Turkey a la King

On the next two days after the Thanksgiving holiday it is very easy to decide what to prepare for dinner!  There are choices.  Hot Turkey Sandwiches are usually enjoyed on the first day after we have feasted on roasted turkey.  If there is a bit of stuffing saved in the fridge, that is also reheated and enjoyed very quickly along with a salad.  

Turkey a la King
(File Photo)

There is another quick and easy dinner that does not require too much effort and is just plain delicious- Turkey a la King!  Picture small pieces of the roasted turkey in a creamy sauce that are mixed with vegetables and served over toasted bread.  It is so good!  

You probably see Turkey or Chicken Pot Pies on menus at restaurants.  However, that very tasty combination of small turkey pieces and cooked veggies served over toast is so much easier than rolling out a pie crust or even remembering to purchase unbaked pie crusts at the grocery store.  Turkey a la King is easy and  delicious!

A package of frozen mixed vegetables containing peas, carrots and corn work very well here.  Usually, I prepare a double batch and freeze portions to enjoy again at dinner in the next few weeks.  

***If you also freeze portions, adding a little milk when reheating works very well. 

My recipe for Turkey a la King is the same that I use for Chicken a la King, but I substitute the Turkey for the Chicken.

Click here for my recipe for Turkey a la King.   

Just remember to serve Cranberry Sauce, too!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp

Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp
before adding the vanilla ice cream on top.
(File Photo)

In September when it gets a bit chilly here in Western MA I always think of baking an Apple Crisp! Actually, I think of baking a Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp and top it with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream before serving!  It's the dessert containing peeled/ sliced apples that is baked and has a delicious cinnamon nutmeg oat topping.  Did I mention that mixed in with the baked apple slices are puffed Craisins (dried cranberries) and puffed raisins?  The dried fruits absorb the moisture while they are baking and puff up.  At this time of year I use McIntosh and/ or Cortland apples.  During the winter season, sometimes, I use Empire Apples. 

This is definitely a tasty dessert made with apples and it does not require a pie crust!  It has been a family favorite for years!  A small scoop of ice cream or a small amount of whipped cream added on top adds to the delicious taste.  

I have posted my recipe many times in the past, so I am including my complete recipe here:

Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp Recipe 

Add apples- McIntosh or Cortland to your grocery list this week.  Read the recipe to learn if you have the other ingredients.  You probably do have old fashioned Oats in your pantry along with brown sugar, and the cinnamon and nutmeg.  If not, add those, too.  Plan on baking this delicious dessert soon!  It is so good!

Enjoy!
Yummy!                 

~Creamy Cheesy Pie~

Creamy Cheesy Pie
(File Photo)
Easy and delicious!

Yum! There are 2 servings left of Creamy Cheesy Pie in our fridge. Yes!! This weekend we had a taste of 90° F temperatures when both Saturday and Sunday were in the low 90°'s.  After listening to our weather forecasters, it was the perfect time to make a Creamy Cheesy Pie to enjoy after dinner. My mother- in- law introduced me to this very tasty treat. After she shared her recipe so many years ago, I was so surprised how little time it took to prepare.

It is really easy to prepare, too! There are 4 ingredients here. That is unless you also use 1% fat milk like we do. In that case 1 Tablespoon powdered milk is also added into the pot before preparing the pudding mix.

Before serving a slice of this delicious pie, I spread a small amount of Freezer Jam on top. Oh, it will be the newly made Strawberry Flavored Freezer Jam! Then a squirt of Reddi-wip whipped cream tops it off.

Click here for the complete recipe that I have posted in the past.    

It is so good! There are 2 servings waiting in our fridge! Add the ingredients to your grocery list.

Enjoy!
Yummy!     

Top Post of 2021!

Baked Taco Pie!
(File Photo)

Tonight's dinner is baking in our oven.  It is also the top blog post that I wrote for last year- in 2021! Drum roll here,
da dum... Baked Taco Pie!

Ground Beef, corn, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and shredded cheeses layered between tortillas. Oh, there are herbs and spices in the mix, too. It's served with a dollop of sour cream. Oh Yum!

We have extra portions, so they always have a spot in our freezer for a quick and easy future dinner.

Click here for my recipe. It's that good!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Pie Crust and Butternut Squash Custard Pie!

Unbaked Pie Crust
(File Photo)

Thanksgiving Day is next week!  As we continue to plan our menu for this November holiday, thoughts of desserts and pies come to mind.  Will pie be included? In my family of course we will be enjoying a slice or two of different varieties of pies. We like pie!  

