5 Ways to Turn Easter Leftovers into Lunch

As a defiant response to Sad Desk Lunches, the Food52 team works to keep our midday meals both interesting and pretty. Each week, we'll be sharing our happiest desk lunches -- and we want to see yours, too.

Today: Easter comes with a lot of leftovers. Here's how to turn them into lunch.

If you had an Easter feast on Sunday, we're guessing you were left with your fair share of food. After any holiday celebration, the first day of eating leftovers is a joy. You tuck in gleefully, greedily, because it'll be 364 days before this exact meeting of foods happens again. 

However, after the initial thrill, leftovers quickly lose their luster -- and that's where these tips come in. From ham to hard-boiled eggs, here's how to get excited about repurposing leftovers, all week long. Just don't forget to pack a marshmallow peep or two for dessert (hey, no shame).

1. Be the toastess with the mostess. When it comes to ham sandwiches, it's time to re-invent the wheel. Add some sweet chutney, good, grainy mustard, or swiss cheese; then make use of that office toaster to crisp up the bread until it's nice and golden and the cheese is melty. 

More: Here's another way to take advantage of your office toaster.

 

2. Complement with condiments. A little homemade aioli or bagna cauda can also go a long way towards jazzing up leftovers. Whip up one of these addictive sauces, then bring it to the office in resealable containers. Pack some crudités and leftover meats, and get ready to dunk.

 

3. Asparagus is the new lettuce. Kids table didn't devour the asparagus like you'd hoped they would? Make these stalks the base for your next salad. If your asparagus is roasted, toss it with a tangy vinaigrette, some torn bread, and chopped hard-boiled eggs (we're sure you have some of those, too). If it's raw, shave it thin, then add sharp cheese and nuts. Bonus: unlike lettuce, asparagus won't wilt if you dress it the night before.

 

4. Lamb, redux.  A perfectly cooked leg of lamb is not something you want to let go to waste. Pull the meat off the bone, then use it to round out a spring stew. You could also shred it and bring it into the office along with cheese, greens, and tortillas for a deskside taco-building session. Don't forget to microwave the tortillas first for easy pliability. 

 

5. Put all your eggs in one (lunch) basket Once you've had your fill of deviled eggs, put your hard-boiled beauties to work in other ways. We've rounded up 9 ideas to inspire you, but you can't go wrong with a classic: Pack a hard-boiled egg, wrapped up in parchment with a hefty pinch of good sea salt, and you're all set up for snacking.

How do you breathe new life into Easter leftovers? Or are you eating all ham sandwiches, all the time? Tell us in the comments!