A New Way to Savor Mushrooms by Elemmírë
Pearl Took · 1 September 2006 · Chapter 1
A wonderfrul story, Elemmire, and wonderful sounding mushrooms - I'll have to try it :-) Now I'm craving a dish of mushrooms . . .
Author's reply
Thank you very much, Pearl Took! I'm glad you liked! Go enjoy some mushrooms! (beware of hungry hobbits knocking on your door, however)
Queen Galadriel · 28 August 2006 · Chapter 1
Awwww! Sooo sweeet! I love Esme! And it's so funny to see them fighting over mushrooms! What an interesting way to eat them. God bless, Galadriel
Author's reply
Hi Queen Galadriel! I've actually tasted mushrooms marinated in ale. They were one of the selections offered at a buffet I went to once and they were very, very tasty. That combination of ingredients just screamed Hobbits at me and I just HAD to write. I love Esme too, and I really enjoy writing her. I'm very glad you enjoyed and I'm also glad you're back! Namarie, ~Elemmírë~
Bodkin · 28 August 2006 · Chapter 1
A good addition to the Shire cookbook! Frodo should get plenty of practice in making these!
Author's reply
Why thank you, Bodkin! I'm glad you enjoyed. Frodo will most definitely put both his mother's recipe and the new mushrooms marinated in ale to good use. :D
SlightlyTookish · 22 August 2006 · Chapter 1
How sweet your Esmeralda is! I love that she made those mushrooms especially for Frodo, and from his mother's recipe too :)
Author's reply
Thank you, SlightyTookish! I really enjoy writing Esmeralda. She's appeared in a few of my other tales already and she's slated to appear in some upcoming ones as well. For me, I find her character very easy to write. Although still in grief and shock themselves, it must have been very hard for her and Saradoc to be witness to young Frodo's even deeper grief and sorrow after the boating accident. They would have had to put their own mourning aside in many respects in order to tend the now orphaned child that they took in, making sure he was well looked after and cared for however impervious Frodo may have been at the time. It is only when he grew up that he realized the extent his first guardians went to, to ensure he knew he was still loved ... and one he consciously realized, Frodo was able to appreciate the kindnesses shown to him and love them all the more. It meant a lot to him to have his mother's mushroom recipe. Thank you for reading/reviewing!
harrowcat · 22 August 2006 · Chapter 1
Hmm! I can almost smell them and my tummy is rumbling for breakfast. Great chapter!
Author's reply
LOL! Thank you as always for reading and reviewing, Harrowcat! Now go enjoy some breakfast! Do you mind terribly if the hobbits wish to join you? :D
Antane · 21 August 2006 · Chapter 1
Cute! Love the ending and calling his cousins trolls. I don't think Frodo has a selfish bone in his body, except when it comes to coveting mushrooms. :) Namarie, God bless, Antane
Author's reply
Thank you, as always, Antane! No, Frodo most certainly does not have one selfish bone in his body ... except when it comes to his special mushrooms!! Esmeralda may have unknowingly created that teeny bit of selfishness all those years ago, when she made a special recipe just for a deeply grieving Frodo in order to get him to eat something. She was the one, after all, who had to enforce the rule that those mushrooms were for Frodo and no one else, not even herself or her own husband. Frodo was willing to share his mushrooms with his cousins .... eventually, after he got to taste them first. LOL! I'm glad you enjoyed! Namarie
shirebound · 20 August 2006 · Chapter 1
Esmeralda found herself enveloped in a warm hug that lasted for several minutes and Frodo thanked her for keeping some part of his mother alive for him and making him feel loved by making the special treat only for him for all these years. Awww, this is lovely! And you're making me hungry... :D
Author's reply
Thank you, Shirebound! The hobbits would offer to share the mushrooms with you but if they recall correctly, you do not favor them ... although they can't understand why. In lieu, Merry promises to send a slice of birthday cake to you instead. :D I'm glad you and so many others enjoyed this little tale inspired by a dish I sampled at the casino buffet. My first thought after deciding to try such an unusual mushroom dish was, 'gee this is something that hobbits would most definitely eat' Funny how we all sometimes come up with inspiration for our stories! :D
SurgicalSteel · 20 August 2006 · Chapter 1
This was lovely and heartwarming - the humor with the hobbits competing over the last mushrooms, the discovery of the new 'recipe,' and especially Frodo's discovery that his aunt had saved the recipe just for him.
