Beginning of December

In my future

Now- just relaxing and thinking.

Wishing You-

 A Wonderful
and a
~Happy Thanksgiving!!!~

Enjoy!

Delicious Thanksgiving Day Dessert

Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp
waiting for a small scoop of vanilla ice cream
(File Photo)

Apple Crisp is always a welcome dessert! Slices of baked apples combined with dried cranberries and raisins that have an oat cinnamon/ nutmeg topping. Yum! A small scoop of vanilla ice cream is always placed on top whenever we enjoy this dessert. I have baked one this autumn. It was so good! Next week the day before Thanksgiving Day I will be baking another Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp. It is such a delicious dessert to enjoy on that special day. And also many other special days!

At this time of year so many restaurants, grocery stores and specialty food shops advertise their Apple Pies. Some may be good, but others are just o.k. Instead of purchasing one, bake a Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp! There is no pie crust to roll out. That is an added plus! It sure does save time involved in preparing this tasty dessert.   

My easy recipe for Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp is here. 

Add Apples to your grocery list for this weekend. The other ingredients you probably already have. If not, add those ingredients, too. This is one dessert that beats buying an apple pie.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Cheesy Broccoli Tortellini

Cheesy Broccoli Tortellini

Sometimes you just need a VERY quick and easy dinner! Sure, you can order "take- out" or take a previously prepared dinner out of your freezer to reheat in your microwave. Another option is to prepare Broccoli Tortellini or Broccoli Tortelloni. For that reason I always try to keep a package of fresh cheese filled tortellini in our fridge. In our freezer a package of frozen broccoli florets can be found quickly. Shredded cheese is in the fridge, too. These are the main 3 ingredients to prepare this dinner.

The directions are very easy.

Cheesy Broccoli Tortellini 

Ingredients:

1 pkg. Cheese filled Tortellini ( can be Tortelloni)
1 pkg. frozen Broccoli florets
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil-  for frying/ cooking
Dried Basil- to sprinkle on top
1/4 Cup Shredded Cheese

1- 2 extra teaspoon(s) Olive Oil- if needed when stirring ingredients together  

Directions:

1. Prepare Cheese filled Tortellini according to package directions.
2. Microwave Broccoli following package directions.
3. After microwaved, cut Broccoli into bite sized pieces.
4. Heat 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil in a large frying pan that has a cover.
5. Add the cut Broccoli to the pan.
6. Sprinkle dried Basil on top- maybe 1/4 teaspoon 
   
7. Drain cooked Tortellini and add to pan.
8. Carefully stir all ingredients to combine.
9. Add additional Olive Oil if dry.
10. Combine all and heat.
    
11. Turn off heat and add 1/4 cup Shredded Cheese on top.
12. Cover the pan so cheese melts.
    
13. The melted cheese gives this dinner a great taste.

It is quick. It is easy. It tastes so good!
Will you be preparing this soon?

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Butternut Squash Pancakes

Butternut Squash Pancakes
waiting for maple syrup to be drizzled on top

Pancakes are a great breakfast any day and anytime of the year. In autumn a special treat is enjoying the Butternut Squash variety. What a great treat in the morning to enjoy these pancakes with maple syrup drizzled over the top. This breakfast treat is flavored with Cinnamon and Nutmeg. I add Ginger into the batter, also. So tasty!

This morning we enjoyed the Butternut Squash Pancakes after taking a package of them out of our freezer.  Reheating the pancakes in our microwave makes for a quick, easy and delicious breakfast.

Click here for my easy to follow recipe! It is worth the click!

***If you do not have many Eggs in your fridge, rather than use 4 Egg Whites in this recipe- remember that in cooking

1 Whole Egg = 2 Egg Whites 

so just reverse the formula and use 2 Whole Eggs in place of the 4 Egg Whites in this recipe.

There are a few more Butternut Squash Pancakes in our freezer to enjoy for breakfast one day next week. Will you be making them soon, too?

Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

Bake a Butternut Squash Bread!

