Thanksgiving

I’m writing this as I sit at our local gym. The employees are talking about Thanksgiving. They said it is the most overrated holiday ever. If I were more bold, I would go over there and tell them I disagree. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Well, one of them. I love that there is a day set aside to consider God’s blessings over us and give thanks to Him. A lot of people eat too much on Thanksgiving. (*raises hand*) That’s the way of it.

Another contention I have with these gym employees: They actually agreed that Thanksgiving food wasn’t that good! Can you believe the gall?! Obviously, they have never been to my house for Thanksgiving. Below are links to the recipes I use for Thanksgiving. I’ve collected recipes for Thanksgiving throughout the years. I’ve added sources where I can, but a lot of them are a combination of recipes from all over or my own creation. And, after you have prepared and served your delicious Thanksgiving meal. DO. NOT. THROW. THE. LEFTOVERS. AWAY!! I repeat, do not throw the leftovers away! (Just don’t!) Scroll down to find another batch of recipes JUST for using up all the leftovers!

I’m okay with eating all day, what bothers me is the tremendous amount of wasted food after Thanksgiving. (Just give me a second to set up my soap box) If this truly is a holiday of humbly thanking God for His blessings to us, it would be a tremendous disservice to throw it in the garbage. (stepping off soap box. Thank you for your time.) Every year, I make the goal NOT to waste any Thanksgiving leftovers. You can do it, too! If you are in charge of Thanksgiving, and by default, the leftovers, check out the links below. Dealt with right, the leftovers can feed your family for many months to come.

Step 1: Let your family eat on all the leftovers until they are fully satisfied (i.e. sick of them). One rookie move, but a good one, is to use the sliced turkey, rolls, and cranberry sauce to make sandwiches.

Step 2: Share what you can with neighbors and friends (side note: I often move this to step 4, and share my new creations with friends and neighbors. The Turkey Carcass Soup, for example, makes a TON! I freeze it in gallon bags stacked in the freezer and take a bag to friends who are sick or need help.)

Step 3: Begin planning meals based on what needs to be used. Plan on making a lot and freezing it. Click on the links below for ideas.