You open the refrigerator and it’s full of leftovers. You could reheat them and enjoy them again or you could turn them into something fabulous. Here are 5 Tips to make the most of your leftovers.
#1 Soup
Leftover chicken, turkey, and even sausage can be turned into a delicious soup. For example, leftover Andouille sausage can be added to a pot of chicken broth. Add white beans, carrots and celery, a can of drained diced tomatoes and you have a delicious and satisfying soup. Pop a loaf of frozen bread into the oven and your family can enjoy fresh baked bread and soup for dinner.
#2 Make a Cake
Not a chocolate cake but a noodle or rice cake. Leftover pasta, rice, and even potatoes can be chopped or diced small to make single serving cakes. Add an egg and form with your hands. Cook in butter or oil on the stovetop. Season with salt and pepper and top with an egg, with pasta sauce or with cheese and vegetables. Let your imagination be your guide.
#3 Fried Rice
Chicken, pork, turkey, beef and even seafood leftovers can be used to make delicious fried rice. In fact, leftover rice is best for this dish, too. If you don’t have leftover rice, making fresh is fine. Dice the meat into small pieces. And toss them into a large sauté pan or wok. You can toss leftover vegetables in your pan as well – make sure to dice them small. A sauté in oil, canola oil or peanut oil works well. Add your rice and toss to combine. When the rice mixture is hot, season with soy sauce and enjoy!
#4 Hot Sandwiches
Leftover meatloaf, meat balls, turkey, chicken and even pork can be used to make hot sandwiches. Find good quality bread and an appropriate sauce or gravy. For example, for a hot turkey sandwich you might want to top it with turkey gravy. However, spaghetti sauce is better for a hot meatball sandwich. Toast the bread, or grill it. Heat the meat. Place your leftover meat between your slices of bread and top with sauce or gravy. Serve with a vegetable side or a salad for a complete meal.
#5 Fish Tacos
Leftover fish can be difficult to use. It generally doesn’t hold up well when reheated. However it does make perfect fish tacos. All you need is salsa or pico de gallo, corn or flour tortillas, crème freche or sour cream and your leftover fish. Reheat the fish and separate into taco sized pieces. Serve and enjoy.
Leftovers don’t have to be boring. They also don’t have to be a challenge to reuse. With a little imagination and the right pantry supplies, you can turn leftovers into an original and delicious meal.
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