#they have good soup and salad options usually too

[laurelhach]

work sucks but they do have good food options. bibimbap, mole chicken, ube flan, paneer tikka masala, i can get curly fries whenever I want t^t

it's dangerous man

[bbnibini]

Cooking With Magic: Devilgram Spoiler Summary + Thoughts (under the cut)

Satan tells you he found a book containing recipes that require magic. According to the book, imbuing magic into the cooking process creates unique tastes that you couldn't replicate with regular cooking. He invites you to go shopping for ingredients the next day, but is surprised when an unexpected companion goes along with you. 

Knowing his plans to spend time with you alone were spoiled, he voices out his frustrations. Solomon explains that he found out about the special magic recipes and was interested to try them out so he went along with MC. Satan, although disappointed his "date" with you is ruined, he tries to make the best of the situation and says it might be better if Solomon goes along with them to give magic advice.

Mammon spots the three of you and decides to tag along, as he was worried when heard the words "cooking" and "Solomon", thinking the worst might happen if he leaves the three of you alone.

After you buy the ingredients, you all take turns to try out the recipes from the book in increasing difficulty. Satan made some magic salad, Mammon some carrot soup which were both beginner recipes, with passable success. You made an intermediate recipe (Pizza) which also turned out well.

Impressed and proud of you for your successful attempt, Solomon decides to make magic macarons which was an advanced recipe. It turned out really well, and the others even commented that it looked good enough to sell. Satan remarks worriedly that Solomon's cooking had always looked good (emphasis on the look), which Mammon agrees with.

Unfortunately, before you even got to try out his magic macarons, they all flew away, much to Solomon's confusion. He concluded it might have been due to putting too much magic while cooking the macarons. Satan and Mammon expressed their relief, saying that not being able to try them might be for the best. You have the option to express your disappointment when you weren't able to try Solomon's cooking, which causes a concerned response from Mammon. Solomon comforts you and tells you that you have the opportunity to sample the other dishes he would cook in the recipe so you shouldn't be so disappointed.

After cooking, you all decided to eat the dishes you cooked. Unfortunately, all of Solomon's dishes also flew out so you all never got an opportunity to taste his cooking. You have the option to either talk to Solomon, Satan or Mammon while eating the magic dishes.

If you chose Solomon, he would thank you for telling him about the dish you thought he would like (we got to know here that Solomon likes spicy food! Just like how the lyrics in his character song goes!)

Satan remarked that the magic cooking session was a success and considered doing it again next time. Solomon told Satan to invite again next time so that he could have another chance to control his magic so the dishes won't fly out next time.

Thoughts

It was a nice Devilgram! It did bring some interesting lore about Solomon and gave depth to Satan and Mammon's character. So Solomon's cooking is visually deceiving? 🤔 It kinda doesn't flow with how it's usually portrayed in canon, especially with his favourite food and the April Fool's dishes for Solomon's cafe the other year. Are they trying to retcon this lore? I'm also really curious about how his dish would taste since magic is involved? Would it taste good because magic is imbued into it? I saw some posts before where they interpreted one of the flavour texts that Solomon's cooking only sucks because he puts magic into it. The info about Solomon and his cooking "skills" is really conflicting. His intimacy call on one hand implies Solomon HAS the capacity to cook well if he follows the recipe, we all know it looks unappealing based on fan merch and again the April Fool's event so I just don't know wtf is going on?

What are we supposed to believe in? This is Schrodinger's Idiot Sandwich. I wish they would make it more consistent especially since they overuse the "haha Solomon bad at cooking" joke a lot. Justice for my malewife pls. 😭

Also, Mammon is really sweet here. He definitely felt a lot more mature and level-headed in this Devilgram which is really nice cause the main story and his cards had shown he has amazing emotional intelligence and grit. I'm glad we get to see more of this side of him than the "jealous lover" caricature he is usually portrayed.

[symphorine]

sometimes to pass the time i daydream about opening my own little chill restaurant and what id serve there and how itd work. bc i would want to be the cook but like, id need to make it fit my energy reserves and stuff. id serve mostly different things in rotation (maybe over a week or two) depending on supplies and mood with a few constant staples. id have a couple ppl to do service, and id have to learn good alcohol pairings, and and and

its not realistic id need to have so much money before i could do this but its nice to think about

anyway some dishes: blanquette with baked rosemary diced potatoes, lemon baked fish with those potatoes also and a side of fresh tomato salad or creamy spinach, japanese curry with rice (u could add meat if u want; id make the roux myself to make sure its gluten free), mac n cheese (actually fucking cheesy, and i could basically just assemble it on demand, but i usually add in bacon spinach and mushrooms) (also easy to make gf), pasta with spinach pesto, pine nuts and sun-dried tomatoes (tomatoes optional), roasted garlic and potato soup (my sibling found the recipe, its soooo tasty and the texture is wonderful), my moms bacon wrapped and goat cheese stuffed filet mignon (SO good) w potatoes and garlic-fried broccoli, chicken apple curry on rice (could make lactose free), pasta with a simple mushroom sauce (mushrooms, dijon mustard, white wine, cream - can add extra veggies or meat, and can use lactose free cream), roasted lamb with couscous and veggies cooked with mediterranean spices, salad with cantaloupe, cherry tomatoes, crispy bacon or parma ham, crumbly fresh goats cheese, served in the cantaloupe (and fine lettuce i guess - roquette would work well i think), quiche lorraine, fried salmon fillet with baked herby carrots, potatoes and parsnips

desserts could have cheesecake, fresh doughnuts, miso brownies (kep found the recipe, it is. so good), toffee cake (made recently for a party, it was fun to make!), fruit salad (depending in the season), lava cake (actually benefit from being made in advance and sitting in the fridge!) with ice cream and/or raspberry coulis, tarte tatin (upside down apple pie with caramelized top)

mainly i just daydream about getting to cook nice food at my own pace and sharing it with people and adapting it when i can so ppl with diet restrictions can enjoy it too

[yoiku]

i've been trying to find some different ways to cook veggies in order to find stuff that i'd make more often in the long run. I've never really avoided them or anything but somehow majority of my "usual/safe" foods that i tend to cook regularly are very chicken and rice -heavy, (beside macaroni) i've noticed. Veggies are pretty much a side thing unless it's a soup or salad, and i feel like i've kinda stuck with the same ways to cook them for such a long time... Now i know enough ways to cook chicken and tune up plain rice, that i've never grown bored of either, but honestly the prices of pretty much all meat products these days got me gazing more towards the vegetable section. Compared to a few years ago the overall price of my usual monthly grocery haul has increased by 1/3rd or so, while my welfare remains the same. And I already pick the cheapest options on pretty much everything but coffee. A lot of the veggies are pretty pricey too most of the time, the summers here are short so growing anything but root veg will be relatively high cost outside the season. But so far the experiments have been mostly a success! I've made my own spice mixes and sauces that stay good for a fairly long time, and those have put a nice, easy to apply -spin on just oven roasted veggies. I think cauliflower coated with breadcrumbs and a bit of cheese is going to become part of the routinely cookings, that's been a hit so far. Oh, and the crumpets! they take a while to fry in the pan but they do so well in the toaster even straight from the freezer, i've made those several times already. It's not a new year's resolution of anything, but I hope to expand my cooking routine more this year. Nothing fancy but introducing more staples into the mix would be nice.

