I had a potluck party tonight for my cohort. It was a pleasant party; we had good food and I got to meet one person’s partner and get to know some other people better. Unfortunately, most of the class couldn’t come though, so we were rather small in number. I spent most of the day baking and cleaning (got in a tiny bit of school reading though while eating lunch!) but I am really pleased with my apartment and the way my food turned out. I baked a tart and a cake and they looked great and tasted lovely. The tart was a new recipe, and I had a little bit of trouble with the dough and had to tweak the fruit topping a bit, but it turned out really really well. I was happy about the cake, too, because I’ve had trouble with the icing a couple of times before. It’s supposed to harden and get so that it shatters when you stick your fork in. You have to use candymaking techniques to do it and I always have trouble with candy. I’ve cried so many times over failed syrups or chocolates. But ha, not this time! Pictures here of the guests and the food.[link broken, but dessert photos re-uploaded into post]
Tonight got me thinking, though, what makes a really successful party? I’ve been to a lot of wonderful gatherings but only one absolutely super party that I can recall. Jackie and I are talking about it and we think maybe it’s the people that make a good party? And maybe that’s why it’s so hard to set up a really good one; it’s hard to get that precise combination of old friends and new people, “life of the party” types and those who have to be drawn out gently. If I had to venture a formula I might guess that you have to have a solid core of people who know each other really well, and that everyone else has to be a guest of that core or know someone in that core really well. But I think there need to be certain kinds of people there also, and that’s where I don’t know how to make it work. I think I do good food and music though; I guess that’s a start.
I like a party that’s a little bit noise and a little bit quiet conversation, and a lot of great food and music. Aside from that I don’t know what there is, since I’ve only been to one that worked that well. Ehhh… must think about this some more.
Any ideas? What was the best party you ever went to? What do you think made it so great?
Oh and PS I saw The Incredibles yesterday with Ying (in town for a short while) and her adorable brother. It is hysterically funny, gorgeously stylized and really a lot more meaningful than I expected. I got a kick out of it. I am going to take Erik to see it next weekend, and if my parents haven’t seen it yet, I’d like to bring them too.
**edit**
Just tweaked my layout a little and updated my photo page [link broken] too. I’ve got a bunch of books I want to review, too, so I’ve got to get cracking on that: Bel Canto, Reading Lolita in Tehran, Fear of Flying, and, soon, The Shipping News.
[This post was imported on 4/10/14 from my old blog at satsumabug.livejournal.com.]
satsumabug.com | Lisa Hsia 
mmmmm.
those look soooo good! Devin and I were watching the food channel (I find we do that a lot now) and there was a woman who baked a pumpkin and orange tart and it looked good/easy so I want to try that. But yes, as always, your desserts look scrumptious.
I am under the impression that a good party comes from much food and comfortable guests. As you well know, food will keep the spirits high. ;]
Also, our parents have not seen the Incredibles yet. I took Al and her friend Kat to see it on Daddo’s birthday but mommy and daddo just wandered around the mall during that time. And then afterwards we went to the Cheesecake Factory! But yes, a very fun and entertaining movie, I thought. Go drag Erik to it. That’s what I did to Devin and he had fun with it too. :]
Can’t wait to see you on Wednesday! Until then, take care!
*hugs*
Shra
Re: mmmmm.
oh my mistake. a pumpkin banana mousse tart. :] just found the recipe online. hmmm the possibilities.
~Shra
Re: mmmmm.
Oooh… any kind of mousse tart sounds fantastic, and pumpkin mousse always sounds better to me than any other kind. I decided this morning: I’m bringing my tart pans home. I just had too much fun baking that tart. But probably I’ll save Thanksgiving dessert for Dajiu–don’t want to make him feel like his pies aren’t worthy!
Ha, when I told Erik I was going to bring him to The Incredibles he commented that I always like to see movies twice when I like them. Well ha, you saw it twice too!
*hugs*