Rose-Gold Crostata — Herb Butter & Roasted Radish Flower 🌿✨ Sharp white-pink goes in. Deep rose-gold comes out. Nobody sees that coming.

 

🧾 INGREDIENTS

🥐 Crostata Pastry

・ 200g / 7oz plain flour

・ 120g / 4.2oz cold unsalted butter, cubed

・ ½ tsp fine salt

・ 1 tsp caster sugar

・ 3–4 tbsp ice cold water

・ 1 egg, beaten (egg wash)

・ Flaky salt for the rim

🌿 Herb Compound Butter

・ 100g / 3.5oz unsalted butter, softened

・ 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

・ 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped

・ 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves

・ 1 garlic clove, minced

・ ½ tsp lemon zest

・ ½ tsp flaky salt

・ Pinch of black pepper

🌸 Radish Layer

・ 2 large bunches radishes, tops removed

・ 1 tbsp olive oil

・ ½ tsp flaky salt

・ Pinch of black pepper

✨ Finish

・ Fresh flat-leaf parsley

・ Fresh chives, snipped

・ Flaky sea salt

・ Lemon zest

・ Extra virgin olive oil drizzle

Raw radishes look like nothing. Roasted radishes look

like rose petals. That transformation is the whole video.

📋 INSTRUCTIONS

🥐 The Pastry

1. Combine flour, salt, and sugar in a bowl.

2. Add cold cubed butter. Rub between fingertips until the

mixture resembles rough breadcrumbs.

3. Add ice water one tablespoon at a time. Mix until the

dough just comes together.

4. Do not overwork. Some butter chunks visible is correct.

5. Flatten into a disc. Wrap and refrigerate for 30

minutes. 🧊

🌿 Herb Compound Butter

6. Beat softened butter with parsley, chives, thyme, garlic,

lemon zest, salt, and pepper.

7. Mix until all herbs are fully incorporated and the butter

is pale green.

8. Refrigerate until needed.

🌸 Radish Prep

9. Slice radishes very thin — about 2mm — on a

mandoline or with a sharp knife.

10. Pat completely dry with kitchen paper.

11. Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

🔥 Assemble & Bake

12. Preheat oven to 200°C / 390°F. 🔥

13. Roll pastry on a floured surface into a rough circle,

about 30cm / 12in wide.

14. Transfer to a lined baking tray.

15. Spread herb butter across the center, leaving a 4cm

border all around.

16. Arrange radish slices in overlapping concentric circles

from the outside in.

17. Build a tight flower pattern — pack the slices close

together.

18. Fold the pastry border up and over the edge of the

radishes. Crimp loosely.

19. Brush the pastry rim with egg wash. Scatter flaky salt

over the rim.

20. Bake for 30–35 minutes until pastry is deeply golden

and radishes are rose-gold. 🌸

21. Rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

✨ Finish

22. Scatter fresh parsley and snipped chives across the

top.

23. Grate lemon zest directly over the surface.

24. Drizzle olive oil in a wide circle. Finish with flaky salt.

✨

🕒 Prep time: 30 minutes

🔥 Cook time: 35 minutes

❄️ Rest time: 30 minutes

🍽️ Servings: 4–6

⚡ Difficulty: Intermediate

🥚 Break the Yolk. Watch the Bowl Come Alive

.

Shatteringly crispy smashed potatoes on a cold harissa

yogurt base, soft-boiled egg yolk flooding everything

when broken, crispy chickpeas finishing what the harissa

started — one bowl, every texture.

🧾 INGREDIENTS

🥔 Smashed Potatoes

800g / 1.8lb baby potatoes, scrubbed

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp flaky sea salt

½ tsp cracked black pepper

½ tsp cumin

🫘 Crispy Chickpeas

400g / 14oz canned chickpeas, drained and thoroughly

dried

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp smoked paprika

½ tsp cumin

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp flaky sea salt

Pinch of cayenne

🥣 Harissa Yogurt Base

300g / 1¼ cups full-fat Greek yogurt

2 tbsp rose harissa paste

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

½ tsp flaky sea salt

½ tsp lemon zest

🥚 Soft-Boiled Eggs

4 large eggs, room temperature

Ice bath for shocking

🌿 Finish

Fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly torn

Fresh mint leaves

Thinly sliced scallions

Extra harissa drizzle

Good olive oil for finishing

Flaky sea salt and cracked black pepper

Lemon wedge to serve

✨ The potatoes come out of the oven shatteringly crisp

at every jagged edge — garlic and smoked paprika

worked into every crevice. The harissa yogurt underneath

is cold and sharp. The egg yolk is the moment everything

changes.

🔢 INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 220°C / 425°F and line a large

baking tray with parchment paper.

Boil the baby potatoes in heavily salted water for 18–20

minutes until completely tender when pierced with a

knife.

Drain the potatoes and allow to steam-dry on the tray for

5 minutes — surface moisture is the enemy of

crispiness.

Drizzle the olive oil across the tray and place the

potatoes on the oiled surface — smash each one firmly

with the flat base of a glass or measuring cup until it

spreads to approximately 1cm / ½ inch thickness.

The edges should be jagged and irregular — the more

surface area exposed, the crispier the result.

Season the smashed potatoes generously with smoked

paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cumin — press

the seasoning into every crevice.

🔥 Roast for 25–30 minutes until the edges are deeply

caramelized, the undersides are dark amber, and every

jagged edge is shatteringly crisp.

Meanwhile toss the dried chickpeas with olive oil,

paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and cayenne until

every chickpea is evenly coated.

Spread on a separate lined tray in a single layer — no

overlapping or they will steam instead of crisp.

🔥 Roast alongside the potatoes at 220°C / 425°F for

20–25 minutes until deeply golden and blistered — shake

the tray once halfway through.

Bring a small saucepan of water to a rolling boil — lower

the room temperature eggs gently into the water.

🔥 Boil for exactly 6 minutes and 30 seconds for a fully

set white and molten, jammy orange yolk.

Transfer immediately to an ice bath for 3 minutes — peel

carefully under cold running water.

Whisk together the Greek yogurt, harissa paste, olive oil,

lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt until smooth and vivid

orange-red.

Taste the harissa yogurt — it should be tangy, spiced,

and slightly hot. Adjust harissa for heat level.

Spread a generous swooping layer of harissa yogurt

across the base of each serving bowl using an offset

spatula or the back of a spoon.

Arrange the hot crispy smashed potatoes directly on the

yogurt base — pile them slightly for height and visual

drama.

Halve the soft-boiled eggs and place cut-side up in the

center of each bowl — scatter the crispy chickpeas, fresh

parsley, mint, and scallions across the full bowl, drizzle

with olive oil and extra harissa, finish with flaky salt and

serve immediately with a lemon wedge.

🕒 Prep time: 15 minutes

🔥 Cook time: 35 minutes

🍽️ Servings: 4 bowls

⚡ Difficulty: Easy

Soft. Spiced. Glazed. Impossible to Eat Just One. Pillowy bread dough twisted around a deep green pistachio and cardamom filling, glazed with rosewater, finished with crushed pistachios — the knot that smells like a Middle Eastern bakery and tastes exactly like that promise.

 

🧾 INGREDIENTS

🍞 Enriched Dough

400g / 3¼ cups plain flour

7g / 2¼ tsp instant yeast

60g / ¼ cup caster sugar

1 tsp fine sea salt

240ml / 1 cup whole milk, warm

60g / 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

2 large eggs, room temperature

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

🌿 Pistachio Cardamom Filling

150g / 1 cup unsalted pistachios, finely ground

80g / ⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened

80g / ⅓ cup caster sugar

1½ tsp ground cardamom

½ tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp rosewater

Pinch of fine sea salt

🌸 Rosewater Glaze

120g / 1 cup powdered sugar

2 tbsp whole milk

1 tsp rosewater

Pinch of fine sea salt

✨ Finish

80g / ½ cup pistachios, roughly crushed

Dried rose petals

Extra rosewater glaze drizzle

✨ The filling smells of toasted pistachios, warm

cardamom, and something faintly floral from the

rosewater — spread thick across the dough, it becomes a

spiral of green through every fold of the knot. The glaze

arrives last, barely-there and fragrant, and the crushed

pistachios finish everything with a crunch.

