Christmas List...
Dec. 19th, 2005 12:15 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
phendog.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
holidaywishesHey all. Great community!
Here's a couple of items off my list:
For Christmas This Year I Would Like:
1. Recipes. I really want to try some new things and I was hoping I could get from each of you a recipe of your very favorite thing to make. (Main dish, appetizer, side dish, dessert, entire meal, whatever!) Just post it as a comment to this. The only rule is: nothing with mushrooms or raw fish.
2. Icon versions of the demotivator posters at www.despair.com. However you can fit it all in. If still doesn’t work, maybe animated so that it shows the picture and the main word then the punchline text?
3. Suggestions for good books and authors. Tell me why you like them!
4. I really want to learn to make animated icons. So for those on my flist who make animated icons, could you let me know what programs you use and recommend? Any suggestions on how to get/buy them? Or, alternatively, I think that Photoshop 7 (what I have) can make animated icons, so if someone would like to give me very detailed instructions on how to do that, I’d also be quite grateful!
5. When you have some spare change walking in or out of a store and you see one of those salvation army bell ringers, give it to them if you’re willing. I like the Salvation Army and their relief efforts, but more than that, I figure anyone brave enough to stand outside in the cold ringing a little bell in front of a store deserves something for having the patience to do it in the first place. Particularly if they manage to look halfway cheery and even sing!
6. Along the same lines, I heard a story the other day that made me really sad. Toys for Tots donations are WAY down this year, meaning they’ll get to help far fewer families this year than they have previously, meaning a lot more disappointed kids. They speculate that the reason is that people have been so tapped for donations for aide and relief this year that they’re feeling a bit tapped out. But again, if you have a little extra money after Christmas shopping and want to buy something, even something really small like some hotwheels or stuff from the dollarstore or even some old toys that you bought that are still new and just never got played with, consider donating them to Toys for Tots. (At least if you live in US. Do they have similar organizations in other countries also?) Warning: I think the drive ends on the 20th this year, so only a few days left if you're interested!
7. Could someone point me to communities for Supernatural fic? Maybe some good recs for *cough*Dean/Sam*cough* stories (of any rating, ship or not). Also manips…manips for this show would be cool. Probably won’t be a serious fandom addiction for me, but I love the show and would like to check out the online world for it.
8. Stories that would make me smile. Christmas related or not, true or not, smutty or not. Maybe something really funny that happened to you or someone you know? Or someone who was especially sweet to someone else? Something you heard about on the news? Something you made up on the spot just now? Or, if it’s really good, maybe a great forwarded email someone sent.
Here's a couple of items off my list:
For Christmas This Year I Would Like:
1. Recipes. I really want to try some new things and I was hoping I could get from each of you a recipe of your very favorite thing to make. (Main dish, appetizer, side dish, dessert, entire meal, whatever!) Just post it as a comment to this. The only rule is: nothing with mushrooms or raw fish.
2. Icon versions of the demotivator posters at www.despair.com. However you can fit it all in. If still doesn’t work, maybe animated so that it shows the picture and the main word then the punchline text?
3. Suggestions for good books and authors. Tell me why you like them!
4. I really want to learn to make animated icons. So for those on my flist who make animated icons, could you let me know what programs you use and recommend? Any suggestions on how to get/buy them? Or, alternatively, I think that Photoshop 7 (what I have) can make animated icons, so if someone would like to give me very detailed instructions on how to do that, I’d also be quite grateful!
5. When you have some spare change walking in or out of a store and you see one of those salvation army bell ringers, give it to them if you’re willing. I like the Salvation Army and their relief efforts, but more than that, I figure anyone brave enough to stand outside in the cold ringing a little bell in front of a store deserves something for having the patience to do it in the first place. Particularly if they manage to look halfway cheery and even sing!
6. Along the same lines, I heard a story the other day that made me really sad. Toys for Tots donations are WAY down this year, meaning they’ll get to help far fewer families this year than they have previously, meaning a lot more disappointed kids. They speculate that the reason is that people have been so tapped for donations for aide and relief this year that they’re feeling a bit tapped out. But again, if you have a little extra money after Christmas shopping and want to buy something, even something really small like some hotwheels or stuff from the dollarstore or even some old toys that you bought that are still new and just never got played with, consider donating them to Toys for Tots. (At least if you live in US. Do they have similar organizations in other countries also?) Warning: I think the drive ends on the 20th this year, so only a few days left if you're interested!
7. Could someone point me to communities for Supernatural fic? Maybe some good recs for *cough*Dean/Sam*cough* stories (of any rating, ship or not). Also manips…manips for this show would be cool. Probably won’t be a serious fandom addiction for me, but I love the show and would like to check out the online world for it.
8. Stories that would make me smile. Christmas related or not, true or not, smutty or not. Maybe something really funny that happened to you or someone you know? Or someone who was especially sweet to someone else? Something you heard about on the news? Something you made up on the spot just now? Or, if it’s really good, maybe a great forwarded email someone sent.
