#sometimes you want a focaccia very quickly

[guccigarantine]

I have further perfected my bastard focaccia recipe so now it is better AND more bastardly

#sometimes you want a focaccia very quickly #and don’t want to wait hours for it to rise #but still want it to be decent #you CAN have it all

[nerdzzone]

Light After Dark: Chapter Four

Summary: Brooke Harris was trying her best to be grateful. As the world tackled the COVID-19 pandemic, she was healthy and safe and so was the rest of her family, but her dreams had very quickly been crushed by the economic fallout. Trapped on the quaint island of Jersey with nothing, but free time to wallow in her mistakes, Brooke’s mental health was taking a hit, but when she collides with a handsome stranger she starts to realize that the future might not be so bleak and there might still be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Pairing: Henry Cavill x OFC

______________

Once the ice was broken, the floodgates opened. Despite the fact that neither of us had much going on in our lives of quarantine, we spoke almost every day. Sometimes on the phone, but mostly by text. It felt so natural with him. I wasn't sitting around for hours trying to compose the perfect message, I didn't stress about whether or not a certain text was worth sending. He put me at ease and it was making the whole lockdown experience much more interesting.

April. 20. 2020

Me: I've started watching your show

Henry: And what do you think?

Me: I'm only about three minutes in. Is it going to scare me? That was a very intense start...

Henry: It has some unsettling moments, but I wouldn't say it's scary

Me: If it gives me nightmare then you better be prepared to talk to me in the middle of the night when I'm afraid

Henry: Ha ha I promise I will, but it's not that bad. There's some gore, but not much that will haunt your dreams

Me: Alright, I'll keep going then

Henry replied with a thumbs up emoji and I returned my attention back to the show, but I was messaging him again before much longer.

Me: You look so different with that hair

Henry: Different in a good way?

Me: Well it's not a bad look, the whole rugged thing is quite sexy

Henry: I'm glad you like it 😉

Me: Not a huge fan of those eyes though

Henry: The contacts were awful to wear, but it did make it easy to get into the role with how different I looked by the time I was done hair and make-up

Me: I can imagine. Were those pants as uncomfortably tight as they look?

Henry: Well...We did go through several pairs...because they kept ripping...

Me:

Me: Careful Henry, I'm trying really hard to rein in my thoughts before I start objectifying you...

Henry: 😂

Henry: I won't tell anyone if you do 😉

Me: Stop distracting me, I'm trying to watch a very serious show

Henry: Alright, but just wait until you get to episode five

Me: Why?

...

Me: Henry? Why?

...

Me: What happens in episode five?!

****

April. 25.2020

Henry: My mother would like to know if you do savoury baking as well as sweet

Me: You told your mother about me? How cute

Henry: I wanted to get ahead of any rumours of assault that may have come out after our first meeting

Me: Are you sure you weren't gushing about the amazing woman who knocked you off your feet?

Henry: I believe it was me who knocked you off your feet

Me: Physically, yes. But emotionally, it was definitely the other way around

Henry: And what makes you think that?

Me: Whisking me up into those big strong arms trying to impress me, wanting to check over my ankle as an excuse to get your hands on me. Clearly, you were enamoured

Henry: Ah, yes, you've caught me. When I meet a woman I'm attracted to, the first thing I want to do is touch her ankles

Me: Back in the Victorian times that was quite a treat

Henry: Men tend to aspire to a bit more than that these days 😉

Henry: But I will admit you captured my attention as soon as you stopped hyperventilating

Me: Not my best first impression...Perhaps you should raise your standards

Henry: Well, it's quite flattering when a woman literally forgets how to breathe at the sight of you

Me: Ha ha very funny 🙄

Henry: Are you ever going to answer my question?

Me: Yes, I do savoury baking as well from time to time

Me: I actually made calzones tonight

Me:

Henry: I like your dinosaur apron

Me: Ha I forgot I was wearing that

Me: It would seem the best gift for a baker is novelty aprons, I have a whole variety of them

Henry: Very cute. You and the aprons 😉

Me: Awe, shucks. You're sweet. Anyway, why did your mum want to know about what I bake?

Henry: She was trying to make focaccia bread and had some difficulties

Me: I told you bread was hard

Me: Best tip for focaccia is to not over handle it. Don't knead it too much because you want to keep the air in. Letting it rise in the pan you're going to bake it in helps so you don't have to move it

Henry: Great, I'll pass that on. Thank you

Me: You're welcome. I'm here for all your baking kneads 😂

Henry: Very funny 🙄

****

April. 30. 2020

Me: I finished your show

Henry: And what did you think?

Me: Let's just say I'll be sneaking into your house to steal that script

Henry: 😂

Henry: I'll make sure I hide it somewhere safe then

Henry: But I'm glad you liked it!

Me: I did! Honestly, I don't watch or read much fantasy stuff, but it was really intriguing

Me: And I did enjoy episode five 😉

Henry: I thought you might 😉

Henry: I had to dehydrate for three days to look like that

Me: ...what? are you serious?