The next question will be what kind of pies do family members like? What kind of pies do I like? Decisions! Decisions! Decisions!  I bake most pies, as the expression goes "from scratch".  Yes, that includes prepping a pie crust.  I don't like the "store bought" crusts.  I also have the best recipe for homemade Pie Crust!  I will be preparing the whole recipe and using half of it for Butternut Squash Custard Pie!  I don't bake a pumpkin pie.  It is a long family tradition starting in my childhood to bake a delicious Butternut Squash Custard Pie! Click here for the recipe. It's worth the click!  

My Pie Crust recipe is one that my mom always used.  It is for a double crust- top and bottom crusts.  I cannot tell you where it came from, because I really do not know.  But, I do know that she always used it and her pie crusts were so good!  They were flaky and thin.  Sometimes, instead of baking a pie, she would roll out the bottom crust to fit inside a cookie pan.  Then, she would fill it with slices of apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar and roll out the top crust and crimp the edges before baking.  We would call this dessert an Apple Square.  No, it was not square in shape, it was rectangular. It was a dessert that would last for quite a few days.  It needed a doubled recipe of Pie Crust to prepare it.

I have had my rolling pin for probably 50 years!  It is a Tupperware rolling pin that allows me to unscrew the cap on one end and pour iced water inside before screwing the cap back on.  The cold rolling pin works great!  I am not sure that they are available anymore.  Mine seems to have lasted forever!  I will be using my handy rolling pin the beginning of next week. 

The recipe for the delicious pie crust was called Plain Pastry for a Pie Crust.  I always use it and my pie crusts are thin and flaky, too!  The recipe is below.

Plain Pastry for Pie Crust
    Makes 2 crusts: lower and upper crust

Ingredients: 

2 Cups Flour
3/4 teaspoon salt- (I use a little less.)
2/3 Cup solid Vegetable Shortening- (I use Crisco.)
5- 6 Tablespoons Cold Water- (Sometimes I need an extra Tablespoon.)

extra Flour
Rolling Pin
Rolling Mat
Pastry Blender or 2 Knives

Method:     

1. Measure out shortening and refrigerate for 15- 20 minutes.
2. Place Flour and Salt in Mixing Bowl and combine.
3. Place solid Shortening on Flour/ Salt mixture.
4. With a Pastry Blender or using two knives cut shortening into Flour/ Salt mixture. It will look like small pebbles.
5. Add 5 Tablespoons of cold water to mixture and continue mixing. Add additional 1 Tablespoon Water and mix in.
6. If dough feels dry, add 1 additional Tablespoon Water and combine.
7. Dough will be soft and can easily be divided into 2 balls.  Divide into 2 balls.
8. Spread a thin layer- small amount of Flour on rolling mat.
   
9. Take one ball of dough and place on floured rolling mat.
10. Begin rolling dough into circular shape by rolling in one direction and then in another direction.
11. Continue this process until dough is thin and will fit into the pie plate. The dough needs to overlap pie plate so a fluted crust can be made before pie is baked.
12. If a top crust is needed, follow these same directions.  Place top crust on after filling is placed on bottom crust.
13. To flute pie crust: Trim dough that is overlapping edge of pie plate to about 1".  Use index fingers and thumbs of both hands roll both crusts together and place on top of pie plate edge. Go around entire pie.
    
14. Then, using index fingers and thumbs of both hands, crimp the dough that is on top of the pie plate edge. Right hand goes in one direction, left hand goes in opposite direction. Go around entire pie. The unbaked crust will be fluted. Now, move the fluted crust inside the edge, so later when slicing the baked pie, it will not break off. 

If you are baking a pie that needs only one crust like Butternut Squash Custard Pie does, there is that extra ball of dough. It never goes to waste here! It is a tradition of mine to bake Tasty Treats! They are my Part 2 of baking a Butternut Squash Custard Pie! 

Tasty Treats!
Yum!
(File Photo)

The dough is rolled out and Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Raisins and Craisins are sprinkled on top. 

Tasty Treats
(File Photo)

The dough is then rolled like a Jelly Roll. Cut into slices and place on a cookie sheet. They are sooo goood!  Click here for the Tasty Treats recipe! 

Before placing in oven!
(File Photo)

Have you decided what pies your family will be enjoying on Thanksgiving Day? Butternut Squash Custard Pie is a great choice! Yes, we will be enjoying one. I have not decided on the other variety just yet. 

Prep your own Pie Crust!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

~Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp~

Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp
(File Photo)

When September rolls around baking an Apple Crisp using the local fresh McIntosh and Cortland apples is always on my agenda.  It was this year, too.  Now, the middle of October has arrived and another will be placed in our oven.  No pie crust is needed here, which makes this dessert easy to prepare.   

