Monday, December 08, 2008

Turkey Jive

You don't have any more Thanksgiving leftovers, so memorize this for next year. Promise me.
I was going to make a little turkey hash, but we had this huge pile of leftover mashed potatoes. So I made turkey-potato cakes. Sauteed some onions and celery, chopped up some turkey (and a bonus dash of diced andouille sausage), melded it all into the potatoes, and — brilliant! — used a couple of spoonfuls of leftover turkey gravy as a binder.
The cakes fried up very nicely, as you can see.
You will need Cranky to make you a lovely mayonnaise-free coleslaw.
Lunch is served.

21 comments:

tammy said...

Oh my, that does sound good. And I won't have to wait until next year because I'm making turkey for Christmas.

Kailyn said...

I'll have to keep this in mind if I find myself with leftover mashed potatoes.

peter said...

Yes! Little cakes are the best use of leftovers- so much sexier than soup. Yum.

cookiecrumb said...

Tammy: You are allowed to have turkey for Christmas?
We are having beef, which means Yorkshire pudding, which is why we are having beef.

Kailyn: I must admit, leftover mashed potatoes is something of a rarity chez nous. The secret is the gravy; keep in mind.

Peter: We could all learn from your pretty presentations. I guess I AM learning. And I'm especially impressed by your diligent use (repurposing) of leftovers. Even though j'adore la soupe.

michael, claudia and sierra said...

i love this idea although for some reason i never ever do mashed potatoes...

i'm doing a turkey soon.

Anonymous said...

My mum calls that Turkey Womp, and we have it after xmas, because turkey is an xmas bird round this end of the world.
Also, you had leftover mashed potatoes?????? How is that possible?

cookiecrumb said...

Claudia: OK, this is now officially the mashed potatoes post. You don't do mashed potatoes? Cripes, and I thought we were *friends*. Just do it once, for me, OK? A little butter, a little buttermilk. Lumpy or not, your call. Gravy is fairly important.
:)

Morgan: How Oz. "Womp." Your mum knows her food terms, eh?
Yes, as for the leftover mashed potatoes, I am ashamed. It is puzzling.

pea said...

i *love* potatoes. and cakes made out of them. it is a shame there were no leftovers this year. (i gave them all away.)

kudzu said...

One of my most potent comfort foods is potato pancakes made from leftover m.p.s, mixed with beaten egg, maybe minced scallions, only to thick pancake-batter stage, cooked in butter in a skillet. With a couple of strips of bacon this is a swell breakfast. Or lunch. Or snack. Or, with a salad, a supper.

Anna Haight said...

Brilliant!

cookiecrumb said...

Pea: You are beyond generous, giving your leftovers away.
I remember being a guest at Thanksgiving one year, and the host let me take home all the gravy. About a quart. I think I ate it with a spoon.

Kudzu: Ah, strengthened with an egg. That sounds divine. But if you ever find yourself with a little leftover gray, try stirring it in!

Anna: The dumbest food is always the best. Luckily, this one came out a bit photogenic; it's usually not the case.

kudzu said...

Leftover gravy? Are you insane, woman?

cookiecrumb said...

Kudzu: I know. I'm Mad and I Eat. Sometimes there IS leftover gravy, because I make pints and pints of it. And I will brag that I do not separate the fat from the drippings; I just boldly dump flour into the pan and whisk like crazy. It always works.

Anonymous said...

Cookie, I didn't think there was any other way to make gravey ;)

Moonbear said...

A pretty fine use for leftovers! Pretty. And fine. Like you and your mayonnaise-free cole-slaw-making buddy. Miss you. Would like to see you.

Sweet Bird said...

I really want that in my tummy

cookiecrumb said...

Morgan: Ah! You are one of the brave ones. I'm puzzled by all the trepidation about gravy making, when it's just basically dump-stir. :D

Moonbear: Let's make a date. I'll e-mail.

Birdie: You do. You do.

Ms Brown Mouse said...

I first met my Mr Brown while making gravy!

meathenge said...

OH MAN. oh man. I'm so hungry.

Biggles

cookiecrumb said...

Morgan: How romantic! Was it brown gravy?

Biggles: Do not cruise the food blogs at lunchtime.

Ms Brown Mouse said...

It was gravy from roast lambkins so yes indeedy, brown gravy it was.