Waste Not, Want Not, or The Gentle Art of Using Up
@owlwings (43910)
Cambridge, England
April 24, 2016 11:56am CST
Bubble & Squeak is a traditional British dish usually made from the vegetables left over from a roast dinner - potatoes, cabbage, brussels sprouts, parsnips, carrots &c. It is therefore a “Monday Supper (or Breakfast) Dish”.
The vegetables are cut up into small pieces and fried until crisp, usually in some of the dripping from the roast joint. Some of the meat may also be included but it was usually reserved for a cottage pie which would be eaten on Tuesday or Wednesday.
The name “Bubble and Squeak” comes from the noise that the vegetables make when frying. Similar dishes have other peculiar names in other countries. In Scotland they have Rumbledethump and Clapshot, in Ireland it’s Colcannon, in Germany they have something called “Farmer’s Breakfast”, in Belgium they have “Stoemp” and other countries have names which mean ‘chopped’ or ‘small pieces’ or something similar.
Recently, I have seen “Bubble & Squeak” appear on the menu of some ‘artisanal’ restaurants and I believe that it can even be bought frozen and ready to fry! What is this world coming to?
Food is precious and not to be wasted. We already throw too much away. What curious dishes do you make to use up left-over food?
26 people like this
29 responses
.@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
24 Apr 16
I know one pub which does that and makes no bones about it. There is only one kind of soup on the menu, designated by its colour (varying from dark brown through yellowish to green) and it's always good (usually served with a really excellent selection of cheeses and fantastic wholemeal bread)
2 people like this
@much2say (55655)
• Los Angeles, California
26 Apr 16
@owlwings Wow, well then they make their leftovers quite gourmet - it sounds very appetizing!
There is a candy/lollipop called Dum Dums that come in various flavors . . . one is called the "mystery flavor" in which I have always thought were different mixtures from leftover flavor batches. I guess if it's still "good", why throw it out . . . if it's edible and marketable, it's an easy way to make more profits I guess!
1 person likes this
@youless (112496)
• Guangzhou, China
25 Apr 16
Frankly, your dish doesn't look like left-over food for me. On the contrary, it is so attractive and I feel hungry to see it
That's good that you don't waste the food. So do I. Usually if I cook, there will be no food left since it is delicious
That's good that you don't waste the food. So do I. Usually if I cook, there will be no food left since it is delicious3 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
24 Apr 16
I almost always eat it in it's original format as leftovers, although stale veggies make a good stirfry
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
27 Apr 16
@Marty1 once you want to get more challenging there are some great stir fry sauce recipes together
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
27 Apr 16
@Marty1 you can do it, just read the directions carefully and watch the food.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
27 Apr 16
@Marty1 let us all know how it goes
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41444)
• United States
24 Apr 16
Whenever we have leftover mashed potatoes, I make potato cakes by mixing in a beaten egg, chopped onion, crisp fried bacon, grated cheddar cheese, pattied and rolled in flour, then fried.
Not exactly healthy, but they sure are yummy! 
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (41444)
• United States
25 Apr 16
@Marty1 Sometimes I don't put an egg in it and it's fine, just mix in a little extra flour. You can use any kind of mashed potatoes, but let them get cold in the refrigerator first. Also, add salt and pepper if desired
Hope you enjoy!
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41444)
• United States
27 Apr 16
@Marty1 If you don't have leftover real mashed potatoes, the next best thing to me is Bob Evans mashed potatoes. They come in a microwaveable container and they are the closest to (if not better than!) my home made mashed potatoes.
But for the potato cakes, instant potatoes could be used if that's what you have on hand.
@1creekgirl (41444)
• United States
27 Apr 16
@Marty1 I probably never would have tried them, but I do product domo's and we gave out samples of Bob Evans mashed potatoes. They come in other varieties which I haven't tried, but I love the original.
1 person likes this
@purplealabaster (22091)
• United States
24 Apr 16
It really all depends upon what the leftovers are. Sometimes we just eat them a second day as what they were originally. Sometimes I made soup. Sometimes we add them to omelette or frittata. Sometimes I get creative and combine them with other ingredients to make a completely different meal.
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16761)
• China
25 Apr 16
I am amazed at how the leftover would be made such a delicious food with its name differing from country to country .Out of curiosity ,I search it online and see a Bubble and squeak topped with poached egg.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112875)
• El Paso, Texas
24 Apr 16
oh man, that photo makes me hungry ........ I generally put any leftover I have in jars then when I make my next pot of soup I add it to it but I might try you method instead, it looks so good.
What interesting names for the same thing though.2 people like this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
24 Apr 16
I usually make soup, too. If there were any bones in the roast, they go in the pot for two or three hours for stock, then I strain them, add what vegetables - left over or otherwise - there are to hand, any left over gravy and maybe some lentils, let that simmer for half an hour or so, blitz with the stick blender, season and serve. It's always a winner.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
24 Apr 16
that's a most interestin' name 'n reason fer such, lol. i ne'er throw out food myself, can always be reinvented into somethin'. all else fails, a stew that can be frozen fer a later date.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
25 Apr 16
A lot of times I'll convert what's left over to a stew or casserole @owlwings .
2 people like this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
24 Apr 16
My mom's thing was lamb hash. Chunks of leftover lamb and gravy mixed in with potato chunks. We also used to do gravy bread, ie leftover gravy on slices of bread. Leftover ham was usually used in pea soup, turkey in sandwiches and turkey soup. I still do some of that with leftovers.
2 people like this
@quantum2020 (12041)
• Ciudad De Mexico, Mexico
24 Apr 16
The left over of tortillas can be cut into little pieces. These pieces a put into a pan with little vegetable oil or butter and heated.
Then you add some kind of sauce and dressing. Pieces of chicken, which are cooked apart are added to this chunks of tortillas. Chunks of your preferred cheese are also added and the final dish is called; ¨Chilaquiles.¨
2 people like this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
24 Apr 16
I love Bubble and Squeak and grew up with it. Such a mouthwatering photo has reminded me that it's been a while since I made some.
2 people like this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
24 Apr 16
We tend not to have leftovers because we're greedy guts and we eat everything! I remember having Bubble & Squeak as a child at my dad and stepmum's, but we never had it at home. I love it. :)
2 people like this
