So lately I've been thinking of ways to save food instead of throwing out the massive amount that gets wasted since I live by myself....
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| *ahem* Don't forget about me. |
So as I was saying, I try to cut the recipes I find in half and/or I portion the leftovers out small enough that I can freeze them in single serving zip lock bags (basically the ones that are sandwich size). And last week I had the bright idea to do this with fresh mixed vegetables. I could forgo buying them frozen/canned and have them taste better and be healthier. I love mixed vegetables for the same reason I love supreme pizza. Maximum flavor and variety in every single bite. Now granted, I can't find everything 'fresh' at the moment, but this will be clutch when it comes time for the Farmer's Market.
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| Just look at them. It's veggie perfection.... How can any five year old turn that down?! (IMG SRC) |
Anyway, so I get home from the grocery store and I google "homemade mixed vegetables" thinking I would find tons recipes, like from Rachael Ray or that Pioneer Lady just owning it, and I could just steal the basics from that... Let me tell you, mixed vegetables is NOT a sought after recipe apparently. This was the best I found after 30 seconds of effort: How To Make Mixed Vegetables Taste Good. 'N Stuff.
Not a total loss. In the end it gave me the idea to boil the frozen and dense veggies, and steam the broccoli and cauliflower. But how do you steam vegetables without a steamer, google?
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The engineer in me is pissed that i didn't think of that on my own. |
That came from here. Follow that link too for a pretty good method for steaming fish that I'm sure I'll forgot about by the next time I cook up some sea bass.
The full cast of deadly characters:
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| Dial Magnetic body wash optional. I didn't use it but if you like the taste of soap, I won't judge. |
This is the closest you're going to get to an ingredients list on this post:
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Peas
- Green Beans
- Corn
- Carrots
- Lima Beans
- Cabbage
- Salt
- Pepper
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| Me trying to duplicate those perfect little carrot cubes. |
Okay, so a half hour into this I suddenly remember how much I hate chopping vegetables because it takes so damn long. Why am I trying to be healthy again? I think my goal for this blog post should be to nab the top spot in a google search for "mixed vegetables" from Steamfresh, cuz honestly... it doesn't look like they paid for it. That'll show 'em.
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| If your first thought isn't "I bet the dog would love that" then shame on you |
Mixed Vegetables. Mixed Vegetables. Do you hear me google? MIXED. F#CK!NG VEGETABLES. On second thought, maybe this shouldn't be a serious cooking blog... I really should probably just go the parody route.
As you can see I'm basically filling this standard cereal sized bowl up. NOT packing it in like you do at Mongolian BBQ, but you get the idea. I would reckon that I'm tossing in around anywhere from 8 to 12 oz's per Veg. That's what the bowl's for, got to have some balance.
Peas, cuz you need 'em. And corn. Okay, I guess you can go full Mongolian on this step if you really want to, cuz we still need them there Lima Beans.
After seeing how much this pot looked like it was right off of a MIXED VEGETABLES label once it was stirred, and taste testing a spoon full (whilst burning my tongue), I got cold feet on adding the cabbage and just left it out. The broccoli and cauliflower were still steaming away in the next pan over while I let some more liquid evaporate off.
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| How it's done... your steamer can go F*#@ itself. |
Add the last two to the mixing bowl, and BAM. MIXED VEGETABLES. I actually probably under-steamed (is that even a word? Oh well, I put a hyphen) the broccoli and cauliflower, I like my veggies to be a bit al dente as opposed to mush.
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| Behold |
One last photo op that's not even good enough to be food porn...
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| I'm coming for you, Steamfresh |
Aaaand into the freezer we go.
