I've got a few family recipes. Of course, my family is Greek, so the flavors might be different from what you're used to. But, on the other hand, they might be an interesting change. Briami (Baked Summer Vegetables) A variety of summer vegetables, baked in olive oil. A simple, tasty, and nutritious casserole. Use as a main dish or a delicious vegetable side dish. Vary the vegetable depending on what is available. 1 pound summer squash (zucchini, crookneck, patty pan, etc.) 1 pound eggplant 1 pound potatoes 2 onions 1 - 1 pounds tomatoes (fresh or canned) ½ - 1 cup olive oil Salt and pepper to taste 1 cup chopped parsley ½ 1 cup water, hot 2 green peppers (optional) 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional) I cup buttered breadcrumbs (optional) ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional) ÂScrub squash and cut off ends; cut in ¼ inch slices or in 1 inch chunks. ÂScrub eggplant and cut off ends; cut into ¼ inch slices. (Eggplant may be salted and set aside on paper towels to absorb moisture for at least 30 minutes. Rinse well before adding to casserole.) ÂWash and peel potatoes; cut in ¼ inch slices. ÂPeel onions; cut in ¼ inch slices. ÂWash, peel and cut tomatoes into slices (roughly slice or chop canned whole tomatoes). ÂIf using peppers, wash, remove seeds and cut into strips. ÂBeginning with sliced potatoes, layer all vegetables in a large casserole. ÂSalt and pepper each layer of vegetables lightly (If eggplant slices have been pre-salted, do not salt eggplant layer.) ÂAdd olive oil and hot water. ÂCover and bake at 350° for 60 minutes. ÂIf desired, sprinkle with buttered breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese. ÂUncover and bake for an additional 30 minutes. ÂLet stand uncovered 10-15 minutes before serving. For a complete vegetarian meal, serve with hearty bread slices and a fresh salad. May be served hot, warm, room temperature, or even cold. Fasolakia (Greek Stewed String Beans) A flavorsome combination of green beans stewed in a tasty tomato sauce. Simple, healthful, and delicious. A wonderful holiday alternative to the usual cream soup based green bean casseroles. 2 pounds string beans, fresh or frozen 2 onions, chopped 2  4 cloves garlic, minced ½ cup olive oil 1 - 8 ounce can tomato sauce ¼ - ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped 1-2 teaspoons mint 2 potatoes, peeled and cut in 1-2 inch chunks 2 carrots, sliced 1 cup water or broth 2 teaspoons salt Pepper to taste ÂIn Dutch oven, sauté onion lightly in olive oil. ÂAdd tomato sauce, string beans, and remaining ingredients. ÂCover and simmer over medium heat for about 60 minutes or until all vegetable are tender. ÂCheck after 30 minutes; add more water or broth if necessary. ÂStir occasionally. Serve hot or room temperature. Patatosalata (Greek Potato Salad) Fresh, lively, and bursting with flavor. This salad brightens any meal and is a delicious alternative to the typical mayonnaise-laden versions. 2  2 ½ lbs. wax potatoes (white, Yukon Gold, or red) ½ cup extra virgin olive oil Juice of 1- 2 large lemons 1 red onion, finely diced 1 cup finely chopped fresh parsley 1 teaspoon dried Greek oregano (optional) Salt and Pepper to taste ÂFinely chop onion and parsley ÂIn a small bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, oregano (if used), parsley, 1 teaspoon salt and onion. Mix well and set aside. ÂWash potatoes well. ÂAdd potatoes to a large pot of boiling, lightly salted water. Cook potatoes at low boil for about 15 - 20 minutes, or until potatoes are just tender. Do not overcook. ÂDrain water and let potatoes cool slightly to touch. ÂWhen slightly cooled, peel and cut potatoes into slices or large dice (If desired, leave skin on red potatoes). ÂPlace potatoes in a large bowl; add dressing and season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Toss to coat. ÂCover bowl and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Stir every once in a while to redistribute dressing. Macaronia me Voutyro (Pasta with Brown Butter Sauce) Simple yet delicious. Browned butter, tender pasta, and sharp, tangy cheese. A real treat for pasta lovers everywhere. 1 pound. spaghetti or other pasta ½ pound butter (1 cup/2 sticks)* ½ cup grated dry Mezithra** or Parmesan Salt and pepper to taste ÂFill a large deep pot 3/4 full with water. ÂAdd salt and bring to a rolling boil. ÂAdd pasta slowly, without breaking the boil. ÂCook until al dente, following package directions; stir frequently. ÂDrain well in a colander and return to pan in which it was cooked. ÂWhile pasta is cooking, melt butter and heat to a deep golden brown. ÂWatch it carefully; it burns quickly and suddenly. ÂPour browned butter over drained pasta in pot. ÂAdd half the grated cheese and toss well to coat. ÂAdd salt and pepper to taste. ÂSprinkle each serving with the extra grated cheese. ÂServe with additional grated cheese and freshly ground pepper. *If desired, substitute ½ cup very light olive oil for half of the butter. **If using Mezithra cheese, substitute ½ cup sweet, unsalted butter to cut down on salt content. Melintzanosalata (Roasted Eggplant Salad) Deliciously different! A perfect appetizer spread with crackers. 