No Waste Holiday Recipes

There’s something about summer that makes everything feel a little more casual—in the best way. Meals get simpler, guests linger longer, and somehow the fridge is always full and mysteriously empty at the same time. We’ve been cooking a lot lately (what else is new), and between the hosting, the snacking, and the last-minute “come by for dinner!” invites, I’ve been thinking a lot about how we save—time, money, and all those little food scraps that usually get tossed without a second thought.

As we head into the weekend, we’re sharing a few of the recipes we rely on most during summer hosting season. But before we get into the recipes, first I want to tell you about the true MVP in our kitchen that Zikki and I swear by —and it’s made a huge difference in how we cook — and save!

Meet Mill

When you cook as much as we do, the scraps pile up: herb stems, fruit pits, egg shells, onion skins, citrus rinds, the list goes on.

Last year we started using Mill, and it’s completely changed how our family handles food waste. Instead of tossing scraps into the trash (where they’d rot and stink up the kitchen), we just drop them into our Mill and let the magic happen! When we wake up the next day, all of our scraps are completely dried out and turned into odorless food grounds that we either use in our garden or send back to Mill to return to one of their small-farm partners.

Before Zikki and I started using Mill we were just like most of you … putting all of our leftovers and scraps in the disposal or sending it to landfill. Nearly 75% of Mill customers were doing the same thing before making the switch — you’re not alone.

So today, we’re sharing three go-to summer dishes that are perfect for entertaining, easy to prep, and waste nothing. Let’s get into it.

1. Sausage and Peppers Focaccia

This one checks all the summer boxes: one tray, one dough, and one of the most comforting combos out there—crispy sausage, sweet peppers, and golden, chewy focaccia. It feeds a crowd, travels well, and never lasts more than a few minutes once it hits the table. And the scraps? Pepper tops, onion skins, fennel fronds, and sausage casing trimmings all go right into our Mill. Hosting doesn’t have to be wasteful—and this recipe proves it!

2. Strawberry, Feta & Basil Salad

This salad is summer in a bowl—sweet, salty, tangy, and just a little unexpected. The strawberries bring the juice, the feta adds that creamy punch, and the basil keeps it all feeling fresh (and a little fancy). It comes together in minutes, looks gorgeous on a table, and tastes even better when you let it sit for a bit—ideal for relaxed hosting. Bonus: strawberry tops, basil stems, and any leftover scraps go straight into our Mill, so nothing goes to waste.

3. Tart Shell

This tart shell is our summer party secret weapon. It’s buttery, crisp, and makes anything you pile on top—berries, stone fruit, lemon curd—look like you tried way harder than you did. Plus, it’s a dream for reducing waste: fruit peels, pits, citrus rinds, egg shells, and even dough trimmings all go straight into our Mill. Beautiful dessert, minimal effort, zero guilt.

If you want to learn more about Mill or give it a try, you can get $150 OFF when you use this link.

YASSS!