[dudefrommywesterns]

I keep forgetting you are also vegetarian!! What sorts of things do you make (if you dont mind talking about it)

I need ideas since I can't really eat most of what my family makes lol

i like to cook from scratch so i don't know how helpful I'll be but I'll lay out some of my favorites

i eat a lot of pasta tbh. fettuccine alfredo, meatless spaghetti (or if i can find the tofu meatballs, that), pasta primavera. I'm trying some mac and cheese with gochujang in it, I'll let you all know how that is.

easy as hell feta tomato pappardelle

not to be cliche and say salad but the nashville hot pickle and spinach dijon make me (a salad hater) like salad. they sell these at walmart or raley's.

i make a vegetarian noodle soup with vegetable broth sometimes. depending on where you are, there's an amy's brand one that's canned. zuppa toscana is a fun one to make if you have veggie italian sausage (i wouldn't put white wine in it. i rarely put wine in anything.)

also korean and indian food is usually vegetarian by default. japchae is really good. it's very vegetable-heavy. i make a cold soondubu (it's usually hot but this is a very good cold for hot days version). this is kong-guksu, which is a peanut sauce ramen dish (better than it sounds).

my favorite indian dishes are palak paneer, tikka masala (i make it with cauliflower or tofu depending), chana masala, basmati rice, and naan.

falafel is vegetarian, and you can make yellow jasmine rice vegetarian easily by making it with vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. and of course, there's hummus and baba ganoush

if you like mushrooms, they're a good substitute for steak on philly cheesteak and this recipe for vegan po' boys is phenomenal.

i make black bean burgers from time to time (i usually buy them bc I'm lazy but they're fun to make). also, black bean and corn tamales are very good. quesadillas are easy too. or cheese enchiladas. they sell vegetarian refried beans too. if not, pre-boiled (or canned) whole pinto beans + vegetable shortening.

we have decent vegetarian sections at the stores i go to. i find safeway and sprouts (I'm not sure if this is a national chain or not) have the best options. i wish i lived in la or sf where all the vegans are.

when in doubt, you just buy nacho fix ins. not healthy but fun and everything that needs to be hot goes in the microwave.

if you need any more recipes or ideas, let me know.

[ariadnewhitlock]

Lost in the Supermarket || Andy & Ariadne

TIMING: Last week LOCATION: A grocery store in town PARTIES:  Ariadne @ariadnewhitlock & Andy @declinlalune SUMMARY: Ariadne and Andy are both shopping, when they suddenly end up somewhere that is… not home. CONTENT WARNINGS: none!

She’d told her parents that she would run and do a grocery shopping before their family dinner. It wa something that had been tradition for years, and despite her lack of needing to eat, it was still something that brought Ariadne comfort, and made her life feel at least partially normal, despite the fact that nearly everything else felt entirely strange.

Ariadne had grabbed a few items and was pushing a cart around the store - trying to not grab too many more sweets (though, thankfully, her parents were exceedingly understanding with her newfound extreme sweet tooth) than were needed. She spotted another figure by the salad dressings. “I - excuse me, I’m between the Italian dressing and the honey mustard - do you have a favorite? Also open to other options.”

Andy needed to pick up a few things on her way home from work, and it made the most sense to stop at an actual grocery store rather than the corner store, or even the pharmacy. If she brought home more peach rings, Kaden may actually kill her. The bottle of wine– not as expensive as anything Kaden would deem good wine, but more expensive than what she and Alex had presented him upon his arrival, was an afterthought. The velveeta block– a stance against Kaden’s cheese-monger ways, a forethought, and the bottle of Italian dressing a means to redeem herself for being called unhealthy. 

As she went to grab a packet of croutons, Andy heard a voice amongst the dull radio that played over the speakers. “Uhhh…” She looked back towards the dressings, then pointed to the one she’d thrown in her cart. “I hear it’s healthy, but usually we just eat chunks of lettuce if we think we need greens.” It wasn’t entirely a lie, but maybe a small exaggeration. “What are you making? Might determine what’s better and what’s shit.” 

“Some sort of mixed greens salad. I think my mom’s going to just throw like, lettuce and tomatoes and lots of carrots. Cucumber, maybe?” Ariadne offered the other woman a small smile, “I think chunks of lettuce sounds pretty fantastic, personally.” She glanced down at the floor, “personally, I’d rather have a bag of gummy bears, but I do at least sort of like salad. I like that you can put lots of different dressings on it.”

“You just - you seem like you probably know stuff, and you’d think I’d know better, but I guess - I don’t know. Long day of classes makes me less sure of myself.” As well as the whole recent undead thing. Ariadne bit her lip, “thanks a lot, for talking to me.”

“Cucumber is good, goes well with Italian dressing.” Really, Andy wasn’t a fan of thick dressings like ranch, which, if one were to look at her other dietary choices, would be a surprise. She hated that she’d become the woman in the aisle discussing salad dressing, but that’d been her sad reality since things had slown down. The lack of running meant a steadier lifestyle, and somehow, that meant discussing dinner plans. 

“Gummy bears are good, but peach rings are where it’s at.” She smiled kindly at the younger girl before grabbing another pack of croutons, deciding that she could use a snack for the ride home. Andy’s brows arched at the blonde’s clarification that it seemed like she knew stuff. She couldn’t help but laugh, and with a shrug, she turned fully towards the younger woman. “Sure, whatever. Take my word on the peach rings though, they go above and beyond gummy bears.” 

“Ooh, that’s true! I don’t like the dressings that feel all soupy or whatever - if you’re going to have soup, you might as well have that, right?” Ariadne made a face.”Anyhow, thanks. I think I’ll go with that one.”

Another pause, and, “I’ll have to maybe get some of those before I leave.” Even though she’d decided not to get much candy this time, she couldn’t resist trying something fun and new. She wasn’t entirely sure how she’d missed out on trying peach rings before, but that could all change today. Ariadne was just about to thank the other woman again when she heard a small crash. “Should we go and make sure everyone’s okay?”

“Haven’t thought about it that way, but sure.” Andy smiled at the young girl, pushing her cart to the side so that somebody else could pass through. As much as she wanted to sit and discuss salad dressings, it was about time she started to head home. 

At least, it would have been. The crash was loud and disorienting, but there were no screams that accompanied it. Maybe something had fallen off of the shelves, or maybe somebody ran their cart into something. Andy couldn’t be sure, but it didn’t hurt to go and check it out. At the young girl’s question, Andy nodded slowly before turning on her heel, leaving the cart behind. Andy rounded the corner, immediately taking note of the door that had driven itself into the ground. Except there were no cracks at its base, and nothing else was disturbed. Andy’s brows pulled together and she looked behind her at the blonde. “Did you notice this before?” 

At least the other woman was being nice to her. Ariadne was certain that she didn’t make any sense, and so the kindness was even more appreciated than usual.

Except that the red-head had taken off quickly and Ariadne couldn’t help but follow her. Even if she probably shouldn’t have. Curiosity undoing various animals’ lives and whatnot. There was a door in the ground. A door, in the ground, in the middle of the aisle. It sounded like the beginning of a questionably written children’s book. “I - no. I mean, I don’t think so, but I also am pretty sure I’d notice that, no matter how distracted I was. Did you?”

“No, I didn’t.” Andy looked at the door apprehensively, knowing well enough when to leave things alone. She thought about the painting that she and Metzli had gotten sucked through and knew that if something like that happened again, she might not be smart enough to get them out. That’d been Metzli’s doing, and Metzli wasn’t here. Instead, Andy’s company was a kid, probably around Alex’s age. 

“Just don’t touch it.” Andy turned her back on the door which might have been her first mistake, because it flung open and an undetermined force of energy began to suck her through, as well as the cookies on the opposite shelf. “No– god dammit, no!” She tried to grab onto the edge of the door, but it was no help. Instead, she was being flung through, encapsulated in darkness. 

“That’s super weird.” She made a face again, turning her head to look at the door. “I’d say it’s maybe some art installation, but I - don’t think it’s that.” Ariadne sighed. Which meant it was something else, and probably not something she’d like. Not that she was entirely opposed to new things, but new things that weren’t supposed to be there did a number on her anxieties.

“I won’t.” Except just as she said that, the door opened by its own accord and pulled the both of them in. Which Ariadne really didn’t like. She balled up her fists as they both hit the ground - though it was a few minutes before she opened her eyes - to what looked practically identical to where they’d just been. Except black-and-white. She looked over to the other woman, “uh. I’m not imagining things, am I?”

Maybe Andy had been too afraid to open her eyes for longer than normal, or maybe she’d taken a minute to adjust to the fact that they were back in the grocery store, but it was void of any color, aside from herself and the young girl beside her. Why the fuck did this keep happening to her, and why were portals decidedly opening up to suck her into some other dimension? 

