#im not even doing all the cooking. im doing the turkey&stuffing. and mashed potatoes.

[bi-mirandalawson]

me, a fool: i love hosting ! i love feeding ppl dinner ! and ive made a whole thanksgiving dinner by myself before so i can definitely handle doing thanksgiving at my house this year !

me, the day before thanksgiving: there aren't words to contain or describe how stressed and angry and sad and tired i feel

[mooifyourecows]

moo there’s so much to share !!!

first of all, spotify wrapped is out and the amount of joy brought to me by looking at yours is unmatchable. ALSO i don’t use spotify so mine isn’t annual BUT i checked my apple music replay today and i think it is so telling so i will put some pictures! (also for top artists my fifth is matt maeson but i messed up my picture because i was in class and distracted)

also !! thanksgiving !! saw that you made your dinner high and i think that is so fun , and glad you didn’t get hurt or anything ! i’m so spacey already i can’t imagine cooking while inebriated (does inebriated work for things other than alcohol? would intoxicated be the right word? i’ve always thought of it as intoxicated as drunk and inebriated as high)

thanksgiving was super fun this year , and i also cooked thanksgiving dinner ! not all of it of course , but i helped with everything but the turkey and did a couple things myself ! made the casseroles and stuffing and made pumpkin cheesecake and the pie filling for the pumpkin pie ! then the other stuff we made , mashed potatoes , sweet potatoes , and brussel sprouts that i helped with all of and we also made pecan pie and cornbread stuffing and greens and stuffed mushrooms. the desserts we made were a tart with maple custard pecan crust and apple roses (left) pumpkin cheesecake (middle left) pecan pie (middle right) and pumpkin pie (right) super proud of them

and i forgot everything else i wanted to say but i am also doing very well in school !! lowest grade is 87 (and a 17 but i am working on it i just have a very big missing assignment) and i am looking into colleges and majors and what colleges are good for each major so hopefully i can find some cool places to look into more !

i hope you’re doing well and enjoying the beginning of the holiday season !!

Matt Maeson and Bon Iver = great taste

(I don't listen to enough of mitski or loona to be able to tell if that = great taste but i assume it does)

i think inebriated is mostly used for drunk but i get you 👉 though in my experience, cooking while drunk is more dangerous than cooking while high. when i'm drunk, my pain tolerance gets too high and i'm way too off center so i am pretty much guaranteed to burn or cut myself. usually burn. i think i've burned myself on the stove or oven every single time i've drunk cooked. and i usually don't realize how bad it is until the next day so that's no bueno! don't drink and cook, unless you are not using harmful tools or have the supervision of a sober person! meanwhile when i'm cooking while high, it just takes me like… double or triple the amount of time to complete tasks because i constantly forget what i'm supposed to be doing, or get so enraptured in what i'm doing that everything else fades away and I've been doing the same thing for an hour when it was supposed to only take ten minutes

EITHER WAY, this is me being a responsible adult: don't do drugs or drink alcohol and then do potentially dangerous things

your food looks delicious babe, im glad you had fun and had lots of yummy stuff to eat 🖤

Congrats on your good grades too! good luck looking for schools and majors but make sure you don't stress out too much about that stuff. it's totally natural and expected that you change your mind about what you want to do. nobody should have to make a decision about the rest of their life when they're just a teenager! don't be afraid to test things out first, go to school undeclared for a few years if you want, just to try out different courses and learn where your true passions lie! There are so many jobs and fields out there that you don't even KNOW about when you're a teenager but could discover from just experimenting with classes that interest you. so don't feel like you gotta pick something and then stick to it for the rest of your life! Change your mind a million times, I highly encourage it 🖤🎉

thank you for the cute pup pictures 🌈

[babbushka]

Hey zannah, merry christmas eve! i was wondering if it would be okay to ask what your christmas dinner menu is looking like this year? ive been tasked to bring a dish and im not sure what to do, lol im not a very accomplished cook like you, and was hoping that maybe something you make would be easy enough for a beginner like me. say hi to flip and the babies for me!

Hello my dear anon! Merry Christmas Eve right back at you :) We’re actually doing our small family dinner Sunday evening, just because there’s so many plans of drop-offs and drive-bys and all that jazz that comes along with the holidays lol.  But here’s the lineup that I’m cooking for my family of 4:

Appetizers: 

Stuffed mushrooms*

Brie & hot pepper jelly dip/cheese platter

Onion dip and chips*

Main:

Roast turkey

Vegan beef wellington (using mushrooms instead of beef) 

Sides:

mashed potatoes*

maple glazed roasted carrots*

sweet potato with marshmallow casserole*

Mixed steamed veggies*

Cranberry sauce & gravy

Desserts:

Vegan gingerbread cookies 

Great-grandma’s sugar cookies 

Chocolate cake

Everything is made from scratch with the exception of the onion dip (we love the liptons instant dip) and cranberry sauce (i will die on the hill of the canned stuff is the best lol) but anything with an asterisk next to it is honestly super easy and requires less than 5 ingredients! 

I’m a firm believer that things don’t have to be complicated to be delicious, I hope that you find inspiration in here somewhere for your gathering! :)

[for-ests]

Well, even though I’m already getting ready for Xmas, we can’t ignore thanksgiving. How bout a piece on Tom meeting the whole family on this day but it’s a chaotic mess because holidays can just bring out the best or worst in us. Maybe that’s just my family. Anyways, happy writing! 🦃

Thanks for the request babes :-) I hope this is what you had in mind (I vaguely say aunts, siblings, cousins, so the reader is able to imagine however many they have) enjoy!! ❤️

Word count: 2,145

✭♡✭♡✭♡✭

Even though you had been dating Tom for eight months, the two of you had never spent the holidays together. You had met at the most imperfect time, in late February.

Though you didn’t want to admit it, what unfolded tonight at your family’s Thanksgiving dinner would determine how you would continue on with your relationship. Your family was incredibly Important to you, and their opinion on your boyfriend was just as significant.

