What fruits and veggies are in season now, that you can get cheaply or reasonably at the supermarket or at the farmer's market? Buying in-season produce, in large amounts, can save you money, as long as you can prepare and preserve it for future use. I use my freezer as much as possible to get the most out of in-season produce bargains.
I shop at the year-round farmers' market as well as the cash-and-carry stores, and the produce outlets, so sometimes I find good, cheap deals on produce in bulk quantities (like a case of produce). For example, asparagus and strawberries are on sale around here now. Here's what I did last year: I bought a case of asparagus at a good price. I then cleaned and blanched most of it, and froze it in quart freezer bags to use as my future side-dish vegetable for dinners. (I suppose you could preseason it, too, before freezing, with lemon-butter or even homemade white sauce.) Some of it I made into cream of asparagus soup (works well with other veggies, too), and then froze the soup in quart freezer bags. I laid the bags so they froze flat -- they store more easily that way. I used all this throughout the year, or gave some to friends and family who don't cook. Now I plan to do it all over again. Strawberries can be de-hulled and frozen for future desserts, such as strawberry shortcake, strawberry muffins, or frozen blender drinks. Sometimes I freeze the proper amounts of berries to make cooked jam later, when I have the time. Some people make strawberry "freezer jam". I have not done this myself, but maybe someone can contribute the recipe?
Just some suggestions. Enjoy all the good fruits and veggies!
This is another tip that would make a lasting keepsake cake decoration. Seal a special photograph in between laminating sheets (I use the heat sealing type) and cut to size desired and place on the iced cake and pipe decorative frosting around the cake. As an added bonus, you might want to include a picture frame that would accommodate the laminated photo for later mounting.
Create a special message with date and your signature on a separate piece of paper, so you can have this for the reverse side of the photo that you are laminating. Always think "presentation".
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