Leftover Roulette

What do you do with all those leftovers ? Are they still good and if so can you repurpose them. What can you creat with a bit of these combined with a smattering of that?Plenty if you know how to do it.

Leftovers get moldy quick. Eat them now or you'll be faced with a  thin coating of white,  green or orange mold. Unless you're conducting a science experiment toss them. fruit also either gets a white fuzzy coating of the stuff alogn with shriveling up quick. The same with veggies. Try to use fruit as part of a parfait or evne breakfast. Of course overly - almost black bananas are a staple in banana bread. Apples and pears with brown spots should be chucked outside either to feed the local wildlife ro added to the compost heap. If you went apple pickingand wound up wirh too mnay baskets, then think about wither giving them to family, friends and neighbors or make pies and tarts for the crowd. Keep in mind that fall's fruit apple and pears can be frozen and they can be used for later use. As for veggies again, if there's even a spot of mold toss them,if not think about salads that just have tomatoes or peppers in them. Onions can keep and they can be shredded and air fried for crispy snacks.

Protein goes quick too,.leftover steak and chicken can be cut up and used in salads. Add tomatoes , broccoli and green beans  Dress with a zingy Italian dressing for  a qucik supper.Another idea is adding the meat  to ratatouille for a different spin on the classic French dish. Serve with toasted baguette slices.Leftover turkey and ham can be ground in the food processor with some mayo . This can take the leftovers into lunch or even as a quick snack spread on crackers. Leftover soup can be revitalized with the addition of broth and smaller pasta like pastina or orzo. It can be stretched also with some leftover steaks or cut up chicken breasts along with whatever cut veggies you have. Leftovers  can also be turned into subs.Yesterday's salad can be used as one of the layers  along with whatever cheese you have in the fridge. Keep in mind that cold cuts have a short life too. Use them within a few days  whether in sandwiches or inyour takes on Croque Monsiur or Croque Madame.

Clear the fridge before you forget and wind up with all sorts of mold. Be creative what the leftovers . They can be turned into something tasty and not be wasted.

Refrigerator Roulette

There are days when a home chef doesn't feel like going out and food shopping. Then there are days when the fridge is full of leftovers. If that's the case, then  get creative with what' in the fridge and freezer. It's surprising what fun dishes can be created by what's in them..

The freezer can always yield up something for lunch or dinner. . There may be frozen veggies or some burgers that wound up there and then forgotten. Home chefs can cook the veggies with melted butter and then toss some Parmesan cheese on them for a different spin.They can also be used in making pot pies with meat left over from any Sunday roast. Use beef stock or even cream of chicken soup for the pies' gravy. That extra can of biscuit dough you thought you'd use for Easter but didn't can be used to make the crust. If you have Pillsbury  Grands Biscuits you can make individual pot pies using a muffin tin, Leftover ham can be sliced thin and used to make filling for a Croque Monsieur. Frozen burgers can be turned into patty melts , thanks to cheese slices and toast. They can also be used for pizza topping and  for adding some oomph to pasta.What about hot dogs? Think cheddar dogs if you have any cheese or better yet open a can of chili for chili dogs. Even restaurant leftovers can be combined with almost anything in the fridge. The white rice you took home Saturday night  from the Chinese restaurant can be added to the soup leftover from last night  to stretch it.

Salads are one of the best ways to use up what's in the fridge. Slice up that leftover roast beef and turkey and add it to those Spring greens and grape tomatoes for a flavorful salad. Sliced chicken can be added to a bowl of Romaine lettuce along with dried cranberries and walnuts  to create a filling but low calorie dinner. Add cut apples and even grapes to  turn it into a take on a Waldorf salad.Turn bacon, hard boiled  eggs and spinach into a tasty salad,Throw in thinly sliced white cap mushrooms for extra protein, The fridge can provide home chefs with the ingredients for homemade dressings too. One of the easiest to make is French dressing, The simplest recipe is just mayo and ketchup mixed with oil and red wine vinegar. Some recipes call for Worcester sauce  along with a sprinkle of paprika for color and sugar for added sweetness. Sub in dark honey for the sugar for a mellower, richer flavor. Add relish and you have Thousand Island dressing. Homemade Russian dressing is another product of fridge roulette It's the same mix of  ingredients as the other two dressings but has the double jolt of horseradish and hot sauce. it can also be used in the traditional Reuben sandwich too.

If your fridge is full or you're too tired to food shop then play refrigerator roulette. The results can be fun and a testament to creativity.Try it not just to use the food but to surprise yourself  ad familywith the results

Refrigerator Roulette

It's the weekend.It's too hot to go to the store to shop, yet you have to have some kind of lunch or supper for yourself and the family. What to do? Play roulette - refrigerator or pantry. There are ingredients there for something.- that's up to your creativity.

Every home chef should have pasta and rice in their arsenal. These are great as any base. Spaghetti and angel hair pasta can be turned into pasta con burro,  a light dish that is packed with flavor. Sub in garlic and olive oil for the butter  and make aglia e olio, another simple dinner that can be amped up with grilled chicken or salmon if you have them.Rice and beans are a staple in most kitchens. This is easy to make and  again, you can add to it. Try chicken or ground beef to give it more weight. Throw in a can of tomato paste and sauce  along with a dash of chili powder for a quickly made chili. Even without the spices it' still good. Rice can also be the base for a curry too.( remember that the spice rack is your friend here too ). An easy one can be made just by using the two ingredients. If you want throw in any veggies  found in the fridge or freezer , go ahead. Peas  and potatoes can also be tossed in too for more flavor.

Suppose the fridge holds only dribs or drabs or just cartons of leftovers?  Use them. Leftover cheese , flour, and a little milk can be melted down into a sauce Add some chicken or veggie broth and you have a soup.Sliced cheese, ham  and bread can be repurposed  into a yummy Croque Monsieur, that tasty French bistro sandwich.If you just have cold cuts, then think an Italian hero or better yet , a chef salad. Mix some mayo and ketchup together with oil and vinegar for a homemade French dressing. to pour over it. Tuna fish is another versatile player in refrigerator roulette. Mix it with mayo and chopped celery for a stuffing for tomatoes or make a lovely salad Nicoise with it.It can also be perfect  as a tuna melt with cheddar on top for a heartier lunch or supper.. Any leftover bread can be repurposed in both savory and sweet ways. You can make  savory bread pudding as well as a sweet one. There is a bread salad that consists of stale cubed Italian bread, tomatoes ad sliced onion. One of the classic bread recipes is French toast and it can be made for any meal. Besides it's one that you know the kids will love  and eat up instantly.

Refrigerator roulette can be a life saver,Look through the fridge or pantry for ingredients and then be creative. You can come up with a tasty meal with what ever is around.