Despite the pressure that weighed on you and Tom’s shoulders, you were calm and collected. You were almost positive that they were going to love him as much as you had grown to.

Tom though, understandably, was a nervous wreck.

“Ughhh they’re gonna hate me.” He whispered, crossing his arms in a childish manner, mimicking one in a way that was intended to make you laugh. You chuckled loudly from the driver’s seat, trying to not keep your eyes off the road for more than a second.

“I think the fact that you have a British accent is enough to make my family like you.” You teased, reaching across the armrest and setting a comforting hand on his thigh. He relaxed immediately as you continued.

“We’ve talked about my past relationships before. But I’ve brought worse boys home, you being a decent human being is most definitely enough.”

“I know I know.” He mumbled, setting his hand over yours. “I just want it to be more than that. I’m here to prove myself whether you feel like that’s what’s gonna happen.”

“Yeah, totally.” You quipped, a bit flattered that he was so anxious to meet your parents and siblings. A guy had never shown this much interest in you before, yet alone your family.

“I can see you trying not to smile.” He teased.

Breaking into a smile, you shook your head, purposefully turning farther to the opposite side. Tom always did this, and you smiled every single time.

“Shush up and let me focus on the road”

Whatever your boyfriend said next faded into the background, and he soon turned his attention to his cell phone.

It had been months since you’d been to your hometown, and you were anxious to see it again. You were a well known actor like Tom, and that had kept you in many unfamiliar places surrounded by unfamiliar people. Coming back to your roots on such an important family holiday was what you had been waiting for. To see the people you loved again, and to introduce someone special to them.

Though your hometown was smaller, and not entirely significant, you were proud to be from the area. It was lively and decorated, the landscape stretching on for miles with rolling hills and hundreds of trees.

Your house was placed in a tight knit family friendly area. And as you drove closer, the aspects of your beloved neighborhood and town had become distinct, even the familiar layouts of the back roads put a smile on your face.

You breathed a sigh of relief. Nostalgia was a killer, and you were excited to show Tom around the town you held so close to your heart.

“Here we are.” You turned onto the block, and pulled into the driveway.

Tom tucked his phone away and focused his attention on what lay before him. “It’s lovely.” He smiled, pointing to a window on the second floor. “I bet that used to be your room.”

“Correct.” You tried not to giggle like the little girl you used to be. Unbuckling, you leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek.

As you pulled away, Tom was staring intensely. One look at you, and his nerves seemed to fade. You were so happy to bring him back. He loved to see you fulfilled, and loved that he was part of that reason.

Without another word, the two of you gathered your bags and made your way up to the front porch. The smell of holiday scented candles was the first thing you noticed when you opened the door. You could hear the afternoon football game playing from the living room loudly, and the bustling of your mother in the kitchen.

But before you stepped over the threshold into your warmly lit home, you leaned over and purred into Tom’s ear. “If you behave, you’re in for treat tonight.”

Tom snorted, nudging you away. “Shut up, I haffta focus.”

You kissed him again, but this time it was fully on the lips. You winked before screaming, “IM HOME!”

Then it was madness. Your family flooded to the front door, taking your bags so they could embrace you for the first time in months. It felt so good to be back, it was almost as if you had never moved out. Everything was the same, everything was familiar.

Introductions ensued. Cooing from your mother, going on and on about how handsome he was, though you had already shown her pictures. (She had seen all his movies already, but she would never admit that.)

A brooding stare from your father- which soon turned into a firm handshake. Your father didn’t really care who walked through the door, as long as they would watch sports with him. Tom definitely had some homework.

And your younger siblings of course, they had been waiting to meet Spider-Man since the moment you told them you were dating a superhero. They poked and prodded him, asking if he could play with them later and give they battle strategy tips.

It was all coming together, and thank God you arrived over an hour earlier than you had intended, so you could find some peace before the storm. Tom was unprepared for the mayhem that was about to ensue when suburban women had to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner.

Though you weren’t prepared for it, you were grateful. You were happy, watching him smile, his eyes twinkle, the corners of his eyes crinkling when your mother showed genuine interest in his career and experiences.

You were sentimental, wishing you could have spent a portion of your childhood with Tom, something that could have developed into an epic love story, one that stretched across decades. Your families would have already been close, before the fame. But when you thought harder about it, you were satisfied with what you had. You were incredibly smitten with Tom, and by the effort he was putting forth, he was equally smitten with you.

Tom had never been to the suburbs, so this trip was equivalent to a vacation for him. Which you found strange, given the fact that it was the fucking suburbs– but you didnt want to ruin his fun.

And ruined it was, or so that’s what it seemed like as your mother screamed at the top of her lungs for your younger siblings to leave the kitchen. You were by her side, also in an apron, trying to carve the turkey as best as you could while your mother mashed potatoes like she had never mashed them before.

“When are the aunties coming?” You squirmed and ripped another chunk of meat off the turkey bones, tossing them into a glass bowl.

“On their way.” Your mom said breathlessly, finishing the mashed potatoes and focusing on stirring the gravy. She then ordered you to crack open a few cans of cranberry sauce.

“Will we be done in time?” You glanced to the oven that had biscuits baking in it.

“Yes. Your grandmother is bringing doubled eggs and relish plates. Your aunt is bringing…” she trailed off as her attention was turned to the stuffing that had yet to be loaded into a plate. Unfortunately, your mom had fallen behind schedule this year and had to cook everything in the last couple hours. Part of that reason was because she was distracted with your arrival. It was a mess, but it was all coming together. With your help of course.

“Is there anything I can help with, Mrs. L/N?” Tom peaked his head around the corner at the commotion. You knew he had been distracted with a long friendly lecture from your father.

Your mother didn’t seem to hear him, as her train of thought was interrupted by the oven beeping. The biscuits were done.

She breathed a sigh of relief, and turned the oven off. Everything was finally cooked, and still piping hot for all the family to enjoy. Yet your mother still seemed anxious. But that was just how she was, every single year.

“You’re the guest, Tom.” You smiled. “And everything is done.”

