It’s Friday Guys – It’s time for No Waste Tastes Great
Click here to find out more about my Friday routine – Written almost a year to the day!
Simply Being Mum’s Friday Fridge
Top Shelf – Spreads, Garlic and Ginger – there is Cheese also but just as I was about to photograph the fridge I removed to the cheese to start making lunch. We’re having cheese sandwiches!
Top Middle Shelf – 4 Yogurts in date and will be eaten next week.
Bottom Middle Shelf – Head of Broccoli, Head of Cauliflower, Chopped Melon, Grapes, Quarter of a Cucumber and 3 Carrots.
Bottom Shelf – Nothing!
Door – 1 (in date) Egg (I’m out of milk and juice oh no!)
So what’s the plan?
Lunch will use up the melon, grapes and cucumber. I’ve already decided (upon finding 2 large potatoes) that I am going to make fishcakes (there’s fortunately 2 frozen cod fillets in my nearly empty freezer). We are going to all have these for dinner with some cauli, broccoli and the 3 carrots (no takeaway for us tonight). I’m then going to save about two-thirds of both the cauliflower and broccoli and with my remaining cheese make a cauli/broc cheese bake and freeze it for Christmas dinner.
This brings me onto Christmas Dinner. This is my planning weekend.
Whether there will be any interest in this I’m not sure, but if anyone wishes to ask any questions about preparing a Christmas Dinner or how to reduce Christmas food waste, I’ll happily run a post on it early next week. Kind of like a Questions and Answer post. It’s likely I will post about how I’m planning to host Christmas dinner at Chez Wright, and may incorporate it into that if I do get any questions.
How’s your fridge looking this Friday? Is it quaking at the thought of trying to cram in extras in preparation for the Holidays, or is it all decluttered and ready for some tasty arrivals?
No Waste Tastes Great is bought to you with continued thanks to The Frugal Girl and the original inspirational Food Waste Friday
I’m now posting daily on Facebook – all sorts of bits and pieces that don’t always make it to the blog!
Well done as usual. But I spy buttercream still… you need to get cake baking. 😉
I think I’ve done badly this week. Last week of work for the year, so been stressed with making sure everything is finished on time that I haven’t put too much thought into food. Can’t even tell you what is in the fridge at the moment. Might have to come back tonight with a second post!
We’re going to the in-laws for Christmas, so it will be a no waste day in our house since we’re not getting anything in. The only thing I’ve done is bake a cake, which will be going with us to theirs and hopefully staying there if there’s leftovers.
Drat you spied the buttercream! I have had to write the post a bit speedy so did miss that!
Definitely going to be a no waste Christmas dinner for you! As for leftover cake – eat it! After all it is Christmas 😉
Well done as usual. But I spy buttercream still… you need to get cake baking. 😉
I think I’ve done badly this week. Last week of work for the year, so been stressed with making sure everything is finished on time that I haven’t put too much thought into food. Can’t even tell you what is in the fridge at the moment. Might have to come back tonight with a second post!
We’re going to the in-laws for Christmas, so it will be a no waste day in our house since we’re not getting anything in. The only thing I’ve done is bake a cake, which will be going with us to theirs and hopefully staying there if there’s leftovers.
Drat you spied the buttercream! I have had to write the post a bit speedy so did miss that!
Definitely going to be a no waste Christmas dinner for you! As for leftover cake – eat it! After all it is Christmas 😉
Well done as usual. But I spy buttercream still… you need to get cake baking. 😉
I think I’ve done badly this week. Last week of work for the year, so been stressed with making sure everything is finished on time that I haven’t put too much thought into food. Can’t even tell you what is in the fridge at the moment. Might have to come back tonight with a second post!
We’re going to the in-laws for Christmas, so it will be a no waste day in our house since we’re not getting anything in. The only thing I’ve done is bake a cake, which will be going with us to theirs and hopefully staying there if there’s leftovers.
Drat you spied the buttercream! I have had to write the post a bit speedy so did miss that!
Definitely going to be a no waste Christmas dinner for you! As for leftover cake – eat it! After all it is Christmas 😉
I don’t think I’m brave enough to photograph my fridge today 🙂 Really happy though with the idea to make fish cakes for dinner. Just what I wanted.
So very simple, healthy and frugal!
I don’t think I’m brave enough to photograph my fridge today 🙂 Really happy though with the idea to make fish cakes for dinner. Just what I wanted.
So very simple, healthy and frugal!
I don’t think I’m brave enough to photograph my fridge today 🙂 Really happy though with the idea to make fish cakes for dinner. Just what I wanted.
