Extra! Extra!

During NaBloPoMo month, I've been responding to requests for posts on specific topics, and Maya requested a post on getting creative with leftovers- and she was talking about leftover food, of course, but also leftover yarn from knitting and crochet projects.

Ideas for leftover food:

I actually had to sit and think about this for a little while, because do you know how we usually handle leftovers around here- we simply eat them! Leftover dinner gets packed into lunch boxes for the next day. If the quantity is too small for a full meal, leftovers go into a small box for a snack.

If the quantity is too large and we'd end up eating it for several days (never fun), I freeze the leftovers for a meal the next week. The key words are "next week" because leave them in any longer and they disappear into the back of the freezer, only to be tossed out a year or two later.

I think my basic rule is that when I'm cooking anything, I have a definite plan for the leftovers (both leftover cooked food and leftover ingredients). If I let them just sit there saying, I'll do something with them one of these days, you know they're likely to be wasted. I like using leftovers when they are relatively fresh rather than letting them languish in the fridge.

 So anyway, this was a very long-winded way of saying that generally I don't get very creative with leftovers at all. But when I do, they end up being recycled into one of these 3 dishes:

1. Quesadillas: Mix almost any raw or cooked vegetables/beans with a little cheese, spread on tortillas, fold into half and toast on a griddle. Of course, the same thing can be done with sliced bread instead of tortillas.

2. Egg hash: Saute the leftovers to warm them, then pat them down to make a bed and break eggs over them. Cover and cook for a most delicious breakfast.

3. And the mother of all recycled dishes- patties or croquettes. All sorts of vegetables and cooked grains and fresh herbs can be formed into tasty morsels and pan-fried. I add some mashed potato or sweet potato in there which helps to hold everything together. You'll be amazed at how fast these mystery croquettes will disappear.

Now of course these recycled dishes taste different each time you make them, based on what's on hand. It is a one of a kind treat. The funny thing is that these are often the best things I make, eaten with more gusto than more elaborate recipes.

Ideas for leftover yarn:

Ravelry is an incredible resource for all things yarn related, and registration is free. Ravelry has many threads on using up leftover yarn, for instance- this one. By the way, although Ravelry is intended for the knitting and crocheting community, there are intelligent discussion groups on everything from cloth diapering to books.

1. Wrap the yarn around something: Yarn wrapped around glass bottles (from wine or other beverages) makes a colorful vase. Yarn can be used for wrapping gifts instead of ribbon.

2. Toys: Small amounts of yarn can be used to make tiny knitted and crocheted toys, often called amigurumi from the Japanese word for this art. Use tiny yarn scraps (that are not big enough for other uses) to stuff the toys!

3. Yarn cards: Use ordinary white glue to paste yarn scraps in pretty patterns on cards. I often make gift tags this way.

4. Leftover yarn ends can be tied to each other and then this crazy multicolored yarn can be used to make a unique scarf or if you have enough yarn, even a throw or a blanket.

5. Make pompoms! String them into a garland if you like. 

Do you struggle with leftovers? Got any brilliant ideas for us? Share them in the comments- please and thank you.