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vinylwindowsolutionsblog · 6 days ago

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Energy-efficient options for window replacement in Gadsden homes

When it comes to improving the energy efficiency of your home, few home improvements can have as significant an impact as window replacement. Old, drafty windows can account for a substantial amount of heat loss in the winter and cooling loss in the summer, leading to higher energy bills. Upgrading to energy-efficient windows can help homeowners in Gadsden, AL reduce energy costs, improve comfort, and contribute to environmental sustainability. But with so many options on the market, how do you choose the right energy-efficient windows for your home? Below, we’ll explore some of the best energy-efficient window options for Gadsden homes.

1. Low-E Glass Windows

Low-emissivity (Low-E) glass is a coating applied to windows that helps reduce the amount of heat that passes through the glass. It works by reflecting infrared light while allowing visible light to pass through. This makes Low-E windows for Window Replacement in Gadsden excellent for both keeping your home warm during the winter and cool in the summer.

How It Works: Low-E glass reflects heat away from your home in the summer, keeping interiors cooler, while retaining heat during the winter months to improve comfort and reduce heating costs.

Benefits: By preventing heat transfer, Low-E glass helps to lower your energy bills and enhance indoor comfort. It also blocks ultraviolet (UV) rays that can cause fading of furniture and flooring.

Best for: Homeowners who want to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature year-round while protecting their home’s interiors from UV damage.

2. Double or Triple-Paned Windows

Single-pane windows are a thing of the past when it comes to energy efficiency. Double-pane or triple-pane windows, on the other hand, have two or three layers of glass separated by a gas-filled space, typically argon or krypton, which acts as an insulating barrier. These windows provide excellent insulation and significantly improve the overall energy efficiency of a home.

How It Works: The gas-filled spaces between the panes serve as an insulator, reducing the transfer of heat from inside to outside or vice versa.

Benefits: Double and triple-pane windows can reduce energy loss by up to 50% compared to single-pane windows. They also help to minimize noise transfer from the outside.

Best for: Homeowners in climates with extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold, and those who prioritize soundproofing and energy savings.

3. Vinyl Windows

Vinyl windows are known for being energy-efficient, affordable, and low-maintenance. The material itself is an excellent insulator, helping to prevent heat transfer. Additionally, many vinyl window frames are filled with insulating foam, further enhancing their energy performance.

How It Works: Vinyl’s natural insulating properties, combined with foam-filled frames, create a thermal barrier that reduces heat loss and increases comfort.

Benefits: Vinyl windows are highly durable, resistant to the elements, and require minimal maintenance. They are also available in a variety of styles and colors, making them a versatile option for many homes.

Best for: Homeowners looking for an affordable, low-maintenance, and energy-efficient window solution that still looks great.

4. Fiberglass Windows

Fiberglass windows are another popular energy-efficient Window Replacement in Gadsden option for homeowners in Gadsden, AL. These windows are made from a durable composite material that provides excellent insulation.

How It Works: Fiberglass is a poor conductor of heat, meaning it won’t transfer heat as easily as other materials like wood or aluminum. This results in better insulation and improved energy efficiency.

Benefits: In addition to their energy efficiency, fiberglass windows are resistant to warping, cracking, and rotting, making them ideal for homes exposed to high humidity or extreme weather conditions. They are also highly durable and long-lasting.

Best for: Homeowners in areas with fluctuating temperatures or extreme weather conditions who want a durable and energy-efficient option.

5. Wood Windows with Insulated Frames

While wood windows are often associated with higher maintenance, modern wooden windows can be made with insulated frames and energy-efficient glass, making them a viable option for homeowners who prioritize both aesthetics and energy savings. Wood provides natural insulation, and when combined with modern techniques, it can offer excellent energy performance.

How It Works: The insulated frames, along with energy-efficient glass, prevent heat from escaping or entering, helping to regulate your home’s temperature.

Benefits: Wood windows offer a traditional, natural look that many homeowners prefer, along with superior insulation properties. When properly maintained, they can last for decades.

Best for: Homeowners who love the look of wood windows and are willing to invest in their maintenance for the sake of energy savings.

6. Impact-Resistant Windows

In addition to energy efficiency, impact-resistant windows provide enhanced protection against severe weather, making them an excellent choice for homes in areas prone to storms. These windows are designed to withstand high winds, flying debris, and even forced entry attempts.

How It Works: Impact-resistant windows are made with multiple layers of glass and a plastic interlayer that hold the glass in place even when it shatters. The added protection can prevent drafts and leaks during and after severe weather events.

Benefits: In addition to their security and weather-resilience benefits, impact-resistant windows offer excellent insulation, which can reduce energy costs.

Best for: Homeowners who live in storm-prone areas or wish to add an extra layer of security and protection to their homes.

7. Energy Star Certified Windows

Energy Star is a certification program backed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), identifying windows that meet stringent energy efficiency standards. Windows that are Energy Star certified are designed to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions while still providing superior performance.

How It Works: Energy Star certified windows are tested for their thermal efficiency, which ensures they can keep homes comfortable while reducing the need for heating and cooling.

Benefits: Energy Star windows can lower energy bills, improve comfort, and qualify homeowners for energy rebates or tax incentives.

Best for: Homeowners who want to ensure that their windows meet the highest energy efficiency standards and contribute to environmental sustainability.

8. Gas-Filled Windows (Argon or Krypton)

In addition to double and triple-pane windows, many modern windows are filled with gases like argon or krypton to improve insulation. These gases are denser than air, which makes them excellent at preventing heat transfer.

How It Works: Argon and krypton are inert gases that fill the space between the panes of glass in double or triple-pane windows. They act as thermal barriers, reducing heat loss and improving energy efficiency.

Benefits: Gas-filled windows can help maintain consistent temperatures inside your home, reducing the load on heating and cooling systems and leading to lower energy bills.

Best for: Homeowners looking for an extra layer of energy efficiency for their windows, particularly in areas with extreme temperatures.

Conclusion

Energy-efficient windows are a smart investment for homeowners in Gadsden, AL, looking to improve their home's comfort, reduce energy costs, and increase overall property value. Whether you’re interested in the insulation of double or triple-pane windows, the durability of fiberglass, or the aesthetic appeal of wood, there are plenty of energy-efficient window options available. By considering the various materials, technologies, and features of these windows, you can select the right energy-efficient solution that meets your needs and budget. Investing in high-performance windows not only enhances your home’s energy efficiency but also contributes to a more sustainable and comfortable living environment.

#Window Replacement in Gadsden #Window Replacement #gadsden #alabama

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blondebeautyz · 8 months ago

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Are Deviled Eggs Good for Weight Loss? Great Taste from Egg

Experiencing culinary pleasures is rewarding, yet the greatest satisfaction comes from enjoying dishes that are both delectable and conducive to health. One might question, "Are deviled eggs good for weight loss?". The answer lies in the classic deviled egg, a dish that combines palatable delight with nutritional advantages. The preparation of deviled eggs is straightforward, yet their flavor profile is sophisticated and gratifying. For individuals pursuing weight loss, this dish is an excellent option, offering prolonged satiety. We invite you to explore the details of this recipe and discover its healthful attributes.

Are Deviled Eggs Good for Weight Loss?

Deviled eggs can be a great choice for a snack, especially if you're trying to lose weight. Usually, deviled eggs are made with mayonnaise, which has a lot of calories and fat. But if you use something healthier like Greek yogurt instead of mayo, you cut down on calories and add more protein. This simple change makes deviled eggs not just lighter, but also better for your diet.

Deviled eggs can be a great choice for a snack, especially if you're trying to lose weight Protein is really important for losing weight, and deviled eggs have plenty of it. Protein helps you stay full for a longer time, which means you end up eating less overall – and that's key for losing weight. So, eating deviled eggs that are made with good-for-you ingredients can be a smart choice for your diet, as long as you don't eat too many. Here's a tip: To make them even healthier, add things like avocado or herbs. Avocado has good fats and makes them creamy, and herbs like dill or paprika add flavor without extra calories. This not only makes the eggs healthier but also tasty, helping you stick to eating well.

Deviled Eggs Nutritional Information

When you have 2 deviled eggs, here's what you're getting nutrition-wise: They contain 90 calories, which isn't too high, making them a decent snack choice. There's 6 grams of fat, including 1.5 grams of saturated fat – that's the kind of fat you might want to keep an eye on for heart health. These eggs have 2 grams of carbs, which is pretty low, making them a good option if you're watching your carb intake. There's no fiber or sugar in these eggs, which is worth noting. Fiber is good for digestion and sugars, especially added ones, are often best limited. Each serving gives you a good protein boost with 6 grams – great for keeping you full and satisfied. Lastly, there's 180 mg of sodium, which is a moderate amount, so if you're watching your salt intake, just be mindful of this.

Quick Deviled Egg Recipe for Breakfast

Deviled eggs are a delicious and quick breakfast choice. This easy recipe will help you whip them up in no time:

Deviled eggs are a delicious and quick breakfast choice. Ingredients: 4 large hard-boiled eggs, peeled. 1/4 cup of mayonnaise. 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard. 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar. 1/4 teaspoon salt. 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. 1 tablespoon fresh chives or parsley, chopped. 1 tablespoon shredded cheddar cheese (optional). Instructions: Slice the boiled eggs in half lengthwise. Gently take out the yolks and place them in a bowl. Keep the egg whites aside. Use a fork to mash the yolks until they're finely crumbled. In a different bowl, blend the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper together until smooth. Combine this mayo mix with the mashed yolks. Stir them together until the yolks are completely mixed in. Mix in the chopped chives or parsley. Evenly spoon this yolk mixture back into the egg white halves. If you're using cheddar cheese, sprinkle it over the filled eggs. Serve them right away and enjoy! This recipe makes 4 deviled eggs, perfect for 2 people. If you're cooking for more, you can easily double or triple the ingredients. Pair these deviled eggs with some fresh fruit or toast for a well-rounded breakfast.

Weight Loss Advantages of Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs can be an excellent addition to a weight loss diet, thanks to their nutritious profile and versatility. Let's explore how they can support your weight loss journey: Customizable For a Healthy Eating Plan Deviled eggs can be easily modified to fit a healthier eating plan. Traditional recipes use mayonnaise, which is high in calories. Switching to Greek yogurt, a lower-calorie option, not only cuts down on calories but also adds a creamy texture and beneficial probiotics. This substitute enhances the flavor while making the eggs more diet-friendly. You can also increase the protein content and reduce calories by incorporating more egg whites into the mix, keeping the classic taste and texture of deviled eggs but making them lighter and suitable for weight loss.

Deviled eggs can be easily modified to fit a healthier eating plan High in Protein Hard-boiled eggs, the main ingredient in deviled eggs, are a great source of high-quality protein. Eating protein-rich foods boosts hormones like GLP-1, peptide YY, and cholecystokinin, which promote fullness. These hormones signal your brain that you're full, reducing the urge to overeat. Moreover, a higher protein intake can decrease levels of ghrelin, the hunger hormone. This hormonal balance helps control hunger, potentially leading to a lower calorie intake naturally. Versatile Flavor Options Deviled eggs are not only easy to make, but they also offer a wide range of flavor variations. This variety is crucial when following a weight loss diet to avoid boredom and maintain long-term adherence to healthy eating habits. Enjoying different flavors can prevent diet fatigue and support sustained weight loss.

Deviled eggs are not only easy to make, but they also offer a wide range of flavor variations. Nutrient-dense Snack Choice Beyond being a source of protein, deviled eggs provide key vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin D, B vitamins, and selenium. These nutrients are essential for overall health. Nutrient-dense foods like deviled eggs can offer more satisfaction than empty-calorie snacks, helping to prevent overeating and assist in weight management. Swift and Simple Preparation In our fast-paced lives, having a quick and simple snack option is a blessing. Deviled eggs are not just easy and quick to make; they're also healthy. This makes them a great choice for breakfast or lunch, especially as an alternative to less nutritious options like cereals or fast food. Preparing healthy meals quickly can be key in managing weight, as it helps avoid unplanned calorie intake and encourages regular, balanced meals.

In our fast-paced lives, having a quick and simple snack option is a blessing

Drawbacks of Deviled Eggs for Weight Loss

Deviled eggs, while beneficial in some aspects, can pose certain challenges for weight loss, largely due to their recipe and ingredients. Learn about these potential downsides: Elevated Caloric Density in Traditional Recipes Classic deviled egg recipes often have a high calorie count, mainly due to mayonnaise. While weight loss isn't just about "calories in versus calories out," this principle does play a significant role. If you're following a calorie-restricted diet, say 1500 calories a day, consuming high-calorie foods like traditional deviled eggs can easily push you over your daily limit. Excess calories are stored in the body as fat, not discarded, which can disrupt your weight loss efforts.

Elevated Caloric Density in Traditional Recipes Risk of Overconsumption The small, bite-sized nature of deviled eggs can inadvertently lead to overconsumption. This is known as the "portion size effect," where smaller portions are perceived as lower in calories, leading to eating more than planned. This underestimation of calorie intake can be a hindrance in achieving weight loss goals. Presence of Saturated Fats Deviled eggs, especially those prepared with mayonnaise or full-fat dairy, contain saturated fats. While fats are essential in a balanced diet, excessive saturated fat intake is linked to an increased risk of heart disease. This doesn’t directly affect weight loss, but a healthy heart is crucial for maintaining overall health and fitness, including the ability to participate in physical activities essential for weight loss.

Deviled eggs, especially those prepared with mayonnaise or full-fat dairy, contain saturated fats. Low Fiber Content Fiber plays a vital role in weight loss by promoting fullness and reducing overall calorie intake. Unfortunately, eggs lack fiber, which means they might not be as filling as a meal rich in fiber. This could lead to increased food consumption later in the day, counteracting weight loss efforts. Sodium Content Deviled eggs can be high in sodium, particularly when additional salty ingredients are used in the recipe. High sodium intake can cause water retention, leading to temporary weight gain and bloating. Over time, excessive sodium consumption can also contribute to high blood pressure, a risk factor for chronic diseases.

Sodium Content

Incorporating Deviled Eggs into a Weight Loss Plan

Incorporating deviled eggs into a weight loss plan can be both enjoyable and beneficial, given their nutritional value. Here are some effective strategies to do so: Adopt Mindful Eating Habits Mindful eating means being fully engaged and present during your meals, enjoying each bite, and paying attention to your body’s fullness signals. This practice can help prevent overeating and promote a healthier relationship with food. Research indicates that mindful eating can reduce snacking and improve portion control, both key for managing weight. Combine With Fiber-rich Foods to Create a Feeling of Fullness Eggs lack dietary fiber, so pairing deviled eggs with fiber-rich sides like salads or steamed vegetables is a smart move. Fiber slows digestion, providing a steady release of energy and prolonged feelings of fullness. This can help avoid blood sugar spikes and the likelihood of overeating later.

Combine With Fiber-rich Foods to Create a Feeling of Fullness Portion Control to Manage Calorie Intake Being conscious of portion sizes is crucial in weight management. Understanding portion sizes helps avoid consuming extra calories, which is easy to do when underestimating the calories in small servings. Additionally, portion control is beneficial for regulating blood sugar levels and preventing the storage of excess calories as fat. Combine With Vegetables to Supplement Nutrients Adding various vegetables to the yolk mixture not only increases the variety of nutrients but also adds fiber to the dish. This additional fiber can enhance the feeling of fullness, reduce the chances of overeating, and aid in weight loss. Plus, the crunch from vegetables offers a pleasant texture contrast to the creamy deviled eggs.

Combine With Vegetables to Supplement Nutrients Choose Ingredients That Are Low in Calories Opt for lower-calorie ingredients to enjoy deviled eggs without exceeding your daily calorie limit. For instance, replacing mayonnaise with Greek yogurt significantly reduces calories while increasing protein and providing probiotic benefits. This substitution helps make deviled eggs more diet-friendly without sacrificing taste.

Is It Good to Eat Eggs in the Evening to Lose Weight?

Eating boiled eggs in the evening can be a good strategy for weight loss. Boiled eggs are a nutritious, protein-rich snack that can help you feel full and satisfied. This feeling of fullness can be especially helpful at night, as it might prevent you from reaching for high-calorie or less nutritious snacks, which is a common pitfall for many when it comes to weight management.

Eating boiled eggs in the evening can be a good strategy for weight loss. The protein in eggs not only contributes to satiety but also supports muscle recovery, which is beneficial, especially if you're engaging in physical activity as part of your weight loss plan. The body repairs and rebuilds muscles during sleep, and the high-quality protein in eggs provides the necessary building blocks for this process.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have answered the question "Are deviled eggs good for weight loss?" in the clearest and most detailed way. We've discovered that deviled eggs, when prepared with the right ingredients and consumed mindfully, can indeed be a valuable addition to a weight loss diet. Their high protein content and culinary versatility make them not just a tasty snack but also a smart nutritional choice. Have deviled eggs played a role in your weight loss journey? We invite you to share your experiences and recipes in the comments below. For more insightful tips and delightful culinary adventures, don't forget to explore more blogs from Blonde Beauty. Let's continue this journey together, celebrating the delicious side of healthy living! Read the full article

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world-store · 2 years ago

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Oats Porridge Recipe | Oatmeal Porridge

Oatmeal Porridge is a delicious breakfast staple that is easy and quick to prepare. And it is fantastic to customize! Make it with water or milk or a combination of both and with either quick cooking oats or rolled oats (old fashioned oats). Here I share my favorite no fail Oats Porridge recipe with step-by-step photos.

About Oats Porridge

Oatmeal Porridge is a traditional breakfast dish that’s enjoyed in many different form around the world. Wonderfully hearty oats are simmered with water or milk until thick and creamy for a satisfying morning meal that keeps you full for hours. In India we call this Oats Porridge; in the UK it’s simply known as Porridge – and in the US it’s called Oatmeal. But the ingredients and cooking methods are all basically the same! This classic oatmeal porridge recipe only takes about 5 minutes to make with quick-cooking and 10 minutes with rolled oats. It’s terrific to customize with your preference of water and/or milk, and top with nearly any sweet goodies you like. Adults and kids alike love cuddling up with warm bowls loaded with their favorite toppings! Give this family-friendly recipe a try and I’m sure it will become your new go-to breakfast recipe for busy weekdays. Step-by-Step Guide

How to Make Oats Porridge

1. First, add ½ cup quick-cooking oats or rolled oats in a pan. Note: When buying oats or oats products for babies, be sure to check the contents label on the pack. It should only list oats and no other flavorings or additional ingredients.

2. Add 1 cup of water.

3. Then add ½ cup milk or as needed. You can also add more water for a dairy-free recipe. Consistency can be easily adjusted as per your requirements. ½ cup milk gives a slightly thick consistency. For a thinner consistency, you can add more milk or water. Note that the water or milk can be added less or more depending on the type and brand of oats. So do also read the instructions on the packet.

4. Add sugar as per taste. I just added 2 tablespoons raw sugar or white sugar. Sugar is completely optional. If adding fruits later, then you can skip sugar. If adding honey, then add when the porridge becomes lukewarm or cools down at room temperature, as honey when heated becomes toxic.

5. Stir very well as you heat the oats porridge mixture on low to medium heat.

6. Bring the oatmeal porridge to a gentle simmer as you continue to stir frequently.

7. The porridge will thicken as it cooks. Continue to cook for a total of 5 to 6 minutes (if you have used quick cooking oats) or until it reaches the consistency you like. For rolled oats, cook for 10 to 12 minutes on low to medium heat. If the consistency is too thick for you add some more water or milk

8. Turn off heat when the and the oats have softened well and you get the preferred consistency. Serve Oats Porridge hot or warm or at room temperature. Keep in mind that the Oatmeal Porridge will thicken as it cools.

FAQs

How can I make oatmeal porridge for young toddlers and babies? You need to powder the oats in a spice grinder or food processor before cooking. Also, avoid adding dried fruit or nuts and sugar. Instead I suggest you add a bit of fruit puree, like mango or banana. Can oats porridge be made with milk instead of water? Yes, you can substitute milk for water in this recipe. Or even use a 50/50 combination of milk and water. However, if you plan to add fruit to the dish I recommend not using milk as the combination of dairy and fruit is not advised per Ayurveda. What add ins and garnishes can you include in oat porridge? Let the cooked oatmeal cool slightly before adding chopped dry fruits, fresh fruits, nuts, or a little bit of each. You can also add honey once the oatmeal cools down a bit. Can this oatmeal porridge recipe be doubled or tripled? Absolutely. As-is this recipe yields 2 servings. Simply double or triple the ingredients and prepare in a larger pot to make as many servings as you need. How long do leftovers last? Homemade oats porridge is best when enjoyed right after it’s made. If it sits too long it will become gluey. They can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day if you need. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove by adding a bit of water or milk. More Breakfast Recipes To Try!

Easy • 5 minsBreakfast RecipesOvernight Oats

Easy • 2 hrs 5 minsBreakfast RecipesChia Pudding (Easy, Vegan & Healthy)

Easy • 15 minsBreakfast RecipesEggless Pancake Recipe | Whole Wheat Pancakes

Easy • 20 minsAmerican RecipesBlueberry Pancakes (Easy & Healthy) Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more veetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

Oats Porridge Recipe | Oatmeal Porridge

By Dassana Amit Oats Porridge is a quick and healthy porridge made with oats, water or milk. Both quick cooking oats or rolled oats can be used to make this Oatmeal Porridge. Customize it with adding your preferred sweetener, liquids and choice of fruit or nuts toppings. Prep Time 1 min Cook Time 5 mins Total Time 6 mins Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark while making the recipe Take the oats in a pan. Add water and milk. The consistency can be easily adjusted as per your requirements. This recipe makes for a slightly thicker consistency. For a thinner consistency, you can add more milk or water. Add sugar. Sugar is completely optional. Read the full article

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cowboycostume · 1 year ago

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baked pastas are also so simple to prepare and freeze in batches for easy reheat and you can freeze them in individual or larger servings - things like baked ziti, stuffed shells, lasagna, several macaroni and cheese variations, macarona bechemel and many more.

here is my easy-peasy make ahead buffalo chicken mac and cheese recipe:

you will need 1 large mixing bowl, 1 medium to large pot and baking dish(es) to freeze and bake in depending on your desired serving sizes

1 lb chicken boneless breasts work best but I have made this recipe with thighs or bone in quarters, it's just a little more work (depending on preference)

1 lb box of your favorite pasta (I make this with bowties most often but most pasta shapes work)

Frank's red hot wing sauce or your favorite wing/buffalo/hot sauce

blue cheese dressing and/or crumbles (if you hate blue cheese you can use a ranch packet and/or dressing)

1 block cream cheese (room temp)

2 bags shredded cheese (or 2 blocks of cheese shredded) - I use one bag sharp cheddar and one bag colby jack but literally pick your favorites you can do sliced or velveeta if that's your preference, too

4 tbsp of butter

¼ cup milk

fill medium pot with water and a bit of salt, bring to a boil

boil chicken for approx 25 minutes, or until it is no longer pink when cut. remove from water but do not drain water.

add pasta to water chicken was boiled in cook according to time on box - 7-9 min - strain and leave in collander or pot

shred chicken - I use a stand mixer and paddle attachment for this but you can do it with 2 forks or your hands

add chicken and cream cheese to mixing bowl (or add cheese to bowl of stand mixer) and blend together until there are no chunks of cream cheese left

add hot sauce and blue cheese/ranch to taste - I start with my hot sauce and then tone it down with the bule cheese but these can be added any order you like. mix well.

once spiciness/taste is to your liking add approximately half a bag of shredded cheese. mix well

add cooked pasta and mix well - if you're using a mixer this part should be done manually

return pot used to boil noodles and chicken to the stove, add butter, milk and your remaining shredded cheese* (if you're planning on eating same day then reserve some for topping)

heat together over medium low heat stirring constantly until cheese is melted and it reaches a homogenous runny texture - if it is too thick, add milk until it runs easily off of spoon or spatula, about the texture of nacho cheese - when in doubt thicker is going to be a little better than thinner but this step is pretty foolproof

add hot cheese mix to bowl with chicken and noodles, mix well

portion out into baking dish(es) - I like to add a drizzle of blue cheese and some crumbles as well as a drizzle of hot sauce on top at this point but that's up to you!

if eating same day, top with cheese and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes until cheese has started to brown on top, store leftovers in fridge and microwave covered for 2-3 minutes to reheat

if freezing - wrap 2x in plastic wrap and 1x in foil if the container has no lid. label and freeze for up to 3mo. to heat remove from freezer and top with shredded cheese, bake until hot from frozen, or allow it to thaw overnight and bake at 350 °F for 35-45 minutes before eating.

this recipe is double and triple-able and can be portioned out into individual or larger portions. as written it will fill a 9x13 baking dish or make about 4 nights worth of meals for 2 people. I have never found a good dairy free option for this but it should be fine with a sturdy gluten free pasta. in total this typically takes about 40 minutes to prepare and about an hour and fifteen minutes to be ready to serve.

I don't think enough people talk about the physical and mental energy it takes to cook when you weren't raised to cook.

It's not as simple as here are the ingredients and here are the steps. Cooking involves multi-tasking, timing, proportions, prepping, improvising, and more. The more complex the dish, the more juggling it requires.

Oh, and I haven't even mentioned obtaining the ingredients and the cleaning afterwards.

All these "healthy" and "save money" and "live better" motivational speeches to get people to cook more, and I'm over here like Cooking is Fucking Stressful and Incredibly Draining Actually.

I was raised a girl, but I'm entirely self-taught because my mom hated cooking and never bothered to teach me. She was convinced I'll just naturally learn on my own after I got married and was forced to cook for my husband and family 🙃

Anyway, I went through a HelloFresh phase several years ago to try to kick-start myself into a groove, but it never really latched on. I think the only thing I learned is the importance of prepping ingredients in advance so that once I'm bouncing around, things are just ready for me to grab.

This isn't to say I don't cook AT ALL EVER. I can make eggs on a skillet just fine. But it's a one-and-done kind of thing. Much like putting together a cold cut sandwich. But that's not Cooking™.

Turns out this past month I randomly got a hyperfixation to Cook™, so here I am facing the bone-tired aftermath of making meals that'll last more than one day.

After three weekends of going through it, here's how I autistically started handling the stress:

Find a recipe I will follow

Envision myself going through the steps and allocate a certain amount of energy to the task

Compile ingredients I need to obtain (or get my partner to obtain)

(If I have to go shopping myself, do it on a separate day from when I have to cook)

Open a Google Doc and copy/paste the recipe into it

Rewrite the recipe steps based on how I imagine I'll be going through them once I'm in motion

Mentally practice the steps

When it's time to cook, go through steps as I've mentally practiced them, with improvisation when real life takes a different turn

(If a lot of prep work is required, such as peeling and cutting potatoes, sit down to do it with a podcast before starting on anything else)

After cooking is complete, throw out any lingering garbage

My partner does the dishes :)

I'm sure it'll get easier the longer I do it, but this is exactly why I'm 34yo and always hated Cooking™ to the point that I budget for delivery and take-out on nearly a daily basis.

Cooking is hard actually.

#add #recipe

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minimitchell · 4 years ago

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callumhighwayweek day 4 - “you’re not jealous, are you?” (ao3 link)

Callum likes working at ‘Roasted’. It’s a nice enough job, the pay is better than with most student jobs around here and he meets lots of interesting people. Granted, a lot of them are kind of snobby and definitely a lot more of the hipster variety than what he’s used to, coming from the East End and all, but it is a fun job.

And it’s not like he’s going to be here forever.

He started working at the coffee shop in his second year of Uni, having seen their job listing for a barista on Instagram of all places. It’s pretty on par for the shop though. The owners, an older, alternative couple he’s only met a handful of times, are living in Bali for the better part of the year and the coffee shop is mostly being managed by their daughter. She’s laid back and funny and a really great boss.

And Callum has learned a lot in the last year and a half he’s been working here. He’d only done bar work in the past, pulling pints and washing dirty glasses, but he genuinely likes being a barista. He feels good whenever he remembers an order from someone who comes in regularly, he likes seeing their faces when they discover some new latte art he practiced and he doesn’t even mind serving teen girls for the sole purpose of them taking a picture with their names on their cups afterwards.

He likes it because he likes making people feel good, even if it’s just with a coffee, and he likes putting a little smile on their faces - and it also doesn’t hurt that he gets free drinks and free cake samples all day long.

“And a wonderful day to my favorite colleague as well.”

Oh yeah, there’s also Ben.

Ben had started two months before Callum even got the job here but by the time Callum had completed his training, Ben was already working like a seasoned pro.

He’s also in his last year at Uni, but he’s in a completely different department than Callum is. He’s a business major, spending most of his time across campus from Callum, who’s studying social work. On paper, they shouldn’t really get along considering their wildly different interests and plans for their future jobs, but they immediately clicked.

At one point during a quiet shift they got talking about their aspirations and Ben had told him he’s planning to take over his dad’s businesses when he’s done with Uni and maybe even expand them further. Callum thinks Ben can easily do that; he’s dead smart.

He’s also devastatingly handsome, as Callum noticed the very first time they met. Ben has these captivating blue eyes and an easy, welcoming smirk on his face at all times. He’s definitely a people person, able to make easy chit chat with just about anyone that comes in. He has this aura of confidence and assurance around him but it doesn’t make him come across as arrogant, not at all.

They spend most of their shifts together talking or teasing one another when they aren’t swamped with work. Ben likes to try almost every cake they’re offering that day, feeding little bites to Callum when he deems it ‘worthy enough for him’ and Callum likes to use Ben as a guinea pig for his latte art, trying out new designs or perfecting his existing one’s.

And when business is slow or when they’re about ready to close up in the evening, they get to talk with one another. What started with them talking about their degrees and course work quickly moved onto deeper and more substantial topics.

Callum talks about being the first person in his family to go to Uni and the pressure he feels on himself because of that. He tells Ben about his desire to make a difference in the world, to help children who come from the same rough parts as himself. Ben on the other hand talks about his family a lot, about the need to prove himself in a big family you otherwise get lost in, about the feeling that he needs to compensate for his dad’s disapproval.

Disapproval stemming from the fact that he’s gay.

Yeah, he told Callum about that as well. It was a small revelation to him and Callum couldn’t help but tell him it’s the same for him. It feels like a new, deeper, level to their friendship.

It’s also the full source of Callum’s misery.

Because before this revelation, Callum could accept that the little infatuation he’s developed for Ben was entirely for nought. He was under no impression that this crush was ever going to be reciprocated because, to be completely honest, Callum had just assumed that Ben’s straight.

But since he knows that this isn’t the case at all, it almost feels like his crush has doubled or tripled in size; like maybe it has grown even more because there’s now this tiny, traitorous voice whispering that there might be a chance for them. Assuming he’d ever actually have the courage to ask Ben out.

He hasn’t so far; every time he even thinks about asking Ben to go out with him he chickens out in the end, afraid that Ben will laugh at him. Or even worse, that he’ll never want to work with him ever again. Because while he does like working here, he likes it even better when he’s working alongside Ben.

“How did your exam go?”

Ben joins him behind the counter, going to wash his hands before he starts taking over for Callum behind the till. He’s wearing a black polo underneath his burgundy apron and his hair is nicely tousled; Callum is itching to run his hands through it.

“Aced it. Hopefully.”

He pulls a face, trying to play it cool even though they both know Ben understands Advanced Marketing better than most people in his course. Callum didn’t expect anything less than an ace from Ben.

“‘Course you did.”

Ben sends him a wink, strolling over to the display counter and observing what they have on offer today. There’s a fresh carrot cake there Callum’s dying to share with Ben later. He steps next to Callum behind the till, logging in with his cashier number once Callum signs off and the way he rests his hand on Callum’s lower back while doing so, makes his heart throb in his chest, hammering all the way up into his throat.

Maybe today is the day he finally has the guts to ask Ben out on a date.

The shop gets busy shortly after Ben gets here and they don’t even really have time to get a breath in-between all the coffee and cake orders they have to prepare. It’s a fairly small shop and only two people are always scheduled to work on weekdays so they’re busy until the midday and after-work rushes are over.

Callum saves the last piece of carrot cake for Ben - even though their manager always yells at them for not giving everything to the paying customers - and Callum is just about to get it from the stock room to surprise Ben with it when this guy leans on the counter in front of the till.

He’s seen him before a couple times - tall caramel latte, Callum thinks. He doesn’t look much older than him and Ben, probably a fellow student, and Callum doesn’t like him for the sole reason that he always flirts with Ben when he comes in, trying to make him laugh or smile bashfully at the ground.

Callum hates even more that it works most of the time.

It’s no different this time. The guy says something that makes Ben laugh, making a show of dropping a five pound note into their tip jar after he’s paid just so Ben can see him do it and leers after him when Ben goes to make the drink for him.

He leaves with a wink in Ben’s direction afterwards and Callum eats the whole piece of carrot cake by himself in the stock room as some weird form of silent protest.

They don’t always work together.

Ben has a lot of afternoon classes and works late or mornings, whereas Callum is almost exclusively at Uni in the mornings and comes into work afterwards. So yeah, sometimes their shifts don’t line up. And then some other times, it’s just bad luck.

Callum tries not to sulk when he hears that Ben called in sick today. He knows it’s probably nothing too bad but they’re advised to stay home at any possible sign of illness regardless, for hygienic reasons and all that.

He likes working with Keegan, who came in for Ben today, as well but he was really looking forward to seeing Ben.

It sounds dramatic but the day drags on and on without Ben here, cracking jokes and making Callum weird drink combinations to try. Callum thinks it can’t get any worse but at close to five a very familiar face walks through the door.

It’s the guy who always flirts with Ben and Callum watches from behind the counter as he scans the area, looking around to see if he can spot Ben presumably. Callum almost feels bad for the devilish glee coursing through him at the knowledge that he won’t be successful today.

“Hi, what can I get you?”

Callum is trying hard to stay composed and give at least the impression that he’s being friendly. The guy gives him a barely-there smile, obviously not very interested in making a good impression on anyone other than Ben.

“I was wondering if Ben is working today?”

“Sorry, I can’t give out that kind of information.”

He tries not to revel in the eye roll the guy gives him but it’s hard not to. Yes, it’s incredibly petty but Callum can’t help it, he’d rather work the morning shift every day for a whole month than see Ben go out with this cocky prick.

The guy heaves a sigh and gives his order - one tall caramel latte just like Callum thought it was - and Callum punches it in for Keegan to prepare. Callum tells the guy his total and waits until he presses his card against the reader, nodding when the transaction goes through.

Callum thinks he’s about to put money in the tip jar but instead, the guy fishes a white business card out of his trouser pocket and slides it across the counter towards Callum.

“Can you give this to Ben? My number is on the back.”

He doesn’t wait for Callum to take it or even agree, moving along the counter to get his drink from Keegan. Callum tries not to openly show his annoyance at the bloke, grabbing the card and stuffing it into the pocket of his apron.

Over the next few hours he forgets all about the little piece of paper still hiding in the fabric of his apron. He’s cleaning the appliances, waiting for Keegan to be done with mopping the floor so they can close up for the day, when he realizes the business card is still in his possession.

He pulls it out of his pocket, looking at the bland text written across it in bold letters. Which student even carries a business card around with them? Even his name is obnoxious - Tristan, ugh. He doesn’t even feel bad when he, completely accidentally of course, lets the card fall, watching it sink to the bottom of the trash bag and getting covered by the old coffee grounds a moment later.

Oops.

Callum forgets all about Tristan and his stupid little business card, mostly because his next two shifts are spend with Ben again. To be completely honest, Callum could probably forget anything else around him exists whenever he’s in a room with Ben; it’s gotten that bad for him.

