#Maple Peppercorn

[askwhatsforlunch]

Kūmara and Beef Shepherd's Pie

Whilst the days are still sunny, they are quite chill; and the nights are even chillier. This hearty Kūmara and Beef Shepherd's Pie thus makes an excellent, warming Sunday dinner, rather like a proper hug! Have a good one!

Ingredients (serves 4):

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

540 grams/1.20 pound beef chuck

1/4 cup plain flour

1 small onion

1 large garlic clove, minced

1 large red Bell Pepper, rinsed

1 teaspoon dried sage

1/2 teaspoon ground chilli

1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel or sea salt flakes

1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

1/2 cup good red wine (such as a Bordeaux or Pinot Noir)

1 cup water

2 large kūmara or sweet potatoes

1 heaped teaspoon coarse sea salt

1/2 tablespoon demerara sugar

1 tablespoon pure (Grade A) Canadian Maple Syrup

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 tablespoon demerara sugar

1/4 cup double cream

Peel and cube kūmara, and add to a large pot. Add coarse sea salt. Cover with water, and bring to the boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, cook, about 20 minutes until tender.

In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt butter with olive oil over a high flame.

Cut beef chuck into large chunks.

Spoon flour in a shallow plate, and dredge beef chuck pieces, coating them well and shaking off excess flour.

Once the butter is foaming, add floured beef chuck pieces and brown well, on all sides. Transfer browned beef chuck pieces to a plate to rest; set aside.

Peel and finely chop onion, and stir into the Dutch oven. Reduce heat to medium-high. Stir in garlic; cook, 1 minute more.

Finely chop red Bell Pepper, and add to the pot. Cook, a couple of minutes.

Season with dried sage and ground chilli. Then, season with fleur de sel and black pepper.

Sprinkle in remaining flour, and cook out, 1 minute.

Deglaze with Bordeaux wine, stirring well to loosen brown bits. Then, stir in water. Bring to the boil.

Once boiling, reduce heat to medium, cover with a lid, and simmer, at least 45 minutes until the meat is juicy and tender, and the sauce has thickened. Remove from the heat and let cool completely.

Meanwhile, peel and cube kūmara, and add to a large pot. Add coarse sea salt. Cover with water, and bring to the boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, cook, about 20 minutes until tender.

Once the beef has cooled enough, cut into very thin slices, and return to the pot, coating in the sauce. Add demerara sugar and Maple Syrup. Give a good stir.

Lightly oil a baking tin with olive oil, and spoon beef stew mixture in, levelling well with a spatula. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 200°C/395°F.

Drain kūmara, and return them to the pot. First, mash them thoroughly with a potato masher and stir in half of the butter, until melted. Then, process using a hand-held blender, so the mixture is very smooth. Energetically stir in remaining butter, demerara sugar and double cream with a wooden spoon, until perfectly blended and sugar and butter are melted.

Spoon kūmara mash on top of the beef mixture, levelling into an even layer with a spatula.

Place tin in the middle of the hot oven, and bake, at 200°C/395°F, for 30 to 35 minutes.

Serve Kūmara and Beef Shepherd's Pie, with a glass of Bordeaux or Waiheke Island Pinot Noir.

[morethansalad]

Vegan Salty Sesame Peanut with Sichuan Peppercorn Mooncakes

[aftmartwork]

Dining in New York An illustration of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped kitchen with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, a multicolored backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, and multicolored countertops can be found in the kitchen.

[love-everyone]

Thick & creamy coconut kefir with salted ripe banana and unsweetened black cherry compote. Pooled it with some extra dark maple and dusted with pink peppercorn for zing.

[neonovember]

Loved loved loved the steve headcanon. If you’re in the mood, I would an expansion on the “steve is the type of man to never let you go to bed angry, even if you’ve both had a fight and he end up on the coach” because I absolutely agreed and I especially enjoyed reading that! Thank you for sharing this husband!Steve HC.

oh yes most definitely! His mind wouldn't rest until he knows you're at peace. Ask and you shall receive (i must say I did get quite carried away). I wrote this at 1 am so be aware of spelling :)

The Steve headcanon

My soul cannot sleep without you

The rumble of the car engine comes to a stop as Steve pulls into the garage of your shared home, the living room light is still on and if you weren't already irritated, you'd mentally smack yourself for being so forgetful. Bills weren't cheap, even on an avenger's salary. 

Collecting the ends of your dress you shoulder your way through the car door, slamming it with an oomf for good measure. Steve, of course, shuts his door gently, and it leaves you even more annoyed with him. 

Why is he not angry? 

You don't dare look behind you as Steve begins to jog towards you, you fear the confusion that has been plastered on his face for the last 20 minutes would make you explode. 

You're about to open the door until you remember, he has the keys, Steve is already one step ahead of you, fingers brushing past your elbow as he twists the golden metal into the door nob. You can feel his stare burning into the side of your face but you will yourself not to look his way, to see that look on his face that would have you conceding.

The smell of peppercorn and maple engulfs your senses as you enter your hallway, the soft air of familiarity fails to calm your tense shoulders however, as you pass the framed pictures of you and Steve over the years without so much as a glance.

Reaching your kitchen you notice the bouquet of orchids Steve had bought you earlier today left on the counter, in the rush to get to the compound's charity ball on time you had forgotten to find them a vase.

What flowers would she like?

You search through the kitchen cabinets before you grasp the clear glass, shufflingly through appliances and setting it on the granite counter. You unwrap the orchids, cutting the stems down to fit into the glass vase and filling them generously with water. Steve looks at you incredulously, arms folded as his eyes follow your movements.

"Are you going to say something?" Steve says, his melodic voice travelling through the house, bouncing off the glass vase yet failing to penetrate you.

You begin to clean the stems and spilt water from the counter, ignoring Steve’s attempt at conversation. Did he seriously not realise the brunette practically hanging onto his every word?

Steves's hand grasp your own, stopping you from wiping down the rest of the kitchen, he lifts your chin but your eyes remain downcast, fiddling with the string of the washcloth.

"Can you at least look at me?" Steve says, scanning your face that remained emotionless. His fingers glide across your arms to rest on your cheeks, and the feeling of his hands on you, after she'd touched them has you ripping them off of you. Scoffing, you throw the washcloth into the sink, before turning towards Steve.

"I don't understand, why are you upset? Did I do something?" Steve furrows his brows, his hands gripping his pants as if he's stopping himself from reaching for you.

You scoff at that, "You can't be serious Steve, you are one of the smartest people I know and you can't notice something happening right in front of you?"

He shakes his head, eyes squeezing as he opens them, you notice him scanning over the events prior, but it comes up empty and it has Steve looking more confused than before.

“What's her name, huh Steve? At least tell me her name” You whisper, arms folded as the shimmers of the dress begin to irritate you.

“What? Who?” Steve replies, stepping closer to you

“Who? The brunette who was hanging off of you the entire night Steven” You groan, you hated facing your insecurities, much less voicing them.

There is a momentary pause in Steve as his mind backtracks to the evening, sifting through the hundreds of faces he’d seen tonight, he finally realises who you're talking about.

Tony’s accountant

“Marianna?” Steve scoffs

���Yes, Marianna” You spit her name like poison, but you can’t seem to get her face out of your mind, she’s taken homage next to the laundry you hadn't gotten the time to do. The way her pantsuit fitted her elegantly, sophisticated and modern, she was the woman of the future. And you were just, well, you.

She could pull off a red lip, something that never quite looked good on you, and the very way she spoke told you she said very few words that didn't ilicitate constant adoration. She didn't need to fill the space with empty jargon, every word had meaning.

The constant comparison had followed you the entire evening, and the past insecurities that you had thought you'd overcome seemed to weigh you down like an anchor, pulling you into the deprecation you knew all too well.

It was fine, you’d get over it until she began to talk to Steve, your husband. you didn't miss the look on her face as they conversed, utter, pure amazement. You knew it because you wore it every day, Steve had a way with people, it's what attracted you to him in the first place.

