The Path of Thanksgiving Leftovers

If you are like most Americans you had a fair amount of Thanksgiving leftovers. One could write a book about the ways Thanksgiving leftovers are used in the days that follow the big feast. While I don’t want to write a book on the subject I believe it’s time to write a post on Thanksgiving leftovers, and the interesting ways they are used up in our house.

The day after, November 23rd

At breakfast some of the amazing whipped cream with marscapone made into the coffee instead of the usual creamer. No other leftovers consumed at breakfast. Lunch was spent at a restaurant between our shopping during Black Friday madness. Ah, but at dinner came the legendary day after casserole. It starts with a large shallow casserole dish layered with plenty of turkey on the bottom. Then followed by stuffing, gravy, green bean casserole, and topped with the fluffy mashed potatoes. Leftover pie with whipped cream was enjoyed again, although it had lost a bit of its magic overnight. All were thoroughly stuffed from this meal.

The dog got large amounts of turkey all day long to help use up the leftovers.

Two days after, November 24th

Breakfast was leftover pecan pie and pumpkin pie with a side of healthy orange and grapefruit slices. Note to self: do not do this next year. Lunch was turkey sandwiches, Smartpop popcorn, and chips for those who were travelling back home on flights to Texas and California. For those of us staying home it was turkey and barley soup that was enjoyed immensely. Pie was eaten by one of us at lunch and the other at dinner. You just can’t believe how big one of those pies can be until you eat the same pie for three days straight with five people helping out. Pie is definitely losing its appeal at this point.

Dinner was sliced turkey breast open face sandwich heated in its own stock served on toast, and then topped with gravy. The forgotten cranberry sauce that became lost in the fridge made an appearance for this meal, and was still tasty. A side of steamed peas was added to get something in the meal that was not leftover.

The dog got turkey for breakfast, but not for lunch after an attempted poo pickup failed on an afternoon walk at the local park. Poo pickup bags were meant for solids, not liquids. There is truth to “too much of a good thing”.

Three days after, November 25th

Breakfast was a bowl of healthy oatmeal. The two small pieces of pie I found in the fridge were tossed in the trash. No more pie! Dog was given a small amount of turkey breast without skin on kibble for breakfast on agreement that it was a trial basis only, not a turkey free for all like the day after Thanksgiving. Lunch was the rest of the turkey soup and homemade bread. Turkey soup is great stuff on a cold day.

Dinner was spent out at our favorite Italian restaurant Cingale, because we had enough of cooking, dish washing, and eating leftovers.

Dog got turkey upon our arrival at home after dinner out due to the afternoon poo walk returning to before Thanksgiving specifications. Our dog doesn’t seem to mind leftover turkey day after day.

Four days after, November 26th

The turkey is just about gone, along with most of the other items that graced our table that day not so long ago. For breakfast we had oatmeal with some of the cranberry sauce on top. Dog had yet another blissful meal of turkey and kibble for breakfast with a touch of turkey stock. For lunch I packed turkey sandwiches with tomato, avocado, lettuce and hummus. If all goes to plan the turkey will be gone after dinner tonight if the dog and us can rise to the challenge one last time. It’s turkey noodle soup for us, turkey and kibble for the dog. The only remnant by tomorrow will be the cranberry sauce which should be finished off in the oatmeal. Then the countdown starts for next year’s Thanksgiving feast. I hope we learn a thing or two from this year’s over indulgences. Yeah right!