~Sassy Raisin Sauce~

Two of the Ingredients
in Sassy Raisin Sauce
(File Photo)

Enjoying slices of Baked Ham for a Sunday dinner is delicious! Some people like a slice topped with a sauce. For me, Sassy Raisin Sauce is such a delicious topping. The sauce can be prepared very quickly, too. Apple Juice, Raisins, Cornstarch and Butter/ Margarine are the needed ingredients. This topping comes together very quickly.

Sometimes, I go to my Spice Rack to get the container of Ground Cinnamon. A single shake of Ground Cinnamon adds an additional great taste to the sauce.  

Click here for the Instructions to prepare 2 and 1/2 Cups or a smaller amount like 2 servings of this very tasty sauce. 

Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

~CranOrange Coffee Cake~

CranOrange Coffee Cake
before the Almond Icing is drizzled on top.
(File Photo)

CranOrange Coffee Cake!!  A slice of this delicious cake served with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream is just the best!  It's another great dessert to enjoy at this time of year.  Whole berry cranberry sauce is one of the ingredients.  Years ago when baking this cake I used a cranorange relish, but now I use the whole berry sauce and orange extract.  I also use my Tube Pan rather than my Bundt pan. 

Ready to be placed in my oven.
(File Photo)

This CranOrange Coffee Cake is another yummy dessert that can be baked early.  After the cake cools completely wrap it in foil and place it in the freezer.  The day before you plan to serve it, defrost and drizzle the cake with the Almond Icing.  

Click here for my recipe for this delicious cake! 

My cake for the holidays is already in my freezer! Will you be baking one also?

Enjoy!
Yummy!

   

Veggie Sauce

Veggie Sauce
(File Photo)

It's the time of year to use my slow cooker (crock pot) to prepare Veggie Sauce!  It contains chunks of local Eggplant and local Zucchini and local Green Peppers along with canned tomato sauce and tomato paste.  After a quick walk to my spice rack the dried Basil and dried Oregano are added to the slow cooker's pot.  Dried Parsley is a great addition, too! Now, is when the local veggies are available at the roadside stands, farmers' markets and grocery stores.  It is good to "buy local" and support our local farmers!  The fresh veggies are so delicious, too! 

**When preparing this sauce if I have ground beef in the fridge, it is browned in a skillet, drained and also added.  I have learned over the years that with my slow cooker's "non stick" coating it is still always best to spray it with PAM, first.  Then, I add the Green Pepper Chunks.  If ground beef is used it is added to the pot second.  

I like to prepare this sauce with or without the meat.  It is easy to prepare and tastes so good.
Click here for the recipe.     

In the colder months it is always a treat to take out a container of this yummy sauce to defrost/ heat and serve over pasta for dinner.  Do you prepare foods to have "on hand" in your freezer, too?  They make great "take out" meals! Just reach into your freezer and take it out!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Turkey a la King

Turkey a la King
(File Photo)

There are slices of roasted Turkey in our fridge. Yes!  Tonight, we will be enjoying Turkey a la King served over sliced toasted oatmeal bread.  We enjoy this dinner. Think small chunks of roasted Turkey that are surrounded by mixed veggies in a creamy white sauce- oh yum!  After Thanksgiving Day this is always a "go to" dinner for me.  The Turkey was cooked yesterday and the veggies are in our freezer.  A can of chicken broth is in our pantry.  What can be easier?

Why roll out or purchase/ use another pie crust to prepare a pot pie?  Using toasted bread is so much easier!  So much quicker too!  There is no need to bake anything in the oven.   

Take a short cut today or tomorrow.  Prepare Turkey a la King using this easy recipe! (Click here for recipe.)  Just remember the Cranberry Sauce!

Enjoy!
Yummy!             

Turkey a la King!

