What to Do with Holiday Leftovers
Company has come and gone, and the refrigerator is jam-packed with leftovers. Chances are the desserts aren't hanging around – it's the big bird with all the fixings you're worrying about. What are you going to do with all that food?
First of all, you should save only the food that has been handled properly. If it was left sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours, it's not safe to eat it! Stuffing should be completely removed and stored separately, and all foods should be carefully wrapped in plastic or foil, or stored in sealable plastic containers. Any food that won't be eaten within four days should be divided into manageable portions and frozen. Another point to remember: When you reheat leftovers, make sure they reach 165 degrees to kill any bacteria – use a thermometer to be certain.
Now for some ideas....
The BirdThere's an endless variety of things to do with leftover turkey, sandwiches being the most obvious. The meat can be used in soups, salads, wraps, quesadillas, casseroles, and pasta dishes. You can substitute it for chicken in any recipe that calls for cubed or shredded chicken. You can also make soup stock using the turkey carcass. These recipes will use up that bird in a hurry:
- Stuffed Finger Sandwiches (a great appetizer)
- Curried Turkey Salad Sandwiches
- Turkey Rollups
- Turkey Enchiladas
- Monte Cristo Sandwiches
- Turkey Apple Salad
- Grandma's Turkey Pot Pie
- Company's Coming Tetrazzini
- Turkey Gumbo Soup
- Golden Turkey Noodle Soup
Don't forget the old standby, Shepherd's Pie, which can use up turkey, vegetables, and mashed potatoes in one fell swoop. Combine leftover vegetables with leftover cubed turkey and gravy, and pour into a casserole dish. Spread mashed potatoes over the top of the mixture and bake for 20-25 minutes in a 350-degree oven, until potatoes are lightly browned.
The Vegetables
If you have leftover crudites, such as julienned carrots, zucchini, onions, and green peppers, try our Vegetable Fritters recipe. Cooked vegetables can be substituted for the canned or frozen ones called for in these recipes:
The Potatoes
Mashed potatoes can be shaped into patties and cooked in a bit of butter or olive oil – add some leftover gravy or some herbs for a wonderful flavor. You can also make patties from a combination of yams and mashed potatoes and get a sweeter result. Any recipe that calls for potato flakes is a natural for leftover mashed potatoes. Just substitute 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes for 1/3 cup of flakes. Here are some excellent recipes:
- French Potato Casserole
- Grande Meatloaf with Potato Stuffing
- Spiced Sweet Potato Soufflé
- Cream of Broccoli Soup (yes, it calls for mashed potatoes!)
The Rest of the Fixin's
Leftover stuffing can be revived deliciously by adding leftover gravy and baking it at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Cranberry sauce can be mixed with leftover yams and heated thoroughly, for a sweet but healthy side dish.
Biscuits can make a second appearance – this time at the breakfast table. Heat up some shredded leftover turkey and gravy and serve it over the biscuits for a hearty breakfast.
Leftover cheese and crackers have multiple uses. Shred or grate the cheese as a topping for soup, chili, or nachos; crackers can be a topping for any type of casserole or baked main dish, and can be crushed to use as a breading.
And if, by some miracle, you still have a bit of dessert left, don't let it go to waste. Chop leftover pie or cobbler into pieces and use as a topping for vanilla ice cream – crown the whole thing with leftover whipped cream, and you've got a sumptuous treat.
