#skyboneharper

[madamebadger]

skyboneharper replied to your post: skyboneharper replied to your post : ...

I’ll bet it would make excellent fruit leather.

You know, I bet you’re right. I haven’t broken out the dehydrator in a long time, but this might be a good reason to do so.....

[madamebadger]

skyboneharper

replied to your

post

:

Every time I make a recipe involving whole...

Oh, I’ve made orange cranberry sauce, but never with apple as well. It sounds wonderful. (And I do the same thing with the sugar.)

It’s really good!  I got a half-pint box of cranberries in my produce box this week, so I’m making the apple-orange-cranberry sauce to go with it. This is what I did:

Two medium or large apples, any kind you like (but if you pick a sour apple like Granny Smith rather than a sweet apple like Braeburn, you’ll have to up the sugar)

Two navel oranges

A cup of cranberries, fresh or whole frozen

A pinch of salt

A half-cup of sugar (and this is where I go A HALF CUP OF SUGAR ARE YOU KIDDING?  ......yes, a half cup of sugar. but you can do what I do and drop it to two tablespoons and then add another tablespoon after each tasting when your face looks like sad Kermit, and eventually end up with a half cup anyway)

Two cinnamon sticks, or 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Four cardamom pods, or 1 tsp ground cardamom

Chop the apples.  Peel the oranges and cut into segments.  (If you’re feeling ambitious, zest the skin as well.) Put the chopped apples, orange segments, and (if using) orange zest in a pot, and add the cranberries and enough water to fill the pot to about one inch.  (If you like, you can use apple cider or orange juice instead of water.)  

Add the pinch of salt, the sugar, the cinnamon, and the cardamom.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce to low heat and let cook until everything has cooked down and fallen apart.

Taste.  If your face does the muppet thing, add more sugar.

If you used whole cinnamon and cardamom, fish it out. Mash any bits that are still bits with a potato masher, if you want.  If you like it really smooth, use an immersion blender to pulverize the bits of apple and cranberry skin.

This is a very strongly-flavored dish meant as a companion to meat, but I bet it would also make a nice cran-applesauce snack all by itself if you increased the apples to four instead of two.

[thievinghippo]

Cassandra, heat

This is rated an M, I think. Nothing too explicit!

#

Even the setting sun didn’t bring any sort of relief.

Cassandra had waited, watching the sun dip behind the mountains of theWestern Approach, hoping to feel a cool desert breeze brush her cheek. Instead,it was the same dry arid heat as earlier in the day.

At least it was dark now.

After learning of the Warden’s ritual and running off Erimond, it wasdecided to make camp for the night. Hawke had asked to stay with the groupovernight, while Loghain left on his own journey right away. Cassandra hadfound herself disappointed, hoping to discuss tactics and swordsmanship withthe former Teryn.

She rolled her shoulders, glad she had taken off her chestpiece forthe night. The camp was quiet after dinner. The Inquisitor sat crossed-leggedin front of the fire, writing something, while Sera made faces at her, most likely trying to get the dwarf tolaugh.

Bull and Hawke were talking softly to each other as they tended theirgear. Cassandra wanted to say something to Hawke, let the woman know just howmuch she admired her, but it seemed… inappropriate somehow.

Well, they would be sharing a tent tonight, so perhaps Cassandra wouldbe able to find the words later in the evening. Maker knew if she’d be able tosleep tonight with this heat.

“Come on, Inky, time for bed,” Sera said in a sing-song voice. Shejumped up and took the writing desk off of the Inquisitor’s lap.

Cassandra rolled her eyes. Thankfully, the pair set their tent farfrom the other two, so hopefully she would not have to hear them tonight. It’snot that she disapproved of the relationship, per say. She simply would havehoped the Inquisitor might have a touch more discretion.

“I think I’ll turn in for the night, too,” Bull said with a yawn. Withhis size, he practically took up an entire tent himself. Cassandra watched himstand, twisting at the waist a few times. “See you in the morning.”

