DIY Convenience Foods

If pre-sliced mushrooms make it possible for you to cook up a batch of homemade mushroom soup then they are a thrifty buy. But when you have a free half hour or so, try to get in the habit of making your own convenience items. All you need is a sharp knife (or a food processor) and some storage bags or containers.

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Baby Carrots.
Homemade baby carrots are not going to look like the cute little shapes you et at the store but you can make a small carrot stick that will taste exactly the same way and have the same snack-ability factor. Peel the carrots and trim away the ends. Cut the carrots in half lengthwise and cut the pieces into sticks. Store the pieces in a Ziplock plastic bag in the vegetable bin for up to a week.

Celery Sticks.
Rinse and dry the celery ribs. Cut them in half or thirds lengthwise. Cut into “sticks” of any length you prefer. Store the pieces in a Ziploc plastic bag in the vegetable bin for up to a week.

Sliced Mushrooms.
Cut away any tough stems. If the mushrooms are dirty us a soft brush or a paper towel to brush away the dirt. If you rinse the mushrooms, they’ll need to be used with a day. Slice the mushrooms and wrap the slices in a paper towel. Place the towel-wrapped package in a Ziploc plastic bag. Store in the vegetable bin for 3-4 days.

Shredded Cabbage
Cut the cabbage into quarters and discard the tough core. Using a long, sharp knife cut the cabbage into thin shreds. Store the shreds in a Ziploc plastic bag in the vegetable bin for up to four days.

Chopped Onions
Peel the onions and chop them. Refrigerate in a Ziploc bag or a container with an airtight lid. Store them in the vegetable bin for up to four days. Chopped onions can also be frozen in a Ziploc freezer bag for up to a month.

Shredded Cheese
Use a food processor, to shred hard cheeses. Soft cheese can be shredded by hand. Store the shreds in a Ziploc bag in the refrigerator up to a week or in the freezer for longer. Sometimes pre-shredded cheese at the supermarket is cheaper than whole cheese, so be sure to compare costs. I often buy a large bag of shredded mozzarella from our local co-op, come home and divide it into smaller bags and store in the freezer.

Set aside some time this week to prep and it will save you time in the days ahead!

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