#and for making a grilled cheese without taking the wrapper off the cheese once —

[xoheatherkw]

Recipe For Fun

Written for @whisperilllistentohearit for the Riverdale Holiday Exchange 2017. Prompt- bughead cuteness. So I did bughead + baking and snuggling, since I thought that was pretty darn cute, and I hope you enjoy it. So much fluff! 

P.S. Thank you @stillscape for hosting this! 

Read on AO3 / FF 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 Betty was curled up with Jughead on his couch, perfectly content to waste the day away and catch up on some much needed relaxation. It was the start of their winter break and her mother was busy following up on a story, which allowed her the opportunity to actually relax under the guise of working ahead on her school projects. 

 She was settled between his legs on the couch, her back pressed up against his chest. Every now and then, his fingertips would caress the back of her arm and she just snuggled further into his embrace. 

 Then she heard it. 

 A low grumble emanated from behind her, the low vibrations reaching her back. "Jug! How are you still hungry?" she asked. They had just eaten at Pop's about an hour ago, and he ate two cheeseburgers, fries, onion rings, and a large vanilla milkshake. 

 "I can't help it, Betts," he shrugged. 

 She turned in his grasp, before standing abruptly. She extended her hand to him and he laced their fingers together. She tugged him to an upright position and led them to his kitchen. "Come on, let's see what we can make." 

 She let go of their hands and started opening the cupboards. She let out a frustrated sigh when all she found was salt and pepper, an opened bag of brown sugar that had long since hardened to a rock, and a dusting of flour in a container that wasn't useful for any amount of baking. 

 She switched gears and inspected their fridge, but only discovered a handful of condiments and a nearly empty container of orange juice. She quickly closed the fridge with a sigh.  

 "Well this isn't going to work," she exasperated. "How do you two survive on ketchup and mustard?" she muttered. 

 He shrugged. The real answer was he survived on the kindness of Pop and the Andrews family, because if not for them he’d likely starve. "You know me, I manage," he replied, unsure if her question was rhetorical or not. 

 She rummaged through a few more cabinet and drawers, making a mental list of what they would need. Whisk, baking sheets, cooling rack, and all the ingredients to make… well anything.

 She smirked at him and took him by the hand. “What do you say about us making chocolate chip cookies?”

 Jughead immediately thought of the mouthwatering delicacies that were commonly found in the Cooper household. “I think I could be persuaded to bake,” he teased.

 “Come on, we need to go to the grocery store. And maybe Mal-Mart.”

 They bundled up and headed out.

 Jughead placed his hand on her knee after he shifted into drive for the short trip to the grocery store, drawing small circles over her jeans.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 They returned from their shopping venture with enough food to feed an army... Or the Jones men for maybe a week. Betty insisted that she make them a home cooked meal, and prepare several casseroles that they could pop in the oven for dinners during the week. 

 Jughead acquired quite the appetite while they were out shopping, so they picked up a pizza on their way back to his place. 

 Jughead carefully balanced all the bags from the grocery store and left Betty in charge of bringing in the pizza. Their shoes crunched over the light dusting of snow that accumulated since they left (luckily none stuck to the roads) as they rushed back inside to the warmth. 

 Betty set the pizza down on his coffee table and followed him into the kitchen. She selectively set out the ingredients they would need for chocolate chip cookies, while he put away the perishable items. She made sure to open the package of butter and set two sticks on the counter to soften. 

 "Did you mean to leave those out?" He asked. 

 "We need to let the butter soften." 

 "Why can't we just pop it in the microwave when we need it?" 

 "That will ruin the consistency." 

 "Of course," he remarked.

 Semantics, he reasoned. But she was the one taking the lead on baking, so who was he to argue? 

 All the groceries and supplies were put away within a few minutes, and the pair spent a lazy hour curled up on the couch and eating pizza. 

 After the episode, Betty took his hand and stood up, bringing him with her. "Come on, Juggie. Time for cookies."

 Helpless against her pleas, he trailed behind her. 

 She put on an apron (another item they needed in the Jones kitchen) and handed him the second. She got two identical aprons with a simple pattern, lemons and limes on an ivory background with a green border. 

 "I'll get the butter and vanilla going. Can you get me three-quarter cup each of sugar and brown sugar?" 

 She got out the electric mixer and tested the 'give' on the butter before opening the wrapper. It was the perfect consistency. 

 A second later, Jughead brought over a mix of sugar and brown sugar in one of the two cup measuring containers. He was about to pour it in, when she raised a hand to stop him. 

 "What's that?" She asked. 

 "Um, the sugar you asked for?" His tone ended the statement with a question. 

 "That's for liquids," she clarified. 

 His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "But it's the same measurement. Why should it matter if it's in the larger measuring cup or not?" 

 She pressed get fingertips to her forehead. This was going to be more difficult than she realized. She looked back up at him and gently guided the measuring cup onto the counter. "The big measuring cup with the spout," she pointed at the one he used for the sugar. "That's used for liquids. The individual measuring cups are for solids." She pointed at the stacked cups next to the sugar she set out earlier. "You make sure you have an even amount by running a flat edge over it to make it level. Got it?" 

 "I think I can manage... Can we just use what I got out? Even though I used the wrong measuring cup?" 

 "That depends. Did you pack the brown sugar?" 

 The questioning look on his face told her the answer was likely no. So, she tried a different approach. "Have you done any baking before?" 

 He smiled sheepishly. "Not exactly. I can cook. Granted only a handful of things like grilled cheese, and eggs… sometimes. But the Jones family doesn't really bake," he admitted. 

 She smiled warmly at him. "Well then, it's time to change that. Don't you think?" 

 With that bright smile, he couldn't resist anything she asked of him. 

 She helped him get the sugar. Then once he got the hang of that, she showed him how to crack an egg without getting the shell into the batter (something he still hadn't mastered in the few times he made eggs for breakfast). 

 She left him to his own devices to get their flour, and he only spilled a few times while trying to get an even layer before tossing it into the mix. 

 It wasn't long before they had cookie dough ready to go. They just needed to divide it up into baking sheets and put them in the oven. 

 Their playful touches throughout his baking lesson left them wearing a bit of the flour and sugar as well. He brushed up next to her, secretly swiping his index finger into the cookie dough. "I think you have a little something, right here." He swiped the cookie dough on her cheek, delighted with himself that he got away with it before she noticed. 

 She swatted his hand away and glared at him. "I don't think you know who has the upper hand here," she challenged. "We only bought enough chocolate chips for one batch, and I haven't given you the recipe yet." She didn't volunteer that the recipe she used, but memorized probably ten years earlier, was the one on the back of the chocolate chip cookie bag. 

 His eyes widened, and he tried to tell if she was joking or not. After a split second of internal deliberations, he figured he would rather not risk it. "I concede." He threw his hands up in surrender. "Can we go back to making the cookies? Please?" He added for good measure. 

 She narrowed her eyes at him. "Alright." 

 The tiniest dab of cookie dough was still on her cheek, so he swiped it off and popped it in his mouth, savoring the sweetness. 

 "Jug! You can't eat raw cookie dough." 

 "Says who?" 

 "The board of health for one." She playfully shoved his shoulder. "And because I say so. Just help me with the cookies." 

 She got out two spoons and handed him one. "Just get small rounded teaspoon full and drop them on the baking sheet." 

 She got a few on the sheet and looked over to see Jughead's were about three sizes too big. She laughed and corrected him. 

 "Why can't I have large cookies, Betts?" He protested. 

 "They won't cook evenly, that's why," she teased back. 

 They put the first two baking sheets in the oven, having to wait until the baking sheets were free again to bake the remainder. 

 Jughead nibbled on a few within a minute of taking them out of the oven, which just got a shake of her head at his impatience. 

 They got the second half in the oven, and as Jughead stood upright, she placed the (now nearly empty) mixing bowl over his head. His beanie was long discarded, as to not get flour all over it. 

 She stifled a laugh as she caught the sight of his black curls underneath the bowl. "You started it Jug," she reminded him. 

 He had a wicked grin as he removed said bowl and chased her back into the living room and tickled her in retaliation. 

 They spent the rest of their afternoon laughing and just enjoying each other's company, snuggled up on the couch for the remainder of the evening. Betty occasionally found a small remnant of cookie dough when she ran her fingers through his hair.

 He didn't mind though. He was happier to spend his time stealing kisses in between their TV watching marathon, and only bothered to shower and wash his hair after she left late in the evening. 

 ~ ~ The next day ~ ~

 Betty was coming over later that day. Her mother was out following up on another story, so she didn’t even have to make up an excuse. But knowing Betty she would probably actually make them study, or work ahead on their assignments, which they neglected to do the day before. Not that he minded.

 After her little baking lesson, Jughead was determined to show off his newly found culinary skills by making a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Betty was kind enough to start a recipe collection on a few index cards, in one of their kitchen drawers; although she was insistent on getting them a recipe box, so they wouldn’t get misplaced.

 Jughead even made a late-night trip to the grocery store the night prior and stocked up on more chocolate chips, sugar, and flour. Especially after he spilled a good portion of the dry ingredients on the counter. 

 He prepared a batch of cookies, with a few mishaps- getting egg shells in the batter, spilling flour, accidentally melting and nearly burning the butter because he was too impatient for it to soften, and wearing a handful of the ingredients on his flannel shirt.

 He successfully shaped the cookies in teaspoon sized (because Betty insisted that they wouldn’t cook evenly if he made them the size that he wanted to), and placed them in the oven. He started cleaning up and eventually went to change clothes.

 Apparently, he forgot to set the timer, and only realized it a few minutes too late when he removed the baking sheets to discover the cookies were burnt to a crisp. They went into the trash, and he started another batch of cookies.

 He promptly took them out when the timer went off, and was about to taste test the cookies when he heard a few knocks at the door.

 He rushed over and opened the door for Betty.

 “Hi Juggie,” she said, throwing her arms around his neck in a tight embrace.

 “Hey Betts,” he whispered into her hair.

 “Mmm, are you making cookies?” She pulled back a little and looked over his shoulder, seeing the edge of baking sheets cooling on the stovetop.

 “Yeah, I just took them out,” he said proudly. “Come on, you have to try one.”

 “Don’t tell me you ate all the cookies we made yesterday?” The batch made five dozen, and they ate about a dozen between the two of them.

 “Maybe,” he answered with a sly smile. Between late night snacks and breakfast, the Jones men polished off the remaining cookies earlier that day.

 He pulled her by the hand into the kitchen. He carefully lifted one of the cookies with a spatula, and placed it in his hand to test how hot it was. Finding it acceptable to the touch, yet still hot, he handed it over to her.

 “You’re cute, you know that?” She smirked and accepted it from him. She took a small bite, mindful of the temperature.

 Her cheerful expression fell to one of confusion. She promptly spit out the cookie into his trashcan, and the remaining cookie along with it. “I think you forgot something Jug.”

 He looked around the counter, moving the mixing bowl and discovering the untouched container of white sugar. “Oh,” he muttered under his breath. He was wondering why this batch was slightly smaller than his previously attempted batch of about five dozen, and why the cookies were a little darker than normal. At least he remembered the brown sugar.

 “Yeah, oh. You forgot to add the sugar, Jug.” She chuckled a little and helped him dispose of the cookies. “Maybe I shouldn’t leave you to your own devices in the kitchen after all,” she concluded.

 “Ha ha,” he said dryly.

 She placed a gentle hand on his arm. “Come on, let’s make a batch together,” she offered.

 He wrapped her up in a hug circled his arms around her waist, running his fingertips on the small of her back, where her shirt had lifted and exposed her skin. “Have I ever told you what a great girlfriend you are,” he muttered. He placed a gentle kiss to the crook of her neck, pleased when she shivered slightly.

 She sighed happily and tilted her head up. She kissed his lips, smiling into the kiss. “You may have mentioned it once or twice.”

#riverdaleholiday2017 #bughead fanfiction #bughead fic #betty x jughead #bughead #xoheatherkwfics #so much fluff

[jedifighterpilot2727]

Study Dates - The Lexington Chronicles

The Taylington chapter that nobody asked for, but I felt like I had to write before their first official date!

“Okay, you’re not focusing at all.”

Taylor blinks as Lexi’s hand reaches over to close her book. For a moment, she’s afraid that she’s been discovered- that her secret swooning has become not-so-secret.

It’s not her fault, really.

Her tutor looks ridiculously attractive, with her brown hair pulled back in a low ponytail and a loose black t-shirt over jeans that look impossibly soft. It isn’t fair, really, that she’s expected to focus on physics when a literal goddess is sitting in front of her.

“If you stare at a textbook long enough, it starts to look like a foreign language.” Lexi continues, and Taylor feels herself start to relax.

“It was close enough to a foreign language when we started.” She quips and Lexi grins.

“Well, I think we’ve went over enough for today, it’s only our fourth session and we’ve covered most of the material for the next test.”

Taylor is tired of studying, and the clock on the library wall says 10:30PM; but she isn’t ready for the night to be over. Study dates with Lexington (the other girl’s full name, she had learned), are one of her favorite parts of the week; and she doesn’t want to say goodnight.

Luckily, Lexi must feel the same way.

“Come on, there’s a twenty-four hour diner just down the street.”

Taylor can’t hold back her grin at that, and she packs up her books before taking Lexi’s offered hand.

“Unless you’re ready to get some sleep?”

Lexi sounds a little unsure of herself, but Taylor shakes her head.

“Ready to get out of this library!”

Lexi smiles, and tugs her towards the stairs.

“I have just the thing.”

She tries to ignore the feeling of Lexi’s hand in hers, tries to avoid reading into the gesture. Friends hold hands all the time. The voice inside her head reasons, but her heart doesn’t listen, pounding erratically in her chest. The desk librarian waves at them as they leave, and then the cold of the night air is biting at her cheeks.

“Do you wanna walk or ride?” Lexi asks, and Taylor’s gaze falls on a street bike parked on the cross street.

“Is that yours?”

“No, I stole it from a guy on fifth street.” Lexi deadpans, and Taylor almost believes her, but for the smirk quickly spreading across her face.

“You ride a motorcycle?”  She expects Lexi to blush, or at least fluster, but instead her smirk only grows wider as she passes Taylor a helmet.  

“My Aunt Alex taught me.”

“She sounds pretty cool.”

“She’s an FBI agent, and she’s pretty much the coolest aunt ever.” Lexi’s hands come up to check her chin strap, and she fights back a shiver. “All good?”

Lexi’s aunt is an FBI agent?! On top of her parents being famous? Geez.

“I think so, I’ve never been on a motorcycle before.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll do all the hard work, you just have to hold on.” Lexi promises, and Taylor’s heart flutters at the thought of what ‘holding on’ entails.

Once Lexi is settled on the bike, Taylor steps on behind her, hesitantly gripping the waist in front of her. If she thought she was going to get away with that, it was wishful thinking; because Lexi’s hands hands reach for hers and tug them tighter before settling back on the handlebars and starting the engine.

The rumble of the motorcycle drowns out the staccato beat of her heart, and they ease out onto the road. She tries to pay attention to where they’re going, but she quickly loses track - distracted by the streetlights flashing by. It’s a peaceful feeling, with a tinge of excitement for the unknown.

When they roll to a stop a few minutes later, Taylor pulls off her helmet and looks around, confused.

“This diner is like two blocks away from the library! We drove for like ten minutes!”

“I thought you might enjoy the scenic route?” The grin on Lexington’s face makes her wonder if the other girl is trying to impress her.

Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking.

The diner is one that Taylor has walked past on numerous occasions but never stopped at, and she’s a little surprised that Lexi knows it. It doesn’t exactly scream three star Michelin restaurant.

Of course, she’s been consistently surprised by Lexi since they started studying together a few weeks before.

Taylor’s learned a lot about her physics tutor. Like that Lexi loves flowers, and drinks copious amounts of coffee. That she prefers texting over talking on the phone, that she has a ridiculous number of patents for someone so young. And apparently that she loves hole-in-the wall diners.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t one of my favorite customers!” And older, gray haired woman exclaims from behind the counter when they walk in.

“Hi, Ms. Betty!” Lexi grins and takes a seat at the bar after pulling one of the of the stools out for Taylor.

It’s just good manners. She reminds herself, trying to ignore the way her pulse quickens at the chivalrous gesture.

“How’s your mother?”

“She’s good, she still talks about your cakes all the time.”

“And your other mother?”

“Wants to you to start internet delivery of your cakes so that mom will stop talking about your cakes!”

Ms. Betty laughs.

“Well, I think we both know that she can stop by and grab a cake whenever she wants - no internet needed.”

There’s something being hinted at there, but it slides just over Taylor’s head, and she’s being subjected to questioning before she can put too much thought into it.

“And who’s your friend here?”

Taylor would swear that Lexi’s cheeks color slightly.

“This is Taylor, she’s my uh, study partner.”

Ms. Betty’s eyebrows raise, but she doesn’t comment.

“Are you two ready to order?”

Lexi looks to her questioningly.

“Do you like cheese fries?”

Taylor nods.

“And miklshakes?”

Another nod.

“Great! We’ll have two orders of cheese fries and two vanilla milkshakes please.”

