Time for Take Out!

African Violet blossoming! Woohoo!

Last night we had Take Out!  It was a day filled with "catching up" after the FuN & the visiting during Thanksgiving Weekend.  Time has just sped on by me!  A trip to Costco, to the grocery store and other little side trips.  Those things do happen.  So, when dinner time rolled around, the easiest solution was definitely take out.

Take out of the freezer and defrost, that is!  :)  A meal containing Turkey sounded so good and there were 2 Ziploc Freezer containers of Turkey a la King just waiting.  It was the day to remove one container from the second shelf.  Turkey a la King freezes very well!  Every year, without fail - on the third day after Thanksgiving Day, I cut the remaining slices & pieces of turkey into smaller bites to use while making a double or triple batch of Turkey a la King.  

I use my Chicken a la King recipe - replacing the cooked Chicken with roasted Turkey.  Click here for recipe.  It's always best to remember the "food safety rule" of enjoying the delicious freshly roasted Turkey entree and then eating the remaining pieces of Turkey within 2 - 3 days after roasting.  

Sure, Turkey Pot Pies can be made & enjoyed, but easy works so well for me, especially after a family holiday.  The mix of veggies & Turkey in a thick white sauce served over toasted bread is so yummy!  No need for any fuss of any kind.

(Turkey a la King -  File Photo)

After dinner the remaining portions are cooled and placed in Ziploc 2 Cup Freezer containers.  Label & date and into my large freezer they go.

On a busy night, defrost & heat.  If using a covered vented sauce pot, heat on Low heat on the stove (with a little extra milk added).  Stir while defrosting/ heating.  Serve over toasted bread.

**This is a great time of year to purchase the Ziploc Freezer containers on specials at the grocery stores.  They are very handy!   
  
Enjoy!
Yummy!

         

~Pie & History~

As I prepare for Thanksgiving Day, I always think about the English colonists who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on the Mayflower.  As a resident of Massachusetts I always enjoy driving east to the Cape (Cape Cod) in the warmer weather to enjoy the beaches and also to learn more history whenever possible!

There is an area in Chatham, MA across from the Coast Guard Small Boat Station and Chatham Lighthouse that overlooks the Chatham Sandbar.  The tranquil scene and lighthouse are a "must see" for many visitors to this area.  There are also interesting plaques containing history to read.      

It begins-

(Click to enlarge.)

This is a fascinating story!  The Pilgrims did not travel directly to Plymouth, MA!  Rather than post the images and story again, visit my post from last November and read a bit of History... when you have a chance during this Thanksgiving weekend. 

The complete post- with images:

The Journey of the Pilgrims
     posted November 21, 2012

History is FuN!

Today was "Pie Making Day" for me.   One of my fam's fave pies - Butternut Squash Custard is below! Recipe

Ready to fill with the Butternut Squash Custard Filling!

It has been a month of savoring the taste of Butternut Squash!  The delicious orange colored veggie that contains Potassium.  One 2 Cup Ziploc Freezer Bag was defrosted in the fridge yesterday and used today. 

The hand mixer makes it easy!

The Butternut Squash Custard Pie  (recipe) has been cooling on the rack.  Soon it will be placed in the fridge. 

Soon to be refrigerated.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

            

Baked Apple Butternut

A serving spoon full of steaming Baked Apple Butternut!

A little steaming baked Butternut Squash and a bit of hot Cortland Apple combined on the fork!  Oh, yum!  I had not baked this side dish in quite a few years.  Every year I have good intentions, but all of the purchased Butternuts get steamed/ mashed and then packaged in the Ziploc qt. sized Freezer Bags to enjoy on holidays and during other special dinners during the year.  Not this autumn!

There were 2 Butternut Squash left in the cardboard carton.  I had Cortland Apples.  I had plans!  The Cornflower CorningWare dish was located and I was good to go!  Yes, I still have my treasured Cornflower.  They do last a lifetime!  The combination of baked Butternut Squash + baked Apples is delicious!  Add in the Cinnamon & the Nutmeg - ah, great flavor!  In this recipe softened Butter/ Margarine is combined with the spices + a little flour and Brown Sugar.   

The addition of 1/4 Cup of Craisins or Raisins or a combo of both would be so tasty here and also colorful!  However, a baking dish of Apple Crisp with Craisins/ Raisins was in our fridge, so the Craisins & the Raisins did not make the cut here.

