This time of year, my attention turns toward putting up some of the fresh fruits and vegetables that are part of my CSA box. So far this year, I have done so in a number of ways that I will share over the next few weeks. Some items keep well in a cool cabinet or cellar, such as winter squash, potatoes and onions. When I get my box I put these away and turn my attention to the veggies that should be eaten right away. I then freeze some, and have begun experimenting with lacto-fermentation, preserving in oil, and creating chutneys (see last week’s food blog). Freezing, however, is probably the easiest way to preserve the harvest.
Please share your methods with me at megan@fairridgefarms.com or via our Fair Ridge Farms Facebook page.
Frozen veggies, including green beans, corn, mixed veggies, and okra.
Green beans: cut up green beans as desired, then place in a pot of boiling water for 1-3 minutes. Then chill rapidly by placing green beans in a sink partially full of ice and cold water. Then, lay the green beans out flat on cake pans or some other surface, and place in the freezer so that the green beans freeze individually rather than as a large clump. After they are frozen, place in freezer bags.
Sweet Corn: Place the entire ears of shucked corn in a pot of boiling water for 1-3 minutes then chill rapidly by placing ears of corn in a sink partially full of ice and cold water. Then once the ears are cool, cut the kernels off the cob. Lay the kernels out flat on cake pans or some other surface, and place in the freezer so that the green beans freeze individually rather than as a large clump. After they are frozen, place in freezer bags.
Mixed veggies: prepare some of the green beans and corn as above, but add carrots, lima beans, or peas, following the same procedure used for the green beans.
Okra: Remove the stem ends from the okra pods without cutting into the gelatinous center of the pods. Then place in a pot of boiling water for 1-3 minutes and follow the same steps as listed above for green beans.
I think it is a good idea to use these frozen veggies within a year. They make great additions to soups, pot pies, stews, and so on!
