So Thanksgiving is over. You’ve rushed around to prepare all that food, you’ve watched football, you’ve slept off the turkey coma…now just one question remains: what to do with all the leftovers? Well, first of all, step away from the trash bin! There are better ways to polish off all that stuffing. Here are five ideas to help you.
1. Convert them into new recipes
For an idea, check out this yummy casserole that combines stuffing, mashed potatoes, turkey, cranberry sauce, and gravy, all into one!
2. Donate them to a soup kitchen
If you bought more cans of green beans than you actually needed, consider donating the extras to a soup kitchen. As for food you’ve already made? That’s a little trickier. Charity organizations may not accept perishable food items, but hey, it’s worth a shot. Contact your local soup kitchen to find out if they will.
3. Convert into soup and sandwiches
Soup and sandwiches are simple yet tasty solutions. Try this delicious turkey sandwich that utilizes leftover stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy. Or check out the recipe for this turkey chili, which has a special, secret ingredient.
4. Share with elderly neighbors
If a soup kitchen won’t accept your perishables, consider paying it forward to the elders in your neighborhood by offering them a slice of Thanksgiving…especially if they didn’t have a family of their own to share it with. This will not only extend kindness and show you care, but it will also ensure they have extra food in their fridge.
5. Post-Thanksgiving potluck with families and friends
A second Thanksgiving meal? Well, why not? Better yet, get together with family and friends—those you didn’t spend Thanksgiving with—and bring your leftovers to share. That will stave off the food boredom that inevitably strikes after eating something again…and again…and again…and again.