As we cook our favorite Cozy Comfort foods, we always seem to do so in large quantities, even if we’re just cooking for ourselves rather than a large group or holiday event. The biggest snag is that the next day, we’re faced with the age-old challenge of eating the leftovers. Sometimes the very idea of eating the same thing over and over again has us bored to tears and ready to toss it all in the trash.
Delicious Ideas for Transforming Leftovers
Fear not! We’ve got you covered. Grain foods are the perfect vehicle for transforming leftovers into amazing and delicious new creations.
- Soup it Up! Make a bone stock with leftover roasted meat that you can then use for noodle or barley soup!
- Spectacular Sliders! Slather that leftover meat with barbeque sauce or gravy to create to-die-for sliders or seeded bread sammies!
- Bowls of Goodness! Collect the proteins and sides from a meal and make a dressing of soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil, rice vinegar and scallions for a divine winter rice bowl!
- Pocketed Wonders! Stuff a collection of leftovers into puff pastry or pie crust, brush on some egg wash and bake to make holiday empanadas/calzones/pasties!
Registered dietitian Charlotte Martin put together a collection of recipes to help you make deliciously nutritious meals out of her favorite leftovers (and this myth-busting expert has a lot to say about the important role both refined and whole grains play in a well-balanced diet). We also put together some tasty ideas to spark your creativity, but if you just want to skip the work and find a tried-and-true recipe, we’ve also got you covered:
- Turkey Sandwich
- Breakfast Casserole
- Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich
- Enchiladas with Roasted Jalapenos
- Creamy Turkey Pot Pies
Turning those leftovers into new creations has never been easier!
Wintertime is a season where even the non-bakers among us find themselves baking. Whether you’re starting a brand-new recipe or converting leftovers, remember to keep food safety in mind. Flour is a raw ingredient, and therefore exposed to bacteria in the fields where wheat is grown. Here’s a great resource to help you safely create your new and old favorite Cozy Comfort foods.