Freezing Fresh Fruit

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.

 

If you have bananas, peel, slice thinly and place them on paper layered over the strawberries.

 

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.  

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.

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

Smoothies

 First Sign of Spring - Wild Forsythia by frances robson

Come in on a hot, March afternoon for a cold coke and some freshly baked cookies.  They are really good and I post the recipe one day next week.  Today I wanted to share an easy way to make a good smoothie.  We drink these most every morning for breakfast and I have developed several good recipes but the one I am going to share today is our favorite.

I use frozen fruit in it from the fruit I freeze in the summer - peaches, strawberries and blueberries.  We grow our own blueberries but we buy the peaches and strawberries, fresh, from farms nearby.  I keep the fruit frozen until I use it and the other day I read an idea to cut the time in using it for smoothies. 

They were using fresh fruit, which I will use this summer, but you can also use the frozen fruit.  I took a quart of frozen peaches and a quart of frozen strawberries, partially thawed them, mixed them together and filled muffin tin cups with the fruit.

Cover with plastic wrap and freeze.



Remove from freezer and turn the tin over and run cold water over the bottom to loosen the fruit.  Keep it turned over and tap it lightly over a clean cutting board or other clean surface.  Next time I am going to line the cups with plastic wrap and lift them out and wrap in the plastic.

 This the frozen cups of fruit ready to put in a plastic bag

Place them in a sandwich size zip lock bag, write the name of the fruit and the date on the bag with a permanent marker and put in freezer. 

If I freeze them in plastic wrap and seal them in the wrap, I will put several in a larger zip lock bag.

When you are ready to make your smoothie, pour your milk in the blender and then add the fruit with the remainder of your ingredients and give it a whirl.

This is the recipe for our favorite smoothie but you can make whatever is your favorite.

I don't really measure when I am making them so this is approximately what I use.

2 cups low fat or skimmed milk

1 cup frozen or fresh fruit - peaches, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, or a mixture of any fruit which you like

3 tablespoons Nestle Nesquick

2 cartons yogurt with fruit

I just fill the blender with whatever fruit, juices, yogurt and milk that I have.

Blend and serve

Optional: fruit juices - we like mango or orange juice

You can put whatever you like and if you are lactose intolerant you can use soy or almond milk or juices. 

Having the fruit already divided and frozen makes it quick and easy for you and your children if they like to help.

I am going to put a couple of these in the blender and chop and blend to make a slushy for lunch and I will let you know how it tastes.

Hope you will try these for it will surely cut your time and make it easier.  These would also be good to use in punch or lemonade - thinking of all kinds of ways to use these. 

Ya'll come back.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach



Wednesday's Eats

Quick Breakfast Smoothies

Good morning. I pray ya'll are having a great day so far. Have a lot to do today so thought I would quickly share my smoothie recipe which we have for breakfast most days. This is especially good for all you lovely people who don't like to drink milk since it tastes so good you will drink it and smack your lips. I will also give an orange juice version if you prefer. Both are good. These are quick and easy and are much healthier than the pop tarts and donuts. So enjoy and you can change the recipe to make it yours.

Chocolate Fruit Smoothie

2 cups 2% or skim milk (if you are skinny, use whole milk)
2 cartons yogurt - any flavor
4 scoops chocolate soy powder (other flavor if you prefer)
Frozen or fresh fruit of choice (peaches, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, or melons) If you don't have fruit you have frozen, use the frozen mixed fruit from the frozen food section or any other frozen fruit you like. I also mix the frozen and fresh.
2 tbsp. milled flax seed (I use the Hodgson Mill brand - easy to find)

Combine in blender until smooth. Serves 2 or can be stretched to 3 small ones.

For the orange juice version use orange juice, not milk and we like to use strawberries, peaches, and blueberries with the orange juice. If you are lactose intolerant, skip the yogurt.

You could also use cranberry juice or any of the cranberry blends. The cranberry/apple juice makes good smoothies.

You can also make good Popsicles with these recipes. Put back into the empty, clean yogurt cups, stick a plastic spoon in for the handle, cover with plastic wrap after cutting small slit for spoon handle and freeze.

I know you will enjoy these as much as we do and put other ingredients in, leave some of these out and make it yours. They are quick, easy and good for you.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach