It’s Friday Guys! It’s time for …
No Waste Tastes Great
Fridays I take a little time first thing to strip down the fridge and perishables cupboard, clean them, take note of anything that needs replenishing, return any items back to the fridge leaving what needs using up on the counter.
If you want to know more about my Friday routine – check out this post
So what is sitting in anticipation on the counter today?
What will I conjure up as my No Waste Tastes Great recipe this Friday?
- 4 Large Mushrooms
- 1 Broccoli Floret
- 7 Medium/Large Carrots
- 8 Free Range Pork Sausages
- 12 Stalks of Celery
Let’s deal with the top 4 items first!
I switched some meals around this week from the simple meal plan upon realising that Tuesday was indeed Pancake Day! Oops had totally forgot, so we had Savoury and Sweet Pancakes for dinner. Therefore I have 8 sausages left.
For dinner tonight I will be making Miniature Toad in the Holes with Mushroom and Onion Gravy (steamed broccoli and carrots on the side) and will be posting the Recipe on my new blog No Waste Tastes Great for those who’d like to take a look. It’ll be up later today!
That leaves approx. 5 carrots and 12 stalks of celery
- The carrots I am going to use up in a carrot, lentil and ginger slow-cooked soup which I am going to cook overnight tonight and then blend tomorrow. We will have for lunch over the weekend.
Oh Celery! What am I going to do with you?
I can guarantee that the one foodstuff that has the potential to sabotage my efforts in reducing waste will be celery without fail whenever I buy it! This is due to three reasons:
- It is purchased in bulk – 13 stalks this week was the minimum I could buy.
- Recipes tend to require 1 or 2 stalks.
- I don’t actually like celery, so unless in a recipe I won’t eat it, nor will the rest of the family.
Time to take action! Fortunately the celery is still usable/edible.
A quick google identifies that celery can be frozen. I don’t know why I hadn’t realised that, apparently it just loses it’s crisp texture but as I use it in cooked recipes that does not matter. Eureka I have at least 3 months worth of celery sitting in the freezer! 1 nil to simplybeingmum you pesky celery stalks!
Here’s a great link for anyone wishing to freeze celery
Since starting No Waste Tastes Great last year, I have only yet had one week where there was nothing to use up. The plan is that on a Friday if the fridge and cupboard is bare that the Hubby and I get a takeaway (Friday Night is Date Night at Chez Wright). The Kids who will have had a hot meal at lunchtime get a meal rustled up from freezer and store cupboard ingredients.
No takeaway for us tonight!
How’s your fridge looking? Anything to use up? Got any tips? Need any inspiration? Please do share in the comments below, and don’t forget to add a link (below) to your blog if you are taking part or have commented………………………
No Waste Tastes Great Participants
| 1. Jo@simplybeingmum | 2. Jenny @ Ex-Consumer |
Powered by… Mister Linky’s Magical Widgets.
I really like your concept! You’ve made me think about what I need to cook up next before it turns sour – yuck! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Jenny! It’s just a reminder each week to use up and reduce waste. Don’t forget to add your blog address into the widget at the bottom… Jo
I really like your concept! You’ve made me think about what I need to cook up next before it turns sour – yuck! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Jenny! It’s just a reminder each week to use up and reduce waste. Don’t forget to add your blog address into the widget at the bottom… Jo
I really like your concept! You’ve made me think about what I need to cook up next before it turns sour – yuck! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Jenny! It’s just a reminder each week to use up and reduce waste. Don’t forget to add your blog address into the widget at the bottom… Jo
I’d love to know your recipe for sweet and savory pancakes! Sorry for no take-away this week…
Hi Hun – I’ll share the recipe in this comments later – very simple (just the way I like it)… Don’t forget to add your blog address into the widget below! Jo
Will do recipe and e-mail to you – running mega late today! x
I’d love to know your recipe for sweet and savory pancakes! Sorry for no take-away this week…
Hi Hun – I’ll share the recipe in this comments later – very simple (just the way I like it)… Don’t forget to add your blog address into the widget below! Jo
Will do recipe and e-mail to you – running mega late today! x
I’d love to know your recipe for sweet and savory pancakes! Sorry for no take-away this week…
Hi Hun – I’ll share the recipe in this comments later – very simple (just the way I like it)… Don’t forget to add your blog address into the widget below! Jo
Will do recipe and e-mail to you – running mega late today! x
I don’t remember why, but wrapping the celery in foil makes it stay fresh much, much longer. It’s a trick I picked up from my mom. Of course, I love celery, so it never lasts long around here.
