#useful kitchen items

[tyrhinosaurus]

My pottery has come so far holy cow

A year and a half, and pretty much everything I finish brings me so much joy and pride

Lowkey tempted to start a business. What could possible go wrong...

[twstinginthewind]

Quick! Tell me which of the Queen's rules Joker has broken before she even goes into her room!

Using the cleaned-up room base made by @estcaligo (thank you for making these!), I finally got around to putting together Joker's side of the dorm room! I had a lot of fun deciding what went where, and editing and redrawing objects to place all over. It looks like a cozy place to hang out!

It may take a long time before I get to everyone else's rooms, but I had a wonderful time assembling hers.

[triptychofvoids]

that german gender question just reminded me of a thing on my mind for a bit: do you have any tips or advice in general for learning german? other than just slaving away to the green bird for all eternity of course

hmm.. for learning just about any language, i highly recommending studying beyond just slaving away to the green owl heh,, from what i have seen and heard, duolingo can be a decent tool for vocabulary and some very basics of a language, but it falls short when it comes to actually explaining the grammar/creating engaging real life sentences and scenarios. if you dont have access to any language learning tools that cost money then you may not want to give it up, which i suppose is understandable... that said, i highly recommend seeking out study in other places alongside whatever you are already doing! for example, look up grammar videos on youtube (there are so many readily available videos that you can watch that will explain beginner, intermediate, and even advanced grammar to you much better than that app will, if at all), seek out music in your target language, watch videos/read books in that language, etc. especially look for comprehensible input, which is finding things where you can understand maybe not all of, but a majority of it. some examples of this, depending on your learning level, might be finding childrens stories that you can understand, songs that you can memories well enough to start learning and understanding the lyrics, looking for beginner conversations that apply some of the vocabulary you may already know, and so on. theres plenty more advice i could give beyond that but... i think that is certainly a good place to start! duolingo can be useful at first but it will only get you so far all by itself, so i would absolutely recommend branching out and finding more ways to learn or apply what you already know outside of that!

[mechanicalriddle]

minimalists in my life love to comment on my "borderline hoarder tendencies" & i do genuinely resent it because I AM LITERALLY NOT

[brehaaorgana]

People joke about ADHD all the time, even swear up and down they totally think they also have it, but then if you ask for an accommodation, to please please please provide things in fucking writing, EXACTLY what they want and need, you will even work it out WITH them, like they promised they would do — repeatedly over and over, and then you don't get it people really will fucking be like:

I am using the incorrect bathroom (TM) to place my shelving and store my things. Homegirl literally removed various sundries and toiletries from a CLOSED CABINET and SHELF because she's interested in boundaries and accountability for my mess.

I said months ago I wanted to improve things for her comfort level and needed a written list of what precisely that fucking looked like in order to achieve it and not miss anything she deemed important. I explained how ADHD works, why I needed a written reference. Why I had to have it laid out, and if something needed changing we needed to write it all out. I would've made the list myself, but they said they would make it for the whole house to hold up their end of things. And, thinking this was a very reasonable adult solution to keeping the house in good shape, I said okay, come up with the list of expectations and what is needed and that way we can update how we handle chores. Awesome. I will do that to uphold my end.

No list ever gets made or drafted or anything despite my bringing it up, knowing we need to do it, but I DO get berated for failing to meet expectations and boundaries that were never fucking provided or delivered and include "don't store toiletries in this particular bathroom because I don't like it."

I can't believe I am a goddamn adult who gets treated like an idiot child for expecting adult communication instead of snide ass passive aggressive bullshit and basic respect for my things.

Because when I fucking get home, my shelving has been removed and a cabinet emptied of my things and placed in the "correct" bathroom.

🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃

Oh shit she solved it, this doesn't look cluttered at all!

What a vast improvement to storing things in appropriate storage!

[goldkirk]

I opened Pinterest for the first time in months.

