After weeks of nurturing and tending to the vegetable garden, carefully pruning, weeding, and watering, many gardeners find themselves with more produce from a single harvest than they can eat in an entire year. This overabundance is part of the joy of gardening. But instead of putting excess produce in the compost bin or keeping it in the fridge until you eventually throw it out, consider these ideas for getting the most use out of every veggie: • Freeze veggies for winter recipes. Shred zucchini and store it in plastic bags in the freezer (ideally in batches with the amount you’d use in your favorite zucchini bread or muffin recipe). It will make it easy to thaw and use the right amount for baking over the winter months. Berries can also be frozen and used for pies or smoothies later on, too. Turn your basil plants into a delicious pesto and freeze it in ice cube trays. Then just pop out a cube or two to liven up your favorite pasta, fish, or chicken recipe. • Dry herbs for year-round use. Herbs that are properly dried and stored can be used for up to a year. After gently rinsing your herbs, tie them up in small bunches and hang them in a cool, dry space for about 3 weeks. To protect them from dust, hang the bundles inside brown paper bags. Once they’re completely dry, pull the leaves off the stems (don’t crush the leaves until you’re ready to use them in your cooking, or else they’ll lose their flavor) and store them in sealed jars or a plastic bag. • Learn how to can. There is something almost magical about seeing jars of red tomatoes, green snap beans, or yellow peaches sitting on the shelf, waiting to be opened. Canning isn’t limited to whole vegetables; you can preserve salsa, soups, jams, condiments, stews, and tomato sauce, too. By canning your food, you’ll have better tasting, more nutritious food free of preservatives and colorants. Visit canningusa to see recipe ideas and some helpful tips and techniques. • Swap excess produce with other gardeners. Exchange some of your excess carrots for a few of your neighbor’s extra tomatoes. This way, both your families will be able to eat a meal with a healthy mix of garden-fresh veggies. Plus, sharing fresh veggies with fellow gardeners is always fun. • Donate excess produce to your local food pantry. Many food pantries provide recipients with dried and canned foods, juices, and household items, but rarely do people in need of assistance get fresh vegetables, let alone fresh vegetables directly from a local garden. To find a local food pantry near you, visit ampleharvest. Don’t let your excess produce go to waste!
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 12:51:51 +0000
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