With Sincere Thanks…
Since my guest post, “When Giving Up Gluten Isn’t Enough” was published last week over at my friend, Shirley’s, website (gfe — gluten free easily) I’ve received so many emails, comments, and inspirational notes from many of you. You’re words of encouragement have touched my heart deeply, and have given me the determination to continue on my journey to wellness naturally. From the bottom of my heart – thank you. It has always been extremely difficult for me to open up and share what life is really like living with this disease. It felt incredibly freeing to open up, be vulnerable, and allow the words to flow. It is my desire to continue to allow myself to be vulnerable and share my story as it unfolds – thank you for sticking around to share it with me!
A kitchen tip for keeping fresh spinach (and saving money) for smoothies:
My sweet husband surprised me with an early birthday present last week – a Vita-Mix!! So I have been busy in the kitchen blending away making Green Spinach Smoothies, Green Mango Yogurt Smoothies, and my favorite hummus. I tell you what, after blowing 2 gaskets on my Kitchen Aid blender (that’s another story), the Vita-Mix blows my Kitchen Aid out of the water! It is so powerful and does things in fractions of the time it took my old blender to do. It’s an amazing piece of machinery!
After AJ brought home the Vita-Mix, I ran to the store to stock up on bananas, frozen fruit, and spinach. The store was out of the normal spinach I buy, and the only other bag they had available was a 2.5 pound bag of spinach that had already expired the day before (but still looked great). The produce man saw me looking at the bag and told me he’d give me half off if I wanted it. SOLD! I brought the spinach home, washed it all, and then decided to try to freeze it in quart sized baggies for smoothies (because there was no way we’d work through that much spinach before it went bad).
This picture is only part of all the baggies of spinach I ended up with, and the frozen spinach is excellent in smoothies – I just pull a quart sized baggie out of the freezer, hit it a couple time with my fist to break it up (or use a wooden spoon), then add it to the blender. I will definitely do this from now on. I can’t tell you how many times I would end up throwing away spinach I spent good money on because it would go bad before we’d have a chance to use it up.
quart sized freezer bags filled with single servings of spinach
Directions for freezing spinach for smoothies:
- Wash all of your spinach thoroughly and run through a salad spinner (or blot off excess water using paper towels).
- Place 2 – 3 handfuls of spinach in a quart sized freezer bag; squeeze the air out of the bag and seal. Repeat this step until all of the spinach is packed in quart sized freezer bags.
- Fill a gallon sized resealable freezer bag with the quart sized spinach-filled bags for easy freezer storage.
- Store in the freezer until needed!
gallon sized freezer bag filled with the smaller spinach bags for easy freezer storage
Here’s to lots of green smoothies!! 🙂
Cheers!
Megan
This post is linked to Allergy Free Wednesdays, Simply Indulgent Tuesday and Simple Lives Thursday.
Janet
See, this is why I check out blogs. How did I not think of freezing the spinach for my smoothies! I do eat a lot of spinach due to the fact I can’t finish it off in time. Plus I will plant extra this summer just for smoothies now. What I have been doing when I have a high carb day I will replenish the next day with lots of greens and proteins with little to no carbs for the next day or so. It helps me a lot. I also have PsA and am all natural. I got blood test results and almost everything is optimal (inflammation markers in normal range) so with that this lifestyle is worth it and think of how you are helping your cuties for their future.
MAID in Alaska
Hi sweet Janet!
What a blessing to have optimal blood test results! Yahoo!! 🙂 So glad to connect with other PsA suffers also doing the all natural diet!
Lots of hugs!
Megan
Joey
Great idea…I hadn’t thought of freezing spinach. Use frozen bananas and other fruit, so why not?
Have you ever used lettuce? I have some that needs to be used quickly and thought of using it today when the kale was all gone.
MAID in Alaska
Hi Joey,
I have never used lettuce in smoothies, but I have juiced it before… I would try it and see how you like it!
🙂 Megan
Marie Norton-Arnold
what a wonderful idea Megan. I also have a Vitamix…….got mine about 2 months ago. Wow! it is the best investment I have ever made. Like you I make smoothies in it. My husband and I enjoy our green smoothie every morning at breakfast time. Along with a big handful of spinach, I add a handful of kale (no stalks) piece of apple, couple slices of lemon (rind on) and a handful of dark grapes, throw in 3 or 4 ice cubes last of all and let her rip. Oh! and add about 1/4 cup water or fruit juice.
