Memorial Day; the start of summer. Pools open, folks hit the road with their travel trailers and backpacks, summer sports go into high gear, and the temperatures begin to warm. Aaaaahhhh…

Whether you host an event or attend one, chances are that you will be called on to contribute something delicious to a Memorial Day spread. Burgers, brats, and hot dogs will sell out in stores across the country. Baked beans, cole slaw, chips, and fruit trays will dot the landscape from picnic table to picnic table.

Those of us who own a Harvest Right will probably find ourselves using it in some way this coming weekend. For instance, each of us has a repertoire of recipes that our families love, and we know that they will be asked for. My baked beans and mac and cheese are two foods that I know will be in demand. 

If I had these items in storage from the last time that I made them, I would simply go to my storage area, pull a few packages, and save myself the trouble of cooking. Nobody would ever know. That in itself is amazing.

However, I happen to know that we have shared and used those dishes and I am running low. Therefore, I will resort to my favorite cooking method: large batch cooking. Cooking a large batch one time saves a lot of fuel when compared to cooking several smaller batches, and over time, those savings add up. Another savings that I have when I cook in large batches is time. My time is the same whether I make a small batch or a large one. Therefore, I cook once, and save hours down the road. For every time that I make a large batch, I gift myself an afternoon with a good book. Or… a day at the zoo with grandbabies. Or… a spontaneous date with my husband. I can always find things to do besides cooking. Can’t you?

So, this weekend, my large electric roasters will be pulled out, and I will crank out two big batches. My family will eat them, and of course I will save some for the husband to enjoy over the next few days. The rest, I will simply load on my trays and pre-freeze. I just made simple work of the next three or four freeze dryer loads, and I once again have a supply of our favorite side dishes in my food storage room. I will have those packages available to enjoy a quick addition to a home-cooked meal. I will have lightning-fast options if we have unannounced guests who look hungry. I will have meals to share when the expectant mother at church delivers, and her husband and kids need a little help.

Summer is coming, in all its glory. My freeze-dried meals will give me the ability to serve home-cooked goodness while still finding time to enjoy the beauty of the season. If you don’t have a Harvest Right Freeze Dryer yet, what are you waiting for?