2011 Waste No More Food Challenge

[tnthriftylady]

Shellie, I find that planning my meals week by week helps to keep me from wasting food, because I can look at what I have at the beginning of the week, plan around what needs to be used up, and figure out from there what I need in terms of groceries.

When I take time to plan meals for the week, and I am doing this much better, I go through about he same steps you do, so I guess great minds think alike.

[rebecca]

Ate leftovers for supper and lunch. So far this year I haven't thrown away any food this year which is pretty good. Usually when it's garbage day I usually throw some food I forgot that was in the refrigerator.

[sunshine]

Switched up the menu tonight - had some bacon, oranges and "bread" that were about to spoil, so we had breakfast for supper instead.

[piney]

I don't think i posted yesterday but some roast,and vegetable salad to throw out just couldn't eat all the left overs.

[mzpepper]

Trying to use up all the potatoes. They are really starting to sprout. Can't decide whether to eat them or plant them.

[madhen]

Used up both partial bags of mushrooms, then found another FULL bag of mushrooms in the crisper! Ack! I will have to find another way to use that up within the next couple of days.

[tnthriftylady]

Shh! Don't tell anyone that I did a bit of cooking while my "keepers" are out and about.

I knew I had spinach starting to get a wilted look, a small bag of sliced mushrooms, a quarter of a bell pepper, and about a quarter of an onion in the frig, so when the coast was clear, I put all of that together with a frozen pie crust, a couple cooked sausages, some cheese, eggs, milk, and salt, and I made a spinach and sausage quiche for lunch today. If I had not, in a couple of days, I would have been pitching most of the first items listed.

Now, I have to go back to my recliner and act innocent when DS returns.

[tnthriftylady]

Used up both partial bags of mushrooms, then found another FULL bag of mushrooms in the crisper! Ack! I will have to find another way to use that up within the next couple of days.

What about making cream of mushroom soup?

[madhen]

I'm not big into milk/cream-based soups. My mother is Asian, and she passed down her lactose intolerance to me. I am probably going to dehydrate them, if I can't come up with something by Saturday.

[tnthriftylady]

I'm not big into milk/cream-based soups. My mother is Asian, and she passed down her lactose intolerance to me. I am probably going to dehydrate them, if I can't come up with something by Saturday.

If you go to this link, you will find several good ideas for using mushrooms. I am sure you already know this web site, but it is my "go to" site to find recipes based on what I have on hand that I need to use.

Allrecipes - Ingredient Search

[madhen]

Thanks, TNthrifty lady. Yes, love that site and also epicurious.com, but forget sometimes to check there!

[imagine]

Today is my what was thrown out this week post.

Some tea and a restaurant salad dressing packet ( I figure if I can't remember the last time I ate a fast food salad it might be time to toss the dressing packet.

[Shelli_wnj]

Madhen - you could always cook them up and toss them in the fridge/freezer to get extra life out of them - then one day when you are having burgers or another beef dish, you could just reheat them for an instant topper.

Thanks everyone for the tips! This is really helping

[imagine]

Used up both partial bags of mushrooms, then found another FULL bag of mushrooms in the crisper! Ack! I will have to find another way to use that up within the next couple of days.

We saute them up and eat them as a veggie side.

They also freeze well or later use. you don't need to cook them or anything just pop them in the freezer in a freezer bag.

[madhen]

Thanks, I wasn't sure if they froze well. Sounds like they do!