🔢 INSTRUCTIONS

Combine the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large bowl

— make a well in the center.

Pour the warm milk, softened butter, eggs, and vanilla

into the well and mix until a shaggy dough forms.

Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for

8–10 minutes until the dough is smooth, elastic, and

springs back when pressed.

Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and

prove for 1 hour until doubled in size.

Meanwhile make the filling — combine the ground

pistachios, softened butter, sugar, cardamom, cinnamon,

rosewater, and salt in a bowl.

Mix until the filling is a smooth, spreadable paste — vivid

green, fragrant, and thick enough to hold its shape when

spread.

Punch down the proved dough and turn out onto a lightly

floured surface.

Roll the dough into a large rectangle approximately

40x30cm / 16x12 inches — keep the thickness even

throughout.

Spread the pistachio cardamom filling evenly across the

entire dough surface — take it all the way to the edges.

Fold the dough in half lengthways — press gently to seal

the filling inside.

Cut the folded dough into 12 equal strips approximately

3cm / 1¼ inches wide.

Hold each strip at both ends and twist firmly in opposite

directions — 3 to 4 full rotations along the full length.

Loop the twisted strip into a knot shape — tuck both

ends underneath and press firmly to hold.

Place the shaped knots on two parchment-lined baking

trays with space between each one.

Cover loosely and prove for a further 30 minutes until

visibly puffed and pillowy.

Preheat the oven to 180°C / 355°F during the second

prove.

🔥 Bake for 16–18 minutes until deeply golden at the

highest twist points and cooked through — the dough

should spring back when pressed lightly.

Cool for 5 minutes then drizzle the rosewater glaze

generously across the warm knots, scatter crushed

pistachios immediately while the glaze is still sticky, and

finish with dried rose petals before serving warm.

🕒 Prep time: 30 minutes + 1.5 hours prove

🔥 Cook time: 18 minutes

🍽️ Servings: 12 knots

⚡ Difficulty: Medium

Hearty Breakfast Combo with Eggs, Bacon, Hash Browns & Muffin** 😋🔥 The ultimate morning feast—crispy bacon, fluffy eggs, golden hash browns, and a warm muffin for that perfect sweet finish!

 

🍳 **Eggs (Your Way)**

**Ingredients:**

* 2–3 eggs

* 1 tsp butter

* Salt & pepper

**Instructions:**

1. Heat butter in a pan.

2. Cook eggs scrambled, fried, or sunny-side up.

3. Season to taste.

🥓 **Crispy Bacon**

**Ingredients:**

* 4 strips bacon

**Instructions:**

1. Cook in a pan over medium heat until crispy.

2. Drain on paper towels.

🥔 **Golden Hash Browns**

**Ingredients:**

* 2 potatoes (grated)

* 1 tbsp oil

* Salt & pepper

**Instructions:**

1. Squeeze moisture from potatoes.

2. Cook in hot oil, pressing into patties.

3. Flip until crispy and golden.

🧁 **Muffin**

Serve warm with butter or jam for a soft, sweet bite.

✨ A classic, filling breakfast that hits every craving!

Lemon Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Domes

 

Ingredients

12 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 tbsp lemon zest

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

1 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled

3 sheets leaf gelatin (gold grade)

1/2 cup fresh raspberry puree, strained

1 tbsp granulated sugar

6 circular graham cracker crust discs (3-inch diameter)

1/4 cup white chocolate shavings

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

5 tsp powdered gelatin (bloomed in 1/4 cup cold water)

6 oz white chocolate, finely chopped

1/2 tsp yellow gel food coloring

1/4 tsp bright pink gel food coloring

For Garnish (optional):

6 fresh raspberries

1 sprig fresh mint

Directions

Bloom the leaf gelatin in cold water for 5 minutes.

Mix the raspberry puree with 1 tbsp granulated sugar; set

aside.

In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese,

powdered sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla

until smooth and aerated.

Heat 1/4 cup of the heavy cream and dissolve the

squeezed leaf gelatin into it; whisk this into the cream

cheese mixture.

Whip the remaining heavy cream to stiff peaks and

gently fold it into the lemon cream cheese base.

Fill 6 silicone dome molds 3/4 of the way with the lemon

mousse; drop teaspoons of the raspberry puree into each

and use a toothpick to create a marble swirl.

Press a graham cracker crust disc into the base of each

mold and freeze for at least 8 hours until completely

solid.

To make the glaze, boil sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup

water for 1 minute; remove from heat and stir in

condensed milk and bloomed powdered gelatin.

Pour the hot liquid over the chopped white chocolate, let

sit for 2 minutes, then blend with a stick blender until

smooth.

Divide the glaze into two bowls; tint one yellow and the

other pink, then pour the yellow glaze over the frozen

domes followed by a thin drizzle of pink for a swirled

effect.

Pistachio White Chocolate Cream Domes

 

Ingredients

8 oz white chocolate, finely chopped

1/2 cup pistachio paste (pure unsweetened)

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

1 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled

3 sheets leaf gelatin (gold grade)

1/2 cup raspberry coulis

6 circular shortbread cookie discs (3-inch diameter)

1/4 cup roasted pistachios, finely crushed

1/4 cup white chocolate pearls

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

5 tsp powdered gelatin (bloomed in 1/4 cup cold water)

6 oz white chocolate, finely chopped

1 tsp moss green gel food coloring

1/4 tsp yellow gel food coloring

For Garnish (optional):

6 whole roasted pistachios

1 pinch edible gold leaf

Directions

Bloom the leaf gelatin in cold water for 5 minutes.

Melt 8 oz white chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pot

of simmering water; stir in the pistachio paste and vanilla

bean paste until smooth.

Heat 1/4 cup of the heavy cream (unwhipped) and

dissolve the squeezed leaf gelatin into it; whisk this into

the pistachio chocolate mixture and let cool to room

temperature.

Whip the remaining heavy cream to stiff peaks and

gently fold it into the pistachio base until a light, airy

mousse forms.

Fill 6 silicone dome molds halfway with the mousse, add

a small teaspoon of raspberry coulis in the center, and fill

the rest of the way.

Press a shortbread cookie disc onto the bottom of each

mold and freeze for at least 8 hours until rock solid.

Prepare the mirror glaze by boiling sugar, corn syrup, and

1/4 cup water for 1 minute; remove from heat and stir in

condensed milk and bloomed powdered gelatin.

Pour the hot liquid over the chopped white chocolate, let

sit for 2 minutes, then blend with a stick blender until

perfectly smooth.

Stir in the green and yellow gel colors to achieve a vibrant

pistachio hue; let the glaze cool to 92°F.

Place frozen domes on a wire rack, pour the glaze in a

steady stream, and press crushed pistachios around the

base before garnishing with a whole pistachio and gold

leaf.

Golden Lava Mango Cheesecake Domes with Flowing Center

 

Ingredients

For the Main Component:

1 1/2 cups cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup heavy cream, chilled

1/2 cup mango puree, strained

1/4 cup powdered sugar

2 tsp gelatin powder

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

For the Secondary Component:

1 cup fresh mango, diced

2 tbsp passion fruit pulp

1 tbsp granulated sugar

1/2 tsp lime juice

1/2 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tsp cold water

For the Sauce / Layer / Topping:

1 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup condensed milk

1/4 cup mango nectar

2 tsp gelatin powder

1 drop orange gel food coloring

For Garnish (optional):

1 tbsp toasted shredded coconut

6 tiny edible gold leaf flakes

Directions

For the lava center, simmer diced mango, passion fruit,

sugar, and lime juice in a small saucepan for 4 minutes.

Stir in the cornstarch slurry and boil for 1 minute until

thickened and translucent; strain and pour into small

hemisphere molds.

Freeze the mango centers for at least 4 hours until

completely solid.

For the cheesecake mousse, bloom gelatin in 2 tbsp

water; beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until

smooth.

Stir in the mango puree and vanilla, then melt the

bloomed gelatin and whisk it into the cream cheese

mixture.

Fold in the whipped heavy cream gently until the mixture

is light and airy.

Fill large dome molds halfway with mousse, press a

frozen mango center into the middle, and top with more

mousse.

Freeze the domes for at least 8 hours or until rock solid.

