Christmas 2016 Leftovers Recipes: What To Do With Extra Turkey And Mashed Potatoes After Holiday

Christmas feats are usually filled with a variety of dishes, sometimes featuring more than one family could ever consume in one day. Luckily, there are just as many fun and yummy ways to spruce up Christmas leftovers after the holiday is over. Check out a few Christmas dinner leftovers ideas below:

Potato Cakes: Leftover mash potatoes get a major upgrade with this easy snack. Combine leftover potatoes with one tablespoon of dried minced onion, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper and one cup of matzo meal. Divide mixture into 16 portion, about 1/3 cup per portion, and then pat each portion into 4-inch diameter cakes. Coat each side of the cakes with cooking spray then place in a large nonstick skillet over medium to high heat. Cook for about two minutes on each side or until completely browned on both sides.

Turkey Mornay: Sliced turkey or chicken can be used in this simplified after-Thanksgiving classic. In a medium saucepan, combine a cup of Alfredo sauce with one cup of shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese. Cook the mixture over low heat until the shredded cheese is completely melted, stirring frequently. Add 2-3 cups of sliced cooked turkey or chicken into the mixture and let cook on low heat until the sauce begins to bubble while the oven preheats to broil. Using about five English muffins, place split muffin halves on a broiler sheet, and then add the turkey and cheese sauce over each muffin half. Sprinkle parmesan over the top of each. Broil the muffins for about five to eight minutes or until the sauce bubbles and brown spots appear on top of the sandwiches. If desired, once muffins are cooked and removed from heat, top muffin with a tomato slice and basil for extra flavor.

Jumbo Turkey Samoas: Combine three tablespoons of curry paste, two tablespoons of mango chutney and two tablespoons of natural yogurt in a large mixing bowl. Fold in leftover cooked potatoes turkey (chicken or ham also works in this recipe), peas and one bunch of chopped coriander. While oven is preheating to 400 degrees cut six sheets of filo pastry dough in half lengths, creating 12 strips. Layer up three sheets of filo, brushing a little vegetable oil on each sheet. With a spoon, pour about a quarter of the filling in the top corner of the pastry in a triangle shape. Fold the pastry over to encase the filling, then keep folding until the parcel is sealed and the filo is used up. Brush the final edge with some beaten egg to help the pastry stick together. Repeat to make all four jumbo samosas. Place samosas on a baking sheet and coat with egg wash once again, then pour over one teaspoon of sesame seed. Bake for about 35 minutes.

Orange, Fennel and Wild Rice Salad: Toss chopped carrots with one tablespoon of olive oil and choice seasonings before cooking in an oven set to 350 degrees. While carrots cook for (25 to 30 minutes if fresh, 10 minutes if leftover from Christmas dinner), bring two large pans filled with salted water to a boil. Cook three ounces of mixed basmati wild rice in one pan while two ounces of lentil cooks in the second pot (follow rice and lentil cooking instructions on bag/box). Once cooked, drain the lentils and let both lentils and rice sit aside and cool. Over a large bowl, zest three oranges. Cut away the peel and pith, then cut along each piece of membrane to remove the segments, letting any juices catch in the bowl. Add in two tablespoons of Dijon mustard, zest and juice of one lemon, four tablespoons of olive oil a tablespoon of maple syrup and whisk. Once carrots, lentils and rice have cooled, combine in a bowl and add the dressing mixture. Toss together and serve on a platter.

Triple Chocolate Candy Cane Kisses: In three separate bowls, melt two semisweet, one milk chocolate and one white chocolate bars. Once chocolate is fully melted, stir half cup of crushed candy cane (reserve about two teaspoons for garnish) into the semisweet mixture. Drop teaspoons of the chocolate candy mixture onto a parchment-lined tray. Top each with a dollop of milk chocolate mixture, followed by the white chocolate mixture. Sprinkle with reserved crushed candy cane and let harden in room temperature.