Leftovers never go to waste at my house. I have a sister, actually I have three, but one who rarely eats leftovers. Going to dinner at her house is like winning the food lottery for me. She sends me home with a bag full!
Some leftovers are fine to eat in their original state like steak and pizza. Others are more delicious if combined with other leftovers, and when you cook on a regular basis you often have several small containers lurking in the fridge. The other day I found a small portion of Minestrone soup to which I added some of the Pan to Table Tortellini leftover from the night before. I shaved a little ricotta salata cheese on top and voilà...a delicious lunch:
Today I was craving some veggies and grains, so I sauteed some peas, onion, and corn, then added some leftover roasted cauliflower, and a little bit of fresh salsa, chopped kale, and a few handfuls of chick peas that were leftover from the aforementioned Minestrone. Add a few squirts of tamari sauce to the saute, serve over Quinoa, and here's another satisfying dish:
In addition to satiating my palate, I get tremendous satisfaction knowing that I've eaten all the food I've made. There's no waste, and that feels good for a whole host of reasons. Cost is certainly a factor, especially if you buy organic foods as I do. Another, and perhaps more important reason, is that I feel better when I just take, or buy, what I need and use it wisely. So, take a look in your fridge and see what you can come up with. Would love to hear about your creations.
