The holiday season means a lot of food and, consequently, a lot of waste, since many people buy more than they need just to make sure they don’t run out of anything to serve, or to avoid several trips to the supermarket or the wet market.
The extra food and/or ingredients have to be thrown away—not that nobody wants them, but because they have spoiled or rotted.
Jordyn Cormier, in an article on Care2.com, has some suggestions on how to keep food longer, even the perishables.
Leftover greens meant for salads can be stored in a plastic bag, but Cormier has a tip: “Blow into the bag and seal it very tightly. The carbon dioxide will keep your greens fresh longer.”
You can squeeze every drop of juice from lemon with a pair of tongs. “This also works for limes and oranges,” says Cormier.
Prevent unused onions from sprouting or molding and keep them fresh for months, Cormier says, by storing them in a hole-punched paper bag. “Just use a single-hole punch to punch four columns of holes in the top three-fourths of the bag.” Put in your onions, shallots, even garlic; fold over and close with a paper clip. Label so you do not forget what you keep there.
To keep potatoes from budding, Cormier says place them with apples: “The ethylene gas released by the apple stops the buds and preserves the potato.”
When you have transferred your butter to the proper container, keep the wrapper in the freezer. “The small amount of butter that remains on them is perfect for greasing pans when baking,” Cormier points out.
Instead of trying to scrape out the remnants of jam from a jar, make a fruity vinaigrette, Cormier says. Just add oil and vinegar, then shake.
Leftover avocado halves can be kept from turning brown by storing them with cut onion. Cormier says onion can keep avocados fresh for one to two days.
Before you throw away eggs that you think may have spoiled, Cormier offers a simple test to tell if they are still edible: Bad eggs float in water while fresh eggs sink.
Cormier adds that if you feel guilty about using plastic wrap to cover leftover food, you can make your own reusable food wrap: “Take a few squares of 100 percent cotton fabric and place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees Fahrenheit. Sprinkle shaved beeswax over the fabric and bake in oven for 5-10 minutes, until (the wax) is melted. Use a brush to smooth wax and immediately hang to dry.”
Transport hub
The Robinsons Starmills Inter-Regional Terminal Hub in San Fernando, Pampanga, has opened to help ease travel to Central and Northern Luzon, as well as in and out of Clark International Airport.
Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) developed the one-stop transport hub on a 1,760-square meter lot in Starmills, which is designed to suit the specific needs of travelers in that area. It is the third such hub developed by RLC.
Other transport hubs are in Robinsons Novaliches and Robinsons Place Dumaguete. Another is being planned for Robinsons Place Antipolo.
The Starmills transport terminal interconnects Regions 1, 2 and 3 with the National Capital Region and Southern Luzon. Starmills is at the center of two national highways—North Luzon Expressway (near the San Fernando Exit) and Jose Abad Santos Avenue.
The terminal also has a shuttle service to and from the Clark airport. A lounge is available for use by air travelers. Free parking in a well-lit and guarded lot is available to those who want to take the shuttle to the airport.
The terminal is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Merry Christmas!
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