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the-blind-assassin-12 · 4 years

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Jigsaw // Black: Part Three

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A/N: This is the final part of the Jigsaw series, and I could not be happier to have it done. I’ve carried this one around in my head for quite some time now, and while I don’t regret a single thing, it’s been rough to say the least. I want to thank everyone who has stuck it out and made it to this final chapter. I truly hope you like the way it ends.

Warning: major character death (I think by now that goes without saying)

Word Count: 2,625

A young woman sat quietly at the table as two detectives looked on through the one way glass. Her hands were in her lap, her eyes trained on a small dent in the sheetrock; a leftover mark from a previous interview, one where tensions had run high and fists had flown. Won’t be like that this time. Detective Brett Mahoney sighed to himself as he watched her take a deep breath, the slight rise of her chest as her lungs expanded and the subsequent shuddering deflation as she exhaled had been the only movement she’d made since she’d been shown into the room, a cup of coffee placed on the table in front of her. It sat there, untouched, the creamer and sugar packets unopened, nothing added to the dark, bitter liquid. She’s not here to put up a fight.

Mahoney tapped the manila folder in his hand twice against his thigh before turning to his partner. “Let me do the talking, got it Buchard?”

The second detective nodded solemnly, understanding that he was only there as a matter of protocol. “Yeah, got it,” Buchard responded.

Brett returned his gaze to the woman in the interview room, a deep frown cutting into his features as he sighed again. Last loose end. He’d been working on the Castle case, which had been looped in with this mess, and now, finally, the ends were being tied off, the frayed edges cut. “Alright then,” he took another breath, still in slight disbelief that it would all be over soon. Alright, here we go.

He gripped the doorknob, knuckles straining at his skin as he turned it and pushed the door open, Buchard following him into the small room. The woman remained still, not even turning to face the two men as the door clicked shut behind them. Mahoney cleared his throat, suddenly dry and harsh now that he actually had to speak to her. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with us, Miss-”

“This is about Billy Russo, isn’t it, Detective?” She looked up at him then, sad eyes leaving that fist shaped hole in the wall to lock with his. Mahoney got the feeling that almost everything in this woman’s life for the last year or so had been about Billy Russo. He got the feeling that she was as ready as he was to turn the page and move on. Will we be able to? It wasn’t the first time he’d wondered if someone would be able to cope with the aftermath of one of his cases. But it was the first time he’d wondered about it for himself. This one was… rough. Apart from the grief that dulled the light in her eyes, she showed no other emotion, not even contempt for the man she’d been called in to discuss.

Brett nodded as he moved to take the seat opposite the woman and her untouched black coffee, Buchard silently following suit. “Yes,” he answered her question. “I’m sure you’ve heard that-”

Her palms came up to lay flat on the table, Mahoney’s eye immediately drawn to the ring the woman wore on her left hand, and the bracelet, engraved with a name, that she wore on the right. “I heard that he escaped the hospital, yes. And I heard that he was being considered armed and dangerous.” She looked at him, unblinking. “Is that right?”

Mahoney felt his partner’s eyes shift sideways onto him as he blinked back at the woman’s question. Billy Russo was probably the most dangerous man Detective Mahoney had ever come across, armed or not. It’s either him or Frank...well, was. So the fact that Billy’s escape wasn’t causing her to have more of a reaction raised a flag for him. “That’s right,” he said. “He murdered his therapist, and then killed four more people. I’d say that’s pretty dangerous, wouldn’t you?” His eyebrows rose as he posed the question, waiting for her response.

She sighed. “Look, detective, I know that can’t be the reason that you called me down here.” Her eyes flicked back to that small dent, refocusing before they returned to his. “To discuss whether or not Billy Russo is a dangerous man? He’s an elite Special Forces Marine operative. Of course he’s a dangerous man.” She shrugged, her lips turning down as she shook her head. “But that’s not all he is. I know him, know what he’s like, and if you’re looking for some kind of-”

“We’re not looking for anything, ma’am,” Brett calmly interrupted her. “We… we found him.” She sucked in a breath and stared at him, absently pulling at the links in her bracelet, rubbing over the engraved piece. He was able to see the flat piece of metal once she’d run her fingers over it, and it made his stomach drop to see your name there. Goddamn. “Ma’am?” She swallowed, mouth falling open. “Can you tell me how your sister knew Billy?”

.. .. .. .. .. ..

His hand shook as he placed it on the cool stone, a forceful exhale leaving his lungs as he made contact. Knees buckling, he traced a finger through the deep v-cut grooves of the engraved letters, vision too blurry to read the inscription clearly. Dropping to the ground, another forceful burst of air escaped him in the form of a sob. He pressed his forehead against the granite, still gripping the curved top before flattening both palms on the smooth face. “I promised I’d … come...back to you.” He struggled to choke the words out, chest shaking with the effort to breathe let alone speak. Rolling his forehead to the side, he rested his cheek against the surface, skin absorbing the chill. I’m here.

In the moments between his phone call with Frank and their final encounter in the now smoldering warehouse, Billy had sifted through the remaining contents of the folder he’d left the hospital with. Most of it was worthless- session notes in Dr. Dumont’s obsessively neat handwriting, a list of charges that Homeland was trying to hit him with, medical documents detailing his post-op recovery. He’d thrown it all in a pile that would become nothing but ash, engulfed in flames and erased. None of it matters. The only items that Billy had seen fit to save had been the pictures of the two of you, which he’d already been carrying in his pocket, and one sheet of paper, which he held in his trembling hands. It was an address, and he’d read it over and over, finding every crack and crevice in his memory and jamming that information into them. Gotta get back to her.

He’d dragged himself out of the burning building in a final act of defiance, refusing to let himself slip away in that place, refusing to break his promise to you. Not when I’m so close. The walk had been mercifully short, and he was grateful for the cover of darkness as he pushed through. He knew that if he were to be seen, covered in blood and ash and fighting for every ragged breath, that he’d be stopped before he could finish his mission. But once again, for the last time, Billy Russo disappeared into the night, stealthily seeking out a place where he could rest. With every stumbling step forward and each impossible beat of his heart, he repeated your name and felt you calling back.

By the time he’d made it to the small parcel of land dotted with headstones and encircled in a pointed black wrought iron fence, his vision was little more than shapes and blurs, his breathing rattled in his lungs, and he’d fallen twice, adding a few more scrapes and bruises to his battered body. His feet brought him to the numbered plot that he’d read from that sheet of paper in Krista’s file as though they knew the way through habit- as though this wasn’t the first and only time he’d ever been where he was now. He felt what little strength he had left leave him in a rush as his body finally relaxed, sitting on the hard ground and leaning all his weight against the stone. A sob broke free from his heart as his hand fell away from the stone. He knew he’d only be able to do this once, knew that this wasn’t something he’d be capable of repeating even if it were possible to do so, the clawing feeling in his heart completely eclipsing every ounce of pain, every shred of damage he’d endured. Your name fell from his lips in a gasp, and he was glad that he’d waited until now, glad that this was where he’d be when it happened, that he wouldn’t be alone.

A cool breeze swept across the cemetery then, blowing leaves and blossoms from the branches of a nearby cherry tree through the air, chilling and drying the tears on his cheeks. He opened his eyes as a few petals fell into his lap, but the soft pink flowers didn’t register. He focused instead on a shimmering light, just like he’d seen in his dreams about you. It can’t be…

He choked out your name, eyes wide in disbelief as you appeared before him, the blue of your dress and the scarlet hue of your lips the only vivid colors he could see as the rest of the world faded around you. He tried to reach for you, but couldn’t make his limbs move, too broken, too weak, too damaged to do his bidding any longer. Desperate to touch you, hold you before he closed his eyes, he looked up at you and sobbed two words, “I’m sorry…”

Dropping to his side, you said his name, clear and calm, all of the pain and fear that was present the last time he’d heard your voice gone now. “It’s okay,” you said as you sank down beside him, arms slipping around his shoulders to pull him closer. I thought I’d never… He felt your lips, warm and soft as they dropped to the corner of his eye. I thought I’d never have this again... “It’s okay now.” He let his eyes fall closed, let himself finally let go of the fight that had been raging inside of him all of his life. A weight lifted from his chest and he leaned into you, arms winding around your body as his breathing evened out. “It’s okay Billy, you’re home.”

.. .. .. .. .. ..

“She...she, my sister,” The woman spoke your name, her voice catching as she did. “She loved Billy.” A tear slipped silently down her cheek as a mournful smile played with her lips. “She loved him.” She nodded. “I knew she did from the start, even before I met him, just from… from the way she’d,” she closed her eyes and tilted her head back so that when she opened them again she was looking at the ceiling. “From the way she’d talk about him, the way she’d sound when she’d tell me something… it was...she was happy with him. Happier than I’d ever seen her, and then when I met him,” some more tears pushed their way through, her voice breaking once more as she continued. “When I met him I knew he loved her, too. I just… I knew he’d do anything for her.” You can say that again. “So, like I was trying to say, detective, if you’re looking for more fuel for the fire that you’re going to roast him on, you’re asking the wrong person.”

