Leftovers…let’s discuss. I LOVE them – it’s one less dinner to actually cook from start to finish. But I know people who aren’t big fans of any kind of leftovers, I seriously can’t understand that because I love them all. I do think 4 days of the same exact meal gets a little boring, so I try to make leftovers into a ‘new’ meal when I can. It keeps things exciting and cuts back on waste. It takes a little planning initially, but you’ll be rewarded with a tasty dish several nights in a row without much effort.
Last month I mentioned Project Sunlight and a Summer Sunlight Activity, we chose to do One Ingredient, Five Ways. Decreasing food waste is an important part of Project Sunlight and it’s easily done with a little planning ahead…even better when you find a great sale on meat and you’re able to stock up 🙂 While completing this activity, my kids were able to see all that goes into creating a meal plan and how 1 main ingredient can be made into 5 delectable dishes.
Tips for creating a meal plan around 1 main ingredient…
- choose meals that use similar garnish (i.e. cilantro, green onion, etc.) that way you’ll end up using it all instead of just a little bit
- choose a protein that freezes well (like pulled pork), that way if you’re not feeding as big of a crowd you can freeze some for a meal later in the month
- include pizza night and taco night – both are super kid friendly and you can put almost anything in a taco 😉
Start with slow cooked pork shoulder (recipes for slow cooker or stove top)
Then make…
BBQ Pork Pizza (pictured at the top of this post) – Top pita bread or pizza dough with BBQ sauce, shredded pork, shredded cheese (monterrey or pepper jack, cheddar) and sauteed mushrooms. Bake at 400° until cheese is melted. Top with chopped green onions and cilantro.
BBQ Pork Sandwiches – Serve shredded and sauced pork on a hearty bun with cheesy potatoes and coleslaw.
Crispy Pork Tacos – Nestle crispy pieces of pork inside flour or corn tortillas and top with your fave taco toppings.
Twice Baked Potatoes – Combine pork with baked potato chunks and cheese. Bake again and drizzle with BBQ sauce before serving.
Pork Chili Verde – This soup is so full of flavor, you’ll be fighting over the leftover pork so you can make this! Serve with cornbread.
*While this post is part of a sponsored campaign by Unilever Project Sunlight, all opinions and experiences expressed are entirely my own.
