Sorry to be so long in posting this! I was so over-stressed getting everything together I totally forgot to post!!
In this post I'll put the Appetizers:
Red Soup
(Tote Gruetze)
(adapted from somewhere on the web. I can't find it again! I messed with the amounts and changed the directions a good bit. The original was almost incoherent to me!)
4 # of Red Plums (I used black plums - that's all I could find!)
4 c water
Sugar to taste (I used about 1/2 c)
8 - 10 tsp cornstarch
Put the water in a large diameter pan, bring it to a boil, and put the rinsed plums in - whole, unskinned.
Let them come back to a boil, then turn down to a simmer and cover. Simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes, turning the plums frequently to bleach out all the skins (they turn the water red!).
Once the plums are cooked down, strain (save the water!), and put the pulp through a sieve (you can use a ricer, I did).
Add the sieved pulp back to the water, add the sugar and bring back to a boil, then turn back down to a simmer.
Add the cornstarch to about 1/2 c of water, mix well, and add to the simmering fruit pulp. Continue to simmer and stir until the cornstarch turns translucent.
Serve immediately OR chill and reheat later.
What I did was add some whipping cream sweetened with a little Splenda when I served the soup. It was just marvelous!
Soft Pretzels and yellow mustard
OK, I cheated! I sent my SIL up to Auntie Anne's to pick up 2 doz soft pretzels! They were delicious! We served them with good old French's mustard.
Potato Pancakes and Applesauce
Cheated again!! I used Aunt Jemima pancake mix, and added about 1/2 c of Idahoan potato flakes for each cup of pancake mix I used. Then I added an extra egg and extra water to make a slightly thinner than usual pancake batter.
I fried them in a good bit of canola oil - so they were crispy around the edges.
Put them on a plate with a big bowl of applesauce in the middle. People rolled the pancakes and dipped them in the applesauce.
I used plain old Motts natural applesauce, and added 2 Tbs sugar per cup of applesauce along with a few dashes of nutmeg and cinnamon - to taste!
Hope y'all like these as much as we did!
Cheerio!
Elizabeth