5 tips for delicious turkey leftovers

​Sudbury and District Health Unit registered dietitian Tammy Cheguis once cooked a 50 lb turkey — a feat that took up the entire cavity of the oven.

And then? "I had fifteen containers of leftover turkey," she said. 

So, if you're wondering what to do with leftover turkey, Cheguis offers the following tips:

1. Freeze it. Package some of the leftovers in the freezer and thaw them for a turkey dinner two or three months down the road.
2. Turkey stock. "The carcass is wonderful for making stock," Cheguis said, and there are hundreds of uses. Put the turkey bones in a pot with cold water. Add carrots, celery, onions, parsley stems, basil, oregano, thyme and crushed peppercorns. Simmer for a couple of hours. Strain the liquid with a fine mesh strainer. The stock can be frozen for future use. "One of my favourite things is to make a fresh mushroom risotto with the stock."
3. Sandwiches.  You can make the classic hot turkey sandwiches with cranberries and gravy. You might also consider a turkey clubhouse, or exchanging the bread with pita wraps or subs. You can also make turkey salad sandwiches. 
4. Turkey fried rice. Cheguis said this is a favourite from her mother who makes fried rice utilizing the leftover vegetables from the turkey dinner and plenty of chopped up turkey. 
5. Turkey pot pie. Just like chicken pot pie, but use turkey instead. 

For the more adventurous there are hundreds of recipes online including turkeyegg rolls, turkey primavera, turkey quesadillas, turkey enchiladas, turkey on pizza, turkey chili, turkey lasagna, turkey a la king, and turkey brocolli bake.

"It's a nice lean meat," Cheguis added. "[And] a good source of iron and protein."