Henry: Yes, it makes your skin super thin so it just sits on your muscles and they look extra toned

Me: Okay, I don't like it now! That sounds super dangerous

Henry: Ha ha well, it's not absolutely no water for the whole three days, you taper it off

Henry: But it does get quite miserable by the time you're ready to shoot on the fourth day. You can practically smell any water nearby 😂

Me: 😒

Me: I still don't like that

Me: I've seen you in person and I very much doubt that those muscles don't look sufficiently massive on camera without silly tricks like that

Henry: It was a small price to pay for such an iconic scene

Henry: It's right out of the video game. I should have had my feet up on the front, but the bath was the wrong shape and that would have gotten a bit too graphic for our rating

Me: Ha! Not a fan of full-frontal?

Henry: I'll admit I've come quite close, but no, no full-frontal

Me: When did you come quite close?

Henry: During the Tudors there were quite a few racy scenes

Me: Hm, which episodes exactly?

Henry: Ha ha you'll have to figure that out for yourself I'm afraid

Me: Darn, well it was worth a try 😉

Henry: It would hardly be fair for you to see that much of me without returning the favour

Me: There might be a few videos floating around the internet that you could track down

Me: Kidding, by the way. Just realized that we probably don't know each other well enough for you to know I'm not that kind of girl

Henry: Would it be wrong if I was a little disappointed?

Me: Yes, don't be a dirty old man

Henry: Old?!

Me: I did some research, you're going to be 37 in five days 😲

Henry: That's hardly old and, not to be rude, but you can't be too far behind

Me: Never try to guess a woman's age, Mr. Cavill, it gets you into trouble

Henry: I said I wasn't trying to be rude!

Me: I'm 30, I'll be 31 in August

Me: Practically a baby still compared to you

Henry: You keep telling yourself that

Me: Careful what you say or you won't get the amazing birthday cake I have planned for you

Henry: Sorry, sorry, I'm old and you are far more youthful

Me: 😚

#henry cavill fanfiction #henry cavill fic #henry cavill fanfic #henry cavill x ofc #Light After Dark

[local-diavolo-anon]

Hi, honey✨🌸

So, since your ask box is open I want to request you something. What about Bucci gang with really young newbie, they haven’t even finished high school yet(I know that Giorno is 15, but nevermind🌝). Like, they’re a total airhead and even during the fights they are reckless and childish and just can’t take things seriously(duh, I’m talking about myself)

Thank you, pumpkin💚

Nakska aww thank you~ 💖💗💝,,,,

since you specified, do you mind if I wrote this as a reader insert?

Buccigang with a young and reckless newbie~

Bruno Bucciarati

He's the one who took you in, so he's perfectly aware of how reckless you are in battles

Especially because when you met him, you almost got run over by a bus to outsmart him

He likes your energy but he's always sick worried, especially when you come back hurt and bruised

He would probably be your tutor, trying to teach you how to use your stand in the best way without hurting yourself

He would also try to help you to keep up with your studies, but would give up soon and ask Fugo to take care of it

Also, along with Giorno, he's the one who would potentially teach you how to drive

Leone Abbacchio

At first, he snobbed you as hard as you can imagine and more

"Why would Bucciarati took a brat like you?"

He would not question Bruno's decision in front of him although, he trust Bruno and if he took you in, you must have some kind of usefulness

The first time you fight together, he had to drag you away as you screamed at him to let you go and that you would have kicked that bastard's ass

He would call you a fucking idiot afterward, telling you to learn how to decide if a battle is worth fighting or if you should run instead

He would also be the one to hold you back from doing stupid shit

He would never admit it, but he starts liking you after a while, you have the opposite energy and he finds you and Narancia very similar

He's also the one who would scream bloody murder if you're the one driving

Guido Mista

Oh boy, he adores you

With Narancia, he would be the first to become your friend

After being a good dose of an idiot of course

Then he saw you beat the shit out of a dude while screeching your lungs out and laughing

He would bring you around in his motorbike (i'm sure he have one) along with Narancia

Hope to god that no cop will ever see you

For the love of god say no if he proposes you to do 'something reckless' with him and Narancia

Because yes, you are reckless yourself but it would end up with you two stealing a car and then crashing it down a ditch

Just don't. Be sure that Narancia got the idea.

Also, both him and Narancia will follow you immediately if you have an idea, they trust you

He would also be the first to ask you to go out for shopping, this dude DOES have money and he likes to buy expensive stuff!

