Love Your Leftovers

My computer broke, so I'm a bit late (ok, a lot late) writing this post.  Your Thanksgiving leftovers are probably gone by now (if they're not, you should probably throw them away), but the components of this meal are delicious enough to make even if you aren't using leftovers!  However, my original idea was to use things you would have left over from Thanksgiving and remake them into something new and equally as good (or maybe even better) than the original.
Drink...

Fall Sangria
*recipe from: CailenAscher
There's always wine involved in a good Thanksgiving dinner.  If your holiday was anything like mine, there's no wine leftover.  If you do have some left, great.  If not, go out and buy some more so you can make this delicious recipe!
I've always been a fan of sangria.  To me it's more of a summer drink, but this is a perfect fall version of the beverage. It has a great fruitiness and the cinnamon sticks add a autumn taste.
Ingredients:

• 3 apples
• 3 pears
• 3 clementines
• 2-3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 Tbs honey
• 6 oz triple sec
• 2 bottles of red wine (I used a Beaujolais Nouveau and it worked well because it's already slightly fruity)

Directions:

1. Core and cut all the fruit and place it in a pitcher.
2. Add the cinnamon sticks and honey.  Stir.
3. Add the wine and stir. 
4. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours.  It's better if it sits overnight.  

Dinner...

Turkey, Brie, and Cranberry Grilled Sandwiches

*cranberry chutney recipe from: ClosetCooking

Everyone always has a ton of turkey leftover after Thanksgiving and let's be honest...those plain, dry turkey sandwiches just aren't that great.  This is a simple twist on that sandwich. The brie makes it super yummy and the cranberry sauce helps moisten up the turkey.  I didn't have leftovers this year, so I made a cranberry chutney from scratch.  You could use any cranberry sauce although this one was quite good because it had a bit of spice to it.
Ingredients:
for the sandwich:

• bread
• turkey
• brie
• cranberry chutney
• butter

for the cranberry chutney:

• 1 (12 ounce) package fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1 apple, peeled and diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 jalapeno pepper, finely diced
• 1 tablespoon garlic, grated
• 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar

Directions:

1. Make the cranberry chutney by placing everything in a large pot and boil it until it thinkens about 10-20 minutes.
2. Put the turkey, brie, and chutney on a slice of bread and top with another piece of bread to make a sandwich.
3. Butter both pieces of bread.
4. Place the buttered sandwich into a hot pan and heat until the bread is toasted and golden and the cheese is melted.

Dessert...

Pecan Pie Balls

I love Oreo balls, so I thought...why not do the same thing with pecan pie.  This is the easiest thing to make and in my opinion it's even better than the original pie - perfect for leftovers.  Plus, it's a little bit better for you because instead of eating a big piece of pie, you can just eat a little ball...that is, if you can eat just one!

Ingredients:

• leftover pecan pie (or a whole new pie, like I used)
• chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Put the pecan pie in a bowl and crumble it all together with a spoon.  Use the crust and everything.  It might look kind of gross and weird at this point, but keep going - it's going to be good!
2. Roll the mushed up pie into balls (1-2 inches) and place the balls into the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
3. Melt the chocolate chips.  I used about 2/3 of a bag of chips for a 6 inch pie.
4. After the balls have hardened up slightly from being in the freezer, dip them into the melted chocolate to coat.



looks weird, but keep going!



see...yum!

5. Sprinkle with festive sprinkles (optional).

Southern Supper

I'm back!  Sorry for the hiatus.  Things just got kinda busy and I was kinda lazy.  :)
I can't say I have ever really been to the true South, but I'd love to go someday.  This is my interpretation of a southern-style dinner.  Pretend you are in the deep south, and enjoy!

Drink...

Old Fashioned

As I have said before, I am not a whiskey fan, but this is another whiskey drink that I really enjoy.  Hmmm . . . maybe I really like whiskey?  Anyway, this drink has a bit of a bite, but once you get used to it, it's quite delicious (and potent).  The Old Fashioned is rumored to have been invented in the 1880s at a gentleman's club in Louisville, Kentucky.   If only I had a parlor in a southern home in which to drink it!
Ingredients:

• 2 oz. bourbon
• 1 lump Sugar
• 1-3 dashes Angostura bitters
• Maraschino cherry
• Splash of water (optional) 
• Ice
• Orange slice and lemon twist (for garnish)

Directions:

1. Place sugar in the bottom of a glass. Wet the sugar with bitters.
2. Add the cherry (and splash of water if using it) to the glass. Muddle ingredients.
3. Add bourbon and ice.  
4. Stir gently. 
5. Garnish and serve. 

Dinner... 

Double Crunch Honey Garlic Fried Chicken Breasts

*recipe from Rock Recipes 
I did not think these were the greatest.  Fine, but not the greatest.  Doug liked them a lot more than I did.  They are fried though, which can never be that bad.  Plus, no food is more emblematic of Southern cuisine than fried chicken.
Ingredients:
(serves 4)

• 4 chicken breasts
• 2 cups flour 
• 4 tsp salt
• 4 tsp black pepper
• 3 tbsp ground ginger
• 2 tbsp ground nutmeg
• 2 tsp ground thyme
• 2 tsp ground sage
• 2 tbsp paprika 
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper 
• 4 eggs
• 8 tbs water 

Honey Garlic Sauce

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 – 4 cloves minced garlic
• 1 cup honey
• ¼ cup soy sauce (low sodium soya sauce is best)
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
   
  

Directions:

Frying the chicken.

1. Place the chicken breasts between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and using a meat mallet, pound the meat to an even 1/2 inch thickness. Alternatively, you can slice the breasts by placing them flat on a cutting board and using a very sharp knife to slice them into halves horizontally.
2. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then dip the meat in the flour and spice mixture. Dip the breast into the eggwash and then a final time into the flour and spice mix, pressing the mix into the meat for good contact.  
3. Heat a skillet on the stove with about a half inch of canola oil covering the bottom. You will want to carefully regulate the temperature here so that the chicken does not brown too quickly. The thinness of the breast meat practically guarantees that it will be fully cooked by the time the outside is browned. I find just below medium heat works well. I use a burner setting of about 4 1/2 out of 10 on the dial and fry them gently for about 4 or 5 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. 
4. Drain on a wire rack.
5. Make the honey garlic sauce: 
1. In a medium saucepan add the oil and garlic.
2. Cook over medium heat to soften the garlic but do not let it brown. 
3. Add the honey, soy sauce, and black pepper.
4. Simmer together for 5-10 minutes, remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes. Watch this carefully as it simmers because it can foam up over the pot very easily. 

    6.  Dip the fried chicken into the honey garlic sauce.

Dessert...

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

*recipe from Allrecipes.com 
I really like pecan pie, and what other way to make it better than add chocolate and booze?  This was a really good recipe.  Having never made pecan pie, I was a little intimidated.  But, it turns out to be super easy to make.  Y'all don't have to be from the south to agree that this pie is delicious!   
Ingredients:
(makes 1 large, 9 inch pie, or 2 smaller pies)

• 1 (9 inch) pie shell
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup bourbon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. In a small saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup, and butter or margarine. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until butter or margarine melts and sugar dissolves. Cool slightly.
3. In a large bowl combine eggs, bourbon, vanilla, and salt. Mix well. Slowly pour sugar mixture into egg mixture, whisking constantly. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans. Pour mixture into pie shell.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until set and golden. May be served warm or chilled.