I have been collecting recipes and ideas
through the years for using holiday leftovers. Unfortunately, the file is
missing, so I am trying to duplicate some of it using some websites, old
recipes, etc. Ideas below; our favorite recipe beneath that.
TURKEY LEFTOVERS
Tips for Turkey Leftovers:
1. Plan for leftovers by calculating one pound of turkey for every three cups
of diced meat (which yields four to six servings of meat).
2. Keep turkey moist when reheating b covering it with broth.
3. Divide it up and freeze it with broth immediately for later use.
4. If freezing it, divide it into recipe-sized portions, so you only need to
defrost what you need for a recipe (i.e. 3 cup portions if you will use it in three
cup increments for turkey soup and turkey tetrazinni, for instance).
5. Quick leftover turkey ideas:
a. Turkey and cheese sandwiches
b. Turkey in salads
c. Turkey roll ups (wraps)
d. Turkey noodle or turkey rice soup
e. Turkey casseroles—white turkey lasagna, turkey enchiladas, turkey noodle
casserole, etc.
f. Turkey taco salad
Hot Turkey Sandwiches
2 lbs shredded chicken or turkey meat, fully cooked
4 pieces of toast, broken into bite-sized pieces
2 eggs
1 ½ to 2 cups of concentrated broth (make it stronger by adding base)
2 tsp poultry seasoning
¾ tsp pepper
1 tsp parsley flakes
1. Whisk eggs until well whisked.
2. Stir all ingredients together.
3. Put in hot oven, uncovered, at 300’ for one hour or more, stirring every
fifteen to thirty minutes until liquid is all evaporated and mixture is
sandwich ready (flavorful, but not too wet and liquidy).
4. Use as sandwich filling.
5. Makes at least 15 large sandwiches.
6. Recipe may be reduced as needed or leftovers may be stored in fridge and
reheated in micro.
HAM
LEFTOVERS
Tips for Ham Leftovers:
1. Plan for leftovers ahead of time. For example, if you know you will only use
half the ham, consider cooking the two halves separately, one with ham glaze
and one without for other recipes later.
2. Freeze ham in freezer bags in whole pieces to decide later what you will do
with them. Be sure to use freezer bags, not regular storage bags.
3. Quick leftover ham ideas:
a. Ham omelettes
b. Bean soups
c. Chicken cordon bleu
d. Hot ham and cheese sandwiches
e. Cheesy scalloped potatoes w/ ham
f. Fried rice w/ ham
g. Ham and mashed potatoes croquettes
h. Cheese toasties with ham
i. Scrambled eggs w/ ham
Meals and Snacks for Leftover Ham:
1. Breakfast: fry slices with fried eggs; put in scrambled eggs; add to
breakfast burrito
2. Lunch: put chunks in vegetable soup; hot ham and cheese sandwiches; ham
salad; ham in chef’s salads
3. Dinner: pan fry large, thick pieces for “ham steak”; put in scalloped
potatoes; add to home made macaroni and cheese
4. Ham Nearly Gone: Use carcass for base for soup beans; navy beans; split pea
soup, etc.
WHITE POTATOES
Mashed Potato Patties
Leftover mashed potatoes
1 egg
little milk
Optional: onion, grated cheese, and a little chopped green pepper
1. Form into patties and roll into crushed crackers or corn flake crumbs.
2. Put on cookie sheet and bake in 350 degree oven until heated through
3. Remove from oven and place on a broiler rack for a few minutes to brown the
outside.
4. Optional: Instead of baking, “fry” the patties in a skillet with a small
amount of oil.
Mashed Herb Potato Soup
1/2 teaspoon crumbled, dried rosemary
1 teaspoon crumbled, dried thyme
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup minced onion
1 small rib of celery including the leaves, minced
1 carrot, grated coarsely
2 cups unsalted chicken broth or stock (fresh or canned)
2 1/2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced
1. In a small dry skillet toast the rosemary and thyme until fragrant, do not
burn. Shake the skillet and heat for about 3 minutes. Set aside.
2. In a large saucepan sauté the onion, celery and carrots in olive oil over
moderately low heat for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.
3. Stir in the broth or stock and bring to a boil.
4. Break potatoes up with a fork. Using a wire whisk, add potatoes a half cup
at a time.
5. Continue whisking until smooth, reduce to a simmer and add toasted herbs,
lemon juice and fresh parsley.
6. Taste soup and add salt and black pepper if desired. Makes 4 servings.
SWEET POTATOES
• Sweet Potato Ravioli: Place a
spoonful of mashed sweet potatoes on a wonton wrapper, fold and simmer in
chicken broth until cooked through.
• Curried Sweet Potato Soup: Puree
sweet potatoes with chicken broth, onions, leeks and curry powder; season to
taste.
• Asian Potato Salad: Combine cubed
sweet potatoes with shredded red cabbage, sesame oil and a touch of cilantro;
top with chopped peanuts.
• Sweet Potato Dip: Puree potatoes
with any or all of the following: low-fat sour cream, bell pepper, jalapeno,
cilantro, lime juice and salt.
OTHER
Garlicky Croutons or Cheese Toasties
Leftover dinner rolls are excellent cut into cubes and toasted into croutons
for potato soup or to make Garlicky Cheese Toast.
6 to 8 leftover dinner rolls (any kind)
1/2 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed and chopped finely
2 tablespoons Parmesan Cheese
1. Using a serrated knife cut the dinner rolls in half lengthwise. Set aside.
2. Heat a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. While the skillet is heating.
3. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine garlic and olive oil. Microwave on
high for one minute or until garlic begins to sizzle in the oil. This step can also
be done in a skillet.
4. Brush cut side of each dinner roll with oil and place oil-side-down on the
hot skillet.
5. Using a spatula or pancake turner, press each piece flat as it cooks. When
golden brown, turn and continue pressing. Remove from heat and sprinkle each
with a little Parmesan cheese. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Serve warm
with soup.
Stuffing (Homemade or Boxed)
• Dumplings: Make golf-ball size
rounds of stuffing with a small ice cream or melon ball scooper. Simmer, covered,
in turkey or chicken soup for 10 minutes.
• Croutons: Cut stuffing into
squares and bake for 8 minutes at 400ºF. Toss into a salad or use as a garnish
for stews.
Cranberry Sauce (Canned or Fresh)
• Cranberry-Citrus Sauce: Combine diced cranberry sauce (if using canned)
with frozen and thawed or canned corn, diced red onion, and mandarin oranges or
seedless clementine segments.
• Cranberry Salsa: Mix together
cranberry sauce, freshly minced cilantro, salt and pepper.
• Chutney: Simmer cranberry sauce,
diced onion, a pinch of ground ginger and about 1 tablespoon each of vinegar
and brown sugar, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until thick. Consider adding a
jalapeno for a kick!
Pumpkin Pie (Store-Bought or Homemade)
• Pumpkin Smoothie: Scrape the
filling out of one piece of pie and blend it with low-fat vanilla yogurt. Put
in a parfait glass and top with a small amount of crumbled piecrust and a dash
of cinnamon.
• Crisp Crusted Pie: If your crust
gets soggy, place the pie in a 350ºF oven for 10 minutes to crisp it up.