Don't trust his fashion sense tho, it's shit

Narancia Ghirga

This funky little man is the first of all to talk to you, he wants yo know who are you first of all

Second, he will straight up ask you to show him your stand

The first time he will see you run head down into a battle to fuck shit up he would scream in joy and join you immediately

Then you would go together to eat something out, maybe a pizza or some focaccia

Be sure tho that Bruno will pale out when he will see you return covered in blood

Narancia is the one who would bring you out to buy comics and other stuff like music cds or even plushies, if you like them

Be sure that Fugo will be mad at both of you for being full idiots while studying

Pannacotta Fugo

Someone make this stressed boy a chamomille

First, he had to look after one brat, now he got two

He doesn't have enough hands to look at your (wrong) homework and beat both of you

He would be the first along with Leone to call you out on how reckless you are

He has no ground to speak although, contrarily to Leone, he's not very much calculative and would go ape shit too if angry

He will never understand how someone so good in battle can be such an idiot at school

Giorno Giovanna

Ah yes, our perfect boy~ he would be the one who would pull you back together after a fight

He would probably do it silently since he's not one for conversation but he would sometimes try to ask you how the mission went

He's prepared to listen to you venting about it for the next 20 minutes but he doesn't mind it

He finds your energy and dorkiness funny and a nice company

First time in battle tho, he would get kinda worried, now he gets how you always get shit faced like that

He would teach you how to drive along with Bruno, everybody there needs to know it, in case you're the only one to bring them to safety

Sometimes he would turn a tiny object into an animal just to watch you get excited about it

He's also the one who will bring you to buy cosmetics along with Trish, mostly makeup or jewelry

Bonus: Trish Una

Please help her, she absolutely does not understand how you can get THAT hurt when your task was to buy her lipstick

Next time she will come with you to make sure you will be alright

She will soon understand how you get like that

She would also be, like Leone, the one who would pull you out of the fight

But she would not run for shit

She would protect your ass and beat up the idiot herself

She's strong and she knows it!

Plus she really likes you, along with Giorno, you're the only one of her age, and Giorno is not very social himself...

You would become friends pretty quickly for sure

Along with Giorno, she would drag you around to buy makeup and jewelry, making sure to buy stuff that matches your outfit or aesthetic

Even if she's more cautious, her Spice Girl can help if one day you had the idea of doing something very stupid

Like letting Narancia drive

I really hope you like it man :"")))) I have no idea how to use gifs properly and i'm scared to fuck shit up sadly...

#jojo no kimyou na bouken #jojos bizarre adventure #jojo's bizzare adventure #jojo #jojo headcanons #jojo part 5 #bruno buccerati #leone abbacchio #giorno giovanna #pannacotta fugo #narancia ghirga #trish una #guido mista #bucci gang

[a-medvezhonok]

Part 9 Sterling x April

Sorry this isn't a very fluffy chapter, and more plotty. But plot helps get to the soppy stuff sometimes :)

The banquet was happening during the third period. Sterling hadn’t seen April since the rushed morning. What she didn’t expect to see when walking into the hall where they were preparing the feast, in amongst the group of parents, students and teachers gathered, was April’s dad. Yet there he was, glaring right at her. Sterling had never wanted Blair by her side more in her life. As she went over to place the bread on the table, he walked over to her.

-Hello Sterling.

-Hi Mr Stevens. What brings you to this lovely event?

-I think you know exactly what.

-It’s the cheese platter isn’t it? I always knew you were a stilton man.

-Stop fooling around. –Sterling gulped.

-I came to let you know that from now on, your life is going to be a living hell, I will personally make sure of it.

-Oh that’s sweet, but you really don’t have to, I-

-Unless.- He paused dramatically.- you and your sister meet me at our estate tomorrow at midnight. Sharp. There are a few things I would like to discuss with you two cu- Before he could finish his colourful use of the English language, a –Hi Daddy- stopped him in his tracks. April appeared smiling at both, albeit looking a little confused.

-I didn’t think you would actually turn up. You usually tend to avoid my school events.

April’s dad instantly changed his expression, to one of such sickly admiration that Sterling felt queasy.

-How could I miss it? All morning you were describing the bread you made with Sterling, I couldn’t wait to take a bite out of it – at the word bite he snapped his jaw and eyed Sterling, but April didn’t quite catch it as she was too busy rearranging the bread display.

-Really?-her whole face lit up- I would recommend the Focaccia, the recipe we found for it was amazing, we translated it from Italian.

Then Ellen hit her fork against a glass to get everyone’s attention. Mr Steven’s lent over to April’s ear and quietly said. – Actually, I just remembered, there was a business call I had to make, I have to go. I’ll see you this evening.

As he left, Sterling noticed that for a brief moment April looked like she’d just been deflated, but she quickly regained herself as if nothing had happened. Sterling felt a pang for April in how abandoned she must have felt, but it was the speed at which April hid that, clearly from experience, that really pulled at her heartstrings. She nudged April and tried to give a comforting smile. But it was to no avail, April stared onwards with a stone expression, pretending to be listening intently to Ellen’s speech.

-And that’s why I to this day will not go within five yards of a pot of humus. – The crowd laughed at Ellen’s anecdote, Sterling pretended to join in. Even though she had no idea what the rest of the tale had been about. This rewarded her with a side look from April. – No, but in all honesty, I’d like to thank y’all for joining us for this celebration. The students worked very hard on this all week, some more than others. I’m sure we’re gonna have a lovely afternoon. But enough chit chat, let’s tuck in and keep our fingers crossed for no food poisoning. – At that the crowd started gathering around the table, plates in hand, picking and choosing.

