Freezing Green Pepper Strips

Green Peppers ready to prepare!
(File Photo)

These past two weeks I've been freezing Green Pepper strips.  The local Green Peppers are still available at roadside stands and also at Farmers' Markets.  In the colder months I defrost a package whenever needed and use them in many entrees.  They are very easy to freeze!    

Sauteed Green Pepper strips are a great addition to a Meatball Grinder!  Quite often a batch of my Meatballs are found in our freezer.  After preparing them I divide them into portion sizes to freeze.  Whenever we have a craving for Meatball Grinders it is easy to defrost the Meatballs for a quick dinner.  It is also very easy to take out a package of frozen Green Pepper strips to defrost/ saute and add to the tomato sauce that I will be using.  You may ask," What about the grinder rolls??"  Oh, I freeze grinder rolls, too.  Defrost them when needed!  It is one of the meals that we enjoy when I never snap a photo, because we are hungry and the aroma of the Meatball Grinders invites us to begin eating. 

Green Pepper strips also work well on homemade Pizza and in Chili!  Plan on purchasing a few Green Peppers this weekend to cut into strips and freeze.

Click here for my method for Freezing Green Peppers!

This winter just reach into your freezer to take out a portion size to use.  You will not need to purchase a Green Pepper in the grocery store either in the produce section or in the frozen food aisle.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

  

Veggie Sauce

Veggie Sauce
(File Photo)

It's the time of year to use my slow cooker (crock pot) to prepare Veggie Sauce!  It contains chunks of local Eggplant and local Zucchini and local Green Peppers along with canned tomato sauce and tomato paste.  After a quick walk to my spice rack the dried Basil and dried Oregano are added to the slow cooker's pot.  Dried Parsley is a great addition, too! Now, is when the local veggies are available at the roadside stands, farmers' markets and grocery stores.  It is good to "buy local" and support our local farmers!  The fresh veggies are so delicious, too! 

**When preparing this sauce if I have ground beef in the fridge, it is browned in a skillet, drained and also added.  I have learned over the years that with my slow cooker's "non stick" coating it is still always best to spray it with PAM, first.  Then, I add the Green Pepper Chunks.  If ground beef is used it is added to the pot second.  

I like to prepare this sauce with or without the meat.  It is easy to prepare and tastes so good.
Click here for the recipe.     

In the colder months it is always a treat to take out a container of this yummy sauce to defrost/ heat and serve over pasta for dinner.  Do you prepare foods to have "on hand" in your freezer, too?  They make great "take out" meals! Just reach into your freezer and take it out!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Freezing Green Peppers: Strips + Chunks

Green Pepper Strips
ready for the freezer!
(File Photo)

It's time!! Time to freeze Green Pepper strips and chunks! For quite a few years it's been a tradition with me to purchase the fresh local Green Peppers and prep them for the freezer.  No, I don't freeze the whole Pepper, I cut each Pepper into strips or chunks- discarding the pulp and seeds.  Then, the strips/ chunks are packaged into sandwich bags.  The closed sandwich bags are placed into freezer bags, labeled and into the freezer they go.  In the colder months it's great to reach into my freezer and take out a sandwich bag of prepared Green Peppers to add to an entree while preparing it.  

One day (a few years ago) I noticed that packaged frozen cut Green Peppers were located in the freezer department of a local grocery store.  In the summer this vegetable is plentiful at the local farm stands in my area.  So, the following summer I decided to freeze my own to use!  I learned it worked very well and it was not difficult to do.  

Purchase some fresh Green Peppers and prep them for your freezer.  Prepping a few at a time works well! 

Click here for my post with the complete directions!  

In the colder months you will be able to reach into your freezer and take out a small bag rather than purchasing a Green Pepper in the grocery store.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

       

Solar Green Tea

Solar Green Tea

It's another solar Green Tea kind of day here in New England! By the pitcher- 2 tea bags in a pitcher of cold water for about 2-3 hours.  Or by the glass- 1 tea bag in a glass of cold water.  Either way the container sits on my window sill in the sunlight. I use decaf.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Freezing Green Pepper Strips and Chunks!

Getting ready to freeze Green Peppers strips.
(File Photo)

For me in the last two weeks it was time to start prepping and freezing Green Pepper strips and chunks!  This fresh local vegetable is available at roadside stands and supermarkets, so the peppers are ready to purchase.  It's another tradition for me at this time of year and does not take much time to do.  In the colder months taking a package out of the freezer to defrost is easy.  I use the strips as one of the toppings on homemade pizza and in other entrees.  Two years ago I did not take the time to freeze them and really missed using them.  So, it was time for me to get busy!

