Frugal Leftover Cooking Ideas

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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.

 

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.

See http://www.allthingsfrugal.com/turkey.htm

 

Having said that, here are some ideas to help you with your

leftovers. This article focuses on generalities, and not specific

recipes.

 

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MEALS THE ACCOMMODATE LEFTOVERS

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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.

 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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OMELETTES

 

You can fill omelettes 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.

 

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USES FOR LEFTOVER INGREDIENTS

 

MEAT

 

Casseroles, Soups, Stews, Stroganoff, Sandwich Fillings, Stir Fry,

Quiche, Enchiladas, Tacos, Hash, Meatloaf, and Meatballs.

 

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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.

 

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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 potatoe 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.

 

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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.

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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.

On the website I talk about what I did with all the plums I grew in

the yard of 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. See

http://www.allthingsfrugal.com/plums.htm or Click Here!

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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.

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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.

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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!