A Rare Real-Life Ramble: Cupboard Cleanout

And being that Ceejay’s typist is quite the foodie, I just wanted to babble a bit after a rather nice weekend that was filled with rest, relaxation, good times with dear friends, and lots of kitchen madness.

Most of my creations this weekend were based on trying to make good use of ingredients that have been in the kitchen a while, and I did not want them to get so old they needed tossed. I HATE WASTE!   So, from that frame of mind, this weekend’s treats included:

Friday dinner: Leftover venison chops, which I pulled apart into fine shreds, simmered in a bit of gravy and heaped into small hoagie rolls.  For the side dish, we’ve had an overabundance of potatoes, so I sauteed up a panful of quartered red potatoes with rosemary, salt and pepper. Yummo.

Saturday Breakfast:  I took all the leftover sauteed red potatoes and chopped them up, then re-sauteed them into a savory hashbrown to have with omelets.  VERY tasty and I recommend that as a use for leftover cooked potatoes!

Sunday Breakfast Treat: My sourdough starter came into use – I made a dough, rolled it out and cut it into long strips. These were covered with cinnamon, dried cranberries (rehydrated slightly in boiling water), white chocolate chips and brown sugar.  I rolled them up and viola!  Sticky buns. After a second rise, I baked and coverd with a white confectioner’s frosting.  VERY decadent and got those aging cranberries and chips into good use!

Sunday Dinner: Tonight I’m crockpotting three chicken breasts in water that’s been seasoned with celery powder, garlic, bullion, dried green onions and sage.  (thus using the aging celery powder and green onions).  The broth will be used with a big jar of homemade croutons (yes, they need moved along too) to make an oven baked pan of stuffing.

So overall, I’m eating like royalty, when all I’m really doing is moving along some older ingredients.  But it’s a fun thing to focus on – and often results in some good inventions or new favorite dishes.

Checked your own cupboards lately?