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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Roxanne
Posts: 676
Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2011 3:47 pm

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

Post by Roxanne » Sun Jan 15, 2012 4:09 pm

I'm not a fan of spinach but love eggplant. The idea of having a stew over couscous never occurred to me but now that you mentioned it I may play around with it.

I am not a fan of canned peas so I never buy the stuff but I am so glad you enjoyed that pea salad Heather and Mary's comment made me :lol:.

I am happy to report I have used up all my pudding cups! :D That fake mousse idea I had was pretty brilliant cause the chocolate and caramel of the mousse blended nicely with the bailey's and the whipped cream cut the heaviness of the pudding and made the taste (which is what I didn't like in the first place) more desirable.

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 4:14 pm

Roxanne wrote:I'm not a fan of spinach but love eggplant. The idea of having a stew over couscous never occurred to me but now that you mentioned it I may play around with it.

I am not a fan of canned peas so I never buy the stuff but I am so glad you enjoyed that pea salad Heather and Mary's comment made me :lol:.

I am happy to report I have used up all my pudding cups! :D That fake mousse idea I had was pretty brilliant cause the chocolate and caramel of the mousse blended nicely with the bailey's and the whipped cream cut the heaviness of the pudding and made the taste (which is what I didn't like in the first place) more desirable.
Yay! Congratulations!

Even though the pea salad is really good, I sure won't be making any canned pea purchases in the future unless I have a specific recipe in mind that I will use right away. I love frozen peas, but the canned ones are really not very good. I bet the salad would be even better with frozen peas instead.

I have a recipe for a Moroccan Lamb stew on Food that is served over couscous. It really goes very nicely with the flavors. I bet any stew would taste nice over it. My recipe, in case you are interested, is on Food.com Recipe #281176

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 » Sun Jan 15, 2012 4:19 pm

Thanks! I am a big fan of frozen peas too. I use it all in the time in various dishes. I never ate lamb before but still had a look at the recipe and could maybe sub. beef in there, yum!

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 » Sun Jan 15, 2012 4:38 pm

Kchurchill5 wrote:My list disappeared some how. It was there yesterday. Well since I can't remember everything. I looked again and these are what I think I listed.

1. Baby Back Ribs, have 4 slabs to use
2. Lawrys Steak Marinade, Dad had tons of bottles I inherited
3. 4-5 containers of soup in the freezer - ate 1
4. 6 loaf of frozen bread to bake
5. Wonton wrappers
6. Chicken drum sticks, bogo sale
7. Pineapple, canned (dad had it, and I am not a huge fan)
8. Water chestnuts, 3 cans - used 1
9. 4-5 cans LaChoy canned chow mein noodles - used 1
10.Cake mix, 10 boxes. Dad loved it, I don't
11.Campbells soups, not the creamed type
12.Canned beets, I love fresh ones and canned are OK, but I inherited 6 cans
13.5 lbs ground round, my neighbor moved and he left it with me
14.Also from my neighbor, frozen broccoli (6 bags)
15.Finally, pkg'd sauce mixes, another of Dad's items I got - used 1 turkey gravy

Most, I do know what to do with, but any great inspirations would be appreciated
Well, an interesting challenge - as of tomorrow I would of used all the ingredients. NOT all of each, but at least 1 of each ingredient.

