Repurposing Food

With the exception of soups, there are few leftovers that taste better the second day around. As I discussed in an earlier article. I often re-purpose food. Usually before I make a menu item--I already have a plan to use the leftovers in another dish later that next week. Once in a while, I have to get really creative with leftovers, but have found a few faithful standby's for specific menu items. I know there are a lot more than I have listed, but these are the staples I turn to for these common leftovers. For good recipes for any of these items, I suggest referring to allrecipes.com.

Stale Bread/Heels

Croutons

Bread pudding

French Toast

Poultry Stuffing 

Mashed Potatoes

Smash them into pancake sided spheres and fry them in butter (Taste like hash-browns)

Gnocchi-this is a new favorite of mine--they can be made and frozen for late

Potato breads

Potato Soup

Pierogi 

Rice
Mix it with butter and herbs and re-serve later that week
Mix with chicken for a meal
Use in soup
Rice Pudding
Stuffing for poultry
Use in Casseroles

Use for stroganoff  

Roast Beef

Beef Stroganoff

Beef Barbeque

Roast beef Sandwiches

Turkey/Chicken

Mix with rice and add herbs for a meal

Soups

Hot or Cold Sandwiches

Mix with Gravy and put on a biscuit or toast

Mix in pasta sauce

Mix with Mexican spices and put in tortillas to make encheladas

Spaghetti
Note: I typically don't mix the two together until they are on the plate so I can use the sauce and noodles for other things in the future
Pasta: 
Salad
Mix with cheese and chicken for a meal
Serve with butter and herbs as a side
Mac and cheese
Use in chicken or pasta casseroles
Use as stroganoff noodles
Sauce: 
Add to meatloaf
Freeze for a later spaghetti dinner
Baked pasta casseroles
Add to chili
Mix with meatballs or chicken to serve over pasta later-freeze