Chest Freezer Update #2 | I have a REALLY old flank steak
I know, it's been two weeks since my last freezer update. I needed an extra week to work on my last self-assigned pile of freezer food. 😉
Here's how things are going with my last collection of frozen food.
Bread Cubes
When I have bread odds and ends, I usually cut them up into cubes and add them to a bag in my freezer.
Which is a good plan but the cubes do eventually need to be used when the bag is full.
I used most of them to make a half-pan of Pioneer Woman's overnight French toast when Zoe had a friend sleep over.
And I used the rest of them to make some homemade croutons for a salad we had with dinner.
Homemade croutons are so good. And they're so much easier to eat than the ones from the store, which are impossible to poke with a fork!
I started these on the stovetop and then put them in the toaster oven for their final crisping. A toaster oven sure is handy for small batches!
Pineapple
Here's what I started with.
I suppose there are creative things one could do with this, but I've just been faithfully using it up in smoothies!
So many smoothies.
I also had a smoothie on the go...
By the way, if you ever need to disguise something like kale in a smoothie, pineapple helps a lot. It has a flavor that comes through pretty strong!
Anyway...I have less than half a pound of pineapple left.
Peaches
Last time around, I still had a pound and a half of peaches in this bag.
But I am happy to say, I used up every last one in smoothies! Yay for an empty bag.
Banana Slices
Next up, a bag of banana slices, which I am sorry to say I have not touched at all.
Squash Rolls
Squash RollsI think there were around eight in this bag to start with, and I'm down to one!
Here's what they look like freshly-baked. And here's the recipe if you want to take a peek.
Mostly I just ate them toasted and spread with butter, but I also used some to make sort of an avocado toast sandwich.
Of course I put an egg on my avocado toast. We would expect no less from me. 😉
So, overall I did pretty well! I used up everything except for the bananas and part of the bag of pineapple. Oh, and the one butternut squash roll.
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Batch #3 of freezer food
Allllrighty. Time for another collection of things to use up.
In addition to the bananas, pineapple, and the one squash roll, I have a fresh set of frozen food to tackle.
Beef Jerky
I think I had frozen this because I bought a big bag and I knew Zoe and I wouldn't eat it in time. So, I'm thawing it and she and I can both snack on it. This should be easy!
Sun-Dried Tomatoes
I found a partial jar of these in the freezer, and since I've been adding them to my mashed potatoes of late, they should be simple to use up.
Peaches
Ummmm....as I was searching through my freezer yesterday, I actually found several more bags of peaches!
OH NO.
I think I must have grabbed them from the freezer at my other house, because I know I didn't freeze this many peaches last summer.
I see more peach smoothies in my future. 😉
Hot Dog Buns
I do not know why I have hot dog buns; I never buy hot dogs, and I can't think of anything else I make that requires hot dog buns.
So, hmmm. I could use these to make garlic toast.
I could cut them up into bread cubes.
I could make small pizza subs with them.
Flank Steak
Guys, this is a VERY old piece of flank steak.
It's from the freezer at my other house, and I know that it had been in that freezer for quite some time.
Soooo, I'm thinking it's gonna need some serious marinade to be tasty. What would you do with it?
Got ideas for me? I'm open to suggestions!
P.S. Thanks for following along with my freezer challenges. I am 1000% more likely to actually follow through on these when I know I'm gonna give you all a report. I appreciate the virtual accountability!
Re: the flank steak, that would be a prime candidate for Freezer Burn Stew (TM) at our house. Throw it in a crockpot with any vegetables you also need to get rid of—frozen carrots, potatoes, etc.—add some caramelized onions, enough broth to cover the contents, and savory spices. An alternate version keeps the onions but swaps the other veggies for mushrooms. After four hours on high, any freezer funk is lost in the stewy goodness.
I would make the P.F. Chang's Mongolian Beef knockoff. Lots of recipes online.
If the steak is too freezer burned to salvage, offer it up on Buy Nothing for people who make their own dog food.
I'd cut it up and give to my dogs. I hate the texture of flank steak.
