~Sassy Raisin Sauce~

Two of the Ingredients
in Sassy Raisin Sauce
(File Photo)

Enjoying slices of Baked Ham for a Sunday dinner is delicious! Some people like a slice topped with a sauce. For me, Sassy Raisin Sauce is such a delicious topping. The sauce can be prepared very quickly, too. Apple Juice, Raisins, Cornstarch and Butter/ Margarine are the needed ingredients. This topping comes together very quickly.

Sometimes, I go to my Spice Rack to get the container of Ground Cinnamon. A single shake of Ground Cinnamon adds an additional great taste to the sauce.  

Click here for the Instructions to prepare 2 and 1/2 Cups or a smaller amount like 2 servings of this very tasty sauce. 

Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

Sassy Raisin Sauce

Two ingredients in Sassy Raisin Sauce
Raisins & Apple Juice

Are you serving Baked Ham this Sunday for dinner?  If you are, Sassy Raisin Sauce is a yummy topping for the tender slices of Ham!  Filled with Raisins, it's an easy sauce to prepare at the last minute.  You probably already have the ingredients:  Apple Juice, Raisins, Cornstarch & Butter/ Margarine. 

Think Sunday- you are almost ready to serve dinner.  It's at this time that a tasty topping that comes together so quickly is needed!  What a great added touch!  And- it tastes so good. 

I also like to serve this topping over Butternut Squash Ravioli!

Sassy Raisin Sauce
Yield: about 2 and 1/2 Cups

Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons Cornstarch
2 Cups Apple Juice
2 Tablespoons Butter/ Margarine
1 Cup Raisins

Method:

1. Place Cornstarch in small saucepan.
2. Slowly add in 1/2 Cup Apple Juice.
3. Stir, dissolving Cornstarch.
4. Then, add remaining Apple Juice to saucepan, stir.
5. Add 2 Tablespoons Butter/ Margarine.
6. Add Raisins.
7. Stir constantly while cooking over medium heat.
8. Sauce will thicken & boil.
9. Boil & stir for 1 Minute.
10. Serve hot.

If a smaller amount is desired use directions above & the ingredients below-  

     For 2 Servings:  
     1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
     2/3 Cup Apple Juice
     About 1 Tablespoon Butter/ Margarine
     1 Handful Raisins

This is always a great addition to a Baked Ham Dinner!  Or as a Butternut Squash Ravioli Topping!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Happy Easter!!!

Sassy Raisin Sauce!

Warm beams of sunlight shined through our front bow window. The outdoor thermometer reading was in the 70’s° F. Now, who could resist taking a walk, sitting on the deck reading a book or using the outdoor grill? I couldn’t. For 4 – 5 days last week that was the picture here in the Pioneer Valley. Ah, Spring arrived! Yes! Then a day of rain, clouds and light jackets replaced the eagerly awaited warm sunny days. We could adjust, because we know that more warm sunny days will return.

With the arrival of Spring, Easter is just around the corner. That prompts the planning of Easter Dinner. If you will be preparing this special dinner at home and will be serving Baked Ham, Sassy Raisin Sauce is a great addition served over slices of Baked Ham. This sauce is so yummy and full of Raisins! Preparation is very easy! Now, that is a winning combination.

Two years ago when I started blogging, I posted Sassy Raisin Sauce. In addition to pairing it with slices of Baked Ham, we also enjoy it served over Butternut Squash Ravioli. The recipe below is for about 2 ½ Cups and also for 2 Servings.

Sassy Raisin Sauce

Ingredients:
Cornstarch
Apple Juice
Butter/Margarine
Raisins

For about 2 ½ Cups:

1. Measure 3 TBS. Cornstarch into a small saucepan.
2. Slowly, stir in 2 Cups Apple Juice. I stir in by ½ cups to dissolve Cornstarch.
3. Add 2 TBS. Butter/Margarine.
4. Add 1 Cup Raisins.
5. Stir constantly while cooking over Medium heat. The sauce will thicken and boil.
6. Boil and stir for 1 Minute.
7. Serve over desired food. Yummy!

