Thanksgiving and Leftovers

We had Thanksgiving at our house this year, and it went really well. This was what I made:

Smoked Turkey (brined) from Tea Hills Farm
Cornbread and Chorizo Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Turkey and Cider Gravy
Cranberry-Apple Relish
Emeril’s Oh Baby! Carrots
No Knead Seed Bread
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (Jeni Britton’s Recipe)

and guests brought:

Green Beans
Seven-layer salad
Homemade Pumpkin, Apple and Pecan Pies (all very yummy!)

Pretty much everything turned out really well, especially the turkey and the ice cream. The meat was moist and bursting with smoke flavor, and the ice cream was perfectly textured and intensely infused with vanilla bean. The one iffy item was the gravy, especially in terms of texture. I could really use a fat separator if I want to try that one again, as the chicken fat had broth dissolved in it and the drippings were loaded with fat. Fortunately, everything was moist and flavorful so I don’t think it was missed too much.

With only nine people (including three young-ish kids) we had a lot of leftovers.

The first recipe I came up with was quesadillas with smoked turkey, pepper jack, sauteed mushrooms & green peppers. We didn’t have tortillas on hand, so I made some. It turned out really well, and the smoke flavor added a lot.

Here are some other ideas I’m planning on trying that sound good:

• Turkey and Goat Cheese Spinach Salad, using the cranberry sauce as a base for vinegar / balsamic dressing and toasted bread cubes for croutons.
• Shepherd’s Pie (from the Today Show)
• Proscuitto, Turkey and Blue Cheese Crepes topped with cranberry sauce.
• Vegetable Fettuccine (from the Today Show)
• Turkey Fingers (breaded and fried) with Cranberry-Spiked Barbecue Sauce.
• Turkey Croquettes with Cranberry Vinaigrette (it’s the fourth item down)

Any other good ideas would be appreciated!

And, in the spirit of the holiday, thanks to all of our loyal readers! I am often surprised (and humbled) by how many people I meet or hear about that follow our blog.