Favorite Freezer Tip: Vegetables

For many years I've dutifully saved leftover cooked vegetables in my frig only to throw them away at a later date when they began to grow green fuzz (something I refer to as dumping the dead). Then one day someone shared a hint that has become my favorite freezer thing!

Simply purchase several freezer containers that hold 1-2 cups. When you're clearing the dinner table, dump your remaining vegetables into one of these containers (liquid and all) and place in freezer. (The amount doesn't matter.) The next time you have remaining vegetables, pull your container out of the freezer and dump them on top. (It doesn't need to be the same vegetable.)

When they container is full, plan a great soup or stew. Run the container under the faucet and the frozen block of vegetables will slip out of the container easily. Place the vegetable block in your broth and they'll defrost pretty quickly. No wasted vegetables!

Note: Vegetables that were cooked fresh tend to freeze well as do those that were already frozen in the first place. Canned veggies (with the exception of corn) can sometimes be a little mushy.

Favorite Freezer Tip: Bell Peppers

Favorite Freezer Thing #3

Bell Peppers

When I was younger, I was never a fan of green peppers. (or red, or yellow, or orange) I remember when I finally learned that a recipe that calls for peppers actually has more flavor if you actually put the peppers in it. I still don't put as much as a recipe calls for, so I always have some leftover. (or if I buy them at Costco, then I have 5 left)

Slice them up and put them in the freezer and they are there whenever you need some in a recipe. I have green and red in my freezer right now. There will be recipes where you will need fresh ones, but this freezer item has saved me many times.

Favorite Freezer Tip: Cookie Dough

Favorite Freezer Thing #2

Frozen Cookie Dough

The other night our teenage son stayed home and "hung out" with mom and dad. We watched a couple of our favorite TV shows together. (yeah DVR) This does not happen very often so I thought I should do something so that he wouldn't wish he was with his friends. Thus FFT #2 saved the day. We were able to have warm chocolate chip cookies and milk while we watched TV. (surely that's better than friends!!)

Next time you make your favorite cookies, consider freezing some of the dough. Once you have cooked the amount you want to share with your family, scoop the rest of the dough onto a cookie sheet. These can be close together. Stick the cookie sheet in the freezer for

a couple of hours, then take your ready to bake cookies and put them all in a freezer bag. Now you can take out a few at a time to bake so that you can have fresh warm cookies whenever you want. (I guess you could cook just 2 for yourself while your kids are at school, if you're having a bad day)

When I want to cook some, I put them on a cookie sheet and let them sit for about a half hour and warm up my oven. (you will want to write on the bag, the instructions for cooking)

Here are our cookies ready to bake!

Favorite Freezer Tip: Ground Beef

Favorite Freezer Tip #1

Occasionally I will highlight some of my favorite things that are in my freezer. These will be things that are very handy to have around for cooking.

Ready for FFT #1?

Cooked hamburger. Watch for hamburger on sale or get the 5 lb. beef rolls and brown the whole thing at once. Drain it and divide it between quart size freezer bags. It saves TONS of time and makes it easier to "whip" up a recipe quickly. Some of the recipes I like to use it in are shepherd's pie, hearty casserole, chili burger supper, tacos, pizza puffs, spaghetti, or Beef Barley Noodle Soup.

Note: I usually add an extra bag when I'm dividing it up. For instance if it is 5 lb. of hamburger, I divide it up between 6 bags. A lot of recipes just need a little meat in them, but don't really need a whole pound.