Save Money With Freezer-Friendly Menus For Summer (NAPSA)—Most people would rather avoid spending time in the kitchen during busy, warm summer months. The good news is that with a little advance planning and a good freezer, families can capture the flavorful goodness of summer without spending hours laboring over meal prep. Registered dietitian and nutrition consultant Betsy Hornick says freezing is the healthiest way to preserve the fresh, natural flavors of produce, meats andfish. “Freezing is a wonderful way to take advantage of low summer prices on produce to store for use all winter long when produce prices spike,” Hornick says. “Fruits like berries, peaches, cherries, pears, grapes and apricots freeze very well.” Apples, pears, peaches and apricots do need to be peeled. Apples and pears should be tossed with lemon juice, while peaches and apricots can be tossed with a little lemon juice mixed with honey. Investment Cooking “Oneof the biggest benefits of a freezer is having the space to take advantage of bargains and enjoy the full value of bulk shopping,” Hornick says. “Investing in a freezer during the summer months is a good way to get ahead with what I call ‘investment cooking.’ This means stocking your freezer now for the busy fall months ahead so you'll never have to worry about rushing home to prepare a meal with only an hour on the clock between after-school activities.” There are many books and Internet resources available on how to cut your grocerybill in half with advance meal preparation using yourfreezer. freezer is available in 14 cu ft. with a retail price of $479. Freezer-Friendly Cooking Basics * Cook once, eat twice. Make double batches of family favorites so you can enjoy a home-cooked meal one night and freeze the rest for another day when yow’re too busy too cook. Freeze components for a meal, such as a container of Having an extra freezer can be a terrific way to take advantage of seasonal prices and bulk food purchases. New Freezers Offer No-Fuss, Frost-Free Storage Solution Today, frost-free upright freezers are available that look great and can hold up to 700 pounds of food. A new line from Frigidaire, the ULTRAFREEZE series of frostfree upright freezers, completely eliminates the defrosting chore. With no frost build-up, the foods inside are always clean and dry. With tempered glass shelves, slide-out storage baskets and tiltout door storage, the freezers are an easy way to keep frozen foods organized and at arm’s reach. An industry first, the ULTRAFREEZE 14 cu. ft. frost-free chest freezer eliminates the need to unload, defrost and reload food and boasts a dynamic air flow system that allows uniform temperature distribution which makes food taste better and last longer. The upright freezers are available in 14, 17 and 20 cu. ft. models with retail prices ranging from $399 to $699. The frost-free chest chicken broth and just-cooked chicken in single meal portions. To assemble soup, saut onions, celery and carrots in a skillet, and add the freezer broth. Stir in cooked rice. Add the cooked frozen chicken, heat and serve. Freeze banana chunks, grapes and blueberries for refreshing frozen snacks and use in smoothies. Basic How-To’s of Freezing and Thawing Freeze cooked foods after they have cooled to room temperature. Warm foods may freeze too slowly, losing quality and increasing the risk for food-borneillness. Use freezer containers, foil, food storage bags or other freezer wraps to package foods for freezing. To retain quality, be sure to cover or wrap foods airtight. Food expands as it freezes so allow a small amountof airspace in sealed containers and bags. Label packages with the food, date and numberof servings. Keep an inventory of your freezer meals so you know what you have on hand. Thaw frozen meals in the refrigerator or microwave, never on the counter. Then reheat in the oven or microwave until heated through.
