Budget Stretchers: Use it Or Lose it 2012 - Join the fun!

Share your tips and ideas on making the most of meals!
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Kchurchill5
Posts: 16044
Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:55 am

Re: Budget Stretchers: Use it Or Lose it 2012 - Join the fun

Post by Kchurchill5 » Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:26 am

http://chefinyou.com/2010/08/pasta-mascarpone-sauce/
This also looks very good.
You could easily use regular pasta, vs whole wheat
You could use the chicken too in the pasta which would be very nice
Instead of carrots use any veggies on hand like peas or red pepper, scallions or mushrooms.

Make a basic white sauce and use the mascarpone, add a little mustard and dill and serve over the grilled chicken thighs

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/reci ... one-sauce/
I have made this with boneless skinless breasts and a can of tomatoes, so I'm sure it would work with thighs

Kchurchill5
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Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:55 am

Re: Budget Stretchers: Use it Or Lose it 2012 - Join the fun

Post by Kchurchill5 » Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:39 am

In the next week, I will be using up some of Dad's leftover pkg gravies or sauces over grilled chicken

Also using up some ground beef with my Mexican Goulash.
Today, I just finished cooking up 1 lb of ground beef; to use in just about anything, the other pound I mixed with Lipton Onion Soup and made burgers

Monday I am using 2 bags of frozen broccoli, I got from my neighbor to use to make broccoli and potato soup

And tomorrow I am making walnut crusted chicken fingers with a spicy cranberry dipping sauce; using up the walnuts and cranberry.

So I certainly haven't used up everything. But I will have used 1 of each of my 15 items. At least I will have made a dent.
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The whole key for this challenge is take a normal dish. For example I was planning baked chicken fingers with a spicy honey sauce / onion rings and fruit while watching the games tomorrow.

Instead ... I tried to incorporate 1-2 items from my list. I combined nuts, and the cranberry from the pantry and will make a spicy sauce from that. Rather than plain breaded chicken it will be nut crusted and rather than a honey sauce, it will be a spicy cranberry sauce.

And for soup, rather than making chicken or beef or bean, etc - Pick a new recipe using the broccoli (ie., that is what I had on hand)

So just think of a regular weeknight meal and try to incorporate one of your items in it.

Obviously, I still have a few more sauces, marinades, broccoli - but a dent has been made.

HeatherFeather
Posts: 2558
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:07 am

Re: Budget Stretchers: Use it Or Lose it 2012 - Join the fun

Post by HeatherFeather » Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:37 am

You can use mascarpone in recipes calling for cream cheese, depending on the recipe. I know it works fine in baking.

You can also stir some into spaghetti sauce at the end of cooking to make it creamy.

HeatherFeather
Posts: 2558
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:07 am

Re: Budget Stretchers: Use it Or Lose it 2012 - Join the fun

Post by HeatherFeather » Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:38 am

Kchurchill5 wrote:In the next week, I will be using up some of Dad's leftover pkg gravies or sauces over grilled chicken

Also using up some ground beef with my Mexican Goulash.
Today, I just finished cooking up 1 lb of ground beef; to use in just about anything, the other pound I mixed with Lipton Onion Soup and made burgers

Monday I am using 2 bags of frozen broccoli, I got from my neighbor to use to make broccoli and potato soup

And tomorrow I am making walnut crusted chicken fingers with a spicy cranberry dipping sauce; using up the walnuts and cranberry.

So I certainly haven't used up everything. But I will have used 1 of each of my 15 items. At least I will have made a dent.
-------------------------------------------------

The whole key for this challenge is take a normal dish. For example I was planning baked chicken fingers with a spicy honey sauce / onion rings and fruit while watching the games tomorrow.

Instead ... I tried to incorporate 1-2 items from my list. I combined nuts, and the cranberry from the pantry and will make a spicy sauce from that. Rather than plain breaded chicken it will be nut crusted and rather than a honey sauce, it will be a spicy cranberry sauce.

And for soup, rather than making chicken or beef or bean, etc - Pick a new recipe using the broccoli (ie., that is what I had on hand)

So just think of a regular weeknight meal and try to incorporate one of your items in it.

Obviously, I still have a few more sauces, marinades, broccoli - but a dent has been made.
You just reminded me that I have a box of Lipton onion soup mix in my pantry I haven't used in a while. I should make up some burgers too and stash them in my freezer.

The cranberry chicken fingers idea sounds really good.

Kchurchill5
Posts: 16044
Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:55 am

Re: Budget Stretchers: Use it Or Lose it 2012 - Join the fun

Post by Kchurchill5 » Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:44 am

The lipton burgers are pretty good and easy. Nice to have them all made. Just cook and eat. It is still frozen food, but easy to prepare.

You can take those and make a beef gravy with mushrooms and presto. A quick dinner.