Apple Crisp is a great dessert!  Slices of baked apples with a crispy oat cinnamon/ nutmeg flavored topping.  I always combine a few Craisins (dried cranberries) and raisins with the apples before adding the oat topping.  When serving, a small scoop of vanilla ice cream is added on top of the Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp and it tastes so good!

Back in October 2011 I posted my recipe.  This post has a printable recipe card for Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp, too!  I cannot remember when I began baking this delicious apple treat, but it remains a favorite in my household.  The weekend is here, so purchase some apples and bake this dessert.  It is so good!

Remember no pie crust is needed!  Click here for the recipe! 

Enjoy!
Yummy!

        

~Baked Taco Pie~

~Baked Taco Pie~
cut into slices

One afternoon last week I was deciding what to prepare for dinner.  "What am I going to make?" is a question that seems to be on my mind a lot.  We had tortillas and ground beef in the fridge, so that was a start.  Then, I remembered a dinner that I had not prepared in quite some time.  It was Baked Taco Pie!  Some of the ingredients are browned ground beef, corn, tomato sauce and tortillas.  Suddenly, I knew it would be served at dinner.

The recipe is so easy to prepare and then it is baked.  I've changed it up a bit from the original recipe and I like it even better.  Add a little Sour Cream on top when serving!

***I use a baking dish that the Tortillas will fit in easily.  We do not always purchase the same size Tortillas, so I use whatever size in in our fridge.

This is a very tasty dinner!!     

Baked Taco Pie      

        Oven Temperature:  375°    Time:  30- 35 Minutes   

Ingredients: 

1 lb. Ground Beef
2 teaspoons Chopped Onion (dehydrated)
1 teaspoon Chili Powder
Sprinkle of Dried Basil
Sprinkle of Dried Oregano
1 can (14.5 ounces) Diced Tomatoes (drained)
1 pkg. Frozen Corn (10 ounces) thawed/ defrosted
(6) 7" or 8" or 9" ***Tortillas
1 Cup shredded Cheese- can be low fat
1 can (15 ounce) Tomato Sauce
Sour Cream

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven to 375° F.
2. Brown Ground Beef in skillet, drain any fat.
3. Add Chopped Onions, Chili Powder, Basil & Oregano. Stir.
4. Add drained Diced Tomatoes & Corn. 
5. Stir in 1 Cup Tomato Sauce.
6. Cook for 5 Minutes in skillet.
7. Spray casserole baking dish with PAM.
8. Place 1/4 Cup Tomato Sauce on bottom of baking dish, spread.
9. Place 2 Tortillas on Sauce.
10. Add 1/3 filling mixture on top.  Spread evenly.
11. Place 2 Tortillas on filling.
12. Add 1/3 filling on Tortillas.  Spread evenly.
13. Sprinkle on 1/2 Cup Shredded Cheese.
    
14. Then, add 2 Tortillas on Filling mixture.
15. Add remaining filling mixture on top, spreading evenly.
16. Pour remaining Tomato Sauce on top, spread evenly.
    
17. Then, sprinkle on remaining Shredded Cheese.
18. Bake 30- 35 Minutes in 375° Oven.
19. Cut into slices and serve.
20. Top with sour cream.

This is a very easy dish to prepare!  Before you know it, the oven timer will buzz it's done.  It is a hearty dish for this time of year.  If you have any slices left after dinner, they may be frozen to enjoy for another dinner.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Apple Crisp with Craisins & Raisins

Apple Crisp
with Craisins & Raisins
(File Photo)

There's a dessert change going on here for Thanksgiving Day dinner!  A treat with Apples & dried Cranberries are perfect for this time of year.  The Cortland Apples have been purchased!  Usually my rolling pin & pastry sheet are used the day before Thanksgiving.  Well, I've been cutting back on baking desserts for the past few months, so this year Apple Crisp with Craisins & Raisins will be baked today.  The yummy crustless dessert with slices of sweet apples along with Craisins & Raisins.  It also has a toasted oat topping that begs for a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.  Oh, yum!

My fave apple to use here is a crispy Cortland.  In the early part of Autumn, I use McIntosh Apples.  Once the Cortlands are harvested, I use this type until they are no longer available.  Then during the winter months, Empire Apples makes great tasting Apple Crisp!

Today is baking day!  The recipe below I've posted before.  It's been a family fave for so many years.  This dessert tastes so much better when it is baked one day & served the next.  It seasons very well with the toasted oat topping.    

