Freezing foods successfully -- the best recipes and techniques.

Freezing is the easiest way to preserve food, whether it's the bounty of a summer harvest saved for winter enjoyment or a delicious prepared meal that can be thawed and reheated when needed. The Best Freezer Cookbook guides the home cook in making the best choices of foods to freeze and using the most effective techniques for preserving flavors and textures.

Jan Main includes 100 carefully tested recipes for appetizers, soups, quick suppers, meals for entertaining, snacks and desserts -- all specially created and selected to give the best possible results when frozen. These recipes provide a convenient and time-saving way to create and freeze a variety of dishes, including:

• Quick chicken noodle soup, hearty tomato vegetable soup, hearty turkey soup
• Ratatouille, chicken frittata, best-ever meatloaf
• Vegetarian shepherd's pie with peppered potato topping, turkey pot pie with biscuit topping
• Veal stew with dill and mushrooms, carbonnade, pork apple curry, Bavarian stew
• Pesto croustades, easy bouillabaisse, pear-mincemeat strudel, herbed cheese dip or spread
• Focaccia, whole wheat soda bread, cranberry oatmeal cookies, double chocolate chunk cookies.

Each chapter includes tips to ensure the maximum benefit from a home freezer. Helpful suggestions are given for easy entertaining, monthly meal planning, simple heat-and-eat dishes for busy weeknights, and freezing baked goods.

The Best Freezer Cookbook is the perfect cookbook for anyone who seeks delicious dishes and complete meals that are freezer friendly.

Jan Main is a professional home economist and caterer who teaches culinary arts and writes about food. She lives in Toronto.

Jan Main's profile page

[Review of earlier edition:] What makes this ... a standout is its focus on freezing as food preservation ... the best in its class.

E-Streams

Suppertime around my house is pretty chaotic. Due to scheduling conflicts and finicky tastes, I often have to make three or four different things at different times. Doing that every night (or the alternative take-out pizza), is ridiculous so I've begun looking for alternatives. I saw The Best Freezer Cookbook and thought that it might help with my problem. It's easy enough to just make extras and then freeze packages in serving sizes. Then, I can just pull out AND reheat individual meals as the need arises. The Best Freezer Cookbook is filled with "man meals", hearty foods with lots of meat and potatoes. It's the kind of food that makes my husband smile like he's just won the lottery. No more, I ate a big lunch or I'll just order a pizza later. Plus, it's far healthier than take-out and I was able to get a nice variety in the freezer after only a week's worth of effort.

TCM Reviews

[Review of earlier edition:] Comprehensive...feature[s] how to best utilize frozen ingredients to get the best possible results.

Kliatt

[Review of earlier edition:] An all-encompassing book that answers questions home cooks can appreciate.

Tamarac Forum