So very simple, healthy and frugal!
I tried your cream cheese stuffed chicken breasts from last week and the whole family liked them. I altered the recipe slightly by using what was on hand–low fat cream cheese, dried basil instead of fresh and turkey bacon instead of parma ham.
How long do you go without milk? We love milk here and would be in trouble if we didn’t have it for an hour.
**oops – this went in wrong place below**
Glad you liked them! I’ve used dried basil (only bought fresh as I wanted to put a little on top for decoration as guests here). The bacon would turn out just fine – and turkey rashers are a great lower fat alternative to pork bacon. It can also be adapted to make Hunters Chicken. So stuff with hard cheese and wrap in bacon. Then BBQ sauce on the side or even inside with the hard cheese. I prefer this version to the basil/parma ham.
We’re big milk drinkers also! Disaster averted as I’ve just picked 8 pints up. We used the last at breakfast and as Kids at school I had a few hours grace. I did succumb to a coffee at lunchtime but put Irish Cream in it instead of milk! Naughty aren’t I? Well it was snowing outside…
I tried your cream cheese stuffed chicken breasts from last week and the whole family liked them. I altered the recipe slightly by using what was on hand–low fat cream cheese, dried basil instead of fresh and turkey bacon instead of parma ham.
How long do you go without milk? We love milk here and would be in trouble if we didn’t have it for an hour.
**oops – this went in wrong place below**
Glad you liked them! I’ve used dried basil (only bought fresh as I wanted to put a little on top for decoration as guests here). The bacon would turn out just fine – and turkey rashers are a great lower fat alternative to pork bacon. It can also be adapted to make Hunters Chicken. So stuff with hard cheese and wrap in bacon. Then BBQ sauce on the side or even inside with the hard cheese. I prefer this version to the basil/parma ham.
We’re big milk drinkers also! Disaster averted as I’ve just picked 8 pints up. We used the last at breakfast and as Kids at school I had a few hours grace. I did succumb to a coffee at lunchtime but put Irish Cream in it instead of milk! Naughty aren’t I? Well it was snowing outside…
I tried your cream cheese stuffed chicken breasts from last week and the whole family liked them. I altered the recipe slightly by using what was on hand–low fat cream cheese, dried basil instead of fresh and turkey bacon instead of parma ham.
How long do you go without milk? We love milk here and would be in trouble if we didn’t have it for an hour.
**oops – this went in wrong place below**
Glad you liked them! I’ve used dried basil (only bought fresh as I wanted to put a little on top for decoration as guests here). The bacon would turn out just fine – and turkey rashers are a great lower fat alternative to pork bacon. It can also be adapted to make Hunters Chicken. So stuff with hard cheese and wrap in bacon. Then BBQ sauce on the side or even inside with the hard cheese. I prefer this version to the basil/parma ham.
We’re big milk drinkers also! Disaster averted as I’ve just picked 8 pints up. We used the last at breakfast and as Kids at school I had a few hours grace. I did succumb to a coffee at lunchtime but put Irish Cream in it instead of milk! Naughty aren’t I? Well it was snowing outside…
Back with my fridge report… I had to throw out a slimey pepper that I’d forgotten in the back of the fridge, a handful of leftover stir fry veg and a couple of mushrooms. Not as bad as I thought!
Contents in there that aren’t in good date are a box of breadcrumbs made from last week’s going stale bread, half a large focaccia, some ham, a couple of sad carrots, a celery heart and a head of broccoli. Pulled some lamb mince and bacon out of the freezer to make meatloaf with the breadcrumbs, carrots and celery – will serve with the broccoli for dinner tonight. The focaccia and ham will be lunch shortly along with some in date cheese. Have quite a few onions which I need to dice and freeze this weekend as well.
From the in date items… I have a glut of butter thanks to the 2 packs for £2 offer on recently, but it’s going to be used up in the Christmas baking. There’s also a box of homemade fudge, but I don’t see any problems with that being eaten! 🙂
Lauren – wouldn’t mind your fudge recipe if you get chance to post it here?
As usual a plan! I wouldn’t expect anything less! 🙂
Here you go!
Ingredients:
450g sugar (I used granulated because it’s what I had in)
170g evaporated milk (small tin)
150ml milk (I used semi, again it’s what I had – but whole is better apparently)
75g butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (I used paste)
Method:
Mix all ingredients except the vanilla together in a large pot. Make sure mix is no more than halfway up as it expands a lot as it cooks.
Stir constantly over a low heat until butter has melted and sugar has dissolved completely.
