|
|
|
Frugal Leftover
Cooking Ideas
How you deal with leftovers
will determine whether they are a plus or a minus, and whether you
lose or save money
by Nikki Willhite
Everyone has leftovers. How you deal
with leftovers will determine whether they are a plus or a minus,
and whether you lose or save money. When you throw them out, it is
the same as throwing out money. However it takes time, planning,
knowledge, and creativity for you to be able to take those leftovers
and use them in a way that your family and you will want to eat them
again.
When I was a young bride I remember a
man saying that his wife had never fed him the same meal twice. That
statement surprised me when I heard it, and now I can hardly believe
it! His wife must have been one very creative cook. I doubt few of
us have risen to that level.
The more skill you have at using
leftovers, the lower your food bill will be. Sometimes we can make
our favorite recipes with out leftovers. One of my family’s
favorites is the crescent rolls we make out of leftover turkey.
Having said
that, here are some ideas to help you with your leftovers. This article
focuses on generalities, and not specific recipes.
______________________________________________________
MEALS THE ACCOMMODATE LEFTOVERS
______________________________________________________
SANDWICHES
Almost all meats can be put in the
blender and then mixed with a little mayonnaise to make a sandwich
spread. Spreads can be made more flavorful with the addition of
seasonings, chopped vegetables and eggs, mustard, pickles, and
spices. Spread the mix on a piece of whole grain bread; add a slice
of cheese and your favorite lettuce. You’ve got a delicious sandwich
with just a small amount of leftover meat.
______________________________________________________
SOUPS and STEWS
Leftover meat and vegetables can find a
home in many types of soups and stews. Keep a container in your
freezer for leftover vegetables. When you are ready to make soup or
stew, just add them.
______________________________________________________
POT PIE
This is a very economical way to make
use of leftover meat and vegetables. Just add a little sauce to your
diced up meat and vegetables and your filling is done. You can put
it in a pastry crust, or you can just put a layer of biscuits on top
or mashed potatoes. It becomes a very fast and easy recipe if you
use a store bought can of biscuits.
______________________________________________________
CASSEROLES
There are a zillion recipes for
casseroles. All you need is a little pasta, meat, and sauce. The
sauce can be a can of creamed soup.
You can make fast meals by adding
leftover meat and vegetables to boxes of Rice-a-Roni, or Macaroni
and Cheese.
______________________________________________________
OMELETS
You can fill omelets with a blend of
cheeses as well as cut up meat and vegetables. Longhorn and cottage
cheese blend together well. If the vegetables are fresh, you just
sauté them before adding. If they are already cooked, add at the
last minute.
______________________________________________________
USES FOR LEFTOVER INGREDIENTS
MEAT
Casseroles, Soups, Stews, Stroganoff,
Sandwich Fillings, Stir Fry, Quiche, Enchiladas, Tacos, Hash,
Meatloaf, and Meatballs.
______________________________________________________
ONIONS, CELERY, and GREEN PEPPERS
In addition to the above suggestions,
considering juicing these items and freezing the broth. This is how
sauce is made for spaghetti and lasagna in fancy restaurants. The
broth adds a wonderful flavor to tomato-based sauces. Add to your
Mexican food such as Enchiladas and Chili.
______________________________________________________
POTATOES
Potatoes are one of the most
inexpensive and versatile foods you will find in the produce section
of the grocery store. They are abundant, and always available. If
your family doesn’t like them, you just haven’t found a way to cook
them to their liking.
They also have the virtue of being
easily re-used. There are so many ways to use leftover potatoes.
They can be mashed, re- mashed, hashed, made into pancakes, baked,
and used in everything from soups and stews to potpies.
- Make potatoes cakes out of leftover
mashed potatoes. Mix them with buttermilk, eggs, and spices,
and fry in 1/2 inch vegetable oil until they are golden.
______________________________________________________
OTHER VEGETABLES
- All unused vegetables should be saved
in the freezer to add to soups, stews, and potpies.
- Serve cold as a salad with Italian
dressing.
______________________________________________________
FRUIT
If you have leftover fruit you know you
will not eat, put it in the blender and puree it. Then freeze it,
preferably in ice cube trays. You can add these cubes to gelatin, as
well as soups and sauces.
- Fruit can also be made into delicious
deserts. You can make pies, cobblers, or you can just top the
cooked fruit with a little flour, oatmeal and sugar (like apple
crisp).
- You can also put fruit in cakes and
muffins. Just make allowances for the fruit juice and decreased
the liquid in the recipe.
- You can layer fruit in a dessert
glass over cake, and add syrups and whipped cream and have an
English type trifle dessert.
- You can also freeze the syrup in
Popsicle molds. Add a little milk if you want more of a pudding
pop.
- Use the syrup from canned fruit to
baste ham or marinade food.
I had a wonderful plum tree at my last house.
I canned them whole. Then when I wanted to make
jello, I
would puree them and add them to the gelatin. It was delicious, and so
simple to do.
_______________________________________________________
EGGS
- Use leftover egg whites to make angel
food cake, or meringue. You can always add additional egg
whites to cake mixes.
- Use leftover egg yolks to make pound
cake, custard, or macaroons.
______________________________________________________
BREAD
- Try making bread pudding. People
don’t make it much anymore, but it was once very popular.
- Make breadcrumbs to be added to the
top of casseroles or to ground beef. One of our readers
suggested that if your children won’t eat the crust of their
sandwiches, take it off the bread before
making the
sandwich for making breadcrumbs.
- Make croutons for salads.
- French Toast. French toast is not
limited to just white bread. You can also use quick rise breads,
like banana bread.
- Toast and cover with scrambled eggs.
______________________________________________________
MISC
- All baked products can usually be
frozen. If wrapped well, they come out as fresh as they went in
the freezer. Buy in bulk and freeze some for later.
- Fresh leftover waffles and pancakes
can also be frozen for easy use later.
- Freeze leftover pasta, or serve cold
as a salad, with chopped vegetables and an Italian dressing.
- Bits and pieces of piecrust can be
frozen and used later for small quiche dishes or tarts.
- Save the water you boil vegetables
in. It is full of nutrients and has flavor. Use it as the base for
soups, stews, and gravy.
- Always serve meat separately from
Spaghetti. Leftover meat can later go in chili, tacos, sloppy
Joes, and other tomato based dishes.
- Save leftover bits of cereals,
crackers, and cookies. Crush them to make a crunchy topping for
chicken and casseroles. You can also add them to homemade granola.
- Use add leftover bits of cheese to
hamburger or add to salads. You can also add to any tomato
based sauce.
Make it a goal this year not to serve your leftovers
to your trash can.
About the Author: Nikki Willhite,
mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing
articles on the topic of
frugal living for over a
decade. Visit her at
www.frugalhappyfamilies.com
- where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal
Happy Families- more than just money! Article first published at
www.allthingsfrugal.com
|
FREE EZINE for
FRUGAL LIVING HELP and MORE
 Frugal Happy Families
Do you know how to make a cake without eggs?
Do you know the difference between country and cottage
decorating?
Are you stressed? Do you want to be more happy?
All this and more in
the Frugal Happy Families Ezine,
delivered to your mailbox each week.
Frugal
Living Inspiration, but more than just money!
|
|
|
Frugal Recipes and more!
Budget Recipes, Crockpot, Desserts and more!
Recipe Index
|
Frugal Decorating Articles and Tips
Index
|
Inspirational and
Happiness Index
for Frugal Happy Families Articles
|
|
