Revamp Leftovers Into New Meals
Why toss out leftover food from dinner when you can transform it into another delicious meal? Eliminate waste with great taste! Here are some simple recipe inspirations to make the most of your leftover food. The whole family will love these creative and mouthwatering concoctions.
Rotisserie Chicken
Lots of families grab a juicy rotisserie chicken from the grocery store for a quick, but nutritious main dish for a family dinner. Don’t let the leftover chicken go to waste. You can make a nice lunch for school or work with the remaining chicken. Try a pulled chicken soft taco. Shred the chicken meat and toss in a bit of hot sauce or chunky salsa. Pile into a soft tortilla with chopped tomatoes, peppers, diced avocado, shredded lettuce (and cheese and sour cream if you don’t keep Kosher). Roll the tortilla tightly and cut in two. You and the kids will love this zesty lunch! You can also make a chicken salad. Chop the leftover chicken into bite-sized pieces and toss with golden raisins, chopped parsley, diced celery, and some honey mustard or mayo. Eat on its own or make a sandwich. Yum!
Mac and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is a dinnertime staple when you’ve got kids in the house. When you have some leftover from the batch, revamp it for another meal the next day. Toss in some peas and carrots for a healthy kick and heat in the microwave. You can make a mac and cheese casserole by pressing the leftovers into a casserole dish and topping with some shredded cheddar and breadcrumbs and heating in the oven until golden brown. Toss in some diced tomato, black beans, and avocado. Next, heat, then top with crushed corn chips for a Mexican-themed mac and cheese. You can add tofu cubes for some added protein and a dash of your favorite herb such as rosemary or cilantro for another take on the classic dish. The pasta-bilities are endless!
Stew
Stews are a great way to feed a family with a one-pot meal. Whether it’s chicken, turkey, beef, or vegetarian, there is usually some left behind. Don’t toss that delicious food! The next day, you can toss with some noodles to make a hearty pasta lunch. Eat cold as a pasta salad or warm it up in the microwave for a hot meal. You can also take a crusty bread and make a variation of the “Sloppy Joe”. Pile the reheated stew onto the crusty bread or a hefty roll and enjoy. Otherwise, freeze the leftovers to enjoy in the future.
What are your favorite ways to transform leftovers? Please share some yummy ideas. For more info like this, please visit All My Children.
By: Melissa A. Kay
