cooking woes

[rivendellrose]

Damn it!

I have everything for this recipe except the fennel bulb and whatever the hell 'jarred tapenade' is, and the juniper berries. Who the hell keeps juniper berries in their kitchen? And why do fennel plants either have the seeds or the bulbs? Is it just me, or does that make no sense at all???

This hot cocoa recipe, however, looks really good. Mmm. That reminds me, I need to figure out Mexican hot chocolate this year.

Edit: I am triumphant! Mexican hot chocolate! Definitely sounds like something I'll have to try making for the Halloween party this year. That and the sugar skull recipe I found a while ago. XD

Comments

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

Tapenade is an olive spread-type thing. I don't like it, but it should be fairly commonly available- probably in the same area of teh shop as you get hummus and such.

For the rest . . . I hear you on the juniper berries. That's a bit of an odd thing to have around. Can't help with the fennel- I avoid it like the plague *g*

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Aha! Yes, that's the stuff - I just found it via Google, after finally figuring out to take the 'jarred' out of my search.

I've only had juniper berries once in my life, on a hike with my dad and my grandparents. They're good - strong, and kind of piney-tangy - but I never thought of them as something one would actually keep in the kitchen for regular cooking.

I like fennel, myself, and we've got a bunch of bushes in our front garden, but they're not the kind with the bulbs, just the seeds. Weird little quirk of botany, that.

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

And now I just looked at your recipe for hot chocolate, and I crave chocolate.

I'm going to be craving chocolate all day at work.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Oops. *Snuggles* Sorry!

(Not like you need more reasons to look at BPAL, but 'Bliss,' the scent I got randomly? It's milk chocolate.)

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

It's a good excuse to make hot chocolate tonight . . . I have dark chocolate in, and raspberry liqueur . . .

And I asked, and they ship to Canada. I'm doomed. *g*

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Oooo, raspberry liqueur... Damn, that sounds good.

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

It's wonderful. *grins* That, or proper dark-chocolate & espresso mocha with raspberry liqueur.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

I looooooooove dark chocolate. With an undying passion. Especially dark truffles. XD

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

So do I. *grins* I bribed my mum to bring me proper dark chocolate from Switzerland when she came to visit last, and I've been saving it for the times I need to pamper myself. It's wonderful.

[narsilion.livejournal.com]

I thought the bulb was underground. The part you plant, like a tulip bulb. That's what I understand anyway. Yummy, what are you making? With fennel bulb and tapenade and juniper berries!
If you like olives, you'll love tapenade, and Trader Joe's has a wonderful one, but you can also get it at any grocery store. It's very common.

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

I love Mexican Hot Chocolate.

I've got a punch recipe, and if we get a punch bowl I can make a creepy hand to stick out of it. Also, cake and appetizers and other things.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Me too! It's so yummy. XD

If all else fails, I've got that great big blue plastic bowl we can use... Cake and appetizers and things! I'm so excited about this.

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

Yes!

Awesome. And this year, the appetizers consist of more than just cheese and cold cuts. *G*

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Which is not to say that the cheese and cold cuts didn't go over really well. ;)

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

This is quite true. But I would very much like to make some appetizer party treat thingies as well.

[nekokoban]

ZOMG SUGAR SKULLS. D: D: D:

I've always wanted to try those. If it is at all possible, plz to make them? D:

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

There will be much feasting. I have decided. *so needs to get on the costume things* What are you going as this year?

[nekokoban]

Hooray, feasting! :D And honestly? I have no idea. I'm so bad at thinking up costume-type stuffs. XD;

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

Everybody likes spicy chicken wings bat wings, right? ;)

Hmmm. Well, Kari and I are going as Discworld characters.... I am vastly amused that we are going as a married couple.

[nekokoban]

Ooooo, yez preze. :D (... though not uber-spicy, because then I make sad D: faces at you as I search desperately for milk or bread. Or both.)

I heard about that! XD I thought about maybe Rincewind, but that ... is way too involved for me to do right now, which is sad because the costume would be damn simple. I may cheat and buy gi and hakama and say HAHA RANDOM WANNABE JAPANESE PERSON. D:

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

No, not too spicy, because I do not like spicy either. It's made with cumin and ginger. And these sausage things that are wrapped in pizza dough and shaped like thingies!

Oh, that is sad, because that would be awesome! Hmmm.

[nekokoban]

Ooo, ginger! I definitely wanna try 'em. :D

I'm so uncreative when it comes to costumes. XD; It's kind of sad.

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

Yes yes. They shall be yummy and simple and whatnot. It shall be another cooking day!

We shall think of something for you. What do you think you'd have fun going as?

[nekokoban]

Hooray, cooking day! :D I hope I will be able to be around for this one. XD

Ummmm. I really don't know. D: Something that doesn't take a whole lot of effort/money, because I am strapped for time/energy to devote to costuming, and I am trying to bulk up my savings. XD; Soooo, uh. I don't know. 8D

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

I hope so too! Do we know where the party is yet?

Hmmm. You could go as Death!

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

I will! They might be more of sugar... blobs, if my artistic skillz fail me, but I'll do my best!

[gin2001.livejournal.com]

This is when you are supposed to call me and ask... between my cooking and working at the shop I could have helped you with pretty much all of that... just sayin....

Oh and the fennel thing does work... many rhizomatous and bulbous plants do long range reproduction through seeds. It has to do with reproductive conditions. A single plant can posess both. Lillies, seagrasses, etc. even onion and garlic have seeds. I could see how it would seem counterintuitive though.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

*Laughs* It was really just an idle thing, since I found the recipe while I was at work, but I shall have to use something like that as an excuse to see you again soon. ;)

Oh, I know they have both - what's weird to me is that there would be separate varieties, one with the seeds and one with the bulb. At least that's what I'm told is the case with fennel... the woman who told me that might've just been cracked, I suppose.