December 9, 2024
TF #076: How to Handle Busy Seasons: Scaling Production for Holidays and Special Occasions
Maximize Thanksgiving Leftovers with a Special Post-Holiday Cookbook for Subscribers
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest, most food-filled holidays of the year, and with all the cooking that goes into the big day, it’s no wonder people are exhausted afterward. For meal delivery businesses, Thanksgiving offers a unique opportunity to go beyond the traditional and provide something memorable for customers—like a post-Thanksgiving leftovers cookbook. Imagine gifting subscribers a downloadable (or even printed) cookbook filled with creative, easy recipes that turn leftover holiday ingredients into new, exciting dishes.
Offering a post-Thanksgiving cookbook as a subscriber bonus is a thoughtful gesture and a smart business strategy. By providing this resource, you position your meal delivery service as a go-to partner for making meal prep simple, sustainable, and delicious—far beyond the holidays. Here’s how to make the most of this offering and some ideas for recipes to include that transform Thanksgiving leftovers into irresistible new meals.
Why a Post-Thanksgiving Cookbook is a Smart Move
As much as people enjoy Thanksgiving, the leftovers can get old fast. Leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce often end up cluttering the fridge, and people may need help to use them creatively. Creating a mini-cookbook with inventive recipes adds value for your subscribers, helping them find fresh ways to enjoy those leftovers without any additional hassle. Here’s why this cookbook can be a fantastic addition to your meal delivery business:
By going the extra mile and offering a bonus cookbook, you’re showing subscribers that you’re invested in making their lives easier, even beyond your standard offerings. This approach reinforces your brand’s role in their lives as a year-round meal solution, not just a holiday convenience. Subscribers will see you as a valuable resource for thoughtful, time-saving ideas, making them more likely to stay loyal to your service long after the holiday season ends.
Helping customers make the most of their food is a subtle way to promote sustainability. Food waste is a major issue, especially around Thanksgiving, and a cookbook focused on leftovers addresses this directly. It’s a practical, useful way to support your brand’s commitment to reducing waste, resonating with eco-conscious customers who care about sustainable practices.
A downloadable or printed cookbook makes for an easy, shareable marketing tool. Subscribers receiving this value-add are likelier to talk about it, post on social media, or recommend your service to others. By offering unique content that’s useful and visually appealing, you’re giving customers something they’re proud to share, generating buzz and word-of-mouth referrals.
Holiday times can be stressful, and thoughtful perks like a leftovers cookbook can show your customers that you understand their needs and are here to help. Including this as a bonus in your subscription box leading up to Thanksgiving—or as a downloadable gift after the holiday—demonstrates that you know their post-holiday routines. It’s a small touch that makes your service feel personal and attentive.
Cookbook Recipe Ideas to Maximize Thanksgiving Leftovers
Once you’ve decided to create a post-Thanksgiving cookbook, it’s time to focus on the recipes. The goal is to repurpose classic Thanksgiving ingredients into easy, flavorful dishes that feel new and exciting without making your subscribers feel like they’re still eating Thanksgiving dinner. Here are some ideas to include in your cookbook:
Turkey Pot Pie
A turkey pot pie is a classic way to reimagine leftover turkey. It combines shredded turkey with vegetables like carrots, peas, and celery in a creamy sauce and bakes it with a flaky pie crust. This dish provides comfort and ease, making it ideal for the days after Thanksgiving. The recipe could offer tips on individual pot pies or family-sized versions so subscribers can customize them as needed.
Turkey Enchiladas
Give subscribers a spicy twist on their leftovers with turkey enchiladas. This recipe uses leftover turkey instead of the typical sandwich in a flavorful, cheesy enchilada. Wrapped in tortillas and topped with enchilada sauce and cheese, this dish is a refreshing departure from traditional Thanksgiving flavors. The cookbook could suggest portioning the enchiladas for single or family meals.
