Sunday, November 28, 2010

Not Your Normal Thanksgiving Leftovers

Nary a bit of turkey nor green bean casserole could you find lurking in my refrigerator after Thanksgiving. But, boy howdy, did I ever make too many snicky-snackies for three people to eat. (Or as my husband said when he saw everything I made for us to munch on Thanksgiving Day, "So who are the other ten people you've invited?")

First of all, we didn't have a full day to spend relaxing, eating, visiting, eating, and sitting in front of the fire as we had planned. The unexpectedly high amount of snowfall kept our daughter from arriving at our house until a little after 3 in the afternoon.

Secondly, I just plain made too much. So last Friday with a very large container of cauliflower and broccoli flowerettes left over from the raw veggie tray, I decided to make a Broccoli/Cauliflower Cream Soup.

With the vegetables already prepped, it was an easy soup to throw together.

BROCCOLI/CAULIFLOWER CREAM SOUP

4 cups of mixed broccoli and cauliflower flowerettes
1 cup chopped onion
3 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour 3/4 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
Pinch of nutmeg
2 cups milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a large covered saucepan, heat the 4 cups veggies, chopped onion and chicken broth until veggies are tender.

Meanwhile, make a roux by melting the butter and mixing in the flour, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Slowly add the 2 cups of milk and cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Then mix in the cheese until it's melted.

Next stir the milk mixture into the saucepan of veggies and broth. Heat to serving temperature being careful not to boil. Even better the second day!

(You'll note by the above picture that I went wild and crazy and threw in some chunked up sweet red pepper that was also left on the veggie tray. The color value really added something to the soup if nothing else.)

Sadly, I still have some broccoli and cauliflower left in the refrig. And pickled herring, smoked fish, onion dip, Dill Pickle Roll-Ups, Smoked Turkey Canapes, and what does one do with about half a gallon (slight exaggeration) of spinach dip? There's an assortment of beer, wine and egg nog. (Oh, never mind, we can take care of that.) I also have a chunk of pricey specialty horseradish and garlic cheese that I'm afraid the chickens are going to get. Why did it taste so good this summer when I first bought some of it, yet nothing much but bitter when purchased for Thanksgiving? Hubby doesn't care for crackers so I don't normally buy many of them. (He doesn't even like my homemade ones! He must have been badly frightened by a cracker when very small.) Now I have three different varieties in boxes that have been opened and will probably go stale. (Crackers, anyone?)

Totally my error in making too much. I like variety so fixed quite an assortment. Just too much for three people. I've made my notes to myself so if we do this again next year, I'll be smarter about it.

At least we got a big pot of really good soup out of the leftovers. Would have been nice to have had a turkey sandwich to go with a bowl of the soup . . . but we won't go there.

17 comments:

Erin said...

doesn't like crackers?????? I'm stuffing them into my face as I type! That soup looks delish, I sadly don't have leftovers this year since I went to a friend's. That horseradish would be good over some beef or venison. Do the chickens really eat that? Your bread looks amazing in that photo, too!

Dirt Lover said...

Hey, Mama Pea, I've never done this before, but could you zip your crackers in a food processor to use later as topping on casseroles? Kept in the freezer, I would think it would last for awhile. Nice job on the soup. I LOVE it this time of year. Pretty bread in the pic!
~~Lori

Erin said...

I admit I was thinking the same thing as DirtLover... I'm sure you could find a way to incorporate them, maybe oven fried chicken crunch?

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

I agree, there is no such thing as to much food left. I love to use everything and see it as a challenge. I had a recipe somewhere for twix cookies that call for crackers ground up as a base. And no veggie ever goes unused. The cheese, well I am sure that would melt in somewhere like burritos, if not now later, so freeze it. As for the rest, a little cocktail party with some friends or neighbors is always a fun time. Who doesn't like being invited over for free snacks and a sip or two of wine. What time can I be there?

Mama Pea said...

Erin - Yeah, I know. Isn't that odd? I love crackers and would eat them with all soups . . . if I had them in the house.