“Coming right up!” Ms Betty nods before disappearing into the back of the restaurant.

“Milkshakes and cheese fries?” Taylor questions with a smile and Lexi blushes.

“Is that okay?”

“Oh, definitely! I just never expected you to be a twenty-four hour diner person.”

Lexi grins.

“I think you’ll find I’m full of surprises."

“Oh really?” Taylor can’t help but smirk. “I’ll figure you out yet. Twenty questions?”

“Twenty questions?” Lexi’s brow is furrowed in confusion.

“I ask you a question about yourself and then you ask me a question about myself. We each get twenty question. You’ve never played?”

“Oh, uhh, I never really had a lot of friends growing up? I was always kind of the weird kid. Just me and my books and my computers.”

It’s stated without embarrassment, and Taylor feels her heart break just a little. That having no friends is just a fact.

“Really? I mean, you’re so nice, who wouldn’t want to be friends with you?”

“Well, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m a little socially awkward.” Lexi offers a small grin as she fiddles with her glasses. “And sometimes, if I’m around too many people then it can be overwhelming. Too much stimulation and I kind of . . . shut down,” She taps her head. “Up here. Kind of hard to make friends when you hardly ever want to go out with them and the only conversation starters you have involve the equations for intergalactic space travel.”

“It sounds fascinating to me!”

“Once you’ve been to space . . . “

“You’ve been to space?! I have to hear about this!”

“It’s kind of . . . classified?”

“There’s a classified reason you went to space?”

“I mean it’s not as cool as it sounds.”

Taylor stares at her in complete disbelief, breaking her gaze only to thank Ms. Betty when she drops off their food.

Lexi finally cracks, a grin spreading across her cheeks as she twirls her straw in her milkshake.

“I’m lying, it was awesome!”

“Ugh!” She blows her straw wrapper in Lexi’s direction, laughing when it hits the other girl in the cheek. “If I can’t hear about your awesome trip to space, can I at least ask what your favorite color is?”

“Blue.” Lexi offers without hesitation. “Yours?”

“Yellow!” She lifts a fry, dripping with cheese, and oh my god; if they aren’t the best cheese fries she’s ever eaten. “Holy cow!”

“I told you.” Lexi smirks. “I know my food.”

“Obviously!” She mutters around another fry.

“Speaking of food, what’s your favorite?”

“Hey, it’s my turn!” She protests, but Lexi just raises an eyebrow. “Fine, is it a cop out if I say pizza? Although I do love sushi, it’s kind of a tie. What’s yours?”

“Hmm. . . “ Lexi taps her chin thoughtfully. “I’m going to have to go with mom’s pancakes.”

“Which mom?”

“Oh, Mama - Lena; Mom doesn’t really cook. Well, she doesn’t really cook things that are edible.”

“You’re telling me that Lena Luthor-Danvers, CEO of one of the top tech companies in the world, cooks pancakes?”

“She makes a really good grilled cheese sandwich, too.”

The look on Taylor’s face must communicate her disbelief, because Lexi laughs.

“She’s really not as much of a hardass as people think. I mean, at work she is, but at home she’s just . . . Mama. Who makes pancakes and lets me blow up science experiments in her kitchen.”

“That’s kinda cool, I guess it’s just hard to think about public figures like that as normal people.”

“Well, I don’t know about ‘normal’, but we do eat pancakes.” Lexi teases. "What about your family? What are they like?”

“It’s just me and my dad! My mom died when I was a baby, so it’s just us.”

“I’m sorry.” Lexi apologizes, but Taylor waves her off.

“It was a long time ago, I don’t even remember her.”

“Still, I know how hard it is to lose people. Even people you don’t remember.” A look passes over her face, but it’s quickly gone. “What does your dad do?"

"He’s a real estate agent, and sometimes he flips houses in his spare time. He lets me do all the painting, I spent so many hours growing up painting his project houses - it’s very relaxing. I mean I love painting scenery, but there’s something to be said for just covering a room in a solid coat of paint.”

She looks over to see Lexi watching her, a small smile on her face - one that Taylor can’t quite translate.

“What’s your favorite type of art then? Painting?”

“Hmm, I have to say pottery. I love the feeling of making something, feeling it take shape under your hands. What about you? Any art hobbies?”

“Do coloring books count?”

They both laugh at that, and before they know it, another hour passes in easy conversation until Taylor catches sight of the clock and groans.

“What?”

“It’s past midnight and I have the early shift at the coffee shop tomorrow.” She wishes she could stay here all night, talking and laughing with Lexi; but she knows if she doesn’t get at least some sleep then she’ll regret it.

“Come on, I’ll drive you home.” Lexi tosses what looks to be a hundred dollar bill on the counter amongst their empty plates before standing up.

It feels so much like a date that she almost questions it, but it’s late and she’s tired, and maybe she’s overthinking things. So instead, she lets Lexi open the door for her and tries not to swoon when Lexi pulls her arms tight around her again once they're on the bike. It seems like just a few seconds before their pulling up in front of her dormitory, Lexi ignoring the rules at the late hour and pulling right up on the sidewalk before turning off the engine.

If Taylor’s legs are wobbly when she steps to the ground, she tells herself it’s because of the ride, and definitely not because she’s spent the past few minutes pressed up against her crush.

“Thanks for the study session.” She passes her helmet back to Lexi. “And the late night snack.”

“Anytime.” Lexi promises with a grin.

She isn’t sure why the other girl has taken her helmet off too, but she doesn’t dwell on it, because Lexi’s eyes are so startlingly blue in moonlight that she can’t really think too hard about anything.

“You should come by for coffee before class if you get the chance.” It sounds almost desperate the her ears, but Lexi doesn’t seem to notice, her grin only widening.

“I will definitely do that.”

“Good! I’ll see you tomorrow then!” Before she can second guess herself, she leans forward, brushing her lips against Lexi’s cheek. “Goodnight.”

She doesn’t wait for a reaction, just takes off towards the dorm, but she doesn’t miss the way Lexi calls after softly.

“Goodnight, Taylor.”

She shivers, and it isn’t from the cold.

She doesn’t turn back until she swipes her student ID and the door opens, but Lexi is still there, watching to make sure she gets inside. She offers a small wave before heading in, and she sprints up the stairs, too impatient for the elevator.

Ignoring her roommates slumber, she rushes inside, throwing open the curtains so she can look out over the quad.

Lexi is still there, securing her spare helmet, but soon Taylor can hear the engine rev up and Lexi guides it back onto the street. It’s only after the taillights disappear that she closes the curtains and flops down on her bed, cheeks aching with a giant smile.

“I know you’re like, head-over-heels and all, but could you please wait until tomorrow to gush about your study session with Ms. Perfect? Some of us need our beauty sleep.” Amanda’s voice is muffled by her pillow, and Taylor laughs softly.

“Okay, okay, I’ll save it all for tomorrow. Sorry for waking you up.”

Amanda mumbles something in response but Taylor doesn’t hear it, because she’s already focused on tomorrow.

Tomorrow is going to be a great day.

                Not exactly sure how I feel about it, but here it is! Hope you guys liked it! Let me know!!

#Lexington Luthor-Danvers #the lexington chronicles #Taylor the Girlfriend #taylington #supercorp kid #fanfiction

[choisgirls]

What do the RFA + minor trio think about pineapple on pizza? What kind of food do they like and dislike apart from what's stated in the game? I hope you guys are doing well!

A/N: I AM A FULLADVOCATE FOR PINEAPPLES ON PIZZA AND Y'ALL CAN FIGHT ME (don’t actually fightme i respect your opinions I promise, you do you) (And I’m doing well, thank you! I hope you are as well ^^) ~Admin 404

Okay y’all I hope I did my research alright?? I hope I got the right names to the right food?? *small screaming*

*YOOSUNG:

               -Honestly I can see him enjoyingthe fruity flavour with his pizza

               -He’s just that kind of dude youknow? Like he tries to be mellow and fails

               -And what better way to prove you’remellow and cool than put some god damn fruit on your pizza??

                               American food

               -If we’re going American food, Ithink he’d really like hot pockets

               -I mean come on?? They’re fast??And hot?? And come in so many different ways? Not to mention they can be chEAP

               -His favourites are the ham andcheese ones

               -12/10 burns himself EVERYSINGLE TIME. BUT THEY’RE STILL COLD IN THE MIDDLE. He hates them but stillloves them so much

               -But he hates most otherflavours though? He can handle the pizza one but everything else is just abunch of blasphemy

                               Korean Food

               -Out of Korean foods I thinkhe’d like some Bindaetteok, or Mung Bean Pancake

               -Sometimes he eats them withoutthe vinaigrette dipping sauce

               -Just piles them into his mouth

               -Hates any sort of sour candy

               -His precious taste buds can’thandle sour

               -Actually cries?? When there’ssour??

               -His face scrunches up and helooks so childish but still sO CUTE

*ZEN:

               -Fruit should be fruit and pizzashould be pizza

               -Does not like the twointermingling together

               -Actually appalled when someoneputs pineapple on their pizza

               -O V E R D R A M A T I C

               -Throws himself to the floor,curses the world, sheds a few tears

                               American Food

               -Seriously. Anything fromChipotle

               -His favourite thing to getwould be a burrito bowl, so it’s got rice, chicken, beans, cheese, and sourcream

               -Which he’s like HELL YEAH IT’SHEALTHY I’M NOT CHEATING ON MY DIET

               -But, SURPRISE, BITCH. THEPORTION SIZES ARE NOT HEALTHY. Try again later

               -Does not like any form ofcheeseburger though from any place

               -Always too greasy. He canliterally feel his stomach churn just looking at one

               -God forbid any of that greaseruns down his arm. His pERFECT SKIN. NO!

                               Korean Food

               -Dakkochi!

               -They’re grilled chicken skewerscovered in red chili sauce

               -“It’s chicken MC, it’salways healthy” not the amount you’re inhaling them they aren’t

               -As body conscious as he is, hehates veggie crackers

               -They’re just so artificial andreally salty

               -Prefers the real vegetableinstead

*JAEHEE

               -Logically fruit has no reasonto be on a pizza

               -It’s a conflicting taste forher mouth and she doesn’t quite know where to place it

               -All she knows is wow she doesnot like it

               -Maybe it’s the crunch thatshouldn’t be there??

                               American Food

               -TIRAMISU

               -It’s freaking made up ofladyfingers, rum, and coffee. All in one custard dessert.

               -Why in the hell would she notenjoy that???

               -She hates nachos

               -Hear me out, she’s tried themonce at your request and immediately despised them

               -They’re so messy and the chipsget soggy

               -And the cheese just tastes soartificial, it’s gross to her

                               Korean Food

               -Her guilty pleasures are chapsalyakgwa (Korean sweet cakes)

               -They’re cakes made from honey,sesame oil, and wheat flour and they taste like glAZED DONUTS

               -AND WHAT DO DONUTS GO WELLWITH? COFFEE.

               -She doesn’t really like MulNaengmyeon, which is noodles in ice soup

               -It’s not that the flavour isn’tnice or anything, it’s that it’s so cold

               -Dear god if she’s already alittle cold, after eating this it’s like she’s in Antarctica

*JUMIN:

               -He’s had some expensive, topnotch pizza before

               -So it has a different flavourto it, right?

               -10/10 believe Jumin Han likespineapple on his pizza solely for the reason that he’s high class

               -I bet he’s had fresh pineapplecut up in front of him and placed on his pizza

                               American Food

               -RoOt BeEr FlOaTs

               -Some of the best french vanillabean ice cream

               -And some of the best root beersoda

               -Fancy Ass Root Beer Floats™(Not to mention literally anything you can make into a float. Pineapple juiceand dole whip, amAZING)

               -HATES HOT DOGS

               -               626: It’sprobably because they make him feel submissive, isn’t it?

                               404:you fucking asSHOLE THAT’S NOT IT

               -Hates the fact that it’s abunch of things just…. mashed together

               -And the textURE IS WEIRD.Uncooked they’re just slimy and floppy and just e w

                               Korean Food

               -He likes Dolsot Bibimbap!

               -It’s a hotpot mixed rice, with sautéedvegetables and toasted seaweed flakes, and sesame seeds!

               -Sometimes his saltiness isn’tenough to cover for his food, so he adds chili paste

               -But he doesn’t like ColdBibimbap

               -Something about it being colddidn’t make him happy

               -Possibly because it didn’t feellike a warm loving meal which he subconsciously just wANTS

               - why did i do that to myself

*SAEYOUNG:

               -Isn’t it like lowkey meme-y tohave pineapple on your pizza nowadays??

               -He’d definitely have it onthere

               -Does he like it? Yeah itdoesn’t bother him, the crunch is nice

               -Definitely not the same asputting Honey Buddah chips on there but hey it works

                               American Food

               -LITERALLY ANY KIND OF MEXICANFOOD

               -I can see him just coming homewith a large cardboard box completely stuffed with homemade tacos

               -Always trying to make some forhimself at home and setting the damn tortillas on fire

               -HATES SALTWATER TAFFY

               -As good as the flavours are,all he can think about is how hARD THEY ARE TO CHEW

               -Has flashbacks about the timehe got his teeth practically glued shut because he put too many in his mouth atonce

                               Korean Food

               -When he actually eats“real food”, he likes to snack on Hotteok!

               -They’re deep fried treats, onesavory and one sweet!

               -He prefers the savory onebecause it’s salty, it’s filled with glass noodles and garlic pork

               -The saltiness stays in tunewith his HBC so his “tongue wouldn’t get confused”

               -HE HATES HONEY BUTTER CRUNCHYRICE BAR SNACKS

               -“Saeyoung, they could bebetter for you than-” “MC DON’T YOU DARE EVEN SAY IT”

               -Doesn’t care what flavour thepackage says, they are NOT. THE. SAME. And he HATES THEM

*V:

               -I think the random crunch onhis pizza would throw him off

               -If you like it he’ll completelyrespect you and probably force himself to eat it for your sake

               -Otherwise I think he’drespectfully decline it

               -If they’re separate, he canhandle it, just not together

                               American Food

               -Oh my god he loves literallyany kind of pie

               -Searches the world during histravels to find the best little bakery shops for pies

               -His favourite is probably applepie because he loves the cinnamon flavour as well!

               -WARM APPLE PIE CAN WARM UP THE HEARTMC

               -I take it back, there is onepie he doesn’t like

               -SWEET POTATO

               -HATES IT SO MUCH. It’s just thethought that this…vegetable is now in a pie… that should be fruity…andit’s not….

               -It’s just the THOUGHT OF IT MC.He refuses to even try it, that’s how much he hates the thought

                               Korean Food

               -Yaki Mandu! Which is deep friend mandu

               -It’s filled with pork, glassnoodles, and a variety of salty seasonings

               -A nice change against his sweettooth for pies, definitely

               -But dislikes Jjinmadu, which issteamed mandu dumplings

               -They’re filled with things suchas pork, onions, and mung bean noodles

               -But something about the textureof the noodle-like wrappers feels weird in his mouth

               -Cut it open and take the thingsout then hell yeah he’s good to go

*SAERAN:

               -Probably one of those jERKS WHOFIGHT YOU OVER LIKING PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA

               -“FRUIT. DOESN’T. BELONG.THERE. MC.”

               -LIKE STOP BEING LOGICAL AND EATTHE GOD DAMN PINEAPPLE CHUNK

               - IT’S AMAZING OKAY

               -Has literally walked out of thehouse when you told him you’ve ordered pineapple on the pizza

                               American Food

               -Honestly, he really likes s'mores

               -Something about the melting marshmallowmakes him and his taste buds happy

               - that and being so close tothe fire, damn pyro

               -He mixes it up and triesdifferent chocolate flavours, like caramel or cookies and cream

               -But dear god, keep him awayfrom those “weirdos” on Thanksgiving with the Turducken

               -“WHY CAN’T THEY JUST PICKONE. JUST ONE BIRD. WHY DO YOU NEED TO SHOVE TWO OTHER BIRDS INTO ONE?WHY?”

               -It’s just so nasty to him. Andit’s waaaaay too much food

               -He can be mean but thinks thepeople shoving two more birds into one is just w r o n g

                               Korean Food

               -He really likes to snack onKancho Choco Biscuits

               -Which are these small littlebiscuits(cookies) with milk chocolate inside

               -Pours the whole box into hismouth some days because he cAN’T GET THEM IN THERE FAST ENOUGH

               -Dislikes Tornado Potatoes

               -Mainly because he thinks it’s awaste of time? People tend to like it because it “looks cool”according to him

               -It’s a fried and seasoned potatocut into a spiral and spread on a stick

               -“MC if I wanted friedpotatoes I’d go get some french fries, they’re easier to eat god dammit”

                                                     Masterlist

#im so hungry now #look what you did to me #im crying #admin 404 #request #mystic messenger #mysme #mm #mysmes #mystic messenger headcanons #mystic messenger hcs #mystic messenger reactions #mystic messenger scenarios #mystic messenger imagines #mysme headcanons #mysme hcs #mysme reactions #mysme scenarios #mystic messenger v #mysme v #v #mystic messenger jihyun #mysme jihyun #jihyun #mystic messenger jihyun kim #mysme jihyun kim #jihyun kim #mystic messenger zen #mysme zen #zen

[lifeinahole27]

Midnight

A/N: This kept wanting to go angsty and depressing, so I’m pretty happy that it didn’t do that. Because fuck hormones.

