I just conferred with my mom as well and she says they freeze big trays of unbaked pasticho months in advance for sale at the annual church festival so I'll give it a go if folks are willing to risk some possible breakage. I just need to find some single serve aluminum pans to assemble it in.

Hi,

You might consider lining the customary containers with aluminum foil, then we can slip it out to bake in the oven at home. No need to spend more money or time than necessary.

Regards,

If I can be the one dessert contributor for this round, I'd like to bring chocolate stout cake.

Hi,

I began updating the initial thread with people's contributions. If you later change your mind, I will update it to reflect that.

If you need to cancel, advise me when you know. We have two people who want to participate in the exchange who will be pleased to take your spot.

Regards,

I am going to change my dish, one for simplicity reasons as the pastichio won't quite work in the plastic containers and two, because I just finished reading Al Aswany's book The Yacoubian Building (which I highly recommend) and have Egypt on the brain. So I am making an Egyptian dish called koshary (or koshari or koushary or koushari) that involves lentils, rice, macaroni and carmelized onions.

HI,

Gentle nudge to suggest we begin locking in what we intend to bring to the exchange. I count myself amongst those who are still on the fence on what to bring.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

I began updating the initial thread with people's contributions. If you later change your mind, I will update it to reflect that.

If you need to cancel, advise me when you know. We have two people who want to participate in the exchange who will be pleased to take your spot.

Regards,

Reluctantly, The Wife and I must bow out of this event. I've been to the first three food exchanges, and I'd love to be at the fourth, but we have a big Easter event and the kitchen will be just too hectic for the days leading up to that meal.

I'm very glad there are two people who want to participate -- now, one of them can.

David,

Too bad, though very understandable considering the timing immeidately after Easter.

There is a PM to Cookie Monster checking on her status.

Regards,

I'm thinking about something with pasta and cheese and meat but not lasagne.

Is there still room for the Fress Man at this august event?

Hi,

A number of work-related evening meetings have been rescheduled and, as you can imagine, the changes have messed up my food-related activities. As such, I will have to take myself of the list for the April food exchange. Apologies to all!

Jyoti

Fresser,

If you want to come for dinner, yes.

If you want to partcipate exchange, you just have to say the word.

Regards,

I have to bow out, so sorry to miss it this time, but will be back in May!!!

My contribution is pork loin with apple-onion chutney.

I'll be bringing a bean soup.

Hi,

I am going for pure comfort food: porcupines over rice.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:I am going for pure comfort food: porcupines over rice.

Is raccoon out of season?

I am sorry to change my dish for a third time, but I just read the koshary recipe more closely and it's a bit more time consuming than I thought and I need something simpler given my weekend schedule. So I'm going to make picadillo which can be eaten on its own, served over rice, stuffed into peppers, etc.

Hellodali wrote:I am sorry to change my dish for a third time, but I just read the koshary recipe more closely and it's a bit more time consuming than I thought and I need something simpler given my weekend schedule. So I'm going to make picadillo which can be eaten on its own, served over rice, stuffed into peppers, etc.

You can change your mind again, if need be.

From this experience, scheduling an exchange after a holiday weekend is not the best idea. Live and learn!

Regards,

My offering will be cabbage and smoked sausage. Mr. X and I are looking forward to this! Is Deta's BYO?

Yes, Deta's is BYO. (But if you know her well, she'll show you where she keeps her stash of whiskey.)

nr706 wrote:Yes, Deta's is BYO. (But if you know her well, she'll show you where she keeps her stash of whiskey.)

I'll have to rely on your friendship with Deta if I need a whiskey hit.

Hi,

For everyone's planning and shopping convenience, the exchange closes at 11 participants. Please plan to bring 10 portions to give away on Monday. If you need to change your dish, no problem. I may be changing, too, since I will have a lot of country ham leftover.

I will stop by Deta's tonight or tomorrow to plan for our dinner.

Fresser, I tried contacting you by e-mail and PM with no response. If you want to come for dinner, you are still welcome. If you desired to participate in the exchange, it will have to be another time.

See everyone on Monday!

Regards,

cathy - i figured out who's in for dinner/exchange - sorry it took me awhile
will bring potato torte w/bacon, cabbage, and cheddar

thanks,
yumi

Hi,

I stopped by Deta's this evening to put in our order for 12 on Monday night.

It will be the Deta parade of highlights:

- Assorted burek - I asked her to keep one aside as demonstration on how she does it. While her youtube clip is over 28,000, I thought you'd enjoy seeing it live. Comparing her efforts to others on youtube as well as the feedback on her clip, she is exceptionally masterful and fast in making burek.

- Chicken soup

- "Greek Salad" but when I asked her if it was really Shopska Salad, she agree with the name I have always called this dish.

- Cabbage salad

- Veal - usually braised

- Moussaka, which she makes with potatoes et al

- Baklava

She confirmed you are welcome to BYOB.

(Fresser - if you still want to come, we can accomodate you)

Dinner will be somewhere in the $20 - $26 range. (I suggested $20, but I am not 100% sure if that is total or tax/tip on top - thus the suggested range)

Regards,

Regretfully, I have to bow out for the exchange because I have family who have unexpectedly decided to visit for the week. I'm not sure if I will be able to prepare my dish and pass them off so they can make it for the exchange with relatives taking over my kitchen... so please count me out. The menu planned at Deta's sound amazing and I'm sorry to have missed the exchange and the chance to enjoy the dinner with you all. I look forward to the pictures though!

Sorry for any inconvenience and hope that someone can take my place!

My dish has changed to a sweet/sour tomato cabbage soup with kielbasa.

The GP wrote:My dish has changed to a sweet/sour tomato cabbage soup with kielbasa.

My bean soup also contains kielbasa. Hope everyone likes kielbasa.

Sweet/sour tomato cabbage soup sounds delicious.

RAB wrote:

The GP wrote:My dish has changed to a sweet/sour tomato cabbage soup with kielbasa.

My bean soup also contains kielbasa. Hope everyone likes kielbasa.

Sweet/sour tomato cabbage soup sounds delicious.

Not like kielbasa? Seems so foreign to me.

The soup is simmering away and the house smells great. Hope it tastes as good as it smells!

Hi,

Everything is updated. Sorry you cannot make it, Foodie1. I'm sure this event landing the day after Easter has had an impact. Something to remember for future planning when it comes to holidays closing in on our meet up.

We have have ten exchanges, please plan on bringing 9 portions to give away.

Regards,