Mandatory Gender Binary: Coming Soon to an LJ Near You?

Via Hyel, Via Skud: Synecdochic talks about mandatory gender binary on LJ. Follow the link to see what you can do.

And, via Naamah_Darling: LJ Takes it Back?

So we'll see what happens.

(no subject)

Check Out what Seanan_McGuire wrote!

I particularly like this:

After experimenting with several pomegranates from a neighbor's tree, I decided that Demeter was sort of dumb if she thought Persephone didn't want to stay in the Underworld. Nobody goes "Hmmm, I'm hungry, I think I'm going to eat a fruit that comes with a padlock." Hungry people eat dates, apples, grapes, and other easy-access fruits. Determined people eat pomegranates.

I *like* the story where it's not rape and abduction, but informed consent and a young woman growing up and finding her own way.

Also: Dark chocolate-pomegranate cookies sound gooooooooooooooood. :-D

Winter Queen Cookies Recipes

Okay, I haven't tried these. But they will probably work based on stuff I've done and/or eaten that contains Pomegranate Goo. Give them a whirl and see where they take you. :-)
(Hint: They may take you to the underworld. Bring money so you can come back).


Fancy Winter Queen Cookies

Ingredients

1C chocolate chips
1C butter/margarine/shortening (softened)
1½ C granulated sugar
½ C molasses[1]
3 eggs (3/4 C silken tofu – if using tofu, double the leavening agent)
1 tsp vanilla
5 C flour (or as needed)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
2 tsp baking power (or 4tsp baking power, if using tofu instead of eggs)
1 pinch of salt
1 C pomegranate juice (or strong coffee, if you want the original recipe)


Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Gently melt the chocolate in a small saucepan over very low heat, and allow to cool for about 5 minutes. Stir the butter and sugar together in a large bowl, and mix in the chocolate, molasses, eggs, and vanilla extract.
• Sift 5 cups of flour with the cinnamon, cloves, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Gradually stir the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture by cupfuls, alternating each addition of flour with about 2 tablespoons of coffee, until all the coffee is incorporated. Dough should be soft but not runny. Add more flour if needed to make a soft dough, but cookies will be dry if the dough is too stiff. Use a small scoop or melon baller to form 1-inch balls, and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the cookies are set and just beginning to brown at the edges, about 10 minutes. Let cool on sheets for about 1 minute before removing to continue cooling on a rack until slightly warm, 8 to 10 minutes.





Quite a Bit Easier Winter Queen Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup shortening
1 cup pomegranate goo[2]
2 eggs
3 cups sifted flour
1 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves


Directions

Cream the sugar and shortening, add the pomegranate good and the eggs, then add the dry ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a couple of baking sheets. Pinch off tsp-sized balls of cookie dough (roll in granulated sugar, if desired), arrange on greased baking sheet, and bake at 350°F for 10 – 12 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
Theoretically makes 4 dozen cookies.




- TTFN,
- Amazon. :-D



[1] OR half molasses, half pomegranate goo as available from Middle-Eastern grocery stores. OR all pomegranate goo. Do as you will and experiment. Switching it to 1C granulated sugar PLUS 1/3 C grenadine could work, too, FYI.

[2] Available from Middle-Eastern grocery stores. You can also use grenadine, but cut out 1/3 C sugar and add a few extra tbsp cocoa to even out the sweetness.