{"id":132,"date":"2011-07-20T07:39:11","date_gmt":"2011-07-20T13:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/therealfoodchronicles.com\/?page_id=132"},"modified":"2016-04-23T19:50:05","modified_gmt":"2016-04-24T01:50:05","slug":"ode-to-leftovers-and-why-they-are-great-for-people-with-gluten-and-dairy-allergies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stormysweitzer.com\/recipes\/ode-to-leftovers-and-why-they-are-great-for-people-with-gluten-and-dairy-allergies\/","title":{"rendered":"Ode to Leftovers (and why they are great for people with gluten and dairy allergies)"},"content":{"rendered":"

I sometimes think that leftovers get a bad rap.\u00a0 Sure, there\u2019s the occasional meal that is so good we can\u2019t wait to eat it again the next day.\u00a0 But, often, we just feel guilty for not eating all of what we prepare, and relegate the uneaten portion to some dark corner of the fridge.<\/p>\n

\"Leftovers<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The thing is, leftovers offer such promise, especially for those of us who struggle to find time to make food that is gluten-free, dairy-free, or free of other allergens.\u00a0 This is why I have become such a fan of leftovers.\u00a0 And not just of the kind that truly are left over after eating a meal, but the kind that you intentionally prepare as extras, the kind that can make your next day (or two) easier.<\/p>\n

So, how do I love leftovers?\u00a0 Let me count the ways:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Make \u2018em once, eat \u2018em\u2026more than once.<\/li>\n
  2. Batches of basics help me make quick meal mix-ups.<\/li>\n
  3. I don\u2019t have to think about what to eat today.<\/li>\n
  4. Healthy time-saver.<\/li>\n
  5. Let\u2019s me spend more time on the things I need or want to do and less time making food.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Why leftovers are great for people who can\u2019t eat gluten, dairy, or other foods because of allergies and sensitivities<\/h3>\n

    For me, it really boils down to making life easier, and guaranteeing access to gluten-free and dairy-free foods that I know I can eat!<\/p>\n

    Some days, I just don\u2019t want to think about cooking or don\u2019t have the time.\u00a0 If I can quickly go to the fridge, pull out items that I know I can eat and throw together a tasty and easy meal, then I can spend more time with friends and family, getting to work on time, reading a book, or anything else I feel like doing.<\/p>\n

    Here are some of the ways that I use leftovers to make easy gluten-free and dairy-free meals.<\/p>\n

    1. <\/strong>Make \u2018em once, eat \u2018em\u2026more than once.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Pretty straightforward.\u00a0 If I or my husband makes a great meal, we know we\u2019ll have the opportunity to eat more of it the next day.\u00a0 And usually, it tastes better the second time, once the flavors have had time to settle in.\u00a0 So, for dishes that take longer to make or are a little more complicated than usual, we\u00a0 make extra and refrigerate or freeze it for later.<\/p>\n

    Some examples of dishes we make extra of: enchiladas, casseroles, curry dishes, soups, and other one-pot meals.\u00a0 In the picture below, you see freezer bags filled with soups that I lay flat until frozen and then stack side-by-side.<\/p>\n

    \"Frozen<\/p>\n

    2. <\/strong>Batches of basics help me make quick meal re-mixes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Basics like rice, quinoa, and proteins (beans, meat, tofu) can be quickly re-heated and re-mixed with each other or with spices, chopped vegetables*, and nuts, to create quick meals.<\/p>\n

    If I make rice, quinoa or beans, or even cook meat, I double \u2013 and sometimes triple \u2013 the amount I make and keep it in a container in the fridge.<\/p>\n

    \"Leftovers<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    *I also always keep shredded carrots, coleslaw mix, sliced mushrooms, and broccoli slaw from the grocery store on hand and often chop vegetables up ahead of time and keep them stored in air-tight containers in the fridge.\u00a0 I mean, if your already chopping veggies for whatever you\u2019re cooking right now, why not just chop a little more and have it ready to go for the next meal?<\/em><\/p>\n

    When it\u2019s time to eat, I pull whatever leftover and fresh ingredients I have on-hand and mix them up.\u00a0 Here are a few of my favorite leftover remixes:<\/p>\n