The Day After: Great Recipes for the Leftovers

[Front-Ranger]

I had purchased a large bunch of leeks for the holidays but didn't get around to cooking them. Then, I steamed the whole bunch even though I just needed a bit for a dish. What to do with the rest? Fortunately someone posted a link to Julia Child's classic recipe for Potato and Leek Soup. It was simple to make so I whipped up a big batch in my blender. I put all the ingredients except for the broth in my blender, so now I have several containers of P&LS concentrate. When I get a soup craving, I fill my blender 2/3 full of broth and 1/3 of the concentrate. This is working out very nicely!

I have one question though. The soup seems to need a garnish. I tried sprinkling the surface with ground sumac and that tasted really good but somehow I don't think it's what Julia would have preferred!

[CellarDweller]

Who cares  what Julia would've preferred!  As long as you liked it, good for  you!

[Front-Ranger]

I have leftover roasted chestnuts and am wondering what to do with them. Any ideas? Of course, there are one gazillion recipes out there, but what brings out the chestnuttiest flavor, since this is somethting you don't eat very often?

[southendmd]

I have leftover roasted chestnuts and am wondering what to do with them. Any ideas? Of course, there are one gazillion recipes out there, but what brings out the chestnuttiest flavor, since this is somethting you don't eat very often?

I've never done it, but how about making a lovely chestnut purée?  It's hard to find here, but it's very available in France.  They use it like jam, on toast; mixed with cream, it's great in crepes; I love it stirred into plain Greek yogurt; I know French people who just eat it with a spoon!

So, you could peel the nuts, and food-process them with sugar and vanilla.

It's better than nutella!

[Front-Ranger]

Great idea, Paul. Simplest is best. I have a lot of chestnuts so I'll make puree with some of them, and will look for something savory to make with the rest.

Strange, I could not get anyone to eat the freshly roasted chestnuts at Christmas. I ate several that were tossed with butter, rosemary, salt and pepper. They had a haunting flavor to me. But the others? They just kept looking at their phones.

[CellarDweller]

I don't think the general public eats chestnuts, so I'm sure they considered it a "strange" food.

I don't recall ever eating one, but my parents have regularly in the past have eaten them.

[Sason]

In the past, I've roasted chestnuts in the oven, but it's many years ago now.

I've always had them savoury, with salt and butter - never sweet.

[Front-Ranger]

I had a big lunch today, so for supper tonight, I'm planning to have a plate with a few slices of goat cheese, a handful of toasted walnuts and a scoop of cranberry chutney. . .that's all! How are you using the holiday leftovers?

[CellarDweller]

From what I've seen on the news, they're saying that all leftovers should be gone by now.

[Front-Ranger]

How things change from one year to the next! Just getting started on making leftovers today!