No Food Waste Day 2

Today was the second day of my No Food Waste. Breakfast was eggs with bacon and green onions and I used up the leftover potatoes by frying them. Both were hits with the kids and husband. The taco leftover went to work with my husband along with some leftover acorn squash from Saturday.

Dinner didn't go as planned. We spent a fabulous day at a friend's house and then the late afternoon at family's. I was late getting dinner started and was grateful that I had already shredded the zucchini for the Zucchini Tots. I followed the recipe almost exactly except I used panko breadcrumbs and added the seasonings for Italian breadcrumbs. While the oven heated to 400 degrees, I washed the beans and put them into a dish towel so they wouldn't be wet when I added the olive oil. I spread the oiled beans in a single layer and sprinkled with salt, black pepper and Parmesan cheese. I placed both into the oven and set the timer for 15 minutes.

I didn't have enough time to boil the beets for the Beet-Apple Mash so I emptied a jar of our canned potatoes on to boil. Then I nursed L2 who was hungry and fussy and dinner was late. You know, it was one of those nights.

I turned the oven off after 15 minutes but left both items in so they would stay warm. While we were waiting for my husband to get home, I mashed the potatoes with butter and fried potato seasoning. To be honest, garlic, green onion and sour cream potatoes sounded heavenly but picking green onions from the garden and mincing them with garlic while holding the fussy 8 month old was just not going to happen. Oh well.

Here is what finally made it onto our table:

Not exactly magazine worthy but edible. And though this is not an example, some of my most delicious recipes would never win a photo shoot.

The verdict? The beans were over cooked a little because leaving them in the oven causing them to be crispy. Everyone enjoyed the Zucchini Tots and I will make them again next summer when I have way too much zucchini. The potatoes were good. Overall, acceptable but not something I would make for company.

The food waste? My husband's lunch box returned with a little squash so into the chicken bin it went. The zucchini and bean ends went in also. There were a few extra beans left on both boys "plates." (L2's tray was clean but the floor...) Both my husband and I cleaned our plates but skipped seconds.

The leftover potatoes I put in the bottom of a small casserole pan. Then I took last Friday's leftover beans and the jar of homemade salsa from the refrigerator along with two scoops from my meat jars (one from each). I pour 1/4 jar of the salsa (about 1/3 cup) on top of the mash potatoes. I put the meat and beans into a fry pan and added 1/2 cup water and taco seasoning. I cooked the beans and meat until the liquid had completely evaporated and poured it on top. Tomorrow I will top with cheese and we will have a taco dip, probably with the leftover carnival squash from Sunday night. That will leave me two more days to pick up the beer I neglected today while still not wasting anything. We can have the Beet-Apple Mash any day as the beets are still looking good in the refrigerator.

I am feeling pretty good about my food waste challenge so far. I definitely have to pay attention to what I am doing though. Hopefully, with practice it will become a habit.