This probably should have been included in last week’s awful food waste picture, but I was holding out hope that when opened it would still be useable. It wasn’t.
The coleslaw was an impulse buy several weeks ago, when it was a loss leader at our local store. It is a good example of why you shouldn’t buy something just because it is on sale. A sale on something that you don’t need and can’t use it not a sale, but a waste. It doesn’t matter if it is a blouse or cabbage.
Since I took two weeks off from making menu’s and shopping lists, I found I had a lot more waste. When I got home with this impulse buy I did not have some of the other ingredients necessary to make the recipes which call for shredded cabbage. I have returned to making menus and lists, because I realized that when my life is chaotic it is even more important that I take a few minutes to do these tasks.
I could have salvaged the cabbage if I had only searched online for some alternative recipes. Here are a couple I found after a few minutes of searching: Shredded Cabbage Soup, Colcannon, or Spicy Cabbage and Chicken Stir Fry. Of course, I did not think to look for alternatives until the cabbage was deposited in the compost and the plastic bag in the land fill!
Have you made any wasteful purchases lately? Did you find a way to salvage or turn around the situation?
To see how other bloggers are doing on their food waste or share how you are doing, visit Food Waste Friday at The Frugal Girl.
Debbie says
As long as there's no lettuce in there, you can add it to just about every cooked dish. I just made lasagne with some cabbage and carrots in the (homemade) tomato sauce. If it's cooked with other vegetables, you don't even notice the cabbage flavor (for picky eaters). I've also put it in orzo, rice, lentils, and meatball sauce.
You can also add it to any assortement of vegetables and make salad – it doesn't have to be "cabbage salad."
Lisa says
Another use for good shredded cabbage is to add to salads. We like it because of the extra crunch. The kids just think its lettuce in it.
So glad I'm back on the internet again. I've missed reading your blog:D
Rona's Home Page says
Thank you for providing the links to the blogs and sites that you read.
I found several that will be helpful to us, as we're now cutting back on expenses.
Brenda says
I do this when I buy poor quality items and then I don't end up using them all because I don't like them.
Alea says
Good luck Rae! I know you are very creative and will find a way to either incorporate it into meals or preserve it for the future.
Vickie, Yes, you can freeze cream cheese. I actually buy extra when it is on sale and put it in the freezer. That way I only buy it at the lowest price.
Jane, Pumpkin Ravioli sounds wonderful! I sometimes put off cooking something that I know will be involved and/or time consuming. Sometimes to the point of one of the key ingredients being past their prime.
shopannies says
wow thanks for sharing I will have to remember this
The Thrifty Countrywoman says
Those impulse buys will always get you! I wasted a package of wonton wrappers. Was going to make some pumpkin ravioli. But after I bought them, it seemed like a lot of work. They aren't supposed to be brown are they?
Jane
Vickie's Michigan Garden (my backyard) says
We've been watching our food waste of late I remember the day before trash day I used to clean out my refrigerator and throw away a lot. Still not perfect because I still have that cream cheese that was on sale in the bottom of the refrigerator..I think I'd better figure out what to do with it soon. Maybe I can freeze it.
vickie
Rae says
Oh I hear you on this – great advice too; "A sale on something that you don’t need and can’t use it not a sale, but a waste" I love that!
I bought some reduced veggie ham and sausages yesterday, then got home and realised I bought a reduce quiche and had an open tin of salmon too. So I woke up at 5:30 this morning wondering what to do with it all before it goes off!
Wish me luck!
Mrs Green from myzerowaste.com