Thrifty Thursday
My refrigerator is bare right now but it makes me happy! The reason is that I know it's because I've been diligent about using the things I have. I shudder to think of the days past when I would purchase a refrigerator full of vegetables, only to have them go bad because I never used them.
I've been doing my best to use up the things I have before I go purchase more. This week I used up the vegetables by making salads, a stir-fry, and a casserole. I'm out of lettuce but tonight's salad will be marinated cucumbers & tomatoes.
I've also utilized my freezer more. For example, I bought cilantro for a recipe but only needed a bit of it. I can't tell you how many times it has spoiled because I didn't use it. So what I've been doing instead is using my food processor to pulverize it and then freeze it. I had a bit of olive oil to it as the processor is chopping it up. Then I put it in ice cube trays, freeze it and then store the cubes in a freezer bag. When I'm making a cooked dish the requires cilantro I throw in a cube of it. I've also done this with basil, parsley and other herbs as well.
I also had an excess of onions that were starting to get soft and would be unsalvageable if I kept them on the counter. So I chopped them up and put them in a freezer bag in the freezer. This way when there is a time that I'm out of onions, I can go to my freezer for the back-up. Green peppers freeze well this way too.
I've been using the fruit that is starting to over-ripen in fruit salads. Bananas that begin to turn get thrown, peel and all into the freezer to use at a later date for banana bread. I just pull out a banana, let it thaw for a bit, peel and add to the recipe.
One way you can be thrifty is by not throwing your money in the garbage. Use up those fresh fruits & veggies before they rot away!
I've been doing my best to use up the things I have before I go purchase more. This week I used up the vegetables by making salads, a stir-fry, and a casserole. I'm out of lettuce but tonight's salad will be marinated cucumbers & tomatoes.
I've also utilized my freezer more. For example, I bought cilantro for a recipe but only needed a bit of it. I can't tell you how many times it has spoiled because I didn't use it. So what I've been doing instead is using my food processor to pulverize it and then freeze it. I had a bit of olive oil to it as the processor is chopping it up. Then I put it in ice cube trays, freeze it and then store the cubes in a freezer bag. When I'm making a cooked dish the requires cilantro I throw in a cube of it. I've also done this with basil, parsley and other herbs as well.
I also had an excess of onions that were starting to get soft and would be unsalvageable if I kept them on the counter. So I chopped them up and put them in a freezer bag in the freezer. This way when there is a time that I'm out of onions, I can go to my freezer for the back-up. Green peppers freeze well this way too.
I've been using the fruit that is starting to over-ripen in fruit salads. Bananas that begin to turn get thrown, peel and all into the freezer to use at a later date for banana bread. I just pull out a banana, let it thaw for a bit, peel and add to the recipe.
One way you can be thrifty is by not throwing your money in the garbage. Use up those fresh fruits & veggies before they rot away!
Oh my gosh! I hate wasting food. I always think about the unfortunate others who would love to eat what I waste. My grandma always used to say, "There are starving children in China."
ReplyDeleteReminds me I have a cantaloupe that is going bad. Better go take care of that.
Love,
Debbi
Wow...I have wasted so much cilantro during the summer months that it isn't funny. I make a lot of pico de galo but it only needs a little at a time. Thanks so much for sharing that tip! Also the onion tip!
ReplyDelete