Using one "focus" ingredient

IndigoGirl

I don't do this so much with fresh produce as I batch cook, freeze and buy what I need but I do have a method like this for using up types of food. I just posted it on a thread today actually.

To clear out our stash of food, to stop us just having what we fancy and repurchasing, we pick categories and have to use an ingredient from that. So for example one day is a freezer item, another day a storecupboard item. It makes sure we try different things.

Anne_Marie_2

Haven't had leeks in ages. Just put me in mind of the Hairy Bikers using them instead of lasagne sheets, when they were on a healthy eating thing. Absolutely delicious, albeit I used my usual veggie bol for layering.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/skinny_beef_lasagne_87277

meritaten

no, I don't serve leeks every meal for a week! lol - that's a joke btw.
if I cant use up say, a whole cauliflower, I will de-floret it use what I need and freeze the rest ( I do cut up the stalk to use in stews though). same with leeks. or anything I HAVE to buy more of than I need. I like to serve a variety of dishes using a variety of ingredients - but, the freezer will store most of them until I want to use them again.
or I may use up 'bits and pieces' in a stew.
I think my OH would object if I used one ingredient in almost every dish for a week!

[Deleted User]

I bought some leeks from the W.I. market yesterday and they will be made into leek and potato soup for next weeks lunches I have one portion left of my parsnip and apple soup which I will finish up today..I am doing my best to 'run' down my freezer as its so fully stocked and really I shouldn't have bought them but they looked so nice and had only been pulled that morning .The market uses up folks spare allotment or gardening produce so its about as fresh as you can buy I also bought three huge comice pears for £1.20 and half a dozen free range eggs from a lady who raises her own cluckers.Great little market and its only on for two hours on a Thursday morning and a community hub place.The queue outside on a Thursday morning means folk are pleased to buy great fresh produce.I just missed out on getting some HM chipolatas as they go very quickly well worth the drive to Rochester from where I live though

bouicca21

I'm on my own now so often have to buy too much for a singleton. I just cook the stuff different ways - broccoli and cauliflower taste different (IMHO better) if roasted instead of steamed, the florets can be turned into a cheese bake (with the leeks instead of onions, and a bit of bacon). And anything left over goes into soup.