Friday, November 23, 2007

Thanksgiving leftovers, part one (sandwiches)

I've been a bit lax about posting new recipes lately, mostly thanks to lack of appetite and energy. But seeing as yesterday was Thanksgiving and I had the patience and stamina to prepare a huge feast for just two and a half people, I figured I should share some of my rather tasty leftover tips.

I've never been big on leftover turkey - always dry and boring, right? Well, since I started braising my Thanksgiving turkey I've discovered that turkey leftovers can, in fact, be a good thing. A very good thing, even. But turkey salad sandwiches get dull about halfway through the first sandwich, and there are still only so many things to do with the leftover meat. Here, however, are a few of my favorites.

Turkey, bacon, and guaccamole sandwich. A delicious twist on the classic club. Layer thick slices of juicy white meat with a couple strips of bacon and a healthy schmear of guaccamole. Not the store-bought fluffy green stuff, mind you. Please be kind to your tastebuds and make your own. It's incredibly simple. Just mash up 3 medium avocados with the juice of a lime, 3 cloves of minced garlic, a diced roma tomato, and salt and pepper to taste. Make sure to let it stand in the fridge for at least 15 minutes before eating (overnight is best, though). Your tortilla chips will thank you, too.

Stuffing. Leftover stuffing makes the best sandwiches, especially if it's homemade. Give it a try - spread on some cranberry sauce (sauce, not the jelly stuff). Turkey is optional.

Roasted garlic turkey salad. Use a puree of roasted garlic and olive oil instead of mayo in a basic turkey salad recipe. Stir in some diced pear and a dash of cumin and you've got one heck of a sandwich.

Cranberry wasabi. Blend a touch of wasabi paste with cranberry sauce and add turkey. The 'cool' spice of wasabi adds a nice zing and will even help clear out stuffy sinuses if you find yourself, like so many others, afflicted with a cold this holiday season.

Enjoy something a little different for leftovers this year, and look for Thanksgiving leftovers - part two (soups), coming soon.