He’s completely determined to ask Ben out today, spurred on by the all of a sudden very real chance that someone else might get there before he can, and he doesn’t want to risk that. He’s been in love with the guy for close to a year now, he won’t waste another day.

Callum is in the back room, restocking the cups and lids before the evening rush begins when he hears Ben laughing at something behind the counter. He pokes his head through the door to see what’s so funny, but he doesn’t feel like laughing at all when he sees bloody Tristan standing there, arrogantly smiling at Ben.

He’s too busy seething at the fact he probably missed his chance with Ben now, can already see Ben accepting the number and going on dates and probably falling head over heels for this stupid guy, to remember he chucked the guy’s number in the bin. The one, he’s apparently asking about judging by Ben’s confused face and slight head tilt.

The distance between the stock room and the till is too great to make out any coherent words so he doesn’t know what Ben is saying in return, but it’s pretty clear this Tristan guy will throw him under the bus any moment now. God, how is he going to explain this to Ben when he inevitably asks why Callum didn’t forward the guy’s number? This is so not how he wanted this to go today; he could cry at the thought alone.

Ben turns his head to look in his direction and Callum has to duck back into the room in a flash, praying that Ben didn’t see him spying on his conversation just now.

He isn’t exactly proud of hiding in here afterwards, waiting for Tristan to leave and just staring at the different sized lids and brown paper cups with their logo emblazoned on the side. It’s definitely the most cowardly thing to do but Callum honestly feels like crying right now. He can’t bear to hear the guy he’s so stupidly in love with talk about going out with someone else; he just can’t do it.

It hurts knowing he’s never going to get the chance to make Ben see how perfect they could be for each other. Because he just knows he could make him so, so happy; Callum’s sure of that. He feels it deep in his chest, right where his heart is slowly twisting and turning.

“So, uh, you got something you wanna give me?”

The sudden shock at hearing Ben’s voice right behind him makes Callum flail his arms around, knocking over a whole stack of lids and sending them cluttering to the ground right in front of Ben’s shoes. He doesn’t really know what to say, whether he should admit he’s thrown the number away in a fit of pure jealousy or not, and the conflict must show on his face because Ben immediately takes pity on him.

“I told him we hadn’t seen each other since then so you didn’t have the chance to give it to me.”

“Thanks.”

The ground seems much more interesting to him than Ben’s expectant face right now and he’s scuffing his shoe along one of the many stains littering the light grey linoleum. Ben tries to catch his eyes, leaning down to enter Callum’s eyesight.

“Are you gonna tell me why you didn’t?”

Callum remains silent, only giving Ben a slight shrug in response to his question. Ben waits him out though, leaning against the doorframe until Callum finally sighs and meets Ben’s eyes. Time to get it out, he reckons.

He’s about to confess, to lay his feelings bare, when Ben preempts him.

“You’re not jealous, are you?”

His voice is light and joking but there’s an undertone to it. Something that sounds almost daring and hopeful; like the prospect of Callum being jealous of someone wanting to ask him out doesn’t annoy Ben but that he’s actually maybe hoping it’s true.

The thought makes Callum pause, taking in the slight smile on Ben’s face and the bright sparkle in his eyes. It makes him brave enough to finally admit his feelings, to finally take that plunge into the unknown, uncertain.

“I was working up the courage to ask you out for weeks now, months even.”

Ben’s smile stretches out across his face, transforming his face into something even more beautiful than normal. He takes a step towards Callum, tangling his hands around the straps of Callum’s apron, pulling him further into his own body.

“So ask me.”

Ben is smiling up at him, his fingers running up and down the skin underneath the straps and he feels the touch burn through his shirt. He looks loved up for lack of a better term and Callum has the brief thought that they could’ve spent so much time being with each other already, but it doesn’t really matter now. They got there anyway.

“Will you go on a date with me?”

“Yeah. Definitely.”

Ben pulls him down against him, sealing their lips together in a careful kiss. It’s the most perfect thing Callum’s ever tasted, ever felt in his entire life. His hands settle on both sides of Ben’s face, guiding him back onto his lips again and again and again. Until their lips are red and puffy and customers are yelling to be served.

They get fired two weeks later for spending a little too much time in the stock room.

It’s worth it.

#chweek2021 #callumhighwayweek2021 #ballum fic #my writing #yes i watched too much love victor and wrote a coffee shop au sue me

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mrsgreenworld · 4 years ago

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Sen Çal Kapımı Episode 14 aka The 5 Stages of Grief

This week brought us another SCK episode which was in one word just good. I had a lot of problems with and while watching the previous episode last week. There were so many questions to editing and the overall pace. I am no expert but even to my untrained eye the episode this week was easier and more pleasant to watch. However, for all the things I liked (which I will get to very soon) after rewatching the episode with the subs I am also left a bit disappointed. But let's start on the positive note.

The things I loved / liked:

☑️ Edser: even with this inevitable doom over their heads they're gorgeous, aren't they?

I love the consistency of the way they hold hands - palm to palm, entwining their fingers; not sure if this is the writers' decision or it was Kerem and Hande's acting choice or it's completely unconscious - whatever, it gives me all the feelings;

loved the gifts exchange and the choice of the gifts was so Edser; I know that Serkan's gift wasn't the most original or symbolic but it actually showed how attentive and attuned to Eda he is; he notices what she likes; a small moment when Eda said that there's nowhere she could wear such a dress and Serkan just easily responded with something like "We will find somewhere to go so you can wear this dress" - made me swoon 🥰 ; and then Eda's gift to Serkan - simple, may even seem silly and not functional but it's so Eda; because just like that world lamp it carries a meaning, it makes us and most importantly - Serkan - smile and laugh;

the next very important Edser moment is at the office terrace when Eda was planting flower seeds; I am not sure I got it right (feel free to correct me if you are a Turkish native speaker and I got lost in translation 🙂) but I think Eda said those were rose seeds; even if those were the seeds of some other flowers it's still very symbolic because flowers in general represent natural beauty and something devine; of course each individual flower has its unique meaning which can also differ depending on the colour (take roses for one: ⚪ roses mean purity and holiness, 💛 symbolise wisdom and joy while ❤️ roses are the representation of passion and sacrifice); roses in general symbolise God at work, the scent of these flowers makes us think about powerful sweetness of love, which is the essence of God; I think love is the first thing that comes to mind when we think about or see roses; so if Eda was indeed planting the seeds of roses it's very fitting because, as Eda said it herself, that very place is where everything started, where her and Serkan's love story began; plus these flowers have a very special and personal value - they represent Eda's connection with and love for her mom;

I loved seeing Eda open up to Serkan about her family, tell him her real last name... although it was bittersweet because we know how this conversation only served to cut Serkan more from the inside;

and speaking of Serkan - oh my god, the way he was looking at her in this episode 😭 we have seen a lovesick smitten look on him before but it's different now; it's painful longing; it's almost like he was committing her to his memory, wanted to imprint her looking at him with smiles and love ; because he believes that he doesn't deserve any of it and once she knows the truth she will never look at him the same way ever again;

I loved a bit of light-hearted moment between Edser in Serkan's office when they discussed evening plans and Eda suggested going to the cinema; Serkan's reaction - 👀; our boy is so social phobic 🙈😆; I love how Eda is showing him and teaching him these simple joys of life which he, unfortunately, never experienced;

and the cinema date itself - perfect; Serkan Bolat actually eating popcorn? - the planet must have gone off its axes🤣🤣🤣 Serkan asking Eda to put her head on his shoulder - swoon; his small kiss on her head - double swoon; him noticing her crying and trying to wipe away her tears - triple swoon; and finally - after the film, when he said that he would love to have the kind of machine they had seen in the film, the one that could erase bad memories, and he would love that for her, to relieve Eda from the pain of her past - I officially turned into a puddle on the floor after this;

I absolutely loved that throughout the episode Eda was very much attuned to Serkan; she immediately noticed that something was off about him; however, she wasn't pushy, she gave him space and time, she was waiting for him to talk to her when he was ready; her noticing his injured hand within the first millisecond and not believing him when tried to make up something involving Sirius - her stern "Are you really gonna feed me this crap?" look was priceless and his immediate surrender was even better 😏;

comments about Serkan's magic hands gave me all kinds of dirty thoughts 🙈😆🤣

and finally - Eda kissing Serkan's neck; it may seem a bit bold because, I think, neck kisses are considered a more sensual kind of kisses but Eda made it not about passion and desire, she managed to turn it into a show of her deep love instead and also forgiveness for Serkan's earlier outburst;

☑️ 5 stages of grief:

Call it a coincidence but just this week, on Monday, I posted a fic featuring future Edser where I actually wrote Serkan going through these stages. Fifi mentioned them as well in the episode. And finally - we got to see Serkan at very stage in this episode. Of course in reality it doesn't go like this - in just one or two days. If only that were true. But we all understand that we're dealing with fiction here so the process had to be accelerated.

As Meredith Grey once said: "There are five stages of grief. They look different on all of us. But there are always five".

1 - denial: we witnessed Serkan's denial after seeing the documents that his parents showed him; even Aydan said something like this to Alptekin: "He's just found out about it, of course he's going to try and deny it";

the moment in Serkan's office when he said to Eda that they should run away, disappear, just the two of them - another attempt at denying, it's him trying to ignore this; the cinema date - a small fleeting moment of escape where they could be a normal couple enjoying a movie together, eating popcorn and cuddling;

2 - anger: the very first scene with Serkan and his parents when they came to check on him - he lost his temper and yelled at them demanding that they bring him the damn files because he needed to see everything with his own eyes; in that very scene he almost broke a coffee table but ended up smashing the world lamp that Eda got him; let's talk about symbolism here for a moment - Serkan's whole world is smashed into pieces right now, just like this lamp;

another small depiction of his anger - after his date with Eda he slammed his first into the poor coffee table and did break it cutting his hand in the process;

his passive-aggressive behaviour towards Efe and finally losing it and snapping at Eda;

3 - bargaining: the conversation with Eda at the terrace in the office and asking about letting go of the past and if she had ever considered forgiving her grandmother; him trying to talk to her - he even wanted to do this when they went to the cinema; him trying to make up for his shitty behaviour and coming to her house with flowers and every intention of telling her the truth;

4 - depression: there were small snippets of it - when he broke the coffee table and didn't even flinch; when he was sitting on the counter in the office and telling Engin everything; him walking out of his office after the terrace conversation - you can see the heartbreak written all over his face; him mentioning to Engin that this secret was eating at him and how Eda's kindness and goodness were killing him;

5 - acceptance: the first step I think was made during that fight when Serkan said to Eda that "loneliness is better for someone like him anyway" and then just walked away; in that moment he seemed resigned to this fate - of being forever alone; then of course overhearing Eda and Ceren's talk about Eda's grandmother; and finally - the breakup scene where Serkan was completely resigned, he had realised and accepted that there's no winning for him in this situation and in his mind he had chosen the lesser of two evils;

I believe that we will see a bit more of Serkan's resigned acceptance next week but in this episode I think we walked through all of the stages;

☑️ Engin: love what a great friend he is - he immediately noticed that something was bothering Serkan; he patiently listened to Serkan (also loved that Serkan shared this with Engin instead of keeping all of it to himself), genuinely empathized and said how both Serkan and Eda didn't deserve this shit; I also love that Engin urged Serkan to be honest and tell Eda everything and pointed out that Eda deserved to know the truth;

love how he doesn't let Serkan get away with anything, just like in that scene in Serkan's office - after Serkan's fight with Eda, in the evening Engin finds Serkan in his office and when Serkan says "don't say anything" Engin is like "sorry, bro, but I will" and he did tell him that it was a shitty thing to do - saying all those things to Eda; but he also managed to remain understanding and wasn't pressuring Serkan too much or yelling at him that he had acted as an a*hole;

also loved Engin's silent support to Eda after Serkan's outburst;

while I don't really care about Engin's romantic entanglements with Pırıl the moment during brunch when he basically shut Pırıl up by feeding her something was really funny 😆;

☑️ The Girls: loved the scene where Eda tells the girls that Serkan was going to Italy with her and how he had already bought a house and rented an office there; their genuine happiness for her and their support of each other never seizes to amaze me;

the scene in the evening with all of the girls lying in a circle and telling how their day had gone - another testament to how beautiful this female gang is;

☑️ a series of smaller moments:

Eda hanging a new picture of Serkan on the wall and drawing a ❤️ on it with a red💄- this girl is so in love 😏😁;

Eda / Selin ripping Selin's wedding dress together - a great bonding moment;

Melek showing Selin her support at the brunch;

Aydan tending to and dressing Serkan's hand and telling him her own love story - a nice mother/son moment;

Seyfi spotting Serkan's picture and the star certificate in Eda's room - his genuine happiness for Edser gives me life, he definitely is the captain of this ship 🚢💟🕺🤝💪😎 ;

I love the list of Serkan's friends: Engin (he's numero uno because he's Yoda Diggle 🙈😆), Pırıl and Sirius (btw, where the hell is Sirius??? Mom & Dad are fighting again, you better drag your ass over here so you and Seyfi can help them make up)

The things I didn't like / was annoyed with:

🚩Selin: I am not saying she has no right to be angry with Ferit; what he did wasn't nice but she was ready to dump him any moment and I am sure had Serkan whistled at her while she was at the wedding table, she would have run to him then and there; so I think she should get off her high horse and stop being so freaking selfish; she has to take responsibility for her own actions and instead of demanding something from Ferit (like leaving the holding, not coming to the Art Life office) try apologizing to the man for being a bitch of cosmic proportions;

the cutting of the pictures scene - way to go girl if that's your kind of therapy; but the moment when she stumbled upon some pictures of herself and Serkan and left them untouched - god, give me a break; still being hang up on the man who clearly doesn't love you and probably never loved you, the man who, as you claimed yourself, you were never happy with... I don't know but it wouldn't have hurt if the writers had made her love and respect herself a bit more;

what's with that face after having overheard the conversation between the girls in the restroom? she looked as if she had heard them bad-mouthing her while there had been nothing negative said about her and the focus of the conversation had been on Ceren and Ferit;

🚩Ceren and Ferit: the thing with them has been developing kinda unevenly; while I enjoyed their first meeting and running into each other at the office in the previous episode, in this episode there was too much of them and the tone of their scenes almost gave me a whiplash; Ceren's passive-aggressive behaviour over the phone and near the office was just weird, the brunch interactions - awkward at first and then everything ended with Ceren being all sweet and supportive 👀;

🚩while I liked the scene where Selin and Eda were ripping Selin's wedding dress together and didn't like how they ended the scene: when Eda saw the pictures of Selin and Serkan together; I know it's not pleasant to see the pictures of the man you love with his ex while at the said ex's house after having helped her rip her wedding dress... but it's not a good enough reason to turn hostile and cold; and while Eda was not hostile, the look she gave Selin made me think I had forgotten to close the window in the room 🥶;

🚩 Aydan: I know that her heart-felt story was meant to make her likeable but it actually made me understand her even less; for a woman who was in love, who fell in love with someone who wasn't from a wealthy family - and to give Eda so much crap how she was not the right fit for their family; of course that was something she said at the very beginning, in the first episodes but it still annoys me;

and that unspoken advice that she kinda sorta gave to Serkan - really??? what kind of advice is that??? maybe I got it wrong but did she actually advice her son to just carry this burden on his own? did she mean it was okay to disappear into thin air without so much as a goodbye???👀🙄🤯

🚩 Pırıl and Engin: while their bowling date was kinda cute I didn't like Engin's comment about him wanting to boast in front of his friends that he finally "got the girl" so to speak; and Pırıl's initial reaction to bowling was a bit extra;

🚩Efe: liked his new hairstyle, the man looked smoaking hot🔥but☝️he is becoming more and more shady; it's like he's doing nothing wrong, he's being polite and friendly, learning things about the staff and organising brunch but it seems like he's trying too hard and there's something behind of all this; also - I see what you did there with Ferit and all that shares talk, very subtle 🧐🕵️;

There was nothing I hated but there's something I was disappointed with:

💔 Serkan not telling Eda the truth; I understand the motives and we saw the struggle and how he came to this difficult decision through all those stages of grief; however, I feel disappointed that the writers decided to go down this beaten path; I think I had a tiny sliver of hope that they would surprise us so I was sorry to see this story becoming predictable like many others; this won't, however, stop me from loving these imperfect characters and this imperfect show; sorry not sorry but "Deli gibi aşık oldum" 😊😍

#sen çal kapımı #sen cal kapimi #sck #sck long post #sck episode 14 thoughts #edser #eda ve serkan #eda x serkan #eda yıldız #eda yildiz #serkan bolat

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snowdice · 5 years ago

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Road Trips and Missing Persons (Part 6)

Fandom: Sanders Sides

Relationships: Patton & Virgil, Virgil & Deceit, Logan & Patton, Emile & Remy, Roman & Remus & Janus

Characters: Patton, Virgil, Deceit, Remus, Roman, Logan, Emile, Remy

Summary: Patton was just getting groceries. The next thing he knew, there was a knife at his throat and he was an unwilling uber driver. Virgil’s on the run after the murder of his dad, and it’s not just his paranoia that’s telling him he’s being chased down. He has to get somewhere safe, somewhere he can trust, and all he has is a couple of stories from his dad and a name: “Green Bellow Foods and Dispensary.”

Notes: Secret Agents AU, knives, carjacking, kidnapping, murder mentioned, guns mentioned, pepper spray, blood mentioned, drugs mentioned (more to be added)

This is a fic I’ve been writing on study breaks that you have probably all already seen at this point. I’ve affectionately named it the Goblin Brain Fic because it’s helping my brain actually get motivated for studying. I’ve slightly edited it for wording and grammar, but not for content from my previous posts. Feel free to send in asks to direct it because I’m not 100% sure where this is going and you can help decide if you feel so inclined! You can see the process I went through to build this at this link.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 My Master Post

Roman and Remus piled into Janus’s car to head to the grocery store. It was pulled into Remy Gate’s driveway and only a few feet away whereas Roman had parked down the street and Remus had likely parked somewhere nearer to the park not that Roman cared to get into that death trap. (His father and Remus had built it together when Roman and Remus had been 14 and Roman loved them both dearly and dad was smart, but he wasn’t an engineer or mechanic and Remus was a beacon of chaos. It did not matter that the car had managed to hold up for almost 10 years whereas Roman was on his third car. He still would never trust the dammed thing. Ever.)

