Some of the best dinners in our house start with, “What needs to be used up?”

The other night I found little bits of leftovers in the fridge—a little chicken, half a pork chop, caramelized cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and onions. In the freezer I had some homemade broth, plus I had saved the cooking juices from the chicken and pork.

The day got away from me, so there wasn’t time for anything fancy. I tossed everything into a pot with a cup of lentils and let it simmer while I took care of everything else in my life.

Toast was the only side I had time (and ingredients) to make.

The result? A hearty, flavorful soup that fed everyone and even left us with enough for another meal.

I’ve learned that there’s almost always a meal hiding in what’s already in the fridge. Sometimes all it takes is a little creativity and the willingness to see ingredients instead of leftovers.

That’s the kind of cooking I’ll be sharing here on A Resourceful Kitchen.

What’s the best meal you’ve ever made from what you already had?