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hellyeahsickaf · 4 months

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Cooking While Disabled

One of the things I miss most about being less disabled is cooking. It was one of my favorite things to do and something I've always been good at.

On good days there are things I can do that make it easier. It's not the same as before, but I hope that sharing what makes it possible for me to cook helps others who struggle with it.

Tips for cooking while disabled:

You can incorporate precooked food in your meals. For example, stir fry with precooked rice with the ingredients of your choice, or taking frozen pasta (like the ones with maybe sauce and a couple other things) or plain microwave pasta (I prefer these, but heat it first) and putting it in a pan adding other ingredients like vegetables, cheese, garlic, etc

If it comes frozen or canned that can really help. Frozen rice you can just microwave, frozen cut veggies and garlic and onions are good as well

Buy a chopper with different shaped blades, spiralizer, electric slicer/grater, food processor, or any appliance that will save you energy. Ideally machine washable. Stand mixers are also better than manual ones. Especially helpful if you have joint/wrist issues

You can always prepare ingredients ahead of time. I find that sometimes it helps to prep (chopping or mixing ingredients, etc) earlier in the day or even a day before. Then you can put it in the fridge or freezer until you're ready to cook the full meal

Look up easy recipes or recipes for elderly/seniors. With the latter you may find more nutritionally balanced food but an unbalanced easy meal is better than none

You can sit while you prepare ingredients.

You're allowed to take breaks. You can turn the stove off, maybe put a lid on it to retain the heat, sit down, maybe take something for your symptoms. Some things you may not be able to stop in the middle of like making pancakes or deep frying something, but if you're making soup or curry or chili or something, often you can turn it off for a bit and take care of yourself.

If you need help and can get it, please ask for help. I know many of us need to work on asking for help including myself. Even if it's just washing the pots and pans or chopping something. You are not a burden you hear me?

Stretch before and after cooking just as one would before a workout. It will likely lessen any joint pain or stiffness as you are still exerting yourself

Listen to your body. Just as you're allowed to take a break, you are allowed to decide you won't be able to finish what you're doing. You may put away your food before it's done (if this won't ruin the meal). You are allowed to leave a dirty pot in the sink and come back to it later (just make sure you or someone else does before it gets gross). You can wash them in the dishwasher. I know this is bad for the seasoning on pots and pans but you can reseason them to be nonstick again and use nonstick spray

You can buy seasoning mixes rather than using individual seasoning. Instead of parsley, oregano, basil, etc you can buy Italian seasoning. Instead of paprika, pepper, cumin, oregano, salt, etc, you can just get taco seasoning. This may sound obvious but it can save a lot of time and energy

An issue I have is buying perishable ingredients thinking I can use them, having a bad week or two, and the ingredients have gone bad. Try to plan out your meals before shopping and ask yourself if there's an easier alternative for any ingredients. Maybe pre chopped fresh onion instead of a whole one, sliced mushrooms instead of whole, frozen vegetable blends instead of individual, powdered ginger instead of the root, bullion instead of stock that you may not be able to use all at once. I know this is like one of the other points but these are what I find most helpful

Use supercook.com! You input the ingredients you have on hand and you'll get a list of recipes you can make with what you have. Often there's a wide range of complexity and difficulty

Make enough food to freeze or refrigerate leftovers. It helps if you can portion it into single servings in Tupperware or freezer bags. You can prepare frozen burritos for your next few lunches or dinners, separate portion sizes of spaghetti, portion salads, etc

Feel free to add any additions!

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tightwadspoonies · 2 months

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I am allergic to all nightshades (tomato, potato, peppers, eggplant) as well as shellfish. I'm also physically disabled, so standing at the stove or counter for long periods of time is painful. My food options are so limited as a result, and I end up relying on frozen foods more than I'd like. Any ideas?

Trail mix: Lots of things can be purchased in pre-sized pieces from bulk stores and mixed in zipper bags. I recommend dried fruit or berries without added sugar, seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, etc..), nuts, and puffed grain or cereal pieces. Making your own mix is usually a healthier and more customizable option than buying pre-made, so you can expand it out to a meal or just eat as a snack.

Meal shakes- Combine a regular smoothie recipe with some heavy cream or nut butter for more calories. These are much easier to clean up after if you use a stick blender and rinse it off immediately.

The following recipes minimize prep, or allow prep to be done at a different time than the meal will be consumed:

Sheet pan meals: Cut pieces of 2 different vegetables (sweet potato, onion, broccoli, green beans, cauliflower, etc...) and a meat (chicken, sausage links, beef, pork, etc...) into 1-inch cubes, toss in oil of choice with spices of choice (I like garlic, onion, salt, and black pepper), lay on a sheet pan, and bake until the meat is cooked through (30-45mins at 350F).

The chopping can be done seated and/or done ahead on a good day (or even purchased pre-cut at some supermarkets) and frozen (lay on a baking tray in the freezer for an hour, then put in a zipper bag) for a quick meal on a bad day. You can cut down on dishes by lining the pan you freeze or cook with in parchment paper.

Instant Pot or slow cooker meals: Put some meat, roughly chopped onions, spices of choice, oil of choice, and broth in a slow cooker or instant pot, set to appropriate settings and wait.

Make rice or other starch ahead of time and freeze in portions. Then all you have to do is microwave it to go with a sheet pan dinner or instant pot dinner.

Non-nightshade sauces can be tricky, but here is a relatively easy one that doesn't require sautee-ing. It does require an instant pot or slow cooker and blender or immersion blender.

youtube

#health #diy #food

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vodkassassin · 6 months

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Well I suffer with the adhd eating thing too but the best thing for me is to get things that are easy like microwave things or like rice. Things in bulk with long shelf lives or that go in the freezer are great, because I’ll have something for me to grab when I suddenly realize I haven’t eaten in like ten hours that’ll be ready fast.