Janus’s car was the exact opposite of Remus’s. Roman wasn’t very good with cars, but even he could tell it was an expensive one (that was likely not constructed by a teenager and his dad in a garage) with no dents or rust and it still had that new car smell when he got inside. Roman could probably buy his apartment complex for how much money the thing was worth.

Yet, despite that, Remus seemed familiar with the car. He hopped straight into the passenger seat and started pushing buttons, the functions of which Roman did not know. One thing he did understand was the dials for the radio and that when Remus tapped the saved radio station under the 3rd slot, it switched to Remus’s favorite channel.

Remus then leaned back against the seat and put his feet up on the dash.

“Why do you have to be this?” Janus asked sounding exhausted the moment he opened the driver’s side door and the very intense bagpipe music met his ears. He reached into the car to slap Remus’s calves.

Remus didn’t move them but just smiled. “It’s piobaireachd day,” he said happily.

Janus shook his head and moved to sit down. He yelped immediately and shot forward on the seat. “You turned on the seat massagers?!”

“Of course, I turned on the seat massagers, Jay.”

“Ugh I don’t want those things on.” He started pushing buttons himself.

The hazard lights came on as well as the windshield wipers and some beeping started up. “Ugh! Remus! How do you turn these things off?” He slammed a hand against the dashboard and lights in the back suddenly were blinding Roman. “Stupid piece of scrap metal!”

Remus batted his hands away and put the car to rights again rather quickly. Janus mumbled a couple more curses under his breath but didn’t do anything more as he put the car into reverse and started driving down the street.

“Okay,” he said once they were moving, his creepily calm attitude back in place again.

So, this was Remus’s partner? Roman of course knew a bit more about what Remus did than most of the other people in the agency considering Remus was his brother. Not to mention, they were both the sons of Logan Sanders so if they wanted to talk about anything when they got together to have dinner every other Saturday, it was probably going to end up being about the covert spy operations everyone went on. (Dad pretended not to be a gossip, but at the end of the day…) So, Roman knew that Remus was a triple agent. He pretended to spy on dad for Barbara Nelsen when he was actually spying on Nelson for dad.

Roman also knew a bit about his partner. Remus had even let slip the nickname Jay a couple of times and talked affectionately about him. Janus was a double agent turning on Nelson to work for dad. However, Roman had not been aware that Janus was Nelson’s son, a fact which he’d surmised since Janus had said his mother killed Remy.

Which was… hmm. Obviously, dad had to know that information and trusted him enough to take his word as a double agent, but it still gave Roman a bit of pause. Not to mention, he was clearly a cold and efficient a liar which served to put Roman even more on edge.

The only thing keeping Roman from insisting they leave him was the way he acted around Remus. Remus had provided the only cracks in his carefully constructed calm but vicious front. Every time Remus did or said something Remusy, Janus would give him one of those fondly exasperated looks that only Remus could provoke, and they seemed to be more than just partners, but friends.

So, Roman was going to choose to trust him for a moment, attributing the roughness to his missing brother.

“What’s the plan?” Janus asked when they pulled into the grocery store’s parking lot.

“I have an FBI agent ID,” Roman said. “I can go push for information at the front desk.”

Janus nodded and his fingers tapped twice against the steering wheel before he stopped the nervous tick. “He might also hide outside the store. There is a small creek behind the store he used to go get muddy in. He will be, well… maybe he will be less likely to run from me and I know the area so I’ll check there. Remus can check inside the store while you ask around.”

“Okay, that works,” Roman agreed. “Meet back at the car afterwards?”

Janus nodded as he pulled into a parking spot. Remus slapped Janus on the shoulder before exiting the car and got a scowl at his back in return.

Roman shook his head and followed them out of the car. Janus separated from them a few feet before the door to the grocery store and Remus and Roman entered the store together.

“I’mma go check out the store,” Remus said.

“Okay, don’t do anything stupid,” Roman said as he walked away. He got a flippant wave in return. “Remus! Don’t do anything stupid, please!” And… he was gone. Roman shook his head and turned, searching for the front desk.

He reached for his wallet and smiled at the employee at the front desk. “Hello ma’am,” he said. “I’m looking for someone and I was hoping you’d help me.” He pulled out his only sortof fake FBI ID to show her.

“I’m looking for a teenager who has gone missing and is connected to a case and we have reports that he may have come in here. Perhaps you’ve seen him,” Roman said. He took out his phone to show her the picture of Virgil that he’d been sent only to find that his screen had been cracked and it wouldn’t turn on, likely damaged in the fight with Janus. Great. He looked back up the woman. “I apparently don’t have a picture to show you at the moment, but you’ve possibly seen him before as he lives in the neighborhood. “Virgil Gates?”

He got a blank stare in return.

Fantastic.

He spent another 15 or so minutes trying to explain to the woman who he was looking for (a difficult task as all he had to go off of was the memory of one picture that he’d been sent an hour ago) and getting shrugs and apologies in response. Eventually he left and looked around the store for a bit himself. His brother was suspiciously absent from everywhere Roman looked.

Eventually he wandered back to the front by himself only to see Remus coming from the checkout with a bag full of snack foods.

Roman crossed his arms. “You were supposed to be looking for a missing minor, not shopping.”

“Chill,” Remus said making Roman want to do the opposite of ‘chill,’ “I looked for the kid and shopped at the same time. I even got Cheetos!” he smiled widely as they left the store. “Also, I broke into their security office!”

“You what?!” Roman asked.

“I broke into their security office,” Remus repeated happily.

“And why,” Janus asked tiredly while walking up to them, “did you do that.”

“To get the security camera footage, duh,” he said pointing at a camera near the top of the door. “I figured he might have not gone inside, but the neighbor said he headed in this direction, so that thing probably saw him.”

“That’s actually pretty smart,” Roman said. “Though we probably could have just asked.”

Remus shrugged. “Luckily they apparently save security footage to a cloud and I was able to download it pretty easily. We should be able to see everything that happened inside and outside the grocery store in the last two hours assuming you’ve got something to watch it on.”

Janus nodded and led them back to his car where he took a laptop out of his trunk. Remus downloaded the footage and then handed it over to Janus. “You’ll be able to spot him best since you know what he looks like better than us.”

It took almost 20 minutes of Janus watching the surveillance video for him to find what he was looking for. “Got him,” he said. Roman leaned over to get a good look at the screen. The video feed was a bit blurry, but he could see a lanky teenager with dark hair running to the grocery store parking lot. He took a break when he got there and looked behind him probably to make sure he hadn’t been followed. Then he found a bush to hid behind. They watched for a few minutes until finally he hopped back up and started walking towards a car.

“What’s he doing?” Roman asked as the boy on the camera glanced around himself to make sure nobody was watching before starting to fiddle with something.

“Oh god,” Janus groaned, “why did I teach him how to pick a car lock? Emile was right.”

They watched as he managed to pop the door open to the stranger’s car and slipped inside. Not even 5 minutes later, a man with grocery bags got into the front seat though it was too blurry to see who he was or the license plate on the car. The car drove out of the parking lot after a few more minutes.

“God dammit, Virgil,” Janus hissed and Roman barely saved the laptop from crashing to the ground. “Now he’s just in the back of some random person’s car!” he started pacing back and forth, steam practically pouring from his ears. Roman was almost scared for Virgil when Janus managed to find him because he looked ready to commit a murder. “That was over an hour ago. Who knows where he could be by now! Who knows what could have happened to him by now!” And, oh, Roman realized. He wasn’t angry. Not really. He was terrified. “What the hell am I supposed to do?!” he kicked the car fender, leaving a dent and then he kicked it again.

Then a phone rang in his pocket and he froze, all emotion draining off his face startlingly quickly. Roman was confused because he was pretty sure he’d seen Janus step on his phone earlier, but the one he pulled out now was a different type. He glanced at the caller ID and said, “it’s my mother.”

Want to read more? Click below!

Part 7

#sanders sides #remus sanders #roman sanders #janus sanders #creativitwins #emile picani #remy sanders #virgil sanders #patton sanders #logan sanders #platonic moxiety #knives #kidnapping #carjacking #murder mentioned #guns mentioned #adriana writes #road trips and missing persons

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thebibliomancer · 4 years ago

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Archaia’s Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance #5

The Ballad of Hup & Barfinnious Part 1 of 4

I am thrilled that we have another buddy comedy brewing in this arc!

Look at them! They look a delight!

I’ve recently finished Shadows of the Dark Crystal, which was Naia’s time. But now its Hup’s time.

Now is Hup backstory!

Actually, aside from Hup backstory, I don’t intuitively know what this arc is going to be about. I could guess what Quest for the Dual Glaive would be about because its right in the title and it also sets up the threat, stakes, and characters right in the first issue.

All I know about this arc is that Hup and Barfinnious are hilarious.

The new arc actually starts cheekily teasing the previous arc with Paladin-Bard Barfinnious telling a story in a Sami Thicket tavern about being the hero of the Arathim War and rescuing a princess.

I cannot over state the degree to which this opening feels like its a continuation of the Quest of the Dual Glaive before it heads off in a different direction.

By the by, Paladin-Bard? What’s a bard? Some kind of Song-Teller?

Barfinnious’ grand tale is interrupted by SkekShod (the Treasurer) loudly complaining about the soup and telling an unamused Hup to make it “edible.”

The bard’s tale continues, his narration pondering what makes a hero helpfully playing over Hup making the soup again.

Making good soup makes you a hero, apparently.

Seems legit. Hup and Kylan are big heroes.

“But we must pause our action here to ask: what makes a hero? Is it his sword? Surely not, because swords eventaully fail, no matter their temper. No, a true hero must be open to change. Flexible. In the end, it is not a hero’s equipment, nor even his deeds... but the will to make things better than they were.”

And Hup makes that soup better than it were and dinner is re-served to SkekShod. Who again declares his disgust.

SkekShod: “I cannot decide if your ungrateful village is trying to poison me or starve me!”

Owner: “Sorry, so sorry. Hup’s soup is renowned in Sami Thicket, but maybe the style isn’t to my Lord’s taste. If you tell him --”

SkekShod: “Tell him to what? Wash his hands? And what language do I say that in? His primitive Podling mind obviously can’t --.”

Hup: “Can’t take another word!”

And then Hup creates very much a diplomatic incident by WHACKing SkekShod right across the face with his spoon, alarming almost everyone.

Something neat is that Gelfling language is in, uh, normal comic font. Hup’s Podling language is in a different font that’s bigger. It nicely conveys the language difference.

Almost everyone in the tavern is furious because SkekShod is here for the tithe and hitting a Skeksis during a tithe is just a really bad idea.

The tavern owner angrily throws out Hup, yelling he’s fired. But he’s more sympathetic in a whisper and tells Hup to stay out of the village until things blow over.

You’re a multi-dimensional character, nameless tavern owner.

The Paladin-Bard Barfinnious meets Hup outside, complimenting him on his mighty swing.

He offers to buy Hup a drink if Hup will take him to another establishment.

Hup is flattered because Barfinnious is a big time Paladin is spending time in his unworthy company.

Barfinnious: “I am a Paladin who is growing increasingly weary of the same old stories. One who now has coin in his pocket. One who is in between noble steeds, at the moment...”

In fact, Barfinnious claims he has plenty of coin. Plenty enough to buy a round for the entire house on him!

And secretly that’s because he stole the tithe. He stole the entire tithe while everyone was distracted by Hup.

I feel....... that Barfinnious..... might not be a good paladin?

Funny bit. When the barkeep brings out two drinks for Hup and Barfinnious, they’re Podling-sized so Barfinnious asks for his drink to be made “maybe a double. Triple. Some multiple” until the barkeep fills up a much bigger cup for him.

Its a funny bit.

While he and Hup have their drink, Hup asks him if his story was true. And Barfinnious gets real for a moment.

Barfinnious: “Sometimes the truth does not make a good story.”

And he tells another version where it wasn’t him alone but a group of Paladins that stormed the Arathim nest. Many who died in the assault. And all for nothing. The princess was dead when they got there.

Barfinnious: “Being a Paladin isn’t about being a hero... sometimes it’s about living to remember. So you can tell their stories another day.”

Despite this bummer, Hup asks if he can travel with Barfinnious as his squire. Hup wasn’t born to be a cook, he was born to be a Paladin.

Barfinnious agrees, saying he’s not had an accomplice squire in many trine.

That’s not suspicious. Lets not be suspicious of it.

When it comes time to pay the tab, Barfinnious tries to pay with a rare desert stone that he says he traded from some Dousan but which is more accurately a piece of a decorative stone from right in front of the tavern and the barkeep easily recognizes it and isn’t amused.

Oh, and then the Gelfling from the other tavern bang on the door looking for the missing tithe.

The barkeep hits Barfinnious with a bottle so Hup knocks him on his ass with a spoon because that’s Hup’s brand.

So Barfinnious swings on the light fixture. Because that, evidently, is his brand. And he and Hup escape into the night off to the next mark adventure.

Hey. Shot in the dark. I suspect that Barfinnious might be a con artist. And that Hup might be getting conned into being an accessory.

On the one hand, poor Hup. His idol ain’t what he seems.

On the other, these two are going to be hilarious together, I can just tell.

I have no idea where this is all heading but damn if its not going to be a ride.

#dark crystal #the dark crystal #dark crystal age of resistance #Archaia's dark crystal #a prequel to the prequel

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thehuskerrumble · 4 years ago

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Deuces Wild

Knob Noster 8 Higginsville 9

Two nights, two conference opponents, two 9-8 victories, and two walk-offs, give the Huskers their first winning streak of the season. Higginsville hosted the Knob Noster Panthers on Tuesday, for their second home game in as many nights, and for the second game in a row, they needed some late inning heroics to bring home the dub. It was a marathon, as both teams combined for 15 walks, 16 hits, and 17 runs. And, once again, the Huskers had to come from behind 3 different times before closing out the contest. Get used to it folks, because it appears that there is a lot of parity in this year’s conference, and we can expect a wild, wild MRVC East.

Ernst with the “Blew Bayou” pitch

The Huskers kicked off the first inning with one of their better starts of the year. Senior Kelan Ernst breezed through the first inning, needing only 9 pitches to induce two ground balls and a strikeout. Then the Higginsville lineup gave the coaching staff a rare early lead, by bringing 6 batters to the plate, and scoring two runs in the bottom half of the opening frame. Jace Kerley led the game off with a free pass, and then scored easily when Mason Rumsey laced a triple into the right-center gap. Two batters later, Cade Limback picked up a two-out RBI, by stroking a solid single into left. Huskers 2 Knob 0

Rumsey chasing Kerley home with a three bagger

But then things began to quickly unravel in the second. The Panthers took advantage of two hits, two Husker errors, and four walks, to score five runs and reclaim the lead. Knob Noster saw eleven batters come to the plate, in a painful inning that left the Husker coaching staff contemplating their life choices. Huskers 2 Knob 5. But the boys in blue have been behind plenty of times this season, and to them it ain’t no thing. They simply tied the game by putting up another crooked number in their half of the second. Jackson Kouril led off with a single to left, and then swiped second base with a head first slide. Garrett Pemberton followed with a walk, and then Micah Graham dropped down a sac bunt, advancing the runners to second and third. Next, Jace Kerley stepped to the plate, first pitch swinging, and lifting one in to shallow center. With only one out, Coach Figg held the runners, and it turned out to be the correct decision, as Rumsey continued his big night by driving a two-run double into centerfield. He would eventually score on a throwing error by a Panther defender. And just like that, we were all knotted up. Huskers 5 Knob 5.

No rest for the weary

Higginsville made a pitching change in the third, giving the ball to Kouril for his 392nd inning of the season. He struggled a bit early, hitting the first batter and walking two of the next three, but a strikeout and some great defense limited the Panther damage to just a single run. Huskers 5 Knob 6. The score remained that way until the top of the fifth, when the Panthers were able to tack on another run by way of a triple and an RBI single. Huskers 5 Knob 7. Higginsville would match that run in their half of the fifth, when a Rumsey single and stolen base led to a Limback sac fly to center. Huskers 6 Knob 7. Kouril held the Panthers scoreless in the sixth, keeping the game close, and giving Knob Noster time to have a pitching meltdown in the Huskers next turn at bat: Connor Reynolds and Kouril led off the sixth with back-to-back walks, and the Panther staff elected to make a pitching change. It started out well enough for Knob, as the new pitcher fanned the next two batters. But then he proceeded to throw 12 straight balls, walking three Huskers in a row. He worked his way out of a bases loaded jam by inducing a ground ball to second, but not before the Huskers had once again taken the lead with two more runs. Huskers 8 Knob 7.

I didn’t get a pic of Russell’s throw, so here’s one of him running to first

Higginsville then slammed the door on the Panthers, with three easy outs, sending the fans home for an early dinner. No, that’s not true. Of course it didn’t happen that way. Instead, it went something like this: Jackson Kouril made quick work of the first two batters, retiring them on a ground ball to second, and a nice fielding play on a come-backer to the mound. But after starting the next batter off 2-2, an inside pitch got away from him, plunking the batter and sending the tying run to first. Next up was Knob Noster’s number 3 hitter, and he wasted no time, driving the first pitch he saw into centerfield for a two-out double. The runner at first raced all the way home for Knob’s eighth score of the contest. Game tied, again. But there was no time to feel sorry for themselves, as Kouril now had to face the Panther’s clean-up hitter, with the go ahead run in scoring position. Jackson again worked the count to 2-2, but the next pitch was roped into center for a solid single. With good speed at second base, it appeared that the Huskers would surely be trailing in their final at bat. But sophomore Camden Russell had other ideas, as he charged in hard from center, scooped up the ball, and fired a strike to Kerley at home plate. Jace was in a perfect position, and slapped the tag on the runner, preserving the tie. Collective exhale. Huskers 8 Knob 8.

