I apologize that I was not on the board in the last many months -- I am sure that I missed a gazillion great recipes from you great chefs. And I apologize that I cannot remember recipes posted here before I vanished. But I did go through my new recipes files (some of which I'm sure came from this forum) and I will post those that tuned out worthy of being made again. Fact is, there was at least double this amount that I would NOT make again; I just don't remember the bad ones and I don't file away those recipes. Chiles en Escabeche Tuñapple Crisp Agua de Tamarindo Easy Layered Ratatouille Roasted Root Vegetable and White Bean Cassoulet Tarte aux Pommes et au Fenouil Caramelise (Apple Tart ... with Caramelized Fennel) Acadian Apple Bread Pudding with Spiced Apple-Wine Sauce Baked Spiced Sweet Potatoes and Pears with Bourbon Cane... Syrup Glaze Fennel & Tomato Salad Siciliana Caponata Speciale Sugo Diane Country Style Vegetarian Lasagna Macedonia (Italian Macerated Fruit Salad) Mulberry and Nectarine Cobbler Creamed Cipollinis and Mushrooms Persimmon Ginger Pudding Saucy Apple Bread Pudding Stuffed Strawberries Apricot Fritters Creamy Pomegranate Parfait Frozen Feijoa Soufflé Apple Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips Roasted Eggplant And Garlic Soup Forgive me for not crediting any originators. I will do better this coming year to actually write down who posted what. Linda has put up a great post/question. I hope everyone -- including myself -- starts writing down all the recipes they try from this forum and has them ready when Linda posts this question on January 1, 2009. Joe

It all looks so good Annie....you really have been busy! I'm sure the folks in Elery's office will be happy with their birthday treat. Wish him a happy birthday for me as well please! It's also traditional here in Spain to take your friends out for dinner or drinks when it's your birthday, and not the other way around as we're accustomed. I bet you're going to enjoy that soup in the middle of a working day at the office! I made soup today too and we had it for lunch. We also keep the decorations up until January 6th. There are still Christmas carols playing on the local TV and full sized manger displays on the city hall steps at each town on the island. SharonCb

Annie, sorry to hear about your Aunt. I'll raise a glass and clink to her right now. My sympathy to you and all of the family. Sounds like she was a great and fun lady that did it her way. You know, dynamite comes in small packages. Congrats on the new bull soon to be a steer. A small town just northeast of me host the largest calf fry festival in the country. The Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo takes place at the the same time. Yes, I've tried them but they are not at the top of my favorite list. : ) My life in general has been one wild ride since last fall. So yes, it comes in spurts but this last ride has been more like a main water line break. Lots of cooking, traveling, and company. I'm ready for normal... whatever that might be. : ) David

Ellen, I guess I need more practice, they're supposed to be crysanthemums, LOL. Yes, I'm hostessing the shower. Yes, I know that the maid of honor is supposed to do it, but I did Amanda's too, and my family has never been big on doing what we're "supposed" to do, we tend to do as we darned well please! that includes sending out invitations in single envelopes, instead of that "envelope inside an envelope" stupidity, that's the most wasteful, expensive and silly thing I've ever seen. Ah, well..... Since Amanda jsut got that new job where she's working 3rd shift, I've taken over the shower cooking duties, and I'll get help from the Princess and Bruvver. Fortunately, we'll only have about 40 or 50 people and Ashley wants baked beans, potato salad, vegetable pizza, stromboli, Texas Sheet cake and punch. Like me, she doesn't care for salad, LOL. Maybe a pasta salad, we'll see. Piece of cake, which will not be decorated much. (grin) Oh, and I just set up tables and chairs in the town hall, I can rent the place for $25. I do NOT decorate. Ever. For anyone. Rob, thanks for the good wishes. I do NOT enjoy weddings. I didn't enjoy weddings before I had three in the past 12 months. I didn't enjoy mine, which Elery and I did all the cooking for and I baked the cake then too. I'll just be glad when it's over. and then my nephew is getting married in the fall and he's already asked me to bake the wedding cake. He says that their color scheme is "camoflage", we'll see if the bride goes along with that! Annie