How to Make Leftovers into a Taste Tempting Dish

Many of us are constantly looking for useful tips to stretch our food dollar. One thing we can all do is limit food waste by using leftovers. Okay, okay. We know that many of you reading this article think you don’t like leftovers; and we agree that a plate full of last night's dinner popped into the microwave usually comes out less than appetizing. There are ways to make leftovers into tasty dishes; and no one will know they are eating the dreaded leftovers.

Become a master of disguise. Take elements from a previous meal; and turn them into something else. For instance, leftover roast beef is great for creating beef stew; or make open faced roast beef sandwiches topped with leftover mashed potatoes and gravy. Simply add shredded cheddar cheese to leftover mashed potatoes and bake for a scrumptious dish. Never throw out stale bread. Crumble any bread you might have leftover that is past its prime into a bowl. Then, add sugar, eggs, milk, vanilla, and cocoa. After combining the ingredients, bake into a wonderful bread pudding for a dessert that your family will love. You get the idea. Check out magazines or cookbooks for helpful hints; or just use your imagination.

To get you started here is a recipe that was developed when we were trying to find ways to keep from tossing leftover taco meat. We like this recipe so much that whenever we make tacos we try to have leftover beef just so we can have this the next day.

Burrito Pie

In a 9 inch square pan layer the following:
Crushed corn tortilla chips, enough to cover bottom of pan
One 15 oz. can pinto beans, pureed
About 2/3 to 1 cup of cooked ground beef seasoned with your favorite taco seasoning
black olives, sliced or crumbled– as many or as few as you like
2-3 T. medium salsa (You can use mild or hot salsa if you prefer.)
Top with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted.
Top with a dollop of sour cream; and serve with a salad and/or rice. Makes 4-6 servings.
The ingredient amounts in this recipe can be varied according to your own personal taste.