Holidays are not only a time to get together with friends and family, they're also a time of baking and cooking - lots and lots of cooking. So after the final plate has been scraped and the last tummy filled, what do you do with all that food that
wasn't eaten? You could continue to heat it up over the next week, and be left with sad, dried-out plate of leftovers. Or, you could mix it all together and create a beautiful holiday dinner casserole.
Holiday dinner casseroles are actually one of my favorites. Never quite the same, they combine all the goodness of Christmas dinner and put it all together in one dish. In this recipe, egg noodles are mixed with cooked turkey, whatever leftover veggies I happen to have on hand, and in place of breadcrumbs, it's topped with leftover homemade stuffing. You've never had leftovers like this!
Holiday Dinner Casserole
6
15 minutes
40 minutes
55 minutes
3 cups (750 ml) cooked egg noodles
3 cups (750 ml) cooked turkey, chopped
1 cup (250 ml) cooked peas
2 tablespoons (30 ml) butter
2 tablespoons (30 ml) all-purpose flour
2 cups (500 ml) milk
½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) freshly grated nutmeg
3 cups (750 ml) cooked stuffing
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a large bowl combine the egg noodles, cooked turkey, and peas.
In a saucepan set over medium heat, melt butter. When butter has melted add all-purpose flour and whisk to fully combine. Cook for two minutes to cook all the raw flour out. Gradually add the milk, a little at a time especially at first, whisking constantly. Add the nutmeg and a pinch each of salt and pepper.
Pour the bechamel sauce over the turkey and egg noodle mix in the bowl. Stir to combine thoroughly and then pour into a 9" x 13" casserole.
Spread cooked stuffing over top in an even layer and cover the entire casserole with foil.
Place the casserole into the oven and cook for about 40 minutes, until the casserole is hot and bubbling throughout.
You can add anything to this casserole to make it your own. Add turkey gravy, turnips or green beans. I also like to serve it with leftover cranberry sauce on the side. This is also a great way to use any left-over roast chicken!
