HELP!...frozen fruits and veggies...

[MTplainsman]

I have a food crisis on my hands. This question may make me sound dumber than I look, so please, just understand that I'm somewhat of a simple mind

I had bought a fairly large supply of romain lettuce, broccoli, apples, and bannanas. I had car trouble the other night, got a ride home late, made it back, and then realized... I didn't grab my fruits and veggies from the trunk! It was 4 above that night, and I knew they were all finished! Lot of money down the tubes and out of luck replacing them for many days. Before I fed them to my trash monster, I thought I make a desperate post asking what can be done with these frozens food items. I know I can use the banannas in bannana bread, so thats cool, but what can I do with the rest??? Can I juice the veggies, or what options are left? Please offer any ideas, and soon!!!

Thanks guys

[hotzcatz]

Broccoli is sometimes sold frozen, so just thaw it out and cook it like usual. Apples will make a good apple pie or mashed for apple sauce. If you put the banana chunks on a stick they are quite tasty dipped in chocolate. They sell them that way at Cosmic Cones in Hilo next time you are in Hilo town looking for a treat you could try one. The only thing I can think of with the lettuce is to fry it with bacon and call it wilted lettuce?

[MoonShine]

The bananas,apples,and broccoli should be fine...now,the lettuce I don't know about. I've never tried freezing lettuce,as I've heard it doesn't freeze well. You may be out of luck on that one.

[susieM]

I am homesick for Hilo!

The vegetables, including the salad, can be made into a delicious soup. Just throw them into a pot with water, or stock, a spud or two, onions, bay, thyme, etc., and simmer away. Then blend with laughing cow cheese or cream or milk.

[goatsareus]

in regards to the broccoli, for the best outcome, it is blanched before freezing, to retart the composting enzymes. So I'm thinking, the broccoli should not be held long before using it.

[truckdriverx72]

Perhaps, chickens are an optiom for your food scraps ?

[Terri]

I have heard it said that if lettuce is cooked to long it turns bitter, but, the chinese DO cook lettuce! I have never tried it, though!

Ditto on what people have said about the apples, bananas, and broccoli.

Actually, when I was a kid people used to sell frozen bananas on a stick that had been dipped in chocolate. They were popular, for a while.

When you thaw bananas, they will be BEYOND mushy, but they still make good banana bread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lgslgs]

Put the whole, unpeeled bananas in your freezer and use for bread or smoothies later this winter.

Lynda

[Grandmotherbear]

Irma Rombauer, in the Joy of Cooking says lettuce can be cooked by any recipe for other greens.
She especially recommends cream of lettuce soup. Chalet Suzzane send a very salty Cream of Romainne soup to the moon with the astronauts.

[MTplainsman]

Well thank you all for the advice and ideas. My banannas of course turned out black as asphalt, so I threw then in the freezer to make bread with later. The broccoli seems to be alright? so thats a plus, the apples seem suitable yet, but will mush up quick now, and the lettuce is a little slimey and brown in spots. I'll try some lettuce soup as suggested.

How do I make lettuce soup? Please give be recipies and details! Have too much money tied up in this lettuce. Thanks

[Grandmotherbear]

Being without my Joy of Cooking, I googled this just for you. There are French and Indian versions also
From Epicurious.com
1 cup chopped onionsor leeks or shallotts
1 chopped garlic clove
3T butter
3/4 t ground coriander
3/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
3/4 cup diced potato
8 cups coarsely chopped greens
3 cups H2O

In 2 T butter saute onuons, or shallots, or leeks, amd garlic in a 5 qt heavy pot. Stir frequently. Add spices cook and stir 1 minute. Add potaoes, lettuce and water and cook and stir at simmer x 10 minutes
Puree in batches in blender. Return to pot to warm and whisk in remaining butter Season to taste.

[MTplainsman]

Your a sweetheart! Thanks for the fuss, I can't help but try this. I can have it on the side of my deer steak, mm...mmmmm!

One question if you see this again, whats the difference between leeks and shallots? Are one of these a type of stalk onion?

[Alice In TX/MO]

A leek is an odd looking onion family vegetable. Grows sort of like very fat green onions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leek_(vegetable)

A shallot is a small, slightly different flavored member of the onion family.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shallot