10 terrific Thanksgiving leftover ideas

10 terrific Thanksgiving leftover ideas - Try these inventive recipes instead of plain turkey sandwiches the day after the big feast. Extreme Leftovers: 10 Crazy Ways to Eat Well the Day After Thanksgiving. There's a commonly held belief in this country that the greatest eating day of the year falls on the fourth Thursday in November. We all know that's not true. It's the fourth Friday in November, known around my house as The Day You Eat 10 Leftover-Turkey Sandwiches. 

I keep it simple: toasted white bread, iceberg lettuce (for crunch!), thick slices of white and dark meat, a good amount of mayonnaise (Duke's brand), and--my Southern twist--a couple of spoonfuls of spicy pepper jelly for a bit of sweet heat. When I shared my love of pepper jelly with the BA Test Kitchen, the staff couldn't wait to riff on the jarred stuff I use. They grabbed a bag of fresh cranberries and started experimenting. The result is a bright-red jelly with the perfect mix of tartness and fiery spice, which we feature in the November issue.

But it didn't end there. Spurred by the anticipation of a kitchen full of Thanksgiving leftovers, associate food editor Mary-Frances Heck and online editor Emily Fleischaker got a little carried away thinking up nine other ways to use them. Find their ideas below, then get ready for leftovers Friday.

Cut slices of leftover savory bread pudding or Southern cornbread dressing and fry in butter in a hot pan, turning once carefully. Use these fried slabs as bread for your turkey sandwich.

Mix leftover gravy into mayonnaise before spreading it on a sandwich, or warm it up and use it as a dip for French fries, a classic diner combo.

Heat a small amount of oil in a saute pan. Add turkey skin and fry until crisp--2 or 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels then use as topping for a shredded turkey taco topped with avocado, sour cream, and fresh crumbled farmer's cheese.

Saute chopped onions and carrots in oil in a cast iron skillet. Once they begin to color, sprinkle with flour then add a small amount of tomato paste and leftover turkey stock. Simmer gently to thicken. Add leftover shredded turkey meat, peas, corn, or other veggies on hand. Top this filling with leftover mashed potatoes and spread with a spatula to cover filling. Bake in a 400 degree oven until browned.

Cut slices of leftover Southern cornbread dressing and dredge in a mixture of egg, milk, and vanilla, then fry in butter. Top with maple syrup.

Saute garlic and leftover herbs in butter, then toss butter with cubed bread and bake in 400 degree oven until crisp. Combine with leftover turkey and veggie sides like Brussels sprouts and drizzle with vinaigrette.

Puree leftover roast squash or pumpkin puree with chickpeas, fresh lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. Combine with falafel and serve in pita.

Combine 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes with 1 egg and a pinch of garlic powder. Heat oil in skillet, add potato mixture and flatten with spatula. Flip. Top with cranberry-pepper jelly and a pile of watercress.

Quick pickle 4 cups of grated carrots and grated peeled daikon in 1/4 cup rice vinegar with 1/4 cup sugar. Spread a French banguette with pate, leftover turkey, and thinly sliced jalapeno. Add carotts, daikon, and cilantro, salt and pepper

via: yahoo