I’m wising up to waste and helping get the word out about the North London Waste Authority’s Save a Crust campaign. It’s a fun and yummy way to reduce waste and be a better cook!
In my previous introductory post for this collaborative Save a Crust series, I mentioned that the NLWA was hosting a range of free cookery workshops and how I was looking forward to attending one. I did just that on Wednesday evening, sitting in on the Islington session at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School near Archway Station. I had a great time and took home a meal for my supper.
Hosted by Chef Mark Borrell, the workshop was attended by a mixed dozen or so of families with children of various ages and even a few singletons. Mark led a lively discussion about reducing food waste and how doing so can save time and money. All participants were offered recipe cards as well as a few handy kitchen utensils, such a rice scoop, bag clip, and a spaghetti measuring ring. Someone even won a cookbook!
Mark also shared two recipes: one for panzanella and another for bread and butter pudding. Both were super simple and very delicious. We made the panzanella for ourselves and were provided with reusable containers so we could enjoy our creations later. Mark walked us through how to make the pudding with a demo at the start of the workshop and baked the pudding for us while we worked on our our panzanella. Near the end of the casual hourlong event, all participants were offered a taste of the dessert before leaving.
Panza-whatta?
Don’t know what panzanella is? In essence, it’s a bread and tomato salad from Tuscany. The ingredients list for it is short and basic. Stale bread and the ends of loaves are just as good – if not better – to use for in panzanella than fresh bread.
I’ll post the panzanella recipe along with other ones soon. But if you’re keen to get started ASAP, here’s a link to it and plenty of other resourceful recipes to help you eat well and waste less food: wiseuptowaste.org.uk/media/1238/north-london-food-lovers-cookbook.pdf.
More Free Cookery Workshops Coming to North London
Two more of these free workshops are scheduled for March:
- 1 March 9.15-10.15am at Welbourne Primary School Play Centre, Stainby Road, Haringey, N15 4EA
- 5 March 3.30-4.30pm at Brecknock Primary School, 10 Cliff Villas, Camden, NW1 9AS
If you like the idea of learning useful all-ages information, having a small sweet treat and being sent off with a healthy and tasty takeaway and even more goodies, then be sure to sign up for one of these last two workshops. Find out more at wiseuptowaste.org.uk/wasteless/foodwaste/save-a-crust.
Until then, please stay tuned for more Save Crust posts with further related information and ideas about how you can do more to reduce waste and be a thriftier home cook.
