Life Is Like An Onion…

August 11, 2012 by 2 Comments

…you peel it off one layer at a time and sometimes you weep.

A quote from Carl Sandburg and boy he wasn’t kidding! It’s almost impossible for me to cut an onion without tearing up. Well it just depends on the circumstances. If the onion is very small, sometimes I can manage to chop without weeping.

But the tears aren’t the only problem that I have with onions. My favorite grocery stores like Aldi and Save-A-Lot tend to have 2-3 pound bags of onions on sale a lot. I find that I need a couple onions for my meals during the week and then I don’t use the last 4 or 5 and they go bad! Then the very next week, I’d need more onions and I’d grab another bag and the cycle continued. The frugalista inside me won’t let me just buy how many onions I know I need so just buying a few isn’t an option.

But those days are over folks. This is one of those “duh” tips that I’m sharing today. Even if you’ve thought about it, this might just make you wanna go ahead and actually do it.

Go ahead, buy that bulk bag of onions and feel no shame. Know that not one of those onions will go unused. Know that you have weeks and even months to create a masterpiece with those flavorful veggies.

Bust out the food processor and pop your onions in. Chop them up to your liking and then place them in a freezer bag, making sure to remove all the air.

I measured mine into 1 cup portions since that’s the frequent amount that I use. After my day 30 minutes of chopping, I ended up with 12 cups of pre-chopped onions ready to place into a tasty meal. I’ve already used a couple of the portions and I didn’t even thaw them to use them.  Though some recipes may need them to be thawed.

So there you have it. A simple tip from a simple mind. Save your time, tears, and most of all MONEY.

And by the way, this would also work with anything other vegetable that you use frequently of course. 🙂


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Filed Under: Freezer Cooking, Kitchen Tips and Tricks, Sides and Vegetables Tagged With: ,

Peanut Butter Choco-Banana Ice Cream

July 16, 2012 by 1 Comment

I am an absolute ice cream fanatic. There, I said it. It’s in my top favorite sweets out there. I have issues practicing portion control when a tub is placed in front of me. So as you can imagine, I try not to get into that position very often.

A while back, I shared a recipe for 1-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream over at Saving with Amy. For ice cream lovers like myself, this is quite a discovery that makes eating ice cream a little less guilt-stricken. You see, all it takes to make a batch of creamy and smooth no-add sugar banana ice cream is to freeze a few sliced bananas and then pop them into a food processor!  I know, right?

I can just feel you saying SHUT UP!


But around here, where there’s banana you’ll almost always find peanut butter. They go together like milk and cookies or Lucy and Ethel……..

….or perhaps me and ice cream.

I have a history of pairing peanut butter and banana together.

Exhibit A:

If you’re a fan of the duo, those are some recipes you could try.

Not only did I add in some peanut butter, I also added in another fave of mine…chocolate! There is nothing better than the combination of those three in harmony taking a dip in my ice cream cone. So soft and creamy.

That’s the stuff! And I just love that this is available whenever I’m ready. The bananas can be frozen for weeks or sometimes even months in the freezer and then popped out to be made into ice cream when you have a craving. And of course, you probably have a little powdered cocoa in the pantry along with some peanut butter.

3- Ingredient Peanut Butter Choco-Banana Ice Cream
Recipe Type: Dessert, Ice Cream
Author: Pennywise Cook
The base of this natural ice cream is simply frozen bananas. Add in some yummy touches like peanut butter and cocoa for an extra treat!
Ingredients
  • 2 Cups Frozen Banana Slices
  • 1 Heaping Tbsp Peanut Butter (creamy)
  • 2 Tsp Cocoa Powder
Instructions
  1. Place the bananas in a food processor and pulse until the bananas start to break up. Add in the peanut butter and cocoa.
  2. Process until small beads are created then scoop into bowl and ice cream and serve!
Notes

I must admit that these are complete estimates for the peanut butter and cocoa. I did not measure exactly but I don’t see how you could really mess this one up. 🙂

 


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Filed Under: Desserts, Freezer Cooking, Healthy, Kid-Friendly Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Peanut Butter and Jelly Rolls

July 5, 2012 by 1 Comment

As I sit here and listen to the sirens heading all over the city, I can’t help but be thankful that the 4th is over. No rain for what seems like forever and fires popping up everywhere. Fireworks are the last thing that we need right now for sure. Our city did a big display which was really great this year. I’m fortunate to have a front row seat from our driveway. It was a great show! I hope that you’ve had a fantastic 4th.

