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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

 

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