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fictionalabyss · 4 years

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You know I can’t resist.

Pairings : Sabriel (eventual-ish), Michael, Lucifer.

Word count : 1,268

Written for : @spnabobingo

Square : Chocolate/coconut/almonds

Warning : Pack style, Alpha!Sam, hunting down Lucifer, threats, fated mates

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SPN A/B/O Bingo Round 5 Masterlist.

Gabriel is smiling to himself as he steps out of the small shop with two fingers pushing the brownie fully into his mouth with a soft moan. It’s the best damn brownie he’s had in a long ass time.

“Seriously?” Gabriel glances over to see his older brother sitting on a patio table, foot resting on a chair with his forearm across his knee while he shakes his head. “I leave you alone for two damn minutes-”

“It smelled too good!” he defends himself, shoulders going up in a shrug. “You know I can’t resist.”

“We’re here on a job, Gabriel.”

Gabriel rolls his eyes. “It’s always work work work with you. All work and no play makes Michael a dull, dull boy.” he teases with a smirk.

“I’m going to tell dad you’re fucking around again, and-”

“Oh, come on, don’t be a little bitch, so I stopped for a brownie, what’s the big deal?” Michael gave his brother a bored look before his eyes shot down to Gabriel's bulging jacket pocket. “Oh, and a few cookies, sue me! It’s fucking good, Mikey. Okay? Eat one, maybe then you’ll get the stick out of your ass.”

“Just stay focused, Gabriel.” Michael snapped before pushing off the table. “Dad’s not fucking around. We need to find him.”

“We’ll find him. Okay? If he’s here, we’ll find him.” Before anything else can be said, he sees his brother's eyes cloud over and choses that opportunity to pull out a small wrapped sample of cake from his other pocket and stuff it in his mouth. “What?” Gabriel asks, mouth full and swallowing just as Michael blinks out of the link. “Someone find him?”

“No. A faint whiff of him, though.” Michaels looking around the town center. “Here and there, he’s doing his best to hide it. They can’t tell if it’s an old scent or just blocked somehow..”

“Alright, alright, I’ll get moving.” Gabriel dusts off his hands. “Where was the last scent?”

“Around the pack house. Not inside, though. Just… around..”

“I’ll check the woods, too.”

“Don’t be seen, Gabriel. Not by anyone more than you’ve risked already.” Michael snapped. “We don’t exactly have permission-”

“I know. I’ll be careful.” Michael let out a huff as Gabriel started past him. When Gabriel's hand hit his chest, Michael's hand covered his brothers just before it pulled away and Michael looked down to find himself holding a cookie. “A little sweetness won’t kill you, big brother.” Gabriel winked and walked away.

With a roll of his eyes and a shake of his head, Michael tossed the cookie in the trash before heading in the opposite direction.

He was moving around the pack house, keeping to the shadows as he observed the comings and goings of various people. He hadn’t smelled what he was looking for since he walked away from his brother in the town center, but he knew he couldn’t stop looking. His brother, Lucifer, was a danger to everyone and needed to be found. They’d been searching for months now. He’d pop up somewhere and then vanish by the time they got to him. They couldn’t let that happen again, not when he left devastation in his wake. And Gabriel liked this little pack town. They had good food. He smiled to himself, taking a bite out of his last cookie as he walked towards the back and peeked around the corner.

The cookie fell from his hand, landing in the perfectly manicured grass as a smell hit his nose.

Stepping out further than he should have, Gabriel’s nose was lifted in the air as he scented. Chocolate, coconut and almonds. It was divine to him. So perfectly balanced there was no way it was coming from the kitchen. Scenting at the air again, he followed his nose out past the yard that boasted a large pool and patio, and headed for the tree line. It was coming from the woods.

He moved fast, but quiet. Stealth was what Gabriel did best, the only reason Michael was tolerating him on this mission at all. It’s what happens when you grow up the youngest of four boys. You learn to avoid being seen, lest your older, bigger, stronger and angrier brothers get a hold of you. Especially if you just pranked them. And Gabriel loved a good prank.

The scent was stronger now, filling his nose and making his mouth water. He was close. He was so focused on that one smell, he ignored everything else. It consumed him. If he’d have been able to focus, he’d have smelt someone else and not been surprised when he came upon the people standing in the tiny clearing.

That smell.. It was coming from the giant of a man standing before his brother. It was him. That mouth watering scent was coming from him. Gabriel stared at him, wondering who he was, what his name was. He had to know, had to find out everything about him. “Mate.” he whispered softly, eyes not coming off the stranger until his brother spoke.

“Do you have an answer for me, Alpha Sam.” Gabriel saw the smirk on his brother's face, whatever he was here for, he was sure he’d get it.

‘Sam’ Gabriel repeated in his head. ‘Alpha Sam.’ He’d heard of an Alpha named Sam. Winchester?

“No.” The answer was a single firm word.

“I’ve given you enough time-”

“The answer. It’s no.”

Lucifer sneered, sharp teeth baring, but Sam didn’t move, didn’t seem phased in the least at the threat. “No?” Sam just gave him a tilted nod, and that only served to piss Lucifer off further. “You don’t get to tell me no.” he growled.

“I just did. I don’t know what you’re up to, Lucifer, but we will not fight your war. We will not be your puppets. The answer, is no.”

“You’ll regret this.” Lucifer's claws were out as he started forward with another growl. Moving quick, Gabriel rushed out from the trees and got between his brother and the much larger Alpha behind him. “Gabriel.” Lucifer smiled.

“Back away.”

“Or what?” Lucifer laughed, and when Gabriel’s claws came out, Lucifer’s laugh died, but his smile never faded. “Why do you care?”

“Back away, Luci. I love you, you’re my brother, but you’re a big bag of dicks and I won’t hesitate.”

“You’re hesitating now.” Lucifer grinned, stepping closer.

“I can fight my own battles.” Came a growl from behind Gabriel.

“I’m warning you, Luci. I’m not here alone.” He needed to mind link to Michael, tell him that he found him, but he couldn’t risk taking his eyes off his brother.

“I’m just here for Samuel.” Lucifer raised his hands, palms out and facing his younger brother. “I’ll leave everything else intact if Sam comes with me.”

“Never.” Gabriel growled threateningly, something that took Lucifer by surprise for a moment. Lucifer narrowed his eyes, tilting his head as he studied Gabriel. “I’ll never let you have him.”

“Why? Why do you suddenly care? The Winchesters are beneath us.”

“I care because he’s mine.”

Lucifer’s eyebrows shot up as he took another step closer then stopped. He scented at the air for a moment, an action that earned a growl from his little brother. “Did our little trickster find his mate?” A smirk spread across Lucifer's lips. “You should have stayed hidden, little brother. Now I know both of your weaknesses. I won’t stop until I get what I want.”

“You can’t have him.”

“Then I’ll just have to take you.” his smile was sinister as he lunged forward.

*If you like this, please consider supporting my work*

Tagging : Sam - @evyiione @hoboal87

SPN - @sandlee44 @just-another-busy-fangirl @mrswhozeewhatsis @deanandsamsbitch @deans-baby-momma @thebescht @67-chevy-baby @supraveng @musiclovinchic93 @holyfuckloueh @ksgeekgirl @hobby27 @maddiepants @roxyspearing @onethirstyunicorn @fandom-princess-forevermore @kalesrebellion @deanwanddamons @thoughts-and-funnies

All tags - @sorenmarie87 @artemisthebadger @winchesterprincessbride @iflostreturntosteverogers @akfonkin @rebelminxy @foxyjwls007 @onethirstyunicorn @shaelyn102 @supernaturalenchanted @kazkingdom @babypink224221 @emoryhemsworth @ilovefanfic86 @pie-with-hunters @anaelsbrunette @feelmyroarrrr @letsdisneythings @cdwmtjb8 @notyourtypicalrose @xostephanie @ilovedeanspie @defenderrosetyler @amandamdiehl

#spnabobingo #chocolate/coconut/almond scent square #sabriel #gabriel #sam winchester fic #michael #lucifer #gabriel fic #sam winchester #sam #sam fic #spn #spnfic #au #spn au #supernatural #supernatural au #supernatural fic

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idreamofplaid · 4 years

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Finding Destiny

Square Filled: Plus Size for @spnkinkbingo & Late Presentation for @spnabobingo

Characters: alpha!Sam x omega!Reader; Madame Tremaine (OFC)

Rating: Explicit

Summary: Y/N always felt like an Omega. Life told her otherwise, until tonight.

Word Count: 3027

Created for @spnkinkbingo & @spnabobingo

You smelled like a garden had exploded on you, a garden with some miscellaneous spices and nature smells. Truth was, you smelled like a mess, but you’d been desperate. Living as a Beta was like being invisible.

You were convinced it didn’t help that your body wasn’t fashion model thin, or thin at all for that matter, instead having generous soft curves in your breasts, hips, and thighs. You had spent the last ten years watching Alphas and Omegas pair up, claim each other, shower each other with their love, devotion, and commitment. It had left you feeling more and more lonely, and food was your coping mechanism. The result of that was more pounds added to a body you already thought was too large.

Meanwhile, with each passing year, you felt more and more like life was passing you by. You, too, wanted to be claimed. There were no Alpha tendencies in your makeup; you were sure you were an Omega. You longed to be cherished, protected, filled with pups. Your untapped maternal instincts were strong, and you wanted to have a mate, be a mate. The Beta lifestyle wasn’t yours, so how had you been born into it?

Initially, when your heat didn’t come. You were confused, followed by disappointed, then discouraged, and finally resigned. Periodically, throughout all these reactions, you were devastated. The devastation overtook you when you least expected it, and then mercifully would leave again so you could function and pretend to be a happy Beta. Had it stayed with you constantly, no doubt you would have fallen into a deep depression.

It was that unwanted and sometimes paralyzing sense of hopelessness which always returned due to your Beta status that had sent you to the establishment owned by Madame Tremaine. It was rumored that she could bring on a reluctant onset of the first heat. That’s what you were once again trying to convince yourself this was, abandoning your previous period of accepting your fate. That’s all it was, a delay. Your body just needed some encouragement, a little push to get your hormones in motion. That first heat was going to happen; it was just slow.

So, it was in that frame of mind that you entered her herb shop at the end of a narrow street in an unfashionable part of the city. Wooden shelves lined the walls, filled with glass jars of various sizes that contained materials of every description. Dried flowers hung from low hanging rafters, and a display case that was filled with what appeared to be rocks and gemstones ran the length of one wall.