Author's reply
Thank you very much, SurgicalSteel! I'm glad you enjoyed. It meant a lot to Frodo to have this one dish be made special only for him for all those years. After his parents' tragic passin, it helped him to feel loved again. When he learned the recipe was really his mother's, he was overwhelmed that Esme went to such lengths for him. Now, he finally had something of his mother's that he could truly treasure beside his memories of her. Making the mushrooms just for Frodo probably helped Esme in some ways too ... helping her to deal with the sudden raising of a grieving orphan, etc, along with remembering Primula in her own way. Once again, thanks for reading/reviwing! p.s. I was watching ROTK the other night and saw the woman you use as your LJ icon. I thought, 'Hey, there's Serinde!! Without her scalpel!!' I know you're busy as a doctor, but I look forward to reading more of your stories featuring her. :D
Dreamflower · 20 August 2006 · Chapter 1
Now this was sweet and cute! But you should put the recipe with it, and make it a recipe!fic! *coaxes*
Author's reply
Thanks a bunch, Dreamflower! Unfortunately, I am unable to put an exact recipe with this tale. I sampled mushrooms marinated in ale at a buffet (and naturally thought of it being the perfect dish for hobbits). Stupid me never asked if it was possible to get a copy of the recipe ... maybe I can find one online and email it to you. The dish consisted of: mushrooms (baby portobellos, if I remember right) Author Reply: Thanks a bunch, Dreamflower! Unfortunately, I am unable to put an exact recipe with this tale. I sampled 'mushrooms marinated in ale' at a buffet (and naturally thought of it as being the perfect dish for hobbits). Stupid me never asked if it was possible to get a copy of the recipe ... maybe I can find one online and email it to you. The mushrooms were all whole and sitting in liquid (the ale definitely, possible a mixture with something else too) The dish consisted of: a lot of whole mushrooms (baby portobellos, if I remember right) sliced red peppers (1 or 2 would be my guess) sage (a dash) rosemary (a few dashes) basil (a dash) ale (??? as to how much or what kind and I don't know if there was any other liquid involved) I so happy you like this and thank you for reading/reviewing, as always! p.s. I hope you're feeling much better now too! :D
Tigger · 20 August 2006 · Chapter 1
Oh wow...This was just...Perfect. I can't think of another way to put it. A little angst, loving family surrounding Frodo and the discovery of a new mushroom recipe. Sigh...Just perfect!! Now...Could we pretty please have the recipe? Plllleeeeeaaaassseee!?! Thanks for sharing this w/us. :o)
Author's reply
Thank you, Tigger!!!!! I'm so glad you enjoyed this tale and thought it perfect! (grinning from ear to ear). I sampled this dish at a buffet and was inspired since I found it to be the perfect hobbity dish. Unfortunately, I am not able to put an exact recipe with this tale. Dreamflower also requested the recipe and I told her I would search online and if I found one I would email it. I'll do the same for you. Here's what I wrote to Dreamflower: The mushrooms were all whole and sitting in liquid (the ale definitely, possible a mixture with something else too) The dish consisted of: a lot of whole mushrooms (baby portobellos, if I remember right) sliced red peppers (1 or 2 would be my guess) sage (a dash) rosemary (a few dashes) basil (a dash) ale (??? as to how much or what kind and I don't know if there was any other liquid involved) Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Grey Wonderer · 20 August 2006 · Chapter 1
I adored it. I especially liked the fact that Saradoc was stealing Frodo's mushrooms too!
Author's reply
Thank you so much, Grey Wonderer! Since Saradoc's wife only made those particular mushrooms for Frodo he grew to be very curious over the years as to what they tasted like ... he is a hobbit after all. :D Unfortunately for him he got caught when he snitched the last ones in the bowl. I can suddenly picture him and Merry concoting together over the years to try to snitch some of the mushrooms when Esme and Frodo had their backs turned. LOL!
Telpethoron · 20 August 2006 · Chapter 1
Ale and mushrooms - one really has to wonder why no one ever thought of this before. It sounds like a wonderful combination - though being one person who doesn't like mushrooms, I can only guess. How fitting that Esme's special recipe should come from Primula - Frodo has so little of his mother to remember her by, save his memories for the most part. This was a beautiful little tale - thanks so much for sharing it!
Author's reply
I sampled the mushroom and ale at a buffet and they were scrumptious. It just seemed like the perfect hobbit dish to me. LOL! Yes, Frodo has little of his mother save his memories. He may have inherited her dresses and jewelry, etc but as a lad he has no use for such things save for sentimental value. Her recipes he is able to use and cherish. Thank you for reading and leaving a review, Telpethoron!
Armariel · 20 August 2006 · Chapter 1
Ahhh cute story...have to admit, those mushrooms do sound rather tasty! Mmmm!!!! :D
Author's reply
Thank you, Armariel! Hmmm, they were rather tasty. I was at a buffet and one of the selections was mushrooms marinated in ale. My first thought was 'That's different.' My second thought was, 'Gee, hobbits would like these.' LOL! I love mushrooms and those had to be some of the best I've ever tasted! I'm glad you enjoyed and thank you for reading/reveiwing too! :D
Larner · 19 August 2006 · Chapter 1
Oh, a wonderful way of coaxing Frodo to eat, and now a wonderful way of remembering his beloved mother. It must have been doubly dear now that Bilbo also was gone.
Author's reply
When Esme first realized how Frodo responded so well to her and Bilbo's coaxing with the mushroom dish, she decided then and there that she would make it only for him. It meant a lot to Frodo to have a dish that was considered to be just for him and no one else--especially while living in the overcrowded Brandy Hall. It was a gesture that helped him to feel special and loved again; and it meant even more to him when Esme finally revealed the recipe's origins. Frodo may have inherited his mother's jewelry, clothing, etc. but here was something of hers that he could really use and cherish in that sense. Thank you for reading/reviewing, Larner! :D