Beat the High Cost of Food: Eat the Leftovers!

How many times have you cleaned out the refrigerator and found leftover food that you'd completely forgotten about? If not the refrigerator, then what about the cabinet? Pantry? Freezer?

It seems too obvious to say it, but when we buy food and don't use it all we're wasting money. Sure, everyone has leftovers because it's impossible to tell exactly how much of what will satisfy you, much less others for whom you cook.

You don't have to let the excess food go to waste though. A little creativity, a little determination and an adventurous attitude will get the most out of the food you buy, and that will help your food budget better than anything else you could do, possibly excepting downright thievery.

A few basic rules help:

Don't mix carbohydrates - rice, potatoes, pasta, etc. Use only one high carbohydrate food as a base for a recipe or a side dish at the same meal.

Legumes like peas, beans or lentils grow naturally in different areas than broccoli, cauliflower and kale, so usually it's best not to mix them. (It's more of a cultural thing more than a nutritional one though, as recipes and food ideas developed over the years.)

In this age of light eating, when turky burgers, chicken hotdogs and fake crabmeat are common alternatives to beef and other heavy meats, you can mix just about any meat with just about any vegetable and come up with an acceptable (at least to most) meal.

Save or add gravy and sauces to help flavor and disguise a new meal from leftover food.

On to the particulars:

Mince leftover roast, chops and steaks, chicken, turkey, sausage or crumble cooked ground beef, either by themselves or mixed together, and use them in casseroles, stews or sandwich spread.

Make sandwich spread with your food processor or blender by chopping leftover meats finely and adding mayonnaise, salad dressing or mustard along with pickles, onions, boiled eggs, cheese... your choice of flavors. Just a half cup of leftover meat will make several sandwiches this way.

Add rice, potatoes or pasta along with leftover vegetables and/or gravies or sauces to meat and top with stale crushed potato chips, bread crumbs or shredded cheese. Bake until heated through.

Stews are the easiest! Use leftover vegetables, carbohydrates, meats or high protein vegetables or nuts, etc., cooked together with a sauce or seasoning in water. Almost anything goes... but watch your flavor mixes.

A little space in the freezer, or freezing compartment of the refrigerator can save tons of food money over a period of time. If you have a tablespoon of green beans left, put them in the green bean container and freeze until you have enough for a meal. Other leftover vegetables that you eat often could have their own container. Meats can be separated as well - just remember that they are there, or use a list to help keep organized.

Other ideas:

Leftover chicken, whether fried, roasted or boiled, can be used in everything from tacos to soup. If you boil the meat from the bones you'll get more of it, as well as a broth to start soups or other recipes. Drain the broth and strain it (even if you're going to put the meat right back in) to avoid small bones and pieces of fat.

If you have leftover boiled potatoes, put in enough water to cover, add salt and pepper to taste, a cup of milk and a small can of tuna. Boil until the potatoes are very soft and the water is cloudy. Add powdered onion if you like, or chopped green onions at the last minute.

Leftover rice: Add a touch of olive or canola oil, chopped tomato, cucumbers, onion, garlic, green pepper or whatever fresh vegetable you have on hand, toss, salt and serve chilled. Of course you can use it in soups or casseroles, or make gravy or broth to mix it in for a side dish - or use a dollop of salsa or picante sauce in it.

Thaw a few slices of left over roast beef and a container of brown gravy, one of green beans and one of rice and what did it cost you?

These ideas just touch the tip of the iceberg - there are many, many ways to creatively use leftover food, and once you get in the habit of saving this way, you'll have many "free" meals waiting for you.