#like a pomegranite.. inside out... | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

canolaaoil · 2 years

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Are you the knife or are you the pad of butter?

1. Wishbone, Richard Silken. // 2. A Ghost in the Throat, Doireann Ní Ghríofa. // 3. Blood Relatives, Claude Chabrol. // 4. Circe, Madeleine Miller. // 5. Naturally, Tinashe. // 6. To Be or Not To Be, Oneus. // 7. ingydar, Adrianne Lenker. // 8. vulnerability, @achillics . // 9. Eat the Music, Kate Bush. // 10. Viasterna, Alessandro Teoldi. // 11. Stigmata: Escaping Texts, Helene Cixous. // 12. Pang, Caroline Polachek. // 13. growing up and saying goodbye, @angelwingspdf . // 14. body tracks, Ana Mendieta. // 15. Where it Begins, Erica Jong

Description follows

1. [Image Description: excerpt from a poem reading, “But we both know how it goes- I say I want you inside me and you hold my head underwater, I say I want you inside me and you split me open with a knife.” end ID]

2. [Image Description: excerpt from a poem reading, “Love, your blood was spilling in cascades and I couldn’t wipe it away, couldn’t clean it up, no, no, my palms turned cups and oh, I gulped.” end ID]

3. [Image Description: a cropped, grainy, black and white movie poster, showing only the bottom corner. The poster shows the lower half of a person’s face, facing the viewer, and a hand in front of them, as if they are pressing on glass. Imposed in front of the person is a large chef’s knife, with blood spatter near the tip. In the lower left side of the poster is typeset reading, “BLOOD BLOOD BLOOD / the most intimate act is... murder!” end ID]

4. [Image Description: excerpt from a paragraph, reading, “He was another knife I could feel it. A different sort, but a knife still. I did not care. I thought: give me the blade. Some things are worth spilling blood for.” end ID]

5. [Image Description: a screenshot of a lyrics page, reading “[Pre-Chorus 2] / Baby, I believe we’re meant to be / You see it too, I know / And if it was up to me, you’d never leave / I’ll make you comfortable, whoa” end ID]

6. [Image Description: a screen shot of a music video, showing a person’s open mouth. They are laying down and much of their face is not in the image, only their nose, mouth and chin. Their mouth is only slightly parted, with their upper teeth visable and on the left side of their mouth, the side closest to the viewer, are several drops of blood. The blood is not dripping, as if it has just hit their mouth moments ago. end ID]

7. [Image Description: a screenshot of a lyrics page, reading, “Everything eats and is eaten / Everything eats and is eaten / Everything eats and is eaten / Everything eats and is eaten / Everything eats and is eaten” end ID]

8. [Image Description: a poem, reading, “I am afraid of you. / in loving me / you hold a knife at my throat. / in loving you / I tell you exactly where to cut. / we are two against the world / yet I still do not trust your hand / in mine, / this is new / and I am terrified.” end ID]

9. [Image Description: a screenshot of a lyrics page, reading, “ [Verse 1] / Split me open / With devotion / You put your hands in / And rip my heart out” end ID]

10. [Image Description: an embroidered depiction of hands holding another hand. The background is a dark, blood red. From the right one pair of hands intertwines with another hand coming from the upper left corner. The hands are hand out of a beige material, and are sewn onto the background with white thread in a backstitch pattern. end ID]

11. [Image Description: an excerpt of a paragraph, reading, “Fear of eating, fear of the edible, fear on the part of the one of them who feels loved, desired, who wants to be loved, desired, who desires to be desired, who knows there is no greater proof of love than the other’s appetite, who is dying to be eaten up, who says or doesn’t say, but who signifies: I beg you, eat me up. Want me down to the marrow. And yet manage it so as to keep me alive. But I often turn about or compromise, because I know that you won’t eat me up, in the end, and I urge you: bite me. / Sign my death with your teeth.” end ID]

12. [Image Description: a screenshot of a lyrics page, reading, “[Verse 1] / There’s a look in your eyes when you’re hungry for me / It’s a beautiful knife cutting right where the fear should be / [Chorus] / Into me / Pang, and I go / Into you / Pang and you go / Into me / Pang, and I go / Into you / Pang and you go / Into me” end ID]

13. [Image Description: a poem, reading, “growing up and saying goodbye: / i’m cleaning blood of my kitchen floor but all i can think about is how you looked as you waved goodbye and maybe if i’d replied a little faster or let you hold me in your arms the world would not have ended and i wouldn’t be sitting here with stained tile sinking into my skin. i love you. i love you. that is one thing i am sure of that is one thing i know above all else i just don’t know if i love you enough. sink your teeth into my wrist and scrape your fingers against my bone and tell me you still need me because everyone is always leaving and the cycle never chcanges and someone is always left behind. / maybe in some other version of the story we find out where we went wrong or maybe there is some version of the story where we never meet at all. growing up is hard. the world gets too big too fast and i’m not 5 years old anymore i’m where i never wanted to be in the first place. there’s an empty space without you here and i don’t want to close my eyes because i can’t keep seeing your face. i hope you’re well. i’m sorry growing up is so hard i’m sorry i didn’t hold your hand tight enough i’m sorry i let you slip away. i hope you find someone that stays and i hope that you’re okay.” The poster of this post has underlined, “ sink your teeth into my wrist and scrape your fingers against my bone and tell me you still need me “ with red. end ID]

14. [Image Description: three consecutive photographs in a line of a woman, with blood coating her arms, facing away from the viewer, pressing against a white wall. In the first image she is standing with her arms stretched above her head, hands pressed against the wall. in the second she sinks to her knees, keeping her hands pressed to the wall. in the third she sinks lower, drawing her hands closer together on the wall. As she sinks the blood on her arms makes red trails against the wall. None of the woman’s face is visible in any of the images. end ID]

15. [Image Description: an excerpt from a poem, reading, “The corruption begins with the mouth, / the tongue, the wanting. / The first poem in the world / is I want to eat.” end ID]

#richard silken #kate bush #web weaving #ana mendieta #madeleine miller #tinashe #caroline polachek #circe #parallels #comparatives #totally completely 100% unrelated to anything that has happened in my life in the last month #hahaha #like a pomegranite.. inside out...#what a song that song is #i chose this specific version of body tracks bc i feel like. the movement inwards at the end is a bit more. active. than the others.#the others feel like she is just falliing directly down but the choice here to make like a cupping/holding shape is less like 'this is #happening to her without her choice' and more 'she is letting this happen to her. she is participating'#i love circe i love when she watches odysseus sail away and she knows she's pregnant and i love how much she loves everything despite #knowing better. i love how unfandom-izable that book is its really a good one #ive had blood blood blood the most intimate act is murder sitting in my folder for at least a year or more now i love that one it calls me #im also obsessed w how eating is how everything in the world is connected but honestly thats a different topic a different post but i like #the line 'the first poem in the world is i want to eat' like too true its the first thing we ever say #olivia can and should wear red eyeshadow #also i love teeth. i didn't include any teeth but i love teeth

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thedarkcircuswritings · 12 days

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Ohhh perhaps a sequel to the Butter Roll X Reader where he experiments in bringing her back? Only thing is she's not his wide. Not anymore heheheh >:]]]

"Yes... My creation...! They're alive! They're alive!!" Thanks to Pomegranite's intel, he realized that your spirit still remained in the laboratory. For a once in a long while, Butter Roll felt a spark of hope, knowing that the presence of your love still lingered in these now-fixed walls. So, for weeks, he worked hard: harder than he ever worked himself before. His hands nearly had cracks on them from the pressure he was pushing himself to, nearly passing out from all of the countless all-nighters, but it was worth it. It'd be worth it to see you. That's what Pomegranite told him. She was the only one who seemed to understand his goal to feel your love in person again. Placing what remained of your stitched-up crumbs and dough into the mixer made him nervous. There was this ever doubt that this could go poorly, but he wanted to hear the echoes of your voice again, even if for just one last time. So, he pushed the button needed, letting the cookie dough mix and whir before a fire blazed, cooking and baking what it was inside. Please, please, his creation, come to him, come back to him... And like a miracle, you rose from the dead, becoming whole once again. Your spirit is barely back in the body given to you, barely alive, simply a stitched-together form of your former self. Yet, when you echoed your nickname by his voice, Butter Roll nearly burst into tears, from both victory and relief. His creation... You were finally back! All Pomegranite did was watch in the back, simply smirking maliciously before disappearing into the shadows.

