Route 66 Blog Feature - Preparing for the trip

Today is Friday July 2nd. We dont leave til on our trip to drive Route 66 until Sunday but I can't help it, I have to start doing things. 

Being a cook/chef that likes to buy fresh, I now have a bunch of things to "process" before we can leave:

Peppers will be roasted. 

Carrots, Onions, and Celery will become Mirepoix and frozen. 

Zucchini will be cut up and frozen. 

Cucumbers will become pickles. 


Strawberries will become some kind of dessert along with the rhubarb. 

Mango, kiwi, peaches will be eaten

Lemons will be zested and juiced and then frozen

Grape Tomatoes will be used in dinner along with the mushrooms and one pkg of sausage left. 

Apples and pears will become apple/pear sauce. Why not?

Brussels sprouts. 

Hm... I didnt know how to do this but I'm guessing they need to be frozen...

I found this blog on freezing them [https://www.thekitchenwhisperer.net/2016/08/25/how-to-properly-freeze-brussels-sprouts/ ]

The process is really simple:

  1. Boil for 4 minutes
  2. Strain and then immediately give them an ice bath (this is what stops the cooking immediately but allows it to retain their color)
  3. Pat them dry and allow them to dry completely.  They MUST be dry before freezing.  You don’t want ice crystals forming.
  4. Once they are dry, freeze away!

So I know how your mind works “Do I thaw them out when I want to use them?”  NO NO NO.  They will get super mushy.  Just roast them, pan sear them or wrap ’em in bacon frozen. 

So away I go to process my fresh foods. 

And wash the dishes that contain a surprising array of molded food. ew. 

Later!

V.

P.S., here are some pictures. 

Making Applesauce 

Blanching brussels sprouts

Ice bath for blanched brussels sprouts



Carrots from Imperfect Foods

Onions for mirepoix

Mirepoix in progress

Onions for mirepoix

Onions added to the mirepoix

Loading mirepoix mix into the bags 
I got 15 cups!

Peppers oiled and poked for roasting in the oven

Roasted  Peppers fresh out of the oven

Peppers sweating under plastic wrap

After they were peeled, jar is readied for the peppers

Cucumbers and salt wilting

Cucumbers waiting to become pickles

Pickles cooling so they can go in the fridge.


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