The Frugal Gourmet: how to use, re-use, recycle and recondition your ktchen staples...

Medusa · 01-21-2011, 12:35 PM

Question!

I'm assuming gnocchi can be frozen but is there a specific method?

I've been craving a healthy gnocchi and want to make a giant batch of it and freeze some for lunches and whatnot but don't want to end up with gnocchi-flavored ice balls!

Hep!

moxie · 01-21-2011, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medusa

Question!

I'm assuming gnocchi can be frozen but is there a specific method?

I've been craving a healthy gnocchi and want to make a giant batch of it and freeze some for lunches and whatnot but don't want to end up with gnocchi-flavored ice balls!

Hep!

According to a cookbook I have:

Line baking sheets with wax paper and dust with flour. Spread gnocchi on the baking sheets and freeze until hard (usually takes about 2-3 hours). Remove and put in portion-sized freezer bags. Can only freeze them for a month at the most.

Medusa · 01-21-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by June

Put them on a cookie sheet in the freezer till they're hard, then dump them in plastic bags.

How are gnocchi healthy? Potatoes, flour, egg and salt. Are you filling them with multi-vitamins?

Spinach, egg substitute and whole-wheat flour!!! DURRRRRRRRRRR!!!

Medusa · 01-21-2011, 12:48 PM

Oh, and I'm making a pumpkin gnocchi too!

femmennoir · 03-22-2011, 05:46 AM

After this hiatus full of recipes and conversations, then silence, I would like to get back to the topic at hand: how do you thriftily use, re-use, recycle, and re-invent your food staples in creative ways.....(inquiring minds and all....)

I just did a spring cleaning of my freezer, so I could fill it with detoxing, good for you stuff, and I found several partly filled bags of frozen fruit I used in smoothies and the like....blackberries, blueberries, berry medley, mango, black cherries.....I also had a batch of Fuji apples (fresh) languishing in the fruit bowl and looking a bit wrinkled from dehydration.......Voilà! Instant (almost!) Tutti Frutti jam! Added sugar, a large handful of dried lemon, tangerine, orange and grapefruit peel (I am thrifty that way) and the juice of two blood oranges, brought to a simmer and cooked until jell point.......6 pints of delightful ruby colored, full of texture jam!
Completely satisfying!!
By the way, yes I dry and keep all citrus peels and use them usually in compotes (apple sauce in particular) and stews, where they lend a distinct note, and of course in teas, particularly when I have a tea blend which is a bit on the bland side....or I pulverize it, and use the powdered peel to flavour pie or cookie dough..
My two euros for the day! Keep those hints coming, I really enjoy them!

Elle*

Diva · 03-22-2011, 05:59 AM

Elle, thanks so much for bumping this thread or I might not have seen it! What an awesome thread!

I love the frugal lifestyle because I have to live frugally these days.

But I embrace it because it's fun to see just how long I can go without going to the store to replenish. I have read this thread from the beginning now and there are some amazing ideas!

At the beginning of the year, I had begun a diet program which had prepackaged food. Now, since I can't afford the program, luckily, I had saved the microwavable dishes. I used them to make my own, smaller portion meals as well as paint pallettes for my art!

Also, I LOVE the Vlasic Zesty Bread and Butter pickles....LOVE them! But when they're gone, I have all this amazing juice left over, so I peel & slice a couple of zucchini & toss 'em in that juice and the next day....well....major yumminess! Carrots are also good, but zukes are my fave!

Thanks, Elle....great thread! Subscribing!

Diva · 04-05-2011, 05:56 AM

In my painting, I find myself recycling a myriad of things......
~a champagne cork makes a great, albeit imperfect, stamp.

~Bottle caps of all sizes make great circles.

~Dryer sheets are GREAT! Shredded, they're a great texture to add to a canvas....they make a nice effect when paint is dabbed through one, too!

~A coffee can lid (plastic) can be cut in half, then zig~zag cut to paint interesting designs ...drag them through the paint for fun designs.

~I have a ruined paint brush that I'm going to incorporate in a piece I'm currently painting....fun!

femmennoir · 04-05-2011, 08:02 AM

Flour and water glue, cooked

Usually made with wheat flour, but you can use rice flour too, just experiment for quantities! It does spoil (gets moldy at room temperature) so should be kept in fridge!

Boil 5 cups of water in a pan. Separately, in a bowl, mix 1/4 cup of sieved flour with a cup of cold water. Mix to a smooth consistency (this bit is like making custard or a white sauce) and when all the lumps have gone, add the mixture to the water in the pan. Gently boil, stirring continually for 2-3 minutes until the mixture thickens.
Allow to cool before using.
You can make a thicker glue (that has the benefit of drying more quickly) by using 1 whole cup of flour to every 3 cups of water.

Enjoy, you thrifty crafty people!

