i have to believe somewhere, someone is trying a taco for the first time. someone is taking their first shower. someone is coming home to a new puppy.

i have to believe that this winter, someone new to snow will pull out a 5 dollar plastic sled and throw themselves down a hill, just to try it.

i think i'm probably lucky to be familiar with sunrises. i live in an area where the lightning bugs dance in their cocktail hours. i take chickadees for granted.

today i saw a tree that had changed to fall colors, and my first reaction was to grimace. i love autumn, but i hate the cold. i don't want it to be winter yet.

but how lucky, to live in a place where the leaves do change color - so bright and vibrant that people make treks from around the world just to look at what i grew-up-with. my mom's friend was a teacher in florida. she used to ask us to mail her an assortment of leaves, just to show her children - to prove to them yes, they really do turn yellow and orange and red.

last year i finally tried pumpkin spice for the first time. someone this year will find a new favorite knitting pattern. someone's favorite band will drop a new album. artists will make things we haven't yet imagined. there will be chalk drawings and magnet poetry and karaoke and recipes and laughing.

it is easy to forget. this was all new to me, once. and when it was - well, it was just all so easy to love.

Blog 32

My day:

I hung out with my mom and my siblings all day. They helped me move into my new dorm. This is the first time in years that my mom has been in Olympia with me despite the fact that I have been in college for over a year (after we moved to Oregon, she has basically stayed there and I would go down and visit). I cried.

Mom wanted to do the old things that she used to do when she last lived in the area such as going to the docks, and eating crab. We also went to the farmers market, and we went to the Organic Farm stand. From the Organic Co-op, mom got my brother and I food that we might want this week.

This day felt special because when I first went up to college, I did so alone. I arrived on a bus and I didn't even have sheets. Today, it felt more like a regular experience of having your parent drive you to college and get you set up. I may be 27, but apparently it isn't too late...

When we arrived yesterday, my brother cried because he has had pre-orientation for the last week and he was very stressed out. He doesn't like the people and the smells and the noise. This is the first time for him to be alone without family for an extended period of time. Yesterday was his 20th birthday, so mom took him to get a latte from Starbucks and a Ben and Jerry's from Target as well as another bookcase thing for more of his stuff to go on.

Food:

Breakfast: continental breakfast food from a hotel such as a chocolate muffin, dairy-less strawberry yogurt, decaf coffee, decaf coffee mixed with a cocoa mix and mint tea, and a banana. Two boiled eggs that I got from a store yesterday.

Lunch: The other half of my brother's chocolate muffin that I smuggled him from the continental breakfast to his dorm. A peach from the farmer's market.

Dinner: basically a four course meal of a spring salad mix with dairy-free ranch, half a crab which I used my bare teeth and hands to crack the meat from shell, popcorn with nutritional yeast and a fancy cheese that smelled very good, a brownie and a cookie and a half that my brother stole from the cafeteria while we watched Futurama

What's coming up:

It is weird, I now share a campus with my sibling. In one sense, I know what is coming up, but in another sense, this piece of time feels timeless. As if I am visiting somewhere or my brain hasn't caught on quite yet to my new life. As if I am arriving here for the first time and the campus is new again.

Other:

I took a walk with my brother through the woods to the beach. At the beach, he would pick up pretty rocks and a crab claw shell and give it to me to put in my flannel pocket. He took a video of tiny translucent jellyfish in the water. Water would squirt up from the rocks from the clams or oysters.

Yesterday, we visited four people, including my brother. First, we met my other sibling at the library near Portland. It had a duck pond and we had a picnic at a picnic table. My mom didn't even recognize them because their normally distinct curly dark hair was covered by a wrap like a bandana or something. They had on a vibrant shirt and a simple black shirt. Mom said that they looked like they were from Europe. I saw their grown out hair underneath the bandana, and recognized the turquoise purse. They are (mostly) vegan now. I noticed that they were shaky and had a hard time opening packaged food or grabbing onto things.They ended up eating some of the fish we brought.

We also met up with my mom's long time friend since middle school.

Then we met up with my uncle, who had my stuff. We met at Denny's, which is the same one he has gone to for the last 20 year. He had a spot, knew all the staff, and got coffee for free. He even pointed to the booth where he met his wife. He talked about D&D campaigns and how some of the characters and stories have inspired the new podcast he is trying to create. I had a cup of coffee and a half, and my eyes felt itchy and I started feeling sweaty and then chilled and I felt wired. My mom ordered bacon and I got a glass of water to help calm the caffeine high. Mom gave some of the obsidian we got from Glass Butte to my uncle, as well as my cousins and aunt. Heading out the door, my mom gave a chunk of obsidian to one of the employees.

Rita’s is Brewing Up Something New

Rita’s has continued its dominance as one of the premier refreshing dessert companies. During the summer time, you can always guarantee that a group of people will be hanging around almost all of Rita’s popular locations, using their seating area as a place to relax and cool off with its tasty treats. Rita’s continues to offer many different products, including 8 individual treats with take home ice cream sandwiches and other options as well. Rita’s offers 85 Italian ice flavors including 5 sugar free options. According to Foobooz, a philadelphian restaurant ranking group, Swedish fish is the most popular water ice flavor, with cherry, mango, root beer, and wild cherry rounding out the top five favorite flavors ranked. Personally, my favorite has to be the swedish fish, and I have gotten it within a gelati almost every single time since its introduction to the menu. Also, I like to choose sugar free options, including sodas but for italian ice I always treat myself to the full experience. Rita’s flavors are so renowned that I would feel robbed if I did not try the full experience. An annual event that Rita’s offers is their first day of spring special where customers have the chance to get one free water ice cup on the first day of spring. Along with Rita’s, Dairy queen offers a similar special with one free soft serve cone. Personally, I would always wait outside in the longest of lines for my free cup of water ice every year. A huge staple of my childhood, helping to create Rita’s brand image as a product that all of the family can enjoy.

Much to the surprise of a regular consumer like me and others who indulge in Rita’s many treats, the company has decided to expand into the cold brew market and created a cold brew frozen coffee drink. This treat is unusual for Rita’s who usually focuses on the sweet side of food items, expanding into the savory side with coffee, however this cold brew drink could be classified as sweet depending on how Rita’s is able to spin it. With Rita’s expanding into a new product line, they would start to compete with companies like Starbucks and Dunkin that solely focus on coffee and other breakfast items. The question to ask is whether Rita’s can stay competitive with these big fast-casual coffee companies while still keeping their market share in not only the Italian ice industry, but the entire desserts industry. In my opinion, it is definitely a bold choice to release a product that acts as a pioneer in the industry. I researched companies that offered a similar product to the one that Rita’s created and I could not find one company, mainly just individual recipes that created what they labeled a “frozen cold brew drink” while using companies such as Starbucks and Dunkin coffee. With this bold move, Rita’s could have created a revolutionary product that people can enjoy not only in the morning but throughout the day, along with their many other products.

Rita’s new frozen cold brew drinks has an offering of three flavors, original cold brew, mocha, and caramel which is made with Rita’s vanilla ice and custard then mixed into its new mix. Rita’s new flavors were initially tested in a small number of locations until the company decided to expand its product line to more locations for a limited time. Along with the introduction of the frozen cold brew product, Rita’s introduced a new gummy-bear flavored water ice in the early spring. Customers with Rita's app get a free small coffee reward to try out the product. I usually sign up for rewards programs, so with the introduction of this product and my love for coffee I will definitely have to sign up for the Rita's app to get my free reward.

 Another indirect product extension that Rita’s is seeing is at Neshaminy Creek Brewing Co. which started offering its first line of Rita’s Fruit Brews line of beers within Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. With Rita’s starting to expand into different markets and introducing new products on its menus, one can wonder what Rita’s will begin to offer within the current season and future seasons. Will the cold brew coffee treat be a hit or will it flop? We will have to wait and see. 

Sources:

Rita's Italian Ice launches new cold brew coffee treats - CBS Baltimore (cbsnews.com)

Rita's cold brew frozen coffee debuts in three flavors at stores nationwide | PhillyVoice

Rita's Water Ice Flavors, Ranked (phillymag.com)

Home - Rita's Ice (ritasice.com)

The best way to Freeze brewed coffee

Might You at any point Freeze Fermented Espresso

In the event that you end up being an ordinary espresso consumer, you might have considered how to manage extra espresso to try not to allow it to go to squander. Have you at any point asked yourself, "Could you at any point freeze blended espresso?" The response is yes.

The best way to Freeze brewed coffee relies heavily on how you plan to utilize it later. Freezing prepared espresso in an ice 3D square plate is a fast and simple method for getting a charge out of chilled espresso at home. Or then again, use espresso ice 3D squares to chill some hot espresso without weakening it with water.

Nonetheless, warming frozen espresso changes the flavor, and not to improve things. Indeed, even the best espresso loses its rich taste when thawed out.

Be that as it may, relax, there are various inventive and heavenly purposes for frozen espresso blocks. Peruse on to become familiar with a couple of helpful hints and deceives so you won't ever pour your incomplete pot of espresso down the kitchen sink once more.

Most ideal Ways of Freezing Espresso Chilled espresso is a superb treat, particularly on blistering late spring days, yet it rapidly gets watered down assuming you're utilizing normal ice 3D squares. Keep a couple of espresso ice shapes close by for better quality espresso.

And your half and half? Could you at any point freeze half and half, as well? Indeed, you can freeze espresso flavor yet realize that the surface won't exactly be something similar.

Store Espresso Beans in the Cooler Do you have any idea where to store espresso beans until you are prepared to make a new brew? Freezing espresso beans is a convenient strategy for expanding their timeframe of realistic usability. The fragrant kind of espresso beans starts to blur after around fourteen days when put away at room temperature. The method for freezing espresso beans is to guarantee that they are fixed in a hermetically sealed compartment.

It happens much quicker to ground espresso in light of the fact that the processor oxidizes the espresso beans. Conversely, when you store espresso beans frozen, they stay new for as long as 90 days. Additionally, store moment espresso in the cooler to make it last longer.

Cold mix espresso holds its taste best for drinking in the wake of being frozen and rethawed. This is on the grounds that it has generally a portion of the sharpness of customarily fermented espresso, which gives it a smoother taste, both new and frozen.

Could You at any point Freeze Blended Espresso? Indeed, it's feasible to make your extra espresso last longer by freezing it. Everybody partakes in their espresso drinks a piece in an unexpected way. Perhaps you have a most loved barista at Starbucks or your nearby espresso roaster who makes your specialty coffee.

Maybe you favor making your everyday mug of espresso in your French press or espresso producer. In any case, with regards to freezing new espresso, a latte or mocha may be an impractical notion.

Does dark espresso turn sour? All espresso turns sour in the long run. It's ideal to involve dark espresso for freezing, as the fat substance in milk, whether dairy or plant-based, isolates from the water and has a knotty consistency when thawed out. This likewise happens while freezing entire milk.

Whether you're freezing new espresso or espresso beans, make a point to utilize an impenetrable holder so the espresso flavor doesn't blend in with whatever else may be in your cooler at that point.

Espresso promptly retains different flavors, so check to guarantee that the food things put away close to your espresso in the cooler are additionally in fixed capacity holders.

To make espresso ice solid shapes, fill an ice 3D square plate with your extra espresso and spot it in your cooler for a few hours until the blocks are totally frozen.

Move the blocks to a resealable cooler pack for helpful use. Every cell in a standard ice 3D square plate holds roughly one ounce or two tablespoons of fluid.

How Long Might You at any point Refrigerate Blended Espresso? How long does espresso rearward in the cooler? Assuming you appreciate drinking chilled espresso, you'll absolutely love to know that putting away your fermented espresso in the cooler for three or four days is protected. Make a major pot, permit it to cool to room temperature, then move it into an impermeable compartment to refrigerate blended espresso.

In any case, remember that regardless of what sort of espresso you brew, it won't taste the equivalent when warmed. When your espresso is refrigerated or frozen, it's ideal to consume it cold to protect the best flavor quality.

The normally happening unpredictable mixtures in espresso that give it its perplexing, acidic, somewhat harsh flavor escalate when the espresso beans are warmed. The more times it's warmed, the crueler it tastes.

Instructions to Thaw out Frozen Espresso To thaw out frozen espresso to drink or use in a recipe, try not to place it in the microwave. The frozen espresso thaws out unevenly.

You might wind up heating up a portion of your defrosted espresso, which makes the flavor crumble further. All things considered, leave the frozen espresso in your fridge short-term to permit it to bit by bit thaw out.

How to Manage Frozen Espresso Solid shapes There are various tomfoolery and scrumptious purposes for espresso ice solid shapes. They're ideal for making more grounded chilled espresso or adding to some espresso that is too hot to even consider drinking.

They're likewise helpful increases to a brownie recipe or other heated merchandise and pastries. In flavorful recipes like bean stew or grill, have a go at subbing vinegar for a frozen espresso 3D shape.

Frozen espresso blocks are likewise a fabulous expansion to your morning breakfast smoothie for some additional caffeine and flavor.

Attempt this tasty recipe whenever you're feeling imaginative around breakfast time. It may very well adversary the smoothies at your #1 café.

Join the fixings in a blender and blend until smooth. Consume the smoothie right away or refrigerate it in a water/air proof holder for as long as two days.

Regardless of how you partake in your espresso drinks, here and there you make a smidgen more than you might want to drink without a moment's delay. Simply sit back and relax, refrigerating fermented espresso for a couple of days is fine. Likewise, there are a lot of commonsense purposes for frozen espresso blocks.

Empty your extra espresso into an ice solid shape plate and utilize the 3D squares to chill some espresso, plan chilled espresso, or make smoothies and milkshakes. They're likewise valuable for both sweet and flavorful recipes.

Rather than discarding your extra virus blend espresso, use espresso ice blocks to make chilled espresso or cool off a hot mug of espresso. Continuously keep frozen espresso, ground espresso, and espresso beans in a sealed shut holder so they don't retain different flavors.

In the event that you found these ways to freeze espresso supportive, kindly offer this article about how to freeze fermented espresso with your kindred espresso darlings on Pinterest and Facebook who may ponder, "Might you at any point freeze prepared espresso?"

CBD Drinks - Three Delicious CBD Coffee Recipes

CBD Coffee - The CBDccino

See, you might read this and think “they just stole this from Starbucks.” Well, you’d be wrong. This is our age-old coffee milkshake-cum-CBD coffee recipe that has been passed down the ages, from generation to generation. Not only does it taste delicious, it wakes you up too! Here’s how you make the ultimate CBD coffee.

Ice - lots of it!

1 cup espresso/two teaspoons of instant coffee

150ml of milk

Two tablespoons of hot chocolate powder

A generous drizzle of honey/golden syrup

1-2 drops of Mee CBD

The rest is simple. Combine all of the ingredients in a blender, adjust to your taste accordingly and blast away! Pop into a tall glass and you have the perfect CBD coffee for when you fancy a real morning treat, or you’re feeling a little weary after a night of too many CBD drink cocktails!

CBD Coffee - Mexican Spiced Coffee

Mexican cuisine is famous for their tacos, quesadillas and tequila. However, people often forget the spiced coffee! First prepared during the Revolutionary wars to bring energy to the soldiers, the recipe has continued over many decades. And now, its time for Mee CBD to share our take on this delicious CBD drink. Here’s how to make Mexican CBD coffee:

Strong coffee

Teaspoons of sugar, to your preference

Cocoa Powder

A spoonful of cinnamon

A touch of nutmeg

A little cayenne pepper, depending how much you like spice!

Cream, or a non-dairy substitute

1-2 drops of Mee CBD

And now, to combine the ingredients for this spicy CBD drink.

Firstly, brew your coffee and mix all of the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl. Mix in your spicy cocoa mix to your coffee - perhaps with a cinnamon stick - then add in your cream before popping in a drop of Mee CBD. Sprinkle some spice on top and there you have it - a warming Mexican Spiced CBD Coffee!

CBD Coffee - Pumpkin Spiced CBD Latte

Autumn is here. Well, it’s been here for a while. But we love these warming flavours throughout the year - add in some Mee CBD to create the ultimate caffeine and CBD combination for December. Here’s how you make one of our favourite CBD drink recipes:

Coffee. Espresso, mocha pot or French press? Whatever your preference

A little pumpkin puree, either from the can or make your own

Sugar - however much you like!

Pumpkin pie spice - either from the shop or mix together some cinnamon, ginger, ground cloves and ground nutmeg

A little bit of vanilla extract

Hot milk

1-2 drops of Mee CBD

Starbucks peppermint syrup

Toffee nut crunch latte and cold brew(from Asia pacific) Those late-night cravings inspire Caramel Almond Milk for an extra-sweet treat. This delicious, new holiday drink combines the classic Starbucks flavor of toffee nut syrup with almond milk and salted caramel sauce. Caramel almond milk (from Japan)Įnjoy Caramel Almond Milk for a moderate coffeehouse treat with your holiday meal. It's topped with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle to add even more indulgent flavor to your day. Inspired by the traditional Italian Eggnog, golden Wish Latte is a delicious mocha latte that combines the sweet, nutty taste of hazelnut with the rich cocoa flavor of chocolate. This drink uses 100% Arabica espresso, rich fudge sauce made from velvety dessert-quality chocolate, and a topping of whipped cream. It is made with a rich, decadent tasting sauce that combines smooth brownies, white chocolate, and a hint of sea salt for a deliciously indulgent treat. The Fudge Brownie Hot Chocolate is a sweet and creamy drink with a rich chocolate flavor. Fudge brownie hot chocolate (from Europe, the middle east, and Africa) If you like hot chocolate, try this Starbucks Drink and enjoy the moment! 5. The coffee serves a creamy texture, while the caramel sauce sweetly complements the coffee cream. The caramel flavor of this drink is so rich that it tastes like a bonfire. Starbucks' newest Christmas drink is a mix of smooth caramel syrup, creamy steamed milk, and cinnamon dolce syrup mixed for a rich latte, like drinking a delicious dessert in every sip.Ĭold Coffee Summer Special Drink-Iced Vanilla Latte Starbucks DIY Hazelnut Caramel Latte is a seasonal drink that consists of milk and Espresso blended with hazelnut syrup, caramel sauce, and whipped cream.Ī blend of subtle and smooth hazelnut, rich caramel notes, and seasonal milk topped with a signature whipped cream swirl. This new holiday favorite tastes in rich caramel, nutty hazelnut, and crunchy cookie. Hazelnut caramel (America and the Caribbean) It's famous in Latin America and the Caribbean at Christmas time. This drink is a blend of white mocha, blended with heavy milk cream, Espresso, and ice, along with layers of mocha sauce, which are in the form of a topping with whipped cream and strawberry drizzle. Merry strawberry (from America and the Caribbean) It originated in South Korea, and the drink has been around for years as it is one of the most famous and tastiest Starbucks Christmas drinks. It's made with rich Brazilian coffee and chocolatey syrup mixed with whipped cream and topped with mini cookies, drizzled with more chocolate sauce. The Dolce cookie latte is a sweet blend of java, chocolate, and the delicious taste of vanilla. starbucks non dairy drinks List of popular Starbucks Christmas drinks 1.So don't wait! get your hands on Starbucks' latest drinks line-up and enjoy a festive drink this Christmas! If you're a coffee lover or a fan of holiday cocktails, Starbucks has something. These drinks will please, featuring festive favorites like the Cranberry Bliss Frappuccino and the Eggnog Latte. As children and young adults, we got together with friends or spent time with family members in these coffee shops.Ī cup of hot coffee and some eggnog can't compare to the delicious taste of the Christmas spirit.Īre you looking for something special to enjoy this Christmas? Check out Starbucks' latest drinks line-up! Starbucks Christmas drinks from Starbucks have been around during the holiday season.

Caffe vanilla frappuccino

There isn’t an official secret menu at Starbucks but these are Frappuccino customizations that have gained popularity. Nope, the biggest Frappuccino size is a venti, which is 24 ounces. All Frappuccinos are made with whole milk, so ask for it to be made with 2% milk or a non-dairy milk like almond, soy, or coconutmilk.Ĭan I get a Frappuccino in a trenta cup size? Reduce the number of pumps of syrup to cut the sweetness and calories. To reduce the calories, skip the whipped cream or ask for just a little. Swap out the milk with a plant-based milk like soy or oat and take out the whipped cream to make your Frappuccino dairy-free. To add extra caffeine to your Frappuccino, get it with extra pumps of Frappuccino Roast (Starbucks instant coffee mix) or by adding espresso. Caffeine, decaf, and no caffeine optionsĪlmost every Frappuccino has a coffee version and a créme based version (no coffee).That syrup is made with sugar so there’s no way to order a sugar-free Frappuccino. Starbucks has smaller (short at 8 ounces) and bigger cups (trenta at 30 ounces), but the Frappuccinos can only be ordered in those 3 drink sizes.Īll Frappuccinos are made with a Frappuccino syrup that gives the drink a smooth, milkshake-like consistency. Tips for Ordering Frappuccinosįrappuccinos come in tall (12 ounces), grande (16 ounces), and venti (24 ounces) sizes. Make Easy Starbucks Copycat Recipes, like the Iced Caramel Macchiato, Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, and Iced Chai Tea Latte. It’s a drink that’s exclusive to Starbucks and the Frappuccino name comes from combining the words “frappe” and “cappuccino.” Frappuccinos are sweet, frozen drinks made in a blender.

Starbucks cappuccino calories

Lastly, there’s the biggest fart offender inside… dairy. Remember what we said at the start about how fatty foods cause dogs to fart? Before sugary syrup is added, a puppuccino is 90% fat. That means that 108 of the calories are from fat. There are 12g of fat in their single serving of whipped cream (120 calories). In fact, if you’re a regular reader of Superfoodly, then you already know how we report numerous animal studies which actually use carrageenan as a pro-inflammatory marker, in order to measure if a food/supplement offers an anti-inflammatory benefit.Įven if syrup isn’t added to the pup cup, the unsweetened whipped cream is loaded with carrageenan – a proven promoter of inflammation and something unhealthy for a dog’s digestive tract.Ĭarrageenan aside, this is beyond a high-fat food!Īll fats are 9 calories per gram. It’s no wonder there are “harmful gastrointestinal effects of carrageenan in animal experiments” that are reported. Seaweed may be a natural food for a pet turtle, but not your Labrador Retriever or Yorkshire Terrier! That’s why it’s no surprise that they often suffer diarrhea and flatulence when given many types of human food. ( 3)Īs for dogs and cats, remember their digestive systems are designed for a mostly carnivorous diet. In Europe, it’s banned from infant formulas. The World Health Organization IARC labels it a possible human carcinogen. The degraded form of carrageenan, such as what might be produced during food prep and digestive activity, has been linked to “gastrointestinal ulcerations and tumors” in rodent studies. They’re said to be safe for humans in the amounts permitted, though research reports this common food additive may “lead to glucose intolerance” and “insulin resistance.” ( 2) These sulfated polysaccharides are extracted from seaweed. Did you know it might be even more dangerous to your pet? You’ve heard the controversy about carrageenan. Glycemic overload isn’t the only bad thing about it… In total, that would be up to 400 calories and 44g of sugar you are giving your dog! When a barista is making it with 8 pumps, that’s an extra 38g of sugar and 160 calories. Per 2 Tbsp, there’s 19g of sugar listed on the label.ġ pump equals ½ Tbsp. While we haven’t seen it sold at their coffee shops, you can actually buy Starbucks vanilla syrup on Amazon by the liter. “Sugar, Water, Natural Flavors, Preservative: Potassium Sorbate (E202), Citric Acid (E330), Color: Caramel (E150d).” “We make this whipped cream by mixing heavy cream and eight pumps of Starbucks Vanilla Syrup in a pressurized canister.” Many locations add pumps of vanilla syrup – which is essentially flavored liquid sugar – when making them.Īccording to a discussion on Starbucks’ Reddit, a purported barista describes how they make a puppuccino: The above facts are for a “healthy” pup cup. While some baristas give smaller amounts to smaller breeds, the typical we see is equal to around 1-2x the amount used to top a human Frappuccino. The low and high end of those values represents 1 and 2 servings of whipped cream, respectively. 12-24g of fat, of which 7-14g are saturated.Per serving, a typical Starbucks puppuccino would be expected to have: When you can add and then subtract whipped cream to a regular Frappuccino, nutritional values for pure whipped cream can be calculated. However, you can figure it out using their website’s nutrition calculator. Is it good for your dog?īeing that it’s not a standard menu item, nutrition facts for this doggy drink, or even their pure whipped cream, are not published by Starbucks. Obviously, if someone ordered several at a time or abused the perk in another way, the cashier would likely decline, or have to charge for a drink which comes with cream on top. While there have not been reports of customers being charged for a pup cup of whipped cream, it’s at the discretion of management. Since it’s only for pets, presumably you need your dog with you to order it, or be clear that you’re giving it to your dog waiting in the car or at home. What a puppuccino costs at Starbucks is $0. It’s not a real cappuccino or Frappuccino, as no coffee is included. The ingredients are cream, mono and diglycerides, and carrageenan. It’s a tall coffee cup filled with whipped cream. If McD’s isn’t the answer, is the world’s most popular coffee chain a better choice?Īlso known as a pup cup, this Starbucks secret menu item is exclusively for customers with dogs. That’s because the digestion of greasy and high-fat foods is associated with excess flatulence in canines, as well as cats. Even a basic hamburger without cheese can cause farts galore for Fido. Dog-friendly fast food is hard to come by.

What Is Almond Bark? {Amazing Facts}

Are You Searching for What Is Almond Bark? Do you want to make a handmade dessert but don't know what to prepare? If you're searching for a simple and inexpensive confection for coating or dipping, almond bark is one of the greatest options. Most recipes don't even call for baking. What exactly is almond bark? Almond bark is a meltable dessert produced using vegetable fat rather than cocoa butter. Despite its name, it contains neither almonds or nuts. Let's have a look at how we may use this product in the kitchen.

What Is Almond Bark. Interesting facts Also Read :- Italian Almond Cake, Easy Tips to Make Italian Almond Cake

What Is the Best Way to Use Almond Bark?

Almond bark (also known as summer coating and vanilla-flavored candy coating) is not what it appears to be since it contains no almonds. It got its name from the fact that it was initially used to wrap almonds. Vegetable fats (typically palm kernel oil), sugar, flavorings, emulsifiers such as soy lecithin, and coloring are among the constituents. Almond bark is available in a variety of forms and sizes, including blocks, circular discs, and chips. It is designed to melt without the need for exact temperature control, like melting chocolate would. Almond bark may or may not include dairy, depending on the product. Cocoa butter and cocoa solids are never present. As a result, it is not classified as a chocolate product. It can be either white or brown. It's very probable that you'll use it to embellish. As a result, you might want to add some food coloring to your almond bark. It will be silky and smooth after coloring with powder or oil. Avoid using liquid-based food coloring, even if it is in the shape of a gel, because it thickens the consistency and generates clumps. You'd be unable to remelt your coating. By combining dried cranberries and oranges with almond bark, you may create a limitless number of sweets. Peppermint bark, for example, is a popular Christmas treat. Almond bark is also ideal for peanut butter lava cakes and no-bake Oreo balls. Related Articles:- - Can Cats Drink Almond Milk? Safe for Cats? – Cuisine Cravings - How Many Calories In A Slice Of Pizza? How to Make Pizza? - Is Craving Gatorade While Pregnant Good Or Bad? - How To Make Krusteaz Waffles Better? Amazing Facts - What Coconut Milk Does Starbucks Use? Complete Guide It may be used to replace icing on cakes. For a crispy treat, you could even make nut krispies by cutting up your favorite nuts. If you like it, add some sea salt since it works nicely with this dish. Don't forget to put everything in the fridge to chill. What Is Almond Bark This confection may be stored in an airtight container in a dry area for up to a year and can even be used after its expiration date if preserved in an airtight container. You should not store it in the refrigerator or freezer since it may harden and alter texture.

What Is the Best Way to Melt Almond Bark?

The major reason to keep almond bark on hand is to have something that melts readily and has a very smooth consistency. As a result, you may easily soften it using a variety of approaches. It makes no difference what form it is, but the smaller it is, the faster it travels. Keep an eye on it during the procedure since it may quickly burn. It will likely melt faster than chocolate. Its silky texture will be ruined if you add water, milk, butter, or oil to it. Stovetop If you're using a cooktop, make sure to stir your almond bark constantly so it doesn't burn. It would just take a few minutes to get the desired texture. Crockpot and Melting Pot Allow the saucepan to heat up before adding the blocks for a few minutes. Don't forget to stir from time to time. Microwave Microwave the almond bark for 30 seconds, then thoroughly mix it. You can continue to microwave it in 20-second intervals, stirring in between, until it is smooth enough. Double-boiler You might use a double-boiler set or a heatproof dish over a small saucepan to melt the almond bark. The water should be simmering but not in contact with the bowl. Frequent stirring is required. It is not necessary to melt almond bark at a specific temperature before chilling and reheating it. Tempering is only required for a glossy top with chocolate due to its cocoa butter concentration.

How Does Almond Bark Taste?

White almond bark tastes like vanilla, but brown almond bark tastes like caramel or chocolate. You might be wondering what makes almond bark different from melted chocolate. Almond bark is a great nut-free and gluten-free alternative to chocolate, but it lacks the flavor of chocolate due to the lack of cocoa solids. Is Almond Bark Compatible with Other Products? White chocolate and candy melts can be used in place of almond bark, and vice versa. You only need to change the length and temperature. Almond bark can be used in place of melted white chocolate on the move. It may be used to decorate cakes or cupcakes. It is perfect for coating strawberries, bananas, and apple slices, which complement the vanilla flavor. You may freeze your covered strawberries for up to 3 months. It goes well with oats, granola, almonds, Oreo cookies, pretzels, and even crackers. Sprinkles can be sprinkled on top. If you want to reuse your almond bark, don't dip anything in it immediately. You may save some for later. The texture of almond bark is creamier than that of chocolate bark. As a result, it is ideal for decorating. If you don't have almond bark on hand, you may use the same quantity of white chocolate, but you'll need to add additional shortening. If you don't have any chocolate chips on hand, you may use chopped almond bark. Because this product contains no cocoa butter, there is no risk of the cocoa butter separating from the remainder of the product during the melting process. If you use chocolate, you must be aware of this distinction.

Conclusion

Almond bark is a simple yet handy product to have on hand whether you want to make cake pops or dip your strawberries in something sweet and yummy. Because of its low cost, it is a pleasant experiment to try. It can swiftly assist you in creating a tasty, personalized dessert of your choosing in a few simple steps. Read the full article

