Once we were invited by an acquaintance to celebrate her birthday. She was celebrating it at home. There were plenty of guests, all sitting very close to each other at the table. The company was of all ages, from children to the elderly. The hostess was setting the table.
The hostess asked us how many dumplings we usually ate. She said herself: “10 for children and 20 for adults”. Plates were placed, dumplings were counted. To the dumplings I put homemade adjika.
No one had any questions about the dumplings, but there was some discomfort with the stuffed dumplings. Jeanne then said:
“One tomato and cucumber each, two pickled onions and garlic each, and one cutlet each.” Hot potatoes could be eaten as much as the guest wanted and also with sauerkraut.
That’s why I remember this birthday, because it was not quite usual. Pickles by the piece.
The woman who was sitting next to me at the time still asked if I would eat a tomato. She and I swapped, she ate two tomatoes and I ate two delicious crispy cucumbers.
My husband, on the other hand, was happy to take all my garlic and onions
How she shared the liquor, I don’t remember anymore. I hardly drank at the time.
For dessert, a piece of cake for everyone. Leftovers went in the fridge. But there was a lot of berry jam for tea. All from home-made berries.
