Creative cooking with leftovers.

 How many times have you cleaned out the refrigerator and found something you'd completely forgotten about? If not the refrigerator, then what about the cabinet? Pantry? Freezer?

 Everyone has leftovers. With a little creativity, a little determination and an adventurous attitude you can prepare some quick easy dishes.  You can mix just about any meat with just about any vegetable and come up with an acceptable (at least to most) meal.

 Here are a few ideas: 

 Mince leftover roast, chops and steaks, chicken, turkey, sausage or crumble cooked ground beef and use them in casseroles, stews or sandwich spread.   Make sandwich spread with your food processor or blender by chopping leftover meats finely and adding mayonnaise, salad dressing or mustard, pickles, onions, boiled eggs, cheese... your choice of flavors. Just a half cup of leftover meat will make several sandwiches this way.

 Add rice, potatoes or pasta along with leftover vegetables and/or gravies or sauces to meat and top with crushed potato chips, bread crumbs or shredded cheese. Bake until heated through.

 Stews are the easiest! Use vegetables, carbohydrates, meats or high protein vegetables or nuts, etc., cooked together with a sauce or seasoning in water. Almost anything goes... but watch your flavor mixes.

 Create freezer containers for frequently served vegetables. If you have a tablespoon of green beans left, put them in the green bean container and freeze until you have enough for a meal. Other vegetables that you eat often could have their own container. Meats can be separated as well - just remember that they are there, or use a list to help keep organized.

Other ideas:

 Leftover chicken, whether fried, roasted or boiled, can be used in everything from tacos to soup. If you boil the meat from the bones you'll get more of it, as well as a broth to start soups or other recipes. Drain the broth and strain it (even if you're going to put the meat right back in) to avoid small bones, pieces of fat and so forth.   This also makes great chicken salad.  Shred chicken, add sour cream and mayo to moisten (50/50 ratio), 1 tablespoon sugar (or to taste), sliced grapes or raisins, salt and pepper.  Mix together.  Serve with crackers and a slice of melon.

 If you have leftover mashed potatoes, add flour, shredded cheddar cheese, a little onion and some seasoning salt.  Take about two tablespoons of mixture and shape into rounded mounds and fry in shortening until golden brown on both sides.

 Leftover rice: Add a touch of olive or canola oil, chopped tomato, onion, garlic, green pepper or whatever fresh vegetable you have on hand, toss, salt and serve chilled. Of course you can use it in soups or casseroles, or make gravy or broth to mix it in for a side dish - or use a dollop of salsa or picante sauce.

 Leftover chili makes great chili pie:  Place 4 cups of leftover chili in a deep pie or casserole dish. (Add one can corn or other mixed vegetables if you have a little less than 4 cups.) Prepare 1 recipe cornbread according to directions. Drip batter over chili. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until the cornbread is done. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese if desired.

Freezing cooked rice makes for quick to fix meals later.  Use later for stir-fries or a quick meal. Cook and cool rice, package in large plastic zipper bags, and freeze flat. Use for stir-fries, side dishes or whatever your imagination comes up with.

Spread leftover sloppy joe meat (hamburger with BBQ sauce can also be used) in a casserole dish. Place sliced American cheese or cheddar cheese over the meat and top the cheese with homemade or refrigerator biscuits. Bake at 350° until the biscuits are done.

Grind up or dice leftover roast beef, stew meat, etc. Add to scrambled eggs along with cubed leftover potatoes for an easy breakfast.

Meatloaf- Sauté 1 large sliced onion in a frying pan. Cut meatloaf into bite size pieces. In the frying pan add meatloaf, one 8-ounce can of tomato sauce, plus a can of peas or mixed vegetables. Heat through.

If you have leftover scalloped potatoes, use them as a base for cream soups.

Cut leftover meat loaf or roast beef into chunks and add them to spaghetti sauce to make speedy spaghetti and meatballs.

Use leftover pork and beans to make an open-faced sandwich. Put the beans on hamburger bun halves or bread, top with a slice of American cheese and broil until the cheese starts to bubble and is melted.