The holidays are here and being a foodie that means lots of food and entertaining! Like anyone I can get completely swamped in the baking, cooking and partying. That is why I shop my Freezer section and Dairy section a lot when it comes time to fix food that I need to bring to the party. While I believe cooking fresh is important, I also believe saving time is also. Sometimes I don’t have 8 hours to spend on appetizers for a party. Lucky for me the freezer section offers 3,700+ different, delicious foods ranging from nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables to decadent ice creams and novelties. Also, their is a broad range of Asian and Hispanic dishes that are sure to be a hit! Of course it isn’t all about the parties. Sometimes I need something quick and easy for dinner. I know I can pick up something that is chef inspired and perfectly portioned, making the freezer section the ultimate place for Easy Home Meals.
One of our favorite things to eat is Stir Fry. The freezer section has a lot of options for stir fry mixes. You can buy them premade or just the veggies. Frozen veggies are an awesome alternative to fresh because they have been preserved at the peak of freshness, from the moment they’re harvested or procured. So you are still getting the essential vitamins and nutrients. I usually buy two bags of stir fry veggies, chicken and some rice. I come home, heat up the wok and in 20 minutes I have an amazing meal that my girls and I can enjoy.
Another thing I love to do is get some spring rolls from the asian inspired section. I bring them home and when party time hits ( especially those impromptu “Mom, lets veg out and watch a Christmas movie”) hits, all I have to do is pull them out and bake them. I throw together a quick 5 minute dipping sauce and I am ready to rock the party. It beats standing on my feet for an hour rolling them myself.
The freezer section is no longer your Grandma’s freezer section. Gone are the days when it consists of TV Dinners and cardboard pizzas. There are so many chef inspired creations. Everything from Asian to Italian and in between. Check out Easy Home Meals on Facebook for more great dinner and entertaining ideas!
Of course don’t forget the frozen novelties! There are many desserts you can make using ice cream, pastry shells and even desserts that are ready to go. Butter Pecan Ice Cream made my pumpking pie unforgettable this Thanksgiving and it was easy to do!
- 1 quart butter pecan ice cream, softened
- 1 pastry shell (9 inches), baked
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon each ground cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
- ½ cup caramel ice cream topping
- ½ cup chocolate ice cream topping, optional
- Additional whipped cream
- Spread ice cream into the crust; freeze for 2 hours or until firm.
- In a small bowl, combine the pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon, ginger and
- nutmeg; fold in whipped cream. Spread over ice cream. Cover and
- freeze for 2 hours or until firm. May be frozen for up to 2 months.
- Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before slicing. Drizzle with
- caramel ice cream topping. Drizzle with chocolate ice cream topping
- if desired. Dollop with whipped cream. Yield: 8 servings.
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