One Deal, Five Meals: Let’s Talk Turkey

Maybe you’ve already purchased another turkey and stored it in your freezer. If not, I want to convince you to go out and buy one this week at a discounted price. Just because you had your fill on roast turkey and mashed potatoes doesn’t mean you have to pass on that incredible deal at the local supermarket. This is the perfect time to stock your freezer full of last-minute meals, soups and casseroles that taste nothing like the Thanksgiving meal from last Thursday. Green bean casserole be gone. We’re breaking out the pomegranates and the alfalfa sprouts.

Here are five ways to turn that post-Thanksgiving turkey, leftover or purchased on sale, into five meals of deliciousness.

1. Gourmet Sandwiches: Turn slices of turkey into sandwiches that are more than your traditional meat and cheese. Different varieties of cheese, hearty bread, garlic aiolis, these are all your friends here.

2. Cream of turkey and wild rice soup: This has always been a favorite of mine. Use the turkey scraps and turn them into a broth for your favorite soup.

3. A make-ahead freezer casserole: This is the perfect thing for those busy nights when you’re running around from basketball practice to hockey practice or even if you just want something quick so you can get on with your holiday shopping.

4. Gingered clementine and pomegranate salad: The Christmas oranges are here, along with just a few more weeks of pomegranates. Turn your turkey into a zangy salad, sure to have you thinking nothing of the sweet potato casserole you previously associated it with.

5. Loads of ideas: There’s no shortage of turkey leftover recipes online. Don’t just use them as leftovers. Use them to take advantage of a good deal and stock up on easy meals as we hunker down for winter.

Turkey Pot Pie: Warm, comforting, creamy
Cranberry-Turkey Enchiladas: New twist on traditional
Turkey Cranberry Sandwich: Grilled with a kick of cranberries
Turkey tetrazzini: My favorite and a great one to freeze