The Last Hurrah – Thanksgiving Leftovers

Bad news folks, that food leftover from Thanksgiving? It’s about to expire. Yep, it’d better be eaten or it better get gone.  So this weekend, I ate the family and I have been eating the heck out of Thankgiving leftovers.  We’ve made frittatas, we’ve made mashed potato and stuffing cakes, and today I’ve had turkey sandwiches for lunch and dinner.

‘But I ain’t complaining.  Because they were fabulous.   And paired with Mashed Potato Soup (think Loaded Potato Soup without the chopping)…. um,DELICIOUS.  Makes me wish it was the day after Thanksgiving every day.

I hope you have just enough leftovers to make this Turkey, Swiss and Cranberry Panini and Loaded Mashed Potato Soup.

Turkey, Swiss and Cranberry Panini

Layer shredded Swiss Cheese, sliced roasted turkey, a little more Swiss and a smear of cranberry sauce on a between two pieces of sourdough bread.  Melt butter on a griddle or panini grill and cook sandwiches until bread is golden and cheese is melted.

Confession: That's actually mashed up mashed potato cakes going into the soup. Yep, I'm re-using leftovers.

Loaded Mashed Potato Soup

Brown four slices of chopped bacon in a soup pot over medium heat.  Remove bacon once brown, and keep fat in the pot.  Add two tablespoons of butter and one cup of shredded carrots.  Stir until butter is melted and toss in three tablespoons of flour.  Cook for one minute and add three cups of milk and two cups of chopped broccoli.  Bring to a boil, stirring constantly then reduce to a simmer.  Add three cups of mashed potatoes, shredded cheese (to texture and taste), and salt and pepper.  Cook on medium heat until warmed through, then mix in 1/2 cup of sour cream.  Ladle in to bowls and serve with bacon and hot sauce (if desired).