A Load of Rot
Okay, we still haven’t managed to take inventory and make lists. But I have an excuse – a very good one – in that we’re staring down the barrel at a house move and, well, what’s the point in getting this pantry organised when we’ll have to do it all again in six weeks’ time (all things going well).
In the meantime, we have become composting converts. We’re lucky that we live in a progressive apartment building where the environmentally friendly body corporate has introduced composting bins and rainwater tanks. And while I feel wonderfully worthy being part of the green gang it’s not all that easy going (I really want to say it’s not easy being green at this point but it’s just too naff). We live on the top floor you see, which is lovely except you have to go down two flights of stairs to get to the lift, which then takes you to the ground floor where the compost bins live. Consequently the ice-cream containers where we throw our vegie scraps regularly languish too long in the cupboard under the kitchen sink and by week’s end it does start to smell a little earthy in there. That’s a polite way of putting it because it’s really not very nice. (Obviously we need something a little more airtight, but we were trying to recycle the ice-cream containers. Arghhh!!)
The other thing that makes me a little squeamish is the throwing of the vegie scraps into the big compost bins because when you lift the lid you face attack by a squillion tiny bugs (all the while holding your breath because I’m sure it can’t smell too good, but I’m too scared to breathe to actually know if this is true). And the lid is slimy so it’s all a delicate balancing act trying not to touch anything. As a result, some days you just want to throw the scraps in the bin and be done with it. But I feel too guilty to do that now, especially when we’re throwing out edible food. There hasn’t been that much this week but I’ve kept a list.
Here it is:
• ½ a lemon (left over from the morning hot water and lemon detox that I am so over. I also read that it strips the enamel off your teeth).
• A plate of shoulder of lamb à la boulangère (fancy name for meat and potatoes) left over from Saturday’s dinner party.
• ¾ bunch of basil (from boulangère recipe).
• Smallish chunk of brie (from dinner party. Too fattening to eat on your own).
• ½ pack of water crackers (yes, from aforementioned dinner party. I find they never stay fresh, even in plastic containers).
• Punnet of three-week-old strawberries.
• Feta cheese (was going to make Greek salads for lunch, but….).
• ½ trail mix bar.
• 500g of gourmet pumpkin ravioli that cost $7.99.
This was the worst food waste crime of the week. I had to go interstate. Didn’t store it properly. What can I say?
P.S. My friend Vera says we have bugs in our compost bin because the “balance” isn’t right. I don’t know what it means but will investigate. Or tell the body corporate – might as well make use of them before we have to fend for ourselves in the new house.
