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| A Holiday Feast by Larner | 128 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 12/24/2014 |
| This is the best-planned party ever! Author Reply: Oh, I'd hope so, with Bilbo at the helm! Heh! | |
| Kaylee Arafinwiel | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 12/23/2014 |
| O Larner, you know how Very Fond I am of Dear Aunt Dora! :) I do wonder if she has any Practical Substitutions for young hobbits, or those of age but medically Unable to Imbibe, in making such Wassail? It does sound like such a lovely drink, but for the alcohol content... Happy Yule to you, dear friend! Author Reply: I actually found an alcohol-free version on the web that would be Suitable for Young Hobbits, or so I'd think! I love being able to find out such information at a moment's notice. Heh! And so hope yours was delightful, and that my last little gift gives some chuckles! | |
| Soledad | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 12/23/2014 |
| And here I thought it would have something to do with worshipping! Silly me!*g* Author Reply: Well, as Hobbits appear to worship food as much as anything, it was a good supposition, I suppose. Thanks so, Soledad. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 12/23/2014 |
| I can well imagine how wonderful that smells. Author Reply: I think I could do without the ale and instead the versions that include clove-studded oranges. Never could bear with the smell of ale. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 12/23/2014 |
| A taste of the promise of spring, now in the heart of winter. Beautifully said! I know the flavour of violets which is very nice, but I have never tasted candied violets. Author Reply: I've been told they are lovely and delicate, and like candied rose petals, taste much as the flowers smell. Thanks so, Andrea! | |
| Soledad | Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 12/22/2014 |
| I heard about candied violets but never actually had any. They sound wonderful. Oh, and thanks for the info about upside-down cake! Author Reply: One can find so much on the internet any more! I've made candied rose petals myself, and it's very easy, although most people think twice before tasting them. They taste according to the scent of the roses used. | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 12/22/2014 |
| Yes, the days are getting longer, woo hoo! And also for Frodo's smiles. :) Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: That they are, and we do love to see our lad smile, don't we? | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 12/22/2014 |
| A taste of the promise of spring So lovely. I've heard of candied flowers, but never tasted any. Author Reply: I've made rose petal jam and candied rose petals, and have had some hard candies made with violets. I've seen references in many older books and folk stories of flowers being used in cooking special dishes, and knew that violets were often preferred for their lovely scent and colors. So I thought I'd try adding this as a more unusual touch in this series. I saw a site that offers recipes for making violet flavored cookies and cakes as well as directions for preparing violets in syrup or dipping them in egg whites and coating them with sugar, which is how one makes candied rose petals as well (just remember to remove the white bit that attaches the petal to the flower with roses, as that part can be a bit bitter), as well as sites from which one can order violet water and the like, most of the British, I noted. Fascinating to find such resources at our fingertips with the internet! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 12/22/2014 |
| So clever! I like to imagine Frodo tasting "real" upside-down cake when he's in Gondor in later years. Author Reply: I suspect he just might have had the chance to taste a real pineapple upside-down cake while in Gondor. May have to write that someday! | |
| Kaylee Arafinwiel | Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 12/22/2014 |
| Violets? Oooh...I expected 'vegetables' or something, though we have root vegetables covered already! I wouldn't have thought of candied flowers as I've never eaten them! Petunia Dursley's "mound of sugared violets and whipped cream" pudding from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets comes to mind for me, though, since that's the only frame of reference I have ready for eating these flowers! lol! The east of Brandy Hall being covered in violets presents such a glorious picture! And I do so enjoy Frodo's plans for them! How kind of Esmeralda to send them :) Someday I think I should like to try candied violets! Author Reply: In my-verse there's a dingle filled with violets not far from Crickhollow on the way to the gate in the High Hay, and Esmeralda learned that Frodo had discovered it and spent time there (in "Second Mum") and kept a wreath of violets woven for Frodo by a farmer's little daughter as a memento. I'd forgotten about poor Petunia's pudding--ah, yes, and Dobby's interference with it! Heh! When we were young our mother found a book from the library that had a number of recipes for making things with rose petals, so I made rose petal jam and candied rose petals. They taste much like the flowers smell, so you need to choose a strongly scented variety of rose to get the best results. Violets and roses have been used in cooking, along with marigolds, for centuries. It was fun to find a few sites that detailed the history of this while preparing to write this one. | |