Yeah I mostly live off frozen things. My fridge shelf is the emptiest out of all me and my roommates bc I rarely buy red ridge rated things unless they have a very long shelf life (fermented things like kimchi, or pickled stuff like pickles and olives and artichoke hearts).

But yeah most of my food exists in a frozen state. Even my rice! I make a huge bath and freeze it on little bricks in plastic wrap and those only take 2mins in the microwave when I wanna eat them, they’re honestly the reason I am alive I’m pretty sure.

I also buy the big bags of frozen veggie assortments, I prefer the broccoli and squashes but if it has edamame in it I’m in love. I’ll open the bags immediately and portion them out into smaller Ziplocs and keep them in the freezer that way, bc otherwise the big band intimidates me lol.

I live off canned soup and mini ravioli a lot on my worst days.

My safe meal is beef top ramen with green onions (chopped ahead of time and frozen so they’re easy to grab), a spoonful of minced garlic, two eggs cracked into it and cooked in the microwave for 4-5 minutes.

I also have beef bone broth powder that I sometimes substitute into the ramen instead of the ramen seasoning packet.

On my good days, though, I have a chicken kimchi bowl I eat. I use a frozen rice brick, the precooked shredded frozen chicken from the foster brand (HUGE boon to my existence, also saves my life), and I top it off with kimchi, mayonnaise and some sesame oil. Typically I’ll also put one of my veggie ziplocs servings in that but I haven’t in a while bc I’ve been unable to sum up the ability to portion out the last big bag I had.

So I mean I do have some tried and true stuff that I know works for me. But the variety is slim so I’m very curious to know other people’s methods.

#adhd problems #executive dysfunction

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lovesosweeet · 7 months

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better left unsaid // cth

chapter thirteen

in which orion has leukemia, and calum doesn’t know.

calum hood x fem!oc

read other chapters

august 3, 2018 los angeles, california orion

I've not left the apartment since I got home from the hospital two days ago, except to take Duke out a few times a day. The nausea has been unrelenting the entire time and I feel like I've been hit by a bus. I don't even sleep in our bed. I spend the whole time on the couch.

I'm grateful that I've only vomited once, but I haven't eaten a full meal in several days. From being stressed about Cal leaving to getting started on chemo, food hasn't exactly been appealing. I can tell my weight is going to plummet over the next several weeks, but it's hard to fight the feeling that I'll throw up anything I eat and also that adding anything else to the chaos in my stomach already is not a good idea.

Duke has been a great cuddle companion and has barely left my side. Calum called again yesterday but hasn’t yet called today. The time zones make it so confusing and I keep forgetting whether he’s ahead or behind of me in time. He texted me a few hours ago—it was just a selfie of him and Ashton backstage, letting me know they were about to perform. Once they finish the show tonight they’re flying to New Zealand, which I know he’s excited about.

It’s been long enough now that I think he should be off stage soon, if they aren’t already, but I know they’re going to be kind of chaotic afterwards because they’ll be rushing to the airport. I don’t plan on calling him at all; his schedule is so insane and busy, and I know he will do his best to call me as much as he can. I’ll call him if it’s important enough, but so far nothing has happened that should mean I call him.

This morning I woke up to a banging on the apartment door and to my dismay I found my moms had ordered groceries for me. It was just a bunch of easy to make foods — cans of soup, frozen pizzas, instant ramen — but it still frustrated me that they would do that without asking me. I don’t need their help.

I grumble silently, dragging the food inside with Duke sticking his face in the bags. “Nothing for you, sorry buddy.”

Once I get the frozen food into the freezer, I go to flop back on the couch. My body aches so much. I don’t feel like I can stand for more than a few minutes at a time. I’ve debated checking with Macy to see if she would be able to walk Duke for me, but I’m scared to rope another person in on my secret. I’m on the couch watching more Girl Meets World when Emelia texts me.

From: emi✨ how ya doin today? need anything?

To: emi✨ yuck. am fine. just don’t wanna move ever again.

From: emi✨ do you want me to walk duke for you? i can come by after work!

I want to say yes, but she’s already doing so much. She’s the one who will be driving me to and from chemo next week, and she’s already planning on coming over again tomorrow to keep an eye on me. I’m hoping I feel okay enough to hang out with Macy in a few days like we’d planned… I decide I am just going to suck it up. I can handle it. What's the worst that can happen?

I text Emelia "no" and then muster as much strength as I have left to get off the couch again. It's time to take a shower, I decide.

It takes me a somewhat shameful amount of time to get to the bathroom and turn on the water. I crank it all the way up because I'm freezing. Before I get in, I grab a pair of Cal's boxers and one of his hoodies to put on when I get out, and then I hook my phone up to the Bluetooth speaker so I can listen to music.

The sound of Maisie Peters' brief but iconic discography echoes in the room while I step under the hot water, and I instantly feel better. Washing my hair feels weird because it's so much shorter than it was when I last washed it. I pump out far too much shampoo for the amount of hair I have left, but it smells nice, so it's fine.

I'm singing the words to Worst of You when the music is replaced by ringing. Someone is calling me, and, if I had to guess, it's Calum. Of course, he calls right during the first time in the past several days that I can't answer. Quickly, I rinse the shampoo from my hair and try to scrub my entire body, undoubtedly missing a few places, but I just want to get out.

Tossing the sweatshirt on over my wet hair and clumsily stepping into the boxers, I grab my phone off the counter and hit the button to call Calum back. While it rings, I wrap the towel over my hair and walk out of the bathroom, plopping back on the couch.

"If it isn't my favorite girl on the planet," Calum answers.

My mood instantly lifts but I roll my eyes. "I'm telling Joy that she's not your favorite. She won't be happy."

"That's different and you know it."

I smile. I love that he loves his mom so much, but being ranked higher than her is really such an honor. She's a wonderful lady.

"Sorry to miss your call, I was in the shower."

"No, it's fine! We're driving to the airport now and I just wanted to say hi really quick."

"How was the second show?"

Calum starts talking about a technical issue that I don’t really understand but try to listen intently. Something about the sound in his earpieces cutting off and no one believed or understood him so he had to play the whole show not being able to hear anything. He said the fans made him a sign to remind him of his lyrics (a common trend) and someone threw a beaded bracelet onstage that had a C and an O with a heart between them.

“It’s yours now,” he says. “It won’t fit me but it’ll fit your tiny wrist.”

I smile. It’s a cute memento and I am glad the fans are kind of warming up to me. I try to avoid looking for their opinions and thoughts on me but it’s a bit inescapable if I go on any of the 5SOS pages to check for updates.

“Can’t wait to have it,” I tell him.

“Did I tell you I’ve flown Mum out to Auckland? We’ll get there around the same time.”

“No! You didn’t tell me, but I’m jealous. I miss her.”

“She misses you too. She said they’d love to come to LA for Christmas, too, so we can maybe start planning that?” He says it like a question. “I know it’ll probably be you planning it because I know you love planning but it doesn’t have to be just you.”

My heart gets warmer at the thought. I love hosting and spending time with our favorite people, especially for special occasions. It could also be the first time we get to introduce our families to each other. We only have one guest room, but Cal’s office/studio could fit an air mattress for Mali if she doesn’t bring a partner. My family could just come up for the day, or maybe Cal and I could sleep on the couch and give my moms and brother our room.

Then I remember treatment plans and all of the uncertainty in my future and my head starts to spin. Will we be able to host if I’m going through treatment? Maybe Cal should just go to Australia for Christmas without me, and I’ll stay here and get treatment or just spend it with my own family. I try not to think on it too hard, but there is still, devastatingly, a chance that Calum won’t be happy when I tell him I’ve been lying.

He wouldn’t break up with me over it, I don’t think, but sometimes when he’s mad he does lose sight of rationality. It’s not a unique trait to him. We all do it. He’s never gotten mad at me—we’ve had fights and arguments but he’s never been angry with me specifically, more a situation or something that just frustrates him. I don’t know how he’s going to react, and maybe that’s part of why I didn’t want to tell him at all. I am 98% sure Calum would’ve opted out of tour for me, but that other 2% gnaws at the back of my brain.

Would he have ended it then and there? Why go through the heartache of being with someone you know will die soon?

“Orion?” Cal’s voice interrupts my spiral.

“Sorry, what?”

He laughs. “I said you’d probably want to be in charge of planning Christmas.”

I laugh nervously. “Yeah, I mean… probably.”

He’s silent for a minute. It’s a short pause and with anyone else, it wouldn’t matter or stick out, but with Calum, it does. “You okay?”

I hate how easily he’s able to read me without even being able to see me. I quickly try to come up with an excuse. “Yeah, just been having a hard time sleeping. The apartment feels so empty without you.”

Calum pauses again, and I know it’s because that idea makes him a bit sad. “Would you feel better if Em stayed there? That could be fun, a four month sleepover with your bestie.”

I purse my lips, holding back that Em has already stayed here one night of the three that he’s been gone. “Maybe.”

He sighs. “I’m sorry you’re feeling lonely. Let me know if there’s any way I can help. Even if it’s just to fly home for a day whenever we have a break or to fly you somewhere for a day. I don’t care. I want to see you, especially if you’re down, okay?”

I want to shake my head but he can’t see me. “Cal, it’s fine. We’ll be fine. Just might take a bit to get used to.”

“I don’t want you to get used to a life without me, O. I’m here, forever, okay? Whatever you need, I’m there.”

With each word, I can feel my heart ripping down the middle, inch by inch. I don’t know how it’s still whole.

“I love you,” is all I manage to say. I’m choking back tears, the guilt is so much. How can I keep this up? How can I hold this in?

“I love you, too.” He sounds sad now. “Love, we’re almost to the airport. Do you want me to call you again once we’re through security? We don’t have to stop talking.”

I clear my throat. “No, it’s fine. I’ll be fine. Just text me before you take off.”

“We’re both gonna be fine. I’ve gotta go. I love you.”

I feel my tears slowly trickling down my face and I don’t bother to wipe them away. “I love you. Bye.”

Then we hang up, and I can really start sobbing. Duke runs over, his ears perked up. He’s not sure why I’m crying and he hops up next to me, sticking his face by mine. When he starts licking my face, I stop him. I’d read something about how all bodily fluids post-chemo are essentially poison. I don’t want to get Duke sick, too. I can’t handle that. We can’t both be sick.

I pull Duke close to me and squeeze him as much as I can without hurting him. I don’t know how I’m going to get through this, but I know I will, at least for now. I’ll have Em and my moms and Ash and Duke and everything will be fine. It has to be.

next chapter

a/n: spoiler next chapter will have a bomb drop hehehe

#5sos #5 seconds of summer #luke hemmings #calum hood #ashton irwin #fanfiction #fanfic #5sosfam #5sos fanfic #calum imagine #calum fanfic #calum 5sos #calum #better left unsaid #calum fic

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art-of-manliness · 3 months

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Make a Week of Cheap, Easy, High-Protein Breakfasts in Less Than an Hour

If you’re looking to eat healthier, one of the best things you can do to make that happen is to make eating healthier easy. Like stupid easy. So easy, you hardly have to think about it. One way to accomplish this is to prepare your meals in advance so you know exactly what’s in them, and so that when you’re pressed for time, you don’t default to eating whatever unhealthy options are on hand or getting expensive, no-good-for-you fast food. When it’s time to eat, you just grab your ready-made meal from the fridge or freezer. You know, meal prep. One make-ahead meal I’ve been enjoying recently is a high-protein breakfast bake. I got the idea from a fella named Johnny Hadac on Instagram who serves up easy, affordable meal prep recipes for people looking to lose weight/eat better. This breakfast bake takes about 15 minutes to prep. The thing that takes the most time is dicing up your veggies. Bake time is about 35 minutes. When you’re done, you’ll have six tasty, high-protein, low-carb mini breakfast casseroles that will leave your belly feeling nice and full, but without a ton of calories. Just take a look at the macro breakdown for each bake: * Protein: 50 grams * Carbs: 12 grams * Fat: 22 grams * Total Calories: 452 Cost per bake is $3.50. You’d pay about $13 for a similar breakfast bake from one of those companies that sell ready-to-eat meals online. I know, because I’ve bought them before. So these babies are tasty, healthy, and cost-effective. Here’s how to make them. Ingredients * 6 eggs * 24 ounces egg whites * 24 ounces low-fat cottage cheese * 12 ounces mild cheddar cheese * 6 precooked chicken sausages (you can buy them already cooked) * 1 onion * 3 bell peppers * Salt and pepper Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit Queue up the Art of Manliness Podcast Great to listen to while you’re prepping these. Dice Onion and Bell Peppers This is what will take most of your time. Lay Out Six Cooking Pans on a Table We’re going to prep these like they’re on a Henry Ford Model-T assembly line. I used these aluminum meal prep pans that you can buy at most grocery stores. I recommend doing the same when you first try this out. If you decide to make this a regular thing, you can buy some Pyrex pans. It will save you money, and you’ll be able to reheat your bake in the microwave right in the dish. Spray Each Pan With Cooking Spray Crack One Egg in Each Pan Add ½ Cup of Egg Whites to Each Pan Add ½ Cup of Low-Fat Cottage Cheese to Each Pan If cottage cheese makes you squeamish, don’t worry, you don’t taste it. But it gives the bake more protein and some bulk. Add 1 Diced Sausage to Each Pan I used Al Fresco Sweet Apple Chicken Sausages. Why? Because it was the only precooked chicken sausage available at my local Walmart Neighborhood Market. You could use whatever precooked meat you want to use: bacon, ham, ground beef, whatever. I used chicken sausage because it’s lower in fat and higher in protein. Add ¼ Cup of Mild Cheddar Cheese to Each Pan Add a Handful of Veggies to Each Pan Sprinkle With Salt and Pepper and Mix Ingredients Together You can also add other seasonings as desired, like Old Bay. You know I love me some Old Bay! Bake in the Oven for 35 Minutes Bam! A Week’s Worth of High-Protein Breakfasts If you baked them in the aluminum pans, just slide them onto a plate to reheat in the microwave. ~90 seconds should do the trick. These actually taste really good cold. I like to hit mine with some sort of hot sauce before consuming. Enjoy! The post Make a Week of Cheap, Easy, High-Protein Breakfasts in Less Than an Hour appeared first on The Art of Manliness. http://dlvr.it/T2WgsP

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curvycarbivore · 7 months

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Pork Tamales with Jada Brands "Meat" (Vegan)

Yield: 12 servings | Prep time: 1 hour | Cook time: 1 hour 15 min | Total time: 3 hours

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Let me start off my saying that I am from an Italian background and do not have much experience cooking Mexican food, though it's one of my favorite cuisines to eat! And when I stumbled upon dried corn husks and corn masa flour at Walmart, I was instantly inspired to tackle the task of making homemade tamales... from scratch.

I absolutely LOVE tamales but unfortunately vegan tamales are hard to come by, since typically they're filled with meat and the dough is made with lard. There are a few vegan frozen brands out there but they are way too expensive in my opinion (sorry but I'm not paying $3 for a tiny tamale). So I thought making my own would be a better alternative, and making a lot to keep in the freezer for when I get hit with a craving.

After a lot of research and some trial and error, I believe the recipe below is pretty solid. I chose to use the Jada Brands Plant-Based Porkless Lightly Seasoned Mix for the filling, but you can really use any filling you want. Try your favorite version of plant-based meat, rice & beans, jackfruit, zucchini and corn, or other veggies. Though keep in mind if your filling is too wet, the tamales will take longer to cook and might be more difficult to unwrap. Try this fun tamale recipe when you have a few free hours and want to make an impressive meal. Or make the masa and filling ahead of time and have a DIY tamale bar with your friends and family!

Cookware needed:

1 large baking dish

1 medium mixing bowl

1 large mixing bowl

Electric mixer (optional) or large spoon/spatula

Frying pan

Steamer basket

Tamale Ingredients:

24 large dried corn husks + 2 husks for using as ties

3 cups of instant corn masa flour (I used Maseca Nixtamasa Instant Corn Masa Flour)

2 1/2 cups of vegetable broth

1/2 cup + 1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 tsp salt

Filling Ingredients:

1 package of Jada Brands Plant-Based Porkless Lightly Seasoned Mix

1 small white onion

3 tbsp vegetable oil

1/2 cup of cantina style salsa (I used Fresh Cravings Restaurant Style)

2 tsp ground cumin

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Directions:

For a video on how they're made, check out my Instagram reel here

Start by hydrating the corn husks.

Place all 26 of the husks in the large baking dish and cover with hot water. Set aside for 15-20 minutes to soften while you prepare the filling and dough.

Next, make the filling.

Pour the Jada Brands Porkless Mix into a medium size mixing bowl. Follow the instructions on the box to rehydrate the pork mix (add 1 cup of water & 1 tbsp of oil into the mix, stir, and let sit for 10 minutes).

Meanwhile, finely chop the onion and cilantro.

Heat a large frying pan over medium heat.

Add the onion and 2 tbsp of oil to the pan. Cook for about 2-3 minutes.

Add the pork mix, salsa, and cumin to the frying pan.

Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes or until the pork mix begins to look browned.

Remove from heat, mix in the cilantro, and set aside to cool.

Now that the filling is done, make the tamale dough (masa).

In a large bowl, combine the instant corn flour, vegetable broth, oil, and salt.

Use a large spoon/spatula or electric mixer to evenly mix the dough and make sure to work out any lumps. The consistency should be very thick but smooth and easy to stir. If it's dry and crumbly, mix in 1 tbsp of oil. If it's still dry, add 1 tbsp of water at a time until you get to the right consistency.

