CSN Stores and a Cool Springform Pan

I know I'm a little late in posting my review, and I do apologize! I've been battling some sort of virus for a little while now and haven't been a very effective communicator!

I definitely have to say that I am very impressed with CSN Stores! I decided to try out a square springform pan from their vast collection of kitchen items. (And they have a lot more than kitchen items, but since this blog is about cooking, that's where I decided I needed to shop!) I have a few round springform pans that I use often for cheesecakes and other desserts, but I loved the idea of being able to cut some of my baked goods into squares.

I looked around the site and found that there are a LOT of choices when it comes to square or rectangular springform pans. I was very impressed. I finally decided on one that looked good and placed my order. I received an immediate confirmation of my order, and a day or two later, a shipment notification. Just a few days after that, a box appeared on my porch - it didn't take long at all and I was informed every step of the way.

My pan was well-packaged and arrived in perfect condition. I took it out of the box and found that the springform was well-lubricated and the pan came apart - and went back together - with great ease. My first test was a pan of pumpkin cheesecake bars for Thanksgiving. They baked perfectly and came out of the pan as smoothly as you can imagine. I am very pleased with my new springform pan and look forward to many more uses in the future. It cleaned up nicely and now has a home in my baking pan cabinet.


I would definitely recommend CSN Stores. They have a fantastic variety of products in all price ranges, and just about anything you could want. They also ship very quickly and package well for shipment. My order arrived in about half the time I expected from an online company, and I had no issues whatsoever. If you need to do some Christmas shopping, I wouldn't worry about delivery being on time. As you browse their site, you will be able to see just how quickly they will ship the items that interest you.

I have nothing but good things to say about the people I've dealt with at CSN Stores and their excellent communication and speedy delivery. I am looking forward to working with them in the future and hope that you will give them a try, as well! Please let me know if you shop there....I know you will be as pleased as I am!


Disclaimer: CSN Stores provided me with an online gift certificate to purchase my item to review on this blog. The item was mine alone to select and all opinions are strictly my own.

An Upcoming Review with CSN Stores!

Are you ready for the holidays? Feeling overwhelmed yet by all the "must do's" on your "to do" list? Need to get some shopping done for everything from a fruitcake for your great-aunt to a set of contemporary coffee tables for the living room before all your holiday guests descend???

Well, have I got a website for you! Have you heard of CSN Stores? They are an amazing company with over 200 stores that allow you to find absolutely everything you need, and many more things you want! I have recently been introduced to CSN Stores and I have spent hours just looking at all the kitchen items! And that's just the tip of the iceberg! They have housewares and decorations, furniture, kids' gear, and so much more! The prices are very comparable to what I can find in department and discount stores around Kansas City, and they deliver to your door!

I am excited to report that CSN Stores has offered me the opportunity to review a product on my blog. I am going to spend a bit more time in the kitchen area and choose something that you just might want to use yourself in your quest to get creative with those leftovers! I'm thrilled to be able to share the company, and the review, with my readers.

Keep checking back....I will be posting my review soon!! Meanwhile, be sure you visit CSN Stores online and start making your own "wishlist" - and find some great gift ideas, too!

Got Crescents?

I don't have a photo for this post, as it didn't occur to me to take one until the kids had devoured dinner! There was recently a very good sale on Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, and I bought several. I noticed the other day that I had some expiring in just a few days, so I came up with a recipe to use a can. It works with several types of leftovers, so I thought I'd post about it.

I took the Crescents out of the can and pressed them into a 13x9 glass pan I had sprayed lightly with cooking spray. I sealed all the seams by pushing the dough together and then placed it into the oven on 350° for about 5 minutes, just to start it baking.

While it baked, I beat 5 eggs in a bowl, and then stirred in about a half-cup of milk, a bit of salt, and a pinch of nutmeg.

When the crust came out, I tossed some cooked and crumbled bacon onto it. You could use any sort of leftovers for this - vegetables, meats, anything you'd consider putting into a quiche. After I had a good layer of bacon, I tossed in some shredded cheddar cheese and then poured the egg mixture over the top.

I baked this, uncovered, for about 20-25 minutes at 350°. It didn't take very long, as the egg layer was not very deep. I ended up with an egg bake/quiche of sorts with a wonderfully flaky Crescent crust. Some of the egg slipped beneath the crust, forming layered pieces that were pretty and tasty.

It was an easy dinner that the kids loved. We had pancakes on the side, per my daughter's request, and they ate it up! I love dinners like that!

