Friday, April 24, 2009

Food Waste for the Week

No food waste again this week! But I *almost* wasted a cup of whipping cream. My mom gave me a pint because she realized she wouldn't use it.

(I don't think I'm the only one who has food pressed into my hands because the assumption is that *I* won't waste it. I'm always glad that folks want to avoid waste, but putting the food in my hands does make avoiding waste more challenging.)

I used it for coffee for guests at Olga's dessert party and a sauce for butternut ravioli and that used up about a cup, but it has since languished in the fridge.

Last night I poured it in a measuring cup to take a picture for this post, but it poured smoothly and smelled fresh. So I asked my husband if he would eat a pumpkin pie if I made it with the questionable cream and his was an enthusiastic yes. (I have a can of the pumpkin puree that has been gathering dust since Thanksgiving which has also been weighing on my conscience.)

Once again I am grateful to this challenge for compelling me to come up with ways to avoid waste. In the past I would have thought nothing of throwing the cream away. Now we can anticipate (I hope) a delicious pie after dinner tonight.

5 comments:

Angela said...

Good job! Wish I could share that pie with you- pumpkin is my favorite.
So does whipping cream work instead of the evaporated milk, or are you using the whipping cream for the topping?

Stacey said...

I love it, too! I can't believe I haven't used the pumpkin yet. Like I need a holiday to eat some delicious pie?!?

I'm using the cream instead of the evaporated milk (2/3 cup) for the filling and the rest will be whipped for the topping.

I'm hoping for the best and will let you know how it turns out!

Right now my home smells so yummy (30 minutes into the baking) that I am thinking about having a piece *before* dinner.

Kristen said...

Woohoo! Good job!

Oddly enough, people give me food too...my friend just gave me a big box of stuff, and that's not the first time.

Baking with questionable dairy has always worked out very well for me, so I'm sure your pie will be good.

Kristen(aka The Frugal Girl)

Cate said...

I understand what you mean about people giving you food. My mom just went on vacation and unloaded a bunch of mint and basil on me before she left. Not that I'm not grateful for fresh herbs, but I'm especially paranoid about wasting it!

Stacey said...

@Kristen and Cate - I knew I couldn't be the only one who takes other people's food and then worries about how to manage it. :)

The pie was delicious and, now almost 6 hours after eating it, I can happily report that there are absolutely no unpleasant side effects!