Recycling Leftovers, Keeping it Festive & New Year’s Resolutions – Tacos, Christmas Tree Waffles and staying away from Falafels.
Hey guys! Welcome to another installment of Thingamajig Tuesdays, this is your host… ME!
As some of you already know, tomorrow I celebrate Christmas. It’s 2 weeks after most of you, but that is because our Church is still on God’s old calendar. We cool like dat.
Thus…
I’m in the middle of a Holiday frenzy right now. It’s part of LIVING, and that is great, but I need a break. AND a taco.
Honey-Mustard Glazed Ham, I’m kind of over you.
BUT Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Nutella Cookies? Um. We can hang out for a bit longer.
If you can recall, I always tell you about my pet peeve with throwing away food and how I creatively use up leftovers by packing up a “new” lunch for my husband. I even did a whole post with tips about how not to waste food.
Right. Okay. So.
Tacos were invented for leftovers. I mean, what better way to eat up the last of that slow cooked buffalo chicken, but to put it in a taco shell the next day and eat it up at your desk?
I like to prepare the tacos the night before, after feasting on that deliciously juicy chicken. But, because I want to avoid a soggy-mess the next day, I mostly use Taco Shells instead of Flour Tortillas.
To complete, I add some shredded cheese, avocado slices, salad and tomatoes, and this taco is ready to be consumed whenever I am. Or my husband.
In keeping up with the Holiday festivities, one night, after having some chicken and waffles for dinner, I had an afterthought about preparing Christmas Tree Waffles for my husband and his co-workers. Few days later, I popped up during their lunch hour and brought in a tray of these cuties.
Aren’t they adorable?! His female co-workers appreciated the waffles just a tad bit more than the macho men. However, I’m pretty sure that deep inside they were also screaming, “Cutenessss!!!”.
Can you guess what comes after Honey-Glazed Hams and Jam-filled Christmas Tree Waffles?
Sloooooowing down. As in, counting calories. EEEK!
Since the new year just happened, I thought it would be a good idea to share this healthy, yet incredibly easy lunch idea that involves fruit, cookies ‘n cream bars and yogurt.
A French professor once told me that what keeps the French skinny is the amount of time they spend on making their food look pretty. And because it’s pretty, they do not inhale it that same way as I do. They actually take time to enjoy the beauty, to taste all the flavors and they focus on each and every bite.
Whenever I feel like I need to slow it down a bit, I think about his advice and follow it. In all honesty, IT works!
These Cookies ‘n Creme Fruit Skewers are one of my go-to lunches when I feel like I need a break from pizzas and sandwiches.
Fiber ONE Cookies & Crème Chewy Bars are a delicious accompaniment to these skewers. With only 140 calories per bar, they will satisfy those stubborn sweet cravings. Add a Light Yogurt to the mix and you’ve just created a delicious 300-calorie lunch! Done and Done. And full!
By the way, I found myself eating these 3 days in a row.
So let’s toast to leftovers, Holidays and diets! They are all a part of LIVING!
ENJOY!
Disclosure: This post is part of a collaboration between Fiber One and SheKnows.
I love fiber one bars! I eat them anytime I need a snack because the fiber really does help me stay full.
I’m always looking for ways to change up leftovers! Love this!
I agree, hate to waste leftovers and the roasted chicken turns into three meals 🙂 However I am way, way, way waaaaaay not as creative as you are. Everything looks amazing and man those waffles?! Holy Guacamoly….
Happy New Year to you and yours.
Love this post! At our house, we call our meals made with leftovers “AI” (for Available Ingredients) – and they are sometimes the most creative recipes ever! Happy New Year Kate!
Such a fun idea! I’d never really thought to use protein bars for anything other than eating from the wrapper…I bet the kids would think this is a cool treat.
Merry Christmas, Kate! Such a novel way to enjoy fruit skewers. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Stacy!! Merry Christmas to you and to yours!! XO
I really need to do better about using leftovers. I threw away so much after Christmas that I was embarrassed. I’ll be making more leftover tacos now!
That’s a shame. If I was closer I would’ve differed to take that extra food off your hands so it wouldn’t have went in the trash.
Those are the cutest waffles I’ve ever seen! How did you make the Christmas tree in the middle?
Hi Christina!
I took two waffles, spread jam on one of them and, using a cookie cutter, I cut out the Christmas Tree from the other waffle. Fun, right? 🙂
Yes, tacos are perfect for leftovers! Or enchiladas 😉 Anything that involves wrapping a tortilla around leftovers. Or frittatas and scrambles. For sure, not wasting food is a good way to not waste money.
Merry Christmas, Kate! I know you are now in the midst of what we were all in these last few weeks. What fun waffles! I bet the office loved them:))
Thank you, Lora!! XOXO
I am not tired of saying Merry Christmas yet. Glad I can say it one more time to you. Merry Merry Christmas!
I agree – no food should be wasted. Also, the fruit skewers are adorable!!
You are my kind of girl. Bring on the leftovers (and fiber one bars)!
What a fun series! My husband is the kind of left-overs. No food goes to waste here … I’ll have to show him these!