I like how my family and partner problems used to be stuff I think everyone can relate to in my country (can't afford medicine, eating takeout once a week could make us homeless, etc) and now I have a slightly less horrific problem of everyone going abroad for fun but if I leave work I'll burn all my vacation hours
Time is passing and I hope your December is going well for you:)
A little Christmas shopping with Lucy today, and if what happens in this fiction is taken from my own life, it’s obviously only coincidence ^^'
Happy reading!
You wouldn’t know why, every year, you find yourself at the end of December running in stores to find Christmas presents. Yet, you think about it as early as July, thinking about what you can offer to your parents, your in-laws and Lucy. When you asked her what she would like, she shrugged her shoulders and said that what she likes at Christmas is to spend time with her family. And you, of course. Then she hugged you to break your bones. You love it, but it doesn’t help you choose something.
Lucy accompanies you today in the mall, you decided to join forces to find gifts. You made a list of people who are missing gifts and you had the same protein breakfast you had before your football matches. Lucy laughed and pretended that you were doing too much, but you know what a pain you’re going to get into. People are completely crazy in stores around Christmas.
It’s been almost an hour since you were in the store and you only found two of the ten gifts on your list. And you’ve already been stepped on three times. Next to you, Lucy pushes the shopping cart looking around her, studying each of the articles on which her eyes rest.
"Okay, now we need a doll set for your niece"
You turn back to Lucy, to face… emptiness. You frown and turn on yourself, looking for your girlfriend’s figure. But she’s nowhere to be found.
"Lucy?"
Frowning, you retrace your steps to go through the rays you have already crossed, wondering if you forgot to take something. But Lucy is still nowhere to be found. You end up finding her at a dried meat tasting stand, almost ten minutes later.
"Baby!" she happily cheers when she sees you "Here, you have to taste this!"
She hands you a toothpick on which a piece of meat is pricked, which you examine before carrying to your mouth.
"How delicious is that?"
Before you have time to answer, Lucy puts two packages in your cart, to the delight of the saleswoman you look at with scepticism.
"Hum" you just mumble when she says goodbye with a little too much enthusiasm to Lucy. "Are you being charmed for some food now?"
"Of course not" laughs Lucy before putting a loving kiss on your cheek.
The gesture makes you smile and forget the touch of jealousy you just felt. This may not be worth the Iberian ham you have in Barcelona, but it's true that it's rather good. You take out the empty list and take control of the shopping cart.
"Set of dolls"
********
"I’m hungry" sighs Lucy a little later
You smile and roll your eyes when you hear her. You have to admit that you are getting hungry too, but you are unfortunately far from having finished your shopping.
"We’ll go to the cafeteria after we finish this" you answer, shaking the list in front of her eyes.
"But baby" Lucy whines, in the same tone as her four-year-old nephew.
You shake your head and drag her with you into the good place to find a gift for her sister-in-law. A skincare set may not be the most original idea in the world, but your imagination is far from overflowing right now. Arriving at your destination, you hesitate a long time about the different possibilities, before turning to Lucy.
"What do you think? Coconut or… Luce?"
But Lucy disappeared again and you let your head go against the shopping cart with a sound that seems to worry a Grandma next to you.
Taking a random kit off the shelf, you go back looking for your girlfriend, grumbling in a low voice. It takes you again long minutes to find her, lost in the contemplation of Christmas decorations.
"Lucia" you sigh at her.
But she turns to you again with a big smile and you find yourself feeling your annoyance fade away. You’re far too in love with her for your own sanity.
"Look, it’s pretty! It would be nice in the entrance of our apartment right?"
"Mh yeah, maybe"
You sigh again, looking at the list. You have the impression that it has lengthened since the beginning of the day. The good news is you’re starting to see the end of the tunnel. You ignore the man who rushes into your shopping cart, leaving Lucy to glare at him instead of you.
"We still need the gift for your brother, the gift for your mother and…"
"Give me this damn list."
