Cincy Critter Badges
Some of your favorite Cincy Critters show easy meal planning and food storage habits that can help you make the most of your food.
Badge 1
Be a Deer! Check Before You Shop
Deer always know what’s around them — and you can too by stopping to take a quick inventory of your fridge and pantry before going to the grocery store.
Open the fridge, peek in your pantry, and make note of what’s still good to use. If you’ve got a bag of spinach that needs eating, plan a salad or toss it into a pasta. See a few cans of beans? Skip buying more and try a chili or tacos. Half a loaf of bread? Plan French toast, breadcrumbs, or sandwiches before it goes stale. By making a plan to use up what you already have, you’ll save money, make meals easier, and keep perfectly good food from going to waste.
Badge 2
Cardinal’s Rule: Protein + Veggies + Grain = Flavor
No need for complicated recipes! Discover your inner chef by using what you already have to make a new meal.
Just use Cardinal’s Rule: Protein + Veggies + Grain = Flavor.
Badge 3
Use Tech Tools: What Can I Make With This?
Like an animal adapting to its surroundings, you can adapt your meals–with a little help from tech! Use a recipe app, website, smart speaker, or a quick AI prompt to discover what you can make with what you already have.
"I have [list ingredients] but I'm missing [common recipe ingredients]. Show me how to substitute or work around what's missing."
"I have [partial ingredient list]. Suggest 5 recipes where I only need to buy 1-2 additional items to complete each dish."
"I have way too much [specific ingredient]. Give me 3 completely different ways to use a large quantity of it."
Badge 4
Frog’s Five Ways: One Ingredient, 5 Fresh Ideas
Have a lot of one ingredient? Try using it in five different ways. With a single hop, you’ll save money and keep good food from going to waste. Try out some of the amazing options below.
5 Ways With…
Pumpkin
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The most famous pumpkin dish has to be pie. Use the scooped-out insides from carving, add warm spices, and bake into a sweet autumn treat. Best served with whipped cream.
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Pumpkin soup is the perfect way to warm up as the weather cools. Roast or cube your pumpkin (or squash) and blend with any extra veggies you have. Add spices for a cozy, versatile dish.
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Add pumpkin to your favorite pasta bake for extra flavor. Try sautéing cubes with onion, garlic, and chorizo, or blending pumpkin with mascarpone and tomato purée for a creamy sauce.
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Stir diced pumpkin into risotto for a rich, comforting meal. Pair with blue cheese, apple, or sage for extra flavor. Pro tip: you don’t have to stir constantly to make a great risotto!
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Don’t toss the seeds! Roast them for a crunchy snack or add them to soups, salads, granola, bread, or even smoothies.
Chicken
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Add cooked chicken to any soup for a heartier dish. Just stir it in at the end to warm through.
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If you won’t eat it within three days, freeze it. Slice or dice the meat first so it’s easy to thaw and toss into recipes later.
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Don’t toss the bones — simmer them with veggie scraps to make a rich, homemade stock. If you don’t have enough bones, freeze them until you do.
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Add chicken to salads to turn them into filling meals. Try it in a classic chop salad or mix it into a curried chicken salad.
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Leftover chicken is perfect for quick curries. Adjust liquid and veggies to match however much meat you have on hand.
Apple
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Soft apples are perfect for baking. Try an apple tart, a crumble, or your favorite pie recipe.
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Turn apples into chutney or jam for a sweet or savory spread. Make extra — apple preserves also make great gifts.
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Yes, you can freeze apples! Chop and freeze them raw, or cook them until soft first. Store in serving-size portions so they’re easy to defrost.
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Got a big batch of apples? Turn them into apple cider vinegar. This versatile ingredient can be used in cooking, baking, or even as a health tonic.
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Dried apple slices are a tasty snack. Slice thinly, bake at a low heat until crisp, and store in an airtight container.
Cheese
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Cheese instantly upgrades any salad. Don’t worry if you don’t have the exact kind — swap in whatever’s in your fridge. Feta, cheddar, gouda, or parmesan all add great flavor.
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Too much cheese? Freeze it! Wrap blocks or grated cheese well. Even soft cheeses can be frozen for later use in cooked dishes.
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Melt cheese into soups for extra flavor and creamy texture. Stir in slowly over low heat for smooth results.
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Eggs and cheese are a perfect pair. Try feta, ricotta, cheddar, or gouda in frittatas, breakfast muffins, or scrambles.
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Cheese makes pasta richer and more satisfying. Use it as a topping or stir it into sauces for creaminess and balance.
Pasta
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Leftover pasta works perfectly in a frittata. Mix with eggs, cheese, and veggies for a quick, family-friendly dinner.
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Turn last night’s pasta into today’s noodle bowl. Toss plain spaghetti with soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and veggies for a fresh stir-fry or cold noodle salad.
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Cold pasta makes a simple, satisfying lunch. Add your favorite veggies, dressing, and protein for a quick salad.
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Stir leftover pasta into soup at the very end. It instantly turns a light broth into a hearty meal.
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Don’t want pasta two nights in a row? Freeze it. For long noodles like spaghetti, freeze in small mounds on a tray, then transfer to a bag for easy portions.
