Digging Out and Using Leftovers

Hi! Enough with the snow! I'm ready for summer, aren't you too? We are more or less dug out; Mo and I had a long walk this afternoon. Mo was so happy, as I tippy toed behind him, ski pole in hand for icy spots.

My friend dug out a small space on my deck so at least I can open the door. I put out a wee wee pad for Mo but the snow is so high he can climb up on it and jump over the railing, long fall to the ground, as my house is raised for storm protection. So leash visits only!

The flood waters came all the way up to the high dunes, but no chance of breaching them. See the dark line?

The waves hit ocean-facing side of these large old dunes, which also stood through H Sandy and protect my house and neighborhood.

This is a familiar sight for you all, our favorite little passageway to the beach. This is as far as Mo and I could walk today.

We went pretty far!

All that pent up puppy energy!

Mo is content and tired out.

*****
Now what about the food supplies?"She bought all that food for Armageddon and now what?"

I gave half of the lasagna to my friends who dug out my deck and car, and then froze the rest. The dozen hard boiled eggs are being offered as high protein snacks. The large roast beef is still in use.* I mentioned soup and sandwiches as one meal; another favorite is roast beef salad: think ham salad. Minced roast beef with chopped onion and dill pickle, add cheese, either cheddar shreds or we like gorgonzola or goat cheese crumbles.Salt and pepper. Mix with mayo. We like it on a bed of lettuce, especially arugula, with whatever fixings are in the veggie bin. Maybe hot biscuits to go with?

Tonight I will make one of my fave leftover meals using the roast beef. Now please remember, these are old fashioned make do comfort meals! They aren't for diets or cleanses, they are warm and filling for folks who have been skiing or snow shovelling or tromping in the drifts with the doggy.

Beef Stroganoff

In a heavy skillet or dutch oven saute a sweet onion [half moon chop] and a box of well-washed button mushrooms. If the mushrooms are large, quarter for bite sized pieces. Saute until the onion is translucent and the 'rooms are a little bit brown.

Add your leftover gravy, some wine from that bottle in the fridge [1/2 C.?], and about 1 1/2 C. of milk or cream. 

If you planned ahead and bought a McCormick's Stroganoff seasoning pack you can add that now. Either way I like to add unusual spices so this tastes a bit different from just beef in gravy. I use dill, caraway, sage, black pepper, sweet paprika, lemon pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Very fragrant! Bring to low simmer.

Add the leftover beef, portions as desired. Maybe 1/2 C per person? Cut the beef in 1/4" slices then recut in long julienned slivers 1/4" x 1/4" x 2 1/2" . Simmer til everything is piping hot!

[if you never make gravy, use a jar of store-bought beef gravy]

Serve on a bed of curly noodles with lots of steamed greens on the side. Here we have brussel sprouts. I also made broccolini for those who do not eat noodles. 

For the noodles, I like No Yolks, wide Dutch noodles. Papardelli is nice too, though very eggy.

Finish with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of dill for pretty.

Enjoy.

PS *The side dish for the roast on its first night was roasted diced sweet potatoes and sweet onions. Simple and really good. here

How is everyone doing!? Did the snow miss you? Aren't you so glad!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

exactly two weeks: my paper whites are blooming!