Leftover Recipes and Money Saving Budget Ideas » leftover recipes

Simple Planning Tips, Leftover Recipes and Frugal Ideas can Save You Hundreds of Dollars per Month

tom — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:16:01 +0000

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Combine a little planning with some flexibility, leftover recipes, and new technology, and you could save hundreds on your monthly food bill — without compromising quality. This article discusses many budgeting tips, meal planning ideas, leftover recipes, and frugal shopping to maximize your savings. With the state of the economy today, we need to save everywhere we can!

Plan weekly menus with leftovers in mind

Plan at least four to five dinners for the week, based on what’s on sale in your store circular (most are available online). If possible, double those recipes and freeze the second for a complete leftover meal. If not, maybe plan some 2-meals-in-one dinners, doubling up on the key meal ingredient only. Use that leftover chicken, beef, turkey, or whatever it may be to follow up the next day with a meal using some of our leftover chicken recipes, leftover beef recipes, leftover turkey recipes, or other leftover recipes that you already have. This “planning” for leftovers can go a long way when trying to save money and time.

Be brand flexible

Use your store’s loyalty card religiously, and be willing to buy different brands in order to maximize the money saved.

Track prices and save

While your store circular obviously tells you what’s on sale, it doesn’t reveal whether the price is a true bargain. Use a price-tracking website to assist you with this one. The two largest are http://www.thecouponmom.com, which is free but requires registration; and http://www.thegrocerygame.com, which charges a fee of $10 every eight weeks for a list of deals from one store ($5 for each additional store).

These sites track thousands of items for months at a time, and publish weekly lists by state and store showing the best deals. They also let you know if a coupon is available for a particular item by listing the circular name — such as “Smart Source” — and its date.

Coupons equal money

To maximize your discount, subscribe to the your local Sunday paper, pull out the coupon circulars each week, write the date on them and save them in a drawer or a flexible file. Throughout the week keep track of the items you need to add to your grocery list. When you’re ready to shop, go to the grocery website, click next to the items you want, print the list, grab your dated circular from your file, clip the relevant coupon and go.

For those coupon-resistant types, the only time you have to cut out a coupon is when you actually save a bunch of money with it. Quite often your loyalty card will account for the coupon anyway.

If you’re a coupon queen or king and you really want those savings to add up, definitely visit coupon sites such as http://www.thecouponclippers.com, http://www.coolsavings.com or http://www.coupons.com.

More ideas to save money

The key to saving money is buy big items first, on sale (kind of an extension to “Plan weekly meals with leftovers in mind” from above). Once or twice a month stock up on meat or poultry on sale and freeze it. Then plan four or five days worth of meals from seasonal recipes or “2-meals-in-one” leftover recipes, using vegetables and fruits from nearby farmers’ markets. (You can search for a farmers’ market in your area on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website.) Better yet, grow your own produce.

There is a dramatic price difference between the farmers’ market and the grocery store, where people buy stuff in packages. For example, a bag of chopped lettuce might cost $3 to $4 a package at the grocery store, as opposed to 50 cents a head at farmer’s market.

Instead of buying deli meat at $6.99 a pound, cook a whole chicken for less than a quarter of the price, and use it for sandwiches or other “leftover” meals throughout the week.

Also stock up on grains and beans in the bulk bins for as little as 99 cents a pound. To save money, stay away from processed foods and go for the rice and beans.

Leftover Chicken Salad

tom — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:40:41 +0000

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Leftover Chicken Salad is a quick and easy meal. Adjust the ingredients to your liking, but this one works for me!

Ingredients

2 c leftover chicken, deboned and chopped
1/4 c onion finely chopped
1/4 c celery finely chopped
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbs dill relish
2-3 tbs real mayo
1/2 c chopped apple
1/4 c chopped almonds, pecans or walnuts
Alfalfa sprouts
avocado slices

Directions

Mix all ingredients together except sprouts and avocado.
Serve on bread or in an avocado half over lettuce.
Top with sprouts and avocado slices.

Leftover Beef over Fried Rice

tom — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:20:15 +0000

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This recipe is great for any leftover beef (steak, roast, etc.). It tastes great and is easy on the budget!

Ingredients:

2 c. thinly sliced cooked beef
2 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. cornstarch
3 tsp. dry sherry
1/2 tsp. sugar
1 lg. onion, sliced
6 tbsp. cooking oil
2 green pepper, sliced
1/4 c. chicken broth
4 c. cooked rice

Preparation:

Cut the leftover beef into thin strips.
Combine meat, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, cornstarch, sherry and sugar in a small bowl. Marinate 10-15 minutes.
Meanwhile, saute onion in 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet for 3 minutes until crisp tender. Add green pepper, saute 1 minutes. Add meat and marinade, chicken broth, and remaining 1 tablespoon soy sauce. Saute 1 minute.
Transfer meat to warm bowl and heat remaining 4 tablespoons oil and fry rice. Add meat mixture and top with chopped green onion. Serve.
Salt and pepper to taste.

Leftover Turkey Fajitas

tom — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:49:20 +0000

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This is a great recipe to make Turkey Fajitas using leftover turkey! A perfect recipe when Thanksgiving is right around the corner!

Ingredients

6 Tortilla’s
Shredded Cheese
Leftover Turkey
Red & Green Bell peppers, fresh
Fresh Onion
Lawry’s Seasoning fajita mix
Sour Cream (optional)

Directions

Cook peppers & onions till tender, set aside.
Cut turkey into strips and brown in a frying pan.
Mix water with seasoning (follow that instructions).
Then add veggies. Add mixture to tortilla’s. Cheese, salsa, sour cream is all optional.

Number of Servings: 6