It happens every year, and this year is no different. After the second or third day of warming up Thanksgiving dinner in the microwave, you wonder what else you can whip up with the contents inside the Tupperware that topples over every time you open up the refrigerator. Here are a few ideas for reinventing your Turkey Day leftovers and turning them into something just as delicious as they were on Thanksgiving Day.
Turkey Panini
I love this idea for Turkey Day leftovers because you can basically add anything that you want and melt it in between two slices of cheese and crusty bread and voila…you have a tasty new dish. For a flavorful recreation, place carved turkey, a dollop of cornbread stuffing, collard greens and two slices of Munster cheese in between sliced wheat bread on a panini press and let it get nice and toasty.
Turkey Pot Pies
If you are like me, then you probably have an extra pie crust or two from making Thanksgiving desserts. Take those unbaked pie crusts (thaw if frozen) and make a traditional pot pie using leftover diced turkey. Make the rue and chop any vegetables that you have remaining like carrots, squash, green beans, peas and even roasted potatoes. Combine all the ingredients together and bake at 425° for 40 to 50 minutes.
Ultimate Thanksgiving Sandwich
This one is a no-brainer. Whether you have turkey or ham, grab your favorite bread, slather it with mayo or mustard, add cranberry sauce, dressing, and fresh spinach and you are in for a treat! Take this classic leftover recipe up a notch. Instead of turkey, cook up a few chicken sausages and top them with collard greens, mac n cheese, and a drizzle of BBQ sauce for a delicious take on the “Smack & Cheese” from Delia’s Sausage Stand in Atlanta, Georgia.
Harvest Salad
Use leftover turkey, sweet potatoes, and cranberries to make a fresh salad with baby spinach, Mandarin oranges, sliced almonds, and tomatoes. Toss with a simple apple cider vinaigrette and you will have all the flavor with less of the guilt of the traditional heavy Thanksgiving meal.
Cranberry Muffins
If you have leftover fresh cranberries, then you will want to make these delightful pasties that are perfect to accompany your morning cup of coffee or to nosh on after dinner for a sweet treat. For this recipe, use a traditional blueberry muffin recipe, but substitute the blueberries with your leftover cranberries. Grab your muffin tins and fill them halfway with the mixture before placing them in a preheated 375°F oven for 20 minutes.