Turkey Time - Leftovers!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving day! (US residents!) Now what to DO with all that left over turkey?? I personally am not a fan of the turkey, growing up we had Cornish game hens every year ... but that is a recipe for a different post!

Hubby loves the turkey - so he cooks the turkey every year. I am in charge of left overs. Never having had it growing up - this was hard for me. So I asked around. Here are some of the recipes I received. If you have more, please feel free to post them in the comment section!

This is my favorite one. I don't each much soup but this has so much yummness in it ... that is more like liquid dinner. Just YUMM!

LEFTOVER TURKEY SOUP (this ones all me!)
1 or 2 carcasses with lots of meat
water (cover bones)
1-2 c. chopped celery
1-2 c. chopped carrots
1 c. white rice mostly cooked rice (or leftovers if you have them)
Use all leftover vegetables you have in your refrigerator
Use all leftover gravy and dressing (I leave this part out - but it part of the original recipe so I include it for you to try)
Break up carcass and place in a large pot. Cover with water and simmer until all meat is off the bones. Skim off fat and remove bones and skin. Now, add all the above ingredients to the pot and let simmer for an hour or so. Add salt, pepper, and favorite spices to your taste. Freeze leftovers - they're good anytime (use before 3-4 years).

TURKEY ENCHILADAS: (just like my Chicken Enchiladas - but with turkey leftovers, this is hubbys special once a year treat!)
Ingredients:
Corn tortillas
Shredded Turkey
Jack Cheese (grated – big pile)
White medium sized Onion (coarsely chopped)
Green Enchilada Sauce (I like LaVictoria best) – Big can-

Layer-
Sauce
Tortillas
Onions
Turkey
Cheese
Sauce
Tortillas
Cheese
Sauce
Tortillas
Sauce (pour the rest of the can out here)
Cheese-add sliced olives on top and maybe sliced avocados!
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 mins to 45 mins until cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling on the side
Let cool and serve with a side salad, vanilla ice-cream would follow this meal good if looking for a dessert.

TURKEY WRAPS- (from Leanne)
Left over turkey
Mayo
Cranberry sauce
Bacon
Lettuce
and Cheese

Throw it all in a tortilla, roll and they are yummy!

TURKEY PIZZA- (from Heather)
1 Boboli pizza crust
1 can of whole berry cranberry sauce
left over turkey
shredded Monterrey jack cheese
chopped green onions
Spread cranberry sauce on Boboli, top with turkey and green onions. Sprinkle on cheese and bake at 350 degrees until the cheese is hot and bubbly!

GRILLED TURKEY AND CHEDDAR SANDWICH (from Mairia)
I like to use a thicker whole wheat bread for this. My personal fave is Roman Mean Sungrain Bread.

Sprinkle skillet with salt of choice or even better sprinkle with Ranch Dressing Mix Powder from Hidden Valley (I cook with this a lot in place of salt)
Lightly butter one side of two pieces of bread.
Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the buttered side of the bread.
Lay one piece of bread in skillet butter side down.
Add a slice of cheddar cheese on the bread.
Now add your turkey either thinly sliced or in small chunks.
Add another slice of cheddar cheese to bread then lay 2nd piece of bread over it butter side up.

Cook in skillet until bread is golden brown on the bottom then turn. If you have a lid for the skillet use it for a minute to help melt the cheese.
The sand is done when both pieces of bread are browned to taste.
Serve with desired condiments! (I personally like mustard!)

- We make sandwiches, turkey noodle soup, BBQ Turkey sands, Grilled Ranch turkey sands or salads, turkey and cheese omelets.. well as you can see.. just about anything!

TURKEY LOGS (from Lanna)
Mix two cups turkey with half a package of cream cheese (or light cream cheese). Add 1 cup grated cheese (any kind) and ½ cup bacon bits. Add spices to taste (garlic, onion powder, salt, pepper, Mrs. Dash, basil, oregano, rosemary, etc.).

In Pillsbury crescent roll dough, place 1/3 cup scoop in each triangle and roll into a ball, sealing the openings so the turkey mixture is entirely encased in the dough. Bake according to crescent package directions (about 425 for 13-15 minutes, I think). Top with melted cheese sauce, if desired. Serve with pilaf or wild rice.

Do NOT put lemon pepper in it. It doesn’t taste good. And, don’t add all the above-mentioned spices. Taste as you go and remember the flavors will get stronger as it sits and melds.

TURKEY SLIDERS (from Tracy)
Left over rolls (I had Hawaiian sweet rolls and regular white)
Left over turkey
Left over cranberry sauce
Dijon mustard (I used honey dijon)

Cut the rolls in half add some turkey and mix cranberry sauce with dijon mustard to taste and spead it on the roll. YUMMMM!

TURKEY QUICHE (from Louise)
4 eggs
1 ¼ half & half or heavy cream
Chopped turkey meat
½ cup cheese of your choice
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
Small can of diced green chilis (optional)
Chopped parsley or cilantro (optional)
¼ of a medium onion finely chopped (optional)

You can even use some frozen vegetables if you have them on hand. Quiche is so versatile.
Also you can make your own pie crust, buy a frozen pie crust, I prefer the homemade but the Pillsbury roll out ones in the refrigerator section of the grocery store are good too.
Bake at 400 for 40 minutes, yum!!