At least there didn’t seem to be any fog. Andy looked over at the blonde as she spoke and gave a short shake of her head before she got to her feet. She reached out to help the girl up before turning in a slow circle, taking in their surroundings. Definitely no fog, no lake. Maybe the door was the stupid painting’s cousin. “Just stay next to me, ok?” She cast a glance over at the blonde, offering a small smile. She took a step forward and glanced down the aisle, noting that the cereal boxes which were often in an array of colors looked like something sad out of a catalog that’d been discontinued. “What do they say about Kansas?” She couldn’t remember the exact quote, or the movie it came from, but she knew she was right on the nose with the reference. 

“You don’t have to tell me that twice.” Ariadne nodded, trying to do her best to catch her breath. Whatever version of breath she had, anyhow. She wasn’t exactly thrilled - which was an incredible understatement, but still. “I’ll stay right by you.” The woman mentioned something about Kansas – 

“Oh, like from The Wizard of Oz?” She looked over to the other woman, “there’s no place like home? Except this is sort of a reverse of that movie, ‘cause in that one she goes to the colorful world, and we… didn’t.” Again, stating the obvious. Ariadne was grateful that the woman didn’t seem to put put off by Ariadne’s utter lack of ability to string together anything remotely coherent. “You didn’t fall asleep, did you?” This wasn’t some awful nightmare she’d created, was it? “Sorry, just trying to wrap my head around all of this.”

Andy wasn’t sure what was happening, or why the door had appeared in the first place, but if it were anything like what had happened at Metzli’s gallery, then there was definitely a way to get out. She took a deep breath and tried her best to center herself. There was no use in freaking out, especially when anxiety was written all over the girl that’d gotten pulled into this mess. 

“Maybe? I’m not sure, I’ve never actually seen it.” She wasn’t well versed in pop culture– that was more of Alex’s thing. Though, she wasn’t sure if the movie being referenced was much of an impact to pop culture as it stood. “What?” At Ariadne’s question, Andy shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. This isn’t a Freddy Flintstone situation is it?” She hadn’t taken the time to realize that wasn’t the correct reference, but did it matter? “No, I’m awake, and you are, too, I’m pretty sure.” She bit down on the inside of her cheek as she took another step around one of the aisles, then realized quickly that each had a door. “So I’m guessing you’ve never seen anything like this?” 

“That’s fair. It’s not my favorite movie, I just watched it when I was little once or twice.” They couldn’t be trapped forever, could they? Ariadne certainly hoped not. “I don’t know who that is, but no?” Again, she hoped not. She’d been more optimistic as a child, able to try and convince Chance into trying new things (albeit with limited success, but still). “Yes, I’m awake.” I can’t sleep held back on her lips, because that wasn’t something you said to strangers. For all her failures, that was one thing Ariadne had been fairly good about. To prove it to herself, she bit down hard on her lip, and the wince was proof enough.

“Uh, no. I mean, I’ve seen the grocery store, but not in black-and-white, and I’ve never gotten pulled through a magic - is that the right word to use? I don’t know - but still, a magic door. Have you?” She couldn’t have, could she? Because things like this didn’t happen. Except that clearly they did, given the situation that the two of them were in at the moment. Ariadne looked over the other woman’s shoulder. “Uh - I think I see another door?”

“Huh.” So maybe she and Ariadne had more in common than Andy had originally thought. Where the blonde was all nervous energy, Andy felt like she was going to bolt through the ceiling. Maybe that was because of the nerves, but she had to get them out of here– wherever here was. She cursed herself for already having been in a similar situation. She looked for labels, but everything seemed to be a mish mash of words, not really forming any coherent sentence. 

At her question, Andy looked over her shoulder at the younger girl and shook her head, then thought for a moment. “Got pulled into a painting once. Had some evil fog, but I got out.” She left Metzli out of the story, not wanting to out them for their cursed paintings. “But a grocery store turning black and white and a bunch of doors popping up? Nah, this is new.” The subject of magic should have been a touchy one, because that in itself had ties to the supernatural. But Ariadne seemed to know about it, so Andy didn’t bother trying to convince her it was something else. That wasn’t her job anymore, anyway. She wanted to protect people, but not by lying to them.

Once they came upon another door, Andy’s brows pulled together. She opened it and felt herself being pulled in again. Darkness, and then– the same environment. Black and white– void of any actual words on the packaging, and more doors. “What the fuck.” At least this time she hadn’t landed on her ass. “Hey, kid?” Andy called out, quickly stepping out of the aisle and looking down at another. 

“Come on, I thought art was safe.” The words spilled from her mouth involuntarily, “sorry. Sorry, that was rude of me. I just - I’m so sorry you had to deal with that. Glad you got out.” Ariadne nodded. “It’s a very weird - no offense to the black-and-white store - situation - and I mean, getting lost in the store is one thing, but this seems to take that a few steps further.” It was all very confusing, the whole magic doors thing, but since apparently vampires and werewolves and what she was were real, it only made sense for magic to be, too. Maybe. It was giving her something of an awful headache, but she could focus on that later. Not now, when she wasn’t even in town. Or in the real town.

Ariadne watched as Andy disappeared into another door, only to fall out of another one moments later. “What the heck is right.” She glanced up at the door. “Why does it have a number on it?”

“I said fuck.” Andy squinted at the door, but prematurely shook her head at the blonde for what she had said. “Sorry. I’m just. Frustrated.” She grit her teeth and looked at the door that the other had been drawn to before glancing down the aisle, noticing that there were several different doors, all with different numbers. It took her a moment, but she got it. 

“The doors. We need to open them in order.” This wasn’t as easy as just finding words carved into trees, but at least she felt like she had it figured out. “It’s like a maze, I think.” She and Alex had gone to a maze in one of the Carolinas after getting back to the states. It’d been an attempt on Andy’s part to impart normalcy into their lives. 

“Yes - well - I’d prefer to probably not use that word, if it’s okay with you.” Which wasn’t even the point right now, but Ariadne wanted to make sure that Andy had heard her correctly. “No - I’m sorry. I - you’re obviously allowed to be frustrated, I am too, I just - also confused”

She followed Andy’s gaze. “Order?” She shook her head. Well, of all the people to get lost with, at least it had been someone who was apparently very good at problem solving. If they got back, Ariadne figured it would only be the polite thing to do to offer to buy Andy something, or at least make her a thank you card. “In order. Okay.” She could do that. “Like from 1, or from the highest number?”

Andy ignored her comment about not wanting to curse, deciding that explaining she hadn’t meant offense by it was not important at the moment. The black and white was beginning to merge into itself and it was getting harder to remember what colors actually were, save for the ones she was wearing already. Even her own skin seemed to be dulling out. 

“I–” She bit her lip and chewed it between her teeth. “I’ll try to go from the highest. If that doesn’t work, then we know it's the lowest.” Hopefully nothing would happen by doing that. So Andy trotted off, yanking open the door with the number 12 above it. It spat her back out and a shuddering sound vibrated above her head. Slightly disoriented, Andy rubbed her temples, squinting past the aisle she’d been deposited into. “Let’s try for lowest. We should do it together, in case something happens.” 

“Okay. Highest first, and then lowest, okay.” Ariadne figured that made sense - as much as any of this did, right now. They had to try something, because if they didn’t try anything, then they’d be stuck here forever - and given that apparently she was going to live forever, Ariadne found the prospect of that extremely unappealing. That and she’d be responsible for Andy’s death, even if not on purpose.

“Together works for me.” She looked over at Andy. “I guess we should just… go for it? On three?” Ariadne began counting, hardly waiting for an answer - which she knew wasn’t polite, but she also knew that if she thought too much, she’d get all up in her head about everything and then nothing would be accomplished. “One… two… three.” She stepped into the door, hoping Andy was with her, only to find herself back in the supermarket. Her head was spinning. “Okay - well - that didn’t - should we find number 2, then? I don’t know if that did anything.”

The only reason Andy felt confident in any sense of the word about their situation was because of what happened with Metzli. While she didn’t necessarily want to thank them for the experience since they’d been the one to get her into it to begin with, at least she knew what patterns to look out for here. 

