Later Alligator

Today we say "take care" or "be seeing you", and times ago,  it was "later alligator" with a response  "after 'while crocodile". Applying this to food, is finding ways of not wasting, but using leftovers wisely. In the coming months, there could be food shortages and this issue has real meaning. Ways of not throwing out perfectly good foods means finding ways of preserving them without a lot of fuss. I am not willing to get into complicated recipes and fiddling around with miniscule  mommy-worry details. I like simple, good nutrition without the goofy unimportant food fad bits. Something easy to make up and use are bulk mixes that you can do yourself. My faves are biscuit mix that I mentioned in the blog before this one, and the pie crust mix that follows. Neither would find approval with the I-am-a-gourmet-cooks.  Both mixes require airtight containers and need to be used up in a couple of months. All foods whether in this kind of container or your freezer or  dried, have a lifetime. It's for safety as well as flavour. Nothing escapes the ravages of time. The pie crust mix is 6 cups flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking powder and a pound of lard. Whiz these up to a coarse consistency and store. To make a pie, use 2 and 1/2 cups of the mix and 5 tbsp plus or minus, of water. When fruit and berry picking season rolls around, you'll be ready. Just prior to our present isolation situation, I bought a small upright freezer/ no auto defrost and it is becoming a good investment. The small chest models take up little space, power or purchasing dollars and in the long run, will make your life easier and thriftier. If you are a forager or someone who loves bargains, the freezer will be full of your finds. The secret is to use up what you put in them. My cousin Denny, who owns two huge chest freezers down in his basement, are both filled to the top with things he will never get around to using. I know because I asked him once, if I could put a fish I caught, into his freezer. He opened the door of one and closed it. No room. The next was slightly less a challenge, and he juggled around some ancient indecipherable items to lay my fish on top. One small appliance would have been wise enough. So there is the possibility of waste even with freezers. I like mine for larger pieces of protein and market veggies such as cobs of corn bought in season. When that stalk of broccoli reports being in danger of turning golden, it will be steamed and combined with pieces of carrot dripped with butter and salt. In small bundles, it's ready for the freezer. Next time I make soup or a stew, out the little helpers come, and are added to the pot or re-heated and placed on a plate as a side dish. When summer comes and you are off to the farms, it's an opportunity to fresh freeze your buys.  Now that we are baking our own breads the freezer works very well at keeping loaves fresh and ready for use. I don't can, but do jams and marmalades for the freezer. It's easy and works well, also using up those recycled jars. Later alligator.