The Frying Pan

12:47 AM

@rumtscho I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!

I'm having a nasty bout of insomnia. It's almost 4pm and I haven't slept.

I just gave up a few minutes ago. I got out of bed, took out my earplugs, and sat down at the computer to mess with my candle pictures from last night.

I never hear the mailman.

I did today just moments after I took out my earplugs.

I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!

I have a package from Germany! :)

I think it's 2am your time.

You're probably asleep, like a normal person at this hour.

I'm torn!

I can't decide whether to wait for you or to tear into it!

It's so funny that it should arrive on the same day as I finally accomplished what has been delaying sending yours.

I really wasn't expecting the cookies to be very good.

seriouseats.com/recipes/2012/05/…

Obviously I didn't do the shaping, but still.

"Cookies that simple can't possibly be any good."

I figured I'd probably end up making generic sugar cookies, and smoking those.

I was wrong!

These little shortbread pretty darn good.

Imagine that.

The old tradition that is everywhere in Thailand is actually pretty good with the old traditional, uniquely Thai smoking technique.

ElendilTheTall

9:18 AM

morning all

ElendilTheTall

12:46 PM

afternoon all ಠ_ಠ

rumtscho

1:55 PM

hello everybody

@Jolenealaska yay! Did you open it already?

rfusca

3:33 PM

morning

rumtscho

hi @rfusca. How's it going in the sunny Southern US?

rfusca

its cloudy and dreary here lol

rumtscho

oh :(

rfusca

i'll survive

barely

rumtscho

your company should open an office in Hawaii

then you'll have sun all day and your kids will grow up as surfers

rfusca

3:38 PM

definitely

i'll pitch that lol

rumtscho

How do you find living there? I remember you said that you didn't like Georgia when you went to college there, but this was before you moved. Have you acclimatized better this time?

rfusca

ya, I didn't like living in the middle of downtown atlanta before

living in a suburb with a family is much different

overall, I like it a lot

the weather is milder than Arkansas over all

traffic sucks but I don't have to deal with it often

rumtscho

3:58 PM

I thought you are commuting daily

rfusca

ya but I take the bus

it might as well be magic

i step on the bus, fall asleep, wake up at my stop

Jolenealaska

6:23 PM

@rumtscho Nope! It's sitting here beside my computer with a box cutter next to it.

rumtscho

@Jolenealaska I'm just leaving work, will be online in half an hour or so

Jolenealaska

Perfect, I'll be here.

ElendilTheTall

6:40 PM

@Jolenealaska hey loser

ready to lose?

Jolenealaska

Hi baby! Almost! I just need to get my coffee.

ElendilTheTall

still on for half seven UTC?

Jolenealaska

I just got up, my eyes are still a bit funky

ElendilTheTall

oh ho, already starting with the excuses ;)

Jolenealaska

ha?lf seven? is that the same as 7:30

ElendilTheTall

6:44 PM

yes :)

Jolenealaska

perfect!

ElendilTheTall

cool

your ass is mine

erm, in a Scrabble sense

Jolenealaska

by then my morning double vision should be cleared. ha!

ElendilTheTall

see you then

Jolenealaska

perfect

rumtscho

7:01 PM

I'm here

hi @ElendilTheTall and hi again @Jolenealaska

Jolenealaska

Hey!

Today's better than Christmas!

rumtscho

wow, I didn't know it will mean so much to you

Jolenealaska

I'm going to open my package, then play Scrabble with Tall!

rumtscho

now I think about it, it will be probably the same for me, because last Christmas, the only present I got was the one I bought myself

Jolenealaska

It's very exciting!

NO!

rumtscho

7:03 PM

I'm also sitting on needles here, waiting to see your reaction

You can ask about all the stuff, I thought of putting descriptions in there and then decided that doing them live in chat will be more fun

there is one thing which is not edible

Jolenealaska

woohoo.. well wrapped! that was a workout!

Pretty!

rumtscho

didn't want to risk it springing open in some cold cargo room, spilling your goodies

Jolenealaska

Beautiful town

That must be Turtish Delight!

rumtscho

@Jolenealaska really. I bike through the most beautiful part daily, and on some days, I just take all this in and smile and think how lucky I am to live in such a place

@Jolenealaska which one?

Jolenealaska

The cubes?

rumtscho

7:07 PM

yes, pink cubes. I had to remove them from the original package, they are sold in 400 g packs

wouldn't have been much space for other stuff if I sent it whole.