Summary: Killian and Emma work at a luxury theater and he sets up a little surprise to cheer her up.

It’s no great secret that Emma’s favorite drink in the whole world ishot chocolate with cinnamon on top. She has had this drink somewhere in thethousands of times over the course of her life, and she never thought she wouldbe chased away from it, but night after night of cleaning up the trash from themovie theater’s large bins has stopped her love in its tracks. The smell of hotchocolate mixed with beer and wine has soured her stomach so bad that she’s notsure if she can ever drink her favorite concoction ever again. Her face mustgive away her thoughts, because Killian is across from her in an instant,helping to lift the over-filled plastic liner from the can.

 “I’ve got this, Swan. You’re free to tend to the sweeping if you’dprefer.”

 She doesn’t really prefer, but it’s the lesser of two evils, so shegrabs the broom and dustpan and gets to work sweeping up discarded wrappers,dropped popcorn, and forgotten candy from between and around each section ofseating.

 It’s been two years, eight months, and five days since she startedworking at the Storybrooke Luxury Theater. It’s the only one in the area thatsells booze and dinner, that offers plush armchairs in the middle of themoderately-sized theater, beds in the front, and couches in the back. It’s beentwo years, eight months, and four days since she met Killian Jones, a fellowusher and waiter. His brother owns and manages the theater, but Killian choosesto work the screenings instead of behind a desk, claiming something about it offeringhim a better quality of life.

 Like clockwork, Emma can hear him start humming some tune or another,marking his progress through the trash bins at the entrance of the theater, andshe gets lost in the quiet song and the steady work. She knows it’s almostmidnight, but time is almost irrelevant to her when she has nothing she’sreturning home to. The only one she really cares to see when she’s not workingis the person she gets to work with most often, so it’s a win-win situationthat Killian is by her side through all of this.

She realizes that she can’t hear him humming anymore, which is onlyslightly worrisome. He wouldn’t leave her here, so that’s reassuring. But sheis mildly curious to know where he’s gone. She carries her trusty broom out ofthe theater and almost walks directly into Killian. He’s changed out of thedress shirt he wears to serve, instead filling out a heather gray t-shirtentirely too well.

 “Easy, love. You in a rush to get out of here tonight?”

 “Hell no,” Emma answers almost immediately. “You act like I have a lifeoutside this place.”

 “Sometimes you do. You have Snow and David to hang out with. You do have friends, Swan, I know this for afact.”

 She cocks her head to the side to consider his words, not entirelysurprised that he so quickly moved to placate her. He’s always been rather goodat that. In response, she only shrugs, and opens her mouth to ask what elsethey still have to do but he beats her to it.

 “Leave the garbage for the moment. I have a surprise for you.”

 When Killian takes her by the hand, Emma does her best to keep herheart rate even, as if he’ll hear it from where he leads her back into thetheater and towards one of the sprawling beds up front. After he spreads asheet over the upholstery, he instructs her to sit as he pulls extra pillowsfrom behind another chair.

 “I’ll be right back. Make yourself comfortable.”

 He did say comfortable, soshe toes off her shoes to drop to the floor below. She keeps a change ofclothes out in her car at all times, but Emma decides that’s too far to go,instead content to settle back still wearing her tights and shorts. She doestake a moment to strip off the vest she normally wears, sliding her phone fromone of the pockets before draping it over the back of the bed. She decided tocatch up on her notifications while she waits, sitting cross-legged at the headof the bed.

 The door at the back opens up and she tracks Killian’s progress forwarduntil he appears in front of her. He’s balancing a tray on his shoulder,possessing a great deal of grace as he lifts it and places it on the bed infront of her. Emma tilts back and laughs, before looking at the spread in frontof her.

 There’s her hot chocolate, but unlike what she emptied from the trash,this is hot and steaming, smelling fresh and cinnamon-y to boot. He’s alsobrought in grilled cheese points, pointing out the various types of cheese heused on them. There are two bowls of tomato soup, dollops of sour cream in thecenter with cheddar cheese shredded over top.

 “I know you’ve been feeling down lately, Swan, so I decided to make youall your favorite comfort foods. I could not, however, convince Granny to handover her onion ring recipe, so I made sure to bring in extra Milk Duds andBuncha Crunch for you to dump into the popcorn.”

 “This looks amazing,” Emma says, eyeing all the options. Her stomachgives an appreciative grumble, and she realizes that she hasn’t eaten sincesometime before her shift. “How did you know?”

 “C’mon, love. You know nothing can happen in this town without everyoneelse finding out about it. You don’t need to talk about it, unless you want to,in which case I am always here to listen. But settle back and choose yourpleasures here. I’m going to start the movie.”

 She opens her mouth to ask, but Killian just does that adorablealmost-wink-that’s-more-a-stuttered-blink, so she shuts it again and sits back.The lights dim a little and then the projector starts up, and soon the screenis filled with The Princess Bride.She grins, wide and happy, as she starts picking at the food in front of her.Killian jogs back to their spot, gently settling next to her to and grabbing agrilled cheese bite as he leans back.

 He left the lights up just enough that they can easily maneuver aroundthe food he’s brought, carrying quiet conversation as they graze since they’veboth seen the movie in question countless times. Emma delays, but sheeventually opens up about the rejection letter she received the other day.

 “It’s split, you know? I’m sad because I didn’t get in, but I’m not tooupset because…” she trails off, afraid to really look over at the man sittingnext to her because he’s the reason she’s not that heartbroken. Instead, shepicks at a thread in the sheet beneath her hands, a quiet gasp escaping whenKillian’s hand suddenly settles over hers.

 “I think I understand a bit, Swan.”

 “Really?”

 “Aye. You’re understandably down about not getting to carry out thenext part of your dreams. But you have a life here, and friends,” he says,trailing off after that as she links their fingers together and enjoying theway his palm so easily lines up with hers.

 “And you,” she informs him, proud that her voice doesn’t waver. Shedoes look at him, then, finding quiet wonder on his face.

 “And I you,” he adds softly.

 They finish their food in silence, and Killian moves the tray to one ofthe empty beds to be cleaned up later. When he comes back to the bed, he laysdown, and Emma waits until he’s settled to rest against him. Killian hums, ahappy sound as he turns his head to place an absentminded kiss to her hair.

 She’s not sure when she falls asleep, but she knows she wakes up tofind Killian asleep next to her. She’s curled into his side, her hand gripping thesoft fabric of his t-shirt in her fist. The screen is dark above them, butwithout looking at her phone, she would have no idea what time it is just bylooking around. He stirs when she moves, mumbling something about five moreminutes, and she gives a quiet chuckle at the childlike whine to his voice.

 “We should go home. Sleep in our own beds. But I never realized howcomfortable these ones were before,” she says, her voice rough with thedisjointed sleep.

 Killian hums, raising his arms above his head in a languid stretch.Emma absently wets her lips, watching as his t-shirt rides up. She makes sureto avert her eyes before he opens his.

 “Suppose you’re right,” he comments, but doesn’t do more than shift sohis legs are crossed at the ankles and his arms are propped behind his head.He’s alert, looking at her with an unreadable look, but the rest of him iscompletely relaxed.

 Maybe that’s what makes it so easy for Emma to lean over, proppingherself up on one elbow as she turns her body back to him. One stocking-coveredfoot presses against his ankle as she inches closer, brushing her lips againsthis once to see how he’ll react. He hums again, this one content and lazy as hebrings one hand back up to hold her in place. That easy, slow kiss transformsafter a few passes until she’s throwing one leg over his, settling back in ashis tongue traces along the seam of her lips.

 It tastes like first kisses, like new beginnings, like fresh starts. Ittastes like hope and sparks and finallyand home. And maybe, Emma decidessomewhere around the time she pulls back to open her eyes and focus on hisface, it feels like she’s right where she’s supposed to be. Killian opens hiseyes, his smile radiant and reflecting everything she’s feeling right back ather.

 His fingers play along her jawline before ending up in her hair, andEmma takes a moment to close her eyes and enjoy the feeling. “There’s alwaysnext year for that program, Swan.”

 “I know,” she says. “But that’s something to worry about after wedecide whether or not to go to Tony’s for our first date.”

 “Shouldn’t I be the one asking you out?”

 She wants to make a comment about how he acts like he’s three-hundredsometimes, but instead she presses forward again to kiss him.

 “Tony’s it is,” he says when she pulls away again.

 The next year when she applies to the program, she makes it in, andKillian comes with her to Portland to open up a new theater of his very own.

#cs ff au #captain swan ff #the slowest prompt fills ever #sarah writes ff #this prompt didn't know whether to be smutty or angsty #so that it turned out neither is a total surprise to me #nowforruin

[clarey64-blog]

Star Struck (Working Title) Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Miku had a hard time concentrating in her class “The Origin of Western Ideas” English 564, in small part because of the content of the class itself. It was a thin veil for a philosophy lecture, Miku thought. Those westerners always found direct solutions and simple logic respectively too simple and completely elusive. Ugh, if Plato liked playing in caves why didn’t he just do it? He didn’t need to drag everyone else into his game of pretend reality. The idea of a tree. What? A tree was a tree. The Earth is here and we are here. So is McDonald’s. Miku pressed her pencil until it skidded across her papter. Don’t think about that! Let’s just move on.

The larger reason for Miku’s lack in interest was that she was nervous for her first day at McDonald’s. She had only eaten at McDonald’s a handful of times because her parents didn’t want her to develop unhealthy habits. This time she agreed with her parent’s rationale. There it is! The simple logic that westerners seemed to lack. Don’t eat the hamburger, Americans, if you don’t want to be unhealthy. Although, her first day of work might be easier, she thought, if she were American. She would at least know the menu items by heart if they weren’t pumping through her arteries already.

The next two classes, 19th century English Literature 305 and Chinese history 204 passed just about the same for Miku. She found faults in everything that she learned and made up excuses to worry about serving up French fries and shakes. Why hadn’t she picked up a menu when she was there last night? Her only consolation was the time that was left before she had to report again to the restaurant…and Yuko.  

But time can be kind it is never magnanimous. So 5pm came exactly on time and Miku found herself standing in front of McDonald’s glass doors again. The help sign was gone though. Miku noticed this while she swung open the door and braced herself for the perfect being that was no doubt waiting for her to be late.

“Right on time Miku!” Yuko ran up the tile floor with plastic wrapped red and yellow shirt and black pants. A visor that looked just like the manager’s balanced on top of the stack right next to a nametag that read “Miku” Well, Miku thought, Yuko was right about one thing. “Miku” did look pretty nice on the black plastic nametag.

Miku’s chest swelled. This was her uniform for work! She was going to make the money to go to Seoul in that uniform.  Riding on this emotion Miku decided that she needed Yuko’s cooperation. She was even willing to overlook, not forget, but overlook Yuko’s stunning appearance and happy demeanor despite having worked a full shift before then.   Her hair was perfectly straight, her skin was flawless and her eyes were as bright as ever. Miku didn’t look any further than the manager’s face afraid what else she might find.

Miku said, ‘Thank you Yuko!” as she collected the uniform making sure to put a hand on the visor and name tag so they wouldn’t fall somehow.

“You’re welcome! You can go get changed in the restroom and meet me back at the counter.” Miku just stood there as Yuko turned around and picked up the headset on the counter. She talked into the microphone light as ever. “Omatase shimashita! May I take your order?”  This place was lucky to have someone like her. Miku caught herself. Of course McDonald’s was also lucky to have Miku. She could speak more pleasantly than that if she tried.

Miku came back out of the restroom a few minutes later, looking at the creases where the durable fabric had been folded. She looked up and found that Yuko was rushing around getting things together and delegating jobs to other employees.

“Fumiko get those fries in their sleeves! Kadashi I need another Big Mac!” Yuko herself was a flurry of paper bags as she gathered a couple apple pies, four of Kadashi’s Big Macs, Fumiko’s fries and drinks two cokes, a sprite, and an ice tea. “Great Job everyone! Keep it coming!” She finished up the order with the napkins and straws and handed it out the drive through window without even so much as bumping her visor on anything. She had somehow accomplished this in about 5 seconds. All of which to Miku looked like a complicated dance that was exactly timed out and, the new employee had to admit, not beautiful, but aesthetically pleasing. Yuko, without missing a beat turned around and caught Miku staring.

“We have quite a few orders right now in the drive-through. Once we are finished I’ll introduce you and show you how the grill works! That’s where Tatsuya wants you to start. For now take notes!” She winked at Miku. “Someone as smart as you, I’m sure you will have this all figured out by the time I get back!”

“Ok” Miku said coming out of her daze.  She sat down at a nearby table and watched as Yuko performed five other dances just like the one she had just witnessed. She couldn’t help but concentrate on the grace with which Yuko moved.

The manager had a purpose for each and every motion she made. She never grasped the wrong item or had to put things back. Every reach, dip and stretch brought the order closer to completion and out the window. She usually only checked the order screen once before handing it out with that irresistible grin of hers.  Miku didn’t learn a thing.

“Miku!” cooed Yuko from her place at the window. “Come here for introductions!”

Miku nodded and walked toward the counter where Yuko stood with another employee by the fryer. “This is Fumiko.”  Fumiko was a young woman who stood a few inches shorter than Miku.  She had short hair that fell just passed her ears and a wide face. Everything about Fumiko was round and full. Miku felt instantly comforted by the fryer’s presence. Don’t’ be weird, Miku told herself. Fumiko could be a friend. She was someone who wasn’t as perfect as Yuko and Miku felt like she could breathe a little.

“Hello Fumiko. My name is Miku. ” Miku said with her best smile. “I am looking forward to working with you.”

“Don’t be so formal.” Fumiko waved her hand and smiled back. “It’s going to be fun.”

“It’s good you two get along.” Yuko said. “ Now let’s head to the grill.”

Miku gave Fumiko once last wave and followed Yuko to the grill, which was behind the heaters and fryer. A tall lean young man stood under harsh florescent lighting and in the middle of charred beef weighted air. He wore an apron to keep the grease from his uniform and plastic gloves so that he could dress the burgers at the station to his right.  He looked up from the large metal sheet in front of him and smiled like a politician as Yuko and Miku came to join him.  

“This is Kadashi.” Yuko introduced.

“Hello Kadashi. I am Miku.” Kadashi was handsome with no extreme features. Actually, Miku thought, he was kind of forgettable. He was just very very ordinary. He took off his right glove and held out his hand.

“Hello Miku. It’s nice to meet you. I hear that you will be working on the grill for now. “

Miku shook his outreached hand and nodded. “Yes. I hope I can learn fast!”

“The grill isn’t difficult. You just need to practice.” His smile was skirted by a few good-natured wrinkles. Miku wasn’t sure if she should trust Kadashi with her first-born or keep her social security number extra safe in case he might find it. She made a mental note to keep Kadashi at a distance whenever it was possible.

“Kadashi’s shift ends at 7pm about an hour and half from now.” Yuko said looking at the clock on the wall behind Kadashi, “That’s when I will be taking over the grill. For now just watch Kadashi and ask him any questions that you might have.”

The headset on Yuko beeped. “See you in a few!”  Then she was gone. Miku was left alone with Kadashi who put a new glove on his right hand and went to work flipping the burgers. Miku waited to be told what to do, but Kadashi had gone into his own thoughts. In fact, he seemed to have forgotten she was there until he glanced over at her. With a start that only consisted of a raised eyebrow, he said, “Hmm. Why don’t you go and wrap the burgers at the end of the station. Here, wear these.” He handed her a pair of cellophane gloves and walked her over to the heaters. This side of the heaters had openings just above Miku’s head that were labeled different varieties of burgers. Kadashi pointed out each one and the wrapper that corresponded to them. “I’ll tell you which burger is which as I get them finished. It won’t take long for you to know them.”

“I got it.” Miku said as she struggled to get her gloves on. Her hands were getting sweaty from the heat of the grill. Kadashi flashed a toothless smile and then expressionlessly went back to his burgers.  Miku almost expected conversation to pass the time, but the only words that Kadashi uttered were, “Big Mac,” “bacon cheese,” or any other burger name. While Miku understood this to be an excellent learning opportunity, the repetition of the burger names started to grate against her after a while. Especially since Kadashi said them with a flat tone that never varied.

“Big Mac.” Miku wrapped the gigantic burger in a green wrapper sent it down the slide of the heater.

“McDouble.” She did the same only with a yellow wrapper this time.

“Bacon Cheese” And again with a red wrapper.

“Double Quarter Pounder.” She used a red and yellow striped wrapper.

              The hour and a half was only made bearable by the cool relief that washed over Miku whenever Yuko would chime in with “Kadashi two more quarter pounders with cheese if you please.” Or “Kadashi, another McDouble or you’re in trouble!” It made her think about when Miku herself would be on grill. Yuko would probably say her name like she said Kadashi’s. ‘Miku~ another burger please!’ She shook her head. But it would only be for work she reasoned.  She could never be friends with someone like Yuko. They just weren’t the same sort of people.

