Aliceg8 - Marie Callendar's is pretty good. I grew up on Swanson Pot Pies (with enough pepper it wasn't too bad) Here's the recipe as I copied it down (can't remember from where - guess I need more fruits, veggies & fish in my diet right Digit?). I usually just use this as a guide and put however many veggies I feel like (usually more taters & carrots) I'll note changes in parenthesis Chicken & Dumplings 2-1/2 to 3 lbs chicken thighs (can also use a whole chicken) 5 c water 4 red potatoes cut in sixths (I like yellow taters since they're not as waxy but still hold together) 3 carrots, cut in sixths (can use baby carrots) 2 celery stalks, cut in sixths 1 onion, cut in eighths 10 oz frozen peas (or fresh added right before adding dumplings) S&P to taste (I add garlic powder, a couple of bay leaves, fresh or dried rosemary, sage, lemon thyme (or poultry seasoning) to taste since I think it's a little bland with just salt and pepper) In a large stockpot cover chicken with 5 c of water, (I add seasonings at this point); cover and boil on medium heat until tender, about 50-60 mins. Skim fat (optional (-:). Remove chicken, let sit until cool enough to handle. Remove skin and shred chicken. Return to broth. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and cook 20 mins. (*note - fresh herbs can be finely chopped, or left whole and removed before adding dumplings) Dumplings 1-1/2 c flour 2 tsp baking powder 3/4 tsp salt 3 Tbsp butter (I use margarine) 3/4 c milk 1/4 fresh parsley (optional) Sift flour, baking powder & salt, cut in butter/margarine. Stir in milk and parsley. Drop into hot stew. Cook uncovered 10 mins, then cover and cook 8-10 mins until dumplings are done. Hope you like it. Even with 5 of us, there is enough for leftovers, just add more water to thin the broth some, heat to a boil and make more dumplings.

Here are a few of my favourite appetizers: These little cocktail toasts with goat cheese and toasted walnuts are easy and very tasty. Just put a dollop of warm goat cheese on a cocktail toast, top with a toasted walnut and drizzle with olive oil. This tuna pate is addictive. Tuna Pate ========= Although this is a very easy appetizer that can be made earlier in the day, it is also a very rich because of all of the butter. One of my favourites. 2 (6 ounces) cans white tuna drained 1 cup butter 2 Tablespoons chopped roasted red pepper (Homemade or bottled pimentos) 1 to 2 teaspoons capers fresh lemon juice 2 to 3 drops tabasco salt and pepper Puree tuna and butter in processor Add chopped red pepper, capers, lemon juice, salt, pepper and tabasco. Process on pulse until the capers and red peppers are finely minced. Taste and adjust seasoning. Pack into decorate serving bowl and cover and refrigerate. When ready to serve remove a bit early from fridge so that the pate has a change to soften just slightly. Serve with toasted pita triangles Cut Plain or whole wheat pitas into triangles. Separate each triangle and place on cookie sheet. Brush with melted butter or margarine. Bake at 350�F until crisp and golden. Be careful not to burn. Remove and let cool. Serve triangles surrounding tuna pate OR a big batch of these Firecracker Shrimps? Firecracker Shrimp ================== Source: Week of Menus Blog 2 lbs of jumbo shrimp, legs removed, de-veined and butterflied (see step by step photos below) 1/4 cup of butter, softened (softer the better) 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 1/4 cup chopped red pepper (red bell pepper is fine, but if you like SPICE, use a red chili pepper) 3 tablespoons of finely chopped garlic 1 tablespoon lime juice Sea salt and cayenne pepper(optional) for sprinkling Arrange oven rack so that it is closest to the heating element. Preheat oven to broil. Line sheet pan with foil. Place prepared shrimp evenly so that there is only a single layer and every shrimp will get maximum heat.

Casey I passed this link onto an AOL board and the gals were thrilled thank you from all of them !!

caavonldy- That's a great plan... It took me 18-months to get a full year of food in storage on a $200/month food budget, plus I have 3-years worth of the "Seven Survival Foods". Now my food budget is $125/month, so that's one of the benefits from having home food storage (this amount is for two adults). I talked with my best friend about this very subject just last night because she's diabetic and very carb sensitive and can't eat soy either. These are sources of protein I have in storage. You probably already have many of them. 1. Protein powders, especially whey protein. Whey has the highest BV (Biological Value) and you will assimilate more protein from whey than any other source of protein. The next highest are eggs, then beef, chicken, fish and legumes - on down the scale. 2. Powdered whole eggs. I get mine from Honeyville Grain in #10 cans. When powdered eggs are less expensive per egg than shell eggs I use powdered eggs. About the only shell eggs I use these days are when the store sends me a coupon for a dozen eggs - free. There are approximately 80-90 eggs per #10 can. I love powdered eggs when I want to make 6-muffins and I need 1/2 an egg. Many foods we make don't need a whole egg, so using 1/2 an egg in pancakes, for instance, it also saves some money. 3. If you have a pressure canner you can home-can all kinds of meat. (see link below) 4. Canned meat from the store. When I was a child back in the mid-50's we had a refrigerator that had a freezer about 12-inches square, and for a family of 6 who only got groceries once-a-month, there wasn't enough room for much meat in it, so mom served all kinds of canned salmon, tuna, Chicken A la King, Spam, Ham Spread, Chunk Ham, Roast Beef, Chicken, Dried Beef for you-know-what on a shingle....;-) I remember whole stewed chickens coming in cans and made wonderful chicken noodle soup. Now I make White Chili with a 10-oz. can of chicken, can of white beans (or home-cooked beans), cup of water and some McCormick White Chicken Chili Seasoning Mix - all are pantry foods. I have many of those same foods in storage and most of them have very long storage times. When you start looking at the store you'll find a good assortment of meat in cans. I even have Yoder Bacon in cans. 5. Most expensive... Freeze-dried meats which reconstitute in a few minutes in hot water. I have freeze-dried ground beef, sausage crumbles, white turkey, chicken, beef roast, and diced ham (I've also noticed freeze-dried shrimp and pork chops recently...). Check Mountain House, Emergency Essentials, Honeyville Grain, Nitro-Pak, Augason Farms. There is freeze-dried cheese and cheese powder in storage. Shredded Colby or Mozzarella will rehydrate in a few minutes in warm water and will feel, taste, and melt just like freshly-grated cheese. 6. I also keep Vital Wheat Gluten in #10 cans in storage to use as a meat extender or meat substitute and make "wheat meat" (aka fake meat, seitan or gluten) with it. There is nearly as much protein in ground "wheat meat" as there is in ground beef. I mix it 50/50 with any kind of ground meat I'm using to get more protein for my money - I also cut fat and cholesterol. I can make this from whole wheat flour, but it's easier to make it from Vital Wheat Gluten. Ground gluten can also be used as a high-protein granola-like "cereal". For more information: "The Amazing Wheat Book" by LeArta Moulton or http://www.livingwithbasics.com/documents/awb-recipes/pdf/wheatgluten.pdf 7. Lesser amounts of protein from powdered milk, peanut butter, beans/seeds/grains/nuts. The bulk of the milk in storage is a whey-based milk substitute - Morning Moo's - www.augasonfarms.com. And I also use another non-fat dry milk product - Country Cream - http://www.grandmascountryfoods.com/ Morning Moo's is less expensive and makes 22-quarts per #10 can while Country Cream makes 20-quarts. Both of these milk products come in bulk amounts for a real savings on milk if you are going to use it on a regular basis, or for storage - #10 cans. Both taste as good as regular store bought milk. We only use powdered milk. Good luck. -Grainlady Here is a link that might be useful: National Center for Home Food Preservation