Economy Tip - Consider Those Skins!

Not One Wasted Scrap 

You know, they say the wonderful thing about pigs is that you can use everything but the squeal.  I’m beginning to discover that is also true of ginger.  As I play around with it, I’m beginning to wonder what other ways I can get more mileage out of my food dollar. How much can I conserve and not waste?  Dehydrating is an excellent way to stretch that dollar, especially in these hard times ahead.

Prepping Ginger for Dehydrating

Prepping Ginger 

I purchased five pounds of fresh ginger from a wholesale supplier.  It’s really expensive out here in the wilds of Wyoming. If you’re thinking in terms of buying food in bulk, check out my post on Bulk and Wholesale Food Sources for ideas of where to go and how to do it.

Candied Ginger - A Happy Accident

Ginger Candy - Yum!

Sometimes, when we make a mistake, it turns out far better than we expected.

Crystallized Ginger

Making your own home-made crystallized ginger is easier than you think.

10/10/9

Diced Fresh Ginger

• Dice the ginger then simmer until tender.
• Drain the water and added sugar equal to the weight of the ginger.
• Add 1/4 cup water and boil until water is gone and ginger is candied.

Ginger

Ginger in Bulk

I was chatting with our green grocer and commented on how expensive fresh ginger is. She said that if I wanted to buy some in bulk, she could arrange it.  By buying a two-pound bag full, I saved $1.32 per pound.

Linda's Note: It pays to check with your greengrocer once in a while. Better yet, build up a rapport with her.  You never know what kind of economical tip she may pass your way.

Herb and Spice Substitutions

Linda’s Note: I took a class called  Put a Little Spice in Your Life class with Barbara Hotaling, owner of Paya’s Restaurant in Dubois, Wyoming.  She gave us a CD she had downloaded from the West Virginia University Extension Service It’s free and available for you to copy.  Here is an excerpt from that file: