If your refrigerator is at all like mine, it harbors an odd assortment of leftovers and “almost gones.” After all, it’s hard to throw out what appears to be perfectly good food, but what can you do with a little of this and not very much of that? Here are some suggestions that may get your creative juices flowing to come up with your own ideas for what’s lurking in your refrigerator.
Bottled Salad Dressing
It’s a rare refrigerator that doesn’t have an assortment of almost empty salad dressing bottles. Here’s what you can do with any oil and vinegar based dressings like Caesar, Italian, or other vinaigrettes, even the low-fat varieties: Mix all of those small amounts together in one bottle, then label for marinade for beef, pork, or chicken. The oil adds flavor, and the vinegar (or another acid such as lemon juice) tenderizes. You need enough to coat the meat or poultry, then cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before roasting, grilling, or baking.Applesauce
That last bit of applesauce in the jar will make a wonderful coleslaw dressing. Make sure you have about 1/2 cup applesauce left in the jar and then add about 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, 1/3 teaspoon celery salt, 1 teaspoon prepared mustard, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 2 tablespoons water. Apply the lid and shake well. To use: Toss with about 4 cups shredded cabbage or packaged coleslaw mix. Refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to meld. Yield: 8 servings.
Leftover mashed potatoes make a great topper for almost any casserole, such as shepherd's pie. Elena Mayne/Shutterstock
