Well done Rodney – we’ve got through the first weekend of our country-wide lockdown. We’re going to have a long few weeks left, so one way to use time productively is by getting creative in the kitchen. 

New Zealand has a massive problem with food waste. Every year Kiwis send 157,398 tonnes of food to landfill, much of which could have been eaten. Not only is wasting food costing us money, it is also bad for the environment. Here are some recipes that will help you to make the most out of the food in your fridge, and hopefully avoid those dreaded trips to the supermarket. 

1. Easy Veggie Stock

https://lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/recipes/easy-vegetable-stock-paste/

This is a concentrated vegetable stock paste. Unlike conventional vegetable stock you use up all the ingredients instead of straining them out at the end saving all that goodness. You can even use your vegetable scraps to make it and it lasts for up to 4 months.

2. Stockpile Soup

https://www.delicious.com.au/recipes/lamb-minetrone-la-fridge/dNRrkCSQ?r=recipes/collections/30incrediblerecipesthatminimisefoodwaste

This version of minestrone is basically a hearty lamb stew. It should use the best of what is around and can be made at any time of the year. It’s a great way to maximise roast leftovers, plus use up those half-full bags of pasta from the pantry. 

3. Bread and Butter Pudding 

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/marmalade-whisky-bread-butter-pudding

Leftover bread really does make the best pudding and it's perfect if you've got a hankering for something sweet and need to feed a demanding audience. Try this recipe, which spices it up a bit using zesty marmalade and a dash of whisky, for a grown-up comfort food treat.

4. Carrot Top Pesto

http://www.milkandcardamom.com/2018/03/21/carrot-top-pesto/

Carrot tops may seem like an unlikely ingredient, but this carrot top pesto works beautifully as a dressing on top of roasted carrots or on pasta. This recipe is one way to truly get use from every part of an ingredient. 

5. Fridge Harvest Frittata

https://lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/recipes/fridge-harvest-frittata/

This fridge harvest frittata is a great way to turn leftover vegetables into a filling meal which is perfect for any time of the day.