#nothing beats the crunch of a perfect carrot stick | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

jimgim-blog · 4 years

Text

Striving

As always, I begin with an apology. It doesn’t matter who or when. “Sorry, but--” is how I always begin any dialogue, whether it’s with my best friends who I haven’t called in over 2 months or with me, because everybody has to figure out which version of himself he wants to side with.

First, prose. Paul Kalanithi in “When Breath Becomes Air” sparked again, my love for literature. Perhaps unfounded, based on the fact that I’ve tried to read “Crime and Punishment” over five times, but still, a love that remains. His prose can only be described as leaping off the pages. It’s music. Especially towards the later chapters, when the “urgency of racing against time” is evident. He really poured his life out in the face of certain death. Although the vocabulary, syntax, structure and fluidity of his sentences elude my Reddit-level capacity to really appreciate them, I can tell its potential, similar to a tone-deaf drunkard happily sounding out half-flat drum beats because he can attest to the feeling the music produces.

There’s a list of quotes that I bookmarked but two that carry importance.

You can’t ever reach perfection, but you can believe in an asymptote toward which you are ceaselessly striving - pg. 115

Lucy and I both felt that life wasn’t about avoiding suffering...Darwin and Nietzsche agreed on one thing: the defining characteristic of the organism is striving - pg. 143

During COVID-19, one prominent lesson I’ve learned is that life hangs in a precarious balance between suffering and pleasure and that our job is to find out where that tipping point is for us. If you’re good at reading people, you can see where their limit is and can carefully guide them there (that’s what a good manager does). It came at a point when I was watching an episode of The Top Gear with a glass of beer. I thought it well-deserved since I had just finished a coding project that took way too long of a time. But by the time I had finished it, it was 2 AM. And I just felt this tremendous wave of sadness. It’s as if I had crossed the point a tad too much and the yin-and-yang of my personal universe was whipping me back into shape.

But, I argued back. Didn’t I deserve it? Isn’t the whole point of crunching numbers to relax afterwards? I mean, who actually likes writing out reports to projects that have no real value? (The premise that engineering at the Master-level study program has no real value, I probably should confront at some point, preferably before I delve into a career). Isn’t life all about the reward?

Besides the rush of dopamine which evolution has carefully produced to enable the continuation of the human species, I’m starting to realize the answer to the question lies in my upbringing. The Christian life to any person with a basic knowledge of the Bible is a life of delayed gratification. Confess now and you can go to heaven. Resist the temptation and you shall receive reward in heaven. Well, that’s incorrect. The Bible reveals the Christian life as one lived with Christ, in Christ and out of Christ. It’s a life of loving Christ, having Christ love you more than you can possibly imagine, and simply telling that to anybody else you know. But, to realize that--and even the more, live that out--requires maturity.

It helps that I went to a Bible seminary, but there are stages to a Christian life. In the initial stages, you find out what it means to deal with outward things like sins, the world, unrighteousness--things that most people can easily identify as those evil in the eyes of a Christian. But, at some point, you read Romans carefully and discover that God never expected you to perfect your resolve to never sin again. In fact, that was never His intention at all. His intention is that you would get to know Him more. To love Him more. To care about Him. The end game is when you realize that there’s really nothing more that pleases Him than Him giving Himself to you, and you allowing that.

There’s many obstacles like, your thoughts about what God is doing, who God is, or why God made things the way they are, but the point of the Christian life is to let those things go so that you would know Him.

That’s why the Bible doesn’t have any explicit answers to the problems of world poverty, hunger, unfair suffering and general illogical and incomprehensible ways that each individual life turns out; that’s not His focus. Neither does He actually owe it to you to solve all those things.

And here comes the point. Suffering is a part of human life because Adam fell. Christians suffer (arguably more than the unbeliever because of the fact that now he’s aware of not just one person, but several persons who lives within him--Satan, God and himself) and it’s just a part of life. Whoever came up with the idea that the good Christian goes to heaven has probably given Christianity a lot of thought. Philosophically, it's a satisfactory explanation for the impossible lives certain Christian biographies attest to. Politically, it’s a great tool for crowd control (Caesar Augustus). But it fails to hide the meaninglessness of it all that cloaks its happy ending. And look at the consequences! It’s become categorically almost taboo for a Catholic priest to be convicted of child molestation or some other gross sin for which he would be by the Catholic addendum to the Bible, responsible for help purging at the confession altar. The walls of Sardis and Thyatira echo with words of twisted teachings. How frustrated God must be that we’re just not getting it!

I think I’ve arrived at the cusp of understanding it. Not the point of it all, but why it’s meaningful to live in the faith. And what part suffering has in all of it. Because it’s not dissimilar to what I consider a life worth living outside of the bounds of Christian law. It’s exactly what Dr. Kalanithi wrote. Striving. That’s the whole point. Or, in layman terms, the pursuit of happiness.

When I watched Will Smith explain it to his kid (oh please, that scene was basically made for him and his actual kid) that nobody should strip his dreams away, I could resonate as an immigrant because that’s what my parents embodied in their ever-sacrificing life for me. They never said it, but I could tell. And striving was simply a part of it. They never questioned why they should strive because it was ingrained into their bones as they did everything they could to survive in the teenage stages of the miracle on the Han. But me, I have the pleasure of enjoying the fruits of their labor, never having to worry about having enough to eat. Instead, I have to re-discover why I should strive at all to find a meaning in life that they never had to question (presumably. I never asked them). But, it’s finally start to click: the pursuit is the happiness.

Like donkeys, we need the carrot at the end of the stick. I generally agree with the capitalist notion that humans need incentive to progress (or to work, for that matter). North Korean defectors have the hardest time integrating into South Korea because working is purely a status from 9 to 5, not a gateway into a better life. And look where North Korea is today; isolated, whining and throwing a tantrum every couple of months so people would notice them. So, we desperately need the idea of perfection. We admire those who have seemingly achieved it. We cling to the ideals and lift them up because it incentivizes us. “A perfect life exists and I’m going to get after it.” And, that’s really what the economy thrives on. Without grandeur ideals of a large house by the lakeside with a collection of supercars in the garage, Wall Street would collapse. Sure, some are more driven by the fact that their childhood was deprived of any sense of normalcy. I can’t say anything to that. But, the point is that normalcy is the ideal of “perfection”.

But if you see any interview of the person who’s “done it all”--I recommend for all the Asians, Johnny Kim (it hurts because my name is so similar)-- you never get the sense that they are exuberant beyond measure. Least of all, there is rarely a sense of absolute pride that they’re done it the way they wanted to and that was the end of it. The common thread is sacrifice and a bit of luck. The more they gave for their goals, the less they had time to think about if they’re happy at the moment. It’s in that precise moment of the present, when no thought of anxiety over the status of their happy-barometer is looming, that they’re actually, happy.

Perfection doesn’t exist. But if you don’t strive for it, there’s hardly any meaning at all. A perfect Christian life isn’t a life without suffering. It’s a life with, in and through Christ. But it’s unattainable, impossible. And maybe that’s the whole point.

p.s. There’s another dimension to the concept of “striving” in the Bible. It’s usually in a negative light because the entire medium through which we can live the normal Christian life is through faith and striving, on the contrary, implies work of our own merit. Here, striving is meant in a positive way, in the sense of pressing forward, of devoting serious energy into a matter that is near to the heart. Instead of a perfectionist foolishly striving for a goal that to him is naively reachable, I think of Luganksy playing Rachmaninoff Concert No. 2 in a recording that undoubtedly is one of the greatest performances of his life but riddled with miss-hits and asynchronous crescendo into the cadenza. It captures the beauty of irony; that only imperfection can bring solace to the troubled soul, keeping it afloat amidst the chaos of life. There is no perfect anything, but striving for it, whatever it may be or to whom the conceived idea belongs, is undoubtedly the greatest blessing to life.

