An easy post today is in response to the questions from the last post- What do I freeze?
My answer is- just about everything.
Cookie dough- although the cookies came out dry... So I'm thinking I'm going to test baking the cookies and then freezing them. I'm told this will work.
Spaghetti- I make everything except the noodles and freeze it. You can freeze the noodles if you want, but they break that way, and I like my noodles twirly.
Beef Stroganoff- We make ours with Sour Cream. If you make yours with sour cream I recommend making it all withOUT the sour cream and freezing it. When you reheat it add the sour cream. It tastes fine if you freeze it with Sour cream, but it comes out looking kinda gross.
Chili- freeze it all. Warning- reheating makes it a little spicier.
Potato Soup- freeze it all.
Vegetable Stew- freeze it all.
That delicious Maple Chicken- I make it without the glaze and freeze it.
Pork chops- I freeze them uncooked because they seem to dry out too much to freeze cooked.
Pot pie- I freeze the whole thing minus the topping. I'm told I can probably freeze the topping, but... eh.
Lasagna- Freezes nicely, but sometimes it comes out messy...
If I'm not sure about freezing something (like my chicken alfredo) I tend to do what I can, like freezing the cooked chicken portion. It might not seem like it, but even having just some of the process finished makes getting it prepared a TON easier.
I haven't tried it, but I'm also told you can freeze most fresh veggies- some need to be cooked first, though. We also tend to freeze some fruit for smoothies.
Some other quick notes- While I love freezing food, there are small issues- I had to learn how (use freezer bags, lay them as flat as possible and clearly mark what they are). This helps organizing, but also it makes it quicker to thaw.
Another thing I prefer is to thaw the food in the fridge for a couple of days before cooking. This means it takes less time to cook when it comes time to eat, which is a big thing in our house.
I also tend to make a few adjustments once things thaw- they are a little dryer. Adding water almost always works. For the beef stroganoff, adding the sour cream works. For spaghetti I tend to add more sauce. Some things are just perfect- like the pot pie. :) Yum.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Freezer Cooking
Freezer cooking- I'm having some issues.
My freezer is full (organized full. Neat little piles of labeled bags lying flat full). It's so full that I actually had to eat some of the meals sooner than planned because I couldn't freeze them.
I also had to do some cooking later on- like instead of eating a delicious formerly frozen tuna casserole, we'll be eating a fresh one.
This means I'm going to be cooking after work. After working out. I hate cooking after work after working out.
Ugh. I need a chest freezer... Too bad Mike's car had to go to the shop. It's a Monday.
My freezer is full (organized full. Neat little piles of labeled bags lying flat full). It's so full that I actually had to eat some of the meals sooner than planned because I couldn't freeze them.
I also had to do some cooking later on- like instead of eating a delicious formerly frozen tuna casserole, we'll be eating a fresh one.
This means I'm going to be cooking after work. After working out. I hate cooking after work after working out.
Ugh. I need a chest freezer... Too bad Mike's car had to go to the shop. It's a Monday.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Putting the Happy in Fridays
Lately my Fridays have been rather drab. While I'm perfectly happy with that, it hasn't been much to write about. BUT! ALAS! today is the day I bring back the Happy Fridays.
Here is why today is a Happy Friday-
1- Mike quit his second job last week, which means I've seen him 7 nights in a row!!!!!
2- Our bedroom is painted! We'll be moving back in tomorrow (hopefully. Sans curtains, though) (Pictures to come, I promise)
3- I have finally been ousted, and it's no longer a secret- I was recently hired by Procter and Gamble. :) I have 7 more weeks at my current job and then I will be training! I'm rather excited.
4- Friday is always pay day
5- We have a date night planned tomorrow. And it will hopefully be free (thanks to a giftcard) :) YAY!!!!!
So this weekend will consist of rebuilding the bedroom, buying lamps and some sort of darkening shades, a date night, and majorly cleaning my poor neglected house. :) I'm excited.
