What do you do when a meal is finished?  Most of us wash the dishes and wrap up the leftovers, but what happens to the leftover portions not eaten?  Do they get consumed later or do they sit in the refrigerator until they start to smell and you finally throw them out?  If you tend to do the latter, how about saving some time and money by learning how to use those leftovers in new ways to surprise your family at dinner time.

Some people like leftovers and some do not. Still then, many will eat them one day out, but quickly get tired of eating the same thing over and over.  Here’s a way to fix the problem if you or someone in your family is the same way. Let’s start with an example.

You prepare a roasted pork loin and rice for dinner one night.  The family wants something else for dinner the following night so the pork loin gets pushed to the back of the refrigerator.  Normally, that’s where it will stay until you clean out the fridge, right?  Not anymore.  Let’s do something to keep that pork loin from going to waste.

Eating leftovers the way they were originally served, is probably what’s turning family members off from wanting it again the next night.  Your family doesn’t have to eat the pork loin as is.  So, chop that pork loin up into bite size pieces. 

Now you’re probably thinking, ok that’s great, but what do I do with it now?  In a large skillet or wok, stir fry the leftover rice with a bag of frozen veggies, an egg, and some of the chopped pork loin to make pork fried rice. Add a little soy sauce and you’ve got a whole new dinner for your hungry family.

This is just one way that leftovers can be turned into a new dish with a new flavor. The same can also be done using chicken, seafood, or beef.  Let’s take a look at beef.

If you have hamburgers left from dinner, chop them up until they resemble ground beef again. The meat can be combined with chili powder and taco sauce to make beef tacos.  Or, add some beans, chopped peppers and tomatoes, and sauce to create a pot of chili.  If you have the imagination, there are an unlimited number of possibilities of what you can do with meats and side dishes from a previous night’s dinner.

Using a little leftover magic can make one meal last for two, three, or even four more days.  But, you don’t have to eat it all in the same week.  Fix a new meal with the leftovers and freeze it until you are ready to have that particular meat again. On that day, dinner will already be made, all you’ll need to do is heat it up.  Yes, it really can be just that simple.

Your family will be amazed at your ability to transform any meal into a new creation they will enjoy.  Besides that, you will save money on your grocery bill and won’t be throwing it away in the trash can as spoiled leftovers.  Try these and similar ideas to expand your family’s palate.

So many of us are feeling the financial pinch, and groceries take an ever-bigger chunk out of the family food budget. But you can reduce the size of that chunk by re-evaluating your food and shopping choices. And guess what? It can be fun! Here are some sneaky ways to save money on food.

Sales

Your local grocery store probably sends out a flier in the local newspaper, or they have them stacked inside the doorway of the store itself. Some stores post their sales online. Make it a weekly habit to review these sales. Then plan that week’s meals based on what’s on sale. Of course, stocking up on sale items is something that is within many budgets; but make sure it’s a food that is or can be preserved.

When you’re in the store, keep a sharp eye out for tables and brightly-colored stickers. Foods that are on the verge of spoilage, near their expiration date, or that have damaged packaging are often on sale for super-low prices. You may have to do a quick re-plan of your meals if you need to eat the sale item that same day; or, take the item home and freeze it or make something with it that can be frozen or preserved.

Coupons

Some shoppers pursue coupons with the devotion and zeal of the dedicated bargain-hunter. But if stashing perfectly organized coupons in plastic binders is not your style, you can still make use of coupons available online, through your local store, or in fliers. A word of caution about coupons – beware of changing your family’s food choices drastically to accommodate coupons. Many times, you’ll save more money by buying fresh, whole foods without coupons than expensive pre-packaged foods with them.

Whole and Homemade

It really is cheaper to buy whole foods and make your own snacks and meals than buying pre-prepared foods. Buy staples like flour (or wheat berries – which is even cheaper – if you can grind your own) and make your own baked goods; buy potatoes and make oven fries rather than buying pre-cut frozen potatoes; buy whole carrots and scrub and cut them; etc.

Even fresh produce is subject to expensive pre-preparation. Buying a head of lettuce and washing it yourself, for instance, nearly always costs less than a pre-washed salad in a bag. The same is true for pre-cut vegetables and fruits, and the expense is even greater if the pre-cut foods come packaged with dips or other flavor enhancers.

Meat

Let’s face it – meat is expensive, and adds a lot to the monthly food budget. And many health experts agree that it is not necessary to eat meat for three meals a day or even for one meal a day. It gets really pricey when you buy deli and packaged meats.

