Neglecting Scraps? Not You!
Spring cleaning = making odds and ends delicious.
As much as spring feels like it’s meant for fresh starts, it might be an even better time to play catch-up. There are probably a few items in your fridge and pantry that have passed their prime, but that doesn’t need to mean they’re destined for the bin. Neglecting scraps? Not you!
If you still have on-the-verge broccoli bits and stems in your fridge, that’s great, once they’re roasted and seasoned they’ll be as delicious as ever. Don’t forget about any stale bread, either—combined with aromatics, peas, and sharp white cheddar, a balanced and delightfully textured soup could be in your future. If the skins of your potatoes have started to grow little eyes, it’ll only take a few seconds to remove them, and they’ll still be great for frying and serving with a bright, springy smoked fish dip. If carrot cake feels like the dessert of the moment but time is of the essence, quickly-“candied” carrot scraps served over vanilla ice cream with crushed gingersnaps or graham crackers, raisins, and a sprinkle of cinnamon will evoke a similarly sweet method of eating more vegetables in under 10 minutes.
This season and always, reducing waste, stretching your dollar, and getting creative with entirely usable ingredients will be beyond worth it. Scraps can look good, too, but that’s beside the point—they’ll taste great.
Twice-Fried Potato Scraps with Smoked Fish Dip
Time: 30 minutes
Makes: 3 to 4 servings, plus leftovers
Depending on personal preferences or methods you might be following to prepare potatoes, use either potato skins or more substantial edges. The skins will give you more delicate crisps (think classic potato chips), and the edges will act as heartier vessels for dipping and spreading (you can store the remaining potato flesh in cold water in the fridge for up to 24 hours). When there’s already a pot filled with hot frying oil, I like making and serving both—in this case, for those less interested in smoked fish, the fried potato skins are a great snack on their own,