No take away? 🙁 Maybe you can enjoy some wine with your hubby at home tonight.
Thanks Jenny! Look at the comment below Karen is offering the same great tip. Looks like the battle with celery will be easier going forward… I only like celery with cream cheese – no so great for the waistline eh?
No takeaway – but tomorrow we ‘may’ be going out to a party so I’ll make up for it then! Toad in the hole tonight – in your honour! Don’t forget to add your blog address to the widget below – Jo
I added my link – thanks Jo!
I can’t wait to see what this mysterious Toad in the hole dish looks like!
Few teething probs with the widget at mo – should get ironed out – I need to manually change the code each time… I’ll work it out! 🙂
I don’t remember why, but wrapping the celery in foil makes it stay fresh much, much longer. It’s a trick I picked up from my mom. Of course, I love celery, so it never lasts long around here.
No take away? 🙁 Maybe you can enjoy some wine with your hubby at home tonight.
Thanks Jenny! Look at the comment below Karen is offering the same great tip. Looks like the battle with celery will be easier going forward… I only like celery with cream cheese – no so great for the waistline eh?
No takeaway – but tomorrow we ‘may’ be going out to a party so I’ll make up for it then! Toad in the hole tonight – in your honour! Don’t forget to add your blog address to the widget below – Jo
I added my link – thanks Jo!
I can’t wait to see what this mysterious Toad in the hole dish looks like!
Few teething probs with the widget at mo – should get ironed out – I need to manually change the code each time… I’ll work it out! 🙂
I don’t remember why, but wrapping the celery in foil makes it stay fresh much, much longer. It’s a trick I picked up from my mom. Of course, I love celery, so it never lasts long around here.
No take away? 🙁 Maybe you can enjoy some wine with your hubby at home tonight.
Thanks Jenny! Look at the comment below Karen is offering the same great tip. Looks like the battle with celery will be easier going forward… I only like celery with cream cheese – no so great for the waistline eh?
No takeaway – but tomorrow we ‘may’ be going out to a party so I’ll make up for it then! Toad in the hole tonight – in your honour! Don’t forget to add your blog address to the widget below – Jo
I added my link – thanks Jo!
I can’t wait to see what this mysterious Toad in the hole dish looks like!
Few teething probs with the widget at mo – should get ironed out – I need to manually change the code each time… I’ll work it out! 🙂
I got a tip from Rhonda at Down to Earth (Australian blog). If you wrap your celery in tinfoil, very tightly and with no gaps, and keep it in the fridge, it will keep, well, pretty much indefinitely.
I bought a celery heart January 2010 and I was still using it in April 2010, I kid you not.
(Try to use any leafy parts first as they don’t keep so crisp.)
Or, make celery soup. I don’t actually like celery but I like the soup just fine. Saute onion and celery in butter, then add a chopped potato or two, vegy stock, boil til tender then blend. Surprisingly nice.
Karen
(Scotland)
Now thats impressive – 3-4 months! Sounds good to me! Never tried celery soup – is it okay? The celery gratin put me off for good trying to base a whole dish on celery! It’s not for my palate. Thanks so much for the tip – looks like my celery issues are over… In fact I am going to wrap half the stalks I have now rather than freeze all of them and try it out… will let you know how it goes. Jo
I got a tip from Rhonda at Down to Earth (Australian blog). If you wrap your celery in tinfoil, very tightly and with no gaps, and keep it in the fridge, it will keep, well, pretty much indefinitely.
I bought a celery heart January 2010 and I was still using it in April 2010, I kid you not.
(Try to use any leafy parts first as they don’t keep so crisp.)
