learningWhat to do with Leftover Taco Meat

I am a full believer in using up leftovers. It is one of the most frugal things that we can all do, and will save a noticable amount of food money throughout the year.

I like to come up with as many ways as I can to reuse each type of food, and today I will be concentrating on leftover taco meat. Here are the ideas that I have come up with:

• You can freeze portions of meat and make a taco dinner.
• You can use it as pizza topping.
• You can add it to pasta or pizza sauce.
• You can use it as filler for fajitas/tortillas.
• You can add it to meatballs.

Can you come up with any other ideas?

Shannon

Casserole Variations

There are only a few components to a great casserole. The whole point in the casserole is that it is the entire meal, except for the bread if you want that. You simply throw precooked foods into a baking dish and warm it up.

Here are some variations for you to consider:

• Browned ground beef topped with a can of corn and mashed potatoes.
• Chicken topped with tomato chunks, pasta and pasta sauce.
• Ham topped with corn, peas and rice.
• Baked eans topped with cornbread batter and cheese.

NOTE: It may be necessary to add a little liquid to the bottom of the baking dish, Try water or broth for this purpose, and don’t use much.

Shannon

Pasta Meals

Pasta meals are easy and cheap to make. They do not take a lot of prep time, either. You simply cook up the pasta, and heat the other foods together in one pan. Here are some pasta topping ideas for your consideration:

• Corn, peas and chicken.
• Carrots, corn and beef.
• Tomato soup and shredded cheese.
• Corn and turkey.
• Peas and ham.
• Broccoli, corn and pork.

You can use almost any combination of such foods. Please share your experiments with us.

Shannon

Pasta/Rice Sides Add-Ins

During the same sale that was going on when I purchased the Hamburger Helper, there was also a sale on Pasta/Rice sides. I ended up purchasing a bunch of these for only .75 as well.

We don’t add a lot of meat to these. Maybe 1/2 – 1/3 cup of meat, and usually only chicken or turkey.

Vegetables are also great add-ins.

How about trying some of these combinations:

• 1/2 cup of chicken, and 1/2 can each of corn and peas.
• 1/2 cup turkey, and 1/4 can each of corn, green beans and carrots.
• 1/4 cup each of chicken and turkey and some broccoli.

What combinations can you create? Share your successful creations with us in the comments section. Thank you.

Shannon

Hamburger Helper Add-Ins

Do you like Hamburger Helper? My daughter does. It isn’t something that I usually purchase, but a few months ago I had a few coupons for multiple box purchases. The Hamburger Helper was on sale and cost only .75 a box with coupons for the name brand boxes.

We do different things with the different types of helpers. We have been known to add chicken instead of beef to the beef stroganoff, so we know that you can mix and match meats. Use any kind of meat that you like in any of the different helpers. You can also do meat mixes. Why not use:

• Turkey
• Ham
• Pork roast
• Turkey and chicken mix

We also add vegetables. We have been known to add just one, or a combination of different vegetables:

• Corn
• Peas
• Carrots
• Corn and peas
• Carrots and green beans
• Broccoli

You can do many things with Hamburger Helper. How about sharing some of your creations in the comments? Thank you.

Shannon

Day After Christmas Leftover Lunch

A couple of months ago IGA was having a $1.00 a box sale on Betty Crocker Hamburger Helpers. I had coupons for $1.00 off three, so I stocked up even though we don’t eat them often. They are helpful sometimes. So, I guess that I paid about .66 per box.

We do not always use the kind of meat that we are supposed to.

So here is today’s meal:

1 box double cheeseburger hamburger helper

1/2 pound leftover turkey (about; instead of hamburger)

No need to pre-cook meat, it is already done so this is a quicker meal than usual.

Cook as usual.

 

We had this, as well as leftover peas, cranberry sauce and banana bread. Very filling.

Shannon

Sick? Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

1/2 – 1 chicken breast, cooked and chopped

1 container vegetable broth and 1 container water

1 can corn plus liquid

1 can peas plus liquid

egg or other noodles

 

Combine all in a pot and cook until warmed through and pasta is ready.

* Parsley tastes good in this soup.

Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup

This is a great, frugal recipe for a cold day.

Easy for older children to make.

 

Ingredients:

vegetable stock, and use water if you need more liquid

leftover turkey cut into bite size pieces

1 can corn with liquid

1 can peas with liquid

1 can carrots with liquid

Any noodles that you like.

 

Throw it into a pot and cook until noodles are done and turkey is warmed through.

Serve with oyster or soda crackers, or biscuits.

Vegetable Mix-Up Stew/Soup

I will be posting a couple of other recipes for the Vegetable Mix-Ups that I explained in the previous post. Here is a nice one with variations for a soup/stew.

Ingredients:

1 container frozen veggie mix-ups

enough water/stock/broth to cover mix-ups

 

1. Add the frozen mix-ups to a pan with the liquid.

2. Cook on medium to medium high heat until vegetables are thawed and warmed through.

Very simple.

Variations:

• You can add noodles, or noodles and chicken. Don’t add the noodles until shortly before you want to serve the stew/soup.
• You can add dumplings.
• You could add another kind of meat: Ground beef, ham, turkey.
• Add any herbs and spices that you would like five or 10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

Shannon

Lunchbox/Lunch Pack Recipes

Here are some possible ideas for your children’s school lunches, or for your work or school lunches.

Tortilla Roll-Up Ideas:

(In each of these, you will spread the ingredients evenly, or lay ingredients flat, then roll the whole thing up. Place in container and slice if desired – be sure to slice things thinly.)

• peanut butter and banana slices
• cool whip and sliced strawberries
• yogurt and kiwi slices
• cream cheese and pepperoni slices
• mayo and ham slices
• mustard and turkey/chicken slices
• mayo and hard boiled egg slices
• cheese slices and ground beef with lettuce leaves and tomato slices

Soup/Stew Ideas:

(Cook each soup/stew in water, broth or stock. Just cut veggies and cook. Add peas/corn/noodles at the end.)

• corn chowder
• tomato, pepper and zucchini
• carrot, celery and potato
• chicken, noodles, corn, onion and carrots
• tomato
• pumpkin, zucchini and another squash

Sandwich Ideas:

• ham and cheese with pickles
• cheese and pickles with ketchup
• mayo/alternative, cheese, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, shredded carrot

Lasagna:

Layer in a pan:

• sauce
• noodles
• sauce
• meat/alternative
• cheeses
• noodles
• keep layering, with top layer noodles, sauce and cheese only

You could also use tomatoes and zucchini when you add the meat.

Shepherd’s Pie:

This is a simple formula. Cook potatoes and mash. Cook meat. Layer in baking dish: 1/4 cup water, meat, vegetables and potatoes.

• meat choices: ground beef/alternative, chicken. turkey
• vegetable choices: corn, peas, carrots, green beans