Jolenealaska

Oh cool Macarons!

rumtscho

Did they keep whole?

Jolenealaska

Now I have a point of reference!

Yep!

rumtscho

I'm afraid I forgot the flavors I chose, it has been a while.

Jolenealaska

Is that a pfeffernusse?

rumtscho

7:10 PM

@Jolenealaska no, I don't remember sending any. They are more available around Christmas.

Do you have a camera? By now, I regret not having photographed the contents.

Jolenealaska

Oh, I kind of looks like that, but there is a candy pressed into the top.

rumtscho

candy pressed into the top? Is it a cookie?

Jolenealaska

it's filled

rumtscho

I had some special Italian flourless cookies and I sent you one

Not homemade

Jolenealaska

ooh! very orange!

rumtscho

7:12 PM

it's yet another offshoot of the macaroon/macarons family, I think

funny, I never tried any of them myself. keeping them for a "special" occasion. I'm bad in hoarding this way.

Jolenealaska

Later this afternoon I will take some pictures for help with IDing

rumtscho

OK

I can tell you two things for now.

Jolenealaska

a neat looking chocolate

yes?

rumtscho

First, the souvenir in the wooden package is not edible

second, beware of the fish

@Jolenealaska very long and thin?

Jolenealaska

The chocolate is boxxed

rumtscho

7:16 PM

Heidelberger Schokoküsse? These are a specialty of the town

Jolenealaska

heidelberger studentenkub

neat!

rumtscho

Oh. <hangs head in shame>. Studentenkuss indeed.

Jolenealaska

Is that perfume in the wooden vial?

rumtscho

@Jolenealaska yes, something like that.

It is rose oil, but diluted, and I think it's not food grade

Jolenealaska

fun!

rumtscho

7:18 PM

it has been one of the traditional Bulgarian exports for many centuries

Jolenealaska

looks like natural, polished stones...

rumtscho

nowadays, these vials are sold everywhere in BG as souvenirs. I had one, so decided to send it to you. The wood itself is covered with a traditional pattern too.

Jolenealaska

ohh special candied alnonds! those are pretty!

rumtscho

I wanted the stuff to be more than simply German, this is why I sent the Bulgarian vial, the Turkish delight, a Serbian chocolate-like bar, the macarons and so on. More of an European bouquet.

@Jolenealaska they are edible

Jolenealaska

I like wooden vial, it looks like something very tradional.

Oh yeah, I bit off a tiny corner.

Oh Chili Chocolate!

rumtscho

7:21 PM

The pebbles are also a local specialty from Heidelberg

@Jolenealaska yes, I thought that you probably have it too, but decided to send it nevertheless. You've metnioned you like hot.

Jolenealaska

But we don't have this brand!

Pine Honey! I'll have a cup of chamomile tea before dinner...

Hazelnut Snickers! :)

I wonder why they don't do those hereZ?

rumtscho

Most of the brands are not well known. I thought that the usual supermarket candy will be available in the USA too, or at least have a very close equivalent, so went for the rarer stuff, high end or local or ethnic.

@Jolenealaska I've only seen it once, right around the time I was completing the package. It's some kind of special edition.

Jolenealaska

Raffaello...very pretty!

rumtscho

@Jolenealaska yes, this is one of the standard candies. I knew you don't have it.

Jolenealaska

Shotbread cookies, funny different varieties are going both directions!

Mozart Kugeln?

rumtscho

7:27 PM

@Jolenealaska ah, this was a last moment impulse buy, because there were these Scottish cookies on display where I got the chilli chocolate. I haven't tried them myself. Should probably go back and get a pack.

@Jolenealaska Yes, they are well known. Austrian, of course.

Jolenealaska

I'll let you know!

The candy bars look so good!

What are brause bonbons?

rumtscho

yes, they are the posh varieties

@Jolenealaska seltzer like candy. Will fizz if you put it in water, but children like having them on their tongue directly.

ElendilTheTall

sounds like you're going to be on a sugar high for the next few days

rumtscho

I don't know which chocolate bar you are saying looks good, but I think I sent you one with elderberry taste.

ElendilTheTall

elderberry chocolate?!

<gags>

Jolenealaska

7:31 PM

is that Halunder?

rumtscho

@Jolenealaska yes, Holunder

Jolenealaska

neat! never tasted it!

Hazelnut cream...YUM!

rumtscho

And there is also a cookie made from elderflower fondant somewhere in there.

