Sara Elliott Price - Freezer Meals: 33 Quick and Easy Make Ahead Meals Your Whole Family Will Love

Copyright 2018, Sara Elliott Price.

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The information in this book is not intended as medical advice and is not intended to treat or cure any medical conditions. The reader assumes full responsibility for any choices made based on the information in this book. Neither the author nor the publisher guarantees the accuracy, quality, suitability or reliability of any information contained in this book.

Introduction

C ooking ahead and freezing prepared meals for later is the best method available to preserve cooked food and its nutrients, colors and flavors all while avoiding having to cook before eating. It can be a great way to eat healthy for busy moms, people in professions like trucking, individuals on a budget and even a great option if you are trying to stay on a specific diet for long periods of time. Cooking ahead and freezing meals has many advantages.

Whether youre at home alone, too busy to cook, expecting more guests than you can cook for, too lazy, or simply want to maximize the results of the effort you put in, cooking ahead is the thing to do. Im sure we could all find some use for more time in our lives. Just think, havent there been times when you said to yourself, that I wish I didnt have to cook now? other than these circumstances mentioned above, there are many other reasons why cooking ahead makes sense. Some of these reasons are:

• Saves work, time and money
• Is an efficient and easy method of preserving food
• Can simplify the process of meal preparation
• Provides delicious meals at a moments notice
• Supplies you with seasonal favorites even after the season is over
• You have to make fewer, planned shopping trips
• Allows you to stock up on special sales while prices are low
• Allows you to use your oven more efficiently, baking more than one dish at a time

Im a big fan of cooking ahead and I do so to make the most of my time while eating planned, wholesome and delicious meals quickly. Since I work from home, cook ahead meals mean that we only have to cook once a day now. Sometimes, when I have a very busy week ahead Ill prepare a whole weeks worth of food ahead of time. The concept of cook ahead meals has saved the day for my family many times.

Mastering the Basics of Freezer Meals

Planning for the cooking session

P lan your menu a few days before shopping and cooking days. When cooking meals in large batches to freeze, always start with recipes you know and love. It is generally not advisable to experiment with new recipes when starting out. Pick 3-4 recipes and get started. You can add more recipes to your repertoire as you gradually get the hang of freezer cooking. Getting in to the groove will be easy.

Schedule two blocks of time for freezer cooking. The first block of time is to shop for all the Ingredients and the second block to prepare and cook everything.

Plan the cooking session before you start. You need to wash and Blanche vegetables, treat all fruits with ascorbic acid and cut and prepare all the ingredients, including meat and poultry items. You also need to prepare all spices and condiments, have all the creams and sauces ready, and finally, cook your recipes.