What to Do with Leftovers

No matter how carefully a homemaker prepares a meal meant to be finished in one or two sittings, having leftovers will remain inevitable. Eating the same food day in and day out can dampen the eating habits of your child or make mealtime less enjoyable for your family.

In today’s trying times even leftovers are too precious to throw away. Almost every family experiences the dilemma of having to eat leftovers again and again. However daunting the task seems, leftovers can be recreated into new and appetizing dishes with a little ingenuity and effort. From reruns of meat dishes to bread, here are some practical tips every household can find useful:

Omelet, the versatile leftover saver. With just a few eggs, you can whip up a tasty omelet with just about any meat, fish, chicken and vegetable leftover dishes! For example, cut up or dice chicken and sauté in onion and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper, if necessary, and you have a whole new dish. A dash of MAGGI Magic Sarap will make your omelet extra special. You can also mix in leftovers like fish and shrimp. Taken with a vegetable salad, you’ve got a more healthful meal.

Meat Magic. Save the meat from your nilaga or the pork from your sinigang and make an exciting adobo with MAGGI Savor Garlic. Or, concoct a delicious soup by adding beans, vermicelli, celery stalks and MAGGI Broth Cubes for that extra flavor. Meat from mechado or afritada may be cubed and saved for sautéing with vegetables.

Leftover beef or ham is excellent for hashed potatoes. Mix the meat with boiled potatoes and onion. You can also turn leftover cold cuts, sausages, or chicken into sandwich fillings. Top it with NESTLÉ Cottage Cheese and you have a delightful sandwich.

Healthful vegetable reruns. Save excess vegetables for a soup medley later. You can have your soup from meat and chicken bones or chicken neck, gizzard, and wings. If these are not available, make an instant soup by dissolving MAGGI Chicken or Beef Broth Cubes in water. It has the same great taste of chicken and meat broth. If you have a blender, use it for better results. Puree vegetable leftover; perk it up with MAGGI Magic Sarap and some CARNATION Evap for a sure-winning soup.

Give your soup from leftovers a bistro touch by adding cheese or croutons. Another excellent soup enhancer is a tiny piece of leftover ham leg. You can use the ham leg two or three times before the flavor runs out.

Try a complete one-dish meal with soup. Add canned creamed soup or dissolved MAGGI Broth Cubes to leftover rice. Put in leftover carrots, potatoes, diced meat, leftover chicken, etc. Dishes like these are quick, hot, and nutritious TV dinners the children can get accustomed to.

Delicious fun with bread. Keep your bread’s freshness and prolong shelf life by putting it in a plastic bag and then refrigerate. When you have enough, you can make them into puddings by adding egg and CARNATION Coco Evap plus raisins, nuts, or fresh or candied fruits.

Old or leftover bread can be made into crumbs often used for frying. If you have plenty of crumbs, mix them with eggs and form into balls. Fry, then while still hot, roll in sugar and you have a different snack kids will love!

Cut up slices of baguette for croutons on salad. Create instant mini pizzas with any leftover bread: put tomato sauce on top, beef or ham on top, sprinkle with cheese, bake at 375°F for 10 minutes, and enjoy!

Try these unique ideas and discover the ease of recreating.

Source: Nestle website