Now that Thanksgiving is over, it is time for most of us to get creative with our turkeys and mashed potatoes. My family members aren’t big on grabbing the turkey leftovers and making sandwiches>>> and I think I know why! If I was the one grabbing the turkey from the refridge to make them sandwiches, then they would probably be in favor of the long-held tradition of many families.
One thing my son, daughter, and husband love for me to make with the leftovers is Turkey Hash. I am sure many of you make this, as it is a fast and easy way to get some of those glass storage containers out of the refridge!
I simply Pam the casserole, make a bottom shell out of the stuffing/dressing, lay cut up turkey, then cut up green beans, followed by a little more of the cut up turkey, followed by a mashed potato cover on the top of the casserole. After all of the layers are in the casserole, I “drill” holes in the casserole with the handle end of a table knife (not a sharp steak knife!) and pour gravy into each of the holes. I have to admit that I make a lot of “drilled” holes in the casserole! Oh, and then I pour the remaining gravy over the entire Turkey Hash. Cover the casserole and heat it in a 350* oven for about an hour, and voilà!
I had never had this before I married my husband, and sort of had to come up with the “recipe” on my own. He kept asking for Turkey Hash… which, to me meant something like the canned hash you get at the grocery store…
Do any of you have a family traditional recipe you make after your Thanksgiving meal is all gobbled up? I’d like to hear from you if you do!
Margaret says
I’m so boring with my left overs. I use up the turkey with sandwiches, salads, soups, normal stuff. But the other day I saw Emril make a Quesadilla on GMA. Tried it today, but also made Nachos with the turkey, not bad! It was so warm we had a picnic today. I do like to make sandwiches on the griddle. Grill the turkey, stuffing (make into a patty) and bread, then mix cranberry with mayo for a little different taste. I try to make cute little take home packages with left overs for those who want them, so not too much left (fortunately).
On a different note, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train hit the US on the 25th. It is in our section of New York now. We have never been to see it before, but this year since it is so warm here we are going to check it out. I think it is in the US until December 16th. They have a schedule on a Facebook page. I wish it went through more States! Seems so fun!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Margaret, one of the great things about living on the East coast is that you have access to things like the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train. I guess we’ll just have to make due with the little trolley/train at the zoo!
I had not thought about turkey quesadillas. I might just give them a try…
Sandra says
Leftover meats for quesadillas is an old stand-by at our house here in the desert outside Phoenix, Arizona. Being that Mexican food is abundant and a favorite here that we all grew up with it makes any leftover meats and poultry spice up clean out the refrigerator night. Especially great if you forgot to defrost something for dinner. Or if unexpected company shows up. Take anything and cook for a couple of minutes on tortillas with lots of cheeses, add some leftover cut up fresh veggies. chopped tomatoes, green onions, even black olives leftover from the holiday. Yum yum. easy and hardly any cleanup. Filling too. Plus you have now cleaned out the fridge and filled the dishwasher.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sandra, our favorite type of food is Mexican, with Italian a close second. You would think I’d try making quesadillas with my leftovers…
You sound just like me… I love when I can clean out the refridge and fill the dishwasher. (Yes, folks, I am easily entertained!)
Petie says
Happy “Monday following Thanksgiving”! Nope, your traditional ‘left overs’ sound just like ours except for the green beans. I have sweet pototatoes and corn as the veggie and of course my mashed taters! Lord, with all that and stuffing, turkey, pecan & pumpkin pies I should be walking to & from work until Christmas!!! But I loved every morsel of it!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Petie, my family actually enjoys the turkey hash more than the “real” Thanksgiving meal!
Mary R. says
I make a similar turkey hash, only I’m way lazier than you are! I just throw everything (stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, and a bunch of turkey) in the crockpot and let it warm up. No layers, no drilling. Stir as needed. Add some broth if it gets too dry. I also make turkey soup and turkey burritos. Any turkey left over from that gets chopped and frozen in 2 cup portions for future soups!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary R, I use my crockpot so rarely, that I wouldn’t have thought about warming up the turkey hash with it. Also, along with the turkey quesadillas idea, I never thought about turkey burritos. (My turkey soup comes out of a can… well, actually, make that chicken!)
