Tiffani Thiessen's New Cookbook Puts The Spotlight On Leftovers
Tiffani Thiessen's second cookbook is set to be released in September. The actress turned cookbook author is known for her roles in "Saved by the Bell" and "Beverly Hills, 90210," as well as her food related shows including "Deliciousness" and "Dinner at Tiffani's." Her first cookbook, "Pull Up a Chair: Recipes from My Family to Yours," came out in 2018 and explored how food brings people together. Thiessen's new book, "Here We Go Again," is all about how to "level up your leftovers."
For Thiessen, reducing food waste is not just a trend. Making the most out of a meal — and what was left over from that — was just how she was raised. Her humble beginnings instilled in her an appreciation for being creative with leftovers. The recipes are inspired by time spent with her mother, grandmother, and aunt in the kitchen. "I really wanted to give that love letter to my childhood," Thiessen tells People, adding that she wanted to remind folks her age of the comforting meals from a few decades prior. The styling of the book even leans into the retro vibe with dishes, fonts, and colors inspired by the 70's and 80's.
How does Tiffani Thiessen think you should approach leftovers?
Tiffani Thiessen is not simply suggesting that you reheat the same meal and just serve it with something different on the side. Rather, she's taking a whole new approach by considering the leftovers as new ingredients. As Thiessen explains to People, "It's really the pieces from your leftovers that you can actually make into something completely different." In the description of her cookbook, Thiessen writes that remnants of specific baking ingredients, bits of cheese, produce past its prime, forgotten freezer items, holiday cooking surplus, or even a meal that didn't quite hit the mark are all leftovers with big potential.
While you're waiting to get your hands on a copy of "Here We Go Again," take some inspiration from Thiessen and start to get a handle on your fridge situation with some simple habits to keep you from wasting leftovers. You can also get the invaluable tools of a professional chef: a roll of masking tape and a permanent marker. Chefs label and date everything so they know exactly what they have and can easily bring the oldest food to front of the rotation.
"Here We Go Again" is available now for preorder and will go on sale on September 26.