By Glenn Morel

Admit it, you know darn well that Thanksgiving leftovers are better than the holiday day for which they were prepared. You get to attend family feasts in hopes of being sent home with care packages. Or…you simply want the best part of the feast first and easy. This is a great idea if you are alone or just two of you or if you’re simply over “the other” dry meat.

I could save the unsung hero, the turkey and mayonnaise sandwich on white bread to the very end of this article, however, I do not want to be looking at the turkey in the corner of the room.

You know where they make the turkey and then the next morning you have a turkey and mayonnaise sandwich and that’s better than the actual turkey on Thanksgiving.  Or it is the middle of the night, and you wake up and there’s some more casserole or stuffing leftover that lives between you and a glass of water (or the bathroom) and the fridge. We all pay the fridge a midnight visits sometime.

That is the best part, so why not make Thanksgiving dinner as if it was all about leftovers? Or you can wait like Pilgrims until the following day.

What would you do with your turkey if your turkey was already leftovers for your main course?

MY TURKEY SANDWICH

Take two slices of fresh white bread. Layer generous slices of leftover turkey. Add a dollop of   mayonnaise. Top it off with lettuce or any other leftover greens for a refreshing crunch. And then…most importantly add a SLICE of cranberry sauce. Enjoy the savory goodness that surpasses the original Thanksgiving turkey.

What would you do with leftover green bean casserole because it’s leftover?

MY GREEN BEAN LEFTOVER GREEN BEAN CASSAROLE

Mix the leftover green bean casserole with cooked pasta. Sprinkle some  cheese on top. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.  Voila!

And let us not forget about the stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and more. The beauty lies in their versatility. Simply heat them up and pair them with anything you desire. Let your creativity guide you in crafting a unique leftover feast that rivals the original holiday spread.

JUST HEAT THAT UP AND SPREAD IT ON ANYTHING!

You get the point, and you can reverse cook your own traditional meal…I think.

You can turn all those main dishes and sides into what they will become and serve and eat that first without guilt. November 29^th the refrigerator remains the black market of holiday munchy spell goodness for everyone sleeping under your roof.

Apart from pie, the rest of the meal in its leftover form can be prepared 24 hours before my guests and I totally attack it. So, why not make Thanksgiving all about the anticipation of leftovers? Embrace the magic of repurposing your holiday dishes into delightful creations that bring joy to your taste buds. In the end, the waiting game for the perfect moment to savor those leftovers is just as satisfying as the feast itself. Either way I’ll be sitting here with a belly full of tryptophan, sugar and my father’s favorite red wine.

I’m thankful for memories of patiently waiting for my brothers to get off the most comfortable chair in the living room without a well staked claim. “I am just going to sit here and rest my eyes for a bit. He will see…I’m not even paying attention to that left over Lazyboy chair with those electronic human Sloth features.”

See…same results.

About the Author: Glenn Morel is a producer turned chef. His website is www.ifihadachef.com. With experience in restaurants from Florida to Manhattan, he specializes in bringing his clients their very own personal chef for any special event. In addition to private parties of 12 (or more-or-less), he also offers catering for small and large groups. Chef Glenn works with you to create a customized menu and first-class event.