The bell over the door had tinkled when you entered the shop, summoning Madame Tremaine from the rear room of the shop. She pushed aside a beaded curtain that hung in the doorway leading to the back. She sized you up, her eyes traveling over you from head to toe. You were wearing a full skirt and a peasant style blouse. It was a cute outfit, but you still felt inadequate and self conscious about your size. For a moment, you felt a little pathetic because you’d come here seeking her help at changing what nature, God, the universe, or whatever had decided should be your lot in life.

She was, of course, sleek and dressed all in form fitting black pants and a black shirt that emphasized her long, graceful arms and fingers. She had adorned those arms and fingers with turquoise rings and silver bangles, while large silver hoops hung from her ears. You were thinking of turning around and walking right back out when she said, “What brings you to see me tonight?”

You were determined not to stutter in spite of your nervousness. You could at least pretend to have a fraction of the confidence this woman so clearly possessed. “I’ve heard you can help Omegas with the onset of their first heat.”

She looked at you again. “How old are you?” You hesitated, not wanting to answer her question. You definitely should have left. This was so embarrassing. She lifted her chin and gave a wave of her hand, causing her bracelets to jingle. “Never mind. I’m sure I have what you need. It’s just a matter of finding the right combination of smells that compose your scent. Your body will then react with them and produce the scent on its own, triggering your first heat.”

For the next two hours, she had experimented on you with her herbs, flowers, and ground spices. She began with the flowers, explaining to you, “Very often an Omega’s scent includes a floral note. We only need to find the right one, then move on to the other elements.” It wasn’t tuberose, jasmine, violet, magnolia, or plumeria. She tried at least seven others before giving up on the flowers.

She moved to a particular row of jars with purpose. “Perhaps we should try something sweet instead.” The next round of fragrances she applied to your skin consisted of honey, vanilla, chocolate, coconut, sugar, and caramel. She was beginning to look a little perplexed, making you feel like a failure all over again. Not only were you unable to find a mate, now this wasn’t working either; but you needed it too. You felt like this was your last chance.

“How do you know it isn’t working, Madame?” You had absentmindedly grabbed your skirt and started to twist the fabric.

“Because I’m an Alpha; I could smell it if you were producing your own scent.” Of course she was an Alpha, all the confidence. Her tone had been a little sharper than she had intended. You were, after all, a paying customer. She shouldn’t let her frustration show. Madame softened her voice and tried a different approach. Perhaps you are a more rare type of Omega without the usual sweet or flowery smell. Let’s give something else a try.”

Next she went for a smaller set of jars that contained spices and pulled some tiny stone chips that were near a larger blue stone from the display case. First, she used a mortar and pestle to grind the stone chips then added some rosemary to the bowl, grinding it up as well, and finally sprinkling in some almond oil to bind it together. Your curiosity got the better of you and made you brave enough to ask, “Why did you add stones? They don’t smell.”

“Ah, but they do; it is just very subtle,” she answered, “and sometimes just the catalyst that is needed to activate the chemical process that will result in you producing your own scent.” She applied this mixture to the inside of your wrist. Still, the result was nothing. After that, she went through the motions of trying a few more things, but you knew with each passing minute this had been a huge waste of your hard earned money.

You left her store and practically slinked to your car, wanting nothing more than to get home to your favorite robe and a glass of red wine. When you closed the door with a heavy thud, your eyes landed on the gas gauge. Dammit. It was almost on empty. You wouldn’t make it home without stopping for gas. Perfect. There would be one more humiliation before this night was through. Gas stations in this part of town didn’t tend to carry out transactions through the pay at the pump method.

Perhaps your tendency to be invisible would play in your favor this time you thought as you pushed on the metal bar to open the glass door leading into the gas station. Your last shred of hope at maintaining your dignity had been destroyed when you’d pulled up to the pump and found a sign attached to it just as you’d expected. Pay Before You Pump. Now you had to go into this store smelling like a cheap whorehouse.

You made your way to the counter as quickly as you could, hoping to just put down your money, dash back outside again, get your gas, and go. You mumbled $30 on pump 3 and reached for your purse. That’s when you heard it, a voice that was just the right amount of deep and smoother than the honey back at Madame Tremaine’s shop. “Where are your apples?”

The guy behind the counter looked up reluctantly from his handheld video game. “We don’t have any. Sold the last of them this morning.” He turned his attention back to his game, and you turned to see who had spoken. What kind of face went with that voice?

The answer was the kind of face you saw on magazine covers and movie screens. The man with the sexy voice tried with the clerk again. “But I smell…” Then the gorgeous hazel eyes in that handsome face caught yours, and he tilted his head causing his golden brown hair to fall over his forehead. “It’s you.” His eyes narrowed a little.

Then something happened that had never occurred in your life. You were overcome by the smells of mahogany, champagne, and leather. The smell washed through you, entering every cell in your body, causing slick to pool in your panties, and your knees to go weak. You were beginning to sink to the floor.

The kid behind the counter finally put down his video game. “Lady, are you okay?” He was a Beta. He couldn’t smell any of what was happening two feet from him.

The mysterious Alpha caught you. He held you up while he put two twenties down on the counter. “For her gas.” He helped you out to your car, got you seated inside, then filled your tank. He walked back to you when he was done and leaned down to put his hand on your shoulder. The smell was overwhelming now. It was heady, more than if you’d drunk the champagne instead of just smelling it.

The Alpha kneeled in front of you. That magnificent voice had softened when he spoke to you. “I don’t think you should drive. I’m going to call my brother to come get my car, and then I’ll drive you home.”

Your head was feeling too light to argue, and there was a twinge of feeling bordering on pain starting between your legs. You nodded. “Okay.” Just like that. You trusted him, trusted him completely. It felt right what he was doing, taking care of you.

You closed your eyes and leaned your head back against the headrest. His voice sounded farther away, and you caught snippets of his conversation as you attempted to navigate all the emotional and physical feelings of your first heat. “Dean, i need you to come get the car.” Dean must be his brother. You missed the next part and then, “I’ll explain it all later. Just trust me. It’s never been more important.”

He returned to you and used that same soft tone he’d had with you before. “C’mon, let’s get you home. He lifted you like you weighed nothing more than a feather and carried you around to the passenger’s side of the car. He settled you in the seat and walked back around to take his place behind the wheel. Then, he turned to you. “I’m Sam.” His eyes focused on yours again. “And you’re my Omega.”

You gave him directions to your house, and when you got there he carried you inside, across the threshold just like you were a bride. “Where’s your bedroom?” It didn’t seem at all strange to have this man you’d just met in your house, or to be giving him directions to your bedroom. You wanted him there. The idea of him leaving scared you a little bit.

Sam put you down on your bed, and that fear bubbled up in your heart. You reached for him. “Don’t leave.”

He took your hand. “I wasn’t going to leave. Just go outside the room so you can change for bed. Your smell is so strong. All I can smell is you. It’s going to bring on my rut. So, I should probably put some distance between us. But I’m going to stay. Make sure you’re okay.”

You squeezed his hand. “I’m not. I’m not okay. I need you. This is so…” A huge gush of slick ran down your thighs. You cried out. “Sam, please. I don’t know what’s happening.”

A look of concern shadowed his gray green hazel eyes. “Your heats haven’t been like this before?”

You had a nearly vise like grip on his hand now; it was starting to hurt, and you grabbed his forearm with your other hand. “I’ve never had a heat before. This is the first one.”

It took a couple of seconds for Sam to comprehend what you’d just said. Then a fierce, protective gentleness filled his eyes; he didn’t let go of your hand until he was on the bed with you, then he took you in his arms. “I’ve got you, my Omega. It’s gonna be okay. I’m here. I won’t leave you.”

“It hurts, Sam. Why does it hurt?” This wasn’t what you had imagined it would be like to be an Omega. They’re had been no one in your life to explain it to you, and you were sure the books you’d read must be exaggerating.

Sam stroked your hair, trying to soothe you. “It hurts because you need an Alpha. Your body wants to be knotted. You need an Alpha’s knot.”

You held onto him tightly. “Will that make it stop?”

Sam whispered, “Yeah, that will make it stop.” He kept running his fingers through your hair, and then he growled. His hand stilled; his body was shaking with the effort to control himself.

His growling and shaking surprised you, and you jumped. “Sam, what is it? What’s wrong?”

He doubled his efforts to steady himself and stopped his shaking. “My body needs you too.” His voice was much more gruff than it had been before.

You raised your hand to sink your fingers into his hair, just as his were buried in yours. “Make it stop, Sam. Make it stop for both of us.”

While he was taking off your clothes, it didn’t occur to you once to feel self conscious about your lack of a flat stomach, the fullness of your thighs, or any of the other parts of your body you considered to be an imperfection. He kissed each and every one of them, while telling you how perfect you were. Your Alpha made you feel beautiful.

The touch of his hands was so gentle, even while you could feel the heat radiating off his skin. When his lips first touched yours, it was like when the match meet the candle wick, and the flame sparks to life. Sam kissed you for a long time, causing you to produce more slick, getting you ready for him.

When at last he broke the kiss, you looked into those eyes with the ability to change color; you saw into him, found that deep place where no one but his Omega would ever be allowed to go. “Were we meant to be together, Sam?”

He brushed his knuckles across your cheek. “Yeah, that’s how it works.” His eyes held yours, “I’ve been waiting for you so long.” The smell of leather was stronger now. It signaled the depth of the lust he was feeling, mixed with the more tender emotions.

You put your hand over his where it was still resting against your face. “It’s okay, Sam. I’m ready. Take me. Make me yours.”

Sam put his hands on the inside of your thighs and opened your legs. His eyes never left yours as he entered you slowly. The stretch pushed you to the limits of what you could take, and you knew it was nothing compared to what was to come when he gave you his knot.

He moved inside you with a gentle rhythm that heightened your passion and your need for him. When you started to roll your hips in time with the movements he was making, Sam reached between your bodies and started to rub your clit. He gave you exactly what you needed, and an intense orgasm came crashing through you.

While your body was still in the spasms of its release, Sam’s knot began to swell. “Yes, Alpha, yes. Please.”

Sam took you in his arms and rolled you to your side to face him while his knot continued to swell. He covered your face with soft kisses. “Are you okay?”

You clung to him, still afraid you might somehow lose him even though his body was firmly attached to yours. “Yes. This is what I’ve always wanted. You. I wanted you. I just couldn’t find you.” Tears started to slide down your cheeks. Everything about this night was overwhelming.