You arch an eyebrow but comply, handing her the piece of paper and pen that you carry carefully since you left home. Your eyes are mechanically attracted by the light effects of the decorations and it's true that it is rather pretty.
"Is that the one you like?"
Lucy takes a brief look at the one you are pointing at and nods with a slight smile. After half a second of hesitation, you carefully place it in the shopping cart, balancing on the packets of meat.
"Here" says Lucy after a few seconds.
You pick up the list she gives you, quickly realizing that she added something following what you had already written. Who did you forget? But your slightly desperate look changes when an amused smile appears on your face.
"Smile, Feed your starving and almost dead girlfriend and Let her kiss you?" you laugh softly as you look up at her.
"Yes. And we can already trace the first one."
You keep smiling when she puts her hand in the hollow of your back to kiss your temple. This woman.
"Well, let’s go feed my hungry girlfriend before she falls out then" you do mischievously.
"Yes, please. We’ve reached a critical threshold."
You roll your eyes again and it's with her hand always on you that you take the way to the cafeteria. Needless to say, at the end of the day you didn’t find everything you were looking for and you will have to come back tomorrow. At least that’s what you’re imagining, before you let Lucy convince you to order what you need online.
Video by the Catalan recipe blog lasofregida on Instagram. The song is "No fer tant" by Guillem Roma.
In autumn, it's very popular to eat soups like this. Here I'm calling this a soup because it's what it's called in English, but in Catalan we usually make a difference between a soup / sopa (broth with things in it, usually pasta and can also have vegetables and sometimes some meat) and what we see in this video which we'd call a cream / crema. A "cream" is made of vegetables and is made into a homogeneous creamy liquid.
In this case, La Sofregida is making one of the most common "creams" for autumn: squash "cream".
I'll add her recipe under the cut.
Squash cream (crema de carbassa):
Ingredients:
Squash
Leek
Scallion
Water
A sprinkle of olive oil
Salt
You can also add carrots or a potato and some cheese that melts easily, and mix it all in like the other ingredients.
Preparation:
Place the vegetables in a pan and add a sprinkle of olive oil and salt, then slightly stir-fry the vegetables to bring out the taste.
Add water to boil them for 30-40 minutes more or less, until the vegetables are cooked.
Mix it all with a blender to make a homogenous soup, and serve!
When you serve it, you can add a bit of Iberian ham or bacon on top. Enjoy!
Cooperative Extension Service | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Family and Consumer Sciences | 4-H Youth Development | Community and Economic Development
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment
Cooperative Extension ServiceASC-213
How to Make a Country Ham
Gregg Rentfrow and Surendranath Suman, Animal and Food Sciences
Introduction
Country ham is the dry-
cured hind leg of a pig that
harks back to the way food
was preserved before mechanical refrigeration. The country
ham finds its roots in China and European dry-cured hams
such as China’s Jinhua and Yunnan hams, Italy’s Prosciutto,
Spain’s Serrano and Iberian hams, and Germany’s Black For-
est ham. Country hams are drastically different from their
more common cousin, the wet-cured ham, also known as
“city ham.” The flavor of a country ham is complex, and the
texture is unlike that of other hams.
Historically, pigs were harvested during the cold winter
months of December through early February. The hams
were removed and allowed to cool overnight before salt,
sugar, and other spices were rubbed into the ham to begin
the process of making a country ham. Today those traditions
have not died, but they have changed. The family tradition
of butchering hogs has been replaced by buying hams from
a local meat processor. And the environments of winter,
spring, and summer have been recreated through mechani-
cal refrigeration and heaters. Currently, more than 5 percent
of hams are turned into country hams within the ham belt
states of Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
The majority of country hams are cured in family owned and
operated facilities.
Country hams can be found in grocery stores and spe-
cialty shops throughout Southeast and on the internet. None-
theless, there are some do-it-yourselfers who want to start
their own family traditions. Country hams are not difficult
to make. The process requires a few easy-to-find ingredients
and a secure storage area. Country hams are made in three
steps: curing, salt equalization, and aging. These steps are
outlined in the manual.
