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I’m one waste-hater who can’t bear to throw away those annoying little packets of duck sauce, soy sauce, sugar, ketchup and the like that come with take-out food. But just tossing them into a bag in the pantry thinking I’ll use them one day never really does the trick.
Getting Organized
This past weekend, I organized all the packets I’ve been collecting since time and memorial. So I’d reach for them first, I put the sugar packets next to the sugar bowl, and the salt and pepper packets together next to my S&P shakers. Then I put all the duck sauce and soy sauce packets together in a canister on my counter, since I typically combine them in recipes.
I was so energized by my newly organized packets, I decided to start to work the collection down on the pork chop I had in the fridge. The results were so spectacular, I’m passing along this recipe I created on the fly.
Jacquie Ottman’s Pork Chop “a la Packette”
Recipe for Pork Chop “A La Packette”
I first smothered my little pork chop with salt and pepper — good for two packets each. Then, I snipped open one packet each of duck sauce, soy sauce, and even one stray packet of apple jelly that I had in the pile from Popeye’s (not sure where that came from), carefully squeezing out every last drop by sliding them tightly through my index and middle fingers.
I then put the now smothered pork chop under the broiler of my toaster oven for 4 minutes on each side. (Be careful ‘trying this at home’ since it’s suggested that one not use a toaster oven for broiling meats.)
I served it with some new potatoes, complemented by a salad made with the leftover drizzle from a grilled eggplant recipe from last week.
C’est magnifique if I c’est so myself! (Jocelyn would be proud.) Here’s the picture, taken on one of my prettiest porcelain plates, of course.
What do you do with your little packets? Any great recipes to share?
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January 23, 2013 at 1:59 pm
Great ideas on re-purposing those packets Jacquie! We save all of the surplus packets (and extra straws/napkins too) and put them in a 4-square organizer in the pantry- they are great for kids lunches, camping, picnics, and any other outing that calls for condiments but without the mess or bulk.
January 25, 2013 at 5:57 pm
Thanks for reminding me about the napkins and the straws, Anne. I put the napkins on the counter in a big ceramic coffee mug, and use them for quick spills — without the guilt since they might have been discarded anyway.
And the straws make smoothies taste like ice cream sodas!
January 26, 2013 at 12:30 am
I have one of those colorful “lifetime” reusable lunch bags made from divers’ suit material (I think). I keep sets of the napkins, plastic utensils and straws in this bag. Whenever I want to take food with me, my bag is packed and I am ready to go.
January 23, 2013 at 3:56 pm
Great tips. Here’s another. When I have cherry or other tomatoes that are becoming a little “wrinkled” and are no longer good for eating raw, I cut them up and make a sauce. I can add mushrooms, olives, onions, garlic and herbs like oregano. It goes with chicken, fish, rice or pasta. Yummy! Low fat and cal, too.
January 24, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Great tip Bonnie. I’ll be at your place tonight for supper!
Seriously though, not only a great idea on a no-waste solution to over-ripe-and-on-its-way-to-spoiling produce, but much healthier than a sauce from a jar and made with love no doubt!
January 25, 2013 at 5:59 pm
Bonnie, I’m with you. I once bought six over ripe tomatoes from the produce guy on the street for $1 one Sunday night. He knew he wouldn’t be able to sell them so he gave me a major discount. I promptly made some of the best Italian spaghetti sauce you could imagine — and felt great about using something that would otherwise have gone to waste and getting a bargain in the process. Molto Bene!
January 23, 2013 at 10:05 pm
This was great way to reuse condiment packets. I know whenever I run out of ketchup, the many ketchup packets in my drawer are a lifesaver. I use leftover taco sauce/hot sauce packets when making tacos or quesadillas.
January 24, 2013 at 1:28 pm
Hello everyone,
These packets of ketchup, soy sauce, duck sauce, etc are great, if they are something you will use. Lots of good ideas for using them by the way!
But if they are something you won’t ever use, as I won’t, I ask the person taking the order not to give me any sauces, crackers or even plastic silverware, (I carry metal forks and spoons in the car and in my travel bag.)
I will also ask that my meal not be put in a bag, which fast food places often have rule about food must be sent out in a bag. In that case, I say I’m having it there, rather than to go, and just take the wrapped whatever off the tray at the service counter and go out to the car. How much trouble can I get into carrying something from the counter to my car? If I do have a problem, I have only myself to blame.
