In my house, "doin the nasty" has a whole different meaning.......

It is a peaceful Sunday.  We have had Chinese food, we are full, we are dozy, we are resting in various rooms.  All is right with our world.  We are happy.

Well, THEY are.  I too am full, basically happy HOWEVER, it is the day I must clean the refrigerator.  Everyone who knows me knows I would rather kiss a whirling lawn mower than clean my refrigerator, I would rather have a colonoscopy at work than clean the refrigerator, would almost rather have another child than clean the refrigerator, so I wait til the smell is all but overwhelming and then I clean it.  It is the only time no one comes near my kitchen when I am in it.  No one.

This is the time where we all find out just what that stench is.  Tonight, I found a half a box of thawed, molded, fish sticks, in the back.  Why they were ever put in the fridge and not the freezer, remains a mystery.  No one knows the answer to this.  Or will admit it.  I finally found the package of bacon I'd been missing since Lent began.  3 oranges that are brown and hard, 1 pomegranate (been in the way back since Christmas;  it is now almost May), a bag of carrots that are soft, 2, yes 2, quart jars of maraschino cherries, 2 cucumbers that are all liquid....I could go on and on.  The stench is unbelieveable.

And this is when I have an epiphany.  What hits me right between the lookers is the realization that I am throwing away more food today than many people have to eat for a month in places like the Sudan.  That makes me ashamed.  That makes me angry at myself for purchasing more than was necessary and being that wasteful.  We are a middle income family.  We are trying to be better stewards of what God has given us and here I am, tossing what could have fed us for well over two weeks, away.  How stupid is that?

The solution?  Well, I cleaned out the fridge, washed it down (again).  Then I took the jars, those whose expiration dates haven't come and gone, and made  a list of everything left.  Now I'm planning a weeks menu based on what I have.  We are going to do better.  Now that #2 son is done with night school, I will be cooking again.  I will strive to use up what is here before purchasing anything more.

Anyone have any ideas on how to use 2 quarts of maraschino cherries??