Party kickoff 2016

[wiseheart]

Welcome to my annual (virtual) birthday party! I'll be turning 60 on October 9, which is a round number, meaning, that a whole new decade of my life will start. Imagine that! Where has all the time gone when I was not watching?

In any case, let's have fun! The goal is, as always, to create as many collapsing threads on as many pages as possible. I'll kick up the first few topics, just to start the ball rolling, but basically it's up to you what we'll be talking about. So far, we always had fascinating topics. Photos of cakes and cookies and flowers and kittens and whatever you want to post are also welcome.

Since LJ chose to crash our party 3 years ago, I'll save the whole thing to Dreamwidth on a daily basis. Last time it happened it took us an ungodly amount of effort to recreate the lost comments, and even so, we didn't manage to get everything back.

Again, welcome and let's have fun! God knows we all deserve it. The party closes at midninght on October 9, sharp, as always. Let's use the time we have well! Last year we had almost 900 comments, most of them in various threads of lovely discussions - let's hope we'll going to have at least as much fun and enjoyment again!

And a Hobbit-style birthday gift for Merlin fans: I've finally updated "Magic Mirror"!
Chapter 6 - Leontes in Wonderland has been posted to FF.Net. Enjoy!

Comments

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Topic the first - baking

So, here is a pic of my not-so-voluntarily made gingerbread men. I've been working on them for three consecutive days and have finished them a couple of hours ago. Aren't they cute? (Click on the picture to enlarge.)

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/47/2d/38/472d38dad1707442c6b15475993b92b4.jpg)

So what have you baked lately? Also, if anyone wants the recipe, I'll post it - the dough itself is ridiculously easy to make. It's the decoration that takes forever.

[sammydragoncat]

They are adorable, I'm sure they taste great! It has been so hot here lately, I haven't done much baking, I think the last thing I made was cream scones.

I can't believe that it is time for your party already!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Unbelievable, isn't it? And the fact that I'm turning 60! I don't feel a day older than 16, and then things like this happen behind my back!

I've done a lot of baking lately, since people come celebrating at different times. Sacher torte, for example, has turned out wonderfully - and it isn't as complicated to make as people would like you to believe.

The gingerbread men, otoh, took me about half an hour to bake (not counting the chilling time in the fridge). Then I spent the next two days decorating them. My boss wanted something that would represent our partnership with the German school. Gah! See previous entry for the sordid details.

[sammydragoncat]

I just read your previous entry - I have often been volunteered for projects at work, but nothing like that.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

A neat trick volunteering someone else's time and energy, isn't it? In theory we planned to invite guests for an early pre-birthday party (the various kinds of guests aren't exactly compatible, so we need an entire string of parties), but we had to postpone it.

Mum had a boss earlier, who in similar situations used to say (only in a much ruder phrasing) that no-one is supposed to have sexual activities with his... erm... manhood. Was I tactful enough? *g*

[sammydragoncat]

I just read your previous entry - I have often been volunteered for projects at work, but nothing like that.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Odd. LJ posted your comment twice. It doesn't matter, though - that way we get raised numbers without trying. Do you think this is lJ's amends for crashing our party three years ago? ;)

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

They look delicious! Sad that you had to spend your weekend baking them for school - that isn't fair of them!


I haven't been doing any baking at the moment - partly because I'm supposed to be losing weight, and partly because I haven't had the energy.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I hate gingerbread like the plague. I can't even stand the smell of it. So there's no danger that I'd eat of them - but as gifts (especially when you make them voluntarily) they are great.

Of course, when you don't have the energy, it's better to have a recipe when you just throw all ingredients into the kitchen machine, let it do all the work, pour the finished dough into a form and let the oven do the rest. *g*

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

I really like gingerbread - although I've never made the biscuit type (as opposed to the cake). The decorating sounds very hard - I must admit I fall more into the category of baking where so long as it tastes nice it doesn't matter how messy it is.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

That's one very efficient way to deal with it. ;)

[bk_forever]

They're so cute! I love gingerbread =)

(Actually, I love anything with ginger in it!)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I love ginger, too. It's the honey ingredient that I hate.

[bk_forever]

Oh, I like honey too, so such things are perfect for me =)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

It is a very easy dough to make. The devil is in the decoration.

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

They are charming! Are the gingerbread sweet, spicy or both? I'd love to see your recipe, if you're willing to share!

P.S. I found the recipe down the email stream a bit. Köszönöm! Do you think it would work with butter? (Margerine and my belly do not get along at all.)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Scroll down, I've posted the recipe a couple of comments further down.
It is sweet and spicy, both. The spicy surprise is when they bite down on the eyes - they are black peppers. *g*

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

I've never heard of that little trick! How clever!

[artemis10002000]

Awwww they are very cute! Three days of work sounds gruelling, and I wish you hadn't been bullied into doing it, but the gingerbread men are something to be proud of!

I just baked Russischer Zupfkuchen today

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's gorgeous! I tried your recipe once, we couldn't eat the cake quickly enough.

[artemis10002000]

After several years I've gotten very good at dealing with the chocolate dough, too lol No longer making a mess!

It used to take forever for the cheesecake filling to get solid, by which time the chocolate dough was burnt, so I used Speisestärke today. Not sure yet if I wanna keep doing it, the filling looks a bit weird though it's tasty. I'll have to experiment some more.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

They look too good to eat!

[isisisatis.livejournal.com]

Hi there! Long time no see! Maybe you remember me from the M/N yahoo group? Since I read your invitation, I thought I'd join for a short chat :-)

Here is what I baked rececently (it's fresh from the oven, hmmmmm!):

It's actually today's dinner. I made Empanadas with Pebre (or at least the German version of it *g*).

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Hey, welcome to the party! Of course I remember you - the M/N one was always a very nice group, a shame that it has gone so dormant lately. Good to hear from you, feel free to drop by any time you fell like. I have a fairly open journal, hardly ever lock any entries, and old acquaintances are always welcome.

Today's dinner looks very yummy!

[isisisatis.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the M/N group was great place to be around :)

Since today is the day: Happy Birthday, Soledad! I wish you all the best, especially happiness and health!