Continue mixing the dough for 5 minutes.

Now you are ready to assemble the tamales.

Take 2 of the smallest corn husks and dry them with a kitchen towel (keep the rest of the husks in the water so they don't dry out).

Rip the two husks into long shreds, about 1 cm wide, to use for tying the tamales. Set them aside.

Take 1 husk out of the water and dry it with a towel.

Using a small spatula, spread about 2-3 tbsp of the dough on the top half of the husk, leaving some space empty on the edges.

Spread 2 tbsp of the pork filling in the center of the dough in a vertical line.

Wrap the tamale by folding one side of the corn husk over the center almost to the other side, making sure the dough completely folds over the filling. Fold the other side of the corn husk over the center, then bring the bottom of the husk up and over the center of the tamale. The top will stay open.

Lay out one of the shreds from earlier and place the tamale on top. Tie the shred into a knot, securing the bottom of the tamale over the center. You can use two ties if needed.

Close the dough at the top of the tamale using your finger or a small spoon, spreading the dough over the filling to seal it shut.

Repeat with the rest of the corn husks (you will get faster with practice). If you have any leftover husks, remove them from the water and dry them to use in the future.

Once the tamales are all folded, it's time to steam the tamales.

Use a large steamer pot and fill the bottom with about 3-4 inches of water. Place the steamer basket inside.

Place 2-3 corn husks on the bottom of the steamer.

Then place the tamales in the steamer basket standing up (it's okay if they lean on each other). If not all of them fit, you can do them in separate batches.

Cover and steam them for 45-60 minutes over medium heat.

Check them at 45 minutes - remove one of the tamales to check if it's done. If it begins to unwrap easily from the corn husk, they are done. If the dough is still mushy, steam them for another 15 min or until the dough looks cooked through). You will most likely need to steam them closer to 60 minutes if there are a lot of tamales in the basket.

Once they are done steaming, remove them from the heat.

Let them cook for 5 minutes.

Serve, unwrapping the tamales from the corn husks and topping with your favorites (try salsa, avocado, guacamole, cilantro, or enchilada sauce).

Tips and Tricks:

There are many different types of corn flour masa you can buy, but I read from many articles and recipes that the Maseca brand is the best. I chose the Maseca Nixtamasa Instant Corn Masa Flour from Walmart. If you cannot find instant corn flour, you can still follow this recipe but may need to mix the dough for up to 10 minutes to get the right consistency.

If you can't find the Jada Brands Plant-Based Porkless Lightly Seasoned Mix, you can use any plant-based pork or meat mix your favorite veggies. Just follow the recipe as instructed above.

If your filling is too wet, the tamale dough may take longer to cook and they may be more difficult to unwrap.

You can make the filling and masa ahead of time to make this a faster recipe. Store the filling in the fridge, and keep the masa coverd at room temp.

Store the leftover tamales in their corn husks in an air-tight container in the fridge. Reheat them by unwrapping a tamale from the corn husk, microwaving it for 1 minute, and enjoy. You can also reheat them in the corn husk, they just might be a little difficult to unwrap.

These also freeze well. Store them in an air-tight bag or container in the fridge. Reheat them by microwaving the tamale for 30 seconds, then unwrapping it from the corn husk, then microwaving it for another 1 minute or until the center is warmed through.

#entrees #vegan #vegan recipes #vegan food #tamales

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silentchamp · 7 months

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do they tend to have any make-ahead meals?

mundane headcanons | accepting.

Red doesn't really partake in meal prep other than preparation for hikes and other physical excursions. Then again, these are mostly just easy sandwiches and small snacks...nothing considered advanced.

So consider his freezer empty, unless you're counting those clearly expired protein waffles, freezer-burnt in all their glory. No make-ahead meals here!

#>asks.#tapuhauko

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giftfromblythe · 9 months

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Circle of Life

There’s something in the gaze Of every picture on the wall And as I walk on by I’m sure they’re waiting for me to fall There’s nothing left within me Of the girl I once was Only bitter remnants Of a pain without a cause And these captured memories Only remind me to press on To leave long behind me All I thought I should have won These days I only ever Do what I must The seeds of ambition Left there in the dust Yet somehow I know That if I walk on ahead The flower I abandoned Will be growing there instead I walk and walk in circles Only seeing the return But in each repetition There’s something I will learn

Something that becomes relevant to me every few years is the cyclical nature of life and how that plays into mental illness. My depressive episodes seem to operate on a 2-3 year cycle—thankfully they’re not always severe, but they do impact my daily life in a lot of ways. I lose interest in things I enjoy. My projects get put aside because I lose motivation. I have difficulty envisioning the future in a positive sense. I react to perceived obstacles and inconveniences more strongly than usual and get stuck mentally on the most challenging part and assume everything hinges on dealing with it first. That’s probably also anxiety, but it’s not exactly easy to separate out what symptom or habit belongs to which diagnosis. My point is, I fall into patterns that I’ve established over countless repetitions and the nature of my mental illness makes it hard to see how I can get out of them.

So I often end up relearning a lot of the methods I use to maintain a good quality of life in these episodes. Things like daily exercise, keeping my freezer stocked with precooked meals for when cooking feels overwhelming, and monitoring my energy levels are included in that, yes, but I mostly mean relearning how to experience joy, how to plan for the future, how to allow myself the care I give others.

It’s a little different every time. Sometimes it’s harder than others. Often, it requires acknowledging that I haven’t truly lost those things—my brain’s just hiding them from me. I can and will find it again. I just have to take small steps to rekindle those embers of joy smoldering in the back of my head: going for walks not for exercise but just to see something beautiful, picking up old skills or hobbies I haven’t done in a while, dancing for two minutes while my dinner’s reheating, or rereading a book that makes me laugh. It’ll all come back to me if I remind myself of why I love these things.

