#also when it comes to the chocolate chips & nuts: just add in how many or how little your heart desires. live your best life.

[cosmicallytiki]

From my personal stash of recipes, my chocolate chocolate chip cookie. A pretty fitting recipe for Voxer and his secretive sweet tooth.

I tried to track the metric measurements as best I could while making them but the original is made/more accurate with imperial.

Written recipe under the read more:

1 1/2c (340g) Butter

1c (208g) Packed Brown Sugar

1/2c (100g) Granulated Sugar

3 eggs

About 6oz (170g) Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix, slightly under or over will work just fine.

*Cook & Serve kind can be used, the texture/firmness will be slightly off

3 1/3c (400g) All Purpose Flour

1 1/2 tsp Vanilla

1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda

Pinch of Salt

Chocolate Chips & Nuts

Cream butter, sugar, vanilla, & eggs until light and fluffy. Next add in the pudding mix dry, do not make the pudding and then add it in. Mix until it’s fully combined/the whole batter is a chocolate color and there is no more powder left. In a separate bowl add in you flour, salt, & baking soda together. Stir or sift together before gradually adding it into your butter mix. Fold in chocolate chips & nuts. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a greased or lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375° F/190° C for 8-10 minutes.

These cookies do not spread out much, do not flatten them as they will have softer centers if the dough is in a ball or is domed from a cookie scoop.

Can store at room temp or in fridge in an air tight container for up to 7-10 days. Extras store exceptionally well long term in the freezer. They are delicious to eat from frozen/slightly frozen if you can’t wait.

[leighlew3]

Want to know how it feels to be a writer in Hollywood?

Picture yourself working at an ice cream shop.

Customer: “Ohhh all of these look amazing, but that one in particular -- that looks so good, I'd love to try this 'rocky road' flavor.”

Worker: “Fantastic! Coming right up! Oh, you’re aware there’s nuts in it, correct? Just making sure, in case of allergies.”

“Yeah. I know what I want. Please give me rocky road.”

“Sure, no problem. :) Here ya go! Even gave ya a little extra, on the house!”

“Ew why is there nuts in this? It’s too crunchy for my mouth and I shouldn't be eating nuts anyway. I don’t want this.”

“Oh, I’m- I'm sorry… that’s… um, okay, well is there something else you’d like to try?”

“What do you suggest?”

“The mint chocolate chip is really popular.”

“Seen it too many times.”

"But have you tried it?"

"No, but I've seen it enough to know that's not what I want."

“Okie dokie. Though I will say we do something different with ours, we also add in-”

“Wait, hold on -- *lowers phone* -- I was just talking to a friend of mine, he's never even had ice cream, but he had this brilliant idea: what if we take the rocky road ice cream and mix the mint chocolate chip INTO it?”

“Oh, I— I'm sorry, just to understand, you just said you didn’t like nuts from rocky road and had no interest in the mint chocolate chip, but now you'd like both -- just, combined?"

"Yes, and I'm very excited about it!"

"K, I'll get to work on that for ya. Just a note, I'm not sure these two flavor profiles will work super great together, but hey -- it can't hurt to try."

“Exactly. It’s called development of flavors. Sometimes you have to figure out what you don’t like, duh.”

“Right. And we did. But now you want two things you didn’t want? I'm just trying to understand-”

“Yes, obviously, because together, it’s never been done.”

“Okie dokie. Not a problem!"

“And, can you do this fast? We need to leave soon.”

“Gotcha. Here you go!”

“Oh, this is gross. This doesn't work well together. Why the heck would you combine this? The flavors don't work well together.”

“Oh, I — I'm so sorry, but you wanted them combined."

"I mean it was a collaborative effort."

"Um, not really, you didn't even listen when I- you know what? It's all good. We're adaptable here and always happy to serve! Can I offer you something else! Sherbet, perhaps?"

“Is that like, fruity?"

"Yeah, we have orange or mango, I love the mango personally."

"Hmm. Maybe I'll try the orange. Actually, you know what? I don't know anymore, I don't know. I think I’ll come back in six months and tell you want I want.”

“Wait, s- sorry- six months?”

“I’m very busy. I have to go to four other ice cream shops just this week.”

“Oh... ok...”

“In the meantime can I get a free sample of the mango sherbet?”

“Oh, so you do you want sherbet! Sure, be happy to get that for ya!”

"Please put it in the large ice cream cone and with double scoops."

"Oh... that's... sorry that's no longer a sample. You'd have to pay for that much..."

"Haha. Sure. I mean, you're lucky I'm even standing here. Most people would kill for my presence in their shop."

"...you know what? That's fine. Here you go, have a good day, and I hope you leave us a positive review!"

“I don't do reviews. And oh, this tastes weird... this is way different from ice cream. It's very fruit forward.”

“Yes, because it’s sherbet.”

"Yeah, I know the difference."

"But you just said... nevermind. Can I help you with anything else?"

“No. And, thanks, I guess. Really would have preferred ice cream. Maybe something chocolate like rocky road or mint chocolate chip, you know?”

"?!?!!?"

End scene.

[recipeandeat]

The Best Pumpkin Pie Cookies Recipe in 6 Simple Steps

These cookies are a delicious and convenient way to enjoy the flavors of pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie cookies are made with a soft and chewy cookie base that is infused with the spices of pumpkin pie, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. The cookies are often topped with a sweet and creamy frosting, which may include cream cheese or whipped cream.

Some variations of pumpkin pie cookies may also include a layer of pumpkin pie filling in the center, which adds an extra burst of flavor and texture. These cookies are the perfect dessert for fall gatherings and holiday celebrations, and they are sure to be a hit with family and friends.

So let's know without any delay how to make pumpkin pie cookies recipe at home by following some easy and simple steps.

Cooking Time:

Pumpkin pie cookies will take between 10-15 minutes to bake in a 350°F (180°C) oven. However, it is important to keep an eye on your cookies as they bake, as ovens can vary and the cooking time may need to be adjusted. To check if your pumpkin pie cookies are done, you can insert a toothpick into the center of a cookie.

If the toothpick comes out clean or with just a few crumbs clinging to it, the cookies are likely done. If the toothpick comes out with raw dough on it, the cookies will need more time to bake. It is also a good idea to rotate your baking sheet halfway through the cooking time to ensure even baking.

Best Toppings For Pumpkin Pie Cookie:

There are many delicious toppings that can be used as pumpkin pie cookie toppings to add extra flavor and texture. Some popular and best options include:

1. Cream cheese frosting: This rich and tangy frosting pairs perfectly with the spices of pumpkin pie.

2. Whipped cream: A light and fluffy topping that adds a touch of sweetness to the cookies.

3. Caramel sauce: A drizzle of caramel sauce can add a rich and buttery flavor to the cookies.

4. Chopped nuts: Pecans, walnuts, or almonds add a crunchy texture and a nutty flavor to the cookies.

5. Chocolate chips: Mini chocolate chips or chocolate shavings can add a touch of chocolatey goodness to the cookies.

6. Dried cranberries: These tart and chewy berries add a pop of color and flavor to the cookies.

7. Cinnamon sugar: A sprinkle of cinnamon sugar on top of the cookies adds a warm and sweet finishing touch.

8. Maple glaze: A drizzle of maple glaze adds a sweet and savory flavor to the cookies.

Ultimately, the best topping for pumpkin pie cookies will depend on your personal taste preferences. Feel free to get creative and try out different toppings to find the combination that you like best.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened • 1 cup granulated sugar • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree • 1 large egg • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger • 1/2 teaspoon salt

How to make Pumpkin pie cookies recipe 6 Simple Steps:

1. Preheat your microwave to 175°C (350°F). Line a baking sheet and parchment paper together.

2. In a bowl, beat the sugar and butter together until both of the ingredients becomes creamy. Add pumpkin puree, egg and vanilla essence and mix all these ingredients well.

3. Whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Slowly add both the wet and dry ingredients together and keep mixing until well combined.

4. Make the balls of the prepared dough in the shape of cookies and place them in the baking seat.

5. Now bake the prepared cookies properly in the microwave for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are slightly golden brown in color.

6. After the cookies are well baked, take them out of the microwave and let them cool down for a while, when it cools down a bit, put it on the baking seat to cool down completely.

Now your mouthwatering Pumpkin Pie Cookies are ready to be served.

Nutrition value:

Nutrition information for these pumpkin pie cookies, based on the above recipe:

Serving size: 1 cookie (based on the recipe making 24 cookies)

Calories: 102 Fat: 6 g Saturated fat: 3 g Cholesterol: 27 mg Sodium: 45 mg Carbohydrates: 12 g Fiber: 1 g Sugar: 8 g Protein: 1 g

I hope these Pumpkin Pie Cookies Recipe turn out delicious for you! Be sure to let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before serving or storing them. If you want, you can keep these cookies in an airtight container for about 1 week. These cookies can be easily stored in air-tight container without refrigerator for 1 week without spoiling and if you want to use these cookies for a long time, you can keep them in the refrigerator as well. These cookies will be easily edible for about 3 months if refrigerated. To serve, you can enjoy the cookies as is, or you can add a dollop of whipped cream on top.

Also Read: 8 Quick & Easy Steps To Make Pesto Chicken Pizza Recipe

Thank you.

[thelollyshop]

Why Trail Mix is The Perfect Snack

Munching our way through yet another bag of Maltesers it occurred to us that perhaps there is a better way to indulge in a bit of sofa-style snack time. And then it came to us; trail mix. What better way to enjoy the chocolate that we all love (and quite frankly, deserve) than literally mixing it up a bit?

What is Trail Mix

At its core, trail mix is a portable snack designed to sustain energy levels during activities, particularly hiking or trekking. The beauty of trail mix lies in its simplicity and adaptability—an effortless blend of nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and sometimes a sweet or savoury addition, like chocolate chips or pretzels. Originating from the need for convenient, durable sustenance on long trails, this snack has evolved into a beloved mix that fuels adventure seekers but also serves as a quick, nutritious pick-me-up for anyone, anywhere. Movie night, anyone? Its combination of flavours and textures, from the creamy crunch of nuts to the chewy sweetness of dried fruit, makes trail mix a universally appealing and endlessly customizable snack option.

Is Trail Mix Good For You?

Whether or not trail mix is actually healthy all depends on what you put in it, and how much you eat. That said, it is the ideal mix of nutritious things and things that are not so nutritious (but good for you in so many other ways) that makes trail mix the perfect snack. In a way, trail mix embodies the idea of balanced eating and takes the focus away from the mindset of good foods vs bad. When eaten to sustain energy levels, a handful every so often to keep you going is the whole point. But if you are simply feeding movie night munchies, then for every sweet or chocolate you get a whole bunch of other stuff too. So yeah, you can make your trail mix entirely of nuts, dried fruit and seeds. Or, you can throw in a handful of the fun stuff too.

Trail Mix Ingredients

When you're mixing up your next batch of trail mix, consider tossing in a variety of these ingredients for a delightful balance of taste and nutrition: Almonds: Rich in healthy fats and protein, these nuts are a trail mix staple. Walnuts: Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, they're a heart-healthy choice. Peanuts: The most user-friendly of all nuts, everybody loves peanuts. Try a mix of salted and raw. Cashews: Mild and slightly sweet, they add a unique flavour and texture. Pumpkin Seeds: Also known as pepitas, these seeds are a great source of magnesium and zinc. Sunflower Seeds: High in vitamin E, they add a creamy crunch. Dried Cranberries: For a burst of chewy Raisins: A classic ingredient for sweetness and chewiness. Chocolate Chips: For that touch of indulgence. Consider dark chocolate for less sugar and more antioxidants. Chocolates and Lollies: Like we say, nothing wrong with a few extras! Pretzel Pieces: A salty element to contrast the sweet and nutty flavours. Popcorn: For a light and airy crunch, add some plain or lightly salted popcorn to your mix. Dried Cherries: Their tartness adds complexity to your trail mix. Coconut Flakes: For a hint of tropical flavour and additional texture. Trail mix is all about variety, so don't be afraid to get creative and add your own personal favourites. Just remember to balance out the sweet treats with some nutrient-dense options for a well-rounded snack. Remember, the secret to a great trail mix is the balance of flavours and textures, so feel free to experiment with these ingredients until you find your perfect mix!

Ideas for Homemade Trail Mix

When it comes to making homemade trail mix, pretty much anything goes. After all, it is essentially just a bag full of bits and pieces to keep you energised, entertained, and hopefully surprised. From the healthy classic to the sweeter side of things, here's a bunch of ideas to keep you going. Creative Trail Mix Combinations The Classic Blend Combine almonds, walnuts, raisins, dried cranberries, and a handful of dark chocolate chips for a timeless favourite that will keep your energy levels high on the (actual) trail. Tropical Getaway Mix Mix together cashews, almonds, coconut flakes, dried pineapple, and banana chips for a tropical twist. Sweet and Salty Crunch Create a satisfying mix with peanuts, pretzel pieces, popcorn, and raisins. Add a sprinkle of M&Ms for a colourful, fun twist. Nut Butter Lover's Dream For those who can't get enough of nut butter, mix together peanuts, almonds, and pumpkin seeds, and drizzle with melted peanut butter before letting it cool and break apart. Very Berry Mix Combine dried blueberries, dried cherries, almonds, walnuts, dark chocolate chips, and sunflower seeds for an antioxidant-rich snack. Savory Spice Mix Cater to savoury cravings with a mix of cashews, almonds, pretzel pieces, and pumpkin seeds, lightly tossed with a spice blend of your choice such as chili powder, garlic powder, and a dash of salt. Kids’ Party Mix Delight the little ones with a colourful mix of popcorn, pretzel pieces, dried strawberries, chocolate candies, and a few marshmallows for a snack that doubles as a party favour. Of course, you can mix and match as you please, dialling up the healthy bits and dialling down the sugar. Or the other way around. We have plenty of both here at Opera Foods, but why not start with the sweet stuff and check out our massive range of lollies?

