by Annette Bromley

Created on: November 28, 2010

WHAT TO DO WITH THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS

Thanksgiving is over, the guest have gone home and you've stored all the leftover food away for another day.  You sit back and relax and thumb through the latest magazines looking for different recipies to use up all that extra food before it expires.  Of course you can always make up individual meals and freeze them up for one of those days when you are too much in a rush to cook.  That works and I do that, but not with all of it.

Every year the day after Thanksgiving I look in the refrigerator and groan, what am I supposed to do with all these leftovers?  Of course there are always turkey sandwiches, both hot and cold, that delicious turkey soup or stew and the usual array of casseroles.  There are lots of things you can cook up from all that leftover turkey, stuffing and vegetables now stacked in the refrigerator but after a day of stuffing ourselves like the turkey, something light, flavorful and nutritious seems more the order of the day.  How about a nice turkey salad, a tossed turkey salad?  It works for me. Tossed Turkey Salad goes wonderful with one of those yummy leftover sweet potato rolls or a slice of crusty bread, maybe a side of steamed rice and a tall glass of iced tea or your favorite beverage.  It is a great way to use up some of that leftover turkey meat, taste great, it is very good for you and it will fill you up without leaving you feeling stuffed like last Thursday’s turkey.  This wonderful salad contains everything you need in a healthy meal.  Here is how to make it.

TOSSED TURKEY SALAD

In a bowl combine and whisk together until well blended

3 Tbsp. Cider Vinegar

3 Tbsp. Orange juice

2 Tbsp. Orange zest

2 Tbsp. Light Olive or Canola oil

1 Tbsp. Sesame seed

1/2 tsp. ground Ginger

1/4 tsp. Chili powder

1/8 tsp. ground Black pepper

Add

2-3 Cups cubed cooked leftover Turkey Meat

2 Cups Orange, Tangerine or Clementine sections

1 Cup dried Cranberries

1/2 Cup seedless Raisins

1/2 Cup chopped Walnuts

1 Red Bell Pepper slivered

1 stalk Celery chopped

1/4 Cup slivered onion

Toss until all ingredients are well coated.

Cover and allow chilling for 1/2 to 1 hour or more to blend flavors.

Serve over a bed of crisp salad greens with a side of cooked rice.

This combination of fruits, vegetables, spices and the protein of the meat and nuts makes this meal not only delicious but also highly nutritious and one I think the whole family will enjoy…And it is a healthy way to use up those leftovers.

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