Before covering with foil & placing in 350°F oven.

Baked Apple Butternut
Oven Temperature:  350°F     Time:  60- 70 Minutes

Ingredients:
2 Butternut Squash
2- 3 large Apples (Cortland, Empire or Granny Smith)
****
2 teaspoons Flour
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
1/3 Cup Brown Sugar
3 Tablespoons softened Butter/ Margarine

Method:

1. Spray a 10" x 10" Baking Dish with PAM.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F.
3. Rinse Butternut Squash & Apples under cool running water, dry.
4. Cut off stem & rounded top of Squash, toss.  
5. Cut long portion of Squash into slices.  Cut off peel.  Then cut into 1" chunks. 
6. Remove seeds from bottom and cut remaining Squash into pieces.
7. Place Squash chunks/ pieces in Baking Dish.
8. Peel & slice Apples.
9. Place Apple slices on top of Squash in Baking Dish.
10. In small bowl, combine remaining ingredients for topping. 
11. Place topping on Apple Slices.
12. Cover with Aluminum Foil.
13. Bake in preheated 350°F oven for 60- 70 minutes, or until Squash chunks are tender. Use fork to pierce.

***If adding 1/4 cup Craisins/ Raisins, add on top of Butternut Squash Chunks/ Pieces, after Step #7.

This is a yummy side dish!  The flavors blend well together.  After our dinner, the extra portions were packed in Ziploc Freezer containers/ labelled and into our freezer they went.  What a welcome surprise at dinner this will be on a cold windy bleak winter New England night!

Do you serve Butternut Squash?  It's always on our Thanksgiving Day Dinner table! 

This weekend I'll be baking the Yummy Apple Breads and freezing them! 

Enjoy!
Yummy!

      

Simple Soup & Sandwich

Tomato Basil White Bean Soup & Grilled Cheese n Tuna Sandwich

This week we had a couple of days that were cold.  They were dreary, too.  They also contained the sound of "achoo" from me.  Wednesday evening an easy meal to prep at dinner was needed.  Hot soup with a Grilled Cheese Sandwich sounded really good!  Plain, simple, good! 

All of the ingredients for Tomato Basil White Bean Soup (recipe here) were found quickly.  As some of the ingredients including canned plum tomatoes cut in pieces, chicken broth, tomato sauce, Basil & Garlic Powder were simmering, my griddle pan was located.

Grilled Cheese on oatmeal bread is a fave here & sometimes I add tuna when making it - before grilling.  For a number of years, tuna packed in olive oil is our preferred choice.  Some of the oil is drained from the can, before mashing the tuna.  I skip adding the mayo here and just add the tuna into a sandwich.  Quite often when turning a Grilled Cheese n Tuna Sandwich over while grilling, a little tuna sneaks out onto my griddle.  No longer will that happen!

The magic?  Add a little shredded cheese into the mashed tuna before placing it on the bread slice.  The shredded cheese heats, melts and keeps the tuna together.  It's also a little extra cheese in the Grilled Cheese n Tuna Sandwich.  What a great taste!

It was so good along with the Tomato Basil White Bean Soup!  It was also very easy!

We did enjoy!

Yummy!

       

Butternut Squash Breads

Butternut Squash Breads cooling.

The Butternut Squash was in the fridge ready to use.  I'd saved 2 cups of the freshly mashed veggie to bake Butternut Squash Bread.  In November when we are thinking of & planning our Thanksgiving Day & menus for that weekend, most consumers purchase the cans of canned pumpkin located in very visible displays in our grocery stores.

I don't purchase them.  As I mentioned in my previous post, my family always had a large garden when I was growing up.  The Butternut Squash we harvested was always enjoyed as a veggie at dinner and also in quick breads.  You know, those breads where the ingredients are mixed together quickly in a large bowl and then baked in a loaf pan.  They are quick!  They are easy!  They are yummy!

Butternut Squash has a great flavor.  It is not bland and it's a wonderful ingredient to use rather than pumpkin in many recipes!  I always bake 2 Butternut Squash Breads - one to enjoy now and the other is wrapped & placed in my freezer.  Baking this bread now and freezing one loaf gives me a start on Thanksgiving! 

