#and if we can get enough for some easier food or at least more ingredients for me to work with that'd be great 👍

[sootonthecarpet]

Byron @heyfagbutt and I need to get a small run of groceries and we're not going to have our budget for the month until at best the middle of next week. We can't walk to the store right now (he fucked up his knee doing errands earlier in the week), but if we can get 40-80 dollars in addition to the ten we still have, we can place a small grocery order. (paypal, venmo, both his.) if not, I might be able to make it down to the store tomorrow or monday for some pantry goods, and anything extra would help with that. (right now we basically just have spices and a few days' worth of plain pasta.)

#I'm on like the fourth or fifth day of a migraine so this post is kinda rushed #we were supposed to go buy rice this weekend w/ the last ten bucks but I don't want Byron on his feet until he's had a chance to rest #and if we can get enough for some easier food or at least more ingredients for me to work with that'd be great 👍

[thebibliosphere]

Something I've been recommending a lot to my fellow MCAS + POTS-sufferers at the moment, has been investing in a soup blender.

Apart from beta blockers, the primary treatment for POTS is increasing salt and water. A really good way of combining both and upping your nutritional value is by drinking things like bone broth or veggie stock.

But if you're like me with a ton of allergies (so you can't buy anything premade🙃) and bone broth raises your histamine, then you're left with the energy sapping task of making your own.

And I don't know about any of you, but when my nervous system is throwing a wobbler, the last thing I am capable of doing is standing up for long periods at a time over a hot stove.

Some people get around this by using a slow cooker, which is great if you can. I personally can't because slow cooking raises the histamine content of food (especially meat) and also, the clue is in the name, it's a slow cooker and sometimes my POTSie, ADHD butt needs food now-ish or as soon as possible and not 8 hours later. Instapots can be good, but they take up a lot of counter space and also I don't know if you've ever tried to release a pressure cooker valve when you can barely stand, but I genuinely think that's the closest I've come to dying and I've experienced both megaloblastic and hemalytic anemia.

Which is why we got a soup blender. They take up less space, are generally easier to clean, and also easier for me, at least, to use. All you need to do is roughly chop your ingredients up, dump them in the jug, add seasoning, fill the jug with water, hit the soup function and then sit your ass down for the next 20 minutes while this magical fucking thing both cooks and blends you some liquidy goodness.

I will say, don't invest in the instapot one. It's not worth the price point, and the motor burned out on mine after about six months. It was also a pain in the ass to clean. (The self clean was more of a "swish water around for 30 seconds" function and I can't tell you how many times I hurt myself trying to get gunk off the bottom.)

The one I currently have is a Ninja HB152 Foodi Heat-iQ Blender, which was a little more expensive, but in my opinion, far superior and better made. It's faster, makes either chunky or smooth soup, really good consistency dips, ice cream and smoothies. I've also used it to make alternative milks like oat milk and it didn't jam the blades.

It also has a great cleaning system that actually takes a full 6 minutes to run and really gets any residue off the base, and it also alerts you to things like the jug or lid not being secure, which is great when I'm brain-fogged and try to blend things without the lid on.

Anyway, this post brought to you not by Ninja but by @mothman-etd making me some leek and potato soup laden with enough salt to make this POTS episode manageable.

Just throwing the info out there. Hope it helps someone.

#chronic health tag #POTS #spoonie hacks #not sponsored #gif warning

[ms-demeanor]

my thing is I'm capable of any of this stuff up to at least level 3 and can do them for special occasions and if I've rested enough no problem, but I can't do it OFTEN because it just uses up too many spoons. any thoughts on this? besides practice, I already cook as often as I can (which is not very)

Mise en place your life as much as possible. I've talked about this before but this is what I do to make things easier on myself. My baking station with all the ingredients out and clearly labeled instead of at the bottom of the pantry where I have to dig for them makes it much, much, much easier to bake. My knife strip on the wall and the dozen cutting boards in a rack on the wall and the frying pan that lives on the stove instead of under the counter all make it much easier for me to cook.

Like, a lot of what I've been going through and doing in terms of home improvement/home decor is attempting to configure the house in such a way that large bastard and i can easily do the things we want to/need to do. We need batteries all the time, so the batteries live in an organized box where we can see it instead of in the back of the cabinet. We also need to *discard* batteries all the time, so the battery discard tub is right next to that box otherwise we'll start accumulating used batteries on surfaces.

The instruments that live on my kitchen counter are the ones that get used most often so that I don't need to go looking for them and so that I know at a glance if they're clean (if so they're in the canister on the counter) or need to be washed. The appliances that I use the most either live on the counter or get put places where it's convenient - I don't have enough bowls and plates that I need to use the top three shelves of my cabinet for bowls and plates like my parents did, but I do use my rice cooker twice a week so my rice cooker lives in the same cabinet as my dishes (as does my tofu press, my waffle maker, and the easiest-to-use 16oz food storage containers).

And you know what sometimes i just can't do it. Sometimes my back isn't working or my hip isn't working or i got glutened recently and I can't do much of anything.

I've got a variety of low spoon foods that I always have ingredients for (one recent addition to this list is tofu; i went from eating no tofu to eating tofu twice a week because two days a week i can't really use one of my arms to make dinner so i just prep the tofu at lunchtime and when i get home from the plasma center all i have to do is season and pan fry it and make a pot of rice. And I also make a shitload of extra rice because rice with eggs and sweet-spicy sauce is now one of my easiest and best go-to lunches) and whenever I make a pot of soup (something that I do pretty much every weekend when it's cool enough) I will make enough for lunch that week plus usually some extra to go in the freezer as backup "I don't feel like cooking" meals.

So, yeah I guess what I'm saying is get a good list of low-spoon foods that you like and can keep the ingredients handy for (ground beef goes bad in a week, tofu lasts like a month, i love tofu, it's so easy and so cheap to keep a bunch of tofu handy), and throw out the idea of what a kitchen is "supposed" to be like and figure out if there are ways to make your kitchen more adaptive for you.

Get anti-fatigue mats for your home kitchen. Get a tall stool that you can sit at while cooking at the stove instead of standing. Reorganize your cabinets for maximum efficiency for your needs. (large bastard and I have been doing this both with organized visible storage like wall racks as well as putting his stuff up high because bending over isn't easy for him but it is easy for me).

And also, like, consider if it's worth it, or how it can be worth it. How do you want to be a better cook? Do you want to be better at making meals for large groups or do you want to be more comfortable cooking for yourself or do you want a wider repertoire of recipes - all of those things will take a different path and some will be harder than others if you're wrangling disabilities that make it difficult to cook. I'm probably never going to be great at cooking for large groups because it doesn't really suit my lifestyle and it hurts! It hurts a lot and after hosting thanksgiving last year i needed to use my cane for a week because of how much it hurt my back! But I can work on stuff that makes it easier for me to cook, like having my baking station or keeping my rice cooker in an easy-to-reach cabinet.

[homemakinghippie]

Meal Planning

Aside from making as much of our food from scratch as possible, meal planning is how I keep our grocery budget low. When done properly it can be extremely helpful, but I know a lot of people find it very overwhelming so I thought I'd share how I meal plan.

The first step is deciding how long you want to plan for. I plan week by week because I love grocery shopping. Growing up my mom always planned for two weeks so she could get groceries on pay day, and I know some people successfully plan for the whole month. However long you choose to plan for, don't think that your meal plan locks you down to eating specific things on specific nights. A meal plan is more like a guide. I use it as a list of meals we want to eat that week, and we can have whichever meal sounds the best that night. I still have some freedom of choice, but I don't have to think hard about what we should have. It eliminates a lot of decision fatigue.

I always try to base my meals off the things that are on sale that week. Most grocery stores (at least in the US) change their sale items on Wednesdays so I make my meal plan and grocery list on Wednesday. You could totally do your shopping then too, but my husband and I like going together on weekends. This can take a little more flexibility, because sometimes the item on my list is sold out because of the sale, but I just do what I need to make it work. If you get your local newspaper they should have an insert with local store's weekly ads, but most also post them on their app/website. Using the app or website can actually make lists easier because you can sometimes add a sale item or deal straight to your in app list and clip coupons straight to your account instead of needing to get the scissors out.

I do shop at Walmart a lot and they don't have weekly deals or coupons, so I also keep a list of meals we love and are cheap/easy to make. I price compare items at my local Kroger and Walmart and usually end up going to both of there's enough items that are cheaper.

Meal planning can be super simple if you want it to be. Create meals based on sale items, choose one of those meals each night when deciding what to have for dinner, save money because you're not constantly going back to the store for random ingredients or getting takeout because you can't decide.

I wanna clarify that when I say sale items I mean ingredients. Produce, cheese, or meats that are one sale. Even if everything is on sale, buying all premade/processed foods will automatically make your groceries cost more. You can get more meals out of a package of chicken breasts, cheese, rice, and some vegetables than you can with frozen meals you just have to heat up (although frozen vegetables are an amazing way to get veggies in for cheaper).

#meal planning #homemaking #homemaker #housewife #stay at home wife #50s housewife #vintage housewife #traditional housewife #tradwife #traditional gender roles #traditional femininity #tradfem #stay at home mom #traditional home #traditional wife #traditional marriage #traditionalism #tradblr #crunchy mom #hippie mom #from scratch #groceries #cooking #homemade #holistic home #hyper feminine #femininity #feminine #divine feminine #wife

[misc-obeyme]

Hello CC! I hope you don't mind if I come in here to theorize with you about some of my SI/OCs.

I've been a Barbatos guy for awhile and enjoyed many a good thought about how our fictional romance would go. But then I had gotten through enough of the game that I unfortunately started falling for Belphegor too. If only it had been Diavolo! I think Barb and Dia could hold hands nicely. But Barb and Belphie?

So I've made two SIs who are basically identical with separate romantic paths because I cannot imagine those two ever sharing an MC. It may be my limited knowledge of the game that's limiting my imagination on this, which is why I'm coming to an expert.

How would you make Belphegor and Barbatos share a romantic partner? If possible?

Hey there! I certainly don't mind, this is exactly the kinda thing I love to do! dkafljf but man I'm gonna end up with an inflated ego if people keeping calling me an expert lol!

Okay. So. Are we talking about a V triad polyamorous situation? Like Belphie and Barb are both dating MC, but they're not necessarily dating each other? Or is it more of a throuple situation where all three people are dating each other at the same time?

'Cause I think it's always easier if MC is the pivot of the relationship and the other two just have to get along. Though I also think you could make Barb and Belphie fall in love with each other if you wanted to. This could be because I have shipped Barb with every character possible. I just assume that everybody is in love with him because how could you not be? My poor OCs.

ER- anyway, in either situation, MC is the glue that holds everything together. Because even if the two characters can find no common ground, they always have their shared love for MC to bond over.

