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!

It’s Tangy Tortellini Salad Time!

July is here! Happy Fourth of July!!! Yes, the outdoor grill has been used and it’s time for outdoor picnics!

My recipe for Tangy Tortellini Salad has been retrieved. Later this afternoon the necessary ingredients to make this easy, delicious, colorful salad to enjoy on the Fourth of July will be purchased!

Tangy Tortellini Salad is prepared with a 12-ounce package of frozen Tri-colored Cheese Tortellini and Italian Salad Dressing. I also add in 1/8 tsp. Garlic Powder, 1 TBS. Chopped Parsley and ¼ Cup Black Olives (sliced in half). These ingredients are optional, but my family likes them. This salad is definitely a family favorite!

Easy Directions:

1. Prepare the Tortellini according to the directions on the package.
2. Drain and rinse with cold water and drain again.
3. Place the Tortellini in a bowl.
4. Add about ½ cup of Italian Salad Dressing and stir.
5. Add any optional ingredients.
6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, stirring once or twice.
7. Before serving add extra Italian Salad Dressing, if needed.
8. Cover and refrigerate any leftovers.

Enjoy!
Yummy!
Happy Fourth of July!!!

Yes, It’s Strawberry Season!

It was about a year ago that I wrote a similar post. Well, the end of June is here as is my tradition at this time of preparing the local fresh, juicy, luscious strawberries and placing bags of them in our freezer to be enjoyed all year. Some scrumptious strawberries are used to make Freezer Jam. As of three weeks ago we have no more Freezer Jam to enjoy on English Muffins or as a flavoring for Yummy Yogurt.

Today two batches of Strawberry Freezer Jam were made – one batch at a time. The third batch will be on the agenda tomorrow. The Certo, Sugar and Ziploc containers had already been purchased and were ready to be used.

Meadowbrook Farm in East Longmeadow, MA has delicious, large strawberries. It is definitely local Strawberry Season!

Do you enjoy strawberries? Do you purchase the strawberries grown in your area? They are so good!

Yummy!

Haddock Plan B

One day last week, the Haddock fillets were ready to be placed on our grill. We would savour the taste of Grilled Haddock and veggies for dinner. However, my hubby came back inside to inform me that our grill was not working. Oh no! That required a Plan B … very quickly!

My large skillet was located. I heated about 2 TBS. of Olive Oil in the skillet over a Medium heat. The fillets of Haddock were quickly breaded in about 1 Cup of flavored dry Bread Crumbs. Then, the fillets were placed in the skillet. After sauteeing each side of the fish for about 5 Minutes, the Breaded Haddock was ready to be enjoyed.

Yummy! Ah, Breaded Haddock is very tender. Quick, easy and delicious! Today, the rain and showers continued here in the Pioneer Valley, so it was the perfect opportunity to use my large skillet for dinner, again.

During the winter months this will be my method of preparation for Haddock fillets when my grill cannot be used. Sometimes out of necessity a food is prepared differently and enjoyed even more.

Does your family enjoy eating Haddock? How do you prepare it?

Cooking Up A Storm

For me the expression “Cooking Up A Storm” does not always mean that my oven, my refrigerator or my herbs will be used. Yesterday afternoon a section of my dining room table was covered with colorful silk flowers along with a copper container and wire cutters. A day earlier my hubby had glued green foam into the bottom of the copper container. It would be the base for a silk flower arrangement gift that I was making for friends.

Making floral arrangements is a relaxing hobby. After sniping the stem of the first flower to the desired height, the stem is inserted into the center of the foam. Then, another floral stem is cut and put in place - sticking out of the end of the foam and side of the container. Another flower is placed on the other side. After that … desired colors and varieties of silk flowers are added. No green foam will be visible when the arrangement is completed. While listening to a Billy Joel CD, colorful sprigs were carefully cut and pushed into the foam. One here, another there… Before I knew it I was finished.

An advertised sale at Michael’s is as sweet as using coupons in the grocery store! Two weeks earlier I was able to purchase my silk flower supply for this project at a 50% discount.

This morning the finished product was sitting on my counter. Do you enjoy making silk flower arrangements? Other than using your oven, how do you enjoy “cooking up a storm”?

Add Carrots, too?

Oh, definitely! If you are using your Slow Cooker or Crock Pot to prepare Chicken Florentine a la Slow Cooker, add the Baby Carrots!

Yesterday was a day filled with activities and they would last until later in the evening. Dinner would be eaten quickly. Now, there was a toss up. A quick “take-out” meal could be ordered, purchased and enjoyed, OR earlier in the afternoon I could use my trusty reliable Slow Cooker to prepare a delicious, colorful, fragrant, nutritious dinner. Well, I opted for the second choice and we were very happy with the results.

In our fridge was a bag of Baby Carrots along with some remaining Chopped Broccoli from our dinner the previous night. With the exception of potatoes, all of the other ingredients for Chicken Florentine a la Slow Cooker were located in my kitchen.

So – by substituting the carrots for the potatoes, I learned that a meal that I prepare quite often in my Slow Cooker could taste even better. It tasted so good with the carrots!

Do you use a Slow Cooker or Crock Pot? It takes very little time for prep work and the meals are great!

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!