Pot Luck Party -- With International Flair

Chinese cabbage and pork hot pot by a French/British mom who is very into authetic Japanese culture. Simple, easy and HER whole family likes it. (But I know her kids and they are not picky eaters. My husband doesn't eat even Chinese cabbage...sigh)

Is this not the most awesome food photo???? Captured the steam rising, didn't even have to use dry ice or fake stuff like the food photography book recommended!!! Yes, food photography, well photography in general, is one of my stated goals for the year. And it starts HERE!!

I love Tim's (the principal) idea of using plain colored paper as background!! And will incorporate it at home as well. Light reflects well and I can do macro shots without flash.

These are photos for a cookbook put out by the moms at my kids' old school. Lots of Japanese and international recipes. I was very valuable, not for my cooking, but my language skills and was "invited" back to help. As you all may have already figured out, I ADORE working on fun group projects with a bunch of cool people. And this definitely qualifies.

This uber cute bread is made by PA. When your kids start first grade in Denmark, moms celebrate the occasion by baking a boy or girl shaped bread like this one. Isn't that great?

These are Japanese dango, small version of mochi. Very easy to make if you get dango flour.... If you like mochi, you'll love this stuff, if not, no. The drinks are cherry blossom tea which is an actually cherry blossom soaked in salt water.... It's an ... acquired taste... a cultural experience. Made by MY who did not pluck the flowers herself, but bought a jar of them. It is probably in the spring, for Girl's Day.

This is Spanish yellow rice made by SL. It is like a vegetarian paella. Lots of pepper and garlic chunks.

Got a bit too avant garde with this photo maybe... This is Japanese chirashi sushi, no fish, just veggies and egg. Very pretty to look at, it is a sample for Girl's Day in late March, which I will blog about. CI is a fabulous cook!

This is an American adapted chocolate cake by KP. She managed to do it on the stove top rather than the oven, but ovens in Japan are .... weird. Hard to follow American baking instructions. She also put the icing on the side because Japanese people don't like their sweets too sweet.

This is for hard core Japanese food fans. A salad with raw scallops, boiled octopus, hijiki seaweed, raw onions and cherry tomatoes. I pigged out on it!! (Okay the chocolate cake too...) Made by the multi-talented NT.

There are other dishes I didn't bother taking photos for and some I didn't include. A Russian salad that had eggs, oranges, ham and apples.... One interesting fact was that a French woman made a scrumptious blueberry/apple crumble. When I asked whether it was French, JH replied that she thinks it's an English dessert and in northern France, their food is very English-influenced. I thought it was American?? Oh well, like who REALLY invented chocolate cake right?

CS made a French apple crepe dessert that deserves a mention. Scottish principal tried to make shortbread but didn't bake properly in the middle. (Happens to me all the time.) I made Hong Kong style pork chops. Will blog about that another time maybe...

All in all, it was a wonderfully delicious afternoon!!!