Recipe: 7 layer dip serves 12 2 cans of bean dip (10 1/2 ounce cans)3 avocados 2 tablespoons of lime or lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon of salt 1/8 teaspoon of pepper 1 cup of sour cream 1/2 cup of mayonnaise 1 packet/envelope of taco seasoning mix 1 cup of green onions - chopped2 1/3 ounces of canned sliced black olives 2 medium tomatoes 8 ounces of cheddar cheese 1 package of tortilla chips Layer in a 9x13x2 inch serving dish:Layer One: Spread in dish the 2 cans of bean dip Layer Two:Peel, core and mash 3 avocados.Add 2 tablespoons of lime or lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt & 1/8 teaspoon pepper.Mix together and spread over the beans. Layer 3:Mix together 1 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1 packet of taco seasoning mixSpread the sour cream mixture over the avocados. Layer 4:Sprinkle over the sour cream mixture 1 Cup chopped green onion Layer 5:Drain and sprinkle over the onions a 2-1/4 ounce can of sliced black olives Layer 6:Seed, and dice and sprinkle over the olives 2 Medium tomatoes Layer 7:Grate and sprinkle over the tomatoes 8 ounces of cheddar cheese Serve with lots of Tortilla Chips!

Recipe: Vegetable and chef salad serves 4 1 head of lettuce 1 cucumber 2 carrots 2 stalks of celery 2 green onions 1 red bell pepper 2 medium tomatoes 1/2 cup of salad dressing Wash and dry lettuce. Chop or tear into bite size pieces and add to salad bowl.Wash, peel, slice cucumber.Wash, peel, then slice or grate carrots.Wash and slice celery.Wash, slice green onion.Wash red pepper, cut in half, remove seeds and stem, cut into strips.Wash tomatoes, slice into wedges or if using cherry tomatoes, cut in half.Arrange vegetables in salad bowl. Pour dressing on top. Using two large spoons toss salad so the dressing gets evenly distributed.A Chef Salad would also include any/all of the following: Cheese, ham, turkey, chicken, hard-cooked eggs, and beans.

Recipe: Potato Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette serves 6 2 pounds of new potatoes 3 teaspoons of salt - divided1 clove of garlic - crushed 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper 2 teaspoons of grainy mustard 1 lemon zest 1/4 cup of lemon juice 1/4 cup of olive oil 1/3 cup of green onions - chopped Place the small, new potatoes, whole, in a saucepan with enough boiling water just to cover them. Add 2 teaspoons of the salt, bring to a boil and then simmer them for about 12- 15 minutes or until tender.Meanwhile make the vinaigrette. Crush the garlic and add the remaining teaspoon of the salt, and the black pepper. With the back of a spoon, mash the salt and garlic together. Remove the zest from one lemon and add it to the bowl. Gradually whisk in the fresh lemon juice and olive oil. Set aside.Chop the green onion and set aside until ready to serve.When the potatoes are cooked, drain them in a colander and spill them out onto a cutting board. Cut potatoes in half (or bite size). Put the potatoes into a large flat dish and pour on the vinaigrette dressing while they are still hot. Gently toss them around in the dressing and let them sit for a few minutes in order to absorb the dressing. Put the potatoes into a decorative serving dish and scatter the green onions and on top. Serve warm or at room temperature.Adapted From: Delia Smith

Recipe: Tex-Mex Cheeseburgers serves 4 1 pound of lean ground beef 1/3 cup of onions - minced1 tablespoon of ketchup 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder 4 ounces of shredded Mexican cheese blend 1/3 teaspoon of salt 1/3 teaspoon of ground pepper 4 hamburger buns - toasted2 leaves of lettuce 1 tomato Sauce1/2 cup of sour cream1/3 cup of ketchup1 can of chopped green chilies (4 1/2 ounces)1/4 teaspoon of hot sauce (optional)Mix together the ground beef, minced onions, ketchup, chili powder, shredded cheese, and the salt and pepper.Shape into four patties.In a non-stick, pre-heated frying pan, set to medium high heat, fry the burgers for 4 minutes on each side.Serve on a toasted roll with Tex-Mex Burger sauce. Tex-Mex Burger SauceStir together all ingredients. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Makes 1 cup Adapted from: Recipezaar