Turkey a la King
(File Photo)

It's like clockwork! The day after Thanksgiving we always enjoy slices of roasted Turkey, mashed potatoes, some stuffing and gravy along with Butternut Squash at dinnertime.  Then, the following day it's Turkey a la King!  Now, this is a very easy meal to prepare!  It is much like a Turkey Pot Pie, but without the pie crust or phyllo dough crust.  Small pieces of roasted Turkey in a creamy sauce along with mixed veggies!  It is served over slices of  toasted bread.  You cannot beat that for easy!  It is so tasty, too!

These days I usually double or triple the recipe and freeze the extra portions in labelled freezer containers for quick easy dinners in the future.  When defrosting, I add a small amount of milk and stir it in.

My Recipe is here (click).     

This is a great dinner! Just remember to place cranberry sauce on your dinner table, too!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

   

Turkey a la King

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

What's for dinner???  Oh, it's become a tradition!  Every year over the Thanksgiving Weekend I make Turkey a la King for dinner using the remaining pieces of roasted Turkey.  Forget making a pie crust & preparing a deep dish or a Turkey pot pie.  A lot of cooking has been going on & this is a quick, nutritious, colorful & yummy dinner.  A creamy sauce that's filled with tender chunks of roasted Turkey & cooked veggies served over toasted bread.  Easy is good & in this case, easy also tastes delicious!

And, an added plus is that I usually have enough roasted Turkey remaining to make a triple batch.  You know what that means!  After the a la King cools, the extra servings are packed into Ziploc Freezer containers & placed in the freezer. 

Oh, this dinner freezes very well.  I usually place a container in the fridge the night before serving again.  It will defrost & only need reheating.  When reheating, add a little more Milk.  The sauce will be smooth & creamy when stirred and served over toasted bread!  

The recipe below is for 1 batch.

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- 1 or 2 slices/ person

Method:

1.  Melt Margarine/ Butter in large skillet/ large pot.
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.

What a great reminder of Thanksgiving whenever we enjoy portions that are just waiting in our freezer!  This has also become a comfort food on a cold night!  There's been a chill in the air today.  Winter will soon be here.    

Enjoy!
Yummy!

         

Grilled Pork Tenderloin

~May 2016~

Sometimes there's just no foodie photo!  What??!!  You may think- no foodie photo.  That is true- no foodie photo.  Dinner happened so quickly.  Instead, here's a photo taken from our driveway.  Spring is here in great splendor with flowering bushes & colorful leaves popping out! 

Today was a sunny warm day & our thermometer read 80°F.  Such comfy weather!  Definitely grilling time!  A 1 Lb. Pork Tenderloin had been purchased yesterday & an opened bottle of BBQ sauce was in the fridge.  Dinner was quick & easy & yummy.  Bowties n Cheese, a fruit salad & slices of tender, moist, yummy grilled Pork Tenderloin.

I like Pork cooked well done (no pink), so this method of grilling a 1 Lb. piece works so well for me.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients:
1 Lb. Pork Tenderloin
1/3 Cup BBQ Sauce

Method:

1. Heat Grill.
2. Rinse Pork Tenderloin under cold running water.
3. Place on a large platter.
4. Pour about 1/3 Cup BBQ Sauce on top.
5. Turn Pork Tenderloin over until totally coated with Sauce.
6. Grill on one side for 14 Minutes.
7. Using grilling tongs, turn Tenderloin over & grill other side until done.  With our grill a Medium Heat for total of 27- 29 Minutes.
8. Remove from Grill & place on a clean plate.
9. Let sit for 5 Minutes.
10. Cut into slices on diagonal & serve.

While the Pork Tenderloin was grilling, the Pasta was cooking & the salad was prepared.  Quickly dinner was ready.  It was after dinner I realized there was no foodie photo to share.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

        

Sassy Raisin Sauce

Two ingredients in Sassy Raisin Sauce
Raisins & Apple Juice

Are you serving Baked Ham this Sunday for dinner?  If you are, Sassy Raisin Sauce is a yummy topping for the tender slices of Ham!  Filled with Raisins, it's an easy sauce to prepare at the last minute.  You probably already have the ingredients:  Apple Juice, Raisins, Cornstarch & Butter/ Margarine. 

