freezing-sprouting ?'s

[River Mom]

I followed your advice and got Alissa's book, it arrived two nights ago. :) My dehydrator is on the way. I'm learning and growing in "raw" every day.
I have a kitchen full of tomatoes I need to process. My ? is

Why for all of my life have I been taught that you HAVE TO BLANCH all veggies before you freeze them? I have a kitchen full of tomatoes I need to process. Can I just put tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini chopped up and in the freezer.

I've read about soaking and sprouting but I just don't get it:confused:. I need an abc of what to do. I live in a small town that does not have a health food store. I'm going to one tomorrow (two hours away) and I just don't know what to get to sprout.

I'm sure the book will explain everything, but I won't get it read till I get home, and I don't know when I'll have a chance to get back.

Thanks to all
River Girl

[Veganforlife]

Cool - you will LOVE her book. Powerful tool and lots of yummy recipes.
Why can't you make Alissa's marinara out of a lot of the 'maters? and freeze them in canning/freezing jars? The rest juice and freeze the juice or blend and freeze that for green smoothies?
As far as the veggies, nope, can't just chop 'em and freeze, they be mush when they thaw. What were you planning on using them for? They too could be blended. Actually a lot of Alissa's recipes like the calzone can be made and frozen. Thaws wonderfully.
Soaking and sprouting had me confused to at first. Don't make this journey more difficult then it is. Alissa has a sprouting chart that WILL explain it. I refer to it often.
If a recipe calls for sprouted nuts, then you'll have to get into the habit of having them prepared ahead of time. Lately I've been soaking/sprouting almonds, then mixing some celtic salt on them and dehydrating until crispy for snacking.
Nuts contain natural enzyme prohibitors which when you soak it releases these prohibitors and are easily digested. You'll read all about this. As far as what to buy? Keep it simple. Cashews, almonds, dates, fresh fruits, greens, of course for those smoothies.
You'll do fine.

[CaliRaw]

Veganforlife, you are full of good ideas! I never thought to make a big batch of marinara and freezing. I just made a huge batch of dried tomatoes, but it never occurred to me to do that with the marinara. That would save me a lot of time and effort making it fresh every time. This would be great in single servings in ziploc bags. Thank you!!!

[River Mom]

That almond salt thing sounds so yummy... I can't wait till I under stand this sprouting thing. Right now it's just over my head.

I'll try to find the sauce in the book and make it today. I just had not gotten to that part yet and when I flipped through I did not know what I was looking for.

Sea salt is on my list.