The bread was made yesterday (Heidleberg Rye) and one loaf mysteriously was missing when Chicken Mama left the premises. ;o)

Lori - Well, duh. This is what I love about blogging. The good ideas simply abound! Why the heck didn't I think of that for my over supply of crackers? I'll do it!

Erin - Or roll fresh fish in the crumbs before frying. Mmmm, yum.

Jane - I had to do a little whining on the blog post but we rarely waste any food around here either. Even if it goes to the poultry, I sure don't consider it wasted 'cause it comes back in the form of eggs or meat. Your idea for using the horseradish and garlic cheese in tortillas or burritos is brilliant! It would blend with all the other flavors and be super.

I LOVE ALL YOU SMART WOMEN!!

Amy Dingmann said...

Well as far as I know, there's no such thing as having too many leftovers (unless you are my sister who throws everything away)...but it looks like you've come up with fabulous ways to use what's left. That soup looks great! I think I might have to put it on the menu... :)

The Apple Pie Gal said...

How hard shall I beg for the Heidlberg Rye recipe??? I made a loaf of Rye not long ago and it turned out like a football. We don't play football here!

I would for sure grind those crackers up and freeze. I do it all the time and it is a handy thing to have!

Mama Pea said...

Mama Tea - I've known a couple of people who always throw all leftovers away. Sorry, cannot wrap my mind around that. The two of us can get two or three meals made with leftovers! And most of the time, they're darn good!

APG - Yeah, rye bread can get like that. Rye flour has very little gluten and that's the stuff that makes a bread rise and get light.

As far as the Heidleberg Rye bread recipe, your wish is my command, m'dear. I'll post it soon. 'Kay?

The Apple Pie Gal said...

Has anyone told you lately that you are awesome?

Mama Pea said...

APG - Hahahaha! Nope. :o)

Patty said...

You're so funny! That soup looks wonderful! I'll be making some soon, I'm sure. I've always loved cream of broccoli, and seeing your picture really gets me in the mood for it.

Jenyfer Matthews said...

I must have set a bad precedent in your mind when I came over in the summer and ate enough nibbles for three people on my own!

I'm with everyone else - I know that you can find a way to use up all those yummy sounding leftovers. I'm sure the spinach dip would freeze okay - they sell it that way, right? And that soup looks divine!

Sue said...

It's just sounding to me like you have the fixings for a party on hand. My, I wish we were neighbors--I'd be parking my butt on your porch beggin!!
Sounds like you had some wonderful eats! I've never thought to mix broccoli AND cauliflower together in a soup-sounds so good.

Susan said...

I'm with Sue. I would love those leftovers in MY fridge! I managed to cart the turkey carcass home - with the promise of washing the roaster; an odious job, as it's three times as big as my kitchen sink. So there's turkey soup, turkey sandwiches, yada. But, smoked fish, pickled herring, and dill pickle roll-ups? Let me attem!

Mama Pea said...

Patty - I've been making soups like crazy lately. I think there's definitely something about the weather that makes us crave good, homemade soup!

Jen - I'm hesitant to freeze the spinach dip 'cause I made it with a mayo and sour cream base. And I've always heard you can't freeze mayo. Or is that just an old wives' tale?

Oh yeah, you eat like a bird, Little Lady. (And I don't mean "all day.") I can't imagine you EVER over-eating.

Sue - Whoops, too late for a party. As of noon today I've managed to eat up darn near all the snackie leftovers. Hubby helped, too, of course.

But I do wish you were my neighbor. I'd feed you leftovers any time!

Susan - As usual, the grass is always greener. ;o) Oh, for a turkey sandwich!

Couldn't you just throw out the roasting pan and buy a new one? Doncha just hate having to wash pans, pots, buckets, whatever that are bigger than your sink??

Jenyfer Matthews said...

If you used REAL mayo, then you are correct. If you used Miracle Whip type mayo then you are okay. Now you have to fess up and admit which kind you used!

Mama Pea said...

Jen - I used da real stuff. Although I do confess to having both in my refrig. I actually prefer the "miracle whip" type stuff (sorry, I can't help it) but hubby prefers honest to goodness mayonnaise.

Good to know there is a difference when it comes to freezing though. Thanks!