To make the glaze, bloom gelatin in 1/4 cup mango

nectar; boil sugar and condensed milk in a saucepan.

Remove from heat, stir in gelatin and white chocolate

until smooth, then add food coloring and strain.

Once the glaze reaches 90°F, pour over the frozen domes

placed on a wire rack.

Transfer to the refrigerator to thaw for 3 hours so the

center becomes liquid before serving.

Black Velvet Blueberry Bombs with Molten Lemon Core

 

Ingredients

For the Main Component:

1 1/2 cups fresh blueberry puree, strained

4 oz dark chocolate (70% cocoa), finely chopped

1 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp gelatin powder

1 drop black gel food coloring

For the Secondary Component:

1/2 cup lemon curd

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 tsp lemon zest

1/2 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tsp cold water

For the Sauce / Layer / Topping:

1 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup cold water

1/3 cup condensed milk

2 tsp gelatin powder

Deep purple and black gel food coloring

For Garnish (optional):

1 tsp edible silver luster dust

6 fresh blueberries

Directions

For the molten core, simmer lemon curd, lemon juice, and

zest in a small saucepan over medium heat.

Stir in the cornstarch slurry and boil for 1 minute until

thickened; pour into small silicone hemisphere molds.

Freeze the lemon centers for at least 4 hours until

completely solid.

For the mousse, bloom gelatin in 2 tbsp water; heat

blueberry puree and sugar until simmering.

Remove from heat, stir in bloomed gelatin and black

food coloring, then pour over chopped dark chocolate

and whisk until smooth.

Once the chocolate-blueberry mixture reaches room

temperature, gently fold in the whipped heavy cream.

Fill large dome molds halfway with the black velvet

mousse, press a frozen lemon center into the middle, and

top with more mousse.

Freeze the domes for at least 8 hours or until rock solid.

To make the glaze, bloom gelatin in 1/4 cup water; boil

sugar, water, and condensed milk in a saucepan.

Remove from heat, stir in gelatin and white chocolate

until smooth, then tint with purple and black gel.

Once the glaze reaches 90°F, swirl the colors slightly and

pour over the frozen domes on a wire rack.

Transfer to the refrigerator to thaw for 3 hours to ensure

the lemon center is flowing before serving.

Spiced Lamb Chops & Herbed Rice Plate 🍖🍚 Bold, vibrant, ultimate flavor-packed dinner you’ll devour!

 

📝 Ingredients :

2 lamb chops 🍖 (juicy grilled lamb)

1 cup basmati rice 🍚 (fluffy aromatic base)

1/2 cup spinach or herbs (fresh green boost)

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes 🍅 (sweet juicy pop)

1/2 cup beetroot, diced (earthy vibrant flavor)

1/4 red onion, sliced (zesty crunch)

1/2 cup creamy potato salad 🥔 (rich side delight)

2 tbsp olive oil (smooth cooking base)

2 cloves garlic, minced (bold flavor kick)

1 tsp paprika (smoky spice touch)

1 tsp cumin (warm spice depth)

Salt & pepper to taste (simple seasoning win)

🍽️ ** How to Make It :**

1️⃣ Season the Lamb:

Rub lamb chops with olive oil, garlic, paprika, cumin, salt,

and pepper for a flavor-packed dinner, bold spiced lamb,

restaurant-style meal.

2️⃣ Cook the Lamb:

Grill or pan-sear 3–4 minutes per side until juicy and

slightly charred for a perfect grilled lamb, juicy protein

dish, easy gourmet dinner.

3️⃣ Prepare the Rice:

Cook basmati rice and mix with herbs or spinach for a

fluffy herbed rice, light healthy base, simple side

upgrade.

4️⃣ Make the Fresh Salad:

Toss tomatoes, beetroot, and red onion together for a

fresh vibrant salad, colorful plate idea, healthy side

boost.

5️⃣ Plate & Serve:

Arrange lamb, rice, salad, and potato mix for a balanced

dinner plate, hearty meal combo, next-level comfort food.

Honey Garlic Chicken Wings & Grilled Corn Plate 🍗🌽 Sweet, smoky, ultimate summer dinner vibes you’ll love

 

!

📝 Ingredients :

6 chicken wings 🍗 (juicy glazed wings)

2 tbsp honey 🍯 (sweet sticky glaze)

1 tbsp soy sauce (umami flavor boost)

2 cloves garlic, minced (bold garlic kick)

1 tbsp olive oil (smooth cooking base)

1 tsp dried herbs (flavor-packed seasoning)

2 corn cobs, cut 🌽 (grilled corn goodness)

1/2 cucumber, chopped 🥒 (fresh crunch)

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes 🍅 (juicy freshness)

1/4 avocado, diced 🥑 (creamy healthy touch)

Salt & pepper to taste (simple seasoning win)

🍽️ ** How to Make It :**

1️⃣ Marinate the Chicken:

Mix honey, soy sauce, garlic, olive oil, and herbs, then

coat wings for a flavor-packed dinner, sweet savory

glaze, easy chicken wings recipe.

2️⃣ Cook the Wings:

Bake or air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 30–35 minutes until

golden and sticky for crispy glazed wings, quick

weeknight dinner, crowd-pleasing favorite.

3️⃣ Grill the Corn:

Grill corn until lightly charred for a smoky grilled corn,

summer BBQ side, flavor-packed veggie.

4️⃣ Make the Fresh Salad:

Toss cucumber, tomatoes, and avocado with salt and

pepper for a fresh healthy salad, light side dish, colorful

plate idea.

5️⃣ Plate & Serve:

Arrange wings, corn, and salad together for a balanced

dinner plate, easy family meal, summer comfort food.

Creamy Garlic Butter Salmon with Baby Potatoes & Broccoli 🐟🥔🥦 Best easy dinner with rich, creamy, restaurant-style flavor!

 

📝 Ingredients :

1 large salmon fillet (juicy flaky favorite)

2 tbsp olive oil (rich cooking base)

2 tbsp butter (creamy flavor boost)

3 cloves garlic, minced (bold flavor magic)

1/2 cup heavy cream (luxury creamy sauce)

1 tbsp lemon juice (fresh zesty pop)

1 tsp dried parsley or Italian herbs (herb goodness)

Salt & black pepper to taste

1 cup baby potatoes (crispy roasted side)

1 cup broccoli florets (healthy green crunch)

Fresh parsley, chopped (fresh finish)

🍽️ How to Make It :

1️⃣ Season & Sear the Salmon:

Season salmon with salt, pepper, and herbs, then sear in

olive oil for a perfect crispy sear, juicy salmon dinner, and

restaurant-style flavor.

2️⃣ Roast the Potatoes:

Toss baby potatoes with oil, salt, and seasoning, then

roast at 400°F (200°C) for 25–30 minutes for a crispy

roasted potatoes, golden comfort side, and easy sheet

pan win.

3️⃣ Cook the Broccoli:

Steam or sauté broccoli until tender for a healthy veggie

side, clean eating boost, and fresh green goodness.

4️⃣ Make Creamy Garlic Sauce:

Melt butter, add garlic, cream, and lemon juice, simmer

until thick for a creamy garlic sauce, rich flavor boost,

and luxury dinner vibes.

5️⃣ Plate & Serve:

Pour sauce over salmon and serve with potatoes and

broccoli for a balanced power meal, quick weeknight

dinner, and ultimate comfort plate

Roasted Autumn Vegetable Pot Pies

 

Ingredients

2 cups butternut squash, diced into 1/2-inch cubes

1 large sweet potato, diced into 1/2-inch cubes

2 cups parsnips, sliced into half-moons

2 cups Brussels sprouts, halved

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1/2 cup Greek yogurt, plain

1/2 cup feta cheese, finely crumbled

1/4 cup whole milk ricotta cheese

1 tsp lemon zest

1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 cup clover honey

1 tbsp hot honey

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 sheet puff pastry, thawed

1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)

1/2 cup raw walnut halves, toasted and finely crushed

1/4 cup fresh pomegranate seeds

1/4 red onion, shaved very thin (soaked in ice water)

1/4 cup fresh mint, finely chiffonaded

1/2 tsp dried edible marigold petals

1/2 tsp flaky sea salt

Directions

Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet

with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, toss the butternut squash, sweet potato,

parsnips, and Brussels sprouts with olive oil, ground

ginger, cinnamon, and salt.

