(no subject)
Dec. 25th, 2021 12:05 pmMerry Christmas to all celebrating!
(no subject)
Dec. 1st, 2021 04:43 pmThank you, anonymous person who gave me points! Much appreciated!
(no subject)
Nov. 17th, 2021 04:41 pmI've just had a (pretty obvious) fannish epiphany.
The Mandalorian. It's quite a lot like Firefly, only without the (possibly) unintentional neo-Confederatism, or Joss Wheedon's tiresomely obvious fetishes. Which is a big improvement, obviously.
The Mandalorian. It's quite a lot like Firefly, only without the (possibly) unintentional neo-Confederatism, or Joss Wheedon's tiresomely obvious fetishes. Which is a big improvement, obviously.
(no subject)
Oct. 24th, 2021 12:12 pmManaged to miss the Yuletide sign-ups by less than twelve hours. *is quietly furious with self*
(no subject)
Jun. 19th, 2021 07:33 pmI had some grilled aubergine slices left over from a barbecue, and I made rather a good salad with them.
Boil a cup of well-salted bulgur wheat, and allow to drain and cool.
Chop the grilled aubergine into small pieces. Chop up some fresh flatleaved parsley. (this would have been even better with dill, but I didn't have any).
Put all this in a bowl with 1/2 tsp sumac and at least a teaspoon of pul biber (Turkish pepper flakes), more to taste. Pour over a tbsp good olive oil and lemon juice to taste, and stir well to combine.
Boil a cup of well-salted bulgur wheat, and allow to drain and cool.
Chop the grilled aubergine into small pieces. Chop up some fresh flatleaved parsley. (this would have been even better with dill, but I didn't have any).
Put all this in a bowl with 1/2 tsp sumac and at least a teaspoon of pul biber (Turkish pepper flakes), more to taste. Pour over a tbsp good olive oil and lemon juice to taste, and stir well to combine.
"Piranesi"
Apr. 16th, 2021 03:10 pmI finally read "Piranesi", and I did indeed love it. I was not expecting quite so much intertextuality with The Magician's Nephew (in fact, can you argue that it's set in the same universe*?), nor that the theme Clarke picks up most strongly from that book would be "magicians with bad research ethics".
( Spoilers below. )
( Spoilers below. )
Why do people describe the bob as a low maintenance haircut? It's a great look, but that's blatantly not true.
(no subject)
Mar. 18th, 2021 06:27 pmA splendid book meme, from ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
aedh, via naraht.
Pick a number to get an answer from me. Or give your own answer to someone else's question. Or just borrow the meme – it would be amazing to see this one get some traction!
1. A book that haunts you
2. A book that was an interesting failure
3. A book where you really wanted to be reading the "shadow" version of the book (as in, there are traces of a different book in the work and you would have much preferred to read that one)
4. A book with a worldbuilding detail that has stuck with you
5. A book where you loved the premise but the execution left you cold
6. A book where you were dubious about the premise but loved the work
7. The most imaginative book you've seen lately
8. A book that feels like it was written just for you
9. A book that reminds you of someone
10. A book that belongs to a specific time in your mind, caught in amber
11. A book that came to you at exactly the right time
12. A book that came to you at the wrong time
13. A book with a premise you'd never seen before quite like that
14. A book balanced on a knife edge
15. A snuffed candle of a book
16. The one you'd take with you while you were being ferried on dark underground rivers
17. The one that taught you something about yourself
18. A book that went after its premise like an explosion
19. A book that started a pilgrimage
20. A frigid ice bath of a book
21. A book written into your psyche
22. A warm blanket of a book
23. A book that made you bleed
24. A book that asked a question you've never had an answer to
25. A book that answered a question you never asked
26. A book you recommend but cannot love
27. A book you love but cannot recommend
28. A book you adore that people are surprised by
29. A book that led you home
30. A book you detest that people are surprised by
aedh, via naraht.Pick a number to get an answer from me. Or give your own answer to someone else's question. Or just borrow the meme – it would be amazing to see this one get some traction!