He gave you two thumbs up, flashing a cheshire grin. Surprisingly, he seemed over the moon, probably excited for the food that was lying in front of him. It was aromatic, and your stomach started to grumble.

“Can I at least help set up?” He asked, guilt flashing across his face. Tom was one of those people that hated to sit around and watch everyone else take part in activities, even if it was as simple as setting up the dinner table. ‘Let me do something’ He mouthed, practically pleading with his eyes.

Your father made his way into the room, but before he could say anything, your mother piped up, back still turned away from the three of you.

Your mother chuckled. “Oh sweetie, guests don’t help set the table.” She walked past him, picking up the carved turkey and setting it gracefully in the center of the elongated wooden table.

“Guests?” You father chortled, clapping Tom on the back. “He’s practically family now.”

Your father’s eyes met your for a moment, and you were pleased to find his statement was genuine. Your heart fluttered, forever grateful that your parents seemed to approve of him. That was a first.

“Oops!” Your mother laughed. “You’re right, honey.” She walked past Tom and guestered for him to follow. “Grab whatever you’d like and bring it over then.” Normally, she would have made a joke, but you could tell she was tired, and wanted to eat.

Snorting, you shook your head. You knew she was trying extra hard to impress Tom. Like you, she had been waiting for another man in the family to spoil. Nodding towards the biscuits, Tom gained the hint that you wanted him to snatch something else to help set up.

That was the calm before the storm. The hustling and bustling of dishes signaled to your siblings and cousins that it was time to eat. They practically ran into the kitchen, a whirlwind of thank you’s in their paths. Taking advantage of that opportunity, your mother started handing them dishes to set on the table.

And before you and Tom knew it, there was nothing left to place on the table.

Setting the biscuits sheepishly on the edge of the table, and handing a few to your cousins at the kiddie bench, he rounded back to your side.

“I feel worthless.” He whispered in your ear, knowing it was a light-hearted joke.

“It’s fine babe, next time.” You left a light kiss on his cheek.

The two of you started to make your way to the table, unable to ignore the grumbling in your stomachs. You had purposefully told Tom not to eat a single thing before the gigantic meal. You had also advised that it was more than welcomed to take seconds, thirds, and even fourths.

And then, as if on cue, the front door violently swung open, and in hurried your aunts and grandparents. “Oofta, traffic was a killer.” You heard you grandmother’s voice complain loudly from the front entrance. A chilling breeze followed, refreshing in the warmly lit atmosphere.

You turned and saw your grandfather balancing at least four pumpkin pies in his hands. Tom rushes forward to help, and you followed suit.

“OH MY GOSH IT’S Y/N’S BOYFRIEND!” Your rambunctious aunt seemed to yell at the top of her lungs when she spotted the stranger.

Tom’s eyebrows raised in amusement.

“Be prepared for kisses.” You warned, smiling from ear to ear, knowing he had already been warned of their excessive amounts of affection.

It was going to be an incredibly wild night. One that you and Tom would remember for years to come.

[lovemesomesurveys]

How do you feel about full length beards? I’m not into a lot of facial hair. I like some scruff, but that’s it. Have you ever been to a circus? Yeah, once. I was naive and didn’t know about the abuse that went on at the time. Do you know anyone who’s gone to a Fat Camp? No. Do you use Facebook IM everyday? No. I don’t even remember the last time I used it. How many surveys have you done already today? This is my first.

