THE LEFTOVER DILEMMA--
There are 3 schools of thought on what to do with leftovers-
1) Re-use them and feel good about not wasting food and know that you're saving money.
2)Just go ahead and throw them out. You're never going to eat them anyway. It's just pennies, right?
3) Put them in the fridge with the best of intentions, forget they're there and begin growing your own Chia Pet.
In these days of pinching a penny here and there to help make ends meet and keep the gas tank full, plus working to keep our planet clean, I think the first option is the best.
It takes just a little planning ahead and dinner from last night can be on the menu again tonight in a totally new and tasty form.
USING LEFTOVERS IS LIKE DOING MATH
But you don't have to be Einstin to make it work!
What we are going to do is use any turkey, chicken, beef, veal, ham, pork or lamb as a base--usually 2 Cups, diced. If you have any of the other ingredients available as leftovers, use them too. Even left-over water that vegetables have been cooked is full of nutrients and can be used again. Just keep in the fridge for no more than a couple of days and if not used, freeze.MULTIPLICATION--is the first step to creating recipes that are flexible and allows you to create a variety of dishes with dozens of possibilities.
DIVISION--saves you money! Having a roast for 1 dinner is a luxury, but using the leftovers for a second or third main dish cuts the cost per meal way down.
ADDITON--lets you be creative. You can add all sorts of leftovers, spices, condiments and fresh items together to produce tasty meals.
SUBTRACTION--cuts down on prep time, cooking time and wastefulness. By studying these basic recipes, you can adjust them to your preferences and create hearty, healthy and economical meals.
Just add a salad, bread, dessert and drink and--dinner is served.
WHEN YOU NEED JUST THE RIGHT DISH!
Special needs require special casserole dishes.
Le Creuset 1.25-qt. Glazed Oval Baking Dish, Cobalt Blue
Cuisinart 3-qt. MultiClad Casserole Dish with Cover
Mayfair & Jackson 1.6-qt. Round Casserole Dish with Stand, White with Holly
Chantal 2.5-qt. Heart-Shaped Covered Casserole, Glossy Red
Rosanna 7-in. My Favorite Recipes Casserole Dish, Multi-Colored
MEXICAN PIES
A tasty combo with a cornmeal base.
1 cup Milk
3 cups Boiling Water
1 tsp Salt + 1 1/2 tsp Salt
3 Slices Bacon, Diced
1/2 cup Diced Celery
1 Med. Onion, Chopped
1/2 Green Pepper, Chopped *
1 cup Tomatoes
1/2 c Corn **
1 1/2 tsps Chili Powder ***
Pepper to taste
1/4 cup Sliced Ripe or Stuffed Olives (optional)****
1 1/2 cups Minced Leftover Cooked Meat or Poultry
1 cup Grated Cheese--Cheddar, Montery Jack or Pepper Jack are all good
Mix cornmeal with milk; add to boiling water with 1 teaspoon salt. Cook until thickened, stirring continously. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Use this mixture to line 1 1/2 quart casserole dish thats been sprayed with Pam or lightly greased.
Dice and fry bacon until crisp. Add celery, onion and green pepper and cook for 5 - 10 minutes.
Add remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and all remaining ingredients except cheese and simmer for 5 minutes more.
Put in the baking dish. Sprinkle cheese over top.
Bake in preheated oven - 325° - for 40 to 45 minutes.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
* NOTE
--any color pepper works fine or use 2 different colors for eye appeal.
** NOTE
--use more corn if desired. Also, the corn can be added to the cornmeal instead for a delightful twist.
***NOTE
--use more or less depending on taste. You can also add a dash of hot sauce if you want to.
**** NOTE
--olives are optional but do make a big difference in the final taste of this dish. I prefer the black olives.
COOK LIKE THE PROS DO
Yes, even pros use leftovers!
Good Eats S3E5P2: Behind The Bird
A faux documentary purporting to show what happened when the crew was snowed in for seven days and Alton had to use turkey leftovers to feed the increasingly desperate mob. Also: what to look for in a good toaster. Recipes featured in this episode: - In a Cranberry Jam - Turkey Re-Hash - Bird to the Last Drop.
A BEAUTIFUL CASSEROLE DISH FOR A WONDERFUL CREATION!
Serve your creation in a beautiful dish and it always taste better!
SHEPHERD'S PIE
A yummy dinner and a great way to use those left-over mashed potatoes.
1/2 cup chopped Celery1/2 cup Chopped Onion
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 cups Cut-up Leftover Cooked Meat or Poultry b>
2 cups Leftover Gravy or Canned Soup
1 c Sliced Carrots, cooked *
1/2 cup Cooked Green Peas *
1/2 cup Cooked Corn *
Salt and Pepper
1 Egg Yolk
2 cups Leftover Mashed Potatoes or 1 pkg (2 cups) Instant Mashed Potatoes
Saute onion and celery in sauce pan with olive oil until transparent. Combine meat, gravy and vegetables in saucepan. Heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Pour into a sprayed or lightly greased 2-quart casserole dish.
