COOKING

	Cooking is probably one of my favorite past times.... I don't mean the every-day "gotta make dinner" cooking. I'm talking about the "Thanksgiving dinner feast" cooking, or the "company's here for breakfast" cooking or the "have I got a recipe for you" cooking. Below I have listed a couple of my all-time favorites.

Banana Bread
1 cup oil	3/4 cup brown sugar (all granulated sugar may be used)
4 eggs	3 cups white flour
2 tsp vanilla	1 cup wheat flour (all white flour may be used)
3 cups bananas, mashed	1 tsp baking powder
1-1/4 cups granulated sugar	2 cups nuts (pecans are my favorite)
Mix oil, eggs, vanilla and bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix dry ingredients and slowly add to wet mixture while stirring. Blend in nuts. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35 to 40 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Yield: 2 loaves

Pear Pie
Single pie crust	1 egg
29 oz. can pear halves or parts	3/4 cups flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar	1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp. ginger	1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup sour cream	1/2 cup butter or margarine
Mix granulated sugar, ginger, sour cream and egg in a small bowl. Place pear halves with hole-side up in an unbaked pie crust (or evenly distribute pear parts). Pour sour cream mixture evenly over pears. Using pastry blender, mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter until crumbly. Do not overmix! Sprinkle over pears and sour cream mixture. Bake at 375 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes (center should be bubbling). You may need to cover the pie crust edges with foil to prevent burning.
Yield: 1 pie

Honey Mustard Dressing
1 cup mayonnaise	1/4 cup fresh parsley
3/4 cup oil	1/4 cup mustard
1/2 cup honey	1 Tbl sugar
1/3 cup vinegar	3/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup onion, chopped
Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Cover and chill for 4 hours before serving.
Yield: Approximately 3 cups