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Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 2469
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 19, 2006 - 12:37 pm: | 
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I’m trying to eat better and what not with the wedding looming just around the corner. I’m having a few problems that must have been handled by people before. Like time, waste, boredom.
I don’t want to spend 2 hours a day making breakfast, lunch and dinner. I would prefer to cook extra things on Sunday so that it’s quicker during the week. For instance, it would be great to make a large salad on Sunday, divide it up into a few containers and eat them during the week. The problem is that a salad looks awful after a day or two in the fridge, so I end up wasting it.
Can I freeze a salad?
Also I tend to end up eating the same things all week. I buy some chicken and have chicken cutlets, chicken salad, and chicken sandwiches. Feels like I ate chicken all week. I scour the cook books to make things more interesting, but they don’t seem to be written for someone who isn’t cooking for 4 people.
Add one can Black beans, ok it’s only me so I’ll add ½ can. Now I have to find something that needs ½ can of black beans. So I find something that needs the ½ can, and that requires 2 eggs. Now I need to find something that needs 4 eggs, ok but that requires ½ of a pepper. It’s off to find something that needs ½ of a pepper. It’s a pain.
How do I come up with a meal plan that doesn’t require me to throw out all the extra food, or eat the same thing every other day?
What’s the deal with Bananas?
Monday: nice yellow banana
Tuesday: I’d better eat that banana.
Wednesday: What the hell happened to that banana?
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joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 488
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 19, 2006 - 1:04 pm: |
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No - you can't freeze salad. We have the same problem. We 1) east salad with in a day or 2 of buying the lettuce and 2) expand our def of salad. That is - it doesn't have to have lettuce. I make couscous, lentil, 4 bean salads to name a few.
Bananaz - who said you had to buy on bunch? I split the bunches - some yellow, some yellowish green and some green - so they ripen when i get to them.
Do you eat pork or fish? Lots of chicken recipes work for both.
I like "Food" & Real Simple for recipes. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 2470
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 19, 2006 - 1:21 pm: |
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So I did a quick search on four bean salad. Part of the recipe reads
1 (15 ounce) can green beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can lima beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, drained
that's 60 ounces of beans! can I freeze beans?
So then I hit the Convert to 2 servings button
1/4 (15 ounce) can green beans, drained
1/4 (15 ounce) can lima beans, drained
1/4 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1/4 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, drained
well that's just silly |
joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 489
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 19, 2006 - 2:29 pm: |
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I freeze my cuban black beans - and they come out yummier.
So I'd give it a shot.
I'd switch the lima beans for chick peas, but that's just me. You can also use frozen beans - there you won't have to open up a whole can and pop the rest into the freezer.
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cppkqp
Citizen
Username: Cppkqp
Post Number: 134
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 19, 2006 - 2:49 pm: |
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We tend to buy meats when they're on sale and then freeze them in one-meal portions. We'll buy 3# of ground beef, use one pound for dinner (me, my husband and our toddler), and then freeze the rest as (2) one-pound pacakges. We then thaw and use at a later date. Similarly, we buy boneless chicken breasts on sale and then freeze them in individual sandwich baggies which are together in one large ziploc bag. Thaw and use whenever. (Also great for unexpected guests - just take out however many chicken breasts you need for chicken marsala, piccata, etc.
Similarly, I've heard that frozen salmon from Costco (3# bag w/ 7 individually wrapped single portions) is very good. We plan to try it for dinner tonight! |
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 1280
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 19, 2006 - 3:34 pm: |
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You can't freeze salad, but I have found that lettuce seems to keep a bit longer if you make sure that you get all of the water off it after you wash it, and if you pull the lettuce leaves off the center rib. Lettuce seems to turn brown from the center rib outward, so if you remove the rib it stays appetizing for an extra day or two. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4642
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 6:06 am: |
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CPPKQP, I love the individually wrapped frozen salmon from Costco. I used to buy the fresh salmon and painstakingly slice it into small pieces and wrap to freeze (unless we had a lot of guests) but this works much better.
Brett, you might also want to keep frozen jumbo shrimp on hand. I prefer raw with the tail on. Very quick to defrost and cooks quickly. One of my kids' favorite meals is sauteed shrimp and broccoli. I also like Costco's frozen broccoli much better than supermarket brands.
Brett, I find the romaine keeps for about a week, if not longer, in my produce drawer. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 2478
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 8:09 am: |
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GREAT! My produce drawer is full of beer, I'll have to clean that out tonight |
mjh
Supporter
Username: Mjh
Post Number: 610
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 8:36 am: |
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Produce drawers in decent refrigerators really do help keep the stuff fresh longer, so I think moving the beer is a good idea.
You can freeze some other stuff for occasional use to break up monotony. For example, make a batch of pesto (sans cheese) and freeze in individual portions. Defrost when needed, add cheese, presto pesto. I make several types during the summer and serve occasionally all winter. Also freeze fresh red sauce when the good tomatoes arrive in August. Smallish portions available for the winter. You can make many types of meatballs and keep individual portions frozen. (Once you get enough of this stuff in your freezer, you have ample opportunity to mix up the menus and give yourself a break from cooking. These are just examples.
Salad: you can chop up a lot of the ingredients (like carrots, scallions, peppers, broccoli) and place in a good plastic storage bag or container, place in produce drawer, and use all week. But only tear (never cut) the lettuce just before use (Personally, I pick it from the garden during the summer, and buy in small amounts only during the winter so it doesn't get a chance to go brown and yucky).
Don't despair. It takes a lot of thought and practice to get it together in the food department so as not to waste much food, get in a rut, work too hard every night, etc. etc. Cooking for one is especially difficult.
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8123
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 11:05 am: |
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Pesto is a no-no if you are trying to be svelte for the wedding. 
In my single days, I would cook & freeze on Sundays. Make your own veggie burritos. Tortilla, cheese, beans & freeze individually. Defrost one at a time. Add chicken, beef, pork or whatever you've cooked and have leftover. Buy the bagged salad. If you make chef salads, that's two portions out of one bag.
If you open a can of beans, rinse off the water, use whatever you want & put the beans in a container with fresh water. Plan it so that you have a bean dish on Monday & Wednesday or Thursday. It breaks up the routine & no waste.
One of my favorite bean dishes is to toss canned beans (I like black) over bow ties with garlic, olive oil & a little parmesian cheese. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 14772
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 11:37 am: |
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Goya black bean soup in a can is really tasty. Have it over rice. It's a low fat meal.
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Popo
Citizen
Username: Popo
Post Number: 123
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 11:53 am: |
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You can freeze overripe bananas in a ziplock bag. Peel them first. They're a decent, healthy alternative to ice cream. They taste sweeter frozen. You can also use them in banana bread or in fruit smoothies. To make an easy smoothie, use one frozen banana, one carton of yogurt (any flavor), a little milk or juice, and an ice cube or two. Whirl in blender. An easy, cool summer breakfast at our house.
I add leftover canned beans to salad. |
Popo
Citizen
Username: Popo
Post Number: 124
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 11:56 am: |
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I don't know if you're an ice cream person, but frozen grapes are also good if you're trying to "eat healthy." |
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 617
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 1:25 pm: |
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I think what you are trying to learn to do is really, really hard. I've been cooking for a family for 20+ years, and am only now getting it down. Buying the right stuff every week -- using the most perishable things quickly so they don't go to waste -- figuring out how to incorporate leftovers into later meals -- keeping the staples reliably on hand so you're not forced to order out -- establishing the right balance between healthy foods and family meals that everybody can enjoy and look forward to -- truly, it's a very complex logistical puzzle. I congratulate you for regarding this so mindfully. |
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