KRAUTSUPPE (CABBAGE SOUP) Page 16

4 slices of thick bacon, diced
2 c. water
2 onions, diced
6 sprigs of parsley
2 potatoes, cubed
1 Bay leaf, tied together with parsley with string
2 carrots, diced
1 turnip, diced
1 head of cabbage, green , shredded
salt and pepper to taste
4 c. chicken stock
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
In a 6 qt. pot, lightly brown the bacon and onion to soft over low heat. Combine all
ingredients in pot, except salt, pepper and cheese. Simmer 2 hours. Discard parsley
bundle. Season to taste. Pour into soup bowls and garnish with Parmesan.

We would have a get together with my brother's family and do a 5 course meal from a different country. This was from our German exploration. My kids have since renamed this (forgive me) poop soup....hey, it's a house full of boys! It really is a great root soup recipe. It freezes great. The Parmesan is the key to the great taste.

NANCY'S AWESOME COBB SALAD (Page 17)

Nancy Valmassoi is one of my favorite people and she made this for me and I loved it. And I love her and my life is better for knowing both!

NANCY'S AWESOME COBB
SALAD
Step 1:
1 bag of wagon wheel pasta, cooked
2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
2 ripe tomatoes, cubed
1 lb. bacon, fried and crumbled (You could use less here, but why?)
2 cups fresh spinach (counteracts the bacon, really....)
1 (4-oz.) crumbled blue cheese
1 c. pitted black olives
Step 2:
1 tsp. honey or sugar
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 c. red wine vinegar
1 c. olive oil
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced fine
Mix the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl. In a smaller separate bowl, whisk the mustard, vinegar, olive oil,black pepper, honey and garlic. Pour over the salad and toss. I would love to put how many this serves, but it's so good that, when I make it.....it serves very few! I love this dish!
Note: Just go ahead and double it. You will not be able to stop eating it.

Blue Cheese Coleslaw (Page 24)

Pulled pork sandwich and blue cheese coleslaw- yum. Must be 4th of July weekend! Even people who say "I don't like blue cheese" come back and say "I was wrong. I guess I do like blue cheese" It's just that good!

BLUE CHEESE COLESLAW
2 lbs. Napa cabbage, shredded
(8-oz.) blue cheese, crumbled
1/4 c. green onions, chopped
In a separate bowl whisk:
3/4 c. vegetable oil
1/3 c. cider vinegar
2 T. sugar
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp. celery seeds
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. white pepper -black is just fine, really!

In a large salad bowl mix cabbage, blue cheese, and scallions. Set aside or keep
refrigerated up to 24 hours before serving. Just before serving whisk together the oil,vinegar, sugar, celery seed, garlic, salt, pepper, and mustard. Pour over slaw and mix.
(Slaw wilts right away so make sure you are ready to serve.)

BEEF AND BEAN CHILI (Page 33)

2 T. olive oil
1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce
2 large onions, diced
1 28 oz. can chopped tomatoes
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced
2 T. tomato paste
1 T. garlic, minced
4 c. chicken broth
1 1/2 lb. good stew meat (or hamburger)
1 (15-oz.) can of black beans,drained and rinsed
1/4 c. chili powder
1 T. cumin
1 (15-oz.) can of kidney beans,drained and rinsed
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
3 bay leaves
1 tsp. chipotle adobo chili, minced


Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook,
stirring occasionally, until softened and light brown. Add the bell pepper and cook 5
minutes longer. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Increase the heat to medium high;
add the beef and cook until browned. Drain off excess fat. Stir in the chili powder and cumin.Cook 1 minute. Stir in the remaining ingredients and bring to a low boil.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer 45 minutes to 1 hour so flavors meld and the
liquid reduces and thickens. Serve warm.
Note: I only use 1 tsp of chopped chili. I buy a can of chilies in Adobo sauce (Mexican aisle).I freeze them in individual bags, in a larger freezer bag. They thaw a tad soggy, but who cares,it's chili.
I will freeze half of this for another dinner (I usually will use up within 3 months)

Tropical Cake

Yesterday I made this: http://www.duncanhines.com/recipes/cakes/leahny/tropical-cake
and I didn't like it. I think maybe with a plain yellow cake. The topping was very good, cake was almost "perfume-like" with pineapple smell. I also thought the box was deceiving as I thought it was a complete pineapple upside down cake in a box...(yeah I know for $1!? I was stupid) Learn from my ways!

Ingredients Baking Instructions

* 1 pkg. Duncan Hines Pineapple Supreme cake mix
* 2 ripe bananas
* 1/3 cup soft butter or margarine
* 1 cup packed brown sugar
* 1 cup flaked coconut
* 2 tbsp. milk

1. Mix and bake cake according to package directions in a 13x9-inch pan.
2. Cool cake in pan.
3. Slice each banana lengthwise to 4 thin slices. Arrange slices on cake.
4. In small bowl combine butter, brown sugar, coconut and milk Spread on cake and cover bananas completely.
5. Place cake under broiler and broil 2 to 3 minutes till bubbly.

Interesting fact

The Chinese used black pepper to cure cholera, Europeans used it as currency, and Attila the Hun demanded 3,000 pounds of the stuff in exchange for discontinuing his sacking of Rome.