Browned Bananas and Other Produce That's Going Bad
A lot of recipes, like banana bread and banana cake actually taste better when made with overripe bananas. The browner, the better!As for vegetables, soups like broccoli soup, carrot soup and even chicken noodle soup can transform those wilting vegetables into nourishing, soul-warming treats.
Leftover Chicken
With all the rotisserie chicken recipes out there, there's no shortage of uses for leftover cooked chicken. But what if you only have one leftover chicken breast, not two cups of perfectly-cooked rotisserie chicken? No problem. Chop or shred that cooked chicken breast, and make chicken tortilla soup (with soups, it doesn't matter if you don't have the exact amount of chicken). Or use it in chicken quesadillas or for chicken French bread pizza.
Leftover Hamburger, Taco Meat and the Like
Leftover burgers don't taste great when re-heated; they tend to get overcooked. And who wants to get out all the ingredients for tacos when you only have 1/2 cup of taco meat left? You can use that extra burger in a taco casserole (just skip browning the ground beef, and use the cooked hamburger, crumbled, instead. Or try my meat pie for any leftover cooked meat, from pot roast to taco meat to beef stew.
Leftover Rice
Leftovers are a treat when you have leftover rice. Any fried rice recipe tastes best when you start with leftover cold, cooked rice. You can also use leftover rice for rice pudding and rice balls.
Leftover Potatoes
Leftover mashed potatoes make great turkey croquettes. They're also great for mashed potato meatloaf. You can also use leftover mashed potatoes in any mashed potato casserole or shepherds pie. Just skip the steps that require making the mashed potatoes, and go straight to adding the potatoes to the casserole or pie.Stale Bread
Stale bread makes the best French toast, especially if you're making a baked French toast recipe, where you really want the egg custard to sink into the bread.Not in the mood for French toast? No problem. Tear up that stale bread (and any heels or other slices you don't want to eat) and place it in a food processor. Voila! Fresh bread crumbs, which make a wonderful topping for casseroles or gratins, like my cheesy cauliflower gratin or for use in meatballs or meatloaf. Remember, every time you make good use of leftovers, you're not only saving money, you're saving yourself the time and trouble of making something new.
