Quaz is Here

07/08/2023

I've no business being up at this hour—other than making late-night Rice Krispies Marshmallow Squares, with browned butter. Lots of browned butter. Mmmm... the BEST EVER! Come on by and let's make 'em together! https://twitch.tv/QuazIsHere.

05/24/2023

You ready for more? Served in a fancy pineapple bowl, no less? Then come and get some Thai fried rice with pineapple and prawns. I'm heading into the ADHD Kitchen to get it started RIGHT NOW. Get in here, you scamp! https://twitch.tv/QuazIsHere!

02/25/2023

Hello, friends. I'm writing to let you know I'll be stepping away from streaming for a while.

I've been navigating some significant transitions in my life in recent weeks. Some, like retiring, I'd planned and was prepared to take on. But some others I couldn't have predicted are weighing unexpectedly heavy on me.

In any case, I'm finding I don't have access to the levels of energy and joy I used to bring to streaming. After weeks of careful reflection, I've decided to cut streaming and focus my energy on compassionate self-care.

For those of you who worry: Don't worry! It's a heavy time for me right now, but I'm holding up just fine, and doing the right things to come through it whole and strong.

In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you in the chats and Discords of the communities we share and love. After all, I'm stepping away from streaming, not from us! :) 💜

Much love,
Quaz

02/18/2023

GOING LIVE NOW at https://twitch.tv/QuazIsHere, we continue our adventurous cook-through of Heroes' Feast: The Official D&D Cookbook with hearty, pub-style Tavern “Steak,” a seasoned lamb and beef mince patty, served on a garlicky grilled brioche bun with gruyere cheese, rounded out with creamy dill yogurt sauce and olive fig spread condiments.

02/18/2023

What a sh*tshow today's streaming attempt has been!

It feels like every time I think I've got every last thing fixed and tested, all humming and ready for my next go live, I come back to find something (or multiple things) broke while I was away. Or more likely it was something I didn't know to check for before.

Seriously, it's worse than a sh*tshow. It feels more like an advancing army of trained chimpanzees, each rank flinging their all before making room for the next. And just when you think you've almost got 'em beat, look! There's another wave coming.

Sometimes it gets so damned boring! I ask myself why I keep banging away at it, why keep getting my hopes up that I've finally mastered it, when it's so obvious I'm never gonna figure it out really.

I tell myself "You never tried to be a pro streamer. You're just an enthusiast? If you can't stay enthusiastic about it, you might as well throw in the towel. Right, mate? Right?"

Fortunately, I never listen, coz I'm too busy trying to learn how to fix this next thing. This time for sure the last one.

And it's a good thing, too...

GOING LIVE NOW at https://twitch.tv/QuazIsHere, our adventurous cookthrough of Heroes' Feast: The Official D&D Cookbook continues with hearty, pub-style Tavern “Steak,” a seasoned lamb and beef mince patty, served on a garlicky grilled brioche bun with gruyere cheese, rounded out with creamy dill yogurt sauce and olive fig spread condiments.

I'm learning how to cook and love good company! Follow me at https://twitch.tv/QuazIsHere and come on by! My kitchen is a relaxed, friendly place to chat with old friends and make some new ones. Or feel free to just watch and learn new recipes together! It's always better with friends!

02/18/2023

I an officially postponing today’s stream start time. We will be going live from the ADHD Kitchen at 8 PM US Pacific time / 4 AM UK GMT / 3 PM Sydney AEST at https://twitch.tv/QuazIsHere.

I did finally get my mic working! Unfortunately, now I have less than two hours before I have to leave to dog-sit for a friend who’s away from home.

Two hours isn’t enough time for me to finish the recipe (this is the ADHD kitchen we’re talking about, after all!) , so I’m postponing the stream to 8 PM, after my return from doggo-duty.

It’s frustrating and not a little embarrassing to be so inconsistent in navigating time (ADHD is no joke!). But not nearly so much as it is disappointing to stand you up and let you down. Again. Please accept my sincere apologies.

I may not be punctual, but I am tenacious af: See you at 8 PM US Pacific time / 4 AM UK GMT / 3 PM Sydney AEST, live from the ADHD Kitchen at https://twitch.tv/QuazIsHere.

Much love,
Quaz
💜💜💜

02/17/2023

I’M BAAAAAACK!

I’ve been offline for much-needed e-break to focus on adjusting to IRL changes in my new life as a retiree. Who knew that retiring would be so much work? 🤪

Today, with focus and energy restored, I’ll be resuming our cook-through of Heroes’ Feast: The Official Dungeons & Dragons Cookbook, with hearty, pub-style Tavern “Steak” a seasoned lamb and beef mince patty, served on a garlicky grilled brioche bun with gruyere cheese, rounded out with creamy dill yogurt sauce and olive fig spread condiments.