That being said, I actually think Barbatos and Belphegor are somewhat compatible. They're both relatively calm and they're also both very smart. They can be manipulative when they want to be. And I kinda think they'd get each other.

You could easily create some cute moments between them, too. For instance, if Belphie used his powers of persuasion to get his brothers to help out around the castle. Or if Barbatos made Belphie a new pillow case. Maybe they all have a picnic together and Barb tells Belphie to invite Beel. Since Beel always loves Barb's food and he can be sure to make enough to satisfy him. Maybe they stargaze together.

Where I think they might clash the most is that they're both kinda possessive. And that could be where MC runs into problems, especially if they're in a V triad.

I think Barbatos would be most likely to give in to Belphie, but do it too much and he's gonna get a little restless about it.

There's also the fact that Belphie is very lazy and Barbatos is definitely not. I could see them getting frustrated with each other over this. Belphie being like why are you always so strict about everything and Barbatos being like why are you always so careless about everything?? LOL.

But the other thing about Barbatos is that he likes taking care of people. And I think that Belphie likes to be taken care of.

So in the end, I think those major parts of their personalities blend quite nicely.

Say MC and Belphie end up taking a nap in a weird place. Barbatos probably keeps track of them, so he always knows where they are. And then he makes sure they at least have a blanket. Maybe he even moves them to a safer location. Rearranges them a little so they don't wake up with stiff necks.

Maybe Belphie goes out of his way to bring Barbatos special ingredients for one of MC's favorite dishes. He wouldn't normally make the effort, but since it's for MC. And you know, as thanks for watching out for Belphie and MC when they were sleeping in a weird place.

Hmm yes I feel like you could write a sweet little slow burn between them if they were dating each other as well as MC. But even if that isn't the case, they could end up being friends and getting along. Because not only do they see how much the other one cares about MC, but they have that potential to work well together, too.

Now just imagine what happens if MC gets into some kinda trouble or something. Damn those two would team up to protect or defend MC in a heartbeat and rip to anyone who thought they could mess with MC.

Anyway, I don't know if that helps at all! But this is how I would think about it!

#while I've considered the Barb/Belphie relationship before #again because I ship Barb with everyone at some point #I haven't quite written this much about it #it'd be kinda cute I think #obey me #obey me nightbringer #obey me barbatos #obey me belphegor #totallynorm #cc mutuals #misc answers

[feralsteddie]

So i need to hear about you Steve & Argyle friendship thoughts because I keep seeing them in your tags and I think they’re such an underrated duo that would probably get along so well together?????

ohmygod THANK YOU I’ve been waiting for an excuse to go off about them. Fics always leave out Argyle or have Steve just think he’s Jonathan’s weird friend and like, I get it, but we could do so much better guys

Like okay I have a couple of different ideas for them. One is nearly canon compliant (aka Hawkins still splits open so we still gotta wait on a boss fight, but Eddie lives, bc I said so) and the other is au where Vecna bites it, Eddie just got a lil nibbled, the charges got dropped, and everything is in the realm of fine. Gunna talk about the first one. This is definitely a bit of a mess of rambles. Enjoy.

It takes a while for them to actually have their first conversation, given everything.

Argyle is with Jon most of the time, who’s with his siblings in the cabin they’re fixing up, all hyperfocused on the impending return of Vecna and the town cracking open. Steve is running around the hospital between Max and Eddie’s room and threatening doctors if they even look at Eddie sideways or if he thinks Max isn't getting proper treatment.

So they just… don’t really cross paths. Argyle’s heard some of the stories about Steve from Jon, so he’s not too quick to go seek him out and Steve just could not care less about the other new guy along for the ride, he's too busy. Doesn’t even learn his name until about two weeks after they get to town and Robin dragged him by his ear to the cabin bc it was the only other place he'd relent to being at the moment.

Their first full conversation is actually about Argyle's daily foraging. He sees Argyle walking around, avoiding the traps and occassionally stopping to pick something and drop it in his bag. So, he's curious, and Steve's been friends with genius children and Robin long enough to be a good listener for things he doesn't quite get, but unlike the fifteen year old assholes Argyle seems cool with answering his questions.

With the ground kind of rotting out from the cracks in Hawkins, and the increasing likelihood the gov is gunna put up a quarantine any day now, they talk about how to best dry and keep things. Medicinal vs Food, how they can sub out ingredients in recipes for what they can find because it turned out they were both pretty damn good cooks.

From then on it just kind of turns into a Thing.

They both see how the other isn't really taken seriously by anyone in the group. Like, their respective best friends love them and don't look down on them, but there's always this kind of air that whenever they open their mouths they're gunna get some eyerolls. Argyle is the guy who can drive, Steve is the guy that gets hit a lot. They're not really necessary for planning.

So they help as much as they can in other places, together.

They make sure the group is fed, and sleeps, and doesn't do anything that raises their potential of being killed any more than necessary. (Joyce and Hop try, they really do, but they're busy harrassing government officials)

Jon hates how they get along, like, don’t get him wrong he knows Steve’s changed, is a good guy and all that, but come on Argyle is his best friend thanks and with how weird everything had been with Nancy he’d really like custody of Argyle back thanks.

Robin thinks it’s nice Steve has another friend their age, and knows how much easier having him around made getting used to the whole Monsters Are Real thing. (That being said, they require a certain amount of Robin-Steve one on one time or they WILL die. Or at the very least be insufferable to everyone around them)

Argyle got Steve into pineapple on pizza.

Steve braids Argyle’s hair whenever he needs to get it out of the way.

They talk to each other about their parental situations, about feeling like they’d never be what their parents wanted them to be. Argyle’s parents worked hard, wanted him to go to university and find a well-paying career; didn’t like that he was perfectly content with community college and kind of just wanted to open up his own restaurant one day. Steve's pretty sure his parents were disappointed the day he was born, and completely gave up by the time he only got back rejection letters. Argyle misses his, they were so worried when he’d gone missing for a few days, and their worry didn’t get any less when he finally called and told them where he was, but they’re not going to force him back. Steve’s parents still haven’t called, and he wonders if they remember that he’s still in Hawkins at all.

They don't hang out all the time. They've each got their respective best friends, and Argyle and Jon are usually the only two who manage to wrangle Mike, Will, and El. Who are constantly trying to sneak away to enact some half-baked plan they're sure will end it this time. Steve's got Dustin and Erica by the scruffs of their necks half the time, and his hands still full at the hospital the other.

They find out the two of them make a really good monster hunting pair though. Rob, Steve and Argyle end up on the same Team during scraps with the Upside Down Monsters. They've both got the most insane observation skills. Each quick on their feet and are really good with improvised weaponry. (Robin's able to fill in the pieces based on things they point out, is kind of the only one who really takes what they say seriously enough to utilise it.)

Argyle becomes the second person to come out to him on a bathroom floor while bloody. Argyle doesn't even really think anything of it, didn't even realise Steve hadn't known about his gigantic crush on Jonathan, just made an offhand joke about hoping his best friend thought the new gash on the side of his arm was as cool as the matching one he had with Nancy. They apent about an hour just talking about how he'd liked Jon from the moment he met him. Thought the awkward loner was cute and sweet and even after he found out he had a girlfriend back home he'd still wanted to be around him. Was content to be his best friend as long as he was happy, and did his best to move on with other people he could see himself caring for.

About a month after Eddie's back, Steve makes the third coming out to happen while bleeding on a bathroom floor. He'd kind of already known that he liked guys, but hadn't ever really thought too hard about it before. But he was having a bit of a freak out and Argyle and Rob both just squeezed into the dry bathtub with him. Let him have a full panic about liking a guy he'd kind of hated before spring break, a most likely straight guy who'd bodied a demodog that'd tried to sneak up on him and- hey did he mention just how hot that had been after they'd both calmed down from a mutual panic attack?

After that Rob, Argyle, and Steve will occassionally just get together to scream about their crushes. Robin still not sure what's happening with Vickie but they held hands guys, girls hold their friend's hands alll the time though right???

They smoke about it, a lot.py

#thank you so much I just need to talk about them or I’ll die actually #argyle (stranger things) #steve harrington #sorry this took a couple of days my sibling was getting married and prep was HECTIC #there's some slight jargyle rockie and steddie in here #but the main focus is argyle and steve #i defintiely have about a million different little hc's for their friendship #i just!!! think they're both so underestimated #so you put them together and they'd be able to value each other's opinions like no one else seems to be able to #and!!! they often ask very reasonable questions and point the right stuff out!!! #sorry they are... important to me #i'm in love with argyle and steve individually in general so just... slap them together okey #Robin: oh thank god he has a second friend. i was worried. last time i hung out with someone else i cam home and he was sitting on my steps #so yeah there's more my head's just on 50% sorry #pyreposting #pyresmailbox

[thessalian]

Thess vs The Weekend Spoon Budget

Well, I have a whole weekend all to myself (which is me looking at the bright side of "My Saturday D&D shenanigans had to be cancelled again this week). Of course, I guess it's not technically all to myself because I suppose I should put those spoons towards household chores etc. So it's another Thess Is A Motherfucking Adult weekend ... to a point. See, the actual chores list goes something like "clean out the fridge, take out the trash and the recycling (which is not easy if you're me), and do some laundry". However, there are some other things that aren't quite chores but are sort of chores because they probably need doing by the standards of making my life easier but don't necessarily need doing by the standards of good housekeeping etc.

See, while I did not get tapped for overtime this week, some of it's still the same old bullshit. We seemed to be doing better typing-wise towards the end of the week (and that was with New Girl being away, so I dunno what's up with that), but I did get stuck with all the long-ass complicated bits of typing and the shit no one likes to do because the accents involved are a trial. Also they're trying to catch up with months of placenta reports so if I see one more fucking placenta form I am going to scream. Anyway, point is, not overtime-busy, but busy. And that's made things like lunch fall by the wayside. I don't generally have time or spoons to throw something together, even a sandwich. Too many steps involved in making a sandwich. So I don't want this to be a recurring thing, obviously. Food is good.

Now, I figured out how to make potato salad the other week. Which is good, because I like potato salad. So I thought, why not make other things like that, that I can just slop into a bowl and eat? So I thought chicken macaroni salad, and I do have all the ingredients for that, I think. So there's going to be boiling some macaroni, cooking some chicken, letting it all cool and Mixing Things. Stuff like that.

