Monday 16 April 2007

The dreaded bog off offer. Buy one get one free

Melon were on a Buy one get one free offer in Tesco, they were quite large and were not a bad price even if it was just for one.
I have heard that thousands of tons of food is thrown away every year because the supermarkets do offers like this, and they are creating this wicked waste, increasing their profits, without a care for the wasted food, or its effect on the environment. Possibly true, but we have a responsibility, if we buy food, use it. Food is a precious resource, and as so many people do not have enough to eat, we should be extra careful to treat the food we have with respect, and not waste it.
There are opportunities, if one has a glut of any produce whether it is from buying special offers at the supermarket, your garden growing lots of produce, or just buying in bulk to save money.
One idea is to share your good fortune with other people, have people round to dinner, or give away stuff to a neighbour.
Find ways to preserve what you have, freezing is what I use most at the moment, as it is quick, and it is amazing what you can freeze successfully. We should not forget the old tried and tested methods of preserving food, Jams, marmalades, jellies, and chutneys are all really easy, and the recipes can be manipulated to suit your own taste. Bottled fruit keeps for at least a year, and salting vegetables like runner beans, is another way to preserve food. Salting is my least favourite as I use very little salt in my cooking, and so salt preserved food even when well washed tastes pretty nasty to me, but I dare say it would not taste so salty if you are used to eating more salt than I do.
Another Idea is to find different ways to eat the same produce. This is where trawling through recipe books for inspiration really helps. And it can work using an ingredient you have available to replace one you don’t have, be brave it is all food and you can sometimes find you have invented a new dish. My big problem is remembering what it was I used when it was a successes.
So you have two Melons. Here are a few ways to use them up. I am not sure any of the following would work with water melon, but are fine with a firm fleshed melon like, honey dew or cantaloupe,
The simplest starter, slice and sprinkle with a little sea salt and serve. Or slice and serve with black forest ham, Prosciutto or similar. And another unusual recipe that is suitable as a starter is, diced melon with a little finely chopped onion, walnuts, raisins and French dressing.To use for desert try adding some stem ginger in syrup, or just using a bit in a fruit salad.It also can be the main ingredient in a pimms salad, melon balls, strawberries and cucumber with a dash of pimms.

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