This article was reproduced on this site with permission from operafoods.com.au the “Bulk Lolly Wholesalers”. See original article:- Why Trail Mix is The Perfect Snack Read the full article

[helenfletcher]

The hardest thing about the Best Two Step Banana Bread recipe is waiting for the bananas to fully ripen with brown specks on on their yellow jackets. A processor or blender combines the wet ingredients and they are whisked together with the dry ingredients. Into the pan they go then into the oven. That's it for the best quick bread ever! This is the perfect baking project with kids or grandchildren! This Two Step Banana Bread is great as a quick gift to someone on your list or to yourself.  it is sure to be well received and appreciated.  It's also great to have tucked away in the freezer for those times you need to have a bit of something for drop in guests or you just want a treat. Why You'll Love This Recipe It's basically two steps after measuring the ingredients. When it comes to baking it doesn't get much easier. This is almost cake-like in texture and taste. It doesn't fall apart when cut and is packed with flavor. It uses really basic ingredients and not many of those. It can be eaten for breakfast, snacks, great with salads and as a treat anytime. This only uses a few measuring ingredients, a bowl and a whisk to make. Recipe Ingredients BACK ROW: Buttermilk, cake flour, vegetable oil MIDDLE ROW: Walnuts, granulated sugar, eggs, bananas FRONT ROW: Salt, baking powder, vanilla extract, baking soda Buttermilk helps keep whatever it is used for moist longer. Cake Flour is used for tenderness and impart a cake like quality to the bread Vegetable oil is much better than butter, melted or creamed. It not only contributes to keeping the bread moist, it allow the full flavor of the bananas to shine through. Bananas should be speckled or even darker for the most flavor. Perfectly yellow bananas will not impart as much. Variations Any nut can be substituted for the walnuts. 1/2 cup chocolate chips can be added to the batter along with the nuts. The rind of a small orange can be added. 1/2 cup dried cherries, raisins or cranberries are a good addition. Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions Step by Step Instructions Step 1. Prepare a 9x5" loaf pan by lining it with parchment paper and spraying the paper and the pan with a non-stick baking spray. Set aside. Step 2. Puree the bananas in the food processor or blender. Step 3. Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla to the processor or blender. Step 4. Process the ingredients with the banana puree. Step 5. Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. Step 6. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and whisk together until smooth. Step 7. Stir the walnuts into the batter. Step 8. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake as directed. Recipe FAQ's Can the bananas be mashed with a fork? For this recipe, it is preferable to puree them for the best result. However, if neither is available, mash them with a fork until as pureed as possible. How do you get bananas ripe? Bananas are shipped very green. Produce sellers have special rooms kept at 70°F in which the bananas are kept until mostly yellow at which point they are edible. What happens if I use under ripe bananas? The bread won't have as much flavor as if really ripe bananas are used. Storage The bread will keep covered for 5 or so days at room temperature. For longer storage, freeze, wrap well and freeze for several months. Thaw unwrapped at room temperature. Expert Tips Cake flour is preferred for this recipe as it adds tenderness and a cake like quality. However, all purpose flour can be used by removing 1/4 cup and replacing it with cornstarch. While buttermilk is best, use milk (either whole or 2%), remove 2 teaspoons and add 2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit while the rest of the i

ngredients are prepared so it can separate into curd and whey becoming thicker and emulating buttermilk. More Ways to Use Bananas If you love this Two Step Easy Banana Bread or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating in the recipe card and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I appreciate each of you being here! Best Two Step Banana Nut Bread The hardest thing about the Two Step Easy Banana Bread is waiting for the bananas to fully ripen with brown specks on on their yellow jackets. A processor or blender combines the wet ingredients and they are whisked together with the dry ingredients. Into the pan they go then into the oven. That's it! 1 cup banana puree1/2 cup buttermilk2 large eggs2 teaspoons vanilla extract2/3 cup canola or vegetable oil2 cups cake flour (250 grams)1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams)1 teaspoon baking soda3/4 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 9x5" loaf pan with parchment paper. Spray the paper and sides well with a non-stick baking release. Set aside.Puree the bananas in a food processor or blender. Measure 1cup and return it to the processor or blender. Add the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla and oil. Process or blend until liquid.In a medium size bowl, place the remaining ingrediets except the walnuts. Add the liqud ingredients and whisk to combine. Stir in the walnuts. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 60 to 75 minutes until a tester come out clean.Cool for about 15 minutes and turn the bread out onto a cooling rack. Cake flour is preferred for this recipe as it adds tenderness and a cake like quality. However, all purpose flour can be used by removing 1/4 cup and replacing it with cornstarch. While buttermilk is best, use milk (either whole or 2%), remove 2 teaspoons and add 2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit while the rest of the ingredients are prepared so it can separate into curd and whey becoming thicker and emulating buttermilk. Vegetable oil is much better than butter, melted or creamed. It not only contributes to keeping the bread moist, it allow the full flavor of the bananas to shine through. Bananas should be speckled or even darker for the most flavor. Perfectly yellow bananas will not impart as much. Any nut can be substituted for the walnuts. 1/2 cup chocolate chips can be added to the batter along with the nuts. The rind of a small orange can be added. 1/2 cup dried cherries, raisins or cranberries are a good addition.   Quick BreadAmerican

[eazy-group]

Camping Cuisine: Easy and Delicious Campfire Recipes

New Post has been published on https://eazycamping.net/camping-cuisine-easy-and-delicious-campfire-recipes/

Camping Cuisine: Easy and Delicious Campfire Recipes

Table of Contents

Introduction

S’mores with a Twist: Creative Variations on the Classic Campfire Treat

One-Pot Wonders: Hearty and Flavorful Meals Cooked in a Single Pot

Grilled Goodness: Mouthwatering Recipes for Cooking Over an Open Flame

Campfire Breakfasts: Start Your Day Right with These Simple and Tasty Recipes

Snacks and Sides: Quick and Easy Recipes to Keep You Fueled Throughout the Day

Conclusion

Photo by Annie Le

Introduction

Camping cuisine refers to the food and meals prepared while camping or spending time in the great outdoors. It is important to have easy and delicious campfire recipes that can be prepared with minimal equipment and ingredients. These recipes should be simple to make, yet satisfying and nutritious to keep campers energized for their outdoor activities. With the right recipes and preparation, camping cuisine can be a highlight of any camping trip.

S’mores with a Twist: Creative Variations on the Classic Campfire Treat

Camping is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy the great outdoors. One of the best parts of camping is the food. There’s something about cooking over an open flame that just makes everything taste better. And when it comes to campfire cuisine, there’s nothing quite like s’mores. But why settle for the same old graham cracker, chocolate, and marshmallow combo when you can mix things up with some creative variations on this classic treat?

First up, let’s talk about the basics. To make a traditional s’more, you’ll need graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows. Simply roast the marshmallows over the fire until they’re golden brown and gooey, then sandwich them between two graham crackers with a piece of chocolate in the middle. It’s a simple and delicious treat that’s sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

But if you’re looking to mix things up a bit, there are plenty of ways to put a twist on the classic s’more. For example, you could try using different types of chocolate. Milk chocolate is the traditional choice, but dark chocolate or even white chocolate can add a new dimension of flavor to your s’mores. You could also try using flavored marshmallows, like strawberry or caramel, to add a little extra sweetness.

Another fun variation on the classic s’more is to use different types of cookies instead of graham crackers. Chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, and even peanut butter cookies can all make a delicious base for your s’mores. And if you really want to get creative, you could try using waffles or even donuts instead of cookies or crackers.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you could even try adding some extra toppings to your s’mores. Crushed up candy bars, chopped nuts, or even fresh fruit can all add a little extra flavor and texture to your treat. Just be careful not to overload your s’mores with too many toppings, or they might become too messy to eat!

Of course, if you’re looking for a completely different take on the classic s’more, there are plenty of recipes out there to try. For example, you could make s’mores dip by melting chocolate and marshmallows together in a cast iron skillet over the fire. Then, simply dip graham crackers or other treats into the gooey mixture for a delicious and decadent dessert.

Another fun idea is to make s’mores sandwiches. Simply take two slices of bread, spread them with peanut butter and jelly, and then add a roasted marshmallow and a piece of chocolate in the middle. Grill the sandwich over the fire until the chocolate is melted and the bread is toasted, and you’ve got a delicious and unique take on the classic s’more.

No matter how you choose to enjoy your s’mores, one thing is for sure: they’re a classic campfire treat that’s sure to bring a smile to your face. So next time you’re out camping, why not mix things up a bit and try some of these creative variations on the traditional s’more? You might just discover a new favorite treat!

One-Pot Wonders: Hearty and Flavorful Meals Cooked in a Single Pot

Camping is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy the great outdoors. However, cooking while camping can be a challenge, especially if you’re used to cooking in a fully equipped kitchen. But fear not, with a little planning and preparation, you can create easy and delicious campfire meals that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.

One-pot wonders are a great option for camping meals. These hearty and flavorful meals are cooked in a single pot, making them easy to prepare and clean up. Plus, they’re perfect for chilly nights around the campfire.

One of the most popular one-pot camping meals is chili. This classic dish is easy to make and can be customized to suit your taste preferences. Start by browning ground beef or turkey in a large pot over the campfire. Add chopped onions, garlic, and your favorite chili seasoning mix. Then, add canned tomatoes, kidney beans, and corn. Let the chili simmer for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream.

Another great one-pot camping meal is jambalaya. This Cajun-inspired dish is packed with flavor and is sure to warm you up on a chilly night. Start by cooking sliced sausage in a large pot over the campfire. Add chopped onions, bell peppers, and celery. Then, add canned tomatoes, chicken broth, and rice. Let the jambalaya simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked through. Serve with hot sauce and crusty bread.

If you’re looking for a vegetarian option, try making a vegetable stew. Start by sautéing chopped onions and garlic in a large pot over the campfire. Add chopped carrots, potatoes, and celery. Then, add vegetable broth and canned tomatoes. Let the stew simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Serve with crusty bread or crackers.

One-pot pasta dishes are also a great option for camping meals. Start by cooking pasta in a large pot over the campfire. Drain the pasta and set it aside. In the same pot, sauté chopped onions and garlic. Add canned tomatoes, chicken broth, and your favorite vegetables, such as spinach or zucchini. Let the mixture simmer for a few minutes, then add the cooked pasta. Stir everything together and let it cook for a few more minutes. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese.

In conclusion, one-pot wonders are a great option for camping meals. These hearty and flavorful meals are easy to prepare and clean up, making them perfect for camping trips. Whether you’re in the mood for chili, jambalaya, vegetable stew, or pasta, there’s a one-pot camping meal that will satisfy your hunger and taste buds. So, the next time you’re planning a camping trip, be sure to add some one-pot wonders to your menu.

Grilled Goodness: Mouthwatering Recipes for Cooking Over an Open Flame

Camping is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy the great outdoors. One of the best parts of camping is cooking over an open flame. There’s something about the smell of a campfire and the taste of food cooked over it that just can’t be beat. In this article, we’ll share some easy and delicious campfire recipes that are sure to satisfy your hunger and your taste buds.

First up, we have grilled chicken skewers. These are a classic camping dish that are easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. To make them, simply cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and thread them onto skewers. Brush the chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the skewers over the campfire, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and slightly charred. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Next, we have grilled corn on the cob. This is another classic camping dish that’s easy to make and always delicious. To make it, simply shuck the corn and brush it with melted butter. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and wrap each ear of corn in aluminum foil. Grill the corn over the campfire, turning occasionally, until it’s tender and slightly charred. Serve with additional butter and salt.

If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, try grilled shrimp tacos. To make them, marinate peeled and deveined shrimp in a mixture of olive oil, lime juice, garlic, and chili powder for at least 30 minutes. Grill the shrimp over the campfire until they’re pink and slightly charred. Serve the shrimp in warm tortillas with shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, and a dollop of sour cream.

For a vegetarian option, try grilled portobello mushrooms. To make them, remove the stems from the mushrooms and brush them with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and grill them over the campfire until they’re tender and slightly charred. Serve the mushrooms on a bed of mixed greens with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

Finally, we have grilled peaches with vanilla ice cream. This is a simple and delicious dessert that’s perfect for camping. To make it, cut peaches in half and remove the pits. Brush the cut side of the peaches with melted butter and sprinkle with brown sugar. Grill the peaches over the campfire, cut side down, until they’re tender and slightly caramelized. Serve the peaches with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

In conclusion, cooking over an open flame is one of the best parts of camping. With these easy and delicious campfire recipes, you can enjoy mouthwatering meals and desserts that are sure to satisfy your hunger and your taste buds. Whether you’re grilling chicken skewers, corn on the cob, shrimp tacos, portobello mushrooms, or peaches with ice cream, you’re sure to have a memorable camping experience. So grab your skewers, fire up the campfire, and get cooking!

Campfire Breakfasts: Start Your Day Right with These Simple and Tasty Recipes

Camping is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy the great outdoors. One of the best parts of camping is the food. There’s something about cooking over an open flame that makes everything taste better. And when it comes to breakfast, there’s nothing quite like a hearty meal to start your day off right. Here are some easy and delicious campfire breakfast recipes that are sure to satisfy.

First up is the classic campfire breakfast: bacon and eggs. This is a simple recipe that requires just a few ingredients. All you need is bacon, eggs, and a cast iron skillet. Start by cooking the bacon in the skillet until it’s crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and set it aside. Crack the eggs into the skillet and cook them to your liking. Serve the eggs with the bacon on the side. It’s a simple and delicious breakfast that’s perfect for camping.

If you’re looking for something a little more substantial, try making breakfast burritos. This recipe is easy to customize to your liking, and it’s a great way to use up any leftover ingredients you have on hand. Start by cooking some diced potatoes in a skillet until they’re crispy. Add in some diced onions and peppers and cook until they’re soft. Scramble some eggs in a separate skillet and add them to the potato mixture. Warm up some tortillas over the fire and fill them with the egg and potato mixture. Top with cheese, salsa, and any other toppings you like.

Another great campfire breakfast recipe is French toast. This recipe is a little more involved than the others, but it’s worth the effort. Start by whisking together some eggs, milk, and cinnamon in a bowl. Dip slices of bread into the egg mixture and cook them in a skillet until they’re golden brown. Serve the French toast with butter and syrup. It’s a delicious and comforting breakfast that’s perfect for a chilly morning.