Spread the vegetables in a single layer and roast for 25

to 30 minutes until tender and the edges are deeply

caramelized and charred.

In a small skillet over medium heat, combine the clover

honey, hot honey, balsamic vinegar, and ground ginger.

Simmer for 6 to 8 minutes until the glaze reduces to a

thick, glossy syrup; remove from heat and let cool.

In a food processor, blend the Greek yogurt, feta, ricotta,

lemon zest, vanilla bean paste, and nutmeg until the

whipped feta cream is light, airy, and completely smooth.

Roll out the puff pastry and cut into four circles slightly

larger than your individual ramekins; prick the centers

with a fork.

Fill four 8-ounce ramekins with the roasted vegetables

and top each with a generous dollop of the whipped feta

cream and a drizzle of the balsamic honey glaze.

Place the puff pastry circles over the ramekins, pressing

the edges to seal; brush with egg wash and sprinkle with

a hint of cinnamon.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the pastry is golden

brown and puffed; garnish the tops with toasted walnut

crumble, fresh pomegranate seeds, shaved red onion,

mint chiffonade, marigold petals, and a final pinch of

flaky sea salt.

Snickers Apple Salad Pie

 

Ingredients:

• 1 Keebler Graham Cracker Crust

• 1 (8oz) block Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened)

• 1 (8oz) tub Cool Whip (thawed)

• 3 Granny Smith apples (finely diced)

• 4 full-size Snickers bars (chopped)

• 1 jar Smucker's Caramel Sundae Syrup

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the

softened cream cheese and ¼ cup of caramel syrup until

completely smooth.

2. Fold the thawed Cool Whip into the caramel cream

cheese until it becomes a light, fluffy mousse.

3. Core and finely dice the tart Granny Smith apples, and

chop the Snickers bars into small pieces.

4. Fold half of the diced apples and half of the chopped

Snickers into the creamy filling.

5. Spoon the loaded apple-candy fluff into the Keebler

Graham Cracker Crust and smooth the top.

6. Decorate the pie with the remaining apples and

Snickers pieces, and finish with a heavy drizzle of

caramel syrup. Chill for 3 hours.

Easy Mediterranean Flatbread with Fresh Herbs & Hummus

 

Ingredients:

2 flatbreads or naan

1 cup hummus

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1/4 cup cucumber, thinly sliced

1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) or warm flatbreads in a

skillet over medium heat.

Spread an even layer of hummus over each flatbread.

Top with cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and red

onion.

In a small bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, mint,

salt, and black pepper.

Drizzle the herb mixture over the flatbreads.

Slice and serve immediately while warm or at room

temperature.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 5 minutes | Total

Time: 15 minutes

Kcal: 280 kcal | Servings: 2 servings

Burrata & Basil Caprese Flatbread Pizza

 

Ingredients:

2 flatbreads or naan

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

8 ounces burrata cheese

1/4 cup tomato sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves

1 tablespoon balsamic glaze

Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

Place flatbreads on a baking sheet and spread a thin

layer of tomato sauce over each.

In a bowl, toss cherry tomatoes with olive oil, minced

garlic, salt, and black pepper. Scatter over the flatbreads.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes until

edges are crispy.

Remove from oven and tear burrata cheese over the hot

flatbreads.

Top with fresh basil leaves and drizzle with balsamic

glaze.

Slice and serve immediately while warm.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 12 minutes |

Total Time: 22 minutes

Kcal: 360 kcal | Servings: 2 servings

Chickpea & Cucumber Couscous Bowls with Lemon Tahini Drizzle

 

Ingredients:

1 cup couscous

1 cup boiling water or vegetable broth

1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 cup cucumber, diced

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and black pepper to taste

For the Lemon Tahini Drizzle:

1/4 cup tahini

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon honey

2–3 tablespoons warm water (to thin)

1 clove garlic, minced

Salt to taste

Directions:

Place couscous in a bowl and pour over boiling water or

broth. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes, then fluff with a

fork.

In a large bowl, combine couscous, chickpeas, cucumber,

cherry tomatoes, red onion, and parsley.

Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and black pepper,

and toss to combine.

In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, olive

oil, honey, garlic, salt, and warm water until smooth and

creamy.

Serve couscous in bowls and drizzle generously with

lemon tahini sauce.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 5 minutes | Total

Time: 15 minutes

Kcal: 350 kcal | Servings: 4 servings

THE STORY OF NONSENSES vol I.

Gazing into the soulless glass sphere, he became aware of the vast expanses of empty space. The world seemed to him something like a geometric reservoir of things and a temporal container for events. Until then, he had been certain it had to be different. He just had to force himself. Overcome the primal fear of the unknown. He believed there was an alternative reality, one that also benefited him. Seeing no purpose in his striving, he left.

He descended the stairs of the house of existence, alone, meeting no one along the way. However, when he plunged into the dark wilderness, a strange gnome suddenly stood before him, one who had left his valley to seek joy in the forest depths. And he spoke to him with these words:

" Nothingness can become an expectation, defeat a salvation, fear a desire, and death can exist as total loneliness without you..."

Ignoring the strange creature's words, he continued his journey. He wandered through conglomerations of nothingness, devoid of value to him. He was unable to discern true emotion in everything he passed. He slowly transformed into a singularity, finally seeing the beginning of his own rebirth. Burning everything papery and fragile along the way, he lost himself in a feeling of madness. As he walked, he prayed to passersby for lightning and wind. He placed great trust in the clouds enveloping the vault of heaven to destroy the fear in his soul. Although he was aware of the futility of this desire, he still had no other idea for his dreams.

*

One day, being far away, far away, he noticed on the edge of the sidewalk, right next to the waste bin, the scraps of a confession with a strange content:

"(...) there are more important things in life than desires that can be experienced over and over again. I also firmly believe that my preferences – even cinematographic ones – are of no great importance. Who was supposed to be the person interested in other people's tastes and preferences? Each of us is a great individual and has a depth of experience, and certainly cannot be understood on the basis of a few (let's be honest) rather banal, prosaic and focused sentences. In fact, they don't contribute anything. They don't even constitute a small part of what allows us to get to know the person on the other side of the street. That's why I don't intend to submit to general trends! We are free! We can rebel! Fight against the existing state of affairs. This form, although it may arouse in you (yes, dear reader of my pseudo-anti-any rational collection of completely random words forming clusters of sentences – I'm talking to you!) a feeling of uncontrollable laughter – is a conscious and well-thought-out element. However, it is possible that I never wrote this... and No one will ever read this, but does it matter? SORRY!"

This peculiar "memento" didn't amuse him at all. On the contrary, he felt a deep sadness filling his heart. Now he knew he wasn't the only one with confused and twisted thoughts. The world appeared to him once again in all its utter incomprehensibility. He couldn't, or perhaps

didn't want to, see in this confession a strenuous, desperate attempt to emphasize individual autonomy. To elevate his own personality to the supreme value. Free from the gray, repetitive everyday life and from a stereotypical, almost unbearable way of perceiving everything (blah, blah)! He had slept for a long

time

; not only the morning but also the midday sun illuminated his face. He opened his eyes and looked around in utter astonishment. The place where he was was in utter chaos. Part of the population of this strange city (in the depths

of the wilderness) seemed to be fighting for the last, pure, untainted, red pineapple. To his surprise, the others were digging through the surrounding offices, searching for permits, licenses, and other essential scraps of fragile material. A sad, ordinary thought filled his heart. It wasn't anything special—just a normal flash of intellect. He stood up and

left...

to be continued?

Foil Paper

 

Radio music peeks from the walls. It flows down the grooves of the silver pattern of the pale blue wallpaper. Amelia, even if she wanted to, can't deny it.

A soft knock. A gentleman enters in a hat. A black coat. Mr. Bad Temper. He sits in an armchair covered with a green and pink blanket smelling of spring fabric softener.

A tiny whistling teapot also greets the Guest. Amelia has brewed chamomile tea. Everything is served in violet crockery on a carefully set table – a white, neatly starched sheet imitating a tablecloth, a green bottle as a vase for two carnations.

