February - when there's snow on the snowdrops

~ Last Week at Meadow Sweet Grove ~
"Another tricky fairy habit is to never, ever throw out food.  It can usually be "reincarnated" into something else.  Fruit and vegetables that seem "on their way out" can often be turned into a useful dish or ingredient. Just remember the last time you had "sticker shock" and how much you paid for those groceries!  And before you toss anything out, always have a quick think about what else you might be able to make with that expensive food."

Snowdrops in Meadow Sweet Grove

​The first few days of February mark the beginning of the end of Winter ... and the beginning of the beginning of Spring!  But it's not over yet.  While we continue to carry that torch of hope for Springtime and the new growth it will bring; it's a good time to remember that we still need to make it through the rest of winter ... and get the most out of the food we buy and never, ever throw out food ... except as a last resort! ​

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Bringing springtime to the Grove

The first little signs of Spring are showing as the crocuses and snowdrops push through the earth.  And as seems customary here in Meadow Sweet Grove, as soon as they poke their little heads through ... another snowfall settles in!  The fairies hold strong that maybe a wee show of faith is needed to bring springtime to the Grove again.  Hence, their little well is decorated with a few faux flowers to encourage Spring to keep on keeping on!  ​​

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~ ​​Never throw food out (continued) ~

"Pull-It-All-Together" Macaroni & Cheese
 
On an evening when money is tight, reach into your fridge for all those little chunks and gratings of left-over cheese that you saved. Also all those last "bits of the block" for a scrumptious and comforting Macaroni & Cheese:

After boiling and draining 2 cups of pasta, toss all those bits and pieces of cheese together (cheddar, mozza, swiss - they're all good), into a bowl with the warm pasta, add any left-over sour cream, cottage cheese or unflavoured yogurt.  Beat up an egg and toss it in if you like.  Stir it all together with a bit of black pepper.  Butter a sufficiently deep baking dish and ladle the mixture in.  Pour a little milk evenly over the mixture - if dry, add a bit more.  Toast up 2 slices of bread and when cool ... 
crumble over the top evenly.  Grate any remaining cheese that you might have on 

​Delicious Banana Bread

​Black bananas?  Nothing for the kids' lunches?  Turn them into this delicious banana bread quickly:

2 cups flour                              2 beaten eggs    
1 1/2 tsps baking powder   4 mashed bananas
1/2 tsp baking soda              1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon    1/2 cup melted butter
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg         

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and spices in a medium bowl - set aside.  Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat and set aside.  Mash the bananas in a medium bowl, add the beaten eggs and melted butter together with the sugar.  Add the wet mixture into the dry mixture and stir lightly (batter should be lumpy).

Bake in a lightly greased loaf or muffin tin at 350°.  About 20-25 minutes for muffins or small loaves.  Up to 40 minutes for a large loaf.

Feed the birds

top of the bread - have a little bit of leftover parmesan? Grate (ha ha)!  And for an extra-special touch - definitely sprinkle on a little bit of Hungarian Paprika!  (It has to be Hungarian).  So nice. Cook at 325°  for about 1/2 hour - maybe longer - and there you have a "Pull-It-All-Together Macaroni & Cheese" - different every time you make it!

But what if you truly do have to throw out food?  Here's some options for continuing the life cycle of your food:

Feed the Birds - Not even "Tuppence a Bag"!
The little woodland creatures in the Grove appreciate many leftovers.  Crows will eat any amount of left-over bread, crackers, chips and the like.  Save your bacon fat in a tin beside the stove and spread it on the bread for smaller birds - this makes it almost a suet for them and helps them to store their own fat.​

​Last but not least - Compost
Finally compost anything left over that you can such as: spoiled fruit, vegetable peelings, old Jack o'Lanterns, and even a limited amount of teabags, egg and nut shells, etc.  There are very small composters available now that fit into tiny spaces.  In the Spring, you will save money once again by reducing the amount of costly dirt and fertilizers that you would ordinarily buy.  Composting is very worthwhile and is seriously like "rocket fuel" for your plants!

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© Meadow Sweet Grove, 2017