Ideas for Holiday Leftovers + Recipe

Today marked the first day that we didn't have any Christmas celebrations or family members at our house for four days.  So I spent the day catching up on laundry, making Christmas thank yous and trying to get back into our normal routine.  Part of my Sunday routine is making my meal plan for the week.  After hosting two family Christmases and having family at our house for three days, needless to say, we have a full fridge of odds and ends of leftovers.  So now the big question is, what to do with all of your leftovers so you don't hear "not this again..." or have to throw any food away.  Here are three simple ideas, plus a recipe that I made tonight!

1. Freeze - This should be a no-brainer but I think it is something people forget about.  If you have a lot of something leftover - freeze it!  I personally froze a half crock-pot's worth of chili and enough pork loin for probably a dozen sandwiches after all of our company left.  This will come in handy after baby #3 JP arrives this winter!
2. Add-ins - Leftover vegetables and meat make for easy and quick additions to eggs for breakfast or inside quesadillas or paninis for dinner.  Today at noon I used leftover cheese from a cheese platter and leftover cubed ham from an appetizer to make some delicious panini melts.  They were perfect and something light to have after eating big meals for the last few days.
3. Repurpose - Lastly, repurpose your leftovers into something new.  There are lots of ideas for repurposing your holiday ham or turkey into casseroles or soups, but don't forget those side dishes.  Tonight I used our leftover mashed potatoes to make a delicious and simple Shepherd's Pie.  I hope you enjoy it just as much as my family did!

Leftover Shepherd's Pie

2 cups leftover mashed potatoes  (Or you make make fresh if you don't have any leftovers - I personally love the Pioneer Woman's mashed potatoes recipe.)

1 lb. ground pork or beef

2 Tbsp. flour

2 Tbsp. ketchup

1 cup beef broth

4 cups leftover mixed vegetables (Or you can use a bag of frozen mixed vegetables, thawed.)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, optional

Salt and pepper, to taste

Brown meat in skillet.  Stir in flour and cook for one minute.  Stir in ketchup, followed by beef broth and then vegetables.  Feel free to add a little salt and pepper to taste.  Spoon into casserole dish or 9x9 square baking dish.  Cover with mashed potatoes.  And if you have cheese loving kids like I do, sprinkle cheddar cheese over the top.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 20 minutes.

What is your favorite thing to do with leftovers?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!