Dining Divas The Yellow Door and J. Butlers

The Club sandwiches we enjoyed at The Yellow Door Cafe were fresh, delicious and a great meal! The potato salad, equally good. Service was sharp and attentive. The atmosphere had it’s own vibe, perfect for a fun lunch. We highly recommend!

The Yellow Door Cafe by Liberty Catering 280 Standard Street, Elkin, NC 28621 Tuesday-Thursday 11a-2p / 4-8p Friday 9a-2p / 4p-9p Saturday 9a-2p www.yellowdoorcafe.com 336-258-8113

2022

Saturday, October 15 11am to 5pm Downtown Yadkinville

Admission is Free Wine tasting tickets at the gate are $25. Save $5 by purchasing tickets in advance. A souvenir wine glass is included. Military Appreciation tickets at the gate are $20.

Age ID Required To order tickets visit www.yvgf.com or Call 1-877-492-3546 Event Rain or Shine! For group rates call the Chamber Office in advance: 3366792200.

Experience the Latest in Yadkin Valley Wines Meet Your Friends for a fun day of Wine, Music & Food

Shuttle service will be provided to the festival from local lodging at no cost . 13 Yadkin Valley Contact the Chamber wineries will to sign up be on site! for festival transportation. Live Stage Entertainment

Larry Wishon Noon to 2p Juke Box Rehab 3 to 5p

Courtesy Wine Storage Booth

Shop our Festival Souvenir Booth

Main sponsors: Town of Yadkinville TDA, Yadkin County TDA, Jonesville TDA, First National Bank, Nextera Energy, Skyline National Bank.

foodsandflavors ™ ~ Courtney Tevepaugh

Courtney Tevepaugh

photo: Pixels On Paper Photography

WRITER/PHOTOS Courtney Tevepaugh

Family and Consumer Science Agent, Wilkes County North Carolina Cooperative Extension

Courtney_tevepaugh@ncsu.edu Follow along on Facebook @wilkesFCS

Freezer Meals for Your Busy Family

A home-cooked meal is something I prioritize for the health of my family. Family meals can strengthen relationships and help young children develop positive eating habits. Not to mention cooking at home saves money while allowing individuals to have control over the ingredients in their food. With a busy family, getting dinner on the table in the evenings is no easy task. Many turn to freezer meals to save money, provide a healthy home-cooked meal, and encourage their family to share a meal. Before having my son, I spent time making a batch of freezer meals to make life easier with a newborn. It was so convenient to pull a meal out of the freezer rather than stress about finding the time to cook. It was also nice to know I had control over the food we were eating. Since then though I have not prepared freezer meals in bulk. As were going through a very busy season at home, getting meals on the table has become a battle. A wise mentor reminded me that I should carve out a chunk of time to prepare a batch of meals again. I decided to take her advice and surprisingly whipped out a month’s worth of meals in a few hours!

Regardless of your family size or life stage, freezer meals can be a time and energy saver. If you choose to fill the freezer with meals, consider these things before jumping in.

Recipes - Think about the meals you enjoy most. Center your planning around those recipes, now is not the best time to try something new. Consider recipes that will freeze well, including meats, soups, and casseroles. Foods that do not freeze well include raw or hard-boiled eggs in their shell; potatoes; instant rice; pasta that is frozen by itself.

Plan - List ingredients needed for the recipes chosen and take inventory of what's available in your pantry. From this, you can make a shopping list. Remember to include quality freezer bags, storage containers, aluminum foil, and foil pans if needed.

Prepare - Before the cooking day shop and prepare your workspace. I don't recommend shopping, prepping, and cooking all in one day. Keep in mind if you are planning to prepare a month's worth of meals the grocery bill will be higher than your normal weekly shopping and take a while longer. Clean out the freezer to make space for the meals and clear off countertops for extra work area. If a recipe calls for a cooked component, for example, browned ground beef, make it before to save time.

Cooking Day - Be prepared to spend a few hours prepping meals for a two-week supply. If choosing to prepare a month of meals it may take the majority of the day. For cooked foods, cool slightly before adding to freezer bags. Freezer bags can melt if food is too hot. While cooking, remember to check the serving size of the recipes. If your family is small and does not enjoy leftovers it's probably best to divide the recipe before freezing.

Enjoy - Finally, enjoy your hard-earned work. Create a meal plan based on the meal prepared to be sure they are not forgotten in the freezer. Make note of the recipes your family enjoyed the most to make on your next cooking day!

There are more blog posts on the internet featuring freezer meals than I can count. The trouble is when I read these, I find myself thinking…" that's a great idea, but my family will not like it". I don't want to waste my precious time prepping meals that are less than desirable. So, I have combed my resources to find freezer meals my family enjoys. I want to use quality ingredients, and make them healthy, with little prep or cooking time. Bonus points for recipes that can go straight into the slow cooker or instant pot! Here are two favorite freezer meals.

BBQ Ribs 3 to 4 pounds country style ribs 3 cloves minced garlic or 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/3 cup chopped onion or 1 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 2 Tablespoons brown sugar

Label a gallon-size freezer bag with cooking instructions Add ribs. Mix remaining ingredients in a separate bowl. Pour over ribs. Seal, remove as much air as possible, and freeze.

To Cook in Instant Pot

Add all contents to pot. Cook on high pressure for 50 minutes (from frozen) OR 45 minutes (from fresh). Allow for a 20-minute natural pressure release.

Homemade Stir Fry Kit 1 pound chicken breast, cut into 1” cubes 1/4 cup cornstarch (optional) 2 Tablespoons sesame or olive oil 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce 1/3 cup rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 (16-ounce) bag frozen stir fry vegetables

Add chicken & cornstarch to a gallon size freezer bag Shake to coat pieces. Seal. In a small quart size bag combine sauce ingredients (oil, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, garlic). Label a new gallon freezer bag. Add bag of chicken, bag of sauce & frozen vegetables on top. Seal together and freeze.

To Cook: Thaw chicken & marinade in cold water or overnight in the refrigerator. In a large skillet on med-high heat add 3 Tablespoons oil. Stir fry chicken until crispy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add vegetables & stir fry another 3 to 5 minutes, or until tender. Stir in sauce. Continue cooking for another minute to let sauce thicken. Yields 4 to 6 servings. For quicker prep substitute homemade sauce for one cup of bottled stir fry sauce. Serve with rice or noodles.

To Cook in Crock Pot

Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours (from frozen) OR on low for 5 to 6 hours (from fresh).

Place ribs on a baking sheet topped with your favorite BBQ sauce. Broil in oven until sauce is caramelized. Yields 4 to 6 servings. Serve with baked potatoes or corn on the cob!