A guide to making your food go further

Your table scraps can go a long way if you know how to prepare them right. Preppers know the value of extending the viability of food items. If it’s still edible, there’s no reason why you should throw it away. Even when no longer fresh, food can still be re-purposed for a second serving later on. Here are some ways to make your food go even further: (h/t to TheOrganicPrepper.com)

Vegetable puree soup

Do you have some leftover vegetables that you don’t know what to do with? They might not look appetizing on their own but with a little creativity you can easily give those veggies a second chance on the kitchen table. You can use a food processor to turn those vegetables into a fine puree. This is ideal for cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage, or root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, turnips, and parsnips. Turn that puree into a soup by adding milk, broth or water to thin its consistency. You can then add additional spices and condiments to spruce up the flavor and voila! You now have a hearty, re-purposed vegetable soup! Vegetables never have to go to waste if you can think outside the box. (Related: Regrowing foods from leftover fruits and vegetables is easier than you think.)

Meat pie

Meat lovers rejoice! You can still save that uneaten beef brisket or steak you left in the refrigerator. If you have any leftover meat and gravy, you can still use them to bake a meat pie. Cut your meat into bite-sized pieces and mix them with the gravy. Place the meat and gravy at the bottom of a pie pan or cast iron skillet. Creamy soups, thickened broth or savory bechamel sauces can be used as a gravy alternative if you don’t happen to have any. Cut any vegetables of your choice into bite-sized pieces and add them to the pie. Add seasoning to taste, if necessary. Now, complete your pie with a nice topping. You can use a standard pie crust, cornbread batter or a biscuit dough topping. Bake as directed. Once your pie has finished baking, let it cool for around five minutes before serving.

Leftover casserole

If you can’t decide between a puree soup or a pie, why not try making a leftover casserole dish? It doesn’t really matter what kind of extra food you have. Anything goes with a leftover casserole. All you need are meat, vegetables, a creamy sauce and a crispy topping. If you are lacking in meat and vegetables, you can always substitute it with cooked grains, such as barley, quinoa, rice, pasta, or wheatberries. To make the leftover casserole, first preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, combine all your ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. After that, spread out the mixture into a lightly greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Top your casserole with cheese, crumbled crackers or crumbled cereal. You can even take stale bread and finely chop it using a food processor. Lastly, bake your casserole at 350 F for 45 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Serve warm.

If you want to learn more about how to make your food go even further, you can read more articles by visiting FoodStorage.news.

Sources include:

TheOrganicPrepper.com

AllRecipes.com