Last week I had the opportunity to help co-host an online virtual cooking class, hosted by The Motherhood, Celebrity Chef George Duran, and several blogger co-hosts, including myself and the following:

Deb, Just Short of Crazy
Jayme, Tater Twins
Jennifer, Eighty MPH Mom
Jen, The Big Binder
Johanna, Momma Cuisine
Kasey, All Things Mamma
Kristy, The Wicked Noodle
Migdalia, Latina on a Mission
Stephanie, Goober Monkey

It was a fantastic class, in which we learned not only some very awesome recipes for using leftovers to make even more delicious meals, but we also were able to share ideas on keeping leftovers fresh, how to use non-turkey leftovers, and how we could help hungry kids this holiday season. (Just an fyi- at anytime you can click on the photos in this post to be taken straight to the recipe.)

“So, out of curiosity, how many leftovers do you ladies usually have at the end of a Thanksgiving meal? Ours is almost shameful,” said Stephanie, Goober Monkey. Every year we are like most people (90%, in fact); we purposefully have leftovers, and we use our leftover turkey to make the most delicious turkey and cheese sandwiches. However, this year I’d like to try something different. Even though I still would like a couple of sandwiches out of our Thanksgiving leftovers, I’d also like to make some quick, easy, healthy dishes that would make great meals for my family.

Sponsored by ConAgra Foods and their recipe site, ReadySetEat.com, this class was full of enthusiasm and great conversation. Celebrity Chef George Duran shared his tips and tricks via live video, also sharing one of his favorite ways to use leftover turkey in a delicious, mouth-watering dish, Leftover Turkey & Stuffing ‘Enchiladas.’ Ever think of mixing gravy and sour cream together to make delicious turkey enchiladas? Oh yeah, ultimate comfort food! Of course, Ruby DW said it best when she said, “This is when I wish we could smell and taste food through TV!” It was lunch time, and all of us were probably drooling by this time. Left-uppers don’t have to be packed with calories, though. George Duran’s Leftover Turkey and Stuffing Enchiladas use low-fat sour cream and Hunt’s tomatoes, and for an antioxidant-rich option, he suggested working with kale.

There were tons of other ideas shared by everyone throughout the cooking class discussion. Here are a few of those ideas, just to get the ball rolling in your own kitchen….

George Duran suggested using leftover stuffing in wraps with deli meat and gravy for a delicious lunch that kids will enjoy.

“What about taking crescent rolls and rolling up turkey and cheese in it, sorta like a pig in a blanket type appetizer? Then bake it,” I suggested. “My mom used to make this with cream of mushroom soup and turkey as the filling!” replied Kasey, All Things Mamma.

“Another great idea for leftover turkey is to chop it, mix with mayo, Swiss cheese, cranberries, walnuts, salt & pepper and make a braid out of Crescent rolls. SO good. It also makes a great turkey salad,” said Jen, 80 MPH Mom. “I love crescent roll braids!” agreed Jayme, Tater Twins.

“Turkey pot pie with leftover turkey and leftover roasted veggies,” said Johanna, Momma Cuisine.

And thienkim added, “Every year, I make a turkey sausage gumbo using the turkey carcass & drippings. It’s so good and I make a huge pot to freeze.”

George suggested quesadillas as an easy Thanksgiving left-upper, which the group loved. “Quesadillas are a staple in our diet. Didn’t think to use all of our Thanksgiving leftovers to make a new and fun meal idea!” admitted Kasey, All Things Mamma.

For leftover stuffing, “I make Chipotle Stuffing Cakes,” said Kristy, The Wicked Noodle.  The recipe is on her site: http://www.thewickednoodle.com.

“What about what to do with leftover cranberry sauce/compote??” asked Johanna, Momma Cuisine.  A few others had advice for her. “Put it on crackers with goat cheese or brie!” said Kristy, The Wicked Noodle. And thienkim suggested, “Waffle, french toast or pancake topping!”

Of course, others may not have the traditional turkey on Thanksgiving Day. They may have other choices like ham or pork roast….more ideas….

Jen at The Big Binder has a grandmother who makes ham instead of turkey, and she asked for leftover ham recipe ideas.  George Duran suggested using it in a quiche. “Quiche sounds PERFECT for the leftover ham!!” she replied. “We raise chickens and always have a ton of eggs so quiche is a weekly meal,” agreed Deb, Just Short of Crazy.

“We always make potato soup with leftover ham – with cheese and green beans,” added Jayme, Tater Twins. “So yummy!”

“In Puerto Rico we make pernil or pork roast … any suggestions for that?” said Migdalia, Latina on a Mission. Thienkim suggested, “Make a stir fry with it. Spring rolls. Glaze it with some hoisin sauce and serve as sandwich, burger, etc.”

And for general ideas for repurposing leftovers, Johanna at Momma Cuisine is “doing a series of posts where I take leftovers and REMIX them into new recipes!” Check it out on http://mommacuisine.com.

So, how can you help hungry kids this holiday season? Because, let’s face it….hunger still exists. We can help rid our nation of this problem, though, by giving back. When you buy ConAgra products to prepare for Thanksgiving and other holiday meals this year, you can also help.

Through December, collect the UPC codes from ConAgra Foods brands like PAM Cooking Spray and Hunts canned tomatoes and donate them to participating schools, listed at http://www.ChildHungerEndsHere.com. ConAgra will donate one meal to Feeding America for each code.  The goal is to donate 5 million meals during the 2011-2012 school year.

Want to find even more recipes and revisit the entire cooking class/conversation? Be sure to visit the class webpage here, where you’ll find everything you need to turn leftovers into left-’uppers.’

Happy Thanksgiving!

(Disclosure: I am being compensated to help co-host this class. However, being passionate about food and sharing recipes on my blog, I jumped at the chance to help co-host this class, simply because it’s something I wanted to share on my blog, with my readers. I hope you enjoy. All views/opinions will remain simply my own.)