That made me realize a lot about how bad I was actually doing and how much of a Waffle House Index use of Pinterest is for adult me, apparently.

I hadn’t realized it had grown that foundational to me in a healthy-brain-exercise-and-hobby-joy way. Nice to know moving forward! It’s another sign I can keep track of and use to spot correlation/indicator patterns earlier my behavior.

I love this kind of thing, it makes me so excited!

[fingertipsmp3]

You wouldn’t last an hour in the asylum where they raised me (the sims 1&2. And I’m talking to people who have only played ts4)

[good-beanswrites]

Could I request "cooking is an art form" with mahiru and presumbly orekoto? I read your Night drabble of those 2 and now the idea of a potential friendship has been stuck in my mind for days, that was probably the sweetest interpretation of him I've seen! Mahiru can't cook in the current state she's in though so I guess orekoto could act as her hands...?

Ah thank you so much!! I was so worried about doing Orekoto justice, that's so exciting you enjoyed 😭 We still don't have a ton of characterization for him, so bear with me, but I absolutely loved writing this. Thank you so much for the request -- with food playing such an important role in Mahiru's story/symbolism, and the pair's unique relationship, this made me so crazy to think about !!!

The knife twirled through Mikoto’s hands. He brought it down with a grunt. Emotion pulsed through his veins. He went back for another swipe, much harder than necessary. He wiped spatter from his face.

“You’re making a mess.” Mahiru observed from behind. 

He glanced back to find her scowling at the tomato he was taking out his frustration on. “Who gives a shit? We’re not on cleanup duty.” 

He wasn’t supposed to be on cooking duty, either. It was Mahiru’s night according to their usual rotation, but she was in no shape to do any physical activity. Mikoto must have volunteered, and also gotten into some fight about it, because now there he stood: angry at an unknown source, full of adrenaline, and worst of all, in charge of tonight’s curry.

“I suppose…” Mahiru said. “I think that’s Muu tonight, I’ll apologize to her later.”

It was unsettling, how she remained positively cheery as she walked him through each step of the recipe, despite her current condition and his bad attitude. Not that he’d ever turn his anger on her. Mikoto approved of her, and that was enough for him. She’d been going through so much at the hands of their common enemy, he wouldn’t say a single thing against her. Even as she tested his temper with her cooking instructions.

“No, no!” With her good hand, she tugged on the side of his uniform. “You have to turn the carrot as you cut it. Like -- yes, like that!”

Mikoto rolled his eyes as he did what he was told. “It’s all going to get cooked together anyways, it’s not a big deal.”

“It is! You have to take your time with things like this.” She placed her hand over her heart. “It’s about the process, not just the final product. Cooking is an art form!”

“It’s about the final product to me. I’m fucking starving.” 

She was briefly distracted with the next set of instructions, telling him how to combine everything over how much heat. When she returned to the topic, her lighthearted voice was laced with a bit of desperation. “I mean it, there’s something magical about pouring your heart into something for someone else. Putting in your time. A little finesse here and there.”

“I know what it’s like to do something for someone else -- and there is absolutely no finesse involved. Or potatoes.” He gestured to the cut pieces before dumping everything into the pot over the stove.

“One of the most universal love languages is food, you know? People make meals and treats for their loved ones in every culture, in every time.” 

“They do a lot of other things, too.”

“You went to art school, you understand. This is an expression of yourself!”

“It’s a waste of time.”

“It’s the surest way to help someone!”

“That’s a load of bullshit.”

There was a pause. Then a nervous laugh. Then, “yeah.” As she dropped into more uncharacteristic silence, he stole a glance at her. 

Tears poured from her eyes. 

“Mahiru?” Fuck, he didn’t mean to make her cry.

“It is.” she hiccuped. “I thought… I thought it could save him. I made this big meal… I thought… But I was so stupid…”

She buried her face in her hands, offering weak apologies for the sudden outburst. He threw the lid over the pot before stepping back to her.

“Hey, hey. Come on. Don’t cry.” It was a command rather than a comfort. 

