While I prefer cold, leftover turkey dipped in yellow mustard right out of the fridge at midnight to freshly carved turkey at Thanksgiving dinner,I realize I’m in the minority. The average person loathes the mounds and mounds of left over turkey waiting in the fridge, and the mad rush to finish it all before it goes bad.
Turkey soup….turkey sandwiches…more soup…more sandwiches.
The same ol’ same ol’ can cause moans and groans from the family come meal time, but this year, surprise your kids with these tasty dishes for your turkey leftovers that will only leave them groaning when it’s all gone.
Gravy Bites
Ah, this one takes me back. We used to eat it with soft, white Wonder bread that you had to scrape off the roof of your mouth with your tongue, but is just as tasty with whole wheat bread, or even left over rolls from the big meal.
Take your bread, top it with leftover, shredded turkey and microwave it so it’s heated through and the bread turns soft. You can toast the bread if you want, but it really changes the whole dish- you want the bread soft so it is more absorbent. Heat up some turkey gravy on the stove, and smother with bread and turkey. Top with a little black pepper and serve with a knife and fork. If you are feeling really indulgent, bake some french fries and smother those in gravy, as well. Its the perfect dinner when you are short on time, and want minimal clean-up that the kids will especially love.
Not Your Mama’s Turkey Salad
This isn’t the typical turkey-and-mayo-on-bread turkey salad. You can tweak it to your family’s taste, but this turkey salad will have everyone thinking you bought it from a gourmet deli.
Shred your left over turkey, about 4 cups. Combine in a bowl 3 tablespoons cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pinch black pepper, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon curry powder. Add turkey to the bowl along with 3 ribs celery, diced, 1/4 cup diced red onion, plus 1 cup halved grapes, and 1/4 cup crushed walnuts.
Instead of serving it in a boring sandwich, try quartering a tomato, leaving slices attached at one end, and fill the center with the turkey salad. You can also serve it on top of lettuce, or as a dip with an assortment of crackers.
Turkey Cranberry Wrap
This one utilizes your cranberry sauce leftovers, too, if you made yours from scratch. (You made it from scratch, right?)
Take a whole wheat wrap, spread spread a thin layer of cream cheese all over one side. Lay your cold, left over turkey on one half of the wrap and top with cranberry sauce, thinly sliced onion, and sprinkle with black pepper. You can roll it up just like this, or stuff it full with veggies, like fresh spinach and tomato. Roll it up, wrap it in foil and you have an easy, portable lunch for the kids.
Triple Decker Turkey Club Sandwich
Bring the restaurant favorite home with this easy, satisfying sammie recipe.
For one sandwich, toast 3 slices of thick, whole wheat bread. Fry 4 slices of bacon in a pan, and set on paper towel to crisp. Top one piece of toast with a thin layer of mayo, top with turkey, a slice of tomato and lettuce. Place another piece of toast on top, slather with another thin layer of mayo, more turkey, another slice of tomato, and then top with bacon. The sandwich will be fat so slice in half and secure each side with a toothpick. Complete the meal with a side of sweet potato fries, and you’ll swear your ordered in from your favorite pub.
