frugality in the kitchen

[bananahands]

I'm not sure if this would be better posted here or in one of the food forums, but it feels like a frugality issue first so I'll start with this. I'm really trying to reduce food waste. Some of it is a matter of being more mindful with what's in the fridge and cupboards, but I'm also catching myself throwing out parts of things that I suspect could be used if I was a little smarter. I've started making stock from vegetable ends, but that's a pretty obvious one. What about parmesan cheese rinds? Or broccoli stems? Any tips for these two? Are there any other things you used to toss but now make better use of?

[ChristyMarie]

Parmesan rinds give an amazing flavor to pasta sauce. Just leave it in while it cooks for a while.

[blissful_maia]

Parmesan rinds are amazing when making chicken stock or soup, just boil them along with everything else... Such yummy flavour. Broccoli stems can be used to make cream of broccoli soup, like use one full head of broccoli and one stem. Purred with a little cream. Mmm.

[SeekingJoy]

Broccoli stems can be grated to make a cole slaw.

[AAK]

For the broccoli stems, I just slice them thinly and add to stir fry.

Amy

[cristeen]

I always serve the stems with the rest of the broccoli. If I'm roasting or grilling, I cut the florets so that they each have a piece of the stem. If I'm steaming, I cut the small florets, then peel and cut the stem into chunks, and just treat them like the rest of the broccoli. The peel comes right off in strips if you get ahold of it - you don't need a peeler or anything.

[sunnysandiegan]

I make bone broth with the thick broccoli stalks. I also make broccoli cheese soup with that part. Cook a little longer and puree it. Yum!

[mamaluvspirates]

I just found out recently that some people don't eat broccoli stems lol...I always thought that people just peeled it, sliced it and steamed it along with the florets. That's what my mom always did, that's what I do now .

If there's even a spoonful of leftover veggies, I throw it in a freezer container and the next time I make soup I throw whatever is in that container in the pot.

Any bits of leftover mashed potato goes into a different freezer container, and when that's full I make lazy perogie casserole. My mom would have made perogies, but I'm lazy .

[SophieAnn]

Originally Posted by mamaluvspirates

Any bits of leftover mashed potato goes into a different freezer container, and when that's full I make lazy perogie casserole. My mom would have made perogies, but I'm lazy .

Recipe please?

[blissful_maia]

Originally Posted by SophieAnn

Recipe please?

[sweetjasmine]

What's a perogie?

[mommy2two babes]

Originally Posted by sweetjasmine

What's a perogie?

Dough stuffed with mashed potato. Sometimes with onion cheese or bacon

[caiesmommy]

My dc like to eat broccoli raw and I save the stems for stir fry.

I save ALL lemon/orange/lime peels for zest. I even have my MIL after she peels her morning orange to freeze the zest for me to add to stirfries/muffins ect

Bread ends get frozen for crutons/bread crumbs

Green stalks(like kale) get saved and chopped finely for soup

Mashed potatoes get saved for veggie shepards pie

I make veggie pot pie out of vegan cream soups that aren't very brothy by the end

Leftover noodles/rice/beans/veg/tomato sauce/gets thrown into soup once a week

Leftover breakfast potatoes gets turned into potato chickpea curry

[SaraCate]

Another cheese one: if you find cheese that's a bit dried out, add it to cheese sauce. *really* dried out, it won't melt, but maybe could be used in stock ala PP with Parm. rinds?

Leftover fruits or veggies can go into muffins - sweet or savory. Or omelettes.

Potato water oand/or whey goes into bread.

Save veggie water for soups/broths.

[MindfulBirth]

Broccoli stems are the yummiest part! They are very sweet. I don't think I've ever peeled a broccoli stem either.. why do you need to do that?

[bananahands]

Yay. Thanks for all the ideas.

[provocativa]

you can also save apple cores and bits of fruit and cook down for fruit syrup.

[meandk0610]

Originally Posted by provocativa

you can also save apple cores and bits of fruit and cook down for fruit syrup.

how do you do this? can you use berries?

[Pariah]

Originally Posted by sweetjasmine

What's a perogie?

Heavenly comfort food.

you can also save apple cores and bits of fruit and cook down for fruit syrup.

What would you use that for? I've never made a fruit syrup. LOL, the only thing that comes to mind is that gross fake strawberry syrup that's like...for milk or dessert topping. :Puke

I've used left over apple slices to make apple crisp for dessert. Not slices that have been eaten from of course, but if there are any left over that need to be used up they'll be turned into dessert for that night. I'm sure that would work for lots of fruits and berries.

[caiesmommy]

I've made apple peel jelly out of cores and peels. Dc dont like apple sauce with the peels, its a color thing I think..so I have to peel the apples for apple sauce, then I make jelly out of the peels and cores as xmas gifts