if you're in a rural area, chopped pine needles (balsam pine is best) make a nice sachet all by themselves. orange peel can be dried (it can be diced, sliced and dried around toothpicks to make spirals or corkscrews, or left natural) Lemon and lime also works this way lavander is a classic and always sells well, in blends or by itself... you'll nice I have a thang for single-note or very simple scents...but I'd rather be able to market something as 'natural', and I'd rather put two sachets in a drawer than have one muddy scented bag of stuff. whole cloves show up in the dollar store, or in BIG containers at some food store- and they're totally useful for everything, and have a rich 'harvest' smell. cedar shavings aren't pretty, but you can put them in a muslim bag, and dress it up, and they're great for the sweater drawers. they come in big bags from the pet stores.

Makes a great buffet dish! Serves 6 1/4 cup olive oil 3/4 cup finely chopped sweet onions 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon white pepper 1 cup beef broth 1 cup water 1 tablespoon chopped pimento Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and the sugar. Cook, stirring, until the onions are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the rice, salt and white pepper, and cook the mixture, stirring, until the rice begins to brown a little. Add the broth and water, and boil the mixture, uncovered, over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender. Add the pimentos, fluff the rice, and let stand for a few minutes before serving.

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.

All of these are tried and family approved :-) The banana cake doesn't start with a mix, but I'm sending it anyway since you say he loves bananas. Becky * Exported from MasterCook * Death By Chocolate Recipe By :Tamara Chatham Serving Size : 12 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 1 box chocolate cake mix 1 small package instant chocolate pudding mix 12 ounces chocolate chips 4 eggs 1 cup sour cream 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup oil Mix all ingredients, except chocolate chips. Dust chocolate chips with flour. Remove excess flour, and fold into cake mixture. Bake in greased and floured bundt cake pan at temperature indicated on cake mix box. Dust with powdered sugar. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NOTES : Tamara likes to refrigerate the cake before serving, as the texture becomes denser and the cholcolate chips harden. * Exported from MasterCook * Italian Love Cake Recipe By : Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 1 box fudge marble cake mix (or chocolate) 2 pounds ricotta cheese 1 cup sugar 4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 box instant chocolate pudding -- (3 3/4 oz.) 1 cup milk 8 ounces non-dairy whipped topping -- thawed Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cake as directed on box and pour into greased and floured 9 x 13 pan. In separate bowl, combine ricotta, sugar, eggs, and vanilla; mix well. Spoon over unbaked cake. Bake cake for 1 hour. Cool. Mix instant pudding with milk; fold in whipped topping. Spread over cake; refrigerate. Yield: 12 servings. Source: "http://busycooks.about.com" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * Exported from MasterCook * Chocolate Thunder Cake Recipe By : Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 1 box German chocolate cake mix 1 can sweetened condensed milk -- (14 ounce) 1 jar fudge ice cream topping -- (8 ounce) 1 container frozen whipped topping -- (16 ounce) thawed 2 8 ounce Heath candy bars -- crushed Bake cake in a 9-by-13-ounce pan as directed on package. Let cool 25 to 30 minutes. Poke holes in cake with wooden spoon handle. Pour on sweetened condensed milk; spread evenly. Wait 5 minutes. Spread fudge topping over cake. Wait 5 minutes. Spread whipped topping over cake and sprinkle with crushed candy bars. Chill thoroughly before serving. Makes 16 servings. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * Exported from MasterCook * Banana Cake Recipe By : Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 3/4 cup butter 2 1/8 cups white sugar 3 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups buttermilk 2 teaspoons lemon juice 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas Frosting: 1/2 cup butter -- softened 1 package cream cheese (8 ounces) -- softened 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar (1 lb box) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. In a small bowl, mix mashed bananas with lemon juice, set aside. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. 2. In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 1/8 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Stir in banana mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan. 3. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place directly into freezer for 45 minutes. This will make the cake very moist. 4. For the frosting: In a large bowl, cream 1/2 cup butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add confectioners sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high until frosting is smooth. Spread on cooled cake. Source: "www.allrecipes.com" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NOTES : I had to cook this for more than hour to get it cooked through, but it was very moist. Toasted chopped walnuts on top would be a nice addition. Use a metal pan (not glass) to bake it in if you're going to put it in the freezer! * Exported from MasterCook * Grandma's Rum Cake Recipe By :Teri Morrison Serving Size : 1 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 1 package Duncan Hines yellow cake mix 1 package vanilla instant pudding (4 serving size) 1/3 cup oil 1 cup water 4 eggs 3/4 chopped pecans Glaze: 1/2 cup butter 1/4 cup water 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup Bacardi Rum (80 proof) Mix together cake mix, pudding, oil, water and eggs in large bowl until well blended. Spread evenly chopped nuts on the bottom of greased Bundt pan. Pour prepared cake mix into pan and bake as directed on cake mix box in a 350* oven. Cake is done when toothpick inserted in center of cake comes clean. While cake is cooling. Melt butter in saucepan, stir in water and sugar. Boil for 5 minutes while stirring constantly. Then stir in rum. After cake cools for 10 minutes pour glaze over cake letting it run down all the sides and center. Let it soak into the cake for a while. Let cake cool until you can handle cake pan to invert. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NOTES : I like to use Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum. This cake really tastes best after it's had a couple of days for the flavors to blend.