fic, writing, food

[topaz119]

hi, hi, hello, I'm still alive, though, woof, I could give up the waking-up-at-4-a.m. thing my brain seems to be all about lately. I took yesterday off in an effort to chill and managed to vote w/o any issues and then D & I drove up into the mountains to catch at least a little of the autumn color. Chill was achieved, but I was still awake at 4 this morning, so, sigh.

A couple of links (my brain is not forming free thought very well atm, so list-ho):

I started writing a Joe/Nicky (The Immortals) PWP, and, uh, here's the 25 page backstory my brain insisted on before it got to the sex: kick at the darkness til it bleeds daylight. I swear the pr0n is coming.

I'm not doing NaNo this year (it is too much time dedicated to a stressful thing at the exact wrong time of the year), but I am, once again, signing up for mini_wrimo. Tell me if you're signing up, too, and I'll try to cheer for you in the daily posts.

For those of you who have a nostalgic craving for Hamburger Helper, but can't make yourself buy the boxed stuff these days, I present 20-min, mostly from scratch dupes for Cheesy Italian Shells, Cheeseburger Macaroni, Beef Stroganoff, and (actually super-excellent and more like 45 min) Skillet Lasagna.

(It's been a really long month and we still have to get through the US elections so I'm not arguing with whatever my brain is deeming to be comfort strategies, but I can't feed D the processed stuff so I went down several internet rabbit holes & came up with some acceptable substitutes. Please, god, if you don't know what I mean by Hamburger Helper, do not take these links (except for the last one) as indicators of my cooking abilities.)

Also, did you know Dan Stevens narrates several Agatha Christie novels, complete with excellent voices and accents all around? His Poirot is sublime.

ciao, bellezze

Comments

[misbegotten]

Oh wow, thanks for the recipe links! That skillet lasagna looks great.

[topaz119]

Oh, it is excellent! It really doesn't belong with the other ones I listed, but it is only a single pan and HH does have a lasagna option so I tossed it in. It's really good enough that I don't feel like I have to make a proper lasagna unless I'm doing something for a holiday or big group dinner. For just the family, it's fantastic.

[musesfool]

That skillet lasagna looks good!

[topaz119]

It really is good and not too much of a hassle to pull together. I really like the mascarpone--it's super creamy w/o the graininess that ricotta sometimes gives you.

[jenab]

I've never tried Hamburger Helper but a few of the recipes look good, especially the Skillet Lasagna

I forgot about Mini Wrimo until I saw the posts today. I'm undecided about signing up for it this year.

[topaz119]

Oh, Hamburger Helper is objectively SO BAD, but sometimes, I just want that everything-mixed-together mess that it gives you.

The lasagna I linked is really great and not nearly as much of a hassle as making actual, layered lasagna. It's doable on a regular weeknight, which is great.

I will be around mini_nano again this year, so I'll keep an eye out and see if I see you.

[lilacsigil]

I have never heard of Hamburger Helper but that skillet lasagna looks good!

[topaz119]

Oh, god, Hamburger Helper is this objectively horrible, boxed 'meal' where you brown a pound of your own ground beef/mince and then add water and their pasta/noodles/rice (depending on your flavor) and a flavoring packet that is 90% salt/sugar/chemicals/thickeners to make the sauce and carbs. My mom was not an inspired cook (to say the least) so these were at least something she couldn't mess up and they sort of have that comfort feel. Plus, they come together really quickly.

The skillet lasagna is actually a fantastic recipe; it seriously does not belong in with the rest of the stuff (though the other ones I linked to are better than the boxed mixes, but they're not trying to be high art.)

[beanside]

Those recipes look really tasty! Gotta take your comfort food where you can find it.

Taking a drive to look at the fall foliage sounds lovely. Jess and I might have to do that one weekend.

Hope the House of Boys and you and D are doing well.

[topaz119]

They're all pretty good and you can control the sodium/fat to a very large degree, which is good for us these days. The lasagna is in a class by itself, though. Very very good.

The leaves were very pretty and I'm glad we went when we did b/c the remains of Hurricane Delta blew through last night and I'm guessing a lot came down in the winds and rain.

We're doing relatively okay here, though I'm already not looking forward to winter.

[rikes]

Good luck with mini_wrimo!

[topaz119]

Thanks, r!

[turps]

I just signed up for mini wrimo today. I wasn't going to but figured that I could claw out 100 words a day.

I saw your fic recced elsewhere and have tabbed it to read. I'm looking forward to doing so.