↑

Premeditated Leftovers™

Prep-Ahead Meals, Cooking Tips, and Frugal Living


DIY Planter Box for Berries and Other Fruits

by 1 Comment

Rheney Williams is sharing how she created a planter box to grow blueberries on her patio. DIY Fruit-Filled Planter Box If saving money, eating healthy and always having something tasty on hand are among your goals, then a fruit-filled planter box in your backyard is an easy project that can accomplish each of them. AndRead More

Tips for Maintaining Healthy Habits While on Travel

by

It can be quite depressing to return from a vacation to find you have gained 5 or more pounds. And if you have health related issues, taking a break from your diet and exercise plan, may not be feasible. As many of you know my kids and I have Celiac Disease and my oldest sonRead More

5 Steps to a DIY Private Greenhouse

by 1 Comment

Jennifer Riner of Zillow is sharing 5  Steps to a DIY Private Greenhouse. Photo Credit: Zillow Digs Greenhouses enable gardeners to seed and harvest without seasonal limitations. Avid planters can better control climate, reduce pest infestations and regulate irrigation when using enclosed environments to grow flowers and vegetation. At-home conservatories increase convenience for homeowners while producingRead More

Pool Noodle Obstacle Course for Kids

by Leave a Comment

Last week Rodney shared ideas for setting up a Backyard Obstacle Course for Kids.  These jumps made from pool noodles would make a great addition to any backyard obstacle course that you set up for your kids.   Creating a jumping course for kids is a fun way for them to get exercise. Whether you createRead More

Spicy Steak and Artichoke Sandwich

by

Last week, I decided to serve sandwiches and salad for dinner instead of heating up the kitchen by cooking a meal. As I was making my menu plans, I asked my husband to describe his favorite sandwich and he basically described a Philly Steak Sandwich. I asked him if we would mind if I playedRead More

How to Save Money at Hobby Lobby

by Leave a Comment

If you are an avid crafter, you might be wondering how to save a little money on your addiction! Crafting can in fact be an addiction, causing you to wonder the craft store aisles for hours. Instead of spending big bucks on those supply trips, give these buying tips a try instead. Below, you willRead More

30 Summer Recipes Using In-Season Fruits and Vegetables

by 3 Comments

Whether you buy your produce at a farmers’ market, shop at the grocery store, or grow your own fruits and vegetables, the easiest way to create delicious recipes is to use in-season produce. By using in-season fruits and vegetables in your recipes, not only will you enjoy produce at the peek of freshness, you will save money on yourRead More

How to Organize Under Your Kitchen Sink

by Leave a Comment

Under the kitchen sink can be a real nightmare to deal with. You all know that dreaded moment when you realize you need to find something under there and you just know that when you open the cabinet door it’s all going to come rolling out and land on your feet! The front of myRead More

7 Frugal Ways to Enjoy the 4th of July

by Leave a Comment

With the 4th of July quickly approaching, you may be wondering how you can best spend this festive weekend. Take a look below at 7 frugal ways to enjoy Independence Day without blowing your budget. The good news is, there are so many options, many of which are free or close to. Take a lookRead More

5 Ways to Save on a Beach Vacation

by 1 Comment

Summer is just around the corner and that means many families are in the process of planning for their fun beach vacations.  Going to the beach with the family can be a ton of fun but it can also be very expensive.  Here are 5 Ways To Save Money On A Beach Vacation that areRead More

German Chocolate Pie Recipe with Coconut Pie Crust

by

A few months ago my husband went grocery shopping for me. I had asked him to pick up Silk Almondmilk, but he accidentally picked up Silk Coconutmilk instead. He felt bad when he realized his mistake and offered to go back to the store to exchange it. However, I decided it would be the perfectRead More

Best Plants for a Shade Garden

by 1 Comment

Most gardeners have an area in their yard that is completely or partially in the shade. Finding plants that thrive in the shade can be done, but you do have to take a bit more care than you would with most plants that can tolerate a lot of sun. Maintaining an evenly moist garden siteRead More

Menu Plan with a Week of Salad Recipes

by Leave a Comment

I am finally harvesting salad greens from my garden, so we are going to celebrate with a week of salads. Depending on the weather and time available I will either Batch Grill or Batch Broil Chicken on Monday and then combine the chicken with ingredients from the garden to make several different salads. On Thursday, I will broil Salmon andRead More

Growing a Vegetable Garden in the Southwest

by Leave a Comment

Growing a vegetable garden in the southwest is different than growing anywhere else in the United States. The temperatures during the summer months stay well above 100 degrees both day and night and there is relatively little to no humidity. It takes work to have a successful vegetable garden, but it can be done ifRead More

Tips for Gardening as a Family

by 1 Comment

Have you ever visited a family farm and noticed how well behaved their children are? Teaching children the value of home grown food instills early American values that seem to be disappearing in today’s society. Getting your child outside, in the dirt, digging vegetables may seem like a challenge that the 21st century kid justRead More

Welcome. I'm Alea!

On Premeditated Leftovers I share simple recipes made with whole foods, practical shopping tips, time saving techniques, and meal planning strategies. I also share tips for minimizing food waste, so more of the food that is purchased ends up on the table.

While volunteering as a budget counselor, I realized that food is the element of most people’s budgets where they have the greatest control. I set out to develop low-cost recipes from scratch to prove it’s possible to create delicious meals on a limited budget. Eating well while spending less is about more than just creating recipes using inexpensive ingredients; it’s about creatively combining ingredients so you don’t feel deprived and are inspired to stick to your budget.