MARIA ELENA'S MOLE

INGREDIENTS:   																											1  chicken																									   5  almonds 3  bay leaves																								1/2 cup sesame seeds5  cloves of garlic																				1/2 stick of cinammon5  cloves																											 1/2 tablet Ibarra chocolate5  black pepper																					   1  tablespoon bouilon1  onion																												 1/3 cup raisins3  green tomatoes																				 1/3 cooking banana      chilis  (dried):																				 1    small apple3  pasilla chili pod           														 2  toasted bread or tortilla																																								 4  guajillo chili pod																			 salt  6  arbol chili pod																					1 cup lard   8  ancho chili pod																						INSTRUCTIONS: 1- To prepare the chicken:      Boil a whole chicken with 1/2 of onion, 2 black peppers, 2 cloves, 2 cloves of garlic, and 3 bay leaves. Cook chicken until it is tender. You can remove the meat from the bones or use it as pieces.2- Into a frying pan add 1/3 teaspoon of lard. Add 1/2 cup sesame seeds; fry until a little brown.3- Into a frying pan add 1/3 cup lard add the apple, cored and chopped; 1/3 cooking banana, sliced; and 1/3 cup raisins. Fry until the apple and banana begins to brown (the raisins will puff up)4- Prepare the chilis     Take the stems off the chilis; if you want to remove the seeds you can (the seeds will make it hotter.)5- In a dry skillet broil the pasilla and ancho chili pods.6- In a pan add the four kind of chilis and add enough water to cover chilis, add the green tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes.7- Blend the sliced almonds, fried sesame seeds, garlic, cloves, black pepper, cinammon, chocolate, onion, raisins, cooking banana, apple, bouillon, toasted bread or tortilla and enough salt.8- heat 3/4 cup lard and when hot, add the blended condiments.(#7) fry for about 15 minutes stirring occasionally.9- Blend broiled ingredients (item # 6) and add to fried ingredients  (item # 9) .Continue cooking for 30 minutes.10-    At this point you can serve the chicken in the mole or you can serve them separately.          Serve mole with cooked rice, beans and tortillas. 
I am from  Mexico and we prepare some special foods for  parties, 
especially in the little towns or ranches. We often have mole at the parties. 
 Mole is one of the famous foods in my country.
	Maria Elena Amador
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	COCKTAIL FRUIT
Ingredients:2 cans of mixed fruits3 Green apples2 cups of marshmallows1 cup of nuts1 small can of pineappleSour Cream (necessary)1 can sweetened condensed milkHow to do it:1.  The first thing you have to do is mix the sour cream with sdome sweetened 
 condensed milk and you must taste it, when you find that it is sweet enough,
 it is ok.
2.  Peel the apples, cut them into small pieces, add them to the cream mixture.
3.  You must take out all the juice of the cans of fruit.
4.  Then add all the other ingredients in the bowl where you have the apples, mix all 
and it ready to eat.	
	IT'S SO DELICIOUS!
THE KITCHEN IS THE PLACE FOR COMFORT, COZINESS AND HOSPITALITY ANYONE CAN 
JOIN IN THE PLEASURE OF COOKING AND EATING.
THIS RECIPE IS VERY COMMON IN MY FAMILY BECAUSE WHENEVER WE HAVE A PARTY WE PREPARE THIS RECIPE AS THE DESSERT. 