“Not a bad idea, really,” Hawke said, stretching her arms behind herback. “Suppose it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to get an earlystart tomorrow.”

Cassandra nodded, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. In thedistance, she heard the Inquisitor shriek before giggling loudly.

Hawke laughed. “Suppose they’ll be having fun tonight.”

“It depends on your definition of fun,” Cassandra said with a snort.

“Right,” Hawke said, tilting her head, giving Cassandra the impressionshe was being studied. Thoroughly. “Well, good night, Seeker.”

Cassandra raised her hand to wave, but Hawke had already turnedaround, heading to the tent. Bringing her hand to her chest, Cassandra sighed,watching Hawke walk away. She would give the mage a few minutes to settle downbefore going into the tent herself.

Once her sword and shield was stored, Cassandra let herself into thetent. Hawke lay on top of her bedroll on her stomach, slowly kicking her feet.As quickly as she could, Cassandra took off her outer coat, leaving her in herpadded leather trousers and an undershirt.

In this heat, she had no desire to climb into the bedroll itself.Instead she lay on top like Hawke, but on her side, her back towards theChampion. Hopefully it would not be considered rude.

Cassandra tried to think of something to say before she fell asleep,but nothing good came to mind. Just as she decided to simply close her eyes,Hawke asked, “Have you been with the Iron Bull?”

She turned onto her back, blinking rapidly. “No, no, of course not,”Cassandra stuttered, trying to gain her composure. She didn’t think she wouldever get used to people simply talking about sex easily.

“No?” Hawke asked, and Cassandra heard a pout in her voice. “I’venever been with a qunari before.”

“I… I know of several who have been with him,” Cassandra offered, notquite willing to meet Hawke’s eye. “I’ve heard his stamina is impressive.”

Hawke sat up, looking in the direction of Bull’s tent. “Oh really?”she asked, running a finger back and forth over her lower lip. “Fuck it. Weonly live once, right?”

With a smile, one Varric once had described to Cassandra as captivating, Hawke jumped to her feetand left the tent.

Cassandra’s body deflated. There went any chance to speak to Hawke,one on one.

Her eyes closed, and she willed herself to fall asleep quickly. Shekept her breathing even, and started slowly counting backwards from one hundredin her head.

At ninety-one, she heard Hawke and Bull talking in low voices. Notthat she could understand a single word, but their tone was enough to know exactly what would be going on.

The tents were far too close together. But no matter. She would fallasleep before she heard anything else.

At seventy-eight, Hawke moaned. Loudly.

At forty-four, Cassandra heard the distinct sound of two bodiesslapping together.

At thirty-two, Cassandra realized her hand had slid down her trousersand there was no point to counting any longer. As quickly as she could, whichconsidering her fingers were stroking the hair between her thighs, was notquick at all, she covered up in the bedroll.

She tried to shut out the sound of Bull and Hawke being intimate;neither one of them was loud, but just the fact that Cassandra knew what they were doing made touchingherself more awkward than it should be.

And release would be welcome tonight. Especially with the stress ofthe journey, not to mention she had forgotten to pack her favorite chapter of Swords and Shields. How could she haveleft that back at Skyhold?

As she spread her folds, Cassandra let her mind linger on the KnightCaptain, how strong she was to deal with all the adversity thrown her way. Thewoman always rose to the occasion, always managed to come out on top.

Cassandra could desperately usesome of that magic for herself. Arching her back slightly, she started pressingdown on her nub with a little more force, all thoughts of the other tent gone.

At least the Knight-Captain wore sensible armor, unlike so many of theheroines in the stories she read. Beautiful platemail, the type Cassandra lovedto look at, but not wear. She preferred to have a bit more mobility.

She had to cover her mouth to hold back a gasp. Once contained,Cassandra pushed her hair off of her forehead, sweat from the heat and herpleasure, mixed in. If the Knight Captain had any flaw, it was her hair. Whyshe let her locks flow instead of putting it back in a sensible bun was beyondher.

