Did you know you can freeze most produce? We want you to get the best value from your WinterFix deliveries but appreciate that some weeks it may be hard to use up all the fresh local produce or you just can't eat another onion! 

Some vegetables require blanching before freezing. Raw fruit, on the other hand, freezes just fine. Blanching vegetables, or dunking them into boiling water, stops the enzymes that cause discoloration and turn frozen produce mushy.  

Read on for a tips and techniques for preserving your winter fruits and veggies. 

With the exception of spaghetti squash, winter squashes hold really well frozen. However, you can't freeze squash whole. A little prep work goes a long way toward preserving these versatile vegetables.

When cooked, the best way to freeze winter squash is as a purée, which holds up well once thawed. Portion the puréed squash, then freeze for later. Once frozen, the purée can be transferred and stored in a resealable freezer bag for up to three months.

Butternut squash, in particular, freezes like a champ! It does fine whether frozen raw or cooked. Freeze raw butternut squash pieces in the same way you would freeze berries: Place them on a baking sheet, spaced out so they don’t touch each other, and freeze until very firm. Then gather them in a freezer container, leaving room for possible expansion. Freeze until needed.

You can freeze most herbs and they do not need to be blanched first. Just rinse, remove the leaves from the stems and let them dry on a flat tray. You can then put a bunch of these leaves together in a bag and freeze them. Freeze chopped herbs in olive oil, use an ice cub tray, for a lovely flavored oil that works great in a stir-fry or a soup.

Mushrooms should be cooked or steam blanched before freezing. Cut the mushroom into 1 inch pieces. To blanch your mushrooms, bring a pot of water to a boil and place a steamer basket inside. Add the mushrooms to the basket and let them steam for 3–5 minutes. Then, remove the mushrooms and place them immediately into a bath of ice water for the same amount of time that you steamed them. Strain the water, place the mushrooms in airtight, freezer-safe bags, and store them in the freezer.

Frozen mushrooms are great for soups, pasta, rice, quinoa, stir fry or quiches. You can also make a mushroom soup and freeze it for up to three months. Check out our recipe page for a simple and delicious Cream of Mushroom Soup.

Apples last a long time but freezing them will extend their shelf life even longer. To freeze apples, peel, core and cut into slices. Soak the apples in a lemon juice bath for 5 minutes. Drain and dry. Then arrange on a large baking sheet and freeze for at least 4 hours. Transfer to a freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to one year. Cooked apples such as in apple crisp and applesauce also freeze well. 

The days are short, cold and often sunless this time of year, but you can find a burst of sunshine in your weekly produce delivery: Citrus Fruit. Thanks to our partnership with Thorpe's Organic Family Farm, we can deliver delicious, organic grapefruit, oranges and tangerines throughout these long winter months.

​For more than a decade, the Thorpe Family, whose certified organic farm is located in East Aurora, has also grown citrus in Lake Wales, Florida. 

Citrus fruits grow on flowering trees and shrubs. They are characterized by a leathery rind and white pith that encases juicy segments. Cultivated in tropical and subtropical climates all over the world, major production hubs include Spain, Brazil, China, the US, Mexico and India. Interestingly, nearly a third of all citrus fruits are used to make juice. 

You can find all kinds of citrus fruits year round. The peak season for oranges and grapefruits in the Northern Hemisphere is between mid-December and April.

​Citrus fruits are an excellent source of vitamin C, a nutrient that strengthens the immune system and keeps your skin smooth and elastic. In fact, just one medium orange has all the vitamin C you need in a day. They also have good amounts of other vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function properly, including B vitamins, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and copper. Additionally, citrus is rich in plant compounds that have various health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

​Hamlin: Sweet and juicy, the Hamlin orange is larger than other varieties and has few to no seeds, making it one of the best oranges for eating or juicing. 

Sugar Bell: Sugar Bell oranges are rare breed of citrus fruit - a cross between the luscious Honeybell oranges and full-flavored Clementines, these oranges are super sweet, juicy and easy to peel. The size is perfect for snacking or packing in lunches. 

Navel: Navels are part of the winter citrus family. They're seedless, peel easily, and are thought to be one of the world's best-tasting oranges. Because of the peculiar human-navel-like formation found opposite the stem-end, we can easily identify Navel Oranges from other cultivars or varieties. This belly-button like formation answers the question “Why are Navel Oranges called Navel Oranges?”

Tangerine: This citrus fruit are a subgroup of mandarins. Most commonly, mandarins that are reddish-orange and brightly colored tend to be labeled as tangerines. The taste is considered less sour, as well as sweeter and stronger, than that of an orange. Tangerines are most commonly peeled and eaten by hand. ​

Their bulbous size; bitter pith (the white stuff that surrounds the fruit); and tart taste can be off-putting to those who are more accustomed to their sweeter citrus cousins, like the orange. But consider adding this superfood to your regular rotation of healthy foods. It's among the 20 best breakfast foods.

Citrus Salad with Fennel Vinaigrette -- Sub Top Seedz crackers for the sesame clusters in this recipe.
Candied Grapefruit Peel
Citrus-Marinated Chicken Thighs
Orange-Scented Olive Oil Cake

 Lion’s mane mushrooms are large, white, shaggy mushrooms that resemble a lion’s mane as they grow. This mushroom is popular in vegan and vegetarian recipes. It is absolutely delicious and provides an amazing hearty and firm texture, very similar to crab. It is mild in flavor and is an excellent vehicle to take on different flavors. Many describe their taste as “seafood-like,” often comparing it to crab or lobster. We source ours from Flat#12 Mushrooms in Buffalo. 

These mushrooms have both culinary and medical uses in Asian countries like China, India, Japan and Korea. Lion’s mane mushrooms contain bioactive substances that have beneficial effects on the body, especially the brain, heart and gut. Thoroughly heating them softens the mushroom, releasing the nutrients and medicinal compounds. 

9 Health Benefits of Lion's Mane Mushroom:

1. Could Protect Against Dementia. Studies have found that lion’s mane mushrooms contain two special compounds that can stimulate the growth of brain cells. In fact, lion’s mane mushroom and its extracts have been shown to reduce symptoms of memory loss in mice.
2. Helps Relieve Mild Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety.
3. May Speed Recovery from Nervous System Injuries.
4. Protects Against Ulcers in the Digestive Tract.
5. Reduces Heart Disease Risk.
6. Helps Manage Diabetes Symptoms.
7. May Help Fight Cancer. Some research suggests that lion’s mane mushroom has cancer-fighting abilities, thanks to several of its unique compounds. Although further study is needed, when lion’s mane extract is mixed with human cancer cells in a test tube, they cause the cancer cells to die at a faster rate. 
8. Reduces Inflammation.
9. Boosts the Immune System.

Lion's mane mushrooms will last up to a week if properly stored and cared for, and they really aren't that finicky. Just keep them away from water—do not wash them until you are ready to eat them, if at all—and store them in your fridge away from the direct flow of cold air. (The crisper drawer will do just fine.) Brush off any dirt or black bits on the "fur" of the mushroom. Remove the "foot", where it was attached to the tree (it resembles the stalk of a cauliflower). Cut the mushroom into 1/2 inch steaks or as best you can, uniformly.

• Pan sautéed with butter
  
• Oven roasted with olive oil or butter and seasoning of choice
  
• Grilled

To sautee: Slice mushroom into steaks. Place them in a dry pan on medium heat. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes and flip. When the mushrooms have released water and start to brown, add the butter - about 2tbsp per medium head of lion's mane. Make sure every piece gets a bit on both sides. Be delicate as you handle them and don't stir them around. Season with salt and generous amounts of fresh ground pepper. Bring the heat down to low and cook until both sides are golden brown.

​The furry fronds will go from soft to crispy and soak up all that butter. So satisfying as a side dish or served warm on top of salad.

​The words base, foundation, and humble beginnings are all terms used to describe mirepoix. Pronounced meer-PWAH, this simple, yet essential flavor base was named in the 18th-century after the duke, Charles Pierre Gaston François de Lévis, or Duc de Mirepoix, a French general and diplomat. It is said that his chef de cuisine named this seasoning base after his patron- the Duke.
​
Many chefs consider mirepoix to be the key ingredient for adding that extra umph to a dish. It’s the secret sauce; the essential ingredient; the reason your food tastes so good. Mirepoix plays an important role in flavoring soups, stews, casseroles, braised meats, and marinades.

How to make mirepoix:
To make this mirepoix recipe you’ll need two parts onion, one part carrot, and one part celery plus olive oil.

1. Prepare your vegetables. Trim the root ends and tips from the vegetables. Rinse and scrub the carrots and celery. Dry well. If desired, peel your carrots before chopping (tip- save your root ends and carrot peelings and stick them in a freezer-safe bag. Transfer to the freezer and save for homemade vegetable stock).
2. Chop your vegetables. The size you choose to chop your onions, carrots, and celery will vary depending on the recipe being prepared. However, as a general guideline: for sauteed recipes, chop small (¼-inch to ½-inch), for soups and stews, medium size (½-inch to 1-inch), and for stock, broth, or blended soups, larger size (1-2 inches).
3. Cook vegetables over medium-low heat. Add the olive oil to a large skillet set over medium-low heat. Add the onions, carrots, and celery, mixing well to coat. Cook, stirring often, for 10-12 minutes, or until softened and onions are translucent. Adjust heat to prevent vegetables from browning.

Recipes with mirepoix:

• Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
• Easy Lentil Soup Recipe
• Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

While this winter vegetable may look like a magical mandrake from a Harry Potter film, it carries familiar traits of potatoes and celery. Celeriac’s texture is comparable to that of a potato. However, it low in carbohydrates and can be eaten raw. Served raw, this vegetable is crunchy and presents a mild celery flavor with a hint of parsley. Roasting develops a subtle earthy, sweetness. Celeriac can also be boiled, broiled, steamed, sautéed, deep fried. You will enjoy preparing this vegetable in a variety of ways. 

​Trim any greenery and root ends and store unwashed in a perforated plastic bag in the vegetable crisper. Scrub thoroughly with a stiff bristle brush under cold running water. To peel this root vegetable cut the top and bottom off and set I flat on a cutting board. Peel the hard brown skin and dunk in lemon water immediately to prevent any discoloration from oxidation. 

​To get the most nutritional value out of this vegetable, consume it raw. A single serving of celeriac contains 80% of the Daily Value of vitamin K. Vitamin K is important for blood clotting, heart health and bone health. Additionally, celeriac contains abundant antioxidants, fiber, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Vitamin C is especially important during winter to keep your immune system strong.

More recipes:
Garlic Mashed Celeriac Potatoes
Celeriac Cheddar Soup
Celeriac salad with apple, pine nuts and prosciutto
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