Dinner from the Doggie Bag

They used to be called "Doggie Bags," those little brown sacks that restaurants provided so you could take leftovers home for the dog. But food portions have become enormous and the little brown sacks are now the size of grocery bags.

What do you do with all that leftover restaurant food? Eat it the next morning for breakfast? Let it slowly age in the dark recesses of the refrigerator? Or do you actually feed it to your dog?

Because Lent is the season of penitence I'll confess that leftover pizza is one of my favorite breakfast foods. Thai noodles are perfectly delicious when warmed over for lunch, and there is nothing better than tiramisu that has been chilled an extra day or two. But admit it, you're not going to want the remainder of that 1/2 pound hamburger you ordered with extra mustard and sauerkraut. Day old French fries? No thanks!

On the other hand, I really, really cannot throw away food. So when confronted with a heap of stale sweet potato fries, I surprised myself by stirring up with something not only edible but really tasty.  Instructions follow the jump.

How about you? What restaurant leftovers haunt your fridge? Do you have any secret transformational magic of your own? We all want to know!



RECIPE: SWEET POTATO FRIES for LUNCH


No amounts are given, since this is offered as inspiration for whatever is in your fridge.

Sweet Potato Fries (restaurant leftovers)
Onion, sliced; about the same amount as fries
Sausage or other leftover meat, chopped
Orange Marmalade; a heaping Tablespoon for each serving
Hot Pepper Sauce, optional
Olive oil for the skillet

Warm skillet; add olive oil and heat until oil shimmers. Toss sliced onion in oil to coat, then cook on medium or medium low heat, stirring occasionally, until edges begin to brown.

Toss in Sweet Potato Fries and meat and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until everything is heated through.

Stir in Marmalade and optional Hot Pepper Sauce. Continue cooking until onions and potatoes become slightly charred on edges. Taste for salt; serve hot. Soft Pretzels, warmed in the toaster oven, are a nice accompaniment.