1 lb Fresh asparagus, trimmed

1/4 c Minced shallots

3 tb Tarragon-white wine vinegar

4 ts Chopped fresh tarragon OR

1 1/4 ts Dried tarragon

1 ts Dijon mustard

7 tb Hazelnut oil, walnut oil

-or olive oil 4 c Baby lettuces or inner

-leaves of curly endive 1/4 c Hazelnuts, toasted, husked,

-coarsely chopped Pour water into large pot to depth of 1 inch and bring to boil. Place asparagus on steamer rack set over water in pot. Cover pot and steam until asparagus is cresp-tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer asparagus to bowl of ice water and cool. Drain. Place asparagus on paper towls. (Can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Combine shallots, vinegar, tarragon and mustard in bowl. Gradually whisk in oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place baby lettuces on large platter. Arrange asparagus atop lettuces. Drizzle with vinaigrette. Sprinkle with hazelnuts. From The Loire Valley Bon Appetit/May 94 Typed by Didi Pahl

1/2 md Aubergine

1 Crushed garlic cloves

1 1/2 tb Tahini

1/4 Juice of 1 lemon

1 tb Olive oil

Seasoning ----------------------------------GARNISH---------------------------------- Toasted Sesame seeds Cayenne Pepper Flatleaf Parsley 1> Preheat the oven to 200c/400f/Gas 6. Bake the aubergine for

25-30 minutes until tender. Cool slightly , then peel and

puree the flesh in a blender or processor. 2. Add the garlic, tahini and lemon juice and process until mixed.

With the motor running, drizzle in the oil to make a smooth paste. Season to taste. Transfer to a serving dish, garnish and serve cold with pitta bread.

2 md Aubergines

2 Cloves garlic crushed

15 ml 1 tbsp oil

30 ml 2 tbsp pomegranate juice or

Orange juice. 25 ml Half tsp paprika.

pn Chili seasoning. Prick the aubergines with a fork and place on a baking tray. Bake in the oven at 180 c, 350 f, gas mark 4 for 30 minutes or until tender. When the aubergines are cooked, remove the skin while hot. Puree the flesh in a food processor with the garlic, oil, pomegranate juice, paprika and chili. Leave to cool, then serve with pitta bread.

1/4 c Walnuts, chopped

1 sm Sweet orange, sectioned

1/2 md Firm ripe avocado, diced

1/2 c Turnip, diced

Red leaf lettuce, torn, -- as needed ----------------------------------DRESSING---------------------------------- 1 1/2 tb Walnut oil -=OR=-

Peanut oil 1/2 tb Lemon juice -=OR=-

Lime juice, to taste 1/2 ts Mint

1/2 ts Honey

Black pepper, to taste Toast walnuts on a hot, dry skillet, stirring frequently, until they are fragrant. About 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat & let cool. Combine salad ingredients in a serving bowl & toss with the walnuts. In a small bowl, stir together the dressing ingredients. Pour over the salad & toss to coat. Serve at once.

2 Large avocados

2 c Chicken broth

Salt, pepper 2 c Whipping cream

2 T Cognac

2 T Sherry

Frozen avocado shell cups Peel avocados and dice pulp. Puree pulp in blender container with chicken broth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Gradually stir in whipping cream. Chill. Add cognac and sherry just before serving. Note: To make frozen avocado-shell cups for soup, cut a slice from stem end of avocado. Scoop out pulp and discard seed. Reserve cap. Use pulp for soup or puree with small amount of lemon juice and freeze for future use. Place shell upright in cup or egg carton. freeze until firm. To serve, embed avocado shell in crushed ice in a dessert dish or soup icer. Carefully spoon in soup and lean cap against side of avocado. Makes about 4 cups.

