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So, you’re a busy mum. You’re looking at the leftovers of yesterday’s dinner and panicking slightly about how to make it exciting again AND ensure the family will eat. “ARGH”, might possibly be running through your mind but don’t worry; I’ve got you. It’s time for a beginner’s guide to leftovers (or maybe a gentle reminder?) so you need never thing “ARGH!” again.
As a family food consultant and mother-of-many, I’ve done battle with many a leftover meal (or “leavings” as we call them in our home), oddments from the fridge or a selection of “On Specials” from the supermarket and created…
…budget-friendly meals, healthy dishes full of colour and flavour beloved by all the family.
Triumphs of creativity, quite frankly. And you can too. No, really. This can be a thing and you can make the most out of all your family meals. Read on to find out how.
Why Master the Art of Leftovers?
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s talk about why cooking with leftovers is such a valuable skill. First and foremost, it’s a game-changer for your household budget. The average British family throws away £60 worth of food each month – that’s over £700 a year that could stay in your pocket! What would you spend that money on…
Secondly, it’s a huge time-saver for busy families and for YOU. Having pre-cooked ingredients ready to transform means you can get dinner on the table in half the time it would take to start from scratch. Boom. Just what you need on a busy evening after school and work.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, cooking with leftovers is one of the easiest ways to reduce your family’s environmental impact. When you make the most of every meal, you’re not just saving money – you’re helping to reduce the 6.6 million tonnes of food waste that British households produce each year. Yoiks.
Getting Started with Leftovers: The Basics
First things first with a beginner’s guide to leftovers- don’t let the idea of repurposing leftovers intimidate you. This is a mindset thing and you’ll need to mutter some sort of affirmation to yourself to get you over the hump. Something like, “As long as it’s not burnt nor fizzy, then it’ll be amazing” or “I am a World War 2 Granny in the making, ready to create wonderous meals at the drop of a hat” and “do I actually know ANYONE who has died of food poisoning that lives in the developed world”?
You get the drift and feel free to create your own affirmation that’s a tad more slick and less real than those. I won’t be offended.
By the way, even if you’re new to cooking, these simple steps will help you make the most of your family meals. Let’s go!
Step 1: Know What You’ve Got
The first step to in this beginner’s guide to leftovers is knowing exactly what you have to work with. Take a moment to explore or “rummage” in your fridge and assess what needs using up. You might find some of Sunday’s roast chicken, some leftover vegetables, a portion of rice… absolute gold!
One of the best habits you can develop as a beginner cook is keeping track of what’s in your fridge. I recommend placing a magnetic whiteboard on your fridge door – it’s a game-changer for keeping track of what needs using and when. This simple system prevents those forgotten containers from getting lost at the back of the fridge, saving you both money and reducing waste.
Although, please note, I said “beginner cook” with this one. If you’ve not started this by the time you’ve a gaggle of small children, it might be a tricky habit to begin until the kids are a bit older. Instead, consider setting aside 15 minutes a week at a set time where you literally empty the fridge of all the Tupperware or cling-filmed bowls and actually look at what you have.
You’ll often surprise yourself with the amount you do have tucked away that can quickly be reheated into a jolly decent meal. And it’ll hone your eye as a Queen of Leftover Recipes.
Step 2: Food Safety and Leftovers
Further to my affirmation above about food poisoning and before we dive into the creative side of leftover cooking, let’s have a gentle talk about safety. No one is likely to die if you fluff up however, you might well get a dicky tummy if you’re not sensible about reheating.
Like I was in Venice as a young student, in the days when Internet cafes ruled the earth and there were no smart phones so I couldn’t check how to reheat seafood safely.
Grim were the results. Let’s just leave it at that. But please note, I’m not dead. Just a bit more cautious, especially when it comes to seafood.
So, at home, make sure you store your leftovers in the fridge. When it comes to using them, try to consume everything within three days however if the food has been in there longer than that, then use your nose.
If you recoil in horror from the whiff, it’s clearly not edible. Please be sensible. If it’s fizzy and you can hear it and it’s not meant to be a kombucha or sauerkraut, then please do not eat it. Meat should not fizz.
And when reheating, ensure everything is piping hot throughout, and remember the golden rule: only reheat once. Reheated food can be eaten cold though so consider a grazing dinner or lunch of these sorts of leavings.
Ok, now on to the creative element of a beginner’s guide to leftovers.
Step 3: Start Simple
You don’t need to be a master chef to breathe new life into yesterday’s dinner. The secret to transforming leftovers often lies in simple additions that can completely change the character of a dish. Yep. It doesn’t take much to create absolute deliciousness from leftovers.
Consider keeping some fresh herbs growing on your windowsill – even a small pot of basil or parsley can make a world of difference. Basil works wonders with tomatoey sauces whilst parsley is great with chicken in a white wine sauce or a rich beef stew that you’ve rustled up from leftover steak or roast beef.