MAID in Alaska
That sounds wonderful, Marie! Thanks for sharing!
Hugs,
Megan
Jane
That is awesome about the Vitamix! Who hoo! I actually did this with my spinach I grew in my garden last year – I couldn’t use it all, so I froze it. But I parboiled it first – I didn’t know you could just freeze it raw! So cool!
MAID in Alaska
Hi Jane!
Yes, I was very pleasantly surprised about the Vita-mix – I’ve wanted one for years! The raw frozen spinach works very well in smoothies… I don’t know how it would do in other things though. How cool to be able to freeze what you grew in your garden! I have a tendency to kill things. I even somehow managed to kill my cactus! 🙁
Hugs,
Megan
Moe
Can you use the frozen spinach for things like omelets or is it too mushy or stir fries?
thanks
Moe
MAID in Alaska
Hi Moe!
I actually don’t know. The only thing I’ve tried my frozen spinach in is smoothies.
Hugs,
Megan
Janet
Okay, now I am getting jealous over the Vitamix. I do have a Ninja and it is way better than a standard blender but I do still dream of the Vitamix. I think I will get one when my Ninja offs itself.
Audrey J
Thanks! I will try this. Although my compost bin will miss the spinach!
Amber
Hello Megan,
You’ve been tagged with the Liebster Blog award! I thank you for your wondering blog and your
dedicated to health and healing! You’re an inspiration!
Hugs,
–Amber
http://www.thetastyalternative.com/2012/04/liebster-blog-award-sharing-our.html
MAID in Alaska
Amber,
I am so honored. Thank you so much!!
Hugs,
Megan
Tiffany @ DontWastetheCrumbs
Thanks for sharing this. I’ve been drinking green smoothies daily for just about two weeks and can’t imagine going back. My only hang up is the cost of spinach… I’ve found it for $1.99 /lb fresh, but I know I can get it cheaper in bulk. Now that I know I can simply wash, freeze and blend (I didn’t want to cook it before freezing & lose nutrients), I’m going bulk! Thanks!
Chris
Hi, just a quick note on freezing spinich. by blanching for 2 min and cooling in ice water before freezing, you will help retain a nice green color and vital nutrients.
Faresa
Oh my gosh, I am so glad I stumbled across this! I too have been the victim of tossing out TONS of spinach, I will never do it again!~Thank you!
Lisa from Iowa
Invest in the vita mix. Going to be freezing my spinach…on sale now for .99 a bag. Love my vita mix!!!!! Thanks for all the great tips.
Mel
I too have been juicing for 4 weeks now. I feel better than ever!! I will admit I have been waisting the spinach too. I LOVE my Vita Mix, i dont know what i would do with out it. Thank you for the great idea.
Ttrockwood
Your body actually has a very hard time absorbing all the nutrients in raw spinach, you can absorb sooooo much more if the spinach is gently cooked (a quick dip in boiling water for a full minute is enough)
Spinach you buy from the freezer section is actually cooked and therefore easier to absorb the nutrients- and awesome in smoothies since it also acts as ice. And even frozen organic spinach can be a good price (365 brand at whole foods)
I am sooooo jealous of your vitamix! My favorite green smoothie is frozen blueberries, frozen spinach, vega vanilla almondilla protein powder, almond milk, and a glob of almond butter (sooooo awesome and fat soluable vitamins need some fat),and chia seeds
Lisa
I usually just throw the whole bag or tub in the freezer and pull from that. It usually breaks off pretty easy. When I get the big plastic tub it actually freezes very nice and loose. Might save you from using up a pile of plastic bags every time. But yes, freezing is great and I think it’s improved the texture of my smoothies!
Donna
sooooooooooooooo agree with Lisa, the larger reusable plastic container is more environmentally sound and stacks nicely! Robin’s idea is my long time favorite and works for all kinds of things including fruits and vegetables.
Another great way to make the most of those perishable is to keep a plastic container in the freezer and add to it the stems, stalks leaves etc of other vegetables and when the container is full, boil and strain it for a super stock base for soups!
Robin
I also freeze spinach a bit differently though I blend the spinach then freeze it in ice cube tray then put the cubes of frozen spinach in baggies it’s easier to separate the uses then using a whole bag of spinach.
Paula
I am so glad to find your information about freezing Spinach. I waste so much as I just do not like the taste of cooked Spinach. I am looking forward to receiving your newsletter.