--Terrine Mix-- 4 Avocado peeled, seeded

-mashed. 2 t Dijon Mustard

1 t Worcestershire sauce

Lemons to Squeeze 1/2 pt Whipping Cream

1 Avocado peeled, rubbed with

-lemon and sliced 1/2 inch -thick. --Sauce-- 3 Medium or 4 Large ripe

-plum tomatoes, peeled and -seeded Squeeze of Lemon Juice 1 oz Heavy Cream

Fresh Basil --Garnish-- 3 Medium shrimp per serving.

-peeled, deveined, lightly -poached. 2 Basil Leaves (whole)

As you cut avocados drizzle lemon juice on them so that they will not darken. Mash avocados in a bowl and add the mustard and worcestershire sauce. In a separate bowl lightly whip the 1/2 pint of whipping cream. The cream should be a little loose, soft peak stage is the technical term. Fold cream into avocado mixture. Place parchment paper in a standard bread pan so that there is enough paper to cover the top of the filled terrine. Spray the parchment with release spray. Fill the terrine with 1/2 of the mixture, and refrigerate for 20 to 30

minutes. Remove terrine from refrigerator, slice the extra avocado and drizzle lemon juice on it to keep it from darkening, place the slices on the top of the chilled mixture. Pour other 1/2 of the avocado melange on top. Drizzle some lemon juice on top and fold parchment paper over top. Refrigerate for 35 to 40 minutes. While the terrine is chilling, peel devein and barely poach the shrimp, let the shrimp cool in the poaching liquid if possible. Set the shrimp aside for the garnish. Separate nice looking basil leaves for garnish. Prepare the sauce; roughly cut the tomato into bite size pieces, place in a small frying pan or saucepan and stew them slightly. Add a little lemon juice and the cream, mix in a few stray leaves of the basil cut into strips. The goal is to quickly cook off some of the liquid. Let this sauce cool to room temperature or below before saucing the dishes. To unmold, sit the terrine in some warm water for 1 minute or less, and unmold onto a platter. Slice into 3/4 inch thick pieces and place the shrimp and basil on the plate with the terrine. Spoon some of the basil rich sauce over the top.

1/2 c Fresh lime juice

3 tb Peanut oil or vegetable oil

24 Green peppercorns; crushed

Salt Freshly ground black pepper 3/4 lb Sea or bay scallops

- finely chopped 1 lg Ripe avocado; peeled

2 tb Fresh chives, chopped

-or scallions, chopped 40 sm White mushrooms

1/4 c Vegetable oil

2 tb Fresh lemon juice

1 md Garlic clove

- peeled and crushed Salt and pepper to taste Additional chives, optional - (or scallions), - for garnish COMBINE THE LIME JUICE, oil, peppercorns, salt and pepper together in a glass or ceramic bowl. Stir in the scallops, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours while they marinate. They should become opaque in this time. Mash the avocado until almost smooth, then add it along with the chives or scallions to the marinating scallops (do not drain them) and mix well. Set aside for at least 1/2 hour, refrigerated. About half an hour before serving the scallops, remove the stems from the mushrooms and wipe them to remove any dirt. Combine the vegetable oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl, and brush the insides of the mushrooms liberally with the mixture. Just before serving, drain the caps and fill with the scallop mixture. Garnish with additional chives, if desired.

3 ea Avocado; *

2 tb Lemon Juice

1 c Cream Cheese; Softened

2 c Sour Cream

1 1/3 oz Taco Seasoning Mix; 1 Pkg

2 c Cheddar; Sharp, Shredded

3 c Fresh Tomatoes; Fine Chopped

5 ea Green Onions; Sliced,Use All

1/2 c Black Olives; Sliced

* Use 3 California Avocados (dark skinned type) that have been peeled and pitted. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LAYER 1: (Bottom) Mash the avocados and blend in the lemon juice, mixing well, and spread evenly in a bowl or on a serving plate to the edges of the dish. LAYER 2: Beat the cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Blend in the sour cream, mixing well, and blend in the taco seasoning, blending well. Spread over the avocado layer. LAYER 3: Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the cream cheese mixture. LAYER 4: Distribute the tomatoes over the cheddar cheese layer. LAYER 5: Spread the green onions over the tomato layer. LAYER 6: Top with the black olives. Serve at room temperature. Makes about 10 1/2 cups of dip. SUGGESTED DIPPERS: Tortilla Chips, Bell peppers, Lobster, Jicama

