Food Friday: Roast Leftovers

I like a crock pot full of roast. Add some potatoes and carrots for a filling, healthy meal on a cold day. Not only is cooking a roast an easy meal but it provides a lot of leftovers.

Usually after a couple of meals the potatoes and carrots are gone. You may use some of the leftover meat to make BBQ sandwiches, beef enchiladas, or even beef fajitas. But by this time you are tired of the meat and it sits in your fridge for a few more days because you are not sure what to do with the rest. Been there?

This happened to me recently. And I can stand only so much beef after a while. So one night I came up with a new recipe to finish off that remaining meat. It not only turned out good but I think I would try it again and experiment with some seasonings or nuts. Stir Fry Beef and Vegetables is something new for us.

Here is the original recipe:

1 lb. lean beef, thinly sliced
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. sherry or cooking wine
1 c. onions, sliced
1 c. celery, sliced diagonally
1 c. broccoli, sliced
1 pkg. hot stir fry mix
12 lg. mushrooms, sliced
1/4 c. vegetable oil
2 sm. garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp. cornstarch
1 med. tomato, chopped for garnish
1 1/2 c. water
Water chestnuts (opt.)

Toss beef in bowl with soy sauce and sherry. Cover and marinate for 30 minutes. Prepare vegetables; set aside. Heat oil in wok, or wide frying pan. Add garlic and saute over high heat. Add drained beef (reserve marinade). Stir fry until meat is brown. Add onions, celery, broccoli and mushrooms. Cover and steam about 5 minutes. Mix water, cornstarch, stir fry mix and marinate in small bowl; pour into pan. Heat to boiling. Cook until thickened. Serve over rice. Garnish with tomato.

Here is the recipe I used:

1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb. leftover beef roast, shredded
2 tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce (with 1/2 tbsp. water) as substitute for no soy sauce
1 14 oz. package of frozen Mandarin Stir Fry Vegetables - broccoli, carrots, onions, pea pods, red pepper, mushrooms, celery, and leek
2 sm. garlic gloves
1 tbsp. cornstarch
pinch of salt
pinch of pepper

I heated up the oil and then put in the garlic, salt, and pepper. Once hot, I added the already cooked meat and the package of frozen vegetables (can run under warm water to thaw some or add vegetables first). I sauteed on medium heat until vegetables were slightly tender. I then added my sauce mixture and cornstarch cooking until it was well stirred together. Served with rice. Enough for 4 people.

Now if you want to make your own rice, follow this quick recipe. Take instant white rice (about 2 cups) and add a can of beef broth and peas. Cook according to microwave directions. Adding scrambled egg is optional. And you have some fried rice!

Definitely makes a quick and easy meal! That is what half the fun in leftovers are, right?