#tuscan 20

[umgeorge]

sebastian vettel rides by while george russell and alex albon have a chat, mugello, italy - september 10, 2020 📷 gruppo editoriale livemedia / alamy

[legendasalvatoris]

San Francisco Enclosed

[sakurology]

sinister ♡ suo hayato

+ virgin!freader. smutty, aged up as always- mid 20s, NOT OOC (y'all don't know him like I do), suo has a thing for virgins, implied virginity loss, implied trophy taking, kind of implied manipulation, but I did write in condom use so be very proud of me

daisy says: this has been rattling in my brain's little cage ever since I saw him- I had to get it out. I have lived long enough to see myself become the villain (I need him so bad and no longer wish to live in denial).

He was nice. He was charming. He was respectful. Those are the three characteristics you could always use to describe Hayato Suo. Or you could say enigmatic, worldy, kind of a flirt... It’s also not a bad choice to add ‘Smells like Bleu de Chanel in the spring and Tuscan Leather in the winter.’ The fact of the matter is, he was a chameleon, the perfect definition of adaptable. And that’s what made him so sinister. 

The first few dates were great. A lavish dinner or two with great wine and a well of conversation that seemed to never run dry. On your third night out, there was even a little nightcap at a late-night teahouse that served as a speakeasy after hours. But, ever the gentleman, he would drive you home, walk you to your door, and gently peck you on the cheek. 

“I had fun tonight,” he would hum the words low and into your ear, interlacing his fingers as he looked over you, his frame casting a shadow in the doorway. 

“You can come in if you want…” Your voice was soft, timid. 

“It’s late, but maybe… if we… go on another date?”

He raised an eyebrow, placing a kiss to your hand, then one to your lips. 

“I’d like that,” you smiled. 

As he let go of your hand, he shot a glance back your way. His eyes had a way of seeing right through you. You could never forget that gaze. There was something in it, something you could never quite put your finger on. 

That next date came. It came and went and once again there you stood, his frame once again towering over you on your doorstep.

“You can come in if you want.” It rang out of you like every other time before. But call it a change in the wind, call it the stars aligning, call it what you want- this was different. 

“Would you like for me to come in, Y/N?” It was sticky sweet but equally coated in a spicier innuendo.

“I thought you’d never ask.” 

Another thing about Hayato Suo you could now add to your list- he was a good- no,  an amazing kisser. It was as if he studied your every move before you could make one; the way his lips ebbed, the way his tongue slid against yours, he could knock the wind out of you and give you the jaws of life simultaneously. Your mouths hit one another’s and moved in complete sync as he pushed you through the threshold of the softlit apartment. Your teeth briefly clattered together as you discarded your purse and jacket, keys falling to the floor of the entryway as you never once broke or separated yourself from each other. The tension built between your bodies over the past month or so of barely-there encounters was apparent and falling away just like every piece of clothing between you that was being strewn about the hallways leading to your bedroom. 

You started to come to your senses as your head hit your mattress, leaving you to gaze up at him longingly, staring with widened eyes while he worked at the buttons on his shirt. You bit your lip, scooting back and pressing your thighs together. Here you were, practically naked, save your matching bra and panty set- in front of a guy. Granted, he wasn’t just any guy- but the fact of the matter stood- you’d never been here before, never this close to the opposite sex, let alone- having sex. You wanted to, of course, but you had no idea what you were doing or even what to expect. 

“Wait I- ahhh- mhm, Hay-” he cut you off. 

“I’ve told you,” he laughed.  “It's okay to call me Suo.” His lips stayed pressed at your neck, slowly detaching as he craned his own neck to look you in the eyes. 

“You shouldn’t be so formal with me, Y/N, especially not now.”

“I’ve never- I…” the words got caught in your throat. 

“You’ve never done this before,” he finished for you. 

“I know. Don’t worry I’ve got you.”

How did he know? Not important- There it was again. That look. The look into you that bored right through your body. The liminal space between you was filled by barely there touches and feathering kisses down your neck, chest, and stomach. He worked his way down, stopping just between your thighs now, the heat present near your core practically calling him in. Carefully nipping at your hips, Suo caught the thin band of your underwear between his perfect teeth, tugging you out of them before tucking them in his back pocket- his new prize safely locked away. The sting of his cold hands titillated the skin at your thighs. Slowly, he ran his hands down to your knees, parting them to reveal your already glistening slit. He licked his lips as you shuddered in anticipation.

