As always, on a Friday I take part in Food Waste Friday over at The Frugal Girl
I thought I would share my Friday routine this week as I try to be one organised lady when it comes to the kitchen and food!
Each week I allocate about 1-2 hours after the school run to do the following:
- Firstly I clean the counter tops
- Secondly I grab a dry marker and my ceramic notepad (less clutter and waste)
- Then I empty the contents of the fridge and my perishables cupboard onto the counter
- Next I clean my fridge with bicarbonate of soda, and wipe out my cupboard with a damp cloth and a little washing up liquid (not too much)
- Once the fridge is ready to go I do an inventory of my foodstuffs. My aim each week is to purchase for the week and not to carry over perishable items. Fruit and Veg deteriorate if not frozen, so I do try to use up within 7 days maximum. I also only have a small fridge and do not like food clutter – so I purchase just what is needed and very rarely bulk buy – there is an argument that this isn’t very frugal but I find it reduces waste for my family.
Fridge/Perishables Inventory
- Firstly I identify all items that can go back in the fridge – so this week I have cheese and some bacon – I note these on my ceramic pad so as not to repurchase and to ensure I include a meal that uses them up ASAP
- Secondly I make a note of any items that need replenishing – these are the ‘add in/on’ ingredients that I frequently use – so this week it’s garlic, onions, orange juice, milk and some ketchup for my Daughter!
- A bit of a treat was lurking in the fridge… I have an open carton of cream and half a Bailey’s bread and butter pud that I made last night to use up some bread, so that will get eaten tonight.
- Finally I leave on the counter what needs using up and then it’s time to get creative!
So do I have anything this week to contribute to Food Waste Friday and what am I going to do about it?? Or do the Hubby and I get a takeaway?
No takeaway for us tonight!
I have a confession – this week I skipped one of the meals (pan-fried salmon) from my meal plan and instead rustled up some omelets. I fortunately had frozen the salmon, but still had the veggies that would have accompanied it and there were also had some veggies left over from the Vegetable Curry…
So on my counter sitting in anticipation were:
- 1 x Red Onion
- Small Bunch of Spring Onions
- 1 x Courgette/Zucchini
- 5 x Peppers
- 12 x Small Mushrooms
- 1 x Aubergine
- A Punnet of Cherry Tomatoes
- 2/3rds Tub of Soft Cheese
All of the above I decided to prep and experiment with a mediterranean lasagne in Big Ben my Extra Large Slow Cooker – and it smells amazing already. There is so much lasagne that after we have eaten it for dinner I will freeze the remainder and we will finish it off on Meat-Free Monday.
Also sitting on my counter (oops!!):
- 5 x Parsnips
- 3 x Apples
- 4 x Celery Sticks
Which I quickly peeled and chopped (adding an onion, garlic and boiling water) and placed in Brenda my Vegetarian/Pudding Slow Cooker – to make a soup which I will freeze later and then have for lunch on Meat Free Monday.
Just 1 thing left…. a Lime! Which was sliced and placed in a bag in the freezer to use as a tasty alternative to ice cubes…
So I have no food waste to confess to on Food Waste Friday 26th November apart from a Tupperware box full of peelings that are off to the recycling bin – Hurrah! I also have two meals cooking away in Bill and Brenda!
So here we are, 1 hour and 20 minutes later, Bill and Brenda are cooking away. I have cleaned the counter tops, loaded the dishwasher, made myself a cup of tea and started writing this post – a lovely productive non-wasteful morning.
So instead of Food Waste Friday it’s Feel Good Friday 🙂
I’d like to wish all readers over in the US a Happy Belated Thanksgiving. I had planned a post yesterday and would have wished you well then but I have delayed the post as I need to do a little more research.
