Thanksgiving Leftovers Breakfast!

We all know hosting during the holidays is stressful enough and after preparing a feast, providing breakfast to your guests the next morning should be kept as simple as possible. Here's one idea to do so!

Ingredients:

       Leftovers:

• Mashed potatoes
• Stuffing
• Gravy (optional)

       Other:

• Eggs (2 for each person)
• Cheese, grated (your choice)
• Salt and pepper
• Milk (optional)

Option One: Breakfast Casserole

1. In a rectangle casserole dish, spray with Pam.....coat bottom layer with leftover mashed potatoes. Top that with a layer of leftover stuffing.
2. In a bowl, mix together your eggs, some milk, salt, and pepper, and cheese.
3. Pour the egg mixture on top of the casserole.
4. Bake at 350 for about 20-30 minutes until done. Top with gravy if you want to.

Option Two: Leftovers Re-Heated and Topped with Egg

1. Heat up the leftovers and put on a plate.
2. Cook 2 over easy eggs per person and put on top of the leftovers.
3. Top with gravy if you want.

Enjoy!

Classic Green Bean Casserole w Shallots!

I don't have a picture of this one....but it was the best green bean casserole I've EVER had! :)

Note: This one is from Food Network by Ellie Krieger.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 EVOO
• 6 medium shallots, sliced into rings that you can fry or buy canned ones that are healthier
• 1.5 pounds thing fresh string beans, trimmed
• 1 pound button mushrooms, sliced
• 6 large cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp. chopped fresh thyme
• 3 cups low fat milk
• 1/3 cup plus 2 tbsp. freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 3 tbsp. flour (unless gluten free)

What to do:

1. Steam the green beans or pan fry them covered for about 3 minutes until bright green and still crisp.
2. Heat 1 tbsp. of the reserved oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally until the mushroom liquid is evaporated and they begin to brown, about 12 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Transfer the mushroom mixture to a bowl.
3. Whisk together the milk and flour together (if using flour) until the flour is dissolved. Add the mixture to the skillet and whisking constantly, bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low, whisking occasionally until thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the green beans, mushrooms mixture, 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, the parsley, nutmeg, 3/4 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper.
4. Coat a 2 quart baking dish with cooking spray. Spoon the green bean mixture into the prepared dish and sprinkle the top with the crispy shallots and the remaining 2 tbsp. cheese. Bake until golden on top and bubbling, about 20 minutes.

Roasted Chicken or Turkey to Die For!

Since we couldn't get a grass fed turkey, we chose to get 2 smaller chickens (8-9 pounds each) that were organic and fresh. We did two variations....

Note: These recipes were inspired by Food Network but have some modifications.

Ingredients:

Orange-Tea Bourbon Brine and Classic Herb Butter:

       Brine Ingredients:

• 2 quarts water
• Zest in wide strips and juice of 5 oranges
• 2 cups kosher salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 12 black tea bags
• 4 bay leaves
• 6 cloves
• 12 peppercorns
• 1 cup bourbon

        Butter Ingredients:

• 2 sticks softened butter
• 2 tbsp. chopped parsley, fresh
• 1 tbsp. dried sage and thyme (or fresh)
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 1/4 tsp. paprika
• 1/8 tsp. ground cloves

Juniper Brine and Rosemary-Lemon Butter:

        Brine Ingredients:

• 2 quarts water
• 2 cups kosher salt
• 1.5 cups brown sugar
• 2 tbsp. juniper berries
• 1 tbsp. peppercorns
• 3 bay leaves
• Zest of 1 lemon (wide strips)

        Butter Ingredients:

• 2 sticks of softened butter
• 5 minced garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp. finely chopped rosemary
• 2 tsp. fennel seeds
• 1 tsp. lemon zest
• 1/2 tsp. pepper

What to do:

1. For each bring, bring the ingredients to a boil in a large pot, then simmer 10 minutes. Add 4 quarts of water (and/or ice too cool it faster)and let it cool. Submerge the turkey or chicken into the brine....use a bag in a bowl or a large container...add water to fully cover it. Refrigerate at least 8 hours overnight.
2. While the turkey/chicken is soaking, pre-make your butter to set aside for the next day. Mix together the ingredients for each butter and set aside. After removing the turkey/chicken from the brine, rinse and pat dry. Reserve 4 tbsp. from each of the butters for the gravy. Rub the butter under the skin of the birds and then some on the top, around the legs, etc. Let the turkey stand 30 minutes at room temperature before roasting. Tip: Place on a metal platform or on vegetables so you have access to the drippings for your gravy.
3. Put the oven rack in the lowest position; preheat the oven to 350. Put the turkey breast side up on a rack in a large roasting pan, tucking the wing tips under. Tie the drumsticks together with twine. Roast until skin is golden brown and the thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165, about 15 minutes per pound. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 30 minutes before carving. Whisk the reserve flavored butter into your gravy just before serving.

Delicious Mashed Potatoes!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound whole russet or Yukon gold potatoes
• 1 stick softened butter
• 1 cup of buttermilk
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• Pepper
• 4 heads of garlic (roast in oven in foil with EVOO on 350 for 1 hour)
• 1 cup smoke Gouda cheese, shredded
• 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard (optional)
• 3/4 cups scallions, diced

What to do:

1. Peel the potatoes. Chop in half and cover with cold water in a large pot. Add 2 tbsp. salt; bring to a simmer over medium low to medium heat and cook, uncovered, until tender, about 45 minutes. Drain the potatoes and let cool enough to handle.
2. Add 1 stick softened butter to the potatoes. Add 1 cup buttermilk (or your choice of dairy), 2 tsp kosher salt, pepper, and mash with masher or blend.
3. Squeeze the roasted garlic or use a garlic press into the potatoes.
4. Fold in the cheese and optional 2 tbsp. of Dijon mustard if desired.
5. Top with the chives or mix them in.