Or, make celery soup. I don’t actually like celery but I like the soup just fine. Saute onion and celery in butter, then add a chopped potato or two, vegy stock, boil til tender then blend. Surprisingly nice.
Karen
(Scotland)
Now thats impressive – 3-4 months! Sounds good to me! Never tried celery soup – is it okay? The celery gratin put me off for good trying to base a whole dish on celery! It’s not for my palate. Thanks so much for the tip – looks like my celery issues are over… In fact I am going to wrap half the stalks I have now rather than freeze all of them and try it out… will let you know how it goes. Jo
I got a tip from Rhonda at Down to Earth (Australian blog). If you wrap your celery in tinfoil, very tightly and with no gaps, and keep it in the fridge, it will keep, well, pretty much indefinitely.
I bought a celery heart January 2010 and I was still using it in April 2010, I kid you not.
(Try to use any leafy parts first as they don’t keep so crisp.)
Or, make celery soup. I don’t actually like celery but I like the soup just fine. Saute onion and celery in butter, then add a chopped potato or two, vegy stock, boil til tender then blend. Surprisingly nice.
Karen
(Scotland)
Now thats impressive – 3-4 months! Sounds good to me! Never tried celery soup – is it okay? The celery gratin put me off for good trying to base a whole dish on celery! It’s not for my palate. Thanks so much for the tip – looks like my celery issues are over… In fact I am going to wrap half the stalks I have now rather than freeze all of them and try it out… will let you know how it goes. Jo
Yay thanks Jo! I had exactly the same problem with celery and so haven’t bought it in ages. I did buy it for a while when it came wrapped in plastic cling wrap because I found it didn’t go all floppy as quickly, but I was still throwing out half.
I do like celery raw with dips and cream cheese fillings and now, thanks to you, I can buy it again because i can freeze what I won’t use within a few days. It is one of the most pesticide ridden vegetables though, so I might have to seek it out at the organics shop.
Thanks to you I am also seriously considering a slow cooker for winter.
Whoa didn’t know about the pesticides in celery! Hmmm may have to take that into consideration in future! Glad to be of service with the freezibg tip! Don’t forget to put your blog in widget… Night night bedtime in the UK
Yay thanks Jo! I had exactly the same problem with celery and so haven’t bought it in ages. I did buy it for a while when it came wrapped in plastic cling wrap because I found it didn’t go all floppy as quickly, but I was still throwing out half.
I do like celery raw with dips and cream cheese fillings and now, thanks to you, I can buy it again because i can freeze what I won’t use within a few days. It is one of the most pesticide ridden vegetables though, so I might have to seek it out at the organics shop.
Thanks to you I am also seriously considering a slow cooker for winter.
Whoa didn’t know about the pesticides in celery! Hmmm may have to take that into consideration in future! Glad to be of service with the freezibg tip! Don’t forget to put your blog in widget… Night night bedtime in the UK
Yay thanks Jo! I had exactly the same problem with celery and so haven’t bought it in ages. I did buy it for a while when it came wrapped in plastic cling wrap because I found it didn’t go all floppy as quickly, but I was still throwing out half.
I do like celery raw with dips and cream cheese fillings and now, thanks to you, I can buy it again because i can freeze what I won’t use within a few days. It is one of the most pesticide ridden vegetables though, so I might have to seek it out at the organics shop.
Thanks to you I am also seriously considering a slow cooker for winter.
Whoa didn’t know about the pesticides in celery! Hmmm may have to take that into consideration in future! Glad to be of service with the freezibg tip! Don’t forget to put your blog in widget… Night night bedtime in the UK
What a great idea, i may have to start doing this as well, i was just looking the the cupboard today and saw lots of tin stuff sitting there.
Thanks Naomi – please do join in! I’d love to hear how others get on… theres going to be a widget on the post each Friday for you to pop your blog in… Jo
What a great idea, i may have to start doing this as well, i was just looking the the cupboard today and saw lots of tin stuff sitting there.
Thanks Naomi – please do join in! I’d love to hear how others get on… theres going to be a widget on the post each Friday for you to pop your blog in… Jo
What a great idea, i may have to start doing this as well, i was just looking the the cupboard today and saw lots of tin stuff sitting there.