#🎭shadow writing!#cookie run #cookie run kingdom #cookie run oneshot #reader cookie #y/n cookie #butter roll cookie #butter roll x reader

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wolfen-arts · 2 years

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Trying out slimetober see if I can keep up

I think it'd be neat if the inside of the pomegranite was like a geode

#Slimetober #slime rancher #slime rancher 2

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ato-catto · 2 years

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Just a little (attempting to be) canon insert of a character, so Piccolo can have someone to look after him for once :,) [ he deserves it] The air was cool, and sharp, as it rushed through the canyons. The serene water pool in the center of the rock formations rippled with the air, all heard and noticed by the figure, sitting on a slab just metres from the waters edge. The alien, a Namekian, took a calming breath before he straightened his spine, and stood. His peaceful afternoon was about due to be over, so he made his way into his small house.

His home was not your usual square, brick, and concrete house. It was rounded, carved from light coloured stone, with an arched entrance. The interior only held two rooms, a chair, a small refridgerator, and a very uncomfortable looking bed. It was incredibly simple looking, but it was enough for the being, who rarely slept or rested, and never ate. Snatching a cold water canister from the refridgerator, he popped open the lid and downed almost the whole palm sized container in one gulp. He wiped his mouth on the back of his hand, and took in a breath of oxygen. The silence was peaceful, and calming to the soul, giving it space to wisen and grow. That was, until his keen ears picked up on unfamiliar footsteps moving across the grass plane. His brow creased as he focused on the sound, and the energy of the human, to determine wether or not it was a threat. It decidedly was not, and held next to no power level.

The footsteps were followed by a gentle knock on the outside of the homes entrance, which had no front door, as it wasnt customary for Namekians to have enclosed homes, It was better to let in all light and air, as it was more healthy.

The being moved to the door, stooping slightly under the short door frame, so the tips of his ears would not graze against the stone arch. His sharp eyes were drawn towards a small figure as his pupils adjusted to the light.

It was a small woman, maybe around 5'3, with dusky pink hair, and green eyes. She was carrying a plastic bucket full of bottles that had purple liquid inside of them.

"Hello! Im Pom." The woman chimed, her voice gentle. "I just moved in up the mountain, and I though I would be polite and drop a gift by." She held up the basket. "The cookies got burnt, so I thought I would bring an offering of the many Grape Water beverages I have acquired from my Uncle. He works for the company," She added, feeling a little silly. For a moment he was silent, making her afraid that she perhaps had said too much.

The tall green man gave her a look over, then moved his gaze to the purple hued water with vague interest.

"Thanks." He finally said, his voice gruff.

He moved aside so she was able to bring the basket indoors. She noticed his house was barren, and there wasnt even a counter to place it on, so instead, she began placing the bottles one by one in the refridgerator, which was strangely devoid of food. Pom frowned, and turned to shut the fridge door, before finding herself face to face- well, face to chest, as he was much much taller than she was- with the clearly not human man.

He was wary of giving her his name, due to his 'others' slightly unpleasant past, but this woman seemed young enough to perhaps not recall the doings of the Evil King Piccolo. She seemed nearly unphased by his oddly coloured skin, or taller than average appearance.

"Sorry," She hummed, looking his strange appearance up and down as politely as one could. "I didnt get your name."

The mans arms were still crossed, giving way to a display of his biceps. He considered her request for a moment, unaware that his unwaivering gaze was unsettling her, just slightly. He realised the worst outcome would be the woman screaming and running away, but that he was used to.

"Piccolo." he said, his tone flat. "Pom, right?"

She nodded, a smile making its way back to her face. "Pom, like Pomegranite."

Piccolo didnt even know what a Pomegranite was. He assumed it was a type of fruit, or maybe even a stone, or granite. It was an alright sounding name.

he mustered a small smile, and looked down at the small woman.

'Thank you for the.. uh-" He started.

"Grape flavoured water. I did have cookies, but I burnt them." She admitted for the second time, rather sheepishly. It made his smirk widen, even if it was just a little.

"Ill get out of your hair now." She made her way towards the door, a self satisfied smile on her face. "I hope I make a good sort-of neighbour." Making her way towards the path, across the grass, she turned to wave.

Piccolo, whos arms were crossed, raised some fingers over his arm in response. He continued towatch her walk away, even when she turned the corner behind the hillside.

'What a nice lady.' He thought to himself, turning back into the cool shade of his home.

Poms legs ached from the steep incline to her home, and she began to regret not using her savings on a car, instead of nice furniture for her new house. Once she was inside, and the door was closed, she sat down to contemplate her encounter with her new neighbour. He was incredibly tall, far over 6 feet, atleast. And green, too! The green skin didnt really surprise her too much. The earth had seen some surprising figures in the last few years, and one diplomat was even a man-dog a few years back. The idea that an alien was living amongst them was even quite comforting. Perhaps it meant they would defend the earth if invaded by a hostile species. She settled into bed that night, planning on bringing Piccolo a small potted plant for his oddly barren home, and then perhaos make a friend so she wasnt so alone. She had moved from a big city, and it was oddly lonely out here in the middle of nowhere, despite that being the reason she left the city. There were too many people, and it was far too crowded for her liking. As she settled to sleep, she considered the many potted plants she had, and which one would suit Piccolos little house.

By morning, Pom had woken and picked a suitable plant, repotted it into a little white ceramic pot, to match his home. by the early afternoon, she was making her way towards the little house, and was surprised by a deep voice behind her.

"Nice plant. Where are you taking it?"

Pom jumped out of her skin, almost dropping the pot. She turned to see Piccolo towering abover her. He had been meditating out by the pool again, and had sensed her energy approaching before she even turned the corner.

SHe clutched her chest. "Goodness! You scared me!" She laughed, relieved that it was only him and not a dinosaur or bandit.

"Sorry." He folded his arms, and looked at the plants in her arms pointedly.

"Oh! This is for you." She said, holding it out to him. Piccolo looked down at it before unfolding his arms, and touching a leaf, then taking it into his hand. The pot fit easily in his palm, despite Pom having to carry it with two hands. He wondered why she was being so polite to him. He looked from the plant to her, seeing her smile. It made his mouth quirk into a half unwilling smile.

"Uhh... Thanks."

They began the slow walk to his door, Pom insistent on seeing him home, as it was the polite thing to do.

" I would have brought you some newly cooked bread, but i burnt that aswell, this morning." She sighed.

"Youre not a great cook, are you." He observed, still looking ahead. She gazed up at him, her face crest fallen.

"Im trying my best, but no matter what I do it all seems to go wrong."

Piccolo hummed, casting a sideways glance to the small figure beside him. "I dont eat food anyway, so its fine."

Pom went wide eyed. She was accustomed to strange alien customs, but not eating?

"How do you survive without food?" She asked, wide eyed and slightly worried for his wellbeing.

"Namekians only need to drink water." He said, matter-of-factly. Pom decided then that she would do more research on his kind when she got back home, and that she did.

