50+ Lifestyles

Ella’s Kitchen – Handy Leftover Solutions

Whether it’s from a big holiday season meal or from an everyday weeknight meal, leftovers are a common occurance. Using leftovers, whether you have a little or a lot, can save money. It can also get your creative juices flowing and give you a feeling of accomplishment. So be thankful for those little scraps at the end of the meal and for your ingenuity.

Rhubarb Kuchen

11/2 C. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. milk
3 eggs
3/4 C. milk
6 to 8 C. rhubarb, chopped
1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 C. butter
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 Tbsp. flour
11/2 C. sugar

Mix the 11/2 C. flour, baking powder and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter. Add the one slightly beaten egg and 2 Tbsp. milk. Pat the mixture onto the bottom and sides of a 9 X 13 inch pan. Chill while preparing the filling. Filling: Beat three remaining eggs. Add the 2 Tbsp of flour, sugar and the 3/4 C. milk. Put the chopped rhubarb into the crust. Pour filling over the fruit.

Ella’s note: The directions stop here. The caller and I decided that it should be baked in a 350 degree oven for approximately 35 to 45 minutes. If you try this recipe and want to make some variations, let me know. I would be interested in how it came out.

Leftover Solution #1 – Make up your own “TV dinner” meals trays

If you have enough of the meal items, – for example turkey, dressing, potatoes and cooked vegetables – make up a platter or tray like a “tv dinner” and freeze for a complete meal later on. Just make sure that your container is compatible for freezer-to-oven or freezer-to –microwave depending on how you plan to reheat your meal. Reheated foods should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Leftover Solution #2 – Make Soup

Some of the best soups are the 30 day soups. After each meal, freeze those little bits of meat scraps, vegetables, gravies or sauces. Then on the 30th of the month, put in a soup pot and make soup. If there is not a lot, start with a can of broth or a can of soup, Then add your ingredients.

Leftover Solution #3 – Go Oriental

Want to go oriental? Start with a family size can of cream of chicken soup. Add your left-over turkey, a can of water chestnuts, bean sprouts and bamboo shoots. Juice and all. Celery and onion if you have it. You will probably need more liquid so add broth or water. Serve over rice, oriental noodles, or even the left over dinner rolls sliced in half. Season with salt, pepper and soy sauce to taste.

Leftover Solution #4 – Add Cranberry Relish to Sauce

Have just a little cranberry sauce or relish, but
not enough to do much with? Add to your chili, spaghetti sauce or BBQ sauce for meatballs. A small amount won’t be enough to really change the taste, but think of all those extra nutrients you are getting in there!

More Leftover Solutions

Got ham? And a few mashed potatoes? Dice the ham in little pieces and work into the mashed
potatoes. Now make small patties of the mixture and lightly sauté for a breakfast side.

Just a little gravy left over? Add to a soup pot.

Want to go Mexican? Use your turkey scraps for your meat in your favorite Mexican dish.

From Ella…
Try Turkey Nachos! A special turkey leftover treat in our family is turkey nachos. Our kids had tired of turkey casserole and turkey soup, so one day I took a flat corn chip, put a spoon of salsa, a scrap of turkey, and some shredded cheese on it. I would do a whole cookie sheet of them and put them under the broiler until the cheese melted. Now it’s a snack tradition. Have a great Holiday Season!