Earlier last week I visited two friends who have quite the vegetable garden! I helped pick vegetables, water the garden, and then we canned 17 jars of stewed tomatoes, pickled okra, and even bread and butter pickles! To some it may seem boring, but this what Southern Belles do during the summer.We learn how to can and freeze vegetables and fruits! It may be hard work, but it certainly makes for an easier winter.
I’ve been freezing Olathe Sweet Corn and fresh Turnips from the garden. Green Peppers too! All these locally grown foods can be stored in your freezer easily and eaten in the winter. The process may seem time consuming, however, with Corn at $0.39 an ear (for example), you will save money by buying in bulk and freezing or canning it now.
Each year my family and I can, jelly, and freeze a variety of products. Then, we swap! It’s so much fun! Everyone makes something different, so you get more for your money! According to the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving, most frozen vegetables will last for up to 12 months. Onions, however, only last 3 to 6 months. Freezing not only saves you money, but it lasts a long time. Below are a couple of my favorite recipes to get you started freezing food and saving money!
How to Freeze Corn on the Cob
Ingredients:
water, about 1-11/2 qts, enough to cover the corn on the cob
8-10 ears of corn, about 2 inches in diameter
water, about 1 qt
ice cubes
paper towels
ziploc freezer bags, large
Directions:
In a large stock pot, begin bringing water to a boil. Meanwhile, husk corn, rinse corn and remove silks by running a paper towel along the cob. Rinse cob again and using both hands, break cobs in half. Set aside and repeat for each ear of corn.
Place corn in boiling water and blanch for 8 minutes. Remove from boiling water and insert corn into a seperate bowl (or sometimes I just use a sanitized sink) of ice water. Finish the blanching process in ice water for another 8 minutes. Now, using paper towels, dry corn cobs completely. Then, stack them in a freezer bag (usually 6-8 cobs per bag) and seal. Place in a second freezer bag and seal and label it. place in freezer and freeze until use.
How to Freeze Fresh Turnips
Ingredients:
water, about 1-11/2 qts, enough to cover the corn on the cob
7-8 medium turnips
water, about 1 qt
ice cubes
paper towels
ziploc freezer bags, large
Directions:
In a large stock pot, begin bringing water to a boil. Meanwhile, trim greens and roots off each turnip and, using a peeler, remove the skins. Cut each turnip into cubes. (about 1″x 1″)
Place turnips in boiling water and blanch for 3 minutes. Remove from boiling water and insert turnips corn into a seperate bowl (or sometimes I just use a sanitized sink) of ice water. Finish the blanching process in ice water for another 3 minutes. Now, using paper towels, dry turnips completely. Then, stack them in a freezer bag and seal. Place in a second freezer bag and seal and label it. place in freezer and freeze until use.
More recipes to come!!
A Glimpse of the Garden…
