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blendercommand · 2 years

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Top 9 Best Affordable Blender Under $50 for Smoothies

One of the most important kitchen appliances is a blender. You'll be able to prepare delicious milkshakes, smoothies, healthy concoctions, and mouthwatering sauces at the touch of a button with a decent one. Although popular assumption holds that bigger, more expensive blenders are usually better and more efficient, this is not always the case. Although pricier models come with a slew of outstanding capabilities, if your blending needs are simple, even the best blender under $50 can do. In this review, we'll take a deeper look at the top 10 blenders under $50 that will undoubtedly meet your kitchen requirements.

Top 9 Best Blender Under $50 for Smoothies

1. NutriBullet NBR-0601 Blender

NutriBullet NBR-0601 Blender The NutriBullet NBR-0601 Blender is one of those blenders that is pretty hard to ignore for those taking baby steps toward a healthy lifestyle. I decided to put this beauty right on top of the list because it is truly the best smoothie blender under $50. With a powerful motor of 600-watts, the NutriBullet is a handy blender that can quickly whizz up fruit. This machine exceeded my expectations because it could generate smooth, consistent mixes in under 40 seconds. The stainless steel extractor blades provide a cyclonic movement, and the limited space inside the jar ensures that all of the contents are crushed perfectly. What I love most about this machine is its 24 oz cup. The blender itself comes with a 24-ounce cup and a travel cover, allowing you to mix a drink and take it with you on the move. This makes it an excellent choice for protein shakes before or after a workout. The cup unscrews from the electric base, allowing you to fill it with whatever ingredients you like. Another plus point for this best blender under $50 is its ease of cleaning, you see how to clean Nutribullet blade here. The 24 oz cup is made from BPA-free plastic, and the detachable blade is dishwasher-safe, so you won't have to spend hours washing them. However, the NutriBulletNBR-0601 is probably too small for families or those who need to create significant volumes of smoothies or sauces. It's designed to be single-serve, so it won't take up a lot of room on your counter. Things we like Things we don’t like - Small and portable - Dishwasher safe - Pretty powerful motor - Noisy - Only for single-serve - Can’t handle large chunks and ice well If you are looking for a decent personal blender, NutriBullet NBR-0601 is truly the one for you! 2. Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick Blender

Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick Blender The Mueller Ultra-Stick hand mixer is now Amazon's best-selling hand blender under $50, with hundreds of reviews confirming its ease of use and durability. Despite being a hand blender, this machine still performs perfectly. A 500-watt motor powers the Mueller Ultra-Stick Hand Blender. It has nine-speed settings that may be used to make hot sauces, salsa, batters, pesto, smoothies, and more. If you want a separate blender for hot sauce then you can check out our list, there are many choices available to you. In addition, you have a whisk and a frother attachment at your disposal. With the Mueller Austria Hand Blender, I assure you that blend quality is not an issue. This blender under $50 includes a blending arm that can be removed and fixed blade locks to make it easier. It has a stainless steel S-shaped fixed blade that blends ingredients quickly. This hand blender is not, however, without problems. It can't be used for lengthy periods of time because it soon overheats. Furthermore, you will be required to continuously press the trigger while using the machine, which can be exhausting. Things we like Things we don’t like - Affordable - Easy to use and clean - Frother and whisk attachment included - Not recommended using in long period of time If you're looking for the good blender under 50 dollars, this is an excellent choice. This is not only simple to use, but it also has numerous additional benefits that will come in handy in your kitchen. 3. Ninja Personal Blender (QB3001SS)

Ninja Personal Blender (QB3001SS) If you are a smoothie enthusiast who wants to buy a decent blender due to its versatility, working efficiency, and affordability, I wholeheartedly recommend this Ninja blender. For ones who pursue healthy lifestyles, daily green smoothies and protein shakes are super easy to make with the Ninja QB3001SS. The Ninja Fit's compact figure is one of my favorite features. The 16-oz is comfortable to hold and serves as a single-serve blender. It also includes two spouted lids that can be screwed onto the single-serve cups, avoiding the need to decant the contents before taking them with you. What makes this best Ninjablender under $50 more wonderful is that it is a relatively simple but powerful product. It might not be as powerful as other Ninja blenders, but you can be satisfied with its 700-watt motors. Furthermore, there's just a one-speed setting. It's one of those blenders that you press and go with. I haven't even mentioned that the removable sections are dishwasher safe, making the entire process easier. However, because you can't add ingredients to the container while the blades are spinning, the blender fails to prepare condiments like mayonnaise, which require emulsification. Moreover, the Ninja Personal Blender QB3001 is one of the loudest blenders I have tested. Things we like Things we don’t like - Compact and portable - Easy to use and clean - 2 cups 16oz included - Great for blending fruits, nuts, ice - Noisy - Not for large quantities - Ingredients can't be added while the blender is running. Despite the fact that it has been around for a long time, this blender unless $50 is still a formidable competitor in the personal blender market. 4. Hamilton Beach Power Elite Blender

Hamilton Beach Power Elite Blender Considered one of the top-selling countertop blenders, Hamilton Beach Power Elite is a multi-function blender that crushes ice and blends frozen fruits and diced vegetables. What I love most about this machine is its versatility. The Hamilton Beach Blender has a peak blending power of 700 watts, making it ideal for various blending activities. It has 12 blending modes, including Pulse, which allows you to prepare sauces, purees, and dips with the ideal setting for a creamy milkshake or frozen treat. Its Wave Action mechanism constantly pushes ingredients down into the crushing blades for smooth results every time. This machine is powerful as it can easily handle hard ingredients and crush ice smoothly. You can also receive a 3-year warranty purchasing the Hamilton. Its durability and performance will get your money's worth. In addition, this best blender under $50 has dishwasher-safe parts and is simple to clean. However, I received some complaints about the heavy 40-oz glass container. Moreover, compared to other blenders, the Hamilton Beach 58148A can be quite loud. This is especially true if you're trying to break down frozen fruits or combine ice. Things we like Things we don’t like - Versatility - Easy to use and clean - 12 blending modes - Can blend hard ingredients and ice - Noisy - Quite heavy After reviewing this blender, I came to the conclusion that it is a decent starting point for anyone looking for a low-cost choice. 5. Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender

Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender If you have your heart set on a multi-function machine, the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher is an best blender for smoothies under $50. With its powerful motor, nothing is ever half-blended. I was amazed by the 14 different blending functions in this model. Dicing, pureeing, grinding, chopping, smoothies, milkshakes, and more are all possible using the blending functions. The "Wave-Action" blending technique creates a vortex, which pulls materials down into the blades and ensures excellent mixing. Furthermore, the High/Low-speed Pulse function will greatly increase the versatility of your blending. A sizable 40-ounce glass pitcher is included with the blender and sits neatly on the base. The heat-resistant and thermal shock-tested container is both attractive and durable. The jar is precisely marked for increased precision, and the container volume is appropriate for small and large batch mixing. The container's lid has an easy pour spout that prevents undesired drips. When I compare this best smoothie blender under $50 with others, I notice that Hamilton Beach Wave operates quietly and smoothly. Moreover, all parts of this blender, including the lid, blades, and container, are dishwasher safe. The only thing I do not like about this machine is that many parts of it are made of plastic. And I also sometimes receive reviews that this blender may struggle to transform regular-sized ice cubes into a nice and organized pile of snow. Things we like Things we don’t like - Multi-function - Dishwasher safe - Quiet and smooth operation - Many plastic parts - Struggle with ice sometimes The Hamilton Beach Wave blender is truly a rare appliance among this price range that tries to do multiple jobs and succeeds beautifully. 6. Cincred Professional Personal Countertop Blender

Cincred Professional Personal Countertop Blender If you are a student or a gymer, I highly recommend this personal blender for under 50 dollars as it is so portable and you can blend then go! Cincred's blender was one of the highest-rated markets, which is understandable given its features. This blender has a modern yet elegant appearance with long, narrow cups that can hold 15 oz of liquid. But what impressed me was how sturdy the lids are and how helpful the grips are. With this equipment, you can make a wide variety of mixtures. It's simple to clean, dishwasher-safe, and can accommodate any sports drink. In addition, the single-serve cup glass vessel has detachable attachments for on-the-go use. Even though it is not as powerful as some portable personal blenders, this best blender under $50 has strong stainless steel blades capable of making milkshakes, juice, purée, fruits, and vegetables... Moreover, its unique three-dimensional structure dramatically enhances the machine's performance. It does a good job with frozen items, but it has a hard time crushing ice. And sometimes, I also had to shake the container a few times to get all of the components to mix well, but this was not a big deal. Things we like Things we don’t like - Convenient carrying cup - Dishwasher safe - Easy to use - Strong stainless blade - Struggle with ice - A little noisy If you aim to find a visually appealing personal blender and is relatively affordable yet does its job, then this blender is definitely the right one for you. 7. Hamilton Beach Personal Blender

Hamilton Beach Personal Blender Now, let's find out about the top #1 best seller among the personal blenders under $50 on Amazon. The Hamilton Beach Personal Blender is the company's most popular blender. Even if it isn't new, it still holds the title. It's also the most portable and one of the most cost-effective. These superlatives are the key selling feature of this blender under 50 dollars. I will not hesitate to rate this blender 5/5 stars in terms of usability. To begin with, there is only one button that functions as both a power and a pulse. It's also highly portable! It fits easily in your car's cup holder, and the lid opens with a slide, making it simple to drink anytime, anywhere. Moreover, it also has a fixed blade, which is uncommon in personal blenders. Cleaning up by hand or in the dishwasher is a breeze now that you have it. To enhance portability, there's even cord storage at the bottom. The 175W motor isn't as strong as full-size blenders, but you're just blending one serving at a time. To put it another way, the engine is more than capable of producing 14-oz of smoothies and shakes. This isn't only for smoothies and shakes, either. Others have made baby formula, marinades, and salad dressings with it. However, a 14 oz container can be too little for someone. Moreover, this machine is only a 175-watt motor, as it is good enough for basic smoothies. Things we like Things we don’t like - Easy to use - Portable - Great for smoothies and shakes - Easy to clean - Container may be too small - Not powerful motor If you're searching for a blender that prepares single-serving smoothies and shakes, the Hamilton Beach 51101BA is a perfect option. I recommend this blender to single and limited-space households because it is reasonably priced. 8. Oster BLSTPB-WBL Blender

Oster BLSTPB-WBL Blender This is a pretty impressive machine among the best blenders under $30. I chose to review the Oster BLSTPB-WBL my Blender because it appears to be highly popular and a useful blender for many people, particularly students and those on the go. What I like about this Oster blender is the sports bottle-like container in which you can mix your smoothie or protein shake, then cover it with a lid and transport it to the gym or office. You can also drink water from the bottle. The Oster sports bottle has a 20-ounce capacity. One serving or two tiny portions can be obtained from the bottle. It's free of BPA and can be washed in the dishwasher. I noticed that it made little noise for such a low-cost blender. Furthermore, the Oster BLSTPB-WBL is small and compact. So it doesn't take up a lot of room in your kitchen. This good blender under 50 dollars is perfect for smoothies and shakes because of the 250-watt motor. It has one-touch blending technology and may also be operated without using your hands. However, this blender is not suitable for grinding, making baby food, chopping, or seed processing. When combining frozen fruits and vegetables, it's preferable to slice the fruit and veggies into smaller chunks. Things we like Things we don’t like - Cheap - Small and compact - Ease of use - The blender jar is also a cup/sports bottle - Easy to clean - Good for smoothies and shakes - Not good at blending ice and solid ingredients This blender, in my opinion, is a decent blender for smoothies and shakes for the price. The Oster BLSTPB-WBL is a fantastic personal blender that comes with a portable sports bottle. 9. Ninja 400-Watt Blender

Ninja 400-Watt Blender When coming across the Ninja 400-Watt Processor Blending machine, I was amazed that this one offers the same value and footprint on the table. This is a high-quality product at a fair price that will provide you with many choices in your kitchen while also saving you space by replacing two devices with one. Firstly, I like the blender's compact design as it appears to be well-kept. The blades seemed to be keen and sharp. Read the full article

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homewarrantyplan · 2 years

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Enjoy the Peace of Mind with A Home Warranty Plan

The expense of repairing or replacing the faulty parts of a broken appliance is an expensive and unprecedented matter. Surprising expenses are unavoidable moments in our lives. You cannot expect that your home appliances and systems will last for a prolonged time without exhibiting any issues. The regular wear and tear of your appliances and systems can make them go south. Have you ever thought that how you would clean your regular cup and dishes with a broken dishwasher or clean your clothes in a malfunctioning washer and dryer? If you wondering to know about a rational way to manage your uncalled home appliances and system repairing costs, the good is for you that there is a way! It is the home warranty plan that can help you from losing control of finances when a critical breakdown shows up.

