Leftovers ... Just the mere sound makes most people cringe. Re-heated food isn't the most favourable thing to eat for most people. A really simple trick to make reheated food taste good is: Adjust the seasoning. Most food goes bland when reheated, so by seasoning it you revive it.
To be honest, I am one of those people who doesn't like eating the same food over and over again (with the rare exception here and there). And yes, a minimum of 5 out of 7 times a week I cook and most of the time it is not what we had the day before. I guess it is no wonder my kids eat a lot of varied foods, they just don't know it any other way.
First, let's think what usually gets cooked too much of?
In my family it is rice, potatoes, vegetables (side dish), beans and lentils. Very often we also have a little bit of meat or chicken that for some reason did not find their way into our stomachs.
So, what can you do when you have cooked too much?
Potatoes
Whether they're baked, cooked or mashed, potatoes can be easely turned into a new meal with ease. In fact, they're just as versatile the second time around as they are the first: Baked potatoes can find new life in a soup, potatoes can be mashed (or mashed potatoes)and form the savory crust in a traditional shepherd's pie or you can turn them into potatoe croquettes. You can also fry left over potatoes, either with onions and garlic, and/or with spices to turn it into a new side dish. And let's not forget that you can always turn it with the addition of a few eggs into a Spanish omlet. I have been known to use left over potatoes and veggies for burgers.
Rice
Rice makes a great left over. When it comes to rice, the sky is the limit with salads, fried rice, croquettes and even desserts like rice pudding. Of course, you can add rice to soup or make a main dish (either with it or use rice as a side dish). Really easy is it if you just freeze it and use it another time.
Pasta
Now, left over pasta is actually the hardest for me when it comes to side dish leftovers. Freezing doesn't work well (not to my experience anyway). Of course, you can always whisk together some kind of sauce, but how many days in a row can you eat a pasta-and-sauce dish? Why don't you try making pies, casseroles, fittatas or pasta salads? Of course, you can always throw them into a soup (I think you are getting the hang of it... yes, soup is a great way to deal with leftovers). All of those ideas are not just easy on your budget since you are using things up that you would throw out, but they are quick to make too.
Chicken and Meat
Don't just heat your main dish up over and over again. For me that is just such a big no-no. Take your left overs and turn them into (yep) soups and stews, salads, use them as sandwich fillings. Or how about shredding them up to use in tacos, buritos and Co? You can always mix them up with pasta or rice for some stir fry or pasta dish.
Beans
If you've got a cup or two of beans left over, you can always freeze them. You can always use them for casseroles, spreads, burgers, soups, Indian or other ethnic food. No matter what, beans can always be used up.
Veggies
Leftover vegetables work wonders in the kitchen. You can turn them into soups, and pies. Or maybe some burgers, put them into casserols or pasta sauce.
Bread
With all good intentions of making bread, I buy my bread. I pay a bit more per loaf, but buy bread that does not have any stabalizers or preservatives. That means that my bread goes stale VERY quickly. However, we hardly ever throw stale bread out. First of all, we simply toast it.
On Friday night we always do the traditional Shabath meal, which involve 2 loafs of Hallot (traditional braided bread). On Saturday morning I make French toast. Any left over is frozen and is reheated as needed/wanted in our toaster - it actually comes out fresh.
Other ideas that use up stale bread are croutons, bread puddings or making bread crumbs. If you have baguette or ciabatta left over you can make stuffed breads, or bruscetta, or a "student style pizza".
Left over pitta bread can be turned into something totally yummi by drizzeling some olive oil over it, add some garlic and herbs (in Israel we use Satar) and grill it for a few moments. Devine....
Fruits
Ok, this, as bread, is not something that you actually make, but sometimes you just have fruits kicking around that you just have no idea what to do with. The easiest is to just turn it into a smoothy. Add some water, milk or yoghurt and you have a good breakfast.
