I admit…I’m pulling something from the Archives to publish again. I’ll hope you’ll forgive me; pretty please? When I first started this blog I had 2 readers; me and my dog. Still, I transferred some of my best recipes from an older recipe website where they now languish in the archives and deserve better. This is a great example. One of my most favorite sandwiches…ever. I first had one at a local pizzeria named Nick and Willy’s where you would buy the pie and take it home to bake. When in the mood for lunch, you could buy baked slices of pizza or order from a wonderful menu of sandwiches. One day I tried their turkey and cranberry sauce sandwich with the surprise of cream cheese and was hooked. Line and sinker. When the location near me closed their doors, I had no choice but to try recreating it at home and soon a tradition was born. I look more forward to this sandwich on the Friday after Thanksgiving than I do the turkey the day before!
Even after sending guests home with plates of food, I still have enough turkey left over for these wonderful sandwiches; this year made with the Cosmopolitan Cranberry Sauce I made for Thanksgiving. I’ll also do Turkey Tetrazzini, some turkey soup with dumplings and then freeze what is left for when we’ve had our fill of turkey. I used to do a large turkey to assure we would have leftovers; this year there was one fried turkey and one smoked one and we had an abundance…smoked turkey on the sandwich was also divine!
The best reason for Thanksgiving turkey is this sandwich for the day after!
Ingredients
- Sandwich bread
- Sliced turkey meat (Remove the breast from the turkey and then slice perpendicular to the bottom where the bone was, results in great, tender slices of meat)
- Cranberry Sauce - I use whatever version I've made for the holiday, including my Merlot, Molasses and Toasted Walnut version
- Cream Cheese - either spread with soft cream cheese or cut 'slices' if using regular cream cheese; you want a fairly thick layer of cream cheese, don't scrimp here
- Alfalfa Sprouts
- Roasted Sunflower Seeds
- Mayonnaise
Preparation
- Smear some mayonnaise on bottom bread slice and season with a small amount of salt
- Layer turkey on top of mayonnaise
- Either spread soft cream cheese or place slices from regular cream cheese on top of turkey
- Dollop generous spoonful of cranberry sauce on top of turkey and spread to edges
- Put a small handful of alfalfa sprouts on top of sauce
- Sprinkle with toasted sunflower seeds and top with bread slice
- Cut in half and serve with chips and/or pickle spears.
Since this post is ‘repurposed’ I thought I would include, in my now standard tradition, the original photo of this sandwich. It’s not the worst ever but I didn’t have anything but sandwich bread and I never liked how the turkey itself was totally absent from view; so this year it was time to redo and republish and hope that others can enjoy this sandwich as much as I do.
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I had a similar sandwich at a little nearby deli and am trying to copy it. Of course, the gal at the register said it’s “a secret”. Hmmm, I don’t blame her! I plan to mix the cranberry sauce & cream cheese to spread on together. I can’t remember whether it had sprouts or not. All I have on hand WITHOUT GOING TO THE STORE AGAIN is a loaf of French bread. I believe our sandwiches were toasted & without nuts. Also this is deli thin sliced turkey. Now, you probably wouldn’t think of serving this generic version to your guests!
Gonna give it a try. Hope for the best. Arlene
Sounds good to me; hope it fits the bill for you Arlene!
Hi,
Have you ever tried it with smoked chicken? That’s how they make a similar one here in South Africa which is also pretty amazing!
You know, I really look forward to the leftovers more than the actual Thanksgiving dinner. You can do so much with them! Infinite uses, really – soups, stews, tetrazzini…this fantastic sandwich. So glad you brought this one out of the archives.
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme Most Recent Post: Turkey, Mushroom, and Potato Soup
I’m with you Lana; I’m usually so exhausted by the time we eat that I have had dinners of not even enjoying the meal. I am cutting back a bit so I can enjoy the food on both days. This sandwich is fabulous but I”m now working on a grilled turkey, cranberry and brie. Fingers crossed for me OK?
I honestly think that I like the turkey leftovers better than the turkey dinner! And I love ideas that come from a favorite restaurant – this one looks like a real winner! Thanks so much for linking up to Taste and Tell Thursdays.
Deborah Most Recent Post: Baby Week – Some of My Favorites
It is my favorite sandwich ever I think…so love to share it so others can enjoy it too!
The sandwich is great! I was wondering if you’ve ever grilled it? I just had one and it was delicious but everything seemed too chilled (if that doesn’t sound weird.)
