I have a very dear friend named Gisele Kress. You may already know Gisele, this being a small town and all. She is definitely someone you’d wanna know; beautiful (some say she looks just like Jennifer Aniston), funny, smart, and a great mom to her three boys, Matt, Kevin and Ethan. Tragically, Gisele’s oldest son Matt (who was seriously one of the sweetest young men I’ve ever met) died in an automobile accident about a year and a half ago, along with his friend Craig. Gisele, being a mom through and through, didn’t want something like that to ever happen again to someone else’s child, so she and her close friends founded the MAC’s Safe Ride. I asked Gisele recently for a little more information on the background and future goals of this fine program, and here’s what she told me:

“MAC’s safe ride is an acronym for Matt and Craig’s safe ride. It came in response to an alcohol related car accident that claimed both boy’s lives and forever changed many others. The idea came within the days after (the accident), when the multitude of friends were gathering to comfort each other and to remember the many good times. The worry of keeping them safe was eliminated when a very good friend and husband offered their 12 passenger van to safely deliver them from one destination to another. And the continued generosity and support of the community has developed into just that: a van donated by the Noonan family and funded through donations provides transportation for individuals who find themselves in a situation involving drinking and driving. Presently we run weekends and holidays but hope to expand that as summer approaches. Volunteers have been generously giving their time, whether to drive the van, man information booths or sell “ice out” raffle tickets, while others offer professional services and time. This truly is a community project that Old Forge and its surrounding areas can be proud to have. It says to our local people, our youth and our visitors that we want you to have fun, and we want you to do it responsibly. Drinking and driving is 100 percent preventable, so our motto is: Make your choice one we ALL can live with...choose MAC’s Safe Ride”.

The program really needs more drivers and navigators...if you can donate your time, please call Chip Kiefer at (315) 369-6506. And, if you need the services of the MAC van itself (Gisele wants to stress that “what happens in the MAC van, stays in the MAC van”), call 369-8121. Thank you.

Egan and I are all signed up to drive/navigate the MAC van soon...can’t wait. By now, you might be wondering what on earth the MAC van has to do with cooking or these new recipes in today’s column. To which I reply...absolutely nothing, but they’re both fantastic recipes that I’ve been working on lately, and have the spices perfected to a “T”. The Super Easy Split Pea and Kielbasa Soup is definitely a winner...so easy to put together, and nice and hearty for a cold winter’s night. The Chili Egg Puff recipe is one of those that you can put together the night before you need it, then pop in the oven the next morning for a delicious brunch. Why, it would be just perfect for the morning after you drive the MAC van. Just saying’...Enjoy.

SUPER EASY SPLIT PEA

AND KIELBASA SOUP

Serves 8

1 lb. smoked kielbasa sausage (I use the lowfat turkey kielbasa)

1 lb. dried split peas, rinsed

6 cups water

2 chicken bouillon cubes

2 large carrots, chopped

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1 cup chopped celery

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

3 bay leaves

1 tsp. red chili pepper flakes (optional, but these add a nice little heat)

Cut sausage in half lengthwise, then cut into 1/4 inch thick slices. Place in a Dutch oven or soup kettle; add all remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 and 1/4 to 1 and 1/2 hours, or until peas are tender. Remove bay leaves and serve.

CHILI EGG PUFF

Serves 8

1/2 cup flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 dozen eggs, beaten

4 cups shredded Jack and cheddar cheese blend, divided

2 cups lowfat cottage cheese

2 plum tomatoes, diced

2 small cans chopped green chilies

1 bunch green onions, sliced

1 tsp. hot sauce

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

Red or green salsa, optional

Sour cream, optional

In a large bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In a smaller bowl, whisk eggs. Add eggs, 3 and 1/2 cups cheese and all remaining ingredients to flour mixture; mix well.

Pour into a greased 13x9x2 inch casserole. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake (uncovered) for 15 minutes at 400 degrees, then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 30-40 minutes, or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Serve with sour cream and salsa, if desired.

Please send all recipes or comments

to PO Box 111, Old Forge, NY 13420,

or e-mail them to lnwillard@hotmail.com. You can also visit Leslie at her blog, located at www.SugarAndSpiceAdk.blogspot.com.