Leftovers are suddenly not a joking matter

Emma Sturgess’s frustration at the pressure to use up leftovers [Apr, p130] prompted lots of replies – and revealed how attitudes have altered since the lockdown

STAR EMAIL FROM: JEN COPELAND

We live in a fast-changing world and I wonder if Emma would have a different point of view now. In the #stayhomesavelives era, the food we have to hand is such an important way of lifting spirits and fuelling ourselves and our families.

I for one am not unknown to dump the odd overripe banana or end of a piece of cheese when I can’t be bothered to be creative. But somehow the new ‘make do with what we have already’ mindset and shopping less frequently have made me more resourceful. The two spoonfuls of gravy from the Sunday roast have been added to a homemade pie, wizened apples became a gobbled-up crumble and the cheese rind got chucked into sausage and broccoli pasta.

It’s also meant we’ve eaten different things as a family to make sure the odds and ends have been used up before opening another packet or tin. Maybe other families do this already but for us it’s been a valuable lesson in the importance of thrift, how extras added to familiar dishes can be wonderful, and that it’s possible to feel well nourished with reduced access to food. I hope it’s a lesson we’ll all remember.

Lots of you got stuck in making Gail’s legendary cinnamon buns

FIND THE RECIPE ONLINE NOW

srpb_at_bng

srhollyhawthornebakes

srgourmetglow

WAYS TO HAVE YOUR SAY…

SIGN UP for our reader panel and have more of a say in your favourite magazine. From time to time, we’ll email you to ask you to take part in surveys on various aspects of the magazine, website, podcast and more. Join at deliciousmagazine.co.uk/readerpanel