Andy followed her through the door and nothing happened. Instead of being spat back out, they simply walked through as if it were a normal door. Her head felt a little fuzzy, but nothing like before. She blinked rapidly, trying to regain some composure, before looking above her head. “Wait. No, look! None of the doors changed. We have to go find number 3 now.” She didn’t wait for Ariadne to follow her. Instead, she headed towards the aisle with the giant number 3 on it, holding onto the knob, waiting for Ariadne to arrive. Once she did, she pulled it open, and she felt herself stepping through, just like before. “Number 4 next.” 

She wondered if her technical inability to feel fear was the only reason that she wasn’t completely panicked right now. Even so, Ariadne figured that she wasn’t exactly doing as well as she might have wished.

“Okay, okay.” Andy knew what she was talking about, and Ariadne was extremely grateful for that. “Yes, number three sounds good.” She did her best to follow Andy as quickly as was possible, only slightly flinching this time when they made it through the doors. Which was an improvement, given that she still felt wholly and entirely overwhelmed by the situation at hand. She waited until the other woman was near her, and then ducked through door four, only to once again be spit right back out. Which meant it was working, right? “I think I’m going to need to lie down after this. I never thought of it as so much effort going through doors.”

“I’m feeling a little lightheaded, too, but come on– we’ve got this.” Andy gave the blonde a reassuring smile before she led the way to door number five. The same thing happened to them. They arrived on the other side with no numbers above their heads changed. 

She refused to get trapped here in this colorless world. Her own skin continued to desaturate, so much so that even her freckles were barely visible. Andy wondered what her hair looked like. Hopefully she wouldn’t find out. Andy motioned for the girl to follow her towards door number six, and again towards the next few doors before they arrived just below eleven. “Okay, this, and then we’ve got twelve left. Hopefully it… well, you know, lets us out?” Andy’s laugh was anxious, but she pressed on anyway, pulling the door open. As they came out of the other side, just like before, nothing changed. “Are you ready?” 

“We’ve got this.” She repeated, barely audible. But still, saying it felt like maybe somehow, that would make it more real. That there would be more of a chance of them actually making it out. Not that Ariadne was entirely sure that she believed in luck in that sort of way, but half an hour ago, she also would’ve said that she didn’t believe in doors that transported you to totally different but the same sort of place, so she figured she couldn’t really speak on the subject.

She looked down at her hand, alarmed to find that it was starting to blend in a little too well with the black-and-white grocery store. Ariadne pressed her fingertips against her temples, doing her best to calm her nerves as quickly and efficiently as possible. Which, of course, was far easier said than actually done, but the thought had to count, right? “We - I’m -” she held up her hand, graying as it was. “What?”

“We do.” Andy wasn’t sure how time worked here, or if it were any different than in the real world. It all still felt like a dream. She wasn’t sure how she was keeping it so together. Maybe it was the fact that the kid next to her was just a kid and needed some guidance. Or, at least, Andy thought she was a kid. She had half a mind to ask how old the blonde was, but was interrupted by her plea. 

She looked over and noticed the way that blonde’s hand had begun to meld into the backdrop of the store, fingernails and skin black and white. “Shit. Okay, it’s okay– we just gotta get out, alright?” Andy did her best to give the girl a reassuring smile before she tugged her along to the next door. She wasn’t sure if this was magic or what, but it was fucked up. Once they were below door number twelve, she looked at her and gave her a firm nod. She opened it up, pulling the blonde through with her. When they came out onto the other side, they were transported back to a world of color. Music poured over the speakers and Andy winced at the sudden noise. “We got out.” Thank fucking god. “Your hand– look at your hand.” 

“We just gotta get out.” She repeated, both to assure the woman that she’d heard her and to reassure herself. Which Ariadne figured that she might have needed even more than the other woman did. At last from outward appearance, she figured it never hurt to offer kindness to someone else. Especially someone who was literally saving her life.

“We gotta, yeah.” She gratefully let the woman pull her through the door, and she took in a huge gulp of air, half-crumpling down to the floor and leaning back against a shelf. “We got out - I - my hand.” Ariadne looked down. “I - thank you.” She shut her eyes for a moment, trying to re-center herself. “I - I’m Ariadne, by the way. I don’t - I don’t think I ever told you, before.” She stood up, pressing her hands together, as if to make sure that they were actually, really still there. “I’m officially a super not fan of random doors.”

Even though Andy didn’t think that the air in the other grocery store had been any different, it felt like she could actually breathe now. She steadied herself by grabbing onto a nearby shelf, then looked over at the blonde. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she showed that her hand had come back into focus. “Must mean we’re actually back and uh, okay.” She looked down at her own arm, relief flooding through her. 

As the blonde gave thanks, Andy shook her head. “Don’t thank me.” It had a double meaning, and maybe she should drive it in a little more, but she got distracted by her name. It was pretty. “Andy.” She smiled fondly at her before pushing away from the shelf. Where the hell was her basket? “Oh, me and you both. Never going to go into a random one again, that’s for sure.” She exhaled sharply and ran her fingers through the end of her braid. “Glad we made it out though, glad you’re in one piece.” Knowing Wicked’s Rest, it could have gotten a lot uglier than it had. “Do you–” She paused, then sighed, “you need a ride home or anything? After you’re done shopping? I can give you one.” If there was anything lasting about the black and white grocery store, then maybe Andy should take Ariadne home. 

“Must be.” Ariadne refused to let herself think otherwise. That wasn’t a possibility, it just wasn’t. “It - I’m glad we’re back.” Glad was an exceptional sort of understatement, but it was all that she could manage right now.

“But - I -” she caught her tongue in her mouth, fighting the urge to dispute the comment, to say that she wanted to thank the woman and that she couldn’t stop her from doing so, but refrained. “Sorry. I’m glad you were here to help.” Ariadne nodded. “Belated nice to meet you, Andy. Glad you’re in one piece too.” Which was really not saying nearly as much as she wanted to say, but she supposed it’d have to suffice for now. “Uh - if you don’t mind, sure, that’d be great. I could walk, I like walking, but if you’re offering…” her voice trailed off as she grabbed a box of Cheez-Its off the shelf, before shaking her head and putting them back. Too much salt. A bag of Cheetos instead, in part to see what Chance would say about that. “I - I’ll be ready whenever you are.”

“Mmm.” Andy smiled at Ariadne, and this time it reached her eyes. The blonde was far more polite than anyone else she’d met in Wicked’s Rest, and really, she was pleasantly surprised. She had held her own in the weird black and white world, too, which made Andy curious as to why. It wasn’t her business, and she knew that, but if Ariadne hadn’t freaked the hell out in the weird alternate dimension they’d been thrown into, then what else had she been victim to? Concern ran parallel to paranoia, but she pushed it away, expression neutral aside from the smile. 

“No, it’s no big deal, I can drive you.” Andy patted Ariadne’s shoulder hesitantly before passing her by. “I just need to find my basket. Grab whatever else you need and I’ll meet you at the front.” She headed down the aisle before pausing. “And no more doors, except for, you know, the front one.” Andy winked at the blonde before heading off to the next aisle to find her basket before returning to the blonde’s side. 

[motherhenna]

Some recipe suggestions/tips from someone who hates cooking, doing dishes, and dealing with produce:

Ingredients I get in bulk/always have on hand:

corn tortillas (get the giant bag of them and stick it in the freezer, they make great snacks on their own, and you can put mish mash in there and call it a taco!)

Pasta/Lentils/Rice

Tomato sauce and paste

Canned/frozen veggies (I like beans, corn, potatos, and peas especially but to each their own. Chickpeas are usually pretty good too.)

canned refried beans

Ground meat (I buy in 1lb increments and stick in freezer for easy protein)

frozen chopped onions

diced garlic in water

spices (Garlic and onion powder, cumin, curry powder, paprika, cayenne, oregano, basil, rosemary, bouillon, etc)

condiments (soy sauce, sweet n sour sauce, mustard/ketchup, honey, peanut butter, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, etc)

Recipes:

Samosa filling

Boil potatos or heat up canned ones until hot and soft. Microwave frozen peas, corn, carrots (or whatever veggies u like) until not frozen, or used canned. Put some fennel seeds into a pan for a little while until toasty, then add some oil/ghee and dump in your veggies/taters, plus some onions and garlic. Mush with a spatula and add curry powder/cumin/paprika or other savory spice mix to taste and cook until it smells/tastes good. Put in a tortilla/pita with some sweet n sour sauce if u want.