That evening she researched the Namekian race. There was not much to be found about them, but a short document written by some obscure scholar from the city..

'Namekians do not consume food, they only need water to nurture their well built physiques, similar to that of a plant. Namek, also, has no known females, as they produce Asexually, forming a child and egg within their stomach, and vomiting it up. They can also regrow severed limbs at will, like a starfish....'

Pom squinted at her screen in disbelief. She wasnt quite horrified, more intrigued, and perhaps a little bit nausiated. She decided to ask if these were just the horrific musings of a scholar, or the truth. Packing her laptop into her satchel, she set out for Piccolos little home, before pausing at her front door.

There was a chance he wouldnt want to be disturbed for the third day in a row, so she decided to wait a few days.

Piccolo spent a few days, keeping an ear out for her arrival. He found he quite enjoyed her afternoon vists. It gave him a nice reprise from the usual, small child that he babysat for his friend every afternoon. Adult company was something he didnt know that he craved. He had to contain his happiness when she next made her way to his, welcoming her with a half smile. Due to his lack of furniture, she brought a pillow to sit on, but Piccolo insisted that she sit on his chair, and she stood beside her as she showed him the article.

Piccolo chuckled gently. It was all correct information, but he was also well aquainted with the individual who had written and published it.

"Its all correct." He grunted. "Probably because the scholar who wrote it had first hand evidence." He thought back to his friend, Gohan, and when he had visited his home planet, Namek.

"Oh? You know the person who wrote this?" Pom asked, scrolling back up to the credited author.

"Yeah. Gohan. ive known him since he was a kid,"

Pom chewed her lip in thought, wondering how old Piccolo was to have watched a fully credited scholar grow from childhood, but anymore personal questions would just be rude.

"Well how fortunate that a scholar got to grow up with someone so pleasent." She smiled, turning her head to look up at him. He looked down at her and softly exhaled through his nose.

"I guess so." He crossed his arms. He didnt veiw himself as pleasent. Neutral, perhaps, but he didnt make an effort to be all that nice to anyone. He didnt need to.

Pom closed her laptop and stood to leave, only to feel a large hand on her shoulder.

He was looking straight ahead, but he addressed her almost gently, or as gentle as one could be with his rough voice. " It looks like its going to rain. You should stay for tea."

Poms heart was warmed by the suggestion, until she realised he didnt mean food, but actual liquid tea. She was a little hungry, but upon gazing outside, where the sky had started to darken with water laden clouds, she realised his suggestion was probably the most practical.

"Thankyou, that is so sweet," She beamed up at him.

The Namekian, a man used to the company of only males, his culture being devoid of females or romantic relationships, was almost startled when a pink tinted heat rose to his cheeks. He cleared his throat and glanced away, unable to decipher his bodeis reaction to seeing her smiling face. "Yeah, well, dont get too comfortable." He grumbled, almost 1regretting his invitation. Opening his refridgerator, he pulled out a flask of Iced Tea, gifted to him by his friends wife, Videl, last time he had arrived to pick up their daughter, Pan, so her parents could have a night to themselves. He poured it delicately into two simple glass cups, passing one to Pom as he passed, leaning against the door frame as rain began to pouroutside. He gripped his cup and watched the grass ripple with the incoming storms wind. Days like this he wished he had a door. They didnt get storms on Namek... Maybe he would invest in a door.

Pom joined him at the doorway, tucking her hair behind her ear and sipping the cool tea from the cup.

"You have such a nice veiw." She hummed, leaning her hip against the doorway. Piccolos usual frown deepened.

"Yeah, I guess so. I prefer it out here. Its.. Quiet."

"Ah! A fellow appreciater of living in peace. I cant stand the big city. The noise drives me insane." She clutched her now empty cup to her chest and let out a sigh.

Piccolo scowled at the sky as thunder cracked across the clouds, illuminating the canyon with a shock of white light. Pom jumped slightly, her hand going to grip the nearest grabbable thing- which happened to be the side of Piccolos Gi. He didnt dare look down, his eyes just went wide as the small woman edged towards him in fear. "Sorry!" She let go of his clothing, but didnt back away. "Thunder storms always scare the jeebies out of me."

Suddenly, Piccolo felt oddly protective of the small woman. Her softness reminded him somewhat of Pan, a child that had his heart in a vice like grip. He folded his arms and stood steadfast, allowing Pom to move into his shadow, and to relative safety.

"Maybe you should hed back inside." he murmered over his shoulder, glancing down at Pom with a narrowed eye. She agreed quietly and backed away into the main room, and settked back onto the big stone chair. The air surrounding her had become cool, chilling her skin, giving her little goosebumps across her arms. Piccolo gave the thunderous clouds a last, grim look, before following in Poms footsteps back into the safety of his living room. His eyes adjusted, and moved to the little figure curled up with her knees to her chest on his chair. She looked cold. Without thinking too much, he slid the white cape from his shoulders and draped it over her, not looking twice before he moved past to grab a Capsule Corp Halogen Heater, and plave it in the middle of the room, and switched it to middle heat, the orange glow illuminating Poms small form. Piccolo took a seat, levatating in the shadows across from her behind the heater. He watched her as the thunder rolled and echoed across the cavern, watching her eyes as she flicked through her phone. Her eyes, he noticed, were the same shade as what he could remember of Namekian evening skies. His frown settled lower, and he glanced away. Human women were not supposed to be appealing to a Namekian, so he questioned himself for even looking. It was not long, though, before his eyes found themselves back on her form. He hadnt even noticed until now that she was wearing a one peice outfit, with shorts rather than full length pants. He never understood the appeal of having bare legs. Piccolo had often seen Bulma in skimpy outfits and never understood the aesthetic of baring skin to the public for no feesable reason.. Until that moment, seeing her soft skin alight by the orange glow of the heater, making her look like a gentle pink sunset on a clear day. The adams apple in his throat bobbed as he swallowed a rising tension he didnt quite understand, before glancing away once again, this time opting to give the floor a hard death glare. He was wholly convinced there was something very wrong with him.

Pom could feel his eyes on her, but she herself was too shy to look up from her static phone screen. Piccolo intimidated her enough to make her uneasy, but not unsafe. His height and strength were enough to both feel respect and a little well meaning fear for him, and if not a little astounded by his quiet and stoic demeanor. Piccolo also flustered her in small ways, by his kind actions and his deep voice, and his blunt behaviour, enough to make a little rosie hue creep into her cheeks, to match her hair. Chewing her lip, she scrolled through a picture reel of birds she had taken the summer prior, trying to keep her mind busy from the sudden claps and flashes of the roaring storm. Piccolo closed his eyes and softly sighed, allowing the humid energy from the storm to flood his senses with a brialliant warmth. A man in pure control of his spiritual energy did not need a heater, despite being gifted one. He could heat his body with his own energy or the energy of things around him, with next to no effort.

Between the silence, Pom acquired the courage to speak up, asking Piccolo a gentle but conversation sparking question.

"Did you grow up on earth, or on Namek?"

Piccolo, in the shadows, tightened his holded arms around him, and let out a breath. "It's complicated." His eyes flicked up to her, meeting her eyes from across the room.

Pom nodded slowly. "Give me the summarised version."

Piccolo almost scoffed. There was no summary of how he became what he was, how he grew up. Not a version she would even begin to understand, but he would try anyway.. "I was another person before me, and another before that. Who I am now came from an egg, 24 years ago."

She didnt understan, as predicted, but now she had his age. "So youre 24 years old?"

He grunted softly. "I suppose.. How old are you?" He had never thought of asking. He supposed this is what most people attempting to make friends do.

"Im 21." She chimed, almost sounding proud of her age.

