Tip: Bottom of the Bag

More than 40 percent of all food produced in America is not eaten.  That is about 29 million tons of food waste each year. Several years ago, during my first visit to Africa, I saw a small naked child, picking through a lot full of trash, looking for food.  I cried myself to sleep that night, worrying about that child.  Every since then, I try hard not waste anything. 

I don't throw away the bottom of the bag crushed tortillas chips, crackers, or cereal.  I put them in resealable plastic bags and freeze them.  Using them as a casserole topper or as a coating,  like the recipe I will be posting on Friday, "Baked Tortilla Chip Chicken Strips".

Sign up as a follower, to enter my monthly, Cookbook Giveaways!

Check out my post about the Giveaway for details.

Visit my blogging buddy, Bo's Blog (say that three times fast), 

Bo's Bowl. Not only does he have great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Snack Recipe: Mex Mix

Mex Mix

1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning
6 cups square rice cereal
5 cups corn chips (I like to use Fritos)
3 cups peanuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 13x9 inch baking pan, melt butter in oven 3 minutes. Add taco seasoning to melted butter. Mix well. Add rice cereal, corn chips and peanuts. Toss to coat. Bake 20 minutes or until crispy. Makes 12 servings.

Recipe can be found on page 41 in  
MY KIND OF COOKING COOKBOOK.

At Christmas I make big batches of this for my Christmas Baskets. It is nice to have a savory snack along with all the sweet ones.

Money Saving Tip: Purchase generic cereal instead of name brand. You can't taste the difference.

When our son was younger he said he could taste the difference between name brand and generic cereal, but I am sure it was just the toy inside the box that made the name brand taste better. When he moved away to attend college and had to learn to budget his money, that all changed. His first visit home after moving away we went to the grocery store to purchase his favorite foods. As I reached for his favorite cereal he said "Mom don't buy that get the generic brand it's cheaper and tastes the same." Apparently college does make you smarter!