When I have lots of peaches or other frozen fruit to use up, I bake it. It reduces that way. 🙂 You can make baked peaches just like baked apples by just baking the peaches in a Pyrex casserole with sugar (brown/honey/maple syrup) and spices (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla) until they're syrupy. Takes around 45 minutes, though, so maybe have to wait until a cooler day.We eat this with heavy cream as a dessert, but you could put it on your oatmeal, too.
As for a marinade, I'm sure you'll want to go with Mexican. 🙂 Oil, vinegar, chile powder, garlic, cumin, whatever. Then you can slice it thin and use in your corn tortillas.
@kristin @ going country,
I used the crock pot for "baked" apples yesterday. All the bruised and aging apples we had with a little each of sugar, cinnamon, and water. Topped with old fashioned oats and whipped cream. It was delicious. Would probably work with peaches too.
@kristin @ going country, I'm also thinking Mexican for the flank steak, but I probably would add some citrus as well. Seared to a medium rare on a really hot cast iron pan or really hot grill and sliced against the grain, it's great in tortillas ... or my kids just eat the slices plain, the end. Ha.
The bananas are telling me to add cream and make ice "dream" or let them thaw and make some banana bread or banana muffins, preferably with chocolate chips!
Peaches: peach cobbler with the biscuit-y type topping, one of my favorites. Peach crumble. Peaches and oatmeal. Thawed peaches and cream (leftover from the bananas, maybe) in a bowl, simple and good. Peach fried pies, also called hand pies (I know, you don't really like pie). Fried peaches - thaw, cook slowly in butter with a little sugar added when cooked, add your favorite spice you use with peaches. Freezer peach jam, thus putting them back in the freezer, but they might get used up as jam, and jam reduces the volume greatly.
The steak may not be good at this point - it may be too dry, but I'd try cooking it in liquid in a slow cooker or pressure cooker. For me, another option is jerky, but that's easy for me because I own a dehydrator.
My vote for the hot dog buns is to make small subs as an easy option.
You've got this!
OOh for that flank steak, I would smear prepared mustard all over it, sprinkle on a package of onion soup mix, then plop it into the crockpot all day. Maybe add a tiny bit of water. Serve with mashed potatoes and a veggie, peach cobbler for dessert. (:
That flank steak would be good for a slow cooker Mississippi Pot Roast recipe (one of our family's favorites). Slow cooking it on low for 6 - 8 hours will probably do wonders, and you can then eat it as a slider-type sandwich using those hotdog buns (especially if you toast them with butter first, yum!)
I always use banana in my smoothies. I feel it gives a creamier texture. My family dislikes the green color if I use spinach or kale, so I disguise the color with blueberries. Smoothies are so good in the summer to cool off!
On the hot dog buns - our church did a big fundraiser with brats - many people passed on the buns. I convinced them to put the buns in the freezer for our next luncheon. I had many thinking I was not of sound mind - haha! When the luncheon came around, I thawed them, spread garlic butter on them and put them under the broiler to brown them. They were the first item completely gone. I think I converted a few members to save things in the freezer when there is a plan to use them up. 🙂
@Cheryl 90, I love the creaminess that bananas add to smoothies, too! I almost always include bananas in ours.
Never buy hot dogs? But they are one of the four major food groups (according to my seven year old)
In the Northeast you can make some fried fish strips and put them in the hot dog roll. There's also lobster rolls and clam rolls.
@Battra92,
Mmm...lobster rolls are delicious!
The buns could also be used to make tuna melts.
Our fave tenderizing marinade. Half A1 sauce ( generic AOK!) and half water!
Marinate at least four hours.
A great use of the pineapple would be pineapple fried rice. I cut the pineapple into small pieces and marinate in soy sauce. Then fry it up with sauteed diced red onion, rice, sesame seeds, soy sauce, and an optional dash of red pepper flakes. Yum! You can also use mango instead of pineapple in this recipe.
My favourite way to use up old white bread and buns (like hot dog buns) is to mix it with melted butter, sage, onions, celery, salt and pepper, and use it to stuff a chicken for roasting. Everyone loves it, regardless of the time of year. And the leftovers are delicious. The squash roll would also be a delicious addition.
