Use Up Those Holiday Leftovers!

If you're anything like me, you HATE to see good food go to waste!  Many of you will be left with more leftover food than you can possibly eat before it goes bad.  Don't worry!  I've got some suggestions for you you can make now or freeze for later.

Ham Leftovers

There's so much you can do with ham.  I have a couple of suggestions below for you.  One is a delicious soup and the other is a yummy casserole that would be good for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

I have a ham bone.  What can I do with it?
You are in LUCK!  Put your bone to good use and make "The Best Bean and Ham Soup" (recipe below) in your Slow Cooker. Don't have a ham bone but still want to make this?  Don't fret!!!!  You can go to your local meat shop and purchase frozen ham bones or ask the butcher for a shank.  I was able to buy a bag of frozen bones for super cheap!  I keep them in my freezer for inbetween times when I don't have a bone myself.

I have leftover ham and no bone?  What can I do with it?
When I have leftover ham, and I'm not able to use it right away, I chop it up into little pieces and freeze it into 1-2 cup portions to use in soups/casseroles later.  For slow cooker soups, you can just add it in frozen.  For casseroles, you'll need to defrost it first, but all the work's already been done, so it's as easy as just adding it to your recipe.  I recently made this "Cheesy Hash Brown Breakfast Break" which would be perfect with your leftover ham.  (I made it before Christmas, so didn't have leftovers to use!)

Turkey Leftovers

Turkey is only good in your refrigerator for about 2-3 days.  You have to act quick!  If you are tired of turkey already and don't want to use it right away, chop it up into bite sized pieces and freeze it into 1-2 cup portions to use later.  You will thank yourself later!  I have a few suggestions below for you to use not only your turkey leftovers, but the gravy too!  One is a healthy soup (which will help you use up those leftover veggies too!), one is a hearty chili and the other is a deliclious casserole.

I have lots of leftover turkey.  What can I do with it?
You can really never go wrong with chili!  This "Leftover Turkey Chili" was incredibly flavorful and a nice, different way to use up my leftovers.  Use up your leftover rolls too and serve them on the side for "dipping."

I have all these veggies and tons of turkey?  What can I do with them? 
Let's face it, you may have overindulged in the past couple of days.  It's ok, I won't tell!  Lighten things up with this healthy "Leftover Turkey Soup."  It will warm you up and leave you feeling like you made a good choice! 

OK, but I have leftover gravy, too.  What can I do with that yummy stuff?
I hear ya!  I LOVE gravy and I don't want it to go to waste either!  This "Leftover Turkey and 'Dumplings' Casserole" will take care of that for you.  There really is nothing better than homemade gravy!  Your family will love you for this one! 

Well, there you have it!  LOTS of ways to use up those leftovers!  

Happy Slow-Cooking!

Hope