0 notes

recipes-for-dinner-easy · 5 years

Text

Pecan Crusted Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner ⋆ Real Housemoms

New Post has been published on https://recipesfordinnereasy.site/2019/07/17/pecan-crusted-chicken-sheet-pan-dinner-%e2%8b%86-real-housemoms/

Pecan Crusted Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner ⋆ Real Housemoms

Your family is going to love this Pecan Crusted Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner! It’s an easy one-pan meal that’ll have everyone asking for seconds!This post is sponsored by the American Pecan Council. All opinions and text are my own.When it comes to easy dinner recipes nothing beats a one-pan meal at my house. Everything cooks together and there are fewer dishes to clean. One of my boys’ favorite one-pan meals is this Pecan Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner. It’s fuss-free and packed with pecans for a superfood boost they love. This crunchy pecan chicken will have your family running to the dinner table.PECAN CHICKEN SHEET PAN DINNERLike this recipe? Pin it to your DINNER pinboard!Follow Real Housemoms on Pinterest Chicken is a staple at my house just like most homes around the country. It’s easy to work with, so versatile, and my kids clean their plates every time. I’m always looking for ways to mix things up at dinner time and get more nutrients into our diet. Enter pecans, a great way to add plant-protein, fiber, good fats, and essential minerals to our favorite meals. When I pair pecans with my family’s favorite protein, I get a dinner win that’s a regular request from my guys. Pecan Crusted Chicken IngredientsChicken – Using a thin-cut chicken breast, or a breast cut in half, speeds up the cooking time for this recipe.Pecans – The original supernut! They’re the only major tree nut native to America and they are extremely nutrient dense.Panko Breadcrumbs – Keep your chicken coating crunchy with these bread crumbs. Skip the “regular” breadcrumbs and pre-seasoned options.Thyme – One of my go-to spices and it pairs perfectly with the pecans for an earthy flavor.Garlic Powder – I can never get enough garlic and a little garlic powder is a perfect addition to this recipe to balance out all the flavors going on.Salt & Pepper – Because food needs to be seasoned friends!You could also take out the breadcrumbs in this recipe and replace them with more finely chopped fresh pecans for a low carb variation. Don’t forget to substitute the potatoes for cauliflower or another vegetable you like to roast. How to Make Pecan Crusted ChickenPreheat oven to 400 degrees F.Spray a sheet pan with non-stick cooking spray or oil. Place potatoes and carrots on the pan. Toss vegetables with olive oil and 1/2 tablespoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.Slice chicken breasts horizontally into 4 cutlets. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.In a shallow bowl combine the pecan, bread crumbs, 1/2 tablespoon salt, thyme, and garlic powder.In a separate bowl, beat the eggs.Dip chicken in eggs, then dredge in the pecan mixture, coating both sides. Place on the sheet pan.Place sheet pan in oven and bake for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken over and stir the vegetables. Cook for an additional 10 minutes, until golden brown and juices run clear. Remove chicken from sheet pan and transfer to a plate to rest. Cook the vegetables for an additional 5 minutes.Serve cooked chicken, carrots, and potatoes warm. Garnish with parsley if desired.This pecan crusted chicken recipe is so easy to make my boys even step in to help measure, mix, and prep the veggies. Spending time cooking together is one of my favorite ways to bond with them. It’s also important to me to teach them about good food choices as they grow up.While my entire family will devour this pecan chicken recipe, sometimes I like to make it when it’s just Casey and me. Then I take the leftover chicken and save it to make a pecan chicken salad the next day. Cook once, eat twice friends. It’s one of my favorite time savers.What to serve with Pecan Chicken?I like keeping it simple with foods I know my boys enjoy like carrots, potatoes, and broccoli. But there are so many great options you can mix it up with. Sweet potatoes, asparagus, cauliflower, zucchini, and squash are all great choices too!Turn your pecan chicken into a salad! Slice it up, put on top of lettuce and add apples, dried cranberries, extra pecans for more crunch, and blue cheese with honey mustard dressing. YUM! I love the boost we get from eating. They help me stay energized and fuller longer, even if it’s just having a handful of pecans for a snack. The good fat, fiber, and protein in every pecan help my family power through our day. My two growing boys eat A LOT (it’s like they are black holes for food) and after dinner, it’s common for them to ask for a snack. Pecans have before my go-to option to help them feel full and give them a nutrient boost before bed.Next time you’re at the store, be sure to pick up a bag of pecans and visits the American Pecans website discover all the delicious things they can do for you!Some of our favorite pecan desserts to finish this meal!These easy dinners are favorites at our house! Pecan Chicken Sheet Pan DinnerYour family is going to love this Pecan Crusted Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner! It’s an easy one-pan meal that’ll have everyone asking for seconds!Prep Time: 15 minutesCook Time: 25 minutesCourse: DinnerCuisine: AmericanKeyword: chicken, nutsServings: 5Calories: 429kcalAuthor: Aubrey @Real HousemomsIngredientsChicken2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds)1 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon black pepper1 cup finely chopped fresh pecan pieces1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs1/2 tablespoon salt1 tablespoon dried thyme1 tablespoon garlic powder2 eggsFresh parsley for garnishVegetables1 pound baby red potatoes quartered1 pound baby carrots3 tablespoons olive oil1/2 tablespoon salt1/4 teaspoon black pepperInstructionsFor the chickenSlice chicken horizontally into 4 cutlets. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.In a shallow bowl combine the pecan, bread crumbs, 1/2 tablespoon salt, thyme, and garlic powder. Adjust salt to taste.In a separate bowl, beat the eggs.Dip chicken in eggs, then dredge in the pecan mixture, coating both sides. Place on the sheet pan.Place sheet pan in oven and bake for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken over and stir the vegetables. Cook for an additional 10 minutes, until golden brown and juices run clear. Remove chicken from sheet pan and transfer to a plate to rest. Cook the vegetables for an additional 5 minutes.Serve chicken, carrots, and potatoes immediately. Garnish with parsley if desired.NotesSome of the larger pecan pieces will fall off the chicken during baking, but they toast so nicely the last 5 minutes the vegetables are cooking and they are such a treat. So yummy!NutritionCalories: 429kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 2070mg | Potassium: 940mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 253.2% | Vitamin C: 13.7% | Calcium: 9.2% | Iron: 21.7%*One serving (28g) of pecans contains 18g unsaturated fat and only 2g of saturated fat. Download Your Free Copy! Download your FREE copy of Dinner Made Easy!Sign up to receive our newsletter and download your copy of Dinner Made Easy FREE! You’ll get one email a week with our favorite recipes and tools to make life easy!Thank you so much for signing up to get our recipes delivered right to your inbox! Check your inbox to get our thank you present and to confirm you really want to sign up! You can unsubscribe at any time but I really hope you stick around! Source link

#best and easy veg recipes for dinner #chicken recipes for dinner easy and fast #easy aloo recipes for dinner #easy and tasty indian veg recipes for dinner #easy and tasty recipes for dinner #easy veg recipes for dinner at home #recipes #recipes for dinner easy and fast #recipes for dinner easy and healthy #recipes for dinner easy and quick

0 notes

ecotone99 · 5 years

Text

[SF] The Gulf | Ep. 1: Masquerade

Paradisia sucks. But the whole island sails there on Monday.

Well, the island doesn’t really sail. It’s called Gulf Sails, but there are no sails. Some of the windmills sort of look like sails. So does a lot of the architecture on the central platform. The architects did that for aesthetics, obviously.

I’m putting on my costume for Halloween tonight. I’ll be meeting up with friends in two hours at Cask of Amontillado.

I know, it sounds like a boring place where old guys sip whiskey. But that’s just the basement. The main floor is a club with a gothic vibe, mainly because the building is an old cathedral. They fully exploit that for Halloween.

That’s why it’s anarchy on Halloween night. The place to be, or at least the best place to start.

I’m dressing as a masquerader, and so are a couple of my friends.

It’s always bittersweet. Of the four months each year Gulf Sails is anchored here, it’s the craziest party night in Barracuda. But it also marks the end of the best four months of the year.

Barracuda is absolutely epic. And on Monday we sail to Paradisia. And as I’ve mentioned, Paradisia sucks.