Elle*

01-21-2011, 12:35 PM	#1
Medusa Mentally Delicious How Do You Identify?: Queer High Femme, thank you very much Preferred Pronoun?: Mme. Relationship Status: Married to JD. Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,446 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 5,995 Thanked 42,691 Times in 7,831 Posts Rep Power: 21474861	Question! I'm assuming gnocchi can be frozen but is there a specific method? I've been craving a healthy gnocchi and want to make a giant batch of it and freeze some for lunches and whatnot but don't want to end up with gnocchi-flavored ice balls! Hep! __________________ . . . Buy ButchFemmePlanet Merch Here: https://teespring.com/stores/butchfemmeplanetcom-merch

01-21-2011, 12:48 PM	#4
Medusa Mentally Delicious How Do You Identify?: Queer High Femme, thank you very much Preferred Pronoun?: Mme. Relationship Status: Married to JD. Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,446 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 5,995 Thanked 42,691 Times in 7,831 Posts Rep Power: 21474861	Oh, and I'm making a pumpkin gnocchi too! __________________ . . . Buy ButchFemmePlanet Merch Here: https://teespring.com/stores/butchfemmeplanetcom-merch

03-22-2011, 05:46 AM	#5
femmennoir Member How Do You Identify?: femme, naturellement Preferred Pronoun?: Elle Relationship Status: single Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: new york Posts: 686 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 76 Thanked 1,223 Times in 478 Posts Rep Power: 5661332	After this hiatus full of recipes and conversations, then silence, I would like to get back to the topic at hand: how do you thriftily use, re-use, recycle, and re-invent your food staples in creative ways.....(inquiring minds and all....) I just did a spring cleaning of my freezer, so I could fill it with detoxing, good for you stuff, and I found several partly filled bags of frozen fruit I used in smoothies and the like....blackberries, blueberries, berry medley, mango, black cherries.....I also had a batch of Fuji apples (fresh) languishing in the fruit bowl and looking a bit wrinkled from dehydration.......Voilà! Instant (almost!) Tutti Frutti jam! Added sugar, a large handful of dried lemon, tangerine, orange and grapefruit peel (I am thrifty that way) and the juice of two blood oranges, brought to a simmer and cooked until jell point.......6 pints of delightful ruby colored, full of texture jam! Completely satisfying!! By the way, yes I dry and keep all citrus peels and use them usually in compotes (apple sauce in particular) and stews, where they lend a distinct note, and of course in teas, particularly when I have a tea blend which is a bit on the bland side....or I pulverize it, and use the powdered peel to flavour pie or cookie dough.. My two euros for the day! Keep those hints coming, I really enjoy them! Elle* __________________ You will hear thunder and remember me, And think: she wanted storms. The rim Of the sky will be the colour of hard crimson, And your heart, as it was then, will be on fire. Anna Akhmatova "White nights"

04-05-2011, 08:02 AM	#8
femmennoir Member How Do You Identify?: femme, naturellement Preferred Pronoun?: Elle Relationship Status: single Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: new york Posts: 686 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 76 Thanked 1,223 Times in 478 Posts Rep Power: 5661332	How to make your own glue (non toxic, too!) Flour and water glue, cooked Usually made with wheat flour, but you can use rice flour too, just experiment for quantities! It does spoil (gets moldy at room temperature) so should be kept in fridge! Boil 5 cups of water in a pan. Separately, in a bowl, mix 1/4 cup of sieved flour with a cup of cold water. Mix to a smooth consistency (this bit is like making custard or a white sauce) and when all the lumps have gone, add the mixture to the water in the pan. Gently boil, stirring continually for 2-3 minutes until the mixture thickens. Allow to cool before using. You can make a thicker glue (that has the benefit of drying more quickly) by using 1 whole cup of flour to every 3 cups of water. Enjoy, you thrifty crafty people! Elle* __________________ You will hear thunder and remember me, And think: she wanted storms. The rim Of the sky will be the colour of hard crimson, And your heart, as it was then, will be on fire. Anna Akhmatova "White nights"

03-22-2011, 05:59 AM	#6
Diva Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Diva Preferred Pronoun?: Diva Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chez Diva Posts: 11,879 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,263 Thanked 17,174 Times in 5,239 Posts Rep Power: 0	Elle, thanks so much for bumping this thread or I might not have seen it! What an awesome thread! I love the frugal lifestyle because I have to live frugally these days. But I embrace it because it's fun to see just how long I can go without going to the store to replenish. I have read this thread from the beginning now and there are some amazing ideas! At the beginning of the year, I had begun a diet program which had prepackaged food. Now, since I can't afford the program, luckily, I had saved the microwavable dishes. I used them to make my own, smaller portion meals as well as paint pallettes for my art! Also, I LOVE the Vlasic Zesty Bread and Butter pickles....LOVE them! But when they're gone, I have all this amazing juice left over, so I peel & slice a couple of zucchini & toss 'em in that juice and the next day....well....major yumminess! Carrots are also good, but zukes are my fave! Thanks, Elle....great thread! Subscribing!

04-05-2011, 05:56 AM	#7
Diva Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Diva Preferred Pronoun?: Diva Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chez Diva Posts: 11,879 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,263 Thanked 17,174 Times in 5,239 Posts Rep Power: 0	In my painting, I find myself recycling a myriad of things...... ~a champagne cork makes a great, albeit imperfect, stamp. ~Bottle caps of all sizes make great circles. ~Dryer sheets are GREAT! Shredded, they're a great texture to add to a canvas....they make a nice effect when paint is dabbed through one, too! ~A coffee can lid (plastic) can be cut in half, then zig~zag cut to paint interesting designs ...drag them through the paint for fun designs. ~I have a ruined paint brush that I'm going to incorporate in a piece I'm currently painting....fun!