What are your food quirks? Mine revolve around leftovers. As my mother well knows, I refuse - with a few exceptions all involving mac & cheese - to eat leftovers for dinner. I don't mind leftovers as the next day's lunch, but will not eat the same thing for dinner 2 nights in a row. That said, I am a big fan of turning leftovers into something else. Every time we have roasted chicken for dinner, we have chicken and black bean quesadillas the next night. I love it because it's easy, yummy, healthy, and takes the guess work out of meal planning for at least one night. It's a great Sunday/Monday combo, when you have the time on Sunday to roast the chicken, and then a super fast dinner ready for you on Monday. Here are the steps:
Sunday:
Preheat oven to 425.
Take 5-6 pound whole chicken, rinse and pat dry. Salt and pepper the cavity well.
Stuff chicken with fresh thyme and rosemary, onion slices, lemon halves, and garlic.
Brush melted butter all over chicken, sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
Pop it in the oven for one hour and 30 minutes.
(Note: if your family will eat an entire chicken, roast 2 at the same time so you'll have enough chicken leftover)
While the chicken is roasting, cook a double portion of rice, and set aside half of it.
Make your veggie. If you like roasted veggies, pop a pan in with the chicken for the last 30-45 minutes (I often do this with carrots tossed with olive oil, salt, and pepper).
Eat and enjoy!
Then, after dinner, get every last bit of chicken off the bones, and put in a large mixing bowl with the rice (watching your carbs? then leave out the rice). Pour in 1-2 cans of rinsed black beans (1 can if you're using leftovers from one chicken, 2 cans if you are using an entire 2nd chicken), and a generous handful of shredded cheddar cheese. Stir well, cover and put in fridge.
Monday
Using the chicken mix you've already prepared, whip up some super fast quesadillas. Around here I add salsa for the adults and a little extra cheese for the kiddos. Serve with sliced tomatoes, and voila, dinner is done. Even Rachael Ray couldn't do it faster!
Happy eating!