Knoxville Catering & Special Occasions

The company boasts contemporary, farm-to-table culinary choices, with elements sourced from local farms and dairies. It is a most popular vendor at many Bay Area venues, including the Exploratorium, San Francisco City Hall, the Asian Art Museum, and the Conservatory of Flowers. With places of work in Oakland and Sonoma, Carrie Dove Catering has the entire Bay Area coated. It provides a variety of catering providers from which purchasers can select. They present the versatility needed to adapt many plates to suit numerous wants and desires. Often a extra in style possibility because of price level and coordinating the occasion, on-premise catering entails catering accomplished within the kitchen and meals preparation areas of a venue. Typically, this implies the food on your occasion is ready and served on-site. Castello of Niantic offers an array of catering services, from small corporate luncheons to giant extravagant weddings. We provide authentic Italian food for very cheap pricing. The arrange was beautiful – the floral association, the company logo-colored linens, the meals layout! So I wanted to say thank you - I couldn’t have requested for a greater night time. If you’re on the lookout for something and can’t find it on our menu, then our experienced culinary employees is greater than desperate to work with you to develop a custom-made menu. Finger Food, Cocktail Party & Small Chew Holiday Catering Concepts So many holiday parties are centered round festive hors d’oeuvres. As your friends socialize, include quite so much of handed hors d’oeuvres. Miniaturized variations of most any meal favorite can be carried out and are scrumptious. They’re crafted to be eaten standing up, shifting round, whereas chatting—all in a method that they’re not messy and don’t require extensive silverware or special plating. These loaded potato skins will not be traditional (you won’t discover any cheese and bacon here…), however they’re nonetheless a tried-and-true celebration hit. I fill them with a fresh corn and black bean salad and top them with a dollop of sunflower bitter cream. Bring your favorite pizza toppings into cocktail hour with these sweet and bitter Hawaiian rooster skewers. People are happier when they are fed delicious food! If you want to serve quality Hors d’Oeuvres at your occasion, Deborah Miller Catering & Events might help. Appetizers and cocktails are the right answer for occasions that put the give attention to mingling and socializing. Store Scorching Meals Containers This implies that single-use plastics and anything that can’t be recycled is a no-no. Many eating places are already following swimsuit, with McDonald’s announcing they would ditch foam packaging in 2018 and Starbucks testing greener coffee cups which would possibly be both recyclable and compostable. Stock up in your disposable pizza supplies from Superior Equipment to make your pizza parlor environment friendly. [newline]A pizza institution has a supply status that is determined by having good high quality boxes that maintain pizza as good because it did when it came out of the oven. Disposable Food Service Containermeans single-use disposable products for serving or transporting ready, ready-to-consume food or beverages. This consists of however is not limited to plates, cups, bowls, trays and hinged or lidded containers. This definition doesn't embody single-use disposable gadgets corresponding to straws, cup lids, or utensils, nor does it embrace single-use disposable packaging for unprepared meals. A number of producers at the second are making disposable foodservice products from a mix of pure starches, recycled fibers, water, air, and natural minerals. These composite merchandise embrace cups, plates, bowls, cutlery, sandwich wraps, food containers and trays. Your take-out packaging will bedifferent relying on whether you utilize it in a quick food chain, bistro, bakery or sweet shop. However, we offer you an outline of the several types of disposable, recyclable and compostable take-out packaging you could buy and that can fit your firm's wants. And amongst these ordering takeout and supply, 84% agree that packaging is a crucial consideration when placing an order. For restaurants – especially those who just added an online ordering system – which means the right takeout packaging is completely important to getting prospects and keeping customers. Restaurant Menu Topped with escovitch style pickled onion, peppers & carrots. Our take on a conventional Jamaican dish. A delectable mixture of carrot, zucchini, beets, recent corn, pink pepper, mushrooms and green onions, mixed with tofu, oats and chickpeas. Specially seasoned and served on a lightly toasted wheat bun topped with lettuce, tomato, and avocado, and drizzled with a roasted purple pepper mayonnaise. Absolutely scrumptious, delicate, creamy flavor! I had the very good luck of coming into some recent organic shitake mushrooms. Save money with our simple soups using low cost elements. Costing only £1 or much less per serving, these budget-friendly blends are big on flavour but low on price. These pattern menus are solely for use as ideas, in order to present ideas to our shoppers, for his or her particular event. Other options can be found, and we are ready to accommodate any kind of combination. Plate served meals are an excellent choice for a special occasion. A Cappella Catering is happy to offer a novel menu with delicious objects ideally suited to a sit-down, served, plated dinner. The base of a velouté soup consists of velouté sauce, being of vegetable, poultry, recreation, or fish, plus a puree of the main ingredient. Puree Soup is thickened by pureeing one or more of the greens such as carrots, potato, candy potato, parsnip, or different starchy vegetables. Żurek is a Polish sour rye soup with sausages, is commonly served in a bowl manufactured from bread. Vichyssoise, a French-style soup invented by a French chef on the Ritz Hotel in New York City, is a cold purée of potatoes, leeks, and cream. Wicked Whisk Catering Content Marketing Institute’s color is orange and considered one of their snack breaks at their 2011 conference served only issues like oranges, cheese curls, orange soda, and the like. It made a big impression and felt somewhat like Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving. Okay, so this is the second time this delicious sandwich has made our record and for good reason. Everyone likes completely different add-ons with their grilled cheese. And let’s not even get into an argument over the right cheese for a grilled cheese! Guests can have it their own means with a grilled cheese bar. For internet hosting a big gathering, runners may even be essential to ensure that food and dishes at the buffet stations are properly stocked. More employees could additionally be wanted relying on the wants of your buffet. We might help you determine what quantity of workers members you want to create the perfect event. If you don't really feel that creative, do that scrumptious blend of savory and candy. Salads are a pleasant addition to any picnic in that they are gentle and refreshing. Who would ever serve a personal pineapple for dessert? Look closer, and you’ll understand it’s not a pineapple at all but a beautifully constructed cake with a meringue topping. This dessert is unquestionably going straight to their Instagram page. 30 Catering Concepts To Make Your Event Menu Stand Out A bite-sized grilled cheese paired with a small serving of tomato soup feels elevated, and the delicious food will maintain your friends satisfied (or reaching for more!). This goes for any type of comfort meals you like—try mini shooters of BBQ mac and cheese or mini hen and waffles with maple syrup. The Wedding Spot weblog is designed to assist couples navigate every step of the marriage planning journey. From earlier than the engagement to after you say “I do,” our objective is to provide the suggestions, ideas, and inspiration to organize in your huge day — and all that comes with it. That is why we delight ourselves on a diversified menu for in-flight catering and on the bottom. When selecting your entrees for a holiday, company, wedding, or other type of occasion you need to contemplate the completely different pallets of all of your visitors. Here are a few menu choices we recommend for allergic reactions, vegans/vegetarians, and particular eaters. True Craft Market & Catering provides an expertise of a big selection of Texas dishes. You can maintain your reception catering budget-friendly by sticking with a wide range of inventive – and delicious – hors d’oeuvres. Online tools obtainable that may allow you to decide what you may pay primarily based on your event’s location. Nevertheless, whenever you examine it to conventional wedding catering— which prices $68 on average per visitor, the choice is clear. When unsure, a self-serve hot dog station will never — and we imply by no means — disappoint. Use this mouthwatering show by Brian Patrick Flynn as your muse and supply visitors with all kinds of toppings and fan-favorite sides like baked beans and slaw. Dinner Menus Chafing dishes protect food-safe temperatures so you'll have the ability to set up buffet traces in advance. Buffets enable your guests to serve themselves, saving you cash on employed wait employees. While many couples have just lately served individually-wrapped meals as a end result of COVID, we love the thought of preparing a special arrange on your loved ones. Present them with a basket full of meals for them to enjoy—from appetizers to entrees to desserts. This thought would work particularly nicely for couples internet hosting a backyard marriage ceremony, park wedding or vineyard wedding ceremony, as it really feels such as you're taking your visitors out for an epic picnic meal. Many attendees will prefer to be served as opposed to fetching their food themselves. Our versatile menu of delectable entrees, hors d'oeuvres, salads and side dishes features a variety of the most interesting meals out there in Humboldt County. Buying in bulk is essential for staying within your marriage ceremony finances. Most probably, you'll require larger portions of components than you’re used to working with. When bought from a grocery store, gadgets like spices and sauces add up fast. Disposables and dinnerware are key to serving your meal, but they'll devour your budget if you don’t look for the most effective deal. You’ll want to provide your helpers with gloves and proper sanitizing chemical substances for use all through the day. Use food thermometers to keep your meal out of the temperature hazard zone. When making plans to cater your individual wedding, keep in mind that you are one particular person. In fact, you're one very busy particular person across the time of your wedding. From photo ops to first dances, your wedding day might be filled with a frenzy of enjoyable. Choosing the proper menu can be fairly stressful at occasions as there are lot of issues to contemplate. Depending on the event, the meal could not solely be crucial part of the event but may also be some of the pricey. It is essential to determine how a lot emphasis ought to be positioned on the meal. Below are some questions that you must ask yourself because the planner previous to choosing the proper caterer and or the menu. The days of nice eating are fading rapidly in favor of barbeque, soul food, and connoisseur pizza catering, and we at Sardella’s Pizza and Wings have taken observe. Our focus is your convenience – order on-line from your laptop computer, desktop, or smartphone 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Listed Beneath Are 7 Eating Places Which Are Really Nice For Catering A Children Party The prosciutto provides an interesting component to a easy Caprese salad. While 外燴 is essential to focus on dependable standbys, including distinctive meals on your menu can add aptitude to any event. The following recipes add a fresh variation to some old favorites and will deliver your catering company’s daring and daring tastes center stage. We've obtained every little thing from burgers and kebabs to salads, sides and vegan dishes. Individualized servings ready to eat in cups and or bites on cutlery are cute unless you’re paying to make use of the utensils. Some caterers worth with a sure number of cups in mind. Switch your occasion to the daytime so you don’t really feel the want to have a bar. This multi-tiered wood show base is right for an outside occasion or picnic. The rustic use of wooden offers many levels for all several types of food. A bowl of freshly made coleslaw is much nicer than readymade and with our easy recipe it won't cost a fortune either. The spiced fruity filling is what makes Eccles desserts so scrumptious. Whip up these straightforward muffins very quickly by buying readymade pastry. A traditional British dish, make these Cornish pasties into small bite-sized pies to turn them into a party snack. Created by Great British Bake Off decide Paul Hollywood, check your baking abilities by making the pastry from scratch. If you’re trying to limit alcohol, utilizing smaller glasses is a good suggestion. However, should you serve large plates of meals and “tasters” of alcohol, issues might be off scale and your drinks will look painfully inadequate. Sliders and mini finger meals are just the right scale for smaller drink samples. Use everyday objects to make your meals show stand out, like this open ladder that uses boards to create adaptable and cell cabinets for catering.

