1/2 cup shortening
    1 1/2 cups white sugar
    2 eggs
    2 ounces red food coloring
    2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
    1 tablespoon vinegar
    1 cup buttermilk
    1 tablespoon baking soda
    5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    1 cup milk
    1 cup powdered sugar
    1 cup butter or margarine, softened
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  Cream together the shortening, sugar, and eggs. Make a paste
 with food coloring and cocoa. Add to shortening mixture. 
 Add salt and buttermilk to mixture. Next add flour, vanilla,
 vinegar, and baking soda in that order. Mix. 
  Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F in two 8 inch round
 greased and floured cake pans. Let cool. 
  To Make Frosting: Cook 5 tablespoons flour and 1 cup milk
 until thick, and then cool. Cream together 1 cup powdered
 sugar, 1 cup butter or margarine and 1 teaspoon vanilla
 until fluffy. Add to flour mixture.
  Cut layers of cake in half lengthwise. Spread frosting on
 each half layer. Stack and frost over all. 

St. Patrick's Day - Corned Beef and Cabbage

    5 lb. corned beef brisket 
    1 large onion stuck with 6 whole cloves 
    6 carrots, peeled and halved 
    8 medium potatoes, washed and quartered 
    1 teaspoon dried thyme 
    1 small bunch parsley 
    1 head cabbage (about 2 lbs), quartered

  Horseradish Sauce:
    1/2 pint whipping cream 
    2 tablespoons mayonnaise 
    2-4 tablespoons prepared horseradish
 (Whip cream until it stand in peaks. Fold in mayonnaise
 and horseradish.)

  Put beef in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to
 a boil with the lid off the pot. Add thyme, parsley and onion.
 Turn to simmer and cook for 3 hours. Skim fat from top as it
 rises. Add cabbage, potatoes, and carrots. Simmer for 20-30
 minutes until cabbage is cooked. Remove the meat and cut into
 pieces. Place on center of a large platter. Strain the cabbage
 and season it heavily with black pepper. Surround the beef with
 the cabbage, carrots and potatoes. Serve with horseradish sauce.

Easter - Marshmallow Easter Eggs

    2 tablespoons Knox gelatin 
    1/2 cup cold water 
    2 cups sugar 
    3/4 cup hot water 
    1 cup white Karo syrup 
    2 teaspoons vanilla 
    corn starch for hands 
    melted milk chocolate 

  Mix gelatin and cold water. Set aside until water is absorbed.
 Combine sugar, hot water, 1/2 cup of the Karo syrup and cook to the
 soft ball stage (240 degrees). Cool a few minutes. Beat with mixer at
 full speed. Add the remaining Karo syrup and all of the gelatin mixture,
 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat 7 to 8 minutes after the last addition
 of the gelatin. Add vanilla. Pour into a well greased 7 x 9 inches pan
 and chill thoroughly. Dust hands with cornstarch. Spoon marshmallow
 out of pan and form eggs. Brush excess cornstarch off and let dry for
 1/2 hour on waxed paper. Pour melted milk chocolate over eggs and let
 set. Refrigerate for easier handling. 

Passover - Matzoh Balls

   Have all the ingredients at room temperature. 

    2 eggs - separated
    3 Tbl chicken fat
    3/4 cup Matzoh meal
    1/2 tsp. salt
    1/2 tsp ground ginger
    1/8 tsp nutmeg
    1/2 tsp finely chopped parsley
    1/4 cup seltzer
    1/4 cup chicken broth in two equal portions
    3 cups water
    1/2 cup chicken broth 

  Beat the egg yolk and mix into the chicken fat. Using a fork,
 blend the Matzoh meal, salt, ginger, nutmeg and parsley into
 the egg/fat mixture. Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold into
 the mixture. Add the seltzer and 1/2 the soup and mix well.
 Let it stand at at room temperature 10-15 minutes. Cover and
 refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Add the rest of the soup to the
 Matzoh Ball mixture and stir rapidly for 3-5 minutes. Wet your
 hands and form the Matzoh Balls. Each one should be around
 the size of a golf ball. Put them aside. In a large stockpot
 bring the 3 cups of water plus the remaining soup to a boil.
 Reduce the heat to medium-low and gently drop in the Matzoh
 Balls. Be sure that they are not crowded - you may have to do
 two batches. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. They should
 be fluffy. Warning: If you boil them or uncover the pot,
 they will fall apart. Let them cook in peace. 

