by Sarah Carrick

Created on: February 08, 2007   Last Updated: May 04, 2007

Okay, I'll admit it: I love leftovers. And while some of the most popular leftovers revolve around holiday feasts, leftovers are a daily part and parcel of any household where each meal's food isn't consumed in it's entirety.

Does it really make sense to relegate food that has been lovingly prepared, and not eaten the first time around, to the trash bin? And yet leftover food is more often than not treated like trash. What the heck, it is trash.

Did you know that one-third of the trash tossed annually is edible food? Americans chuck $100 billion worth of edible food per year. That's how powerful all those little bits-and everyone's daily actions-are. They add up to one monstrosity.

What you can do with leftovers . . .

Make a stir-fry. Rice only takes 12-15 minutes to cook, so even if you don't have any leftover, you can put a pot on while you sort through the tidbits. Start with some olive oil, saut one finely minced onion, add seasonings, spices and soy sauce, your leftovers, and you have a quick, no fuss meal

Make soups. From tomato and vegetable to chicken noodle, odd bits of vegetables and protein all make great ways to enhance a can of soup.

Tacos/Quesadillas are not only easy to make, kids love em (well my kids do). So next time you're assembling the tortillas, cheese and beans or beef, add some leftovers: Chop the veggies finely and sprinkle them on top of the cheese and they'll blend right in.

Make pie or turnovers. I love those refrigerated piecrusts and crescent rolls-and this is where they come in really handy. Saut your leftover medley of veggies, beans and/or protein in a bit of garlic and olive oil, and sprinkle with some Italian herbs. Tuck inside a double pie crust or divide into individual portions and wrap inside crescent roll dough, using 2 triangles pinched together into a rectangle. Bake for 15-20 minutes and dinner's on the table. It's even better if you add gravy, or pair with soup and salad.

These are only a few suggestions. Leftovers can be utilized in many diffrent ways. These are a few of my favorites, that are flavorful, quick and easy.

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