Of course, I also kind of want to fill the cookie jar. Now, if I want chocolate chip cookies (and I do), I'm going to have to make some cookie dough to chill. I do want to make more snickerdoodles. Maybe more three-ingredient peanut butter cookies. On top of that, I still have two more bananas left so I can make more banana bread (I kinda ate all my banana bread). So Things For Nibbles in the house. Problem is, with some of this stuff, I do need a couple of more ingredients. Sugar, for one. Eggs, because the corner shop only had medium eggs (which are going to become hard-boiled eggs so I can have some easy protein). Unsalted butter. Sour cream for the banana bread. Also I'm low on garlic salt and that cannot be allowed to stand. Soooooooo that means I probably have to go out farther than the corner shop today. Woe. I mean, I'd go to the little Co-Op down the road, but their selection is woeful. Eh, at least it's not miserably cold.

Right. Time to spend some spoons doing the Adulting Shit. Then I can go out and pick up stuff, and then come back home and do more Adulting Shit, and maybe have enough time and spoons to have some fun later.

Sometimes being an adult sucks, but at least it'll make for good eating later.

#Thess is a motherfucking adult #Thess cooks

[nerves-nebula]

*nods* yeah once my teacher shoved a £5 in my hands and kicked me out of class because I was unable to focus due to not having eaten in a day or so (can't remember). Though my food issues are more to do with money. I can afford to eat, and my parents at least always had enough food that we never went truly hungry, but I had a job at the time and felt that meant I can't eat too much of the food my folks bought, but I'm also stingy as hell and decided the best way to save money is just not eat.

Anyways I was really embarrassed after that and made sure to at least eat enough that it wasn't visibly affecting me. If wasting money is bad OWING someone else money is the worst thing you could do (my parents drilled that in my head after they made me return a £1 another kid gave me when I was 9) so yea

that's fuckin rough. i bounce between being very stingy/paranoid about spending money and spending it without thinking cause "I've probably got enough" (I do not probably got enough) so I know that money anxiety is like, not great.

I don't think we ever went truly "hungry" hungry either. Like, there was almost always food (or at least ingredients that could be made into food) but most of the time i didn't have the energy to make it myself (because everything was always dirty and my Mental Illness makes anything with more than 5 steps seem impossible)(and also I was fucking 12 years old) so I'd just starve until mom got home and I could pester her about it. and sometimes she'd be mad so I'd just eat granola bars instead cause i didnt wanna piss her off.

ive probably told this story before, but in high school i was researching signs of child abuse for character-writing reasons, and i started to notice how many of them applied to me. some I'd already picked up on (like hygiene issues) but some took me by surprise, like food hoarding or asking for other people's food. Which I did all the time. I was always asking if people were going to finish their food cause I knew it'd be easier to get food I wanted to eat at school than at home. (partially cause being in the house made me not want to move and fall into a deep forever sleep. in retrospect i dont know how i got my homework done)

#nnstuff #child abuse tw #disordered eating tw #ask

[stewardofningishzida]

Chapter 12: Double Double

Whoo! I know it’s been a while people, but the meta-fic lives! Everyone just needed to do some life stuff, but we’re back! Here’s the latest chapter. Enjoy!

TRIGGER WARNING: Mention of eye injury, mention of depression

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*My sleep is still troubled.  It’ll probably be a while before the nightmares completely subside.  Though at least my legs are a bit better today.  Lab work isn’t as strenuous as scrambling through an abandoned mine.  They’re still aggravated, but it’ll eventually calm down in another day or two.  Trix and Stephen are still making sure that Tear and I are recovering.  Tear, although still recuperating from the shock of her near-death experience, looks a little better today after having some actual sleep.  Stephen has us meditate again after breakfast to help us continue to stabilize.  He stays behind once more to continue his work while Tear and I go to our shifts.  I get back on-time this evening, at least.  Though I’m starving because I had worked through my lunch break to make up for yesterday and catch up.*

Me (tired):  Back.  I finally fixed everything at work.  What a day…How’s everyone else?  *I’m squinting slightly because I have a headache.  So, I wander off to the bathroom to get medication while listening to my friends.*

Tear: *Looks up from her laptop and removes her earphones* Today’s been easier, I guess. The café and bakery are still standing, and I’ve been doing a few ingredient cost corrections. We might have to change providers for our egg supplies and those negotiations are always tiresome.

Trix: I’m doing fine. I’m still on vacation and haven’t heard anything from work about things going catastophic.

*Stephen is quiet and tense.  He seems to be concentrating while staring at his hands.  He gingerly lifts one up to check it for something…It’s trembling.  Not too badly, but ever so slightly.*

Stephen (trying to hide his fear and desperation):  This…This shouldn’t be happening.  My spell isn’t working.  

*He utters the incantation, trying again.  It fails.*

Stephen:  Why isn’t this working?  *He stares at his shaking hands.  His voice gets quiet.*  Shit…

*We’re all fully alert now.*

Tear:  Stephen? *I place my laptop down and uncurl from my position on the couch, eyeing the research he had spread around him to see what had prompted his actions*

Trix: What’s going on?

Me (worried):  Stephen, are you okay?  *I peer out from the medicine cabinet.*

Stephen:  I…I don’t know.  My abilities appear to be fading.  *He pauses for a moment to think before the realization dawns on him.*  I’ve been outside of a non-magical universe with no real mystical sustenance for too long.  Damnit…  *He’s at a loss as to what to do.*

Trix: By magical sustenance…do you mean that the thing about not being able to sustain yourself on just human food is a real thing? Because I don’t read the comics but I heard…things.

Stephen (trying to contain the mounting anxiety and despair):  …I can usually just channel mystical energies from the multiverse around me to cast spells.  Though the more you use magic, the more dependent on it you become.  Eventually, your body starts to require intake of magical substances to maintain your abilities…I have nothing here.  As a human sorcerer, I still need to maintain my normal self through regular food, but to actually use and maintain my abilities, I need to absorb magic from other things.  *He sighs harshly.*

Me:  …Could we do anything for you?  Like, maybe we could each cast the spell that PrettyWitch from the group text used on you?  It could be us taking turns with one of us casting it each day.

Stephen (trying to be patient):  That would only buy me a few days at most and you would all be heavily weakened.  It takes too much out of a normal person and even rotating, you wouldn’t have enough time to fully recover.

Trix: I mean, it’s worth it if it can help get you home. Aren’t there things we could use to, I dunno, boost the power? I’ve always heard of moonlight boosting crystal energy, is there something like that that could help?

Tear: Yeah! Besides, buying you a few days could prove to be pivotal. Out of everyone in this room, you are the one with the highest chance of finding a way back home through your magic. I’d gladly use my energy to give you that extra time.

Stephen:  All of you have already done so much for me.  I can’t let you do that to yourselves.  Especially with multiple people in your group still recovering from the last major incident.

Trix: I guess…but are you sure?

Me:  I’m fine.  Please let us help you.

Tear: Come on. If there’s something superheroes have taught us, is that we must rise to the challenge. We’ll always have time to rest up and recover once the problem has been resolved.

Stephen:  No, ladies.  You’ve all done enough.  Just…I need to be alone right now.  

*He has since grown past outbursts.  Now, he’s on the brink of despair.  Stephen needs some time to himself to think about what’s starting to happen.  To somehow steel his courage and keep looking for some way, any way, to get home.  We let him have some space and time to himself.  A while after Stephen has some time to himself, he gets a text.*

PrettyWitch (text):  Hey. How are you?

Stephen (text):  Not good.  I’m losing my abilities and given the level of energy drain you’ve experienced, the group’s proposal of rotating individuals for the spell would not be sustainable.  Your group has done more than enough for me.

PrettyWitch (text):  Okay. Well we can find some other way of helping you. There has to be one.

Stephen (text):  How?  Your group and I have been tirelessly researching and attempting all possibilities in this forsaken universe…Even to the point of two of you almost dying.

PrettyWitch (text):  I didn’t almost die.

Stephen (text):  No, but Tear and Steward were nearly killed in the last attempt at finding a source of magic a few days ago.  There was a collapse in an abandoned mine and Tear nearly fell down a chasm while Steward suffered a psionic assault from an interdimensional rift.

PrettyWitch (text):  😧Oh my God…

Stephen (text):  I can’t let more of you sacrifice yourselves.

PrettyWitch (text):  So what? You’re just gonna try fixing this all by yourself, now?

Stephen (text):  What choice do I have?  It’s only getting worse.

PrettyWitch (text):  Yes, but if you don’t get help then where will that leave you?  Do you really wanna be stuck here forever?

Stephen (text):  No…I just need to think so I can figure something out.

PrettyWitch (text):  Okay. Let us help you.

Stephen (text):  How?

PrettyWitch (text):  Well, maybe we can start looking through other Wiccan books or books on alchemy, those must have something.

Stephen (text):  Are there any that we’ve missed?  Here is the list of the ones I checked.  *He gives an incredibly long list.*

PrettyWitch (text):  Oh damn! That’s a lot.

Stephen (text):  …Yep.

PrettyWitch (text):  Alright. I’ll just keep sending you protection magic until you find something.  Hell, maybe try manifesting your magic back!

Stephen (text):  No…Teach the others.  Rotate.  The spells you’re doing will keep draining you.  If you keep it up, it’ll start taking years off of your life.

PrettyWitch (text):  Okay. Fine, I’ll do that. In the meantime look into manifestation.

Stephen (text):  …Okay.  Thank you.

PrettyWitch (text):  You’re welcome.😊 but please don’t hesitate to ask for help. You have a bad habit of trying to fix everything yourself so you don’t hurt other people.

Stephen (text):  I know.

PrettyWitch (text):  Yay! 😊🫂Good luck! and don’t hesitate to text me if you need a pick-me-up. Also say hi to Cloakie for me.

Stephen (text):  Will do.

*At this point, the only reason Stephen hasn’t been as stubborn lately is because he feels more and more ground down by his predicament.  There’s only so much willpower that he can continue to muster as his ability to act diminishes further.  Meanwhile, the group members get a ping in the group text.  PrettyWitch has called an emergency meeting via Discord video chat so we can learn the ritual she used to help Stephen.  When people are available, we get online to figure this out.*

Me:  Okay, PrettyWitch.  Let’s see what you got.

Tear: Do we need to get anything ready for this ritual? I’ve no idea how any of this works…

Me:   I have some sage, crystals, salt, essential oils, incense, and a few basics if needed on my end.

Stephen:  I’m here to observe.  *The Cloak is on him as usual.  It seems more clingy than normal.*

Trix: I do more tarot and crystals myself but I’m willing to do more to help.

PrettyWitch: (staring in awe at Stephen…Before she realizes how creepy she seems and snaps out of it.) Sorry. First time seeing you in the flesh.

Stephen (awkward, but no longer as snarky as he once was):  Erm…?  Ah, right.  Well, nice to meet you, PrettyWitch.

Prettywitch: It’s nice to meet you, too.

*I show up on his screen momentarily because I’m hooking his iPad up with the charger*

Me:  Sorry.  Old iPad.  Needs power.

