Christmas baking...

[fajrdrako]

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 maaseru and I drove out to Bell's Corners to get a vitamin suppliment for the budgies. maaseru was worrying that they looked a little tired and peaked. Right now, they're singing along to the peppy Christmas music and behaving like teens at a rave - and they haven't even had their vitamins yet.

Better get back to whatever's on the stove.

Comments

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

Oooh. Honey-curry chicken sounds good - mind sharing the recipe?

Have fun with Merlin - I just watched the final episode earlier tonight. I'm really going to miss this show!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Sure, I'll send you the recipe. Not tonight, though. Tomorrow, okay?

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.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

Cool.

it wasn't sticking to the 'accurate' story

What 'accurate' story? *grins* icarusancalion wrote an interesting meta thingy on that here (http://icarusancalion.livejournal.com/824859.html), having just finished an Arthurian lit course. The comments have some interesting stuff as well. 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.

ETA I should mention there are slight spoilers for episodes up to 1.11, just to warn you.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

What 'accurate' story? *grins*

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.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Honey-Baked Chicken

Serves 6. Preheat oven to 350^oF.

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.