Poll: what partially-prepared items do you have on hand?

[slknight]

I'm wondering what kind of things people prepare half-way so that they have some ingredients on hand. I'm not talking about whole casseroles people freeze or jars of prepared garlic people buy. I'm interested in the in-between.

For example, when I have extra stale bread or english muffins, I will grate them and then freeze the bread crumbs. Or sometimes instead of chopping 1 onion, I'll chop 2, and freeze the second one so I have some pre-chopped onion ready to go when I'm in a hurry. What are some of the other ingredients you might do like this? Anybody cook chicken and freeze that to add to other dishes?

[pmmahan]

No, but I wish I were that organized. I'd save myself from lots of moldy bits from recipes I've made....

[Wendy w]

I like to cook beans in my pressure cooker and then freeze them to add to soups and salads. I also freeze broth in both freezer bags and ice cube trays for use as needed.

This may seem extreme, but I freeze lemon rinds and when I have enough of them, I peel them and throw them into the dehydrator-they smell and taste so good!

[This message has been edited by Wendy w (edited 01-08-2001).]

[kwormann]

I freeze things like herbs, lime and lemon juice and rinds (if that is what you mean).

I hate to waste things!
Kim

[RunnerKim]

Kim,
what a great idea about freezing juice and rinds. I'd never though of that and currently have half a lime in my fridge that I know is going to go bad. Do you zest the rind or litterly freeze the whole peel?

Do onions freeze okay?? This would be a great trick for me as I can't chop onions (even in a food processor) - they sting my eyes so badly. always have to have my husband do it for me and even then I often have to leave the room.

I freeze tomato sauce (make it up and freeze in muffin tin), chicken broth, rolls, roasted peppers and basil (when they were in season). I also make bread crumbs, but haven't had much luck with crouton (can't get a good texture). I freeze leftover tomato paste in 1T lumps - that's been incredibly useful. On occaison I have frozen rice, which works okay but thawing and reheating doesn't seem to be much less effort than making it up fresh.

Kim

[kwormann]

Kim

I grate then freeze the rind. I freeze the juice in ice cube trays...we love the juice in water aand coke.

ALso, yes you can freeze chopped onions. We always have onion and green pepper chopped and frozen for use.....

Kim

[This message has been edited by kwormann (edited 01-08-2001).]

[lindrusso]

At the moment I have breadcrumbs, chopped parsley, and chopped chives in the freezer. I also have pre-measured containers of homemade chicken broth in 1/2 cup, 1/4 cup and ~2T. (ice cubes) sizes. I'm aspiring to keep many more items like this on hand. I want to try CL's trick for freezing roasted garlic and I'd like to keep chopped onions on hand too.

Kim - I love that idea for lime cubes! Sounds very refreshing!

Runnerkim - how do you freeze the roasted peppers? I've been using the jarred - do you find that frozen ones are tastier?