              On and on the burgers came and went out the window. At times Miku would sneak glances up at the front counter. It looked like an oasis with soft comfy chairs and cooler air. Look at those people just eating. As if there weren’t people back here roasting to death for their bugers. Ah there’s Yuko!

“Big Mac” Sigh… green wrapper. She reached ahead of her to grab another piece paper. How many burgers had she wrapped now? There had been too many to count in Miku’s opinion. One good result had come from this experience though. Miku felt that she knew the toppings for almost every burger except for the specialty burger: The triple deluxe McTower. It had only been order once and was she glad for that. Kadashi had to help her package it with all the patties. How many were there? At least five and the amount cheese and sauces all made the McTower a burger to reckon with.

Miku checked the clock on the white painted brick wall behind Kadashi. It was 7! Miku whipped her head around to the front and when she didn’t find Yuko she peered over the top of the heater. Yuko bagged an apple pie with some napkins and stopped short in front of the heater. The manager looked up and laughed. “Miku do you have something for me?” Miku felt hair sticking to the sides of her face and slunk back down. The Big Mac sat right in front of her on its green wrapper. Oh! Miku quickly covered it up and ran it over to Yuko.  Miku felt the cool spring air hit her all over her face.

“Thank you. I’ll be there in a second. Kadashi’s wonderful, isn’t he?” Yuko didn’t look tired at all and neither did her hair stick to the sides of her face. Miku fought off a pang of regret at hand delivering the order.  She wiped her hair out of her own face and all but stomped back to her station. She took solace in knowing that Yuko might be a graceful dancer at the counter, but she bet the princess couldn’t take the heat of the kitchen and stay perfect.

“Fumiko can you take the front now? Kadashi needs to be getting home.”

“Yeah I can do that” Fumiko’s response was airy and her arms floated at her sides so that she looked like she was performing a slow ballet dance with only her arms as she  walked up to the cash register.

“She’s an artist wherever she goes.” Yuko said.

“Yeah she’s cute.” Miku clapped a hand over her mouth. Don’t be weird! People don’t like that. Yuko punched Miku’s arm softly.

“Come one let’s get Kadashi home.”

“Yuko,” Kadashi said while taking off his apron. “I have five patties on and ready to flip in one minute. I will see you tomorrow. Have a good night. It… was nice meeting you Miku.” He smiled toothlessly again and headed out the front.

“Kadashi is very interesting.” Miku said . “He is very straightforward.”

“I knew I liked you for a reason.” Yuko said while she put on another apron and a set of gloves. “You see people how I do. Kadashi wants to run for public office one day. While his purpose-driven attitude would be great for that job, he needs some work connecting with people if he is ever going to get elected. But he remembered to say good night to me and acknowledged you. He’s coming along.”

Yuko regarded the metal sheet of sizzling patties and said, “Ok let’s see if I remember how this goes.” She watched the clock until the second hand hit the 12 and flipped burgers with amazing speed. Then she lined up a few bottom buns at the dressing station.

Miku looked up at the order screen, a couple of Big Macs and a regular hamburger. “I can dress those,” Miku said.

“Alright! Just a few seconds on those patties. And….Go!”

Miku’s brain froze. Wasn’t Yuko supposed to put the patties on the buns now? No, Miku should have known this would happen. Just like in language classes. You can see and hear a word a million times but you have to practice it to use it correctly. Up until now she had only seen the dressed burgers and wrapped them. She hadn’t the faintest clue of how a burger was put together. Did you put the pickles on first then the ketchup and mustard? Er wait was there anything beneath the patty?  Yuko saw Miku’s hesitation.

“Put the mac sauce on. Now the onions. Lettuce. Yes and now pickles. Cheese it! Ok I’ll put the patties on! Great!” Two perfectly made up Big Macs sat before Miku.

              “Thank you! I kind of tensed up.” Miku said as she wrapped them up and sent them down the heater slide.

              “It’s alright I’m here for you! I’m glad you wanted to jump right in! I like your can-do spirit.” Yuko said.

              Miku couldn’t help herself. She felt the atmosphere was much improved with Yuko around and a smile took up residence on her face. The next hour flew by so fast. Miku learned to dress all of the burgers at first with Yuko’s help and then she found that she could dress them on her own. The best part was Yuko didn’t seem bothered to help her.

              “Ok.” Yuko tapped the spatula on the grill a metallic ring sang out. “it’s your turn to flip.”

              “Alright!” the corners of Miku’s mouth started to hurt from the smile that had been plastered all over her face. She put on a more serious look as she watched Yuko.

              “The trick is in the wrist.” Yuko flipped four burger patties in quick succession.

              “It’s never in the elbow, is it?”  Miku’s grin almost turned into a grimace.

Yuko looked directly at Miku and half-grinned with a raised eyebrow. “Huh! I have never heard of a trick in the elbow. But now that you mention it, why is it never in the elbow?”

              Miku held up her hands. “It was a bad joke. There is no need to go that deep into it.”

              Yuko laughed.“Oh Miku you’re funny.” Miku’s heart skipped a beat. Yeah, she thought, I am a little, aren’t I? I made Yuko laugh and that felt fucking fantastic! So this is what it’s like to giggle with a friend.  Yuko was on her side unlike many of the girls Miku had known. The more rational part of Miku’s mind kicked her in the stomach. Yuko is just showing me how to work, Miku reminded herself. Let’s work. But she couldn’t help but wonder if she and Yuko couldn’t be friends. At some time.

              Miku tried a few times to flip over the greasy meat circles. Her first patty split right down the middle and was deemed gone by Yuko’s standards. So Miku tried again but this one was stuck so hard to the metal that it ended up smack on the ceiling from all the force Miku had exerted. Yuko just laughed and laughed. Miku cracked a nervous smile too. Miku’s third burger landed in the grease ally on the side of grill.

Frustrated, Miku set her jaw and decided to implement a softer approach to the fourth patty. She slowly lifted it up underneath and tilted it ever so gently. The beef wobbled forward then back. Yuko watched through her fingers. Miku held her breath. It swung forward again in slow motion, hopped up fully off the grill, catching air that skater’s dream up then landed fast with a splash of oil and sizzle of heat. Both Yuko and Miku jumped up in the air and hugged each other.

“You did it!” “I did it” they said at the same time.

“Stay right there! I want to get my drawing pad!” Fumiko had come out of nowhere.

Yuko and Miku pulled apart fast and cleared their throats.

“Awe you came down.” Fumiko whined. “I’ll be needing those McDoubles after all. Since you wouldn’t let me sketch you and make my big break!” She rolled her eyes and blew a raspberry. Yuko hurriedly dressed and wrapped the sandwhiches.

“Thanks.” Fumiko said. “I guess.”

“Sorry Fumiko!” Yuko apologized. Fumiko just rolled her eyes again.

Miku’s arms hung at her sides. “You’re better at this than I am. Do you want to switch back?”

Yuko crossed her arms. “What are you talking about that last burger flip was great! I mean it could have been faster.”Miku raised an eyebrow. “But how are you going to get better if you don’t practice? I’ll dress the burgers.”

              Miku gave Yuko a strained salute.

              “Oh there’s no use doing that! Just concentrate on your work Miku.” Yuko said sternly.

              Miku put three more patties on the grill and concentrated as she was instructed. They worked in silence for a little while. The only sounds were the burgers sizzling and the crackle of the wrappers. Buisness was slowing down too so there wasn’t even much working noise either. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, but Miku felt a bubble of curiosity rise in her and expand from her abdomen to the tips of her fingers and toes.

              “So Yuko. What kind of music do you listen to?”

Yuko broke out into a smile that took over her whole body.  “I love music. But it’s mostly music from America.”

              “Oh so like Maroon 5. Or Nicki Minaj?”

              “Oh no like America in the 1980’s.” Yuko gave a nervous laugh. Miku saw her manager’s two front teeth. Miku started to like them very much. “You ever heard of Survivor?

              Miku wracked her brain. Nope, she thought of a tv show, but no singing groups or bands. “No,” she said slowly.

              “Well I wouldn’t expect you to. They’re so cheesy but I love it! I know that it might all just be the same musical trick over and over. Their songs… do sound sort of the same, but I like the sound.”

              “That sounds reasonable.” Miku encouraged her.

              “But they don’t sing my favorite song.” Yuko said pointly.

              “Oh and what is that?”

              “I can’t tell you.”

              Miku’s head jerked back. “Why not?”

              “Because it reveals a lot about you, doesn’t it? Anyway I have always wanted to share my favorite song with someone special. Not that you’re not special. I just barely know you.”

              “Hey it’s cool!” Miku scoffed. What had she expected? She can’t just be best friends with someone she just met. Miku continued to concentrate.

*******************************************************************************************

Later that evening the late night crew came in and relieved the three girls. As they were walking out of the restaurant Yuko said, “Hey Miku you did well for your first day. I can see your training only being a few more days longer.”

              “Oh really?” Miku asked. Just a few more days and then Yuko would only work the day shift. Sure they could see each other passing as the shift changed but it wouldn’t be the same. Yuko had to be tired though. Working all day and then having to teach Miku. Miku remembered herself. “ Well that’s great! I must be learning pretty fast!” Dammit.

              “Yeah. See you tomorrow!” Yuko put on her kindest smile and walked the opposite way to the main road. Miku turned too and started walking toward her dorm room. The air was delicious cool and refreshing. She made all the way up to her door before she realized that she hadn’t listened to SHinee on the way home! She shoved her earphones in and started up ‘Aside.’ She needed the comforting beat to sing her to calm her down and sing her to sleep. She still had trouble falling to sleep anyway.

First days are always hard! But when you work with someone like Yuko it can be made easier.

Survivor- High On You

[flapperfromthefuture]

I don’t know how I ended up at the Michigan Renaissance Festival, but once I heard bagpipes and a cannon go off, I felt right at home.

“Is there a quiet reading corner for people who get overwhelmed?” said A, as we braved the crowd piling into the festival grounds. It was Scottish Highlands week. I lost count of the number of kilts I saw, but two of them were on dogs, (unfortunately neither of them were the actual Scottish Wolfhound we saw but he looked like he was having a wonderful time in his element nonetheless) and one was on a guy who was also dressed as a bear.

I was nervous about bringing Lumi, but my sweet little anxiety fluffball who used to be so hesitant and skittish with strangers fit right into festival life. And everyone wanted to pet her! I couldn’t get five feet without being stopped—at one point Lumi had four kids with painted faces and princess costumes petting her, and she was basking in the love of her public like a movie star. She happily watched the joust and a bird show and even stopped for a drink at the Puppy’s Pub.

A tried her hand at archery and throwing knives, spears, stars, and axes. She passed on the opportunity to throw actual tomatoes at the jesters, because “I just don’t like wasting tomatoes.”

I started fading after about hour 5 of Celtic music and vendors saying “We take Master Card and Lady Visa!” (It was funny the first fifty times). I’d enjoyed our adventure, but didn’t feel the need to return.

Until I saw the sign for the Cupcake Crusade.

“Hmm, there’s a cupcake contest the last week of the festival,” I said.

A guy in chain mail pulled a wagon full of kids past us, and Lumi tried in vain to share their open bag of chips.

“First prize is $200 and a season pass, a sweatshirt and a tankard, second prize is the pass, sweatshirt and a tankard, third is the sweatshirt and tankard,” said A. “What’s a tankard? Like a tank top?”

“No, it’s that tall mug they have in the gift shop,” I said.

A slammed down her ice cream waffle.

“YOU GOTTA GET THAT TANKARD!” she said.

“We could just buy it in the gift shop,” I said.

“Anyone can do that!” said A. “And we’ll have a season pass for next year! We can bring your mom to the bird show for free!”

“I’m not going to win,” I said. “I don’t even make cupcakes.”

“You’ll win,” said A, like she was commanding an army. “You watch Bake-Off all the time! Your cupcakes will be the best! THE BEST!”

“That’s magical thinking!”

“That’s the only kind of thinking I have!”

Needless to say, as soon as we got home, I got to work. Even though I have actual real work that demands my actual real attention, all I could think about were cupcakes.

I needed 12 cupcakes in 3 flavors, that would be judged on both flavor and design. I don’t know how the people on Bake-Off select their recipes without freaking out: should I go for savory flavors to stand out? Or classic sweet flavors that might be boring? Should I try fruit fillings? Or nuts? OR BOTH? Did you know they sell fancy cupcake wrappers on Amazon with filigree designs? Should I buy those and go with a tribute to Art Nouveau in cupcake form? Or something a little less niche, like a design inspired by my favorite World Showcase pavilions at Epcot?

(Yes, these are all real ideas that I had. I know this because I made a spreadsheet of ideas when I should have been doing something else).

I wisely tabled my salute to silent film and chose two recipes inspired by the flavors of the fair—but then I got three hours of sleep because I couldn’t stop going over my options for the third spot. Could I pull off an ice cream waffle cupcake? Or something that would evoke both archery and roasted almonds? (Real ideas!)

Around 3 AM, it hit me—unicorns. The final piece in the thematic puzzle. There was a unicorn grilled cheese at this thing, how could I lose?

The mental gymnastics portion was complete. Now it was time for baking gymnastics. My test batches went well, thanks to the spreadsheet I made for ingredients, but when it was time to bake for the big day, my first batch of rainbows was a little less than fabulous, so I had to try again.

I baked 58 cupcakes in 24 hours. I became an assembly line of one person. To entertain myself while I worked, I imagined explaining my flavors to Mary Berry, and my imaginary Mary Berry was very supportive, especially once I cracked open a Guinness.

I called my first flavor “GOT Guinness?” because children of the ’90s will never, ever escape “Got milk?” jokes. I found the recipe here and it worked really well. I don’t know anything about beer or Guinness but A told me to buy Guinness Stout in a can, not a bottle, so that’s what I did. I had to simmer it on the stove with the butter and cocoa powder, which felt very dangerous, especially because I kept confusing the dials on my stove and almost setting myself on fire.

I forged my swords from the finest Valyrian aluminum foil while watching British Bake-Off and took solace in watching fellow gays struggle with math under pressure.

I dubbed my next flavor “Kettle Corn Cupcakes” even though the recipe was for caramel corn cupcakes (I’M CREATIVE). I picked out liners with vertical stripes so they’d look like old-fashioned popcorn bags. I also bought real vanilla beans (they are expensive!) and learned how to scrape out the seeds, which made me feel extremely cool and like I could forage for sustenance in a jungle, which I could not.

Next were my “Rainbow Unicorns”—because I overcomplicate things, I tried to get ahead of my own brain by finding a simple recipe that seemed foolproof. Maybe it was too simple? I’m also not good at piping. I don’t have the intrinsic hand strength to pull it off. Especially at 10:30 at night. I was so tired.

I finally put my cupcakes to bed around 11:30, after triple-checking that I had, indeed, selected my 12 best cupcakes to go to the big show (that’s 4 of each flavor if I have 3 flavors, right? RIGHT?). I set them up verrrry carefully in my best cake carrying case, then picked out 9 understudies for my other carrying case as back-ups in case someone got smushed or crumbled under pressure. The rest of the 58 (well, more like 54 at this point, I got hungry) were frosted and put in plastic containers ready to be given out to friends and family. That’s what baking is all about, isn’t it? Sharing good things with the people you love?

(No! It’s about VICTORY TANKARDS).

I had been baking and decorating since 9:30 in the morning. I set my alarm for 6 AM (on a WEEKEND) and tried to sleep quickly, which did not work.

Lumi was so excited to return to the Renaissance Festival, even though it was raining and she had to share the back of the car with about 40 cupcakes.

I somehow managed to park, get my ticket, turn in Lumi’s dog registration, trek through the entire mud-soaked festival in the pouring rain with my dog and my cupcake carrying case and find the “Crystal Palace” where this thing was going down.

I had no idea where I was going but I forged ahead and tried not to slip in the mud. I heard two ladies behind me say, “Is it this way? That girl has cupcakes and she’s going this way.”

I yelled “FOLLOW ME!” and led a cupcake charge up a very small incline, and turned in my cupcakes in with SIX MINUTES to spare.

I sank into a chair and waited for the judging to start. Stella and her new super-extroverted new boyfriend joined me, already on their first mead of the day.

“You got this, buddy!” said Stella, rubbing my shoulders like she was my coach. “Dude, you are tense.”

The judging portion was fun and light and everyone was having a good time, which is the most important thing, but I was a nervous wreck and just wanted to leave—they really do need a quiet corner for people who get overwhelmed.

I couldn’t even look at the other contenders—some of them looked so professional with their piping and decorations, they put my little swords to shame.

Still, the MC held up one of my Iron Thrones to show off to the crowd.

“That’s a good sign!” said Stella.

Stella is the most optimistic person I know. We’ve had a lot of dark moments together through decades of friendship, eleven of which were with the same piano teacher, but she’s never lost that buoyant streak of “Everything will be great even though it’s metaphysically impossible.”

As the judges finished eating all 81 contending cupcakes (there were 27 people and we each made 3 flavors, so that’s right, isn’t it?) and started filling out their score sheets, the MC went around and asked for their early favorites.

“I liked the kettle corn one,” said one judge.