Lentil/Chickpea mishmash

Boil lentils until soft and the skins are kinda peeling, drain. Add to pan w canned chickpeas. Add some broth or water, just enough not to burn. Add savory spices, stir until chickpeas are softened. Optional: Cook garlic/diced onions in pan before adding lentils and chickpeas.

Soup

In a pot, cook some ground meat until browned, add some italian/savory spices. Dump in canned veggies, if using frozen then microwave first so it doesnt mess w cooking time too much. Season to taste. Add broth or water and buillon until desired soup consistency. Bring to a boil, then add short pasta noodles (like bowtie or fusili). Cook until pasta is almost done, then turn heat down and simmer and add spices until it tastes/smells good. You can freeze portions for later too.

Homemade pasta sauce

Storebought is expensive so: diced onions in a pan until soft. Add garlic, then tomato sauce (enough to coat amount of pasta u want). Add some tomato paste and italian seasonings (oregano, basil), then cook until it doesn't taste like raw tomato. Salt to taste. (Optional: cook ground meat until browned with the onions. if cooking from frozen wait to add the onions until meat is halfway cooked.) Boil ur pasta, then drain mostly (leave a little water) and pour pasta into the pan ur cooking the sauce in. stir to coat pasta.

Smashed cucumber salad

look up a recipe, there's a thousand out there, but usually i just cut up persian cucumbers, pour some vinegar/soy sauce/sesame seeds/chili flakes on there and boom

Peanut cucumber salad

Peel and slice american cucumbers, put in bowl with a lid. Add halved cherry tomatoes and peanuts. Add balsamic vinegar, olive oil, peanut butter/peanut sauce. put lid on, shake vigorously. If u dont have lid, then combine sauce ingredients separately and whisk to emulsify before adding to salad.

Also quick and great: Bean and cheese burritos, peanut butter sandwiches, eggs, caprese salad.

Thanks so much! There's definitely a couple in here I could fuck with, and yeah having more canned stuff sounds like a good idea. Not as good as fresh obviously but better than fast food right? Also, truly wish I could eat refried beans without shitting myself to death afterwards lmao that and chalula or tapatillo is why almost every mexican dish makes my intestines radioactive

[saint-ambrosef]

cheap food anon. dinner is either curry, chili, or soup. Chicken, tomato, onion are usually involved. lunch is salads and wraps. usually lettuce, chickpeas, cucumber. breakfast is attempted but rarely eaten, eggs or oatmeal. I know rice and beans is go to cheap meal but lord is it boring. Smoothies sometimes

Beans and rice does indeed get boring fast.

One of my go-tos is ground sausage, the kind that comes in a little one pound tube. I get it for $2.25 at Aldi but you can get it for $3-4 at other stores. It can do anything ground beef can, for cheaper. You can make it last many meals by mixing with plant protein (like beans for tacos or lentils in a ragu sauce), and it will still add so much flavor and texture.

I would also recommend shredded chicken. Works well with the cheapest cuts, like whole leg quarters; just throw them in a slow cooker (or a covered baking dish in a 225F oven) for 6ish hours. Shred up. Put some in the freezer for later. Use for tacos, wraps, fried rice, salads, casseroles, stews, pizzas, quesadillas, etc.

For cheese, opt for "extra sharp" cheddar, you only need a little to add a lot of flavor (compared to mild cheeses) so they stretch.

Frozen vegetables are a great resource too. I can usually get a pack of peas or broccoli for under a dollar each. Kale and spinach are often very cheap fresh; they can be eaten raw or cooked, so I throw them into all my soups and sauces. Button mushrooms are also inexpensive. Sweet potatoes make GREAT homefries.

If dairy is an option, you can make creamy soups/sauces with a roux. Good with pasta, you can make a rich and hearty mac and cheese too.

It doesn't sound like you do much Asian cuisine? Stir-fried chicken and vegetables (carrots, cabbage, bell pepper) over rice is an economical, easy meal. You only really need soy sauce and a little fresh ginger root to get the flavor profile.

Homemade baked falafels over salad with some sour cream or homemade tzaziki sauce would be a different spin on your usual lunch. Try it with quick-pickled onions (legit just throw chopped red onion in 1/3 white vinegar and 2/3 hot water mix, let sit in the fridge at least 20 min).

Lentil Bologense over mashed potatoes is the cooler older sister of beans and rice.

Quiche is a tasty way to use up any leftover bits of meat, cheese, and veggies. If you don't have cream, try subbing for evaporated milk.

Try canned cannellini beans roughly smushed in a bowl with garlic, salt, black pepper, and olive oil: spread on some toast and top with fresh tomatoes, fresh cilantro, and a healthy squeeze of lime juice. Spinach would be good too.

Black-eye beans, corn, fresh tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, and cilantro tossed in olive oil and balsamic ("cowboy caviar") is great with corn chips.

Also, quickbreads are your friends!! Cornbread is super easy to make and goes so well with chili and stews. And just good snacking.

I hope at least some of this helped or at least gave inspiration!! It's well passed my bedtime so I gotta leave it there for now. :( Feel free to ask for more advice if there's something in particular you are struggling with!

[lovethephotoo]

Smart Travel Hack and Underrated NYC Food/Drink Guide

Traveling to the USA? Don’t want to pay international fees? Have an unlocked Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy? 

Invest in a T-Mobile Prepaid SIM Card which has Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data in the USA for 30 days. The price is about 50 dollars. The link is in the sources section. Therefore, post that selfie or video chat your family/friends while enjoying a bite to eat/drink in the USA. 

New York City is one of the most popular cities to travel within the United States. But there is a saturation of entertainment options and it can be overwhelming. As someone who likes to plan ahead and willing to try anything, please see below for the food/drink items that anyone should experience once in their lifetime. It would satisfy anyone’s palette. Also, it is important to support local and small businesses. 

Many of these items are underrated!

Ceviche 

This dish is a staple in many cultures and extremely popular. The seafood which can be shrimp or fish is cured in citrus juices like lemon or lime. Therefore, it is safe to eat! Afterwards, it is tossed and spiced with red onions, tomatoes, cilantro, salt/pepper, and red pepper flakes. There are flavors of acidity, salty, and spicy mixed into one.

Macarons

It is the ultimate French pastry. These cute sized treats are great to eat with afternoon tea. They have a slightly sweet and nutty flavor. Macarons are made from meringue. There are many flavors from lemon, coffee, pistachio, and etc. Laduree makes the best ones and they make great gifts for the holidays. It is worth every penny.

Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup

The best comfort food on a fall/winter day. The soup is spiced with Chinese five spice and it has the perfect flavor that is not too spicy. The scallions add an allium bite. There are huge pieces of beef that is tender and fall right off the bone. 

Flat White

The best alternative to an Americano that is not too bitter/acidic. There is not too much steamed milk and the flavor is still silky. It is easy to drink and the caffeine count is not too high. But, the coffee art is beautiful.

Soup Dumplings

They are usually referred to as the little pocket of joy. As the name states, there is soup in the dumpling shell. The flavor is umami and it is important to air out the dumpling before consuming or you will burn your entire mouth! The best added condiments to the dumplings are pickled ginger and black vinegar. 

Pan Fried Seafood Noodles

The crunch of these egg noodles are the best. They are fried and slathered with a seafood stir fry surrounding Chinese Broccoli. The dish is originally from Hong Kong and served in many Cantonese/Chinese gatherings with family and friends.

Shaved Ice

A hidden secret that is very well liked on the West coast especially Hawaii. The texture is like snow and doused with fruit syrups that have a sweet flavor. The sweetness is not sickly and the fresh fruit is a good addition. My favorite is always mango and strawberry!