You felt out of place as they spoke about diplomacy and business, and at that moment you had wished you actually listened when Tony pulled you into one of the many long rants you'd gotten used to. 

She wasn't even mean to you as if the playground tactics were beneath her, but it didn't take her calling you a bitch to know the animosity that radiated from her every time Steve had tried to pull you into their conversation. You knew where you weren't wanted and you weren't about to make a fool of yourself. So you left them to it as you sat next to Natasha, who offered you a much-needed drink.

She had noticed your annoyance at Marianna the second she came over, as she always did, and for a second, you wish Steve would too. He was too pure too good, to take notice of the way Marianna got closer and closer to him or the way she bit her lip and laughed a little too hard at one of his lame jokes. The poor man thought she was being friendly, he was oblivious to her true motives.

Natasha held her grin behind an empty champagne glass, snickering when Marianna threw her head back for good measure. You had vented to her there, and she reminded you of the man Steve was. How he was absolutely enamoured by you and you only, how you had him wrapped around your finger so tight he wouldn't even think about looking at another woman that way. It was all things you knew deep down, but that didn't stop your brain from imagining the worst, that he was deep in an affair with his co-worker, and you were the dumb clueless wife who waited for him at home.

You wouldn't let that happen again, not after all those years of betrayal from an ex, you wouldn't let yourself be made a fool. Pride had a way of getting in between reality, and you let it stew you in anger until you were mad at Steve instead of her.

Steve shakes his head, moving closer to you,

“She's just Tony’s accountant, we chatted for a few, that's all doll” Steve replied, carding a hand through his blonde locks. Reasoning, however, doesn't seem to be on your mind tonight as you remember all the lies you've been told starting with she.

She’s just a friend, she’s just an assistant, she’s just...

“Well, she seemed to have taken your attention for the whole night, while I was left drinking champagne of all fucking things with Natasha. She was meant to go find her date for that night, but instead, she was with me” You replied looking towards him in anger.

“Well, I tried to include you in the conversation, but every time I asked for your opinion your mind seemed as if it was a thousand miles away!” Steve replied swiftly hands gesturing around.

“Yeah, because she was laughing every single goddamn time I opened my mouth, god Steve, can't you see what she’s doing?” You replied even faster, swallowing down the brick that began to form in your throat.

“What, what is she doing, I thought I was having a conversation with a colleague, but you seem to know better” Steve quipped, his jaw tensing and his shoulders seized.

“She wants you, and you’re either too blind to see it or already fucking know it” You replied, muttering under your breath.

Steve scoffs, shaking his head, eyes scanning your face as he remains silent.

“Is your silence meant to mean I was right?” You yell, tears beginning to gather on your waterline and you have to pinch yourself to get force them to remain there.

Steve’s eyes never leave your face, the cerulean orbs darting left and right, and up and down as if trying to understand your benevolence. His arm twitches as if he wants to gather you into his embrace and forget this entire evening.

“How can you say that” Steve replies, after a short while, “I was courteous, polite for god's sake, you know I would never do that to you” Steve moves until his hands grasp your own. They’re warm to the touch like he always is, and they begin to soothe the coldness that has begun to take over your body.

It doesn't help though, instead, it reminds you of the times you've been told that your insecurities were imaginary, that the unfaithfulness in your relationship wasn't real. That you, instead were harbouring a secret, the anger you felt then turned to guilt at your own self for even accusing him of cheating. If you were told enough times that your reality wasn't yours, you’d start to believe it.

“Yeah well, the only person I can ever trust is myself” You whisper, spitting the words out and unlatching yourself from Steve's grasp. Steve looks down at you in shock, betrayal and hurt falling over his features, whilst yours turn to stone.

He closes his eyes before opening them again, nodding as if he accepted your anger.

“Fine, I’m taking the couch,” Steve scoffs, ripping off his tie and placing it on the counter, before walking into the living room the loud stomp of his shoes vibrating through the quiet house.

You turn to the discarded tie, grasping it into your palm, the texture of the material felt velvet against your fingers. It was a plain tie, one you'd find anywhere, but it was the first tie you'd ever gotten him. You'd gifted him many over the years, all of them more expensive and chic than this one but he'd told you you'd have to pry it out of his cold dead hands before he would give it up. 

It was his lucky tie because you were his lucky girl.

Where you still now?

The satin pillow dampened with your tears, you hadn't waited to even close the door before you were muffling a sob that broke out of your throat. Since then, the tears never ceased, you had to shove your face into the covers to make sure Steve wouldn't hear you.

Sleep was fruitless, you had tried everything, but you lay there, like clothes on a washing line, wrung out and left to dry. Your mind wouldn't let the image leave, her fingers grabbing his bicep as she laughed, the way he grinned as his humour got praised.

Was that it, had she given him more attention? More than you?

A billion reasons clamoured your mind as you pushed your fingertips to your eyelids, wishing that you hadn't even gone to the charity ball at all, save the humiliation just for your mind only.

Deep down you knew, you knew that this was all the insecurities of your past coming forth from their hiding places. Steve was the best person in your entire life, he would never, his stupidly good heart wouldn't allow it. But that was just it, he was too kind and nice and good that people like Marianna were able to sink their claws and have their way with him however they wanted.

He thought they were being friendly, but they knew they weren't.

Hours seem to pass before you find the room illuminated with the light of your phone in your palm, your chest feels tight and uncomfortable and you don't know how much more of this you could take.

Tapping onto the folder named “him”, you are met with hundreds of photos of you and Steve throughout the years, starting from the very few dates you had before he claimed you as his, till the wedding night when you both had stayed up to take out the millions of pins in your intricate hair.

In all of them, every single one, Steve displays the same adored, content look of utter satisfaction and love, his eyes sparkled with it, like the sun glittering against the gentle waves and folds of the sea. An endless pool of longing that seemed to have depth only for you, to crash and fight and turn inside and out for you.

Your relationship was never easy, but Steve has always, always been the anchor that brought you back, he never gave up, even when you pushed him away and left him in the dark. Even when the fear of loss and hurt caused you to scream things you didn't mean and do things you shouldn’t have.

You flick across to a photo of Steve looking towards you, a soft grin lighting up his face as you held Clint’s newborn, you were cuddled up on a seat, your knees tucked into you as you were sucked into the guilty pleasure of red fat cheeks and baby fever.

Sam had captured it without Steve looking, sending it to you a couple of days ago with the words ‘Someone wants to be a daddy’. You’d laughed it off but each day you'd come back to that picture. Back to the moment when Steve looked like he had never loved something harder than you, as if it was his first time ever really feeling it.

He loves you, you know? I knew it the day he met you, he has this look on his face, where his eyes get all glazed over and his fingers are reaching for you. It’s like he can’t breathe until he can hold you, like his body will break in two and his heart will stop.

Natasha had told you that one night on the terrace unprovoked, with a beer in her hand and the moonlight falling over the both of you. She had been there from the start, had found you when you were still a shell of a person, back then you didn't even know what love was. You fear if it wasn't for her you and Steve wouldn't have ever met.

“Steve would never do that” 

The sounds of her voice those hours ago ring in your head. It was true, your entire time with Steve told you but what thing, he was not your ex. He was kind, and soft and held you like you were glass and he'd crush you. And then suddenly, as if a switch had been turned in your mind, the light of a dark place turning on you realise how utter fucking foolish you had been.

Steve’s faith in you never faltered, even when it should have he never felt a reason to distrust you, it was foreign, it felt strange to have someone utterly and fully hand their trust and soul to you. And what had you given him in return? Accusations and anger. 

Did he think now, that you did not trust him? That he had failed to show you how you should be loved? How he would never hurt you?

Those men from your past would never amount to Steve, and suddenly you felt you would die right in this room if you didn’t move. If you tell Steve he was enough and that you believed him and that the vows he uttered held true. Every hair on your body itched with this need until the covers were thrown across from your body and your phone was discarded on the bed.

