Don't Throw Food Away Challenge 2012

TheConways

I make "Pasta alla Frigo"...

Contains the consolidated remains of three boxes/types of pasta, a couple of shallots and garlic, some sorry-looking tomatoes, the rest of the creme fraiche that hadn't been used, two spare rashers of bacon, a couple of wilting chillis, a couple of cubed cooked sausages from the weekend BBQ served with some slices of grilled aubergine and a handful of herbs from the garden.

Also works with risotto!

I find a handful of frozen peas livens up any leftovers dish - the bright green makes it look fresh... I did this last night with my leftover lamb coconut curry.

Frittata is also a brilliant idea - I now boil extra potatoes intentionally in anticipation, which saves energy and time.

Grab a tin of chickpeas and make a curry with your leftover veg... Works well as a side dish also. The chickpeas add crunch and texture to otherwise wilting foods.

Natural yoghurt also has abundant uses... Make tzatziki, add it to curry, add it to a cake etc etc.

Avocados all soft? Use them to make a face mask or guacamole (avocado, red onion, chili, lemon juice, olive oil, corriander)

I keep minced garlic, chili flakes/fresh chillis and garlic on hand - they always add a zingy flavour to any leftovers.

Finally, if I have leftover mixed salad, I pick out all the lettuce and cucumber, and use the peppers, onions and tomatoes for a pasta sauce.

Nothing gets wasted in our house!

KitKat00

Stir fry veggies with noodles and stew fruit with spices

nlj1520

Towards the end of the week I always make a 'leftover' omelette or pasta sauce depending on what I have in the fridge. usually have peppers and mushrooms lying around, sometimes bacon bits, green beans, anything that didn't get used.....

vgstar44

i used a few tatties that have been lurking for ages and 4 sausages that were due to be used today along with an onion to make some stovies....put it into 3 portions and popped it in the freezer to be used as a quick dinner at some point

Stephen_Leak

I once made carrot and coriander soup with two one-week-old and very rubbery carrots. And it was delicious.

beautiful_ravens

I always use up old grapes and apples in a fruit salad - you know, the ones you no longer want to eat cos they look all withered, but they are fine really, kind of...I add them to tinned mango, pineapple and peaches[often value brands], and usually have some red fruits lurking in the freezer, or a few glace cherries, and I give this to the kids, goes a long way towards their 5 a day!

I do similar with old bendy veg, veg found at the bottom of the freezer, broccoli stalk, even peelings when I was very skint - it goes into a slow-cooked soup thats destined to be stick blended, and I eat that almost every day. In goes the odd bacon rasher, slice of ham, leftover sausage too!

My philosophy is - if its not rotten/slimy/stinky, its probably still edible, and presentable if you cook/prepare it in an appealing way!

helvelyn

TheConways wrote: »

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Finally, if I have leftover mixed salad, I pick out all the lettuce and cucumber, and use the peppers, onions and tomatoes for a pasta sauce.

Nothing gets wasted in our house!

I don't bother to pick out the lettuce or cucumber - I just cook the lot !

Pink.

Hi CAT££,

I've added your thread to our existing one on using up food that is just about to turn.

Pink

Firemunchkin

I love it when I've forgotten about some fruit in the fridge. There's always something delicious to do with them!

Apples & pears - weeks old, very very soft and really not something you'd want to eat raw. Peeled & quartered, cooked lightly with some sugar and lemon juice, put in bottom of oven dish with some butter/oats/sugar/cinnamon then baked. BEST crumble I ever made. Have it with some frogurt/ice cream and it's a great summery dish too.

I have a punnet of plums, bbe MARCH - I plan on making individual plum crumbles for the freezer, perfect for a small treat when I fancy one.

Strawberries - going a bit soft in the fridge right now, I plan on saving a banana or two from the work kitchen and making some smoothies this weekend. Or, squash and strain the strawberries into some voddy for a martini. Or cook them up with some brandy for a coulis.

Berries - can always freeze them, and bake with them, or make flapjacks with the last bits of the granola/oats.

Carrots - very bendy, difficult to peel - blanch & freeze for your next stock/soup/stew/curry. Works wonders with almost all veg.

Stir fry - great way to use up some veg. We did one last night with a pepper, pak choi, mushrooms, carrots and a bit of ginger & star anise. DELICIOUS!

LO mash potato - having it with my lunch 4 days later.

LO squash & bacon mix - in freezer, will defrost and make into patties.

Cabbage: lord knows I always get cabbage in my veg-box, but there's so many great ways to eat it, even when it doesn't look great. Stir-fried with some chilli & sesame oil, included with some minced beef in a stir-fry with noodles (totally YUM!), with bacon in more or less anything - even grate it raw with some beetroot for a yummy salad.

@ Pinkwinged - could you give a link to that thread please?

Thanks!

redgrave2009

I used to read and loved this thread (but only lurked). I got some great ideas from it.

Has it been moved or restarted?