When the power first went off last weekend, before the generator was delivering electric juice to our side-by-side refrigerator/freezer, we were fretting about the future of the ton of stuff we have crammed in the freezer. My son’s girlfriend cleverly suggested that we should make a commitment to eat all the stuff in the freezer and fridge before buying new stuff.
What a great idea!
As we talked about it, it seemed to be a good way both to clear out freezer clutter and to save money for a month or so on groceries. While we were at it, we could eat down the cabinets too.
We made some ground rules:
1. We’re allowed to buy eggs, butter, sauerkraut, olive oil, avocado oil, and avocadoes. (There’s some disagreement about whether we need both olive and avocado oils, but one is for cooking; the other for eating raw. So….)
2. We’re also allowed to spend up to $50 a week on fruits and veg at the farmer’s market.
3. Otherwise: cabinet, fridge, or freezer food.
There’s a lot of canned salmon and frozen chicken. There are a lot of black beans and lentils. There are also some frozen breakfast sausages and frozen beef heart. The heart, a purchase made with the best of intentions, has been in there a long time. Another long-term freezer resident: a package of barramundi fillets that were on sale quite a while ago.
The project will require openness and a Star Trek willingness to go where no diner in this house has gone before. Plus organization.
Send me in, Coach. I’m ready to play.