You swung open the door, the cold hair hitting your face and you stumbled through the dark, you run down the hardwood stairs, the haunting reality of your actions following you, you had been so so foolish.

Steve is there, his frantic motions walking towards the bedroom freeze as he notices you. His shirt is crumpled and unbuttoned, and his golden hair is ruffled, the strands falling over his face as if he's run his fingers through it too many times. 

A look of desperation and longing paint his features as he watched you, hands shaking at his sides as he sinks his canines into his reddend lip. You wanted nothing but to hold him now, and the thought bring you to tears, blurring your vision until you miss a step, your heart dropping into your stomach as you brace yourself, waiting to meet the cold hard ground of the kitchen floor.

It never comes, instead, heated, carded muscle wraps around you, and you the smell of Steve, of earth and pine cones has you crying into his shoulder.

He came to you, even when you had screamed at him to leave,

He came to you.

Fresh tears slide down your cheek and you grip Steve, whose fingers softly rub your back, hands tightening around your waist.

“M’ sorry, so sorry Steve, please” You hiccup, covering your face into his shoulder.

“Ssh, my sweet girl, I know” Steve whispers, never seizing his gentle caress. His hands lift your face from his neck, thumb gathering the tears at your waterline. “I know, it’s okay, it’s okay, just breathe for me, hm? 

“In and out, can you do that for me?” Steve breathes out, eyes straining as he watches your shallow breaths ease into semi-normal respiration.

Without a word, Steve collects you in his arms and walks through the house until he enters the bedroom, shutting the door with his foot, eyes never leaving your face as he gently places you onto the now cold bedsheets.

You shudder, reaching for him as he slides in, arms wrap around your sides as he continues his light motions on your back, his fingers come to move your hair behind your ear, pressing a soft kiss to your neck.

You turn around swiftly, hands reaching to cup his face before you’re met with his reddened eyes, it's your turn now to brush away the tears before pressing your lips to his,

‘I should never have, Stevie, you, I-, you would never” You whisper against him his chest, the soft rise and fall lulling you into a state of haze and exhaustion. He presses his forehead to yours

“I just want to hold you now, god, I don't know what I will do if I don’t hold you” Steve replies muttering the words painfully. You wrap your arms around him, pressing yourself into his stomach as his biceps surround you. The sound of Steve's heartbeat, the rhythmic badum badum badum, engulfs you with a sense of tranquillity you hadn’t realised you couldn’t live without.

Steve, your sweet boy, was the one thing you couldn’t live without, without Steve, next to you, holding you between his arms, you don't think you would ever quite find sleep. Not anymore, not after him.

[najia-cooks]

[ID: A sandwich on an English muffin with cheese, a sausage patty, bacon, egg, Hollandaise sauce, and chopped chives. End ID]

Vegan 'sausage' and 'egg' breakfast sandwiches

Soy sauce, maple syrup, liquid smoke, and fresh herbs and spices give savor, depth, and sweetness to these TVP-based sausage patties. A combination of rice flour, all-purpose flour, and coconut milk, inspired by Vietnamese bánh xèo, makes the batter for the egg patties; they are subtly flavored with kala namak, fenugreek, and white pepper to form a perfect complement for the sausage.

A slow cook in an egg ring followed by a quick fry makes the 'eggs' fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside—a superior solution to tofu, which never quite has the right texture.

This is a delicious, filling option for a weekend breakfast or breakfast-for-dinner; or, make the TVP patties and 'egg' batter the night before and fry them in the morning for a quick breakfast option.

Recipe under the cut!

Patreon | Tip jar

Makes 6-8 small sandwiches.

Ingredients:

English muffins, buns, bagels, or rolls

Hollandaise sauce (optional)

Tomato, tempeh, avocado, spinach, and/or hot sauce as desired

For the sausage patties:

1 cup TVP

1 cup water

1 tsp vegetarian beef stock concentrate or beef pho seasoning

1 1/2 Tbsp ground dried shiitake mushrooms

2 Tbsp total fresh minced sage, rosemary, and thyme, or 2 tsp dried

1 1/2 tsp onion powder

1 1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp smoked paprika

1/2 tsp sumac (optional)

1/2 tsp fennel seeds, toasted and ground

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp black peppercorns, toasted and ground

5 cloves, toasted and ground

Large pinch MSG (optional)

1/4 cup vegan mayo (substitute any neutral oil)

1 Tbsp aged soy sauce (substitute any soy sauce)

1 Tbsp vegetarian oyster sauce

1 Tbsp Caribbean burnt sugar (or substitute molasses)

1-2 Tbsp maple syrup or brown sugar

1/2 tsp liquid smoke

2 Tbsp ground flaxseed

1/4 cup (30g) chickpea flour (or all-purpose flour)

2 Tbsp potato starch (if needed)

1 Tbsp cooking oil, to fry

You could also make these patties with Impossible or Beyond ground beef. Use 2 cups (350g) ground beef; omit the water and stock concentrate; halve the soy sauce, oyster sauce, burnt sugar, and liquid smoke.

For the egg patties:

1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp (60g) white rice flour

3 Tbsp (22.5g) all-purpose flour (substitute more rice flour for a gluten-free version)

1 tsp ground turmeric

About 1 1/4 cup (295mL) coconut milk (canned or boxed; the kind for cooking, not drinking)

1/4 tsp kala namak (black salt), or substitute table salt

1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds, toasted and ground (optional)

1/4 tsp white peppercorns, toasted and ground (optional)

Cooking oil, to fry

Instructions:

For the egg patties:

1. Whisk all ingredients except coconut milk together in a medium mixing bowl.

2. Add coconut milk while stirring until a batter forms, about the consistency of pancake batter. It should be thin enough to flow, but thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

3. Cover and allow to rest at room temperature while you prepare the TVP patties.

For the TVP patties:

1. If using whole spices: toast each spice for a few minutes in a dry skillet on medium heat until very fragrant. Remove skillet from heat and toast ground spices, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Grind all spices in a mortar and pestle or in a spice mill.

2. Whisk 1 tsp of vegetarian beef stock concentrate with 1 cup of just-boiled water in a large bowl until just combined. Add spices, soy sauce, oyster sauce, maple syrup, burnt sugar, maple syrup, liquid smoke, and TVP and mix well. Allow TVP to rehydrate for about 10 minutes.

3. Stir in herbs, flaxseed, and flour and mix until well-combined. Add breadcrumbs 1/4 cup at a time until patties hold together.

4. Form TVP mixture into patties about 4" in diameter (or as desired) and place on a plate. Refrigerate for about 10 minutes to allow to set.

To cook:

1. Heat a cast-iron or nonstick pan on medium-high with a couple teaspoons of oil. Place egg rings (or mason jar rings) in the pan, and pour enough batter in each one to make a patty about 1/2" (1cm) thick. Allow to brown for a minute or two.

2. Turn the heat down to low and continue cooking until the top of the egg patties have mostly solidified and are a shade darker.

3. Carefully flip each patty and remove the egg ring. Pour another couple teaspoons of oil in the pan and return the heat to medium-high. Fry, flipping if necessary, until each side of the patty is golden-brown and crispy.

4. Meanwhile, heat a Tbsp of oil in another large skillet on medium-low. Place patties in the skillet and flatten gently with the back of a spatula. Allow to cook for about 5 minutes on each side, until browned, crispy, and cooked through.

