If you love food and family as much as I do, then Thanksgiving is your day. Regardless of whether you are celebrating “Friendsgiving” this year, settling around the table with family, or enjoying a tradition that is all your own, it’s a day to reflect and enjoy. Yet, when it’s all over, what to do with all of those leftovers? Below are some easy (and tasty!) ideas for how to remix the classics:
1) Mashed potatoes: If you’re a fan of anything fried, this is for you. Using an ice-cream scoop, plop a scoop of leftover mashed potatoes (white or sweet) into a lightly greased or nonstick frying pan. Flatten with a spatula, a bit thicker than a pancake. Over medium-high heat, let cook until golden brown on the bottom, then flip over until golden on the second side. Serve with sour cream, chives, bacon, or any of your favorite potato fixings for a crispy take on taters!
2). Cranberry sauce: If you’ve got some of your favorite cranberry sauce on hand, and a little bit of leftover vanilla ice cream (because what’s Thanksgiving pie without ice cream, amiright?) do a dollop of sauce over a scoop or two and you’ve got a sweet-tart dessert that’s perfection in a bowl. You can also stir a little into oatmeal for breakfast, or mix with store-bought cream cheese to make a delicious spread.
3) Turkey: Put a twist on the traditional sandwich! Layer turkey, cranberry sauce, brie cheese, spinach, and apple slices between two pieces of toast, or try a turkey and avocado BLT. You can also sub in turkey for anything you’d make with chicken or other meats – turkey pot pie, turkey Bolognese sauce, turkey lasagna, turkey noodle soup, turkey chili… you get the idea.
4) Veggies: Have plates of leftover vegetables? Use the eggs that are already in your fridge to make a tasty meal. Toss the veggies into a frittata, or fold them into an omelet. If you’re not feeling that, try combining veggies with rice and soy sauce to make a simple fried rice.
5) Stuffing: Arguably one of the best parts of Thanksgiving, stuffing works great in stuffed mushrooms (you’ve already got the “stuffed” part made, so these are super quick with the addition of a little oil, cheese, and egg to keep everything together). Or scoop stuffing into a muffin tin, flatten around the bottom and sides, and crack an egg over top of the stuffing – bake at 350 degrees until the egg has set for an easy breakfast the next morning!
6) Gravy: If you’ve never heard of poutine, welcome to a whole new world. Make store-bought frozen French fries, top with cheese curds, and drizzle with gravy. Super fast and beyond tasty.