*I go back off his screen and back onto my own on my laptop.*

Stephen:  So, what’s first?

PrettyWitch: Well, the first thing you need to do is imagine yourself conjuring a little ball in the palm of your hands. I usually envision mine as a white, transparent ball.

Me:  Okay.  We’re following you.

Stephen:  One at a time would be better so you don’t all burn yourselves out.  Who wants to try this?  PrettyWitch, not you yet.  You still should take time to recover from your first time.  It’ll take a few days before your energy gets back to normal.

Prettywitch: Okay.

Trix: I can try it first since the rest of these guys did the mine.

Tear: *I cross my arms and slouch back on the couch, pouting* It’s not like we ran out of turns to help though…

Me:  What’s the next step?  *We watch her.*

PrettyWitch: Next step would be to think of the person or object you’re looking to protect and envision them inside the magic ball you’re casting. 

Me:  Okay.

Stephen:  Sounds reasonable.  

Trix: Got it.

Tear: So picture Stephen in a hamster ball, got it. *I immediately close my eyes in regret and pinch the bridge of my nose* Great, now that’s one image I won’t be able to get out of my head.

*We await further instructions.*

PrettyWitch: Then you say the phrase, “Protect [insert person’s name], who I deem needing. As I say it, so mote it be.” Then you can just cast the spell out into the ether. That’s what I do. Then to get rid of excess magic energy, just brush your hands off to the side, like you’re sweeping away dust.

Me:  Huh…That’s pretty straightforward.

Stephen:  Effective, though.  I’ll admit that.

Trix: Well, some of the most effective things are simple to keep its potency. *follows PrettyWitch’s instructions* Protect Stephen Strange, who I deem needing. As I say it, so mote it be. *brushes hands off to the side as instructed*

Tear: *Watches Trix cautiously* …Well, at least you didn’t combust or anything.

Me:  Anything else we should know or is that it?

PrettyWitch: (shrugs) Not really. Magic, the way I understand it, basically works if you visualize it in your mind, first. Though incantations still exist.

Stephen:  Depends on the type of magic, yes.  Though in your universe, it seems that this is the only way to make it work.  Even then, with mixed results.

Trix: Well, I think it worked! *slightly swaying*

Stephen: Thank you, PrettyWitch, for teaching us this spell…and thank you, Trix, for providing me with energy.  *He’s sincere.*

PrettyWitch: You’re most welcome. Anything to help my Marvel Boy.

*Stephen turns slightly red and coughs.*

Stephen:  Haven’t heard THAT nickname before…

Prettywitch: Eh, when you’re terminally online, you tend to pick up the lingo.

Me:  Any other news from anyone or should we call it an evening?  It kinda looks like Trix is about to pass out…Are you okay?

Trix: It feels like college when I was too stubborn to sleep and forgot to eat at the same time. Or one of my ocular migraines because I cannot see properly.

PrettyWitch: Oh dear. It’s probably cause she’s not used to it.

Stephen:  We should probably call it a night so Trix can rest.  I’ll check on her.  *He’s genuinely concerned.*

Me:  Yeesh.  Okay.  So, let’s note when each person does it so we can rotate and not burn ourselves out.

Tear: That would be smart. It can also help us ensure Stephen always has a constant flow of energy, small as it may be.

*Stephen has gone onto Trix’s screen and is checking on her.  He’s being quite gentle.*

Trix: I’ll be good eventually! You’d be annoyed with how often I get like this on a normal day with no magic! *tries to make light of the situation*

Stephen:  Take it easy for a while, okay?  

Me:  I noted the dates that PrettyWitch and Trix did the spell.  I’ll go next when it’s time to do it again.  Tear can go after me.  Are you okay with this, Tear?

Tear: *I bite my lip and eye Steward carefully* Maybe I should go first. I didn’t have such close contact to the negative energies within the cave. You could use a few extra days to replenish properly.

Me:  Are you sure, Tear?  You got rattled pretty badly too…

Tear: Physically, for sure. But not mentally…spiritually? I should be fine to send Stephen some good vibes.

Me:  Okay.  If that’s everything, we’ll say good night for now.  Thanks, PrettyWitch.  You’re a lifesaver.

PrettyWitch: No problem, love.

Tear: We’ll text you and ask for help if Trix doesn’t get better or has other odd side effects.

Stephen (carefully helping Trix to the couch):  Good night.

Trix: Night! *Attempts to wave but kinda flops her arm around*

*I wave before ending the call.*

*Over the next few days, we rotate through performing the spell to sustain Stephen while the research continues.  Tear heads back home and we both continue juggling our work with helping Stephen. Though unfortunately, another wrench in the gears shows itself on Sunday.  The Cloak, it seems, is becoming more and more sluggish.  It doesn’t leave Stephen at all now and it moves ever so slowly and slightly.*

Stephen (worried):  Not you too, Levi…

*He looks the relic over, concerned.  It gives him a small, reassuring wave.  The Cloak unfortunately requires magical energy to sustain itself too.  So, in a desperate attempt at self-preservation, it has been siphoning whatever remaining dregs it can from Stephen when he isn’t using magic.  Stephen’s hands continue to tremble.  Though he can still somewhat control it when he needs to.  We do what we can to comfort him.  He flatly refuses to let us double our energy donations.*

Stephen (protective of us):  This is risky enough as it is.  Plus, you have jobs and lives outside of this.  Please.  I want you all to be healthy and safe.

Me:  You have a life too, Stephen.

Stephen:  Yes, but you’re all doing more than enough for me.  Just get to work safely and do your best, okay?

*I look at him for a moment before nodding sadly and heading off to the lab for some experimental data collection.  A few hours later, there’s a text on the university’s safety alerts.*

Text:  ***Incident in the Biological Sciences Dept.  2 injured.  Labs closed for the rest of the day.***

*There’s a scrambled text from me on the group thread.*

Me (text):  Need ride.  Eyes huer.  Burmt.  Gas.

*Stephen reads it over and over, anxiety starting to flood him.*

Tear (text): Anyone else with a car can go pick up Steward? I can’t leave the bakery yet.

Prettywitch (text): I can. I will pick up Stephen too. *A few minutes later, I arrive in the driveway and ring the doorbell.* 

*Stephen answers*  

Stephen:  Okay.  Let’s go.  *He’s already ready to go.* 

*PrettyWitch nods and helps him pick me up. When I get into the car, I stink of ether gas and am half-conscious.  The smell eventually fades.  A few minutes later, we get to the hospital.*

*Stephen is pacing.  He’s frustrated that he can’t do anything here.  He doesn’t have an MD in this universe.  So, no authority here.  After being checked and treated, unfortunately, my eyes and the skin around them have been burnt by a UV sterilization lamp.  I’m currently blind, but since the cornea heals relatively quickly, I should regain my eyesight in a few days.  I still need to take medicated eye drops to ensure the healing process works properly.  Stephen goes to lead me to the car and we get back to my house.  I’m sitting in my chair.*

Me (voice shaking):  I…Oh God…I-I know it’s temporary, but it could have gone so much worse…*I’m trying to stay composed.*

Prettywitch: It’s alright, love. Just go with the flow. It’s okay to feel scared, even if it’s temporary. I know I’d be freaked, too if I were you.

Me:  How am I supposed to help now?  I can’t work either…*I’m trying to calm down.  Hundreds of thoughts are swirling around in my head right now.*

Prettywitch: You can still help. My magic requires visualization in your mind.

Stephen:  She needs to conserve her energy to heal more quickly.

Me (protesting):  Stephen!

Stephen:  No buts.

Prettywitch: No, he’s right. You need to conserve energy.

*I sigh*

Me:  Fine…Just…What do I do now?

Prettywitch: Just relax for awhile, we’ll keep an eye on Stephen and Cloakie.

Stephen:  I’ll help you when you need it, Steward, okay?

Me:  Okay…

Stephen:  You’ve lost a bit of weight, PrettyWitch.  Eat something while you’re here.  *He’s making sure she’s okay too.*

Prettywitch: Okay. I’ll have some cheesecake, then.

Me:  It’s in the freezer.  Just microwave it for like 30 seconds.

*He sits with me and PrettyWitch, keeping us company.*

*PrettyWitch is uncertain of what to say as she eats her cheesecake. She thinks of things to say, but she always feels like any questions she has for the Good Doctor would seem inappropriate at this time and she doesn’t want him humoring her when he’s pretty bummed, too.*

*I fiddle around with the edge of the tablecloth.  It seems to be a sort of soothing action so I can at least sense something near me since I can’t see.*

Stephen:  I’ll let the rest of the group know that we’ve sorted everything out.  

*He pulls out his phone and dictates the text.  His hands are shaking worse than ever right now.*

Prettywitch: Do you need help?

Stephen (getting slightly frustrated with autocorrect):  *sighs*  …That would be nice, yes.  *He reluctantly hands his phone over to PrettyWitch.*

*She quickly types in a message and holds Stephen’s phone out to him.*

Prettywitch: Here.

Stephen (grateful):  Thank you.

Prettywitch: You’re welcome…

Tear (text): Thank you for the update and getting Steward! I’m finishing a meeting with the accountants and then I’m heading over to help. Be there in a bit.

*Trix comes to the house to check on the situation, but she’s a bit drained because she just finished donating energy to Stephen.  So, she stumbles as she enters the house.  The sorcerer helps her get to a chair so we can all hang out together.*

Prettywitch: Are you going to be okay, Stephen?

Stephen:  Honestly, I don’t know.  I’m losing my abilities, albeit more slowly thanks to your help, and we’re running out of ideas to get me home.  That and more of you are getting burnt out or hurt as this continues.  It seems as though things keep getting worse.

*He’s tired of his usual confident guise and teetering on the brink of severe depression.*

Prettywitch: *Gently places her hand on one of his wrists to avoid hurting his hands.* Hey. We’ll get through this, you’ll see. You can’t give up now.

*He accepts the comfort and lets her get close.*

Stephen:  I know…I don’t know what more to do yet, but I’ll have to keep looking…

*He looks tired and wracked with guilt and helplessness.*

Prettywitch: Look, if there’s one thing I know about you, it’s that you’re one stubborn son of a bitch. You never give up. Even if it’s at risk to yourself.

Stephen (small chuckle):  That, I’ll admit.

Prettywitch: Good. Then use that to your advantage. If the multiverse exists and you can perform magic here, then there’s no reason to assume that you can’t find a way to contact Wong.

Stephen:  Just a matter of figuring out how, yeah.  If your manifestation spell can work here, then there HAS to be something…

*Trix and I have just been listening quietly the entire time.  Honestly, hearing other people nearby is comforting.*

Prettywitch: (With sparkly eyes) Yes! There’s the Stephen I know and love!...Umm…sorry, I’m kinda weird like that. The important thing is that you don’t give up…Uh, you too, Steward…

*She feels bad for not talking to Steward much.

