Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year filled with food and family and friends. If you’re like us, there are at least one or two dishes special to the holiday you think about all year long. But with lots of food and multiple gatherings comes lots of leftovers and that turkey and dressing can get a little old after you’ve had five or six times in a week.
In this article, we’re going to go over some creative ways you can make the most out of your Thanksgiving leftovers using appliances found in every kitchen.
Using the Oven to Transform Leftover Turkey Into Something More
While the oven is where most of your Thanksgiving leftover got their start, think outside the box for this one. Sure you could heat everything up in there, but you could also transform that turkey into something that doesn’t feel like Thanksgiving at all. From pot pies to enchiladas to sliders, your turkey will be transformed. Mashed potatoes can be incorporated into dinner rolls, cranberry sauce can become delicious cranberry-orange rolls for breakfast, and leftover butter nut squash can be disguised in delicious macaroni and cheese.
Transform Sweet Treats with Your Blender
While it can be hard to get tired of pie, it’s not impossible. Whether your favorite is pumpkin or pecan, turn them into a delicious milkshake with the help of your blender! Throw in a slice of your favorite pie, some milk, ice cream, top with whipped cream or a delicious caramel drizzle, and you’ve got a new take on a classic.
Use Your Stovetop and Freezer to Make the Most of Your Meal
One of the most valuable pieces of the Thanksgiving meal often gets thrown away. What is it you ask? The turkey bones. While it’s not something we always think about, those bones can easily be turned into broth or stock on your stovetop or in your instant pot with some herbs and vegetable scraps left over from the holiday and stored in your freezer for months to come.
If you want to take it a step further, you can use your stock or broth to make turkey soup (you can use up some of that leftover turkey and maybe a few veggies too). You can then freeze the soup for an easy meal to pull out when you don’t have much time to cook.