Leftovers to Lunches
Looking for a quick and easy lunch? Take a look in your refrigerator. Before you know it, you’ll be cooking extra at dinner time to make sure everyone in the family gets a yummy, but easy to fix lunch tomorrow. Here are some ideas of what can be done to make the most of your family’s dinner leftovers.
Meatloaf – Slice up any leftovers and use it to make meatloaf sandwiches, or place one slice on top of a serving of spaghetti and cover with tomato sauce. When it’s time to eat lunch, just throw it the microwave for a minute or so and enjoy a yummy lunch.
Chicken – Have leftover baked or grilled chicken? Use it to create a chicken salad, sandwiches or wraps for lunch tomorrow. Top a green salad with your favorite veggie toppings, like tomatoes, cucumbers, croûtons, etc. with bite sized pieces of the chicken. Pour your favorite dressing in a separate container until it’s time to eat. You can also place the chicken in a wrap and top with cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes.
Pot-Roast – Ah pot roast – better the second time around. Here are a few ideas for creating a delicious lunch from the leftovers. Heat up the roast and add a side of rice. Another option is to create a pot roast sandwich. Top a sub roll with some of the meat and top with tomatoes and cheese for a filling sandwich.
Pork Chops and Steaks – These make great lunch sandwiches, wraps and salad toppings. Slice up leftover pork or steak and prepare a sandwich with your favorite fixings. You can also make a salad by topping mixed greens and other veggies with the meat.
Stews and Soups – Almost all soups and stew makes for a great leftover lunch. Heat the soup in the microwave if one is available or invest in a big-mouthed thermos. When using a thermos, fill it with hot soup or stew in the morning to keep it warm until lunch time. You can also pack a piece of French bread or rolls to help complete the meal.
Pasta – Most pasta dishes can be stored in small microwave containers and reheated at lunch time. Just be sure to add a little extra sauce to keep the pasta dish from getting too dry. Spaghetti makes a great leftover lunch. Top it with cheese or fresh veggies to change it up a bit from the previous evening’s dinner.
Rice – Rice is a perfect side dish or addition to many leftover meals. Add rice to wraps and burritos or soups and stews. You can even whip up a batch of rice pudding and separate it into containers for a great lunch desserts.
Creativity is the key when it comes to turning leftovers into lunches such as sandwiches, wraps, salads and more. Investing in a few plastic food storage containers will make the process even easier. As you’re cleaning up from dinner, go ahead and prepare tomorrow’s lunches to make your morning less hectic too.
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