Frugal Living Today

Probably the single most important money saving practice I know is one with which I was raised.  If you think about it, it is common sense and it took me several years into my adulthood to realize that it wasn’t something that everyone already does.

Make-ahead meals are a huge time saver, provided you are already accustomed to menu planning and shopping for the upcoming week (or month) accordingly.  The only real alteration is that instead of preparing one meal, you prepare two.  Of course, this only works with items that will freeze well.

The next time you are planning to cook spaghetti, lasagna, chili, or chicken pot pie, make two.  The addition to  your prep time will be minimal and it can often mean the difference between having something homemade, healthy and nutritious on-hand that can just be heated, or stopping at the drive thru on the way home from work.

Would you rather have a home cooked meal or a tasteless, greasy ‘value meal’?

Here are three additional make-ahead tips for you, that I employ every chance I get:

• Brown hamburger meat with chopped onions and peppers and freeze them in 1-pound portions.  The next time I want to make chili or spaghetti I take it out, thaw and add it right to my sauce on the stove.
• When I bake poultry, I shred the leftovers and freeze them in containers.  They hold up well and are quick to thaw for a barbeque chicken sandwich, chicken salad, or great tacos or burritos.
• Make a big batch of pancakes and/or waffles (the recipe is basically the same) and freeze them.  They will thaw in a flash in the microwave (pancakes) or toaster (waffles), ready for a quick and hearty breakfast anytime.

Quick note:  If I ever mention a recipe that you would like me to post here, please just leave me a comment.  I’d be more than happy to share!

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