Meat-Cake

George Carlin has a great bit about the mystery food found in the refrigerator that goes like this: n"Perhaps the worst thing that can happen is to reach into the refrigerator and come out with something that you cannot identify at all. You literally do not know what it is. Could be meat, could be cake. Usually, at a time like that, I'll bluff. "Honey, is this good?" "Well, what is it?" "I don't know. I've never seen anything like it. It looks like...meatcake!" "Well, smell it." (snort, sniff) "It has absolutely no smell whatsoever!" "It's good! Put it back! Somebody is saving it. It'll turn up in something." That's what frightens me. That someone will consider it a challenge and use it just because it's in there."nnDoes this sound familiar? If so, here are some tips to keep the fridge organized, avoid meat-cake suprise, and save money.nnPURGE: nThe best time to do this is the night before trash pick up, if you don't want to gag every time you walk into your garage for the next week. Open EVERYTHING. Look, smell (yikes), and check for expiration dates. Toss out the smidges left of this and that, consolidate where possible, and eliminate excess duplicates; if you have 6 kind of mustards, toss a few of your least favorites or combine similar ones. While purging, make a mental note of HOW much was tossed, or the multiples of things purchased because it was hidden or poorly labeled and long forgotten! While you're purging, don't forget the outside also. Toss expired coupons, schedules, duplicate photos etc. It's looking or at least "smelling" better already, isn't it?nnCLEAN: nGive it a good cleaning if it needs it. Baking soda is a good odor eliminator, and Clorox Clean up gets rid of discoloring due to dyes and packaging.nnSPACE PLAN: nGet to know the layout of the land. Do you HAVE to put food in the area the drawers say? Well, you should if you want to preserve them longer. The deli/cheese tray is the coldest, and should be used for that purpose. The crisper drawers seal tightly and and keeps in humidity to help retain moisture. You may also consider "green bags" or I also recommend Tupperware Fridgesmart containers to really extend the life. With these containers I kept strawberries in one for at LEAST 2 1/2 weeks - vs the standard 4-5 days. Also, do your homework and find out what fruits and veggies belong in the fridge and which DON'T. Get those potatoes, onions, squash, tomatoes, garlic and ginger out of the fridge. Same goes for most fruit. Store berries, grapes and ripened or cut fruit in the fridge. Not only are you making room, but your produce will ripen better, last longer and taste better. Use the door area for bottled and jarred foods and condiments. Don't put eggs in the door, they stay fresher in their cartons and away from the door/oxygen. For everything else, consider clear containers for quick ID of the contents or using erasable food storage labels. Choose labels that can go in the fridge, freezer, dishwasher or microwave.nnOTHER TIPS:n-Square containers are easier to label, stack, and fit it the fridge better than round ones.n-Consider a soda can dispenser, pull out tray, or turntables for easy access. n-Place fruit out in a bowl or platter to encourage grabbing of fruit in a hurry. n-Consider keeping "ready-made snacks" and left overs in the same place all the time, for quick access of snacks by everyone without having to "dig" and a quick inventory of leftovers need to be eaten or "re-invented" to avoid waste. n-Consider labeling the leftovers and including the date they were made.