A Couple More Easy Recipes for Using Up Thanksgiving Leftovers

Turkey layer cake

Do you have leftovers from Thursday’s turkey fest? If you do, you’re not alone. Each year home cooks across America end up with what amounts to literally tons of uneaten food the day after Thanksgiving. While turkey sandwiches can grow boring when served day after day, you can convert those leftovers to some interesting follow-up lunches and dinners. If you really want to pull out all the stops, turn your leftovers into a turkey layer cake, recipe here. Less ambitious, but no less satisfying, meal options follow.

Stuffing “Muffins”

Ingredients

  • Vegetable oil spray
  • 4 cups leftover stuffing
  • 8 eggs
  • 1 cup ham, diced (optional)
  • 1 cup Gruyère cheese, grated

Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Spray a standard 8-cup muffin tin with vegetable spray.
  3. Divide the leftover stuffing among each of the 8 cups, packing it in down with the back of a spoon.
  4. Make a divot in the center of each cup, and crack an egg into each. Top with about an ounce of ham, if desired, followed by an ounce of cheese.
  5. Bake on middle rack of preheated oven for 10-to-15 minutes, or until the cheese is browned and bubbly, and stuffing is warmed through. Serve immediately.

Yield: 4 servings, 2 muffins per serving

 

Turkey and Mashed Potato Croquettes with Leftover Gravy

Ingredients

  • 3 cups leftover turkey, shredded
  • 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh sage
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup flour, divided
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs
  • Olive oil
  • Leftover gravy

Directions

  1. Place the turkey, mashed potatoes, and sage in a mixing bowl. Add the eggs and 2 tablespoons of flour. Mix to combine.
  2. Divide the mixture into eight equal portions. Form each into a ball, and refrigerate for at least an hour.
  3. Add the remaining flour to a pie plate, seasoning with salt and pepper. Add the bread crumbs to another pie plate.
  4. Press each ball lightly with the palm of your hand to form a disc. Dredge each disc first in seasoned flour, then in bread crumbs.
  5. Coat the bottom of a large fry pan with oil and set over medium heat. When pan is hot, add four discs or as many as you can without crowding. Cook till browned on one side, then flip and brown second side. Add remaining discs, if any, and repeat.
  6. While croquettes are cooking, heat leftover gravy in a separate sauce pan or microwave.
  7. Serve hot croquettes immediately, passing gravy on the side.

Yield: 4 servings, 2 croquettes per serving

 

See also

3 Easy Recipes for Using up Thanksgiving Leftovers