Following the holidays, finding leftovers on the dinner table is kinda expected in early January, and no boost to our mood, which is usually on the glum side. Our festive spirits have faded as quickly as the seasonal lighting and reality has set in. Those of us in Northern locations face the brunt of the winter and, for all, it’s back to the grindstone for the longest uninterrupted stretch of the year. We deserve a bright spot in our day, and dinner is the perfect place for it.

Of course we’re looking forward to the family favorite comfort foods of winter, but first we have to use up those pesky leftovers, right? Wrong! You may have leftovers you want to provide for before they spoil, but you don’t have to feel pressured to ’use’ them up, especially not as shadows of their former selves or in catch-all soups and stews. You have choices!

My first option for leftover roasts is the freezer. If there’s a bone, I strip it, slice and trim the meat and store it in two-portion, double plastic wrapped packages. I either freeze the bone wrapped separately or boil it then and freeze the broth in plastic containers. If there’s a lot of leftover gravy, it makes a great addition to the broth as a soup or stew base.

This way, you can use the meat to make a wide range of dishes, adding variety to your menus, actually, for months to come. If you’re wondering how, just think of all those recipes calling for pre-cooked meat, or directing pan broiling or sautéing the meat, then concocting a sauce. This eliminates that first step. Most pan sauces begin with melted butter and/or oil, briefly sautéing a flavor ingredient, onions, garlic etc., then adding liquid, reducing and returning the meat to the pan to heat through.

Occasionally, I add a few grains of bouillon powder at the start to compensate for the lack of pan drippings. Also I usually put the meat in the pan halfway through the liquid reduction to absorb the flavors. In the interest of convenience of preparation, thawing the meat isn’t really necessary, with the exception of beef. Because, unlike other meats, beef toughens as it cooks and then has to be ‘stewed’ to tender, it’s best to thaw it and then add it to a dish at the last moment. It only has to be heated enough to blend into the hot dish.

Cooked vegetables don’t freeze, with the exception of candied sweets and mashed potatoes, but there are solutions for small amounts of leftovers there as well. The new concept in ‘dinner salads’ (see the site archives for more on the subject) frittatas and quiches are three of the best. They can also be added to pasta and rice. Potatoes and onions are excellent in omelets and scrambled eggs.

Stuffing is no problem either. It can be a soup base (see posting for Nov.22, 2018), shaped into patties and fried like fritters or latkes. Pressed into the bottom of a pie plate, it can become a crust. Baked for about 10 min. at 350 deg. it can be filled with a sauced dish, or form the base for a baked one.

Condiments, jellies and salsas can be used for snacks as spreads or dips. Sweet ones can be melted as dessert toppings or fused into compotes and similar fruit dishes, or simply used to enhance other meals.

There’s an interesting, even exciting way to re-invent all the leftovers from holiday feasts and at the same time brighten our menus for weeks to come. The best thing is that most of the re-makes are far less filling and lower in calories that the original presentations. Even though my Nov. 22, 2018 posting contains 19 recipes for leftover turkey, I’m including some more in this article. It emphasizes the vast array of recipe choices available, plus the opportunities for innovation. Also, please remember that poultry, pork and veal are interchangeable in most recipes.

One note, the recipes below come from my Menu Cookbook DINNERS WITH JOY (see posting Dec. 20. 2018) Having cooked these recipes many times, I guarantee they provide fast, easy, convenient and, above all, satisfying solutions for the “What’s for dinner? “dilemma.

RECIPES
BEEF

Beef Stir Fry: Serves 4 (This recipe works well with other meats)
The ingredients for this dish are very flexible. Leftovers from a roast are excellent. Just remember cooking it, even to reheat when cut so thin, can toughen it so add it at the end.
12 oz. cooked beef, thinly sliced and cut across the grain into 1 inch x 2 inch strips. If buying fresh meat, choose a cut for broiling
1 green bell pepper cut in julienne

1 red bell pepper cut in julienne

12 baby carrots cut in half lengthwise

1 large onion cut in julienne lengthwise

1 broccoli crown separated into flowerets

2 ribs celery in 1 inch diagonal slices

1 cup pea pods OR snow peas

1 small can water chestnuts sliced

4oz. sliced fresh button mushrooms

1 Tbs. chopped fresh ginger OR 3 tsp. powdered ginger

3 cloves garlic mashed OR 2 tsp. garlic powder

1/8 tsp. red pepper – if needed

1 Tbs. oil

1 Tbs. Soy Sauce

1 Tbs. Teriyaki Sauce

2 Tbs. Oyster Sauce OR Teriyaki Marinade

Heat the oil in a skillet (or wok if you have one) over medium heat. Add the meat and stirring constantly sauté only until it loses its red color. Remove to a plate. If using cooked meat, ignore this step. Add next 6 vegetables and sauté 2 min. Add the ginger, garlic and soy sauce and cook @ 2 min more, until vegetables are crisp tender. Add the optional choices and cook 1 min. Add the beef and marinade sauce and stir until sauce thickens and everything is heated through @ 1 min. If at any point the ingredients begin to dry and stick to the pan add a few drops of water. Remember to keep moving the ingredients around the pan all during the cooking process.