Stuffing-Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms offer a unique, bite-sized use for leftover stuffing. Hollow large mushroom caps, fill them with stuffing and cheese and bake. These make for an easy appetizer or snack that feels upscale but uses minimal ingredients. It’s a great way for customers to repurpose stuffing into something new and sophisticated.
Mashed Potato Pancakes
Mashed potato pancakes turn leftover mashed potatoes into crispy, golden patties. Subscribers must mix mashed potatoes with egg, flour, and chopped scallions, then pan-fry them until crispy. These pancakes are a versatile side dish that feels far removed from traditional holiday leftovers.
Thanksgiving Shepherd’s Pie
A Thanksgiving-themed shepherd’s pie is a crowd-pleaser that uses multiple leftovers in one cohesive meal. Layers of stuffing, turkey, and mashed potatoes create a hearty, flavorful pie. This dish is ideal for subscribers who want a comforting meal that doesn’t require much prep.
Cranberry-Glazed Meatballs
Cranberry sauce can be a tricky leftover to repurpose, but cranberry-glazed meatballs are an innovative solution. Combining cranberry sauce with soy sauce, ginger, and brown sugar creates a sweet-and-savory glaze perfect for meatballs. The cookbook could suggest serving these as an appetizer or over rice for a quick meal.
Turkey and Sweet Potato Hash
Turkey and sweet potato hash is a breakfast option that brings leftover turkey and sweet potatoes into the morning meal. Combining diced sweet potatoes, turkey, onions, and bell peppers, this hash is hearty and satisfying. For added variety, the recipe can suggest serving it with eggs or topping it with a fried egg.
Pumpkin Pancakes with Cranberry Compote
This brunch option uses leftover pumpkin and cranberry sauce to create a dish perfect for post-Thanksgiving mornings. Pumpkin pancakes topped with cranberry compote offer seasonal flavors that still feel like a treat. This recipe lets customers use their leftover cranberry sauce in a creative way that doesn’t feel like Thanksgiving over again.
Distributing the Cookbook: Downloadable or Printed?
Once you’ve created your cookbook, decide how to deliver it to customers. Here are a few ways to make the cookbook accessible and appealing:
Downloadable PDF
A PDF version is easy to share via email or as a link on your website, making it instantly accessible to subscribers. You can promote it in emails and social media posts, encouraging subscribers to download the guide as a bonus resource.
Printed Cookbook in Subscription Boxes
Consider including a printed cookbook version in subscription boxes in November for a tactile touch. Printed materials feel more substantial and may make subscribers more likely to use and keep the cookbook in future years.
Email Series of Recipes
If a full cookbook isn’t feasible, consider sharing one recipe per day or week in an email series. This approach keeps customers engaged and adds a personal touch by delivering each recipe as a “holiday tip” in their inbox.
Marketing the Post-Holiday Cookbook
Promoting the cookbook effectively is essential to making it a success. Here are some tips to get the word out:
Tease the Cookbook on Social Media
In the weeks before Thanksgiving, start dropping hints about the upcoming cookbook on social media. Share previews of the recipes, behind-the-scenes looks at the development process, or a countdown to release day.
Email Marketing
Announce the cookbook to your subscriber base via email, emphasizing it as an exclusive holiday bonus. Highlight some of the recipes included and explain how the cookbook adds value by helping them make the most of their holiday meals.
Encourage Sharing
Encourage subscribers to share their recreations of the recipes on social media. Create a branded hashtag for the cookbook and showcase user-generated content on your social media channels. This will increase your service’s visibility and position your business as a creative, helpful partner in the kitchen.
Positioning Your Service as a Year-Round Resource
A post-Thanksgiving cookbook helps customers with leftover management and reinforces your brand’s relevance throughout the year. By providing them with useful, creative solutions outside your regular meal offerings, you position yourself as a go-to resource for meal delivery, culinary inspiration, and convenience. As a result, subscribers will likely view your service as indispensable for their ongoing meal-planning needs.
Incorporating this thoughtful bonus into your subscription model can solidify your brand’s reputation as one that truly cares about the customer experience and the practical aspects of their lives.