In his tenure with the NYPD, Brett had seen his fair share of people he’d considered to be brainwashed; victims with Stockholm syndrome that showed far more love for their captor or attacker than was reasonable to any sane individual. He was stunned to hear it coming from your sister, though, about the man who may or may not have gotten you killed. “I’m not looking for any fuel, ma’am.” No need. Bastard roasted himself. “I just don’t understand… why are you protecting him? Even after-”

“Billy did not kill my sister, detective Mahoney.” She spoke louder and more clearly than she had the entire time, making sure that the tape that Buchard had started recording at the onset of the interview picked up her intent and inflection. She shook her head, a hard look changing her sad eyes. “I don’t care what you tell me, or what the record says. I don’t care what they say in court, or what the official military statement is. I know that he didn’t kill her. And no matter what else he’s done,” determination took over her face as she balled her hands into fists. “I won’t help you put her death on him. I won’t do that to what they had.”

Incredible. Mahoney realized that he wasn’t getting her to budge on that front. He chalked it up to grief and the way it had a tendency to alter people’s memories of those that they lost. She wants to think of her sister and Russo as an angel and a choir boy? Fine. But she still needs to know. He cleared his throat again, opening the file that he’d brought into the room with him to pull out a single photo. Jesus, he glanced down at it before closing the folder, and for the first time since he got the call that they’d found Russo, he saw the kind of connection that the woman was trying to tell him that the man had with her sister. To do that… drag yourself there in that shape… goddamn. He winced. Maybe she’s right. He blew out a heavy breath. “Ma’am, I’m not looking to change your mind about anything.” He suddenly felt exhausted. The way she must feel. “I’m,” he shook his head before locking eyes with her. “I called you here today for closure.” For you and for me. He looked down at the picture again. And for them. Her eyebrows came together and her lips twitched and Brett could see that she already knew what he was about to say next. “I called you here today to tell you that we found Billy Russo at your sister’s grave.” He watched as her eyes blinked closed, her throat working to swallow the lump of emotions his closure had brought up. “He’s-”

“He’s dead.” She said it in an even tone, not as a question, voice barely a whisper. Eyes still closed, the lids quivered as tears slipped from beneath them.

“Yes ma’am,” Brett responded, trying to match her evenness. “He was found this morning,” he explained, “It appears as though he-”

“He wanted to be with her.”

Not what I was going to say but… He was going to say that it appeared as though he got into a fatal showdown with Frank Castle before dragging himself several miles to her sister’s final resting place. But that works, too. It did. No matter what he thought he knew about Billy Russo, Mahoney could clearly see that there was infinitely more that he didn’t know, couldn’t understand. She wiped at her eyes, eyeliner and mascara creating dark smudges around them as she cried. For you, for herself, for Billy. He tucked the photo away. She doesn’t need to see this.

“I’m glad,” she said after a beat, drawing Mahoney’s attention back up to her tear-streaked face. “Glad he got out...glad he...glad they’re together.”

Mahoney sniffed. Goddamn. He turned to give Buchard a meaningful look, the other man reading it instantly and leaning forward to press a button on the recorder before nodding and leaving the room. Waiting until the click of the door resonated in the room, Brett reached for the woman’s hand. “Me too.”

@something-tofightfor @its-my-little-dumpster-fire @suchatinyinfinity @gollyderek @thesumofmychoices @obscurilicious @traeumerinwitzhelden @jigsawlover10 @getlostinyourparadise @breanime @nananananananananananabatman @lexxierave @songforhema @fireeyes-on-teller-dixon-grimes @lysawayne @roses-in-your-country-house @ymariejp @belladonnarey @audreychaz @songtoyou @stories-you-wont-hear @luminex3 @ificouldhelpyouforget

#jigsaw // black #jigsaw #billy russo #billy russo x you #billy russo x reader #frank castle #brett mahoney #the punisher #the punisher au #the punisher fanfiction #black part three: home #i hope you find closure for all of the pain i put you through friends

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theydontknowaboutusimagines · 4 years

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Fine Line - Ranking as of Right Now

Okay, so I’m not really great at the whole ranking thing because I can never chose a favorite song and then there’s like not really choosing a least favorite song either. But here are my thoughts and “ranks” after a few listens. My “reviews” are not super detailed... I might work on one over the weekend if y’all want, but these are simply my day 1 “reviews”

1. To Be So Lonely

On my first initial listen on my way to work this morning, this was the first song that really caught my attention and stuck with me. The chorus especially. Also, love the arrangement and the sound of the song in general.

2. She

Honestly, I’m ranking this as my “#2″ simply for the guitar portion at the end of the song. It’s so fucking sick and reminds me a lot of why I’m So Afraid is one of my favorite Fleetwood Mac songs. I’m telling you a sucker for guitar riffs/solos. Now, when it comes to the song as a whole, so good. I love the vibe of it.

3. Adore You

Out of the three songs the were released prior to the album, this quickly became my favorite. It’s catchy, it’s the type of song that you find yourself just dancing around to wherever you are. And the whole hype of Eroda could have something to do with it as well.

4. Falling

LITTERALLY WAS HAVING FEELS WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. As the song went on I was just “What? What? Why? Poor Thing?”. His vocals on this song are everything! I really hope Harry performs this song while he, himself, plays the piano, but I feel like we won’t get the since he has band, but you never know. It also kinda reminds me of something I would have listened to back in the day.. like the sound of it, if that makes any sense.

5. Cherry

I’ll admit I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this song because of everything that was speculated about it prior. However, I really, really, enjoy this song. Sonically, I feel like it kinda has a mix of Sweet Creature with a hint of Woman towards the end. Maybe it’s just me... but when I listen to it for the second time, those two songs came to mind.

Like I said before, I feel indifferent about the whole voice note thing... I think the song works both with it and would work without it, but I get why it was added in. The effect on it, a little weird at first. It took me off guard on the first initial listen, but it’s fine to me now.

6. Watermelon Sugar

This song is just catchy and I loved it since we first heard within the first few minutes of SNL, Ha! It’s just a fun song to sing, dance, and jam out to in my car. Plus, the trumpet/horns fit it perfectly!

7. Canyon Moon

THE COUNTRY VIBE I’VE BEEN WANTING FROM HARRY! I’m not a huge country music fan, mostly 90′s country, along with the Country Legends, and few newer artists, but I do enjoy country music. It’s not super country, but it definitely gives me that vibe. It’s also like a country-esque vibe with the sounds of the 70′s. Plus, I love the way he sings Canyon Moon.

8. Fine Line

As I’m writing this out, I feel like it should actually belong higher up on the list... anyway, it’s the PERFECT song to end the album with. I love how it starts out slow and then builds up to the ending. Between the lyrics, the change in tempo throughout the song, it really sums up the sound and vibe of the album as a whole, which makes perfect sense on why he chose this has the title track.

Usually, I’m not a fan of repeating choruses as its the same line over and over and over, but it works so well in this song and quite frankly is needed. I don’t think it would give off the same meaning if the chorus was written differently. Every time I’ve listened through the album and this song ends, I get the feeling of, okay, now what am I supposed to do with myself now? Like I’m just supposed to go on about my day, now?

Also, had this song came out when One Tree Hill was on, this would have been a song they would have used at the end of an episode, I just know it.

9. Lights Up

When I first listened to this song, it was while I was watching the video and we all know what the was, so the first initial listen I was so confused as to what was going on that I didn’t really listen to the song that much. Lol. However, I do really like this song and I hate ranking it at #9, but the only reason I’m giving it that ranking is because I enjoy other songs on the album a little bit more.

10. Golden

This song is simply ranked at number ten because when I was listening to it in my car this morning, I thought my volume was down because of the beginning, so I turned it up even more and then all of sudden the song really gets going and it scared the shit out of me. HAHAHA. But know, I enjoy this song a lot. The sound, the vibe, the lyrics, his voice, really like it, just- I don’t know.

11. Sunflower Vol. 6

Um, simply putting this at #11 because on my first initial listen, I wasn’t really that in to it. It’s a grower and I am enjoying it more than before as I listen to the album more.

12. Treat People With Kindness.

Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Since this is #12 it must be my least favorite right? Not really. I really like and enjoy this song and the sound of it. However, on the first initial listen I had no fucking clue what was going on with the beginning I was hella confused. The real reason why it’s listed as number twelve is due to the fact that on my second listen of this song, all I could picture was Harry singing this song with the kids of the Brady Bunch. I don’t know why, but I get that vibe and I can’t help, but laugh when I hear the song because of that.

Overall, I honestly don’t believe there’s a bad song on here. I know everyone has their own opinions and musical tastes, but even the songs I didn’t necessarily enjoy the first go around, I’ve ended up feeling different about them with each listen. I know we’ve only had it less than a day, but I feel like I can say I prefer this album over HS1 (Still love and cherish her) But, I understand completely in what Harry means about feeling more free/open to do what he wanted with this album and not holding back anything.

