A Perfect Makeover For The Leftovers

2.Mincemeat:
Mincemeat is another major leftover food.Try these options and recipes to perk up leftover mincemeat:

Mincemeat Sauce:
Ingredients
80ml olive oil; 50g carrot, celery and onions(chopped finely); 200g pureed fresh tomatoes; 1 tsp crushed garlic; 1/2 tsp sugar; salt and pepper to taste; 1 tsp vinegar; 200g mince(cooked); Tabasco sauce; few shredded basil leaves;
Method:
Heat olive oil in a pan.Add the carrot, onion and celery.When softened, add the pureed tomatoes and crushed garlic.Add a bit of 1/2 tsp sugar and salt and pepper to taste.Cook until all the water has evaporated.Add vinegar and cook for another 2 minutes.Add the mince and you'll have a great sauce for your spaghetti.You can spice it up with some Tabasco sauce or a few shredded basil leaves.

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Shepherd's Pie:
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp oil; 500g mince; 420g jar pasta sauce; 1 stalk celery(finely chopped); 6 button mushrooms(sliced); 1 carrot(peeled and finely chopped); 1 courgette and/or other seasonal green vegetables(finely chopped); 2 cups mashed potato or cooked pasta ;
Method:
Brown mince in the oil in a hot pan, breaking the mince up into small pieces with the back of a spoon.This is best done in two batches.Stir in pasta sauce and vegetables except the potato.Cover and simmer gently for 15 minutes.Spoon mixture into a pie dish and top with mashed potato.Bake at 180°C for about 15 minutes or until top is golden.Add garlic, Worcestershire sauce or vegetable stock for additional flavours.

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Mincemeat Patties:
Ingredients:
For Mince Filling:
1 pound Mince; 2 tbsp oil; 1 large onion sliced; 1 tbsp ginger/ garlic paste; 1/2 tsp chilli powder; 1/2 tsp turmeric powder; 1 tbsp mixed powdered spices(clove. cinnamon, cardamom); 2 tomatoes chopped; 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 1 tbsp Lemon juice; 1 tbsp Chopped coriander leaves; Salt ;
For Patties:
4 large boiled potatoes; breadcrumbs; oil; salt & pepper;
Method:
Prepare Filling: Heat oil and fry onions until golden brown.Add ginger and garlic, chili powder, turmeric powder, Powdered Mixed spices and fry.Add mince and salt and cook.Add 1 cup water and let meat cook.Add the rest of ingredients except coriander leaves.
For Potato Patties: Mash potatoes and add salt.Take 2 tablespoons of the potato mixture and roll into a ball, flatten on the palm of your hand.Make a covering of potatoes, stuffing the meat in them.Press in the breadcrumbs and shallow fry the patties over medium heat until golden brown and crisp on both sides.

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Mince Cannelloni(Serves 4):
Ingredients:
2 tbsp unsalted butter; 450g pumpkin(peeled, seeded, and cut into 1 inch cubes); 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 4 tbsp onions(chopped); 1 tsp anise seeds; 1/4 cup water; 4 sheets lasagne(cooked); 1 tbsp olive oil;
For Mince Sauce:
300g mince; 2 tbsp oil; 1/3 cup onion(thinly sliced); 1 garlic clove(minced); 1/4 tsp anise seeds; 1 tbsp chopped fresh coriander; 1/2 cup dry white wine(optional);
Method:
To make cannelloni filling, heat butter in a skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides; saute pumpkin with anise seeds, salt, and pepper, stirring occasionally, until golden.Add onions and water and simmer, covered, until vegetables are tender; puree in a food processor until smooth; season.In the meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degree F.Boil pasta until al dente; cool and drain.Pat sheets dry on paper towels and arrange in a layer in a shallow, well oiled baking pan.Spoon 1/4 cup filling along 1 short end of a rectangle, then roll up filling in pasta.Make 3 more rolls and arrange, seam sides down, in a pan.Drizzle cannelloni with oil.
For Chicken sauce, heat oil in a pan.Add onions and cook, stirring, until soft.Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 1 minute.Add mince, wine, anise seeds and coriander.Cook, covered, until well mixed.While sauce is cooking, bake cannelloni until heated through(6-8 minutes).To serve, put each cannelloni in the centre of a plate.Top each piece with mince sauce, garnish with coriander.

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Potato Makeovers