Green Recipes

I call these Green Recipes because they use common food items, use "left overs" and have limited animal products.

Every one of them I have personally tested. I've been cooking for over 30 years for family, friends, on the trail, professionally in large establishments. There will be ideas drawn from all these sources.

Spicy Mexican Chicken

 I made this main dish when a pan of Chicken Parmesan needed refurbishing. You could use leftover grilled and fully cooked chicken breast as well.

Place leftover servings of Chicken Parmesan in lightly oiled 2 inch deep pan. Cover with salsa, grated Pepper Jack Cheese, and sliced Jalapeno peppers. Bake in 350 degree oven until Chicken reaches 165 degrees. If cheese browns too quickly, cover with foil until temperature is reached.

Breakfast Casserole

This is a handy way to use the leftover biscuits, heels of bread, last of the hot dog buns. Its a basic concept of layering bread, meats, cheese, and using eggs to bind it all together into a hot dish which can be cut into squares. Serve any time of the day.

Into a greased or buttered casserole 9 x 13 dish, layer :
torn into pieces- various breads or biscuits
                       -fully cooked bacon bits, sausage, ham, (optional)
                       -onions, peppers, mushrooms, (optional)
                       -grated cheese of your choice
Beat a dozen eggs with 1 ts salt, 1 cup milk, 1 ts dried mustard. Pour over layers. At this point you can cover and refrigerate until baking.
Bake at 350 degrees about 45 minutes, or until firm.  Some people skip the meats, and limit the cheese to cut back on fats. Adding vegetables instead increases the fiber and nutritious values. Sliced zucchini, yellow neck squash, broccoli, spinach, grated carrots, and celery are all good options.                      


Tacos
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in large skillet. Lay your favorite stlye tortilla in pan. Spoon mixture of beans, onions, cheese, tomatoes or diced meat into center. When tortilla is browned, fold sides over the center, forming a wrap.


Serve hot with salsa.
I like using corn tortillas for this. Two corn tortillas alone have 134 calories and 2 grams of protein.

Soup

Soups and stews are the best way to combine leftovers. I never mix rice with pasta or potatoes, however. One starch at a time.
Start with some oil or butter in your soup pot. Saute onions, carrots and celery.
Stir in 2 Tablespoons flour and cook until bubbly. This will give your soup some body, a thicker and more satisfying consistancy.
Add broth or water, and spices like garlic powder, parsely, or oregano.
Add veggies, meats, beans as desired.