When I first started cooking at home, I will buy ingredients based on what I would like to cook. As I was still working at that time, therefore I don't cook daily. Hence the leftover ingredients are often left to spoil.
A packet of fresh coconut milk, sometimes you only require a little bit just to elevate the taste of certain dishes and what happen to the balance? Most of the time, you will keep the balance in the fridge and few days later the smell or consistency changed hence you got to throw away.
The followings are some examples on how I utilized the leftover ingredients that cannot be stored for long.
Coconut Milk
- If I'm using it for curry, I will keep the balance in the fridge and use it make a dessert or cook nasi lemak within 1-2 days.
Followings are some of the dishes that uses coconut milk:
Mango Sticky Rice, Honeydew Sago, Pandan Chiffon, Nasi Lemak, Otah, sambal sotong/ prawns, Laksa, Pulut hitam, Bubur Cha Cha, Agar Agar & etc...
Luncheon Meat
- For a family of 4, it's not easy to finish a can of luncheon meat in a day. Hence, if I'm just pan frying half to go with plain porridge or to go with bread, I will keep the balance in fridge and use it within 1-2 days. The taste tends to change when you keep in fridge for too many days. Sometimes I will cook extra rice and leftover the next day to cook luncheon meat fried rice.
Followings are some of the ideas/ dishes using luncheon meat:
Onigirazu, Sandwich, Potato and Luncheon meat in ketchup sauce, Fried Rice, omelette, spam fries, stir fry with Egg and bake beans, add to spaghetti to replace ham & etc...
Mince meat
- It's always a good habit to divide into small portion and keep in freezer. But if you are like me, always plan to cook on the same day but didn't and can't finish the whole pack of mince pork the next day. Here's what I will do:
~ Season with soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, pepper and cornflour. Stir fry with some water so that it will have some gravy. You can eat it with noodles, rice or porridge the same day. Or store it in the fridge and consume within the next few days. You can reheat and top over tofu, add into potato stir fry.
~ Make into wonton, dumplings or meatballs, it's better to deep fry if you cannot finish on the same day. Fried food keeps better.
~ One dish meal like Thai Basil mince pork top with an egg (quick & easy), Century egg pork porridge.
Spring onion
- As it's usually for garnishing purpose, hence when you bought from supermarket it's usually in a pkt of few stalks. Here's how I keep and use my spring onions:
Daiso Fish Box or Spring onion box
Price: S$2 - $5 (you can get similar boxes from Japan home or isetan)
It's always OOS at Daiso, when you happen to see it, grab this awesome stuff!
Wash and remove any browned portion and use kitchen towel to dry it. Put it into the fish box or spring onion box and store it in fridge. It can stay green for more than a week.
Make into pancakes or fritters
Simple and quick! You only need flour, eggs, spring onion, salt and oil. (You can add prawns for extra flavor).
My girl who doesn't like vegetables love this so much.
Expiring Bread
- Kids love bread but when you can't finish within 2 days, texture changed and You have to toast it for a better taste.
Besides toasting, I like to put cheese and grill it.
When I left too many slices and it's going to expire, I dip into beaten eggs season with salt/ soy sauce and pepper to make into a savory French toast. You can also use it to make hotdog rolls or even dessert, flatten the bread and spread jam/ Nutella, roll and dip in beaten egg and fry till golden brown and sprinkle with icing sugar.
My Thoughts & Feelings
It's not only about saving money, there are plenty of people out there that are starving.
We shouldn't waste food, it takes how long for pigs or cow to grow, think about how much effort farmers have to put in.
Be thankful and grateful of what you have. :)
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