As we have already mentioned the fact that repairing systems and appliances can be a costly affair, a home warranty plan can be a perfect help for homeowners like you. First, you should know what a home warranty plan is.

What is a home warranty policy?

A home warranty policy is a yearly or rarely monthly service contract between a homeowner and the home warranty company. Under the home warranty contract, you can cover your major home appliances like refrigerators, ovens, washers and dryers, dishwashers and systems like plumbing, electricals and HVAC. If anything goes wrong with any of your covered items, it’s the company’s responsibility to have the faulty component repaired or replaced free of cost. All you have to pay is a small service fee called the deductible. As a homeowner, you can stay away from all the hassles of finding the right technician to fix the issue as a home warranty company like ServicePlus has a large network of certified and experienced technicians in your area. The best thing is that you can avail yourself of all the home warranty benefits in just a call.

How much does a home warranty plan cost?

The usual home warranty plans range between $600 to $800 but if you want to have a comprehensive plan that covers both your home appliances and systems, the plan may cost between $1,000 to $2,000.

Generally, the service fee of the deductible amount ranges between $30 to $60 but this amount is negotiable at the time of purchasing the home warranty. The higher the yearly premium is, the lower the deductible amount is.

Find the best home warranty company that matches your exact requirements-

Most companies these days tell you about all the fancy benefits but don’t fall prey to their advertising gimmicks. Check the online reviews and ask for recommendations from your near ones if they have used a good home warranty company before and know about their real-life experience. Always select a company that can meet your exact requirement best. If you are in search of a well-known home warranty company in the US housing market, ServicePlus Home Warranty could be the best company where you can find the best plan for your needs.

#HomeWarrantyCompanies #HomeWarrantyCompany #HomeWarrantyPlan #HomeWarrantyPlans #HomeApplianceWarranty #HomeProtectionPlan #SepticsystemWarranty #HowdoesHomeWarrantyWork #SepticTankWarranty #HomeWarrantyFlorida #HomewarrantySolutions #TotalHomeWarranty #HomeWarrantyUSA #HomeProtectionServices #ApplianceProtectionPlans #HomeWarrantyDeductible

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saturnsorbits · 2 years

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Domestic Bliss

Fandom: My Hero Academia, Warnings: Fluff, Slightly Suggestive, Word Count: 600 words.

Summary: Bakugo talks to his veggies.

-> Repost from Old Blog.

It’s Bakugo’s day off. So when you wake to an empty bed, you’re forced to question why.

A cursory glide of your palm on the mattress, tells you there’s no heat on his side. Wherever he is, he’s been up for a while. You toss open the duvet, stretch, take care of your teeth and then, you’re on the hunt. There’s no too many places he could be, but first on your list is the kitchen.

The kitchen is the largest room in the house. It’s the only place Bakugo has actually put any thought into, decorated with black marble work-tops and subtle orange accents. This morning, when you pad down the stairs and push open the door: it’s empty. The coffee machine is whirring, grinding down a fresh cup of beans, the dishwasher squeaking away under the counter and there’s a roasted carcass boiling into stock on the stove, but there’s no Bakugo.

That settles it. The second place on your list is the greenhouse.

You move to the window, scan the expanse of the back garden and catch his silhouette reflected in the glass of the greenhouse. Gotcha.

When you slip into the greenhouse as quietly as you can, he’s watering his veg. He’s wearing a black tank top, burgundy overalls that he’s tied at the waist and a pair of gardening gloves modelled after his gauntlets that you’d bought him two Christmas’ ago. He’s also muddy. There’s a streak of dirty across his forehead where he’s wiped his brow and a hand-shaped smear down his left shoulder.

‘What the fucks wrong with you, ha?’ He squats in front of a tomato plant, his fingers running over the leaves as he speaks to it. ‘The humidity’s perfect, I’ve watered you, added nitrates to your damn soil - why’re you not growing? What do you -.’

‘Am I interrupting something?’ You lean on the doorframe, arms crossed and beam. It’s nice seeing him like this, relaxed enough to let his guard drop almost entirely. ‘Because I can come back later if you two need some more time alone.’

He glares, but there’s no fire behind it. It’s quite the opposite actually. Then, he’s ignoring you to talk to the tomato’s. ‘She thinks she’s clever, huh? Thinks she’s so fucking smart.’ Glancing up, he catches your eye and smiles before he can stop it. ‘Won’t be so smart when I’m using you to make the best bolognese she’s ever tasted though, will she?’

‘You nearly finished out here?’

‘Almost.’ He stands, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet before leaning over one of the plant racks to pluck at a bush. ‘Here, taste this...’ Holding the strawberry by the stem, he presses the berry to your lips.

Opening your mouth, you let him feed you. The berry is sweet, sweeter than anything you could buy at the supermarket and you moan softly on instinct.

‘Good. Mmm?’ He’s watching you, eating away at your features and he analyses every note of pleasure that breaches your face.

‘Very.’

‘Can I get a taste?’ There’s something wicked in his eyes when you nod and then, he’s kissing you and licking the sweetness from your mouth.

The kiss heats quickly, his hands wondering down your sides to grip at your hips and grope your ass.

‘How about...’ You break the kiss, trace the divot between his pecs with a fingertip and bite your lip. ‘You finish up here and come get a taste of something else?’

He grins, teeth bared before he’s dipping at the knees and tossing you easily over his shoulder.

‘Katsuki.’ You scream, kick out playfully and bang against the solidness of his back. He doesn’t stop, slaps your ass and laughs full bodied and happy as he carries you back inside.

-> Masterlist

#bakugo katsuki #bakugo x reader #bakugo fluff #SaturnsOrbits #saturnscribbles

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slapshot-to-the-heart · 4 years

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When We Went From Friends to This - a. beauvillier

One day late, but here it is! I’ve been studying for the LSAT, but finally took it today, so I’ll have some more time to be writing more regularly now. Title is from Taylor Swift’s Paper Rings. I loved getting to write this, so please please let me know what you think, my inbox is always open! Reading the tags is one of my favorite things to do, and reblogs help me know people are liking my work.

word count: 7.7k+

September 18 (sat)

Astride Leclair was the kind of person you always wanted on your side. She’d drop anything for a friend, always be the first to reach out, and would never give up on something — or someone — without a fight. She was also incredibly stubborn. Astride had also always had a penchant for adventure, which is how she found herself in a new job 600 miles and one international border from her hometown. And she hated asking for help, it really didn’t matter the circumstance. Which is how she found herself alone, trying to heft an armchair up the stairs of her new apartment building after being very rudely informed by the width of the elevator door that it wasn’t going to fit.

The lump sum her firm gave her for relocation was enough to cover a fair amount of the furniture for her new place and she tried to bring as much as she could on the drive down, but it wasn’t like she was about to rent a U-Haul and there was only so much a Honda Civic could hold. And Astride was still her father’s daughter, still would rather step on a rusty nail than pay Ikea for assembly, so by God she was going to do it herself. And “doing it herself” apparently meant dragging an 80 pound box up three flights of stairs in 90º heat in September, when New York City seemed to have not quite yet gotten the memo that the rest of the Northern Hemisphere was now in fall.

Astride finally managed to get the chair in the door, propping the door open with one of her moving boxes, unceremoniously pulling the box through the entryway as she scooted backwards into the living room. The 600 square foot expanse of her apartment was covered in boxes, more boxes, and for good measure, extra boxes. There were moving boxes, furniture boxes, shoeboxes filled with anything except for actual shoes. There was her guitar leaning against the microwave, three suitcases worth of clothes in the barely-assembled bedroom, and her dog in a crate in the corner, who had started to whine.

“I know, baby, I’ll get you out soon,” Astride said, shooting a sympathetic glance towards the beagle mix. She had adopted Poutine a little over a year ago, soon after starting her first job out of university. It was never a question whether or not she would make the trip with Astride, and thankfully it was much easier than she anticipated to find a dog-friendly apartment in Brooklyn. It wasn’t too long a walk to Prospect Park, a little under a mile, and she was looking forward to getting out with Poutine later in the day. If, that was, she actually finished unpacking enough boxes to function like a normal human being. She had picked up her mattress-in-a-box earlier in the day, but it was still sitting in the corner of her bedroom and she wasn’t particularly looking forward to a night on the hardwood floor.

---

Three hours later, Astride had finally gotten all of the boxes out of her car and began to make decent headway on assembling the chair, finally having let Poutine out of her crate. The beagle trotted around the apartment, sniffing the baseboards, boxes, and single bag of groceries Astride had picked up from Whole Foods earlier in the day. The rest of her Ikea order was coming the next day, the actual bedframe and couch along with a couple of other larger furniture pieces that she had had to leave in Montréal. Whatever she couldn’t order online she’d find at a thrift store.

Astride looked tiredly over at the kitchen. She really wasn’t in the mood to cook, and was in even less of a mood to dig through all the boxes until she finally found her set of pots and pans. She really should have taken her mom’s advice and labeled everything, but Astride was stubborn as a mule, and once she was stuck in her ways, there was precious little anyone could do to convince her otherwise. Pulling out her phone, she navigated to her Uber Eats, feeling a tiny pang in her heart as she switched her location to New York. Not the language, though. Astride was so hungry that she literally clicked on whatever place could get there the fastest, which ended up being a Chinese place a mile or so away. After placing her order — she got an extra box of chow mein so she wouldn’t have to deal with breakfast the next day — she settled back into the hair, the only fully-assembled piece of furniture in the whole apartment. Her finger hovered over her Instagram for a moment before she clicked on it, liking a few photos before going to post one of her own. It was a picture of the Brooklyn Bridge as she crossed it that morning, Poutine’s head lolling out the front window. One tap and one caption later, it was posted.

---

Anthony flopped onto his bed, his duffel landing with a satisfying thump on the floor beside him. Training camp had just ended, and while he’d certainly been keeping up on his workouts over the summer, the hours upon hours of skating had nevertheless made him more than a little sore. He grabbed his phone, opening up Instagram and scrolling through the new posts, only half paying attention. Astride’s new photo caught his eye.

Sometimes, needing a change means a new haircut. Sometimes, it means a new country. Very excited to start this next chapter in my life. Salut, New York! Anthony quickly clicked onto her profile page and read her bio. International economics analyst. Eating my way through the world one pancake at a time. BCom McGill. MTL-NYC. He read the last line over and over again. MTL-NYC. He swiped back to the photo; she had tagged herself in Brooklyn. Brooklyn. She was less than an hour away, not even thirty if the traffic wasn’t bad. But she hadn’t told him, she hadn’t said anything. Anthony felt a pang in his heart. Astride knew who he played for — obviously — and she knew that of course he’d want to see her any time they were even remotely in the same place. She knew that. Right?

He spent the next twenty minutes typing out a message to her. Then deleting it. Then retyping it. Then continuing the type-delete-retype cycle until his head was spinning. This was his best friend. Why was he so nervous to talk to her? Because she was his best friend, and as much as he hated to admit it, he really wasn’t sure where they stood. He hadn’t been sure for a long time. Hey Asty! He internally cringed at himself at the use of her old nickname. I saw you moved to New York, that’s amazing! I’m over on Long Island, so I’d love to catch up with you for coffee or something when you get a chance. It’s been too long :)

It might have been a little petty — scratch that, it definitely was petty — but Astride didn’t respond to his text that night. She didn’t have read receipts on, thank God, but it sat in her messages, without response, like something she was too scared to confront. And she didn’t even know why. Okay, fine, she knew exactly why. She had moved and suddenly they were in the same city for the first time since they were kids and he was, had been, her best friend, but why now of all times? It’s not like he was never in Montréal during the year, or like they couldn’t have committed to a weekly FaceTime or something, or at least texted more than once a month. He could have done something. And that something, that lack of a something, was what kept her from responding until the next morning, tapping out a text as she halfheartedly made her way through a bowl of oatmeal. Hi, Tito, just saw your text! Lie. I did, an opportunity for a transfer came up and I decided to take it. I figured you were pretty close by, so it would be great to catch up. I don’t start at the office for a week, if you’re free any time between now and then. That much was true. She wasn’t stupid, she knew the Islanders played on, well, Long Island, and as much as she wanted to still hold a grudge against him, her heart ached at the prospect of finally being able to see him again.

Anthony responded almost instantly, Astride having just closed the door to the dishwasher — a luxury in New York, she was told — before seeing her phone light up with the telltale bubble. I’d love to, we just finished up training camp so I’m more or less free aside from practices. A second later. Is brunch still your favorite meal?

Astride laughed. It didn’t surprise her that he remembered, but it was still touching to see him say something about it. It is.

How about Tuesday? I’ll send you the directions. It’s this little café in Flatbush, I think you’ll love it.

I’m counting on it.

