Making the most of leftovers

Turkey Sandwich

If you’re planning a big Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, it’s likely that you’ll have a lot of food and drink left over. Rather than throwing these leftovers away, there are many ways you can use them to save money and reduce waste. Here are a few ideas for using your leftovers:

  1. Make a turkey pot pie using leftover turkey, vegetables, and gravy. Simply roll out a pie crust, place it in a pie dish, and fill with the leftover ingredients. Cover with a second pie crust and bake until the crust is golden brown.
  2. Use leftover ham to make a ham and cheese quiche. Simply beat together eggs, milk, and diced ham, and pour into a pie dish lined with a pie crust. Top with shredded cheese and bake until the quiche is set.
  3. Make a turkey and cranberry sandwich by layering leftover turkey, cranberry sauce, and lettuce on a roll or between two slices of bread.
  4. Use leftover roast potatoes to make a potato and leek soup. Sautรฉ leeks in butter until softened, then add the leftover potatoes and enough chicken or vegetable broth to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender. Purรฉe the soup using an immersion blender or a regular blender, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
  5. Make a leftover turkey curry by sautรฉing onions, garlic, and your choice of curry spices in a large saucepan. Add diced leftover turkey and cook until heated through. Add a can of coconut milk and your choice of vegetables (such as peas, carrots, and bell peppers), and simmer until the vegetables are tender. Serve over rice or with naan bread.
  6. Make a turkey and dumpling stew by adding leftover turkey, vegetables, and broth to a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, and milk to make a dumpling dough. Drop spoonfuls of the dough into the simmering stew, and cook until the dumplings are cooked through and the stew has thickened.
  7. Make a leftover ham and broccoli casserole by layering diced ham, broccoli florets, and cheese in a baking dish. Top with a mixture of breadcrumbs and melted butter, and bake until the casserole is hot and bubbly.
  8. Use leftover roast beef to make a beef and vegetable stir-fry. Simply heat a wok or large frying pan over high heat, and add a little oil. Sautรฉ your choice of vegetables (such as bell peppers, onions, and carrots) until tender, then add diced leftover roast beef and cook until heated through. Serve over rice or noodles.
  9. Make a leftover roast pork and apple pie by rolling out a pie crust and placing it in a pie dish. Fill with diced leftover pork and thinly sliced apples, and top with another pie crust. Brush with an egg wash and bake until the crust is golden brown.
  10. Use leftover roast lamb to make a lamb and lentil soup. Sautรฉ onions and garlic in a large saucepan, then add diced leftover lamb, lentils, and enough broth to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the lentils are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  11. Make a leftover roast chicken and vegetable pie by layering diced roast chicken, vegetables, and gravy in a pie dish lined with a pie crust. Cover with a second pie crust and bake until the crust is golden brown.
  12. Use leftover roast vegetables to make a roasted vegetable frittata. Just beat together eggs, milk, and your choice of leftover vegetables, and pour into a frying pan. Cook over medium heat until the frittata is set, then transfer to a hot oven and bake until the top is golden brown.