Get the Most Out of Your Food Dollars

 Food is money!!!!!  FACT!

If you are wasting food - you are wasting money.  It always makes sense to use up everything and not waste - but as times change - and items become less available - it makes even more sense.  Waste not - want not!!!!  There are ways to use up and not waste and be creative and eat well!

I know some of these ideas have probably been presented before, but we always need reminders.  Just a few ideas to get creative and use it up!

• Add a grilled cheese sandwich to any soup dinner.  Good protein and very filling.  I have even made a grilled cheese sandwich by using leftover mac n cheese - it was GOOD!!  LOL!  A sandwich can really extend the meal to provide for more people
• Add noodles, pasta or rice to soups to extend servings
• Turn a simple tuna noodle or mac n cheese dish into more of a meal by adding veggies - you can add broccoli, peas, carrots, etc. You can also add a little meat to mac n cheese if needed (I like tuna or smoked sausage bites).
• Got an 1" or so left in a bottle of dressing?  Add 2 tsp. of vinegar and shake vigorously.  Then add 1/2 cup of mayo or sour cream and shake again.  You have just created a new type of dressing and didn't waste a thing!
• Pizza can be anything!!!  The crust can be anything - pizza crust, bread, tortillas, etc.  Toppings - use all your leftovers - can be meat, veggies, etc.  Scraps and bits can make for a flavorful pizza.  No sauce - maybe use a white sauce or thinly slice tomatoes or canned tomato chunks.  Get creative.  Any type of cheese can be used - or serve without cheese.
• Keep your bacon grease.  Not only is it a free oil, but it adds so much flavor to your food.  Use it to fry up potatoes, or any other veggie for added flavor.  Flavor and spices makes things more desirable!!!!
• Use those ketchup and mustard containers for decorating icing!  You can get those generic containers at the dollar stores or clean and use the actual containers.  Great for decorating
• Keep a shaker of flour next to your stove for quick uses.  I keep a mason jar topped with a parmesan lid.  Makes it simple to add flour to a dish and not make a mess getting out canister or spillage
• TIP  - don't put oil in a cold pan then heat up.  Heat pan and then add oil - this helps keep food from sticking!!!!
• Use ground meat (mince) - beef, pork, poultry - when needing to stretch your meat budget.  Ground meat seems to go further, as you can get by using less
• Don't store apples and carrots together.  The gases the apples put off tend to make the carrots taste bitter when cooked
• CRAZY TIP - don't use milk when making scrambled eggs - it makes your eggs watery.  Use WATER and your eggs will be fluffy and not watery!!!!
• If you need to measure something sticky like honey or molasses or corn syrup - first spray the cup with oil spray or measure oils first.  Sticky stuff comes right out.
• Throw all those leftovers into eggs for a fun omelet or quiche.  Hides the leftovers and uses up everything
• Freeze all those ends and bits and pieces of cheese.  You can chop and add to pizza or macaroni or any dish - all assorted, for a unique taste!
• Freeze leftover coffee in cubes to use in your chocolate dishes.  Coffee really enhances the flavor of chocolate.  Also can add to brown gravy for a heartier flavor to gravy. (Red eye gravy)
• Use flat pop - to make Jello.  Creates some new flavors and tastes
• Need a side dish to feed several and only have odds and ends of veggies?  That's OK.  Mix them all up - any kinds of veggies.  You can roast them, or steam them or saute' and then add cheese sauce or soy sauce or any flavoring.  Stir fry them - just mix and serve.

• Keep those chips from the bottom of the bag or flavored cracker remains to use as a tasty topping to a casserole.
• Keep cookie and cake crumbs to add to ice cream or pudding as a topping.
• Need to extend eggs to feed several people?  Crush up some crackers and add to your scrambled egg mixture.  Extends the eggs and it all tastes like eggs.  We used to do this when camping a lot.
• Add crushed cracker, bread crumbs, or oatmeal to ground meat to extend

Yes, stretching our food and our dollars is very important.  Our Moms and Grandmas knew how to do this well.  Many of these ideas were used back in the depression and always when times and funds were lean.

It is shameful to waste food when so many are hungry.  It is shameful to waste funds that you have worked hard for.

Learn to extend things and get creative.  It is so IMPORTANT.

This could possible help you or someone you know not be hungry.  Spread the word!

We all need to be teachers!!!