By Draden from TX
I decided after numerous occasions of throwing out what started out to be perfectly good leftovers, to remedy this problem. I bought a roll of masking tape and a marker at the dollar store and now I write on the tape what is in the bowl or dish and the date it was put in the refrigerator and tape it to the lid. Everyone in my house can now identify the previously unidentified leftovers and I have a lot less waste.
By Connie from Towanda, PA
One example of this is to make meat loaf for dinner and a plain white sheet cake for dessert. On the following day use the left over meat loaf to make spaghetti and meat sauce. Chop up the meat loaf and add your sauce, there's no need to add extra seasoning. Of course you still need to buy noodles and spaghetti sauce, but it cuts cost by not having to purchase another pack of meat for the spaghetti. Any leftover cake you made the day before can be cut into slices and topped with whip cream and a little fruit (fresh, frozen, or canned you can even use a can fruit cocktail), and you have a totally different dessert. Add to a festive plate and this really looks good. Two entirely different meals just by using leftovers and planning ahead of time.
Another example would be to make chili beans for dinner one night and the following day you can use that same chili to make burritos for lunch. All you need to do is drain some juice from the chili beans, heat them in a skillet and smash the beans with a fork. Add chili mixture to a flour tortilla that has been slightly warmed (to make it easy to roll) and pin closed with a tooth pick. Deep fry until brown, drain on a paper towel (or as I do on extra napkins I've picked up from trips to restaurants/fast food outings.) You can also add any cheese, onions, or other things to the burrito before frying.
I've found that this works well because your family doesn't see the same old leftovers you had the night before, they see a whole new meal.
By VERONICA1 from Lodi, CA
By Susan
In order to make full use of the dibs and dabs of food you freeze for later use, it is vital that you label the container with what it is. This seems like the simplest advice in the world, but too often we don't do it; thinking we will remember what it is. But unfortunately if any time has lapsed at all, we don't.
Bottom line is that you can't put too much information on a label of a foodstuff you are freezing, particularly if it is a single ingredient. When you make this a habit, your budget and your sanity will appreciate your effort. By Ronsan from Southwest Missouri
All these suggestions are also good if you're taking a dish of food to a potluck, someone might have a question about the dish, or it's ingredients. For one of these events, just put your name on the sticker as well as the other info.
By Terri from NV