For starters, the drinking age in Paradisia is 21. Gulf Sails leaves Paradisia next year on March first. I turn 21 on March second. So I can say goodbye to my nightlife for the next four months.

Because another reason why Paradisia is so shitey, is that it is strict. It’s basically the polar opposite of Barracuda. It’s a cruel joke.

My parents say Paradisia is meant to be a detox for the residents of Gulf Sails after going crazy for four months. Paradisia leadership is all about yoga and cleanses.

There’s more juiced alfalfa sprouts than vodka in Paradisia. And I’m more of a vodka guy.

I’ve been telling my parents for years that they should just detach from Gulf Sails and dock their platform permanently at Barracuda. But they say they would never get enough work done living in Barracuda full time. It’s for summer slacking, they say. Then it’s crunch time. And Paradisia is the perfect environment to get the mind and body in order.

I disagree. Paradisia makes me feel like I am trapped. It’s half spa, half cult. I want to smack the smug looks off every one of those shysters’ self righteous faces.

The permanent residents of Paradisia walk around in white flowy clothes, always smiling and bowing to each other with hands clasped or pressed together. They’re creepy as all hell.

It’s the type of place that is so sanitized on the surface I feel like there must be some kind of underground sex trafficking dungeon. Nobody’s that perfect.

I could move onto mainland Barracuda myself. But I don’t make nearly enough money to pay for decent accommodations. And to be honest, it would be a tough downgrade slumming it after living my whole life on my parents’ platform.

It’s nice. They do well for themselves.

I put my final touch on the costume: a mask that goes over my eyes and nose. It’s gold and black, with red and black feathers protruding back over my ears from the sharp edges of the mask. I put some eyeliner on so that my eyes are rimmed especially dark behind the oval slits in the mask. People will hardly notice the eyeliner though. My eyes are pretty dark anyway.

I stick a gold dollar sign on one of my cheeks. On the other, a black interlocking Mars and Venus sign. You know, the circles; one has a cross coming from the bottom for female, and the other an arrow from the top right for male.

I find that when I give obvious signals like this, it cuts down on the number of guys that flirt with me. It’s not that it bothers me, but why waste either of our time?

And for some reason, I’m like a gay magnet. They love me, I can’t figure it out.

I’m wearing a matching button down vest, like from an old three piece suit. The back is all gold, and the front is a black base pinstriped with gold. The pocket has red and black feathers poking out. The pants match the front of the vest. And my shoes are gold.

I look good. The ladies are going to love it.

Downstairs, my parents and younger brother are eating in front of the big screen and my mom gushes over how “adorable” I look before telling me to get myself some dinner from the kitchen. It’s all laid out on the counter buffet style. But she still describes it all, and suggests:

“First, you’ll want to lay down the rice, then put the stew on top. There’s some shredded carrots that go on top of that. And then sprinkle on the parmesan and seasoning mixture. Oh and I laid out parsley sprigs for a garnish. There’s fresh bread too, so you can mop up all the extra juice when you’re done!”

I look at my dad’s plate. It has three distinct sections. The rice, stew, and cabbage do not touch each other. He ate his bread first.

When I sit down, he talks to me without moving his eyes from the screen.

“Are you going to stay out all night again?”

“Probably,” I say, a little indignantly. “It’s the last chance to have fun for the next four months.”

“Maybe you should give Paradisia a chance and do the cleanse with your mother and me this year,” he says, and turns to me with a raised eyebrow.

I take a deep breath and widen my eyes, “Maybe,” I say sarcastically.

He rolls his eyes.

My little brother Raji chimes in, “I’m sure the guys are gonna love your costume, Dege.”

“They probably will. Luckily I’m not a homophobic little twat like you.”

“True, you’ll take any attention you can get,” he says, and my dad chuckles, then tries to play it off like he was just clearing his throat.

My mom glares at them.

I finish my dinner, put my plate away, order a drone, and yell “Bye!” from the hallway, but my mom runs out of the living room because she has to get a picture of me in my costume before I go.

The drone is waiting on the landing pad.

I swipe my bracelet and get in.

Lift. Altitude. Acceleration.

I catch a good sunset on my way into town.

Purple and orange lights mark all the public landing pads for Halloween.

Barracuda gets into any holiday you could think of, and some you definitely have never thought of. I’m pretty sure they’ve made a few up along the way so that basically every weekend during the four months that Gulf Sails is docked is some kind of festival.

On Monday the city’s population will halve as Gulf Sails floats to Paradisia.

I meet up with Dean and Craig at Cask of Amontillado. It’s just getting started. The stone archways and cast iron chandeliers are perfect. We couldn’t have chosen better costumes. Somehow the DJ infuses chilling organ scales into his beat.

I know that might sound weird, but holy shit: it works.

She walks in to a beat. She flicks her hair to the side at the perfect time to match, not just the music, but the lasers too.

It all happens in slow motion. (Not really, but you get it.)

She looks at her friend and they both start laughing, realizing she accidentally mimicked the music with her mannerisms.

She has a black mask tied around her face.

Her costume is a short, form-fitting dress: black with long sleeves. There are red ties around the waist and arms.

And the part I like the most is the slit that runs all the way up her left thigh.

She isn’t just a ninja. She is a sexy ninja.

Her jet black hair is tied back with another striking red complement to the rest of the outfit.

She is surrounded by friends but I walk straight up anyway. I’ve learned that I have the best success when I walk up to a girl straight away.

Don’t even think, just do it. That way you don’t have time to get nervous, and girls think you’re super confident. Also, you get the drop on other guys.

“Hi I’m Rodigio,” I say over the music, stepping in between two of her friends and extending my hand.

The two friends I stepped between throw shade my way.

“Hi!” She says with pep, “I’m in the middle of a conversation!”

“Ouch. Just karate chop my heart why don’t you?” I say.

“How about I judo kick you out of my vicinity?” She says, and her friends agree.

“I…” I have nothing. I turn around and walk away.

“Have fun haunting the opera!” she calls after me.

“Masquerade,” I mutter.

“Seems like it went well,” Dean says.

“I decided she wasn’t hot enough for me. Hey, have you guys stocked up on contraband for Paradisia?”

Craig and Dean look at each other.

“What?” I say.

“Dege,” Dean says, “We aren’t going to Paradisia. We got an apartment here in Barracuda.”

Wow. I feel sucker-punched. This is the only thing that could make spending four months in Paradisia worse.

“And you didn’t include me!?”

“Come on, you know we wanted to. But the place we are getting is $2,000 a month for each of us, and, well…” Dean trails off.

Dean sold an app he created this year. He got a big payout and will be raking in royalties for years. Craig has been programming robots for two years and makes plenty.

I just fix bugs for a website hosting company–the glitches the automatic crawlers can’t repair. It’s easy and I can do it on my own time. I log in when I feel like it, and get paid per repair.

“But-” I’m looking back and forth at them in disbelief.

I just see stony masks staring back. I feel betrayed. I know Dean isn’t trying to be a dick. But what he is really saying is that he doesn’t want me mooching off him.

“Guy, don’t be dramatic,” Craig says trying to downplay how bad I should feel, “You’ll be back for New Year’s! TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY!” He booms it like an announcer and slaps my back.

“Yeah man come back for a whole month if you want,” Dean says. “You can stay with us the whole time. It will make the trip even cheaper than it was going to be.”

“Can you guys believe it!” Craig (a little too enthusiastically) throws in, “We have been talking about New Years 2100 for YEARS! And now it’s only TWO. MONTHS. AWAY.”

“I plan on non-stop anarchy from Christmas Eve, to maybe January 4th or 5th,” Dean says. “Depends on how much momentum I can build up.”

I’m glad I have this mask on. I wouldn’t be able to hide my emotions otherwise. I feel suddenly like the third wheel. Like they both have something in common that I don’t. I’ll be a visitor in their world. I can have a taste of the high life, but not the real thing.

The music gets louder and the beat turns up. We take shots. We head to the dance floor.

A blond with black streaks and vampire teeth growls at me in a red strobe light. A werewolf busts a break-dance. Three witches hop in unison.

More shots. Dance. Shots. Dance.

