Do you know what a simple but feel-good kitchen chore is? Throwing out the old stuff in the fridge. I took a few minutes yesterday to throw away any condiments that had only a little left AND if we hadn’t used it in months. Of course, if it was expired, I automatically tossed it. I removed any leftovers that had been sitting too long. Removed wilted kale from the veggie bin. Then I emptied all the random crumbs/bits in the trash and gave each bin a quick wipe out. Every shelf got an intuitive organizational moment and a brief wipe. I didn’t get perfectionist about any of it or call it a “clean the fridge” day. I only thought of the joy it would bring me to create some order in the refrigerator before a shopping trip to Aldi.
Taking some stock of our condiments and our pantries can feel really good. It’s amazing how long will keep 1/2 used jars of pesto when they are past their prime. Just let the stuff go. Getting rid of old salad dressings frees up space and lets us know what we actually need to purchase. Tossing bags of stale chips that have a handful of crumbs in them is satisfying. Summer is a great time to pare down expired staples, items bought somewhere in February for a stew that will not be menu-planned again for a while. I keep a folder in my Notes app of a list of spices or staples that need replacement. We shop smarter when we know what we actually have and what we actually need.
Tonight we are grilling pork tenderloins. This is one of my favorite pork recipes. You can buy sherry at your local liquor store, and it doesn’t cost much. A moderate glass bottle lasts me a long time. I make roasted potatoes with it and some sauteed green beans. Tomorrow we will have this knock-off Panera Fuji Apple Chicken Salad. Apple chips are found near the produce section in our grocery stores. I love summer dinner salads. Grill meat, add in some fruits, nuts, and cheese to a bed of Romaine and you’re done! Balsamic vinaigrette tastes good with any of it.
I hope your week is going well, and that you are sensing the grace of God even in the midst of trials, big and small. You are well-loved, no matter what is happening around you.
Peace,
Aimee
We LOVE big salads with grilled meat for dinner. I have such a hard time with throwing things out…I’ve done too deep a dive on zero waste meal planning and frugality, so I end up holding onto things we won’t eat or don’t like because I feel guilty that I bought them. Ridiculous. Thank you for the freedom.
This post inspired me to go through and sort out our fridge a bit before I go pick up our bin from the produce co-op. It's so frustrating to come home with a bunch of fruit and veg and then not know where to put it. Now I know where it will fit. Thanks for the nudge in the right direction! :)