In 1999, Fred Carl, founder and owner of Viking Range Corporation, asked me to begin posting quick and easy, family friendly recipes on the Viking web site. Despite his pioneering professional performance appliances for the home kitchen, Fred understood that busy families needed recipes that are accessible in their everyday lives, not just special occasion, gourmet recipe ideas.

This month's menu gives you the best of both worlds. The menu packs gourmet flavor with little fuss. A simple starter of Hot Avocado Boats pairs peeled and seeded avocado halves with a sweet and spicy hot vinaigrette. Bottled barbecue sauce gets a citrus twist and glazes oven-roasted Citrus-Q Salmon. Couscous is a quick cook's friend, and a Sunny Couscous Salad pairs perfectly with the glazed salmon.

For dessert, we've got a quick and easy Frozen Mocha Mousse Pie. A little espresso powder gives this pie a nice coffee kick. The pie is best made ahead so that it has time to freeze completely.

Recipes:

	Queso Dip and Chips "Queso" is the Spanish word for cheese. Queso dip is great with tortilla chips and fresh veggies such as carrots and celery. It’s also good as a sauce for cooked veggies like broccoli and cauliflower.
	Citrus-Q Salmon Salmon is a high-flavored fish that can stand up to strong seasonings and sauces. Here, it’s paired with a citrus-infused barbecue sauce. Use any barbecue sauce you have on hand, add fresh citrus juices and a bit of soy, and you have a homemade-tasting sauce that’s good on almost any fish.
	Frozen Mocha Mousse Pie This pie combination also is the base for the Frozen Peanut Butter Pie and the Frozen Strawberry Margarita Pie recipes found on this site.
	Hot Avocado Boats The tangy hot vinaigrette filling the center of a smooth, luscious avocado half is a combination that can’t be beaten.