Personally, I like the idea that he has a set routine and healthy diet, but doesn't keep it consistent. Actually, his diet and expenses are ridiculously controversial. He's very aware of savings and keeping his expenses in check, but has a really mixed conception of what is cheap and pricey.
Dick: Brunch in Diamond district? Too hoity-toity.
Also Dick's weekly grocery cart: kokyu shokupan, wild salmon, Iberian ham, tropical fruits, use only truffle oil for salad.
This contradiction is probably caused by the swift jump from living a quick, backpack lifestyle with the circus to living in a four stories billionaire mansion with a British butler.
Jason: practical AF
Like: meat
Dislike: shitty coffee
Jason spent his childhood on the street and in poverty, he, later on, spent most of his post-resurrection time in harsh training and backpack traveling, you can say he can't really afford to be picky when it comes to food. He'll eat anything consumable and doesn't really get food poisoning or salmonella thanks to the Pit.
But if you want to please him, just take him to a good BBQ or steak house.
(He'll break your bank though, cause by all means, he's a heavy eater.)
Tim: teenager
Like: street foods, chili dogs at carnivals, fresh pastries at local coffee houses
Dislike: Starbucks (will argue with the barista about their size names)
He's still a boy, his taste changes once in a while. Also, Tim has been very much of a reporter/detective most of his life, he's constantly on the streets, behind a screen, never has enough time, always reaches out for something quick and filling.
Also, you often see him surrounded by his teammates, friends and family. He doesn't like eating in general and sees it as a basic action to keep functioning his brain and body, but having foods that can easily be shared by a crowd and bring people together helps his appetite a lot.
Damian: aristocrat
Like: roasted beetroot with mango sauce, pumpkin velouté, spinach ravioli, and hot chocolate.
Dislike: anything Jason and Tim touch (until Dick tells him to try)
The boy is like Bruce but vegan coded. He is raised in wealth and has a palette that proves so. While he will never downgrade himself to try anything made in a van or on a kiosk, the boy will (not so willingly) test things out if dragged by the family.
While it's true that Damian has a sophisticated taste in food, he's still very much a child, you may not be able to bribe him with candy or pizza night, but you'll still earn his heart with a cup of hot milk with honey before bed (at least that was how Dick did it.)
Thanks to gender ideology a dude who didn't sign up while there was still spaces left in the men's category was able to sign up to compete in the women's category. And he won leaving with prize earmarked for a woman while if he did run in the men's category he would have come in 55th.
By Nuria Muíña García February 2, 2024
A man claiming to be “gender fluid” has won the women’s category of a mountain race in Spain, signing up after there were no more spaces left in the men’s category. Quim Durán Pradas, who lives his day-to-day life as a man, says running makes him feel “feminine.”
La Cursa de NaDalt is a chrono-climbing race held annually in December in Catalonia, and its most recent iteration, held on December 26 of 2023, was its 13th anniversary. The race, which starts in Sant Pere de Torelló and ends at the Sanctuary of Bellmunt, is a short but challenging event, and consists of a spectacular route of trails and climbs of 3,862 meters with a positive elevation gain of 620 meters.
In true Spanish fashion — once at the finish line, every racer gets a glass of sparkling wine, something to eat, and to finish it off, hot chocolate.
But the results of the most recent race sparked outrage in Spain after it was discovered that a 48-year-old male had won the top prize in the women’s category.
Speaking to La Vanguardia, sources from the event’s organizing committee explained that the initial outburst had begun at the awards ceremony, where several people broke out into an argument.
Among them was Quim Durán Pradas, a 48-year-old male runner who was seen at the awards ceremony wearing makeup, earrings, and a ponytail.
“[He] was saying that [he] had won in the women’s category and that [he] had every right to be recognized. As an organization, we were caught off guard. There had never been a case like this in previous editions,” explained sources from within the Centre Excursionista Serragrenyada, organizer of the event.
