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Five Ways To Use Leftovers APRIL 19, 2022 / KELLI NAPOTNIK / 
I recently had leftovers in my fridge and I wondered how I could use them creatively. This inspired me to ask our Facebook followers to share their favorite meal ideas using leftovers. I received many helpful replies!
Here are five ways you can use leftovers for a meal tonight:
1. Soup
The most popular suggestion we received was to make soup out of leftovers! Using meat from a leftover pot roast is a great way to make soup the next day. Add in braised greens or diced vegetables to make a soup to serve from the leftover meat. This can also be done with leftover rotisserie chicken. One reader recommended Avgolemono Soup which uses her chicken leftovers. The key to making this Greek soup is to temper the egg mixture before adding it to the hot broth. Be careful to not let it boil! Click here for a delicious version of this soup.
Have kids or loved ones help you gently stir, so the soup doesn't scald. I love using moments like this for teaching in our family.
To make a vegetarian soup, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and add in vegetables like mushrooms or spinach. If desired, add white beans or chickpeas as a good source of protein.
 2. Quiche or Quesadillas
When you have bits of cheese or meat that aren't enough for a full meal, a great way to use them again is to make quiche or quesadillas! Simply repurpose the meat and cheese (along with vegetables if desired) and create a delicious lunch or breakfast the next day. Here's a simple leftover chicken quesadilla recipe!
I also love the idea of using leftover ham for breakfast quiche. Simply prepare a pie crust of your choice and add in chunks of ham, onion, cheese and perhaps some sauteed peppers as well. This recipe is quick and easy!
3. Fried Spaghetti
Fried spaghetti is a unique way to reheat spaghetti from last night's dinner. Simply heat a frying pan with a small amount of oil. Next, mix leftover noodles and sauce then fry. Continue tossing until golden brown. Lastly, melt cheese over top before serving. We loved this idea from a follower.
Another tip if you have leftover spaghetti sauce is to make a baked casserole. Cook new noodles, such as penne noodles, and drain. Add to a casserole dish and pour sauce over the noodles Top with cheese and bake at 350 for 25 minutes. We thought this was a creative way to use up extra sauce.
4. Scalloped Potatoes
This is another recipe that uses leftover ham! This reader suggested layering sliced potatoes, the chunks of ham, onion and cheddar cheese. She said, "Add in dots of butter, salt and pepper as you go. Adjust the amount to how much ham you have left or how many people you may need to serve."
Here is another recipe I found that uses a cream sauce to pour over the potatoes.
 5. Potato Latkes
What do you do with all the leftover mashed potatoes from big family gatherings? My mother has always used them the following day for breakfast as potato latkes. One follower recommended making salmon or tuna patties using leftover potatoes. Traditional potato latkes are made using shredded potato. I have used mashed potatoes from leftovers with great success. Click here to see a traditional potato latke recipe. They recommend serving them with a side of applesauce and sour cream. Delicious!
Thank you to our followers who shared their ideas! We hope you find inspiration the next time you have leftovers to use. Do you see a recipe you want to try today? Happy cooking!
photo credit: Simply Recipes
photo credit: Gimme Delicious
photo credit: JoCooks
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