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 (taken very early hence awful light)
Nothing to see here!
Well not a lot. It’s the usual spreads, yoghurt and garlic on the top shelf (I’m even out of cheese this week). All in date.
Then there’s a few baked beans and some eggs. It’s omelette and beans for lunch for Dan and I today. The remaining eggs are well in date and will be used over the forthcoming week.
So that’s what my Friday Fridge looks like when I keep my eye on the prize.
But I do have a potential waste confession.
At the bottom of my fridge there’s a compartment. I don’t use it for perishables and produce, but condiments that have a long shelf life. I’m a big believer that ‘out of sight’ is indeed ‘out of mind’ when it comes to food.
But we all make mistakes. Somehow half a jar of sundried tomatoes ended up amongst the condiments, and when I emptied it this morning (for the first time in a couple of weeks) I found them. I’d like to blame the Hubby for putting them there so as to be able to plead some forgiveness, but it’s unlikely. He’s scared to touch anything in the fridge 😉 just in case he messes up my system!
Which is shameful, I know. Even worse in that I’ve been so on the ball this week, that because we’d had an impromptu takeaway on Wednesday, I am cooking up the ingredients, not used then, for tonight’s dinner. The slow cooker is already loaded, there’s a slow cooked Chilli on the menu.
The tomatoes would have been a tasty addition to the Chilli. they haven’t quite met their fate yet, I’m mulling over still using them. They’ve been kept refrigerated, and actually have a ‘unopened date’ of 2014. I’m wondering how much tomatoes that can last till 2014 unopened will have deteriorated in a month if opened? Hmmm?
(Can you see the chopped onion ready to go in the pot, which I prepped last Friday?)
The Kid’s have a party after school, so they’ll eat there.
(Better get cracking – I have a decoupage birthday box to finish!)
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.
Don’t forget I’m on Facebook, why not pop across and join the conversation?
PS – There’ll be a post up here this Sunday with my homemade chicken pasty recipe
I’d sling ’em in the chilli! In my book you wouldn’t be breaching any food hygiene issues!
You know Sarah, you’re right I reckon. I don’t know of any major health issues concerning month-long refrigerated sundried toms. Firstly they are dried out, so pretty deteriorated already, and have sat in oil in a cold environment. Also and this normally swings it, The kids won’t be eating them just the Hubby and I. Middle aged tums have quite a bit of resilience (in my experience). I’ll just do a bit more digging to make sure I haven’t missed anything, but I reckon they may get eaten! 😉
You’ve given some cast-iron arguments in favour there, which I’d agree with wholeheartedly! But as someone, who yesterday cooked, ate and survived a decidedly manky looking red cabbage, (in the spirit of food waste Friday) I would wouldn’t I !
🙂
I’d sling ’em in the chilli! In my book you wouldn’t be breaching any food hygiene issues!
You know Sarah, you’re right I reckon. I don’t know of any major health issues concerning month-long refrigerated sundried toms. Firstly they are dried out, so pretty deteriorated already, and have sat in oil in a cold environment. Also and this normally swings it, The kids won’t be eating them just the Hubby and I. Middle aged tums have quite a bit of resilience (in my experience). I’ll just do a bit more digging to make sure I haven’t missed anything, but I reckon they may get eaten! 😉
You’ve given some cast-iron arguments in favour there, which I’d agree with wholeheartedly! But as someone, who yesterday cooked, ate and survived a decidedly manky looking red cabbage, (in the spirit of food waste Friday) I would wouldn’t I !
🙂
If there’s no mould and the oil isn’t rancid, I’d put them in. Yum!
Our fridge is very bare this week, after a bad week last week. So bad that I don’t think I even commented. But I’m making amends this week, have chicken pie made entirely from leftovers on the menu tonight. Leftover roast chicken – mainly scraps of back meat (which I love!) – and some leftover mushrooms and a handful of pigs in blankets that we didn’t use chopped up. And a block of pastry that’s been hiding out in the freezer for several weeks.
Funny, my flatmate and I were discussing food storage this week. I was trying to make the point that just because something can last 3, 6, 12+ months in the freezer or storecupboard, doesn’t mean it should sit there that long. I don’t like to keep more than about a month’s stores, so I pulled out everything from the cupboard that he moved in with six months ago and made him decide what to do with it. Happy to say that it was all dealt with.
Oh before I forget, I have a box of yeast that I got on an Amazon glitch (72 sachets for £1.68!) but I think I need to give up bread so won’t get to use it. It’s only a couple months old so should still be in good date so I don’t want it to go to waste. Let me know if you’re interested in taking it off my hands – could even make a nice blog giveaway to get people into baking their own. 🙂
Hey Lauren – missed you last week! The chicken pie with pigs in blankets inside sound nice – chicken and bacon – you can’t go wrong.