Butternut Squash Breads
cooling

Butternut Squash Bread! YUM!! It is a delicious dessert bread that is a family favorite. After preparing the Butternut Squash for our freezer, 2 cups were placed in our fridge to bake 2 of these yummy breads the next day. Yes, 2 breads. Why 2 breads? Well, doubling the recipe and baking 2 and then freezing one Butternut Squash Bread helps when planning ahead for Thanksgiving Day. That holiday is in our future! Every year without fail we enjoy this treat during that holiday in November. 

The recipe is very easy. The orange squash has already been mashed, so it is added to the liquid ingredients. Then the combined liquid ingredients are mixed into the dry ingredients when preparing this dessert. While baking there will be a great aroma floating out of your kitchen, too! It is a very tasty dessert bread! 

Click here for my recipe for Butternut Squash Bread!    

It is a quick and an easy dessert to bake and to enjoy! Will you be baking one or two in the next 2 months?

Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

Freezing Butternut Squash

A Bushel of Butternut Squash
 packed in a carton

The season of purchasing a bushel of local Butternut Squash is here! That delicious orange colored vegetable has always been a favorite with my family. So many years ago when we rented an apartment- we had a large garden. Yes, Butternut Squash was one of the vegetables that we grew and harvested. After harvesting it, the squash was prepared for our freezer and enjoyed during the remainder of the year. No longer do we keep the tradition of having a garden, but we purchase a bushel of "buy local" Butternut Squash every year. That occurs in late September/ early October. A bushel (now packed in a cardboard carton) was purchased 3 weeks ago and some of the Butternut Squash have been prepared for our freezer. As the week moves on a few more will be prepared.

The process is easy. The Butternut Squash is washed and the outside skin removed. After cutting into chunks the chunks are placed in a large pot. Water is added to the pot and then the process continues by steaming the orange chunks. After it has cooked and drained, mash the cooked veggie and pack it for your freezer.

Mashed Butternut Squash
ready to pack for our freezer
(File Photo)

For my complete instructions click on the link below:

Instructions for Freezing Butternut Squash

During the year this veggie is not only found as a side dish on our dinner table, but I substitute it for pumpkin in recipes. I see baking a Butternut Squash Bread in my future this week! Will you be baking this bread, too? Do you freeze Butternut Squash? 

Enjoy!
Yummy!

           

~Mid September~

Chilly mornings! Warm afternoons with the sun shining! It's mid September and it is a great time of year. The locally grown zucchini and tomatoes are still available to purchase from garden markets and road side stands in our area. Colorful Mums are also found at these markets. The yellow, maroon, white or lavender flowers add a great touch to the landscape around our homes.

Butternut Squash are also ready to purchase now! That veggie is a fave in my family, so a bushel (now packed in a carton) is always purchased. The orange veggies will be peeled/ steamed and packed away in our freezer to enjoy during the colder months. Yes, Butternut Squash will also find its way on our dinner table this week! 

It is a great time of year!
Enjoy!

     

~Saving Zinnia Seeds~

Time to save the Zinnia blossoms and dry them
for next year's bountiful crop!

It's time! For what you may ask. If you have a garden with beautiful colorful Zinnias it's time to save the blossoms, dry them out and then harvest the seeds for next year's crop. It is a very easy process! So great being self sufficient and saving the seeds rather than purchasing commercial Zinnia seed packages next Spring.

After snipping the colorful blossoms you want to save, place the blossoms in a box to dry out. I use a cut down tissue box.

Blossoms drying out

 

After the blossoms dry out, separate the seeds from the dried blossoms by pulling off the petals. The seeds are "tear" shaped and attached to the petals.

"Tear" shaped Zinnia seeds

   
Then, place the treasured seeds in a large labeled envelope and save to plant next Spring after the danger of frost is gone in your area. 

Our Zinnias attract Monarch and Swallowtail Butterflies and Hummingbirds in addition to adding so much color to our yard.

Happy Gardening!

Colors on a Late Summer Day!

Appreciating the colors of a late Summer day!

It's a beautiful August day in Massachusetts! The time of year to appreciate the bountiful harvest of colorful flowers in our yard. Soon, it will be time to collect the Zinnia blossoms to dry out and harvest the seeds for next year's vibrant crop. This is a tradition with me from my childhood.

