Plan B to the Rescue!

Last Sunday afternoon I was determined to try a new muffin recipe. The Applesauce Oatmeal Raisin Muffin batter was placed in the muffin liners. My timer buzzed, so I KNEW that my oven was pre-heated and the muffin tray could go in.

My oven takes 20 minutes to pre-heat, so that is my time frame to work fast and get the food ready for the baking phase. However, on Sunday afternoon I was not attentive to the fact that my stove was not getting hotter.

Somehow, a Plan B usually steps in. No, it was not buying a dozen muffins from the local donut store. Gazing up at my trustworthy Spacemaker Microwave (of 20 years) I remembered a section in my Microwave Cookbook on “baking” muffins in the microwave.

Time to take out that cookbook!

Following the directions and using a small Pyrex pie plate, four muffins cooked at once in triple paper liners. The result – moisty, yummy and quite unusual shaped muffins … but they do taste great!

On Monday we called John, our local, reliable appliance repairman. He arrived in the afternoon and replaced the oven’s electronic igniter. Thank you, John! That afternoon we ordered the fresh turkey for Thanksgiving Dinner from our local grocery store.

The timing for my oven to need some attention was perfect! Thanksgiving would not feel the same if I was not able to use my mom’s Butternut Squash Custard Pie recipe (click here) and bake the pie two days before our dinner! The tradition of my family savoring a slice of the pie with a dollop of whipped cream lives on!

Yummy!

We will enjoy this pie, again!

Great Minestrone

On a damp, chilly day a bowl of homemade soup that has been simmering on the stove tastes so good! Yesterday, the overcast sky brought showers, so it was definitely a day to make Great Minestrone. Great Minestrone (click for recipe) is filled with colorful, nutritious vegetables. Three 14.5 oz. cans of College Inn Light and Fat Free Chicken Broth were added to the combination of veggies along with some herbs. In my pantry was a box of Orzo, so I used 1 Cup of Orzo rather than Macaroni. Everything simmered in my 4-quart pot for 45 – 60 minutes.

The wonderful aroma in my kitchen helped erase the gloomy weather outdoors. Oh, the soup smelled so good while it was bubbling. I stirred it occasionally while it was simmering. Before serving, I noticed that it was a little thick, so I added one additional 14.5 oz. can of Chicken Broth and heated the Minestrone for a few additional minutes. It simmered once again. The Orzo had absorbed liquid while cooking.

After enjoying a warm bowl of Great Minestrone with dinner, as usual, there were extra portions. After cooling, the extra soup was placed in labeled/dated Ziploc Freezer containers and stored in my freezer. On another chilly day a warm bowl of soup will taste scrumptious!

This soup can be defrosted overnight in the fridge. To prepare place in a pot along with an additional 14.5 oz. can of Light and Fat Free Chicken Broth. More bowls of delicious, homemade soup await.

At this time of year grocery stores offer specials on College Inn Chicken Broth. Yes, I do stock up on the 14.5 oz. cans. It is great to use when making Great Minestrone, Stuffing and also preparing Rice.

Yummy!

Enjoy!

Such Tasty Pancakes!

At this time of year in Western MA yard work is a must! In many families either Saturday or Sunday brings out the raking/blowing leaves detail. We had been enjoying the long lasting colorful beautiful leaves on all of our trees this fall. But, at some point we knew that an abundance of leaves would flutter downward forming a carpet on our lawns. Most leaves are brown. Others are red or a golden color. There are town residents who hire local landscape services to remove the leaves. Other families take on the yearly challenge themselves. My hubby takes on this challenge for us.

Now, if you are planning on spending time outside taking care of the leaves detail on the weekend, a hearty breakfast is a must. Pancakes are an all time breakfast favorite in my household. Sitting down for breakfast and enjoying Awesome Oatmeal Pancakes is the best! After eating one bite you might ask - Is Oatmeal really an ingredient in these pancakes? They are very light!

These tasty pancakes are prepared in two steps. Step 1 - The evening before the pancakes will be made on the griddle, old-fashioned oats and buttermilk are mixed together in a large bowl and refrigerated.

Now, I have learned that doing this step about 16 hours before Step 2 results in lighter Awesome Oatmeal Pancakes. (Click for recipe).

Oh yes, they do freeze well, also. After breakfast, cool any extra pancakes. Each one can be placed in a separate sandwich bag and then stored in a labeled/dated Ziploc Freezer Bag. It makes for a great breakfast on another busy morning with the aid of a microwave!

Do you prepare pancakes? What kind do you make? Are there any extra pancakes after breakfast that you could place in your freezer?

Enjoy!

Yummy!

Send the Snickerdoodles Recipe!

One evening last week my older son sent me an e-mail with a request – Could you send me the Snickerdoodles recipe? A mom who loves to cook and to bake will respond to this type of request very quickly! It dealt with baking. I also knew that if he wanted a particular recipe, it was definitely a favorite from his childhood. When he was an undergrad in college I baked, packaged and mailed (click here) these soft, yummy cinnamon flavored cookies to him. A couple of years later, packages were mailed to his younger brother. This treat has also been mailed as part of birthday presents.

Now, his request could be answered very easily with a click here and a click there. On my website I posted this scrumptious recipe, perhaps one year ago. Clicking on the link would give my son easy access to a printable recipe card (click here).

O.K., I did add these little extra instructions: Store the cookies in an airtight container - they last about 3 - 4 days, before becoming a little crispy. Usually this favorite is eaten by then, anyway. And ... they do not freeze well.

Ah, Snickerdoodles, I need to bake a batch this week, also. :) Soon, I will be getting a text message telling me how everything worked out.

