What do you do with your Thanksgiving Day Leftovers?

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I have been watching many of these cooking programs about creative uses for Thanksgiving leftovers. Does anyone else have any ideas of ways to use leftovers from Thanksgiving he/she wants to share?

There was one dish that I am planning on trying. It requires the making of a meatloaf using ground turkey or chicken and use leftover stuffing to make a filling four the meatloaf. I will come back later when I have time and get the exact recipe. But, since Thanksgiving is around the corner (week from today) I thought it would be fun to share our ideas. Some ways I have used leftovers:

Mashed potatoes become potato pancakes
leftover bread (yeah right) becomes bread pudding
leftover turkey becomes open-faced hot turkey sandwiches

[Liza50]

My sister and I could hardly wait to have a cold, sliced turkey breast on white bread with butter and a little salt.YUM!!! And of course, turkey and gravy over bread to use up all the little pieces of meat.

[noctowl]

I love this leftover dish, but I do not have any real measurements. I have made it so often, iI just can do it by sight.

Grease a 9x12 cake pan. Layer about 3 or more cups of diced chicken or turkey. Sprinkle with italian seasoning and pepper. cover with shredded swiss cheese. Mix 2 cans of cream of mushroom, celery or chicken soup(or any combo of soup) with 1 1/2 cans of milk.Pour over cheese. Top with a layer of leftover stuffing. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes till hot and bubbly. Tastes great with a romaine salad and some garlic bread.

[barbszy]

I package up leftover turkey in 2-cup portions in a ziplock bag with about 1/2 cup of canned chicken broth, and freeze. I do the same with stuffing. The broth keeps the food from drying out in the freezing process and can either be discarded when you reheat the meat, or in the case of the stuffing, just leave it in, stir well and bake until hot.

I also use turkey meat in any recipe that calls for cooked chicken.

[mammajigglypuff]

:confused:
What are leftovers?(LOL)
We usually eat around noon and pick at the turkey the rest of the day.

[cat lover]

One of the things I do with stuffing, turkey,cranberries, and gravy leftovers is make a casserole of it. I mix the stuffing, turkey and gravy together. Put into a 9 x 13 greased pan about half of it, layer with cranberries, and then another layer of the stuffng, turkey and gravy mixture. You may add more gravy over the top, cover wih foil and bake at 325 degrees till heated through. You can vary this by topping it with leftover mashed potatoes mixed with sour cream and chives and then bake as directed above.

We have many ways to use leftovers which we usuallly have. Even though it is just DH and me I'm cooking a 23 pound turkey right now. I'll freeze all the dark meat for casseroles and such later and we will freeze the breast sections till Tuesday and put them in the refirgerator to thaw. I can't pass up 68 cent a pound meat!

[pondlady]

One of the things I do with stuffing, turkey,cranberries, and gravy leftovers is make a casserole of it. I mix the stuffing, turkey and gravy together. Put into a 9 x 13 greased pan about half of it, layer with cranberries, and then another layer of the stuffng, turkey and gravy mixture. You may add more gravy over the top, cover wih foil and bake at 325 degrees till heated through. You can vary this by topping it with leftover mashed potatoes mixed with sour cream and chives and then bake as directed above.

We have many ways to use leftovers which we usuallly have. Even though it is just DH and me I'm cooking a 23 pound turkey right now. I'll freeze all the dark meat for casseroles and such later and we will freeze the breast sections till Tuesday and put them in the refirgerator to thaw. I can't pass up 68 cent a pound meat!

I love this casserole, I made it the other day with leftover chicken. It would be wonderful with leftover turkey and the cranberry sauce.

[cat lover]

Glad you liked it pondlady! Here is another one I use leftover turkey in and it is good with chicken also.

Turkey Rice Bake

1 cup uncooked brown rice rice (this is cool with wild rice also)
1/4 cup margarine
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/4 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 can (4 ounces) sliced mushrooms, undrained
1 tsp dried parsley flakes
1 tbsp finely chopped onion
1/4 tsp poultry seasoning
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese
2 cups diced cooked turkey
pepper
paprika

Cook and drain rice. Melt butter in a large saucepan over mediumlow heat' add flour and stir tillsmooth. Gradually add chicken broth and white wine, stirring constantly till thickened. Stir in mushrooms, parsley, onion, poultry seasoning, and half of the cheese. Stir till cheese is melted. Stir in rice and turkey and season to taste with pepper. Pour into a shallow baking dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese and paprika. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.Serves 6.

[cat lover]

Turkey and Sweet-Potato Soup

2 tbsp margarine
1 onion, cut into thin slices
1 1/2 tsp dried sage
1 pound sweet potatoes, cut into cubes or slices, whichever you have
1 1/2 quarts chicken broth
1/4 pound green beans, cut into 1/4" pieces OR equal amount leftover green beans
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 cups turkey cut into bite size pieces

In a large pot, melt the margarine over moderately low heat. Add the onion and sage and cook stirring occasionally till the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the sweet potatoes and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer about 10 minutes. Transfer half the soup to a food processor or blender and puree. Return the pureed soup to the pot and add the green beans,and the pepper. Simmer till the beans are just tender, about 8 minutes if using fresh; if using leftover beans then just stir in the turkey and heat till heated through. Serves 4

[Meari]

Hmmm... I usually make Turkey Pot Pie, and of course turkey sandwiches. This year I was really frugal: I also boiled the carcass, picked it clean, and made turkey/chicken noodle dumpling soup. Nothing went to waste.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Meari, that sounds wonderful. I do that too with chicken when we have it. It is so comforting.