What I would like to do in advance of my planned post is to point you toward Katy’s post ‘Be Thankful Not Wasteful’ written by Jonathan Bloom from Wasted Food yesterday over at Non-Consumer Advocate – it’s worth a look if you don’t like to see food go to waste
Have a good day y’all
Thanks Deb – just discovered you are from NZ is that correct? How lovely! Have posted a comment on your blog – http://www.lifebeyondstuff.com – Jo
Thanks Deb – just discovered you are from NZ is that correct? How lovely! Have posted a comment on your blog – http://www.lifebeyondstuff.com – Jo
Thanks Deb – just discovered you are from NZ is that correct? How lovely! Have posted a comment on your blog – http://www.lifebeyondstuff.com – Jo
Yes from NZ but trying to de-clutter my way to small apartment living in Australia. Thanks for your comment. I’ve been working on a post that I wanted to put up before I commented here because I’ve linked to your blog.
I loved this post of yours. I have only just discovered thefrugalgirl’s waste free Friday thing and I found myself wandering around the supermarket feeling quite guilty this week as a result because while I liked the concept I had no real idea about how to put it into practice. Now I do, yay and thanks so much.
Hi Deb just about to check in on your post – but wanted to reply first and declutter my thoughts! The key to reducing waste in my opinion is meal planning. I don’t physically shop – I do my groceries online (apart from sometimes my meat and bread – if I can plan it in I will do a local shop run), away from the ‘noise’ of advertising and promotions. I do my planning at home sitting with a coffee, and then do my shop. I don’t deviate (much) from what I write down before I log on – occasionally a deal pops up that is too good to miss but this is rare. My meals complement one another again to reduce waste. Also I keep in key store cupboard ingredients – so should I need to use something up I have options to create something else and freeze. If you do go into grocery stores then never go in ‘blind’ or hungry! Have a list and try and stick to it. I will be posting my next meal plan this weekend, as the groceries arrived this morning (good job as well as we have a little snow and it’s very cold’ so I stayed indoors). If ever you need some inspiration with meals, recipes or using up food just drop me a line – I’d love to help! Jo
Yes from NZ but trying to de-clutter my way to small apartment living in Australia. Thanks for your comment. I’ve been working on a post that I wanted to put up before I commented here because I’ve linked to your blog.
I loved this post of yours. I have only just discovered thefrugalgirl’s waste free Friday thing and I found myself wandering around the supermarket feeling quite guilty this week as a result because while I liked the concept I had no real idea about how to put it into practice. Now I do, yay and thanks so much.
Hi Deb just about to check in on your post – but wanted to reply first and declutter my thoughts! The key to reducing waste in my opinion is meal planning. I don’t physically shop – I do my groceries online (apart from sometimes my meat and bread – if I can plan it in I will do a local shop run), away from the ‘noise’ of advertising and promotions. I do my planning at home sitting with a coffee, and then do my shop. I don’t deviate (much) from what I write down before I log on – occasionally a deal pops up that is too good to miss but this is rare. My meals complement one another again to reduce waste. Also I keep in key store cupboard ingredients – so should I need to use something up I have options to create something else and freeze. If you do go into grocery stores then never go in ‘blind’ or hungry! Have a list and try and stick to it. I will be posting my next meal plan this weekend, as the groceries arrived this morning (good job as well as we have a little snow and it’s very cold’ so I stayed indoors). If ever you need some inspiration with meals, recipes or using up food just drop me a line – I’d love to help! Jo
Yes from NZ but trying to de-clutter my way to small apartment living in Australia. Thanks for your comment. I’ve been working on a post that I wanted to put up before I commented here because I’ve linked to your blog.
I loved this post of yours. I have only just discovered thefrugalgirl’s waste free Friday thing and I found myself wandering around the supermarket feeling quite guilty this week as a result because while I liked the concept I had no real idea about how to put it into practice. Now I do, yay and thanks so much.