I haven’t done that Sherylyn but certainly would. Glad you liked it…all your fault that I am now craving one. And thinking I have some leftover turkey in the freezer. And some cream cheese…off to thaw meat now!
:)
This looks amazing; seriously my mouth is WATERING!!!
Wow; love this recipe idea.
Thank you for sharing!
I love this sandwich so much that I make turkey just to have it the day after. It really is that good!
Yum!!! I love the turkey and cream cheese combo. It reminds me of when I was little and my mom would make turkey (or ham) and cream cheese roll ups. Thanks for sharing your amazing sandwich with us :)
Wow, that takes me back a bit too…now imagine cranberry sauce and some salty seeds and you’re almost there!
YUMMMMMM!!!
Mmmm I’ve never had seeds/nuts in a sandwich. Looks delicious!
Barb, at first glance this reminds me of something my mom made me when I was a kid. Classic flavours. Old or new, this is a great looking sandwich. Wish I had some leftover turkey.
I know…me too! But so many people make turkey for Christmas too that I thought this would be good to plan for in a couple of weeks. I know I am (I froze some of my smoked turkey!).
This reminds me of a flavor combo of my childhood…must be the cream cheese with the tart sweet cranberry flavor and I love it! And what a gorgeous gorgeous photo, Barb! Drooling. Only something like this actually makes me miss Thanksgiving!
That’s exactly why I love it Jamie; the different textures and the different flavors are just a great combination.
Epic looking sandwich! I wish I had some leftovers…dang it.
Well, I wish you were closer; I still have a bunch! In a pinch…I’ve bought turkey from the deli too; you know when I knew the craving could not wait months.
Looks wonderful! Especially with all that gorgeous white turkey meat. I’m a big fan of leftover turkey but only the white meat! My husband can have all the dark meat he wants for his sandwiches and soups, LOL.
I used to fight for the dark meat with my brothers but I’ve come over to the white side…it’s all I want now too!
‘Come to Mama’! I’ve been eating turkey for over a week now, spinning into everything from soup to pasta sauce. One look at this photos and I’m lamenting the absence of cranberry sauce in my fridge but have pulled out the bag of turkey for a nosh. One can never read too many TG leftover recipes and one such as this deserves reincarnation to a more adoring public than your fan base of 2 (whom I sure adored it too).
Thanks Toni; I thought so too. I did just make turkey soup and had some neighbors over. I used the carcass, wings and thighs from the smoked bird. Oh my…amazing; I’ll have to do one for sure each year now!
I didn’t know Abbie could read. Wow, what a dog! This sandwich looks delicious. I think I’ve told you before that my favorite sandwich on the London to Nottingham train was turkey and stuffing. I started adding cranberry sauce to mine when I made mine at home. Being a real cream cheese lover, I can’t wait to try this combo.
She is a wonder dog! If you love cream cheese you would love this. I was sure to save slices of the smoked turkey for one in a couple of weeks too when the craving will return.
I agree with your daughter that the bread makes the sandwich. Every year I have a sandwich similar to this at a local restaurant. I’d swap the cream cheese for bleu cheese, add dijon mustard and grilled it. I’d also trade the sprouts for spinach.
But that’s just me.
Yours sounds good too but I have to stick with this as my favorite; the cream cheese with fresh cranberry sauce is why I love it so much and I’ve tried using just lettuce and spinach but something about the sprouts. I grow them indoors just for this day and this sandwich!
I didnt have turkey, I had prime rib. But this picture, and this sandwich, makes me want to run out and get a turkey just to make it! Beautiful picture! Have a great weekend. :)
I plan for it each year, making sure to include cream cheese, sprouts and sunflower seeds in my holiday shopping list; crave this almost more than turkey dinner!
Barb this sandwich looks wonderful! And great photo. I'm a fan of some of the flavor combinations that come from Nick and Willy's. Clever, fresh and delicious. My leftover turkey has already flown to the arctic deep freeze, but I'm saving this recipe. Thanks for the post.
You still have Nick and Willy’s in the ranch I think; I miss them. Spinach, sundried tomato pizza w/feta cheese ruined me for the standard pie!
I still have a bunch; made a big pan of turkey tetrazzini and a big pot of soup and froze rest for adding to salads…20 lbs turkey will do that!
My leftover turkey is all gone. :-( I may have to cook up another just so I can make this sandwich! It sounds great!
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