Some of Our Non-FF Favorites

APPETIZERS & BEVERAGES

• Forgettin' Frances. An original drink concocted from supplies on hand following two days of hunkering down from a hurricane. No ice required.
• Our Favorite Ceviche. The fish cooks in lime or lemon juice in this spicy, healthy classic.
• Smoked Salmon Cheesecake. A great make-ahead appetizer for parties.
• Simple Sensational Sausage Balls. A three-ingredient appetizer that people love.
• Iowa Blue Cheese Tart. Elegant yet fun appetizer, if you can imagine a blue cheese cheesecake.
• Rosemary-flavored Grilled Red Peppers Great as side dish. Serve as a snack with crackers and a fresh white cheese, such as queso blanco or fresh mozzarella.
• Authentic Tapenade Provencale. Two versions, the really good one from southern France, and my quicker, less fattening version.
• Roasted Pumpkin Seeds. Easy, fast, tasty substitute for nuts. Spice 'em up or just use salt.
• Ruth Marie's Black Bean Dip. Bacon makes this special.
• Guacamole with Broccoli. You'll hardly know the difference and it so good for you.

• Sopa Mexicano (Mexican Soup)
  We were reintroduced to this on a trip to Belize and Guatemala. Simple, but good! Similar to Sopa de Lima.
• "I Can't Believe It's Turkey" Antipasto Soup. They'll love this even if they're totally sick of the turkey.
• Fast, Hearty Vegetable Beef Soup. Really satisfying for so little work.

• Gourgere with Mushrooms and Ham
  A wonderful brunch or supper dish to share with special friends, esp. those who'll help you put it together.
• Basil-stuffed Steak. From Home& Family TV show. Needs lots of fresh basil.
• Ethiopian Chicken. A make-ahead recipe for spicy chicken.
• Jailhouse Chili. This took first prize in the St. Lucie County, FL, Chili Cook-off sometime in the 1980s. I was part of the Port St. Lucie News team that created it.
• Shrimp and Corn Pudding. Fresh corn makes this a sweet treat as a main dish.
• Simple Simon Chicken. One of the first -- and still one of the best -- recipes for oven-fried chicken.
• Lemon Corn Pasta Toss Amazingly easy recipe from Del Monte, that's quick, virtually no-fat and absolutely delicious. A real surprise!
• Fiesta Corn and Pasta Skillet  Another winner from Del Monte, with ground beef. Really satisfying and quick to make.
• Sea Bass in Moho Sauce. A real treat of a solid white fish in a lime and garlic sauce ... mmmmm!

• Onion and Olive Pizza. This traditional Mediterranean no-tomato pizza makes a great supper with maybe some vegetable sticks on the side.
• Tomato Tarte from Ruth Marie. All you need is a nice green salad with this for a lovely supper.
• Classic Cheese Souffle. This is almost fool-proof ... as long as you follow the instructions.
• Curried Lentils. An easy version of a classic.
• Barley Stew with Lentils. A really satisfying main dish from one of my favorite cookbooks, The Good Book Cookbook, historically correct recipes from biblical times. Some real "whole food" here.
• Peppered Lentils. Yes, more lentils. This is quick to prepare, tastes fantastic. The flavor comes from sesame oil.
• Herb-roasted Sweet Potatoes. Sort of "invented" this ... really tasty and really good. Other herbs should work as well.
• Cassie's Soubise. Lots of onions combine with a little bit of rice and cheese for rich full-flavored creamed dish that is ever-so-elegant.
• Sunday Dinner Green Beans. A "canned soup" classic for those nostalgic meals.

• Classic Caesar Salad A couple years after discovering this recipe, we ordered Caesar Salad, with all the flourish, made at one of Toronto's better restaurants. Mary was flattered -- but the waiter wasn't -- when Jack said, "It's just like home."
• Mary's Mayo without Guilt. Uses low or no fat sour-cream and yogurt. Great with tuna salad.
• Lin's Spicy Cilantro Sauce. This is courtesy of a wonderful Chinese woman who was on one of our nature trips. It can be used for many things. I used it to stir fry some chicken and vegetables, adding some additional at the last minute, and serving over rice.
• Mary's Warm Spinach Salad with Apple & Thyme-scented Caramelized Onions. Tangy and refreshing, tart but with a hint of sweetness.

• Dutch-style Pancakes. We fell in love with these on a trip to the Netherlands and now have them often for brunch or supper.
• Grandma's Baking Powder Biscuits. A real old-fashioned, but easy recipe.
• Lazy Day Biscuits. There is no simpler way to bake than this.
• St. Augustine Bread. A no-knead crusty loaf, a la Cuban style, from the kitchens of the oldest European city in the U.S., St. Augustine, Florida.
• Irish Soda Bread. From our Nova Scotia days, this makes a nice Sunday morning treat.
• Jack's and W.O. Mitchell's Western-style Pancakes The Canadian author W.O. Mitchell revealed this secret to fluffy pancakes while appearing on a cooking show in the 1970s. He learned it from Chinese cooks brought in by the railway to feed its workers.
• Gary Player's Whole Wheat Bread. This no-yeast bread is so simple and so good I have to share the link. It keeps well in a plastic bag. It's a dense, soft bread with a real nutty flavor. (I've used All-Bran rather than the "digestive bran."

• Ruth Marie's Spiced Pumpkin Flan A new twist on a classic dessert is the perfect end for an evening of sharing Costa Rican memories. Can be made with soy milk.
• Ruth Marie's Mocha Flan.  Her own innovation, also can be made with soy milk.
• Ruth Marie's Chocolate Zucchini Sheetcake. A great choice if you are to bring treats for a gang. Also stores well. Delicious and rich, no one will suspect the main ingredient.
•  Mary's Flashy Fresh Fruit Fondue Easy and healthy dessert.
• Vandy's Jell-O Plum Pudding. This light version bears little resemblance to the English classic, but is a nice substitute.
• Mary's Fresh Nectarine and Green Grape Pie.  This is the dessert I make most for guests.
• Hot Drunken Bananas. Don't say you haven't got any dessert in the house if you have bananas.
• Rich Peanut Butter Pie. If you like pecan pie, this is an easy, gooey substitute.
• Crazy Mixed-up Chocolate Cake. Here's another quick dessert when you don't think you have anything.
• Aunt Persis' Perfect Pound Cake. My aunt made the best pound cake I've ever tasted. Here is her recipe.
• Mary's Sponge Candy. This old-fashioned sweet is  fun to make. It puffs up and can be broken into melt-in-your-mouth pieces.

Last updated 02/25/2008 01:01 PM