The title is simple enough. I have ate a cold slice of pizza or two and have reheated pasta and even refried potatoes. I have used up day old bread... cold tea... old cooked rice and homemade pasta sauce. When there are leftovers in our house they do not last long. I will gladly pass the leftovers into whatever I am creating in the kitchen. Leftovers are good. I think that during the winter seasons we tend to have more leftovers than in the summer. Winter we are concentrating on keeping warm and comfort food is abundant. Summer... I know for myself my appetite goes down and staying hydrated is a must. Leftovers can be a god send or a convenience worth loathing. Think of all the holiday turkey leftovers and how magically we stretch those.
This book was a great find. Although lately at Winners I am having a hard time finding cookbooks. It is only 64 pages. The photography and illustrations are fantastic. It is a charming little book which should not go amiss. Getting you to look at your leftovers differently. The 6 chapters are given straight titles like, Raid The Fridge, Lovely Old Veg, Wonderful Carbs (Potatoes, Rice and Pasta), Make The Most From A Roast, Yesterday's Bread and Back to The Fruit Bowl. There is no reason to shamefully over glamourized leftovers. Leftovers are leftovers seeping with flavour, wanting to be used and waiting to be eaten. How to do this is based on how creative one can get and hopefully this book may be a source of inspiration.
The recipes, although sometimes typical show just how far to stretch that loaf of bread, that container of yoghurt, and those bits of veggies. There are many things waiting to be done with leftovers. Soup, stews, stir-frys, macaroni and cheese, cakes, salads, frittatas and omelettes. Within this disposable society leftovers teach us what is here today can be here tomorrow and possibly the next. That one can reduce food waste.
Some helpful hints and tips from the book are:
To freshen a day-old-loaf of bread is to hold the loaf for a just a second or two under running cold water. Give it a good shake then place in a hot oven for about 10 minutes.
Don't discard dry end-pieces of cheese. Grate them and freeze them in a freezer bag. Use in a recipe that requires a sprinkling of grated cheese on top.
Any left over spaghetti can be added to stir-fry to turn it into chow mien.
If you are left with half a lemon or lime, squeeze the juice into ice cube trays and freeze for later use.
Slice leftover roast meat. Place into freezer bags and use it at a later date in a curry.
Get creative with your leftovers. Enjoy your weekend everyone! - JW
The recipes, although sometimes typical show just how far to stretch that loaf of bread, that container of yoghurt, and those bits of veggies. There are many things waiting to be done with leftovers. Soup, stews, stir-frys, macaroni and cheese, cakes, salads, frittatas and omelettes. Within this disposable society leftovers teach us what is here today can be here tomorrow and possibly the next. That one can reduce food waste.
Some helpful hints and tips from the book are:
To freshen a day-old-loaf of bread is to hold the loaf for a just a second or two under running cold water. Give it a good shake then place in a hot oven for about 10 minutes.
Don't discard dry end-pieces of cheese. Grate them and freeze them in a freezer bag. Use in a recipe that requires a sprinkling of grated cheese on top.
Any left over spaghetti can be added to stir-fry to turn it into chow mien.
If you are left with half a lemon or lime, squeeze the juice into ice cube trays and freeze for later use.
Slice leftover roast meat. Place into freezer bags and use it at a later date in a curry.
Get creative with your leftovers. Enjoy your weekend everyone! - JW