Not sure if I have a favorite - probably New England Clam Chowder, but I never make that. Yesterday I made minestrone, and here is the recipe I used: Minestrone Soup Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup minced white onion (about 1/2 small onion) 1/3 cup minced celery (about 1 stalk) 2 chopped zucchinis, chopped 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2-3 cloves) 2 cups water or vegetable broth 2 tsp vegetable soup base (if broth is not used - dissolve in the 2 cups water) 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes (or whole tomatoes pur�ed in can) 1/4 cup carrots, shredded 2-4 tablespoons minced fresh parsley 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme 1 to 1 1/2 cups water or vegetable soup base 1 to 1-1/2 tsp vegetable soup base (dissolved in the water, if broth not used) 2/3 cup small shell pasta (orzo, or similar) 1-3/4 cups cooked red kidney beans, drained* 1-3/4 cups cooked small white beans or great northern beans, drained* 2 cups fresh baby spinach (optional) 2 tbsp tomato paste or 1 tbsp tomato powder salt, to taste, if soup base is not used Directions: Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot. Saut� onion and celery in the oil for 4-5 minutes or until onions begin to turn translucent. Add the zucchini and garlic and saute a couple of minutes more. Add vegetable broth to pot, plus tomatoes, carrot, and spices. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Add additional 1 cup hot water/vegetable broth (more, if needed), pasta, beans, spinach leaves (if desired), and tomato paste, and cook for an additional 20 minutes or until desired consistency. Less water will be needed if the spinach is used. Add salt to taste, if you are not using soup base. I use Better Than Bouillon brand vegetable soup base or one that I get from a restaurant supply store. Use more parsley if you are not adding spinach. *Note: I use 7/8 cup of each dried bean to yield the amount needed and cook the beans earlier in the day or the day before in plain water with a couple of bay leaves. I simmer them in the same pan. Alternatively, canned beans can be used (14 oz can each), drained and rinsed. Another favorite is Posole: Lars' Posole I recommend that you soak more hominy than you need, and you can freeze the leftover for later use. It is best to use hominy that is in pieces rather than whole kernals. Ingredients 3/4 cup dried white hominy corn (maiz trillado blanco) - about 2-1/2 to 3 cups when soaked - rinsed canned hominy can be substituted 2 tbsp canola oil 2 tbsp olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 6-7 cloves garlic, minced, or finely chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 green bell pepper (or 2 Anaheim chilies), chopped 4 serrano peppers, finely chopped, some seeds removed 1 tbsp cumin 2 tbsp chili powder (I use Ancho) 1 10 oz can of Rotel tomatoes (or tomatoes with chilies) 4-5 bouillon cubes (vegetable flavor) 2 cups water (or reserved liquid from soaking) Cilantro, for garnish Grated cheddar cheese (optional) Directions To quick soak the hominy, place it in a pan and cover with triple depth of water. Bring to a boil, cover, and remove from heat. Allow to soak for about 2-3 hours, and then drain the water. You may need to check periodically to make sure there is enough water covering the hominy. Save the soaking water if you want to use it as a thickener for this or another dish. While the hominy is soaking (or almost ready), you can begin the rest of the process, starting with chopping all the vegetables. The pieces should be fairly small, but not minced, except for the garlic and serrano peppers. Heat the oils in a large saucepan (Mine is 4" deep) and add the chopped onion, peppers, and garlic. Saute for a few minutes, or until the onion becomes a bit translucent - it does not need to cook thoroughly, and you do not want to make the vegetables too soft. Turn off the heat, and stir in the cumin and chili powder. Add the canned tomatoes, bouillon cubes, water, and drained hominy. Bring to a boil, and cook covered for about 20 minutes. Serve in individual soup bowls with chopped cilantro, stirred in at the last minute. You can also add grated cheese if desired. Some people add lime juice, but I prefer to leave it out. It is traditional to serve this with shredded cabbage and fresh lime juice, but I did not know this when I made up this recipe. Mine is vegetarian, but it is usually made with pork in Mexico. Lars

I don't use a recipe, but this one is very close to what I use and how I make them. I will indicate where I differ in parens..... Alexa Clams Casino 24 littleneck or cherrystone clams, cleaned and shucked, bottom shells reserved Rock salt 4-6 slices of bacon 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon butter 1 shallot, minced 1 garlic clove, minced Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste ý cup minced white onion þ cup minced green and red peppers ý teaspoon dried oregano (I dont care for oregano in this) ý cup dry white wine 1 tablespoon minced fresh herbs oregano and basil are nice (I use parsley) 1 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs) ü cup grated Parmesan cheese (I dont use parm either) Procedure In a large sauté pan, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove from pan, drain on paper towels and crumble; set aside. Wipe out the sauté pan, but donâÂÂt wash it. Heat the pan over medium-high heat for a minute or two, then add the olive oil and butter. Sauté the shallot, garlic, onion and peppers with the oregano and a pinch of salt and pepper until softened. Turn the heat to medium high and add the wine. Reduce the pan liquid until only about ü cup remains. Cool the vegetables completely. Stir in the panko, reserved bacon, fresh herbs and half the Parmesan cheese. Taste and correct seasonings. Shuck the clams, reserving the bottom shells. Arrange them on a bed of rock salt on a rimmed baking sheet. Divide the stuffing equally among the clams, mounding it up slightly. Sprinkle the rest of the Parmesan evenly over the stuffing Bake at 500ðF until the clams are cooked and the topping is deep golden brown, about 7-10 minutes. Serve immediately.

Maureen, here's a particular favorite of mine. I've made a few times now for our Christmas Eve dinner. This recipe works very well to do all the prep work ahead of time and just put it in the oven to bake. The recipe calls for wrapping 4 individual pieces of salmon in puff pastry, but for a larger group, I just wrap one larger salmon filet in the puff pastry, then bake it a bit longer. I've also made it with filo dough (layer with melted butter 3-4 sheets) instead of puff pastry and it is delicious. I think fresh parsley would work well in this dish instead of the dill and would compliment the eggplant, but too many additional flavors would not really help it IMHO. A Kulebiaka (or Coulibiac) Salmon in Pastry (this is from Bon Appetit) Salmon, Rice, Pastry 1/2 cup long-grain white rice 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter 1/2 cup minced leek (white and pale green parts only) 6 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, chopped 2 sheets frozen puff pastry (one 17 1/4-ounce package), thawed 4 6-ounce (4x2 1/2-inch) skinless salmon fillet 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water Dill Sauce 2/3 cup bottled clam juice 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 1/4 cups cre fraîche or whipping cream 3 tablespoons minced fresh dill Preparation for salmon, rice, pastry: Bring medium saucepan of salted water to boil. Add rice; boil uncovered until just tender, about 18 minutes. Drain. Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add leek; sauté until beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Add mushrooms. Cover skillet; cook until mushrooms release their juices, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Uncover skillet. Increase heat to medium-high; sauté until liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes. Transfer to bowl. Add rice. Season with salt and pepper. Cool completely. Butter large baking sheet. Roll out 1 pastry sheet on floured surface to 12-inch square. Cut into 4 equal squares. Divide rice mixture among centers of squares, mounding in oval shape with ends toward 2 corners of pastry. Set salmon atop rice. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bring pastry corners up around salmon (pastry will not enclose salmon completely.) Roll out remaining pastry sheet on floured surface to 13-inch square. Cut into 4 equal squares. Lay 1 square atop each salmon fillet, tucking corners under bottom pastry to enclose salmon completely. Pinch edges together to seal, brushing with egg mixture if necessary to adhere. Arrange salmon packages, seam side down, on prepared baking sheet. Cover and chill 30 minutes. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Keep chilled.) Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush top of pastry with egg mixture. Bake until golden and thermometer inserted into fish registers 145°F, about 30 minutes. For dill sauce: Combine clam juice and wine in heavy small nonaluminum saucepan. Boil until reduced to 1/3 cup, about 9 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Whisk in creème fraîche. Boil until reduced to 1 cup, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in dill. Season with salt and pepper. If crème fraîche is unavailable, heat 1 cup whipping cream to lukewarm (85°F). Remove from heat and mix in 2 tablespoons buttermilk. Cover and let stand in warm draft-free area until slightly thickened (24 to 48 hours, depending on temperature of room). Refrigerate until ready to use. Transfer salmon packages to plates. Spoon Dill Sauce around and serve.

I use matzah meal, I've never made them with flour. I use the food processor these days. I seem to lose too much of my knuckle when I grate them by hand. I make a ton and then freeze them and bake them, but their the best right from the frying pan! Potato Latkes 6 medium Idaho potatoes 2 medium yellow onions 2 large eggs 1/4 cup matzoh meal, or 3 tablespoons all-purpose, unbleached flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper Chicken fat, or vegetable oil, for frying Applesauce Sour cream Peel potatoes and place in cold water. Using a box grater, grate potatoes and onions into large bowl. Transfer potato-and-onion mixture to a colander set over a bowl, and squeeze out excess moisture. Return mixture to bowl. In separate bowl, combine eggs, matzo meal or flour, and salt and pepper, to taste. Combine all ingredients, adding more matzo meal if mixture is too wet. In large skillet, heat 1/2-inch oil (or chicken fat) over medium-high heat. Drop tablespoon or serving spoon-size portions of mixture into hot oil, and press down with spoon to flatten. Fry until brown and crispy on edges; turn until golden brown on each side, cooking 3 minutes per side. Remove to paper towels to drain. Serve with applesauce or sour cream.