The writer of a cookery book has advised using leftovers, bits and bobs from the fridge freezer in order to make a family feast.
Foraging in the fridge freezer for seemingly random ingredients can actually be enough to make a family feast, a cookery book author has said. Gill Holcombe's guide to frugal dishes and basic recipes is now in its fifth reprint and the Daily Mail recently noted her simple yet effective strategies.
The idea for her book came one day when all she could find in her kitchen was a couple of potatoes, a loaf of bread, some fish fillets and peas, which she made into fishcakes and homemade chips. "I thought 'I'm fed up of hearing this myth that people on low incomes eat unhealthily because unhealthy foods are the cheapest and they have no choice'," Ms Holcombe explained, adding that the meal she came up with was easy and tasty yet came from "virtually nothing".
However, she was quick to say that while other celebrity chefs have a certain image, her lifestyle is not a "marketing tool" but actually her life. For those who want to make sure their food is kept in tip-top condition while in the fridge or freezer, investing in a new model could be the first step to benefiting from a less power-hungry appliance with better features. The Hotpoint FFP187BP is an integrated
fridge freezer and can hold 183 litres, making it a potentially ideal choice.
There are several ways in which we waste foods day after day, including cooking portions which are too big, letting food reach its use by date, buying too much food during weekly shops and not using up leftovers. Before we buy foods and before we cook we should always consider the portions we will need and try not to overestimate the amounts.
Points to note about different food types and storage are as follows:
Meat and Fish: these should be ok in the freezer for up to 3 months but always be sure to check on the products packaging. Keep them wrapped individually so you can use them as and when you want and reduce any waste.
Bread: keep bread in the freezer and only use what you need there is no need to keep full loaves of bread out and keep throwing away unused slices!
Wine do you cook with wine but often find you only use a splash and the rest of the bottle is wasted? Pour the wine into ice cube trays and allow to set, every time you need a splash of wine simply pop a cube in with your cooking. A simple but really effective idea.
So before you throw food away think carefully and see if you can create another dish from what you have. Or before you rush to the shops see if what you have in the cupboards will create something tasty for your family to enjoy.
