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Premeditated Leftovers™

Prep-Ahead Meals, Cooking Tips, and Frugal Living


How to Dry Herbs – 4 Methods to Dry Fresh Herbs

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I enjoy growing herbs and being able to use fresh herbs in recipes throughout the summer. However, once the herbs begin to bolt or colder temperatures threaten the plants with a freeze, I know it is time for me to give up my fresh herbs and dry the herbs, so I can use the dried herbs all winter long. ThereRead More

How To Make Amazing Cheese Grits

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What’s with this ground Hominy corn staple of the south anyway? Well, people generally fall into Camp 1, those who hate ’em. Then there are those who fall into Camp 2, ya’ll love ’em to pieces. I happen to fall into the latter camp. I love me some grits. No surprise there, well maybe somewhatRead More

10 Savory Mushroom Recipes

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Mushrooms are one of those things you love or don’t. Personally, I love them. I think they add so much to so many types of recipes. To me, they really add that savory factor to any recipe you use them in. If you are a friend of fungus, you will love these 10 Savory MushroomRead More

Mini Apple Pie Bites

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Apples and cinnamon belong together in one of fall’s favorite desserts- Apple Pie. But you can make them something really special by topping the sweet, tender apples with walnuts that get deliciously toasted. Make it even better by creating little individual pies for your party or get together. I think everything looks and tastes betterRead More

10 Delicious Spinach Recipes

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Spinach isn’t just for Popeye! It happens to be one of my very favorite ways to jazz up recipes and add some dark leafy greens to my dishes. Spinach is usually pretty low priced where I am at, but when it goes in season, it is really cheap! The great thing about spinach is thatRead More

Zucchini Fritters Recipe

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We discovered a delicious Zucchini Fritters recipe in Good Cheap Eats Dinner in 30 Minutes (or Less!) by Jessica Fisher. Even better, Jessica is letting us share this easy meatless meal with you. I was thrilled to have an opportunity to review Good Cheap Eats Dinner in 30 Minutes (or Less!) by Jessica Fisher. You mayRead More

10 Delicious Apple Recipes

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Since I live in Washington state, it’s probably no surprise to you that I love apples. Before I moved here, I actually had no idea there were so many types. I was kind of an apple lover before, so I had my favorites (Honey Crisp, of course) but there are so many varieties in theRead More

How to Harvest and Roast Sunflower Seeds

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The early fall months are the time of year where sunflowers peek above everything else growing in your garden. Their tall and gracious stems send them straight to the sky, putting on a brief and colorful show before the weight of their seeds begin to pull them back down. If you have a sunflower orRead More

Rocky Road Cheerios Bars

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This easy, no-bake recipe for Rocky Road Cheerios Bars makes a tasty treat or after-school snack.   These Rocky Road Cheerios Bars are a quick and easy no-bake cereal bar treat! This tasty snack is made with cheerios, chocolate chips, marshmallows, and nuts. I love that it doesn’t require any baking and it only needsRead More

Savory Apple Pizza

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  Apples are one of my favorite fall flavors and I especially love to make recipes that are more savory with apples like this Savory Apple Pizza.  The apples are caramelized with onion and paired with black forest ham for a sweet and salty combination.  It makes a great dinner or appetizer! Savory Apple PizzaRead More

Chipotle Ranch Chicken Salad Wraps

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You wouldn’t think as a homeschool mom that I would have to pack lunches. However I do. We attend classes at a homeschool co-op, music lessons, and go on at least one field trip a week. Which adds up to quite a few brown bag lunches through out the week. My youngest son is veryRead More

10 Delectable Pear Recipes

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For the longest time, I didn’t really like pears all that much. I think it was because I had only really ever had pears in syrup out of the can. Then, I tried a fresh from the farm Anjou pear at a farmer’s market once and I knew what I had been missing out on.Read More

15 Caramel and Candied Apple Recipes

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One of my favorite things about fall is picking apples! We have 2 apple trees, so we usually have bushels of apples each autumn. Apples are my favorite fruit; I never tire of eating freshly picked-apples. If you don’t grow your own apples, you can still enjoy the fun by going apple picking with yourRead More

S’more Caramel Apples

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Combine the fun of caramel apples with the great taste of S’mores in this unique S’more caramel apples recipe! ‘Tis the season for S’mores and it is almost the season for caramel apples so why not combine the two and make the kids (and grownups) really smile. S’more Caramel Apples Recipe Ingredients 4 Apples 4 BagsRead More

Broccoli Slaw

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This broccoli slaw recipe is a variation of my Nutty Broccoli Salad Recipe. The broccoli slaw is made using the broccoli stems where the Broccoli Salad is made using the broccoli florets.When my daughter was 2, my husband was preparing broccoli for her. He cut the florets off the top and put them on herRead More

Sweet Potato Fudge

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My Pumpkin Pie Fudge is very popular with my husband and kids. The other day I was going to make some pumpkin fudge but then I decided to get a little creative with the recipe and try replacing the pumpkin with sweet potato puree, because I love changing things up.  I was a little short onRead More

S’more Ice-Cream Parfait

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This recipe makes 2 delicious S’more Parfaits. Double, triple, or quadruple it if you are feed a crowd. Ingredients: 1 Pint Ice Cream, Vanilla 2 Bananas, Sliced 15-20 Mini Marshmallows 4 Graham Crackers, Pulsed in a food processor, and 4 Graham cracker quarters toasted 1/3 Cup of Mini Chocolate Chips 4 Large Marshmallows 2 tbspRead 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.