Meet the Team: Lizzy at Bassendean

My name is Lizzy, I started working at Wasteless Pantry Mundaring when it first opened in 2015 and then I decided to come down the hill and manage the Bassendean store when it opened in 2018.⠀
I’m a keen gardener and am working on making my jungle of a garden a bit more useful with lots of fruit trees and vegetables. I have an aquaponics system which provides me with trout each year, and a beehive for honey and wax. I also run the Perth Green Events website, am a keen birdwatcher and am a drummer in a blues band.⠀
My favourite WP product is the Onya mesh produce bags. My produce bags are always in my handbag and I use them every time I go to the shops. If they get dirty they just go in the wash and then straight back into my bag. I bought a pack about 6 years ago and still use them today. My favourite snack is the chocolate honeycomb.⠀
My advice for going waste free is to make the most of your freezer! Pretty much anything can go in the freezer – leftover meals for lunches later on, overripe fruit for pies or smoothies, meat drippings or gravy for when you can’t be bothered making gravy another time, excess raw chopped vegetables for soups or stews, meat bones and vegetable peelings for making stock. Even grated cheese, egg whites, fresh chillies, ginger and dough pizza bases can go straight into the freezer. Just remember to label everything clearly!

Sprouting Tips

We often get queried about what is ‘sproutable’ at WP.

Our very own, Belinda, shares this list of goodies available at Wasteless Pantry that she has managed to sprout successfully:

Mung Beans – super duper easy, they will sprout just looking at water
Adzuki Beans

Linseed
Borlotti Bean
Soya Bean
Broccoli Seed
Chickpeas
Poppy Seeds
Whole Wheat Grain
Brown Rice
Fenugreek Seed
Mustard Seed
Coriander Seed
Sesame Seed
Buckwheat
Millet

Amanda has also had some luck with Lentils, Popping Corn and sunflower kernels.

Larger beans are probably better sprouted in jars, I used a flat sprouter and the seeds went mouldy JUST as they started to sprout because it took so long.

Things that probably sprout but that we haven’t tried:

Pepitas
Other beans not listed above
Other spice seeds not listed above
Quinoa

It’s easy:
1. Soak your chosen item in a jar for 12 to 24 hours
2. Drain and cover with a lightweight, mesh fabric leaving upside down on its side in a bowl to allow drainage as well as air circulation
3. Each day for 2 to 5 days rinse and drain to keep hydrated
Once they have sprouted enough you can keep them in the fridge to slow down further growth. Eat them quickly though whilst they are at their best!

Brownie in a mug!

As the cooler weather sets in it’s the perfect time for a cheeky brownie in a mug while you’re are snuggled up on the couch.

Ingredients from WP

– 1 cup of brownie/mud cake mix

– 1 tbs choc chips

Ingredients from elsewhere

– 1 tbs butter (melted)

– 1/2 cup of milk of your choice

Mix all the ingredients in a mug and then sprinkle the choc chips on top.

Microwave for 1:30-2 mins on high.

Serve with cream, ice cream, or both!

If you want to make it into a self-saucing pudding add 1 tbs brown sugar, 1 tsp cocoa powder, and 1 tbs of hot water on top of the mix and then microwave.

Healthy cookie dough balls

Ingredients from WP

– 1 cup of flour, you can use pretty much any flour

– 1/2 cup of nut butter, I used peanut but how good would choc hazelnut be 😍

– 3 tbs of honey or maple syrup

– 1 tbs coconut oil

– 1 tsp vanilla essence

– 1/2 cup of choc chips

* you can add protein powder if desired

Method – Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir/ knead until combined – Roll into small balls – Enjoy!!

Baked Oat Meal

As winter is fast approaching this is the perfect winter warmer to start your day!

Ingredients from WP: 1/4 cup of maple syrup 2 cups of rolled oats 1 tsp baking powder 1/4 cup of choc chips 1 tsp of cinnamon 2 tsp of vanilla extract 2 tbs coconut oil

Ingredients from elsewhere: 2 cups of milk ( you can use any eg. almond, oat, dairy) 1 egg 1 banana smashed other desired fruit and fruit to top, I have used berries 🙂

Method 1. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. 2. Add in the wet ingredients and stir until combined 3. Pour into a baking dish, place desired fruit onto, and sprinkle with a few choc chips 4. Cook at ~160 C for ~ 50 mins or until bouncy to touch 5. Serve in a bowl with milk or cream!

Snickers smoothie recipe!!

