The Thrifty Cook: Lots of Leftovers; I'm in my Glory!

I love leftovers. They represent a challenge to the thrifty cook who wants to present them in a new way that makes them a special meal unto themselves.

Holidays provide a real opportunity to make the old new and fresh.

Tonight I had a lot to work with: the Christmas ham, Texas "caviar" made by my daughter-in-law which is a combination of black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, onions, etc. and rice from the parmesan chicken with rice. (I always make enough rice to feed an army.) Now, what can I do with these?

The Best Way to Prepare for Christmas? Spend Time with Grandchildren

Of course! If you want to see the true meaning of Christmas, look at the season through the eyes of a child (or two). We had a sleepover with two little munchkins who helped decorate our tree, watched two movies about St. Nicholas and St. Patrick, slept peacefully all night, and woke up to go to Mass and then breakfast with Santa. At home, Anya practiced her bike riding -- she is now an independent rider and both girls spent the entire afternoon creating the Playdough (or "Pluto" as Bianca puts it) Bakery. Yummy cookies, whoppers, and even cannoli.  I was surprised Bianca even knew the word. My cookie cutters got a tremendous workout which they rarely get from making cookies.

Getting ready for bed. Good thing there are extra toothbrushes at Gramma's when visitors forget theirs.

Sleepy time.

Breakfast with Santa -- Bianca wants a violin (????) for Christmas. Where did that idea come from?

Anya just wants "stuff."

Now this is the lap that granddaughters prefer to Santa's. 

Time to dye the play dough or "pluto" as Bianca calls it.

And the little proprietor of the Pluto Bakery has lots of yummy treats to offer.

We talked about making gingerbread boys, but the play dough substitutes look like the real thing!

We are getting ready for dinner now and our sleepover is coming to an end, but we expect to have another next week when out of town cousins arrive. Neither of the girls wanted to leave and begged for another night at Gramma and Paka's house. It was tempting, but the, as they say, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.