3 Fun Ways to use Thanksgiving Turkey Leftovers

No matter how much you enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, there are only so many turkey sandwiches you can eat afterwards. I find that converting leftovers into a whole new meal helps keep them interesting.

Here are three ideas to help you make fast use of your leftover bird while keeping the whole family happy.

Turkey Quesadillas: Combine shredded turkey and Applegate natural monterey jack cheese on a whole wheat tortilla, fold in half and cook in a skillet until cheese is melted. Serve with cranberry salsa.

Curried Turkey Wraps: Heat 1/4 cup chopped onion in a teaspoon of olive oil over medium heat. When translucent, stir in 1 cup shredded cooked turkey and 1 tablespoon curry powder. Cook, stirring, until turkey is warmed through. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup halved grapes. Arrange on whole wheat tortillas with shredded romaine lettuce, roll up and serve.

Turkey Samosas: Kids love learning about other countries, and introducing global flavors to the dinner table is a highly effective way of encouraging them to try something new. These Indian-inspired samosas are filled with leftover turkey and mashed potatoes. By using egg roll wrappers instead of the traditional dough, and baking instead of frying, they are fast to make and a little lighter than typical samosas.

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Turkey Samosa Recipe:
Makes 8

Ingredients:

• 8 eggroll wrappers
• 1 1/2 cups mashed potatoes
• 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1 cup cooked turkey, chopped
• 1/4 cup onion, chopped
• 1/2 tablespoon curry powder
• Water

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Combine mashed potatoes and peas in a bowl. In a separate bowl, stir together turkey, onion and curry powder.
3. Place one egg roll wrapper on work surface. Mound a heaping tablespoon of potato/pea mixture in the center. Top with a tablespoon of turkey mixture. Dip finger in water and moisten the edges of the wrapper. Fold up the top and bottom, pressing together seams, then fold in the sides to form a pyramid shape. Place on baking sheet and repeat with remaining wrappers.
4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown.