It’s Friday Guys – Time for No Waste Tastes Great
Click here to find out more about my Friday routine
Simply Being Mum’s Friday Fridge
Top Shelf – Spreads (inc. butter cream), cheese (cheddar and stilton) and yoghurt (still hanging around)
Top Middle Shelf – Cheese sauce, ham and puff pastry
Bottom Middle Shelf – Grapes, cucumber and carrots
Bottom shelf – Cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms and potatoes (wouldn’t normally be in fridge – placed for photo)
Door – Milk, OJ and an egg
Where to start? Let’s start with something I’ve been putting off.
Simply Being Mum’s Six Simple Slow Cooked Soups
I’ve made a start on the recipe e-book, but it’s been delayed. I’m suffering from a touch of excusitis. I’ve been busy with unexpected events, but could I have found some time to make more headway? Yes. Therefore I’ll be using up the broccoli, cauliflower and carrots today and tomorrow, as they are 3 of the 6 soups. I’ll be double checking recipes and taking any missing shots of the ingredients. This will also take care of the remaining stilton and cheddar.
The butter cream will be used for Leah’s Birthday cake, which is baked but is to be decorated later today. I photographed the making of the cake and will post a simple birthday cake recipe this weekend.
On the top middle shelf there’s a little cheese sauce and ham left over from yesterday. The Kids and I will be having that with pasta for lunch.
The puff pastry is also left over from yesterday. In trying to increase the amount of oily fish they eat, I invented Salmon Starfish, which they had with broccoli. They were a hit! Yay!
It’ll be puff pastry pizza (by spreading with tomato puree, sprinkling on grated cheese and baking) for dinner with cucumber, for the Kids. The Hubby and I will be having potato and mushroom balti (I have a grocery shop to do so will pick up a breast of free-range chicken and add that also).
Grapes will feature hugely as a snack over this weekend!
The only items remaining are the yoghurts, which are still hanging around (but the chocolate ones are in date). I had a great comment from Rachel to last week’s No Waste Tastes Great –
“One of the things I’ve learned in my efforts to reduce how much food I end up throwing away is sometimes you have to eat things that may not be what you want or in the mood for. I end up eating most of the leftovers from the meal of the night before even while my kids are having something else. I think you probably will end up with better luck keeping waste out of your kitchen for that very reason.”
Totally agree Rachel, so I will be partaking in a Thomas The Tank Engine yoghurt this lunchtime. There are 3 remaining, that’s one each. I will never be talked into buying them again.
Can you tell the Kid’s are on school holidays? Boy what a lot of food in the fridge this Friday! But it’s all accounted for, and as always there’s a plan!
How’s your Fridge looking this Friday? Anything to declare? Or is it nice and bare? Please share…
No Waste Tastes Great is bought to you (as always) with thanks to The Frugal Girl for the original inspiration.
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I love the salmon starfish idea!!
Yeah they worked out really well, would be great as party food also with ham and cheese inside as an alternative to sausage rolls!
I love the salmon starfish idea!!
Yeah they worked out really well, would be great as party food also with ham and cheese inside as an alternative to sausage rolls!
I think that’s the fullest I’ve seen your refrigerator, but you have a plan and all should be well.
It was full wasn’t it? I was a bit shocked when I took the photo!
I think that’s the fullest I’ve seen your refrigerator, but you have a plan and all should be well.
It was full wasn’t it? I was a bit shocked when I took the photo!
As my kids are on holiday i used it as an excuse to use up lots of odds and ends, the result was a fridge and freezer empty like i’ve never seen before, i went shopping yesterday with my list and meal plan in my mitts. So all’s good regarding waste this week!!!
Sharron x
Holidays obviously have had a very different effect on us! I’ve accumulated food somehow…probably due to taking the kids grocery shopping last week as well as being rather ambitious with the amount of meals I planned to cook from scratch! Good job on the waste front Sharron!
As my kids are on holiday i used it as an excuse to use up lots of odds and ends, the result was a fridge and freezer empty like i’ve never seen before, i went shopping yesterday with my list and meal plan in my mitts. So all’s good regarding waste this week!!!
Sharron x
Holidays obviously have had a very different effect on us! I’ve accumulated food somehow…probably due to taking the kids grocery shopping last week as well as being rather ambitious with the amount of meals I planned to cook from scratch! Good job on the waste front Sharron!
Yes, very happy I was sitting down! Although I have to admit, my fridge looks much the same this week and I don’t even have kids to blame it on. 😉
Went a bit nuts in M&S last week with the nice weather and the spring/summer foods starting to make an appearance. And they didn’t get eaten with the snap back to grey, so will be force feeding everyone grapes and radishes all weekend I think.
The starfish are such a cute idea, glad they were a hit. Wonder what other shapes you can come up with.
I did think I needed to warn people – I was shocked myself upon photographing it 🙂
Gosh radishes, no idea what I’d do with those if they were left over – blame M&S for having far too seductive adverts.
