dec. 10 - the party (reverbing for your reading pleasure):  Party. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans.

[Image] a spiked (with tequila) shrimp "ceviche" of sorts i think that the party that will rock my socks off in 2010 is still yet to come, as it's our annual christmas gathering with good friends who live on a beautiful lake called buresø. the party always promises loads of good food, ample drink, a silly gift exchange and another game involving famous names passed around in a bowl and a sort of pictionary-like guessing of them that always gets rather heated and the odd person or two (read: husband) deciding to engage in a bracing jump into the nearly-frozen lake. it's a party that's the highlight of the year for going on the 6th year in a row.

part of the tradition is that every couple brings a dish. most of the others are known for bringing the same dish year after year...flæskesteg (pork roast w/the cracklings on it), tarteletter (a danish thing-a flaky light pastry filled with a creamy mixture of chicken and white asparagus), tiramisu, sushi, herring...but me, i'm known for NOT bringing the same thing again and again. my contribution to the tradition is to be untraditional...hmm, maybe that's now i'm different...above is my contribution from 2 years ago...a tequila-spiked shrimp and mango ceviche that we used as a starter. last year, i made homemade herring (yes, me, in the land of the herring, decided to tackle this and ended up doing a very traditional, old-fashioned sort - imagine that!)

any suggestions for what i should bring this year? at this moment, i've got no idea! whatever it is, had better rock their socks off.

[Image] actually taken at the buresø christmas party in 2008.