Leftover Bread - Don't Throw

If you've been trying to make your own bread, perhaps you understand that a possible downside is you get lots of leftover or stale breads. This is to be expected, and since bread is food, we're suppose to not not waste it, here are some ways to use up those stale bits!

1. Thicken Soups - you will love thick hearty soups when the weather is cold, and throwing in a few chunks of stale bread is a great way to add body to your soup.

2. Breadcrumbs - you can use breadcrumbs for everything from making a crunchy topping on casseroles to breading chicken before frying.

3. Croutons - crunchy croutons are what turn a simple dinner salad into something we can't wait to dive into!

4. French Toast and Bread Pudding - your stale bread can be the perfect vehicle for custardy, eggy puddings. Make French toast or layer slices of the old bread in a casserole dish to make bread pudding.

5. Meatloaf and Meatballs - Stale bread is our preferred binder for any kind of shaped meat dishes. In meatballs, the bread absorbs any extra liquid and holds the meat together through cooking.

Bread also freezes well. If you don't have an immediate need for the stale bread, cut it into slices or cubes (or leave it whole if we're lazy), package it in a freezer container, and throw it in the freezer. It thaws in a few minutes and you can use it however we want!

What do you do with leftover bread? Try the simple recipes at Fly for a Pudding.

What to Do with Leftover Grilled Potatoes

It's the summers so probably you too have a lot of leftovers from a grilled dinner. Since we frequently toss all sorts of vegetables on the grill to go along with the meats, we seem to always have some left over. My and husband and I most of the time get headache on what to do to save the food from throwing away. The veggies are grilled with a bit of balsamic, so the taste might be difficult to mix with something new.

For leftover grilled potatoes, my husband would wrap them up in a tortilla for sandwiches and nobody knows they were potatoes from  yesterday's dinner. They also make a fantastic creamy soup. The sandwiches can even go with your kids lunchboxes. We sometimes make an omelet of of them... or top them along other ingredients in a pizza! Quesadillas, pizza, and fritattas or omelets are great ways to use up leftovers. I also use leftover potatoes to use up little dribs and drabs of leftover cheese.

So, we aren't throwing anything!

Maple Syrup Sauce Recipe

If you looking for a maple syrup pudding sauce recipe for your leftover bread pudding, perhaps this one will conquer your taste buds. I actually got this from the European cuisine and I fell in love with it. Perhaps so I can add it to my maple syrup fever collection.

Ingredients:

- 3/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 egg whites
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped

Procedure:

Boil syrup and water for 7 to 10 minutes using a medium saucepan. In a separate pan or mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff. Gradually add syrup, beating constantly with electric or hand beater. When well blended and light, add lemon juice. Fold in whipped cream. Use immediately as sauce will separate.

Enjoy the simplest pudding from leftover bread turned out so delighful for dessert.

Maple Syrup for Your Stale Bread

I always use maple syrup to sweeten, it's not just local but abundantly delicious. I love its rich flavor and lovely color. Since I've been using maple syrup in my kitchen, I can’t remember the last time I used white sugar. It is even fun to see my friends' facial reactions everytime they come getting maple sugar served with their coffee in the mornings! I love maple syrup to finish off a meal at night.

My favorite desserts have always been rich and creamy puddings. And since we always have bread everyday, I don't have to shell out money to buy ingredients for my pudding delights, I always get creamy pudding from leftover breads. I remember the first time I made a pudding swimming in a luscious caramel bath, so mouthwatering! It's perfectly delicious watching it give way to reveal all the deliciousness underneath.

They say bread pudding is an old fashioned dessert that had its humble beginnings in 13th century in England. It was first known as a "poor man's pudding" as it was made from stale leftover bread that was simply moistened in water, to which a little sugar, spices and other ingredients were added.

I tell you, that's exactly how I make my pudding, and with a luscious maple sugar, I can't remember anyone saying no to my pudding, ever. So don't throw away stale bread, they make delightful Pudding. Make your own creamy maple syrup sauce and your entree will finish an incredible meal.

Creamy Soup from Leftover Potatoes

A fresh new potato soup from leftover potatoes is a wonderful bowl of treat for everyone in the house. Just another perfect budget friendly meal.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups finely diced leeks
1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup minced chives
6 cups chicken stock, hot
4 large leftover baked potatoes
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup freshly grated cheese
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons Sherry vinegar

Procedure:

In a large saucepan, heat melt the butter over high heat and add the leeks and garlic. Cook over medium heat until they are translucent. Add the hot stock and whisk to combine. In a separate bowl, whisk together the riced potatoes, sour cream, buttermilk and grated cheese. Add this mixture to the soup stirring constantly. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and add the Sherry vinegar. Laddle into bowls and garnish with chives. Serve warm.

Pork Fried Rice from Leftover Pork Loin

American households throw away almost a thousand dollars worth of food per year and many families cannot afford that waste. Being creative can help give you simple ways to use up leftover food and stretch your dining dollars.

Leftovers usually are not appetizing to your family and kids will less like the sound of it. Maybe, instead of pushing the food at the back of the refrigerator, a little planning to make it look something new to their eyes can help you save and prepare multiple meals from one.

Procedure:

• Chop the pork loin into bite size pieces.
• In a large skillet or wok, stir mixed vegetables ( or any frozen vegetables)
• Add egg and the chopped pork loin.
• Add the leftover rice. If there's not enough left over rice, make a new batch.
• Add a little soy sauce and other seasonings to make pork fried rice.

Now you have a new Pork Fried Rice meal dinner for the whole family!

Let's talk about how to make a soup from leftover... in my next blog.