1 large eggplant 1 medium onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely minced or crushed ¼ cup chopped parsley ¼ cup olive oil ¼ cup wine vinegar or lemon juice (juice of 1 lemon) Salt and pepper to taste ÂPlace whole, washed eggplant in greased baking pan. ÂBake at 350° oven 60 minutes, until soft. Allow skin to turn black so as to give a smoky flavor to the salad. ÂAllow eggplant to cool off a bit so you can handle it. ÂSlice the eggplant down the middle and scoop out the pulp. ÂPut the eggplant pulp on a cutting board and chop it up finely. ÂLightly sauté chopped onion and garlic in olive oil. ÂIn a bowl, combine the chopped eggplant, onion and garlic mixture with all the olive oil, and vinegar or lemon juice. ÂSalt and pepper to taste. ÂCover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. ÂAdjust seasonings if necessary. Serve with pita bread, flat bread, or whole wheat/sesame crackers (like Ak Mak). Spanakorizo (Spinach and Rice) A peasant dish thatÂs perfect for vegetarians. Simple and tasty! ¼ cup olive oil ½ cup parsley, chopped fine 1 medium yellow onion, chopped fine 1 bunch green onions, chopped 2 - 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1-teaspoon mint 1-teaspoon dill weed 2 teaspoons oregano 1½ - 2 cups water 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce 1 teaspoon salt and pepper 2 bunches spinach, washed, dried, stems removed, chopped (or 2 packages fresh spinach [stems removed] or 2 packages frozen chopped spinach [thawed and squeezed dry]) 1 cup white rice ÂIn a large saucepan place the oil and heat it on medium high until it is hot. ÂAdd the parsley, onions, and garlic. ÂSauté the ingredients until the onions are soft and translucent. ÂAdd the rice and sauté for a few minutes, stirring constantly. ÂAdd the water, tomato sauce, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. ÂMix the ingredients together thoroughly so that everything is well combined. ÂCover and simmer the ingredients until the rice is almost tender, approximately 15 minutes. ÂAdd water as needed. ÂUncover and stir in the spinach. ÂCover the pan and continue cooking on very low heat, about 5-10 minutes, until the spinach has wilted and all the liquid has been absorbed and the spanakorizo is tender, not mushy. ÂAdjust seasonings. ÂCover and let stand for at least 10 minutes before serving. Serve Spanakorizo with grated Parmesan cheese and/or plain, unflavored yogurt. Variation: To make Prassorizo (Leek Rice), substitute 1 1/2 pounds sliced leeks (white and green portions) for the spinach and add with the liquid. Leeks need longer cooking time. Omit green onions. I know you said you eat a lot of beans already, but this is a classic Greek bean soup recipe. It just might be different enough to try: Fasolada (Greek Bean Soup) Comfort foodÂGreek style! Thick, hearty, and full of vegetables. Peasant food fit for a king! 1 pound dry beans (great northern, lima, garbanzo, black eye pea, lentil) 1 onion, chopped 2Â3 stalks celery, chopped 2-3 carrots, chopped 2 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 pound lean ground beef or lamb (optional) 1Â2 bay leaves 1 teaspoon oregano 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce ¼ cup olive oil Salt and pepper to taste 2  3 quarts water Dry Bean Preparation: Great Northern/Lima/Garbanzo: ÂRinse beans ÂSoak beans oOvernight Soak Method  In large pot soak 1 lb. beans overnight in at least 2 quarts water oQuick Soak Method  Combine 1 lb. beans & 2 quarts water in large pot. Heat beans & water to boiling. Boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat, & let stand for at least 1 hour. ÂDrain soaking water & rinse beans ÂAdd 2 quarts water ÂCover & bring to boil ÂReduce heat to simmer ÂCook for 45  60 (or longer) until beans are just tender (not mushy) Black Eye Pea/Lentil (no soaking necessary): ÂRinse beans ÂAdd 2 quarts water ÂCover & bring to boil ÂReduce heat to simmer ÂCook black eye peas for 45  60 minutes until just tender (not mushy); cook lentils for 30  40 minutes until tender. Canned Bean Preparation: ÂUse equivalent to four (4) 15 oz. cans of desired beans ÂDrain & rinse beans ÂAdd 1½ quarts water Soup Preparation: ÂLightly sauté chopped onion, celery, carrots, and minced garlic in olive oil. Cover and cook over medium heat until just tender (not mushy). Do not brown. Â(Optional: brown ground beef/lamb; drain well). ÂAdd vegetables (with oil) & meat (if used) to prepared beans (approximately 6  8 cups prepared beans). ÂAdd salt, pepper, bayleaves, and oregano (dry beans will require more salt than canned beans). ÂAdd tomato sauce. ÂAdd additional quart water, if desired. ÂCover & bring to boil ÂReduce heat to simmer ÂSimmer for 30  45 minutes. ÂTaste & adjust seasonings This soup tastes even better reheated the next day; it also freezes well.