1. A book that haunts you
2. A book that was an interesting failure
3. A book where you really wanted to be reading the "shadow" version of the book (as in, there are traces of a different book in the work and you would have much preferred to read that one)
4. A book with a worldbuilding detail that has stuck with you
5. A book where you loved the premise but the execution left you cold
6. A book where you were dubious about the premise but loved the work
7. The most imaginative book you've seen lately
8. A book that feels like it was written just for you
9. A book that reminds you of someone
10. A book that belongs to a specific time in your mind, caught in amber
11. A book that came to you at exactly the right time
12. A book that came to you at the wrong time
13. A book with a premise you'd never seen before quite like that
14. A book balanced on a knife edge
15. A snuffed candle of a book
16. The one you'd take with you while you were being ferried on dark underground rivers
17. The one that taught you something about yourself
18. A book that went after its premise like an explosion
19. A book that started a pilgrimage
20. A frigid ice bath of a book
21. A book written into your psyche
22. A warm blanket of a book
23. A book that made you bleed
24. A book that asked a question you've never had an answer to
25. A book that answered a question you never asked
26. A book you recommend but cannot love
27. A book you love but cannot recommend
28. A book you adore that people are surprised by
29. A book that led you home
30. A book you detest that people are surprised by
1. Made biscuits from scratch? I am taking this as US biscuits. No, although I intend to next time I get buttermilk. I know the conventional British attitude to US biscuits is either bafflement or sneering, but I really like them.
2. Fried fresh okra? Assuming the meme means breaded in cornmeal? No. I've got a recipe I'm vaguely interested in trying, because I have enjoyed them when I've had them, but if I buy okra I tend to end up making gumbo. It's good in curry, too. I suspect it's easier to deal with the slime when it can just be stirred into the sauce to thicken it (I have a very simple recipe that just involves simmering it with the contents of a tin of passata with some Cajun spices that's pretty good, too), so I'm inclined to think it's hard to do the cornmeal breading well.
3. Made sourdough bread? Yes.
4. Fried chicken? Yes. Lawyer is better at it, though, so he tends to do it.
5. Made spaghetti sauce from scratch? I mean, yes, I make various kinds of pasta sauces from scratch and never buy the stuff in jars. If the meme means "red sauce" yes, but not generally unless I'm also making meatballs. I also usually use tagliatelle instead of spaghetti.
6. Made any kind of yeast bread? Yes.
7. Baked a cake from scratch? . Yes. Never from a kit, though!
8. Made icing from scratch? . Yes, duh.
9. Cooked a pot roast with all the veg?. Yes. Not a favourite, though.
10. Made chili from scratch? Yes. Favourite in this house in the winter months (with stewing steak, ideally shin, and a bit of coffee in the sauce).
11. Made a meatloaf? Yes, but not for a long time - Lawyer isn't a fan, and it's not really a one person dish.
12. Made scalloped potatoes? I am somewhat surprised to discover that this probably means gratin. Yes. Faffy but worth it.
13. Made mac/cheese from scratch? I think we did this in Home Ec, so if so, yes, and if not, not. It's not my favourite (it's the white sauce. I'm sceptical about lasagne for the same reason).
14. Made a jello salad? No. Nor have I eaten one, because I don't attend a Lutheran church in the Mid West. Mind you, I have eaten sülze, and once you get past the texture of the aspic it can be really nice, so I can see how the idea got started, but it's definitely become a monster...
15. Made peanut brittle? No
16. Made fudge? No
17. Made cookies from scratch? Yes
18. Cooked a pot of beans from dried beans? Yes. Since I got a pressure cooker it's how I normally do them.
19. Cooked a pot of greens? Not in the soul food sense, no.
20. Made cornbread from scratch? Yes.
21. Made a pie dough from scratch? Yes
22. Cooked a whole turkey? Every Thanksgiving. It generally tastes reasonable, too.
23. Snapped green beans and cooked them? Yes, but in common with other Europeans, I use a knife to top and tail.
24. Made mashed potatoes from scratch? Yes. Though I must say the pressure cooker turns out to make very good mashed potatoes.
25. What’s the most people you have (alone) prepared a whole meal for? Entirely by myself? Not actually sure. Three or four, probably. I've done three courses for twelve at Thanksgiving, but Lawyer and I shared the preparation and someone brought a supplementary pudding.
26. Poached an egg? Sort of? I've done them in those glasses with a holder you hang into the pot. I've never tried the traditional method - I'm not that much of a fan.
27. Made pancakes from scratch? Yes
28. Roasted vegetables in the oven instead of boiling them? Yes
29. Made fresh pasta? No, but I periodically make Spätzle.
30. Made croissants from scratch? No.
31. Made tuna salad? . No. I hate tinned tuna and I'm not all that keen on it fresh.
32. Fried fish? Yes.
33. Made baked beans? Yes.
34. Made ice cream from scratch? No
35. Made jam or jelly? Yes, frequently
36. Zested an orange or lemon? Yes
37. Made grits from scratch? Yes
38. Made an omelette? Yes
39. Lived in a house without a dishwasher? Yes. Grew up in one, also frequently as a student.
40. Eaten a bowl of cereal for supper? No, mostly because I don't like cereal.
2. Fried fresh okra? Assuming the meme means breaded in cornmeal? No. I've got a recipe I'm vaguely interested in trying, because I have enjoyed them when I've had them, but if I buy okra I tend to end up making gumbo. It's good in curry, too. I suspect it's easier to deal with the slime when it can just be stirred into the sauce to thicken it (I have a very simple recipe that just involves simmering it with the contents of a tin of passata with some Cajun spices that's pretty good, too), so I'm inclined to think it's hard to do the cornmeal breading well.
