Sheree's Helpful Hints #3

*** I BOUGHT VEGGIES AT THE FRUIT STAND AND AS I WAS PUTTING THEM AWAY I THOUGHT THESE MY BE TIPS THAT SOMEONE COULD FIND HELPFUL....

My dad is retired from Whirlpool and we were given their old REFRIGERATOR FREEZER... So we use it as a walk in freezer. Every body has a farmer's market in their community. Right now red bell peppers are .50 I bought several seeded and put in Ziploc bags for the winter. Every time I go I buy about 4-5 ...

I buy Ziploc bags for storage and the freezer. I also buy 2 gallon bags at the dollar tree.... Buy a case of glass canning jars in pint or quart. They can be used for storage of seasoned flour in fridge. You can store bacon grease in them. I put my tahini in them. Spice mixes..... I have also had good luck just buying jars at rummage sales or the Goodwill/ Salvation Army. You can buy replacement lids for them.

Two gallon bags can hold 12x12" scrapbook paper. I put everything I want to go on that page in the Ziploc bag. that way I do not have to look for it again or if I get interrupted it's together.

I buy ears of corn and clean them and put in a freezer bag for the winter.

I buy green tomatoes and use them to make green tomato relish or salsa verde... etc they need to be peeled and then canned.

I also freeze tomatoes that are not seasoned for cooking. I buy canned from the store if I run out.... Peel tomatoes by putting on a pan of water to boil. turn down to low.. Cut an "X" in the bottom. drop the tomatoes in the hot water.. leave in the water for 1-2 minutes... use a slotted spoon and remove and put the tomatoes in ice water bath... Leave in the bath for at least a minute... Take a small pearing knife and just peel the skin back... Tomatoes can be frozen or canned at that point.

I buy squash and zucchini(???) and cut it up and freeze it for my own squash medley.

I buy frozen veggies so I can cook just what I need.. They taste better and seem cheaper.

A trick to making the beans nice and thick with a thick gravy. Is to hard boil for a good 15 minutes when you start cooking them and then add 1/4 cup of cooking oil or bacon drippings.

I buy generic brands, ACCEPT VEGGIES. I season everything ... since generics tends to have less seasoning in it allows me to season as I want to.... A perfect example is Walmart brand Alfredo Sauce I add a 1/2 stick of butter and parmesan cheese.. a little milk, s&p, oregeno, basil and it taste homemade.

My friend Pallu makes a wonderful batter for pakora... kinda the batter on onion rings but with a great Indian flavor.. I buy okra, fresh string beans, onions, and sweet bell peppers... I can buy a handful without buying a whole bunch.

Use Russet potatoes for potato salad... Idaho potatoes for mashed potatoes....... and bakers for baked potatoes.... If you try to use bakers for mashed potatoes they become to gummy....

Russet potatoes will peel very easy for potato salad. cover potatoes with water... Put potatoes on to boil with skin still on them. Let them hard boil and then turn them down to med/ high ... Poke them with a knife to see if they are tender. Pour off hot water and immediately rinse them with cold water. Rinse several times then let sit in cold water. The peel can be removed extremely easy, even with your fingers. My mom uses a potato masher and she gives each potato one mash.. It breaks the potato into a coarse mash. I have lupus and this is easier that me cutting them up into cubes.

When cooking pasta rinse in cold water when done to stop the cooking process. Allow to drain in colander until it stops dripping water.

When making deviled eggs... when cutting the egg in 1/2 to take out the yoke.... set the halves on a paper towel so they are less wet when filling them for deviled eggs.

I buy lots of pasta at our local DOLLAR TREE (everything in the store is a dollar).. I buy cereal containers at the dollar store or family dollar and put different types of pasta in them.

*** I hope these tips do help... ;-)