The weather is warming up and feeling more like summer every day.  My cool weather crops have grown nicely and are being harvested.  This week the broccoli and cauliflower came out of the garden.  The heads were a decent size, a little bigger than a softball.  Not the size you buy at the store, but they sure taste better.

In a previous post about the broccolini I harvested, I mentioned that we were going to have more than we could eat and I mentioned freezing it.  I got some advice/instructions from valbjerke on how to freeze it.  It’s a pretty simple process.  Thanks for how to Valbjerke!

First I cut the florets from the stalk and chipped them up in smaller pieces.

While you’re doing that bring a pot of water to a boil and get an ice water bath ready.

Put the broccoli into the boiling pot of water.  Let the broccoli sit in that little sauna for 2-3 minutes.  When the time is up, scoop it out and into the tub of ice water.  Personally, I like to use a strainer in the pot of ice water.  This makes it easy to strain and you don’t have to mes with the ice cubes getting into your crop.

When the time is up, scoop it out and into the tub of ice water.  Personally, I like to use a strainer in the pot of ice water.  This makes it easy to strain and you don’t have to mes with the ice cubes getting into your crop.

At the end of the 2-3 minutes, place the broccoli on the hand towel to dry out a bit.

After the broccoli has dried a bit, you’re going to par freeze them before putting them in the freezer bags.  To par freeze the broccoli, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and put them in the freezer for about 15-20 minutes.

Take them out of the freezer and put them in a freezer safe bag.  Be sure to label the bag so you know when you put it up.

Now we’re going to get to enjoy fresh broccoli well into the fall season!

Happy harvesting everyone!