Yeah Toast!

I hope Bob and Tom don't mind me stealing their song title for this posting, but I just really love toast.  It's cheap, easy to prepare, and goes with just about everything.  This summer, Jason and I enjoyed a lot of easy, frugal, and delicious meals because of this crunchy treat.

The first thing to consider?  Every time you throw away food, you throw away money.  This includes the moldy leftovers, the residue on the inside of a condiment jar, and those heels of bread that no one seems to want to eat.  It is a very rare occasion that Jason and I put food into the trash can.  I can't put food into the trash without visualizing the money that it represents.

For example, you can add milk to an "empty" chocolate (or any other flavor) syrup bottle, shake it up, and have a fabulous drink right out of the bottle.  (It feels so wrong, but it tastes so right).  You can add a little olive oil and vinegar to an "empty" mustard container to make a tasty salad dressing.  Actually, most condiments can be turned into salad dressings under the right conditions.  It's fun to get creative with it!

But this posting isn't about salad dressing.  It's about toast!  (Did I mention I love toast?)  Bread kept in the fridge tends to stay good for a crazy long amount of time.  I don't think I've seen mold on my refrigerated bread in the ten years of our marriage.  I'm also not fond of my PB&J served on the heels of the loaf, so we tend to get a collection of them in the fridge.  Here are a few uses for our doughy friend:

• French Toast
• Cut them into cubes and make croutons
• Toast them until completely dry, roll them with a pastry roller, and have bread crumbs for recipes
• Use to keep baked goods fresh at home or when shipping a care package
• Bread Pudding (Yum!)
• Fancy Meals

What I mean by fancy meals is cutting my toast diagonally so I get four triangles.  I place them in my toaster oven so they get nice and crispy.  While it's toasting, I wander around the kitchen looking for things to go with my fancy toast points.  Just about any left overs work.  I also like beans (Beans on toast is great British Recipe.  Look it up and try them).  We also like to use hummus, guacamole, sliced avocado, melted cheese, cold cuts, etc.  You get the idea.  The point is to get a delicious, healthy, fun meal without buying anything special.  It's best to just use what you already have around the house.  I place a priority on any leftovers that might spoil soon.

It's super simple, but you have to be in the mindset that you will not tolerate waste.  It isn't just about saving money.  It's about being responsible with the resources we have available to us.

What other fun uses do you have for the heels of bread, or any other item that might normally get thrown away?  Let us know in the comment section below!