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/
family-safe home cleaners Lincolnshire ..Most of us equate the word diet with calorie reduction.... Read More
As any student of chemistry will assure you, acids and... Read More
Cholesterol. What images come to mind when you see this... Read More
Coke, more commonly known as cocaine is a highly addictive... Read More
Did you know the average American gains 5-7 pounds every... Read More
The field of nutrition is awash with charts, tables, diagrams,... Read More
Have you ever watched someone who appears thin and healthy... Read More
Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a... Read More
The importance of protein in a healthy diet is well... Read More
Making simple changes to your food diet can help remedy... Read More
Carbohydrates - found in grains, breads, pasta, and sugar, as... Read More
Health food or heart attack on a plate? Eggs had... Read More
You are what you eat is a simple, time tested... Read More
Come on, guys and gals. Those Trix are for kids.And... Read More
Question from Jack:A question from Jack, one of the subscribers... Read More
With so many people concerned about natural and organic foods... Read More
Copyright ? 2004 priya shah Glutathione, the body's... Read More
Because I believe diet and exercise are so important, I'm... Read More
The sugar industry and the food manufacturers are capitalizing BIG... Read More
Aging occurs when the body's cells die at faster rates... Read More
If you're looking for a power-packed entr?e or soup to... Read More
My name is Mildred Shears. I'm retired and I live... Read More
Can You Lose Weight Through Eating?You get fat when you... Read More
Endurance Sports are like music concerts. They start at a... Read More
Are you sick and tired of the confusion about our... Read More
after renovation cleaning Bannockburn ..Your magnificent machine is, in fact, a symbiotic collection of... Read More
Toxic metals exist in our environment as pollutants in our... Read More
Initially discovered as a new element in 1811 by Barnard... Read More
People want to get the very best they can when... Read More
Health is the thing. And no matter how many ways... Read More
Acid Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a common disease which... Read More
The problem with sugar is that it doesn't contain any... Read More
Because of consumer demand, the food industry focus is on... Read More
Your fiber intake is a critical factor in weight loss... Read More
Dr. Arthur Agatston, the cardiologist who developed South Beach Diet... Read More
Did you know that there might be poison in many... Read More
Do you know your ph? By getting ph strips at... Read More
Information on potassiumWhen you read about potassium and senate document... Read More
Finally, dieters and healthy eaters everywhere have reason to rejoice,... Read More
A lot of people I've talked with about health supplements... Read More
How did we cure ourselves of many aches pains and... Read More
Besides providing taste, color, and aroma, certain seasonings can also... Read More
Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential to the development... Read More
Just as our country is currently engaged in a war... Read More
Are you concerned about taking care of your body before... Read More
Understanding ocular nutrition and eye health can be one of... Read More
Everyone can benefit from understanding how food affects our... Read More
New studies bring to our attention that high levels of... Read More
I would like to raise a question: Is Rejuvenation possible... Read More
The cry of "I have no willpower!" often emerges from... Read More
Nutrition |