5. Assemble breakfast sandwiches with TVP patties, egg patties, and vegetables and sauces of your choice. Serve warm.

[krscblw]

ghoul perfume associations pt. 3!

more ghoul perfume associations bc ghost and perfume are my two main hobbies! all of these are indie/niche perfumes because those are the types of perfume i'm mainly into. these lists are really fun for me and i would love to hear what people think!!

also, jsyk: because this post is so long, some of the text might get cut off on mobile. it should be okay on desktop if that happens (i don't know how to fix it, sorry :/)

Aeon

Notes: non-sweet chocolate, linen, lavender

Perfumes:

Autumn Morning - Pulp Fragrance

hot chocolate, slightly spiced oatmeal, carnations, a cozy blanket

Twice To Tea - Poesie 

strong earl grey tea, lavender absolute, vanilla syrup, a splash of milk

Aether

Notes: bourbon, amber, vanilla  

Perfumes:

Not A Deer - Little & Grim 

cedarwood, chestnuts, sandalwood, maple, oak, tonka, suede, clove, spiced vanilla, amber, tobacco 

Loggia - Solstice Scents 

“High above the village, a castle sits shrouded in a heavy gray mist.  Muted moonlight illuminates its upper terraces. Thick with incense smoke, the loggia swells with invited guests, each heavily cloaked and masked. Laughter, violas and a harpsichord fill the night. Wine flows from never-ending mahogany vats. Exotic spices drape the air in fragrant bouquets. A bell rings from the archway, and all in attendance fall silent as the master of the night creatures crosses the paving stones...”

mahogany, sweet amber, musk, dark incense, deep vanilla bean, sandalwood, cardamom, black pepper, cognac and allspice

(i have this one and it's great, perfect for aether imo)

Alpha

Notes: leather, smoke, gunpowder

Perfumes:

Spiritus Fumosus - Alkemia

volcanic basalt, smelted metal ores, amberwood, smokey birch tar, old leather, galbanum, white oud, gray amber, petrichor, wet sand, bergamot, sichuan peppercorn, gingergrass, white patchouli

Deus ex Machina - Alkemia 

“An olfactory portrait of industrial decay and the fallen gods of age of disruption, innovation, and technological revolution.”

fire-hardened steel, rusted iron, motor oil, wet cement, burnt copper wires, gray amber

Cirrus

Notes: dark fruits, musk, heavy florals, honey

Perfumes:

Virgo - Deconstructing Eden   

dark amber, bulgarian rose absolute, lavender maillette, orris root, benzoin, dark fruits, bourbon vanilla

Eglantine House - Deconstructing Eden 

honeyed roses, mahogany, plums, amber accord, champaca flowers, eglantine roses, white musk

Cumulus

Notes: lilac, magnolia, jasmine, sugar, cold air

Perfumes:

Midnight Garden - Alkemia 

night-flowering white flowers – tuberose, lily, honeysuckle, gardenia, moonflower

Calliope - Alkemia 

clementine, orange blossoms, white orchid, sugared currants, tonka, and vanilla musk, cotton candy, saltwater taffy

Dewdrop

Notes: berries, smoke, spices, metal

Perfumes:

Unrequited - Deconstructing Eden

black sandalwood, raspberries, bitter orange, black pepper, smooth silky musk, dark amber, smoky patchouli 

Lightning Storm - Nui Cobalt Designs 

Petrichor, ozone, electrified metal, cold musk, bergamot, lime zest, cracked pink peppercorn, copal smoke, myrrh, teakwood

(this one represents dew as a water ghoul – citrus, spices, ozone, and metal. sweet, cold, and a little bitter)

Ifrit

Notes: black tea, incense, spices 

Perfumes:

Tasseomancy - Nui Cobalt Designs 

black tea spritzed with orange, incense smoke clinging to heavy velvet curtains, fireplace embers, cinnamon, clove

Tasseomancy - LVNEA 

bergamot, black tea, lapsang souchong, honey, spices, milk

(yes they are both called the same thing. he's a guy with a brand i don't know what to tell you)

Mist

Notes: water, herbs, ice

Perfumes:

Eisheth - Deconstructing Eden 

seawater, herbs - rosemary, mint, clary sage, bergamot, hyssop, lemongrass, and verbena, white tea

Blackwater Lake - Osmofolia  

“Short-needle pine branches hang over mossy lake rocks, radiant white water lilies soak in the sun, the surface of the dark lake water ripples above submerged northern watermilfoil, and a chill in the air warns of impending autumn.”

pine needles, cold wind, northern watermilfoil, white water lilies, moss, stone, lake water

Mountain

Notes: vetiver, plants, earth, mushrooms

Perfumes:

Poor Farm - Little & Grim 

“Overgrown grass, tangled undergrowth, wildflowers, the memory of fresh linens, and distant, greener pastures.”

moss, sage, ferns, sweet grasses, green wood, and chamomile

Mycelium - Treading Water Perfume 

“Rounding the corner it came into view, the being that had terrorized the village for decades. It sat terrifyingly still on top of natural rock formation that resembled some strange amalgamation of an altar. An altar not made by human hands but as if created by the forest itself to honor this being. The being was here long before the village and it will continue to be here long after we are gone.”

soil, mushrooms, patchouli, black currants, hinoki wood

Nimbus/Aurora*

Notes: peach, rose, earth

Perfumes:

The Lover Tells Of The Rose - Alkemia 

wild roses, lemon verbena, white pearl tea leaves, delicate white patchouli, new greens, wet moss

Apothecary Rose - LVNEA 

rose gallica, rose de mai, damask rose, tarragon, violet leaf, apricot, labdanum, myrrh

*i headcanon nimbus as a earth/air multi

Omega

Notes: wood, amber, tobacco

Perfumes:

Danse Macabre - Fyrinnae

sandalwood, amber, labdanum, vanilla, woodsmoke, smoldering logs

Leo - Deconstructing Eden 

frankincense, myrrh, benzoin, amber, liatrix, blood cedar, blond tobacco absolute, sweet spices, honey

(i have this one and i love it, it's very warm and resinous)

Rain

Notes: seawater, ozone, vanilla

Perfumes:

Ambre Gris - Alkemia 

“A rare blend of proprietary perfumery ingredients carefully oxidized by sunlight, sand, air, sea salt, water, and ocean minerals. The result is as changeable and morphing as the ocean... earthy, sweet, musky, saline.”

gray ambergris, ocean minerals, sea salt

Cerulea - OSMOFOLIA 

“A synesthesia perfume inspired by a color. Sapphire ocean blue with flashes of turquoise and glistening white.”

osmanthus, ambergris, sea salt, ocean water, tuberose, cucumber

Sunshine/Stratus**

Notes: strawberries, citrus, vanilla, spices

Perfumes:

In Love with Everything - Imaginary Authors

“This extremely versatile (and genderless!) fragrance is great for any time of day and any time of year but the blast of energy it possesses is ideal for whenever you’re feeling low or looking for a little boost of bliss to keep your body moving and your lungs laughing long into the night.”

raspberry, citrus pulp, coconut palm sugar, madame isaac pereire, sandalwood, tropical punch, stardust

(i have this one! it's very fruity, you definitely get the fruit punch, but it still has a good amount of depth)

Eos - Fantôme 

“Eos is named for the goddess of dawn—who beckons the daybreak with her rosy fingers. This perfume smells like the color of the sunrise; pink and gold light breathing life into the morning dew.”

tart lemonade, raspberries, candied rose petals, wild berries, a hint of ginger

**i headcanon sunny as a fire/air multi

Swiss***

Notes: smoke, musk, patchouli, incense

Perfumes:

Black Heart - Spirit & Venom   

dark patchouli, clove, caramel pipe tobacco

Scorpio - Deconstructing Eden

“The fixed water sign of the zodiac, Scorpios are sensitive and intense, complicated and multi-layered. This blend is deep, still water, with notes of humid air and just the barest touch of mud.”

white and pink lotus absolute, orris root, myrrh, patchouli, gray musk, still water

***i headcanon swiss as a fire/water multi

Zephyr

Notes: dust, ozone, faint sweet musk, mint, cool air

Perfumes:

Walking with a Ghost - Spirit & Venom 

“Light & ethereal musk, fresh harvest pear, a whiff of perfume from a loved one long passed.”

Aquarius - Deconstructing Eden 

air, an undercurrent of water, sparkling aldehydes

if you made it this far, thank you for reading! and i would love to hear your thoughts!! (/gen - do you have any recommendations? do you agree/disagree? i love talking abt this) (also thank you sm to @midnight-moth for recommending lvnea!!)

