One of my favorite and most useful items in my home is an extra freezer. I can store ready to eat food items for when I head out of town - or for when I get myself into a schedule crisis and don't have time to make a dinner. ...It helps me keep my family eating healthy in a pinch!
My mom always refers to it as "freezer bank" storage. This blog post will address SOUP and CHILI to make your "freezer bank" deposits - BONUS FOR Y'ALL AT THE END OF THIS BLOG POST: there are links to recipes!
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How do you get started???
- YOU MAKE DINNER!
Any time you make a soup or a chili - and after you've had your dinner - use the leftover remainder NOT as leftovers, but as a "freezer bank" deposit.
Purchase and have at the ready FREEZER quart or gallon ziplock bags.
Make sure the soup or chili has cooled completely.
Keep a small box that can fit in your freezer easily and can shape your soup or chili into a stackable, easily storable shape
Fill up your FREEZER quart or gallon ziplock - leaving enough space (2-3 inches) for the food to expand with the freezing process. (...otherwise you may have an exploding freezer bag!)
Get your bags squished and shaped into the box you've saved and shove into your freezer.
AND THAT IS IT!
Then use when needed.
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NOTES:
Typically with chili - I add an extra can of chili beans to a chili I am reheating after being frozen.
Typically with soup - I need to add 1 or 2 cups of water and a slight addition of original seasonings - especially salt and pepper.
The bonus of having these "freezer bank" deposits is that they can be easily shared with individuals or families when there's a need in your community and social sphere.
Also, as my kids have gotten older (and began to consume ridiculous amounts of food!) I started to noticed a huge lack in my freezer bank since I didn't end up having ANY leftovers to freeze!!! I find myself doubling the recipes that I know I want to have in my "freezer bank". It's the easiest way to have a pre-made healthy dinner to share.
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Be sure to label what you are freezing along with a date! |
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Keep a small box that can fit in your freezer easily and can shape your soup or chili into a stackable, easily storable shape Fill up your FREEZER quart or gallon ziplock - leaving enough space (2-3 inches) for the food to expand with the freezing process. (...otherwise you may have an exploding freezer bag!) |
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Get your bags squished and shaped into the box you've saved and shove into your freezer. I love this box!!! It perfectly fits 4 quart size bags (or 2 and a space-cheating yogurt container...) or 2 gallon size ziplocks! So awesome. |
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Once completely frozen, transfer to a freezer drawer or space where you can keep track of what you've got... and notice when you might be running low on your "freezer bank" deposits! |
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CLICK LINK FOR: Creamy White Bean and Potato SOUP
CLICK LINK FOR: Split Pea Soup - TRIED AND TRUE!
CLICK LINK FOR: 12 Bean and Sausage SOUP
CLICK LINK FOR: Ham and Lentil SOUP
CLICK LINK FOR: Chicken Tortilla Soup - Slow Cooker
CLICK LINK FOR: Red Chili
CLICK LINK FOR: Dave's Camping Chili
Click Link FOR: Mama Jo's Recipe Blog TABLE OF CONTENTS
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