leftover magnet OR fried rice

One of the complaints I hear most is, "We just don't ever eat leftovers."  I say, why eat leftovers when you can have fried rice?!  Or scrambles?  Or chicken pot pie?  These are the re-tooled dishes I like to call leftover magnets.  Toss in a few fresh ingredients, mix with your last night's dinner and volia!  It's a quick dinner that disguises those leftovers into a delicious meal.  Fried rice is one of our go-to meals.  I learned to make a version of this from my roommate in college.  She would use a bag of frozen stir fry veggies, ham from the deli and white rice- it always turned out yummy.  At our house I usually have leftover asparagus or onion or shrimp that can get tossed in.

 My five-year-old daughter loves making this when it's her night to cook.  (Yes, my five-year-old likes to cook dinner!)  With a little adult supervision, stirring the veggies, cracking the eggs and shaking in the soy sauce is a great meal that my daughter can make herself.  Of course, she has to wear her protective eye wear so her eyes don't water while the onions cook! 

Because this is more of a method than a recipe, you can customize this to whatever veggies and protein that your family likes.  I like to make a big batch of rice when I cook it and save half for fried rice later in the week.  So clean out your fridge and enjoy some fried rice tonight!

FRIED RICE
this serves our family of 4, but could easily be doubled for a crowd

4 cups cold cooked rice
4 green onions, chopped (or whatever onions you have in the pantry)
1 clove garlic (or if your family loves garlic, like us, add 4 cloves)
1 cup cubed ham (or sausage or chicken or shrimp, etc.)
1-2 cups cubed veggies (celery, bean sprouts, peas, carrots, pineapple- anything!)
4 beaten eggs
3-4 Tbs. soy sauce
1 Tb-ish of red pepper flakes (optional)

In a wide skillet over medium-high heat, cook the onions and garlic in two tablespoons of oil for about 1 minute.  Add the ham, veggies and rice and stir fry until slightly browned and heated through.  Add the beaten eggs to the rice mixture and stir well- scrambling the eggs in to the rice.  Add soy sauce and stir.  Add red pepper flakes to desired heat.  Serve immediately.