Maximizing the use of expired food and leftovers can help reduce waste and save money. Here are some strategies to consider: 1. **Inspect and Assess**: Check the food for signs of spoilage. If it looks, smells, and tastes okay, it may still be safe to eat, even if it's past the expiration date. 2. **Creative Cooking**: Transform leftovers into new dishes. For example, turn stale bread into croutons or breadcrumbs, or use leftover vegetables in a stir-fry or soup. 3. **Freezing**: If you have food that you can't consume in time, consider freezing it. Many leftovers can be frozen for later use, preserving their quality and safety. 4. **Repurposing**: Use leftover ingredients in different ways. For instance, cooked rice can become fried rice, or roasted chicken can be shredded for tacos. 5. **Composting**: If food is no longer edible, consider composting it instead of throwing it away. This reduces waste and benefits the environment. 6. **Meal Planning**: Plan your meals around what you have on hand. This can help prevent food from going bad in the first place. By being resourceful and creative, you can make the most of food that might otherwise go to waste.

Poet and artist hates wasting food – here are her top tips on how not to...

Friday, January 10, 2025, at 12:01 PM GMT

ALL-IN-ONE SOUP

I throw into the mix the indulgence of feasting after Christmas and New Year’s celebrations,

Broccoli turning yellow, zucchinis with wrinkled skins that

Should be taken out, along with sautéed onions that have been fried until crispy, paired with garlic that is beginning to sprout.

Combined with a rich, homemade gravy made from simmering turkey bones.

And the essence of a roasting, transforming into a soup of notable significance.

When it seemed like everything could have been thrown away; expired meals transformed into something fresh and vibrant.

Two huskies gnaw on broccoli stems while I handle a knife.

To cut over-dried dates that have been soaked to make them softer,

And as you peel the brown-spotted bananas, their sweetness lies hidden beneath the delicate, papery exterior,

Combining them with stale walnuts to create a gluten-free cake.

Just as skilled as any expert when it comes to being well-prepared.

Old bread signifies a motorcycle trip to Bala Lake.

To nourish jackdaws and seagulls amidst the harsh bite of winter's chill.

Prior to the floods, shepherds guide their sheep to elevated areas.

Snow drifts gently down. I am wrapped snugly against the plummeting chill.

During a lunch featuring the most exquisite piles of caviar

Perched atop tiny blinis, and the most delicate

Quail eggs poached and served in delicate, flaky pastry shells.

Capture my focus before the feast commences,

And there isn't any soup available.