And reading. So much reading. I'm currently in the middle of Marley and Me (which is tons better than the movie). I want to finish it this weekend. I'm slightly behind on the reading challenge (as of Friday I was only 1 page behind).
So what are your plans lookin' like?
Here is why today is a Happy Friday-
1- Mike quit his second job last week, which means I've seen him 7 nights in a row!!!!!
2- Our bedroom is painted! We'll be moving back in tomorrow (hopefully. Sans curtains, though) (Pictures to come, I promise)
3- I have finally been ousted, and it's no longer a secret- I was recently hired by Procter and Gamble. :) I have 7 more weeks at my current job and then I will be training! I'm rather excited.
4- Friday is always pay day
5- We have a date night planned tomorrow. And it will hopefully be free (thanks to a giftcard) :) YAY!!!!!
So this weekend will consist of rebuilding the bedroom, buying lamps and some sort of darkening shades, a date night, and majorly cleaning my poor neglected house. :) I'm excited.
And reading. So much reading. I'm currently in the middle of Marley and Me (which is tons better than the movie). I want to finish it this weekend. I'm slightly behind on the reading challenge (as of Friday I was only 1 page behind).
So what are your plans lookin' like?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Wee Bit of Me Wednesday- Feb 2
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
One Hell of a Ride
So there I was- it's 2 in the morning and I'm just getting in from babysitting. Mike had left for work about an hour ago, so the house was for me and the pets. I get in. I get ready for bed. I plop down.
It's important to note our mattress is currently on the floor of the spare room while we paint the master.
I lean over and feel the air vent, just to see how hard it pumps in that room.
And I feel cold air.
WTF, people?
The pilot light is out. In both the heater and hot water heater. Yuck. I've never relit them, and Mike is at work. I call him up, and he proceeds to fail at giving me instructions. By the end of the call I'm in tears (I'm tired, and cold. Don't judge.) and still without heat.
After a few minutes talking to my uncle, I somehow miraculously make a lighter heat the whole house. Woohoo! heat again. Back to bed with the promise to my uncle that I will call the energy company on Monday.
Monday- I call Duke. Duke Energy. They promise to be out within 3 hours to check the pressure on our line. That was 1 pm. I tell Mike to be ready.
I get home at 5:30. No Duke. At 6:40- still no Duke. I leave for the gym. Mike and my mom are at the house.
He shows up around 7 ish. It's important to note that up to the point of his arriving, there had not been a single instance of "I smell gas". NONE. So he comes, and checks, and turns the gas on in the garage for a teensy bit of time to check it. He can't find a problem. He leaves.
I come home at around 8:40. I open the garage door and WOOF! Huge huge huge smell of gas attacks me! So I turn the car off (duh) and run in the house freakin' out like. No, no. Everyone tells me it must not have aired out from when the tech was there.
So we leave it. And then around 9:15 I take Romeo out. The garage has been open since I got home. The smell of gas is more evident. It has floated into the yard. It's still strong in the garage. I tell Mike, who goes out and confirms "I hear a hissing sound".
BAD BAD BAD, right?
(This is where I resist the urge to say "to be continued" because you probably are dying to know the rest).
I call Duke (don't call Duke. Call 911. I've learned my lesson.) And they say to leave the house, but not the premises (it's 20 degrees outside). They'll be there in no more than an hour. The tech can't call us when he gets there, so we have to be outside waiting for an hour??? Really??? I have small pets. I'm cold myself. No.
So we went to my aunt's, and after 30 min I call to check the status. They say that all they can tell is that it's been reported and the tech will be out within the hour. They don't know where he is or when he'll be there. Lovely. There was a little screaming and yelling at them, and I asked for the manager "I can have them call you back". Fine. Hang up and head back to the house to sit in a running car during a gas leak. That the tech caused (he turned it on to check it, but didn't turn it all the way off).
We get back to the house, and no one's there. So I call again. "Our records show he was there at 10:02 and couldn't find any problem." LIAR! It is now 10:22. So you are telling me, that the tiny amount of gas let out at 7 was able to waft and get stronger from 7 to 9:15, but then miraculously disappear by 10? We went up to check.
The hissing had stopped, the smell was almost completely gone- the guy flat out lied. He showed up, realized a mistake was made earlier and that no one was around, fixed it, and left saying nothing was wrong.
And that supervisor? Never called me back. Nope. Nuh-uh.
I hate our energy company. They lie. They have no customer service. The "plan" to follow for a gas leak contradicts itself. Their technicians are too incompetent to know to turn the gas all the way off after checking it. I could have exploded when I opened the door or, ya know, parked my car in a GAS FILLED GARAGE.
Guess who will be getting an angry letter from me.
It's important to note our mattress is currently on the floor of the spare room while we paint the master.
I lean over and feel the air vent, just to see how hard it pumps in that room.
And I feel cold air.
WTF, people?
The pilot light is out. In both the heater and hot water heater. Yuck. I've never relit them, and Mike is at work. I call him up, and he proceeds to fail at giving me instructions. By the end of the call I'm in tears (I'm tired, and cold. Don't judge.) and still without heat.
After a few minutes talking to my uncle, I somehow miraculously make a lighter heat the whole house. Woohoo! heat again. Back to bed with the promise to my uncle that I will call the energy company on Monday.
Monday- I call Duke. Duke Energy. They promise to be out within 3 hours to check the pressure on our line. That was 1 pm. I tell Mike to be ready.
I get home at 5:30. No Duke. At 6:40- still no Duke. I leave for the gym. Mike and my mom are at the house.
He shows up around 7 ish. It's important to note that up to the point of his arriving, there had not been a single instance of "I smell gas". NONE. So he comes, and checks, and turns the gas on in the garage for a teensy bit of time to check it. He can't find a problem. He leaves.
I come home at around 8:40. I open the garage door and WOOF! Huge huge huge smell of gas attacks me! So I turn the car off (duh) and run in the house freakin' out like. No, no. Everyone tells me it must not have aired out from when the tech was there.
So we leave it. And then around 9:15 I take Romeo out. The garage has been open since I got home. The smell of gas is more evident. It has floated into the yard. It's still strong in the garage. I tell Mike, who goes out and confirms "I hear a hissing sound".
BAD BAD BAD, right?
(This is where I resist the urge to say "to be continued" because you probably are dying to know the rest).
I call Duke (don't call Duke. Call 911. I've learned my lesson.) And they say to leave the house, but not the premises (it's 20 degrees outside). They'll be there in no more than an hour. The tech can't call us when he gets there, so we have to be outside waiting for an hour??? Really??? I have small pets. I'm cold myself. No.
So we went to my aunt's, and after 30 min I call to check the status. They say that all they can tell is that it's been reported and the tech will be out within the hour. They don't know where he is or when he'll be there. Lovely. There was a little screaming and yelling at them, and I asked for the manager "I can have them call you back". Fine. Hang up and head back to the house to sit in a running car during a gas leak. That the tech caused (he turned it on to check it, but didn't turn it all the way off).
We get back to the house, and no one's there. So I call again. "Our records show he was there at 10:02 and couldn't find any problem." LIAR! It is now 10:22. So you are telling me, that the tiny amount of gas let out at 7 was able to waft and get stronger from 7 to 9:15, but then miraculously disappear by 10? We went up to check.
The hissing had stopped, the smell was almost completely gone- the guy flat out lied. He showed up, realized a mistake was made earlier and that no one was around, fixed it, and left saying nothing was wrong.
And that supervisor? Never called me back. Nope. Nuh-uh.
I hate our energy company. They lie. They have no customer service. The "plan" to follow for a gas leak contradicts itself. Their technicians are too incompetent to know to turn the gas all the way off after checking it. I could have exploded when I opened the door or, ya know, parked my car in a GAS FILLED GARAGE.
Guess who will be getting an angry letter from me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)