General Chat

Food is always more tasty the next day!

I waste very little but am horrified at some people who are wasteful. My o.h. isn't so bad now but when I first met him, he would throw all sorts of things out, lucky for him he earned good wages. He is horrified at me using a carcass for stock or soup, but what he doesn't see won't hurt him lol

I think a lot of people will have to start pulling in their horns more when the cost of living rises even more after Christmas.

Lizx

I never ever throw stale bread away, make bread crumbs and freeze - find this very handy. Never use the oven for one item - even if it is to bung in a rice pudding! Batch bake.

I will be buying a Turkey Crown ,as a whole Turkey would be a huge waste.No-0ne likes brown meat or bones!.The other thing I will not do this year is to buy loads of party food just because it seems a good buy.I have just got rid of last years.Because the shops are open almost every day there is no need to go crazy.I will just buy what I need for the 25th,26th and 27th .Then shop again lol

Lol Merlin, you dunarf make me laugh. You little tinker,you.

As a PS to my post above, I meant to say, treat that Christmas bird carcass, whatever kind it is, with reverence. It will yield further delights.
When stripped of as much meat as is possible, boil it, and use for either:- With the bits of meat in, to make a hearty soup, with added vegetables etc,
or
Strain the liquid to use as stock, and any residue meat bits, mix with, gently fried onion, with or without mushrooms, and or garlic, some cold stuffing, or anything you really fancy. Add butter and chill,put in a pot, and use it as a sandwich filler/spread. This works well with cold beef bits also.
The soup and or stock can be frozen to be used later.
If you havn't time to do it after Boxing Day, just freeze the carcass, and do the above later.
No 'bird' escapes this kitchen, without paying the full price. LOLOL
Ebenezer Julia in Derbyshire
Julia in Derbyshire

Julia,I remember those "Marrowfat Dried Peas" my gran used to use them often,we used to call them "Grey Farters" they certainly did something to the environment.**M**.:o)>.

I can't abide wastage. I have fully stocked cupboards and four freezers. These are a necessity as we have an allotment, and I really do like to cook.
I was tought by a lady chef years ago, to buy the biggest piece of meat you can afford, when buying the joint. This I do, within reason, of course. But the OH does not like alot of rechauffed food, so I carve the joint into reasonable size pieces for just the two of us, freezing the remainder for use in the future.
Also, I take advantage of special offers on meat, and have a good stock of home made stews, and meat and potato pies, in the freezer. Take advantage of bones, and reduce for stock, again a good freezer stand-by.
I also know what portions of foods we will eat over Christmas, so know only too well, not to overstock on the festive foods. Realising that after two days of seasonal food, you will really have had enough, and would be glad of a plate of chips, is a key to loads of leftovers.
Having just lost our little dog, we now have only two mouths to feed,she always ate the same foods as us, but even she was only allowed so much.
Though not bought up in the war, I was nevertheless only too well aware of rationing afterwards. My mother was what you would call a 'good plain cook' and Dad is a vegitarian, so there was never any surplus, only potato and greens from Sunday, that were fried up into Bubble and Squeak on a Monday, accompanied by a good loaf of bread and a bottle of HP sauce. Mum also made a soup that you could stand your spoon up in, and you did not need a dinner after it. Just boiled a pigs foot, free from the butcher in those days, for the goodness then thrown out, and added loads of vegetables and a packet of dried marrowfat peas.
None of this did any of us any harm, it is the way we lived in those days, there was no choice.
We should lobby for a war on waste.
Julia in Derbyshire

We grow most of our veg so are lucky that we freeze surpluses or pick as needed. We plan meals and try to only buy what is needed. With the turkey at Christmas I freeze any remaining turkey in portion sizes and make soup with the carcase.

I am amazed that a friend buys a larger turkey than ours and only eats the breast meat!! I am still amazed that pototoes have sell by date. We store ours in paper sacks in the dark and they keep until March easily as long as any shoots are removed

my hubby hates wasting food and makes wonderful things with leftovers.
My cupboard at moment has very few tins and packets in which is good as means I know eactly what is in there.
I also have a white board in kitchen which has what is in freezer on it so I can glance at it and decide what we will have,

Christmas meals are planned for chritmas day and boxing day when we have visitors after that hubby will do something with what is left over and I havent boaught anything special that we wouldnt have anyway,

I often buy stuff and prepare it, and freeze it straight away.........what appears to be out of date is still perfectly edible months later.

unless of course there has been a freezer mishap..

Bob

Hi Liz, I had a thread about leftovers,a while ago I will find it and nudge it up, I am sure there will be many good ideas still to come.... thanks for this... hope you are o.k. and ready for Christmas... will chat soon ,

love Jean xx

Hi and thanks for the link,

I do try not to waste and think sell by/best before/use by dates are a lot to blame.
It can be very confusing to know what to do so I now sniff and taste. If its ok then I eat it.

Fruit and veg can always be made into somthing

Teresa:)

Campaign to cut food waste this Christmas
by KATE SCOTTER
Monday, 13 December, 2010
17:00 PM

Over the Christmas period, a staggering 230,000 tonnes of festive food is wasted in the UK.
KATE SCOTTER takes a look at how householders can help reduce food waste and save money.



Families are being urged to give food a second chance this festive season in a bid to reduce food waste and save pennies.

Norfolk County Council has joined forces with some of Norfolk’s best known eateries and food producers to launch the campaign “Give Food a Second Chance”.

The initiative encourages people to “think inside the box” this Christmas by storing ingredients and leftovers properly so they can be used again.

It says “leftovers today will make a ready meal tomorrow” and suggests you could “save a packet” by buying wrapper-free, fresh ingredients in small amounts.

James Dunne, from Norfolk County Council, said that on average about 6kg of food and drink is thrown away every week, equating to up to a third of all food bought.

He said: “Roughly two-thirds of the total 8.3 million tonnes we throw away is avoidable. It is made up of food and drink that was, at some point prior to disposal, edible. Of the avoidable food, 2.2 million tonnes is left over after cooking, preparing or serving and 2.9 million tonnes is not used in time.

“During the festive season we generate even more rubbish including an estimated 80pc more food waste than usual – wasting nearly £50 per household.”

As part of the scheme, which is being supported by companies including Bernard Matthews, The Cromer Crab Company, The Wildebeest Arms in Stoke Holy Cross, Roys of Wroxham and the Greenhouse in Norwich, a website full of recipe ideas has been set up and the council has created a Facebook page so families can share ideas.

Advice on offer includes paying close attention to the use-by date on purchased food and to effectively manage what is found in the kitchen cupboards, fridges and freezers.

Mr Dunne added: “The key messages behind the Give Food a Second Chance campaign are to store food properly and to be creative with your leftovers. If you freeze extra cooked food, you can enjoy it another day.”

Visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/secondchance and www.facebook.com/foodsecondchance