This freezes well: ENCHILADA CASSEROLE (serves 6-8) 12 corn tortillas 2-4 TBL oil 3 TBL flour 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp paprika 10 can enchilada sauce 1 1/2 cups milk 1 cup grated Cheddar (I use a combo of Monterey Jack & Cheddar) 1/2 cup sliced ripe olives 1 lb ground beef 10 oz can jalapeno bean dip Salt & pepper to taste 1 large tomato, chopped GARNISHES: Shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sliced avocado, sliced ripe olives In a small skillet, gently fry tortillas in 1 TBL of the oil, adding more as needed; drain on paper towels. In a medium skillet, combine flour, salt & paprika & slowly stir in enchilada sauce until smooth. Add milk & cook over medium heat until bubbly. Add cheese & olives & continue cooking until cheese melts. Remove from heat. In a large skillet, brown beef & onion, stir in bean dip & season w/salt & pepper to taste. Place 1/3 cup of the meat mixture & a small amt of the tomato in the center of each tortilla & roll. Place rolled tortillas, seam side down in a 9x13" baking dish. Pour cheese sauce over top & bake uncovered at 325° for 20-30 minutes until bubbly. When ready to serve, garnish.~~Bound to Please I haven't made this in eons but it's good, easy & can be frozen: SCRAPPY BEEF FOR SANDWICHES (makes 10-12 sandwiches) 3 lbs chuck roast 1 onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, sliced 1 1/4 cups water, divided Salt & pepper to taste 1-2 TBL flour Buns or rye bread Horseradish mustard (optional) Heat oven to 400°. Trim excess fat from meat. Place in shallow baking pan & bake until browned. Drain fat. Add onion, garlic & 1 cup water. Cover tightly. Reduce oven to 350°. Bake about 2 hours or until very tender. Remove meat from pan & shred with a fork. Season w/salt & pepper to taste. Thicken juices from meat using flour mixed with remaining 1/4 cup water. Return shredded meat to pan. Bake until heated through. Serve on buns or rye bread with horseradish mustard, if desired.~~Fare to Remember

Here are a few of my favorites. They may not be too challenging but they are delicious. We're having Monte's Ham for dinner this Sunday :) Kima (Indian Meat Dish) 1 cup chopped onion 1 clove garlic, minced 1 lb extra lean ground beef 1 or more Tablespoons curry powder 2 tsps salt tsp pepper 2 potatoes peeled & diced 2-3 tomatoes, diced Ground coriander Garlic powder 1 package frozen peas Saute onion in butter (I used 1 Tbsp). Add garlic and meat. Brown, then drain a bit (I didnÂt have much fat). Stir in curry powder, salt and pepper. Simmer. Then add tomatoes (I mash the tomatoes and meat at this point to get more juice and to make the ground meat fine). I saute the potatoes separate, then add to the mixture and let simmer about 15 minutes. I add some spaghetti sauce (marinara style) and water until I have a sauce because the tomatoes I buy donÂt make a lot of juice it seems. I taste for seasoning and add more curry powder plus some coriander and a bit of garlic powder. A few minutes before serving I add the peas and let simmer. If the Kima is too acidic, I add a bit of sugar. Serve with raita salad and naan (from Trader JoeÂs, baked 1-1/2 minutes in countertop oven). Can also serve with rice. Raita Salad (can halve this recipe for above Kima recipe) 2 (8 oz) containers plain yogurt 1 cucumber peeled, seeded and diced 4 or 5 radishes chopped ¼ cup red onion diced Ground coriander Pinch of Kosher salt Blend all ingredients, cover with wrap and chill in refrigerator at least 1 hour. ***************************************************************************************** Chile & Tomato Saifun Noodle Salad ½ pound saifun (rice stick) noodles Dressing: ¼ cup rice vinegar 3 tablespoons sugar Zest and juice of 1 lime 2 tsps chile paste* 3 cloves garlic, chopped 2 tsps fish sauce ¼ cup vegetable oil Soy sauce 2 ripe tomatoes, diced 1 small peeled cucumber, thinly sliced into rounds 2 tablespoons choped fresh mint 3 to 4 green onions, minced To prepare the noodles, soak them in a bowl of warm water for about 10-15 minutes to soften. Bring 5 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan, add the softened noodles, & cook until tender, about 1 minute. Drain the noodles & briefly rinse them under cold running water to stop the cooking process. Drain again and place in the refrigerator to chill. To prepare the dressing, mix together the vinegar, sugar, zest, juice, and chile paste in a medium bowl. Stir in the garlic and fish sauce. Slowly whisk in the oil until the dressing is emulsified & thickened. Season to taste with the soy sauce and set aside. To finish the salad, place the chilled noodles in a large bowl. Add the tomatoes, cucumbers, cilantro, mint and green onions and toss well. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to coat evenly. Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes, then serve. *I use only 1 tsp of chile paste (sambal oulek)--this stuff is Hot! The author says you can add slices of pork tenderloin or bean sprouts. I added snow peas, bean sprouts and shrimp & sometimes have added more soy sauce. Source: CaprialÂs Bistro Style Cuisine **************************************************************************************** MonteÂs Ham 1 (15 lb) smoked ham, on the bone 1-1/2 cups orange marmalade 1 cup Dijon mustard 1-1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar 1 rounded tablespoon whole cloves Heat oven to 300 degrees. Cut off the ham's tough outer skin and excess fat and discard. Put ham in a large roasting pan. With a long, sharp knife score it, making crosshatch incisions all over the ham about ½" deep and 1 inch apart. Roast the ham on the lower middle level of the oven for two hours. Remove it from oven, increase heat to 350 degrees and make the glaze. For the glaze, stir together the orange marmalade, mustard and brown sugar in a medium-size bowl. Stud ham with cloves, inserting one at the intersection of each crosshatch. Brush entire surface of ham generously with glaze (reserving some glaze) and return ham to the oven. Cook ham 1-1/2 hours more, brushing with glaze at least 3 times. Transfer ham to a cutting board or platter & allow it to rest for about 30 minutes. Carve and serve warm or at room temp. Source: Saveur Cooks Authentic American.