																									LETICIA JEREZ																							******************																								
	NANA'S CAKE
	Ingredients:1 cup margarine or butter												2 cups applesauce (warmed)2 cups sugar																						1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla4 cups flour																							2 teaspoons baking soda1/2 cup cocoa																					1 cup raisins1 teaspoon cinammon															nuts as desired1/2 teaspoon cloves1/2 teaspoon ginger1/2 teaspoon nutmegDirections:Cream margarine and sugar.  In another bowl mix dry ingredients together: flour, cocoa, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg.  Alternately add applesauce and dry ingredients to the margarine sugar mixture.  Dissolve 2 teaspoons of baking soda in 1/2 cup hot water.  Then add vanilla and dissolved soda to butter, flour mixture.  Mix.  Fold in raisins and nuts.  Pour into a greased 13x9 inch pan.  Bake 45 minutes in a 375 oven.  Needs no frosting.This is my husband's grandmother's (Nana) recipe.  She was a pioneer woman who was known as an excellent cook.  For years we have made it each Christmas season and given it to our friends.																								Debbie Jensen																					********************														
			MARIA'S GUACAMOLE
	Ingredients:6 Avocados3 Eggs3 Green onions2 Tomatoes2 jalapeno peppers2 Lemons2 Teaspoon of saltDirections:Peel the Avocados and smash them until they get soft.  Chop the onions and tomatoes. boil the eggs until they get hard.  Chop and mix everything with the avocados.  Add lemons  and a litle salt.This recipe is from   EL  SALVADOR  C. A.  I prepare it for my family, and it reminds me of home.																Maria  Avalos															************																			
				CHINESE FRIED NOODLES
	Ingredients:(1) 1/2 lb lb Chinese noodles(2) 1/2 lb meat --any combination (chicken+a little bit of ham+ links of Chinese 																	sausage from the Chinese market)(3) Oil.......(a little bit)(4) 1/2 teaspoon M.S.G.(5) 1/2 lb vegetables (cabbages + carrots + Chinese cabbages)(6) one green pepper (take out the seeds)(7) one tablespoon  of soy-sauce(8) a leetle salt....(to taste)(9) 2 or 3 green onionsDirections:(1) Chop the chiden into pieces.  Slice the carrots. Chip the cabbages.  Put a little bit of oil and fry the meats.  At the same time, put the soy sauce, salt and MSG all together and fry them.(2) Boil the noodles until cooked.(3) Mix (1) and (2) and then put a little MSG salt and soy sauce and fry them together for one or two minutes.  Chop the green onions and spread on the top of the noodles.  Then the noodles are ready to serve.Chinese noodles is a favorite food for Chinese people, especially in Chinese New Year.  Chinese people make Chinese noodles for their families.  They worship the sky-god and the kitchen-god with the noodle.  Every Chinese person believes that if someone eats  Chinese noodles he will have a long life and have other people love him.  At birthday parties Chinese noodles is one of the foods served to the relatives who are invited to attend the party.																						William Chin																		******************																							
		Macaroni Quickie 
	Ingredients:1/2 lb Ground beef1 cup uncooked macaroni1 med onion chopped1 can (8oz) tomato sauce1/3 cup catsuppinch of sugar1/2 tsp salt1/4 tsp pepper1/4 tsp chili powderDirections:Conbine all together with  1 1/2 cups water, blend well cook until macaroni is tenderand stir.  Ready to serve.My recipe of Macaroni Quickie was my daughter's favorite dish.  Her friend gave it to her.   I began to like it because it's really simple and only  takes ten minutes to cook.  So when I cannot think of anything to cook I cook this dish.  And it tastes good, too!																				Jeane Hong															******************************																																			
			CHEESE PIE
	Ingredients for the Topping:1 can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)4 eggs10 oz. ricotta cheese or fresh cheese or 8 oz. cream cheeseIngredients for the crust:25 crackers (brand Marias or Ritz without salt)1 (9 in) ie pan4 oz margarine or butterHow to Prepare the crust:*Preheat the oven*Put the crackers in the blender and blend them.*Pour it into a bowl and add the margarine or butter together.*Stir with a fork or with your hands until you have a ball.*Pat into the bottom of the pie pan to make the crust.How to Prepare the Topping:*Into the blender blend the milk, the eggs and the cheese.*Pour it into the shall.*Bake 15 minutes at 425.*Reduce oven temperature to 300.*Bake 30 min. more or until you can insert a knife edge and it comes out clean.*Cool before cutting.  You can refrigerate it for a while.     If you like sweet foods, when you taste this you'll never forget its flavor.  I might eat one whole cheese pie!  It's delicious.     My mother taught me to bake it when I was 12 years old.  I have never forgotten how to make it.     I'll give advice to you, the sooner you bake this cheese pie, the sooner you'll see that you like it.																								Marisela Duran					