Ready to place in the bags to freeze.
(File Photo)

The details are in the post that I wrote last year. Click here for the Directions. 

"Mission accomplished!"  Now, they are in my freezer!

We will Enjoy this winter!
Yummy! 

~Flatbread Pizza~

The last slice of Grilled Pork Tenderloin Flatbread Pizza!

You are planning on Flatbread Pizza for dinner.  Pork Tenderloin was grilled last night & there are a few slices remaining.  A Green Pepper & Zucchini are in the fridge.  Ricotta Cheese & shredded Cheese are quickly found there, too.  Oh wait, the Zucchini is not fit to be used.  Need to toss it!  There is a change of plans!  No, not take out!  A quick glance in the fridge & a ripened Pear is just waiting. 

You guessed it.  This was going on last night.  Plan B was that the Green Pepper & Pear were sliced/ roasted & placed on the Flatbreads.  We enjoyed another variety of Flatbread Pizza! 

While you are roasting the Green Pepper & Pear, get the other ingredients ready.  Before you know it, it will be time to toast the Flatbreads for 2 Minutes in the oven.  Then, the ingredients are placed on top & you will be ready to place them in the oven.

These are so delicious!  They are also quick & easy to prepare.  For 2 servings, I use 3 Flatbreads.  The Ricotta Cheese is always spread on the toasted Flatbreads, first.  Then roasted veggies (fruit) & grilled Pork or Chicken.  Diluted BBQ sauce that's drizzled on top gives it extra flavor.  Then, sprinkle on the shredded Cheese!  Bake for 5 Minutes.
  
***Roasting Veggies:  Rinse Green Pepper & Pear under cold running water, pat dry.  Cut the Pepper into strips.  Then, cut the Pear into strips about 3/4" wide.  After coating with baking & sauteing Olive Oil, Garlic Powder, Basil & Oregano, roast in a 450°F oven for 15 minutes.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin Flatbreads
     For 2 Servings

Ingredients:
Flatbreads- I use 3.
Roasted Green Pepper & Pear strips
1/4 Cup Ricotta Cheese (can be fat free) for each Flatbread. 
Grilled Pork Tenderloin- cut into chunks
4 teaspoons BBQ Sauce
1 teaspoon water
Shredded Cheese- desired amount

Method:

1. Place (3) Flatbreads in a large cookie pan & bake in a 375°F Oven for 2 Minutes. Remove from oven. 
2. Spread about 1/4 Cup Ricotta Cheese on each.  (I use Fat Free.)
3. Place roasted Green Pepper & Pear strips on Flatbreads.
4. Add Grilled Pork Tenderloin that's cut into chunks.
5. In a small cup combine 1 teaspoon water with 4 teaspoons BBQ Sauce.
6. Drizzle BBQ Sauce mixture over Flatbreads. 
7. Sprinkle desired amount of Shredded Cheese on top.
8. Bake for 5 Minutes at 375°F.
9. Remove from oven.
10. Cut each Flatbread Pizza on a diagonal, into 3 pieces.
11. Cover & refrigerate any leftovers. 

Last night one slice remained after dinner.  It was also the slice that contained the least amount of ingredients.  No problem.  It was part of my husband's lunch today.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

              

Refreshing!

Sometimes brewing the single serve of Solar Green Tea is easier!  Before I know it, it will be ready on this HHH day!

I'll Enjoy!
Yummy!

Solar Green Tea

~Sunshine, Reflections & Flower Buds~

It's been a Solar Green Tea kind of day!  A day when the sun is shining & it's very comfy inside and outside.  Remembering how great a glass of cold tea would taste, it was at that moment I realized that there was no Solar Green Tea in the fridge.  Quickly, the glass pitcher was filled with cold water & 2 green tea bags added.  The sunny spot in our front bow window is the place for this tea to be "brewed"!  After 3 hours, my tea was ready.  The tea bags were removed & the pitcher was covered.  Now, it's in the fridge- chilling.  It's definitely been a Solar Green Tea kind of day.  Tonight our grill will be used.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

   

~Freezing Green Pepper Strips~

Green Peppers for my freezer.
(File Photo)

Do you purchase Green Peppers to use in recipes during the colder months?  Do you live in an area where these Peppers are sold at roadside stands at this time of year?  For me it's yes to both questions!  That's the reason I purchase about 12 locally grown Green Peppers to prep and freeze.  In the colder months when I'm cooking dinner it's easy to open our freezer door & take out a package of the Pepper strips.  There's no reason for me to purchase a commercially frozen bag of Pepper chunks or purchase the fresh imported vegetable from my grocery store.