September 26 (sun)

Brunch had turned into dinner, which had turned into going to a Broadway show — Anthony had insisted the moment she told him she’d never been — which had turned into him coming over for Saturday night movies, an old habit of the pair’s from their days back in Québec. Which had turned into two movies and two bottles of wine, which had turned into Tito sleeping over on the couch instead of driving the thirty-odd minutes back to his apartment. Poutine sniffed him curiously, nudging one hand with her head. Astride stifled a giggle, opening the door to the balcony. “He’s very sleepy, Poutine. It’s not good manners to wake up your guests.”

“Even when they fall asleep on your couch and steal all your blankets?” Anthony said sleepily from behind.

Astride wheeled around, greeted by a half-awake Anthony Beauvillier, who was indeed bundled in all of the blankets she owned that weren’t actively on her bed. “Tito! Oh my God, you scared me. How’d you sleep?”

He shrugged. “Not bad, about as well as can be expected.” He tapped his phone, cursing when he realized it was dead. “Do you know what time it is?”

She glanced down at her watch. “8:52, why?”

Anthony jumped up, throwing his shirt back on and grabbing his still-dead phone. “I’m supposed to meet Mat for breakfast at 9:30, and the place is,” he paused for a moment, running through the grid system in his head, “probably half an hour away? I’m never the late one, can’t break that streak now.”

“Gotcha.”

He grabbed his keys, looking back at her. “Why don’t you come? You’re already dressed, and you remember Mat, right?”

She wiggled her hand. “Kind of?” She crossed the room, letting Poutine back in. “You only want me for my charged phone and navigation system.”

“You got me,” he said, laughing.

---

“You named your dog Poutine?” Mat snickered, taking a bite of his eggs.

“Would you rather I named him Tim Horton?” Astride deadpanned. “He’s a good Canadian boy with a good Canadian mom. He needed a good Canadian name.”

Mat raised his coffee mug, tilting it over towards her. “Touché.”

Anthony waved his hand in front of Mat’s face, trying to catch his attention from where he was utterly preoccupied with destroying his sourdough toast. “Hey, Mat.”

“Mmm?” He glanced up.

“Did you know that Astride lives right by Barclays? Like, right by Barclays?”

His eyebrows rose. “No way?” Astride nodded. “That’s a great area, would have been awesome if you were here a couple of years ago. Short walk to the games.”

“That’s what I told her yesterday,” Tito responded.

---

“You’re kidding,” Anthony said, looking up at her building, then across the street to Barclays, then back to Astride, one hand tangling through his hair. “We used to play right across from here.”

Astride laughed. “I thought about that,” she said. “You know I still watched your games, right? Even after we fell out of touch?” Anthony shook his head. “You were still someone I cared about, are still someone I care about, even when we only talked a few times a year.”

Beau stood there, unable to formulate a complete sentence. As far as he knew, the last Islanders game she watched had been the 2016 opener, his NHL debut and her first year at McGill. Why did he assume that? Why did he assume the worst? You can care about people even when they’re not in your life anymore. And sometimes, if you get really, really lucky, they come back.

October 9 (sat)

“Ebs is having a barbeque thing over at his house this weekend, just stuff to celebrate the beginning of the season if you wanted to come. No pressure if you’ve got plans already, though,” Anthony said over the FaceTime.

Astride nodded enthusiastically. “That sounds great, I’d love to come! Just let me know when to show up and what to bring, and I’ll be there.”

It was almost a fifty-minute drive for Astride from her apartment in Prospect Heights to the house in Garden City, but there wasn’t too much traffic and besides, she had always liked driving. So she set off in her Civic, plugged her music in, and headed down 495. Anthony met her outside of the house, greeting her with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek as he cocked his head towards the backyard. “Party’s this way. Come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

Astride dutifully followed, trying not to let her nerves take hold of her. Everyone might have already been Beau’s friends, but she didn’t know them, or the dynamic of everyone’s relationships, or really, what to expect at all.

He noticed her apprehension, stopping her with a feather-light touch on her arm just before walking through the back gate. “Hey, Asty. What is it?”

She let out a little huff, still upset that he could read her like a book even after all this time. “I’m just worried that I’ll feel like I’m intruding on everything, like everyone already has their friends and a group and everything, and here comes some random Québécoise who’s a friend of Tito’s—”

He laughed, turning her around to face him. “Astride, they’re going to love you. As long as you’re the hilarious, witty, caring person I know you are, they’re going to love you as much as I do, and you’re going to fit in just fine. Do you trust me?”

She gave a tiny nod. “Yeah.”

He smiled, squeezing her hand. “Good, now come back, everyone’s waiting.”

They walked through the gate, greeted by a crowd of smiling faces as Anthony brought her around to everyone to make their rounds. There was Anders, he was the captain, and his wife. There was Jordan and Lauren, and she already knew Mat, and JGP — who was excited to have another person to speak French to — and a dozen or so others, along with their respective partners and children. Anthony had gone over to talk to Mat and some of the other players, while Astride had wandered over to the drinks table. Some of the other women were chatting nearby; one of them caught Astride’s eye and waved her over to join them.

“Beau didn’t tell us he was bringing anyone!” one of the women said, pulling her over to the group with a bright smile and handing her a glass of sangria.

“Mhm,” she replied, taking a sip of the drink. “I’m new to the city, obviously, so I think he wanted me to have some people I know outside of just work.”

They all nodded. “How long have you two been together, though?” another asked. “I didn’t even know he was seeing anyone, did you?” She looked around at the others, who shook their heads as Astride’s eyes bulged.

“Together? No, no, we’re not together. We’ve been best friends for ages, but,” she shook her head.

“Could have fooled me,” Lauren said with the smallest of winks.

Astride suddenly became very interested in the floating berries in her sangria. She looked over at Anthony, who was throwing his head back, laughing at something one of the rookies had said, and smiled. But Lauren’s words kept lingering in the back of her mind. Could have fooled me. Okay, it wasn’t like it was the first time they had been mistaken for a couple; whenever she’d make the trip up to Shawingan to visit him when he was in the QMJHL, more than once she’d have to explain to his teammates that no, she wasn’t Beau’s girlfriend, they were just best friends who had known each other forever. Just best friends.

Astride had always equated her lingering feelings for Anthony to the nostalgia of a childhood crush, the safety and security that came with remembering something from a time that seemed so simple and so easy. But childhood crushes didn’t last for ten years. And that wasn’t something she hadn’t wanted to come to terms with, something she’d been putting off for years if she was being honest with herself.

“You didn’t tell me Astride was coming,” Mat commented, seeing her mid-laugh in conversation with the other girls.

Anthony nodded. “Yeah. She didn’t have any plans for the weekend and I thought it would be nice to introduce her to everyone. I remember how shitty it felt to be in a new city away from your family, don’t want her to be lonely. Plus, I genuinely think she’ll fit in great with everyone.”

Mat hummed his agreement. “She’s changed since Switzerland, don’t you think?” he asked appreciatively, referring to over five years ago, the last time he had seen her in person.

“Don’t even think about it,” Beau mumbled to Mat, seeing his eyebrows go so far up they were hidden in his hairline.

“I see a hot girl, I appreciate a hot girl,” Mat shrugged. “But don’t worry, I won’t try anything. I know she’s off-limits.”

The rest of the afternoon passed quicker than she would have thought, and after a few hours and more good conversations, it was time for Astride to leave. “Have a safe drive back,” Anthony said, giving her a hug.

“I will,” she responded.

He opened the driver’s side door for her. “I’m really glad you came, you know. Everyone liked you, you fit in great.”

“It wasn’t all me,” she said, sliding into the seat, turning her head to Anthony to continue the conversation. “Everyone really did seem to go out of their way to make me feel included, I think they understood the feeling of moving to a whole new place without a big support system and wanted to do what they could to help mitigate that for me.” Astride consciously left out Lauren’s little comment, four words that had been bouncing around in her head for hours since they had been said. He didn’t need to know. She didn’t need him to know, it could confuse him and complicate things when they were just getting back into the rhythm of friendship, of being each other’s person.

Anthony tapped his fingers on the car door. “I’m glad.”

“Me too.”

Beau went to sleep that night, Mat’s words bouncing around in his head. “I know she’s off-limits.” It’s not like Cass was his sister or something, someone who would inherently be barred from his best friend’s dating pool. But Mat seemed to know right away, without having ever been told, that she wasn’t someone he could ever even consider pursuing. Why? And what did Mat seem to know that he didn’t?

November 12 (fri)

It was early November, and Anthony and Astride had just settled down at a table in Prospect Park, coffee cups warming their hands through the late fall chill. “How do you feel about last night?” Astride asked teasingly. He had a three point game, two goals and an assist in a 4-1 win over the Canes, so there really wasn’t any question that he was still riding on the high.

Beau rolled his eyes. “Good, obviously. It would have been nice to get a hat trick, but I know that’s asking for a lot and I didn’t want to tempt fate too much. They made a really good push late in the second.”

“But you won,” she said, poking his shoulder with the hand that wasn’t wrapped around her mocha.

“But we won,” he agreed. He suddenly got quiet, the kind of quiet where, if you know the person well enough, you can tell that something’s up. That they’re thinking of something. And Astride was right. “Do you ever think about Switzerland?” he asked.

Astride looked at him from the side, knowing right away that he wasn’t asking about the country. “All the time,” she admitted.

---

It was the spring of 2015, and they were in Lucerne. By they, Astride meant her, Tito, and the rest of the 2015 Canadian U18 World Cup team. And by in Lucerne, she meant crowded into someone’s hotel room with no adult supervision. Anthony wasn’t sure where any of the coaching staff had gone, but if he was being honest, he was riding on way too big of a high to even care. They had clinched the bronze medal earlier that day, celebrating with the family and friends who had made the trip out, gotten dinner, and then packed into the first team room they came to. Well, technically, Astride, Tito, and Mat had made a stop at the grocery store before meeting everyone else back in the room. The drinking age in Switzerland was 16 for everything but spirits, and everyone was planning on taking full advantage of that. The cashier gave them a look as she took her and Anthony’s French licenses and Mat’s English one, but the charge went through just fine, and fifteen minutes later they were walking back through the doorway with three cases of beer and a few bottles of sparkling wine for good measure. Astride had never been so grateful to have her own checking account.

“You ever drink before?” Mat asked her as they opened the cases.

Astride shrugged. “Not really. A glass of wine every now and again back home with my parents, but nothing too crazy.”

He held out a bottle for her, fishing around in his pocket for the bottle opener they had picked up at the store. “Have fun.”

And have fun Astride did. She had finished off two of the beers, and one of the younger teammates — she didn’t remember who — had popped open the wine. In his slightly inebriated state, it took longer than it should have to twist off the muselet, which then led to foam all over the floor and fifteen sixteen and seventeen-year-olds running to the bathroom to grab towels to try and mop it up with. And then running back to the bathroom to get the water glasses because they needed something to drink it out of, right? And then to everyone else’s rooms because they quickly realized that two cups definitely wasn’t enough to go around, and then everyone was back in the room, on the beds and around the beds, finally letting themselves celebrate. Astride was just finishing her glass when Mat spoke. “Anyone up for never have I ever?” Nobody said otherwise, so two minutes later, they were all arranged in what could very generously be called a circle, fresh drinks in hand. After a solid five minutes of repeating the rules — there was always at least one person who seemed to genuinely struggle with the idea that you drank if you had done the thing, not if you hadn’t — they were slowly but surely making their way around the circle.

Questions ranged from the mundane — “Never have I ever gotten detention” — to the raunchy — “Never have I ever had my parents walk in on me” — neither of which Astride or Tito drank to.

By the time it was Mat’s turn, he had had plenty of time to think, looking around the group with a conspiratorial grin. “What is it?” Tito asked skeptically.

He shrugged. “Never have I ever...kissed anyone in the circle.” As expected, nobody drank, but apparently that wasn’t expected, not for Mat, at least. He looked between Anthony and Astride incredulously. “Seriously? You two have never kissed?”

Anthony shook his head. “Nope.”

“How? You’ve been friends for, like, a million years, not even when you were little or anything?” he asked.

“Never,” Astride said. “Kind of hard to kiss your best friend when you haven’t kissed anyone before.” She barely even realized that everyone was still listening in.

“You’ve never kissed anyone?” Anthony asked, surprised.

Astride looked down at her hands, sipping her beer. “Nope.” She gave him a brief smile. “I know it’s nothing to be ashamed of, but no. Just hasn’t happened yet.”

Maybe it was the alcohol talking, or maybe it was feelings buried so deeply in Anthony’s mind that he didn’t think would ever see the light of day, let alone have to be confronted, that made him say what he did next. “I could—if you wanted—you don’t have to, but—” he stammered.

Astride laughed, looking at him curiously. “What is it, Tito? You’re not normally one to stumble over your words like that.”

He picked at his fingernails, an old nervous tick from his childhood that his mother was never quite able to get him to break, keenly aware that the whole room had decided to listen into their conversation. “I was just trying to say...I could do it, if you want. Kiss you, I mean. If you just wanted to get it over with, or whatever. I just figured. You know me, you trust me, you’re comfortable with me. Better that than some idiot at school who doesn’t care about you.”

