1800s but, after the 1990 Super Bowl halftime show featured costumed dancers dressed up as Peanuts characters, they have become a ubiquitous refreshment sold at football stadiums too.

Winging It Chicken wings, especially Buffalo wings, have been considered the quintessential Super Bowl food since the Buffalo Bills played in the big game for four consecutive years in the early 1990s. Great Joy Family Farm's and Yellow Bell Farm's chicken wings come from happy, healthy, pasture-raised birds whose delicious meat will make the perfect party pleaser in this healthier version of the classic recipe:

½ cup Great Joy Family Farm soft wheat flour

¼ teaspoon paprika

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

¼ teaspoon salt

10 Great Joy Family Farm or Yellow Bell Farm chicken wings

2 tablespoons Maplebrook Farm butter

¼ cup hot sauce

1 dash ground black pepper

1 clove farmers market garlic, minced

Heaping portion of refreshing, crunchy farmers market celery and carrot sticks for counterbalance

With all these locally grown and produced ideas and options for healthier game day snacking, you can rest assured that you and your guests won’t go hungry on Super Bowl Sunday! So, get ready to score one heck of a tasty touchdown and we look forward to seeing you in the farmers market this weekend. 

[amoliinternational]

What Dishes are Best Made with Sella Basmati Rice?

Sella Basmati rice is very versatile, making it the favorite for a lot of delicious dishes. The firm texture and long grains allow it to stay non-sticky even after being cooked, and this makes it perfect for so many dishes.

Biryani- Sella Basmati rice is apt for biryanis where grains have to stay separate and fluffy to increase the aromatic flavors of the dish.

Pilaf: The grains of Sella rice do not stick together making it an excellent choice for pilaf and allowing the spices and ingredients to mix evenly.

Fried Rice: Its strong grains hold well during stir-frying, so it is great as a base for vegetable or meat fried rice.

Middle Eastern Rice Dishes: Popular in Arabic and Persian cuisines, Sella Basmati rice complements dishes like Kabsa and Majboos with its unique texture.

Stuffed Vegetables: Its solid grains guarantee the rice is thoroughly cooked within stuffed bell peppers, tomatoes, or zucchini and does not turn mushy.

Sella Basmati Rice is the preferred choice for those dishes which have to be long-cooked and richly flavored.

[krutifoods]

Hunger No More: Tasty Noodle Recipes for Your Snack Time

Evening snacks don’t have to be repetitive or boring when you have Kruti Foods range of noodles to spice things up. These versatile products open up so many options for quick, delicious, and innovative recipes that will leave your taste buds delighted. Usually in the evenings we tend to feel hungry and get cravings. That is because evening is a crucial bridge between lunch and dinner, and skipping snacks can lead to overeating later. A well-balanced snack not only keeps hunger away but also maintains steady energy levels throughout the evening.

However, the key lies in choosing snacks that are as nutritious as they are delicious.

1. Fried Noodles: Crispy Perfection

Our fried noodles are a crunchy delight that can be used to create snacks that are as fun to eat as they are easy to prepare:

Noodle Chaat: Toss fried noodles with chopped onions, tomatoes, coriander, green chilies, and a splash of tamarind chutney for a tangy, crispy snack.

Noodle Tikkis: Mix fried noodles with boiled potatoes, spices, and breadcrumbs to shape into patties. Shallow fry them until golden and serve with mint chutney.

Crunchy Toppings: Sprinkle fried noodles over soups or salads for an added crunch that enhances both flavor and texture.

2. Hakka Noodles: The Classic Choice

Kruti Foods Hakka noodles are perfect for experimenting with both traditional and modern recipes:

Vegetable Stir-Fry Noodles: Stir-fry your favorite veggies with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger, and toss them with cooked Hakka noodles for a quick and healthy snack.

Noodle Wraps: Use Hakka noodles as a filling for wraps or rolls along with spicy sauces and julienned vegetables.

Cheese Noodle Bombs: Mix cooked Hakka noodles with cheese, roll into balls, coat in breadcrumbs, and fry for a cheesy, crispy delight.

3. Chowmein: A Flavorful Treat

Our Chowmein is packed with bold flavors, making it ideal for a variety of mouthwatering creations:

Chowmein Pizza: Use cooked Chowmein as a base, top it with cheese, vegetables, and chili flakes, and bake until crispy.

Spicy Chowmein Spring Rolls: Wrap cooked Chowmein in spring roll sheets and fry for a crispy snack with a spicy kick.

Stuffed Bell Peppers: Fill hollowed bell peppers with Chowmein, sprinkle cheese on top, and bake until golden.

4. Chinese Bhel: A Tangy, Crunchy Treat

Kruti Foods’ Chinese Bhel is a fusion snack that combines the best of Indian and Chinese flavors:

Spicy Bhel Salad: Mix Chinese Bhel with shredded cabbage, carrots, spring onions, and a tangy chili-garlic dressing for a crunchy salad.

Bhel Stuffed Parathas: Add Chinese Bhel to your paratha filling for a unique twist on the classic Indian bread.

Loaded Bhel Nachos: Layer Chinese Bhel with cheese, jalapeños, and sauces for a desi take on nachos.

Elevate Your Evenings with Kruti Foods

Kruti Foods noodle range is the perfect base for creating snacks that are as quick and easy as they are delicious. Whether you’re in the mood for something crunchy, spicy, or cheesy, these recipes will ensure your evenings are full of flavor and variety.

So, get creative in the kitchen with Kruti Foods, and change your ordinary evenings into extraordinary culinary experiences!

Contact us for your orders : +91 9833999490

 or

visit us at www.krutifoods.com