The Black- Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia), Vinca, Zinnias, Dahlias, Roses and Hydrangeas continue to blossom. Before we know it the season will change. Then these colorful flowers will be a wonderful memory. A memory that we hope to repeat next year!

Enjoy!
Happy Gardening!

   

~Freezing Green Pepper Strips~

Green Pepper Strips and Chunks
ready for the freezer

It was raining outside today, so it was perfect timing to prep the "buy local" Green Peppers for the freezer! They were purchased 3 days ago and just waiting in the fridge for me to get started. It's always great to take a small bag of previously washed/ cut pepper strips out of the larger freezer bag whenever I need them as an ingredient for prepping dinner.

It is also very easy to prep this fresh veggie. Click here for my instructions!  

They come in very handy in the cold winter months!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Cheesy Veggie Chicken

Cheesy Veggie Chicken

A quick and easy dinner is always appreciated any day! Do you have a few pieces of cooked Chicken? Got cooked Rice? Do you have frozen Peas, a can of Cream of Mushroom Soup and shredded Taco Cheese? These are the ingredients. If I have sauteed Mushrooms in the freezer, I defrost them and add them in, too.

**Now, when I make a batch of Rice to serve during dinner I freeze the half that we do not eat. Then, when needed I defrost the Rice quickly in the microwave. It comes in very handy to use in this recipe.

If you do not already have cooked Rice, this is my easy recipe for preparing Rice. Freeze the other half to use in the future.  

This is a very tasty dinner during any season of the year.  

Cheesy Veggie Chicken

Ingredients:

(1) Cup of Cooked Rice
Cooked Chicken- cut into bite size pieces
(1) bag of frozen Peas- (12- 16 ounce bag)
(1) can Cream of Mushroom Soup- can be low salt
1/3 Cup of Cold Water
1 Cup shredded Taco Cheese

Method:

1. Microwave bag of frozen Peas.
2. Spray a microwave baking dish (about 5" x 10") with PAM.
3. Place cooked Rice in dish, spreading evenly.
4. Place cooked Peas and cooked Chicken on top.
5. Combine Cream of Mushroom Soup and Water.
6. Spoon mixture over Rice, Chicken and Peas.
7. Sprinkle (1) Cup of Taco Cheese over top.
8. Cover with plastic wrap, leaving an opening at one corner to vent.
9. Microwave on High for 9 Minutes and 30 seconds- until hot and bubbly.
10. Serve! 

It is amazing how quickly this dinner comes together.  

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Enjoy the Holiday!

 

Wishing you
a Happy & a Safe
July 4th holiday!!

Enjoy!!

 

Today's Wish

Wishing all Dads...

Happy Father's Day!!!

 

 

Peonies

Big, bright and beautiful!

Yesterday there were so many buds on the Peonies. Today the very welcome sight of large pink blossoms appeared! It is a really good thing that the plants were staked yesterday afternoon. The big bright blossoms were able to withstand the heavy rain this morning.

Looking forward to seeing more bright flowers this weekend!
Happy Gardening!

Sowing Zinnia Seeds

Last weekend the tear shaped saved Zinnia seeds were planted in two of our gardens.  It was time to get them in the ground! About 6 days later 2 small sprouts popped up. Today, there are more green sprouts making appearances.  Planting the seeds saved from the last year's crop of brightly colored Zinnia flowers is a tradition here.  In a few weeks time the sprouts will get stronger, have more leaves and buds will appear. Then, so much color! 

Looking forward to seeing this year's crop of colorful flowers that attract the Monarch Butterflies and the Hummingbirds. 

Happy Gardening!

   

Gardening!

Getting started!

This past weekend it was wonderful to spend time outdoors- working with plants. On one day the annual plants had been purchased, so the next day it was time to get started.  Potting soil, garden gloves, pots and stones for the bottom of the pots for drainage were found. 

