Making the Most of Leftovers

Today let's talk about a controversial topic in households across the country... Leftovers!

Most people are not fence-riders when it comes to leftovers. They either love them or hate them. I recently watched an episode of Chopped in which the mystery baskets all had leftover food in them. I was not shocked to see the chef who said, "I hate leftovers!," chopped in the first or second round.

You can spend all the time in the world making a fancy meal plan, budgeting your groceries and clipping coupons, and slaving away in the kitchen to make tasty dinners, BUT if you end up throwing away uneaten food, you are WASTING YOUR TIME.

I have to admit, we do throw away our share of leftovers now and then. But I have some super-top-secret tips to share with you to help maximize your meals before they spoil.

Labels

What's my big secret for tackling leftovers? Label absolutely all leftovers before they go into the fridge or freezer. All I use is a roll of cheap masking tape and a Sharpie. I tear off a piece of tape, stick it to the lid, and mark it with the contents and the date. This helps eliminate the "When did I make such-and-such casserole?" question later on. Doubting whether or not something is still fit to eat seems to be a big problem when eating leftovers. A good rule to live by is "When in doubt, throw it out." Well, by taking the doubt out of the equation you'll know if things are still good to use. I also mark opened cans of spaghetti sauce, salad dressing and other condiments with the date (on the lid) so I know when to use them by.

Note: Speaking as one who has fallen off of the labeling bandwagon now and again, I can say with 100% certainty we eat up our leftovers better when they are clearly labeled. Keep the masking tape and marker handy so you aren't tempted to slack off!

Portion Control

Another big issue with leftovers is portion control. Many recipes make way more food than my family can possibly eat at one meal. If it's something that we eat well leftover, it's not an issue. If it's something that doesn't reheat well (like stir fry), any extra portions are essentially wasted (and money down the drain!). If you find yourself constantly throwing away leftovers from specific meals, cut the recipe in half the next time you make it to eliminate leftovers. Or, save yourself some time later on down the road and put half of the meal in a Ziploc bag and pop it in the freezer (cooked or uncooked, depending on the ingredients). For example, I made chili earlier this month and doubled the recipe, leaving us with three quart-sized Ziploc bags for later this fall. 

Note: Make sure to LABEL your frozen leftovers just as clearly as the ones that go in the fridge. Place them within easy access in the freezer, otherwise you'll end up forgetting they are in there!

Lead By Example

To change how your household handles leftovers, lead by example! If you want your husband or your children to be better leftover-eaters, then you need to do it yourself. Leftovers make great (and easy!) lunches during the week. Most are probably healthier than that Hot Pocket or boxed pasta, too. If you are the one planning dinners in your household, you have the power to work leftovers into your meal plan. You can serve it up buffet style and let everyone choose what they want. Or you can put a new spin on a leftover dish by adding fresh-baked bread or rolls and a vegetable side dish. Either way, you'll save yourself time making a whole new dinner, and money by not having to throw away the leftovers. 

I hope this post has been helpful! Nothing earth-shattering, but it is amazing how small, simple steps can help us live better, more organized lives.

Meat Markdowns and Making the Most of Nap Times

The Munchkin took a three-hour nap today and as much as my pregnant self just wanted to take it easy, I decided to be a whirling dervish in the kitchen instead!

I recently snagged two large packs of fresh ground turkey at Food Lion. Six pounds of meat for a whopping total of $11.18. If you continue to do the math, you can see that comes down to just $1.86/pound. I don't know about where you come from, but here that is CHEAP. We eat ground turkey in EVERYTHING. Tacos, chili, spaghetti sauce, soups, etc. So when it goes on sale, I stock up!

Now, meat markdowns are only a great deal if you will actually use or freeze the meat before the 'use by' date. And as long as you have a few minutes, some freezer bags, and a Sharpie, you're all set! I like to divvy the meat up into one-pound portions since most recipes call for one pound of ground meat. These are three pound containers, so I eyeball it and stick the meat into pre-labelled bags. Then I smoosh all the air out, flatten them into nice little rectangles, and pop them in the freezer (making sure to rotate any older packs to the top of the pile to be used first). 

Want to know a neat trick about freezer bags? You can store AND defrost the meat in the same bag. When you need the meat, just open the bag a teeny bit and microwave it in short intervals until it is thawed and ready to go. How easy is that!? (Make sure, though, to check the directions on the box, because you don't want any melted plastic in your food!)

After just 10 minutes, I've managed to: 

1. Shave time off of dinner prep later on.
2. Save MONEY!!
3. Feel super organized and prepared. 

It doesn't get any better than that! 