Oh yes…the flatmate… he has much to learn…but living with the Master Yoda of reducing food waste and water (it is May 4th after all?) he will come over to the light side!
The giveaway sounds fantastic! Great idea! I need to drop you a mail regarding your recipe, so will sort then if that’s okay? expect a ping over the weekend! Enjoy that pie!
If there’s no mould and the oil isn’t rancid, I’d put them in. Yum!
Our fridge is very bare this week, after a bad week last week. So bad that I don’t think I even commented. But I’m making amends this week, have chicken pie made entirely from leftovers on the menu tonight. Leftover roast chicken – mainly scraps of back meat (which I love!) – and some leftover mushrooms and a handful of pigs in blankets that we didn’t use chopped up. And a block of pastry that’s been hiding out in the freezer for several weeks.
Funny, my flatmate and I were discussing food storage this week. I was trying to make the point that just because something can last 3, 6, 12+ months in the freezer or storecupboard, doesn’t mean it should sit there that long. I don’t like to keep more than about a month’s stores, so I pulled out everything from the cupboard that he moved in with six months ago and made him decide what to do with it. Happy to say that it was all dealt with.
Oh before I forget, I have a box of yeast that I got on an Amazon glitch (72 sachets for £1.68!) but I think I need to give up bread so won’t get to use it. It’s only a couple months old so should still be in good date so I don’t want it to go to waste. Let me know if you’re interested in taking it off my hands – could even make a nice blog giveaway to get people into baking their own. 🙂
Hey Lauren – missed you last week! The chicken pie with pigs in blankets inside sound nice – chicken and bacon – you can’t go wrong.
Oh yes…the flatmate… he has much to learn…but living with the Master Yoda of reducing food waste and water (it is May 4th after all?) he will come over to the light side!
The giveaway sounds fantastic! Great idea! I need to drop you a mail regarding your recipe, so will sort then if that’s okay? expect a ping over the weekend! Enjoy that pie!
The toms have been salted, sun-dried, kept in oil and refridgerated. 4 different preserving methods. They’ll be fine!!! Eat ’em 😉
You’re right Kat – it’s got to be done… 🙂
The toms have been salted, sun-dried, kept in oil and refridgerated. 4 different preserving methods. They’ll be fine!!! Eat ’em 😉
You’re right Kat – it’s got to be done… 🙂
Is there a customer hotline number on the jar? They’d be able to tell you. I never take a chance with opened food. I’ve been told I’m too cautious, but on the other hand, our family rarely has any kind of stomach upset, so maybe it’s worth it 🙂
Jo – I ate them! 🙂 (see my comment to Sharron below – unsure where I got the 2-week-use-by idea from!). They were very tasty!!!!!
Is there a customer hotline number on the jar? They’d be able to tell you. I never take a chance with opened food. I’ve been told I’m too cautious, but on the other hand, our family rarely has any kind of stomach upset, so maybe it’s worth it 🙂
Jo – I ate them! 🙂 (see my comment to Sharron below – unsure where I got the 2-week-use-by idea from!). They were very tasty!!!!!
Hi Jo!! Did you use them? I would have without a second thought!!
We had a lonely black mushy bannna waste this week, and a pack of celery, i havn’t a clue why it got bought but i have no idea what to do with it!! I think it is doomed. Hubby has been doing the food shopping (@ Aldi of course) and i have to say he’s doing a good job! We sit down on a Thursday and meal plan, write the list then he does the shopping on Friday.
I loved the photo’s on fb of your cake!!!
Sharron x
Hi Sharron – yes I did use them, and they were absolutely fine. In fact there wasn’t any guidance on the jar as when to use by apart once opened, so unsure where I got the ‘two-week’ expiry from!?!?
Hats off to the B=Hubby – long may it last! Hope the Uni course is going well?
Uni is going fab, i love it, hard work tho!! I was off today and hubby said ‘aha, out the kitchen, it’s all mine’ I actually think he’s enjoying the whole shop/cook buisness!!
Sharron x
Hi Jo!! Did you use them? I would have without a second thought!!
We had a lonely black mushy bannna waste this week, and a pack of celery, i havn’t a clue why it got bought but i have no idea what to do with it!! I think it is doomed. Hubby has been doing the food shopping (@ Aldi of course) and i have to say he’s doing a good job! We sit down on a Thursday and meal plan, write the list then he does the shopping on Friday.
