Things You Can Freeze

Okay, this isn't a recipe, but my neighbors and I have been discussing of late all the things that you can stick in your freezer. Please add to it if you have a trick up your chilly sleeve!

1. Gallons of milk can be frozen. Just pour a little off the top to allow for expansion while freezing. Thaw when you're ready to use it. I've had gallons last three months in the freezer this way. They probably could last longer, I just haven't tried it. When milk goes on sale, I buy several gallons to freeze.

2. Olive and Canola oils. These are convenient to buy in bulk, but don't have the longest shelf life. Stick them in the freezer until you are ready to use.

3. Bread! The day old baked goods at the grocery store, and the Pepperidge Farm outlet on Kenny are two of my favorite spots to visit. I buy a month's worth of bread, bagels, and buns at a time and store them all in the freezer until ready to use. You can toast them for immediate thawing, or just let a loaf sit on your counter for a few hours until its thawed.

4. Fresh herbs. You know all those times you make a recipe that calls for a tablespoon of fresh basil or parsley or whatever? The leftover fresh herbs can be finally chopped and put in your ice cube tray with just a tiny bit of water. As soon as they are frozen, empty the cubes into a freezer ziploc, label and then you just pull out a cube to thaw the next time you need fresh herbs. It works particularly well with soups, sauces, and stews, since you can just throw the cube in without thawing it. For salads, defrost in a separate dish before adding.

Microwave Granola

I make about 5 batches of this every few weeks. It is a staple at our house. We like it much better than store-bought cereal and you can use food storage to make it. If you have a big enough pan, you can double the batch. I just extend cooking times by a minute or so in each place to accommodate. I love that this is made in the microwave, so it is faster than the oven. It is also versatile. I add extra of the things I like and skip it if I don't like it.

3 c. oats (quick or old-fashioned)
1/3 c. wheat germ
1/3 c. shredded coconut
1/3 c. sesame seeds (I actually skip these, my sister says flax seeds are good in it)
1/3 c. chopped nuts (I use pecans because I have them from my parents, but walnuts are good and I have also used either of these with almonds)
1/3 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 c. oil or melted butter or margarine
1/4 c. honey
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. raisins

1. Place oats in ungreased 2 qt. dish. Cook in microwave on full power for 2 1/2 minutes (3 if double-batch).
2. Add wheat germ, coconut, sesame seeds, nuts, brown sugar, and cinnamon to oats. Stir to blend.
3. Add oil, honey, and vanilla to dry ingredients. Toss lightly until coated. Cook in microwave on level 7 for about 6 minutes, stirring twice (I do 3 3-minute cookings for double)
4. Add raisins. Cook on full power for 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through. Press granola firmly against bottom of dish. Cool. Break into pieces and store in tightly covered container. (I usually do the 2 minutes or sometimes 3. I like my granola fully dried out and toasted. You do have to watch out for hot spots in the middle, cause it can burn.)

Tortillas with Beans and Rice

Tortillas are not really that hard to make. They take some time and practice, but they're so good, and so worth it. This recipe is for bleached flour, but I use whole wheat flour and add a little extra water, because whole wheat flour is "thirsty". They're easier to roll out if they're a little softer anyway. I also like to add spices to the dough, and double the salt. I quadruple the recipe and mix it up with my Bosch mixer, although you can mix and knead it by hand. Adding gluten helps if they crack when you wrap them around the filling. The dough is easier to handle if you let it sit for an hour before you cook it. Take a walnut sized ball and roll it out thinly. Toast them on a medium hot pan until they bubble and the bubbles are toasted on each side. They shrink and thicken as they cook. Be careful not to over cook them, but if you do, you just have some tortilla chips!

1 1/2 cups Flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons oil (some folks like lard, shortening, etc.)
1/2 cup warm water

For the filling: Take some of those dried beans you have in food storage and throw them in the crock pot in the morning. Add salt, chili powder and anything else you like for seasonings. We like lentils with black beans. Cook some rice separately on the stove, and enjoy your dinner. This meal is obviously better with cheese, spinach and anything else you like or have fresh on hand. But if you only have these four items in your food storage (beans, wheat, rice, and salt) you can eat a tasty and complete protein for dinner.