That’s what this poem is about: how even though I end up depressed again, I don’t stay that way, and I ultimately get something special out of the process of recovery—I get to learn how to thrive. Every time an episode comes around, I come out of it with a better understanding of what makes me happy, and a deeper appreciation for those things and people in my life.

So even when the wheel turns again, I know I have something to look forward to.

I hope this reminds you of what makes you happy and inspires you to look for it in your own lives. Thanks for reading and as always, take care, listen well, and share your stories.

—Blythe

#mental illness #poetry #recovery #depression #anxiety

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kariachi · 2 years

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‘What have you spent your day on so far, Achi?’ Well, I said someday I’d write the thing, so I wrote the thing.

Argit is very underweight. Nobody is having it.

It all starts with a dunk in the bay. None of them want to get dunked in the bay, none of them planned for it or enjoy it, but while most of them are left freezing and uncomfortable Argit comes out of the water an absolute icicle. Kevin and Ben end up changing to higher body heat species and even when they get safely inside and dry, with both huddled up with him, it takes far too long for him to stop shivering.

The whole time Kevin has a look on his face like this is the last straw.

None of them have ever been under the illusion that Argit is a healthy weight. None of them have been under the illusion that he’s a healthy anything. Kevin’s been huffing about his weight for so long they wouldn’t be surprised to find he’d been having prophetic dreams as a child about it. Getting a good look at how easily you could play his ribs like a xylophone even through the fur only serves to sink the fact more firmly into their brains. While they may have wildly varying opinions on him even Gwendolyn doesn’t like him so little as to want him to stay in that condition once the severity of it is clear. So, when Kevin declares his intention to get another sixty pounds on the bastard or die trying, pretty much everyone is ready and willing to help.

When Gwendolyn finds them an article saying ‘healthy’ weight gain should top out at two pounds a week, they all settle in for a long year. When they see it also mentions getting plenty of sleep they just about give up right there.

“He weighs like sixty-odd pounds soaking wet, how can he not sleep?! That should be all he can do!”

“You remember all the shit I’ve been through? Him too.”

“…fuck.”

They all settle in for a long couple of years.

Kevin dedicates himself wholeheartedly to the cause. It’s not as if money is something he has to worry about anymore, and he’s already partially extracted himself from the criminal underworld and turned his focus to his personal projects. Argit just becomes the highest priority one.

To that end, as soon as they have something resembling a plan he declares Sunday ‘Get Argit Set Day’. He and whoever has the time to help get together to tally up what Argit has and doesn’t have, hit up a few grocery stores, and get his food ready for the week ahead. Small meals he can reheat quickly or eat right out of the fridge. Healthy stuff consisting mostly of fruits, nuts, and vegetables, with hearty sauces, eggs, and fatty poultry.

There would be no worries about lack of easy food access.

“So,” Argit says, Sunday of Week One, as he follows Kevin through Argistrix, watching him drop baskets of portioned snacks next to every spot he spends more than half an hour at a time in, “do I want to know?”

“I’m putting weight on you if it kills me,” comes the answer and Argit laughs.

“Aww, you care.” Kevin rolls his eyes, throwing a small bag of dried fruit at Argit’s head and glowering until he tears it open and starts eating.

“It’s been nearly a decade, if you’re just now figuring that out- You wanna be shocked by something, I’ve got a load of shit to go in the fridge and freezer too and Rook’s promised to come by every other day and help make sure you’re eating it.” Laughter dying out, Argit gives him a look somewhere between paranoia, insult, and the deep-seated affection everyone knows is there for at least Kevin.

“You people just have no faith in me,” he says.

“Again, nearly a decade, Hedgehog.”

Argit essentially doesn’t touch any of it until after Day Four, when Kevin snatches his phone and sets an alarm for six, nine, three pm, and noon every day with the note “Eat a meal, [fuckwit/jackass/moron/etc]”.

The meals start disappearing then, but the snacks remain hardly touched.

At the end of the First Month Argit has gained two pounds. Not much, but they throw a party anyway.

The problem, they discover over time, is threefold.

First, while he is a stress eater- and Ben has a lot to say at first about how someone with his life who stress eats could be so skinny- it turns out that that’s about the only time he eats when left to his own devices. If you set him an alarm and make it easy, or if you put in front of him, he’ll wolf it down like nobody’s business, steal off your plate, hurt anyone who tries to take his food from him, but otherwise? He won’t even think about it unless he’s stressed or actively starving.

Second, there’s a reason for that. Argit, they come to realize, does not notice when he’s hungry. Years of neglect and Null Void living, even before he’d met Kevin, means that he’s gone hungry more often than not. By the time they’d met it was simply background noise, a constant that wasn’t worth paying any mind. Having ready access to food for the past few years has not even touched a habit built over a lifetime.

Third, as a result of going hungry more often than not, he simply can’t take eating all that much at a time. It’s not something that occurred to most of them, Kevin even had thought it a problem Argit had recovered from and fell over himself apologizing for not noticing when they all realized. The new meals are fine, all the articles had said small meal often and so they all rolled with it, but eventually, a few months in and purely by dumb chance, they learn he can’t handle the hurried, binge-like eating he does when you place a large amount of food in front of him. It comes up within the hour, not purposefully but just because his body has never learned to adapt to so much food at once.

Taking this new information into account, they set up a schedule to text him and specifically ask if he’s hungry, in hopes it’ll get him paying attention.

The snack supply does begin to drop a little, to everyone’s great relief.

There’s concern, at first, about building muscle over fat. He needs fat, they know this and have all looked at enough examples of healthy members of his species to understand, but it’s a hard thought-line to break. Even when they do manage to break themselves free of the ‘fat is unhealthy’ mindset, making sure he’s building enough muscle to carry said fat around is still a priority that’s discussed often and in depth. Ideas are thrown left, right, and center for how to get him exercising and keep him doing so, with no agreements made. It’s not until the end of the Third Month that they begin seeing some behavior changes and realize two things.

One: Argit still has that strong Erinaen need to climb and be up high.