I loved the photo’s on fb of your cake!!!
Sharron x
Hi Sharron – yes I did use them, and they were absolutely fine. In fact there wasn’t any guidance on the jar as when to use by apart once opened, so unsure where I got the ‘two-week’ expiry from!?!?
Hats off to the B=Hubby – long may it last! Hope the Uni course is going well?
Uni is going fab, i love it, hard work tho!! I was off today and hubby said ‘aha, out the kitchen, it’s all mine’ I actually think he’s enjoying the whole shop/cook buisness!!
Sharron x
I just went back and read your Friday routine and I have to say I’m impressed! I cook from scratch almost all the time now, but I find my fridge just keeps getting more and more full! I actually wish I had a smaller fridge so it would force me to work on it.
That’s where Jo is most inspiring to me. I cook from scratch a great deal and usually end up with a lot of random items in my fridge. Rather than going grocery shopping I put on my thinking cap and try to think like Jo: how can I keep this from going to waste? Scratch cooking is wonderful, but I know how you can end up with a little this and that. That’s when we have a “scrounge meal” where everyone eats what is on hand and I get a night off from cooking!
Hi Jessie! My fridge only really contains what will be used over the forthcoming week at any one time. Occasionally items do get carried over to the following week, but I try very hard to ensure that they are first on the list to be used up when I next do a meal plan. When I got my small fridge I hadn’t got into the reducing food and waste groove, so felt my fridge was indeed too small. Now it is rarely ever full (apart from Birthdays, Christmas etc…). I can see everything that is there, so I know what I need to use up at any time. In fact (and this is rather sad – please excuse me) sometimes I just open my fridge check it at random times, tidy it and close the door! Very odd I know! I’m pretty sure I could take a ‘pop quiz’ at any time and relay everything it contains, what it will be used for and when 😉
Rachel has it spot on, everything gets eaten, regardless of how ‘random’ it may seem. The Kids (on a Friday) may have breadsticks with a boiled egg rather than toast. Then cheese and crackers with grapes to follow to make it more of a meal. We do like Rachel and have ‘choosing tea’ if bits and bobs need using up – anything goes here on a Friday!
As for cooking from scratch – something I also do (and it’s not very culinary I know) is substitute ingredients that may not get used for things that will – and very often this means ‘dumbing down’ a recipe. Now if it’s just a family meal I don’t mind that. So for example, I wouldn’t normally beat an oil to glaze pastry just for me and the Kids. I’d use milk or oil. Fresh herbs I very often substitute for dried. There’s one dish I make that should have black treacle included – from experience I know that I just wouldn’t use a tin in time, so I substitute for golden syrup or honey depending on what I have to hand. It’s a great way to discover new dishes!
I just went back and read your Friday routine and I have to say I’m impressed! I cook from scratch almost all the time now, but I find my fridge just keeps getting more and more full! I actually wish I had a smaller fridge so it would force me to work on it.
That’s where Jo is most inspiring to me. I cook from scratch a great deal and usually end up with a lot of random items in my fridge. Rather than going grocery shopping I put on my thinking cap and try to think like Jo: how can I keep this from going to waste? Scratch cooking is wonderful, but I know how you can end up with a little this and that. That’s when we have a “scrounge meal” where everyone eats what is on hand and I get a night off from cooking!
Hi Jessie! My fridge only really contains what will be used over the forthcoming week at any one time. Occasionally items do get carried over to the following week, but I try very hard to ensure that they are first on the list to be used up when I next do a meal plan. When I got my small fridge I hadn’t got into the reducing food and waste groove, so felt my fridge was indeed too small. Now it is rarely ever full (apart from Birthdays, Christmas etc…). I can see everything that is there, so I know what I need to use up at any time. In fact (and this is rather sad – please excuse me) sometimes I just open my fridge check it at random times, tidy it and close the door! Very odd I know! I’m pretty sure I could take a ‘pop quiz’ at any time and relay everything it contains, what it will be used for and when 😉
Rachel has it spot on, everything gets eaten, regardless of how ‘random’ it may seem. The Kids (on a Friday) may have breadsticks with a boiled egg rather than toast. Then cheese and crackers with grapes to follow to make it more of a meal. We do like Rachel and have ‘choosing tea’ if bits and bobs need using up – anything goes here on a Friday!
As for cooking from scratch – something I also do (and it’s not very culinary I know) is substitute ingredients that may not get used for things that will – and very often this means ‘dumbing down’ a recipe. Now if it’s just a family meal I don’t mind that. So for example, I wouldn’t normally beat an oil to glaze pastry just for me and the Kids. I’d use milk or oil. Fresh herbs I very often substitute for dried. There’s one dish I make that should have black treacle included – from experience I know that I just wouldn’t use a tin in time, so I substitute for golden syrup or honey depending on what I have to hand. It’s a great way to discover new dishes!