Think Sunday- you are almost ready to serve dinner.  It's at this time that a tasty topping that comes together so quickly is needed!  What a great added touch!  And- it tastes so good. 

I also like to serve this topping over Butternut Squash Ravioli!

Sassy Raisin Sauce
Yield: about 2 and 1/2 Cups

Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons Cornstarch
2 Cups Apple Juice
2 Tablespoons Butter/ Margarine
1 Cup Raisins

Method:

1. Place Cornstarch in small saucepan.
2. Slowly add in 1/2 Cup Apple Juice.
3. Stir, dissolving Cornstarch.
4. Then, add remaining Apple Juice to saucepan, stir.
5. Add 2 Tablespoons Butter/ Margarine.
6. Add Raisins.
7. Stir constantly while cooking over medium heat.
8. Sauce will thicken & boil.
9. Boil & stir for 1 Minute.
10. Serve hot.

If a smaller amount is desired use directions above & the ingredients below-  

     For 2 Servings:  
     1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
     2/3 Cup Apple Juice
     About 1 Tablespoon Butter/ Margarine
     1 Handful Raisins

This is always a great addition to a Baked Ham Dinner!  Or as a Butternut Squash Ravioli Topping!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Happy Easter!!!

Tomato Basil White Bean Soup- with Couscous

Tomato Basil White Bean Soup
with Couscous

Our frigid weather + wind chills has reminded me that a bowl of steaming hearty homemade soup tastes so good on a cold evening!  This is especially true in the winter.  One very quick & easy homemade soup that tastes so yummy is Tomato Basil White Bean Soup!  Each spoonful contains small pieces of tomatoes & White Kidney Beans.  Then, there's the flavors & flakes of Basil & Parsley.  Ahhh!       

This is one of those quick dinners that tastes amazing.  The ingredients are always in my pantry.  They probably are in yours, too.  Everything is placed in my large pot!  Then, the soup simmers.  How easy can that be? 

If there is any "leftover" cooked white rice (from a previous dinner) in the fridge, I heat it to add to the soup bowls before serving.  Otherwise, I now add prepared Couscous to the soup bowls.  What a great addition!  Do you add Couscous to your soups?                 

Tomato Basil White Bean Soup with Couscous
4 Servings      

Ingredients:
1 can (14.5 ounces) Fat Free & Lower Sodium Chicken Broth
     (I use College Inn.)
1 can (15 ounces) Tomato Sauce
1 can Tomatoes, drained  ***If using whole tomatoes, cut into eighths.
1 can (15 ounces) Cannellini Beans (White Kidney Beans)
1 Tablespoon Dehydrated Onion
2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley 
2 teaspoons dried Basil
1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
****
1 Tablespoon Couscous
about 1/4 Cup broth from Tomato Basil White Bean Soup

***I use whatever size can of Tomatoes I have in my pantry.

Method:

1.  Place all ingredients, except Cannellini Beans, in large pot or Dutch Oven.
2.  Drain Cannellini Beans & rinse in cold water, drain again.
3. Add rinsed Cannellini Beans to large pot, stir.
4.  Bring to a boil.
5.  Simmer for 30 minutes & stir occasionally.
6.  Prepare Couscous:  Place Couscous in a small bowl.
7. To Couscous add the 1/4 Cup soup broth & stir.
8. Let stand 5 Minutes, then stir again.
9. Before serving soup, place prepared Couscous in soup bowls.
10. Add the Tomato Basil White Bean Soup & stir.   
11. Enjoy with a slice of rye bread.

If the soup gets a little thick while simmering, just add 2 ounces of water to the pot & stir in.

Tomato Basil White Bean Soup is quick & easy to make!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

    

Summer Meat Sauce

Summer Meat Sauce

Woah! Today at least a few of my muscles reminded me they haven't been used in a bit!  Two days ago we drove east on the Mass Pike (I-90) & visited our son & his family.  Another way to phrase that is that two days ago we had so much FuN playing games & reading to our young grandsons before the busy month of September & school begins in Massachusetts.  There's a few aches here.  Who am I kidding they're everywhere!  It's my normal- 2 days later, and so worth it, too!  :)

Today was the perfect day to take out my Slow Cooker!  Green Peppers, Eggplant, & Zucchini were in the fridge & easy to wash/ dry/ cut up for the Slow Cooker's pot.  A quick trip to our grocery store for the 3/4 pound of Ground Beef & to my pantry made for an easy dinner preparation.

