San, I baked Chicken Thighs last Sunday. Half I made into Chicken Parmesan and the other half just baked well seasoned...those I made into my chicken broccoli rice casserole a few nights later..but I had all those thigh bones that I didn't get quite clean, so they are in the freezer now, awaiting a stock pot..

So you can use the meat for the casserole, and the thighs for some stock later...

san...have you thought about getting a dog?.... darfc

Roxie is more than happy to eat up any and all leftovers, she's very spoiled.

Nancy

I made way to much roasted veggies ( red & green peppers,few small pieces of sweet potato,some egg plant , onion & button mushrooms)tossed with a bit of canola oil & fresh grd pepper when I baked Lake Trout the other night-- usually that sort of thing would go into the freezer for soup at some later date but this time I ended up tossing it into some barley ( cooked in lo Na chicken stock), added some chopped almonds . Along with a small spinach red onion & apple salad it made a nice meal last night.

I try to plan my meals so that the leftovers come to the table looking like something new.

Roast beef one night--the next we might have: BBQ beef sandwiches, beef salad, beef pot pie, pepper steak, veg/beef soup. If we have pulgogi, I use the leftovers for a stir-fry that's out of this world.

Creamed dried beef can be served over toast one night, and made into a casserole (with noodles or sliced cooked potatoes) the next.

Chicken--well, there are so many things you can do with leftover chicken--Chicken Parm pizza; chicken tortellini salad, or orange chicken salad; chicken pot pie, dozens of different chicken casseroles; chicken alfredo, stir-fry or fried rice; chicken salad (served in a tomato, or on a sandwich or--for fun--put a scoop of it in an ice cream cone). Heat Chicken in white sauce and serve over waffles.

Heat leftover cooked meat in the appropriate gravy and serve over toast for hot sandwiches. Spoon leftover BBQ over baked potatoes and top with cheese--YUM. Put leftover meat on good bread (something like Challah or brioche) dip in egg batter and grill for a Monte Christo.

I keep a 1-quart container in the freezer--and I dump all the little bits of leftover veg in it. Whatever is left in the serving bowl, even if it's just a tablespoon or so. I add the juice from canned tomatoes, if I need drained tomatoes for a recipe. When the container is full, I saute up an onion, add some meat (whatever I have on hand), the container of veg, some broth, and some pasta or potatos for a really good homemade vegetable soup.

We like to have leftover chicken or turkey turned into a curry. It's so easy to dice it up, using up any small leftover bits and with added apple, onion, spices and chutney it's a delicious meal over rice.

I like to chop up leftover spaghetti and add more tomato sauce, grated parmesan, pesto if I have it, garlic, chopped onion, green pepper and make baked spaghetti.

Sharon Cb

Leftovers? I always have lots, Ashley doesn't eat what I cook half the time and I can only take it for lunch so many times.

I did make a good soup out of some leftover roasted vegetables, and I have the "trimmings" from the Algerian Chicken in the freezer for stock, but I'll watch here for some good ideas. I could get rid of leftovers AND clean the pantry at the same time!

Annie

We use up our left overs on the weekend. I cook all week but on Sat. and Sunday we do "fend for yourself" meals. I toss all the containers on the island and everyone helps themselves to what they want. Things can get a little backed-up at the microwave. I got this idea from my mother-in-law. Sundays have always been "fend for yourself" days in her house. Some things do get "reborn" during the week, so if there are no left overs I cook on Sat. but Sunday is still "fend for yourself".

I put leftovers in the freezer so I don't get that we-just-ate-this statement. Last night I had left over corned beef. I defrosted it, picked some carrots, brussel sprouts (instead of cabbage) from the garden, and potatoes. I cooked the veggies then put it all together and reheated it. New England boiled dinner.
Clare

I am sort of stuck in a rut with leftovers too. If I ahve leftover veggies, Diva eats them. She loves her veggies for dessert LOL!

Chicken usually gets used in a casserole of some sort or if it is this slices of chicken breast that have been sauteed, then in sandwiches (heated up). Or enchiladas or quesadillas, etc.

Beef, depending on the cut, gets used in shepherds pie, eaten with eggs for breakfast, or just eaten as is - I have a 9 yo that would eat meat and nothing else for every meal.

Pork is more if a challenge. I never know what to do with left over pork chops - so usually we just eat them re-heated.

Anyway, here is one of our favorite uses for chicken leftovers.

Mexican chicken casserole

2 cups left over chicken meat chopped in small bites
2 cups (1 bag) shredded cheddar jack
1 12 oz jar salsa - your chioce on heat level
1 can cream of mush soup (low fat/low sodium is fine)

4 - 5 large flour tortillas

Mix salsa and mush soup. Put 1/4 cup in the bottom of a casserole dish (spray with Pam if you want) that is about the same size as the tortilla. Put in a tortilla, then chicken, then a handful of cheese, then about 1/2 cup salsa/soup. Then another tortilla and repeat all layers ending wiht a tortilla and top with a little salsa and cheese. Bake at 350 for 45 min until heated through.

I cant wait to see other suggestions - especially for pork.

Alexa

Any leftover meat can be put on a salad or in quesadillas or crepes. One of my family's favorites is tortellini with leftover chicken, pesto, and whatever veggies I have on hand (tomatoes, mushrooms, zucchini, etc.). Any pasta would work. Chicken and pork work in almost everything, so I make sure I'll have leftovers when I make either. My kids are sometimes more excited by the leftovers than the initial meal. Put a steaming roast chicken on my table, and the girls start arguing over whether we'll have pasta or quesadillas. We also like lasagna with roast chicken, spinach, black olives and feta. Great. Now I want a chicken.

It's always a fun challenge, isn't it?

I'm used to cooking just for myself, and I can happily eat the same thing over and over.

I've had a long-term house guest for the last several weeks and am reminded again how much men seem to eat -- there never seem to be any leftovers!

In general, my philosphy is that nearly everything can be diced and reappear either on pasta or in an omelet.

I love your idea about the veggie container in the freezer, azzalea -- I'll have to see if I can squeeze in more space in my freezer! Any veggies you wouldn't use?