Action Jackson for the walk-off!

Higginsville would head into their last at bat, hoping to score a run and put an end to this madness. Limback got the first opportunity, and he took full advantage by lining a single into left field. He then nabbed second base, when the Panther pitcher chose to work out of the windup instead of the stretch. Connor Reynolds then drew a walk, bringing Jackson Kouril to the plate with two on and nobody out. Kouril was looking for sweet revenge, and it was served, cold. On a 2-1 count, Jackson drilled a single up the middle, driving in Limback for the finishing touch on the Huskers second walk-off in as many nights. It was only fitting since Kouril wears the number 4. And if you are familiar with first grade math, 2+2=4. Deuces Wild! (I know, it’s a stretch. But I would like to see you guys come up with a title for each game. It ain’t easy.) The Huskers win again in dramatic fashion, and improve their record to 3-5 on the season. Go Huskers!

Rumsey flashing the leather all evening

Web Gem:

In the third inning, with two on and two out, the Panther’s number 3 hitter smashed a hard hit grounder up the middle. Shortstop Mason Rumsey tracked the ball, but had to quickly change directions when the ball deflected off of Jackson Kouril. Rumsey managed to pick the ball out of the grass and fire a seed to Cade Limback, who made a nice stretch to retire the runner. Difficulty Scale: 8

Cade “Limber-back” Not a pic of the web gem, but you can see how nimble the big guy is

Almost Web Gem:

With two outs in the top of the fourth, shortstop Rumsey ranged deep to his right, fielding a ground ball at the edge of the outfield grass. With all of his momentum going the wrong way, he managed to get off a great cross-body throw, and Limback once again made an outstanding stretch for the final out of the inning. But while the Huskers were all celebrating the play and preparing to bat, the homeplate umpire made the decision to over rule the call, claiming that Limback’s foot had just come off of the bag. My guess is he must have spent some major dough on Lasik surgery or something, cause it’s the only explanation for his ability to see a play on the wrong side of the bag, from 90 feet away. I can’t help but marvel at the advances in modern medicine. Difficulty Scale: 9 (for Rumsey). Difficulty Scale for the Umpire: 10+

Pemberton footage

Web Gem:

Two batters later, in the same inning as the “almost web gem”, the Panther’s number 8 hitter lined a single into right field. Garrett Pemberton fielded the ball, and let it fly towards home, as Knob was attempting to score another runner. The throw was just a bit off line, towards the first base line. But Jace Kerley knocked it down, and then picked it up bare-handed, diving towards the plate. The tag was in time, keeping the score close in a game where every run ended up making a difference.

I don’t know what’s going on here

Web Gem (the defense was en fuego):

As mentioned earlier, Camden Russell also picked up an outfield assist, on his great throw to cut down a runner at the plate, in the top of the seventh. It was a huge moment in the game, and turned the momentum back in the Huskers favor.

Three hits, three runs, and four RBI’s

Almost Cycle:

After hitting a triple in his first at bat, a double in his second, and a single in his third, Rumsey stepped to the plate needed only a long ball to complete the elusive “hit for the cycle” in his final plate appearance. But instead, he was only able to manage a measly four pitch walk. He has brought shame upon himself and his family.

Box Score:

JV GAME

(I had to leave early and missed it, but Kimberly got some great pics!)

Up Next:

Monday, April 12th, 4:30 p.m., the Higginsville Huskers host the Lexington Minuteman in a conference matchup at Fairground Park

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xb-squaredx · 4 years ago

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B-Squared’s Top 10 Games of 2020

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that having something to distract me from the genuine horrors unleashed during 2020 was vital to staying alive, and for me that means a lot of video games! I played…a lot of games last year, but I spent a lot of time playing older games, so I didn’t get a chance to check out a lot of high-profile games that launched this year. Still, I do want to shine a light on the games that managed to resonate with me even a little bit, that somehow managed to launch this year. So let’s get to it!

#10 – No Straight Roads

Rarely have I been struck by a single trailer for a game like I was for No Straight Roads. Produced by industry veterans under a new studio, this is a rare game that’s not quite an indie game from a studio full of newbies, but it’s also not produced with the same kind of budget and resources of a Triple-A project. What do we call this? A Double-A game? Single-A? Regardless, I have to give the team at Metronomik some props for delivering a super stylish game in the midst of a very challenging year. No Straight Roads is a rhythm-based action game where two up-and-coming musicians fight to bring back Rock and Roll to the people of Vinyl City. I absolutely adore this game’s presentation, with each major boss being visually unique and having their own feel that compliments the music they bring to battle. There’s some real energy in these animations with character designs that ooze personality, and being a game about music the soundtrack is great! All that being said though, I have to admit I wasn’t a huge fan of the gameplay when all was said and done. It leans way more on the rhythm side of the equation than I was hoping for, and the action felt very shallow. The fixed camera made some phases of some fights a real problem, and the Switch verison, which I played, is plagued with a lot of issues that really brought the game down for me. If the game interests you at all, give it a shot on PC or PS4; I hear those versions are a lot better. Still, I liked the potential I saw in this game and in this studio, so I can only hope they did well enough to continue on. This definitely feels like the kind of passion project that deserves more recognition.

#9 – Streets of Rage 4

OK, so full disclosure: I didn’t grow up with 2D beat-em-ups. I missed out on all of the greats of the genre back in the day. No Final Fight, no River City Ransom, no Double Dragon, and definitely no Streets of Rage. In more recent years I have tried to dip my toe in the genre, as I did in 2019 with River City Girls. However, I came away from that game a bit disappointed by the overall gameplay and wondered if 2D beat-em-ups were for me. Seeing so much praise heaped onto Streets of Rage 4 had me curious, so I knew I had to try it, if only to broaden my experience in the genre. In many ways, this game is the perfect sequel to a franchise that hasn’t seen any signs of new life in years. It retains what made the series beloved with satisfying combat and challenge, but with a modern touch. The overall art style of the game and music work out pretty well, and I found the act of comboing enemies to be really satisfying. It really doesn’t overstay its welcome either, which is very appreciated in an age of endless timesinks. I also struggled a fair bit with the game, even on Normal, and well after some patches that seemed designed for more casual fans like me. Had this game not had online co-op as an option, I don’t know if I could have beaten the final levels. So my time with this game was pretty rough but despite that I can still see this was a game made with care, and if this game DOES do something for you, there’s plenty of reasons to keep playing on higher difficulties, unlocking more characters and even playing online with friends. Let me put it this way; I’m not all that sure I like the genre and I still liked this game, so I think that counts for something!

#8 – The Wonderful 101: Remastered

…this one is kind of cheating, I’ll admit! I had a lot of trouble thinking up ten games that really stood out to me this year, honestly. That said, I’ll definitely use loopholes to plug one of my favorite games from years ago. Seven years ago, PlatinumGames launched The Wonderful 101 on the ill-fated Wii U, where it bombed harder than just about anything on the system. For those that gave the game a shot, however, they were quick to discover a deep, complex, and charming action game that plays like nothing else out there. Controlling a team of 100 heroes at once, players form weapons out of the various Wonderful One’s bodies, smacking around giant robots and aliens far larger than them with the power of teamwork! How could you not love that, right?! Now, years later, PlatinumGames is aiming to become more independent and their first act was launching a Kickstarter as a way to get this game on newer platforms. While we may never know why Nintendo gave Platinum their blessing to release this game on non-Nintendo platforms (being as this is still, as far as I know, a Nintendo-owned IP), I’m just glad more people can have access to one of the most unique action games I’ve ever touched.

To sell it another way, this game combines the overall aesthetic of Viewtiful Joe with the shape-drawing action of Okami but with a bit of Bayonetta flair on the side. Basically, this is the culmination of everything director Hideki Kamiya has ever worked on. The Remastered version fixes some issues present from the game’s original release, and while I do think they could have gone a bit further with some changes, it is likely the best way to play the game for many. All those sections that made heavy use of the Wii U GamePad are a tad awkward though, but that held true even back on the Wii U anyway…d-don’t worry so much about that, though! I’d still recommend this game to anyone looking for the type of over-the-top action that only Platinum (and occasionally Capcom) can provide! So please consider joining the Wonderful Ones and Unite Up!

#7 – Paper Mario: The Origami King

Discourse around the Paper Mario series is…more than a little rough, honestly! Many fans have been quite vocal about not liking the direction the series has been heading with the last few games, but I went into The Origami King with an open mind and ended up really enjoying the game for the most part! What the game lacked in a developed storyline, it made up for with some really strong character moments and memorable setpieces. Bobby and Olivia are among my favorite partners in ANY of the Mario RPGs, easily, and the entirety of the Great Sea section of the game was a really fun adventure. I love the highly-detailed paper-crafted enemies and locales, and the soundtrack really didn’t have to go as hard as it did. While the battles against common enemies didn’t quite click with me, the boss battles throughout the game constantly surprised me with interesting twists on the ring-based combat and are a real highlight for me. I know this game is pretty divisive amongst Paper Mario fans, but I think the franchise has a pretty bright future ahead of it!

#6 – DOOM Eternal

Fair warning here, but I haven’t quite managed to beat DOOM Eternal at the time of writing this, but what I’ve played so far tells me it definitely belongs here. I think Eternal is hands-down the most intense game I’ve played in a long time. It gets my blood pumping as I dash about, shooting and slicing through demons that are extremely eager to rip and tear me to pieces. I don’t play many shooters in general, so I knew I was going to be in for a rough time, but DOOM Eternal brings it to another level right away. In some respects, I don’t quite agree with various aspects of the core game design that makes the game harder than I think it needs to be at times. The scarcity of ammo, and thus the constant need to use the Chainsaw weapon in order to gain more ammo gets tiring, though that somewhat levels off as more weapons are acquired and players learn of more efficient ways to take out the hordes of Hell. The game’s fantastic soundtrack by Mick Gordon definitely elevates the experience, so it is a huge bummer knowing that he and ID Software had a falling out and he won’t be coming back. I really dig the game’s expansive levels and more focus being put on exploring every nook and cranny for secrets, and certain old-school touches like finding extra lives or cheat codes definitely makes the game feel like it was ripped out of a bygone era and given a modern paintjob at times. Doom is eternal, and with it, so is pulse-pounding shooting action!

#5 – Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

Compared to the other re-release of an old game on this list, I think this particular title had a lot more time and care put into it…and it also happens to enhance one of my favorite games on Wii as a bonus! Xenoblade Chronicles on Wii was a game that almost passed me by but even years later, I still adored the characters and world it introduced, and I’ve been happy to see what started as game that was almost stuck in Japan eventually grow into a full franchise. I consider the first game to the best in the series, though it was held back by a few issues later games would iron out. Chief among the problems was the visuals, particularly the character models and…wow does ten years make a world of difference. The Definitive Edition does more than just clean up everyone’s faces, it also cleaned up the game’s cluttered UI, made it easier to track quests and materials for said quests, and added some fun optional challenge missions for veterans to tackle. The bow that adorns the top of this package, however, is the epilogue story Future Connected that serves to tie up some loose ends and gives a particular character some great closure. If you love massive worlds to explore, a compelling, at times over-the-top story, and a deep, rewarding combat system, I can’t recommend THIS version of THIS game enough. If you’re going to give the Xenoblade series a try, there’s no better place to start.

#4 – Ghost of Tsushima

When Ghost of Tsushima was first unveiled years ago, I didn’t exactly have a high opinion of it. It seemed like a game that put more emphasis on visuals over gameplay, and I was almost certain it would launch as a PS5 exclusive so why bother getting excited when I probably wasn’t going to be an early adopter of the system? To my great surprise, not only was this game confirmed for PS4, it wound up being one of the prettiest games on the platform and well-optimized to boot, even on my old slim PS4. Playing as lone samurai Jin Sakai, players try to repel the Mongel invasion of Japan, but are forced to adopt less-than-honorable tactics to take on this ruthless enemy. Usually when I play stealth games, I find myself frustrated. I feel weak, or limited, and often the games feel overly harsh. If you get caught once, game over and there’s little salvaging being seen. In Ghost of Tsushima however, there’s a great deal more care put into stealth, and at times I’d argue it’s almost too fun to pass up over the sword play. Very few missions in the game force you to go completely unseen, so stealth just because yet another tool rather than a limitation imposed on you.

Swordplay felt a bit less engaging against common enemies (typically just being Simon Says, switching to the appropriate stance for a given enemy), but the one-on-one duels throughout the game were fantastic and I almost wish the game was all about them instead. I can’t overstate how gorgeous this game is either, with a world that feels like it is breathing, as the wind whips through the tall grass, the moon penetrates fog overtaking a creepy forest, or seeing the smoke from an enemy camp wafting over the distance. Hands-down one of the best-looking games on the PS4, and I’m particularly happy that developer Sucker Punch managed to land a hit with a new IP, as those generally feel more risky as times go on. While I’d argue that Ghost of Tsushima doesn’t really redefine how open-world games should be designed, it is an extremely polished experience and manages to do it well, with plenty of opportunities to grow in a potential sequel.

#3 – Animal Crossing: New Horizons

If there’s any one game that people absolutely needed in 2020, it was Animal Crossing: New Horizons. While there are other games of this type, like Stardew Valley or the Harvest Moon (and later, Story of Seasons games), Animal Crossing is one of the few games that gets mainstream attention while simultaneously running counter to most mainstream gaming trends. No conflict, no combat, no overarching story really…just a game that lets you live your live, day by day on your own terms. I tried getting into the series before with New Leaf but just didn’t stick with it, but New Horizons launched at the perfect time in an imperfect world. Being able to escape the uncertainty and dread that enveloped the world as the pandemic spread for even a little while was a necessity, and thankfully New Horizons had plenty to do to keep idle hands busy. Changes like item crafting and eventually limited terraforming of your island paradise give players so much more agency in decorating their homes and building up something they can be proud of.

We all start as nothing but a small tent on a mostly-empty island, but seeing what people were able to do even in the first few weeks or so was nothing short of amazing. We need more unflinchingly wholesome games in the world, and I’m thankful for Animal Crossing for being there when we needed it, and considering how well it sold and how much post-launch content is expected to be added with time, it remains a sanctuary to return to even now. Just…please let us craft in bulk? Pretty please, Nintendo?

#2 – Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

Last year, Nintendo released Astral Chain, a game that no one knew about before release, which was revealed and released with very little gaps between them. It was a game I didn’t know I wanted until it was presented to me, and that trend continues this year with Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. The first Hyrule Warriors was a fun, surprising spin-off of the main Legend of Zelda series, and Breath of the Wild was a fantastic game that shook up the core of the Zelda franchise, so in hindsight it really does seem like a no-brainer to combine the two into one package. Age of Calamity, for my tastes at least, cuts down on the repetition and overall stressful atmosphere of the first Hyrule Warriors and instead focused on fleshing out it’s core combat and crafting more creative main storyline missions. It helps that the game reimagines iconic locales from Breath of the Wild from before their destruction, and really makes you feel like you’re fighting through actual places rather than just a collection of random keeps that most Warriors games use.

Bringing in aspects like the Sheikiah Slate and Elemental Rods allows players to control the flow of combat more directly on top of letting them be more creative. Freeze enemies standing over water with the Cryonis rune or burn some grass with the Fire Rod to distract certain enemies, among many other things. Each playable character is also very distinct, even in cases where I could have forgiven the developers for reusing some attacks or traits. For one, Link has different movesets for his Sword and Shield, Spear, and Two-Handed weapons, but none of his attack overlap with the other Champions who use similar weapons. Some people might be put off with certain aspects of this game’s story and ultimately not everyone likes the overall structure of the Warriors spinoffs anyway, but for my part, Age of Calamity was one of the best surprises of the year, unveiled right at the end of the year in the nick of time. Of course, there was one game this year that surprised me more than any other.

#1 – Hades

I’ve known of Supergiant Games for quite a while and very recently began looking through their catalogue of games. They’re known for well-crafted narratives and satisfying combat, and yet when I first saw Hades when it was released in Early Access I was tepid on it. It didn’t look bad or anything, but it didn’t exactly blow me away and even now, I think a random screenshot or quick clip of the game might not do the game justice in explaining the appeal. I already wrote about the game at-length (as my only real non-retrospective blog post of the year, oops!), which you can read here if you want more in-depth praise, but to summarize…Hades is the total package for me.

Playing as Prince Zagreus your end-goal is to escape the puts of Hell, and more specifically get away from your overbearing father, Hades. It’s a rogue-lite, meaning you’re expected to finish the game in one shot and if you die you lose any upgrades you picked up along the way and have to start from scratch…to a point. Hades does allow you to keep a fair amount of items you pick up which can towards small, permanent upgrades or even gifts for various NPCs that can deepen your bond with them. Unlike most other games of this type too, the story constantly moves forward, even after death. The game is about dying over and over and then dusting yourself off to try again, all the while other characters remark on your progress or lack thereof. I grew to really enjoy this cast of characters, a fun spin on the Greek pantheon, paired with excellent voice acting for the entire cast. From the imposing, if somewhat sultry Megaera, to the nervous wreck that is the maid, Dusa, to the pompous ass Theseus, I looked forward to each new run just to learn more about this world and those within it. For once, death wasn’t really a punishment, but a reward, and just part of the process.

Of course, incredibly satisfying combat is ALSO part of the process and it just gets…addicting; muttering “one more run” over and over as you try out different weapons and boons, discovering what works well together and what doesn’t. While at first beating the game felt like it would never happen, I grew from my failures, adapted and eventually overcame. Multiple times. If you want the “full” Hades experience, this game can really demand a lot of time out of you but at the same time it stays fresh, so I can’t really complain. With new gameplay mechanics unlocking as time goes on, to the Pacts of Punishment players can trigger if they want a bit more challenge (or a lot more), Hades is that rare game that just keeps giving and giving. Before I knew it, I had dumped well over 50 hours into it, and I STILL need to get back to the game if I want that epilogue.