I can’t wait to hear this live and see what he’s got in store for this era!

Share your thoughts with me!

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ouraidengray4 · 4 years

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31 Healthy Snacks for When You Love Fruit but Have a Sweet Tooth

Fruit is never a chore. Nature’s candy ranks up there as one of our favorite things about being people.

However, the same way we won’t just stroll out the front door stark naked, we also don’t have to limit fruit consumption to the way nature intended it.

Tatjana Zlatkovic/Stocksy

Would humanity really be humanity unless we found ways to dip everything in chocolate, make it into pizza, or shove a skewer through it? Of course not.

We found 31 amazing ways to make your fruit snacks a little more… fruity.

Sweet

When dessert puts on its healthy hat.

1. Chocolate kiwi ice pops

Photo: Show Food Chef

On the days when the strawberry/chocolate combo seems a little overdone, you can pull this surprise out of the bag and turn your snack time on its head.

The recipe calls for just three ingredients (kiwi, dark chocolate, and coconut oil), but we love ours with nuts or coconut flakes sprinkled on top.

Easy, delicious, and different.

2. Chocolate-covered fruit

Photo: Chelsey Amer Nutrition

Pick your favorite fruits, dice ’em up, and skewer ’em. Dip them into melted dark chocolate, pop them in the freezer for a few hours, and it’s a job done — you have yourself a cool, sweet treat with minimal work.

3. Vanilla roasted strawberries

Photo: Simply Recipes

This is a Swiss army knife of a sweet option. Get this right and you’ve got a topping for ice cream, oatmeal, and yogurt.

Roasting the strawberries kicks their flavor in the pants and makes it go — plus, it creates a rich syrup that brings an extra zhuzh to whatever the strawberries are sitting atop.

You probably never thought of roasting your strawbs before, but give it a go. It’s a great way to boost their already exceptional taste without adding sugar.

4. Almond butter, banana, and strawberry chia jam sandwich

Photo: Days Like Laura

“We didn’t turn up to a renowned Greatist recipe roundup just to have sandwiches thrown in our faces!”

We know, we know. But hear us out. This one’s a special take on PB&J that pushes all the right buttons.

Swap in almond butter, add some homemade strawberry chia jam, and you have yourself a bomb-ass concoction.

For a quicker recipe, you can also just add some sliced strawberries. The whole-grain bread and strawberries offer a great dose of heart-healthy fiber, the almond butter is rich in protein, and the banana’s packed with potassium.

How can you stay mad at us with all that potassium?

5. One-ingredient banana ice cream

Photo: Garlic Matters

Ice cream doesn’t have to be unhealthy — as long as you define “ice cream” pretty loosely.

Simply peel a few bananas, stick them in the freezer, and let them hang out for a few hours or until they’re solid. Put the frozen ’nanas in the bowl of a food processor and process them until smooth.

Finally, add your choice of mix-ins (if you like). Dark chocolate chips, diced strawberries, and a PB swirl are Greatist favorites.

6. Papaya punch smoothie

Photo: Exploring Healthy Foods

Idina Menzel, eat your heart out — this fruit, veggie, ice, and chia smoothie is the real delivery of frozen perfection.

It’s loaded with papaya, a tropical fruit that has tons of flavor and fiber. Papaya is also relatively low in sugar compared to other fruits, with just 11.3 grams per cup.

Papaya’s got a brand new bag.

7. Summer fruit spring rolls

Photo: Bigger Bolder Baking

There’s no way you’d expect these flavors from spring rolls. Who knew they could taste this sweet?

This inventive take on the sushi restaurant favorite fills classic rice wraps with fresh fruit for a simple, slightly sweet (and super fun) snack.

8. Strawberry Nutella bruschetta

Photo: Simple Vegan Blog

It’s a recipe that rhymes satisfyingly and tastes even better than it sounds.

Strawberries plus Nutella is a classic combo. Just add a slice of toasted whole-grain bread for a fiber-rich, filling snack. You can also sprinkle some chia seeds, honey, or coconut flakes on top for an added flavor boost!

9. Lemon raspberry cheesecake ice pops

Photo: Simply Recipes

The word “cheesecake” might make this recipe sound like a rich dessert, but it clocks in at half the calories of the classic cheesecake. Plus, you can hold it on a stick, so it might already be beating the original.

In this version, “cheesecake” is actually just the sweetened lemony Greek yogurt mixture that gives these pops a creamy texture.

10. Frozen yogurt bites

Photo: I Heart Vegetables

This recipe is an awesome way to get creative with some items you probably already have in your kitchen.

Freeze some Greek yogurt with granola, pop whatever fruit you like on top, and boom! It’s a cute breakfast treat for the next morning!

11. Spicy fruit salad

Photo: Minimalist Baker

If you’ve ever thought of fruit salad as boring, you have to give this recipe a try (you’re also wrong — sorry).

Sprinkle some lime juice and chili powder on top of your favorite fruity mixture for an added kick in flavor and heat.

Can’t take the heat? You don’t have to get out of the kitchen — just try cinnamon instead.

12. Two-ingredient banana chocolate chip ice cream bites

Photo: The Baker Mama

Two of our favorite foods take center stage in this recipe: bananas and chocolate chips. You can’t go wrong here.

Blend up some frozen bananas in a food processor, and then dump in some chips. That’s it. These guys store for 2 to 3 months in the freezer, so feel free to make a giant batch to dip into whenever you feel the munchies.

13. Frozen grapes

Photo: Zen and Spice

This is so simple it barely qualifies as a recipe — it’s more of a recommendation, because, well, these bang.

Buckle up, because here are the steps:

Remove grapes from vine.

Freeze.

Get snackin’.

This easy, naturally sweetened treat is perfect to keep in the freezer for when that sweet tooth comes calling.

14. Vegan blueberry oat bars

Photo: Happy Healthy Mama

These breakfast-on-the-go bars are a healthier twist on blueberry cobbler.

The blogger uses just blueberries, but feel free to throw in some strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries for a mixed-berry version.

15. Pineapple and blueberry fruit salad

Photo: Food Doodles

The key to this recipe is what goes on top (like a great hairdo or a zany hat).

Pineapples and blueberries are awesome, but when you add some lime zest, lime juice, honey, and Greek yogurt on top, you get a next-level treat that’s creamy, zingy, and healthy in equal measure.

16. Cherries Jubilee chocolate chia seed pudding

Photo: Real Food Whole Life

Cherries Jubilee is a classic dessert, but it isn’t exactly the healthiest snack.

This recipe keeps the awesome cherry flavor but adds some healthier substitutes (like cacao) and nutritional bonuses (like chia seeds). Plus, this looks great in a mason jar, so you can seem fancy at all times.

17. Yogurt breakfast parfait with plum compote

Photo: Cake and Whisky

This fall-inspired breakfast has an awesome combination of some pretty underrated fruits and nuts.

Plums, blackberries, and hazelnuts shine in the classic parfait-style snack. And if you’re really in the fall mood, try sprinkling some pumpkin pie spice on top (because you know full well it’s pumpkin spice everything season).

18. Fruit sushi (frushi)

Photo: Dinner at the Zoo

Time to play with your food! (Also, “frushi” is an excellent name. You might want to consider it for a pet in the future.)

This is a super fun snack recipe. Put some sliced kiwi, oranges, and raspberries on top of sushi rice for a fancy treat.

Of course, feel free to improvise — sliced strawberries, mango, or apple would also make a tantalizing topper.

19. Melon salad with chili and mint

Photo: Simply Recipes

No matter your age, making spherical chunks of melon is always a baller move (not sorry — that was great) and a lot of fun to boot. It rolls up just like ice cream.

Chili and mint make this a sophisticated, interesting array of flavors — you’ll never think about melon the same way again.

20. Breakfast yogurt pops

Photo: I Heart Naptime

Tired of your same old yogurt-and-granola breakfast? Try changing up the shape. Yes, it all ends up in the same place, but shapes are fun and ice pops more so.

This recipe takes the classic combo and freezes it into a (very ’grammable) ice pop.

Just make sure to prep these the night before, since they need to sit in the freezer for at least 4 hours.

21. Blueberry coconut protein balls

Photo: One Broad’s Journey

Making a ton of these little protein balls is the perfect way to meal-prep some snacks for the week.

The secret ingredient here is lemon. The combo of lemon juice and lemon zest adds a burst of flavor to the blueberry-coconut one-two punch.

Pop one of these in your cakehole for a kick-ass start to the day.

22. Sesame oat square bars with pear compote

Photo: Cooking Melangery

Oat bars are a great way to save some time in your week — and these are on the fancier side. Make a bunch on Sunday so you’ll be able to grab them on the go during your busy workweek.

Coconut oil binds all the oats together — there’s not an egg in sight, which makes these bars super-duper vegan-friendly.

The recipe includes a homemade pear compote that will satisfy any fruit lover’s craving.