Sam wiped away your tears, kissed your temple, and whispered in your ear, “Shh. i’m here. I’ve got you now, my sweet Omega.”

You buried your face in his neck. The smell of the leather was receding now, blending back in with the mahogany and champagne. “Are you sure I’m your Omega, Sam? I mean I know I must not look like the other Omegas you’ve been with.”

He held you closer to him. “Yes, I’m sure.” You felt a fresh wave of his seed pumping into your womb. Sam put his fingers under your chin and tilted your face up to look at him. “You are more beautiful than any woman I’ve ever seen.”

You smiled, and a different kind of tears filled your eyes. This time they didn’t fall. You felt secure. You felt wanted, and you felt claimed even though he hadn’t yet put his mark on you. He would though. You knew it. Sam would claim you, mark you, and you would be proud for everyone to see it.

Sam brushed his thumb over your chin just below your lip. “What are you thinking, my Omega?”

You nodded just enough to kiss his thumb that was beneath your lips. “I’m thinking you were worth the wait.”

Everything: @gambitwinchester @princessmisery666 @onethirstyunicorn @peridottea91 @logical-princey @emilyshurley @beenlovingromansincedayoneish @fangirlxwritesx67 @waywardbaby @atc74 @ledzeppelinsbonzo @shaniquacynthia @mariekoukie6661 @tumbler-tidbits @67-chevy-baby @fandom-princess-forevermore @terrarium-jpeg @emoryhemsworth @crashdevlin @heycasbutt @jules-1999 @mrsdeannafuckingwinchester @cosicas-cuquis @sammyimpala-67 @queenoftheunderdark @dean-winchesters-bacon @mrs-meghan-winchester @timelordy-fangirl2 @sweetness47 @hobby27 @awesomesusiebstuff @kickingitwithkirk @sandlee44 @supernaturalgrandma @lonewolf471 @dawnie1988 @volleyballer519 @outcastedangel @kdfrqqg @lizette50 @sorenmarie87 @winchesterxfamilybusiness

Sam/Jared: @girl-next-door-writes @stunudo @feelmyroarrrr @idabbleincrazy @evansrogerskitten @focusonspn @autumninavonlea @spnxbsessed @durinsbride @deansyahtzee @waywardnerd67 @fullmooner

#spnkinkbingo #spnabobingo #alpha!sam #omega!reader #sam fluff #sam smut #alpha!sam x omega!reader #spn abo

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evansrogerskitten · 5 years

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SPN ABO BINGO 2019-2020 Masterlist

Alpha Please Square Filled: Soulmates

The Alpha’s Touch Square Filled: Touch Starvation

9 Months of Love Square Filled: Nesting

Enough was Enough Square Filled: Jealous Alpha

Lost in Translation Chapter 1 Square Filled: Free Space

Lost in Translation Chapter 2 Square Filled: Firewood/Cinnamon/Pine

Lost in Translation Chapter 3 Square Filled: Heat

Lost in Translation Chapter 4 Square Filled: Mating/Claiming

Unstoppable Square Filled: Enemies to Lovers

Christmas Magic Square Filled: Chocolate/Coconut/Almonds

A Puppy for Christmas Square Filled: Fluff

The Special One Square Filled: Pack Life

New Year’s Kiss Square Filled: Scenting

His Name was Winchester Square Filled: Cedar/Musk/Ozone

In the Heat of the Night Part One Square Filled: Omega/Omega

In the Heat of the Night Part 2 Square Filled: Growling/whining

Meeting Mr. Smith Square Filled: Slick

In the Heat of the Night Part 3 Square Filled: Marathon Heat Sex

Privacy Square Filled: Phantom Scent

Omega in My Sheets Square Filled: Oral Sex

In the Heat of the Night Part 4 Square Filled: Possessive Omega

This Surprising Love Square Filled: Arranged Marriage

In the Heat of the Night Part 5 Square Filled: Matching Claim Marks

Claimed Square Filled: Public Claiming

All Our Own Square Filled: Cedar/Petrichor/Musk

Completed 2.28.20

#supernatural a/b/o #a/b/o dynamics #evansrogerskitten #alpha!dean #alpha!sam #alpha!jensen

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ouraidengray4 · 4 years

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The Best Boxed Baking Mixes That Aren’t Full of Crap

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

The world of boxed cake, cookie, muffin, and brownie mixes is confusing at best, debilitatingly overwhelming at worst. Spend more than 45 seconds in any grocery store baking aisle and you’ll see what we mean.

The shelves are lined top to bottom with brightly colored boxes, all covered in tiny font, bombastic claims (The gooiest! The fluffiest! Just like Grandma’s!), and edge-to-edge photos of piping hot baked goods beckoning to hungry shoppers like Sirens taunting Odysseus with their bewitching songs.

OK, we’re being dramatic, but the point stands: When you’re pressed for time and a premade mix is your only option, sifting through the din to find a box not teeming with hydrogenated oils and unpronounceable preservatives is a real needle-in-a-haystack situation.

We tried them out so you don’t have to. Here are the six best boxed cake mixes.

The best yellow cake mix

And it was all yellow…

1. Miss Jones Baking Organic Vanilla Cake Mix

Free of GMOs, trans fats, artificial colors, and hydrogenated oils, this certified USDA organic baking mix fluffs up like a charm.

We’re going to say it: Miss Jones might be, pound for pound, the best no-frills cake mix on the market. 😱 (Yep, we went there.)

With no dairy or soy in the box, it’s totally up to you whether you add eggs, butter, and milk or swap in vegan substitutes (they even provide a vegan recipe online).

The organic cane sugar, tempered with earthy vanilla and a dash of sea salt, doesn’t dominate, so this cake is perfect for doctoring up with a custard or jelly filling, fresh fruit, glazes, or frosting. Go ahead and get crafty.

The best chocolate cake mix from a box

If it ain’t choc, don’t fix it…

2. Simple Mills Chocolate Muffin and Cake Mix

Muffins, cake, brownies, or cupcakes — this Paleo-friendly and dairy-, soy-, and gluten-free mix can do it all.

The ingredients are fittingly simple: almond flour, organic coconut sugar, cocoa, arrowroot, organic coconut flour, baking soda, and sea salt. No preservatives, no BS.

The mix itself packs only a relatively low 8 grams of sugar per serving, and recipes printed on the box include suggestions for optional add-ins like sweeteners or vanilla extract to make things extra versatile.

Gluten-free mix options

Because who needs gluten anyway?

3. Whole Note Naturally Gluten-Free Create-a-Muffin Mix

If you’re looking for a reliable blank canvas to satisfy all your gluten-free muffin-making needs, this is it. On its own, the mix is neutral yet tasty, with a light, pleasant vanilla scent and a hearty texture.

But where it really shines is as a base for antioxidant-rich blueberries, walnuts, or any other flavorful additions that might catch your eye.

Going vegan is easy with this one, and no matter how you prepare it, you’re looking at 14 grams of whole grains in each muffin, plus a dose of protein from fava bean flour and flaxseed meal.

4. Immaculate Baking Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

These rice flour-fueled gluten-free treats are the ideal combination of light and crispy at the edges and plump and gooey in the center.

They’re packed with velvety semisweet chocolate chips but skip bleached flour, GMOs, artificial preservatives, hydrogenated oils, and artificial flavors.

One box makes twenty-two 2-tablespoon cookies, so don’t forget to pick up that extra carton of (nondairy) milk — you’re gonna need it.

5. Krusteaz Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix, 18 Ounce, Pack of 8

This is a mix that’s easy as all heck, free of preservatives, and thoroughly edible for people following a gluten-free eating plan.

Krusteaz is a family business, so if you want a mix with home-cooked vibes, this might be the choice for you. All you need to do is mix in eggs, butter, and milk.

And — boom! Cake.

Plus, a snickerdoodle blondie…

As an added treat, because it bangs.

6. Foodstirs Organic Snickerdoodle Blondie Mix

Fall is prime snickerdoodle weather. What’s better than the intoxicating cinnamon-sugar smell combined with crisp weather, cozy flannel blankets, and a roaring fireplace?

These warm, tasty, 100-percent organic squares — a straightforward mix of brown sugar, wheat flour, sunflower oil, sea salt, baking powder, vanilla, molasses, and cinnamon — hit the spot like none other.

They’re like snickerdoodle cookies taken to another level… and yet somehow still have only 80 calories per serving. Thank you, healthy baking world.

Takeaway

Being easy to make and delicious to eat doesn’t mean baking mixes have to be packed full of additives and flavorings. You need little in the way of extra ingredients, and some mixes are even relatively nutritious.

If you feel like getting a bit more hands-on with your dessert, check out these high protein desserts you can whip up yourself.

(Or just stick to cake mix. We won’t tell anyone.)

from Greatist Health RSS Feed https://ift.tt/2qLfg7T The Best Boxed Baking Mixes That Aren’t Full of Crap Greatist Health RSS Feed from HEALTH BUZZ https://ift.tt/3edrgGQ

#Greatist Health RSS Feed

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milenasanchezmk · 6 years

Text

Primal Camping Meals: Weekend “Car Camping” Edition

Most camp food is terrible or the opposite of Primal. Or both.

It’s either an expensive REI tetrapak full of wheat flour, dehydrated “meat,” and desiccated Crisco, a Dough Boy, or the entirely overrated s’more. I’ll get flak for that last one, but I don’t care. S’mores rarely live up to the hype past age 12.

Just because you’re living out of a tent doesn’t mean you have to settle for terrible, unhealthy, unappetizing food. If anything, you should be eating healthier when you camp. It feels corrosive to defile the sanctity and purity of the wild with processed junk food wrapped in plastic. You generate all this trash. Whole, Primal foods taste even better when you camp; packaged garbage somehow tastes even worse.

I’ll cover backpacking food in a future post, but car camping cookery is my specialty. That’s what I’ll cover today—the kind of weekend trip that allows for a sizable cooler, some extras flourishes, and more than a single cooking pot. There’s nothing better than turning your campsite into a full-fledged camp kitchen, creating hearty meals whose scents permeate the grounds, arousing jealousy and any nearby wandering bears. There’s something about serving up dark chocolate chili and a nice Malbec while the family next to you nibbles PopTarts, heats up the $12 freeze-dried dinner from REI, and plays their 20th game of “War.”

What are my go-to car camping favorites?

Sometimes I’ll just do the basics: eggs, bacon, a piece of meat or fish, some grilled asparagus.

More often, I’ll turn to my favorites….

The Hobo Pack

The hobo pack harkens back to those ancient days when hobos, tramps, and vagabonds of all sorts would travel the dusty roads and endless railroads of classic America carrying heavy duty aluminum foil pouches of meat, taters, and vegetables.

The hobo pack is versatile and forgiving. Anything works, and almost anything will end up tasting damn good. Create a pouch with two layers of aluminum foil. Fill the pouch with meat and vegetables. Place pouch on coals.

Pot Roast—beef, onion, carrot, garlic, salt, pepper, a little red wine.

Salmon—salmon, lemon, broccoli, butternut squash, salt, avocado oil.

Whatever you do, pair your meats and vegetables well. Fish cooks quickly, so you’ll want to include vegetables that cook quickly, too. Beef chuck takes longer, so you’ll want something heartier, like sweet potatoes.

Buried Winter Squash

My absolute favorite winter squash is the honeynut squash. It looks like a butternut squash, only about 1/3 the size and a deep orange. The taste is phenomenal.

Get a nice bed of coals going. Bury your squash in the coals and hot ash. Cover it on all sides.

When they’re soft and tender all over, pull them out. Brush off most of the soot and slice lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds.

They’re good plain, with a little butter, or even a scoop of chevre (soft goat cheese) and salt.

Shakshuka

First, make the harissa from this recipe. Set aside.

Heat up a dutch oven over the fire. Add olive oil, a few chopped garlic cloves, one chopped hot pepper, one chopped sweet pepper, and a tablespoon of ground cumin. Sub cayenne and sweet paprika if you don’t have fresh peppers. Cook until fragrant.

Add the harissa along with a can of crushed tomatoes (or the equivalent in fresh tomatoes, if you have access) and two teaspoons of tomato paste.

Reduce until thickened, salting to taste. When it tastes just right, make a few indentations in the sauce and crack an egg in each. I aim for at least 6 or 7 eggs.

Cover and cook until eggs are cooked to your desired doneness. I like the yolks runny. Serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt, creme fraiche, sour cream, or labneh.

Pancakes with Camp Preserves

For the pancakes, I’ll either do these almond pancakes or these blueberry pancakes. One time, I even mixed some masa harina (lime-treated corn flour, the same stuff used in traditional tortillas) with an egg and a little coconut milk; turned out great. Any Primal pancake recipe you like will work.

For the camp preserves, just chop up whatever fruit you have. I’ve done mangoes, bananas, pears, and strawberries. I’ve done apples and pineapple with cinnamon. I’ve done blueberries, raspberries, blackberries. Every combination I’ve ever tried has worked. I just heat up a pan over the fire, add a little butter (seriously, not much), and throw in the chopped up fruit. Cook until soft, add a little water, mash, and reduce until you have thick camp preserves. Spoon over the pancakes.

Camp Chili

Every time I camp, I make a pot of this chili. I won’t expand on the recipe; you can just read the link. But there are a few ways to streamline the process.

Chop all the peppers and onions and garlic before hand.

Mix all the spices together so you can just keep them in one container and add them in one fell swoop.

Oh, and in the last 10-15 minutes of cooking, drop in a bar of 85% or higher dark chocolate. The one that seems to work the best for me is Valrhona Le Noir 85%. If you can’t find it, any high-cacao content bar will work.

You can also transform the entire character of the dish by adding a tablespoon of cardamom pods with the other spices. That alone makes it almost curry-like. If you go this route, you can also get away with doing lamb instead of beef. Just be sure to strain out the cardamom pods before serving.

Lemon Onion Wings

The day before your trip, blend one large or two medium onions with the juice from 5 lemons and a couple tablespoons of fish sauce in a well-sealed baggy or tupperware container. This is your marinade.

The morning of, place 4-5 pounds of chicken wings in a reliable Ziploc bag and pour the marinade over. You’ll want this to marinate for at least a day, so having this for dinner that night works perfectly.

When you’re ready to cook, place a grill over the campfire. Lay out the wings on paper towels and wipe off most of the marinade. Some bits of lemony onion will remain. That’s fine.

Salt and pepper the wings all over. Place on grill.

Assuming you’ve allowed enough time for the marinade to penetrate, grilling these wings over open flame/hot coals caramelizes the onion-imbued skin. Turn frequently. You want char, but not burning. When you suspect they’re ready, remove the largest wing and cut it open. If it’s done and no pink remains, take the rest off.

Primal Chocolate Cake

Take a Japanese sweet potato—the ones with the purple skin and white flesh. Bury it in some coals and hot ash. If you like the charred flavor and prefer extra caramelization, throw it directly into the coals. If you like a more steamed tuber and wish to avoid charring, wrap it in foil.

Remove from coals after 30 minutes and give it a squeeze. If it’s soft, it’s done. If there are any hard spots, throw it back in for another 5-10 minutes.

Once it’s done, split it down the middle. Insert several squares of good dark chocolate. Sprinkle sea salt. Mash, eat. Primal chocolate cake.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of car camping food, but it’s a solid list of dishes I’ve found to be both doable/realistic and delicious. You’ll notice that the carb counts for many of these dishes are a bit higher than usual. That’s because when I camp, I’m usually very active—hiking, swimming, exploring, playing. You should be, too.

Now I’d love to hear from all the campers out there. What are your favorite Primal foods to cook in the great outdoors?

Thanks for reading, everyone. Take care!

0 notes

fishermariawo · 6 years

Text

Primal Camping Meals: Weekend “Car Camping” Edition

Most camp food is terrible or the opposite of Primal. Or both.

What are my go-to car camping favorites?

Sometimes I’ll just do the basics: eggs, bacon, a piece of meat or fish, some grilled asparagus.

More often, I’ll turn to my favorites….

The Hobo Pack

Pot Roast—beef, onion, carrot, garlic, salt, pepper, a little red wine.

Salmon—salmon, lemon, broccoli, butternut squash, salt, avocado oil.

Buried Winter Squash

My absolute favorite winter squash is the honeynut squash. It looks like a butternut squash, only about 1/3 the size and a deep orange. The taste is phenomenal.

Get a nice bed of coals going. Bury your squash in the coals and hot ash. Cover it on all sides.

When they’re soft and tender all over, pull them out. Brush off most of the soot and slice lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds.

They’re good plain, with a little butter, or even a scoop of chevre (soft goat cheese) and salt.

Shakshuka

First, make the harissa from this recipe. Set aside.

Add the harissa along with a can of crushed tomatoes (or the equivalent in fresh tomatoes, if you have access) and two teaspoons of tomato paste.

Reduce until thickened, salting to taste. When it tastes just right, make a few indentations in the sauce and crack an egg in each. I aim for at least 6 or 7 eggs.

Cover and cook until eggs are cooked to your desired doneness. I like the yolks runny. Serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt, creme fraiche, sour cream, or labneh.

Pancakes with Camp Preserves

Camp Chili

Every time I camp, I make a pot of this chili. I won’t expand on the recipe; you can just read the link. But there are a few ways to streamline the process.

Chop all the peppers and onions and garlic before hand.

Mix all the spices together so you can just keep them in one container and add them in one fell swoop.

Lemon Onion Wings

When you’re ready to cook, place a grill over the campfire. Lay out the wings on paper towels and wipe off most of the marinade. Some bits of lemony onion will remain. That’s fine.

Salt and pepper the wings all over. Place on grill.

Primal Chocolate Cake

Remove from coals after 30 minutes and give it a squeeze. If it’s soft, it’s done. If there are any hard spots, throw it back in for another 5-10 minutes.

Once it’s done, split it down the middle. Insert several squares of good dark chocolate. Sprinkle sea salt. Mash, eat. Primal chocolate cake.

Now I’d love to hear from all the campers out there. What are your favorite Primal foods to cook in the great outdoors?

Thanks for reading, everyone. Take care!

0 notes

cynthiamwashington · 6 years

Text

Primal Camping Meals: Weekend “Car Camping” Edition

Most camp food is terrible or the opposite of Primal. Or both.

What are my go-to car camping favorites?

Sometimes I’ll just do the basics: eggs, bacon, a piece of meat or fish, some grilled asparagus.

More often, I’ll turn to my favorites….

The Hobo Pack

Pot Roast—beef, onion, carrot, garlic, salt, pepper, a little red wine.

Salmon—salmon, lemon, broccoli, butternut squash, salt, avocado oil.

Buried Winter Squash

My absolute favorite winter squash is the honeynut squash. It looks like a butternut squash, only about 1/3 the size and a deep orange. The taste is phenomenal.

Get a nice bed of coals going. Bury your squash in the coals and hot ash. Cover it on all sides.

When they’re soft and tender all over, pull them out. Brush off most of the soot and slice lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds.

They’re good plain, with a little butter, or even a scoop of chevre (soft goat cheese) and salt.

Shakshuka

First, make the harissa from this recipe. Set aside.

Add the harissa along with a can of crushed tomatoes (or the equivalent in fresh tomatoes, if you have access) and two teaspoons of tomato paste.

Reduce until thickened, salting to taste. When it tastes just right, make a few indentations in the sauce and crack an egg in each. I aim for at least 6 or 7 eggs.

Cover and cook until eggs are cooked to your desired doneness. I like the yolks runny. Serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt, creme fraiche, sour cream, or labneh.

Pancakes with Camp Preserves

Camp Chili

Every time I camp, I make a pot of this chili. I won’t expand on the recipe; you can just read the link. But there are a few ways to streamline the process.

Chop all the peppers and onions and garlic before hand.

Mix all the spices together so you can just keep them in one container and add them in one fell swoop.

Lemon Onion Wings

When you’re ready to cook, place a grill over the campfire. Lay out the wings on paper towels and wipe off most of the marinade. Some bits of lemony onion will remain. That’s fine.

Salt and pepper the wings all over. Place on grill.

Primal Chocolate Cake

Remove from coals after 30 minutes and give it a squeeze. If it’s soft, it’s done. If there are any hard spots, throw it back in for another 5-10 minutes.

Once it’s done, split it down the middle. Insert several squares of good dark chocolate. Sprinkle sea salt. Mash, eat. Primal chocolate cake.

Now I’d love to hear from all the campers out there. What are your favorite Primal foods to cook in the great outdoors?

Thanks for reading, everyone. Take care!