“THAT’S YOU!”  screamed Stella’s new boyfriend. Most of what he says, he screams. That’s fine, just not a communication style I endorse.

“I saw that judge lick her fingers!” said Stella. “She was eating one of yours! She didn’t do that with any of the others!”

But one person made cupcake teacups with chocolate handles, another made a castle centerpiece with sugar cubes, and someone else did Shakespeare themed flavors (GENIUS! Why didn’t I think of that?).

In the end, I didn’t make it to the next round. Stella sweet-talked her way into seeing my score sheet and she said that I was close—and that the judge who liked my kettle corn cupcakes wanted the recipe. That’s quite a compliment—it’s not a tankard, but I’ll take it.

I’d been so nervous that I hadn’t eaten anything, so we broke into my carrying case of understudy cupcakes.

“Dude, these really are good,” said Stella.

“You’re not even supposed to have gluten,” I said.

“I know,” she said, through a mouthful of Guinness cupcake. “It’s worth it.”

Stella’s new boyfriend grabbed my shoulders and screamed, “Your cupcakes are TITS!”

I gave one of my spare containers to Stella to take home and bid them farewell. Lumi and I watched a fencing competition and walked through a tiny maze of fairy houses, and several people wearing elf ears swooned over her.

Later, after a much-needed nap, I took my other container of spares to my parents’ house, and told my parents, my sister and my sister’s boyfriend Steve the entire story of my brush with cupcake immortality.

“Their taste buds must have been damaged!” said my mom. “At least it was a good experience for your first bake-off.”

“I’m proud of my little guys,” I said. “Stella’s new boyfriend said they were, and I quote, ‘Tits.'”

“They were what?” said my dad.

“TITS!” said Steve.

“Oh, youth,” said my sister, who is one year older than this dude. “So, how was Stella’s new boyfriend?”

“He’s very nice,” I said. “He was very supportive. He’s just really extroverted.”

“Is he more or less annoying than Steve?” said my sister.

Steve was sitting right next to her. He just shrugged and took another bite of cupcake.

  Renaissance Festival Cupcake Contest I don't know how I ended up at the Michigan Renaissance Festival, but once I heard bagpipes and a cannon go off, I felt right at home.

#baking #cupcakes #dogs #michigan #renaissance festival

[easiestwaytoloseweight]

Burger Recipes: Healthier Grilling Season

If it’s summer, it must be burger time! If you’re not as excited about that since you started your weight loss journey, get ready to rejoice. Burger recipes are still on the menu when you’re on the Nutrisystem program. They’re even on the menu if you’re a vegetarian or just trying to cut back on meat.

How to Get Your Grill BBQ-Ready

Read More

So get out the grill (or the broiling or sauté pan) and get ready to enjoy a burger-filled summer with these 10 tantalizing burger recipes :

1. Italian Turkey and Mozzarella Burger >

This turkey burger goes Italian in the best possible way: With marinara sauce and melty, crispy mozzarella cheese. Think of it as turkey burger parm.  It starts with a flavorful burger, spiced with red onion, garlic powder,  oregano, crushed red pepper flakes and fresh basil, mixed with an egg, salt and pepper.  You can grill the burgers (this recipe makes 5) or cook them in a pan on your stove top. When they’re done, simply dab on two tablespoons of marinara and a slice of mozzarella, pop them into the oven and heat until the cheese melts and get slightly crispy. Serve on a whole wheat bun and enjoy one of our delicious burger recipes you won’t regret!

Counts as: 2 PowerFuels and 1 SmartCarb.

2. Spicy Inside Out Cheeseburger >

Your family will know where the beef is, but they won’t know the whereabouts of the cheese till they take their first bite of this spicy beef burger. Made with grass-fed beef mixed with a delectable combination of Worcestershire sauce, japalpenos, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, this burger isn’t topped with cheese. . .the cheese is inside! You simply make thin patties, place two Tablespoons of shredded pepper jack or cheddar on top of one then place another on top of that, sealing the edges. Every bite is a treat.

Counts as: 2 PowerFuels, 1 SmartCarb, and 1 Extra.

3. Lettuce Wrapped Mushroom and Swiss Burger >

You may give up buns forever once you bite into this crispy, juicy, flavorful mushroom beef burger topped with Swiss cheese… no wonder it’s one of our favorite burger recipes!  The coolest thing about this sandwich, besides the crunchy “bun” of iceberg or romaine lettuce, is that the baby bella mushrooms are mixed up inside the grass-fed beef burger, along with sautéed onion and garlic, then flavored with sea salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce.

Counts as: 2 PowerFuels, 1 Vegetable and 1 Extra

5 Low Calorie Condiments to Use at the BBQ

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4. Mega Beet Burger >

Did you know that some of the most popular meatless burgers on the market today get their real beef feel with beets? You’re not going to believe how good this meatless burger tastes—and how juicy it is! The burger is made with brown or green lentils, onion, garlic, chopped walnuts, cooked beets, rolled oats, with “flax egg”—a combo of flaxseed meal and water that makes a gel after five minutes—and a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon to add a surprising flavor. It’s slathered with a homemade goat cheese spread made with goat cheese, nonfat Greek yogurt and a little honey and served on a whole wheat sandwich thin.

Counts as: 2 PowerFuels, 1 SmartCarb and 1 Vegetable.

5. Cheeseburger Egg Rolls >

Now you can have one of your favorite appetizers without guilt. And you can have it for lunch or dinner! The recipe is simple: Saute lean ground turkey with diced onion, black pepper and garlic powder, add low-fat cheddar cheese and egg white, then scoop two tablespoons of the meat mixture into each of 10 egg roll wrappers. Seal the wrappers with water, brush with egg yolk, and bake for 25 minutes. Serve with ketchup.

Counts as: 1 PowerFuel and 1 Extra.

6. Sweet Potato and Corn Veggie Burger >

Serve this meatless burger as a vegetable side or you can add a PowerFuel like cheese and turn it into a flex lunch. They’re easy-peasy to make too.  In a food processor, you just combine cooked sweet potato, carrot, and spinach, then stir in some corn, cumin and pepper. Form into patties and broil. In five minutes, they’re ready to serve!

Counts as: 1 SmartCarb. Make sure you make note in NuMi if you’ve also added a PowerFuel or two.

7. Edamame Quinoa Burger >

The edamame and the egg give this meatless burger a big hit of protein, which makes it extra filling.  They’re added to quinoa, and spiced with garlic powder, cumin, coriander and pepper and topped with spicy sriacha, thick-sliced tomato, and wrapped in iceberg lettuce leaves.

Counts as: 1 SmartCarb and 1 PowerFuel.

 8. Caprese Turkey Burger >

Take advantage of summer’s bounty of off-the-vine tomatoes with this flavorful burger made from lean ground turkey, garlic powder, almond flour and pepper.  You can broil or grill the burger, then top it with a slice of part-skim mozzarella, a slice of big juicy tomato and fresh basil leaves. Serve in a small whole wheat bun.

Counts as: 1 SmartCarb and 2 PowerFuels.

4 Ingredients You Should Never Eat Again

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9. Salmon Burger with Herb Cream Sauce >

Get a great big dose of health omega-3 fatty acids with this restaurant-worthy salmon burger topped with enough creamy (but no guilt) sauce spiced with chopped fresh dill and parsley that you get some with every tasty bite. The burger is made from uncooked salmon ground in a food processor then seasoned with paprika, garlic powder, cayenne and black pepper, then broiled. The sauce is a simple combo of reduced fat cream cheese, nonfat plain yogurt, lemon juice and herbs.  It’s served on a whole wheat bun with arugula.

Counts as: 1 SmartCarb, 1 PowerFuel and 1 Extra.

10. Hawaiian Jerk Burger >

This garlic-spiced turkey burger get an island makeover with jerk sauce—generally a mix of hot peppers, garlic, and spices including  nutmeg and allspice—and slices of pineapple. Served on a whole wheat bun, this burger may have you hearing the wind in the palms.

Counts as: 1 PowerFuel, 1 SmartCarb, and 1 Extra

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[micebrandy29-blog]

30 favorite vegan Trader Joe’s products

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This updated list of my favorite vegan Trader Joe’s products highlights some of the store’s must haves. Items include pantry staples, refrigerated sauces and spreads, enticing frozen items, as well as tasty snacks and treats.

(Want to take this list with you to the store for easy shopping? Scroll to the bottom for a printable list!)

Going to Trader Joe’s is like a treasure hunt. You never know what you may fall in love with at your next visit. New and exciting products appear on store shelves in regular rotation.

But being a TJ’s fan is also a lesson in detachment. As soon as you’ve found a product you love, it may be discontinued.

Products are taken off the shelves because they’re seasonal, not selling well, or for quality control reasons. So when you like something, you’ve got to buy it and enjoy it while you can. Some products stick around for years, others for just weeks.

Today I’m sharing an updated list of 30 favorite vegan Trader Joe’s products. I had to remove some items because they’re no longer sold at Trader Joe’s. And I had to add some of my new favorites since the last posting.

Green jackfruit

Obviously, you can buy young green jackfruit other places. It’s available at Asian grocery stores, in addition to natural food stores. But it’s very handy to buy at Trader Joe’s when I’m doing my regular shopping run.

And for people who are confused about which jackfruit to buy for savory dishes, it’s an easy place to point them.

This green jackfruit packed in brine works well for things like vegan BBQ pulled pork. And there are lots of vegan barbecue sauce options at Trader Joe’s that you can use for it.

Here are my favorite ways to use Trader Joe’s jackfruit:

Alvarado Bakery flax seed bread

For years Alvarado Bakery flax seed bread was our regular sandwich bread. We always had it on hand. So I was delighted when it popped up at my local Trader Joe’s recently.

This grainy bread is made with sprouted organic whole wheat berries, filtered water, wheat gluten, sprouted organic whole flax seeds, oat fiber, cultured wheat starch, organic dates, yeast, organic raisins, sea salt, and sunflower lecithin.

Two slices are 100 calories.

Plus, when there’s an orange cat on the label, you know it’s going to be quality.

Use flax seed bread for:

Amba mango sauce

The surprising thing about this mango sauce is that it isn’t sweet. It’s a silky, savory sauce made with fermented green & ripe mangoes, garlic, salt, turmeric, paprika, and spices.

I’ve been using it as a dipping sauce with vegetable pakora, or on top of toasted pita with falafel.

When I’m making a quick stir-fry or curry, I also like to add a squeeze for some underlying warmth.

Dukkah

Dukkah disappeared from Trader Joe’s shelves for a while, but now it’s back.

To use dukkah, fill one small dish with good olive oil. In the next, pour some of the dukkah.

Then dunk warm, crusty bread first into the oil, and then into the dukkah. The dukkah clings to the oil.

When you bite into it, you get the nutty flavors of almonds & sesame seeds. There are undertones of sausage & licorice because of the fennel, anise, and coriander. Finally, there’s kosher salt, which makes it all the more snackable.

Use it as a topping for hummus or toss it with roasted potatoes.

I used to always make my own dukkah. And if you have Vegan Eats World, I highly recommend her dukkah recipe. It’s incredible and definitely better than the TJ’s version.

But for only $2.99 to have it made and ready to go, it will probably be a while until I make my own again.

Everything but the Bagel seasoning

If you’ve ever had an everything bagel, you know what to expect with this seasoning mix. It’s a combination of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sea salt flakes, dried garlic, and dried onion.

I use it several mornings a week on my vegan avocado toast, along with a generous sprinkling of nutritional yeast flakes (also on this list.)

You can also add it to non-dairy cream cheese or as a topping on hummus. A lot of people like to add it to their popcorn or an air fryer baked potato.

Garlic chipotle salsa

I usually prefer fresh salsa, but this jarred garlic chipotle salsa has become my newest obsession. It’s the closest thing I’ve found to the salsa doled out at Chevy’s Mexican Restaurants, which is one of my favorites.

This smoky salsa is rich with the flavors of roasted tomatoes, roasted garlic, and chipotle peppers. I would classify this as a fairly mild salsa.

One downside is that it’s a little on the watery side.

Nutritional yeast flakes

Buying a big canister of nutritional yeast flakes can get pricey. However, a bag of nutritional yeast at Trader Joe’s is only $2.99.

And unless you’re making massive amounts of vegan mac & cheese, it will probably last you a while. (And if you are making massive amounts of vegan mac & cheese, invite me over, okay?)

What is nutritional yeast? <— Find out here

Use Trader Joe’s nutritional yeast flakes in:

Organic shredded red & green cabbage with orange carrots

Sure, you could easily shred a head of cabbage yourself. But this shredded cabbage mix is a terrific shortcut.

And since cabbage and carrots are relatively dry vegetables, this mix keeps well in the refrigerator for a while without going bad.

Ways to use shredded cabbage mix:

Steamed lentils

Lentils aren’t hard to make from scratch. And they only take about 30 minutes to cook.

But you know what’s even easier & faster? Opening a package of fully cooked brown lentils that are ready to go.

A lot of lentils are packed into a pouch. It contains five ½ cup servings.

These steamed lentils are a refrigerator staple for me.

Use steamed lentils in:

Zhoug sauce

The first ingredient in Zhoug sauce is cilantro. So if you’re one of those people who think cilantro tastes like soap, stay far away from this one.

Zhoug is a Middle Eastern sauce that reminds me of what would happen if chimichurri and cilantro chutney got together.

Some call it a “Middle Eastern pesto.” However, it’s a lot spicier than your typical basil pesto fare.

In addition to cilantro, this spicy sauce includes canola oil, jalapeño peppers, chile flakes, garlic, cardamom, sea salt, and cumin seeds.

It is great with vegetable samosas as a dipping sauce. I also like to add dollops of it to stir-fries at the end, instead of chopping a bunch of cilantro. It also has a spicy kick that brings some heat.

And when I’m making my favorite easy hummus recipe, adding a dollop or two of Zhoug sauce adds a spicy zing. It is also tasty alongside falafel.

Thai vegetable gyoza

These veggie-packed envelopes of deliciousness have won over everyone I’ve served them to – from grandparents to grandkids.

There’s rarely a time when I don’t have a bag in the freezer ready to go for a quick snack, or to use as a side dish to a stir fry. Of course, they also have a starring role in vegan potsticker soup.

Filled with cabbage, carrots, chives, white radishes, onions, ginger, garlic, and soy sauce, they have a great taste that isn’t too overpowering.

These days I usually fry them in the air fryer (400 degrees for 10 minutes with a spritz of oil, stopping once to shake.) However, they’re also great fried or steamed in a skillet.

I like to serve them with tamari or Chinese hot mustard for dipping.

Vegetable spring rolls

Unlike uninspiring, cabbage-heavy spring rolls, these are stuffed with kale, edamame, tofu, and mushrooms. The wrapper gets delightfully light & flaky in the air fryer.

A simple noodle stir fry or easy fried rice is instantly more exciting once there’s a vegetable spring roll on the side.

I serve them with Chinese hot mustard for dipping.

(By the way, I also buy the bagged baby spinach & tri-color peppers shown above almost every visit!)

Grilled artichoke halves

I may be a little bit obsessed with these grilled artichoke halves.

I’ve been an artichoke lover for decades, but these grilled ones add a certain something that makes them totally craveable. The artichokes take on a smokiness from the grill and have those beautiful, dark grill marks that I adore.

Put them on a vegan cheeseboard, throw them into pesto, use them as a topping on pizza hummus or artichoke crostini, or slice them into an Israeli couscous salad.

Prefer water-packed artichoke hearts? (I usually have both kinds on hand.) Trader Joe’s has those as well, and they are delicious as an appetizer of fried artichoke hearts.

Organic kosher sandwich pickles

It may seem strange to put sliced pickles on the list, but when Trader Joe’s wasn’t in my area, I’d stock up with 5 or 6 jars when I happened to be near one.

They have a good dill flavor, crunch, and work perfectly for those of us who want our sandwich to include a taste of pickle with every bite.

Plus, they’re organic and only $2.99. That’s a really good deal when organic pickles can sometimes cost $5 or more. (It’s just cucumbers, people!)

Put them in a vegan banh mi sandwich, add them to vegan potato salad along with a splash of pickle juice, and use them as a topping on chili dog pizza.

Trader Joe’s hashbrowns

While I often make hashbrowns from scratch on the weekends, sometimes I want the delicious crispy crunch of hashbrowns without having to clean the food processor afterwards.

These hashbrown patties remind me of a certain non-vegan fast food establishment I used to visit as a kid. They are great with a tofu scramble. Don’t forget the seitan bacon & avocado!

Balela

Balela is a really fresh & simple chickpea salad made with chickpeas, black beans, tomatoes, and parsley.

It’s one of those things that would be easy to make at home. (I’d make mine with cilantro instead of parsley!) But on the other hand, sometimes it’s nice when you’re in a rush not to have to make something from scratch.

It’s tasty on its own as a snack or in a bowl with brown rice, avocado, and romaine.

It also goes well on a vegan cheeseboard along with dolmas, pickles, non-dairy cheese, Castelvetrano olives, and grilled artichoke halves.

