Marta's Cooking tips

This being the first Sunday of the Month, I have decided to skip the cooking and share some time-saving techniques I use that will be an intrinsecal part of this blog. Think of them as the "secret to success" in the complicated MBA cooking world.

First, make the freezer your best friend. I know, food doesn't taste the same, vegetables loose their vitamins, and just the thought of a frozen dinner makes you want to run out for Wendy's. I agree, I feel the same way. On the other hand, you will find that virtually every meal you can get on a drive through has at least one component that has served time in a freezer. The key is to know what to put there and what to leave for the fridge.

Some things I buy frozen

• Mixed Vegetable bags. I find Target to have the biggest variety. They make a very quick side for any dish.
  
• Harshbrowns, southern style. As a matter of fact, any type of potatoes. Wedges, regular fries, criss-cut fries. Because potatoes just take too long to peel, cut and cook. And admit it, you do crave that greasy fries flavor once in a while.
• Berries. I haven't bought them yet, but I figure I will in this year of cooking. I'm excited to use them for desserts.
• Cut and seasoned meats. Like those chicken buffalo wings.
  
• Random exotics. Indian, Asian, Swedish... they're all there, in the frozen section!
  

Some things I like to freeze:

• Chopped onion. Very useful because the onion will go bad before I get to use it entirely.
• Chopped bell peppers. Being single, I haven't had a chance to use a whole bell pepper in any meal yet. They seem to preserve their taste quite well. At almost $2 a piece, use a bit and freeze away!
• Baby corn. I usually get it in a can, but just as everything else, there is always a lot left over. Mmhhh... leaving it in a can for days, not that healthy. Zipbag in freezer, much better!

Some things I NEVER freeze:

• Bread. It seems very common around here, but this really gets me. Maybe it's my European upbringing, the tradition of getting fresh bread everyday. Maybe it's the gross flavor that bread has after freezing. Choose your favorite reason. I'll never freeze bread.
• Olive oil. Freezer or fridge, the cold will make any homemade dressing look like... something you won't like.
  

This is it for today, but don't be dismayed: I will have a real dish on the next post. I plan to write around 3 times a week. Unlike Rachel Ray or Martha Stewart, I have to buy and eat what I cook. So stay tuned for the next Single MBA meal!