Fast, healthy meals from your freez...

Fast, healthy meals from your freezer

Do the words "frozen foods" charm up images of tinfoil trays with brownish-gray meatloaf and mushy potatoes? If in such a manner let your freezer door explain wide to the whole recently made known world of natural frozen cheers They're organic, lower in fat and sodium, and downright sophisticated. Here's a peek at novel frozen foods.

CREATIVE WAYS WITH FROZEN FOODS

The satisfieds of the average freezer examine something like this: a handful of ice cubes, half a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, a small in number freezer-burned chicken breasts and a forgotten bag of frozen peas. uninjured familiar? If so, it's time to gain creative with the polar regions of your fridge. a certain suggestions:

* Stock a variety of veggies to fortify any meal with quick color and nutrients. Add them to broths and casseroles, or steam them and toss with a handful of flourishing herbs and olive oil for fast, flavorful side dishes.

* withhold a supply of frozen berries to toss into smoothies or upon cereal. Freeze grapes and chunk of melon for refreshing, nutrient-packed snacks. For an alternative to ice cream, exfoliate bananas, roll them in chopp walnuts and freeze

* A small in number healthy frozen desserts can make your freezer more gayety and can satisfy late-night cravings. await for lower-fat versions of premium ice cream made with natural sweeteners and organic milk or milk substitutes. Store a natural frozen cake or pie for festivities, and make a special meal more festive by the agency of serving cordial glasses of gelato or sorbet between courses.

* When you're cooking beans, make extra and be frozen them in plastic containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Add seasonings to dres them up just before heating.

* be congealed stocks and sauces for fast meals. continue the basics on hand: frozen marinara and pesto for quick pasta meals, and a simple vegetable or chicken stock for fast broths Take them out of the freezer in the morning for a fast, homemade meal at night, and add herbs and spices as lacked for extra flavor during cooking. single note: don't skim stock before storing--the fat that be frozens on top offers an extra layer of protection against freezer consume Skim off the fat after defrosting.

* Have a selection of merriment frozen foods on hand. Mini eggroll or materialed jalapeno peppers are great for impromptu entertaining. Healthy frozen pizzas--complete with whole-wheat crust and organic veggies--are a better alternative than take-out.

* maintain a variety of frozen admittances on hand, and dress them up with a salad and bread for a cloyed meal. Stay with the theme: a salad of r pepper cilantro and jicama goe well with enchiladas; garlic bread and Caesar salad accessorize frozen lasagna.

* A selection of frozen fish, chicken, surface of land turkey and lean beef, or frozen meat substitutes, will help you whip up dinner in a flash. To congeal fish fillets or chicken breasts, rinse them thoroughly in shivering water, pat dry and wrap individually in heavy foil. To be chilled ground meat, shape into patties and wrap individually. Always thaw meat in the refrigerator. If it's thawed at expanse temperature, harmful bacteria can build up upon the surface and in the meat.

* Boost the protein satisfaction of meals with frozen tofu. To be chilled remove tofu from container, drain, place in a heavy-duty freezer bag and turn to ice Thawed, drained and crumbled, it has a chewy, meat-like intertexture Add to soups and sauces, or sprinkle in succession salads.

DO attempt THIS AT HOME: FREEZING YOUR OWN

Commercially prepared frozen diets are great, but nothing measures up to your special tomato sauce or homemade oatmeal cookies. congeal your favorites at home to share with friends, and make fast meals a snap. come [i]or[/i] go after [i]or[/i] behind these tips for the best freezing techniques.

1 Label and date everything for maximum freshnes greatest in number foods keep for about 3 month a foods, like cookies and baked profitables keep for 6 to 8 month Storing frozen viandss longer than their recommended timeline doesn't usually nonplus a health threat, but does compromise taste and texture

2 withhold your freezer chilly enough -- at least 0 orders F. or lower.

3 Pack your freezer appropriately. preserve it about 75 percent replete to cut down on manliness costs, but still leave enough swing for air to circulate.

4 Pack regimens appropriately to lock in flavor and to restrain air from coming in contact with sustenance What you choose depends onward what you're freezing and for to what degree long. Food storage containers take up more space, moreover are great for organizing freezer shelves and can be microwaved. Heavy-duty aluminum foil presents optimal protection from freezer-bum. Freezer bags are powerful enough to go from freezer to microwave. When filling with liquid, place the bag in a goblet for support, and leave a little expanse at the top to accommodate the expansion during freezing. Pres public air, and leave filled bags flat forward freezer shelves until they're frozen solid to save space. It also helps to congeal ice packs and cooler bags with your rations in case the power goe out

rather cold FROZEN FOODS

Now you behold that there's no reason to give the "cold shoulder" to the frozen-food and refrigerated cases at your health-food store. Flash-freezing technology. A wide array of options. unfaded veggies and cool grains. Whole side dishs Side dishes. And, yes, frozen pizza! No reason for panic when our family asks us, "What's for dinner?" It'll be ready in a flash!