Lately, I made a video tour of my pantry.

OK, I do know that sounds a little bit unusual. Enable me to elucidate.

One of many modules in my Remedy Your Dinner Dilemma digital cooking class, covers the best way to inventory a pantry, together with some life-saving pantry recipes. So the pantry video tour was for example an instance of a working pantry.

Anyway, whereas I used to be filming, I began pondering how I actually ought to use my freezer as an extension of my pantry. And that it will be nice to point out my college students my freezer as effectively.

On fast inspection, my freezer was wanting prefer it had been banished to Siberia, relatively than a beautiful supply of final minute meals. So the freezer tour concept was promptly scrapped.

Not lengthy afterwards, I used to be contacted by Susan Austin, a good friend of a superb good friend who has written a cookbook referred to as Frost Chunk: Simple Cooking for Your Freezer. Would I be excited by taking a look? Completely.

So impressed by Susan’s creative ebook, listed below are 8 concepts to save lots of time utilizing your freezer.

1. hold a inventory of frozen greens.

Whereas recent tends to be finest from a style perspective (aside from frozen peas), frozen veg can save useful time. And lets face it, frozen greens are higher for you than no veg. Chopped and able to go, issues like frozen broccoli, spinach, cauliflower and beans prepare dinner in about the identical period of time as recent, however save useful minutes within the prep space.

2. make sandwiches for lunches prematurely.

Susan’s ebook has a heap of options for making college (or grownup) sandwiches in bulk and freezing so within the mornings you simply want to drag them out they usually’re good to go. Filling options embrace cooked meats, canned fish, cheese, pesto and extra.

3. freeze cooked meals that may defrost in a lunchbox.

For those who’re tired of sandwiches, it doesn’t imply you may’t additionally benefit from the freezer lunch concept. Particularly nice for dishes that may defrost in the course of the morning and be eaten at room temperature. Lentil salads, fried rice, and meatballs are a couple of concepts to get you began.

4. make brunch prematurely

Whereas having folks over for brunch is usually a great solution to catch up, who desires to rise up tremendous early to arrange a feast? I like Susan’s brunch chapter with recipes for cheat-day pancakes, corn breads, muffins, pastries and pies.

5. freeze recent meat & fish ready prepared for the oven.

Put together your uncooked proteins with marinades, stuffings or herb crusts in order that they’re able to bake or BBQ as quickly as they’re defrosted. A terrific tip for stress-free entertaining.

6. freeze leftovers and small parts.

I’ve prevented stating the apparent about the entire prepare dinner in bulk and freeze for later concept. Leftovers, nevertheless, are one thing that I hardly ever suppose to freeze. Good for small households who aren’t eager on consuming leftovers the subsequent day.

7. freeze cookie dough able to bake.

Subsequent time I make a batch of those cookies, I’m going to be freezing what I don’t want for an additional day. Can’t wait.

8. freeze cooked desserts and truffles.

The factor with baking is you tends to finish up with extra cake than wanted, which might result in over indulgence. Freezing for later is an excellent solution to keep away from temptation and waste.

easy vegetarian supper menu

chickpea burgers with yoghurt sauce

cucumber ribbon salad

chickpea burgers with yoghurt sauce

serves 2

Impressed by Susan Austin’s chickpea & roasted capsicum patties from ‘Frost Chunk: Simple Cooking for Your Freezer’. Susan recommends cooking the chickpea patties after which freezing to reheat direct from frozen both within the oven or a fry pan.

Whereas I LOVE the flavours in these burgers, they’re fairly fragile, even with the egg to bind them. I’ve discovered it’s essential to not over-process the chickpeas to assist keep away from your burgers falling aside within the pan. Simply pulse till chopped.

The excellent news is that they nonetheless style scrumptious in the event that they do occur to disintegrate.

1 can chickpeas (400g / 14oz), drained

2 teaspoons floor cumin

1 egg

1/2 cup roasted purple capsicum (bell pepper), diced

6 – 8 tablespoons pure yoghurt

1. Pulse chickpeas and cumin in a meals processor for a couple of seconds or till roughly chopped. You don’t desire a easy puree right here.

2. Crack egg right into a small bowl and whisk calmly. Add egg and pulse once more for a couple of seconds.

3. Fold capsicum into the chickpeas by hand so it retains its form. Season and utilizing your palms, kind into 2 burgers. Pop within the fridge for a couple of minutes.

4. Warmth a small fry pan on a medium excessive warmth. Add a little bit oil and prepare dinner burgers for round 3 minutes on all sides or till golden. Being cautious when turning in order that they don’t disintegrate.

5. In the meantime, stir yoghurt in a small bowl till easy and season generously.

6. Serve burgers with yoghurt on high and cucumber salad (recipe beneath) on the aspect.

cucumber salad

serves 2 as a aspect

My Irishman is allergic to cucumber, so I hardly ever use it. However I used to be on the lookout for one thing totally different to a shaved zucchini salad to serve with the chickpea burgers and the cucumbers simply jumped out at me.

This salad will keep crunchy within the fridge for a couple of days however received’t go so effectively within the freezer. Be at liberty so as to add in some recent coriander (cilantro) or parsley leaves for a bit extra greenness.

2 lebanese cucumbers

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1. Peel ribbons from the surface of the cucumbers, stopping once you get to the seeds. Discard seeds and place ribbons in a small bowl.

2. Season with salt and pepper then toss in lemon juice.