Food Waste Friday | It's all about the chicken.
Every week, I post a picture of the food that has gone bad over the last seven days. Why do I do this? Because in March of 2008, I finally got fed up with the amount of food I was wasting, and I thought that showing my waste to other people would motivate me to use up my food instead of wasting it. Because this often embarrassing practice was so helpful for me, I invited other bloggers to join me in posting their food waste photos, and Food Waste Friday was born. If you're not a blogger but still want some food waste accountability, feel free to participate by leaving a comment.
Sometime in the last month, my sister gave me some boneless, skinless chicken thighs. She bought them, cooked a few, and she and her family ended up not liking them. So, she handed them off to me, and I used them to make Teriyaki Chicken. The only problem is, usually I use thighs with skin on them to make this dish, and I think the chicken got kind of dried out under the broiler.
So, the leftover chicken wasn't really that appetizing. And besides, I had a HUGE amount of leftovers from the Cajun Chicken Pasta dish I tried last week, and since I was the only one who liked the recipe, eating the leftovers fell to me.
I'm please to report that not a single bit of the pasta dish went to waste (and I probably will not want Cajun Chicken Pasta again for a very long time!), but the chicken did fall to the wayside.
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Does it count if I left the food for critters to enjoy?
I made the cajun chicken pasta last week myself. I ended up being disappointed. I REALLY wanted it to be good, but it ended up being so bland :(. I was using a new seasoning from a recent trip to New Orleans too, so I was really looking forward to it. I would make it again, but would need to practically quadruple the spices, and add some flour or cornstarch to the sauce because it didn't thicken up as much as I would have liked.
Did you have any of these problems, or was this something that the family just didn't enjoy?
Yes! I had the exact same problems...the flavor was meh, and the sauce was so, so thin. It was better after it sat in the fridge overnight, as the pasta absorbed some of the sauce.
I really wanted it to be good too. It did smell wonderful while it was cooking. lol
cajun chicken pasta sounds intriguing - is the recipe on your site? I think DD might like it. Sorry to hear the chicken was too dry. We ended up with some food waste this week; thankfully the worms ate it, and I have to hand it to her; Little Miss Green struggled manfully through something she didn't even like in order to reduce food waste by as much as she could - bless her; she takes after her Aunty Kristen 😀
Aww, what a trooper she is!
The pasta recipe is on Pioneer Woman's site. It seems a lot of other people enjoyed it, so I don't know if I did something wrong or what. lol
Is it possible to still freeze the leftover chicken? Then you could pull out a piece or two, take it off the bone and add it to a stir fry? The oil might rehydrate it a bit and covering it in soy sauce might improve the taste. Provided you like soy sauce.
Hee. At this point the chicken has been sitting in the fridge for WAY too long for me to try that. I think I would give myself food poisoning.
I did very, very bad the past two weeks. Embarrassingly bad, in fact. But on a more positive note, I adore the new graphics! So cute!
They are lovely, aren't they? (I can say that because I didn't make them myself! lol)
So, I don't have a blog, and would be quite embarrassed to post a picture of my food waste. Honestly, I just went through our freezer and fridge, and cupboards, and literally threw out a bag and a half of old food. Sad, I know. But, had to thank you for your diligence, because I am slowly but surely being convicted, and making more and more of a goal to not waste so much. Truth be told, before reading your blog, I never thought much about it. Thanks for your posts!
I had my first zero-waste week so I'm doing a little happy dance here 🙂
I love the new logo, too - very cute!
Too bad about the chicken. I like using left over teriyaki chicken in stir fry. I ended up duplicating my food waste from last week.
I like the new graphics. I had to laugh when I noticed the bitten apple. I actually found my 3 yo in the apple basket this week taking a bite of each apple and then putting them back. I had a basket of apples with one bite missing. I decided to make applesauce rather than have that picture show up here. 🙂
in case you ever find yourself with boneless skinless chicken thighs, i beg you to try cooking light's spicy honey brushed chicken thighs: http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1591042 - relatively healthy, so easy and quick, very moist/tender, and super tasty! i don't bother making a rub - just sprinkle whatever spices you have handy straight onto the chicken on the broiler pan, flip the thighs and do the other side.
I use the boneless skinless chicken thighs in soup. I make a batch of chicken soup in the crockpot in the morning, then about an hour before serving, I slip in 2 or 3 thighs, still frozen. By dinner time they're fully cooked, much moister than if I'd used chicken breasts, and I fish them out, dice them, toss them back in, and serve the soup.
Sometimes it just happens that you can look at something in your fridge every day that you know should get eaten and just say "meh," especially if there's more appealing stuff to be eaten. And then the next thing you know it's sat there too long and needs to be tossed.
