First duty station...Sicily, Italy!!!!

Wash figs and cut off stems.  Layer figs in a container, cover with a layer of sugar - repeat layers. Cover and place container in refrigerator overnight while it creates its own syrup.  Next day, place mixture in a pot and cook for about 30 minutes.  Put in sterilized jars and seal.  (You can also add flavored Jello.  I added strawberry Jello to a batch and it was wonderful).

One cup of self rising cornmeal One half cup of self rising flour One teaspoon of sugar One finely chopped small onion One cup of milk

Mix all the ingredients together.

Heat in a small heavy sauce pan three inches of Wesson oil until it is hot Fill a coffee mug with cold water

Take a soup spoon, wet it in your coffee mug of cold water, dip it in your mixture so you have about enough mixture to cover about one third of the spoon lengthwise.

Carefully let it slide into hot oil.  If your oil is the correct temperature, there will be lots of bubbles around the hush puppy. If you take a long handled metal slotted spoon and touch the just dropped hush puppy which will sink to  bottom of the pan, it should rise to the surface easily.

If the oil isn't hot enough, just keep trying.  When the oil is the proper temperature, the dropped mixture will bob to the top of oil with very little encouragement.  Turn the hush puppies until they are golden brown and place them on a platter with paper towels.

It takes a little practice, but it isn't that difficult.  They are best done in small batches.  You're working with very hot oil so be very careful and keep kids away from the cooking.  Don't be surprised if for the first few minutes, the hush puppies keep disappearing.  The recipe makes enough for a huge crowd, probably four dozen or more hush puppies.  It does make something of a mess, but the good hush puppies are worth it.

Sangria Serves 4-6 people

1 bottle of dry red wine 1 c. freshly squeezed orange juice 1/3 c. sugar 1/3 c. tequila

1 orange, sliced 1/2 lb. (8 oz.) strawberries, sliced 1 lime, sliced sparkling water

1. Add about half of the orange juice into a sauce pan with the sugar. Cook on medium heat and whisk until sugar dissolves. Allow to cool completely. Stir in remaining orange juice. 2. Pour wine into pitcher. Add tequila and cooled orange juice. Stir. 3. Add sliced fruit and place in refrigerator for at least 4 hours before serving. 4. Serve with ice and sparkling water. Optional—garnish with lime or orange wedge.

Red Clover Lemonade

• 3 cups Red Clover blooms
• 4 cups water
• 1 1/4 cups lemon juice
• 4 Tbsp honey

Boil the blooms in the water for 5-7 minutes. Strain; add lemon juice and honey to the remaining liquid. Stir, then chill for two hours. Serve over ice. Enjoy!

CORN AND BLACK BEAN SALSA...my sister was nice enough to retrieve it from her computer so I didn't have to type it up...
Here it is...
3 ears corn husked
1 can black beans, rinsed and dra...ined
1 pint grape tomatoes quartered
3 scallions chopped
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1-3 jalapeno's (seeded or unseeded depending on spiciness you want)
2 tbs. lime juice
2 tbs. canola oil
1 small garlic clove, minced
3/4 tsp salt

wrap each corn in paper towl and microwave on high for 6 minutes. let cool 10 min then cut kernels form corn. Mix all together.

• 1 cup(s) chopped fresh parsley
• 3/4 cup(s) olive oil
• 1/2 cup(s) fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) red-pepper flakes
• 2 clove(s) garlic, crushed through a press

Directions

1. In a small bowl, combine parsley, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and red-pepper flakes.