The family has gone home, and the dishes are washed, now the question is, “what do I do with all of these leftovers?”
As you stand there staring into an overstuffed refrigerator several ideas may cross your mind.
Typically turkey sandwiches are a staple the day after. Some people even like to spice it up with a bit of cranberry sauce, stuffing and a splash of gravy.
For those who love comfort food, a turkey pot pie would make a great meal. Grab a ready-made pie crust, throw in that cold turkey and even toss in the side dishes as filler. To bake, preheat your oven to about 375 and cook for 30 minutes.
Not only does it provide a hot and tasty meal, the oven will help keep the house warm.
There is also the option of sending leftovers home with the guests, which can help cut down on the space used in your refrigerator.
By planning ahead you can have your guests bring a container with them, then load them up before they head home. Or you can provide them with inexpensive plastic containers. Large zip lock bags also work well.
Mashed potatoes are great with gravy, but leftover mashed spuds also make great potato pancakes. Simply take a beaten egg, add some extras of your choice such as cheese, onions or even some jalapeno for a bit of kick, and then dust with some flour or add corn starch. Fry them in a bit of vegetable oil on a skillet and you have a great snack or side dish.
If you still have leftover turkey, it can be frozen for later use in dishes that call for chicken.
Not only can cranberry sauce be used as a spread on sandwiches, but is great when used in muffins, or other pastry recipes.
These are just a few ideas for the pile of food that will inevitably remain, so don’t let it go to waste.