Apple Crisp with Craisins & Raisins

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

Ingredients:
6 - 7 peeled sliced large apples (I have Cortland.)
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
1/4 Cup Raisins

Method:

1.  Preheat oven to 375°F.
2.  Spray PAM in 8" x 8" (or 9"x 9") glass baking pan/ dish.
3.  Rinse apples under cold running water & dry.
4.  Peel & slice apples.
5.  Place peeled/ sliced apples in pan/ dish. 
6.  Add Craisins & Raisins and mix in.
7.  Thoroughly mix remaining ingredients together in small bowl.
8.  Sprinkle over apples. 
9.  Bake 45- 50 Minutes or until apples are tender.
10.  Serve warm or chilled with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. 
11.   When cool, cover & refrigerate any leftovers.

Will you also be baking an Apple Crisp?

Enjoy!
Yummy!

        

Baked Taco Pie

Baked Taco Pie
 with Fat Free Sour Cream on Top

Scrolling through my Twitter feed a couple of weeks ago I spied an interesting recipe from Kraft Foods.  The foodie photo looked so good!  Scanning the ingredients I discovered we like each one!  It looked easy to prepare.  Even the name had the word easy in it!  Easy is good!  It didn't take long to decide this entree would be in our oven later in the week.  It was a Baked Taco Pie!

Tortillas & the filling mixture are layered before baking.  The best casserole baking dish I have to use here was my smaller square rose colored Pyrex baking dish.  That worked great!      

These days I'm substituting Ground Turkey for Ground Beef whenever possible in recipes.  Ohhh, cholesterol has a background with my family.  Genes play a role & choices also play a role! 

So, I've changed the original recipe a bit & we totally liked it!  Yes, servings remained after dinner & they seasoned very well for 2 days when we enjoyed this entree again for dinner.  Tortillas are layered here, so it is filling.  Try it, you'll like it!

Baked Taco Pie
          inspired by Kraft  Foods

Oven Temperature:  375°F        Time:  25- 30 Minutes

Ingredients:
1 lb. Ground Turkey
1 Tablespoon Chopped Onion (dehydrated)
1 teaspoon Chili Powder (more if desired)
Sprinkle of Dried Basil & Sprinkle of Dried Oregano
1 can (14.5 ounces) Diced Tomatoes, drained
1 pkg. (10 ounce) Frozen Mixed Vegetables (Corn, Carrots, Peas, Green Beans), thawed & defrosted
(5) 6 inch Tortillas
1 Cup Low Fat Shredded Cheese
Low Fat Sour Cream

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Brown Ground Turkey in skillet, drain any fat.
3. Add Chopped Onions, Chili Powder, Dried Basil & Oregano to skillet, stir.
4. Add drained Diced Tomatoes & Corn Mixed Veggies, stir.
5. Cook for 5 Minutes.
6.  Spray casserole baking dish with PAM.
7. Place 1 Tortilla on bottom. 
8. Place 1/3 of filling mixture on top, spreading evenly.
9. Then, place 2 Tortillas on filling mixture.
10. Layer another 1/3 mixture on, topping with 1/2 Cup Shredded Cheese.
11. Place 2 Tortillas on top, then filling & sprinkle on Shredded Cheese.
12. Bake 25- 30 Minutes in 375°F oven.
13. Cut & serve with Low Fat Sour Cream.

Tomorrow we will be enjoying a Chicken dish in my Slow Cooker!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

           

~Tasty Treats~

Tasty Treats

Are you baking a pie to enjoy tomorrow on Thanksgiving?  Do you have extra pie dough?  Use that extra dough!  Roll it out & bake a few Tasty Treats!  They are so yummy & filled with Craisins & Raisins!  Yum!

Tasty Treats

Time:  18- 20 Minutes            Oven:  350°F 

Ingredients:
Extra Pie Dough
Brown Sugar
Raisins
Craisins
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Ground Cloves

Method:

1. Using a rolling pin roll out the extra pie dough.
2. Sprinkle on top 2- 3 Tablespoons of Brown Sugar.
3. Then sprinkle on Raisins & Craisins.
4. Find your Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Ground Cloves.  Sprinkle on top.
5. Then, starting from the opposite end, start rolling the pie dough towards you, by hand.
6. You will have a log.
7. Cut into about 1" slices.
8. Place on a cookie sheet & bake for 18- 20 minutes in a 350°F oven.
9. Cool on a rack.
10. Enjoy!   

What a delicious treat!
 

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Turkey a la King

Turkey a la King
served over Toasted Oatmeal Bread
(File Photo)

The aroma of Turkey roasting on Thanksgiving Day is just the best!  With cranberry sauce chilling in the fridge & the garlic mashed potatoes & other side dishes on the move, dinner is on its way.  My fam has never had a problem having leftover slices/ pieces of the delicious moisty Turkey.  Opening the fridge door & grazing seems to be a custom of the weekend.  At least opening the door to see if anything has changed position on a shelf, certainly is a habit.  :)

Hot Turkey Sandwiches on Friday is set in stone, here.  On Saturday there usually are a few pieces remaining.  That's when I see Turkey a la King in our future.  Mixed vegetables along with chunks of Turkey combined in a creamy white sauce.  This is served over toasted Oatmeal Bread.  Oh yes, along with Cranberry Sauce.  Yum, yum, yum!

