How We Use Holiday Leftovers (With Ideas!) + Storing Leftovers

Getting you ready for later this week...

Happy Monday! We hope you have a wonderful holiday week ahead and get to spend time with those you love. Today, we want to talk about Thanksgiving leftovers and share some creative ways to use them up. Seems like a timely topic!

We also want to share a handy guide to help you safely store and reheat leftovers so you can enjoy them after the big day.

And coming this Wednesday:

• Should dinner be the smallest meal of the day? We give our thoughts.

• Diana covers rules she threw out during pregnancy

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We are taking Friday off to spend time with family, friends and loved ones - we hope you will do the same! But you can look forward to our November Round Up.

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Do you like leftovers? If so, what do you make with your leftover holiday dishes? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!

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How We Use Thanksgiving Leftovers

Dr. Weil:

I tend to make some traditional and some non-traditional dishes for Thanksgiving. Instead of turkey, I typically make salmon for the main entree, which is really easy to use up. I typically just eat it cold the next day, or maybe use it in a wrap or a salmon salad. I do love to make bread stuffing, which holds up well the next day. Brussels sprouts are wonderful hashed in a skillet with garlic and a bit of olive oil. Braised red cabbage is one of my favorite leftover Thanksgiving dishes - it’s great cold. And if I’ve grilled artichokes, I’ll keep them around for snacks or to add to salads.

I love making a chili cranberry sauce that’s excellent spread on wraps.

Diana:

I don’t think there’s any need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to Thanksgiving leftovers, and I have no problem eating these dishes in their original forms. Give me mashed potatoes and gravy, tofurkey, and roasted root vegetables for days! And somehow, pumpkin pie and whipped cream make for the best breakfast (just try adding a protein source, like a scrambled egg on the side, to keep you full a bit longer!). I’ll occasionally make a tofurkey sandwich with cranberry sauce on sourdough bread - a classic!

If you need some creative ways to use up leftovers, however, making a lentil shepherd’s pie with any extra mashed potatoes is delicious. Sauté veggies with cooked lentils and a little veggie broth, then top with the mashed potatoes and bake until slightly browned. Try my dad’s Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie recipe if you feel ambitious!

You can also make potato pancakes by mixing mashed potatoes with an egg, chopped scallions, and a bit of flour. Pan sear until golden, then serve with sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt) and chives.

If you have extra roasted vegetables (or really any vegetable), I love using them up in breakfast burritos. Just add a scrambled egg, or crumbled tofu, a tortilla, sliced avocado, and some salsa. You can also turn them into a healthy bowl by adding a cooked whole grain, baked tofu, and a simple stir-fry sauce.

I also like to mix cranberry sauce with yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit, for a fun and festive parfait!

Safely Storing Leftovers

Love them or hate them, holidays are usually full of leftovers. We both LOVE leftovers because they save time, reduce food waste, and cut down on food costs. Plus, it’s an opportunity to get creative! Below is information on how to safely store common Thanksgiving foods, including how long they will last in the refrigerator or freezer.