My favorite pre-packaged safe foods

Now, I know that not ALL of these are considered “low cal” but they are my personal favorite safe foods. I tried to list all of the prepackaged ones I could think of, because everyone knows that fruits and vegetables are generally safe, depending on the person. Hopefully I can help some people find new things that they like and wont give them *too* much anxiety when eating; because I’d ALWAYS rather someone eat something instead of fast, if possible. Everything is under 400 calories, and almost all can be found at Walmart, some at Sam’s Club or on Amazon! You’ll probably see a few of these products in the recipes I plan on posting here! Hopefully this helps!

* Minute rice microwave cups (220 -240 per cup)

* Fiber one multi grain bread (50 per slice)

* Sarah Lee 45 calorie bread (45 per slice)

* Fiber one wraps (80 per wrap)

* Thai Kitchen brown rice noodles (200 per 2oz)

* Pillsbury Coconut flour (30 per tbsp)

* Mission Whole wheat carb balance tortillas (70 per tortilla)

* Whole grain sandwich thins (100 per sandwich thin)

* Wheat thins reduced fat (120 per 16 crackers)

* Bobs red mill multi grain pancake mix (150 per 1/4 cup)

* Light and fit greek yogurt cups (80 calories per container)

* Fat free cheese mozzarella string cheese sticks (80 calories per stick)

* Laughing cow cheese wedges (30 per wedge)

* Butterball pre-made turkey burgers (240 per burger)

* Great value turkey bacon (30 per slice)

* Quest protein powder (110 per 30g)

* Bobs Red Mill textured vegetable protein (80 per 1/4 cup)

* PB2 peanut butter powder (45 per 2 tbsp)

* Great Value freeze dried fruit (no sugar added) (110 per 28g)

* Smuckers sugar free jams and jellies (10 per tbsp)

* Halo ocean roasted seaweed snacks (20 per package)

* Frozen green giant vegetables/frozen meals (nothing they have is over 350 calories per package, I specifically like the fries, tots, pizza crust, and the roasted vegetables (basically anything that has vegetables I put in the riced cauliflower and broccoli lol)

* Birdseye frozen vegetables (same as the green giant ones, I really like their veggie pastas, sauced veggies, Birds Eye Voila!, and the mashed cauliflower)

* I can’t believe it’s not butter (light version)(35 per tbsp)

* Baking extracts (vanilla, butter, lemon, peanut butter, caramel, almond) (typically no more than 10 per tsp)

* Hershey’s special dark cocoa powder (10 per tbsp)

* Walden farms syrups and dressings (all zero calories)

* Sabra flavored hummus (70 per 2 tbsp)

* Wishbone low/no fat salad dressings (35 per 2 tbsp)

* Sugar free maple syrup (20 per 1/4 cup)

* Swerve granulated stevia (all 0 calories)

* Trivia liquid (10 per tsp)

* Better than bullion flavoring pastes (10 per tsp)

* Progresso light soups (130 - 240 per can)

* Nature Valley crunchy granola bars (95 for one)

* Millville protein granola (210 per 1/2 cup)

* Veggie straws or chips (130 for a snack bag)

* Dr Mcdougall chicken flavored cup ramen (180 per cup)

* Quaker rice crisps (140 per small bag)

* Werthers sugar free hard candies (8 per piece)

* Starbucks non-dairy/almond milk creamer (30 per tbsp)

* Silk Shelf-Stable Vanilla Almond Milk Singles (80 per one carton)

* Reddiwhip fat free whipped cream (5 per 2 tbsp)

* Fiber one and protein one bars (most bars and brownies are 70 - 140 per package)

* Swiss Miss reduced calorie hot chocolate mix (40 per envelope)

* Hershey’s sugar free chocolate chips (70 per tbsp)

* Dove 100 calorie chocolate bars (milk chocolate) (100 per bar)

* Lean cuisine and smart ones frozen meals (these range between 150 to 400 per meal)

* So Delicious ice cream and bars (330 and less per most pints, 110 per bar)

* Skinny cow ice cream pints and bars (330 - 370 per pint, 120 - 190 per bar, the pints aren’t really easy to find for me, but the bars are)

* Outshine fruit frozen pops/bars (25 - 120 per bar/pop)

* Smart sweets candy (100 per bag)

* Gerber baby Greek yogurt puffs (30 per 1/4 cup)

* Torani sugar free flavoring syrups (0 per 2 tbsp)

* Miracle rice and noodles (20 per package)

* Coke Zero (regular and cherry) (0 per 16.9oz bottle)

* Sprite Zero (0 per 16.9oz bottle)

* Canada Dry diet ginger ale (0 per 8oz)

* Powerade Zero (0 per bottle)

* Powerade power water zero

* ICE Sparkling water (0 per 16.9oz bottle)

* Polar plain sparkling water (0 per 12oz can)

* American Clear sparkling water (0 per liter bottle)

* ICE energy drinks (0 per can)

* Wylers water flavoring packets (5 per packet)

* Mio liquid water flavoring (0 per tsp)

* Members Mark french vanilla cappuccino mix (80 per 3 tbsp)

cherry on top | choi jongho

genre: fluff, realistic fiction, humor

character: starbucks employee!jongho

description: Jongho has an interesting run-in with a Karen during his shift at Starbucks.

word count: 2k

warnings: mild swearing

author’s note: jongho as a coffee barista was swimming in my mind for quite some time, so here he is. 

masterlist here!

There was something about that coffee stain on Jongho's employee shirt that made it impossible to get rid of. It was likely the mix of the ingredients that had stacked the receipt when it was printed, but Jongho couldn't help but feel she had somehow planned this as he scrubbed harder with bleach.

Jongho wouldn't have guessed the day to turn out as it did, but maybe he should have. Working with the public was always a gamble, but Jongho's optimism blinded him. Most customers were nice enough. Most customers gave a smile when he handed them their overpriced coffee. There weren't too many comments about his red and black hair, and he could shrug off all of them. The compliments were what he remembered.

The day started off normally - with Jongho's coworkers nudging him towards the mound of bagged coffee beans. "I could do it myself, but you just do it quicker, you know?" One of his coworkers had whined, twirling a piece of curly hair around her finger. "It" was picking up the bags of coffee beans to put into the grinder, and Jongho didn't mind it.  As he slung a bag over his shoulder with ease and glanced at her, he could swear her face flushed. Perhaps it was just the sun. The sun hit her face like that when he broke apples in half with his bare hands too. It was strange how the universe liked her like that.

