Don't Throw Food Away Challenge 2012

Turkishdreamer

I am lurking this month, but am looking forward to joining for February. OH working away at moment, so only me this month, no waste so far.

A pattern is emerging regarding wasting bread. Am I the only one who bakes their own and then blitzes into breadcrumbs and freezes any that I know will not get eaten. It is surprising how many things you can put breadcrumbs on or in, both sweet and savoury, find them so handy to be able to tip out of the bag from the freezer.

Certainly can't say I don't waste anything when there are 2 of us, so will join in next month. Picked up loads of tips, so thanks for the heads up everyone and good luck for the rest of the month.

mumsiemum

Turkishdreamer wrote: »

I never manage to use these within 2 weeks, have sometimes kept them for 2 months and they have been fine. I open a jar to make sundried tomato bread, but as there are only 2 of us, there are enough for 4 loaves, so usually at least 4 weeks that is if I make a loaf weekly rather than fortnightly.

My daughter's partner, who is Turkish assures me that if something is in oil it can be kept for ever!!!! Not sure that I would trust this, but oil certainly seems to preserve left over tinned passata or tomatoes. Just pour about 1/2 inch on top.

That's really useful to know - thank you! Will get the bread machine going tomorrow to make some S/D Tom bread

MM

ETA to say have made the sun dried tomato bread and it is absolutley devine!!!!!!!!!!!!

mrsd

Evening
Was feeling really pleased with myself as used up some stale bread to make crispy topping for pasta bake for tea as usually use cornflakes that dont actually need eating up. Have to add though half a tub of cheese spread 20p as found it in the fridge with a nice furry topping.

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Need to add 7p for a squishy clementine.

ALIBOBSY

Had a clear of the kitchen yesterday-blitzed some older bread and crusts into breadcrumbs-some for meatballs for tea and others will use up later.

Had some soft toms-one was a bit manky looking around the stem end so cut it in half (threw the manky side, they were 39p for 6 in aldi so about 3p) and grilled it-with another cut in half to have with out cooked brunch we had yesterday. The last one went with a few tins of toms in a double batch of pasts/tomato sauce-this also used up some older garlic from the bottom of the fridge. 2 last bits of garlic have actually sprouted in the fridge so going to plant them out with the ones I got specifically from the seed company for growing in the garden lol.
DD2 wasted another half tin of soup so another 25p there) but loving keeping down the food waste. Really making me push the meal planning and not shopping as much.

Ali x

JARUS

Hi We are often left with old bread in this house. I quite often make a savoury bread and butter pudding

Cheesy Marmite Bread and Butter Pudding - delicous with baked beans
or a Cheesy Ham Bake - ith diced ham and spring onions (often lurking at the back of my fridge having been bought for a recipe and then forgotten about!!!

Turkishdreamer

mumsiemum wrote: »

That's really useful to know - thank you! Will get the bread machine going tomorrow to make some S/D Tom bread

MM

ETA to say have made the sun dried tomato bread and it is absolutley devine!!!!!!!!!!!!

Always goes down well here too, freezes well as well, if there is any left to freeze. Also makes tasty toasted sandwiches. So certainly no need to waste any.:D

debbiedeejay

JARUS wrote: »

Hi We are often left with old bread in this house. I quite often make a savoury bread and butter pudding

Cheesy Marmite Bread and Butter Pudding - delicous with baked beans
or a Cheesy Ham Bake - ith diced ham and spring onions (often lurking at the back of my fridge having been bought for a recipe and then forgotten about!!!

ooerr this sounds lovely. Do you have the recipe??

Thrown a chicken carcus out today - after it has been totally stripped of all the meat,but since I as given th chicken nothing to declare! Used the stripped meat and cooked handful of bacon to make a sandwich filler with mayo for tom lunches. The rest of chicken was jointed into two bags with pepper and onion and a garlic chilli marinade - 2 lots of dump chicken now in freezer!

Still haven't a clue what to do with the oranges - might have to juice them.

Firemunchkin

debbiedeejay wrote: »

Thrown a chicken carcus out today - after it has been totally stripped of all the meat,but since I as given th chicken nothing to declare! Used the stripped meat and cooked handful of bacon to make a sandwich filler with mayo for tom lunches. The rest of chicken was jointed into two bags with pepper and onion and a garlic chilli marinade - 2 lots of dump chicken now in freezer!

Even with just bones left you can make a stock - crush em and break em up and freeze em in a freezer bag. Wait till next time you have a carcass, don't take ALL the meat off, don't chuck stuff like skin or cartilidge etc, it's great for a jellified stock, and then put the whole lot in a stock pot with a couple of old carrots, old celery, some herbs and pepper and old onions. Great stock.

Have more to declare - ARGH! 1/4 of the red cabbage went, it was just too hardened and the OH chucked it before I could rescue it. The flapjacks I made last week solidified beyond edibility, something to do with muscavado sugar caramelising I think. Pity, but I am not sure I can do much with them - any thoughts? If not then it's about another £1.50 to add to the total which means I'm over my target.

I think what I've learned in the first month of this challenge is firstly how inspiring it can be. We were out today for an exhibition and we were considering going out for a meal, so at least £30 in London, but we were careful and decided that actually we had plenty indoors and could make do with what we have and not spend more cash.

Also, I think there is a balance to be had between planning meals for the week (and thus not needing to buy so much in the store and not wasting unessential purchases) and having room for spontaneous leftover meals. I had to throw away stuff where I had already planned the meals and didn't have time or room for extra meals and thus ended up throwing away previous leftovers. I also aim to only cook what I know we'll eat, trying to prevent leftovers in the first place.

Before starting a challenge such as this I would like to have already done a full stock check and clear out to help my guilty feelings and to be able to meet the target. However having such stock checks and associated clearances it makes you feel guilty enough that you decide to do better next time and forces you to start thinking creatively, so I think it's a valuable part of the process.

I'm really glad I'm doing this - regardless of my financial position, it makes no sense to waste stuff and line the pockets of the fat cats of supermarkets in the process.

Linz4383

got half a cucumber to throw away about 40p
although i ave been very good and have been eatin leftovers instead of throwing them!!!! and have eaten all my eggs (normally throw about 5/6 away) so this is really good!!!! this challenge is makin me more aware of wot i used to throw away!!
used the last of my leftover chicken to freeze did 3 portions of chicken in gravy 2 i curry sauce and used the last in a tesco pasta sauce... my DD wont eat homemade only jarred so i bulked it up with sum homemade ratehr than throwin that!! so that made 5 portions all sat in the freezer ready to be eaten