I’m forcing it. My game is off.

I stumble off the dance floor, and bust open the double doors to the outside deck, overlooking the water. It’s a cool night for the Caribbean, and steam comes off my skin.

Mist wafts ghostly over the water. Distant seagulls sound like crows. The salty air smells of extra decay. The tide must be out.

There aren’t many people out on the deck.

A few old guys from downstairs in the corner smoking cigars and having a spirited old-guy discussion.

A few couples or threesomes of friends interspersed around the high tables. And four guys around 30 leaning against the wooden pillars that hold up the thick black chain railing by the bay.

I walk over to look out on the choppy water. The open ocean is out to the right, and closer–but still distant–sits Gulf Sails, in the entrance to the bay. There’s plenty of berth on either side for passing boats, freighters, and cruise ships.

Way off to the left the bay gets narrower until it becomes a tidal river. Looking straight across I wouldn’t know there was land in the distance except for the sparse lights of remote homes.

I have to think for a minute to decide if the deck is decorated for Halloween, or if it always has these 19th century London street lamps. The real flames are the only source of light, casting shadows across the weathered–but solid–wooden planks.

The moon isn’t quite full. It was full a couple nights ago. But it is a vibrant presence. Clouds block about a quarter of the moon at any given time, but quickly pass by. The moon’s usual fractal glint off the water flickers from the clouds, matching the gas street lamps.

I glance at the three men to my left.

Holy shit that’s Elijah Braze!

He’s one of the youngest Gulf of Mexico real estate moguls. He owns a tenth of Gulf Sails. And most of his platforms are downtown, hosting businesses and high-end apartments.

He’s popular because he is well-spoken, good looking, trendy, muscular, personable… he’s really a gift to us mortals sent from the heavens.

He uses all this in his marketing. He speaks for conferences, classes, and camps. He appears on advertisements, in entertainment, and at events. He teaches courses, writes books, and runs businesses.

And he just caught me staring at him. And now he’s walking over with his three-man entourage trailing.

Elijah and his friends are dressed as Alex and his droogs. He uses the cane as if it is a natural part of his everyday ensemble. In truth it makes me think of Jack the Ripper.

But the rest of his outfit is straight up the height of fashion.

He’s got the oversized vibrant eyelash on one eye, combat boots, and a bowler hat. He’s wearing black tights.

And I, unfortunately, cannot help but notice that the bulge around his crotch is in the shape of a spider–true to the book.

Their “waisty jackets” have no lapels, but quite the shoulder pads. This makes Elijah’s shoulders even broader than usual. His ruffled white cravat forces him to hold his chin especially high… or does he always look like that?

As he walks up with a sly smile I try to play it cool, and keep character, so I say, “I hope you’re not on the prowl for any ultra-violence, brothers.”

“Ah no, perhaps just a bit of the old in and out,” Elijah says, winks at me, and his friends laugh.

Oh shit. Here we go.

“I’m flattered, but–er–wrong demographic,” I say, pointing to the interlocking male and female signs on my cheek.

“Oh I noticed that,” Elijah says confidently. “But I also noticed the dollar sign on the other cheek.”

A friend chortles. I blush.

Still, I try to just smile and brush it off.

Elijah takes a step closer, and extends his right hand, leaning on his cane with the left.

“What’s your name?” he asks, and I shake his hand to be polite.

“I’m Rodigio,” I say, but when I try to end the shake, he raises my hand to his lips and kisses the back.

I know he feels me resist, but he is much stronger. I pull my hand away and try to ignore his heavy gaze. I take a deep breath and look back out over the ocean.

“Well aren’t you going to ask my name?” he says, with fake incredulity.

I chuckle and turn back to face him. “I know who you are.”

“Well the polite thing is to acknowledge that.”

“Didn’t really seem like we were doing the polite thing here…” I volly.

Elijah’s only chubby friend breaks in sounding bored and annoyed, “Can we go back in? It smells like low tide out here and this kid is boring me.” He puts his hand on Elijah’s arm.

Elijah’s eyes flash deep aggravation, compared to the intense challenge they had been imparting to me. He slowly turns his face not to look at his friend, but to stare at the friend’s hand on his bicep.

His friend pulls his hand away and takes a deep breath like he is brushing it off. He acts like he is over this tedious situation, and yet he stays right there. Though now his eyes look up towards the club’s tall stone walls.

When Elijah turns back to me, he is back to friendly and jovial. It’s too much. He is letting his costume infect his demeanor. Or maybe he’s really like this?

“So do you live on the island or the mainland?” He asks.

“Island.”

“Me too! Oh, maybe you already knew that too…”

I almost roll my eyes but manage a polite smirk. “I knew you had a platform there… wasn’t sure how much time you spend on it though.”

“I travel a lot, but that’s where I stay when we are docked at Paradisia,” he says.

“Why?” I blurt out, “Paradisia sucks. If I were you I’d go to Europe or Asia or at least stay in Barracuda.”

He gives me a tsk-tsk look, and wags his cane like he is scolding me. “You don’t like my friend Francesco’s little society?”

Wow. He would be friends with Francesco, the cult leader of Paradisia.

My opinion on Elijah Braze has done a complete 180 in the last three minutes. In videos and writing he gives off fastidious success. Now I am just getting creepy overconfidence.

“I just find it a little restrictive,” I say.

“Just come to a party on my platform. We can loosen whatever restrictions you have…”

The chubby friend gives a sort of amused mm-hmm snort and chuckle. This time Elijah actually closes his eyes and I can see his jaw grinding for a moment. He takes a deep breath and resumes his smile.

I turn back to face the water, but he steps up behind me and puts his hands on the chain railing on either side of me. He is now pressed against my backside.

“Maybe it’s that mask that’s getting me going so bad,” he says into my left ear.

I can’t move one way or the other without pushing past an arm. I choose the way furthest from his face. So I jerk right and actually have to put some muscle into breaking his arm free from the chain to let me out of his reach.

Unphased he watches me and his smile twists, “Feisty. I think I want to leave the mask for last when I’m undressing you.”

“Look, since you’re clearly not taking the hint,” I say, raising my voice, “Let me make it clear: I don’t care how famous or rich you are! I wouldn’t get with you if we were the last two people on earth!”

Like a shark toying with his prey, Elija’s smile doesn’t change.

He leans in close, and I recoil my head but don’t back away, not wanting to appear weak.

He whispers loud enough for his friends to hear, “If we were the last two people on earth, sweetie… who the fuck would stop me?”

A chill goes down my spine as he walks away, his droogs trailing, laughing and swinging their canes.

“See you in Paradisia,” a lanky effeminate friend says to me sarcastically over his shoulder.

I am actually shaking. I hear the rise of the bass as the chubby friend holds the door. The bass fades as the doors swing closed. I sigh and lean most of my weight on the chain railing. This is not how I pictured my last party night in Barracuda.

“Prospero!”

“Shit!” I am startled. “Where did you come from?

“Well I am a ninja,” she says, melting me with her mascara lined eyes. I manage a burst of air that substitutes for a laugh.

“Prospero?” I ask.

“It looked like your night was going about as well as his.”

I am still confused, wracking my brain. She notices and lets out a disappointed chuckle and looks to the side.

“Anyway…” she says, sort of condescendingly, “I just wanted to apologize. I felt like I might have been a little harsh earlier.” She gives a forced smile. “I hope I didn’t kill your mood.” She starts walking away.

Prospero… I’m dressed for a masquerade… Poe!

“Lenore!” I blurt out just before she reaches the door.

She stops. Turns slowly. She has a smirk on her face now.

She walks back to me and I can’t tell if she moves like that to stay in character, or if it is natural graceful stealth. She leans on the railing next to me, looking out over the water. She turns to face me.

“Majorie.”

“Rodigio.”

“Right, you told me. I’m usually the one with the stupidest name.”

I laugh, “My friends usually call me Dege. I like that: Majorie. Sounds mystical almost like…”

“A mermaid?”

“Yeah!”

