Thank you for the holiday greetings in yesterday's post. We had a couple good, if overwhelming If you're anything like me, whether you hosted or just brought food along, your refrigerator holds leftovers or leftover ingredients. My saving a bit from the expense of the holidays is to double down on waste management the week following. I've froze some things, like the ham slices that couldn't fit in my crockpot, plus the ends I'll use at some point. I sent home loads with others, but still brought some home, deliciously caramelized. Tip for the future, if part of a buffet, 1/4 pound boneless per person is twice what's needed!
Meals this week will be leftovers and more leftovers, recreated. Spinach, cheese, and ham quiche, ham and cheese soup, ham and pea pasta salad or a carbonara type cooked pasta, grilled sandwiches with spring green salads, and truly just heated up plates with mushroom Wellington, vegetables, ham, and potatoes, will keep us fed for the week. But, we'll sneak out for brunch or some happy hours with friends too, as it's vacation week after all-sort of. Kitchen management is a key to managing my December budget as the year wraps up.
 |
| Egg bake, with leftover ham, spinach and cheddar cheese. Feels like a free meal. |
We may or may not pop out today to see if there's any good buys for immediate use or to add for future gift giving. I buy twinkle lights after Christmas as part of graduation gifts, so I look for those. I've got a few great nieces graduating this year. I don't need wrapping paper, but as January moves on, I'll snatch up if they get to 80-90% off. I also will grab any solid red, green, good etc. to use generically.
By weeks end the year is over. Fitting that 2023 starts on a Sunday. We've got a year of changes and new beginnings. We've a year ahead to declutter mentally as much as physically all the "stuff" that has been weighing me down. It's not as much success as I wanted, but progress still the same in losing actual weight, and I'll keep at it. I aim to cook more healthily, always a work in progress, but in thrifty ways using simple and local foods as much as possible. I'm glad my leftovers this week lean towards the healthy side, lots of veg and greens, ham aside. Cheers to all of us as we navigate the end of the year.
Leftovers can be a wonderful way to get creative.
ReplyDeleteI'm not real creative with ham, but there's enough for several Days so need to Google.
DeleteI don't want to eat anything for a week, I've had enough.
ReplyDeleteYou of course hit my thoughts but of course food still goes in the next day!
DeleteWe had a rather casual holiday and it was nice. I didn’t do cards, didn’t put up all the decor, didn’t overspend, didn’t overbake, I think that will be theme until my kids are older and have spouses and/or children. We had the most beautiful, delicious meal at my sister-in-law’s yesterday, prime rib, scalloped potatoes, spring mix, green beans with almonds, honey glazed carrots, tiramisu. Great food, wonderful company, that was the highlight of my holiday! Getting a light lunch at Panera with my little bestie (I really just want soup and to sit in front of the fireplace) and then she’s off to hang with a friend for the day and I’m going to a little local Italian place for dinner, a work family reunion if you will, 13 of us current or former employees who truly love each other and one who will join via FaceTime. It’s crazy how we could all be free the same night, things never fall into place like that! I may also check for some hidden clearance at Walmart or pop into dollar tree for half price tissue paper and wine bags, two things I always run out of. JoAnn
ReplyDeleteLow key sounds really nice. My family is just so large,so many people. DH's is just so controlled, but loud, because of the big personalities that need to be the center of attention. I'd love a nice meal, conversations, music in the background, if nice, a winter walk.
DeleteI tend to agree with Ur-spo! No food for me for a week (but as you say, leftovers do make life easier don't they)!
ReplyDeleteAnd yet, as full as we feel, the eating continues. Fruit and veg are my goals.
DeleteThis is my favorite week of the year. I'm glad you were able to take off. Enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteMonday was good. We relaxed, we organized a touch, we slept in.
DeleteI feel like I could fast for forty days, I am so full. We had a nice prime rib for Christmas,, but it wound me up in bed at 7:00, as I always seem to forget I don't have a gallbladder. Of course, it could have been the cheesecake...or gravy, or charcuterie tray nibbles, the cookies, fruitcake, bagels and lox, etc. I usually can't wait to get the trees down after Christmas, but I will wait until tomorrow. I don't think I will actively seek clearance items. I have loads of ornaments, and more wrapping paper than we cod use in several generations. I would like some more ribbon, though. However, in spite of two moves I 3 years, there is STILL decluttering to be done. That will be my New Year's goal. Happy Holidays. All the best.
ReplyDeleteI hope you bounced back. I really need to purge some old things, stretched items as I got a few lovely items to replace. We did end up getting some things - $89 worth added up quickly even at half price.
DeleteI did a 365 declutter when we downsized. Every day get rid of something, small or big, even if it is just a dried out pen!!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/declutter.html
Smart! I like serving every day. I have many something's to get rid of.
DeleteThat egg bake looks lush, Sam! I'm with you on decluttering - I'm trying, not as far along as I'd like but I've definitely made a dent!
ReplyDeleteIt was, and I've got another day with it. I'll make some sort of soup- maybe baked potato and ham.
DeleteYour egg bake looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI guess it was sort of just a baked omelette but tasty.
DeleteThe Midwesterner in me lit up at the sight of the casserole.
ReplyDeleteThat's how we roll with leftovers!
Delete