Oh dear. This isn't a science project, it's a forgotten sweet potato. Our food waste this week. Poor sweet potato. Although I wonder if Jonathan at Wasted Food would think I should have just cut off the bouquet and eaten the other half. Maybe I should have.This is pretty surprising, because I LOVE sweet potatoes. Combine a trip out of town with a heat wave and this is what I got. My husband doesn't love sweet potatoes, but I've actually gotten him to eat them by baking them into sweet potato fries...
SWEET POTATO FRIES
Cut sweet potato into 1/2" X 3" slices and bake on a sheet lined with aluminum foil spread with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and thyme or rosemary. Bake about 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees, turn once while baking.
You can do the same thing on the grill, just cut into cubes, drizzle with olive oil, a little butter, and the spices, and fold into an aluminum "pocket." Grill about 15-20 minutes.
I hate wasting food but one sweet potato in a week is a lot better than we used to have. It was only a few months ago that I would regularly clean out the refrigerator every time I went grocery shopping. Out with the old, in with the new. I always bought too much produce. Now I buy less of everything, and if we ever do actually run out of fresh produce (which isn't often), it's not a big deal to eat a smoothie with frozen fruit or frozen peas for a day or two.
One big side benefit is that I'm saving a lot of money! Last month I saved $100 (cut our grocery bill for 2 people from $400 to $300). And I think I'm on track to save that much again this month.
If YOU want to waste less food, do your part for the environment, and save money to boot, visit The Frugal Girl to be a part of her waste-no-food challenge. To learn more about the impact of food waste on the environment, go to Wasted Food. And please leave your food-related ideas and questions in the Comments section.
8 comments:
Hey Angela,
Stick that baby in some dirt and you'll have a really nice potted plant.I once saw an unusual but lovely ivy looking house plant and asked the person what it was...they said it was a sweet potato.When I took a closer look I could see the potato in the dirt.
I have a really yummy recipe for yam enchiladas if you're interested.
Am I interested? I yam! I couldn't resist that terrible pun. It's a disease of the 40s...
I second the recommendation to plant it!
Kate, please post your recipe. I think my dc would love it!
I'd plant it too. I don't have a ton of room to do it though. Thanks for the sweet-tater fries idea. I think you're my dinner inspiration.
Ohh, I was all stoked because I was going to come tell you plant it, but I see many people have beat me to it! lol
I guess this is where I'm supposed to say: cut off the shoots and eat it! I usually just get in there with a fingernail and clean out the shoots' roots.
But the impulse of planting it is a good one, too. If you give it enough room, it will grow more potatoes for your enchilada enjoyment. Or sweet potato fries. Or just baking and adding a little butter. Hard to go wrong with this Super Food.
Thanks everyone for your idea to plant the sweet potato! Sadly, it had already been tossed. Hopefully there won't be a next time, but if there is, I'll know what to do.
I shop, clear out fridge, and take photo on Wednesdays. I post the food waste photo on Fridays because of the Frugal Girl's challenge. By that time the stuff is pretty deep in the trash.
Next time you have underground food (taters, yams, onions, etc) that grows shoots, don't toss it. Wait for us to comment. Pretty much every one of them can still be used. The only reason I don't say "every one" is because somewhere out there is an exception to the rule.
For example, did you know that old, wrinkly potoates make better stews and chowders than new firm ones?
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