Embrace the art of food rescue with creative ways to repurpose leftovers. From turning cabbage cores into a savoury twist on mashed potatoes to creating a green sauce with beet tops, these inventive kitchen hacks help you reduce waste and infuse exciting flavours into your meals. Give your leftovers a second chance to shine!
1. Leftover Cabbage Cores
There’s no need to toss your cabbage cores! Instead, give them a tasty second life by chopping them up and boiling them with peeled potatoes for a deliciously unique twist on your classic mashed potatoes. The cabbage adds a subtle, savoury depth of flavour that pairs perfectly with the creamy potatoes, making for an inventive and thrifty comfort side dish.
2. Leftover Cranberry Sauce
Transform leftover cranberry sauce into a zesty cranberry vinaigrette. Mix ½ a cup of cranberry sauce with 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and a ¼ cup of water. Drizzle this tangy, sweet dressing over your favourite salad for a burst of flavour to your greens. It’s a simple and tasty way to give that cranberry sauce a new purpose!
3. Leftover Beet Tops
Turn unwanted beet tops into a vibrant pasta sauce that will awaken your taste buds. Simply blend the tops of 2 bunches of beet greens with 1 cup of olive oil, ⅓ cup of Parmesan cheese, 2 garlic cloves, juice from ½ a lemon, and ¼ cup walnuts. Add the fresh green sauce to any pasta of your choosing, and Tada–dinner is served!
4. Leftover Citrus Peels
A zesty citrus powder can be your new secret ingredient for adding extra pizazz to your dishes. Blend dried-out peels from oranges, limes, lemons, or grapefruits into a fine powder. For a little more sweetness, mix the powder with sugar to create a citrus sugar that’s perfect for baking or sprinkling on fruits. Prefer something savoury? Combine lemon powder with freshly cracked pepper to make a tangy lemon pepper seasoning, perfect for roasted veggies or grilled salmon. With this easy trick, you’ll add sunshine to your meals all year round!
5. Leftover Compound Butter
Have some leftover compound butter from a holiday dinner? Turn it into a breakfast star with a herby egg scramble that’ll make your morning extra special. Just toss ¼ tablespoon of that flavourful butter into your eggs, sprinkle in some fresh rosemary and sage, and watch your brekky become a gourmet-style delight. Start your day on the right foot with a morning meal infused with buttery goodness!
6. Leftover Cooked Rice
Turn day-old rice into a creamy, dreamy dessert by blending 2 cups of leftover rice with 1 pint of your favourite ice cream. Then simmer low on the stove for about 20 minutes. The result is a luscious rice pudding that’s irresistibly rich and comforting. Top it off with a sprinkle of cinnamon, and you’ve got a sweet, indulgent, and oh-so-easy treat!
7. Leftover Apple Peels
If your kids don’t like apple peels and you find that you have an excess, try this quick recipe. Toss 4 cups of water, your leftover peels from 5 apples, and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar into a pot and bring it to a boil. Throw in a couple of whole cloves for more zing, then let it all simmer for an hour. Your kitchen will be filled with a sweet and cozy aroma! After you take it off the heat, let a cinnamon stick step in your fruity concoction for 45 minutes. Strain it out, and you will have delicious apple tea to enjoy, hot or cold. It’s like autumn in a cup!
8. Leftover Brussels Sprouts
If your guests didn’t finish the side Brussels sprouts after your last dinner get-together, help keep them from going to waste! Toss them into risottos or grain bowls, or mix them into pasta or mac and cheese. It’s a quick and clever way to incorporate veggies into your meals, especially if you have some picky eaters on your hands. Showcase these cruciferous vegetables in a new light and enjoy everything that Brussels sprouts have to offer.
9. Leftover Pear Peels
Take pear peels and make them into a sweet kitchen spice with this fun hack! Mix equal parts pear peels and sugar, then bake them at 200°F for 1-2 hours (for peels from 4 pears) until they’re dried and fragrant. Let them cool overnight to lock in all the juicy flavour, then pulverize the dried pear peels in a food processor. Add a pinch of cinnamon, and you will have luscious pear sugar perfect for sprinkling on whatever dessert you like. It’s a great way to add pear and spice to anything from ice cream to cakes, making your treats even more tasty!
10. Leftover Turkey Bones
Grab the leftover turkey carcass from your holiday meal and add it to a pot of boiling water. Then drop in a medley of herbs and veggies like onion, celery, and carrots, and let it simmer away for 3-4 hours. Strain the liquid and you’ll be left with turkey stock perfect for soups, stews, and sauces. It’s like a flavour-packed encore performance after your feast, and it’s so easy you’ll be thinking up excuses to cook turkey just for this delicious, homemade stock.
