I love Thanksgiving. Family, friends, fun, and of course...turkey. I know turkey is available year-round, but there's something about this time of year that makes it super special. A roasted turkey with all the trimmings is one of my favorite things about the holidays. And this year was no exception. My grandmother, with the help of my brothers, prepared a gorgeous bird with crispy skin and the juiciest meat. We ate and ate and ate, and of course, there were still leftovers.
So if you're trying to recover from the holiday bulge, and bored with eating tired ole turkey sandwiches, here are a few ideas to make it easier to gobble up what got left behind:
- Turkey salad on toast - just like chicken salad, this basic mixture of chopped upturkey & mayo is great paired with soup or a sandwich - try adding a little Dijon mustard and green onion for a tasty twist.
- Turkey cobb - I got this idea when my daughter Emma asked that her leftover turkey sandwich be covered in blue cheese. Simple layer a romaine salad with chunks of turkey breast, blue cheese crumbles, tomatoes and avocados - yum!
- Turkey tetrazzini - although it may sound complicated, this is an easy dish too! Just sauté some mushrooms, thicken with a little flour and add skim milk until a good cream sauce is formed - heat until it coats the back of your spoon. Add chopped turkey, some shredded Parm and mix in your fave veggies and whole wheat pasta. Bake for 20 min with a little breadcrumbs and enjoy this bubbly comfort dish (without totally disregarding your diet).
- Turkey soup - pick those bones clean and boil the carcass in broth filled with onions, carrots and celery for an hour or two. After it's strained add the liquid into a fresh pot with your favorite fall veggies and chunks of leftover turkey. Perfect for a cold evening by the fire!
Don't be a turkey, eat those leftovers!
Turkey salad with mayo, Dijon & green onion