Piperade (Eggs Basque Style)

1/2 green pepper, cut in thin strips
3 T olive oil
1/2 t salt
1 small white onion, minced
1 small garlic clove, crushed
1 or 2 tomatoes, peeled and chopped or 2 T tomato catsup
2 T minced ham
4 eggs, beaten until light

Saute the pepper in olive oil over moderate heat, sprinkle with salt as it cooks. Add onion and garlic, cook until soft, add tomatoes, cook until the consistency of mush (use tomato catsup when local tomatoes are not in season, adding with the ham). Add ham, cook about 20 minutes longer over very low heat. Add eggs, stirring quickly and deftly to blend with vegtables. Lift up with spatula as the egg thickens, and as soon as mixture is firm throughout slide out onto heated plates. Makes 2 to 4 servngs. Double to serve 6 people.

Tamale Pie

1/2 lb ground beef
3 c water
1 c corn meal
1 1/2 t salt
1 T salad oil
1/3 c chopped green pepper
1/2 c chopped pitted olives
2 c tomato sauce
1 T chili powder
1/2 t garlic salt
1/2 cup cubed sharp cheese (cheddar)

Heat to boiling 2 cups water. Mix the corn meal with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 cup cold water. Pour into boiling water, stirring constantly.  Cook until thickened, stirring frequently. Cover, continue cooking over low heat 10 minutes. Heat the salad oil in a skillet. Add the green pepper and ground beef. Cook 2 minutes, stirring until meat browns. Add the olives, tomato sauce, chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and garlic salt. Line bottom and sides of a greased casserole with cooked cornmeal. Fill with meat and tomato mixture. Sprinkle top with the cheese. Bake in moderate oven, 350, for half an hour. Four servings.

Mexican Torte

3/4 c coarsely chopped onion
1 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
3 T olive oil
1 lb ground round steak
2 (8oz) cans tomato sauce
1 c beef stock
1 small can sliced black olives
3 T chili powder
1 t ground cumin
9 tortillas (approximately)
1 c grated cheese, Monterey Jack
1/2 c finely chopped onion
1/2 c sour cream, approximately

Cook the onion and garlic in the olive oil five minutes, but do not brown. Add the meat and cook, stirring, until it loses it's red color. Add the tomatoes, beef stock, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Simmer 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350. Spoon a little of the sauce over the bottom of a buttered casserole and cover it with three tortillas, overlapping them if necessary. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the cheese, 1/3 of the finely chopped onion and add a tablespoon of sour cream.  Continue adding layers, including sauce, until all the ingredients are used, ending with a top layer of sauce. Spoon the remaining sour cream into the center of the torte. Bake the casserole until if bubbles, about 20 minutes. Four to six servings.

Stuffed Green Peppers

4 green peppers
1/2 t salt
1 lb ground beef
2/3 c finely chopped onion
1/4 t salt
1/4 t oregano
1/8 t pepper
1 c tomato sauce
1 t beef stock base
1 T chopped parsley

Cut out the tops, seeds and white membranes of the peppers.  Simmer them in salted water for about 5 minutes. Remove, drain and salt and pepper the insides. Filling: brown the meat in a lightly salted hot skillet. Add chopped onion and cook until tender. Season with 1/4 t salt, oregano and pepper. Add 1/2 cup tomato sauce and the beef stock base. Simmer gently for a few minutes. Add the parsley and stuff the peppers. Pour 2 tablespoons tomato sauce over each. Place in a baking dish and cover. Bake in a moderate over, 350, until heated through, about 15-20 minutes. Four servings.

Ranch Swiss Steak

2 lb round steak (3/4 inch thick)
3 T shortening
1 1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1 clove garlic crushed
1 medium onion sliced
1 t paprika
1 t onion salt
1 c water

Cut the steak into 6 pieces. Brown well in the shortening. Season with salt and pepper. Add the garlic and onion. Continue cooking until the onion is tender and browned. Add paprika, onion salt and water. Cover and bake in moderately hot over, 375, until meat is tender, about 2 hours. Add more water if necessary. Make gravy by adding flour and water paste to the juices in the pan. Six servings.

Banana Nut Bread

1/2 c butter
1 c sugar
2 eggs
3 crushed bananas
2 c flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 c nut meats

Crush bananas and whip until very light. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs, the flour, soda and nuts. Add bananas. Turn into a well greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Six Threes Ice Cream

6 c half & half (or 3 c cream, 3 c milk)
3 c sugar
juice of 3 oranges
juice of 3 lemons
3 bananas

Mash the bananas or puree in blender. Mix ingredients together and freeze in ice cream freezer.