Guest Author - Deborah Adams
Part of the fun at parties or pot luck meals is trying something new. I love to have theme pot luck meals where everyone brings a dish from a different culture/country. It's a great way to experiment in the kitchen and also to stretch your menus at home if you find something you love! Below I've included a few great suggestions for your themed party or potluck!
First jot down a list of various cultures/countries you would like to try your hand at cooking some dishes from and don't limit yourself to only ones you are familiar with. You might be surprised at how much fun this can be if you try cooking out of your "comfort zone" as I call it. Next invite some family or friends to join you in your plans and have fun!
Some of my favorite themes include Luau, Tex/Mex, Asian, Italian and German. I think I would love to try a French theme or Russian theme at a meal this summer. Here is a great German dish to try.
German food is rich and delicious! One of my favorite dishes is their potato dumplings served with a savory beef with thickened sauce. To die for!!!
Potato Dumplings
2 lbs potatoes, peeled & grated
3 Tbsp Flour
1 Tbsp Cornstarch
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Salt
2 egg yolks, lightly beaten
Flour to coat dumplings
2 cups bread crumbs
1/4 cup Butter
In a 4 qt saucepan, bring 3 qt water and 1 teaspoon salt to a slow boil. While that is heating up mix the grated potatoes, flour, cornstarch, nutmeg and salt in a large bowl. Add the egg yolks and mix thoroughly.
Place about a quarter of a cup of flour in a dish. Form dumplings the size of a golf ball and roll in the flour to coat. Drop the dumplings into slow-boiling water cook uncovered for 10 minutes
Remove the dumplings with a slotted spoon and drain.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium skillet, add bread crumbs and stir while heating until browned roll the drained dumplings in bread.
NOTE: If first dumpling falls apart in the boiling water, add flour to the dumpling mixture until dumplings hold together in the water.
Serve with a delicious beef such as the recipe below.
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp Salt
4 oz Butter
1 1/2 lb Onions, chopped
1 1/2 lb beef, cut into bite sized pieces (1 to 2 inches)
1 cup Water,as needed
Salt to taste
In a small bowl, paste the garlic and salt together. Melt the butter in a large skillet and saute the onions in it until golden brown.
Add garlic/salt mixture and mix well. Add the meat and reduce heat to medium, cover and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, stirring frequently to prevent meat from sticking if necessary you can add water in 1/2 cup amounts as needed to keep meat from burning.
Season to taste.