Piccolo, used to people her age, thanks to Gohan, nodded serenly.

"You are mature for someone your age." He had seen girls in the mall, the few times he had been dragged out with the others. They were friviolous and loud, and spent daddies money, with no thought of making effort towards making their own, and Piccolo absolutely hated them. But Pom seemed different. She was calm and collected, confident within herself, enough to frequently turn up at a green aliens door with house warming gifts, and she was independant enough to already own her own home, which he assumed meant she must have had a steady job at some point. Perhaps he would ask her about that some time, as a conversation starter.

#piccolo #dbz fanfiction #dbz

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arcaneouia · 3 years

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; an old mini piece i wrote.

a dark place.

by grace

I knew what true happiness was once, what it felt to roll around in the dewy midnight grass underneath the expanse of velvet sky, what it felt like when my lungs would collapse and my lips would break their seal and joy would be released from my mouth as we tried to pluck stars from the sky above. I believed that I could, that I had the power to hold this flaming ball of gas and fire in the palm of my hand and nothing bad could come of it. I took the ocean for granted. The rolling waves, foam lapping selfishly at the sand and roaring angrily as I bounced backwards crawling away from the starving sea competely dry. I remember how my heart would pound with a fierce knowing as I climbed to the top of a tree just to get a better view. How my voice would carry out of the car as I sung at the top of my lungs about how nothing mattered but that night. How nothing mattered except for the now. I thought I could run from trouble, close my eyes to the tragic truth just behind me and cover my ears to block the whispers of chaos it spoke. I thought that the tape I had wrapped carefully over my brokenness would be enough to hide the truth of myself. Of what humanity shaped me to be. Of what life spoke into me when I slipped from my mothers womb.

Someone once told me that I was too pure, too good— for this world. That above my head she saw a halo of fire and on my back she saw wings of gold. So I put my hand in front of myself and stretched out my fingers to show her the very stars I had plucked from the sky, I lifted my pants to show her the sand that littered my ankles and pulled a leaf from my hair and a song from my heart. I dusted the sand from my skin and tugged some of the song from my chest and told her to take some of my goodness, I had plently to share.

and so I keep my thoughts to myself, I hide my heart from the world because it took away my stars, it supressed the foamy sand and created trees too tall for me to reach. It replaced my pomegranite sunsets and purple explosions with orange sherbert day after day. It pulled me so far away from that moment in the car that the song was sucked from my heart and all that remained was the crimson that ran through my arteries and the chest cavity that used to hold something other than an organ.

I don’t live for the people of this claustrophobic world, I live now for the ache inside my bones, for the hallowness inside my chest, I live for the chance that I might figure out what it all was for. Why I was too good for this world yet could not spend a day in it without chaos ripping another bandage from where it held my trouble in. I live for the chance that someday I might see what it’s like on the otherside, that I might remember the feeling of holding the stars in my hand.

#poetry #dark fantasy #writing #writers and poets #female writers #writing piece #creative writing #fantasy #writers on tumblr #lovely writer #literature #emotional writing #dark writing #newwritersclub

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differenttriumphdragon · 6 years

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Theory

You know how Pomegranite says that there's a Seed of Darkness inside everyone?

There actually is: They're called Magic Candies.

Somehow, in some way, every single Magic Candy encourages some self-destructive trait of the Cookie it gives its powers to.

PLEASE NOTE: The following examples are mostly based on headcanons and speculation. Viewer discretion is advised.

Hero: He knows that he earned his name and recognition from his suit (before then he was lucky if anyone remembered his previous name, Caramel). As a result, he unwittingly started to convince himself he was useless without it. It doesn't help that he didn't even MAKE his current suit in canon; his own design was blocky and inefficient. Jellico Cube was the one who designed the Iron Man-looking number we all know. Hero's Magic Candy improves the charge time and battery life of his suit, letting him hide behind the helmet longer than ever.

Kumiho: A marshmallow peep who desperately wanted to become a real cookie, she ate nothing but flour and butter for almost three years to perfect her spell. When she finally did, she discovered her new form was incredibly beautiful and would win the hearts of all who looked upon her. Slowly, her unearthly attractiveness and desire for a lover twisted her motives beyond simple dysphoria, and she sought to find a way to take the form permanently. With enough basic jellies in her path, her Magic Candy nearly allows her to do just that, unwittingly sacrificing the possibility of a true romance for shallow affection.

Werewolf: Ever since he was banished from his home, he believed himself to be a horrible monster and refused to let anyone get close to him. So what does his Magic Candy do? Why, make him an even bigger threat (in more ways than one), naturally!

I'm wicked sick right now so I can't think of any more. But there is one thing that I'd like to point out: Every single Magic Candy is made through alchemy.

#cookie run #theory #pomegranate cookie #hero cookie #kumiho cookie #werewolf cookie #alchemist cookie

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townienews · 6 years

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Celtics Bucked, A’s Fed A Bag Of Hot Sox, Beez Can Bag The Leafs Tonight

Yeah, you kinda had a feeling Milwaukee would have the home juice, the home crowd, the home push Friday night. If the Celtics were going to stay in that one then scoring 12 points in the 1st quarter might not have been the best plan. Matching the Bucks urgency and energy (energency?) was the key to hanging round that one...said the guy with a grotesquely large coffee in front of his laptop. Truth be told (OK, if we must), there's no reason the Bucks should have thought themselves out of the series, and they played like they're right in the thick of it, whereas the Celtics literally could not have bought a basket inside or outside the Bradley Center. Cash, credit, bitcoin, Venmo - nope! Home court held, Bucks win by a bunch, Game 4 Sunday @ 1. Shame, too, as in addition to the joys of 3-0 lead, the Celtics could not have gotten a better pre-game wish from the Patriots. Seriously, had they only played as well as the Pats troll game was on point Friday night...

Good luck to @T_Rozzay3 and the @celtics tonight! pic.twitter.com/moASsn1XAi

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 21, 2018

It would be beyond amateur hour here (when isn't it?) to say the Celtics will be motivated by Milwaukee's beyond garish post-game celebration. Winning is motivation enough on its own. But for the love of Zod, Bucks? Confetti after a Game 3 win in the ECQF's? What in the actual?

Bucks really popped out the confetti for a game 3 win 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/e49ciOc7j7

— '03 Kliff Kingsbury (@fearthe_beard11) April 21, 2018

Been There, Done That, Party Of One... Speaking of been there, done that (great segue, Fitz!)... The Red Sox. Those white hot fahkin Sawx, kid. Down 3-0 early when Spew Pomegranite, in his first start of the season,m surrenders a three spot in the 1st? No lead, no worries. Jack-ed-E Bradley cranks a three run dingah, then Mitch Moreland cranks the Sox fifth grand salami of the season (none last year, 5 thrugh nineteen? Damn, son!), the bullpen locks it up (You lock it up!), and the Sox cruise to their 17th win of the season, 8 in a row, 7-3 final. There is no such thing as doubt in Red Sox Nation now. Think ther SOx can't overcome 3-0 in the first on the road? Mitch, please! They got this. How are they doing it? Oh sure, pitching, clutch hitting sound defense would explain it all, but I think there could be a higher power at play...

I just hope Satan doesn’t come to claim Alex Cora’s soul until after the season, @RedSox

— ((((Peter Sagal)))) (@petersagal) April 21, 2018

Whatever the cost it's worth it. 17-2 doesn't even look real. And against an offensively adequate squad like the A's (so much for DefateGate 2.0, hey Oakland?) who a I to say they'll have to drp one this weekend?

The Red Sox plan to never lose again is bold. Controversial, maybe. Definitely bold. This fan approves.

