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!!