She didn’t listen. She just continued sobbing and blubbering on. “It was all stupid, worthless… I should have known…”

He crouched by the wheelchair. There didn’t even seem to be anything wrong, they’d just been talking about food. Why was she such a mess? He gave an impatient sigh. No reaction. What was Mikoto’s nickname for her again? “Listen, Mappi --”

She snapped her head up to look at him. 

Her teary eyes flicked all over his face, making him scowl. “What?”

“Oh.” Her shoulders relaxed, though her breath still hitched. “Sorry. You said… and well… I thought you’d gone away. I want you to stay.” She took his hand. “You.”

His eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“Because you understand me.” 

He did not. Like, at all. But he kept his mouth shut.

Thankfully, she was too talkative not to explain herself. “You love someone very much. That love turned out to be dangerous -- deadly. And you weren’t forgiven for it.” She pressed her lips together, suppressing the wave of emotion that almost overcame her. “And now we’re both getting what we deserve for it.”

“Like hell we are.” He felt the spark of rage again. “Neither of us deserve any of this shit, okay?”

“But --”

“No.” He glared at her. That familiar fire rose up inside him. “I’m tired of all your speeches and optimistic crap. You’re always falling over yourself for others. You’re pathetic. This place is hell, so you need to get your shit together and act like it. You might be willing to forgive the others, you might be able to treat them with that stupid sweetness all the time, but no one’s going to do the same for you. Stop letting them fuck with you.”

She gaped at him. He realized he’d leaned in very close. He prepared himself for more tears, or maybe some cowering away from him. Good. Mikoto didn’t need people like her who would convince him this verdict was deserved. He didn’t need any of these people. It was fine to push them all away.

Mahiru surprised him by leaning over. Her head rested on his chest. “It’s hard. It’s so hard, Mikoto. But… I’ll try.”

His attention was quickly ripped away by a hissing behind him. He yanked himself away from her to run to the curry, which was bubbling and burning and spilling out of the pan all over the stovetop. 

With an outpouring of profanities and clattering of dishes, he cleaned the sad remains of dinner off the burner. When he looked back at Mahiru, she had dabbed at her eyes and composed herself slightly. 

“It’s okay,” she said, “I’ll pick something easier you can make instead.”

“Nah, I’ll make more curry. Tell me how much of everything again.” 

“A-alright.” 

His agitation slowly faded as she began her gentle instructions again. Though he had just tore her apart for it, he was grateful for her patience with everyone around her. He probably could have left, then, seeing how calm the kitchen became. But he wasn’t risking ruining the meal a second time with an unexpected switch. 

And maybe Mahiru’s words still played through his mind.

The food was back on the stove in no time. He stood diligently next to it. They’d lapsed into a content silence. He still didn’t know what had set her off earlier, but wasn’t about to ask questions.

Mahiru had regained her usual bright smile. “Hey, when I get better, I’ll cook something for you, okay? I think you don’t appreciate cooking because no one’s made something special for you before. I want to do that.”

He sneered. “Heh, sure. And I’ll let you in on my preferred art form.” His words were layered with sarcasm. By now, she could guess that included destroying things by putting all of one’s might behind a powerful swing. 

But she giggled, completely unfazed. “Well, friendship is about give and take, right? I’d love to try.”

[2024skin]

Mom called me a shitty roommate today bc after months of her telling me to rent a uhaul (too young to do so) and then flaking out on me whenever I asked her if we could it on x day, I gave up on trying to get my bf's heavy TV and dresser and ordered a mountable tv, instead of buying more storage totes so that I could add to the ever increasing stack of totes in our guest bedroom

[forgottenstarlightwishes]

Did the Department of Wishful Thinking assign Warbie any weapons? Angelic crossbows, daggers, etc?

"ANGELIC PISTOL!" Warbie chirped and started snickering, "Kidding! Kidding! I don't think I'd do well with the recoil. Being down here is starting to rub off on me." His tail feathers shook out.

