Blogs by Ella Fisher

Cooking Doesn't Have to Be Boring—Look at Me, I Can Do It!

Anyone who's known me for a while knows I'm a huge fan of TooGoodToGo.

What the bleep is TooGoodToGo?

TooGoodToGo is an app that helps reduce food waste by offering surprise bags of food from stores and restaurants at a super low price. It’s been around for ages, but I was a bit of a control freak and never tried it—until, well, kids. Kids have this magical power to make you let go of being in control. I even gave up my strict grocery-shopping ways!

I decided to give it a whirl, and honestly, my first reaction was: “Wow, you get this much food for just
€ 4.99?” You can feed two people with one bag, but four? Well, sometimes yes, sometimes no—it all depends on what the store has left over that day.

Is the Food Fresh?

The food is good until the day you pick it up. I've occasionally received items past their sell-by date (thanks, Albert Heijn ), but that's rare. And if it happens, you can easily file a complaint through the app and get a refund or a voucher. Not too shabby, right?

What's in the Bag? (I almost wrote box here haha – but that’s another story )
It’s Always a Surprise!

Through the app, you can snag bread packs (perfect for freezing or, if you’re like me, making a decadent pan bolo with white bread—hello, calories!), leftover meals from restaurants, fruits and veggies, chocolate packs, grocery bundles, and so much more.

The only downside? Not many stores in my town participate. The list could be longer, but hey, knowing me, I might just shoot them an email myself (I’m pretty bold like that) and see what kind of response I get.

What If There's No Food When You Arrive?

I’ve never had this issue, but I’ve heard stories. My advice: just give it a try. If you don’t try it, you can’t complain, right?

The Thrill of Surprise and Creative Cooking

What I love most about TooGoodToGo is that you never know what you're going to get—hence the "surprise bag." If you're a bit creative in the kitchen like me, it’s no problem turning those mystery ingredients into something tasty.

Since I also follow TooGoodToGo on Instagram, I often see them sharing new and brilliant recipes. That’s how I stumbled upon the Pesto with Beet Greens recipe.

Say Hello to James Abustan: Marketeer by daylight, whipping up magic by moonlight!

Pesto with Beet Greens

How It Started: I was scrolling through Instagram when, suddenly, I saw someone making pesto with beet greens. Wait, what?! I had to learn more. I honestly don’t eat enough beets, which is a shame because they’re super healthy and affordable (in the Netherlands, at least). Beets are packed with vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Plus, I’m a firm believer in the healing power of fruits and veggies—there’s got to be some magic in those beets!

This pesto recipe was created by James Abustan from the UK (Instagram: @thejimmyjammies). And being the curious creature I am, I couldn’t resist snooping on his Instagram. Wow—this guy makes so many more delicious and creative recipes!

At first, I thought, “Eh, maybe he just partnered with TooGoodToGo for a quick promo and doesn't really cook much.” But nope! He’s the real deal. And honestly, he deserves way more followers for the amazing stuff he posts.

Combined with my positive experience with TooGoodToGo, I wrote this blog for him because he deserves more followers—and hey, we're here to help each other out, right?

So, if you’re reading my blog and love cooking—or want to try something new and a bit challenging—give him a follow!

My Favorite Recipes by James Abustan:

• One-Pan Orzo with Salami and Cherry Tomatoes: Easy, Delicious, and No Mess!
• Easy Tuna Sisig: A Flavor-Packed Filipino Favorite!
• Pinakbet: A Flavorful Feast of Fresh Veggies!
• Cottage Cheese, Peach & Avocado: The Perfect Blend of Creamy and Fresh!

If you want to learn how to make these delicious recipes, I recommend checking out his Instagram. I’m not about to give away his recipes here—you’ve got to put in a little effort!

Why Should You Follow James?

Because his recipes are inspiring, not your everyday run-of-the-mill stuff (at least not what I’d typically think of). He keeps things simple, and his recipes are easy to follow—even for someone who maybe (just maybe) hasn’t really gotten into cooking yet but wants to give it a go.

What I really like about James is that he keeps things real—he’s down-to-earth, personal, and doesn’t throw in a bunch of unnecessary fluff that makes you think, “What am I even looking at?” He also shares personal stuff, which adds a nice touch because it helps you get to know him a bit better as a person.

He makes cooking fun—his love for food is contagious that it makes you want to jump into the kitchen yourself!

So, go on, get cooking! And remember: if I can do it, so can you!