Use summer grilling for winter menus for variety to plain meals. As snow flies and grills are tucked away, we’ll miss distinct aromas and flavors. Or, will we? With little effort, foods can be frozen and kept to enhance winter menus.

Note:simple tips to prepare foods for freezing with little or no freezer burn.
As we use grilled foods to enhance our winter menus, we want to be sure to package the meats properly. At the end of this article is an easy way to prepare foods for freezing; be sure to read entire article for freezing tips.

Follow these easy steps for cook-out flavors in winter.

1. While you have the grill fired up this summer, cook extra meats for the freezer. Right now summer meats are often on sale so purchase with winter menu in mind. Our son knows when he fires up our grill, he will be cooking extra for the freezer.
2. Choose quality meats; especially hot dogs. It is worth a few cents extra now in order to have plump, juicy meat when thawed.
3. Plan to freeze meats the day they are cooked or following morning. This insures a fresh product when ready to use.
4. Consider how you might vary your winter menu with grilled meats. Think beyond sandwiches! Grilled hot dogs, brats, burgers, or other meets will add flavor and zest to casseroles, soups, eggs, pastas and other dishes.
5. When Old Man Winter raises his head, plan an indoor picnic. Spread mustard on buns, toast them in a skillet and prepare hot dogs or hamburgers with all the fixings. Toss a salad and enjoy the fun.

Easy way to get the air out of a bag for freezing.
For this example, we will use about six grilled wieners in a quart zip lock bag. Place cooled wieners in bag and get as much air out as you can. Leave bag open about one inch at the top. Immerse bag and contents in a large bowl of water. Hold on to the open part of bag and do not let any water get in. As you immerse the bag and contents, the water will push the air from the bag through the tiny opening. Quickly close bag, remove from water and dry.

This will work especially well when freezing small amounts of leftovers such as casseroles. Spoon food into bag, fold bag until you are left with just the top. Again, hold the open corner and immerse before closing. I freeze spaghetti and such as that and it works well with no freezer burn. Mark the bags well with date and contents and toss them in freezer.

I trust you are enjoying God’s beautiful creation this time of year; taking time to rest; and getting lots of hugs and encouragement.

I am sending you blessings and hugs,

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