Writing this weekly column is often like some dishes that require significant preparation, multiple stages and sometimes long periods of cooking. In the case of writing, it is research, reading, testing, experimenting and then thinking, which frankly takes up the most time. But anyone who writes will tell you that most of the time is spent thinking. Like some dishes, there are times when you want a column that is light and quick. This is one such column, well, at least the subject is.
There are two things I cook that I always make more of what I actually need for a couple of meals because they work so well as leftovers and can be converted and transformed into other dishes – plain rice and steamed broccoli. In this case, it was broccoli.
A couple of weeks ago I made homemade bacon burgers – these were burger patties made of ground beef and ground bacon! I had a couple left back that I froze. For last Monday’s holiday, I wanted something different for lunch rather than the Sunday meal I had made the day before; something light and quick but tasty. The idea of a hash or some sort of fry-up with a mixture of different foods was most appealing. I thought of one of my go-to things with steamed broccoli – fried broccoli and eggs but that seemed too much like breakfast; I was jonesing for something with meat. The roast pork in the refrigerator was not cutting it, and then I remembered the bacon burger. The patty was already cooked so defrosting it was easy and frying it up with the broccoli was going to take no time.
The 8-ounce bacon burger patty was already full of flavour and well-seasoned, the only thing that was needed for this dish was lots of freshly ground black pepper. The broccoli florets were quickly chopped as well as the burger patty. Pan on the stove, a drizzle of oil until almost smoking hot and into the pan went the chopped broccoli and burger meat. As I said, a generous shower of freshly ground black pepper warmed the dish even more and perfumed the air when it hit the heat with the meat and vegetable. A few tosses to mix well, thoroughly heat through and in the process get some toasty, crispy bits, and the dish was done. Eaten on its own or on top of whole wheat toast, this was a very satisfying meal. This is my idea of fast food; food that is cooked quickly, simply, and tasty.
What are some of your fast, go-to dishes that you make with leftovers?
Cynthia