Here are a few favourites that I've served many times at dinner parties. Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table Chicken Breasts With Mushroon Duxelles ====================================== Source: Lucy Waverman This flavorful and elegant chicken is stuffed with a combination of fresh and dried mushrooms. Because the breasts are stuffed under the skin, the stuffing moistens the chicken meat and keeps it juicy. use either dried porcini or dried Chinese mushrooms; they have the most flavor. The sauce can be made ahead of time and the breasts stuffed a few hours before baking. 6 Dried mushrooms 1/2 cup boiling chicken broth 2 tablespoons butter 4 shallots 8 ounce fresh mushrooms finely chopped 1 teaspoon dried tarragon or basil 3 tablespoons fresh bread crumbs 1/3 cup whipping cream 3 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 6 single boned chicken breasts, with skin on. Sauce 1/2 cup chopped onions 1/4 cup dry red wine 1/2 cup mushroom-soaking liquid 3 cups chicken stock 2 tablespoons port or Madeira 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon cold water salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. . 1. Soak the mushrooms in boiling chicken broth for 20 minutes. Drain the mushrooms, reserving the soaking liquid and the mushrooms separately.Chop the mushrooms. 2. Preheat the oven to 375°F 3. Heat the butter in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and dried and fresh mushrooms. Saute until all the liquid has evaporated, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Stir in the basil or tarragon, bread crumbs, cream and parsley. cook until the cream has reduced and the filling is thick. Season with salt and pepper. 4. Divide the filling in six portions. with your fingertips, make a pocket between the skin and the flesh of each chicken breast. Stuff the filling under the skin of the chicken breasts. Season the breasts with salt and pepper and place in a buttered baking dish large enough to hold the breasts in one layer. 5. Bake for 30 or 40 minutes, basting occasionally, until the juices run clear. 6. To make the sauce, in a frying pan, combine the onions and wine. On high heat, bring to a boil and reduce until you have 1 tablespoon of liquid. 7. Pour in the mushroom liquid, reduce to 2 tablespoons and then add the chicken stock and continue to boil until the stock is reduced by half. Add the port and simmer for another 2 minutes, or until the sauce is smooth and strongly flavored. 8. Combine the cornstarch and cold water and stir into the sauce, simmering until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add any juices from the chicken. To serve, pour the sauce over the chicken breasts. Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table ================================== Note: A Boned out Three pound chicken will feed 6 nicely. 1 3 pound chicken or 4 Whole Chicken Breasts (not singles 3 cups Fresh Bread - Crumbled 1 small onion 1 clove garlic 1/4 pound of Sausage (I usually use one Italian Sausage) 1/4 pound of mushrooms 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 2 teaspoons of fresh 1 egg Butter Chicken Broth Salt and pepper to taste Sauce 1/2 cup White Wine 1 cup Chicken Broth 1 onion 2 small tomatoes 1 garlic clove . Bone out whole chicken or if using just the breasts bone the breasts but leave them whole. DO NOT REMOVE SKIN Save bones. Saute onion, and garlic in butter. Add sausage, (if using link take meat out of casing), add sliced mushrooms and saute. Season with thyme,salt and pepper and mix in coarsely crumbled bread. Add chicken broth to moisten. Add egg. Stuff chicken,(or breasts) and sew up with unwaxed dental floss. Preheat oven to 375°. Place bones in shallow roasting pan and place chicken on bones. Roast for 30 minutes and then add one coarsely chopped onion, and two coarsely chopped tomatoes,and the garlic clove to the pan. Pour in 1/2 cup of white wine and 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Chicken should sit above liquid resting on the bones. Continue roasting for another 30 to 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked. (note: Breasts take the less time) When cooked remove chicken to board to rest and remove bones from pan. Skim excess fat from pan juices add the remaining 1/2 cup of chicken broth and pour contents into blender. Puree to make sauce. To serve, Remove dental floss (comes out easy with one little pull). Slice breasts into nice rounds and place 3 or 4 slices on each plate. If using the whole chicken, also slice in to 1/2 inch slices and place one to two on each plate. Drizzle with sauce. Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table ===================== Roast Duck Copyright Ina Garten, All rights reserved 2 (5 to 5 1/2 pounds each) ducks, innards and wing tips removed 6 quarts chicken broth Kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Unwrap the ducks and allow them to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes. With a fork, prick the skin without piercing the meat. This will allow the fat to drain off while the ducks cook. Meanwhile, in a very large stock pot which can hold the 2 ducks, heat the chicken broth with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt until it boils. Add the ducks very carefully and bring the stock back to a boil. If there isn't enough stock to cover the ducks, add the hottest tap water to cover. If the ducks float to the top, place a plate on top to keep them immersed. When the stock comes back to a boil, lower the heat and simmer the ducks in the stock for 45 minutes. When the ducks are finished simmering, skim off enough duck fat from the top of the stock to pour a film on the bottom of a 14 by 18 by 3-inch roasting pan. This will keep the ducks from sticking when they roast. Carefully take the ducks out of the stock, holding them over the pot to drain. Place them in the roasting pan, pat the skin dry with paper towels, and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt and the pepper. If you have time, allow the ducks to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to allow the skin to dry. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. (Be sure your oven is very clean or it will smoke!) Roast the ducks for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow them to rest, covered with aluminum foil, for 20 minutes. Serve warm. Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table ================================================ Source: Creative Chicken Cookbook, 1978 The classic recipe is served with Sauce Perigourdine, a rich brown Madeira Sauce with truffles. It is most complementary to the chicken. However, if you do not wish to use truffles, the Madeira sauce alone is worth savoring. 2 packages frozen patty shells (10 oz each) 1 cup chicken broth 2 chicken livers 2 tablespoons sweet butter 1 small onion, very finely chopped (about 1/4 cup) 1/4 pound mushrooms, very finely chopped 1 small minced garlic clove pinch of sage or thyme 1/4 teaspoon salt dash pepper 1 egg yolk, slightly beaten 2 whole chicken breasts (4 halves) 1 egg yolk Sauce Perigourdine 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1 cup beef broth 1/2 cup Madeira Sliced Truffles (optional) . Remove 2 of the patty shells from one package, reseal package, return to freezer. Remove all 6 shells from other package. Let the 8 shells thaw slightly. (This should take only about 20 minutes, but if the kitchen is warm, check after 10 minutes.) Bring chicken broth to boiling in a small saucepan. Drop in chicken livers; lower heat. Simmer about 3 minutes, or just until pink colour is gone. Remove chicken livers with a slotted spoon; mash with a fork; reserve broth. Melt butter in a small skillet. Sautee onion, garlic and mushrooms, stirring constantly, until they yield their moisture, then thicken to a pastelike consistency. Stir in mashed livers, salt, pepper, sage or thyme and beaten egg yolk. (This is the duxelles mixture for stuffing.) Cut whole chicken breasts in half. Remove rib and breast bones carefuly with short strokes of a small paring knife. Put bones in bottom of a buttered baking dish. Shape chicken breasts around bones, cupping hands around chicken breasts to form a compact shape. (When they cook they will keep this rounded shape.). Pour 1/2 cup of the reserved chicken broth around the chicken. Butter a square of aluminum foil. Place buttered side down, over chicken breasts. Poach in very hot oven 450°F 20 minutes; remove from oven. Reset oven to 375°F. Lift chicken from bones; cool. Roll each of the patty shells to a 5 inch round on a lightly floured pastry board. Place Cooled chicken breasts on four of the pastry rounds. Spread the duxelles mixture over the chicken with a spatula. Brush the edges of the pastry with a mixture of egg yolk and water; place remaining pastry rounds on top. Press edges to seal; flute edges, or tuck under chicken. Brush remaining egg yolk mixture over pastry. Place a jelly-roll pan. Bake in moderate 375°F oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with Sauce Perigourdine. Sauce Perigourdine Melt butter in a medium size skillet; add 1/4 cup all-purpose flour. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until misture turns a light brown, about 5 minutes. Slowly add 1 cup beef broth; continue stirrring until thickened. Add 1/2 cup Madeira. Cook, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes or until sauce is reduced to about 1 cup. If using truffles add to sauce and simmer for 1 minute.

Pickled Eggplant with Brown Vinegar, Onions & Peppers Salt 4 or 5 eggplants -- cut into cubes. 3 large onions 2 large green peppers -- or 1 green and 1 red 1/4 cup salt 2 1/2 cups brown vinegar (apple cider vinegar) 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon mustard seed teaspoon tumeric 1/4 tablespoon cloves Put cubed eggplants into a colander and sprinkle generously with salt. Place a heavy plate that is large enough to cover the eggplant and weigh down so that the eggplant is compressed. Let stand for about 3 hours, drain well. Thinly slice onions and peppers. Combine vinegar, sugar and spices and bring to a boil. Add the above vegetables and heat thoroughly, but do not boil. Pack into hot, sterile jars. Cover with syrup and seal. Cucumbers can be used in place of eggplant. 12 to 15 cucumbers. Source: This recipe is just as it was given to me by a very good friend's Italian mother. I have made it and it is a tasty condiment for sandwiches.