Poke 

Another item that is favored on the West Coast and is competitive to sushi. Poke is a type of sashimi dish that is usually made from tuna or salmon. It is usually cured with some soy sauce or shoyu. It can be made for lunch or dinner and be eaten anytime of the year. The best toppings to a Poke bowl consists of seaweed salad, cucumbers, radish, pineapple, roe, and sriracha mayo sauce.

Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/T-Mobile-Prepaid-Unlimited-United-States/dp/B0776RRR9Y

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/new-york-city-is-the-city-most-people-want-to-visit-and-live-in-072622#:~:text=According%20to%20NYC%20%26%20Co.%2C,reach%2063.7%20million%20in%202023.

[wetbloodworm]

the group was asked to consider two questions for our OCs and i panicked in the moment because i need to think about these things, but i have now thought about these things. the implication was that this is for rescued OCs so that's all i'm touching on here.

What does your OC regularly eat for lunch?

(picture me googling ‘what do people eat for lunch’ because i have no fucking clue. i usually don’t eat lunch and that was part of my problem coming up with ideas on the spot lmao)

1) ivan likes soups! mostly hot soups but cold soups are also good in the summer. he'll usually pair them with sandwiches or some kind of bread. also a fruit tea if possible, water or soda otherwise. he typically only strays from this if he's getting lunch out with someone (he will order soup and/or a sandwich if that's an option, but other stuff is fine). he's big on eating three meals a day so if something happens and he skips lunch he will be upset about it.

2) asya eats a lot of peanut butter sandwiches, sometimes with honey or bananas or other add-ons. with chips and either juice, water, or soda. she had to fend for herself a lot growing up and sandwiches were easy for her to make, so it became part of her routine. she's fine straying and can eat any other safe food for lunch, she will just always default to pb sandwiches. she's pretty consistent but is more likely to skip meals during the worse parts of mood episodes.

3) sergey will often snack instead of eating a proper lunch. chips with or without dip, crackers with or without cheese, jerky, any snack food lying around. usually soda. he'll either grab a frozen lunch or instant lunch or order out if he's feeling hungrier. he tends to order delivery a lot. it's also not uncommon for him to skip lunch entirely and just eat an early dinner.

4) anya does food prep and mixes up what kinds of food she makes every week. the most common combo is rice plus some kind(s) of veggie plus some kind of meat. sometimes she’ll do wraps, sometimes soups, sometimes salads, etc. it varies! she likes sparkling water though and that’s always a feature.

5) including cian for the cianlovers here. time to project and say that cian doesn’t usually eat lunch. at most he’ll snack a bit throughout the day and just have dinner. if he’s really hungry he’ll get something delivered if he’s at work, or scrounge up whatever’s available at home. sandwiches, frozen meals, pasta, whatever’s around. cian’s thing is more a lack of hunger compared to sergey’s thing being a combo of that and being lazy. cian does have one of those giant water bottles that’s supposed to carry your daily intake of water and he downs a full one of those every day, so, y’know. balance.

What would your OC bring to a potluck?

(picture me googling ‘what to bring to a potluck’ because i also have no idea. apparently in a potluck the host is supposed to tell people what to bring but the phrasing of the question makes me think that’s not the case in this scenario? like it’s up to the guest for this question? that’s what i’m going with)

1) ivan would ask first if there’s a need for anything specific (to try to be helpful), and make/bring that. if there’s nothing, he’ll default to making potato and cheese pierogies. he likes making them, he can make a bunch of them, they’re vegetarian-safe (sorry vegans), and they’re good to snack on! it’s also something that other people aren’t TOO likely to bring, so there will be variety in the foods available.

2) asya would ask first if there’s a need for anything specific (out of anxiety) and make/bring that. if there’s nothing, she’ll have massive anxiety over it and then probably make some kind of dessert dish. brownies, bars of things, all sorts of treats. this is what i have in mind, just anything you can make in a pan. she doesn’t have one go-to recipe, she likes to try out different things. asya really enjoys cooking, especially for others, so even if not knowing if she’s bringing the Correct thing stresses her out she likes making stuff for people.

3) making food is a love language for sergey that he reserves for the people he’s closest to, so he’s not likely to make something himself for any rando’s potluck. the most he’ll do is grab something from the frozen appetizers section and heat that up if it’s someone who’ll get genuinely annoyed if he brings chips and soda. otherwise you get chips and soda. if it’s a thing his family is hosting, though, or if it’s otherwise just for his loved ones (like say a party just for him and diego and will and marion), yeah he’ll cook, and since he really knows the people he’s cooking for he’ll tailor whatever he’s making for them. sergey doesn’t have a LOT of patience for cooking so it’s not likely going to be something SUPER involved or anything super delicate/pretty looking, but he’ll put more effort into it than he does when making food for himself so there’s that.

4) anya brings some kind of pasta salad. i don’t have much to elaborate on here, anya just brings some kind of pasta salad. that feels correct.

5) for cian, my heart says... casserole... something hearty and good. my heart also says it’s something that’s probably terrible for you in large quantities but is absolutely delicious, like it’s swimming in cheese or takes two full sticks of butter to make or whatever. you know that some part of your body is going to protest this later but your body can shut up

[achubbydumpling]

lazy cooking part 1

I thought I'd share some of my go to recipes since I always get overwhelmed when I'm looking for something new to cook and the ingredients list is like 12 things and you need a pan, a pot and an oven and three hours to prep veggies and weigh everything to the gram

also idk if it's the adhd but when I'm hungry I want food now (or less than an hour from now) I usually cook enough for a few days but if you were so inclined you could definitely eat this for a single meal 👀 just saying..

One Pot Pasta with Tomato Sauce and Coconut Milk

Ingredients

pasta

strained tomatoes

coconut milk

onion

garlic

salt

Optional add-ins:

spices of your choice (I like paprika, chili flakes and cumin)

something acidic (e.g. lemon/lime juice, vinegar)

vegetables (I usually buy frozen, soup mix or broccoli, but use what you like best)

smoked tofu (so good!! add some of the water in the package to the sauce too)

Measurements

I measure in parts because that's easier for me to remember, so for this it'd be 1/3 pasta, 1/3 tomatoes, 1/3 coconut milk. In exact measurements for me that's usually 500g pasta, 500ml tomatoes, 400ml coconut milk + 100ml of water.

Instructions

Peel the amount of garlic and onion you want, fry them in oil if you're feeling fancy, but you can also just put them in the pot with the rest.

(I usually do one onion to three garlic cloves because it's not supposed to be garlic-y, just add some flavour)

Add pasta, strained tomatoes and coconut milk to the pot as well as salt, pepper, spices and lemon juice if you have it. Mix everything.

Put the covered pot on the stove on medium-low heat.

(I have an electric stove with the dial 1-5 and I put it on 2, basically low enough that it doesn't immediately burn if you walk away or don't stir constantly).

Stir occasionally until the pasta has soaked up a noticeable amount of the sauce. Then turn down the heat (I put it on 1) keep stirring occasionally until the pasta has your preferred consistency. Then leave the pot covered on the stove to cool for as long as you can take it. (If you're really hungry you could just eat it right after turning off the heat, but this tastes even better the longer you cook it or as leftovers.)

And done!

You can also make this in the microwave. Add everything to a microwave safe container, put a lid on it and pop it in the microwave for 2-3 times the time it says on the pasta container. Don't forget to stir occasionally. Take the pasta out once it's reached your desired texture.

I hope you enjoy this one pot pasta. It usually lasts me ~five meals (3x dinner, 2x lunch) if I add some frozen veggies, salad and/or tofu to the meal.

It won't win a beauty contest but it's tasty!

[thessalian]

Thess vs Culinary Skills

Just rewatching that video of the poor sod on Discord fucking up instant ramen, and realising that in at least some ways, I am lucky as hell. My cooking skills are, false modesty aside, above par in a significant way. I can make some complicated shit, and a lot of the stuff I make on the fly comes out exceedingly well. Thing is, there are reasons for that.

Yes, I did have Home Ec in school. I didn’t need it by that point, but it was there - both in the US high school I attended and the school where I did my A-levels in the UK. (In that latter, I learned how to make pasta. I should do that at some point. Of course, figuring out the gluten-free bits is going to be a thing, but...)

