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!