Shape shifting traditional dishes
You can easily rewrite your holiday leftover characters with a little help.
Big celebrations always leave us with a ton of leftovers. I guess when you feed a house full of guests, you just get left with a heap of food. It's not entirely a bad thing, but sometimes it's hard to feel all creative about food that you just spent twelve hours cooking.
Shape shift traditional dishes into a repeat performance
Well, it is time to regroup and recharge, and rethink the typical leftover redoes. How do you turn holiday leftovers into something fun and exciting to eat? Here are a few ideas to help you get started on the path to cleaning out your refrigerator without boring your family.
Shift cultures
If your holiday dinner was the classic American feast, your table was filled with turkey or ham or lamb or beef, green bean casserole, stuffing, bread, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, corn, cauliflower, and just about everything else imaginable. Instead of just reheating the same dinner over and over again in exactly the same ways, with exactly the same flavors, why not shift your culture a bit and try something a little more outside what you're familiar with.
Chop up your ham or turkey and mix it with some mashed potatoes, wrap it in a little wonton and make your very own Polish perogies. Spice up your leftovers with classic Italian seasonings and recreate them into soups, salads, casseroles or salads with a Mediterranean flavor. Get out your soy sauce, sesame oil, and turn your leftovers into Asian inspired dishes. Squeeze some lime, chop cilantro, and grab the tequila to marinade your leftover turkey to use in a simple Mexican inspired wrap. Use leftover bread and make a wonderful bread pudding using English inspired recipes.
Shift states
In order to get really creative with your leftovers, all you have to do is shift states. No, not continental states, but science states. Remember learning about solids, liquids, and gasses when you were in science class? Yes, those states. For instance, you can transform a solid ham bone into a delicious stock for a bean and zucchini soup. You can also use that stock to cook rice or steam some vegetables. Your once-solid ham bone has now been changed into a liquid and a gas...and it never tasted better. Don't forget the frozen state. Puree your cranberry orange relish in some orange juice and turn it into frozen treats or ice cubes for drinks.
Or, if you want to get super creative, and you have some small children at home, you can combine flour and your leftover mashed potatoes to make a mashed potato play-dough. Not only is it fun to mold, it is absolutely non-toxic, and, yes, edible. It's one of those things that, although doesn't really get eaten, the leftovers are put to a good use; keeping the kids busy. So, once again you have shifted the state of your leftovers; this time from a food to a toy!
Shift your beliefs
When you have a bunch of leftover food, the only way to really enjoy it during the constant reappearances is to totally rethink what the food is. You have to forget that the potatoes are potatoes, for instance, and think instead that they are a thickening agent, or play-dough! Turkey can be pureed, too, and turned into a pate if you like, and even used to stuff deviled eggs.
Even desserts can be rethought. If you are fortunate enough to have leftover pecan pie, think about scooping out the filling into a sauce pan and melting it down. Then whisk in a good balsamic vinaigrette and pour it hot over a spinach and bacon salad. All the ingredients are there; they just needed to be re-imagined.
If you want to use up your leftovers quickly and creatively, all you need to do is think about where your food is and where it can go. Your leftovers may need some creative seasoning. They may need to be transformed into different physical states. Get creative, get cooking, and help your leftovers reinvent themselves!
Easy leftover sequels with creative breakfast ideas for groggy characters
After a full day of cooking for friends and family, the last thing you want to do the next morning is to figure out what to make for breakfast. Not to mention, your refrigerator is already crammed full with leftovers, so there is no room to put anything else. Why not use what you already have on hand to make an unbelievable breakfast? Here are a few ideas to get your morning after ideas flowing.
The classic omelet
You wake up in the morning, struggling with the classic L-Tryptophan and high carb hangover and the last thing you want to do is get creative with your breakfast. Especially if you are in charge with feeding the same group you fed twelve hours ago. If you want to make a great breakfast, without a bunch of effort, you can always turn to a classic omelet.
As soon as you walk into the kitchen, unpack your refrigerator with all of the leftovers from the night before. Cut up your turkey or ham, scramble some eggs and throw it all together with some leftover tomatoes, broccoli, and cheese from your salad. If you want to really give your omelet a kick, try incorporating the cranberry sauce into your recipe. Throw in a scoop of leftover green bean casserole, too. The sky's the limit; or rather, the refrigerator's the limit.
The simple fritter
If you are not in the mood to scramble some eggs for the omelet, you can pull out two easy leftover ingredients; mashed potatoes and stuffing. Combining your stuffing and your mashed potatoes in a ratio of 1 to 1 will give you an incredibly thick paste that you can mold and shape into patties. Once you have the mixture, you can fry them in a small amount of oil and prepare to be amazed.
Add some green bean casserole and a little diced ham or turkey to the mixture if you want to make your patties even heartier. Making this addition will give you a completely rounded meal and it will help you reduce the amount of leftovers that are just sitting in your fridge, which is always a good thing.
The elegant quiche
If you have your coffee and find you have a little more energy, you may want to show off a little. Impress your guests with the creative ways you can reuse your leftovers by making a quiche. A holiday quiche is like a holiday dinner all wrapped up in a fluffy egg. You will be able to enjoy the tastes you know and love while also having a healthy and delicious breakfast.
