We were able to get a stand alone freezer a year ago, so when meat is one sale we stock up. We can sometimes get really good buys at Costco on bulk meat. We cut it and rewrap it and place it in the freezer.

For those who are looking for fresh food storage - many fruits and veggies can be frozen or canned when they are in season. In fact, I’ve read several articles in Organic Gardening magazine and other sources that indicate saving and storing fresh fruits and veggies isn’t only healthy for us, it’s also healthier for the environment (especially if you take advantage of buying your fresh produce from a local farm or growing your own). Look online or in a cookbook for preserving guidelines.

I highly recommend growing and storing your own herbs as it is much cheaper and tastier than buying in the stores. Most are extremely easy to grow and can be dried. Rosemary does really well dried. In fact, I hang it and parsley to dry on the inside of my panty door for easy accessibility. For basil (which is a prolific grower so you can get a lot from just one plant), if you can’t use it fresh, make it into a simple pesto by putting leaves in a food processor with some olive oil. Scoop the pesto out using a tsp and/orTbsp measure, place on a baking sheet and freeze. After they freeze, put the “pesto patties” in a Ziploc and keep them stored in the freezer for future use. Not only does this keep the basil recipe ready, it also prevents it from turning black and preserves its taste.