Compared to every other game that came out this year, Hades is the one game that grabbed me from moment one and would not let go until I hit credits. When I wasn’t playing this game, I was counting down the minutes until I could play it again, and let me tell you that is rare for me these days. At this point, Hades is clearly the breakthrough hit for Supergiant and I couldn’t be happier. The fact that this game got to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with industry titans at The Game Awards is kind of surreal, but I can’t think of many who deserve that recognition more. It helps that Supergiant is a studio that actually takes care of its employees, which is way rarer than it should be. I don’t mean to hype this game up like it’s the cure for COVID or anything, but I mean it with all my heart that this was the best game I played this year, and I’d recommend it in a heartbeat. I couldn’t stop talking about it for months after playing it, just ask my friends! So yeah, it’s pretty OK I guess.

CONCLUSION

I’m sure my Top 10 List looks a lot different from most out there, but that’s what’s great about games! So much variety and so much quality no matter where you look! Every year, without fail, there’s always at least a small handful of games that come out that I don’t get to, and try as I might I’ll never trim that backlog down. I want to keep playing games for as long as I can, trying out so many different experiences and seeing what this wonderful pastime can offer. For a good chunk of 2020 I was more than a little down, not just because of…you know, but a lot of games that were coming out weren’t appealing to me. That said, seeing as this was the year of shadow drops and announcing things at the last minute, I ended up loving a bunch of games I hadn’t already spend months hyping myself up for, which definitely helped to lift me up this year. Already, 2021 has a lot of titles I’m anticipating though, so it’s sure to be an exciting year.

Happy Gaming.

-B

#top ten list #gaming #animal crossing #paper mario #xenoblade chronicles #ghost of tsushima #doom eternal #no straight roads #hades #streets of rage 4 #thewonderful101 #age of calamity

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orangeoctopi7 · 4 years ago

Text

A-Hiking We Will Go

Part 1 : Part 2 : Part 3 : Part 4 : Part 5 : Part 5 : Part 6 : Part 7 : Part 8

Despite how eager he’d been to start this trip yesterday, Ford was really dragging his feet getting ready that morning. He took his sweet time loading all their equipment into the back for Fiddleford’s truck, and he insisted on packing sleeping bags and a few cans of food.

“Just in case we end up taking longer than expected inside Crash Site Omega.” He explained when Stan reminded his brother they weren’t planning on camping.

Then he wanted to double check that they had everything they needed, which was uncharacteristic of Stanford. McGucket was the one who liked to triple-check things, Ford was normally much more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants type.

When they finally got underway, it was after lunchtime. As McGucket drove toward the hill, with Ford giving directions, Stan dug around through their supplies to see if he could find any snacks.

“I got you a bag of toffee peanuts,” Ford looked up from the compass he was using to navigate, “They should be right beneath your seat.”

“Oh, uh, thanks…” Stan dug the bag out from under his seat. “But, uh, I’ve… kinda lost my appetite for the stuff.” He handed the bag up to Ford.

“Well I don’t want them!” His brother huffed.

“Oh for the love of-- I’ll eat them!” McGucket snapped, swiping the bag from between them. “I swear, you two are worse than my five-year-old!”

What with all the bumpy back roads they had to take, it took nearly an hour before they reached the field they were looking for. Unloading all their equipment and supplies took a while too.

“Ford, I can’t carry everything.” Stan insisted with a roll of his eyes.

“You can lift well over a thousand pounds!”

“Yeah, but there’s a huge difference between lifting and carrying. I’ve still gotta balance it all on my back.”

Eventually, they divided up the load a little more evenly. Stan was still carrying the bulk of the weight, but Ford was also carrying as much as he could. McGucket was given the lightest bags, but he was still huffing and puffing by the time they reached the foot of the hill.

“I could use a breather.” The inventor wheezed as he slumped down in the shade of a small aspen tree.

“Hey, no complaints here.” Stan set his own bags down with a resounding thud.

Ford shook his head, unable to keep the smug smile off his face. “If only the two of you had a rigorous physical regimen like mine. Before either of you came out here, I’d hike out to the falls at least once a week! And here we are, not even half-way to Crash Site Omega, and you’re both already winded! And Stanley, you’re supposed to have super strength!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, why don’t I let you carry all your science crap then, Dr. Strongman!” Stan retorted. “And for the record, I’m not winded. I’m just ready for a little break.”

“I’m winded, and I ain’t ashamed to admit it.” Fiddleford panted.

“Well, take a drink and eat something. You’d be surprised how much that helps. We’re in no rush.” Ford assured his friend.

“Well, I mean, we are in kind of a rush,” Stan pointed out. “If we wanna get back to the truck before dark. It’s already getting to be mid afternoon.”

“Don’t worry, Stan, I brought sleeping bags, just in case.” Ford assured him.

“Just in case, he says.” Stan rolled his eyes. “That’s why you were takin’ your sweet time this morning! You’re just that dead-set on camping!”

“That’s absurd!”

“Would you two give it a rest?” McGucket complained, looking up from a diagram of robotic hiking legs he’d been sketching in the dirt. “I thought ya said y’both were gettin’ along better after I left, but it seems to me like you’re fightin’ as much as before.”

The twins shared a sheepish glance and dropped the argument.

“Truth be told, I wouldn’t mind spendin’ the night out here if’n we can take more breaks and go at a slower pace.” The inventor continued. “I’m as eager to see this crash site as anyone could be, but I’d also like to have the energy to actually explore it once we get there.”

Ford shot Stan a triumphant smirk.

“Yeah, fine.” Stan sighed. “We’ll camp overnight, if that’s what makes you nerds happy.”

The three of them continued at a slower pace from that point on, taking breaks whenever McGucket needed them, which was often. Ford wasn’t bothered at all. Their leisurely walk and frequent stops gave him more opportunities to study the local wildlife. He even managed to spot a plaidypus as it came out to sniff at the remains of Stan’s snack mix.

* * *

The sun was beginning to cast long shadows by the time they reached the top of the hill.

“Ah, just as I left it.” Ford said with satisfaction as he rolled a large-ish boulder to the side. Beneath it was a strange metal panel, marked with circuitous symbols neither Stan nor Fiddleford recognized. The researcher aimed one of the magnet guns he had brought with him down at the panel, and it popped out of the ground with a satisfying clang.

McGucket’s knee started bouncing faster than Ford had ever seen it go before, and Stan’s eyes were as wide as when they’d first found the Stan’O’War in that cave by the beach. Stanford couldn’t help but feel a little giddy. Sharing his greatest discovery yet with his brother and his best friend was a true pleasure.

“Fiddleford, you’ll need a magnet gun to safely navigate the ship, and to disable any security systems that might still be running. Stanley, I’ve only got the two guns, but between your ability to climb up walls and the web shooters, I think you’ll be even more mobile than us.” He handed them their headlamps, magnet gun, and web shooters, and began to climb down the ladder. McGucket followed down after him with an excited grin spreading across his face. Stan came next, slightly more cautious in his approach. He looked up around at how the ceiling of the UFO gently curved away from him on either side, then down at the ladder, which dropped straight down into what looked like a dark abyss.

NOPE. Stan’s complicated relationship with heights told him.

“Hey, uh, I’m gonna just climb down the wall. See you guys at the bottom.”

“Alright, just try not to get lost.” Ford waved him off.

“You two are the only other source of light down here, I think I’ll be able to find you.”

Stan crawled down the wall, taking in the sights as he went. The aliens’ architecture was unlike anything he’d ever seen. It was all curvy and smooth and shiny like an oil spill. It reminded him of the inside of the big spiral shells that would wash up on the beach sometimes. The metal was smooth as glass; so smooth Stan almost felt like he shouldn’t be able to stick to it, but he did. Long recessed ridges were carved into the walls, making huge symbols like the ones he’d seen on that panel Ford had opened up to let them in here. Stan wondered if the symbols were some kind of language, just for decoration, or if they served some sort of purpose.

As he continued to climb down the curve of the wall, the pair of lights that were his brother and McGucket grew smaller and smaller as he ventured further away. Luckily, whatever these walls were made of, they were very reflective. The whole place seemed lit up from just a few headlamps.

Eventually, Stan came upon the entrance to a large tunnel. It had to be at least ten feet tall and twice as wide. He was easily able to jump down to the ground from that height without hurting himself. He glanced back to the tiny lights, still several yards up the ladder. He then shone his own headlamp down the long, elliptical hallway, peering into the darkness.

Part of him wanted to explore the tunnel himself, but it was pretty creepy being on an unknown alien ship by himself. Stan would feel a lot more comfortable exploring the ship with his brother by his side, and not just because Ford had been down here before. It was almost like when they were little kids, and they just naturally stood closer together when they were both nervous.

Stan slowly made his way back toward the bottom of the ladder and the lights, passing several strange control panels and consoles on the way. Those long grooves continued across each wall and through the floor, branching off into more of those circuitous symbols. Down here on ground level the smooth metal surface was broken up by cracks and dents. Stan guessed they had been caused by the crash. Or at least, he hoped they had.

When they met back up, Fiddleford was in absolute awe of the place. He was darting around excitedly, taking in every little detail, running his hands along the circular symbols and trying to figure out the control panels.

“Uh, you sure it’s a good idea to be messin’ with this stuff?” Stan asked apprehensively. “We don’t even know what it does.”

“Relax, this ship crashed millions of years ago. Everything’s defunct.” Ford assured him.

“Have you been able to date it?” Fiddleford asked eagerly.

“Yes! I was actually able to locate a few skeletal remains!” The researcher answered with just as much gusto. “Carbon dating put it at approximately 30 million years old!”

“So the crash would have taken place in the early Oligocene… have you looked up any fossil evidence to back that age up?”

“I was able to correlate it to a few tree rings preserved up by Mount Saint Helens. There’s a spike in rare-earth metals and radioactive isotopes that match the makeup of this ship.”

Stan tuned out the nerd speech and just followed them along as they continued examining the ship and going bananas over every little thing they came across. Not that Stan wasn’t impressed with the crashed UFO. He just didn’t understand most of what the nerds were going on about. So far all he’d seen were weird symbols and oddly smooth metal walls. Now, if they ran into some of those skeletal remains Ford had mentioned, that would be more his speed!

“Hey Ford, there any more dead bodies down here?”

“A few.” Ford answered casually, as if his brother had just asked if there were any potato chips left. “Either the crew was disproportionately small compared to the size of the ship, or most of them vaporized while entering the atmosphere, but I have run into a couple of alien remains. If we’re lucky, we should find more while we search for the Hyperdrive.”

“And where are we supposed to find that?” Stan asked. “This ship is half the size of the valley!”

“Don’t worry, between Fiddleford’s mechanical know-how and my intuition, we should be able to find it in no time!”

“Uh…” McGucket stammered, “I’m not so sure about that, Ford. This is far beyond the scope of my knowledge. We dunno if these alien fellers follow the same mechanical traditions as Earth!”

“True, but physics is universal. All their machinery still has to follow the same physical laws.” Ford reasoned. “I’m sure you’ll be able to figure it out.”

“I appreciate yer confidence in me, but I wouldn’t even know where to begin! It could take days, no, months for me to map out the configuration well enough to find their main power source!”

“You can do it.” The researcher assured him. “All you need is a little help from a friend.”

With that, Ford sat down on the floor, cross-legged, and rested a hand on each knee, open palm facing up towards the ceiling, his fingers gently curling as he took a deep breath and relaxed.

“Uh… what are you doing?” Stan asked in confusion.

“Meditating.” Ford answered, closing his eyes. “Now shhsh!”

The two of them just watched in awkward silence as Ford began muttering to himself. He whispered so quietly, it was clear he was hoping his friends wouldn’t hear him, but it was dead silent inside the wrecked spacecraft, so they did anyway.

“We need to find the hyperdrive. Do you know where it is?”

Stan’s blood ran cold as his twinging spider-sense he had connected to that yellow triangle returned. Oh, not again!

Fiddleford was giving both the twins concerned looks. Sure, it was strange for Stanford to sit down on the floor of an alien spaceship and apparently ask the air where to find the hyperdrive, but Stanley’s eyes widened as if his brother had just set himself on fire.

After a moment of waiting and listening, Ford nodded, opened his eyes, and stood up.

“...Did that help?” McGucket asked uncertainly. Ford shushed him.

The researcher appeared to be following something only he could see. Stan wanted to kick himself for not bringing those light filtration goggles, but there had already been so much equipment to worry about. All the two of them could do was follow Ford as he ventured down the hall Stan had found earlier. It just went on and on for several minutes, until Ford stopped in front of an alcove. To the untrained eye, it didn’t look any different from the many others they had passed, but Ford pressed his fingers into one of the grooves running along the wall and pulled up, cracking open some sort of door. Stan cautiously stepped forward and helped him open it, despite the way the triangle’s presence was grating on his nerves. Thankfully it seemed that, once they reached their destination, the thing left. Stan couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief when the sensation stopped.

“This should be the engine room.” Ford said with certainty.

“How… how did you know where to find it!?” McGucket wondered with disbelief.

“Intuition.” Ford answered, as if that actually settled it. “Be sure to step over that security beam.” He pointed to a faint beam of light near the door they had just entered. “If that’s still working, the other security measures may be as well.”

Stan and McGucket shared a concerned glance. Ford didn’t seem willing to elaborate on how he knew all this. True, he had been here before, but he had been as clueless as they were about finding the hyperdrive before. Of course, Stan had his theories.

“Well, let’s get what we came here for.” Stan shrugged, sharing another significant glance with Fiddleford, hoping he got the implied We’ll talk about this later when we’re alone.

McGucket nodded and tried to push his worries to the back of his mind, instead focusing on the once-in-a-lifetime chance to examine alien technology.

* * *

By the time they got the hyperdrive back to the surface, the sun was barely peeking above the horizon and the sound of crickets after the near silence of the UFO was deafening. Despite the eerie moment while locating the engine room, spirits were high. Everyone was happy they’d been able to accomplish their goal with little to no trouble. Ford was obviously pleased that he’d finally been able to share this huge secret with someone, McGucket was absolutely giddy with what he’d learned just from examining the alien technology, and Stan had gotten to mess around with a real alien skeleton. It had been a very successful trip.

Now Ford was busy clearing a fire pit while McGucket gathered firewood. Stan had his web shooter out and was carefully examining the nearby trees, looking for low-hanging branches.

“Huh… wonder if I could make a tent out of web…”

“No need, it will be calm and clear tonight.” Ford assured him.

“Forecasts can be wrong, genius.”

“It’s not just the forecast I trust.” Ford grinned. “I discovered a scroll a while back that has spells for manipulating the weather. I used one yesterday that guarantees there will be no storms tonight.”

“Huh.” Stan busied himself setting out their sleeping bags instead.

Soon enough, camp was set up, and they began preparing a dinner of roasted weenies and canned beans. As the sunlight finally faded and the stars began to shine, the conversation turned to the future, and how their lives would change once they put the hyperdrive to use and completed their project.

“As much as I enjoy bein’ out here and workin’ with ya,” Fiddleford said, “Once the project’s finished, I’m goin’ back to my family in California.”

“Why don’t you move your family out here?” Ford asked. “Surely a small community like Gravity Falls would be a better place to raise your son than Palo Alto.”

“Maybe so, but I gotta get my own career off the ground first. I’d like to start patenting robotics that’ll make folks’ lives easier, and there’s a lot more billionaires in California who’re willin’ to invest in independent inventors. I wanna give Tate what I didn’t have growin’ up, like a nice house with a screen door that doesn’t blow open every time there’s a gust of wind.”

“Heh, working screen doors? I don’t think those exist.” Stan chuckled.

“We certainly didn’t have one in our home.” Ford rolled his eyes.

“Haha, I can practically still hear Ma yellin’--”

“Who locked the screen door!?” The twins mimicked in unison, then shared a laugh.

“What about you, Ford?” Stan asked. “Lemme guess, you’re gonna start tourin’ me around to all the big scientific conventions, showin’ off all you’ve learned about the Amazing Spider-Mutant!”

Ford shot his brother a hurt look. “Stanley, I wouldn’t do that to you! You of all people should know I’d never want to see anyone paraded around like an exotic animal, least of all my own brother! I know you’ve been keeping your identity a secret because you don’t want to be treated like… like a freak.” Like me. “I wouldn’t ever publish anything we’ve learned from studying your powers without your permission.”

Stan gaped at his brother in surprise for a moment. All the time he’d been here, he’d figured Ford was keeping him around because he was a walking scientific discovery. Ford was always going on and on about how much they could learn from him, about how useful his powers would be to their studies. And while Stan was the only one here who wasn’t a genius, that didn’t mean he was completely stupid. He knew there had to be some sort of Nobel Prize or some other sort of sciency award for discovering a mutated human being who could climb walls and lift thousands of pounds. And yet, Ford wasn’t interested in any of that, simply because he knew his brother wouldn’t be comfortable with it. It was almost like Ford cared more about Stan as an individual than as a research opportunity. And that was more than Stan had ever allowed himself to hope for.

“Wow, uh, thanks Ford.” Stan finally said, at a loss for words.

“Besides, I’ve got my eyes on a bigger prize.”

Fiddleford and Stan shared a glance and sat back. It was clear from Ford’s tone that he was about to launch into one of his lectures.

“Every major field of science has a unifying theory, something that ties all the different pieces of their discipline together. Chemistry has the periodic table. Geology has plate tectonics. Biology has evolution. Physics has mass-energy equivalence. Cryptozoology and the study of other anomalies aren’t taken seriously as a science, partially because there is no underlying theory to tie it all together. That’s why I’ve come here to Gravity Falls. Surely, here, in the middle of the highest concentration of living anomalies in the world, I’ll be able to find that Grand Unifying Theory of Weirdness.

