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!

arfish, I do think Mildred is right, you need to concentrate on the fresh food. strip out all the things you can freeze or can live in the cupboard.
And see what has to be eaten first.

thanks for the DH, er, offer, bewitched! Think I might just pass tho!

oh piglet, freeze the gravy. It will make a great stock for a beef stew, or beef mixture for pies, or in cottage pie!

both FFS are at bursting point.

How have I missed this thread? I have lots and lots of cheese. And a pile of cooked (unsmoked) gammon. Any further inspiration appreciated!

Think you have to roast the pork then! with roast root veg.

Leftover pork is really easy to use up. in sandwiches especially. roast pork sarnie with apple sauce and watercress mmmm

For the gravy check use by date. on that day, make an easy beef stew with sauted onions, garlic celery, chopped carrots, chop up beef (you can saute beef but for a long cook not necessary). Another way of browning beef is to do it in the oven. very useful tip I find. mix all together, add gravy, herbs and seasoning. cover and either cook in oven or on stove top at a lowish heat (160) or simmer for two hours. You can also add chopped toms if you like a tomatoey stew.

oh, chuck the ginger out.

for loads of cheese, once you have filled your freezer, i suggest this massively lush recipe from yotam

another nice cheesy recipe with includes cooked ham would be crepes stuffed with a a ham and cheese sauce.

Stop posting gorgeous looking mushroom recipes, you evil woman!

eeekkkk! I'm sure you could do it with another veg!

I nibbled the crust of last nights frozen pizza for breakfast.

It was leftover. ai ate it.

It COUNTS!

Absolutely, Carpe. Any port in a storm, I say.

Damn, I just got the mushrooms out of the bottom of the futility FF (I had turned it very low) and they had frozen.

So they are now in my hugest casserole with all the beef gravy, some whizzed-up cooked veg, all the wilty looking veg and celery, and the diced remains of the pot roast. I think the meat % will be rather low.

It is coming out when the carrots are done.

that sounds great! I do think herbs and season and addition of condiments makes all the difference. You might find a glug of wine, and or some balsemic vinegar adds to the loveliness! And never forget, some lemon juice always brings something to the party! (zest too, if you can be arsed!)

And remember, the whole point of stews is to make a small amount of meat go further, so you are bang on there!

I have lots of balsamic vinegar to use up. Does it actually go off? I am well past the date on the bottle.

how well past the date? do a tiny taste test, if it tastes ok, should be fine.If you have stored it properly, ie, with lid on and that it should be fine.

just a few years.

hm. oh well, what the heck!

but you only need a tablespoonful for this dish. And make sure you add it with enough time to cook in.

the one I am using today says BBE Mar 2010. It smells like vinegar.

I also have an opened, and an unopened, Oct 2010. They must have hidden at the back of a cupboard when I was having a yen for Italian cooking (have old chum in Genova).

right. I would chuck the unopened one.

But open the other. do the taste test. if it tastes grim, don't use. It should be fine.

sorry, I meant chuck the opened one.

Aeek! chuck both opened ones!

sorry!