Summertime is the perfect time to stock your freezer with beautiful vegetables to enjoy all year long! And, stocking up at your local farmer’s market is a fun way to spend time with your family.
To preserve your summer vegetables, blanch them (briefly cook in boiling water) before freezing . Fruit does not need to be blanched. Bring a gallon of water (per pound of vegetables) to boil in a large pot. Add vegetables, cover, return to boil. Most vegetables only need to be boiled 1 or 2 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a large bowl of ice water, drain well, and pat dry. Spread vegetables (or fruit) on a large baking sheet and freeze until solid. Pack the frozen bounty in freezer bags and place in freezer. This frozen fare is simple to reheat as a quick side dish – just steam or microwave!
This is also a great process to enlist help from your children. It exposes them to natural, unprocessed foods and gets them excited about eating their summer vegetables when temperatures cool!
