By John Trubia, Executive Chef, Paparazzi Gourmet Deli and Catering
Like so many here in town, my wife Kitty and I are empty nesters. Our boys are grown and forging new lives and starting families of their own. The strangest thing about our new life is that there is hardly anyone to cook for anymore.
Food and cooking are literally part of my DNA, and not just because I am Italian. My grandparents owned a vegetable market in New York City, which they later converted into a small restaurant and my mother was a professional caterer, so our love of food runs deep. And although I like to say my wife is ‘anything but Italian,’ she too enjoys cooking for a crowd, especially desserts. So, what are we supposed to do now?
The obvious solution is to give in to eating out, and we do. But that can be as hard on your waistline as it is on your wallet. Even when choosing wisely from the menu and taking advantage of early bird specials, eating out can become challenging, especially if you have dietary restrictions.
The better solution is to cook like a caterer! Cook up a storm, make everything you like…then freeze it.
Last month I talked about make-ahead holiday meals. The same premise applies to everyday cooking. Put the time, energy and the love, into making all your favorite dishes when you are in the mood, then portion everything out to meet your individual needs and freeze it. Prego! You have delicious, homemade meals that you can enjoy in no time at all, any day of the week.
Healthier and considerably less expensive than buying frozen meals from the grocery store, homemade cook-ahead meals are ideal for empty nesters.
Here Are a Few Tips to Guarantee Success:
• Plan ahead, think of a number of different dishes you can make in a single day.
• Consider what dishes will freeze best, soups and casseroles are always solid choices; most meats, and roasted vegetables also work well. Fish and boiled vegetables are not recommended.
• And don’t just think about dinner. How about a batch of pancakes, egg muffins or waffles, for pull-out-anytime breakfast treats?
• If you like to bake, be sure to include some time your favorite cookies, breads and muffins. They are all easy to portion out and will freeze well.
• Look at what’s on special at your grocery store, and select recipes accordingly. Then shop for all the ingredients at once.
• Prep efficiently (i.e. dice all the onion and mince all the garlic you’ll need for every recipe before you start) but avoid trying to do everything at once.
I have mentioned it before, but it bears repeating, if you plan to cook like a caterer, invest in a vacuum sealer. They are not expensive and could save you money in lost freezer burnt food.
If you do not want another kitchen gadget, then at the very least choose sturdy, freezer-quality bags. Plastic containers are OK for short term freezing but not recommended for long-term storage.
Regardless what method you choose, it is essential to always take extra care to ensure you get as much air as possible out of your bags or containers before putting your food in the freezer.
Liquids, such as soups and gravies, are best frozen flat for easy post-freezing storage.
And don’t forget to clearly mark and date everything. I promise you will be glad you did.
A full house, or dinner for one or two, cooking should always be fun!
