Thanksgiving Leftovers To Look Forward To

For some people, the best part of Thanksgiving comes on November 27, when they can pull out all those glorious leftovers!  In fact, I don’t think I’ve met anyone who can resist a great turkey sandwich with all the trimmings. But after a day or two, even those leftover-loaded sandwiches get old. 

As a Spirited Woman and self-proclaimed Thanksgiving lover, I am always looking for new ways to get the most out of the holiday and that includes stretching my leftovers to the limit. So what can you do with turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes besides squishing them between two slices of bread?  Looking to different regions of the world (and this country) is a good place to get inspiration. In this post (the last in a series focused on Thanksgiving), I’ve pulled together some of the best ideas I found for turning leftovers into a special meal.

Go Latin - A fantastic way to use up your turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy is to roll them all up in a tasty Empanada. These easy to make “turnovers” can be found all over the world -- especially in Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, and some Arabic countries – because they provide folks with a meal you can carry on-the-go. Today, they are still practical but when filled with interesting items like your leftover turkey, they become something special. Serve these Turkey Empanadas with a simple green salad and some leftover cranberry sauce on the side for a great meal!

Go Irish-Cajun - Shepherd’s Pie is a great way to use up leftovers in general, but leave it to New Orleans chef extraordinaire Emeril Lagasse to come up with a version that packs a ton of flavor without sacrificing tradition!  Emeril’s Thanksgiving Leftovers Shepherd’s Pie uses the traditional peas and potatoes but zips things up with lots of spice, tomato and cheese. It can be made in a little under an hour and will feed a whole family – plus, you can improvise and throw in whatever other veggies you have lying around. 

Go Indian - I love curry, but hardly ever make it myself. This recipe – for Curried Turkey Salad – is a not only a tasty way to use up turkey, it’s also an easy way to get that great curry flavor anytime!  You can make it a “light” meal by mounding it on top of a salad or putting it in a pita. Or, you can serve it with rice and naan bread and some veggies for a bigger meal. Either way, it’s great.

Go Southern - Barbecue and turkey are not necessarily synonymous, but this recipe for Barbecue Pulled-Turkey Sandwiches can change that. Sweet and a little smoky, these hearty sandwiches go great with a simple side of coleslaw and some pickles.  

And, if you’re sick of wine, how about pairing these dishes with a nice, cold beer?  There are lots of seasonal brews that really bring out the flavor of turkey . . . try one of these: Samuel Adams Winter Lager or OctoberFest; Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale or New Belgium Brewing’s Hoptoberfest or 2° Below. 

Whether you choose one of these ideas or branch out on your own, hope you enjoy experimenting a bit and can put a new twist on some old favorites. Happy Holidays!

- Sharen Santoski, www.SignalRockCommunications.com
Click here for more of Sharen's posts. 

Sharen Santonski, foodie extraordinaire, and a former member of the Spirited Woman Blogger Team will be guest blogging for Spirited Woman on her favorite subject "food." Growing up in an Italian/Polish/American home, Sharen cultivated her love of food at a very early age. She is an amateur aficionado of cooking, dining, entertaining and exploring. Bon Appetit!