How to Keep Herbs Longer

A lot of recipes call for fresh herbs but it's such a bummer when you buy the big bunch and then half of it goes bad before you get to use it.  So, I did a bit of googling on this and found this solution:

Place the dry - not dried! - bunch in a glass of water (without any metal twist tie around it!), put a plastic bag over it and place it in the fridge. 

It's that easy! 

I have found herbs lasting longer out here in Ontario than they did in BC.  The only difference I can find is here they use rubber bands and I remember Kin's used metal twist ties.  So even if you don't use the glass/plastic bag trick, it's probably a good idea to separate the herbs from the twist tie!

A solution for leftover tomato paste

Instead of storing an opened can of tomato paste in your fridge and inevitably discovering it in a month with a think layer of mold across the top,  my cousin passed on this great idea.

Take out tablespoon portions and wrap them in cling wrap. I put them in a ziplock (as I have lost them in the freezer before) and then stick them in the freezer for future use.

Fridge #2

I couldn't decide what my no-waste goal should be until I saw that I way overspent last month on food.  Ugh.  So, it's "No-Waste in My Fridge November" as well. 

Let me just say it does look like our fridge is very full at the moment, but that's because the bottom shelf is currently holding a very large bag of baby spinach.  It is my mission to use it all up before it goes bad!

I'll share my herb-keeping method in a few days.  Does anyone have any secrets on how to keep onion powder or garlic powder from forming very hard clumps?

My fridge

Looking forward to this challenge as I always feel so bad throwing out food. And I am excited to hear your tips and advice!

"No-Waste" November

This month's challenge was inspired by the nasty, moldy, soggy, greenish-brown-yellowy mess that I embarrassingly pulled out of the produce drawer in my fridge. 

Your goal (if you choose to accept) is to choose an area/thing/part of your life where you have noted waste and then for the remainder of the month we are going to work to eliminate some of that waste. For example: My goal is to store and or use things in my fridge before they spoil and I have to throw them out.

A couple of us were chatting/emailing and thought it would be fun to share waste-saving ideas with each other as we try them out or as we apply them to our challenge. (FYI: Charlotte has the best way to keep your fresh herbs from going dry or moldy in the fridge.)