6 lg Eggplants

2 Lemons, juiced

2 tb Tahini

Salt 1 lg Garlic clove

1/4 c Chopped parsley, fresh

2 tb Olive oil

Cook eggplants whole on all sides, turning as necessary til lthey are soft throughout & the skin is charred. Set aside to cool for 1 hour. Peel eggplants & discard skin. In a mixing bowl, add lemon juice & tahini. Blend well. Add salt to taste. Finely chop the garlic clove & add to mashed eggplant. Stir well & chill. To serve, place in a flat serving dish & garnish with parsley. Pour olive oil the top. Joel Rapp, "Mother Earth's Vegetarian Feasts"

1 1/2 lb Eggplant

3 tb Lemon juice

1 ts Salt

2 ts Minced fresh garlic

3 tb Sesame tahini

-- (optional: substitute -- yogurt or sour cream) 1/4 c Chopped parsley

1/2 c Toasted pine nuts

2 tb Olive oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Prick eggplant all over with a fork. Bake whole until tender (about 30 minutes). Remove from oven, halve and scoop out the flesh. Blend in a food processor with the lemon juice until smooth. Mash the salt and garlic together and combine with the eggplant, along with the tahini. Cool and stir in the parsley and pine nuts. Before serving, drizzle with the olive oil. Serve as a dip with tortilla chips or triangles of flat (pita) bread. (Adapted from The Victory Garden Cookbook) From: The Cook's Garden catalog, Spring/Summer 1993 (page 20)

1 Large eggplant

1 Clove garlic; crushed

1 ts Salt

1/4 c Tahini; Sesame Seed Paste

2 tb Water

1/4 c Lemon juice

Lemon wedges Parsley Olive oil Set oven to 375F. Wash eggplant and remove stem. Pierce with a fork 4-6 times. Place in baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes or until tender. Remove from oven and run under cold water. Peel and mash; set aside. In serving bowl combine garlic, salt, and Tahini. Gradually add water and lemon juice, beating well. Fold in mashed eggplant. Garnish with lemon wedges, finely chopped parsley and a sprinkle of olive oil. Scoop up eggplant with pieces of Pita Bread to eat or serve as a side dish with any meal. Shared by Rita Taule, Prodigy ID# BTVC62A.

4 1/2 oz Round Brie cheese

Coarsely cracked black -pepper 7 oz Baby pear tomatoes (red and

-yellow) 1 To 2 Tbsp. snipped fresh

-herbs (choose from basil, -oregano, marjoram, Fresh herb sprigs savory, dill, or a combination of them Sliced French Bread Generously line a 9 inch microwave-safe pie plate or quiche dish with fresh herb sprigs. Place cheese over herbs in dish. Using the tip of a paring knife, score top of the cheese in a diamond pattern. Generously top cheese with black pepper. Micro-cook, uncovered, on 100% power (high) 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or till cheese just starts to melt. Arrange tomatoes around cheese. Sprinkle cheese and tomatoes with snipped herbs. Cook on high 1 minutes more or till tomatoes are warm. Cut cheese into wedges; serve with tomatoes and bread. Makes 4 to 6 appetizer servings. From: 1990 Best-Recipes Yearbook, Better Homes and Gardens Shared By: Pat Stockett

6 Hard cooked eggs

3 tb Mayonnaise

2 sl Crisp bacon

2 ts Vinegar

1/4 c Grated cheddar

1/8 ts Salt

Mash egg yolks and stir with bacon, cheese, mayonnaise, vinegar and salt. Fill egg white halves. Top with crumbled bacon. From: Barbara Younger (FCTP67A) - Prodigy Posted by: Debbie Carlson - Cooking Echo