“When we finally discover the origin of all anomalies and prove my theory right, the world will finally see that the weird things of the world are not something to fear or overlook, and I’ll go down in history as the man who brought it all into the spotlight! I’ll be among the scientific greats of our time, like Carl Sagan and Steven Hawking! I’ll finally be able to go home a hero! Stan, imagine the look on Crampelter’s face when I’m on TV, shaking hands with the President! Better yet, imagine what the West Coast Tech Board of Directors will think when they realize the man who changed the world is the same kid they rejected years ago! Then we’ll see who’s a waste of time!”

Stan’s eyebrows shot up as he listened to his brother’s tirade. I'll finally be able to go home. He'd been wishing for that for over a decade. He'd never imagined his brother was hoping for the same thing. Only Ford wasn't just trying to buy back the approval of their father; he was trying to win the respect of the whole town!

And apparently the hotshots over at West Coast Tech as well. Stan was shocked by his brother's bitter tone as he imagined showing them he wasn't a waste of time. The only other person his brother had ever taken that tone with was, well, Stan, when the young scientist had still blamed his brother for smashing the spider habitat. Despite the fact that it was over a decade ago, despite the fact that Ford had discovered an alien ship and was on the verge of this world-changing theory, the pain of their rejection still affected him. Stan knew losing that scholarship had hurt Ford financially and academically, but he'd never really thought of how much it must have hurt emotionally.

Well, obviously there had been a bunch of emotions between the two of them, plenty of betrayal and broken trust and all the negativity that came with that. But Stan always felt like he was the one who came out with the worst of it. He hadn't considered that Ford dealt with more emotional damage outside of that.

"If you're so keen to be the talk of the scientific community, why wait?" McGucket asked, interrupting Stan's thoughts. "Ya got a discovery right here that'll change the world!" He slapped the hyperdrive for emphasis. "You publish yer findings on Crash Site Omega, heck, even just the weird fauna ya studied round these parts, and you'll be sittin' pretty. That'd give you time to settle down, maybe even meet someone and start a family of yer own."

Ford burst out laughing, and didn't stop for almost a minute. "No, heh, no, I don't think so." He finally said once his giggle fit had run its course. "Romance is one mystery of the universe I don't think I'll ever solve. And even if that weren't the case, once the truth about Gravity Falls and Crash Site Omega gets out, it will become a 'Weirdness Rush'. Every interested scientist, cryptozoologist, and curious bystander in the world will want to come explore this place. If I don't come up with the Unifying Theory of Weirdness first, someone else will. I'd just be a footnote, the Otto Lilienthal to someone else's Wright Brothers.

"I've never been one to take the path of least resistance. True, it's been a long, laborious, lonely road, but I know it will be worth it.” He looked up at his friend and his brother. “...And I'm glad it's not quite so lonely anymore."

Stan stood abruptly. "Welp, this is gettin' too sappy for me." He tried to hide his cracking voice behind a forced yawn.

"Stanley, are you crying?"

"I just got smoke in my eye! Shut up!"

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#Gravity Falls #Fanfiction #Spider Stan AU #Stanley Pines #Stanford Pines #Fiddleford Mcgucket

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sheliesshattered · 5 years ago

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Recipe: easy cream puffs

I know a lot of us have turned towards baking during The Great And Terrible Lockdown Of 2020. I am not one of those people baking loaves and loaves of bread (I’m living under a yeast curse, I can’t bake anything but quick bread, it’s a whole thing), and my sweet-tooth has been off the charts during lockdown, so I’ve been finding and fiddling with more dessert-type baking recipes.

I’m also an incredibly lazy baker, I want recipes that come together quickly, easily, with minimal finessing and as few dishes as possible. Recipes that don’t make a ton at a time (it’s just me and my husband in lockdown) and require only basic ingredients are ideal. I’m starting to collect a few recipes that I swear by, so I thought I would share them here on days when I’m baking, in case anyone else enjoys them!

Today I’m making my second round of super simple cream puffs, and I really like this recipe. I’ve adapted it from the recipe written up here, reduced to a size that results in four cream puffs, two for each of us. But it would be super simple to double or triple this recipe or even more.

Ingredients: 1/4 cup water 2 tbsp butter, cut into chunks pinch salt 1/4 cup flour 1 egg, room temperature

Instructions:

Combine water, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a rolling boil.

Once mixture is boiling, remove from heat and add flour. Stir continuously until moisture is absorbed and mixture forms a ball that pulls away from the sides of the pot. Break dough into smaller pieces, and move pan away from stove to cool.

While dough is cooling, preheat oven to 415F* and line baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. *(My oven runs cool. If you know your oven runs accurate or hot, this temp can be reduced to 400F, but heat is what makes the puffs rise, so don’t skimp on the temperature. Better to go hotter for less time.)

Once dough is cool, add egg, stirring very well until mixture is smooth and velvety.

Scoop dough onto lined baking sheet in 4 equal mounds about 2” wide by 1” tall, spacing each mound at least 1 ½ inches apart. Lightly dampen your fingers with cold water and gently press down any peaks on the pastry mounds. Perfection is not needed here, just eyeball it. (If you double/triple/quadruple the recipe, you can pipe the puffs instead of scooping them out, but for just 4 puffs it doesn’t seem worth it to me to fuss with a piping bag.)

Transfer to 415F oven and bake for 22 minutes or until cream puffs appear dry and light golden brown.

Turn off oven and let pastry sit in the oven with the oven door cracked for another 10 minutes.

Once 10 minutes has passed, remove from oven and allow to cool completely on baking sheet. If you are piping a filling in, poke a small hole in each puff while they’re still warm, so you have a place for your piping bag later. But for any thicker filling (chopped fruit, etc), slicing them open is easier.

Allow to cool completely before slicing open to add filling.

Serve in a bowl with a spoon -- these get messy!

Filling can be just about anything you like. These aren’t sweet on their own, so really the sky’s the limit when it comes to adding filling. My current favorite is a combination of fresh whipped cream (unsweetened), chocolate pudding (from pudding cups), and chopped strawberries. If you slice the puffs open you can put anything in there easily, so let your heart and your fridge contents guide you.

Here’s some pictures of how today’s batch turned out:

#recipes #baking #my recipes #my baking #cream puffs

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sunrightsunfloweroil · 4 years ago

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Home Made Chettinad Grill Masala

Chettinad Fish Masala Powder is spice powder accustomed to make a barbecue or fish curry especially in Chettinad style or maybe we will use this spice powder for any barbeque or curry recipe. Made with fresh ingredients this fish masala powder works brings great magic to any simple fish fry at home and using handmade fresh masala is often better I feel that's why you'll be able to see a lot of spice powder that I’ve got posted to date.

You can easily double or triple the recipe and make in lots of abundances and store it to use whenever you would like with ease. If you're someone who doesn’t do much of homemade masala then you ought to do this, the fragrances hand-crafted masala arouse any recipe is usually wonderful and after all it's fresh, we all know how it made and also the period is extremely good this fish masala easily rest for quite 2 months at the counter and if your fridge then we will store for an extended duration. Try this Chettinad Fish Fry Masala to form barbeque and still having little masala left shall make some good curry with it though I’m using this masala also in a vegetable curry if I desire it. Dry roast cumin, fennel seeds, peppercorns, coriander seeds, dry red chilli, cloves 1-2 mins in medium flame with regular stirring.

Transfer roasted spices into a bowl or plate and permit to cool down.

Chettinad-Fish-Masala-Powder

Add spices to a blender or mixie jar (make sure jar is dry) add turmeric powder, Hing and grind into a fine powder. Grind it to fine powder, therefore, the masala coats the fish pieces well.

If needed, sieve the bottom masala and grind again the remaining fibre to powder.

Spicy Chettinad Fish Fry Recipe

Store in an airtight container that stays good for around 2 months.

To begin making the Chettinad grill Recipe, wash the seer fish steaks and keep it aside.

Heat a Tadka pan and dry roast curry leaves, garlic and therefore the spices till a pleasant aroma is released.

After the spices relax, employing a Mortar and Pestle to grind these spices by adding a bit of oil.

Now add tomato and tamarind together with its soaked water, the bottom spices, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt to a Mixer.

Grind it into a thick paste. The paste dark brown in colour.

Check salt, adjust and blend well.

Smear every seer steak with this spicy paste on each side. Be generous while smearing the paste. Let it's thick to attain the spicy Chettinad effect.

Marinate these steaks for a minimum of 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes, heat a Non-stick pan for shallow frying.

Add adequate oil for shallow frying and place the fish steaks on the pan.

After 5 minutes, carefully flip the fish to the opposite side on the pan.

Continue to fry till the fish gets cooked and crisp. The fish will appear flaky when it’s cooked.

Garnish Spicy Chettinad barbeque Recipe with juice, garnish with lemon wedges and serve hot.

Serve Chettinad grill Recipe together with Steamed Rice and Chettinad Paruppu Urundai Kuzhambu to form it a whole meal.

Don't over roast the spices, just until they get fragrant.

You can add 1/4-inch cinnamon and a couple of green cardamom for extra flavour.

Make sure to use dry jar while grinding any spice powder.

To make cookout, marinate fish pieces with this masala, salt, juice or to create Chettinad style grill marinate with onion, ginger-garlic paste.

#Chettinad Spicy Fish Fry Recipe #Chettinad Meen Varuval Recipe #Spicy Chettinad Fish Fry Recipe #How to Make Chettinad Fish Fry #How to Make Fish Fry #Chettinad Fish Curry Recipe #Simple Fish Fry at Home #Chettinad Fish Fry Masala #Sea Food Recipe #How to Make Tasty Chettinad Fish Fry Recipe #Chettinad Fish Fry

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knifesgeek · 5 years ago

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Best Chef Knife Under $150 - Pick your multi-purpose masterpiece for your needs

Description: A good knife is undoubtedly the backbone of any meat and for every kitchen. Are you looking for a level quality cutting tool? Check out the Best Chef Knife Under $150 that looks great on your hands. Here you will see a comprehensive list, their features, and the buyer's guide.

Best Chef Knife Under $150 overview:

The most crucial question comes in a chef's or any person's mind that loves cooking, is that how much time you can spend with a knife in your hand? A proper knife can make a big difference by giving you a pleasant feeling and enjoyable cooking experience. For that, you can go for The Best Chef Knife Under $150 that you can afford and comes with several benefits as well. Imagine you are on the market searching for a cutting tool that will do justice to your money and equally provides you the performance you expect from it. Most people are looking to equip a kitchen cutting tool with a long-lasting effect, not just one but something that comes in a bundle set to use for different purposes. As we all know that this not an easy task, and searching a knife set under your budget is like finding a needle in a haystack, you need to gain some knowledge first and then set out to get your kitchen's ultimate cutting tool.

What exactly is the Best Chef Knife Under $150?

For those of you who don't know that about knives set that comes under $150 price range means one thing, they will not live up to your expectations and you will eventually drop the idea. But in reality, it is the different folks. It is a perfect price quote you can get where you will find performance efficiency and longevity in any knife set. Knives are kitchen's most necessary items, and you need to keep the proper shape by maintaining their razor-sharp that makes them a pleasure to use. Also: (Checkout Best Knife Set Under 200 dollars) 15 Best Chef Knives Under $150 you can choose under your budget: Ask yourself a question what knife you are holding will probably work best for you? Finding a knife set that would perform multiple kitchen errands seems impossible. Using regularly and repetitive use means only one thing the knife you are using has become dull, lost its edge and will get rusted. But now preparing kitchen food seems likely because Best Chef Knife Under $150 that could provide you a durable, comfortable to hold, and fit for kitchen needs. Below you will see a good selection of the knife set you can right now, and most of them come from Top Brands Of Knives as well.

1) DALSTRONG Gladiator series forged high carbon chef knife:

Laser control-blade edge, full tang construction, and firm grip The DALSTRONG Gladiator series formed knife set is one of those highly recommended and popular battle-ready cutlery kitchen tools you can't miss anytime.

View On Amazon The knife offers you a balance, durability, and sharpness combined in one with a 10-inch blade. It crafted with premium Japanese super steel that will provide enough strength to cut through meat or vegetables in more pieces. One of the significant aspects of owning this knife is that it will serve you for a long time, all thanks to the deep cutting design that gives effective slicing and stylish ergonomic handle makes it a superb addition to your kitchens. The design and usability of the knife is the main point, the broad blade has elegance, and delicately curved edge ensures you will get balanced cutting, chopping for many hours. Users can expect more control with less effort because it comes with a smart design and bolsters ideal for new cooks and chefs who are looking to sharpening their skills. Key features: Outstanding craftsmanship Cutting edge technology Superb design element Made with premium materials Incredible razor-sharp with full tang Hand polished edge at 16 to 18 degrees Stain-resistant Satisfying heft Triple rivet handle Tapered with improved hardness Comes with five years of extended warranty Users score: 4.6/5 Personal thought: The DALSTRONG Gladiator series knife has become quite famous due to its top-notch qualities and revolutionary design. Stop reading the reviews, and buy it now, it is that good you will love it.

2) IMARKU 8 inch high carbon sharp paring pro chef knife:

Versatile, durable, and classy IMARKU is a professional knife brand that has made fantastic kitchen tools, and this one is no exception. It is something that comes with similar aesthetics, details, and features you will appreciate.

View On Amazon This knife is suitable for professionals like culinary experts, chefs, and an ordinary person to deal with various cutting and shopping tasks. You can deny the fact that this knife's quality is so much incredible and look fantastic thanks to the high carbon stainless steel and wood handle. If you want to improve your cooking skills and enjoy preparing meals, then this is a must-have essential knife with the price you are looking for. What genuinely makes it more stand out from other knives is the construction and efficiently deal with wear and tear because it feels lightweight. People who have joint problems or writs issues will find this knife enjoyable in using, meaning your cooking does not stop but evolve the experience. The knife is made initially for significant disjointing cuts, and torque in handle requires only a little pressure to perform. Overall it is a one-stop solution that you can use for general purposes in a variety of functions. Key features: High carbon stainless steel Made with high-quality sturdiness Good functionality Multi-function knife Provides slices, chops, cuts, and disjointing the meat off bones HRC hardness scale Can reduce finger numbness, fatigue, and aches for an extended time Ultra-sharp edge to cut through flesh Anti-tarnish and corrosion knife Money-back guarantee Users score: 4.7/5 Personal opinion: This knife is a beast and makes a reasonable purchase value for your budget. With this one, you can use any food preparation techniques with its thick blade.

3) J.A HANCKLES international 31161 classic 8-inch chef knife:

Beautiful steel, hollow ground design, and arched handle The J.A HANCKLES 31161 excellent Chef Knife will give you the confidence to cut with a fine edge, excellent precision, and long-lasting sharpness.

View On Amazon Once you got your hands on this one, you will be able to chop the vegetable, fruits, slice salmon, and mice shallots effortlessly. This knife is a workhorse almost perfects for any task, all thanks to the German stainless steel and seamless transition from blade to handle. You will be getting to see a fully forged construction with triple rivet handling that will increase a tireless cutting. The design, stability, and quality make it a kitchen tool for every home needs. Every time you swing the blade, it will offer excellent slicing abilities thanks to 2 handle design option If your meal requires a paper-thin slicing, then J.A HANCKLES 31161 classic chef knife is definitely for you. Moreover, its sharpness is equally worked with bolster as well. Key features: Fabricated with a high level of German stainless steel Fully forged construction Extremely durable Professional satin finish blade Precision cutting Finely honed for long sharpness Dishwasher safe Multi-purpose knife for various cutting tasks Ergonomic handle offers comfort and balance Comes with a lifetime warranty Users score: 4.5/5 Honest opinion: J.A HANCKLES 31161 is an essential kitchen tool that comes with great value and ease of use. The time has come for you to equip a kitchen product under 150 dollars mark.

4) DALSTRONG full tang Gladiator series chef knife:

Hand sharpened, precision forged and maximum resilience If you are searching for a knife that can serve you both domestically and professionally then DALSTRONG full tang gladiator series is the perfect decision.

View On Amazon You can go for the Best Chef Knife Under $150 because it is an all-rounder tool that can use for peeling, chopping, dicing, and cutting. The blade is razor-sharp and also a little bit rounded, making it suitable for rocking motion tasks. It constructed with a particular type of steel that ensures the knife does not stick on food while slicing. Finally, the most noticeable thing is the beautiful handle that feels great in hands and comes with imported premium quality to ensure you get an ultra-sharp edge with stain-resistant. With minimal effort, you can perform your entire kitchen's food preparing tasks in no time, all thanks to the wide blade that comes with easy knuckle clearance and transfer food on cutting board or to a pan. From a quality standpoint, the DALSTRONG series brand has all the perks to be your constant and helpful knife. Nonetheless, you won't need to be extra careful while using this knife, because it also comes with few safety measures and with visual appeal that will excite you. Key features: 12 degrees angle per side Military-grade handle Mirror polished blade Finger protective bolster Great maneuverability Low maintenance Includes sheath Long time warranty Users score: 4.4/5 Final verdict: As far as the performance is concerned, this knife will give you double the result compare to the amount you paid for it. You will be stunned to see how fantastic the quality it brings to do all the kitchen chores.

5) VICTORINOX FIBROX pro-8-inch chef knife:

Excellent carving, minimalistic design, and optimum performance For serious home chef's you can quickly turn your attention to VICTORINOX FIBROX pro chef knife that will easily cover all your needs from mincing, slicing, chopping, and do a lot more.

View On Amazon This one is carefully constructed with high carbon stainless steel and brings a unique partial tang that will embed with a plastic handle. Once you begin using this knife, you will experience so many advantages like cutting with minimum efforts, and the result you get an impressive depth in the blade. There are many health benefits this knife comes with it as you will never suffer from any wrist strain and use it for hours. This one made from those cooks and food caters who holds a solid grip on cutting skills and wants a versatile tool with marvelous grip. The knife is crafted with a comfortable handle, superior weight, and razor-sharp to handle any kitchen task imaginable. Key features: Ideal for home and professional chefs Expertly crafted with a tapered stainless steel edge Makes cutting easy and efficient Suitable for both big and small kitchen tasks Laser tested blade Non-slip grip NSF approved Knife dimension is 8.9 inches Easy to clean Trusted brand Comes with a lifetime warranty Users score: 4.8/5 Expert advice: For beginners who want to master every cut, this exceptional chef knife probably fits in your hands to help for many years to come. It is a one-time investment you can't simply afford to lose.