		Burmese Jello Dessert(Jowt Kyaw)
	Ingredients:1.  Sugar..................................................1 lb.2.  Coconut milk...................................14 fl. oz. (one tin)3.  Water..................................................5 cups (using a coffee mug)4.  One pkg Agar-Agar Powder.......(wt. .88 oz)5.  1/4 teaspoon saltDirections:Boil 5 cups of water.  Add the Agar-Agar Powder and stir thoroughly.  Then pour in sugar and continue to stir.  When the liquid in the pot thickens, pour in the coconut milk.  contine to stir the liquid two or three times and pour the liquid into the containers (which ever you like).  Cool, after four hours it is ready to serve.Burmese jello is a favorite dessert of Burmese people.  At weddings and birthday ceremonies we serve Burmese jello to entertain our guests.  During the Water Festival and New Year's Day most of the families make Burmese jello and serve it to the relatives and friends who pay a visit to their homes.  It is a traditional dessert for Burmese people.																			William Chin																	**************************																	
		Mexican Corn Bread
	Ingredients:1 cup corn meal1 cup sour cream5-6 chopped jalapeno peppers3 tsp. baking powder2 eggs1 cup wesson oil or crisco1 cup grated cheeseDirections:Mix all the ingredients, use half the batter, sprinkle jalapeno peppers and half the cheese.  Then pour on the rest of the batter and sprinkle  the rest of the cheese on top.Bake for one hour at 350.Mexican cornbread is very popular with my family.  They enjoy eating it with frijoles (which is beans) and rice.  																							Maria Angel			
		ROSE'S STEAK WITH STEWED TOMATOES
	Ingredients:1 can of stewed tomatoes3 bell peppers2 steaks, any kind of meat is fine1/2 small onion, choppedDirections:Fry your steaks in a pan until well cooked.  Then cut your bell peppers and throw in the pan with the steak.  Then put your onions in and mix until the bell peppers are soft.  Then open the can of stewed tomatoes and put it in with the rest of the stuff.  Let it simmer.  Serve as is or over rice.This recipe is so simple, but it tastes wonderful.  People will think you worked very hard.  I like it because it is very simple.																			Rose Valenzuela																	**************************
		TWO MILK DESSERT
																																								makes 6 servingsIngredients:1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)1 can evaporated milk (12 oz)1 can fruit cocktail (30 oz)5 lemons2 packets Maria's cookiesDirections:In the blender put milk and lemon juice, mix very well for 3 or 4 minutes.  The mixture will look like cream.  Drain the fruit cocktail but keep the juice.In a 2 quart glass bowl layer one cup of cookies, over the cookies layer 1 cup of the cream.  Over the cream put another cup of fruit cocktail, continue layers, when you finish all the layers put into the refrigerator for 1 1/2 hours.  It is ready to eat.  It is very easy, and very good.About my dessert:When I was very young, my great grandmom made this dessert at special times.  My grandmom told me a long time ago the people used only fresh things, but my grandmom said you can use cans.I remember when everybody had eaten the dessert, I would take the rest, and go under the bed and eat it all.  The day after I was very sick and had a stomache.																							Elsa Verdin																							Nayarit Mexico								
			CHICKEN AND CORN CHOWDER
	Ingredients:10 oz butter1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped2 Tablespoons flour1 pint chicken stock8 oz cooked chicken meat3 large potatoes, diced, parboiled11 oz can sweet corn, drained1 1/2 pint cream or milksaltfresh ground black pepperDirections:Add all ingredients into a pot.  Cook until done.This soup is a favorite of my family.  It is especially good on a cold day.																										Margarita Triplett																			********************
		JESUS' ENCHILADAS
	Ingredients:1 can of las palmas salsa1 dozen corn tortillas1/2 lb longaniza or chorizo (Mexican sausage)1 chopped onion1 lb cheese (grated-your favorite kind)1 can of Jalapenos pepperssour creamDirections:To prepare:  Place pan on the fire, pour  in 6 tablespoons of oil, add 1/2 of the onions and saute the onion and sausage, add the salsa and let it simmer until it comes to a boil.  Then put it aside.  Put the rest of the onions in a big dish add the grated cheese and mix together.  You should have enough for 12 enchiladas. To cook:  Place a pan on the fire and add 1/2 cup of oil at 350, with your fingers dip the tortilla in the oil and then dip it in the salsa, stuff the tortilla with cheese and onion mix.  Roll up the tortilla.  Do this with the rest of the tortillas.To serve:  Place 2 or 3 leaves of Romaine lettuce, the chiles on the side, the sour cream on top of the enchiladas.Enjoy this traditional Mexican meal.  This is very popular with the students in my class.  I prepare it for each potluck.  The other students think I worked hard but this recipe is very easy.  That is why I like to prepare it.																					Jesus Jimenez																***********************