Hi Deb just about to check in on your post – but wanted to reply first and declutter my thoughts! The key to reducing waste in my opinion is meal planning. I don’t physically shop – I do my groceries online (apart from sometimes my meat and bread – if I can plan it in I will do a local shop run), away from the ‘noise’ of advertising and promotions. I do my planning at home sitting with a coffee, and then do my shop. I don’t deviate (much) from what I write down before I log on – occasionally a deal pops up that is too good to miss but this is rare. My meals complement one another again to reduce waste. Also I keep in key store cupboard ingredients – so should I need to use something up I have options to create something else and freeze. If you do go into grocery stores then never go in ‘blind’ or hungry! Have a list and try and stick to it. I will be posting my next meal plan this weekend, as the groceries arrived this morning (good job as well as we have a little snow and it’s very cold’ so I stayed indoors). If ever you need some inspiration with meals, recipes or using up food just drop me a line – I’d love to help! Jo
Thank you for this pos! This is great motivation to clean out my fridge. I am envious of your smaller one. The American refrigerators are as big as a truck and you’re supposed to put in two months of groceries (which probably isn’t healthy, and most certainly becomes wasteful). Have a great day, Jo!
Thank you for this pos! This is great motivation to clean out my fridge. I am envious of your smaller one. The American refrigerators are as big as a truck and you’re supposed to put in two months of groceries (which probably isn’t healthy, and most certainly becomes wasteful). Have a great day, Jo!
Thank you for this pos! This is great motivation to clean out my fridge. I am envious of your smaller one. The American refrigerators are as big as a truck and you’re supposed to put in two months of groceries (which probably isn’t healthy, and most certainly becomes wasteful). Have a great day, Jo!
I enjoyed your post. Found you through a comment you left on FG’s blog. Reading about your productive morning was very satisfying 🙂 That kind of efficiency gives my heart a little thrill too:) I am soon to start my mission of looking for recipes to use my slow cooker more. I will certainly be back to check out future posts and your archives! Thanks.
Hi Susan – how lovely of you to stop by and also to post a comment – Thank you! Cooking is my passion, and I love slow cooking – I have quite a few recipes to post, and many many more to try out, so do keep checking in and let’s get that slow cooker of yours up to speed! Jo 🙂
I enjoyed your post. Found you through a comment you left on FG’s blog. Reading about your productive morning was very satisfying 🙂 That kind of efficiency gives my heart a little thrill too:) I am soon to start my mission of looking for recipes to use my slow cooker more. I will certainly be back to check out future posts and your archives! Thanks.
Hi Susan – how lovely of you to stop by and also to post a comment – Thank you! Cooking is my passion, and I love slow cooking – I have quite a few recipes to post, and many many more to try out, so do keep checking in and let’s get that slow cooker of yours up to speed! Jo 🙂
I enjoyed your post. Found you through a comment you left on FG’s blog. Reading about your productive morning was very satisfying 🙂 That kind of efficiency gives my heart a little thrill too:) I am soon to start my mission of looking for recipes to use my slow cooker more. I will certainly be back to check out future posts and your archives! Thanks.
Hi Susan – how lovely of you to stop by and also to post a comment – Thank you! Cooking is my passion, and I love slow cooking – I have quite a few recipes to post, and many many more to try out, so do keep checking in and let’s get that slow cooker of yours up to speed! Jo 🙂
Oh btw, can you share you recipe for Baileys Bread and Butter Pudding? My husband and I are Irish. We moved to Seattle nearly 11 years ago. This is the first time I’ve ever heard of using Baileys in B&B pud. Sounds delicious!
Wow! that was some move – hope it’s going well. My Gran took the leap in the 60’s and moved over to LA from England – she loved every minute! The Baileys bread and butter pud is fantastic, I adore Baileys and that is the only non-frugal bit of the whole recipe… you don’t use a lot though – unless you have a couple of glasses whilst prepping 🙂 I reduced the quantities last week, and wasn’t completely happy with the results as I was trying to make it a 4 person serving rather than 6, so didn’t post the recipe. I’m actually going to make it tomorrow rather than Thursday as it is on the meal plan I posted. So expect the recipe to go live then. Have a lovely day Jo
Oh btw, can you share you recipe for Baileys Bread and Butter Pudding? My husband and I are Irish. We moved to Seattle nearly 11 years ago. This is the first time I’ve ever heard of using Baileys in B&B pud. Sounds delicious!