It felt as though he was barely there, fingers lazily lingering inside you, slowly inching toward the spot you needed them the most, but with no release in sight. the teasing sensation of them moving at all leaving you trying to rut yourself into him further. You weren’t strong enough for him, even with one hand. 

 “How badly do you want it, baby, hm?”

He wiped the side of your mouth, lolled open with drool from your dizzied state. He added a third digit to your already messy, helplessly needy hole, your walls immediately tightening in response. He was deadly as a nightshade- and you were just another flower growing in his garden, petals bright pink and ready to be picked. The quivering in your lip told him all he really needed to know, and still, he kept stringing it out, keeping you there on the brink of explosion.

“Just say you want me to fuck you and I'll do it. Say it now."

“W-want you to fuck me, please, I wan’ you to…” Your words trailed off yet again as you reached toward him, quickly pulling him down to loom over you. You had never seen him like this, but you wanted him to stay there forever. He moaned into your mouth, swatting your hands away to fumble around in his pockets for the condom he put there before leaving tonight. 

You’ll never know, but he planned it this way. He was always going to be your first… he knew that, but you didn’t- you didn’t need to. 

Sinister, indeed. 

[nostalgicfun]

So, I've been trying to give my living areas a design-on-the-dime makeover to feel like an actual, authentic 90s/early 2000s house. I've been thinking about replacing the rugs as my rugs are very "Walmart in 2014," but rugs are SO expensive I couldn't justify it.

BUT THEN.

I was at the thrift store the other day and they had this huge bin of rugs for $20 a piece, and they were big rugs, too!

...But they were bound with tape and plastic so they couldn't be unfurled. All I could tell was that they were very thick/nice quality and a burgundy and beige combo, which is exactly what my mom and all family members had in the 90s/00s.

So I asked the thrift store owner if he knew what kind of condition they're in and he said they were immaculate and came from an older couple's estate. Awesome. Cool.

Here's $40. I'm putting two of these bad boys in my car.

So I buy two rugs completely at random with no idea what might be on them. I get them home. I unload them. I unfurl the first one and

IT'S A VEGETABLE RUG?????

I just stood there, floored. On one hand, vegetable rug. On the other hand, vegetable rug.

This is so 90s mom Tuscan kitchen. This is the rug in the dining room of your friend's house where their parents make more money than your parents and you eat spaghetti at their dining room table after swimming in their pool. This is the rug in the dining room of your great aunt's house where no one actually eats in the dining room, it's just for show and there's crystalware on the table at all times.

[lastminutestarwarsfan]

Its honestly so painful to me, the sheer amount of turmoil that Anakin has experienced in his life. If you really sit down and think about what he's been through, he truly is one of the most tragic characters in fiction.

Born a slave to a single mother on a backwater, forgotten, barren world with no opportunities (Sidenote as much as we laugh at the "I don't like sand" meme, it actually is a meaningful line. He hates that world, that life, wants to put it behind him. Can't help but think of the mother he abandoned there)

Forced to choose between freedom and leaving his mother to her fate. A ridiculous amount of pressure to put on a 9 year old

Loses the only father figure he's had, and ultimately the only person to truly show faith in him, almost immediately after finding him

Becomes a burden and disappointment to a reluctant, inexperienced master (Before you come at me, I ADORE Obi-Wans and Anakins relationship. I love their banter, and I truly think they loved one another ridiculously and my heart breaks at what they became. But I do think that Anakin felt like a burden and disappointment sometimes. Especially at the beginning, Obi-Wan only really takes him on out of duty to Qui-Gon, it wouldn't have been his own choice. He didn't believe in him the way Qui-Gon did. And because Obi himself was grieving and young and inexperienced, he didn't have the confidence to guide Anakin the way he should have. He falls back on the rules too much, after bending them to take him on in the first place. He's too strict with him, too harsh. He doesn't tell him how much he loved him until it's too late, which just adds to the angst)

Is constantly told that he needs to let go of his attachment to his mother whilst being plagued my dreams of her death.

Watches his mother die in his arms with the knowledge if only he could have done something sooner he could have saved her (and this is the moment I think, pivotally, that his capacity for the dark side becomes real. Not the moment when he kills the Tuscans in anger just after. But in this quiet moment of death. The moment that voice in his head starts burrowing like a worm "Not enough, more, better, faster, stronger". If he could just burn hotter, brighter, push harder, then no one else would die.)

