Food dollars do not go as far today as they did - even a few months ago. Prices keep going up, and it is OUR job to figure out a way to stretch those dollars in new ways.
IT CAN BE DONE!!!!
We all know that using leftovers and bits and bobs of things in soups and casseroles helps stretch the food and wastes nothing. It is nice to use things up in a new way - no one gets bored, and no one can say "I don't eat leftovers!" Fix things leftover in a new way - sometimes you have to be a bit deviant!!! LOL
Now for me - I love to make stir fry meals - a great way to use odds and ends. Serve over rice or pasta or whatever you want.
I love making fried rice as well. It gives everything a new and fresh taste. It always seems like a comfort food to me.
BOWLS have become a favorite for me. A whole meal all in one bowl. It uses up leftovers and creates a new and delicious taste.
Here is a little formula to use when making a food bowl. This is for one - so use this for each bowl made. Now you can do your own thing - no set rules.
1/2 C cooked grain - rice, pasta, quinoa, etc.
3 oz. cooked protein - chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, tofu, etc.
1/2 C cooked veggies - chopped carrots, broccoli, mixed vegs, tomatoes, peppers, etc.
1 - 2 Tbsp. dressing or sauce - soy, BBQ, salsa, vinaigrette, etc.
I love making bowls with leftover chicken (I make them like KFC bowls). I use leftover taco meat/beans to make a Mexican version - that is a favorite. Of course it is - you all know my favorite type of food is Mexican!!!
I even purposely make bowls - not leftovers! The KFC one is so good. I use mashed potatoes, corn on top, then gravy and topped with pieces of chicken tenders or breast meat. Oh YUM is all I can say!!!
Now I know some people do NOT want their food touching! I know for a fact - I have relatives that are this way. Me - not so much! LOL!! It all goes down the same way to the same place - so I am not picky. If you are of the ilk that food cannot touch - then a bowl probably isn't for you.
You can make bowls for breaks, lunch or dinner.
There is absolutely no limit to what can be had.
I don't eat breakfast - but I would do these for lunch or dinner, myself.
There truly is NO limit to varieties!
Here is one with leftover taco meat, sauteed zucchini, a few tomatoes all served over rice. It was so good.
Folks, there is no limit to what we can do with our food. Get smart and do NOT waste a thing. If you throw away food, you are quite simply throwing away money! Would you just throw dollar bills out the door? I think not. Use it up - has never been more important.
Get creative. Have fun. Experiment. It is all good.
Despite what mom said - it is OK to PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD!!!!!!!!!!
Today I choose to be positive, despite the hurdles!
Bowls and stir fry dishes can be as creative as your imagination and your ingredients. Soup that same way. We even will take a canned soup and add to it. Good thing neither one of us is squeamish about food touching!
ReplyDeleteI agree 100%!! So many ways to use it up and not throw it away.
DeleteYum!! I love bowls, as well. Once you have the meat and starch base, your imagination takes over. Even without the meat! I did a delicious one with rice, just a few beans, grilled peppers, dregs of fresh salsa, and a spoonful of guac. Dee-lish!
ReplyDeleteI also use soups to finish off things, as well. I made a soup base yesterday with chopped cabbage and diced tomatoes. I threw in the last bit of fresh salsa. I just scan the fridge for victims!!
I bought this 4 lb. cabbage and it's just huge!!! I'm hoping to fry the rest of it with ground beef to make some Bierocks.
I hope I didn't upset anyone with my alien humor yesterday. I'm twisted like that lol!!
Oh, heavens. No offense, Debby. It's good to have a laugh!
Delete--Elise
Bierocks-Yummm! If I ever get back to KS, I'm having one. Husband can't eat it, so not worth making for just me.
DeleteI do the same. I had leftover black eyed peas from NY day and added the last bit of a jar of salsa and some chopped peppers - oh yum. I love getting creative. I am kind of a foody - so try "most" things. Now there are a handful of things that will NEVER go in this body! LOL
DeleteI have more cabbage to get creative with.
