November 15th - Clean Out the Refrigerator Day

November 15^th – Clean Out the Refrigerator Day

Cleaning out the refrigerator is not one of those fun jobs and is easy to find other things to do.  Often, I find small amounts of leftovers.  Here are some suggestions for combining them together into some type of casserole. Here are some directions for making your own casserole.

General Directions: Select food(s) from each category or use your own favorites. Combine in a buttered 2- to 2 1/2- quart casserole dish. Cover and bake at 350 F for about 50 minutes to 1 hour or microwave using 50% power for about 15 to 30 minutes, rotating or stirring as necessary. Heat until steaming hot (165 F) throughout. The measurements below yield six servings.

Starch - select ONE:

·         2 cups uncooked pasta (macaroni, penne, spiral, bow tie), COOKED

·         1 cup uncooked long-grain white or brown rice, COOKED

·         4 cups uncooked noodles, COOKED

Protein - select ONE:

·         2 cups cooked ground beef

·         2 cups cooked and diced chicken, turkey, ham, beef, or pork

·         2 cups chopped hard-cooked egg

·         2 (6 to 8-oz.) cans fish or seafood, flaked

·         2 cups cooked or canned dry beans (kidney, etc.)

Vegetable - select ONE:

·         1 (10-oz.) pkg. thawed and drained frozen spinach, broccoli, green beans, green peas

·         1 (16-oz.) can green beans, peas, carrots, corn, drained

·         2 cups sliced fresh zucchini 

Source: Alice Henneman, MS, RD, UNL Extension in Lancaster County