When preparing dinner why take the extra step of making or using commercial pie crusts for Turkey Pot Pies???  Toasted bread serves the role so well!  Prep Turkey a la King.  When it's ready, toast the bread.  Easy & no fuss all while tasting absolutely delicious!  Try it, you'll like it!

Turkey a la King
 Serves 2 - 3 Adults

Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Margarine/ Butter (I use unsalted.)
1/3 Cup Flour
1 Cup Chicken/Turkey Broth
      (I use College Inn Light & Fat Free Chicken Broth.)
1 Cup Milk
1 Cup Turkey chunks (cooked), cut up, more if desired
2 Cups cooked Carrots & Peas (or Mixed Vegetables)
*******
Sliced Bread, Toasted

Method:

1. Melt Margarine/ Butter in skillet.
2. Remove skillet from Medium heat and slowly stir in Flour.  
3. Return to heat and slowly add in Chicken Broth & Milk while slowly stirring constantly.
4. Continue stirring over heat until sauce is thick and bubbly. 
5. Add cooked Turkey chunks.
6. Add in cooked vegetables.
7. Stir and heat mixture for 1 - 2 Minutes.
8. Serve over toasted Bread.

If I have enough Turkey I make a double batch & freeze the extra portions.  It's an easy dinner to defrost/ reheat on a cold winter night.

***Chicken can be substituted for Turkey at other times during the year.

***A half portion is also so yummy when served over a baked potato!

Currently, it looks like winter outside!  The snowflakes are falling heavily on the day before Thanksgiving!  It'll be a different sight looking out my kitchen window as I bake the Thanksgiving pies!  Today I have 2 sous chefs!  :)  

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Wishing you, your family & friends a wonderful holiday!

Craisin/ Raisin Apple Crisp

Needs a small scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Autumn!  Apples!  October!  Cooler nights!  Wait, wait...I need to go back to apples!  This is the season when biting into a fresh juicy apple is such a treat!  Sure, I like the summer fruits like strawberries, blueberries & cantaloupe that are easily available, but an apple...oh, yum!  Not only are there many varieties, but they can be enjoyed fresh or baked in a goodie.
One goodie that my fam always enjoys is Craisin/ Raisin Apple Crisp!  This baked dessert made with fresh apples has a few Craisins & Raisins sprinkled in & and tastes so good with the oat topping.  That topping has Nutmeg & Cinnamon, too!  In the produce area of my local grocery store I see a commercially packaged dry mix to make the oat topping.  The thought passes through my mind:  "How hard is it to make an oat topping?"  Not difficult at all!  Below is my very easy recipe!  Try it, you'll see!    

If you've never tasted this yummy dessert- bake one & the aroma from your kitchen will get you hooked!  Yum!

Craisin/ Raisin Apple Crisp

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

Ingredients:
 6 - 7 peeled sliced large apples - I use McIntosh, Cortland
       &/or Empire 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
1/4 Cup Raisins

Method:

1.   Preheat oven to 375°F.
2.   Spray PAM in 8" x 8" glass baking pan.
3.   Rinse apples under cold running water & dry.
4.  Peel & slice apples. 
5.  Place peeled sliced apples in pan. 
6.  Add Craisins & Raisins and mix in. 
7.  Thoroughly mix remaining ingredients together in small bowl.
8.  Sprinkle over apples. 
9.  Bake 45- 50 Minutes or until apples are tender. 
10.  Serve warm or chilled with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. 
11.  When cool, cover & refrigerate any leftovers.

This weekend I baked this Apple Crisp using a combo of McIntosh & Cortland apples & it was a great treat!  We always enjoy this dessert with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!  So good!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

~Pie & History~

As I prepare for Thanksgiving Day, I always think about the English colonists who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on the Mayflower.  As a resident of Massachusetts I always enjoy driving east to the Cape (Cape Cod) in the warmer weather to enjoy the beaches and also to learn more history whenever possible!

There is an area in Chatham, MA across from the Coast Guard Small Boat Station and Chatham Lighthouse that overlooks the Chatham Sandbar.  The tranquil scene and lighthouse are a "must see" for many visitors to this area.  There are also interesting plaques containing history to read.      

It begins-

(Click to enlarge.)

This is a fascinating story!  The Pilgrims did not travel directly to Plymouth, MA!  Rather than post the images and story again, visit my post from last November and read a bit of History... when you have a chance during this Thanksgiving weekend. 

