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

[Kchurchill5]

Tonight I'm using water chestnuts and chow mein noodles in my salad and rice. 2 more items down.

[Ninner]

I know with my cake mix plus "pudding" I am making Galley's "Mrs. Pischke's Rum Cake".

My baby back ribs I will be doing a rub 24hrs in advance. Then doing a mustard honey glaze.

I can't purchase frozen bread here but have wanted to make many of the recipes listed for defrosting & stuffing.

I was hoping that you had "frozen shrimp" listed but that would seem silly in your part of town. I do have such an item so will be making "Double Shrimp Bake".

[Kchurchill5]

I have 5 lbs in the freezer ... but that is never an extra around here. That is a staple like MILK.

This weekend a friend is coming over for breakfast. Shrimp and Grits!! You betcha I have shrimp on hand at all times.

[Roxanne]

Thanks for all the ideas on the crab meat. That omelet is sounding especially delicious.

Quiche too is wonderful

Sounds great Kc! I am thinking of using one can in the omelet or quiche and another to make crab wontons (deep fried) plus it will help me get some wonton skins used up.

Hmm, I am actually going to buy canned pineapple to make pizza. If you don't like it like that maybe making a pineapple upside down cake or something like caramelized pineapple with a little rum added in (and cooked out) then serve over ice cream. The canned soups, add it to regular soups. My dad makes soup from stretch and adds in a can of the vegetarian soup at the end cause he likes the flavour. Your photo of the soup from the freezer looks super delish!

[Ninner]

I have a list of recipes that I am going to try to make in the near future sitting next to me on my desk. The shrimp bake, I am going to make in individual dishes so they can be served at different times. The family/friends never arrive together.

Grits, I have tried them many times & not liked them. Usually ordered them down south at breakfast. I think that I have never had them made properly as they are a favorite of many people.

[Mary]

Goodness, crazyndncook, that's a lot of food to use up in a month. All I can suggest is reducing the quantities some. You need to invite the neighbors over so you can double some recipes.




[quote="crazyndncook"]
Frozen fruits (strawberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries, apricot halves and diced, sliced peaches) 6 cups packages of apples and others of pears,

Frozen veggies (carrots, corn niblets, green beans, sweet peppers, sugar snap peas, peas), diced zucchini (may just compost, because I really didn't like it)

Chicken (various packs of white and dark meat the dark meat has the bone)

Small beef roasts, maybe a couple pound each, they were cut from a sirloin round

Raw Peeled Shrimp, 2-1 lb bags

6 cans Tomato Soup
Cream of Mushroom Soup [quote]

To start with some of the fruits, here are a couple of Zazz recipes that use peaches, but you could sub some of the other fruits.

http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/microw ... rt-peaches

http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/sweet- ... ed-peaches

http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/chicke ... -and-basil

http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/peach-pork-tenderloin

I think you can mix all of the vegetables in a good vegetable soup -- and add in some of your chicken or cube a beef roast (brown and slow cook until tender, then add vegs for a stew or soup). Add in a can or two of tomato soup as seasoning? Maybe some of the vegs will work in your zucchini casserole recipe? Here's a basic stew recipe that lends itself to infinite variations:

http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/basic-beef-stew

Here's our favorite shrimp:

http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/simple-marinade-shrimp

Hope that gets you started.

[Roxanne]

crazyncook, somehow I missed your post the first time. Here are 2 recipes that immediately crossed my mind. Also if you have bacon on hand I love bacon wrapped shrimp.

http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/very-s ... erry-sauce

http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/gambas ... rimp-tapas

[Kchurchill5]

Rox, not much for sweets, but the pineapple upside down I may make for a friend. I just don't eat any sweets unless at a party and then hardly anything.

But I did think about making cupcakes and taking them to a local shelter. I'm sure they would appreciate them.

The soup ... I have one tomato, which I think I can stretch adding it to some stewed tomatoes, veggies and maybe some wine to brighten it up

The beef, chicken and lentil I think, not sure. I may try a puree and then add to my own soup as a base flavor. What do you think. The flavor would be there.

Crazy ...
With shrimp, 2 thought. Shrimp scampi. Easy, quick, filling. I make mine with butter, but also a little wine, parsley, garlic over pasta. Very very simple and inexpensive.

My second thought is shrimp bisque, or a seafood chowder. Shrimp, add some white fish and even some canned clams. It makes a nice chowder with potatoes, celery, etc in a creamy broth.

[Kchurchill5]

crazy, tomato soup is good mixed with a little brown sugar over meatloaf.

I have also used it mixed with a brown gravy for a sauce over meat.
I just did that, so I am going to try making it into a new soup.

May saute some garlic, onion, maybe a few shallots, etc, then add some wine, the a can of diced tomatoes, then the soup and finish by adding spinach. Sort of a spinach tomato soup.

My friend just emailed me and she freezes it as ice cubes and uses a cube when she wants a little tomato flavor to gravies and sauces. I never tried that.

[Mary]

But I did think about making cupcakes and taking them to a local shelter. I'm sure they would appreciate them.

The soup ... I have one tomato, which I think I can stretch adding it to some stewed tomatoes, veggies and maybe some wine to brighten it up

May saute some garlic, onion, maybe a few shallots, etc, then add some wine, the a can of diced tomatoes, then the soup and finish by adding spinach. Sort of a spinach tomato soup.

My friend just emailed me and she freezes it as ice cubes and uses a cube when she wants a little tomato flavor to gravies and sauces. I never tried that.

Good ideas, KC. The cupcakes to a shelter is a fabulous idea! And both soups should warm up those frozen toes during this recent cold spell in your neighborhood. I really like the spinach version. The frozen cubes of tomato soup is so clever that I'm tempted to go and buy a can just to try it. =-)