Stop stirring and bring to the boil. Boil, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, until it reaches 115 degrees C (soft ball stage) – should be about 10-15 minutes when it’s just starting to turn a lovely caramel colour. I take mine off the heat a few degrees early as I like squishy fudge!
Take off the heat and stir in vanilla. Beat as it cools until it’s thick and loses its shine. I do this in my Kitchenaid at a low speed, takes about 10 minutes.
Pour into a shallow tray to set. You can score it just before it’s fully set to make it easier to cut, but I don’t bother as mine is nice and soft anyway.
Hope you like it. 🙂
Gosh Lauren – sounds simple – will definitely be giving it a go over the holiday! Thanks!
I think I’ll give it a go, too…IF I can convert grams to cups, etc! 🙂 Looks wonderful and as Jo says, easy! Thanks! Cheeryshirley
@Cheeryshirley – I’ve used this site to convert
http://www.jsward.com/cooking/conversion.shtml
This is what I reckon you need – but please be aware metric doesn’t convert exactly to cups:
450g granulated sugar = 2 1/4 Cups
150ml milk = 2/3 cup
75g butter = 1/3
I’m struggling to convert the 170g can – but I think it’s approx 150ml – so I’d estimate 1/2 pint of evaporated milk (so 2/3 cup as above with the ordinary milk?). @Lauren – if you pick this up does that make sense to you based on what you cooked with for the milk? Would you say it’s equal amounts?
It’s all a bit of a guesstimate – but if you do try it and it works out can you let me know please?
Thanks Jo. I will try using your conversions…need to replace condensed canned milk with homemade almond/coconut milk…hope it works! My husband, Glen, has multiple sclerosis so we’re non-dairy, etc, but, I am going to try using alternative ingredients…fudge sounds so good and Christmassy! Thanks for looking the conversions up! 🙂 Cheeryshirley
Back with my fridge report… I had to throw out a slimey pepper that I’d forgotten in the back of the fridge, a handful of leftover stir fry veg and a couple of mushrooms. Not as bad as I thought!
Contents in there that aren’t in good date are a box of breadcrumbs made from last week’s going stale bread, half a large focaccia, some ham, a couple of sad carrots, a celery heart and a head of broccoli. Pulled some lamb mince and bacon out of the freezer to make meatloaf with the breadcrumbs, carrots and celery – will serve with the broccoli for dinner tonight. The focaccia and ham will be lunch shortly along with some in date cheese. Have quite a few onions which I need to dice and freeze this weekend as well.
From the in date items… I have a glut of butter thanks to the 2 packs for £2 offer on recently, but it’s going to be used up in the Christmas baking. There’s also a box of homemade fudge, but I don’t see any problems with that being eaten! 🙂
Lauren – wouldn’t mind your fudge recipe if you get chance to post it here?
As usual a plan! I wouldn’t expect anything less! 🙂
Here you go!
Ingredients:
450g sugar (I used granulated because it’s what I had in)
170g evaporated milk (small tin)
150ml milk (I used semi, again it’s what I had – but whole is better apparently)
75g butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (I used paste)
Method:
Mix all ingredients except the vanilla together in a large pot. Make sure mix is no more than halfway up as it expands a lot as it cooks.
Stir constantly over a low heat until butter has melted and sugar has dissolved completely.
Stop stirring and bring to the boil. Boil, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, until it reaches 115 degrees C (soft ball stage) – should be about 10-15 minutes when it’s just starting to turn a lovely caramel colour. I take mine off the heat a few degrees early as I like squishy fudge!
Take off the heat and stir in vanilla. Beat as it cools until it’s thick and loses its shine. I do this in my Kitchenaid at a low speed, takes about 10 minutes.
Pour into a shallow tray to set. You can score it just before it’s fully set to make it easier to cut, but I don’t bother as mine is nice and soft anyway.
Hope you like it. 🙂
Gosh Lauren – sounds simple – will definitely be giving it a go over the holiday! Thanks!
I think I’ll give it a go, too…IF I can convert grams to cups, etc! 🙂 Looks wonderful and as Jo says, easy! Thanks! Cheeryshirley
@Cheeryshirley – I’ve used this site to convert
http://www.jsward.com/cooking/conversion.shtml
This is what I reckon you need – but please be aware metric doesn’t convert exactly to cups:
450g granulated sugar = 2 1/4 Cups
150ml milk = 2/3 cup
75g butter = 1/3
I’m struggling to convert the 170g can – but I think it’s approx 150ml – so I’d estimate 1/2 pint of evaporated milk (so 2/3 cup as above with the ordinary milk?). @Lauren – if you pick this up does that make sense to you based on what you cooked with for the milk? Would you say it’s equal amounts?
