A Post Thanksgiving Tea Moment

In my house, the weekend after Thanksgiving means 2 things: leftovers and football.  Over the years, I've grown to appreciate football a little more, but I'm no die-hard fan. And while Thanksgiving Day is usually reserved for family get-togethers, I enjoy the opportunity to spend some time with friends at some point too. Which leads to my idea for a Post Thanksgiving Tea.

While the guys are watching football together,  the gals who may be lesser sports fans can join me in the dining room, or even at the kitchen island, and make beautiful use of those lovely leftovers!

We can do better than this.

The Post Thanksgiving Tea

Menu:
Ever-Giving Turkey Cranberry Tea Sandwiches
Gimme-A-Ham Tea Sandwiches
Mashed Potato Rolls
Granny Smith Apple Slices
Pie in my Fridge

Recommended Teas
Romanoff - From American Tea Room. The hint of orange is the perfect compliment to fall flavors.
Dark Green Needles  - From Teasource. The earthy, nutty feel is a clean backdrop to traditional fare.
Constant Comment - Bigelow Tea. In a word: Autumn

Ever-Giving Turkey Cranberry Tea Sandwiches

Ingredients

Cranberry cream cheese:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 3 Tablespoons leftover cranberries/cranberry sauce
• Pinch kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon orange zest, or to taste

Sandwiches:

• 8 slices wheat bread (the thinner, the better)
• 1 cup leftover turkey – thinly sliced or coarsely chopped

Directions
For the cranberry cream cheese, combine the cream cheese, cranberry, orange zest and salt. Do not whip.
Lay out 4 slices of bread and spread them all with a layer of cranberry cream cheese. Place a layer of turkey on half the slices, cutting the edges to fit the bread. Top with the other slices of bread, cream cheese side down.

Gimme-A-Ham Tea Sandwiches

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups leftover ham, finely chopped (or a few pulses in the food processor)
• Handful of pickle slices, finely chopped )or a few pulses in the food processor)
• 1/8 to ¼ cup mayonnaise
• Pinch kosher salt

Sandwiches:

• 8 slices white bread (the thinner, the better)

Directions
Combine the ham, pickles, mayo and salt. Lay out 4 slices of bread and spread them all with a layer of the ham mixture. Top with the other slices of bread.
Tea Sandwich Cutting Tip:

Place sandwiches on baking sheet or large cutting board covered with parchment paper, cover with damp paper towels and wrap the sheet with plastic wrap. Refrigerate sandwiches until chilled. With the sandwiches on a cutting board cut off the crusts with a serrated knife, using a careful, sawing motion. Cut each sandwich diagonally, twice, to make 4 small triangles. Serve chilled.

Mashed Potato Rolls

Ingredients

• 2 cups warmed leftover mashed potatoes
• 1 can refrigerated biscuits
• Dill (if desired)

Directions
Open can of biscuits, roll out or flatten each biscuit. Place tablespoon of potato into center of each uncooked biscuit. Sprinkle fine layer of dill over potato, if desired. Wrap dough around warm potato filling to make little biscuit pillows. Place on baking sheet. Brush with butter if desired. Bake according to directions on biscuit container. Serve with leftover gravy on the side.

Afternoon tea doesn't have to have a million components. It doesn't even have to have scones (though I love them dearly). What better way to use leftovers in a new and fun way. Who knows... maybe even the guys will swing by the table for a nosh.

 

 

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