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​Saving Story: Waste Not, Want Not - February 2018

I am a real waste not, want not.  It's a curse!  I like to use up all the food that I buy at the greengrocers or the supermarket.  Sometimes, I won't buy something (i.e. fresh coriander, mangoes) because I can't be bothered "using it up" and I can't bear wasting it.

For instance, with coriander! Now, I remember a tip I gave you previously was my "Yellow/Blue Card Method" - Ha!  So, on one of my Yellow "use-it-up cards" i.e. the one headed "Coriander" I will have lots of dishes that I could put coriander in, all listed  and so  I will use it up within about 3 days.  However,  sometimes if we're going away, or I can't be bothered looking up and cooking up the dishes/meals that use coriander, I'll just skip buying coriander.

Also,  I am always freezing little bits of this and that.  Most "efficient" and/or "busy" women I know throw away food (small amounts and not-so-small).  I have a well-organized freezer log, but I can see how those efficient, busy women would just think how crazy it is to spend time wrapping up bits and putting it on the log and then having to remember to  use it up.

Well, I can tell you that now my husband and I are eating lots more variety, and lots more fruit and veg and I'm not spending much time freezing bits of this or that, although, I'm still enamoured of my "Yellow/Blue Card Method" and finding it so helpful. 

OK, so what has changed that has me so excited?  A damn fine blender! And it is not only saving me time and energy but lots of money too.  I bought an Optimum 9200, which I was able to just pick up in Vermont (Melbourne's Eastern Suburbs) at a place called Froothy.  

Now the coriander, the mango, the oh-no-I've-got-too-many avocadoes, the kale, the spinach - well, nearly everything, really, can go into a wonderful smoothie, or perhaps a soup.  And, between my freezer and my blender,  I "use it up" when it's at its optimum freshness.  

I never have to look sadly at rotten bananas and find my Yellow "Banana" card - unless I actually WANT to make Banana Cake!  

I use it at least once a day: to waste not, want not and save money, time and energy.

Contributed by Laurie Parker
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  • Home
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    • SUPER SHOPPER 2026 >
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      • Make It Monday
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