Delicious Add-ins From Leftovers

How many times have you opened the refrigerator and stared at an assortment of leftover items that needed to be used before they spoiled? I have a tight grocery budget and don't want to waste any of the items I purchase. A limited grocery budget often requires that I engage in some creative cooking. I have found some surprisingly delicious ways to incorporate unexpected items into traditional recipes.

Homemade Pizzas

Homemade pizzas give me the opportunity to add in a mixture of whatever vegetables, fruit, and leftover meat I have on hand. Broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and numerous other vegetables can be added to the usual green pepper, onion, and tomato topping on a traditional vegetable pizza. A breakfast pizza with cream cheese and a variety of fruit is a wonderful weekend treat or can be used as a dessert.

Spaghetti Sauce

Spaghetti sauce is much like pizzas, carrots and broccoli are great add-ins. For a surprisingly tart and delicious sauce, I toss in dried cranberries that I keep on hand to add to oatmeal, cereal, or homemade muffins and bread.

Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni and cheese is a standby recipe for me and there's a variety of items that can be added to it. Left over ham, chicken, bacon, or ground beef are common add-ins. If I have a small amount of leftover green peas, peppers, onions, celery, or tomatoes I add them to my standard macaroni and cheese recipe.

Pasta Salad

There's almost no limit to the variety of fruits and vegetables you can add to a pasta salad.

Omelets

Omelets also offer an abundant opportunity to use up small amounts of leftovers.

By VeronicaHB from Asheboro, NC