After Dinner: The Leftovers

The dishes are done, the game is on, and somebody is already back in the kitchen with a fork and a piece of foil. Aunties are fixing plates to go, the kids are picking the crispy edges off the mac and cheese, and Grandma is pretending she doesn’t see any of it.

That’s when the second feast begins. Because everybody knows Thanksgiving food tastes better the next day, and the best sandwich of the year is the one you build at midnight: turkey, a scoop of dressing, a spoon of cranberry sauce, all stacked between two slices of bread.

Every container is a to-go plate

In our houses, the Cool Whip tub was never just a Cool Whip tub, and the butter dish might be holding greens. Save those containers all year, line up the foil, and let folks fix their own plates before they head out the door.

Just make sure you get your container back. Grandma is keeping count.