6) Mercer culinary genesis forged short chef knife:

Laser control edge, substantial handle development, and increased efficiency The MERCER culinary genesis chef knife is one of those firmly prescribed and well-known fight prepared cutlery kitchen devices you can't miss whenever.

View On Amazon The blade offers you equalization, strength, and sharpness consolidated in one with a 10-inch cutting edge. It created with premium Japanese super steel that will give enough solidarity to slice through meat or vegetables in more pieces. One of the significant parts of owning this blade is that it will serve you for quite a while, all gratitude to the profound cutting plan that gives powerful cutting and smart ergonomic handle makes it an eminent expansion to your kitchens. The plan and ease of use of the blade are unquestionably the central matter, the full sharp edge has tastefulness, and raw tendency edge guarantees you will get adjusted cutting, cleaving for a long time. You can expect more control with less exertion since it accompanies a smart plan and reinforces perfect for new cooks and gourmet experts who are hoping to hone their abilities. Key features: Outstanding craftsmanship Cutting edge innovation Superb structure component Made with premium materials Incredible extremely sharp with a solid handle Hand cleaned edge at 350 degrees Satisfying NSF certified Tapered with improved hardness Comes with a lifetime guarantee Users score: 4.8/5 My idea: Mercer culinary genesis blade has become a massive success because of its choice characteristics and progressive designing get it now, it is that much good.

7) DALSTRONG Shogun series AUS 10v super steel vacuum chef knife:

Supreme function, stunning elegance, and incredible edge retention DALSTRONG SHOGUN series blade has become an astounding kitchen instrument and this one is no other razor can touch its elegancy. It is something that accompanies similar feelings and highlights you will appreciate.

View On Amazon This blade is appropriate for experts like culinary specialists, cooks, and conventional individual to manage different cutting and shopping undertakings. You can deny the way that this present blade's quality is such a lot of stunning and look fabulous gratitude to the high carbon hardened steel and wood handle. You need to improve your cooking abilities and appreciate getting ready suppers. At that point, this is an unquestionable requirement that has the first blade with the value you are looking for. What makes it more stand apart from different blades is the development and effectively bargain w with mileage since it feels lightweight. Individuals who have joint issues or writs issues will discover this blade magnificent in utilizing, which means you're cooking stop doesn't, however, advance the experience. The knife initially made for disjointing massive cuts and torque in handle requires just a little strain to perform. By and large, it is an ultimate tool that you can use for general purposes in an assortment of capacities. Key features: High carbon hardened steel Made with excellent toughness Good usefulness Multi-work blade Provides cuts, hacks, cuts, and much more Hardness scale Can lessen finger deadness, exhaustion, and hurts for broadened time Ultra-sharp edge to slice through substance Anti-stain and consumption blade Money-back assurance Users score: 4.7/5 My final word: This blade is a mammoth and makes a decent buy an incentive for your spending limit. With this one, you can utilize any nourishment/recipe procedures with its enormous cutting edge.

8) VICTORINOX FIBROX pro chef knife:

Extra-wide blade, grounded structure, and curved honing steel The VICTORINOX FIBROX pro chef knife will give you the certainty to cut with a long edge, incredible exactness, and durable sharpness.

View On Amazon When you got your hands on this one, you will have the option to slash vegetables, natural products, cut salmon, and mice shallots quickly. This blade is a workhorse that nearly consummates for any assignment all gratitude to the German tempered steel and consistent progress from cutting edge to deal. You will find a workable pace entirely fashioned development with triple bolt dealing with that will expand a vigorous cutting. The structure, steadiness, and quality make it a kitchen apparatus for each home's needs. Each time you swing the edge, it will offer high cutting capacities on account of 2 handle structure alternative Your dinner requires a slight cutting. At that point, the VICTORINOX FIBROX pro chef knife is undoubtedly for you. Additionally, its sharpness is similarly worked with maintenance too. Key features: Fabricated with a significant level of German treated steel Fully fashioned development Extremely tough Professional silk finish cutting edge Precision cutting Finely sharpened for long sharpness Dishwasher safe Multi-reason blade for different cutting assignments Ergonomic handle offers solace and parity Comes with a lifetime warranty Users score: 4.8/5 My judgment: VICTORINOX FIBROX pro chef knife is a first kitchen device that accompanies incredible worth and usability. The opportunity has arrived for you to prepare a kitchen item under $150 price range.

9) ZELITE infinity 8 inches super stainless steel chef knife:

Hand honed, accuracy produced and most extreme strength You are looking for a blade that can serve you both locally and expertly. Then ZELITE infinity chef knife is the ideal choice you can go for Best Chef Knife Under $150 that it is an all-rounder device that can utilize for cubing, stripping, piercing, dicing, and cutting.

View On Amazon The edge is extremely sharp and smidgen adjusted, making it appropriate for shaking movement assignments. It’s built with an uncommon sort of steel that guarantees the blade doesn't stick on nourishment while cutting. At long last, the most recognizable thing is the beautiful handle that feels incredible in hands and accompanies an imported premium quality to guarantee you get an ultra-sharp edge with recolor safe. With negligible exertion, you can play out the entirety of your kitchen's nourishment planning errands in a matter of moments, all gratitude to the full sharp edge that accompanies pure knuckle freedom and move nourishment on slicing board or to a skillet. From a quality outlook brand has all the advantages to be your consistent and accommodating blade. In any case, you should be extra cautious while utilizing this blade since it additionally accompanies scarcely any wellbeing measures and with intrigue that will excite you. Key features: 40 degrees edge per side Military-grade handle Tapered bolster Mirror cleaned sharp edge Finger defensive support Great mobility Low upkeep Includes sheath Long time guarantee Users score: 4.7/5 Ultimate decision: Undoubtedly, this blade will give you a massive impact on the amount you paid for it. You will be a force to perceive how astounding quality it brings to do all kitchen errands very quickly.

10) Mercer Culinary M23510 renaissance forged chef knife:

Incredible cutting, ideal execution, and ergonomic DELRIN handle For genuine home cook's you can undoubtedly direct your concentration toward MERCER culinary M23510 renaissance chef knife that will adequately cover every one of your needs from mincing, cutting, hacking, and do much more.

View On Amazon This one is deliberately developed with high carbon treated steel and brings a one of a kind halfway tang that will insert with a plastic handle. When you start utilizing this blade, you will encounter such a significant number of points of interest, like cutting with the least endeavors and the outcome you get a great profundity in the sharp edge. There are numerous medical advantages this blade accompanies it as you will never experience the ill effects of any wrist strain and use it for a considerable length of time. This one mainly produced using those prepares and nourishment cooks who hold a firm grasp on cutting aptitudes and needs a flexible tool with great hold. The tall blade made with a soft handle, predominant weight, and dangerously sharp to deal with any kitchen task possible. Key features: Ideal for home and expert culinary specialists Expertly created with a decreased tempered steel edge Makes cutting simplicity and effective Suitable for both of all shapes and sizes kitchen assignments Laser tried sharp edge Non-slip grasp NSF affirmed Knife measurement is 8.9 inches Easy to clean Trusted brand Comes with a lifetime warranty Users score: 4.7/5 Personal opinion: For a surreal item that needs each cut job, this blade presumably fits in your grasp to help for a long time to come. It is a one-time trial. You can't just stand to lose. You might also need to check out: (Best Knife For Cutting Meat)

11) SHUN classic VG-Max cutting core all-purpose chef knife:

Advanced Japanese steel, stable handle development, and durable The SHUN traditional VG-Max cutting chef knife blade is one of those firmly prescribed and popular cutlery kitchen instruments you can't miss whenever. The module offers you sturdiness and sharpness consolidated in one with an 8-inch cutting edge. View On Amazon It made with premium Japanese super steel that will give enough solidarity to slice through meat or vegetables in more pieces. One of the significant parts of owning this blade is that it will serve you for quite a while, all gratitude to the profound cutting structure that gives viable cutting and modern ergonomic handle makes it a significant expansion to your kitchens. The structure and ease of use of the blade is undoubtedly the central matter, the full edge has tastefulness, and raw bent edge guarantees you will get adjusted cutting, cleaving for a long time. Expect more control with less exertion since it accompanies a brilliant structure and reinforces perfect for new cooks and culinary experts who are hoping to hone their aptitudes. Key features: Outstanding craftsmanship Cutting edge innovation Superb structure component Made with premium materials Incredible extremely sharp with a solid handle Triple bolt handle Tapered with improved hardness Comes with years of guarantee Users score: 4.8/5 My point of view: For home use, only this blade has popular features because of its first-rate progressive structure. You should gift this to your loved ones and see how happy you make them.

12) ZELITE Infinity 10-inch comfort pro series stainless steel chef knife:

Rust-resistant, robust and edge sharpness ZELITE Infinity 10-inch comfort pro series is a proficient blade brand that has made astounding kitchen and this one is no exemption. It is something that accompanies equivalent best in class and features that attracts any buyer.

View On Amazon This blade is reasonable for experts like culinary specialists, gourmet experts, and customary individual to manage different cutting and shopping undertakings. You can deny the way that this current blade's quality is such a lot of stunning and look fantastic recognition to the high carbon treated steel and wood handle. You need to improve your cooking abilities and appreciate planning dinners at that point this is an unquestionable requirement have a primary blade with the value you are cooking. What makes it more stand apart from different blades is the development and effectively bargain w with mileage since it feels lightweight. Individuals who have joint issues or writs issues will discover this blade magnificent in utilizing, which means your cooking doesn't stop; however, develop the experience. The blade initially formed for disjointing massive cuts and torque in handle requires just a little strain to perform. In general, it is a one-stop arrangement that you can use for public purposes in a combination of capacities. Key features: High carbon tempered steel Made with top-notch durability Good usefulness Multi-work blade Provides cuts, cleaves, cuts, and disjointing the meat off bones HRC hardness scale Can diminish finger pain, exhaustion, and pulses for broadened time Ultra-sharp edge to slice through tissue Anti-stain and erosion blade 100% satisfaction Users score: 4.7/5 Genuine belief: Treat yourself by wielding a powerhouse and makes a decent buy an incentive for your spending cash. With this one, you can cut anything with its tremendous cutting non-sticky edge.

13) TUO cutlery German X50CRMOV15 chef knife:

High tech ergonomic handle, best performance steel, and excellent cutting endurance TUO cutlery German chef knife will give you the certainty to cut with a discover edge, incredible accuracy, and enduring sharpness that offers more resilience and superior cooking experience.

View On Amazon Dependability and quality make it a kitchen appliance for each home's needs. Each time you swing the sharp edge, it will offer magnificent cutting capacities on account of 2 handle plan choice When you got your hands on this one, you will have the option to cleave vegetables, meat products, cut salmon, and mice shallots quickly. This blade is splendid that nearly consummates for any errand all gratitude to the German hardened steel and consistent change from edge to deal. You will find a good pace entirely manufactured development with triple bolt taking care of that will build an indefatigable cutting. If your dinners require a paper slim cutting, at that point, this culinary blade is undoubtedly for you. Besides, its sharpness is similarly working with support too. Key features: Fabricated with an elevated level of German hardened steel Fully manufactured development Extremely solid Professional glossy silk finish edge Precision cutting Finely sharpened for long sharpness Dishwasher safe Multi-reason blade for different cutting undertakings Ergonomic handle offers solace and equalization Comes with a lifetime warranty Users score: 4.7/5 My final words: The knife is everything you can expect from it that accompanies incredible worth and convenience. So do not overlook it, people.

14) Mercer Culinary M22610BR millennia 10-inch chef knife:

Great versatility, high-quality surface care, and protective finger guard Mercer Culinary M22610BR chef knife is the ideal choice you can go for best gourmet specialist blade under $150 and lower price range that it is an all-rounder device that can be utilized for dicing, stripping, hacking, dicing, and cutting.

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Best Chef Knife Under $150 Buying guide

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snowdice · 5 years ago

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Goblin Brain Study Session Fic 1 [Day 14]

Because I don’t want to just have walls of text for my Goblin Brain Study Session posts, I’m separating them by days. If you want to read the previous chapters, click the links below. What I have written of chapter 6 is under the cut.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

See this post for more details and feel free to send me asks to keep me going! It’s been a lot of fun so far! I will reblog this post with the story as I write them today.

Ugh the Goblin Brain is acting UP today because it’s like. “You worked so hard to get that final turned in so now we do nothing” and I’m like “...buddy we have a research meeting with our advisor tomorrow and you’ve done nothing on that” and then it hisses at me like the goblin it is. So if you have any fun asks about this story to give today would be the day.

Roman and Remus piled into Janus’s car to head to the grocery store since it was pulled into Remy Gate’s driveway and only a few feet away whereas Roman had parked down the street and Remus had likely parked somewhere nearer to the park not that Roman cared to get into that death trap. (His father and Remus had built it together when Roman and Remus been 14 and Roman loved them both dearly and dad was smart, but he wasn’t an engineer or mechanic and Remus was a beacon of chaos. It did not matter that the car had managed to hold up for almost 10 years whereas Roman was on his third car. He still would never trust the dammed thing. Ever.)

Janus’s car was the exact opposite of Remus’s. Roman wasn’t very good with cars, but even he could tell it was an expensive one (that was likely not constructed by a teenager and his dad in a garage) with no dents or rust and it still had a new car smell when he got inside. Roman could probably buy his apartment complex for how much money the thing was worth.

Yet, despite that, Remus seemed familiar with the car. He hopped straight into the passenger seat and started pushing buttons whose functions Roman did not know. One thing he did understand was the dials for the radio and that when Remus tapped the saved radio station under the 3rd slot, it switched to Remus’s favorite channel.

Remus then leaned back against the seat and put his feet up on the dash.

“Why do you have to be this?” Janus asked sounding exhausted the moment he opened the driver’s side door and the very intense bagpipe music met his ears. He took his seat and slapped Remus’s calves.

Remus didn’t move them but just smiled. “It’s piobaireachd day,” he said happily.

Janus shook his head and started the car. He yelped immediately and shot forward on the seat. “You turned on the seat massagers?!”

“Of course, I turned on the seat massagers, Jay.”

“Ugh I don’t want those things on.” He started pushing buttons himself.

Remus batted his hand away and put the car to rights again rather quickly. Janus mumbled a couple more curses under his breath but didn’t do anything more as he put the car into reverse and started driving down the street.

“Okay,” he said once they were moving, his creepily calm attitude back in place again.

Roman also knew a bit about his partner. Remus had even slipped the nickname Jay a couple of times and talked affectionately about him. Janus was a double agent turning on Nelson to work for dad. However, Roman had not been aware that Janus was Nelson’s son, a fact which he’d surmised since Janus had said his mother killed Remy.

Which was… hmm. Obviously, dad had to know that and trusted him enough to take his word as a double agent, but it still gave Roman a bit of pause. Not to mention, he was clearly a cold and efficient a liar which served to put Roman even more on edge.

So, Roman was going to choose to trust him for a moment, attributing the roughness to be in reaction to his missing brother.

“What’s the plan?” Janus asked.

“I have an FBI agent id,” Roman said. “I can go push for information at the front desk.”

Janus nodded and his fingers tapped twice against the steering wheel before he stopped the nervous tick. “He might also hide outside the store. There is a small creek behind the store he used to go get muddy in. He will be… well perhaps he will be less likely to run from me and I know the area so I will check there. Remus can check inside the store while you ask around.”

“Okay, that works,” Roman agreed. “Meet back at the car afterwards?”

Janus nodded as he pulled into the parking spot. Remus slapped Janus on the shoulder before exiting the car and got a scowl at his back in return.

Roman shook his head and followed them out of the car. Janus separated from them a few feet before the door to the grocery store and Remus and Roman entered the store together.

“I’mma go check out the store,” Remus said.

He reached for his wallet and smiled at the employee at the front desk. “Hello ma’am,” he said. “I’m looking for someone and I was hoping you’d help me.” He pulled out his only kind of fake FBI ID to show her.

“I’m looking for a teenager who has gone missing and is connected to a case and we have reports that he may have come in here. Perhaps you’ve seen him,” Roman said. He took out his phone to show her the picture of Virgil that he’d been sent only to find that his screen had been cracked and it wouldn’t turn on. Great. He looked back up the woman. “I apparently don’t have a picture to show you at the moment, but you’ve possibly seen him before as he lives in the neighborhood. “Virgil Gates?”

He got a blank stare in return.

Fantastic.

He spent another 15 or so minutes trying to explain to the woman who he was looking for (a difficult task as all he had to go off of was the memory of one picture, he’d been sent an hour ago) and getting shrugs and apologies in response. Eventually he left and looked around the store for a bit himself. His brother was suspiciously absent from everywhere Roman looked.

Eventually he wandered back to the front by himself only to see Remus coming from the checkout with a bag full of snack foods.

Roman crossed his arms. “You were supposed to be looking for a missing minor, not shopping.”

“Chill,” Remus said making Roman want to do the opposite of ‘chill,’ “I looked for the kid and shopped at the same time. I even got Cheetos!” he smiled widely as the left the store. “Also, I broke into their security office!”

“You what?!” Roman asked.

“I broke into their security office,” Remus repeated happily.

“And why,” Janus asked tiredly while walking up to him, “did you do that.”

“That’s actually pretty smart,” Roman said. “Though we probably could have asked.”

Remus just shrugged. “Luckily they apparently save security footage to a cloud and I was able to download it pretty easily. We should be able to see everything that happened inside and outside the grocery store in the last two hours assuming you’ve got something to watch it on.”

#study break stories #remus sanders #roman sanders #janus sanders #creativitwins #emile picani #remy sanders #virgil sanders #patton sanders #logan sanders #platonic moxiety #knives #kidnapping #carjacking #murder mentioned #guns mentioned

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