Left over holiday food can be a tradition all unto itself. Getting through the post holidays is often as arduous as getting through eves and holidays themselves. Left over food can be reinvented and reheated to produce some memorable dishes. The following article is a guide to aid you in transforming some common holiday leftovers into scrumptious meals/snacks.
Left over ham - honey baked or not left over ham rules supreme in hot carved sandwiches dipped in a little pan gravy serve with some coleslaw and ripe pickle. Left over ham is also great in preparing omelets - dice the ham and add with diced onions, green peppers, and shredded cheese to create a quick mouth watering omelet. The hambone can be also used in stock recipes and if you really want to get creative try leaving some meat on the hambone and throwing it in the stockpot full of split pea soup (during the last 15 minutes of cooking). Left over ham is also delicious if sliced and fried (ham steaks) for any meal of the day.
Left over roast beef - No matter the cut if you are lucky enough to have leftover beef try removing it from the bone (while it is still chilled - the meat comes off easier) and shredding it by hand. Once the beef is shredded top it with pan gravy, canned beef gravy or barbecue sauce. Cover with lid or foil. Stick the beef in the oven on low (250) and let reheat until warm. Any of these 3 toppings make for a great sandwich on a bun or as a main course meat accompanied by buttered potatoes or potato salad.
Leftover mashed potatoes - leftover mashed is great reheated in the microwave and reserved. To add a little kick to the potatoes try adding garlic powder, shredded cheese, and crumbled bacon. If you want to be more creative transform them into a whole different dish then try this - in a large mixing bowl add some finely diced white onions, one beaten egg, dash of paprika, salt and pepper to taste, mix into mashed potatoes - add a dash or 2 of all purpose flour. Mix until you reach a workable consistency (like soft cookie dough). Flour your hands and form potato cakes. Each cake should be about ¼ inch thick (they will swell once cooked). Add oil in large frying pan and preheat. Fry each pancake until light golden.
Leftover oven roaster chicken or baked turkey breast - Poultry is quite versatile and can be great for a quick chicken or turkey salad. Using the breast meat of either shred the meat (or dice if you prefer), add diced onions, diced celery, and one hardboiled egg (mashed, combine with mayo, a pinch of dry mustard and a dash of salt, pepper, and paprika for color. This quick salad can be used as a dip on crackers, on sandwich bread, or served on a bed of lettuce. Left over turkey and chicken can also be great for a quick brunch. Try shredding the meat (dark and white), grate white onion, celery and garlic. Add olive oil to pan and preheat. Toss in some sliced onions sauté until translucent. Add onion, celery and garlic. Cook for about 2 minutes. Add meat and some chicken stock (just enough to cover bottom of pan). Continue to heat until mixture is heated through. You can add this mixture by the spoonful on toasted bread and top with heated cream of mushroom soup for a great open mouth sandwich. With or without the mushrooms this dish is a great main course meat dish served with white rice and mixed vegetables
Leftover macaroni and cheese - Rarely there will be an occasion when you find yourself with some leftover macaroni and cheese. Of course mac freezes well and reheats quite nicely. If you opt to freeze the mac cut the mac into even individual serving squares and wrap separately in plastic wrap and then place flat in freezer bag. They can be reheated in individual portions as a meal or side dish. If you want to reinvent the wheel with the mac then try this delicious recipe: hollow 6 large red tomatoes (keep the top for garnish), chop 1 ½ cup of mac and cheese coarsely add to mixing bowl, add finely diced onion, ¼ cup of breadcrumbs, ¾ cup of melted butter, Italian seasoning to taste. Mix mixture until well blended. Add mixture to lightly greased preheated pan and cook for about 5 minutes stirring frequently. Lightly salt the inside of the cored tomatoes. Scoop mixture into each tomato until full. Top with a sprinkle of shredded cheese. Place in a shallow baking dish. Bake in preheated oven set to 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through. Serves 6.
Most cooked foods freeze well, therefore it would be to your advantage to invest in some high quality freezer bags and plastic wrap. Freezing leftovers can be a chore so it would be to your advantage to reinvent the dishes before opting to freeze them. Leftover holiday food is a true sign of a loving kitchen in a family centered home. Bon Apetit!
