How to store my vegetables

[kathleen]

So, I have just started to grow vegetables seriously. I was very restrained this year and think we will absolutely be able to eat everything I grow. However, with the passion of the converted, I have big plans for next year and want to double or triple my garden. So, how do I store my bounty for the winter? I don't have an obvious root celler nor the opportunity to build one (a friend just built a gorgeous one in her new home). I really don't want to can as that just seems not fresh although maybe it is the solution for tomatoes. Can I freeze fresh veggies? I am sure I can...how? What about herbs? Do I dry them?

What does everyone else do? I am really curious to hear how everyone uses the bounty of the garden into the winter.

Thanks.

Kathleen

 

[dawn_mo]

Here is what I do.

Here is some info from the Ohio University, that gives some good guidelines for freezing. They say that green onions do not freeze well, but I remember seeing on someone's blog that they sliced and froze green onions in an empty water or soda bottle, i think.

I freeze vegetables all the time. One of my favorites to freeze is bell peppers. It seems they always go bad before I can use a whole one up. So I have started to chop up bell peppers and flash freeze them, then store them in a zip loc bag. I use them mostly in soups and sauces, so I cannot vouch for how they stand up in a salad or other uncooked dish.

I also freeze fresh corn with my sister's recipe. I always have to call her for it, which I will have to do, then I will post it for you.
I think this recipe would be good with other veggies.

I make herb pestos and freeze them in ice cube trays and store in zip loc bags.

I can tomatoes usually, but when I was looking at the guide below, they say to freeze tomatoes you can stew them and then pack them in zip loc or other store containers. I like that idea.

You can make pickles and relishes with a lot of vegetables and either can them or freeze them. I have a wonderful recipe for freezer sweet and sour pickles, and I have added cabbage and red bell pepper to it and that was very good. I also have a very good recipe for dill pickles from my mom. I made 24 quarts last year and stored them in the basement (or any cool place), and we just opened the last jar. I didn't waterbath them, because my mom and sister never did and they turned out great. I used to have trouble finding dill tops in San Diego, so you would want to grow some dill if you are in an area where it might be hard to find it. Here is MO, I find them in huge bags at the market and Farmer's Market.

Okay, I will post the recipes a little later as I have obviously had too much caffeine today. I forgot to count the caffeine in the very large ice tea I drank before my coffee and now I can't stop typing. smileys/smile.gif





http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5333.html

http://www.freshpreserving.com/pages/preserving_guides/5.php

 

[marilynfl]

Kathleen, get this book Animal Vegetable Miracle from your library or look at her link online

Barbara Kingsolver did one full year of local sustainable eating by growing lots of their own vegetable and buying/raising their own animals.

Barbara gives lots of good advice in storing the food for portioning/cooking from those provisions. It does sound like she has a LARGE freezer, which I don't have. But then I've never grown hundreds of pounds of tomatoes. In fact, I just have my very first tomatoes coming out from this plant. Only the second time in my life that I have actually had something live beyond the drive home from Walmarts.

You can even get the book in audio version. Barbara reads it herself.

http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Vegetable-Miracle-Year-Food/dp/0060852550/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244818167&sr=1-1

 

[dawnnys]

I usually just blanch them for a minute or two and then put them in the freezer. You can freeze

most herbs, except for basil (it turns black). Just dry them off and seal them in plastic as air-tight as you can. Or, you can always dry them too, but I'm sure you knew that ;o)

 

[angak]

I second this suggestion. I listened to the audio version. her DH and DD also read their own parts

lots of good resources listed on the website and in the book. be sure to check out your county extension agent office(if your state has them) for some great classes and free information on canning/freezing etc.