These Ain’t Your Mama’s Leftovers

    If you’re anything like the 3 broads (and you’re probably not), you probably spent the majority of last week preparing delcious, gormet, and completely over-the-top thanksgiving meals for your nearest and dearest. Ah, the smell of the roasting turkey, the homemade dressing, the apple pie…not to mention the children quietly stirring the cranberry sauce on the stovetop and dear Uncle Jerry getting just a little sauced on that carefully selected wine (I personally prefer Gewurztraminer, a delicious German wine that’s just slightly spicey. It pairs beautifully with the turkey!).

     This year (as every other year) I bought an organic, locally raised turkey from the farmers’ market. I like the knowledge that my turkey is as natural as possible. Sure, you may pay a little bit more, but isn’t your peace of mind worth it? It takes a little extra skill to know when your turkey is done (no tacky “buttons” to pop up telling the lazy turkey cook that it’s ready) but since you’re basting it every seven and a half minutes anyway, it’s really not hard to keep an eye on it.

    I was also able to buy almost every other item I needed for this delectable meal at the farmers’ market as well. It feels good to give back to your neighbors, and it tastes delicious too boot.

    Unfortunately I was far too busy preparing this meal for my family to stop and take photos as I usually do, but I realized that Thanksgiving Dinner doesn’t end after the china has been washed, it ends when the leftovers finally disappear!  Now, since we got a 37 lb bird this year we have a little less than usual (we usually try to get a bird at least 40 lbs or more so that we’ll be sure to have plenty for turkey soups, sandwiches, and homemade jerky), but we’re still able to enjoy Thanksgiving even after the day has passed.

     I’ve always found that people tend to get lazy after Thanksgiving when it comes to their turkey, and I don’t understand why. All of a sudden it’s okay to toast a couple pieces of bread, slather on some mayo or gravy, toss a handful of turkey on top and that’s that. Why is that okay? I say that leftovers should be treated with just as much respect as the dinner originally did, and over the years I’ve come up with some interesting ways to enjoy that leftover turkey and use up leftover ingredients at the same time.

     So, may I humbly present, the classic Turkey Veggie Pita:  

Did your Mama ever do THIS?

     This is a favorite in my house, and I must say, I outdid myself when I came up with this recipe. It’s fairly simple (if you’re awesome), but absolutely delicious and perfect for those overstuffed bellies.

     You’ll need a whole grain pita, spicey honey mustard, vegetables (I’ll get into specifics later), and, of course, turkey. Hubby likes to put stuffing on his as well, and the kids have occassionally put some of my world famous cranberry sauce on theirs, but I like to stick to the basics when it comes to mine.

     First, cut open your pita. An easily forgotten step, but an important one. Then you need to put in your turkey. Hopefully it’s moist and savory like mine is, but if not, don’t worry: that’s what mayonaise is for. You’re welcome to put some on the inside of the pita if you’re worried about it being too dry.

     After you’ve filled your pita with turkey (be careful not to overstuff!), you get to choose your vegetables. I usual set up a “Veggie Bar” so my family can pick and choose what they want and assemble their pitas themselves. I’ve found that this unconventional serving style is particularly popular with the younger set. I usually have fresh cabbage (leftover from the homemade coleslaw), shredded carrots, tomatoes, and sprouts. Make sure you cut the cabbage finely, the texture makes all the difference. If you have leftover veggies floating around your refrigerator feel free to use those as well, although your sandwich probably still won’t be as good as mine.

     Fill your pita up with your chosen veggies, and when you’re done, drizzle some of that spicey honey mustard over the top. It will give it an unexpected bite, and it balances the freshness of the cabbage and carrots out perfectly. Doesn’t it look amazing?

Please don't drool on your keyboard.

     So next time you see those leftovers lurking in the back of your refrigerator, don’t take the lazy way out, take the delicious one instead! Enjoy!