Do you bake Snickerdoodles? You and your family would enjoy them. Snickerdoodles look and taste so good! After the tasty cookies are baked, our cookie canister is emptied quickly. For that reason, I never have a picture to share of this delicious family favorite.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Halloween Sherbet Punch

During the daytime red, orange and golden colored leaves confirm that October is here. Then, cold, and dark nights hide the beautiful scenery of late October. Halloween is just around the corner. It is time for Halloween Sherbet Punch!

Halloween Sherbet Punch

Ingredients:

(3) 1 Quart containers of Orange Sherbet

(5 –6) Bottles of Diet 7-Up Soda (refrigerated)

Method:

1. In large punch bowl place 1 Quart of Sherbet.
2. Pour (2) bottles of chilled Diet 7-Up in punch bowl, pouring some over sherbet.
3. Stir a little to mix ingredients.
4. Will result in frothy top and softened sherbet.
5. Ladle into cups, adding some of the softened sherbet.
6. Replenish the Diet 7-Up and sherbet, as needed.

The goblins in your family and friends will enjoy the beverage you have brewed!

Happy Halloween!!

Add Plumped Craisins & Raisins!

Autumn in New England! What a great season! Apples and apple cider taste so good. The crisp mornings are preparing us for the chillier weather that is in our future! Usually when the mornings are a bit cool in October I think of creamy Oatmeal for breakfast. The recipe on the canister of Old Fashioned Quaker Oats is the favorite. Using Old Fashioned Oats, Cinnamon, a dash of Nutmeg, Soy Milk, Brown Sugar, and a few Plumped Craisins and/or Raisins, a hearty bowl of warm, steaming, creamy and delicious cereal hits the spot in the morning!

Craisins and Raisins always taste so good. I like to give them a tad extra flavor by soaking them in Apple Juice. A one-cup Ziploc container of each fruit soaking in apple juice is usually found in my fridge. Sometimes, I use Cranberry Juice. Quite often when baking, I will add them to a recipe.

To Prepare Plumped Craisins/Raisins –
Place about ¼ cup dried fruit in 1 Cup Ziploc container. Add Apple Juice to cover dried fruit. Cover and refrigerate for 1 – 2 days. Use within 2 weeks.

Oatmeal is one food where these plumped fruits are added for nutrition and for taste. I will share more, another time.

Do you enjoy raisins/or craisins in oatmeal?

Yes, Chicken Florentine!

Watching Football games was definitely on the agenda this past weekend! On Saturday afternoon my hubby & I bundled up for the cold evening and drove to Chestnut Hill to attend the exciting Boston College Football game. It was a crisp, cold night in the Boston area. Brrrrr! Sunday morning arrived much too soon and the Patriots game would start in the late afternoon. The cold, dark day brought rain here in Western MA.

After turning on our t.v. and looking at the screen to watch the Pats game, we could see white particles falling from the sky! Snow? Yes! Snow in mid October is just too early. Exciting, but too early!

It was around then that I realized I needed to forget the snow falling in the eastern part of our state and give some thought to our dinner. Sometimes, opening the freezer door answers a quick question regarding what is for dinner! Now, sitting in our freezer was a Ziploc Container packed with “leftover” Chicken Florentine a la Slow Cooker. Earlier in the week this meal was prepared in my Slow Cooker (like a Crock Pot). It made for a scrumptious, colorful, nutritious dinner on Tuesday. The “leftovers” were placed in a Ziploc Container along with some cooked broccoli (from another meal).

Locating this labeled and dated container in my freezer was like hitting the dinner jackpot! It did not take long to defrost and heat this yummy dinner in the microwave in a covered piece of CorningWare. This appetizing find was placed over No Yolks Noodles. While the pasta was cooking, the microwave helped to prepare our dinner. Dinner was a snap. And … it was so good!

Chicken Florentine a la Slow Cooker

Ingredients:
(1) 1 lb. bag Baby Carrots
1 & ½ lbs. Chicken Tenders
(1) 10 oz. pkg. frozen Spinach - defrosted
(1) Can Cream of Mushroom (Healthy Request) Soup
Oregano, Basil, Garlic Powder, Parsley, Chopped Onion & Bay Leaves

Method:

1. Place Baby Carrots in a large bowl and rinse with cold water.
2. Then place Carrots into Slow Cooker’s cooking pot that has been lightly sprayed with PAM.
3. Rinse about 1 & ½ lbs. Chicken Tenders in cold water and place on Carrots.
4. Sprinkle about 1 Tbs. Parsley and 1 Tbs. Chopped Onion on top.
5. Defrost (1) 10 oz. pkg. frozen Spinach and spread on top of Chicken.
6. Then, sprinkle about ¼ tsp. Oregano, ¼ tsp. Basil, and ¼ tsp. Garlic Powder on top.
7. Add (2) Bay Leaves.
8. Mix 1/3 Cup Water with (1) Can Cream of Mushroom (Healthy Request) Soup in a small bowl. Spread mixture evenly over top.
9. Place the lid on top of the cooking pot and set the temperature.
10. Cook on #5 (High) – 1 Hour. Then reduce to #3 for 2 Hours.

Enjoy!!!

Sometimes I use Potatoes and at other times I use Baby Carrots when making Chicken Florentine a la Slow Cooker. Any leftovers that have been placed in the freezer, reheated and served over No Yolks Noodles make for a quick, easy, tasty dinner. I was so happy to find this meal in my freezer on Sunday!
Do you use your Slow Cooker or Crock Pot? What do you prepare?

A meal made in a Slow Cooker or a Crock Pot just hits the spot! Easy and delicious!
Enjoy!
Yummy!