The gentleman takes off his hat and places it on the counter. Amelia sits in a chair, adjusts her favorite yellow dress, and looks at the buttons on her slippers.

Tick, tick, tick... the old clock ticks at a pace known only to her. The aroma of tea slowly fills the room.

Mr. Guest places his hands on his knees and then stands. He heads for the door.

"And the cake? I baked a cake. Chocolate." Amelia jumps up and grabs the gentleman by the sleeve.

"Oh, yes. Here you go." The gentleman turns and pulls a small box wrapped in burgundy paper with a black bow from under his coat.

"Cake, I baked a cake," Amelia repeats.

"Oh, cake..." the gentleman sighed. "Here, it's for you." He abruptly handed her the gift.

Amelia turned the box over in her hands. Chamomile tea. She tossed the gift, which fell behind the old couch.

"Cake! And Tea. Her-Ba-Ta! CHAMOMILE!

" "No," the guest replies calmly to Amelia's irritated voice.

"Yes!" Amelia grabs a small cup and throws it at the gentleman. The cup hits him squarely in the forehead. The gentleman begins to bleed.

"Stupid..." he thought. He sat down again in the armchair.

"Cake? Chocolate?" he asked.

"No, not cake. Not chocolate." There's no more cake. There isn't any. - With these words, Amelia begins to gather the tableware.

- I'm leaving. - The gentleman stands up and, holding the bloody mark on his forehead, heads for the exit.

Bim Bam Bom. Bim Bam Bom. Midnight.

- Hmm... - Amelia thinks for a moment.

- A gift, right? - She begins pacing the room, her hands smoothing her favorite sundress.

- And the cake? The cake will burn.

She sits in a rocking chair in the corner of the room. Now she will admire the silver patterns on the wallpaper, beautifully complemented by the dark yellow light bulb visible under the shade of a copper lamp. The tea will cool, and Amelia will pour it down the sink the next day.

Tick tick tick...

From the series "Polish holidays": slaughter

"I can't do this. It'll be murder. He looks so innocent." With tears in her eyes, Marzena tried to justify herself, her voice trembling.

"But it's the right thing to do, please..." Agata pressed a large carpenter's hammer into her hand.

"You do it, I can't." Her whole body was shaking. Her hand refused to close around the handle.

"You know I faint at the sight of blood." Agata was already completely pale. She'd once cut her finger on the sharp edge of a piece of paper and fainted immediately. When her friends saw her lying unconscious on the floor, they thought she'd died from excessive bleeding. After all, her finger was covered in blood.

Marzena looked reluctantly at the table. On it lay a rather large carp, freshly pulled from the bathtub, still dripping with water, rhythmically slapping its tail against the tabletop, opening its fishy mouth in a silent, silent cry. He looked terrifying. His eyes darted from girl to girl as if he understood everything, and the slow movements of his jaw seemed to form words that foretold cruel revenge. Revenge from beyond the grave.

"I'm not an executioner. I can't. I'll dream about him at night.

" "Marzena, please." Agata placed a friendly hand on her friend's shoulder. "Be brave..."

The girl picked up the hammer. She gripped it with both hands and raised it above her ominously tilted head. Her hand trembled invisibly but palpably. She took a deep breath and blinked. In other circumstances, it would have looked utterly coquettish. However, the grimace of awakened hatred on the girl's face suggested quite the opposite.

"Okay, I bet if you were in my shoes, you would do it without hesitation, you wouldn't even blink that eye of yours, you would just hit me hard." Marzena, her voice trembling, began to scream at the poor fish. "You're a cold-hearted bastard and you probably don't feel a thing. Besides, you're definitely evil and deserve punishment, right? You certainly have a lot on your conscience; maybe you even raped some poor fish once, huh?

" "Yes, he's a nasty scoundrel!" Agata echoed eagerly. "A male chauvinist pig! Get him!

" "No, I can't." Marzena, sobbing, dropped the hammer to the ground. Her whole body was trembling.

"Okay, let's do this together, okay?" Agata grabbed the hammer with one hand. "On three, we hit him in the head with all our might, okay? One, two...

" "Wait! He's not moving..." Marzena prodded the motionless carp with her finger. "He must have choked.

" "So that's it. What now?

" "We can't eat a fish like that," Marzena said in surprise, wiping her tears. "If it died, it's like eating carrion. We might get sick.

" "You're right. We have to buy another one." Agata took her jacket off the hanger. "I'll go to the store."

After returning from shopping, Agata tossed the new, healthy fish into the bathtub. Marzena watched her anxiously.

"So what now?" she asked after a moment.

"We have to kill her." Agata took off her jacket and unfastened her snow-covered boots.

"But how? We can't do it with a hammer. It's too much mental strain.

" "Maybe with electricity?" I thought about it the entire way back.

"What?" Marzena stared blankly ahead.

"You know, we'll take two wires, stick them into a power outlet on one side and into the water on the other. That should do it.

" "Okay." She snapped out of her stupor and looked at Agata, smiling warmly. She really liked the plan; it had a touch of simplicity and genius at the same time; it was the kind of plan that made Agata seem like a phenomenon (the simplest ones are the hardest to come up with, after all). At least in Marzena's eyes. Agata brought two insulated wires. She put them into the water and left the bathroom. Marzena was already waiting for her at the power outlet in the hallway.

"Just be careful..." she said anxiously. The other ends were stuck in the contact. There was a spark, a grinding sound, something exploded. Darkness.

"It must have blown the plugs, I'll go check," Agata whispered, as if afraid of something.

"Don't leave me..." Marzena replied, even more quietly. A shiver ran down her spine, and she instinctively turned around. But she saw no one. Nothing. She was even more afraid. A moment later, the light flashed on. They both went to the bathroom. The smoky room reeked of charred meat. There was splashed water everywhere.

"We have to buy another one."

After a few hours, Agata returned home. With a slaughtered, gutted fish. At the point of sale, for a small fee, this was done on the spot. As usual, every year, anyway. They spent the rest of the preparations, as well as the entire holiday, together. They didn't return to their family homes because they had no reason to. Even though everyone from the year had gone to their own towns, they stayed in the shared apartment and didn't regret it. They didn't regret it, because it was one of the happiest holidays for these young students, madly in love with each other.

 

FLAME

Two hands met over the hearth. Both wanted to feel the warmth, to light a fire... At first, they stepped back, but not for long... They met again to ignite a tiny spark in the hearth. The spark began to slowly, gently creep across the very dry wood. Heat began to fill the room. The spark formed into a tiny flame. As time passed, it grew brighter, stronger. It became strong enough to provide the hands with warmth, a great deal of heartfelt warmth...

Once the flame had become a bright and powerful flame, something unexpected happened... Suddenly... a little water was poured on the flame. It hissed ominously... Did it go out? No, it didn't, it wasn't discouraged, instead, it burst into an even brighter flame. It was as if the attempt had strengthened it. This brought great joy to the hands, for it grew even warmer.

And just when everything seemed to be in order, the flame diminished, becoming a tiny flame again. My hands grew sad, yet at the same time they began to frantically search for an answer to the question: what had happened? How could this be changed? Then they saw the reason – the sticks were already burnt out… They understood – to keep the flame alive, to always be warm, we need to take care of it, to keep adding more sticks. Do you think – will my hands take care of that?

XXX

We met recently… Slowly and gently, a spark ignited between us, slowly growing into a flame. We're already warm and safe together…

But… sometimes you 'pour a little water on the flame,' meaning misunderstandings can arise, and sometimes you have to say difficult things to each other, 'let the water over the dam.' But as I'm sure you've noticed, Ania, moments like these strengthen our flame, what we've ignited together. And I want this to always unite us, never divide us.

We don't want the flame to fade, do we? You wrote me beautiful words: 'I feel something beautiful, something great, is being born within me...' I feel it too. But if we want it to last, we have to 'add wood' to the fire. What will those 'wood' be?

Conversations together and moments spent together in silence, admiring our beloved mountains and sharing our impressions, but also washing dishes together and joking about it, because I personally don't enjoy that activity...

And above all, talking about how we feel, how we perceive each other, what we don't like, and what we are grateful for...

I extend my hand to you... Will you give me yours?