What’s the WORST show on Adult Swim? I don’t care for the Adult Swim shows. Family Guy and American Dad is okay, but after that it gets too stupid and weird for me. Sorry. Like once I saw this show, Mr. Pickles, and uh... wtf. The episode I saw was very disturbing. I don’t get the appeal of Rick and Morty at all. And why the hell is Mike Tyson Mysteries a thing? That’s just to name a few. I see previews of other shows and I just... wow. Do you have any relatives that have shunned you, or vice versa? No. Has anyone ever posted a HORRIBLE picture of you for everyone to see? Not maliciously or because they thought it was horrible and wanted to embarrass me, but yeah. My mom has posted photos where she didn’t see anything wrong and she thinks I looked fine, but I was like EW NO take that down it’s hideous. I reallyyyy don’t like photos of me taken by someone else. I have to take my own photos if I’m going to take one at all because I know the angles and lighting and can add a filter. Plus, I can take a ton before finally settling on one. If someone else takes the photo and they want to post it, I have to approve. Which grade in school was the most fun for you? I enjoyed elementary and middle school. High school had its ups and downs, but there were parts I liked. I liked the last 2 years the best. Which would you rather have, a new puppy or kitten? I wouldn’t want another pet right now to be honest. We have our doggo and one suits our family best right now. Does drama seem to follow you everywhere you go? No, thankfully. I have other issues I struggle with, but not drama. Do you ever just want to go away to a new place where no one knows you? I don’t live in a small town where everyone knows everyone and I was never Miss Popularity, so apart from family and a few other people, not a lot of people know me. However, I do want move away to a new place. My family and I have wanted to for a long time, we just haven’t been able to. A change of environment and scenery would be really nice. You’re ordering a pizza, you can have any kind of toppings, what are they? I’m a simple gal, I just like white sauce, feta and ricotta cheese, garlic, spinach, and crumbled meatballs with pesto drizzled on top. Do you hit ‘quiet’ or ‘ignore’ on your cell? Which one usually? Nah. If my phone rings and I don’t want to answer it, I just let it ring. Do you ever regret giving your number to people? I have before with some people. Have you ever been told that you’re afraid of your own shadow? Haha yeah. Have you ever tried Gouda cheese? Nope. Does/did your high school have pop machines? No. They decided to remove them the year I entered high school, which I was mad about. Do you use a public computer, or do you have your own? I have my own laptop. Do you ever find it odd how you type LOL when you’re not really laughing? >> No, because I understand that its function has moved far beyond representing actual laughing-out-loud. <<< Yeah. I remember discussing that in a class once. Have you ever gambled? A couple times. Not my thing. Although, what really made my experience unenjoyable wasn’t so much the gambling, it was that the casinos I’ve been to allow smoking and I don’t do well with cigarette smoke. At all. It gives me a killer headache, makes my heart rate go up, and makes me feel dizzy and sick. It’s awful. The smell in the casinos was too overbearing for me, so I spent very little time inside. Do you know anyone who’s won the lottery? No. If you could work at any retail store, which one would it be? I really don’t want to work retail. And that’s not shade toward retail workers AT ALL. I salute you, honestly. You deal with a lot of shit. What’s the shortest you would ever cut your hair? I had a “bob” for a few years. Do you listen to any deathcore? No. Do you subscribe to any teen magazines? Which ones? No. I’m also 30 years old. Do you know someone who never smiles? Never? No. Has anyone ever made you feel uncomfortable at work? I’ve never had a job. Do you still watch South Park? I never did. I mean, I’ve seen bits here and there before because my brother used to watch it, but I was never into it myself. Tell me one movie you’ve seen recently that sucked: My mom, brother, and I recently watched this movie on Netflix called, The Platform. It had potential and was interesting at first, but the ending was just... no. It seemed abrupt and I was just really confused. Have you ever carved something into a dinner booth somewhere? No. When’s the last time you were carded at a bar? When I last went to the bar, which was almost 10 years ago. Do you smoke little cigars? Have you ever tried them? Nooo. You’re babysitting, what do you expect per hour for pay? Pfft, no I’m not babysitting. What’s the last thing you returned at a store? I very rarely return things so I have no idea. It’s been a long time. What’s the name of the last cat you pet? I don’t even recall the last time I petted a cat. Do you still look at clouds and make shapes of them? I haven’t in a long time. If you had to dye your hair for one year, what color would you pick? I already do, I dye it red. Who’s got your heart? Me. What’s your television addiction? I have several shows that I’m into. Have you ever stringed green beans before? No. What do you do to make yourself more relaxed when you’re nervous? It’s hard to calm myself when I’m anxious, but I try to distract by talking to someone, listening to ASMR, watching TV or something on YouTube, or reading.  Do you cook? If so, what’s the last thing you made? The only thing I cook is ramen. Oh wait actually I made a grilled cheese sandwich the other day. ha.  Have you ever had any painful dental work done? If so, what? Yeah, a few things. How do you usually spend your Saturdays? I spend all my days and nights the same, really. Do you make your own jewelry or clothing? Last year I briefly got into making beaded bracelets. I made a few. What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re bored? I do the same things everyday whether I’m bored or not: spend time on my social medias, watch YouTube, read, watch TV, scroll through Tumblr, do surveys, just lie there.... ha. Somedays just feel like they’re dragging and going by extra slow and the things I listed above that I like doing just don’t cut it so I just lie there mindlessly watching TV or go to sleep. Do you use drawing to describe what you’re feeling? No. Do you like the smell of new school supplies? As a kid I did. Like getting a new box of crayons. Do you give everything you do 100%? No. I certainly haven’t with life... Do you shop at any independent music stores? No. I don’t shop at any music stores. How do you feel about mainstream music? I like a lot of it.

What song lyrics describe your mood at the moment? *shrug* Do you have healthy eating habits? No. My eating habits are messed up. I have issues with appetite and other issues.

If you could transform into any kind of animal, what animal would you be? A dog. Are you superstitious? If so, what are you superstitious about? I do the knock on wood thing, but it’s just out of habit, really. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be? There’s so many places I’d like to visit. What food disgusts you the most? I don’t do seafood at all. What is your favorite thing to cook? Ramen. One place you would never want to get lost in in the dark? I wouldn’t want to get lost anywhere in the dark. :O Are you claustrophobic? Yes. What is your worst flaw? Oh where to start. One thing that always creeps you out? ALL bugs. What is your biggest fear? Losing loved ones, death, never getting better/getting worse, never doing anything with my life and just wasting away... If you could be reincarnated, would you come back as another human or an animal? If an animal, what kind? I don’t believe in reincarnation. Ideal way you’d like to die? Obviously painlessly, but jeez. If you could be roommates with anyone of your choice, who would you pick? I like living with my family. What is the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard? Uh, a lot of things. Your favorite kind of dog? I love doggos, but I definitely have a special thing for Labs and German Shepherds. Do you have any scars? If so, how many? I have a lot of scars. I’m not going to count them. What is your favorite scary movie to watch in the dark? I don’t watch them in the dark. Unless I’m at the theater, obviously. I love scary movies, though. Would you rather be buried or cremated when you die? Cremated. What is your favorite thing to drink? Alcoholic and non alcoholic? Coffee and Starbucks Doubleshot energy drinks. That’s also coffee, but you know what I mean. I don’t have a favorite alcoholic drink, I don’t drink. What is your favorite food around the holidays? I love either ham or turkey depending on the holiday and mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, and rolls. Easiest way to scare you? I’m such a jumpy, easily scarable (it’s a word, shh) person so you could really just say hi and I’ll jump. haha. Like my back faces my bedroom door and if I don’t hear anyone coming in or they just poke their head in to say something I’ll jump. lmao. Tell me one of your biggest secrets? Nah. What was your last nightmare about? It’s been awhile since I’ve had one, thankfully.

[radmanraditz]

Lo, How A Rose: What's your Christmas dinner menu?

{🎄Christmas Carol Asks🎄 || Closed.}

I wasn’t all too sure what we’d be doing this year for Christmas, so I’m answering this the day after! We were able to buy what we wanted to eat this year! We usually can even though finances can be tight around this time. 

Yesterday we had a 14 lbs turkey we baked with some of the cooking techniques my mom picked up from my soon-to-be sister-in-law’s mother when we were visiting my older brother for Thanksgiving last month. Mom made gravy and stuffing too. Then I made mashed potatoes and one of my favorite holiday side dishes: green bean casserole! There’s lots of leftovers for us to eat on for the next week!

Also mom’s made 2 sweet potato pies, and we’ve also had cookies in the house. I have some chocolates from my stocking too. 

