As you free up space in the fridge after Thanksgiving get-togethers, it's easy to gravitate toward quick and satisfying drizzles of hot sauce atop your leftovers. However, there's something to be said for those who get artful with their day-after surplus.
With turkey or ham, home chefs craft dishes like Bolognese over pasta, hash and slow-cooked soups. Frittata, dressed-up salads, dumplings and way more are fashioned from sides such as green beans, stuffing or taters, too.
So in the spirit of embracing excess, swap your hot sauce urges for four go-to ways to transform the leftovers this season.
Sandwiches. Whether you grubbed on ham, turkey or brisket (like the kind Tampa's Sho Gud Barbeque cooked up for CL's Thanksgiving lunch Wednesday), stuffing the proteins between two slices of bread and your ingredients of choice is a welcome take on the big dinner's main attraction. Also, who doesn't love sandwiches?
Try ham panini pressed with layers of your favorite cheese and cranberry sauce instead of jam, or turkey pitas filled with cranberry salsa and turkey salad. You could also make open-faced turkey sandwiches using gravy. And we suggest adding mashed potatoes or stuffing on top, too.
Casseroles. Reimagine a handful of Turkey Day extras with this comfort food staple. The possibilities are endless, but a stuffing and turkey breakfast casserole, a turkey Reuben casserole and a classic rendition will get you started.
Pies. And by pies, we mean the savory kind. Experiment with turkey or ham, or both, through more soul-warming offerings like pot pies and shepherd's pies. You'll incorporate leftover mashed potatoes and veggies along the way.
Although the recipes specify which veggies you'll need, feel free to throw in what you've got on hand, including mushrooms, celery and green bean casserole. And if you're feeling especially daring, use sweet potato mash to cover your shepherd's pie.
Floats. Ice cream floats, inspired by Halo Top Creamery, will put your pumpkin pie accompaniment to use. Add a scoop of ice cream to the bottom of a tall glass and top it with apple cider to create a tasty beverage. Spiking the drink with booze wouldn't be so bad, either.
This article appears in Nov 27 – Dec 3, 2014.