After his bean tasks, Jongho took to the drive-thru of the coffee shop. He was told he had a nice voice, but he doubted he sounded that heavenly through a cheap speaker that hadn't been changed for five years. Nonetheless, Jongho enjoyed doing the drive-thru and taking orders. When there were multiple drive-thru lanes open, he would challenge his coworkers to see who could get through orders the fastest. This caused him and his coworkers to resent vans - vans almost always meant there was a large order - a sure loss, unless Jongho's fingers could learn to dance very quickly on the ordering screen.

Taking orders via the drive thru took up his morning, and then he was released for his lunch break. His coworkers had become accustomed to bringing him apples for the sole purpose of him to break them. He didn't mind, and it allowed him to be more comfortable with his coworkers because he could sometimes be shy. "Is that why part of your hair is red?" A coworker had asked him one day after he had broken multiple apples in a row. Jongho shook his head.

"No. Just red," he shrugged, ignoring his coworker's eyebrow raise. "I just like the color red." He thought he looked good with it.

But not everyone agreed - there were some customers that liked to point it out, like he had never seen himself in a reflection before. "You missed the roots," an older woman had told him at the register and gestured to his hair. Jongho added fifty cents to her order.

But for this day in particular, his hair was the reason for his downfall. For the latter half of the day, Jongho would be at the register. He yearned to be in the bar making drinks because it could become so mindless at points, but he was placed in front of the register before he could say anything. He assumed it was because he was the longest working employee out of the staff today, and Jongho vaguely remembered a newbie was working with him. He guessed the manager didn't want them at the register. The register wasn't much different than the drive thru, but there was something about actually seeing the customer or touching their cash or credit card that made it not enjoyable for Jongho.

About an hour into working at the register, Karen walked in. Jongho saw her and his stomach dropped. She looked exactly like a Karen should look: bobbed blonde hair with caramel highlights that were too dark, opaque and round sunglasses, an obnoxiously pink phone case, and a tacky red American flag shirt that said something about how America was blessed. Jongho knew he shouldn't judge people so quickly, but he had dealt with this breed of women before. He had to brace himself for the worst and the unexpected.

"Hello, ma'am," he said cheerfully when Karen got to the front of the line. Her dark sunglasses obscured her eyes, but she was clearly paying attention to her phone instead of him. She suddenly realized she was in Starbucks and lifted up her glasses. She took one look at Jongho's name tag.

"Hello, John," she said, and Jongho had to bite his tongue to keep from making a noise.

"Jongho," he said.

"John," she continued, and listed off her order, Jongho begrudgingly typing it in as she spoke. It's not that hard of a name, he thought to himself as he kept typing. Why was Karen's order so long? Jongho kept translating her vegan, dairy-free, blood-of-firstborn, extra-expresso venti iced coffee into the system until she stopped talking, and even then she wasn't done.

"So is everyone your age just dying their hair like that?" Karen said without prologue. "I'd never let my kid dye their hair like that. It's so unprofessional."

"Thank you," Jongho said, dodging the question and not wanting to provoke her. He hoped his cheeks weren't also red. "Here's your total. Cash or credit?"

Karen pulled out her purse, but not without clicking her tongue in annoyance. "You all really should lower the prices. It's too damn expensive."

Then make your own, Jongho wanted to reply, but he held his tongue. "I wish I could," he said with a smile. Karen frowned in return, and, without warning, dumped her entire coin bag onto the counter. Jongho yelped and scrambled to keep flying pennies and quarters from rolling off of the counter. In the corner of his eye, a coworker ogled Karen.

"I used the bills to buy my groceries, so I'll pay in coins," Karen yawned while Jongho threw himself onto the floor to make sure no coins had reached there. He got up, plastering on a fake smile. He hadn't had a customer like this in a long time, but if he could just get through her, everything would be okay. He reached for her quarters first and began counting dollars. He knew for a fact that his manager wouldn't have tolerated this kind of behavior from a customer, but Jongho knew he could be too soft at times. Besides, her jangling keys on her wrist glimmered and showed off their sharpness. He swore he saw her teeth glimmer as well.

"Hurry up," Karen said after a few seconds. "Count faster."

Jongho considered shoving pennies into her eyes. "Certainly," he said, and tried to pick up his pace. He could feel her eyes burning on his neck as he shoved the change into the cash register. He pushed her receipt over to her and eagerly began with the customer behind her, glad to be ridden of her.

But his escape was short lived. He heard a whine from the corner of the store and knew it was the Karen immediately. He was currently helping out a different customer, but there was no one else in line behind them. He'd deal with it after the customer if things escalated with Karen.

"Are you sure you made this correctly?" Karen snarled at Jongho's coworker, her nostrils flailing. The coworker looked like she wanted to sink into the floor. "This doesn't taste like how it usually does. Make it again."

Jongho wouldn't have done anything - customers asked for drinks to be remade frequently. But this was Karen, and upon further inspection, this was the new employee that his manager had talked about. He couldn't leave her hanging, it would be rude as an older and more experienced employee. Jongho finished ringing up the final customer and went over to Karen and the other coworker.

"Cherry head," Karen growled, and Jongho only raised his eyebrows. That was a new one.

"I'll make a new one, ma'am, sorry," he said, taking the drink from her. "I'm sure you were fine," he muttered to the worried coworker and was pleased to see her smile.

Iced coffee wasn't difficult, and with the lack of new customers Jongho took the time to make sure the drink was entirely accurate. It's not that she deserved a drink, it's that he wanted her out of the store as soon as possible. He even had the temperature right, and gave it a perfect dairy-free whipped cream swirl at the top before handing it back to her.

Karen ogled the drink for a moment, looking back and forth at the cup and Jongho. Then she threw the drink at him.

The whipped cream top hit Jongho square in the face and he could taste it. Then came the slow and cold trickle of the coffee down his apron and shirt underneath, and at that moment, he was so glad she hadn't ordered anything hot.

"I said I didn't want whipped cream!" Karen bellowed, but Jongho's choir practice had made him desensitized to loud vocals. He wiped the whipped cream from his face and looked at Karen straight in the eyes.

"Get out," he said coldly. "There's a Dunkin across the parking lot. They can have your coins." He paused for a moment, and then his mouth twitched upward. "My name is John, you can write me up if you want. I don't care."

"I will be," Karen growled, red-faced and clutching her purse at her side like Jongho was going to reach out and nab it. he couldn't believe Karen thought that she was the victim here when Jongho had a new fluffy white beard adorning his face.

"John's right," a third coworker said, coming from behind. He could vaguely hear his laugh under his voice. "We don't tolerate harassment on our employees. You're the one that could end up in trouble."

Karen stared daggers at this new employee, and Jongho was surprised she didn't jump over the counter to tackle him. "Good riddance, I knew Starbucks was going downhill anyway." She gave one last snarl at Jongho, who fluffed up his hair at her glance, before walking out of the Starbucks.

The three employees were silent, and then Jongho felt a towel touch his arm. "Oh my God, Jongho, I'm sorry," the third coworker said.

"I don't think I've ever been drenched quite as much as I am now," he said, accepting the towel. He began to dry himself off as best he could, but he knew his face and clothes were going to be sticky for the remainder of the shift.

"I think there's another apron in the back," the new coworker said, and then scurried off to get it before Jongho could say anything.

"I'm just glad it wasn't her that got absolutely wrecked by coffee," the other coworker murmured. "I think she might have cried."

Jongho nodded, still drying himself off. It was a terrible feeling, the coffee all over his skin and clothes, but now that she was gone, he couldn't help but smile. It was comical, how insane the public could be. "I hope John gets hell for what he did," he smiled.

"Absolutely," the coworker agreed, laughing. The new coworker arrived back with the apron, which Jongho gratefully took.

"Give me a minute to clean up," he told the both of them before going to the back to inspect the wreckage on his clothes and face. It could have been better, but it also could have been worse. He licked a part of the whipped cream that was near his lips and grimaced at the flavor. Despite it all, Jongho was amused at the situation. It kept him on his toes. It would be a funny story to share at a party. Jongho wrote a note in his phone to re-dye his red tips when he got home. Then, smiling, he returned to work.

☕ + coffee

Thank you my friend!!!

This is a topic that is very special and near and dear to my heart. Where do I start? I love coffee so much!!! It doesn't really do anything except sometimes it helps me sleep but only when I don't want it to. But I just love the flavor!!! I love it plain, I love it with with lots of sugar and flavoring, I love it strong or weak, instant or specialty brew. I don't like flavored grounds because they have no flavor, but I do enjoy the different natural flavors of different kinds of coffee or just the cheapest blend. I like gas station coffee, I like Starbucks. I just love coffee any coffee any way. I go through phases of how I take my coffee but for quite a while I have just taken it with the powdered non dairy creamer which is one of my all time favorite ways to take coffee because it just compliments the flavor perfectly. When I was a kid I would only drink coffee if it was more sugary creamer than coffee. I blame college for the development of my taste for coffee. I like biscotti a lot but I don't like to dip any sweet treats in my coffee because I don't like it when it has crumbs at the bottom. I can't think of any food I prefer to eat with coffee, just any kind of breakfast food really. Coffee is great around dinner time but I don't like to drink it with dinner because the flavors don't mix. I drink a lot of coffee. I live for coffee. I'll drink it all day and all night.

TW: gambling, guns, military, long vent bc im tired and i was manic, went straight into depression, and now it’s both at the same time (which is why I called this a mixed episode in my previous post… I should probably see my psychiatrist now that I’m thinking about it-)

my brother (20) was literally so nice today even though I fucked up I know I hate him most of the time and ACAB (he’s an MP in the army)

but the fact he was so patient with me parking today is just… idk it’s just wholesome and reminds me of when we were little

I’ve been driving a little over a month (legally) and I took us, my bro, and my stepdad to Dairy Queen for supper and my parking ability is… not there. At all. I get screamed at by my mom when parking so I usually just give up and have that “eh it’s good enough” outlook on it

But he was so sweet. He was so calm he helped so much he taught me the best way how. Didn’t raise his voice once, not even when I asked a super simple question.

And the way I fucked up earlier today (this affected him):

Me and my grandma went and got scratch offs and he gave me $5 to get 5 $1 tickets. Within his five tickets he won an extra ticket, so did me and my grandma with our tickets, so we just got them together. She told me that the first one I did would count as my brother’s.

Won $20. She took $10 of it because “well I was the one who went and bought them.” Little does she know that he hasn’t been making as much and could really use the gas money, so me-needing to make things perfect- texted him what she did and explained that not only would I get him Starbucks (he likes one specific drink and I didn’t have time to get it today) tomorrow P L U S all of my winnings from tomorrow’s scratch offs.

Yeah, I could use the money from getting the coffee and keep what I won, but like… it was his $20 that he didn’t get to get and that’s not at all fair to him.

Everything turned out fine though, he went and got $10 from our grandma after she got pissed with us telling her it was his money.

Still getting him the Starbucks tomorrow though, but he insisted for me to keep whatever I win tomorrow-

I hate on him a lot and most of our protectors (other than Alexis, she grew up with him, they’ve talked a lot) hate him with a passion and usually don’t take into account how his trauma has also affected him, but I love him. He helped through almost all my childhood trauma and saved me from my dad

He was the best person ever until May 2020 when he got back from army basic… he’s so different now and I hate it, he doesn’t realize it, no one fucking realizes it but I do. He can’t have anyone behind him, there’s a new almost fear (?) when he’s not in control, especially when he’s out hunting and someone else is using his guns

Today was the first time since then that we haven’t had an argument when we talked. He wasn’t mad at me when our grandma took his money, he knew it was out of my control and now in his. He wasn’t upset when I wouldn’t stop singing along to my playlist in the car while I was driving (he hates when I’m singing in the car in general). He wasn’t upset when I didn’t understand what he was saying, nor when I mixed up my left and right so much and so bad he had to end up saying either a me turn or a you turn. He was… nurturing… and he hasn’t been in over a year.

-jaxx (he/they)

11:09 am

So I just woke up and here is the dream I remember, it’s in some oddly related pieces because I just woke up. TW - mentions of sex

I, for some odd reason went to the Bakery to try and get my job back for this summer, and while the front where I worked was new staff, the kitchen and the bakery still had mostly the same staff, though the basement was completely redone and had like a big dining room table, and looked how it did before it got finished. Anyways, I went in with Laura and we were hitting it off, making casual conversation before she was like, “I’ve had sex today, have you?” And for some reason I said yes, even though in my dream I had not had sex that day (nor in real life, but mind your business). So then, for some reason, she asked me about it and was like, “oh how was it, was it good for you?” and I was stressed and I just started describing an old hookup and then she was like, “oh, I thought that happened years ago, I must be confused because I know you wouldn’t lie to me,” or something like that. Then we had a conversation in the basement and she rehired me!!! And then I was leaving the front and I started helping a little with customers, like clearing their plates, and one of them had completely covered her plate with either orange juice or maple syrup (like full to the brim, if you moved the table it was on it would’ve spilled. So I went to the back to get her a new plate and ran into Caleb, Jose, and Juanny, who were my favorite coworkers and they all said hi and how they missed me. Then when I was leaving I saw Roman, who I haven’t talked to in awhile, and they were nervous to talk to me but I just said hi, and gave them a hug, and told them I missed them. Then I left the shop, kind of worried Laura thought I could start next week because I had never mentioned summer. 

One thing to note is this is another common location, based slightly on my hometown. There’s a main street, like the block of OPA south of Lake street, I can’t remember the first couple of shops, but there’s a really nice Starbucks, and across the street where the Eric’s used to be there is a kind of cafe, I’m staring to remember them from my other dreams, but I’m trying to focus on this one for right now. Then if you turn left down Lake street like where the real Starbucks is, it’s just an open street you can walk in that leads to a festival, like, prefecture, with a bunch of different festival related towns. Scoville Park is still there, but it’s way bigger, there are more paths and trees and there are like vendors and stuff. The library is also still there but it’s way bigger, designed way differently, and the 2nd floor has a pottery studio I’m pretty sure. Okay, now to the last part of my dream.

So then, I woke up and fell back asleep at 4 am, so this is after that, that’s why there’s not really a transition.

So, for some reason, Laura was taking us all to the grocery store, but there’s another Common Location - the dream version of my college, I’ll save time and not describe it, because the parts of it I saw in this dream were mostly new. So we were at the grocery store, but it was like a mix between a campus grocery shop and a common shop in that the selection was very limited, and me and my friend who I was with (Alli Turner idk why lol) were shopping, but we were in one of the last groups Laura let in, so everything was mostly gone. I had wanted orange juice, to make a smoothie, but the orange juice they had wasn’t refrigerated, and whenever I passed it, it was leaking. But then in the refrigerated juice section, the only juice they had was unsweetened cranberry-passionfruit, or something like that, so I decided I would ask Alli later if I should get it. They were also out of all non-dairy AND dairy milk, but they still had all the ice-scream and when I looked (okay if you know Ben and Jerry’s non-dairy ice cream you know that the lid is like a different color, but in this dream instead of green it was lilac) I saw this non-dairy one that said like “made with skeddle milk” or something like that. So I was like, “What the hell is skeddle milk??” and Alli was like, “You mean you haven’t tried it? It’s THE new milk replacement, it’s made from skeddles.” but I didn’t know what that was so I kept looking, but there was only like goat milk ice cream, so I just got the skeddle one. Then I asked Alli if I should get the juice, so we went back to get it, then ran into Laura, who yelled at us for taking so long, when there were still a few groups who had to go. Then we left the store and were in this back corner of UMD and this girl, who I think I went to Spain with was like, “I know this part of the school that’s haunted!” So we decided to check it out. We were between these two tall brick academic buildings, and there was like a railed top to a third, that had sunken in the ground/hill and you could climb onto the top. So we climbed onto the top, and for some reason my dad was there, and nothing was happening. Then she pulled out a remote that turned off the outdoor lights of the two neighboring buildings and the wind starting whipping and we heard this ghostly noise. It wasn’t scary though, all of us thought it was pretty cool, and we apologized for not believing her. I remember making a mental note that the haunted building top was a cool place to take someone when they came to visit, and then the dream was over LOL, sorry for such a long one!!!