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Back to the Methodist Women's Cookbook Basics... 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef 1 large onion, chopped 1 1/2 cup finely cut celery 1 cup water 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 cup sliced carrots (juliened) 1 cup sliced mushrooms 2 cups chow mein noodles 1/4 cup soy sauce 1 cup minute rice Preheat oven to 350°F. In a skillet, lightly brown the ground beef. Add the onions and celery, cook for about 5 minutes -- stirring occasionally. Add water, soups, soy sauce, carrots, mushrooms and rice. Pour into a baking dish, bake for 30 minutes covered. Uncover & sprinkle chow mein noodles over the top. Bake uncovered for an additional 30 minutes.

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Regular -- or at least semi-regular posting will recommence as of today...

Summer time, and the living is easy... I'm taking a much needed break from work (and blogging) -- back in 10 days!

Note: This takes a regular banana cake & turns it into a frozen delight for the summer. 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup shortening, soft 1 1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs, unbeaten 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 medium bananas (ripened) 1/4 cup buttermilk 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1 tub whipped topping (thawed) 3 cups vanilla ice cream Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour two round cake pans. Mix shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Mash bananas and add to mixture. Add flour, baking powder, soda & salt. Add buttermilk and nuts. Mix well, about 3 minutes. Pour batter into greased & floured cake pans and bake for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack. To make the icing, in a large mixing bowl add ice cream and mix for about 1 minute. Add the whipped topping and continue mix -- scraping the sides of the bowl until topping & ice cream are well blended. (Pop back into the freezer as needed to

For the aioli: 1/2 cup dried cranberries 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives 1 small garlic clove, coarsely chopped 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup lowfat plain yogurt 1 tablespoon dijon mustard 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar 1 teaspoon lemon zest Salt and freshly ground black pepper Place all the ingredients, except the salt and pepper, in the bowl of a food processor. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Transfer the aioli to a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to build the sandwiches. For the chicken: 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth 1 tablespoon finely shredded lemon zest 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh lemon thyme or thyme 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 focaccia rolls , split 1 cup finely chopped romaine lettuce 4 slices swiss cheese Wash & put the chicken in a resealable plastic bag. In a small bowl stir together chicken broth, lemon peel, lemon juice, 1 tabl

1 cup sifted white flour 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/3 cup brown sugar, lightly packed 1/2 cup butter, melted 2 egg whites 2/3 cup sugar 1 10 oz. package frozen strawberries (keep frozen!) 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup cream, whipped First make the "crunch": Stir together flour, pecans, brown sugar and butter and spread in a shallow baking pan. Bake at 350°F, stirring occasionally for about 20 minutes. Cool. Spread 2/3 of the crunch mix on the bottom of a 13x9x2 pan (glass works best). In a mixing bowl, whip cream & vanilla until light and fluffy. Refrigerate until ready to use. Combine egg whites, sugar and frozen strawberries. Beat on high until it forms peaks -- about 10 minutes. Fold in whipped cream. Spread strawberry mixture in 13x9 pan and top with remaining crunch mix. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze overnight until ready to serve. To serve -- cut in squares and garnish with mint & fresh sliced strawberries.

Here are few recipes that might come in handy this weekend -- or next... Mains BBQ Cheddar Burgers Chicken Burgers with Dijon Aioli Slow Cooked BBQ Pulled Pork Sides Parmesan Zucchini & New Potatoes Buttermilk Onion Rings Roasted Corn in Cilantro Lime Butter Spicy Potatoes & Spinach Desserts Apple Pie Key Lime Pie Frozen Lemonade Pie

Yesterday the greatest question was decided which ever was debated in America; and a greater perhaps never was, nor will be, decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, "that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States." -- John Adams, on the decision to proclaim independence from British rule, which was made on 2 July 1776, in a letter to Abigail Adams (1776-07-03), published in The Adams Papers : Adams Family Correspondence (2007) edited by Margaret A. Hogan