Marcona almonds

Trader Joe’s is my go-to stop for nuts. I always have a wide variety in my lazy susan – peanuts, raw & roasted cashews, shelled pistachios, salt & pepper pistachios, gochujang almonds…

Two of my favorites are these Marcona almonds in truffle & rosemary. Marcona almonds are the best, because they aren’t as dry as your typical almond. I love their thin crunch.

These are seasoned and go beautifully on a vegan cheeseboard, with salad, or as a snack.

Plus, since they have a very specific flavor, it’s easy to be satisfied with a few. (That sounds like a back-handed compliment, but it’s true!)

Dolmas

Canned dolmas are another thing I would buy in groups of five whenever I went to a Trader Joe’s location out of town. Obviously they keep well in the cupboard. So there’s no worry about them going bad before I can use them.

I know that canned food often doesn’t inspire confidence, but these stuffed grape leaves are really good! They are tightly packed and firm, not mushy like some underwhelming dolmas you buy in cans.

I serve them on a vegan cheeseboard, with kalamata olive hummus, warmed Castelvetrano olives, or as a snack on their own.

Extra firm tofu & baked tofu

Trader Joe’s is my go-to stop for alllllll of the tofu.

First, my main, all-purpose tofu is extra firm in vacuum packaging. I like that it doesn’t require pressing before using.

It is a little drier than the water-packed kind. However, now I’ve been using vacuum-packed tofu for so long, I really don’t even notice.

Use super firm tofu for:

Trader Joe’s teriyaki flavor baked tofu is a good snack on its own straight out of the fridge. I also like to put it on avocado toast.

It is an easy to transport lunch with a salad or bowl. It also works well in a cooler if you’re heading on a road trip or taking food on a plane.

When I need a quick stir-fry in a flash, I like to cut the baked tofu into cubes and pop it into the air fryer until crisp around the edges.

For another baked tofu option, they also have a sriracha flavor, which I like a lot too.

Organic brown rice

Frozen brown rice is so darned convenient. No more waiting for rice to cook.

And you can use it straight from frozen when making a stir-fry. Just get your vegetables softened. Then add the rice straight from the bag into the skillet.

Ways to use organic brown rice:

Pico de gallo

I could go through a tub of this salsa in a day or two without a problem. It is nice and chunky with fresh tomatoes, onions, and garlic. 

I don’t have to tell you what to do with salsa, but I will…

Ways to use pico de gallo:

Organic tomato basil marinara

Funnily enough, I always have spaghetti sauce on hand, but I rarely make pasta with marinara. More often I use it as a spread on bagel pizzas or a dipping sauce with fried ravioli.

It can be hard to find spaghetti sauce that doesn’t include sugar in the ingredients. I’m not a hardcore sugar avoider by any stretch, but it just seems unnecessary in pasta sauce.

So I like that the Trader Joe’s version doesn’t have any of that. The ingredient list is really wholesome.

Plus, it has a V for “vegan” right on the label. That’s super handy when you’re scanning the list of options at the store.

Monteli Organic Pizza Crusts

These frozen, organic pizza crusts have become a staple. They come two to a package, have a neutral flavor, and great texture.

They are all ready to go straight into the oven. No rolling required – just ladle on your favorite pizza sauce and toppings.

Lately, we’ve been making a lot of supreme-style pizzas with Beyond Meat sausage, Herbivorous Butcher pepperoni, bell pepper, and onions. It’s also an awesome base for a vegan taco pizza.

The cooking time on the package suggests 6 to 7 minutes at 420 degrees. I like to cook it for 12 minutes to get a crispier crust.

The ingredients are wheat flour, water, sunflower oil, extra virgin olive oil, salt, malted wheat flour, dextrose, semolina, dried wheat sourdough, and yeast.

Under the allergens it says that it “may contain” milk and soy. Because I’m not allergic to dairy, I don’t worry about possible cross contamination.

Ridge cut potato chips

These potato chips are my obsession. (They’re #1 on my list of best vegan junk food.)

I hardly ever buy them, because once the bag is open, I can’t stop thinking about them. I love the balance of salt and pepper, and the crunch from the ridges.

Put them into a vegan packed lunch or alongside your favorite veggie burger for vegan grilling season.

For another crispy snack, their organic corn chip dippers have a wonderfully fresh snap that’s perfect right out of the bag or in vegan walking tacos. If you like Fritos, you’ll love these.

Mini Vegetable Samosas

When I’m making curry lentil soup or Indian fried rice, it’s fun to have a crispy, filled appetizer to serve alongside it. Enter mini vegetable samosas.

These flaky samosas are made with a phyllo-type dough and loaded with peas, carrots, potatoes, lentils, onions, and spices.

I cook them in the air fryer. They get beautifully crisp on the outside. Cook them in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 7 to 8 minutes. Stop once to flip half way through.

I like to serve them with homemade apple chutney, Trader Joe’s mango chutney, or Zhoug sauce.

Frozen fully cooked falafel

Sometimes you just need a hummus bowl with falafel, dolmas, kale salad with lemon tahini dressing, sauerkraut, and brown rice.

I like to make my own homemade hummus. Then I throw some frozen brown rice in the microwave, whip up a kale salad, and make frozen falafel in the air fryer.

The Trader Joe’s falafel is on the dense side, but it gets the job done. They are very filling, and usually two are plenty with a bowl. That means that I can really stretch one bag out for a while.

To see more vegan items available at Trader Joe’s, visit the Trader Joe’s website. They have a rundown of some of their vegan offerings.

Want to take this with you to the store? Click here for a printable list.

Originally posted March 2018. Content, photographs, and printable list updated March 2019.

Source: https://cadryskitchen.com/vegan-trader-joes-products/

[benjamingarden]

Why I Won't Be Meal Planning This Summer (A Simplified Alternative To Meal Planning)

I've been meal planning for years.  As I've noted before, this is the technique that allowed us to pay off all of our non-essential debt (to clarify, not our mortgage - all credit card & auto debt).  So why in the world would I throw caution to the wind this summer? Because I've figured out how to simplify meal time.  Why summer specifically?  Because that's when our garden is in abundance and I think it will be easier to give this a try. Let me explain. We eat pretty simply and rotate through the same 28 meal plans in the fall/winter and 25 meal plans in the spring/summer.  Every year I've simplified our meals just a tad bit more.  My goal is to spend less time cooking but still eat healthy.

Some of the changes I've made are:

Meal prep - make ahead or in some other way prep what I can.  

Use the same two grains throughout the week (cook once, eat all week).  

Soups can be made at the end of the week with leftover grain, veggie & protein leftovers 

Keep greens growing in the garden for quick salads (lunch or dinner options)

Veggies are roasted, steamed, grilled, or served raw rather than making "veggie dishes" that require recipes.  I prefer to eat veggies without anything else on them (sometimes a cilantro crema or a pesto sauce drizzled on top) and J has learned to appreciate them in this way as well (he prefers butter on his - butter on everything!).  

Breakfasts are typically oats (me), toast (me) or eggs & potatoes (J).

Lunches are typically salad (me), soup, quesadillas, leftovers, or homemade flatbread pizza.

We don't really snack other than sometimes fruit after lunch or popcorn or popsicles after dinner occasionally. 

I make bread weekly (if we want bread that week).  Usually one loaf - we don't eat much bread anymore.

So, how does this lead to not meal planning? Veggies are the main portion of our lunches and dinners now.  It was recommended by one of my husband's specialists that he begin eating plant-based.  He immediately told me that will never happen, so instead we've compromised by him eating a larger portion of veggies and a smaller portion of meat and grains/potatoes. If you grow your own veggies or eat seasonally with veggies purchased from a local farmer or farmer's market, you know that they are just not all available every week.  This makes planning that portion of your meals a little more difficult.  So, why plan any of it?

My non-meal plan is this: 

Oats + nuts/seeds + whatever fruit is in season = My Breakfast     (or toast with nut butter + fruit, or a smoothie with frozen fruit & veg)

Eggs (which we have available all of the time) + Potatoes = J's Breakfast (or a toasted bagel)

Greens + Other Veggies As Available + Leftover Meat = Lunch (salad, quesadillas, tacos, rice bowls, or flatbread pizza)  (or leftovers)

Large amount of whatever veggies are ready + small amount of protein (meat, fish, eggs, or beans) + small amount of grains/carb (bread, pasta, rice, tortilla or potatoes) = Dinner

I'll prepare whichever veggies are ready that day in the manner we want them at that time. I'll purchase enough protein each week to allow us 7 days worth (beans are easy to keep on hand and J usually eats chicken, pork chops, pork tenderloin, burger, or flank steak in the summer). Because we typically purchase our meat from local farmers, I'll purchase what they have available each Sunday and not worry about stocking up.  J prefers marinated meat on the grill, which makes it super easy to throw together a plan the day before.  I usually freeze the meat in the marinade on Sundays so I don't have to make marinades throughout the week. I always keep rice, pasta, tortilla shells, dried beans, & potatoes on hand so we'll already have what we need to complete each meal. If we want something different (pot sticker wrappers to make pot stickers, fresh pasta, or pierogies) then I'll buy or make it that week.

What About Grocery Shopping? My new grocery lists are comprised mostly of any staples that we run out of more than anything else.  Our staples are listed below. My pantry staples:

Sugar/Sweetener (honey, maple syrup, dates, & a small amount of white sugar)

Dry Beans (Black, White & Pinto)

Brown Basmati Rice (our preferred brown rice)

Pasta (2 kinds)

Veggie Broth

Chicken Broth

Tortilla Shells

Nut Butter (peanut and a walnut-cashew blend)

Canned Tomatoes

Oats

Popcorn Kernels

Avocado Oil

Olive Oil

Sesame Oil

Vinegars (Apple Cider, Vinegar, Pomegranate, Balsamic)

Extracts (Vanilla, Lemon, Almond)

Coffee

Tea

My refrigerator staples:

Mustard (Dijon & Spicy Brown)

Mayo

Coconut Aminos

Sriracha

Worcestershire Sauce

Flax Seeds

Milk

1/2 & 1/2

Non-Dairy Creamer

Eggs (from the coop)

Butter

Cheese (Mozzarella & Cheddar)

Non-Dairy "Cheese" (Follow My Heart Pepperjack & Trader Joe's Shredded Mozzarella Blend)

My freezer staples:

Raw Walnuts & Cashews

Flours (White Bread, Almond & Einkorn)

Frozen Pizzas (our just-in-case go-to) (*side note: if you are looking for a good vegan/non-dairy pizza, Amy's Vegan Pizza is the best I've found.*)

Bananas (to add to smoothies)

Avocados (to add to smoothies or to make guacamole or veggie sushi with)

In The Garden:

Greens

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Cabbage

Tomatoes

Beans

Sugar Snaps

Peppers

Eggplant

Zucchini

Winter Squash

Asparagus

Cucumbers

Carrots

Herbs (cilantro, parsley, basil, tarragon, rosemary, dill, oregano, sage, mint & chives)

Blueberries

Blackberries

Apples

Pears

All-in-all, my hope is that we'll be able to take full advantage of the goodies in the garden and center our eating around that.  It will (hopefully) also cut out any pre-planning or thoughts regarding meals, less time at the grocery store (I can stock up on staples once a month and the remainder comes from our garden and coop or from the farmer's market), and since the meals are simple, less time preparing them.

What about you?  Have you tried a simplified way of eating rather than meal planning?

Why I Won't Be Meal Planning This Summer (A Simplified Alternative To Meal Planning) was originally posted by My Favorite Chicken Blogs(benjamingardening)

[evolutionoftastitude]

New Post has been published on http://www.evsmanagement.ca/clients/evolution/2017/01/14/15-recipes-to-help-you-transform-in-the-new-year/

15 Recipes To Help You Transform In The New Year

Ditch fad diets for good and stay on track with these healthy meals.

Before you can declare “New year, new you,” consider starting your journey with some new recipes! Trade in the junk food for quality protein and top-notch healthy ingredients with these treats, breakfasts, and meals!

1. Strawberry Banana Protein Bake

This oatmeal protein bake is absolutely bomb! It’s a healthier version of banana bread to easily satisfy your sweet tooth while delivering just enough protein, complex carbs and healthy fats. Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, try flavoring it with a variety of fruits. Even the kids will love it!

2. Kicked-Up Breakfast Scramble

Take your breakfast game to the next level with this easy, flavorful. The eggs in this breakfast offer up 24 grams of a quality protein—and all in just 10 minutes of prep.

3. Banana Pancakes

Gone are the days when the almighty pancake was simply a vessel for delivering same carbohydrates found in seven slices of bread. Now, a generous waterfall of (sugar-free) pancake syrup cascading down a full stack of protein-infused pancakes means satisfying flavor and muscle-building power.

4. Healthy Protein French Toast

Give French toast an extra muscle-building kick with this sweet breakfast recipe that’s high in protein and big on flavor! Making protein French toast is extremely easy and simple: Just whisk a few very basic ingredients together, dunk in your bread of choice, warm up a nonstick pan with a bit of coconut oil or low-calorie cooking spray, and you’re done. Simple, quick, and delicious!

5. Texas Gold Rush Chicken Breast

This recipe melds sweet and savory in a dish that will brighten up your plate and palate. This dish is dubbed “the gold rush” because of its yellow-orange color, but it’s also a muscle-building recipe worth its weight in gold. It’s easy to make in large batches and can always be customized to meet your goals. The best part? The hint of cinnamon-infused sweetness will be enough to curb your post-workout cravings without thwarting your progress.

6. Spicy Coconut Chicken Curry

Who doesn’t love a good curry dish? If you don’t, you may have just not tried the right one. If you’re not already reaping the benefits of curry, which include blood sugar control, heart health, and the anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric, it’s time to get on board. When plain chicken just won’t do, add this spin on a traditional Indian favorite to your list.

7. High-Protein, Low-Carb Mac And Cheese Sauce

This was a big hit this year. Carbs are a go-to guilty pleasure for most people—and if those carbs are covered in a cheesy sauce, all the better! But if you’re looking to lean out and are cutting grains and starches, you know that every gram counts. Rather than pine away for what you can’t have, why not make a macro-friendly meal that you can enjoy?

The answer to your dilemma is to make your own sauce! Pour this cheesy concoction over some low-carb pasta and see how thinking outside of the box can deliver a dish that’s good for you and taste-bud-pleasing!

8. Macro-Friendly Hungarian Beef Goulash

Nothing’s more comforting than sitting down to a bowl of warm protein-rich dish like this on a cool day.! Serve it over pasta, with your carb of choice, or on its own. Looking to give your dish some added flair? Throw carrots, parsnips, or potatoes into the mix.

9. 3-Bean Turkey Chili

When most people think of eating healthfully, one of the first options to come to mind is a salad. But don’t overlook a hearty, filling bowl of chili! This dish can be conveniently prepared in a single pot and be geared to both meat eaters and vegetarians. Prepare your chili on a Sunday for the entire family to enjoy, or save it to savor throughout the week!

10. Healthy Grilled Salmon With Sweet Or Smokey Glaze

Fire up your grill and get ready for gains by cooking up one of the wild kings of protein and healthy fats: the salmon. Pair with a savory smoky sriracha sauce or a wet pineapple glaze to satisfy your sweet tooth. Whichever sauce you choose, you really can’t go wrong!

11. Brown Rice Spring Rolls

You don’t need carb-filled pastry dough to make a wicked spring roll. Opt for this lower-carb version that uses transparent wrappers to really make your food the star of the dish. Play up the fun of eating with your eyes by using colorful veggies—with green avocados, purple cabbage, and orange carrots, you’ll really taste the rainbow. Dip that bad boy into a heaping serving of protein peanut sauce for that added tang.

12. Sweet Potato Lasagna

Replacing pasta sheets composed of refined white flour with thin slices of sweet potato is what makes this dish a standout. Instead of caving to a nutritional zero, you’ll be filling yourself with complex carbs and nutrients to help power through your workout. Not only are these tubers rich in vitamins D, C, and B6, but they’re also budget-friendly. It’s a win for your wallet and your waistline.

13. Monster Meatloaf

One reason people shy away from eating healthy is that they fear that many of their favorite foods will forever be off-limits. In reality, you can often make those recipes healthier, rather than banishing them altogether. This monster meatloaf is proof. By using extra-lean ground turkey and egg whites, you’ll keep the protein quotient high without adding excess calories or saturated fat.

14. Crispy Parmesan Fish Sticks

Bypass the heavily processed, freezer-frosted childhood favorite for this healthy, cheese-dusted alternative. Pair with a yogurt-based dipping sauce and a wedge of lemon for a flavor you’ll find yourself craving again and again.

15. Sausage Supreme Pita Pizza

Pizza ranks high among the most-loved foods. The only problem is that 1/8 of a large pizza, or one slice, is over 350 calories—and who seriously eats only one slice? Not only does this healthy take on pizza have over 30 g protein and only 415 calories per pizza—yes, for the entire thing—but the sauce is perfect, too. If you like a crispy-crust pizza with flavorful sauce, you’ll love this.

