Vettin: I have a lot of recipes here are a couple. I'll put in Pre Baked Pizza Dough later. Lou's Pizza and Spaghetti Sauce I use canned tomatoes but make sure they are Italian or a red color. Some choices are Contadina , Red Pack , Hunts , All Red, = Tutto Rosso, Chento To use Fresh Tomatos Pulse them in a blender but leave some small pieces. Add one can of Tomato Paste. Pizza Sauce 1 Large can of Tomato Puree and Crushed Tomatoes or all Crushed Tomatos 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder ( add more later to taste ) or use 4 fresh Garlic Cloves smashed ,sautéed and chopped small. I use all Powdered Spices now, and get the same results 1 tablespn. of Onion powder. 1 teasp. Salt. or to taste 3 teasp. Sugar ( add more if it tastes too acidy ). An Italian pinch of pwd.cloves. 3/4 teasp. Oregano ( or to taste ) if it is strong. 1 teaspoon of Parsley, 1/2 teasp. Basil. 1/4 teasp. black pepper. ½ teaspoon + of ( Chicken flavored Soup Base ) Simmer for about ½ hour or use without cooking. Large handful of Parmasan Cheese, when done , after 1/2 hour. - - - - - - - - - - - - - Continue for Spaghetti Sauce This recipe can be used for Spagetti Sauce , just add a can of Tomatoe Paste , with water to thin a little ,.if the Sauce too thick to start it will burn easily. It will thicken as it cooks. Add to the Pizza Sauce: ½ cup of fine chopped Onion. And 3 bay leaves . Don't forget the Chicken flavored Soup Base. I add uncooked Meatballs, couple at a time or , ( I bake about 3 dozen meatballs and freeze them ) Sausage and Chicken Thighs, when you start cooking. (cook at least 1 ½ to 2 hours )Take the chicken out when it is done. ( About 1 ¼ hours ) Add the Parmasan Cheese " after " the sauce is cooked & stir ALSO !!! season to your own taste. Add more or less of what you like. - - - - - - - - - - - Lous Italian Hamburgers or Meatballs Do you use your KA for mixing Meatballs ??? I watched many of my relatives making Meatballs, thru the years. Break the eggs on the meat and start mixing with their hands. Then throw some bread crumbs in , with all the spices and keep mixing. Always thought there should be another way to mix the Spices, thru the crumbs and meat evenly throughout.. I did it this way now, for years. Ingredients: 4 ½ lbs. of Ground Sirloin 1 ½ lbs. Of ground Pork ½ Cup of fine chopped Onion ( micro wave 2 minutes ) let it cool. 3 cups of Italian Bread crumbs ( including 1 cup of Corn Flakes, ground to crumbs ) 3 tablespoons of Parsley 1 tablespoon of Salt 1 tablespoon of Garlic powder 1 tablespoon of Onion powder .3 tablespoons of Parmesan Cheese. 3 tablespoons of Powdered eggs or 2x large eggs beaten 1 tablespoon of Chicken Soup base , mixed in 1 cup of warm water, Put the meat into the mixer , in alternate spoonfuls . Use the paddle beater. Turn on low speed to mix. Meanwhile , in another bowl, put in the bread crumbs, Onions and all the spices. Add the Chicken water mixture, if needed add more water, to make a damp mixture. Add this to the meat in the mixer. Everything mixed thru evenly. And the paddle took all the Gristle, from the meat. - - - - - - - - - - - - Measure out the meatballs ( I use an ice cream dipper ) and roll them. Place in an oiled baking pan. And Bake at 350 Degrees for about ½ hour or, Until they are browned slightly or cooked thru. I made 38 meatballs. BUT I stole a piece of the meatball mix and made an Italian Hamburger. It was delicious in a slice of bread , with nothing else on it. Reminded me of when I used to steal a meatball and run out of the kitchen, before my Grandmother grabbed the Wooden Spoon. LOU

Here are a few of my favourite appetizers: These little cocktail toasts with goat cheese and toasted walnuts are easy and very tasty. Just put a dollop of warm goat cheese on a cocktail toast, top with a toasted walnut and drizzle with olive oil. This tuna pate is addictive. Tuna Pate ========= Although this is a very easy appetizer that can be made earlier in the day, it is also a very rich because of all of the butter. One of my favourites. 2 (6 ounces) cans white tuna drained 1 cup butter 2 Tablespoons chopped roasted red pepper (Homemade or bottled pimentos) 1 to 2 teaspoons capers fresh lemon juice 2 to 3 drops tabasco salt and pepper Puree tuna and butter in processor Add chopped red pepper, capers, lemon juice, salt, pepper and tabasco. Process on pulse until the capers and red peppers are finely minced. Taste and adjust seasoning. Pack into decorate serving bowl and cover and refrigerate. When ready to serve remove a bit early from fridge so that the pate has a change to soften just slightly. Serve with toasted pita triangles Cut Plain or whole wheat pitas into triangles. Separate each triangle and place on cookie sheet. Brush with melted butter or margarine. Bake at 350�F until crisp and golden. Be careful not to burn. Remove and let cool. Serve triangles surrounding tuna pate OR a big batch of these Firecracker Shrimps? Firecracker Shrimp ================== Source: Week of Menus Blog 2 lbs of jumbo shrimp, legs removed, de-veined and butterflied (see step by step photos below) 1/4 cup of butter, softened (softer the better) 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 1/4 cup chopped red pepper (red bell pepper is fine, but if you like SPICE, use a red chili pepper) 3 tablespoons of finely chopped garlic 1 tablespoon lime juice Sea salt and cayenne pepper(optional) for sprinkling Arrange oven rack so that it is closest to the heating element. Preheat oven to broil. Line sheet pan with foil. Place prepared shrimp evenly so that there is only a single layer and every shrimp will get maximum heat.

Yum to everything mentioned! I am waiting for my husband to get home with takeout, and this thread it not helping my patience! My comfort food is usually something warm and soft. Soup. Mashed potatoes. No specific recipe -- I think I tended to eat things that were warm and easy on the throat when I was sick, and that temperature/texture is what defined comfort food for me. I'm not sure that this is quite the same thing as comfort food, but I also get a warm, family sort of feeling from sharing fresh fruit. Stems from my father's immense delight at purchasing fruit/hearing that we enjoyed eating it. His family was quite poor growing up and could not afford much fresh food, so my whole life, my dad's always been immensely pleased to see his family eat well. Drives my mom bananas (pun intended) because she thinks he spends to much on food, but it makes him SO happy. The fruit basket at my parents' house is probably the best stocked in the country. Since that was normal for me growing up, I also always have fresh fruit in my house, and my husband is usually so delighted to help me eat anything I've washed/cut up. It's all very homey.

Aww, I was going to say Big Night! (I went to high school with the fellow who composed the non-Tony-Bennett original music: when they are eating, the clatter of cutlery is actually a composition!) Not about food and wine, but when my friend and I watched I'll See You In My Dreams with the lovely Blythe Danner and lovelier Sam Elliott, we got tipsy just watching the women drink wine. Frequently. We thought it would be a good movie to see at home and drink along with Blythe. Theres an Italian movie where they eat a meal out in the garden, long table, I can't remember e name but I just really want to linger out in the garden over lunch. My Cousin something-or-other?