 

TULIP

 

Spring had arrived, and it was a beautiful one at that. I thought it was time to visit a certain garden. It was a somewhat mysterious garden, overgrown with a thicket of various plants. Among the tangle of trees, shrubs, and tall grasses, one could also find all sorts of flowers... The garden was surrounded by a stone wall, on which a green fluff of moss gracefully settled.

I opened the gate, wrought iron and decorated with intricate ornaments. It creaked, as if reminding me of my long absence. 'Well,' I thought, 'I don't come here often because it's so beautiful, I could forget myself and stay here forever...'

I began to wander the garden, examining the flowers that had already grown there. I must point out that the garden was extraordinary in that all the plants in it lived their own interesting lives...

And so I gazed at the beautiful dandelions, eager to be admired, but when the wind blew... how fleeting their beauty was! Then I observed the snowdrops, their heads bowed down, as if exhausted after hard work, no longer wanting to do anything. I went to the pond—there, enchanting water lilies delighted my eyes. One swam toward me, but when I reached out, it quickly moved away, as if trying to play hide-and-seek with me. Yes, this garden was extraordinary! I also saw roses, full of grace and elegance, yet capable of painfully injuring one with their thorns. I was amused by the daisies—small, seemingly ordinary-looking creatures, yet noticeable—they chirped joyfully at every passerby. What were they saying? I don't know, I quickly ran away from them...

I was about to leave the garden when I noticed a small flower in a corner. 'Hmm, interesting, I must come closer,' I thought. It turned out that in this inconspicuous spot, a tulip was growing shyly. Its yellow head was closed. It grew as if it didn't want to take up much space. It was very shy. It intrigued me. I sat down next to it and began to observe it...

When it noticed I was looking at it, its petals blushed... I waited a long time for it to become accustomed to my presence. It was worth the wait. True, it only opened its lobes a little, revealing a small part of its interior, but it was a beautiful interior. An interior with delicate, yet strong petals. Despite its shyness, I saw a cheerful sparkle in its gaze—a sign of a sense of humor and a penchant for jokes. And how can such a tulip be so sensitive? 'This flower is nice,' I thought. And so we became friends. Perhaps one day the tulip's calyx will open further, and I'll see more of its interior? We'll see...

XXX

Flowers in the Garden... There are different types of women. What kind? Read about flowers and I'll leave it to you to interpret. Tulip.

One last conversation with the dog..."

It was my first day on the job. The old man entered my office and timidly slammed the door. He was wearing faded, light-colored jeans and a wrinkled flannel shirt that evoked my childhood, full of warmth, love, and golden corn fields.

The old man staggered toward my desk. It looked as if he was carefully choosing each step so as not to trip over the toys scattered throughout the room. This surprised me, because I value order in my workspace.

Everything must be in its place... pencils in an aluminum box that always sits at the right corner of my desk, a stack of paper always in front of me. In the drawer, I keep erasers, a ruler, matches, paper clips, and my beloved M&Ms.

When I'm feeling bored, frustrated, or when someone or something annoys me, I often find myself obsessively rubbing sulfur from matches with my fingernail.

The man sat down in a comfortable black armchair I'd bought at a sale. I shook his cold hand... covered in liver spots and scars, the only reminder of his youth. He stared for a moment at a poster depicting all breeds of dogs,

from the smallest to the largest. This must have spoiled his mood, because he immediately lowered his head and looked down at his suede shoes. His Adam's apple moved as if swallowing liters of water. It slowly moved upward and even more slowly returned to its original position. The old man must have felt me staring at him. Without lifting his head, he spoke in a hard, dull voice:

"My dog... is getting tired.

" I knew what he meant by those four short words. He slowly raised his head. He tried to smile, but all he could manage was a pained grimace. I reached for the form in the drawer and a pen. I wondered which one to give him…red?, blue?, maybe black? I chose navy blue.

I placed the paper and pen in front of the old man, trying to make it look neat and tidy. The paper was turned towards him, directly in front of him…and the pen was on the right side of the paper. The old man grabbed the pen with his left hand…I looked foolish. As politely as I could, I said, "

Please fill out the form…enter the dog's information. Please indicate whether you are the direct owner…"

I placed great emphasis on the word "please." The old man nodded without saying a word, pulled his glasses from his pocket, placed them on his vulture-like nose, placed the paper on his knee, and began writing.

"Please move closer to the desk…" I said pleasantly.

The old man meekly complied. Writing was difficult for him. His hands were shaking, his glasses slipping down his nose. I looked at his aged face. It was covered with numerous wrinkles that intertwined to form a veritable spiderweb. He had... at most a three-day-old white stubble. I sat before him and watched his sadness. It was almost tangible. It was as if someone were holding his shoulder and whispering sad, depressing things in his ear. A tear rolled down his weathered face and fell onto the paper. The old man clumsily began to wipe the tear away. Where he had rubbed it, the print began to smudge, leaving a dark stain. I wanted to hand him another form, but I changed my mind. Long moments passed. I looked at my watch, at the window, at the old man, at the floor.

It was one of those moments when a second seems to last longer than usual.

Suddenly, I saw the filled-out form lying on the desk. I picked it up. I tried to look professional... but somehow it didn't work. I stared blankly at the small, block letters. I didn't even check if he'd entered his information or the dog's name correctly. I put the form aside and put the pen in the drawer. I surreptitiously pulled out a blue M&M.

Honestly, I don't like blue ones... I prefer green and red ones.

I rose from the comfortable chair, which I hated to leave.

I asked,

"Where is he?" The dog..."

The old man looked at me with his deep-set, faded eyes, running his tongue over his yellow teeth.

Standing, he replied,

"...In the car...with my grandson."

I followed him without saying a word. I squinted as I stepped outside. The sun at this time of day was worse than the fluorescent lights used in supermarkets.

In the yard, in front of my office, stood a dirty and battered old pickup truck. The young man leaned against the car, smoking a cigarette. He pressed the filter to his lips one last time.

A deep breath... and an even deeper exhale. I imagined the disease developing in his lungs. The sickening smoke, the tar covering his lungs like a caring mother her child in the rain. We approached the dilapidated vehicle. The man threw a smoldering cigarette butt at his feet and stubbed it out with his boot. He turned toward the car door and grabbed the broken door handle. A moment later, a tan wolfhound peered out from the dark interior… My first patient… a thin, sickly, old dog that until recently had been the pride of its owner. The man offered me his hand. The strong, heavy handshake of a mechanic. I don't know if he was one, but judging by his clothes and hands, everything pointed to it. The old man knelt beside the animal. The dog timidly wagged its tail. His faithful eyes gazed sadly at the old man. The man, who was probably the grandson the old man had mentioned, opened his mouth. A plea emerged:

"Please do it quickly… Don't let him see this…"

I nodded. What more could I say?

I asked the old man to come with me to the office. Walking with him, I realized how nervous I was. I felt like a newly discovered pop star before his first concert. The old man was my audience, and the syringe was my instrument, playing the final tune. I said that if he wanted to say goodbye to a friend, this was the perfect moment. The old man crouched down in front of the dog… I could hear the animal's name faintly repeated over and over, forming a sort of "mantra." I stood beside him. I remembered my last graduation exam, but I couldn't remember the questions. What was the order of events? What should I do now? Should I ask him out and quickly euthanize the patient… or let them enjoy their last moment? What would the professor do? What would another vet do?

So many questions… so little time… The old man rose from the ground and said he was finished. I opened the door I didn't want to open… not today… not on my first day. I turned on the light. The fluorescent light flickered for a moment before it glowed completely.

Before me stood a simple metal operating table with thick leather straps.

A bed of eternal sleep for countless four-legged friends… unwanted, loved, hated, small and large.

I asked the old man to place the dog on it. He seemed deaf to my words, but a moment later, the dog's thin body lay on the table. The order was carried out; the time invested in training was paying off. They understood each other without unnecessary gestures or commands.

What was I thinking? Tightening the leather straps was pointless. The dog was calm.

His master was with him… Did he realize that in just five minutes the end would come? I opened the glass cabinet. I looked at the syringes… Which needle should I use? I prayed I would endure… my first day… my first serious task.

My first test. I chose the thinnest one. I picked up Morbital, whose effects are well known to all veterinarians, and whose name gives me the creeps.

