Yes, It’s Strawberry Season!

It was about a year ago that I wrote a similar post. Well, the end of June is here as is my tradition at this time of preparing the local fresh, juicy, luscious strawberries and placing bags of them in our freezer to be enjoyed all year. Some scrumptious strawberries are used to make Freezer Jam. As of three weeks ago we have no more Freezer Jam to enjoy on English Muffins or as a flavoring for Yummy Yogurt.

Today two batches of Strawberry Freezer Jam were made – one batch at a time. The third batch will be on the agenda tomorrow. The Certo, Sugar and Ziploc containers had already been purchased and were ready to be used.

Meadowbrook Farm in East Longmeadow, MA has delicious, large strawberries. It is definitely local Strawberry Season!

Do you enjoy strawberries? Do you purchase the strawberries grown in your area? They are so good!

Yummy!

Haddock Plan B

One day last week, the Haddock fillets were ready to be placed on our grill. We would savour the taste of Grilled Haddock and veggies for dinner. However, my hubby came back inside to inform me that our grill was not working. Oh no! That required a Plan B … very quickly!

My large skillet was located. I heated about 2 TBS. of Olive Oil in the skillet over a Medium heat. The fillets of Haddock were quickly breaded in about 1 Cup of flavored dry Bread Crumbs. Then, the fillets were placed in the skillet. After sauteeing each side of the fish for about 5 Minutes, the Breaded Haddock was ready to be enjoyed.

Yummy! Ah, Breaded Haddock is very tender. Quick, easy and delicious! Today, the rain and showers continued here in the Pioneer Valley, so it was the perfect opportunity to use my large skillet for dinner, again.

During the winter months this will be my method of preparation for Haddock fillets when my grill cannot be used. Sometimes out of necessity a food is prepared differently and enjoyed even more.

Does your family enjoy eating Haddock? How do you prepare it?

Cooking Up A Storm

For me the expression “Cooking Up A Storm” does not always mean that my oven, my refrigerator or my herbs will be used. Yesterday afternoon a section of my dining room table was covered with colorful silk flowers along with a copper container and wire cutters. A day earlier my hubby had glued green foam into the bottom of the copper container. It would be the base for a silk flower arrangement gift that I was making for friends.

Making floral arrangements is a relaxing hobby. After sniping the stem of the first flower to the desired height, the stem is inserted into the center of the foam. Then, another floral stem is cut and put in place - sticking out of the end of the foam and side of the container. Another flower is placed on the other side. After that … desired colors and varieties of silk flowers are added. No green foam will be visible when the arrangement is completed. While listening to a Billy Joel CD, colorful sprigs were carefully cut and pushed into the foam. One here, another there… Before I knew it I was finished.

An advertised sale at Michael’s is as sweet as using coupons in the grocery store! Two weeks earlier I was able to purchase my silk flower supply for this project at a 50% discount.

This morning the finished product was sitting on my counter. Do you enjoy making silk flower arrangements? Other than using your oven, how do you enjoy “cooking up a storm”?

Add Carrots, too?

Oh, definitely! If you are using your Slow Cooker or Crock Pot to prepare Chicken Florentine a la Slow Cooker, add the Baby Carrots!

Yesterday was a day filled with activities and they would last until later in the evening. Dinner would be eaten quickly. Now, there was a toss up. A quick “take-out” meal could be ordered, purchased and enjoyed, OR earlier in the afternoon I could use my trusty reliable Slow Cooker to prepare a delicious, colorful, fragrant, nutritious dinner. Well, I opted for the second choice and we were very happy with the results.

In our fridge was a bag of Baby Carrots along with some remaining Chopped Broccoli from our dinner the previous night. With the exception of potatoes, all of the other ingredients for Chicken Florentine a la Slow Cooker were located in my kitchen.

So – by substituting the carrots for the potatoes, I learned that a meal that I prepare quite often in my Slow Cooker could taste even better. It tasted so good with the carrots!

Do you use a Slow Cooker or Crock Pot? It takes very little time for prep work and the meals are great!

Yummy!!!

Times Are Changing!

Today is the first day of the month – June has arrived. The beginning of June brought a new format to our local daily newspaper. Yes, I was aware that this would take place today, but I found our paper so small when it arrived on our driveway. It was a very quick read during breakfast.

Much later this evening a new host of the “Tonight Show” will guide us into the next day. The monologue that I have grown accustomed to for many years will be absent.

Well, times are changing! However, recipes for delicious, nutritious, easy to prepare foods are still meant for sharing. So, for those of you who have searched, clicked and discovered “A Tasty Thought by JG” there is now an opportunity to become a “Follower” of this Blog. Methods and directions for Grilled Haddock, Grilled Sockeye Salmon and Mailing Homemade Cookies are still clicks away. More recipes await!

Happy cooking!