Thanks Naomi – please do join in! I’d love to hear how others get on… theres going to be a widget on the post each Friday for you to pop your blog in… Jo
You always give me some kitchen inspiration every time I come by Jo. I don’t like celery either, but it’s nice to have a teensy little bit in a recipe sometimes. I’m often guilty (actually Patrick’s the guilty party) of gettting celery and letting it expire. Hmmm. freezing it. What a lightbulb moment!
Did I hear you say you’re starting another blog? Exciting times Jo! Any chance you’ll put rss up on it and this one? I’d love to put you in my feedreader.
You always give me some kitchen inspiration every time I come by Jo. I don’t like celery either, but it’s nice to have a teensy little bit in a recipe sometimes. I’m often guilty (actually Patrick’s the guilty party) of gettting celery and letting it expire. Hmmm. freezing it. What a lightbulb moment!
Did I hear you say you’re starting another blog? Exciting times Jo! Any chance you’ll put rss up on it and this one? I’d love to put you in my feedreader.
You always give me some kitchen inspiration every time I come by Jo. I don’t like celery either, but it’s nice to have a teensy little bit in a recipe sometimes. I’m often guilty (actually Patrick’s the guilty party) of gettting celery and letting it expire. Hmmm. freezing it. What a lightbulb moment!
Did I hear you say you’re starting another blog? Exciting times Jo! Any chance you’ll put rss up on it and this one? I’d love to put you in my feedreader.
Funny I could have sworn I read that you were starting a second blog just on No Waste Tastes Great. When I went back up to the link, uh, it wasn’t there! Did I imagine the whole thing? Probably… 🙂
Hi Tanja – yes I am setting up a No Waste Tastes Great Blog – have registered the wordpress site (I do want to go to self-hosting but am still figuring out how this all works) – reason being that I have so much info I would like to share ref food that I probably need to isolate it some where else, so that I am not posting daily on this blog. I’m away this weekend so am hoping to do a preliminary intro to it today/tomorrow and the it’ll be live end of next week.
I thought I had RSS on this blog – but I am not that techy so wondering if it’s working etc…will investigate. I wanted to get feedburner on both, but again working my way through it on my lonesome and I get a little confused – but hey it’s the way to learn isn’t it! I starting to get used to HTML and a few other things… I’ll get there! Jo
Funny I could have sworn I read that you were starting a second blog just on No Waste Tastes Great. When I went back up to the link, uh, it wasn’t there! Did I imagine the whole thing? Probably… 🙂
Hi Tanja – yes I am setting up a No Waste Tastes Great Blog – have registered the wordpress site (I do want to go to self-hosting but am still figuring out how this all works) – reason being that I have so much info I would like to share ref food that I probably need to isolate it some where else, so that I am not posting daily on this blog. I’m away this weekend so am hoping to do a preliminary intro to it today/tomorrow and the it’ll be live end of next week.
I thought I had RSS on this blog – but I am not that techy so wondering if it’s working etc…will investigate. I wanted to get feedburner on both, but again working my way through it on my lonesome and I get a little confused – but hey it’s the way to learn isn’t it! I starting to get used to HTML and a few other things… I’ll get there! Jo
Funny I could have sworn I read that you were starting a second blog just on No Waste Tastes Great. When I went back up to the link, uh, it wasn’t there! Did I imagine the whole thing? Probably… 🙂
Hi Tanja – yes I am setting up a No Waste Tastes Great Blog – have registered the wordpress site (I do want to go to self-hosting but am still figuring out how this all works) – reason being that I have so much info I would like to share ref food that I probably need to isolate it some where else, so that I am not posting daily on this blog. I’m away this weekend so am hoping to do a preliminary intro to it today/tomorrow and the it’ll be live end of next week.
I thought I had RSS on this blog – but I am not that techy so wondering if it’s working etc…will investigate. I wanted to get feedburner on both, but again working my way through it on my lonesome and I get a little confused – but hey it’s the way to learn isn’t it! I starting to get used to HTML and a few other things… I’ll get there! Jo