Sunday was the day to move on my Pepper detail.  With not too much time involved my Green Pepper strips were in my freezer on Sunday afternoon.  I'm posting my instructions again this year, because I see that you, my readers, have been searching for it.  It's great to use the locally grown veggies during the colder months, too!

After placing the Pepper bags in my freezer I realized that I had not taken a photo. My search was on to find a File Photo.  :)        

Freezing Green Pepper Strips 

1. Rinse Peppers under cool running water.  Dry.
2. Cut off tops.
3. Discard seeds.
4. Cut each Pepper in strips. 
5. Place a handful of Pepper strips in a plastic sandwich bag.   (I do not use exact measurements.) I "eyeball" the amount I'd get from 1 whole Pepper for each bag.
6. Close the sandwich bag and fold over. 
7. Carefully, place all sandwich bags in a Ziploc Freezer Bag.
8.  Seal, label and place in freezer.

When you want a Green Pepper while preparing dinner, it's so easy to reach into the freezer.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

            

~Winter Solar Green Tea~

~Winter Solar Green Tea~

Even during the colder months with snow on the ground and our Penguin garden flag is up, Solar Green Tea is brewing on my window sill!  Our home faces south & the southerly exposure works very well to brew my tea.  Only my pitcher knows how many times it has been in this location filled with cold water & 3 Decaf Green Tea Bags.  About 3 & 1/2 hours later the tea bags are removed.  

Any time of year it's great to open my fridge & find the covered pitcher containing cold Green Tea.  During the winter it's easy to forget to drink enough fluids.  This beverage tastes so good!     

Enjoy!
Yummy!

        

Freezing Green Peppers

Ready for the freezer!

Fresh locally grown Green Peppers!  They taste so good!  During the colder months I really miss the opportunity to purchase a Pepper grown locally to include in a dinner recipe.  However, these days there is a Plan B going on with me & Green Peppers.  At this time of year when they are very plentiful, a quick trip to Meadowbrook Farm in East Longmeadow makes Plan B happen very quickly.

Sunday was that day.  After a great time relaxing at the Cape, I was ready to get busy & freeze the Peppers.  It is a very easy process.

Cutting Pepper Slices
(File Photo)

 Freezing Green Pepper Strips 

1. Rinse Peppers under cool running water.  Dry.
2. Cut off tops.
3. Discard seeds.
4. Cut each Pepper in strips. 
5. Place a handful of Pepper strips in a plastic sandwich bag.   (I do not use exact measurements.) I "eyeball" the amount I'd get from 1 whole Pepper for each bag.
6. Close the sandwich bag and fold over. 
7. Carefully, place all sandwich bags in a Ziploc Freezer Bag.
8.  Seal, label and place in freezer. 

***Usually from the "cut off" Pepper tops a few chunks of Pepper can be saved to freeze, also.  These chunks are also placed in sandwich bags & then in a Freezer Bag.  (See photo above.)

During the harsher winter months whenever a Green Pepper is an ingredient in a recipe, I head to my freezer to remove 1 sandwich bag.  They are already cleaned & cut into strips/ chunks.  So tasty!  Well worth the small amount of time to prep them in the summer!

It did not take long to find my kitchen!  :)

Enjoy!
Yummy!

          

Solar Green Tea

It's a Solar Green Tea kind of day!  The sun is shining & my pitcher of water containing 3 decaf Green Tea Bags is in the window.  A typical summer week.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Green Bean Chicken Chili

Ready to be placed in the bowls!

Last Friday afternoon my Slow Cooker was doing the cooking for me!  Dinner needed to be hearty, delicious & also have another 2 servings for another quick dinner during the weekend.  I've been working on Long Meddowe Days for the past few months and the 35th celebration took place this past weekend.  Long Meddowe Days is my town's (Longmeadow, MA) celebration in May of our long colonial history.  Our celebration includes a craft/ artist fair, 5K road race/ walk, history tours, food & entertainment.  Yes, I've been cooking, but with all of our other wonderful family celebrations I have not been blogging.

Friday at dinner time it was time to locate the soup bowls & the fat free sour cream.  When the chicken was purchased earlier that day I knew that Chicken Chili would be bubbling in my slow cooker.  We needed a green veggie.  There were no peppers in my freezer nor in my fridge, so I added a package of defrosted Green Beans to my recipe.  How yummy & spicy!  

It took little time to place the ingredients in my Slow Cooker's pot.  We do eat many dinners containing chicken and this chicken recipe is so tasty any time during the year!

