End of month!

End of Month

Most people of the Brazilian population, feel more financial difficulties at the end of the month, since by convention, salaries are paid right at the beginning. Whether or not there is a budget constraint is always a great option to use creativity in the kitchen.
There is a famous phrase that says: “Nothing is created, everything is copied …”
Which is not synonymous with a lack of nutritious food, since nowadays it is easy to have access to information, so let’s use it for the good, of the body and the pocket.

Some tips:
– All supermarkets nowadays have social networks or websites, where they inform about their promotions. Analyze if it pays to go to get only one item or if there will be more days of promotions for the product, sometimes it pays to ask to deliver.
– Most supermarkets and grocery stores, have a specific day for promotions of vegetables, fruits and vegetables, take advantage and buy for the week, to only need the next day of promotion.
– Meats, as well as vegetables, in supermarkets, also have a certain day of the week to go on sale, a great way to make a stock of proteins in your freezer.
– Before going out to buy anything, make a list of what is necessary, so it becomes more difficult to have “deviations”.
– For those who live where there are open markets, “xepa”, those unsold foods that are cheaper in the end, is a great option.
– Make preserves, jellies or portions to freeze, from foods you bought in large quantities or that are close to getting bad, like strawberries, bananas, mangoes, apples …

I, in particular, am a fan of the leaves and stalks of vegetables. The beetroot, broccoli, and cauliflower leaves are great sautéed in butter with garlic or a quick risotto with only leaves. To preserve them, just sanitize correctly and rinse in boiling water, separate into bags and freeze. When you want to do it, just throw it directly in the hot pan, it defrost very quickly. This process is called bleaching and you can do it with broccoli and cauliflower too, quietly. And on their stalks too, I like to cut them into small cubes and make soups or add them to the ground meat, it’s very tasty.

Apples already “withered” turn into cakes and bananas, that sweet to pass in the biscuit for an afternoon coffee. Fruits such as mango, pineapple, passion fruit, can be frozen in portions, to become fresh juices.

Pasta Omelet

The pasta, sometimes you can’t “reheat” it, but have you ever thought about a fritadinha (omelet) with pasta? Well, freeze those little pieces of Sunday pasta and when you want, just defrost, beat the eggs with the desired spices, do not skimp on the grated cheese, mix with a portion of the pasta and ready, turbined omelette.
Lentils, are more affordable and very nutritious legumes, soak for 12 hours, changing water 2 x in this period and cook, to the tooth, with salt. After cold, make portions and freeze, whenever you want, thaw and do it your way, on rice, sautéed with caramelized onions, on salad, vegan “hamburger”, on omelet, broth … There are many possibilities and so it can be made with several other legumes.

I hope these tips help and that everyone can have a Good Appetite, regardless of the day of the month.

Chef Roberta