There are still all those ingredients that came from a laboratory. Grandma used to tell me that if it wasn't food 50 years ago, it's not food now. So we still have the added chemical ingredients, which I dislike and avoid whenever I can. As I mentioned, that can of baked beans doesn't have anything in it that I can't pronounce. I love beans. Nearly all beans, any beans. I like them in soup or in burritos, I make a pot of pinto beans and cornbread and that can be a meal for me for a couple of days and I'm happy. I've been known to eat last night's cold baked beans in a sandwich for breakfast, love 'em. Maybe that's it, I love 'em all. I prefer homemade to canned, of course, but I don't find commercially canned beans to be any "mushier" than my homecanned ones. Of course, I come from Michigan, we grow a lot of beans and are the major supplier of dried beans to Europe. 90% of our cranberry beans go to Italy, and I think I eat a good portion of the remaining 10%, LOL. I don't think I've ever met a bean I didn't like except those big, dry and mealy Limas. Cake I can take or leave, even the homemade ones. Like cheesecake, it's OK, but I'm relatively apathetic. Cake mix cake, though, has that metallic flavor and feels like a sponge in my mouth, until it falls apart into those spongy little crumbs. As I've mentioned, Ashley actually likes that texture, Shaun mentioned that she did too, and I don't think that someone else using them indicates a moral deficiency of any kind. Just don't argue that they are cheaper or faster, because they aren't and the savings in time is only a few minutes over making a scratch cake. So, my cake baking will remain relegated to weddings and holidays, Ashley can make Duncan Hines cupcakes if she chooses to and frost them with Nutella. I'll take seconds on the baked beans, any way you can make them, although I prefer them with maple syrup and some nice smoky bacon. Annie

Pat, you can use fresh herbs in just about any recipe that you would use dried herbs in. Some fresh herbs though are added at the end of cooking. Especially something like basil. I like to add a handful or two of fresh basil to a quick tomato, garlic pasta sauce. And you can use fresh basil and fresh oregano in salads. Greek Italian Recipes using fresh Oregano: Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table Tomato - Oregano Tarts ====================== Source: Roger Verges Vegetables 1 lb very ripe tomatoes 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 clove of garlic Salt and pepper 1 slice of bread 1/2 lb puff pastry 2 Tablespoons or Capers or 4 oz black olives (Nicoise or Kalamata) - pitted 6 oregano sprigs . Peel and seed tomatoes. Chop coarsely. Put olive oil into a sauce pan or skillet heat, add tomatoes, minced garli and salt and pepper to taste and saute for 7 to 8 minutes. Trim crusts from bread and process into crumbs. Mix crumbs with 2 oregano sprigs. Add to Tomato mixture. Set Aside. Roll puff pastry into a generous 12 inch square. Place on a chilled baking sheet. (may also be made into 4 six inch circles, use a tart ring or plate as a template and cut out) Prick pastry all over, leaving 1/2 inch border unpricked. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and spread a layer of tomato mixture and sprinkle with capers or olives. Return to the oven and bake an additional 8 minutes. If serving as a first course, allow one per person. Or cut the large tart into small squares and serve as an appetizer in the living room. Garnish with sprig of oregano. Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table Green Bean, Zucchini and Potato Stew (Fassolakia Iadera ======================================================= Adapted from: Krinos Foods (The original recipe called for a large can of tomatoes and did not include garlic or oregano.) Green Bean, Zucchini and Potato Stew (Fassolakia Iadera)This is a traditional vegetable mixture that is often eaten cold, accompanied by hunks of country bread and feta cheese . 1/4 cup olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 1 clove of garlic, minced 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed, halved crosswise 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 8 ounces zucchini, cut into 1-inch-thick slices 8 ounces russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch cubes 3/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh oregano chopped (or dried) 1 14 ounce can of Italian-style tomatoes, chopped. 1/2 cup chicken broth . Heat oil in heavy large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté 5 minutes.Add Garlic and green beans and sauté until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add zucchini, potatoes, cayenne pepper, parsley and oregano. Pour tomatoes and their juices over vegetables. Add chicken broth. Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, stirring frequently, about 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. Can be prepared 1 day ahead -- cover and refrigerate. Serve warm or at room temperature. 6 To 8 Servings

Here is the recipe you requested, Shaun. A friend from work gave the recipe to me. Pineapple Coconut Self Frosting Cake 1 8.75-oz can crushed pineapple in syrup 1/3 cup shortening 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup flaked coconut 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup pecans 3 tablespoon margarine or butter (melted) Thoroughly drain pineapple, reserving 1/2 cup of the syrup. Beat together shortening, sugar and vanilla. When creamy, beat in egg. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with reserved syrup, beating after each addition. Spread 1/2 of batter in greased and floured 8" round or square cake pan. Try to evenly layer with crushed pineapple. Cover with remaining batter. In small bowl, combine coconut, brown sugar, pecans, and butter. Try to sprinkle evenly over batter. Bake at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes. Nice to serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

People didn't generally allow fear of what might happen to control their lives. Kids carried pocket knives, teens carried rifles, illness was something you avoided best you could and accepted as part of living. Neighbors resolved issues of bad behavior without calling the police, men protected their families and neighborhoods, everyone's parent became YOUR parent if you misbehaved and, get this, you actually had to win to get a trophy, There were inside voices and outside voices. There were places for adults and places for children. In between places were stores, family restaurants and movies. But any screaming or misbehaving child would immediately be removed. We learned to swim in creeks, lakes and rivers, not pools. At the bakery a child would get a free cookie, at the butcher's or meat dept. a child would be given a hot dog or a thick slice of bologna.