23. Chewy raspberry apple granola bars

Photo: Amy’s Healthy Baking

Granola bars are far from boring when you make them at home. You can customize the flavors however you want, and there’s none of the processed ingredients and preservatives you’d find in store-bought options.

This simple version has just seven ingredients like milk, honey, oil, and cinnamon. Raspberries stand out and do jazz hands as the vibrant, delicious star of the show.

Fruits still have a lot of sugar

While fruits are amazing and can boast a huge range of vital vitamins and minerals, they come with a heavy hit of fructose — a natural sugar, but still a sugar.

If you’re on a sugar-restricted diet or have a condition that can impact your blood sugar levels, such as diabetes, it’s best to eat fruit in moderation and be selective about the fruit you eat.

Some fruits are better than others for people with diabetes — we rounded them up here.

Savory

A mix of flavors is the mark of enlightened kitchen work, so try to switch up your fruit game entirely and get creative.

24. Grilled fruit pizza

Photo: The Chunky Chef

Oh, boy… is pizza not just bae? Well, we’re willing to wager that you haven’t had one with fruit and honey as a topping before. (If you’re one of those who falls on the angrier side of the pineapple-on-pizza debate, this one might not be for you. Or maybe it’ll convert you.)

Just grill up some pizza dough, naan, or tortilla and sprinkle your favorite fruits on top.

25. Strawberry and goat cheese bruschetta

Photo: Homemade Hooplah

We’d eat goat cheese with pretty much anything, but it’s especially good with fruit. The creamy saltiness offsets the sweetness of many fruits beautifully. But strawberries hold the starring role here.

This bruschetta recipe features the gooey combo with a balsamic glaze on top that really brings out the strawberryishness (definitely a word) of the strawberries.

26. Peach quinoa tabbouleh

Photo: Jo Eats

Peaches and quinoa might not seem like a match made in heaven, but this sweet and salty Middle Eastern-inspired dish has other ideas.

Honey, mint, and parsley dance around the peach flavors, adding all kinds of busy mouth sensations. Even as a side or a standalone snack, this intriguing tabbouleh stands all on its own.

27. Honey-lemon toast with figs and pistachios

Photo: Ambitious Kitchen

Getting creative with toast is all the rage these days (thanks, avo toast!).

This honey-fig version is the perfect savory way to eat your fruit. With ricotta slathered on the base, stopping your snack at a single slice is the most difficult thing about this recipe.

28. Creamy cheese fruit pizza

Photo: The Frugal Foodie Mama

Fruity pizza: round two. (Wait, how is there more than one? Where the f*ck are all these fruit pizzas coming from?)

This one features peaches and blackberries, but feel free to make your own version with any fruit-cheese-dough combo.

Get as creative as your brain wants — they broke the seal with pineapples many moons ago. This is just the natural consequence.

29. Mango, avocado, and fresh cilantro salsa

Photo: The Frugal Foodie Mama

You’ve heard that it takes two to tango — well, it can take two fruits to salsa. And, yes, avocado is a fruit.

This two-fruit salsa (yes, avocado is a fruit) is a way to give sweet flavors a savory twist when it’s served alongside classic tortilla chips.

Avocados are brimming with healthy monounsaturated fat and tons of vitamins, including vitamins E and B6.

30. Fig and prosciutto crostini

Photo: Mama’s Gotta Bake

Fresh figs — does it get any better?

Well, when you wrap a fresh fig in a slice of salty prosciutto and stick it on top of some toasted bread, you’ll learn that there’s more to the already mighty fig than meets the eye.

31. Melon, prosciutto, and mozzarella skewers

Photo: The Comfort of Cooking

Here’s another awesome salty-sweet combo (because savory doesn’t mean you need to kick all the sweetness out).

Prosciutto and melon is a classic duo. Add fresh mozzarella, put it on a stick, and things get seriously tasty.

Takeaway

Fruit wears many disguises, and almost all of them are delicious (when put together right).

Whether you’re in the mood for sweetness or a broader experience for your taste buds, you don’t need added sugars. You can use the natural sugars in fruits to bolster the flavor of your meal and take advantage of their natural goodness.

Had your fill of pizzas made of fruit? Fine, here are some desserts made from vegetables (and if you think carrot cake is the limit, you are very much mistaken).

from Greatist Health RSS Feed https://ift.tt/2HZWbKL 31 Healthy Snacks for When You Love Fruit but Have a Sweet Tooth Greatist Health RSS Feed from HEALTH BUZZ https://ift.tt/327t1kl

#Greatist Health RSS Feed

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jmuo-blog · 6 years

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23 Halloween Treats: Spooky, Scary, Savory, and Sw...

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[Photograph: Vicky Wasik, Yvonne Ruperti]

I’m going to be honest—I’m not much of a Halloween fan. I don’t like scary movies and have never been one for costumes, and the average Halloween party goes way past my bedtime. I am, however, always on board for food.

You might think Halloween is all about the candy, and we do love a good excuse to pound Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. But over the years, we’ve been inspired to create a whole range of Halloween recipes for homemade treats both savory and sweet. Below are 23 of our favorites, including some that play within the sugar-overload theme—from witch-finger cookies to the biggest peanut butter cup you’ve ever seen—and a few more dinner-appropriate items, like a festive orange and black roasted-carrot dish and ghostly pan pizzas. For the crafty among you, we’ve even got a wicked haunted gingerbread house that’s as tasty as it is terrifying impressive.

Savory Halloween Recipes

Roasted Carrots With Black Sesame Dressing

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

To give roasted carrots a Halloween-appropriate twist, serve them with a jet-black sauce made with earthy black sesame paste, tart lemon juice, and olive oil. The sesame paste is just bitter enough to cut through the sweetness of the carrots, and minced parsley gives the side some freshness.

Roasted Carrots With Black Sesame Dressing Recipe »

Back to the full list

Ghost and Spider Pan Pizza

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

Sometimes making a Halloween dish is as simple as adding some spooky decorations to a normal recipe. Here, that means starting with our Foolproof Pan Pizza and topping it with mozzarella ghost cutouts (complete with slivers of black olives for eyes) and black-olive spiders speared with rosemary needles for legs.

Ghost and Spider Pan Pizza »

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Deviled-Egg Eyeballs

[Photograph: Carrie Vasios Mullins]

This devilishly gruesome-looking snack also starts with a classic recipe—we use a standard deviled-egg mix of mayo, mustard, and paprika to season the filling. But the shape of the eggs makes for an easy transformation into bloodshot eyes, once you add sliced black-olive “irises” and red-pepper “veins.” Not only are those olive irises creepy, their briny flavor also helps balance out the rich egg yolks.

Deviled-Egg Eyeballs Recipe »

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Seafood Ramen With Squid Ink, Mussels, and Salmon Roe

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

Black-as-night squid-ink spaghetti lends itself naturally to Halloween festivities. To make it even scarier, though, we top a bowlful of it with lurid orange salmon roe, squishy mussels, rings of slippery squid, and “bats” cut out from sheets of nori. True, spaghetti generally wouldn’t be mistaken for ramen, but we’ve found that boiling the noodles with baking soda makes them taste remarkably similar.

Seafood Ramen With Squid Ink, Mussels, and Salmon Roe Recipe »

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Pumpkin Cheddar Crackers

[Photograph: Carrie Vasios Mullins]

Sugar cookies are fun to make and decorate for any holiday, but as I’ve grown up and my tastes have changed, I’m happy to apply my cookie cutters to a more savory recipe, like these thick, flaky, and buttery biscuit-like crackers. It’s a great recipe to tackle alongside your kids, who can go to town stamping out the pumpkin shapes; the knife-cut ridges are probably best left to a grown-up.

Pumpkin Cheddar Crackers Recipe »

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Sweet Halloween Recipes

Black Sesame Ice Cream

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

The secret to both the charcoal color and the surprisingly nutty flavor of this moody-looking ice cream is a Japanese-style black sesame paste—substituting it with the stuff available on supermarket shelves just won’t do the trick. The paste is made from roasted, un-hulled sesame seeds, which results in a toasty and ever-so-slightly bitter flavor; we temper it with a little brown sugar.

Black Sesame Ice Cream Recipe »

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Super-Spooky Halloween Gingerbread House

[Video: Vicky Wasik]

Gingerbread houses are traditionally a Christmas treat, but if you can’t wait until December, how about making a haunted gingerbread house? It starts with the same crunchy Construction Gingerbread and fast-drying Royal Icing, but the decorations make it clear what holiday we’re celebrating. Our free downloadable template makes it easy to plot out and build your very own house of horrors, even if you’re a gingerbread-house newbie.

Download the Super-Spooky Halloween Gingerbread House Template »

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Homemade Milk Duds

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

I’ve always treated Halloween mostly as an excuse to eat candy that I would never buy during the rest of the year—but I might have to stop buying Milk Duds even at Halloween, because these lightly bittersweet DIY versions are so much tastier. Plenty of cream in the caramel means it comes out nicely soft and chewy. Follow Kenji’s instructions for tempering chocolate to create a smooth chocolate coating, into which you’ll plunge the caramels by hand—this is definitely a recipe for those who don’t mind getting a little messy.

