FREEZING FRUIT
I drink smoothies for breakfast several mornings a week and sometimes for a snack in the afternoon in which I like to use frozen fruit. My recipe for our smoothies and one way to freeze fruit is found in this posting "Smoothies".
We are blessed to live in South Georgia where there is plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. We have peach, blueberry, and strawberry farms in our county. You can pick the fruit or buy it picked and at my age, I buy it picked. Fresh fruit from a farm, freezes wonderfully.
To freeze this fresh fruit for smoothies and ice cream you begin with fresh fruit and I like to use strawberries and bananas most of the time. As you can tell from the picture above, I buy the overripe bananas for they are sweeter and usually on sale. When they are this ripe they also have more antioxidants. Strawberries are usually available year around and are less expensive than most fruit.
Wash and stem the berries, let dry and slice thinly. Place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper, parchment paper or freezer paper with waxed side up. Arrange in one layer.
Another way to use this fruit is to put about 2 cups of the frozen fruit in a food processor and process until smooth. Add some yogurt, process until mixed, and you have a great soft-serve "ice cream". This can be frozen and eaten later.
These slices make good snacks. The bananas are especially good but the strawberries come in a close second.
Try this and let me know what combos you like and how you use the fruit.
Ya'll take care and come back to see me.
Nuff said,
The Georgia Peach
To freeze this fresh fruit for smoothies and ice cream you begin with fresh fruit and I like to use strawberries and bananas most of the time. As you can tell from the picture above, I buy the overripe bananas for they are sweeter and usually on sale. When they are this ripe they also have more antioxidants. Strawberries are usually available year around and are less expensive than most fruit.
Wash and stem the berries, let dry and slice thinly. Place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper, parchment paper or freezer paper with waxed side up. Arrange in one layer.
If you have bananas, peel, slice thinly and place them on paper layered over the strawberries.
Blueberries, which are rich in antioxidants, are another good fruit to freeze and use in these smoothies. I don't like to use blackberries, raspberries, or berries with lots of seeds for they tend to stick between my teeth.
Remove the fruit from the tray with paper. Begin crinkling the paper and the fruit will fall off into a bowl or tray then place in large freezer bag. When frozen this way, they are in separate slices which make them easier to measure. I usually use about a cup or cup and a half in a smoothie for 2.
I add other fruit as they come into season. I have added mango chunks, blueberries,
peaches and sometimes I add cantaloupe. You can add whatever fruit is on sale and would taste good in a smoothie. If you find frozen fruit on sale, you can buy several kinds of fruit and mix them with your frozen fruit. A great way to use bits and pieces of fruit.
I have put 5 layers of fruit on a sheet then place freezer or waxed paper on the top and press lightly to adhere it to the fruit. Place in the freezer until frozen.
Blueberries, which are rich in antioxidants, are another good fruit to freeze and use in these smoothies. I don't like to use blackberries, raspberries, or berries with lots of seeds for they tend to stick between my teeth.
I add other fruit as they come into season. I have added mango chunks, blueberries,
peaches and sometimes I add cantaloupe. You can add whatever fruit is on sale and would taste good in a smoothie. If you find frozen fruit on sale, you can buy several kinds of fruit and mix them with your frozen fruit. A great way to use bits and pieces of fruit.
Another way to use this fruit is to put about 2 cups of the frozen fruit in a food processor and process until smooth. Add some yogurt, process until mixed, and you have a great soft-serve "ice cream". This can be frozen and eaten later.
These slices make good snacks. The bananas are especially good but the strawberries come in a close second.
Try this and let me know what combos you like and how you use the fruit.
Ya'll take care and come back to see me.
Nuff said,
The Georgia Peach
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