-Are we really all just ignoring what the last supper actually signified?-April muttered.

-I think it was just an elaborate ploy for Ellen to eat something besides those fig newton bars.

To Sterling’s delight, April smirked at her quip, which was good, it meant progress in cheering her up.

-Who here do you think is going to get brutally murdered? – Asked April as she started putting food on her plate.

-What?!?

-It’s the last supper.

-Oh, umm.. Honestly I think I might tonight. – Sterling realised what she had just said, and prayed April didn’t ask further questions.

- I’ll make sure you get a better memorial than the one you gave Mr Kitz.

-Mr Koontz, - Sterling corrected - and thanks. – Sterling thought she had gotten away with it when April asked.

-Why do you think you’ll get murdered tonight?

-Well.. I watched the Ring last night, and you know what they say about watching the Ring? You’ll.. umm get murdered the next night.

-I was with you the entire night?

-Yes you were, yes.. you.. were. It must have been a dream then.

They’d finished gathering their plates and sat outside on the grass. Partly because she wanted to change the subject from her potential murder and partly because she genuinely wanted to know, Sterling asked.

-Talking of last night, how do you feel?

-How do I feel?

-Yeah, do you regret any of it? Or do you feel ok, it wasn’t too much.

- You didn’t force me into anything.

-No I know, I mean I didn’t know, but glad to hear, I just wanted to check.

April seemed to lose part of her stone exterior she had been keeping up and became softer.

-Well, thanks for checking you’re very sweet –Sterling’s heart skipped. – And last night was lovely, but we obviously can’t repeat it. –this time Sterling’s heart sunk. April saw Sterling’s face drop. –Oh please don’t look at me like that, we both agreed we wouldn’t. Otherwise if we stop, no not if, when we stop it’ll be sad, like it is now. Like imagine if we had kissed, do you know much it would have sucked to have to stop again.

-I don’t know I feel pretty sad right now.

April placed her hand on Sterling’s knee, stroking it with her thumb. – I know, I do too. But it’s for the best.

-Your best.

-Please, let’s not do this right now. Ezekiel and Hannah. B. are coming towards us. Let’s just enjoy the food we made and then pretend that we enjoy other people’s cooking. - Which is exactly what they did for the rest of the period.

#teenage bounty hunters #april stevens #sterling wesley #sterling x april #i know we hit a dip #but it'll go up i promise

[alittleyellowdinosaur]

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

So i made this here post about how satisfying making my own bread is, and, by my 300 followers, 6 notes on a good day, 0 on personal post standards, it went viral. So i thought I’d give you guys the recipe. It’s a mashup of this recipe, my own shit, and an idea from another recipe that i can’t find again to give them credit. Since i only took proportions from the first one i’m calling this my own recipe. I’m also going to go a bit into bread baking tips and tricks just in case this is your first time making bread and you want to get started on that cottagecore life. Now go bake some fine ass cinnamon rolls folks! ( @good-vibes-by-noel this here’s for you!)

Photo sucks but i couldnt get a better one because they didn’t last the night. Whoops! This is what they’ll look like though!

Time: like 2 hours, give or take, but you can do other shit during most of that.

Makes: 12, frankly giant, cinnamon rolls. good luck eating more than 2 at a time, seriously.

Ingredients: 

The Rolls:

1 cup warm milk (microwave in a mug for a minute and you are good. Any milk is fine, but i used fat free)

1 tablespoon dry instant yeast (about one and a quarter packets, but one should be fine, you just might need to extend rising times if it’s not working well)

2 tablespoons granulated sugar 

1 teaspoon salt 

1/2 cup (1 stick) and 3 tablespoons of melted butter (*** VERY IMPORTANT - melt the 3tbs and the 1/2 cup SEPARATELY or you’ll throw everything off.)

1 large egg

3 cups all-purpose flour (bread flour works too

1 cup brown sugar 

2 tablespoons cinnamon (yes the big ones) 

The Icing:

1 cup of icing (powdered) sugar (Starting point - I’ll explain later))

1 Tablespoon of milk  (Starting point)

1 teaspoon of vanilla

Directions:

 I added lots of bread fun facts to help you guys with other bread making endeavors, so it got long and is now under the cut!

Activate the yeast. Warm the milk up for a minute in the microwave, and mix that, the white sugar, and the yeast together. leave to rest for 5-10 minutes. you want it to look like the photo on the bottom, but if it isn’t as good, don’t freak out because you’ll be fine. Mine never look that good tbh, there’s a reason i was so proud. Bread Fun Fact: Less of a fun fact then just some advice, but buy the bulk jars of instant yeast. They keep forever in the fridge (always store yeast in the fridge btw) and are so much cheaper than buying packets. if you intend to make bread a lot, it’s the best way to save money. Plus, most recipes give tablespoon/teaspoon amounts, not packet amounts.