The obvious shape for the salmon would have been a fish, but I don’t have a cookie cutter for that shape, and wasn’t feeling that artistic yesterday!
Yes, very happy I was sitting down! Although I have to admit, my fridge looks much the same this week and I don’t even have kids to blame it on. 😉
Went a bit nuts in M&S last week with the nice weather and the spring/summer foods starting to make an appearance. And they didn’t get eaten with the snap back to grey, so will be force feeding everyone grapes and radishes all weekend I think.
The starfish are such a cute idea, glad they were a hit. Wonder what other shapes you can come up with.
I did think I needed to warn people – I was shocked myself upon photographing it 🙂
Gosh radishes, no idea what I’d do with those if they were left over – blame M&S for having far too seductive adverts.
The obvious shape for the salmon would have been a fish, but I don’t have a cookie cutter for that shape, and wasn’t feeling that artistic yesterday!
My teenage son complained this week that there is “no food in the house” while looking into the refrigerator for a snack! In reality there was a lot of food, but I’ve been whittling down what we buy and doing more meal planning. The result is that there is less food. However, I’m still throwing out too much.
Thanks for the inspiration Jo. The photos of your frig have inspired me. I’m also a loyal Frugal Girl reader and that was the initial kick-in-the-pants!
P.S. The salmon starfish are a brilliant idea! Kudos to your imagination!
Thanks Libby. The ‘no food in the house’ comment is one we have all heard. It’s just a case of using the imagination as you know. Your food waste will reduce, really it will – it’s been a gradual thing for me.
My teenage son complained this week that there is “no food in the house” while looking into the refrigerator for a snack! In reality there was a lot of food, but I’ve been whittling down what we buy and doing more meal planning. The result is that there is less food. However, I’m still throwing out too much.
Thanks for the inspiration Jo. The photos of your frig have inspired me. I’m also a loyal Frugal Girl reader and that was the initial kick-in-the-pants!
P.S. The salmon starfish are a brilliant idea! Kudos to your imagination!
Thanks Libby. The ‘no food in the house’ comment is one we have all heard. It’s just a case of using the imagination as you know. Your food waste will reduce, really it will – it’s been a gradual thing for me.
Similar to Rachel’s reply from last week – we typically end up with at least 1 meal a week that is a mish-mash of odd leftovers & whatever remains in the fridge. Thankfully the husband & I don’t mind that – but it is very tempting to just chuck it all & go out for a proper meal at a restaurant….but we usually persist & are always thankful & even relieved that we held firm & didn’t just run out to a restaurant.
Between drinks, tips, the actual food, unnecessary extra calories & the post-meal guilt – we can negate all the good savings we had done the week prior. We can easily spend $65-85 in no time at our local sushi place without even trying. So we suck it up & laugh about eating deviled eggs & leftover sauteed zucchini along with leftover chicken.
On a different note – wowza your fridge is packed! 😉
Hey Jane, I concur. Some of the combinations of food we eat here sometimes are bizarre. However I’ve found some great ideas from doing just that. We get conditioned into thinking that certain foods accompany others, but when it’s a choice between tossing it or eating it, it gets eaten here also!
Similar to Rachel’s reply from last week – we typically end up with at least 1 meal a week that is a mish-mash of odd leftovers & whatever remains in the fridge. Thankfully the husband & I don’t mind that – but it is very tempting to just chuck it all & go out for a proper meal at a restaurant….but we usually persist & are always thankful & even relieved that we held firm & didn’t just run out to a restaurant.
Between drinks, tips, the actual food, unnecessary extra calories & the post-meal guilt – we can negate all the good savings we had done the week prior. We can easily spend $65-85 in no time at our local sushi place without even trying. So we suck it up & laugh about eating deviled eggs & leftover sauteed zucchini along with leftover chicken.
On a different note – wowza your fridge is packed! 😉
Hey Jane, I concur. Some of the combinations of food we eat here sometimes are bizarre. However I’ve found some great ideas from doing just that. We get conditioned into thinking that certain foods accompany others, but when it’s a choice between tossing it or eating it, it gets eaten here also!
Long time reader, first time commenter I think. Also in the UK, found you via The Frugal Girl!
The salmon starfish look great. My youngest would love them.
I laughed at your comment about needing to sit down for your full fridge news. I know it’s comparatively full, but I still think it looks empty 😉 I’m wondering if this is because you don’t buy some items, or if you keep them somewhere else. What about condiments (mayo, ketchup, brown sauce, tartare sauce, sundried tomatoes, sour cream, jams etc), fresh fish and meat (I know you’ve been cutting back), drinks and alcohol? We have all these items in our fridge so it looks less airy than yours. My whole top shelf is packed with condiments and the bottom shelf with drinks (tap water, sparkling water, smoothie, lagers and champagne – you never know when someone might pop in with great news!)
So I’m curious if you use these things.
Happy Easter – hope the Easter Bunny comes and brings or makes cheap treats!
