💘 Kitchen Life 💘

2 Tbsp soy sauce 1 Tbsp dark soy sauce 1 Tbsp shaoxing wine 1 Tbsp sesame oil 1 inch grated ginger 1 minced garlic clove 1/2 Tbsp sugar

you're welcome.

Bonus tip : you can add an egg (or more) to make hard boiled eggs at the same time (to eat now or later)

Chicken Taco Soup

Actually, forget winter--from the moment it started getting cold, it was time. So here's what you do. Next time you sit down to eat an apple, chop it up. Don't just slice it, dice it! Now sprinkle on a pinch of salt, a pinch of nutmeg, and shake on as much cinnamon as seems fit. (Don't ask me how much; I literally had to google "can you poison yourself with cinnamon" once, and to my surprise, the answer is yes. So don't do that. But, y'know. Enough.) Now stir it all around to coat the apples and nuke it for two minutes. Yesssss. No, it doesn't need any sugar, but I won't stop you if you want to add it--I mean, I'm doing this with Pink Lady apples, so clearly I like things tart.

Oh, you wanted a pear instead? Even better! Do the same thing, and depending on how ripe the pear was (I prefer D'Anjous, as Bartletts are born overripe), you'll have pear sauce as well! Peaches (probably frozen)? Same. A banana? Absolutely you can do the same with a banana, although you'll have something more closely resembling warm banana pudding at the end of it. Embrace science, do it anyway. Berries? Eeeeeeh, maybe leave off the spice and salt, but nuke it! nuke it! nuke it! And then maybe pour it over ice cream. What. Just because we're heating up the fruits because it's cold, that's no reason to stop eating ice cream. Let's be reasonable here.

Now? Toss them apples in there and *fry* them. Till they're soft, till theyre a little brown, or just till they're heated through, up to you. I like to let them get a little saucy. If you wanna add sugar, add it around here, I like a brown sugar myself. Honey works too.

If you have any, whipped creme, a dollop of greek yogurt. Just a dab.

i will say that all the cooking instructions for veggies are pretty much the same (season with salt + pepper and roast on the top oven rack at 425F), but if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

that being said, it also introduced me to methods i wasn’t at all expecting. i would have never thought to use cream cheese in my meat sauce, and now all my friends are constantly asking me to make my special rigatoni.

"Cream sauce base" = make a roux, add milk according to how much cream sauce base you're supposed to have (ex: 4 oz cream sauce base = 4 oz milk)

"1 packet stock concentrate" = either one tablespoon Better than Bullion or, if you want to be really accurate, Savory Choice Broth Concentrate packets are available on Amazon and allegedly that's what they use

"Italian Heat Spice"/"Blackening Spice"/"Fry Seasoning"/etc.: I promise you someone on Reddit has figured out what spices they use and in what proportions for each mix, if it's not just a straight up branded mix (like McCormick Grill Mates Brown Sugar Bourbon spice mix)

"Roasted Garlic Herb Butter" (and other compound butters, like truffle butter) = they're literally Epicurean branded butters, they do not hide this, you can buy them online

"Sweet Soy Glaze"/"Ponzu sauce"/"Hoisin sauce" = literally Kikkoman brand condiments: they don't hide that, either

The number of foods I have learned I really like if they’re Fucking Seasoned

The number of foods I’ve introduced friends to that they warned me they’d always hated til I let them try a piece of mine

Steamed diced carrots? Hell no

One of my go-tos when I need to feed myself but I don't have the brain capacity to do much is to get a pack of frozen veggies and put them on a baking paper covered tray, drizzle with some oil, salt and pepper, and roast until soft. 20-30 min on 220 C/ 425 F will usually do, shorter for small veg.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, pour in equal amounts of couscous and boiling water. Add some salt and pepper here, too. Cover.

Once the roasted vegetables are done, put them in the bowl with the couscous. Put some sauce on if you have some. Just some oil works fine, too.

Eat. You've made a meal that is minimal work, just some time while the oven did its thing.

I’m also gonna add my favourite minimum effort thing which is basic as hell but important:

You put some dairy in a potato, you have a nutritionally complete meal

Bake a potato (1 hour in oven 400F, far superior to 10 minutes in microwave), dump butter, sour cream, cheese in it, you have the least effort meal of all but you’ve got everything your body needs

You can spice with anything you like, but get some protein, calcium, and vitamin A in there from a cheese of any variety and it will take care of you

You would be surprised how many more vegetables are edible when cut

You will have to look harder for recipes, and pay special attention to texture, but there is a world of difference between a roasted carrot and a steamed carrot

Or a ripe banana and a slightly green banana and an overripe banana

It’s just as true for other plants, your key phrases to avoid like the plague or try are things like “caramelize” (cook til gooey), “crust” (crunchy outside), “fork tender” (just soft enough to stab) since they describe the texture you’re going for

There might be no sweet spot, and you don’t have to try a single thing you don’t want to - that’s the best part! But if something catches your eye and you can afford a lil time, energy, and cash?

You an adult now. No one can stop you or make you finish it if it still sucks.

General rule of thumb: if you cannot do boiled or mush textures, try frying or roasting, maybe cook it 2-5 minutes less than recommended if it’s safe to eat a lil under

As most of you know at this point, things are getting scary for trans people in America recently. With that being said, I don't know how much longer I'll legally be allowed to get this surgery seeing as I live in a red state. It's not the reddest state ever, but it's still getting pretty bad. I would love to be able to get top surgery by this time next year. I do believe that to be possible with enough help.

I don't know the exact amount the surgery will cost as I have not yet had my consultation. Seeing as I don't have insurance and based on how much I've seen others spend, I think $10k is pretty close to what I'll likely be spending. I'll be sure to update when I do have an exact number.

Update: I don't qualify for my state government insurance and the job I'm in the process of starting doesn't have insurance, so this will be completely out of pocket, so this number is staying as is unless my eventual consultation tells me otherwise.

Find All The Ways You Can D0nate Via My LinkTree Here

This includes the following:

A P@treon for my YouTube/Twitch that has a minimum of $1/mon and a maximum of $20/mon

A k0-f! where you can buy me a coffee or commission some art (art in gallery is old, but I should still be able to do it. I'll communicate if anything needs to be adjusted)

A direct link to my P@yP@l

A link to my G0F√ndMe

As well as links to my R3dBubble and S0ciety6

Any small amount helps

(censored so the Tumblr gods don't smite me again like they have before)

As most of you know at this point, things are getting scary for trans people in America recently. With that being said, I don't know how much longer I'll legally be allowed to get this surgery seeing as I live in a red state. It's not the reddest state ever, but it's still getting pretty bad. I would love to be able to get top surgery by this time next year. I do believe that to be possible with enough help.

I don't know the exact amount the surgery will cost as I have not yet had my consultation. Seeing as I don't have insurance and based on how much I've seen others spend, I think $10k is pretty close to what I'll likely be spending. I'll be sure to update when I do have an exact number.

Update: I don't qualify for my state government insurance and the job I'm in the process of starting doesn't have insurance, so this will be completely out of pocket, so this number is staying as is unless my eventual consultation tells me otherwise.

Find All The Ways You Can D0nate Via My LinkTree Here

This includes the following:

A P@treon for my YouTube/Twitch that has a minimum of $1/mon and a maximum of $20/mon

A k0-f! where you can buy me a coffee or commission some art (art in gallery is old, but I should still be able to do it. I'll communicate if anything needs to be adjusted)

A direct link to my P@yP@l

A link to my G0F√ndMe

As well as links to my R3dBubble and S0ciety6

Any small amount helps

(censored so the Tumblr gods don't smite me again like they have before)

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