My Frugal Life: Good to the Last Drop

Times are definitely tough for many of us and there is little or no cash for treats and little luxuries. At our house to make belt tightening a bit more fun, we have invented a game; "Good to the Last Drop". To "play" the game, the contestant must come up with a usable idea to stretch our resources to the limit. It is amazing how creative we have become. Below is an example of some of our ideas See what YOU can come up with!

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1. Good to the Last Drop Milk: This is the one that started it all, hence the name. When the jam jar, honey jar, molasses jar or peanut butter jar is empty, fill part or all the way with cold milk, depending on size of jar. Close tightly and give it a bit of "cocktail" shaking. The result is a deliciously flavored drink that is good for you too!

2. Good to the Last Drop Salad Dressing: Same idea as above except with empty mayo, mustard or ketchup jars. It could also work with salsa or other dressings. We just add oil, vinegar and seasonings to the bit left in the jar and shake. Nothing is wasted, those last bits clinging to the sides of the jars blend into the dressing and pour right out.

3. Good to the Last Drop "Ice Cream": This was thought up because the juice from canned fruit always went to waste. Freeze an un-opened can of pears, peaches or mandarin oranges. When frozen solid, remove from can by opening both ends and pushing. You may need to thaw it a little first before opening. Put in your blender with a good dollop or two of plain yogurt.
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   I've never tried it with flavored but it could work too. Blend until slushy but not melted. It makes 4 servings for under a dollar and tastes like a delicious frozen sherbet, slushy or blizzard. And not one drop of that precious juice is wasted!

4. Good to the Last Drop Conditioner: When you are at the end of the bottle, open the top and add a bit of water. Pour conditioner over hair as usual and work in well. Let it sit a few minutes, then rinse. Got every drop and soft hair too! If you remember the first conditioners, like Tame or White Rain, we always mixed with water before pouring over our hair; but if you remember THAT, then don't admit your age, LOL!

5. Good to the Last Drop Vegetable Stock: Whether from canned veggies, or ones you have steamed or simmered yourself, don't toss the water! We keep a tupperware in the freezer and add the liquid as it becomes available. Then about once every 2 weeks to a month, we use it to make a yummy soup, adding whatever veggies we have at the moment. We have made onion, tomato, zucchini, chicken veggie, minestrone and beef veggie. And not a bit of that vitamin rich water was wasted.

Well, I think you get the idea. Some kinds of peels from well scrubbed veggies can go into soups and stews. Sugar bowls can be rinsed and the water added to a pot of tea. Scrapings from the biscuit batter bowl can be added to the roast drippings to make the gravy. And well washed and scrubbed citrus peels can be made into delicious candied peels! These are all ideas that we have tried and enjoyed, maybe you will too!

By PlumCottage from on the beach in NJ