Looking Back

LIFE & STYLE

Home freezers did not come on the market until after WWII.

When I was growing up, we did not have a freezer for preservingfood. People grew gardens, which required preparing the garden space, and planting the seed. They probably did not have a good source for watering, and relied on spring rains or they carried buckets of water to water the plants. Then all summer the family spent many days picking vegetables and fruits from the garden.

There was no home air conditioning, so the women spent many hot days in the kitchen canning fruits and vegetables. And of course there were delicious jellies and pickles from the harvest of the year. Usually, all that canned food was stored in the storm cellar to be eaten all year long.

I remember on Sunday we usually had a special Sunday dinner. The leftovers were left on the table and covered with a cloth for the afternoon, to be served again that evening.

For some reason there was no worry about spoilage. Maybe our food was more pure with not as many added chemicals in those days.

Now days I rely on my freezer to store so many things to have at a later date, such as frozen items on sale, and fresh in-season vegetables and fruits such as okra, corn on the cob, and peaches. I prepare them for the freezer, and we enjoy them during the months to come. Of course in the fall, there is the fresh crop of pecans to be shelled, and will store and stay fresh in the freezer for a couple of years.

Families with children don’t have a lot of left over food to store for another day. But, I am able to store small servings to add to a meal later. I cook ahead and freeze the dishes for company meals. I always say work like heck before company arrives, to make it look easy when the time comes! It cuts out a lot of stress to be prepared ahead of time.

It takes some extra effort to plan ahead, but I always say, “The freezer is my best friend!”