Don't throw food away challenge

Mumof2_2

I'm thinking this will be a good thread for me to join. I really try not to throw things away but my good intentions go all pear shaped. It doesn't help I almost heave at fruit/veg that have gone bad - sill isn't it.

Anyhow, from now on I'm going to do my best - will read through previous pages when I get a chance and be very honest about what I do throw away. We've got chickens so they get veg peelings etc (boiled if necessary) and are keen composters so I've got no excuses really .....

UnluckyT

please can i join. i am so bad at wasting food and chucking it.
trouble is im crap at cooking, too mean with money for words (so im told) and only have the grill and hob working on my oven at the moment.

susan6780

Does anyone know if its possible to freeze apples? I get a fruit bag weekly and they are lovely but i'm not eating as many as I should!

meg72

I stew any leftover apple and freeze for pies,crumbles or apple sauce

DawnW

susan6780 wrote: »

Does anyone know if its possible to freeze apples? I get a fruit bag weekly and they are lovely but i'm not eating as many as I should!

You can stew them, or even just peel, core and slice them up. If you do the latter, they might go a bit brown, but you don't notice that once they are cooked up. If it worries you, squeeze over a little bit of lemon juice to slow up the process - it is just the result of exposure to air, that is all.

Oscar_the_Pug

Hi Wannabee - lovely to see you over here! :j

Last month when we started this we guesstimated the cost of what we threw out, and in a lot of cases (mine included) we were surprised about how much we *actually* chucked!

The good thing was being able to measure it, and then decide to reduce it.

It's really changed how I shop - last month I chucked over a fiver's worth (there's only me and OH!!), but halfway through this month I've only thrown out 20p - and I've saved money by buying what's closer to what we'll realistically eat (instead of what I fancy the look of).

Be brave and share - we're all behind you!!

wannabee_in_credit

Well, day 2 of dd's reduced portion size resulted in another clean plate at the end of dinner time. I feel so relieved to think that she's eating 'properly'.
ds had his Christmas party at nursery today and apparently ate one of everything that was on offer so he fell asleep before dinner was even ready. Bless.
There are a few things in the fridge that are starting to look a little bit dodgy. Some cheese (just plain cheddar) which is getting beyond its best. Have planned to take it into work tomorrow along with a potato and do myself a microwave jacket spud. It's Christmas lunch in the cafe but it will save me money and stop me spending (bah humbug!).
There are also 2 unopened cartons of milk. Time for hot chocolate methinks - it's certainly cold enough.
And yoghurts approaching use by. Time to bully the kids again.
There's a pot of coleslaw which I think will have to go though - bought as part of a meal deal and unopened but I hate the stuff, OH wanted it. Reckon about 50p worth.
Lots of spare bread, but I know I can make breadcrumbs then freeze them.
It's amazing how much more aware you become when you're reporting in to other people. love it!

rosie383

W-I-C Thank you so much for starting the other thread about kids' portion sizes. It has helped me a lot with my 4 yr old.
Just wanted to say about the yoghurts........if I have some that are maybe flavours that the kids aren't keen on, I whizz them up into milkshakes for the kids. I always have frozen bananas now (I haven't thrown away even a quarter of one now for months), milk,use the yoghurt, any other bits of fruit that are hanging around (last of the tin of peaches or whatever), or a spoonful of cocoa powder for a scrummy choc shake.
Great way to give the kids some fruit and yoghurt for breakfast.

rosie383

Dh went to our usual fruit and veg stall looking for fruit. He came home with what we needed plus a free carrier bag of kiwis which the guy said were past their best ( they are perfect cut in half and scooped out with a spoon), and a whole carrier bag of grapes which were definitely not appetizing ..........whizzed them up in the FP, strained the pulp and ended up with almost 1 litre of grape juice!!! A bit too sweet on its own, but perfect once mixed with some orange juice.

redlady_1

I am feeling a bit more human now. I had a bit of a do at the end of last week with the electric man turning off the fridge freezer thinking it was a light!! Yep, I have LOTS of faith in my electrics. As a result (I didnt notice until bed time) I had 6 sausages, 500 gm mince, 500gm lamb mince, and two lots of lamb neck that I had to use. The freezer had seriously defrosted. So, Tuesday I had a bit of a cook-a-thon when I got home from work.

Lamb mince = kebab
Mince = lasgane (8 portions)
Lamb neck = 4 portions of lamb casserole and 5 of lamb with lemon and pearl barley
sausages = 8 portions of sausage casserole.

Now the in laws are living nearby I can give them some and also the OH (we dont live together) and have frozen the rest. I cut the mould off the cheese I had and grated that all over the lasagne and I had a brocolli that was on its way out so did pasta with brocolli and blue stilton and had that for lunch for 3 days.

I still have the banana problem though and I found a mouldy half a cue in the back of the fridge. Can you freeze peppers?