On Jul 24, 4:40*pm, "Dimitri" > wrote:
> "aem" > wrote in message
>
> ...
> On Jul 24, 12:21 pm, "Dimitri" > wrote:> Normally whenever I bake potatoes I throw several more potatoes in the
> > oven
> > just to have some cooked potatoes around.
>
> > I find them very useful to have around to make:
>
> > A whole bunch of Fried potato recipes.
>
> > A small amount of potato salad.
>
> > Cold sliced potatoes with EVOO & Balsamic ++++
>
> > How about you?
>
> If I anticipate or plan to do something specific with them, I might
> cook extra potatoes, but generally speaking my preference with most
> things is to cook only what we expect to eat. *We like freshly
> prepared food much better than leftovers, and we're at a stage in our
> lives when time is available and schedules are very flexible, and I
> find cooking entertaining most of the time. *So I no longer do the
> "planned leftovers" thing for stir fries, or steaks, chops and grilled
> meats, or pasta or fresh pasta sauces.. The major exception is rice,
> and that's because we like fried rice so much. * -aem
>
> Boy I don't agree across the board. I truly believe stews, braised short
> ribs, & Italian Gravy are much better the next day.

Of course you're right about braises and stews and red gravy. They
have to be cooked in larger than two servings size and they reheat
well. That's why I didn't include them on my list. Likewise, a big
roaster chicken can become many different and new things after the
first go-around.

I'm just saying that I generally cook potatoes and pastas and
individual pieces of meat or fish in one-meal sizes. Tonight, for
example, I'm making pork cutlets smothered with mushrooms and onions.
The package has six pieces but they are pretty large and I know we'll
only eat four. I will not cook the other two. I will make a big pot
of rice. It's possible that I may slice the remaining pork and stir
fry it for fried rice in a day or two. Don't know yet.

Sure, they would be an okay leftover but that's not the point. We'd
rather have two fresh meals than one plus a leftover meal. It would
be easier to cook 'em all up and that's what we used to do, but hey,
cooking is a hobby nowadays. -aem