Wow! that was some move – hope it’s going well. My Gran took the leap in the 60’s and moved over to LA from England – she loved every minute! The Baileys bread and butter pud is fantastic, I adore Baileys and that is the only non-frugal bit of the whole recipe… you don’t use a lot though – unless you have a couple of glasses whilst prepping 🙂 I reduced the quantities last week, and wasn’t completely happy with the results as I was trying to make it a 4 person serving rather than 6, so didn’t post the recipe. I’m actually going to make it tomorrow rather than Thursday as it is on the meal plan I posted. So expect the recipe to go live then. Have a lovely day Jo
Oh btw, can you share you recipe for Baileys Bread and Butter Pudding? My husband and I are Irish. We moved to Seattle nearly 11 years ago. This is the first time I’ve ever heard of using Baileys in B&B pud. Sounds delicious!
Wow! that was some move – hope it’s going well. My Gran took the leap in the 60’s and moved over to LA from England – she loved every minute! The Baileys bread and butter pud is fantastic, I adore Baileys and that is the only non-frugal bit of the whole recipe… you don’t use a lot though – unless you have a couple of glasses whilst prepping 🙂 I reduced the quantities last week, and wasn’t completely happy with the results as I was trying to make it a 4 person serving rather than 6, so didn’t post the recipe. I’m actually going to make it tomorrow rather than Thursday as it is on the meal plan I posted. So expect the recipe to go live then. Have a lovely day Jo
I just found your blog today! What a great idea for cleaning out the fridge. I usually do this when I am getting ready for a BIG shopping trip but what a great idea to do this weekly. If I did not already have something planned for tonight I would do this right now. I am going to need another crock pot though.
Hi Lisa – I only fill the fridge with what I know will be used in a week. I’m a very visual person and this works for me, as I can see everything that has to be gone ideally by Thursday night… It also means that to do a quick inventory and then use up what I need is a very simple process. The cleaning really is an add on because it is so easy to do when the fridge is empty. It’s a nice little ritual that keeps me on track – there are never any little hidden treasures to be found lurking at the back of the fridge. Slow-cooking is the way to go without a doubt. It always amazes me that Crock-Pots get seen as clutter and yet they are such a minimal way of cooking – chuck it all in, disappear and do something much more fun and then eat! perfect! and simple! Thanks so much for stopping by…. will head on over to yours now! Jo
I just found your blog today! What a great idea for cleaning out the fridge. I usually do this when I am getting ready for a BIG shopping trip but what a great idea to do this weekly. If I did not already have something planned for tonight I would do this right now. I am going to need another crock pot though.
Hi Lisa – I only fill the fridge with what I know will be used in a week. I’m a very visual person and this works for me, as I can see everything that has to be gone ideally by Thursday night… It also means that to do a quick inventory and then use up what I need is a very simple process. The cleaning really is an add on because it is so easy to do when the fridge is empty. It’s a nice little ritual that keeps me on track – there are never any little hidden treasures to be found lurking at the back of the fridge. Slow-cooking is the way to go without a doubt. It always amazes me that Crock-Pots get seen as clutter and yet they are such a minimal way of cooking – chuck it all in, disappear and do something much more fun and then eat! perfect! and simple! Thanks so much for stopping by…. will head on over to yours now! Jo
I just found your blog today! What a great idea for cleaning out the fridge. I usually do this when I am getting ready for a BIG shopping trip but what a great idea to do this weekly. If I did not already have something planned for tonight I would do this right now. I am going to need another crock pot though.