Her cheeks burned as she looked over at him, but even though it took her nearly a minute to respond, she had her answer after five seconds. “Why not?” Astride flashed him the purest, gentlest smile, the kind that let him know just how much she cared about him and how deeply she trusted him. And the look on her face meant the world to him.

Anthony leaned in, his hand coming up to rest on her shoulder, his fingertips just barely touching her cheek as their foreheads leant together. “You sure about this?” He needed her to be sure.

She nodded. “I’ve had a couple of drinks, and I never imagined my first kiss would be in front of an audience,” she paused to giggle at the rest of the team, who were giving the scene their full attention in a way that somehow wasn’t uncomfortable at all, just wholesome and supportive, “but yeah. I’m sure.”

That was all the permission Anthony needed to lean forward, pressing his lips against hers, in a kiss that was soft and sweet and somehow everything Astride needed all in one. He pulled back after a moment, a goofy smile on his face. “How was it?”

Astride couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “Good, it was really good, Tito. Thank you for that.”

“What are friends for?”

---

“Friends are for kissing each other, apparently,” Astride giggled, leaning into Anthony on his couch.

He laughed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, absentmindedly rubbing his thumb over her arm. “Did you ever think something was going to happen between us?” Anthony asked curiously.

Astride shrugged. “At some point, yeah. I think it was kind of hard not to, with our parents and literally everyone we spent time with saying we were destined to fall in love.” She looked down at her hands, trying not to give away the fact that at one point, she had believed them.

November 30 (tues)

“Do you want to come over Friday?” Anthony asked, sprawled out across her couch on one of his rare nights off. He had made the drive over to Astride’s apartment, cooking salmon and roasting vegetables while she took the much more daunting task of picking what to watch on Netflix. She settled on Back to the Future. “I can order in Thai, I know we’re trying to work our way through the Mission Impossibles.”

Astride grimaced. “I actually...kind of have a date Friday night,” she admitted.

Anthony made a hum of surprise. “You do?”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t act so shocked, Tito. There are men in this city of nine million who want to take me out.”

He sputtered. “It’s not that that shocks me, Asty. You’d have men lining up around the block for you if you’d give any of them a second glance. It’s just that. You never seem to bother actually going after any of them. What made this one different?”

“I mean, honestly hour?” Astride said, shrugging.

“Honestly hour.”

“I haven’t been on a date since I left Montréal, you know that. It had been a few months there too. And I’ve loved hanging out with you more, getting to know Mat and the team and everyone’s partners, but...I needed something different, too. Something that felt like a part of my life that wasn’t directly connected to the team. Which, don’t get me wrong,” she added hastily, “I love them, and it’s been so nice to be a part of that group, I just…” Astride trailed off.

“You can’t let that be the only part of your life. I get it,” Anthony added helpfully.

“Yeah,” Astride agreed. “So enter Cole. He works in a different division of the IE department, I’m obviously Europe and he’s Asia, mostly does work with Taiwan and Singapore. Um,” she said, her eyes turning towards the ceiling, “he seems really nice, did international business at UPenn, which is a great program. Speaks fluent Mandarin, uh, I think he mentioned he’s got a few fish at home.”

Anthony snorted. “What’s wrong with fish?” Astride asked defensively.

“Nothing, nothing’s wrong with fish,” he said. “Just seems like an odd choice. Maybe his building doesn’t allow pets or something.”

“Maybe,” Astride responded. “I wouldn’t know, he lives in Manhattan, over in Tribeca. Bikes to work.”

Tito laughed again. “I don’t trust people who bike to work in New York City, Asty. They have zero regard for their own lives or safety.”

She giggled. “That might be true. But I’m looking forward to it, the date, I mean. I really am. It’s been a while since I’ve really put myself back out there, and I’m ready for something good. Something real.”

He gave a half-smile from his side of the couch. “I’m happy for you, Astride. I hope you have a great time, and I hope he treats you right. If he doesn’t, just let him know that you can sic an entire professional hockey team on him with a single phone call.”

“I will,” she said. “I’ll call you when it’s over, tell you how it went.” “

I’ll be waiting,” he said.

Anthony thought back on the conversation as he sat on the corner of his bed that night, about to go to sleep. He turned his phone over and over in his hands, his eyes fixating on the chip in the crown molding that he hadn’t gotten around to fixing yet. He wasn’t lying to Astride when he said he was happy for her. He was, of course he was, who wouldn’t want their best friend to be happy? But while he wanted nothing more, nothing more, than to be able to give his full-throated support for her date, and the potential the future held for her and this Cole guy, he couldn’t do it. There was something stopping him. And the worst part of it all was that Anthony was starting to realize what it was.

---

Astride had said that their dinner reservation was at 7, some brasserie in the West Village. “That’s a French thing, right?” Cole had asked.

“It is,” Astride responded, gearing up for her translation skills to be used for the first time in months. She spoke almost exclusively French around Tito, and with JGP and Brassard, but the majority of her day was spent in English. Cole said that the restaurant had come highly recommended from one of his Wall Street friends, something that should have been the first red flag.

“Never trust the finance bros,” Reese, a German specialist and one of her friends at the office, had said. “They all think they’re God’s gift to mankind when I can guarantee you they ain’t shit.”

She had said it was at 7, so Anthony wasn’t expecting to hear from her until much later; honestly, he would have been surprised if she had called before 10. He tried not to think about what it could mean if she didn’t call at all that night. She had said it was at 7, so when he heard a knock at his door at half past nine, he practically jumped out of his skin before scrambling to open the door. His eyebrows rose when he saw Astride on the other side of the door, then his face contorted into a look of sympathy as he saw the sad smile on her lips, her jacket slung over one arm.

“Can I come in?” she asked. He nodded without question, holding the door while stepping out of the way. He padded to the kitchen, bringing out a bottle of Moscato and two glasses. Astride smiled gratefully at him as he uncorked the bottle and poured. He knew that she couldn’t do red wine when she was upset, and she was upset.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked tentatively.

Astride shrugged, sipping the wine. “Not much to tell other than it was probably the worst first date I’ve ever been on.”

That piqued Anthony’s interest. He’d never be happy that she was upset, but something told him the story wasn’t quite that simple. “What about it was so bad?”

“Where do I begin?” she sighed. “He was on time, but that’s pretty much the only thing Cole did right the entire night. He was rude to the waitress when we had to wait all of ten minutes until our reservation was ready, because the couple ahead had gone long. Then he ordered the most expensive bottle of red wine they had, without even asking me to see what I wanted. He really just was trying to show off that he could afford it. And it was a Sangiovese, and you know I hate dry wines, so I was just trying to choke the whole thing down. And then he insisted on ordering for me, which is probably the most chauvinistic thing I could think of, I mean, who does that anymore?” she asked incredulously.

Tito shrugged. It was disrespectful, absolutely, but more than that, it was just weird. If women have mouths that work, then they’re more than capable of doing something as simple as ordering their own food.

“And he kept trying to pour me more wine after the first glass, even when I told him a million times I was good.” Anthony’s grip on his glass tightened. Astride rubbed her temples with her free hand. “He just kept going on and on about work, and this big promotion he’s insisting he’s going to get even though I know for a fact that they want Maria for it. I could barely get a word in edgewise. That’s when I just decided I couldn’t take it anymore. I faked that Jean-Claude was calling, grabbed my jacket, and caught a cab over here.” She looked up at him, the same disappointed expression she had worn when he opened the door. “I was really hoping this one would pan out, Tito.”

He felt an ache in his heart. He may have been less than thrilled about the prospect of Astride going out on a date, but that didn’t mean it hurt any less to see her so despondent. He leaned over, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear that had fallen loose. “I know, Asty. And I’m sorry it didn’t.”

December 13 (mon)

Anthony and Mat were the last ones in the locker room after a morning practice. “I found this new place nearby last week that’s got great smoothie bowls, want to get one after you finish packing your stuff?” Anthony asked, looking over at Mat.

“Yeah, yeah. Sure, Sounds good,” Mat nodded, half-listening.

Anthony glanced over at him, a weird look on his face. “You good, dude? You sound distracted.”

Mat spoke abruptly, looking over at Tito with a laser-focused expression. “How long have you been in love with Astride?”

Anthony’s eyebrows jumped a foot. “In love with Astride? Why would you think that?”

Mat gave him a look, the kind of look that let Anthony know he was dead serious about what he was saying, and more than that, that he believed it. “Tito, I’m dumb, but I’m not stupid.”

Anthony leaned forward, elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. “It’s that obvious?”

“Yep,” Mat said, popping the p.

“Do you think she knows?” His voice had dropped to barely above a whisper.

“I don’t know,” Mat said, shrugging. “I don’t think so, she doesn’t seem like the type of person to really be able to know about something as big as that and not address it. Doesn’t like to keep things bottled up, it’s not really her style.”

Anthony nodded. “It’s not.” He raked one hand through his haid, his head still leaning on the other one. “God. How do you tell your best friend you’re in love with her?”

Mat put one hand on Beau’s back, comforting him as best he could. “I don’t know, Tito. I wish I could help. What I do know,” he said, “is that you’re going to have to eventually. Because it’s going to tear you up if you don’t.”

December 18 (sat)

Astride tossed one final empty can into the garbage bag. “I think that’s it,” she said, giving his living room a cursory look. What had looked like a warzone only less than an hour before now more closely resembled the somewhat-messy but perfectly respectable bachelor pad of a man in his 20s, like it should have. With the holidays approaching, Anthony had decided to take it into his own hands to host a party — alongside Astride, who he had practically begged for help — intent on showcasing his newly-acquired skills by playing bartender the whole night. He was surprisingly capable, Astride had thought, if her Sazerac was anything to go by.

He smiled at her. “Thanks, Asty. And thanks for staying and helping clean everything up, you really didn’t have to.”

She tied the bag off and set it by the door with the other one. “I wanted to. And besides, I’m staying over,” she said, looking over at Anthony, “so what did you think I was going to do? Lock myself in the guest room while you cleaned up the whole apartment by yourself? What kind of a woman do you take me for?” she asked in mock offense.

Anthony laughed, sitting down on the couch with a satisfying thump, pulling Astride into his side when she settled next to him.

“I’m so glad we got back in contact,” she said, muffled against the fabric of his hoodie. “I’m so glad we’re friends again.”

He felt guilty; more than that, he knew that the guilt, at least some of it, was deserved. “I should have done more,” he lamented. “I should have done more to keep in contact, more to show you I cared, more so you’d know that your friendship is one of the things I value most in my life.”

Astride gave a small smile. “It’s a two-way street, Tito. Sure, I won’t lie and say that you really put all that much effort into keeping in contact. You didn’t.” He winced, she shot him a sympathetic look. “I love you, but you know me. I don’t mince my words. But I definitely could have done more than text you congratulations or leave a thirty-second voicemail on your birthday. We both could have done more. We both should have done more,” she said, correcting herself. “What do you think happened, though? Where did we go wrong?” As much as she might have hated it, Astride was that kind of person. She went through every bad decision in her life with a fine-toothed comb, needing to know what went wrong, needing to know what she could have done differently.

“I think,” he began, “that it was just so easy to get distracted from ‘back home’ things. From our friendship, from my relationships with my family. From the important things, the things that I should have made an effort to prioritize even when the season got hectic and games got hard. And I’m not trying to make excuses,” he added quickly, “but there was just something about where I was, physically and mentally. I was 19, a rookie in one of the biggest cities in the world, and I think I just lost sight of things. Between the practices and games and going out and community events and trying to get in more than five hours of sleep a night, it was a lot,” he admitted. “It was stressful, probably weighed on me more than I wanted to admit. And I don’t want to sound ungrateful, because I’m well aware I was — and am — living a life thousands of kids would kill for, but there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that you don’t really understand unless you’ve been through it. I don’t have many regrets from my rookie season, or really many in my career so far. Don’t regret moving for minors, don’t regret going to the Isles, don’t regret any of the contracts I’ve signed or plays I’ve made. Well,” he smirked, “maybe a few. But the one big one? The only real regret I’ve had? Letting you go.”

Astride swallowed hard, choosing her next words carefully. “What do you mean, letting me go?”

Anthony let out a hard sigh. He’d put it off for long enough. He couldn’t do it any longer. “Never telling you how I feel.”

“How you feel?” Her voice had dropped to a whisper, her fingers tangling in the fringe of the fleece blanket that was slung over the couch cushions.

“Like I love you so much my heart could burst.”

Her breath caught in her throat. “How long have you known?”

He looked at her with a soft smile. “Ever since Switzerland.”

“Six years?”

“Six years.” He reached out slowly, so slowly, pushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear when she didn’t move back. They sat in silence for a moment, and when Anthony spoke again, his voice wavered. “Asty? Say something.”