A brightly colored hanging Geranium is a traditional Mother's Day gift for me.  Then, who can resist pairing yellow and orange Marigolds together in one pot?  I sure cannot.  They become my Orange Pineapple Marigolds! Lavendar/Pink flowers of the Geraniums also add so much color to an area. "Mosquito" plants also found their spots in our yard. The Zinnia seeds saved from last year's crop were sown. Click here for Directions for saving Zinnia Seeds.

It's the colorful month of May and it was good to get started!  There is more to be done this week!

Happy Gardening!
Enjoy!

~Minestrone Soup~

Minestrone Soup
(File Photo)

With this damp chilly weather that we are experiencing here in Western MA it is a great time to prepare a batch of Minestrone Soup for dinner.  You know, a bowl of soup that is just filled with veggies. With every spoonful the chill of the day is gone for a while. It is so easy to prepare, too! All of the ingredients are placed in a large pot and after the mixture comes to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer. Simmer for an hour, stirring occasionally. What could be easier?

I always freeze the extra portions in freezer containers to enjoy in the future.  It does freeze so well. There will be other chilly days in our future and you will be able to take portions out of your freezer to defrost. Just add extra chicken broth when defrosting/ reheating. This soup tastes so good on a chilly day!

Click here for my recipe for Minestrone Soup.  

Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

Best Irish Soda Bread!

Best Irish Soda Bread
(File photo)

Add Buttermilk to your grocery list this week! It is one of the ingredients in Irish Soda Bread. You probably have tasted that delicious bread that is enjoyed on St. Patrick's Day. It is filled with raisins and oh so good! When you are thinking about your grocery list, add Raisins, too!

One year when I wanted to bake an Irish Soda Bread for this holiday I "googled" for a recipe that used 1 Cup of Buttermilk. The recipe I quickly found sounded so easy.  I was intrigued by the hint of soaking the Raisins in hot water and then draining them before adding the Raisins to the dough. Oh, I was hooked to try the recipe. After baking the bread and letting it cool the first bite quickly told me that I would never search for another recipe for this bread again. It was that good!  It was the Best Irish Soda Bread that I had ever tasted.  This bread was filled with plump Raisins and it was moist. Yum!

Cooled, Sliced and Ready to Eat!
(File Photo)

 
**Over the years I have learned to melt the unsalted Butter and let it cool before adding it to the dry ingredients.  It is easier to combine that way. 

Click here for the recipe! 

I have also learned that slices of this baked bread freeze very well.  It is a treat to take a slice out of the freezer a month later and enjoy it at breakfast.

Bake an Irish Soda Bread to enjoy on the holiday when so many of us wear the color green.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!     

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Dr. Seuss and the Cat in the Hat
at the
Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden
Springfield Museums, Springfield, MA

The birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel (commonly known to all of us as Dr. Seuss) is celebrated across our country on March 2nd!  He was born in Springfield, MA on March 2, 1904.  Seuss was his mother's maiden name.  There are so many wonderful stories that he wrote and illustrated for children of all ages.  Many of us have a favorite or two of his books.  One of my favorites is Green Eggs and Ham.

On the grounds of the Springfield Museums in Springfield, MA there are large beautiful bronze statues of characters in his books.  It's always a treat to walk around these statues!  The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum is an interesting museum located at this beautiful complex of art, science and history museums.

Walking onto the grounds The Lorax greets visitors.

The Lorax

 

 

 

 

Looking across the grass more bronze statues are in view.  Walking in the garden brings them all closer. 

Green Eggs and Ham

Another favorite to admire- Horton!
 

Horton and Friends

Today is a special day!  

It's March 2!!

We wish you,

Dr. Seuss,

a Happy Birthday!!!

 

Thank you for all of your interesting books!

Surprise!

Our outdoor thermometer reading is 62°F and the sun is shining this afternoon in Western MA!  A great afternoon to enjoy a walk outside.  At this time of year the Crocuses begin to pop up.  Looking very closely sprouts of the first Crocus are visible!  Hmmm- did a deer also spy this little gem?

Spring is just around the corner!
Enjoy!

     

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Many Delicious Treats

Enjoy your day!