[exhausted-archivist]

ALT

Flora of Thedas Master List

Master list of all the flora in Thedas, mentioned or seen.

Additional notes on certain items will be listed at the bottom, for items marked with asterisks, see the key below for a brief explanation and the Game assets and Additional Notes and Trivia section at the bottom. Sources are listed at the very end and this time linked.

For other lists here are posts for: Real Plants in Thedas

Key: * - Name comes from the asset file name ** - Name not provided but identified based on the textures used on the asset. *** - See Additional Notes and Trivia.

General Flora: Flowers and Foliage

Acacia*: Black Wood*

Andraste's Grace

Ardent Blossom

Ash

Aspen

Banyan Tree*

Barbwood

Beech Tree

Belladonna

Birch: White Birch*

Blackthorn

Bluebell

Borage

Boswellia

Boxwood*

Buttercup

Cactus: Pear Cactus*

Cattail*

Cedar: Red Cedar

Chicory

Clover: Forest Clover*

Coleus**

Cosmos

Cotton

Crape Myrtle

Cypress: Italian Cypress*, Topiary Cypress*

Daffodil

Daisy: Marguerite

Dandelion

Dog-rose

Dogwood*

Elephant Ear*

Elm

Fade Berry*

Felicidus Aria

Fern: Red Fern*, Sword Fern*

Fir

Flax

Foxleaf*

Frangipani

Gorse

Harlot's Blush

Hawthorn

Hay

Hemp

Hensbane

Hero Tree*

Hollyhock

Honeysuckle

Iris

Ironbark

Ironwood***

Itchweed

Ivy

Jasmin

Larch

Lichen: Glowing Lichen

Lilac

Lily: Calla Lily**, Water Lily

Lotus

Maple

Marigold

Moss: Oakmoss, Redmoss, Tree-Moss

Nightshade

Northern Prickleweed

Oak: Serault Oak

Orchid

Palm Tree: Curly Palm*, Fan Palm*

Pansy

Peony

Pine: Chir Pine*, Stone Pine

Ponga Tree*

Poppy

Prickle-burrs

Redwood*

Rose: Climbing Rose

Rowan

Sandalwood

Seaweed

Snapdragon

Spruce

Sugar Cane

Sundew

Sunflower

Sylvanwood

Tahanis

Thistle

Trex*

Trullium

Vasanthum

Violet

Walnut: Black Walnut

Waterweed*

Wilds Flower

Willow

Witchhazel*

Wysteria

Yew

Fruits

Apple: Applewood Apple, Green Apple, Golden Apple, Red Apple

Apricot

Banana

Berries: Blackberry, Blueberry, Bramble Berry, Cranberry, Elderberry, Raspberry, Strawberry

Cherry

Citron

Coco, Chocolate

Coconut

Coffee

Currants: Black Currant

Fig

Grape

Lemon

Lime

Melon

Nuts: Almonds, Chestnut, Hognut, Peanuts

Olives

Orange: Sweet Orange

Palm Fruit: Date

Passion Fruit

Peach

Pear: Bradford Pear*

Plum

Pomegranate

Grains

Barley

Oats

Rice

Ryott

Wheat

Vegetables

Artichoke

Beans: Bush Bean, Green Bean, Pale Bean, White Bean

Beets

Bell Peppers: Red Bell Peppers

Cabbage

Capers

Carrot

Celery

Chive

Corn

Cucumber

Daikon Radish*

Eggplant

Fennel

Onion: Red Onion, Sweet Onion, White Onion

Pea

Peppers: Antivan Pepper, Green Pepper, Hot Pepper, Hot Red Pepper, Sweet Pepper

Potato

Radish

Spinach

Squash: Baby Pumpkin, Marrow Squash, Pumpkin, String Squash

Tomato

Turnip

Fungus of Thedas

Deep Mushrooms

Bleeding Russula

Blightcap

Blighted Morel

Brimstone Mushroom

Deep Mushroom

Destroying Spirit

Ghoul's Mushroom

Unnamed Mushroom Ortan Thaig

Surface Mushrooms

Beetle Spore

Drakevein

Field Mushroom

Gasbloom*

Sponge Root***

Toadstool

Truffle

Morel***

Unnamed Glowing Mushroom***

Unnamed Mushroom***

Spices

Allspice

Antivan Cord-Seed

Cardamom

Cinnamon

Clove

Cumin, Cumin Seed

Dill, Dill Seed

Juniper

Licorice

Mace

Mustard

Nutmeg

Pepper: Black Pepper

Peppercorn: Black Peppercorn

Saffron

Vanilla

ALT

Herbs of Thedas

Herbs count as anything that Dragon Age has classified as an herb (whether technically correct or not), plants that are used as herbs in real life. These do not include mushrooms, fungi, or deep mushrooms simply for ease of organization.

Amrita Vein

Andraste's Mantle

Arbor Blessing

Basil

Bay

Catsbane

Crystal Grace

Deathroot: Arcanist Deathroot, Lunatic's Deathroot

Dragonthorn

Elfroot/Canavaris: Bitter Elfroot, Gossamer Elfroot, Royal Elfroot

Embrium: Dark Embrium, Salubrious Embrium

Felandaris

Foxite

Garlic

Ghoul's Beard

Ginger

Heatherum

Lavender

Lotus: Black Lotus, Blood Lotus, Dawn Lotus

Madcap

Mint: Anderfel's Mint, Foxmint, Peppermint

Mintroot - Not a true mint based on its description and the fact that it grows on trees.

Oregano

Parsley

Prophet's Laurel

Rashvine

Rashvine Nettle

Redleaf

Rosemary

Sage

Spindleweed: Verdant Spindleweed

Stripweed

Thyme

Vandal Aria

Winterberry***

Witherstalk

Star Anise

Wormwood

Wormroot***

Game Assets Notes

These are plants shown in Dragon Age but aren't named in universe, just in their model files or through identification of the textures. Since most filler plant textures are just that of real world plants.

**NOTE:** When I mention they are not the known name of any plant, this comes with the caveat of being popular common names. Common names are highly variable and inconsistent. They depend on regional knowledge and association. Some travel farther than others. Common names are also not reliable identifiers.

Acacia: Black Wood ~ Note: Black Wood is a type of acacia. Both acacia and black wood are named assets.

Artichoke ~ Note: Identification comes from asset name, the artichoke flower is used as ornamentation of a box.

Banyan Tree

Boxwood ~ A type of shrub, identification comes from asset name.

Bradford Pear ~ Their fruits are edible, however their flowers are known to emit a smell akin to rotting meat. Identification comes from asset name.

Calla Lily ~ Note: Not named but identified by the texture used. It is seen in Val Royeaux planters.

Cattail ~ Note: Seen through out DAO and DAI, identification comes from asset name.

Coleus ~ Note: Not named but identified by the texture used. It is seen in Val Royeaux planters and in the Frostback Basin.

Crape Myrtle

Cypress: Italian Cypress, Topiary Cypress ~ Note: In terms of the Italian Cypress, in world it wouldl likely be called the "Antivan Cypress" given that Antiva is pulling from Italian culture, food, environments, and other inspirational elements. Cypress is a plant that is named in canon.

Daikon Radish ~ Note: Found on Dennet's farm, identification comes from asset name.

Dogwood

Elephant Ear ~ Note: Foliage found in the Frostback Basin, identification comes from asset name.

Fade Berry

Fern: Red Fern, Sword Fern ~ Note: The red fern isn't a real plant and therefore can be considered unique to Thedas. In contrast the sword fern is a real plant. Identification comes from the asset name for both of these ferns.

Forest Clover

Foxleaf ~ Note: This is another plant that is not real, no plant has this common name as far as I could find.

Gasbloom ~ Note: Seen in the Arbor Wilds, the Frostback Basin some elven ruins, and the elven ruins of multiplayer levels. Their identification comes from the asset name. There are two versions of the texture the "fixed" version is used in JoH dlc and thus explains the difference in appearance. This is not the name of a known mushroom.

