So here most of us are – confined to home as much as possible, and finding shortages of food and necessities at the grocery store. It most certainly is not an easy time for us right now. But we are strong. We will get through this…..and we will be celebrating when we get to the other side of this.
I thought I would give you some practical ideas about how you can make your food last longer but no forgo the taste. I am going to give you some simple ways to liven up your leftovers.
I get it. You had the best intentions of using up those leftovers from the weekend. At first, your Meal Prep Sunday seemed like a dream idea. You’d prep food for the week, have it all stored and ready, and you’d have a home-cooked meal every day without much effort. But by day #3 of it, your family is giving you the side-eye, and you can no longer bear to eat the same dish again.
I feel you. It happens to us all. We all want to make use of our leftovers, but we get bored, and food goes to waste instead. Instead of forcing yourself and your family to eat the same things day in and day out, try these leftover tips that will help you liven things up and reignite the spark that makes you excited to dig in.
1. Add avocado
Leftover brown rice and sautéed veggies? Eh. Leftover brown rice and sautéed veggies with fresh avocado? Now you’re talking! Drizzle on some sriracha too for a spicy hit and facelift on your leftovers.
2. Add some crunch
Sometimes, we just need more texture to make things interesting. Adding a crunch to your meal can spice it up quite a bit. Try adding it to your leftovers any way that makes sense. Look in your pantry for walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almond slivers or anything else that might add a crunch along with a nice dose of healthy fats that are good for you, too. I even love having crispy onions or crispy jalapenos atop a salad when I want something different.
3. Top on some greens
Or even layer them below. Sometimes that leftover shrimp tastes excellent warmed up over a bed of fresh kale, spinach or lettuce. Or you can make some quick brown rice or zucchini noodles and mix it all together to create a new dish that tastes like takeout without the cost (or the heaps of calories).
4. Reheat it on the stove
A fresh re-preparation tends to bridge the gap of mediocre to marvelous, doesn’t it? The microwave can zap the freshness right out of your food, so skip the microwave when warming up leftovers. Toss your items in a pan and sauté it fresh with a teaspoon of olive oil. Add some new, fresh herbs and spices, and you’ll have to remind yourself you’re eating leftovers.
5. Try a new condiment
Salsa and sriracha can each help dress up leftovers. If your refrigerator looks anything like mine, your shelves are lined with different condiments and sauces to choose from. Experiment with them to create new dishes by adding a few drops of different flavors. It can make all the difference and completely change the taste of your meal.
Give these a try and see if you’re making better use of your leftovers. Remember to freeze big meals so you can pull them out another time to make on a busy night. You’ll appreciate them better when you do!
So, spill the beans. Are you a leftovers person or do you struggle with eating the same meal twice? Comment below and let me know.
Until next time, stay healthy and safe.
Ladies, I would love for you and some friends to join our Healthy Spring Season series. We are focusing our minds away from the current crisis towards taking care of ourselves so that we can stay stronger and healthier. , I would love for you to join our community. Just click >>HERE!
RISOTTO WITH ROASTED BROCCOLI
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets chopped
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided
- sea salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 medium yellow onion finely diced
- 1 cup Arborio rice uncooked
- 3-4 cloves garlic finely minced
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- ¼ cup half and half
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat. Set aside.
- Toss broccoli with 1½ tablespoons olive oil in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer to a prepared baking sheet and spread broccoli into a single layer without overcrowding. Place in preheated oven and roast for 12-15 minutes or until tender and starting to brown. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- While broccoli is roasting, heat remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until tender, approximately 5 minutes.