Homemade Milk Duds Recipe »

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Made-From-Scratch Caramel Apples

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

Ever cracked a tooth on a caramel apple? Yeah, not fun. No risk of that with this recipe: The caramel we use is tender enough to chomp through with ease, even as it’s thick enough to fully coat the apple. Its taste isn’t overpowering, either; you’ll get plenty of caramel depth without completely obliterating the fruit’s flavor.

Made-From-Scratch Caramel Apples Recipe »

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Vampire Mouth Marshmallow Sandwich Cookies

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

A cross between s’mores and those cheap plastic vampire teeth that pop up at Halloween parties, these impressive sandwich cookies are made with home-baked chocolate graham crackers, red frosting “gums,” marshmallow “teeth,” and slivered-almond “fangs.” We use a tangy cream cheese frosting for the gums, which cuts through the sweetness of the marshmallows and graham crackers.

Vampire Mouth Marshmallow Sandwich Cookies Recipe »

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Witch Finger Shortbread Cookies With Raspberry Jam

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

Fake vampire fangs a little too cutesy for you? If you’re more into the blood-and-gore side of Halloween, these shortbread cookies are for you. They’re shaped like severed gnarled fingers, which makes them pretty gross to start. But the real kicker comes when you bite into them and they start “bleeding” a filling of raspberry jam.

Witch Finger Shortbread Cookies With Raspberry Jam Recipe »

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Four-Layer Halloween Ice Cream Cake

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

This monstrous ice cream cake could have you in a sugar coma before you even head out trick-or-treating. So save it for afterward, when you’ll have Halloween candy you’ll need to get rid of anyway! An Oreo crust is topped with four different layers of candy-packed ice cream—we combine chocolate ice cream with Reese’s cups, coffee ice cream with Kit Kats, dulce de leche with Twix, and vanilla with Snickers. But we also drizzle the whole thing with ganache, just for good measure.

Four-Layer Halloween Ice Cream Cake »

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Better Than Snickers Milkshake

[Photograph: Autumn Giles]

This milkshake won’t require you to dip into your Halloween haul. Rather than using actual Snickers, we simply mimic the flavors of the classic candy bar, blending together caramel ice cream, peanut butter, and unsweetened cocoa powder. A topping of caramel sauce, whipped cream, and chopped peanuts (and a maraschino cherry, naturally) finishes it off.

Better Than Snickers Milkshake Recipe »

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Jack-o’-Lantern Cookies

[Photograph: Carrie Vasios Mullins]

More cute than creepy, these kid-friendly jack-o’-lantern sandwich cookies are super easy to make—just stamp out the chocolate dough with a pumpkin-shaped cutter, carve out eyes and mouths in half of the cutouts, then sandwich one cut and one uncut cookie around a layer of creamy peanut butter.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Jack-o’-Lantern Cookies Recipe »

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Peanut Butter Reese’s Pieces Blondies

[Photograph: Yvonne Ruperti]

Reese’s Pieces are wonderful for topping baked goods because, apart from adding a nice touch of color, they remain surprisingly crunchy after coming out of the oven. The crispy candy provides a nice textural contrast to the blondies, which we under-bake slightly so they come out soft and fudgy.

Peanut Butter Reese’s Pieces Blondies Recipe »

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Chocolate-Covered Candy Corn Layer Cake

[Photograph: Yvonne Ruperti]

The monochromatic icing on this cake hides a surprise—cut it open, and you’ll find three layers of cake colored to look just like candy corn. The cake has the intensely buttery flavor of candy corn, too, thanks to a couple sticks of actual butter and several tablespoons of butter flavoring.

Chocolate-Covered Candy Corn Layer Cake Recipe »

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Candy Corn Pecan Pie

[Photograph: Cakespy]

Sure, it could seem like overkill to add a notoriously sweet candy to a notoriously sweet pie, but Halloween isn’t a time for moderation in sugar (did you see the ice cream cake above?). If you really need an excuse, I will say that the candy corn gives the pecan pie filling a pleasant vanilla note as it melts. But the real reason for this pie is the fact that Halloween comes only once a year. Embrace the sweetness.

Candy Corn Pecan Pie Recipe »

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Ghostly Cupcakes

[Photograph: Carrie Vasios Mullins]

Cupcakes are one of our favorite desserts to bring to Halloween parties—individually portioned, portable, and easy. Plus, who doesn’t love a cupcake? You could spread orange icing onto chocolate cupcakes and call it a day, but these ghost faces, made of white marshmallow frosting and strategically placed chocolate chips, are way more festive, and not much more work.

Ghostly Cupcakes Recipe »

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Chili-Chocolate Spider Cupcakes

[Photograph: Yvonne Ruperti]

Options for decorating Halloween-y cupcakes are limited only by your imagination and your patience. This recipe, for instance, is a little bit more involved than the previous one, but it’s guaranteed to be a hit at any party. We top green-frosted chocolate cupcakes with spicy chocolate spiders made with ganache, licorice-string legs, slivered-almond fangs, and sour-candy eyes. A small amount of chili flakes added to the ganache for the spider bodies gives the cupcakes just enough kick.

Chili-Chocolate Spider Cupcakes Recipe »

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Chocolate Mini Cheesecakes

[Photograph: María del Mar Sacasa]

Cupcakes aren’t the only option if you want an individually sized dessert, and trust us, no one is going to complain if you show up to a party with mini chocolate cheesecakes baked in muffin tins. Made on a vanilla wafer cookie base and topped with lacy white chocolate “spiderweb” designs, these cheesecakes are the perfect treat for a more elegant Halloween shindig.

Chocolate Mini Cheesecakes Recipe »

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream

[Photograph: Max Falkowitz]

Peanut butter is a godsend when you want ice cream without putting in the work of cooking a custard—all of its fat and protein lets you make a stable no-cook base. It also tastes pretty good, too, especially when paired with dark chocolate fudge and chopped Reese’s cups for a Halloween candy–centric dessert.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Recipe »

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Peanut Butter Cup Pie

[Photograph: Lauren Weisenthal]

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups come in a variety of sizes, but I bet you’ve never seen one quite like this. To make a pie-sized peanut butter cup, we start with a chocolate wafer crumb crust, spoon in a peanut-butter-and-cream-cheese filling, and top it all with dark chocolate ganache. The recipe doesn’t say to wrap the whole thing in decorative foil to complete the effect, but I’m not going to tell you not to do it, either.

Peanut Butter Cup Pie Recipe »

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Halloween Waffle-Iron S’mores (S’moreffles)

[Photograph: Daniel Shumski]

When your kids get home from trick-or-treating—or when you do—set aside some of that candy to make these gooey s’more-like waffles the next day in your waffle iron. We make the waffles with whole wheat flour and honey to give them a graham cracker–like taste, then melt in whatever chocolate candy we have left after Halloween night.

Halloween Waffle-Iron S’mores (S’moreffles) Recipe »

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backyardnomads-blog · 6 years

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“In my food world, there is no fear or guilt, only joy and balance.”

– Ellie Krieger

EATING HEALTHY & NUTRITIOUS MEALS is no easy feat for most of us even on a good day, so trying to find them when you are setting out on a week long road trip with no kitchen, fridge, or counterspace can feel nearly impossible! …Or at least, that is how I felt during those early road trip adventures.

Even, a simple three day trip can seem easy enough, but when you are have a set budget, just squeezing every penny, you really got to get creative! So PREPARATION, ORGANIZATION, RESEARCH, & CREATIVITY are central ingredients to success & have quickly become dear friends of mine over the years!

Obviously, being equipped with the PROPER GEAR can make the process a whole lot easier, such as refridgerators or travel coolers, but it isnt always essential to eat tasty, nutritional meals.

Read Below to find my CURRENT TOP FAVORITE ideas when embarking on a long road trip.

Spark your CREATIVE mind and make your PLANNING a whole lot EASIER this summer!

#1 Refried bean burritos. Wraps, salsa pack, jar of salsa.

Simple. Quick. Delicious. We love this QUICK MEAL when we are driving, plus the ingredients can be easily switched out for a new TASTY EXPERIENCE everyday!

The possibilities are endless, truly limited only by your imagination!

Buy:

6-8 packs of tortilla wraps (cheese, spinach, tomato, or original),

jar of Old Salsa,

taco/burrito seasoning packets,

refried beans (substitue with your choice),

& whatever veggies you like.

Pre-cut veggies are ideal when making these in the car & dry veggies are our top picks: bell peppers, lettuce, & cilantro.

*If you have a cooler then your options widen even more…but if not then stick to simple and mess free options (aka, steer clear of soar cream until you are safely parked!)

