Hello all. Here we are on Thursday again. Gosh, another week and it will be May, that sure doesn't seem possible. Pretty much everything is green and pretty here, the weeds are growing - think, dandelion puff balls everywhere!!!! I notice some of the neighbors are starting to put out flowers. I plan on waiting a week or two - but I am chomping at the bit.
Some of our friends way up North had a lot of snow again this week! That is just awful. I know everyone is ready for the warmer temps.
Today, I wasn't sure to write about - but figured I would give a few ways I have used leftovers in the past few weeks, and some ideas for cheaper meals or meal supplements. I do not have to have meat every meal, nor do I have to eat several items - I know that isn't for everyone. There are a lot of 'single' folks here too - so maybe these ideas will help those who meal prep for one!
I mentioned one day about 'poor man's Swiss steak. Mom used to make that, and I loved it. I still do t for myself. A nice burger, topped with a can of condensed vegetable soup (or homemade) and mashed potatoes. Still tasty all these years later.
Now I took leftovers and turned it into a sort of 'cottage pie'.
I used one of those mini loaf pans - placed an extra burger in bottom, soup left on that, mashed potatoes left on that and topped with cheese. Didn't even need to heat the oven, as I heated in the air fryer. 360* about 15 minutes - till the cheese was golden. It really was yummy. Same stuff - just a little different form!
I never thought about those little loa pans before - but I am thinking I will utilize them more now. I have a bunch I keep for making sweet breads.
Deconstructed cabbage rolls! I had leftover cabbage from a meal I made of fried cabbage - so did a skillet dinner. Used some leftover taco meat, the cabbage, a partial jar of spaghetti sauce and one of salsa and threw in some rice. Let it all cook up until the rice is tender. Used things that needed using and had a great meal and some for the freezer.
French bread pizza is super easy and cheap. I usually get a clearance loaf of bread ($1 or less) and just top with whatever I have in the fridge. I always have some kind of sauce on hand. You can literally top with anything. Sometimes I make a quarter of a loaf, sometimes a half and sometimes a whole one. Eat what you want and wrap and freeze the rest for another time. Cost is pennies per meal. Add a little side salad and you are set to go.
Grilled cheese and soup - good anytime of the year. It can be any type of soup you have. I always have extra soup, when I make homemade, so there is always some kind in the freezer if I chose something other than tomato soup.
Think anything wrapped in a tortilla! It can be using leftover rice, beans, meat, cheese, sauce for a burrito or it can be whatever is left and using 2 tortillas and make a quesadilla. Wrap chicken strips or fish or leftover steak strips - ham, turkey, cheese - whatever you have!!! I have done veggie wraps as well on a hot summer day. What veggies I have in strips, a little ranch dressing and roll it up = YUM.
Chili - the great re-invention! Tops dogs or sausage with leftover chili. Top a baked potato with it and some cheese or sour cream. Chili fries. Add to nachos. I love chili and can eat it in any form. I use it for many meals.
A baked potato can be topped with about anything you have leftover. Throw on some cheese or sour cream and it is a meal!
Pasta salad. It can be used for a meal - especially for a meal for one, when there is no one else to please. I have done this often. A favorite in the summer. Check that crisper or the garden and use whatever veggies you have. Add to cooked pasta and add the dressing of your choice.
In the summer I also make a lot of tomato, zucchini or cuke, onion salads with Italian style dressing. Great way to use that fresh garden produce. So refreshing.
I made a pork loin on Sunday, so I have lots of meat. Froze much of it to use later - but made a fun soup for one. I made pozole. It is a soup I really like and have very seldom. Pork pieces, a drained can of hominy, pork broth (from cooking meat), chopped onion, and a few chopped jalapenos. NUM!
I even had about a quarter jar of salsa in the frig, so I threw that in too.
Just remember you can add whatever you want to things. I am not a huge recipe type person.
You can use leftovers and make hand pies. Leftover pie crust from baking or a frozen crust - works perfect for making hand pies. You could even use pizza dough.
Leftovers are great for making a stir fry or fried rice as well. Super easy, cheap and tasty.
I love salads of every type. Summer makes salads fun - as there are so many fresh options close at hand.
Lots of people make salmon patties - which are tasty. But I tend to make tuna patties! Small can of tuna, an egg, and some breadcrumbs, smashed chips/crackers whatever - form into patties and fry. I usually get 2 per small can. Much milder taste than salmon. Cheaper too!!!!!!
Biscuits - all is good with biscuits. Make egg/sausage biscuit sandwiches. Biscuits and gravy. Biscuits and jelly are even acceptable!!!
There are just so many options for eating up the leftovers or eating for an inexpensive price. I know everyone talks about rising prices, but I really don't notice it much. You know how I shop, I have a great stockpile of items, and I use it ALL up! Waste nothing - get creative.
Eating for one or two can be daunting. Just keep it simple and eat WHAT YOU LIKE! You don't have to conform to what people think is normal - do you.
Seriously, if all you can do is sandwiches - that is ok. Just look around the pantry and figure out some new options for sandwiches. You can do lunchmeat, deli meat, egg salad or any type of meat salad. You can use canned meats in those meat salads as well - heck you don't even have to cook.
Eat salads - if that is what you like, there are tons of ways to eat a salad.
Soup - you can make soup so easily with whatever you have on hand - or if you so choose - buy some version of canned.
You can eat good for a little bit of money - TRUST ME! I do it all the time.
Get creative and use what you have and NEVER waste. Re-create.
There are still many ways to eat cheap!
Have a wonderful day - this beautiful day.
You woke up - make the best of it!
Again - so important to life. It does so much more than we think. I am outside at least a little bit 365 days a year - no matter the weather. I do not feel alive unless I get fresh air and sunshine. When I get up each day and it gets daylight, I let the sunshine in my home until it gets too hot. This is something I have always NEEDED. 
Many people can't have salt. I do really like salt and it doesn't really bother me much - but there are so many ways to get wonderful flavors in your cooking and salads and such without salt. Put together your own blends of seasoning. Whatever you like!! You can use something like these or just make up your own. You know exactly what is in it and can adjust to any palette.
You can make your own specialty sauces as well. Sauces and dressings are really easy, often using the simple ingredients that we keep on hand all the time.
