Dispatch with Irene's Leftovers

With 2011’s most unwelcome houseguest having made her exit, people are cleaning up and trying to get back to normal, a normal which, for most of us, doesn’t include a daily intake of peanut butter, beef jerky, or other non-perishables. But now that you bought out Stop-and-Shop’s supply of canned pineapple in anticipation of Irene, what are you going to do with it?

Here’s a few ideas for using those items with a long shelf lives:

Get Epicurious: The Epicurious app is like a little gastronomic encyclopedia. You can plug in the ingredient(s) -- kidney beans, canned tuna, or that canned pineapple -- and Epicurious will offer you dozens of recipes with your ingredient(s) included. It’s a great way to try a new few new dishes and make use of all Irene’s leftovers.

Host a post-Irene party: Now that you’ve discovered a new dish or two, invite over some friends and swap hurricane stories and serve something new. (If you have leftover beans, this chili recipe is delish.)

Donate: If you’re not going to make the most of what Irene left you with, pass it on. There are plenty of people in our areas who are in need of food, and not just because of Irene. The Connecticut Food Bank and the Food Bank for Westchester would both be happy to receive your extras.

What will you do with Irene’s leftovers? Share your recipes here, or direct your neighbors to a charitable organization currently accepting food donations.

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