Readers' Choice!

I have already served dinner 17 times. I am so close to hitting 20. To commemorate this wondrous achievement I want to give you, all 12 of my readers, a chance to pick what I cook next. It’s like a Choose Your Own Adventure book, but you’re choosing my destiny. So instead of something like Do you follow the girl and go into the cave? or Do you go back to the park rangers’ station for help? it’s Should Emily bake a dessert? or Should Emily make jellied Consomme?

I have selected 4 cards from which you will vote. I tried to choose meals that were pretty different from each other, however all of them do have desserts that I would have to prepare myself. No short cuts.

Friends, I am putting my fate in your hands. So, without further ado, your choices:

15. Pork Chops Florentine. This seems to be about a 2 hour meal. It includes Pork Chops Florentine, Rice in Chicken Broth with Mushroom Cap Garnish, Grapefruit and Lettuce Salad with French Dressing, and for dessert Warm Apple Kuchen. I have never had a Kuchen.

37. Beef Stroganoff. This is a 2 hour time-line, but requires me to make the dessert the day before or very early the same day. #37’s menu: Beef Stroganoff, Borscht (bottled), Buttered Parsley Noodles, Green Salad with Yogurt Dressing and for dessert a Charlotte Russe. Pray tell, where does one purchase bottled Borscht?

48. Turkey Scalloppine. Clocks in at 3 hours. The dishes are: Jellied Consomme, Turkey Scalloppine, Parmesan Potato Puffs, Tomatoes Stuffed with Peas, Broccoli vinaigrette, and a Lemon Schaum Torte is the closer. The Parmesan Potato Puffs are from one of the supplementary cards.

59. Sauerkraut Casserole (With Sausage). 1.5 hours estimated cooking time, however the dessert can be made the day before. #59 suggests: Sauerkraut Casserole with Sausage, Mashed Potatoes, Carrot and Celery Sticks, and Apple Dumplings with Apricot Glaze. The dumplings are on a supplementary card. And Frankfurters may be substituted for sausage.

OK, so make your pick. And in a couple of weeks I’ll reveal which meal is the big winner.