Have Leftovers?

Remains of Mom's Fridge

The Holiday Season is often the season of leftovers.  Not everyone is a fan, but if you're a tightwad then you LOVE leftovers.  There is plenty of information out there on what to do with leftover turkey, but what about the other stuff? Whenever I visit my mother she often cleans out her fridge, giving me random food items she knows will go bad if left with her.

Last week I came home with the above treasures.  The chicken was leftover from a rotisserie and made two good sandwiches (frozen) for my husband's lunch, the shrimp had been in her freezer too long, but used in a sauce based dish I think I can hide the freezer burn flavor, and the carrots had about a week of life left, which went into my husband's sack lunch.    She also gave me a jar full of cooked carrots, potatoes, and squash, all blended together to make a thick soup base.  Truthfully, I just ate it straight and it was delicious!  I know some people might turn it into home made baby food - freeze in ice cube trays or old baby food jars.

Tastier than it looks!

She also gave me some mixed vegetables leftover from a veggie tray she had at a party.  There was just enough to serve with dinner that night, after a bit of time in the microwave and a pat of butter.  If I wasn't going to eat them, though, I would have blanched them and then put them in the freezer.  A quick blast in the microwave, and then a quick rinse in cold water, and they're ready to be thrown in a Ziploc, only to be taken out the next time I need a side of vegetables.

Being a tightwad has given me a reputation for embracing all sorts of leftovers and I don't regret it a bit.

Sarah