#2 Rotisserie Chicken and Potato Salad

DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE TRAVELLING, local grocery stores can be a termendous money saver! THREE top stops include: Safeway, Walmart, Superstore, from which we often find late night suppers after a long day on the road!

Many grocery stores that cook whole, fresh CHICKEN or hams located in deli or “ready to eat” sections.

Fill out the meal: prepped SALADS, freshly baked BREAD, CHEESE, & club soda

Selections vary & its “first come, first serve” so planning ahead can ensure that when you arrive there are chickens left!

#3 Sandwiches & Wraps

A GREAT OPTION if you are planning to prepare the sandwhiches at home and consume them during the first leg of your journey! (Depending on what you put inside, it can get messy if you try making them out on the road, although not impossible, it just requires more creativity and possibly stopping at a sideroad park or rest-stop).

Instead of the traditional bread, try using tortilla wraps or big buns instead! They do a better job of keeping all the sauce & ingredients tightly together and prevents spilling!

Fresh Buns & Lunechon Meat with Cheese: This may not win any instagram contests anytime soon, but it sure does hit the spot when you are hungry!

What’s even better…keep your eye open for those local, small town bakeries which often sell delicious, freshly baked buns for extra yumminess!

If you are a sandwich lover…then you will appreciate Arielle Weg’s

“14 healthy snacks and meals that travel well”

@ cookinglight for more 10 sandwich ideas!

#4 Muffins, Muffins, Muffins

We ABSOLUTELY LOVE this option, especially when they are freshly homebaked the night before (or perhaps more realistically…store bought haha).

From our experience, a 6 pack muffins tend to last 1-2 days before they begin to loose their freshness…but if your family is anything like ours then they will probably be long gone before then!

Convientent, mess free, & filling…muffins can easily be enjoyed all through the day. (Bring along a sturdy storage container to prevent any squashing).

Love Banana or zuchinni bread?!

Stop by Lisa’s 100 days of real food for her delicious recipes…

whole-wheat zucchini bread & whole-wheat banana bread.

These can be healthy breakfast or tasty snack to bring along!

#5 Fruit

This probably goes without saying, but FRUIT CAN BE THE PERFECT OPTION if you are setting out on the road. The best part is that they are highly nutritional and affordable. Even if you are not a huge fan of fruit, when you are out there on the road they can help keep away those afternoon sugar lows and boost energy levels!

Top picks for fruit that don’t require any or much refridgeration:

Bananas.

(Try pairing with peanut butter for an even sweeter treat). Buying in bulk is cheap and perfect if you have limited cooler space. These often last for days so long as they are kept in a cool, dark space in our car.

Apples.

Surprise, surprise…of course you just gotta try it with peanut butter! **you can now buy PB from a tube now! Save the hassile of knives!!

Watermelon.

Bursting with nutritional benefits, it will leave you feeling refreshed during those steaming hot days. Pack one to enjoy either throughout the day or once you arrive at your destination. Be warned though, it is very messy & juicy, so best to pre-cut (cubed without the peels) & store before leaving!

Christmas Oranges.

Perfect only if they can be easily peeled without a knife, otherwise they become an absolute nightmare!

Berries: Strawberries, Blueberries, Cherries.

...depending on what time of year you are traveling, it is possible to find local fruit vendors selling alongside the road!

Whenever we travel to British Columbia, there are sellers at almost every street corner!

#6 Prepared Veggies

PREPPING beforehand can be a lifesaver when those cravings hit and you are hundreds of miles away from the nearest convenience store! Keep them in portion sized ziplock baggies or containers to make it a bit more easier & keep eating time organized.

Nowdays, grocery stores sell pre-cut, pre-washed veggies in bags ready to eat, which can be a lifesaver for campers or road nomads!

Our top favorites, include:

Ants On A Log.

Take pre-cut celery stocks, spread them with peanut butter & top off with rasins!

Pre-cut & pack the celery to combine later to avoid peanut butter getting everywhere!

Pre-Cut Carrots Snap Peas Bell Peppers

Cherry Tomatoes

OH! Don’t Forget DIPS:

Ranch, Hummus, Tzatziki or……!!

#7 Dark Chocolate

WHILE NOT A MEAL, I couldn’t deny that this is a #1 on our grocery list! It keeps away those gas station cravings & impulse buys.

We normally buy one large bar of chocolate at Superstore which we then portion out to last our entire trip…give or take 😉

But that is not all…. also check out pudding cups & fruit cups, which come in bulk!! Just don’t forget spoons 🙂

Check out Women’sHealth’s 9 Health Benefits of

Chocolate that will have you jumping for joy!

#8 Soda or Infused Water (Stay Hydrated!)

It is easy to go for soda while traveling & while this may be the best option for some, we have found that in comparison to when we used to buy it, we stay better hydrated & refreshed when drinking club soda or sparkling water instead! **Don’t forget to pop in a few lemon or lime slices for extra zest! These come in cans or bottles, along with all sorts of flavours for every mood!

Regardless of your choice of beverage, it is a smart idea to bring some water supply in case of emergencies, car trouble, or traffic jams. Although we like to rely on our reusable travel sized water bottles, we also fill up our 7 gallon (26.5 Litres) camping water jug just as back up. Plus this can easily be used for cleaning hands & washing dishes!

#9 Cured Meats – Charcuterie (with pennies)

This has got to be by far our most favorite foods & meal option! I’m not sure if it is the romanctic allure that makes this feel both classy for date nights or just practial when driving, but either way it is tasty & filling!!! At most grocery stores you can buy cured sausage, cold cut meats, & salami.

(Downside: for the most part, meats need to be kept in a cooler or refridgerated. SOooo, we just “buy as we go”.… besides, we rarely have leftovers its so delicious!)

Traditionally, charcuteries can become very expensive, however, there are ways to still enjoy it without busting your budget! In fact, Holly from “spend with pennies” beautifully describes everything you need to know about achieving a budget friendly charcuterie:

“HOW TO MAKE A CHARCUTERIE BOARD”

Suggested Cured Meat for travel Charcuterie:

proscuitto salami

genovia salami

garlic or chorizo sausage

sliced chicken

sliced smoked turkey Honey/ black forest hams

You can also add: pre-pack pickles, olives, grapes, pate, spinach dip, dried apricots, fresh fruits, &, of course, aged cheese to create a full meal!

**Who says you can’t splurge & fine dine while traveling!

To learn more about the traditional style,

take a quick peek at “Making a Charcuterie

Plate” @ Dartagnan!

#10 Hard, Aged Cheese

IF YOU ARE A LOVER OF CHEESE THEN THIS ONE’S FOR YOU! Sadly, despite my love, I am no coniseour of cheese, so I have relied on those more experienced to learn which types of cheeses are safe to eat without refridgeration!

Thankfully, assistant chef on The Martha Stewart Show, Nora Singley provides us with excellent insight in her article, “Have Cheese, Will Fly: What Cheeses Travel Well The Cheesemonger”, while also outlaying the essentials to remember when choosing which cheese to buy.

Singely advices that hard, aged, and/or goat cheeses with an exterior rind are best, while avoiding semi-soft like Fontina or Brie or any fresh cheeses like Ricotta.

– READ Singley’s full article here.

Likewise, our next cheese expert & backpacker, Laurel Miller suggests avoiding “mozzarella…camembert…blue cheeses or washed rinds (this refers to stinky cheeses, regardless of texture, like Delice du Jura, Taleggio, or Epoisses“

– EXPLORE Miller’s FULL Article @ Backpacking with Cheese.

Below are MORE Suggestions:

“Super-aged cheeses, most of which get more than two years of age: Goudas, Parmigiano Reggiano, Piave, Grana Padano, and Mimolette“

– Nora Singley, kitchn

“Aged cheeses like a 2-year Gouda or 5-year Cheddar will have nutty, caramel and butterscotch characteristics, as well as some crystallization (those pleasingly crunchy bits, which are actually proteins). Try these with a post-dinner whiskey or bourbon (you know you have some) around the campfire”.

– Laurel Miller, Backpacking with Cheese.

Parmigiano-Reggiano

Appenzeller Gruyère

English Montgomery’s Cheddar

– Jennifer Meier, “Which Types of Cheese travel well?”

#11 Salads

When grocery stores now selling pre-package SALADS with little salad dressing packages, enjoying a tasty salad has NEVER BEEN EASIER! When it comes to meal options, this is a must have for us, whether it be a side or main course meal.

Due to its versitility, if you plan & prep correctly you can go many days without having the same variety twice. Not only that, but it will provide you with the vitamins, nutritional energy necessary to cope with travel stresses!

*Try adding pre-cooked chicken strips, found in most major grocery stores’ meat or deli sections (walmart, superstore).

#12: Canned Goods

WHEN IT COMES TO CAMPING & ROAD TRAVEL canned foods can be an astoundingly affordable choice! Traveling is not cheap and every little cost adds up, so having some meals on hand can not only save you money but also provide an emergency supply!

Our top favorites, include:

Ravioli. These often come in 8-12 family packs, which is sufficient for snacking during long road trips. *Just remember to pack forks & napkins/wipes.

