Fried Rice

• 4 cups cooked rice
• 1 cup frozen peas – thawed
• 2 tbsp finely grated carrot
• 2 eggs – beaten
• ½ cup diced onion
• 1½ tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• salt
• pepper

1. Cook rice following instructions on package (Bring 2 cups water to a boil, add rice and a dash of salt, reduce heat and simmer in covered saucepan for 20 minutes). Pour rice
   into a large bowl to let it cool in the refrigerator.
2. Scramble the eggs in a small pan over medium heat. Separate the scrambled chunks of egg into small pea-size bits while cooking.
3. When rice has cooled to near room temperature, add peas, grated carrot, scrambled egg and diced onion to the bowl. Carefully toss all of the ingredients together.
4. Melt 1½ tbsp of butter in a large frying pan over medium/high heat.
5. When butter has completely melted, dump the bowl of rice and other ingredients into the pan and add soy sauce plus a dash of salt and pepper. Cook rice for 6-8 minutes over heat, stirring often.

Makes 4 servings.

French Onion Soup

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 6 medium white onions, sliced
• 8 cups beef broth (Swanson is best)
• 1 cup water
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 5 plain hamburger buns
• 10 slices provolone cheese
• 10 teaspoons shredded parmesan cheese

1. Add 3 tablespoons oil to a large soup pot or saucepan over medium/high heat. Add the sliced onions and sauté for 20 minutes until the onions begin to soften and start to become translucent. You don't want them to brown.
2. Add the beef broth, water, salt, garlic powder and black pepper to the pan and bring mixture to a boil. When soup begins to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes.
3. To make the croutons cut off the top half of each top of the hamburger bun so that the bread is the same thickness as the bottom half of each bun. Throw the tops away. Now you should have 10 round pieces of bread -- 5 bottom buns, and 5 top buns with the tops cut off. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place the bread in the the oven directly on the rack and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until each piece is golden brown and crispy. Set these croutons aside until you need them.
4. When the soup is done, spoon about 1 cup into an oven-safe bowl. Float a crouton on top of the soup, then place a slice of provolone cheese on top of the crouton. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of shredded parmesan cheese over the provolone.
5. Place the bowl into your oven set to high broil. Broil the soup for 5 to 6 minutes or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown (you may need to broil longer if you are making more than one bowl at a time). Sprinkle an additional 1/2 teaspoon of shredded parmesan cheese over the top of the soup and serve. Repeat process to prepare remaining servings.

Makes 10 servings.

Pico de Gallo

• 3 large tomatoes diced
• 1 large onion diced
• 2 Tbsp. diced Jalapenos
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro (diced)
• 2 tsp. Salt
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. white vinegar

Mix all ingredients together in large container until well blended. Allow to sit for at least 6 hours, it is better if allowed to sit overnight.

LoneStar Steakhouse Chili

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion diced
• 1 tablespoon diced fresh jalapeno pepper
• 1 15-ounce can kidney beans with liquid
• 1 14.5-ounce can peeled diced tomatoes
• 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 bay leaf

Garnish

• grated cheddar cheese
• diced onion
• canned whole jalapeno chili peppers 

1. Brown ground beef in a large saucepan over medium heat. Drain fat.
2. Add onion and pepper and sauté for about two minutes.
3. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Serve one cup in a bowl with the optional cheese, diced onion and whole jalapeno garnish on top.
   Makes 4 servings.