*I grunt.  I’m kind of in my own thoughts at the moment anyway.*

Trix: We’re just chillin’ there’s no prob! *she tends to get pretty loopy after donating energy and is camped out next to Steward*

*I can feel Trix close by and lean slightly towards her, appreciating the company.*

Me (grim, but staying strong as best I can):  We can’t give up anyway.  There’s no other way but forward whether we like it or not.  So, we have to work with what we’ve got.  It’s a hard lesson to learn, but it can get you through tough stuff.

Stephen:  You’re a better sport than me.

Me (sincere):  Admittedly, I’m only as calm as I am because this condition is temporary.  If this were permanent, I probably would have broken down by now.  However, one thing I always try to keep in mind regardless of what’s happening to me is that we’ve all got something going on.  It’s more a matter of making an effort to try and make things suck a bit less for everyone by being there for each other.

Trix: *slightly more serious* One of the best things I learned in college was that there will always be something that doesn’t go as planned and you just gotta be ready to troubleshoot. Running weekly live tv shows for your degree really hammers that in hard. We’ll all be okay, we just gotta figure out the newest puzzle!

*Tear arrives from her work then, carrying bags of groceries and a tray full of hot drinks for everyone gathered.*

Tear: I’m sorry I couldn’t come earlier, but I thought I could help lessen the load around the house. I got you a few extra groceries to ensure you wouldn’t have to go out while you heal, Steward. And I wasn’t sure if you could drink caffeine with your new meds so I brought some fruit tisanes for everyone instead. *I place the hot drink cups in the middle of the table where everyone can go through the flavor labels before I proceed to put away the groceries* Are there any new advancements I missed?

Me:  Thanks, Tear.  *I’m genuinely grateful for her and my other friends being here.*

Stephen:  Well, there’s one last thing I saw in one of the books your group found.  Something about harmonic resonances of different metals used as conduits for cosmic energy…It sounds very similar to how certain relics work.  Maybe…Hmmm…Seeing as you guys are fans of movie props, do any of you happen to have a replica of a Sling Ring?

Tear: Sorry, I do but the size would be too small for you…

Trix: *flops hand almost drunkenly around but makes sure not to hit Steward* I am a sucker for merch!

Stephen:  So, that’s a yes?

Trix: *grins goofily* Yup! I can’t walk right now but it is in my office in my house!

Stephen:  What is it made of?

Trix: Mine isn’t one of the real props so it’s a base metal so it’s a bunch of random scrap metals mixed together. It’s what most fashion jewelry is made of. You either need to make a mold of that and get whatever metal you need or we need one of the actual props from the movies~

Stephen:  Hm.  The best ones for resonance are a mix of silver, copper, and gold.  

Me:  I’ve got some souvenir 24 karat gold from an old class field trip to Sacramento.  Could donate that to be melted down.  It’s not much, though.  Maybe we can get some gold leaf from a craft store to get more?  Silver, I’m allergic to nickel and such.  So, most of my jewelry is made with silver or at least plated with it or gold.  Copper, I can probably buy some off of the chemistry lab.  They use it as a reagent sometimes.  So, that’s the metals covered.  

Trix: Fuck, my boss and the goldsmith at work like me enough. If I send you with the sling ring to get a gold one custom made we could get the gold at cost. 14k would probably be the sturdiest as 18k might be too soft. If you make it in 14k rose gold, that would bring the copper into the mixture and would leave out other impurities. I’ll just pay him back when we’re not trying to send Stephen home. Shouldn’t be over $800 at least…I think. Just say you’re my brother in law and you came over to help while I’m injured.

Stephen:  All right.  Is there anything else you want or need me to do?  *He’s being nice and genuinely wants to repay us for our kindness.*

Me:  I’m good for now, but might need help with the burn medication later on.  I don’t want to fumble around and spill it everywhere.

Trix: Snaaaaaacks *back to being unfocused because blood sugar is low*

Stephen (gentle):  Will do.  In the meantime, here.  *He offers Trix some fruit.*

Trix: *grins* Thank you~ Key to my place is in my mini backpack near the door. Ignore the fact that it’s Marvel themed. Go forth sorcerer on your side quest!

Stephen:  Wait a minute, I don’t have a license here.  PrettyWitch, could you please drive me to the jewelry store after I get the replica from Trix’s house?

PrettyWitch: (Salutes) You got it!

Me:  Please be safe, you two.  

Stephen:  For now, since we don’t have the money or all of the metals yet, I’m just grabbing the replica and requesting a mold.  Trix, you may need to call your boss and the goldsmith to confirm so they don’t get suspicious of me.

Trix: *holds up phone* Way ahead of youuuuu~ Texted my boss already and said I’m sending you his way for a special project. They won’t question making a ring like this because they know all about how I’m a marvel nerd and wouldn’t question ‘family members’ being the same. If they ask, my migraines are worse than normal and that’s why I can’t stop by with you.

Stephen:  Okay.  Will do. Tear, please look after Trix and Steward while PrettyWitch and I are out.

Tear: *Salutes playfully* You can count on me, Cap’n. I had laser eye surgery last year, so I’ve got all sorts of ideas to make sure Steward rests and doesn’t get bored. I’ll make something to eat for when you guys come back, as well.

Trix: *grins* Godspeed! 

*He goes to change into normal clothes, grabs Trix’s key, and heads out with PrettyWitch.*

***To be Continued***

#doctor strange fanfiction #doctor strange meta fic #just for fun #multi author #doctor strange #doctor stephen strange #dr stephen strange #stephen strange

[clatterbane]

More not so photogenic lowish-spoons food tonight, but very tasty!

(I wouldn't normally want to put both things in the same pasta bowl, but we were low on clean dishes and I didn't feel like dirtying anything else up. Time to eat the broccoli first, to make room to maneuver the spaghetti around!)

Except I don't actually like it to get very crispy around the edges, and also just had frozen to use, as detailed here:

Bottled lemon juice is much better than nothing, and that's what we had today.

As for the basic comfort food type meaty spaghetti, I decided to try an easy one-pot version in the Instant Pot (again!). I know a lot of people really don't like the idea of doing that with pasta, but I've found that it does give consistently pretty good results once you get liquid proportions and timing down for a particular brand/shape.

The major reason, though? It's so much more accessible a cooking method for people working around various disabilities in the kitchen. Way easier--and safer--than fooling around with big boiling pasta pots as a wheelchair user, that's for sure! Or even asking someone else to handle the draining part at just the right time. 🥴 Which, of course, is just not gonna work with nobody else there to do it.

Garofalo and Barilla's gluten free pastas are the best for things like this, IME. They just behave a lot like the "regular" wheaty kind all around, and you don't need to worry about them turning into gross mush if you so much as look at them wrong. Some others are tricky enough with regular cooking, never mind pressure cooked.

Anyway, this basic recipe looks pretty close to the proportions I like to use:

Just about any pasta shape should work fine. And it also works great to just use frozen/refrigerated prepared meatballs, added right before the pasta layer. If they're still frozen, it'll just take a few more minutes to come up to pressure.

I was feeling ambitious enough today to chop up some onion, celery, carrot, and garlic to saute in with the meat. Took my own seasoning approach, as usual. For about anything like this, you will probably thank yourself if you use at least part broth (from crushed up cubes/powder, fresh, you name it) for at least half of the liquid--and adjust the other salty seasonings accordingly.

I find that it usually works best to cook pasta under high pressure for half the time you would normally boil it--plus an extra minute or two, especially if it's being cooked with tomatoes or other acidic ingredients. Usually let it sit for like 3 minutes before releasing the pressure. Better to err on the side of undercooking to start out with. You can fix that easily enough.

Once the lid is opened, time to evaluate and adjust as detailed here:

I like to let any kind of absorption cooked pasta sit and rest for 5-10 minutes before digging in, just like most saucy things straight out of the oven. IME it's good for both texture and flavor, besides not burning your mouth as easily! 😊

This ended up longer on the cooking tips than intended, but hey. I've been getting a lot more experience with these kinds of dishes now that I can eat them again, and some of it might be useful. Especially for other disabled/chronically ill people trying to stay decently fed.

#food #recipes #lowish spoons food #pasta #gluten free #spaghetti #broccoli #feta #instant pot #preasure cooking #one pot pasta #wheelchair cooking

[passerine-writes]

Symbols - Chapter 24

Warnings: Mentions of nightmares, mentions of past abuse Word count: 3468

Back to Masterlist

Chapter 23 | Chapter 25

I woke up on Tetsurou's chest, his heavy arms holding me close to him after another rough night. Thankfully I didn't scream myself awake tonight but I did jump awake once or twice but I know he coaxed me through at least one or two nightmares in my slumber. Every time I woke up, he was quick to remind me of where I was and who I was with. We slept in Kenma's living room that night, grabbing Tets' air mattress from next door in order to make do. Bo slept on the couch, pushed up against the left side of the air mattress. Kenma used his pectoral as a pillow while Keiji was the big spoon against Kenma. I slept on the edge and using the rooster head as a form of body pillow. The television played softly in the back ground, the light emitting giving just enough light so someone can properly gauge their surroundings. I know the other three woke up throughout the night as well but they let Tetsurou handle it, obviously not wanting to overwhelm me.

"Up already?" I looked up a little at the black haired male. His deep morning voice rumbling and reverberating in his chest as he spoke. I simply nodded, exhausted after another strenuous night of horrible memories. One of his hands on my lower back came up and stroked my wavy hair. "At least you got more sleep tonight." I hummed in response. It was true, I accumulated more more sleep last night then I had in the previous two combined. I felt empty but being around these four made it easier for some reason.

"What time is it?" He craned his neck as he looked at the time on the television stand.

"Uh, oh wow, we slept in a bit. It's just past nine in the morning." My eyebrows rose in shock at the time, usually we woke up about an hour earlier. "Even Keiji's still sleeping." I looked over ad saw that he was right, the youngest in the room was out cold as he held onto Kenma's sleeping form. "Do you want to help me make breakfast? Get you some tea or something else that's caffeinated to help wake you up?" I nodded and rolled out of his hold, Tets' followed my lead and we made our way to the kitchen.

Thankfully, Kenma's parents stocked the fridge before leaving for their latest business trip so we didn't have to worry about ingredients nor Kenma running out of food anytime soon. Tetsurou made me a cup of tea before I could even process it, he was already handing me a mug of a steaming cup of tea to help me balance out a bit. I watched as he made his way around the kitchen smoothly, fluidly bouncing around as though it was his second nature.

"What can I do to help?" He hummed as he saw me leaning against the counter sipping my tea.