“I’m pretty sure my parents just looked up mermaid names. They were obsessed with Gulf Sails but couldn’t afford a platform until I was 18. I didn’t want to get left behind-”

“In Asia?” I ask reflexively. Godammit.

After a did-he-really-just-say-that chuckle she responds, “I’m gonna let that one go on account of the fact that I can smell enough alcohol on you to make me concerned about your proximity to these gas lamps. I’m from Florida. Well at least that was the last stop before Gulf Sails. What’s your story?”

“Grew up on the platforms. I think my parents made up my name… never met another one at least.”

“Sounds Spanish. Are you…” she stops abruptly and looks away. Is she blushing?

“Am I what,” I laugh, finally feeling like I got the upper hand, “Latino? Mexican?”

She just looks at me recovering her confident smirk as if to acknowledge my first score in a match.

“I don’t know what I am. A true mutt. A perfect balance if you ask me…”

“I didn’t,” she winks.

“Okay so you read Poe, and you don’t like your name. I’m getting nihilist vibes… What else?”

“It’s not so much that I don’t like my name,” She says, taking mock offense at my nihilist jab, “It’s just… well for one thing, everyone who reads it first calls me MARJ-orie! So every new interaction has to start off with me correcting someone and making them feel like a dumbass.”

“Ah, that’s why you’re so good at that,” I say.

She laughs.

Silence except for the light splash of waves on the dock, and the distant toll of a buoy bell.

“So you still live with your parents on the island?” I immediately regret asking. This will clearly just bring attention to the fact that I still live with my parents on their platform.

“Yep.” She sighs, “Next stop Paradisia.”

My heart does a weird little flutter.

“Right, I guess I’m not the only one who thinks Paradisia sucks.”

Another silence. But now I get the feeling that she’s thinking what I’m thinking… Maybe it’s not going to suck so much after all, given the new company.

The club doors bust open and a burst of loud bumping floods out with Dean and Craig. The lasers slash through the escaping mist.

“Deegie-cakes!” Craig calls, arms in the air as an aftershock to his thrusting of the doors, “Oh hello,” he says eyeing Majorie lecherously.

She gives a bored eyebrow raise as acknowledgment.

“Oh God, Dege, are you tricking this poor girl,” Craig says, “You haven’t seen under the mask yet, have you?”

“Actually…” Majorie laughs, realizing she hasn’t.

“Hey, I haven’t seen behind your mask either!” I protest.

“Let’s dance!” Dean shouts, letting out a thick cloud of vape smoke.

“Is that THC?” Majorie asks.

Dean holds out the vape. She takes it, breathes deep, and lets out an even bigger cloud. She grabs my arm, and leads me back to the dance floor.

Dance. Grind. Shots. Dance.

Breather.

Food. Public drunken shenanigans. New club. Turn up. Shots. Dance.

She turns around and drops low with the beat. My hand is on her hand on her thigh–the one not covered by her God-damn-so-sexy dress. She turns back around. Her hands are on my chest. My heart’s beating out of my chest. Did she just notice?

She lifts my mask. I lift hers.

Kiss.

“See you in Paradisia,” she winks, hopping into her drone with the remainder of her friends as the sun rises over the Atlantic.

submitted by /u/joejarvisme [link] [comments] via Blogger https://ift.tt/2LJ0D07

#Blogger #Story

0 notes

foursprouthealth-blog · 6 years

Text

19 Whole30 Soup Recipes That Make January Way More Tolerable

New Post has been published on http://foursprout.com/health/19-whole30-soup-recipes-that-make-january-way-more-tolerable/

19 Whole30 Soup Recipes That Make January Way More Tolerable

We know: It’s so easy to reach for canned soup. And the premade varieties at health food stores can actually be pretty darn good. But most prepackaged goods have hidden downsides—like high sodium and added sugar—and if you’re sticking to a specific way of eating, it can be tough to find premade options that work for you (and deliver that little thing called flavor).

Fortunately, soups are one of the easiest meals to whip up. And nothing beats recipes with whole, natural, fresh ingredients. So let’s push pause on all things packaged and give these 19 Whole30-friendly soups a whirl. Trust us, you won’t go back to store-bought.

1. Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Photo: The Real Food Dietitians

Beans aren’t such a magical fruit when it comes to Whole30. But don’t worry: You don’t need beans to make a killer, equally as hearty chili. This recipe uses shredded chicken, bell pepper, onion, jalapeño, coconut milk, and a slew of tasty spices to create a heartwarming soup that’s as kind on your belly as it is on your palate. Top with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lime.

2. Easy Vegan Pumpkin Soup

Photo: The Movement Menu

The secret to creamy soup sans dairy? In this simple soup recipe, it’s pumpkin purée, full-fat coconut milk, and coconut oil (or ghee). The combination of curry paste and curry powder gives the soup just the right amount of punch, as does the addition of eight (!) garlic cloves. For a touch of sweet, top with pomegranate arils and a small spoonful of extra coconut milk. Toasted pepitas provide a nice crunch too.

3. Whole30 Zuppa Toscana

Photo: 40 Aprons

Spicy, creamy, satisfying… this soup checks all the marks. Made with both bacon and sausage, this soup is a meat- and flavor-lover’s dream. (Note: Make sure you buy sugar-free versions of both to guarantee they’re Whole30 compliant.) We love that this savory, filling soup packs a whole lot of greens by using an entire bundle of kale and gets subtle creaminess from, you guessed it, coconut milk.

4. Roasted Cauliflower and Garlic Soup

Photo: Cooking With Curls

This soup is a perfect example of how a small set of ingredients can come together to make something truly extraordinary. Using an entire head of cauliflower and bulb of roasted garlic, this recipe doesn’t skimp on flavor. The rest of the eight-ingredient meal is comprised of spices, stock, onion, and olive oil and can be whipped up in under an hour. Use an immersion blender if you have one on hand, or make sure there’s a vent on your blender top to avoid a soup-plosion.

5. Whole30 Creamy Taco Soup

Photo: The Movement Menu

Who needs a taco shell? This soup has everything you love about tacos but skips the carbs. Made with grass-fed ground beef (turkey and chicken taste great too), bone broth, diced tomatoes, green chilies, coconut milk, and a whopping nine spices, this soup will leave you happy and full. Top with sliced avocado for some extra healthy fats, jalapeños for more spice, and diced red onion for added crunch.

6. Creamy Paleo Chicken Soup With Mushrooms and Kale

Photo: Paleo Running Momma

We’d never thought to use nutritional yeast in soup, but let us tell you: It is awesome. The Whole30-compliant seasoning gives a savory, cheese-like flavor that balances out the coconut milk and brings out the best of the mushrooms and kale. We love sticking to plain ol’ chicken (we recommend thighs), but the soup also works well with sausage or ground turkey. For a touch of spice, add 1-2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes.

7. Curried Cauliflower Rice Kale Soup

Photo: Cotter Crunch

This soup is perfect for days when you’re in need of a serious veg overload. Whether you’re recovering from an overly filling Whole30 meal or simply in the mood to supercharge your veggie intake, this soup is a great way to reset and load up on nutrients. Made with roasted cauliflower, red onion, garlic, carrots, kale, and all kinds of spices, this soup certainly doesn’t skimp on flavor. Make extra, as it freezes well and is great for nights when you can’t muster up the energy to cook something healthy.

8. Chicken Zoodle Soup

Photo: Damn Delicious

If you have the energy to spiralize some squash and chop a few veggies, you can master this zoodle soup. Once the prep work is done, all that’s required is browning the chicken, mixing in the veg and some spices, and letting it simmer in stock. Since zucchini spirals cook so quickly, we recommend dropping them in right before eating as opposed to letting them simmer in the pot. For some unexpected but uber-tasty flavor, add a tablespoon of miso paste to the broth.

9. Thai Meatball and Egg Drop Soup

Photo: A Saucy Kitchen

Egg drop soup is delicious, but it’s best served as a side (due to how light it is). This recipe, however, is packed with protein from the Thai meatballs, giving the traditional egg broth plenty of oomph to make it a main. We love the bright pop of colors from the fresh herbs, chilies, and scallions, and the hint of sweet from the ginger that’s used in both the broth and the meatballs. To save some time, bake the balls the day before.