Fish: Tuna. Salmon. Sardines. If this is your thing then you are in luck! Nowadays, there is such an incredible selection of ready-to-eat tuna packets paried with crackers & all sorts of varieties to choose from.

Soups: Unless you want to eat this cold…this one is best left as a quick meal once you arrive at your destination, assuming you are not staying at a hotel. (I like to heat this up on our camping propane burner stove as soon as we arrive, so that once our campsite is set up dinner is ready to go!)

Veggies: Green Peas or Cream Corn.

Pesto & Bruchetta. Add flavor to pretty much anything with these two, whether its for a full meal or afternoon snack. Combine it with fresh bread loaf, garlic bread, or crackers.

**Be sure to choose cans which have peel/pull off lids so that you don’t need the hassle of a can opener. We have had many a story where sauce or tuna juice went flying all over the car dash leaving us smelling like a fish market for the remainder of the trip!!

#13 Popcorn

Fun. Buttery. Tasty.

THIS CLASSIC.. never gets old & is designed for larger qualities, which is a perfect snack food for trips that will feed the whole family! Just pop a bunch & pack the popcorn away in sealed containers or brown paper bags for a delicious, quick snack.

It will remind you of the comforts of home when you are miles away.

#14 Nuts

I am not a huge fan, but my fiance swears by them & is often caught sneaking bags into our grocery cart, especially when shopping for trips!

Almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts, trail mix, pistachios

#15 Chips with Salsa/ Dip

You didn’t think we would make it through without mentioning CHIPS & DIP?! Yes, we can all agree that this one isn’t going to win any awards for being the healthiest meal choice, but let’s face it the salty taste has us coming back for more!

The great thing about it is that its cheap and there are a zillion flavours to choose from. Kettle chips is a great option when it comes to enjoying a more healthier verison of the classic potato chip!

Hummus, cheesy dips, & salsa are yummy paired with chips & don’t create too many messes. If you store them in tight, re-sealable containers there shouldn’t be an issue. However, refridgeration after opening is key.

**Remember: keep napkins, wipes, or paper towel closeby for any spills.

DON’T FORGET about the beloved pretzel or crisp rice puffs!

#16 Pre-cooked Sausages

Over the years, I’ve read about so many families who have great success with sausages while travelling, so it we thought it deserved to make it to the top 20! You can find them at your local grocery store, either in bags of mini sized sausages or one big jumbo ring which offeres different styles.

Along with the sausages, we never hit the road without picking up several bags of pepperoni sticks! Variations include: Hot, honey garlic, original.

If you are a meat lover, this is a “must have”!

#17 Pre-cut & Packaged Garlic Bread (Packs of 6)

#18 Crackers, crackers, crackers…make great snacks!

Crackers are not just for kids, although they can be fantastic snacks for them too! Being versatile, they can be eaten with pretty much anything & still be delicious.

*Try adding jams, peanut butter, cheese, meat!

(Don’t forget the knife & napkins)

#19 Buns & Bread

So far, we have briefly mentioned bringing along bulk of buns, tortilla wraps, crackers & bread loaves….but we put it on our top picks because they can be used with pretty much every meal or snack & really doesn’t need refridgeration!

Plus, its appeal is just how affordable buying an entire loaf is in comparision to going buying one fast food combo meal.

CAUTION: Don’t forget to protect it from being squashed…that is why the thicker crusted loaves can be a better option than the softer ones.

One of my favorite parts of travelling is stopping by local shops, bakeries, or farmer’s markets to try out new foods or baked goods.

Take advantages of these spots to source out fresh breads, buns, cookies, & pies!

#20 Sushi

Photo by Skitterphoto on Pexels.com

Photo by Valeria Boltneva on Pexels.com

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Photo by Public Domain Pictures on Pexels.com

Sushi! You may be thinking this a strange option for a travel food list, but so long as you are close to major shops like Walmart, Superstore, or Safeway along your route! It is cheap to pick up a bulk family pack for less than $20 that easily feeds us. Because it comes in a deep dish container, there is really no fear of spills which is perfect for eating on the road.

So there you have it, our TOP 20 PICKS for road trip food essentials! We hope that you enjoyed & found at least one new item to add to your list.

We would also like to hear from you about your favorite picks, so please do share with us!

Hitting the Road this summer with your family?! It can be a lot of fun, but long drives can leave you feeling hungry & low on energy. Here are 20 great food ideas to help! "In my food world, there is no fear or guilt, only joy and balance." - Ellie Krieger

#food #recipes #road trip

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superbstudentcolorlove-blog-blog · 6 years

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In this article, we will certainly talk about the gluten free food list. Gluten is a certain kind of healthy protein that you won’t discover in meat or eggs. Gluten is located in rye, wheat, and barley. If you are trying to find gluten-free foods, after that you ought to prevent these grains. A gluten-free diet is necessary for lots of people who have gluten allergies or celiac condition, a state which triggers intestinal tract damage when gluten is consumed. Common signs of gluten allergy consist of abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, tiredness, lapse of memory, and also irritability.

The gluten-free diet regimen is adopted for the therapy of celiac sprue and also dermatitis herpetiformis. Despite a gluten, totally free diet does not heal gastric sprue and dermatitis herpetiformis, complying with the diet plan will ease the signs connected to gluten sensitivity.

1.) Gluten Free Fruits as well as Vegetables List:

Fruits: Honeydew melon, kiwi, kumquat, lemons, limes, mandarin chines, oranges, mangoes, papaya, peaches, pears, pineapple, plantains, plums, persimmons, quince, raspberries, strawberries, tamarind, tangerines, acai, apples, apricot, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, melon, carob, cherry, berries, currants, dates, figs, grapes, guava, and also watermelons. Vegetables: Onions, parsley, peas, peppers, potatoes (white and wonderful), pumpkins, radish, spinach, squash, turnips, watercress, corn, agar, alfalfa, algae, arrowroot, artichoke, arugula, asparagus, avocado, broccoli, beans, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, celery, corn, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, green beans, kale, lettuce, mushrooms and also okra.

2.) Rice and Potatoes in Your Gluten Free Food List

Rice and potatoes do not consist of gluten. You can make use of these food things for covering with nearly anything, incorporate them right into meals, snacks, or enjoy them by themselves without blending them with any various other food products. You are really fretted that you can’t eat your preferred pasta? Here’s a key: When you actually require a bowl of pastas, it is feasible to find gluten-free pasta.

3.) Grains as well as Starches in Your Gluten Free Food List

Ready-to-eat cereal prepared from grains like gluten-free pasta and bread products. Buckwheat, soybean, Tapioca arrowroot potato, flours, quinoa, amaranth, millet, flax Rice, cream-of-rice, puffed rice, unflavored popcorn, wild rice Corn, cornmeal, hominy, grits and corn starch Pure. You could take gluten-free oats after taking health and wellness expert recommendation.

4.) Beverage in Your Gluten Free Food List

Freshly brewed coffee (no grains included), teas without inhibiting grains Milk, chocolate milk made with cocoa 100% fruit juices, soda (check tag) Wine, distilled alcohols and also cordials (check tag for chemicals and dyes), gluten-free beers.

5.) Soup in Your Gluten Free Food List

Homemade brew, gluten-free bouillon cubes, soups prepared with rice or gluten-free pasta as well as gluten-free chowders as well as creamed soups harden with cream, corn starch, potato flour or other permitted unique flours. Homemade or refined gluten-free macaroni without sauces thickened with flour, gratins made with just cream (no flour or forbidden thickeners)

6.) Fats in Your Gluten Free Food List

Butter, oils (check tag for wheat germ oil or any unidentified oil resource), lard, a lot of vegetable shortenings and margarines, foods fried in pure oils that have actually not been breaded with hindering flours Pure mayo (and added salad dressings that are enlarged with egg, cornstarch or enabled unique flours), homemade salad dressings made with concentrate vinegar Lotion, bacon, sour lotion nuts, olives, peanut butter, avocado and lotion cheese.

7.) Herbs in Your Gluten Free Food List

Herbs, pure flavors, salt, and monosodium glutamate (MSG). Honey, Sugar, molasses, jelly, jam, maple syrup, corn syrup, imitation, or pure vanilla extract. Coconut, pure delicious chocolate, pure chocolate, marshmallows and sweets prepared from enabled grains. Mustard, pickles, enjoyment, horseradish, ketchup steak sauce not prepared with prevented element like gluten-free soy sauce, rice, or cider vinegar.

8.) Milk Products in Your Gluten Food List

Whole, low-fat, skim, fresh, dried out or vaporized milk, flavored milk (check tags). Plain yogurt and also kefir, flavorful yogurt and kefir (check tags). All aged difficult cheeses (swiss, parmesan, cheddar, etc.), cottage cheese.

