Chicken Cacciatore

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 3 1/2- to 4-pound chicken, cut into pieces
1/4 cup olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
1 carrot, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
1 28-ounce can plum tomatoes
1/3 cup dry red wine
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley,roughly chopped

In a shallow bowl, combine the flour,
1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper. Rinse the chicken and pat it dry with paper towels. Working in batches, lightly coat the chicken with the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.

Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium heat. Add some of the chicken to the pan and cook until browned, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate; set aside. Repeat with
the remaining chicken.

Add the onion to the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Add the carrot, celery, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Crush the tomatoes in the can with a large spoon and stir them into the vegetables along with the wine and the remaining salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer. Add the chicken, reduce heat, and cover. Simmer for 45 minutes, turning the pieces occasionally. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Stir in the parsley.

Makes 4 servings

Minestrone Soup

10 cups cooked red beans
1 tsp. salt
1 clove garlic, pressed
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 zucchini, sliced
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 tablespoons butter
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
1 tsp. basil
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 tablespoon oil
1 carrot, diced
5 leaves spinach or chard, chopped
8 oz. tomato sauce or stewed tomatoes

Crush 7 cups of beans and leave the remaining beans whole. Combine all remaining ingredients except macaroni and basil. Bring to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Add basil and macaroni and cook an additional 15 minutes. Serve with a sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese.

Apple Smoked Barbecue Ribs

2 slabs baby back ribs, or spareribs
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup Apple Wood Chips

barbecue sauce (recipe below)

Preheat oven to 400F. Rub cinnamon, cloves and pepper into both sides of ribs. Place ribs on wire rack on baking pan. Bake for 3 hours until tender.

Soak wood chips in water for 30 minutes. Prepare grill. Place apple wood chips directly in the center of hot barbecue coals. Baste ribs and place on grill above wood chips. Cover, grill and cook for 10 minutes. Turn ribs, baste again and cook another 10 minutes or until ribs are browned but still moist.

Barbecue Sauce:
2−15 oz. cans tomato sauce
1/2 cup molasses
10 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons dry mustard
fresh ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
1/2 cup red wine vinegar

Combine all ingredients except vinegar in saucepan. Simmer, covered, on low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Add vinegar to taste and simmer for another 15 minutes. Chill at least 24 hours, or until ready to use.

Italian Tuna Salad Toss

• 1 (10-ounce) package salad greens
• 1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained, quartered
• 1 (9-ounce) package tuna in water, drained, flaked
• 1/2 pound green beans, cooked, drained
• 1 cup sliced plum tomatoes
• 1 bottle (8 oz) Italian salad dressing - fat free

Place greens on serving platter. Arrange artichokes, tuna, beans, and tomatoes over greens. Top with dressing. Makes 6 servings. Serving Size 2 cups

Italian Tuna Salad Toss

Serving Size 2 cups

• 1 (10-ounce) package salad greens

• 1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained, quartered

• 1 (9-ounce) package tuna in water, drained, flaked

• 1/2 pound green beans, cooked, drained

• 1 cup sliced plum tomatoes

• 1 bottle (8 oz) Italian salad dressing - fat free

Place greens on serving platter. Arrange artichokes, tuna, beans, and tomatoes over greens. Top with dressing. Makes 6 servings