oh Mary sounds like fun! When is the season opener? I've only seen the show a couple of times but have enjoyed it. I like that you will get together to watch it. :-) Here are a couple of my favorites for simple. Stacy White Bean Dip with Pita Chips -Lorijean 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 2 cloves garlic 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1/3 cup olive oil, plus 4 tablespoons 1/4 cup (loosely packed) fresh Italian parsley leaves Salt Freshly ground black pepper 6 pitas 1 teaspoon dried oregano Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the beans, garlic, lemon juice, 1/3 cup olive oil, and parsley in the work bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is coarsely chopped. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer the bean puree to a small bowl. (Note: The dip will turn green in a relatively short time due to the fresh parsley.) Cut each pita in half and then into 8 wedges. Arrange the pita wedges on a large baking sheet. Pour the remaining oil over the pitas. Toss and spread out the wedges evenly. Sprinkle with the oregano, salt, and pepper. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes, or until toasted and golden in color. Serve the pita toasts warm or at room temperature alongside the bean puree. ___________________________________________________________ Stacked Pizza - Sharon (Chase) 7 sheets phyllo pastry 1/2 cup butter melted 7 TBSP freshly grated parmesan 1 1/2 cups grated mozarella 1 sweet onion sliced thinly 5-6 roma tomatoes, sliced 1 tsp oregano salt and pepper to taste ( I don't use any I find the parm salty enough and I forget about the pepper!!!) fresh herbs sprigs thyme, oregano or rosemary Preheat oven to 375. Follow package instructions to thaw phyllo. Place 1 sheet of phyllo on baking sheet, brush with butter and sprinkle with 1 TBSP of the parmesan cheese. Repeat until all layers are used. Press down firmly so layers stick together. Sprinkle top sheet with mozerella. Place onions on top then place tomatoes on top. Season with oregano. Bake for 20-25 minutes until edges are golden, and the bottom is cooked. Decorate with fresh herbs and cut into squares (squares can be cut in half to make two bite trinagles) Notes: I slice the onions and then cut the circles in half to arrange on top. I also try and line the tomatoes up in a diagonal pattern, I don't place them randomly, and then when I cut it I cut the squares so each piece has 1 roma slice. I also don't measure anything anymore I just sprinkle the cheese. I use rosemary but I cut the leaves off the stems. I've often cooked it with the rosemary on it. I also line my baking sheet with parchment paper. ___________________________________________________________ Sausage Flowers Wonton cups are filled with a flavorful cheese and sausage mixture, then baked. Topped with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of green onions, these lovely appetizers will be the first to disappear! Impressive, yet easy to make! Prep Time: approx. 25 Minutes. Cook Time: approx. 10 Minutes. Ready in: approx. 35 Minutes. Makes 24 canapes (24 servings). Printed from Allrecipes, Submitted by Teresa -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 pound ground Italian sausage 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese 1/2 cup shredded Colby cheese 1 cup salsa 24 (3.5 inch square) wonton wrappers 3/4 (16 ounce) container sour cream 1 bunch green onions, chopped 1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a miniature muffin pan. 2 Place ground Italian sausage in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain and remove from heat. 3 Stir Monterey Jack cheese and Colby cheese into the warm sausage to melt. Stir in salsa. 4 Gently press wonton wrappers into the prepared miniature muffin pan so that the edges are extending. Place a heaping tablespoon of the sausage mixture into each wonton wrapper. 5 Bake 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until wonton edges begin to brown. 6 Transfer baked filled wontons to a serving platter. Dollop each with approximately 1 tablespoon sour cream. Sprinkle with green onions. __________________________________________________________ PESTO CHEESECAKE CRUST 1 cup breadcrumbs 1/2 cup grated parmesean cheese 1/2 cup melted butter Mix all together and press into 9" springform pan. Bake 10 minutes. FILLING 4 (8 oz packages) cream cheese 4 eggs 1/2 cup heavy cream 2 cups pesto (from the refrigerator section of your grocer) Beat with electric mixer. Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350* for 1 hour. Chill several hours or overnight. Remove from pan and decorate with a little chopped tomato or chopped sundried tomatoes. Slice into very thin slices and serve on small individual plates - or Cut into thirds and place 1/3 on serving plate and use to spread on crackers or baguettes. Be sure to decorate with a little chopped "red" tomato accent and maybe some green basil too. Looks beautiful! (If you cut into thirds, you can serve 1/3 and freeze the remaining for another time.) Posted by: KatieC (My Page) on Mon, Dec 9, 02 at 17:24

