Leftovers...The Challenge!

Last night we made Inside out Lasagna from Eating Well it was delicious and Fresh Greens literally did not speak while eating he liked it so much! While preparing dinner I thought about the leftover ingredients I would have and made a plan for how to use them up. When I speak to my friends who do not feel as comfortable in the kitchen I often hear the complaint that cooking is expansive and you waste so much food. I always laugh when I hear this as it reminds me of my Yankee grandmother who would never let anything go to waste. In her honor I HATE to throw out food and will do anything to use it up. I love to update Fresh Greens on how many items I used up in the preparation of our dinner and get s serious high out of rinsing out a container of something I have creatively used up.

From our dinner last night I have the following leftover ingredients: ricotta cheese (about half a container), spinach (about 5 cups), mushrooms (about 6 oz). My plan for the leftovers is to make vegetarian reubens also from Eating Well using up the spinach, mushrooms, and some swiss cheese. The ricotta will most likely be used in an omelet OR I might even thaw some fresh pasta sheets that I saved from making fresh spaghetti and make ricotta and herb ravioli. That way I could also use up the half and half and make a simple cream sauce. I just love thinking up ways to use up leftovers!

Off to my refrigerator to come up with a plan for my rogue vegetables and half eaten jars of condiments!