Beat egg yolk into the potatoes and top the casserole with potatoes spread lightly on top, dropped by the spoonful or through a pastry tube to cover.
Bake in a preheated 350° oven until potatoes are browned and gravy is bubbling--about 25 minutes.
Makes 4 servings.
* NOTE-- This is such a versatile recipe--try using ground beef or Italian sausage, browned and drained or 1 pkg. cooked frozen mixed vegetables or 1 pkg of cooked chopped frozen broccoli in place of the ingredients listed above. Also, the potatoes can be sprinkled with grated chedder cheese, buttered bread crumbs or finely chopped bacon. If some combo sounds good to you, give it a try!
BE CREATIVE!
Don't be afraid to try new combos of ingredients and spices for new taste treats. That's how all the great chefs have come up with their specialty dish and you can do the same thing, too!!
BARBEQUE-STYLE LEFTOVERS
Now, who doesn't like BBQ?
2 Tbls EVOO
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Celery Salt
1 can (8 oz.) Tomato Sauce
2 Tbls Brown Sugar
3 Tbls Vinegar
2 Tbls Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 cup Ketchup
1 cup Water
Dash of Hot Pepper Sauce
2 cups Diced Leftover Meat or Poultry
3 medium Potatoes, diced, cooked and drained
Cook onion in olive oil. Add remaining ingredients, except for meat and potatoes.
Simmer the sauce for about 1/2 hour or until thick.
Add the meat and potatoes, simmer about 10 more minutes or until meat is heated through.
You can also put the mixture in a sprayed casserole dish, top with spoonfuls of cornbread or biscuit mixture and bake for about 20 minutes at 400°. Also can be topped with crushed corn chips and cheese.
Makes 4 servings
Serve alone, over cornbread or biscuits or leave out the potatoes and use as a filling for a baked potato.
DISHES YOU JUST CAN'T DO WITHOUT
Emile Henry Assorted set of 4 Miniature Casserole Dishes
Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)
Le Creuset Square Baker with Bonus 2-pc., Caribbean
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 10/12/2008)
CorningWare Creations 2-1/2-Quart Covered Round Casserole, Ruby
Amazon Price: $22.92 (as of 10/12/2008)
CorningWare Creations 4-Piece Set, Emerald
Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)
Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 3-1/2-Quart Buffet Casserole, Red
Amazon Price: $189.48 (as of 10/12/2008)
NOODLE CASSEROLES
Use all kinds of noodles, different meats and vegetables for an endles variety of dishes.
1 can (6 ounces) Tomato Paste *
1 Garlic Clove, Minced
3 cups Water
1/2 tsp Onion Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1 1/2 tsp Salt
Dash of Cayenne
8 ounces Wide Noodles **
1/2 cup Cooked Peas
Grated Parmesan Cheese
Combine all ingredients, except last 3. Bring to a boil.
Add noodles; be sure sauce covers them. Add more water if necessary for noodles to cook thoroughly. Cover and cook slowly until noodles are tender--about 20 minutes.
Add hot peas and stir. Pour into casserole dish. Sprinkle top with grated cheese and place in hot oven (350°) for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Makes 4-6 servings.
* NOTE-- 1 cup of spagetti sauce or 1 can Mushroom Soup can be substituted. Adjust the amount of water used.
** NOTE--Use any style of pasta for a different look for this dish.
THE SKINNY ON LEFTOVERS
Using leftovers wisely will definitely save you money on groceries. It also means less garbage in our landfills and sewers for a cleaner, greener planet.
Tell us how you stand on using your leftovers, suggest a tasty way to use them or fess up to how big your "fuzzy monster" got under that Tupperware lid.
REMEMBER--
These are now YOUR recipes.
Mix and match, add or subtract ingredients according to what's available and your tastes. It's all up to you what the final dish will be like.
LINKS TO HELP WITH YOUR LEFTOVER PROBLEMS!
- THE LEFTOVER CHEF
- Huge listing of recipes using leftovers.
- TERI'S KITCHEN
- Taking leftovers and preparing them into a tasty meal.
- COOKING WITH LEFTOVERS
- ABC listing of ingredients and how to use them.
- HANDLING LEFTOVERS SAFELY
- Do's and don't for food safety.
- KEEPING LEFTOVERS SAFELY
- Article explaining how long to keep leftovers in the fridge.
- REDUCE WASTE OF FOOD
- Recipes to help reduce food waste using leftovers.
SO, WHAT DID YOU THINK?
Let the world know which casserole you're having tonight!
Leave a quick comment, one of your recipes or whatever strikes your fancy.
Just be sure to give me 5 stars (PLEASE!!!!) and join my fan club!
Thanks Kim, happy to add to your great list of food ideas!
Posted July 22, 2008
|
KimGiancaterino
Great ideas! Welcome to Culinary Favorites From A to Z. Posted July 21, 2008 |
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