If you are serving an Asian main course then maybe one of these two recipes will work for you. Won ton Soup could be good choice too but making your own won tons may be a bit more work than you were thinking. Chinese Spring Rolls - Rachel Ray Via Woodie 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil 1/2 red bell pepper chopped fine 2 stalks celery from the heart chopped fine 6 water chestnuts chopped fine 1/2 small onion chopped fine 1/4 cup fresh bean sprouts a handful -- chopped 2 (6-ounce) cans lump crab meat drained 12 ounce Cooked chicken 2 tablespoon dark soy such as Tamari 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves eyeball it 4 (13 by 17-inch) sheets defrosted phyllo dough 3 tablespoon melted butter Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Add oil to a preheated skillet over medium to medium high heat. Saute pepper, celery, water chestnuts, onion 2 to 3 minutes. Veggies should still have a little crunch. Transfer to a bowl.Add bean spouts, crab, soy and thyme. Combine well with a spoon. Paint half of a sheet of phyllo dough with melted butter and fold sheet in half. Pile a few spoonfuls of filling 2 inches from the bottom of sheet and leaving 2 inches at either side of sheet. Fold bottom flap up and side edges in, then roll up and over until you reach the top of the sheet. Your pastry will look like a spring roll. Touch the edges and sides of your roll with melted butter and place roll seam side down on a pastry sheet. Repeat with the remaining sheets of phyllo dough. Bake in the center of the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly golden all over. Chinese Potsticker Dumplings NOTE: This reads harder than it is! Make these in advance and freeze . Cook starting at step 3 from frozen. These are so delicious! 2 garlic cloves 2 green onion a small piece of ginger (about 1 1/2" long) 1 pound lean ground pork, chicken, or turkey 1/3 of a head of small Napa cabbage 2T soy sauce 2 T sesame oil salt about 40 round dumpling wrappers(aka gyoza wrappers or dumpling skins) 3T vegetable oil, divided use Garlic: Peel. Crush through garlic press into a large bowl Green onions: Cut off and discard the root ends. Peel off and discard any withered outer layers. Cut crosswise into 1/4" pieces. Add to the bowl with the garlic. Ginger: Grate the cut side of the ginger through the finest holes of a grater until you have a generous teaspoon. Add the grated ginger to the bowl. Cabbage: Remove and discard any wilted outer leaves. Slice crosswise very thinly. You should have 3 cups. 1. Make filling: To the bowl containing the above, add the meat, cabbage, soy sauce, sesame oil and 1 1/2 t of salt. Mix well. 2. Form Dumplings: Set out a try or a couple of large plates for finished dumplings. Set out a cup of water. Set out dumpling wrappers and cover with a damp towel to keep moist while forming dumplings. Remove one wrapper and lay it in the palm of one hand. Dip the index finger of the other hand in the cup of water. Use finger to moisten the wrapper edges evenly. With a small spoon, scoop 1 T of filling into the center of the wrapper. Fold up sides to meet edges, enclosing filling. Press the edges together to ensure a complete seal. Pleat sealed edges of dumping in 5 or 6 places to pull the dumpling into a crescent shape--pinch pleats firmly to seal. Set dumpling upright on a tray or plate (sealed edges pointing upward). Gently press each dumpling downward to flatten its bottom, making it stable. Cover with a damp towel. Continue making until all filling is used up. 3. Fry-steam and serve: Set a large (10") skillet (with a lid at hand) over medium heat. Measure 1 T of oil. When hot lay 1/3 of the dumpling (not packed tightly) in the pan. Fry until golden brown-about 3 minutes. Dribble in 1/2 c water into skillet around the edge (will splatter a little). Cover and cook until most of the liquid evaporates-about 6 minutes. Uncover and fry 2 to 3 minutes longer to evaporate all the water and crisp the bottoms again. Use a spatula or tongs to remove dumplings to a serving