Freezer Food Basics

Freezer Food Basics Audra: Now that you’re done cooking for the holidays, it’s time to give yourself a break and stock up on the freezer with those healthy staples. Jennifer Iserloh is here. She’s the author of Secrets of a Skinny Chef and she’s got the top four basics, everybody should keep in their freezer for those quick, easy and healthy meals. Welcome back Jennifer, good to have you here. Jennifer: Thank you. It’s wonderful to be back. Happy New Year. Audra: And that’s the key to healthy meals. They’re fast but they’re also healthy. Jennifer: Right. I think with the New Year, everybody wants to eat healthier and still enjoy all the foods they love. Audra: Right. Jennifer: And it could just be a matter of stocking your fridge. So, that’s why I love to have some of these healthy staples on hand. Audra: Okay. Jennifer: They’re versatile, you can make hundreds of meals with them and they look and taste fresh, because you make it yourself at home. Audra: Any time you go to Jennifer’s website, I swear you will get to your hungry. You’re starving because it looks good. Sometimes you know when you think of a healthy meals, doesn’t look all that great. But, let’s look at the first one here that you have. This one is that sweet and sour chicken recipe, right? Jennifer: Sweet and sour chicken, I have hunks of mango in here. You can also make it with pineapple if you like. And I’ve made this with frozen veggies which is one of my favorite things to have because they don’t lose their nutrition. They’re always on hand and I combine this with fresh things that I have in my fridge. And broccoli is one of my top picks because it’s so healthy and I think a lot of people don’t realize that you’re not losing any of the minerals or vitamins through freezing. Audra: Exactly. And this is one of the things, this is a way to make sure everybody in the family gets vegetables in their meal. Jennifer: Everybody is trying to get more veggies into your diet. This is a quick and inexpensive way to do it. Audra: Okay. Another quick and inexpensive meal to here is the corn and shrimp chowder that you made, right? Jennifer: Right. And frozen shrimp is a hostess dream. If you like to entertain, you can put them into a colander, rinse some under cold running water, they’re ready in seconds. You can do the cocktail sauce if you like, if you’re having some friends over or make the simple corn chowder in minutes. Audra: You call this a busy hostess’ dream, right? Jennifer: Right. Because I love to entertain and I work a lot so I need to figure out how to do it fast. Audra: Exactly. I love the enchiladas. Now you got the chicken enchiladas here. So tell us about this and how it’s so easy and healthy for us too at the same time? Jennifer: Well, chicken is America’s favorite meat. And what’s great about this one product that I use is it’s grilled chicken. It doesn’t have the skin, high in protein, low in fat and it’s precooked. So all you have to do is stock it into your fridge before you go to work in the morning and then defrost it. Chop it up, I make this delicious chicken enchiladas, toss them with some vegetables, put my sauce on top, it’s ready in 20 minutes. Audra: And a lot of people are thinking, I have to go out and buy all these extra ingredients. But these are things that you mostly have. Jennifer: You have everything in your freezer or on your countertop. It’s ready to go. You have some of the things in your pantry. And whatever leftover vegetables that you might have in your crisper, you can chop those up and toss this in as well. So there’s no waste. Audra: Sounds good. Okay, what do you have for us last, you save the best for last, right? Jennifer: My favorite, whole wheat frozen pizza dough. Audra: Yeah. Jennifer: Everybody wants to get more whole grains into their diet? This is a cheap and delicious way to do it. Look at this gorgeous calzones I made. This pizza dough doesn’t just have to be for pizza, you can make a hot pocket, you can add cheddar and broccoli inside. This is something that’s adorable to pack in a kid’s lunch. Defrost it overnight in the fridge, just like you do with the chicken and then some sauce, fresh grated mozzarella, some vegetables and you have a meal. It’s ready, put it in the oven 10 minutes and it’s on the table. Audra: Well a lot of t people are going to ask you about the dough. Can you freeze the though if you have too much leftover. What -- Jennifer: You can freeze the dough if you like as long as you pack it up, wrap it in some plastic wrap. Pop it back in the freezer. But I’m telling you, these are going to go fast. You’re not going to have much leftovers. Audra: Good advice, thank you so much Jennifer. Good to have you here. Jennifer: Thank you. Audra: Alright, if you guys want to get other great tips and recipes that are going to save you hundreds of calories while still enjoying your favorite meals, you can pick up Secrets of Skinny Chef, it’s available now.