Tins and Trays - So Many Uses

 We all have ice cube trays and muffin tins - you know they aren't just for ice cubes and muffins right??

I have extra ice cube trays that I use for a variety of things.  Muffin pans can be recycled into all kinds of storage and used to make all kinds of goodies!

ICE CUBE TRAYS

• Freeze leftover coffee - great for cooling that super hot cup of Joe or to add to ice coffee.  I have frozen strong coffee in cubes - to use in chocolate recipes (it really enhances the chocolate taste)
• Freeze leftover wine - good to use in a glass of wine and doesn't water it down
• I make mint and lemon balm simple syrups and freeze in cubes.  Great addition to a glass of tea
• Pizza sauce, tomato sauce/paste, etc.  Great to pop a cube into something you are cooking for just a little tomato taste
• Freeze fresh herbs/edible flowers in trays with water.  Fun addition to any dish you are making

• This s a fun thing to do with fruit - like berries as well - super neat addition to a drink
• Freeze OJ or lemon-aide to add to drinks
• You can freeze cubes of stock or broth to add to future meals.  Even gravy - great way to thicken up a soup or stew
• Kool-Aid frozen in cubes are fun for the kids (and adults) for a fun & cool treat
• Freeze tea in cubes.  Use in your iced tea and it doesn't get diluted.
• You can freeze bits of leftovers to add to soup or to make baby food

Each regular size cube is approximately 2 Tbsp.  I freeze my items - then pop them out and place into marked zip lock baggies for future use.  You can freeze just about anything  this way.  No waste of bits and pieces and dribs and drabs.

**Trays can also be used for earring holders in drawers or for anything that is small and easily misplaced!

MUFFIN TINS

Not just for muffins and cupcakes any more!

I love to freeze things in them and I bake other yummies in them as well.

• Freeze leftover mashed potatoes in tins - perfect for thawing and having another serving later
• Freeze any kind of veggie that is left (perfect serving size) or throw into a pot of soup
• I freeze leftover stuffing - it is the perfect size for a side to a meal
• Bake mini meatloaves - these are perfect serving sizes and easy to freeze for later.  They are also fun to slice in half and make a meatloaf sandwich!
• Quiche is perfect for muffin tins - bake up several servings for later

       Corndog muffins.  Corn bread mix in muffin tin - add chuck of hotdog and bake.  YUM

    Pizza cups - use crescent rolls, pizza dough, biscuits, etc. and add toppings and bake

                                                          Dinner bites - mini pot pies.

• Use to make larger ice cubes or frozen juice for punch bowls or pitchers of drink
• Bake cookies in muffin tins - for perfectly round and uniform size cookies!
• Old tins are great for holding finger paints for the kids - each spot a different color paint
• Great for storing craft supplies or odds and ends on the work bench
• You could also freeze soup in regular size tins - then when ready for a cup of soup, you can decide just how much you want!
• Use for condiment trays at buffets
• Use older trays for soap making or making 'new' crayons for the kids from old broken ones
• Great for making suet for birds

My goodness there is just no end to uses.  You can often find inexpensive trays and tins at dollar stores and discount stores to use for all the 'odd' things!  Look at thrift stores and yard sales - that is where I get most extras that I use.

I store my extra downstairs on top of the freezer - so I always know where to find them.

I love using things in new ways.  Making perfectly portioned leftovers for another meal and having flavored cubes on hand is always nice.  Great storage for odd sized items.

Get creative and think outside the box!