We’re kicking off week two of our #weePLan series with Weelicous and Project Junior. This week it’s all about leftovers. Leftovers are never a fan favorite in my home. Usually when I break news that leftover are the feature of the dinner menu it is usually followed by sad faces and occasionally a couple of tears. Catherine McCord from Weelicious is about to change that. She’s sharing six left over recipes and tips for making foods ahead of time that will last all week and can make appearances in several dinners and lunches throughout the week!
Cook up some pasta on Sunday then toss it with pesto or marinara sauce to serve later in the week topped with chicken, parmesan cheese, or roasted veggie.
Make a huge pot of brown rice to store in the fridge. During the week you can use it to make Mexican Fried Rice or serve it simply as a side dish with sesame seeds. You can even use it to make Rice Pudding for dessert during the week.
Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf Bites
Make Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf Bites for dinner one night, then slice them up and put them into a sandwich for lunch the next day.
Mediterranean Grilled Veggie Wrap
You can roast a large baking sheet full of veggies on the weekend, store them in the fridge, and use them to quickly add a veggie side dish to dinner, make them into a scramble for breakfast, or wrap them up into a tortilla for school lunch.
Grilled Chicken Corn Quesadilla
Almost anything can be added to a quesadilla. Chop favorite leftovers like chicken, meat or veggies and you have a meal in minutes!
We all know the microwave is the quick and easy way to reheat leftovers, but if you give yourself just a touch more time, you can have more satisfying leftovers.
Here are a few tips reheating leftovers
– If rice has gotten crunchy, add a bit of water to it, then reheat it over low heat on the stove, covered, stir occasionally for about 7 minutes, and you’ll have fluffy just like new rice!
– Toss plain pasta with oil to prevent sticking before cooling and refrigerating. Reheat on the stove, tossed with a sauce of your choice, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes.
– Casseroles and other baked dishes reheat beautifully in the oven. Heat to 350F, cover with foil, and bake for 10-15 minutes, until warmed through.
Munchkin’s Fresh Food Freezer Cups are a great option for storing food. It will keep your leftovers fresh which you are going to cook them up the next day or freeze for a later date.
Don’t forget to label your containers. DateMate’s from Mabel’s Labels will help you remember what’s inside each container and the date it was package. They will keep you and your refrigerator organized.
So remember, instead of tossing out perfectly tasty food, turn it into a new creation your family will love. You may be surprised that you created a dish to add to your weekly rotation!
Savvy Sassy READER PERK!
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Recipes and tips by Catherine McCord. Catherine posts new family-friendly recipes and videos every week on Weelicious. She is also creator of Weelicious Menus, a meal planning service that helps busy families make dinner easier.