9.) Gluten Free Bread in Your Gluten Free Food List

Usually, bread contains gluten, yet the bright side is, lots of organic food shops and some primary grocery stores now sell gluten-free items, covering an assortment of bread. These are frequently prepared with rice or potato flour as opposed to wheat products. Make certain that you thoroughly check the label to get 100% gluten-free bread.

10.) Meat in Your Gluten Free Food List

Meats are always gluten cost-free except prepare breaded or fried with breadcrumbs unless it’s gluten complimentary flour for the dough. Stay clear of taking gravy as many of the sauce has gluten in it.

Goat Beef Turkey Chicken Duck Alligator Goose Lamb Pork Rabbit Snake Buffalo Quail Veal Venison

Avoid Food with any of the Complying with Components on the Tag:

Wheat: Contains things that are prepared with flour. Several parts of the wheat which lugging the bran, germ, and also starch, and grain species gain from prevented grains, for instance, triticale is a hybrid of wheat and rye. Barley: Consists of all parts of the barley grain as well as products prepared from barley such as malt flavors, brewer’s yeast, wild rice syrup and also beer. Rye: Consists of all components of the rye grain, typically located in our food supply as rye bread and rye flour. Contrary wheat as well as barley, rye is typically not utilized as a food additive. Oats: includes all items including oats (consisting of oat flour, oat bran as well as oat periodontals). There are resources of pure oats offered, speak with your dietitian concerning the best ways to include oats safely.

The post Gluten Free Food List appeared first on 5 Minutes - Weight Loss.

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sentrava · 6 years

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It’s All Jul: Danish Christmas Traditions

Before moving to Denmark, I had never celebrated Christmas. So it was with absolutely nothing to compare it to that I learned how to celebrate the Danish way. Danish Christmas, or Jul, is all about family, food and tradition. Here’s what’s happening; after reading this, you can celebrate like a full-on Dane or pick and choose your favorite parts (it’s the food, right?!). Whether or not you’re looking to celebrate, it’s always fascinating to learn about the traditions surrounding major holidays. To those of you only in it for the research, enjoy my ethnographic study!

Christmas Markets

Another pre-Christmas tradition, markets pop up all over the country selling handmade crafts and treats. It is delightful. Tivoli has a large market that runs from November until the new year, but there are plenty that are free to enter and are just as lovely.

Julefrokost

This Christmas tradition starts about six weeks before the holiday itself. Long dinners or lunches are held by work places, friends and family. It’s hygge at it’s finest: loads of food, drink (especially snaps!), a beautiful table and good company. If you’re invited to a julefrokost, don’t expect it to be an eat-and-run situation. These can last all day/night and seem to be an excuse to get seriously plastered. So, cheers! Also: don’t drink and drive.

Check out: How to Have a Proper Danish Julefrokost for more →

Actually Taking Time Off

What a concept! Offices and stores are closed on the 24th, 25 and 26th. Maybe it’s a matter of necessity (there’s nothing open! Need some toilet paper? Time to dig out those paper napkins), but most people seem to geniunely take time off during the holidays. No phones at the table, no computers out in the mornings. Just three days days of solid family, friend or relaxation time. I’m still getting used to it but I kinda like it (a lot).

Decoration

Danish decoration is relatively subdued. Lots of candles, lots of pine-inspired decor. Colors tend to be white, red, gold, silver and green. There aren’t a lot of outdoor lights on personal homes or apartments, but the main streets of the city do get dressed up.

As is the way with most Scandinavian decor, go for the minimalist, the nature-inspired, and keep the color palate simple. Typical Danish decorations that both kids and adults can make are Julehjerter (Christmas Hearts) and Julestjerner (Christmas Stars) and other julepynter (Christmas ornaments). They’re made from folded paper and can be hung up with string. Hyacinth and Amaryllis bulbs are popular to display around the house and for dotting a festive table setting. The bulbs can be found inexpensively at supermarkets and florists. I happen to love the focus on plants; my apartment turns into a bit of a jungle in winter.

Images sourced from our Scandi Christmas Pinterest Page.

The Food

Now for the good stuff! I should preface this by saying that I did not grow up with the kind of food Danes eat during Christmas. GDuck and pork weren’t on the menu for me as a kid, and we weren’t a big cabbage or potato family either. I had never even tried marzipan until I moved to Denmark.

Duck and flæskesteg with crispy pork rinds

Christmas Eve dinner is hyper-traditional. Duck and flæskesteg with crispy pork rinds, as well as boiled potatoes, caremlized potatoes, brown sauce (gravy) and pickled red caggage. If your stomach isn’t used to this kind of food, be prepared for things to get gassy. Regardless, it’s a hearty, old-fashioned meal that leaves most people sleepy and satisfied.

Note to vegetarians & vegans: this menu isn’t the kind where you have enough side dishes to make up for taking out meat, so if you’re going to someone else’s home for the meal, consult the host and/or bring your own main dish!

Images from: Restaurant Kronborg

Desert: Ris a l’Amande

Dinner is, naturally, followed by dessert. Ris a l’Amande. Good god, people, Ris a l’Amande. It’s a cold, creamy rice pudding made with vanilla and almond slivers, on top of which you pour hot cherry sauce. And then eat FOREVER. Traditionally, it is made the day before or in the morning and set out during the day to prevent Nisser (elves) from playing pranks.

The game with Ris a l’Amande is that the host mixes in one (or more) whole blanched almond. If you find the almond, you get a prize. And you have to keep eating the pudding until someone finds the almond.

So usually, the person who finds the almond will hide it under his/her tongue or discreetly spit it into a nakpin until everyone has eaten so much that they’re on the verge of death.

Then the winner, high on adrenaline so he can’t yet feel the effects of his gluttony, shows off the almonds and laughs and laughs until you are forced to projectile vomit right into his smug face. Or, whatever! Maybe this sounds like I’m not into the whole thing but I really am. I loooove rice pudding.

Desert extras: æbleskiver, Marzipan & Chocolate

There are plenty more sweet things to enjoy, for those of you who like that sort of thing. A personal favorite is æbleskiver, which have no apple in them (although they apparently used to. Too healthy I guess?). They’re fried dough balls that you dip in jam and powdered sugar. Although I’m usually a big fan of making things at home, I don’t have the special pan to make them so I buy my æbleskiver frozen from the supermarket and they’re delicious.

Marzipan is ubiquitious. My husband’s family makes little marzipan figurines, dips them in melted chocolate and adds extras like nougat or nuts. It is possible that I become vaguely type-A during these sessions and attempt to reconstruct Michaelangelo’s David.

Chocolate, of course, is another big one. But there’s not as much chocolate as you would think (or like). The far more popular cookies are gingerbread-style; crispy, peppery and perfect with coffee or port.

Drinks: Julebrygg & Glögg

Which brings us to drinks. So many drinks. I can’t drink like a Dane; this is something I’ve come to accept after a few very poor attempts to go glass-for-glass. I’m just not built that way, and it’s fine. But Danes can seriously drink and Christmas is the big leagues.

The whole Christmas season kicks off on the first Friday of November with J-Day, the day Tuborg Julebrygg (Christmas Brew) is released. It’s available for only ten weeks a year and still manages to be Carlsberg’s fourth best selling beer, which is indicative of the kind of drinking that goes on around the season.

Glögg, a hot spiced wine with almonds and raisins, is served at most markets and at many a party. Kids will have hot chocolate (adults can too!). During Christmas itself, wine or beer is served, as well as traditional aquavit. The meal is often finished with an apperetif like port or cognac.

What I’ve always admired about Danish drinking habits is that there’s no pressure. Although the Danish culture includes a lot of beer and liquor, if you don’t drink, no one is going to get on your back about it. It’s all very joyful and inclusive, so if you’re not a drinker or need to bow out early, don’t feel awkward.

Walking Around the Christmas Tree

If something can be both weird and adorable at the same time, this tradition nails it. After dinner but before you open presents, you and your family or friends will join hands, sing Christmas hymns and walk around the tree. As the story goes, this is to give Santa Claus time to deliver his gifts. To get the adrenaline flowing, the tree is dotted with actual lighted candles.

So we’re clear: the tradition is to walk briskly around what is essentially a 7-foot high pile of kindling that has wax sticks of fire precariously perched on its outermost layer, just reaching out for human contact. But it’s fun! And very sweet, if a little terrifying for newbies like me.

Presents After Dinner

It was recently brought to my attention by Danish friends that Christmas dinner in Denmark is a form of torture for children. This is because instead of opening presents on the morning of the 25th, Danes open their presents after dinner on the 24th. While this may seem like a way to get presents faster, it is actually a way to make children hate eating dinner with their adult relatives. But, hey, tradition!

And while I’m certainly sympathetic to impatient kids, it must be said: having to wait through a fabulous dinner for a gaggle of presents is not, like, the WORST. You know? Let’s all take a moment to reflect on that.

What are your experiences with celebrating Christmas in Denmark? Are there any traditions we missed? Let us know!

It’s All Jul: Danish Christmas Traditions published first on http://ift.tt/2gOZF1v

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