Meal Planning: Create New Meals... Using Leftovers
It is estimated that the average American household throws out between $1300 and $2200 of food each year. A report by the National Resources Defense Council from August 2012 details this staggering statistic. Around this same time period, Gallup conducted a poll to find out that the average American household spends approximately $150 per week on groceries. When put in context, the amount of food that is thrown out each year is worth, literally, 8 to 14 weeks of groceries.
One way to avoid throwing those leftovers (and dollars!) out with the trash is to plan your weekly meals in advance and look for ways to use leftovers. Think about foods and flavors that go together. It takes a little creativity, but it will save you time and money when it comes to making those weeknight dinners.
Here is an example of taking leftovers from dinner and using them the next day—in a whole new dish.
Stuffed peppers are a great dinner for any money savvy shopper because it is an all-in-one kind of dish: meat, vegetables, and rice. Buy the ground beef when it is on sale and freeze it; then you will always have some in the freezer when you need to use it. This is also a meal that should be planned when the red, yellow, and orange bell peppers are on sale (or fresh from your own garden– which costs next to nothing!), otherwise, they can be pretty expensive. Green peppers can also be a more affordable alternative, but they can be a little less sweet than the red, yellow, or orange.
STUFFED PEPPERS
5 large bell peppers
1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 onion
2-3 baby protabella mushrooms (optional)
1 large can chopped tomoatoes
1/2 c cooked rice
shredded cheese, colby jack
salt, pepper, Nature’s Seasoning or Seasoned
Salt to taste
Clean peppers, removing seeds and cut approximately 1/2 inch off the top (to saute with onion)
Brown ground beef. (Cook 1 lb of ground beef and set aside the other 1/2 lb for
the next meal)
Add onion, pepper pieces, and finely chopped muchrooms in with beef and finish cooking
Add crushed tomatoes, along with additional seasonings
Add cooked rice and stir together
Fill bell peppers with beef and rice mixture
Ttop with shredded cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 45-60 minutes.
The next day, you can use the leftover peppers (along with the 1/2 lb ground beef, which was set aside) to make a whole new meal.
Put remaining ground beef, onions, peppers and mushrooms in pan. Cut up leftover stuffed peppers and add to pan. All of these ingredients
Money Savvy Meals