Kai and The Kitchen

Recipes and Musings of Food and Life

18 Having a Ball

Having A Ball {my new approach to food storage}

Jump to recipe

I’m one of those people. The open-fridge-door-dinner-contemplators. Do you know any of those? Or do you have one living in your house? If you aren’t one I can almost guarantee it drives you crazy every time you catch one in the act. If Kevin isn’t behind me telling me to close the doors, don’t worry — the fridge itself starts making the world’s most annoying noise to signify that perhaps someone accidentally left the door ajar. I’m right here fridge looking you right in the face, must you carry on like that!!

Yes, when I’m hungry or simply looking for inspiration I will crack open the fridge and search for answers. What will I cook for dinner tonight? Are we out of soy sauce again? Why are there three opened jars of mayo in here? OMG… is that a fourth back there!! IT IS!! This is mortifying. I have more opened mayo jars in our house than Paula Dean.

Anyway. I’ve decided that 2018 is going to be the year of fridge clarity. When I open my fridge in 2018 it is going to speak inspiration to me. Hell, it might even sing to me. Cleaner fridge = cleaner eating. And one way I’m starting this clarity movement is by switching to glass jars for storage. And here’s why:

  1. Glass is cleaner, safer, greener, & BPA free. The nonporous surface of glass doesn’t absorb food, germs, colors or smells. Glass is also 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity — something few food and beverage packaging options can claim.
  2. Glass can be safely washed at high temperatures in your dishwasher. How annoying is it when your Tupperware comes out of dish washer melted and disfigured because it couldn’t handle the heat? Glass can handle the heat!! No need to wait to transfer your hot leftovers.
  3. FOOD PREP. If you are trying to eat clean, there is nothing better than opening your fridge to see jars of beautiful clean food that you’ve prepared in advance. Think marinated onions, roasted vegetables, hummus, lentils, sliced fruit, healthy tuna or chicken salad. Once you have all your jars prepped its easy to twist off the lid and build a delicious bowl of clean food in only a few minutes.
  4. It looks prettier. Sorry tupperware, but you just aren’t that appetizing. Give me leftovers in a glass pyrex container or mason jar and I’m all in. Nothing makes my heart pitter-patter like a beautifully organized fridge with homemade jarred sauces and concoctions neatly organized on its shelves.
  5. Made in the USA. Ball brand canning jars have been US made since 1884. When you buy American, you help to keep local businesses strong and support domestic job growth at the same time. My favorite Ball jars are wide mouth for easy scooping. They also are wide enough to fit the end of your immersion blender!

All of my “having a ball” posts will feature a recipe, dressing, or key ingredient that I like to keep prepped and jarred in my fridge ready for easy and healthy meal assembly. The more clean prepared foods you have, the more likely you are to eat them instead of snacking on something you’ll regret.

Here is the recipe for my favorite tuna salad. It is simple, but super delicious. I usually double this recipe and add the tuna to salads, scooped into endive cups or eat it on top of a few Mary’s crackers which you can usually find online or at Costco. If you haven’t tried these, they are the best! They’re organic, gluten-free, and made with all-natural, non-GMO ingredients including whole grain brown rice, quinoa, flaxseeds, and sesame seeds. Top eat bite tuna cracker with a few black sesame seeds and a slice of avocado and you’ve created my favorite snack around. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya…

 

18