Welcome to everyone visiting from “A Very Jewish Summer!”
Summertime is here and to me there’s nothing more exciting than spending the day in the backyard swimming, eating and having fun!
As a working mom it’s hard having company, so I found the perfect time for friends and family to come over is on a Sunday afternoon. I can spend Shabbos relaxing and recovering from a busy week and use Sunday mornings to prepare for our guests.
If you don’t already know, I have a love of freezer cooking and I do not like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. So, even though BBQs are super yummy and take a lot of time to prepare, they don’t have to consume my entire day.
To me freezer cooking isn’t just about using your freezer… it’s more about having everything you need for a meal all ready to go when mealtime arrives. Prepare in advance, simplify and enjoy.
Here are some tips and tricks for freezer cooking for the grill:
Hot Dogs and Buns
Easy peasy. I don’t know anyone who makes either of these from scratch, so I don’t feel bad buying them… stock up when they are on sale and store in the freezer. If you feel the urge to bake homemade buns/rolls, they can definitely be baked in advance and frozen. Defrost before using and maybe even toast the buns on the grill.
Hamburgers
Once you’re dealing with ground meat, is there really a difference between preparing 1lb or 4 lbs? Not to me. To make things easy, prepare your burgers and freeze before cooking. Form patties and freeze flat in layers separated with wax paper. They even sell pre-cut papers (affiliate link) in the perfect size!
Chicken, Meat and Kabobs
Chicken and meat are great additions to any BBQ and can be prepared a number of easy ways. I like to buy my chicken in bulk and freeze in family size portions, so when it’s time to eat, I pull out a bag and let it thaw overnight in the fridge. Make sure to place the bag in a dish or on top of a plate in case there are any small holes. Trust me when I say that raw chicken juice in your fridge is not fun to clean up!
Instead of just freezing plain chicken, freeze it so all you need to do is cook it!
1. Marinated Chicken
To prepare chicken just “dump” raw chicken or meat in a plastic freezer bag- with homemade or store-bought marinade. Freeze the bag flat in the freezer and defrost the night before cooking.
The idea behind this is that as your chicken is defrosting, it is also marinating and absorbing the flavor of the marinade. You can even add in some freezer-friendly veggies: pepper, onion, and zucchini, just to name a few.
For recipe ideas read more about chicken “dump” recipes.
2. Spice Rubbed Chicken
If you’re not into chicken “dump” recipes, why not try preparing a yummy homemade spice rub before hand? Just mix up when you have free time and store in a dry place until it’s time to grill.
And one last thought on chicken and meat: Kabobs always make eating food more fun! If going the kabob route, make sure to soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling. You can use any marinade, spice rub, add veggies, even fruit like pineapple for a sweet and sour dish. The possibilities are endless.
Vegetables
Fresh veggies always taste better than their frozen couterparts, so luckily they can be prepped in advance. Additional easy prep veggies include: corn on the cob, baked beans, and french fries.
Yes, I am including french fries in the vegetable category 😉
Yummm… I love french fries…
If you really want to utilize your freezer, you can freeze cut up veggies, freeze a homemade marinade and grill them in grill basket. Just defrost the veggies and marinade before you need them, mix together and place on the grill until they are ready to eat.
Desserts
Aside from the easy store-bought ices, sorbet, non-dairy ice cream and watermelon, what about trying grilled peaches? Just stock up on peaches when they’re on sale, cut them and freeze them. Easy, yummy and healthy.
Grilled Peaches & Pecans @ The Pioneer Woman
For More Inspiration
For more freezer-friendly recipe ideas, click on these links (not all recipes are kosher)
- Chicken with Grilled Vegetables
- Grill Recipes @ Once a Month Meals
- Grilling Recipes @ Six Sister’s Stuff
- 50 Sizzling Grill Recipes @ Ann’s Entitled Life
A Very Jewish Summer Continues…
Every day this week is another post by another blogger- here are the links in case you missed any:
Sun, July 20: Design Megillah
Mon, July 21: Chai and Home
Tue, July 22: Creative Jewish Mom
Wed, July 23: THIS POST!
Thr, July 24: Busy in Brooklyn
Until next time,
Shaindy
