Seems like that has been pretty much what my mind has been doing the last few days/weeks and sometimes there is a benefit to it. 
Many of you will know these ideas and this will be old hat to you, but if only one person learns from some ideas I've been thinking on, it's certainly worth it. I may just ramble, but hopefully you'll keep up with me.
- when you are hosting a party: don't put out large bowls of your offerings. Use small bowls and replenish as needed. This will seem like too much additional work, but believe me, it is so worth it. When the party is over there are two reasons for dumping all the food that has been on the buffet table - people are notorious for double/triple dipping and/or the food has been out of the frig and in the danger zone for bacteria (40F --> 140 F.). If you have just replenished the dishes, the balance of your goodies are in the frig, safe and ready to be used again.
- leftovers from parties are so fun to play with. If you have a dip with lots of flavor, you can heat it up and toss with hot pasta for a complete 'nother dinner the next night.
- some leftovers such as Mediterranean tapenades, spreads, dips are wonderful used as a base on pizza. Top with some leftover salad (pick out the tomatoes, onions, olives, whatever you have in a mixed salad and use to top the pizza. After its cooked, top with some of the lettuce from the salad.
I just did a party yesterday and this is what I was able to bring home and what we have done/will do with them.
our menu
~Sandwiches~
Tuna-Apple & Cream Cheese (will have l/os with Spinach salad Sunday night for dinner)
Salmon, Capers & Cream Cheese (was all gone)
~Make Your Own~
Roast Beef, Herbed Turkey, Genoa Salami
Rolls (with condiments) - had salami and roast beef left - the salami was split up between toppings for l/o pita chips mixed with the peppers, marinated feta & kalamata and baked just till warm last nite-an appy for dinner. The rest of the salami, red onions (from condiments), tomatoes from the Corn salad went on a pizza this a.m. (with champagne of course)
Cream Cheese & Crackers
With
Jalapeno Jelly ~ Four Ways (our helper liked these so much we sent the rest home with her with instructions on mixing some of it with hot pasta for a creamy, spicy dish)
Greek Peppers, Marinated Feta & Olives (used some of it over hot pasta last nite.)
Pita Chips & Sour Dough Toast
Mini Zucchini Quiche - grazed on a few leftover while putting away equipment.
Smokey Tomato Sauce - used as the base for this a.m.'s pizza.
~Salads~
Spinach, Pears, Bleu cheese with Pear & Port reduction - enough components to bring home for dinner tonight.
Fire-Roasted Corn Salad - all gone, but a few grape tomatoes left in a baggie
Fruit Platter topped with Pear/port reduction and shredded parmesan
Faux Champagne - they drank one batch and we have supplies for 2 more batches for a neighborhood party or something.
-------
So, all of this is just to remind party hosts that all is not garbage after a wonderful party. Leftovers rule and they can be so good.
Plus, if you do have leftovers and you don't come up with ideas for using them, just let all of us here know what you have and you now you'll have more ideas than you'll have food.
Many of you will know these ideas and this will be old hat to you, but if only one person learns from some ideas I've been thinking on, it's certainly worth it. I may just ramble, but hopefully you'll keep up with me.
- when you are hosting a party: don't put out large bowls of your offerings. Use small bowls and replenish as needed. This will seem like too much additional work, but believe me, it is so worth it. When the party is over there are two reasons for dumping all the food that has been on the buffet table - people are notorious for double/triple dipping and/or the food has been out of the frig and in the danger zone for bacteria (40F --> 140 F.). If you have just replenished the dishes, the balance of your goodies are in the frig, safe and ready to be used again.
- leftovers from parties are so fun to play with. If you have a dip with lots of flavor, you can heat it up and toss with hot pasta for a complete 'nother dinner the next night.
- some leftovers such as Mediterranean tapenades, spreads, dips are wonderful used as a base on pizza. Top with some leftover salad (pick out the tomatoes, onions, olives, whatever you have in a mixed salad and use to top the pizza. After its cooked, top with some of the lettuce from the salad.
I just did a party yesterday and this is what I was able to bring home and what we have done/will do with them.
our menu
~Sandwiches~
Tuna-Apple & Cream Cheese (will have l/os with Spinach salad Sunday night for dinner)
Salmon, Capers & Cream Cheese (was all gone)
~Make Your Own~
Roast Beef, Herbed Turkey, Genoa Salami
Rolls (with condiments) - had salami and roast beef left - the salami was split up between toppings for l/o pita chips mixed with the peppers, marinated feta & kalamata and baked just till warm last nite-an appy for dinner. The rest of the salami, red onions (from condiments), tomatoes from the Corn salad went on a pizza this a.m. (with champagne of course)
Cream Cheese & Crackers
With
Jalapeno Jelly ~ Four Ways (our helper liked these so much we sent the rest home with her with instructions on mixing some of it with hot pasta for a creamy, spicy dish)
Greek Peppers, Marinated Feta & Olives (used some of it over hot pasta last nite.)
Pita Chips & Sour Dough Toast
Mini Zucchini Quiche - grazed on a few leftover while putting away equipment.
Smokey Tomato Sauce - used as the base for this a.m.'s pizza.
~Salads~
Spinach, Pears, Bleu cheese with Pear & Port reduction - enough components to bring home for dinner tonight.
Fire-Roasted Corn Salad - all gone, but a few grape tomatoes left in a baggie
Fruit Platter topped with Pear/port reduction and shredded parmesan
Faux Champagne - they drank one batch and we have supplies for 2 more batches for a neighborhood party or something.
-------
So, all of this is just to remind party hosts that all is not garbage after a wonderful party. Leftovers rule and they can be so good.
Plus, if you do have leftovers and you don't come up with ideas for using them, just let all of us here know what you have and you now you'll have more ideas than you'll have food.
Retired and having fun writing cookbooks, tasting wine and sharing recipes with all my friends.
www.achefsjourney.com
www.achefsjourney.com
