Time to stock up

Cinzia Cuneo 5 settembre, 2013 mangiare locale, ricette, verdure

All summer, but especially in August and September, I go to the market thinking about what I can stock up for winter. If I’m buying bell peppers, for example, I might buy the right amount for the aforementioned meal and more to freeze.

For those who enjoy farm-fresh food but don’t like the hassle of canning, freezing is a great option. It’s simple and quick, and can be done in small batches. Not a lot of freezer space? Then choose just a few produce to take with you into the winter.

Here are my best picks:

Berries: Couldn’t be easier – just spread them out on a tray in the freezer. Once frozen, you can put them into a freezer bag. Great for smoothies and muffins.

Cherries, plums, apricots: I fill up my freezer with a variety of compotes (such as Cooked Cherries)

Bell peppers: Roast them, cooled down rapidly, then freeze in small portions. I use them in quiches, soups and on pizza.

Eggplant: Roasted eggplant freezes well, in slices or whole. I make baba ghanoush in the winter, as the texture breaks down a bit.

Tomatoes: I make huge batches of my Fresh Tomato Base, store them in small containers and use in any recipe where canned or diced tomatoes are required.

Winter squash: Halve, roast, scoop out of shell, and freeze. You can make squash soups all winter long.

So, while making your summer meals, with a little extra work, you can set yourself up for beautiful winter meals.

I know that many of you are food preserver specialists. What are your favorite things to get at the farmers market and stock up?

Autori

Cinzia Cuneo

Italiana di nascita e canadese d'adozione, Cinzia ha deciso di coniugare le sue competenze professionali e la sua passione per la buona tavola sviluppando un servizio per aiutare i numerosi «aventi bisogno» a riprendere il controllo della loro alimentazione. Così è nata SOSCuisine. Ingegnere di formazione al Politecnico di Torino, Cinzia ha conseguito un Master's Degree in scienze applicate all'École Polytechnique de Montréal.