Author Topic: reducing wasted veggies with soup  (Read 4618 times)

SKB

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reducing wasted veggies with soup
« on: April 17, 2014, 01:04:03 PM »
We used to buy too much produce and then THROW IT OUT when it got too old to eat because we forgot it or didn't use it all!! Now I started getting to it about 5 days earlier than the ponit of no return,  sautee it with some onions and garlic, throw it in a crock pot with some lentils, broth, water, salt, pepper, maybe some hot sauce, rice, whatever, cook for a few hours, and now we have TONS of veggie soup for the freezer (can freeze as single servings), which translates to good last minute lunches instead of fast food. :-) Food spending is our biggest challenge, and part of it was going straight to the trash. Fridge clean out soup is a very forgiving "recipe," and healthy and cheap. This week it was kale, red cabbage, green cabbage, carrots, lentils, green onion, yellow onion, garlic....not bad and better than a can.

Squirrel away

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Re: reducing wasted veggies with soup
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2014, 06:15:11 AM »
I always do this with old veggies too and homemade soup is so yummy and healthy.:)
I freeze bananas if the skin goes brown to make smoothies as they taste really creamy when blended.

OldDogNewTrick

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Re: reducing wasted veggies with soup
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2014, 08:58:33 AM »
This is a great strategy and one I've been putting into practice more and more. THIS helped lower my grocery bill considerably.  I generally make my own stocks, but I'll keep an eye out for BOGO sales on stock and keep some handy in the pantry for when my veg collection is getting a little aged and must be used NOW.

Adding a can of beans and/or cooked pasta or leftover rice or leftover meat can turn it into a main meal soup.

Bake up one of those quick rustic loaves to go with and it's a feast.

zataks

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Re: reducing wasted veggies with soup
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2014, 11:58:51 PM »
Also note that you can use ends and pieces that you trim off your vegetables (the base of the celery/leek stalks; carrot tops; onion shells or ends; etcetc) that you don't normally eat to make stock.  Boil them down to concentrate the broth a bit then you can easily freeze it to later pull out and have a great veggie stock base for soup or stew.  It will easily accommodate a meat too!

Leisured

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Re: reducing wasted veggies with soup
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2014, 12:45:51 AM »
An old trick and a good one. My favourite curry sauce is Rogan Josh, and a spoon of that in the pot, plus cut up bacon adds extra flavour.

zinnie

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Re: reducing wasted veggies with soup
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2014, 05:16:40 AM »
We do this, too! Also a great solution for veggie garden surplus.

HAULIN3

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Re: reducing wasted veggies with soup
« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2014, 09:12:55 AM »
a good muffin is easy and cheap..

core an apple, and blend it with water and add some flour and baking powder...  just drop it on a cookie sheet and it's pretty yummy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtCDrjmtr6o

RunningWithScissors

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Re: reducing wasted veggies with soup
« Reply #7 on: May 07, 2014, 04:47:06 PM »
Yay for veggie soup!  Just made a batch with the remnants of a bag of coleslaw, some soft onions, sprouting garlic and the last bits of a Costco sized bag of mixed veggies.  I like garam masala spice or curry to give it some snap.

I also save the ham bone from holiday dinners, and the carcase from the rotisserie chickens we occasionally buy.  About four of those fit into my extra large crock pot and boil up into stock overnight. 

momo5

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Re: reducing wasted veggies with soup
« Reply #8 on: May 09, 2014, 02:11:13 PM »
Also note that you can use ends and pieces that you trim off your vegetables (the base of the celery/leek stalks; carrot tops; onion shells or ends; etcetc) that you don't normally eat to make stock.  Boil them down to concentrate the broth a bit then you can easily freeze it to later pull out and have a great veggie stock base for soup or stew.  It will easily accommodate a meat too!

I tried this yesterday, it was great! now I have tons of vegetable broth in the freezer. thanks for the tip!

zataks

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Re: reducing wasted veggies with soup
« Reply #9 on: May 09, 2014, 02:34:22 PM »
Also note that you can use ends and pieces that you trim off your vegetables (the base of the celery/leek stalks; carrot tops; onion shells or ends; etcetc) that you don't normally eat to make stock.  Boil them down to concentrate the broth a bit then you can easily freeze it to later pull out and have a great veggie stock base for soup or stew.  It will easily accommodate a meat too!

I tried this yesterday, it was great! now I have tons of vegetable broth in the freezer. thanks for the tip!

Glad to hear it!

RealCanadianSavings

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Re: reducing wasted veggies with soup
« Reply #10 on: May 10, 2014, 08:28:36 AM »
We do this too. I also make my own beans and the store them in the freezer in recycled containers. It's amazing how much tastier and cheaper home Meade beans are.

Retireme32

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Re: reducing wasted veggies with soup
« Reply #11 on: May 23, 2014, 11:16:00 AM »
I always do this with old veggies too and homemade soup is so yummy and healthy.:)
I freeze bananas if the skin goes brown to make smoothies as they taste really creamy when blended.


Thanks you guys!  That is a great idea -I was doing it with the fruit for smoothies -but soup - yeah - of course!  I can't believe I didn't think of that.  Groceries are my number one budgeting issue as well!