SubscribeLeftover salad
There was only enough steak for three people and six people were at my house, expecting dinner. My son’s friends had dropped in unexpectedly and I knew from him that everyone was starved.
Earlier that day, I had pulled out three 4-ounce sirloin steaks from the freezer to defrost by the time I got in from work, but I didn’t have anything else readily available to make for our guests on such short notice. I didn’t have any onions, broccoli or peppers, which would have been great to make a wok version of stir-fried steak over rice. I had two choices. I could either order pizza, which wasn’t in the budget.
I needed to somehow make a miracle and work with what I had.
So, I looked in the refrigerator to find what else was in there. I had plenty of baby spinach, a few leftover potatoes, a spring mix salad, grape tomatoes, a few scallions, two ears of corn on the cob and plenty of salad dressings. I also found some fresh pizza dough, which was also left over from the day before.
Bingo ! We’d have a huge dinner in one salad.
I cubed and sauteed the potatoes in olive oil, put the steaks under the broiler and tossed everything into one huge salad. 
I rolled out the pizza dough, glazed it with olive oil, garlic powder and basil, and sliced it into bread sticks. Then, I glazed the sticks with spaghetti sauce, liberally sprinkled fresh grated Parmesan cheese and baked them to couple with the salad.
The entire spur-of- the moment dinner took less than 20 minutes. Best yet, everyone was delighted.
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As the mother of five and a journalist, I've always encouraged people to empower themselves with information on healthy foods and lifestyles. Nurturing our children with healthy food is one of the most important jobs we have, yet as families have become busier or drifted apart, meal times have been sacrificed.
“Leftover Salad”? Photo looks good. The idea, and its spontaneity, impressive. Creative!
Gotta simulate this…
GBJ