Strawberries!

It’s June and definitely Strawberry season! Hmm, perhaps I should clarify this a bit – the end of June is approaching and the local fresh Strawberry season will be coming to a close soon. Every year, as far back as I can remember, I have prepared and then placed fresh Strawberries in the freezer. While growing up it was a tradition of summer. My sister & I would help our mom with the Strawberries detail. Then, came the Blueberries.

(File Photo)

Knowing how much my family enjoys Strawberries on Oatmeal Pancakes, ice cream, or in fruit salads throughout the year, Meadowbrook Farm in East Longmeadow was my destination on Monday morning. An overflowing 8-quart container plus two additional quarts were purchased.

Most of these delicious, juicy, fragrant, red berries were placed in Ziploc Freezer Bags. However, first the tops were removed. The berries were double washed in cold water, sliced and then packaged and dated.

Today was the day for Strawberry Freezer Jam. Certo, Lemon Juice, Sugar and 1-cup freezer containers are also needed. Freezer Jam is great! The directions are located inside a box of Certo.

After getting the 2 batches completed, the containers will sit undisturbed for 24 hours on my Dining Room table. Tomorrow after the 24 hours pass, they will be placed in the freezer.  June has been a very busy month, but the desired trip to Meadowbrook Farm for Strawberries was made. Nothing compares to fresh local fruit or produce!

Now, I will also be able to bake Strawberry Banana Bread, again!

Do you purchase local fresh fruit?  Do you make Freezer Jam?

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Strawberry Banana Bread, Yum!

In the past I’ve mentioned that Bananas are not a favorite fruit of mine. Well, that certainly is in the past. Yes, every day I do savor the sweet taste of a potassium filled Banana, because it is healthy. But somehow there usually is one remaining Banana in our fruit bowl that is spotted. That is a “Baking Banana”.

The Blueberry Banana Bread is a big hit with my family. Now, Strawberry season is here, but in our freezer there was one last remaining Ziploc Freezer bag containing halved Strawberries. And, lo and behold there were three overripe Bananas waiting!

You guessed it! I substituted the defrosted Strawberries that were cut into ¼’s and into the batter they went. Strawberry Banana Bread sure tastes mighty fine! Do you enjoy the combination of Strawberries and Bananas? Yummy!

Strawberry Banana Bread

Oven:  350ºF     Time:  55-60 minutes
Yield: 2 Loaves

Ingredients:
2 and 1/2 Cups Flour
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup packed Brown Sugar (I used Brownulated.)
1 TBS. Baking Powder, plus
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Salt
1/8 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/8 tsp. Nutmeg
3 TBS. Olive Oil (for Sauteeing and Baking)
1/3 Cup Milk (I used Soy Milk.)
1 Egg
2 tsp. Vanilla
3 mashed Bananas
2 cups defrosted Strawberries cut into ¼’s

Method:

1. Combine all dry ingredients in large bowl and stir well.
2. Mash Bananas in small bowl. Add cut Strawberries to small bowl.
3. Beat Egg and add with liquid ingredients to Flour mixture.
4. Add in fruits.
5. Stir all until combined.
6. Spray 2 Bread Pans (8 and ½ “ or 9”) with PAM and pour in batter, evenly.
7. Bake 55 – 60 Minutes or until cake tester (toothpick) comes out clean.
8. Place pans on wire rack. Cool in pans 10 minutes.
9. Remove from pans and cool.
10. Enjoy after slicing!

While these breads were baking, the aroma in my kitchen floated out to our Family Room. The combination of Strawberries, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Bananas smelled so good! Yes, I did say Bananas.

I will surely be baking these again. Tonight, there are a few slices of this scrumptious treat left. The second wrapped bread will not last too long with Father’s Day tomorrow.

To all the Dads – Happy Father’s Day!!! 

Grilled Swordfish

Ever since my DH & I enjoyed the absolutely delicious Swordfish Dinner while dining at a quaint restaurant in Maine many years ago, Grilled Swordfish has been one of our favorites. This week the seafood dept. in our grocery store has fresh wild Swordfish. No fancy topping nor sauce is needed. A coating of Olive Oil and Paprika before grilling is simple and is the best! Yum!


Tonight the grill was heated. Dinner took about 15 minutes to prepare. Microwaved “Baked” Potatoes and a healthy veggie salad were ready quickly. Grilled fish is so good! It is one of the great foods of summer!

Grilled Swordfish

1. Pour about 2 TBS. of Olive Oil on a large dish.
2. Sprinkle a little Paprika on top.
3. Rinse the Swordfish Steak under cold running water.
4. Then, place it on the Olive Oil/Paprika.
5. Turn the Swordfish over to coat the other side.
6. Place fish on the hot grill.
7. The fish is turned over one time during the grilling process.

** The amount of needed grilling time depends on the size of the piece of Swordfish and the grill. A 1 lb. piece requires about 5 minutes and 30 seconds on each side.

**We do not use a Grilling Basket while grilling Swordfish.

Tomorrow’s dinner will be prepared inside. Raindrops are predicted. It’s great to use the Grill whenever possible!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Banana Cornmeal Pancakes, Yum!

A simple box of corn muffin mix can make a very yummy breakfast! Yes, the mix can be combined with Egg Whites and Soy Milk for great tasting Corn Muffins. Better yet, using the same brand of corn muffin mix (Jiffy) that my mom used when I was growing up some mighty fine Banana Cornmeal Pancakes were on our Breakfast table this morning!

