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Monday, September 20, 2010

Free Food Opportunities for Grown Ups

I am trying to get my Frugal Son to write about Free Food Opportunities for the college student. Free Food is an intrinsic part of college life. Oh, for the wonderful teachers who invited the class over for a buffet! My college had, and for all I know still has, people called Scroungers, who sat by the place we bussed our dishes, and would pick out the goodies. Some of these people were probably the scions of prominent families. They were incredibly picky.

The other day I was the recipient of Free Food for Grown Ups. Tons of stuff was uneaten at the pot luck buffet where I scored my egg salad triumph. Most people just left their leftovers. Of course, none of my egg salad remained.

DON'T THROW IT OUT! While some of the people cleaning looked at the leftovers with horror, I and a few other frugal and/or ecological types offered to give the leftovers a good home.

I brought home about 1/2 pound of sliced cheese, a lot of cream cheese, some tuna salad (already ate that), and a giant bag of spinach salad, no dressing. Oh yeah, and some capers.

What should I make?

Do you give leftovers a home?

11 comments:

Duchesse said...

I would rather see people take home uneaten food than throw it out.

People who are "scions of prominent families" (and therefore, I assume you are saying could afford to eat) might apply their energies to making sure unwanted food goes to people truly in need.

Unknown said...

What about a spinach tart?

I agree with Duchesse, I'd rather see leftovers being eaten by someone who will enjoy them than thrown away. Last July while in Belgrade, we were at a mall trying to eat with our babies. I am must stress the trying here because it was mostly running after them, so at some point we decided to leave even though we hadn't finished our food. At that point a woman who had been sitting next to us and smiling at our kids asked us if she could eat our leftovers, and of course we said yes! We were so happy to see that someone could enjoy the food and that it was not going to end up in some bin!
I must say that if we had been at a restaurant (we were just at the food court)we would have asked for a doggy bag to bring the leftovers home...we do that often...

Gayle Ann Berg said...

I really enjoyed this post. I'm curious as to what you will make with your leftovers...

Food is never wasted at our house. We give alot of our leftovers to my elderly mother and they make a perfect-sized meal for her!

Anonymous said...

I had leftover pizza from a seminar for lunch... of course, I work at a university too. Professors are quite good at scoring free food... it's a skill we've honed for years.

Unknown said...

We eat all the leftovers, got trained as a student and the habit stayed :) I think throwing good food is just wasteful.

Frugal Scholar said...

@Duchesse--Lots of faux-countercultural types around in those days! I'm sure they turned to loftier pursuits after college.

@Marcela--Oh, I used to make those all the. Good idea. Your neighbor was very brave--even I, queen of the frugal universe, am not that bold.

@Gayle Ann--Either spinach tart (above), but that requires a shell--hate to make shells. Or a faux alfredo sauce with spinach, which is easier.

@nicoleand maggie--I've lost my touch lately.

@wealth--A person after my own heart. Habits of childhood remain.

Unknown said...

If you hate to make shells, then you could do a soufflé by just beating some eggs to add to the spinach and cheese, a little bit of cumin and nutmeg et voilà! ;)

FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com said...

I would most definitely agree with Duchesse!!

If no one wants it, and I find it delicious, I'd bring home the leftovers myself. Free food = Bonus.

Frugal Scholar said...

@Marcela--You are such great cook! I HATE beating egg whites. Also, it's still 90 degrees here, so no way will I turn on my oven.

@FB--Yes--we are kindred spirits.

Mary said...

We used to take leftovers from community potluck suppers to the senior center. It made us feel good and I assume they enjoyed it.

Along the lines of free food for students, what about church suppers? Seems like at OleMiss every denomination had a free supper one night a week. I kept trying to get my son to partake but he wasn't having any! Now that he's living on his own nickel I may have to bring it up again!

Unknown said...

It's still hot here too...automn, automn where art thou?