I guess I might as well admit that I like secondhand food. If it was good when new, it will probably be good later and even better with a few changes. I always try to have a hefty take-out, so I can give you lots of examples. You will usually need an onion or garlic, eggs and cheese. Everything is better and more healthy with big handfuls of spinach added!
I recently ordered a huge serving of squash casserole. Tasty, but a little too much casserole. I took the leftovers home and sauteed a bit of onion in butter, added the squash casserole and another sliced squash. Things didn’t seem too happy, so I added an egg and some milk. In went cheese as it always helps most things. In about five minutes I had two servings of a brand new squash casserole.
I love to add milk to my take-out butter beans, leftover rice and to any black-eyed peas I bring home. Then, I have things the way I like them.
I usually have some leftover rice in the freezer just waiting for my take out meat and vegetables. Add an egg and soy sauce and you have Chinese fried rice. If your vegetables are not too over cooked you can heat them as a stir fry with some fresh vegetables and available meat. Roasting also works for a different look and taste.
Leftover fish makes an acceptable chowder, if you are not too picky. Saute in onion if you want, but you can just warm the fish in butter, and add milk and salt and pepper, and let simmer until they get acquainted. I have even done this with oysters and lived to tell it. The breading interferes a bit!
If this doesn’t appeal to you, just make a fish sandwich with tartar sauce.
You can do a lot with leftover baked chicken. It makes fine chicken salad. I have often added it to pasta, sometimes along with any leftover vegetables. Mix in a spoonful of cream cheese, sour cream, a little milk or half and half, or a bit of all three. That pasta won’t know what hit it!
You do have to cook the pasta!
You can always add a spice of your choice to any of these concoctions and add salt and pepper to your taste.
I sometimes order mashed potatoes just so I will have some to take home. Add finely chopped onion and flour to your potatoes and make patties. Flouring the patties is the messy part, but it is important. Brown in fairly hot oil of your choice. Too much cooking? At least we didn’t have to peel, cook, mash and season the potatoes! They are always tasty.
Speaking of potatoes, heat up a handful of leftover French fries in a frying pan. Toss an egg over the potatoes and stir around. Better with the egg a bit soft. Makes a great breakfast or quick late night snack.
The great thing about experimenting with leftovers is that you have a fresh dish and you haven’t really cooked! The bad thing is that it may not work for two… unless you have coordinated take-outs. You may already do this and have new ideas. Pass them on.
We may have enough ‘leftover’ recipes for a secondhand food cookbook.