5 Things to Never Throw Away (Because You Can Freeze Them) {GIVEAWAY POST}

OCTOBER 4, 2017  /  POLLY CONNER AND RACHEL TIEMEYER  / 

5 Things to Never Throw Away (Because You Can Freeze Them) {GIVEAWAY POST}

Polly and Rachel are founders of Thriving Home, a food and lifestyle blog for moms, and have just published their first cookbook called From Freezer to Table. They are here today to share a bit about freezer cooking and even give away a copy of their cookbook! Read on for more details about how to enter!

"What a waste?!" I thought to myself as I cleaned out my fridge last week. So much food was going straight to the trash that should have been eaten or frozen for later. In fact, I'd hate to know how much money is wasted each month simply on food that my family doesn't eat. After doing a little bit of research, I found out that the average American tosses about 25% of all purchased food and beverages. This accumulates to wasting up to $2,200 per 4 person household each year! Anyone else just die a little bit inside? I'm right there with you. The good news is, with a little bit of knowledge and planning, your freezer can minimize the food waste in your home. We've rounded up five ideas of foods that you can start saving (instead of trashing) today!

5 Things to Never Throw Away (Because You Can Freeze Them!)

1. Overripe Bananas

Don't pitch bananas when they start to go bad. Simply peel and place them in a freezer bag to use later in smoothies or baked goods, like the Peanut Butter and Banana Baked Oatmeal or Banana Pumpkin Muffins. They also are a great addition to smoothie.

5 Things to Never Throw Away

2. Stale Bread

Keep a large freezer bag labeled "Leftover Bread" in the freezer at all times. When bread goes stale or you get to the heel that no one wants to eat, toss it in the freezer. Use this bread to make a recipe like Blueberry Pumpkin Baked French Toast. You can also use the bread to make homemade breadcrumbs for recipes like Chicken Parmesan Casserole.

5 Things to Never Throw Away

3. Cauliflower

Before letting a head of cauliflower rot in your fridge, there's an easy way to utilize all the nutrition in that piece of produce. Cut the whole head into pieces and steam for about 10 minutes, or until fork tender. Place cauliflower and enough water in the blender to get it moving; blend until smooth. Freeze in small portions, either using an ice cube tray or muffin tin, and transfer frozen cauliflower portions to a freezer bag. Use this nearly tasteless puree in marinara sauce or cheese sauce to add in sneaky nutrition. It also can be used in our Cancer Fighting Soup recipe.

5 Things to Never Throw Away

4. Red Wine

Can't finish off that bottle of red wine before it's too late? Freeze the rest and use it later in recipes. Measure how much wine is left, pour it into a small freezer bag or container, and label with the amount (i.e. 1 cup). Then, use in recipes like our Slow Cooker Pot Roast.

5 Things to Never Throw Away

5. Leftover Cooked Rice

Did you know you can freeze leftover rice in a freezer bag? Use it in On-the-Go Chicken Burritos or Fried Rice with Sweet Soy Sauce. Just add a little water or chicken broth to it when warming up.

5 Things to Never Throw Away

These are just a few ideas to get you moving in the right direction. You'd be amazed at what you can actually freeze for later! Now for the FUN part.

We are giving away one of our cookbooks to you!! First, a bit more about From Freezer to Table:

5 Things to Never Throw Away

From Freezer to Table is the ultimate guidebook for transforming the way your family cooks, eats, and freezes. The chapters are packed with freezer cooking basics, practical tips for Freezer Cooking Parties and Freezer Clubs, and plenty of motivation and tools to make freezer cooking second nature. With more than 75 simple, family-friendly recipes?all made from whole food ingredients?this book shows how you can stock your freezer with favorites, like Mixed Berry Oat Scones, Parmesan and Herb Chicken Tenders, and slow-cooker Killer Carnitas. Prepare to reclaim your kitchen from processed foods, all while saving your wallet, your waistline, and your time! With a freezer full of the easy dishes in this book, you can enjoy tasty, stress-free meals around the table with those you love, even on your busiest days.

Enter to Win a Copy!

There are a few easy ways to enter for your chance to win a copy of From Freezer to Table. A random winner will be chosen on Thursday, October 5.

  1. Comment and tell us your favorite freezer meal that you make or have had made for you.
  2. Join the Thriving Home email list. We will send you our Top 10 Easy Real Food meals as a thank you! Comment and tell us you joined.
  3. Follow Thriving Home on Instagram. Comment and tell us you are following.
  4. Hop to this post on Facebook and tag a friend! Comment and tell us you did this.
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Adina & Maureen
Adina & Maureen

Welcome! We're thrilled you stopped by. Our own joys and sorrows have taught us that a well-timed meal delivered by a friend is one of the best gifts imaginable. In this space, we share our favorite recipes to take to friends, meal-taking tips, and other ways to care for those who are dear to you.

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