"Just sit there and look pretty. Relax." My head cocked to the side in confusion at his words.

"But.. I wanna help." He gave me a lazy look before he came over and stood in front of me.

He moved my mug to the counter top and out of my hand. His hands swiftly moved under my thighs as picked me up and set me on the counter. His eyes darted to my thighs where his hands sat, almost mesmerized by the flesh underneath before he looked at me again. My face bloomed red in confusion and embarrassment, as well as another emotion I couldn't quite pinpoint.

"And you can help, by sitting there and looking pretty. Relax for a bit, you had a long night." He quickly placed a kiss on my forehead before he made his way around the kitchen like it was natural.

"I don't see how that's helping though." I watched as he started cutting some ingredients near expertly.

"It's weird, I guess." I cocked my head curiously before taking another sip. "Growing up, my grandma taught me how to cook and it became something I enjoyed doing. I don't have a lot of time for it but when I can I like to. Sure, the help I'm asking for isn't the most standard but it helps. I know that you know your way around the kitchen, you spent so much time with Keiji and Kou's moms growing up so I don't doubt your skills. Especially from the times that we've cooked together. It's just that, whenever I cook, I realized that I get stressed when I'm alone. Cooking with Grams is nice and all but it's not the same. But when any of you four are just sitting there, talking to me or even just watching me cook, it's relaxing. It helps me unwind and just feel calmer just being around you guys. Cooking doesn't.. feel as stressful. It feels nice." I sat in shock, not knowing until now just how deep it really went for him.

"Then I'll just sit here." He smirked softly at my words before glancing up at me from under his bangs.

"The job is 'sit there and look pretty', so I'd say you're a natural." My heart sped up and my face felt warm again.

What is wrong with me?

Do I really have a bug or something?

All I could respond with was a shrug. Sure, I wouldn't consider myself ugly per se. However, I don't feel pretty. I'm not ugly but I'm not what I would consider 'conventionally attractive'. I'm not ugly, but I'm not pretty.

Tetsurou seemed to be in disagreement with my response and side eyed me for a moment before turning to the instruments on the stove top.

"We'll work on that at a later date, because I think.. No, I know you're pretty. You just don't see it." I sat on the counter top as I stared at my reflection in the tea. My legs swinging back and forth a little as I sat.

He thinks I'm pretty?

My confusion only grew the more I thought about it. I just couldn't see it. What about me even is pretty? If anything?

"Don't strain yourself. Like I said, you just don't see it yet." I slowly nodded as I took in all he had to say. "Plus, you had a rough few nights. You need some time to relax. Alright?"

"Okay." He softly smiled and I sat contently, watching him as he cooked languidly, it looked so easy for him. Almost as easy as breathing. "So did your sister learn to cook, too?" He snorted out a laugh at my question.

"Not at all. We all tried teaching her but it never stuck. Mira just never took to it. Growing up she burnt so many things, a neighbor asked us if there was a fire in the kitchen or something because so much smoke was coming out of the kitchen window. I just, took to it naturally I guess. Maybe it's because of how much I love chemistry but still, I enjoy it." His voice was smooth and steady, something about it was just so calming. "When I got older, I didn't love it as much. My parents tried to stay out of the house as much as possible to avoid another fight so usually I would cook something for myself and put left overs in the fridge. It just felt like a chore. After I moved in with Grams, I started loving it again. She got me back into it by having me make my favorite dish with her. She told me she was happy knowing that whoever my future soulmate was wouldn't have to be the only one doing the cooking, especially if it was a girl because housewives are overrated according to her. She told me that cooking is just another way to show someone how much you care about them, so I would cook with her for her and my sister if I felt in the mood. Cooking for any of you, it just, it calms me more or less. Cooking with any of you is special to me but sometimes, just having one of you with me to keep me company and knowing I'm cooking for you, it makes me happy." I reached over and placed one of my hands on top of his free one that he had resting on the counter space next to the stove. He let out a soft breath, his shoulders slumping a bit as he relaxed his tensed muscles. "Sorry, didn't mean to unload on you like that."

"Tets, what would you tell me if I said that?" He retorted with a smirk as he turned to face me better, the simmering food not needing the keenest of eyes on it right now.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." My eyes narrowed, waiting for him to actually say it. "Okay, fine. I would tell you that you weren't 'un-loading' anything because I like hearing you talk and knowing everything about you. Even the not so nice stuff, but it still makes you, you. It's not a burden so you shouldn't feel like it is." My chest fluttered at his words, not expecting him to get so deep about it.

"Well, the same goes for you. You aren't unloading anything and it's not a burden. I like listening to you talk, whatever it may be about." His hand turned under mine, our palms connecting as he lightly held my hand.

"Thanks." His voice was quiet as he gave my hand a small squeeze. I squeezed his in turn before he went back to cooking.

The rest of the time was mostly silent, but it was a comfortable one. There wasn't a drop of tension or anxiety floating in the air. We simply existed together in a calm environment.

"Is Tetsurou making breakfast this morning?" We looked to the door to see a tired Keiji wearing his glasses with a slight bit of bed head. I took another sip of my tea and took in the domestic moment they shared. The youngest hugged the older from behind as he manned the stove, placing a light kiss to his shoulder blade before sleepily resting his head there. "Smells good."

"Me or the food?" Keiji rolled his eyes and stepped back, walking towards me sleepily.

His arms extended a bit, silently asking if he could hug to which I nodded and opened my arms. He stood between my legs, wrapping his arms around my waist as he nuzzled his head into my shoulder. Even with me sitting on the counter, he was slightly taller then my five two build, his back hunching into the embrace as he let his shoulders sag. My arms came up and wrapped around them, one of my hands running through his raven black tresses. My breathing halted for a moment when I felt his forearm rest on the book. It wasn't as intense as when Kenma placed his hand on his symbol but I still felt the same rush of endorphins and emotions cloud my mind, yet at the same time it relaxed me.

"Good morning, sun flower." I smiled and tried to completely let my body relax, but part of me found it difficult. My brain was foggy and overwhelmed with the surge of feelings and I felt my face getting warmed but I blamed it on the heat from the stove not too far from me.

"Morning, Keiji." I didn't ask him if he got enough sleep last night. We both knew the answer and neither of us decided to comment on it. So I simply held him as he held me.

"You're not cooking this morning?" His warm breath tickled my skin as he spoke.

"Tetsurou just wanted me to sit here." He hummed in acknowledgement, clearly having done this before.

"I told her to sit there and look pretty, it's not my fault she's a natural at it." I rolled my eyes but Keiji let out a saccharine breath.

"Definitely a natural in my opinion." I scoffed and he held me tighter, almost like he was saying that he was right about this.

"I told her she's a natural but she doesn't want to believe me." I tried to shrink in on myself a bit but realized I couldn't so I played with the setters hair a bit more.

Kenma stumbled in, eyes half lidded with melatonin.

"Morning pudding head." Kenma grumbled something unintelligible as he made his way over to the three of us. Tetsurou placed a kiss on his mess of his bleached hair as he continued cooking. "Is Kou still sleeping?" Kenma shook his head as he pulled himself up to sit on the counter on my right, minding the mug beside me so he wouldn't knock it over, with Tetsurou cooking on my left.

"He's in the bathroom, he woke up cause he smelled the food." We all laughed a little, knowing all too well how accurate it was.

"That owl head and food." We all hummed in agreement.

Koutarou walked in after a moment, his two toned hair a mess and his chest on display. I averted my eyes, trying not to stare at his bare chest filled with muscles. He greeted everyone with a good morning kiss. Starting with Tets, he gave the younger a kiss on the cheek, me a kiss on the forehead, a kiss on top of Keiji's head and Kenma a kiss on the cheek as well. I blushed a deep red, not expecting that type of affection from him but with how many odd things have been going on lately, I shouldn't be too surprised.

Food was soon done and we all sat down to eat, shockingly enough, I wasn't allowed to do dishes because the last time I did, I hurt my finger. So I sat on the couch with Koutarou and Kenma. The shorter of the two used my thighs as pillows while we played on our PSP's together. Koutarou kept an arm wrapped around my shoulders as a volleyball match played on the screen in front of him. It looked to be a recording from a previous years Olympics. Stars were practically in his eyes but then the dreaded realization hit me that I would have to leave soon to take the hour ride back home. A rooster haired boy came over and leaned behind us on the couch, temporarily enamored by the match on the screen, Keiji came up beside him and leaned against Tetsurou. It was peaceful and I couldn't help but think just how much I enjoyed this.

We stayed there for a little while longer, Keiji thankfully braided my hair in the meantime and Tetsurou returned my hair ties to me. It was peaceful until I saw the clock strike one. I sighed before speaking, breaking the comfortable atmosphere with less happy news.

"I should probably start packing my stuff so I don't miss my bus." Everyone sighed but agreed in one way or the next. I dreadfully gave everyone a hug goodbye and walked to my stop, boarding the large motor vehicle to what was deemed my home.

——————

When I stepped in the door, I was surprised to see my father sitting at the kitchen table waiting for me. Let alone, also sitting there with Komini and Arise.

"What's going on?" My father gestured for me to sit down, and I begrudgingly did so and scooted my chair as far away from Komini as I could.

"Komini has brought something to my attention and since I hadn't heard from you all weekend, I figured I would wait until you got home." I cocked an eyebrow in confusion, I hadn't even put my bag down yet and I was about to be interrogated. "He showed me pictures of you being a little too.. friendly with some boys that you posted online."

"Yeah, I hung out with friends on friday from Inarizaki, just like I told you I was going to. I got to Koutarou's house a little after eight, stayed the night there. Slept at Kenma's saturday night and now I'm home. All people you know, who you also know all the parents of and where they live and could have contacted if you felt you needed to. I'm not seeing the issue." My father grumbled and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I never thought it was an issue until Komini showed me another perspective, I just don't want you getting taken advantage of by some boys you barely know. You should be hanging out with other girls your age, not boys who are turning into men."

"Dad, do you not hear how ridiculous you sound? You have personally witnessed how any friendship I've had with a girl has gone. They're mostly drama and if they aren't then they just use me to get closer to the guys I'm friends with. What do you not understand by that?" My fathers face set into one of anger.

"Do not talk to me like that, I don't know where this attitude is coming from but that is unacceptable. Especially after what happened on thursday, I don't know whether or not I should believe you now. How am I supposed to know my daughter isn't lying to me?" I stared at him in disbelief.

