Food Waste Friday | It's a condiment week.
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.
(plus a tomato. which isn't a condiment.)
Remember how I told you last week that I had an abundance of tomatoes? Well, I was successful at using up all but one, and I have two batches of fresh salsa to thank for that.
(er, I'm thanking the salsa for the used-up tomatoes, not the rotten one.)
Plus, I wasted some pesto that had been in my fridge for a ridiculously long time.
And the stuff in the measuring cup is a failed batch of homemade French dressing. I followed the recipe very carefully, adding the oil in a REALLY slow, steady stream, but the dressing was still just basically oil with spices in it. I don't know what went wrong...I use a similar recipe to make the dressing for my Mandarin Chicken Salad, and that always comes out fine.
Anyway, it was really disgusting on a salad, and I have no desire to eat it.
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SNAP! I too have a photo off a rotten tomato on my post. Your photo is much better than mine...still need some serious work on my camera skills!
I'm not accepting full responsibility for it though. My mind has been on packaging of late, and it's time to review my method of purchasing I reckon. In particular it's the totally unnecessary (8 attempts it took at spelling the previous word - oh boy!) type that wraps fruit and veg that is grating on me. Pretty sure it was death by plastic for this baby. Too much moisture. I should have unwrapped (don't know why I didn't - Duh!). Desperate to save the other 5 - in the slow-cooker they went to simmer up a ragu sauce.
p.s. - only just discovered that refrigerating toms is not a good idea.... eliminates nutrients. 2 lessons learnt this week.
What about adding some vinegar to the failed dressing and turning it into a marinade for chicken or beef? One of my best chicken dinners was done by marinating chicken thighs in leftover salad dressing made by my dh.
I've been on a bit of a condiment kick lately. I think adding them to a dish or meal pumps it up just a little bit.
Yay Tina! No food wasted this week. Thanks for the self check FG. I was slightly conscious of what I was wasting in terms of food before I found your website. Now it is a weekly quest to NOT waste any food. I have went three weeks so far!
Almost a loss, but turned into a save. I was mixing sponge for sourdough bread, and talking with family at the same time. I got momentarily confused, added the sugar and salt 14 hours too early, then realized my mistake. I just stood there thinking it through, how could I save the dough. I decided salvage the ruined sponge dough by turning into waffle batter, by adding a couple of eggs, oil, vanilla, cinnamon, and lots of water to thin it. I was part way through the waffle-making when I looked at the clock, and knowing I had to be someplace in just 30 minutes, I knew I couldn't get all the waffle batter cooked in time. I had to rethink even the waffle plan. So I turned the griddle on and was making both waffles and pancakes. This batter made enough waffles and pancakes for two days of breakfasts! But at least I didn't have to throw the sourdough sponge out.
Very Creative thinking! Congratulations on the save:)
That is the best save I've heard in a really long time. Awesome for you!
I wasted a peanut butter sandwich I didn't eat at work this week. I think the creatures on my patio conspire for this to happen, because they always get my waste. Otherwise, a good week.
I had a few things this week, all small. I need to figure out how to get my daughter to eat the applesauce that she *asks* for and I'll be set!!
(BTW I can't see the Linky Widget, is it me or is it not there?)
Oatmeal muffins can be made with applesauce. I like to use applesauce on top of pancakes with cinnamon and walnuts.
A little bit of waste (bread due to the humidity) but if I didn't know I was going to have to write about it on Friday it would have been WAY worse.
Just about got through this week but I seriously need some help from your readers NOW if I am to avoid a food waste disaster next week! Anyone know what to do with a surfeit of smoked mackerel and yogurt?
The yogurt can be frozen. Smoked mackerel? Never used it. Good luck!
I'm not familiar with smoked mackerel, but I eat smoked salmon & cream cheese on crackers for a healthy (if not low calorie) snack. You can also try making a sandwich spread with the mackerel, similar to tuna fish sandwiches.
use yogurt in smoothies.
Since I started making my yogurt in individual serving portions it lasts much longer than it used to.
It might be a little warm for this, but I've used leftover smoked salmon in potato soup/chowder. It was really good!
Hi Kristen, the widget is not working for me.. dont know if I am the only one or more facing the same issue..
My food waste this week is a bowlful of steamed rice !!! not much,but still there is a long way to reach 'No Waste'
Ugh. That sums up my week.
Not too bad this week, just 1/2 ham & cheese sandwich!
My no food waste streak has ended, sadly.
No food waste this week.....quite possibly as I have no food! :o)
I'm disappointed that I can't achieve a truely Waste Free Friday, but I did only loose a couple of moldy cornbread sticks.
when i do homemade french dressing i always do it in a container with a lid and that seems to mix it up better than i can do with a wisk or spoon. just close the lid and shake..
I didn't do so hot this week. I'm hoping for a better week next week.
Is anyone else gluten-free? It seems like any bakes goods or pancakes that I make that are gluten-free don't taste very good after the first or second day. Any suggestions?
microwave baked goods for 20 seconds or so to bring back the moistness. It it weird at first, but really works.
I lost a heart of romaine lettuce and a piece of chicken. The chicken was leftover from earlier this week and was totally dry and icky. The lettuce was from 2 shopping trips ago.. it got slimy and moldy 🙁
Sorry about the dressing, hate it when that happens! Thanks for this idea, it's really helping me to be more thoughtful in regards to our food consumption/waste.
I haven't posted in awhile. My food waste has been much better I've had several weeks of no waste. This week was not so good. I ended up wasting a tomato mom forgot about in the frig and I wasted spaghetti and meat sauce because neither of us really wanted it to start with.
Next Friday, 29th, will be my first time taking part in Food Waste Friday. Am looking forward to it. I always try to use everything and limit watse, but this may make me very aware of how well I am doing.
Using every last scrap of soap. Here is how I do it. I am a guy, I like to work in my workshop, sometimes on my car. My hands get dirty. When I first started work - about 54 years ago - as we left the workshop there was a bucket with a mixture of wet soap and sand and we would get some of it and carry it into the wash room where we used it to clean our hands. It is VERY efficient. Just wash your hands with the soap and sand mix and voila your hands are as clean and smooth as you know what.
So, you cut the little pieces of soap up and put them into a little plastic bowl like a yogurt or butter container with a lid. Add some water and some sand. Shake it and leave it. The soap gets real soft, if you put enough water in, if you didn't just add more water.
Give it to your guy to keep in the basement or wherever he does his dirty work. It doesn't take much of the mix to get your hands nice and clean and smooth. Play sand works well.