Another one is to just turn it into a muffins or cakes (here a simple fruit cake recipe )
Using left overs does not have to be borring. It is a very economical way of using up what you have anyway. And with a little bit of imagination and practice, you can turn your "blah" into "mmmm"
To be honest, I am one of those people who doesn't like eating the same food over and over again (with the rare exception here and there). And yes, a minimum of 5 out of 7 times a week I cook and most of the time it is not what we had the day before. I guess it is no wonder my kids eat a lot of varied foods, they just don't know it any other way.
First, let's think what usually gets cooked too much of?
In my family it is rice, potatoes, vegetables (side dish), beans and lentils. Very often we also have a little bit of meat or chicken that for some reason did not find their way into our stomachs.
So, what can you do when you have cooked too much?
Potatoes
Whether they're baked, cooked or mashed, potatoes can be easely turned into a new meal with ease. In fact, they're just as versatile the second time around as they are the first: Baked potatoes can find new life in a soup, potatoes can be mashed (or mashed potatoes)and form the savory crust in a traditional shepherd's pie or you can turn them into potatoe croquettes. You can also fry left over potatoes, either with onions and garlic, and/or with spices to turn it into a new side dish. And let's not forget that you can always turn it with the addition of a few eggs into a Spanish omlet. I have been known to use left over potatoes and veggies for burgers.
Rice
Rice makes a great left over. When it comes to rice, the sky is the limit with salads, fried rice, croquettes and even desserts like rice pudding. Of course, you can add rice to soup or make a main dish (either with it or use rice as a side dish). Really easy is it if you just freeze it and use it another time.
Pasta
Now, left over pasta is actually the hardest for me when it comes to side dish leftovers. Freezing doesn't work well (not to my experience anyway). Of course, you can always whisk together some kind of sauce, but how many days in a row can you eat a pasta-and-sauce dish? Why don't you try making pies, casseroles, fittatas or pasta salads? Of course, you can always throw them into a soup (I think you are getting the hang of it... yes, soup is a great way to deal with leftovers). All of those ideas are not just easy on your budget since you are using things up that you would throw out, but they are quick to make too.
Chicken and Meat
Don't just heat your main dish up over and over again. For me that is just such a big no-no. Take your left overs and turn them into (yep) soups and stews, salads, use them as sandwich fillings. Or how about shredding them up to use in tacos, buritos and Co? You can always mix them up with pasta or rice for some stir fry or pasta dish.
Beans
If you've got a cup or two of beans left over, you can always freeze them. You can always use them for casseroles, spreads, burgers, soups, Indian or other ethnic food. No matter what, beans can always be used up.
Veggies
Leftover vegetables work wonders in the kitchen. You can turn them into soups, and pies. Or maybe some burgers, put them into casserols or pasta sauce.
Bread
With all good intentions of making bread, I buy my bread. I pay a bit more per loaf, but buy bread that does not have any stabalizers or preservatives. That means that my bread goes stale VERY quickly. However, we hardly ever throw stale bread out. First of all, we simply toast it.
On Friday night we always do the traditional Shabath meal, which involve 2 loafs of Hallot (traditional braided bread). On Saturday morning I make French toast. Any left over is frozen and is reheated as needed/wanted in our toaster - it actually comes out fresh.
Other ideas that use up stale bread are croutons, bread puddings or making bread crumbs. If you have baguette or ciabatta left over you can make stuffed breads, or bruscetta, or a "student style pizza".
Left over pitta bread can be turned into something totally yummi by drizzeling some olive oil over it, add some garlic and herbs (in Israel we use Satar) and grill it for a few moments. Devine....
Fruits
Ok, this, as bread, is not something that you actually make, but sometimes you just have fruits kicking around that you just have no idea what to do with. The easiest is to just turn it into a smoothy. Add some water, milk or yoghurt and you have a good breakfast.
Another one is to just turn it into a muffins or cakes (here a simple fruit cake recipe )
Using left overs does not have to be borring. It is a very economical way of using up what you have anyway. And with a little bit of imagination and practice, you can turn your "blah" into "mmmm"
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