Suggestions from the L.O.F.T.

Let me give you a little background on what just might become a regular part of my blog.

Suggestions from the L.O.F.T

(aka Left Over Food Tips)

My classmate buddy, Allen D, came up with this title a few weeks back.

Allen and I have known each other a loooonnngg time...

OK, since 1st grade, if you must know.

And he follows what I do on Facebook when I cook.

Matter of fact, another classmate, who is also..

wait for it....

Alan D...

(LOL - I'm not kidding!)

gave me a new nickname at our recent class reunion:

Food Porn Queen.

Because of the pics I post of food.

Well, LOL, to be honest, I'm flattered!!

Both of these men are sweethearts and I'm blessed to call them friends.

But it's truly an encouragement to know they get a kick out of something that I consider to be a joy in my life, some of my creative outlets:

Cooking

Baking

Taking pictures of those creations

Allen suggested that I have a website called

Suggestions from the L.O.F.T

because of what I do with my leftovers.

I told him I would seriously consider a regular blog post instead by that name.

A website sounds like work... 

My blog is just something fun I do...

Plus, I do live on the top floor of my building, so I guess we could call my place a "loft" of sorts, right?

So here we are!!!

Or is that.... Here I am!!!???!!!

Anyways, I'm thinking of just using the title and adding the date that I did it.

And adding any interesting tidbits to go along with it.

Sound good?

Now, I don't know what you have in your pantry to work with, but I'm blessed to have a variety of things to use.

And I do use leftovers to create new things sometimes.

And a pantry can include your fridge, your freezer, your cupboards, an actual pantry if you have one, canned goods, fruits, veggies... you get the idea!!

Let's start with June 15th, shall we?

Well, that's what I've decided to do since that was right after the last post about anything food related that I blogged about.

Here we go!!!!

JUNE 15th

 I was laying in bed and remembered that I had a box of frozen French toast sticks that I needed to use up.... and wondered.... could I use them to make bread pudding???

So, up out of bed at like 5:30 AM to put the idea into action...

I let them thaw out and dry out for a few hours and then whipped up the custard base that went over the top.

Topped it with pecans....

While that was soaking, I remembered I had some leftover pickle juice left from a jar of Mt. Olive Simply Vidalia Pickled Onions in the freezer.

And some Vidalia Onions in the onion bin...

Yep, you guessed it!!

I made my own pickled onions!

Pickled Onion Strips

The onion was sliced very thin and put into the brine.

After about 24 hours of pickling time, they were good to eat!

And definitely tasted like the original product!

I had put out some stew meat to thaw, intending to make beef stew.

But I changed my mind!

Instead, I created my own Beef Stroganoff in the crockpot, using the meat cut up,

a can of drained mushroom pieces, a can of mushroom soup, some beef broth, and some pickled onions (and maybe a little bit of pickle juice for fun!)

The rotini were added later.... it turned out great!!

Beef Stroganoff

I added some dried cranberries, dried cherries and golden raisins to the top of the bread pudding before baking.

Turned out delish!!!!

 French Toast Bread Pudding

JUNE 18th

What does one do when there are leftovers in the fridge?

One gets creative!!!

I'd been hungry for Hamburger Soup for a while, so I put some ground beef out to thaw.

And started looking to see what else could go in it:

Red potatoes, a bag of frozen veggies, a can of diced tomatoes, some beef broth

It was so good!

Hamburger Vegetable Soup

JUNE 22nd

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken and Veggies

This was so really and easy to make.

 Just marinated Italian chicken breasts (that needed to be used up from the freezer),

 cut up red potatoes, carrot sticks, and diced onion, 

topped with a bottle of Italian dressing and cooked slowly in my slow cooker. 

Chicken was nice and moist and the veggies were tender!!!

JUNE 23rd

And what did this girl do with those leftovers?

Added pasta!!!!

JUNE 29th

Unstuffed Cabbage Roll w/Kielbasa (Crockpot)

I had some carrot sticks and shredded coleslaw mix that needed to be used up, so it all went into the crockpot along with the kielbasa (instead of my regular ground beef).

 Roasted Veggies

I whipped up some roasted root veggies (red potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and onion) using McCormick's Toasted Onion & Garlic Potato Seasoning Mix

Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding

OK, I have to tell you that the credit for this particular variation goes to my cousin Barb's hubby, Ken.

I had seen them at the local Giant Eagle last week and I had a loaf of reduced-in-price Cinnamon Crunch Raisin Bread in my hand when they called my name.

It was Ken's idea that it would be good in bread pudding, so....

yep, just had to try it!!!

And it turned out great!!!

JUNE 30th

Tuna Salad Sandwich with Apples and Walnuts

Sometimes a girl just wants something easy peasy for lunch.

That's what this was!

Got the idea from the California Walnuts website!

I had mine on homemade white bread and toasted the sandwich in my toaster oven.

This hit the spot!!

(Those are crushed fried onions on top.)

And for dessert:

Sliced Macintosh Apples with a dollop of Lekkco Belgian Dark Chocolate Spread

JULY 1st

Leftover Unstuffed Cabbage Roll over Penne Pasta

Simple and easy way to use up leftovers!!

That's pretty much it for the last half of June!!! 

I will be posting a shorter edition of

Suggestions from the LOFT

later today.

(I tried a new recipe that I want to share!)

May your day be filled with good things 

and your life be

Blessed Beyond Measure!

Love and prayers,

Sue