Reviving tips

Some foods, that you might have earmarked for the bin, can be revived and given a new lease of life. Read on and please tell us your ideas too.

• Pesto dressing and bean salad

  Submitted by Lynne, London

  When there is only a teaspoon of pesto left in the jar make an oil and vinegar dressing for bean salad using canned kidney beans/cannelli/borlotti (or whatever you have in your cupboard). You can add sliced red onion, sweetcorn (canned or frozen) and green beans. Bean salad can be made into soup or vegetable chilli if you have any leftover.

• Seafood stock

  Submitted by David Wall, Shaftesbury

  When buying fish ask he fishmonger to fillet the fish, then also to give you the bones etc. You can also use the shells of prawns and other shellfish. Boil the bones etc in a little water, then strain through a fine strainer, or a piece of muslin to make excellent fish stock.

• Using up your veg

  Submitted by David Wall, Shaftesbury

  Regularly - once a week or so, clear out your vegetable rack and use everything to make soups, stock, or stews.

• Using Chicken Carcass

  Submitted by David Wall, Shaftesbury

  After using all the meat from a chicken, boil the carcass or bones in water. Strip any last remaining meat and use the water and meat as stock. Use to make soups, or stews etc.

• Tomato Paste - stop the mould

  Submitted by Janet Korsak, Melksham

  For any leftover in a jar, scrape the sides of the jar and smooth the surface. Cover with enough oil so that none of the paste is exposed then refrigerate. The oil stops the air getting to it and turning mouldy. Same can be done for pesto.

• Make your own golden breadcrumbs

  Submitted by David Wall, Shaftesbury

  Before bread goes mouldy. Cut into slices and bake in a warm - not hot - oven, or place in the oven after you have cooked other food and switched off the oven. When dry and crisp, place the bread in a clean tea towel, or piece of muslin and bash up with a rolling pin. Store in an airtight jar.

• Birds love apples!

  Submitted by Toni, Gloucestershire

  If you can not use apples as leftovers then cut them in half and give them to the garden birds. Our blackbirds and starlings love them you will be helping the wildlife to survive when food is hard to find especially in the winter.

• Soft broccoli

  Submitted by Frances Gledhill Wood, Highlands

  If your broccoli’s a bit soft cut a thick slice off the bottom of the stalk, put into a glass with water and leave in the fridge overnight to crisp up.

• Did you know Pasta can also be frozen

  Submitted by Ngosi, London

  Overcooked pasta - well waste no more (works for any type of pasta) Simply rinse the cooked pasta in a colander (this gets rid of the starch and cools the pasta) then put meal sixed portions into freezer bags and place into the freezer. To cook, simply place the frozen pasta into boiling water and cook for a few minutes. Or even quicker reheat in the microwave for a few minutes. Voila perfectly cooked pasta in minutes.

• Blueberries or any soft fruit

  Submitted by Riffkir, Lytham St Annes

  If it is about to go off or is over ripe. Put in a saucepan with a couple of teaspoons of lemon juice and sugar. Heat slowly until the fruit "pops" and the liquid reduces. You will then have your own jam or a fruit compot!!