monday's leftovers

If you found yourself with leftover squash from last night's sumptuous meal, put it to good use in an easy weeknight pasta. Take a nod from a seasonal favorite — butternut squash ravioli — and serve up the same earthy flavors of sage, nuts, and browned butter with fresh store-bought or homemade pappardelle pasta. In contrast to its dried counterpart, it cooks up in only a couple of minutes. Want the recipe? Then keep reading.

End your Monday — the toughest day of the week — with a bang, not a whimper. For tonight's meal, make the most of leftovers by incorporating the robust flavors of bacon, parmesan, and eggs into a twist on breakfast for dinner in a hearty bread soup. Here, bacon fat, parmesan rinds, and familiar garlic-and-herb flavors come together quickly in a soul-satisfying brodo.
It's topped off with crisped cured pork, crunchy homemade croutons, and a coddled egg. What could be more soul-satisfying? Make it tonight when you read more.

Start your week off on the right foot by making a meal that goes against all the rules. This recipe proves that clams don't always have to be paired with fish or shellfish, and they aren't only ideal in potato chowders or pastas.

Just as a meaty short rib or a bolognese sauce would pair with polenta, do leftover steamed clams with crumbled Italian sausage to tie everything together.

White wine adds acid, and broccoli rabe and baby tomatoes round out the dish. For a one-pot Monday night meal that'll break new ground in your kitchen, read more.

Still have some fish leftover from last night's glazed cod dinner? Use it tonight in a steaming pot of chowder! This hearty recipe for smoky fish chowder will warm and fill you up with potatoes, spicy chorizo, and tomatoes.

Chowders are a no-fuss mealtime solution when it comes to large groups: just toss everything in the pot and simmer. So don't fret if you have family in town for the holidays, this recipe serves eight grumbling stomachs. Check out the recipe here.

After a hectic start to the week, a late night taqueria run might sound terribly tempting, but avoid the caloric pitfalls of eating out by making your own version of a taqueria special at home: beef and potato burritos.

Build a healthier burrito, starting with last night's 90-percent lean ground beef and aromatics such as onion and jalapeño for heat. Save yourself time and effort by browning the beef, reducing the tomatoes, and heating the tortillas all in the same pan. You'll be surprised by how little effort this Mexican meal takes. Continue reading for the recipe.

At the start of the week, don't consume yourself with preparing an elaborate meal. Rather, take advantage of proteins that'll translate well from Sunday to Monday, like chicken tenders. Not only are these tender cuts of chicken breast healthy, but they're also extremely quick-cooking, which makes them ideal for a speedy dinner bake with a medley of vegetables like red, yellow, and orange bell peppers, onions, and fresh herbs. A sprinkling of pickled jalapeños provides an addictive, lingering kick. For a wholesome yet flavorful dinner solution, read more.

Make the most of surplus food by changing up supporting flavors and cooking techniques. Last night's easy seafood paella and tonight's shrimp and scallion stir-fry are both healthy, quick-cooking, gluten-free shellfish stunners, but they couldn't please more different sides of the palate.

Enjoy a traditional Chinese stir-fry combination — shrimp and scallions — tossed in a smoldering wok with garlic, hot peppers, and a squeeze of lemon juice for acid. Serve over a bowl of steaming rice with soy sauce on the side for dipping; from pan to plate, you'll only need 15 minutes. Ready for dinner? Then get the recipe.

After enjoying a two-tomato vegetable soup the night before, extend your meatless meal streak tonight with an easy and light whole wheat rigatoni toss.

Use crunchy, nutrient-rich broccolini to impart a slightly nutty, peppery quality to a medley of whole wheat tubes and blanched radishes that get tossed in an orange zest vinaigrette.
The fiber in both the vegetables and the pasta ensures this'll be a filling dish to dig into; enjoy a beguiling, salty creaminess in every bite with crumbles of feta cheese as well. Don't have sherry vinegar, oranges, or broccolini on hand? This recipe is flexible: swap them out for red wine vinegar, lemon zest, and cauliflower or regular broccoli florets. Get the method when you read on.

I'm never happier than when I discover a good sale at the meat counter, and on a really generous week, my grocer offers two-for-one deals on a healthy and quick-cooking cut, pork tenderloin. I'll buy two, but diversify my plate by making a hearty pork, apple, and squash meal one night, then digging in to a completely different pork meal the following evening. Tonight, utilize leftover pork by oven-roasting it with a light seasoning, all the while quick-sautéing brussels sprouts, almonds, and apricots until wilted and caramelized. If you prefer extra flavor, dry-rub the pork spices and herbs like cumin, paprika, dried sage, and oregano. Get the recipe now.

After last night's rustic Italian-influenced bean stew, switch gears and serve your leftover chicken sausage with a light, bright cabbage and apple slaw. Unlike mayonnaise-based or even Asian-themed coleslaws, this one combines a bit of cider vinegar (for tang), buttermilk (for creaminess), and apples (for texture) to produce a sweet-tart, crunchy salad that foils the richness of a pan-fried sausage. For the recipe, read on.