For 2 Servings - Follow Directions listed above and use:

1 TBS. Cornstarch
2/3 Cup Apple Juice
About 1 TBS. Butter/Margarine
1 Handful Raisins

Enjoy!
Yummy!

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?

Ah, Add A Little Lemon Peel!

The sun was shining brightly in our backyard. Looking out my kitchen window I could see a bright red Cardinal perched on a branch. The temperature was in the mid 70’s, so pre-heating my oven added a little warmth to my kitchen. The Craisin Twists (click) were ready to be baked. Whenever when I bake the Pillsbury Cinnamon Twists, I use Plumped Raisins and Plumped Craisins (click) to fill the inside before twisting the dough. However, there was only about ¼ cup of Plumped Craisins in the container in my fridge. It was enough to fill the 2 canisters of dough before the Twists were baked. This was the opportunity to open the jar of McCormick Lemon Peel that I had purchased a couple of months ago.

To the ¼ Cup of Plumped Craisins I added about 2 tsp. Lemon Peel and stirred. Baking a double batch requires using my extra large cookie sheet and about 2 minutes and 30 seconds extra baking time. I follow the directions on the package and add the extra baking time.

Baked Cinnamon Twists with the added fruit taste so good, especially after they are stored in the fridge! An extra plus to baking a double batch, is that after the Twists are iced, place all of them in the fridge, so the icing becomes firm. Later, the extra treats can be placed in a Gallon – sized Ziploc bag and stored in the freezer. If freezing, place them in a single layer. Whenever they are needed for breakfast, they only need to be defrosted!

Enjoy the Craisin Twists!

Yummy!

Happy Easter!

Craisin/Raisin Twists have become part of my family’s Easter Morning Breakfast! This easy breakfast roll is made using Pillsbury Cinnamon Twists that are located in your supermarket’s Dairy Section.

The Plumped Raisins and Plumped Craisins that are used to make a very tasty oatmeal breakfast on cold mornings also add a delicious flavor to Cinnamon Twists. Easy is good and they are easy to make! Prepare and bake the Cinnamon Twists using the directions on the package with the following addition -

Remove the dough from the container and place the unrolled dough on a plate. Unroll one twist. Fold the strip in half and pinch the ends together. In the middle of the open area, place about 8 Plumped Raisins &/or Plumped Craisins. Gently, squeeze the dough on both sides toward the fruit. Then, twist the dough, making sure the ends are pinched together and place on the foil lined baking sheet. Bake 15 – 16 minutes or until golden brown.

After the Craisin/Raisin Twists have been baked and have cooled on a rack, the tempting icing is spread on top. Now, the Craisin/Raisin Twists can be placed lying flat in a Gallon Size Ziploc Bag and stored in the freezer.

Since the first time that I added the plumped craisins and plumped raisins to these “easy to bake” rolls, this is how I always bake them. You might find that one or two twists have been eaten before you have the opportunity to freeze them! ;-) For that reason, I always bake two batches. Quite often, I have a coupon to purchase two containers of the Pillsbury Cinnamon Twists.

Do you keep a container of Plumped Raisins and another container of Plumped Craisins in your fridge? The Apple Juice gives the fruit a little extra scrumptious flavoring! They are a delicious addition to many foods!

Happy Easter!

Enjoy the Craisin Raisin Twists!
Yummy!

Plumped Raisins & Craisins

In today’s busy world it is useful to have baking ingredients “ready to use”. I use Raisins & Craisins quite often in foods to give a particular food an extra special taste. In my refrigerator there usually is a 1 Cup Ziploc Container of Apple Juiced Raisins & another 1 Cup container filled with Apple Juiced Craisins. To prepare: Place Raisins in the container and then add the Apple Juice. Place the lid on container and refrigerate. Do likewise with the Craisins. For best results wait 2 days before using. They come in very handy!