It’s all a bit of a guesstimate – but if you do try it and it works out can you let me know please?
Thanks Jo. I will try using your conversions…need to replace condensed canned milk with homemade almond/coconut milk…hope it works! My husband, Glen, has multiple sclerosis so we’re non-dairy, etc, but, I am going to try using alternative ingredients…fudge sounds so good and Christmassy! Thanks for looking the conversions up! 🙂 Cheeryshirley
Back with my fridge report… I had to throw out a slimey pepper that I’d forgotten in the back of the fridge, a handful of leftover stir fry veg and a couple of mushrooms. Not as bad as I thought!
Contents in there that aren’t in good date are a box of breadcrumbs made from last week’s going stale bread, half a large focaccia, some ham, a couple of sad carrots, a celery heart and a head of broccoli. Pulled some lamb mince and bacon out of the freezer to make meatloaf with the breadcrumbs, carrots and celery – will serve with the broccoli for dinner tonight. The focaccia and ham will be lunch shortly along with some in date cheese. Have quite a few onions which I need to dice and freeze this weekend as well.
From the in date items… I have a glut of butter thanks to the 2 packs for £2 offer on recently, but it’s going to be used up in the Christmas baking. There’s also a box of homemade fudge, but I don’t see any problems with that being eaten! 🙂
Lauren – wouldn’t mind your fudge recipe if you get chance to post it here?
As usual a plan! I wouldn’t expect anything less! 🙂
Here you go!
Ingredients:
450g sugar (I used granulated because it’s what I had in)
170g evaporated milk (small tin)
150ml milk (I used semi, again it’s what I had – but whole is better apparently)
75g butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (I used paste)
Method:
Mix all ingredients except the vanilla together in a large pot. Make sure mix is no more than halfway up as it expands a lot as it cooks.
Stir constantly over a low heat until butter has melted and sugar has dissolved completely.
Stop stirring and bring to the boil. Boil, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, until it reaches 115 degrees C (soft ball stage) – should be about 10-15 minutes when it’s just starting to turn a lovely caramel colour. I take mine off the heat a few degrees early as I like squishy fudge!
Take off the heat and stir in vanilla. Beat as it cools until it’s thick and loses its shine. I do this in my Kitchenaid at a low speed, takes about 10 minutes.
Pour into a shallow tray to set. You can score it just before it’s fully set to make it easier to cut, but I don’t bother as mine is nice and soft anyway.
Hope you like it. 🙂
Gosh Lauren – sounds simple – will definitely be giving it a go over the holiday! Thanks!
I think I’ll give it a go, too…IF I can convert grams to cups, etc! 🙂 Looks wonderful and as Jo says, easy! Thanks! Cheeryshirley
@Cheeryshirley – I’ve used this site to convert
http://www.jsward.com/cooking/conversion.shtml
This is what I reckon you need – but please be aware metric doesn’t convert exactly to cups:
450g granulated sugar = 2 1/4 Cups
150ml milk = 2/3 cup
75g butter = 1/3
I’m struggling to convert the 170g can – but I think it’s approx 150ml – so I’d estimate 1/2 pint of evaporated milk (so 2/3 cup as above with the ordinary milk?). @Lauren – if you pick this up does that make sense to you based on what you cooked with for the milk? Would you say it’s equal amounts?
It’s all a bit of a guesstimate – but if you do try it and it works out can you let me know please?
