Going-Away Strata
a.k.a. Kitchen Sink Strata or Whatever-Might-Go-Stinky Strata. This was my method of using up the last of the stale buns, veg, milk and eggs before we take off for the weekend, with a chunk of ham from the freezer and some grated cheese for good measure.
Strata is easy. Fill a baking dish with torn or cubed stale bread and handfuls of leftover cooked veg, meat and grated cheese. Measurements don’t matter. Whisk together eggs and milk – about 8 eggs per cup of milk – I added a big spoonful of jarred pesto, too. Pour over the bread-meat-veg mixture and top with grated cheese. Stash in the fridge overnight or through the day, and ask whomever is home before you to pop it into the oven for half an hour or forty-five, until bubbly and golden.
W took it upon himself to prepare his own dinner as we watched the Olympic opening ceremonies. He brought his plate in exactly like this. Three pieces of popcorn, copious amounts of ketchup for dipping, a pear, and a water. It reminded me of something you might see on an 80s diet plate – alongside the bunless burger patty topped with a scoop of cottage cheese and a wedge of cantaloupe. He was perfectly happy.
(My favourite part is the detached Venom claw reaching out from under the newspaper.)
We’re taking off for the weekend, heading to the BC interior (crazy, yes, in tandem with the start of the Olympics) to visit friends. (Of course y’all are coming with me.) I need to get away for a bit; Mike needs some non-crazy and sleep deprived Julie time (if there is such a thing) so our solution is to drive for six hours, stop at Tim’s and for ice cream and cow-petting on the way, and if all goes according to my master plan, get cooked for. The very best kind of therapy.
And although you may be getting tired of hearing it, I have one final Blog Aid update – we’ve reached the end of our run, wrapping it up to coincide with the end of the government’s match program (and the start of the Olympics) and I’m proud to report 1818 books sold, with a total of $47,166.00 (including the Canadian government’s matching donation) going to Haiti relief. (That’s almost 50 grand you guys! in a little over a week!) At the risk of repeating myself, I’m just totally blown away by everyone’s generosity. Thank you so much.
And of course thanks to West Canadian Graphics, Blurb and Cathryn Ironside, who spent countless hours turning the piles of recipes and photos into something we could all keep on our kitchen shelves and use to feed our families and friends. What wonderful evidence of what good can come from a single thought, when so many generous people work together to bring an idea to fruition. Thanks as well to all twenty-seven food bloggers – you know who you are – who donated recipes and images and tweeted and facebooked to help spread the word. It wouldn’t have happened without you, either.
And of course, THANKS to all of you who bought a copy! Or two. Or four.
My biggest, deepest thanks to all. There is so much good in the world, isn’t there?
One Year Ago: BBQ Buffalo Chicken Strips with Blue Cheese Dip
February 12 2010 | leftovers | 17 Comments »