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Article source here:Marks’s Daily Apple

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fictionalabyss · 4 years

Text

A/B/O Bingo Round 5 Masterlist

Just ask for Dean. - Public Sex - Alpha!Demon!Dean x Reader

Who do you belong to, Alpha? - Omega Top/Alpha Bottom - CEO!Alpha!Sam x Omega!Reader

SinfullySlick. - Selling Slick - Alpha!Dean x Omega!Reader

All the cardio I need. - Marathon Heat Sex - Alpha!Sam x Omega!Reader

Eight kids and counting. - Pups - Alpha!Garth x Omega!Reader.

Bringing home our Luna. - Arranged Marriage - Sam x Reader.

Tell me it’s just her heat. - Older Alpha / Younger Omega - Alpha!Bill Harvelle x Omega!Reader

Mated : Forgotten. Part 1 / 4 - College Au - Winchesters x Reader (Patreon)

Mated : You should be out there, somewhere, happy. Part 2 / 4 - Motor Oil / Cut grass / Gunpowder - Dean x Reader

Mated : Funkytown. Part 3 / 4 - Fuck or die - Sam x Reader

You were dead. Part 4 / 4 - Multiple Alpha Claims - Winchesters x Reader

Fucking his little princess.- Sloppy seconds - Stepdad!Alpha!Dean x Stepdaughter!Omega!Reader.

Backwards bullheaded bullshit. - Societal role reversal - Alpha!Sam x Luna!Reader

No Crusts. - love at first smell - Beta!Ash x Omega!Reader

All who enter must fight. - Holy Omega - Omega!Reader & Winchesters

It’s good to be king. - Fear Kink - Boyking!Alpha!Sam x Omega!Reader

Hottest lawyer in the state. - Scent marking - Alpha!Sam x Omega!Reader

Colder than a witches tit. - Firewood/Cinnamon/Pine - Alpha!John x Omega!Reader

I’m the only Alpha here. - Pet play - Alpha!Reader x Alpha!Winchesters

You know I can’t resist. - Chocolate/Coconut/Almond - Sabriel

Probably not doing that again for a while. - Oral Knotting - Alpha!Sam x Omega!Reader

The welcome hunt. - Animal Forms - Dean x Reader.

47.26 North, 101.78 West. Part 1 / 2 - Restraints - Alpha!Demon!Dean x Omega!Reader

Finally. He's here. Part 2 / 2 - Feral Alpha - AlphaWinchesters x Omega!Reader

Prince Charming VS The Wolf. - Free square - Alpha!Winchesters x Reader

#this is the thing i did #i might regret it later

128 notes · View notes

nightrainlily · 6 years

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DAY SEVEN: ART IN CROISSANTS, PERFUME, AND SCULPTURE

we’re old pros now. we woke up early and caught the train at three bridges to Victoria, then beelined to the Victoria tube line, took that to Green Park, then took the Piccadilly line to Leicester Square, then walked to Covent Garden. if you can keep up with all that, you’re a local.

we stopped for breakfast and finally coffee. we haven’t had coffee since we left Sweden, and we became really caffeine dependent on the dark, smooth Swedish blends during our stay there. going cold turkey was hard, and Joelle and I were feeling it. we each got our favorite drink (a latte for Jo, a cappuccino for my mother, and an americano for me), and were absolutely overjoyed when they arrived at the table. I had strong crema. I knew it was going to be a good day.

my breakfast was also delicious (I’m going to talk about food a whole lot in this post, so if that’s not your thing, you might want to skip to day eight). I had a broiled grapefruit and granola, which may sound simple but really was just so very satisfying. side note: some people say that almond milk tastes like dirty water and that it’s terrible, but honestly I could drink it by the gallon. it’s so creamy! and smooth! and delicious! Joelle had coconut yogurt with pistachios (we all agreed pistachios are a seriously underrated yogurt topping) and this croissant that I could actually hear flake when she bit it. Joelle loves croissants—she gets excited thinking about how good the croissants are going to be in France—and my mother and I are encouraging her to start a croissant blog, the content of which will be ratings of croissants by flake, butter content, taste, cost, pull value, size, golden brownness, etc. she tells me this one was an eight out of ten; too much pull and too little flake, but the coloring was a perfect buttery bronze. once our caffeine kicked in, we were in high, high spirits. way up there.

the three of us are fond of quieter, cleaner spaces, like Kensington and Covent Garden. we walked through tea shops, parfumeries, and chocolatiers. the rows of stalls of the jubilee market stand on the outskirts of the square, where artisans and merchants sell their wares. I bought a tiny stamp of an “a” in the art deco style to use on my letter seals. oh, the things I do for my pen pals.

back to the topic of perfume: the word itself is derived from latin which translates to “through smoke.” Romans, Persians, and Arabs each developed their own versions of the latin original. what we call perfume in the states is actually a range of products which include eau de cologne (seven percent concentration), eau de toilette (ten percent concentration), eau de parfum (fifteen to twenty percent concentration), and actual perfume (forty percent concentration). I gravitate towards clean but also spicy scents; the one I’m wearing the most right now is coipaba balsam, palo santo, and cyprus. I found three blends today that I liked: a bergamot, oudwood, and birchwood one; a bergamot, agar wood, and geranium one; and a lemon, camellia leaves, and iris one. I only recently started to appreciate perfume and the niceness of a scent. I’m a musician, so when I think about art, I most often think of sound, but of course visual art is the most prominent form, and performance as well. only recently have I realized that the sense of smell can also factor into artistic expression as well; in the same way that a chef crafts a sensory experience, someone who crafts smells is also an artist.

after we felt we’d fully explored the Covent Garden area, we walked to the British Museum. we sort of came around the side, and then suddenly it was looming over us, stretching on for city blocks. its architectural influences include the greek revival style, which manifests in huge portico with forty four columns overlooking the street. the entrance opens onto the great court, a circular space in the center of the museum that is five stories high, centered around the reading room. the light filtering in from the cloudy sky today gave the marble room a gray cast, which seemed to me perfect museum-viewing weather.

some of the British Museum’s most renowned pieces are from ancient Greece, which include The Thinker and remains of the Parthenon. the only other public viewing opportunity for the Parthenon is in Greece, where the rest of the pieces still remain. the figures especially are exquisite—the folds of dresses fluttering in the wind, the detail of facial hair, the realness of human anatomy and movement. the ability to turn stone into figures that feel truly alive is something to witness and appreciate, if you ever get the chance.

the other section where we spent the most time was the Asian exhibit. our highlights from those rooms were the Chinese pottery, incredibly well preserved and incredibly detailed, pieces from South Asia centered around Hinduism and Buddhism, and the life-size model of a Korean scholar’s home. whereas the Greek rooms were mostly white marble, the Asian art was vibrant in both design and coloration. I saw the sculpture of the god Shiva, dancing in a ring of flame which conveys the Hindu belief that time is cyclical. some postage stamps in the modern section of the room show Kazi Nazrul islam, a Indian poet during the Indian revolution. the special room of jade sculptures had pieces ranging in size and delicacy, but all were beautiful and reminded me of the small gifts my grandfather used to bring home from Korea.

I didn’t even talk about the Rosetta Stone, but you get the gist of that. it was amazing. I felt like I was in the presence of a god.

I keep a list of professions I would pursue if I could live infinitely and money were no object. it includes: florist, music producer, magazine editor, professor, and now, museum curator. I love organization and the process of finding beautiful or interesting things. my blog, I suppose, is a form of curation, and my playlists definitely scratch that itch as well. to become an expert on something, to know more about it than almost anyone in the world, is a gift which gives you the power to enrich peoples’ lives. in his book The Tipping Point Malcolm Gladwell discusses three types of people: connectors, mavens, and salesmen. I would like to think I’m a maven, because I so enjoy learning about things and then disseminating that information to specific outlets that will most appreciate it. I think I get it from my mom, who reads the newspaper and clips articles for the people she loves. I take that concept to the next level. and being a museum curator would be the next next level.

although we didn’t get through every room, or even every floor, of exhibits, the museum was set to close and we were dead on our feet. we set off towards a row of restaurants, and as I looked around on the map, I saw a By Chloe. I’ve wanted to eat at a By Chloe for literally years, but the locations in L.A. and New York never quite made it into the family vacation itinerary. by the time we got there we were so hungry we could hardly stand, but just seeing the menu rejuvenated me. a lot of people ask me if being vegan is hard because I miss certain foods, but restaurants like By Chloe really fill the gap. I ordered a spicy Thai salad (on brand much?) and a side of mac and cheese, because I feel like if you’re a vegan offered mac and cheese and you don’t take the opportunity to at least try it, you’re probably doing it wrong. my mother got the same salad as me and a cauliflower soup, and Joelle got a taco salad (also on brand. another side note: Joelle’s list of her favorite foods does not include any Mexican dishes, but she’s ordered it consistently when we’re out and says that’s what she’s missed most since leaving home. this girl loves her Mex). and we got sweet potato and regular fries. with beet ketchup. and chipotle aioli. basically, we were feasting and I was in heaven. I’m always grateful when my friends and family compromise and eat at vegan restaurants, so thanks for fulfilling my dreams, guys!

then we stopped for gelato, and although I didn’t get any I’m going to talk about it anyway because it looked really good: my mother got coffee and dark chocolate, and Joelle got cheesecake and dark chocolate (another one of Joelle’s favorite, most beloved foods: cheesecake). there are gelato shops, and good gelato too, on every corner in this city. we love that.

and although we were in an unfamiliar area, we walked a block or two and found an underground station, read the map, and took it home. the London underground is by far the easiest public transportation system I’ve ever used, and I so appreciate the frequent stops, clean trains, logical signage, and ease of access to other lines. we’ve been able to get around entirely on our own, without any major mishaps. like we haven’t even gotten lost once. I count that as a victory.

today was rich. I think I speak for all of us when I say we’re feeling full-up of art, culture, and good food.

signing off,

amaya

1. Dedicated to the One I Love - The Mamas and the Papas

2. But Not for Me - Chet Baker

3. Something Soon - Car Seat Headrest

#europe2018

0 notes

dietauthority · 7 years

Text

9 Nutritious Granola Bar Recipes You Can Try Today

Looking for delicious granola bar dishes in the house? Allow us ensure you have actually come to the best place! Right here, we have actually offered you a few of the most scrumptious recipes prepared across the world. Would you prefer to understand what they are? Read ahead!

1. 5 Ingredient Granola Bars:

These bars contain 5 components as well as have this sweet and crispy taste you will absolutely like. Peanut butter and honey are a great combination, and this recipe is a fantastic concept for breakfast.

