how i roll

here is how i do chocolate chip cookies. double the batch...sometimes triple...bake a cookie sheet full...roll the rest into a cookie sheet servings (about 2 cups of batter) into wax paper rolls. then place the rolls in a gallon size freezer bag. plop those suckers in the freezer. pull out a single cookie sheet serving whenever you like and wha-la...home made chocolate chippers anytime without the big mess in the kitchen.

~type to you soon~

stockpiling the freezer

***the columns across the top are VARIETY, FLAVOR AND TEXTURE, SALADS AND EATING, SAUCE, PIES, BAKING, AND FREEZING***

this is a chart that was hanging on the wall at the orchard that we like to visit. i just love the rippled corners. you can tell it has had many years of use but contains such great information. if you are planning on preserving or freezing any type of apples while they are at their peak this is the chart to use. i can't wait for the apples to ripen on my in-laws tree and for our trees to grow large enough to produce a large crop. we LOVE apples! if you are going to plant apples trees this is also a wonderful chart to consult to determine what type of trees to plant. if your family is a big sauce family plant a tree(s) that are excellent for sauce.
here are the beans that i picked out of the garden. i will definitely be planting beans every year. they are huge producers in a very limited space. this amount of beans which frozen filled 4 gallon sized freezer bags, came off of around 7 plants. our family does not eat beans often so this will feed us for a while and i plan on giving some to a friend too. what are you freezing or preserving right now?

btw...right now, this week is a great time to freeze blueberries. they are really cheap at kroger and freeze great for pancakes, baking, smoothies, or popping in your mouth for a snack. frozen blueberries are great!

~type to you soon~

pumpkin

last week i tackled a new area of food preservation. pumpkins. the above picture is what i was able to freeze using 3 small pie pumpkins. i think that it was well worth the effort and i also toasted the seeds for a yummy snack. our children love toasted pumpkin seeds. here is a great post that walks you through pumkin preserving. make sure that you freeze the pumpkin instead of canning it. you can read all about it HERE. also, quite a few stores have pumkins really cheap right now. i paid $3 total for the pumpkins that i used to make this puree.

~type to you soon~

more blueberries

we went pickin again. our oldest favorite fruit is blueberries so naturally when the opportunity presented itself to pick again we jumped on that bandwagon. i froze the majority of these. they are great for blueberry pancakes and blueberry syrup, smoothies, or just eating the frozen berries as is. lately we have had a lot of pancakes and the syrup that i have been making is a simple syrup with fruit added. delicious and much better for you than the alternative. while i am flipping the pancakes i put 3/4 cup water and 1/2cup sugar on the stove in a saucepan. reduce the mixture. once it thickens add fresh fruit (i add quite a bit of fruit) and let the mixture lightly roll boil for about 3 minutes. stir it though, you don't want it to stick. it is delicious and adds a whole new level to pancakes or ice cream for that matter.

~type to you soon~