‘Twas the week after Christmas, and with the last slice of pie ceremonially tucked into the freezer, I will find myself leafing through After the Feast: A Turkey Leftovers Cookbooklet by Iva Cheung — and yes, a cookbooklet dedicated entirely to the noble turkey leftovers. There’s something deeply satisfying about the transition from feast to follow-up, and this quirky, clever volume makes that passage deliciously ritualistic. https://ivacheung.com/
From the get-go, Cheung invites us to celebrate leftovers rather than consign them to the back of the fridge. She writes: “I hope these recipes help you celebrate your leftovers instead of getting sick of them!” Here lies the charm of the book: it’s not about disclaimers of “oh-well, recycling yesterday’s bird,” but rather a playful, imaginative riff on post-holiday abundance.
Her introduction is refreshingly candid: she acknowledges that turkey can be “famously bland and dry,” but sees that as an “opportunity to add virtually any flavour you want.” That kind of mindset is liberating. Instead of feeling bound by traditions of leftover sandwich monotony (though her turkey-cranberry sandwich recipe is very good), we’re invited to think of the turkey as a blank canvas.
Take for example the idea of rendering turkey schmalz (yes, turkey fat)—she includes instructions for doing just that, along with what to do with the crispy skin. If your festive turkey left you with crispy bits and drippings, this small step becomes a flavour-investment for the next round of cooking. A savvy foodie move. If I were to offer a tip: keep some space in your fridge/freezer for turkey stock — the foundational recipe is included in the book. And treat the turkey scrappy parts and skin not as after-thoughts but as ingredients with purpose. Cheung’s tone is wry but encouraging (“Should you really make vegetable crackers from scraps? ~Enh~” she writes) and the recipes range from practical to inventive.
The structure gives us both utility and inspiration: early chapters show how to get the most out of your bird (stock, skin, schmalz) and then the second half is a treatise of creative leftover recipes. From breakfast hash to bánh mì, curry rice to okonomiyaki — the versatility is impressive. You can purchase the book at https://ivacheung.com/books/ or win a copy in our Giveaway section.
What I appreciate most about this booklet is how rooted it is in home cooking: Cheung acknowledges varying turkey treatments, melt-together ingredients, and says “feel free to use whatever you have on hand.” That means her turkey wild-rice soup or turkey tom kha don’t require exotic ingredients, yet they have enough specificity to excite. Speaking of soup, we’ve provided you with Cheung’s Turkey Chowder Corn Chowder in the Recipe section…hearty and full of flavour!
In the context of Christmas-week reflection, this book feels like a mindful extension of the holiday spirit: the feast is done, memories are fresh, and now it’s about gentle, delicious reverence for the meal’s aftermath. Instead of guilt-ridden “too many leftovers,” we get thoughtful, flavour-rich ideas. My favourite mental image: turning leftover cranberry sauce into a chutney or swirling it into yogurt with nuts.
One caveat is the artwork of the dishes. They are stylized art so if you’re looking for photography that will inspire your presentation, you’ll need to use your imagination or do an internet search. But this book is not about presentation, it is about comfort, inspirational recipes that will keep your leftovers inventive. On the upside, Cheung is donating a portion of the book sales to support food security and food sovereignty initiatives in Nunavut through the Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre. https://www.qajuqturvik.ca/
After the merry whirlwind of Christmas, After the Feast is a wonderful companion. It shifts us from indulgence to gentle ingenuity, offering a path of leftover luxury rather than post-holiday blandness. If you roasted a turkey this year, this booklet is worth the detour. If you didn’t — it may just tickle your imagination for next year. Either way, it’s a reminder: the celebration doesn’t end when the table is cleared.
Contents and images used with permission by Iva Cheung. https://ivacheung.com/