Most recipes end with instructions to "serve immediately." You could conceivably serve any one immediately but how about putting meals in the deep freeze for prosperity. "Freezing" is the simplest, quickest form of food preservation and its a safe and convenient way to preserve food for months until you're ready to enjoy them.
Busy people especially can benefit from freezing prepared meals, particularly on week days when time is scarce. In the battle to get food on the table in a hurry, your freezer can be your best ally. Main, a home economist and caterer who has written many books concedes that the biggest challenge to preparing and freezing foods for the weeks or months ahead is finding the time and energy to cook in mass quantities.
The recommendation is that you begin slowly, with a few days' worth of meals, then gradually make your way up to building larger food reserves. In no time you'll have a reliable stockpile.
Freezer inventory should consist of a wide mix of meals. In winter, allocate space for soups, stews, and casseroles, but save room for breakfast and lunch items like muffins, bagels and sandwiches.
The freezer also can be a valuable tool in summer, when there's an abundance of fresh produce. Preserving summer harvest presents a unique set of issues, like how to store berries without damaging them or which veggies should be blanched before freezing. Also important is how to package, label items, and organize them in your freezer. Some foods freeze better than others, while others are just not meant to be frozen.
Below is an example of a recipe and sauce that can be frozen and placed in your freezer for future meals.
Meatloaf "Muffins" With Barbecue Sauce
Meatloaf Muffins:
1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef,
3/4 cup oatmeal or dry breadcrumbs or cracker crumbs,
1/4 cup wheat bran,
1 can (5.4 oz/160ml) evaporated 2% milk,
1 egg,
1 teaspoon chili powder,
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder,
1/4 teaspoon salt,
1/4 teaspoon black pepper,
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. (190C).
Barbecue Sauce:
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional)
To make the muffins:
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, oatmeal, bran, milk, egg, chili powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Divide mixture evenly among muffin cups (12 cup muffin tin, greased), pressing down lightly.
To make the sauce:
In another bowl, combine ketchup, onion, sugar and, if using, hot pepper sauce. Spoon about one tablespoon sauce over each muffin. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until meat is no longer pink in center.
To freeze:
Wrap in freezer bags. Seal, label and date. Freeze for up to two months.
To serve:
Thaw in refrigerator overnight. Reheat thawed "muffins" in baking dish at 350 degrees F. (180C) for about 20 minutes or until heated through.
Author: Susan Rutter -- Publisher, Nutritionist, and Instructor who assists patients and the public make healthy choices and changes in their lives. Web Site: Healthy YOUbbies - http://www.geocities.com/healthyoubbies/
custom home cleaning Winnetka ..Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin like A and E.... Read More
The nutritional support in critically ill patients can be explained... Read More
The concept isometric has been a part of the health... Read More
Many people experience unpleasant reactions to foods they have eaten... Read More
Here is a continuation of the light and darkness metaphor:... Read More
"Organic" has some quite specific legal definitions in most developed... Read More
While oxygen is the key to human survival, it is... Read More
Do you know the risks to daily intakes of Starbucks... Read More
Nature works mostly on the principle of thing and no... Read More
Niacin, also called nicotinic acid, is a member of the... Read More
Nuts of all kinds (I am talking peanuts, cashews etc)... Read More
Students might start thinking a little differently, once they learn... Read More
Understanding What a Low Cholesterol Diet isBasically, in order to... Read More
Proper hydration is extremely important during exercise. Adequate fluid intake... Read More
Everyone can benefit from understanding how food affects our... Read More
Studies on whey demonstrate it's an even better protein supplement... Read More
Ionized minerals, colloidal minerals, chelated minerals . . . What... Read More
Salt is vital for our health. Right now, you have... Read More
If you do not take time to stand back at... Read More
It is always amazing to me when I find a... Read More
THE RISKThe primary symptom of acid reflux is obvious to... Read More
I'm going to be a bit radical here, but know... Read More
People are obsessed with dieting and weight loss! Don't believe... Read More
Water is the most abundant substance in the human body.... Read More
Detoxifying the body has become an apparent key preventative measure... Read More
professional home cleaners Glenview ..The fact that diet directly affects behaviour is no news,... Read More
The ingredients list found on the back or side panel... Read More
Are Your Cells Talking To Each Other?Communication! It permeates our... Read More
When you take your food next time, take care of... Read More
Every where you look you see articles or news or... Read More
Bread is one of the oldest known recipes to man.... Read More
There are so many topics to discuss which affect our... Read More
The Health and Nutrition Industry has come about as peoples... Read More
Eating healthy and taking care of yourself is essential to... Read More
Dr. Christine Wood, M.D, a practicing pediatrician in Encinitas, California,... Read More
So what's all the shake up about anyway?. To put... Read More
The typical American diet already provides plenty of protein and... Read More
Diets don't work. If they did the U.S. of A.... Read More
The importance of protein in a healthy diet is well... Read More
Nuts are readily available and provide a highly nutritious food.... Read More
Unhealthy eating is a harmful problem in America, and contrary... Read More
The dangers of processed foods and diets Why is that... Read More
Most of us eat at restaurants for a variety of... Read More
Biological clockObviously you need biological clock to time and alarm... Read More
If you are like most people, you've tried dieting before.... Read More
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a dangerous condition that can... Read More
The egg, the symbol of birth, of life and, therefore,... Read More
Our diet is an essential factor for the formation of... Read More
Recently, trans fats have risen to the forefront of the... Read More
People who consume too much alcohol have good chance of... Read More
Nutrition |