“Use up the leftovers” is one of my favorite games. I hate to throw food away, so I make it a challenge to thoughtfully steward the food that comes our way. Pinterest is my most useful companion in this endeavor. Has anyone ever given you a large box of mushrooms? Just search “mushroom recipes” on Pinterest and prepare to be inspired! Hungarian mushroom soup? Just the thing for that cold winter night. Mushroom and Swiss galette? Add a side salad and transport your family to Provencal France.
And as anyone who has ever grown zucchini knows, sometimes you need to get creative and try daring recipes to use everything up. My mom, whose lifetime ambition is to write a zucchini cookbook, once served zucchini mock apple pie to my grandpa. He thought it was delicious until he learned what was in it.
Sometimes I come up with downright weird combinations (Anthony was able to talk me out of savory oatmeal. I think we're both grateful). Sometimes I am the only one who will eat leftovers. But sometimes I come up with a new family favorite.
During Passover we were bequeathed a large jar of charoset, which is kind of like an apple and walnut chutney. The boys enjoyed it very much on matzah, but we had a lot left over. What a perfect opportunity to make Apple Nut Bread! My Grammer's recipe is second to none:
Isn't her handwriting delicious?
Instead of shredding apples and chopping walnuts, I just added a cup of charoset. Oh, and I used whey from homemade yogurt instead of buttermilk. Leftovers utilized! It turned out better than I expected and just what I wanted.
All this using up puts me in mind of the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30:
14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
I think we often think of this passage in terms of money or talents like a good singing voice, artistic ability, or intelligence. But everything we have is a gift of God. I want to use my zucchini (or mushrooms, or charoset…) like the servants who were wise stewards of their talents. Someday I'd like to hear a well done from my heavenly master for being faithful with the leftovers.