Thankful for What We Have: 3 Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes to Indulge in  

By Georgia A. Lewis 邵洛源

10 min read

It's not a Thanksgiving dinner without recipes for divine cranberry sauce, mash potatoes, and some sort of turkey-esque protein there to steal the show. But what happens when all the delicious fixings are not like they used to be the day before? I am here to introduce some exciting thanksgiving leftover hacks. From leftover storage ideas to recipes, it is time to turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into creative new meals with these 3 infused recipes.

Indulge in the leftovers Pollinators, because it is important to be thankful for what we've got and not spend or consume more when we can avoid it. On 11/11 singles day we chatted about intentional consumption of goods...it is time to remind ourselves what Thanksgiving represents.

"While you’re sitting down with your family to enjoy a meal that supposedly commemorates harmony between Indigenous people and colonizers, consider starting a conversation about the plight of Indigenous people today. However, don’t just focus on tragedy – Native Hope, a resource that works with tribal entities to meet various needs, asks non-Native allies to share stories of hope and Native American values, such as appreciation for community and reverence for the environment, to avoid reinforcing stereotypes and shift the narrative to celebrating the richness of Native tradition and modern relevance. Consider using some of the money you would have spent on Black Friday shopping to donate to organizations committed to ending the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, such as Native Hope, MMIW USA or the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women."

- thank you to www.alestlelive.com for providing me with these resources to share with you all today   

Recipe Spotlight: Turkey & Honey Leek Pie 

Prep & Cook time: 1 hour 45 minutes 
Serves ~8 people

Ingredients:

• 2 rashers higher-welfare smoked streaky bacon 
• ½ tablespoon Potli Feel Good Extra Strength Honey  
• ½ bunch fresh thyme, leaves picked 
• Potli Extra Vibrant Olive Oil 
• 4.4 lbs or 2 kg leeks, washed & trimmed 
• sea salt & freshly ground black pepper 
• 28 oz cooked white turkey meat 
• 2 tablespoons plain flour, plus extra for dusting 
• 4 cups turkey, chicken or vegetable stock 
• 2 tablespoons crème fraîche 
• 18 oz or 500 g puff pastry 
• 12 chestnuts, roasted and peeled
• 2 sprigs of fresh sage with the leaves picked 
• 1 free-range egg 

Directions:

1. For this recipe, you will need 28 oz turkey meat ripped into big chunks, leeks washed, trimmed with the white end chopped into chunks & green end finely sliced, and 2 rashers of roughly chopped up bacon. Preheat your oven to 375°F. 
2. Put your bacon in a large pan on a medium heat and add your thyme leaves and ½ tablespoon of Potli Feel Good Extra Strength honey (be sure to keep watch so that the honey does not burn). Add a lug of Potli EVOO olive oil and let it all sizzle for a few minutes. Then add all of your prepped leeks and seer for about 3 minutes. Add a pinch of salt and pepper then place the pan lid on top, turn the heat down to medium and let them cook away gently for 30 minutes, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes. 
3. When your leeks are ready, add the turkey meat to them and stir. If you’ve got a bit of stuffing mixed in there you can put that in too. Add the flour, mix it in well then pour in your stock and stir again. Add the crème fraîche then turn the heat up and bring everything back up to the boil. Have a taste and add a bit more salt and pepper if it needs it then turn the heat off. Pour the mixture through a strainer over another large empty pan and let the gravy from the mixture drip into the pan while you roll out your pastry. 
4. Get a deep baking dish roughly 8 x 12 inches. Dust a clean surface and a rolling pin with a bit of flour and roll your pastry out so it’s about double the size of your dish. Crumble the chestnuts over one half of the pastry then tear a few of the sage leaves over the chestnuts. Fold the other half of the pastry on top then roll it out carefully and evenly so you have a rectangle big enough to cover your baking tray. Don’t worry if a few bits stick out here and there. 
5. Spoon your thick leek mixture from your strainer into the pie dish and spread it out evenly. Lay your pastry on top, tuck the ends under then gently score the pastry diagonally with your knife. Add a pinch of salt to your beaten egg then paint this egg wash over the top of your pastry. 
6. Pop your pie in the oven for about 35 to 40 minutes or until the pastry is puffed up and golden brown. When the pie is ready, reheat the gravy and serve with your pie along with any other cheeky leftover fixings you have your eyes on…

Learned from my favorite: https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/turkey-recipes/turkey-and-sweet-leek-pie/ 

Recipe Spotlight: Shepherd’s Pot Pie Miniatures  

Prep & Cook time: 30 minutes

Serves ~10 mini pies

Ingredients

• Leftover packaged pie crust
• Muffin tin 
• ½ tablespoon Potli Extra Vibrant Olive Oil 
• Grease for greasing pan 
• Thanksgiving leftovers (cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes are necessary!!!)

Directions:

• Preheat your oven to 425°F degrees. Grease a muffin tin.
• Roll out a leftover pre packaged pie crust. Cut into 3 inch circles.
• Place each circle cut out in a greased muffin tin. Add a variety of leftovers in each mini pie & drizzle Potli EVOO over the pies. 
• Bake for 25 minutes or until the crust is nicely browned.
• Remove from the oven and remove from the muffin tin.
• Add a spoonful of leftover cranberry sauce on top and then add a dollop completely on top of each mini pie to finish! Voila!

Recipe Spotlight: A touch of Feel Good, Cranberry Smoothie 

Prep & Cook time: 15 minutes
Serves ~1-2 people

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh pressed apple cider (ideally another thanksgiving leftover potentially…) 

• 1 ½ cups cranberry sauce 

• 2 frozen bananas 

• 1 tablespoon Potli Feel Good Extra Strength Honey

• Dash of Cinnamon 

Directions:

This smoothie, another morning-after recipe, couldn't be easier to make. Blend the ingredients above and add to taste!

For the Dream & Feel Good, shop below!