Ever since the New Year, Kyle and I have been into using our "NutriBullet". It's fabulous - and apparently sits right between juicing & smoothie-making. The drinks are usually more of a smoothie consistency, but the nutrients are still preserved. That being said, our grocery bills have sky rocketed because of all of the fresh produce we are buying. We normally we buy fruits & veggies each week, but now we are buying a ton of spinach and kale, berries, bananas, celery, carrots PLUS anything we need for cooking during the week.
We are still working on trying to reduce the grocery bills, and part of that is preserving the fruits and veggies we buy from week to week to make them last longer and stay fresh. I never knew how to keep veggies & fruits fresh, honestly. I just either kept it in a cute little bowl, or put it in the fridge & got rid of it when it was time. Yes I learned the basics from my mom about what stays out of the fridge, when it's ripe, when it's not, but the things I wanted to know are things that not everyone knows. Like, how do I keep Kale fresh and crisp the entire week, or how do I prevent spinach from wilting. How do I keep my parsley from getting moldy or stinky after 2 days.
Here's the rule: Fruits & Berries DO NOT wash them until you want to eat them (most people know this, I did not until last year... oops!). Or buy frozen! Kyle and I have gotten some great deals on bulk frozen fruits. Yes, I know some of the nutrients get sucked out when they freeze, but hey, fruit is fruit!
Kale & Celery: Remove from the plastic bags and wash in cold water. Let it sit out and air dry for approx a half hour, then shake off excess water. Wrap in dry paper towels & store in the fridge. Works like a dream! I separate the celery stalks, and I also trim the stems on the Kale just so it doesn't take up so much room in the fridge.
Spinach, Parsley & Herbs: Do not wash yet. I use mason jars and fill them halfway up with cold water (doesn't matter what size, usually depends on how much I have). Trim the stems of the veggie/herb and place them in a bundle into the mason jars & store on the counter. Then when you need to use them, pluck off what you need & rinse of with cold water. Not only does this keep the herbs & spinach fresh all week, but it also decorates your countertop!
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| Cilantro or thyme anyone? |
Yes, these ways are a bit more time consuming than just throwing it in the fridge, however I have developed a little routine on Sundays after our grocery run. Kyle is usually out running with his group, and I will take my time, sip my coffee, and take care of the veggies & herbs. There's something therapeutic and refreshing about knowing you're A. saving money and B. using fresh ingredients, and doing what you can to keep those ingredients fresh and yummmy!
Another venture I have been exploring? Taking care of house plants. We came from an apt that was a dark cave most of the day, to a house that has light streaming in everywhere. It's fantastic! But now, my plants are not dying (which this girl knows how to throw out a dying plant), instead they are THRIVING, and this girl? Is definitely in the learning process of taking care of my pretty little house plants.
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| Since they're blooming, it means winters over, right?? |
Happy Gloomy Sunday!
Love always - Jack
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