My hands were shaking as I filled the syringe. The old man saw this:

"The first day..."

he said in a sad, hoarse voice. I nodded. I slowly pressed the plunger of the syringe to expel the excess air. I think I panicked. I came across as a rookie, a scared student who was too stupid to treat people, so he became a vet.

"You have to start sometime, it's just a shame it's like this...right?

" "True..."

What was I supposed to say? The old man was right. Everything was supposed to be different.

First, I was supposed to be visited by some obese woman who had invented another absurd, imaginary, harmless disease for her animal. I was supposed to prescribe medication and that was it...come in...next."

I approached the animal, which immediately fixed me with its trusting gaze… I guess it sensed my intentions… It wasn't hard to figure it out.

I stood over it with a clear syringe, a cold steel needle attached to it. Instinctively, I stroked the dog's back, which resembled a short ladder with thin rungs. I felt its ribs under my fingers… I could learn anatomy all over again. Five seconds… remember the last time you swam in a cold river, four… what the first sausage you filched from the table tasted like… three… remember your master's smile when he first took you in his arms… two… I turned to the old man. My heart was pounding. One second… as gently as I could, I inserted the needle. Prepare for soul evacuation… zero… do dogs have souls? So many questions... and answers from nowhere... 

WHITE AND RED.

 

The forest…gloomy, desolate trees drown in white snow. Beneath the running boots, there's no crackle of dry sticks or rustle of the undergrowth. Only a quiet creak. Every footstep leaves a distinct mark. A mark so distinct that even a novice hunter can continue the hunt without the slightest problem. The snow seeps into every nook and cranny of the boot, filling it with its presence.

The running boy's heart tries to leap from his cramped chest. The boy runs as fast as he can…a perverted surgeon's dream close to fulfillment. Fear hangs in the air. Every now and then, he falls…gets up…falls again…the circle closes. Bloodshed is imminent. Everything would be fine if the boy ran for sport. For the sheer pleasure of a constant, controlled run…but not now, not in this place. The boy is running for his life. First his damned dreams, and now his waking death. Does God, looking down, know the outcome? A goal? An escape? Or death… in the middle of nowhere?

The boy is breathing heavily… about to cough up his lungs, tearing his larynx… The victim regrets smoking cigarettes. He buys his own death and, using colloquialisms, screams, "What the hell for?" It wasn't a good move. The hunter has confirmed his beliefs… he knows where his prey is… close now… not far. Further escape is pointless. The boy named… let's say… Kamil stops in his tracks. Ready to die? Three, two, one… Go… Begin the soul evacuation… Kamil stands motionless… run, damn it. Kamil tastes blood in his mouth. What's going on? There's more and more blood… Suddenly, Kamil falls to his knees. He chokes on blood. He screams… cries, dying. He feels… that it's not his heart. It's not his heart… so what? The boy sees a man out of the corner of his eye. He doesn't know what's going on. What's happening? Am I going to die?

Only the last question will be answered. Soon... the man standing over him is dressed in light camouflage. He's wearing a helmet... a gas mask... a backpack, and a damn shotgun aimed at the boy's head. Kamil convulses. Blood spurts from his mouth, making a horribly sickening sound. The man screams at him not to move. If Kamil had any dignity, he would have done so with a smile... if it would have allowed him. His chest bulged unnaturally. The soldier runs closer. He lowers his weapon... calls for reinforcements. Kamil doesn't care anymore. He smells death... does death always taste so disgusting? Kamil reaches out towards the soldier and contorts his face in a silent scream. There's more and more blood... and more soldiers too.

Three soldiers are running towards him… is help coming? The soldier standing over him aims straight at Kamil's chest. A shot… an uncontrolled flow of blood. The boy lies on his back. Something emerges through the hole in his chest. Kamil is still alive. He can't believe what he's seeing. That something was inside him… The soldiers open fire on the boy. His body is torn apart by the impact of bullets. Huge slabs of flesh are torn off, streams of blood turn the color of snow dark red. It's just another shapeless hunk of flesh. The world saw the same thing during the wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and on television. Smoking from bullets… a human body stripped of its humanity.

One of the soldiers stands over Kamil's body. He turns to his companions and speaks to them, his voice muffled by his mask:

"I think we made it… I can't see anything

." If it weren't for the gas mask, the other soldiers would have seen his smile. Wide as the widest river, baring his yellow teeth. Unfortunately, his inappropriate grimace is brutally ripped from his face. From the steaming entrails of what was once Kamil, a strange, repulsive creature erupts. A wild, sharp sound that confounds the human mind, and its teeth gleam like thousands of pins. With a monstrous roar, the creature leaped at the squad leader. Its slick, thin, long body forced its way under his clothing. The man dropped his rifle to the ground and, screaming, pulled off his gas mask. The rest of the squad saw his terrified face. This was no longer the same man who, just two days ago, had ordered them to clean dirty toilets with a toothbrush. Now he was terrified, crying like a child, begging them on his knees for help. The soldiers stood over their commander. All the humiliations they had suffered because of their commander flashed before their eyes. Save him? Not save him? Shoot him in the head? Wait? The attacked commander rolled in the snow, leaving long, bloody tracks. Come on!!! Extend a helping hand… The soldiers slowly begin to retreat. The commander shouts… begs for help… shouts… and they pretend they don't hear a thing…

Angelic Fall .. : ...

Because that would be unfair, strange, and monotonous... I have the impression that now, having ended sadness, I will only climb upward, reach higher peaks toward joy, savor the hotter passions of the delicacy that is life... After all, it is life that now besieges every cubic centimeter of my body, it is this happiness that my soul seethes with, and this passion that my whole person—I—savours.

I am climbing upwards, but since my "awareness of life" is constantly growing, when will I be fully "alive"?

Or perhaps this happiness is precisely the wandering of a blind man in Egyptian darkness, and perhaps the eyelids of the cunning, sly side of life have simply clung to my eyes. Maybe...

And then, well... Floating chaotically in euphoria, Life will suddenly pull me back down to earth and show me that it is not sweet, and yes, one could savor it, one could—but only in its bitterness.

And he will look once more at this scabbed life... measure it with a hateful gaze, and... aim with the strong hand of pessimism, an open palm, each bent finger sticking out, tense in its strength. And then the Angel loses faith in weightlessness... he understands... he understands in life that he is a fallen Angel... that this is not the end and that a dissatisfying, hateful force will strike him—now and then. That happiness is an illusion, not consciousness, but the opposite—unconsciousness... And he falls! A blow is struck aimed at the greater suffering of the individual, which will soon become the suffering of all, greater by that thousandth...

Bloody sweat breaks out on the divine brow, now a human Angel. Another blow, this one more powerful than the psyche can comprehend. He falls,…stunned like a piece of animal flesh. The Messenger twists his white, feminine lips and collapses into himself, sinking as if into anabiosis, already absent… It is an amorphous trance that now permeates the gaze of his soul's eyes, the pupils burned out… Life, after all, extinguished him before the fragment, and he no longer glows for life, but burns for death. His soul burns with the last flame of fear, the dread of pain. Oh defenseless Angel!—you fool, flee! But the deafened will not hear, and the wise will not heed heretical advice—for by what right can he flee from life, or rather from death... oh fool! Stunned, you don't see, you don't know that Life in this struggle is Death... And stunned, you also don't hear Life's final thunderous blow, the whistle of a double-edged sword, capable of separating marrow from bone and the living from the living. And there it is, cutting through the air, a still gallows-like echo and the crunch of crackling feathers, down, and a heart rattling with thoughts, and you have it... the living whole bursts into life, the grounded Angel, now bereft of wings and arched, bends his face to the Earth that will bury him, averting his blind gaze from the blazing sky that betrayed him. No, he will not be a patriot, he will not follow in his last, crawling moment of flight the clouds of his values that betrayed him, leading him to the abyss. The

fallen Angel, in a half-bow, drenches the face of the Earth with an unheavenly sadness... It alone does not blame him, does not wound him, does not pelt him with the ash of hatred that heaven has produced. For she is united with him in this ash… The sweet tears of despair of the Fallen One softened the hateful ash of the sky, and in that twinkling of an eye, new life sprouts there. Grass rises, calamus, every blade and reed raises its hands to the blazing firmament. They choked the Angel's breath and sucked out the juices of his despair—that he no longer struggles, dripping only with tears of suffering and salty trickles of true, most true blood…

And the reed feeds on the flesh of the Good One, and grows higher and faster, while he fades.