Making a Meat Sauce in a Slow Cooker (Crock Pot) using fresh local vegetables is ideal for this time of year.  During our colder winter months it's always so handy to pull out a frozen container of sauce to enjoy over pasta.  Much less salt in a sauce prepared this way, too.  Whenever possible I use canned tomato sauce & tomatoes that contain less salt when preparing recipes!  Chunks of fresh veggies taste so good!    

Summer Meat Sauce

Ingredients:

2 Green Peppers, cut into chunks or strips
(3/4 lb.) Ground Beef - Brown in skillet, removes fat
(1) large Eggplant - Cut into slices, then into chunks.
(3) small Zucchini - Cut in slices, then in half.
Dehydrated Onion, Parsley - as desired
1/4 teaspoon each Garlic Powder, Oregano & Basil
(1) can Tomatoes - drain, can be whole & cut in quarters or diced
About 28 oz. Tomato Sauce
(1) 6 oz. can Tomato Paste

Method: 

1. Spray Slow Cooker pot with PAM.
2. Brown Ground Beef in skillet.
3. Rinse all vegetables under cold running water, dry.
4. Cut Green Peppers into strips & then in halves. Place in Slow Cooker's pot.
5. Add browned Ground Beef.
6. Add Eggplant pieces & halved sliced Zucchini pieces.
7. Sprinkle on Onions, Parsley, Garlic Powder, Oregano & Basil. 
8. Add drained cut/diced Tomatoes.
9. In small bowl mix Tomato Paste with Tomato Sauce until smooth.
10. Add Tomato Sauce/Paste to pot.
11. Cover with lid.
12. Cook on High (#5) Setting for 4 hours.
13. Stir & serve over Pasta of choice.

After dinner when the extra sauce cooled, portions were placed in freezer containers & dated/ labelled.  On a snowy winter evening nothing beats an easy "take out" dinner when you can just visit your freezer.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

        

Beefy Asparagus

Beefy Asparagus

There was a definite chill in the air yesterday.  Opening the fridge door before dinner suddenly I saw a container of cooked rice & asparagus.  Now, these could very easily be labelled leftovers from tasty dinners earlier in the week.  To me, they were the beginning of preparing last night's dinner. 

Asparagus is a treat at this time of year & we always enjoy it when it is available.  Rice is plain delicious!  Add in Plum Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce, browned ground beef & suddenly I was heading to my Spice Rack.  While preparing this colorful dish, it smelled so good!  The grains of Rice became nestled between pieces of Asparagus & Tomatoes.  Before I knew it dinner was ready.  Beefy Asparagus tasted so good!

Beefy Asparagus

Ingredients:

3/4 lb. Ground Beef or Ground Turkey - browned
about 1 and 3/4 cups cooked Rice
6- 7 cooked Asparagus stalks, cut into pieces
(1) can (15- 20 ounces) Plum Tomatoes, drained- cut into quarters.
(1) can (15 ounces) Tomato Sauce
1/4 teaspoon Oregano
1/4 teaspoon Basil
1/8 teaspoon Garlic Powder

Method:

1. Brown Ground Beef or Ground Turkey.  Drain.
2. In Dutch Oven or large pot combine all ingredients.
3. Heat about 25- 30 minutes, stirring often.
4. Enjoy!

Serve with Feta Cheese sprinkled on top!

What looked like leftovers in my fridge suddenly became a delicious dinner- served along with a fruit salad!  Try it, you'll like it- if you like Asparagus!

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!

Green Bean Chicken Chili

Ready to be placed in the bowls!