— Fitzy (@FitzyGFY) April 21, 2018

Be watching that tonight, hopefully as a nightcap to the Bruins closing out the Maple Leaf Rags at The Gahden 2.0. Coming off Thursday's north of the border junkpunch, the Beez can close this out tonight, get the rest they need for the conference semis, and send the well lubed masses and Massholes home happy. Wirth a chance to close the series and an 8pm Saturday night start the gold will be flowing 16 oz at a time from West End Johnnie's the The Four's and more. And though you can fill an arena with what I don't know about hawkey, I do know that it should only be a little friggin awesome there tonight. AND I WANT FOUR FIST PUMPS AT LEAST, RENE!

Rene Rancourt sings the National Anthem for the first responders Heroes Cup Hockey Tournament w/ the Boston Bruins Foundation in Marlboro tonight. 🏒🚔🚒🐻 pic.twitter.com/izwQfOhpiP

— WBZ | CBS Boston News (@wbz) April 21, 2018

Go Beez! Go Sawx! And go eff yaselves! Stay tuned for info on a fun Pats-themed NFL Draft contest this week.

#Boston Celtics #Boston Red Sox #Boston Bruins #NBA Playoffs #NHL Playoffs #Sawx

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robertjparkin-blog · 7 years

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About Buying The Right Business And Panicking Slowly And Gradually

This can be a scary moment for many homeowners. in addition to so many advertisements offering assist. for a cost. There is one free opportunity for information, your current real estate agent. Do not afraid in order to call one!

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Entrepreneurs have got failed often times in different possibilities. They might possess tried many different ventures right up until they discovered one that brought them success.

Remember, you'll certainly be talking to completed individuals who have manufactured a lot of money investing in other businesses. Ask for their particular input! They are going to like this strategy because it demonstrates you are looking to build strong in addition to profitable relationships.

Social media allows you to connect with many individuals you would do not have had a chance to meet in the event that you where just counting on face-to-face networking. And, many of them will probably will vary values plus opinions you.

That's why I think Chatroulette is usually scratching the top of something which could quickly become huge. Video talk today is still unfortunately a great underwhelmed application today, used mostly from the sex market and the skype users, mainly because it has a great deal it can offer you. Its very good that a few websites are working on it, such as google+ and the hangouts, tinychat and Video clip chat models. Apart from the chatroulettes and the omegles, there is also brand-new player i really locate interesting too, which is ViDoBounce. You may keep close track of them, they will amalgamate skype ip telefoni, chatroulette in addition to tinychat inside a great mix.

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vero-cartin · 7 years

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Isn't supporting bee keepers by buying honey kind of a good thing? Like its a double edged sword bc we shouldn't use animals as food and all but right now with the changing climate and GMO crops and colony collapse disorder it's killing off bees and we desperately need them, so isn't it a good thing that bee keepers are keeping bees alive?

Hi there pretty-love-ly!

We’ve been tricked into believing that honey is simply a byproduct of the essential pollination provided by farmed honeybees. Did you know though that the honeybee’s wild counterparts (such as bumblebees, carpenter and digger bees) are much better pollinators? They are also less likely than farmed honeybees to be affected by mites and Africanized bees. The issue is that these native bees can hibernate for up to 11 months out of the year and do not live in large colonies. Thus, they do not produce massive amounts of honey for a $157 million dollar a year industry.

Honey and the Different Types of Bees

Honey bees: Honey bees make a large quantity of honey (possible due to the size of colonies – that is, many worker bees collecting nectar). Honey consists of nectar combined with a ‘bee enzyme’ that goes through a process of concentration in the honeycomb before it is capped by the bees.

Bumblebees: Bumblebees, in one sense, make a form of honey, which they collect in nectar pots to be eaten by the colony, including the newly hatched worker females. However, the process of concentrating, capping, and the making of honey combs does not happen in bumblebee colonies, nor is nectar stored over winter, since only the queen survives and hibernates, whilst the rest of the colony do not.

Solitary bees: Solitary bees do not make honeycombs. They construct egg cells which they provision with a ball of nectar and pollen that will be consumed by the new larvae.

Honey bees will pollinate many plant species that are not native to their natural habitat but are often inefficient pollinators of such plants.

The crops that can be only pollinated by honey bees are:

• Guar Bean• Quince• Lemon• Lime• Karite• Tamarind

The crops that are pollinated by bees, in general, are:

• Apples• Mangos• Rambutan• Kiwi Fruit• Plums• Peaches• Nectarines• Guava• Rose Hips• Pomegranites• Pears• Black and Red Currants• Alfalfa• Okra• Strawberries• Onions• Cashews• Cactus• Prickly Pear• Apricots• Allspice• Avocados• Passion Fruit• Lima Beans• Kidney Beans• Adzuki Beans• Green Beans• Orchid Plants• Custard Apples• Cherries• Celery• Coffee• Walnut• Cotton• Lychee• Flax• Acerola – used in Vitamin C supplements• Macadamia Nuts• Sunflower Oil• Goa beans• Lemons• Buckwheat• Figs• Fennel• Limes• Quince• Carrots• Persimmons• Palm Oil• Loquat• Durian• Cucumber• Hazelnut• Cantaloupe• Tangelos• Coriander• Caraway• Chestnut• Watermelon• Star Apples• Coconut• Tangerines• Boysenberries• Starfruit• Brazil Nuts• Beets• Mustard Seed• Rapeseed• Broccoli• Cauliflower• Cabbage• Brussels Sprouts• Bok Choy (Chinese Cabbage)• Turnips• Congo Beans• Sword beans• Chili peppers, red peppers, bell peppers, green peppers• Papaya• Safflower• Sesame• Eggplant• Raspberries• Elderberries• Blackberries• Clover• Tamarind• Cocoa• Black Eyed Peas• Vanilla• Cranberries• Tomatoes• Grapes

Check this chart to see which type of bees can pollinate those crops.

While you may spread a heaping tablespoon of honey on your morning toast without thinking, creating each drop is no small feat. To make one pound of honey, a colony must visit over two million flowers, flying over 55,000 miles, at up to 15 miles per hour to do so. During a bee’s lifetime, she will only make approximately one teaspoon of honey, which is essential to the hive for times when nectar is scarce, such as during winter. At times, there may be an excess in the hive, but this amount is difficult to determine and large-scale beekeepers often remove all or most of it and replace it with a sugar or corn syrup substitute. Can you imagine someone removing all the fruit juice from your house and replacing it with fruit-flavored soda? It may still give you energy, but eventually, it will probably make you sick.BEES DIE FOR YOUR HONEY

Another thing to think about while you sit by your beeswax candle and contemplate the lives of these little fellows is that bees must consume approximately eight pounds of honey to produce each pound of wax! And the more we take from them (bee pollen, royal jelly, propolis) the harder these creatures must work and the more bees are needed, which isn’t good news for a population that is dwindling.

When you see a jar of honey, you may think of the sweet cartoon hives depicted in childhood stories such as Winnie the Pooh. But most hives are now confined to large boxes (a completely foreign shape to bees) that are jostled and shipped around the country to pollinate crops and produce honey. This is stressful and confusing to the bees’ natural navigation systems. Along the way, bees are lost and killed, and may spread diseases from one infected hive to another. The practice of bee farming often limits the bees’ diet to monoculture crops, introduces large amounts of pesticides into their systems and causes the farmed bees to crowd out the native wild pollinators that may have been otherwise present. Beekeepers (even small-scale backyard beekeepers) will also kill the queens if they feel the hive is in danger of swarming (fleeing their file cabinet shaped homes) or drones* that they deem unnecessary to honey production. * The drones’ main function is to fertilize the queen when needed.

We have got to the point where we mass exploit honeybees as pollinators to fix a problem that should be fixed from the roots and not partially.

