Quest for RP or anyone else re:freezing foods

[Adrian]

RP- You mentioned in the post on favorites from Alissa's book that you keep some of your favorites in the freezer.

What do you do, make the food ahead of time, and then freeze it?? If you do, what do you use, freezer bags or containers?? And do you thaw out the food the night before you eat or do you take it out the morning of the day you want to eat it?? Just curious because I often make a batch of food and with me being the only one raw in my home, I eat the same thing for 3-4 days sometimes. If I could freeze some of the food, I could eat more of a variety.

Any insight will help amateurs like me.
Thanks

[rawpriestess]

Hi Adrien, All good questions.

Well, this is just me, as many people think that freezing foods takes away some of the nutrients, this is how I look at it.

I LOVE Alissa's food, so I make it, and I like to have it available all the time, as I never know if I'm going want a pizza or an enchilada or raviolies, or what for dinner, but this is how I do it.

let's say I make raviolies, I take 4 to 6 of them, and vacuum seal them in a small bag, I do this with the entire batch, then when I want some, I take the bag, and open it, place the raviolies on a place, cover (while still frozen) with marinara sauce, (I keep this fresh in the fridge at all time, but I'll give you another option in a minute) and place in the dehydrator to thaw and warm for about 30 minutes, then I eat.

or you can freeze the raviolies with the marinara sauce, in the vacuum bag, or in a ziplock bag, and take the whole thing out and place on a plate to warm in the dehydrator, if you don't have a dehydrator, I would just let thaw in the fridge, then set out for about 30 minutes so it wasn't too cold when I ate it.

Okay, so let's say you make enchiladas, mmmmmmm yummy

I just freeze in a vacuum sealed bag, about 1/2 of one, that is all I can eat, then I have salsa and cashew sour cream in the fridge, or I eat the enchilada plane, it all depends on what I want, I also put this on a plate in the dehydrator to war up, they are easy and excellent to do this to.

now with a burger, I take Alissa's meatloaf recipe, and make into burger shapes, on a teflex sheet, and I dehydrate them to crisp, then I place each one in a ziplock baggy, when I want a burger, or taco, or tostada, or taco salad, or whatever, I take out one burger that is in a ziplock, I put about 1 tsp to 1 T of water into the ziplock with the burger still in it, and place this in the dehydrator, the burger reabsorbs the liquid, making it more pliable, and a great texture, if I want taco or tosatada meat, I will add some cumin or chili powder to the baggy too, this is excellent, if I want a more firm burger, I dehydrate in the baggy with water for about 10 minutes, then I take it out of the baggy, and place on the mesh screen for another 10 minutes, this makes the outter coating a bit dryer.

I've tried them several ways, as I love Alissa's meatloaf made into burgers, and I like them best this way, the dehydrating to crispy, makes them taste really cooked, and then adding water, the re-dehydrating makes a wonderful texture.

I also make the pesto stuffed mushrooms too, I take the mushrooms stuffed, place them in the dehydrator for an hour or so, take them out of the dehydrator and place in a baggy, then I freeze, when I want some, I take them out frozen, and place on the mesh screen, and dehydrate to warm, takes about 30 minutes, they are excellent.

I am the only raw food eater in my home right now, and I love to make the food, but I don't want to have to be in the kitchen every day, I am so busy, so I just make up some stuff, and always have it on hand, this way too, if I am invited to a freinds for dinner, or out on a boat for the weekend, or someting, I have plenty of food to take with me, when I travel, and it's instant, I don't have to fret and worry about what to make to take,

this is what I always have in my freezer as far as Alissa's recipes

onion bread
pizza wraps
pesto stuffed mushrooms
enchiladas
pizza crusts
raviolies
burger patties
enchilada shells

here is what I always have in my fridge as far as Alissa's recipes
marinara sauce
cashew sour cream
salsa

I can whip up anything with this, and some fresh fruits and veggies which grow in my yard, or I can get at any store.

and I never have to worry about what to fix for dinner tomorrow night, and then eat only salad tonight, as long as I have these things in my fridge, I can whip up anything fast.

I use the onion bread as burger buns, with the burgers, heat that up, then add lettuce, onion and tomato, and home made mayo and mustard, maybe a pickle or two

I use the onion bread and a burger patty, heat them up, top the bread with the burger, add lots of chopped onion, tomato and lettuce, and some hot peppers, and some salsa and I have tostadas, or allow the onion bread to wilt, (I run under water and dehydrate to add more liquid, and then use them as a wrap) and I have a burrito

Or I take a pizza crust or wrap, and add marinara sauce, open up a couple of raviolies, and spread the cheese innerds onto the marinara sauce, add chopped olives, garlic, onion, red pepper, hot peppers, pineapple and some burger patty and I pop that all into the dehydrator as a pizza.

or I take the pesto stuffed mushrooms and add some marinara sauce, and add some raviolies, and marinara and I have a wonderful meal.

or I take the enchiladas add some salsa, and lay them (warmed) on a bed of fresh chopped lettuce and tomatoes, mmmmmm

or I cut them into bite sized pieces as snacks, and lay on a bed of lettuce sliced,

there is no end to the possibilities of eating raw food, and if you have Alissa's book, then you are all set.

[Adrian]

Thank you for the detailed post. I am going to print this out and put in Alissa's book so I have it when I make an abundance of raw food. I am too the only one eating raw in my home, so I tend to make too much at one time and then have to eat it 3-4 days in a row so I won't waste any.

I have my 1st batch of Carrot Pecan burgers in the dehydrator now, and I already stole one that cooked faster than the others-YUMMY!! I can freeze some of these now and not have to eat them day in and day out. I have a vacumn bagger in my workshop brand new that my mom gave me about 7 years ago that I can use now. :)

I am so Happy, and can't Thank you enough!!

Again, RP-YOU ARE CROWNED, this time the

"RAW FREEZER QUEEN" :D

All in favor, say I!! Ha Ha.

[carolg]

RP,
Thanks for sharing your continued wisdom. Even though I presently don't freeze my raw prepared stuff, which I can now do using your wisdom, every post you send is great reading. I love them so keep them coming.

I second your crowing of RAW FREEZER QUEEN.

carolg

[Nenyath]

Truly Raw Priestess, you have me desperate for your kitchen now (and it's contents!). It sounds just delicious, all of it.. Sometimes I just wish I had a dehydrator..

Fly forever free and thank you for inspiration!

[Adrian]

I second your crowing of RAW FREEZER QUEEN.

carolg


LOL!! Thanks! :D