Hi Lisa – I only fill the fridge with what I know will be used in a week. I’m a very visual person and this works for me, as I can see everything that has to be gone ideally by Thursday night… It also means that to do a quick inventory and then use up what I need is a very simple process. The cleaning really is an add on because it is so easy to do when the fridge is empty. It’s a nice little ritual that keeps me on track – there are never any little hidden treasures to be found lurking at the back of the fridge. Slow-cooking is the way to go without a doubt. It always amazes me that Crock-Pots get seen as clutter and yet they are such a minimal way of cooking – chuck it all in, disappear and do something much more fun and then eat! perfect! and simple! Thanks so much for stopping by…. will head on over to yours now! Jo
Ah ha !!! I was just about to post on your blog about my friday routine here at Charlie’s Angels, and voila ! you have a no waste friday thing going on !! Every friday , I go through my cupboards, fridge and farm veg box – anything left that’s taking up precious space, or is coming to the end of it’s life, is cooked and presented to my great big gang of kids as FRIDAY BUFFET !!! At the moment present for this teatime delight are 2 crawling babies, 1 toddler, and 2 reception class children (aswell as my own 2 girls of course). Any additional school friends who care to join in with us are always welcome, and of course this becomes hassle free as there is so much food on the table, and with no effort required, so all round it’s a winner , This is so popular with the children as it means they get plates and plates of all sorts of different things ….. some of them familiar, and some of them not …. so they can try new stuff with no pressure. I always try and come up with various ingenious ways of preparing the food to make it fun, sociable and easy to serve / eat. When we all roll in from the school run , everything is already laid out on the table – so as soon as they are all ready we just pull up at the table and tuck in. This is also a fab way of filling the fridge with ready cooked nibbles for the weekend – thus minimising any effort on my part to sustain the children !! So today here is what has been prepared for the friday buffet .
(everything is laid out in bowls with a spoon in ready for serving )
a few boiled eggs, shell removed and cut in half
beetroot chips and parsnips chips
cooked cauliflower
cooked brocolli
wholemeal toasted muffins, buttered
marguerite pizza – served cold
some salad leaves
salad veg
miniature baked red skin potatoes
home made leek and carrot soup (pan on the table, small tea cups and teaspoons for serving)
miniature hot dogs
a plate of homemade cupcakes bought from the school macmillan morning today
some fruit in a basket
a selection of yoghurts (ie what’s left in the fridge!) with teaspoons
I always do a menu for the week and this helps to minimise waste. When I am doing the shopping I often pick up anything on offer and serve it on the friday buffet – for example, I wouldn’t normally buy mini tinned hot dogs, but as they were BOGOF and worked out at about 40p a tin , they’re on the menu !!
Happy friday everyone !!
Charlie – what a great comment. This is on a post that’s 2 years old now though… Would it be okay to post on today’s post as there are more readers now, who take part in Food Waste Friday as well as No Waste Tastes Great?
This is today’s post, I’m sure others would love to read the comment you’ve left…
http://simplybeingmum.com/2012/09/28/food-waste-friday-a-full-friday-fridge/
I can’t do it my end I’m afraid! Hope all good with you?
You can also enter your website details and people can click through?
Ah ha !!! I was just about to post on your blog about my friday routine here at Charlie’s Angels, and voila ! you have a no waste friday thing going on !! Every friday , I go through my cupboards, fridge and farm veg box – anything left that’s taking up precious space, or is coming to the end of it’s life, is cooked and presented to my great big gang of kids as FRIDAY BUFFET !!! At the moment present for this teatime delight are 2 crawling babies, 1 toddler, and 2 reception class children (aswell as my own 2 girls of course). Any additional school friends who care to join in with us are always welcome, and of course this becomes hassle free as there is so much food on the table, and with no effort required, so all round it’s a winner , This is so popular with the children as it means they get plates and plates of all sorts of different things ….. some of them familiar, and some of them not …. so they can try new stuff with no pressure. I always try and come up with various ingenious ways of preparing the food to make it fun, sociable and easy to serve / eat. When we all roll in from the school run , everything is already laid out on the table – so as soon as they are all ready we just pull up at the table and tuck in. This is also a fab way of filling the fridge with ready cooked nibbles for the weekend – thus minimising any effort on my part to sustain the children !! So today here is what has been prepared for the friday buffet .
