The frozen chosen

Armed with plenty of groceries on a recent Sunday, I set aside a couple of hours to cook several dishes that freeze well, including spinach manicotti, kale and black eyed pea vegetable soup and pork piccata. I can’t tell you what a relief it’s been lately to whip open the freezer door in the afternoon and find those reassuring packages. Busy families don’t need to be reminded how unbearably time-pressed weeknights are, but there is hope. All of us can find a block of time a month to cook a handful of dishes and throw them in the freezer. What’s more, a growing number of families around the country who still believe in the importance of home cooking are turning the idea of cooking ahead into an opportunity to connect with friends and neighbors. The popular blog sixsisterstuff.com recently discussed neighborhood friends who cooked several batches of their favorite freezable dishes and then gathered to swap. Imagine having a glass of wine with friends and walking away with three or four frozen meals someone else has made from scratch. Sometimes, it’s the little things.