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Happy February! If you missed my last post or new around here I host a “Fill Your Freezer February” Challenge. I focus on making and freezing meals, snacks, and items that I know my family actually enjoy eating!
Starting Where I Am
My refrigerator freezer currently only contains some frozen cherries, homemade jam, corn, couple pounds of beef, and a whole chicken. And I shared the state of my chest freezer in this post. .. Ahem, I plan on actually cleaning it out today!
Although my freezers are pretty empty (thank you pregnancy prepped freezer meals!) I am starting with some basics, but things I know we will eat regularly and a bunch of!
Yes, spinach! Before you click away, let me explain why I’m filling my freezer with spinach.
1. We enjoy smoothies on a regular/ weekly basis.
2. It won’t end up in the trash for being slimy and past due , yuck.
3. It makes cooking quicker!
How To Freeze Spinach(& Kale)
So Easy! I take a few minutes and pull the stems off and pick out any bad leaves. Leaving the stems on is optional but we dont like them when they are cooked; but if using in smoothies that won’t matter! Throw them whole into a freezer gallon bag!
When the spinach or kale freezes you simple need to “crunch” the bag and the spinach with break into smaller peices! Add as little or much as you want- in smoothie, breakfast hash, and super easy to add to soup!
Beans
I also cooked beans this weekend to add to the freezer. Dried beans are much cheaper than canned and if you conveniently have them cooked up you are more likely to actually cook with them!
I now use the instant pot, but for years and years I would simply put a whole bag (1lb) in the crockpot, fill it with water and let it cook all day.
I love reusing my canning jars. The trick is to make sure food is cooled down before placing into the jars. Take the precaution of letting the food sit in the fridge overnight before moving it to the freezer, you may have glass crack or burst if the food goes into the freezer while hot!
We mainly use the to make refried beans, enchiladas, add to burrito bowls… think Taco Tuesday!
Are you going in the Fill Your Freezer Challenge?
How do your freezers look?