Is thrust into a war at 19

Is entrusted with a 14 year old apprentice at 20. Loves her like family only to watch the order he gave up everything for, the order that let his mother die, the order that is the reason he cannot have a normal life with his wife, drive his little sister away from him.

Plagued to madness by visions of his wife dying. Goes insane to try to save her only to be her own downfall. Is cut into pieces and left to burn alive by his brother. Suffers excruciating pain being pieced back together. Is forced to live with the knowledge that he led to the love of his life's death, where every breath is a reminder of the monster he has become.

Becomes increasingly aware that his new master, the only person he has left, the person he betrayed everyone for, the person he trusted in his times of need and thought understood him, would toss him away without a second thought and replace him with Luke.

That smile when he takes off the mask and looks at Luke in Return of the Jedi means so much. It's so pure, and light and carefree for those few seconds. The first time we've ever seen him truly at peace. He is finally free from the pain.

[wellntruly]

Beets & Kale Recovery Bowl

I want to share a hearty salad I came up with a year or so ago, as every time I make it I think, dang this is so good, and its nutrition benefits are real big, especially when you're healing up from things. The combination of the earthy sweetness of the beets with the salty sharpness of the cheese, the nuttiness of the farro, and just that dark greenness of the kale really works for me, and maybe it will for you too.

What’s in here:

2 bunches lacinato (Tuscan) kale | high in iron, which your body uses to make hemoglobin to carry oxygen around

Rinse, cut out the stiff stems, and chop the leaves into bite-sized pieces. Sauté in olive oil over medium heat, with salt to taste, until softened but still with some body.

3 to 4 medium beets | high in folate, a B vitamin that your body uses to generate cells

Peel, chop into 1/2 inch dice, toss with olive oil & salt, and roast in an 8x8 glass baking dish (I’ve also used a glass pie plate) covered tightly with foil for 20 minutes at 425 F. Remove foil and roast uncovered for 10 minutes more to caramelize a bit.

1 cup dry farro (wheat berries) | high in fiber, which your digestive system loves

Rinse like it’s rice, and simmer in salted water for about 30 minutes uncovered. Drain well.

6 ounces Beecher’s Flagship cheese (or any semi-hard cheese, I just love this one!) | source of protein and high in calcium

Crumble or cut into little cubes

3 ounces hazelnuts | source of protein and high in good fats, which your body needs to properly utilize all the nutrients above

Toast and chop

Good olive oil | ditto about those fats

For drizzling at the end

This will be enough for about four servings, and easily keeps in the fridge for multiple days worth of meals. I put the kale and farro together, but store the beets separately so they don’t turn everything pink (yet), and add the cheese and hazelnuts after re-warming the rest in a lightly oiled pan. Best warm or at room temperature.

[saltandlavenderblog]

Tuscan sausage gnocchi (one pan, 20 minutes)

[greymoonfeelings]

flufftober day 20: bedtime stories

pairing: hangster x fem!reader

word count: 980

warnings: poly relationship, kissing

•••

You kick off your shoes at the entryway, not bothering to check where they land. You’re too tired to put your things away where they belong and while you know you’ll regret that tomorrow morning when you’re anxiously searching for your keys, you can’t bring yourself to care right now.

“Sweets, is that you? You’re home late.” Your boyfriend, Jake, calls from the kitchen.

“No, it’s a robber and I’m here to rob you.”

“That’s a shame. If you were my girlfriend I was going to offer you some pasta, but if you’re a robber I’ll have to knock you out.”

“I think you’re girlfriend would appreciate a nice knockout too. Take me away from this cruel cruel world.” You answer back, heading towards the room where his voice was coming from.

“Would you like to talk about it?”

“Would you like to talk about it?”

“Would you like to talk about it?”

You shake your head. “I just want to forget about it for now.”

“Let’s see if I can help you with that, baby.”

“Where’s B?”

“Planning his lesson for tomorrow, he’ll be home soon. Why don’t you sit on the couch and relax while I finish the food.”

You obey, shuffling over to the worn brown couch. You flip through the channels on the tv before landing on the 31 days of Halloween program. The movie of the hour: Beetlejuice. Not before long, Jake comes over with two bowls of his “famous” Tuscan chicken pasta. It was his famous dish simply because it was the only thing he could make without burning the house down, cooking was more of Bradley’s forte.