Two: He simply hasn’t had the energy to do so.

Immediately they set to making sure he gets out of the office and just wandering about at least a few times a week, and let instinct take it from there.

After four months, he’s gained ten pounds, one above the average guess.

They throw another party.

Over time Argit keeps steadily putting on pounds, and it eases a tension most of them hadn’t even realized they’d been feeling for so long. He begins being more energetic, his attitude improves, and slowly yet surely they start being able to see how he’s filling out.

By the end of Month Ten he’s gained twenty-eight pounds and looks like an actual person rather than a particularly fuzzy Halloween decoration. His winter coat tries to grow in for the first time in, as far as he knows, his life. He’s starting to go and wander about of his own volition, just to do so.

He looks, to the human eye at least, to be an acceptable, even ideal, weight, but they all beat back the urge to call it a job done. They’ve all seen what a healthy Erinaen should look like by this point and refuse to stop until Argit is, to quote Alan, “the fuzziest butterball on this planet”.

‘u hungry?’

‘im good’

‘u sure?’

‘yeah’ ‘just ate a couple minutes ago’

‘good!’ ‘proud of you man’

“Holy shit.” Doing his damnedest not to purr, Argit instead forces it into a huff and a glower.

“Seriously?” Manny doesn’t even pause in rubbing his fingers gently over Argit’s good ear.

“Is this what your fur is supposed to be like? It’s a crime it was ever so patchy.”

“Agreed,” Argit said, rolling his eyes and turning his head as much as he can without breaking contact to where what is supposed to be his bestfriend is laughing. “Will you come get him before he has to die?”

“Nah, you’re enjoying it.”

“Bastard.”

“‘How did you not notice’,” Gwendolyn mutters as she helps Argit take his new measurements and do the math to figure out what size clothes he’s going to have to have made. “‘If this guy weighed less than some hams how did you not notice for nearly five years?’ Because of this! Because you wear clothes so oversized you need to gain forty pounds before you start planning a new set!”

“Well, ya know, Red,” he says with a snicker, “they do say it’s easier to shop a size up.”

The pencil that gets thrown at his head is easily dodged. The bag of pistachios, not so much.

Month Seventeen, nearly a year and a half since Kevin and with him everybody else decided they were done, the whole lot wait with bated breath as Argit steps onto the scale. His eyes are bright, skin no longer thin, fur thick and soft, self wonderfully round, and he had been so close four Saturdays ago…

The room is quiet.

Helen kneels to check the reading.

She comes up with a grin.

“One-hundred-twenty-three pounds and twelve ounces!”

Everything explodes in a combination of cheers and relieved sighs. Off to the side Cooper crows something about “Good enough for government work”. It isn’t quite the sixty pounds they’d planned on, but it’s really damn close. Kevin yanks Argit from the scale and into a hug as Alan reaches over to tug at his ear affectionately.

“You’re still gonna keep up eating, by the way.”

“If you lose so much as an ounce, we’re locking you in a basement for your own good.” Chuckling, Argit let’s himself relax with a purr.

“Whatever you guys say,” he says. “If you really meant it you’d break out that cake though.”

Five-hundred and thirty days, nearly a year and a half, after the dunk in the bay, Argit officially hits fifty-eight pounds and five ounces gained, with promises all around to make sure he keeps the weight on.

They throw the biggest party over it.

#fanfic #ben 10 #argit #argit is just #*so* underweight in canon #something has to be done #yes this is getting tagged because i'm of a mood

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insert-game · 2 years

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there’s about to be a heat wave around here, so i’m just going to post a few tips on how to keep cool when it’s extremely hot out and you don’t live in a place where air conditioning is common

NOTE: if you do not have a place to stay, most cities will open up cooling centers in public places like libraries and community centers! please keep yourself safe and cool.

1. if you have a ceiling fan, make sure it’s turning counter-clockwise (you can reverse the rotation)

2. block sunlight with curtains in the daytime, open windows and let cool air in in the evenings and night

3. get some fans! you could put a tray of ice cubes in front of them (creating sort of a diy AC) or just leave them running. only warning with this is maybe use a humidifier or make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. fans running in your sleep can sometimes dry you out.

4. obviously, make sure you’re staying hydrated. keep on top of drinking water and gatorade

5. throw a couple of wet hand towels in the freezer! take them out and put them on you when you’re feeling hot. it helps a lot. you can also do this for some of your pets! we give one to my dog when it’s super hot so she has the option. she seems to appreciate it

6. not directly related to keeping cool, but you should buy some easy to make meals for when it’s hot. you probably won’t feel up to making complicated foods bc of the heat, so grabbing some stuff to make sandwiches or something could be a good idea! i also heard running the stove top/oven Does increase the temp of your home a bit. which makes sense. so keep that in mind too

7. if you can, try going swimming. just make sure if you go, apply sunscreen and re-apply every hour or so. also—buy some aloe vera sunburn relief just in case you do get burnt. they went out of stock last year during the heat wave, so i would suggest getting some ahead of time so you don’t have to raw-dog a sunburn. ALSO, if you leave the house, make sure your pets are well-equipped to handle the heat while you’re gone. don’t leave the house for too long either—come back and check on them if you simply MUST be gone for a long while. pets and the elderly are very susceptible to heat.

#long post #heat wave #if you have any other tips feel free to add them in

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subikshafoods · 5 days

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Beat the Rush With Whole Wheat Paratha: Easy Breakfast for Busy Parents

Are you a busy parent looking for a quick and healthy breakfast? Whole wheat paratha may be the solution you are looking for. Hello everyone, I am glad to welcome you all to this blog. This blog post will explore why Whole Wheat Paratha Madurai is a great choice for busy mornings and how it can be easily prepared.

Why Choose Whole Wheat Paratha? Whole wheat paratha, a traditional Indian flatbread, offers many benefits that are perfect for busy parents:

Nutritional value: Whole wheat flour used in paratha is rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals as compared to refined flour. It provides lasting energy throughout the morning, leaving you and your family feeling full and focused.