10. Chicken Avocado Lime Soup

Photo: House of Nash Eats

This soup brilliantly cooks the chicken in the broth before it’s shredded, making it moist and flavorful as can be. Spiced with cumin, oregano, and ground coriander, and topped with crunchy radishes, creamy avocados, and tart lime juice, this recipe is a great way to kick a cold (add extra jalapeños), warm up, or wind down after a long day.

11. Roasted Broccoli Soup

Photo: The Endless Meal

This fancy-looking soup is surprisingly simple to put together. Start by roasting broccoli and onions (don’t be afraid to over-crisp them), blend the roasted bits with boiled potatoes, mix in the lemon tahini sauce, top with leftover veg, and let the eating commence. Rich, creamy, just a tad bit spicy… we think it’s safe to say this soup has it all. (Psst, if you’re a garlic lover, double the amount in the recipe—the more, the merrier.)

12. Easy Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Photo: Creative Green Living

Roasted pepper soup can seem intimidating, but with a few tricks, it’s simple as can be. Trick one: Buy a jar of roasted peppers instead of roasting them at home. It saves time and a visit from firemen when the smoke alarm inevitably goes off. Trick two: Make it sneakily creamy with full-fat coconut milk. Trick three: add carrots and onion for added thickness—oh, and nutrients. If you can manage a blender, you can manage this soup, and you’ll be happy you tried.

13. Acorn Squash Soup With Turmeric

Photo: Seasonal Cravings

Butternut squash soup, pumpkin soup… while delicious, sometimes they can feel a little been there, done that. Change things up by using acorn squash, an equally delicious and creamy squash counterpart. The soup is sweetened with diced apple—for a tarter taste, go with green apple; if you want something sweeter, opt for Gala—and thickened up with onion and carrot. We love the soup as is, but if you’re craving a bit more spice, add a few tablespoons of curry powder.

14. Cauliflower Bacon Soup

Photo: Simone’s Kitchen

Cauliflower soup is an art. A little too much liquid can make it watery, and if the ratio of cauliflower to spices to liquids is the tiniest bit off, the soup can taste bland. This recipe makes things easy by sticking to a relatively small amount of super-flavorful ingredients such as bacon and beef broth. Feel free to up the amount of garlic and grab the largest cauliflower you can find to ensure that thick, glorious texture.

15. Thai Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup

Photo: Wanderlust Kitchen

Another secret to super-creamy soup: sweet potatoes. The thick, flavorful flesh is so tasty on its own, you hardly need spices. That said, this recipe gets pretty inventive with red curry paste, ginger, and lime. Skip the chopped peanut topping to keep it Whole30 friendly; opt for scallions if you’re craving a bit of crunch.

16. Paleo Pizza Soup

Photo: Jay’s Baking Me Crazy

Pizza soup? Yes, you read that right. Made with chicken sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, marinara sauce, olives, oregano, and other tasty add-ins, this soup truly does feature the best of pizza. (We honestly don’t miss the dough or the cheese.) Feel free to experiment with veggie ingredients—like green bell pepper, red onion, and roasted garlic—and go wild with sausage varieties (as long as they’re sugar-free). Taking only 30 minutes to make, this soup is just about as easy as takeout.

17. Chicken Tortilla-Less Soup

Photo: The Real Food Dietitians

Another soup that’s equally as amazing without its carb counterpart, this tortilla-less soup is so filling you wouldn’t even have room for the crunchy corn. Full of roasted tomatoes, shredded chicken, diced red pepper, and Whole30-compliant taco seasoning, we can say with certainty this soup isn’t missing a thing. Though if you’re craving some crunch, it couldn’t hurt to add some sliced jicama or radish.

18. No-Bean 30-Minute Chili

Photo: The Whole Cook

Sometimes you just want a piping hot bowl of chili—without the beans. This soup delivers on heartiness, spice, and satisfaction. Made with lean ground beef, plenty of peppers and onion, tomato paste, and seven spices, we wouldn’t change a thing. That said, the soup also tastes great with ground chicken or turkey (switch the broth accordingly) and extra chili spice never hurts—if you like spice, that is.

19. Instant Pot Creamy Southwest Chicken Soup

Photo: Perry’s Plate

If only all recipes were as easy as throwing ingredients into a pot and letting the magic happen on its own… until then, we’ll settle for this superstar soup. Start by seasoning and browning the chicken, add the veg, then the broth, and let the simmering commence. For a creamier soup, substitute coconut milk for the almond milk.

#Health

0 notes

foursprout-blog · 6 years

Text

19 Whole30 Soup Recipes That Make January Way More Tolerable

New Post has been published on http://foursprout.com/health/19-whole30-soup-recipes-that-make-january-way-more-tolerable/

19 Whole30 Soup Recipes That Make January Way More Tolerable

1. Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Photo: The Real Food Dietitians

2. Easy Vegan Pumpkin Soup

Photo: The Movement Menu

3. Whole30 Zuppa Toscana

Photo: 40 Aprons

4. Roasted Cauliflower and Garlic Soup

Photo: Cooking With Curls

5. Whole30 Creamy Taco Soup

Photo: The Movement Menu

6. Creamy Paleo Chicken Soup With Mushrooms and Kale

Photo: Paleo Running Momma

7. Curried Cauliflower Rice Kale Soup

Photo: Cotter Crunch

8. Chicken Zoodle Soup

Photo: Damn Delicious

9. Thai Meatball and Egg Drop Soup

Photo: A Saucy Kitchen

10. Chicken Avocado Lime Soup

Photo: House of Nash Eats

11. Roasted Broccoli Soup

Photo: The Endless Meal

12. Easy Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Photo: Creative Green Living

13. Acorn Squash Soup With Turmeric

Photo: Seasonal Cravings

14. Cauliflower Bacon Soup

Photo: Simone’s Kitchen

15. Thai Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup

Photo: Wanderlust Kitchen

16. Paleo Pizza Soup

Photo: Jay’s Baking Me Crazy

17. Chicken Tortilla-Less Soup

Photo: The Real Food Dietitians

18. No-Bean 30-Minute Chili

Photo: The Whole Cook

19. Instant Pot Creamy Southwest Chicken Soup

Photo: Perry’s Plate

#Health

0 notes

movietvtechgeeks · 7 years

Photo

Latest story from https://movietvtechgeeks.com/whole-food-versions-decadent-popular-halloween-candy-treats/

Whole food versions of decadent popular Halloween candy treats

Every year, Halloween parties see lots of candy corn, punch bowls and bobbing for apples. Miniature candy bars are all the rage with homeowners purchasing treats for the door to door trick-or-treaters. According to the product review website Influenster, each different state in the US has a Halloween candy that is more popular than all the rest. Check out a few of the candies and states on that list.

Alaska and Illinois – Snickers

Colorado and Ohio – Milky Way

Connecticut and Rhode Island – Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming – Candy Corn

Looking at that list, and thinking about your own favorite Halloween candy, you may be worrying that it will be tough to come up with whole food substitutions for those and other popular sugar-filled and preservative-rich Halloween treats. Here are a few ideas of how you can create whole food alternatives to the teeth-decaying, obesity-promoting, unhealthy snacks and treats that are so popular every October 31. Replace Bobbing for Apples with ... Nothing! Bobbing for apples is a Halloween mainstay. A dozen or so apples are placed in a large bucket or basin filled with water. The idea is to bite into an apple without using your hands, by dunking your head down into the apple-bobbing water. Since apples are perfectly healthy whole foods, there is nothing to replace here. Get some organic apples and bob away! Replace Candy Corn with ... whole Food Candy Corn Cookies Healthy Whole food-friendly cookies can be made using some combination of coconut flour, almond flour, natural nut butter, eggs, mashed bananas, puréed pumpkin, raw honey, organic maple syrup, applesauce and other healthy, unprocessed ingredients. You can use Halloween cookie cutters to make cookies in shapes of witches, goblins, pumpkins, bats, and monsters. The three iconic colors of candy corn are white, orange and yellow. You can make a healthy whole food orange glaze by combining molasses or raw honey with the juice from carrots and oranges, or puréed pumpkin. The yellow of the candy corn color rainbow can be made with juice taken from grapefruits, lemons and ginger root, mixed with turmeric and the honey mentioned above or molasses. Stick a white potato through your juicing machine and combine that juice with, you guessed it, honey or molasses to create a healthy white glaze. Paint your cookies, and any Halloween treats like candy corn, and your kids may not miss the sugary, preservative-filled, toxic, bad-health-promoter that is traditional candy corn. Ingredients

2 sticks butter, softened

1.5 cups powdered sugar

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1 egg

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

3 cups flour

red food coloring

yellow food coloring

Directions

Cream together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and continue to beat until incorporated.

