Virtual Birthday Party, Day 2

[wiseheart]

Dear all,

Day 1 of the party has been a great success: 170 comments on 2 pages so far. As agreed, I hereby kick off the second day, so that we won't lose everything like last year, should LJ crash our party again.

Threads of interest can still be commented on, but I ask you to start any new threads here from now on

And now: on with the party!!!

Comments

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

First topic of the day

Since the food topic did go a bit under all the others on Day 1, perhaps we can resurrect it here. Let's talk about favourites. What do you like, what was the best you've created yourself or eaten by somebody else. Which cuisines do you prefer?

[sammydragoncat]

I don't know about the best thing I ever made, I know what is a general crowd pleaser at my house when it's made - Enchiladas, Pork chops with Fideo & beans on the side, Chile Verde, Lasagna, Roast Chicken.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

For me, it's the simple things that are the most enjoyable. I do try my hands on some new recipes from time to time, even exotic ones, but nothing can beat a good chicken paprikash or Wiener Schnitzel with parsley potatoes. Or the Sauerkraut casserole Mum made yesterday. *g*

In fact, I even get ecstatic when we have some slightly dry bread or buns, which we then dip in milk, flour and beaten eggs and deep fry in oil, as if they were Schnitzel. We usually eat them with spinach or with a simple salad, and it's delicious.

Or carrot soup. Do you know carrot soup? We eat it once every other week.

[sammydragoncat]

I've never had carrot soup - not a big fan of carrots. I know what you mean about the simple things are the most enjoyable - most of what I listed is pretty quick and simple to make, and also never any left overs.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Birthday presents, hobbit-style

As we all know, Hobbits give presents on their own birthdays to their guests. So, take a look at my Interests list, and if you can find a fandom we share and have a particular wish, I'll write you a story (most likely very short ficlet) before October 9.

Name your gift!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

You'd like Mum's carrot soup. It's basically a chicken broth that we make of instant soup or granulate, but instead of noodles, there are carrot juliennes in it. It's flavoured with lemon juice, parsley and a pinch of sugar - very tasty and refreshing.

[sammydragoncat]

That does sound good - I do love lemon. My mom makes a beef vegtable soup, you add some lemon before you eat it, it's sooo good on a cold day!

[sammydragoncat]

You already gave me one with your Sherlock update

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

I'm a completely rubbish cook; I don't think I've ever cooked something of which I was truly proud. I'm known for burning water whilst boiling it and I've nearly caused a number of fires by putting the wrong things into microwaves/ovens...

Simple dishes I love... My mother used to cook some cheese biscuits/flat cakes called sables. Wonderful fresh, rather like very cheesy cheese scones, but flatter. Must try to find the recipe some day. Also a tomato & onion salad, just with sliced home-grown tomatoes & mild onions in rings, with a garlicky French dressing. Yum. Now that's simple enough even for me, though we can't grow tomatoes here. And I adore hard-boiled eggs, still slightly warm, with home-made mayonnaise finished with paprika. Can't make mayonnaise, sadly. Oh, and fishcakes with an oily fish and a nice creamy tartare sauce, smoked fish pâté. My mother was a really good cook.

And in restaurants in the right part of the world certain kinds of shellfish. Fresh locally caught mussels or scallops, just with butter & lemon. Mmm...

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Cuisines I love... I tend to prefer Indian, Chinese, Thai these days, though when I was younger I mainly ate French/Italian, and there are some dishes I still love eg Italian risotto, French cheeses :) For celebration I'd usually go with Thai, but that's partly because it's the hardest to create the flavours at home. I particularly love Thai soups & satay.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Then you'd love our sour chicken soup. It's a regular, home-made chicken soup with a chicken breast cooked in it, lots of carrots and parsley roots and stuff. But when it's done, Mum stirs and eggyolk with sour cream and thickens the soup with it slightly, adding lemon juice for a fresh flavour.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I tried my luck with Asian cuisines, but I can't bear the spices. I even get stomach-aches from curry. We use very few spices as a rule, mostly salt and pepper and herbs like parsley. My grandfather had a kidney problem, so hot spices were a no-go, and I still don't like them.

I do cook fake Chinese sometimes, meaning all ingredients without the spices. Yeah, I know, it sounds horrible. But the chicken and asparagus salad with baby corn is really delicious, and without all the hot spices you can actually value the taste of the meat and the veggies. *g*

[sammydragoncat]

I stay away from most chcken soups - if not done right it can be greasey, but that does sound good.

[scifimimi.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday :) hope all is going well :)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

You are easy, you know that? ;)
But at least there will be another update before the party ends.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

THank you. Things are mostly good, I can't complain... much. What about you? It's been eternity since I heard from you.

[sammydragoncat]

I know :)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

The trick is: once it has boiled, you need to spoon off the thick white foam from the surface. Then it will be so clear you can see through... and not so greasy.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

You'll love it. Chapter 13 has action!Mary.

[sammydragoncat]

I know, or a 2 day process and refrigerate the broth over night and let all the fat solidify on the top, and take it off that way.

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

I adore mild to medium spicy food, and thankfully my gut problem resolved to the point I can eat it again. (Though still not very spicy.) You're right, though, overspicing does sometimes mean one can hardly taste the ingredients, which is a shame. I think it's easy to get addicted to the kick of spicy food & not be able to enjoy less vigorous tastes. There again, spices are low calorie :)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I must be off now, people. It's insanely late over here and I have to work tomorow... I mean, later today. ;)
Feel free to have fun in my absence, the water is fine and the virtual cookies are on the sideboard. I'll rejoin when work has spit me out again.
Good night!

[sammydragoncat]

If you combine Day 1's comments and Day 2's you have hit over 200 comments

[sammydragoncat]

Sounds good - I do like Mary

[scifimimi.livejournal.com]

yw....things are going well here, just started a new job in April. I am glad things are well with you. *hugs*