Not sure what to do with all those leftovers? After hours of preparing meals, don’t let what’s left go to waste! Get creative and revive them with the help of some delicious locally grown goods like cabbage, mushrooms, turmeric, and more, so your holiday leftovers can take on a new life of their own.
Have leftover mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potato casserole? Transform them into a savory or sweet potato pancake. For the savory potato pancake, start by mixing two cups of your leftover mashed potatoes with an egg, a half cup of all purpose flour (can be swapped with a gluten free flour), a small handful of chopped fresh chives, and a dash of salt and pepper. If you want to increase your veggie count, mix in a fourth cup of each shredded cabbage and carrots. If your batter is too dry, add another egg. Preheat a skillet with butter or high heat oil and add about a fourth of a cup of the batter to the pan at a time and brown each side. Serve hot and top with green onions and a fresh goat cheese of choice from Three Graces Dairy, like chevre n’ chive or garlic & herb. Find Three Graces Dairy at the North Asheville and River Arts District markets.
For the sweet potato pancake, follow the directions above but instead of adding chives and pepper, swap those for a tablespoon of local honey and crushed pecans or walnuts. Instead of adding a second egg, try adding a fourth of a cup of buttermilk or non-dairy milk of choice. Sugar Hollow Farm even has raw cow milk (for pets). Maybe you have some leftover cranberry orange Burrata cheese from Ali Rae Foods to top your sweet potato pancakes with. If not, find both Ali Rae’s and Sugar Hollow Farm at North Asheville and River Arts District markets and find maple, hickory, and walnut syrups from Tonoloway Farm at Asheville City Market.
Looking for something light and fresh to recover from the holiday eating? Try out a super easy turkey salad. To start, cut or rip your turkey into small pieces, enough to make four cups. Thinly slice two stalks of celery and a small bundle of chives. In a large bowl, combine turkey, celery, chives, a half cup of mayonnaise, two teaspoons of Dijon mustard, a teaspoon of honey (optional), a tablespoon of lemon juice, and a dash of salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy with crackers, as a sandwich, or on top of a fresh greens salad. Find brioche buns from Simple Bread at Asheville City, West Asheville, and North Asheville (biweekly) markets or croissants from French Broad Pantry at North Asheville and Flat Rock Village Bakery at River Arts. Find salad greens at all open markets right now!
This Saturday is Small Business Saturday! With so many small businesses and farms impacted by Helene, now is the time to shop locally for your holiday gift giving. North Asheville Tailgate Market begins its Holiday Bazaar this Saturday with hours changing to 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Asheville City Market’s hours remain the same through the end of the year, but the holiday market season will add more craft and gift vendors. West Asheville Tailgate Market’s Holiday Market begins this Tuesday, Dec. 2. With added artisans, River Arts District Farmers Market has moved locations to AB Tech at 24 Fernihurst Dr.
Also spotted at markets in recent weeks: winter squash, carrots, beets, lettuce, onions, shallots, brussels sprouts, celery, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, kale, chard, collards, radishes, microgreens, mushrooms, potatoes, sweet potatoes, scallions, and fresh herbs. Markets offer an abundance of farm-fresh eggs and meats, including chicken, pork, beef, and lamb. You can also get bread, cheese, pastries, fermented products, drinks, and prepared foods. Find more details about farms and markets throughout the region, including hours and location, in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide at appalachiangrown.org.