Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

That's not what it's for-but it works!

(27 Posts)
trisher Sat 13-Feb-16 11:15:13

Today I used some left over from Christmas cranberry jelly on my toast instead of jam. It worked very well and is much better than leaving the jar in the fridge to throw out sometime in November. I use very little jam-just an occasional fancy- so it seems an ideal solution. So I wondered do any of you use something for a purpose it wasn't designed for? If so please share.

Elrel Sat 13-Feb-16 11:25:24

Left over pesto on a baked potato.

POGS Sat 13-Feb-16 11:30:11

I love chicken and cranberry sandwiches. Lidl did a brilliant cranberry full of berries but stopped it this year, much to my annoyance.

If I have any lasagna sauce left I spread it under the cheese layer on a toasted cheese sandwich, tastes like pizza toast.

Nonnie Sat 13-Feb-16 12:15:21

Sweet leftovers from the bottom of jars go in cakes and savoury left overs in casseroles or soups. Nothing gets wasted here!

Used to fill up my teenage sons with fruit cake with pretty much anything thrown in, it was known as Bratfilla.

Synonymous Sat 13-Feb-16 12:23:59

Nonnie ....Bratfilla ...love it! grin

Almost anything goes into soups here including cheese which is a bit mouse-trap-ish.

obieone Sat 13-Feb-16 12:29:53

I sometimes use nutella/choc spread on some bread, instead of choc bars, now that choc is more expensive.

annsixty Sat 13-Feb-16 13:02:16

I think it Is Jamie Oliver who throws the hard rind of Parmesan in soups. I suppose you have to fish out the last littlebit which doesn't dissolve.

hildajenniJ Sat 13-Feb-16 13:38:11

Left over cranberry sauce is as good as redcurrants jelly in a casserole or stew.

Bellanonna Sat 13-Feb-16 13:57:37

Cranberry sauce to entice a pine marten into your garden at night. Mind you this only works where there are pine martens. We had one in our hired holiday cottage on Ardnamurchan a couple of years ago. The owner left the jam for guests' use. Our visitor came every night. Holiday highlight !

FarNorth Sat 13-Feb-16 14:00:49

I had cranberry jelly on my Shrove Tuesday pancakes.

trisher Sat 13-Feb-16 14:08:49

Great ideas thank you. So pleased I'm not the only one who has to use up things. My sons think I'm a bit loony.

ninathenana Sat 13-Feb-16 14:14:27

Cranberry never gets thrown out of this house. If we have roast chicken on a Sunday I will have cranberry sauce. I buy it all through the year.
Mayo and grated cheese on cold leftover plain pasta.

Badenkate Sat 13-Feb-16 16:04:39

Can't eat cranberries as I'm on warfarin. Feel very left out ?

Galen Sat 13-Feb-16 16:22:26

Did puts all open jams in the fridge then throws them out after they've been in there for more than two weeks!

Galen Sat 13-Feb-16 16:22:51

Darling daughter not did

annsixty Sat 13-Feb-16 17:06:45

My H is on warfarin and I did not know about cranberries and warfarin reacting. We were told about grapefruit but he doesn't really eat many preserves and is not a grapefruit fan.

phoenix Sat 13-Feb-16 17:17:22

A bit off subject, but Morrison's sell those tiny little jars of jam & marmalade (the Tiptree ones that you sometimes get in hotels) you can mix & match, it's something like 5 for a £.

Perfect for those that get the odd fancy, but never get through a whole jar before the mould sets in!

grannyqueenie Sat 13-Feb-16 18:09:58

My last lot of chutney wasn't a great success, but it's brightened up a good few chicken casseroles! Similarly my lovely daughter in law's disastrous chilli jam aka red cement has perked up my stirfries very succesfully. Not much gets thrown out here!

Synonymous Sat 13-Feb-16 19:02:35

Galen Two weeks is a bit premature to throw it out shock and jam tarts or tartlets are a good way to use up her jam.

Deedaa Sat 13-Feb-16 21:27:24

I make a big pot of cranberry sauce every Christmas and freeze most of it. It gets used up through the year with roast chicken or - my favourite - brie and cranberry toasted sandwiches.

Deedaa Sat 13-Feb-16 21:28:47

Forgot to add that I always put Parmesan rind in my soups and stews. You just fish out the soggy remains when you're ready to serve it.

shysal Sat 13-Feb-16 21:37:56

I love cold bread sauce in sandwiches with cold meats. I sometimes make a batch for the purpose.

NanSue Sat 13-Feb-16 22:07:51

I always fold leftover cranberry jelly/sauce in to the mixture to make cranberry muffins.
If I only use part of a lemon for a recipe, I cut the rest up and freeze with a little water into ice cube trays to add to drinks.

Elrel Sat 13-Feb-16 23:01:46

Like several posters above I add all sorts of extras from almost empty jars and bottles to casseroles and have never regretted doing so!
Nonnie - Love 'Bratfilla'

trisher Sun 14-Feb-16 10:28:30

Cranberry Jelly on pancakes and in muffins, I might have to buy more grin