This recipe has been passed down through the women in our family and hasfound its way into our family meals. It isn't a fancy meal, but it is aquick and easy and delicious way to feed a hungry crew.

• 1 pound of browned ground beef
• 1 can tomato paste, boiled
• 1 can of tomato sauce
• 4 peeled and diced potatoes
• 1 small onion chopped
• 1 crushed garlic clove
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1 tablespoon parsley
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 bay leaf

I remember sleeping over at my Grammy's house many nights. I would usuallybe there for dinner, and we would have the best mashed potatoes, juiciestmeats, and most tender vegetables we've ever had. The aroma from the foodsmade us feel as if we were in heaven. Sometimes for dessert we would havehomemade applesauce. It had just the right sweetness and apple taste.

I also remember making real ice cream. It is so much better thananything that is store bought; it just doesn't have the same flavor.

Of course, Grammy doesn't think that she is a great cook because she grewup with that type of food. Grammy's real name is Joyce Bitler which, aftershe was married, changed to Joyce Blevins.

We have many traditions on holidays that deal with food. One of them isThanksgiving. There is so much food that we have enough leftovers to feedan army. Everyone, except the children, usually eat such large quantitiesof food that we are so stuffed we feel sick; but it is worth it becauseit's some of the greatest food we've ever had. I can't even imagineThanksgiving without Grammy.

Grammy once tried to lose weight and succeeded. She lost 70 pounds. While losing the weight, she realized the importance of eating right,especially vegetables. She fooled the whole family with her recipe forsquash and onions. I had no idea that it was vegetables until Grammy toldme. If you watch what you eat, this recipe is a great idea; if you don't,you can use real butter instead of margarine. This is one of our familysecrets that I hope you will try.

• 2 large white onions
• 2 large yellow or green squash
• 3 tablespoons reduced calorie margarine or butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

• 3/4 cup shortening
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 2 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1 cup raisins

My dad can't have a lot of fat or salt because of his diet, so he changedthe recipe a little. Don't worry, he didn't take out any taste with the fatand salt!

• 5 medium to large potatoes, cubed to desired size
• 1 large onion, chopped to desired size
• 1/2 pound of 15 different dried beans
• 1/2 pound of lean boneless ham hunk, diced into small pieces
• 2 tablespoons of dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon of oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon of paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 32 ounces of water

Makes at least four large bowls for the heartiest of appetites.

The first thing we did at the party was eat and have tea. Then we openedpresents, and everyone made a lacy potpourri sachet to take home. At theend we played charades.

We made a sign for the front of our house which read, "Riley's English TeaHouse"; and before the party started, we took pictures. When we sent them tosome friends whom we hadn't seen in a while, they sent back a letter thatsaid, "Congratulations on your new tea house." They thought we had reallyopened a restaurant.

The cucumber sandwiches aren't very filling, but they taste very good.

• 1 loaf of extra thin white bread
• 3 cucumbers
• Butter, softened enough to spread easily
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• Salt
• Pepper