#1: Turn Leftover Chips or Crackers Into Breadcrumbs
Process the chips or crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Transfer them to a resealable plastic bag and freeze until ready to use. Swap them in anytime a recipe calls for breadcrumbs, adding a flavorful twist to foods like breaded fish sticks or chicken fingers.
By Teri Tsang Barrett
#2: Slice Off or Shred Meat from Leftover Hot Wings
This versatile leftover can be used in any dish that could benefit from some protein. Try it out as a pizza topping or in a salad, or get creative by swapping it in for any recipe calling for a spicy meat: Spread sticky Asian rice on a whole lettuce leaf, dot with a chili-garlic sauce, and top with sliced scallions and the shredded wing meat before rolling up for a Korean-style lettuce wrap. The meat can also be stored in a resealable plastic bag with the excess air pressed out and frozen for up to 1 month.
Add bold flavor to tomato-based sauces and soups by adding leftover salsa to the pot. Cook until any chunks have softened as needed, or puree the salsa before adding.
#4: Blend Leftover Guacamole Into a Refreshing Cold Soup
Scoop leftover guacamole into a blender and thin with chicken or vegetable broth, using about equal parts liquid to guacamole. Puree until smooth, then season to taste and refrigerate until chilled.
#5: Dress Leftover Chili Up as a Southwestern Shepherd's Pie
Sure, chili's one of the best frozen assets you can have stored in the freezer for an easy dinner, but a few tweaks can transform this game-day staple into a different meal altogether. Cook the chili until it’s ultra-thick, then spoon into a baking dish, smoothing out the top. Add a thick layer of mashed potatoes and bake at 375 degrees F until heated through and just golden in spots.
#6: Use Any Leftover Bean-Based Dip as a Filling for Baked Taquitos
Spoon the dip down the center of a small corn tortilla, then roll up into a cigarlike shape and arrange on a lined baking sheet, seam-side down. Bake at 350 degrees F until the tortilla just begins to crack in some spots, 10 to 15 minutes. The starchy, sticky texture of bean dip helps the filling retain its shape, meaning that any additional dip ingredients — such as those found in traditional 7-layer dips — stay put.
Whether it's leftover beer in a growler or the remnants of a keg, don't throw out flat beer! The flavor profile of most beers — especially craft beers — is vibrant enough to infuse cuts of meat with an additional depth of flavor. Season the beer with sugar and salt to taste, then use to braise cuts of meat such as brisket or pork butt.
