Well, here's granny's pasta salad, my presonal fav for fresh tomatoes: 1 LB shaped pasta (elbow, rigatoni, farfalle, etc.) 1 red bell pepper - sliced 1 green bell pepper - sliced 1/2 a red onion - chopped into .5 cm chunks 2 ripe cucumbers, halved and sliced 4 fresh tomatoes - wedged bottle of balsamic vinagrette (yes granny used bottled dressing) fresh grated pharmasiean Boil pasta al dente, drain and rinse in cool water. toss veggies, dressing and pasta into big bowl, refridge for an hour or so, grate on fresh pharm when serving. I make a huge bowl and we snack this for about 2 days, till it runs out.

Got all these from the cooking forum and they are favorites! Made the spinach salad from Ann for a luncheon, it was a very big hit! Vittorio's Spinach Salad from Ann T Vittorio's was a restaurant in Toronto that we use to go to years ago. Salad isn't something that I would usually order but I loved his. This is my recreation of his recipe. Salad: Washed and dried baby spinach 4 hard boiled eggs, peeled 4 or 5 cleaned mushrooms, sliced 1 can of artichoke hearts halved or quartered 3 Roma tomatoes, quartered 2 chopped green onions Kalamata olives Dressing: 1/4 teaspoon tarragon 1/2 clove of garlic 2 or 3 tablespoons wine vinegar 1/2 cup homemade mayo or Hellmans salt and pepper Place spinach in a large salad bowl. Decorate with eggs, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, tomatoes and green onions and olives. Drizzle with dressing and toss. Can be made on individual plates as well. Dressing: Soak tarragon and garlic in vinegar. Add salt to dissolve. Mix vinegar mixture into mayonnaise and adjust seasoning to taste. ------------------------------------------- Nancy's "55" Salad Dressing (wizardnm) 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 teaspoon dry mustard 1/4 cup vinegar 1/4 cup water 2 teaspoons salt 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper 1/2 teaspoon celery seed (optional) 1 cup vegetable oil Combine garlic, dry mustard, vinegar and water in a food processor or blender. Pulse to combine. Add salt, sugar, peppers, and celery seed (if using) With processor or blender running, SLOWLY add vegetable oil in a thin stream. After oil is added, continue to process another 3 minutes. --------------------------------------------------------- Creamy Roquefort Dressing (mqmoi) 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 large shallot, minced 1 tablespoon Sherry wine vinegar 1 large garlic clove, minced 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1/3 cup crumbled Roquefort cheese 3 tablespoons whipping cream Whisk first 5 ingredients in small bowl to blend. Fold in Roquefort cheese and cream. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

Back the years when I was picking 40 pounds of Kentucky Wonders a day, my family loved Green Bean Salad: French-cut fresh green beans - 4 to 6 cups homegrown lettuce (or the best you can get from the supermarket) 2 slices bread 1 tbsp. butter 1 tbsp. olive oil 2 clove garlic, flattened with the side of a knife Oil and Vinegar Dressing (below) Boil or steam the beans until just tender, then shake over heat to dry. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Pour the Oil and Vinegar Dressing over the hot beans. Cook, uncovered, 2 to 4 minutes, then chill, covered, in a glass salad bowl. Heat the butter and oil in a skillet. Brown the garlic in it, then remove garlic. Fry the bread in the skillet until golden on both sides. Just before serving, break the lettuce into bits and toss it into the green beans. Crumble the bread and add, tossing again. Oil and Vinegar Dressing: 4 tbsp. olive oil 1 tbsp. vinegar 1/8 tsp. dry mustard salt and pepper to taste Blend all ingredients. Makes 1/4 cup. I haven't had this salad in years, but I'm growing three kinds of green beans this year and I'm looking forward to tasting it again!

Oh, yeah, I'm a coffee drinker too. Three cups a day usually. Have to have one in the morning as I read the paper, but it's the Maxwell House International Coffee beverage, not regular coffee. I've been drinking the Cafe Francois flavor for years and years, if they ever discontinue it I don't know what I'll do. sleeper, I recently saw the coconut water at Stop'n Go and was tempted to try it.