Thursday, March 5, 2009

Making Do

In this economy, most of us are looking for ways to use everything we can. So often when we think of leftovers it is with dread that we reheat them and serve to our loved ones. Sometimes I will use leftovers for lunch the next day, but at other times I will freeze them for later use.

About a month ago I froze a quart size container of homemade spaghetti sauce, alas too little to make a meal and too much to just toss out. So I pulled it out along with some tart sized pastry shells that I already had in the freezer. I baked the shells according to the directions just long enough to brown them, then scooped the spaghetti sauce into the shells and continued to bake. After the sauce was heated through I sprinkled some shredded cheese on top and left them just long enough to melt the cheese.

The response from my family was a request that I make this again in the future. It was so easy to make and required very little in the amount of pots and pans needed. David even asked that I keep the last uneaten one for him to eat tomorrow. So, leftovers don't have to be boring or ho-hum because with a little creativity it can be a blessing for both your pocketbook and the time spent in the kitchen.

5 comments:

Quirky Cottage Owners said...

Way to go!

I'll throw together left-overs to make a meal that Ray just loves. He'll tell me that this is a keeper and that I can make it again.

My only problem is I'll never have the exact set of left-overs again!

I've left you comments that have ended up in cyberspace. They appear when I first send them and then later when I check to see if others had a comment for you -- mine isn't there.

Just want you to know that I'm not ignoring you. I look you up every day. You are one of my favorites.

But, in case this message ends up in cyberspace -- well I'll just try again.
rita

Ruth said...

Hello Kim,
I came over here from Lynn's blog (Grace indelible).
Thanks for a great idea! I very often cook enough food for two meals, just so I don't have to cook one or two days every week.
I've found that leftover soup (without noodles!) tastes better than it did the first day.

Anonymous said...

Yum! That's a really clever idea, Kim!

Anonymous said...

Kim,

I was also wondering if you're still in contact with Kelli and was wondering how she's doing and how the pregnancy is going. I still guess little girl for her, and it's not just to put more Elizabeths in the world, LOL. ;o) I'd love to send her something for the baby, so please let her know that I was asking! I'm a baby-buying fiend, obviously (what will I do when Libby is older?! LOL).

Hope you are all well down there in VA! Praying that spring comes soon for you guys, too...I'm tellin' ya, I'm VERY ready for it!

Kim said...

Rita- I know what you mean about comments. I leave them on other blogs and then they seem to float into cyberspace. Sometimes I wonder if the blog owner erased it or what happened.
Madam- You are so right about soups. Sometimes the soups don't quite make it to left overs. Last week I made peanut soup and it was gobbled up that night. After thanksgiving this year I used the turkey leftovers for turkey noodle soup. I made enough base for 3 batches, then divided it before adding the noodles. that way I could just pull out one of the bags and add the noodles when I was ready to use it. I'm glad you came to visit.
Kelly- I love seeing the pictures of Grace and baby Elizabeth. I know Grace is over the moon, so many changes in such a short time.