Making the Best of What’s Left

These next three weeks aren't going to be easy on anyone. Projects, papers, and exams are creeping on us, as the semester will soon come to a screeching halt. Adjusting to these next few weeks after going home for the Thanksgiving holiday again most likely won't be a breeze. Our refrigerators are full of leftovers, our mindsets are anywhere but schoolwork and let's face it, tryptophan from turkey doesn't exactly work like a Red Bull, but with so many leftovers why not make some home cooked soul food of your own that will save some bucks and (hopefully) turn out just like mom's. Put your leftovers to good use and try some other ways to enjoy your Thanksgiving leftovers.

Turkey Soup:

Add as many big pieces of turkey you'd like

One chopped onion

Two peeled carrots

One diced celery

Olive oil

Turkey carcass *added more for flavor and is optional (not that you should have one lying around)

4 cups of chicken broth

4 cups of water

add all your vegetables together with olive oil and allow them to get golden brown. Add the Turkey carcass along with 4 cups of broth and 4 cups of water. Leave mixture to simmer for about an hour. Strain the soup and put contents in strainer back into broth with added turkey meat and enjoy.

Turkey Salad Tortilla

2 cups cubed cooked turkey

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

¾ of finely chopped celery

½ chopped onion

1 can drained olives

½ cup of mayonnaise

¼ cup of picante sauce

Approx 6 flour tortillas

Combine the cooked turkey, cheese, celery, onions, olives, mayonnaise, and picante sauce together. Scoop half a cup into the center of a tortilla and fold the sides over the centered filling. Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted and filling is hot.

Sweety Potatoes

5-6 large sweet potatoes (peeled)

1 stick of butter

½ teaspoon of salt

¼ teaspoon of black salt

1 tablespoon of honey or maple syrup

Cut up the sweet potatoes and let simmer in water for approximately 20 minutes  periodically checking to make sure tenderized. After draining the potatoes return them to the pot over low heat. Add butter and use potato masher until fully masticated (careful there is such thing as too much mashing, can turn ‘gluey'). Add salt, pepper, and honey and enjoy!

Don't let your Thanksgiving leftovers sit in the refrigerator until you throw them out the week we leave for winter break. Make the best out of some of your favorite foods and bring on the studying.