Christmas baking...
Dec. 13th, 2008 04:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Ah, what a Christmassy day. I'm doing some Christmas baking, with friends coming over any minute now for a Merlin video-party. I have spots all over my glasses from whatever I've been tending on the stove - melting butter for the date squares? Beating cream cheese for the cheesecake? And I'm making an old favourite chicken dish I haven't done in a couple of years: honey-curry chicken. The secret ingredient is mustard.
I am also, as per tradition, listening to Christmas music.
Got my hair done this morning, and wrapped a bunch of Christmas presents for people I'm likely to see today. Then
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Better get back to whatever's on the stove.
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Date: 2008-12-13 09:55 pm (UTC)Have fun with Merlin - I just watched the final episode earlier tonight. I'm really going to miss this show!
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Date: 2008-12-14 04:15 am (UTC)I look forward to see the episodes of Merlin I haven't seen yet. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, though Andrea complained that it wasn't sticking to the 'accurate' story. Heh.
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Date: 2008-12-14 09:47 am (UTC)it wasn't sticking to the 'accurate' story
What 'accurate' story? *grins*
ETA I should mention there are slight spoilers for episodes up to 1.11, just to warn you.
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Date: 2008-12-14 12:09 pm (UTC)Well, exactly! She just wanted a story she was familiar with - and expected the Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot love triangle, or at least the holy grail.
There are certainly things mentioned that I didn't realise were based on Arthurian legends - just not the most common version of the legends, which seems to be Malory.
There was a lot more of the 'matter of Britain' in medieval lore than has been revived in the 20th century. We're mostly familiar with the stuff of the last century of two. I love the way that story has stayed around and the way we have so many permutations.
Thanks for the link - I'll read it after I've seen the rest of the episodes.
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Date: 2008-12-15 11:19 pm (UTC)Serves 6. Preheat oven to 350oF.
Arrange in a shallow baking pan, skin-side up:
- 1 3-lb chicken, cut up
Combine and pour over:- 1/3 cup margarine, melted (I usually use butter, but the original recipe said margarine)
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tbsp prepared mustard
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp curry powder
Bake for 1 1/4 hour, basting every 15 minutes, until chicken is tender and nicely browned. Good served with rice.no subject
Date: 2008-12-13 11:54 pm (UTC)I'm listening to the various live versions of Cancer that I have. Not depressed, just feeling the Gerard-love. I think the best version I've heard is from a concert in Norway from 2007, which I only have as a video file. Could share, if you'd like it. :)
Which episodes of Merlin will you be watching/have you watched tonight? And might you feel like commenting on them? ::she asks hopefully::
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Date: 2008-12-14 04:16 am (UTC)Yup, you're right!
just feeling the Gerard-love.
So easy to do.
I think the best version I've heard is from a concert in Norway from 2007, which I only have as a video file. Could share, if you'd like it. :)
Oooh yes please.
Which episodes of Merlin will you be watching/have you watched tonight?
The first two.
And might you feel like commenting on them? ::she asks hopefully::
Too tired tonight, but tomorrow, okay?
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Date: 2008-12-14 12:56 pm (UTC)On Friday I was listening to their Black Parade commentary and kept saying to myself that I should post my reactions to the things that were making me squee out loud. You did listen to it after I posted it here (http://rosiespark.livejournal.com/82717.html)? If not, you have a pleasure in store!
The Norway concert is from something called the Hove Festival in 2007. It's their full performance - over an hour long. Yay!
I watched the Merlin series finale this morning. *sigh* Can't believe there won't be any more for ages. Maybe I could do a rewatch along with you as you work your way through the series? Then it would be fresh in my mind for discussing. :)
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Date: 2008-12-15 07:01 pm (UTC)I haven't listened to the commentary yet - thanks for reminding me.
Maybe I could do a rewatch along with you as you work your way through the series? Then it would be fresh in my mind for discussing. :)
I'd like that. I have things to say - but no time to say them, since with a bus strike, getting to work and back in bad weather1 now takes 1-2 hours each way. And it's exhausting too. Not that I'm feeling sorry for myself - just wishing, as usual, I had more time in the day.
I'm not going to Tai Chi tonight, though - there's no way the streets could melt enough to be walkable.
~ ~ ~
1 And all the weather these days seems to be vicious - or at least wildly inconvenient. Heavy snowfall most days, heavy rainfall today, which means tomorrow when things freeze over again, it will be... will probably be... unthinkably slippery underfoot.
I want to hibernate.
Gad, I'm talking like a Canadian. Complain about weather, that's all we ever do. Don't mind me.
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Date: 2008-12-15 09:27 pm (UTC)I really hope your bus strike ends soon. And as for complaining about the weather, well, you've good reason to! The way things are, just getting yourself to work every day requires heroic efforts. I think you deserve a medal!
Do you get any time off over Christmas? For possible Merlin-watching, I mean. Maybe?
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Date: 2008-12-15 10:52 pm (UTC)Wow. I am impressed. I was just too busy (and later, too tired) to post or read much at all yesterday.
I really hope your bus strike ends soon.
So do I. So does everyone in this city. The worse the weather is, the more we all complain to each other.
The way things are, just getting yourself to work every day requires heroic efforts. I think you deserve a medal!
Thank you, thank you, I'll happily accept it!
Do you get any time off over Christmas? For possible Merlin-watching, I mean. Maybe?
Yes, actually, by a minor miracle we're getting Dec. 24 off. Then Christmas, and Boxing day, so I think we don't have to go back to work till the 30th and then we're off again on the 1st of January. I'm looking forward to it. January 1 is our annual watching of The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
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Date: 2008-12-14 01:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-14 04:18 am (UTC)That is so cool! You're bringing that kid up right. I'd forgotten I'd given you the recipe. It's so easy, and I find that it always goes over well with guests, and it isn't usually familiar or humdrum.
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Date: 2008-12-14 09:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-14 12:10 pm (UTC)Are you sure you are able? "Avoiding punning" is not something you are very good at. And, you know, I'd invited you over more often if I was sure you wouldn't be punning. I think you underestimate (badly) how much I dislike it.
the hours I work and what OC Transpo recently did (i.e. the strike) will make that rather hard for the time being.
I really, really hope this strike ends soon.
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Date: 2008-12-14 09:57 pm (UTC)Touché. My sister has a reaction just as negative as yours, as does
I really, really hope this strike ends soon.
I wish I could be optimistic that it would! The latest news (particularly out of City Hall) is decidedly not positive.
As I have been reminded, it's time to call up your City Councillor (Clive Doucet, in your case) and bend his ear about this. City Council has the ability to declare OC Transpo an Essential Service and thereby force an end to the strike. One City Councillor (Rainer Bloess) tried to get the Council to apply those powers this past week; Council voted it down.
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Date: 2008-12-15 06:54 pm (UTC)All I can say is that it's something I'm working on
May the Force be with you!
The latest news (particularly out of City Hall) is decidedly not positive.
I've heard all sorts of conflicting hearsay. I'll believe it's over when I see buses back on the streets.
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Date: 2008-12-16 06:24 am (UTC)Which makes that neo-con Harper's decision to suspend (prorogue) same till Jan. 26 particularly annoying. :-(
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Date: 2008-12-16 11:47 am (UTC)