Mixed Vegetables

Having a bag of store bought mixed vegetables in the freezer is convenient for the busy home cook. These small pieces of quick cooking vegetables are a great ingredient in fried rice and stir fries.

Mixed vegetables are usually a combination of green peas, corn kernels and diced carrots. Sliced green beans, broccoli and/or cauliflower may also be added.

Instead of buying ready packed vegetables that are usually caked and tired looking, you could prepare and freeze these vegetables. It's cheap and involves just a bit of time and effort.

My take on classic mixed vegetables are prepared as follows:-

Ingredients:

• 2 carrots

• 2 corn on the cob

• 2-3 cups of shelled snap peas

Method:

• clean and dice carrots

• boil some water in a pot and blanch the carrots for 2 minutes

• drain and transfer carrots immediately into a bowl of iced water to stop further cooking

• drain well

• shuck the corn kernels from the cob

• store carrots, corn and snap peas in a freezer bag.

I always spread out each type of vegetables on separate cookie sheets and leave in the freezer for 2-3 hours. Done this way, the vegetables would not stick together making it difficult to get the right portion needed.

I also store the frozen vegetables separately as this would enable me to just use one or a combination of the vegetables.

Fried rice with mixed vegetables and eggs requires minimal preparation and the meal could be put on a plate in 10 minutes.

Sometimes when I need a quick snack, I will microwave some of the frozen corn kernels in a mug for 2 minutes. Then immediately stir in a spoonful of salted butter. Tasty.

• fried rice photo credit: serious eats

A typical bag of frozen mixed vegetables from the store.