Once it looks all nice and foamy, add in the flour. On top of the flour, add the salt, egg, and 3 tablespoons of butter. You need to keep these as separate from the yeast as you can until you begin mixing - especially the salt, which will outright kill it. Always keep the salt and yeast separate guys!! Bread Fun Fact: Because you are adding eggs, butter, and milk instead of water, this type of bread is called an enriched bread. These breads are softer, fluffier, usually sweeter, and more complicated as they can take longer to rise. Yay! Doughs without these things are called Lean breads and include ciabatta, focaccia, and baguettes i think.

Mix and knead the dough. If you have a stand mixer, use the dough hook (the one that looks like Captain Hook got robbed), and mix it together until the dough forms on medium, then crank it for like 5 minutes on medium-high. If you are making this at 7 in the morning like i was and can’t wake people up, mix it by hand until combined, then knead for 10 ish minutes to build up the gluten strands on a clean table dusted with a bit of flour. The best method I’ve found is to stretch it out with the heel of your hand, roll it up, then rotate and repeat. Over and over and over.... Bread Fun Fact: You can tell you’ve done enough kneading by using the Window Pane Test. If you can stretch the dough far enough that you can see light through it without it breaking, then you’ve got enough gluten. That or go until it doesn’t look like it’s got cellulite anymore and is nice and smooth. The other test is if it bounces back when you poke it a bit. Also, when helping with kneading, for enriched breads use flour, for lean breads use oil!

Now comes the waiting. Grease the bowl you mixed in with some butter, and plop the ball of dough in. Cover with tight plastic to prevent air getting in (and creating a crusty skin that will inhibit rising), and a clean towel, and leave in a patch of sun or a warm place for 1 hour to rise. 

Before you go play video games/do work/fuck around, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon and melt the 1/2 cup of butter. Now go have fun.

When you get back, you should have a big bowl of risen dough. Now punch the sucker. Yes, you heard me, punch it. It’s called knocking it back and is absolutely essential in dough making. Now, pat the dough out into a 12 inch by 18 inch rectangle, approximately. Don’t use a rolling pin because it’ll mess the air up. Put about a quarter of the melted butter over the top, and then however much of the brown sugar - cinnamon mix you feel like (i put enough so that, when patted down a bit, it covered the whole thing evenly.) 

Roll the rectangle up along the longer edge. It helps to tack down one side by smearing it a bit onto the table. it just makes it easier to get a tight roll and helps the seam idk. Cut off the edges to get a clean roll, then cut 12 rolls, about an inch each or so. Bread Fun Fact: If you use a sharp knife, you are going to smush your rolls. The better way is to get tooth floss, though i highly advise not a mint one. Push it under the roll where you want the cut, cross over the two ends in your hands, and pull until you’ve sliced off the roll. makes it much neater and not smushy. 

Pour the rest of the cinnamon sugar mixture and butter into the bottom of a 13in by 9in pan, be it glass, metal, whatever you have is fine. Mix it together and make sure the sludge of deliciousness covers the whole bottom. Plop each off the rolls in there, in a 3 by 4 set up, cover with plastic and the towel, leave in sun, and go fuck off for a half hour or so. Honestly i never leave it that long because mine always get massive, so for me it’s always more like 15-20 minutes. Really just wait till they balloon up and fill the pan a bunch, but don’t worry if it’s not perfect because they’ll grow again in the oven. 

At some point while they are rising, preheat the oven to 350 degrees (Fahrenheit). When you deem them risen enough and the oven is fully heated (YOU REALLY DO WANT TO PREHEAT IT THIS TIME GUYS TRUST ME ON THIS. if you dont you’ll probably burn your bread before it’s cooked), and bake for about 20-30 minutes. i know that’s a big iffy point, but pretty much just keep checking after around 20 minutes until they are colored brown on top and smell like heaven. (i’m going to be really honest with you, I’ve never baked them at 350 degrees, only at 325 like the recipe for the dough said, but that recipe is a liar because it took me a solid 30 minutes or more when it said that it should take 14. The op was eating undercooked bread guys. So do 350, but i can’t honestly tell you the right timing because i’ve only turned it up halfway through before) Bread Fun Fact: Because enriched breads, like this recipe, have more sugar than lean breads do, they can sometimes catch in the oven - or color too quickly and burn, when the inside still needs to cook. if this happens, you can always give them a little tin foil hat wherever it’s catching to prevent more coloring while not hindering cooking!

While it’s baking, mix together the icing. The amounts i gave are a starting point, because the icing is something you feel with your heart. add more sugar or more milk until you think you have enough for all 12 rolls and its the consistency you want. I made mine fairly thick so it wouldnt sink in and make the dough soggy, but i also made a shit ton because my family loves the icing. So go with the flow. 

When the cinnamon rolls are done, put the icing on and serve warm! Congrats, you’ve made cinnamon rolls entirely homemade, and you’ve now learned some basic bread making facts!! yay!!!