Hero Tree

Palm: Curly Palm, Fan Palm ~ Note: Both palms are seen in the Frostback Basin, both are identified by their named assets.

Pear Cactus ~ Note: Found in the Frostback Basin, identification comes from the asset name.

Pine: Chir Pine

Ponga Tree ~ Note: Also known as the 'Tree Fern'. This is the tree you see in Val Royeaux garden as coming from Par Vollen, and throughout the Arbor Wilds.

Redwood ~ Note: Identified by the name of the file asset. Found in the Winter Palace, Exalted Plains, and on multiplayer maps.

Snapdragon

Trex

Waterweed ~ Note: In real life this is an entire genus not one particular plant. Though the six plants in this genus do share the common name of waterweed.

White Birch

Witchhazel

Additional Notes and Trivia

Ironwood - Unclear if this is an alternative name, the actual name of the plant, or both.

Morel - This mushroom is inferred due to the existence of Blighted Morel. However it is not explicitly specified there is a non-blighted morel.

Sponge Root - Though canonical as it is mentioned and shown in World of Thedas vol. 2 on pg. 138 with a collection of deep mushroom and surface mushroom illustrations. This mushroom was cut twice from Inquisition. It was cut from the base game as a craftable, it had a much different appearance from its final design, and then it was cut again from Trespasser. It does however still make an appearance in Inquisition as the inventory icon for Crystal Grace.

Unnamed Glowing Mushroom Is mentioned in multiplayer when there are two Lukas playing.

Unnamed Mushroom These brown mushrooms are seen in the Fallow Mire and the Frostback Basin. They are shown in two different sizes ranging from shorter than a dwarf to taller than one.

There is one unlisted mushroom, its assets is named "red mushroom" and thus is identified by textures. These is not a canon name but is included for completeness. Amanita Muscaria: More commonly know as fly agaric or fly amanita, the red top with white spots is an iconic in its imagery. You will find large swaths of these mushrooms in the Frostback Basin. Their assets is named "Red Mushroom".

Winterberry is a real plant. However, from what we see in DA2, it does not the same as the plant we have in the real world, just a shared common name.

Wormroot is another real plant name. However, due to the description in The Calling, it does not seem to be the same plant. In The Calling it is used to treat the venom of a giant spider. The real world plant is used to treat parasites in the gut and does not seem to hold any shared uses in folk lore, folk medicine, or western medicine practices.

Sources

Dragon Age Origins + DLCs Dragon Age 2 Dragon Age Last Court Dragon Age Inquisition + DLCs Dragon Age TTRPG Core Rulebook Dragon Age TTRPG Blood of Ferelden Dragon Age TTRPG: Creatures of Thedas: Wyvern

World of Thedas Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne Dragon Age: The Calling Dragon Age: The Masked Empire Dragon Age: Last Flight Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights Short Story: Paying the Ferryman Short Story: Riddle in the Truth Short Story: The Wake

Origins Andraste's Grace Codex: The Bercillian Forest Codex: Falon'Din: Friend of the Dead, the Guide Codex: Feast Day Fish Codex: The History of Soldier's Peak: Chapter 3 Codex: Ironbark Codex: A Note from the Honnleath Village Council Codex: Sylaise: The Hearthkeeper Codex: Sylvan Codex: A Tattered Shopping List Item: Concentrator Agent Item: Deep Mushroom Item: Figurine Item: Madcap Bulb Item: Rare Antivan Brandy Item: Rashvine Nettle Item: Spirit Charm Item: Spirit Cord Item: Sugar Cake Item: Swift Salve Item: West Hill Brandy Item: Wilds Flower

DA 2 Ambrosia Bianca (Crossbow) Ironwood Clearing Codex: Deathroot Codex: Deep Mushroom Codex: Embrium Codex: Felandaris Codex: The Hedge Witch Codex: Spindleweed Item: Carved Ironwood Buttons Item: Harlot's Blush Quest: Hard to Stomach Quest: The Long Road Quest: Tranquility Weapon: The Celebrant Weapon: Ironwood Shield Weapon: Ironwood Warblade

Inquisition Codex: Amrita Vein Codex: Arbor Blessing Codex: Avvar Cuisine Codex: Black Lotus Codex: Blood Lotus Codex: Bottles of Thedas Codex: Crystal Grace Codex: Elfroot Codex: Ghoul's Beard Codex: The Girl in Red Crossing Codex: Hard in Hightown Chapter 7 Codex: Hard in Hightown Chapter 10 Codex: Mediations and Odes to Bees Codex: Notes on Palace Guests Codex: The Orlesian Civil War Codex: Prophet's Laurel Codex: Rashvine Codex: Rashvine Nettle Codex: Vandal Aria Codex: Vivienne's Alchemy Notes Codex: Waterlogged Diary Codex: Witherstalk Note: Betta's Traveling Journal Note: Carta Note on Security Note: Field Notes Note: The Gilded Horn's Drink List Note: Knight-Captain's Orders Note: Love Letter Note: A Note from Skyhold's Kitchens Note: A Note from Skyhold's Kitchens, Again War Table: The Dance with the Dowager: The Allemande Item: Ardent Blossom

Last Court The Abbess' Road The Anchoress Arrival of the Divine The Feast is Ending Fires Flames of Freedom Good Neighbors Heartwood Feast The Hounds The Lord of the Wood Comes a-Calling The Purveyor of Teas Road and River A Swift Stream Thieves! Unofficial Meeting

Want to support this blog? Check out my ko-fi!

[wafflefries13]

Twisted Teas

I don’t know a lot about tea, only that I usually like it iced and sweet, a casualty of growing up in the south. But I’ve been wanting to learn more about it, especially blends. I found this cool website, Adagio Teas, that have a bunch of fan made fandom blends for a ton of different books, movies, video games, and tv shows (#notsponsored). So I thought I would try my hand at making teas for the Twisted Wonderland cast. I tried to go off vibes, color schemes, and their favorite food. Hopefully my train of thought makes sense. If anyone wants to actually try any of these let me know how they taste. 

Adagio Teas: Signature Blend

Riddle: 

Wild Strawberry 

Summer rose

Cream 

Extra scoop: Rose hips 

Ace: 

Dewy cherry

Fiery cinnamon spice 

Vanilla oolong 

Extra scoop: Cherry 

Deuce:

Green rooibos blueberry 

White blueberry

Kentucky whisky 

Extra scoop: Blueberries 

Cater: 

Passion Fruit 

Pomegranate grove 

Orange

Extra scoop: Orange peels 

Trey: 

Cocomint green 

Assam melody 

Pu-erh hazelberry 

Extra scoop: Cocoa nibs 

Leona:

Pu-erh dante 

Tiger eye 

Turmeric bliss 

Extra scoop: Marigold flowers 

Ruggie: 

Ceylon sonata 

Hojicha 

Hazelnut 

Extra scoop: Safflower 

Jack: 

Lapsang souchong 

White pear 

Almond Oolong 

Extra scoop: Ginger root 

Azul: 

Earl gray lavender 

Black cherry 

Chocolate truffle 

Extra scoop: Lavender flower 

Jade: 

Forest berries 

Almond oolong 

Toasted mate 

Extra scoop: Raspberry leaves 

Floyd: 

Autumn mist green 

Oriental spice 

Gunpowder 

Extra scoop: Cloves 

Kalim: 

White eternal spring 

White tropics 

Coconut grove pouchong 

Extra scoop: Coconut 

Jamil: 

Cinnamon rooibos chai 

Masala chai 

Mango melange 

Extra scoop: Aniseed 

Vill: 

Blackberry 

Cherry green 

Rooibos jasmine 

Extra scoop: Cornflower 

Rook:

Assam melody 

Earl gray bravo 

Butterscotch 

Extra scoop: Lemon verbena 

Epel: 

