"The Day After" Thanksgiving Casserole

Leftovers from Thanksgiving are great, but one can only handle so much of turkey sandwiches and turkey soups. This article offers a way to give your leftovers a new look. This recipe is great anytime of the year.

Ingredients:

2 cups cubed cooked turkey, both white and dark meat
2 cups leftover vegetables (Note: if there are large pieces, cut them into bite size pieces)
2 cups turkey gravy
2 ½ cups mashed potatoes
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp grill seasoning (i.e. McCormick's Grill Mate Monterey Steak)

To Prepare:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8-quart casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, mix together turkey, vegetables, gravy and ½ Tbsp of grill seasoning. Layer into casserole dish.

3. In a large bowl, combine mashed potatoes, 1 cup cheese and remaining ½ Tbsp grill seasoning. Layer on top of turkey mixture, making sure the layer is even and the mixture below is fully covered.

4. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until heated through. During last 5 minutes of baking, layer the remaining 1 cup of cheese on top of potatoes and continue baking until cheese has melted.

5. Serve with leftover cranberry sauce and/or a side salad.

Tips:

a. If you are using vegetables from a raw vegetable platter - after they are cut down into bite size pieces, sauté them in a bit of olive oil until just tender.

b. You can also add one small onion, diced and sautéed to the turkey mixture.

c. If your mashed potatoes are too thick, add a bit of milk and melted butter, stirring until mixture is loose enough to spread.

d. This recipe is easily doubled for larger crowds.