Ingredients:

One cup of packed dates

One fourth cup of honey

One fourth of velvety salty peanut butter

One cup of salted almonds

11 as well as a half cup of rolled oats

Steps:

Process your dates first. It must appear like "dough" since of its consistency.

Now toast your oats at 350 degrees. This need to be for around 15 minutes.

Put the oats, almonds and also dates in a bowl.

Take cozy honey and also peanut in a pan. Let it cook on low heat. Now put the oat blend and maintain mixing. Damage the days so that they disperse throughout.

Once it has been thoroughly mixed, transfer it to a 8 X 8 meal. Line with parchment paper so that you could lift it up easily.

Now press down until it has consistently been flattened. Cover with cling wrap. Set it in the fridge for 15 to 20 minutes.

Remove benches and slice them right into 10 bars.

2. Cranberry Flavor Granola Bars:

The Cranberry Flavor Granola Pubs contain nutrition as well as something you need to definitely explore at the very least once. They are very easy to prepare and also healthy and balanced as well!

Ingredients:

One teaspoon of butter

Half a cup of slivered almonds

One and also a fifty percent cup of pecan halves

One mug of dried out as well as sweetened cranberries

Eleven and a half cup of rolled oats

Three fourth mugs of wild rice crisp cereal

One fourth cup of maple syrup

Half a teaspoon of salt

One teaspoon of cinnamon

One tsp of vanilla extract

Half a teaspoon of based nutmeg

One fourth tsp of based cardamom

Three 4th mugs of wild rice syrup

Steps:

Heat your oven to 325 levels first.

Now spread out the almonds as well as the pecan on the biscuit sheet as well as let them toast for 6 to 8 minutes.

Mix the oats, rice grains, toasted almonds as well as pecan.

Heat the syrups, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, cardamom and ginger. Maintain stirring to stay clear of burning.

Once the syrups have concerned a light boil, allow it prepare for an additional 5 mins. Pour the prepared syrup over the oats as well as nuts.

Now pour the contents of the dish right into a baking recipe. Utilize a parchment paper to make sure that it doesn't break.

Let it cool to room temperature. Cut them into squares or rectangles.

3. Birdseed Granola Bars:

These bars are best for afternoon treats. Given that they are homemade, they are clearly healthier than other bars. Not merely that, birdseed granola bars is the cheapest!

Ingredients:

8 ounces of rolled oats

2 and a half ounces of millets

2 and a half ounces of quinoa

3 ounces of almonds, chopped

3 ounces of pecan, chopped

11 and a fifty percent ounces of wheat germ

11 and a fifty percent ounces of vegan butter

13 and also a fifty percent ounces of dark brown sugar

3 ounces of agave nectar

3 ounces of maple syrup

2 teaspoon of vanilla

Half a teaspoon of salt

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Make use of a baking frying pan and also use cooking spray with vegan butter for spreading.

Combine all the completely dry active ingredients. Spread them on a flat pan as well as let them toast for 15 minutes.

Combine all wet components including the sauce, in a large saucepan over medium warmth. Stir till the brown sugar has actually been completely dissolved.

All the toasted grains and also nuts should be combined thoroughly. Press flat.

Bake for 25 minutes.

Let it cool before cutting.

4. Homemade Banana Delicious chocolate Granola Nights clubs:

These granola bars could be kept in the fridge for a week. They could get a little bit sticky when left outside for quite long.

Ingredients:

One teaspoon of butter

Half a cup of almonds

Half a cup of cashews

One cup of banana chips

11 and also a fifty percent mug of rolled oats

11 and also a fifty percent mugs wild rice crisp cereal

One cup of brown rice cereal

One cup of brown rice syrup

Half a teaspoon of salt

One fourth cup of maple syrup

One teaspoon of vanilla extract

One fourth mug of chocolate lips

Steps:

Preheat your stove to 325 degrees in the beginning. Currently spread the almonds and also cashews on the biscuit sheet. Allow them toast for 6 to 8 minutes.

Grease the baking recipe next with a little bit of butter. Currently blend the rice, cereal, oats, chocolate chips in a baking bowl.

Heat the salts, vanilla and also syrups. Mix in order to stay clear of burning.

Once the syrups have come to a light boil, chef for 5 minutes.

Mix so that the syrup layers. Spread throughout.

Pour the materials when they are cozy into the cooking recipe. Allow it cool down to area temperature.

Cut into rectangles.

5. Granola And Parfaits:

This meal takes only 10 mins to cook as well as is super scrumptious. It is a healthy treat you simply have to attempt in your home. Undergo the recipe to uncover more.

Ingredients:

4 cups of old fashioned oats

¾ cups of shredded coconut

2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

One fourth cup of honey

2 tablespoons of syrup

One teaspoon of cinnamon

11/ 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

Half a cup of raisins

Half a cup of dried out cranberries

Half a cup of chopped almonds.

Steps:

Combine oats, almonds, and coconuts and also established aside.

Get hold of a huge saucepan, add some brownish sugar, oil, honey, syrup as well as cinnamon.

Remove the heat following and also add some vanilla.

Pour the oat combination and stir. Spread right into a baking pan.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Add some raisins with some dried out cranberries.

6. Pumpkin Pie Granola:

The pumpkin pie granola bar is perfect for institution morning meals. They are very easy to bite, extremely filling up, and promise to be a great treat.

Ingredients:

4 cups of old fashioned oats

Half a cup of chopped pecans

Three fourth mugs of shredded coconut

2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

One fourth cup of honey

3 tablespoons of pure maple

11 and also half tsps of pumpkin pie.

11 as well as a half tsps of pure vanilla

Half a cup of raisins

Half a cup of dried cranberries

Steps:

Get hold of a large dish and also add some oats, pecans and also coconuts to it.

Next, take your pan as well as add some oil, honey, maple syrup, brownish sugar and pumpkin to it.

Bring it to a boil.

Pour over oat blend. Mix to coat.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Add some raisins and also cranberries.

7. Peanut Butter Granola:

This meal is likewise something you just have to attempt. It is delicious, tempting, and also easy when it pertains to preparation.

Ingredients:

4 tsp of luscious peanut butter

4 of honey

Half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon

Half a teaspoon of vanilla extract

2 mugs of old fashioned rolled oats

Steps:

Preheat your oven at 325 degrees.

Line your baking dish with parchment paper.

Now include peanut butter and also honey to a large dish as well as pop it in the microwave for 40 seconds.

Stir with each other and also include cinnamon as well as vanilla extract.

Add the oats and mix until they have been coated in the mixture.

Spread the cooking layer and bake for 15 minutes.

Store inside a mason jar.

8. Banana Bread Granola:

This recipe is crispy, much less pleasant, nutty and also loaded with scent. Do provide this a shot.

Ingredients:

3 cups of rolled oats

¾ cups of walnuts

Half a cup of pecans

Half a teaspoon of sea salt

Half a teaspoon of cinnamon

One teaspoon of flax seed

One fourth cup of coconut oil

One tsp of vanilla extract

One medium ripe banana

Steps:

Preheat your stove to 350 degrees.

Mix the oats, cinnamon, sugar, salt and also flaxseed and also nuts in a bowl.

Now acquire a pan, heat it and add syrup and vanilla extract. Whisk the banana too.

Spread the mix in 2 baking sheets. Bake for 28 mins. The coconut oil will certainly crisp it up as well.

Once the granola has actually come to be brownish visibly, eliminate it from the stove and toss it just a bit to make sure that the warmth escapes.

9. Vanilla Almond Agave Granola:

This dish consists of 4 components in total as well as is the fastest method to prepare granola at home.

Ingredients:

¾ cups of agave nectar

One tsp of vanilla extract

One cup of sliced almonds

4 cups of quick cooking oats

Steps:

Preheat the stove at 350 degrees.

Get hold of a large pan where you could heat up the vanilla and also agave nectar.

Now place the fast cooking oats and also sliced huge almonds in a dish. Pour the agave nectar on the oats. Mix well.

Pour it out on a parchment and line it with a baking sheet. Cook for 20 minutes.

Store in an air-tight container for a week.

Benefits Of Granola:

One of the prime benefits of granola is its ability to care for your heart and reduced cholesterol. They include 1 to 2 grams of soluble fiber, which benefits the wellness ( 1).

Granola contains polyunsaturated fats in abundance. These lower high blood pressure, cholesterol and safeguard you from other chronic illness ( 2).

Granola additionally includes fibre. Fibre plays a major part in lowering blood cholesterol as well as glucose degrees ( 3).

Did you appreciate checking out the write-up? Have you attempted any of the recipes? Allow us recognize your suggestions and experiences in the remark box below.

#diet #nutrition #three day diet #wellness

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bentowax-blog · 7 years

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Bento Wax Co.'s Ready to ship restock!

Date: June 23rd 5pm EST

Shipping $10.00 flat rate, refund on multiple orders as long as names, and addresses are an exact match. TAT is 7 to 10 business days This is a ready to ship opening so all items are limited

Mystery Boxes ($20): 30 dollars worth of random scented scrubs and wax at a discounted rate

Sampler:

"It's gonna be may" Sampler 9 scents $12.15 plus shipping

Barbie Girl: Grape bubblegum

Say My Name: Watermelon lemonade & bubblegum

No scrubs: Dirty (lush type) & bubblegum

Wanna be: Cotton candy, strawberry raspberry, guava, & bubblegum

Bye Bye Bye: Fruity pebbles & bubblegum

Ooops I did it again: yellow cake, strawberry frosting, & bubblegum

What A Girl Wants: Love spell & bubble gum

Livin' la Vida Loca : Pina colada & bubble gum

Quit Playing Games : Lemon & bubblegum

3 Packs:

Sweet Refrain: Mahogany, peaches, and lavender

Chamomile Rose: Black chamomile and rose jam (lush type)

Boxes and Squares: Bergamot, eucalyptus, and peppermint

Spending All My Time: Honey, lavender, and ice cream scoop bread

Tiny's Treats: Chocolate fudge, whipped cream, and burnt sugar

Pick Me Up: Rice krispy, fruit loops, and marshmallow

Midsummer's Night: citrus, bergamot, cedarwood, and sandalwood (yankee type)

Pistachio Macaroon: hints of cherry, crushed almonds mixed with buttery and vanilla notes

Pure Grace: leafy greens and soft musk making a fresh clean smell

Let Them Eat Cake: sugar cane, coconut milk, vanilla orchid, and white musk

Death Of A Bachelor: Plum, florals, vanilla, and amber

Rollercoasters: Candied apples and caramel popcorn

Strawberry Shortcake: Strawberry, vanilla, and whipped cream

Windfall: Beach coconut, dragon fruit, saltwater, passionflower, frangpini, & jasmine

