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Thanksgiving Tip: Save Takeout Containers For Leftovers

YumSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:50:45 -0800

Since the vast majority of you love turkey day leftovers as much as the meal itself, I thought I'd share my favorite post-supper pointer for those who are hosting this year.

Any time you order takeout, delivery, or take home a doggy bag between now and Thanksgiving, be sure to hand wash and reserve some of the plastic takeout containers that you get from restaurants. That way, on Thanksgiving day, you can send your guests home happy with leftovers of their choice - and you won't be short any servingware.

Got any tips for Thanksgiving leftovers? Share them below!

Thanksgiving Leftovers: Love It or Hate It?

YumSugar — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:00:47 -0800

The day following the biggest food holiday of the year, it only makes sense that there's enough remaining to feed a small village. Growing up, I quickly tired of eating turkey and stuffing for every meal, so as I got older, I began incorporating turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and vegetables into newfangled dishes. (Check out some especially innovative ideas.) But I have friends who aren't fans of leftovers in general, and that includes Thanksgiving dishes, too.

What about you: Are leftovers an enjoyable or dreaded part of Thanksgiving?

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10 Unexpected Thanksgiving Leftovers

YumSugar — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:00:00 -0800

Thanksgiving leftovers can sometimes be too much of a good thing. Tons of turkey meat and side dishes can be great, but not if they mean eating uninspired leftovers with monotonous flavors. Thankfully, there's loads you can do with leftovers beyond pot pie, sandwiches, and chili. Here are ten of our favorite new ideas.

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What Are You Going to Do With All That Turkey?

YumSugar — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 05:30:00 -0800

Hope you had a great feast! If you're like most Americans you've probably got a ton of leftovers to deal with. If you didn't send them all home with your guests, you might think that you'll be eating turkey for days. For some of you that might sound awful, sure it's great after day one or day two, but day three and four? Well don't fret, I've scoured the Internet and I have found some of the best turkey leftover recipes. I personally love a turkey pie, but to see some of the other gems I've uncovered - including one for Fido! - read more

Post-Turkey Day Posole
Turkey Fried Rice
Turkey with Apple Salsa
Turkey Frittata
Turkey and Green Chile Burrito
Quesadillas with Chutney and Brie
Turkey Chili
Turkey Cranberry Arugula Sandwich
Curried Turkey and Mango Salad
Turkey Sage Chowder
Turkey Enchiladas
Moroccan Turkey Stew
Spicy Tortilla Soup
Crockpot Thanksgiving Turkey for Two
Turkey Tetrazzini
Mexican Turkey Noodle Casserole
Finally, don't forget Fido! PetSugar has a delicious recipe for a pup-friendly - but you can eat it too! - Day After Turkey Omelet

Do you have any great turkey leftover tips? Share them with us in the comments!

Thanksgiving Tip: Send Them Home With Leftovers

YumSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:03:33 -0800

The big feast is just a few days away, and while all of your thoughts are on shopping and prepping, be sure you don't overlook the leftovers. If you're like most Americans, your fridge is going to be crammed with leftovers the day after. To avoid this, why not send some of them home with your friends and family? If you can, head over to your local craft store and pick up some fun Take-Out Boxes. If you don't have access to a craft store, then pick up some cheap plastic containers such as Gladware or Ziploc. This way, when your guests are ready to hit the road, you can send them home with some of the food, and not have to worry about whether or not you'll see that bowl again.

If all else fails and there are no containers to be had, use Ziptop plastic bags. It's not very glamorous, but it will definitely make transportation a lot easier.

Alternatively, if you're a guest at someone else's dinner, consider bringing your own containers. It does sound a bit presumptuous, but if your hosts are not prepared, it will make things much easier. Plus you'll be able to avoid the, "Oops! We still have so-and-so's plates."

Do you have any other ideas on how to send folks home with leftovers? Share your tips below!

52 Weeks of Baking: Two Turkey Pies

YumSugar — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:27:19 -0800

I don't know about you guys, but after a week of cooking and prepping for Thanksgiving, I am looking forward to a few days of rest and relaxation. That said, I've decided to cheat a little bit on this week's baking project. I wanted to figure out a way to use all the turkey leftovers, without causing a lot of work. So, instead of making my own pastry crust, I decided to pick up two premade crusts and turn them into two different turkey pot pies.

I only have one pie dish, so I put half of the mixture in it and inverted one of the pie crusts as a top crust. For the other pie, I put in half the mixture and topped with leftover mashed potatoes, creating a shepherd's pie.

