"leftover" news and stories

A large turkey needs to be handled with care to make sure that it is cooked properly. The bird should be completely defrosted before cooking and need to reach a minimum temperature of 165 degrees in the breast before it is considered to be "done" and safe to eat, according to the USDA. But before the big meal isn't the only time that we should give some thought to food safety. Leftovers are often improperly stored, leading to potential hazards in the kitchen, at least as far as your stomach is concerned, and the USDA makes some recommendations for them, too.

First of all, hot food should not be left out and continuously heated and cooled throughout the day. Food, especially hot food, should generally only be left out for an hour or two before storing it in the refrigerator or freezer. Turkey meat should be removed from the bones of the bird and stored separately, well-wrapped in airtight containers. It can be kept for up to 4 days in the refrigerator and up to 4 months in the freezer, which is a good storage option if you intend to use it later for soups or other cooked dishes. Most sides can also be kept, well wrapped, for 3 or 4 days. Stuffing and gravy should be in their own containers and will only keep for a day or two in the fridge, although they can also be frozen for a period of time. Gravy will keep for up to six months when frozen.

One final thing to keep in mind is that food may not look or smell bad even though it has gone past its prime, so when it comes to leftovers - no matter how much you love turkey sandwiches - it is better to be safe than sorry later on.

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When a recipe calls for just egg yolks or only egg whites, there is always a point at which you must decide whether to save or discard the leftovers. On one hand, eggs are fairly inexpensive and if you have nothing in mind for a few extra whites, it might not be worth the bother to save them. On the other hand, why waste a perfectly good egg white (or yolk)? The whites can be saved for souffles, cakes and omelets, while the yolks can often be used in baked goods, ice creams and puddings.

Yolks and whites have different storage requirements. Whites can be kept, covered, in the refrigerator for several days. They can also be individually frozen by putting each into one section of an ice cube tray and defrosted when you are ready to use them. Yolks should be put into a bowl of water, covered, and used within one or two days.

This sandwich is a great, tasty way to use up leftover steak and it's very simple to make, mostly because I rely on prepared barbecue sauce. All you need to do is chop up some onion and mushrooms (white or portobello) into small pieces and saute in a pan with a little bit of olive oil, salt and pepper until they are tender. I use a few tablespoons of onion and about 1 cup of the mushrooms, sometimes a bit more, per sandwich, but the amount is completely flexible. Vary the amounts depending on the size of your rolls. While the mushrooms are cooking, shred up some leftover beef and add it to the mushrooms once they're tender. Stir in enough of your favorite barbecue sauce to moisten everything, cook until the mixture is heated through, and serve on a fresh roll or baguette. This sandwich can also be made with all mushrooms for a vegetarian alternative.

[Photo by Nicole Weston]