Chicken & Broccoli Cobbler

This one is a classic re-make of leftovers. I actually made it this time with turkey instead of chicken, because that's what I had. Due to a recent great sale, my freezer is overflowing. To make room, I decided I needed to cook off a turkey that had been in there for awhile. So on Sunday, we had a big turkey dinner. On Tuesday, we used the stock I made from the carcass and had turkey and dumplings.

For Wednesday, I noticed a jar of alfredo sauce in the fridge, about 3/4 full. I also had half a loaf of sourdough in a bag on the counter. It was the perfect setup to make Turkey & Broccoli Cobbler, since I had frozen broccoli (and that would free up even more freezer space!).

Here's how you make it:

Chop up your chicken (or turkey, in this case). You will want 2-3 cups. Mix the chicken with 1-2 cups of alfredo sauce. Now stir in a package of chopped broccoli or broccoli florets that have thawed. Place this mixture in a greased casserole dish:


Now, cube your sourdough (or whatever type of) bread until you have around 3 cups of cubes. Place them in a bowl and drizzle them with 1/4 c. of melted butter. Sprinkle in about 1/3 c. parmesan cheese and toss until the crumbs are coated. Pour them over the top of the casserole:


Now, pop it into the oven, uncovered, and bake at 400° for about 30 minutes, until the bread is toasted and the casserole filling is bubbly around the edges. Here is the finished product:


My kids just love this, and it really does use up the leftovers. You could easily substitute another vegetable for the broccoli, or make all sorts of changes to use what you have on hand. The crunchy-soft bread on top is fabulous, and it's a very unique dinner option. Have fun with it!!!

A New Recipe is Coming

I just wanted to leave a short note and let any readers that may still be peeking in now and then know....I have a new recipe coming soon!! I hope to get it posted tomorrow, and will do my best to get it up. It's a GREAT leftovers recipe for a chicken cobbler. I even took photos! Once I get them uploaded, I will post the recipe.

Thanks for sticking around, and I will try to be more active in posting about my leftovers. Stay tuned!!!!!

Soup Season is Nearing

Today we got a little hint of fall in the air. It's been cool all day and overcast for most of it. Just one of those days when comfort food sounds particularly tasty. So I decided it was a good night for some soup!

On Monday night, we had company and I fixed a spiral ham. We had it for dinner that night and Tuesday night, and two lunches, before we ran out of slices. So, of course, then I chopped up the remaining ham and I made a stock out of the ham bone. Last night for dinner, we had steak, baked potatoes, and corn. I always make extra bakers, so we had 4 left, along with about half the corn.

So for tonight's soup.....First, I cut the potatoes in half and scooped out most of the flesh into a bowl. I then popped the skins in the oven to crisp up and turn into baked potato skins, a family favorite. For the soup, I melted a tablespoon of butter and whisked in about a quarter-cup of flour. I then whisked in about a half cup of milk and once that was nice and thick, added the potato flesh and mashed it up really well until I had a very thick base. I added in all the ham broth/stock and stirred it well to combine.

Once it started getting warm, I added some salt, along with the corn and all of the ham I had picked from the bone, as well as some of the chunks I had cut off first. I then added about a quarter cup of half and half to richen it up a bit.

This soup was soooooo good!! It was flavorful, just thick enough, and very hearty. We had it with the potato skins and homemade biscuits with the apple butter I made yesterday (from the apples I gleaned from my brother's tree!). It was a very yummy, very down-home country kind of dinner. Yum!! And just think...most people would have simply tossed out the ham bone. The horror!!!

You gotta love a dinner that is so completely cheap, yet so delightfully delicious! And you know I love leftovers!! :-)

Another Weird Concoction

Hello, everyone! I am still around...I've just been VERY lax in my blogging for awhile now! I am still using my leftovers in fun and interesting ways (there is one recipe that I MUST post one of these days), but I have just been neglecting this poor blog.

Tonight, I made one of my stranger dinners, but the kids absolutely loved it, which is a good thing! For dinner last night, I baked some bone-in chicken breasts in chicken broth, which I then made into a cream gravy with half & half and thyme. Good stuff! Alongside this, we had mashed potatoes with the gravy, and biscuits and green beans. It was a wonderful dinner, but I ended up with a few cups of mashed potatoes and almost 2 full chicken breasts left.