platter, laying them on their side, so you see the browned bottom. Keep dumplings warm in a 150F oven while cooking the test. Wipe out skillet and set back on heat. Add oil and continue as above. Makes about 40 dumplings, enough to serve 4-6 as a light meal or 8-10 as an appetizer Pot Sticker Dipping Sauce: 1/4 c soy 1 1/2 t sesame oil 1 T vinegar 1/2 t chile paste (available in Asian markets) Mix all together. You may like it better after adding a T or so of water, a t of sugar or a little grated ginger. Makes about 1/3 c sauce ~enough for about 4 people Won Ton Soup NOTE: Make the wontons in advance and freeze. There is no need to add the pork slices to the soup. This is a great starter to a Chinese meal. Won Tons 1 pound boneless pork, finely ground or 1/2 pound ground pork and 1/2 pound finely chopped raw shrimp 1/2 cup finely chopped water chestnuts 2 whole green onions, finely chopped 1 TBSP soy sauce (low sodium) 1/2 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper 1/2 tsp minced fresh ginger 2 tsp dry sherry 1 egg 1 package won ton wrappers Combine all but the egg an wrappers until well mixed. Beat the egg in a bowl. Place a wrapper on the counter with a point facing you(cover the rest). Mound 1 tsp of the filling in the corner facing you. Fold that corner over filling and roll up to just below the two side corners. Moisten the two side corners with egg. Bring side corners together below filling, overlapping slightly and pinch to seal. Place on a baking sheet and cover while you do the remaining skins. AT this point you can use, refrigerate for 8 hours or freeze. For the soup. Won Ton Soup For each serving: 1 cup chicken broth 1 green onion sliced on the angle 1/4 cup coarsely chopped Napa cabbage or bok choy 4-6 won tons Heat the broth in a large pan. When simmering add green onion and cabbage and cook 3 minutes (don't boil) Meanwhile drop won tons into large bowl of boiling water. Allow to float to the surface and then boil for 4-6 minutes until meat is cooked through. Remove with a slotted spoon and drop into hot broth. OPTIONAL: Garnish each bowl with 1 or 2 BBQ pork slices and season with a few drops of soy sauce or sesame oil.

Here's a recipe I just came across at Food Network Canada site. I don't eat salmon (can't stand the smell!) but it sounds like it would be good and thought I'd share. Salmon Potato Cakes with Dipping Sauces Yield: 4 Salmon Potato Cakes 1 cup new mini potatoes, cooked (250ml) 1 can - 7.5 oz. Wild Sockeye salmon, drained, flaked, liquid reserved (418g) 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 clove small garlic, chopped 1 tsp grated lemon zest (5ml) 1 tsp lemon juice (5ml) 1/4 tsp salt (1ml) 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper (5ml) 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 pinch of paprika 1 tbsp chopped cilantro (15ml) 1 tbsp chopped parsley (15ml) 1/2 cup cracker crumbs (125ml) 3/4 cup Panko or fresh breadcrumbs (375ml) 3 tbsp butter (30ml) 3 tbsp canola or vegetable oil (30ml) Chipolte Dipping Sauce 1/2 cup sour cream (125ml) 2 tbsp regular or light mayonnaise (30ml) 1/2 tsp minced, canned chipolte (2ml) 1/4 tsp adobo sauce (1ml) 1 tsp lime juice 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper (1ml) Dilly Dipping Sauce 1/2 cup sour cream (125ml) 2 tbsp mayonnaise (30ml) 2 tbsp dill pickle relish (30ml) 1 tsp lemon juice (5ml) 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper (1ml) Salmon Potato Cakes Remove skin from salmon. Mash bones and salmon. Combine salmon, egg, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and paprika. Kids Variation: Divide 1 cup of mixture.Form four 2-inch patties and coat with reserved cracker crumbs.Set aside. Adults Variation: Divide 2 cups of salmon mixture and add cilantro and parsley. Form four 3  inch patties and coat with Panko or fresh breadcrumbs.Set aside. Heat butter and oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Place all patties in the pan. Cook for 2  3 minutes per side, until golden brown and heated through. TIP: Instead of frying patties you can bake them in an oven. Just place patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spray each patty on both sides with cooking spray. Bake in 350F/180C oven for 10 minutes. Turn each patty and continue to bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve with Chipolte or Dilly dipping sauce. Chipolte Dipping Sauce Mix sour cream, mayonnaise, chipolte, adobo sauce, lime zest, lime juice and pepper together until smooth. Dilly Dipping Sauce Mix sour cream, mayonnaise, relish, lemon juice and pepper together until smooth.