Not offended at all! LOL
Here is Nebraska there is a restaurant that serves Bierocks, only it's called Runza. I love to make a batch and flash freeze, then vacuum seal for Farmer's lunches.
DeleteI like how you use up all the bits & bobs. There was 1/4 cabbage to be used up so I fried it with onions, then added canned tomatoes and grated cheddar. Last night I served that over mashed potatoes with diced leftover pork chop. Delicious. A tv cook once said, in the end, it's food and we're going to eat it so it needs to taste good. I agree whole heartedly.
ReplyDeleteYes indeedy! That meal sounds heavenly. Hmmm now I am thinking about tomorrow's dinner. May have to lean in that direction. Not many ways that cabbage can be bad - well, can't think of any in my book.
DeleteYes, I love these ideas! I saw a lady who used two diced sweet potatoes and some little carrots she found on sale. She chopped an onion and seasoned with Italian seasonings, onion powder etc. Put a tablespoon of olive oil on it and roasted. She served hers over barley and sprinkled with sunflower seeds and Italian cheese. Looked so good and she said it was! I believe her! : )
ReplyDeleteYour squash looks so good! I never would have thought of doing squash in a Mexican style. Great idea Cheryl!
Also we can just use what we have in seasonings most of the time. We don't have to delay on most new recipes, we can sub things out and make it our own.
Goodness...Adults who won't eat food touching? Oh wow. They would not like eating at my house! lol They would croak when presented with peas n' pasta. Hahahahahaha.....
Take care now...Stay warm! Hugs!
DeleteEx-husband couldn't stand to have his food touching. Reason #657 why we're divorced. LOL!
I can make ANYTHING Mexican style - trust me!!!!
DeleteThat sounds good - roasted veggies are so tasty and hearty - over barley would be tasty. That is one I didn't think of.
Yeh, same here - they would be in trouble. I all goes down - so I eat it.
FRANCES - that is funny!!!!!!! We won]t ask about the other 656!!!!! LOL
Frances, that is hilarious! : D I'm smiling hugely on that one! I agree with Cheryl...We won't *even* ask about the other 656! LOL
DeleteYou're so right, Cheryl. Today it's more important than ever to make the most of everything you can, be it bowls (your ideas sound yummy!), skillet or stir fry meals, soups, stews or whatever. You know I love to play with my food. Once upon a time I actually earned an income from that. LOL!
ReplyDeleteSo many today (it seems) don't understand that it isn't all sacrifice; when you can save in multiple ways, you can afford the occasional splurge. Today is my 38th Anniversary. We haven't been to a restaurant in 3 or so months. We'll have dinner out (early bird) at our favorite Mexican place. Beforehand, Hubs will make his specialty of chocolate dipped strawberries that will chill in the fridge until tonight. I have plenty of chocolate chips leftover from holiday baking. He'll barely make a dent in those to melt the chips and dip the strawberries. It's a special treat we otherwise wouldn't have splurged on, but as we've saved in other areas, it won't dent the budget.
And that's my point. It isn't a dredge. Those special treats mean more when they aren't an everyday occurrence. Enjoy the day, everyone! --Elise
Happy Anniversary - have a wonderful evening. Sounds delightful
DeleteYes, life is pretty much about sacrifice - and many people just don't get it. Living the high life and having fun - is what some people think is grand. Well, it might be - but going in debt and filing bankruptcy isn't and that is where they are headed.
Tonite I have little pizzas on the menu...I have small flour tortillas left from grandkids here at Christmas, a partial jar of pizza sauce, an opened pepperoni package and some grated italian cheese. Never done this before...wish me luck!
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful - you will enjoy them. I have done that before. I am having the leftover French bread pizza I froze last week today. Great minds!
