So, I have have this meal plan, for subscribers. I also plan meals for my family. I try to have it make sense so that I don’t end up with too many random bits but, inevitably, there are some. Since I hate waste (so much), I refuse to let the bits die, but rather rework them into new (hopefully) exciting meals. Case in point: recently I needed to make dinner for my family of 7 and this is what I identified as being available:
plenty of eggs
about 1/2 of a pint of cream
1 sweet potato
1 onion
roughly 4 oz of kale
1 small bag of cauliflower
about 5 2 inch pieces of herbed chicken from 2 nights ago
roughly half a cup of shredded cheese
one cup-ish of cooked rice and a bit less of uncooked
somewhere between a cup and two of mashed potatoes
None of these components can be used as is for a meal. There isn’t even one piece of chicken per person, and are we all going to battle over the sweet potato? Of course not. It’s ok, though, these can all be reworked and transformed into an actual meal.
Watch this:
Oil the bottom of a baking pan. Spread those mashed potatoes in a thin layer along the bottom. Whisk 5 of the eggs with the cream. Chop up the chicken and sprinkle it over the potatoes. Salt and pepper the egg mixture, pour it over the chicken and potatoes. Sprinkle on the cheese. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes.
Chop up the sweet potato, onion, cauliflower. Toss with oil, salt and favorite spice mix (today it’s Justice from Penzey’s). Roast for 20 minutes, add in the kale and cook another 10/15.
Cook the bit of rice and add it to the already cooked. Toss with oil (we are even out of butter!) and more Justice blend.
Suddenly, I have chicken and cheese quiche with potato crust (bonus for my keto kid), roasted mixed veg, and flavored rice. An actual meal! From nothing! Triumph.
The thing is, though it can seem daunting, it’s really not that hard. There are so many ways to use the bits. There are blank canvases that can be painted on with whatever you have on hand. Quiche, soup, casserole, stir fry, “bowls” – these can all become your very own refrigerator masterpiece.
Alternately, there are those times that you have too much left of just one thing. Bag of carrots, for example, just needed one, no one in the house likes to munch on carrot sticks. My favorite way to use them up is making “carrot pudding” – basically boiled mashed carrots mixed with a few tablespoons of cashew butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, then whipped up to a light consistency. For a little more of a treat I will add a bit of maple syrup.
Another example: I have a bag of frozen peas, recipe only needs half the bag. What do I do with the other? I smash the warmed peas with good olive oil, salt and any left over fresh herbs that I have hanging around. Then I spread it on toast and dig out the last feta cheese crumbles left from that Greek salad. Drizzle of oil before I bite into it.
Think of having a handful or two of a few different things in your refrigerator and pantry as an opportunity for a new meal, not as lost waste that will go in the bin. After 4 or 5 nights of cooking, you likely will have a few things to easily make another meal that is both budget and effort friendly. It is also an opportunity to stretch your kitchen creativity and skills, so take advantage. Fear not the leftover bits – they are your friend!
To get you started, here are a few recipes that can have the ingredients swapped out easily for what you have lying around, or simply added to the basic recipe:
You can also check out this old post about the “clean out the fridge” meal:
My kids call it refrigerator soup, even if it’s not soup.
Go forth, fear not, transform and Eat those bits, It’s Good For You!
Great way to use what you have on hand!
Thanks!
I love making delicious surprises just based on what’s in the fridge. Nice work!
Isn’t it the best when you can do that?
This is a great article – what a great way to think about things
Thank you, sir.
Great ideas with interesting combos! I need to get more creative.
Thanks! And that’s the whole idea here – to help give a framework to encourage creativity!
New recipes are great! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for reading!
I love making meals with leftovers, and my family never knows that I used the leftovers..this is a great recipe! Thank you!
Leftovers are the best!
This looks healthy, delicious, and easy to make! Thank you for this recipe
Thanks for reading!
I love when you can use your leftovers for full on meals! Thanks for the ideas!
I know, right? It’s like finding treasure!
Wow, that is inventive! I am not that good in the creativity department! Impressed!
Hopefully the ideas here will help! Thanks for reading!
Well aren’t you creative! Well done.
Well, thank
you!
I’m terrible when it comes to using everything that I have. I hate that we waste so much food and it’s always something that I try to work on but I’m good at just coming up with something. Give me a recipe and I can make almost anything. Take away the recipe and I’m useless in the kitchen lol!
You know, that is just an experience and trial and error thing. It really isn’t complicated – you can totally work your way into it!
Great idea!
Thanks!
Whoa. I like this voodoo you’ve got going on. I need to learn more. Teach me, master! #CookingGoals
Haha, seems like voodoo but it’s really just learnin’. Anyone can do it!
It is such a challenge for me to use what I have and little time to add to that. Super cool how you are able to though!
I hope this gave you some thoughts about how you can do it yourself!
How smart! I need to get better about using leftover food like this!
It really isn’t hard once you get into the habit of it-you can do it!
Very creative! I try to do the same thing. I am tired of wasting food!
I know – wasted food is so frustrating!
It’s always great to throw something together that is tasty but also uses up leftovers!
I love using up leftovers – same kind of satisfying as using correct change!
Helpful ideas for left overs, so I pinned it too
Glad to hear you found it helpful – and thanks for the pin!
Great suggestions for making something from something already made. Win, Win!!
I love the wins!
I am so bad at thinking of dinner is based on what’s in my refrigerator. This is great though!
I hope this gives you some ideas!
Interesting. My dad would make stuff like this when my mom was away while I was growing up. Sometimes it was good, sometimes it WAS NOT. Lol.
Haha, there definitely is potential for disaster,I suppose! Luckily, I don’t think my kids will end up with that view looking back.
I think you’re my soul-food-sister. I hate waste as well and I am always trying to rework the extras into something meaningful. At my core, I cannot throw food away. It’s nice to see you creating a recipe with those extra bits; thank you!
I always love hearing about other folks who are committed to eliminating food waste.Thanks for reading!
This was a really creative way to use what you have!
Thanks!
I love this! These are great tips for frugal living. I try not to throw food away, but I never know what to do with it. As such, much of my food ends up in the freezer, lol!
Hopefully this gave you some tips on how to think about it!
Love the challenge of making something out of pretty much nothing. It always amazes me what I can come up with and still feel satisfied. Thanks!
It is satisfying,body and soul!
Well done! I love creating these kinds of meals. And like you I hate wasting good!
Yes, wasting food is bad for the environment, and the bank account!