Hi Carmen and thank you for commenting – it’s the only way I get to ‘virtually’ meet readers. It’s fantastic.
The condiments get asked about a lot, I need to remember to mention them. At the bottom of my fridge is a compartment. It’s acrisper drawer I believe for salad etc.. It’s quite impractical. I don’t like to have ‘fresh’ produce not in sight so that’s where I keep the condiments. If you look back on previous posts (I think it may be shown on last weeks) you can see the drawer. Wine and beer we keep in the cupboard and wine rack and then I pop in freezer to chill quickly before serving.
Regarding Easter treats – we have a birthday the same day so I’ve been focusing on my Daughters cake (see Facebook for work in progress!). I had remembered a chocolate Easter egg mould I had as a kid, and may try it again next year – I could pipe the names on like they do in Thorntons. We’ll see! Have a great Easter yourself, and don’t be a stranger commenting 😉
Long time reader, first time commenter I think. Also in the UK, found you via The Frugal Girl!
The salmon starfish look great. My youngest would love them.
I laughed at your comment about needing to sit down for your full fridge news. I know it’s comparatively full, but I still think it looks empty 😉 I’m wondering if this is because you don’t buy some items, or if you keep them somewhere else. What about condiments (mayo, ketchup, brown sauce, tartare sauce, sundried tomatoes, sour cream, jams etc), fresh fish and meat (I know you’ve been cutting back), drinks and alcohol? We have all these items in our fridge so it looks less airy than yours. My whole top shelf is packed with condiments and the bottom shelf with drinks (tap water, sparkling water, smoothie, lagers and champagne – you never know when someone might pop in with great news!)
So I’m curious if you use these things.
Happy Easter – hope the Easter Bunny comes and brings or makes cheap treats!
Hi Carmen and thank you for commenting – it’s the only way I get to ‘virtually’ meet readers. It’s fantastic.
The condiments get asked about a lot, I need to remember to mention them. At the bottom of my fridge is a compartment. It’s acrisper drawer I believe for salad etc.. It’s quite impractical. I don’t like to have ‘fresh’ produce not in sight so that’s where I keep the condiments. If you look back on previous posts (I think it may be shown on last weeks) you can see the drawer. Wine and beer we keep in the cupboard and wine rack and then I pop in freezer to chill quickly before serving.
Regarding Easter treats – we have a birthday the same day so I’ve been focusing on my Daughters cake (see Facebook for work in progress!). I had remembered a chocolate Easter egg mould I had as a kid, and may try it again next year – I could pipe the names on like they do in Thorntons. We’ll see! Have a great Easter yourself, and don’t be a stranger commenting 😉
The Salmon Starfish look fabulous and it’s a brilliant idea!
I’ve done with my exams, this morning finished a BIG assignment, and next week will start my clinical practice…so time to spend more time on my favourite blogs (and with the kids & my husband) ! 🙂
The past few weeks were a disaster. We didn’t have time to cook, so ended up going to IKEA with the kids for food, made ALDI-pizza, got take-aways or ready made M&S meals. My fridge was empty; only had milk, bread, cold meats, cheese mini-tomatoes and joghurts (+ Easter eggs) in it. I did not shop and cook properly, therefore we spent a LOT more money on food than normally. Even though I enjoyed not having to cook ( I do not like cooking), after a few days we all started to crave for our normal diet and shopping habits.
Happy birthday to Leah!
The Salmon Starfish look fabulous and it’s a brilliant idea!
I’ve done with my exams, this morning finished a BIG assignment, and next week will start my clinical practice…so time to spend more time on my favourite blogs (and with the kids & my husband) ! 🙂
The past few weeks were a disaster. We didn’t have time to cook, so ended up going to IKEA with the kids for food, made ALDI-pizza, got take-aways or ready made M&S meals. My fridge was empty; only had milk, bread, cold meats, cheese mini-tomatoes and joghurts (+ Easter eggs) in it. I did not shop and cook properly, therefore we spent a LOT more money on food than normally. Even though I enjoyed not having to cook ( I do not like cooking), after a few days we all started to crave for our normal diet and shopping habits.
Happy birthday to Leah!
I love having my fridge less full now – no more sinking feeling as I go for groceries realizing I already bought something last week but because I didn’t get around to using it, I’ll have to replace it this week 🙂 We had our Easter dinner already (due to family schedule) and instead of overbuying to have all the regular side dishes, I used up what we already had in the way of vegetables and pickles. It tasted just as good and I’m happy there is a manageable amount of leftover food in the fridge. Happy Easter!
I love having my fridge less full now – no more sinking feeling as I go for groceries realizing I already bought something last week but because I didn’t get around to using it, I’ll have to replace it this week 🙂 We had our Easter dinner already (due to family schedule) and instead of overbuying to have all the regular side dishes, I used up what we already had in the way of vegetables and pickles. It tasted just as good and I’m happy there is a manageable amount of leftover food in the fridge. Happy Easter!