Postings from Germany

First Advent

Sunday was the Annual First Advent Family Feast at René and Rima's. We'd had Amina here for the weekend so the Chief Cook and First Assistant could devote their time to preparation and I think they used all the time they had! Here's Mutti at the table, anticipating the first course.

René wrote up a menu for us to read and Mutti to take home for reference so she can tell all her friends about the food. One does need a reminder - it's a bit exotic:

The Flight Show

Pheasant broth with ground pheasant meatballs and vegetables

Fried Marinated Quail with Avacodo-Coriander Mousse and Fresh Figs

Fowl in Fowl in Fowl: Dove with Corn Stuffing

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Guinea Hen with Bread Stuffing

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Duck with Duck Farce

The soup was delicious and whetted the appetite for the next course. René fried up the quail. He has a monster gas burner and skillet outside for just such things (as well as browning roasts, steaks, frying batches of rosemary potatoes, etc. - but not today!)

I'm not exactly sure when I last had quail. At Judy's in 1978 or so? At Mrs. Phipps' in 1987 or so? I have NOT had it much more than that, but the next time I do, I'll have to try and do this!

Then we had to wait a bit while the birds were watched. Though the cooks had got up (temporarily) to put the birds stuffed in birds stuffed in birds in the oven at about 5 AM, they had to cook a bit longer and then a higher temperture to make them brown and crusty. It needs 10+ hours in all to fully roast!! In the NY Times you can read this article on Turducken which is the same idea. Arrangements of other birds in birds besides the turkey-duck-chicken go back to court days in Europe and beyond. Suffice to say it's rich, filling and wonderful. We decided he should put this meal on the regular rotation - three or four times a year at least!






What? No dessert?? Well, sort of. I brought Cranberry Bread (always a hit) and Pumpkin Bread with Orange Cream Cheese. Rima's mother has a wonderful reptoire of yummy cakes and she did not disappoint. Coffee. Schnapps. DONE and DONE IN.

There were lots of satisfied smiles after the feast. I was SO grateful that Werner volunteered to drive home. I was too stuffed to move.