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