Family fare

by United States. Agricultural Research Service. Human Nutrition Research Division; Institute of Home Economics; United States. Agricultural Research Ser

Ways to Use Leftovers

Don’t throw good leftover food away. Use your cooking skill—and your imagination—to make leftovers tasty.

Some leftovers make good second meals merely by reheating. Others are better prepared in a new way—with seasonings, sauces, crisp toppings. Try leftover fruit in muffins, vegetables in omelets. Substitute 2 leftover egg yolks for 1 whole egg in baked custard. And soups often become richer, more delicious when leftovers are added.

Listed below are some of the ways in which leftovers may be used.

Egg yolks, in—

Baked custard
Cakes, cookies
Homemade noodles
Mock hollandaise sauce
Scrambled eggs

Egg whites, in—

Cakes
Meringue
Souffles

Hard-cooked egg or yolk, in—

Casseroles
Egg sauce
Garnish
Salads
Sandwiches
Thousand island dressing

Buttermilk, in—

Cakes, cookies
Quick breads

Sour cream, in—

Beef stroganoff
Cakes, cookies
Salad dressings
Sauce for vegetables

Cooked meats, poultry, fish, in—

Casseroles
Creamed foods
Curries
Hash
Patties
Potpies
Salads
Sandwiches

Meat or poultry drippings and broth, in—

Gravies
Sauces
Soups
Stews

Cooked potatoes, in—

Fried or creamed potatoes
Meat or potato patties
Meat-pie topping
Potatoes in cheese sauce
Salads
Soups, stews, or chowders

Cooked snap beans, lima beans, corn, peas, carrots, in—

Casseroles
Creamed dishes
Meat, poultry, or fish pies
Salads
Sauces
Scalloped vegetables
Soups
Stews
Vegetables in cheese sauce

Cooked leafy vegetables, chopped, in—

Creamed or scalloped vegetables
Omelets
Souffles
Soups

Vegetable cooking liquids, in—

Gravies
Sauces
Soups
Stews

Cooked or canned fruits, in—

Fruit cups
Fruit sauces
Gelatin desserts
Prune cake
Quick breads
Salads
Shortcake
Upside-down cake
Yeast breads

Fruit cooking liquids or fruit sirups, in—

Fruit cups
Fruit sauces
Fruit drinks
Gelatin mixtures
Tapioca puddings

Cooked wheat, oat, or corn cereals, in—

Fried cereal
Meat loaf or patties
Souffles
Sweet puddings

Cooked rice, noodles, macaroni, spaghetti, in—

Baked macaroni and cheese
Casseroles
Macaroni salad
Meat or cheese loaf
Spanish rice

Bread, in—

Bread pudding
Croutons
Dry crumbs for breading meat, poultry, or fish
Fondues
French toast
Meat loaf, salmon loaf
Sardine puff
Stuffings

Cookies or unfrosted cake, in—

Crumb crust for pies
Ice cream sandwiches
Refrigerator cake (cake strips or cookies layered with pudding or whipped cream and chilled)
Toasted cake slices, served with fruit or ice cream