I also buy lunchmeat in the bulk pack at Sam's. I keep one pack in the fridge and everything else goes in the freezer. SLICED cheese (processed, not block) freezes well, too. Again, I buy the large pack at Sam's. I break it down into packs about the size of a regular pack of cheese and freeze the rest.

Here's the recipe I use for Minestrone soup, which does call for a small amount of pasta, but the amount is so small that I do not notice it getting mushy: Minestrone Soup 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup minced white onion (about 1/2 small onion) 1/3 cup minced celery (about 1 stalk) 2 chopped zucchinis, chopped 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2-3 cloves) 2 cups water or vegetable broth 2 tsp vegetable soup base (if broth is not used � dissolve in the 2 cups water) 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes (or whole tomatoes pur�ed in can) 1/4 cup carrots, shredded 2-4 tablespoons minced fresh parsley 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme 1 to 1 1/2 cups water or vegetable soup base 1 to 1-1/2 tsp vegetable soup base (dissolved in the water, if broth not used) 2/3 cup small shell pasta (orzo, or similar) 1-3/4 cups cooked red kidney beans, drained* 1-3/4 cups cooked small white beans or great northern beans, drained* 2 cups fresh or frozen baby spinach (optional) 2 tbsp tomato paste or 1 tbsp tomato powder salt, to taste, if soup base is not used Directions: Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot. Saut� onion and celery in the oil for 4-5 minutes or until onions begin to turn translucent. Add the zucchini and garlic and saut� a couple of minutes more. Add vegetable broth to pot, plus tomatoes, carrot, and spices. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Add additional 1 cup hot water/vegetable broth (more, if needed), pasta, beans, spinach leaves (if desired), and tomato paste, and cook for an additional 20 minutes or until desired consistency. Less water will be needed if the spinach is used. Add salt to taste, if you are not using soup base. I use Better Than Bouillon brand vegetable soup base or one that I get from a restaurant supply store. Use more parsley if you are not adding spinach. *Note: I use 7/8 cup of each dried bean to yield the amount needed and cook the beans earlier in the day or the day before in plain water with a couple of bay leaves. I simmer them in the same pan. Alternatively, canned beans can be used (14 oz can each), drained and rinsed. ------------- This soup freezes extremely well, but I have found that most bean based soups are best for freezing. If I am making an Indian style garbanzo soup that I want to freeze, I will use rice instead of potato. Lars

Make a broccoli soup and freeze it in quart containers. Sometimes I make a split pea soup and add a bunch of broccoli. When it is tender, puree it in the blender and freeze it. I baked a zucchini cake for my sister who cut it up by the slice and froze it and she said it turned out perfect. It tastes like a carrot cake. ZUCCHINI cake 2 c sugar 1 c cooking oil 3 eggs 2 c flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon 2 c shredded, unpeeled zucchini, packed (about 3 smaller ones) 1 c very finely chopped walnuts (best to chop in the food processor) 1 Tbsp vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting Scrub zucchini skin well to remove all grit before shredding it--use a vegetable brush if you have one. Mix sugar, oil and eggs on medium speed of mixer for 4 minutes. Fold shredded zucchini, nuts and vanilla into sugar mixture. Sift dry ingredients and fold into batter. Bake in a greased tube pan at 350 degrees for 60 to 65 minutes. Cool in pan on cooling rack 20 minutes and turn out on rack to finish cooling. Cream Cheese Frosting 3 c powdered sugar, sifted 2 (3 oz) packages of cream cheese, softened to room temperature 5 Tbsp butter, softened 1 tsp lemon extract. Beat thoroughly and frost your cake

Yes it does, and very well too. As a matter of fact, I always cook a huge pot, divide into serving portions and freeze them. Delicious and convenient. Been doing it for years.