There are times when I balance a diaper bag, a 13 month old, a 5 year old, and a buggy all at the same time. I can cook dinner and make a sippie cup while tying a shoe, simultaneously. You may know exactly what I’m talking about if you’re a supermom like I am. Go ahead, accept that title and wear it proud.

Another way to confirm your supermom status is to make some of these Peanut Butter and Jelly Rolls. I know the name is kinda lame. I couldn’t think of much more creative to be honest. It’s a crescent roll filled with peanut butter and jelly. How creative can you really get with that?

While these may seem extremely simple, which they are, they are also extremely incredible to kids. It’s like 2 of the best things on earth coming together to make the perfect snack. Warm and toasty crescent rolls filled with ooey gooey peanut butter and jelly. I like to call this one of those “duh” things. Like duh, why didn’t I think of that!

Start off with your cute little crescent roll triangles like so.

Drop a teaspoon full of peanut butter onto each triangle.

Then drop a teaspoonful of jelly (your favorite kind!) onto the peanut butter.

Then you just roooooooooll the suckers up going from the large end to the small end. Place the point side down. You might end up with some ooze, but that’s alright. A little mess never hurt anyone.

Dust your rolls with a little powdered sugar and serve! These also freeze well too.

I love when they have a sale on Pillsbury Crescent Rolls so I can stock up for snacks like these. You can usually find some good coupons for Pillsbury Crescent Rolls here.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Rolls
Recipe Type: Snack
Author: Pennywise Cook
A simple yet tasty treat with peanut butter and jelly. Your child will love it!
Ingredients
  • 1 Package Crescent Rolls (8 ct)
  • 8 Tsp Peanut Butter
  • 8 Tsp Jelly (Your favorite Flavor)
  • Powdered Sugar for Dusting
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to degree listed on crescent roll package.
  2. Roll out dough into 8 triangles. Place teaspoon each of peanut butter and jelly on the big part of each triangle.
  3. Roll starting with the bigger end towards the smaller.
  4. Bake 5-8 minutes or until the tops begin to brown. Let cool.
  5. Dust with powdered sugar if preferred.

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Filed Under: Appetizers and Snacks, Breakfast, Freezer Cooking, Kid-Friendly

Freezer Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

May 22, 2012 by 4 Comments

School is either out or almost out in most places. Just because school is out doesn’t mean that you can quit making lunches. The familiar I’m huuuuuuuuuuuungry will haunt you if you do! Well come to think of it, that will haunt you even if you do make lunches. Whether you work or you don’t, it’s always a good idea to make life easier by taking a few shortcuts.

I had my precious Britton about this time last year. 1 year on Friday to be exact. In preparation for my hands being tied up breastfeeding or changing diapers, I knew that I had to take a few shortcuts in order to keep myself sane. So I decided to make up a bunch of PB & J sandwiches and freeze them for a quick lunch for Addie. This shortcut basically was a Godsend during the first 2 months. I was struggling with breastfeeding and getting used to those sleepless nights again so every little bit helped.

I’ve done some “mom math” for you to approximate the handiness of this shortcut.

It’s quite simple really. Everyone knows how to make a PB&J. Make a bunch at once and you’re set for practically a month! This math only calculates for using 2 loaves of bread, but technically I think you could get 3 out of it. I had quite a bit of peanut butter and jelly left over after using up the bread loaves.

This is really the only word to describe how freezing PB&Js can make your life. I couldn’t help myself from making a word with my sandwiches. Humor me please.

I don’t think that I’ve ever been so excited about a counter full of bread slices in my life. They represent time to me. Time that I can be washing dishes. Time that I can be eating my own lunch. Time that I could be sitting for a split second. You know, the important things.

Here are some questions that you might have about freezing PB&J Sandwiches:

Do you make them any special way for freezing?
Nope! Make them like you would regularly enjoy your PB&Js and pop them into a ziploc freezer bag.

Do they become soggy when you heat them up in the microwave?
This depends. If you overheat them, the jelly side does tend to become soggy so it’s imperative that you don’t overheat them.

How long do you reheat them in the microwave?
Depending on your microwave, this would be around 12 seconds. It’s better to have them a tad cold than overheated and soggy.

What if I am placing the frozen PB&J into a lunchbox for later that day?
The sandwich will simply thaw out on it’s own and most likely be just right at lunchtime!

I’m actually on a freezer cooking journey right now. Not necessarily for dinners, but for breakfasts and lunches. There is just not enough time in the day to create elaborate dishes for those meals so why waste your day doing so? Take shortcuts to make your life easier during the day and then create something amazing for dinner instead.

Can’t wait to share with you some other meals that I’ve stocked my freezer with! But this one just might change your life.


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