Minute Steaks in Wine Sauce: Serves 4
“Minute Steak” applies to any piece of beef, about ¼ inch thick, that can be “pan fried” to acceptable doneness in about 1 minute. Because of the reduced cooking time, less tender cuts, such as Round, become an option or even the paper thin, “frizzled” beef, used for Philly Cheese Steaks. However, the real beauty of this recipe is that the sauce is made separately, and can be used for leftovers, regular sized steaks, or even as a quick cover for Deli beef, julienned and served over rice!
(8) Minute Steaks

2 Tbs. butter

2Tbs. oil

1 medium onion halved and sliced very thin

2 cloves minced garlic or 2 tsp. jarred

1 envelope beef bouillon granules

1 cup water

1 Tbs. cornstarch

¾ cup red wine

2 Tbs. brandy

Ground pepper

Kosher salt

1 tsp. tomato paste or Kitchen Bouquet

4 oz. fresh mushroom slices or (1) 4oz can stems & pieces (optional)

Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic about 2 min. Add everything else but the meat, to the pan. Stir until sauce thickens, about 3 min add salt and pepper to taste. Add Kitchen Bouquet if the sauce lacks color. Pour sauce into a small saucepan and keep warm over low heat. Raise heat under skillet to high. (Add steaks and brown quickly and evenly, about 1 ½ – 2 minutes. Do not overcook. Plate steaks and top with sauce.) Alternatively, before serving simply plate meat and spoon sauce over)

PORK

Pork Marmalade: Serves 4
Turkey cutlets or leftover dark meat would be the best substitutes in this recipe.
8 slices of pork loin, or boneless center chops, ½ inch thick

2 Tbs. oil + more as needed up to 4 Tbs.

2 tsp. chili oil *

2 Tbs. Teriyaki Sauce

2 Tbs. Soy Sauce

½ cup orange marmalade

Pound the pork to about ¼ inch thick. In a skillet, over medium heat, brown the meat in 2 Tbs. oil, adding more as/if needed Add the chili oil, Teriyaki sauce, and Soy sauce, and deglaze the pan, Stir in and melt the marmalade. If using leftovers, add these ingredients together, mix and melt, then add meat. Turn heat to low, cover and simmer 10 min., stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. If needed, add a bit of water.

*Chili oil can be purchased in most supermarkets. If you can’t find it, an easy substitute is to mix 1 teaspoon of the juice from bottled hot peppers, to 1 tsp. olive or cooking oil. Do not omit adding a touch of hot pepper to this dish, even if you have to resort to a dash of ground red, or a few flakes of crushed red pepper, or a couple of drops of hot sauce. The hint of heat really makes the flavor!

PORK NORMANDY: Serves 4 This dish is equally as famous using veal cutlets, boneless chicken breasts or turkey cutlets. Again, dark meat of turkey is more flavorful than white.

4 slices of pork loin or boneless loin chops @ ¾ inch thick- well trimmed-or leftover poultry

4 Tbs. butter

1 large onion sliced

¼ tsp. ground cloves

2 large apples cored and quartered lengthwise

½ tsp. sugar

1 cup apple juice

1 envelope chicken bouillon granules

1 cup heavy cream OR 1 cup ½ and ½ with 1 ½ tsp. cornstarch dissolved in it.

Melt the butter in an oven proof skillet over medium heat and brown the pork well on both sides. While the meat is browning, (For leftovers start here) add the onions to the skillet and cook until softened. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Arrange the onion around the pork, sprinkle with the cloves. Sprinkle one side of the apple slices with the sugar, and arrange them fan-like, sugar side down, on the meat 2 slices per slice or chop. Add the juice and bouillon, cover and bake 40 min. Remove meat with a spatula, careful not to disturb the fruit, to a plate to keep warm. Return the skillet with the juices to the stove over low heat, add the cream and simmer until thickened. If you want to avoid using heavy cream, substitute milk with cornstarch dissolved in it. Stir until sauce thickens. It may need a few minutes simmering to reduce. Pour over meat and serve at once.

* If not using an oven proof skillet, arrange the meat, onions and apple in a casserole dish. Deglaze the pan with the juice and bouillon and pour over the meat. Cover and bake as directed. Remove the meat to a plate to keep warm, and return the juices to the skillet, over low heat, add the cream and proceed as directed above.

POULTRY

Classic Fajitas: Serves 4–Fun Night—everyone loves this
2 cooked, boneless, skinless chicken breasts OR 12 oz. beef, turkey or pork cut in 2 inch strips (Or equivalent amount of leftover meat.)

1 red bell pepper julienne

1 green bell pepper julienne

2 medium onions halved and sliced thin

3 Tbs. cooking oil

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1tsp cumin

Salt and pepper

(8) 8” flour tortillas

(1) 8 oz. jar salsa

(1) 8 oz. container guacamole

1 cup sour cream

(1) 8 oz. pkg. “Mexican 4 Cheese Blend” – or shredded “Monterey Jack”

Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add onions peppers and spices, and if using, chicken. Cook about 8 min., until the chicken is done and its juices run clear, and the vegetables are crisp tender. If using beef, cook vegetables about 4 min and add beef the last 4 or 5 min, so that it browns but stays tender. For leftovers, add at the end only leaving in pan long enough to warm through

Meanwhile, cover tortillas with a dish towel, place on a plate and warm in the microwave on high at least 1min—test to make sure they’re warmed through..