I’ll shoot to go live around 2 PM US Pacific time / 10 PM UK GMT / 9 AM Sydney AEST. (Sorry, I know that’s a late start for those of us in the UK. I’ll try to make it up to you with an earlier stream this Sunday!)

01/19/2023

Stalwart heroes, your time is now! RIGHT NOW! 10:15 AM US Pacific time / 6:15 PM GMT.

Gather 'round. It's time to conjure yet another Heroes' Feast at https://twitch.tv/QuazIsHere.

Today's recipe from Heroes’ Feast: The Official Dungeons & Dragons Cookbook: Sembian Honey-Glazed Rothé Ribs.

Multiple layers of thick, saucy glaze based on honey from the Faerûnian nation-state of Sembia, copiously slathered over racks of meaty rothé ribs and slow-roasted.

For sides, perhaps green beans with bacon, brown sugar glazed carrots, and crispy roasted potatoes.

Going live right now at https://twitch.tv/QuazIsHere. Your culinary adventure awaits!

Full disclosure: Since I couldn't get to Faerûn or Sembia, nor acquire rothé ribs (the butcher said something about them being fictional), I'll be substituting honey from the United States and baby back ribs.

01/11/2023

Grab your rainbow unicorn tiara! It's party time!

This is it! Final assembly and bake for 's BIRTHDAY MF LASAGNA!

Going live RIGHT NOW at https://twitch.tv/QuazIsHere

01/11/2023

** Birthday Lasagna for ! **

Join the party in a special pop-up stream starting at 9 PM US Pacific time / 4 PM Sydney time at https://twitch.tv/QuazIsHere

It's 's birthday today! He told me he didn't want a cake, but then he let slip he *does* like lasagna.

So birthday lasagna it is!

That's right! MF Birthday Lasagna! Complete with birthday party deco, plates, lights, and headgear (rainbow unicorn tiara, anyone?).

And of course, birthday candles. Coz it's just not birthday lasagna without candles in it.

Are you ready? Ready to witness possibly the first-ever birthday lasagna stream ever to be seen on Twitch?

Let's party!!!!!

9 PM US Pacific time / 4 PM Sydney time at https://twitch.tv/QuazIsHere
____

Fun facts about *aka * Mat with one T:

- He runs a small farm in Sydney, Australia, taking in rescue animals and giving them a place to call their forever home.

- He's one of my favorite mixed-genre DJs on Twitch (live right now at https://twitch.tv/madeforitfarm — check him out!) .

- He's a genuine, decent bloke, someone I'm truly grateful to call my friend.

- TODAY IS HIS BIRTHDAY!!!!
(Well, Wednesday is, and it's already Wednesday afternoon in Sydney. :wink: )

Birthday lasagna! Join the party at 9 PM US Pacific time / 4 PM Sydney time at https://twitch.tv/QuazIsHere

I'm learning how to cook and love good company! Follow me at https://twitch.tv/QuazIsHere and come on by! My kitchen is a relaxed, friendly place to chat with old friends and make some new ones. Or feel free to just watch and learn new recipes together! It's always better with friends!

01/08/2023

NO MORE WAITING! Do you like noodles? Who doesn't love NOODLES? Going live now, continuing our D&D Heroes' Feast recipe cook-through with Kara-Tur Noodles.
Also: Unboxing! A new magnetic knife block

I'm learning how to cook and love good company! Follow me at https://twitch.tv/QuazIsHere and come on by! My kitchen is a relaxed, friendly place to chat with old friends and make some new ones. Or feel free to just watch and learn new recipes together! It's always better with friends!

12/29/2022

Hello, friends. My apologies, but I have canceled today's stream.

As some of you know, one of the symptoms I experience living with ADHD is a persistent deficiency in executive function, the higher-order cognitive processes involved in analyzing, planning, organizing, scheduling, and completing tasks.

Executive dysfunction is what often leads me to postpone the stream, sometimes by as much as several hours. But today I'm unable to make any progress. As often as I start doing something to set up for the stream, within a few minutes, I somehow find I'm doing something else.

I've been struggling like this for over seven hours now. In that time I've managed to empty the dishwasher, clear one countertop, and send you this update. In fact, just finishing writing this update has taken me over an hour!

I've used medication, meditation, written plans, and several supporting behavioral strategies I've learned over the years, but today it's just not enough. So I'm calling it: Today my disability wins.

I may try again late tonight or some time tomorrow. But first I need to get me some more spoons... 🙂

_____

Would you like to learn more?

What Is Executive Dysfunction? Signs and Symptoms of EFD
https://www.additudemag.com/what-is-executive-function-disorder/

The Spoon Theory written by Christine Miserandino
https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/

Executive function skills enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and manage multiple tasks. Up to 90 percent of kids with ADHD struggle with executive dysfunction, which impairs goal-directed behavior.