Friday, August 8, 2008

Making Every Morsel Count

Haiku Friday

I gingerly pull
the container out of the
back of the frig.

Eek! Gray-green fuzz coats
the remains of refried beans
like a wool blanket.

A potential meal
enters the landfill, not fit
for any of us.

Maybe it's the higher cost of food and gas, but I've made a more concerted effort to use up all the food in our refrigerator. It's a deceptively easy goal. I'm not the most creative chef, so sometimes I'm not sure what to do 1/2 a cup of leftover cooked rice, and soon find myself forgetting about it until the dreaded "clean out the frig" day arrives.
But, practice makes perfect, and I'm becoming more adept at using up food. I add extra ingredients, like the aforementioned rice, to enchiladas, just to use it up. Plus, I'm trying new recipes. Instead ignoring the mango in the bottom of the refrigerator until it turns black and wrinkly, I've tried a mango salsa recipe that goes great with grilled chicken.
Now, when my refrigerator shelves are only half full, I rejoice.

4 comments:

maggie said...

Yep, I can relate. I also am trying so hard not to let food go to waste and also trying new recipes and using up bits of what I have. I definitely am improving, but some things really are harder to use up. At least it's progress.

Honey Mommy said...

Ok... that description of the mold almost made me gag! I really try to cook so that there are no leftovers. My husband won't eat them anyway!

The Parsons Family said...

whenever I make rice I always throw the rest in a baggy and throw it in the fridge and when I end up with a bunch of baggies I make fried rice to go with whatever I am making that night for dinner...or you can just pop it into the micro for a minute and half and you have hot steamy rice

EatPlayLove said...

I am right there with you, I am amazed at how incredibly well we are using up our food and eating leftovers!