@Kate, I have two bolillos perfect for this in my fridge! Thanks for the idea (:
I have quite a lot of bananas, pineapple, and kale in my freezer that i put there specifically for making smoothies, which used to be a regular breakfast rotation for me. Now my husband is retired and sleeps past the time I eat breakfast so i don’t want to use the blender. Time to commit to smoothies for lunch on my days off so it doesn’t all go to waste! Retirement is definitely an adjustment!
This weekend i need to make some creative meal combos as we have accumulated a very odd collection of leftover bits in the fridge.
@Jen, this is kind of ridiculous but my husband often has online meetings around the same time I eat breakfast. So I prep the blender cup and take the base of the blender into the garage and blend it in there so it doesn't disturb him. Where there's a smoothie will, there's a way, I guess!
This beef shwarma recipe is so easy and good, and the marinade and toppings would camouflage the steak’s age:
https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/beef-shawarma/
@Cindy, saving this recipe, thank you!!
I would slice that flank steak VERY thin and marinate it and stir fry.I did that with a small pc. of beef I had last night and then tossed in a ton of slice dup veggies for a good meal.
you could also slice it up thin and throw a jar of gravy into the crock pot then serve over potatoes or that SQUASH ROLl!!
I use all the bread ends I collect for various stuffings, ITS NOT just for Thanksgiving. The flank would go into a fajita, quesadilla or soups.
We got cherries for 99 cents/lb this week and I, uh, bought a lot. In my searching for what to do with cherries, I found an oatmeal recipe that called for frozen peaches and cherries. They're a good combo!
I like to marinate meat in A1 sauce. I know that venison steak can be a little different sometimes, but marinated in A1 it's pretty great.
@Ruth T, Can you share that oatmeal recipe please? I, uh, also bought a lot of cherries and they are spread out on a cookie sheet in my freezer right now. Would love some ideas to use them.
@Beth M, Yay cherries!!
https://veryveganish.com/healthy-cherry-peach-oatmeal/
Definitely marinate the flank steak. Grill it. Slice it across the grain and use it in a main dish salad. Or after it's cooked, make hash with it. Leftover cooked potatoes, onion, garlic and chopped meat. I saute onions first, then garlic and potatoes. Liberally salt and pepper. Add meat. Mix well. If course, cook all in butter! You can put an egg on top.
Hilton Head marinade. Soy sauce, ginger, honey, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper.
I would make carne asada with the flank steak, here’s a recipe for example https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/carne-asada/#tasty-recipes-73153
Can you do a fruit marinade with the flank steak?
Hello! I have frozen peaches to make wine slushies 🙂 If you aren't an alcohol drinker, maybe blending some with iced tea or lemonade? Could you use them for a dump cake?
You’ve done SO well on using up freezer items! I like the idea of garlic toast from hotdog buns. We hardly ever buy hotdog buns but when we do, somehow there are a few leftover that we use for small cold cut subs.
And we use peaches in smoothies, homemade salsa and cobbler.
Another flank steak idea: Cook it as you would normally. Let it cool and then grind it up in the food processor. Add mayo, relish, finely chopped celery and a bit of onion. It makes a delicious sandwich spread.
For the hot dog rolls: Brush with butter or olive oil, toast in the oven with garlic salt and maybe a bit of oregano and basil, a little parmesan cheese. Delicious!
I would slice it quite thin, marinate it and use it in a stir-fry.
Throw that flank steak in the crockpot with any tomato based sauce and cook it all day. You won’t be disappointed!
Hot dog buns are perfect for making bacon sandwiches; no need to cut the bacon to fit.
Slice the steak very thinly while it is still partly frozen. Then decide if you want to do a stir fry, French dip sandwiches or a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. You may have enough meat to do more than one. Label container with the chosen marinade and let I sit in the fridge or freezer until ready to use.
I enjoy frozen bananas in a yogurt smoothie with walnuts, cinnamon, nutmeg and honey.
I would not eat the flank steak! After several years, it may not make you sick but the flavor starts deteriorating after 6-12 months and keeps on deteriorating. I think it would be a waste of energy and other ingredients to try to salvage it.
This blog has so many creative and gifted and experienced cooks!
When I work out of the freezer to use up things, I am torn between "Oh no, no more frozen bananas/broth/onions/sauce/whatever" and feeling happy to be frugally non-wasteful. Does anyone else have this push-me-pull-you thing going on?
@Central Calif. Artist: Always!
Kristin, banana+pineapple+peach smoothies are amazing. 3 birds with one stone!
Do you make smoothies without bananas?!? To me (speaking purely for myself) it's not a smoothie if it isn't based on banana.
That flank steak looks more than a tad freezer burnt. I think you need to low-and-slow the hell out of it, such as braising or making it as one would a brisket. It likely will need a strong sauce as well, and to be cut against the grain before eating.
For your leftover hotdog buns, you might try this from my new "Perfectly Good Food ...Zero Waste" cookbook: Saute mushrooms in the fat of your choice, then stir in garlic and bread (hotdog buns?) torn into pieces. Mix everything up and let it cook a bit, adding more oil or butter if needed plus a splash of lemon juice or vinegar. Season with salt and pepper and pile into a bowl "possibly topped with a fried egg" (! knew that would get your attention!) or chunks of avocado. "Want to throw in some leafy greens? Go for it."
Kristen, I would love to know how you make your smoothies. I have never made one, partly because I wasn't sure how to do it! Many thanks in advance.
I marinated my last flank steak with olive oil,, red wine vingar, garlic, honey and Italian seasoning. I served it with this cuimmichurri sauce https://theforkedspoon.com/chimichurri-recipe/
It was delicious.
I use hot dog buns for polish sausage/brats. V good progress with the frozen foods!
Weren't the hot dog buns from some volunteer thing you did (maybe at church??) where they had leftover food that they sent home with you and the other volunteers? I'm with the people who say use the flank steak to make dog food. But, honestly, freezer burn or something that's been in the freezer that long kind of wigs me out. I'm not frugal enough to want to do anything with freezer burned food. You all are amazong for being willing to though!! I'll anxiously await your post with what you did the the steak!
Use the peaches and the bread to make a peach bread pudding! Or turn the bread into crumbs and use it in the topping for a peach cobbler/crisp thing.
I myself have adopted your “put an egg on it” practice and sometimes have leftover roasted vegetables with an egg on them for lunch.
I would slice up the flank steak and marinade it for Korean Beef with rice OR go Mexican and do carne asada. Either would be yummy!!
I use frozen bananas to make muffins. I use up my banana bits pretty quick. And they are yummy!
For the flank steak, I think I'd find a recipe for the slow cooker! I've found that long-frozen meat (and poultry) do well with the long, slow (and WET) cooking process. It rehydrates the dried-out portions, and the other things you add to the pot take care of any leftover "freezer taste."
My favorite flank steak is easy to make. Marinade in soy sauce for a few hours in the fridge. Grill or broil, 5-6 min. each side. Let rest. Slice diagonally. Delicious!
Peaches and pineapple make a lovely pie. Also jam. You can grill pineapple with a little brown sugar, and lime juice. Good! I make chutney with peaches, and can it. Stores indefinitely and transforms curries, grilled and roasted meats, and as an appetizer over cream cheese on crackers.
First, make peach cobbler or jam with those peaches!
I’d marinate the flank steak in case it might be tasting old a bit, and grill/broil/fry a bit, and add it to ramen or yakisoba or other stir fried noodle fish. Lo mein, japchae, that kind of thing.
Use the pineapple in a frozen pina colada! Frozen peach margarita an option too.
Interesting/medical fact - pineapple eats your face 🙂 that tingly feeling when you eat pineapple is its enzymes breaking down your lips/mouth. I still love pineapple though.
For your sliced bananas, mix a cup of oats (any kind except steel cut) with slices that would equal one banana. Add cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate chips, etc. as you wish or just keep it plain. Roll into 8 balls and put them on a very, very well greased cookie sheet, and flatten so they look like cookies. Bake at 350 for about 15 to 20 mins. These are perfect healthy breakfast on the go! Enjoy and, also, good luck with that flank steak. Eager to see what you do with that.
Great job rotating through all of your "frozen assets", Kristen. I suggest marinating the flank steak in teriyaki sauce, grilling and slicing it thin. Pair with brown rice and broccoli for some homemade Chinese fakeout.
I need a smoothie recipe or a formula for good smoothies. You all have inspired me to eat more fruit via smoothie's..