Freezing Herbs

I had some leftover rosemary from a recipe and before it went bad I decided to freeze it in olive oil. 

All you need to do is put rosemary into empty ice cube trays and cover it with olive oil. Pop the trays into the freezer and wait for them to completely freeze. Pop them out of the ice cube trays and put them in a freezer safe bag for future use in recipes. 
This can be done with any herb you have on hand! 

Super simple. Super frugal. 

Freezing Broth

 

 

I had a carton of beef broth that I got on sale that had an expiry that was creeping up on me. 

I didn't have a current use for it, so into the freezer it went!

 

All you have to do is pop the broth into a freezer safe bag (I highly recommend labeling it with type and date). Throw it in the freezer and let completely thaw before using for a recipe.

Easily Freeze Spinach

Spinach is great. 

It has so many different uses, and is easily a staple produce item in our household. 

I sometimes find that we have troubles finishing all the spinach before it starts to go bad, so I have started to freeze the spinach to get the most I possibly can out of it. 

Frozen spinach is not the best for salads, but it works great for soups, stews, pasta recipes, or even spinach dip! Yum-o. 

Here are my simple steps to freeze fresh spinach for later uses:

• Place spinach in a sink full of cold water. 
• Gently swish spinach around sink making sure all spinach is getting covered with the water.
• In sections, place spinach into salad spinner and spin until dry. 
• Transfer spinach into freezer safe bags (I highly recommend dating these bags for easy use!)
• Tie bags and toss into freezer 
• Pull out spinach and throw directly into recipe, or allow time to let it thaw!  

Have a fantastic day everyone! 
Enjoy your produce!

Freezing Fruits and Vegetables

 

 

When you grocery shop once a month you have to find ways to make your produce last as long as possible.

Freezing is a great way to do that.

There are certain fruits and vegetables that I have found very convenient to freeze and I wanted to share them with you.

 

 

Carrots, peeled and chopped

Bell Peppers, washed and chopped

Green Onions, washed and chopped

Asparagus, washed and ends snapped off

Zucchini, washed and chopped

Snap Peas, washed and ends cut off

Green Beans, washed and ends cut off

Broccoli, washed and chopped

Brussel Sprouts, washed and cut

Celery, washed and chopped

 

 

 

Raspberries, washed and patted dry

Strawberries, washed and patted dry (whole or sliced)

Blueberries, washed and patted dry

Blackberries, washed and patted dry

Grapes, washed and pulled off vine

Bananas, just as they are (perfect for using in banana bread)

 

 

 

I highly reccommend using freezer bags for this to prevent freezer burn from ruining your produce.

I also recommend washing, peeling, chopping and doing anything else your produce needs before you freeze it. If you take the time to prepare the items before you throw them in the freezer it will save time later on.

It is very convenient to open a bag of sliced frozen carrots, grab a scoop and throw it in with the meal I am preparing.

It seriously cuts down on prep time for meals.

The day I come home from shopping I place all the produce items that need to be cleaned and froze onto the counter while I put away the rest of my items. I then crank some tunes and get to work.

I will also chop soft produce that can't be put in the freezer at this time; lettuce, cucumber, herbs, spinach, etc. I will also leave out some carrots, peppers, and a portion of fruits for snacking on.

 

Freezing your produce will ensure that you will have fresh vegetable and fruits all month long.

Even if you aren't up for freezing everything, try freezing a couple things and see how it goes for you and your family.