Home-cooked Meals in a Hurry
The Second Time Around
For home-cooked meals in a hurry, plan ahead for leftovers by roasting an extra chicken or browning a second pound of ground beef. Steam another cup of rice or slip some extra pork chops on the grill for later in the week. Chop and freeze cooked turkey and ham for the makings of a great-tasting salad or casserole.
These recipes offer lots of fresh ideas, but feel free to improvise. That's how we came up with top-rated favorites such as Chicken Cakes With Remouladé Sauce.
Related: Quick Fix Suppers, Turkey Panini
Quick-and-Easy Quesadillas
Use these recipes as a guide for creating your own special version of quesadillas. Slice up a leftover pork chop, and add it to Quick Quesadillas, or substitute some leftover spinach for the plum tomatoes. Buy the family pack of chicken breasts, and use the extra for Grilled Chicken Quesadillas.
Twice-Baked Potatoes
Each of these recipes makes a hearty one-dish meal. Sneak some leftover veggies into the recipe for Chili-Topped Potatoes, or stir in some leftover chopped cooked turkey or chicken in place of the bacon when you're making Breakfast-Stuffed Potatoes.
Related: Easy Slow-Cooker Chili Recipes
One Good Egg
Eggs can turn almost any leftovers into a great-tasting meal--even macaroni into a kid-friendly pizza crust. The cheesy bacon filling for Deluxe Omelet Biscuits is actually baked in the oven, and it's just as scrumptious with the addition of a healthy portion of leftover vegetables.
Related: How To Make The Best Scrambled Eggs Ever
Fix-and-Freeze Italian Pick up some extra ground beef for these easy big-batch recipes. Portion and freeze for speedy spaghetti and lasagna suppers or a super-deluxe pizza. The meatballs are also perfect for last-minute appetizers and sandwiches.
Salads and Sandwiches
Almost anything goes when you're creating salads and sandwiches. Turkey and chicken are the star ingredients in these yummy recipes, and they can be used interchangeably. Just substitute whatever's on hand for the deli meats.
Related: Quick-Fix Pasta Suppers
Casseroles
These family favorites all make a terrific one-dish meal. They're a deliciously easy way to create something new with chopped cooked chicken, turkey, and ham or that extra pound of ground beef.
Rice and Beans
Rice and beans are always a tasty bargain. You'll find several options for jambalaya, but again, feel free to improvise with other ingredients.
Related: New Orleans Red Beans and Rice
Quick Tricks With Refrigerated Biscuits and Bread Dough
Recycle leftovers with fresh-from-the-oven flavor.
Orient Express
These are more of our Asian favorites, including additional ideas for egg rolls and fried rice. Egg roll wrappers can also be used in place of pasta in some dishes. Pick up an extra package, and try them in Meatball Lasagna, Southwestern Wraps, or Ultimate Chili Casserole.
Quick-and-Easy Asian Dipping Sauces:
Try these with egg rolls or steamed dumplings.
This article is from the February 2005 issue of Southern Living.