"All Cherubs have basic training with bow and arrows and cross bows. Higher ranks may pick up the sword, spear and javelin or have custom weapons, otherwise folks tend to stick with what they are use to or they can pick something else on their own but its up to them to learn how to use it."

Warbie reached under his wing and pluck out a feather, squeezed it and it elongated into a buckthorn Shillelagh.

"This is mine. Its a nice stick isn't it? An old man gave it me centuries ago, after I brought his dog back! Oh and I have a sling shot somewhere in these wings, for something ranged. I'm sure I have my old crossbow, but I never really needed for my work. Generally my interactions with humans and demons was low and if I need to defend most of the time I just needed a distraction and fly out of there. My speed is my main defense. "

The little bird tapped the knob of the staff and it dissipated into a soft light.

"What about you? What sort of weapons does a royal tailor use?"

[angelmush]

top five kitchen items you can't live without? or ten if it's easier. personally i am so so so grateful for access to an enameled cast iron dutch oven and it makes me wonder what others use ?

oohhh that's such a good question!! im gna have to go to ten LOL

a good chef's knife !! i tend to heavily favor my knives and could run my kitchen w just one or two easily

a big heavy bottomed pot for sauces n pasta n soups, i'd love to have a dutch oven someday lol

cast iron skillet. it is divisive which style of frying pan is best, ppl tend to be deeply loyal to their favorites. i favor a cast iron for most things, especially searing meats, making dutch babies, pizzas, veggies, fried eggs, and so on !! my go-to!! also love that it can go in the oven reliably. but i'd be lying if i wasn't attached to all my pans :'')

stainless or carbon steel pan. has it's moments where it's the right tool for the job. i like these for making fish w a good crispy skin or emulsifying my pasta water w my pasta n sauce

nonstick pan. rare, but useful for things like scrambled eggs and pancakes, delicate things like that.

this is a recent discovery for me, but a food scale!! has been sooo useful for me i've eliminated the use of measuring cups n spoons in my practice (especially 4 baking!!)

a fish spatula!! she's multi-talented <3

tongs or metal chopsticks r saviors for me bc i intuitively want to just use my hands to flip everything and these r a decent substitute to save the tips of my fingers, also great for stirring and imo could sub for a whisk

a large cake pan!! versatile, can roast veggies or proteins in it, bake cakes or cookies, can be used in prep work. just a nice little extra thingy to have around

a set of mixing bowls in a WIDE range of sizes ! soooo nice to have many on hand when meals have multiple components

[adreamthatsworthkeeping]

My absolute favourite Taskmaster tasks are the ones where contestants assume things based on what's in the room and/or never think to leave the room.

Case in point: Kongen Befaler task - find the bell pepper (capsicum). They are in the lab with a bunch of chillies. They assume one type of chilli is the capsicum. So they start tasting them to find out. A chilli is not even close to looking like a capsicum. It's amazing to watch.

[theres-whump-in-that-nebula]

Can anyone recommend a good brand of grippy sock/tight slipper? No; not for that reason. I’m kinda eh mentally but not necessarily in crisis (yet)…

The fake hardwood floors in this apartment are literal sensory hell to walk on. I can’t take my socks off and walk barefoot on them for two seconds without getting the worst fucking joint cramps in my hands and feet I’ve ever felt in my life. It’s like insta-gout, just add naked toes; but I don’t actually have gout (thank god)… it’s SOLELY from the texture of the floor. I’ve been wearing the same vampire bat socks for four days because I can’t bear to remove them unless my feet have been soaked in hot water before.

Also, the vampire bat socks for your amusement because the little guy is cute:

[heatobrienswife]

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[ghostwise]

This is the mug that inspired the last post btw.

[sparklehoard]

Fighting for my life trying to cook in my parents kitchen last night.

Got in a fight when I blocked my mother from putting a can of corn in the butter chicken I had been cooking for 2 hours