Leftovers Lunches, Brussel Sprout & Bacon Gnocchi and Spinach & Stilton Soup

A couple of dishes either to get you in the mood with some Christmas flavours or a way to use some leftovers.

A christmassy pasta dish well it contains , brussel sprouts, bacon (crumbled sausage would work well too, if you have some chipolatas hanging around), nutmeg and cream all pretty classic items you might have smalls the fridge around Christmas , you can make your own gnocchi but since this is a bit of a leftover dish I use bought ones

Chrismassy Gnocchi

400g of gnocchi
2 rashers of bacon
2 large handfuls of brussell sprouts or other greens spring cabbage , spinach etc finely shredded
2 cloves of garlic finely chopped
1/2 tsp of nutmeg
1/2 tsp of ground black pepper
4 tbsp of cream.

Fry the bacon and garlic until it is begining to crisp
Add the shredded brussell sprouts and some addition greens if you fancy spring greens, cabbage, here I used some particularly leafy purple sprouting broccoli.
Meanwhile simmer the gnocchi in a pan of warm water
Once the greens add the nutmeg and black pepper
Stir well then add the cooked gnocci and a dash of cream just to bring everything  together

Stilton is another thing we often have some leftover, and some stale bread this is a great soup that can be made with tinned , frozen  or fresh spinach .

Spinach and Stilton Soup

4 slices of white bread
4 cups of spinach
2 tbsp of stilton
1 pinch of nutmeg
1/2 a onion
1 clove of garlic
1/2 pint of vegetable stock
1/2 pint of milk

1. Fry the onion and garlic in sunflower oil
2. Add the nutmeg, spinach , stock , milk, two-thirds of the stilton and half the bread
3. Toast the bread with the remaining stilton crumbled on top.
4. Puree the soup and top with the stilton toast

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