Last Friday afternoon my Slow Cooker was doing the cooking for me!  Dinner needed to be hearty, delicious & also have another 2 servings for another quick dinner during the weekend.  I've been working on Long Meddowe Days for the past few months and the 35th celebration took place this past weekend.  Long Meddowe Days is my town's (Longmeadow, MA) celebration in May of our long colonial history.  Our celebration includes a craft/ artist fair, 5K road race/ walk, history tours, food & entertainment.  Yes, I've been cooking, but with all of our other wonderful family celebrations I have not been blogging.

Friday at dinner time it was time to locate the soup bowls & the fat free sour cream.  When the chicken was purchased earlier that day I knew that Chicken Chili would be bubbling in my slow cooker.  We needed a green veggie.  There were no peppers in my freezer nor in my fridge, so I added a package of defrosted Green Beans to my recipe.  How yummy & spicy!  

It took little time to place the ingredients in my Slow Cooker's pot.  We do eat many dinners containing chicken and this chicken recipe is so tasty any time during the year!

Green Bean Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

(1) 10 ounce package defrosted Green Beans
1- 1 and 1/2 lbs. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 Tablespoon Dehydrated Onion     
1 Tablespoon Dehydrated Parsley
(2) cans 14 oz. Red Kidney Beans, drained, rinsed & drained again
(1) can Plum Tomatoes - 15- 22 oz. - drained & cut into chunks
2- 3 teaspoons Chili Powder
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon Cumin
1 teaspoon Oregano
(1) can 14.5 oz. Chicken Broth (Low Sodium, Low Fat)
 3 Tablespoons Flour
*****
Optional:   (1) 8 oz. can Tomato Sauce is added. 

Method:

1. Spray PAM on bottom of Slow Cooker pot.
2.  Place defrosted Green Beans in Slow Cooker Pot.
3.  Add Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts on top.
4.  Sprinkle on Onion & Parsley.
5. Add Red Kidney Beans.
6.  Top with Tomato Chunks.
7. Sprinkle on Chili Powder, Garlic Powder, Cumin & Oregano.
8.  In small bowl blend 3 Tablespoons Flour with about 1 Cup Chicken Broth until smooth.
9.  Add remaining Broth to bowl & blend together.
10. Pour liquid over ingredients in Slow Cooker.
11. Add Cover.
12.  Cook on High for 3 and 1/2 hours.  Reduce to Medium for 1/2 hour.
13.  Before serving, stir Chili.  The tender Chicken breaks into smaller pieces.
14.  Ladle into soup bowls.  
15. Enjoy with a dollop of low fat sour cream & rye bread.

This Slow Cooker meal was a very hearty dinner after a busy day!  There were leftover portions, also!  Quite often they are placed in my freezer, but last weekend we devoured them at another dinner!

The sun was shining & the weather was warm, so we had a very successful Long Meddowe Days! Woohoo!    

***Note:  When reheating, about 6 ounces of water may need to be added to the Chili.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

   

~Eggplant Meat Sauce~

Eggplant Meat Sauce
served over Barilla PLUS Penne

It has been a quick Saturday!  Oh sure, it has 24 hours like every day has.  Not too sure where the daytime hours went.  O.K., maybe watching the Boston College Basketball game on ESPN today did take a couple of hours this afternoon!  :)  The snow falling outside reminded me that we are in the winter season.  It's been a relaxing Saturday!  This is when the Ziploc Freezer containers filled with ready made dinners come in so handy.  "What's for dinner?" can be answered by a trip to the freezer.  Today there was no need to spend a large amount of time in my kitchen.  It was a defrost, reheat & eat kind of day!