1. Baby Back Ribs, have 4 slabs to use USED 3
2. Lawrys Steak Marinade, Dad had tons of bottles I inherited USED 2, ONE WITH CHICKEN, ONE WITH PORK CHOPS
3. 4-5 containers of soup in the freezer - ate 1 USED 3 FOR LUNCH, 1 OLD ONE AND 2 NEW ONES
4. 6 loaf of frozen bread to bake USED - MADE 2 LOAFS, ONE TOMORROW TO MAKE
5. Wonton wrappers USED MADE RAVIOLI, 2 PKGS IN THE FREEZER, ONE I HAD FOR DINNER - ALL GONE
6. Chicken drum sticks, bogo sale USED USED IN THE RAVIOLI AND 2 FOR LUNCH - GONE
7. Pineapple, canned (dad had it, and I am not a huge fan) USED 3 CANS, BUT HAVE 10 ENJOYING IT WITH MY COTTAGE CHEESE IN THE AM, MAY MAKE A DESSERT TO GIVE A WAY
8. Water chestnuts, 3 cans - used 1 USED all
9. 4-5 cans LaChoy canned chow mein noodles - used 2USED 2 IN SALADS
10.Cake mix, 10 boxes. Dad loved it, I don't STILL HAVE 2, BUT MADE CUPCAKES FOR A SHELTER
11.Campbells soups, not the creamed type USED ALL, PUREED AND INCORPORATED INTO A GRAVY AND FROZE NO MORE TOUP
12.Canned beets, I love fresh ones and canned are OK, but I inherited 6 cans USED 2 SAUTEED WITH ONIONS FOR A QUICK SIDE DISH
13.5 lbs ground round, my neighbor moved and he left it with me USED 2, 2 i COOKED AND FROZE FOR A QUICK DINNER, 1 MADE MEATBALLS AND ANOTHER TOMORROW NIGHT FOR MEXICAN GOULASH
14.Also from my neighbor, frozen broccoli (6 bags) USED 4 SOME FOR A STIR FRY, 3 FOR BROCCOLI SOUP I GAVE TO 2 PEOPLE. TURNED OUT GREAT
15.Finally, pkg'd sauce mixes, another of Dad's items I got - used 1 turkey gravy USED 4 eVERYONE FROM A GRAVY TO A MARINADE, TO A SAUCE. WHY NOT - IT MAY NOT OF BEEN GOURMET, BUT IT SURE Tasted good. I just doctored them up with a little wine or seasoning, fresh herbs, spices etc and they were not bad at all.

So, I will continue to use everything up, but ... I made a good dent.
Tonight I am using the cranberry in a spicy jalapeno cranberry dipping sauce for my chicken fingers coated with walnuts and panko

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 4:51 pm

1) Rice a Roni mixes - used some, still have about 5 left
2) Pecans - used some, still have lots to use up
3) Black walnuts - see #2 - same problem
4) White miso paste
5) Cranberry flavor Stove Top Stuffing mixes - used 1, have 1 box left
6) Canned grapefruit
7) Beef Tenderloin tips - used 1, still have a few left to use
8) instant pudding mixes - used some, lots more to use up
9) a bottle of Taco Bell creamy jalapeno sauce - used some, still have more left
10) Oatmeal - used quite a bit, still have more
11) bottled marinades
12) 1/2 a bottle of Maker's Mark bourbon
13) a box of fish fry mix - I almost never fry anything, but I bought this because a coupon I had for something I was already buying gave it to me free
14) apples - used more than half up
15) canned peas - used 1 can, 1 can left to use up

So I have used a lot, but still several things not even touched yet. Yikes!

Roxanne
Posts: 676
Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2011 3:47 pm

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

Post by Roxanne » Sun Jan 15, 2012 5:12 pm

Okay I decided to post my progress and wow, I'm not doing so good. I have been cooking and eating usuals or some other stuff not listed here which have been crossed off my list (I have a notebook with everything listed) But these things in particular I thought were the most important stuff I wanted to get used up or make something with at least.

1. Canadian bacon - used none
2. Frozen cinnamon rolls - used none
3. Snack pudding cups - finished all! :D made faux mousse
4. canned crab meat - used none yet, I haven't decided on quiche, wontons or crab cakes yet :?
5. Orzo pasta -used none
6. Couscous Pasta - used none, plan to make a side dish for baked fish this week
7. Wonton wrappers - used none
8. 4oz of cream cheese - used none
9. Cinnabon cereal - used none
10. Homemade vanilla ice cream - made a choc-pb smoothie thing with some, really good! Plan to use the rest like this
11. Protein powder - used none and I actually completely forgot about it!
12. Cherry Pie Filling - not using this month after all cause of best by date and container is sealed
13. Frozen individual portions of baked ziti - ate 1 portion so far
14. Red onions - used none yet. Going to use the alfredo pizza idea for one of them
15. White Quinoa and quinoa flour - used none yet. Saw a quinoa pudding that looks delish so it is on my "to try" list for this month.

