Leftovers can create a delicious meal, which is great for those on a budget and also for those that love using a bit of ingenuity in the kitchen. Here are a few ideas:
Chicken is wonderful
Chicken is back in fashion. If you opt for a free range chicken you’ll get lovely fresh meat and it won’t be packed full of additives. You can roast the chicken on a Sunday, have cold sandwiches on a Monday (pair with hot, rustic French bread for a really delicious sandwich) and then on the Tuesday you could use the remaining meat to create a Pilaff.
For an inexpensive pilaff fry some onions, garlic and peppers in a sturdy pan, add a cupful of rice and then add about a pint of stock. Add seasoning and a pinch of paprika or curry spices for added flavour before adding the chicken.
Place a lid securely on the top and allow it to simmer for about half an hour. Resist the temptation to lift the lid during this process; the meal will be cooking very nicely without interference. The end result will be tasty and flavoursome. This recipe is a derivation from the wonderful Delia Smith.
Be frugal
Our grandparents knew how to make the family food budget stretch a little further. If you know anyone who is browsing through assisted living homes for sale or downsizing to a convenient McCarthy & Stone property then go and pick their brains and let them show you how to make a Sunday roast stretch for days.
The family larder is a great source of inspiration
Most larders will have some potatoes, eggs and ham. This recipe is all about how to transform these ordinary ingredients into something special. The BBC suggests that you boil the potatoes and once they are cooked; add some paprika or chilli to the spuds, add them to some hot oil and place them in the oven – yes, you’re making oven chips with a difference. Next, grill the ham and fry the eggs. You’ll find that that you’ve transformed some very mundane ingredients into something extraordinary.
Vegetables are great
Leftover vegetables can also be transformed to make a fantastic meal. If you have any broccoli leftover then why not toast some almonds, add them to some plain yoghurt crème fraiche and mix with the broccoli to create a delicious salad? Broccoli is full of anti-oxidants so this is also a very healthy meal and perfect for those watching their dietary intake.