Astride’s lifted her head, finally meeting his eyes. “I knew since I was 15.”

His face split into a grin, wider and wider until she was sure she’d never seen a bigger smile. “You did? You do?”

She nodded, leaning forward so their foreheads were touching. She put her hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat fluttering butterfly-fast underneath her fingertips. “I’m pretty sure I’ve been in love with you since I knew what love was, Tito.”

He pushed forward, pressing his lips against hers for the first time since 2015, the first time since Switzerland. It was gentle and meaningful and somehow communicated all of the love and emotion that had been built up between the two of them in the past six years. Anthony pulled back after a minute, his lips pink and slightly puffy. “Tell me where your head’s at, Astride.”

“Is it too cliché to just say that this might be the happiest I’ve been in years?”

He shook his head, smiling. “Not at all.” But there was something that she wasn’t quite letting go of. “What is it, Astride?”

Astride sniffed. “I want this. You and I, I want it so mad it hurts. I just hate the idea that we’d turn into some sort of cliché. Childhood friends who grow up and fall in love, but something goes wrong and they split up and suddenly the dynamic of everything is messed up and I don’t want that, Tito. I don’t know if I could deal with you hating me because of how things ended.”

“But things don’t have to end, Asty. Every broken heart, every date where some asshole has stood you up has led you to know that you deserve more. You deserve so much more, Astride, you deserve the sun and the moon and someone who would hang them in the sky for you. It doesn’t have to end in heartbreak. It doesn’t have to end at all.”

Astride had always been someone who was cautious, someone who thought before she acted and never spoke without thinking through every possible outcome. But this was one of the times that she couldn’t do that, one of the times when, as much as she may have hated it, she needed to take a leap of faith. And so she did. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Anthony asked, his voice lifting.

She nodded, the happiness on her face unmistakable. “Okay.”

And as Astride and Anthony FaceTimed her parents to break the news, her mom slapping her dad’s shoulder, claiming that she had “called it” back in 2014, Astride was filled with a sense of undeniable, irreplaceable joy. The kind of joy that the poets write about and artists put brush to canvas trying to depict, the kind that most people go their whole lives only hoping to get a glimpse of. The kind that made Astride more certain of one thing than she had perhaps been in her entire life. It didn’t have to end in heartbreak. And this one didn’t have to end at all.

And as they stood two years later in a little church in their hometown, promising in front of their family and friends and the entire New York Islanders to love each other for the rest of their lives, Astride finally believed it.

#anthony beauvillier #hockey smut #hockey writing #hockey imagine #hockey imagines #nhl imagines #nhl imagine #nhl smut #nhl writing #new york islanders

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kniveslovers · 3 years

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Our Pick

MAC Series 6 1/2-Inch

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Premium Pick

Shun Premier Nakiri

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Budget Pick

Kai Wasabi Black Nakiri

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Top 7 Best nakiri knives

MAC Series 6 1/2-Inch Japanese Vegetable Cleaver

Shun Premier Nakiri Knife, 5.5 TDM0742

Wusthof Classic 7-Inch Nakiri Knife

Kai Wasabi Black Nakiri Knife

Moritaka AS Long 180mm Nakiri Knife

Yoshihiro VG-10 16 Layer Hammered Damascus

Tojiro Shirogami ITK Nakiri 165mm

Best Nakiri Knife reviews

Here our list of best choices that meet all various needs.

1.MAC Series 6 1/2-Inch Japanese Vegetable Cleaver _best Nakiri knife for the money

Whether you are a home cook or a prep cook, this bad boy will give you the performance of a high-end nakiri without burning a hole in your pocket. It’s our favorite option under $100.

No wonder that Wirecutter’s top pick of chef knives has been a Mac product since 2013. MAC Traditional Nakiri 6.5″ is also the best-rated Nakiri knife by America’s Test Kitchen.

This bad boy is a Japan-made stamped knife. Its blade features a stain-resistant Molybdenum alloy steel with Rockwell 58°-59 and 15° blade angle.

Out of the box, this beast is sharp enough to shave hairs. It takes and holds its keen edge for a longer time. As a result, you will need less frequent sharpening.

To test this Nakiri knife, I used it to make mirepoix (soffritto). I’ve sliced, diced, and chopped onions, carrots, and celery. The Japanese vegetable knife glided through the stuff with that nice SHHHWICK sound like butter. It has even halved butternut squash with ease. It didn’t splinter or tear any of the ingredients.

Yet, with starchy veggies like potatoes, the slices stuck to the knife. To be honest, it wasn’t a big concern to me, especially at this price point.

It’s super-light (5.4 ounces) making it best for those who suffer from arthritic hands. Besides, it is thin behind the edge with 2.5 mm spine thickness. It’s beveled on both sides ( double bevel). So it is well suited for right and left hands.

This veg cleaver has a great balance towards the tip with a light handle and a hidden tang. Yet, it lacks a bolster, but as long as you use the pinch grip, it isn’t a problem.

In short, this thing is easy to handle and control.

The Mac Nakiri carries a 25-year warranty. However, it needs more TLC unless you will get numerous rust spots all over the blade. So, wash your knife manually with water and soap after using it. Put it under water after cutting acidic foods like citrus, and tomatoes. NO DISHWASHER. Don’t air dry, use your hands instead. Store it properly. It’s that simple!

Do this wisely and it will give you many years of happy use.

The fit & finish was my biggest pet peeve in that knife. There is a small gap between the blade and handle where food and water can find their way through. You need to squeeze a few drops of glue, or epoxy into this gap.

The spine was quite rough. So, you need to sand the back of the knife OTHERWISE you will end up with blisters.

It comes was a beautiful Pakkawood handle which will nestle comfortably at your hand

This beast outperformed a lot of my $300 knives. This exceptional performance at this price is a bargain.

Pros

Best value.

super-sharp with great edge retention.

Great performance

Easy to maneuver and control

Ergonomic ambidextrous handle.

25 years warranty

Cons

The Fit and finish is meh.

Needs extra attention to protect the blade against staining

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2.Shun Premier Nakiri Knife, 5.5 TDM0742- Best Shun

If you don’t want to fuss with the sharpening and the chore of maintaining high carbon steels, that’s the ticket. The knife is perfect for any home cook regardless of his skill level and is highly recommended for vegans and crossfitters.

Sharpness

The core steel of this baby is VG-MAX ( upgrade of VG-10). That means this knife takes and retains a nice edge.

From Seki city in Japan, the blade comes incredibly sharp with a 61 HRC score. Shun also offers a free lifetime sharpening to your knife. You will only pay for shipping and processing. So, you don’t have to worry about the sharpening anymore.

Cutting food

I’m really surprised by the performance of this baby. The 5.5-inch agile blade drops through food like nothing. It will chop leafy lettuce, kale, and spinach all by itself without sending stuff flying off the cutting board.

The standout feature of stainless steel is that you don’t get the rapid oxidation or reactivity for tomatoes and onions. It made the job of slicing tomatoes like a child’s play. It’s finely diced onions and minced herbs into precise even cuts.

The knife is laser-ish with 1.9 mm spine thickness. I haven’t had any wedging or tearing issues using this blade.

The Shun Premier features a flat profile with a blunted tip. The rounded tip allows for slight rocking motion in case you like rock chopping.

This little thing is well-balanced with more weight towards the blade for powerful cuts. The textured blade reduces the drag and helps against food sticking.

Comfort

Shun Premier from kai is light weighing 5.9 ounces. It’s easy on the hands. It also features a curved bolster to get you a secure grip.

Besides, the handle is shorter and smaller than the Classic version making it perfect for ladies and people with small hands. Yet, if you have larger hands, the Shun classic Nakiri is a perfect choice.

Unlike the Shun Classic nakiri knife, the Premier’s handle is ambidextrous.

Durability

High carbon stainless steel is a breeze to maintain. Yet, VG-Max steel tends to be brittle and chippy.

The good news here is that if you’re a bit mindful of your knife, it will live to tell the tale. The lifetime warranty from Shun is a plus.

Fit and Finish

This baby is an eye-candy.

The knife comes mirror-polished with 68 micro-layers of hand-hammered Damascus steel…

This Japanese veg cleaver boasts an oval sleek ebony pakkawood handle with a walnut finish.

Cost

Although I appreciate the work that was put into this baby, IMO, it is quite pricey.

Bonus tip: If you’re searching for a nice gift for those SPECIAL people in your life, this knife would make a nice gift. They won’t stop flaunting it ( in a good way). For gift bag size, the knife comes in a black box with 15”x3”x1 1/8” inches.

Pros

Keen nimble blade out of the box.

Great precision

Less food drag and friction

Comfortable grip ( for smaller hands)

Free sharpening service.

Lifetime warranty.

Beautiful to behold.

Cons

Delicate

Expensive

No sheath

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3.Wusthof Classic 7-Inch Nakiri Knife with Hollow Edge-Best Quality Nakiri

If you’re coming from German kitchen knives background with a heftier and robust feel, this knife will fit the bill.

The pioneer woman, Ree Drummond, loves and recommends this western-style knife. That was enough to add it to our list. Yet, it proved it deserves this spot well.

The Wusthof Classic Nakiri Knife is made in Solingen, Germany from high carbon steel (x50 Cr Mo V15). The long straight blade steel was hardened to 58 HRC with Precision Edge Technology with a 10° blade angle. This technology yields a 20% sharper blade with 2x edge retention.

That said, this forged knife’s factory edge comes razor-sharp. However, this kitchen knife dulls faster in the practical experience.

Moving along to the performance,

I prepped French onion soup to exercise it. This workhorse is a great performer. I’ve diced onion effortlessly with clean precise cuts. It will make your chopping, dicing, and mincing so much easier.

The hollow edge makes small air pockets between the products and the blade to push the food off. Combine that with The PETec and the tantalizing taper of cutting edge. The result is a no-stick blade with SUPERB food release.

The Japanese knife is well-balanced with a blunted tip. This allows you to utilize rock chopping motion.

These knives are on the beefier, heavier side of the nakiri knives. So, it showed some wedging during julienning carrots.

Comfort & Durability

Wusthof Classic Nakiri boasts a polyoxymethylene (POM), comfortable triple-riveted handle. It will give you plenty of knuckle room. POM will resist fading, cracking, and shrinkage.

The bolster (where the blade meets the handle) will secure your fingers. Besides, the limited lifetime warranty is a great bonus.

The knife will last long enough to pass it on as expected from a German-build quality.

The finish is in line with what’s expected from a reliable maker like Wusthof.

Pros

German high quality.

Razor-sharp.

Clean cuts

No-stick blade

Rock chopping motion.

Easy to maneuver

Durable comfortable handle.

Cons

No sheath(Saya).

Needs frequent sharpenings.

It causes some wedging for firm vegetables.

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4.Kai Wasabi Black Nakiri Knife Review- Best Nakiri knife for beginners

A beginner home chef or culinary student who wants to test-drive the profile?

Want a hassle-free knife without worrying about sharpening or maintenance? At $50 budget or less? This is the best nakiri knife under 50.

When searching for a cheap knife, you might get a diamond in the rough or you might get a total dud.

Off-brand knife? Hell NO, KAI is the parent of Kershaw and Shun cutlery knives.

The Wasabi Black Nakiri knife features a high carbon stainless steel blade (Daido 1K6 ).

The factory edge is adequately sharp for home users. The edge retention is better than the softer German steel. That was a big surprise for me.

You’ll feel the thinness ( tapering from 5 mm to 1.8 mm) and lightness ( 4.8 ounces) of the Japanese nakiri Knives. The nakiri vegetable knife is blade-heavy with a light handle.

The stamped knife has no problem with dicing, brunoising, julienning vegetables, and fruits.

Another big surprise, it minces delicate herbs without bruising and oxidation. Tbh, it did a little bruising to the basil. Still great!

Wasabi has a polypropylene ( hard plastic) matte-black handle. It is mixed with bamboo powder and an antibacterial agent to ensure you get clean food preparation.

Being said, it is super-practical and comfortable to use with a Japanese shape. It’s perfect for the pinch grip. Yet, it may be a little bit slippery. So, watch out for your fingers.

The Kai knife might be a plain jane in terms of beauty. But who cares at this price point?

This nakiri vegetable knife could develop rust spots and a slightly tarnished appearance. Bar Keeper ( or any other rust eraser) will be your friend to remove the rust if it happens. Again, you need to be careful with this knife to avoid that.

The knife is dirt-cheap and it will only cost you a fraction of what a high-end brand does. It’s a joy to have it on your counter.

Pros

Inexpensive

Speed demon

Noobies-friendly

Takes a razor-sharp edge.

Easy on the hands.

Suitable for lefties.

Cons

Develop rust spots

Caused some wedging and sticking issues.

Slippery handle.

Have a cheap feeling.

