Do with what you have

By Staff
Suzanne Langcuster
Franklin County Times
With groceries going higher we will continue to consider ways we can make the most of what we have. Many of you have freezers and are preparing for days ahead by freezing your food. I talked to Betty Moore today and she shared how she was putting up peas in her freezer. They had a wonderful crop of peas this year and have planted more. How good these peas will taste on a cold winter day with some cornbread and cabbage slaw. They are also good to use in pots of homemade soups mixed with a soup bone and other vegetables.
While we are talking about soup let's mention ways we can use our left overs, and soups are one of the best ways. Save your left overs. Put them in small zip lock bags. You can freeze them for a later time if you wish. If you have left over peas, beans, cooked carrots, and tomatoes that are getting to ripe, put them all in a pot , add a big chopped onion and some cubed potatoes,and some left over pot roast and you have a meal for a king. Also, you might want to add some noodles to the end of the cooking. Season to your taste. Add about 2 T. of olive oil to your pot and if you like garlic it makes the taste good too.
Be creative cooks. Practice the art of cooking without a recipe!
My Mother use to make the best potato patties out of left over creamed or mashed potatoes. She would pat them into a little flat oval shape and fry them in a skillet. It tasted so good. Sometimes she would cook left over grits like this, however I haven't figured out how to hold them together. Maybe add an egg?
If you have have left over gravies, refrigerate them imediately and warm in the microwave as needed.
When you have left over biscuits try this.
Cut the biscuits in half, lay a pat of butter on each side, sprinkle with cinnimon sugar and broil in the oven.
This makes a good sweet treat the children will love.
I guess my point is that regardless of what you have, just add a little creativity and see where it takes you. It could take you to a place your taste buds don't expect.
So the next time you want to cook a different meal, look in your cabinets and see what you can whip up. You and your family might be surprised.