When it comes to memorable sandwiches, few match the grace and tradition of the Thanksgiving leftover sandwich. In my house it consists of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy, with a slice of turkey skin soaked in gravy, all piled into a semolina roll. Variations can and do occur, like adding mashed potatoes or another side dish to the fray, but the main ingredients are always present.
Sweet Potato-Cranberry Donuts
Idaho is known for “spudnuts,” a donut made from mashed potatoes. This spin comes from Joni Hilton of Rocklin, CA.
¼ cup sugar
1½ tsp active dry yeast
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp salt
4 to 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup 2 percent milk
¼ cup shortening
2 tbsp water
2 eggs
½ cup mashed sweet potatoes
½ cup finely chopped dried cranberries
Oil for deep-fat frying
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 to 3 tbsp apple cider or juice
Biscuit Turkey Bake
This recipe comes from Stephanie Denning in Mt. Pleasant, IA. It’s a stick-to-your-ribs meal that will stretch the tight holiday budget.
1 can (10¾ oz) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 cup chopped cooked turkey or chicken
1 can (4 oz) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
½ cup frozen peas
¼ cup 2 percent milk
Dash each ground cumin, dried basil and thyme
1 tube (12 oz) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
Grandma’s Potato Dumplings
Day-old rolls and leftover potatoes transform into buttery deliciousness from Wendy Stenman in Germantown, WI.
2 day-old hard rolls
½ cup water
2 tsp canola oil
½ cup leftover mashed potatoes
1 egg, lightly beaten
Dash ground nutmeg
1 to 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
¼ cup butter, cubed
Turkey & Stuffing Eggs Benedict
Paired with champagne and cranberry juice, this brunch crowd-pleaser comes from Brittany Allyn of Nashville, TN.
3 cups leftover cooked stuffing
4 egg yolks
1 tbsp lemon juice
½ cup butter, melted
1 tbsp minced fresh parsley
Dash salt
Dash ground nutmeg
1 tbsp olive oil
4 eggs
¾ pound sliced leftover cooked turkey, warmed
Thanksgiving leftovers are a many-splendored thing, and the folks at Taste Of Home—a food media brand spanning magazines, books, the web and more—boast a veritable cornucopia of unique leftover creations. All of the above recipes and directions can be viewed in full at www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/holiday.