		PICADILLO
	Ingredients:1 pound of ground beef3 potatoes, cubed3 carrots, cubed1/2 cup of peas1/2 cup of walnuts, chopped (optional)1/2 cup of raisins (optional)4 Jalapeno chiles (optional)2 tomatoes1/2 onion2 cloves of garlicsaltDirections:-Blend the tomatoes, onion, garlic, and salt in the blender.-Pour the meat into a pan to fry (it doesn't need grease).-When the meat is fried add all the remaining ingredients and stir.-Then add the ingredients from the blender.-Cover the pan with a lid and wait until the tomatoes and carrots are cooked.You can use the picadillo to stuff a turkey.Something about Picadillo:I like to eat picadillo.  I enjoy eating picadillo on Christmas Day because my grandmom cooks it often on Christmas.She uses the picadillo to stuff the turkey.  She cooks very delicious foods.  My grandmom serves the picadillo next to the turkey or next to spaghetti.Now, I remember the happy moments I have lived with my family on Christmas.  We celebrate Christmas on the night of December 24th.  At 11 p.m. we rock the baby Jesus and sing a song as a lullaby.  Then we give another relative of the family the gifts.  We are all 22 people in total.  Later we sit at the table.  We pray a while to thank God for the dinner before we eat it.  I miss my family but I'm happy because I know they are OK and my husband and I are OK too.  But I don't get to eat the delicious picadillo that my grandmom cooks on Christmas.																					Marisela Duran																			*****************
			MEATBALL SOUP
	Ingredients:2 lbs ground beef1 egg1/2 tomato, diced1/3 onion, diced3 leaves mint, fresh, diced4 leaves marjoram, fresh, diced4 teaspoons rice1/2 clove garlic, minced (optional)salt and pepper as you likeDirections:First put the rice in a sauce pan with water on the stove.  Cook for five minutes, then wait until it is cold, drain off the water.Now in a bowl all all the ingredients together, egg, tomato, onion, leaves, salt, pepper and rice.Then mix the meat with all the ingredients with your hands, when it is mixed made it into meatballs.  Put them into hot water then if you want, add small pieces of carrots, add salt and pepper.  Cook for an hour and it is ready to eat.I would eat it with crackers.A  Little  story  about  my  meatballs.I prepare  the  soup  of  meatballs  every  two  weeks,  or when it is a cold  day,  or  when it is  raining; then we  like to eat  hot  soup. This  food  is  my  mother's  recipe;  she told  me  how prepare it.  Here at  home  my  daughter  and  my husband  like this soup  because  the taste is  delicious.																	Carmen Diaz																				*******************
		FRANK'S COCKTAIL
	Ingredients:2 cans of sliced peaches (drained)2 cans of sliced pears (drained)2 cans of fruit cocktail (drained)2 cans of crushed pineapple (drained)2 lbs. bananas1 can of evaporated milk (best if use Carnation)1 can of sweetened condensed milk1 cup of milkDirections:Slice the bananas, stir in the fruits and put them in a large bowl.  Add the three kinds of milk and mix them and refrigerate it.  Serves 20 people.This is my husband Frank's favorite dessert.  Other people ask if I can make it for them.  When we have parties I always have to make the cocktail.  My friends have said that they might not come to the party if I don't make the cocktail.																												Ofelia Zarate																	**********************											
		Banana Bread
	Ingredients:2 bananas1/3 cup butter2/3 cup sugar2 eggs1 3/4 cup flour2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon1 teaspoon nutmeg1/4 cup nutsDirections:1.  Mash the bananas2.  Mix the butter and sugar together.  Add the eggs and banana.3.  Then add the flour, baking powder and spices.4.  The last thing to add is the nuts.5.  Put it into a pan.6.  Bake in a 350 oven for 45 minutes or 1 hour until done.This recipe is from Susan Sprausur, my teacher when I was in beginning ESL.  It is easy and good to make. This recipe is not yet a tradition in my family, but because it is so easy and good to eat, I am now making it a part of my family's traditions.																							Leticia Jerez																					********************
		CEBADA	
	Ingredients:1 liter water1 stick of cinnamon5 big peppercorns3 cloves1/4 c flour2 tablespoons vanilla2 teaspoons strawberry (essence) you can find this at the market1 pound of sugarDirections:Put the water, the cinnamon, the peppercorns and the cloves to boil for 10 minutes.  Then add the flour, dissolved in 1 cup of water and cook on medium heat moving it constantly for 5 minutes.  Strain it (colar), let it cool, and then add  the sugar, vanilla and strawberry, add 5 more cups of water.If you want you can blend it with ice and serve. This is a traditional beverage from my country of El Salvador.  We prepare it when ever we want it.  Sometimes when you go to a restaurant you would order Cebada instead of soda. 																																			Elsy Romero																																			**************
