Tell me about your creative re-use of leftovers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In throw a bunch of leftovers in burrito size flour tortilla and roll it up.

I do this too!

[Anonymous]

Breakfast hash. Chop and fry a large onion in a skillet. Chop up your leftovers and add them in. Serve with fried eggs on top.

If you're a traditionalist, or your leftovers are skimpy, chop and fry a potato or two in there as well. This is easy if the potatoes are already-cooked leftovers; otherwise you need to chop them into small dice and start frying them first, as they take longer than the onions and leftovers. You also need to up the amount of oil you're using a little bit, and scrape the bottom of the pan frequently, as potatoes will stick if you don't pay attention.

This works with pretty much any meat-based leftovers. Things like leftover steak or chicken are obvious, but I've done it with a pastrami sandwich, for instance. Just chop it all up, bread and all, and throw it in. Mexican takeout leftovers work especially well.

There's very little in the world that doesn't taste good with fried onions and fried eggs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In throw a bunch of leftovers in burrito size flour tortilla and roll it up.

I do this ALL the time..any meat, bean, rice, cheese, veggie. I put them all out and let every one create their own burrito.

[Anonymous]

Maybe not really “left overs,” but when I make chili, I make a big pot, even though there is only 2 of us. So, we use it all week for:
- Nachos - over chips with cheese and whatever other toppings you like
- Chili dogs
- Chili mac (over spaghetti) - our favorite
- In quesadillas, if the chili is thick enough

Saves time, saves money, and avoids waste.

[Anonymous]

^^^
Also, the chili is a good use for leftover meat. If you're not a fanatical chili purist, and you regularly have ground meat leftovers (or whatever other meat you're willing to put into chili), just save up those leftovers in a container in the freezer. When you've got a pound or two of meat saved, you're ready to make a pot.

Most fast-food chili is made with meat from burgers that "died on the grill"--i.e. they were cooked ahead during the rush and then not sold in time while they were still fresh. Nothing wrong with that--it's a fine way to use up already-cooked burger meat.

[Anonymous]

Eggs and pasta/pasta sauces are my go-to vehicles for using up leftovers. Recently I had some extra roasted chicken, so with those left overs one night I made barbecue chicken pizzas and the next night chicken fried rice (which also used up leftover rice and veggies!).

[Anonymous]

throw a bunch of leftovers in burrito size flour tortilla and roll it up. ++

I do this ALL the time, mostly with grilled chicken. Takes seconds and is filling, frugal, and healthier than most main dishes. Chicken & veggie wrap. Can have it cold with peppers, tomatoes, fruit/nuts/lettuce (chicken salad style) or hot with a little cheese, picante sauce. Honey mustard, ranch, etc. Super fast and uses up whatever is in the fridge.

[Anonymous]

with grapes, I usually use them up in smoothies - they add sweetness, so if you have a kale, broccoli, grape smoothie - it's pretty good.

[Anonymous]

I specifically PLAN FOR leftovers, mostly b/c it is faster than always cooking every single thing fresh. OP, I had to double check to see if you were me - I grew up in a leftover-loving household and DH absolutely refuses leftovers, even of a favorite dish, if it's "recognizable" as leftover. So subterfuge is required, and sometime I just tell him to deal with it.

-I rarely plan for work lunches, they are nearly always dinner leftovers. If I have more leftovers than I can get to in a week, I freeze the most-freezable (think soup) in single-serving containers for later weeks.
-steak tonight? steak salad or beef and broccoli stirfry two days from now. Same idea with chicken. If I put edamame in it, and serve over rice, DD will eat it without questions.
-Just about anything can go into a quesadilla and the best part is, you don't need much
-steak, chicken, or pork fried rice is a great way to use up leftover meat, leftover rice, and the ends of bags of frozen veg
-we frequently have fresh veggies and dip, either with dinner or DH and I will take it to work. Easy to steam quickly and turn into stirfry, fajitas, throw over pasta, etc.
-I will often make large quantities of soup, stew, other freezable dishes, and freeze a second or third night's dinner. As long as a minimum of 2 weeks goes by, in DH's mind they are not leftovers.

[Anonymous]

I use rotisserie chicken as main ingredient for leftovers. If small family use leftovers from one for 2nd or third dinner. Or buy extra one at grocery store or extra few pieces when eating out.

Then, lemon chicken soft tacos (had some tonight ), just tortillas, canned beans, shredded cheese and sour cream if have them. Add salad or chips to make it bigger meal.

Then with last of chicken I do fried rice or add to soup like lemon chicken orzo people talk about on board or chicken tortilla. For just DC and me it means we eat 3 meals out of one chicken as main protein.