5 quick tasks that saved me money and food waste

We have been away on a small break and I had brought back left over food. We were sell catering and cooked all of our own meals to save money. So many people tell me that they do not have time to mess about with food to save money and food waste.  However these tasks literally took me  less than 10 minutes each.  As well as saving me money, they will save me time at a later date, and give me more ingredients and meals to use this week. They also save food going to the landfill.  Saving waste helps me save so much money.  Every little action counts, and means that I can spend money on the things that are priorities to me,

What I had left.

Some dried up cheese

Crusts of bread and a couple of stale rolls

3 wraps

Some bits of vegetables (I had already used a lot of these to make a chilli)

A bit of grated cheese in a bag

I also had extra milk that we had left in the fridge.

This is what I made

Slow cooker yoghurt.

I made half the amount that is in the recipe as I only had just over a bottle of milk left and the milk man had delivered fresh that day.  We have noticed that the milk from the milk man is so much creamier and the yoghurt came out nice and thick.  This week I will use the yoghurt to make some flavoured yoghurt in pouches for my grandson, and some things like  cinnamon bagels,  

Pizza toast and pizza rolls.    

These are great for packed lunches or for lunches at home.  We have eaten them with sides for a main meal. They store well in the fridge when cooked and can be eaten hot or cold.  My grandson loves them. I basically make a sauce with tomato puree, tomato sauce and some herbs, and put it on the bread, fry up bits of veg and put on top and add  any left over cooked meat.  Cheese is sprinkled on the top and they are baked in the air fryer, in the oven, or even under the grill.  I make these with slices of bread, wraps, rolls, French sticks, pitta breads, etc.  This used up some of the cheese, bread,  and bits of veg (fridge gravel).

Crisps or chips

Homemade Doritos type chips and their uses

I made these from two wraps.  This time I used a bit of oil, salt, and smoked paprika. They are stored in an old coffee jar. I will use them with hummus for our pickie lunch, and we will also snack on them.

Wrap Quiche

With my last wrap I made a quiche.  I used up the rest of the hard cheese, some wild garlic that I had foraged, and 3 eggs and a few splashes of milk.  Any left overs can be used to make the quiche and they save on making pastry. This will be served as a main meal with chips and salad.

Bread crumbs

With the stale bread and the crusts I made some bread crumbs.  I whizzed them in my food processor, but before I had one, I used to grate the bread.  They were then baked until golden in the sun in my conservatory, but usually I bake them in the air fryer or the oven.  I will use these at a later date to make fish cakes, to coat chicken and fish, or to make things like vegetable croquettes.

These will be stored in an airtight jar and will last six months (big old jam jar).

It took just over half an hour of my time before I went into the sunshine to sow some more crops. I felt good because I have things to eat for the day, and I have things to use in the future, with little effort.  What are your favourite things to make quickly from food that is past it’s best?