In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add dry ingredients to the butter-sugar mixture and mix until a soft dough just forms.

Remove dough from mixer bowl and separate into three equal pieces (use a food scale to weigh each piece if you want to be exact!). Mix together a little bit of red and yellow food coloring to make orange and then add the orange coloring to one of the dough pieces. Make another dough piece yellow and leave the third plain.

Place a piece of plastic wrap or tin foil inside a loaf pan and pat down the white dough inside. Place the orange dough on top (pat down firmly) followed by the yellow dough. Remove dough from pan, wrap up in either tin foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or for at least four hours.

When you are ready to bake your cookies, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Cut 1/4th-inch slices down the width of the dough. Continue cutting each slice into small triangles.

Place triangles on a lined baking sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes until tops are puffy and bottoms are golden.

Replace Candy Bars with ... Sinful Decadent Healthy Bars without the Guilt Any number of healthy, whole food candy bar alternatives can be made with walnuts, cashews, almonds and other nuts, your favorite fresh berries, dates, puréed or mashed bananas and pumpkin, and many other whole food fruits and vegetables. Blend your dates and mashed fruit, and then combine this mixture with chopped or ground nuts, berries, and seeds. Form in candy bar shapes and place in the refrigerator for an hour. Making whole food versions of popular Halloween treats requires a little creativity and a lot of testing and experimenting, but it's worth the payoff when you know you are giving your children (and yourself) a healthy alternative to traditionally unhealthy Halloween candy. The Colossal Healthy Candy Bar is three tasty parts. First, the bottom biscuit layer inspired by Twix, is a mildly sweet, vegan and grain-free cookie made with coconut flour. It is crisp when it comes out of the oven, but goes pretty cake-y once it is combined with the other ingredients. Delicious nonetheless, and a pretty important counter-point to all the richness of the other layers. Second, the caramel-and-nut layer inspired by Snickers, but with a twist: instead of just using dates in the caramel, I balanced out the sweetness by adding a healthy dose of hazelnut butter. Wowzers. This was a very delicious decision. The caramel became far more complex, rich-tasting, and it is essential to note that this would make a fantastic spread or topping all on its own. If you do not have hazelnut butter, I recommend almond or cashew in its place. Instead of using peanuts, I used roasted hazelnuts to sink into the top of the caramel for awesome texture and crunch – almonds could also be used here. Lastly, each bar is enrobed in luscious, raw, dark chocolate. I usually use coconut oil in my raw chocolate recipes, but after reading the (incredible!) new cookbook Clean Cakes by Henrietta Inman I was convinced that using solely raw cacao butter was the way to go. It delivers a crisper finish and creamier texture. If you want to make things simpler and faster, feel free to use a ready-made bar of chocolate in this recipe instead of making your own. Raw chocolate is, of course, the healthier choice, but if you’re pressed for time or ingredients, this is a good shortcut to take. Coconut Flour Power! With so many diets and lifestyles focusing on gluten-free and grain-free eating, coconut flour is a wonderful option for many people. Made entirely from dried coconut flesh that is pulverized into a soft, fine powder, coconut flour is a nutrient-dense alternative that is increasingly available at health food stores and even supermarkets. Score! There are several benefits of coconut flour, my favorite being that it is remarkably high in protein and fiber. Translation: super filling and satisfying! It is low in sugar and digestible carbohydrates, and scores low on the glycemic index, so it a perfect choice for paleo eaters and diabetics. It’s also nut-free and non-allergenic. The flavor of coconut flour is slightly coconut-y, but not overwhelmingly so. I like it in things like these chocolate bars where there are many other strong tastes going on that overshadow the taste of the flour. If you want to compliment and enhance the flavor of the flour, use coconut milk as the liquid portion of a baked good. Seriously yummy. What’s the catch you ask? Well, there are a few downsides to using coconut flour, mainly due to its density, dryness, and lack of elasticity. It’s certainly not a flour to experiment with if you’re looking to replace wheat flour for instance, as the two behave completely differently (that goes for using coconut flour in place of almost any other flour, whether grain, seed, or nut-based). Coconut flour is also crazy-absorbent and needs quite a large proportion of liquid to solid to avoid crumbly results (I’ve read the comments below, and it seems like a lot of you are struggling with this factor!) Most recipes I’ve found online remedy this by using a lot of eggs, but I used applesauce and flax seeds instead with good results. Once you get the correct ratio down it’s pretty easy to work with, but I’ve learned the hard way that it’s best to use tried and true recipes with this finicky ingredient! The Colossal Healthy Candy Bar Makes 16 bars Coconut flour cookie bottom 1 ½ cups / 175g coconut flour ¼ tsp. fine sea salt ½ cup / 125ml unsweetened applesauce 2 Tbsp. ground flax seeds 1/3 cup / 85ml coconut oil, melted 2-3 Tbsp. maple syrup, as needed Date and nut caramel 1 ¼ cup / 325g pitted soft dates 1/3 cup / 80 ml nut butter (I used hazelnut) seeds of 1 vanilla bean ½ tsp. sea salt Roasted nuts ¾ cup /115g raw hazelnuts or almonds Raw chocolate coating 8.8 oz. / 250g cacao butter (not coconut butter or coconut oil) 1 ½ cup / 150g raw cacao powder ¼ cup / 60ml maple syrup pinch of sea salt Note: raw chocolate can be substituted with two 3½ oz. / 100g bars of dark chocolate (minimum 70% cacao). Directions: 1. Start by making the cookie bottom. In a small bowl stir the applesauce and the ground flax together. Set aside and let gel for 15 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F / 175°C. In a large bowl sift together the coconut flour and sea salt. Stir in the melted coconut oil, two tablespoons of maple syrup, the applesauce-flax mixture and blend until the mixture holds together when pressed. If not, add the remaining tablespoon of maple syrup and stir to combine. 2. Line a brownie pan with baking paper and firmly press the mixture into the pan, especially around the edges. Place in the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes until the edges are beginning to turn golden. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool at room temperature. 3. Lower the oven temperature to 300°F/150°C. Spread the nuts out in a single layer on baking sheet and roast for 20-30 minutes until fragrant and slightly darker in color (a good way to check is to cut one in half and check the color in the center. Instead of cream, it should be golden). Remove from oven and let cool completely. If you are using hazelnuts, rub them together to remove as much of their skins as possible. Roughly chop and set aside. 4. Make the nut caramel. Add the pitted dates to a food processor and blend until creamy. Add the nut butter, vanilla bean, and sea salt. Taste and adjust according to your tastes. 5. Spread the nut caramel in an even layer over the cooled cookie bottom. Cover the caramel with the chopped toasted nuts, and press them down so that they are slightly sunken, reserving a few for garnish. Place the pan in the freezer to firm up for at least 4 hours (frozen bars are easier to cut and coat with chocolate). 6. Prepare the chocolate. Melt the cacao butter in a double boiler over barely simmering water. Remove from heat, stir in the maple syrup and salt, then sift in the cacao powder. Whisk together until smooth. 7. Remove the brownie pan from the freezer and pull up the edges of the baking paper to remove the filling. Place on a cutting board and slice into 16 equal bars. 8. Roll each bar in the melted chocolate, then pick up using a fork, allowing most of the excess chocolate to drip off. Set on a wrack and let harden. Take remaining chocolate and drizzle across the width of the bar to create a design (this step is optional, but it makes the bars look really beautiful). While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle with remaining hazelnuts and let set. Place all bars in the freezer to firm up. Store in an airtight container in the freezer, and remove 10-15 minutes before serving. (Note: these are okay outside of the freezer, but if you’re using raw chocolate they will be relatively soft if left at room temperature).

