If you are sick of turkey sandwiches but the freezer is still stuffed with leftovers, you can find many ways to use up that holiday bird.

Mix turkey into a soup, toss with pasta and vegetables, add to a salad, or use in a variety of one-dish entrees. You'll be glad to have some cooked turkey on hand when pressed for time or when entertaining unexpected guests.

Turkey's mild flavor adapts to many cooking styles and cuisines. Most seasonings and sauces go well with turkey. Wrap it in a taco, toss some into spaghetti sauce, or use it in a stir-fry or curry.

Another tasty, healthful way to use leftover turkey is in a casserole. Combined with a whole grain such as barley, turkey can be the base of a substantial, healthful one-dish meal.

Mild, almost nutty barley

Barley has been popular since the Stone Age. It is a grain used in breads, soups, stews and other dishes. Usually sold as pearl barley, it has a mild earthy, almost nutty, flavor that complements many types of vegetables.

A single cup of this easy-to-prepare grain contains eight grams of fiber the same amount of fiber found in seven cups of white rice. Barley also is rich in protein, potassium, calcium, iron and B vitamins.

Butternut squash nicely complements both barley and turkey. It is a large, pear-shaped winter squash with sweet orange flesh that adds cheeriness to any casserole. Its mild flavor goes well with many other ingredients and accommodates different herbs and spices. 

In this main dish, courtesy of the American Institute for Cancer Research, butternut squash is combined with onion, green pepper and sage to add extra flavor and texture to the barley and turkey combination. No one will think leftovers when tasting this Barley, Turkey, and Butternut Squash Casserole.

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