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no subject
Date: 2005-12-19 11:46 pm (UTC)For the book rec: Pretty much anything by Neil Gaiman. I personally wouldn't recommend 'Good Omens', but everyone else seems to like it, so I guess it's a matter of taste.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-20 02:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-20 06:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-20 03:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-20 06:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-19 11:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-19 11:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-20 01:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-20 03:38 am (UTC)And hope Santa rewards you for being toward the top of the nice list ;^)
Merry Christmas!
Date: 2005-12-20 01:39 am (UTC)Toys for tots: We find a local Giving Tree and take our toys there -- I don't know how many others are doing that -- so that may account for some of those numbers -- but yea, tapped this year is definitely true... But Hotwheels count -- and you can get 'em for way under a buck a piece if you're smart about where you get 'em...
Books:
Foreigner Series: CJ Cherryh -- Excellent writing, great stories -- Some of the best First Contact Sci Fi I've read. Ever.-- and she's still writing in this universe -- grand stuff!
Holmes & Russell Series: Laurie King -- Great Holmsian Mysteries -- wonderful writing, beautiful prose -- still writing in this universe!
PN Elrod -- anything. Really. OK -- the Jack Fleming Vampire series if you're into the Mike Hammer/Film Noir kind of who-dunnits with a vampire for a detective, Jonathan Barrett series if you prefer your Vampires somewhat more Genteel -- still mysteries. I've not read the Richard Dun's (character name), but Pat and Nigel Bennett (of Forever Knight fame) are writing this series together and it's getting RAVE reviews.
Re: Merry Christmas!
Date: 2005-12-20 03:37 am (UTC)Woot! Mysteries, Sci Fi, and Vampire novels! It's like you know me...
I'm most definitely going to have to check out the vampire ones for sure and possibly some of the others.
Thanks ever so much!
Easiest, Best Peanut Butter Cookies Ever
Date: 2005-12-20 02:25 am (UTC)3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla
Use electric mixer to blend peanut butter, vanilla and sweetened condensed milk together, then add Bisquick a little at a time. You'll probably have to just use a wooden spoon and elbow grease toward the end, as it gets pretty thick. Roll dough into balls a little bigger than a superball (you know those bouncy things you get from the quarter machines?), then roll in granulated sugar to coat. Place on baking tray and smoosh with fork horizontally, then vertically to criss-cross. If you want, you can put a Hershey's kiss or a few chocolate chips on top. Bake about 7-8 minutes at 375 degrees. Let cool slightly, then eat warm with milk. They dry out pretty fast, though, so keep them in an airtight container if you're not going to eat them right away. They're better soft, I think. Makes about two dozen-ish.
Merry Christmas! I just made these for a party last night and they went over really well.
Cheeseburger Potato Soup
Date: 2005-12-20 02:37 am (UTC)3-4 medium potatoes (the brown ones, not the red ones)
2 cups milk
1 cup grated cheese
1 tsp butter
1/2 lb hamburger
1-2 celery stalks (optional)
Cook the hamburger with some diced onions or onion flakes, remove, drain grease. Dice potatoes, and chop up a couple of celery stalks if you want. Cover with water and boil 15 minutes. If you want the soup to be a little thick, either smash some of the potatoes against the bottom of the pan with a spoon, or add a little instant mashed potato flakes. When the potatoes are soft enough, remove the pan from the heat and add the milk, then thebutter, then the cheese, then the hamburger. Makes about 4-5 good-sized bowls. Perfect for dreary cold "soup days." Very filling.
Re: Cheeseburger Potato Soup
Date: 2005-12-20 03:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-20 02:56 am (UTC)Source: Better Homes and Gardens
Ingredients
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 pound broccoli
1 yellow sweet pepper
2 tablespoons cooking oil
12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
2 cups chow mein noodles or hot cooked rice
Directions
1. For sauce, in a small bowl stir together water, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, cornstarch, ginger, and sesame oil. Set aside.
2. Cut flowerets from broccoli stems and separate flowerets into small pieces. Cut broccoli stems crosswise into 1/4-inch slices. Cut pepper into short, thin strips.
3. In a wok or large skillet heat 1 tablespoon of the cooking oil over medium-high heat. Cook and stir broccoli stems in hot oil for 1 minute. Add broccoli flowerets and sweet pepper; cook and stir for 3 to 4 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove from wok; set aside.
4. Add remaining oil to wok or skillet. Add chicken; cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes or until no longer pink. Push chicken from center of wok. Stir sauce; pour into center of wok. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Return cooked vegetables to wok. Stir together to coat. Cook and stir 1 minute more or until heated through. Serve over chow mein noodles or rice. If desired, garnish with toasted sesame seed and serve with additional hoisin sauce. Makes 4 servings.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-20 03:35 am (UTC)Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2005-12-20 05:02 am (UTC)4. Photoshop 7 comes bundled with ImageReady 7, I think, and I use ImageReady to make my animated icons. Unfortunately, I do it so rarely that I always forget how to do it, and have to re-learn the process over and over again. If nobody else can help you, let me know, and I'll see if I can re-teach myself and then teach you. (Or just go in there and fool around till something works, which is how I always learn it.)
5. Hee, I wholeheartedly agree. It was about 19 degrees the other day, and I gave one of the poor SA bell-ringers two bucks because...damn, 19 degrees! And then my dad came out and gave him a five.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-21 03:08 am (UTC)