I actually worked in an industrial kitchen when I was seventeen. Well, I say ‘industrial’; what I mean is “I was kitchen staff at a summer camp when I was seventeen”, so what I mean is “worked in a kitchen that made mass quantities of food in very large batches and yet still had to squeeze in legitimate vegetarian options on the side”. I learned how to make quiche, and also bread - though it took some doing to pare down the recipe from “enough loaves to feed something like five hundred people” to “one batch of bread rolls”. Of course, I only got that job because I could already cook, but it taught me a lot about cooking large batches of things.

In her never-ending quest to make sure I wasn’t bored or lonely after school, my mother signed me up for cooking classes when I was about eight. I still had to go back to the after-school programme I normally went to afterwards, since Mum traditionally worked very, very late at that point in my life, but I gained a certain amount of popularity when I turned up with home-made cookies, mini-pizzas, and these shredded potato savouries that came out particularly well. But even there, I had an edge - I knew how to cook already. This was just new techniques and new recipes.

My mother ... I won’t say she taught me to cook, exactly. Not in the usual teacher / student way. My mother and I have had our problems insofar as our relationship is concerned, but one thing she did always know about me is this - I learn best by doing. So she’d get me to help her with dinner really, really young, and from that I moved on to making dinner for us both myself. So I learned the family favourites basically by cooking them, and added my own variations when I made them myself.

Most of all, though ... the reason why my variations worked as well as they did: my mother let me experiment with the spice rack. I mean, let’s face it - canned soup is boring, especially if you’re used to a more varied flavour profile. So, when Mum and I were having a catch-as-catch-can sort of meal (usually lunches over the weekend, and usually involving soup, canned ravioli, or whatever leftovers happened to be lurking in the fridge), I had full run of the spice rack. I mean, if I messed up and put too much of something in a pot of vegetable soup, it wasn’t going to be my mother having to eat it, so she figured, why not? Trying to spice up soups, canned pasta, salad dressing etc taught me how all the spices worked first-hand - what they taste like, what things they complement, approximately how much is enough and how much is too much depending on what you’re using them to spice up, stuff like that.

I mean, this is all to the good for me, since all of this together gave me an idea of where the wiggle room in a recipe is, what constitutes ‘done’ by looking / smelling / feeling rather than relying entirely on recipe times that change depending on what kind of oven / stove you’re using and how good it is. But it did annoy one of my former partners. He loved my cooking, but he hated that I couldn’t tell him exactly how I did it - he’d ask how long to cook the thing, and all I could say was “Until it’s done”, and shrug when he asked how I knew it was done; or he’d ask how much of a spice to put in and I’d shrug and say “I dunno; enough”. Because at that point, it was all instinctive to me. I know I’ve told this story before, but it never ceases to make me feel bad ... though I feel better about it now that I’ve shared favoured recipes with others with the same vague parameters and it’s gone exceedingly well for them. Also, anything beats the former partner who didn’t really understand the point of enjoying what was to him nothing more than a fuelling exercise, disliked on principle any meal that involved more than one utensil to eat and more than three chews to swallow, and would have happily accepted a pill that gave one all the calories and nutrients someone needed for the day, because “the time spent cooking and eating would be better used elsewhere”.

So, yeah. Play around in the kitchen, and let your kids play around in the kitchen. At least with the spice rack. It’s how I figured out that even Chef Boyardee ravioli can taste epic with some garlic pepper and a sprinkling of oregano.

[ambiguousdisorderken]

Hello, a soon-to-be veganuary participant here! Do you have any tips on how to communicate your veganism when you have e.g. family gatherings, sometimes with… a bit more conservative members, where there is a meal offered? I don’t want to seem too difficult😬 Also Food and easy everyday vegan food ideas would be appreciated!

Absolutely, it’ll be my pleasure! And Thank You!!!<3

So, I'll start with the last part of this ask. I think it's easier not to think of it as "vegan meals", and instead veganize whatever one usually eats. For me, I loved to have scrambled eggs in the mornings, now I have scrambled tofu (extra firm, not silken), that way I can still enjoy my comfort food but have it be animal-free.

meal suggestions:

Breakfast foods are perhaps the simplest to turn plant-based, takes mostly switching a few ingredients. Other meals are not difficult, but traditionally they might rely more on animal products, so you might have to tweak them more. These two (lunch and dinner) I'll be pairing because I eat them interchangeably at either noon or evening. If you want specific recipes, Pinterest is your best friend (my ask box will still be open though).

-Breakfast: oatmeal, toasts/bagels with either sweet or salty toppings, cereals, smoothie bowls, PB&J like Cas (still an SPN blog, sorry), hashed browns or smoothies, if you're like me and have no time in the mornings.

-Lunch/Dinner: rice&beans with a little extra something of your choosing (I like avocado or a simple green salad on the side), wraps/burritos (throw anything veggie in there, really), pasta (just had it with sautéed green beans and cashews), hearty salads (bulk up with, yes, beans - garbanzo/chickpeas are great for this!), thick soups (roast some veggies, then put in a blender and voilà. Great for low energy days and easier digestion), chili sin carne and curries.

-Snacks: i'm partial to nuts and seeds, but fruits are great too, as well as veggies/whatever with hummus, chips and the like (original Pringles, Lay's and Fritos, some pretzels and Takis too!), cookies (many options, original Oreos reign supreme), chocolate (most dark choc is vegan, sweeter options made with plant milks are also available), most popcorn, vegan ice cream (if you have access to Oatly and like chocolate, try the Fudge Brownie, so good) or vegan protein bars if you're in need of a protein-dense pick-me up (protein bars across the board aren’t the best in taste though, so, yeah).

general tips:

start increasing your fiber intake gradually, Now - this is because plant-based diets tend to be higher in fiber, and a sudden boost in it when you're not used to might lead to temporary bloating/discomfort because your digestive system is going to be doing some adjustments.

keep protein and fats in mind - DO EAT THEM! if you're filling unfulfilled after a meal, it might be because it was lacking in those. a lettuce, cucumber and tomato salad is not high in calories or satisfactory in general, it'll be disheartening and it may have you quitting or cursing vegans. if consuming salads make them hearty!

on the same line of protein - as a whole and from what i see in my own country, these days we're a bit obsessed with protein. and even if it's necessary we tend to overestimate our needs and underestimate our intake. if it's more convenient for you, there are many mock meats (depending on where you live, of course) that offer chicken/beef/fish-like products with high protein, but they can be pricier, aren't a necessity and are not really reflective of what most vegans eat for every meal every day. tofu, tempeh, beans and tvp (textured vegetable protein. super cheap and versatile) are my go-to. 

tofu - holy grail, unless you're allergic to soy. if not, it's a great base for literally anything. they key is squeezing out the water and seasoning well.

b12 supplementation/fortified foods

condiments are your best friend - this goes for any and all sorts of cooking, it's amazing what spices can do to enhance flavors.

most ingredients list on food labels will list allergens at the very end or have it in bold letters. here you'll see things that you wish to avoid, like eggs and milk, if the product contains any.

same if you have any safe foods for whatever reason, don't remove it from your diet, simply try to find a vegan alternative or tweak it a bit.

if for some reason you eat something non plant-based, don't make a big deal out of it or quit veganuary. just choose a vegan option the next time.

consider other aspects in your life that rely on animal products and, if safely possible, evaluate alternatives

it's not an all or nothing mentality, remember it's as far as is possible and practicable

As for your first question and based on my personal experience, people who judge or mock others' dietary choices mostly to do so with vegans and vegetarians only, so that's something to unpack there. In your case since it's specifically Veganuary, I'd simply say it's a challenge/activity you want to participate in to help with the environment and animals. Don't knock it til you try it sorta thing.

There are going to be questions and comments, there always are. If very conservative food-wise, relatives or friends may throw negative comments your way, but know those are a reflection of them and whatever they're dealing with rather than what you're doing or with you as an individual. It's literally their problem, not yours, cliché but true. Don't take as personal what other people might say about it because many do get defensive and touchy, even if you aren't out to "get them." In gatherings, if they offer you food, try to veganize the meal, if possible. If meat is optional, just substract it. It might not be the best or most balanced of meals, but you can make up for it later and it shows you've got nothing against their cooking because I bet you don’t. Also, if you know there won't be anything vegan, try bringing in a plate/side dish yourself to share with others, that way you won't arrive empty-handed and you'll make sure to stick to your goal.