The complete post- with images:

The Journey of the Pilgrims
     posted November 21, 2012

History is FuN!

Today was "Pie Making Day" for me.   One of my fam's fave pies - Butternut Squash Custard is below! Recipe

Ready to fill with the Butternut Squash Custard Filling!

It has been a month of savoring the taste of Butternut Squash!  The delicious orange colored veggie that contains Potassium.  One 2 Cup Ziploc Freezer Bag was defrosted in the fridge yesterday and used today. 

The hand mixer makes it easy!

The Butternut Squash Custard Pie  (recipe) has been cooling on the rack.  Soon it will be placed in the fridge. 

Soon to be refrigerated.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

            

Apple Crisp with Craisins/ Raisins

Small scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream will be added!

Columbus Day Weekend!  I hope that you have enjoyed it.  This holiday weekend came quickly!  October is a FuN month - filled with fam birthdays, football games and produce of autumn. 

Last weekend we ventured west on the MA Pike and then on to upstate NY to attend a beautiful wedding.  Driving on the highways between gorgeous trees that were beginning to change colors was so sweet - shades of greens, yellows & reds.

    
On the return trip home we not only viewed the colorful foliage, but at a rest/food area there was a Farmers' Market.  An abundance of the fresh local apples from the nearby orchards were available to purchase. Cortland Apples!  Cortland will always be my fave eating & cooking apple.  The contents of a  fill your own bag of these juicy tasty pieces of red fruit is now in our fridge.

My plan?  Bake Apple Crisp with Craisins/ Raisins!  A crunchy oat topping covers slices of fresh peeled fruit in this yummy dessert.  The apple slices are also surrounded by sprinkles of Craisins & Raisins.  Add in Cinnamon & Nutmeg = Yum!  It's extra easy, because no pie crust is required for this tasty dessert!

Apple Crisp with Craisins/ Raisins

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
1/4 Cup Raisins

 Method:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Spray PAM in 8" x 8" glass baking pan.
3. Rinse apples under cold running water & dry.
4. Peel & slice apples.
5. Place peeled sliced apples in pan.
6. Add Craisins & Raisins and mix in.
7. Thoroughly mix remaining ingredients together in small bowl.
8. Sprinkle over apples.
9. Bake 45- 50 Minutes or until apples are tender.
10. Serve warm or chilled with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
11. When cool, cover & refrigerate any leftovers.

This is definitely a family fave apple dessert here! 

Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

~Turkey a la King~

"Gobbles"

Do you have small pieces of roasted Turkey remaining in your fridge?  Enough to equal about 1 cup?  A package/box of frozen peas & carrots or mixed veggies in the freezer?  A partial loaf of bread?  Family members who are starved at dinner time?  If so, it's time for Turkey a la King!

After dining on Roasted Turkey with all of the trimmings on Thanksgiving Day and then Hot Turkey Sandwiches tonight, I always enjoy making this particular Turkey dinner for the third Turkey meal!  This past Tuesday was "my pie making day", so, no, I'm not about to roll out more dough for Turkey Pot Pies!  Turkey a la King is much easier and quicker to prepare.  It's also a delicious entree that even contains the veggies! 

Thanksgiving Day was great!  We enjoyed dinner, we chatted it up, we read stories and we also had Duplo construction going on.  "Gobbles" got exercise, too.   Now it's time to c-h-i-l-l!


Turkey a la King
served over Toasted Oatmeal Bread
along with an added Bonus- Thanksgiving Stuffing

Turkey a la King
Serves 2 - 3 Adults

Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Margarine/Butter (I use unsalted.)
1/3 Cup Flour
1 Cup Chicken/Turkey Broth
      (I use College Inn Light & Fat Free Chicken Broth.)
1 Cup Milk
1 Cup Turkey chunks (cooked), cut up, more if desired
2 Cups Cooked Carrots & Peas (or Mixed Vegetables)
*   *   *   *
Sliced Bread, Toasted

Method:

1. Melt Margarine/Butter in skillet.
2. Remove skillet from Medium heat and slowly stir in Flour.
3. Return to heat and slowly add in Chicken Broth & Milk while slowly stirring constantly.
4. Continue stirring over heat until sauce is thick and bubbly.
5. Add cooked Turkey chunks.
6. Add in cooked vegetables.
7. Stir and heat mixture for 1 - 2 Minutes.
8. Serve over toasted Bread.

If I have a large amount of Roasted Turkey to use, sometimes I'll make a double batch and freeze half of the prepared Turkey a la King.  This makes for another quick delicious dinner after a busy day.  During the year, Chicken can be used rather than Turkey.