Yes, I did say Banana. In the past I’ve shared that Bananas are not my favorite fruit, but I try to eat one every day. It is that Potassium thing - trying to stay healthy.  :)  There are always at least three in our fruit bowl!


On the side of the Jiffy Corn Muffin mix box there are directions for the Pancake version of my “comfort food”. I used Egg Whites, Soy Milk, Olive Oil and added ¼ tsp. Cinnamon to the batter. This morning my red griddle was heating up and two Bananas were thinly sliced. Three or four slices were placed on each pancake while it was cooking. Quickly and without much fuss Breakfast was ready!

Extras? Oh, yes! After they cooled they were packaged and stored in the freezer.


Do you add Bananas to Pancakes?
Enjoy!
Yummy!

Solar Green Tea

On this sunny Wednesday in May is it really 96°F outside? Oh, it sure is! Time to enjoy a glass of icy, cold solar Green Tea. Ah, that sounds so good!

Yesterday, the Green Tea brewed in my sunny front window. My favorite glass pitcher was filled with cold water. Three Green Tea bags were added and in four hours the tea bags were removed. The pitcher was covered and placed in the fridge, ready for a hot day such as today!

On the same shelf is a ripened Avocado! Thank you to my Blogging Friends for your Avocado hints! :) Over the years I have come to enjoy Tofu, Avocados and Green Tea! Life is good!

Do you drink Green Tea? I like it hot or cold. Usually, I use the tea bags. However, in my fridge there is a container of Matcha – powdered Green Tea. If the powdered Green Tea is used to make hot tea, it requires whisking the tea leaves with the hot water.

Now, it’s time to enjoy the view outside while sipping on my iced, refreshing Solar Green Tea!

Yummy!

I will enjoy it!

The Irresistible Avocado

Visiting another area of our vast country and enjoying the variety of regional foods is always a special treat! In the past few days my DH & I traveled to Houston, TX for our niece’s beautiful wedding.

While staying in The Woodlands, we took a stroll down the pedestrian walkway along the Waterway Koi Pond. Click here for info.  Looking down into the Koi Pond, various sized Koi swam gracefully. Some were very large and in an area close by, little fish vigorously swam. An informative young boy and his mom were also admiring the peaceful scenery. He told us where to look for the baby fish.

While standing on a walking bridge overlooking the pond, beautiful colorful Water Lilies bloomed. Gazing down we could see the leaves and buds of the plant below the water’s surface. A gentle breeze caused ripples in the pond. How gorgeous and tranquil!



And it is a bit of info to share with school groups when I give my Japan Tours at the Quadrangle. Who knew I would bring back to MA some info for my tours?

Each day we ate delicious food! Avocados were part of a meal – sometimes mashed and at other times sliced or cut in chunks as part of a salad. Yummy, this is one tasty fruit! Yes, they are available to me in my grocery stores, but I never purchase them – just walk past the display in the Produce aisle. Well, that is to change. A couple of slices of Avocado on a Tuna Salad Sandwich would be so good!

Tomorrow, when I replenish the fridge guess what item will be on my grocery list!  Do you have recipes using Avocados?

They are yummy!
We really enjoyed them!

Awesome Oatmeal Pancakes Time!

We must have blinked our eyes, again! Brrrr! It is a bit chilly. The long sleeved shirts are very comfortable. When it is chilly outside, a breakfast of Awesome Oatmeal Pancakes tastes so good!

Oats are a staple in my kitchen. Who can resist an Oatmeal Cookie filled with Raisins and Craisins? Apple or Peach Crisp make for tasty desserts. Eating a bowl of Creamy Oatmeal in the winter while listening to the snowplows clearing our streets go hand in hand. However, it is now May. Light but filling, hearty, nutritious Oatmeal Pancakes are enjoyed any season of the year at my kitchen table.

These pancakes have a simple name, but taste delicious. A two-step easy process is used. The night before these scrumptious pancakes are made, Oats and Buttermilk are combined in a bowl and refrigerated. In the past couple of years I have been replacing Vegetable Oil and Butter/Margarine with Olive Oil (for sauteing & baking) whenever possible. On Saturday AM while getting the batter ready, the Olive Oil was added rather than the melted & cooled Butter/Margarine. My Hubby’s response? “Yum! The pancakes are lighter than usual.” Now, Olive Oil will always be used in this recipe!

The topping of choice on Saturday? Ah, Strawberries! I had defrosted a package in our fridge that was waiting to be used. Breakfast was hearty and light.  The strawberries added color!

Awesome Oatmeal Pancakes

Ingredients

2 Cups Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
2 Cups Fat Free Buttermilk
* * * *
1 Cup Fat Free Buttermilk – use the next morning
½ Cup Flour
2 TBS. Sugar
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Baking Soda
¼ tsp. Cinnamon
1 Egg + 2 Egg Whites, lightly beaten
4 TBS. Olive Oil ( sauteing & baking) I use Carapelli.

Method

1. Combine Oats and Buttermilk in a bowl, cover & refrigerate overnight.
2. Next morning – add additional 1 Cup Buttermilk to mixture so it can be combined easily.
3. Stir Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, Baking Soda & Cinnamon.
4. Add to Oats mixture.
5. Add Egg + Egg Whites and Olive Oil.
6. Stir all adding small amount of Buttermilk, if needed.
7. Pour ¼ cup portions on heated non-stick griddle.
8. When brown, flip over and cook other side.

Do you make pancakes on the weekend? What kind does your family like? Do you have any extras to place in the freezer? I did. We enjoyed them again this AM along with the Strawberry Topping!   :)

Enjoy!
Yummy!