KareninMass
Posts: 92
Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2011 12:59 pm

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

Post by KareninMass » Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:56 pm

Wow - you are so much more organized than me with the lists. I have to be so organized at work that I sort of revolt at home.

KCHURCH - I used some of the mascaprone in a tomato based sauce and it was wonderful.

We have agreat winter farmers market in Rhode Island - so one of the things I snagged was a spaghetti squash.

I cooked it, shredded it and made a quick pantry tomato sauce and added 2 spoons of the mascarpone. Added the squash, cooked it up and stuffed it back in the shell and into the oven with some breadcrumb and parm topping.

WWOW - it was delicious and made a great vegetarian dinner.

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 7:26 pm

HeatherFeather wrote:1) Rice a Roni mixes - used some, still have about 5 left
2) Pecans - used some, still have lots to use up
3) Black walnuts - see #2 - same problem
4) White miso paste
5) Cranberry flavor Stove Top Stuffing mixes - used 1, have 1 box left
6) Canned grapefruit
7) Beef Tenderloin tips - used 1, still have a few left to use
8) instant pudding mixes - used some, lots more to use up
9) a bottle of Taco Bell creamy jalapeno sauce - used some, still have more left
10) Oatmeal - used quite a bit, still have more
11) bottled marinades
12) 1/2 a bottle of Maker's Mark bourbon
13) a box of fish fry mix - I almost never fry anything, but I bought this because a coupon I had for something I was already buying gave it to me free
14) apples - used more than half up
15) canned peas - used 1 can, 1 can left to use up

So I have used a lot, but still several things not even touched yet. Yikes!
Heather, you have done well. Don't expect to use it all. I haven't. But ... you have made a dent. I still have marinades, still have sauces and now I have freezer stash like ravioli. Baby steps. Just knowing you tried to use this and that and you will continue to is all that matters.

And fried fish mix ... you can pan saute which works fine. I don't deep fry hardly ever, but I don't mind a pan saute.

KareninMa, GREAT MEAL with the spaghetti squash. Delish. Nice that you have a winter market. We have a 365 day market outside (but it is FL), I would be lost without it. I love the squash recipe, and yes, veggie, but still delish. I often love dishes like this and make sure to stuff the bread with mushrooms. Makes a good veggie night but filling.

Very nice with the squash. And the mascarpone makes it rich but still no meat.

Cooking for 3 people (clients) I have to be organized, but sometimes a PIA, I know. But making a plan saves ... not just time, but money. Just pick an ingredient and find a recipe.

Like tonight., Walnuts and cranberry. Cranberry and jalapeno sauce to dip chicken fingers in (coated with walnuts and panko). Nothing hard, but easy.

crazyndncook
Posts: 132
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2011 12:11 am

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

Post by crazyndncook » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:14 pm

I filled up the freezer some more, but with helpful things. Like a case of cooked diced chicken. It makes for such fast meals, no cutting or cooking involved, well other than heating. I made a super easy meal of mashed potatoes topped with chicken and gravy. It will help when my surgery comes up. I did some experimenting at work too. I made Chicken Casserole, and I liked it so it will help out on a lazy night. It was just chicken, frozen veggies, pasta, cream of chicken soup and I topped it with a mixture of plain nacho chips and mozza cheese. I could easily do that at home with all that I have, I just don't have the chips, but I really don't mind not having them.

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 » Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:33 am

Crazy, that is such a great way to use things. They are still in the freezer - but what quick meals they make

I froze a whole pork tenderloin I cooked, just sliced 4-5 slices in each bag, same with my leftover chicken from the other night, 2 small baggies. Perfect for a quick meal; and some plain cooked chicken too, just diced or shredded for later.

Perfect for tacos, quesadillas, sammies, chicken salad; on top of salads, etc. Why Not?
The chicken casserole sounds great. That is great to have on hand to just thaw and reheat

When I cook once, I always try to throw on something else because it is great to freeze for a later use.

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