Thrown Together Meals
A few posts ago I mentioned that a savings strategy was eating unconventional meals- meals just thrown together, though nutritionally balanced, with whatever we had on hand. Here's a few recent meals to end the month if October.
Bung It Chili: Canned tomato and assorted beans from freezer, miscellaneous vegetables to use up with lots of spices, just thrown in crockpot and forgot until people were hungry. Picture is horrible but couldn't be bothered to retake. The clump in middle is still frozen black beans.
Seasoned rice with; mashed acorn squash, sweet potato wedges, and steamed carrots.
Black bean, pepper, onion, and diced potatoes in the last two tortillas, folded burrito style and grilled. I had a can of Pace cheese sauce lingering in the pantry, heated and poured over.
Thai chili tuna on leftover brat ( hotdog) buns topped with sliced Colby cheese with cottage cheese and fruit.
 |
| Salad plate-that's why it's heaping. |
Haloumi flatbread pizza (crust recipe used), topped with leftover canned diced tomatoes, "getting there" fresh tomatoes, thin sliced zucchini, last of a bag of spinach greens, chopped, last of an onion, and chunks of haloumi cheese, bought several months ago when it actually was in Trader Joe's and dated to be used by end of October.
Hot dish: You may say casserole, but we in Minnesota call the combination of a starch, a protein, a binder, and any other mix ins, "hot dish". This one was the remains of three types of pasta ( elbow macaroni, penne, and rotini), a creamy home made white sauce flavored with chicken juice drippings saved and froze, last of leftover chicken, deboned, with bits of assorted leftover cooked vegetables and variety bits of cheese including Colby, provolone and goat cheese. We steamed a bag of broccoli on the side.
No awards for these meals and no one is looking for these in a cookbook. They were satisfying for us and several yielded leftovers for lunch for one of us the next day. Importantly, bits of food that might have gone in the garbage were used up and I pushed grocery shopping out a bit. I know some say that I'd have spent the same on groceries but staying out of stores curbs impulse buying. Shopping less frequently keeps me focused on items on my list that I intended to buy.
Sounds good. If it fills you up and you like it - that is all that is important.
ReplyDeleteIt helps with meal ruts too
DeleteWe have a lot of unconventional meals here as its a great way to save money.
ReplyDeleteI like that we find new things to enjoy together.
DeleteWe had an unconventional leftovers meal last night - leftover homemade ratatouille, the same of smoked haddock kedgeree, served with a baked potato. Filling and tasted good and got rid of 2 containers of leftovers from the freezer.
ReplyDeleteFreeing up freezer space is a bonus.
DeleteWe've been wrapping up leftovers at our house as well. I was planning to have leftover pizza for lunch today, but I see that Nick's study group polished that right off last night. I was a fool for thinking it would survive in the fridge. ;-) (Hawaii Planner)
ReplyDeleteI never count on any leftovers from a restaurant meal with my son here. Leftover pizza would be gone with teens in a flash.
DeleteLately, it seems most meals are thrown together. I rarely look in the refrigerator because bending even a bit hurts. Tommy will come and tell me what needs to be eaten, then we eat it. That is our meal planning lately--look, see, eat.
ReplyDeleteYou're a good team.
DeleteHot dish, casserole, pot pie, call it what you will, just don’t call me late for dinner! Frankly, I feel especially satisfied after a meal which uses what’s in hand. Saturday after dinner I simply tipped the leftover slow cooker pot roast and gravy in a baking dish, added a drained cans of corn, topped it with the leftover mashed potatoes, and popped it in the refrigerator for Sunday’s dinner. (During football season, DH likes to eat in front of the games, and galling as I find it, I do try to accommodate him.)
ReplyDeleteYour meals look lovely!
(Meg B.)
DeleteThere's something wholesomely satisfying about a use it up meal that's also tasty. I feel like all my knowledge of food, cooking, budgeting, etc. goes into full play. I love a good Cottage Pie!
DeleteI make these kinds of meals also. Depending on what they are, they usually end up as mish-mash soup or stir fry. They are mostly pretty good!
ReplyDeleteStir Fry's are great with the bits and pieces.
DeleteLove it. We do some "thrown-together meals" as well, especially when I am eyeing the fridge and thinking we gotta get through some leftovers. No food waste here if we can help it!
ReplyDeleteI hate to have waste and know there's people struggling to get a decent meal. Yes it saves money, but morally I feel I have a responsibility to manage food waste.
DeleteSam, absolutely as to moral responsibility!!!!
DeleteI always something new when I read your blog, Sam. I've had to Google Colby cheese and acorn squash today! x
ReplyDeleteThere's probably a more technical name for the squash variety. Colby cheese is a Midwestern favorite- especially when fresh and squeaky.
DeleteI think people who say they never throw together whatever is leftover are not exactly speaking the truth. I have to do what I fondly call a reformation movement on leftovers since TheHub seems to have a leftover allergy, but I do it all the time.
ReplyDeleteLove how you turned some bits and bobs into delicious meals. I made some cheesy bread this week that wasn't the best, so I look forward to trying your flatbread recipe. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of fun to be creative with the ends of things. I feel grateful that I have the means to shop, but common sense not to waste food.
Delete