The Big January Clean

Now that the holidays are over , it's time to clean out the kitchen. A snowy weekend in  means time to assess what you have, what needs to be thrown out and needs to be repurposed. It's a great way of figuring out what 's good and what's not.

There may be some baking ingredients left over from last month's big bake off. Chocolate chips can still be good and reused in everything from sundaes to rice puddings. Sprinkles can be scattered over ice cream or hot chocolate. Check to see if any leftover nuts are still good to eat. These are the first to go rancid . If that's the case toss. Cake mixes can last up to anywhere from a year to three years while cookie mixes can be used within twelve months. It's also a good time to evaluate all those cans. Canned beans usually can last a long time.If you have a few cans and  tomato sauce then think about making . chili This is a great dish to also get rid of any left over roasts. Tins of tomatoes can be repurposed into making sauces for future pasta dishes.Any extra boxes of pasta can go either Italian or Chinese, depending on the ingredients. you have around. It can also go into a fun spaghetti pie . the fridge needs to cleaned out too. Those cocktail olives from the your Christmas party probably should be tossed by now Check condiments too.Mayo can only last two to three months while ketchup lasts longer at eighteen months.

Luckily stale bread, crackers and snacks can be tossed to the birds and wildlife.in fact you can go to any big parking lot and feed the gulls and land birds as well as hitting your local beaches to feed gulls and other sea birds. Leftover bread can be turned into a tasty bread pudding, perfect for a frosty day.Old fruit and veg can also be thrown out to any raccoons and possums in your neighborhood. The same goes for cereals.  Just remember that cereal can last up to six months.  Another idea is turning them into fun treat bars.It doesn;t have to be just Rice Krispies. Cheerios can also be used. Add some leftover chocolate chips or sprinkles for color and taste.They can also be crushed and used to coat chicken for chicken fingers or fried chicken  Any rice cereal can also surprisingly be  used for coating fish for a perfectly crunchy coating. If you have a lot of oatmeal,yes, it makes for a good  hearty breakfast but it can also be used for cookies as well as for crisps.Use it and any leftover flour from holiday baking to make oatmeal bars. Make it healthy with the addition of honey and wheat germ.

January is the time for cleaning out. Evaluate what you have. . decide if it can be repurposed or thrown out. Cleaning out will make for more room and a tidier kitchen.

Holiday Detoxing With Leftovers

As we all recover from our Christmas feasting and look forwards to our New Year's calorie splurges. However too much eating and drinking can do  number on anyone.It's time to call in those leftovers from yesterday to help. Yes, you can repurpose that Christmas ham and turkey into something yummy and healthy.

A good breakfast is the key to starting the day off right. We all have the tendency to have a holiday starter of cookies or a slice of cake . Resist.  The one Christmas treat, oranges are the exception. Nothing beats a glass of fresh squeezed juice but also there 's nothing greater than starting a day with slices of sunshine. There' chock full of Vitamin C and fiber, two much needed ingredients for a healthy system.Panettone and pan d'oro are also a nice way to start the the morning. Just have them sliced and toasted  but nix the butter. They're rich enough to eat on their own. If you do want something extra think a fresh fruit salad with  pears  and apples mixed with oranges and bananas. This last is a nice idea to make with that first shipment of Fruit Of The Month Club that many of you did receive as gifts. Leftover ham can be turned into amazing omelets or perfect fried up with eggs. Just go easy with it Maybe make one slice with an egg for a good breakfast or chop in a scant half cup when making a fritatta.Cut off all fat before cooking.

Speaking of that ham, it's good just minced in a big salad.Make it a bit player so the salad keeps its' nutritional value. Use whatever leftover veggies too, like green beans, broccoli and mushrooms from your antepasto. Leftover turkey is a blessing .It's a  low calorie meat that can be made into a variety of yummy  dishes. A simple salad with turkey slices is a great lunch or brunch dish. Add some dried cranberries and baby spinach leaves for some variety. Have a simple sandwich using slices of a hearty grain bread and low calorie mayo. Toast the bread and make a sumptuous but good for you club sandwich (Nix the bacon of course). A simple turkey consomme is another cleansing dish , perfect after a week of serious feasting.Just keep in mind it's a complicated soup despite its' simplicity.It does require clarification using egg whites and cheesecloth. However it is worth it , simply because of its' richness and plainness plus you get rid of most of the bird.. Sweet potatoes , usually, loaded down with calories, can be turned into a healthy leftover. Have them reroasted in the oven, with a drizzle of olive oil and just a sprinkle of sea salt for a tasty side. They can also be repurposed into part of a vegan stew as well.

The holiday brings us tons of delicious savories and sweets. Repurpose them to create healthy dishes to help you detox during the holiday season.It's  nice way of having leftovers.