Eggplant Meat Sauce served over Barilla PLUS Penne was so yummy!  The date labelled on the container of the sauce was August 5, 2013.  During this past August's heat, my Slow Cooker was put to work often containing fresh local veggies.  Dinners were packed away in our large freezer for an evening such as tonight.  The recipe is below:
     
Eggplant Meat Sauce

Ingredients:

(1) Green Pepper, cut into chunks
(1) lb. Ground Beef - Brown in skillet, removes fat
(1) large Eggplant - Cut into slices. Cut each slice in 6 pieces.
(1) small Zucchini - Cut in slices.
Dehydrated Onion, Parsley - as desired
Fresh Spinach - if desired
(1) can Tomatoes - can be whole & cut in quarters or diced
About 28 oz. Tomato Sauce
(1) 6 oz. can Tomato Paste
1/4 teaspoon each Garlic Powder, Oregano, Basil

 Method:

1. Spray Slow Cooker pot with PAM.
2. Brown Ground Beef in skillet.
3. Wash Green Pepper, cut into chunks & place in Slow Cooker's pot.
4. Add browned Ground Beef.
5. Add Eggplant pieces & sliced Zucchini.
6. Add Onions & Parsley. 
7. Cover with Spinach, if desired.
8. Add drained cut/diced Tomatoes.
9. In small bowl mix Tomato Paste with Tomato Sauce until smooth.
10. Add Tomato Sauce/Paste to pot.
11. Add Garlic Powder, Oregano & Basil.
12. Cover with lid.
13. Cook on High (#5) Setting for 4 hours.
14. Serve over Pasta of choice.

This recipe is a keeper to be used again next summer!  It's great to prepare when there is an abundance of fresh local veggies available.  An added plus is that this sauce freezes very well.   

Enjoy!

Yummy!

    

~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!

Eggplant Meat Sauce

Fresh Eggplant!  Mmmm!  A large fresh Eggplant is even better!  I definitely had plans for the veggie as soon as I caught a glimpse of it at the road side stand.  Suddenly, I remembered the rather thin tomato sauces that can be purchased for pasta toppings.  It was time for my West Bend Slow Cooker to do its thing.  Every so often a delicious, nutritious dinner containing tomato sauce really hits the spot.

Eggplant Meat Sauce!  If you have a stocked food pantry, as I do, the needed canned goods are a few steps away.  A zucchini and a handful of fresh spinach were in the fridge.  If I did not have these veggies, but a fresh green pepper was in my crisper, I'd use that instead.  You get the picture - this sauce never is prepped using the same exact ingredients.  It's great! 

This hearty sauce was served over penne.  Yes, there were more servings left after dinner.  You guessed it!  Ziploc Freezer containers were packed and labelled/dated and found their place in our large freezer - after the sauce cooled.  In the colder months a few dinners will take only a few minutes to prepare.

**My Slow Cooker's removable pot has a nonstick coating.  I still spray it lightly with PAM.  I also always place a veggie (in this scenario I had some cooked pasta) on the bottom.  Usually in a Slow Cooker/Crock Pot the meat/chicken is placed on the bottom.  For me it's the second food to go in.  This eliminates any slightly dry meat on the bottom.

Eggplant Meat Sauce

Ingredients:

(1) large Eggplant - Cut into slices and then cut each slice in 6 pieces.
1/4 Cup leftover Pasta, if desired
(1) lb. Ground Beef - Brown in skillet, removes fat
(1) small Zucchini - cut in slices.
Fresh Spinach - if desired & available
About 28 oz. Tomato Sauce
(1) can Tomatoes - can be whole & cut in quarters or diced
(1) 6 oz. can Tomato Paste
Dehydrated Onion, Parsley - as desired
1/4 teaspoon each Garlic Powder, Oregano, Basil

Method:

1. Spray Slow Cooker pot with PAM.
2. Brown Ground Beef in skillet.
3. Place Pasta in pot.
4. Add browned Ground Beef.
5. Add sliced Zucchini & Eggplant pieces.
6. Add Onions & Parsley. 
7. Cover with Spinach, if desired.
8. Add drained cut/diced Tomatoes.
9. In small bowl mix Tomato Paste with Tomato Sauce until smooth.
10. Add Tomato Sauce/Paste to pot.
11. Add Garlic Powder, Oregano & Basil.
12. Cover with lid.
13. Cook on High (#5) Setting for 4 hours.
14. Serve over Pasta of choice.

Using a Slow Cooker/Crock Pot during these HHH days of summer is wonderful!   

Enjoy!
Yummy!

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!