“Here you go, princess.” Jake hands you a bowl, pressing a kiss to the top of your head before taking a seat next to you. The two of you sit, enjoying the movie with dinner as you wait for your other partner to come home.

A half-hour later, Bradley finally arrives home, yelling down the hallway to make his presence known. He enters the living room to find you and Jake cuddled up on the couch. You’re sitting on his lap with your head in his neck and his strong arms wrapped around your waist.

“Hey, babe. There's some pasta left if you haven’t eaten. We’re watching Beetlejuice.”

Bradley nods in acknowledgment, but his focus is on your sad demeanor. You’re looking up at his with soft eyes, the kind that say “wrap me up in your arms and take me away forever”.

“What’s wrong pretty girl?” His voice is soft as he comes to caress your cheek.

“Bad day,” you shrug.

“Can I get you anything?”

“Some ice cream?” You look up at hopefully.

He gives you a loving smile, “Anything for my girl.”

Bradley returns with a bowl of your favorite ice cream, topped with everything you love. He feeds it to you as if you were incapable of doing it for yourself, but it's his way of taking care of you.

“Gimmie some.” Jake holds his mouth open waiting for his boyfriend to spoon him some.

“No, it’s not for you.”

“You don’t mind if I have some, do you, sugar?” You shake your head. “See?”

Bradley rolls his eyes before shoveling some into his boyfriend’s mouth, making sure to smear some all over his chin unbeknownst to Jake. You laugh out loud causing Bradley to share a smile with you.

“What? What’s so funny?”

“You’re lucky you’re pretty, Jakey.” You mutter before wiping his chin with your thumb and licking it clean.

The three of you finish the movie and decide it’s time to get ready for bed. Jake carries you to the bedroom, helping you into your pajamas, a tank top and a pair of fuzzy bottoms with llamas on them. You move to the bathroom to brush your teeth alongside Bradley. He wraps you in his arms, watching you in the mirror with a loving expression on his face. When you’re finished, he carries you out and playfully throws you onto the bed.

Bradley picks up Pride and Prejudice off the nightstand, recently you’ve been reading books together as a way to wind down before bed. He joins you in the bed, propping himself up against the headboard.

“Are you feeling any better, pretty girl?”

You smile up at him, “Always when I’m with you.”

Your boyfriend kisses you. “I love you, baby.”

“I love you too.”

“Hey! Where’s my love?” Jake pouts as he climbs into bed on the other side of you.

You turn to give your other boyfriend a sweet peck on the lips. “I love you, Jake.”

“Damn straight, baby girl.” Your boyfriend pulls you back in for a deeper kiss.

“I love you, Jakey.” Bradley teases, puckering his lips dramatically for his boyfriend.

“Fuck off, Bradshaw.” Jake grabs his boyfriend by the neck, pulling him in for a loving kiss. Bradley hums in satisfaction, knowing that his usual tricks of getting on Jake’s nerves still have the desired effect even after a year of dating.

You settle against Bradley’s chest again, getting comfortable between the two men. Jake’s nose presses into the grey cotton of his boyfriend’s t-shirt, inhaling the fresh scent of laundry detergent. He presses a soft kiss on Bradley’s shoulder before laying his head on it.

Bradley’s deep voice flows through the room, reading Pride and Prejudice aloud to his lovers. Jake rubs your back, soothing you after your long day. As you drift to sleep you can’t help but be filled with warmth and love. These two men cared for you so much and being with them made all of your troubles melt away. With them by your side, you knew you could make it through anything.

[asitrita]

HEADCANON FOR DOFFY'S AND CROCODILE'S HOUSES: Doffy would 100% live in a Spanish revival or Spanish colonial estate. It would look traditional and classic (but not extremelly rustic) on the outside, whereas the interior is a bit more modern, with classical and traditional Spanish elements, but incorporating modern fornitures and decoration, so it looks a bit more contemporary and fashionable. He may include a few 17th/18th cent. and Italian Renaissance elemets to it too, since they look rich and posh and reminds him of home (I just kinda imagine Mary Geoise to have a late 17th and early 18th cent. Spanish & French fashion and style to it, with all the Italian influences that this entails, even if the Château de Chambord that inspired Mary Geoie is from the early 16th century). I imagine his house to look something similar to these ones, but with more vibrant colours to it (more black and red) fornituress too:

Villa Hibisco

Casa San Bernardo

Solvilla Real Estate

Almiral de la Font (this one's more mixed Doffy & Crocodile coded)

Nagueles mansion (a little bit of a different style, but I kinda see it too)

https://www.inspiredbythis.com/dwell/modern-spanish-home-in-la/

https://www.idesignarch.com/spanish-colonial-style-luxury-mansion-in-the-heart-of-texas/

https://homesoftherich.net/2015/09/4-625-million-spanish-colonial-mansion-in-houston-tx/

https://onekindesign.com/2019/12/20/spanish-colonial-style-estate/

For Crocodile, on the other side, I imagine a Spanish revival or colonial villa, or an Italian/Tuscan mansion, or just a broadly Mediterranean villa, but that looks traditional and a little bit rustic and rural, both in the outside and the inside. He looks classy and uses warm colours, so I think a luxurious and elegant but also rural and warm looking interior would work best for him. Doffy's house would be mostly white with black fornitures, but it would have some accents in red, and some vibrant and saturated blues and purples here and there (mostly around the pool area, maybe even some pink and green/yellow/orange) that contrast with the overall white and black scheme of the house. Crocodile would rather use overall warmer colours, beige, pale yellows, ashy browns and dark grey/black, deep dusty red and orangish, grey-ish blues and pruples, and dark greens, that combined with the use of wood everywhere would give a more rural and rustic vibe to it. Summing up, Doffy would have a traditional exterior (but not rustic looking) and a mixed interior, with more traditional and classic elements mixed with modern elements and some 17/18th cent. luxurious forniture and decoration, with a black and white plus deep red scheme, but accented with bright colours here and there; whereas Crocodile would go full traditional, rustic, and classic, both exterior and interior, with some modern and contemporary elements to it, but in a way that they completely blend with a traditional, rustic, but elegant look, and would use a more dark mutted colour palette to accent a dusty and ashy overlook (only exception a more vibrant brown classic leather armchairs). To give you an idea, this tik-tok is more or less (not exactly, obviously) what I imagine Crocodile's house interior to look like: https://www.tiktok.com/@lonefoxhome/video/7247217535681137962?_r=1&_t=8puFb1KlHpR

or maybe something like this:

https://www.travelocity.com/Orlando-Hotels-The-Spanish-Castle-West-Facing-Pool.h71546776.Hotel-Information?pwaThumbnailDialog=thumbnail-gallery

[wolfstargazer]

Jan 20 - Wild - @wolfstarmicrofic - word count: 475

Sirius wouldn't be deterred. Once his mind was fixed on something, he would not be dissauded. This was perhaps one of the more reckless things Remus had allowed himself to be talked into for a while.

But Remus had always had trouble denying Sirius anything. Especially after he'd leant closer, squeezed his arm, just the once, and said the two words that always seemed to work.

"Trust me."

So Remus had, and so it was that on that squally evening he was sat in a tiny Italian off the Charing Cross Road. There was a mural of what Remus assumed were the Tuscan foothills on one wall, red and white checked table cloths, candles in empty Chianti bottles. Puccini played from a tinny stereo. The smell of garlic wafted from the kitchen. A single couple sat, hand in hand, at one of the other tables. But apart from that, the place was empty. Sirius had assured Remus it would be. He'd chosen it carefully.

"It's always dead," Sirius had explained. "But the food is authentic, and we'll have fun."

Remus felt nervous...at the prospect of Sirius being recognised and... The flutter in Remus' stomach and the length of time he had taken to get ready suggested something else...

Ridiculous, Remus thought to himself, pouring a glass of water from the carafe and taking a drink. He wasn't seventeen. Besides, they had crossed the line into intimacy long ago.

Yet when the door to the restaurant tinkled open and Sirius appeared, storm-tossed and wild-eyed, Remus felt a thrill as he crossed the room towards him. Remus saw the way the woman at the table with her partner watched Sirius, and felt - not for the first time - astonishment that Sirius could choose anyone...And he had chosen him.

"This was reckless," Remus said as Sirius sat down. Sirius ordered the wine.

"Perhaps.'

The wine appeared. Remus watched it swirl in the glasses as it was poured.

"Impulsive," Remus pressed, his expression serious but his tone flirtatious.

Sirius tore into the bread from the basket, buttering it generously before taking a bite.

