| Food is a constant expense. Every day, three times | | | | Most plants need air and water to survive. Broccoli, |
| a day, whether eating out or cooking at home, you | | | | Asparagus, lettuces, and all other items were living in |
| have to spend money on food. If you have to cook | | | | dirt, soaking up the sun not long ago. If you strangle |
| on a budget, you're probably very careful about what | | | | them in a plastic bag, they'll steam in their own |
| you bring home from the grocery for everyday | | | | breathing. That's not good! You have to let |
| cooking, but how do you protect this investment | | | | vegetables breath in your refrigerator. Take them |
| once it's in your cabinets or refrigerator? | | | | out of the plastic bag. |
| As I have stated before, over-buying is the biggest | | | | Take notice of the root end of vegetables, and give |
| detriment to cooking on a budget, because most of | | | | them some water to further hydrate and not dry |
| the food gets wasted. This occurs because when | | | | out. They'll continue drawing water like fresh cut |
| people over-buy, they also over-cook and | | | | flowers, and extend the life of the product in your |
| over-portion which results in eventually throwing out | | | | possession. |
| the leftovers. This doesn't have to be the case. | | | | Protein: |
| Because of package sizing, you will probably purchase | | | | When you return with more than one meal of |
| too much for one meal, but make sure that you | | | | protein, immediately portion for future meals and |
| DON'T over-cook, over-portion and over-eat. You | | | | freeze what you're not going to use. This way, it |
| need to understand and follow correct portioning | | | | doesn't deteriorate while you make up your mind. |
| rules for your family. You will also have to make | | | | For example, when I make hamburgers, I use 8 |
| adjustments with the food that you purchase. If you | | | | ounces of ground beef or turkey. When I get the |
| don't, then the asparagus or broccoli that aren't | | | | entire pound, I immediately break this down, and |
| included in tonight's meal may be left in the | | | | freeze the half I won't be using. |
| refrigerator. But, 3 days later, they're limp, mushy, | | | | Protecting your investment in food starts the |
| and need to be thrown away. Whether you've | | | | moment you get your food home from the store. |
| cooked them or not, the result is the same. | | | | Cooking on a budget demands that you don't waste |
| Today's tips are about extending the shelf-life of the | | | | food or money by letting it spoil before you get to |
| items in your house so you're not throwing away | | | | cook it. Having fresh, appetizing ingredients to |
| money spent on food…sometimes food that hasn't | | | | practice your craft upon will make everyday cooking |
| even been cooked. | | | | a joy. |
| Vegetables: | | | | |