So often I find leftovers from last night’s dinner in the fridge but have no idea what to do with them! I have discovered in my efforts to save time and money in the kitchen, that some of my family’s favourite meals, with a few on hand items, can be transformed to create a fresh new meal the next evening!!
Last Night: Hamburgers
Tonight: Tacos
Crumble your cooked hamburger patties and warm in the microwave oven. Spoon into warmed taco shells and top with salsa, lettuce and cheese.
Last Night: Spaghetti Bolognaise
Tonight: Pasta Bake
Place leftover spaghetti bolognaise into a casserole dish. Top with mozzarella and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake in a 180C oven for 30 minutes or until warmed through.
Last Night: Sausages
Tonight: Italian Sausage Rigatoni
Cook the rigatoni according to instructions. In a large frying pan, sauté leftover chopped sausages and some thinly cut red capsicum. Fold in a jar of your favourite pasta sauce and heat until warmed through. Mix with drained pasta, or serve piled on top. Sprinkle with a little Parmesan cheese.
Last Night: Mashed Potatoes
Tonight: Salmon Cakes
Mix together a tin of salmon, drained, 1 cup of leftover mashed potato, some mayonnaise and about 12 Jatz crackers crushed. Form into cakes and gently fry until golden.
Last Night: Roast Chicken
Tonight: Roma Chicken
Serves 4
½ cooked chicken, remove skin
400ml bottle of your favourite tomato-based pasta sauce
1 red capsicum, de-seeded and sliced
2 tablespoons sour cream
Cut up chicken leftovers, mix with pasta sauce and capsicum in a non-stick frying pan. Season to taste. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Just before serving stir in sour cream.
Here are some great ways to use pasta – the hero leftover dish!