Second Life

No, I'm not referring to the virtual world where anything is possible. This is a far more practical conversation.

I'm talking about those mountains of repurposed containers you used to cringe at in your grandmother's (or mother's) kitchen cupboard. From ice-cream containers and butter tubs to the plastic forks from previous takeaway meals. You swore you would never succumb to this horrid habit.

Alas, we find ourselves in the 21st century faced all manner of disasters looming on the horizon. Hundreds of homes are without water this week, a stark reminder of the socially conscious lives we should all be leading. Now, I'm not asking you to make a full on go at becoming a participant in the next episode of Hoarders, please don't. This endeavour needs to be taken on with pragmatism. Law and order needs to be maintained in the kitchen cupboard at all costs. Assess your habits and usage patterns and use these to determine how you plan on repurposing containers destined for the bin.

I cook a lot, so I use lots of spices. I'm a fan of whole spices, choosing to grind on demand, so glass containers are very useful to me. This is where things could potentially go horribly wrong. My approach is to ensure that all these glass containers are identical which was easy because we always bought a specific brand of coffee that was packaged in glass with airtight lids. Glass doesn't absorb odours or flavours so it's perfect for this. I do the same thing with larger glass containers for seeds and nuts. Personally, I cannot bring myself to collect plastic containers, I just have no use for them and rely on the recycle bin to ease my conscience. NO, I will not send my guests home with leftover food in one such container.

Those plastic forks and spoons do come in quite handy for kid's lunches as having them returned does not become the sole purpose of my being - you know the people I'm talking about.

I just discovered a new repurposable item. Chopsticks! I'm making koftas for dinner and was annoyed to find that we'd used all the skewers. Thank goodness someone felt the need to keep the disposable wooden chopsticks you get with your takeaway as these were perfect for the job.

Get your favourite meatball recipe and spice it up with some middle-eastern flavours and mould the mixture around the end of the chopstick (which you've soaked in water for about 15 minutes to avoid burning) making a sausage shape. Chill until you're ready to grill in the oven or outside on the braai.

In the spirit of saving the world, one plastic bag at a time, repurpose something today. I can't be sure that it will make a difference to whether El niño roasts us or drowns us but it will feel good and save you a penny in the long run; and that's got to make you feel better amid all the job losses and falling share prices.

Kitchen Gadgets

They look good when you buy them but you end up not using half of them and that says a lot for someone like me that spends a huge portion of my day in the kitchen cooking. I ease my conscience and use the more expensive purchases when I remember they exist or when they block the way to something I actually need in the cupboard.

The George Forman grill is one such gadget. In my defence, however, I did not buy this for myself. This is from that other place that can fill your kitchen with unnecessary gadgets, the golf day!! I pull the George Forman out at least once a year, usually around the time that I go through the linen cupboard - for it's annual charity purge - where is lives tucked neatly away on the very bottom shelf where we have no reason to go other than cleaning. I slap on a few steaks or chicken breasts and feel comforted that it is not a complete waste of space. Today, I will be trying whole pork fillets that have been bathing in a simple solution of olive oil, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper.

In the spirit of experimentation I'm going to give today's @wwtaste spring onion pancake instagram recipe a go, just something different to the usual steamed, sauted or roast potatoes. These will go wonderfully with the roasted green beans and bacon and avocado chive dressing.

I used this opportunity to get a couple of gadgets out of the way, like the potato masher. I hardly ever use it but I keep it because it does an amazing job of mashing potatoes. The garlic crusher? Ok, I can't pretend or lie, I love this gadget and use it almost everyday. The  rice cooker? Now this is one kitchen appliance I've always scoffed at, like the egg boiler. But I received one as a christmas gift last year. It came with a steaming basket and I use it several times a week as I did today to steam the potatoes. 

"Heads up, steaming or baking potatoes is much better than boiling them for mashed potatoes. You eliminate the waterlogged situation that can make them gloopy and heavy instead of light and fluffy".

The aroma from the hot potatoes hitting the garlic and spring onion mixture is sublime!

The ice-cream scoop? I can't do without mine. Biscuit dough, muffin and cupcake batter portioning has never been easier. I used one for exact portions of the spring onion pancake mash mixture before flattening them into "pancakes".

The gadget once-over is complete, I know what I use and what needs to be relegated to the far recesses of the donation bag or bin.

As for dinner, yummy meal overall!! George Forman did not excite me in the moist department, which I was expecting as I watched all the juices drain from the device with trepidation, it was a fatless fillet after all. In hindsight, I may need a little practice using it.