@Jolenealaska what, the Eurocrem bar? This is the Serbian thing. I think it's more a Hershey style chocolate, but has three layers - cocoa, milk and hazelnut.

Jolenealaska

Could that possibly look orange?

The cookie?

ElendilTheTall

Eurocrem sounds like an Eastern Bloc department store

rumtscho

7:34 PM

@Jolenealaska no, chocolate bottom with white chocolate top and a few chocolate lines dropped on it

Jolenealaska

What is GHmm...I don't see that

rumtscho

Didn't send the whole pack, it would have eaten up too much of the weight "allowance"

Jolenealaska

hmm

rumtscho

it'll appear at some point

Jolenealaska

maybe it's under something

What is geschmack?

ElendilTheTall

7:36 PM

flavour

rumtscho

taste

Jolenealaska

and knusperflake?

rumtscho

@ElendilTheTall you know German after all

ElendilTheTall

@Jolenealaska nibble flakes

rumtscho

@Jolenealaska Flake is an English loanword, in this case a short form of Cornflakes

Knusper means crispy

ElendilTheTall

7:38 PM

@rumtscho i know some via osmosis

rumtscho

this is the one chocolate type you found interesting back when we were looking at German sweets. The brand is very popular here, but I don't know about this specific flavor. They sell tons of different flavors.

Jolenealaska

I thought it would be like that. We often use rice krispies like that

rumtscho

@ElendilTheTall so, lots of exposure?

ElendilTheTall

@rumtscho more than the average brit I suppose

Jolenealaska

Wow, I just ate a gummi.

More flavor than gummies here!

rumtscho

7:40 PM

I don't remember which ones I sent you exactly. I think there were some Tropifruitti

ElendilTheTall

I'll say. Twizzlers have zero taste

rumtscho

Jolenealaska

Yep...zero

ElendilTheTall

@rumtscho ooo, I love those

rumtscho

These have a different texture than the average gummi here, I like them better than the standard

ElendilTheTall

7:40 PM

I like the texture

great minds rumi

rumtscho

and also I think I sent you some gummies with standard texture, but with sour blackcurrant taste

ElendilTheTall

they are firmer than your bog-standard gummy

Jolenealaska

I'll eat one of the palm tree looking ones now!

rumtscho

@ElendilTheTall firmer? No, maybe we are not talking about the same one. They are less elastic, but a bit easier to tear.

Jolenealaska

oh wow!

ElendilTheTall

7:42 PM

fruitay eh?

rumtscho

These are the sour blackcurrant ones.

Jolenealaska

Yum!

what are the pink marbled balls?

ElendilTheTall

so jojo - are we scrabbling or are you too busy blissing out on pink marbled balls?

rumtscho

@Jolenealaska eat them whole

Jolenealaska

ooh...I found the fish

rumtscho

7:44 PM

they are not something well known, just one of the things sold at the "weigh your own mix" part of the department store

Jolenealaska

licorice?

I touched it to my toung

rumtscho

@Jolenealaska salmiakki. With 8.99% saltpeter, because above that, it has to be sold in a pharmacy.

Jolenealaska

potent!

wow :)

rumtscho

This kind is quite beloved around the Baltic sea, including in Northern Germany. I don't like it much, but decided to include one small piece just for the novelty.

ElendilTheTall

it's funny how, given that American savoury food is often loaded with flavours, the candy is relatively bland

Jolenealaska

7:45 PM

I ate one of the balls...oh yum!

rumtscho

It's the Scandinavians who are really crazy about it. They have salmiakki ice cream, salmiakki vodka and so on

ElendilTheTall

aaaaand starred

Jolenealaska

@ElendilTheTall tis true

I knew as soon I hit enter that you were going to do that!

ElendilTheTall

you know me so well dearest

rumtscho

I was so deep in a childhood mood that I even didn't register anything until I saw the star

ElendilTheTall

7:47 PM

@rumtscho i was hovering in my usual adolescent state

Jolenealaska

Rummi, was has SOOO fun! I will enjoy that so much.

rumtscho

The balls have some kind of alcohol in the middle, that's why I said to eat them whole. They spill. And psst, don't tell the customs, because sending alcohol is totally forbidden.

@Jolenealaska glad to hear it

Jolenealaska

Later this afternoon I will snap some pictures for questions.

rumtscho

@Jolenealaska do so, I'll be glad to answer them

Jolenealaska

I'm glad you sent the liquid filled candy balls, that was yummy!

I'll save the other for later.

Cerberus

7:50 PM

Hello there!

rumtscho

Heh, did I send a pair of balls? I don't remember

@Cerberus hi, how are you?

Cerberus

I see Rummy sent a box to Jojo!

Great!

ElendilTheTall

gosh, it's getting busy in here

Cerberus

I'm good, occupying the university and stuff.

So salmiak, I love it.

ElendilTheTall

party time! balls for everyone!

Jolenealaska

7:51 PM

@rumtscho I have been enjoying playing with what I am sending you:

rumtscho

Yes, we decided to exchange candy not available on the other's continent

Cerberus

Salmiak is quite common and popular in Holland.

rumtscho

@Cerberus occupying, as in a student protest?

Cerberus

So you said it was something of northern Germany and Scandinavia?

ElendilTheTall

@Cerberus does salmiak = salty dropjes?

Cerberus

7:51 PM

@rumtscho Yup.

rumtscho

@Cerberus yes, it's very much Scandinavian. Practically the national candy of Finnland.

Cerberus

@ElendilTheTall No, it is different and much stronger. But there is some similarity betwene licorice and salmiak.

Jolenealaska

amazon.com/gp/product/B00P2RP3NA/…

Cerberus

@rumtscho So it is popular in Scandinavia, Holland, northern Germany...

Jolenealaska

I wrote their very first review.

Cerberus

7:52 PM

Salmiak is candy for blond people.

2

rumtscho

@Cerberus yes, I didn't realize it's spread so far West

are you blond?

Cerberus

I'm not sure about Belgium.

I am not.

rumtscho

anyway, I know now why I don't like it

ElendilTheTall

@Cerberus no, they have proper sweets

Cerberus

Hah.

Catija

7:53 PM

Hey, wonder what the policy is on protecting questions... cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/6574/… Does this really need more answers?

Cerberus

They have proper chocolate.

rumtscho

I'm a natural deep brown. And I sent Jolene some rose flavored Turkish delight too.

ElendilTheTall

@Cerberus and cuberdons

rumtscho

@Catija hi

Cerberus

Oh, those again...

Catija

7:54 PM

Hi!

Cerberus

I remember looking them up last time.

Hi Catija!

rumtscho

@Catija you are right, thank you for spotting it. It has two deleted answer beside this newest nonsense.

Catija

You guys always have such a lively conversation going on in here.

Jolenealaska

I am waiting until I can give it my full attention to try the Turkish Delight.

Cerberus

I do what I can to bring some life up from the underworld.

@ElendilTheTall I like the ones with orange flavour.

Jolenealaska

7:55 PM

For a long time I that only existed in Narnia.

Cerberus

Although they're still a little bit too gummy for my taste.

@Jolenealaska You don't have Turkish Delight?

Jolenealaska

@Catija today is especially lively

Catija

@Cerberus that's very appropriate for your UN.

Jolenealaska

@Cerberus Not that I have ever seen.

rumtscho

@Catija always space for one more person at the virtual table

Catija

7:56 PM

@Jolenealaska I guess that's what happens when you start talking about sweets.

Cerberus

@Catija My United Nations?

ElendilTheTall

user name

Cerberus

@Jolenealaska OK interesting. We call it Turks Fruit.

Catija

@Cerberus User name.

Cerberus

Ah.

Why, thank you.

ElendilTheTall

7:57 PM

@Catija cerberus is entirely too invested in the implied persona of his user name

Cerberus

What are you, a hippo?

Jolenealaska

@Catija that question does at first glance look like it's due

rumtscho

@Cerberus oh no, let me tell you, the Turks know what proper fruit is like :) They just have tons of sweet stuff separately from fruit.

Jolenealaska

You can't do that yet, right

Catija

@ElendilTheTall It's a good name to personify.

Cerberus

7:58 PM

@rumtscho I know! But that's just what we call it.

Jolenealaska

If no-one else gets to it first, I'll look more closely later.

Cerberus

Probably because there is often fruit in it, like dates?

Catija

@Cerberus Indeed.... well, that's my pet hippo, Kaba Kun. Most people don't get that it's a hippo, though.

rumtscho

well, it doesn't seem to have reached America yet, so I'm very glad to provide Jolene with her first taste of it

Jolenealaska

@Catija A bunch of short 0 voted answers is often a clue

rumtscho

7:59 PM

@Cerberus hmm, possibly. I think nuts are a bit more common, but fruit can be used too.

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