If you’re looking for a healthier option, try making oatmeal over the campfire. This recipe is easy to customize to your liking, and it’s a great way to start your day off with a healthy meal. Start by boiling some water in a pot over the fire. Add in some rolled oats and cook until they’re soft. Add in some milk, honey, and any other toppings you like, such as fruit or nuts. It’s a simple and satisfying breakfast that’s perfect for a long day of hiking or exploring.

Finally, if you’re feeling adventurous, try making breakfast pizza over the campfire. This recipe is a little more involved, but it’s a fun and unique way to start your day. Start by rolling out some pizza dough and cooking it in a skillet until it’s crispy. Add some scrambled eggs, bacon, cheese, and any other toppings you like. Cover the skillet with a lid and cook until the cheese is melted and bubbly. It’s a delicious and indulgent breakfast that’s sure to impress.

In conclusion, there are plenty of easy and delicious campfire breakfast recipes to choose from. Whether you’re in the mood for something classic like bacon and eggs or something a little more adventurous like breakfast pizza, there’s a recipe out there for everyone. So next time you’re camping, try making one of these tasty breakfasts and start your day off right.

Snacks and Sides: Quick and Easy Recipes to Keep You Fueled Throughout the Day

Camping is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and connect with nature. However, cooking while camping can be a challenge, especially if you’re used to the convenience of a fully equipped kitchen. But fear not, with a little preparation and creativity, you can whip up some delicious snacks and sides to keep you fueled throughout the day.

One of the easiest and most versatile snacks to make while camping is trail mix. Simply mix together your favorite nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and chocolate chips for a quick and easy snack that can be enjoyed on the go. Another great option is roasted chickpeas. Drain and rinse a can of chickpeas, toss them with olive oil and your favorite spices, and roast them over the campfire until crispy.

If you’re looking for something a little heartier, consider making a batch of campfire nachos. Layer tortilla chips, shredded cheese, black beans, and diced tomatoes in a cast-iron skillet, and cook over the campfire until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Top with sliced jalapenos, avocado, and sour cream for a delicious and satisfying snack.

For a side dish that’s both easy and delicious, try grilled vegetables. Slice up your favorite veggies, such as zucchini, bell peppers, and onions, and toss them with olive oil and your favorite seasonings. Grill them over the campfire until they’re tender and slightly charred, and serve alongside your main dish.

Another great option is campfire potatoes. Slice up some potatoes and onions, and toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Wrap them in foil and cook them over the campfire until they’re tender and golden brown. Top with shredded cheese and bacon bits for a decadent side dish.

If you’re in the mood for something sweet, consider making campfire s’mores. Simply sandwich a piece of chocolate and a marshmallow between two graham crackers, and roast over the campfire until the marshmallow is gooey and the chocolate is melted. For a fun twist, try using different types of chocolate, such as dark chocolate or peanut butter cups.

Another great option is grilled fruit. Slice up your favorite fruits, such as peaches, pineapple, and bananas, and grill them over the campfire until they’re caramelized and slightly charred. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream for a delicious and refreshing dessert.

In conclusion, camping cuisine doesn’t have to be boring or bland. With a little creativity and some simple ingredients, you can whip up some delicious snacks and sides to keep you fueled throughout the day. Whether you’re in the mood for something savory or sweet, there’s a campfire recipe out there for everyone. So next time you’re planning a camping trip, don’t forget to pack some easy and delicious recipes to keep you satisfied and energized.

Conclusion

Conclusion: Camping cuisine can be easy and delicious with the right recipes and preparation. From classic s’mores to hearty stews and grilled meats, there are plenty of options for satisfying meals while enjoying the great outdoors. With a little planning and creativity, campers can enjoy tasty and memorable meals around the campfire.

[history-of-hanover]

A Taste of Hanover

Home to the very first “Marylou’s”

Hanover, MA is home to the very first Marylou’s, one of the most popular coffee shops on the South Shore. “The best coffee in town,” makes getting out of bed easy with their delicious selection of their own original flavors. Located at 211 Washington Street, you will be able to find a coffee to satisfy your every craving. With so many to choose from, you won’t be disappointed. Marylou’s will make your morning just a little bit sweeter. 

The coffee shop was started back in 1986, right in one of the most historical parts of Hanover, called “four corners.” Dating all the way back to 1856, a hotel was located in this part of town but was later torn down after World War I. The spot where the hotel was has since been turned into new shops such as baking and floral shops, and the rest of the area is surrounded by old houses, some of which even date back to the 1700s. The Marylou’s building also happens to be an old house that was converted into a coffee shop. Whether you are looking for something minty, sweet, fruity, or just a classic cup of coffee, Marylou’s has you covered. Their variety of flavors is what keeps customers coming back.

If you are looking for just a simple coffee, you can always just get black coffee and if you wuld like, you can add sweeteners or try one of their flavors, made however you like it. To name a few, you can choose from white chocolate chip, mocha mint, strawberry nut, banana nut, blueberry cinnamon, hazelnut, snickerdoodle, and many more. If you are going for something even sweeter or with all the more flavor, you can select from their “specialty” coffee menu, which includes flavors such as butterfinger, twix, peanutbutter, and almond joy. Lastly, if you are really having a sweet tooth, you can choose from the “extra specialty” menu, which I would say is their most popular menu, especially amongst the middle-high school age range, with flavors such as girl scout cookie, strawberry shortcake, minty lou, caramel lou, and many more including their signature drink, the funky fanabla, a delicious chocolatey treat. 

On top of all their coffee choices, you can also indulge in other options such as smoothies, frozen drinks, and even food such as pastries and breakfast sandwhiches. Their most popular frozen drink would have to be the oreo cookie monster, often ordered by young kids, but great for anyone to enjoy.  My personal favorite comes from the extra specialty menu and it is called the turtle, inspired by turtle chocolate clusters. It's the perfect balance of sweet and flavorful while still tasting like coffee. While the turtle is my personal favorite, I would argue that girl scout cookie is their most popular flavor. It has the perfect mint and chocolate combination, just like how you would imagine a girl scout cookie to be. Regardless of the flavor you choose, your drink will taste exactly like what it is called. With so many different coffees to try, how would you not you not want to keep coming back to try them all?

Upon entering the shop, Marylou's friendly staff will make you feel welcome. There is always a bubbly and active atmosphere that fills the building, and if you come by often enough, chances are they will definitely refer to you by name and know your order. The employees show great care towards their customers, as they will often ask them how their drink looks or if they would like anything else to be added to it. Feel free to take a seat at one of the stools by the window and chat with your friends while enjoying your cup of coffee. I have always felt welcome and comfortable when walking into a Marylou’s, and I have never left unsatisfied by the service or my order. The service is always quick and efficient and it is always a great experience each time I go.

Their pink and black color scheme that fills the store is one you would recognize anywhere. Since the Hanover shop was started back in 1986, many more locations have opened up across the South Shore, including five stores in Rhode Island, and one on Cape Cod. If you are ever visiting the South Shore of Massachusetts, Marylou’s is a place that you must visit. With so many options to choose from, I am sure you will find something you like, and want to come back for more.

[fullofsunsetwhispers]

Important question!

When Jack and the monks finally go out for ice cream together, which flavor do you think each person would choose? (Love your Xiaolin posts btw!)

Oh, my! That surely is a very important question!

I'll try my best and provide you with some ice-cream hcs!

Firstly, if our lovely 5 were to go out for ice cream, I would like them to choose a place that offers flavors gathered from all over the world. Considering that Omi is a curious little fella I'm certain his friends can't wait to give him a taste of ice cream popular in their respective countries. Aaand since they also miss their fav foods they would not hesitate to give themselves such a treat <3

Kimiko - I think Kimi would like something that is a perfect mix between juicy and salty.

My first guess - is satsumaimo ice-cream

Kimiko really likes sweet potato ice cream because its taste reminds her of home. She remembers how her father would often take her

to Kawagoe region for autumn holidays and buy her this particular flavor.

If the place doesn't have such a treat, she would go with

either lavender, vanilla, cherry, matcha, or salted caramel. Or maybe she'd choose a dessert consisting of 3-4 scoops of different ones! And ask for sprinkles or marshmallows.

Raimundo - jabuticaba ice cream with m&m's

That particular ice cream is made from jabuticaba fruit, which is common in Brazil. Its taste is similar to a grape.

In general, Raimundo seems like a guy who eats lots of fruits. So, exotic flavors are fine with him. At some point, he would come around to adding nuts or walnuts instead of sugary toppings.

In my mind, his second favorite flavors are blueberry, peanut, or dairy ice cream with nuts. Maybe coconut, but he ain't picky, he would literally eat anything because ice cream in any form is cool.

3. Clay - He would opt for either Butter pecan

or cookie ice cream since these are pretty popular flavors in Texas.

However, the butterscotch sundae sounds tasty too.

(the truth is if there was a bacon flavor, our cowboy wouldn't shilly-shally and order it as the first person lol)

Vanilla, chocolate, and toffee are ok, too! He's not a fussy eater he would eat anything, just add as much fruit, a syrup-like topping and he'll be satisfied!

4. Jack-o

I imagine Evil Boy Genius is an ice cream expert. He orders tons of different flavors from shops and stores them in the fridge for the rest of his family, too. He is prone to coffee-like flavors, but he consumes chocolate and cake batter in large amounts.

He's also a fan of Neapolitan and Mint Chocolate Chip (His inner good!Jack tells him Mint is the best. what a shame Mint ain't evil, liking these ice cream ruins his reputation as a bad guy) He would struggle the most with making the final decision on what to order.

5. Omi.

Ok, I lied - Omi can't decide because he wants to taste ALL OF THEM. He's so intrigued by the many shapes and colors of ice cream displayed in the shop window, the others have to calm him down. Kimiko advises the little monk to try out matcha green tea ice cream. It turns out to be a great choice.

Additionally, he takes a liking to Basic flavors such as vanilla and chocolate. If I recall correctly Omi insisted on getting a sundae, do Rai would order a a strawberry sundae for him

But dear god, Omi can't sit calmly once the ice cream ordered by his friends lands on their table. He jumps on the table and steals a spoonful of each lol

Aaand taking into consideration Omi has a big appetite... As big as my desire to have some wholesome Jack-Omi BRO moments, please consider Jack and Omi sharing a Banana split.

Jack is that lil shit tm and eats all the cherries, not leaving even one for Omi. Omi declares he'll pay for that in the next showdown.

As you can see, I can't quite give you the One and only option for Kimiko, Raimundo, Clay, Omi, and Jack bc I wasn't sure if they should go to the place which offers ice cream in scoops or in the shape of big desserts. Anyway, I hope you like this post!

[ayybtch]

Snickerdoodles

Wanda Maximoff x f!Reader, Baker!AU + Friends to Lovers

Chapter 2 of Made With Love

Word Count: 3,198

Chapter Warnings: so sweet it’ll give you a cavity, some not so subtle wlw yearning from the reader, and a brief little moment of angst that will make you want to hug Wanda

A/N: A special thank you to @thefallenbibliophilequote for giving this a beta read for me! Dividers made by @firefly-graphics

You were sitting at home watching TV when your phone lit up with a text notification from Wanda. You smiled and leaned over to grab your phone. 

Bucky is asking about chocolate chip cookies again. He’s driving me nuts!

You chuckled at the message as you typed out a reply, I’m not sure if I should be flattered or annoyed for your sake at how persistent he is. Though, we should probably take it as a sign you’re due for another baking lesson. How do snickerdoodles sound? 

Wanda agreed almost immediately and the two of you worked out a time for later that week. 

Mindlessly, you scrolled back up and started rereading some of your old conversations. It had been just over two weeks since Wanda had found her way into the bakery and made her disastrous batch of chocolate chip cookies. She had texted you not long after she left the bakery that night and the two of you had texted sporadically since. Her texts had started off very polite, if not outright formal. 

Hi. It’s Wanda. I know I sound like a broken record, but I really do appreciate what you did today.

That had been her first message. Since then, the messages gradually became more casual. Most recently she had sent you a video Sam had recorded of Bucky begging her to make cookies on their flight home from a mission with nothing more than a series of eye-roll emojis. 

It was strange having a superhero take time out of her day to text you. Though, you couldn't deny the fact that each time she did, it left you grinning like an idiot. It’s not that you think poorly of yourself or that you thought you weren’t worthy of being friends with someone like her; it had far more to do with how unexpected it was. In fact, the whole process of meeting her was unexpected. How many other people alive were lucky enough to say that an Avenger casually walked into their kitchen asking to bake cookies? 

And how many people could say they had anyone, let alone an Avenger, smile at them the way Wanda smiled at you? 

You groaned at your own stupidity and forced yourself to put your phone down. That was enough ridiculousness for the day. You didn’t need to feed into this silly little crush you were developing. Wanda was your friend, nothing more. 

It was three days later when Wanda finally walked back into the bakery. She stepped inside right as you finished tying your apron around your waist. You greeted her with a bright smile, which she returned in kind. 

“Hey, how has your day been?” you asked. 

She shrugged, “It’s been a day but something tells me it’s about to get better.” 

You tried not to show how flustered her words made you and rushed over to the sink to wash your hands. Wanda stood next to you and waited patiently for her turn. While she was washing her hands, you started speaking. 

“Okay so, snickerdoodles are the best cookies in existence and are stupid easy to make. Most of the process is similar to what we did for chocolate chip cookies, but there are a few differences. Why don’t we start off with having you refamiliarize yourself with where everything is in here?” You hand her the recipe you had written out for her, “Here you go. Grab everything you can find.”

Wanda read through the list carefully and was soon rummaging through the cabinets. She set each ingredient on the counter next to you as she found it until it looked like she had most of her items, but she kept pausing to reread the list. Her eyebrows were furrowed together as she turned to look back into the fridge, only to come back to the counter empty-handed.

 Her expression was a mixture of confusion and determination at the same time as her eyes focused on the ingredient list. It shouldn’t have been as cute as it was, but you couldn’t help but stare at the woman in front of you. It was almost shocking how green they were. Even when sad, her eyes were filled with warmth and kindness. Her mouth twisted slightly and drew your attention downwards. Were they naturally that pink? Or had she lucked out and found the most perfect shade of pink lipstick? They looked so soft and plump too, perfect lips for kissing...

