Got Thanksgiving Dinner Leftovers?

Here's a very useful and delicious recipe that caught my eye from the Etsy blog. I even posted it on the RetroFlirt facebook page along with another recipe!

photo by Kimberley Hasselbrink

Turkey Cheddar and Apple Hand Pies from Kimberly Hasselbrink

Whole wheat pizza dough (pre-made or following this recipe)

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 cup baby spinach leaves
1 cup roasted and diced turkey meat
1 medium, crisp apple, diced
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
1 tablespoon fresh sage, minced
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

If using chilled pizza dough, allow to come to room temperature for about an hour.
Warm the butter in a skillet over a medium low flame. Saute the onion, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, about ten minutes. Add spinach and stir to wilt the leaves, about two minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a medium bowl. Add the turkey meat, diced apple, cheddar cheese, thyme and sage and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to your liking. Set aside.

On a floured surface, roll the pizza dough into a large square, roughly 12×12 inches. Divide into 16 squares about 3×3 inches. Place the squares on a large, lightly oiled baking sheet.

Using a spoon or your hands, portion a generous tablespoon of the filling in the center of each square.

Fold one edge of the square over the other, forming a triangle. Fold and pinch the edges together to seal. Pierce the top with a fork. Brush the surface with a little olive oil, and finish with a sprinkle of sea salt.

Bake in the oven until the crust is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Best enjoyed hot. Can be reheated. They freeze well.

My stomach literally was talking to me and I just about drooled on myself after looking at this recipe! You can basically fill them with any leftovers from Thanksgiving Day! I simply just set aside some portions of the food I was preparing on Turkey Day into Ziploc bags. I put together some corn kernels, mashed yams, a little bit of cranberry sauce and strips of turkey and ham. Then I let it sit overnight in the fridge. The next day I just rolled them right up like a soft taco and heated them up. I don't know what it is about Thanksgiving leftovers? They seemed to have fused very well marinating in it's own flavors, creating a delightfully sweet taste and wholesome at the same time. My stomach sang praises to me and my mouth savored every bite! Great bite to eat for those occasional midnight munchies too.