Sarah King: Leftovers, anyone?

All this extra time indoors has me wanting to cook. And one of my favorite things to do to test my culinary skills is to try and not waste any of the food in my fridge.

Here are some quick tips to help you up all of your groceries.

Leftover Grains

If they are plain, I like to turn them into a grain salad. Add sliced almonds, soft herbs like dill or basil, diced cucumbers, halved cherry tomatoes and then toss the whole thing with a vinaigrette. It’s a quick lunch by itself or as a side to a grilled protein.

You also can add precooked grains to your leafy green salads. Toss them with a little of the salad dressing you plan on using, and don’t forget to salt them as well.

Leftover Pasta

Toss them in a vinaigrette, add veggies, herbs, cheese and nuts. Voila! A pasta salad is born.

Leftover Chicken

Chicken is one the most versatile proteins. Here are the five ways I like to use up my leftover chicken.

• Chicken Salad anyone? I like mine with celery, mayo, Dijon and parsley. But you can go French and make a red wine vinaigrette and toss it with the cold chicken and a handful of herbs.
• Chicken quesadillas or tacos
• Chicken nachos
• Chicken tortilla soup
• Chicken pot pie – I always use store bought dough. But if you feel ambitious, go homemade!

Leftover Rice

Fried Rice! Pro-tip: Prep all your ingredients beforehand and get your pan good and hot!

Start with your onions and garlic, add the quick cooking vegetables like peppers and celery, next the hardier vegetables like carrots, then soy sauce, and finally add the rice. You can honestly throw anything into fried rice, it’s a great way to use up leftovers.

Leftover Produce

Make Refrigerator Soup! Start with aromatics (onions, garlic, celery, carrots) and then build from there. Add spices to the aromatic mixture to wake them up. Then add broth and the rest of the vegetables you need to use up from your produce drawer! You can always add yogurt or coconut milk to make it creamy and delicious.

These are just a few tips to get you thinking in a creative direction. Make a game out of it! How empty can I make my refrigerator before I go to the grocery store for reinforcements!

Happy Cooking Everyone!

Sarah is the mom of one and the "mom" in MIX 101.5 WRAL-FM's morning show Two Men and a Mom.