"Oh, absolutely," Sirius said.

Remus watched as Sirius licked the butter from his fingers.

"But this is what you need...what you deserve."

Remus lost the fight against his smile and sighed, undone by Sirius' ability to know exactly what he needed when he so often struggled to know that for himself.

Sirius raised his glass in Remus' direction, leaned in conspiratorily, and said slowly, "So we'll drink an indecent amount of red wine...eat an indecent amount of pasta...and then we'll go home to have an indecent amount of -"

"Ready to order?"

The waiter had appeared. Sirius gave a sharp bark of laughter, and Remus, trying to suppress a mixture of laughter and embrassment, cleared his throat and said, "I think we need a moment more."

[usernyoom]

10/09/20, Scarperia - Daniel Ricciardo in the paddock during the run up to the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix

📸 by Peter Fox

[1americanconservative]

Tuscan Arizona Prepare Yourselves, Potential Crime Wave Incoming. Federal Gov Funding For Illegal Immigrants Of $1 Million Per Week Is Ending

When these illegal migrants have no way of supporting themselves guess what they’ll be doing…

“Come April 1st, your city will no longer be able to house and take care of all these illegal migrants that are entering into Arizona and coming to Tucson. April 1st, they're out of money. So far, the federal government has been funding Tucson $1,000,000 a week to take care of these illegal migrants.”

“They're housing them, feeding them, giving them clothes, giving them medical care, airplane tickets, You name it, they're getting it. But the money is gone. And the government leaders of Tucson, Arizona say, we don't want to rely upon the citizens' taxpayer money to pay for these migrants. So, streets of Tucson.

Once the people enter, once the migrants cross over to into America, they will be loaded up on the border patrol buses. They'll be processed,

and then they'll be sent into Tucson, Arizona. One government leader, she said, well, they're gonna hang out in Tucson until they figure out where their final frightening. President Biden, he has been in Arizona the past couple days. It is very frightening. President Biden, he has been in Arizona the past couple days, and he's been begging the Latino voters.

He says, I need your vote. Latino voters helped me win in 2020. So he's in desperate need of these Arizona Latino voters to vote for him. He says that Trump despises Latinos, and he says that Trump said that these open borders is poisoning America, which it is. I totally agree with that. This is not sustainable. We cannot take all these people in.

We don't know who's coming in. Dangerous criminals are coming in, and we cannot take care of these people. We need to secure our borders. This is a travesty, a crime to the American people. And if you live in Tucson, be prepared. It's coming your way. I know it's already there, but it's going to be worse.”

https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/1771647312953323843?s=20

[sniffanimal]

Hey boss do you have an actual recipe for that gyro bowl? Or do you just cook by vibes? Literally have been thinking about that thang for a whole day, lol

So, I've cooked *similar* things from recipe but I was going off pure vibes alone, BUT I can type up what I did in a sort of recipe-esque format for you! This may not be 1:1 exactly what I cooked, but it might be close?

Recipe for Donnie's Gyro Bowl below:

Ingredience (amount of each fed 3 people in excess, so maybe 4 servings?):

1lb Ground Lamb (can be omitted for a vegetarian friendly recipe, or changed for Protein Of Choice)

2 roma tomatoes

1 cucumber

1 zucchini

2 cans of chickpeas

1 large white onion

Dill weed (I ended up having to get dry, but fresh is better!)

Pearl Couscous (1 box, was roughly 2 cups of dry couscous)

greek yogurt (1 little cup of it)

1 lemon, or a decent amount of lemon juice

white wine vinegar

feta

"tuscan seasoning blend" which seems to be mostly basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, garlic, and fennel.

"taco seasoning" which I used mostly for its cayenne, i would have liked to use paprika and cayenne together instead of relying on taco mix

Garlic powder (again, would have liked at least minced garlic if not fresh)

onion powder

red pepper flakes

Olive oil, butter, salt, and pepper

preheat oven to 400f. Dice tomato and zucchini (keeping them separate), and halve then slice thinly the onion. Zest and halve the lemon then juice into a bowl/cup. Dice half the cucumber, then grate the other half on the medium/large size holes on a box grater (or really finely chop it into mush).

