Using one "focus" ingredient

mashedavocado

Does anyone do this? For example - you buy a pack of leeks, you make sure that most of your meals that week contain leeks?

Do you find you get sick of eating the same stuff or do you find it helpful?

We seem to be wasting a lot of food lately so really trying to cut back.

(Using leeks as an example as I like them but they're always languishing at the bottom of the fridge!)

elsien

I get bored doing that after a couple of days so I tend to freeze the remaining leeks, parsnips, whatever is going, for another time.

Linda32

Not really, but I must admit I do tend to eat the same things every day for say two weeks and then get fed up with it. I wonder why... :rotfl:

I must admit though, we hardly ever waste a thing. Its a case of buying what you need, or more to the point planning what you need whilst taking into account what you already have.

Also, buy what you know you will fancy to eat. I know that sounds obvious but you can be tempted when you get to the supermarket.

Edited to add, I was also going to say freeze the leeks for future use.

mashedavocado

Why did i never think to freeze them?? D'oh!

With things like parsnips do you part-cook at all or just freeze raw?

elsien

I freeze them raw. There's some veg I wouldn't freeze because it goes soggy, but otherwise I just chuck them in bags in the freezer. They're generally going to end up as part of a casserole or something anyway so a bit of discoloration doesn't really make any odds to me.

Linda32

I'm the same, I freeze parsnips raw. Just chop up however you want them. Put in a bag and take out whatever you want at the time. Cook from frozen.

melanzana

So what's all this lark about "blanching" fresh veg then?

Have to say I do it, but I'm not sure if the veg would turn out ok if I didn't!

I reckon it would be ok if you are going to chuck it into a casserole or stew or the like, but what about say broccoli or cauli and carrotts that are so cheap sometimes in Aldi and Lidl? Far too much for me in a week if I buy lots, but nice to have, blanched and portioned up in the freezer.

Welcome any advice. Thank you.

pm2326

I would use them alternate days rather than everyday so that you don't get so bored.

For example I bought a bag of sweet potatoes on Friday. I've had some today, I'll make something with them on Tuesday and Thursday, Monday and Wednesday will be something completely different so I'm not bored.

dirty_magic

I'm really bad for wasting food because I don't plan meals most of the time. I really need to start. Leeks seem to last ages in our fridge, so if I actually thought about it I could easily use them without getting bored.

FrugalWorker

make soup with the left overs and freeze it in single portions.

E.g. roasted butternut squash as I'd the oven on, so some for dinner, then made butternut squash soup. sweet potato chips + sweet potato/tamerind soup. Kale salad (I massage it with olive oil, add some peppers/tomatos/goats cheese), I steam the rest and add it to mashed potatoes. I can't think of any vegetable that I don't do multiple things with - look up some cookery books for ideas that inspire you.

Leeks as you said - boiled, in a gratain (don't do that often), added to a stirfry with cabbage/peppers, leek+potato soup, used instead of an onion in another soup - that's just some of my basics.

OH's defaults are broccoli / peppers / carrots - if he's shopping that's what he'll come home with. I do get a little bored of them, so when I'm shopping, I'll be sure to have his favourite 3, and I'll vary as much as possible for myself.

maman

FrugalWorker wrote: »

make soup with the left overs and freeze it in single portions.

That's a good idea but it needn't stop at soup.


If you have a pack that's too large for a single meal or something at a really good price then cook a meal(s) with it that will freeze. Then you have a healthy HM ready meal for another week. So a bit like batch cooking.


I buy frozen leeks in Farmfoods, they're good value, I don't have to do all the cleaning and chopping and great for adding to casseroles.