A Terrible Fate: Fruit loops & black raspberry vanilla

Twisted Love: Lovespell & black cherry

In The Summer time: Mango, papaya, & watermelon

Deku Tree: pine, lemon, roses, violets, sandalwood, moss, patchouli, and a bit of vanilla

Would You Kindly?: Fresh, sweet strawberries, mixed with a tad of vanilla bourbon

Volcano Mint: Pomegranate, eucalyptus, & peppermint

Blackberry Mojito: Blackberry mixed with mint mojito

Luck O' the Irish- Lucky charms, pistachio pudding cake, & vanilla bean noel

The Dirty Pineapple- Dirty (lush type), pineapple, & papaya

Dem store bought cookies- Smells exactly like those amazing frosted sugar cookies in the grocery store bakeries

Did You Know That Coconuts Are Coconuts?- Coconut & lavender

Cereal Bowl- Fruit loops, fresh strawberries & vanilla milk

Muy Caliente!- Blood oranges mixed with a pinch of chili pepper for a small kick

So Sleepy- So white (lush type), peppermint, and lavender

Breath of Light- White tea & freshly picked ripe pears

Its my Party- Cotton candy, birthday cake, lavender, & a touch of sugar cookie dough (Expecto Patronum)

Front Porch Sippin'- Watermelon lemonade & gardenia

Lemon Twist- Sweet milk & lemon meringue (Pompompurrin)

Summer Bliss- Banana split ice cream, with a hint of cherry (Pochacco)

Sugar Shock- Black raspberry vanilla, pink sugar, and tooth fairy taffy (Bad Badtz-Maru)

Scrubs:

Windfall: Beach coconut, dragon fruit, saltwater, passionflower, frangpini, & jasmine

A Terrible Fate: Fruit loops & black raspberry vanilla

Wind Waker: Ocean breeze, lemon, and fresh peonies

Deku Tree: pine, lemon, roses, violets, sandalwood, moss, patchouli, and a bit of vanilla

Hey! Listen!: Fresh lilacs, lily of the valley, mixed with a little pink sugar

Private Oasis: Lime, fresh coconut, musk, and a hint of vanilla

Raspberry Spritz: Raspberry sangria, apples, and rose jam

Blackberry Mojito: Blackberry mixed with mint mojito

Oops I did it again: yellow cake, strawberry frosting, & bubblegum

Twisted Love: Lovespell & black cherry

In The Summer time: Mango, papaya, & watermelon

Strawberry Margarita

Did You Know Coconuts, Are Coconuts?: Lavender and coconut

All Things That Are Good- Citrus, berry, magnolia, lily, vanilla, sandalwood, musk (endless weekend type)

Fred's Birthday- Fruity pebbles mixed with strawberry frosting and warm baked yellow cake

Futon Roll- Double lavender & chamomile, bed time bath, & bit of pink Sugar

Front Porch Sippin'- Watermelon lemonade & gardenia

Its my Party- Cotton candy, birthday cake, lavender, & a touch of sugar cookie dough (Expecto Patronum)

#bentowax bentowaxco bodyscrubs sushiwax vendorwax waxaddict

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chineseamericantraveler · 7 years

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Day 22: June 2 - Barcelona

Today, we woke up in the afternoon again, however this was because we both woke up definitely more sick. Throats were scratchy and it was a bit concerning, but not enough to search for anything (yet).

Not discouraged by our increasing malady though, we decided to go to the famous street of La Rambla around 12 PM and get lunch at Mercado de La Boqueria for lunch. La Boqueria was definitely an amazing experience. First walking around, it was a grid of stalls, one after the other, full of people and vendors. There were bright colors everywhere and all kinds of smells.

The most common type of stalls were the fruit stalls, selling various fruits. They had everything from your typical apples, bananas, and oranges, to unusual fruits like lychee, dragon fruit, and passion fruit. They also sold fruit juices, plastic cups upon plastic cups of brightly colored juices over ice. Everything from mango juice, to coconut juice.

Another common type of stall were the seafood stalls. In Spanish, one word for “seafood” is “fruto de mar”, or fruits of the sea. I think the French/Spanish have the right idea (similar translation in French), because those stalls had every type of seafood you could ever want, including razor clams, to eel, squid, HUGE tuna bodies, and sardines.

Last, the most common type of stall were the chocolate and sweets stalls. They would have square containers outlining their stall space filled to the brim of nuts, dried fruits, and/or spices. Some would have sections of nuts, and sections of confections like chocolate covered almonds, bonbons, truffles, gummies, and many other types of candies.

Some of the things Katie and I partook in were (over all the times we went to La Boqueria): - banana and strawberry juice for me - strawberry and mango juice for Katie - we shared a “taco” (really more of a burrito) over some paella-like rice, lettuce, and tomatoes - a bag of chocolate covered filled truffles (11 euros for me) - a bag of chocolate and cream covered almonds (5 euros for Katie) - watermelon juice for Katie

After we got some juice and a “taco”, we walked around La Boqueria for a while before proceeding out of the crowds and decided to take a gander at La Rambla itself. The street was more of a pedestrian area than a place for cars, but traffic moved on both sides of the middle section where numerous restaurants had set up seating areas. Many of these restaurants offered “great” deals on paella, drinks, and other foods, but we passed them all to go to the waterfront.

We made our way past Plaça del Portal de la Pau, a small roundabout before the waterfront before stopping momentarily on Rambla de Mar, close to a bridge that connected Spain to the Centre Comercial Maremagnum. With our feet hanging off the platform populated by seagulls and people, we watched tour boats come in and out of the little port, enjoying the sun and the sea breeze. The weather was great that day, supposedly in the high 70s F. Sitting in the sun was simultaneously very warm, and yet cool-ish due to the sea breeze that was able to cool our sun-warmed skin.

It was a very calming experience and I could already feel myself falling in love with Barcelona. Samanta, our Airbnb host, said that Barcelona was her favorite city because they had everything. Mountains, for skiing were close by, the city was close to the water so they had beaches and great weather while being in Spain, it was a metropolitan city so there were plenty of visitors. I had to say I was agreeing with her on a lot of accounts, especially this afternoon.

Eventually though, I got thirsty and we decided to cross the bridge to the Centre Comercial, around 3:30 PM, sat on the other side of the bridge for a little (this time on a bench instead of the edge of the platforms), where I bought a water bottle. At some point, we decided to walk inside of the mall, withdrawing some money from our dwindling bank accounts, and then stumbled upon a Lush store. Lush is a store that I got introduced to in the States in the International Mall with my mom, where we bought our first tubs of face masks and moisturizers.

Here, in Spain, I showed Katie a few of Lush’s most well known products before a salesperson descended on us. The woman, who happened to be very nice (and spoke English), demonstrated on Katie’s arm an exfoliating body wash and moisturizing gel that left one of her arms baby soft, while the other was normal feeling. But as Lush always does, the price on each of their tubs of handmade products always leave the middle class staggering and so Katie was hesitant to buy something. I was not so conservative, and decided to purchase a vanilla scented solid perfume (so I could smell like something other than sweat sometimes). In turn, the saleswoman gave us a couple of small samples of some of Lush’s products before we decided that staying in the store any longer could mean trouble for our wallets.

Once free from the mall, we walked back towards La Rambla around 5 PM, stopping momentarily to rest our tired legs and feet at “Ideal Restaurant” for a tempting promise of a mojito and piña colada in cups bigger than our two hands. We were sorely disappointed at our first sip and realization/speculation that the drinks probably didn’t even contain alcohol (the mojito was basically green colored sprite with lots of mint leaves, and mine was basically pineapple juice). We were even more disappointed at the expensive price that I don’t really want to reveal that we paid…

Sore about the impulsive buy, we decided to smooth things over and go back to La Boqueria where Katie bought her chocolate and cream almonds. We sat for a little bit on La Rambla afterwards, before returning to our Airbnb place around 6 PM to navigate to the Búnquers del Carmel, a recommendation from Samanta and Daniel. Though the couple told us that it was about a 10 minute walk from the apartment, they didn’t really tell us that it was more of a hike than a walk, as we climbed many stairs and many inclines (that probably were around 45 degrees).

Even as our breaths were stolen by the spontaneous hike, our breaths were even further stolen by the drop-dead gorgeous views of Barcelona. The Bunkers of Carmel were a definite hit with the younger population of Barcelona as most sitting areas were occupied by 20-somethings of all nationalities, though we happened to seat ourselves close to a big group of French nationals. Many groups and couples brought food and drinks with them to eat while admiring the view and talking with friends. Of course, there was a fair amount of people just there to take pictures of the panoramic views of Barcelona. We, as people who fell into the latter category, sat on a stone wall and structure and just talked.

We eventually caught the attention of another American from Orlando, Florida also on a Europe trip! Melanie was super nice and super friendly and definitely enhanced the experience of sitting on the bunkers. We talked for a good hour or two, exchanging travel stories and itineraries. We even invited her to have (late) dinner around 10, but she declined as she was planning on going to a social club. We parted ways, each going down the opposite side of the mountain as the other, and Katie and I gave up on trying to navigate our way to a restaurant in the heart of Barcelona.

We returned to Las Delicias, a popular restaurant with the locals and were seated (after some confusion) closer to 11 PM. We ordered more jalapeño poppers, mussels in sauce, and bread smeared with tomato. Delicious food but a little too late for our taste... though that didn't stop is from getting some crème brûlée as dessert. It was close to 12 when we finally returned to our Airbnb place for some much needed sleep for our tired bodies. We would be leaving for Valencia tomorrow!