“At certain times of the year, three or four trucks carrying beehives rumble along Highway 20 every week. Their destination: California, where the bees are required for pollination services. During my time in California researching dairy farms, I learned about an extraordinary consequence of intensive farming taken to extremes: industrialized pollination - a business that is rapidly expanding as the natural bee population collapses. In certain parts of the world, as a result of industrial farming, there are no longer enough bees to pollinate the crops. Farmers are forced to hire or rent them in”— Farmagedon. The True Cost of Cheap Meat

The Case of the Disappearing Bees

The question of what will happen if bees disappear may not be far from being answered. Over the past couple of years, stories about bees disappearing and Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) have been popping up in the The New York Times, Star Tribune, Huffington Post, PBS, Discovery News and more. If nothing else wakes us up, perhaps the fact that the disappearance of bees has become front page news will. Scientists are rushing to discover what’s causing this problem before it’s too late and before we lose the important environmental link created by bees.

Thus far, there are three main theories/contributing factors:

Pesticides

Pennsylvania State University published a study in 2010 that found “unprecedented levels” of pesticides in honeybees and hives in the United States. (If it’s in the bees and hives, what do you think is in your honey?) Some of these chemicals are killing bees, and guess what? The EPA knows about it.

“The EPA identifies two specific neonicotinoids, imidacloprid and clothianidin, as highly toxic to bees. Both chemicals cause symptoms in bees such as memory loss, navigation disruption, paralysis, and death.

Both chemicals have been linked to dramatic honeybee deaths and subsequent suspensions of their use in France and Germany. Several European countries have already suspended them. Last year Slovenia and Italy also suspended their use for what they consider a significant risk to honeybee populations.”

– Mother Earth News

This is old news; this story came out in 2009. But has anything changed here? Not as far as I can tell.

Mites and Viruses

With weakened immune systems (stress, inferior food sources, pesticides etc.) bees have become more susceptible to viruses, fungal infections, and mites. Many of these invasive bugs are spread as hives are moved around the country or transferred from country to country.

While there are a number of treatments on the market for the mites, viruses, fungus and other pests that are attacking our colonies, none have solved the problem completely. These treatments can also introduce antibiotics, pesticides and other chemicals into the hives in an attempt to prevent or heal the infection. If these chemicals (often on strips) are not removed from the hive after they lose potency, they can, in fact, help the viruses or mites become resistant to treatment in the future.

Cell phones

This is one of the newest theories on CCD and may need further testing.

“According to a Swiss researcher who recently published a paper on the subject, the electromagnetic waves from mobile phones have a significant impact on the behavior of honeybees and could potentially be harming honeybees around the world.”

“To test the relationship between honeybees and buzzing cell phones, he placed phones inside bee hives and then monitored the bees’ reaction. He found that in the presence of actively communicating cellphones (those not in standby mode), bees produced the sounds known as “worker piping,” which tends to indicate disturbance in a bee colony.”

– ABC News

Cell phones, pesticides and viruses aside, commercial bee farming – whether organic (where bee deaths are fewer, but still occur) or conventional – does not provide bees with the opportunity to live out their normal life cycle. No matter how small the animal, farming is farming. Whether you choose to buy backyard honey or a large brand, eating honey and using other bee products encourages using bees for profit.

If you truly want to save bees as a whole and not only honey bees because is much more convenient.. then support bee sanctuaries, boycott the agribusiness and its use of chemicals everywhere. Here I leave some ideas and ways to help bees.

Sanctuaries

Spikenard Farm Honeybee Sanctuary | • Virginia, USA •

New York Bee Sanctuary | • New York, USA •

Native Bee Sanctuary | • Australia •

Artemis Smiles - Honey Bee Sanctuary | • Hawaii, USA •

Urban Evergreen Bee Sanctuary | • Washington, USA •

The Honeybee Helpers | • North West, Ireland •

Bee Sanctuary - The Bee School | • North Carolina, USA •

Bellingen Bee Sanctuary | • Australia •

Morgan Freeman Converted His 124 Acre Ranch Into A Bee Sanctuary To Help Save The Bees

Plant your garden with bee-friendly plants

In areas of the country where there are few agricultural crops, honeybees rely upon garden flowers to ensure they have a diverse diet and to provide nectar and pollen. Encourage honeybees to visit your garden by planting single flowering plants and vegetables. Go for all the allium family, all the mints, all beans except French beans and flowering herbs. Bees like daisy-shaped flowers - asters and sunflowers, also tall plants like hollyhocks, larkspur and foxgloves. Bees need a lot of pollen and trees are a good source of food. Willows and lime trees are exceptionally good.

Encourage local authorities to use bee-friendly plants in public spaces

Some of the country’s best gardens and open spaces are managed by local authorities. Recently these authorities have recognised the value of planning gardens, roundabouts and other areas with flowers that attract bees. Encourage your authority to improve the area you live in by adventurous planting schemes. These can often be maintained by local residents if the authority feels they do not have sufficient resources.

Weeds can be a good thing

Contrary to popular belief, a lawn full of clover and dandelions is not just a good thing—it’s a great thing! A haven for honeybees (and other native pollinators too). Don’t be so nervous about letting your lawn live a little. Wildflowers, many of which we might classify as weeds, are some of the most important food sources for native North American bees. If some of these are “weeds” you chose to get rid of (say you want to pull out that blackberry bush that’s taking over), let it bloom first for the bees and then before it goes to seed, pull it out or trim it back!

Don’t use chemicals or pesticides to treat your lawn or garden

Yes, they make your lawn look pristine and pretty, but they’re actually doing the opposite to the life in your biosphere. The chemicals and pest treatments you put on your lawn and garden can cause damage to the honeybees systems. These treatments are especially damaging if applied while the flowers are in bloom as they will get into the pollen and nectar and be taken back to the bee hive where they also get into the honey—which in turn means they can get into us. Pesticides, specifically neo-nicotinoid varieties have been one of the major culprits in Colony Collapse Disorder.

Bees are thirsty. Put a small basin of fresh water outside your home

You may not have known this one—but it’s easy and it’s true! If you have a lot of bees starting to come to your new garden of native plants, wildflowers, and flowering herbs, put a little water basin out (a bird bath with some stones in it for them to crawl on does a nice trick). They will appreciate it!

Let dandelions and clover grow in your yard.

Dandelions and clover are two of the bees’ favorite foods – they provide tons of nourishment and pollen for our pollinators to make honey and to feed their young (look at this bee frolicking in a dandelion below – like a pig in shit!) And these flowers could not be any easier to grow – all you have to do is not do anything.

I highly recommend also taking a look at this article too as honey is tested on animals, yes, as it says and the article explains honey is tested on dogs, cats, goats, rabbits, mice, rats…

As you can see, there is much more than saying “let’s help the bees by eating honey, vegans are dumb, they need to eat honey because what they eat relies on it”... We can save the bees without taking away the honey they produce, that’s a fact.

Honey is meant as a health food; a healthy food for bees. The more we interfere with their natural processes, both by relying on farmed bees as pollinators (rather than other native wild bees, insects or animals) and to feed our desires for “sweets,” the close we’re coming to agricultural disaster.

Sources

1. Danforth BN, Sipes S, Fang J, Brady SG (October 2006). “The history of early bee diversification based on five genes plus morphology”. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 103 (41): 15118–23.2. Pollinators’ impact on crop production Research study in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences of 25 October 2006.3. Pollination and Bee Plants, Excerpted from Beekeeper’s Handbook, Sammataro/Avitabile ©1998.4. Bryony, Bonning (11 November 2009). “Honey Bee Disease Overview” (PDF). Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 103: s2-s4. doi:10.1016/j.jip.2009.07.015. Retrieved 21 October 2014.5. “Bumblebee Specialist Group: 2011 Update” (PDF). IUCN. Retrieved7 October 2012.6. Yang, Sarah (25 October 2006). “Pollinators help one-third of world’s crop production, says new study”. UC Berkeley. Retrieved 29 June 2015.