Recipe: Fruit salad serves 8 1/2 pound of seedless grapes 1 quart of strawberries 1 cantaloupe 1 pineapple 2 bananas 1/2 cup of orange juice 3 kiwis 1 pinch of mint In a large serving bowl combine:Grapes: rinse in cool water, slice in halfStrawberries: rinse in cool water, hull, cut into bite sizesCantaloupe: cut in half; remove the seeds and rind, cut into bite size piecesPineapple: remove the rind, cut into slices then into bite size pieces removing the core as you goBananas: peel and slice and put in small bowl.Orange juice: pour cup over the bananasKiwi: peel and slice or cut into wedgesMint: garnish*all fruits and amounts are adjustable to your taste

Recipe: Chicken cutlets serves 4 2 eggs 2 tablespoons of water 1 cup of dry seasoned bread crumbs 1 cup of flour 1 1/2 pounds of thin sliced boneless chicken breasts 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil Mix eggs and water together. Dredge chicken in flour. Dip chicken into egg wash.Coat chicken with bread crumbs. Fry chicken in oil 1.5 - 2 minutes on each side depending on thickness.

Recipe: Sausage and egg casserole serves 8 1 pound of Italian sweet sausage - casing removed 1/2 cup of shallots - chopped2 teaspoons of garlic - minced 1/2 cup of oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes - drained and chopped4 tablespoons of fresh parsley - chopped5 large eggs 3 large egg yolks 1 cup of half and half 1 cup of whipping cream 2 cups of grated mozzarella cheese 1/2 teaspoon of salt Preheat oven to 375 F. Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dishSaut sausage in medium nonstick skillet over medium heat until brown and cooked through, breaking up with back of fork into small pieces, about 10 minutesAdd shallots and garlic and saut 3 minutes. Add sun-dried tomatoes and 2 tablespoons parsley; stir 1 minute. Spread sausage mixture in prepared dish. (Can be made 1 day ahead - Cover and refrigerate.) Whisk eggs, egg yolks, half and half, whipping cream, 1 1/2 cups cheese, and salt in large bowl to blend well. Pour egg mixture over sausage mixture in dish. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheese and 2 tablespoons parsley over. Bake until top of casserole is golden brown and knife inserted into center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.Adapted from: Bon App tit

Recipe: Meatloaf serves 8 1 packet/envelope of onion soup mix 2 pounds of ground beef (or meat loaf mix) 3/4 cup of dry bread crumbs 2 eggs 3/4 cup of water 2/3 cup of ketchup - divided Preheat oven to 350 degreesIn a large bowl combine soup mix, ground beef, bread crumbs, eggs, water, and only 1/3 cup of the ketchup. (Save the remaining 1/3 cup of ketchup for the toping.)In a 9 X 13 inch baking pan shape into loafSpread the remaining ketchup over the top of the meatloafBake 1 hour and let rest 15 minutes before slicing.

Recipe: Irish bread serves 8 2 1/8 cups of flour 2/3 cup of sugar 2 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder 1/2 teaspoon of salt 1 1/2 cups of raisins 1 1/2 teaspoons of caraway seeds 5 1/2 tablespoons of butter - melted1 cup of milk 2 eggs 1 can of cooking spray Pre-heat oven 350 degrees.Spray 8 inch bread pan with cooking spray; line bottom and sides of pan with parchment paper.Melt butter in microwave. Set aside.Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.Add raisins and caraway seeds and mix together. Set aside.In another bowl: Mix eggs with the milk.Add to the flour mixture and blend together.Add melted butter and stir.Pour batter into prepared pan.Bake 55- 60 minutes.Makes 1-8 inch loaf of bread.

Recipe: Beef stew serves 8 3 pounds of stew beef - cut into 1 and 1/2 inch cubes1 large onion - diced4 tomatoes - cut into wedges 1/2 pound of baby carrots 1 red pepper - cut into 1/2 inch strips1 pound of small mushrooms - cleaned2 small turnips - cut into chunks2 tablespoons of instant tapioca 1/2 cup of dry bread crumbs 2 cups of red wine 1 teaspoon of salt 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper 1/2 pound of frozen small pearl onions Put all the ingredients except the pearl onions in a Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 3 1/2 hours. Don t peek! Add the pearl onions after the stew is removed from the oven.Serve with crusty bread.Adapted from: Fete Accomplie, Washington, DC