Beyond the Compost Part II

The big bags of carrots were on sale, cucumbers were 2 for $1... such great deals... you get home and realize you totally overbought. What do you do?

photo from: http://noteatingoutinny.com

We're always on the look out for more ways to reduce food waste at home. Learning from our own experience and reading about how other bloggers approach the issue, a proactive stance (recognizing an overabundance of a food before it turns the corner) offers the best results.

Here are the tricks on our current hit list:
abundance or wilted herbs -> pesto for pasta or potatoes, or freeze
abundance of cucumbers, beets, onions, lemons -> make pickles
abundance of oranges, carrots, celery... -> juice 'em
spinach, other produce -> blanch/cook it, then freeze it
leftover spaghetti -> bulk up a frittata
nuts -> make a spread, butter or dip

Here are some tricks to go beyond the compost by utilizing your scraps:
onions & carrot peels, ends and other scraps -> freeze for stock making
rind from hard cheeses -> freeze for soups (adds a salty bite)
citrus peels -> send down garbage disposal to clean/freshen it

Share the extra:

Another great tip for dealing with overbuying or overmaking is to share it. Invite an old friend over for dinner or take that loaf of banana bread (that those overripe bananas made) over to your neighbors.

Kamut Krispies

Here's a fat free, whole-grain remix on a classic sweet treat: Rice Krispies!

We like to make them in a large microwavable bowl instead of on the stove, but the stovetop method works fine too.

5 cups puffed kamut cereal
3 cups mini marshmallows
2 teaspoons honey

Spray an 8" or 9" square baking dish/pan lightly with cooking spray. Prepare a 1-foot length of waxed paper, also sprayed lightly with cooking spray.

Heat the mini marshmallows and honey in the microwave until melted, checking frequently to avoid scorching. When completely melted, stir in the kamut cereal to coat evenly. Working quickly, transfer mixture to prepared pan. Place the waxed paper sparyed-side down (toward the kamut) and press down to distribute. Let cool to room temperature, cut and serve. They will get crispier as they cool.

Store leftovers in an airtight container.

*Note: This healthier version may not be as crispy as their rice predecessors.