22 Things I don’t throw away any more.

In these times of rapidly rising prices the last thing that I want to do is waste food.  Any left overs I will turn into another meal, but once upon a time I would throw the following foods in the bin as I was preparing a meal, or as I was cleaning out the fridge.  I did not realise that they could make tasty additions to my food plans.

1.  Bread crusts.  I use these to make bread crumbs, gratins, in bread puddings, and to grate into mince to bulk it out.
2.  Broccoli stalks.  I slice them up thinly and use them in stews, in stir fry, grate them in to salads and use to make slaws.
3.  Vegetable scraps and peelings.  I use these to make a stock or soup base. Even carrot tops and onion skins can go in.
4.  Potato peelings.  I toss these in spices and bake, fry or air fry for a crispy snack, or they can be used to make a soup.
5.  Seeds from a pumpkin or a butternut squash.  I mix these with spices and air fry to make a tasty and healthy snack.
6.  Banana skins.  These can be used in curries and to infuse cream, and also to make plant food for the garden.
7.  Citrus peels.  These can be used to make cleaning products.  To dehydrate and used to flavour food, to dry out and use on a wood burning stove, and to deter cats in a garden.
8. Parmesan rinds.  Throw these in a soup or a stock and they add lots of flavour.
9. Food that is past it’s sell by date.  I go by smell and taste rather than a date.  Most cream and yoghurt are still ok for at least a week after the printed date.
10. Stale bread.  I dampen the loaf and freshen it up in an air fryer or oven, or grate and use as bread crumbs, or in a bread and butter pudding.
11. A jam jar with the dregs of jam in the bottom.  I add white wine vinegar and leave it to infuse and then use it as a salad dressing.
12. Apple peelings.  I make them into apple cider vinegar.  The recipe is under the heading ‘preserves’.
13. Wilted lettuce.  They can be freshened up by being plunged into cold water or used to make a nice soup.
14. Over ripe fruit.  Great for making jam.
15. Meat bones.  They make a lovely broth or stock when roasted and boiled,
16. Wilted herbs and greens.  I turn them into a pesto.
17. Pickle juice.  I use it make marinades, to re-pickle items for short term use, or just use as a vinegar on chips.
18. Cream about to go off and past it’s sell by date.  If I do not want to use it in a recipe I will make butter with it or add it to soups or curries.
19. Yoghurt about to go off and past it’s sell by date.  I will add self raising flour to it and make a pizza base or flat bread.
20.  Cake.  If cake is really stale you can use it as a trifle base, or make a Russian cake out of it by soaking it in alcohol.
21.  Over ripe bananas.  Make banana muffins, cake or pancakes.
22. The leaves from Swiss Chard and Beetroot.  They make a great alternative to spinach, especially if young.

Which foods did you used to throw away that have now become a part of your diet?