Bring Me Your Leftovers - MadameD's Food Surgery

[MadameDefarge]

Got a fridge full of nonsense, or indeed, rather lacking in anything?

This thread is to help those stumped for ideas with what they have lurking in their fridge/freezer/cupboard and need to knock something up.

I am here quite a lot, and as a professional (resting) cook I would relish the challenge to help people out!

chicken cacciatore

Also I would do a whole load of chicken leek and bacon, or chicken leek and mushroom pie mix which would freeze well.
Poach chicken breasts in stock plus bay leave and a couple of pepper corns. fry off chopped bacon till cooked but not brown, add chopped onion and leeks. when cooked, add the poached chicken, chopped into bit sized pieces. stir in a tbs of flour, mix well. Add the poaching liquor and cook until flour taste cooked out and makes a light gravy.

oh just to say with the chicken cacciatore, I would also add the frozen red peppers.

Another recipe I think would really work would be to make a tomato sauce using tinned tomatoes cooked down in olive oil with a crushed garlic clove. Cook til reduced by a third and it begins to taste a bit sweeter. Add a sprig of rosemary (to be removed later), and a splash of vinegar.

marinate chicken breasts in a garlic clove, olive oil and lemon juice, with a sprig of rosemary. five or so mins will do. Bake in oven around 180C until cooked. remove and allow to rest for five mins, lightly covered.

meanwhile put the beans into the tomato sauce and loosen either with a light veg stock or water, and cook for 15 mins or so. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice in.

posted too soon. serve the chicken sliced on the angle on top of the bean and tomato stew.

Again,the red peppers would only be an addition!

sticky toffee pudding? for the dates? you can freeze it just before cooking stage and cook from frozen.

this looks yummy with dates

and this

Sticky toffee pudding! Really should have thought of that!

Thanks for the links too.

These sound great. My leftover dates are from the original sticky toffee pudding!

yes. its those one off purchases whose leftovers cause a lot of trouble in cupboards I find!

Agree, food bank is a good choice for posh things with long dates. Might give someone a fillip.

Things that I find hard are tins of anchovies. I have to be really hard line and make sure I decant the remainder, plus oil into a plastic container before I put it in the fridge. And even then I forget I have them.

Glad you agree youre, everyone deserves a treat now and then.

Hello, I started a thread about the contents of my fridge and have been referred to your clinic! Can I repost here for some inspiration?

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I have:

• Half a chorizo sausage
• Half a pepper
• Half a courgette
• Some slightly-past-their-best spring onions
• A few parsnips
• Some potatoes
• A few cherry tomatoes
• Lots of different cheeses
• Eggs

Also have the usual pasta, rice, herbs/spices etc.

I don't have any inspiration though. I'm also pregnant and nauseous and not fancying any of the things I would usually make. Any ideas?

let me have a think!

Thank you

Carb-based seems to be working best for my queasy tummy at the moment. Fritata (my obvious choice for those ingredients) is making me feel a bit ill!

Fry pepper and courgette. Add chorizo.
Cook pasta.
Mix.
Add halved cherry tomatoes and a shedload of cheese.

And spring onions.

Then I think a pasta dish is on order here. I was going to suggest chorizon carbonara, but that might not work, given it has egg in it

jamies carbonara but you can always leave it out!

I would then have a little salad of toms, peppers, thinly sliced courgettes and spring onion with fresh herbs if you have, lemon and oil dressing.

chorizo lasagne would be yummy too.

Or a chorizo and chickpea/white bean stew...you could use all your veg in this.

( I know others have suggested paella so I don't need to!)

Wow. They all sound great. Just going to prize sleeping toddler off my knee and will go try one. Will report back.

Mme,

Have just made your paella for two soaked men returning cold and hungry from football. It looks and smells wonderful. Perfect for them ( and me). Will remember it and esp the anchovy tip for future.

Thank you again. I bastardised the chorizo lasagne and made a kind of chorizo pasta bake with lots of cheeesy sauce. Yum. Toddler is also enjoying it and bump hasn't complained yet

any good ideas for 5 egg yolks?