DeleteYep, use it all up before it goes "science project." While I'm not big on bowls, I like to make wraps for lunch, using tortillas. I struggle to use them all up before they take on a green tinge, so this is win-win -- using up leftovers to make a sandwich of some sort, AND using up a tortilla. A favorite is leftover beef or steak, chopped and mixed with some celery and diced onion, and mixed with bleu cheese dressing. You could also add in other sauteed veg (sliced peppers and onions, etc.) and use a steak sauce rather than dressing. If you want it warmed, either pop it in the microwave or into a pan to let it crisp up.
ReplyDeleteI love wraps! Another great re-use of leftovers!!!! Thanks for reminding everyone. I can eat them hot or cold with fresh veggies. Just so yummy.
DeleteI LOVE leftovers! Heck, I'd starve without them, for people living alone they are a necessity.
ReplyDeleteI like a stir fry and fried rice too but even these taste better the second day I think and it's so easy to make a large amount, even tiny bits of this and that add up.
Not sure I get the 'bowls' thing though, I'd much sooner have my food on a plate, much easier to eat.
Yes being one person, you learn to use it all up. I am finally learning to cook a little less.
DeleteThe bowl is just a neat way of getting a mish mash of food in one bite. Sure a plate works too - but I do like getting a bite of each thing in each bite!
My favorite lunch is a spoonful of leftover mashed potatoes, a slice or two of stale bread torn up and an egg or two all fried together. Yum
ReplyDeleteThere you go. Another neat idea. I love the creative way everyone uses leftovers. It is nice getting new ideas!
DeleteI love making stir-fry's. They are my favourite way to stretch food dollars and leftovers. There are certain meals I will allow my food to touch, but most meals that are a first time I don't allow anything to touch.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Stir fry is so yummy. It really does stretch our food budget.
DeleteI get it - I have many family that don't want things to touch and then eat each thing at a time (till it is gone)! We all like things differently.
My mother is in her late 80s and doesn't drive so she's always wanting to have some one take her to the store for food even though her pantry and fridge are packed. She likes a different meal every day and hates leftovers. So yes she wastes a lot of food. She'll call me up and ask what I'm fixing for dinner and I'll say I'm opening the fridge to see what's in there and that's what I'm having! LOL. I tease her that I like my leftovers because I liked what I cooked the first go round. If she doesn't "want" what she cooked she won't eat it and usually ends up throwing it out.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you she didn't do this when we were kids. I think it came from working for 25 years before she retired and being alone she'd stopped at restaurants a lot on the way home from work and got in the habit of getting something different she "liked" several times a week.
I love to do a salad bowl. I start with some kind of green then I put in some kind of starch usually, then I just keep adding whatever is in the fridge. So a bowl as you describe but I get my greens in. Like you Mexican is my favorite. So I start with lettuce or spinach. I've done cabbage. Then throw in whatever. Topped with salsa it all goes together! lol I admit I've had some weird combos but I've looked at menus at fancy restaurants and some of their dinner salads are weird combos too!
I love it when I'm messing around fixing something to eat and look in the fridge or freezer and find a container with 2 tablespoons of some leftover sauce or something and it's just what I need to finish off my meal. I keep a small bin in the freezer and fridge to hold those little tiny servings.
Honestly, I didn't like cooking until I realized how creative it can be!
~margaret
Oh my, that is funny about your mom. I guess when you reach a certain age - you like what you like and you get what you want!!
DeleteI like lettuce or cabbage in bowls as well. I do some weird stuff too - but that is ok - I like it. You are right - restaurants can serve some weird stuff
I am currently making Eggroll in a Bowl for dinner :-)
ReplyDeleteYUM - that sounds so good. You guys are making me want all these goodies this week!
DeleteLots of yummy food here, Cheryl. I keep Vietnamese rice paper spring roll wraps in the pantry and make spring rolls in the air fryer with them, and summer rolls which require no cooking at all. There are recipes on Pinterest to turn those same wrappers into apple strudel, which I haven't tried yet. Often I will use leftovers to make pot stickers, won tons or ravioli and freeze them for other meals. Leftover mashed potatoes or white sweet potatoes get stretched with sauteed onions and cabbage for Colcannon. Cookie
ReplyDeleteI like egg rolls - don't know if I have ever had spring rolls. I don't think so. Mmmm on the apple ones!