"Why is it that suddenly, you try to be a father to your other kid, and forget about the fact that you have two? You're blatantly playing favorites, because what? You want Komini to like you and warm up to you faster after you being absent? Don't talk to me like I'm some rebellious teenager doing drugs when the worst I've done is take my prescription medication as needed and have gotten my ears pierced, which you took me for almost all of them. What do you want proof or something about what happened thursday?" He stared at me blankly, almost berating in a sense to test me if I had any proof. I tried to rack my brain, not knowing where I'd get it from until it struck me. "Fine, I'm making a phone call then. Give me a moment." Everyone sat in a tense silence as I called the only one who would have a video and thankfully, he answered the call. "Hey, Suna."

"Kaara? How come you're calling me?" His voice was dull as he questioned me.

"I have an odd request. Did you get a video of what happened thursday?"

"Of course I did. Why?"

"Can you send it to me?"

"Sure?" His tone was curious but we said our goodbyes and I waited for the message to come through. Komini looked as pale as a ghost, clearly knowing he could no longer lie his way through this. I showed my father the first video of me blatantly rejecting Atsumu. Then the one of Komini disrespecting my boundaries over and over, including where I threatened him and Osamu stepped in. And finally, the one where he provoked me and tried to hit me. Arise looked distraught, my father looked indifferent. "There ya go. Is that enough proof?" Komini hung his head in shame, knowing that it wasn't something he could twist around anymore.

"I don't even know what to think of this. I need some time to process. I'm still disappointed in you though, Kaara. I raised you better then to run off somewhere because you didn't like how I handled something."

"Do you not hear yourself right now? So are you saying I shouldn't have run off from moms then when she was hitting me? When her boyfriends- y'know what? Nevermind." My voice dropped in a tone of defeat, my will to push back completely gone with my drained body. "I can't do this. I can't keep going in circles with you. I have barely slept this past weekend because all I've had each night are nightmares. Mama Mei woke up from me screaming myself out of one, but you don't care." My voice broke as a tear fell. "You don't care, do you? I have to prove to you time and time again and for what? For you to brush things off? Minimize the problem? Call me a liar? I'm just done right now. I can't do this." I stood up from the table as I wiped my steady flow of tears but they just kept coming. They wouldn't stop. I ignored my phone as it kept buzzing, I already knew it was four boys an hour away but I didn't have the heart to face them.

Not when I felt so utterly defeated.

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[danidanialsblog]

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[crystalgood]

Cooking a meatloaf is a great way to feed a large family or group of people. It is also a great way to use up leftovers and create a delicious meal. But how long does it take to smoke a meatloaf? Smoking a meatloaf is a great way to add flavor and tenderness to the dish. It can take anywhere from two to four hours to smoke a meatloaf, depending on the size and type of meatloaf. In this article, we will discuss the different factors that affect the cooking time of a smoked meatloaf, as well as tips for achieving the best results. The Best Way to Smoke a Meatloaf: Tips and Techniques for Perfect Results Smoking a meatloaf is a great way to add flavor and texture to your favorite dish. With the right tips and techniques, you can create a delicious and juicy meatloaf that will have your family and friends begging for more. Here are some tips and techniques for smoking the perfect meatloaf. 1. Start with the right ingredients. Choose a lean ground beef or turkey for your meatloaf. This will help keep the fat content low and ensure that your meatloaf is juicy and flavorful. 2. Add moisture. To keep your meatloaf from drying out, add some moisture to the mix. This can be done by adding a few tablespoons of tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, or even a bit of beer. 3. Use a smoker. Smoking your meatloaf will give it a unique flavor and texture. Choose a smoker that is designed for smoking meatloaf and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for best results. 4. Season your meatloaf. To give your meatloaf a delicious flavor, season it with your favorite herbs and spices. Garlic, onion, oregano, and thyme are all great choices. 5. Cook it low and slow. Smoking your meatloaf at a low temperature for a longer period of time will help keep it juicy and tender. Aim for a temperature of around 225 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for at least two hours. 6. Let it rest. Once your meatloaf is done cooking, let it rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing. This will help keep the juices inside and make it easier to slice. Smoking a meatloaf is a great way to add flavor and texture to your favorite dish. With the right tips and techniques, you can create a delicious and juicy meatloaf that will have your family and friends begging for more. Follow these tips and you’ll be sure to have the perfect smoked meatloaf every time! How to Smoke a Meatloaf in a Smoker: A Step-by-Step Guide Smoking a meatloaf in a smoker is a great way to add a delicious smoky flavor to your favorite comfort food. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started. Step 1: Prepare the Meatloaf Mix together your favorite meatloaf ingredients, such as ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, and seasonings. Form the mixture into a loaf shape and place it on a baking sheet. Step 2: Preheat the Smoker Preheat your smoker to 225°F. If you’re using a charcoal smoker, make sure to add enough charcoal to maintain the temperature. Step 3: Add Wood Chips Add your favorite wood chips to the smoker. This will give your meatloaf a delicious smoky flavor. Step 4: Smoke the Meatloaf Place the meatloaf in the smoker and close the lid. Smoke the meatloaf for about 2 hours, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Step 5: Let the Meatloaf Rest Once the meatloaf is done, remove it from the smoker and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Smoking a meatloaf in a smoker is a great way to add a delicious smoky flavor to your favorite comfort food. With this step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to enjoy a delicious smoked meatloaf in no time! The Benefits of Smoking a Meatloaf: Why You Should Try It If you’re looking for a delicious and unique way to cook your next meatloaf, then you should definitely consider smoking it! Smoking a meatloaf is a great way to add flavor and texture to your dish, and it’s surprisingly easy to do. Here are some of the benefits of smoking a meatloaf that you should consider: 1. Smoked meatloaf has a unique flavor.

Smoking your meatloaf adds a smoky flavor that you just can’t get from baking or frying. The smokiness adds a depth of flavor that you won’t find in other cooking methods. 2. Smoked meatloaf is incredibly juicy. Smoking your meatloaf helps to keep it moist and juicy, so you don’t have to worry about it drying out. 3. Smoking a meatloaf is surprisingly easy. All you need is a smoker, some wood chips, and your favorite seasonings. You can even use a charcoal grill if you don’t have a smoker. 4. Smoked meatloaf is a great way to impress your guests. Smoking your meatloaf adds a unique flavor and texture that your guests will love. Smoking a meatloaf is a great way to add flavor and texture to your dish. It’s surprisingly easy to do, and it’s sure to impress your guests. So why not give it a try? You won’t regret it! What Temperature Should You Smoke a Meatloaf At? Smoking a meatloaf is a great way to add flavor and texture to your dish! The ideal temperature for smoking a meatloaf is between 225-250°F. This low and slow cooking method will ensure that your meatloaf is cooked through and has a delicious smoky flavor. Be sure to monitor the internal temperature of your meatloaf with a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Enjoy your delicious smoked meatloaf! How to Tell When a Meatloaf is Done Smoking: Tips for Perfect Results Smoking a meatloaf is a great way to add flavor and tenderness to your favorite dish. But how do you know when it’s done? Here are some tips to help you get perfect results every time. 1. Check the Internal Temperature: The best way to tell if your meatloaf is done is to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 165°F before it’s safe to eat. 2. Look for Color: The outside of the meatloaf should be a nice golden brown color. If it’s still pale, it needs more time. 3. Listen for Sizzling: When the meatloaf is done, it should be sizzling. If you don’t hear any sizzling, it needs more time. 4. Check for Juiciness: When you cut into the meatloaf, it should be juicy and tender. If it’s dry or tough, it needs more time. Following these tips will help you get perfect results every time. Enjoy your delicious smoked meatloaf! The Best Wood to Use When Smoking a Meatloaf When it comes to smoking a meatloaf, the best wood to use is hickory. Hickory has a strong, smoky flavor that pairs perfectly with the savory flavor of a meatloaf. It also has a slightly sweet taste that adds a unique flavor to the dish. Plus, hickory is a hardwood, so it burns slowly and evenly, giving your meatloaf plenty of time to absorb the smoky flavor. If you're looking for a milder flavor, you can also use apple or cherry wood. Both of these woods have a sweet, fruity flavor that pairs nicely with the savory flavor of a meatloaf. They also burn slowly, giving your meatloaf plenty of time to absorb the flavor. No matter which wood you choose, make sure to soak it in water for at least an hour before using it. This will help to prevent the wood from burning too quickly and will also help to keep your meatloaf from drying out. Smoking a meatloaf is a great way to add a unique flavor to your dish. With the right wood, you can create a delicious, smoky flavor that will have your guests coming back for more. So, the next time you're looking to smoke a meatloaf, reach for some hickory, apple, or cherry wood and get ready to enjoy a delicious meal! How to Make a Delicious Smoked Meatloaf: Recipes and Tips Are you ready to make a delicious smoked meatloaf that will have your family and friends begging for more? Smoking meatloaf is a great way to add flavor and texture to your favorite dish. With a few simple ingredients and a few easy steps, you can create a delicious smoked meatloaf that will be the star of your next meal. Here are some recipes and tips to help you make the perfect smoked meatloaf. First, you’ll need to choose the right ingredients.

Ground beef is the traditional choice for meatloaf, but you can also use ground turkey, pork, or a combination of meats. You’ll also need breadcrumbs, eggs, onion, garlic, and your favorite seasonings. Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, it’s time to get started. To begin, preheat your smoker to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, mix together the ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, onion, garlic, and seasonings in a large bowl. Once everything is combined, shape the mixture into a loaf and place it on a greased baking sheet. Next, place the meatloaf in the smoker and cook for about two hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. During the last 30 minutes of cooking, brush the top of the meatloaf with your favorite barbecue sauce. This will give it a delicious smoky flavor. Once the meatloaf is cooked, let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy your delicious smoked meatloaf with your favorite sides and sauces. Smoked meatloaf is a great way to add flavor and texture to your favorite dish. With a few simple ingredients and a few easy steps, you can create a delicious smoked meatloaf that will be the star of your next meal. So, get ready to fire up the smoker and enjoy a delicious smoked meatloaf! The Pros and Cons of Smoking a Meatloaf: Is It Worth the Time and Effort? Smoking a meatloaf is a great way to add flavor and texture to your favorite dish. It’s a time-honored tradition that has been around for centuries, and it’s a great way to make a delicious meal. But is it worth the time and effort? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of smoking a meatloaf. Pros: 1. Flavor: Smoking a meatloaf adds a unique flavor that you can’t get from baking or roasting. The smoke infuses the meat with a smoky, savory flavor that is hard to replicate. 2. Texture: Smoking a meatloaf also adds a unique texture to the dish. The smoke helps to tenderize the meat, making it juicy and tender. 3. Versatility: You can smoke a variety of meats, from beef to pork to chicken. You can also add different spices and herbs to the meatloaf to give it a unique flavor. Cons: 1. Time: Smoking a meatloaf can take a long time, depending on the size of the meatloaf and the type of smoker you are using. It can take several hours to smoke a large meatloaf. 2. Effort: Smoking a meatloaf requires a lot of effort. You have to monitor the temperature of the smoker, make sure the meatloaf is cooked evenly, and make sure the smoke is not too intense. 3. Cost: Smoking a meatloaf can be expensive, depending on the type of smoker you are using. You may need to buy special wood chips or pellets to get the right flavor. Overall, smoking a meatloaf is a great way to add flavor and texture to your favorite dish. It’s a time-honored tradition that has been around for centuries, and it’s a great way to make a delicious meal. However, it does require a lot of time and effort, and it can be expensive. So, is it worth the time and effort? That’s up to you to decide! FAQs: 1. How long does it take to smoke a meatloaf? It typically takes about 2-3 hours to smoke a meatloaf. The exact time will depend on the size of the meatloaf and the temperature of the smoker. 2. What temperature should I smoke the meatloaf at? The ideal temperature for smoking a meatloaf is between 225-250°F. 3. What type of wood should I use to smoke the meatloaf? A mild wood such as apple, cherry, or hickory is best for smoking a meatloaf. 4. Should I wrap the meatloaf in foil before smoking? Wrapping the meatloaf in foil before smoking can help to keep it moist and prevent it from drying out. 5. How do I know when the meatloaf is done? The internal temperature of the meatloaf should reach 165°F before it is considered done. 6. Can I add other ingredients to the meatloaf before smoking? Yes, you can add other ingredients such as vegetables, herbs, and spices to the meatloaf before smoking. 7. Can I use a different type of meat for the meatloaf?

