Leftovers?

[cjnix29]

Ok, my husband and I are really lousy about eating leftovers. Anyone have any great second day recipes? Nothing in particular, it seems whatever gets leftover in my fridge is left there to die, so finding something to do with anything would be great!

 

[a1tinkfans]

Too Funny
I LOATHE left overs, and generally do not keep ANYTHING unless it can be re-frozen and used as another meal down the road.
I really try NOT to have left overs at all to tell you the truth, I just Portion stuff, but we're only 3 so its easier.
Actually last night, the ds wanted a burger from a burger place and he and I grabbed it out on errands, SO, DH comes in 2 hours later and I had thrown some skinless boneless thighs in the fry pan with some onions, peas, cut up peppers, and then some stewed tomatoes on the stove (with spices) and then made some Boxed lmao mashed potatoes and since DH was the only one to eat it, we had LEFTOVERS, UGH!
SO, dh took it for LUNCH today..
I have NO IDEA what is on tonights menu , but I am REALLY hankering for some pasta and THAT SAUCE is usually frozen...Hmmmm, even the italian bread is...(TIP: wrap leftover I/bread in plastic, sliced THEN foil and toast in oven, with a mixture of butter, garlic, locatelli cheese, pepper and parsley...PERFECTION) sounds good actually

 

[akenneson]

We usually make meals Monday-Wednesday and the eat up leftovers on Thursday then come Friday we don't feel bad about buying pizza and wasting our leftovers. If I don't think the leftovers will get eaten before they go bad, I throw them in the freezer. Usually weekend meals are something small (or take-out) that doesn't really end with having leftovers.

 

[TiffanyK]

We're in the habit of eating leftovers for lunch. Some are more desirable than others.

As far as second day recipes, it would help to know what you're cooking. Leftover meats can be used in stews, soups or casseroles. I use leftover bbq chicken to make BBQ Chicken Fajitas You can turn taco meat into taco salad or nachos or use it in taco soup.

I'm not as good with leftover veggies, but I know some people freeze them and use them in soups and stews later.

 

[MOREMICKEYFORME]

I use leftover chix fajita toppings, turkey, ham etc, for breakfast the next morning. I make an omlette or scrambled eggs with the goodies in it. YUM!!

 

[dyna]

I cook a beef roast kind doesn't so much matter with taters, carrots, onion, mushrooms can be done in crockpot all day I usually do mine on top of stove in dutch oven tho. I pour a can of cream of mushroom soup over the top of roast an veggies.

At supper time I remove the veggies an the roast leaving most of the gravy (broth what ever ya want to call it) after supper I tear up the rest of the roast put it in bottom of pan pour the leftover veggies an the gravy over top sometimes add a 2nd can of cream of mushroom soup reheat a day or 2 later an we have beef stew. It's better the 2nd time around than the 1st. Add a side salad maybe some bread or biscuits you got a complete meal both nights.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

I don't generally keep veggies, but I do keep meat and pastas.

Pastas are great to send for the kids to eat out of a thermos or to give them for lunch when they're not in school.

Leftover chicken and steak can be cut up small and put in spaghetti sauce for dinner another night. The chicken can also go into a Lipton pasta and sauce for lunch the next day.

Leftover hamburgers or taco meat can also go into pasta sauce or into chili. I usually freeze it and then consolidate it with fresh ground beef when I'm ready to make chili.

 

[acename]

Most of the time the key is finding a new way to use the leftovers. Sunday I made a taco soup with corn tomatoes and a couple of kinds of beans and some different seasonings (chili powder, cumin etc). Then last night I made a Mexican lasagna. I cooked some ground turkey and added the left over soup (minus some of the liquid). I layered it in the crockpot with tortillas and cheese. I still used up the soup but had a totally different supper. We did have some left overs but my dh likes that kind of thing reheated so he'll eat it for a couple of days.

 

[java]

I try to do Planned leftovers. If you go in with a plan it's easier to deal with it after the fact.

Like if I'm grilling a big flank steak. And I think I'll have extra I cook it and then slice it all. Use what I need that night. And plan on steak salad for the next day.

Left over rice gets made into breakfast fried rice

London broil gets turned into sandwiches as the remake.

The trick to making it work for us has been to REINVENT it. Not just heat up the same thing.

 

[C.Ann]

If I didn't eat leftovers, I would starve.. LOL

I'm here at the lake alone - Monday through Friday - for roughly 7 months out of the year.. So - I will make large portions of something and then put them in separate containers - basically making my own "tv dinners" - which I then freeze.. I do this a few times a week (or sometimes an all-day cooking session) so I'll have plenty of "meals" to choose from on the days I don't want to cook from scratch..

Then there is also one day a week that I take everything leftover in the fridge, throw it in a frying pan with some chopped onions and a few peeled and cubed potatoes, fry it all up and eat it that way.. (Basically a "leftovers goulash" type meal..) Sounds gross, but with the right seasonings it's actually yummy..

Most meals I prefer as leftovers - they just taste better the second time around.. The only thing I can think of offhand that I like just as much the first day as I do when it's leftover, is my homemade macaroni and cheese.. There are times that I eat so much of it at one sitting there aren't any "leftovers".. LOL

 

[taitai]

I am also one of the planners when it comes to leftovers. For instance, if I roast a chicken, I will use the leftovers later in the week for Caesar Club Sandwiches or Chicken Pot Pie or the filling for Chicken enchiladas or whatever. Leftover pork is always used for fried rice. Left over vegetables can be put into eggs or quiches, panini sandwiches, pasta with a little pesto sauce, quesadillas, etc.

They are also great for school lunches the next day.