#vegan #vegans #honey #pollinators #miel #pretty-love-ly #asks

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winewithfood · 7 years

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So my travels through the middle east were pretty interesting to say the least! It was 1990 and the coastal area was trying to attract American visitors. The problem was that we were travelling through during Ramadan, which is not a great time to be playing host! I remember being in the Yemen, trying to find somewhere open for lunch and the only place open that I found was Pizza Hut! So I went in hungry and full of hope, to just be stared at blankly by several workers. After asking several times if I could order lunch and showing them American dollars (usually the best way to achieve anything in far off countries), I was just rewarded with confused facial expressions and no food. I did not get lunch that day and had to rely on crackers until supper time.

The Oman was certainly more open to tourism, accommodating everyone from Germans to Americans, with all their requirements. A little more sophisticated and cosmopolitan, with beautiful hotels and beaches. However, limited on time, I still did not get to really explore the cuisine as much as I would like to have, so settled to exploring from afar, with good recipe books and research. I think the next place that we ate was Israel!! (We of course were being given plentiful supplies of caviar and great cuisine on board our yacht, so not starving!).

I like the way that they use spices and ingredients and the first thing I think of with regards to Middle Eastern food is the dear old eggplant. That closely followed by the chickpea. London certainly has some good restaurants, but a wonderful experience was eating at a restaurant in San Juan, Puerto Rico! An Egyptian colleague took me to a place called ‘Jerusalem’, which provided a veritable middle eastern feast, even better when you have someone who can show you how to eat it as it’s best, combining the dishes for the most enjoyment.

Here, I have found some recipes that really grabbed myself and my husband and we got into the kitchen and made these together, with results that were so incredibly tasty! The dip is very easy- just blitz and ready! The latkes also are a fast prep in the food processor, the longest of course is the duck which is slow roasted, so perfect for a lazy afternoon watching movies or lazing in the sun! It seems to work for either cosy days or hot days!!

NOTE: Don’t have za’atar? Contact me for my own blend spices! Reasonably priced and smaller quantities available!!

Butter Bean Dip with your choice of pita bread or crudite

Chickpea and Potato Latkes with Mint Salsa

Crispy Roasted Duck with Pomegranite

Butterbean dip;

14 oz /400g can of butter beans 2 tbsp za’atar 3 tbsp garlic oil 1 tbsp olive oil A couple of good dashes of lemon juice a couple good pinches of sea salt

Place all of the ingredients into a food processor and blitz until it forms a rough hummus type texture.

Chickpea and Potato Latkes with Mint Salsa

10 oz/ 300g potato peeled grated with a food processor 1 large onion peeled and grated through the food processor 1 tsp coriander seeds 1 tsp cumin seeds Good handful of spinach 14 oz /400g can of chickpeas 2 garlic cloves crushed good dash of lime juice 2 eggs 1 rounded tbsp all purpose/plain flour coarse sea salt and fresh ground pepper

Oil to fry

Crush the coriander and cumin seeds lightly with a pestle and mortar Blend the potato and onion and place into a towel and squeeze out the moisture. Place into a bowl and add the crushed seeds, spinach, chickpeas, garlic and dash of lime and blend together. Add the eggs and flour and seasoning, fold in. Heat oil in a skillet on medium to high heat. Create patties with the mixture, squeezing any remaining excess moisture out. Shallow fry the patties in batches, approx 1 minute each side until golden.

Mint Salsa

1/2 red onion, finely chopped 4 large tomatoes chopped 1 green chilli finely chopped Handful of cilantro (coriander) leaves chopped Handful of mint leaves chopped 1 tbsp olive oil

Put all of the ingredients into a small bowl, season and blend.

Crispy Duck

1 whole duck approx 4 lbs/ 2.5 kg 2 tsp ground coriander 2 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp sumac 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp garlic granules 1 cucumber 2 bunches of scallions /spring onions 14 fluid oz/ 400ml pomegranate molasses 34 fluid oz /100ml runny honey 24 chines pancakes 14oz/ 400g pomegranate seeds Coarse sea salt

Preheat oven 375F/ 190C /170C Fan

Place the duck in an oiled roasting pan. Combine the next 6 ingredients in a small bowl and rub all over the duck and inside the cavity. Season with salt. Roast for 2 1/2 hours. Don’t baste, so it becomes dry and crispy. After, increase the temp to 425F/220C/ 200 C Fan, then continue cooking the duck for 20 minutes. remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes covered with aluminum/aluminium foil.

Chop the cucumber and scallions into long, thin strips.

In a small saucepan, heat the molasses and honey until it bubbles. Take off the heat, stir well and set aside.

Heat the pancakes according to package instructions.

Layout the elements of the dish on separate plates/ dishes and enjoy by piling a little of each into a pancake and roll up.

WINE NOTE: The duck has been lightened up with the crisping and the rendering of fat, so can stand to a lighter wine, especially with the vibrant flavours of the spices and pomegranates. An aromatic fruity white, Pinot Gris, or Fiano Di Avellino- a dry wine, floral and mineral with a touch of honey. If you would prefer red, then choose a zesty red such as Valpolicella.

FOOD FOR THE WEEKEND Middle Eastern Feast So my travels through the middle east were pretty interesting to say the least! It was 1990 and the coastal area was trying to attract American visitors.

#culinary #foodandwine gourmet cuisine sommelier #goodfood #winewithfood

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cassidy-malta · 7 years

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April 8-15: Moroccan My Socks Off

“How do I even being to describe Morocco? It was six days in a nation unlike any other I'd ever been. For starters, Morocco has a monarchy, and has a strong Islamic presence. It's a desert climate, with incomes ranging from dirt poor to horrifyingly rich. Some women are completely covered with a black veil whereas others wear jeans and allow their hair to fly in the wind. We had the opportunities to spend our time in three cities- Fes, the historical city, Rabat, the royal city, and Marrakech, the tourist city.

Day 1

We started in Fes. A fitting place to start as Fes is one of the oldest cities in the country and a hub of tradition and culture. Our tour guide took us to the Medina, or fortified portion of the city. Narrow cobbled streets were lined by tall windowless buildings, even narrower alleys jutting off seemingly randomly from the streets. The homes are built uniform to keep everyone safe and reputable despite what the inside of their home might actually look like. There is no way to tell which neighbors and poor and which are rich until you're invited into the homes. We toured an average Moroccan home and collectively our jaws dropped- mosaics covered the floors and walls, plaster and cedar was carved into ornate Islamic symbols and patterns, and the central living room opened up to the sky in a courtyard design.

(the “average” Moroccan home)

(The view of Fes)

The medina of Fes also had a souk. A souk is essentially a market, more of a farmers market. Farmers sell their produce and livestock. Artisans push purses, carvings, paintings, and jewellery at you. Clerks try to convince you that you need a pair of knock off adidas. Vendors shout over each other and offer a massive variety of food- soups, meats, teas, sweets, and pastries. The thousands of shops (no exaggeration) were arranged in a labyrinth of even narrower streets, packed with shoulder-shoulder people. In the midst of the madness, there were schools and mosques- reminders of reality. This was an opportunity to get up close and personal with Moroccan people. Barefoot children looked up at us as stray kittens played around their feet, offering us strange foreigners a cheerful "bonjour!" Women in bright hijabis touched my hair and shirt with big smiles. Men called out "hello lovely!" or "beautiful flower!" as I passed. Blind beggars were frequently reaching to grab my arms. It was an incredible human experience.