Oranges are also part of my diet this holiday to help with some of the yucky symptoms of what’s been ailing me. 

Raditz would just get/make himself fried chicken for Christmas.

[mousiefanfic]

Giving Thanks

Pairing: Platonic Avengers x Reader

Words: ~1500

Description: Imagine Thanksgiving with the Avengers.

A/N: So, I don’t know if I got all of the avengers a spot in here. I did my best! I even included Peitro and Bucky. But wow, there’s kind of a lot of them now. Lol.

Also, I chose not to include Clint’s family because.... As nice as his wife’s character was, it came out of nowhere and I have a hard time writing them. Instead he’s just sort of a fatherly guy to the younger Avengers in this fic.

Last but not least (i swear!), Thanksgiving sucks for me because things with my family aren’t great. I hope that it can help somebody else who’s had a rough day. :)

*gif is not mine!*

It was scary at first, being the newest Avenger. After all, you had been an Avengers fan long before you discovered your powers.

But it had been a few months now, and you already felt at home. It wasn’t perfect, by any means. Cap could be a hard ass, Pietro used his super speed to mess with you whenever possible, Vision didn’t understand personal space, missions were rough, and Natasha beat you in training. Literally, every time. But it was still the happiest you’d ever been.

When Thanksgiving rolled around, it had been your plan to sleep in as late as you wanted. But, your room was the closest to the kitchen and you ended up waking up as soon as someone started shuffling around in the kitchen. Light sleeping seemed to be a side effect of all the training that you did.

And so, unable to fall asleep, you figured you might as well help out. Pulling a sweater on over your Captain America pajama shirt and Iron Man sweatpants, you stumbled out into the kitchen, still half asleep.

Only two people seemed to be awake yet, but they were hard at work, whispering insults and commands at each other as they stirred pots and preheated ovens.

“Hey. Clint, Natasha, do you guys need any help?” You asked, covering your yawn with a sweater-clad arm.

They both froze in place, slowly turning around to face you with matching grimaces on their faces.

“Did we wake you up? You should sleep. It’s a holiday.” Clint said.

You shrugged. “I’m a light sleeper. It’s no big deal. I’m happy to help!”

“Are you sure? The only reason I’m awake is because I owe him one and he insists on a magical thanksgiving.” Natasha replied, leaning on the counter across from you.

“Hey! Thanksgiving dinner is important. Don’t play.” Clint said with a glare to Natasha that seemed to straddle the line between playful and dangerous. She rolled her eyes in response.

“Yes! I’m sure. Now, what do you need done?” You asked, pulling an apron off of the hook, which you later saw had a black and red spider across the front. You suddenly started to question when you guys began to collect this much Avengers merch.

“Taste my cranberry sauce. It’s almost done, and then it’ll cool until dinner.” Natasha said, before Clint could give you a job.

She took your arm and let you to a pot on the stove. There had to be at least a gallon of cranberry sauce in there, bubbling like a witch’s cauldron. “Are we going to eat that much Nat?”

“Yeah, of course! Have you seen the way some of these guys eat? Thor? Pietro? Hell, even Cap and Bucky. We’re going to need all the food we can get.” Natasha replied.

You shrugged. “Fair enough.” She handed you a wooden spoon and you tried the sauce. It wasn’t what you expected. Sweet and sour like regular cranberry sauce but with a bite of cinnamon as well. It was great.

“What do you think (Y/N)?” She asked.

“Really, really good. This’ll be awesome!” You told her with a smile. She wasn’t jumping for joy at your feedback, but the way that her eyes lit up you knew that she wanted to.

Clint pulled you away a second later, leaving you in front of a counter with a chopping board, a vegetable peeler, and three bags of potatoes. “Have fun.” He said with a wink, turning back to his current project.

Avengers trickled into the kitchen throughout the morning. Vision was first, shortly after you woke up. Clint immediately put him to work on a casserole of some sort. You and Natasha kept a close eye on him though. No matter how much faith Clint had in the android’s cooking skills, you feared the kitchen going up in flames.

Shortly afterwards you turned around from a debate with Natasha over whether to watch Halloween movies or the Macy’s Parade and found your mixing bowl with pumpkin cheesecake batter gone.

It wasn’t long before you were chasing Pietro around the Avengers facility, shouting for him to “Bring back my batter! Right now Zoomie!”

Luckily Wanda intervened before things got too out of hand, levitating the cheesecake batter out of her twin’s hands and into yours. You thanked her with a hug before you all headed back to the kitchen.

When you got there Clint looked about ready to tear Sam’s head off for critiquing the way that he was preparing the turkey. Pietro made a smartass comment about how fitting it was that the birds were fighting about the bird.

Bruce and Tony were up next. Tony refused to assist with cooking, but sat at the counter and kept lively conversation with anyone who was chatting. And drank. So much drinking.

Clint put Bruce in charge of the green beans, making Pietro chuckle until Wanda elbowed him in the side. She then went back to helping fix Vision’s sweet potato casserole. Bruce didn’t seem to mind though. He was just happy to help out.

Steve and Bucky got up around the same time as well, and Steve felt bad that he hadn’t helped more with the cooking. He offered to find a movie and put it on in the living room, but no one took him up on that offer, not wanting to watch a “grandpa movie”.

As Pietro whipped anything that needed whipping with his super speed, including the mashed potatoes and some homemade whipped cream, he came close to starting almost four food fights. Clint put his foot down and eventually sent him to go put on the parade or find a movie.

Thor was awake last. He stumbled into the kitchen shirtless with his Thor’s hammer pajama pants on. He did really love those. When he was told that it was a holiday, he got upset, explaining that someone should have told him. Then they could all eat a Habrok from Asgard rather than a plain old turkey. It was easy to make him feel better though when Natasha put him in charge of decorating the dining table. And putting a shirt on.

Scott and Peter both stopped by around the same time, but couldn’t stay long. Scott had promised his daughter that he’d spend the day with her, and Aunt May wanted Peter home by one in the afternoon.