DeleteVery creative. They all sound good. Nice to have things you can pull out and heat up. Thanks
Your food bowls look good, I found a portion of sweet and sour pork in the freezer last night so that's the basis of my lunch today with rice saved from last night's meal. While our eldest granddaughter is not fussy but she likes her food all separate on her plate and eats all of one good group at a time!! I love a good old mish mash. Heather from the UK
ReplyDeleteSweet and sour pork sounds good. My goodness, everyone keeps mentioning so many fun foods.
DeleteI think I used to do that too. I used to each all of each thing separately. That was when I was a youngster. Now I don't care and just eat it as I see it!!!!!
Also a one here, so the only person I have to please is me. I go, open the frig, see what I have and build lunch and dinner from there. If I am low on having a protein, I go to the freezer and pull something out to prep for the next few days. I was in that position today, pulled out a chicken breast and poached it. I can use that to make chicken salad, add to a green salad, make fajitas, do a stir fry with veggies or add to wild rice. Those are just a few things. Any protien can be used in so many ways!
ReplyDeleteI have a freezer full of different things, portioned out in small amounts so I can change things up on a whim. If I get craving, more than likely I have everything I need in the freezer and pantry. Wonder who taught me that? LOL clue, go look in the mirror and you will know. Thanks.
So many foods are versatile. Especially meats and pastas and rices. I just love that. You can do about anything you may want - your imagination is your only limit.
DeleteYou are too kind. I appreciate that you feel that way. Oh, and thank you for your kind words on Kim's blog. You gals are just so sweet!
KFC bowls taste wonderful, at least to me! I like wraps too. I used to have trouble with them coming apart - but learned to wrap tightly and hold a certain way and that doesn't happen.
ReplyDeleteFor me NO cottage cheese (except in lasagna), no sushi or raw fish, no oysters, no blue cheese. Those are the ones off the top of my head. I generally will try most anything once.
I do like bleu cheese and cottage cheese...yum. I am with you on the rest. Beets, rutabaga, and eggplant won't pass through my lips! Or oysters and lamb.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of bowls too. Makes less dishes to wash too. 😊
ReplyDeleteYou betcha! Smaller and less of them. I think it kind of helps us not eat as much as well. Not that big old plate to maybe re-fill - just a bowl!
DeleteOh, man! I really needed this!
ReplyDeleteThis week, I got some wonderful meat markdowns at Kroger -- ground lamb, $3/lb (regularly $11.50)
cook-in-bag pork tenderloin, $3 for 19 oz. (regularly $9, on sale for $8)
parmesan crusted butterfly shrimp $3.20 for 14 oz. (regular price around $10, I think)
chicken leg quarters, $0.64/lb
chicken bone-in breasts, $1.29/lb
high-end burger patties, $2.79/lb and $3.99/lb (These usually run around $10 for a 4-pack of burgers)
And hot dogs to make treats for my pets.
Even though my freezers are stuffed, I went nuts.
So, I've been cooking ... chicken, lamb, ground beef ...
Now, what to make with it all?
BOWLS!
WOWZA - great deals! You were there at the right time obviously. I find a meat deal now and then at Kroger - but that is a bundle. Great shopping.
DeleteHave fun - there is no limit to the things you can do. Put on that thinking cap!!!!!
Wow! You found some great deals!
DeleteOh. I did stuff a few things into the freezer.
ReplyDeleteAnd I need to take your comment above to heart:
"I am finally learning to cook a little less."
Good job. Hey, it is hard to do! I understand - it is an action that comes slowly and takes a little or a lot of practice. It is still hard to make a little soup or casserole - but other things get easier.
DeleteCook less food and cook less often and still enjoy wonderful meals!!!!!!!!
The bowls are great ideas especially to use up every little bit.
ReplyDeleteThanks - I think so too. Sure don't want to waste things in these times.
Delete