Your quiche can be the full spread, or just a few of your favorite leftover dishes. When you have a bunch of leftovers, you can include as many as you like. If you want to give this quiche a twist, try scrambling some pumpkin pie filling in with the eggs to give it that classic sweet and nutmeg taste you love during the holidays. Just be creative. It all tasted good together on the table, so why not together in a quiche?
The morning after the big Holiday meal shouldn't be a lot of work for you, especially if you spent the entire day prior cooking food for an army. Use what you have, re-purpose it and give your family a new breakfast dish they can only get during the holidays each year. They will love it! And to think, all you had to do was gather dishes from the refrigerator to appear in the morning sequel!
Leftovers deserve more creative direction beyond the typical sandwich
We are all familiar with the classic turkey or ham sandwich. You know, there was way too much turkey or ham at the holiday feast and now it can either sit in your fridge and go bad, or you can make sandwiches with the leftovers, over, and over, and over... you get the point. Sure, your home-cooked turkey tastes great and the sandwiches are tasty, but unless you do something different, even your best sandwiches will get boring quickly. Here are a few ideas to keep your taste buds entertained.
Dress it up
A turkey sandwich will always be a turkey sandwich and a ham sandwich will always be a ham sandwich. That is, unless you dress up your sandwich and bring out an entirely different flavor with the simple addition of a few key ingredients. For instance, instead of the typical mayonnaise and mustard, try adding a new spice to your favorite sandwich. Try using a chipotle mayo or sweet chili mayo, or use exotic sprouts instead of lettuce, or arugula, shredded cabbage, or even sauerkraut.
Think high-end boutique sandwich shop when you are creating your masterpiece. If you are a fan of avocado, try adding a few slices to your sandwich, or experiment with different types of cheese. When you are trying to break out of the holiday sandwich blues, toppings can be your best friend. Put away your regular sandwich cheese and grab the bleu cheese and bleu cheese dressing. Rethink each layer of your sandwich and use something you've never used before. That is how you dress up that slice of turkey or ham.
Change clothes
If you have your toppings down to your liking, or don't want to experiment too far from normal, you can always change the method you use to close up your sandwich ingredients; you know, the bread. You can try a wrap, or grilled on a bun, or even leftover dinner rolls. With hundreds of different kinds of breads, you have an endless supply of possibilities.
Try your next grilled ham and cheese on Rye bread instead of the familiar wheat or white. You can also try authentic Chibatta bread for a distinct and unique taste. Don't forget pita and tortillas. Or, if you are trying to cut the carbs, you can always go naked. Okay, not you, but the sandwich. Use a piece of romaine lettuce to wrap the ingredients and enjoy the crisp, crunchy and healthy alternative to your typical holiday leftover sandwich.
Take a flavor trip
Now that you have dressed up your sandwich and changed its clothes, you may also want to experiment with flavors from around the world. Take your typical turkey sandwich on a trip to Italy or Mexico. Dress it up with different flavor combinations and try authentic ingredients to completely make over your sandwich.
For instance, use a peanut flavored sauce, combined with shredded cabbage and some crispy noodles to give your sandwich a Thai flare. Or try a mango chutney with some spicy peppers for a Southwestern sizzle. Choose roasted sweet peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, and sliced olives for a Mediterranean inspired sandwich.
There are hundreds of different possibilities you can try with your holiday sandwiches. All it takes is a little creativity, an open mind and an empty stomach. No matter if you dress it up, get it naked or change its culture, your leftover holiday sandwich doesn't have to be boring any longer. And all it took was a little creative direction!
Reinventing leftovers is a culinary adventure
Leftovers are not just reheated meals from the previous day; they are a canvas for culinary creativity. Embrace the challenge of transforming yesterday's dishes into today's gourmet delights.
The global pantry: Stock up on a variety of spices and condiments from around the world. From soy sauce to chipotle mayo, having a diverse pantry can instantly elevate your leftover dishes.
Presentation matters: A dish's appeal isn't just about taste; it's also about how it's presented. Use fresh herbs, garnishes, or even a new plating technique to make your leftovers look gourmet.
Fusion cuisine: Combine elements from different culinary traditions. Imagine a turkey taco with cranberry salsa or a ham and cheese croissant with a touch of Dijon mustard.
Soup it up: Almost any leftover can be turned into a hearty soup. Blend roasted veggies with some stock, add in leftover meats, and season to taste for a comforting bowl of goodness.
Salad days: Chop up leftovers and toss them into a fresh salad. Grilled meats, roasted veggies, and even fruits can be combined with greens and a zesty dressing for a refreshing meal.
Breakfast remix: Who said leftovers are only for lunch or dinner? Turn them into breakfast burritos, frittatas, or even a savory pancake stack.
Snack attack: Transform leftovers into bite-sized snacks. Think sliders, spring rolls, or even mini pies. Perfect for a quick bite or entertaining guests.
Dessert reimagined: Leftover cakes or pies can be turned into trifle layers, parfaits, or even blended into milkshakes. Sweet leftovers offer endless possibilities.
Waste not. Remember, the goal is to reduce food waste. By being creative and open-minded, not only do you get to enjoy delicious meals, but you also contribute to a more sustainable food culture.