Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Waste Free Kitchen Handbook Book Review

I decided that I would reserve Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook: A Guide to Eating Well and Saving Money By Wasting Less Food by Dana Gunders, at the library because my friend, Nathalie, recommended it.  Feel free to check out her review here.  I went straight on the library website and reserved it.  It came in quickly and I had lots of reading to do quickly because of the review books that I had to read but I fit it in but it was a really fast read.  I was interested in finding out what it was about so I couldn't help fitting in this book before the one that I was supposed to read!!



Despite a growing awareness of food waste, many well-intentioned home cooks lack the tools to change their habits. This handbook—packed with engaging checklists, simple recipes, practical strategies, and educational infographics—is the ultimate tool for reducing food waste. From a scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council come these everyday techniques that call for minimal adjustments of habit, from shopping, portioning, and using a refrigerator properly to simple preservation methods including freezing, pickling, and cellaring. At once a good read and a go-to reference, this handy guide is chock-full of helpful facts and tips, including 20 "use-it-up" recipes and a substantial directory of common foods.

I hope that you check out this great instruction manual on waste free living.  There are tons of tips from using up everything to composting to reduce greenhouse gas.  I really want to compost and I am hoping to get my husband on board since the bulk of the work ends up being his because I would just be keeping kitchen scraps.  There is a bin available at Home Depot so I am hoping to go check it out.  Is it weird to ask for a composter for Mother's Day??  I have wanted to do this for years so here is hoping that the $100 purchase price won't scare us away.  If not, I am hoping to try a slightly destroyed trash can with a few holes in lid since we have that here for free.

The best part of this book was it included a recipe section with ideas on how to use items that might be past their prime so that you can continue using them.  My favorite recipe is the one that I already make with leftover breadcrumbs made from crackers or chips that are stale or too smashed up.  We really enjoy them and I just smashed some stale Doritos which will make super yummy chicken tenders.  Helpful areas including shopping, storage, crafty kitchen, scraps, and lots more including where to put things in the fridge for best refrigeration.  I hope that you add this book to your must read list and see all of the helpful tips.  I think that there are mostly things that I already knew but I still enjoyed the book and got a little re-inspired to try to be more waste free!! Hope that it does for you too!

2 comments:

  1. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I have it on my Amazon wishlist to get next time I have enough gift cards or points because I really like the last section that deals with storing/preserving all the different foods.

    I think a composter is a great idea for a Mother's Day gift! I started by using a Rubbermaid bin that I had drilled with holes, but it was a little hard to turn the compost in it, I felt. Last year I bought a larger composting bin from Aldi for just $50. It's still a little awkward to turn the compost and I keep forgetting to do it. If my backyard wasn't so deep, I'd get Greg to make me a larger bin with the pallets that we have, but I know myself and I'm too lazy to walk aaaaaaaalll the way back there to empty my countertop bin, lol. I need to be more attentive with mine though because the stuff in it doesn't look like compost. I think it needs more moisture.

    Good luck!

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    Replies
    1. We ended up getting a door knob for the downstairs bathroom instead. Woo Hoo but I did mention the composter :) I guess we will see how long it takes me to get it to happen.

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