Try cutting back on your family’s meat consumption and try making things like vegetarian meatballs and black bean burgers. Beans are a very cheap meat substitute and can be used to make a lot of substantial dishes. In addition, dried beans do not harbor the dangerous bacteria that meat can.

It can be so much fun to plot, plan, and save. Enjoy!

Family reunions and covered dish dinners requires enough food to feed a crowd. The problem becomes how to feed a crowd on a budget and still prepare food everyone will enjoy. The following hints might make that task much easier to accomplish.

Determine how much money you have budgeted for the event and stick to that amount. Plan to spend about $5.00 per person and multiply that number by how many you expect. If there are going to be 25 or more people, that could get rather expensive – $125. Most people wouldn’t be able to afford that for meal.

Plan a menu if you’ll be doing most of the cooking. Preparing a menu will help you purchase items at the least amount possible and yet ensure you have everything you need. Having a planned menu also enables you to take advantage of sale prices on certain items which can reduce the overall cost for food.

Rather than one family being responsible for all of the food it would be helpful to have each family prepare one or two dishes. Someone may want to keep a list to ensure there is a good variety of food. Having everyone chip in also means no one family must bear the brunt of the cost. This will also ensure the Aunt Betty can rest assured no one else will make her famous macaroni and cheese that she makes each year.

Whenever possible, use store brand items rather than name brand foods. Store brands are often considerably less than the better-known brands. In most cases the people at your event won’t recognize the difference.

Choose a meal that is inexpensive. For instance, spaghetti is one meal that won’t break the family budget. Two and 1/2 pounds of noodles will cost approximately $3.00, sauce will be about $4.00, garlic bread may be around $4.00 and meat will probably run about $7.00. Considering the total price – less than $20.00 – you could feasibly provide an entrée for 25 people.

Casseroles are also a good choice for feeding a crowd on a budget. You can put together a large (pan of lasagna for about $40.00 and it would feed up to 30 people. Serve a tossed salad with the lasagna and another vegetable to round out the meal.

The above ideas might be helpful when you have to feed a crowd on a budget. You may be able to come up with other ideas by talking with others who will attend your event but these can get your thoughts started. Remember to stick to your budget and ask others to provide some of the foods so you don’t have to pay for everything all by yourself.

How many times have we opted for fast food for lunch or dinner instead of cooking? There’s no telling how much money we’ve spent on that one meal that easily becomes a few (or more) meals a week. Instead of picking up that telephone and calling for delivery pizza, get the family together and make one at home.

Making homemade pizza can become a great new family tradition. Choose a day of the week when everyone can get together and enjoy the experience. You can even pretend that you are in a real Italian eatery and go all out by decorating the dining room table to resemble a pizzeria.

The best thing about homemade pizza is picking the toppings. Since it is your personal pizza, you can have as many different toppings as your heart desires. It’s a chance to raid the cabinets and the fridge to find good stuff to top your creation.

How will you prepare the crust? Now, this step can be easy or an adventure. If you wimp out and go easy, you can use an already prepared crust from the store like Pillsbury pizza crust in the pop open can or a Boboli pizza crust.

It you want to treat the family to a high time of flour and dough, choose to make your own crusts. With your own, the size of the pizza can be customized for each person in the family. Making your own dough crusts will also make use of those handy pantry staples. You can find a classic pizza dough recipe on the Internet and in just about any cookbook, so find one that you like and go to it.

When the dough is ready, shape it into a circle of appropriate size. Create a rim on the dough so that the sauce won’t bubble over onto the oven rack. Now comes the fun part.  The dough is ready to be dressed to the hilt.

For the sauce, we’ll let you slide and use the store bought kind if you wish. Spread the sauce over the dough and be sure to cover it to the rim. Next, top the pizza sauce with your favorite cheeses. It’s more economical to purchase a block of cheese and use a grater to slice it for pizza toppings. Those already shredded bags have only two or three cups in each which is not going to go the distance for an entire family. Besides, fresh cheese melts better.

Want to have even more fun with your family pizza creations?  See who can make the wackiest pizza. Throw a little leftover chicken or hamburger on top. How about jalapenos? They are good for those who like it hot. Don’t forget the spices. It wouldn’t be a pizza without oregano, basil, and some thyme.

