Too tired to cook? Choose and buy your neighbor's leftovers

After the third night in a row using up the chilli or spaghetti bolognese you made too much of, you have to wonder whether it could be put to better use.

We either freeze the food or throw it out -- or for some of us who are single, don't see a point in cooking so head to a takeaway instead. But what if someone else would like to try your signature dish and you could make some money out of it instead?

As a way to combat waste and give you some extra pocket money, Shareyourmeal.net lets you try your neighbor's cooking. The online food-sharing network is a step beyond on food-based services offered online, and allows you to meet cooks rather than simply exchange a recipe.

Started in Amsterdam in 2008 and about to launch in New York, cooks are able to submit a dish they've made on the site, the price they want, how many portions are available and how long it will keep. Foodies can then search around their neighborhood for a tasty, home-cooked meal, generally ranging in price from $4.00 to $7.00.

Since its launch, the service has registered 45,000 cooks and over 73,000 meals have been purchased.

Founder of the social enterprise Marieke Hart says that convenience is one factor that appeals, but the social aspect is the most important. Hart commented:

"We believe food brings people closer together. In the Netherlands, we see people of completely different ages, status, and cultures, meet each other in their kitchens. They chat, and sometimes contact starts happening outside the actual sharing."

Read More: Fast Co.Exist

Image credit: Flickr

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com