At my house, we always have our long weekend Feast Day meals on the Sunday, rather than the Monday, which is really the holiday. That gives us all day Monday to plan our attack on the inevitable load of leftovers we have sitting quietly, patiently, in our second, downstairs fridge…
A Perfect Turkey Breakfast Bake… Just one of many ways to celebrate ‘Turkey Encore’!
I’ve learned to scale back my Feast Day recipes for just the three of us. It’s only me, Erin and my plucky 93-year-old Mom who feast at our table, now. We’re all just getting too old and creaky to do all the work associated with entertaining a large crowd like we used to. And I won’t commit to doing a big Feast if I’m not certain I can ace it.
So, let me tell you about the leftovers from Thanksgiving…
We have plenty of Turkey. Honkin’ big loads of Turkey. By some unknown, serendipitous happenstance, we ended up with a 20 lb. / 8 kg bird. Best explanation I can come up with is, somebody, when shopping for it, got mixed up between pounds and kilograms. We wanted an 8 lb. / 3.75 kg Turkey. Ah, well…
Turkey Encore is what we call our ‘re-enactment’ of the Big Feast two or three days after the actual event, using some of each of the leftover dishes, we stage another Feast Day feast, but without the fancy lace table cloth, the Wedgwood china, the crystal glassware and serving dishes or Mother’s heirloom silverware. I swear, the ‘Encore’ meal is every bit as good as the original, maybe better, after some dishes have been re-heated in the oven and crisped up on top!
Other popular uses around our house for Turkey Feast leftovers include the usual Turkey Sandwiches (Clubs, Hot Turkey with Gravy or simply Turkey Lettuce and Tomato), which are very popular.
I make a killer Quick Turkey Stew with Turkey Chunks, Brussel’s Sprouts, Baby Carrots and boiled Baby Red Potatoes. It’s a short hop from there to Turkey Pot Pie using leftover Gravy as Sauce. If you’re partial to that idea, make extra Pastry when baking your dessert Pie so you’ll have enough to cover your Pot Pie(s).
If you’re an Asian Food fan, go for an off-the-cuff Turkey Stir Fry. Use your favourite Chicken Stir Fry recipe and substitute Turkey. What could be quicker or simpler?
I sometimes make a Turkey Soup during the week-long aftermath of a big Festive Feast. There’s Turkey, Baby Carrots and Brussell’s Sprouts, to start with. Then, I add sliced Mushrooms, Slivered Onions, Chicken Stock and a couple of secret ingredients: Asian Miso Paste and, at the end, a slurp of Corn Starch Slurry to produce a thick, clear soup base. If you like it hot, you can sprinkle on some finely diced Thai Red Chilis, or add just a dab of Thai Chili Paste, to taste. Last thing before serving, taste for Salt and Pepper and adjust if needed.
Did you make Scalloped Potatoes? When I do, I always make a big casserole of them and, on Encore days, reheat in the oven until the sauce becomes liquid again. Then, I fold in chunks of Turkey and Baby Carrot and whatever I have leftover that seems to ‘go with’. Broccoli and Asparagus are good choices, if you have them on hand. Add a topping of Parmesan or grated Cheddar and stick under the broiler to finish and you have a great Encore Entrée!
Got guests in the house for the holiday? Make a Turkey Breakfast Bake! I just haul out my usual recipe and sub in Turkey in place of Ham. And I also fold in nuggets of other leftovers, including Chunks of Potato (if I have some already boiled), Baby Carrot bits and whatever else takes your fancy. DOn’t forget the most important veggies: Medium diced Sweet Pepper (Green and/or Red) and medium diced Onions!
What’s my favourite Turkey leftover plate?
I love to sit in front of the TV in my jammies, through the middle of Thanksgiving Monday binge watching the inevitable Star Wars movie marathon on Space Channel, or bringing up a string of ‘On Demand’ action films. Actually, you can usually find a Die Hard marathon on a regular channel somewhere on a holiday. After all, the Die Hard saga is the ultimate holiday move franchise.
And what do I want to eat?
I like a plate of Hummus, a side of Pita Bread, and a platter of Cranberry Condiments (Sauce, Relish or both!), Turkey Morsels and Crudités (Raw Veggies cut long and sturdy for dipping). Heck! Throw in a bowl of Sour Cream with Thai Sweet Chili Sauce, or another of my fave home-made Dips, and make it a glorious indulgence. For beverages, start with a Mimosa, followed by Coffee and Bailey’s. Segue to a nice, light, refreshing White Wine in the afternoon (Riesling, Chardonnay). Then, go for a Champagne Cocktail at supper time.
To end the day of dietary dipsomania, I’ll make up a tray of Turkey Rollups – like big Pigs in Blankets, but using Turkey bits, Stuffing, a Baby Carrot and whatever else looks good. If you’re like me, you always have Puff Pastry in the freezer, so it should be a no-brainer! You might even want to heat up some leftover Gravy for dipping!
And that’s my ‘leftovers’ look at the classic Turkey Feast Day dinner…
Have a great, ‘full-filling’ holiday!
Maggie J.