"Leftover-Makeover" Curry Chicken Fried Rice

I love taking leftovers and creating a new meal from them. One of my favorite left over makeovers is fried rice. I always have the ingredients on hand in my freezer and pantry so it’s a very easy go to dish for a last minute meal. I had Chinese white rice in the fridge and leftover teriyaki chicken in my freezer ( I made teriyaki marinated chicken cutlets for dinner a few weeks ago and diced up the left overs and froze them). This is a very simple recipe because you really don’t have to measure anything. Just dump in what you like and season to taste. Any chicken would work as well. I have used leftover roasted chicken many times and it’s delish.


Ingredients:

1 1/2 pints left over Chinese take-out white rice
1 Cup frozen peas, corn, red peppers, edamame
1 C. Frozen Broccoli
1 T. curry powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. red chili flake
1/3 C. soy sauce
1 egg
1 C. left over cooked chicken, diced

Preparation:

Coat the bottom of a large sauté pan with oil and set on medium heat. Add frozen vegetables and sauté for 2 minutes. Add white rice and continue to stir until heated through. Add curry, garlic, onion powder, red pepper flake and soy sauce and stir through. Next, make a well in the middle of the rice. Crack an egg into the well. Scramble egg, then mix into the rice. Add the cooked diced chicken and heat through.

Salmon Pasta

Susan came to visit me in my new home in Southern California in October and we made this pasta dish together one night for dinner.  It's her son, Aaron's favorite and now is a favorite of my kids too.  I love this recipe because it's the best use of left over grilled salmon from the night before and it's an awesome one pan meal!

Ingredients:

1/2 lb Pasta any type, cooked aldente

2 filets (1/2 lb) of cooked salmon, grilled, baked or poached

1 Small Onion chopped

1 Jar of Pasta Sauce

1/4 cup cream cheese

Fresh Parsley, chopped

Salt and Pepper to taste

1/4 teaspoon Red pepper flakes

1/3 cup frozen peas (optional)

Preparation:

Saute onion in 2 tablespoons of olive oil for 1-2 minutes until soft.  Add 1 jar of pasta sauce to pan to warm through.  Melt cream cheese into sauce.  Add red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste.  Once cream cheese is fully combined you can flake the salmon into the sauce and stir to incorporate.  If you would like to add green peas this is the time to add those in.  Heat sauce over med heat for about 3-5 minutes until hot.  

Pour cooked pasta into a large bowl or platter and pour sauce over top.  Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately.