Have I ever mentioned how much I *LOVE* my Food Saver???
It's right up there with my Dyson and my Cuisinart blender and my food processor. Right up there with my stoneware and my cast-iron skillets. It's almost as high on my "Things I Can't Do Without" list as my new Nikon, but not quite. And that is purely because anytime I use my Food Saver, I usually have a mess to clean up....not so with my Nikon!!! The Nikon is pure fun!! But I digress...
I got my Food Saver for Christmas last year. I think it was last year. Maybe the year before...oh well, I guess I can't remember for sure. Anyway, I was so excited, because I'd been wanting to start preserving the wonderful bounty from our garden, and canning was a little intimidating for me. (Still is, actually. There's something about all that boiling water and hot jars that sets a perfect scenario for burning my hands or fingers...and that, folks, is no good for a massage therapist such as myself!) The Food Saver is awesome because the food you freeze doesn't get freezer burn. It stays so fresh, and for so much longer!! You can even use it to keep all of your produce fresher for longer! You know that lettuce and celery that always gets limp in the crisper drawer? Not if you use your Food Saver on it!! Berries, nuts? That's right, just use the Food Saver! Everything stays fresh longer!
So anyway, we immediately put that thing to use, processing Barry's deer. And then it was chicken and pork chops that I bought on major sale. I buy them in Family Packs when they've been marked down and then split them up in smaller portions and run 'em through the Food Saver. I never buy beef at the store, because we buy a quarter of a cow every year, so the freezer is already full of that. I used it to freeze strawberries, zucchini bread, cookies, muffins, soup, zucchini slices, green beans, and now today...sweet corn! Every year I say I'm going to go buy a couple dozen ears of sweet corn and freeze it. And every year I don't get around to it. WELL NOT THIS YEAR!!!! I bought 2 dozen ears on Wednesday, and started blanching, cutting, and freezing today. It worked out so well, I think I'll be heading back to the farmer's market this weekend for a 2-3 more dozen! And you know what else??? While at the farmer's market, I picked up a bag of fresh peaches (upon recommendation from my sweet friend Amy), and they are SOOOOOO tasty!! I think I will freeze some of them too!! Wow, am I on a roll or what? Our big freezer is almost full!!! Good thing summer is almost over and the garden is pretty much dead...
Do you can/freeze/preserve??? What are your favorites or specialties?? Just curious...maybe next year I'll finally take on canning! Bring on the Mason jars!!
P.S. Does anyone else get as excited about food as I do ??? Anyone???? Hel-looooo, anyone out there?
11 comments:
I LOVE FOOD!! But am as dumb as a box of rocks about canning/preserving/growing, etc. Maybe you can come down to Summerville and teach me all the basics:) **just trying to get another visit in...
I am really excited for you, though!
Kenady - How can I NOT want to go visit someplace called Summerville??? I'm sure we'd have a blast eating, eating and EATING!!!
Love food? I am a food SNOB, I'll admit! Will try pretty much anything . . . so long as it's quality and it's fresh!
My guily pleasures are Mexican cookbooks, FoodNetwork, cooking shows on PBS, restaurant reviews, and drooling over the goodness at Williams-Sonoma and Trader Joe's. I'll talk food anytime you want girlie~
I am a struggling food person. I struggle to learn to eat healthy. I struggle to cook and make it taste good. I tried a garden this year and it was a giant FLOP. I don't like cooking but I think that's only b/c I have no idea what I'm doing. I would love to can and do a food saver if I only had a CLUE!! Oh well, baby steps I guess...I doing my research online and learning little by little. Paid BIG MONEY for a in home cooking class that was a flop and now I'm a bit discouraged.
A friend helped me start canning. I usually can applesauce and peaches. This year I'm going to try to can apple pie filling so it's ready to throw in or make a quick cobbler/crisp all year long. I try to freeze corn, beans, jam, berries, etc. I'd really like to freeze a bunch of zucchini bread/muffins for later in the year too.
I'm thrilled about food and fall. Can't get enough of it (literally) unfortunately.
Kate - Oh, you KNOW I love to talk food! Maybe we need some kind of support group??? NO way, that would be such a downer!!! LOL!
T - Don't beat yourself up about the garden...it takes a couple of years and some reading to get it right. It's all about the soil and the water, girl. Get that soil tested!!!
And I'm here for you with the cookin'. Let me know what you want to cook and I'll help you out...
Jenelle - I KNEW you'd be the one to be hard at work canning! I'm so jealous! Like I said, next year just may be my year! I have a girlfriend who cans pie filling and it is awesome!
I've always wanted to do some canning but have yet to try it. Next time we have a good tomato crop, maybe I'll try salsa. And I'd love to do pickles, or homemade applesauce.
We have a food saver too, but Mark is the only one who uses it. He seals up duck, salmon, and green beans from the garden.
Terri,
Do tell how you get salmon and duck to grow in your garden. hahaha :)
Canning has always intimidated me - and I really want a Food Saver - I would love to crockpot soups and stuff and then freeze for instant entertaining - and my peanuts and walnuts are always going stale before I use them - I am a cook book addict - recipe downloader - Food Channel addict - !!!
I kind of like food, I am kind of picky and I have a funny tummy so food can go either way with me.
But half a cow, how do you manage that? Does it come butchered, do you know how to cut it up, are there parts already ground up? This would be confusing to me, but I am awed that you know what to do with it!! You are so cool Kuckie!!!
Love food...but don't love saving it...just love eating it! :o)
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