Carole's asked us to share what is in our freezer. Here goes!
1. Lots of jars of strawberry freezer jam. I save it until it gets really cold. You know, when it gets so cold and dark so early that you can't believe it will ever be warm and light again? That's when I put it on my yogurt.
2. About ten ziplock bags with two cups of blueberries each. I discovered it is vital to use them immediately after defrosting. One of these days I'll get back in the habit of making a batch of muffins every week, and those sweet little blubs picked in July's heat will feel a little more heat!
3. Five bags of pitted cherries. We're big fans of cherry clafoutis. I think it will be festive to serve around the holidays. I don't go in for the traditional way of making it with pits in; I just add a little almond extract to mimic the taste. Sorry, purists.
4. Ice cream bowl. I had some Bing cashback in my Amazon account this summer and splurged on an ice cream attachment for the Kitchenaid. Guess I probably won't be using it again for a while. Maybe I should make one last batch and call it the end of the season.
5. Half a bag of ice. I've mentioned before my addiction to ice. I know it's bad for my teeth, but it's one of my few vices. I prefer the cocktail-sized cubes.
6. Edamame. I bring about 1/2 a bag to work with me when I remember. By the time I'm in my office after teaching, they're thawed and ready to eat.
7. Pinons aka pignoli aka pine nuts. It kills me to buy them around here where they are super expensive. When I lived in Albuquerque, they were available seemingly on every street corner for a song. Note to self: stock up next time in NM!
8. Containers of last year's soup. Is it still edible, do you think? When I make a large batch, I freeze some, but I don't always remember to thaw and eat it. Oops.
9. Morningstar chicken patties. I'm not looking for a meat substitute here. I don't like most commercial veggie burgers, but these are okay in a pinch. I like to eat them on a wheat English muffin with some hot sauce when I'm in a rush between teaching gigs.
10. The bag of peas. Neal uses it as an ice pack when he has aches and pains. It thaws, and we refreeze it. It will never be eaten, but wrapped in a towel, it does provide relief.
Next year we're hoping to add a chest freezer to the basement so Neal can buy meat locally and in bulk, and I can take better advantage of summer crops.
How about you? What's in your freezer?
Sounds pretty healthy to me with all that fruit. Ha, the bag of peas, everyone needs one.
A big freezer helps a lot. And when I use frozen blueberries I use them straight from the freezer without defrosting. This works for pie or cake or muffins and they don’t get all smooshy.
We’re thinking of a chest freezer (ok, that sounds weird…) for the basement, too. Especially in winter, our little freezer in the frij fills up with soups and stews faster than we can eat them.
Your strawberry jam looks delicious!
We bought a small chest freezer a couple of weeks ago and we have it half full already. Next year I’m following your lead and will fill my freezer with berries of all sorts!
Alright – next package you are getting pine nuts!