#baking #bread #cinnamon rolls #cottagecore #i need everyone to know my only qualifications in baking is my hyperfocus being baking shows #and trying a shit ton of recipes out because of it #im not an expert but paul hollywood is and i just gave you what he's told me okay paul wouldnt steer me wrong #and it always turns out good so fuck it #recipes #my recipes

[countrymadefoods]

NEW ZEALAND STARTUP AIMS TO PERFECT VEGAN MOZZARELLA

“New Zealand-based food technology startup New Culture is working to create vegan cheese that closely mimics its dairy-derived counterpart. Similar to the process used by plant-based meat brand Impossible Foods, the company is working with elements of dairy on a molecular level to create plant-based substitutes that closely resemble cheese.”

“New Culture is first focusing on developing vegan mozzarella using a microbe that replicates the function of casein—a dairy-derived protein that is credited with giving cheese its distinctive texture and flavor. The startup is currently participating in IndieBio—a highly regarded biotechnology accelerator program that previously assisted companies such as Memphis Meats, Finless Foods, and New Wave Foods...once the company raises sufficient capital, he hopes to have New Culture’s vegan mozzarella available to the public within 18 months.”   

(via New Zealand Startup Aims to Perfect Vegan Mozzarella  | VegNews)

Lab-grown food startup wants to make dairy mozzarella, no animals required

“We want to make amazing tasting vegan cheese that is better in taste, structure, and function when compared with dairy cheese — as well as being healthier, far more sustainable and able to be enjoyed by everyone...However, we don’t think this can be done with just plant-based ingredients. Dairy proteins are responsible for most of what we love about dairy cheese and are so unique themselves that they cannot just be replicated in the plant-based world. This is why we are taking these essential dairy proteins known as casein proteins, and sustainably producing them ourselves without the cow.”

“Similar to what the Impossible Burger does with the heme protein, we are making casein proteins with the help of microbes...We are still very early in development...After we close our seed round later this year we will build a pilot process to begin making our cheese. Due to the nature of the technology we are working with, it will take longer to get to market than a fully plant-based food product. We hope to have a product for consumers to buy within 18 months.”

(via Lab-grown food startup wants to make dairy mozzarella, no animals required |  Digital Trends)

WHOLE FOODS LAUNCHES ITS OWN VEGAN CHEESE LINE

“Supermarket chain Whole Foods Market recently debuted a new vegan cheese line under its 365 brand. The new palm oil-free...cheddar that are advertised to “melt and stretch” and are clearly labeled vegan. While the grocery chain offers a variety of vegan cheeses made by other brands, including Follow Your Heart, Daiya Foods, and Miyoko’s Kitchen, the new line is the first vegan cheese offered under its own brand.”

(via WHOLE FOODS LAUNCHES ITS OWN VEGAN CHEESE LINE | VegNews)

8 Vegan Cheeses You’ll Want To Add To Your Plant-Based Bucket List

“[W]e now live in an age where plant-based cheese alternatives are bountiful. Some are developed enough to just hit the spot, while others are so close that you actually can’t tell the difference between them or the real thing.”

”One of the more popular brands of vegan cheese slices, you’ll find Follow Your Heart on the menu of viral vegan burger chains like Monty’s Good Burger...While Kite Hill is probably best known for their yogurts, they also produce almond milk-based cheeses such as ricotta...Mikoyo’s Creamery is believed to be one of the first brands to bring vegan cheeses into the mainstream. Mikoyo produces high-quality cheeses from nut milks that even include artisanal vegan cheese wheels... Violife makes a variety of vegan cheese options like cream cheese, parmesan, feta, smoked provolone, and cheddar. However, their take on queso was truly a mouthwatering experience.”

“Good Planet Foods prides themselves in a variety of tastes that tailor themselves to the consumer...slices come in a bevy of unique flavors such as garlic and herb, hot pepper, and tomato basil...Parmela Creamery draws from the subtle flavors that come from cashews. The company utilizes a slow-aging process for their nut cheeses that unlocks rich authentic flavors. Products include cheese spreads, meltable slices, cheese sauces, and meltable shredded cheese...Wayfare Foods specializes in dairy-free cream cheeses (with flavors like onion chive, green olive, and jalapeño)...Bute Islands was one of the best vegan cheeses...“My favorite was the Greek style...It was fashioned after feta cheese and their rendition was super creamy and slightly tangy, just like a good feta.” 

(via 8 Vegan Cheeses You’ll Want To Add To Your Plant-Based Bucket List | So Delicious)

Booming Belgian Vegan Cheese Company Keeps Selling out of Cheese

“A new vegan cheese company is taking Belgium by storm and seeing extraordinary growth and popularity after less than five months in business.Launched November 2018 in just 15 retail locations, Pa’lais is already being sold at over 130 retailers throughout Belgium.Food influencers nationwide have used the vegan cheese, and the events Pa’lais holds always sell out their products...Additionally, an astonishing 90% of customers who sample their products during in-store tastings end up purchasing the vegan cheese.”

”The Belgium-based company sells organic vegan cream cheese style spreads that are made with fermented cashews and almonds. The cheese is free of additives and preservatives, oil, gluten, GMOs, starch and soy. Each has a unique color and goes perfectly on toast, crackers or sandwiches. The vegan cream cheese can even be used in dishes like pizza or cheesecake.”