3. Made sourdough bread? Yes.
4. Fried chicken? Yes. Lawyer is better at it, though, so he tends to do it.
5. Made spaghetti sauce from scratch? I mean, yes, I make various kinds of pasta sauces from scratch and never buy the stuff in jars. If the meme means "red sauce" yes, but not generally unless I'm also making meatballs. I also usually use tagliatelle instead of spaghetti.
6. Made any kind of yeast bread? Yes.
7. Baked a cake from scratch? . Yes. Never from a kit, though!
8. Made icing from scratch? . Yes, duh.
9. Cooked a pot roast with all the veg?. Yes. Not a favourite, though.
10. Made chili from scratch? Yes. Favourite in this house in the winter months (with stewing steak, ideally shin, and a bit of coffee in the sauce).
11. Made a meatloaf? Yes, but not for a long time - Lawyer isn't a fan, and it's not really a one person dish.
12. Made scalloped potatoes? I am somewhat surprised to discover that this probably means gratin. Yes. Faffy but worth it.
13. Made mac/cheese from scratch? I think we did this in Home Ec, so if so, yes, and if not, not. It's not my favourite (it's the white sauce. I'm sceptical about lasagne for the same reason).
14. Made a jello salad? No. Nor have I eaten one, because I don't attend a Lutheran church in the Mid West. Mind you, I have eaten sülze, and once you get past the texture of the aspic it can be really nice, so I can see how the idea got started, but it's definitely become a monster...
15. Made peanut brittle? No
16. Made fudge? No
17. Made cookies from scratch? Yes
18. Cooked a pot of beans from dried beans? Yes. Since I got a pressure cooker it's how I normally do them.
19. Cooked a pot of greens? Not in the soul food sense, no.
20. Made cornbread from scratch? Yes.
21. Made a pie dough from scratch? Yes
22. Cooked a whole turkey? Every Thanksgiving. It generally tastes reasonable, too.
23. Snapped green beans and cooked them? Yes, but in common with other Europeans, I use a knife to top and tail.
24. Made mashed potatoes from scratch? Yes. Though I must say the pressure cooker turns out to make very good mashed potatoes.
25. What’s the most people you have (alone) prepared a whole meal for? Entirely by myself? Not actually sure. Three or four, probably. I've done three courses for twelve at Thanksgiving, but Lawyer and I shared the preparation and someone brought a supplementary pudding.
26. Poached an egg? Sort of? I've done them in those glasses with a holder you hang into the pot. I've never tried the traditional method - I'm not that much of a fan.
27. Made pancakes from scratch? Yes
28. Roasted vegetables in the oven instead of boiling them? Yes
29. Made fresh pasta? No, but I periodically make Spätzle.
30. Made croissants from scratch? No.
31. Made tuna salad? . No. I hate tinned tuna and I'm not all that keen on it fresh.
32. Fried fish? Yes.
33. Made baked beans? Yes.
34. Made ice cream from scratch? No
35. Made jam or jelly? Yes, frequently
36. Zested an orange or lemon? Yes
37. Made grits from scratch? Yes
38. Made an omelette? Yes
39. Lived in a house without a dishwasher? Yes. Grew up in one, also frequently as a student.
40. Eaten a bowl of cereal for supper? No, mostly because I don't like cereal.
(no subject)
Jul. 29th, 2020 05:38 pmOn a completely unrelated note, I was poking about on Wikipedia, and discovered the entry for R.A. Bevan, a distinguished figure of British advertising with extensive cultural interests, daddy issues, and a complicated private life which involved a menage a trois with Randolph Churchill.
He was also involved in the New York ad business in the early sixties, and was, apparently, the model for Mr Ingelby in Murder Must Advertise, all of which does rather suggest that the British take-over plot in Mad Men could have been done rather differently. I wouldn't mind the AU fic...
He was also involved in the New York ad business in the early sixties, and was, apparently, the model for Mr Ingelby in Murder Must Advertise, all of which does rather suggest that the British take-over plot in Mad Men could have been done rather differently. I wouldn't mind the AU fic...