Yes, you can use different types of meat such as ground beef, pork, or turkey for the meatloaf. 8. Is there anything else I should do to prepare the meatloaf before smoking? It is a good idea to season the meatloaf with salt and pepper before smoking. You can also brush the meatloaf with a glaze or sauce before smoking for added flavor. Conclusion In conclusion, smoking a meatloaf can take anywhere from two to four hours, depending on the size of the meatloaf and the temperature of the smoker. It is important to keep an eye on the temperature of the smoker and the internal temperature of the meatloaf to ensure that it is cooked properly. With the right preparation and patience, smoking a meatloaf can be a delicious and rewarding experience.

[idigitizellp21]

TOP 7 BENEFITS OF FROZEN FOOD

There’s a common belief that fresh food is the best for nutrition and flavour. But frozen food items are often exactly the same – or even better as fresh alternatives in some instances. In addition, frozen foods offer numerous advantages that make them a value-for-money and convenient choice.

In this post we’ll go over the benefits of frozen food, and then select our top picks.

Let’s begin with the most important benefit of it all.

Benefits of Frozen Foods Can Be Healthier

If you’re lucky enough to have your own farm and your food is truly fresh from the garden then you’re able to freeze food items that beat the competition by a mile. Unfortunately, many of us don’t have that option. We buy groceries that have food items by fisheries and farms that are thousands of kilometres away. We’re dependent on those supermarkets.

Even though it’s “fresh,” the food that you find in supermarkets could have been on the shelves for several months before you decide to purchase it. Therefore, it’s impossible to know the condition in which it is. The frozen food industry can provide the answer in a variety of ways.

Foods Retain Vitamins and Phytonutrients

When vegetables and fruits are quickly and effectively frozen this stops the decaying process from happening. When you’re ready to defrost they’re in the same condition as they were in when frozen.

However, fresh produce could be deprived of more than half its nutrients and vitamins in storage. The loss of nutrients is more severe when distributors cut corners when it comes to storage.

Another important aspect to making sure nutrients are retained in the produce? Be careful not to overcook them.

Frozen Meat May Actually be “Fresher”

“Fresh” meat is particularly problematic when it comes to storage methods. If meatpackers don’t adhere to strict guidelines meats can spoil rapidly. However, commercially-owned freezers allow you to snap-freeze, cut pieces of meat and slow down the process of degrading. When you are able to thaw meat that has been frozen, it is as fresh as it was the day it was taken out of the plant for meat packing.

Here’s a way to preserve the texture of your meat after you defrost it:

Defrost as slow as is possible it is best to put in the refrigerator overnight.

GOELD Frozen Food Reduces the Risk of Food Poisoning

One of the biggest advantages is how rigorous hygiene standards are applied to frozen food items. It is among the most secure methods of preserving food items, both at home and in commercial stores. So long as food items can be frozen, they’re secure as they were when you placed them inside the freezer.

The only concerns that can be encountered are those that arise during the process of thawing. However, if you adhere to the safety guidelines when thawing frozen food items, they will not cause poisoning to food.

Apart from health benefits aside, there are a myriad of additional benefits to frozen Indian food, not the least of all the ease of use they provide.

Frozen Foods Are More Convenient

Imagine you’re getting ready to cook dinner for your family and all you’ve got is fresh food. This may seem like a dream that comes real on paper. However, you’ll have plenty of cutting, washing, and preparing work to be done before you place a pan onto the stove.

Imagine this scenario, except that you have already prepared frozen meals just waiting to bake into the oven. Within 30 minutes all your loved ones will be eating dinner. And if you purchased food like dal makhana, lachha paratha, paneer butter masala and more from GOELD, it’s exactly as nutritious and delicious like the food you would make using fresh ingredients.

Reduce Waste

You will be amazed to know Why frozen foods are good for all. The average person in India wastes 137 grams of food every single day. That’s 0.96 kg per week or 50 kg per year. In India, 40% of the food is wasted which is equivalent to Rs 92,000 crores a year.

Food that is frozen stays fresher for longer and also makes it easier for grocery stores to avoid spoilage. Furthermore, it is possible to store food items at home in order to reduce food waste at an individual basis. Instead of throwing away the banana, store it to make your subsequent recipe of banana bread.

Less Expensive

Due to being much less expensive in terms of storage costs, GOELD frozen food items are also more affordable to purchase. To get fresh fish to certain parts of the globe it must be transported immediately and at massive costs for shipping. The same fish can be shipped to these locations frozen and at a less expensive cost.

It Helps with Portion Control

If you’re forced to make food by hand, you’re the final judge of the amount you’ll cook. Sometimes, it does not make sense to prepare only a small portion of a complex dish. This means you could end up making more than you’ll need.

For the quality of frozen foods or meals, that’s not a problem. Each meal is portioned in advance and comes with a pre-determined portion of foods. It’s the same amount each day, and your daily food plan is a breeze.

#frozen food #frozen #food #instafood #frozen foods online

[gdmediaonline]

Does BioMelt Pro Work? NOBODY TELLS YOU! Is BioMelt Pro Good? All the truth about BioMelt Supplement

Does BioMelt Pro Work? NOBODY TELLS YOU THAT! BioMelt Pro Really Works? Is BioMelt Pro Good? All the truth about BioMelt Supplement. Honest Reviews!

✅ BioMelt Pro Official WebSite: https://cutt.ly/officialsite-biomelt-pro

✅ BioMelt Pro Official WebSite: https://cutt.ly/officialsite-biomelt-pro

BioMelt Pro is a 100% natural supplement to make your body burn all localized fat. BioMelt Pro has a powerful composition of ingredients that activate your metabolism so that it can burn body fat and convert it into vital energy.

BioMelt Pro is a clinically proven supplement approved by Anvisa, which activates the burning of body fat and induces weight loss results. BioMelt Pro is considered the best supplement for weight loss without having to exercise or super-restricted diets. BioMelt Pro claims that it can bring about positive changes in a person's physical and mental health.

BioMelt Pro is the only supplement that has the power to promote the well-being of anyone regardless of their age or gender, BioMelt Pro works perfectly for everyone.

By correctly taking the BioMelt Pro you will have several benefits to your health, among them the benefits that the BioMelt Pro will provide you with are:

• BioMelt Pro Makes You Weight Loss

• BioMelt Pro Helps Control Type 2 Diabetes

• BioMelt Pro Improves Sleep

• BioMelt Pro Decreases Stress

• 100% Natural

• Approved by ANVISA

BioMelt Pro brings with it several benefits to your health. BioMelt Pro offers a lot more than just the weight loss you want. In order for you to get the best possible results with BioMelt Pro, you should take 2 tablets of BioMelt Pro in the morning with a meal.

It is noteworthy that for you to get the best possible results with the BioMelt Pro supplement, you must use the supplement correctly. Bio Melt Pro is a supplement aimed at people who want to lose weight in a healthy way.

In this Bio Melt Pro review, I will give you all the information you need about the product and you will find out if Bio Melt Pro works.

- More protein and vegetables are the key: The best way to lose weight fast is to choose low-carb diets. Fiber and protein make you full faster and increase your metabolism. Carbohydrates, on the other hand, increase the insulin level, making you hungry. So instead of choosing a sweet fruit, it is better to get a piece of low-fat meat.

- Losing weight doesn't leave men without food: If you don't eat tasty food for a long time, your brain will turn against you, telling you that an ice cream or a piece of chocolate is what you really need and what would make you happy. To avoid this, you should eat 'forbidden' foods once in a while and relax a little. This way you will avoid losing control and interrupting or giving up your diet.

- A Rigorous Schedule: Poor sleep and weight loss do not go hand in hand. Not getting enough sleep leaves your body stressed, and we all know that stress leads to a change in metabolism, feeling hungry, tired, and even depression. So make sure you sleep at least 7-8 hours a night. - Stay away from liquid calories Do you follow your diet, but don't know why you don't lose weight? Did you know that you can get hundreds of calories from tea sweetened with sugar, juice, soda or alcohol? These are liquid calories or empty calories, because all they do is provide extra energy without any nutritional benefit. So if you really want to see some pounds disappear, stick with water to which you can add fresh lemon, orange or mint for flavor and tea without sugar.

- Always plan your meal for the next day: Not knowing what you are going to eat tomorrow will lead you to a 'grab what you have' panic when you start to feel hungry. Preparing a meal on the spot causes you to choose foods that are more caloric and less nutritious. So when you go for lunch or dinner today, plan your meals for the next day. It is much easier if you do this when you are not hungry and it gives you enough time to cut vegetables ahead of time, take something out of the freezer to defrost, or do some of the cooking today.

- Positive attitude: Weight loss takes time, and sometimes you may feel discouraged if the extra pounds don't disappear as quickly as you want them to. Some days are harder when you follow a weight loss program, but the key is to stay positive, persevere, and don't give up. Bio Melt Pro has a formula with plants and 100% natural ingredients:

- Goji Berries;

- Grape Seeds and amla fruits;

- Bladderwrack;

- Olive water;

- Gotu Kola.

Bio Melt Pro has a 60-day guarantee. If you do not get the desired results or do not like it for any reason, your money will be returned, even if the bottle is already completely empty.

#biomeltpro #biomeltproreview #biomeltprowork