This week I attempted to reduce the clutter in my fridge by cooking as many local dinners as possible, and using small business or organic items if I didn’t have local ones. For the most part, I made it.
Sunday Dinner
Followed by:
Three days including a grilling day
I am happy to say I made it through the rest of the week as well. Thursday night we finished up the leftovers from the Sunday night pasta meal, augmented with an organic roasted red pepper sauce made from Pacific soup, thickened with a touch of local flour and some red wine. Forgot to take pics.
Friday and Saturday the weather changed and I fell back on using the crockpot.
Friday I made greens with chorizo bought at Dupont Circle Market in December from Cedarbrook Farm in WV, and a huge sweet potato from Baugher’s farm stand. The collard greens were from the CSA, and the carrots and chard from the Silver Spring market. My teeny little dried peppers. Onion – CSA
The chorizo was browned on the stove before placing it on top the veggies in the crockpot. It came out really nice, spicy but not overwhelming.
Finally, Dark Days Dinner with Sweet Ending — a mini-challenge to make something sweet for Valentine’s Day, even though we aren’t there yet. Not a huge sweets fan, me, but my husband is. I decided to make a sort of peanut “brittle” using Virginia peanuts bought at the Common Market. I roasted them with a coating of walnut oil and salt, then added them to a pan of local honey with pepper. Poured them out on a plate and put them in the freezer. Enjoyed them last night while watching a movie.
As for the dinner, it was homemade chicken soup in the crockpot. All local except for the egg noodles. They are from the Amish Market in Shrewsbury, bulk, made in PA but not guaranteeing the source of the flour. Chicken from South Mountain Creamery. Turkey stock from my freezer, made with my Thanksgiving turkey. Carrots, onion, celery all from Zahradka Farm CSA.
I forgot to take pics again, but here are the leftovers ready for the fridge.
It was served with Atwater’s rosemary bread and Blue Ridge Dairy butter, and a Linden Chardonnay.
Now, this week I need to work on getting the fridge under control. No buying of anything but milk and bread.
And, I need to get rid of my husband’s water pitcher. Boy, is that puppy in sad shape with dings and marks. Wonder how old it is?
All in all, a good week of eating locally and cooking from scratch. Of course, being retired helps.
AnnieRie Unplugged 
What an impressive week you had, and productive too. Many of us are talking (on our blogs) about purging and decluttering out homes, and we all could probably use a refrigerator declutter like you did. We have been eating out of the fridge for the last 4 days(w/o shopping for anything)! It will take another 2-3 days of meals and it will be somewhat cleaned out, then my plan is to take everything out and really clean it.
I loved reading about all you meals. And LOVE your peanut brittle for your sweet treat for the mini challenge. That is just great! What a week you had.
Emily, I hesitated adding the fridge pic. It still needs major clean out. :-0
The fruit and veggie drawers are out of control, still. I am determined to use up the veggies this week with mostly vegetarian meals, or eggs. I will see if I make it. I was surprised I could do dinners most nights using my fridge and freezer. Interesting challenge.
And, the brittle was really good, just a little tacky. Honey doesn’t set up like caramel made with sugar. Going local did make it different.
Annie
This is great! I think that we’ll need to follow your lead this week b/c my fridge and veggie drawers are so in need of a clean – I know that I have turnips, parsnips, collards, carrots, and apples that need to be eaten soon. And my freezer bag of veggie ends needs to be made into veggie broth. And I love love the peanut brittle idea – I have some Virginia peanuts that would be great!!
BTW, I am having so much fun with South Mountain Creamery – but I’m going to have to increase the amount of milk we order. Our delivery came Thursday and the milk is nearly all gone!! Geesh!
The milk I picked up last week is gone, but I am not ready to do delivery. My better half wants more of The Wild Pea hummus that I bought there.
If the weather cooperates, and we are on our way to Breaux to pick up our wine club wines, I may have to detour to the creamery soon.
Annie
Your meals are incredible! I’m always amazed at what beautiful dishes you create–and the peanut brittle is a perfect VA treat! I’m with you on the too-full fridge. Time to get creative and clean it out!
Jes, thanks for the compliment. I am really having fun cooking these days. It is amazing what you can do when you don’t commute 68 miles round trip to work anymore.
J (my better half) and I have so much time to get into things but are still really busy. Retiring was the best thing for both of us. Love the time to pursue our hobbies.
But, I still need to clean that refrigerator. 😉
Annie
Virginia peanut brittle…how clever. I live in Virginia and haven’t been able to find any Virginia peanuts though (what’s that about?). I can get my hands on some peanut flour, but not sure what I’d do with that. I hope your hubby liked it.
I felt I was lucky finding them at The Common Market Coop. In the bulk aisle. The coops are also in VA but only Harrisonburg and Roanoke.
Hubby loved it. Salt and pepper peanuts with honey. What’s not to love? 😉
Annie
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