Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

Even though (and perhaps especially because) we cook a lot because we're a large family, we try to minimize waste as much as possible. Since Thanksgiving was yesterday, I'm sure like us you have Thanksgiving leftovers that you would like to do something with. Look no further; I’ve put together a list of my favorite recipes that you can use to cut into that mountain of mashed potatoes, stuffing and more.

You can stuff mushrooms with stuffing and make cute appetizers that will disappear in no time. You can blend vegetable casserole into soups.You can also make a thanksgiving leftover casserole with mashed potatoes, use either stuffing, vegetable casseroles or mashed potatoes as a filling in savory tarts. Last but not least, You could always use slices of turkey and cranberry sauce in a sandwich that you can pack while shopping on Black Friday.

Finally, I would like to share with you a joke that my husband Lulu made at the dinner table. I had made some miso gravy for the vegetarians at the house and Lulu exclaimed: "Miso gravy? Mmm Me so hungry!" No one laughed but me; I have to admit I laughed so hard. You might not find it funny but what can I say, maybe that’s the reason why Lulu and I are made for each other. 

Thanksgiving Cupcakes

Cupcakes are a convenient way to serve dessert when you have a large crowd to entertain, say for Thanksgiving. Instead of making traditional Thanksgiving pies, consider preparing cupcakes flavored with pumpkin and chocolate. I frosted these cupcakes with pumpkin buttercream and topped them with cute turkey-themed peel-&-press edible frosting stickers.

I received the stickers from Ticings®. If you’d like to get your hands on some of their holiday-themed decorations to spruce up your baked goods, check out www.ticings.com. We’ll also be giving away Ticings® decorations, along with more than $1,000-worth of merchandise from other companies to PhamFatale readers during our 25 Days of Giveaways in December. Be sure to check back daily to participate!

Pumpkin Mac and Cheese Recipe

As I spent my childhood in France, Thanksgiving wasn't part of our traditional feasts. I’ve come to believe that Thanksgiving is synonymous with an abundance of comfort food. My personal all-time favorite comfort food is mac and cheese, so I tried adapting the dish with the flavors of the holiday season. I added diced pumpkin to the traditional layers of macaroni, white sauce and string-y, melted cheese. The pumpkin infuses a mild sweetness into the dish and really adds another dimension. It also doesn’t hurt that the colors are so reminiscent of Thanksgiving.

Mac and cheese is a great dish that is suitable all year round. You can flavor the dish with your favorite ingredients such as morel mushrooms, red pesto or any combination of cheeses. If pumpkin isn’t your thing, make your own pasta gratin creation; let your imagination run wild!

Cranberry Cream Cheese Stuffed Steak Recipe

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I’m sure many of you have turkey on the brain. For those of you who don’t really much care for turkey meat, here’s a steak recipe that still manages to capture some of the flavors of the season. Specifically, I made a cranberry-flavored cream cheese that I stuffed into the steaks. I was inspired by a chicken recipe I recently made with a filling of Granny Smith apples. The only difference is beef doesn't need to marinate overnight. Allow beef to marinate for at least 15 minutes, but no more than 30 minutes. I used my usual meat tenderizer (green papaya paste).

After stuffing the steaks with cranberry cheese filling, I sealed them with twine. I gave them a quick searing and then transferred the steaks to the oven to bring them to a perfect medium-rare. The cranberries bring a hint of tartness to the beef in addition to fitting perfectly on your (non-traditional) Thanksgiving table.

Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas

It seems unbelievable that we're only a week away from Thanksgiving now. If you haven’t figured out what to prepare for your holiday feast, time is ticking! Never fear though, I’ve compiled a list of my family's favorites that you can mix and match to create an incredible holiday spread. There are traditional and unique recipes for mashed potatoes, stuffing, tons of desserts and more. Enjoy, and good luck!