Thanksgiving Leftovers: Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Shepherd's pie is my way of turning two Thanksgiving leftover dishes into one beautiful, delicious meal. We always have excess mashed potatoes and turkey and this is a great way to give them a second (or third in the case of the turkey) life.

To start, I make a brunoise, which is a blend of same-sized and shaped diced leeks, turnips, carrots. Tomatoes and shredded leftover turkey are also added to complete the mixture.

Layered over the turkey brunoise is a generous helping of fluffy mashed potatoes. A sprinkle of Dubliner cheese seals the dish. Finally, shepherd's pie is baked until golden. Voilà!! I actually prefer this to the original roast turkey. It’s got such an intense flavor and a wonderful contrast of textures and colors. It may be called shepherd’s pie, but it is a dish fit for a king.

Pumpkin Mousse Recipe

I’ve made a lot of desserts and drinks with pumpkin in the past. It’s a very versatile ingredient. Recently, I added pumpkin mousse to the list of pumpkin dishes I've tried, and I have to say, it came out wonderfully. It's denser than your typically mousse due to the thickness of pumpkin purée.

Compared to a pumpkin pie, the mousse is more subtly flavored, but still captures the essence of this quintessential Thanksgiving ingredient. Individually served in small cups or more generously in a parfait cup, pumpkin mousse would make an elegant addition to any Thanksgiving dinner table.

Stuffed Mushroom Recipe

Making stuffed mushrooms is a great way to put stale bread to use. I served soup the other night and we had 2 leftover rolls, so I decided to make a plate of these savory treats. To start, I sautéed a few vegetables, including zucchini, bell peppers, celery and carrots. You can use whatever you want, but it's a good idea to choose colorful ingredients. Once the vegetables were cooked, I added the bread, a little vegetable broth and fromage blanc. In case you were wondering, the fromage blanc helps keep the top moist even after the stuffed mushrooms are baked. To complete the dish, I topped the mushrooms with sharp Cheddar cheese. 

I didn't add any additional spices, because the bread was already studded with chiles. Otherwise, a little heat is a nice touch to balance the flavor. One final bit of advice: make a bunch of these. They go fast!

Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan Crumb Topping

Sweet potato pie is a classic American dessert that is not overly sweet. The texture is similar to a pumpkin pie, but firmer. I jazzed mine up with a little anise extract, other flavorings and a crown of pecan crumb topping. It's a great pie for Thanksgiving, but really, you can enjoy it any time of the year.

I made this for a reader named Bill who e-mailed me a request for a sweet potato pie recipe. If you're reading Bill, I hope you like it!

Cranberry Apple Oatmeal Crisp

This recipe is a riff on a classic apple crisp. If you've been reading my posts lately, you'll know that I've been on a bit of a quest to find creative ways to utilize our Thanksgiving leftovers. A cranberry apple crisp seemed like the perfect destiny for the leftover cranberries the fridge.

It's an incredibly easy recipe to make. If you have cranberry sauce, then all you really need to do is to add a sweetener, prepare the topping and bake the individual servings in the oven. They are great for intimate holiday parties.