Posted in Side Dish

Wellness Wednesdays: Roasted Cauliflower

Roasted Cauliflower

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Adapted from oamm

3 cups cauliflower florets (about one head)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons cooking oil (olive, coconut, etc.)
1/2teaspoons chili powder or to taste
coarse salt and ground pepper to taste

Prep Day: In a large bowl, toss together cauliflower, garlic, and cooking oil until coated. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and chili powder and toss again until evenly coated. Toss together ingredients as directed above. Do not cook. Place cauliflower in gallon freezer bags, label, and lay flat to freeze.

Serve Day: Do NOT thaw. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Pour frozen cauliflower onto a rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan in a single layer. Bake in preheated oven 30-40 minutes or until cauliflower is fork tender and just begins to char.

Posted in Tips and Tricks

Tips and Tricks Tuesdays: How To Freeze Mushrooms

This post is inspired by my friend Erica! I love when my friends ask me cooking questions. I could talk about food and prep all day long. Sorry friends who could careless. Thanks for sticking with me.

How to Freeze Mushrooms

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You can dry most mushrooms successfully, but not all of them. Some types of mushrooms will have a much better texture if you freeze them instead. And while some mushrooms are better cooked before they are frozen, others are fine to freeze raw.

Grocery store button mushrooms, creminis and portobellas are cultivated mushrooms that can be frozen raw or cooked.

When freezing raw and cooked mushrooms you want to prevent the mushrooms from sticking together.

How to Freeze Raw Mushrooms

1) Clean the mushrooms.

2) Chop the mushrooms into slices or dice. You can always chop them up smaller when you use them. For now, just aim for pieces that are no more than 1/2-inch thick.

3) Spread the mushroom pieces in a single layer on a cookie sheet or large plate lined with parchment. It is okay if the pieces touch, but they should not overlap. Freeze for 2 hours.

3) Transfer the frozen mushrooms to freezer containers. Because they were frozen in a single layer first, the pieces will stay loose and individual in the containers.

How to Freeze Cooked Mushrooms

Grocery store button mushrooms, shiitakes, and wild mushrooms including oyster, chicken of the woods and tooth mushrooms can have a better texture when you finally use them if they are cooked before they are frozen.

1) Clean the mushrooms.

3) Chop the mushrooms into small pieces or slivers.

4) Heat a little oil or butter in a skillet over medium low heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms first release their liquid and then reabsorb it.

5) Let the cooked mushrooms cool to room temperature.

6) Spread the mushroom pieces in a single layer on a cookie sheet or large plate lined with parchment. It is okay if the pieces touch, but they should not overlap. Freeze for 2 hours.

3) Transfer the frozen mushrooms to freezer containers. Because they were frozen in a single layer first, the pieces will stay loose and individual in the containers. So you can grab just what you need later.

Posted in - Red Meat, Budget Friendly

Money Saving Mondays: Herb Broiled Beef

Herb Broiled Beef

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Serves 4

1⁄4 cup onion, chopped
2 tablespoons parsley
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon prepared mustard – $
1⁄4 teaspoon garlic powder – $.02
1⁄4 teaspoon basil or thyme, dried , optional – $.02
1 pound boneless beef chuck shoulder steak, cut 1-inch thick – $6.80

Cost Per Serving – $1.81
Total Cost – $7.24

Prep Day: Mix onion, parsley, vinegar, mustard, garlic powder and basil or thyme. Place meat in plastic bag and pour in marinade. Close bag securely, place in a bowl and marinate in refrigerator six to eight hours or overnight, turning at least once. Or Freeze.

Serve Day: Thaw. Pour off marinade and discard. Place meat on rack in broiler. Broil 15 to 20 minutes or until desired doneness, turning once. Cut into thin slices to serve.