I think what I love most about Thanksgiving is the tradition. I always know what will be served and how it will taste. And that’s a good thing.

No, wait. Tradition is second. The food is really what I like most.

I already got a head start on the holiday last night at That Joplin Woman’s house for the Finley dinner. While the entire meal is always fabulous, I always look forward to the mashed potatoes and gravy. That’s usually my dessert.

Then, tomorrow, it’s off to celebrate with my parents for the Evans dinner. There, again, the meal is always excellent but I especially look forward to the dressing. Ah, the tradition. Ah, the food.

Does anyone ever cook just enough food for Thanksgiving dinner? There may be some who want the turkey and trimmings once and only once, but I can’t imagine very many with that mindset. Today is a good day to think about cleaning out your fridge to accommodate the leftovers.

Or, if you are like my sister and me, we load up with leftovers at our parent’s house so today is a good time to make sure you have plenty of baggies and to-go containers. If you have your turkey sitting in your fridge waiting to go into the oven, you already have had to make some extra space.

Just don’t wait until the last minute to rearrange and get rid of food. Today might be a good day for potluck, warming up whatever is tucked away on those refrigerator shelves.

When you get ready to store your leftovers, do so as quickly as possible. Remember to never leave your food out on the table for more than two hours. Any longer will risk contamination and that’s not a Thanksgiving tradition any of us want to start.

Give the leftovers a maximum of four days to be eaten. Any longer, out they go to the dog. If you have more than you need for that four-day time frame, freeze the leftovers as soon as possible.

Don’t wait four days to freeze the turkey. Also, divide any large quantities into smaller amounts for storing.

Give new life to that cooked bird by making enchiladas, quesadillas or tetrazzini. Bake a shepherd’s pie using leftover mashed potatoes.

What about leftover cranberry sauce? Mix a little in with some cream cheese to create a tasty spread for your toast, bagel or muffin. Whisk some of the sauce into your favorite vinaigrette for a new twist to your salad dressing or pour over warmed turkey. You can also simply warm the sauce and pour over ice cream.

Make the best turkey sandwich ever when you start by spreading a hoagie bun with cranberry sauce. Layer with warmed stuffing, turkey and gravy and you have used several leftovers at once and have a yummy dish.

Whatever your Thanksgiving traditions or whatever your menu, enjoy your family and friends and remember to give thanks. We can find lots of blessings if we just stop and think about it.

From Fueve online comes the Thanksgiving leftover casserole. You can easily substitute turkey for the ham, and sweet potatoes for the mashed. Just choose your preference or use what you have in the leftover department.