After the meal!

What are you going to do with all of that food?

When planning this years Thanksgiving Blogs Master Indy pointed out to me:

“There are so many traditional family recipes for the main day....But the following week has the potential to be varied”

So this year we are going to focus on different recipes to use up all of that left over food.

It is slave's fondest hope that Your holiday meal will include friends and extended family whose company you enjoy. The idea is to share your thankfulness! That usually means you are going to fix a whole bunch of food.

Good News! You don't have to eat it all that day! Just be a resourceful slave and plan ahead.

Give It Away - Today!

Have resealable plastic bags and food storage containers handy to send goodies home with your guests. Don't forget to include those cookies, candies or other sweets.

Many years ago when slave was a disc jockey, one of my advertisers, (and good friends), would fix a full plate of food every Thanksgiving and bring it up to the radio station! Create memories like that for your friends this year – the gesture will stay with them forever.

What you don't send off, freeze as soon as it comes back to room temperature: turkey, soups, cooked vegetables, breads, pastries and cookies all freeze very well.

Many of the recipes that slave will suggest call for the turkey cut into bite sized pieces. So take the time to shred or cube the turkey and portion it into about 1 lbs per freezer bag. It will freeze better and be ready to thaw what you need. You can spread the turkey meals out for a couple of weeks that way and not get “Bird Burn-Out”!

Remember, if you can't hold it in your bare hand – don't put it away yet. You will have about 2 hours from the time you serve the food to the time it needs refrigeration or freezing. Watch the clock!

Make sure to store it in airtight containers. Turkey does NOT last forever. Most meats will stay fresh for up to seven days, but if it looks or smells even a little bit, throw it out! I plan on eating any unfrozen food by Sunday, if it is not eaten by then it gets pitched!

General Ideas:

When heating left overs, serve with a different vegetable. Try not to duplicate the Thanksgiving meal, rather pair the turkey with baked beans instead of green beans. How about mac & cheese instead of sweat potatoes?

Try a cold luncheon plate of sliced turkey, pickled beets, and applesauce.
Toss left-over veggies with small portions of pasta or rice.

Remember you are going to have to Work off some of those extra calories! Make sure to get some exercise in the weeks following holiday get-together s. Even if it is nothing more than parking as far away from the shopping as possible – you may have to do that anyway.
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When you plan a night on the couch watching your favorite holiday movie: (May slave suggest: “Scrooge & Marley”)

Thank You Pizza

Ingredients:

½ cup of shredded left over turkey

½ can of diced tomatoes, drained (seal up the rest in plastic bag for latter)

½ lbs of diced mozzarella cheese

a few leaves of basil

½ teaspoon of dried oregano

1 prepared pizza dough

olive oil to drizzle

Pre heat oven and pizza stone according to direction on pizza dough.

Lay out the dough, sprinkle with turkey, tomatoes, cheese. Be sure to keep at least a 1 inch margin around the pizza. Add some torn basil and some dried oregano. Drizzle olive oil over everything.

(No sauce is needed)

Slide a floured pizza peel under and transfer to the oven. Watch carefully, bake until the cheese starts to crust. Remove with the peel and let sit for 2 minutes before you cut.

Now snuggle under a nice fuzzy throw with your special Master or just curl up at His feet and enjoy a healthy comfort food! There is always room for pizza!

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Now for a different night something light and hand-held? Perhaps plan this for a movie night with “Breakfast With Scot”

Turkey Avocado Wrap

Ingredients

¼ cup mayonnaise with 1 teaspoon black pepper mixed in
4 (8-inch) flour tortillas
12 ounces left over turkey cut into strips or bite sized pieces

½ can diced tomatoes, drained

1 ripe Hass avocado, pitted, peeled, and sliced
½ cup thinly sliced red onion

2 cups shredded lettuce optional: ¼ teaspoon finely grated orange zest
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

In a small bowl, mix the black pepper into the mayonnaise.

Heat the tortillas in a non-stick skillet a few minutes per side.

Spread the turkey bits on a baking sheet without overlapping, and sprinkle with olive oil. Broil about 4 minutes to thoroughly heat.

Lay out the tortillas and divide the warmed meat evenly. Top with a spoonful of shredded lettuce, onion, tomato, and avocado. Add a spoonful of the mayonnaise mixture. Tortillas can then be folded.

Just think of it like this: the bottom folds up to hold the food in! Now that is held by folding the right and left arms over. It just hugs itself! Check for pictures in the recipe for döner kebabs

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Have you seen the film classic: “Make the Yuletide Gay”? Try it with this different taste for left-over turkey and focus on warmer weather?

Creamy Turkey Pasta Primavera

"Primavera" means “spring”. The focus of the dish is the vegetables. Light flavors, aromatic herbs and bright colors!

Ingredients:

8 ounces linguine

½ package frozen mixed vegetables

1 pound left over cooked turkey, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 cup white sauce made with mozzarella cheese

½ teaspoon Thyme

3 tablespoons butter 

Directions

Cook pasta as directed on package, adding vegetables during the last 4 minutes of cooking. Drain well.

White sauce:

2 tbs Wondra flour

2 tbs butter or margarine

1 cup milk

¼ cup grated mozzarella cheese

Stir the milk into the flour until well mixed. Heat with the butter while stirring constantly. When it starts to boil, continue for 1 minute. Then remove from heat and mix in the cheese. (this is the easiest way to make any cheese sauce – no matter what kind of cheese)

Meanwhile, sprinkle the turkey with the seasonings. Melt butter in large skillet on medium heat. Add turkey: cook and stir about 2 -3 minutes or until lightly browned and well heated.

Add white sauce. Bring to simmer. Stir in pasta and vegetables. Simmer until heated through. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and a warm loaf of bread from the oven.

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Remember you are making memories! Enjoy the time now so that you will enjoy what you look back at years from now.

My fondest memories are of serving my Master Indy.

socialslave

To satisfy and restore.

To nourish, support and maintain.

To gratify, spoil, comfort and please,

to nurture, assist, and sustain

…..I cook!

Please buy slave's cookbook:

The Little Black Book of Indiscreet Recipes by Dan White http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F315Y4I/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_vAT4sb0934RTM via @amazon