The Morning: Thanksgiving leftovers - frederick.lapides@gmail.com

November 29, 2024

Good morning. Today, my colleague Sam Sifton helps you make the most of your Thanksgiving leftovers. We’re also covering Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a social media ban and Black Friday. —David Leonhardt

A fully loaded sandwich of Thanksgiving leftovers.

David Malosh for The New York Times

Enjoying what’s left

By Sam Sifton

I’m the founding editor of NYT Cooking.

Good morning. How’d it go yesterday? Was the turkey moist? The gravy smooth? You enjoy the side dishes, the dinner rolls? Were the pies abundant? Did Cousin Amy keep her cool?

I hope so. I hope your Thanksgiving was bathed in the spirit of the holiday — that you gave thanks and were given thanks, that you cooked well or, at any rate, ate well, that you got some time to yourself and with those who care about you. I hope that you were able to sleep in this morning, and that you arose rested and ready for the long slide that leads from today, Black Friday, to the Wednesday dawn of 2025.

Mostly, I hope you have plenty of leftovers. To some — and absolutely to me — they’re the very best part of Thanksgiving.

I start with a leftovers sandwich. For years, I assembled mine on the fly, between slices of toasted English muffin: swipes of mayo and congealed gravy, a daub of cranberry sauce, a shred of turkey, a spoonful of stuffing. I’d smash that together and eat it in three bites, leaving the kitchen feeling as if I could go pro.

But then Sohla El-Waylly came along with a recipe for the best Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich (above) to show me how professionals actually do these things. Her instructions are precise and specific. They lead to joy. Her sandwich is maybe better than the Thanksgiving meal itself.

An overhead shot of a turkey and pasta dish.

Turkey tetrazzini. Christopher Testani for The New York Times

Later on, I’ll make Samin Nosrat’s recipe for turkey tikka masala, a comforting riff on the Punjabi-style curry, to serve with steamed basmati rice, mango chutney and the naan that Meera Sodha taught me to make. I love that meal.

I’ll make turkey à la king, too, with a whisper of sherry added at the end to evoke country estates and grandparents and the children home from boarding school. So fun. I’ll make turkey congee with white pepper, perhaps the pressure cooker’s highest calling, a comforting porridge whether you’re eating in the Montana chill or the shower-room heat of a Florida night.

Maybe turkey tetrazzini? Turkey pho? A stuffing panzanella with cranberry vinaigrette? Those, too, are magic.

And when I’ve harvested all that I can from the bird, when it’s down to bare bones and a few pieces of errant sinew and skin, I’ll make stock. Give thanks for leftovers!

More on the holiday

Crowds braved the rain for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The police arrested two dozen pro-Palestinian demonstrators who briefly blocked the route.
A snowstorm in the Northeast threatens to disrupt people traveling home after the holiday.

THE LATEST NEWS

Trump Administration

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in a suit and tie, is seen from his chest up before a microphone.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kenny Holston/The New York Times

An examination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s life reveals a pattern of extremes. Read how addiction and trauma shaped him.
Donald Trump’s team said it would disclose donors and reject foreign gifts. By refusing to sign a transition deal with the White House, the team isn’t legally bound to these promises.
Trump’s initial approach to foreign policy could bear a surprising resemblance to the Biden status quo, Michael Crowley writes.

More on Politics

After losing the Senate and the White House, Democrats need a leader to revive the party. See some candidates for the next party chair.
These maps of 11 big cities show where Kamala Harris received fewer votes than President Biden in 2020 — and which voting blocs drove each city’s red shift.

Middle East

Many Lebanese people displaced by the war have returned home to find their homes and towns ruined. “We did not win,” one resident said. “We lost.”
Both Israel and Iran, Hezbollah’s regional backer, wanted to end the fighting in Lebanon. This does not mean peace is close in Gaza, Steven Erlanger writes.
Iran, facing domestic crises and another Trump presidency, is striking a more conciliatory tone.

China

Xin Bao at the San Diego Zoo. Ariana Drehsler for The New York Times

American zoos have sent millions of dollars to China for panda conservation. Instead, the money was spent on roads and apartment buildings, a Times investigation found.
China now produces and exports more cars than any other country. Foreign tariffs are unlikely to undercut its dominance.
“A lack of respect”: Chinese women are campaigning against subpar sanitary pads.

More International News

Australia has banned social media for under-16s.
Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving millions without power. Vladimir Putin said it was in retaliation for Kyiv’s use of long-range American missiles.
Romania’s top court has ordered a recount of ballots cast in the first round of a presidential election, days after a little-known ultranationalist won the most votes.

Canada accused Google of creating a monopoly in its ad-tech business, echoing a similar suit from the U.S. government. The company could be forced to sell parts of its business.

MORNING READS

A colorful illustration of people and shopping carts.

Sonny Ross

Shopping: Black Friday used to be fun. Now, many shoppers would rather sleep in.

The best deals: Wirecutter has been combing through the sea of sales today, many of which aren’t worth your time. These are the ones worth paying attention to.

A trip: Archaeologists found traces of psychedelics on a mug from ancient Egypt.

Weddings: To encourage more partying, some couples are trading the formal sit-down dinner for a food truck.

Buying time: The U.S. is building an early warning system to detect geoengineering.

Travel: Are airline loyalty programs worth it? Some frequent fliers don’t think so.

Lives Lived: The screenwriter and director Jim Abrahams revolutionized film comedy with straight-faced, fast-paced parody movies like “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun.” He died at 80.

SPORTS

Tennis: Iga Swiatek, the world’s No. 2 women’s player, received a one-month ban after testing positive for a banned substance.

College volleyball: Boise State’s volleyball team forfeited a match against San Jose State and withdrew from the Mountain West Conference tournament over a dispute about transgender athletes in women’s sports.

N.F.L.: The Green Bay Packers defeated the Miami Dolphins, 30-17, in a chilly end to the league’s Thanksgiving slate.

ARTS AND IDEAS

A grid of headshots of a dozen members of President-elect Trump’s proposed cabinet.

All of Trump’s cabinet picks have “a look” that embodies his worldview, Vanessa Friedman, The Times’s chief fashion critic, writes. Most of the men have a full head of hair and most of the women have cascading locks and camera-ready makeup. The picks represent a return to traditional archetypes of power and gender through a Hollywood lens. Read Vanessa’s piece.