Put the diced cucumber and half the tomatoes in a bowl and add half a cup of white wine vinegar and some warm water. Add a few tsp of lemon juice, salt, pepper, and Dill. Allow to quick pickle while everything else cooks.

drain chickpeas well and mix in a bowl with olive oil and what feels like the right amount of tuscan seasoning and taco mix powder. the peas should look well coated but not like Caked with Seasoning. Toss to mix and then spread out in a single layer on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for ~25 minutes depending on your oven. They might make popping sounds while cooking, be not afraid.

Melt a little butter in a pot and then add the couscous to toast it a bit before adding the same amount in water and then a little extra, maybe 1/4 cup extra. Stir in a generous amount of garlic and onion powders and boil for uhhh a bit until all the water has been absorbed. If couscous is undercooked and all the water is absorbed then add some more and cook until done. Keep warm until ready to serve.

In another pan, melt a bit more butter then add the lamb, stirring to break it up and brown it. I added a lot of the seasonings in different amounts, and some chili pepper flakes. Once cooked through, add half the tomato to cook with it. Once the tomato is soft and the lamb is fully cooked, remove from the pan and keep warm.

To the ~juices~ from the cooked lamb in the pan, add the zucchini and onion and cook well until the zucchini is soft and charred and the onions are soft. Season with Salt, Pepper, and Dill. Add more butter or oil if you didn't have any animal fats left over from meat.

To the greek yogurt, add the shredded cucumber, some lemon juice, dill, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and taste to see if it's balanced.

To serve, put a layer of couscous at the bottom of the bowl, followed by chickpeas, the meat mix, the cooked veggies, the cucumber tomato salad, and then tzatziki sauce. Top with crumbled feta cheese.

The dish has such a mix of great flavors and textures and temperatures and heat and cream and lemon sour and its all just really really delicious. It did take maybe 40 minutes for me to cook but was soooooo worth it new favorite thing to cook for people.

Also if you were wondering, I went to the grocery store to buy everything I needed to make it more or less and it was about $35 and fed 3-4. The real expensive parts were the dill and the lamb, so those comprised $20 of it. If you already have dill, and omit or change the meat, it's a lot cheaper. Also its 2024 and groceries are expensive as hell.

[slowlycooking]

Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Meatballs With Gnocchi

[shinoposting]

Shibi is the kind of guy who redecorates his house once every 20 years.

"What do you mean 'tuscan farmhouse is outdated'? >:- | It looks fine."

[ravenousrandy]

Stopped off at Sense of Taste in beautiful Gallatin, Tennessee, to try an Italian twist on an American classic.

The Tuscan burger was one of the most unique ideas for a burger I’ve seen in a while, and I was apprehensive that it would lean more toward “Ameritalian” cuisine by just throwing mozzarella and marinara sauce on top of a beef slab with a side of mozzarella sticks, but was pleasantly surprised.

Featuring roasted pepper mayo, pancetta, truffle mushrooms, provolone cheese, and bruschetta on a softly toasted bun, this sandwich perfectly delivers the taste of a home-grilled, wood-smoked burger while providing an authentic Italian taste which evokes the feeling of enjoying charcuterie and wine on a romantically lit patio at sunset in central Italy. A drizzle of balsamic perfectly balances the smoky flavor of the meat by adding a delightfully sweet tang that you would have never imagined you needed on a burger. Long story short, you can tell this menu was curated by a chef with a deeply inspired palate.

The Parmesan truffle fries were offered in a unique shape, which is always a fun surprise. Their flatness made it perfectly easy to scoop up some of their house-made ketchup, which is a must-have. The flavor of ripe summer tomatoes is prevalent but not overpowering in this bespoke take on a classic sauce. Offsetting the sort of intense saltiness of the fries, this ketchup makes a harmonious pairing that your tastebuds will thank you for.

(Not pictured: the tomato basil soup, which was every bit as fresh and tasty as everything else on the menu.)

For those not into burgers, this place also offers an array of creative takes on chicken dishes and hot dogs that are sure to leave you content and smiling without feeling weighed down by heavily greasy, salty food.

All of this is served in a relaxed atmosphere where you can scroll on your phone, catch up on emails, or strike up a conversation with regular customers and the family who operates this stellar business. This makes Sense of Taste not just a place to get a quick lunch or early dinner, but a reprieve from the fast-paced world of foodie culture where you feel right at home.

If you find yourself in the Nashville area with a little extra time on your hands, take the 20-minute drive out to this growing town and experience this hidden gem for yourself. You won’t regret it.