The “Sharp” Shopper

Currently, it is about one and one-half weeks before Thanksgiving! While browsing through the grocery store sales flyers, advertised specials are spotted. This is a great opportunity to purchase the baking staples that will be used in the next few weeks for preparing food for the holidays. The brands and sizes that I use of Flour, Sugar, Chocolate Chip Morsels, Light/Fat Free Chicken Broth, Spices, and Evaporated Milk will be on sale. Yes, I also clip, save and use coupons. Do you? How sweet to use a coupon on an advertised special!

Happy Shopping and Happy Cooking!

No Time to Make a Crust for an Apple Pie?

No problem! Apple Crisp (click on link) does not require a pie crust! It is easy to prepare. Plumped Raisins & Craisins are mixed in with the apple slices before the oat/cinnamon topping is added. While this delicious dessert is baking in your oven the aroma of apples and cinnamon will flow from your kitchen. We enjoy warm or cold Apple Crisp with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. This scrumptious easy to prepare dessert has been a family favorite for many years.

Have you baked Apple Crisp this fall?

Yummy!

A BIG Shout-out To My Son’s Buddies…

This is a BIG shout-out to my son’s buddies!!! I feel very flattered that you checked out my cooking blog! He mentioned sending “a few people” the link. I noticed it in the traffic pattern! Thank you for visiting! Many of you have sampled the foods in this blog at one time or another. Currently, you live a distance from where I reside, but I know that you all have big appetites!

An Egg Cheesy Raisin Muffin, Fantastic French Toast, Pan Seared Scallops, Baked Haddock, Sherbet Punch and Simply Delicious are quite easy to prepare and taste great! Click on these links and easy to follow directions for yummy food awaits you.

If you have a specific question, don’t hesitate, send me an e-mail and I will respond. ;-) If you have used a recipe and want to make a comment, I would like to hear from you. Email address:

atastythought@longmeadowbiz.com

Happy Cooking and Stay Healthy!
JG

Red-Hot Chili

Do you have a Slow Cooker or a Crock Pot? Have you used it in the past few weeks? My answer to both questions is YES! Quite often I use my West Bend Slow Cooker when I am at home working on other projects. The meals prepared in this small appliance have few instructions, take little prep work/time, and taste absolutely delicious! Chili can be prepared on top of the stove, but if the ingredients are placed in the cooking pot of a Slow Cooker or Crock Pot and simmer for a few hours, the resulting dinner is very tender and full of flavor.

The instructions for Red-Hot Chili are simple. Brown about 1 lb. Ground Beef in a frying pan and then place the browned meat in the bottom of the cooking pot of the Slow Cooker/Crock Pot. Place the contents of one 14.5 oz. can of Diced Tomatoes on top of the browned beef. Drain, rinse in cold water and drain again the contents of two cans of Red Kidney Beans. Place the Kidney Beans on top of tomatoes. Sprinkle desired amount of dehydrated chopped onions and chopped parsley on top. Then, sprinkle on 2 tsp. Chili Powder (or desired amount) ½ tsp. Garlic Powder and ½ tsp. Oregano. Pour Tomato Sauce (two 15 oz. cans) evenly over top. Place lid on. Set the temperature on High for 2 and ½ hours. Then, reduce to Medium for ½ hour.

When it is ready to be served stir the scrumptious appetizing Red-Hot Chili before placing into bowls. Your family will know dinner is ready.

We enjoy a bowl of Red-Hot Chili served with a spoonful of Fat Free Sour Cream on top. Add a slice of Oatmeal Bread – Yummy!

Any extra portions can be cooled, refrigerated and reheated to enjoy again. However, there might not be any left after dinner! ;-)

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Happy Halloween!!!

This week many readers have clicked on Sherbet Punch. Punch bowls will be filled with the frothy colorful orange punch at Halloween parties! This easy to prepare delicious beverage is made with 7-Up Diet soda and orange sherbet. Many months ago I shared my family's favorite punch with you. This tasty beverage can be enjoyed at many different functions during the year.

Yummy!
Enjoy!

Ricotta Rollups

When the weather gets a tad chillier I enjoy baking dinner in my oven. The aroma of tomato sauce combined with herbs coming from my warm kitchen smells great! An entrée made of noodles and tomato sauce is always eaten quickly. Do you find that this is true in your family?

Manicotti is full of flavor, but it does take time to fill those shells. However, Ricotta Rollups are easy to prepare, because Lasagna noodles are used rather than shells. A dinner of delicious Ricotta Rollups served with a salad and Parmesan Toast (click on links) is scrumptious!

Enjoy!

Yummy!

New Twist on Old Favorite

It is always wonderful to locate an old favorite recipe, substitute one ingredient with a similar ingredient and then discover that the new component made the recipe taste even better! Earlier this week I baked a batch of Bran Muffins. (Click on link for recipe.) Sauteing & Baking Extra Light Olive Oil was substituted for the vegetable oil. These easy homemade delicious Bran Muffins containing raisins tasted so good. Trying something new certainly worked well!!! I will always use the Olive Oil when baking those delicious, moisty, and light muffins.

Yummy!!!