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5.Moritaka AS Long 180mm Nakiri Knife Review -Best carbon steel nakiri

If you’re a pro cook who wants a high-end versatile carbon-steel nakiri knife, that’s a prep workhorse. It will save you a lot of time processing tons of vegetables on your prep list.

It’s the LOOK and FEEL of a killer handmade blade thanks to the 27th generation blacksmith Tsunehiro Moritaka.

Am I exaggerating? Maybe. I’ll let you judge by yourself.

Sharpness

The highly-regarded Aogami Super steel has been aggressively heat-treated to 64-65°. So, ootb, Moritaka comes with a SCARY SHARP edge that will stay sharp for a crazy long time.

Cutting foods

The forged nakiri knife with 7.1 (182 mm) inches is the longest and the flattest ( with no belly) between our picks. Combine that with its relative heft (6 ounces) and the distal taper ( from 3.1mm to 2.5m). Thus, it can cut long and thick vegetables with the precision of a scalpel.

Moritaka AS long nakiri is well-balanced. It’s blade-heavy. This translates to more control and comfort.

This veg nakiri knife passed all my knife tests. It sliced straight through the printer paper. It glides through starchy vegetables with no wedging or sticking making precise sheet-thin slices.

Onions? Tofu? Carrots? Tomatoes? Or even butternut squash? Moritaka will slice, chop, dice, brunoise, and julienne every single piece of produce.

Comfort

The knife features a super-light wood octagonal handle. It feels great in your hands. It’s also suitable for both righties and lefties.

It has the widest blade among other contenders (60 mm). This will give you plenty of knuckle clearance with a non-abrasive spine. After one hour of prep, it stayed pretty comfortable as the first touch.

Durability

@maulanasadira Moritaka san makes great, very usable knives. They can rust a bit easy if you don't take care of them. Sooo take care of them

— Kevin Kent (@KnifeNerd) February 6, 2015

Both the core steel and clad are reactive. So it’s more susceptible to rust. As a result, it needs some level of care, especially with acidic vegetables.

So avoid hard and frozen foods, and dry it after every use, and you will be golden.

NB: The knife boasts stainless steel tang to enhance corrosion resistance. That’s the main reason for the color change right above the handle.

Fit & Finish

This vegetable cleaver is aesthetically surreal with a minimalistic mahogany-wood handle and Kurouchi rustic finish .

This finish differentiates this model from the Ishime line with a tsuchime finish.

Besides, the blade and spine are smooth and straight with engraved elite Kanji.

Cost

The Moritaka Nakiri knife is pretty reasonably priced for what it offers. It’s the best nakiri knife under 200 in the high carbon category.

Pros

A keen agile edge that will last longer.

Epic performance

Ambidextrous ergonomic handle.

Corrosion-resistant kurouchi finish.

Nice fit and finish.

Easy to resell.

Cons

All-reactive steel blade that needs more care.

Finish wears-off quickly.

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6.Yoshihiro VG-10 16 Layer Hammered Damascus Stainless Steel Nakiri Vegetable Knife (6.5” (165mm))_ Best Damascus Nakiri knife

If you’re an entry-level chef who works in a “turn and burn ” restaurant with heavy production and a lot of greens prep with no time for maintenance, this is yours.

Yoshihiro comes with VG_10 WELL- MADE core steel with 60 HRC. The high carbon stainless steel is peace of mind to maintain. You only need to hand-wash it and sharpen it with a good whetstone.

Sharp? OOTB, the blade edge is razor-sharp. This bad boy takes and holds a very fine edge for a long time compared to other VG-10 knives. That is what I meant by “well-made steel”.

It glides through every type of vegetable easier than a hot knife through butter. It’s a solid performer. No matter the vegetables are hard or crispy, seedless or leafy, it will do the job as it Should.

This forged knife has a nice almost neutral balance with full tang extending through the handle. This makes it easy to control and manage. Besides, it is thin behind the edge with a spine (2.45 mm). So you can use it for precision cuts.

The food releases smoothly, thanks to the hand-hammered finish, nice grind, and decent blade geometry.

The knife is substantial in a Good Way. The type of heft (6.6 ounces) that’ll allow you to cut dense-root and hard vegetables without having joint soreness.

The western-style handle nestles comfortably in your hand.

When I saw the mirror-Polished hand-hammered finish, I was afraid to use it.

That’s a totally handcrafted knife in Japan not mass-produced. Beware of running this finish on a honing rod. The 16-layers Damascus steel clad with the Mahogany wood handle adds more beauty.

It is not the kind of knives that “grew legs and walked away”. It’s a lifetime investment.

The only drawback is that the bolster has a rough and sharp finish. So you need to touch it with sandpaper if you use the pinch grip.

Oh, I forgot to say, it is a right-handed knife.

Pros

Handcrafted in Japan

Ready to use out of the box.

Superior performance.

Easy to use and maintain.

Aesthetically appealing.

Great durability.

Cons

Poorly finished bolster.

Not suitable for left-handed people.

Not full waterproof handle

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7.Tojiro Shirogami ITK Nakiri 165mm-best carbon steel nakiri under 50

This knife is a great introduction to Japanese carbon steel. You will learn how to care for and sharpen those types. I recommend it to any beginner knife hobbyist on a budget whether you’re a novice chef or a knife-obsessed home cook.

The blade edge, out of the box, is reasonably sharp. It might need a couple of strokes on the stones which is a nice opportunity to learn. Relax! It’s one of the easiest steels to sharpen.

Tojiro itk 165mm nakiri has White #2 (Shirogami) core. So, the knife takes a screaming edge and retains it well.

The vegetable knife has a 60 HRC rating which means it could chip easily if you mistreated it.

It is the lightest among our choices at 4.6 ounces, but also the thickest(3.7 mm at base). As the blade tapers to 1.5 mm at the middle. Then, the thickness is a blessing protecting your finger pad rather than a curse.

Itk has a neutral balance and a rounded tip making it more versatile. You can use pull or push chopping techniques.

It will chop, dice, and slice for daily salad making or gourmet vegetable prepping.

The blade construction consists of 3 layers. The core steel is coated with soft iron steel for protection. So we’ve got her an all-reactive blade with no stainless on it. This means that it can rust easily, especially with acidic vegetables.

As a result, you have to wipe it down frequently with a terry cloth and paper towel. Use Camellia oil to coat the blade between meal prep.

This nakiri knife has a dark finish (kurouchi) to give you the rustic traditional Japanese lovely look. Expect the blade to patina (color change). This will protect the knife from corrosion a little bit.

The virgin nakiri has gaps between handles that you need to fill up with glue. You’ll also need to smooth the spine with sandpaper.

It comes with a D-shaped wa handle (Japanese). It’s well-suited for righties ONLY.

The Knife is affordable and will offer more than you pay for with a price tag under $50.

Pros

Traditional Nakiri profile

High carbon steel

Easy to sharpen

Versatile

Lightweight and well-balanced

Great value for money.

Cons

All-reactive-steel with a high tendency for rusting.

Fragile.

Fit & Finish needs some improvements.

Right-handed only.

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Nakiri Cutting Technique

Commonly, the Nakiri Knife isn��t rocker as the chef knife nor an axe like a Chinese chef’s knife. Unlike the all-purpose Santoku blade, nakiri knives are specialized at chopping vegetables.

Here are the major nakiri knife techniques that you need to learn.

#1.Push (thrust) cutting technique

You need to move the knife down and forward and keep it parallel to the cutting board.

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2. Up and down cutting technique (tap chopping)

As the name suggests, you need to move the knife in up and down motion tapping on the cut surface.

#3.Rock cutting technique

This motion relies basically on a knife with a belly. The reason I included is that many knife makers increase the roundness of the nakiri tip to make it more versatile. IMO, the nakiri isn’t meant to do that.

How to Choose the Best Japanese Vegetable Knives?

Looking for a good nakiri knife? Shopping for knives could be an intimidating process. However, it all comes down to your personal preference, your budget, and your skill level.

Here’s your nakiri knife buying guide to choose the optimal option for you.

#1.Cutting Food

Food release

This is the bread and butter of a knife. There’s a multitude of factors that define the knives performance such as:

Balance

Balance means where the center of the mass is concentrated. Think of it as if you put the knife on your finger, where the knife will settle.

Knives are either blade-heavy or neutral or handle-heavy. Always opt for a neutral or blade- heavy knife. Those are well-balanced knives.

Additionally, blade-heavy items will give you more powerful cuts. Yet, you might sacrifice with some precision using those blades.

All our picks in the list are either neutral or blade-heavy. We excluded any handle-heavy knives as their performance was subpar.

Food Separation

Food release and Blade Geometry

The thinness of the blade and the grind ( the shape of the blade cross-section) are the most significant over here. Knives with thick spines tend to have a V-shaped grind. As a result, they will cause wedging and tearing instead of slicing.

We found that the perfect blade width sets between 1.2 mm-3.5 mm at the middle of the spine.

Food Release

This means that the food doesn’t stick to the blade after chopping. The blade finish plays a big role here. The knife makers have overcome this problem by using one of two modifications.

Granton Edge (known also as hollow ground edge)

It’s a series of dimples or scallops along the edge. These indentations form small air pockets between the blade and the slice. Then, the air breaks down the food’s water content allowing the food to release smoothly.

Wusthof Classic 7-Inch is our favorite hollow edge nakiri knife.

Tsuchime ( hand-hammered finish) This finish reduces the friction and drag when slicing food. Besides, other types of finishes help in food release to some extent.

Tsuchime

Cutting edge Angle

A lower angle means more shaper blades. Although this allows for effortless chopping, it comes at the expense of durability.

The best nakiri kitchen knife generally falls between 8° to 16 degrees angle.

I found that 12 degrees and above is decent for newbies. No worries, you can modify this angle during the sharpening process.

#2.Blade length & size

Size always matters:D

This rule also applies here. The standout feature of the nakiri knives is that you use the entire blade length. But what’s the best size of a nakiri knife?

Well, it depends.

A nakiri bocho knife lengths range from 5 to 7 inches in most cases. So, they fall into 2 categories.

Short nakiris ( 5 inches)

Short nakiris are perfect for the push-cutting technique as they’ll give you more control over the blade.

So, opt for a short nakiri knife if you have a kitchen with minimal space or you’re a beginner.

Long nakiris ( 7 inches) This type is well-suited for professional settings and tap choppers. The blade length will give you more mileage.

It’s also great if you want to cheat and use nakiri for everything.

#4.Sharpness

Sharpness hinges on the blade material (blade steel type). There are 2 basic types of steel based on the amount of carbon.

High carbon _ Knives with high carbon steel tend to be harder. As a result, they’re way sharper and have great edge retention. They’re also easy to sharpen.

But, REMEMBER, a knife with pure high carbon steel will rust and chip easily if you mistreat it.

Low Carbon _ Low amount of carbon will give you a softer tougher knife. This means that you can avoid the microchips issues. That also means it will dull faster and then you’ll need to sharpen it frequently.

Choose a knife with medium to high carbon stainless steel and you’ll get the best of both worlds.

Make sure that your chosen knife is sharp out of the box and ready to go. Sharp knives are capable of slicing straight-through paper. That’s how you can test them.

#5.Durability

Durability means how long your knife will live since its first use. It’s a blend of blade hardness and toughness as well as the handle material and the overall craftsmanship of the blade.

Steel Hardness

Steel hardness is measured by the Rockwell scale (HRC). Higher scores mean harder steel. High-quality hard steel( 64-65) is way more expensive than softer steel (53-55 ).

Look for Nakriris with above 58 HRC score and Bob’s your uncle.

Handle

The Pakkawood handle is my favorite. That’s because this wood/resin composite is waterproof, wear-resistant, and has less discoloration.

If the handle is not fully waterproof, it might contract or expand in various temperatures and humidity levels.

You might also choose between wa handle ( Japanese half tang handle) or western handle. It’s totally up to you here.

Wa handle

#6.Comfort

Comfort depends on many factors like the handle shape and finish as well as the total knife’s weight.

You should hold the handle and double-check that it’s smooth, not slippery, and comfortable to grip. Also, pay attention you have plenty of knuckle room during use.

Pinch-grip the knife and make sure that the spine or the bolster is curved or at least smooth. That will protect you from getting a callus on your index finger if you make a few big meals

Although nakiri knives are 40% lighter than other types with the same length, heavier blades will cause fatigue to your wrist in busy long shifts. So, that’s another metric to check.

I found that 4.5-6.7 ounces to be a happy medium between good heft needed for chopping and comfort needs.

#.7 Price

Please don’t skimp on your kitchen knives unless you’re planning to buy a beater knife. A decent nakiri will set you back from $80 to $300.

You can cap yourself at 50 bucks if you’re a noob who wants to play with the profile. Use the whole blade, learn push cutting, feel how much you like your first nakiri knife and THEN you can upgrade.