[Yummys_Girl]

I make creamed turkey over biscuits.

I also boiled the carcass and picked it clean. Then i froze the shredded turkey from that, and the broth. ANd later, after the turkey burnout is gone, I'll make turkey noodle soup

[cat lover]

Turkey Cheddar Melt
Recipe from Ladies' Home Journal Magazine


8 slices (1/2-inch-thick) sourdough or bakery style firm bread
8 large slices roast turkey meat (4 oz. per sandwich)
1-1/3 cups Whole Cranberry Sauce
8 large slices (1-1/2 oz. per sandwich) partskim sharp cheddar cheese
4 tbsp unsalted butter


Evenly top 4 slices of bread with turkey, cranberry sauce, and cheddar and season with salt and pepper. Top with remaining 4 bread slices. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large nonstick skillet over moderate heat and cook 2 sandwiches at a time, turning once till golden brown and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Repeat with remaining 2 tablespoons butter and 2 sandwiches. Cut in half and serve hot. Makes 4 servings.

[cat lover]

Turkey Soup

1 turkey frame with meat attached
3 quarts water
2 large onions chopped in big pieces
Salt & pepper to taste
1 16oz. can of chopped tomatoes with juice
2 tbsp chicken bouillon granules
2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
2 tbs. dried thyme
2 tsp oregano
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped broccoli
1/2 cup chopped cauliflower
1 cup chopped cabbage
1 cup uncooked rice

Place turkey frame in very large pot. Add water, one chopped onion and salt & pepper. Bring water to a boil then cover pot, reduce heat and simmer for about 1 and 1/2 hours. Remove turkey frame and allow to cool. Remove meat from bones. Strain broth and discard pieces of bone and other little things you just don't want to eat. Pour broth back into pot and add turkey meat, tomatoes with juice, chicken bouillon, parsley, thyme, oregano, the second onion and the veggies. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for about one hour. Add rice now and simmer for about 20 minutes or till rice is cooked.

[VicRae]

I make Turkey salad spread with white or dark meat.

You can also use any kind of meat for this recipe.

Ground cooked turkey, chicken, balogna, beef, pork or venison
Onion(s) ground
Hard boiled eggs- How ever many you need. Peeled-Chopped or ground
Sweet pickle relish
A couple of Celery stalks ground
Mayonaise or Salad dressing
Salt and pepper

This is made with the amounts you want to use.
Chop or grind all of the above and mix with salad dressing or mayo. Add salt and pepper to taste.

For Beef, pork, and venison you use green peppers instead of celery.

Hope this turns out well for any one who uses it.

[barbszy]

Here's a way to use the turkey in a COMPLETELY different type of dish. It doesn't scream "Thanksgiving" so when everyone's family has had enough of that, make this:

My kids call it "Grandpa's dark meat chicken" but the real name is "Saucy Baked Chicken with Mushrooms"

2 cups cubed cooked chicken or turkey
8 oz fresh mushrooms, halved
1 large onion cut in thin wedges
1 can diced tomatoes (14 oz)
1 can tomato paste (6 oz)
OPTIONAL: chunks of bell peppers

Cook mushrooms & onions (and peppers, if using) in skillet in a little olive oil.
Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, water & spices.
Spoon vegetable sauce over chicken.
Bake uncovered 40 min. at 375.
Serve over pasta, with crusty bread.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Vic, I may try your spread sometime as it sounds delicious.

[cat lover]

Here's a way to use the turkey in a COMPLETELY different type of dish. It doesn't scream "Thanksgiving" so when everyone's family has had enough of that, make this:

My kids call it "Grandpa's dark meat chicken" but the real name is "Saucy Baked Chicken with Mushrooms"

2 cups cubed cooked chicken or turkey
8 oz fresh mushrooms, halved
1 large onion cut in thin wedges
1 can diced tomatoes (14 oz)
1 can tomato paste (6 oz)
OPTIONAL: chunks of bell peppers

Cook mushrooms & onions (and peppers, if using) in skillet in a little olive oil.
Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, water & spices.
Spoon vegetable sauce over chicken.
Bake uncovered 40 min. at 375.
Serve over pasta, with crusty bread.

Barbszy, this sounds really good; going to print it out for later. Thanks for sharing!

[cat lover]

Turkey and Dressing Soup



2 pounds turkey meat
10 cups water
2 carrots, chopped
3 cups celery, chopped
2 onions, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp ground sage
1 tswp poultry seasoning
1 (8.25 oz) pkg. cornbread mix, prepared accordimng to package directions
2 hard boiled eggs

In a Dutch oven combine turkey meat and water. Add carrots, 2 cups celery, 1 cup chopped onion, bay leaves, pepper and salt. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer covered for 1 1/2 hours. Add 1 cup chopped celery, 1 cup chopped onion, sage, and poultry seasoning. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes. Serve with cornbread and egg slices. Makes 6 to 8 servings