With the letter "F" comes some memories of one of my favorite cakes. So easy a child can make it, and very moist and delicious. It is called "Fruit Cocktail Cake." My sister always said "poor man's cake" because you an afford to make this one, no matter how poor you are!

Fruit Cocktail Cake

1 can fruit cocktail-with juice (about a 16 ounce can,but I think with downsizing they are now 15 ounces!)

2 cups flour (1 cup white and 1 cup wheat works too)

1 1/2 cups sugar (can use some brown, some white, I don't use quite this much, probably just a cup would do)

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix everything well, pour into well-greased and floured pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. It will pop back when you poke it. Let cool slightly and dust with powdered sugar, or serve cold with whipped cream. Very good!

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), November 27, 2001

Answers

Fish[crispy fish with lemon sauce}

Lemon sauce, 1 cup water,1 piece lemon rind,{about one inch square] 1/3 cup lemon juice, 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar, 1 piece fresh ginger root, pared and cut into thin slices, 1 teas. instant chicken bouillon granules, 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch,2 tablespoons water. Fish 3/4 cup flour, 4 or 5 fillets of a good white fish, 6 tbls, water, 1 1/2 teas. veg.oil. 3 cups veg. oil 1 egg white, 4 green onions, For sauce, combine water, lemon rind and juice, sugar, ginger and bouillon in saucepan.Cook over medium high heat until mixture boils. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 5 mins. Remove from heat. Strain sauce and return to pan. Blend cornstarch and the remaining 2 tablespoons water, Stir mixture into sauce, cook and stir until sauce boils and thickens, Simmer 5 mins. Stirring frequently, keep warm. For fish, Measure 1/4 cup of the flour into a shallow dish. coat fish on both sides lightly with the flour, Combine remainging 1/2 cup flour, the water and 1 1/2 teaspoons veg. oil in large bowl. Beat with a whisk untill smooth. Heat 3 cups oil in wok over high heat until it reaches 375 f. or sissles with a drop of batter. Reduce heat as needed to maintain temperature, Beat egg white with electric mixer until stiff, Fold whites into the batterm Dip fish in flour mix turning to coat completely. Drain off excess batter. Carefully place fish into oil . Cook until fish is golden and completely cooked. 8 to 10 min. turn fish over once during cooking if necessary to cook evenly. Drain on absorbent paper. Place fish on serving plate. Stir onions into Lemon Sauce and pour over the fish.Chopped green onion. You can take thin slices of chicken breast, pounded thin and use same lemon sauce. and you have lemon chicken. God bless Irene

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), November 27, 2001.

Flour Tortillas

4 cups flour
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
4 tbsp shortening or lard
1 1/2 cups warm water, approximately

-- Cheryl in Ks (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), November 27, 2001.

Fried Apples and Onions -----

In large skillet, heat olive oil (or bacon grease). Add sliced onions and sliced, (cored) apples. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cook, covered, until tender. A good side dish or desert.

-- Janet in Kansas (whisperingpines@terraworld.net), December 04, 2001.

******Fish: Poor Man's Lobster

Title: POOR MAN'S LOBSTER 3 qt Water 1/2 c Salt 1/2 c Sugar 4 Pounds of cod, cut into 6 Or 8 pieces Butter Bring water, salt and sugar to boiling; remove from heat and add cod. Cover and let stand for 15 minutes. Drain carefully; pat dry with paper towels. Place cod on foil lined broiler pan or 15x10x1 inch pan. Butter generously; broil 3 to 4 inches from heat until lightly browned. Serve immediately with melted butter.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), March 21, 2002.