Don’t Pass Over Spring Holiday Leftovers

Easter is just around the corner, warmer (we hope?) weather is coming, and celebrations will go on through the spring. 

With that comes the time for cooking and spending time with family and friends. The question always comes up about what to do with all the leftovers. The most obvious choice is to freeze them, but there are many ways to repurpose leftovers into a whole new meal! Here are some of the best ways to use holiday leftovers:

• Casseroles

Ham, moose, beef or turkey casserole: Combine leftover meat with any vegetables (such as corn, peas, green beans, or carrots), a creamy sauce like gravy, add cheese, and then top with breadcrumbs to turn it into a great casserole.

• Breakfast 

Ham, moose, beef or turkey breakfast egg dish: Dice up leftover meat and mix it into the scrambled eggs. Add three eggs per person, or more if you'd like to have leftover eggs. Add herbs, cheese and leftover vegetables to complete it.

Stuffing pancakes or waffles: Use leftover stuffing to make savory pancakes or waffles by adding some cheese and an egg. Mix and place a spoonful in a frying pan or waffle maker. Cook and enjoy.

• Turn leftover vegetables and meat into soup

Veggies, broth and gravy: Use leftover vegetables, broth and gravy to create a hearty soup. You can blend it for a smooth texture with an immersion blender or leave it chunky.

Turkey, beef, moose or ham: Add leftover meat to the soup for added heartiness.

Leftover mashed potatoes: Mashed potatoes can be used to thicken a soup nicely and add a creamy texture.

• Fried rice or stir fry

Leftover meat and vegetables: Toss leftover meat, vegetables, and some rice into a hot pan with soy sauce or seasonings for a quick fried rice or stir-fry.

• Mashed potato pancakes

Mashed potatoes: Combine leftover mashed potatoes with breadcrumbs, an egg and seasonings. Form into a patty, then pan-fry to make crispy mashed potato pancakes.

• Flatbread or pizza

Mashed potatoes, cheese and bacon: Turn mashed potatoes into a pizza topping by adding cheese, bacon and seasonings.

• Holiday pot pie

Leftover meat: Make a pot pie by using leftover vegetables, meat, gravy and a pie crust. To keep it simple, use a store-bought pie crust.

• Turn leftovers into a great Tex-Mex dish

Chop your leftover meat and simmer it with beans, chili spices, tomatoes and leftover vegetables for a great chili.

Put leftover meat, beans, cheese, and jalapenos (if you want some heat) on a tortilla shell. Heat up and top with sour cream, lettuce, guacamole and cheese.

The key to using leftovers is to think of them as ingredients, not just scraps. By mixing and matching, you can create new meals that feel exciting and fresh. With a little planning and forethought, you can utilize your leftovers and prevent them from going to waste. Hopefully, this has given you some ideas for repurposing your holiday leftovers. 

Adrian Kohrt is a family nutrition coordinator for the Cooperative Extension Service, a part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, working in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Contact her at amkohrt@alaska.edu or 907-474-7930. A version of this article ran in statewide publications for the winter holidays.