By Margie Nelson
Whether at home or at camp utilizing your leftovers efficiently in creative ways can sometimes either escape our minds or seem daunting to say the least. Cooking for one may actually be the easiest way to repurpose your leftovers, mainly because you are probably not interested in eating more of the same, so change it up. Cooking for many is less challenging to revitalize a meal than you might think.
Basically when cooking for hunting camp I have certain items that I make each week. I try to shake it up a bit and not repeat the same meals week after week although I do use the same types of meat, I just make it into something else each week. The guests might be getting and new menu when they are at camp, but the Outfitter and guides really enjoy not having the same food week after week. Unless it is steak night. Do not mess with steak night!
On the nights that I make pot roast, if there is any left over, I reuse the roast and make a hearty stew for lunch. Not the next day mind you. Skip a day on your left overs.
Chicken or turkey night always turns into either a noodle Soup, a dumplings stew or Posole. Pork Loin or Pork chop night turns nicely into a gorgeous Pork Posole. When I have chicken/turkey and Pork I make “Two Faced Enchiladas” which are Rojo Pork on one side and Verde chicken/turkey on the other with a nice track of chopped tomato, onion and olive running down the middle separating the red from the green with a fresh highway of flavor.
I sometimes make a bone in ham. This lends itself to a great breakfast side and you can make a beautiful ham and beans from the scrappy pieces and bone. Make some corn bread to go with that, you will be happy you did.
I rarely make spaghetti, but when I do I make extra sauce. Just add some ketchup and Dijon mustard to suit your taste and serve on hamburger buns for sloppy joes. Nobody will complain about that.
When I have left over breakfast I will take the hash browns and put them in the bottom of 9X13 pan. Add a layer of the leftover breakfast meat, sometimes I have to cook up some sausage for this, people like their breakfast meats and it is rare to have any left. Add the left over crumbled scrambled eggs and pour a new batch of fresh whisked eggs over the top of it all and add a layer of cheese on top, cover with foil and keep over night in the fridge. The next morning make a pot of coffee, pop the Casserole in the oven at 375F for 40 minutes while you are enjoying your cup of coffee. You know it is done when the center is no longer jiggly, serve with salsa, toast and fresh fruit.
Repurpose your leftovers at home and in camp. Just try to mix it up during the week. Nobody wants ham for dinner, then ham for breakfast and then ham and beans for lunch. If you are cooking for a crowd, they will certainly let you know.
Remember though….Never mess with Steak Night. Unless you are making steak and eggs for breakfast. I have never heard anyone complain about that.
