Since there are just two adults in our house, I often only make enough for two adults to eat. Or three adults, as my husband has been know to eat for TWO. Regardless, I try to not "over make", because often the rest will not get eaten.
But, a few nights ago it was spaghetti night. Nothing fancy, just noodles, meat and sauce. I threw in the whole box of spaghetti noodles to boil, knowing very well that not all would get eaten that night. But, I had a plan.
I'm not sure why I haven't thought of it before, because who doesn't like eating pasta two nights in a row? Half of you reading this won't admit to it, but deep down I know everyone could eat pasta daily. Except for my good friend Jana, who doesn't like pasta. What? The horror.
So, our leftovers from the night before were turned into a Spaghetti Bake. I simply took my leftover pasta, meat sauce and some cheese and made a new meal. Simple as that.
Spaghetti Bake
leftover pasta
tomato meat sauce
cheddar cheese
parmesan cheese
Spray baking dish with non-stick spray. Lay noodles in bottom of dish, top with meat sauce, and sprinkle on parmesan and shredded cheddar cheese. Bake in 350 degree oven until heated through and cheese is melted.
And of course, serve with a side of garlic bread:)
I cannot tell you how good it feels to use up our leftovers and not finding them a week later in the back of the fridge totally inedible.
What sort of concoctions do you make up with your leftovers?
Reinventing leftovers is a great way avoid waste w/o getting sick of something. Love your idea for a dinner recreation :)
ReplyDeleteSounds great. I would probably add some sort of vegetable to it. Maybe eggplant or zucchini.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so good! I will admit that when I had my first apartment by myself many many years ago, I ate pasta like 5 nights a week and never got tired of it!
ReplyDeleteI have 5 people to cook for, but I cook for 8, since my hubby and one teenage boy and one almost teenage boy always have seconds!!
I love your spaghetti bake - I make one like it called spaghetti pie. I never get tired of pasta! I use leftovers for soup or try to reinvent them into a new dish like you did here.
ReplyDeleteMmm I've never had a spaghetti bake, actually! J loves pasta but I'm still kind of scarred from child-hood. haha Italian families eat pasta 2-3 times a week and I'm not one for repeats.
ReplyDeleteI actually did a whole post on leftovers. I like putting them in soups, stir fries, etc.
I like to set out a leftovers buffet and we all eat what we want. I don't have many leftovers these day with a 17 year old son in the house, I package them up in foil to reheat in the toaster oven. I also pack them in bento boxes for my husband to take to work, freeze them or eat them for lunch the next day.
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