Five Things to Do with Thanksgiving Leftovers

I often cook extra food on Thanksgiving so that I have leftovers for the long weekend. Once it is crammed into the fridge, though, I am often paralyzed. “Now what do I do with all of this stuff?”

Here are a few ideas. The sooner you plan for your leftovers, the more enjoyable your long weekend will be.

1. If you are feeling ambitious, make a turkey pot pie. It's a great use for leftover turkey. Here’s a recipe from the What the Bible Says about Healthy Living Cookbook. A little advanced preparation--dicing the vegetables and mixing the dry ingredients for the biscuit topping, for example--makes it go quicker.
    
2. Experiment with leftover cranberry sauce for breakfast. Add a little honey or maple syrup to the sauce, and use it to top pancakes or French toast, or stir it into plain yogurt with cut up orange slices or diced apples and walnuts. 
    
3. Make broth. You can use it for the pot pie recipe above (which calls for 4 cups), or freeze it for the upcoming flu season. See the the Nourishing Traditions website for a great article with recipes at the bottom.
    
4. Try turkey salad. My birds often turn out dryer than I like; turkey salad transforms dry turkey into a moist feast. This can be as simple as a dollop or two of mayonnaise or plain yogurt (or a combination) stirred into chopped leftover turkey meat. Add finely diced vegetables of your choice (I like celery and little red onion). If you’re feeling really adventurous, add bonus condiments (like horseradish, mustard or cider vinegar) or crunchy things (like walnuts or sunflower seeds). Don’t forget a dash of sea salt and freshly ground pepper! Use extra sauce, moistened stuffing or mashed potatoes as a sandwich spread!
    
5. Don’t forget the KISS theory (Keep it Simple, Sister). You can always just reheat your holiday meal. The key is to cover it tightly and keep it moist with gravy or a sprinkle of water. It will still be delicious, and you deserve a break from the cooking!