The Ghost of Partays Past

Once again my obnoxious optimism has let me down. I thought we'd moving into a quieter week at work. Oh how I was so wrong. Fail. Sigh.

Anyway, today I am going to post about a party we hosted this summer. "Come as your Favourite Austrian". When there is a theme I hope people dress up for it and most people do- cause they're cool like that. The idea of this party was to toast to my host country. I love living in Vienna- it's a bootiful city but like any place it takes a while to adjust.

The menu for the party was as follows (I can't remember every dish):

Käse Spätzl (spellt wrong) this is a typical Hütte dish (translation: Crib in the mountains, yo). It is awesome and deadly and should be consumed only after losing 4,000 calories skiing on the Alps. For me and my appetite, it's a light summer dish (sob, damn you fat thighs!). It's cooked Spätzl with melted butter and cheese in a frying pan and topped with caramelized onions. Eu Mah Gawd.

Fried Semmelknödel with Rotkraut another light dish (ha!). Semmelknödel are bread dumplings. Usually served with goulasch or a meat dish but this gal here cut the suckers up and fried them in butter. (I care about your heart). Rotkraut is boiled red cabbage. (I don't like it so I buy the pre-made stuff).

Apple Strudel This is a super fast dessert that I make for parties. A million Omas would keel over if they knew that I make it this way. "Where's the love?!" They would cry. I buy ready made pastry and lay it out on the counter. After slicing a few apples I melt a block of butter in a saucepan, add the apple slices, a cup of sugar and lots of cinnamon. I coat the slices and then pour it into the middle of the pastry. I fold the pastry over the apples and slice a few lines on the top of the pastry. Pop it in the oven for about 30 minutes and it's done.

Roasted Potatoes Those are easy.

Here you can see the table with the food from the Austrian party. Hanging from the chandelier are music sheets I downloaded from the internet and then wrinkled.

As I have mentioned before, I love decorating. The theme was "Austrian" Please note "The Alps" on the right hand side.

In this picture you can see the Hundertwasser House I recreated out of paper mache. And there's a picture of Mozart. He was Austrian. There, a history lesson. You're welcome.

This is a party shot. People are eating. Exciting.

Famous Austrians? Schwarzenegger, Mozart, Schiele, Klimt, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Falco, Nikki Lauda... Below is me, me as a woman from a Klimt painting. I'm wearing gold. A gold curtain too. Lovely.

I need a tan.

Theme parties are my favourite! Coming up in February, Toga Party!!

Servus!