Peter dropped off some of Aunt May’s special stuffing and Scott brought some spicy gravy, which you made a mental note not to eat too much of when it made Steve’s nose run.

In general the whole morning was full of laughter and teasing and friendship, everything that you’d come to associate with the Avengers. And you all managed to get by with only two injuries. Clint accidentally grabbed a hot pot, and Pietro was showing off how quickly he could chop carrots when he accidentally cut his hand. Both injuries were handled quickly by Steve, even when Clint started to complain because “I’m a grown man! I am Hawkeye! I don’t need first aid for a teeny tiny burn! Im fine. And my turkey is gonna burn!”

By the time you were all set to sit down, the amount of food on the dining room table was..... Let’s just say that extra food had been put on chairs along the wall so that it was easily accessible, because the red tablecloth you’d gotten with Vision was barely visible. (Speaking of, the Android was a surprisingly good interior designer. He helped pick out all of the furniture for your bedroom.)

Once everyone was seated, you glanced around and couldn’t help but smile. Everyone was still in pajamas, although, luckily, Thor had put on a shirt, and everyone just looked so comfortable. They chatted and laughed and teased each other. Thanksgiving had never been a very big holiday for you, but you suddenly realized all that you had to be thankful for. Even as Pietro and Wanda tried to weasel their way into getting champagne rather the sparkling cider and got scolded by Clint, everything seemed perfect.

Suddenly, you stood up, before even really thinking about it, drink glass in hand. Conversation went quiet and all eyes were on you.

“Uh, okay, here we go I guess.” You started. “I wanted to make a toast! The avengers haven’t exactly had a smooth ride, but, honestly? The world would be screwed without us. Without you. All of you guys. And you know what? I’ve never really had a family. Not one that mattered. Until I met you. Being a part of this team is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Thank you, for being you. I guess.” It was short and sweet, but really, what else was there to say?

Things were silent for a minute and you were about to just sit down, but Thor, who had been sitting next to you suddenly stood and pulled you into a crushing hug. You were careful not to spill your drink down his back as you melted into his embrace.

When he let go he turned back to the table and held up his own glass. “To the Avengers!”

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

[pbandjesse]

Happy thanksgiving. Im really tired and would like to get to bed right now but I will write this first because thats just what I do. Today was a lot of fun. Dad came down to the city last night and got me from the bus station. Me and him and mom hung out with a while. I gave him a very late birthday present which I think he enjoyed. I was up for a while playing on my phone and unpacking. I got to bed around 1. I got up at 9ish and was still very tired but I got a shower and dressed and felt good. I was starbing though and so me and mom quickly went out to grad McDonald’s breakfast before we started cooking. But that put us a bit behind our planned schedule. It all worked out in the end but still. Added a little stress to the morning. I started with the custard apple pies. Except I didn’t read the recipe and so I just cored and peeled both bags of apples. So we had 5lbs instead of 2lbs. Oops. Mom got a laugh out of it at least. And then we could have 2 pies so that was neat. We listened to the Hamilton soundtrack with all the cut songs and I got to hear a song I hadn’t heard before! That was really neat. Me and mom worked well together. I would do stuff and delegate tasks. I would read out ingredients and mom Would pull them out. I would measure stuff while mom cut or peeled. It was a good system. After the pies went in the oven (using a Pinterest trick of putting a bowel under o,e pie so they fit side by side) I worked on the soup. Vegetarian sausage, spinach, onions, garlic, potatoes, spices, in a cream and soy milk broth. It came out probably the best of everything today. After I boiled it down we moved it to the crock pot and let it simmer all day and man it just came out so good. Im really happy about that even if I burnt my tongue a little. The rest of the mid day was prepping stuff. Mom got the turkey in. Dad came back from visiting his aunt and brought more spinach. I had a snack. Mom made us sandwiches. Around 230 I went to take a break and nap for an hour. I didn’t get to sleep for a while though and then ended up sleeping until 4. So mom came and got me and we finished the last couple things. Steve came over and tried to help but sort of made stuff harder and we had a small blow up. But his girlfriend and her kids came and things calmed down but got crazy in a different way. The kids were hella cute. 2 little boys a a baby girl. There was a lot of rushing and yelling and screaming and trying to find the last dish to cook something in but me and mom pulled it off. And we were sat for dinner by 530. And the food was great. I didn’t eat a ton. Mashed potatoes and stuffing, spoon corn bread, cranberry sauce. My soup! I didnt like the Mac and cheese or the puff pastry spinach things we made. And the green beans just didn’t do it for me. But everything else was great. Steve tied the baby to the chair in a sort of highchair. The kids liked the Mac and cheese a lot. It was fun. After dinner the kids played games and I hung out with the baby. She liked my phone case. After the table was mostly cleaned off we had a little birthday deal for mom. Cake and pies and singing. She liked the painting I made her. It was nice. And then there was chaos because the baby threw up. But it all calmed down. Felicia, Steve’s girlfriend, was mortified and kept saying she ruined the holiday but honestly she’s a pleasure to have around and I liked the kids even if there were gross things. Doesn’t bother me none. Once everything was calm we played some games. The older little boy was being rowdy and I grabbed him and yelled “punishment hug” and after he calmed down a few minutes went by and he whispered “can i have another punishment hug” and it was just to sweet. Soon enough it was time for them to go. I piggy backed the one and tried to carry the other bus ended up giving him to his mom. It was silly and fun. But it was nice to have quiet again. Me and mom and dad talked for a while. Me and mom watched stupid videos on my phone. Chilled. And now I’m really just super tired and looking forward to sleep. I feel bad that moms cleaning alone but she told me it’s fine. Stilll feel guilty. I’m getting my hair cut tomorrow! I’m very much looking forward to it. I hope it turns out as cut as it looks in my head. I hope you all feel good tonight. Kind and warm and safe. Sleep well.