Jo, what do you do about the leftovers of your kids when their appetites aren’t as big as you anticipated? I find myself tossing more food because my children simply don’t need as much food as I thought beforehand and this is with some pretty strict rules about food in our house. What do you do when they don’t finish a yogurt cup or half a sandwich? Do you eat it, do you toss it, do you set it aside for them for later? I’m really stumped and looking for some answers I may not have thought of.
Really good question that!! We never have that sort of waste, but our 2 dogs come in handy for such occasions 🙂 I would try giving them less to begin with, say share a yoghurt between two of them, if they want more they can have it on the proviso they have to eat it. We have a ‘if you take it, you eat it’ rule. Hope that helps..
Sharron x
Hey Rachel! Yes good question! When I first had my own home I most definitely used to serve up too much food. Since starting ‘No Waste Tastes Great’ my portion sizes have without a doubt decreased. Firstly. I believe this is because I am buying less. For example I buy a block of cheese every week. When it’s gone it’s gone, so I have to think about how much I’m using and always tend to serve up less rather than more if in doubt, this does help to reduce potential waste.
Another thing that has helped a lot is slow cooking, or one-pot cooking. When I dish up it’s based on returning for more, rather than leaving any on the plate. I suppose this could be applied to any type of dish really. We all know how hungry you may feel at the start of the meal isn’t necessarily a reflection of how you will be feeling 10 minutes into the meal. Any leftovers in the cooker/pot therefore are chilled and used for lunches the next day. I tend not to keep food that has been plated up (because of bacteria contaminating the food), so I err on the side of caution when dishing up.
With the Kids, I reduce portion size, and they can have seconds should they so wish. Of course there are times they leave food, and I may finish it (or the Hubby might ) depending on what it is, I try not to throw it away. Like Sharron below, it’s been very much reducing portion size, and indeed sharing items – then if still hungry returning for more. Hope that is of some help – sorry there’s no innovative way I do it!!
Jo, what do you do about the leftovers of your kids when their appetites aren’t as big as you anticipated? I find myself tossing more food because my children simply don’t need as much food as I thought beforehand and this is with some pretty strict rules about food in our house. What do you do when they don’t finish a yogurt cup or half a sandwich? Do you eat it, do you toss it, do you set it aside for them for later? I’m really stumped and looking for some answers I may not have thought of.
Really good question that!! We never have that sort of waste, but our 2 dogs come in handy for such occasions 🙂 I would try giving them less to begin with, say share a yoghurt between two of them, if they want more they can have it on the proviso they have to eat it. We have a ‘if you take it, you eat it’ rule. Hope that helps..
Sharron x
Hey Rachel! Yes good question! When I first had my own home I most definitely used to serve up too much food. Since starting ‘No Waste Tastes Great’ my portion sizes have without a doubt decreased. Firstly. I believe this is because I am buying less. For example I buy a block of cheese every week. When it’s gone it’s gone, so I have to think about how much I’m using and always tend to serve up less rather than more if in doubt, this does help to reduce potential waste.
Another thing that has helped a lot is slow cooking, or one-pot cooking. When I dish up it’s based on returning for more, rather than leaving any on the plate. I suppose this could be applied to any type of dish really. We all know how hungry you may feel at the start of the meal isn’t necessarily a reflection of how you will be feeling 10 minutes into the meal. Any leftovers in the cooker/pot therefore are chilled and used for lunches the next day. I tend not to keep food that has been plated up (because of bacteria contaminating the food), so I err on the side of caution when dishing up.
With the Kids, I reduce portion size, and they can have seconds should they so wish. Of course there are times they leave food, and I may finish it (or the Hubby might ) depending on what it is, I try not to throw it away. Like Sharron below, it’s been very much reducing portion size, and indeed sharing items – then if still hungry returning for more. Hope that is of some help – sorry there’s no innovative way I do it!!
Hi Jo,
I just cleaned out my fridge this week and found the usual suspects – salad dressings. I never use them up before they are out of date. Do you make yours from scratch? Will you share the recipe with me? I’m so tired of tossing them.
Thanks,
Christine
Hi Jo,
I just cleaned out my fridge this week and found the usual suspects – salad dressings. I never use them up before they are out of date. Do you make yours from scratch? Will you share the recipe with me? I’m so tired of tossing them.
Thanks,
Christine