Turkey Mole: Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey

Maybe you didn't give away all the leftover turkey from last night's dinner. So if you're like me, you have a lot left. Yes, you can invite the neighbors in for another Thanksgiving dinner or you can make sandwiches for a week, but here's another possibility: Turkey Mole! I like to use Taza Chocolate Mexicano, especially the Chipotle Chili Chocolate Mexicano in this recipe, but any good chocolate will work!

Good Food Channel has an awesome recipe by Gino D'Acampo for Turkey Mole that uses 'bitter' chocolate. I love this recipe because it uses almonds, peanuts, sesame seeds, prunes, raisins, plantains and lots of other ingredients that aren't in your (or my) usual moles.

Don't have that much time? Want to make a Quick Mole? This recipe is adapted from Paula Deen's Quick Chicken Mole, but it's great with Turkey.

Quick Turkey Mole

Ingredients
2 tablespoons good quality olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 chipotle peppers, roughly chopped
1 (10-ounce) can chicken broth
2 tablespoons peanut butter
4 ounces Taza Chocolate Mexicano, chopped
Toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds), for garnish

Directions
Heat oil in heavy saute pan over medium heat. Add onion and saute until translucent. Add garlic and spices and continue to saute to toast and develop flavor. Add diced tomatoes, peppers, chipotles, broth, peanut butter, and chocolate. Simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and puree until smooth.

Take left over Turkey and either add to oven friendly saute pan or put in another pot and then cover with the Mole sauce. Braise in 350 oven for 45 minutes.

Thanksgiving Leftovers: Add Chocolate

So many great ways to use up Thanksgiving Left-Overs, and with the addition of a little chocolate (which is always left-over chez moi) you can have an outstanding meal.

Simply Recipes has a wonderful Turkey Chili Recipe that can be used in enchiladas or just eat as chili or use with Sloppy Joe's. Be sure and add chopped chocolate at the end. Recipe says unsweetened, but I add sweetened dark chocolate for a little more impact.

Good Food Channel has an awesome recipe by Gino D'Acampo for Turkey Mole that uses 'bitter' chocolate. For me that would be any chocolate over 65% cacao. I love this recipe because it uses almonds, peanuts, sesame seeds, prunes, raisins, plantains and lots of other ingredients that aren't in your (or my) usual moles.

For me, though, Mashed Potato Chocolate Cake is my favorite use of left-overs. There are lots of Mashed Potato Chocolate Cake recipes, but this is one of the easiest.

1 1/2 cup self rising flour
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
2 oz. organic fair-trade dark chocolate, melted
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup cooked mashed potatoes (make sure they weren't seasoned)

Cream butter and sugar with potatoes. Then add melted chocolate or cocoa. Add beaten eggs alternately with flour and salt. Pour in milk and mix well. Grease 9 inch square pan. Pour mixture into pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Top will be firm and spring to the touch when cooked. Let cake cool and turn onto wire rack. Frost with a good chocolate ganache when completely cooled.