First Peppers and Then Slices of Peppers!

What a beautiful sunny Monday! It was the day to go to the fridge and take out the Green Peppers that were purchased two days ago. Here in Massachusetts it’s great to visit a roadside veggie stand and purchase the local fresh produce. Our grocery stores carry the fresh products that are grown in our area, also. A few days ago locally grown Green Peppers and Peaches were purchased. One batch of Peach Freezer Jam will be made tomorrow. The Certo is waiting!

Today the Green Peppers were washed, cut in strips and placed in individual sandwich bags. The sandwich bags were then placed in Ziploc Freezer Bags and into the freezer they went!

During the winter on a cold snowy day when I am making dinner I will reach into my freezer and take out a bag of sliced peppers to add. Peppers always taste so good when they are added into dishes containing tomato sauce.

Do you add Green Peppers to main dishes? Do you have local veggie stands where you purchase your produce in the summer and early fall?

A Tasty Tradition Includes Grilled Haddock!

Sometimes, we repeat past actions and with their repetitions traditions begin! Spending a few days at Cape Cod here in MA definitely falls into that category. Relaxing and enjoying Nauset Beach in Orleans is an all time summer family favorite. Just before starting the journey back home, enjoying a Clam Roll on the Wellfleet Pier hits the spot.

After enjoying a relaxing vacation, I am always eager to get back to my kitchen. The second night that we are back home “Grilled Haddock” is our entrée. This has happened for quite a few years. Grilled Haddock is quick and easy to prepare and tastes delicious! Add a microwaved “baked potato” and a veggie or fruit salad and a nutritious dinner is ready quickly!

Grilled Haddock

1 lb. Haddock Fillet(s) serves 2.

1. Spray Grilling Basket/Container with PAM.
2. On a large dish pour about 2 TBS. Olive Oil.
3. Sprinkle a little Paprika and Thyme on top.
4. After rinsing Haddock Fillet(s) in running cold water, place on the Olive Oil/Paprika/Thyme.
5. Turn the fish over to coat the other side.
6. Place fish in Grilling Basket/Container on heated Grill.
7. Grill 5 – 7 Minutes on each side, until fish flakes easily with fork. Grilling Time depends on size/thickness of fillet.

A Grilling Basket/Container is definitely needed, because the Haddock Fillet(s) can break apart while grilling. The amount of needed grilling time depends on the size of the piece(s) of the haddock and the grill.

Seafood tastes great!
Enjoy!
Yummy!

T’is the Season for Sherbet Punch!

August has arrived and we have had two or three typical days of summers past! Not every day, but they do pop up here in the Pioneer Valley with the heat and the humidity. If you are having a gathering and have invited guests of all ages, include a punch bowl filled with Sherbet Punch (click here). On a hot, humid, sunny day a cup of this quenching beverage hits the spot!

Sherbet Punch has 2 ingredients:

(3- 4) 1 Quart containers of Sherbet (choose one flavor)
Orange, Raspberry and Lime are tasty. My family likes Orange.

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

The directions are easy:

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

Sherbet Punch is so easy to make and it tastes so good!

Yummy!

Blueberries, Blueberries and More Blueberries!

Easier is so much better! On Thursday, my hubby & I drove out to Southwick and purchased a large quantity of the local, fresh, sweet, colorful blueberries. Yes, it’s Blueberry Season, but we really did not want to pick them ourselves! It was much easier to purchase them already picked! At the farm roadside stand, when a larger quantity is purchased, the cost/quart is much less.

In the afternoon many Ziploc bags containing the delicious berries were packed and labeled. Our supply of blueberries for the year is now in our freezer.

Yesterday afternoon two batches of homemade Blueberry Freezer Jam (click) were made, one batch at a time. Later today the containers will be placed in our freezer. The third batch of Blueberry Freezer Jam (click) will be prepared tomorrow.

This morning Blueberry Pancakes (with cinnamon and nutmeg) tasted absolutely scrumptious at breakfast. The extra pancakes were individually placed in sandwich bags and then in a Ziploc Freezer bag. Into the freezer they went. On another morning we will enjoy them, again.

When the fresh local blueberries are in season we totally enjoy them! Yes, more are in our fridge waiting to be enjoyed. Making Blueberry Delisimo (click) and Yummy Blueberry Muffins (click) is also on my agenda. A homemade Blueberry Muffin – Yummy!

Do blueberries grown in your area? Do you purchase the fresh local blueberries? How do you enjoy them?

Ahh, blueberries are so good!
We are enjoying them!

Yummy!