Using up leftovers : Calzone Pasties

 Leftovers are a dangerous thing in our house.  I will cook enough to feed 4 and then my OH will insist on dishing up dinner and I'll discover that instead of another two portions I will have barely enough for lunch for one.  I vividly remember cooking enough for 6 from a new recipe (for just OH and I)- serving up one portion for me and taking my kids to the support group meeting at the local soft play (back when such things were allowed) and when I got back there was  only just enough for lunch for me for the next day.  When I asked OH if it was nice he said - "Yes but there was too much and I'm absolutely stuffed." Of course he was shamefaced when I pointed out it should have fed 5 people not just one and a half.

Anyway I am still getting used to cooking for 2 adults for most meals (my two boys having something different due to autistic sensory issues) and so we often have leftovers since if a recipe feeds 4 and freezes well why not cook two batches, so in theory I ought to have a freezer with lots of lovely home cooked meals ready to reheat.  (She looks at the freezer drawer and discovers - zero!)  So yesterday true to form we had a tiny amount of spag bol sauce left over. Not enough for a main meal on it's own and the size of portion that OH usually decides is not enough to put in the fridge/freezer and pigs for "supper" behind my back.  Inspiration struck in the form of a comment on the Old Style Money Saving Expert Forum from "goldfinches" when she said that pasties made from spicy carrots, peas and potatoes were cheap and good.  So formed the idea of a pasty, filled with leftover spag bol sauce topped with grated cheese.

Take pastry (shortcrust or puff it doesn't matter) , homemade is cheaper

Cut into circles about 6 inches in diameter- top with one half of the circle with left over chilli or spag bol (you only need a couple of tablespoons) followed by a sprinkle of grated cheese.  Fold the other half over to cover the filling and seal and crimp the edges.

Bake in a hot oven for about 25 minutes.

All I can say is we served ours with HM wedges and steamed veg and it was delicious although it would have made a good lunch just on it's own.

Variations:

If you don't have left over spag bol then use tomato puree and top with your favourite pizza toppings

e.g

-Mushrooms

-peppers

-cooked sausage sliced

-left over roast meat

-crispy bacon

-tomatoes

-sweetcorn

-fish

and the list goes on...

you could also use cream cheese rather than tomato puree and something like chicken for a more "blond" version