A squeeze of fresh lemon can brighten any dish (like leftover cabbage and greens in a stir fry with garlic), while a handful of grated cheese can add comfort and richness. Like in mashed potatoes. Yum.
Fresh, crunchy vegetables can provide wonderful texture contrast to softer leftover meals and you can quickly make a salad out of bits and pieces of carrots, kale, roasted sweet potato, red cabbage, pumpkin and lettuce. Maybe with a tahini dressing. Oooh… now there’s an idea. The point is, these simple additions can turn a mundane meal into something special with minimal effort.
Step 4: Build Your Store Cupboard
A well-stocked store cupboard is your secret weapon in this beginner’s guide to leftovers. You don’t need anything fancy – just a few basic items that can turn any leftover into a proper meal. Keep a supply of wraps, pasta, and rice as your base ingredients. Tinned tomatoes are incredibly versatile and can form the base of countless sauces.
Beans are also amazing for turning leftovers for one or two people into a feast for a family of four or more. A few stock cubes, some mixed herbs, leftover gravy or spices can add flavour to almost anything. These budget-friendly basics will serve you well time and time again. Just have a play and enjoy!
If you need some extra help, consider joining the 7 Day Pantry Challenge below. It’s a free mini email course that ends with a recipe ideas ebook. Taking one pantry staple ingredient a day, you’ll learn how to create three meal ideas from it. By the end of 7 days, that’s 21 recipe ideas and a whole heap more confidence in creating deliciousness from leftovers. ⬇
Step 5: Quick and Easy Leftovers Transformations
Let me share five simple recipes that any beginner cook can master. These are tried-and-tested transformations that have saved countless family dinners and family relationships.
First up, let’s transform Sunday’s roast chicken.
We often have a couple of cold roast chickens ready on Sundays when it’s our family day of rest so there’s lots leftovers for the week. One ideas is to shred your leftover chicken and mix it with mayonnaise, a touch of curry powder, and a handful of sultanas. This creates a delicious coronation chicken that works brilliantly in sandwiches or stuffed into jacket potatoes or with a salad. Doesn’t that sound easy?
Next, Bubble and Squeak.
Remember, you’re aiming for World War 2 Granny in terms of leftovers skillz. This is ideal for using up roast dinner leftovers. Take your leftover potatoes and vegetables, mash them together, and form them into small patties. Fry them until golden brown and crispy on both sides. They make a brilliant breakfast with eggs on top or light dinner option with leftover meat and salad that’s incredibly budget-friendly.
The Speedy Stir-Fry is here!
It’s your answer to virtually any combination of leftover meat and vegetables and portions of rice that are floating about. Chop everything into similar-sized pieces, then fry them quickly in a pan with coconut oil or olive oil, garlic, a squeeze of lemon or lime and a splash of soy sauce (tamari sauce if you’re gluten free). Got some coriander or spinach hanging about the fridge? Throw that in as well at the last minute. Serve it all with that rice for a fast family dinner that tastes completely different from the original meal.
Simply Super Soup
For those chilly days, transform leftover vegetables into soup. Simply simmer your vegetables in stock or bone broth until tender, then blend until smooth. A splash of cream at the end creates a luxurious finish and will be delicious with parsley and splash of white wine (don’t worry; the simmering will make sure there’s no alcohol with which to intoxicate the children). You could also make this more like a curry with a tin of coconut cream, some turmeric and curry powder. The point is, this warming meal is perfect for tight budgets and always feels like a proper homemade dish.
Fake Pizza or Bruschetta on a Budget
Finally, there’s fake pizza, a guaranteed hit with the kids. Take any kind of bread (if you can manage gluten. If not, try the chickpea pancakes or gf bread recipes here), spread it with tomato puree, top with chopped leftovers and plenty of cheese, then grill until bubbly. It’s perfect for a quick after-school tea and uses up bits and pieces from the fridge. Hurrah!
Final Tips for Success in this Beginner’s Guide to Leftovers
Success with leftovers comes with practice and confidence. Start small by trying just one new recipe idea per week. Get your children involved in choosing how to transform the leftovers – they’re more likely to eat something they’ve helped plan. Don’t feel pressured to create elaborate dishes; sometimes the simplest transformations are the most successful and if it happens to become a grazing meal of bits and bobs from the fridge, hey ho, doesn’t that make a busy day calmer for everyone?
Don’t forget that every cook started somewhere, and with each attempt, you’ll become more confident in your ability to turn leftovers into lovely meals.
Remember, using leftovers isn’t just about saving money (though your budget will thank you!) – it’s about making life easier for busy families and busy mamas like you, while reducing food waste and not compromising on taste. With these simple steps and recipe ideas, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can turn yesterday’s dinner into today’s delicious meal. You’ll be feeding the 5,000 in no time whatsoever.
Happy cooking! Feel free to leave a comment or get in touch with any questions. I’m here to help.
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