Elizabeth Stewart
Contributing Writer
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means endless amounts of turkey, potatoes, stuffing and desserts. Let’s not forget the few extra pounds we are all going to put on.
While Thanksgiving is a great holiday to spend with family and eating a fantastic, homemade meal, it could mean a week of eating leftovers if you are part of a family who hosts the dinner.
No matter how delicious the food is, eating it day after day can make it taste bland quickly. Here are some fun quick ideas to make your Thanksgiving leftovers more enjoyable:
1.) Thanksgiving Pockets
The only extra ingredient you will need to get is a can of buttermilk biscuits to make the pockets. Roll out a biscuit so that it is about seven inches in diameter. Then put the leftover ingredients you want to add on ½ of the biscuit. Fold the other half of the biscuit on top, seal the edges and cut an “X” shape on top to let some of the heat escape. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are a stickler for specifics, then check out www.patiodaddiobbq.com for the complete instructions
2.) Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes
Mix together mashed potatoes, shredded cheese, one egg and scallions. Split up the mixture into 12 parts. Roll each part into a ball, and then flatten it into ½ inch pancake. Then cover the pancake in flour and fry it in a pan with vegetable oil. Visit www.justataste.com for specific ingredient measurements.
3.) Thanksgiving Turkey Tater Sliders
Turkey sandwiches can be boring at times, but this recipe allows you to make a slider that will do more than satisfy your taste buds. In a bowl, combine mashed potatoes, turkey, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper. Create balls from the mixture and cook them in a heated pan with extra-virgin olive oil until all sides have a nice brown crisp to them. Once they are cooked, place them on a toasted bun and drizzle it with cranberry sauce.
4.) Turkey and Cranberry Quesadillas
Quesadillas are a great food item to begin with and creating a Thanksgiving-themed quesadilla makes it sound much better. Take a tortilla and place it in a heated pan. Add cheese, turkey, cranberry sauce, green onion, cilantro and another layer of cheese on top of the tortilla. Fold the rest of tortilla, and cook until each side is a golden brown and the cheese is melted. Visit http://www.closetcooking.com for more ingredient ideas.
5.) Turkey Samosas
You will have to get a piecrust for this recipe, so plan ahead and buy one while shopping for your original Thanksgiving meal. Cut the piecrust into eight triangles. Mix together shredded turkey and mango chutney and put the mixture on top of the triangles. Then place some mashed potatoes on top of the turkey mixture. Brush the edges of the triangles with water, and pinch the corners and edges to seal the crust. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Visit http://www.realsimple.com to see the recommended piecrust in this recipe.
One of the best things about these recipes is that not only are they simple and fun to make, but the ingredients used can be substituted for a number of other foods, even after the Thanksgiving leftovers are long gone. For other yummy leftover recipes visit Pinterest. There are tons of other ideas such as soups, potpies and casseroles that can easily be adapted to use up your leftovers.