Thanks Jo. I will try using your conversions…need to replace condensed canned milk with homemade almond/coconut milk…hope it works! My husband, Glen, has multiple sclerosis so we’re non-dairy, etc, but, I am going to try using alternative ingredients…fudge sounds so good and Christmassy! Thanks for looking the conversions up! 🙂 Cheeryshirley
Jo ~ You don’t know this, but I found you a few months ago through Kristen’s The Frugal Girl blog, and your incredibly spotless fridge pictures has challenged my husband & I to do ours the same way! I left a comment on Kristen’s last Food Waste Friday post mentioning your blog (hope you don’t mind!). Thanks so much for your wonderful posts…and success on No Waste Tastes Great! They really help! Cheeryshirley
Cheeryshirley – You don’t know this ;-), but your comment made my day. No Waste Tastes Great has two aims. To keep me on track and to help and inspire others to do the same. Comments like yours keep me motivated because it means I’m achieving what I set out to do with No Waste Tastes Great. Thank you for mentioning me on The Frugal Girl – it is because of Kristen’s Food Waste Friday that I started NWTG so I have much to thank her for. In fact it’s reminded me I forgot to put a link in the post – better get on to it! Have a lovely Christmas! Jo
Jo ~ You don’t know this, but I found you a few months ago through Kristen’s The Frugal Girl blog, and your incredibly spotless fridge pictures has challenged my husband & I to do ours the same way! I left a comment on Kristen’s last Food Waste Friday post mentioning your blog (hope you don’t mind!). Thanks so much for your wonderful posts…and success on No Waste Tastes Great! They really help! Cheeryshirley
Cheeryshirley – You don’t know this ;-), but your comment made my day. No Waste Tastes Great has two aims. To keep me on track and to help and inspire others to do the same. Comments like yours keep me motivated because it means I’m achieving what I set out to do with No Waste Tastes Great. Thank you for mentioning me on The Frugal Girl – it is because of Kristen’s Food Waste Friday that I started NWTG so I have much to thank her for. In fact it’s reminded me I forgot to put a link in the post – better get on to it! Have a lovely Christmas! Jo
Jo ~ You don’t know this, but I found you a few months ago through Kristen’s The Frugal Girl blog, and your incredibly spotless fridge pictures has challenged my husband & I to do ours the same way! I left a comment on Kristen’s last Food Waste Friday post mentioning your blog (hope you don’t mind!). Thanks so much for your wonderful posts…and success on No Waste Tastes Great! They really help! Cheeryshirley
Cheeryshirley – You don’t know this ;-), but your comment made my day. No Waste Tastes Great has two aims. To keep me on track and to help and inspire others to do the same. Comments like yours keep me motivated because it means I’m achieving what I set out to do with No Waste Tastes Great. Thank you for mentioning me on The Frugal Girl – it is because of Kristen’s Food Waste Friday that I started NWTG so I have much to thank her for. In fact it’s reminded me I forgot to put a link in the post – better get on to it! Have a lovely Christmas! Jo
I would love to see your Christmas day menu? What veg do you have? What will you do with any leftovers? What extras do you buy? and crucially how much will it all cost?
My fridge is straining under the weight of alcohol at the minute, i’m actually wandering where all the food will go 🙂
Did you get your Aldi voucher?
I’m getting really boggged down with crimbo, so much to do….. deep breaths…..
Sharron x
Morning Sharron – I’m posting today (Tues 20th) about my menu and how it all works at Chez Wright… Watch this space…
The alcohol we leave in the garage (it’s cold enough in there and is out of the way of temptation) – my fridge is tiny – it wouldn’t take the strain!
I didn’t get the Aldi voucher – gutted! Tried to get one on the way back from the School carol service but all papers had gone!
Keep taking those deep breaths!
Correction Sharron – posting today! Boy the Kids kept me on my toes yesterday! 🙂 Sorry!
I would love to see your Christmas day menu? What veg do you have? What will you do with any leftovers? What extras do you buy? and crucially how much will it all cost?
My fridge is straining under the weight of alcohol at the minute, i’m actually wandering where all the food will go 🙂
Did you get your Aldi voucher?
I’m getting really boggged down with crimbo, so much to do….. deep breaths…..
Sharron x
Morning Sharron – I’m posting today (Tues 20th) about my menu and how it all works at Chez Wright… Watch this space…
The alcohol we leave in the garage (it’s cold enough in there and is out of the way of temptation) – my fridge is tiny – it wouldn’t take the strain!
I didn’t get the Aldi voucher – gutted! Tried to get one on the way back from the School carol service but all papers had gone!
Keep taking those deep breaths!
Correction Sharron – posting today! Boy the Kids kept me on my toes yesterday! 🙂 Sorry!
I would love to see your Christmas day menu? What veg do you have? What will you do with any leftovers? What extras do you buy? and crucially how much will it all cost?
My fridge is straining under the weight of alcohol at the minute, i’m actually wandering where all the food will go 🙂
Did you get your Aldi voucher?
I’m getting really boggged down with crimbo, so much to do….. deep breaths…..
Sharron x
Morning Sharron – I’m posting today (Tues 20th) about my menu and how it all works at Chez Wright… Watch this space…
The alcohol we leave in the garage (it’s cold enough in there and is out of the way of temptation) – my fridge is tiny – it wouldn’t take the strain!
I didn’t get the Aldi voucher – gutted! Tried to get one on the way back from the School carol service but all papers had gone!
Keep taking those deep breaths!
Correction Sharron – posting today! Boy the Kids kept me on my toes yesterday! 🙂 Sorry!