You snapped back into focus as she said your name. “I’m sorry what was that? My mind drifted.”

She smiled and repeated herself. “The only things I’m missing are Crisco and cream of tartar. I looked in the fridge for the cream of tartar, but I didn’t see it and I have no idea where to begin with Crisco.”

You nodded as you walked towards one of the cabinets, opening it up as you began to speak. “I like your reasoning behind the cream of tartar, but unfortunately its name is a bit misleading. It’s a powder so it’s in the same cabinet as the cinnamon and sugar. The Crisco is up here too.”

You grabbed both items and set them next to the rest of the ingredients. Wanda picked up the can of Crisco and looked at it curiously. 

“What is vegetable shortening?” she asked. She opened up the can and stared at the white solid inside. “It almost looks like butter, but it’s also so white it almost looks like plastic?” The confusion on her face perfectly matched the confusion that seeped into her voice. 

You nodded along as she spoke, “It’s kind of like butter, which you can also use for this recipe if you wanted to. I think they turn out better when you make them with Crisco personally so I’ll only use butter if I’m in a pinch.

“Okay, so now we’re going to measure out two cups of Crisco into the mixer and start creaming it. From there we’ll gradually start adding in the sugar, cream of tartar, salt, and baking soda.”

Wanda nodded and got to work. As she scooped out the Crisco and smushed it into the measuring cup, she made a face that had you grinning.

“What’s with the look?”

She made it again as she continued working. “Don’t laugh at me, but it feels funny. I know it’s not that different from butter, but I usually don’t have to touch butter this much to figure out the amount! It’s gross.”

You didn’t laugh but continued to grin for the entire time she measured out the Crisco. A sigh of relief left her as she finally finished with the Crisco and got to wash her hands.

“These better be the best cookies on the planet after making me touch that,” she said, giving you a teasing look.

A sheepish smile spread across your face as she spoke. “I hate to tell you this...but you’re going to end up touching the cookie dough again. Like, you are going to be touching it a lot.” You cut off her groan and continued to the next step in the recipe, “Now we’re going to add the eggs and milk.” 

She nodded and began measuring out how much milk she needed. Once that was done, the eggs were added in and she turned the mixer back on. She waited a few minutes before turning the mixer back off. “Time for the flour now, yes?” she asked, turning to face you. You nodded and she began measuring it out.

After the last of the flour was added, she reached for the switch on the mixer.

Before you even thought to remind her to start slow, the mixer was going full speed and flour was flying everywhere. Wanda rushed to turn it off but by the time she did, she was covered head to toe in a dusting of flour. 

She stared over at you with wide eyes for a moment before bursting out laughing. 

You had heard her laugh before, but never like this. This was full-bellied, tears running down her face laughter. It was the most beautiful sound you had ever heard. Hell, you were willing to bet it was the most beautiful sound you’d ever be fortunate enough to hear. Soon you were laughing along with her.

Each time the laughter started to die, Wanda looked down at her clothing and burst out laughing all over again. It took almost five minutes for the two of you to calm down enough to even start to think about getting back to the cookies. 

“Well, I guess I’m doing laundry after this.” She shook her head rapidly and more flour came floating down off her hair, making her giggle. “And I think a shower might also be in order.” 

You started laughing again at her words. “We’ll have to get you an apron to help protect your clothes. Though, if you keep turning a mixer on to full speed like that it still won’t do you much good,” you teased. 

Wanda stuck out her tongue in response before slowly starting the mixer back up. She stared into the bowl as the flour began to mix in with the rest of the ingredients and her face twisted.

“How do we know that there’s enough flour still in there with how much just flew out?” 

You just shrugged, “I wouldn’t worry about it too much. If it’s too sticky when we start trying to form the balls we’ll add in some more.”

The dough mixed for another couple of minutes before Wanda turned it off. You leaned over and pinched off a tiny piece of the dough and rolled it around in your hands before popping it into your mouth. 

A satisfied hum left your mouth and you nodded enthusiastically. “It’s perfect,” you said. “No need for anything extra.” You reached into a drawer and grabbed two spoons before handing one to Wanda. 

“So what we’re going to do now is roll them into small little balls about an inch in size. Once they’re as round as we can get them, we’re going to roll them around in the cinnamon and sugar.” You gestured towards the two bowls in front of you. “Any questions?”

Wanda shook her head no and the two of you got to work.

It didn’t take long for Wanda to get the hang of making the individual rolls and coating them evenly in the cinnamon and sugar mixture. A comfortable silence fell over you as the first batch was placed on the baking trays.

“So, what made you want to become a baker?”

You smiled as you answered, “My parents both cooked a lot when I was growing up so being in the kitchen is like second nature to me. My dad and I spent a lot of time baking together around the holidays and as I got older, I was put in charge of making whatever treats we wanted. By the time I graduated high school, I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.” Wanda nodded along as you spoke. “What about you? What did you want to be before you became a superhero?” 

“Definitely not a baker,” she teased, a grin spreading across her face. You chuckled and she continued. “I wanted to be a lot of different things, but one of the most consistent things was being an actress. I always thought it would be fun to star in a cheesy sitcom.” 

You grinned at the thought. “You’d make a great sitcom character! Though it would be such a waste of great material if your character could bake. Between the salt last time and the flour just a minute ago, you’ve naturally got some great material right here.” 

“If you don’t stop that, I will throw this cookie dough at you,” she groaned. You wiggled your eyebrows at her words. 

“You know, that has to be one of the least threatening things someone has ever said to me,” you teased. 

She groaned again and changed topics. “So how did you end up working here? It’s not exactly your average place to start looking for a baking job.”

You laughed and nodded along. She had a point, this was a very strange place to work in general but especially for someone who bakes for a living.  “Technically, I don’t actually work for SHIELD. I’m just on loan from Stark Industries. ” She looked over at you curiously so you continued.

“I catered an event once that Tony went to, back in his pre-Iron Man days. He offered me a stupid amount of money to come work for him so I did. Right around the time he started working closely with SHIELD, I had some...creative differences with one of the other bakers he had employed so I was able to transfer over here.” 

Wanda had all but stopped working as you spoke. “What do you mean by ‘creative differences’? How do bakers have creative differences?” 

“It’s more of a euphemism than anything. She was my ex. We broke up and it was just a little rocky working with her after that, you know? We were still professional and all, but there was enough underlying tension that I didn’t hesitate to apply when they told us about this position.” 

She nodded and slowly started working again. A few moments of silence passed before she spoke again. 

“Well, I’m sorry that things didn’t work out between you and her. Breakups are never easy.” Her voice was gentle and honest, which made you smile.

“Nah, don’t be sorry. People don’t work out sometimes and that’s okay.” You couldn’t help but laugh as you continued, “Besides, she thinks snickerdoodles taste better when you make them with butter. I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life.”

The two of you burst out laughing and the conversation resumed.

Almost an hour later, six dozen cookies were carefully being set into plastic baggies for Wanda to carry back to the Avengers quarters. Each batch had cooked up perfectly and you couldn’t help but melt at the proud look on Wanda’s face. With every batch that came out just as perfect as the last, her confidence grew until she was smiling so brightly she overpowered everything else in the room. 

As she finished sealing the last bag, a satisfied hum left her and she turned to face you. 

“Once again, I don’t even know where to begin thanking you. Not only for the cookies but for the time we spent together this afternoon. It’s not often that I meet people who treat me like a normal person.” Her voice was dripping with gratitude as she spoke and your face felt hot. 

“Once again,” you teased, mirroring her words, “There is nothing to be thanking me for. I’m always happy to help when and where I can. But, we should probably at least try the cookies first before anything else.”

Wanda nodded enthusiastically and quickly pulled two cookies back out of the baggies. She handed you one before grabbing hers and taking her first bite. 

She let out a satisfied hum as she chewed. “This is the best cookie I have ever tasted in my life,” she mumbled, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as she spoke. She paused abruptly and her eyes suddenly went wide. “Oh my god, I’m turning into Bucky!” she groaned, “I did not just moan over a cookie and talk with my mouth full. What is wrong with me?”

You couldn’t help but laugh. “Hey, if you’re going to moan and talk while you eat because of a cookie, this is the cookie to do it. I do think we’ll have to find something a little more challenging than cookies for you next time, though.”

Her eyes lit up in excitement. “What about bread? Could we do bread next?”

“Six successful batches of cookies and you think you’re ready for bread now, huh?” you teased. 

Wanda took the teasing in stride and responded just as cheekily, “I don’t mean to brag or anything, but I do know how to make the most incredible snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies on the planet now. So you better watch out or I might just end up coming for your job.” 

You grinned, “I’d like to see you try.” 

The two of you continued to giggle at each other’s nonsense as Wanda washed her hands and began collecting the bags in her arms. “So, we’ll figure out something soon yeah?” 

You nodded and moved to open the door for her as you spoke. “Definitely! It most likely won’t be bread though, I hate to break it to you.” 

Wanda rolled her eyes dramatically, but the smile on her face showed she was anything but upset. The two of you said your goodbyes and she made her way out of the bakery.

As you crawled into bed that night, you couldn’t help but replay the conversations in your head. Talking with Wanda had been the most exciting social interaction you had in years. She was so genuinely interested in getting to know you and asked you so many questions about yourself, but was never shy about answering questions about herself in turn. 

“So what’s it like being an Avenger?” you asked, unable to hold back your curiosity any longer. 

She paused and shrugged, “Honestly, it’s really not as great as some people make it out to be. I know that I should be grateful for the opportunity to make a difference and for having the ability to keep people safe, but more often than not the bad outweighs the good.” She paused for a moment before continuing, “You don’t always get the bad guys and so many people still accuse me of being one of them. There are always so many cameras pointed at me. Sometimes it feels like I can’t breathe.” 

You nodded, sympathy rising in your chest. “I can’t imagine what that’s like. I know my opinion probably doesn’t count for much, but I don’t think you’re a bad guy; I don’t think you ever really were.”

Her smile was blinding as she replied, “Your opinion means everything.”

That had been one of the more serious moments, though the majority of it had been filled with laughter. At one point, she had started trying to teach you some basic words in Sokovian. You stumbled over the words repeatedly, but she continued to be nothing but patient and supportive. The buzzing of your phone drew your thoughts away from Wanda momentarily, only to see a text from her.

I keep thinking about what you said earlier today. I think you’re right.

You stared at the message with confusion as you hastily typed out a response, I am right, but remind me what I’m right about?

Three dots appeared on the screen then disappeared. A minute later, a message appeared. 

They’re better with Crisco. I haven’t tried them with butter but I don’t need to. You’re also right in that you don’t need the “butter Snickerdoodles are better” negativity in your life. You deserve nothing but the best.

[sereniv]

like its really fun to reconstruct your meals to be without alternatives, or at least cutting out most. but sometimes it can be boring

salad with italian dressing i like. crutons that juat happen to be vegan. but no cheese, but thats fine

sandwhich with no mayo but maybe avocado, still expensive but less, but have to prepare more. not too bad. but then no cheese or meat. but onions and pepper and idk could be done

burrito with vegetables chips and tortilla. no sour cream. pretty difficult because the sour cream adds moisture. no meat and cheese is fine. doable but not enjoyable. as in force myself to finish it

pasta with spaghetti sauce easy. bread but no butter, olive oil is fine enough I guess. no mac n cheese unless using nooch. mac n cheese a bust for me

snacks are nuts and chips and crackers and fruit. i start to get antsy and crave brand name snacks could probably manage tho

no ice cream. nice cream takes time.

roasted vegetables are good. no butter

no butter for rice. makes things bland

so overall if someone were like me, theyd get food but itd be depressing

if they were like me and were able to figure what was most important, and what was more manageable then i think theyd be well off

if they are able to splurge then go for it

for me sour cream is a must but i can lessen the amount i use. sandwhich doesnt need meat. roasted vegetable sandwich with cheese onion spreadable garlic sounds good

butter is a must mayo lasts a while like once a month if i focus on diversifying my meals

ice cream isnt necessary.

i have the time to do this. not everyone does it tkaes effort and energy to change stuff like this

because also, cravings and change and all that can be near impossible to deal with!

thats why you have to always check in with yourself. give yourself challenges this is why I say have FUN

Bc if you dont have a legitimate reason for yourself making these changes it just falls flat.

going vegan was easy. but going healthy non alternative plant based is hard.

i usually go good for the first week and then cave. as in processed foods are made to be addicting.

but im able to cut out ice cream bc after a while i stop craving it, as long as im allowing myself some chocolate like chocolate dipped banana or just chips out the bag.

Sour cream i can lessen bc i love going overboard with condiments lol which saves money

i used to use butter a LOT globs on pancakes and bread and in everything. thrn i switched to olive oil sometimes and also realized i used it in things that didnt need it like mac n cheese

like when you get comfy with alternatives (or the real thing) you forget what you can live without its like you just eat without thinking

i had a friend, and ive heard this in other ppl too- going plant based and cutting out cheese and meat even when they were the biggest meat and cheese eater. and didnt realize how much was just habit

and you never know until you keep at it. check in once a month and think about food

theres so many products that come out and its exciting bc i want to try it. and i usually do

i just got like 7 bags of jerky nearly 6 dollars for not that much. its not something i need or even need to be emotionally happy. so when they are gone im going to try and find an alternative to that alternative like make a trail mix

yknow what makes it easier? actually listing the food you eat as meals. being able to visualize it so its not just going off of what your brain tells your stomach and tongue.

or else you end up eating a whole bag of chips instead of just having a side of chips

[whump-town]

November Second

It’s Hotch’s birthday and he’s trying really hard not to let it bother him that everyone seems to have forgotten. (for @therealmadblonde) WARNING: briefly mentions some domestic abuse and child abuse

November 2nd.

They’ve been preparing for a week.

It’s strangely humorous to think that they know one another inside and out and yet, can hardly manage to throw a party for one of their own.

