Quiche with Apricots and Cashew Nuts by Lotte Noordzij - Netherlands

Ingredients: (all room temperature)

1 sheet of puff pastry

6 oz dried apricots (chopped)

4 green onions (chopped)

8 oz (bar) cream cheese 

8 oz cashew nuts (chopped)

1/4 cup bread crumbs

4 tbs mango chutney

5 large eggs

1 cup milk

salt peper

1 tsp curry powder

baking pan 9 x 13

Directions:

Preheat oven at 400F

Put puff pastry in baking pan. Add some holes in puff pastry with a fork.

Set some of the onions aside for decoration, put rest in with the cream cheese and mix. 

Mix eggs with milk. 

Mix chopped cashew nuts, chopped apricots, breadcrumbs, mango chutney, egg mixture, salt, pepper, and curry with the cheese onion mix.

Add mixture onto puff pastry.

Bake quiche in the middle of the oven for about 35 - 40 minutes. Decorate with rest of onions.

Mandarin Orange Salad by Andy Whitney - USA

Ingredients 

1/2 cup vegetable oil 
1/4 cup cider vinegar 
1/4 cup white sugar  
2 teaspoons dried parsley  
1 teaspoon salt  
1 pinch ground black pepper  
1/2 cup sliced almonds  
1/4 cup white sugar  
1 head red leaf lettuce - rinsed, dried and torn  
1 red onion, chopped  
1 cup chopped celery  
2 (11 ounce) cans mandarin orange segments, drained 

Directions 

In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine the oil, vinegar, sugar, parsley, salt and pepper. Cover and shake well. Refrigerate until use. 

In a medium saucepan over medium low heat, cook and stir the almonds and sugar until the sugar is melted and the almonds are coated. Remove from heat, cool, and break apart. Store at room temperature until ready to serve salad. 

In a large bowl, toss together the lettuce, celery, oranges, almonds and dressing until evenly coated.  

Suggested modifications…  

- also use romaine lettuce along with the red leaf lettuce and only a little bit of red onion 

- add some dried cranberries 

- use equal parts of oil and cider vinegar 

Flan "Mixto" - Creme caramel with Dulce de Leche and Whipped Creme (Argentina) by Mariana Troitino

This simple dessert has a huge following in Argentina.

There is a very old (and “moretimerequiredinfrontofthestove”) recipe.

But I’m sure you will prefer this on: really easy and quick !

Ingredients:

-    1 can (14 oz condensed milk)

-    4 eggs

-    1 teaspoon vanilla extract

-    2 cups warm water (or you can use milk)

-    1/2 cup sugar

-    Toping:

Dulce de leche (caramel spread or “cajeta” you’ll find it in Latin markets)

Crème chantilly or whipped crème

Method:

-    Preheat oven to 350 F

-    In a 8 inch x 3 inch loaf pan make caramel: put the loaf pan with the sugar over the flame, stir constantly until the sugar is dissolved (5/7 minutes) and brown. Spread all over the loaf pan covering the bottom and the sides. (or you can make the caramel in a small saucepan and pour in the loaf pan when is ready. I do it like that when I’m going to make more than one flan)

-    In a bowl: beat the eggs, add the 2 cups of warm water, the vanilla extract and the condensed milk. Mix.

-    Pour the mix in the caramelized pan

-    Cook “bath Mary method” for 50 to 60 minutes (or probably a little more, just introduce a thin knife in the middle and if it come out clean it’s done!)

-    Remove from the oven and from the water. Let cool room temperature and chill in the fridge for al least 4 hours.

-    Gently loosen from pan with a knife, put the serving plate over the pan and invert (flip) the serving plate with the flan.

-    Pour any remaining caramel over the flan.

-    Serve topped with dulce de leche and whipped creme: that is “mixto”: both toping at the time.

-    You can eat it with one of the toping or just “as is” also

Valentine Potluck @ Gabi Setzer (Germany) Feb 10th, 2014

Potluck/Baby Shower @ Janelle McDowall (Australia) Jan 16th, 2014

The Potluck Luncheon/Baby shower today was great fun!

More than thanks to Janelle McDowall of Australia for her great hospitality. Janelle decorated her home in baby blue colors. Banners, balloons, the table was festive light blue covered, she has made a lof of effort to make the baby shower memorable for Magda and for us. In addition, thanks to Corinne for organizing the quiz with the subject pregnancy. One of the questions was: what size is Magda's pregnant belly!! 

Ladies also on behalf of Magda thank you so much for this cozy and funny Potluck Luncheon and Baby shower. Magda take care and next time please show your little baby boy.