Place the toppings – salsa, guacamole, sour cream and cheese on the dining table. Add the warn tortillas, and bring the sizzling meat mixture to the table in the skillet—making sure that it’s on a board or trivet—and let everyone dig in.

*NOTE: To eat a fajita—Lay a tortilla flat on your plate, and spoon the meat mixture in a line across the center of the tortilla parallel to you, leaving a 2inch margin on each end. The julienne cuts make this easy. Put on the toppings of your choice—I like them all—and fold those short sides over the filling squaring them off. Then roll the first long side, the one near you, over the filling, then roll the whole thing over on the other side to make a compact bundle—–and enjoy ! ! !

Chicken Pizza: Serves 4
(1) 16 inch pizza shell, I like the ones prepared and sold in envelopes rather than the frozen*

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cooked and cut in ¾ inch pieces or 2 cups poultry leftovers

½ cup Riciata** OR equal amount green salsa

½ cup sour cream

1 large broccoli crown separated and blanched OR (1) 10 oz. box frozen broccoli cuts thawed and drained

1 small onion, halved and sliced thin

1 small green bell pepper in ¾ inch pieces

2 tsp. oil

1/8 tsp. lemon pepper

6 sun dried tomatoes, either in oil or reconstituted in the microwave, drained and in large dice (optional)

4 oz. can mushroom stems and pieces (optional)

4 oz. Monterey Jack cheese grated – Or optionally Pepper Jack

Preheat the oven to 410 degrees or temperature recommended on the pizza shell. Also check time of cooking. Microwave the onion and bell pepper with the oil and Lemon Pepper 2 min. Spread the sour cream over the pizza shell, then spread the Riciata sauce or salsa Verde over that. Evenly scatter the toppings over the sauces, including the oil and seasonings with the onion and pepper. End with the cheese. Bake at 410 degrees for 15 min., or as pizza shell package directs.

* (2) 12 inch flour tortillas can be substituted for the pizza shell

** Riciata is a mild, flavorful sauce made from cilantro (found in most markets). If you want a spicier pizza use the salsa verde in the level of your choice or sprinkle a dash of red pepper over sauces.

HAM

Glamorous Ham Casserole: Serves 4- This is a long, long time family favorite, because in one form it makes a party dish of leftover ham, but can also be a quick way to make a week day seem special. Smoked turkey may be substituted for the ham.
2 cups cooked rice – suggest packaged pre-cooked product, Uncle Ben’s or Zataran’s

2 cups cooked ham in ½ inch dice. About ¾ lb. 4-5 thick slices from the Deli work fine.

2 eggs beaten

2 plum or small tomatoes in large dice

1/3 cup green bell pepper diced

¼ cup diced onion

1 ½ tsp. Dijon or Spicy Brown mustard

1 ½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce

½ cup cream sherry

½ cup light cream

½ cup bread crumbs

2 Tbs. melted butter

Paprika and parsley to garnish

The pre-cooked rice packets only take a couple of minutes in the microwave-if you are using leftover rice, or making your own, do not use the minute type.

Combine all ingredients, except last three, in a lightly greased 2 qt. casserole. Stir to mix well. Combine butter and bread crumbs, sprinkle over top. Decorate with parsley and paprika. Bake 350 degrees for 45 min or until nicely browned and bubbly.

Ham Lasagna: Serves 4–This is an excellent way to use any leftover ham. Once again the alternative is smoked turkey
8 oz. chopped ham

9 lasagna noodles

1 box frozen chopped spinach thawed and drained

(1) 4oz. can mushroom stems and pieces drained

2 tsp. minced jarred garlic

8 oz. creamed cottage cheese

8 oz. shredded Cheddar cheese or sharp cheese

4 1/2 Tbs. butter

4 1/2 Tbs. flour

2 1/2 cups milk

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

4 oz. shredded Mozzarella cheese

In one bowl mix the spinach and cottage cheese together, in another the ham and mushrooms. Set aside. Cook the noodles as per directions, and keep moist. Make a cream sauce of the butter, flour and milk. (Melt the butter in a saucepan, when sizzling, remove from heat and stir in flour to make a smooth paste or roux. Quickly stir in milk, and return to medium heat, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Cook until thickened, not allowing it to boil @ 3min.) Add the garlic. Lightly grease a casserole dish about 8”x10”

Smear a bit of the sauce in the bottom. Lay 3 noodles across the pan, cover with ½ the spinach mixture, then ½ the ham mixture, then ½ the cheddar cheese, then 1/3 of the sauce. Repeat once again ending with a layer of noodles. Top with the rest of the sauce, the mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 min. then uncover and bake for 10 min more or until bubbling.

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