(everything is laid out in bowls with a spoon in ready for serving )
a few boiled eggs, shell removed and cut in half
beetroot chips and parsnips chips
cooked cauliflower
cooked brocolli
wholemeal toasted muffins, buttered
marguerite pizza – served cold
some salad leaves
salad veg
miniature baked red skin potatoes
home made leek and carrot soup (pan on the table, small tea cups and teaspoons for serving)
miniature hot dogs
a plate of homemade cupcakes bought from the school macmillan morning today
some fruit in a basket
a selection of yoghurts (ie what’s left in the fridge!) with teaspoons
I always do a menu for the week and this helps to minimise waste. When I am doing the shopping I often pick up anything on offer and serve it on the friday buffet – for example, I wouldn’t normally buy mini tinned hot dogs, but as they were BOGOF and worked out at about 40p a tin , they’re on the menu !!
Happy friday everyone !!
Charlie – what a great comment. This is on a post that’s 2 years old now though… Would it be okay to post on today’s post as there are more readers now, who take part in Food Waste Friday as well as No Waste Tastes Great?
This is today’s post, I’m sure others would love to read the comment you’ve left…
http://simplybeingmum.com/2012/09/28/food-waste-friday-a-full-friday-fridge/
I can’t do it my end I’m afraid! Hope all good with you?
You can also enter your website details and people can click through?
Ah ha !!! I was just about to post on your blog about my friday routine here at Charlie’s Angels, and voila ! you have a no waste friday thing going on !! Every friday , I go through my cupboards, fridge and farm veg box – anything left that’s taking up precious space, or is coming to the end of it’s life, is cooked and presented to my great big gang of kids as FRIDAY BUFFET !!! At the moment present for this teatime delight are 2 crawling babies, 1 toddler, and 2 reception class children (aswell as my own 2 girls of course). Any additional school friends who care to join in with us are always welcome, and of course this becomes hassle free as there is so much food on the table, and with no effort required, so all round it’s a winner , This is so popular with the children as it means they get plates and plates of all sorts of different things ….. some of them familiar, and some of them not …. so they can try new stuff with no pressure. I always try and come up with various ingenious ways of preparing the food to make it fun, sociable and easy to serve / eat. When we all roll in from the school run , everything is already laid out on the table – so as soon as they are all ready we just pull up at the table and tuck in. This is also a fab way of filling the fridge with ready cooked nibbles for the weekend – thus minimising any effort on my part to sustain the children !! So today here is what has been prepared for the friday buffet .
(everything is laid out in bowls with a spoon in ready for serving )
a few boiled eggs, shell removed and cut in half
beetroot chips and parsnips chips
cooked cauliflower
cooked brocolli
wholemeal toasted muffins, buttered
marguerite pizza – served cold
some salad leaves
salad veg
miniature baked red skin potatoes
home made leek and carrot soup (pan on the table, small tea cups and teaspoons for serving)
miniature hot dogs
a plate of homemade cupcakes bought from the school macmillan morning today
some fruit in a basket
a selection of yoghurts (ie what’s left in the fridge!) with teaspoons
I always do a menu for the week and this helps to minimise waste. When I am doing the shopping I often pick up anything on offer and serve it on the friday buffet – for example, I wouldn’t normally buy mini tinned hot dogs, but as they were BOGOF and worked out at about 40p a tin , they’re on the menu !!
Happy friday everyone !!
Charlie – what a great comment. This is on a post that’s 2 years old now though… Would it be okay to post on today’s post as there are more readers now, who take part in Food Waste Friday as well as No Waste Tastes Great?
This is today’s post, I’m sure others would love to read the comment you’ve left…
http://simplybeingmum.com/2012/09/28/food-waste-friday-a-full-friday-fridge/
I can’t do it my end I’m afraid! Hope all good with you?
You can also enter your website details and people can click through?