What to do with leftover meats? Whether coldcuts, main dishes like chicken, pork, turkey, beef/steak, there are many options! Everyone has their definition of "healthy"- some are no carbs, some no fat, some no sugar, some no meat!

We have a family of four, with two teenagers with big appetites. I usually buy more than enough meat that's on sale and freeze larger quantities. If I get a six pack or more of chicken or pork chops, I'll cook them all and pick the meat off the remaining two for a leftover meal. I'll save extra portions of steaks or roasts for another meal, and also freeze leftover Easter ham and Thanksgiving turkey leftovers in individual packages for later use. For those, I usually label the freezer bags as "small pieces" or "large".

These recipes are not exact and are adaptable / substitutable for any leftover meat- be creative and adjust any ingredients to taste, or feel free to add extras. Nobody at our house likes mushrooms, but many people do, so feel free to add those to any recipe idea. These are just ideas that I have formulated over the years and adapted more with today's economy. I've never really gone by a recipe unless it was baking, which is really different, but in 20+ years of saving leftovers and making more meals out of them, here are my suggestions:

I always keep in mind that if I / you fix something healthy and nutritious, if nobody likes it , then it is a waste. That's one reason why I give no measurements in my recipes- the other is that I don't measure myself :-) I take what is available to be used and create something with it!

Salad

Obviously the most healthy on the request list, prepare whatever greens and veggies and top off with chopped or sliced leftover meats like chicken, ham, turkey, coldcuts, or even steak. Kids (and husbands) will appreciate cheese gratings on top and a buttered roll on the side.

Tacos

A great way to use even Thanksgiving turkey leftovers! Works also with leftover pork, hamburger, chicken, steak, roast beef, etc. Shred or slice the cooked or semicooked meat by hand into about 1/2" long small / shredded pieces. It really doesn't matter what the meat is.

Note: If you don't have enough leftover meat for another dish like tacos etc., shred and save what you have at the time, freeze it, and save it for the next time to combine and add in.

Prepare ahead of time taco toppings - chopped tomatoes, onion, black olives, lettuce, and cheese for taco toppings. (Quantities variable to taste)

To prepare meat mixture:

Put sliced/shredded pieces in bowl or plastic bag. Add Tabasco sauce, chili powder, cumin, and cilantro to taste and mix thoroughly either with a spoon or by shaking the bag and squeezing.

Note: If short on meat leftovers, add other chopped ingredients like chopped green peppers, onions or salsa in with the stirfry phase to bulk up.

Use olive oil to coat cooking skillet, heat on medium. Heat chopped chilis (either canned or fresh) in oil, season with garlic powder or freshly chopped garlic for about 2 minutes. Toss in seasoned meat mixture, sprinkle in taco seasoning mix to taste and stir fry. Sprinkle lime juice on and continue stir frying until thoroughly mixed.

Can be used with either soft or hard shell tacos.

Fajitas

Prepare leftover meat slices as above ahead of time, then prepare onion and pepper mix:

Slice green peppers (red or yellow can be used too) into 1/8 x 1" pieces, same with onions. Amount depends on number of servings (my family of 4 needs 8 servings - roughly 2 med green peppers and one large onion)

Cover the bottom of a stir fry pan or pot with olive oil and heat on medium. Toss in diced chilis, garlic, and cook on medium for about 2 minutes. Next toss in peppers, and stir fry, adding more oil as needed, until medium soft. Adjust heat as necessary. (Peppers take longer to cook than onions so always put them in before). Then put in onions, stirring frequently. Sprinkle in lime juice and sprinkle on cilantro. Keep stirring. Once onions are semitranslucent, add in meat mixture and stir thoroughly. Turn down heat, stir in one package of Taco or Fajita mix, mix thoroughly, add 1/4 bottle of salsa mix if desired.

Serve with warm flour tortillas (microwave package of 8 on defrost for 2-3 minutes), with sides of salsa and sour cream or guacamole.

Note: Either of these meat mixes and/with sides can be served over Spanish, Mexican, Creole mixes without tacos, for variety in using leftovers! Make the meat mix above, and in the mean time prepare a rice mix (the 90 minute ones are great- prepare them at the same time)- spread the rice onto a serving dish, spread the meat mixture on top, sprinkle some grated cheese on if desired, scoop on the onion mix, cook in microwave at medium low about 5 minutes to melt cheese, and it's dinner.

Alternate: Do the same as above, but instead of rice mix, use tortilla chips (usually more fun for the kids)

Quaisadillas (8)

On a piece of wax paper, shred Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese mixed into 8 piles about 2" round and 2" high.

Prepare meat mixtures as above, whatever you want or have in the way of meat (sliced/diced turkey,chicken, pork, beef,) or diced vegetables (onions, peppers, tomatoes, olives), adding to taste or proportion. Set aside as warm.

Use cooking spray to coat a frying pan (big enough to hold one whole tortilla). Preheat on medium.

Take the stack of tortillas and one by one assemble:

Spray the inside of the tortilla

Scoop on one pile of cheese, scoop on 1/8 of "meat mix" from pan, spread over 1/2 tortilla

Fold in half

Place in frying pan, spray top surface with cooking spray; go onto next, repeating each time

Flip over when browned, check other side then place on plate

Repeat until all are served, serve with sour cream, guacamole, salsa.

Prepared Rice and Pasta Dishes - Quick Meals

Choose a type of cuisine- whatever pouch or box or brand, there are many. One of my family's favorites is either Chicken Noodles or Beef Noodles. You can use prepackaged "sides" as a base for a leftover meal, one-dish casserole.

Cut up leftover meat into small pieces. If you have less meat, add more vegetables!

You can use any kind of frozen vegetables,either in packages like Broccoli with Cheese sauce, corn, carrots, (or some other vegetable) store brand, or fresh veggies from your garden. Precook these in your microwave, then add them with the leftover meat to the rice or pasta for a low cost one-pot casserole. For my family of 4, this would take 2 packages, plus leftover meat, plus veggies for 4 servings.

Summer / Fall

Summer and fall are the garden harvest seasons.....some of us have more vegetables than we can eat! This is one way to explore ways to expand our cuisines!

When you have a garden full of tomatoes and green peppers, add more of those with your leftover meats.

Stuffed Peppers / Stuffed Tomatoes

One good way in late summer to use up leftover meat is stuffed peppers or stuffed tomatoes. The only real difference is in what holds the "stuffing".

Cut in half the Tomato or Pepper. Scoop out the insides.

Finely chop: leftover meat, onion, green pepper, tomato, (Optional: eggplant, pepperoni, sausage, zucchini) Mix with 1 egg, thoroughly, mix in 1 cup bread crumbs.

Take mixture and stuff either tomato or pepper (holds shape better). Cover each (optionally) with grated mozzarella cheese.

Sprinkle with oregano and basil, bake at 325 for 20-30 minutes (check)

In this economy, and even before, I have tried to balance my family's tastes with costs and healthy eating.

Bon Appetite!