¾ÅÒ»ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ

Whilst the rest of the country outside Auckland are finding a bit of new found freedomÌýunfortunately we are still in lockdown mode.Ìý

And for the Van deÌýElzenÌýfamily, that involves cooking at home each night, trying to keep things including our food as interesting asÌýpossible.Ìý

I've noticed that the subject of food waste has been in the headlines a couple of times this week. Feeling this is largely due to the fact that we have been forced to shop each week at the supermarket to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner to our family. But we also have to cook it.Ìý

I have always been a huge advocate for teaching our kids the basic principles of cooking, as I believeÌýitsÌýone of the biggestÌýlessonsÌýwe can give our kids. It is the one to cook from scratch.Ìý

These lessonÌýmust also include the understanding ofÌýfood wastage as we simply can't afford to throw away food.Ìý

Food wastage can come in many different forms.ÌýÌý

• Buying too much food, then allowing it to die in the back of the fridge or pantryÌý
• Simply not knowing what to do with left-oversÌý
• Poor food storage and rotationÌý
• Lack of a food planÌý
• Basic lacking of recipe or ingredient understanding (becoming more and more common as we rely on meal delivery kits or takeawaysÌýÌý

SoÌýthis week we have a tasty little recipe using left over chicken meat, but can easily be replaced with any or meat or even just load it up with more vegetables.Ìý

Left over Pad ThaiÌý

Left-over chicken, shreddedÌýÌý

SauceÌýÌý

2 Tbsp brown sugarÌýÌý

2 Tbsp Sweet chilliÌýsauceÌýÌý

2 Tbsp Soy sauce Ìý

1 tbsp peanut butterÌýÌý

ChilliÌýpowder or SrirachaÌýÌýÌý

1 eggÌýÌý

1 onion, finelyÌýslicedÌýÌý

4 cloves garlic, crushedÌýÌý

2 tbsp cooking oilÌýÌý

300g Flat noodles, soaked for 30 minutesÌýÌý

1 cup bean sproutsÌýÌý

1 Spring onion, dicedÌýÌý

1/4 cup roasted peanutsÌýÌý

1 lime, optionalÌý

Firstly make up the sauce by heating in a small pot the brown sugar, sweet chilli, soy sauce and peanut butter. Add in the chilli if you want it a but hotter! Cook slightly until the brown sugar is dissolved.ÌýÌý

Heat a large pan or wok, over a mediumÌýheat. Adding in the cooking oil followed by the egg, using a fork scramble and move to the side. Add the onions and garlic to the pan andÌýsauteÌýuntil tender. Add the rice noodles with a couple Tbsp of the water and mix until well combined. Stir in the cooked chicken, sauce, egg, spring onion and finally the beansprouts.ÌýÌý

Serve on plate with some sprinkled peanuts, extra spring onions and a slice of limeÌýÌý

EnjoyÌý