Great Way to Deal with Leftovers - Hash!

We've all been there. The fridge is full of leftovers but not enough of any one thing to make a meal out of. So, what do you do? Do you have pot luck and everyone has something different? You could do that. Putting up various plates and reheating them in the microwave and everyone eats higgilty piggilty. Or... here's a better idea - take those leftovers and combine them into a one skillet meal that the whole family can eat together.  Hash!

Now, I know, some people jump to the image of nasty canned food that they wouldn't touch or gross looking stuff from some greasy diner that contains God only knows what. But, you are making this, you know exactly what is in it and you're going to have to trust me - it's yummy!

In fact, it's a great way to get your kids involved in helping to cook a family meal and make a family night out of it.  Just think: Every Friday night (or whatever night) your family empties out the fridge of leftovers and makes hash in a large skillet together. And when it's done, you all eat while watching a family movie or playing a family game. And everyone can feel they contributed to the family meal.

The one thing you need to have is potatoes. If you have leftover roasted, boiled or baked potatoes you're all set. (mashed won't work) Otherwise, use some canned diced potatoes. They are inexpensive and a great staple to keep on hand. I suggest you stock up whenever they are on sale.

If you have leftover potatoes dice them up. If not, use the canned.  How many cans you need depends on the size of the cans and how many you are feeding.  I always start by cooking the potatoes on their own for awhile so they get crispy. That is a matter of preference. If you don't mind if they are soft vs crispy, then it doesn't matter if you precook them.  I put a little olive oil in my skittle and let the potatoes cook until they start getting brown.  I also season them with kosher salt and black pepper.

While they are cooking, take whatever meat you have leftover and dice it up. You can mix it all in. Chicken, beef, pork, meatloaf - anything but fish. I suppose it's possible some types of fish might work, especially if you are only using fish, but I don't know enough about fish to suggest what types would hold up and not just disintegrate.

Then take care of any veggies you have.  Dice them up if they are large. You want everything in the dish to be about the same size.  Now, if you have some fussy eaters who don't like all of the veggies you have, you can keep the veggies separate and just reheat them in the microwave and add vegetables of choice to each person's plate at the end.  If you have any veggies that will mush or break up easily, heat them separately and add them in right at the end.  If you don't have left over veggies, you can easily add canned or frozen veggies to round it out.

Tonight's dinner. Potatoes, pork chops, meatloaf and roasted chicken. Veggies will be added after as none of us all like the same veggies.  May not look like much, but is really tasty! Kids want to make sure there is left overs for lunch tomorrow.

 

When you have the potatoes where you want them, add your meat and any veggies that are going in and mix them together. Cover and cook until everything is hot.  Since your leftovers were seasoned when originally cooked you shouldn't need too much in the way of seasoning, however, that doesn't mean you can't add any, especially if you want to try and change the dish. You could add curry for an Indian take, or paprika for a Hungarian goulash style, or a dash of ginger and sriracha for and Asian flair, basil and oregano for an Italian version - or whatever takes your fancy.  Using different flavor profiles can keep hash from getting boring.

Once everything is hot, serve it up! Add any veggies that were done separately.  It will be delicious!

Need to stretch it or have left overs that aren't quite enough for a second meal?  Make some thick toast or Texas toast, scoop a bunch of hash on the toast and top with a fried or poached egg. When the yolk of the egg seeps down into the hash it is SO good! Makes a great breakfast, or breakfast for dinner.  A great way to use breakfast leftovers too. If you have leftover home fries, sausages and bacon (I know, who has leftover bacon? But it could happen) you could make a hash out of that and eat it with an egg for a great breakfast treat.  Can't afford steak and eggs for breakfast? Buy one small, affordable steak, perhaps even some cube steak, and cut it up to make hash and have with an egg and you can still have your steak and eggs for breakfast.

But the main thing is to find a way to not throw out a bunch of left overs. Nothing is more frustrating than the night before trash day pulling out things wrapped in foil and plastic wrap and anonymous plastic bowls and realizing that you have to throw away food that cost good money and should have been used up somehow.  Well, now you know how to avoid that!  In fact, you could freeze your hash into freezer bags and have on hand for last minute meals.

I hope you find this helpful and it gives you lots of creative ideas.

Enjoy!