Most of us are used to friends and family showing up for Thanksgiving dinner empty-handed but leaving with bags full of Tupperware dishes and foil filled with food and desserts. Even after people have taken food home it is not uncommon for there to be a lot of Thanksgiving dinner left behind. Although you may love Thanksgiving Day food, you only want to eat it a few times and probably do not want to just throw it out. If you are faced with this dilemma after Thanksgiving, try some of these quick recipes using your leftovers instead of throwing away good food.


Leftover Turkey and Dressing Casserole

Leftover turkey and dressing does not have to go to waste with this simple recipe that is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Ingredients:
4 cups prepared turkey dressing
2 cups cooked cut up or sliced turkey
1 ¾ to 2 cups prepared turkey gravy
1/3 cup jellied or whole cranberry sauce, cubed

Preparation:
• Butter bottom and sides of 2-quart baking dish; arrange half of the dressing in bottom of dish.
• Add half of the turkey then half of the gravy; Repeat layers.
• Top with cubes of cranberry sauce; bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.


Baked Turkey Sandwich

Use some of your leftover turkey to bake these great tasting sandwiches.

Ingredients:
¼ cup finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon poppy seed
8 Kaiser rolls, split
1 ½ pounds, thinly sliced turkey
8 slices Swiss cheese

Preparation:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a small pan, sauté onion in olive oil until tender; Let cool for 10 minutes.
• Mix butter, mustard, onion mixture, and poppy seed in a small bowl and spread over cut sides of rolls.
• Fill rolls with turkey and cheese (it can be any kind of cheese you choose).
• Wrap each sandwich in aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes until each are hot and the cheese is melted.

Cranberry Meatballs

This recipe is perfect for that leftover dish of cranberry sauce.

Ingredients:
48 frozen cooked meatballs
½ cup cranberry sauce
¼ cup orange juice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/8 tablespoon white pepper

Preparation:
• Bake the meatballs according to package directions until well heated.
• In a large saucepan, combine cranberry sauce, orange juice, brown sugar and pepper.
• Cook over medium heat about 5 minutes until bubbly.
• Add meatballs to sauce and stir.
• Service with toothpicks.

No longer do you have to worry about what to do with the leftovers. Use these recipes and add your own twist to them.

Detroit-based Southern Hospitality Restaurant Group owns and operates Seldom Blues Restaurant and Jazz Supper Club in the Renaissance Center, Detroit’s Breakfast House & Grill @ Merchants Row in the heart of Campus Martius, and the Motown Soul Food Café in New Center.