Another good way to use leftover teriyaki chicken (any kind, really) is in fried rice (which is also a great way to use up any leftover vegetables).
Another week here with no food waste! Yeah!
I can't stand dry chicken 🙂 It would probably go to waste here too. I am off to check out the cajun chix recipe. It sounds like a lot of people love it. With my back out, I am not up for much cooking today (we are going to have waffles for dinner) but maybe next week.
You can blame all that chicken food waste on me =) Never again will I buy boneless, skinless, chicken thighs!
Best way to liven up dry chicken...warm it up in a pan with some chicken broth...like brand new!
There was one slice of the blueberry ricotta bars that I made last week left over. I don't know why, but there is always one left over piece of cake/dessert left every time! I think one of needs to ask the other if they want the piece instead of letting it go to waste 🙂
I just had some corn that didn't get used up this week. Much better compared to last week!
I hate to be a finger wagger here, but I think it is so terrible when meat is wasted. These animals were living breathing creatures, often having lived their short miserable lives confined in cages. For me, it feels so disrespectful to have them slaughtered only to be thrown in the trash.
Instead of letting the meat rot, why not transform it into something else? Chop it into bits, freeze it, then throw it in soups, or mix it with other meat in a casserole type of dish. I've done this many times with great success. Had some porkchops that I didn't really care for, but didn't want them to go to waste (pigs have the intelligence of a toddler - it's very hard for me to have them die only to go in the trash). I chopped the porkchops into small bits, made a fantastic bean & kale soup with the porkchop bits with great seasoning. Froze extra soup in single portions.
Please consider these things before throwing meat out. We should all try to be more conscientious about our consumption of meat and the sacrifices these animals make for our lives.
Believe me, I understand your concerns. That's why I started this whole food waste friday thing, and it's why I got into blogging in the first place.
I don't ever want to waste food, and if I were perfect, I would always remember to freeze things and I'd always find alternate uses for leftovers.
But in my busy life, where I juggle homeschooling, blogging, baking, cooking, cleaning, laundry, mothering, and wifing (among other things!), food falls through the cracks sometimes, and I waste things. It's not because I'm not trying or because I don't care, though. I'm just not perfect (though if you poke through the Food Waste Friday archives, you'll see that I've had many weeks with no waste at all.)
You'll be pleased to know that I waste WAY less food than I used to waste (and how!), and also that my household wastes far less food than the average household.
I'm not perfect, but I'm doing the best I know how, and of course I'm going to keep trying to whittle down my food waste even further.
Just to add to this, after reading your comment, I'm getting the impression that you feel I'm flippant about food waste, or that I'm not trying. Is there something in particular about my post that made you think that way? I'm just a little bit confused.
I'm not exactly sure what Deb was meaning, but her comment did hit a note with me (not related to your post, but just in general!). As bad as food waste is, I guess it IS worse if the waste is meat. So I guess that means that if it's between eating leftover rice and beans or eating leftover meat, the meat should get eaten, just out of respect for the animal that was once living and breathing. Interesting point, and one that definately hits home! I'm not a vegetarian, but I do have a soft spot for animals of all kinds, and she makes a good point. I didn't get the impression it was meant to be negative towards you personally, but again I'm not really sure what she was saying!
Ah, I hadn't thought of it that way. The pasta I was faithfully eating had chicken in it, so I didn't really think one was a priority over the other.
I do try really hard not to waste food that isn't compostable, because that sort of food has to go to the landfill. But, as was the case this week, I sometimes fail at that.
Kristen,
You are doing an absolutely wonderful job of utilizing your money and resources, raising children, avoiding waste where possible, and sharing all of your experiences and "know how" with us. There will always be someone who feels the need to point out something, or put their personal priorities onto someone else--but that's just the way the world goes. That's people. But don't for a second let any of this get you down!!!!!! You're doing fabulous...keep it up =)
Karen
Oy! I don't think eating all the chicken is more respectful to the animal. Kristen did the best she could. It didn't get eaten. That's fine! That's absolutely fine! She wastes less of everything than nearly anyone in America.
And no...you're not the least bit flippant about food waste! You're GREAT =)
If we were really going to be concerned about paying respects for the animal that was living and breathing at some point, we wouldn't buy a majority of the meat in the local grocery store. By buying it in the first place we're creating a higher demand and more animals will live short miserable lives in cages.
And its okay to waste vegetables? What about all of the blood, sweat and tears farmers put into their crops only to take a loss at the end of the growing season? That seems disrespectful of the farmers who are still living, breathing and working 2 full time jobs to make ends meet.
