All That Remains...

Thanksgiving is over, but you likely still have lots of food in the fridge. Midwest families often go all-in on food for holidays. There may be 12 people attending, but we'll cook for 30. Maybe it's in our midwest DNA, but part of the reason for this is we have some of the finest home chefs in the world right here in "fly over" country. That's no exaggeration. Everyone here knows someone, or more likely several someones, who can prepare a meal that would stand up to chefs from the ritziest Michelin starred restaurants in NYC or Paris. Many of these talented Midwestern cooks are more Betty Crocker than the famous real life chefs from the restaurant kitchens of Paris. But, the food is equally impressive and always cooked in abundance, which makes our holiday gatherings so highly anticipated.

All of that food means plenty of leftovers, which are also highly coveted. I'm not sure there's anything better than a turkey sandwich from the Thanksgiving turkey, but here are a few of our favorites that rank pretty high in the Holiday Leftover category:
1. Turkey Tetrazzini - If you want to up the nutrition factor on this, try spaghetti squash or zuchini noodles in place of the more traditional pasta noodles.
2. Turkey Stock, Broth, Soups - Hopefully you saved the carcass from your Thanksgiving turkey. Boil that down with some veggies and seasonings and you have a work of art. Seriously, a homemade bone broth from your turkey bones is one of the most delicious things ever...and loaded with nutrients. It's even better if your turkey has been raised by responsible farmers dedicated to good stewardship.
3. Turkey or Roast Pot Pie - Any meat encased in a pie shell is an automatic hit. After the fruit pies from Thanksgiving are consumed, it's time to break out the savory meat pies for a hearty midweek meal. While there may be a general lack of 'meats on sticks', there most certainly is a shortage of 'meats in pastry'.
4. Casseroles, Shepherd's Pie, and other kitchen sink type meals - These are all-purpose, all-stars after the holidays. A good casserole is hard to beat and you can throw anything in there and it'll bake up beautifully. It doesn't matter if you have leftover turkey, ham, beef roast, or lamb. Use plenty of cheese and savory seasonings for a culinary masterpiece.
5. Enchiladas - Like the casserole, enchiladas are also great for anything and everything leftovers. Prepare the filling of turkey, ham, beef, beans, rice, some veggies, cheese and even mashed potatoes, and roll it up in a shell. Bake for a few minutes and presto...a magical meal. 
If none of those ideas are appealing right now. You can always seal up your leftovers, label and freeze them for that day when you're craving holiday flavors.

All the Best,  Team USWM