SOURCE: http://www.bodybuilding.com/content/15-recipes-to-help-you-transform-in-the-new-year.html

#fitness #health #BODY MIND FITNESS

[benjamingarden]

Why I Won't Be Meal Planning This Summer (A Simplified Alternative To Meal Planning)

I've been meal planning for years.  As I've noted before, this is the technique that allowed us to pay off all of our non-essential debt (to clarify, not our mortgage - all credit card & auto debt).  So why in the world would I throw caution to the wind this summer? Because I've figured out how to simplify meal time.  Why summer specifically?  Because that's when our garden is in abundance and I think it will be easier to give this a try. Let me explain. We eat pretty simply and rotate through the same 28 meal plans in the fall/winter and 25 meal plans in the spring/summer.  Every year I've simplified our meals just a tad bit more.  My goal is to spend less time cooking but still eat healthy.

Some of the changes I've made are:

Meal prep - make ahead or in some other way prep what I can.  

Use the same two grains throughout the week (cook once, eat all week).  

Soups can be made at the end of the week with leftover grain, veggie & protein leftovers 

Keep greens growing in the garden for quick salads (lunch or dinner options)

Veggies are roasted, steamed, grilled, or served raw rather than making "veggie dishes" that require recipes.  I prefer to eat veggies without anything else on them (sometimes a cilantro crema or a pesto sauce drizzled on top) and J has learned to appreciate them in this way as well (he prefers butter on his - butter on everything!).  

Breakfasts are typically oats (me), toast (me) or eggs & potatoes (J).

Lunches are typically salad (me), soup, quesadillas, leftovers, or homemade flatbread pizza.

We don't really snack other than sometimes fruit after lunch or popcorn or popsicles after dinner occasionally. 

I make bread weekly (if we want bread that week).  Usually one loaf - we don't eat much bread anymore.

So, how does this lead to not meal planning? Veggies are the main portion of our lunches and dinners now.  It was recommended by one of my husband's specialists that he begin eating plant-based.  He immediately told me that will never happen, so instead we've compromised by him eating a larger portion of veggies and a smaller portion of meat and grains/potatoes. If you grow your own veggies or eat seasonally with veggies purchased from a local farmer or farmer's market, you know that they are just not all available every week.  This makes planning that portion of your meals a little more difficult.  So, why plan any of it?

My non-meal plan is this: 

Oats + nuts/seeds + whatever fruit is in season = My Breakfast     (or toast with nut butter + fruit, or a smoothie with frozen fruit & veg)

Eggs (which we have available all of the time) + Potatoes = J's Breakfast (or a toasted bagel)

Greens + Other Veggies As Available + Leftover Meat = Lunch (salad, quesadillas, tacos, rice bowls, or flatbread pizza)  (or leftovers)

Large amount of whatever veggies are ready + small amount of protein (meat, fish, eggs, or beans) + small amount of grains/carb (bread, pasta, rice, tortilla or potatoes) = Dinner

I'll prepare whichever veggies are ready that day in the manner we want them at that time. I'll purchase enough protein each week to allow us 7 days worth (beans are easy to keep on hand and J usually eats chicken, pork chops, pork tenderloin, burger, or flank steak in the summer). Because we typically purchase our meat from local farmers, I'll purchase what they have available each Sunday and not worry about stocking up.  J prefers marinated meat on the grill, which makes it super easy to throw together a plan the day before.  I usually freeze the meat in the marinade on Sundays so I don't have to make marinades throughout the week. I always keep rice, pasta, tortilla shells, dried beans, & potatoes on hand so we'll already have what we need to complete each meal. If we want something different (pot sticker wrappers to make pot stickers, fresh pasta, or pierogies) then I'll buy or make it that week.

What About Grocery Shopping? My new grocery lists are comprised mostly of any staples that we run out of more than anything else.  Our staples are listed below. My pantry staples:

Sugar/Sweetener (honey, maple syrup, dates, & a small amount of white sugar)

Dry Beans (Black, White & Pinto)

Brown Basmati Rice (our preferred brown rice)

Pasta (2 kinds)

Veggie Broth

Chicken Broth

Tortilla Shells

Nut Butter (peanut and a walnut-cashew blend)

Canned Tomatoes

Oats

Popcorn Kernels

Avocado Oil

Olive Oil

Sesame Oil

Vinegars (Apple Cider, Vinegar, Pomegranate, Balsamic)

Extracts (Vanilla, Lemon, Almond)

Coffee

Tea

My refrigerator staples:

Mustard (Dijon & Spicy Brown)

Mayo

Coconut Aminos

Sriracha

Worcestershire Sauce

Flax Seeds

Milk

1/2 & 1/2

Non-Dairy Creamer

Eggs (from the coop)

Butter

Cheese (Mozzarella & Cheddar)

Non-Dairy "Cheese" (Follow My Heart Pepperjack & Trader Joe's Shredded Mozzarella Blend)

My freezer staples:

Raw Walnuts & Cashews

Flours (White Bread, Almond & Einkorn)

Frozen Pizzas (our just-in-case go-to) (*side note: if you are looking for a good vegan/non-dairy pizza, Amy's Vegan Pizza is the best I've found.*)

Bananas (to add to smoothies)

Avocados (to add to smoothies or to make guacamole or veggie sushi with)

In The Garden:

Greens

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Cabbage

Tomatoes

Beans

Sugar Snaps

Peppers

Eggplant

Zucchini

Winter Squash

Asparagus

Cucumbers

Carrots

Herbs (cilantro, parsley, basil, tarragon, rosemary, dill, oregano, sage, mint & chives)

Blueberries

Blackberries

Apples

Pears

All-in-all, my hope is that we'll be able to take full advantage of the goodies in the garden and center our eating around that.  It will (hopefully) also cut out any pre-planning or thoughts regarding meals, less time at the grocery store (I can stock up on staples once a month and the remainder comes from our garden and coop or from the farmer's market), and since the meals are simple, less time preparing them.

What about you?  Have you tried a simplified way of eating rather than meal planning?

Why I Won't Be Meal Planning This Summer (A Simplified Alternative To Meal Planning) was originally posted by My Favorite Chicken Blogs(benjamingardening)

[evolutionoftastitude]

New Post has been published on http://www.evsmanagement.ca/clients/evolution/2017/01/14/15-recipes-to-help-you-transform-in-the-new-year/

15 Recipes To Help You Transform In The New Year

Ditch fad diets for good and stay on track with these healthy meals.

Before you can declare “New year, new you,” consider starting your journey with some new recipes! Trade in the junk food for quality protein and top-notch healthy ingredients with these treats, breakfasts, and meals!

1. Strawberry Banana Protein Bake

This oatmeal protein bake is absolutely bomb! It’s a healthier version of banana bread to easily satisfy your sweet tooth while delivering just enough protein, complex carbs and healthy fats. Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, try flavoring it with a variety of fruits. Even the kids will love it!

2. Kicked-Up Breakfast Scramble

Take your breakfast game to the next level with this easy, flavorful. The eggs in this breakfast offer up 24 grams of a quality protein—and all in just 10 minutes of prep.

3. Banana Pancakes

Gone are the days when the almighty pancake was simply a vessel for delivering same carbohydrates found in seven slices of bread. Now, a generous waterfall of (sugar-free) pancake syrup cascading down a full stack of protein-infused pancakes means satisfying flavor and muscle-building power.

4. Healthy Protein French Toast

Give French toast an extra muscle-building kick with this sweet breakfast recipe that’s high in protein and big on flavor! Making protein French toast is extremely easy and simple: Just whisk a few very basic ingredients together, dunk in your bread of choice, warm up a nonstick pan with a bit of coconut oil or low-calorie cooking spray, and you’re done. Simple, quick, and delicious!

5. Texas Gold Rush Chicken Breast

This recipe melds sweet and savory in a dish that will brighten up your plate and palate. This dish is dubbed “the gold rush” because of its yellow-orange color, but it’s also a muscle-building recipe worth its weight in gold. It’s easy to make in large batches and can always be customized to meet your goals. The best part? The hint of cinnamon-infused sweetness will be enough to curb your post-workout cravings without thwarting your progress.

6. Spicy Coconut Chicken Curry

Who doesn’t love a good curry dish? If you don’t, you may have just not tried the right one. If you’re not already reaping the benefits of curry, which include blood sugar control, heart health, and the anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric, it’s time to get on board. When plain chicken just won’t do, add this spin on a traditional Indian favorite to your list.

7. High-Protein, Low-Carb Mac And Cheese Sauce

This was a big hit this year. Carbs are a go-to guilty pleasure for most people—and if those carbs are covered in a cheesy sauce, all the better! But if you’re looking to lean out and are cutting grains and starches, you know that every gram counts. Rather than pine away for what you can’t have, why not make a macro-friendly meal that you can enjoy?

The answer to your dilemma is to make your own sauce! Pour this cheesy concoction over some low-carb pasta and see how thinking outside of the box can deliver a dish that’s good for you and taste-bud-pleasing!

8. Macro-Friendly Hungarian Beef Goulash

Nothing’s more comforting than sitting down to a bowl of warm protein-rich dish like this on a cool day.! Serve it over pasta, with your carb of choice, or on its own. Looking to give your dish some added flair? Throw carrots, parsnips, or potatoes into the mix.

9. 3-Bean Turkey Chili

When most people think of eating healthfully, one of the first options to come to mind is a salad. But don’t overlook a hearty, filling bowl of chili! This dish can be conveniently prepared in a single pot and be geared to both meat eaters and vegetarians. Prepare your chili on a Sunday for the entire family to enjoy, or save it to savor throughout the week!

10. Healthy Grilled Salmon With Sweet Or Smokey Glaze

Fire up your grill and get ready for gains by cooking up one of the wild kings of protein and healthy fats: the salmon. Pair with a savory smoky sriracha sauce or a wet pineapple glaze to satisfy your sweet tooth. Whichever sauce you choose, you really can’t go wrong!

11. Brown Rice Spring Rolls

You don’t need carb-filled pastry dough to make a wicked spring roll. Opt for this lower-carb version that uses transparent wrappers to really make your food the star of the dish. Play up the fun of eating with your eyes by using colorful veggies—with green avocados, purple cabbage, and orange carrots, you’ll really taste the rainbow. Dip that bad boy into a heaping serving of protein peanut sauce for that added tang.

12. Sweet Potato Lasagna

Replacing pasta sheets composed of refined white flour with thin slices of sweet potato is what makes this dish a standout. Instead of caving to a nutritional zero, you’ll be filling yourself with complex carbs and nutrients to help power through your workout. Not only are these tubers rich in vitamins D, C, and B6, but they’re also budget-friendly. It’s a win for your wallet and your waistline.

13. Monster Meatloaf

One reason people shy away from eating healthy is that they fear that many of their favorite foods will forever be off-limits. In reality, you can often make those recipes healthier, rather than banishing them altogether. This monster meatloaf is proof. By using extra-lean ground turkey and egg whites, you’ll keep the protein quotient high without adding excess calories or saturated fat.

14. Crispy Parmesan Fish Sticks

Bypass the heavily processed, freezer-frosted childhood favorite for this healthy, cheese-dusted alternative. Pair with a yogurt-based dipping sauce and a wedge of lemon for a flavor you’ll find yourself craving again and again.

15. Sausage Supreme Pita Pizza

Pizza ranks high among the most-loved foods. The only problem is that 1/8 of a large pizza, or one slice, is over 350 calories—and who seriously eats only one slice? Not only does this healthy take on pizza have over 30 g protein and only 415 calories per pizza—yes, for the entire thing—but the sauce is perfect, too. If you like a crispy-crust pizza with flavorful sauce, you’ll love this.

SOURCE: http://www.bodybuilding.com/content/15-recipes-to-help-you-transform-in-the-new-year.html

#post- .CPlase_panel display:none;

#fitness #health #BODY MIND FITNESS

[evolutionoftastitude]

New Post has been published on http://www.evsmanagement.ca/clients/evolution/2017/01/14/15-recipes-to-help-you-transform-in-the-new-year/

15 Recipes To Help You Transform In The New Year

Ditch fad diets for good and stay on track with these healthy meals.

Before you can declare “New year, new you,” consider starting your journey with some new recipes! Trade in the junk food for quality protein and top-notch healthy ingredients with these treats, breakfasts, and meals!

1. Strawberry Banana Protein Bake

This oatmeal protein bake is absolutely bomb! It’s a healthier version of banana bread to easily satisfy your sweet tooth while delivering just enough protein, complex carbs and healthy fats. Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, try flavoring it with a variety of fruits. Even the kids will love it!

2. Kicked-Up Breakfast Scramble

Take your breakfast game to the next level with this easy, flavorful. The eggs in this breakfast offer up 24 grams of a quality protein—and all in just 10 minutes of prep.

3. Banana Pancakes

Gone are the days when the almighty pancake was simply a vessel for delivering same carbohydrates found in seven slices of bread. Now, a generous waterfall of (sugar-free) pancake syrup cascading down a full stack of protein-infused pancakes means satisfying flavor and muscle-building power.

4. Healthy Protein French Toast

Give French toast an extra muscle-building kick with this sweet breakfast recipe that’s high in protein and big on flavor! Making protein French toast is extremely easy and simple: Just whisk a few very basic ingredients together, dunk in your bread of choice, warm up a nonstick pan with a bit of coconut oil or low-calorie cooking spray, and you’re done. Simple, quick, and delicious!

5. Texas Gold Rush Chicken Breast

This recipe melds sweet and savory in a dish that will brighten up your plate and palate. This dish is dubbed “the gold rush” because of its yellow-orange color, but it’s also a muscle-building recipe worth its weight in gold. It’s easy to make in large batches and can always be customized to meet your goals. The best part? The hint of cinnamon-infused sweetness will be enough to curb your post-workout cravings without thwarting your progress.

6. Spicy Coconut Chicken Curry

Who doesn’t love a good curry dish? If you don’t, you may have just not tried the right one. If you’re not already reaping the benefits of curry, which include blood sugar control, heart health, and the anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric, it’s time to get on board. When plain chicken just won’t do, add this spin on a traditional Indian favorite to your list.

7. High-Protein, Low-Carb Mac And Cheese Sauce

This was a big hit this year. Carbs are a go-to guilty pleasure for most people—and if those carbs are covered in a cheesy sauce, all the better! But if you’re looking to lean out and are cutting grains and starches, you know that every gram counts. Rather than pine away for what you can’t have, why not make a macro-friendly meal that you can enjoy?

The answer to your dilemma is to make your own sauce! Pour this cheesy concoction over some low-carb pasta and see how thinking outside of the box can deliver a dish that’s good for you and taste-bud-pleasing!

8. Macro-Friendly Hungarian Beef Goulash

Nothing’s more comforting than sitting down to a bowl of warm protein-rich dish like this on a cool day.! Serve it over pasta, with your carb of choice, or on its own. Looking to give your dish some added flair? Throw carrots, parsnips, or potatoes into the mix.

9. 3-Bean Turkey Chili

When most people think of eating healthfully, one of the first options to come to mind is a salad. But don’t overlook a hearty, filling bowl of chili! This dish can be conveniently prepared in a single pot and be geared to both meat eaters and vegetarians. Prepare your chili on a Sunday for the entire family to enjoy, or save it to savor throughout the week!

10. Healthy Grilled Salmon With Sweet Or Smokey Glaze

Fire up your grill and get ready for gains by cooking up one of the wild kings of protein and healthy fats: the salmon. Pair with a savory smoky sriracha sauce or a wet pineapple glaze to satisfy your sweet tooth. Whichever sauce you choose, you really can’t go wrong!

11. Brown Rice Spring Rolls

You don’t need carb-filled pastry dough to make a wicked spring roll. Opt for this lower-carb version that uses transparent wrappers to really make your food the star of the dish. Play up the fun of eating with your eyes by using colorful veggies—with green avocados, purple cabbage, and orange carrots, you’ll really taste the rainbow. Dip that bad boy into a heaping serving of protein peanut sauce for that added tang.

12. Sweet Potato Lasagna

Replacing pasta sheets composed of refined white flour with thin slices of sweet potato is what makes this dish a standout. Instead of caving to a nutritional zero, you’ll be filling yourself with complex carbs and nutrients to help power through your workout. Not only are these tubers rich in vitamins D, C, and B6, but they’re also budget-friendly. It’s a win for your wallet and your waistline.

13. Monster Meatloaf

One reason people shy away from eating healthy is that they fear that many of their favorite foods will forever be off-limits. In reality, you can often make those recipes healthier, rather than banishing them altogether. This monster meatloaf is proof. By using extra-lean ground turkey and egg whites, you’ll keep the protein quotient high without adding excess calories or saturated fat.

14. Crispy Parmesan Fish Sticks

Bypass the heavily processed, freezer-frosted childhood favorite for this healthy, cheese-dusted alternative. Pair with a yogurt-based dipping sauce and a wedge of lemon for a flavor you’ll find yourself craving again and again.

15. Sausage Supreme Pita Pizza

Pizza ranks high among the most-loved foods. The only problem is that 1/8 of a large pizza, or one slice, is over 350 calories—and who seriously eats only one slice? Not only does this healthy take on pizza have over 30 g protein and only 415 calories per pizza—yes, for the entire thing—but the sauce is perfect, too. If you like a crispy-crust pizza with flavorful sauce, you’ll love this.