Movie TV Tech Geeks News

#Featured #Halloween #Health #healthy bars #recipes #whole food

1 note · View note

homekitchenland · 7 years

Text

What Can You Cook In An Air Fryer?

amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_search_bar = "false"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "homekitchenland-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_title = "Best Air Fryers"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "9c95eaf467ad5d99cac4cba37feb7625"; amzn_assoc_asins = "B01M8HZLZ3,B0106RV5JG,B01KPFTCS0,B01DIQ817G";

Maybe you’ve heard about air frying but you’re just not sure what can you cook in an air fryer. Perhaps you’re looking to improve your lifestyle and diet while still trying to save as much time as you can. We assure you that air frying is the right choice for that.

More precisely, you can finally have all your favorite fried food that’s healthier than ever but still tastes amazing. With an appliance such as air fryer you’re able to prepare a wide range of foods quickly and easily.

If you want to learn more about what can you cook in an air fryer, keep on reading.

What’s An Air Fryer

We’re sure that you’ve heard of some air fryer at some point of your life. If not, let’s quickly sum up what an air fryer is and how an air fryer works.

An air fryer is a small kitchen appliance that’s using hot air to fry and cook food. Still, since it’s using hot air it requires little to no oil at all. Of course, that means all your food ends up healthier but equally as good and tasty. If you want to change your lifestyle and eat healthier, you don’t have to give up your favorite fried food.

Air frying is perfect for whoever loves fries, chicken wings and the rest of delicious fried food. Of course, air fryers provide superb taste, crunchy texture and significantly less calories. Air fryer takes less time to fry, grill, bake, etc. Therefore, you’re not only saving money on oil, you’re also saving time.

Finally, we’re talking about a single kitchen appliance that allows you to prepare a wide range of different foods in a different way.

What Can You Cook In An Air Fryer

Any of the best air fryers can fry, grill, bake, and roast. Of course, that allows you to prepare all kinds of food any way you like. Also, since it’s using hot air instead of hot oil the finished meal is much healthier and with less calories.

We’re talking about French fries, nuggets, fish, chips, raw meat, vegetables. In addition, some air fryers have additional feature allowing you to bake bread, lasagna, muffins, etc.

It all depends on your personal preference. Whatever you like eating the most, you can prepare it in an air fryer. The process may be a little different than with a standard deep fryer but that’s only because air fryers work differently.

Read more about our article on Deep Fryer vs. Air Fryer.

At the end, you can prepare all the same foods you’d prepare in a deep fryer or in an oven. Only this time, the process is shorter and the results are better. With that being said, let’s list out all things you can cook in an air fryer.

Frozen Food

We all reach for frozen food the most because it takes zero time to prepare for frying. All you do is open a bag of frozen goodies, put them in a fryer and that’s it. It’s quick and it saves a lot of time for us.

No doubt, all kinds of food come as frozen, from vegetables, meats, fish, etc. Luckily, air fryer fries frozen food in no time. You’ll have equally as good taste without oil dripping everywhere. Healthy French fries? Yes.

Also, all your frozen food takes less time to fry in an air fryer because it’s not as big as oven and takes less time to preheat. For example, everyone’s favorite French fries take no more than 12 minutes. After that you’ll have crisp fries with juicy inside. If you like fish and chips you’d be thrilled to prepare them in only 15 minutes.

Of course, the answer to what can you cook in an air fryer is simple; almost anything you can think of. For example, nuggets, fish sticks, chips, fries, meat, etc. Simply, add them to your air fryer and shake them halfway through the process. Shaking allows better frying and makes the food even crispier.

Raw Meat

Alongside with frozen meat, you can also cook raw meat in an air fryer. Roasting a whole chicken would take about 30 minutes.

Also, roasted pork comes out as the most delicious pork you’ve ever tried. Crispy skin and moist inside are the ending result we all strive for.

If you’re having a family gathering, take a batch of chicken wings and you’ll have a taste, crispy air fryer wing. Nothing beats that because kids love it just as much as adults do.

What’s important to mention is that some air fryers come with different accessories to make the frying process easier. The GoWise air fryer comes with backing cage, rotisserie fork, and rack for double layer frying.

Some air fryers, such as Philips, come with a grill pan to put inside the air fryer. This accessory helps you with grilling steaks, burgers, lamb chops, fish fillets, etc. Of course, all this food takes very little time to cook and tastes superb.

Vegetables

For all of you who love including vegetables in your diet, air fryer is definitely a great choice. Roasting and grilling vegetables make them have a bit more texture than plain cooked veggies.

We’re talking about cauliflower, carrots, brussel sprouts, mushrooms, etc.

The T-Fal Actifry also fries vegetables. If you’re a fan of fried veggies, like when frying them in a skillet, then you’d love this air fryer. The vegetables come out crispy and packed with taste.

The good thing about frying vegetables with an air fryer is that the kids love it. If you have kids who don’t like vegetables and you’d like to include them in their meals, this is the perfect way. Kids like roasted and grilled vegetables because of the crunch and flavor.

Baking

On top of all the frying, grilling and roasting, air fryers also offer the ability to bake. As we mentioned above, Philips air fryer comes with an optional accessory for baking.

It’s the non-stick baking dish for muffins, bread, lasagna, small cake, etc.

Of course, you can use it for cooking curries or similar food. Anything watery, or with sauce can be cooking in this dish. Naturally, the more accessories included, the more foods you can prepare with your air fryer.

Roasting Nuts

Who doesn’t like roasted peanuts, walnuts, or almonds? Air fryer allows you to fry any type of nuts easily and quickly. If you crave some crunchy food, nuts are a great healthy option.

Finally, almonds and peanuts take only 10 minutes to roast while walnuts take no more than 8 minutes.

There’s no chance to burn the nuts since the whole process is rather short. T-Fal Actifry is especially convenient in this case because it features stirring paddle. In this case you don’t have to shake the pan during roasting.

Coated Food

Honestly, preparing coated food is a little tricky but if it’s something you enjoy eating the most, it’s well worth it. More precisely, hot air tends to push the batter away and splatter it around.

To prevent that you should fry the coated chicken pieces in the pan then simply finish frying in an air fryer.

Only thing to pay attention to is that your coating isn’t too dry. For example, if you’re coating the chicken with flour make sure you mix a little oil, too.

That way, flour sticks to the chicken better and gives it a nice texture as well. Finally, it’s possible to fry coated food, just make sure the coating sticks very well to the meat of your choice.

Air Fryer Recipes

You may think you’d need a lot of time finding recipes to try in an air fryer, but that’s not the case. Naturally, if you haven’t used an air fryer before you might need some time getting used to the way it works.

Maybe you’d need to learn and experiment with temperature and cooking time, but that’s no big deal.

When it comes to recipes, worry not. Most of air fryers come with a recipe book to use. Finding an air fryer recipe is easy. As you can see, preparing food is much like in a standard oven, with an exception of using oil.

Either way, get a recipe from an air fryer cookbook or invent one yourself. It’s not hard and you’re going to enjoy every step of it, because the results are rewarding.

What Can You Cook In An Air Fryer Conclusion

In conclusion, we hope this article was helpful and you’ve learned what can you cook in an air fryer. As we said, air frying isn’t hard. Simply, you need to experiment and try all the different ways until you find the one that works the best for you and your family.

Nonetheless, whatever food you prepare we assure you that you’ll save time, money, and most importantly, you’ll fall in love with the taste. Everyone should try air frying, simply because it’s an innovative way of preparing healthy and delicious comfort food.

Have you tried air frying? What’s your favorite food to fry in an air fryer? Please let us know and feel free to share your opinion in the comment section below.

The post What Can You Cook In An Air Fryer? appeared first on Home Kitchen Land.

0 notes