#clio travels #barcelona #spain #euro trip 2017

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yolandadsims · 8 years

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A WELLNESS RETREAT AT CORINTHIA LONDON…

London is arguably one of the world’s greatest cities, but living and working here, Londoners can become blind to its rare brilliance. Precious gems like Trafalgar Square, Parliament, The London Eye, The Mall (etc), are casually tarred with the ‘tourist’ brush, and avoided for fear of disrupting ‘the daily mission’. It’s a superfast-paced city in which to work and live… but it doesn’t have to be that way! In what is the first ever staycation Active Escape review to feature on FitnessOnToast.com, I recently spent 3 cosy days inside the walls of the palatial Corinthia Hotel London investigating something genuinely innovative; the Brain Power Experience. It’s been designed in conjunction with the hotel’s Neuroscientist in Residence, and was totally transformative for me! It worked, and conclusively proved the hypothesis that you can enjoy an exceptional and differentiated wellness break whilst at home in this frenetic city, emerging revived and fired up! Click more to see what your own restorative well-being program could involve…

We shot this astounding view from the terraces of The Corinthia Hotel London, which opened in mid-2011 after a c.£300m renovation to shed its former Ministry of Defense clothes. For the past 3 months, the hotel has hosted Dr. Tara Swart PhD (neuroscientist, medical doctor and Senior Lecturer at MIT) as director of its Neuroscientist in Residence program. In my intrepid travels, I’ve not encountered any hotel group enlisting such a specialist, but at once I understand why they’ve done it. It’s a brave, avant-garde step for the hospitality industry, and whilst the press releases speak of ‘boosting brain power’, I can attest to it having meaningfully enhanced my sense of wellbeing, my tranquility, my body’s energy and my mental focus after just a 2-night stay.

This is partly thanks to the program, but also the property itself. This hotel basically bisects Trafalgar Square and Embankment – both frantically stressful parts of the City – but you wouldn’t know that you’re within 500 miles of the nearest ‘Nelson’s Column’! The Corinthia is a tranquil bolt hole right under your very nose, commanding what is perhaps London’s most majestic view over the River Thames, thanks to its inimitable location. The hotel is both low-key and high-end; familiar faces pepper the guest roster, as the hotel has become somewhat of an unofficial default for movie premiers and press junket interviews.

The clean lines of the décor throughout indicates an uncompromising approach to the finish, which is incredibly well invested, instilling the sense that you’re on solid, reassuringly opulent foundations. That sensation culminates in the centerpiece Crystal Moon Lounge; a spacious, triple-height atrium at the heart of the hotel, with a show-stopping chandelier composed of 1001 Baccarat crystal spheres, arranged in a sphere…

I was here to undertake a customized edit of the Brain Power Residential Package, which is a program is designed by Dr. Tara Swart PhD to promote optimal i) Sleep, ii) Nutrition, iii) Hydration and iv) Exercise; these are all the crucial pillars of a healthy lifestyle on which my blog majors, so it connected with me from the outset. The ‘extra mile’ is the way the hotel has neatly packaged up these components with their luxurious deft and created something which beautifully walks the line between lavish indulgence and health-retreat. To my mind, for £618, you’re investing in your well-being, benefitting from the academic depth of PhD-level research, and pressing the ‘restart’ button to emerge invigorated.

So let’s tackle these 4 elements (nutrition, hydration, sleep and exercise) one by one, to see how the Corinthia has paid homage to this credo.

1) NUTRITION

The theory is that since our brains make use of >25% of everything we eat, dietary input is linked to cerebral output.

It’s reassuring to see plenty of nuts, seeds, oily fish, avocado, quinoa, and grains, as this is essentially my favored diet (which features heavily in my book Fit In 3), which has been rubber-stamped by one of the leading scientific minds in her field.

The dedicated Brain Power Menu has been curated as a collaboration between Dr. Swart and the Corinthia’s Executive Chef Adriano Cavagnini to use ingredients which can help to optimize mental function. Here is the quinoa porridge dish from the breakfast menu (along with some delicious examples of the non-Brain Power offering)…

For the lunch/dinner menu, pictured below, I sampled every dish that my pescatarian credentials permitted, and was broadly struck by the excellence of execution. Often, where health-driven conceptual menus are involved, a dish might sound great on paper but seriously underwhelm on the plate – not at all the case here, with precision translation from the page, imaginatively brought to life. What’s on offer?

Starter: Beetroot & Kale Salad, Carrots, Quinoa, Parmesan Crisps and Raspberry dressing… delicious!

Starter: Organic Salmon with Green Mango Carpaccio, Blueberries, Toasted Almonds and Lemon Compote. This is a standout show-stopper. Exceptional depth of flavor.

Starter: Carrot with Turmeric Cream, Barley, Flax Seeds and Black Olives

Main: Green Tea Veal Fillet Paillard with Spinach, Puy Lentils, Cocoa and Black Pepper Sauce

Main: Roasted Squash with Wild Rice, Steamed Asparagus, and Red Pepper Oil

Dessert: Mango and Chia Seed Pudding with Yoghurt, Fresh Mango, and Raspberries

Dessert: Avocado Chiffon Cake with Manjari Chocolate Mousse and Cherries

Dessert: Coconut Tapioca with Papaya and Lemon Balm

2) HYDRATION

Optimal hydration is the single most underappreciated wellbeing tip I offer to personal training clients, and is something I’ve written about on my blog time and again. Water is the one and only liquid that fills you up, beautifies, can prove unexpectedly satisfying, and boasts a guilt-free 0 calories. Beyond the skin-deep though, it delivers oxygen to the muscles so that they can perform when you’re training, keeps the joints supple, restores energy levels, quashes hunger pangs, purifies the blood, helps the kidneys do their filtration job, and even takes the nutrients in your food on a journey through your digestive system! It is the very eau de vie, or aquavit (our Swedish equivalent!). I aim for 2 liters of bottled water a day, sipped at regular intervals, to stay topped up throughout!

Dr Swart’s work draws upon research into the body’s water balance, and the brain’s sensitivity to it. She concludes that even a minor 1-3% change in hydration levels can impair physical, motor and cognitive performance, so the program she’s designed focuses on optimal hydration.

For a little more fun, there are also Mocktails – non-alcoholic cocktails served up in their dramatic bar spaces by accredited mixologists: The Serotonin Sling (pictured below, with blackberry garnish) includes blackberries, blueberries, date syrup, coconut water and almond milk. Also, the Mox-ytocin includes Green Tea, Date Syrup, Mint Leaf, Lemon Juice and blackberries.

3) SLEEP

‘Survival of the most rested’ is how I like to think of it! Sleep is the ultimate repair workshop, where musculoskeletal renovation happens, immune health is replenished and mental alertness is restored. The ‘right amount’ of sleep will differ from person to person, but being stuck in the catch-22 of feeling perennially tired is not what I consider to be ‘wellbeing’. I’ve always believed 7 hours a night to be the minimum, and I like to give myself every chance for a quality night’s rest. Ensure the room isn’t too hot or cold, that there isn’t too much ambient light pollution, avoid screens for an hour before bed, resist caffeine after 13:00 that day, take a warm bath before sleep, and use lavender scent to lightly perfume the pillow.

Dr Swart’s view is that 7-9 hours of good quality sleep each night is essential to allow the brain’s waste-clearance system to go to work. A disruption in that process, she concludes, can impair IQ by 5-8% the following day, and an interrupted red-eye flight can devastate the IQ the following day!

To that end, the Corinthia rooms include excellent touches which I found perfect for the cause. Blackout blinds, snuggly bed socks, mattresses which regulate body temperature, a specially designed lavender pillow spray, as well as fluffy towels and heated floors in the bathrooms. These touches make a huge difference and enabled me to enjoy some seriously restorative sleep.

4) TRAINING AND SPA

Spending a day at a spa is not simply a hedonistic indulgence for the wanton pleasure-seeker; it has legitimate therapeutic effects which can make all the difference to a burned-out, run-down Londoner. The mood can be lifted by endorphin, dopamine and serotonin release, and it can promote regeneration and healing, muscular relaxation as well as invigorating & energizing, and expunging toxins in your body through the cycles of sweating and re-hydration. Plus it’s likely to make you sleep like a baby later that night!

Espa Life is the Corinthia’s in-house mega-spa set over 3,300 square meters and 4 floors. Cavernous, yet always intimate, it’s an impossibly relaxing experience, blending Chanel-inspired monochrome aesthetics with a suite of spa innovations, from hot-stone ‘anatomical loungers’ to effervescent ‘vitality pools’ and regenerative ‘sleep pods’, to a glass sauna with no perceptible walls, sleek lines and fibre-optics. This is the best spa I’ve visited in this country.

Scent is a big factor too; energizing citrus and tranquil lavender is piped throughout the various rooms via the air conditioning ducts.

I was fortunate enough to have enjoyed two exceptional treatments from Angel, the Spa Treatment manager. He is magical, and professionally accredited in a wide range of both scientific and holistic therapies. He administered the most exquisite sports massage I have ever received (and I am quite picky, being trained myself!), as well as leading me through a transportive, mindful session of Yoga Nidra, in which my mind achieved a transcendent state of conscious relaxation; I am somewhat of a cynic regarding many things ‘spiritual’ and prefer empirical evidence, but I was amazed at the effect from this fascinating practice on my body! I have never felt sensations like it, and implore you to try it for yourself, with an open mind or otherwise!

I also had a training session with the in-house PT team at the vast gym, which is bigger and better equipped than many commercial gyms in London. As it happens, there’s going to be a total refit of the gym, swapping out the current machines for an all-new lineup of Technogym’s top-end gear; that’s excellent news, as I can personally vouch for this kit, having visited their Italian factory & HQ a few years back, and been overwhelmed by the artistry involved in it! In the meantime, I made full use of the evaluative practices on-site to ascertain as much data as possible, and help work on my form with professional supervision – always a priority for me!

So two days later, after not really stepping foot outside of the hotel (other than onto the entrancing terrace of the Royal Suite during a little tour of the upper floors!), I exited the hotel with new vitality in my step. The hotel is world-class and has a unique aesthetic and feel, which in itself, will help you to revitalize. It’s difficult to say whether I “boosted my brain power” but during the stay, anecdotally, I had some extremely productive and clear thoughts about how I wanted to tackle the coming few months, and started mapping things out with clarity and lucidity. It’s not possible to say it was purely thanks to the Serotonin Sling, but I’m sure there was some causality there…

________________________________________

I WAS WEARING:

Jacket: Theory SS17 Skirt: Theory SS17 Top: Theory SS17 Top Bag: MCM Catherine Drawstring Velvet Heels: Zara current season

Sportswear: Monreal London SS17

__________________________________________

To clarify, I have received no compensation for this review, but was not charged for my stay at the hotel. I accepted the proposal to stay there as I have visited on a paid basis in the past, and was proud to recommend it to others.

The post A WELLNESS RETREAT AT CORINTHIA LONDON… appeared first on Fitness on Toast.

from Health And Fitness Updates http://fitnessontoast.com/2017/02/14/fitness-retreat-healthy-holiday-review-corinthia-hotel-london-luxury/

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muscledemandsrespect · 8 years