Spiced apple chai 

Candy apple 

Rooibos vanilla chai 

Extra scoop: Apple pieces 

Idia: 

Maple cream oolong 

Almond cardamom cake 

Honeybush banana nut 

Extra scoop: Cocoa nibs 

Ortho:

Almond

Chocolate chip 

Vanilla 

Extra scoop: Candycane 

Lilia: 

Earl gray moonlight 

Black cherry 

White chai 

Extra scoop: Cherry 

Silver: 

Forest berries 

Pu-erh hazelberry 

Almond oolong 

Extra scoop: Lemon balm 

Sebek: 

Kukicha 

Green chai 

Chili lime green 

Extra scoop: Lemon peels 

Malleus: 

Dragon fruit dream 

Camomile 

Citron green 

Extra scoop: Hibiscus flowers 

Crowley: 

Earl gray bravo 

Blackberry 

Caramel 

Extra scoop: Pink peppercorn 

Crewel: 

Irish breakfast 

Currant 

Hojicha 

Extra scoop: Raspberry leaves 

Trein: 

Vanilla oolong 

Cream

Butterscotch 

Extra scoop: Apricots 

Vargas:

Masala chai 

Fiery cinnamon spice 

Spiced mate 

Extra scoop: Cardamom seeds 

Sam: 

Foxtrot 

Green rooibos key west 

Citron green 

Extra scoop: Lemon peel

[the-bad-batch-baroness]

If The Bad Batch Drank Tea

I'm an avid tea drinker, borderline tea-snob. I can't have coffee because doctors' orders so tea is all that I drink besides water. I thought it would be fun to pair up the Batch with what could be one of their favorite tea blends!

All the tea blends I mention below come from Adagio Teas. They're my number one source for loose leaf tea! I have added links to the blends if you want to look at them yourself.

This is not sponsored, I just love to share tea with others.

Let's get started!

HUNTER

Blend: Bonfire

Ingredients: Honeybush Tea, Apple Pieces, Lapsang Souchong Tea, Aniseed, Cocoa Nibs, Cinnamon, Rose Hips, Cloves, Orange, Red Peppercorn, Safflower, Natural Cinnamon Flavor, Natural Hazelnut Flavor & Natural Orange Flavor

Blend Notes: Honeybush hazelnut and cocoa nibs relax and ground you, while a spice blend of aniseed, cinnamon, clove, and orange peel offer cozy comfort and zest. Apples and rose hips add soft sweetness while a touch of Lapsang Souchong black tea and red peppercorn offer hints of smoke and the flickering spark of heat.

Headcannon: This is the tea Hunter drinks when he needs to get away from it all. The bold flavored brew fills all his senses and helps the rest of the world fade away into the background. It grounds him when everything around him is spinning. He'll brew a mug when the world becomes overwhelming or when his family is acting crazy.

WRECKER

Blend: Honeybush Blueberry Pancake

Ingredients: Honeybush Tea, Rose Hips, Apple Pieces, Maple Flavor, Natural Blueberry Flavor, Blueberries, Blue Cornflowers & Vanilla Creme Flavor

Blend Notes: Juicy blueberries and the yummy taste of maple syrup blended with our naturally sweet Honeybush tea make for a delicious anytime breakfast treat.

Headcannon: It's no secret that Wrecker loves food, but a tea that tastes like blueberry pancakes? Yes, please! Breakfast in a mug is a great way to start the day. Wrecker loves to drink this brew when rations aren't cutting it or to satisfy his sweet tooth. He'll also eat the blueberries when finished. It's self-indulgent, but he doesn't care.

TECH

Blend: Jasmine Phoenix Pearls

Ingredients: Green Tea, Jasmine

Blend Notes: Jasmine Phoenix Pearls majestically unfurl, releasing their delicate scent and flavor. Also known as 'Jasmine Dragon Pearls', their liquor is sweet and almost sugary. Very soft, airy mouthfeel

Head Cannon: Ever the sophisticated gentleman, Tech enjoys a simple brew when it comes to tea. This jasmine green tea is light and fragrant, but not overpowering. It's the perfect blend to increase concentration and invigorate the mind when tinkering away. He also enjoys the many health benefits and watching the leaves unfurl in his mug.

CROSSHAIR

Blend: Chocolate Chai

Ingredients: Black Tea, Cinnamon, Ginger, Cocoa Nibs, Natural Chocolate Flavor & Natural Cinnamon Flavor

Blend Notes: Chocolate flavored Ceylon black tea is blended with cinnamon, ginger, and cocoa nibs. Soothing spicy cocoa notes, zesty, warming quality and soft liquid chocolate texture.

Head Cannon: Crosshair loves this blend because on the outside, it looks and smells like a normal masala chai, but on the inside, it holds and indulgent secret: chocolate. Crosshair loves chocolate, but he doesn't want anyone to know, so he drinks this unassuming brew to throw everyone off the scent.

ECHO

Blend: Earl Grey Bella Luna

Ingredients: Black Tea, Coconut, Blue Cornflowers, Natural Coconut Flavor, Natural Bergamot Flavor & Natural Creme Flavor

Blend Notes: Robust Earl Grey shines with familiar bergamot notes, highlighted by a soft glow of coconut and cream. Rich, bright, and well-rounded.

Head Cannon: Echo loves to drink this tea on rainy days. It's his perfect, calming, go to brew when life is dreary and all he wants is to be wrapped up in a soft, warm blanket. Echo will also sip on this brew when he thinks of Fives. He'll sit with his mug under the bright moonlight and remember his brother fondly.

OMEGA

Blend: Berry Blast

Ingredients: Hibiscus, Rose Hips, Cranberries, Natural Forest Berries Flavor & Blueberries

Blend Notes: A delicious blend of natural fruits and spices. The flavor is all-natural, emanating from black currants, cranberries, raspberries, elderberries, bilberries, hibiscus flowers, and rosehip peels. The cup has a bold and slightly tart flavor, with a juicy clean finish.

Head Cannon: The perfect blend for a rambunctious child! This berri-licious brew is Oemga's favorite thing to drink while out on a mission, and it tastes just like juice! When it's hot out, she'll drink it over ice, and it becomes very refreshing. Hunter won't let her have any caffeine and limits her sweets, but she adds sugar to it when he's not looking.

BONUS: REX

Blend: 40 Winks

Ingredients: Valerian Root, Honeybush Tea, Chamomile Flowers, Spearmint Leaves, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Passion Flowers, Cherries & Blue Cornflowers

Blend Notes: Using a blend of herbs known to promote healthy sleep, we've combined valerian root, which is commonly used as a sleep aid, with the familiar flavors of soothing chamomile, spearmint, and lavender.

Head Cannon: Rex doesn't drink much tea, but when he does it's to help him go to sleep. Exhausted from dealing with the 501st shenanigans all day, Rex will winddown with this brew to ensure he gets some well-earned rest. Although it doesn't taste very good, the valerian root knocks him right out and nothing can wake him until he's good and rested.

[likeawolfatthemoon]

happy happy birthday!!! i hope it was great!! please tell me all about your cheese haul! 🧀

thank you, caity!!! 💖💖💖 it was great, my partner took me on a little trip about an hour and a half away (he typically won't go anywhere over half an hour, he's mildly agoraphobic and also hates driving or being in the car in general lol - so that in itself was a gift) to a cheese store i've been begging to go to (multiple people have been telling me about it bc they apparently always stop there on the way to/from the ozarks and i LOVE cheese)

in addition to the cheese store, we got burgers and ice cream at a little amish store/gas station down there (learned black walnut tastes like black licorice which was upsetting and unexpected). the burgers were actually soooo tasty!!

this is the cheese haul 🧀:

applewood smoked mediterranean sunset cheddar, maple white cheddar, blueberry white cheddar, cheddar jack with pepperoni, pineapple habanero cheddar, herb & spices havarti, caribbean red hot jack, garden jack, morel mushroom & leek jack, cranberry jalapeno jack, cheddar 'n' rye, carolina reaper cheddar, and peppercorn ranch cheese curds

we ALSO got:

"traffic jam" which is a jam with 5 different fruits in it, peach tea concentrate, sweet potato fruit butter, balsamic bleu cheese & walnut dressing, honey mustard & onion pretzel pieces, jalapeno pretzel pieces, pecan honey butter, honey roasted sesame sticks, southern peach bbq sauce, honey habanero bbq sauce, raspberry cheesecake popcorn, jalapeno cheddar popcorn, rainbow popcorn kernels, butter oil for the popcorn 😂, caramel glaze seasoning for the popcorn, AND local honey

genuinely one of the best birthdays i've had!!

