11 Nov Have you got a GLUT?!
Every year I have a glut of something, well usually lots of things, it’s an occupational hazard of owing an allotment. This year has been a funny year, like the last one and the one before that come to think of it! It’s either too dry, too wet, too hot or too cold but still there is always a glut of something!
nstead of giving it all a way (sorry to anyone who knows me!) or just eating the same steamed veg night after night for weeks on end, I have become extra inventive with my meals. Last week I cooked runner bean ratatouille, chicken and runner bean korma, egg fried rice with runner beans, I even managed to sneak some into our fajitas without anyone noticing!
We’ve had courgette fritters, courgette lasagne, courgette soup and hidden veg bolognese, last year when I had a really serious glut I even made courgette marmalade which was strangely very delicious and perfect for home-made Xmas gifts.
My tomatoes have been made into cold gazpacho, sausage and tomato bake, grilled tomatoes as a veg, salsa, tomato and basil soup, tomato tart, the list goes on. Of course they can always replace a tin of tomatoes too.
Apples are perfectly good just eaten fresh but when you have any many as I have you have to think outside of the box!! I threw a bit in my tomato soup the other day, they are great in a sausage bake too, apple crumble is a must but fruit leathers are my favourites and the kids love ‘em.
So whether it’s a BOGOF from the supermarket or a glut from your garden/allotment don’t give it away or throw it out just be a bit more resourceful, you can get through it! You can throw veg into pretty much anything, cherry tomatoes and beans are great in a curries, any veg you can grate is the basis for a fritter, a stew is a great disguise for just about anything you throw at it, Frittatas are a must for a deluge of veg, root veg of any kind can be made into a mash. And then there’s soup……if in doubt there’s always soup! Haven’t tried runner bean soup yet but maybe I will give that a go tomorrow.
The glut is nearly over now, this year’s challenge is almost complete!