Regarding this Recipe... What kind of vinegar do I use? is Apple Cider fine? Thanks again! G'doc ANNIEÂS SALSA 8 cups tomatoes, peeled, chopped and drained 2 1/2 cups chopped onion 1 1/2 cups chopped green pepper 3  5 chopped jalapenos 6 cloves minced garlic 2 tsp cumin 2 tsp pepper 1/8 cup canning salt ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro 1/3 cup sugar 1 cup vinegar (for BWB or 1/3 cup vinegar for PC) 16 oz. tomato sauce 16 oz tomato paste Mix all ingredients, bring to a boil, boil 10 minutes. Pour into hot jars, process at 10 lbs of pressure for 30 minutes for pints. Or BWB 15 minutes. Makes 6 pints Nancy

No, but the people at the site below seem to like it judging by the number of recipes posted. Might be worth a try. Here is a link that might be useful: Recipes for Carbquik

You can skip the watercress in this. Plus they're easy to make ahead: PESTO-STUFFED CHERRY TOMATOES (serves 6-8) 2 cups (1 pint) cherry tomatoes 3 oz pkg cream cheese, softened 2 TBL lemon juice 1/4 cup grated Parmesan 1/4 cup finely chopped pine nuts or sunflower seeds (almonds work also) 3/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley 1/4 cup finely chopped watercress 1 1/2 tsp dried basil 2 cloves garlic, crushed Cut tops off cherry tomatoes. Scoop out pulp. Drain tomatoes upside down on paper towels while making the filling. Beat the cream cheese w/the lemon juice in a medium bowl until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients. Fill tomatoes w/cheese mixture & chill.~~From Appetizers CHEESE STRAWS (makes about 5 dozen) 1 scan cup flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt Dash of cayenne 1 cup grated sharp Cheddar 5 1/3 TBL butter 2-3 tsp water Mix the flour, baking powder, salt, cayenne & cheese. Add the butter & rub in until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle in enough water to make a stiff dough. Roll out about 1/8" thick & cut in 3x1/4" strips. Bake on a cookie sheet in a preheated 400° oven for 10 minutes or until slightly brown.~~Company's Coming For this you can vary the kinds of chips: NUTS & BOLTS (serves 12 or more) 2 small boxes Cheez-its 3 cans mixed nuts (3-4 cups) 8 oz shelled pecans 1 qt popcorn (best freshly popped) 2 pkg sesame chips 2 cans coconut chips 1 small box pretzel sticks 2 sticks margarine 1/2 tsp garlic salt or 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 tsp salt 1 tsp curry powder Dash of Tabasco 1 TBL Worcestershire sauce Preheat oven to 250°. Mix the Cheez-its, nuts, popcorn, chips & pretzel sticks in a large roasting pan. Melt the margarine in a small pan & stir in the seasonings. Sprinkle over the mixture in the roasting pan. Bake 1 hour, stirring 2-3 times. Cool on absorbent paper & store in cans or jars.~~Cincinnati Celebrates HAM CHEESE BALL (serves 12-15) Two 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened 1 cup ground smoked ham 1 TBL grated onion 2 tsp dried parsley flakes 1/2 tsp seasoned pepper 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Cover & chill 30-60 minutes. Shape mixture into a large ball & coat w/chopped nuts. Wrap w/plastic wrap & refrigerate. Serve w/assorted crackers.~~Food for Thought Oh, and deviled eggs go over well with nearly everyone.

Mechanical soft diet refers to the consistancy mainly of the meat. Mechanical soft foods are very well cooked with lots of gravy or sauce for the meats. Meats can be cut up finely or med fine like ground beef. Also meat can be chopped in chunks. It will depend on the persons degree of chewing/ swallowing difficulty. Meats should be sliced very thin and always have gravy or sauce with them to aid in swallowing. Any foods can be eaten on a mechanical soft diet as long as they are cooked very tender and the meat is the proper consistency. If needed you can puree the meat or even all foods. Add nectar, juice, gravy, broth, milk or other calorie dense liquids to foods to puree.Even pureed foods can vary in consistancy. There are generally 3 consistancies used: pudding constancy, nectar consistancy and thin consistancy (almost the consistancy of milk). Some speech therapists also recommend using applesauce consistancy. The best thing to do is consult a speech therapist and your doctor if the person is having swallowing problems so a modified barium swallow test can be given. This test will assist in determining the proper consistancy of foods/liquids to avoid choking and aspiration. I hope I helped. Good luck to you. Debra Truncale, RD, LD