Our Verdict

Nakiri knives are indispensable for chopping delicate vegetables. It will tackle all your veggies mise-en-place cutting tasks if you are a professional chef.

A stir-fry meal? A french soup? A salad for snacks? Easy as 1, 2, 3. For home users, it will speed up your meal prep time and turn your cooking chores into a joy.

We found MAC Traditional Nakiri 6.5″ to be an excellent choice. It will serve you well without being a burden on your budget.

Our Pick

MAC Series 6 1/2-Inch Japanese Vegetable Cleaver

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,https://bladespower.com/?p=198

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micvargova · 1 year

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The Best Dishwasher for the Low Price of $600

Many people think that dishwashers are overpriced, but this is not always the case. In fact, there are some best dishwashers out there for under $600. https://bestappliancesreviews.com/best-dishwasher-under-dollar600/

#bestappliances #homeappliances #appliances #Dishwashers #kitchenappliances

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disneytvanews · 4 years

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Best Meat Grinder Reviews And Buying Guide

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STX Turboforce Classic 3000 Series: Best Meat Grinder Under 200

The main model on our rundown is STX Classic Series 3000. This is the best model for you. It's an electric meat processor that can granulate any kind of meat flawlessly. Alongside an engaging tempered steel plan, it has a momentous presentation which empowers it to granulate at rapid. This machine can viably crush to 240 pounds of meat inside 60 minutes.

In the first place, this famous meat processor machine highlights 3000 watts of pinnacle yield power with 3 paces high, low, and converse. The opposite work is effective with regards to unclogging the processor. It can go through delicate bones, tendons, and ligaments with no trouble.

Development and Design

The machine accompanies bunches of adornments which you won't discover on different models. There are 3 unique sizes of frankfurter stuffing tubes and with the beaner plate, hotdog making has never been so natural. In the event that your hands get a lot of tired stuffing frankfurters, you can rely upon the foot pedal to control the machine.

With regards to sturdiness, the STX Classic 3000 is exceptional. With the sticker price of this machine, it would be a misuse of cash in the event that it quits working inside a couple of months. In any case, this is the point at which their licensed quad air cooling configuration comes in to keep the engine from overheating and guarantees a trustworthy assistance for a long time to come.

One fault about the item is its parts ought to never be cleaned utilizing the dishwasher as it can create stain or imprint. Along these lines, you need to wash it utilizing warm water and gentle cleanser. From that point onward, the parts should be dried and oiled to avoid rusting.

This item comes upheld by a 30-day unconditional promise and furthermore a 3-year guarantee that incorporates free work and parts. Agreeable item for individual and business use. Learn more .

Best Inexpensive Meat Grinder

The following in line on our rundown is the BBday Electric Meat Grinder. It's made out of a lustrous tempered steel body that adds to the predominant form quality and gives it a smooth look too. The treated steel body likewise assists the machine with avoiding rusting.

This business meat processor granulates countless meats and bones consistently. It has a component of 13"x9"x2-3/8" that makes it huge and empowers it to chip away at a huge amount of meat at a time.

We have a recommendation for you, assuming you need to improve results, you should hack the meat into little pieces particularly the chilly ones. This will help the meat to not stall out and will save you time too. It likewise accompanies additional recipient parts like hardened steel blade, stuffing plates, and stuffing tubes alongside a strong meat stomper.

The engine has been planned with 3 rates to meet your preferred utilization forward granulate, wiener stuffing cylinders, and converse mode. Moreover, there are cutting blades, a removable taking care of plate, and a neck for longer assistance life.

LEM Products Big Bite Electric Meat Grinder: Best Heavy Duty Meat Grinder

Up next in the crushing machine audit list is LEM's Big Bite Electric Meat Grinder Review. This granulating machine isn't intended for pounding an immense pack of meat as it's very lightweight and minimized estimated. In any case, it's reasonable enough to crush a little segment of meat rapidly.

The element of the processor is 18.5 x 9.1 x 15.6 inches and accompanies a treated steel meat dish. The heaviness of the machine is 28.7 pounds which makes it lightweight and simple to convey any place you need.

It accompanies a brushed steel finish and strength of .50 that can consummately be utilized to pound meat. A peaceful engine highlight is incorporated to diminish exhausting sounds contrast with another enormous crushing machine out there. It can crush to 7 lbs. meat each moment.

With the LEM Stainless Steel Grinder, you'll have the option to granulate a wide range of meats like hamburger, chicken, or sheep. It's a substantial meat processor. However, we suggest that on the off chance that you need you can crush light vegetables and natural products too. To assist you with the pounding interaction, there's a guidance manual provided with it.

On the off chance that you need to granulate meat to get ready pet food and furthermore for individuals who love to have more space in the kitchen, this LEM large nibble electric meat processor is an ideal decision. With this value, this crushing machine is a decent arrangement. It's one of the lightest LEM processor items out there on the lookout.

The item comes upheld by 5 years guarantee with lifetime client assistance from the producer. Smellmykitchen

Sunmile SM-G50: Best Home Meat Grinder

Sunmile SM-G50 is an incredible crushing machine that is an ideal decision for essential use. It has the ability to deal with a wide range of meats. We tracked down that it can crush meats, however with this machine, you can likewise pound nuts as well. The machine can crush to 185 pounds each hour.

This is the best electric meat processor. The entire body is made of tempered steel while the processor head and the enormous limit plate are made of cleaned cast aluminum. The component of the item is 13.6 x 6.2 x 13.6 inches which makes it pretty smaller and you'll deal with no issue discovering space for this.

The machine has 1.6 strength, 600 watts (half force), and greatest catalyst to 1000 watts which will assist it with granulating meat viably. With this much force, it can granulate almost 200 pounds of meat in under 60 minutes. Additionally, there is an electrical switch remembered for this machine which will assist it with forestalling overheating or catching fire. The maker utilizes this electrical switch for electrical flood wellbeing. This model runs at half force on substitute.

This electric crushing machine accompanies an opposite alternative that will assist you with restarting the meat granulating regardless of whether you're trying to pounding meat. Likewise, it makes them cut sharp edge alongside three granulating cutting plates and the entirety of its parts are made with top notch hardened steel material which makes it solid and expanded sturdiness.

Every one of the pieces of Sunmile SM-G50 are ETL ensured which implies it's protected to use in granulating.

LaraLov Food Processor Chopper

The following item on our rundown is the best pounding machine and that is the LaraLov Food Processor Chopper has a minimized plan and it is an ideal decision for a current kitchen. It has a conservative size that assists with putting away the processor effectively around the kitchen. This is the best electric pounding machine for home use.

The processor is made of great food-grade material, while the drum that is appended to the gadget is made of hardened steel. It very well may be utilized for getting ready different dishes moreover. It probably won't deal with the dishes on an expert level, yet an additional gadget to use in the home. This model is an appropriate device for infant food readiness.

Probably the best element of this processor that we saw we the trend setting innovation of twofold decrease gear drive which will serve you for some more years to come and doesn't diminish the presentation of the machine. It has a powerful engine of 500 watts regardless of being lightweight and minimized.

Another element is the great roller stones that press and pack the food equally, assisting the fixings with eliminating their substance basically. With this gadget, you can without much of a stretch granulate rice, heartbeats, and beans to make dosa, idli, vada, urad, dhokla, and a lot more scrumptious dishes!

The solitary fault of this item is the cleaning part. By and large, the Premier smaller table top wet processor is without a doubt an incredible buy in case you're thinking about a viable processor at a spending plan cordial cost. A few clients perhaps won't need the shading to rebuild the point of convergence of the kitchenette.

Ninja Mega Kitchen System BL770 Blender/Food Processor

The Ninja Mega Kitchen System BL770 Blender/Food Processor is outstanding amongst other selling crushing machines in the market as of now. It's viewed as extraordinary compared to other Ninja food processors out there. With its trend setting innovation, you can consummately utilize it in your home and kitchen.

This Ninja processor accompanies a 72.Oz pitcher with tower edges that can without much of a stretch make great smoothies from delicate products of the soil. In any case, it can't impeccably deal with sinewy and hard fixings like mango, broccoli, and so on You can't utilize it to create juice, soup, and so on It can work with 3 rates and furthermore consolidates a heartbeat work. https://smellmykitchen.com/

This machine has an inclination to accumulate fixings on the divider. Thusly, you may need to stop the blender and clear the fixings from the sides on the off chance that you need to make a superior vortex. The control board of this machine incorporates 6 catches.

While utilizing the removable edges, you should deal with them cautiously since they're very sharp. These sharp edges are additionally massive. Subsequently, you can't fill the compartments as the sharp edges consume a ton of room.

The most effective method to Buy, Use, and Care for the Meat Grinder: Important Features to Consider

Force

Powerful granulating machines, particularly business processors accompany a force of 1200-1400 watts. These processors are on the costly side as they can crush an incredible 2kg of meat each moment. Be that as it may, assuming you're getting the processor for home use, you may settle on a decent pound quality with less force.

The medium-controlled processors have a scope of 800-1000 watt and they're an ideal decision in case you're intending to have a grill once in while or cook a speedy dinner in the house. They can granulate about 1kg of hotdog which is very noteworthy thinking about their cost.

Sturdiness

Toughness is a significant hotspot for a wide range of kitchen apparatuses. Ensure the model you pick keeps going you quite a while and empowers you to make the best use out of it. Manual processors by and large have a plastic body that isn't much solid. Notwithstanding, assuming you utilize the machine circumspectly and take appropriate support, it'll serve you for a significant long time. You can bolt your manual processor onto the ledge, and don't go in for a ton of room.

Then again, uncompromising electric pounding machines are typically made with aluminum and they accompany wonderful toughness. The metal edge will keep going you for quite a while and let you utilize the machine easily. We saw that numerous business grade crushing machines are made with cast aluminum that will last you a lifetime with legitimate consideration and upkeep.

Spending plan

The spending plan is a significant part of a wide range of buys. Electric meat processors cost more contrasted with manual ones. In this article, we have recorded the best pounding models in the market with various sticker prices so everybody can get the best inside their spending limit.

Size

Granulating machines come in different sizes. Before you settle on your ideal alternative, settle on the sum you need to pound. There's no point getting an unreasonably enormous or little crushing model as that will make a problem rather than accommodation.

The size of the processor shifts with the size of the plates. Additionally, more modest processors have a more modest taking care of chute and they're more viable with home use. Assuming you need to get a processor for proficient use, do get the one with an enormous taking care of chute so you can crush a great deal of meat in a brief timeframe.

Cutting edges

It's essential to keep the cutting edges sharp as they help to pound the meat appropriately. At the point when you're utilizing the crushing machine, you need to deal with the sharp edge with care to guarantee wellbeing for yourself and the processor.

Abstain from scouring the forefronts and the granulating plate together as that will make the edge dull with time. Clean the sharp edges altogether in the wake of crushing them and dry them prior to putting away them.

Proposed Use

Perhaps the most amazing determinations that you ought to consider prior to purchasing the meat processor is its proposed use. Whenever you have settled on the financial plan, it's an ideal opportunity to sort out your expected use for it. In case you're intending to purchase the processor for home use or to utilize it on occasion at that point getting a colossal costly processor won't be an insightful decision. The paper towels would not prevail to exude from one side to another, instead of retaining fat and oil extras behind.

Assuming you're wanting to get the processor for proficient use, get a processor that can withstand some weighty beating and ready to pound an adequate measure of meat routinely. We have painstakingly picked the granulating machines that can oblige everybody's requirements.

Accessible Space

You ought to guarantee the measure of free space you have in the kitchen is adequate to hold the processor. Assuming you have less space on the kitchen counter, a huge crushing machine will be an absolute aggravation as it'll be difficult to utilize the machine on restricted space. Notwithstanding, assuming you have a wealth of room in the kitchen, you may settle on the bigger variations as you'll have the option to utilize it there with no issue.

At the point when the processor won't be being used, store it securely in the kitchen cupboard or the storeroom. Manual meat processors are altogether more modest in size contrasted with electric ones. Assuming you have tight dividing issues in the kitchen, ensure you get a model that is reasonable for the accessible kitchen space.

#Smellmykitchen.com #http://smellmykitchen.com/#Smellmykitchen

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airfryerindia · 1 year

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Top 10 Best Air Fryer Under 15000 In India

Air fryers are all the rage these days. Not only do they allow you to make delicious, guilt-free fried food, but they also help you cut down on the amount of oil and fat used in cooking. With an air fryer, you can enjoy your favorite snacks without worrying about calories or cholesterol! If you’re looking for a good air fryer that won’t drain your pocket, then this article is just for you. We’ll be discussing the top 10 best air fryers under 15000 INR in India. Whether you’re looking for a simple yet effective model or one with extra features and accessories — we’ve got it all covered!

Air Fryer

If you are looking for the best air fryer under in India, then this is the right place for you. Here, we have listed some of the best air fryers available in the market, which will help you make a better decision while buying one.