SOURCE: http://www.bodybuilding.com/content/15-recipes-to-help-you-transform-in-the-new-year.html

#post- .CPlase_panel display:none;

#fitness #health #BODY MIND FITNESS

[evolutionoftastitude]

New Post has been published on http://www.evsmanagement.ca/clients/evolution/2017/01/14/15-recipes-to-help-you-transform-in-the-new-year/

15 Recipes To Help You Transform In The New Year

Ditch fad diets for good and stay on track with these healthy meals.

Before you can declare “New year, new you,” consider starting your journey with some new recipes! Trade in the junk food for quality protein and top-notch healthy ingredients with these treats, breakfasts, and meals!

1. Strawberry Banana Protein Bake

This oatmeal protein bake is absolutely bomb! It’s a healthier version of banana bread to easily satisfy your sweet tooth while delivering just enough protein, complex carbs and healthy fats. Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, try flavoring it with a variety of fruits. Even the kids will love it!

2. Kicked-Up Breakfast Scramble

Take your breakfast game to the next level with this easy, flavorful. The eggs in this breakfast offer up 24 grams of a quality protein—and all in just 10 minutes of prep.

3. Banana Pancakes

Gone are the days when the almighty pancake was simply a vessel for delivering same carbohydrates found in seven slices of bread. Now, a generous waterfall of (sugar-free) pancake syrup cascading down a full stack of protein-infused pancakes means satisfying flavor and muscle-building power.

4. Healthy Protein French Toast

Give French toast an extra muscle-building kick with this sweet breakfast recipe that’s high in protein and big on flavor! Making protein French toast is extremely easy and simple: Just whisk a few very basic ingredients together, dunk in your bread of choice, warm up a nonstick pan with a bit of coconut oil or low-calorie cooking spray, and you’re done. Simple, quick, and delicious!

5. Texas Gold Rush Chicken Breast

This recipe melds sweet and savory in a dish that will brighten up your plate and palate. This dish is dubbed “the gold rush” because of its yellow-orange color, but it’s also a muscle-building recipe worth its weight in gold. It’s easy to make in large batches and can always be customized to meet your goals. The best part? The hint of cinnamon-infused sweetness will be enough to curb your post-workout cravings without thwarting your progress.

6. Spicy Coconut Chicken Curry

Who doesn’t love a good curry dish? If you don’t, you may have just not tried the right one. If you’re not already reaping the benefits of curry, which include blood sugar control, heart health, and the anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric, it’s time to get on board. When plain chicken just won’t do, add this spin on a traditional Indian favorite to your list.

7. High-Protein, Low-Carb Mac And Cheese Sauce

This was a big hit this year. Carbs are a go-to guilty pleasure for most people—and if those carbs are covered in a cheesy sauce, all the better! But if you’re looking to lean out and are cutting grains and starches, you know that every gram counts. Rather than pine away for what you can’t have, why not make a macro-friendly meal that you can enjoy?

The answer to your dilemma is to make your own sauce! Pour this cheesy concoction over some low-carb pasta and see how thinking outside of the box can deliver a dish that’s good for you and taste-bud-pleasing!

8. Macro-Friendly Hungarian Beef Goulash

Nothing’s more comforting than sitting down to a bowl of warm protein-rich dish like this on a cool day.! Serve it over pasta, with your carb of choice, or on its own. Looking to give your dish some added flair? Throw carrots, parsnips, or potatoes into the mix.

9. 3-Bean Turkey Chili

When most people think of eating healthfully, one of the first options to come to mind is a salad. But don’t overlook a hearty, filling bowl of chili! This dish can be conveniently prepared in a single pot and be geared to both meat eaters and vegetarians. Prepare your chili on a Sunday for the entire family to enjoy, or save it to savor throughout the week!

10. Healthy Grilled Salmon With Sweet Or Smokey Glaze

Fire up your grill and get ready for gains by cooking up one of the wild kings of protein and healthy fats: the salmon. Pair with a savory smoky sriracha sauce or a wet pineapple glaze to satisfy your sweet tooth. Whichever sauce you choose, you really can’t go wrong!

11. Brown Rice Spring Rolls

You don’t need carb-filled pastry dough to make a wicked spring roll. Opt for this lower-carb version that uses transparent wrappers to really make your food the star of the dish. Play up the fun of eating with your eyes by using colorful veggies—with green avocados, purple cabbage, and orange carrots, you’ll really taste the rainbow. Dip that bad boy into a heaping serving of protein peanut sauce for that added tang.

12. Sweet Potato Lasagna

Replacing pasta sheets composed of refined white flour with thin slices of sweet potato is what makes this dish a standout. Instead of caving to a nutritional zero, you’ll be filling yourself with complex carbs and nutrients to help power through your workout. Not only are these tubers rich in vitamins D, C, and B6, but they’re also budget-friendly. It’s a win for your wallet and your waistline.

13. Monster Meatloaf

One reason people shy away from eating healthy is that they fear that many of their favorite foods will forever be off-limits. In reality, you can often make those recipes healthier, rather than banishing them altogether. This monster meatloaf is proof. By using extra-lean ground turkey and egg whites, you’ll keep the protein quotient high without adding excess calories or saturated fat.

14. Crispy Parmesan Fish Sticks

Bypass the heavily processed, freezer-frosted childhood favorite for this healthy, cheese-dusted alternative. Pair with a yogurt-based dipping sauce and a wedge of lemon for a flavor you’ll find yourself craving again and again.

15. Sausage Supreme Pita Pizza

Pizza ranks high among the most-loved foods. The only problem is that 1/8 of a large pizza, or one slice, is over 350 calories—and who seriously eats only one slice? Not only does this healthy take on pizza have over 30 g protein and only 415 calories per pizza—yes, for the entire thing—but the sauce is perfect, too. If you like a crispy-crust pizza with flavorful sauce, you’ll love this.

SOURCE: http://www.bodybuilding.com/content/15-recipes-to-help-you-transform-in-the-new-year.html

#post- .CPlase_panel display:none;

#fitness #health #BODY MIND FITNESS

[evolutionoftastitude]

New Post has been published on http://www.evsmanagement.ca/clients/evolution/2017/01/14/15-recipes-to-help-you-transform-in-the-new-year/

15 Recipes To Help You Transform In The New Year

Ditch fad diets for good and stay on track with these healthy meals.

Before you can declare “New year, new you,” consider starting your journey with some new recipes! Trade in the junk food for quality protein and top-notch healthy ingredients with these treats, breakfasts, and meals!

1. Strawberry Banana Protein Bake

This oatmeal protein bake is absolutely bomb! It’s a healthier version of banana bread to easily satisfy your sweet tooth while delivering just enough protein, complex carbs and healthy fats. Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, try flavoring it with a variety of fruits. Even the kids will love it!

2. Kicked-Up Breakfast Scramble

Take your breakfast game to the next level with this easy, flavorful. The eggs in this breakfast offer up 24 grams of a quality protein—and all in just 10 minutes of prep.

3. Banana Pancakes

Gone are the days when the almighty pancake was simply a vessel for delivering same carbohydrates found in seven slices of bread. Now, a generous waterfall of (sugar-free) pancake syrup cascading down a full stack of protein-infused pancakes means satisfying flavor and muscle-building power.

4. Healthy Protein French Toast

Give French toast an extra muscle-building kick with this sweet breakfast recipe that’s high in protein and big on flavor! Making protein French toast is extremely easy and simple: Just whisk a few very basic ingredients together, dunk in your bread of choice, warm up a nonstick pan with a bit of coconut oil or low-calorie cooking spray, and you’re done. Simple, quick, and delicious!

5. Texas Gold Rush Chicken Breast

This recipe melds sweet and savory in a dish that will brighten up your plate and palate. This dish is dubbed “the gold rush” because of its yellow-orange color, but it’s also a muscle-building recipe worth its weight in gold. It’s easy to make in large batches and can always be customized to meet your goals. The best part? The hint of cinnamon-infused sweetness will be enough to curb your post-workout cravings without thwarting your progress.

6. Spicy Coconut Chicken Curry

Who doesn’t love a good curry dish? If you don’t, you may have just not tried the right one. If you’re not already reaping the benefits of curry, which include blood sugar control, heart health, and the anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric, it’s time to get on board. When plain chicken just won’t do, add this spin on a traditional Indian favorite to your list.

7. High-Protein, Low-Carb Mac And Cheese Sauce

This was a big hit this year. Carbs are a go-to guilty pleasure for most people—and if those carbs are covered in a cheesy sauce, all the better! But if you’re looking to lean out and are cutting grains and starches, you know that every gram counts. Rather than pine away for what you can’t have, why not make a macro-friendly meal that you can enjoy?

The answer to your dilemma is to make your own sauce! Pour this cheesy concoction over some low-carb pasta and see how thinking outside of the box can deliver a dish that’s good for you and taste-bud-pleasing!

8. Macro-Friendly Hungarian Beef Goulash

Nothing’s more comforting than sitting down to a bowl of warm protein-rich dish like this on a cool day.! Serve it over pasta, with your carb of choice, or on its own. Looking to give your dish some added flair? Throw carrots, parsnips, or potatoes into the mix.

9. 3-Bean Turkey Chili

When most people think of eating healthfully, one of the first options to come to mind is a salad. But don’t overlook a hearty, filling bowl of chili! This dish can be conveniently prepared in a single pot and be geared to both meat eaters and vegetarians. Prepare your chili on a Sunday for the entire family to enjoy, or save it to savor throughout the week!

10. Healthy Grilled Salmon With Sweet Or Smokey Glaze

Fire up your grill and get ready for gains by cooking up one of the wild kings of protein and healthy fats: the salmon. Pair with a savory smoky sriracha sauce or a wet pineapple glaze to satisfy your sweet tooth. Whichever sauce you choose, you really can’t go wrong!

11. Brown Rice Spring Rolls

You don’t need carb-filled pastry dough to make a wicked spring roll. Opt for this lower-carb version that uses transparent wrappers to really make your food the star of the dish. Play up the fun of eating with your eyes by using colorful veggies—with green avocados, purple cabbage, and orange carrots, you’ll really taste the rainbow. Dip that bad boy into a heaping serving of protein peanut sauce for that added tang.

12. Sweet Potato Lasagna

Replacing pasta sheets composed of refined white flour with thin slices of sweet potato is what makes this dish a standout. Instead of caving to a nutritional zero, you’ll be filling yourself with complex carbs and nutrients to help power through your workout. Not only are these tubers rich in vitamins D, C, and B6, but they’re also budget-friendly. It’s a win for your wallet and your waistline.

13. Monster Meatloaf

One reason people shy away from eating healthy is that they fear that many of their favorite foods will forever be off-limits. In reality, you can often make those recipes healthier, rather than banishing them altogether. This monster meatloaf is proof. By using extra-lean ground turkey and egg whites, you’ll keep the protein quotient high without adding excess calories or saturated fat.

14. Crispy Parmesan Fish Sticks

Bypass the heavily processed, freezer-frosted childhood favorite for this healthy, cheese-dusted alternative. Pair with a yogurt-based dipping sauce and a wedge of lemon for a flavor you’ll find yourself craving again and again.

15. Sausage Supreme Pita Pizza

Pizza ranks high among the most-loved foods. The only problem is that 1/8 of a large pizza, or one slice, is over 350 calories—and who seriously eats only one slice? Not only does this healthy take on pizza have over 30 g protein and only 415 calories per pizza—yes, for the entire thing—but the sauce is perfect, too. If you like a crispy-crust pizza with flavorful sauce, you’ll love this.

SOURCE: http://www.bodybuilding.com/content/15-recipes-to-help-you-transform-in-the-new-year.html

#post- .CPlase_panel display:none;

#fitness #health #BODY MIND FITNESS

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15 Recipes To Help You Transform In The New Year

Ditch fad diets for good and stay on track with these healthy meals.

Before you can declare “New year, new you,” consider starting your journey with some new recipes! Trade in the junk food for quality protein and top-notch healthy ingredients with these treats, breakfasts, and meals!

1. Strawberry Banana Protein Bake

This oatmeal protein bake is absolutely bomb! It’s a healthier version of banana bread to easily satisfy your sweet tooth while delivering just enough protein, complex carbs and healthy fats. Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, try flavoring it with a variety of fruits. Even the kids will love it!

2. Kicked-Up Breakfast Scramble

Take your breakfast game to the next level with this easy, flavorful. The eggs in this breakfast offer up 24 grams of a quality protein—and all in just 10 minutes of prep.

3. Banana Pancakes

Gone are the days when the almighty pancake was simply a vessel for delivering same carbohydrates found in seven slices of bread. Now, a generous waterfall of (sugar-free) pancake syrup cascading down a full stack of protein-infused pancakes means satisfying flavor and muscle-building power.

4. Healthy Protein French Toast

Give French toast an extra muscle-building kick with this sweet breakfast recipe that’s high in protein and big on flavor! Making protein French toast is extremely easy and simple: Just whisk a few very basic ingredients together, dunk in your bread of choice, warm up a nonstick pan with a bit of coconut oil or low-calorie cooking spray, and you’re done. Simple, quick, and delicious!

5. Texas Gold Rush Chicken Breast

This recipe melds sweet and savory in a dish that will brighten up your plate and palate. This dish is dubbed “the gold rush” because of its yellow-orange color, but it’s also a muscle-building recipe worth its weight in gold. It’s easy to make in large batches and can always be customized to meet your goals. The best part? The hint of cinnamon-infused sweetness will be enough to curb your post-workout cravings without thwarting your progress.

6. Spicy Coconut Chicken Curry

Who doesn’t love a good curry dish? If you don’t, you may have just not tried the right one. If you’re not already reaping the benefits of curry, which include blood sugar control, heart health, and the anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric, it’s time to get on board. When plain chicken just won’t do, add this spin on a traditional Indian favorite to your list.

7. High-Protein, Low-Carb Mac And Cheese Sauce

This was a big hit this year. Carbs are a go-to guilty pleasure for most people—and if those carbs are covered in a cheesy sauce, all the better! But if you’re looking to lean out and are cutting grains and starches, you know that every gram counts. Rather than pine away for what you can’t have, why not make a macro-friendly meal that you can enjoy?

The answer to your dilemma is to make your own sauce! Pour this cheesy concoction over some low-carb pasta and see how thinking outside of the box can deliver a dish that’s good for you and taste-bud-pleasing!

8. Macro-Friendly Hungarian Beef Goulash

Nothing’s more comforting than sitting down to a bowl of warm protein-rich dish like this on a cool day.! Serve it over pasta, with your carb of choice, or on its own. Looking to give your dish some added flair? Throw carrots, parsnips, or potatoes into the mix.

9. 3-Bean Turkey Chili

When most people think of eating healthfully, one of the first options to come to mind is a salad. But don’t overlook a hearty, filling bowl of chili! This dish can be conveniently prepared in a single pot and be geared to both meat eaters and vegetarians. Prepare your chili on a Sunday for the entire family to enjoy, or save it to savor throughout the week!

10. Healthy Grilled Salmon With Sweet Or Smokey Glaze

Fire up your grill and get ready for gains by cooking up one of the wild kings of protein and healthy fats: the salmon. Pair with a savory smoky sriracha sauce or a wet pineapple glaze to satisfy your sweet tooth. Whichever sauce you choose, you really can’t go wrong!

11. Brown Rice Spring Rolls

You don’t need carb-filled pastry dough to make a wicked spring roll. Opt for this lower-carb version that uses transparent wrappers to really make your food the star of the dish. Play up the fun of eating with your eyes by using colorful veggies—with green avocados, purple cabbage, and orange carrots, you’ll really taste the rainbow. Dip that bad boy into a heaping serving of protein peanut sauce for that added tang.

12. Sweet Potato Lasagna

Replacing pasta sheets composed of refined white flour with thin slices of sweet potato is what makes this dish a standout. Instead of caving to a nutritional zero, you’ll be filling yourself with complex carbs and nutrients to help power through your workout. Not only are these tubers rich in vitamins D, C, and B6, but they’re also budget-friendly. It’s a win for your wallet and your waistline.

13. Monster Meatloaf

One reason people shy away from eating healthy is that they fear that many of their favorite foods will forever be off-limits. In reality, you can often make those recipes healthier, rather than banishing them altogether. This monster meatloaf is proof. By using extra-lean ground turkey and egg whites, you’ll keep the protein quotient high without adding excess calories or saturated fat.

14. Crispy Parmesan Fish Sticks

Bypass the heavily processed, freezer-frosted childhood favorite for this healthy, cheese-dusted alternative. Pair with a yogurt-based dipping sauce and a wedge of lemon for a flavor you’ll find yourself craving again and again.

15. Sausage Supreme Pita Pizza

Pizza ranks high among the most-loved foods. The only problem is that 1/8 of a large pizza, or one slice, is over 350 calories—and who seriously eats only one slice? Not only does this healthy take on pizza have over 30 g protein and only 415 calories per pizza—yes, for the entire thing—but the sauce is perfect, too. If you like a crispy-crust pizza with flavorful sauce, you’ll love this.

SOURCE: http://www.bodybuilding.com/content/15-recipes-to-help-you-transform-in-the-new-year.html

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