It drives me crazy when I buy food and never get around to using it before it goes bad. I've gotten much better about this than I used to be, but once in a while due to poor meal planning, an overstuffed fridge, or plain old forgetfulness, I end up having to throw away something I never even opened. Tonight, I just emptied a brand new container of pre-washed, organic baby spinach into my garbage disposal because it was turning brown and smelled like socks.
So in order to avoid having my spinach purchase be a total waste , I am listing five things I could have done with it during the 9 days it sat unopened in my fridge. And maybe by doing so, I will help prevent this same thing from happening to another innocent batch of spinach out there:
1) make a delicious baby spinach salad with any number of add-ins...hard-boiled eggs & bacon come to mind, as do pomegranate seeds and gorgonzola cheese
2) blend it with some lemon juice, olive oil, pine nuts, parmesan cheese and a few other ingredients to make a homemade pesto
3) wilt it down and throw it into an omelet
4) chop it up and stir it into pasta sauce
5) layer it with tomatoes and meats and other goodies in a panini sandwich.
Pretty good ideas, huh? If only I had used them...
I am laughing right now, not at you, but at myself. This has happened more times than I can count...especially when I am bound and determined to eat healthy. I always end up finding some long forgotten vegetable that has spoiled before I could get to it. And I always think, Darn the luck :)
ReplyDelete#6. Don't buy spinach in the first place.
ReplyDelete:)
why is it always the spinach? at least in my house... i get all wrapped up in the idea that it needs to be raw in order for it to be healthy. I am sure that it's better for you, raw, is that what you understand?
ReplyDeleteoh, and thanks for the advice re: my little guys dairy allergy. I haven't taken him to an allergist, yet... we're still just working on keeping it all out of his mouth!
xo
b.
I've been meaning to check out the whole raw vs. cooked spinach thing. I do remember reading that it loses its nutrients when it's cooked, but I don't know whether that's truth or myth. I'm hoping it's myth because then I can't consider artichoke/spinach dip to be health food. :)
ReplyDeletei'm right there with you sister! i shop with the best intentions and eat like a 17 year old boy. i don't even want to think about the money i've wasted on bags of salad, carrots, squash and everything else that falls under the "healthy food" category. but i do love how you think. maybe if we train ourselves to think like this, we'll eat better and save a little cash in the process. :)
ReplyDeleteJust pinned this so I can make it! It looks delicious!
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