// We are latine and my family goes heavy on the animal products consumption, there's not a single meal without them, not one. At the start you yourself might believe your eating is “difficult” but trust me, it isn’t. Past that initial hurdle, people tend to go ‘oh, this is vegan too!!’ (excitedly. very cute!, especially when they wanna share it with you. i just love it). They're used to me being vegan now though, even my grandmas and aunts are now way more receptive of alternative eating styles other than those they raised us in and are mindful of having something for me available (which is usually eaten by everybody else, anyway). The whole thing is gradual and slow, but being vegan is the best decision I've made for many reasons besides the dietary aspect of it, plus it cranked up my creativity in the kitchen, oof!

[marketinsight1234]

Ready-To-Eat Food Market Analysis, Key Trends, Growth Opportunities, Challenges and Key Players by 2032 

Ready-To-Eat Food Market Size Was Valued at USD 185.98 Billion in 2023 and is Projected to Reach USD 410.65 Billion by 2032, Growing at a CAGR of 9.2% From 2024-2032

Food that has been fully prepared and doesn't need to be cooked or prepared further before eating is referred to as ready-to-eat. In order to retain freshness and increase shelf life, these items are usually packaged and preserved using techniques like canning, freezing, or vacuum sealing. RTE meals provide quick and simple meal options that can be consumed at home or on the road with little effort, making them handy for customers. They cover an extensive variety of goods, such as meals, snacks, and drinks, and come in packed, canned, frozen, and chilled varieties.

Food that has been fully prepared and needs little to no more cooking or preparation before eating is referred to as ready-to-eat food. For those who are too busy, working professionals, students, or travelers to make meals from scratch, it provides convenience to users who would not have the time or means to do so. In addition, RTE foods are utilized in the food service sector, workplace and institutional catering, disaster preparedness, and on-the-go snacking. Since they can typically be kept at room temperature without freezing or refrigeration, they are useful for long-term storage in emergency food supplies, military rations, camping equipment, and humanitarian aid initiatives.

Get Full PDF Sample Copy of Report: (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart) @

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Updated Version 2024 is available our Sample Report May Includes the:

Scope For 2024

Brief Introduction to the research report.

Table of Contents (Scope covered as a part of the study)

Top players in the market

Research framework (structure of the report)

Research methodology adopted by Worldwide Market Reports

Leading players involved in the Ready-To-Eat Food Market include:

Conagra Brands, Inc. (US), General Mills, Inc. (US), The Kraft Heinz Company (US), Kellogg Company (US), Campbell Soup Company (US), Hormel Foods Corporation (US), Tyson Foods, Inc. (US), PepsiCo, Inc. (US), The Hershey Company (US), Mars, Incorporated (US)

Moreover, the report includes significant chapters such as Patent Analysis, Regulatory Framework, Technology Roadmap, BCG Matrix, Heat Map Analysis, Price Trend Analysis, and Investment Analysis which help to understand the market direction and movement in the current and upcoming years. 

If You Have Any Query Ready-To-Eat Food Market Report, Visit:

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Segmentation of Ready-To-Eat Food Market:

By Type

Breakfast

Soups

Snacks

Meals

Baked Goods

Meat

Salads, and Others

By Packaging Type

Cups

Containers

Retort

By Distribution Channel

Hypermarkets/Supermarkets

Convenience Stores

Online Retail Stores

Market Segment by Regions: -

North America (US, Canada, Mexico)

Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Rest of Eastern Europe)

Western Europe (Germany, UK, France, Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Spain, Rest of Western Europe)

Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, The Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of APAC)

Middle East & Africa (Turkey, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Israel, South Africa)

South America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of SA)

Highlights from the report:

Market Study: It includes key market segments, key manufacturers covered, product range offered in the years considered, Global Ready-To-Eat Food Market, and research objectives. It also covers segmentation study provided in the report based on product type and application.

Market Executive Summary: This section highlights key studies, market growth rates, competitive landscape, market drivers, trends, and issues in addition to macro indicators.

Market Production by Region: The report provides data related to imports and exports, revenue, production and key players of all the studied regional markets are covered in this section.

Ready-To-Eat Food Market Profiles of Top Key Competitors: Analysis of each profiled Roll Hardness Tester market player is detailed in this section. This segment also provides SWOT analysis of individual players, products, production, value, capacity, and other important factors.

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[sunsetwanders]

Shanghai nights

It’s been 13 years since I last went to Shanghai, that was in 2004 after my PSLE. How much has changed since then, it is quite modernized and clean now and prices have also increased. Thank God for this opportunity where I can go to Shanghai for training and have some time for R&R :)

11 October 2017, Wednesday:

Checked in to Sofitel Shanghai Hyland and it was so convenient in the heart of East Nanjing Road, the shopping belt of Shanghai, which is also very near the metro. 

Took a walk down to The Bund which was a short 10 minutes away. 

12 October 2017, Thursday:

After training, we went to Xintiandi, a former French Concession place. The area is quite well-preserved and very European. It was a place filled with restaurants and bars, mostly international. We managed to find a nice hotpot place, Good Hot Pot, and it was really yummy, as the name suggests! The pork bone soup was very good, but we found out that this is a HK-style hotpot. 

After that we went to People’s Square to have a look, but could not find the actual square with the museum, plus it was too dark and a little rainy. We just walked around the area with shopping malls and walked back to our hotel.

13 October 2017, Friday:

View from my office’s pantry: Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai World Financial Centre

And they have Pret A Manger here at Shanghai!! Too bad they don’t have the soup option, I miss having it, my usuals at HK office. This is the crayfish avocado salad, with Green Lightness aka apple, celery and orange juice. Ahhh love it~ 

After training, we went to the basement of Shanghai Science and Technology Museum to shop. It is a bit like Platinum with the shops selling the same things. I only managed to get a pink underarmour shirt for a cheap price haha. After that we went to Century Avenue to have Beijing roast duck at Quan Ju De, a famous restaurant. Their other dishes were yummy too!

14 October 2017, Saturday:

15 October 2017, Sunday:

Flight got delayed back to Sg, so we spent time at Innisfree Cafe which comprised of 3 storeys! Loved the green tea desserts and drinks, and there was also a VR station which brings us to Korea with Lee Min Ho.. ;)

[its-sophia-isabella]

Day 34 in London (8/4)!

Today was really fun and I felt very motivated. I got up shortly before 9am and got ready. I went to Zealand and was there until 11:30am working and eating breakfast until I came back to take a short break. Today I tried the farmers breakfast, which had great eggs but the rest was just okay and the toast was over toasted. When I got back, I went into the kitchen and continued working until about 2:15pm. I finished all of my ASU course work for my summer classes which was my goal for the whole weekend!

After that, I decided to get out of Mile End and have some fun for a little break since I decided to dedicate tomorrow to DECA stuff. I decided to go to Epping and had a great time.

In Epping, they don’t have too much besides their high street so I decided to stay around there. I ended up talking to Matthew for a little while, and walked the high street. They have about a mile stretch of shops which were all very local and specialized and were cool to see. I ate a very late lunch at a soup, salad, and sandwich cage called Poppy’s and got a club. It was pretty good and very cheap (cheaper than when I go to Sainburys and get a meal deal and an extra water).

After that, I walked the high street and ended up going into M&S, which has some very yummy food options and I got some British produce to try. Right outside of that store they have a community garden, so I sat there for a little while and wrote a poem before heading back.

When I got back, I ran into Queenie! It is always good to see her. We usually see her around dinner time near the canal. I did a face mask and hair treatment before taking a shower. After the shower, I watched Gilmore Girls and ate dinner. I then worked on DECA stuff for a couple hours, then I got to talk to Yoga and Katherine! It was so good to talk with them.

I went to sleep around 11pm, ready to finish all things DECA in the morning!