If you have at least two baking stones or pizza trays, you can make more than one at a time. Everyone can help to clean up while you wait for dinner to be ready. When the timer goes off, Bon ApetÍt!

If there are leftovers of your pizza, enjoy them tomorrow morning for breakfast!

Most of us want to know how to prepare meals that are quick and easy on the budget. The good news is, that’s particularly easy in the summer – produce is abundant and more affordable and the weather is conducive for grilling outdoors. If you or a neighbor has a garden, produce may be free for the taking. Here are some ideas for quick and frugal dinners to take advantage of summer’s bounty.

1. Fresh Tomato Penne (serves 2)

* 8 ounces whole wheat penne pasta
* 2 cups chopped, fresh tomatoes
* 1/4 cup each minced, fresh basil and parsley
* 6 ounces grated mozzarella cheese
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 clove minced garlic
* 1/2 teaspoon salt

About 2 hours before dinner, combine the tomatoes, herbs, olive oil, salt, and garlic in a bowl. Cover and let it stand at room temperature until dinner.

Cook penne according to the package’s directions. Drain and mix with tomato mixture while still hot. Top each serving with half the mozzarella cheese and toss.

Serve with crusty bread and a side of steamed asparagus or broccoli dressed with olive oil and lemon juice.

2. Grilled Tilapia and Vegetables

Tilapia is one of those fish that is both affordable and low on the mercury-containing scale. This recipe is for 4 servings.

Tilapia:
* 4 frozen tilapia fillets
* Juice of 1 lemon
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
* 1/2 teaspoon paprika

Mix lemon, olive oil, sea salt, and paprika in a shallow dish. Add frozen fish fillets and stir to coat with marinade. Cover and thaw in the refrigerator for 8-10 hours, turning fish occasionally.

Remove fish from marinade and grill on well-oiled, foil-covered (with holes punched) charcoal or propane grill over medium-high heat. Cook for 5 minutes per side, or until fish flakes easily. Baste with leftover marinade as fish cooks. Discard the rest of the marinade when fish is done and serve with lemon wedges.

Vegetables:
* 2 yellow squashes
* 2 green zucchinis
* 1 large, sweet onion
* 1 pound asparagus, trimmed
* Sea salt to taste

At the same time as the fish, place vegetables cut-side-down on the oiled grill. Baste with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt during cooking. Grill for 5 minutes on each side, or until desired degree of doneness.

3. Herbed Chicken Breasts with Fresh Corn and Tomato Salsa (serves 4)

Chicken:
* 4 chicken breast halves, skinless
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* Juice of 1 lemon
* 2 tablespoons minced, fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, thyme, or sage
* 1 clove minced, fresh garlic
* Salt and pepper to taste

Place chicken in olive-oil coated, shallow baking dish. Pour lemon juice over chicken. Sprinkle chicken on both sides with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle top of chicken breast halves with garlic and herbs. Cover dish and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Raise oven temperature to 425 degrees and remove cover from chicken. Bake for 5-8 minutes more.

Salsa:
* 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
* 1/2 cup fresh, cooked corn removed from the ear (1 ear of cooked corn will yield approximately 1/2 cup)
* 1/2 medium red onion, chopped
* Juice of 1 lime
* 1/4 cup chopped, fresh cilantro or parsley
* 1 small jalapeno pepper, minced (more or less according to your heat tolerance)
* Salt to taste

Mix all ingredients and serve with chicken and a side of corn chips.

Strawberry Surprise Freezer Jam

What You Need:

1 pt boxes of fresh strawberries, washed, drained and hulls removed
2 1/2 C of fresh pineapple, peeled and finely chopped
7 C sugar
2 pkgs (1 3/4 oz) powdered pectin
1 C cold water
4 pt freezer containers with lids

How to Make It:

Place strawberries in a large mixing bowl.
Crush the strawberries with a potato masher.
Measure out 2 1/2 C strawberries and place in a separate bowl.
Add the pineapple to the strawberries.
Slowly add the sugar and stir until well combined.
Place the cold water in a saucepan over medium heat.
Add the pectin.
Stir continuously until water begins to boil.
Boil 1 minute.
Remove from heat.
Pour the water mixture into with the fruit.
Stir well to combine.
Continue stirring 4 minutes.
Pour into the pt freezer containers and cover.
Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours.
Freeze after 24 hours.
Jam will stay good in the freezer for up to 6 months.
To use, remove from freezer and allow to come to room temperature, about 1 hour.
Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.