[prsfood]

monos

Apple

Peanut butter

Banana

Chocolate

Eggs

Popcorn (2 ppl said works well (done it on two separate occasions now, but be majorly TMI warned. The runs are bad. Make sure you won't be crazy busy when you do it because you'll want a bathroom nearby.) - Natural (and microwaveable) popcorn works. :-) / Unpopped Popcorn Kernels - 1/2 Cup (210) = makes 4 quartz air popped popcorn

Tuna (250gr of it)

APPARENTLY potato works as well as apples!!!

Watermelon

Seaweed

Pineapple

Condensed milk

Milk or greek yogurt

oatmeal - 200 grams (730 calories)

grapefruit (fat burner)

clementines

I did semolina cooks in milk and I lost 2.2 pounds w/ sweetener and cinnamon for flavor

I lost 3.2 lbs on my fig mono

I tried all veggies. Like boiling half a bag of mixed frozen veggies. Lost like 7 pounds in 3 days.

My top rated are:

-nutella (the most notorious lol)

-chocolate

-gummy candy (cavity risk)

-ice cream

-eggs

Least rated:

-rice/potatoes

-bread/flour products

-fruit (works very differently for different people)

-peanut butter (wasn't bad, but side effects).

cucumbers are unbelievable, you lose up to 4-5kgs in 3 days thats like 10lbs i think

The one's that made me lose like crazy:

Popcorn

Chocolate

Eggs

Nutella

Eggs, dark chocolate, cocoa powder and coconut oil. Lost every time. Oh and nuts (good for water retention).

I think every fruit or veggies work. I dont count them as monos even though i usually eat only one til im sick of it.

Tried boiled potato mono and avocado (unintentionally) and lost as well. So they do work, even though i usually monostrict per se.

My question is: from which mono you actually see your weight loss the most?

For me eggs so far

gummy candy (400g, about 340/100gr) = 1360 with 3L water (0,6lbs loss without bowel movement)

for rice maybe get the plain 2 people sachet, cook 2 of those and eat 1 portion 4 times in the day (breakfast, lunch, afternoon and dinner)

Eggs Mono Diet Results Yesterday I had :

12 eggs (with the yolk)

1.5 lt of water

1 Zero Coke 330ml on an empty stomach of course (oops! I just couldn't resist!)

I also had a 40minute walk with my doggy.

This morning I weighted 200gr less! I was 54,2 Kg.

I did not feel hungry at all, but I had really bad cravings for fatty or sweet food.\

I was full of energy all day.

I had scrambled eggs, two omelettes a huge and a smaler one(only eggs), boiled eggs and fried eggs (no oil)

and I made sure to eat in front of others. The look on their face was priceless. So of course...

Potato white, boiled or baked or mashed or shredded

I eat one potato when I'm feeling hungry, so I average between three and six a day.

"Day 1: potato mono diet...baked them in the oven with some herbs and spices (about 6 potatoes...couldnt eat them all i was so stuffed just ate 5) so about 550 calories for the day total"

wannabeskinny247 just posted in the mono thread and she lost 2 pounds!

Sweet potato works wonders

Just don't flip when you weigh yourself the next day, they have a lot of weight to them, and have a lot of fiber. I tend to take lax after eating the last potato, so by the next day or two I'll clear 'em out. I lost around .5-1.5 pounds.

potato I lost 800 grams - ate them plain baked (even w/skin). Ate about a kilo

1 lb potato = 320-380 cals.

400g which is the equivalent to about 5 medium potatoes

Mono's that put you into ketosis : Eggs, ground meat, roasted turkey, baked or grilled chicken, cheese, steak, salmon, tuna

[samanthasroberts]

WD-40 and microwaved tampons: secrets of food photography revealed

Its the job of a food stylist to make products look delicious on camera even if the makeover leaves the meal inedible. Six stylists tell us their tricks

Behind most professional food photos is a stylist who tricks the viewer. These deceits range from a touch of lipstick to redden a strawberry, to milkshakes made from mashed potatoes. Its not that food stylists are liars and cheats. Theyre simply in the business of improvisation.

Throughout the 10 hours it takes, on average, to complete a photo shoot, stylists are expected to solve any given crisis on the spot. No tzatziki on set? Make do with the mayonnaise or whipped cream in the fridge. A client wants that turkey skin to look a little more red? Better have food coloring on hand.

When shooting, you cant stop and say: Hey, ugh, I forgot this, explains Denise Stillman, an Orange County-based food stylist whos been in the business for 26 years. You just have to make sure you [bring enough materials on set to] cover all your bases and then [ask yourself], What else can go wrong?

But not everything is faked. The product the advertiser is trying to sell is often featured, explains Stillman. When, for example, she shoots an ad for Breyers, she shoots the real ice cream. But if shes styling Gay Lea Foods whipped cream, the ice cream it rests atop can be made of anything so long as it looks delicious.

Whether shooting a television commercial or print advertisement, a food stylists goal is often to emphasize an ingredients natural beauty.

Im like hair and makeup for food, says Charlotte Omnès, a stylist based in New York. When you see models walk down the runway, they dont look like that. But after they come out of makeup, youre like, Wow.

If you want your Instagram food photos to resemble Bon Appétit covers, weve collected some pro tips that will help. Six food stylists served us their secrets on how to make common dishes look ready for their close-ups.

Enchiladas: mashed potatoes give the appearance of bulk

For a tasty-looking enchilada, add mashed potato. Photograph: Photo by Rick Gayle. Food styling by Kim Krejca.

Mexican food is not the most photogenic. No one knows this better than Kim Krejca, a Phoenix-based stylist who works with a lot of south-western cuisine. Enchiladas with sauce bleeding into the beans [are] not very visually pleasant, she says. You have to modify that but still be true to the food.

To give the enchiladas the appearance of bulkiness (as seen above), she stuffed them with instant mashed potatoes, a stylists go-to filling because they are easy to make and mold. Then Krejca added meat and veggies to the ends where the tortillas open up. To finish the dish, she used a heat gun to make the cheese melt perfectly on top.

Tacos: cosmetic sponges keep the shells open

Tacos: try cosmetic sponges, glue, and WD-40. Photograph: Photo by Rick Gayle. Food styling by Kim Krejca.

