Thanksgiving Leftovers 2: Pulled Pork Somethings, Cayote Slaw & Roasted Corn

Honestly, I'm not even sure what to call these.  They started out as pupusas, I failed and then just turned them into these "somethings".  They did taste delicious and I was able to recycle some of Alex's pulled pork from Thanksgiving and cornbread dressing.

Leftover pulled pork, leftover dressing, avocado, red onion, cayote squash, corn, cabbage & masa.  I spent a total of $5.53 on ingredients for this meal.

Sauce for pulled pork.

Masa/Stuffing ball

Pulled Pork Somethings topped with more pulled pork, guacamole and cilantro lime sauce, Spicy Cayote Slaw & Roasted corn with Chipotle Mayo and Chile

Thanksgiving Leftovers 1: Veal Chops, Cheddar Corn Polenta & Mushroom Latkes

We have a friend who got overzealous with his Thanksgiving shopping and bought way too much meat for his guests.  He had these beautiful veal chops left, so of course he brought them to me to be prepared.  No pressure. I love cooking with other people's money!

Leftover mashed potatoes, veal chops gifted from a friend, bell peppers, capers, corn meal, chicken stock, mushrooms, sour cream, red potatoes

Beautiful FREE veal chops rubbed with fresh thyme, salt & pepper.  Thanks Byron!

Roasting peppers

Sweating peppers

 

Roasted Pepper Peperonata for veal chops

Chive Cream for latkes

Mixture for latkes:  leftover mashed potatoes, mashed red potatoes, onions, egg, blah, blah blah

 

 

Spinach Salad with sauteed mushrooms and balsamic vinaigrette; Mushroom Latkes with Chive cream                                         (yes, my latkes look more like golf balls than latkes - but oh well)

Veal Chops with Red Wine sauce and Roasted Peperonata & Cheddar Corn Polenta

Thanksgiving Pecan Pie Cheesecake x 3

In case you didn't know, we are up to our ears in pecans at our house.  I can't collect them or shell them fast enough.  The leaves are gone from our trees, but pecans are still a-fallin'.  Therefore, I decided to use as many as I could for Thanksgiving desserts.  I normally don't bake, but what they hay?  Several hours later (baking is HARD) I was the proud creator of 3 Pecan Pie Cheescakes - one for my family's tailgate party, one for Alex's family and the other for our favorite across the street neighbors.  Happy Holidays!!!

One of umpteen bags of pecans

Pecans

More Pecans

I hadn't tasted Vanilla Wafers in probably over 10 years.  Yummy!

Crust!!!

Sugar

Dark Karo Syrup

Butter

Eggs

Pecans!

3 pots...

For 3 pies

I got lazy and didn't take pictures of making the cheesecake filling. 

The kitchen was a nightmare mess.

Bake, Bake, Bake

The next day after cooled and decorated

Buffalo Bolognese & French Onion Soup

We had just returned from Napa and a dreamy 3 days at Live in the Vineyard.  We had an amazing traditional Bolognese during a tasting at Robert Sinskey Vineyards, so when my nightmare ingredient was ground buffalo, I immediately though - Buffalo Bolognese.  What a perfect excuse to crack open one of those fab Napa Merlots we brought back.

Pitiful Satsuma Oranges (the only two we harvested from our baby orange tree), artichokes, onions, ground bison, Gruyere

Chopped veggies for Mirepoix/Soffritto

Making the mirepoix

Browining the buffalo

Sauteing onions for the French Onion Soup

Our only two children from our baby Satsuma Orange tree :-/  Hoping for more next season!

I was worried they might have been rotten - my luck!

However, they were perfrect.

Arugula, Satsuma, Roasted Beets, Artichoke

Topped with Parmesan

Tossed in  Pink Peppercorn Vinaigrette

French Onion and Gruyere deliciousness

I want a bowl, NOW!!!!

Tada