'Insalata a la Russe'

delicious layered salad:
1) 5 cooked medium potatoes
2) 4 large cooked carrots
3) 1bunch of sliced scallions
4) 5 hardboiled eggs
5) 1 european cucumber

5 tbsp mayonaise&
5 tbsp sour cream...blended together

on a box grater, grate each of the ingredients, layer them in glass bowl,
after all 5 have been assembled
cover w layer of sour cream/mayo
blend+ continue till done...finish w a garnish of toasted walnut halves & cover, let it 'set' in fridge for couple hours..

serves 4/5 guests

blini caviar tower

simply divine..

tiny tidbits: tapas

remove skin &
chop up small slice of very fresh salmon fillet: chunky, not too fine,
then add
1/3 ripe clean chopped mango
fresh grated wasabi plus a dash of
soy sauce:
cut very small squares of bread
&toast these (or quickly pan fry)
heap a teaspoon full on each square
garnish w small parsley leaf..
delizioso

the next Day

for the Dutch Beet &Herring Potato Salad
add julienned Shiso leaves
& Wasabi Tobiko...

Dutch Herring Salad:

1 Dutch herring fillet sliced& touch o'cracked pepper
1 small cooked beet cubed add pinches o' salt
3 medium potatoes cooked, cooled& cubed
3 finely sliced scallions
1/2 cup shaved cucumber:excess liquid squeezed out
4 tblsp mayonaise (yes home made..)
blend together..let rest so flavors mingle

Kaffee und Kuchen....

buttery Shortbread with layer of simple Custardcream& Raspberries
Besides
Beautiful cup of delicious, fragrant
Coffee
topped with frothy hot milk...

& Toast to 2013...

Grateful to start the New Year
with family & friends !

1st Dinner in New Year

Sitting around the big kitchen table
Together &
Sharing slowly smimmered beef:
Sopping up its juices w crumbled potatoes, stewed cinnamon pears,
Glass of sturdy red wine in hand..