Don't Throw Food Away Challenge 2012

ALIBOBSY

Had a good clear out of both my fridges to start with a clean slate and managed to only throw out the 9p coleslaw OH bought the other day (well about a third which was left) so 3p.
Found a large tub of d cream outside and out of date. Opened it and it smelt and tasted fine so had some with leftover mince pie, then decided to give butter making a try as it wouldn't have got used up (one of those really big type tubs). Was suprised how easy it was and DD2 loved watching it.
Have discovered OH has a bit of a talent for "patting" out butter-he used 2 mini wooden chopping boards we have. So nice pat of butter in fridge ready to go and a small bag of "buttermilk" frozen to use in scones or something later .

Ali x

Firemunchkin

wannabee_in_credit wrote: »

As for your leftover tortilla, why don't you do a burrito type thing with it? Stuff it with your leftover fajita stuff and some meat. Then cover it in a tomato based sauce, bit of grated cheese and bake. You could serve it with the sour cream you have left.

Thanks for this - I did it today for the OH's lunch, also using up a single leftover homemade burger from the freezer for the meat, used up all the leftovers from the fajitas too and he really enjoyed it despite being initially being sceptical!

Today I had to throw away a few small bits of cabbage from dinner last night, estimated around 5p. So, total wastage this month so far - 30p.

I saved some leftover breaded chicken from last night and had that with other dinner leftovers from the week and that was my lunch. Chuffed as we didn't order a pizza like we sometimes do at weekends when we're stuck for ideas so we ate much healthier than normal and we saved money so excellent. Plus, as an added bonus, by using up stuff I've got in the fridge/freezer I've been able to halve our food expenditure for the week, so saved £15 (which I'm putting towards a night out at the end of the month).

We had a fair bit of cabbage with bacon leftover from dinner last night as well - I refused to throw it away, even though the OH thinks I'm mad. I'm not a huge fan of boiled or steamed cabbage which is why if I cook it I do it with bacon but I really need an idea of what to do with this leftover stuff cos my ideas are limited!

Firemunchkin

Mumof2 wrote: »

How long does lamb keep in the fridge? I did a joint on Thursday and there's still some left - can't use it today but will it be alright to keep a bit longer? Also got some pesto with a date of 5.1 on it - how long over can that go? Thanks, sorry to be a numpty

If the lamb is cooked - freeze it in chunks until you fancy making a lamb stew, or make the stew and freeze that in portions till you need it. My rule of thumb with almost all food now is if it looks and smells ok then it probably is ok. Food has a good way of telling you when it's not. Pesto - it'll be fine if there's no mould. You can freeze it in portions too.

Possession

katy721 wrote: »

Thanks Possession.
I cant ice it yet as I have no ingredients until shopping day. I will wrap it well though and keep hold of it until I get the bits together to ice it.
Would mince pies freeze? Mum keeps turning up with boxes of them and I really dont think I can face another mince pie for a good while!

Yes definitely, mince pies freeze well.

Possession

Firemunchkin wrote: »

We had a fair bit of cabbage with bacon leftover from dinner last night as well - I refused to throw it away, even though the OH thinks I'm mad. I'm not a huge fan of boiled or steamed cabbage which is why if I cook it I do it with bacon but I really need an idea of what to do with this leftover stuff cos my ideas are limited!

How about putting it in a frittata?

Possession

Ches wrote: »

I personally wouldn't ice the Christmas cake until just before you need it as there is a likelihood that the the icing will discolour. Best to wrap it well (tin foil) either as it is or marzipaned.

I see your point, although a good layer of marzipan ought to stop any discolouration and I would use royal icing if its going to be kept a long time. It's the tradition to keep the top tier of your wedding cake for your first child's christening so it shouldn't be a big problem.

jfdi

Firemunchkin wrote: »

The frozen tortillas worked out fine too - but still have one left. It's a brown tortilla and it's a little hard so I wouldn't use it as a tortilla wrap again but am struggling for ideas on what to do with it.

I've got some sliced peppers, tomatoes and onions from last night's fajitas leftover too but I'll probably try and make a spag bol or something and shove that in.

Make a Tortilla Pizza (a Restaurant near me serves these & they are very light & delicious!).
Use the tortilla as a base, smidgeon of tomato puree on it then pile on the LO veggies, grated cheese on top & bake off (lowish heat) for 10 - 15 mins.

Scrummy.

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Have rescued a very large pumpkin from the shed on the lottie we share with some friends. They were going to do something with it but have not had time and the top was going all sqidgy. Have made 12 portions of spicy pumpkin soup and we had it roasted with roast veg. Just need to work out what to do with the other half of it now.

Rescued DD's ham sandwich she did not take to school on Friday by toasting it with chutney for my breakfast.

Shared the leftovers from last nights tea with OH for lunch, he would not normally do this so this was a result.

Yorkielass

Kiwisaver wrote: »

I'd like to join this challenge, I am still wading through the usual over supply of holiday food and determined not to waste or buy anymore food until it's all gone. I am sure there will be some casualties, although I am generally quite good at using stuff up; my biggest downfall is salvaging leftovers and saving stuff in the freezer and meaning to do something with it 'later'.

When later inevitably comes, I will either have gone off the idea, or the thing will be unrecognisable, unlabelled or freezer burned and I end up throwing it away eventually.

I have no idea how much I waste or how I might put a value on some homemade things, like lumps of biscuit dough and random things that end up dumped in the freezer.

So far this year I have only thrown out some leftover pastry trimmings I had set to one side in the fridge and never got around to using.

I went through our 2 freezers last Saturday and got rid of anything that was unlabelled and that I didn't recognise completely! (found this challenge the next day!) If there is stuff in your freezer you don't know what they are and won't use I suggest getting rid of them straight away then starting this challenge a proper - labelling everything you freeze properly and doing inventories/checks as suits you.

Still doing pretty well here - nothing to report.

tulip12

Hi great thread.

I found in my freezer yesterday some grated lemon zest that has been in there for a few months. Should I bin it or is there anything I can still do with it, TIA