Talapia Tacos for Two 4 frozen tilapia filets crushed red pepper 1 small can, green chilis cumin oregano dash of garlic EVOO hard or soft taco shells/tortillas drizzle skillet with EVOO, cook slightly frozen filets, add other ingredients. Cook until fish flakes easily. Flake fish, in the the skillet, or out. Add back to skillet. Allow to cook for a few minutes more, to allow flavors to blend. Fill taco shells or tortillas. Add any condiments you desire. (Something I like to do occasionally is place a slice of pepperjack cheese on the taco/tortilla shell before adding hot taco filling.) Sides: Frijoles negro...black beans. Dried or canned. To cook dried black beans, soak overnight, drain (or not LOL) cook over a slow fire for approximately 4 hours, add any flavor ingredients you wish... Avocado salad...two small haas avocados 1 small tomato 1 small can sliced, black olives dollop of sour cream bleu cheese crumbles bleu cheese dressing Cut avocados in half, around the seed. Discard seed. (Or place in a pot of soil, water regularly, for an interesting house plant.) Remove fruit from skin, and dice in medium-sized chunks, add to bowl. Dice small tomato in medium-sized chunks, add to bowl. Drain black olives, add to bowl. Add cheese crumbles, sour cream, and dressing, mix well. Bon Apetit!

Chocolate Ricotta with Fresh Strawberries INGREDIENTS: 1 cup fresh ricotta cheese 3 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon Crème de Cocoa Liqueur 6 tablespoons chocolate syrup 1 cup sliced strawberries mixed with 1 tablespoon sugar 4 mint sprigs METHOD: Place ricotta, sugar, liqueur and chocolate syrup into a medium-sized mixing bowl and whisk until smooth. Divide mixture into four martini glasses. Garnish each glass with strawberries and mint. Serves four.

Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs, Golden Raisins amd Pine Nuts INGREDIENTS FOR MEATBALLS: 1 pound ground turkey 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts 4 tablespoons soaked golden raisins 2 teaspoons chopped garlic 3 tablespoons chop onion 2 tablespoons chop parsley 1 egg yolk 2 tablespoons milk 6 tablespoons fresh bread crumbs 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon sugar METHOD: To prepare meatballs place all above ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Mix all well and shape into eight 2½-ounce balls. Place meatballs on cookie sheet with pan liner and bake at 400°F for 20 minutes and reserve. INGREDIENTS FOR SAUCE: 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 tablespoons sliced garlic 1 can crushed tomatoes (28 ounce) 6 fresh basil leaves 3/4 cup water Salt & Pepper to taste 1 pound spaghetti METHOD: In sauce pot over medium high heat, sauté garlic with olive oil until soft. Add tomatoes, basil, water, salt and pepper to taste. Add reserved meatballs and simmer slowly for 30 minutes. Cook pasta and serve each portion with 2 meatballs and some sauce. Serves four.

I found these three recipes on the news this morning. I'm adding them to my reportoir, add some candles, soft music...well, you get the idea. ;-) Stacked Spinach & Pear Salad with Crumbled Blue Cheese INGREDIENTS: 2 pears (core removed) 4 cups baby spinach (washed) 8 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese 4 tablespoons olive oil 4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar Salt & Pepper to taste METHOD: Thinly slice pear into 1/8 inch slices horizontal and keep each pear together to retain its shape. Arrange alternate layers of half a pear and 1 cup spinach leaves per salad to make a stack. Sprinkle each salad with 2 tablespoons of blue cheese, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle each salad with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon vinegar just before serving. Serves four.

JANIE there are many wonderful recipes in this thread, use them and get the cook book going. then we can start on the 3rd one.

Quick salad: One cup chopped apple one cup, diced avocado 2 Tbl sour cream ranch dressing or bleu cheese dressing combine chopped apples and diced avocado and sour cream, stir well. spoon into bowl, top with dressing of choice...enjoy!! Bon apetit!!

Recipe from Kikideechic.... 1 1/3 oz vanilla pudding 14 oz powdered sugar (1 3/4 cups) 12 1/2 cups milk 3 cups grain alcohol or what ever you want (I use 2 cups and 1 cup Myers rum) 12 egg yolks 22 2/3 oz granulated sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla extract Mix vanilla pudding with 3 tablespoons milk and set aside. Mix powdered sugar, vanilla ext and milk. Boil moderately and stir for 1 hour. Add pudding and milk mixture to boiling milk. Boil for 1 minute. Cool completely. Mix egg yolks and granulated sugar until smooth. Add to milk mixture Add alcohol and stir. Strain. It's better if it sits at least one week.

Just tried this one tonight...yummmyyyy!!! quick chicken breasts 3 chicken breasts 1 cup, crimini mushrooms (baby portabellos) sweet onion crushed red pepper black pepper sage sweet basil lemon pepper EVOO olive oil drizzle olive oil in the bottom of a skillet, thick slice sweet onion, place in bottom of skillet, place chicken breasts in skillet, place whole mushrooms around chicken breasts. sprinkle seasoning over all, cover...cook on low/simmer for approximately 30 minutes, or until done. Serve with peas and carrots as a side. Bon Apetit!!

Coca-Cola cure for rust ... Forget those expensive rust removers. Just saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca Cola and scrub the rust stain. The phosphoric acid in the coke is what gets the job done. Saw the above on this post.......makes ya wonder what coca cola does to our insides!!! It will also take the corosion (sp?) off car batteries.

Hey Gang, Some of you were asking for my German Chocolate Pie recipe....so here it is...just in time for the holidays.... German Chocolate Pie 3 eggs slightly beaten 1 c. Karo syrup 1 pkg. (4oz) Bakers German sweet chocolate (melted and cooled) 1/3 c. sugar 2 Tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 C. pecan halves 1/4 c. shredded coconut 1 unbaked 9" pie shell In large bowl, stir eggs, syrup, chocolate, sugar, butter and vanilla until well blended. Stir in pecans and coconut. Pour into pie shell and bake at 350 degrees for 50 - 60 min. or until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean. Cool completely before slicing. Enjoy!!! Wishing you all a safe and Happy Holiday season! May God richly Bless you all. Cam