5 Tips for Reducing Food Waste in Your Home

Catherine Wills
Garden Educator

Mei Li
Co-Founder of Food Waste Feast

This month we brought Mei Li, a food waste expert, to chat with us about reducing food waste in our homes using 5 simple tips.

Click on the video below to learn more:

Food Waste Reduction Recipes

Sheet Pan Frittata

Ingredients

  • 2 cups filling of choice: Leftover peppers, spinach, or tomatoes work great
  • 8 eggs
  • ~1/4 cup milk or cream (optional) 
  • Splash of olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400ºF. 
  2. Prepare filling for frittata. Filling is based on what you have in your kitchen such as leftovers or additional prep from previous meals. 
  3. Whisk together eggs. Whisk in milk or cream if using.
  4. Thinly coat the pan with olive oil and wipe away any excess. 
  5. Lay the filling into the pan. You can separate the sheet pan into 4 sections based on personal preference in order to reduce waste. 
  6. Pour the whisked eggs and cream mixture over the filling. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Bake at 400ºF for 12-15 minutes or until cooked through.


Anything in the Kitchen Pasta

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. pasta of choice
  • ⅓ cup olive oil
  • ~2 cups of vegetables: Try uncooked vegetables such as greens, asparagus, green beans, thawed frozen corn, or peas. Or, try cooked leftover vegetables.
  • Optional protein of choice: Try leftover chicken, pork, beef, or tofu
  • 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for sprinkling on top
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil with a pinch of salt and place noodles in to cook until al dente (cooked so as to be firm when bitten). Save 1 cup of pasta water. When finished cooking, drain pasta and set aside for later use.
  2. Heat a skillet or pan over medium heat. Add a thin layer of olive oil. Once oil is hot, add garlic and simmer for 1-2 minutes. 
  3. Add in any filling or ingredients that may need to be cooked such as vegetables or proteins. 
  4. Once ingredients are cooked through, stir in the pasta and pasta water, and mix. 
  5. While stirring, slowly sprinkle in grated Parmesan cheese to create a sauce-like mixture in the pan. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Once all the ingredients are fully incorporated, serve.

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