Soups - use up those leftovers!

[Edcculus]

I've recently found soup is a great way to get rid of some stuff thats been hanging in the refrigerator and you just can't find a home for it.

I had 1 link of hot Italian sausage I bought at the market last week, so I did a sort of sausage soup.

Browned the sausage, then removed it. Sweated some celery and onion, then deglazed with some white wine. Added some vegetable stock and home made hard cider along with a dollop of apple butter. Threw in a small amount of some random herbs I had sitting around brought to a boil, then hit it with the stick blender. Added back in the sausage to finish cooking.

For an off the cuff soup, it was pretty good! I used too much celery, and next time, I wouldn't blend the base. Otherwise, it was a nice, somewhat tangy fall flavored soup.

Anyone else have experience with throwing together a soup (or other meal for that matter) with all of those extra ingredients or leftovers that end up piling up in the fridge?

 

[jkh]

Every Sunday, when I was a kid, my old man would root through the refrigerator for the various leftover odds and ends, which would end up in a frying pan with a half a dozen eggs. I've heard this dish referred to as "kitchen sink eggs", but my dad called it "brunch"

Whatever the case, it is an excellent way to use up meats, cheese, and vegetables.

 

[Hayden]

Every Sunday, when I was a kid, my old man would root through the refrigerator for the various leftover odds and ends, which would end up in a frying pan with a half a dozen eggs. I've heard this dish referred to as "kitchen sink eggs", but my dad called it "brunch"

Whatever the case, it is an excellent way to use up meats, cheese, and vegetables.

I always use this method on my last day of camping.

 

[mboschm]

Indeed a very, very good method. For me, with vegetables is best, but, sausages are also quite good. With a little sobrassada (a soft spread-like sausage with paprika) you turn it into a wonder.

 

[He-Ben]

My grandpa used to take the week's leftovers and make a soup out of them for my dad, when he was young

 

[Alacrity59]

I wonder if I've already posted my thoughts in this thread five times. The ideas here are very much how things get used at my house. Leftover peppers, mushrooms, carrots, find their way into meatloaf, omelets, soup, stew. Sunday dinner left over potatoes, corn, roast beef, find their way into a breakfast hash. Left over taco meat finds its way into spaghetti sauce or chili, or on to the topping of a home made pizza.

I eat like a pauper and am proud of it. Staple foods, rice, beans, carrots, celery, potatoes, and I'm sure you can list more . . . . well they are practically free when you compare them to eating at McDonald's or ordering a pizza, sub, etc. Better for your health too.

 

[mdunn]

i do the same thing on a pasta base. Whatever I have leftover goes in the pan, and is served on pasta/noodles/rice etc.