Leftover Chili Manicotti

3 c (give or take) leftover Chili
1 c (give or take) spaghetti sauce
8 manicotti shells
1 egg, beaten
1 c shredded cheese
1/4 c parmesan shredded
1 sm carton ricotta cheese

Combine chili and sauce
Boil manicotti according to directions.
Combine egg and cheeses.
Pour 1/2 of the chili mixture in a greases 9x13 pan.
Fill manicotti shells and place on top of mixture.
Pour rest of chili mixture on top of shells.
Bake 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Homemade Magic Shell

3/4 c chocolate chips of whatever type
1/4c coconut oil (it's in the baking goods section if you've never gotten any, usually by the chocolate chips--use it in place of any kind of oil/shortening)

Melt in microwave about 45 seconds, stir until it looks like magic shell. If it hardens on the shelf, zap in microwave for 10 seconds (Put in glass container!)

Shepherd's Pie

This uses up mashed potatoes nicely.

1 lb burger, 1 onion

Brown burger and onion

2 c. frozen veggies, 1/2 c beef broth, 1 tsp worchesterchire, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 2 garlic cloves, minced, 1 can tomatoes drained

Add the above to meat and heat through

Mashed Potatoes (2 cups? Enough to spread on top) and Shredded Cheese

Place the meat mixture in a casserole dish, spread mashed potatoes over the top, top with shredded cheese.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes

Leftover Hot Dog Hamburger Bun Bread Pudding

Around 8 leftover buns give or take a few
3 c hot milk
2-3 eggs
2/3 c. sugar
1/2 c dates or raisins
1/4 tsp salt
1 T butter
1 1/2 T vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp baking powder

Grease/Butter a casserole dish. Mix all the ingredients, tear up buns and throw them in. Dump into dish, sprinkle with nutmeg. Bake 350 degrees for about an hour.

Creamy Tortilla Soup

I had extra turkey leftovers from the holidays. (Who doesn't have leftovers?) After a few sandwiches, I was down to the dregs, maybe a cup of shredded turkey. So, Leftover Tortilla Soup was in order.

Quick Easy Creamy Tortilla Soup (Less than 15 minutes)

1 can of diced tomatoes
1 can tomatoes and chilies (Or a substitute for tomatoes and chilies is 1 cup salsa if you do not have this on hand)
1 can refried beans
3 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 to 1 cup corn (frozen, fresh, canned, whatever)
1 lb cooked chicken or turkey (or whatever you got left!)
shredded cheese
tortilla chips

Stir tomatoes, salsa, beans, broth and corn in a large pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add meat until heated through. Ladle into bowls and top with cheese and crushed tortilla chips to liking.

I ladle serving sizes into freezer bags and freeze for later since this makes too much for my family to eat in one sitting.

Pull out of the freezer, place it in a sink of hot water to soften enough to get it out of the bag and zap it in the microwave.