My next New Year's Resolution is to not throw away so much food. Much of it is unintentional. For example, I leave a loaf of bread out on the counter for four days and it's already molded by the Florida humidity. Or I don't realize something is in the refrigerator because the storage container hides it and before too long it's been a couple weeks and the item is clearly done. There are also the opportunities that I miss of moving something into the freezer to extend its life. These are the things of which I want to be more conscious.

This is the resolution I expect my coworkers to help me out with. They have been to my house, ate my mother's gumbo, think my mother hung the moon, and have eaten whatever items I bring to work for their tasting pleasure. They know it runs in the family. On Christmas Eve, I was telling Alex, one of the EMTs that I had to through away three bananas that morning for being overripe. Paul had previously been devouring the bananas before they turned yellow, let alone brown. But he had been eating the citrus that was in season and was passing on the bananas. Alex shook his head and said that was my fault. If I had just made banana pancakes and brought them to share with him, I would definitely not be throwing away bananas. OK, then, looks like I can continue buying my bananas at Costco and now a good use for them when I run out.

A New Year's recommendation for you: start an herb garden, even if it's just one little herb in one little pot. Give it sun and water and start looking for at least one recipe a week where you can use the fresh herb. Even if the recipe doesn't taste exceptional. You can be proud that you can tell people you grow your own herbs. Most people will think you are exceptionally smart because herbs in the grocery store tend to be ugly and quite expensive.