“A year ago, I had the idea to design a plant-based food that provides the same pleasure as a spread-cheese but that is better for our health, the planet and the animals...I wanted to create a product that would appeal to both those looking to eat without dairy (vegetarians, vegans or lactose intolerant) and the curious ones who want to indulge themselves without overlooking the taste and health..I wanted to show everyone it is not necessary to harm others to eat delicious food...I quickly discovered that it was possible to use traditional cheese making techniques on plant-based milk...I was able to create ‘camemberts’ and ‘blue cheeses’, but cream-cheeses like spread were the ones that interested me the most because Belgians have a great tradition of bread, sandwiches and toasts.”

(via Booming Belgian Vegan Cheese Company Keeps Selling out of Cheese | VegNews)

Know how to make a better vegan cheese? Some Minnesota firms have money for you

“Frozen-pizza makers at Schwan’s foods know consumers want more plant-based foods, but they can’t find a vegan cheese with the right amount of stretch, melting and browning qualities.”

”Startups, entrepreneurs and inventors typically have to fight to get their ideas and voices heard by larger, established companies or investors. A reverse-pitch event flips that around by having the larger — and often better funded — players present their problems to creative minds outside their organization. Fields like technology and biopharmaceuticals have used this approach, sometimes called open innovation.”

”There is, however, a risk to opening up to outsiders...There’s also a real chance the solutions won’t work...“First, you have to make sure it’s doable and then you have to find a way for it to be scalable...But if we aren’t trying, we aren’t going to be able to hit the ball.”

(via Know how to make a better vegan cheese? Some Minnesota firms have money for you | Star Tribune)

VEGAN PIZZA POP-UPS ARE THE NEW TACO STANDS

“Taco stands and Mexican food trucks may never grow old, but there’s a new pop-up trend that’s offering hungry pedestrians a choice...Pop-up pizza joints have infiltrated the street food scene, bringing a new meaning to pizza delivery. From thick and fluffy focaccia crusts to wood-fired pies with homemade vegan mozzarella, traveling pizzaiolos have mastered the art of pizza on-demand.”

(via VEGAN PIZZA POP-UPS ARE THE NEW TACO STANDS | VegNews)

#vegancheese #plantbasedcheese #veganpizzaria #veganstartup #veganlifestylebrand #iluvvegan

[ilyashrayber]

North Beach

 There has to be something in the air. There has to be something that is telling you that this cannot be real, that this is a dream, that deep down it could not be true. I am not describing sex, or landing a career, or even watching Star Wars for the first time. I am instead trying to convey to you the emotion I have everytime I get to walk through North Beach, a neighborhood situated in the northeastern corner of the city. I think I stumbled upon it by accident, probably lost sometime in middle school, sweating bullets that I was never going to find the 38, and subsequently, never make it home. Even in that instance, I still had a vague grasp on just how freaking cool this place was.

   It was only last year that I set off on a (very) poorly planned Europe trip for almost a month. With my best friend in tow, we left America, not knowing just how many shenanigans we would get into while abroad. Europe was amazing, as we went from the narrow alleyways of Paris, sipping fine red wine, to flying by the Swedish countryside on scooters, to discussing socialism while haggling with Danish locals, all the way to (almost) getting locked overnight in a Czech cathedral. It was a paradise, in short. But, for some reason or other, we never made it to Italy. Which is strange, because in all facets of my life, especially those in which I devour art, it seemed like I was skewing more and more towards Italy in terms of interest. My favorite films recently seemed to all stem from minds such as Fellini, Petri, and Pasolini. My taste in music had seen the same shift- I traded in loop pedals and washed out guitar riffs for old school organs and synthesizers. In place of Radiohead, Mitski, and The Strokes, I was now enamored with artists such as Piero Umiliani, Stelvio Cipriani, and Armando Trovajoli, all 70’s lounge legends. They made me feel like my life was one big screening of La Dolce Vita. I knew that my dream car, even though I only have my permit as of writing, had to be made by Fiat or Alfa Romeo in the 70’s. And don’t even get me started on the tailoring of houses like Brioni and Loro Piana. So why didn’t we go to Italy? Well, I guess that’s because I’ve had North Beach my whole life.

    I did not grow up in North Beach, and I certainly didn’t know anyone who did when I was younger. It was just a true coincidence that I found myself stumbling among it’s streets one day, blown away by where I was. Just like any neighborhood, it had its own air, it’s own smells, and most of all, it’s own vibe. (Cue the real estate developers.) For a while, North Beach was my little slice of Europe. It felt like a vacation every time I went there, since I lived about an hour away by bus. San Francisco is small for a city, which is why I’ve never thought about it that way. North Beach especially hammers that notion home. The thin alleyways, confusing dead ends, and surprising number of parks located there almost make you feel like you’re in a West Coast version of Call Me By Your Name, except instead of Armie Hammer in a speedo, you have a guy named Derek in a patagonia vest. (The swathes of tech workers have spread to every inch of town, and don’t let anyone tell you different.) Still, you can’t shake the feeling that you’re in a special, almost sacred place. It is not like any other, with the smell of focaccia lingering, mixing in with the scent of less than stellar cigarettes, usually from the same bakery. Is it touristy? Yes. Do I care? Not really. After a while, you just learn to tune them out. Instead, you take note of the old men yelling at each other in front of coffee shops, the beautiful array of pastries in every window, and maybe, if you’re lucky, the people at Z. Chiocolotto’s letting you get two free taffy samples instead of just one. These are all facets of this beautiful, vibrant neighborhood. And now, onto some memories.

