Fun with Celery

Published by christi on November 8, 2018November 8, 2018

Have some frugal fun with celery (which should be on sale soon in preparation for Thanksgiving).

Get a little flaky:  When prepping celery for a relish tray or another dish, separate the leaves from any part of the stalk, rinse and drain them.  Place them on a small cookie sheet or pie pan, paper towel, or clean coffee filter on the counter, in a cool oven, or on a shady window sill. Fluff them occasionally so they don’t mold. In a few days (depending on the humidity) you will have your own dried celery flakes. Store in a covered glass jar in the cupboard with your other herbs and spices. You can label it with a Sharpie, so you don’t mistake it for with something else and get an “interesting” soup or cup of herb tea.  (If you include the date on the label, you will know how long they have been around, and if they are something you actually  use.)These are great for flavoring soups or stuffing or roast when celery is too pricey.

Don’t leaf us alone:  Chop the bigger leaves and add them and some smaller ones to the other goodies in your salad bowl for some variety.

Just a trim, please:  Rejuvenate those tired celery sticks (the ones with the drying ends) by trimming off the last ¼” or so, placing the trimmings in a plastic freezer-safe bag. Store in the freezer until you are ready to make broth. (You’re going to strain out the veggies anyhow.)

Soak the sticks a few minutes in ice water, or cover with room-                       temperature water and refrigerate for a couple hours. Serve these                  enlivened pieces with other fresh vegetable sticks for a refreshing                  snack or side dish.

(If the ends you trim off are squishy and not dry, it’s off to the compost heap or garbage can with those!)

Snacks involving celery

• Stuffed with peanut (other nut) butter & raisins (other dried fruit)

• Stuffed with cream cheese & flavor bits of your choice: black olive, green olive, crushed pineapple, bacon bits, raisins, other chopped dried fruit, nuts

• Ends-of-cheese spread  http://dishwaterdisciple.com/ends-of-cheese-spread/

• Dipped in hummus (or another bean) dip  https://dishwaterdisciple.com/bean-dip/

• Wrapped with meat slices

• Quick Waldorf snack (chopped celery, apple, peanuts or other nuts, raisins or grapes, mayo or yogurt) on crackers  

Is this idea growing on you?  Cut a 1-2 inch slice from the bottom of the celery. Place it in a shallow bowl or saucer. Add water to cover the base. Place in a bright room or on a window sill. Place a clear bowl or glass upside down over the whole dish –not in the water. Refresh the water as needed. Watch for roots and new leaves. When leaves begin to sprout, and roots appear, you can plant it in a pot filled with potting soil.

Even if you don’t use the celery leaves or plant the base when it roots, it’s fun to see how God has built the desire to grow into His creation. (And you were just going to throw away or compost that part anyhow!)