**Tangential Note: Do not be fooled into thinking that Walmart has the lowest prices. If you shop at smaller chain stores, you can get a great deal if you shop smart. Some people like to price-match at Walmart, but I'd rather give my money to another store if I can. Stick to sales, and keep an eye out for markdowns. Our Walmart does not have a large variety of fresh meats to begin with, so they never EVER have markdowns on ground turkey. And rarely on chicken. So when an item you use a lot of goes on sale, make sure to stock up and save some $$ in the long run. Things like meat, cheeses, butter, and veggies are great staples to have on hand and freeze well.

September Meal Plan

Welcome to September! Wow. It doesn't seem possible that we are entering the last third of this year. Fall will be in full swing before we know it, and then the holiday season... Yikes. How about for right now we just enjoy September? :-)

As I admitted in this post, I've been pretty bad at following through with meal planning the last few months. I'm 5 months pregnant and the truth is other things have taken priority over meal-planning. All my slacking has accomplished though is shooting myself in the foot, since without a plan it is a bazillion times harder to put dinner on the table *nearly* every night.

So, I took some time and kicked out a plan for September. The month promises to be a busy one, and I want to be ready!

September Meal Plan

Click here for a printable list or here for the Pinterest Board

Main Dishes

Tacos / Taco Salads (See this post for taco seasoning)
Chili & Cornbread
Hamburger Soup* & Butter Dip Biscuits
Crockpot BBQ Chicken
"Bourbon" Chicken & Rice
Homemade Pizza
Mexican Stuffed Shells
Venison Stir Fry & Rice
Crockpot Chicken & Dumplings
Poppy Seed Chicken
Venison & Gravy over Mashed Potatoes
Homemade Macaroni & Cheese*
Sausage & Potato Bake

Sides & Extras

Blueberry Muffins
Banana Bread
French Bread (bread machine)
Cornbread
Butter Dip Biscuits
Yellow Squash Casserole
Broccoli Casserole
Fresh Apple Cake

Labor Day Picnic

Tortellini & Pepperoni Salad 
Snickerdoodle Bars
Hot dogs, buns, drinks, chips

*These recipes can be found in this printable.

Note:
Not all main dishes or sides  have links. Sorry! The truth of the matter is that a lot of these things I either make from the BH&G cookbook, or I make them without a recipe. For example, broccoli or squash casserole is pretty much the veggies, chopped and half-cooked in the microwave, and then topped with cheese and buttered cracker crumbs and baked for however long it takes till they are tender. Stir fry is made with whatever meat and veggies I have, and I follow the instructions on the Kikkoman bottle. See? I wing it. But if you have ANY questions about a particular item there is no recipe for, please comment or contact me! :-)

Maternity Wardrobe on a Budget: Tips and Tricks

First off, let's give credit to clothing designers for cute maternity clothes. We've come a long way since the 80's and mid-90's, and giant tent-dresses and thick-paneled maternity pants are a thing of the past. Hooray! Many major clothing chains now have maternity lines, and they are tailoring styles to keep up with the times as well as keep preggo mama's comfort in mind. (Thank you for that!)

Admit it, all we expectant mothers really want is to be comfortable. We're already dealing with morning sickness, heartburn, backaches, headaches, etc. We don't want to be bothered with ill-fitting clothing, too.

It can be tempting to run out and purchase a whole new wardrobe when you are expecting. Keep in mind that you won't be wearing stretch pants forever, and that maternity tops will actually make you look bigger after delivery, so you'll be quickly stashing them in the back of the closet.

So, here are a few things to focus on when selecting maternity apparel.

• Buy items that can be worn in several different seasons (you don't know if you'll be pregnant at the same time of year again).
• Invest in a good pair of maternity jeans. Gap's are pricy ($40+), but they are super comfy, can be dressed up or down, and continue to look nice wash after wash. If you can, buy more than one pair.
• Focus on wardrobe staples that can be made into several different outfits. While cute and trendy colors are fun, it's better to keep things in neutral colors and pull in a "pop" of color with your accessories.
• If it's not comfortable or doesn't look good, you won't want to wear it. So if possible, try things on first, or buy them from an online retailer that offers free returns/exchanges.
• Check local thrift stores! Maternity clothes don't get a lot of wear, and people like to get rid of them when they are done having kids. You might score a bargain, you never know!

It's also important to keep in mind that even though you are expecting, you don't have to exclusively wear maternity clothing:

• Sometimes going "up" a size or two will work just as well. (Especially for tank tops or t-shirts, and even things like fold-over yoga pants)
• Pregnancy bands are also great ways to adapt your old clothing to your new body. You can find them at Target, and also online. They can cost $15 and up, though. 
• Using an elastic hair band to "extend" the waistline of your jeans or skirts is a budget-friendly way to wear your pre-pregnancy clothing longer. (Just make sure your shirt is long enough to cover the zipper!) 

Hopefully these things help you save some money and stay comfy during your pregnancy! Spend the mulah on something more fun, like cutesy clothes or toys for the new baby. :)