I’ve even considered carrying a little plastic bag with me into the place so if they get all insist-ey on must put my food in a bag, I tell them to pop it in mine.
I also carry an old cloth apron, (from my busboy days) in the car, so I can cover myself as I am eating, when I don’t want to sit and eat at the fast food place. (noise, screaming toddlers or worse….) Serves as protection from spilled food and my napkin and launders easily.
Brrrrry on the East Coast! Great weather for take out Chinese food. Delivered!!!!
Peace, Mike
January 26, 2013 at 7:42 pm
As an empty nester, I find that one or two packets of each condiment is all we need to have on hand, and prevents us from wasting a full container of mustard, mayo or ketchup that we might never finish. But I agree that refusing the ones we don’t need is best. Since we always patronize the same Chinese take-out, the manager knows me and my preferences (“No sauce packets,right?”). I have suggested that she post a sign on the counter (e.g., “Tell us if you need sauce packets, straws, or napkins”), and ask folks who order by phone if they do or don’t need the packets, just as they ask if we want white or brown rice, but so far she has not taken me up on it. I suspect that they pile up in a lot of homes, and eventually get tossed out. An easily preventable addition to food waste.
January 25, 2013 at 12:47 pm
Beautiful pic, Jacquie! Mouth-watering recipe, too. My little packages of “Special Seasonings” from Papa John’s are a great addition to my vinaigrette salad dressing.
January 27, 2013 at 1:49 pm
Hello All,
We would phone in our order to our favorite Chinese take-out place, State Gardens in New Haven, and it seemed which ever order taker would hear our order, (always the same items, Mushu Pork, Sweet and sour soup, (no mushrooms) Garlic Chicken, (no mushrooms) and would recite our address and phone number and our list of no no’s before I could. They got to know us so well.
No pancakes, (mushu pork), no packets, no napkins, silverware, no free soda. It was very funny. And really nice!
Peace, Mike
January 29, 2013 at 10:33 pm
Great Jacquie!!
February 2, 2013 at 6:39 pm
MIke,
You’d even pass on the free pop? I guess not your type of thing, to even indulge occasionally?
Although it also moves towards reducing waste for not asking for the packets, the companies probably already factored that into the selling price of what we buy.
And even for things where I go to an event and they use plastic cups (and not compostable ones), occasionally I have people who don’t want me to reuse the cup to refill since maybe it gets filled over the punch bowl or comes into close contact with the ladle or dispenser. I can understand, especially with not wanting to pass viruses or colds around, but it’s conflicting, with either potential germs or the environment.
February 2, 2013 at 7:46 pm
Hello,
Interesting about the punch bowl and the use of a new cup each refill. Never have come across that. Then again, I guess I don’t get to many punchy type functions. I can see the sanitary argument.
And talking beverages…
The reason I pass on free soda is that I don’t like soda. I’ve never like anything with bubbles. (Not including bubble pipes. LOVE them!!!)
So the cans would just hang around hoping a guest might possibly want a soda, which rarely happened. I ended up emptying the cans and recycling them. If nothing else, passing on the bubbly is a teeny bonus of one less bit of can waste in the world.
Packets….
I have nothing against using and enjoying the packets. They are sanitary, fresh and convenient. Great for picnics, travel, camping, lunch bags, etc.. The key word is using. I’m just not using them now….
For me, even when I could eat just about anything, I found I didn’t use the extra packets. Didn’t like duck sauce. The soy sauce… too salty. Catsup, relish and mustard packets were great but I never could seem to remember I had the the extras or to use them. They became too old to eat anymore, although they probably would have lasted for generations with the tiny packaging and preservatives!
So I asked not to receive them. A right choice for me.
And now, as it turns out, I’m on a very strict diet now for health reasons. Mucho No-no! So I would never use the packets now-a-days even if I could eat the food they are offered with. I so miss my Taco Bell Fresco Tacos with the Salsa Verde packets….Mmmm-Yummmm! Sigh…Oh well…..
Enjoy those packets! And bubbles. And if you like Fresco Crunchy Tacos with Salsa Verde, please eat one for me!
Best wishes,
Mike