Can I freeze that?

     Today I went grocery shopping, which for me is no easy task. I make a list. It is not just an 'I am going shopping today' list of what I need. It is a cumulative list of my minds menu wandering. Oh sure, when I run out of the basics I, like everyone else, has a list on my fridge or on my phone for reminders. But meal planning is a' passion quest'.

     I hate leftovers and I live alone. That in itself is an oxymoron. 

     The ' I hate leftovers' problem consumes my food choices and keeps my freezer barron, to a point. The things that are in my freezer are thoughtful components of the next meal. The leftovers, which are inevitable, are shared with grateful recipients. 

     I have a craving for split pea soup and go shopping with this desire in mind. One bag of dried peas, one carrot, one onion, one potato, check. Celery is wrapped in foil in the fridge, check. The magic freezer item ham bone soup base, check. 

     The items I do freeze, either have a purpose or are going to be a part of another scratch meal. For example, pitas.They come in a package of five and I only need one for this meal. I take the one I need out of the bag and individually wrap the other four in saran and put them back in the bag to be frozen. This way I can take them out one at a time without them being frozen to each other. The ham base was leftover from a ham dinner I hosted. I cut the extra ham from the bone chopping it into bitesize pieces. Then I boiled the bone to make the soup base and froze in containers with the pieces of ham for soups, as needed. 
     The secret to any good soup is timing and patience. I first boil the peas until tender and then add the frozen chunk of homemade soup base. When that has melded I add my onions, carrots, and celery simmering until the carrots are blanched. I season with fresh ground pepper and add the chopped potatoes last so they do not become mushy. 
     I pair my soup with hummus and pitas and enjoy a delicious fall meal, in the company of food.