So today, I got a little bizarre. I thought about making creamy chicken enchiladas, but there really wasn't enough chicken for that. I contemplated making rice to stretch it, but then I still had those potatoes. Then the idea of mashed potato burritos came to me, and I devised our dinner. I took softened tortillas and placed some of the mashed potatoes on them, sprinkled with some cheddar cheese, then added the chopped cooked chicken. I rolled up, enchilada-style, and placed them in a 13x9 pan. Then I poured some of the cream gravy over the top and sprinkled on some more cheddar.

I covered with foil and baked in the oven for about 40 minutes on 350°. They got just a little browned on the edges and the cheese was all melty and they were very good! It was like a mashed potato burrito but with meat. My kids were actually surprised at how much they liked the strange new dish.

To accompany this, I steamed corn on the cob that I caught on sale this week, and buttered and oven-toasted some leftover hamburger buns. Happy kids, full tummies! And leftovers...vanished! :-)

Giveaways Going On!

Hello, loyal readers who wonder where I've been!! :-) I'm hoping to get back to regularly posting soon, as the kids are going back to school and I might find myself with a little bit of available time on my hands...we'll see anyway.

I wanted to let you all know that I just posted not one, but TWO giveaways on my other blog, At Home with my Monkeys. Please pop over and enter to win! Here are the links for the posts:

$25 Sam's Club Gift Card

Yoplait Whips! adorable prize package

Good luck...hope you win!!!!

"Whacked Out Kit Kat Bars"

Hello again! Yes, I am still alive, and still cooking! :-) I made one of my 10-year-old daughter's favorite desserts last night, and weird as it is, I thought I'd post it. It doesn't involve leftovers so much as it does using up something you might otherwise throw out.

Do you ever have saltine crackers in the cabinet that are used in the winter for chili and/or soup, but then spring rolls around and those poor crackers go a bit stale? They aren't good for eating, but I have a recipe where they are actually pretty tasty! My kids have named the recipe "Whacked Out Kit Kat Bars."

Ingredients:

1 1/2 sleeves of saltine crackers
1 1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter or margarine
1/2 c. milk
3/4 c. peanut butter, divided
6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a greased 13 x 9 pan, place a single layer of whole crackers and set aside.

Remove about 1/4 of a sleeve of crackers and crush finely. Place the crushed crackers in a saucepan with the brown sugar, butter, and milk. Bring this to a boil over medium-high heat and boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in 1/2 cup of peanut butter until well blended. Pour this mixture over the crackers. Top with another single layer of crackers, which should finish them off.

In a bowl, combine the chocolate chips and remaining 1/4 c. peanut butter. Heat on 50% power for about 1 minute, then stir. If needed, return to microwave for 15 second increments until stirring results in fully-melted chocolate. Spread over the top of the crackers gently.

Cool for 30 minutes+ before cutting into bars. Hopefully your kids can wait that long!!!


I hope your kids like these as much as mine do! :-)

Creamy Beef Enchiladas

Since Annie accused me of hiding, I thought maybe that was a little hint that I might want to actually post something. :-) So, here I am! I know - it's about time! I just haven't done anything lately that struck me as "blogworthy." The other night, though, I made these enchiladas and my 9-year-old informed me, "Mom, you have GOT to post these on Not Just Leftovers!" How can I say no to that??

In an effort to rid the fridge of a bit of remaining rice and about the same amount of macaroni and cheese, I made a roast recently, serving it with the aforementioned items as sides. The roast was very good, but we had some remaining after dinner (the mac and cheese was gone, and the tiny bit of rice went into the container for freezer soup). So the next day I checked the fridge and found some flour tortillas. I decided I would make enchiladas with them. Yes, I know that typically you use corn tortillas for enchiladas, but my kids prefer flour. And the girls won't eat anything called a "burrito," so they had to be enchiladas! ;-)

First, I made a beef-flavored white sauce for the "creamy" part of the recipe. I melted a tablespoon of butter, then stirred in 2 T. of flour, then added about a cup of milk and a cup of the beef broth from cooking the roast. Yummmmmm!! I poured some of the sauce into the 13x9 pan and then made 10 enchiladas using the flour tortillas, filling them with the shredded leftover roast and some cheddar cheese. I placed them in the sauce, turning them to coat. When I was done rolling, I poured the rest of the sauce on top and sprinkled on the rest of the cheddar.

I covered these and baked them for about 30 minutes at 350°. They were very good!! The beef-flavored white sauce absolutely made the recipe! This was one of my better uses of leftover roast!