   It was my senior year of high school, and me and one my best friends were talking about prom, happening later that weekend. I had called the girl I was supposed to go with around 4 or 5 times, anxious that she was going to cancel. Why? Because I was in high school, and that’s how my brain works. Little did I know she was celebrating shabbat with her family and had turned her phone off that night. So, in the midst of my nerves and anxiety, a friend and I went over to get a slice, calm myself , and discuss how we were going to ‘make a move’ this weekend. We went over to Tony’s off Columbus, and got mouth blasted by the best damn pizza I’ve ever eaten. They do calzones there too, but don’t bother with those. Tony’s is probably the only place I’ve ever heard of that has a slicehouse with an actual school for making pizza above it. Internationally recognized and accredited, of course. But again, ignore the calzones. Anything but a slice with pepperoni, or just cheese if you're a veggieboi, seems like sacrilege. We took our slices up to the highest hill in North Beach and looked down on the rest of the city. It was beautiful, with the fog rolling in to make it a classic San Francisco night, along with the ocean breeze coming from a nearby Pacific Ocean. Of course, as picturesque as it sounds, we kept it casual, sitting on the curb of the street, eating pizza, trying not to get hit by some out of townie driving an Uber, happy to just be alive. We began discussing the future. Would we get laid at prom? Eh, probably not. Would we have fun either way? Well, hopefully. Would we still stay friends after high school? Of course we would. We had agreed to be friends for life, no matter how long we went without seeing each other. It was one of those moments where you reflected on your past, appreciated the present, and somehow, in some insane way, even saw a glimpse of your future. And of course, because of the romantic I am, this glimpse involved us back in North Beach, going back to Tony’s, this time with our wives and kids, discussing how much things have changed, but really stayed the same.

  I hadn’t been on a date in a while. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. Previously, I was seeing (this is a fairly generous word) a girl from down south, one that I met on a free 10-day tour of Israel. Zionist propaganda? Check. Sweltering heat that never, ever let up? Of course. Extreme amounts of sexual tension between young Jewish adults, propped up by the magic of the mediterranean countryside? Oh my god, yes. Anyways, it was on and off, with us being in different places, both geographically and emotionally. After a particularly bad weekend, we broke things off. I was alone. And yet, in the throes of my emotions, I somehow thought that the best way to get over her was to jump right back into the dating scene. In short, I was ready to get hurt again. If the theme to Curb Your Enthusiasm isn’t playing in your head right now, it should be. A couple weeks later, I decided to go out with another girl. Pressed for options and out of my mind in anxiety, I suggested the comforting embrace of North Beach. She said yes.

   In truth, we had started over at Glen Park, but walked over to North Beach later in the night. If that seems like a long distance, it’s because it is. But I didn’t mind. My anxiety is quickly squashed whenever I have something physical to do. We walked and talked for a while, got caught in the rain, took pictures with old cars, and talked about how much we loved analog photography. I liked her. So it was really a move when I took her down to Filbert Steps to look at the city, illuminated in light and surrounded by water. The Filbert Steps are right down by Coit Tower, a cluster of old houses entrenched in flora that were once the life work of a gardener who lived there. It’s almost an otherworldly site, seeing these great buildings hidden in the flowers and trees of the hill they were built on. I wanted to explore and get lost, but then we just started talking, and I had completely forgotten about that. She said she needed to be home by 9, she had work the next day. By midnite, after glancing at my watch in the middle of a discussion about French workwear, I could tell that wasn’t going to happen. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Aaron Peskin, the Supervisor for District 8 (which includes North Beach) comes walking down the steps. Because I’m a north beach nerd, I recognized him immediately and asked ‘Hey, are you Aaron Peskin?’. He replied with this: ‘Nope! My name’s Bubba!’. It was probably the greatest thing that had ever happened to me. We had coincidentally sat right outside his house, and we begun to strike up conversation with the man. He was intelligent, knowledgeable, and seemed like a really great guy all around. He even offered me a job cat sitting while he was out of town later that summer. It felt like a dream. Later that night, I walked her back to her MUNI train. It was a good night. We both agreed that there definitely had to be a second date.  

  North Beach is a paradise, and I got the privilege to work over there this summer as an intern for a low-income housing complex. Many days were stressful, but the best part of it was the walk down Columbus on my way home, passing old cafes, Fiat repair shops, and old mom and pop bike stores. It made me feel good to be alive. In many ways, the whole neighborhood does. And that’s not something you can really describe, no matter how many words you put on paper.