Cinco De Mayo - Seviche de Vieras

    1/2 pound sea scallops, rinsed, cut in 1/2" pieces
    1/3 cup fresh lime or lemon juice
    1/4 cup diced white onion
    2 jalapeno chiles, seeded and chopped
    2 tablespoons olive oil
    1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
    1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
    2 teaspoons minced fresh cilantro
    Coarse salt
    Fresh lime wedges
    Fresh herb sprigs (oregano, parsley, etc)
    1 head endive, separated into leaves

  In a non-metal bowl, combine scallops, lime or lemon juice, onion,
 chiles, oil and dried oregano. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours,
 stirring occasionally. Stir in red pepper and cilantro; season with
 salt to taste. Garnish with fresh herbs; serve with fresh lime wedges
 and endive leaves for scooping. Serve cold (place bowl into a larger
 bowl of crushed ice to keep chilled).

Memorial Day - Marinated Flank Steak

    1/4 cup soy sauce
    3 tablespoons honey
    2 tablespoons lemon juice
    1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    1/2 cup vegetable oil
    1 (1 1/2 pound) flank steak

  Combine soy sauce, honey, vinegar, ginger, garlic powder, and
 vegetable oil in a small bowl. Lay steak in a shallow glass or
 ceramic dish. Pierce flesh all over front and back with a sharp
 fork. Pour marinade over steak, and then turn and coat the other
 side. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.
  Preheat grill for high heat. Place grate on highest level, and
 brush lightly with oil. Grill for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once.
 Check for doneness, slice thinly across the grain, and serve.

Halloween - Bloody Eyeballs on the Rocks

    12 Radishes
    7 oz. Olives, pimiento-stuffed
    46 oz. Tomato juice

       Prepare these bloody eyeballs the day before you
  plan to serve them. Peel radishes, leaving thin
  streaks of red skin on them for blood vessels. Using
  the tip of the vegetable peeler or a small, knife,
  carefully scoop out a small hole in each radish. Stuff
  a green olive, pimiento side out, in each hole.  Place
  1 radish eyeball in each section of an empty ice cube
  tray.  You may need to pare your eyeballs down a bit
  to fit. Fill the tray with water and freeze overnight.
  Pour tall glasses 3/4 full of tomato juice and add a
  pair of eyeballs to each glass.

Thanksgiving - Southern Cornbread and Oyster Dressing

    1/4 cup butter 
    1 large onion, chopped 
    4 green onions, chopped 
    2 stalks celery, chopped 
    3 cups crumbled cornbread 
    3 cups soft bread crumbs 
    1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley 
    salt and pepper, to taste 
    2 large eggs, lightly beaten 
    1 pint shucked oysters, drained 
    1/2 cup oyster liquid, from drained oysters 

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  Saute onions and celery in 2 tablespoons of the butter until wilted,
 not browned. Combine cornbread and bread crumbs in a large bowl;
 mix in sauteed onions, salt and pepper, and parsley. Add beaten eggs
 and toss more; moisten with the oyster liquid until moist but not
 soggy. Add the oysters.
  Pat the mixture into a lightly buttered rectangular cake pan (it
 should make a 1-inch layer in the pan). Dot with remaining butter
 and bake about 45 minutes, until golden brown and set in the center.

Christmas - Egg Nog Pie

    4 3/4 ounce package vanilla pudding and pie filling mix 
    2 cups eggnog
    1 1/4 cups milk
    1 tablespoon light rum
    1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
    9" graham cracker pie shell
    Whipped cream
    Nutmeg

  Cook pudding mix for for pie filling using 2 cups eggnog and
 1 1/4 cups milk. Stir in rum and nutmeg; pour into crust. Cover
 surface with plastic wrap; chill several hours. Garnish with
 whipped cream and nutmeg.

Christmas - Wassail

    2 1/4 cups white sugar
    4 cups water
    2 cinnamon sticks
    1 - 1/4 inch thick slice ginger
    4 cups orange juice
    2 cups lemon juice
    8 cups apple cider or juice
    8 allspice berries
    1 tablespoon whole cloves

  In a large saucepan, combine sugar and water. Boil for 5 minutes.
 Remove from heat, and add cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, cloves,
 and ginger. Cover and let stand in warm place for 1 hour. 
  Strain liquid into a large pot. Just before serving, add juices and
 cider and quickly bring to boil. Remove from heat and serve.