Review: Trader Joes Frozen Organic Brown Rice

This is a review based on the organic version of the Trader Joes brown rice, but honestly, both versions are JUST as good and similarly priced. I just feel better purchasing my rice organic when I have the opportunity.

How to: Freeze Raw Chicken

Now, one of my areas that I just could not figure out when I started freezing much of my food, was how to avoid freezer burn! I would often just take my meat and place it into the freezer in the packaging I purchased it in. This was a disaster for any product that was not being used within 2 weeks to a month. We often ate the remnants of freezer burned food!

I also ran into the problem of buying larger portions of chicken (lets say, 8 breasts in a pack) because it was cheaper that way. When I would put the whole package into the freezer, that meant I had to take all 8 breasts out at once when I wanted it! For two people, it was too much and I basically started throwing money in the trash by how much we wasted.

How to stop wasting frozen chicken!

So how did I combat this? I decide enough was enough, and I was going to take the 5-10 minutes it took to do this:

Toasted Baguette Slices

This is a great recipe because of its versatility. It makes a great foundation for homemade spreads, cheese dips, bruschetta, or to dip in some fresh soup. If you happen to have leftovers like I did, or just make a little extra, it is great chopped up and used as croutons to your favorite salads.

Today, I chose to make this recipe as a way to try out a new-to-me product from Trader Joes - Red Pepper spread with Eggplant and Garlic.

 Toasted Baguette Slices

Party Spicy Salsa Guacamole Dip - A warm or cool treat!

So this dip is not an average guacamole recipe, as it incorporates salsa!! Its a great dip for parties, or just a snack! I love to make it as a way for me to get some healthy fats, some veggies from the salsa, and a salty fix!

This recipe incorporates 2 recipes, one for salsa and one for the spicy guacamole! If spicy isn't your favorite, you can definitely omit the spicy ingredients .

If you have never had warm guacamole, it really is a delicious treat. It reminds me of a warm spinach artichoke dip with the creaminess. But if warm guacamole isn't your thing, try the recipe out cold! I like it that way as well!

Party Spicy Salsa Guacamole Dip

From Frozen: Steak and Rice Stir Fry

This is a great recipe, and is one that I make many variations on for lunch. It's a really balanced meal, with green veggies, protein and a healthy grain. One of the reasons that I make it so often is how easy it is to make!!

This recipe makes 2 generous portions, and is easily doubled to accommodate more eaters.

This is another "From Frozen" recipe, and doesn't take much time to make at all! It is also a great dish to bring to-go for work, school, or to have ready-made in the fridge.

Steak and Rice Stir Fry

 

Review Fridays: The Misto

So this is my first kitchen product review, and I am extremely excited about this one.

This product is called the Misto! I had never heard of anything like it when I saw it at the store, and instantly thought it was genius.

Frozen Chicken Recipe, with alternative cooking methods (A staple in my freezer)

 I wanted to share this recipe because it is one that I use in many of my other recipes. It is what I would consider to be a staple in our home. I wanted to share with you the variety of ways that I precook and freeze my chicken so that it is ready to use for quick lunches and dinners.

This recipe is extremely basic, and many of you will already have methods of doing this, but I wanted to share it for those who may not know how to.

For these recipes I do not season my chicken, because I am planning on using this chicken in future recipes that I will be seasoning based on that particular meal.

Frozen Diced Chicken -- On the stove

From Frozen: Chicken and Kale Green Veggie Stir Fry

My first recipe is one that I make often for my boyfriend, who is a very health conscious eater. He will actually eat this entire recipe after a day of working out, or just a long day. Normally this recipe would be enough for two people, and I would serve it with a side of brown rice for a carbohydrate.
 
 

Chicken and Kale Green Veggie Stir Fry (From Frozen)

My boyfriend eats basically everything with mustard, which is why it made it into the picture :)