Air fryers are becoming quite popular these days as they offer a healthier alternative to deep frying. Air fryers use hot air to cook food, which reduces the amount of oil needed and makes the food healthier.

There are many brands of air fryers available in India, but not all of them are good. To help you make a better decision, we have listed some of the best air fryers under in India.

1. Philips HD9220/20 Air Fryer: This is one of the best air fryers available in India and it comes from a reputed brand like Philips. The Philips HD9220/20 Air Fryer has a capacity of 2 litres and it uses Rapid Air Technology to cook food quickly and evenly. It has a timer function and an adjustable temperature control so that you can cook your food perfectly every time. The Philip HD9220/20 Air Fryer also has a removable dishwasher safe bowl for easy cleaning.

2. Morphy Richards 52-RCAFR Air Fryer: The Morphy Richards 52-RCAFR Air Fryer is another good option if you are looking for an air fryer under. It has a capacity

How does an air fryer work?

An air fryer works by circulating hot air around food to cook it. The food is placed in a basket or tray, and hot air is blown over it, cooking the food evenly on all sides. Air fryers can be used to cook a variety of foods, including chicken, fish, vegetables, and even desserts.

What are the benefits of using an air fryer?

Air fryers are one of the latest kitchen gadgets to hit the market, and they’re becoming increasingly popular in Indian homes. An air fryer is basically a mini convection oven that uses hot air to cook food. It’s a healthier alternative to deep-frying as it uses less oil and produces food that is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

There are many benefits of using an air fryer, including:

1. It’s a healthier way to cook: As mentioned above, air fryers use less oil than traditional deep-fryers, so your food will be lower in fat and calories.

2. It’s quick and easy to use: Simply add your food to the fryer basket, set the timer, and let the air fryer do its job. No need to stand over a hot stove or wait for your food to cook in a slow cooker.

3. It’s versatile: You can use an air fryer to cook all sorts of foods, from chicken wings and french fries to veggie chips and baked goods.

4. It’s affordable: Air fryers are relatively inexpensive, especially when you compare them to other kitchen appliances like convection ovens or slow cookers.

Top 10 best air fryers under 15000 in India

Are you planning to buy an air fryer? Do you want to know which are the top 10 best air fryers under 15000 in India? If yes, then this blog post is for you.

In this blog post, we will take a look at the top 10 best air fryers under 15000 in India. We will also provide a buyer’s guide so that you can make an informed decision while buying an air fryer.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top 10 best air fryers under 15000 in India:

1. Philips HD9220/20 Air Fryer 2. Morphy Richards Air Fryer 3. Kenstar KA30SSB5G-DBB 600-Watt Air Fryer 4. Inalsa HealthPro Plus Air Fryer 5. Bajaj Majesty AFX 7 Air Fryer 6. Havells Prolife Digi 1230-Watt Air Fryer 7. Usha 3576 COLOUR SnaqueAir 6L Air Fryer 8. Prestige PAF 6.0 2200-Watt Air Fryer 9. Panasonic NA-127MB1W01 1120-Watt Hot Air Oven And Grill With Microwave Convection Cookbook (White)

10. LG MJ3286BGL 28 Ltr Convection

Buying guide for air fryers

Air fryers are becoming increasingly popular in India as people look for healthier alternatives to deep frying. But with so many different models and brands on the market, it can be hard to know which air fryer is right for you. Here is a buying guide to help you choose the best air fryer for your needs.

When choosing an air fryer, the first thing you need to consider is the capacity. Air fryers come in a range of sizes from small 2-liter models to large 6-liter ones. Choose the size that will best suit your needs — if you have a large family or entertain often, a larger model will be better, but if you only cook for yourself or a small family, a smaller model will suffice.

The next thing to consider is the features offered by different air fryers. Some models come with additional features such as timers and temperature controls, while others are more basic. Decide which features are most important to you and choose a model that has them.

Finally, consider your budget when selecting an air fryer. Air fryers range in price from around Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000. Choose the model that fits your budget and offers the features and capacity you need.

#airfryerindia #chicken

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fanficreadingcorner · 4 years

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It’s been too long

Pairing: None just nice platonic relationships between three best pals

Words: on the shorter side with only 1,768

Masterlist

A/N: So I came up with this idea while I was talking to a friend and watching the Witcher. So right before the feast Jaskier asks Geralt if Witchers ever retire and Gerald says they do when they get old and get killed. Which lead me to think, hmmm does this mean that Witchers never age? If they don’t then that means they hunt monsters until they die. So I thought what if Geralt had finally killed all the monsters, then what? He would just continue his existence cause there are no natural predators to a Witcher anymore and this is what came to mind. A Geralt that never aged along with Jaskier who also stopped aging for reasons to be explained and you the reader as a witch. Let me know what you think, and if you want me to write them during a specific time or doing something. Let me know, my head cannon is that they’re responsible for a lot of things that happened. SORRY for the long intro, now on with the show!

“Jaskier’s home” you said while moving to go unlock the door so that Jaskier could barge in like he did every day, there was one time you forgot to unlock the door and not only would Jaskier never let you live it down after he slammed himself against the door, but Geralt had also laughed so hard that day that it would forever be ingrained in your memory. He didn’t laugh often, or at all for that matter so that had been a rare treat. You moved to go pick up your laptop and things that were scattered around the dining table while Geralt grunted and went to go check on the mac and cheese that was cooking in the crockpot, it was his turn to cook today after all. Suddenly the door burst open and in strode the famous bard.

“I’M HOME” yelled Jaskier at the top of his lungs. You would think that with how often he yelled that loudly that his vocal cords would have been damned by now but alas I guess the healing was something that came with when that witch ‘cursed’ him all those years ago.

“We know, you tend to almost break down the door every time you throw it open” grumbled Geralt while you moved around setting up the table so that the three of you could enjoy dinner together, something that had originated sometime in the 18th century if you remembered correctly but it was really hard to pinpoint when exactly considering how long you all had lived at this point.

“Aren’t you lucky then that I have absolutely not muscle in any part of my body as as to not hurt the door, unlike someone I know that stockpiles it like flour in 18th century France” jabbed Jaskier right back causing you to snort in amusement, you’d think that after living together for so long that they would treat each other with more love but not even 600 years, give or take a few, could mend somethings. Although admittedly this was how they showed their love for one another.

“Well you would know wouldn’t you Mr. ‘I wanna be part of King Louis court it looks so fancy and I can probably make a lot of money out of it playing my songs. So I’m going to go to France by self’. How many times did we have to save you from the guillotine?” questioned Geralt while turning off the crockpot and then looking at Jaskier with a smirk on his face.

“I lost count after 5” you added laughing when you saw the look of betrayal on Jaskier’s face. Before it quickly morphed into a smug face.

“It doesn’t even matter because I’m alive and, guess whose song is number one on the charts again” bragged Jaskier while doing a little happy dance. You would think that after the first time this happened, he would have lost some of the excitement but it’s never a boring day with those two. Although admittedly it was a lot worse the first time this happened because he wouldn’t stop bragging for YEARS afterwards. Luckily it died down, although he still celebrated with the same dance every time. Laughing and shaking you head while you sat down to eat you remembered that you probably shouldn’t be surprised that his songs were this popular you forgot sometimes that this was the same man that made ‘Toss a Coin to your Witcher’ famous in what was basically all of Europe at the time which in itself was an impressive feat considering that things were not as wide spread as they were now.

“Yes, while we’re glad that you found your calling as a song writer I still don’t get why you won’t become a singer again, you have a good enough voice” You stated while waiting for Geralt to bring the food to the table and Jaksier to finally sit down. “You’ve done it before, we know you can do it” You continued as Jaskier sat down and rolled his eyes at you.

“I’ve already told you, it’s too much work and I make more than enough money this way, plus the last time we did this remember how hard it was to stage my murder?” he countered while Geralt placed the food on the table, sat in his chair and started serving the food to everyone.

“Eh I guess you’re right, It was cool though when you went on tour and we were able to tag along. Have you talked to Paul recently?” you continued while taking your plate for Geralt to dig into.

“No, he’s busy or something, also I’m still kinda upset. Not at him of course but at the queen, why didn’t the queen grant me knighthood as well. Lord knows we’ve known that family for years, plus Geralt helped them come into power! But nope she has to go and knight Paul, I wrote most of those songs you know!” huffed Jaskier while quickly spooning some mac and cheese into his mouth and chewing aggressively. You raised your eyebrows in amusement and shrugged.

“Perhaps” started Geralt, who had been quiet as of so far, “It has something to do with the fact that ‘you’” he said with air quotes around the you, “were ‘dead’ and thus she couldn’t really knight you” he finished off pointing his fork at Jaskier and then placing it in his mouth.

“She could have done it posthumous; she knew I wasn’t really dead” muttered Jaskier before continuing his assault on the cheesy noodles.

“Anyways” you dragged out hoping to steer the conversation elsewhere before Jaskier got too caught up. “so casting is finally done for ‘The Witcher’” watching Geralts reaction only to see him groan and throw his head back in frustration. Rolling your eyes, you continued. “So, they cast a British actor to play you, I think his name is Joe Batey? Resemblance is uncanny to you and his acting’s great, plus he seems to be able to capture your essence pretty well.” You continued as you watched Geralt try to make himself as small as possible to avoid the next question that was undoubtably going to come from Jaskier, which was not an easy feat considering how large Geralt actually was.

“That’s great! If you don’t mind me asking who got cast as Geralt?” Questioned Jaskier none the wiser as to why Geralt seeming very invested in his food all of a sudden and not the current conversation like he has been a few moments ago.

“Oh no one in particular” You started off watching Jaskier reach for his water and take a sip. “Just some actor that goes by the name Henry Cavill” At that Jaskier spit the little water he had in his mouth out causing it to go all over Geralt, and then proceeded to laugh like a mad man.

“You’re joking!” Jaskier managed to choke out in between his laughs while Gerlat grunted and slid his hand down his face to ride himself of the water that had landed no his face. Shaking your head no, you confirmed Jaskiers question, Geralt would be acting as himself. Once Jaskier managed to calm down a bit he asked a follow up, “how did you manage to get him to even audition, let alone take the role?!” now he looked like a teenager wanting to know how to the two most popular kids in the entire high school had gotten together. You looked over at Geralt expectedly waiting for him to answer.

“I lost a bet” was all Geralt muttered before Jaskier started laughing again causing Geralt to groan in annoyance and roll his eyes. “It’s really not that funny Jaskier” he tried hoping to calm the bard down just a tad. Gasping Jaskier now had Geralts full attention.

“Not that funny!?” he exclaimed dramatically, hand over his heart like Geralt had just said the most offensive thing in the world to him. “Forget ye not how you came into this predicament of even being an actor?” chuckled Jaskier while Geralt grunted under his breath. “That’s right, a bet, you lost a bet to me and now you lost a bet to (y/n), so I guess it’s safe to say that you probably shouldn’t bet anymore. Even if you were good at it before” finished Jaskier with a flick of his wrist before picking up his plate and washing it in the sink. Shrugging Geralt stood and started cleaning up the table before answering Jaskier.

“I suppose my luck finally ran out, although I think that happened when the witch cursed you with eternal life” Geralt smirked while bring up the dirty plates to the sink. Causing Jaskier to whip around and gasp dramatically at Geralt.

“I will have you know that I am a blessing to this trio that we have, isn’t that right (y/n)?” asked Jaskier catching you off guard as you placed the leftover in the fridge.

“uhhhhhhh” you hesitated while closing the door and turned to face them. “I would like to be excluded from this narrative?” You tried hoping that they wouldn’t drag you into this.

“Well I never!” huffed Jaskier. “I thought the writer of the famous Witcher novels would have more to say on this” he continued before turning back to the dishes.

“Flattery will get you nowhere” responded Geralt while handing Jaskier more plates to wash while he finished clearing off the table.

“It used to” mumbled Jaskier while aggressively scrubbing a patch of cheese on one of the plates before placing it in the dishwasher. You leaned against the counter next to him before responding.

�� “To be fair it was a different time and in the stories I wrote you aren’t exactly immortal” you said before pushing yourself off the counter to make your way upstairs. “Anyways, the network wants me to have the pilot scene finished by tomorrow, so I will see you guys later” you excused yourself before making your way up the stair but not before hearing Jaskier start to bother Geralt again.

“Hey Geralt which do you think was the better of these two songs I wrote, Bohemian Rhapsody or Thriller?” started Jaskier, hearing Geralt grunt in annoyance you knew this would not be over soon.

“It don’t think it’s important” answered Geralt, while you heard Jaskier sigh in annoyance.

‘It’s very important and you know it! Some of my best work….” Jaskier trailed off as you made it into your office and shut the door. Never a dull moment with these two.

#geralt of rivia #modern AU #Jaskier #reader is a witch #The Witcher #the witcher fanfiction #Inaccurate history

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