(the streets were unbearably crowded, and panic set in when we heard a farmer yelling to clear the way for his donkey or mule. We all squished to the walls of the Souk and hoped to not get knocked over by the burdened animal)

(some of the souk was covered, and while the shade was nice, the sheer number of people made the atmosphere stiff and stuffy, full of the smells of animals and rotting sweets)

(Muslims have to butcher their chickens in order to ensure that it is holy to eat, so farmers were selling live chickens at every corner. We also saw displays of river eel, huge snails, camels, and the Moroccan delicacy- sheep foot)

(the vivid colors of the souk were unforgettable. Most shops were about this size, and every inch of space was occupied by their product)

After the souk, we went on excursions to a traditional rug shop, silk shop, leather tannery and a ceramic workshop. That night we collapsed into bed with bellies full of chicken tajine and heads full of awe.

Day 2

We left the hotel early to take a day trip to Meknes. Meknes is another ancient city, home to kings long past. We toured the stables and graineries, as well as some Roman ruins. We certainly appreciated the slower pace of Meknes, but we got our first real taste of Saharan heat.

While we didn't have to wear head scarves or wear traditional dress, we did choose to respect the culture and blend in as much as possible by keeping knees and elbows covered at all time, especially in more conservative areas like Meknes. We did not want to draw attention to ourselves, as our pale skinned, blonde, and timid group did that enough as is.

(the ruins of the royal stables. Rumor has it that the stables could house hundreds of purebred Arabian horses- a sign of the king’s wealth. Note the long sleeves and pants in 90 degree weather)

(Spirits and heat were high as we roamed the Roman ruins)

(a traditional Moroccan salad- cold veggies including eggplant, beets, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, corn, and cucumbers, a centerpiece of rice, and a drizzling of an unknown dressing)

(Meknes showed off the Moroccan architecture and ornate detail that I have fallen head-over-heels for)

Day 3

We drove to Rabat next. Rabat is the current royal city as the royal city shifts with the dynasties. It was a long drive but once we finally got settled we toured more Roman ruins and the shell of a very old mosque at Chellah. Storks built their nests atop the pillars of the mosque- their wingspan were easily 6 feet, their massive nests providing shelter to hoards of other birds, and their calls sounding like a clicking deep in their throats. The locals call them "Lak-laks" for that reason.

(Right- behind the mosque was a picturesque garden with bananas, kumquats, oranges, lemons, olives, pomegranites- basically any fruit you could imagine. Left- a stork stands on the wall above the “mihrab”- the holiest place of the mosque)

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(A street performer I filmed outside of the Chellah)

We piled back in the van to tour the magnificent Masoleum of Mohammed V, the final resting place of the King's father, grandfather, and uncle. The young and goofy members of the Kings' royal guard made faces at us as we walked among the graves and through the pillars of the unfinished mosque of Mohammed V.

(top right- the entrance to the masoleum. Top left- the ceiling of the masoleum. Bottom right- I was in total awe of the architecture. Bottom left- I flirted with this guard a little)

The day ended in the Rabat Casbah. I got to see the Atlantic Ocean from the other side, and walk the very cute little village before graciously going home for much needed rest.

Day 4

Day four was unfortunately mostly driving as we trekked from Rabat to Marrakech but we did get to pitstop in Casablanca and tour the third largest Mosque in the world.

The Hassan II Mosque is the only mosque that opens its doors to non-Muslims for tours and its size is only bested by the the Saudi Arabian mosques in Mecca and Medina. The size and detail of this building are completely indescribable. It was a breathtaking work of art that could Hold thousands of praying people. Our tour guide gave us invaluable information about Islam and the Hassan II.

(Top right- the outer view of the Mosque. Top left- the mosaics made awesome selfie-backgrounds. Bottom right- even the ceilings were decked out. Bottom left- EVERY SQUARE INCH WAS DETAILED AND ORNATE. I have so many pictures. If you would like more, shoot me a line!)

The faith is accented by five prayers a day and a strong reliance on symbolism. Five times a day, the Imam's warbling call to prayer blasts through every corner of every city from a loudspeaker at the top of the Mosque's highest point. The calls to prayer penetrate every the air and are hauntingly beautiful- their presence a reminder of how strong the faith is here. The towers of the mosques dot the skyline of every city, each tower having a megaphone, an ornament with three orbs, and what looks like a wooden fallow. The orbs are metal and meant to represent the three monotheistic religions: Judaism, christianity, and Islam. The wooden gallows-looking thing is actually pointing toward Mecca, the direction that all muslims pray. The towers are covered in green mosaics as green is the color of Islam. Seeing the mosques and experiencing the Islamic faith so intimately gave me a massive amount of respect for the people who practice it, anger to those who hinder them or hold prejudices against them, and inspired me to someday make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where Islam, Christianity, and Judaism meet.

(we ended the day by arriving in Marrakech)

Day 5

Another walking tour dominated our second to last day. We experienced the Marrakech souk, more graves (this time of a different royal dynasty), the ocean (again), the Marrakech medina, an herbal apothecary, and botanical gardens.

(an artsy pic from the Botanical gardens- a definite must see if you’re ever in Marrakech)

(directions like this were spread all around the Souk)

(more Moroccan architecture... what’s new?)

(a traditional water man, selling water to Moroccans. He was very excited to have his photo taken!)

(Wandering the king’s prison)

(spices and herbal remedies for sale in the Souk)

When that wasn't enough, my best friend and I ventured out to the city limits- to a desert oasis. The sandy landscape was spotted with palm trees and hearty shrubs. We pulled on traditional robes and headscarves and climbed aboard two camels: Fifi and Shakira. Fifi's baby, Scooby Doo, also graced us with us UTTERY ADORABLE presence. We rode for an hour, struggling to communicate with our tour guide but honestly loving every second of the experience. We watched the sunset and rubbed the rough hair of the camels, Scooby occasionally running beside us to brush our toes with the tuft of hair on his head or to press his nose to our bare ankles. A tranquil, magical, once-in-a-lifetime Moroccan experience.

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(ended the trip with some Moroccan Mint tea- literally to die for. Appropriately nick-named “Moroccan Whiskey”)

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(Shakira was quite vocal- it made Maddie pretty nervous!)

Day 6

Our final day began with one of my favorite things: food.

Unfortunately, it was through this taste testing tour that I discovered that I can not stand Moroccan food. If I had one more chicken Tajine I was going to scream. I tried to get vegetarian options in hopes of satisfying my palette but it simply wasn't enough. The highlight of the taste testing tour was fresh orange juice. Something about orange juice from local Mediterranean oranges is downright magical and borderline addictive. The lowlight was the bean based soup, desserts, and dates. The soup was simply sad, the desserts sickly sweet and too sticky, and you don't even want me to get started on the dates.

(bees swarmed the foods and the men scooped up the various treats with their bare hands. A health inspector would’ve had a hay-day in the market!)

The afternoon was free time so I did what I do best- I shopped. As shallow as it seems, shopping is one of the most culturally enriching experiences when going to a new country. It's an excellent crash course in what the people are proud of and what they feel represents them. Not to mention I got some pretty neat souvenirs and a more time in a souk.

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(the boys so graciously allowed me to twin with them on our final day)

So that’s the best I can do to sum up an experience beyond words with a few words. I can not wait to continue my traveling in the future and hopefully return to this little African paradise. I have fallen hopelessly in love with Morocco and I can not encourage people enough to visit!

#morocco #Cassidy #Study Abroad #Malta #Spring Break #Marrakech #Casablanca #Islam #Rabat #Fes #Medina #Kasbah #Camels #Souk #Markets #NorseAdventures #Norse Adventures

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