Using up veg - please help!

rach2403

Hi all,

I'm really sorry if a similar thread is somewhere on the board but I have searched and had no luck!

My veg box was delivered last weds but my son was admitted to hospital and has only returned home yesterday.

So basically I have a whole box of veg to use by tomorrow! Most of it still looks ok but the cauliflowers look a little tired! I really hate to waste it but as I don't even have a basic vegetable soup recipe to hand i'm really stuck! Will prob need to find recipes I can freeze as will maybe make too much for the 4 of us to eat tonight!

I have - potatoes, courgettes x 2, cauliflower (small), small cabbage x 2, dodgy looking leeks x 3, onions, celeriac, swede and mushrooms.

Obviously the potatoes and onions can probably survive another week but if anyone has any ideas for the other stuff i'd be so so happy!!

So in a ready, steady, cook fashion if anyone can help me i'd be really, really grateful! :beer:

Many thanks,
Rachel

mummyof3_2

You could blanche the cauliflower and cabbage and put them in the freezer when cool. I have never had celeriac. Leek and potato soup, mushroom omelette, as for the swede, I usually add this to soups. Hope this helps x

Paulie'sGirl

I'm sure someone will have better ideas, but....

Leek and potato soup with the leeks and a few of the spuds?

Cauliflower cheese? Or cauliflower and pasta bake (cook pasta and cauli, cover in cheese sauce and grill til golden)

Or a stirfry? You could use the cabbage, cauli, leeks and mushrooms there?

Ummm... will think more and come back!

Hope your son is better soon.

PG xx

kate83

Veg soup is the easiest thing - I don't use a recipe - just fry off the leek and onion for a few minutes while you chop up the celeriac, swede and potato into small pieces, put it all in the pan, add some boiling water and some seasoning (stock cube, salt, pepper, tomato puree, garlic, curry powder - whatever you like) and cook till soft then blend.

Or a stew - same as above but add either a tablespoon of flour or some gravy granules to the veg before the boiling water (you can use up the courgettes, cauliflour and mushroom in this aswell) cook til soft and you could serve with yorkshire pudding, in wraps, in pancakes, put some pastry on top and make a pie - loads of ways

Either way you could freeze whatever you don't eat

Cabbage I don't really like so don't know what you could do with those - celeriac and swede store quite well so will probably last a bit longer if needed.

rach2403

Wow thanks for all the ideas - making me very hungry!!!!!!!

Paulie's Girl - how do you make leek and potato soup? How many potatoes would I be looking at for 3 reasonably sized leeks?

Also mummyof3 how would I freeze the cabbage? Slice it finely before boiling it?

Thanks so much again!

meerkatgirl

what about some celeriac soup? You could freeze it and use up the leeks too if you use them to replace the onions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/chunkyceleriacsoup_80861.shtml

furndire

Try chopping the bottom off the cauliflower stalk, and standing it in a bowl of water to revive it ~ works with lots of veg, lettuce, rhubarb, etc.

I'm going to my DS tomorrow, and usually raid their fridge for any veg that I think is going off, chop stuff, into very small up like courgettes, aubergines, a couple of onions, soft toms, mushrooms (anything that is a bit softish). Put a glug of olive oil in a pan, and gently fry off until soft, (I would also chop celeriac very small as well) add a tin or two of tinned toms, salt, pepper, a pinch of sugar, and simmer gently.
This makes a lovely sauce for pasta, which you can freeze in portions, and voila, a quick meal for as long as it takes to cook your pasta, and defrost your sauce.

Seakay

Leek and potato soup with illustrations:

http://www.cookuk.co.uk/soup_starter/leek-potato-soup.htm

Celariac and swede should be okay for another week as long as they are not in plastic.

Grilled mushrooms on toast are quick and easy, a little cheese in top is good as is a slice of bacon to go with.

Peel celariac, cut into chunky chips, blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes, drain, cool in chilled water, serve with bought or homemade plain or garlic or mustard mayonnaise. OR do not cool but put into vinagrette dressing after draining them from the hot water and leave until cool, serve at room temperature.

thriftlady_2

Just a quick suggestion for your celeriac - we're having this tonight with gammon steaks and spuds.

Celeri Remoulade

Cut celeriac into matchsticks (sorry, a bit time consuming)
Mix some mayonnaise with some Dijon mustard and mix into the celeriac.

Hope your son is OK

Did anyone else suggest Spanish omelette with the courgettes and leeks ?

Boatie_Bird

here's a suggestion for using up the cauli.
Par boil for 2 minutes, drain well then toss in a bit of olive oil and whatever spices take your fancy (I often use garam masala, toasted cumin seeds are nice too) and roast in the oven for 20ish minutes.

Pandora123_2

I second the roast cauli idea though I don't parboil it. Break into small florets, roast with a little olive oil & salt for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, heat a little marg, olive oil, whole-grain mustard, lemon peel and crushed garlic. Toss with the cauli and return to the oven for another 15 minutes or so.

Scrumpdillyicious!

:A