Food

[wallwalker]

I don't like convenience foods. I don't want to eat them anymore. But every time I try to cook from scratch - or from "scratch," even, using a few shortcuts - we end up with more than we can eat. Every recipe I've tried to make ahead has resulted in more waste than I'm comfortable with, because we just can't eat it in time. That's why my attempt at make-ahead slow-cooked food hasn't lasted. Every dish I've made I had to either throw away or give part of it away! (The pot roast was quite a hit.)

How do you cook for two using fresh ingredients, not spend a ton more money than necessary on small amounts of produce and whatnot (so that they don't go bad,) and not have leftovers to the point that everyone gets sick of them? I seriously do not know.

Comments

[yohjideranged]

Depends on the ingredients that you use, but some dishes can stay good in the fridge for at least four days. Obviously, cooked greens and delicate fruits and veg won't last more than two. But you should have at least four days lead time on everything else, if you are batch making. Many things can be frozen successfully and reheated - soups and casseroles are a major plus on the freezing factor.

Many times, I find recipes that say it makes enough for 4 people, and yet I end up with 6 servings. So, if I cut these recipes in half, I get the right amount for my small family. But otherwise, we will eat off it for a couple days or freeze it.

As far as meat goes, I NEVER use as much as the recipe calls for. I always use half, but then I am not a huge meat eater. So, I get meat from the store and immediately split the portions into freezer bags for later use.

I use mostly fresh produce and such for cooking. The key to this is to not over-purchase. So, I plan my meals out and make sure that I eat everything I intend to so that I don't have spoilage. I am fortunate enough to have three grocery stores in a couple miles radius of me, so I only buy what I need for about three days at a time. I stick to my list when I go and only buy what I know I am going to eat in that time. And funny enough, sometimes three days worth of food lasts a little longer than that.

Also, you can freeze bananas if those are being wasteful for you. Peel them and put them in a plastic bag and freeze. You can use them in smoothies or dishes that call for bananas ( I have a couple oatmeal recipes that I do this with, or banana breads).