Durán Pradas reportedly threatened to sue the event if he was not provided the prize he claimed he had earned — a pricey leg of cured Iberian ham from Beher Red Label. The prize’s value could range anywhere from €100 to €500 (approx. $107 to $540 USD) depending on the weight of the leg.
Due to his threats and aggression, the event organizers attempted to accommodate him, noting that it was “a bit of a tense situation.” Durán Pradas ended up receiving a provisional victory in the women’s general category. When he stood to receive his ham, there was booing in the audience.
The fastest female, Laia Montoya, had previously taken the top spot in the race in 2022 and 2023. Though she had been booted out of earning the top prize by Durán Pradas, the organizers sent her a box of Iberian ham anyway out of apparent acknowledgement of the unfairness of the situation.
Durán Pradas would have come in 55th place had he participated in the men’s category.
On Instagram, the race’s organizing committee issued a statement explaining “the ethical, moral and philosophical dilemma” they faced.
“We want to show our support and the utmost tolerance, solidarity, and empathy towards gender-vulnerable people,” they wrote. “However, at the same time we also want to underline that the NaDalt race has always tried to promote women’s sport, because historically it has been discriminated and less visible.”
Yesterday, Durán Pradas appeared on Más Espejo, a popular Spanish morning show, where he explained that he is a “gender fluid” athlete who feels “feminine” when he is running in natural environments, but “masculine” at all other times. He is not on any hormone therapy, and does not intend to seek out any surgeries.
“I am gender fluid, and when I run in the mountains, I feel like a woman, I feel like the other female runners,” he said. “I have been to an inclusive psychologist who told me that this is not a disorder. I am simply a person who, depending on the situations, is gender fluid. In my day-to-day life, at home when I’m with my children, I feel like a man. In my leisure time, in contact with nature, I feel like a woman.”
On the program, Durán Pradas stated that he wanted to educate audiences about gender fluidity, also noting that he had previously felt too scared to participate in a women’s category but decided to finally take the risk after being informed there were no slots left in the men’s category. He described the situation as La Cursa de NaDalt “putting [the opportunity] on a platter” for him.
He refused to accept questions from the presenter and the rest of the morning show’s panel, deeming them too “argumentative” to respond to. He then complained he was being subjected to a “hate crime” after one of the panelists accused him of “cheating” for running without having altered his testosterone levels.
“I thought this was going to go well for me, and you just won’t let me justify my position,” Durán Pradas said. “People who do not understand [gender fluidity] and ridicule it as you are ridiculing it… it can become a hate crime.”
It's SOO CRISPY and very tasty. Good amount of salty and tasty. 100% recommend.
🍃🍕 Roostiq Pizza with Iberian Ham, Burrata, Basil and Truffle (€ 29, $42.33)
Probably not worth the price but it's darn good pizza. The crust was light and fluffy. CVan't get enough. Could do without the truffle though, didn't add much to it.
🐮🥩 "Picanha" Steak (250g) (€ 24, $35.03)
Didn't have much steak here but this was really tender. It's a good cut with enough beefy taste and fats.
🌶 Confit Sweet Red Peppers "Piquillo" (€ 8, $11.68)
As an add on with the steak. It's so good! Sweet, meaty and really tasty.
🧀🍰 Tarta de Queso (€ 9, $13.14)
Cheesecake looks really solid but it's light and creamy. It's the right amount of creaminess - heavier than the Japanese cow cheesecakes but lighter than the usual cheescakes. It's such a treat! Comes with whipped cream and a nice shot of amaretto.
🍫🍰 Brownie Black and White ((€ 9, $13.14)
So chocolatey and melty in the middle. Would really recommend this. It's like a lava cake rather than the chewy brownie type. Comes with great ice cream.
Would highly recommend this place despite the steep price point for some things. The desserts are actually quite affordable! It's one of the pricier places we went in Madrid but the steak is about the same price as a nicer place in SG. Remember to make a reservation!