Need freezer veggie recipes please!

November 30, 2009

It is no secret that Carl and I adore our daughters in love. The one who lives

close by could very easily be vegetarian (lacto-ovo non rennet cheese) and never

gets enough veggies since our son the carnivore is the cook. Sitting here trying

to think of something she'd really like, and I remembered how she devoured even

the onions and celery I stuffed in the thing (starts with T, ends roasted and

consumed by the carnivores) and how she mentioned how she just doesn't get

enough veggies....SOooooooo, how about if I make several dozen two to four

serving size casseroles of veggies for one of her Christmas presents? I found

some microwavable paper freezer containers online that should work well.

Now I need lots of recipes for veggie casseroles for the freezer. I have her

favorite broccoli with cheese, the eternal green bean casserole and squash with

stuffing but what more? She's never met a vegetable she didn't like and adores

spicy foods.

I'm looking over the veg folders here and online but would love everyone's

favorite veggie casserole dish which will freeze well. Some I do just don't

freeze and since I don't microwave, my instructions would probably read like

" nuke until hot and bubbly. "

Ah ha, that reminds me...Bubble and Squeak. She likes it when I make it. Has

anyone frozen it before? It never lasts that long here to actually toss in the

deep freeze. I don't make it with that animal stuffies but sometimes will toss

in a handful of baconless bits.

This could be such fun and maybe a good gift for vegetarian friends who live in

carnivorous houses. Er....not that the actual houses are carnivorous, just some

of those who live within. It would be rather alarming to live in a house that

actually ate its inhabitants. Real Nightmare on Willow Street, eh?

Hugs, Jeanne in GA

http://jeannefromgeorgia.blogspot.com/

December 1, 2009

Okay, here's something that I like to freeze up. It is not a casserole, but it

comes in really handy.

Bean Dip

1 can black beans

1 sm. jar enchilada sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 green onions, minced

1 or 2 teaspoons chili powder

1 or 2 teaspoons cumin

1/2 teaspoon oregano, optional

Throw all that in the blender or food processor and it makes a nice bean dip.

You can omit the spices, garlic or onions if you don't like them so much. Or,

you can use tomato sauce/paste and just increase the spicy stuff. You can

freeze this up in small, single serving containers. It comes in handy for a

lunch to take to work. Just grab some tortilla chips or some veggies to dip

into it. My dip is different every time, but it all tastes good to me and it is

super easy. My extended family loves this stuff.

I'm sure your DIL would love having a healthy snack like this on hand. It is

great for last-second guests or potlucks, too. You are so thoughtful to do this

for her! Can I be adopted? My late MIL thought I was nuts to be a veggie!

Mary in MI

December 1, 2009

The spinach and mushroom blintzes from Veganomicon freeze well. We make a whole

bunch and put them in freezer bags. Just defrost and pan fry. You can stuff them

with anything. I don't have the recipe with me - it's downstairs and I'm nursing

(the little man is getting so heavy that I have to sit in one place!!).

Paula

December 1, 2009

Hello, Jeanne!

Your " Daughter-in-love " is so fortunate to have you in her life! While my

mother-in-law loves me, and I love her, she and " Dad " have made it a habit to

shun healthier foods (most vegetables in particular) and have, for years,

consumed junk foods as though it were their JOB. Your idea of a gift to your

son's wife of one-person-sized servings of vegetable dishes is fantastic and so

thoughtful!

May I suggest something in addition? (You don't have to do it; it just

came to mind as I read your post.)

If someone were to think of giving me something similar to your idea, I

also think this might " work " well:

I am assuming your daughter-in-law is allowed in the kitchen, since the

frozen veg. entrees need heating in oven or " nuking " ...

What about a " veggies gift basket " ? Possible contents:

1. An assortment of several nice, interesting and FRESH vegetables (that

could be kept in the fridge or a cool place and used a few at a time. (Maybe

also a note introducing some of the veggies and how to store them and/ or how

they can be cooked.)

2. A nice, sturdy veg. peeler tool.

3. A good paring knife

4. A small (or whatever size you want) vegetables-only cutting board.

(Remember,

her husband cooks most of the time and cooks meats...HIS cutting board would NOT

be appropriate or even sanitary for her to use to chop veggies on!)

5. A box of those neat little " food-fresh-saver " bags. I've never used

them but I've heard they are wonderful for keeping regular or cut veggies and

foods fresh for longer.

6. A fold-up stainless steel steamer to put some chopped veggies in anytime

she wants the. (This is so easy to do--I like it better than " nuking " . It's

fast and healthy to steam veggies this way.)

7. A small jar or packet of a favorite " veggie-friendly " seasoning, herb,

or spice that you have tried and liked. (If she has eaten at your place, most

likely she has tried it and liked it as well.)

--Those are just ideas that popped into my head. I liked your idea--and

I liked mine, too. I'm going to keep them in mind. One never knows when

something like this will be just the right gift for someone special!

Blessings to you and yours!

--Laura B., in Illinois

PS: The reason I suggested the " fresh " veggies is that they first of all don't

have to be pre-cooked or put in the freezer.

The second reason is that I've found that taking several kinds of fresh

veggies, peeling, slicing and/or chopping them up and steaming them in an

interesting mixture is very tasty. My husband seems to love these " steam pot

mixes " , as I call them, and looks forward to having them as a light meal when he

gets home in the evening. For me, they are almost like comfort food. I am

surprised at all the different veggies my husband has eaten that he " hates " --and

I think he even knew he was eating them, but the pieces were small and all the

other stuff he liked, so he seemed okay with it.

Doing this is so simple and easy and is a great way to get LOTS of

different veggies into one's meals. (We drizzle ours with E.V. olive oil and

sprinkle with a seasoned salt...the veggies can be dressed " up " or

" down " --whatever one likes.)

Need freezer veggie recipes please!

Posted by: " Jeanne B " treazured treazured

Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:10 am ((PST))