Homemade Stuffing to Die For!

This year at Thanksgiving, I did two variations of this and both were delicious!

Ingredients:

• 8 cups of corn bread sliced into 1/2 cubes (this makes it gluten free!)
• 1 stick of butter
• 2 cups chopped onion/scallion
• 2 cups diced celery
• 1 tbsp. minced fresh sage and thyme
• Salt and pepper
• 3 cups low sodium organic vegetable broth
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups of roasted butternut squash, cubed (roasted with EVOO)--roast on 400 for 35 minutes

       One Optional Version Ingredients:

• Add 1-1.5 cups of cubed apple
• 1/2 of cinnamon Toscana cheese, grated

        Other Optional Version Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of unsweetened cherries, chopped
• 1/4 cup of cinnamon Toscana cheese, grated

What to do:

1. Make your base: heat 1 stick butter in large skillet over medium heat; add chopped onions, celery, sage, thyme, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring until the vegetables are tender about 5 minutes. Add the broth, bring to a simmer and remove from the heat..
2. Prep Your Mix-ins: Beat 2 eggs with 1/4 cup chopped parsley in a large bowl, stir in the bread cubes, the vegetable broth mixture and the prepared mix ins (butternut squash). Split mixture in half if you want 2 different stuffing's...otherwise add your additional mix-ins now.
3. Add Mix-Ins: for version one add the additional apple and cheese ingredients into half the stuffing mix and place in a rectangle pan after mixing well. Do the same for the other except add the cherries and less cheese.
4. Bake: Butter the pans and dot the top of each stuffing pan with 2 tbsp. butter. Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until golden; another 20 minutes.

Brussel Sprouts Casserole w Citrus and Pomegranate!

Great for your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner as a side or every day! Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of this one.....it's really beautiful and tasty!

Note: Recipe from Food Network magazine with slight modifications.

Ingredients:

• 1.25 pounds brussel sprouts
• 2 tbsp. EVOO
• Kosher salt and ground pepper
• 3 tbsp. pomegranate molasses
• Seeds from 1 pomegranate
• 3/4 cup finely chopped toasted hazelnuts
• Finely grated zest of 1 lime
• Zest of on orange

What to do:

1. Preheat the oven to 375
2. Put the bussel sprouts in a medium roasting pan; toss with EVOO and season with salt and pepper. Roast for about 45 minutes until golden brown and softened.
3. Transfer the sprouts to a large bowl and add the remaining ingredients, mix together and serve.

Spicy Sicilian Pea Pepper Pesto Lasagne

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This recipe combines two different ones found online: one a spicy sicilian pesto with boiled pasta, and the other a pea and ricotta lasagne. The pesto calls for lots of pepper, mint combined with basil, and almond instead of pine nuts, making it a nice alternative to usual well-worn pesto the original pea and ricotta recipe calls for. The ingredients don’t need to be cooked beforehand, just combined, which eases preparation. Your vegetarian friends with a penchant for the piquant will love this one!

Ingredients

For the pesto:

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, lightly packed, washed and spun dry
• 2 serrano chiles, stems and seeds removed
• ½ cup mint leaves
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 tablespoon hot red pepper flakes
• ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
• ¼ cup sliced blanched almonds
• ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup freshly grated Pecorino Siciliano plus ¼ cup set aside for garnish

For the pea and cheese filling:

• 3 cups whole-milk ricotta cheese (about 1 1/2 pounds)
• 1 pound frozen peas, thawed
• 1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 ounce)
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
• 1 cup heavy cream

To assemble:

• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 (8- to 9-ounce) box no-boil lasagna noodles (12 noodles)
• 1/2 cup toasted blanched almond slivers
• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
• Olive oil, for coating the foil

What to do

For the pesto:

• Place the basil, mint, garlic, Serrano chilis, red pepper flakes, fennel seeds and almonds in a food processor and pulse 3 times to start the chopping process. Add the ½ cup oil and pulse 4 or 5 times to create a thick paste, (not a thin oily sauce). Add cheese and pulse once to mix in, season with salt if it needs it and remove to a container with a lid. Makes 1½ cups.

For the pea and cheese filling:

• Place all of the measured ingredients except the cream in the bowl of the food processor fitted with the blade attachment. With the food processor running, add the cream in a slow, steady stream until the mixture is almost smooth but some texture remains, about 45 seconds. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed. Leave the filling in the food processor.

To assemble:

• Pour the cream evenly over the bottom of a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Cover with a layer of 4 lasagna noodles, allowing them to overlap slightly. Using a spoon, evenly spread a third of the pea-ricotta filling over the noodles, then evenly spread half of the pesto over the filling. Evenly sprinkle half of the pine nuts over the pesto.
• Cover with another layer of 4 noodles. Evenly spread another third of the pea-ricotta filling over the noodles. (Do not cover with pesto.)
• Cover with the last 4 noodles. Evenly spread the remaining third of the pea-ricotta filling over the noodles, then evenly spread the remaining half of the pesto over the filling. Evenly sprinkle the remaining half of the toasted almonds over the pesto. Evenly arrange the mozzarella slices over the top. Coat 1 side of a large piece of aluminum foil with olive oil and cover the dish tightly with the foil, oil-side down.
• Bake until the sauce is starting to bubble around the edges, about 35 to 40 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until the top and edges of the lasagna are lightly browned in spots and the filling is bubbling, about 15 minutes more. Let cool at least 10 minutes before serving.