“He’s O negative,” Emily supplies, legs tossed up onto the edge of her desk. She’s twirling a sucker around in her mouth. It’s made her tongue a deep blue and as she speaks Morgan spots it. He points to her tongue-- drawing attention to it with a surprised laugh-- and then points to his own. A silent inquiry if his own has changed color. She nods her head eagerly, “it’s green!”

Morgan nods his head with a proud smile, “cool.”

Dave rolls his eyes at the interaction-- at the idiocy of his coworkers. He loves them, of course, but sometimes he has no idea how he does this every day. “Emily,” Dave says her name with thick disappointment. “You’re the man’s friend. He trusts you and all you can think to add is that his blood is O negative?”

Emily knows more than just that. She knows how he takes his coffee and his Chinese take-out order. That he won’t sleep without a blanket but he doesn’t need a pillow. In fact, he’s more than likely to just sleep without one. He sleeps on his stomach and doesn’t snore. His favorite snack is gummy bears and she’s never once seen him refuse the offer of an oreo. However, she’s failing to see how any of these things amount to “helpful” right now.

So she rolls her eyes and thoughtfully pulls the sucker from her mouth so that she can clearly dictate the amount of sass and snark needed for a rebuttal. “Sorry, Dave.” She shakes her head and motions vaguely with the sucker. “I just thought it would be a little more important to know his blood type than what his favorite color is. Given that he runs into more medical emergencies than battles with evil kindergartens holding him at gunpoint and demanding to know if he likes blue better than green.”

Dave sits back in his chair, shaking his head and leaning his head heavily on his fist. God help them, he thinks. No, God help him.

“It’s good to see you all hard at work,” Hotch comments, dryly as he walks across the cat-walk. He’s walked the path every day for years so it’s nothing for him to keep his eyes glued to the file in his hands rather than where he’s walking. He also knows his agents, his friends, well enough to know that there can’t be any work getting done if they’re all in the bullpen together. Not that he minds. While his tone may divulge a different assumption, they know what he really means-- “please don’t be getting into any trouble”.

Emily turns herself, feet still kicked up, but head now turned so that she can see him. “Hey Hotch,” she greets, lopsided grin pulled to the side by the sucker she’s placed back into her mouth. “What’s your favorite color?”

He comes to a staggering halt on the catwalk. Dark eyebrows knitting together as he turns his attention to the bullpen, his file snapping shut at his side. He’s just come out of a meeting with Strauss-- the only reason the team had gathered in the bullpen to talk so broadly about him. After sitting with that witch of a woman for the last two hours, his brain is a little scrambled-- overworked. So it’s taking him a moment to process the question.

Emily pulls her feet down and smirks, casually caught off guard by the fact that this is so trivial to him. Surely, Jack has laid this question on him. There is nothing children aged 3-6 love more than inquiring about colors. “What is it,” she asks, growing a little more impatient each second he leaves her unanswered. “It’s gotta be green or blue or something.”

He clears his throat, right-- colors. Those are colors. What are his favorite colors?

Purple. It comes to mind first. His eyes dart to Reid the second it does. He associates his resident genius with purple. Lavender, really. Soft. It makes him think of Haley’s funeral, the scarf that Reid had wrapped over his coat. The only real color that day. Hotch’s eyes kept flickering over to it, the only thing that seemed to ground his racing mind.

The answer used to be red. When he was just a boy and naïve and because it was the same color as a fire truck. The color doesn’t associate with firetrucks anymore. He remembers his mother’s busted lip as she urgently shut him into a closet, seven years old and cowering away at the sound of his mother’s choked pleads for his father to just leave. He didn’t need to do this.

“He’ll learn,” she had begged. “He’s just a boy, Mark. Please, please--” He’d flinched when the door was thrown open, his father standing there in the doorway.

And Haley. Red reminds him of the pain. Haley always got cold so easily and he’d just wanted to hold her a little longer. Keep her warmly tucked against him and try to remember the way she used to play with the hair at the back of his head. Pushing her finger against the way it grows.

“Hotch?”

He blinks once-- twice-- “I, uh,” he shakes his head. Trying frantically to remember whatever color he’d told Jack last. Probably like… “Blue or green,” he says with a shrug, trying to play off his reaction. His hands ache with the memory of that day. He’d broken three metacarpals in his left-hand killing Foyet, set himself up for carpal tunnel and arthritis. A price he pays everyday. A handful of medicine to survive the damage of the stab wounds and another to work against the inflammation.

Shaking his head of the thoughts he keeps heading towards his office. That’s not what he needs to be thinking about right now. If he’s not careful he’s going to end up having an anxiety attack on his office floor and that’s just not something he really wants to deal with right now. Especially, here with no medicine insight and where any member of the team could walk in on that.

That’d be just his luck.

Bogged down by work, he doesn’t even think about his birthday. He gets too caught up in Halloween and the party Garcia throws for Day of the Dead and he’s exhausted. Rundown.

He doesn’t even realize how quickly his birthday is rolling in until the morning of.

November 2nd.

He’s fifty-four. Old.

Hitting snooze, he lets himself sink back into the warmth of his bed. He doesn’t want to go to work. He’d much rather stay here. Catch up on sleep and, who knows, eat something crazy for lunch. Chocolate chip pancakes or eggs and too many pieces of bacon.

But he can’t afford that. The office still needs him. There’s still a job to be done.

Birthday or not.

He’s not expecting anything but typically, by now, most of them have sent him a fond message. Nothing crazy.

Garcia bakes him macadamia nut cookies. A dozen, just for him, and takes the team their own. There aren’t any cookies on his desk when he comes in.

Derek and Dave are nowhere to be seen. JJ’s arguing loudly with someone on the phone. Emily’s ducked into her work and Reid’s spinning in his chair. No one says anything to him. He decides it doesn’t matter. Today’s just another day. Every year he tells them how much he hates celebrating his birthday. He does hate celebrating it but… he doesn’t mind it entirely. He does like Garcia’s crushing hug and having to squeeze Reid so he knows Hotch doesn’t mind their hug. He likes Morgan making jokes at his expense and Emily rising to his defense. Dave shaking his head at them all.

Then, when they’ve all left, Dave pulling him in tightly and reminding, “I’m so proud of you, kid. Happy Birthday.”

He guesses they’re not doing that this year.

He’s searching for where Reid’s ran off with the sugar when Emily Prentiss blows through the break room. “What’s the rush,” he asks. Hotch doesn’t talk all that much. He’s prone to silence and a much better listener but he’s starved for a little adult conversation. Something, even a meaningless conversation, is better than the internal monologue he’s had going since he stepped into the office.

Glancing over her shoulder at him, she shakes her head, sighing. “A case,” comes her haste reply. “They’ve got me running front for some case in Louisiana.” An obvious hit at Emily to bother her. Southern states are typically covered by Morgan or Hotch. It’s not to be presumptuous but the more southern the state the less likely they are to want to listen to a woman’s advice on the matters of their murders.

He grimaces in sympathy, “I’m sorry.”

She sighs when she sees the other coffee pot is slowly filling, meaning she’s going to have to wait for a cup.

“Here,” he offers her his own cup. The mug is one Jack had gifted him some time ago. Hand-painted. He and Haley had made it when he was only about a year-old. The colors are horrid but Hotch can’t stand to think about parting from the thing. Ugly as it is, in Haley’s fine print are the words: We Love You Daddy! Sometimes rubbing his finger against those raised letters is the only way he can get through the day.

Emily accepts the mug with a sad smile. She knows he’s partial to the mug but she needs the coffee. She slides him her mug, it suddenly hits her when she does. “Shit!”

He frowns.

“I’m so sorry,” she pours sugar into his mug. She’s clearly overwhelmed, visibly upset. “I can’t go to lunch.”

Every year on his birthday they go to lunch. It’s nothing special. They got to lunch all the time. About once a week. So, it’s not really that big of a deal but he can’t help but feel a little sad. He likes spending time with her but he doesn’t so much as let an ounce of that disappointment show.

Taking Emily’s mug, he shrugs it off. “It’s fine,” he insists, well aware that she’ll know he’s lying if he can’t meet her eyes. He makes a point of forcing his gaze on her, settling a rare smile her way. “We’ll catch up later,” he assures with a nod. “Go on, I’m sure the Louisiana PD are waiting on hand and foot to hear back from you.” She rolls her eyes and he smirks. When she turns to walk away he adds, “and, Emily? If they give you a hard time--”

She shakes her head at him, “I know....” Turning back to hurry out she shouts back to him, “happy birthday, Hotch!”

No one else says anything.

He just… sits in his office. His paperwork is done. There’s no reason for him to be here.

Haley would have remembered. She always remembered.

Every year she’d make him a cake-- something crazy and he’d never know what to expect. For three years in a row, she’d burned the hell out of the cakes and he’d come home to her sobbing on the floor. In her defense, they were both very stressed trying to get her pregnant. Things weren’t going well. Then she got pregnant and forgot about the cake and it burned. Having a toddler around the next year had not helped her case.

He’d never minded. She was also so happy to have him around.

The other side of the bed used to be warm. He’d wake up to her fingers ghosting along his back or her head on his shoulder. Now he wakes up alone and raises their son alone.

He killed her and he’ll never forgive himself for that.

Sighing, rubbing at his tired eyes, and feeling the steadily increasing pain in his back he decides he doesn’t want to celebrate his birthday anyway. What is there to celebrate? What about him is good enough to praise? On his watch, Reid had been kidnapped. JJ scooped up by the “Pentagon” and sent to war where she lost a child. Emily died. Garcia got shot outside of her home. Morgan was forced to face his abuser, again. Jason left. He didn’t help Elle.

He doesn’t even deserve it. It’s not even worth the time.

“Hotch?”

He flinches at the sudden invasion, squirting to see who it is at his door. Reading glasses askew and pen hovering in the same spot it has been for the last hour, at least he looks like he’s been busy. He forces himself to liven up a bit, sitting up straighter in his chair. “Can I help you,” he asks hopefully, a smile tugging at his lips.

JJ nods, checking the watch on her wrist. “Yeah, uh, Garcia needs you down in the lair. I don’t know-- Listen, I don’t know what it is but she’s been bugging me about it all day. Can you just go check it out?” She sighs and pushes her hair back from her face. “I’ve got to get out of here. See you later, Hotch.”

He just nods. Throat tight.

It’s stupid. This whole day.

He’d never even celebrated a birthday until he was eighteen. Haley had gotten him a cupcake, just trying to make something of the day. For the longest time, she was the only person who even cared. Then Dave and Gideon had come. On his first birthday with them, they’d gotten him a tie. It had birds on it. Then Derek had come and JJ and Garcia and Reid and then Emily. He went for almost twenty years without celebrating a freaking birthday.

This one isn’t even that important.

He’s just being stupid.

Sighing, he makes his way out of his office. No one’s in the bullpen. The place is shut down for the night.

Hands in his pockets, he’s sulking down the hall. Head down and eyes on the tiles as he walks. Vaguely, slowly he hears the unmistakable banter of Garcia. It’s hushed, quick. At the top of the hall, he can see her door is cracked open. Just enough to allow him to see Reid moving inside, his hand being swatter because it looks like… he’s got icing on his fingers. He doesn’t even look ashamed to have been caught swiping at the cake.

Too anxious now to be excited, Hotch makes his way down the hall. Thankful the motion sensor lights have been turned off now that the building should have officially closed some two hours ago. They don’t hear him coming.

Sticking his head in the room he sees Garcia’s entire lair is covered in gifts, decorations, and stuffed with the members of his team. He smirks at the sight. Morgan’s trying to light the candles on the cake, Reid observing that they’re probably going to set the fire alarm off. Emily’s sitting on the couch, fiddling with the zipper on her boot, waiting. JJ anxiously wraps her necklace around her finger.

“Sir!”

He feels like he’s been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

When Garcia sees him, though, her lower lip starts to tremble. “Oh sir, I’m so sorry!”

He stiffens when she hugs him, completely unprepared. “Sorry,” he repeats, looking over her head to the others for some sort of direction. “What are you sorry for, Garcia?’ It’s clear they hadn’t forgotten. If they had he would easily forgive them. It’s a birthday. It doesn’t matter that much.

She hiccups sadly, pulling away to look up at him. “We made you sad,” she whispers. “It was stupid idea,” she says with a shake of her head. “We just wanted to throw you a surprise party but you don’t even like parties!” With each passing moment, she’s just getting more upset. “So, look--” she goes to the left, to a little table where she produces a plate of cookies. The macadamia nut cookies. “I even brought you cookies--”

She’s flustered enough that when he’s the one to pull her into a hug, she just melts.

“Garcia?” She holds onto him tightly. “Thank you.” He can feel her pulling in a breath to push away the words but he keeps going. “No one, other than Haley, has ever cared enough to even make me a cake. Let alone try and throw me a surprise party.”

She sniffles, “that’s so sad.”

He huffs, smirking, “I guess.”

Shifting from foot to foot, Reid really doesn’t want to break up the sweet moment but the cake has been taunting him all afternoon. “Does that mean we can cut the cake now?”

Morgan rolls his eyes, “you’ve had your fingers in the damn thing all day, pretty boy!”

Hotch nods his head and Reid smirks at Morgan, clearly pleased he’s won this argument regardless of the fact that he has been swiping a finger through the icing. But cake is cake. 

“Alright birthday boy.” Emily’s balancing the cake in her hands, bringing it to him carefully. The candles lighting up her eyes in a way that seems scarily mischievous. “Make a wish!”

He frowns at her but the look softens when Rossi places an encouraging hand on his back. He blows the candles out with a smile. 

“What’d you wish for?” Reid asks hopefully. 

Morgan pushes him, “you can’t say it out loud, doofus! It won’t come true.”

Emily rolls her eyes, obviously mentally scorning them both for their childish natures and for Morgan believing that.

It makes him smile to watch. The three of them hovering over the cake as Emily cuts it and Reid and Morgan try to fight for the first piece she cuts. Reid gets it but that’s not surprising. He smirks at Morgan but the devious look falls quickly when he sees Hotch is watching. 

Dave seems to come out of no where. He leans against the wall beside Hotch, “you good?”