Our food system isn't perfect, but it seems silly to wag fingers at someone who is taking pains to raise awareness of food waste over a few ounces of chicken. I'm pretty sure the chicken in question felt pretty disrespected (if chickens could feel such things) before it ever made it to Kristen's plate.
wowsers. what happens to all the meat in the store that doesn't get bought? i'm sure some is wasted. don't worry,Kristen, you're doing a fine job! plus, the animal was dead b4 you bought it. i don't think it has any feelings on the subject. it's not sitting up in "chicken heaven"saying "what you threw me in the garbage?" LOL. i agree that sometimes their lives aren't very nice but that has nothing to do with the person eating them, but the people raising them.
I had food waste and it was - not - my - fault!! I had set aside a half-liter of soured milk for muffins, and a house guest threw it out. Which wouldn't be so bad, but I had said quite specifically to open a fresh liter of milk, since "I am saving the sour milk for baking." Fifteen mintues later, it was gone down the sink. I am a firm believer in practicing hospitality, but ooh - don't mess with my fridge!
I had a waste-free week as well, but I know I'll have to be inventive next week to use up a few things before they end up in the photograph!
I cleaned out my fridge this week and threw out some old expired condiments, so I don't think that's too bad. I have one over ripe banana that I will be making banana pancakes with tomorrow morning and some apples that are beginning to look a tiny bit wrinkled and I will be making apple cinnamon muffins with those tomorrow.
I did really well this week I didn't have any waste. I have a banana mango that is ready to be eaten this week so I'll be working on that.
Not such a great week for us. Greens, snap peas, and herbs. At least they're compostable, but I did feel bad about the waste.
Kristen, I've never for a moment thought you are flippant over food waste. Are you kidding - YOU are the one who has inspired me to keep my fridge better organized so that we don't waste as much food! You've inspired me, my friend!
I was only emphasizing how we should all be more responsible when it comes to MEAT in particular. It was once a live creature, I think it would do all of us and our families a lot of good if we remember that. I'm not perfect or holier than thou, trust me!
My family eats a lot less meat now than we used to. We now purchase local, organic family raised poultry & pork (no red meat). Costs a lot more for certain, but that's another incentive to use less and waste less for us.
You're doing a great job, Kristen!
@Casey, I agree with you entirely - which is why I enjoy the food waste posts. It's not just about saving money, it's also about the resources and carbon footprint of getting that food to our tables.
Ah, gotcha. Thanks for clarifying. 🙂
Lastly, lest any of you think me self rightous - an inspection of my own neglected fridge reveals the following food waste:
Half baggie of semi liquified spinach; chunk of moldie jack cheese that I wouldn't let my dog eat; an ancient half used container of plain yogurt that I have been avoiding and finally now, upon reluctant inspection, I see has indeed become a science project; and several long dead rubber carrots with shriveled stems.
And, I further confess this. Long ago, I once put some raw broccoli, cauliflower and carrots in water into a rubbermaid tub with a tight sealing lid and shoved it in the fridge. Intended to have healthy snacks. Instead, pretended it wasn't there and continued feasting on junk food. Weeks went by. Finally one morning I walked into the kitchen and detected an odd smell. When I opened the the fridge door, I was hit square in the face by the most obnoxious rotten farty egg smell ever. Upon inspection, I found that the veggie container just couldn't take the pressure anymore. The rim of the lid held tight to the container, but the center of the lid had literally split and peeled away and exploded from the veggie gas pressure. My best food waste confession ever!
Hee. I thought you were going to say that it exploded all over your kitchen. Now THAT would be gross!
That's a fabulous story. You should write the manufacturer to tell them how strong their seal is. And next time you tell the story don't forget the appropriate soundtrack: Queen's "Under Pressure."
Wow...I have a ways to go! This past year has seen our family into rough times and I've been learning how to live with less and eat well on less money. We are a family of 4 but our little ones are 2 1/2 and 6 months so we are able to keep our food budget between $100 - $150/month (that's with the help of WIC). Soooo...we get roughly 9 gallons of milk and dear me WE CAN'T DRINK IT ALL!! Because I don't like to waste (especially when it's been given to me!) I've decided to try my hand at yogurt! Now I can add trying to decrease our food waste every week. We do pretty good already because we have so little I hate to waste even a bit, but we aren't perfect either...
I go through my cupboards every 2 weeks and write down what we have then combine that with the fridge and freezer to figure out what meals can be made. I then make up a grocery list to fill in the gaps and buy produce. Luckily we have a great super market near us where I can by produce for cheap (as long as I buy it in 5lb batches). Which is okay with me because I dehydrate some, eat some, and then make baby food with the rest! Keep up the good work and thanks for the inspiration!
Oh! I meant to ask - can you make yogurt out of canned dehydrated milk?
I have no idea! Maybe do some googling?