Tasty Ideas for Leftovers - Two Meals from One

When you prepare a large meal that includes turkey, beef or ham, where do the leftovers usually end up? For many folks the quick answer is 'sandwiches for the week', but if you'd like to find a way to make two meals at once then this may be just what you're looking for.

All it takes is a bit of planning, and your family won't even know you've used leftover meat to create a second meal. Meal planning of this type is quickly becoming more and more popular as busy families look for ways to get a good dinner on the table and still not spend hours in the kitchen. You'll save time by using meat that you've already cooked to make a wonderful, week-night meal for your family.

What type of first recipe should you look for that will lend itself to a second dish? Select an entrée that isn't spicy or highly seasoned. This will prevent the meat from competing with the taste of the second recipe. Turkey or chicken are ideal first entrees because the flavor lends itself easily with many seasonings. Casseroles are also a quick and easy way to make use of leftover pork, poultry or beef, but you can surely use your imagination to find other creative ways to incorporate leftover meats into second meals. Add leftover meats to salads, soups and pasta salads for very simple and easy week day ideas.

The following recipes are delicious ideas for using roasted turkey in two family dinners. Keep in mind that if you aren't able to prepare the second dish within a few days, just freeze the meat for later.

First Meal - Easy Roasted Turkey

1 - 12lb turkey
Salt and pepper
1 apple, halved
1 small onion, halved
4 celery tops
1 clove garlic, halved
Melted butter

Remove giblets and neck from turkey. Rinse turkey with gold water and pat dry. Sprinkle cavity and outside of turkey with salt and pepper. Place the apple, onion, celery tops, and garlic into cavity. Brush turkey all over with melted butter; place on roasting pan, breast side up. Place meat thermometer in meatiest part of turkey, make sure not to touch bone. Bake at 325F until thermometer reaches 185F or about 3-3 ½ hours. If turkey gets too brown before done, cover loosely with aluminum foil. When turkey reaches doneness remove to serving platter and let stand for 20 minutes before carving.

Second Meal - Weeknight Turkey Stroganoff

8 oz uncooked egg noodles
2 c cubed cooked turkey
1 - 4.5 oz jar sliced mushrooms, drained
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 c sour cream
1 - 2oz jar diced pimientos, drained

Cook noodles and drain. In a big skillet, combine turkey, mushrooms and soup, mix well. Cook over medium heat until bubbly, stir often. Stir in sour cream and pimientos. Cook until heated through making sure not to boil. Serve turkey mixture over noodles.

For more delicious quick and easy dinner ideas and easy crock pot recipes please visit 'Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes' quickandeasydinnerrecipes.blogspot.com and 'Family Crock Pot Recipes' familycrockpotrecipes.com

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