~Saving Zinnia Seeds~

"Tear Shaped" Zinnia Seeds
(File Photo)

This is the time of year when I usually save many of the bright Zinnia blossoms that usually add so much color to our garden. After drying out the blossoms I usually harvest the seeds to save and plant the following Spring (after danger of frost is gone). These flowers attract the Monarch Butterflies. 

A Visitor to Our Garden
(File Photo)

I wrote usually, because this year there really are not many Zinnias in our front garden. However, there is one plant that is producing bright orange blossoms. It was a different growing season this year for my Zinnias. In the Spring the seeds were planted and they did sprout. However, there was a family of bunnies that wandered into our yard. Those tender, small green sprouts made a delicious meal for those hungry bunnies! Only one sprout was able to hide from the bunny family. That sprout hid among the white and pink Vinca that we planted after realizing that the Zinnias would no longer be a reality. Yes, I will save the seeds from the orange flowers and plant them next Spring. Maybe I will plant them in a pot on our deck where the bunnies cannot find them.

The Surviving Zinnia Plant
with a blossom and 2 buds 

For those of you who do have beautiful colorful Zinnias in your garden, save the seeds to plant next year. It is an easy process! Cut the colorful blossoms and let them dry out. After they dry out, harvest the seeds and place them in a labeled paper envelope. It is cool to save the seeds and plant them the following year. 

Click here for my complete Instructions for Saving Zinnia Seeds. 

I wrote the instructions above a few years ago, but I have been using this process to save Zinnia Seeds for so many years.

Happy Gardening!

     

Late August

August 2025

Beautiful weather in Western MA for our last weekend of August! With the sun shining it's great to take a moment or two or three and enjoy the bright colors in gardens. The summer flowers continue to blossom. The Mums that survived the cold winter sprouted up and now have blossoms. It is a pretty time of year! 

August 2025

Wishing you-

a happy and a safe Labor Day Weekend!!

 

Bright Flowers!

Rudbeckia

Bright and beautiful on a HHH day!

Enjoying the view!

 

~Creamy Cheesy Pie~

Creamy Cheesy Pie
ready to cut into needed slices
(File Photo)

A delicious and easy to prep dessert is Creamy Cheesy Pie! It is great to make and then enjoy on a hot summer day. There are 4 ingredients. You probably have 2 of them in your fridge and pantry. The other 2 can be easily purchased in your local grocery store. 

Ingredients: 

(1) Pre-made Graham Cracker Pie Shell
(1) pkg. 2 serving size cook and serve Vanilla Pudding Mix
(1) pkg. 8 ounce Cream Cheese
(2) Cups Milk

Method: 

1. Prepare the Vanilla Pudding according to package directions.
2. Place Cream Cheese in large bowl.
3. Pour hot Pudding over Cream Cheese and whisk until smooth.
4. Pour mixture into Graham Cracker crust. Smooth to edges of crust.
5. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
6. Chill for at least 6 hours.
7. Cut into needed serving slices.
8. Top with whipped cream and serve with fresh berries on the side.
9. Keep remaining pie in refrigerator.   

Instead of fresh berries, I top our slices with a little Strawberry Freezer Jam and then whipped cream.

So easy and so good!
Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

Happy 4th of July!!

Liberty Bell (Celebration)
Norman Rockwell
cover illustration for American Artist (July 1976)
courtesy of Norman Rockwell Museum 

Have a Happy and a Safe July 4th!!

Chicken Thighs with Orange Veggies

Chicken Thighs with Orange Veggies
prepped in my Slow Cooker (Crock Pot)

It probably comes as no surprise- I cook off my blog. The recipes are readily available with ingredients and complete instructions. There always are a few recipes that I need to add to my collection. As a matter of fact we enjoyed one of those recipes at dinner last night. Sometime last year I read an interesting recipe in the newspaper. No, I did not save it. I just remember the basic ingredients. The basic ingredients were Chicken Thighs, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Paprika, Black Pepper, Orange Juice and Honey. Everything was baked. 

After thinking about that recipe last week and considering the heat wave that we are now experiencing, it was an invitation for me to place these ingredients in my Slow Cooker and let dinner prepare itself. Who wants to cook on a hot humid day??? I sure do not!! Long story short-  dinner was delicious last night! There were 4 portions, so the extra 2 portions are now in our fridge and will be enjoyed tomorrow night. 

I used boneless skinless Chicken Thighs. Just a few shakes of Paprika for us. Paprika is always located in my spice rack.  

****Note: My Slow Cooker has a non- stick interior, so I place the cut Carrots on the bottom. If I place chicken or meat directly on the bottom it gets crusty. 

Chicken Thighs with Orange Veggies

Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless Chicken Thighs
1 pkg. Baby Carrots
2 Yams or 2 Sweet Potatoes
1/2 teaspoon Parsley
Paprika-  a few shakes from canister
Black Pepper- a few shakes from canister
1/4 Cup Honey
1/2 Cup Orange Juice

Method:

1. Rinse Baby Carrots under cold water, drain.
2. Cut Carrots in half and place in bottom of Slow Cooker/ Crock Pot.
3. Rinse Yams/ Sweet Potatoes under cold water. 
4. Cut into 1" slices.
5. Cut each slice in half.
6. Place in a bowl.
7. Remove fat from Chicken Thighs.
8. Place on top of Carrots in Slow Cooker/ Crock Pot.
9. Sprinkle Parsley on top. 
10. Sprinkle Paprika and Black Pepper on top of Chicken Thighs.
11. Place cut Yams/ Sweet Potatoes on Chicken Thighs.
12. Drizzle Honey over top. 
13. Then pour Orange Juice over all.
14. Place Slow Cooker/ Crock Pot lid on top.
15. Cook on High for 3 Hours. Reduce to Medium for 1/2 Hours.

This dinner cooks itself and is so delicious! It will be a dinner to enjoy any time of the year. A Slow Cooker/ Crock Pot comes in very handy! That small kitchen appliance is great to use on a hot summer day!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

  

Strawberry Season Includes Jam

~Local Strawberries~
Some for freezing, some for snacking on and some for freezer jam

The local strawberries are available here in Western MA! At a roadside stand it is easy to purchase a quart or two to enjoy. They are delicious! We purchased a few quarts. Some to prep for our freezer, some to snack on and 3 quarts to make 3 batches of Strawberry Freezer Jam. Preparing jam has been a tradition for me for so many years. For me the commercial jams do not compare in taste to the jams I prepare and my family and I enjoy.

These past two days my kitchen has been hopping! After purchasing the red juicy strawberries it was time to prep some to place in our freezer to enjoy throughout the year. On the second day the Strawberry Freezer Jam was prepared. After placing the strawberry jam mixture into clean containers and snapping on the lids, the containers sat undisturbed for 24 hours. My dining room table came in very handy! After 24 hours passed the containers were placed in the freezer. About a month ago I had already purchased the needed Certo (liquid fruit pectin), granulated sugar and lemon juice. My containers for jam have been used for quite a few years. 

For complete instructions on my method, click here. 

Now that our supply of the fresh buy local strawberries and the strawberry freezer jams have found their spots in our freezer it's time to enjoy a strawberry sundae for dessert tonight.

Enjoy!
Yummy!