A Planned Makeover For The Leftovers

Don't Have Time To Plan Special Dinners Everyday? Here's a way.You can plan a dinner which can be re-used in the next days dinner.Here are two slow cooker recipes which stretch into return-reward dishes.One hearty batch makes two tasty hot meals.
Day 1:
Creamy Basil Chicken(serves 4): Onions, garlic and bacon give Creamy Basil Chicken homely goodness.
Ingredients
2 cups sliced mushrooms; 2 medium red and/ or yellow sweet peppers(cut into strips; 1 large onion(sliced); 115g cooked bacon(chopped); 8 cloves garlic minced; 3 tbsp crushed quick cooking tapioca(can substitute with cornstarch); 8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves(reserve 4 for next days meal); 1 cup chicken broth; 1/4 cup dry white wine or vermouth; 450g asparagus spears; 1/3 cup whipped cream; 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp snipped fresh basil;2 cups hot cooked orzo pasta or rice; 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese;
Method:
In 5 or 6 litre slow cooker stir together mushrooms, sweet peppers, onion, bacon and garlic.Sprinkle with tapioca or cornstarch.Place chicken on top of mixture in cooker.Pour broth and wine over all.Cover, cook on high-heat setting 3 1/2 hours or low-heat setting 6 to 7 hours.Meanwhile, snap off and discard woody bases from asparagus.Cut into 2 to 3 inch lengths.If using low-heat setting turn to high-heat setting.Stir in asparagus, cream, and the 1/2 cup fresh basil.Cover, cook further for 30 minutes more.
Reserve 4 chicken breast halves to prepare Chicken and Wild Rice Chowder(To store chicken breast halves,wrap tightly and refrigerate upto three days).
Serve remaining chicken, vegetables, and sauce with orzo or rice.Sprinkle with the 2 tbsp fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.

Day 2:
Chicken And Wild Rice Chowder(Serves 4):
Mushrooms and leftover chicken combine in an earthy and healthy Chicken And Wild Rice Chowder.
Ingredients:
1 cup sliced carrots(2 medium); 1 cup sliced celery(2 stalks); 1 cup quartered mushrooms; 3 tbsp butter; 3 tbsp all-purpose flour; 1 litre chicken broth; Chicken from the previous days Creamy Basil Chicken(chopped); 3/4 cup cooked wild rice(available at most organic food stores or supermarkets); 1/4 tsp ground black pepper; 1 1/2 cups half-and-half(a mixture of whole milk and single cream in equal parts);
Method:
Place carrots, celery and mushrooms in a saucepan and cook in hot butter.Simmer over medium heat until tender.Stir in flour.Add broth, chicken, wild rice, and pepper.Cook and stir until mixture is bubbly and slightly thickened.Stir in the rich half-and-half mixture;heat through.Serve hot.

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Day 1:
Spicy Lamb Sloppy Joes(serves 6):Vegetarians can also enjoy Sloppy Joes.All you have to do is substitute the ground meat with pinto beans or roughly crushed tofu.
Ingredients:
1 kg lean ground lamb(substitute with any other ground meat, if desired); 2 large jars salsa; 3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms; 1 1/2 cups shredded carrots(3 medium); 1/3 cup tomato paste; 2 tsp dried crushed basil; 1 1/2 cups finely chopped red and /or green sweet pepper; 1 tsp dried oregano(crushed); 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper; 4 cloves garlic(minced); 6 whole wheat hamburger buns(split and toasted;
Method:
In a skillet cook lamb over medium heat until brown, stirring to break meat in pieces.Drain fat.In a 5-6 litre slow cooker stir together lamb and remaining ingredients(except buns).Cover, cook on high heat setting for 4-5 hours or on low heat setting for 8-10 hours.Reserve 5 cups of the meat mixture for Spicy Lamb Taco Salad; cover tightly, refrigerate.Serve remaining meat mixture on toasted hamburger buns.

Day 2:
Spicy Lamb Taco Salad(serves 6):
Ingredients:
5 cups reserved meat mixture(from Spicy Lamb Sloppy Joes); 1 425g can black beans(rinsed and drained); 1 60g jar sliced pitted ripe olives(drained); 1 tsp taco seasoning; 1 head iceberg lettuce(cut into 6 thick slices); 1 cup shredded chedar cheese(115g); 1 cup chopped tomatoes(2 medium); 1/3 cup dairy sour cream; assorted Tortilla chips;
Method:
Prepare taco seasoning by mixing together 1 tsp chilli powder with 1/4 tsp each of onion and garlic powder along with dried oregano, paprika, chilli flakes, crushed cumin, salt and pepper to taste.In a saucepan stir together meat mixture from Spicy Lamb Sloppy Joes(you can substitute with the vegetarian mixture), beans, olives, and a generous sprinkling of spicy taco seasoning.Bring to a boil, and reduce heat.Cover the saucepan and let the aromatic concoction simmer for around 10 minutes.To serve, arrange slices of crisp, fresh lettuce on serving plates.Layer the steaming meat mixture over the lettuce, and top it all off with the shredded chedar cheese, tomatoes, and sour cream.Add the assortment of tortilla chips on the side.

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