Introducing part two of my kitchen shortcut mini series! Last time I shared with you the joys of freezing herbs - I've used all the coriander I froze last month, it's such a lifesaver! Did any of you have a go at freezing herbs?This time I thought I'd share another time and money saving tip - sourcing good quality jarred foods. Yeh, pop to Sainsburys and you can buy most things in jarred form, but these are my recipe shortcuts that taste great, and save you the hassle of having to make a special trip to the shops. First up - preserved sliced lemons. These are great for laying on a roast chicken, cooking with fish or even popping in your drinks. I often have a slice in a glass of warm water in the morning to kick start my stomach, or in a drink in the evening. You can even add the lemon juice in the jar to cooking or drinks for an extra burst of flavour! My favorite quick meal at the moment is pan frying trout fillets with spring onions, chorizo and lemon. Much easier than keeping fresh lemons in your fruit bowl at all times!Secondly, I find myself reaching for a jar of roasted peppers pretty frequently - add to a beef chilli, goulash (recipe here!) or spag bol for a sweet peppery lift. They also taste great in salads, in an omelet or frittata, or on pizzas. Basically, anything you fancy! They feel almost octopus like in texture, but simply chop up and use as much or as little as you like of each pepper. Fresh peppers are so expensive, these make a great, longer-lasting and arguably tastier alternative.Both of these I will always have in my fridge, but I've also bought chillis, artichokes (great in salads!), olive tapanade and roasted aubergines. Some of these are great to use in salads, as nibbles, and in a whole load of recipes. Although many say 'eat within a week of opening' I rarely stick to this and they keep just fine. Just keep an eye on them!Do you have any similar kitchen shortcuts?