But the way the Knight Captain’s hair was described! Like a beautifulsunset on a cloudy day. Cassandra could almost imagine herself running herhands through the Knight Captain’s thick hair, rubbing her shoulders after atough battle, telling the woman just how strong she was, how fierce…

Her climax was unexpected, causing Cassandra to bite down on her lowerlip to keep herself from moaning. Raising her hips, she tried to prolong herpleasure as long as possible, wanting to enjoy every last moment.

When she finished, she brought her fingers to her mouth and lickedthem clean, letting the taste linger on her tongue. It was not often Cassandrahad a chance to touch herself in the field like this, and she already knewtomorrow she would feel more relaxed and alert as they made their way back toSkyhold. 

If Hawke came back into the tent before Cassandra fell asleep, somehowshe would have to figure out a way to thank the Champion for the time alone.

Now if only Varric would finish the last chapter of Swords and Shields!

[todisturbtheuniverse]

re: frugality and expensive tech

Yes you can still call yourself frugal if you make that laptop last a long time, right? I have a literal 10 year old pc with an extra 500 spent on top of the 750 I originally spent on it.

yeah, logically, i know you’re right (and have been trying to use that logic on myself for a few years now). i think in part my hesitance is that i’ve never bought something that expensive before, ever; it’s uncharted territory for me.

skyboneharper replied to your post “jfc, i am so tired of my sad, slow laptop. for the past five years...”

Remember perspective, when $7-800 seems scary, it could be worse. You could have a Mac.

true, lol. i’ve never used or really considered a mac for that reason. well, and because i’ve just used PCs all my life; it’s what i know.

minionripley replied to your post “jfc, i am so tired of my sad, slow laptop. for the past five years...”

Have you ever tried Adblock Plus? I've found that can really improve browser performance, even on older computers. Just a suggestion, if you haven't tried it already. (Sorry if I'm being pushy or anything!)

not pushy at all! i do have adblock plus, and it did improve things for a time, but it’s been less effective lately.

[spectre-tabris]

@thewindysideofcare @skyboneharper All you people with your reasonable excuses...

[todisturbtheuniverse]

re: The Fifth Season

Was it good? Our book club is considering reading it but some people worry it might be too grim. (I expect to read it whether or not the bc does...)

keeping in mind that i turned the last page about 20 minutes ago: i think it was good. riveting, and harrowing, and very, very grim. i’m conflicted about it likely only because it’s such a departure from my usual for-fun reading fare; it’s very complex. it felt more like literature than high fantasy to me. but the worldbuilding and characters were fascinating, the stylistic choices interesting, and even the grimness served a purpose, though i’d warn that, at least for me, some bits were pretty...squicky. ymmv, though.

[spectre-tabris]

@skyboneharper: Thank you! ...but please apologize to your dog for me. I didn't it intend to interrupt his walk. @krililile: Oh my god. Talk about an awkward situation. @thewindysideofcare: ...please don't, like, die or anything. I would feel bad...

[spectre-tabris]

thewindysideofcare replied to your post “punkwixes replied to your photo “hit me double hard A Dragon Age:...”

I came home a bit drunk from a party last night and saw your fic had updated but decided I needed to be in my proper mind to truly appreciate it and so now need some coffee and THEN. These replies indicate this was the right decistion probably. ANTICIPATION.

...yeah, that was probably a good plan. well chosen.

skyboneharper replied to your post “punkwixes replied to your photo “hit me double hard A Dragon Age:...”

You are wicked. Very, very wicked.

guilty as charged, I’m afraid. I am an awful, awful person.

trace-r replied to your photo “hit me double hard A Dragon Age: Inquisition Modern AU Rating: PG-13...”

i can't believe it's almost over uhhhh ❤

honestly neither can I. I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do with myself after this is over.