There will be individual project pictures and links to what everyone else has to offer at the end of my post, but here’s a peek at what we all came up with:
I made Thanksgiving Croquettes:
Thanksgiving Croquettes
I know, you expected the recipe of a dish I serve on Thanksgiving. Not today. Mostly because of what I explained in my last blog post Sweet Red Hot Pretzel Snacks: Secret Subject Swap (you read it, didn't you?). Just in case you didn't, I'll give you the Cliffs Notes (pay attention, there'll be a test).
As family gatherings go, Thanksgiving is a favorite. It's a day for family, friends and food. But for the list maker, shopper, sous chef, cook and baker (all the same person, btw), it's a lot of work. My favorite time of Thanksgiving day is when the turkey's in the oven and it's too early to be prepping the side dishes, my respite in the day. We have a fire in the fireplace and sit together with cocktails and snacks, talking and laughing and partially watching football. It's the part of the day when I'm engaged more as a family member than as the chef.
Since I've already posted so many favorite recipes from this holiday over the years and even done a round up of Thirty Thanksgiving Recipes, I'm going to share a recipe today from another favorite time associated with the celebration. Leftovers.
The weekend after Thanksgiving we have leftovers. It's a more casual day than the holiday itself and so much less work for me. Part of the fun, the challenge of this particular family gathering is reinventing the leftovers into something new. After much thought I've decided that this year I'll be making Thanksgiving Croquettes. Although it's an easy dinner, calling for precooked leftovers, you can easily adapt it for other times of the year, just "doctor up" a box stuffing mix and use chicken instead of turkey. The directions are in the recipe below.
Start by gathering your ingredients:
Mix, form balls and refrigerate. I actually do this the day before so all I have to do the next day is saute the croquettes.
Cook in a saute pan:
And serve. Easy peasy. Perfect for enjoying some family time the weekend after Thanksgiving.
As always, any time you make one of my recipes, feel free to post a picture of it to my Baking In A Tornado Facebook Page. I'd love to see it!
Be sure to visit all of this month's other Blog With Friends projects:
Dawn of Spatulas on Parade shares her recipe for Turkey Soup.
Lydia of Cluttered Genius shares how to make a DIY Kids’ Travel Pillow.
Melissa of My Heartfelt Sentiments shares Grateful Hearts, scrapbook layouts and cards for expressing gratitude.
Thanksgiving Croquettes
©www.BakingInATornado.comPrintable Recipe
Ingredients (makes about 12 - 14):
2 - 2 1/2 cups leftover stuffing (see note below if you don't have enough leftover stuffing), cold
2 eggs
1 1/4 - 1 1/2 cups leftover cooked turkey (can substitute chicken), cold
1/4 cup corn niblets
1/4 cup whole cranberry sauce OR 3 TBSP jellied cranberry sauce mashed plus 2 TBSP cranraisins
1/4 cup sliced almonds
vegetable oil
butter
Directions:
*NOTE: if you don't have enough leftover stuffing, make a box of stuffing mix using chicken broth instead of water and adding in shredded carrot and chopped green onion.
*Chop the leftover turkey into small pieces.
*Mix together the stuffing, eggs, turkey, corn, cranberry sauce and almonds. Using your hands, roll into about 2 - 3 inch balls and place in fridge for an hour (or wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate up to a day).
*Heat 2 TBSP of vegetable oil and 1 TBSP butter in a large sauce pan over medium heat until hot. Add 5 stuffing balls and immediately press down with a spatula to form a patty. Cook for 5 - 8 minutes.
*Gently flip over and cook the other side about 5 minutes. Remove to paper towels to drain. Keep warm while cooking the remaining croquettes. You may need to add more vegetable oil and butter between batches.
I like this idea of a croquette! Just fry up some deliciousness and would you say heat up some leftover gravy to pore over if desired? I love the smell of my home on Thanksgiving and the days after. If it is not my turn to cook Thanksgiving I still make a turkey before or after so I can have the smell, the meal and of course the leftovers!
ReplyDeleteYes, I love that smell too. I make one turkey for Thanksgiving and another on Christmas day. I always buy WAY bigger turkeys than we can eat so we have plenty of leftovers.
DeleteWe normally eat turkey sandwiches, turkey and rice or make turkey salad. I think I’m making your croquettes this year.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do!
DeleteAs much as I love croquettes, I must admit that I love stuffing so much that there would be never be enough left over to make even one lonely croquette. But I love the idea. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI hear ya, I always make way more than I need to be sure there's some left over.
DeleteNever had anything like these
ReplyDeleteThat's 'cause I just thought them up.
DeleteNow that is a fabulous idea for Thanksgiving left overs! I pinned this for my after-Thanksgiving weekend yay!!
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to let me know what you think.
DeleteThese look cool. Honest question - is that cranberry sauce added in there? Is it ok to do without the cranberry sauce? I don't know that I could do it with it....
ReplyDeleteYes, I make whole cranberry sauce from scratch and add it. You can just use cranraisins or skip the cranberry component altogether.
Delete