The Green Scene

I know I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but I really do learn so much at every week’s Foodies’ Night In #fni. I gathered all sorts of ways I can more conscientiously entertain the people I love in our home.

Keepin’ the Party Green

I know I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but I really do learn so much at every week’s Foodies’ Night In #fni.  And Monday’s #fni Twitter party on Green Entertaining was no exception.  From our partners in #fni, @savvyhost, our sponsor @DaisyMaesMarket, and a truly expert crew including @cozifamily, @KyFarmersMatter, @GreenHalloween, and @jbint, I gathered all sorts of ways I can more conscientiously entertain the people I love in our home.

Favorite Foodie Tweets

It would be a shame for me to tease all that I learned and then not share it with you, right?  So, here are some of the highlights for me.  Not one of the ideas is going to rock your world, but wrapped up altogether, they might very well change our world.  Or keep it green, anyway.:

@mellanhead: Q4 we use real plates and silverware so that is less garbage.  #fni
@GreenHalloween: A4 recycle recycle recycle! We’re pretty adamant about that in our homes and encourage/reward the kiddies when they do! #fni
@BlogWellDone: I like to cook in the pumpkins and serve whole. #fni
@KyFarmersMatter: Q5 Also like 2 use pretty quilts as table cloths. #FNI
@artofthespa: Throw about 4 drops of orange or grapefruit essential oil into your vinegar & water cleaner for a #spa like cleaning experience #fni

I wrap my list with a great idea and good news from our sponsor and friend.  @DaisyMaesMarket reminded us to “Buy more produce! Yay! Even if you don’t like to eat it, you can decorate with it!” and introduced to the following, very exciting new development:  “Cincy is starting recyclebank.com. Points to recycle that will be redeemable at businesses like ours!”

Hungry for More?

Check out these fresh designs that utilize every last hunk of food, leaving no waste behind:

Turn bread on its way to Staleville into scrumptious French toast with this Orange Caramel Sauce.

Transform the bones from last night’s Whole Roasted Chicken into Chicken Stock that is the ultimate canvas for delicious and simple Bride Soup.

Use rough asparagus ends to create Cream of Asparagus Soup.

Oh, and make sure you’re at this coming Monday’s #fni on The Dinner Party Menu.  That’s the best way to get your fix.

Foodies’ Night In Questions

Here are the questions that kept the conversation so fresh and so green, green:

Q1. How do you invite guests to a gathering – paper invitations sent through the mail, evite, telephone call? #fni
Q2. When shopping for a gathering, what’s the best way to buy a lot of local – farmers’ markets, delivery, grocery, several stops? #fni
Q3. How do you create a menu that yields little food waste? Recipes to share that use all parts of ingredients – bones, shells, rinds? #fni
Q4. How do you keep all waste to a minimum at your home in general? When you’re prepping for a gathering? #fni
Q5. How do you set a table or decorate your spread with items you already have at home? How do you bring the outside in? #fni
Q6. How can you creatively get around using disposable plates, napkins, barware? #fni
Q7. What are your go-to serving pieces for entertaining? What are your clever food-presentation tricks and tips? #fni
Q8. After a holiday or large gathering, how do you turn leftovers into more meals? Fave recipes to share? #fni
Q9. What are some green cleaning products or techniques you employ when your party has wrapped? #fni
Q10. What food or cleaning brands do you support for their environmentally-sound business practices? #fni
Q11. What is an earth-friendly hostess gift? #fni
Q12. In three words or less, what is your state of mind with regards to food? #fni