Ingredients from WP

– 2 dates

– 1 tbs cocoa powder

– 1 tbs peanut butter

Ingredients from elsewhere

– 2 frozen bananas

– 2 cups of almond milk (unless you make your own with our almonds 😋)

Method

1. Combine all ingredients, using a blender, until smooth

2. Pour into a glass and top with chopped dates, chocolate shavings and if your feeling really naughty, whipped cream 😍

Eco-Friendly Treats: No-Bake Peanut Butter Choc Cups

For a delicious treat, try making No-Bake Peanut Butter Choc Cups using ingredients from Wasteless Pantry. The recipe involves mixing granola or oats, peanut butter, chopped peanuts, and honey to form a base, then filling with melted peanut butter and topping with melted dark chocolate. This easy, no-bake dessert requires chilling in the refrigerator before enjoying. It’s a perfect combination of crunchy, sweet, and nutty flavors that peanut butter and chocolate lovers will adore.

Buying unpackaged pantry items, like the ingredients for No-Bake Peanut Butter Choc Cups, offers environmental benefits by reducing packaging waste and allowing you to purchase only the amount you need, which can also reduce food waste.

Ingredients from WP

– 2 1/2 cups of granola or oats

– 2 tbsp peanut butter for the base

– 1 1/2 cups melted peanut butter

– 1 cup chopped peanuts

– 3 tbsp honey

– 2 cups dark melting chocolate

Method

1. Combine granola, peanut butter, chopped peanuts, and honey in a bowl. Spoon the mixture into muffin tins and press down, with a spoon, into a cup-like shape

2. Pour the melted peanut butter into the ‘cups’

3. Refrigerate for 1 hr

4. Melt the chocolate and pour over the top of the peanut butter

5. Refrigerate for another hour and then enjoy!

Oat Slice recipe

If you are looking for a healthy and yummy lunchbox snack or breakfast on the go idea, you have to try this

Ingredients from WP

– 1/2 cup SR flour

– 1/2 cup plain flour

– 1 cup of rolled oats

– 2/3 cup of coconut

– 2/3 cup brown sugar

– 1/2 cup of choc chips or cranberries

Ingredients from elsewhere

– 125g melted butter

– 1 egg

Method:

– Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl

– melt the butter and then pour into the dry mixture, add in egg and mix until combined.

– Spoon into a baking dish and cook at 180 C for 20 mins!

Homemade chocolate energy bites

✅ Vegan ✅ gluten free ✅ Paleo

Ingredients from WP

– 1/2 cup of peanut butter

– 1/4 cup of maple syrup

– 1/2 cup of almond meal

– 1/4 cup of flaxseed meal

– 2 tbs cocoa powder

– Shredded coconut

Mix maple syrup and peanut butter together in a bowl until combined. Add in almond flour, flaxseed meal, and cocoa. Mix. Roll the mixture into balls and cover it in coconut. ENJOY!!

Delicious Iced Coffee using bulk coffee bean ice blocks!

Zero-waste iced coffee is easy to make at home with this great recipe! The key is to get your bulk coffee beans and milk powder unpackaged. Where is the best place to buy bulk coffee beans? From Wasteless Pantry (zero waste bulk food store in Perth, Australia) of course! It is simple to bring your own container in-store to refill. Alternatively shop bulk food online with us and have it delivered to your door plastic free. You can choose to buy bulk whole coffee beans or have them ground and ready to use. Our bulk roasted coffee beans are either locally roasted or locally grown. Bulk organic coffee beans are very popular! Whether you use our dairy full cream milk powder or vegan-friendly coconut milk powder, this recipe is a delicious treat any time of the year.

Ground coffee beans are not the same as instant coffee. So be sure to use a plunger or stovetop espresso maker from Wasteless Pantry too. Instant coffee is coffee that has already been prepared and then freeze-dried for longer storage. That’s why coffee made with fresh beans has such a different flavour and is generally preferred by many. The bonus of making coffee fresh at home is that you can make it as strong as you like and sweeten it to your taste. Need a tip on how to store your coffee beans? No need to pop them in the fridge but make sure they are in a cool dark place within an airtight container. That is the best way to store coffee beans according to our local roaster.

Iced coffee is easy to make at home!

Mix 2 shots of coffee with 3/4 cup of water, pour into an ice cube tray, and freeze. Once frozen, place the coffee ice blocks into a cup and fill it with milk, add maple syrup to taste 😜

Want another waste free iced beverage recipe to try? Check out our Matcha Iced Latte recipe next.