Frozen vegetables

I’m not generally a big user of frozen veg as my whole vegetable content for dinner unless that dinner is soup, I love frozen vegetables for soup.

I always have store bought frozen corn nibblets and peas, these are my extras for salads, fried rice or to go with my other veg, these two I think turn out the best. I freeze my own diced capsicums and onions though these are generally for soups or stews or pumpkin for my pizzas, I have a few exceptions.

As fresh vegetables are getting a bit expensive right now I’ve bought a couple of bags of mixed vegetables with broccoli, cauliflower, beans, corn, carrot and peas. I also picked up a packet of frozen broccoli and bag of cauliflower. 

I’ve found that the only way I like them as a vegetable on their own is to steam them. Steaming them seems to be the only way to not make them soggy and you have to be careful not to over cook them. I’m guessing over cooked frozen broccoli is why kids don’t like the vegetable in general.

How do you prep your frozen vegetables or are you more of a canned vegetable person?

Broccoli and cauliflower stalks

Do you eat the stalks off both of these vegetables? I only ask as I had a conversation a while back with a lady who was lamenting the long stalk on her broccoli as it was something she paid for but would have to throw away.

I asked why she did not eat it and she said, are you supposed to? Huh, yes of course I said if not with the florette then slice or julienne  and pop in stir frys or soups. I wonder if she broadened her horizons and ate them. 

I guess it’s what we grow up with. So my question to you is do you eat your stalks?

Stock piling household items

In light of the Corona/Covid virus going around stockpiling household items has become the main topic of  conversation.

I can’t speak for anywhere else in the world but here in Australia everyone has gone nuts over buying up all the toilet paper. None to buy anywhere. Next I think it was wet wipes, disinfectant, bleach and tissues. Then there was a sort of second wave of buying up where rice, pasta and long life milk made empty shelves.

I was lucky that the week before Corona became a big thing I’d bought a big bag of loo paper, but having to dole it out to family members who were short of a roll and get togethers here our stash was dwindling. I felt like I’d won the lotto yesterday when I finally found some loo paper on the store shelves, not much but I got some.

Do I stock pile, no but I do have enough food in my cupboards and freezer to get hubby and I by if we had to self quarantine for 2-3 weeks. I’d also have friends and family to call on to buy me anything I’d need if I asked. Drop it at the front door and I’d never have to breath near them.

There is so much correct and incorrect information out there in the big wide world made easier to hear and see with social media and news everywhere, it’s hard to figure out what’s real and what’s not.

Do you stock pile and if so how do you go about it?

Wash your hands very well and take care everyone.

Baby showers

It’s been just over 25 years since I had a baby shower and a few less since I’ve attended one. I have discovered that WOW do things change over the years.

Not sure if I’ve mentioned it before but both my boys and their wife/partner are due to have babies 3 weeks apart, for me that’s almost like having twins only 1 in May and one in June. We know the gender of one is a girl, and the other is going to be a surprise on the day baby.

Both have opted for the non traditional baby party where everyone is welcome, gifts are optional and it’s a celebration of babies in general for male and female friends, Aunts, Uncles, Mums, Dads and assorted kids. No gender reveals, though I think the pink will give that away at one.

I’m looking forward to being a Grandma, I can’t wait.

Watching my kids have kids is going to also be fun, I think then they’ll understand a lot of your choices for them in the start of their lives.

I am also getting the few blankets, toys and clothes I have kept for them from their babyhood washed and cleaned to pass on.

Do you rinse your fruit and vegetables?

I’ll clarify that to say do you rinse/wash your fruit and vegetables when you get them home and before you store them in the fridge or pantry?

I never used to. I’d pack them away in my fridge or pantry and wash or peel them just before using. I do wash certain fruits now before I pack them away and I’d have to say the wash and dry before storing is making them last longer.

Use enough white vinegar in the rinsing water to just be able to taste it. I use my kitchen sink. And you must drain extremely well or pop on a towel and give a rub down, take away as much water as you can. Then you store them as per usual.

My strawberries, blueberries, grapes, plums, peaches, apples etc  much longer this way.  I know it’s not a new thing but it is new to me, I’m always behind the times.

I guess it depends on how often you shop as to how much in bulk you have to buy.  I generally fruit and vegetable shop once or twice per week though it really just depends. It’s also nice not having food go off too quickly.

 

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