APRICOT

Two 16-oz. cans apricots packed in heavy syrup, drained, liquid discarded
3/4 cup simple syrup
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup heavy cream

Purée the apricots in a food processor. Add the syrup. lemon juice and cream.

Pour the mixture into the bowl of the machine and freeze.

Makes about 1 quart.

APPLE WALNUT

2 apples, cored, peeled, chopped
2 cups whipping cream
1/2 teaspon cinnamon
1 cup milk 3 egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 chopped walnuts

Steam apples until soft. Puree with 1/4 cup of sugar, 1 cup of cream and cinnamon Beat egg yolks. Beat 1/2 cup of sugar. Heat milk and 1 cup of cream just short of boiling. Stir into egg yolks. Mix milk/egg and apple mixtures. Cool. Mix in machine. Add walnuts when ice cream nearly ready.

Simple Syrup

4 cups sugar
4 cups water

Place the water and sugar in a saucepan and simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate in a covered jar.

Makes about 1 quar.

An Apple a Day Dog Treat

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup unbleached flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 apple -- chopped or grated
1 egg -- beaten
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
3/8 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with vegetable oil spray. Lightly dust work surface with flour. Blend flours and cornmeal m large mixing bowl. Add apple, egg, oil, brown sugar and water; mix until well blended.

On floured surface, roll dough out to 7/8-inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters of desired shape and size. Place treats on prepared sheet.

Bake in preheated oven 35 to 40 minutes. Turn off oven. Leave door closed 1 hour to crisp treats. Remove treats from oven. Store baked treats in airtight container or plastic bag and place in refrigerator or freezer.

Alfie And Archie's Dog Biscuits

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup dry milk -- powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon brown sugar
6 tablespoons beef fat
1 egg -- beaten
1/2 cup ice water

1. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Combine flour, dry milk, salt, garlic powder and sugar. Cut in meat drippings until mixture resembles corn meal. Mix in egg. Add enough water so that mixture forms a ball.

Using your fingers, pat out dough onto cookie sheet to half inch thick. Cut with cookie cutter or knife and remove scraps. Scraps can be formed again and baked.

2. Bake 25-30 minutes. Remove from tray and cool on rack.

Alfalfa Hearts

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup soy flour
1 teaspoon bone meal -- optional
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon lecithin -- optional
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons alfalfa sprouts -- chopped
1 cup brown rice -- cooked
3 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 cup water

Combine flours, bone meal, yeast, lecithin, salt, garlic powder and alfalfa leaves. Add rice and oil. Combine well.

Add 1/4 cup water and mix well. Dough should be very easy to handle, not crumbly. Add more water if needed to achieve proper consistency.

Lightly flour board or counter and roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with 2 1/2 inch cutter. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Makes 3 dozen.

Ace's Favorite Cheesy Dog Biscuits

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups grated cheddar cheese
1/4 pound margarine -- corn oil
1 clove garlic -- crushed
1 pinch salt
1/4 cup Milk -- or as needed

Grate the cheese into a bowl and let stand until it reaches room temperature. Cream the cheese with the softened margarine, garlic, salt and flour. Add enough milk to form into a ball.

Chill for 1/2 hour. Roll onto floured board. Cut into shapes and bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until slightly brown, and firm. Makes 2 to 3 dozen, depending on size.

BBQ PORK LO MEIN

2 tablespoons Sesame oil
2 tablespoons Vegtable oil
1 teaspoon Ginger -- finely chopped
2 cups Bok choy -- cut into 1/2" pie
1 1/2 cups Bean sprout
8 ounces Chinese bbq pork
1/2 cup Chicken broth
2 tablespoons Oyster sauce
1 tablespoon Soy -- dark
1/2 teaspoon Sugar
Pepper -- dash

1. Cook noodles in plenty of boiling water, when al dente, drain and toss with sesame oil, set aside 2.Combine sauce ingredients, set aside
3. Heat wok, add oil, Add ginger stir fry until fragrant (about 10 sec) add bok choy, bean sprouts and pork, Stir fry 2 min
4.Add broth then when broth is hot add noodles, cover and cook 2 min
5. Add sauce, stir well and serve Varriations, instead of pork, use left over cooked, roast beef, lamb, shrimp or chicken, other fresh vegtables in season can be used in place of the sprouts and bok choy From "Dim Sum" by Ruth Laws 8 oz lo mein noodles.

ASPARAGUS AND CHICKEN IN BLACK BEAN SAUCE

2 Chicken thighs
12 medium Asparagus spears
3 tablespoons Peanut or corn oil
-----MARINADE-----
1 tablespoon Dry sherry
1 teaspoon Cornstarch
2 teaspoons Thin soy sauce
1 pinch Sugar
-----SAUCE-----
2 teaspoons Fermented black beans
3 Cloves garlic -- minced
1/2 teaspoon Brown sugar
2 teaspoons Black soy sauce
3/4 cup Chicken stock
Cornstarch paste

Marinating: With sharp paring knife, scrape chicken meat from thigh; slice into thin strips across the grain. (Breast meat is not preferred for this dish, as meat is too dry and spongy.) Combine sherry, soy, cornstarch and sugar in bowl; massage liquid into meat with your fingers. Marinate for 15 to 30 minutes.

Preparation: Wash asparagus; peel tough white outer skin off ends; slice on diagonal in 2 1/2" sections. Rinse fermented black beans. In bowl, combine and mash black beans and garlic, brown sugar, black soy sauce and chicken stock; stir; reserve for 15 minutes.

Stir Frying: Add 2/3 of oil to hot wok; when oil is very hot, add chicken.Stir-fry for about 3 minutes on high heat - or until chicken begins to shrink and firm up. Remove chicken to holding bowl.

Reheat wok to high, add remaining oil. When oil is hot, add black bean sauce. Stir-fry for 1 minute. Add asparagus; mix with sauce. Stir sauce with asparagus. When sauce boils, add cooked chicken; toss to combine.Dribble in a little cornstarch paste if needed; cornstarch in chicken marinade might be enough. Toss ingredients until very little liquid remains and is reduced to glaze. Dish is ready when asparagus brightens. If you still have too much liquid, remove ingredients, continue to reduce sauce, then return ingredients to coat them with sauce. Serve in individual portions.

Almond Chicken

2 whole skinless boneless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice wine
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons chicken stock
1 1/2" ginger root slice -- minced
1 garlic cloves -- minced
1 egg
1 cup almonds -- ground
6 cups peanut oil

Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Cut into strips 1/2" wide by 3" long. Stir soy sauce, rice wine, chicken stock, sugar, cornstarch, ginger, and garlic together. Place chicken in marinade, turning to coat. Marinate at least one hour, turning chicken after half an hour. Remove chicken from marinade and drain on paper towels. Beat egg slightly with 1/2 teaspoon water. One by one, dip chicken pieces in egg and roll in almonds to coat. Let almond coated pieces set 15 minutes. Heat oil to 350. Fry chicken pieces in batches one layer deep until crisp, golden brown. Be sure to let oil come back up to 350 between batches. Drain on paper towels and serve at once.