Left over food - wwyd?

[Letthenamesbegin]

Had a party yesterday - for various reasons there’s a ton of leftovers! All M&S catering type stuff so no good for say a food bank as they don’t take perishables.

I literally have around 10 various salads and coleslaws, a massive cheesecake, huge trifle, around 50 mini deserts etc.

Plus things like a whole large salmon, half a beef side etc.

I know that sadly a lot is going to go in the bin but any ideas what to do with it all (habe been eating beef and coleslaw sandwiches all day(.

will try the homeless hostels! I work from home but have asked dh if he will take the cheesecake to work.

Salmon says cannot be frozen (am guessing as pre-frozen when caught), am tempted to still freeze it and see how it comes out - portioned of course.

Have already passed some on to neighbours.

Am a bit wary of freecycle as had bad experiences before - albeit with furniture etc, we do have a ton of booze left over and have visions of arguing with ransoms as to why we won’t he giving away the (10!!) leftover bottles of champagne etc

Dh has size 12 feet - am sure he will get loads to work in his shoes

You can make Cottage pie with cold roast beef.

I believe this is how it was invented - using up the leftovers of the beef/lamb (shepherds pie obviously for the latter).

Just chop it up into small pieces (or pulse carefully in a food processor).

Sweat off diced carrots, celery and onions. Add the beef and some beef stock (and some red wine if you fancy).

Reduce and thicken.

Mash on top.

Freezes beautifully (with or without the mash).

Alternatively chop it up as above and add to a tomato based sauce and use as a ragu for pasta (again will freeze well in the sauce).

I would definitely freeze salmon even if it says not to. Beef will also freeze nicely portioned up. Desserts and cheesecake too.

Just signed up to olio! Not sure if will be great for this particular batch as everything goes off so quickly, but wil be great going forward

Have half a ham too - do you think it would freeze? Had a load of chicken legs which I’m turning into a couple of pies

Ham terrine!

Oh to also note - the dog is looking very happy

Cooked meat can be frozen in slices for sandwiches or meals. Cheesecake can be frozen as well.

Maybe have a dessert party for the neighbours - lol or even a plate ful to people you know on their own etc or not on large incomes. I know food banks won't take them but how about a soup kitchen or homeless shelter directly

Ham will freeze beautifully - slice and bag up enough for 2 portions each then you can have it cooked (I usually make parsley sauce, pour over sliced ham and cook for 30 minutes in the oven then serve with mash and veggies) and some more for sandwiches the following day. Can do similar with the beef. Don’t eat salmon so can’t advise on how it will come out but, the ‘do not freeze’ advice is probably because it’s been frozen in the process of production.

Ham and Chicken pies - yum. I would slice and freeze ham too and even if there are bits they are good for rissottos and pies or for a kind of soup stew thing I do - which is new and old potatoes slices, chicken stock carrots and ham or chicken or both - better for cold days with naice bread

Slicing the ham to freeze is a great idea (and wouldn’t have even been on my radar). Have tried to call two local hostels but no answer as yet.

I would have some of it for lunch during the week. Freeze what I could and take the rest to work.

Definitely a homeless shelter - they can do wonders with leftovers

It’s the leafy salads that I’m most gutted about - don’t think they’re going to last long enough to do anything with. Am a little hung over today so al plans or the food will start tomorrow

If you're in London I'll have some. I love salmon, ham, beef, salad and cheesecake!!

@Croprotationinthe14thcentury I am actually feel feee lol

How would people know on freecycle that you have 10 bottles of champagne? Stealthboast there OP..

I do wonder though how you wouldn't think to either batch cook or just freeze the meat...

As for the leafy salads post on Facebook, am sure someone local will take them even for their pet rabbit or guinea pig..

Hope you still had a fab party and simply overcatered!

Haha! Thanks Letthenamesbegin but I've started a no carbing diet so no cheese cake for me!

If I put that lot on my Facebook it would be gone in hours 🤭

Great ideas and most has now been turned into other meals and sitting safely in freezer. Lol at the stealth boast - it wasn’t meant to be (all the food was left over in the garage along with the drinks as we had a separate fridge out there - and I just envisioned freeclcyers rocking up and asking whether they could take literally everything in there).

Sadly no luck with hostels too perishable even for them, but will know for next time