If you are anything like me, you probably are not a big fan of leftovers. I know some people love them. But I fall into the school of thought that if they were good, you probably would have eaten then at dinner. Am I right?
Well, that is all good and fine, but the truth is, sometimes we just make too much food. So what can I do with the leftovers? I hate wasting food, more than I hate leftovers. Here are 7 ways you can make leftovers not only edible, but totally desirable.
1. Tacos, Baby!
Let’s face facts. Tortillas, cheese, some kind of protein, and top it with avocado, salsa, and sour cream, and it is going to be amazing. Any time you have leftover chicken, beef, or pork, or even fish for that matter, make tacos. It is an easy way to give leftovers a facelift.
2. Pasta, keeping it saucy!
One of the reasons most people hate leftovers is that a day or two in the fridge drys meat out. Yuck! No one likes that. The best way to revive it is to cover it in sauce. A great marinara, romesco, or pesto can do wonders to a previously boring chicken breast. Toss your leftover meats and veggies in with some pasta and a great sauce, and you have a great dinner. Throw in some crunchy garlic bread for a real win.
3. Gratin.
Okay, okay, this is just a fancy word for casserole. I just don’t like sounding so much the little homemaker. Let’s go with the French term so we sound a little sophisticated. Basically, take your leftover whatever (meat, rice, potatoes, etc.), add some vegetables, some spices, and a little sauce and cheese and you get magic. Making a casserole is a great way to take last night’s dinner and elevate it to a fresh new meal. Do I sound like your elementary school cafeteria?
4. A Fancy Spread Sandwich.
Kick up your leftovers by making them into a sandwich, but not just any old sandwich, why not use a mayo and sriracha sauce spread to kick it up a notch? If you are crazy and don’t like the amazing Thai Chili that makes sriracha, try a pesto, or an aoili. Basically, dress up your sandwich, and use your leftovers. Grilled onions and peppers, sliced meats, cooked veggies, all make great additions.
5. Pizza.
I hate when I have just a tiny bit of something leftover. A few spoonfuls of corn, or a half a chicken breast. What can you do with so little? How about pizza. It doesn’t take much to top a pizza, and yum, yum, yum.
6. Soup
You can add any kind of vegetable, rice, or meat to a soup. Do you have a few carrot sticks and pepper pieces from your vegetable tray? Make a chicken noodle soup. Do you have a few cups of ground beef left from your taco bar? Make taco soup. Shred chicken, chop tomatoes, or add the last bit of salsa from the jar to a nice soup.
7. Stir-fry.
Just like a soup, a little of this and a little of that makes a great stir fry. Do you have a little bit of rice left from an earlier dinner? Make fried rice. Did your child only eat a few bites of their steak? Throw the rest in a beef and broccoli.
Hopefully you will enjoy your leftovers more by implementing some of these great strategies.
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