marius

No error that I saw ... could be that in a dictionary it would be hypenated.

solosater

marius, I don't know why exactly that helped but it seemed to crack the whole thing, even made things I'd tried and discarded make sense again.

Thanks!!!

marius

Oh ... the third letter is wrong ... see, there ARE benefits to dyslexia.
Not sure what right letter would be.

solosater

NO! I'd transposed two letters and just noticed. I don't think it could even be a real word the way I had it.

Tricky Baldur, it's two games in one.

solosater

I think the original is correct unless we are both wrong but what else could he mean;-)

solosater

I moved this to the answer thread, the letter in question and what I'm pretty sure it actually is...

Making any sense at all?

Baldur

From Robin on Baldur's AnswerChannel:

On a bright note, though, I took Monday off in anticipation of my good friend's visit from Buffalo this week. So although yesterday was my monday, today is my FRIDAY!! And this thursday I am hostessing an early Thanksgiving dinner at my place. Be here by 3:30, and don't worry about bringing anything. Unless you'd like to bring a bottle of wine.

Baldur

Baldur and Robert made it be known at our club meeting last month that we will be hosting Thanksgiving dinner for anyone who didn't have other plans. So far we have 5 RSVPs. 8 would be a comfortable number to handle here at Chez Baldur.
One of the guests is planning on bringing wine, another one a pie and a third the butternut squash.
Baldur really prefers to do all the cooking singlehandedly but it makes everyone feel better to bring something.

marius

That is most kind of Baldur and Robert to invite those with no plans (or family nearby) to join you for Thanksgiving. Understand Baldur's desire to do all the cooking. Perhaps he can do as one of my friends ... she prepares all her desired dishes, tells people to bring whatever they want, then sends everyone home with left overs. She says it keeps her happy.

This quinquagenarian (new word I found today - ten points) and spouse will be having two Thanksgivings. One is this coming Saturday at, of all places, Bob Evans restaurant in a town half way between our home and homes of spouse's sisters. Can't believe we're driving 2.5 hours to eat at Bob Evans, but that's what the sisters picked. [They are not particularly happy with us for refusing to drive 4.5 hours to St. Louis, but that is a long story and no one needs to hear it. giggle]

The other dinner will be on the actual Thanksgiving Day at the home of our friends who raise buffalo. (Yes, the buffalo will be there but we will be eating turkey.) This gathering will be a variety of friends and various people who have families that live too far away. I'm looking forward to it as it will be a first for us with this group on a holiday. Also, they live in such a pretty country setting, even the drive there is lovely and rural, so think that day will be much enjoyed.

Baldur

Baldur is trying to plan the menu so that the stovetop is not overburdened at the last moment.
In order to accomplish this there will be no mashed potatoes, I will make scallopped potatoes instead. That will leave room on the burners for the braised balsamic brussels sprouts, the great giblet gravy and perhaps perfect pimientoed petite peas.
The Turkey, scallopped potatoes and dressing will fit nicely in the oven simultaneously.

Baldur

A guest is bringing an apple pie, so Baldur intends to bake a cheesecake and perhaps something small and nibbly like cookies.
Chocolate Rum balls also always go ever well.

I have learned it is beat to set up a dessert buffet with coffee paraphenalia in the living room. This gets people up and away from the table. My sideboard is actually in the living room so this works well.
The Spode cups, saucers &cake plates, the appropriate sterling flatware, linen napkins, the desserts, the coffee stuff, and a couple liqueurs will be ready to go ahead of time.
That gives Robert a few free moments in the kitchen to wrap up things and stack the dishes on the counter.

lynnspotter

Baldur, WHY DO YOU LIVE SO FAR AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Baldur

Baldur is at the moment undecided on the cheesecake.
Last year I made a plain vanilla cheescake in a gingersnap crust and topped it with ginger marmalade.
This year I make make a lemon flavored cheesecake in a shortbread crust with a little lemon curd on top. But then my mind can change many times between now and then.

Baldur

beat -a +s =best

lynnspotter

IT WOULD BE WORTH THE DRIVE JUST FOR THE BRUSSELS SPROUTS! And LEMON!

sheftali52

"perhaps perfect pimientoed petite peas" = alluring alliteration

Baldur

Braised Balsamic Brussels Sprouts

Clean 2 pounds of fresh brussels sprouts, halve any that are large.
Toss them into a large skillet with approximately 1/4 cup of olive oil and 5 or 6 peeled and smashed cloves of garlic
Heat the brussels sprouts over a high flame until the house smells fragrant from the garlic and the brussels sprouts have turned a vibrant bright green.

Carefully add 1/2 cup of balsamic vinegar and 1 cup of water.
Bring to a boil, loosely cover the skillet and slightly reduce the heat.
Cook for 20 minutes, watching that the liquid does not completely evaporate before then. If it does add a little more water.
Test the sprouts for doneness, even they are still too firm add another 1/4 cup of water and cook a bit longer.
The finished product should be just a little dry, no pool of liquid should remain in the pan.
Season with black pepper and a little chopped fresh parsley is nice if you have it.
This dish is good both hot or at room temperature.

Baldur

The Brussels Sprouts recipe was adapted from an adaptation my friend Vera made of a recipe by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich.

Baldur

Baldur's Chocolate Rum Balls
Combine:
2+1/2 cups crushed vanilla wafer cookies
2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
3 tablespoons corn syrup
1/4 cup Rum

With a sturdy wooden spoon stir everything together until a dense pliable dough forms.
Form into 1" balls (a small ice cream scoop works perfectly) and drop each one immediately into a bowl of chocolate sprinkles (jimmies), with your hands press the sprinkles into the sticky dough and roll each ball in between your palms to even the shape out
Place in a tin or airtight container.
You may stack them with a layer of waxed paper in between but don't stack more tham 2 layers high as the bottom ones will flatten under the weight.
Store for 24 hours before eating (I've never known that to happen).

You may vary the type of cookie crumbs, even use graham crackers, gingersnaps or chocolate cookies
You may omit the cocoa powder
You may use bourbon instead of rum
You may used any color sprinkles, ground shredded coconut or finely chopped nuts to coat the balls

Baldur

tham -m +n =than