Monday 10 September 2012

Using It Up

Oh, I've been terrible this summer about using up bits of food in the pantry. It's funny how all the little bits of things end up shoved toward the back of the cupboard... I discovered a wide assortment of dried fruit, ground and slivered almonds, wheat germ, etc... and even some honey that had crystallized.  Time to use these things up!



A quick search online netted a fast recipe for homemade granola bars.  I think I baked mine a little longer than they needed, so watch yours closely.  Mine ended up taking 25-30 mins not the 35 that recipe called for.  I adjusted the recipe to include what I had on hand, so I added slivered almonds, shredded coconut, all honey (no brown sugar), chia seeds, kamut flakes, dried pears, cranberries and raisins, and a few other bits and bobs found in my pantry...  they are delicious!  Spread with peanut butter, they are seriously addictive but due to student allergies, they'll be eaten plain as school lunchbox fare.



Speaking of finding things that need using up - can you believe that I found 13 bananas in my freezer?  Seriously ridiculous! 



I now have 2 banana loaves and 24 muffins in the freezer all ready for quick school lunches.

Next up - chicken stock made from 3 frozen roast chicken carcasses...






11 comments:

  1. Lol, I do an Autumn(fall) clean too, sometimes instead of a Spring clean. Mine isn't quite as yummy as yours though :).
    Cheers, Robyn

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  2. lol at a quick glance i thought you had found eels in your freezer! hahaha bananas are way better and make a tastier cake!

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  3. Way to go girl! The granola bars look yummy....the banana photo made me laugh. But for anyone how has frozen their over-ripe bananas, we know that is what they look like...

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  4. Well, what a profitable clearout that was! - a good enough reason to have an annual freezer rummage if ever I heard one. I only ever seem to find the odd frozen potato chip or escaped peas in the bottom of my freezer.

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  5. Robyn, I try to sort out the freezers and pantry cupboard twice/year other wise it gets SCARY!

    Racheal - LOL If I found eels, I think I'd faint!

    Meggie - Yeah, they look pretty nasty, don't they? I can't bear to waste them when they are overripe though so freezing works well for me. I don't usually wait to long to use them up, though!

    Penny - I had plenty of peas, some spilled gluten free flour, and dried up ice cubes in the bottom of mine :)

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  6. Perfect way to use things up. I love making miss mash meals of all the various bits left in the freezer/fridge.

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  7. I just moved from Vancouver to Ottawa so I had the satisfaction of baking/cooking through allll the odds and ends but now I have to re buy all the staples :( Could you share how you make your chicken stock? Any particular process? Thanks!

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    1. Hi Kerry - I'm originally from the Sunshine Coast :) We moved here 14 years ago - we miss the coast a lot but not the rainy, dreary winters.

      I use my pressure cooker to make stock. It makes THICK, gelatinous broth in ONE hour. Throw your bones in, add some water (doesn't have to cover all the bones), some herbs and spices and bring to high pressure. Turn off burner after 1 hour at high pressure. Allow pressure to come down naturally. Strain and serve, freeze or can. Easy!

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  8. Great reminder, thanks - I don't even know what's in the back of the pantry cupboard right now, let alone the freezer, though I know I have a matching set of bananas to yours :) Looks as if I'll have a busy week!

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    1. Di - go for it! Once I started, I got on a roll... it's motivating to see the space free up in the cupboards and the freezers now have (rapidly diminishing) goodies for lunches...

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  9. I hear you girl. I freeze bananas and make baked goodies. Friends and work friends even give me their old bananas as they know I'll put them to good use. I love to make "free" stock from those roast chicken bones too. Waste not want...."
    Cheers
    Erica

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