Family Chow Hall

Stew is the Answer

June 7th, 2006

When you’ve got too many leftovers hanging around, stew is usually the easiest and most popular solution. You can disguise almost any leftover in a good stew. And, ironically, the more leftovers you add, the more hidden they become!

Honestly, I made a stew last night almost entirely of leftovers! Two things I put in the pot were fresh from the can - chicken broth and diced tomatoes. The rest was resurrected from my freezer - previously known as “The Land of the Forgotten Foods.”

Consisting of (all leftovers) BBQ shredded beef, brussels sprouts, corn, lima beans, spaghetti sauce, split peas, and the (new) broth and tomatoes - last night’s stew was quite tasty. I could have added some other new ingredients, like onions and carrots, but the goal was to get rid of the leftovers, so I didn’t.

Note to other leftover-consumers: If you put all your leftovers in a pot and you don’t have much, feel free to add some fresh items or just serve it with rice or mashed potatoes. Try adding some barley to the soup.

On the side, I served it with garlic toast made from a half-loaf of bread that’d been shoved to the back of the freezer, and tarts made from leftover pot-sticker wrappers.

Now I have leftover soup in my fridge. Aaaaagggghhhh!

Entry Filed under: Beef, Leftovers, Mixed bag, Old-Fashioned Foods, Philosophy, Recipes, Soup, Supper