HF, Ever use frozen mushrooms? I get mine at sweetbay or Publix. I love them - now I love fresh first and always, but I keep frozen on hand because they are OK for sauces, gravies and just when you want a few. They are like 97 cents and they last forever. Not for fresh use, but sauces are fine

Roxanne
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Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2011 3:47 pm

Re: Budget Stretchers: Use it Or Lose it 2012 - Join the fun

Post by Roxanne » Sat Jan 14, 2012 4:29 pm

I had a friend who also said eating organic is super expensive. There are certain things I like from the processed aisle myself - like those Hershey's creme pie. I love to still buy oreos, wafers and there is a cookie I tried recently called nougatelli otherwise I bake my own cookies. Buying local fruits and veggies here are good cause no preservatives but imported fruits and veggies, I am sure it has them. Like we know, can't get away from it 100%. On the egg and milk thing. Well I usually use powdered milk (the powdered milk here is way richer than the stuff I've had in the US) and the egg I think they do go through some sort of chemical process here too. My dad usually buy chicks and we grow those to eat instead of buying chicken from the poultry depot or supermarket cause those chickens are given chemicals in their diets for various things.

Kc - your recipe for Karen's chicken sounds totally delicious! I agree the challenge isn't to use it all but to at least use it once for the month.

I ate a portion of my baked ziti casserole from the freezer for dinner yesterday and although these aren't on the list I finished off some gourmet popcorn and choc-hazelnut wafers that I had stashed away from the holidays.

This week I want to dive into the couscous and try the baked fish idea suggested for sure. Nothing else planned yet. I am just going day by day here.

HeatherFeather
Posts: 2558
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:07 am

Re: Budget Stretchers: Use it Or Lose it 2012 - Join the fun

Post by HeatherFeather » Sat Jan 14, 2012 4:54 pm

Kchurchill5 wrote:The lipton burgers are pretty good and easy. Nice to have them all made. Just cook and eat. It is still frozen food, but easy to prepare.

You can take those and make a beef gravy with mushrooms and presto. A quick dinner.

HF, Ever use frozen mushrooms? I get mine at sweetbay or Publix. I love them - now I love fresh first and always, but I keep frozen on hand because they are OK for sauces, gravies and just when you want a few. They are like 97 cents and they last forever. Not for fresh use, but sauces are fine
I haven't ever tried them frozen, except if they came on a frozen pizza or something. I love fresh mushrooms and almost always have some in the house, so I don't ever think of buying them frozen. I have a guilty pleasure item with mushrooms - the ones sold in glass jars. I have always loved them on pizza, even better than fresh mushrooms. I also love the canned ones in spaghetti sauce, but only pre-made sauce, not my homemade ones. No idea why.

Oh - almost forgot. I made some oatmeal today for breakfast. Still want to use a lot more of it though.

Kchurchill5
Posts: 16044
Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:55 am

Re: Budget Stretchers: Use it Or Lose it 2012 - Join the fun

Post by Kchurchill5 » Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:45 am

Baked fish with couscous is delicious. I cook with it often and love it.

I have a stew which has chicken, eggplant, squash, tomatoes, pretty much basic Mediterranean flavors, olives, mushrooms and it is just simmered. Nothing fancy, very easy. That is served over couscous and topped with fresh spinach, chopped and feta cheese. It is like a stew sort of. I have a spin off of that on f.com. Sort of like chili over rice

HeatherFeather
Posts: 2558
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:07 am

Re: Budget Stretchers: Use it Or Lose it 2012 - Join the fun

Post by HeatherFeather » Sun Jan 15, 2012 3:25 pm

I used quite a bit of oatmeal up today and the one canister is now almost empty (yay!) I made two loaves of turkey meatloaf using the oatmeal. Popped one loaf into the freezer and the other is waiting in the fridge to get baked.

I also used up a can of the peas in a pea salad. I can't believe how tasty it is! I only made half the recipe, thinking I'd have to choke the salad down and didn't want to waste the ingredients. However - it is delicious! So simple too! Just canned peas, mayo or miracle whip (I used Miracle Whip light since I am trying to use that up, mistake purchase), chopped sweet onion, a nice amount of Mrs Dash original blend, and some chopped hard boiled eggs. Mixed together all to taste and then chilled to let the flavors soak into the peas. Surprisingly good!!

Mary
Posts: 673
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2011 9:53 am

Re: Budget Stretchers: Use it Or Lose it 2012 - Join the fun

Post by Mary » Sun Jan 15, 2012 3:29 pm

HeatherFeather wrote: I also used up a can of the peas in a pea salad. I can't believe how tasty it is! Surprisingly good!!
Heavens, Heather, be careful! You might end up buying more canned peas. :lol:

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