Hotch nods, unsure if he can trust his voice right. Very good. 

[lokigodofaces]

thoughts on loki ep 2: the variant (spoilers)

under cut to not disturb your scrolling

Overall I enjoyed so that's good

Uh frick my mind blanked so sorry if things are completely out of order

I don't know, I expected the renaissance fair to be 2012 or 2021 or 2024 (Loki's time, our time, current time in the "sacred timeline"). So I was genuinely surprised when it was in 1985.

Ok, i really like the title card thing. And how the year scrolls around. It's a nice aesthetic touch there.

I wonder why the female Loki variant chooses her locations? Does she have a thing for renaissance fairs, French cathedrals, and Oklahoma?

1985 is when Back to the Future came out. And it's y'know, one of the most popular time travel movies ever. So I think they chose that year as a reference.

Again, not liking that the minutemen only have numbers, not names. It is giving me lots of Clone Wars vibes. If you don't know anything about Clone Wars, the clones are given number identifiers by the Kaminoans. Things like CT-7567. The clones would give themselves names (CT-7567, for example, names himself Rex). A really good sign throughout the series that someone is a sketchy person is if they call the clones by their numbers. The clones don't want to be known as numbers. They are people too, they deserve names, so they come up with all sorts of creative names (Rex, Fives, Cody, Tup, Hevy, Hardcase, Echo, Waxer, Boil, Wolffe, Jesse, Kix, Fox, Hunter, Wrecker, Crosshair, Omega, Tech, Matchstick, etc). The jedi respect this, and the only jedi that i can think of that called clones by their numbers is Krell, who fell to the dark side. the Kaminoans and other sketchy people all call them by their numbers and the clones don't like it. A big focus of the show is on the clone's agency (at the end, they all have brain chips that take away their agency and force them to kill jedi), and how the clones need to be respected. So for me to see in another series that people are only given numbers is bad. What's worse is that the minutemen are fine with this. They don't see it as dehumanizing or belittling. They are brainwashed into being okay with it. Which says a thing or two about the Time Keepers.

did. did the renaissance fair really have Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero" for their renaissance themed fight? Is this normal? Was it normal in the '80's? We saw later that the female Loki can do electronic stuff. Did she rig it to play it? For the vibes?

Also the stuff before the song was about fighting for a princess, and in the end she kidnaps C-20.

Okay, btw, I'm just gonna say Lady Loki for a while because no one has explicitly said Sylvie yet, so I'm going to refer to di Martino as Loki until she or another calls her Sylvie. Cool? Cool.

I was thinking the "Holding Out for a Hero" fight would be the roomba fight or something. It is such a good song that has huge potential for this genre. Why did they use it in a lame fight as that one?

When Lady Loki did the spell on C-20, it looked similar to what Wanda and Agatha can do. As in, it had similar visuals.

Loki reading a random magazine he finds while sitting with his feet on the desk bored out of his mind because he has to learn sh*t is a MOOD.

What is Miss Minutes? She can jump around anywhere, and pop into computers. But she can't be just a projection. She took the effort to dodge Loki swatting at her, so that may mean she was corporeal. She also could be something similar to the Kree's Supreme Intelligence?

So, did Mobius give Loki the shirt, tie, and slacks, but really didn't give him the jacket until they had to call him in? What? That makes no sense? Did the TVA not have any jackets with the variant label? Did someone have to custom design a jacket for Loki?

What is up with this show giving me things I wanted to see only in holographic form? First we saw Coulson's death, and now Loki in his Jotun form in a holograph of another variant.

Okay, Loki being someone the TVA has to constantly deal with is very on brand. Loki is a creature of chaos, of course he's going to unknowingly rebel against the sacred timeline.

Also, headcanon that the Jotun Loki we see is king of Jotunheim because that would be epic.

Also, for personal reasons I choose to believe there is a Loki variant that defeated the Avengers and immediately went queer rights.

Loki's reaction to there being many Loki variants. He's seen what his life is supposed to be. I think he is even more upset that the TVA often deals with him, that there are so many things that could have been instead if it weren't for the TVA and the "sacred timeline."

Also, I totally think Mobius was waiting for another Loki to show up to help him defeat Lady Loki. They get them so often, it makes sense.

Loki explaining the difference between illusion projection and duplication was great. And very helpful to me personally understanding lore. Also, Mobius, get your crap together. If you're a Loki expert, figure this stuff out.

Loki calling the TVA out on propaganda, we love that.

The wolf quote is actually very nice, I quite like it.

Okay, the TVA doesn't even bury or cremate or do any sort of ritual for their fallen minutemen, they just reset the timeline. Which to me seems like another way to show how little the TVA actually care for their workers.

There are statues of the Time Keepers in Ravonna's office. The camera pays extra attention to it. Keep reading for more about Time Keepers and cinematography choices.

What. What sort of relationship does Ravonna and Mobius have? What is going on there? I am really confused.

Who is this "analyst on the side?" What is going on there?

Ravonna is MEGA SUS. Along with that, the Time Keepers are mega sus.

She signs R. Slayer. Yeah. Slayer. Not at all subtle, Marvel. Letting us know that she'll do the deed if needed.

Mobius you are sending me mixed signals. What do you want?

Okay, Mobius saying Loki was a "cold, scared boy" and an "ice runt" and stuff was totally a jab at Loki being Jotun.

Mobius saying Loki is insecure because of Lady Loki is...probably true.

With the elevator, the camera stops and focuses on the Time Keepers.

The Creation of the TVA, the beginning of time, the end of time, all classified. That is sus.

Loki almost crying over Ragnarok was good. Let him cry over the destruction of his home.

Loki being the one to discover something the TVA had no idea about after a day is on brand for Loki. And it shows how the TVA really are vulnerable.

Mobius: Really? In front of my salad?

No but the object lesson was well done and actually did help me understand what Loki was talking about.

Casey! Casey drinks grape juice! Imagine how confusing this is for Casey though. Loki is captured, threatens to gut you like a fish (whatever that means), and now he's dressed like an analysist, stealing your juice box. Does Loki get Casey more juice?

Honestly, Loki looking at everything logically and scientifically is fantastic. Adds to the science = magic thing Marvel's got going on, since Loki is a sorcerer.

Loki saying volcanoes are cool is fun. I agree. Volcanoes mean the planet is geologically active, which means we won't die. Also, there is a volcano named Loki on one of Jupiter's moons. I wonder if the creators knew that and put Loki in Pompeii because he is already linked with volcanoes.

Mobius telling Loki to start off small and Loki completely disregarding that felt very personal to me.

Loki being absolutely chaotic and telling everyone they were going to die while speaking perfect Latin was iconic. I want more of that content. Let the man be buckwild.

Again, Loki finding something out after a day that the TVA never knew about is on brand.

"Be free, my horned friends, be free!" I love that way too much.

Mobius being obsessed with jet skis wasn't something I expected, but I'm down for it. Heck, even Loki admitted they were cool.

The discussion on beliefs is going to lead to saying the Time Keepers are bullcrap. Hopefully.

Grapes and nuts are "candy" on Asgard. So, when Loki was eating grapes in Ragnarok, we can interpret that as him eating M&Ms. Second, this might add to something I've seen around here. I've seen things about a book somewhere with Loki saying chocolate fountains are mythical (which is really funny to me). So, I guess Asgard really doesn't have chocolate.

Oh my gosh, so many apocalypses between 2047 and 2051...hopefully none of those happen in real life.

Roxxcart is probably part of Roxxon, something that has been around in Iron Man movies.

Lady Loki got the shovel thing from Roxxcart that she left in Oklahoma! The minutemen said it was from the early third millenia, which is where we are now! 2050 also fits that category!

I saw something about the file saying Class 8 hurricane...there are only 5 classes...which means this is a crazy storm.

Does B-15 want Loki dead? This is a legitimate question, because I think she does. Dead or pruned.

Loki looking around at the storm, I love it. This could be him loving science, or him missing Thor, since Thor creates storms. Also, at this point Loki probably things Thor dies shortly after him in the sacred timeline, so Loki would be particularly sentimental about Thor.

I love Loki drying himself off and not anyone else. And B-15 yelling about his magic. And Loki's motions are so fluid, it's so aesthetically pleasing, I love it.

Dudes, I thought B-15 was going to try to prune Loki when they were alone.

Okay, was Lady Loki bsing about the azalea sale, or does Roxxcart actually do that? I want to know.

Wunmi Mosaku did a really good job as Lady Loki, I loved it.

Loki being annoyed at Lady Loki and saying he understood how Thor felt, does that insinuate Loki can do what Lady Loki was doing?

B-15 and C-20 were both very shaken after being possessed by Lady Loki. I wonder how that felt for them? We've had different explanations of mind control/brainwashing/similar from Clint, Bucky, Daisy, Mack, Fitz, and Monica in the MCU (including AoS). I wonder what is specific to Lady Loki's possession.

C-20 kept going on about something being real. What was that about?

C-20 revealed the location of the Time Keepers to Lady Loki!

Lady Loki not wanting to be called Loki could be a sign she is Sylvie.

There's something weird where Loki's voice echoed around while the camera focused on Lady Loki. Maybe she's telepathic?

Someone needs to keep a tracker on people telling Loki this isn't his story in a show literally about him.

But, that does add to themes for his life, and how everything was always about someone else in his life. He was always a supporting character for Thor, for Odin, for Thanos. Now, even in his own story, everyone insists he doesn't matter.

I was wondering what the reset charges would be used for. I wasn't expecting a massive bombing of the sacred timeline! Wow! That was unexpected and I loved it!

Okay, this isn't from me, this is from New Rockstars. But to list all the places mentioned on chronomonitors, either bombed or not: Knowhere, Barcelona, Niflheim, Dartford, Phong Nha, Lisbon, Vormir, Thorton, Cookeville, Asgard, Rome, Sakaar, Barichara, Porvoo, Ego, Titan, New York City, Tokyo, Hala, Kingsport, Xandar, Beijing, Madrid, Portland, Jotunheim. Bolded are other planets. Those are almost all the planets visited in the MCU. So fun easter eggs there!

I like Lady Loki's aesthetic. The fingerless gloves, the cloak, I love it. And YES SHE ISN'T SEXUALIZED. So many genderbent characters are excuses to sexualize women. But Lady Loki is just as covered as the male Lokis.

Lady Loki just...left the time door open for Loki to follow...for a really long time...I'm worried he's running into a trap.

What is Loki going to do now?

Theory time y'alls: Lady Loki bombed the sacred timeline to flush the minutemen out of the TVA, leaving it defenseless. And she's gonna go after the Time Keepers themselves. We know she gets into the TVA from trailer footage, and that's what I think we're gonna see next episode. I think she (like the Loki we are following) is upset over the lack of free will, and she plans to change that. That's why she wasn't interested in helping Loki "take over" the TVA, because she doesn't want to become the leader of a new TVA, she wants it destroyed.

Alright, back to the Time Keepers stuff. They keep focusing on the middle Time Keeper. Even in the end credits they have a weird cut to focus directly on his face. I'm not 100% on this, but I like this theory. That face is similar to Jonathan Major's, the actor confirmed to be Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Kang is a well known time travelling villain in Marvel. Maybe he is Kang, and is using variant versions of himself (that's a Kang thing in the comics) to mess with the timeline, and no one expects that from him. Also, Renslayer was his S/O for a bit in the comics, and they keep framing her in front of that one Time Keeper's face. I feel like this would be a good way to set up Quantumania and to show how sus the Time Keepers are.

Also, Loki was absolutely adorable the entire episode. And he got to sleep! Yay for him!

Again, I enjoyed, and can't wait for next week!

[jobean12-blog]

Top Shelf: Chapter 11- The Pages in Between

Pairing: Bucky x reader (Bookshop/bartender AU)

Word Count: 1,637

Summary: You tell Bucky your idea on how to save the bookshop 

Author’s Note: Hey everyone, Happy Monday! I know I say it every time but I’m so thankful for those of you that have stuck with me through this story. It makes me so happy. I’m sure you all saw this coming and that’s ok. As I’ve said before this really is just a love story that hopefully makes you feel good and happy. Thank you again! Thank you all for reading! All my love always! ❤❤❤

Warnings: SUPER FLUFFY LOVE FLUFF, implied sexy times :)

Previous Chapters (* indicates smut)

Chapter 1: Enchantment

Chapter 2: Cookie Crumble

Chapter 3: Sweet Anticipation

Chapter 4: Read Between the Limes

Chapter 5: Secrets on the Shelf

Chapter 6: Love Between the Covers *

Chapter 7: Love Lines & Soul Finds

Chapter 8: Drunk in Love *

Chapter 9: Pour in onto the Page

Chapter 10: Recipe for Love *

His response is almost immediate, your phone lighting up as his message comes through. ‘Really baby?? I can’t wait to hear all about it! I’m not going to lie I’m pretty excited.’ You smile at your phone as your fingers fly over the keyboard. ‘I know, me too. I mean it’s just the beginning of an idea and of course we have to talk about a bunch of things but I’m eager to hear what you think.’

You sink further into the tub, a sigh of contentedness leaving your lips. Just as your eyes begin to close your phone buzzes again. You grab it and read the message. ‘Send me one more pic. I have another two hours before I can get home to you.’ Stifling a giggle, you snap a photo of your legs resting atop the edge of the tub and send it his way. ‘Longest two hours of my life,’ is his reply, followed by, ‘you better be awake when I get home…’

Deciding to leave him hanging you enjoy the rest of the warm water, allowing the bubble bath to do its magic. By the time you get out you’re softer than a baby’s bottom and very relaxed. You put on Bucky’s tee shirt and get into his bed, cuddling into his pillow so you’re enveloped in his smell.

He gets home around 2 am, quietly shuffling into his room to find you peacefully asleep in his bed. The blinds are still open, and the light of the moon reflects off your glowing skin. Bucky sits at the edge of the bed, delicately tracing his fingers over your bare shoulder. Brushing some hair from your face he leans down to kiss the corner of your mouth just as it curls up into a smile.

You roll onto your back and blink open your eyes, tugging on his arm so he lays down. “Hi beautiful,” he whispers as his hands smooth over your silky skin. “I’m sorry if I woke you. I was just…” You silence him with a kiss, any excitement over your idea momentarily forgotten.

