Waste not, want not
Posted: April 20, 2011 Filed under: Frugal Food Leave a comment »
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You know how it is – something is is listed as an ingredient in a recipe you never get around to cooking, or you got it as an unusual Christmas gift. But however it happens, you end up with items in your pantry that never get used, and which sit there until the next pantry clean up.
If the items have been lurking in the dark depths of your pantry shelves for years, it is probably best just to throw them out. But if they are not that old, look up your recipe books and find a way to use them. The initial cost alone may be a good reason not to waste them!
Here are a few items likely to be lurking unused in your pantry, and how you can use them easily in your everyday cooking.
Rosewater: Often bought with the intention of making home made Turkish Delight, but when you find out how complicated it is, it’s just easier to buy a box of good quality ready made. But there are other ways you can use rosewater. Try adding a few drops next time you are beating whipped cream, or a cake. The rosewater will add a subtle flavour that will taste sensational. Add a few drops to icing mixture, raspberry jelly, or even jam – sprinkle a few drops in plain green or black tea and allow to infuse for elegant rose tea. There’s no reason why something as useful as rosewater should languish. It can be an acquired taste for some, but once acquired, it is never relinquished.
Buckwheat, soy or spelt flour: You were on a health kick, but it turned out to taste like corkboard. If the flour has been there too long, throw it out, but if you still have a good usable supply, don’t waste it. While these flours can be heavy in regular recipes, replacing a quarter of the regular flour used with some of the speciality flours you buy and never use is a good way to save the money you spent from being wasted. As an additive to regular recipes, these flours add a pleasant nutty taste without being overwhelming.
Herbal teas: You can just drink them, but if you decided you really hate the taste they can be brewed up and used in other ways. Most herbal teas make excellent hair rinses, especially chamomile, which helps bring out the highlights in blonde hair. Mint tea is excellent for soaking the feet after a busy day, and is also very soothing for rinsing the face. Soothing tea mixtures like chamomile, lemon verbena and mint can be used to fill sleep pillows (don’t break open the tea bags, just use them as they are) or for adding to your bath.
Herb Flavoured Vinegars: They won’t go off (vinegar is already off) but don’t be afraid to use them. Just substitute the herbal vinegar for the regular vinegar you use to make salad dressings or pickles. If you’ve already cracked open the bottle and you hate it, put it to good household use. Add it to hot water for floor and wall washing to keep the house smelling herby fresh.
These are just a few ideas to use up those odd items at the back of your pantry. But don’t forget leftovers in your fridge – yoghurt remains and mango and cucumber can be used for face masks and skin treatments, and odds and ends of cheese and cold cuts can be baked into muffins and quiches. The old saying is true – waste not, want not, because you can always put something to good use.
