If you’re like me, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, every year, is blurry. It seems like there is never enough time to prepare for the holidays. Our immune system collapses and stress increases. During this time, I try to find shortcuts to make things less stressful for me. Leftover turkey is a mandatory part of this strategy. Even if the family dinner is not at my place, I buy a turkey. During the Christmas season, it is very inexpensive and a lifesaver.
Here are three light, simple, and easy ways to use leftover turkey:
1 turkey quesidillas. Drizzle a whole wheat flour tortilla with Butter Pam. Place in a skillet and sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese, chopped turkey pieces, and sliced green onion. Place another tortilla on top and drizzle with Butter Pam. Brown on both sides until the cheese is melted. You can add some chopped olives or jalapeno peppers if you like. Serve with sauce.
2 Spinach and turkey salad. Toss in: minced turkey, bacon flavored almonds, dried cranberries, and fresh spinach. Serve with your favorite vinaigrette or honey mustard salad dressing.
3 Turkey Soup. I cook the turkey carcass the weekend after Thanksgiving. You can either do that or use canned chicken broth, ground turkey, and a bag of your favorite frozen veggies. Pour everything into a skillet and heat until the vegetables are crisp and tender, about fifteen to twenty minutes. Serve with a good whole wheat bread.
While I still love hot open turkey sandwiches and all the Thanksgiving leftovers, these quick and easy meals provide a break in more ways than one. We are constantly bombarded with food and treats during this time of year. It is good to intersperse light dinners with heavier meals. All of these dinners can be prepared in thirty minutes or less. When we get home, after work or shopping, or usually both, a light meal that requires almost no effort is a welcome relief. Having a light meal, once or twice a week, also helps keep calories from skyrocketing. So, give yourself a break, during the busiest time of the year. Your mind and body will thank you.