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
I make turkey noodle soup and turkey quesadillas. BUT, my special leftover is turkey fettuccine (Alfredo sauce). YUM. I make chicken fettuccine all the time, but after Thanksgiving, it’s time to sub in turkey. No one has turned me down yet!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Maria, your idea of the turkey fettuccine got me “inspired” to do just that. Thanks!
Regina says
Danna that sounds delicious. I make turkey divan with leftovers,mushroom soup, mayo, lemon juice, and cheddar cheese. Instead of cooking this weekend, I read Margaret Maron’s new book. She did a great job of tying both of her series together. I also read Sue Grafton’s new one. It was not the same old, same old, but a little bit different.
Alfred says
Regina was wondering if you went on your cruise yet and if so how did the book lights work for you. Thanks.
Regina says
Alfred and Danna, I leave on Wednesday 11/30 and return 12/12. All ready nervous that I might forget some things. Books and Nook are most important. Lights look as if they will work out great. Be in touch when I return.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bon voyage, Regina! Have fun!!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, I just went on the Campbell’s site and found a Turkey Stuffing Divan recipe which includes broccoli. (I always enjoy “hiding” extra vegies in my recipes.) Thanks for another great idea on using up left-over Thanksgiving meals!
Vickie B says
I didn’t have much to work with after Thanksgiving dinner. We had enough for one leftover meal. DH isn’t fond of drumsticks or wings, so I am going to try my hand at turkey soup in the crockpot tomorrow.
I like the sound of your leftover recipe.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Vickie, I like the parts your hubby doesn’t. Unfortunately, all of us like the fattening dark meat!
Sandy says
No leftovers here. We celebrated with our daughters future in-laws and took some parts of the meal, but nothing in the refrigerator!
I do have an author that I think would qualify for your site – Andrea Camilleri who writes the Inspector Montalbano series. These take place in a small town in Italy – Vigata, with many quirky characters.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sandy, what fun! AND thank you for telling us about Andra Camilleri.
Alfred says
Danna Just a quick note how about since it is coming up Christmas time do the readers have any family traditions or special foods they like to get or make for Christmas time. Thought it might be a good column for future.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Great idea, Alfred. I’ll post your comment as an entry…
Doug says
I make a Turkey sandwich. A piece of bread with warmed up stuffing and then cranberry sauce (OceanSpray) and then warmed up Turkey and on top the leftover gravy. Wonderful!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Doug, I have absolutely never thought of putting stuffing on bread and then smothering it with gravy. That’s something my husband would love!!!
linda says
Anyone wanting a very good and tasty alcoholic drink take a couple of shots of Rootbeer schnapps and diet coke–taste just like an A& W rootbear. Very good for this time of year. DON’T DRINK & DRIVE
Deb says
That turkey hash sounds great! I’m going to adapt it to our leftovers (sweet potatoes with butter and brown sugar instead of potatoes, and creamed corn) and see how it plays – we’ll have the same meal for Christmas so I won’t have to wait a year. I’ll put the giblet gravy over the turkey part and the creamed corn over the stuffing layer.
My very favorite leftovers from both holidays are stuffing with “corn on.” That means homemade stuffing with canned creamed corn over it. Yum! Especially good for breakfast.
Actually, mashed potatoes are very good with corn on, too. Or with spinach on, or (stewed) tomatoes on. When I was a kid, we went to local restaurants where you could get a vegetable platter, so I always got double mashed potatoes with spinach on one and corn or tomatoes on the other. You can’t find that out anywhere now!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Deb, I love creamed corn, and have never thought about making it into a gravy for stuffing. Yum! (Dressing is my favorite part of the Thanksgiving dinner.)
I also really like sweet potato casserole, but, unfortunately I’m the only one in the family who does. So I don’t go through the trouble to fix it.
Marie says
Danna–Wow I am trying to get caught up reading. I am from the old school, married for 53 years! Love to cook & read.– I always fix what everyone else likes, but for one person Sweet Potato fix–start by microwave sweet potato till done-then melt butter, some brown sugar & little water. Cut open & pour sauce over. Also our family resturant serves Ham & candied sweet potatos, on Sundays. By the way now my husband and brother requests real candied Sweet Potatoes!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marie, I sure wish my family liked sweet potatoes. My extended family has a sweet potato casserole every holiday season (which I love!) but now that we are so far from all of them (in distance) I don’t make it for just myself. I love sweet potatoes with brown sugar and butter!