Post a Leftovers Menu

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Post a Leftovers Menu

Submitted by: anonymous 06/03/2009 7:24 PM

One thing that makes me a little nuts is when family members fix themselves lunches and snacks from scratch, when the fridge is backed up with leftovers.
It's not that they dislike leftovers, but that they need to be reminded what's available. So when our fridge gets backed up, I post a "leftovers menu."

We have a blackboard in our kitchen (cheap kiddie type, with plain wood frame) which we normally use to write down messages and groceries needed. But sometimes I draw a line down middle, and to the right of the line I write "PLEASE EAT!" Then under that I list items I would like to see gone. This especially works well to do this on weekends when people will be foraging for lunches and snacks. As family members finish the items, they erase those leftovers from the blackboard list.

If you don't have a blackboard, you could also post a list on the refrigerator door, with nearby pencil so people can scratch off items as they're eaten.

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Comments:

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This is an excellent suggestion! That's a rule in our house too--always finish the leftovers before cooking something new--I hate to see food get wasted. Making a list is a great way to remind everyone about that tray of ziti or container of wonton soup we haven't finished yet. I'm going to try this at my house! Thanks!

Posted by bestmommy on June 04, 2009 10:08 AM

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Great idea.

We often don't realize how much money we waste when left-overs are thrown out.

One way to save money with left-overs is to use them for your work lunches the next day. Investing in a good lunch box system can easily save you $20 a week - a yearly savings of over $1000 just by taking left-overs to work for lunch.

Another way to deal with left-overs is to have a family smorgasbord night. Save all the left-overs from the previous few days in the fridge or freezer.

Once a week make a meal of all the left-overs. The kids will love it as they get to pick and choose their favorite foods to eat.

Posted by charlie-paylessforfood.com on June 04, 2009 5:26 PM

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That was a great idea, Boy my mother in law could really use that, I am forwarding it to her.

Posted by glenda on June 05, 2009 12:04 AM

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I am a major planner when it comes to meals, I love creating soups out of left over meals. This week is spaghetti and meatballs, Chicken stir fry with rice, and a Roast dinner. You can freeze any meal in ziploc bags if you don't want leftovers soon after having it for dinner, just add broth or water to any meal, chop what needs to be chopped and simmer till heated. I serve most soups with either crusty bread and/or salad.

Posted by Crystal on June 10, 2009 8:05 AM

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I send my husband with a meal's worth of leftovers for lunch at work the next day. Everything else gets frozen into meal size portions so if there are no fresh leftovers, there is still something good for him to take.

Posted by Emily on June 11, 2009 2:15 PM

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To go along with Crystals idea I Keep a big zipplock in the freezer and add any veggies that are not enough to keep for a full meal along with the meats. When the bag is full, I create soup. It is great. Like a free meal.

Posted by anonymous on June 11, 2009 2:38 PM

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I use my leftovers in divider plates then seal them with my Food Savor and freeze for TV dinners. To use on day I dont want to cook or when my hubby needs lunch!! I love my food savor I use it ALOT best investment I ever made.

Posted by Amanda on June 11, 2009 3:40 PM

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We have a leftover smorgasbord night when we accumulate enough. Sometimes the kids have to be reminded they need to take some vegetables but usually it works out fine.

Posted by Olivia on June 11, 2009 4:29 PM

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I save my leftover bacon drippings in the freezer and use little dabs to add flavor to lots of things.

Also I save the liquid from cooking vegetables (if it's something that has good flavor) and when I get a jar or container full, I combine with a can of tomatoes, pasta, fresh herbs, etc...and make soup.

"Anonymous" above is right--it's like free food!

Posted by anonymous on June 11, 2009 9:17 PM

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Don't forget to save the water from potatoes - this makes an excellent thickener when making soups!

Posted by Karla on June 12, 2009 11:08 AM

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Amanda, where do you get divided plates that the food saver doesn't crush when vacumn sealing?

Posted by susan on June 12, 2009 3:24 PM

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Karla, water used for cooking dry beans is also good for soup. It's handy for vegetarian soups, since it's hard to make a good, flavorful soup base without meat. We just had this for dinner tonight, in fact.

Posted by haverwench on June 13, 2009 7:47 PM

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Since I am single and love to eat other than processed foods for lunch and dinners, I will cook a meat one night, eat with veggies, then immediately either pack a lunch of leftovers for the next day or make a rollup sandwich with the meat for the next day for lunch to take to work. I can make another meal for dinner the next night by either making rice, quinoa or add the meat to make stir fry, as long as it isnt the same meal, I may love to eat home cooked foods, but it is really hard to eat it for dinner, lunch then dinner again so I try at least to make several variations with the single meat I cook on one night, although soup is quite a good idea, Im not much of a fan of it in the summer (Arizona) Left over chicken to top off a Aztec salad is wonderful too.

Posted by Budgeting in Tucson on June 14, 2009 2:15 PM

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Hey Budgeting,
Make something you really love on the weekend. Freeze whatever you don't eat in individual portions. Pull out portions during the week. After a little while you'll have quite a selection of home cooked meals in your freezer. Almost anything can be frozen. Check on line.

Posted by anonymous on July 30, 2009 3:13 AM

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