For once Bucky sleeps later than you, his bare feet slapping against the floor and jolting you from your thoughts. “How long have you been up doll?” You run over to him and throw yourself into his arms. He easily catches you, peppering your face with kisses. “I made coffee. BUT IT’S SO BAD. So now you have to make coffee.” You give him a sorry look, pushing yourself up and onto the counter while he starts a new pot.

Minutes later he hands you a cup, the delicious, hot liquid warming you from head to toe. “Ok, now that we’ve both had a sip of edible coffee and I can concentrate on what you’re saying rather than trying to get you naked, let’s hear it!” You almost spit out your coffee at this last comment, shaking your head in amusement. “Ok, so. Eeeeeeeee, ok, this coffee isn’t helping, I’m practically buzzing!” you say before you jump down from the counter.

Pacing the floor, you chew your bottom lip as you try to get your thoughts in order. To Bucky’s credit he waits patiently, sipping his coffee quietly and letting you do your thing. “Alright. So, I hate to sound all about myself, but everyone really liked the pie last night, right?” Bucky agrees with no hesitation. “And grandma, you and Nat went nuts over my chocolate chip peanut butter cookies, yes?” Again, Bucky nods enthusiastically, smiling big. “And you and grandma really loved my chocolate pie and chocolate chip cookies?”

Bucky gently grabs your shoulders, bringing you into his chest and looking you straight in the eyes. “Yes, yes and more yes. Your baking is amazing and there is no doubt that everyone agrees.” You can feel the blush creep up your cheeks, your head dropping to hide in Bucky’s chest. Feeling the rumble of his laugh makes you smile, his finger hooking under your chin to bring your eyes to his. “I mean it.”

With a kiss you continue. “Thank you. So, if you guys like it there is no reason that other people wouldn’t like it. What if we added a café or bakery to the bookshop? Or both! I realize that it will cost money and right now that’s the problem. But I haven’t really thought all that through yet. However, I think if we add the baked goods and maybe even coffee and hot chocolate and stuff like that it could draw in more of a crowd. Also, you have a bartending license. Maybe we can do poetry slams and/or trivia nights. We can serve drinks and treats and charge at the door.”

Your hands are flying every which way and you’re talking a mile a minute, your enthusiasm warming Bucky’s heart and making him fall even more in love with you. It isn’t until you’re out of breath and he’s finished his coffee that you finally slow down. “Well?” He stares at you for what feels like forever before he puts down his cup and takes you in his arms.

“I love you. And I love your idea. I definitely think we have some things to figure out and a lot to go over but together I think we can make anything work.” You shake your head yes, too many emotions welling up inside you to speak. You simply press your lips to his and tell him everything he needs to know.

Later that morning you head home to do laundry and clean up, missing Bucky the moment you walk through your door. Luckily, he had the idea to stay over at the bookshop tonight and sleep up in the secret attic space. To say you were excited was an understatement.

You pack a light bag and head over to meet him, but not before grabbing the tin of chocolate chip peanut butter cookies you baked earlier as a surprise for him. The bookshop is closing just as you arrive, and you smile at the customer who is leaving. Bucky runs around the cashier counter and plants a firm kiss on your lips.

“Hi. Missed you.” You shove the tin into his hands and say, “I was just about to say the same thing. I made you something.” Bucky’s eyes widen as he starts to open the tin, bringing it up to his nose and inhaling the delicious peanut butter and chocolate smell. “You made me more?” he asks, face still half inside. “Yes, and you can eat as many as you want, as long as you share with me.”

Popping one into his mouth he gives you a thumbs up, placing the tin down and turning the sign to closed and locking the door. “The pizza just got here 5 minutes ago, and they gave us paper plates and everything.” Your mouth waters at the mention of food. “Ok, great. I’m starving. I have water and more snacks too. Are we eating upstairs?”

Bucky nods, taking the cookies and pizza and walking toward the back. When you get up the stairs and open the door you’re surprised to see that Bucky has hung a small string of star lights over the love seat and made a pile of blankets and pillows in the middle of the floor.

“Aw Buck, it looks so beautiful and cozy! This is going to be so fun.” The two of you settle on the floor surrounded by the pizza box and snacks, your feet touching while you dig into your first slice.  “You have some sauce right there,” Bucky says, leaning in to brush his thumb over your bottom lip. You take his thumb into your mouth and suck off the sauce, closing your eyes and letting out a moan.

When you open them again his lips are only inches from yours.  He carefully takes the pizza slice from your hands. “I was eating that,” you whisper, your eyes dropping to his mouth. “I have something better,” he teases, before pressing his lips to yours.

Laying on the floor amidst the soft blankets and pillows, cradled against Bucky’s chest you watch the rain drops pitter patter against the sky light above you, the lights from the city dancing along the dark walls. The low rumble of distant thunder echoes through the quiet space as you trace small patterns along his bare skin.

“I love summer thunderstorms.” Bucky hums in agreement, his eyes closed and his head resting against one arm while the other holds you close. “Do you think we should tell my grandma our idea?” Bucky’s question catches you off guard and for a second, you’re unsure of what to say. “Well. I think your idea of doing our research and talking to some friends, like Sam, is a good way to start. Maybe after we have a more solid plan we can sit down and show her everything.”

He’s quiet for a few moments, the sound of his breathing and the city below all you hear now that the rain has stopped. “That seems smart. Sam will probably be a big help since he opened the bar at the beginning of the year. And I know he has some other friends in the restaurant business too.” You prop your head up on your elbow and he turns to face you. “Good idea! I like it,” you say, tracing over the stubble on his jaw.

Grabbing your waist, he rolls over and sits you on top of him, the blanket falling from your shoulders. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” You gently roll your hips against him, smiling softly. “Oh Bucky.” The words fall from your lips with a quiet tenderness and the world falls away with every brush of his fingertips.

@aesthetical-bucky @auro-ora @azurika-writes @bugsbucky @buckys-broody-muffin @bucky-on-my-mind @book-dragon-13 @devynsdiary @eurynome827 @hiddles-rose @hailmary-yramliah @emilylyoness @hawksmagnolia @ikaris-whore @itsunclebucky @imgaril-lindru @jhangelface0523 @jewels2876 @loricameback @littledarlinhavefaithinme @littleredstarfish @mushyjellybeans @marvelandotherfandomimagines @marvelgirl7 @nano--raptor @randomfandompenguin @sallycanwait68 @softpeachbarnes @scarletsoldierrr @the-wayward-robot @when-the-hell-is-bucky @throwmyheartawayagain @flyawaybay @amandatar-06 @nd1998sc @captainchrisstan @vherriepie @godofplumsandthunder​ @fire-flv @jamesbarnesappreciationclub @irishflutiegirl​ @rinthehufflepuff​ @moonybarnes​ @nordlysinthewoods​ @inflxmes @lauratang​ @my-favorite-fics-and-imagines​ @buchanansebba​ @addikted-2-dopamine​

[thoughtsofanexcitedspacechild]

25 more things I learned during a global pandemic from your Local Teenage Train wreck :) (Pt. 2)

1. Gaining weight is okay. Losing weight is okay. Bodies fluctuate and are inconsistent. Just make sure that you’re trying your best to be healthy, whatever that means for you. 

2. School is hard, especially during a global. freaking. pandemic. Don’t beat yourself up if it’s harder to get up in the morning or your grades aren’t as high as they usually are. It’s hard right now. 

3. You’re mental health comes above all. School, responsibilities, and personal projects are not worth your time if it’s affecting your mental health. If your gut is telling you to take a break, take a break!

4. If you feel lonely, get a plant to keep in your room. Do some research as to that plants do best with the type of lighting in your room, and figure out some basic care instructions. Have someone to take care of besides yourself. Name your plants, and take care of them. 

5. Even if you’re not good at writing, I suggest you keep a journal during this time. It kept me sane over the summer, and even though I eventually stopped because of limited time with school starting back up, it helped to keep me sane in the worst of the pandemic. 

6. If you’re spiritual (or even if you’re not) learn how to do shadow work. This isn’t anything that has to be spiritual or done in just one religion. It’s basically giving yourself a chance and a space to be open and honest with yourself and to learn what you might need to work on through writing. If you google it, you can find a more in depth explanation, and prompts to start doing it. You basically give yourself a prompt. They can be questions like “What’s the biggest lie you’ve told someone else or yourself?” or they can be a little less heavy like “What are five non physical things that you genuinely like about yourself?”. This can be pretty heavy, and can dig up some unwanted emotions, but that’s the whole point; to deal with the emotions you may have been repressing and letting fester inside of you. 

7. On days when you’re not feeling well mentally, take a break. It’s okay to drop everything and get an extra hour of sleep, read, or do something else to make yourself feel better.

8. After hard days, I know the last thing you want to do is get up and continue on, but here are some ways to do it:

- lay out an outfit that’s put together, but not as over the top. No sweat pants or crappy clothes, but it doesn’t have to be your usual put together outfits with a full face of makeup. A nice crewneck and a nice pair of black athletic leggings can go a long way. 

-wear your comfort jewelry. I wear my beaded necklace that I bought for myself,  the silver ring my grandma gave me and the gold cross ring that my mom gave to me when I got confirmed. 

-eat breakfast. A handful of cereal will do. Anything. But eat something. I like to make oatmeal. It sounds boring but if you make it right, it tastes just perfect for mornings when you don’t feel hungry but know inside that you are. Recipe is next on the list :)

-go to school. I know you want to lay in bed. I know the last place you want to be is a crowded building full of pubescent teens that aren’t nice, but go. Go to learn. Go to absorb knowledge like a sponge, and don’t worry if you fail and lose some of the water, because you can always soak it up later. 

-if you have practice, rehearsal, a game, whatever, be gentle on yourself. Today might not be your best day physically, because the brain controls everything. Forgive yourself if you can’t land that double pirouette, get to the high note, or make that assist. You’re abilities are stagnant, and they’re going to change depending on how you feel

-When you get home, turn off your phone. Friends, social media, etc. can wait. Set a timer for one hour. Do work for just that hour. When the timer rings, finish what you were doing and then stop. Now have a 20 minute break and do something that’s not screen related. Read a book, draw something; heck, stare at the wall for 20 minutes and space out. When the timer rings, do another hour and repeat the same process until it’s all done. 

-have a playlist you listen to to heal you. Sad boi hours are ok, just make sure to have a playlist of songs that get you moving again. 

-Sleep. Even if that means putting off work for tomorrow. It’s ok. You really need it. 

9. Oatmeal seems gross until you know how to prepare it. When you do, it’s revolutionary. It’s a high volume, low calorie food, so you’ll stay full for a while without overeating, all while consuming less calories than you would with a traditional breakfast cereal. 

The right way to make it: 

-measure out half a cup of old fashioned oats. Not steel cut. Those aren’t as good. 

-MOST IMPORTANT STEP: add half a cup of water and half a cup of milk of your choice. I personally like almond milk because it’s kind of sweet already even when it’s unsweetened. 

-SECOND MOST IMPORTANT STEP: add a pinch of salt, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and allspice, and a teaspoon or two of maple syrup. This is what makes it taste palatable. It’s less sugar than store-bought, and tastes amazing. 

-Microwave that shit for one minute and stir. It should look kind of lumpy, but not a ton. Then, put another minute on. Stir at every half increment. (After 30 seconds, every 15 seconds, and then every 7) This is so it doesn’t boil over. Then, take it out, stir it one last time, and let it sit for a second. 

-Wash up some berries to put in it. I love blueberries and or blackberries. 

perfect oatmeal every. single. time. Feel free to add more toppings like nuts or if you wanna treat yourself chocolate or substitute the spices, but this is honestly one of my favorite breakfasts that keeps me full throughout the day. 

10. Learn a new language. Yes, Duolingo is annoying, but do it. Find one that you’ll like to learn and that’s easy for you. Try them on like old clothes and find one that fits just right. For me, it’s French. Expose yourself to that language. Listen to music, read books (or try to) and watch movies with subtitles. Soon enough, you’ll be eager to learn more. 

11. Learn how to use notion.com. It’s super amazing. You can literally keep track of your entire life there. It’s pretty fun to use as well. I made schedules for each day after school, a reading log, a want to read list, a personal habit tracker, etc, and they’re all extremely helpful. 

12. Make a list of things you weren’t allowed to do as a kid and do one every day. Heal your inner child by finally itching the spot that may not have been scratched for years. 

13. Learn how to make origami stars. They’re really easy, and I can’t recommend Maqaroon’s (Joanna’s) video on how to make them enough. Once you’ve got it down, get yourself a nice big jar and write down things you’re grateful for on the slips of paper you’re going to fold. Fill up your gratitude jar and make a wish once it’s full. It will come true. 

14. Have 30 minutes a day to put your phone down and read. Yes. You will have to sacrifice something to do this, but it’s so important and good for not only information retention and learning, but for mental health as well. Even if you have to get up half an hour earlier to do it, it’s worth it. 

15. It’s okay to be alone, but learn to recognize the difference between alone and lonely. If you’re lonely, here are some things to do:

-write a letter to a friend. It’s something nice you can do for yourself and others, and it’s not feeding into the toxic instant reply culture that we live in

-read a book or watch a show that gets you to connect with the characters, even if that means (I've said it before and I’ll say it again) rereading a favorite ya series or binging atla for the fiftieth time. It’s good for the soul.

-take a walk and smile at the people you see coming past. Again, it’s good for the soul. 

-go to the coffee shop and ask the barista to make you a drink that tastes like “_____” (insert whatever you want there. It could be a color, song, feeling, etc.) It’s weird and uncomfortable, but it gives you a conversation starter and 9.9 times out of 10 a really good drink. (Also helpful for when you think the barrista’s cute)

-Reading in general. It opens up so many new worlds with the turn of a page. 