• The recipe below is for 2 breads.  If one bread will be baked, cut the recipe in half.
• I use Egg Whites whenever possible when baking/ cooking, less Cholesterol. 
  2 Egg Whites = 1 Whole Egg. 
• Olive Oil for sauteing & baking works very well here. 

Butternut Squash Breads 

Oven:  350°F      Time:  55 Minutes       2 Loaves

Ingredients:
3 Cups Flour
1 teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
2 teaspoons Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon Ground Cloves (optional, but delicious)
2 Cups Sugar

8 Egg Whites (= total of 4 Whole Eggs)
1 & 1/2 Cups Olive Oil for sauteing & baking
2 Cups Butternut Squash (cooked, mashed & cooled - defrosted if frozen)

Method:

1. Spray 2 large bread pans with PAM.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F.
3. Combine all dry ingredients in large bowl.
4. In smaller bowl, beat Egg Whites until frothy.
5. Mix in Olive Oil.
6. Add mashed Butternut Squash to Egg Whites/Olive Oil & stir.
7. Pour liquid mixture into dry ingredients and stir until combined.
8. Pour batter into bread pans.
9. Stagger bread pans on oven shelf.
10. Bake at 350°F for 55 Minutes or until toothpick or cake tester comes out clean when inserted in middle of loaf.
11. Remove from oven and cool in pans on wire rack for 10 Minutes.
12. Remove from pans and continue cooling on wire racks.
13. Cool completely before slicing.

The 2nd bread is wrapped in Heavy Duty aluminum foil/ labeled and placed in my freezer.

***I substitute Butternut Squash for Pumpkin.  However, if you have no Butternut Squash, this is a moisty easy bread using Pumpkin.  No mix needed.  :)

Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

~Butternut Squash~

Mashed Butternut Squash ready to place in freezer bags.

The carton of Butternut Squash had been sitting on our garage floor for a good 2 weeks.  It's location was just to the left of our entry into our Family Room.  I sure could not miss it while glancing over - each time I went in or out of the door.  The squash that had been purchased at Meadowbrook Farm in October would be prepped to enjoy this month and also for our freezer to eat later. 

This "project" has become a tradition.  Butternut Squash is just delicious after it has been cooked.  No sugar nor spices are needed to enhance the taste!  While growing up, my family always raised this veggie and froze it.  Living in an apartment so many years ago in Hampden, MA, my DH & I had a large veggie garden.  Our landlord knew of my desire to grow our veggies, so he plowed a section of his rich soil side yard for us to plant our crops.  It was great!  That was all B.C. = Before Children!  Time moves on!  Now, I purchase the local fresh veggies when they in season and continue to freeze them.

Cut peeled chunks

Utensils I use:  Dutch Oven or Pot, Cutting Board, Knife, Spoon, Colander, Ziploc Freezer Bags, Marker for Labeling

Butternut Squash  

1. Rinse/clean the Butternut Squash under cold running water.
2. Dry.
3. Using a cutting board & a sharp knife, cut off & toss the stem and rounded top.
4. The long top portion is cut into slices. The slices are circles.
5. Cut the peel off & discard.
6. Cut each peeled circle into 2" chunks and place in large Dutch Oven/ pot.
7. The lower portion containing seeds remains.  Remove the seeds with a spoon.
8. I save as much of the orange vegetable as possible that surrounds the seeds.  Cut off the peel.
9. Cut into pieces & place in Dutch Oven/ pot.
10. Add cold water to container (so it reaches about 2" up in the pot)
11. Turn the heat to High.
12. After a Boil is reached, lower the heat and simmer about 13 - 15 minutes, until pieces can be pierced with a fork.
13. During the cooking minutes, carefully stir the Squash pieces often in the pot, so they soften equally.
14. Drain the squash using a colander.
15. Return the chunks to the large pot and mash.

*****
    15.  Cool until comfortable to pack in Ziploc Freezer Bags. 
    16.  Pack about 2 Cups of mashed Squash in Ziploc Freezer Bags.
    17. After labeling, store in freezer.

File Photo

Whenever Butternut Squash is desired for dinner, a bag is unwrapped.  The frozen chunk of squash is placed in a Corning Ware container with a lid.  Reheat in the microwave.  No Butter/ Margarine or spices are needed.

Do you serve Butternut Squash?  Have you frozen it?  It's very tasty!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Woohoo!!!

Sweet!!!