I just read the best idea to reduce waste and help in the kitchen!

Hiya dragon, Dollar Stretcher Newsletter I have not heard of that one no to honest never. Looks like they give you a lot of good tips too. Nice ideas the ones that you have written down here I will think about using something like that myself. I am reducing waste and saving money a little at least. I plan to stick to that all I can this year.

I must be a weird one, but I never throw the juice away from canned fruit, I just drink it. But using it as a salad dressing sounds interesting. I can't think of things I do to reduce waste and save money. I save now by buying store brand items instead of brand name products. Sometimes I can taste the difference, but most of the time it's good enough, since I'm not big in to cooking, eating... I just do it because you have to eat sometime. Do you get the Dollar Stretcher newsletter online?

I rarely eat canned fruit and when I do I rarely have juice left over...lol. I do have though when I use sliced pineapple for salads or bbq. I'm curious about the chicken simmered in pear juice...would you use chicken pieces, cooked chicken, whole chicken and cook it where...in the oven? On the stove top?

I'd heard that the Dollar Stretcher newsletter was a good one. I love getting hints and tips from elsewhere. Sometimes I kick myself, thinking 'I wish I'd thought of that earlier!' I do actually hand onto the juice from cans of fruit. I would normally use it next time I make a dessert, but if I haven't got one planned then it keeps for a little while decanted into an old glass jar if you keep it cool. I often have olive oil or vinegar spare which has been previously used to store veggies in. This makes fabulous dressings for salads as it has a little of the flavours left and sometimes the last scraps of whatever the veggie was.

I have never thrown those juices. I serve them with the fruit as a compote. Not that I use much canned fruit: I prefer real fruit and I add real orange juice with a bit of sugar as juice. That also works as an antioxidant and their beautiful colour remains. I have also found out that making meals from scratch saves a lot of money not only in groceries but in doctor´s bills.

Hi dragon... its really nice idea that you have shared here. As i am not a housewife so i cant suggest you here but can produce your idea to my mom.

Growing up we made popsicles from it. Better than the chemical ones for sure. I seldom use canned fruits, but these are good ideas. I do have a recipe for brandied fruits for making a cake and there is always a lot of left over fluids. Supposed to share with friends. I may use some of these ideas with that. If I use canned veggies I save all the liquids, even if I cook a can of beans, for instance and it does not all boil away. I freeze these juices and broths for stock for soup.

There are very interesting tips. I think the chicken simmered in pear juice is worth trying. Thanks!

wow that's a great idea. but i am not in to cooking. especially western taste food. i am an original indonesian, don't quite like that canned food. hmh i let you know after i ask my wife how she save money in our kitchen. :)

Wow i have never heard of that one i will have to try it as i love salad dressing but they are usually so high in fat thanks for sharing.

Hi, dragon....I also get the Dollar Stretcher. I've used canned juice in pies and cakes and when cooking meats and even in some vegetables. You know those inner liner bags in cereal boxes? I save them up and when I need to flatten some cuts of meat (with my kitchen mallet)I just put the meat in the bag and flail away at it. They're practically indestructable, much more so than the plastic storage bags or wax paper. I've kept all the rubber bands that came with my newspaper delivery and tie the freezer paper with them when I'm throwing stuff into the freezer. I'v made several reusable shopping bags (crochet) so that I don't have to haul those plastic ones home from the grocery store.

The only time I throw away the juice or cooking liquid from canned food is that on hominy, water chestnuts and bamboo shoots. I have yet to find a use for those. I use the liquid from vegetables in soups and gravies and the juice from fruits in jello or drinks. I save the potato water for gravy, but I retain some of it to add when mashing the potatoes after adding powered milk or powdered creamer. I keep a container in the freezer and put small amounts of leftover meats, pasta and vegetables. When it gets full, we have soup. Sometimes, I don't have to add anything. but other times, I add such things as onions, celery, tomatoes, and cabbage. Bullion cubes might be added, if there was not much meat in the soup container.

I have actually used the juice in canned fruit to mix with my cottage cheese when I am out of fruit. Also I have added the fruit juice to my yogurts to give it a more fruity taste.

Those left over juices from the crushed pineapple you used in salads could be added to the marinade of your barbecue. When i make a cucumber salad, i don't throw away the dressing at once. I keep it in the chiller, where i could use it again to make a radish salad also.

Quite interesting tips. Using it when searing meats does sound good. I think it would definately add something different to the taste for sure. As for dressings and such we have done that before, and I have seen many types of different dressings for things made from all kinds of other stuff. I think when it comes to cooking and being creative the possibilities are endless.

That's a good idea to use it as a maranaide or as a dressing. I've heard of using the juices and making them into ice cubes and adding them to kool-aid.

If there's no added sugar in the juice then that's a great idea. Nova (myLotter) gave me a recipe for chicken cooked in orange juice. Sounds like that would go well with the juice from canned oranges.

i get the dollar stretcher also. but cant think right now what all ive tried in it. i do freeze a lot of things, left over, etc. because theres just 2 of us and son loves those deals at Fry's here. in other areas its called Krogers and im wondering if they hooked up with sams club or something because they now have if you buy 10 of certain things you get like a dollar or 2 off of each. we will not have to buy dishwasher tabs for the dishwasher for a year probably last time we went to frys son grabbed 10 boxes of Finish, what we always use. im like, "what the heck?" he said, well, if you buy 10 they are only $2.50 a box. if not, they are 3.75 a box! what a guy.

Wonderful tips. I have always hated to throw out jucies from canned fruit. I never thought about using them with meats. My hint is to keep regular cereal boxes and buy large containers of dry cereal from Costco or other warehouse stores use this as a replacement after using the cereal in your regular boxes, then store the rest of the supply in the freezer or refrig if you can. This way you save by buying big and can still store away in the smaller boxes. Since there are only two of us this works well.

I have never thrown away the yummy syrup of the canned fruit. If you don´t want to use is in elaborate ways, you can only add some water and use is instead of buying a soft drink. As for other juices from canned food, they can be added to a risotto or any other rice to give it more flavour. I save the liquid fron canned tuna and seafood and with another seafood can or a bit of fish I make a wonderful soup.