Plan now for Friday's leftovers, pick up two extra pie crusts and call it a day. To get the easy recipe, read more

Turkey Pot Pie or Turkey Shepherd's Pie
From The Culinary Institute of America adapted by Boston Globe with additions by YumSugar

3 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
3 tablespoons flour
3 cups turkey or chicken broth, heated to boiling
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 carrot, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 Yukon Gold or Yellow Finn potato, diced
4 cups diced cooked turkey
1 cup green peas (thawed if frozen - try not to use canned, they will be too mushy)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 nine-inch prepared pie crusts, frozen puff pastry sheets (thawed), or other topping such as leftover mashed potatoes

Note: This recipe is for four individual pot pies, however I used the filling to make two larger sized pies: one shepherd and one regular.

In a large saucepan, heat the butter over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes or until tender.
Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the broth little by little, whisking well to prevent lumps. Bring to a boil and lower the heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring often, for 15 minutes or until thickened. Add salt and pepper.
Set the oven at 350 degrees. Have on hand 4 individual baking dishes (about 2 cup capacity each).
Add the carrot, celery, and potato to the broth mixture. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
Add the turkey and peas and remove from the heat. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper, if you like. Stir in the parsley.
Spoon the filling into the dishes. Cut pie crust or puff pastry dough to the appropriate size and shape of the dishes to cover the filling. Cuts vents in the crust and press the edges of the dough onto the dishes to seal them.
Or alternatively, spoon filling into prepared pie crusts and spread leftover mashed potatoes on top.
Set the pies on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake them for 25-30 minutes or until the pastry is golden.

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Canned Cranberry: Love It or Hate It?

partysugar — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00:41 -0800

When I was growing up, canned cranberry jelly was a part of our menu every Thanksgiving. With it's rich color, cylindrical shape, and smooth coolness, it was one of my favorite parts of the meal. I have since learned to love a more sophisticated homemade fresh cranberry sauce, but the canned cranberry holds a special place in my heart. It's ideal for making leftover sandwiches. How do you feel about it?

Source: Flickr User busbeytheelder

Thanksgiving Tip: Calculate How Much Food You'll Need

YumSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:42:21 -0800

For an elaborate meal like Thanksgiving, it's crucial to consider how much food you'll serve. Too little, and you'll leave guests wishing they could gobble up more; too much, and you'll wind up with Thanksgiving leftovers for weeks. To make sure your food doesn't go to waste, take time to do some adequate planning. A few pointers, when you read more.

What Would You Make?

partysugar — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:17:19 -0800

Here's the scenario: you are at home and hungry for food. You have to cook up something scrumptious for you and your boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse/child/friend, but the ingredients you have on hand are limited.

You have leftover turkey breast from Sunday's dinner, a bag full of dried cranberries, and a couple stalks of fresh celery. Using these products, along with whatever you currently have on hand in your cupboard and refrigerator, what would you make?

To see what I would whip up, read more

I would start by finely chopping the celery. Next I would chop a little bit of apple and red onion - two ingredients that happen to be sitting in my fridge.
I would then chunk the leftover turkey breast.
Next I would mix the turkey with the chopped vegetables, the dried cranberry, a few tablespoons of mayonnaise, salt, and pepper.
I would spread this mixture between two slices of cut, white sandwich bread. Next I would grate extra sharp cheddar cheese on top of the turkey salad.
I would heat my panini grill and then cook the sandwich in the panini maker until the bread is toasted and the cheese has melted.
Finally, I would slice it into triangles, call it a turkey melt, and serve with a dill pickle and cold beer. This sounds so good, I may actually have to make it!

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All the News That's Fit to Eat - Nov. 21

YumSugar — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:43:33 -0800

This unconventional step makes carving a bird easier. Plus is Sam Mason's new restaurant Tailor living up to the hype? - The New York Times
Who says you have to have pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving? Why not celebrate with other sweet tastes of autumn? - Chicago Tribune
Looking for some last-minute Thanksgiving ideas that are simple and elegant? Plus, are frozen apple pies worth it? - San Francisco Chronicle
Some people love Thanksgiving dinner, while others love Thanksgiving leftovers. - Boston Globe
Learn how to order wine at a restaurant. - Seattle Times
Michelin just launched their Los Angeles guide book, but is it really accurate? - Los Angeles Times
If your Thanksgiving falls apart, don't worry you're not alone. Here are some great stories of Thanksgivings gone awry. - Houston Chronicle