		C A R R O T   C A K E 
	   INGREDIENTS:   Mix these ingredients together:   1 1/2 cup of oil   6 eggs   1/4 teaspoon of salt   2 teaspoons of baking powder    1 cup of sugar						      Add and mix:   2 1/2 cups of flour   milk- as necessary (this depends-add enough to make the mix like paste)      Add and mix with the spatula:   2 cups of grated carrots   1 cup of raisins   Grease the pan with butter and flour.  Pour the dough into the pan.    Bake at 350 for 35-45 Min.   No frosting is needed.   Sometimes I buy  a lot of carrots but I don't like to eat carrots so I make a cake.   My children love this cake.                                                                 MARIA ELENA AMADOR																										****************
			Tinga
	Ingredients2 pounds flank steak1 garlic clove7 medium onions1 8 ox package Nuevo Mexico Chile (at supermarkets in Mexican section)1 clove1 cup vegetable oil1 package tostados salt pepper to tasteDirections:Place the flank steak in a large pot with water, salt and onion.  Cook for 45 minutes or until tender.  In a separate pot place the Nuevo Mexico Chile (1 lbs) with garlic, clove and salt (pinch) and cover with water,  bring to a boil.  Then blend in a blender.  Remove the meat from the broth and shred.  Put it aside.  Slice about 7 onions in rings and fry them, add the meat to the onions and chile sauce.  Mix together.  Bring to a boil and then simmer 20 minutes.  Serve over tostados.  Serving options: sour cream, avacados, and beans. My mother taught me  to make Tinga.  We sometimes eat it once a week.  It is a family favorite but not everyone likes it, because it has a lot of onions.																															Elsa Tapia																						************************									
		Sancocho
	Ingredients:1 chicken (cut up)1 pound of yucca1 pound of yams1 pound of otoe2 cooking bananas (green)3 tablespoons chicken boulion1 cup cilantro (chop)1/2 onion (chop)1 stalk celery (chop)1 had of cabbagePut the pieces of chicken in a big pot, add the bouilon, onion, celery and six cups of water.  Put it on to simmer for five minutes.  Add the yucca, yams, and otoe.  Let the chicken and vegetables boil for 20 minutes. Slice the cooking bananas and fry them until they are a little brown.  When they are ready, crush them. Add cilantro, cooking banana and cabbage.  Cover the pot for fifteen minutes or boil it for three minutes, your choice.This dish is from my country of Panama.  I like it because it is very nutritious and is especially good for my kids. I make it often.																					Angelica Ventura																					*********************
		Orange Chicken
	Ingredients:one large package of chicken legs3 cups orange juice1 can pineapple in cubes1/4 teaspoon cinnamon1/4 teaspoon ground cloves1-2 teaspoons sugar (depending on your taste)raisinsDirections:First fry chicken for 20 to 30 minutes, until brown.  Once all the legs are brown put them in a large baking pan and pour on the  orange juice, pineapple, raisins, cinnamon, cloves and sugar.  Put the pan in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.  Serves 6-8A friend gave me this recipe.  She is dead now.  When I cook this recipe I think of her.  She was a good friend and a good cook.																			Herlinda Rivera																			*****************
		Fish in Red Sauce
	Ingredients:fish (we always use catfish because it is the best for this recipe)lemonsaltgarlic saltoil3 tomatoes10 red chiliesDirections:Cut the fish into little pieces.  Then put lemon, salt, and garlic salt on each of the pieces.  Then let them dry for an hour.Put the pan on the stove, add cooking oil.  When the oil is hot put the fish in to fry, take it out when it is well cooked.Red Sauce:First put 3 tomatoes and 10 (approximately) chilies to boil, then put the tomatoes and chilies together in the blender.  Then put the sauce and the fish together to boil for a couple of minutes.  Then enjoy the fish with the red sauce.This is my husband's recipe.  It is a family tradition.  At all family reunions my mother-in-law makes this recipe.  It is a favorite. 																									Maria Elena Macias																					*********************** 					
		Maria's Onion Soup
	Ingredients:onionsbutterbaconboullion cube1 liter waterDirections:First, slice the onions and put them in a saucepan with a little butter.  Boil water with boullion cube.  When the onions have been cooking for three or five minutes add the boiling water(consomme).  Next, fry the bacon until it is brown, chop it into pieces and add it to the soup, too.This is a good and easy recipe from my grandmother.  I make it in cold weather.																						Maria Morales