| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | Moussaka. But the key thing is, that part of the |
| We all need quick dinner recipes and 30 minute | | | | work has already been done, thereby making it |
| meals are at the top of the list. However, we also | | | | completely viable to have a nutritious meal on the |
| want nutritious, tasty, low-cal, low-carb | | | | table in a relatively quick time. |
| meals...NOW! Does this sound familiar? And as | | | | Double up your recipes |
| much as we all love the idea of a homemade | | | | This almost seems a no-brainer but it is worth |
| beef stew or a luscious homemade meatball | | | | being reminded. If you are going to make one |
| recipe, more often than not, there just is not the | | | | batch of your favorite Beef Curry Recipe, make |
| time to produce that kind of food after we have | | | | two - one for now, and one for the freezer. |
| rushed in from work, school or ferrying the kids. | | | | Apply the same rule to any stews, simple ground |
| However, make friends with your freezer and | | | | beef recipes and even chicken casseroles. Most of |
| this, in fact, does become possible. | | | | these dishes are good natured and will freeze well. |
| Freeze batches of fried onion. | | | | I love nothing more than being able to haul out a |
| When you have a chance, chop a whole load of | | | | nutritious meal from the freezer on those |
| onions. I often do 12 large onions at a time. Pour a | | | | stressed-out days. Moreover, I know that there |
| little oil into a large pot and fry the onions until | | | | are no preservatives, additives and colorants in |
| they soften and take on a deep caramel color. | | | | the food that I have frozen. Plus, my freezer |
| You may find it easier to do this in two pots. Cool | | | | meal has cost nothing like the supermarket |
| the onions and then transfer equal quantities to | | | | equivalent and always tastes better. |
| freezer containers. I would transfer the equivalent | | | | Organize your freezer |
| of one to two onions to each container. Label | | | | Try to be disciplined as to how you pack your |
| each container and then freeze. | | | | freezer. Try to put ready-made meals on the |
| Now you are able to have some fun. You want | | | | same shelf or in the same drawer. Similarly, |
| to make one of those best ground beef recipes? | | | | frozen raw ingredients should go together. Put |
| No problem. You are already half way there. | | | | "little bits" together - egg whites, chopped frozen |
| Whilst your meat is browning, simply defrost the | | | | fresh herbs, leftover sauces and so on. |
| onions and then add them along with the other | | | | A particularly helpful shelf in our freezer is the |
| ingredients. You have the beginning of Chili con | | | | LUNCH BOX shelf. In this drawer there are all |
| carne, a Beef and Noodle Casserole or a Ground | | | | makings for healthy lunchboxes. There is leftover |
| Beef Goulash. | | | | chicken, frozen in between layers of waxed |
| Freeze breadcrumbs and egg whites | | | | paper. There are cooked burgers or ham. There |
| No, I have not lost the plot! If you have leftover | | | | are wraps, croissants, or muffins. This means that |
| breadcrumbs, simply pop them in a freezer | | | | when we make lunchboxes at night it is easy for |
| container, mark them and freeze them. Next time | | | | the whole family to get involved and hone in on |
| you want to whizz up meatballs or crumb a piece | | | | the correct drawer. It seems to simplify things |
| of fish, the work has been done for you already. | | | | and is certainly cheaper than take-out food. |
| The same applies to egg whites. They freeze | | | | Organize your freezer labels, pens etc |
| very well for a couple of months. Put the leftover | | | | Have a set place in your kitchen where you keep |
| egg whites into a container and mark HOW MANY | | | | your freezer containers. Stack them logically |
| THERE ARE ie "3 egg whites." Next time you feel | | | | according to size and use. Nearby, have a drawer |
| inspired to whip up meringues or need egg white | | | | that keeps your freezer labels, marking pens, |
| for an icing recipe, all you have to do is defrost | | | | plastic bags, waxed paper and freezer tags. This |
| them on low in the microwave and you're set. | | | | means that that it not an onerous task popping a |
| Freeze batches of a basic Bechamel Sauce Recipe | | | | label onto your container and you will never |
| Make a large batch of your favorite Bechamel | | | | wonder what that mysterious frozen lump in the |
| Sauce Recipe. I often do triple the usual quantity. | | | | freezer is again! |
| Again, decant into freezer containers and mark. | | | | So, just as you take charge of certain areas of |
| You now have the basis for a whole range of | | | | your life, take charge of your freezer! Producing |
| dishes, from your best baked macaroni cheese | | | | easy healthy recipes will suddenly become a |
| recipe to baked fish in a sauce. You can add | | | | pleasure. With a little bit of thought and simple |
| simple ingredients to make a pasta sauce or you | | | | meal planning, you can save time, money and |
| could add the Bechamel sauce to a Lasagna or | | | | your sanity! |