Ingredients

1/2 large carrot
1-2 medium onions
1 lb mince
1 tin tomatoes
1/2 tin tomato puree
6 slices pepperoni
4 slices salami
2 parts marjoram
1 part rosemary
3 parts basil
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon parmesan (or to taste)
2 cloves of garlic

a little smoked ham,
peppers, mushrooms and pickled onions to taste
splash of red wine.

Directions

Chop and fry onions, mince and garlic. Add everything else except the peppers and wine when the mince is browned. Keep adding the herbs until the mixture just begins to taste herby. Add peppers about 5 minutes before serving, and wine at the last minute, Serve with any pasta.

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
3/4 cup water

Confectioners’ sugar
Rose or violet petals

Directions

Select choice blossoms and petals; wash gently, then spread on flat plates to dry. Combine sugar and water; boil until spins a thread when dropped into ice water (230 to 234 degrees F on a candy thermometer). Pour syrup into a bowl and place bowl on a bed of cracked ice. When syrup begins to crystallize, hold blossoms with tweezers and dip one at a time into syrup. Place petals on waxed paper to dry. As they harden, dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Makes 3 to 4 servings

Ingredients

2/3 cup uncooked oatmeal
1/3 cup slivered almonds
1 1/4 cups heavy or whipping cream
5 tablespoons honey (or to taste)
4 tablespoons Irish whiskey
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions

On a baking sheet, toast the oatmeal and almonds at 300 degrees for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Whip the cream, but not too stiff. Stir honey and whiskey into whipped cream. Fold in almonds and oatmeal. Stir in lemon juice. Divide into individual long-stemmed glasses. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

2 pounds pork tenderloin, or 6 to 8 boneless lean pork chops
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons hard cider (apple wine) or water

stuffing (see below)
salt and pepper

Directions

Make stuffing. Rub meat with salt, pepper and butter. Pour cider or water into 3 -quart casserole dish. Place meat along edges of dish. Cover loosely with foil and bake 1 hour at 350 degrees (F).

Makes 6 servings.

STUFFING

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups potatoes, coarsely mashed
1/4 cup butter
1 onion
2 large cooking apples, chopped
1 handful chopped fresh sage and thyme

Salt and pepper

Directions

To potatoes, add butter, onion, apples, herbs, salt and pepper. Mix well.

Ingredients

2 pounds stew meat, lamb or beef
1/2 cup flour
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 onions
2 carrots, chopped in large pieces
4 potatoes, chopped
2 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 large bunch fresh mixed herbs, tied with a string
2 1/2 cups beef broth

Dumplings (see below)
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Coat meat in flour, then brown in oil in a skillet. Add onions and saute. Place browned meat, onions and vegetables in large cooking pot. Add garlic powder. Place herbs in middle of mixture. Cover with broth, cook 2 hours over low heat. While stew is cooking, make dumplings. During last 20 minutes of cooking, add dumplings. Salt and pepper to taste.

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Dumplings

6 cups self-rising flour
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
1 tablespoon mixed herbs
1/4 cup solid shortening
1 egg, beaten

Broth or water
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix dry ingredients, then add shortening and egg, mixing thoroughly. Divide mixture into small pieces, roll into even rounds between floured hands. Cook in boiling water or broth for 15 minutes. Add to stew 20 minutes before stew is done.

Ingredients

1 pound sliced bacon
2 pounds pure pork sausage links, bacon fat or vegetable oil
2 large onions, sliced
2 cloves of garlic
4 large potatoes, thickly sliced
2 carrots, thickly sliced
1 large bunch of fresh herbs, tied with string
black pepper
hard cider (apple wine) or apple cider
fresh parsley, chopped for garnish

Makes 6 servings

Directions

Lightly fry bacon until crisp. Place in large cooking pot. Brown sausage in some bacon grease or vegetable oil. Remove and add to pot. Soften sliced onions and whole garlic cloves in fat, then add to pot with potatoes and carrots. Bury the bunch of herbs in the middle of the mixture. Sprinkle with pepper. Cover with cider. Cook 1 1/2 hours over moderate heat; do not boil. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Ingredients

8 ounces regular oatmeal (not instant)
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 to 1 cup flour
2 tablespoons melted butter

Directions

In a cool place, soak oatmeal overnight in buttermilk, making sure milk covers oats. Next day, add baking powder, salt and some of the flour. Mix well with wooden spoon or fork, continually adding flour until dough is sticky. Place dough on greased baking sheet or in round bread pan, forming a round loaf; brush with melted butter. Bake 30 minutes at 325 to 350 degrees. When toothpick put into center comes out clean, it’s ready. If needed, bake 10 minutes longer, or till pick comes out clean.

Makes 1 loaf.

Ingredients

2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 cup white flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder (or baking soda)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Directions

Place all dry ingredients into mixing bowl; mix well. Pour buttermilk slowly while mixing to a soft dough. Mix well, but do not knead. Form into a round and place on a greased baking sheet or in a round loaf pan. Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Makes 1 loaf