~Easy Cheesy Sauce~

After baking a double batch of Craisin Raisin Oaties yesterday afternoon, dinner time suddenly - appeared.  My counters, my kitchen table & my kitchen sink all showed signs that I'd been baking!  As the Oaties were cooling before packaging & placing 2/3 of them in the freezer I could think about dinner. 

Craisin Raisin Oaties

Quite often on the bottom shelf of our fridge a package of Buitoni ravioli can be located.  Usually it's cheese flavored.  This fall, I spotted Buitoni Crab Ravioli in my grocery store & I had a "why not try it" moment.

Cheese ravioli tastes great with any flavor of tomato based sauce.  However, the crab flavored ravioli needed a different flavor.  Suddenly an image of these ravioli covered with a cheese sauce was mouthwatering.  My small nonstick saute skillet was located.  Flour, 1% Milk & shredded cheese found their way to my counter.  The cheese sauce was quick & easy to prepare while the ravioli was cooking.

Easy Cheesy Sauce

Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons Butter/ Margarine
3 Tablespoons Flour
1 Cup Milk (1% works well)
1/4 Cup Shredded Cheese

Method:

1. Melt Butter/ Margarine over Medium heat in a nonstick skillet.
2. Remove from heat & add in 3 Tablespoons Flour & blend together. 
3. Slowly, add in 1/4 Cup of the Milk.
4. Stir together until smooth.
5. While stirring slowly add remaining 3/4 Cup Milk.  
6. Stir over Medium heat.
7. Constantly stir until bubbly & thickens.
8. Stir for 1 additional minute.
9. Add in Shredded Cheese.
10. Stir until Cheese melts.
11. If too thick, add 1- 2 Tablespoons additional Milk, as needed.
12. Serve over Crab Ravioli.

The Easy Cheesy Sauce was a wonderful topping for the ravioli.  It was also quick to prepare after baking in the afternoon.

Today much needed errands were done!  Our daytime temperature was in the 30's.  It was time to venture outside for a longer period of time other than a quick trip to the grocery store.  The single digit thermometer readings + wind chills are gone.  Woohoo!  

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp

Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp

It's Apple Season in New England!  Oh Yes!  Every autumn baking the first Apple Crisp using fresh, local Cortland apples tastes so good!  It's filled with Craisins, Raisins, Old Fashioned Oats & slices of Cortland apples (a hybrid of a Ben Davis + a McIntosh).  When these crispy Cortland apples are cut, they do not turn a brownish color quickly.  This characteristic also makes Cortland apple slices a great addition to a salad. 

However, when I purchased the bag last week, salad was not on my mind.  It was Apple Crisp!  This is a wonderful dessert - Yum.  It tastes very similar to an apple pie, but there is no crust to roll out.  The baked apples are covered with a delicious topping of old fashioned Oats, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Butter/Margarine. 

In Produce Aisles of grocery stores I've noticed a "mix" for the topping sold in boxes.  Butter/Margarine is added to the dry ingredients.  A 1 lb. canister of Oats, a small bag of Flour, along with the spices always come in handy in a kitchen, so I always view this "premeasured topping mix" as a waste of $$.

Quaker is my brand of old fashioned Oats.  I must admit that once the fall season begins I use oats in many foods, so Costco is my "go to" place for oats.  That large box really is not that big.  :)

Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp is a dessert that my fam always enjoys.  In the spring I use a combination of Empire and of Granny Smith apples.  The photo above shows our dessert one evening before a small scoop of vanilla ice cream was added on top.     

Apple Crisp 
       click for printable recipe card

Oven Temperature:  375°F
Time:  45 - 50 Minutes

Ingredients:
6 - 7 peeled sliced large apples
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup Old Fashioned Oats
3/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
1/3 Cup + 1 Tablespoon softened Butter or Margarine
1/4 Cup Craisins &/or Raisins - I use both!

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Spray PAM in 8" x 8" glass pan.
3. Place sliced apples in pan.
4. Sprinkle in Craisins & Raisins.
5. Thoroughly mix remaining ingredients together in small bowl.
6. Sprinkle over apples.
7. Bake 45 Minutes or until apples are tender. 
8. Serve warm or chilled with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
9. When cool, cover & refrigerate any leftovers.

Today, I was in the Big Y purchasing groceries.  The first bag of Cortland apples just disappeared, so another bag was placed in our grocery cart along with a half gallon of Apple Cider.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!!!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

      

Merry Christmas!

This coming weekend enjoy the company of your family and friends!  It is a special time of year that allows  us to take a step back and appreciate the wonderful things that we all have.  

Peace to all and Merry Christmas!!!

Enjoy!

  

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!

Times Are Changing!

Today is the first day of the month – June has arrived. The beginning of June brought a new format to our local daily newspaper. Yes, I was aware that this would take place today, but I found our paper so small when it arrived on our driveway. It was a very quick read during breakfast.

Much later this evening a new host of the “Tonight Show” will guide us into the next day. The monologue that I have grown accustomed to for many years will be absent.

Well, times are changing! However, recipes for delicious, nutritious, easy to prepare foods are still meant for sharing. So, for those of you who have searched, clicked and discovered “A Tasty Thought by JG” there is now an opportunity to become a “Follower” of this Blog. Methods and directions for Grilled Haddock, Grilled Sockeye Salmon and Mailing Homemade Cookies are still clicks away. More recipes await!

Happy cooking!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Ah, St. Patrick’s Day will be arriving within hours! A very quick sweet treat to prepare is Sherbet Punch made with Lime Sherbet.

Lime flavored Simply Delicious served with a small topping of whipped cream is also so good!

These easy recipes are found by clicking on the bolded links.

Enjoy!

Yummy!

Meatless Entrees

Starting this week many of us will be eating meatless meals at least once a week. The snow remaining on our deck hinders the path to my outdoor grill. For that reason my family will not be dining on Grilled Haddock, Grilled Sockeye Salmon, or Grilled Swordfish at dinnertime. Soon our weather will be warmer in New England. However, Baked Haddock or Pan Seared Scallops will be great choices that are quick and easy to prepare for dinner.

Another family favorite is Ricotta Rollups!

Click on any of the bolded words above for easy recipes that your family will enjoy!

Yummy!

First Anniversary – Wow!

Today is February 16, 2009! There is an expression “time flies when you’re having fun”. It certainly does! One year ago today I posted my first entry (click on bolded words for link) on my A Tasty Thought by JG Blog.

How many of you have prepared Baked “Tempting Tenderloin” for dinner? Here in Western Massachusetts do you purchase the Pork Tenderloin when the Big Y has the Buy 1, Get 1 Special? I did one year ago and I continue to follow that habit these days.

Over the past year here in New England I have enjoyed sharing easy, delicious, favorite recipes with all of you from all over the world.

Happy Cooking and Stay Tuned!
JG

Enjoy the Labor Day Weekend!

This is the weekend that reminds us fall will be approaching. Very shortly, Football, Cross Country, and Soccer will get our attention. The mornings will also be chillier.

However, this weekend we have an opportunity to enjoy a few days and use our grills at dinnertime. For my family it started last night with Grilled Swordfish. Tonight, we enjoyed Grilled Haddock along with Tangy Tortellini Salad and a fruit salad. Luscious London Broil will be enjoyed another evening over the weekend. Enjoy the remaining relaxing days of summer.

Have a Great Labor Day Weekend!