Use it up! Don't throw it in the bin!

Long_tall_sally

Thanks Zippychick & aliadds for those suggestions. Aliadds - where that recipe says broth - does that mean lamb stock as feling rather proud of myself cos I currently have in the slow cooker the lamb bone, veg & water & herbs to make a stock?!

aliadds

Yes that would be delicious with lamb stock! Broth can mean stock or soup but in this instance definitely stock.:)

lbt_2

Hi

I am on the hunt for ideas to use up our crackers from Christmas. I tried crumbling them up and mixing with cheese to use as a topping for tuna pasta bake ..... but I was well and truly rumbled!

So I am back to the drawing board. Any ideas?

CCP

Could you crumble them up and use them as a coating for homemade chicken nuggets / fishcakes / bean burgers? I haven't tried it myself but I'd imagine they would make a nice crispy coating for something like that.

bromleymum

I have really simplified Bubble & Squeak over the years (naturally lazy).

I blitz the leftover cooked vegetables and roasties in the food processor until its really mushy. I never worry about whether there's too many potatoes etc. it all goes in.

Then I roll the mixture into little balls (about the size of pingpong ball) on a floured surface with floured hands. Slightly flatten the balls and then the choice is yours.

You can freeze them on a baking tray. Once they are frozen you can put them in a freezer bag and defrost them as you need them.

Or stick them in the fridge until you need them (they last a few days in the fridge).

When you're ready I find the easiest is to bake then on a lightly oiled baking tray for about 45 minutes in a medium to hot oven. You can fry them but I find it much easier to bake, just turn them over half way through.

They are yummy with fried eggs or whatever you fancy.

Then, if there are any of these Bubble & Squeak 'patties' left, I stick them back in the fridge and have them cold for lunch the next day! I love them with some brown bread and butter and brown sauce.

Hope someone finds this useful.

One question I've got is has anyone perfected freezing fresh herbs? I've tried a few ways and not been successful. Any tips?

Rachael

cdodd

One question I've got is has anyone perfected freezing fresh herbs? I've tried a few ways and not been successful. Any tips?

Hsve you tried chopping them up into an ice cube tray, filling water then freezing?

msb5262

Herbs - parsley can be great if you just wash it, shake off the excess water then put it in a plastic bag and freeeze it. When you want to use it, take it out and without thawing, use scissors to chop it straight into the dish.
I wouldn't freeze basil as it is, but would make pesto and freeze that.
Woody herbs like rosemary can be put in either oil or vinegar as a flavouring.

Leftover crackers - in Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food, there are several recipes using crushed cream crackers eg. in meatballs, meatloaf or in a breadcrumb-type coating for chicken breasts. I imagine you could do something similar but remember to adjust the seasoning if your crackers are quite salty.

HTH
MsB

msb5262

Longtallsally (#2087)
I'd definitely make a shepherd's pie with your leftover lamb...did this last week and it was lovely, much better than using raw lamb mince.
I used the fat I'd skimmed off the gravy to fry onions, celery and carrots, then added the chopped lamb and all the leftover gravy. It was really delicious and I had to stop myself buying another lamb leg this week to do the same!

Primrose

I've tried the ice cube way of freezing herbs but didn't really like it. I find the best way of freezing them (basil excepted) is to pick them on a sunny day, not wash them and freeze them whole or in bunches in those Zip bags or self-seal polythene bags which you can get from Lakeland and other places. Getting any moisture on them spoils them during the freezing process. Frozen like this you can just remove the quantity you need.

newlywed

Anyone got any ideas to use up ryvita type cracker bread things?
Got 2 packs bought from Aldi and OH changed his mind about having them with cottage cheese each day.

I've got no idea what else to do with them