And yes, there is more Cranberry Sauce!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

~Tasty Treats~

Craisins, Raisins, Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Brown Sugar added!

Thanksgiving was GREAT!  The long weekend was packed with chatting it up with the family!  As usual, earlier, there were the traditional foods to prepare, but this year a tad little less time for baking.  So glad that I had planned to bake Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp after the Butternut Squash Custard Pie came out of the oven.  There are times when an easy tasty dessert made with sliced fruit tastes just absolutely delicious!  It was one of those times!  As you know, I m not much into purchasing baked goods and I try to keep the sugar to flour ratio low when baking.  

In Apple Crisp no pie crust needs to be rolled out.  Raisins & Craisins are mixed in with the apples before baking.  The oat topping is spread over the top of the thinly sliced apples.  It's easy to prepare and it tastes wonderful!  We all agreed, the NUTMEG added into the crumb mixture tasted divine!  My younger son has put in his request for this dessert the next time he stops in.

Needs a Small Scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream!

Now, after baking the Butternut Squash Custard Pie, there was extra unbaked pie crust.  Tasty Treats are the anticipated dessert whenever I roll out pie crust.  After making these for so many years, they have become the Part 2 when baking a pie.  Any remaining extra dough is formed into a ball and rolled out.  Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Craisins & Raisins are scattered over the top of the dough.  Then, starting at one end, the dough is rolled into a log and lightly pressed.  Next, cut the log into slices.  Onto a foil lined baking sheet the slices are placed - a 350° F oven for about 20-22 Minutes or until slightly browned.

Tasty Treats - Another Tradition

The Tasty Treats are a wonderful way to use leftover dough.  And such a treat - little rolls of fruit and flaky baked dough.  It's always part of baking a pie.  It sure does not taste like a "leftover"!  Do you also bake these?  What does your family call them?

Thanksgiving weekend was FUN and our little toddler grandson kept us moving!  :)

We enjoyed the holiday weekend!

        

Turkey a la King



The Guest Towels are Ready!

Every year just before Thanksgiving when Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce is a featured special at my grocery store I purchase both the jellied and the whole berry sauces.  There are some Thanksgiving Day traditions that I savor from my own childhood.  One tradition is placing a tangy slice of this cold jellied sauce next to steaming turkey slices and mashed potatoes (that are topped with yummy gravy) on my dinner plate.  Oh, definitely, mashed Butternut Squash is also present.  That was also a tradition of my DH's family.  Yes, I could prep the whole berry sauce earlier during Thanksgiving week and we could enjoy that, but it would not be the same as both of our childhood memories.  This tradition has continued.  Our sons have always kept a watch for the can of  Cranberry Sauce while grazing in the fridge before dinner. 

This treat is enjoyed with our Thanksgiving Day Dinner, enjoyed the next day with Hot Turkey Sandwiches and then enjoyed once again with Turkey a la King that is served over toasted Oatmeal Bread.

There is always enough roasted turkey remaining for that last meal.  Turkey a la King is delicious and it's very easy to prepare.

Turkey a la King
Serves 2 - 3 Adults

Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Margarine/Butter (I use unsalted.)
1/3 Cup Flour
1 Cup Chicken/Turkey Broth (I use College Inn Light & Fat Free Chicken Broth.)
1 Cup Milk
1 Cup (cooked) Turkey chunks, cut up, more if desired
2 Cups Cooked Carrots &/or Peas combined

Toasted Bread

Method:

1. Melt Margarine/Butter in skillet.
2. Remove skillet from Medium heat and slowly stir in Flour.
3. Return to heat and slowly add in Chicken Broth & Milk while slowly stirring constantly.
4. Continue stirring over heat until sauce is thick and bubbly.
5. Add Turkey chunks.
6. Add in cooked vegetables.   
7. Stir and heat mixture for 1 - 2 Minutes.
8. Serve over toasted Bread.

This meal always uses the remaining pieces of roasted Turkey and we always remember the Cranberry Sauce!

Maybe there will be a few slices of Cranberry Bread (click on name) to enjoy later for dessert.  In New England we do like Cranberry Bread.  :)  Two of these breads filled with fresh chopped cranberries are on my "to bake" list for tomorrow along with Butternut Squash Custard Pie (click on name).   

Enjoy the holiday with your family & friends.  We have much to be thankful for and it is always good to appreciate what we have.

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

Peachy Craisin Crisp

The trip to Calabrese Farms in Southwick, MA on Friday afternoon resulted in purchasing local, fresh, juicy, fragrant Peaches!  If you enjoy making Freezer Jam, as I do, it is time to get moving when the fruit is ripe!  Yesterday a batch of Peach Freezer Jam was prepared.  In a couple of hours it will be stored in our large freezer downstairs.  The afternoon began with preparing Freezer Jam and ended with one very tasty dessert - Peachy Craisin Crisp.  Yummy!  