In real life, tacos are a delicious mess. To make them presentable on camera, Krejca glued two tortillas together and placed cosmetic sponges behind the meat to keep the shells open. For dark and juicy-looking beef, she painted the pieces with a brown sauce called Kitchen Bouquet, made of water and food coloring. Krejca then sprayed the filling with WD-40, her secret weapon to make Mexican food glisten. Stillman uses red peppers in place of diced tomatoes for a more vibrant color and pours corn syrup on beans so they look moist and fresh.

Cereal: mens hair products and sunscreen make a perfect milk

Do you prefer your cereal dry or with hair cream? Photograph: Photo by Chris Elinchev at Small Pond Productions. Food styling by Tamara Kaufman.

This may ruin your appetite, but the milk used in cereal photos is usually fake. Since the real stuff quickly makes cornflakes look soggy, food stylists have come up with alternatives. In this photo, Wisconsin-based Tamara Kaufman used Wildroot, a white hair cream for men with a sunscreen lotion-like consistency that many stylists covet. Krejca prefers the old-school method of white glue, which photographs just like the real deal. When pros do use actual milk, its only a very small amount. According to Michelle Rabin, a Toronto-based food stylist, you can place the most beautiful pieces of cereal in a bowl filled with vegetable shortening and cover it with a thin layer of milk. The shortening resists the liquid and it looks like the whole bowl is filled with mounds of cereal, she says. The pieces will stay pretty crisp for a long time.

Coffee: watered down soy sauce and gelatin give a smooth look

For a smooth-looking coffee, try water and gelatin. Photograph: Photo by Beth Galton. Retouching by Ashlee Gray. Food styling by Charlotte Omnès.

Black coffee is hard to work with because of its oily sheen. In a latte or cappuccino, the foam will quickly evaporate. In this photo, Omnès used a combination of Kitchen Bouquet, water and gelatin to give the coffee a smooth look. In a pinch, Rabin has used watered-down soy sauce and once had to improvise with cream and gravy browner on the set of a popular Canadian brand. I see that billboard I worked on and Im like: Thats funny, because thats not a coffee, she says. Kaufman uses the real deal when possible, but adds drops of soapy water around the perimeter with an eyedropper to simulate fresh brew. The froth, stylists say, is often made from piped soap foam.

Turkey: it may be raw and bloody inside, but the skin looks good

Undercooked turkey is often featured in ads. Photograph: Photo by Marshall Troy. Prop styling by Grace Knott. Food styling by Charlotte Omnès.

Every home chef knows its hard to make a bird crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Luckily, food stylists only have to focus on aesthetics, which means they never fully cook one. It is important not to overcook them so the skin stays looking moist, plump and juicy, says Omnès. These are visual cues that make your mouth water when you look at it. New-York based stylist Brian Preston-Campbell says he often roasts five or six turkeys for a few hours each to get that perfect hero bird. Its still raw and kind of bloody inside, he says. Its kind of nasty but its about the end product in the photo.

In this shot, Omnès pinned down the turkeys skin so it wouldnt tear in the oven. She lined the pan and stuffed the bird with a water-soaked paper towel so it would steam instead of turn crispy. To achieve that brown, glistening look, she brushed the turkey with a mixture of water, Kitchen Bouquet and dish soap.

Ice cream or whipped cream: shortening, corn syrup and frosting

Frosting plus icing sugar makes an impressive-looking ice cream. Photograph: Photo by Marshall Troy. Prop styling by Grace Knott. Food styling by Charlotte Omnès.

If ice cream were a human model, she would be a diva. The dessert is hard to mold, and if youre not styling in a refrigerated space, melts quickly. To avoid the headache, experts often turn to other ingredients. To create the ice cream on the left, Omnès mixed frosting with icing sugar (the cone on the right is the real deal), but the most common fake ice cream recipe is a combination of vegetable shortening, powdered sugar and corn syrup.

For other milky desserts, stylists have many hacks. For a dollop of whipped cream, Omnès used a non-dairy creamer that does not wilt or weep. Kaufman prefers Barbasol shaving cream but notes: The woman who mistakenly tried a bite was not pleased. For milkshakes, Stillman uses sour cream because its thick and easy to swirl.

Drinks: that frosty glass? Its spray-on deodorant

If your drink lacks the right sheen, just spray some deodorant on it. Photograph: Alamy

Stylists dont waste real booze unless the ad is for alcohol. To make cocktails, Omnès mixes food coloring in water, a trick Kaufman also uses to create chardonnay from diluted Kitchen Bouquet. In truth, the liquid itself is the sideshow. The most important part about cocktails are the visual cues, says Omnès cues such as ice, fizz, bubbles and froth. They [make the drink] look refreshing.

For frozen drinks like margaritas and daiquiris, the pros rely on ice powder, bits of gelatin that look like crushed ice when mixed with liquid. They also use fake plastic or acrylic ice cubes, which dont melt under the hot camera lights and vaseline on the rim of margaritas. To create frost, Stillman coats a beer mug with spray-on deodorant and uses a mixture of Scotchguard and glycerin to make soft drinks look icy cold with beads of condensation. What a hassle it would be otherwise, says Stillman. This way, you can choose the level of wetness on the glass.

Steamy pasta: incense gives the appearance of steam

That moment when steam rises up from pasta like mist over a mountain is hard to capture naturally on camera. Kaufman hides a tin foil package of steam chips inside the pasta bowl and adds water to create vapor. To get the same effect, she has also lit incense and later removed the stick with Photoshop, while other tricks involve a clothing steamer or cigarette smoke. By far the most interesting method is to microwave water-soaked tampons (cotton balls work as well) and bury them behind a dish. I have them in my kit just in case, says Kaufman. Regardless of the technique, she says steam should always be shot against a dark background.

Source: http://allofbeer.com/2017/05/27/wd-40-and-microwaved-tampons-secrets-of-food-photography-revealed/

from All of Beer https://allofbeer.wordpress.com/2017/05/27/wd-40-and-microwaved-tampons-secrets-of-food-photography-revealed/