Harden Up Plan

Check, clean and store: empty plastic food containers with screw top lids – peanut butter, mayonnaise, honey, golden syrup etc. Ice-Cream containers 2lt (food) and 4lt (washing up), margarine containers [500g and 1kg] with lids. Cook 1kg of rice (can be eaten hot or cold) run under cold water then put cold cooked rice in margarine containers and place in freezer. It requires a lot less gas to reheat than to cook. Every 500gram margarine container holds enough boiled rice for 1 adult/1kg margarine = 2 adults. Cut potatoes into potato salad size pieces and boil with 1 dozen eggs. Run cooked potato under cold water strain put in 2lt ice-cream container and freeze. Potato can be eaten cold or reheated. Peel hard boiled eggs and place in fridge – not freezer. 1 packet of dry spaghetti 500gr can be cooked – run under cold water, stir a tiny bit of oil through the cold pasta (keeps it separate) and will all fit in a 2lt ice-cream container – freeze or fridge. Tins of Tiny Potatoes, Potato Salad, Peas, Carrots, Corn, 3 Bean Mix, Beetroot, Asparagus can be eaten hot or cold! Tinned Meat – Braised Steak and Onions, Ham, Frankfurt/Sausages, Corned Beef, Spam and Cured Small Goods. Tuna in oil – use the oil as dressing for salad. Use instant mashed potato as thickener – add 1 teaspoon at a time and stir. Cup-a-soup – cream of chicken only – made with ½ the recommended water is ideal as gravy or as a sauce over rice or pasta. Peanut Butter, Vegemite, Honey, Golden Syrup do not require refrigeration and can be used on bread or sao type biscuits. Long life milk does not need refrigeration until opened, but must be consumed before the end of the day once opened. Remember: Cardboard absorb/metal dent/glass smash/ plastic bounce. Transfer the contents of all cardboard/paper packaging – sugar, tea bags, etc, or glass jars – coffee etc into plastic screw top containers after opening.

by Peter Haakmeester