It has become a tradition for me to bake this scrumptious dessert after making the jam.  I'm sure it's due to the fact that not only are the juicy 6 - 7 Peaches in my fridge, but my kitchen counters and stove contain all of the necessary utensils.  My rose colored Pyrex container can be located quickly.  It's 8" x 8" size is perfect to use.  The combination of Peaches and of dried Cranberries is scrumptious in this dessert with an oat topping. 

***After washing the Peaches in cold water, the skins of the fruit need to be removed.  To remove the skin easily, carefully place each Peach in simmering water for about 35 seconds.  Using a slotted spoon, remove each Peach and place on a plate to cool.  When the fruit can be comfortably handled, peel and cut fruit into slices.  :)
 
Peachy Craisin Crisp

Oven Temperature:  375° F    
Baking Time:  About 45 Minutes

Ingredients:
6 - 7 sliced Peaches
2/3 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup Old Fashioned Oats
3/4 tsp. Cinnamon
3/4 tsp. Nutmeg
1/3 Cup softened Butter or Margarine
1/4 Cup Craisins (dried cranberries)

Method:

1. Preheat oven.
2. Spray PAM in glass baking dish.
3. Place sliced Peaches in baking dish.  Sprinkle on Craisins and mix.
4. In small bowl combine remaining ingredients thoroughly.  Sprinkle over Peaches.
5. Bake 45 minutes or until Peaches are tender.  
6. Serve warm or cold topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
7. After cool, cover and refrigerate any leftovers. 

This is a great dessert filled with slices of fresh fruit!  An added plus is that there is no pie crust to roll out on a warm summer day if this delicious fresh dessert is prepared.  Sweet!  Do you bake using fresh peaches?  

Yummy!
Enjoy! 

   

     

Creamy Cheesy Pie, Yum!

The past few days here in Western MA, as in so many other parts of our country, have been hot and humid.  Even with A/C, forget turning on the oven for any baking.  Life is good using our outdoor grill at dinner time.  Ice cream is just plain refreshing later in the evening!  Vanilla is my favorite flavor, what is yours?  Orange Pineapple is so good, but not always available!

Speaking of the flavor vanilla, vanilla Creamy Cheesy Pie is not baked in a hot oven!  I was introduced to this delicious, no fuss recipe many years ago by my mother-in-law.  Before tasting her quick make pie, I always baked a cheesecake using a couple of packages of cream cheese, a spring-form pan and directions that needed to be followed.  

While we were down visiting quite a few years ago she opened her fridge after dinner and out came a cheesecake.  It was vanilla flavored and had a graham cracker crust that was purchased.  She served it with fresh berries and whipped cream.  It was mighty fine!  So, I did what one does when something looks and tastes really good...I requested the recipe - much to her great joy!  It was already a fact to her and to my father-in-law that I cooked.  They had never met anyone (before me) who prepared fresh corn and stored the kernels in freezer bags for meals in the winter.  They had lived in NYC in an apartment before relocating to FL.  I grew up in Western MA and my family had two large gardens.  :)

This "easy does it" delicious cheesecake requires 4 ingredients:  (1) package of Cook & Serve Pudding Mix, Milk, 8 oz. Cream Cheese and a Graham Cracker Pie Shell. 

Creamy Cheesy Pie 

 Ingredients:

(1) pkg. Cook & Serve Vanilla Pudding Mix
(1) pkg. 8 oz. Cream Cheese
(2) Cups Milk
(1) Pre-made Graham Cracker Pie Shell

Method:

1. Prepare Pudding according to package directions.
2. Place Cream Cheese in a medium bowl.
3. Pour hot Pudding over Cream Cheese and whisk until smooth.
4. Pour mixture into Graham Cracker crust.  Smooth mixture to crust edges.
5. Cool - maybe 30 minutes and cover with plastic wrap.  I leave small amount unwrapped on edge.
6. Refrigerate overnight.
7. Cut into slices.  Add whipped cream on top.
8. Place berries on the side.
9. Refrigerate remaining pie to enjoy again.  Yum!

**My family uses 1% Milk, so I add 1 Tablespoon powdered milk into pot before making pudding.  

**I use Jello brand pudding mix, because when using the Jello brand I do not burn the pot.  :) 

Yesterday afternoon Vanilla Creamy Cheesy Pie was prepared and tonight we will enjoy it after dinner.  :) 

My son has prepared this yummy dessert using Jello chocolate pudding and the word is, "It tastes great!!!"

Do you make easy, no fuss, delicious desserts during the summer?

Enjoy!
Yummy!