And the earth, mired in thunder, finally opened, opened, then closed its branches and froze… The earth hid the angel, covering its face with an earthy shroud… 

One last thought

It was one of those gloomy evenings that haunt a person when they're at their most vulnerable. For some time now, nothing had been going right for Adrian, nothing was falling into place. The puzzle of his life was slowly unraveling, leaving behind only a blank page in the book of his fate.

Problems at work, where he hadn't expected them. Money was becoming increasingly scarce. He was barely making ends meet. This wasn't life anymore, just a mere existence on the edge of the world's garbage dump. Sure, he had plenty of friends who would probably help, but that wasn't what he wanted. He didn't even have his soulmate. That was what he missed most. He felt incredibly lonely and terrified of alienation. He was powerless against everything around him.

He was watching some hopeless political program on television when the doorbell attached to the door sang a cheerful melody that Adrian hadn't changed in six months. He stubbed out his cigarette in the overflowing ashtray and crossed the room toward the front door. He paused for a moment at the mirror. Despite being in his twenties, he still looked like a teenager. Slim and straight, of average height. His short, dark hair, usually parted on the left, now fanned out in all directions, creating a comical, artistic mess. He grew even more gloomy.

He grabbed the doorknob and quickly opened the door. His eyes widened in surprise. Anna stood there, a beautiful brunette with long hair, and a face that could best be described as "Elf Face." She was soaked from the downpour that beat merrily outside the window. Water dripped from her hair, creating a picture both beautiful and very shabby. Her white blouse was slightly see-through from the damp. Adrian didn't even know how she'd ended up there. He didn't remember giving her his address. The thought quickly vanished, however, as if it had suddenly ceased to be so important.

"I..." she mumbled uncertainly. "Just forget it."

She said it as if she were begging. As if it were the last thing she would ask for.

"Just forget about all of this for a moment."

Now Adrian was divided in two. The eternal conflict, his mind against its allies: his heart and soul.

His mind dictated that he not accept her. To say a few words to her to change her mind and come home. After all, he had his principles, and they were clear. Don't force yourself into places you shouldn't. Don't ruin someone's life because of yourself. That's why he built a defensive wall around himself. To isolate himself and avoid suffering, to avoid feeling guilty or defeated later.

His heart and soul, however, dictated something else. They told him to follow the impulse of the moment. They told him to go in the direction his feelings chose. Toward love, which he had so nearly achieved. He wanted to make her his queen and worship her to the skies. Surround her with his care and adore her eternally, so she would feel beautiful and valued.

"Just forget, just for a moment," she whispered.

Adrian stepped aside, making space while simultaneously making an inviting gesture. Feelings overcame cold logic and reason. Heart and soul triumphed over mind. An undefeated pair.

He went to her with a towel and gently placed it on her head, trying to brush her hair away. Anna just stood there and looked at his dark circles under his eyes. He looked so tired.

She slowly touched the top button of his black shirt and unbuttoned it. She moved lower and unbuttoned another, another, and another, until all the buttons were undone. The shirt fell open, revealing a bare torso marked with several scars. Adrian froze. He seemed utterly surprised. She possessed him. Now she was his Mistress. He couldn't resist her. His heart wanted this. It craved it with all its might. His mind was silent, muffled by the enormity of the emotions that shook him.

Gently and slowly, she tore off his shirt, which fell with the towel between their feet. He stood half-naked and speechless. He couldn't believe what was happening.

She stared into his eyes. They had always been expressionless. Mute and hidden. Now she could read them like an open book. Full of radiance and extraordinary depth.

She knew that, contrary to appearances, he felt the same way she did. They had both forgotten who they were in life. Now, nothing existed except this moment. There were no other people, no problems. The world suddenly emptied, leaving only the two of them.

She removed her blouse, revealing a slender torso and a dark bra. The blouse fell gently, covering the nightgown. A moment later, they were both completely naked, gazing into each other's eyes. Adrian wrapped his arms around Anna's waist and lifted her like a feather. He carried her to the bed and laid her there just as lightly. He was slim, but his arms, though fragile, concealed incredible reserves of strength.

He slowly began kissing her, massaging her ears with his hands and playing with her hair. Lightly caressing her, he moved lower to her neck, massaging her with his lips, gently exhaling air that pleasantly fanned her silky smooth skin.

He moved lower, massaging her small but beautiful breasts. He paused for a moment on her hardened nipples, lightly biting and sucking. His hands caressed her sides and ribs, letting his fingers wander freely over her body. He massaged and kissed the line of her stomach, stimulating the nerves around her navel. He didn't forget to caress her thighs and pubis.

When she moaned softly, he slowly placed his hands on her thighs and spread them. He entered her very slowly, sensing every detail of her body. Their bodies began to dance in unison. They became one. A dance so pure and beautiful that it became the highest expression of art and devotion.

They gazed at each other for a moment, then disappeared into each other's arms, hugging and kissing each other. Massaging and stroking each other's hands, backs, necks. They closed their eyes, surrendering to the single rhythm of love's rapture.

Their breathing became increasingly rapid and shallow. The sheets beneath them became damp with their sweat. Still holding each other, they leaned to their sides. Now Anna was on top of him. She smiled slightly. Her small, delicate hands roamed his chest, capturing every detail of his body: every curve of muscle, every mound. At the same time, she undulated against him, prolonging the dance.

She felt an increasing bliss and pleasure in this act. She was satisfied that she could give so much warmth and pleasure.

Adrian followed her lead and began to explore her body with his hands again. First her knees and thighs, gently stroking them. Then her belly and breasts.

He felt incredible. He tried to give everything he could. He wanted and longed to surrender himself completely to it. He no longer thought about what existed. Now he truly wanted to forget, and he did.

They made love for a long time. Anna rippled like a river, ready to extinguish any fire. Carrying water that would quench the greatest thirst. Adrian, on the other hand, was like a volcano, boiling from within. Gathering lava, only to burst forth in a tremendous eruption.

They were a perfect match. Stroking and kissing each other. They made love until everything disappeared, truly. Dance after dance. Continuously.

Late at night, Adrian sat by the bed, staring at the pale night lights lazily falling on Anna's face. She was asleep. What had she dreamed of? It didn't matter.

She was beautiful. Beautiful like an angel heralding good news. Only he, Adrian, was winged. He felt incredible. They had been cuddling earlier. They had talked for a while until Anna fell asleep. Adrian couldn't sleep. Something was stirring inside him. He felt that when the first rays of sunlight appeared on that beautiful face, everything would be over. The spell would be broken. He was afraid that when she opened her joyful eyes and her lips parted in a sincere smile, this moment of oblivion would vanish. He felt it was too good to be true. He dreaded every swiftly passing second, for their passage meant another transformation. There would be no more oblivion. Only a dry world remained, meaningless to him.

DRIN, DRRRIIINNN

The alarm clock. I have to turn it off. She'll wake up soon. Anna will wake up soon, and that damned alarm clock will ruin her peaceful and probably beautiful sleep.

No.

I'll wake up.

Adrian slowly rubbed his eyes. Bright sunlight poured through the windows, driving the darkness from every corner of the place.

"It was a dream," he thought. A beautiful dream.

He closed his eyes to hold on to it longer, but fragments of it were fading. They escaped his mind, leaving dead holes in his memory. Gaps that once meant something.

"What was I dreaming about?" he thought. He no longer remembered the details. He remembered that Anna had come to him, wet from rain. Rain?

Dreams had their own rules. However strange they might be, they were normal in dreams.

He only remembered that she was there. Nothing more. Everything had vanished. It seemed as if she were behind an impenetrable fog.

She had only come. Nothing more.

"A beautiful dream," he said to himself. "But is it worth living in dreams?"

He lit a cigarette and looked out at the world stretching out beyond the window. Dry logic, his mind reigned supreme, keeping his emotions and nerves on a short leash. He wouldn't let them escape.

“I'll think about it later.” He thought.