Green Bean Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

(1) 10 ounce package defrosted Green Beans
1- 1 and 1/2 lbs. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 Tablespoon Dehydrated Onion     
1 Tablespoon Dehydrated Parsley
(2) cans 14 oz. Red Kidney Beans, drained, rinsed & drained again
(1) can Plum Tomatoes - 15- 22 oz. - drained & cut into chunks
2- 3 teaspoons Chili Powder
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon Cumin
1 teaspoon Oregano
(1) can 14.5 oz. Chicken Broth (Low Sodium, Low Fat)
 3 Tablespoons Flour
*****
Optional:   (1) 8 oz. can Tomato Sauce is added. 

Method:

1. Spray PAM on bottom of Slow Cooker pot.
2.  Place defrosted Green Beans in Slow Cooker Pot.
3.  Add Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts on top.
4.  Sprinkle on Onion & Parsley.
5. Add Red Kidney Beans.
6.  Top with Tomato Chunks.
7. Sprinkle on Chili Powder, Garlic Powder, Cumin & Oregano.
8.  In small bowl blend 3 Tablespoons Flour with about 1 Cup Chicken Broth until smooth.
9.  Add remaining Broth to bowl & blend together.
10. Pour liquid over ingredients in Slow Cooker.
11. Add Cover.
12.  Cook on High for 3 and 1/2 hours.  Reduce to Medium for 1/2 hour.
13.  Before serving, stir Chili.  The tender Chicken breaks into smaller pieces.
14.  Ladle into soup bowls.  
15. Enjoy with a dollop of low fat sour cream & rye bread.

This Slow Cooker meal was a very hearty dinner after a busy day!  There were leftover portions, also!  Quite often they are placed in my freezer, but last weekend we devoured them at another dinner!

The sun was shining & the weather was warm, so we had a very successful Long Meddowe Days! Woohoo!    

***Note:  When reheating, about 6 ounces of water may need to be added to the Chili.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

   

November?

November 7, 2012

Every week my glass pitcher containing cold water and 3 Decaffeinated Green Tea bags is placed on the window sill.  Usually, the sun is shining when I use this self brewing method of preparing Green Tea. This is my "go to" method of brewing a pitcher. 

WoW!  Today, November 7, 2012 - was quite different!  Today snowflakes were falling!

         

This day in November sure looks like a December day!  Good thing that the leaves have been collected, the Zinnia seeds stored and the winter hats & gloves are ready to be worn!

My Green Tea?  Oh,  it brewed in about 3 and 1/2 hours as it always does.  :) 

Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

Packing the Peppers

It seems to be much like the workings of a clock.  Every week my Solar Green Tea is brewed on my window sill.  A double batch of Yummy Yogurt will find its place on the top shelf in my fridge.  Just after Labor Day every September, (Boston College Football gets my attention and) I remember to freeze the Green Pepper strips.  It's like this...it's just that time of year thing!  Sure, I could purchase a "fresh" pepper or a bag of the frozen cut pieces in the grocery store, but the peppers are not always firm and the chunks are well... they are small.  I went that route last year after the Halloween Nor'easter and results of a 6 day power outage.  

Yesterday was Green Pepper Day!  The purchased local firm fresh Green Peppers were in my fridge...waiting and I was ready for the task!  The process is simple!  Rinse the fresh Green Peppers under cool running water and dry.  Cut off tops.  Discard seeds.  Each Pepper is cut into strips.   A handful of Pepper strips are placed in a plastic sandwich bag.  (I do not use exact measurements.)  Close the sandwich bag and fold over.  Carefully, place all sandwich bags in a Ziploc Freezer Bag.  Seal, label and place in freezer.

The Ziploc Bag shown below?  Oh that bag was for my scraps...made clean up very easy.

Green Pepper Strips and Chunks

Pepper chunks can be cut off of the tops, so I also had a bowl of chunks to freeze.  Quite often in the colder months when I am making a dinner that contains tomato sauce, I'll reach into my freezer for the cleaned Pepper strips.  WooHoo!


Do you store local fresh veggies in your freezer to use later in the year?  They come in handy!  

Enjoy!
Yummy!

      

Green Solar Tea

File Photo

After returning back home this afternoon the Green Solar Tea was ready!  It did not take too long to add 5 ice cubes to a glass and pour this refreshing liquid to enjoy on this hot day.  I was so happy that I remembered to place the pitcher containing the cold water + 3 Green Tea bags in my front bow window.  That was about 3 and 1/2 hours earlier this afternoon.

The covered pitcher is now in my fridge minus the tea bags.  Solar Tea is easy, delicious and so refreshing!  Do you brew the Solar Tea?

Enjoy!

Yummy!