Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Baked Onion Rings ~ Freezing Onion Soup ~ Onion Powder ~ Freezing Caramelized and Raw Onions


Just one simple vegetable from the garden can bring us a lot of help over winter.  I am making the most of what little we got this year.





(amount I need to make for one batch of onion soup)


I've been freezing more onion soup as well.  This soup base works wonderfully for starting any stew or soup for little cost.  It does require beef (I buy organic) broth to make it, so it's not vegetarian.



I have been dehydrating onions and made more onion flakes and onion powder to re-stock the pantry. 






I have also been freezing caramelized onions.  This is a first for me.  It will save time making omelets, or other meals.  I simply sliced onions, and cooked them in a mixture of organic olive oil and organic butter.  When I run out of 4 oz. containers, I'll freeze them in a muffin tin then place in a zip bag.


I made baked onion rings to go with dinner one night - delicious!

I'll keep any remaining onions, in a cool, dry location.  They only last about 6 months in the freezer (frozen raw), so I will hold off as long as they are looking good.

6 comments:

Mama Pea said...

What a wonderful plethora of onion ideas! I really need to get going on some of your very good suggestions which would be so much help (and time savers) during the winter months of cooking. Just came in from six hours of staining the new deck and wooden walkway. I need something to pick me up and give me give me the will to do what needs to be done yet today . . . mainly harvesting what I think will be the last of the yellow and green beans.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Mama Pea, it feels weird not having a plethora of tomatoes, green peppers, etc. this fall, but I am keeping myself busy for sure.

Sam I Am...... said...

It's so great to see the many ways you take one vegetable and utilize it the fullest extent. I love onions and they are so good for you.

RB said...

I work at part-time at a grocery store that discounts (yellow tags) surplus meats. I use to store them in small individual freezer bags then got to thinking how expensive those freezer bags were. Now I put each piece of meat into the cheapest sandwich bag available, and put all those into a large freezer bag by product and freeze. Not only does that save on the smaller individual freezer bags, but because they're wrapped before going into the large freezer bag halting contamination, you can use the large freezer bags over again.
I also do that for herbs and vegetables, so you could do it for onions too, cooked OR uncooked.
God bless.
RB
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Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

RB, that is a good idea. It will help keep the raw onion smell from getting into the freezer too.

RB said...

Wondering if you put those plastic bags of onions into a larger freezer bag that has some baking soda sprinkled in it, if that would help with onion odors in the freezer.
Worth a try.
God bless.
RB
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