LOBSTER AND ROASTED CORN CHOWDER

Serves 12 people.

Ingredients

1 (21 lb.) live Maine lobster
4 strips bacon, fine dice
1/2 med. onion, fine dice
1/4 med. green pepper, fine dice
1/4 med. red pepper, fine dice
1/4 med. yellow pepper, fine dice
1/4 sm. jalapeno pepper, fine dice
1/2 stalk celery, fine dice
1/2 med. carrot, fine dice
1/2 c. diced green chilies, canned
1/4 lb. unsalted butter
1/2 c. all purpose flour
6 c. lobster stock or 1 tbsp. lobster
base and 6 c. water
1 tbsp. tomato paste
1 c. corn, cut off the cob
1 c. cream style corn
1 sm. smoked hamhock
2 med. baking potatoes, peeled and
cut into 1 inch square dice
1 bunch cilantro, fine chop
2 stalks green onions, fine bias cut
2 c. heavy whipping cream
1 tsp. Lenard's southwestern
seasoning blend
1/2 lemon juice
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Prepare and Cook

Steam lobster 17 minutes, let cool and remove from shell. Save shells to make lobster stock if desired. Saute bacon until crispy in sauce or small stock pot. Add: onions; green, red, yellow and jalapeno peppers; celery and carrots, cook until soft. Add: tomato paste and green chilies. Add: lobster base, if that is your choice over stock. Cook 3 mintues stirring constantly over medium heat. Add: 1/2 of the unsalted butter and cook until melted. Add: flour and cook 3 more minutes. Roast corn kernals in an oven on a baking sheet or other flat pan until slightly browned and add to chowder. Add: cream style corn; southwestern seasoning and smoked hamhocks. Add: stock or water, if using base. Cook for 1/2 hour keeping at a slow boil, stirring constantly. Add: potatoes and cook for another 15 minutes. If too thick add more stock or water to desired consistency. Add: green onions; cilantro and lemon juice. Slowly Whisk in cream and the remaining butter until melted. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

CUCUMBER SOUP

Ingredients

3 c. chicken broth
1 med. onion sliced
1 tbsp. corn oil
3 med. peeled and diced cucumbers
1 tsp. corn starch
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. sweet basil
1/2 tsp. beaumonde
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 c. dry vermouth
1 tbsp. sour cream
chives to garnish

Prepare and Cook

Saute onions in oil, 5 minutes, add the diced cucumbers. Blend corn starch with some cold chicken broth, add to cucumbers and add rest of broth. Add salt, pepper, basil and beaumonde. Bring to boil, simmer for 25 minutes. Put in blender, blend and add lemon juice, sour cream. When blended add vermouth. Chill. Can be made several days ahead. When serving, garnish with chives.

OVEN STEW

Ingredients

4 lbs. beef round steak, cut in 1 inch
cubes
4 c. sliced carrots
2 c. sliced celery
4 med. onions, sliced
2 (5 oz.) cans water chestnuts,
drained and sliced
2 (6 oz.) cans sliced mushrooms,
drained
1/4 c. plus 2 tbsp. flour
2 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. salt
2 (16 oz.) cans tomatoes
2 c. Burgundy

Prepare and Cook

In roasting pan mix meat, carrots, celery, onions, water chestnuts and mushrooms. Mix flour, sugar and salt, then add to meat mixture. Stir in tomatoes and Burgundy. Cover and bake 4 hours.

MINESTRONE

Ingredients
1 c. finely minced celery
1 c. finely minced onion
1 c. finely minced carrot
1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. garbanzo beans
1/2 c. kidney beans
1/2 c. whole dried peas
1/2 c. white pea beans
3/4 c. sliced carrots
3/4 c. coarsely chopped onion
3/4 c. sliced celery
3/4 c. chopped bell pepper
1/2 c. rice or barley
1 c. shell macaroni
2 tbsp. minced parsley
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. basil
2 tsp. soy sauce
Pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese

Prepare
Slowly saute finely minced onion, celery and carrot in butter until very brown. Add peas and beans and about 3 quarts of water. Cook slowly until beans are almost done (check garbanzos - they will take the longest) about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Add the remaining vegetables, rice and spices and more water if necessary and cook another hour. About 20 minutes before serving time add the macaroni and more water if needed. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve with crusty garlic bread.

CORN CHOWDER

Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

6 slices bacon, diced
1/2 c. finely chopped onion
2 c. diced raw potatoes
1 1/2 c. water
2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 c. cream style corn
2 tbsp. oleo, melted
2 tbsp. flour
3 c. milk

Prepare

Parsley, shredded cheese, corn chips
Fry bacon until crisp. Remove bacon. Saute onion in 2 tablespoons bacon drippings until transparent, not brown. Cook potatoes in the water with salt, sauted onion and bacon in covered pan until tender. Add pepper and corn. Blend oleo and flour, stir in milk and cook until slightly thickened. Add to corn mixture: sprinkle parsley, shredded cheese or chips over the top. Serve immediately and piping hot.

BROCCOLI, ASPARAGUS SOUP

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. flour
1 bunch (10 oz.) fresh broccoli
1 sm. onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp. butter
1 qt. chicken stock or broth
1/2 c. heavy cream, warmed
Salt and pepper

Prepare

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan, stir in flour. Cook 3 minutes over low heat, stir constantly. Cool. Set aside. If using broccoli: Wash and trim off tough part. Separate and cut into 1/2 inch pieces. In a large saucepan saute onion in 2 tablespoons butter until tender. Stir in broccoli, cover and cook 3 minutes. Stir in stock or broth, heat to simmering. Stir small amount of liquid into cooked flour and butter mixture until smooth; return mixture to saucepan; stirring until smooth. Simmer, covered until broccoli is tender, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat, cool slightly. Puree in electric blender, return to saucepan. Blend cream into soup. Taste and salt and pepper if needed.