Leftover Turkey: While we don't want the bird to go to waste, we do prefer that too much not go to waist.

google "carribbean turkey soup" for a recipe we like alot.

WinnieAB's pho is really good. My husband asks for it about once a week in the winter. http://www.food52.com/recipes/1919_turkey_pho

I had a great salad at Birdbath Bakery in NYC the other day -- it used chicken but turkey would be just as good if not better. It was a salad of what I rememeber to be radicchio and watercress (i think watercress, could be just about any green),and a just a few chickpeas, tossed in a lemon vinaigrette. Birdbath topped it with very very thin slices of chicken (turkey) that was sprinkled with balsamic and finished with shaved pieces of grana padano. SO good I can't stop thinking about it!

there was a contest on just this subject a couple of years ago: http://www.food52.com/contests/81_your_best_recipe_for_turkey_leftovers

I have made lastnightsdinner's pozole which is delicious and I have had winnieab's pho and aargersi's jambalaya on my list since then!

First off, freeze what you don't think you'll be using over the next few days.

For many people, the day-after-Thanksgiving cold turkey sandwich is more revered than the main meal itself. An open-face hot turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy is something I always look forward to with relish (cranberry relish that is). And I always make stock which then turns into soup and pot pies.

I can hear my friend Pierino sighing right now but these are all comfort foods from my family growing up. In any case, here's a suggestion that could change even Pierino's thoughts about the big bird: Dark meat turkey and cranberry ravioli with shallot cream sauce. My version was inspired by this one:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/turkey-and-cranberry-ravioli-recipe/index.html

The whole meal will only take about an hour from start to finish so don't be intimidated if you haven't made ravioli before or think it's beyond your capabilities. It's not -- check out Giada's shortcut. (Also, she starts with fresh ground turkey, simply substitute your roast turkey.)

Remember turkey is a classic Mexican ingredient. Plenty of inspiration there.

Now I know you didn't ask for this advice but take it from a 150-pound chef who absolutely loves to eat his own cooking: A smaller portion of good-tasting high calorie food has the same number of calories as a large portion of less-satisfying low-calorie food.

Turkey banh mi! A turkey sandwich on a baguette with a little mayo, shredded pickled carrot, cucumber, daikon radish, and cilantro.

I disagree on turkey being most boring -- it is really a blank canvas SCREAMING for attention. So, go in some odd but delightful ways -- one of our family favorites is to shred the meat, reheat with spices (typically, a little sauteed onion, and taco type seasonings) and use in place of shredded meat in tacos, burritos, ... or, shred, reheat with your favorite BBQ sauce and make "pulled turkey" sandwiches. Of course, there's always turkey soup or turkey tetrazzini or turkey a la king but remembering that it is a pretty inoffensive flavor and can easily be enhanced with appropriate spices and you can go in whole new directions! :)

Unfortunately turkey is the most boring member of the poultry family. An old school favorite is Turkey Tetrazzini which goes back to San Francisco and named in honor of a visiting opera singer. There are plenty of recipes. Look for one that matches your calorie threshold.