[askwhatsforlunch]

Maple Shitake Quiche (Vegetarian)

Hearty and tasty, this delicious Maple Shitake Quiche makes an excellent dinner on a rainy night.

Ingredients (serves 4):

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

a dozen and a half shitake mushrooms

a large Green Onion

a small bunch Garden Parsley

a garlic clove, minced

1/4 teaspoon fleur de sel or sea salt flakes

1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

1 1/2 tablespoon pure (Grade A) Canadian Maple Syrup

300 grams/10.5 ounces chilled Pâte Brisée (Water Shortcrust Pastry)

5 large eggs

¾ cup double cream

¼ teaspoon fleur de sel or sea salt flakes

½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

2 1/2 tablespoons pure (Grade A) Canadian Maple Syrup

In a large, deep skillet, melt butter with olive oil over medium-high heat.

Thoroughly dust shitake mushrooms with a paper towel or clean brush; then, cut them into thick slices.

Once the butter is just foaming, add shitake mushrooms slices, and sauté, shaking the pan often, to coat in butter and oil, until the mushrooms start browning.

Finely chop Green Onion. Add chopped white part of the Green Onion, saving green part for later, to the skillet and cook, 1 minute.

Finely chop Parsley as well, and stir into the mushrooms. Cook, a few minutes more.

Add minced garlic, and cook, 1 minute.

Season with fleur de sel and black pepper. Cook, another minute, then deglaze with Maple Syrup. Cook, a few seconds more, and remove from the heat. Let cool completely

Preheat oven to 200°C/395°F.

Roll Pâte Brisée out thinly onto a lightly floured surface. Fit into a buttered 20cm/8″ tart tin, letting the pastry overhang on the edges. Prick the base with a fork. Place a sheet of baking paper onto the Pâte Brisée and fill with dried beans or rice. Blind bake the Pâte Brisée crust  at 200°C/395°F, 5 minutes. Carefully remove the beans and baking paper, and bake another 5 minutes, at the same temperature. Remove from the oven. Let cool slightly before trimming the edges.

In a medium bowl, whisk eggs together with double cream. Season salt and black pepper. Then, whisk in Maple Syrup until well-blended. Set aside.

Scatter cooked shitake mushrooms onto the crust. Pour Maple egg and cream mixture evenly all over.

Place in the warm oven, and bake, at 200°C/395°F, 25 to 30 minutes, until cooked through and crust is beautifully golden brown.

Serve Maple Shitake Quiche warm, with dressed lettuce.

[morethansalad]

Dan Dan Slaw / Cabbage Salad in the Style of Dan Dan Noodles (Vegan)

[bjfinn]

BAGÚN (IRISH BACON)

Irish bacon is different from American bacon -- it's usually made from the loin, and isn't traditionally smoked (German immigrants are credited with introducing the idea of smoking meats to Ireland).

It's usually served whole as a roast or cut into chops, or boiled like ham.

This recipe was cobbled together from various sources.

1.8kg (4lb) pork loin roast, fat cap left on

160g (¾ cup) brown sugar

80g (½ cup) Diamond Crystal kosher salt

15g (2 tsp) honey (or maple syrup)

8mL (½ heaping tbsp) peppercorns, crushed

8mL (½ heaping tbsp) juniper berries, crushed

2 bay leaves, crumbled

2-3 whole cloves, crushed

Part One

Wash pork thoroughly in cold water; pat dry with paper towels and place in a large plastic zipper bag.

In a small bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients to combine; add dry brine mixture to pork, rubbing to coat evenly. (I did it on the board for the sake of the photo, but it's easier and less messy to do it in the bag.)

Seal the bag, removing as much air as possible; refrigerate for one week.

After the second week, remove meat from the bag and rinse lightly; wipe dry with paper towels and place on a rack over a pan or foil in the refrigerator for about 24 hours.

After one week, rub meat again with dry brine mixture and turn over; refrigerate for another week.

Part Two

Cut into chops, if desired, or may be cooked whole as a roast.

[love-everyone]

A warm hug from fall…

Sugar Baby pumpkin wedges, roasted with a comforting, maple spiced glaze until caramelized and tender. Cozied on top of creamy unsweetened coconut yogurt with drippings from the pan, extra dark maple syrup and a touch of olive oil. Finished it off with crunchy pecans, lots of spicy cracked pepper and generous smoked Maldon for a sweet and salty balance.

Spices:

Grenada gold nutmeg

Smoked black cardamom

Pemba Clove

Zanzibar peppercorn

[nagdabbit]

What's the difference between a quick pickle and regular pickles? Are you just half pickling them? Do you use a different brine?

huh. okay. quickles are, in the broadest sense, just not canned. think of it like this: quickles are marinated vegetables; pickles are the same marinated vegetables that have gone through the whole canning process.

if youre using a less than 5% vinegar, you should either make small batch quickles or just resign yourself to relegating a lot of fridge space to canned pickles cuz they're not gonna be shelf stable. quickles are not shelf stable and need to be refrigerated.

if im planning to keep them for a long while in the fridge, or im using a denser veg like carrots, ill actually heat the brine and seal my jars before fridging them, but that's not necessary. usually im making a micro batch for a meal—as in one literal cup of quickles.

also, doing micro batches means you can play around with recipes and marinating times without wasting a lot of ingredients if it turns out bad. like one large onion can make like five different quickles.

and since you're likely not fully canning a quickle, you have a little more leniency with the strength of your acid—cuz remember it's gonna be AT LEAST 5% acidity if you're planning on having shelf-stable pickles. all you need for quickles is: acid + sugar + salt, sometimes + water.

half cup rice wine vinegar, dash mirin, dash soy, 1 shallot thinly sliced, marinate for at least 20 minutes

half cup lemon juice, 1 tbsp white vinegar, 1 tbsp honey, pinch salt, 1 thinly sliced clove of garlic, several thinly sliced jalapenos (or other hot peps, but this is the only way i like jalapenos), marinate for at least two hours - EDIT: also really good if you heat the brine with a few sprigs of fresh rosemary before adding the jalapenos

2 cup cider vinegar, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tbsp salt, heat with 1/2 tbsp each of whole allspice, whole cloves, whole black and pink peppercorn, and 1 tsp each of whole mustard seed, coriander seed, pinch of caraway, two or three bay leaves, pour over sliced red onion, fridge at least overnight

1 1/2 cup lemon juice, 1/2 white vinegar, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 1/2 tbsp salt, heat with 2 tbsp peppercorn (i load it up with black and green, usually a little more than 2 tbsp worth), 1 tsp chili flakes, 2 cloves garlic, pour over asparagus stalks, fridge at least overnight

1 cup cider vinegar, 1 cup balsamic vinegar, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 tbsp salt, heat until sugar is dissolved with 1 or 2 tbsp of cloves, 1 tbsp pink peppercorn, lots of fresh tarragon, pour over sliced beets, fridge for at least a full day

1 cup red wine vinegar, 1/2 cup maple syrup, hefty pinch salt, heat until lightly bubbly with a few sprigs of thyme, 1 tbsp black peppercorn, pour over carrots (we prefer small to mid sized whole carrots, but slices work just fine), fridge for at least a full day

i fucking love pickles. i would drink vinegar constantly if it wouldn't cause me great harm. go forth, pickle something