16. Monitor your food intake. No, don’t restrict your food intake, monitor it. This means first seeing exactly what your putting in your body and altering it to gradually improve to a clean diet. Humans weren’t built to process all the preservatives, additives and sugars found in most processed food (cereals, chips, anything in a foil bag that’s either really sweet or really salty) and it’s important to cut down and if possible eliminate as much as you can of it out of your diet. Food is fuel, and you truly are what you eat. You’ll notice that by increasing your vegetable intake, reducing white processed sugars and carbs*, and cutting out sodas/extra sugars, that you’ll feel better. This isn’t a weight loss thing, but you may start to trim down a little bit once you go more intense with it. You don’t have to eliminate anything fully, and please enjoy your favorite “bad” foods! Everything in moderation is perfect! Just make sure that you’re getting the good stuff in there too! *Side note, do NOT cut out carbs! See my post on how I’m losing weight to get more into depth on this. 

17. Buy fresh flowers for yourself. Who says that you have to wait for someone else? That’s completely false, and you should totally treat yourself to a nice bouquet on occasion, especially in the dead of winter. 

18. The whole idea of self love is flawed. Loving yourself has nothing to do with the way you look. Loving yourself comes with genuinely loving your life. If you don't love the way you’re living, change it. Make and set goals. Fail at achieving those goals. Get back up and try again until you finally get it, but make sure that whatever you’re doing, you’re doing to love the life you live. Life doesn’t live you. You live life.

19. Have candles and incense. (Or a diffuser if you’re not allowed to burn stuff) Making your environment smell good makes a huge difference

20. Once you turn 18, get a tattoo. It doesn’t have to mean anything. Pick something small and get it behind your ear, on your ankle, wrist, fingers, whatever. You’ll love having the memory when your old. 

21. Realize your worth. We often put ourselves down because we think that valuing ourselves is equivalent to selfishness. It’s not. At all. You are just as important as everyone else. Your voice matters too. 

22. Go to art museums

23. Go to free concerts in the park

24. Expose yourself to new art, ideas, and literature

25. Life is gonna suck sometimes. It’s just how it is. That doesn’t mean a bad day’s gonna last forever. As cheesy as it is, keep your head up :)

[helenfletcher]

The hardest thing about the Best Two Step Banana Bread recipe is waiting for the bananas to fully ripen with brown specks on on their yellow jackets. A processor or blender combines the wet ingredients and they are whisked together with the dry ingredients. Into the pan they go then into the oven. That's it for the best quick bread ever! This is the perfect baking project with kids or grandchildren! This Two Step Banana Bread is great as a quick gift to someone on your list or to yourself.  it is sure to be well received and appreciated.  It's also great to have tucked away in the freezer for those times you need to have a bit of something for drop in guests or you just want a treat. Why You'll Love This Recipe It's basically two steps after measuring the ingredients. When it comes to baking it doesn't get much easier. This is almost cake-like in texture and taste. It doesn't fall apart when cut and is packed with flavor. It uses really basic ingredients and not many of those. It can be eaten for breakfast, snacks, great with salads and as a treat anytime. This only uses a few measuring ingredients, a bowl and a whisk to make. Recipe Ingredients BACK ROW: Buttermilk, cake flour, vegetable oil MIDDLE ROW: Walnuts, granulated sugar, eggs, bananas FRONT ROW: Salt, baking powder, vanilla extract, baking soda Buttermilk helps keep whatever it is used for moist longer. Cake Flour is used for tenderness and impart a cake like quality to the bread Vegetable oil is much better than butter, melted or creamed. It not only contributes to keeping the bread moist, it allow the full flavor of the bananas to shine through. Bananas should be speckled or even darker for the most flavor. Perfectly yellow bananas will not impart as much. Variations Any nut can be substituted for the walnuts. 1/2 cup chocolate chips can be added to the batter along with the nuts. The rind of a small orange can be added. 1/2 cup dried cherries, raisins or cranberries are a good addition. Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions Step by Step Instructions Step 1. Prepare a 9x5" loaf pan by lining it with parchment paper and spraying the paper and the pan with a non-stick baking spray. Set aside. Step 2. Puree the bananas in the food processor or blender. Step 3. Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla to the processor or blender. Step 4. Process the ingredients with the banana puree. Step 5. Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. Step 6. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and whisk together until smooth. Step 7. Stir the walnuts into the batter. Step 8. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake as directed. Recipe FAQ's Can the bananas be mashed with a fork? For this recipe, it is preferable to puree them for the best result. However, if neither is available, mash them with a fork until as pureed as possible. How do you get bananas ripe? Bananas are shipped very green. Produce sellers have special rooms kept at 70°F in which the bananas are kept until mostly yellow at which point they are edible. What happens if I use under ripe bananas? The bread won't have as much flavor as if really ripe bananas are used. Storage The bread will keep covered for 5 or so days at room temperature. For longer storage, freeze, wrap well and freeze for several months. Thaw unwrapped at room temperature. Expert Tips Cake flour is preferred for this recipe as it adds tenderness and a cake like quality. However, all purpose flour can be used by removing 1/4 cup and replacing it with cornstarch. While buttermilk is best, use milk (either whole or 2%), remove 2 teaspoons and add 2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit while the rest of the i

ngredients are prepared so it can separate into curd and whey becoming thicker and emulating buttermilk. More Ways to Enjoy Banana Recipes If you love this Two Step Easy Banana Bread or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating in the recipe card and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I appreciate each of you being here! Best Two Step Banana Nut Bread The hardest thing about the Two Step Easy Banana Bread is waiting for the bananas to fully ripen with brown specks on on their yellow jackets. A processor or blender combines the wet ingredients and they are whisked together with the dry ingredients. Into the pan they go then into the oven. That's it! 1 cup banana puree1/2 cup buttermilk2 large eggs2 teaspoons vanilla extract2/3 cup canola or vegetable oil2 cups cake flour (250 grams)1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams)1 teaspoon baking soda3/4 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 9x5" loaf pan with parchment paper. Spray the paper and sides well with a non-stick baking release. Set aside.Puree the bananas in a food processor or blender. Measure 1cup and return it to the processor or blender. Add the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla and oil. Process or blend until liquid.In a medium size bowl, place the remaining ingrediets except the walnuts. Add the liqud ingredients and whisk to combine. Stir in the walnuts. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 60 to 75 minutes until a tester come out clean.Cool for about 15 minutes and turn the bread out onto a cooling rack. Cake flour is preferred for this recipe as it adds tenderness and a cake like quality. However, all purpose flour can be used by removing 1/4 cup and replacing it with cornstarch. While buttermilk is best, use milk (either whole or 2%), remove 2 teaspoons and add 2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit while the rest of the ingredients are prepared so it can separate into curd and whey becoming thicker and emulating buttermilk. Vegetable oil is much better than butter, melted or creamed. It not only contributes to keeping the bread moist, it allow the full flavor of the bananas to shine through. Bananas should be speckled or even darker for the most flavor. Perfectly yellow bananas will not impart as much. Any nut can be substituted for the walnuts. 1/2 cup chocolate chips can be added to the batter along with the nuts. The rind of a small orange can be added. 1/2 cup dried cherries, raisins or cranberries are a good addition.   Quick BreadAmerican SaveSave SaveSave

[megatraven]

What weird pregnancy cravings do you think Astoria MC would have in each LI route and how would they handle middle of the night cravings?

HMMMM well we have a couple canon ones already and i admit i dont know much about what a pregnant person might crave, but i hope this is fine anyways! :)

With Hades, she had a thing for pickles. He says she was putting them in their smoothies for a week straight (poor guy). She was also baking up a storm of, I imagine, very funky tasting items. Some came out fine, I’m sure-  pumpkin chocolate chip, apple oatmeal, raspberry banana crumb muffins. But then you’ve got the chocolate zucchini ones, the bacon-and-orange ones, the white chocolate and spinach ones. (Hades couldn’t look at spinach for an entire week after those batches.)

When it came to midnight cravings, MC always felt bad about waking Hades up when he already attended to her the entire day. She’d try getting out of bed herself, without disturbing him, but he was either always wrapped around her, or she just couldn’t get out of bed quietly enough, even with her aura muffling the sounds. Hades would always get up and hold her closer to him, kiss her on her cheek or forehead or neck, and ask what she wanted. When he gets it out of her (because she does try to resist most of the time, wanting to do it on her own), he goes and grabs whatever she wanted and a glass of water. He stays up with her until she’s fallen back asleep and he’ll rest easier after that.

For Astraeus, she had a thing for junk food. Astraeus makes a few jabs about her eating those weird little pickled fish that she used to hate, but she can’t stop eating them. What tips her off to being pregnant at all is when she reached for a bottle of soda, which she never drinks. Her cravings here are probably a little less weird since it’s more of a pain to go and get ingredients/snacks when you live in Tartarus than it is if she lived on the surface or Olympus. (She can only ask Astraeus, Selene, or Helios to get her a bag of chocolate covered potato chips so many times before she starts feeling bad about it-)

Midnight cravings are easy- Astraeus is so in tune with her and very attentive. She usually doesn’t even have to ask before he’s gone and gotten whatever it is she was craving just then. He’ll gently sit her up and let her eat, and rub soothing circles on her back that drain any tensions leftover from the day. He often takes time after she’s fallen back asleep to watch her and listen to her heart until he’s dragged back under sleep’s embrace as well

For Alex, she bakes just as much as she does in Hades if not more. All her food combos are weird, and honestly she’s just very lucky that Alex will eat just about anything if it’s made by her. They do draw the line, though, when she tries making orange mint chocolate chip cookies. They shudder at just the thought of them. Other than that, she’s simply got a sweet tooth and Alex often brings her a ‘surprise’ slice of cake from a nearby bakery they’re both fond of. (’Surprise’ because it stopped being one when it became a near-daily thing)

MC knows how hard Alex works, so she does her best not to wake them whenever she wakes up in the middle of the night with some odd craving. Sometimes it’s pickle ice cream, which they unfortunately have in their freezer, sometimes it’s pasta with chocolate sauce, and other times it’s something like cereal with whipped cream on top. Whatever it is, she can almost always successfully get out of bed and to the kitchen without disturbing Alex. However, in spite of her carefulness and quiet, Alex always wakes up before she’s finished and comes out to be with her. They might have a bite to eat too, and when they’re both done, they insist on carrying her back to bed, where they snuggle up with each other and fall asleep.

For Hydra, she becomes more obsessed with Hydra’s terrible cup ramen than he himself is. She hates it, too, but god she can’t get enough of it? Hydra thinks it’s hilarious at first because she’s finally seen the light, but it gets to a point where even he thinks it’s too much. That’s when you know it’s bad. At the very least, this is also a time where macarons are plentiful in the apartment. She learns a lot about making them and practically perfects her technique during her pregnancy. She always makes a few normal batches with flavors she knows Hydra likes, but the rest are.... not to be tasted by anyone else. (She makes a batch of cheeto-flavored, cheese-dusted macarons one time and suddenly her macarons are Not allowed to leave the house).

Midnight cravings with Hydra are a little frustrating, if only because every time she tries to get out of bed to get herself something, Hydra stirs and pushes her back down. It’s sweet, but it happens Every Singly Time without fail, and she always feels so bad that he has to get up. But he insists, and he’s incredibly loving as he does it. He teases her a little and she’ll tease back. Sometimes he’ll bring her back a little of her current craving and smirk when she starts eating and say something like, “If you wanted a snack so bad, I was right here.” She’ll try (and fail) to shove him out of the bed, and ends up laughing into his chest. He laughs with her, and gets up one more time to throw away the trash before settling into bet with her again.

For Medusa, she’s a little more tame in terms of food cravings. She still bakes a lot, but it’s more normal stuff than weird. She’ll ask Medusa about any older Greek recipes she can try to make, much to Medusa’s joy. She’ll maybe add a few little twists to a recipe, but nothing too bad, really. The worst she probably gets with Medusa is when she tried to incorporate bacon into her tea cakes which was a disaster, really. (She ate all of them, though. Medusa’s tea didn’t deserve that.)

Medusa is very affectionate when MC gets a midnight craving. Before anything, she’ll sprinkle kisses all over her face, smiling when MC does. She’ll ask if MC wants to get up with her, or if she’d like to stay in bed. Regardless of which she chooses, Medusa gets her the food she’s wanting and will sit down with her after making both of them a cup of tea. MC will rest her head on Medusa, and Medusa will card her fingers through her hair, whispering sweet nothings and ‘i love you’s. She’ll also grab a book she’s been reading to MC and read a few more passages, until MC has fallen back asleep. If theywere in the living room, or garden, or kitchen, Medusa carries her back to bed.

For Cerberus, she can eat all three of the brothers under the table. And that is saying something. Cerberus basically encourages her to try whatever weird food craving she’s having, and he’ll try it too! He’s not particularly picky and he likes pretty much anything she does. He and his brothers are totally on board with her cravings, even when it’s something like peanut butter cheeseburgers topped with ice cream. They went nuts for that.

With Cerb, midnight cravings are a little bumpy because he never knows how much to bring her. He’s always bringing too much and get’s flustered when she says so, but it’s very endearing that he cares so much and wants her satisfied. She shares with him when he’s got too much, of course, and at some point Cerberus says that he’ll miss their midnight snacks when the baby is born. To which she says, they’ll probably still be able to have them anyways since the baby will keep them up. He smiles wide at that. When they finish eating, they lay back down and cuddle against one another. He’ll talk about their future together and how excited he is to meet their little one until they’ve both fallen back asleep

For Chimera, she’s very adventurous with her tastes. Chimera will try anything once, even though half of what she ends up making or wanting is just straight up Bad. His own dishes (that somehow always have hot dogs as an ingredient. How? No one knows) are always right up her alley though, so he does a lot of the cooking when she’s pregnant. She has a particular craving for hot sauce during this time and puts it on everything. Every. Thing. Her cereal? Yep. In her coffee? Yes. Ice cream? Definitely. 

Midnight cravings with Chimera are a little silly, because he’s a silly guy. He’ll wake up when she does,even when she tries to keep quiet. He goes and gets her something to eat but on the way back in, he’ll be flirting up a storm, pretending to be her waiter or the chef himself. It always gets a little laugh out of her, which keeps him smiling, too. She’ll flirt back, or say how cheesy he’s being, and then he’ll crack a joke about cheese. They both go back to sleep with smiles on their faces.