We’re kicking off week two of our #weePLAN series with Weelicious and Savvy Sassy Moms. This week it’s all about leftovers. Leftovers are never a fan favorite in my home. Usually when I break the news that we’re having leftovers for dinner, I’m met with sad faces and, occasionally, a couple of tears.
Catherine McCord, from Weelicious, is about to change that. She’s sharing six leftover recipes and tips for making foods ahead of time that will last all week.
Cook up some pasta on Sunday, and then toss it with pesto or marinara sauce to serve later in the week topped with chicken, Parmesan cheese or roasted veggies.
Make a huge pot of brown rice to store in the fridge. During the week you can use it to make Mexican Fried Rice or serve it as a side dish with sesame seeds. You can even use it to make rice pudding for dessert during the week.
Make Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf Bites for dinner one night; then slice them up and put them into a sandwich for lunch the next day.
Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf Bites
You can roast a large baking sheet full of veggies on the weekend, store them in the fridge, and use them to quickly add a veggie side dish to dinner. Make them into a scramble for breakfast, or wrap them up into a tortilla for school lunch.
Mediterranean Grilled Veggie Wrap
Almost anything you can think of can be added to a quesadilla. Chop favorite leftovers like chicken, meat or veggies, and you have a meal in minutes!
Grilled Chicken Corn Quesadilla
We all know the microwave is the quick and easy way to reheat leftovers, but if you give yourself just a touch more time, you can have more satisfying leftovers. Here are a few tips for reheating leftovers.
– If rice has gotten crunchy, add a bit of water to it, then reheat it over low heat on the stove, covered, stir occasionally for about seven minutes, and you’ll have fluffy, just-like-new rice!
– Toss plain pasta with oil to prevent sticking before cooling and refrigerating. Reheat on the stove, tossed with a sauce of your choice, stirring occasionally for about ten minutes.
– Casseroles and other baked dishes reheat beautifully in the oven. Preheat to 350F, cover with foil, and bake for 10-15 minutes, until warmed through.
Munchkin’s Fresh Food Freezer Cups are a great option for storing food. They keep your leftovers fresh whether you are going to cook them up the next day or freeze for a later date.
Don’t forget to label your containers. Date Mates from Mabel’s Labels will help you remember what’s inside each container and the date it was packaged. They will keep you and your refrigerator organized. 
So remember, instead of tossing out perfectly tasty food, turn it into a new creation your family will love. You may be surprised that you created a dish to add to your weekly rotation!
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Recipes and tips by Catherine McCord. Catherine posts new family-friendly recipes and videos every week on Weelicious. She is also creator of Weelicious Menus, a meal planning service that helps busy families make dinner easier.