Quick Preparation: Whole wheat parathas can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Heat them in a pan or the toaster oven for a few minutes and you have a hot, fresh breakfast ready.

Customizable Fillings: Fill parathas with different fillings like mashed potatoes, paneer (Indian cottage cheese), spinach or lentils to add flavor and nutrition to your meal.

Kid-friendly: Kids often enjoy the taste and texture of parathas, making them a convenient option to ensure your kids start their day with a healthy meal.

With Whole Wheat Paratha Madurai, you can simplify your mornings and ensure your family enjoys a nutritious breakfast even on busy weekdays. Prepare a batch ahead of time and enjoy the convenience of preparing a healthy meal in minutes. Say goodbye to breakfast for a delicious start to your day with Whole Wheat Paratha.

Frequently Asked Questions Do you think I can freeze whole wheat parathas? Yes, whole wheat parathas can be frozen after cooking. Wrap them individually in foil or parchment paper and store them in a sealed container or freezer bag. Could you reheat in a skillet or toaster oven when ready to eat?

What are some healthy fillings for whole wheat parathas? Healthy fillings include grated carrots, finely chopped spinach, cooked lentils or leftover stir-fried vegetables.

Are whole wheat parathas gluten free? No, whole wheat paratha contains gluten as it uses whole wheat flour.

Can you make whole wheat parathas without oil? While oil or ghee adds flavor and helps with cooking, you can make whole wheat parathas with less oil or skip it altogether for a healthier version.

How long does whole wheat paratha stay fresh? Whole wheat parathas can be stored in the refrigerator for 2–3 days and in the freezer for up to a month. Ensure proper coverage to prevent drying.

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emilianospizza2 · 12 days

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6 Delicious Stromboli Variations to Try

While pizza is a big deal in Italian food, Stromboli is like a hidden treasure that's just as awesome. It started in the United States, inspired by the Italian Stromboli, which got its name from Stromboli Island in Sicily. Imagine a rolled-up pizza filled with meats, cheeses, and veggies – that's Stromboli for you! It's super flexible, so you can make it just how you like it.

Stromboli is a bit like a pizza burrito. You can stuff it with whatever you fancy – from pepperoni and sausage to spinach and mushrooms. It's like a tasty surprise waiting to be unwrapped! And the best part? It's easy to make and even easier to devour. So, let's dive into the delicious world of Stromboli!

1. Classic Comfort: Plain Stromboli

First up, let's talk about Plain Stromboli. It's like the OG of Stromboli, keeping things simple yet super tasty. Picture this: gooey mozzarella cheese, savory pepperoni or salami, and tangy tomato sauce, all snugly wrapped in soft pizza dough. It's the kind of dish that everyone loves because it's just so darn good and easy to enjoy.

2. Bold and Flavorful: Chicken Stromboli

Next up, let's talk about Chicken Stromboli. It's like the bold cousin of Plain Stromboli, bringing some extra flavor to the table. Imagine juicy pieces of chicken mixed with cooked onions, bell peppers, and lots of melted cheese, all wrapped in a golden-brown crust. It's a filling meal that's full of yummy flavors that stand out.

3. Steak Sensation: Steak Stromboli

Now, let's talk about Steak Stromboli. If you love meaty meals, this one's for you. Imagine tender slices of steak mixed with sweet onions, mushrooms, and melted provolone cheese, all wrapped up in a tasty crust. It's a mouthwatering treat that's full of flavor and texture. Each bite feels like a cozy night in for meat lovers.

4. Veggie Delight: Vegetarian Stromboli

Let's talk about Vegetarian Stromboli. It's perfect for those who don't eat meat but still want loads of flavor. Think fresh spinach, bell peppers, mushrooms, and tomatoes cooked just right. Add in creamy ricotta cheese and mozzarella, and you've got a filling that's not only tasty but also colorful and satisfying.

5. Mushroom Madness: Mushroom Stromboli

If you're crazy about mushrooms, this one's a winner. Imagine earthy mushrooms like portobello or cremini, cooked with garlic and onions until they're golden brown. Then, mix them up with some cheese and fresh herbs for a filling that even the fussiest eaters will love.

6. Authentic Italian Flavors: Italian Stromboli

Let's talk about Italian Stromboli, the real deal. It's a nod to its Italian roots and is packed with classic flavors. Picture this: Italian meats like prosciutto and soppressata, along with cheeses like provolone. Add in some tangy peppers and olives, all wrapped in a crispy crust. Every bite feels like a trip to Italy.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1: Can I make Stromboli ahead of time?

A1: Yes, Stromboli can be assembled ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until ready to bake. This makes it a convenient option for meal prep or entertaining guests.

Q2: Can I freeze Stromboli?

A2: Absolutely! Once baked, allow the Stromboli to cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil before placing it in the freezer. To reheat, simply thaw in the refrigerator overnight and bake in a preheated oven until warmed through.

Q3: Can I customize the fillings in Stromboli?

A3: Absolutely! One of the best things about Stromboli is its versatility. Feel free to experiment with different meats, cheeses, and vegetables to create your unique flavor combinations.

Q4: How do I achieve a crispy crust on my Stromboli?

A4: To achieve a crispy crust, brush the top of the Stromboli with beaten egg or melted butter before baking. This will give it a golden-brown finish that’s both crunchy and delicious.

Q5: Can I make Stromboli dough from scratch?

A5: Yes, you can make Stromboli dough from scratch using simple ingredients like flour, yeast, water, salt, and olive oil. Homemade dough adds an extra layer of flavor and authenticity to your Stromboli creation.

Conclusion

So, there you have it – six irresistible Stromboli variations to elevate your pizza night to new heights. Whether you’re a meat lover, a veggie enthusiast, or somewhere in between, there’s a Stromboli recipe to suit every taste and preference. So, roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and get ready to enjoy a slice of Italian-inspired heaven!

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