Sunday, October 18, 2009

use it or lose it dinner


We've all been there...
We shop for groceries with the best of intentions. We load our carts with piles of fresh vegetables, fruits and whole foods. Then the realities of life settle in. The weeks get ahead of us. Other things take precedent over cooking.

So, one night, we peek in the 'fridge facing rice milk five days past its expiration date and farm stand tomatoes that are sprouting fuzzy, Muppet-like growths. That's when you know it's time to use it or lose it.

Faced with past-its-prime, extra-firm tofu, a softish onion and a few spotty-but-salvageable zucchini that I had had every intention of using up the week before last, I ad-libbed this dinner. First, I pressed the tofu and dry-fried it in my wok, along with a splash of tamari. I sauteed the zucchini and onion in olive oil along with plenty of garlic and a swan-song bunch of basil from my windowsill plant. While I would not publish the recipe on my blog or in my next cookbook, the result was truly tasty. And it saved me from tossing the tofu.




12 comments:

Theresa said...

I've definitely had a few of those dinners. Sometimes my results are pretty good, more often they look no where near as appetising as your photo!

Catherine Weber said...

heck yeah, we've all been there!

River said...

Excellent ideas. Here we call that 'Dicing With Dinner'

JENNA said...

I make use it or lose it dinners all the time. I would totally eat what you just posted!

Unknown said...

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Rita said...

I do that all the time-I hate throwing out food. Your meal looks great!

tavolini said...

I hear you! I opened my freezer the other day and had to jump out of the way as frozen veg leapt out. If I can't cook it, I freeze it...now its time to cook the freezer ;)

That said, your dish looks pretty darn tasty!

Unknown said...

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Amy said...

I have a really bad habit of forgetting the veggies in my veggie drawer! My use it or lose it dinners never sound or look as tasty as yours!

buffalodick said...

The self-proclaimed King of Leftover Land approves!

KitteeBee said...

oh, this never happens to me, i have no idea what you're talking about AT ALL.

also, lacey has a blog she thinks you might enjoy...

xo
kittee

mamapasta said...

I do the same, , I call that
" tifoutou " which means " you throw every things inside "